Alabama Living Central May 2012

Youth Tour 2012 MAY MAY 2012 2012

Central Alabama

Electric

Cooperative

Maintaining Your Home HVAC System Routine maintenance will help improve system efficiency

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Reprocessing Nuclear Waste

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Two Exclusives from Alabama Living ORDER YOURS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Southern Occasions 19

$

cookbook

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Alabama Living’s latest cookbook containing recipes from four years of Alabama Living magazine.

Mail order form to: Alabama Living Southern Occasions P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124-4014

COOK BOOKS @ $19.95 each _____ CHURCH BOOKS @ $32.95 each _____ TOTAL: ___________ shipping included

NAME: _______________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________ CITY: ____________________ STATE: _______ ZIP CODE: ____________ o CHECK o CREDIT CARD PHONE NUMBER: _______________ Credit Card Number: __ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __ Expiration Date: ______________________ CVV#_____________________ Signature: _____________________________________________________

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A beautiful pictorial history of Alabama’s churches ranging from small rural churches to towering urban cathedrals.

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ON THE COVER: ON THE COVER:

Montgomery Youth XXXXXX Tour 2012 FAVORITES Central Alabama Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 681570 Prattville, AL 36068 36067 www.caec.coop Advertising and Editorial Offices: 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117-6031 1-800-410-2737 E-mail: jclayton@areapower.coop

9 Spotlight 10 Power Pack FEATURES

National Advertising Representative: National Country Market 611 South Congress Ave., Ste. 504 504Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX 78704 1-800-626-1181 www.nationalcountrymarket.com

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Alabama Rural Electric Association: Fred Braswell, AREA President Darryl Gates, Editor Melissa Henninger, Managing Editor Mark Stephenson, Creative Director Michael Cornelison, Art Director Mary Tyler Spivey, Recipe Editor Jay Clayton, Director, Marketing & Advertising

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Children’s

14

Bass Trail

Alabama Living is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Member subscriptions are $3 per year; nonmembers are $6. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by AREA. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and Ala., andat atadditional additionalmailing mailingoffice office.

POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to: Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124-4014.

Montgomery, AL 36124-4014.

USPS 029-920 ISSN 1047-0311

Reprocessing Nuclear Waste

Using reprocessing technology to recycle spent fuel.

Children’s of Alabama is the only medical center in the state dedicated to the care and treatment of children.

Eleven waterways make up a first-inthe-nation state bass trail, making Alabama a ‘fishing destination’.

18 Worth the Drive 20 Alabama Gardens 22 Safe @ Home 23 Fish&Game Activity 26 Cook of the Month 27 Strawberry Recipes

38 Alabama Snapshots

Printed in America from American materials

Alabama Living

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Tribute to the Military and My Dad Board of Trustees Chase Riddle Chairman, Prattville

Jimmie Harrison, Jr. Vice Chairman, Maplesville

Ruby J. Neeley Secretary/Treasurer, Jemison

C. Milton Johnson Statesville

Mark Presnell, Sr. Wetumpka

Patsy M. Holmes Wetumpka

Terry Mitchell Stewartville

David A. Kelley, Sr. Rockford

Van Smith Billingsley

Charles Byrd Deatsville

Contact Us Toll Free: 1-800-545-5735 Outage Hotline: 1-800-619-5460 www.caec.coop Prattville Office: 1802 U.S. Hwy. 31 North Mailing: P.O. Box 681570 Prattville, AL 36068 Clanton Office: 1601 7th St. North Rockford Office: U.S. Hwy. 231 Wetumpka Office: 637 Coosa River Pkwy.

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y four brothers and I grew up knowing that our Dad had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. As with many who serve in battle he did not share much of the details when we were young, but in recent years he had shared more of the “adventure” as he referred to it.

Last May, I was in our nation’s capital visiting with our elected representatives when Dad made an Honor Flight trip along with others who also served in WWII. He traveled from North Carolina unaware I was in D.C. When their buses arrived at the WWII Memorial, I was among the crowd waiting to greet them. It was humbling to see these proud elderly men and women, who in their youth had done their part to help liberate so many. It was great to surprise Dad and to now have a cherished memory for myself. When he returned home, our family had the emotional experience during the ticker tape homecoming and saw Dad’s source of pride and his love of country. He told us that serving in the military was a great way for a small town boy from Lake View, S.C., to see the world. And he did, from the Pacific to the Atlantic and many points in between, serving in the U.S. Navy Armed Guard and providing protection for merchant ships from U-boats and enemy aircraft.

After the war, he brought that same enthusiasm home and was always looking for ways to help out in the community or assist a neighbor, or even someone he did not know. While raising five sons, managing retail stores for Goodyear Tire Company across North and South Carolina, he always made time to do his part to make the community better. Serving as a Rotarian during his working years and then as a Lion after he retired, he always found others to join forces with -- to help their community. He was a Scout Master, drove meals on wheels, started a Relay for Life event in our home town, carried cancer patients to treatments and always made sure the grandchildren had enough to eat. He was constantly looking for opportunities to help.

It was as a local merchant that he taught us to care about the customer, treat everyone with respect - even if we were collecting past due bills. We learned to “SERVE” customers. His philosophy was sell the customers what they want; sell them anything in the store they want that is not bolted down and if they want that, un-bolt it. Once they purchase, follow up and make sure the customer is satisfied with what was done or purchased.

Dad was not about leaving a mark so everyone knew who he was, he just did what came very naturally to him and ended up leaving a legacy for us to emulate.

He had a heart to serve and do what was right, whether it be for his family, a customer, neighbor, stranger or his country. Sadly, we lost my Dad to cancer Nov. 8, 2011 which was just a few weeks before his 87th birthday.

So this Memorial Day, I will not be thinking about the great battles, the noted heroes, the beach, the lake or even the picnics. Instead I will spend time remembering that there are many like my Dad among us; like many I work with every day here at CAEC, as well as others who have gone before, who when called, stepped into harm’s way because it was the right thing to do. And, I will miss my Dad. A

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Youth Tour 2012

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very four years the U.S. holds its presidential election and this year, nearly 130 Youth Tour students had the opportunity to meet a presidential candidate during the Montgomery Youth Tour.

It was an extremely exciting moment for these enthusiastic future leaders — for this is what Youth Tour is about.

Eight high school juniors, sponsored

by CAEC, participated in this year’s Alabama Rural Electric Association’s (AREA) Montgomery Youth Tour, March 6-8.

Participants were Morgan Amason, East Memorial Christian Academy; Kayli Cheeks, Marbury High School; Carolyn Lee, Autauga Academy; Jessie Nichols, Autauga Academy; Carter Singleton, Elmore C ounty High School; Laurel Stephenson, Prattville High School; Rachael Temple, Prattville High School; and Erin Wynn, Hooper Academy.

Mo n t g o m e r y Yo u t h To u r / Alabama Cooperative Youth Leadership Conference Joined by more than 130 other students from across the state, the participants toured the State Capitol, the State House, the Civil Rights Memorial and the Rosa Parks Museum. They also met with State Senator Bryan Taylor and had the unexpected opportunity to have their photo made with Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who was campaigning in Montgomery during the tour.

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All students will be invited to participate in the Alabama Cooperative Youth Conference held at the 4-H Youth Development Center in Columbiana, Ala., July 10-12, where they and students from across the state will learn about different kinds of cooperatives and the unique role they play in our everyday lives. They will also take advantage of leadership development exercises and activities.

Washington D.C. Youth Tour Another part of the Youth Tour Program is the Washington D.C. Youth Tour, scheduled for June 16-21. After interviewing with a panel of CAEC Trustees, four of the Montgomery Youth Tour participants were selected to attend this upcoming conference: Amason, Cheeks, Stephenson and Temple; Nichols was named as first alternate. These representatives will join approximately 1,500 high-school juniors from electric co-ops across the country.

This tour provides young leaders a life-impacting opportunity to increase their understanding of the value of rural electrification and become more familiar with the historical and political environment of the nation’s capital with visits to monuments, government buildings and cooperative organizations. They will also be able to visit with elected officials and increase their knowledge of how the federal government works.

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in this valuable and unique process.

Application information for the 2013 Youth Tour will be available in the September issue of Alabama Living Magazine and at our Web site, www.caec.coop. A

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On the Hill

Reprocessing Nuclear Waste

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uclear energy, first generated in the 1950s, supplies power to one out of five homes and businesses nationally. Nuclear power is seen by many as the most effective type of energy in the world – it’s clean, inexpensive, efficient and safe.

But when it comes to the discussion on the subject of nuclear waste, there are a wide range of viewpoints, both political and technological.

Nuclear waste is highly misunderstood especially when it comes to nuclear radiation, which comes in different forms and many of those forms are around us every day, such as ultraviolet rays, x-rays, visible light and microwaves.

Nuclear power plants use fission, the process of splitting atoms apart, to produce electricity. When a uranium atom splits, radiation is released along with heat turning water into high pressure steam, which spins turbines to generate electricity. Once used, the uranium, housed in special rods, becomes highly radioactive

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and is often referred to as spent nuclear fuel. The spent fuel from nuclear power plants is actually a precious resource; about 96 percent of it can be recycled into new nuclear fuel and the remaining 4 percent – about 2,500 metric tons – is also usable. The reason spent nuclear fuel is so radioactive is because there’s so much energy left in it. The map to the left shows the amount, in metric tons, of the used nuclear fuel stored in each state, representing more than 65,000 metric tons kept at nuclear plant sites across the U.S. The ultimate “waste” product of the breakdown of uranium by-products is non-radioactive lead; it’s harmless and useful. Currently, no other fuel source can make this claim.

