May 2026 Cullman EC

YOUTH TOUR

High school juniors explore Montgomery and learn about co-ops

May 2026

Manager Tim Culpepper

Co-op Editor Lindsey Dossey

ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 450,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-pro t, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $15 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing o ce.

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9 Class Reunion

Have you been to a recent class reunion? You might see your photo in this issue!

12 ATTA Library Opens

New STEM center in Abbeville aims to change public perceptions of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and history.

20 Worth the Drive

Family-owned Gambino’s Italian Grill in Fairhope is celebrating its 50th year in business this month.

26 From Galway to Gulf Shores

Bring the beauty and style of European gardens to your yard in Alabama.

Cullman Electric Cooperative Youth Tour students pause in front of the state capitol building for a quick photo during the 2026 Montgomery Youth Tour.

PHOTO: Brian Lacy

Cullman Electric Cooperative

Phillip

Board of Trustees

No simple Answers

From a child’s questions to your power bill

By Brian Lacy

I’ve reached the stage in parenting where my 10-year-old son has started asking some hard questions. I’m not talking about having to answer how Santa Claus is able to visit all 148.7 million homes in the United States in one night. (If you have a good explanation for how someone can visit 206,528 homes every minute for 12 consecutive hours, let me know.)

We’re dealing with the kind of questions that come from a child who, thankfully, has the intelligence of his mom and the inquisitive skepticism that led his dad into a career in journalism. He is always watching, always listening, and always curious. Here are some of the questions he has dropped on me in recent months:

Why are the police arresting brown people? Why do so many college football players go to a different school each year? Why are we fighting with Iran? Why are those astronauts visiting the moon?

While the issues might vary in seriousness, all these answers have something in common. They are not easy to explain. Each requires context, historical reference, and understanding of differing perspectives. A 30-second summary might make for a good soundbite or meme on social media, but it lacks the nuance necessary to truly understand why something is happening.

At Cullman Electric Cooperative, we’ve coined a term for an issue that doesn’t have a simple answer. We call it a zebra. It’s not black, but it’s not white. It’s black and white. How we handle one work order can look very different from the next work order, depending on a long list of factors. There isn’t a single issue that by itself is difficult to answer, but considering all the issues together can be complicated. And from the outside, it can look like a confusing mess.

One of the questions members often ask is about the cost of electricity. It’s a simple question, but explaining the “why” behind the price of electricity and the cost of your monthly power bill... there is no black-and-

white answer.

There is a long list of regional, national, and global issues that have a direct impact on your power bill every month. Business, political, and environmental factors have changed how the Tennessee Valley Authority generates electricity, and how much electricity it can currently generate. TVA is building new baseload power plants that won’t start operating for several years. In the meantime, when demand is high TVA must purchase power on the open market where the cost of generating electricity can fluctuate as conflicts on the other side of the world impact the supply of oil and natural gas.

On a smaller scale, Cullman Electric faces its own challenges. Continued growth in our community leads to increased demand for electricity, which requires the co-op to purchase and maintain more poles, wire and transformers to ensure everyone receives the reliable power they expect and deserve. We also look at where growth is happening within our system and make sure we have substations capable of delivering power to all the homes and businesses in the area it serves. Five years ago, substation construction cost approximately $3 million. Today, that same project comes with a near $6 million price tag.

Don’t think for a second your co-op or you, our members, are powerless when faced with these challenges. At Cullman Electric, it’s our responsibility to work to keep bills as low as possible, and the co-op works hard to manage the costs it can control. As a consumer, you have free access to our UsageTracker program, and we offer home energy audits through our partnership with TVA. Both tools can help you understand how your home uses electricity and give you advice on how to use less.

Brian Lacy is the VP of member engagement and communications for Cullman Electric Cooperative.

Holiday Office Closure

Cullman Electric Cooperative offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The Cullman EC 24-hour dispatch center will be staffed, line crews will be on standby for any outages, and members will be able to make payments online at CullmanEC.com/pay-bill, through our office dropbox, or at any of the payment kiosk locations at our Cullman office, Addison office, or Hopper’s Market in Fairview.

Take charge

Cullman Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Contact Information

Office locations

Cullman - headquarters 1749 Eva Road NE

Cullman, AL 35055

Addison - branch office

31132 US Hwy 278 West Addison, AL 35540

Phone

256-737-3200 (main business number)

Website & Social Media

www.CullmanEC.com www.SproutFiberInternet.com

Follow @cullmanEC on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Follow Sprout on Facebook and LinkedIn @sproutfiberinternet

Payment Options

Draft

Pay your bill by automatic draft from your checking account or credit card

Online

Payments may be made 24 hours a day by check, credit card or debit card on ourwebsites

Kiosks

Payments may be made 24 hours a day at Cullman EC’s offices on Eva Road and in Addison. The kiosk located at Hopper’s Family Market in Fairview is available during regular business hours

By Mail

Cullman Electric Cooperative PO Box 2303

Cullman, AL 35056-2303

Sprout Fiber Internet PO Box 2301

Cullman, AL 35056-2301

Night Deposit/Drop Box

Available at both office locations

Youth Tour 2026

High-school juniors from the Cullman Electric service area high schools recently participated in the annual Montgomery Youth Tour, learning about leadership, government, cooperatives, and the history of Alabama. Pictured right, the students paused inside the State House for a quick photo in front of the Seal of Alabama. Front row, left to right are: Zaylee Shehan, Meek; Allie Freeman, West Point; Rafaella Guevara, St. Bernard; and Callie Aker, Hanceville; back row, left to right are: Kloe White, Good Hope; Millie Jenkins, Cullman; Elijah Roberts, Addison; Sam Hunt, Cold Springs; Cohen Gurganus, Holly Pond; and E.J. Sharpe, Vinemont.

Unclaimed Refunds

When our members, former members, or subscribers are due a refund (from security deposits or other fees), Cullman Electric Cooperative and/or Sprout Fiber Internet makes every reasonable effort to contact them and return their money. If you or a family member are on this list, please contact our office as soon as possible to arrange your refund. Call our office at (256) 737-3200, email us at info@cullmanec.com, or write to us at Cullman Electric Cooperative, PO Box 1168, Cullman, AL 35056.

Bailey, Malissa

Baker, Christopher Alan

Bartlett, Mckenzie Lee

Bauder, Dawn R

Brockman, Tabitha Lynn

Burnett, Heather Brianna

Campbell, Adam

Capizzi, Nicholas

Cason, Cathy T

Cleghorn, Jonathan R

Cochran, Eric

Collins, Larry Dwight

Cone, Rickey A

Cranford, Kenneth R.

Desilvey, Stacy

Dingler, Tracie

Edwards, Sam

Ellis, Michael Todd

Ennis, John

Falls, Ruth

Fields, Victoria Marie

Foshee, Ronald

Freeman, Emmitt

Gagnon, Josie

Gartside, Austin Thomas

Gibson, Jerold Q.

Gilbert, Joseph Edward

Gray, Brody Aaron

Guthery, Henry C

Harris, Kenneth Ray

Hartley, Hannah Grace

Hickox, George

Hill, Charles Andrew

Hines, R E

Hitt, Blake Dakota

Hollaway, Estsol

Holley, John

Hoskins, Martha Kimberly

Howell, Ava Kate

Huffstutler, Logan Carlos

Jackson, Chareen

Johnson, Ace

Jones, Shelby Wayne

Kalva, Satish

King, Johnathan David x 2

Lancaster, Isaac Parris

Lancaster, Patsy

Lindsey, Alexis

Lopez, Victor Ramirez

Mancini, Blayke Anthony

McCaghren, James T

McCurley, Bradley

McGuirk, Timothy Lee

Mikel, James William

Mudar, Olga

Muldoon, Rebecca Nicole

Mulvehill, Herman T

Nunez Vijil, Gloria Yaquelin

Olmsted, Ashley Nicole

Palos Mendoza, Christopher Parris, Brandon

Paul, Brittany Nicole

Perez Diaz, Miguel

Phillips, Wes

Ratliff, Barbara Jean

Ryan, Zachary Alan

Sanders, Austin Wade

Saria, Erica Charlotte

Sellman, Henry

Sharpton, Destry Wayne

Silva, Wendy Jureli

Smith, Bertie Cockrell

Stephens, James Lee x 2

Stisher, William S

Stroud, Oxford Lawrence

Swain, Kevin

The Chophouse LLC

Thomas, Daniel Griffin

Thompson, Rachel Alaine

Thrasher, Kelsie Paige

Tuggle, Charles

Upton, Gloria

Virgen, Brandon

Vonbartheld, Alysia Kaye

Waldrep, Justice Haven

Weaver, Kimberly

Wilbanks, Jason Scott

Williams, Adrian B

Willis, Shamorra Brean

Wise, Phyllis Swann

Wood, Joey Lee

FREE EVENT

Come and climb aboard bucket trucks, school buses, helicopter, emergency vehicles and more! Fun for all ages!

