Spotlight | December SOCIAL SECURITY
Three reasons why Social Security is important for women More women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history. Yet, on average, women face greater economic challenges than men in retirement. Nearly 55 percent of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Women generally live longer than men while often having lower lifetime earnings. And women usually reach retirement with smaller pensions and other assets compared to men. Social Security is vitally important to women for these three key reasons. You could be eligible for your own benefits if you: • worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and • have earned a minimum of 40 work credits. Once you reach age 62, you could be eligible for your own Social Security benefit. Whether you’re married or not and whether your spouse collects Social Security or not, you could be eligible. If you’re eligible and apply for benefits on more than one work record, you generally receive the higher benefit amount. The sooner you start planning for retirement, the better off you’ll be. We have specific information for women at socialsecurity.gov/people/women. Email or post this link to friends and family you love.
Whereville, AL Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer by Dec. 12 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative. The winner and answer will be announced in the January issue. Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124. Contribute your own photo for an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or unusual landmark in Alabama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose photo is chosen will also win $25.
Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
Letters to the editor
E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
Veteran likes column I just read your article in Hardy Jackson’s Alabama, (“The Box,” November 2019). I am a Vietnam veteran myself, but I don’t really think about it all that much. Your article really made me think about all the men and women who have served at different times and different places. What really hit home is when you said that we should do what we can to keep from creating any more veterans. How profoundly true! Amen. Dale Edwards, Flat Rock, Ala. 10 DECEMBER 2019
NOVEMBER'S ANSWER
These oversized Adirondack chairs are located in front of the Eden Career Technical Center (ECTC) in Ashville. Marcus Graves, carpentry instructor at the school, gave us a nice history of the chairs: “Ronnie McFarling, our former director, is a big fan of the website and app ‘Roadside America.’ In the fall of 2015, he and I started talking about the fact that there were no sites listed in St. Clair County. “Mr. McFarling saw two big Auburn and Alabama Adirondack chairs for sale at an outdoor store in Birmingham. He asked me if I thought we could build two of these chairs. We initially planned to build five chairs and paint them in the colors of the five high schools that we serve in St. Clair County. “One day, we saw a picture of four chairs on a beach with the word L-O-V-E spelled out. That led us to the idea of using them as a sign with the letters ECTC for our school. “The chairs were finished in 2016 and we placed them on our property near the intersection of U.S. Highways 231 and 411. They were an immediate hit with the people passing by the school. We started getting calls from people asking if they could stop and take a picture, or if we would build them a chair? “But the best calls and visits were from people that has passed our school for years and never really knew what we did or what we taught. So the chairs have really helped us draw attention to our school and our mission.” (Photo by Allison Law of Alabama Living) To learn more about the ECTC, visit sccboe.org. The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Tanya McCord of Coosa Valley EC.
Saw ads in magazine
We had the friendliest couple come in the Welcome Center last week to get information on things to do in Dawsonville. They were raving about our ads in Alabama Living Magazine! I invited them to the Moonshine Festival we had this past weekend, and sure enough, I somehow spotted them in the crowd and had another chat. They also went to Amicalola Falls while they were here because of our ad. Appreciate it, Dustin Heard, Tourism & Events Director Dawson County Chamber of Commerce & Office of Tourism Development Dawsonville, Ga. www.alabamaliving.coop