“There is no such thing as nuclear waste,” a phrase coined by journalist William Tucker and author of Terrestrial Energy: How Nuclear Power Will Lead the Green Revolution and End America’s Energy Odyssey. Tucker points out: The reason that the U.S. has a nuclear waste issue is because we fail to recycle our spent fuel rods. The interior of the earth is heated to a temperature of 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit by the breakdown of uranium and thorium in the layer which is hotter than the surface of the sun. We can tap this as “geothermal energy,” but the easier strategy is to mine a little bit of the source of this energy – the uranium – and duplicate the process, accelerating it a little, in a “nuclear reactor.”

In the Atoms for Peace days of the 1950s and 1960s, it was assumed that spent reactor fuel would be reprocessed into new reactor fuel. The initial plan was for the U.S. and other nuclear nations to have closed nuclear fuel cycles; the same

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material being used many times, leaving limited waste to store. In the closed fuel cycle, uranium is mined, enriched and processed into fuel rods; then it is burned as fuel and reprocessed, to start the cycle again. Burying spent fuel (as was planned for Yucca Mountain) was not in the Atoms for Peace picture. Why bury a fuel source that could be used to make new reactor fuel?

We could reprocess nuclear waste, like other countries do, such as France and Japan. In fact, those countries are now years ahead of the U.S. on nuclear energy production.

The U.S. stopped its reprocessing program in the 1970s and instead now stores spent nuclear fuel, waiting for a long-term burial site, which had been identified to be Yucca Mountain in Nevada; however, this site was defunded in 2009. Alternately, France has many years of experience in recycling spent nuclear fuel, generating approximately 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants and maintaining the world’s largest commercial nuclear waste reprocessing plant. More than 1,100 tons of spent fuel are reprocessed in France annually for both domestic and foreign companies.

Smaller waste reprocessing plants can be found in India, Japan and Russia.

With the upcoming presidential election, there remains a split in what is the best direction for America.

We have candidates who understand nuclear technology and recognize its potential, but are challenged in communicating this information to their constituents.

Then we have candidates who fully support nuclear power as a “clean energy” - but due to misinformation, have become overly cautious.

There are 104 licensed commercial nuclear reactors (65 sites in 31 states) operating in the U.S. today, together they supply approximately 20 percent of the nation’s electricity needs. In Alabama, the Browns Ferry (Limestone County) and Farley (Houston County) nuclear power plants account for approximately 25 percent of the state’s electricity generation. The U.S. knows how to reprocess used nuclear fuel, and can do it safely, as this country did for years, and we also know there are new technologies that have improved the procedure.

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As a zero-carbon and low cost energy source, nuclear power must be part of our energy mix. A Source: William Tucker is a veteran journalist who has covered energy and the environment for 30 years. His latest book, Terrestrial Energy: How Nuclear Power Will Lead the Green Revolution and End America’s Long Energy Odyssey, was published in October 2008 by Bartleby Press.

NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

Nuclear fuel cycle begins when uranium is mined, enriched and manufactured to nuclear fuel (1) which is delivered to a nuclear power plant. After usage in the power plant the spent fuel is delivered to a reprocessing plant (if fuel is recycled) (2) or to a final repository (if no recycling is done) (3) for geological disposition. In reprocessing, 95 percent of spent fuel can be recycled to be returned to usage in a nuclear power plant (4).

Graphic Reference: Wikipedia

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AFCI Safety

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters Bringing Safety and Technology Together

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n order to hang a heavy framed picture above your couch, you find a stud in the wall and hammer in a large nail to support the size and weight. But hidden behind the wallboard is a wire that provides electricity to a wall outlet located in back of the furniture.

Darren Maddox, Your nail penetrates the wire, tearTraining & Safety Coordinator ing the insulation and shorting the electrical circuit to the room.

The wall quickly becomes hot, as a fire explodes behind the wall. This is an arc fault which generates high temperatures in excess of 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, igniting nearby combustibles such as wood, paper, wallboard and carpets. An arc fault is a dangerous electrical problem often caused by damaged, overheated or stressed electrical wiring or devices.

In the U.S., arcing faults cause many of the estimated 67,800 electrical fires in homes every year, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). To help reduce the number of electrical fires in homes, an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is a type of circuit breaker that replaces standard circuit breakers in your home’s electrical service panel and provides a higher level of protection by detecting dangerous electrical conditions and shutting down the electricity before a fire has a chance to ignite. These devices are equipped with advanced internal electronics that detect arc fault hazards - which traditional breakers are not designed to recognize.

The most common conditions that usually trigger arc faults include:

• • • • •

Loose or improper connections, such as electrical wires to outlets and switches Extension or appliance cords that are damaged or have worn or cracked insulation Natural aging, and cord exposure to heat vents and sunlight Cables that are improperly nailed or stapled too tightly against a wall stud Wires located behind walls that can be accidentally punctured by a screw or drill bit Cords caught in door jams, deteriorating the cable insulation through the action of opening and closing the door Furniture pushed against or resting on electrical cords

• •

Arc fault circuit interrupters can be purchased at any local electrical distributor, hardware store or home improvement center for approximately $35 - $45 each. Make sure to have a certified electrician install them for you, ensuring its compliance with the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements while meeting your home’s needs.

Electrical fires can be a silent killer occurring in areas of the home that are hidden from view. Use of AFCI technology could prevent between 50 to 75 percent of these electrical fires, saving hundreds of lives, reducing thousands of injuries and nearly $1 billion in property damage annually. A

CAEC offices will be closed May 28 for Memorial Day MayAL2012.indd 8

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Spot Light

may 19

Hot Air Balloon Race will raise money for charity

In May

counties since Glenwood first came into being in the mid1800s. For more information, contact 334-335-3165 or 334335-3425.

The annual Sunrise Balloon Race will be May 19 in Tuscaloosa, with more than 30 balloons taking off during the morning ascent. There will also be a Saturday evening ascension (weather permitting), along with activities and food for the family. Proceeds from the event will benefit people with disabilities served by Resources for Independence. The race, which began in 1983, is held at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport. Admission is free. may 19

Glenwood Festival at the Well set for May The Annual Glenwood Festival at the Well will be May 19, and will feature activities for children, a beauty and beau pageant, local arts and crafts, carnival food vendors, and a non-stop lineup of South Alabama’s stage talent from early morning to late at night. The festival kicks off with a parade at 9 a.m. and winds down with a street dance beginning at 8 p.m., featuring the band County Line. Smoked barbecue with all the trimmings will be served up by the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department. The town of Glenwood is centered around an artesian well, which has been a focal point near the confluence of Crenshaw, Pike and Coffee Alabama Living

may 18 -19

River Region prepares for Jubilee CityFest

Jubilee CityFest will be May 18 and 19 in downtown Montgomery at the Amphitheater and RiverWalk. Jubilee will again produce Bama’s Big Bang, Alabama’s largest pyro music spectacular, on Saturday. The fireworks spectacular will follow the music concert. The weekend will kick off with BrewFest and BBQ Cook-off on Friday. The Jubilee Run for Cancer will start at 7 a.m. on Saturday. KidsFest is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.jubileecityfest.org.

For more Alabama Events, visit page 29.

MAY 2012 9

Power Pack

Farm vacations get you back to nature

By Karen Olson House It used to be kids grew up on a farm or were close to someone who owned one. They appreciated the seasons and understood what rain, or its lack, meant. They took pride in growing robust vegetables and caring for livestock and knew which part of the cow their cuts of meat came from.

Nowadays, the only food some kids may ever see is at the grocery store, packaged on shelves and frozen in bins. The only pasture they may see is on TV, and their only animal a dog or cat. In fact, this is true for more and more adults today, who feel disengaged from nature in general and who express a wish for a more peaceful way of life.

Enter the “farm stay”: a great way to get back in touch with nature, and you don’t have to “buy the farm” to visit one. In Europe, farm vacations are nothing new. For Americans, “farm stay” is a relatively young concept. Although solid national statistics about U.S. farm vacations are difficult to obtain, there is much anecdotal evidence that more Americans are interested in them and that the number of American farms that offer them are increasing, due partly to modern agritourism efforts to boost income and raise awareness about locally sourced food.

Farm stays, which can include ranches and wineries, range from simple, countrystyle digs to elegant retreats.

Each is unique to its site, its working operations and its owners. You might sleep in a farmhouse guest room, cabin, cottage, converted barn, or even a tent near a creek. Generally, guests should not expect high-thread counts and high teas—while farms can be very hospitable, they aren’t fancy hotels.

Prices per night vary but generally start around $75 and up, with

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many stays priced to what a bed-and-breakfast stay would cost in the area ($100-$125 or so).

Guests don’t have to do chores. But if they wish to, guests can help gather eggs and feed chickens, or milk cows and groom horses. (Sorry, but you probably can’t drive the tractor because of insurance rules.)

As far as food, expect tasty vittles. Most “haycations” include breakfast and, depending on the farm, fresh organic eggs, thick jams, fruit just off the vine, sausage, and other treats.

Some proprietors use the term “farm stays” loosely, and their “farm” is more like a vacation rental that happens to have chickens nearby. If you want a working operation, use a website listing portal such as www.farmstayus.com, designed to connect guests with working farm and ranch stays across the U.S. Its Advanced Search lets you check boxes for “pets” and “children.” (Some farms welcome kids to stay free, while others don’t allow them at all.)

A farm’s own website usually describes rooms, activities, and amenities. Hosts who allow chore participation usually mention it in their descriptions. If you are unsure as to whether or not a particular farm is right for you, call or email the host.