Seal the Gaps, Save This Summer

As temperatures rise, don’t overlook the small gaps around windows and doors. Air sealing isn’t just for winter; it’s just as important in summer.

Tiny cracks and worn weatherstripping let cool air escape and hot, humid air sneak in, making your air conditioner work harder and driving up energy costs.

Take a few moments to check for drafts, replace weatherstripping, and seal leaks. A tighter home stays cooler, more comfortable, and more energy efficient.

Get involved in your co-op Requirements

to run for Cullman Electric Board of Trustees

One of the cornerstones of the cooperative form of business is that members have a voice in the operation of the company by electing representatives to the Board of Trustees. Below is Article IV, Section 4.02 of the Cullman Electric Cooperative bylaws, which outlines the qualifications necessary to be elected to the Board of Trustees.

No person shall be eligible to become or remain a Trustee of the Cooperative who while serving on the Board or during the three (3) years preceding his/her nomination thereto shall have been finally adjudged to be guilty of a felony, or is a close relative of an incumbent Trustee or of an employee of the Cooperative, or who has not been, for at least one (1) year prior to his/her nomination, a member in good standing of the Cooperative receiving service therefrom at his/her primary domicile as defined in Alabama election law, being the address at which the trustee nominee is registered to vote in the Trustee District from which he/she was or would be elected, or who has within the past five (5) years been employed by the Cooperative. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a Trustee of, or to hold any other position of trust in the Cooperative who is not at least nineteen (19) years of age, or is in any way employed by or has a substantial financial interest in a competing enterprise, or a business selling electric energy services, communications services or supplies to the Cooperative, or a competitive business primarily engaged in selling electrical power or other energy sources to the public, or who is engaged in a business that has substantial dealings with the Cooperative other than through the purchase of its electric power and energy and

through which he/she could materially benefit therefrom. In addition no person shall be elected or serves a Trustee if they are currently serving or are elected as an elected local, state or federal official for which they are eligible to receive compensation. Trustees accepting office shall agree to attend a reasonable number of essential seminars, workshops, state, regional and national meetings in order to become and remain an effective Trustee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this Section treating with close relative relationships, no incumbent Trustee shall lose eligibility to remain a Trustee or to be reelected a Trustee if, during his/her incumbency as a Trustee, he/she becomes a close relative of another incumbent Trustee or of a Cooperative employee because of a marriage or an adoption to which he/she was not a party. An employee of the Cooperative shall lose eligibility to continue in the employment of the Cooperative if he/she becomes a close relative of a Trustee because of a marriage or an adoption to which he/she is a party.

A Trustee position shall automatically become vacant if he/ he misses three (3) regular meetings of the Board during any twelve (12) month period unless the remaining Trustees by a majority vote resolve that there was a good cause for such absences. Nothing contained in this Section shall, or shall be construed to, affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board unless such action is taken with respect to an interest in conflict with that of the Cooperative.

For many of us, the home phone is more than a device — it’s a familiar connection. It’s the number friends and family know by heart. The good news? Even as some providers step away from maintaining old copper phone lines, your trusted home phone doesn’t have to disappear. Today’s home phone service simply travels a new path over fast, reliable fiber internet.

A step forward from aging copper

Across the country, traditional telephone providers are retiring older copper networks. That can leave customers wondering what comes next. Fiber-powered phone service replaces those aging lines with a clearer, more dependable connection—without changing how you use your phone. Pick up the receiver. Dial. Talk. It’s still that simple.

Keep the number you’ve always had

One of the biggest worries we often hear is: “Will I lose my phone number?” The answer is no. In most cases, your longtime number can be transferred to the new service. That means the same familiar number your family has called for decades can keep ringing — just on a modern system. Haven’t had a landline in decades? You can easily request a new number.

Safety and peace of mind

A reliable home phone adds an extra layer of peace of mind for any household. In an emergency, having a dedicated phone line can make reaching help fast and easy. Many appreciate simple features like louder ringers, easy-to-use handsets, and a phone that’s always in the same place.

Staying connected to what matters

There’s something special about a phone call. Hearing a grandchild’s voice, catching up with an old friend, or sharing good news in real time keeps us connected in ways texts or emails can’t replace.

Even kids are using landlines again

Turns out, landlines are making a comeback. Some families are bringing landlines back for kids. It gives them a safe way to call friends and relatives without handing over a smartphone too soon. Funny how good ideas sometimes come back around.

Class Reunions

Hanceville High School class of 1985’s 40th class reunion.

SUBMITTED by Joquitta

Emily Siddall McDonald and Jennifer Newby at our 30-year Huntsville High School reunion. SUBMITTED by Jennifer Newby, Pelham.

Ruth and Joyce, friends since 1st grade; graduating class of 1966, Murphy High School in Mobile. SUBMITTED by Cecil Thompson, Magnolia Springs.

July theme: “Stars and Stripes” | Deadline: May 31

Submit photos at alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo or by scanning the QR code. Photos submitted for publication may also be used on our website and on our social media pages.

Decatur’s Austin High School class of 1986. SUBMITTED by Tammy Jenkins, Danville.

Posey, Cullman.

Donald Jackson, Curtis Tucker, Dewayne Williams, Gregory Tatum and Winston Ballard, friends from first grade through high school. Evergreen High School class of 1983. SUBMITTED by Gregory Tatum, Andalusia.

Red Bay High School class of 1975 50th class reunion. SUBMITTED by Kathryn Wilkins, Red Bay.

Find the Hidden Dingbat!

You’ve got to hand it to our graphic artist, Sean Burnley, for making last month’s dingbat a bit harder to find than normal. The golden egg was tucked into the gold picture frame displaying a photo of President George W. Bush and Harper Lee on Page 32, and if you weren’t looking closely you might have missed it. “Not ‘eggsactually’ easy to find and upside down as well!’” wrote reader Andy Kennedy of Jackson, a member of Clarke-Washington EMC. Joyce Newman was another reader who found it, and wrote, ‘What a picture perfect way to display the Easter egg. You would think it would be in a picture with grass, but no, it was hid in a beautiful place that no one would guess. I guess it was meant for this special egg to be hunted for very closely. I appreciate that.” In the small world department, Richard Burns of Fort Morgan writes that his wife Allison’s mother was a classmate of Harper Lee at Huntingdon College, and that he and his wife were classmates in the Auburn High School class of 1966 with Ms. Lee's niece, Molly. “We enjoyed both the article and the search for the golden egg,” he wrote. Congratulations to the randomly drawn winner, Joanna Ege of Hanceville, a member of Cullman EC, who wins $25 from our sponsor, Alabama One. This month we’ve hidden this wheelbarrow, so take a break from your spring gardening and start hunting for it! Remember: it won’t be in an ad or pages 1-8.

THIS MONTH IN

ALABAMA HISTORY

Statesman Oscar Underwood is Born

Although born and raised elsewhere, Oscar Underwood was among Alabama’s most important 20th-century politicians. He was a powerful figure in the U.S. Congress and a two-time presidential candidate.

Sponsored by By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop

By mail:

Find the Dingbat

Alabama Living 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117

Letters to the Editor

E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117

Liked encyclopedia column

I really enjoyed reading Joe's article about World Book encyclopedias ("Cup 'o Joe," April 2026). I also grew up using them. And when bored, I also would grab one and start reading. They were heavy but I would much rather have a book in my lap than a phone or tablet to read. Thanks, Joe, for the wonderful memories.

Jackie Luckhaupt, Ladonia

I enjoyed reading your article on the World Book encyclopedia. I'm 71 and the World Book encyclopedias played a significant role in my education growing up. My parents could not afford to own a set, so I had to go to the library anytime I had to use them as a reference. However, we did have a complete set of the Golden Book Encyclopedias! As you point out, the world and technology have changed a great deal since then. I'm pretty sure I prefer that simpler way of life. But for now, my wife and I are comfortably retired at Smith Lake down by the dam in a little community called Windemere. Maybe we'll see you out there on the lake one day!