Karen Olson House is a contributing editor for Carolina Country magazine, published monthly by the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives for its members.

www.alabamaliving.coop

Ventilation cuts cooling costs Properly ventilating your home can reduce the need to air-condition

By James Dulley

Did you know?

Alabama’s first railroad, the Tuscumbia Railway, opened June 12, 1832. It ran two miles from Tuscumbia Landing at the Tennessee River to Tuscumbia.

Alabama Department of Archives and History

Alabama Living

Air conditioning can account for a significant proportion of a family’s utility bills even in some so-called “cool” regions of the country.

Not every region has below-zero temperatures during winter, but most areas easily reach above 90 degrees for many days during the summer.

No matter how much heat you can block from your windows and doors and how effective the ventilation is in a house without air conditioning, an air-conditioned house with a reasonable humidity level will be more comfortable. With proper ventilation, I have to air-condition very little to stay reasonably comfortable during hot, humid Cincinnati summers.

Direct and indirect heat coming in windows and doors does increase the temperature inside your house significantly. Even the most energy-efficient windows and doors have an insulation R-value much less than the typical house wall. There also are gaps around doors and windows which, even though sealed with weatherstripping and caulk, allow in some hot, humid outdoor air.

Because you can’t stop all the energy gain at the windows and doors, you might as well make maximum use of ventilation through them. This ventilation can be cross-ventilation from window to window on the same floor or through-ventilation from a window to an upper vent. The air coming in will be warm and perhaps humid, but it will make you feel cooler as it flows over your skin.

The wind blowing over your house creates higher pressure on the upwind side and lower pressure on the downwind side. Open your windows completely on the downwind side.

Open them only halfway or less on the upwind side. This combination may reduce the total air flow somewhat, but it increases the speed of the air coming in. In the summer, the higher speed of the breeze over your skin creates a more cooling effect. If you have casement windows, crank them out at just a partial angle to catch more breezes.

If security is not an issue, open your doors and allow air in through a screen door.

To send inquiries to James Dulley, visit www. dulley.com.

MAY 2012 11

Special to Alabama Living: Helping Children Reach Their Potential

Children’s of Alabama The only medical center in Alabama dedicated to the care and treatment of children A century ago, Children’s founders had a vision: They wanted to establish in Birmingham “a charity hospital for children alone.” Today, at Children’s of Alabama, their dream is being realized on a scale they could never have foreseen.

Since 1911, Children’s has grown from a community hospital to the only medical center in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is one of the 10 busiest pediatric hospitals in the nation, and is home to Alabama’s only pediatric trauma center and the largest pediatric burn center in the Southeast. It is nationally renowned for such services as the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, the Lowder Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, its comprehensive neonatal surgical center and fast-growing pediatric rheumatology program.

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In 2011, patients made more than 634,000 outpatient and nearly 14,000 inpatient visits to Children’s. Children from every Alabama county, 42 additional other states and five foreign countries received care.

Children’s is one of the 10 busiest pediatric hospitals in the United States Children’s core mission is to provide the best care for every child who comes into one of its facilities, so that each may have the opportunity to meet his or her fullest potential. Evidence of the success in this endeavor is the ranking of 11 of its

divisions—pulmonology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, neonatology, cancer, cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and nephrology—among the best children’s hospital programs in the nation by US News & World Report.

(The application for this honor was made in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Children’s, a private, not-for-profit hospital, serves as the primary site for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s pediatric medicine, surgery, research and residency programs.)

Children’s strives to maintain and develop an environment in which skilled pediatric subspecialists and healthcare professionals have access to the technology they need to provide the latest and best services available to very ill children and their families. www.alabamaliving.coop

Children’s has changed Birmingham’s skyline

In June of this year, Children’s will move in to a 750,000-square-foot expansion facility named the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in honor of legendary Alabama entrepreneur Benjamin Russell (1876-1941). This facility was built to provide a state-of-the-art home that will enable us to serve our mission for decades to come.

The Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children has already changed the Birmingham skyline, but it promises to change lives as well.

Among the family-centered features will be the 16 state-of-the-art operating suites. The new facility will be home to the Children’s of Alabama Pediatric Transplant Program as well as an enhanced Pediatric Epilepsy Program. Later

The earliest Children’s hospital

this year, the Pediatric Cardiovascular Services program currently located at UAB will make the move to the new facility.

In the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, technology will continue to be paired with the skill, knowledge and expertise of the highest level of nursing care and the nationally ranked UAB surgeons and physicians.

As it was in 1911, Children’s today remains a place of hope in the face of sickness, disease and life-threatening injuries. And the familiar children in the red ball remind us daily of our simple calling: To deliver healthcare as amazing as their potential. A More information is available at www.childrensal.org.

Alabama Living

MAY 2012 13

The

Alabama Bass Trail

Eleven waterways make up the first-in-the-nation ‘fishing destination’

By John N. Felsher

A

first of its type in the nation, the Alabama Bass Trail features 11 of the best fishing waters in the state, promoting them much like what the Robert Trent Jones Trail does for golf.

On March 8, Gov. Robert Bentley announced the new tourism, conservation and education initiative to create a partnership between his office, the Alabama Tourism Department, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association to increase fishing in Alabama.

The designated waters include Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lay Lake, Lake Jordan, Lake Eufaula, the Alabama River and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.

“To my knowledge, Alabama is the first state to organize such a fishing trail,” says Kay Donaldson, Alabama Bass Trail program director. “Our purpose is to promote Alabama as a

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fishing destination. With a mild climate, mineral rich reservoirs, affordable lodging and dining, as well as public access to boat ramps and marinas, Alabama is a year-round destination for anglers from across the country.

“More than $700 million is spent on freshwater fishing in Alabama annually. We hope to increase that through increasing fishing tourism in Alabama.”

The 11 waterways in the system will hold more than 150 fishing events this year alone, Donaldson says. In all, these lakes provide anglers with more than 315,500 acres of water, not including the 318-mile long Alabama River, the more than 250,000 acres of wetlands in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta or major tributaries feeding these lakes. The selected waters offer anglers every type of bass habitat found in Alabama from rocky mountain lakes to weedy reservoirs, to flowing rivers to tidal brackish marshes.

“We’ve selected 11 of the top bass waters in the state,”

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Alabama Living

MAY 2012  15

Alabama Bass Trail Lake Guntersville Wheeler Lake Pickwick Lake Lewis Smith Lake Neely Henry Lake Logan Martin Lake Lay Lake, Lake Jordan Lake Eufaula The Alabama River The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta

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Donaldson says. “All 11 lakes scattered throughout Alabama provide different habitat types, but they all offer opportunities to catch quality bass. For instance, Lake Guntersville is known for its grass habitat. Lakes on the Coosa chain are more rocky. In the delta, we have swamps and tidal marshes with influence from salt water.”

The largest lake in Alabama, Lake Guntersville, covers 69,100 acres on the Tennessee River and drops to more than 60 feet deep in places. The lake can produce giant bass – including one 14.5-pounder – and numerous fish in the 10- to 12-pound range. The northern portion of the reservoir still resembles the original river channel, while the lower lake opens into a typical southern reservoir with several large creeks flowing through vast weed beds.

“Without a doubt, Lake Guntersville is one of the premier bass lakes in the nation,” says Mike Iaconelli, a former Bassmaster Classic champion who won a major tournament there in 2006.

“It’s an amazing numbers lake, but can also produce giant bass. I caught one

10-pounder in that lake, but I caught bunches of bass in the 6- to 8-pound range.”

Besides promoting fishing, the Alabama Bass Trail will partner with the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association to teach high school and college students how to build and maintain fish habitat. In addition, the Trail will promote the preservation of natural resources and raise awareness of natural resources conservation.

“We hope to expose bass fishing in Alabama to an entire new group of people, and get people more interested in preserving natural resources,” Donaldson says. “The Alabama Bass Trail and the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association have developed a service program that engages Alabama’s youth anglers. With the help of these young men and women in building artificial reefs, performing drops at designated GPS locations and cleaning up trash during the annual water draw down, we will ensure healthy aquatic habitats and ecological systems at the lakes.

www.alabamaliving.coop

“As part of the Alabama Bass Trail, we offer annual opportunities for communities and others to get involved with improving our public waterways.”

Anglers can learn more about the Alabama Bass Trail online at www.alabamabasstrail.org. The website contains fishing reports, tips from local guides, weather forecasts and other information. Anglers planning to fish these waters can read about all 11 lakes and rivers in the system and view maps that indicate launching spots and even point out some hot fishing honey holes. The website also gives information on hiring guides, fish species present, lodging or campground information and any-

thing else anyone needs to know about fishing these waters.

“Alabamabasstrail.org is an angler’s one-stop shop for booking an Alabama fishing vacation,” Donaldson says. “Anglers can purchase fishing licenses, determine the driving distance between lakes and check the water levels provided by the power companies – all from the comfort of their homes. The alabamabasstrail.org website will be the vehicle for raising awareness and interest in bass fishing throughout Alabama.”

For more information, call Donaldson at 1-855-934-7425 or send an email to kay@alabamabasstrail.org. A

Learn more about the Alabama Bass Trail at www.alabamabasstrail.org, or call 1-855-934-7425.

Follow Alabama Living contributor David Haynes and his ‘goldies’ on the Alabama Scenic River Trail

By David Haynes

This is an open invitation for anyone with access to the Internet to follow my golden retrievers, Roscoe and Bailey, and me on our 631-mile trip from the mountains to the sea along the Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) during May and June.

The ASRT is the longest river trail of its kind within a single state and begins in the hills of northeast Alabama near Cedar Bluff where the Coosa River enters the state from Georgia. From there it follows the Coosa into the Alabama River, then traverses the Tensaw Delta and terminates at Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.

Alabama Living

During the six-plus weeks it will take to paddle the trail in a cedar strip canoe, I’ll be posting frequent updates, photographs and videos of our experiences along the way on a website set up by the University of Alabama Press, who will publish a book next year about the trip.

The website is located at http:// paddlinginfo.ua.edu.

In addition to following our progress online, I’d also like to invite any paddlers to join us for any portion of the trip they may be able to do. We’ll appreciate the company! A

MAY 2012 17

Worth the Drive

Cheeseburger in Paradise The Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club serves a strong helping of local atmosphere

By Jennifer Kornegay

Pirate’s Cove 6664 County Road 95 Elberta, AL 36530 251-987-1224 www.piratescoveriffraff.com

Elberta

To help celebrate Alabama’s 2012 “Year of Food,” each month freelance writer Jennifer Kornegay will take you to an out-of-the-way restaurant worth the drive.

Jennifer Kornegay 18 MAY 2012

L

ong before Johnny Depp donned too much eyeliner and the persona of Captain Jack Sparrow in the mega-hit “Pirates of the Caribbean,” a humble little sailboat marina and restaurant claimed a thin stretch of white sand on Arnica Bay down on the coast in Josephine, and strung up the Jolly Roger flag.

Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club opened more than 50 years ago, and with its skull and crossbones motif as well as signs reading “Abandon hope all ye who enter here,” this special place has been embracing and celebrating the freedom of the pirate life ever since.

But don’t let the foreboding fool you.

The scallywags and riff-raff at Pirate’s Cove are friendly and warmly welcome all who manage to navigate their way to it; most come by boat, but you can get there by car. Whatever your mode of transport, when you arrive, you’re greeted by a relaxed yet rambunctious scene.

Rows of sailboats rest in slips, their tall, straight masts pointing skyward. A long pier juts into the bay on one side, and a wonderfully weathered shack-like structure is corralled with a wide deck that’s shielded from the sun by a tin roof. In the summer, powerboats beached on the

shoreline hide almost every inch of sand, while upwards of 20 dogs, some just visiting and others “Cove” residents, chase each other and their own tails.

Crammed onto the picnic table benches on the deck is a diverse barefoot and flipflop-clad cross section of society, everyone from college students, families with kids, grizzled old salts, leather-clad bikers, locals and tourists. In fact, lunch at the Cove is like a sociology experiment, with people from all walks of life – including a few truly colorful characters – converging to enjoy the sun, fun, food and almostanything-goes attitude synonymous with an afternoon spent at Pirate’s Cove. They may be as different as night and day, but here, they have something in common: They’ve all journeyed to Pirate’s Cove for a cheeseburger, some fries and probably a bushwhacker.

While the menu at Pirate’s Cove offers pretty standard lunch-counter favorites like corn dogs, chicken fingers and pizza, it’s the cheeseburger that is most-often ordered. It has even (maybe) been immortalized in song. Rumor has it that South Alabama native and famed singer-song-

Continued on Page 24 www.alabamaliving.coop

AP P D LI MA EA CAT Y DLI IO 18 N N , 2 E: 01 2

2012 Alabama Cooperative Youth Conference The conference will be held contact: n, io at rm fo in r o July 10-12, 2012, at the Alabama For application n or Chellie Phillips to rn ho T a 4-H Youth Development Center tive Laur bama Coopera la A f o s ir ha -C in Columbiana.

Co ence Youth Confer Speakers including APPLY • Guest P.O. Box 449 0449 Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh 108 36 L A y, o Tr TODAY! • Outdoor Activities 0-556-2060 Chellie: 1-80 haec.com • Team Building Exercises ut chelliep@so 4-7732 • Leadership Skills 26 Laura: 1-800om .c er iv ar pe CALL OR E-MAIL FOR n@ laura.thornto APPLICATION INFORMATION VES at COOPERATI CENTER T OUNCIL OF ALABAMA C H YOUTH DEVELOPMEN ALABAMA 4- abama

Sponsored By

Columbiana, Al

Application must be received by May 18, 2012

Purpose of the conference

To give youth in attendance an opportunity to study and understand our economic system and the place of cooperatives in it; to provide for leadership development.

Who may attend?

Sixty outstanding boys and girls, preferably members of FCCLA, FFA or 4-H. They must have completed the ninth grade in high school but are not yet attending a postsecondary school. No person who has previously attended this conference is eligible. An approximately equal number of boys and girls will attend.

Who selects youth?

Applicants should be recommended by their county extension agent, agricultural education instructor, Family & Consumer Science instructor or co-op manager. Applicants will be reviewed by a committee of the Alabama Council of Cooperatives, whose decision on acceptance for attendance is final. All applicants may not be selected to attend. You will be notified in writing by June 15, 2012, if you are selected to attend.

What will they do?

Learn about cooperatives and other businesses by participating in the conference.

Special sessions will emphasize leadership, citizenship and careers. Recreation will be an important part of the conference. Swimming, boating, basketball, table tennis, softball, indoor games and other types of recreation will be conducted.

Cost of the conference

The conference fee will be paid by one or more local sponsoring cooperatives. The only money you will need will be for vending machines.

Program

The program — from arrival time on Tuesday until Thursday afternoon — will be a fastmoving, well-planned series of activities, both educational and recreational. Parents and cooperative leaders are welcomed and encouraged to visit the conference at any time during the week. However, lodging will not be available for visitors.

Alabama Living

MAY 2012 19

Power Plants

Brush Pile Art Simple mounds or teepees of brush can become ‘wildlife hotels’

By Katie Jackson

Garden Tips: May Prune climbing roses after their first flush of flowers.

Plant summer annuals and perennials.

Plant eggplant, pepper and tomato transplants.

Sow seed for sweet corn, squash, okra and lima and snap beans.

Seed new lawns and keep them watered to get them established.

Keep newly planted shrubs and trees well watered, as well.

Fertilize houseplants that are growing or blooming.

Plant ornamental grasses.

Plant fall-blooming perennials.

Prune tender deciduous shrubs and vines.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines during or just after bloom. A

Katie Jackson is associate editor for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Contact her at csmith@acesag.auburn.edu

20 MAY 2012

I

f there’s one thing I’m really good at it is collecting yard waste. If there is one thing I am terrible at it is disposing of yard waste. The result is that I tend to create impressive but haphazard brush piles in my yard that don’t exactly enhance the beauty of my landscape.

I may have found a way, though, to collect yard waste and beautify my yard: brush pile art! That’s right, there are artists who create beautiful sculptures from downed trees and other yard waste. For example, artist Alastair Heseltine created an amazing sculpture of a fallen tree using wood from a fallen tree. (View it and other examples of artistic brush piles at www.metrofieldguide.com/?p=476.)

While I’m not aspiring to that level of artistic accomplishment, there are lovely brush pile ideas for the less artistically gifted, ranging from towers or teepee shapes to simple mounds.

And here’s the thing: These brush piles are not only attractive, they provide habitat (what one source calls a “wildlife hotel”) for worms, beneficial insects, birds, reptiles or amphibians and even small mammals.

With the goal of doing a better job with my own brush piles, I found a wonderful brush pile to-do list at the Ecosystem Gardening website (www. ecosystemgardening.com).

The basics are pretty simple, but before you start, think about the shape of the pile – it could be a simple mound, a taller peak, a circle, square or any shape that the waste at hand and your own vision allows.

Some folks begin with a base of cinder blocks or rocks to give a more permanent foundation to the pile and also provide additional habitat for

critters, though that is not required.

Start with the largest pieces of wood at the bottom of the pile (do not use treated or painted lumber of any sort, just plain old yard waste) and keep layering progressively smaller limbs on top of one another until you have achieved the desired shape of loosely stacked debris.

While the pile has its own aesthetic, though possibly austere, beauty, it can be dolled up by planting native (noninvasive!) creeping vines around the base. These will climb up and over the mound to soften its lines and even add color if you use flowering vines such as trumpet vine or native jasmine.

Yes, the pile will decompose over time and begin to shrink, so keep adding more clippings and limbs to it and think of it as a perpetual work of art and good stewardship.

Of course those who are averse to wild things in their yards or who have neighbors who don’t appreciate the art of a brush pile may have to dispose of yard waste through municipal collections. If that’s the case, remember to separate biodegradable yard waste from other trash when stacking it by the road. Each town or city may have unique requirements for waste collection so check with yours to find out the most eco-friendly disposal options. A

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

MAY 2012  21

Safe @ Home

Put Down The Phone!

Distracted driving causes most automobile crashes, and cell phone use isn’t the only reason

By Michael Kelley and James Thomas

Michael Kelley and James Thomas are managers of Safety & Loss Control for the Alabama Rural Electric Association.

22 MAY 2012

D

riving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to events happening around you, and it involves constant and complex coordination between your mind and body.

Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely are distractions. There are three types of distractions and they include anything that takes your eyes off the road (visual), your mind off the road (cognitive) or hands off the steering wheel (manual).

Driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes.

According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction.

The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash.

According to the study, the principal actions that cause distracted driving and lead to vehicle crashes are cell phone use; reaching for an object inside the vehicle; looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle; reading; and applying makeup.

Cell phone use has become so popular these days that many times we don’t realize when, where, and how often we are using them. Cell phone use while driving has increased so significantly within the last few years that at any typical daytime moment, as many as

10 percent of drivers are using either a hand-held or hands-free phone.