Dave Melvin, Bremen

Underwood was born on May 6, 1862, in Louisville, Ky. A bout of chronic bronchitis dominated his youth. The family relocated to Minnesota seeking a more suitable climate. After his health improved, he studied law at the University of Virginia.

Underwood arrived in Birmingham in the mid-1880s. The young attorney soon made politics his profession as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In Washington, he was an early proponent of tariff reform. By the 1910s, he rose to House Majority Leader and chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Out of respect, southern Democrats put his name into consideration for president in 1912.

In 1914, Underwood won election to the U.S. Senate, where he would hold several leadership positions. Like most southern Democrats, Underwood opposed women’s suffrage. Unlike many colleagues, he fought Prohibition and took a strong stand against the Klan—earning him a mention in John F. Kennedy’s book Profiles in Courage Underwood ran again for president in a crowded field of candidates in 1924. After ten days and more than 100 deadlocked votes—the longest nomination fight in history—compromise candidate John Davis of West Virginia emerged the victor, only to then be soundly defeated by Republican Calvin Coolidge.

After four decades in Washington, Underwood chose not to run for reelection in 1926. He retired to his nearby home in Virginia, where he died in 1929. His family fulfilled his wish that he be buried in Alabama, the adopted state he had represented for more than half of his life.

— Scotty Kirkland

PHOTO BY HARRIS & EWING FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Oscar W. Underwood represented Alabama in Congress for more than half his life.

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 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative, if applicable. The winner and answer will be announced in the June issue. Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, 340 Technacenter Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117.

April’s answer: These white cliffs are located on the Tombigbee River at Epes in Sumter County. They are part of the Selma chalk formations, which were deposited about the same time as England’s White Cliffs of Dover. The chalk is a form of limestone, a sedimentary rock deposited when this part of Alabama was still underwater. (Photo courtesy of Rural SW Alabama; ruralswalabama.

org) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is James Darden of Central Alabama EC.

Event to Celebrate Alabama’s Arts

Every other year, the Celebration of Alabama Arts shines a spotlight on exceptional Alabamians and their contributions to arts and creativity in our state, across the nation and beyond.

The 2026 award recipients are Eric Essix, Scott Wright, Ralph Frohsin Jr., Gary Waldrep, Debbie Bond, Gary Chapman and George Culver.

Their contributions will be recognized with tribute performances and short documentary films at an awards ceremony at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.

The event is free and open to the public, but complimentary, general admission tickets must be reserved through the ASF box office. Call 334-271-5353 or visit asf.net/celebrate.

This event is hosted by the Alabama State Council on the Arts; learn more about the award winners at arts.alabama.gov

Take Us Along!

See more travelers on page 24!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo. We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

 Nena Fellger of Mentone sent us three photos from her travels last year, including this one made in Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras. Nina is a member of Sand Mountain EC.

 Sisters-in-law, Kim Nawlin and Cindy Weeks, both members of Covington EC, traveled with the Andalusia Adult Activity Center on a trip to Ireland. Among the many stops they made with their magazine was at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.

 Sandra Frost of Cropwell recently took a trip with her daughter and daughters-in-law to England, Scotland and Ireland, including the Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland. She is a member of Coosa Valley EC.

 Anne & Troy Green of Foley, members of Baldwin EMC, share a photo taken in Vatican City outside St. Peter’s Basilica last May, the year of the Jubilee.

 Dawn Eckhoff and Mike Eckhoff traveled to Mt. Rushmore last June. They are members of Pioneer EC.

 Robert (Bob) and Patsy Williams from Arley, members of Cullman EC, traveled with their issue to Copenhagen, Denmark.

 Sonja Holladay of Danville took her magazine along to Santorini, Greece last summer. She is a member of Joe Wheeler EMC.

Stimulating STEM with

Wiregrass library invests in science, local history and learning for life

Shepherd and Anna Denson play at the “build a race car” exhibit in the new ATTA Library in Abbeville. The exhibit teaches lessons in physics, engineering and design; all the exhibits are designed to foster curiosity and interest in STEM areas.

STORY BY ALLISON LAW

PHOTOS BY ALYZE COLLIER PHOTOGRAPHY

In the small Henry County town of Abbeville, a multi-faceted educational resource has taken shape over the last decade, one that its founders hope will become a learning hub for the region and perhaps a model for other small towns.

On the picturesque town square is the ATTA Library of STEM and History, created to inspire learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), provide educational opportunities that aren’t readily available in the region, and pique the interest of young people in career paths that involve STEM subjects.

Beyond the student-level experience, the ATTA is also meant to equip educators who bring learning to life; 142 educators have already been trained there. Another part of its mission is to bring leaders in business and industry together to invest in the future of the Wiregrass region: The library’s “Dream It, Do It” day in late April was set to bring nearly 1,000 eighth-graders to town to meet with professionals in several professions, including bioscience, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

To encourage young people to consider jobs in the science and engineering fields, a station in the library provides information on different career pathways, including real uniforms that young ones can try on to picture their dream career.

Nicey Eller, a member of the ATTA advisory board, told those gathered at the grand opening in late March that across 10 counties, 146 workforce surveys were collected, and that more than 20 organizations are working together to create connections, share resources and unite the Wiregrass.

“Leaders from across southeast Alabama are coming together to build partnerships and strengthen our workforce and our communities,” says Kate Killebrew, executive director of the ATTA.

The grand opening was more for the community than for children, judging from the large attendance of local adults, elected officials and regional dignitaries. Of course, the library is designed to be an educational resource for young people, but it will also be a repository for the stories of people of the region. There is also a large database of area history that will be continually updated.

The local history component includes a collection of artifacts but is intended to be more about storytelling, Killebrew says. “We hear great stories that need to be told and remembered,” she says, noting that a local woman finds these kinds of stories

an international competition in St. Louis this

Above: The uniforms worn by a variety of professionals are on display as part of the “picture your dream career” exhibit at the ATTA Library. The gear worn by first responders, astronauts, scientists and electric utility linemen are displayed to pique students’ interests in career paths.

and writes a short script, finds local people to record audio, and turns the information over to a videographer, who puts in the visuals, including old family photos.

“You don’t have to read a book to get their story,” Killebrew says. “It’s told in a custom two-minute video that we created.”

But make no mistake – the ATTA is created as a learning space for young people who’ve grown up in a technologydriven world. The exhibits are interactive and hands-on, and designed to broaden the students’ understanding of STEM subjects. Among the exhibits: a high-tech sand box, which uses augmented reality to change the topography of the sand; a race-car building exhibit with a racetrack, donated by the McWane Center in Birmingham, to explore physics, engineering and design; a panel dedicated to space exploration; and brain games, such as a mindball game, where the user controls a ball with brain waves.

Other learning centers, such as the McWane, donated exhibits and shared ideas and operational information with the ATTA. “We knew since we were in a small town with a small footprint, (we would need to visit) various museums, and we picked the best of the best,” Killebrew says. “We weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel with anything. We picked out what already worked across the U.S. and the world, and we contacted exhibit designers really from all over the world.”

At top: Micah Johnson, Houston County Extension agent, listens as members of the Headland Robotics Team explain to him the operation and design of their robot. The team will travel to

summer.

For centers like the McWane, it’s a mutual benefit to help a library like the ATTA, because they’re expanding their outreach as well. “It’s all about working together and reaching the most students.”

The ATTA … and the name

The ATTA is named for Susie Ezzell Atta, who was from the Wiregrass and defied the traditional educational norms of the late 1940s by pursuing graduate studies in mathematics. Most universities in Alabama wouldn’t admit her, telling her that women weren’t allowed to earn a master’s degree in mathematics. She persisted and eventually was admitted to the University of Alabama and earned a master’s degree in math in the early 1950s.

She went on to work for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, where she met and married George Atta. The couple eventually moved to Washington, D.C., to work with the National Institute of Health as two of the top mathematicians in the country.

An information panel at the ATTA describes her work: “Susie conducted research on the mathematical and theoretical aspects of biological problems. She used differential equations to explain how oxygen travels through the bloodstream and how it is absorbed in the body.” George worked in the fields of pathology, biochemistry and biology.

Her humble beginnings and eventual success in her field led her to want to give back to her small town. She also felt it was important to recognize that people who do great things come from small towns and wanted a permanent way to showcase them.

Susie asked her nephew, Lester Killebrew, to use her estate to bring her vision to life: To create a center of learning for all ages, with a focus on STEM and history, while also inspiring the next generation by remembering those who’ve already done amazing things.