Studies have shown that driving performance is lowered and the level of distraction is higher for drivers who are heavily engaged in cell phone conversations. Unfortunately, the use of a handsfree device does not lower distraction levels. The percentage of vehicle crashes and near-crashes attributed to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening. Make and finish your cell phone calls before you start your vehicle and drive. If your phone rings while you are driving, let your voicemail pick up the call.

If you must answer your phone, pull over to a safe location and park before using your cell phone.

If you are eating in your vehicle while driving, you are focusing on your food and not on your driving. You are not only chewing and swallowing; you are also unwrapping and re-wrapping food, reaching, spilling, wiping and cleaning yourself or your vehicle. You are safer when you stop to eat or drink. Allow yourself plenty of time to stop, rest from driving, and enjoy your meal.

You should not add another task on top of what you already need to do to drive safely, such as reading a newspaper, a book or a map. Also, avoid personal grooming, such as shaving or applying makeup. a

Send your questions to: Home Rules Alabama Living 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-215-2732

www.alabamaliving.coop

www.alabamaliving.coop

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. a.m. p.m.

Minor Major Minor Major

MAY 17 04:07 11:07 11:22 06:07 18 04:37 11:37 11:52 06:52

19 - - 05:07 07:22 12:07

20 - - 05:37 07:52 12:37 21 12:52 05:52 08:37 01:22 22 01:22 06:22 09:07 01:52 23 02:07 06:52 09:52 02:22 24 02:37 07:22 10:37 02:52 25 03:37 07:52 11:22 03:37 26 04:52 08:52 12:07 04:22 27 06:22 10:22 - - 05:22 28 07:37 12:52 12:37 06:22 29 08:37 01:22 02:37 07:52 30 02:07 09:22 09:07 04:07 31 02:52 10:07 10:07 05:07 JUN. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25

26

27 28 29 30

03:37 04:07 - - - - 01:37 02:22 03:07 04:07 05:22 11:22 07:52 01:22 02:07 02:37 03:22 03:52 04:22 - - 12:52 01:22 01:52 02:37 03:22 04:22 10:37 - - - - 01:07 01:52 02:52

Alabama Living

10:52 11:37 04:52 05:37 06:22 07:07 07:52 08:52 09:52 06:52 12:52 08:52 09:37 10:07 10:52 11:22 11:52 05:07 05:37 06:07 06:52 07:22 08:07 09:07 05:22 06:37 07:52 08:52 09:52 10:37

11:07 06:07 11:52 06:52 07:52 12:22 08:37 01:07 09:22 01:52 10:07 02:37 10:52 03:07 11:22 03:52 12:07 04:37 - - 05:22 01:37 06:22 07:37 03:52 08:52 05:07 10:07 05:52 10:52 06:22 11:37 06:52 12:07 07:22 07:52 12:22 08:22 01:07 08:52 01:37 09:22 02:07 09:52 02:37 10:22 03:22 11:07 03:52 04:37 11:37 12:37 12:22 06:52 02:52 08:22 04:22 09:52 05:22 10:52 06:22 MAY 2012  23

Pirate’s cove Yacht Club is accessible by car or boat

24 MAY 2012

Continued from Page 18 writer Jimmy Buffet was inspired to write his popular tune “Cheeseburger in Paradise” after chowing down on this Cove specialty. Order yours at the little counter inside under the hundreds of sailing flags strung up overhead, then take your drink out to the deck and wait for your name to be called.

On a busy summer Saturday, that wait may take a good while, so it is strongly suggested that you sit back and take in the cacophonic activity unfolding around you while enjoying a beverage (or two).

If you need more than life’s rich pageant to distract you (and your rumbling tummy), you’ll often find live music of all varieties performed at Pirates Cove; it mingles nicely with the background noise of boat motors, kids’ laughter and dog barks. (Special events held annually like the Perdido Wood Boat Festival, portions of the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival and the Cove Dog Olympics promise good times and even larger crowds than usual.)

When your personal piece of hamburger heaven does arrive, fresh, hot and unassumingly wrapped in paper on a fancy red-plastic tray, one bite will convince you it was definitely worth the wait. It’s a thick, all-beef patty grilled to order and layered with all the requisite toppings: lettuce, tomato, mustard, onion and, of course,

plenty of cheese. The meat strikes just the right balance between protein and fat, meaning it’s juicy and flavorful but never too greasy. Just as the song says, it is certainly apropos to enjoy your Cove cheeseburger with “French-fried potatoes” and a “cold draft beer.” Or opt for crispy onion rings and a smooth, sweet and sometimes a bit strong bushwhacker, a creamy concoction of vanilla ice cream and crème de coconut blended with coffee liqueur and dark rum.

Once the food is gone, your plastic cup is dry, and you crumble the now-empty paper in your hand, it is strongly suggested (again) that you sit back for a spell and bask in the after-glow. The satisfaction that follows a good meal in a great place is even stronger at Pirate’s Cove, thanks to the sunlight bouncing off rippling boat wakes on the water and the anticipation of a pleasant, unhurried boat (or car) ride home.

Sound appealing? Then on your next visit to Alabama’s coastline, venture beyond the beaches and find your way to Pirate’s Cove for a memorable meal and even more memorable experience. If you’ve got a friend with a boat, tell ‘em you’ll buy them a burger if they’ll take you. Otherwise, put that smartphone to good use and drive over to the Cove.

It’s only about 25 minutes from Orange Beach. In the end, it doesn’t matter how you get there. Just go. A www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

MAY 2012  25

Alabama Recipes

Cook of the Month: Strawberries Fresh Fruit Salsa 1 cup strawberries, coarsely chopped 1 cup papaya, finely chopped 1 medium banana, finely diced 1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons raspberry vinegar Juice of 1 lime Dash of cayenne pepper In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together: honey, lime juice, vinegar and cayenne pepper.

Heat and stir until honey is dissolved. Set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, gently toss together strawberries, papaya and banana with cooled honey mixture.

Anna Clines, Sand Mountain EC

Strawberry plants usually peak in late May here in the Southern states, but since we had such a mild winter, and the Spring has been so warm already, that we may expect them to pop up a month earlier. Be on the lookout for pick-your-own berry patches all over the state. It can be a fun way to get the kids involved.Visit pickyourown.org/ AL.htm for more information.

You could win $50!

If your recipe is chosen as the cook-of-the-month recipe, we’ll send you a check for $50!

July August September

Upcoming recipe themes and deadlines are: Picnic Lunch Deadline: May 15 Budget Friendly Deadline: June 15 Microwave Meals Deadline: July 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 electric cooperative.

26 MAY 2012

Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or www.alabamaliving.coop registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Fresh Strawberry Syrup

1 quart fresh ripe strawberries, hulled, washed and diced ½ cup sugar

¼ cup orange juice 1 teaspoon grated orange rind

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, stir well. Let stand 30 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Over medium heat, bring almost to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook about 5 minutes. Cool. Cook’s note: Use syrup over ice cream, cake, puddings, pancakes, toast and biscuits.

Refrigerate leftovers. Can be frozen. Warmed in microwave.

Mary Lauderdale,Tallapoosa River EC

Easy Strawberry Cobbler

1 stick butter 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup milk

1 24-ounce container frozen strawberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in an 8x8inch baking dish. Mix the flour and sugar in a large bowl.

Add the milk gradually, stirring constantly. Pour over the melted butter; do not stir. Spoon thawed strawberries over the top along with the juice. Bake for one hour.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Courtney Aycock, Franklin EC

Strawberry Cake Roll

4 eggs, room temperature ⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2

2 cartons (8-ounces each) spreadable strawberry cream cheese 1 jar (7-ounces) marshmallow crème 3 cups sliced strawberries

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes, gradually beat in granulated sugar. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients, mix well. Spread batter into 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan that has been sprayed with baking spray with flour. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Roll up cake in the towel. Cool completely on a wire rack. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and marshmallow crème. Unroll cake, spread cream cheese mixture to within ½ inch of edges.Top with 2 ½ cups strawberries. Roll up again. Place seam side down on a platter. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Just before serving, garnish with remaining strawberries.

Patricia Rhodes, Central Alabama EC

Alabama Living

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MAY 2012 27

Strawberry Layer Cake Cake: 1 box white or French Vanilla cake mix 3/4 cup strawberry preserves 1⁄8 teaspoon red food coloring Frosting: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 teaspoons milk

Strawberry Bread

3 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 eggs, beaten 1 ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 10-ounce packages frozen strawberries, thawed and chopped

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl, make a well in the center of mixture. Combine remaining ingredients; add to dry ingredients, stirring until well combined. Spoon mixture into 2 greased and floured 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool loaves in pans, about 10 minutes.

Remove from pans and let cool completely on plates.

2 cups heavy cream, chilled 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar Decoration: 12 medium to large strawberries, stems removed and halved 1/4 cup strawberry preserves

Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Preheat oven to temperature recommended on package. Prepare cake mix per package directions, decreasing water by 1⁄3 cup and adding preserves and food coloring. Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. It will take 5 to 10 minutes less time than listed on package because the layers are thinner. Cool 10 minutes in pan on wire rack. Turn out onto wire rack to cool completely. Cream together cream cheese and milk until smooth. Gradually, add heavy cream and whip to soft peaks, scraping bowl as needed. Add confectioner’s sugar gradually, whipping to stiff peaks. Assemble and frost cake.

Place strawberry halves evenly around base and outer edge of cake top with top of berry to bottom and outside respectively. Drizzle preserves, warmed slightly if necessary, over berries on top of cake. Serves 12.