When Susie died in 2014, Lester got to work on what would become the ATTA, and brought his daughter, Kate, on board; Kate used her background in interior design to help with the initial concept of using the space and her connections with technical professionals to work on the high-tech aspects of the library. An advisory board was formed, which included educators and representatives from such areas as economic development, government, agriculture and non-profits to lend their expertise.

Lester knew his aunt well, and thinks Susie would be proud of how the ATTA has turned out. “She was a perfectionist; she wanted everything done just right. That’s the way we’ve tried to do it. We really think we’re going to help younger people and their lives and what they can accomplish.”

Despite very little marketing, the ATTA – which is registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit – has drawn school groups as well as adults from both the local area and the surrounding states. There is no admission fee, though a small fee is requested for field trips. Walk-ins are welcome from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and field trips are on Wednesdays. The address is 114 South Court Square in Abbeville; visit the-atta.org for more information. 

Top: An informational panel describes some of the published work of Susie Atta, the mathematician for whom the ATTA Library was founded and named. She developed numerical methods and computer programs for the solution of mathematical models of biophysical problems, including cancer. Middle: students try the high-tech sandbox that uses augmented reality to change the topography of the sand. Bottom: A guest tries out the exhibit dedicated to the Bernoulli principle, which states that the speed of a fluid determines the amount of pressure that a fluid can exert.

the

ineman

40-plus years of craftsmanship

BY LENORE VICKREY

The first thing you notice about Andrew McCall are his hands. They are constantly in motion, pulling, bending and twisting long ropes of vines into the base, sides and handles of his famous baskets.

These same hands have been pulling wisteria vines out of the woods of Black Belt Alabama for more than four decades, piling them into the back of his truck and bringing them to his Lowndes County home where he weaves and hammers them into one-of-akind baskets. The final products can be found at craft shows and specialty retail shops across Alabama.

“I’ve been doing this for over 40 years,” McCall says, as he pulls a long vine into position for a basket handle. Each creation is unique. “Each one is different. And not by design. It just happens that way. I can make them similar, but not exactly. It’s my life’s passion.”

McCall, now 75, started out years ago pulling Spanish moss off the trees in his native Lowndes County woods and selling it to florists to use in floral arrangements. That led to him trying his hand at pulling grapevines from the woods to make wreaths, and then to pulling kudzu and wisteria, which is now his preferred vine for making baskets.

The wisteria vine is pliable, but it can’t be forced, he says. “I got kind of tired trying to make it move one way, and I let them go their own way,” he says of the vines. “The vine just do what it wants to do. It’s kind of like dancing. You don’t know how to dance but you go with somebody who does dance and you’re going where they go.”

The wisteria is like that. “I don’t fuss with it. It doesn’t do any good. It looks better when they lay where they want to lay.”

That philosophy has guided him to make more than 10,000 baskets, he estimates. Each one, a different creation. Over the years, he’s also made wreaths, birdhouses, small churches from old lumber and tin, and even willow furniture. But baskets remain his biggest seller.

“Everybody that ever bought a basket from me, they got their own special basket,” he says. “None of them nowhere look just like it.” People use them to display fruit, a plant, wine, or other seasonal items for their table centerpiece. Their versatility makes them ideal indoors or outside.

Crafting a basket is a process he’s honed over time, starting with the bottom and “you go from there,” making the top and then tying the two together. He likens it to the way a bridge is made and held together at precise angles with cables. “It’s the same principle.”

When he’s roaming the woods, he looks for vines that will make a complete basket. “I see the best, and I see what I need,” he says. He uses a sharp snipper to cut the vines into the length a basket requires. McCall carries his tools, including a hammer and sharpening stone, in a dented aluminum tea kettle.

McCall grew up in Lowndes County south of Montgomery, served in the Marines and worked in construction, but found his true life’s calling as a craftsman. “At one point I thought I couldn’t make a living off of it,” but he has.

“I don’t have to chase nobody to buy my stuff.” He and his wife Etta raised five children, and have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

McCall’s wisteria baskets can be used to display plants indoors or outside.

McCall prepares to hammer a vine into place for a basket he made on the porch at Priester’s Pecans in Ft. Deposit.

Dawn McCall enjoys accompanying her father to craft shows, such as this one last December at Pebble Hill in Auburn, sponsored by Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, where he sold his baskets, wooden churches and planters. Below, McCall’s smile and laughter are contagious; bottom right, a dented aluminum teakettle doubles as his tool container.

His baskets are a popular seller at Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center in Camden where his work has been sold since September 2005. “His many creations have been some of our top sellers each year,” says Executive Director Sulynn Creswell. “We have sold his furniture, baskets, churches, birdhouses, angels and plaques.” He has demonstrated in many locations for the center from Pepper Place in Birmingham to Pebble Hill in Auburn, she says. “He has also demonstrated his craft in many schools across the Black Belt and the state as part of the BBTCAC Teaching Artist program.”

Demonstrating didn’t come easily in the early days for McCall, however. “I used to be so shy when I first started making them, I couldn’t make it in front of people.,” he says. “I couldn’t get used to people looking at me and I was embarrassed about what I do.” But gradually as time went on, he got more comfortable. “It’s your work and you shouldn’t be ashamed of it. You got to get yourself comfortable in what you do.”

Taught by God

When he talks to those who watch him work, many find it hard to believe he never took any lessons. “Ain’t nobody ever taught me nothing but God,” he says. "I consider myself an apprentice and God being my teacher.” People want to think someone passed the craft on to him, but “I’ve been in it 40 years and I’ve never seen nobody making baskets but me. This is what I know.”

Besides baskets, his other popular items are wooden churches, made from lumber he salvages from old houses that have been torn down. Their roofs are made from salvaged tin. Some come from antebellum homes. He likes to write a Bible verse on each one, not the verse itself, but the scripture reference. “My thing is to get you to read the Bible, so if you read that verse you more likely to read something else (in the Bible). For me, the word of God is a lifeline to everything I do.”

His 40-plus years of crafting baskets have not been without bumps. In the early 1990s, as best he can recall, he appeared on live TV on QVC, which had asked him to make 800 baskets. It took him 5 to 6 months to make that many baskets, an order so large he had to hire others to help him. He had to pull vines and make baskets every day. It sapped the joy out of the creative process. “That got me out of mass production right there. Never again!” he says. But the 800 baskets sold out in 30 minutes.

These days, he’s content to keep making his baskets and churches as long as he’s able, but on his timeline. Amazingly, the hands that have pulled thousands of feet of vines out of trees are still soft and able to grasp, bend, cut and wield a hammer. “I never had callouses,” he says, looking at his smooth palms. “They do get tired sometimes. But I love what I’m doing. I tell people I’ll probably do this until I die.”

And how did he get the name Vineman? He laughs when he tells the story of 20 or 30 years ago when he was working on some grapevine wreaths and a school bus of children came by and hollered, “Hey Mr. Vine Man, how you doing?”

“At first I thought it was an insult, but it never went away. And that’s what I do. I had other names, but that one stuck.”

You can find Andrew McCall’s creations at Black Belt Treasures in Camden; Priester’s Pecans in Ft. Deposit (where he demonstrates on most Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.); White Flowers in Birmingham; and The Plant Shoppe in Fairhope, or visit thevineman.com. 

PHOTO BY SEAN BURNLEY

PHOTO BY LENORE VICKREY

Alabama’s Beaches invites families to gather, reconnect, and relax together. With room to spread out and experiences everyone can enjoy, it’s a summer destination that offers the space, comfort, and coastal beauty that make family time feel effortless. Plan Your Family Escape

of serving Italian favorites CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

BY T. JENSEN LACEY

The southern village of Fairhope was settled by a small group of Midwesterners, who founded it as a sort of Utopian community. Today, locals and visitors can find their palate’s Utopia by flocking to Fairhope’s famous Italian eatery known as Gambino’s Italian Grill, which is celebrating its 50th year — and it’s been operated by three generations of the same family.

Rick Gambino first opened Gambino’s Italian Grill in 1976. A kind of modern-day Renaissance Man, he’s also been a talented singer and musician (“I sang all over the entire continents of North and South America”), most adept at the piano. He’s a self-made Italian American who started his restaurant with a dream, high hopes, a lot of talent and ambition and little else.

In the year 2020 he penned his autobiography, Never Give Up, which is brimming with stories about his life, his music, his loves and his restaurant. He writes, “I grew up in a lower middle-class neighborhood, ditched school and got

into trouble, like most boys my age. I enlisted in the Army, sang in many groups, got married (Gari), raised a family, opened (and closed) various restaurants, went through a religious conversion, faced bankruptcy and finally ended up where I am today — an ‘overnight success’ that only took 60-plus years to achieve.”

For 50 years, Gambino’s Italian Grill has been more than a restaurant — it’s been a place where multiple generations of families and friends come together and where fond memories are made. Behind it all is Rick Gambino, whose principle of never giving up has guided him through every challenge, whether it’s been recovering after hurricanes, persevering through recessions or riding out the COVID shutdowns.

“Trip Advisor recently named my restaurant, Gambino’s, among the top six restaurants in the nation, among other awards,” Gambino says as he straightens a stack of menus on a table by the entryway.

A longtime popular dish at Gambino’s is the eggplant parmigiana.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAMBINO’S ITALIAN GRILL

“Around May 9, we’ll be celebrating 50 years. This wouldn’t be possible without our great, long-time customers and loyal staff.” As if on cue, a group of six customers walks through the double doors; Gambino greets each of them by name.

The Story Behind the Shirt

“My very first customer, that May day in 1976, was someone who has since become a long-time friend.” He smiles with the memory. “That was Joe Bullard, and he has had dinner at Gambino’s about once a week since then. He was just in again a couple of days ago.”

Steaks, pasta and more

With a menu of so many choices, some firsttime diners struggle with what to order. Some who have been patrons for decades love the eggplant

parmigiana. Other long-time diners swear that Gambino’s serves the best steaks. Their traditional Italian dishes include Chicken Marsala, Shrimp Giardino, cannoli and spaghetti with meatballs. They also offer seafood dishes such as steamed mussels and fried crab claws. For those who still can’t make up their minds when it’s time to order, there is a sampler platter called Gambino’s Taste of Italy that is generous enough to share.

Gambino’s has a kids’ menu that includes spaghetti, fried fish, buttered noodles and fried shrimp. For those diners who have saved room for it, Gambino’s serves fantastic desserts, including a wonderful, traditional tiramisu; for many loyal patrons, the one dessert they want is Gambino’s Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce.

Diners enjoy a wonderful view of Mobile Bay as they toast to engagements, job successes, anniversaries, birthdays and other life’s milestones. Many like to come near the time Gambino’s opens and watch the sunset. When the weather is fair, diners can enjoy having their meals in Gambino’s enclosed courtyard, which includes a lovely koi pond. Indoors, Gambino’s piano bar has live entertainment almost every night and karaoke on Tuesday nights.

From his early days to building a thriving business, Rick’s dedication, resilience, and love for his craft have earned him numerous accolades, including TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice (“Remember, Gambino’s was named among the Top Six Restaurants in the Nation!”), Best of the Best in Everyday Eats, recognition as the No. 1 restaurant in Fairhope, and being named one of the Top 10 Wedding Venues in this Utopian village.

“The two other generations in my family to help me run this restaurant are my son Josh and my granddaughter, Maddie,” Gambino says as he stops to speak to diners who are leaving. “Thanks, and come back soon,” he tells them with his signature broad smile.

Josh comes out of the kitchen, mirroring his dad’s smile. “I’ve been in the kitchen for 36 plus years. I’ve been working at Gambino’s for more than 40 years. Dad’s motto has always been, ‘Give our guests better quality for lower prices and make a modest profit.’” He pauses and adds, “Maddie Gambino, my daughter, came on board about eight years ago and is such a natural. She was just made for this business.”

Rick Gambino adds, “The story of this restaurant is still unfolding, and my other sons — Rick, Brett, Adam and Luke — have all been a part of it, as they have all helped out here.” He echoes, “They’ve all been a part of this story, and the best chapters are yet to come.”

Gambino’s Italian Grill

18 Laurel Ave., Fairhope, AL 36532

251-990-0995

Ordergambinos.com

Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday - Thursday

4 to 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday Happy hour in the bar 3 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

Fairhope l

Gambino’s Italian Grill is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month; its owner and namesake, Rick Gambino, says “the story of this restaurant is still unfolding.”

Clockwise from top left: Seafood Palermo with marinara; grilled shrimp; lemon blueberry cheesecake; from left, Rick Gambino, Maddie Gambino and Josh Gambino; and the seared ribeye.

Celebrate

75 Years of Alabama ONE

Alabama ONE’s story is one of humble beginnings and lasting impact. What started in 1951 with $35 in a cigar box has grown into a trusted, statewide cooperative built on service, integrity, and shared purpose. Every milestone reflects the people, places, and communities across Alabama that shaped who we are today.

Rooted in cooperation and driven by trust, Alabama ONE was built by members, for members—growing alongside the communities we serve and staying committed to helping them thrive. This story is not just about where we’ve been, but about continuing to move forward together, united by a simple belief: progress is stronger when it’s shared. Celebrate the journey and be part of the story. One Together. Since 1951.

Take Us Along!

Continued from page 11

 Sue VanLandingham was a long way from her home in Decatur and Joe Wheeler EMC when she visited Gdansk, Poland.

 Presley & Dawsyn Gandy, grandchildren of Joe Headley, enjoyed a visit to Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, GA. The Headleys are members of Central Alabama EC from Verbena.

 Pat Floyd, along with her son Todd and family, plus Graham Waldrop and Sharon Atkins of Cullman, visited Vatican City on their trip to Italy last June. They are members of Cullman EC.

 Adalyn and Lacey McDonald of Trinity, and members of Joe Wheeler EMC, traveled to see the Magnolia Silos in Waco, Texas.

 Michael Bumgardner and his wife Jeannie went to Omaha Beach, in Normandy, France, in June last year for a D-Day remembrance. They are from Waverly and members of Tallapoosa EC.

 Bo and Punkin Evans of Prattville took their magazine when they visited The Arctic Circle in Grímsey, Iceland. They are members of Central Alabama EC.

 Central Alabama EC members Dane and Susan Hawk of Wetumpka had fun in Times Square in New York City with their magazine.

 Kimmerly Milner of Phenix City got in some good reading on her trip to Sorrento, Italy at the Hotel Bistro. She’s a member of Tallapoosa River EC.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival

May 9 | City Hall Lawn

Featuring Marcus King Band, Maggie Antone, and Brent Cobb.

National Train Day

May 9, 9am – 3pm Meridian Railroad Museum

Model train vendors, miniature rides, and family fun.

Comic Commons

May 9, 10am – 1pm

The MAX

Read, connect, and create with comic lovers.

Armed Forces Freedom 5K

May 16, 8am | Bonita Lakes Run, walk, or cheer in honor of our service members and veterans.

Downtown Art Crawl

May 21, 5–8pm

Explore downtown

Meridian galleries, meet artists, enjoy music, refreshments, and prizes.

toGalway Gulf Shores from

Bringing

European garden style to Alabama

STORY & PHOTOS BY VIKKI MORAN

When you wander through a garden in Europe, perhaps a Tuscan hillside village, a lavender field in Provence, or a stone-walled Irish cottage, it is impossible not to be swept up in the romance. Terracotta pots spill herbs onto sunlit patios, roses climb gracefully over centuries-old walls, and narrow gravel paths wind between fragrant borders. Last year, as I walked the colorful lanes of Dingle, strolled Killarney’s manicured paths, and lingered along Galway’s riverside promenades, I realized that gardens are living reflections of culture, travel, and memory. Guide Books for Italy, Ireland, and France had led me to some of these very spots, and each page now feels alive in my own memories. I could imagine bringing that Old World magic home, not to Tuscany or Provence, but to Alabama.

Designing with Style in Mind

European gardens are as much about mood and structure as they are about plants. The English cottage garden brims with carefree color. Tuscany favors symmetry, stonework, and terracotta warmth. Provence’s sun-washed elegance is simple and fragrant, while Ireland offers a gentle wildness: fuchsia spilling from hedgerows, hydrangeas softening gray stone, and bursts of cheerful color outside every pub. Alabama’s warm climate and generous growing season make it an ideal place to borrow from these traditions if you adapt them caringly.

Planting the Look, Alabama-Style

Instead of chasing exact replicas of European plants, choose regional equivalents that flourish in Southern heat and humidity.