Pat Griffin,Wiregrass EC

Karen Turnquist, Cullman EC

3-Ingredient Strawberry Sherbet

1 16-ounce package frozen strawberries, sliced 2 liter bottle strawberry soda, chilled

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Stir together all ingredients. Pour into freezer container of a 5-quart electric freezer. Freeze mixture according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Carolyn Drinkard, Clarke-Washington EMC

28 MAY 2012

www.alabamaliving.coop

Around Alabama May 12 • Montgomery, Alabama All-Star Food Festival Description: Join chefs, farmers, breweries and musicians from across the state for the Alabama All-Star Food Festival celebrating the best in local cuisine. Enjoy tastings from featured restaurants using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, meet your favorite Alabama chefs, listen to the state’s best homegrown musicians, catch a variety of on-stage

North May 12 • Fort Payne, BirdFest Celebrate the Opening of the Appalachian Highland Birding Trail.

Little River Canyon Center 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

19 • Arley, Arley Day Festival, Parade and Car Show.

Meek School Campus - 9 a.m.

Contact Caren Back, 205-387-7175 or Arleywomensclub@gmail.com 19 • Estillfork, Honeysuckle Jam Paint Rock Valley Lodge, 4482 County Rd. 9 – 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Admission Charged: Includes Catfish or BBQ Supper Contact Eddie or Vivian Prince at 256-776-9411 19 • Scottsboro , Catfish Festival at the Jackson County Park.

Starts at 8 a.m.

Admission is free Contact: Vickie L. Hastings at 256-259-1503 19 & 20 • Mentone, Rhododendron Festival Mentone Brow Park – 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Contact: 256-634-4444 20 • Cullman, Share Club Spring Tour of Homes 1 p.m -5 p.m. Tickets: $15 Contact 256-737-2565 or gcbj@bellsouth.net 24 • Guntersville, Lions Club Charity Golf Tournament at Gunter’s Landing Golf Course. Contact Jerry Booth at 256-677-9GLC or visit www.GuntersvilleLionsClub.com.

25 & 26 • Brilliant, 12th Annual Coalfest Contact: Ann McGuire 205-465-2281 June 2 • Scottsboro, Skyline Day

Celebration. Cumberland Mountain Park – 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Bring a covered dish and lawn chair and enjoy free entertainment and catfish dinner.

Contact: 256-587-3335 or visit www.jacksoncountychamber.com.

9 • Centre, Big E Cruzin’ for Charity, to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Cherokee County. Babe Ruth Field 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Central May 5 • Weogufka, The Legendary Pineapple Skinners at the Weogufka Center Dinner and show $12 advance tickets, $15 at the door. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Contact: 334-578-1364 or weogufkacenter@weogufkacenter.com www.weogufkacenter.com 12 • Clanton, Bluegrass Jam Jamming along the Streets Noon until 8 p.m.

If you have a band that would like to perform, contact 205-527-7578.

June 2 • Roanoke, 4th Annual Summer on

Main Street Festival 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Contact: Dorothy at 334-863-6612 or

To place an event, mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; e-mail to calendar@ areapower.coop. (Subject Line: Around Alabama) or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.

demos from guest chefs, farmers and producers and take part in hands-on gardening and nutrition workshops.

Alabama food, drink and music at its finest!

Event is sponsored by the Renaissance Hotel & Spa, Hampstead Institute, City of Montgomery and Alabama Tourism Department. All proceeds benefit the Hampstead

rancococ@teleclipse.net www.randolphcountyal.com.

8 & 9 • Marion, 17th Annual Marion Rodeo at the Marion Arena 6 p.m. Contact: 334-683-4004

South May 5 • Atmore, 39th Annual Mayfest.

Tom Byrne Park - 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Contact: Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, 251-368-3305 or visit www.atmorechamber.com 5-6 & 12-13 • Silverhill, Day Out With Thomas at Wales West 13670 Smiley St. outside Silverhill $18 per person for ages two and up.

Contact: 888-569-5337or visit www.waleswest.com 19 • Glenwood, 19th Annual Festival at the Well. The Festival kicks off with a parade at 9 a.m. and winds down with a street dance at 8 p.m.

Contacts: Wayne Gibson at 334-335-3165 28 • Gulf Shores, Memorial Day Celebration at Fort Morgan 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Admission Charged Contact: Fort Morgan Museum 251-540-7127 or ftmorganprograms@gmail.com

Institute non-profit organization and help support education programs for students in the River Region.

Tickets are $35 if purchased in advance; $45 at the gate. Half price for children ages 5-12; no charge for children under 5. Family packages are also available.

For tickets and information, visit www.alabamafoodfestival.com.

1 & 2 • Camden, Possum Bend Wild Hog Round-Up & Cook Off 1300 Hwy. 10 West. Registration forms and information on the website.

Contact: Park Harris at 334-682-4410 or harris1@frontiernet.net www.possumbend.com 2 • Grove Hill, Country & Gospel Singing. 119 Main Street.

4:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Admission: $5- kids under 12 free Contact: Donna P. Gates at 334-6364270 or wf36784@yahoo.com 2 • Fairhope, Weeks Bay Foundation’s Bald Eagle Bash.

Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center, 11525 U.S. Highway 98 Advance tickets $30, $35 at the gate.

Contact: Marcia Miller at 251-990-5004 or marcia@weeksbay.org www.BaldEagleBash.com 7 - 9 • Dothan, “The Pottery Factory.” A play by Bob Reich at The Dothan Cultural Arts Center, 909 S. St Andrews St. - 7 p.m.

Admission is $15 16 • Brewton, Alabama Blueberry Festival Contact Judy Crane at 251-867-3224 or jcrane@brewtonchamber.com. www.alabamablueberryfestival.com

June 1 & 2 • Georgiana, 33rd Annual Hank Williams Festival Admission Charged Contact: 334-376-2396 or visit www.hankwilliamsfestival.com

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May 2012 29

4/18/12 11:03 AM

Market Place Miscellaneous - 14 INTERIOR WOODS: CYPRESS, CEDAR, HEART PINE, POPLAR, ASH www.howardcustomlumber.net (251)847-2334 DIVORCE MADE EASY – Uncontested, lost spouse, in prison or aliens. $179.00 our total fee.

Call 10am to 10pm. 26 years experience – (417)443-6511 METAL ROOFING $1.79/LINFT – FACTORY DIRECT! 1st quality, 40yr Warranty, Energy Star rated. (price subject to change) 706-383-8554 WALL BEDS OF ALABAMA / ALABAMA MATTRESS OUTLET – SHOWROOM Collinsville, AL – Custom Built / Factory Direct - (256)490-4025, www.wallbedsofalabama.com, www. alabamamattressoutlet.com AERMOTOR WATER PUMPING WINDMILLS – windmill parts – decorative windmills – custom built windmill towers - call Windpower (256)638-4399 or (256)638-2352 18X21 CARPORT $695 INSTALLED – (706)383-8554 CUSTOM MACHINE QUILTING BY JOYCE – Bring me your quilt top or t-shirts. Various designs offered – (256)735-1543 KEEP POND WATER CLEAN AND FISH HEALTHY with our aeration systems and pond supplies. Windmill Electric and Fountain Aerators. Windpower (256)638-4399, (256)899-3850 PEACE IN YOUR HOME: Defeating Addiction and Restoring Sanity in Your Family. 64 page book by Dr. Mary Holley of Mothers Against Methamphetamine - $9.25 ppd to PO Box 8, Arab, AL 35016 or order at www.mamasite.net DAYLILY GARDEN OPENS MAY 1st @ CRENSHAW FARMS in Baldwin County - Take I-65 to Exit 31(Stockton/Hwy 225) go south 1/4 mile - Hundreds blooming each day - www. crenshawfarms.com, (251)577-1235 Also Yard Sale/Flea Market/Antique Store.

FREE BOOKS / DVDs – Soon government will enforce the “Mark” of the beast as church and state unite!

Let Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771 – thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com, (888)211-1715 FOR SALE: CHURCH BUS – 2000 ELDORADO AERO ELIT - 26 passenger, 2 wheelchair stations with lift, Diesel, 7.3L Turbo, 80,000 miles, AC and Bathroom - Good condition, $35,000.00 – Call (334)899-5703

30 MAY 2012

SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North American’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings.

THE place to sell equipment.

(800)459-2148, www. sawmillexchange.com NEW AND USED STAIR LIFT ELEVATORS – Car lifts, Scooters, Power Wheelchairs – Walk-In Tubs - Covers State of Alabama – 23 years (800)682-0658

Business Opportunities 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 ATTENTION BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS: Make Additional Income with Discount Drug Cards.

Investment Required. wjonesmym@ bellsouth.net, www.williamjones. provisionrx.com PIANO TUNING PAYS – Learn with American Tuning School home-study course – (800)497-9793

Vacation Rentals

KATHY’S ORANGE BEACH CONDO – 2BR/2BA, non-smoking. Best rates beachside! Family friendly – (205)253-4985, www.KathysCondo. eu.pn GATLINBURG TOWNHOUSE on BASKINS CREEK! GREAT RATES! 4BR/3BA, short walk downtown attractions! (205)333-9585, hhideaway401@aol.com GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE – 2 and 3 BEDROOM LUXURY CABINS – home theatre room, hot tub, game room – www.homeaway.com #178002, #359930, #965933 - (251)363-8576 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 – 3 Night Special - Call (866)316-3255, Look for us on FACEBOOK / billshideaway ALABAMA RIVER LOTS / MONROE COUNTY, AL – Lease / Rent – (334)469-5604

FT. MORGAN GULFSIDE – 2/2, air, cable and quiet – Owners (251)6752483 or cell (251)709-3824. LEAVE MESSAGE! DESTIN 2.5 BEDROOM, 2.5 BATH TOWNHOUSE - Across street from beach. Near Silver Sands Outlet mall.