For the soft purple haze of Provence lavender, plant Spanish lavender or Russian sage. To capture the lushness of English roses, select antique varieties or Knock Out roses that withstand humidity. Italian cypress trees can be suggested with columnar junipers or Arizona cypress. The glowing hydrangeas of Killarney can be mirrored with mophead hydrangeas that thrive in Alabama’s acidic soil. Finally, recreate the Tuscan and Galway habit of herbfilled terracotta pots by spilling basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint from containers on porches and patios. Blending these with Southern favorites such as gardenias, Confederate jasmine, and zinnias makes your backyard feel like both Oxford, England and Oxford, Alabama.

A winding stone path bordered by vibrant blooms evokes the quiet romance of the Irish countryside, the inspiration behind this garden journey from Galway to the Gulf.

Adding European Accents

European charm is not only about plants; it is in the details. A gravel path edged with clipped hollies recalls a French parterre. Wrought iron trellises draped in jasmine bring Mediterranean romance. A small fountain or sundial anchors a space with timeless character. Terracotta urns flanking your porch echo an Italian courtyard. Even a wooden bench tucked beneath a tree channels the quiet hospitality I felt in Irish gardens.

A Window of Europe

In Dingle and Galway, every window seemed alive with geraniums, ivy, and petunias tumbling from boxes. These little frames of color turned plain walls into works of art and perfumed narrow streets with gentle fragrance. Alabama homeowners can capture the same magic. Simple wooden or wrought iron window boxes brimming with impatiens, vinca, or begonias bring season long color. Slip in parsley, thyme, or basil for fragrance and kitchen convenience. Each morning, when you look out at a riot of blooms, you may feel as though you are waking up on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way but step out to the warmth of the Southern sun.

Old World Herbal Wisdom

For centuries, European gardens doubled as medicine cabinets. Monks in medieval cloisters grew rosemary, sage, chamomile, and thyme for their healing properties. Lavender scented linens and calmed nerves. Mint soothed upset stomachs, and yarrow stemmed bleeding. Italy’s university gardens at Padua and Pisa became centers for botanical study, cont. pg. 30

CROSSWORD

BY MYLES MELLOR

Classic red geraniums spill from window boxes, their cheerful clusters a hallmark of European homes and an easy way to bring timeless color to Southern gardens.

EVENTS Around Alabama

MAY 1-2

Moulton, 11th annual Strawberry Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, Moulton Park and Recreation Center, 13550 Court St. Family-friendly event with a variety of vendors, festival foods, classic car show, cornhole tournament, entertainers, master gardeners’ showcase, mud volleyball tournament, pony rides, inflatables and meet-and-greet with veterans. Strawberryfestivallawrencecountyal. com

MAY 1-2

Crane Hill, Fire Tower Camp grand opening, 1024 County Road 351, Crane Hill, AL 35053. Ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. May 1 with the Cullman Chamber of Commerce. Open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2; tours of the fire tower, cabins, treehouse, pavilion, swim pier and hiking trails. Free burgers and drinks. Firetowercamp.com

MAY 9

Tuscumbia, Belle Mont Celtic Fest, 1569 Cook Lane. Belle Mont’s sweeping lawn is the setting for performances of the music of Scotland and Ireland by acclaimed Celtic musicians. Arts and crafts, life skills demonstrations, food vendors, children’s activities, Celtic merchandise and more. Bellemontcelticfest.godaddysites.com

MAY 9

Monroeville, Monroe County Archeological Society’s third annual Native American Artifact and Relic Show, 150 Teen Trail. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Collections of Native American artifacts, fossils, crafts, display cases and more. Food available; all proceeds go to the Alpha Center Pregnancy Care Center. 251-564-7916 or 251-593-9511.

MAY 16

Arab, 42nd annual Poke Salat Festival, downtown Arab. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Live music, arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities and more. 256-200-5270 or email PokeSalat@gmail.com

MAY 16

Mentone, Bloom Fest at the Log Cabin Village, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local shopping, handmade goods, sweet treats and many local vendors. VisitLookoutMountain. com

MAY 16

Arley, 53rd annual Arley Day Festival Parade and Car Show, Hamner Park, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Car show, food vendors, arts and crafts, horse rides, kidz town, pickleball tournament, free hot dog lunch for kids and more. Parade begins at 8 a.m. at Dollar General; pickleball tourney begins at 8 a.m. Pre-registration and entry fee required. Car show begins at 8:30 a.m. arleywomensclub.org

MAY 16

Henagar, May on the Mountain Bluegrass Festival, 10 a.m. at Henagar Park, 18296 Broad St. Bring a lawn chair and a friend. 256-657-6282.

MAY 16

Pisgah, Fourth annual Mountain Laurel Arts and Music Festival, Pisgah Civitan Park, 650 CR 374. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spend the day exploring scenic mountain trails, waterfalls and a natural bridge. Artists, creators and craftspeople will showcase unique, handmade works of all kinds. Live music on three stages and a kids’ zone with arts and crafts activities and bounce house. Food trucks and vendors serving food all day. Free admission; parking is $5. 256-679-4997.

MAY 16

Scottsboro, annual Catfish Festival, beginning at 8 a.m. Car show, food trucks, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, free fishing for kids, free pony rides, train rides and inflatables, as well as entertainment. 256-609-1409 or email vlhastings12@yahoo.com

MAY 16-17

JUNE 5-6

Valley Head, Town of Valley Head Rails and Roots Festival, 41 Anderson St. and around the town square. Annual spring festival and community fundraiser features live music on two stages, food trucks and food vendors and arts and crafts vendors. Free children’s activities, including pony rides, train rides, blow-up obstacle course and more. Event focuses on the heritage of the area. 256-635-6814 or email vhmayor@ farmerstel.com

MAY 23

Cullman, Smith Lake Park Memorial Weekend Festival, 403 County Road 386. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live entertainment, food trucks and arts and crafts vendors throughout the event area. Search for the venue’s page on Facebook.

MAY 23-24

Decatur, Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival, Point Mallard Park. More than 50 hot-air balloons fill the sky above Decatur on Memorial Day weekend. Live music, a balloon glow, antique cars and tractors, motorcycles, arts and crafts, fireworks and other family fun. Free. Alabamajubilee.net

JUNE 5-6

Haleyville, 9-1-1 Festival, downtown Haleyville. More than 50 years ago, the first 911 emergency call in the U.S. was placed in this northwest Alabama town. In celebration, the town hosts a two-day festival with activities for children, street vendors, a parade, live music, antique tractor show and more. Free. Haleyvillechamber.org

Georgiana, 47th annual Hank Williams Festival, Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum. Multiple musical acts over the two days, including this year’s headlining artists Easton Corbin and Joe Nichols. Visit hankfestival.com for details and tickets.

JUNE 14

Montgomery, Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival 2026, Riverfront Park, 355 Commerce St. Sponsored by the Montgomery Lions Club. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Long, narrow boats are paddled to the beat of a drum; races are both a competitive sport and a cultural spectacle. Proceeds benefit River Region Trails, a regional non-profit working to develop pedestrian and cycling infrastructure to enhance community health and quality of life. Free for spectators and fans. MontgomeryDragonBoats.com

JUNE 20

Brewton, Alabama Blueberry Festival, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Burnt Corn Creek Park/Jennings Park. Variety of arts and craft vendors, car show, live entertainment and children’s section. Famous Brewton blueberry ice cream, made only once a year, will be available, along with other foods. Locally grown blueberries and blueberry bushes for sale. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, 340 TechnaCenter Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117; 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.

Alabama Living on FB instagram.com/alabamaliving

PHOTO BY LARRY KEY, HONORABLE MENTION WINNER IN THE 2021 ALABAMA LIVING PHOTO CONTEST

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival is Memorial Day weekend in Decatur.

France’s apothecaries distilled tinctures, and German folk healers brewed valerian and lemon balm for sleeplessness. In Ireland, hawthorn strengthened hearts, nettles restored vitality, and elderberries fortified immunity for the ruggedness of their countryside.

Modern herbalists continue this tradition. Juliet Blankespoor, author of The Healing Garden, and Jeff Cox and Marie-Pierre Moine, authors of The Cook’s Herb Garden, write about creating spaces where beauty and medicine coexist, reminding us that every rosemary sprig or chamomile blossom connects today’s gardeners with centuries of wisdom.

Bringing this gardening prowess and culture to Alabama is about more than planting, it is about reviving a sense of connection. Rosemary thrives in Alabama’s sun just as it does in Provence. Mint cascades eagerly from containers. Chamomile reseeds freely, its cheerful blossoms brightening beds. Thyme and oregano offer Old World flavor for both cooking and tradition. Each herb is a reminder that gardens can heal and nourish across centuries and continents.

A Shared Autumn: Galway and Alabama

Another reason European styles fit so well here is Alabama’s fall climate. Both places enjoy long, mild autumns where gardens keep their color far past September. Roses, hydrangeas, and herbs often thrive in Alabama until Thanksgiving, just as Galway’s gardens still shimmer in late August. Alabama’s fall days in the 70s echo Mediterranean and Irish warmth. Rain showers keep landscapes lush, extending the growing season long after northern gardens fade. Alabama’s humidity lingers longer, and Ireland’s daylight wanes sooner, but both regions share the gift of bridging summer and winter with vibrant greenery.

A Garden That Tells Your Story

Creating a European-inspired garden in Alabama is not about imitation, it is about storytelling. Each design choice becomes a passport stamp: Provençal fragrance in one corner, English enthusiasm in another, Italian geometry down a path, and a dash of Irish wildness by your porch. Alabama’s rich soil and generous growing season provide the perfect canvas for this narrative.

Travel does not always require a boarding pass. Sometimes it is in the petals of a rose, the curve of a pathway, or the scent of rosemary on an evening breeze. From Galway to Gulf Shores, Europe can live right outside your window, waiting to greet you each morning with a reminder of where you have been and where your imagination can take you next. 

1) Layers of trailing and upright blooms create depth and texture, echoing the lush, abundant style of European window displays.

2) A thriving herb garden blends beauty with purpose, reflecting Old World traditions where culinary and medicinal plants grow side by side.

3) Ringo roses add a colorful touch.

WHAT IS AL SMP?

The mission of the Alabama Senior Medicare Patrol (AL SMP) is to help Medicare beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, abuse, and errors. Federally funded through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), AL SMP is comprised of dedicated staff and volunteers who respond to reports of suspected Medicare fraud and determine next steps.

1. Conducts Outreach and Education. AL SMP provides educational materials, displays exhibits at events, and works one-on-one with Medicare beneficiaries.

2. Engages Volunteers. Protecting older persons’ health, finances, and medical identity while saving Medicare dollars is a cause that attracts civic-minded Americans.

3. Receives Beneficiary Complaints. When fraud is suspected, AL SMP makes referrals to the appropriate federal agency for further investigation.

• Review your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) and/or Explanations of Benefits (EOBs) • Access your Medicare information at Medicare.gov • Report suspicious Medicare activity by contacting your local AL SMP that offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL services

Gardens

Getting Your Alabama Vegetable Garden Growing Strong

May is when Alabama gardens truly hit their stride. The soil has warmed, the days are longer, and the threat of late frost is finally behind us. Whether you’re a brand new gardener or you’ve been growing vegetables for years, May is a month full of simple, rewarding tasks that set the stage for a productive summer harvest.

Keep Planting Warm Season Favorites

If you didn’t get everything in the ground earlier in spring, don’t worry. May is still prime planting time across most of the state. Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and southern peas thrive when soil temperatures climb into the 70s.

Just make sure to plant varieties suited to the South. Also, choose disease resistant varieties whenever possible, especially for crops like tomatoes that can suffer from common issues such as early blight and fusarium wilt. Starting with strong genetics gives your garden a big head start.

Watering and Mulching

Alabama’s weather in May can vary. You may get a week of showers followed by hot, dry days. Vegetables need about an inch of water each week, whether it comes from rainfall or your hose. Watering deeply and early in the day encourages stronger roots and reduces disease pressure.

Mulching is one of the easiest jobs you can do this month, and it pays off all season long. A 2- to 3-inch layer of pine straw, shredded leaves, or clean wheat straw helps keep moisture in, blocks weeds, and keeps soil temperatures from fluctuating too quickly. Mulch also keeps fruit like squash and tomatoes cleaner and reduces soil splash, which lowers the risk of soilborne diseases.

Scout for Pests

In Alabama, insect activity picks up fast once the temperatures warm. May is a great time to walk your garden a few

times each week to look for early signs of trouble. Aphids, flea beetles, stink bugs, tomato hornworms, and squash vine borers are among the most common warmseason pests.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) encourages gardeners to start with the least invasive solutions: handpicking caterpillars, knocking aphids off with a strong spray of water, or using row covers to protect young plants. If chemical control becomes necessary, select products labeled for your specific pest and specific crop and follow all label instructions carefully. The label is the law.

Fertilize for Steady Growth

Most vegetables appreciate additional nutrients as they begin rapid growth in May. Sidedressing with nitrogen—such as calcium nitrate or ammonium sulfate— can support crops like tomatoes, corn, and peppers. Apply fertilizer a few inches away from the stem and water it in well. Remember, more isn’t always better. Too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, can lead to lots of leafy growth with fewer fruits.

Grow More. Give More. Join Alabama Extension’s 250Pound Challenge

As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Alabama Extension invites gardeners statewide to mark this milestone by giving back in a simple, meaningful way. The 250Pound Challenge, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, encourages Alabamians to grow and donate fresh, homegrown produce to local food banks, shelters, and community organizations.

Gardeners of every age are stepping up to participate—including young growers in Conecuh County. Two school gardens are contributing to the effort, and their enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. One teacher shared, “I continue to be amazed and inspired that students as young as 4 so gratifyingly give produce they’ve grown to others who are hungry, even if the hungry people are strangers.” Another reflected on the heart behind their success, saying, “We’re in our 7th growing season at each of the two elementary schools, and no matter what we grow or how we grow it, everything grows better with love!”

This summer, Conecuh County’s 2-and 3-year old garden classes are even planning to grow summer vegetables specifically to contribute to the 250Pound Challenge— showing that you’re never too young to make a difference.

Our statewide goal is ambitious but achievable: Gardeners in all 67 Alabama counties working together to donate at least 250 pounds of fresh produce per county. Donations can be entered and tracked through a simple online survey. While gardeners will not see running totals themselves, these entries help Alabama Extension track county-by-county impact and measure our statewide progress.

To learn more, visit aces.edu and search Grow More, Give More or 250 Pound Challenge. Let’s grow together— and give together— as we honor America’s 250th year. 

CORRECTION: A photo in the April gardening column misidentified poison sumac, one of the poisonous plants found in Alabama. The photo was either staghorn sumac or smooth sumac, which are generally harmless. This is a photo of poison sumac.

Conecuh County students work in their school gardens prepping soil, planting seeds and harvesting carrots for donations via Grow More Give More.

PHOTO BY EDWARD PATE

Bethany O’Rear, a horticulturist for more than 20 years, is a regional agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, specializing in commercial and home horticulture.

PHOTO COURTESY ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA

Mom's SIGNATURE RECIPE

ENTER TO WIN $50 Cook Of The Month Prize!

WEBSITE: alabamaliving.coop or scan here: EMAIL: recipes@alabamaliving.coop

MAIL: Alabama Living Recipes, 340 Technacenter Dr., Montgomery AL 36117 Please include the name of your electric co-op "Fresh from the garden" August theme: enter by June 5, 2026

Mom's Squash Casserole | Food prepared, styled and photographed by Brooke Echols

Cook of the Month

Beth Lewis, Joe Wheeler EMC

BMarshmallow Fudgkins

2 1- ounce squares unsweetened chocolate

2 sticks butter

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1½ cups flour

eth Lewis’s mother, Alice Bass, had two or three recipes that were guaranteed to please her family and a crowd. Her homemade rolls was one and the other was her squash casserole. “I think the key is the stuffing mix,” says Beth. “It’s hearty and gives it a homey taste.” Her mother would swap recipes with other ladies at church, and “there were things in the original recipe she didn’t like so she modified it,” she says. While Beth didn’t appreciate the casserole when she was growing up, she loves making it now, especially for her own church family at Liberty Community Church in Moulton on Wednesday nights. “It’s a big, big hit!” she says. The recipe can easily be halved, which she does for herself and her husband. The casserole is so filling it’s often enough for a lunch by itself.

For 25 years, Beth ran an engineering company, LIT, Inc. and in her retirement she and her daughter enjoy running their two antique stores, Basse Trading Co., in Moulton and Tuscumbia.