Private access to beach. Two pools, wireless internet, Great play area for children. Request Unit 2C – (800)8744144, (850)837-7810 1 BEDROOM CABIN NEAR PIGEON FORGE – $85.00 per night – Call (865)428-1497, ask for Kathy TWO GULF SHORES PLANATION CONDOS – Excellent beach views – Owner rented (251)223-9248 DISNEY – 15 MIN: 5BR / 3BA, private pool – www. orlandovacationoasis.com – (251)504-5756 ORANGE BEACH, AL CONDO – Sleeps 4, gulf and river amenities – Great Rates – (228)369-4680 GULF SHORES 4 / 5 BEDROOM BEACH HOME – Direct Gulffront – Also for Sale – (678)409-6616, rob@ playgagolf.com FT. WALTON BEACH HOUSE – 3BR / 2BA – Best buy at the Beach – (205)566-0892, mailady96@yahoo. com

ORANGE BEACH CONDO, 3BR/3BA; 2,000 SQ.FT.; beautifully decorated; gorgeous waterfront view; boat slips available; great rates - Owner rented (251)604-5226

HELEN GA CABIN FOR RENT – sleeps 2-6, 2.5 baths, fireplace, Jacuzzi, washer/dryer – www. cyberrentals.com/101769 - (251)9482918, email jmccracken@gulftel.com

GULF SHORES CONDO - 2BR/1BA Affordable Rates & Beachfront - Call (256-507-1901) or email brtlyn@ yahoo.com

MENTONE, OVERNIGHT CABIN RENTAL – Hottub, King bed, Jacuzzi – (256)657-4335 – www. mentonelogcabins.com

CABIN IN MENTONE – 2/2, brow view, hottub – For rent $100/night or Sale $199,000 – (706)767-0177

PIGEON FORGE, TN – 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house for rent $75.00 a night – Call Bonnie at (256)338-1957

GULF SHORES BEACHSIDE CONDO available April thru December – 2BR / 2BA, WiFi, No smoking / No pets – Call Owner (256)287-0368, Cell (205)613-3446

GATLINBURG – DOWNTOWN LUXURY CREEKSIDE CONDO – 2BR / 2BA, sleeps 6 – aubie12@centurytel. net, (256)599-5552

GULF SHORES / FT. MORGAN / NOT A CONDO! The original “Beach House” on Ft. Morgan peninsula – 2BR/1BA – Wi-Fi, Pet friendly, non-smoking – $695/wk, (256)418-2131, www. originalbeachhouseal.com

MAGGIE VALLEY / WAYNESVILLE, NC – 2BR / 2BA, fireplace, deck, hottub, grill, Smokey Mountain view – Close to historic Waynesville shopping, Cataloochee Ski Resort – Ask for Mountain memories (800)648-1210

AFFORDABLE BEACHSIDE VACATION CONDOS – Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL. Rent Direct from Christian Family Owners. Lowest Prices on the Beach – (251)752-2366, (205)5560368, (205)752-1231

ALWAYS THE LOWEST PRICE $65.00 – Beautiful furnished mountain cabin near Dollywood, Sevierville, TN – (865)453-7715

HOUSE IN PIGEON FORGE, TN – fully furnished, sleeps 6-12, 3 baths, creek, no pets – (256)997-6771, www.riverrungetaway.org www.vacationsmithlake.com – 3BR / 2BA home w/ 2 satelite TV’s, gaslog fireplace, central H&A, covered boat dock - $75.00 night – (256)3525721, email annawisener@yahoo.com PIGEON FORGE, TN: $89 - $125, 2BR/2BA, hot tub, pool table, fireplace, swimming pool, creek – (251)3631973, www.mylittlebitofheaven.com AFFORDABLE COZY CABINS for your vacation in Pigeon Forge- (865)712-7633

GULF SHORES - 3BR / 2BA ON BEACH – W/D, 4 queen beds, sleeps 8 - VRBO#354680 Gulf Shores East – (251)979-3604 GULF SHORES AND DAYTONA BEACH CONDOS - Great vacation prices - non-smoking - Call Jennifer in Scottsboro at (256)599-4438 – www. funcondos.com.

PENSACOLA BEACH CONDO – Gulf front – 7th floor balcony – 3BR / 2BA, sleeps 6, pool – (850)572-6295 or (850)968-2170

GULF SHORES, WEST BEACH - Gulf view, sleeps 6 - www.vrbo.com/92623, (404)641-4939, (404)641-5314 GULF SHORES – CRYSTAL TOWER CONDO - 2 bedroom/ 2 bath, Great Ocean View - www.vrbo.com #145108 - Call Owner (205)429-4886, crystaltower607@gmail.com WEST BEACH – 3 GREAT CONDOS – Call (404)219-3189, (404)702-9824 or email gulfshores4rent@gmail.com. www.GULFSHORES4RENT.COM www.alabamaliving.coop

MENTONE, AL – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN – billiard table, Jacuzzi, spacious home, sleeps 12 – www. duskdowningheights.com, (850)7665042, (850)661-0678.

ORANGE BEACH, WINDWARD POINTE – GULF FRONT CONDO – 3/2, Owner Rate – (251)626-6566, (251)689-8328 FORT MORGAN BEACH HOUSE - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, HDTV, WiFi – www. homeaway.com/178244, www. wardvacationproperties.com, (251)363-8576

GULF SHORES BEACH COTTAGE – Affordable, waterfront, pet friendly – http://www.vrbo. com/152418, (251)223-6114 SMOKIES - TOWNSEND, TN – 2BR/2BA, secluded log home, fully furnished. Toll free (866)448-6203, (228)832-0713 GULF SHORES PLANTATION - GULF FRONT - 2BR/2BA, remodeled, sleeps 6-8, Unit 1133 – YoungSuncoast.com, (800)826-1213

GULF SHORES CONDO ON THE BEACH! 2BR/2BA - Beautiful update at SANDPIPER - (502) 386-7130

GULF SHORES PLANTATION - Gulf view, beach side, 2 bedrooms / 2 baths, no smoking / no pets. Owner rates (205)339-3850

GULF SHORES RENTAL BY OWNER – Great Rates! (256)490-4025 or www.gulfshoresrentals.us

SMOKIES – PIGEON FORGE, TN CABINS – (251)649-3344, (251)6494049, www.hideawayprop.com

GULF SHORES CONDO: $75 - $110 night – 1 BR / 1BA, sleeps 4, pet friendly, pool, beach access – (251)9487140, yej264@gmail.com RENTAL BY OWNER – DESTIN, FL CONDO - Check out patsdestincondo. com - 2BR/2BA, across from beach with gated access - Call (334)244-6581 or email greenbush@knology.net for more information WEARS VALLEY MOUNTAIN CABIN NEAR PIGEON FORGE – 2 / 2, fully furnished – Brochures available – (251)649-9818 GULF SHORES / FT MORGAN BEACH HOUSE - 3/3 . A short walk to the Gulf of Mexico - WINTER rental $900 A Month, plus half of utilities – Summer rental $850.00 a week, sleeps 6 adults – Call (251)540-7078.

GATLINBURG CONDOS: BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN VIEWS - Three days and two nights - Total $175.00 – No other charges. Call Jennifer in Scottsboro at (256)599-4438 - Non-smoking – www. funcondos.com - Cabins also available.

GULF SHORES BEACH HOUSE – Nice 2 bedroom, great view – Spring $800 / week, Summer $995 – (251)666-5476

Alabama Living

Camping / Hunting / Fishing ANDALUSIA AREA RV CAMPGROUND for fishing and swimming on Point ‘A’ Lake - Nightly, weekly and monthly rates - Reservations (334)388-0342, theshac@shacrvpark.com , shacrvpark.com VALLEY HEAD, AL LODGE – 5/2, fishing – Weekly, monthly rates available for summer – Cabins available also – www. lookoutcreekfarm.com, (256)635-6420 CAMP IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS – Maggie Valley, NC – www.trailsendrv-park.com, (828)421-5295.

Real Estate Sales/Rentals

NORTH JACKSON COUNTY - 120 ACRES – Scenic views, heavily wooded property, house, barn, outbuildings – Ideal for hunters – (256)448-7983, Respond to RTBKW@AOL.com LAKE GUNTERSVILLE – DEEDED RV LOT WITH PORT – 30ft x 40ft, FISHERMAN’S DREAM – MLS#832472 – (256)302-1510 Lot# 51 LAKE GUNTERSVILLE – 100’ seawall, 3+ acres, Carriage house / 3 car garage, boat house - $750,000 – (765)620-6617 LAMAR COUNTY: 103 ACRE FARM WITH TIMBER, house, detached building – (256)353-5371 BEAUTIFUL 2BR / 2BA WATERFRONT HOME – 20 minutes from Panama City Beach on Choctauhatchee River – 300sqft glassed in gazebo attached by breezeway – Boat house with electric boat lift – House elevated above flood plain – Home (850)231-4597, Cell (850)832-5906

Travel CARIBBEAN CRUISES AT THE LOWEST PRICE – (256)974-0500 or (800)726-0954

Musical Notes PLAY GOSPEL SONGS BY EAR - 10 lessons $12.95. “LEARN GOSPEL MUSIC”. Chording, runs, fills - $12.95 Both $24. Davidsons, 6727AR Metcalf, Shawnee Missions, Kansas 66204 – (913)262-4982

Education

WE PURCHASE SELLER FINANCED NOTES, Trust Deeds, Contracts for Deed, Commercial / Business Notes and more, Nationwide! Call (256)6381930 or (256)601-8146

BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, PMB 767, 6630 West Cactus B-107, Glendale, Arizona 85304. http:// www.ordination.org

GULF SHORES CONDOS - 4.7 miles from beach, starting prices $49,900 www.PeteOnTheBeach.com, click Colony Club – (251)948-8008

FREE CREATION SCIENCE INFO – WWW.CREATIONANDSCIENCE.NET – Adults, teens – Box 508, Fairhope, AL 36533

Critters CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES. Tiny, registered, guaranteed healthy, raised indoors in loving home, vet records and references. (256)796-2893 ADORABLE AKC YORKY PUPPIES – excellent blood lines – (334)3011120, (334)537-4242, bnorman@ mon-cre.net

How To Place a Line Ad in Marketplace Closing Deadlines (in our office): July 2012 – deadline – May 25 August 2012 – deadline – June 25 September 2012 – deadline – July 25 -Ads are $1.65 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis -Telephone numbers, email addresses and websites are considered 1 word each -Ads will not be taken over the phone. You may email your ad to hdutton@areapower.com or call (800)410-2737 ask for Heather for pricing.

-We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards Mail ad submission along with a check or money order made payable to ALABAMA LIVING, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 – Attn: Classifieds.

MAY 2012 31

Market Place

32 MAY 2012

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

MAY 2012  33

Energy Savers

Derek: The Energy Sleuth

Maintaining Your Home HVAC System

A

ccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of this going to cooling and heating costs. To maximize comfort and energy efficiency, it’s important to perform year-round maintenance on your heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. There are some things you can do to help save on energy, decrease maintenance repair costs and improve your overall comfort and the air quality in your home.

First, dirt and neglect are the leading causes of system inefficiency and failure. Change your air filter every month, or as recommended by the manufacturer, especially during the summer and winter months when use is more likely to escalate. A clean filter will prevent dust and debris from building up in the system, which can lead to expensive maintenance and possibly early system failure.

Derek Blankenship is CAEC’s Energy Service Representative and Residential Energy Auditor

34 MAY 2012

MayAL2012.indd 34

It’s also important to keep the vents on the outside unit clean. A dirty coil reduces the system’s ability to cool your home and causes it to run longer, increasing your energy costs and shortening the life of your equipment. Since the unit is on the outside, gusty winds will cover your unit with debris -- wash the unit off with a water hose when dirt is visible. And be careful when doing yard work, such as mowing the lawn.

Direct the mower discharge away from

the unit so grass clippings and dirt don’t block or collect on the coil, drastically reducing efficiency. And the same principle should apply when weeding near the unit.

These routine maintenance tips will help your system operate more efficiently; however, they do not replace the importance of having a certified technician or qualified contractor service your system twice a year, in the spring and fall. Every contracting firm has its own maintenance checklist, but here are some general guidelines on what to expect.

A biannual system maintenance check may include cleaning the coils, lubricating moving parts, tightening all electrical connections, measuring voltage and current on motors, checking thermostat settings, checking system controls to ensure proper and safe operation and inspecting the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode).

Remember to always ask for a written copy of all functions performed and file it with your records. Most contractors offer discounted annual maintenance contracts, including a reduction on parts and labor and priority scheduling. And if you decide to sell your home, these agreements are often transferable.

Routine maintenance on your HVAC system will help improve its efficiency, extend the life of your equipment and ensure peak performance. A

www.caec.coop

4/5/2012 10:06:52 AM

Electrical Safety Quiz May is National Electrical Safety Month – test your knowledge about electricity and safety by taking the following short quiz.

1. If you’re working on an outdoor project that requires digging a hole of any size, what should you do?

A. Dig wherever you want as long as it’s a small hole.

B. Call 811 before you dig.

C. Guess where underground lines are and avoid those areas.

2. True or False: All overhead power lines are completely insulated.

3. If you lose something over the fence of a substation (like a ball) you should: A. Use a stick to poke through the fence to try to get it.

B. Climb over the fence.

C. Call CAEC or the power provider to have them retrieve it for you.

4. True or False: If you see a power line on the ground, the best way to know if it’s energized is to look for sparks or smoke emitting from the line.

5. If you see someone who is receiving an electrical shock or is being electrocuted from an appliance you should: A. Use a piece of wood to push the appliance away.

B. Turn off the home’s main switch at the circuit breaker.

C. Grab them and pull them away from the appliance.

Answers: 1. B. Calling 811 a day or two before your outdoor project can save time, money and possibly your life.

Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs.

2. False. Not all overhead power lines are insulated. Many overhead lines are partially insulated, making them very dangerous to touch.

3. C. Call CAEC. Substations are dangerous; never attempt to enter a substation or reach into the fenced in area. Contact CAEC or the appropriate power provider to come and safely retrieve the item for you.

4. False. There is no way for you to know if a power line is energized by looking at it and you should never try to find out on your own. Call the power provider or the local authorities immediately and stay away from the downed line.

5. B. Turn off the home’s main switch at the circuit breaker. By turning off the appliance’s source of electricity, you can safely evaluate the person. Touching them while the item still has power could conduct electricity into your body as well, and while wood may not be a conductor, if it’s wet or dirty it could still cause you electrical harm. *For more safety tips, visit www.caec.coop.

MayAL2012.indd 35

4/5/2012 10:06:53 AM

Our Sources Say

A Marriage Of Convenience?

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

Alabama Living

The title of this month’s article, “A Marriage of Convenience,” probably does not give you a warm fuzzy feel. “A Marriage of Convenience” invokes thoughts of “gold diggers” – usually (but not always) young attractive women looking for older, wealthy gentlemen willing to support their lifestyle in return for a young, attractive partner.

Perhaps the most publicized marriage of convenience was Anna Nicole Smith and J. Howard Marshall, an 89-year-old gentleman with a net worth of $1.6 billion. After dropping out of high school, Anna Nicole started a career as an exotic dancer and pursued a modeling and acting career.

J. Howard Marshall became one of her biggest fans, and she married Mr. Marshall in 1994. At the time of the marriage, Anna Nicole was 26 years old, and Mr. Marshall was 63 years her senior. Theirs appeared to be a marriage of convenience. He obtained a young, beautiful companion, and she obtained a very wealthy gentleman.

They reportedly never lived together, and she denied marrying Mr. Marshall for money. However, she contested his will when he died, which left her nothing from his estate.

It is truly a sad ending to an unusual relationship. However, it is not the only relationship that ended poorly. Last week, in a biting press release, the Sierra Club split with Chesapeake Gas. Their relationship was another “Marriage of Convenience.”

Chesapeake Gas has adopted an ultra-aggressive marketing policy against coal-fired electric generation, primarily to support the market for its product, natural gas. The Sierra Club is an environmental activist organization that has fought for a cleaner environment and has opposed most coal-fired generation projects.

Together, Chesapeake Energy and the Sierra Club formulated a strategy to discount the value of

coal-fired generation. One of their most successful campaigns featured television commercials and T-shirts with children’s faces covered with coal dust proclaiming, “Coal is Dirty.”

Last month the EPA published its carbon dioxide regulation limiting new coal-fired electric generation to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt hour. No coal plant can meet that limitation without carbon capture and sequestration, which is neither proven nor tested. In doing so, EPA effectively killed new coal-fired electric generation.

However, the day before EPA announced its new carbon dioxide regulations, the Sierra Club formally divorced Chesapeake Energy. Michael Brune, Sierra Club executive director, said in a USA Today interview, “Today’s natural gas industry is dirty, dangerous and putting American families at risk. It’s time for everyone to stop thinking of natural gas as a kinder, gentler energy source and renew our focus on reaching a clean energy future as soon as possible.”

Mr. Brune also said, “The natural gas industry is exempt from federal health and environmental protections, and fracking operations continue unchecked and unregulated across the country.” And finally he said, “It is clear that as the country transitions from coal, it should leapfrog over natural gas to truly clean energy.”

What Mr. Brune did not mention is that people and subsidies associated with Chesapeake Energy contributed $26 million to the Sierra Club last year and have contributed heavily in past years as well. Marriages of convenience rarely end well, and the Sierra Club and Chesapeake followed the script. However, it appears the Sierra Club got a better deal than Anna Nicole.

My old friend and teammate, Danny “Bobo” Lazenby used to say, “People are funnier than anybody,” and they are. I hope you have a good month. A

MAY 2012 37

Alabama Snapshots

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My old car

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Submit Your Images!

July Theme: “Sunday

Finest”

Send color photos with a large self addressed stamped envelope 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. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos.

Deadline for: May 31 38 MAY 2012

1. 1978 VW Bug submitted by Walt and Pam Johnson, Foley 2. 1 9 3 1 M o d e l A C a b r i o l e t Convertible submitted by Jim Timbes, Seale 3. 1957 Chevy Bel Air submitted by Wayne Ivey, Opelika 4. “All Original” submitted by Dovie Lahmeyer, Lineville

5. “Antique Patrol Car” submitted by Melody Martin, Holly Pond 6. 1930 MG M Type submitted by James and Alice Hester, Russellville 7. 1931 Chevy submitted by Gail Gibian, Selma 8. 1967 Camaro and 1966 Nova submitted by Randy and Joquitta Posey, Cullman www.alabamaliving.coop