— Lenore Vickrey

Mom’s Squash Casserole

5 cans of squash, drained or 3 pounds yellow squash, cooked until tender

1 medium onion, chopped and sautéed in butter

1 can water chestnuts, diced

1 cup American cheese, grated

8 ounces sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 small jar pimentos

2 boxes Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix

1½ sticks butter, melted

Mix soup, sour cream, pimentos, water chestnuts and cheese together until well blended. Stir in squash and cooked onions, mix well and set aside. Melt butter, stir in stuffing mix until all the stuffing is saturated. Put half of the dressing mix level in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Pour the squash mix over the dressing layer. Add remaining ½ of stuffing mix over the top of the squash. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

1 package mini marshmallows

Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar; beat well. Add other ingredients and pour into a greased and floured pan. A 10x15-inch pan is recommended. A 9x13-inch pan will make Fudgkins thick and rich.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes in a 325-degree oven. Take out of oven and spread marshmallows evenly over the top. Put back into oven about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with frosting. Cover marshmallows while frosting is warm.

Frosting:

2 sticks butter

1 box powdered sugar

2 1- oune squares unsweetened chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup cream or evaporated milk

Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Gradually add milk and sugar. Beat well. Add vanilla and spread on cake. Let stand in pan several hours. When cold, cut into squares.

Marshmallow Fudgkins was my mother's recipe. Mescal Griffin (1921 - 2011) lived in Lineville, Alabama. Over the years, she must have made hundreds (thousands?) of these to share at church dinners; to take to sick friends; to make for church youth trips and events; and, of course, to make for all our family get-togethers. They were a family and community favorite and was always the top request from her kitchen.

Beth Lewis

Charlotte G. Robertson Tallapoosa River EC

Alice Bass

Marshmallow Fudgkins

The Buttered Home

MDivinity

2½ cups white sugar

½ cup Karo syrup

½ cup water

1 cup chopped pecans

Dash of vanilla (clear works best)

3 egg whites

Aluminum foil sheet laid out to drop candy on (about two feet long)

Easy New Potato Salad

Brooke Burks

y sweet Momma was a fabulous cook. I have lots of recipes that remind me of her and I was fortunate enough to have lots of them written down in her own handwriting. Now that she has passed on, those recipes and memories of her are worth more than gold to me. I am honored to have been her daughter, honored to share this recipe with you and I know it would make her happy to know you cooked it and enjoyed it. My love of feeding people, heart, soul and stomach, comes from her. We have lots of recipes at thebutteredhome.com proudly displayed in her memory so give us a visit so you can see how she loved to love on people with food!

6-8 medium red potatoes, cooked and cubed (skins on)

1½ cups mayonnaise

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

1 small onion, chopped

2 tablespoons pimentos, drained

1/4 cup dill pickle relish

Smoked paprika, to taste

2 eggs, hardboiled and chopped

Boil eggs and potatoes. Allow to cool. Roughly chop the eggs. Cut potatoes into bite-size pieces, being careful not to mash. In a large bowl, mix potatoes, eggs, onion, pickle relish and pimentos just until combined. Add in salt and pepper and mix well. Add in mayonnaise and mustard and about 1/4 teaspoon of paprika. Mix well to combine. Sprinkle a little more paprika on top and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Beat egg whites with a mixer until firm peaks form. Set aside. Put sugar, Karo and water in a stainless steel boiler. Cook at a medium high heat, stirring almost constantly until mediumfirm candy stage forms. Usually around 12-14 minutes.

Keep a small glass of cold water close by to drizzle a small amount of mixture into. (Careful, it is HOT.) If the mixture gets hard in the water, it should be ready.

Pour mixture slowly into the egg whites and blend with mixer about 3-4 minutes. Then use a large spoon, cleaning the sides of the bowl and folding the mixture over and over. Add the vanilla and pecans now. Continue to fold the mixture.

You are wanting it to start to cool down so it will stand up when scooped out. It should have a glassy look to it. When it starts to cool down it will lose the shine. Using a tablespoon and knife, scoop mixture up and drop it on foil by pushing candy off with your knife. Let it set up and firm.

Note: Remember, the candy is hot! Also, rainy and cloudy days can affect your mixture. Most importantly, practice makes perfect.

My mom, Betty Allen of Troy, Alabama, was known for her delicious melt in your mouth divinity. (She also made a mean poundcake.) Every year the Christmas holidays were starting when mom was making her divinity.

She made it for friends and family alike. Some of my favorite memories were of watching her make a batch alone or with her dear friend, Mrs. Ruth. A few years before she passed she was encouraging me to let her teach me how to make her famous candy; I always put her off, thinking we would have lots of time to do it. I was sadly wrong. A few years after she passed I asked Mrs. Ruth to try to teach me how to make her special candy. She gladly did.

With much trial and a great deal of error on my part, she did. Thank you, Mrs. Ruth, for helping my mom all those years ago and her stubborn daughter years later.

Debbie Headley South Alabama EC

Brooke's mother, Gloria McLeod

PHOTO BY THE BUTTERED HOME

Going With the Flow

Free paddling event ideal for new kayakers

BY JOHN N. FELSHER

Just in time to welcome the summer season, a free, familyfriendly event will allow paddlers of all levels of ability the chance to set out on the open water, connect with likeminded lovers of the outdoors and explore the almost-hidden treasures of plants and landscapes on Alabama’s largest lake.

The Creek to Cove Paddle event, set for 9 a.m. May 30, will showcase the beauty of Lake Guntersville in an immersive way, one that can’t be replicated from a motorboat or the shoreline.

Lake Guntersville stretches 75 miles along the Tennessee River from Guntersville Dam in Marshall County into Tennessee. Fortunately for paddlers, this voyage will mostly take place in South Sauty Creek, a tributary off the main lake. Participants will put in at the Langston Boat Ramp in Langston City Park, 11151 County Road 67, and paddle about 3.5 miles to the Morgans Cove Boat Ramp in Buck’s Pocket State Park. It begins in Jackson County and ends in Marshall County.

Rick Wilborn, a Langston city councilman and member of Tennessee RiverLine, has been a paddler for about 30 years and was one of the people who came up with the event idea. “The trip should take an average paddler about 2.5 hours. After the paddle, we shuttle everybody back to the launch site. The Langston Fire Department will cook hot dogs and give out potato chips, water and watermelons for all the paddlers.”

People don’t pay a penny to participate. Even transportation and lunch are free for paddlers. People can bring their own canoes or kayaks, but those without access to boats can borrow a kayak for free, courtesy of Tennessee RiverLine, with pre-registration. It comes with paddles and personal floatation devices.

resource stewardship of the Tennessee River. In Alabama, the organization provided nearly 100 boats, all owned, maintained and coordinated by local partners of Tennessee RiverLine.

“Tennessee RiverLine is a 1.2-million-acre system of outdoor recreation experiences along the 652-mile reach of the Tennessee River,” says T.J. Johnson, the Alabama programs manager for Tennessee RiverLine in Florence, which is assisting with the event. “For this event, paddlers can use the kayaks free of charge. We invite people to connect with the river through paddling, hiking, biking, fishing, birding, camping and more.”

Boats with large engines burn through gasoline quickly running around on a big reservoir like Lake Guntersville. With the price of fuel today, people might consider fishing, exploring, bird watching, nature photography and other activities they can do in a canoe or kayak without spending a penny for fuel while paddling.

In addition, such small boats can get into many places that people in larger, heavier craft would never attempt to enter.

“Guntersville has always been considered a big boat lake or a bass boat lake,” Norton says. “Our goal is to promote the health and wellness aspect of paddling. Lake Guntersville has a lot of coves and great scenic shorelines perfect for paddling. If someone wanted to get on the water, it’s way cheaper to go in a kayak than a big boat.”

“ The Creek to Cove Paddle event is a collaborative community paddle,” says Katy Norton, the Marshall County Tourism and Sports president. Jackson County Tourism, the city of Langston and Marshall County Tourism came together in May 2025 to host the first event. Nearly 100 paddlers showed up, and more are expected this year.

Promoting the enjoyment of the water

Tennessee RiverLine began as an initiative based out of University of Tennessee Extension. The organization provided seven fleets of kayaks to towns along the river to promote kayaking and other water sports and to inspire

Before leaving the docks, experienced paddlers will give some instructions and tips to handle the small boats. Beginners will receive colored wrist bands identifying them as novice kayakers. Experienced paddlers will also stay close to beginners in case anyone needs help.

“We invited Alabama Scenic River Trail (alabamascenicrivertrail. com) and Tennessee RiverLine to join us as they are both very friendly for water sports,” Norton says. “The city of Guntersville is a Tennessee RiverLine community. Being part of that initiative has led us to focus more on paddling events and getting people out onto the lake, now more than ever. Last year, more than 40 people used free kayaks that we provided. Many beginner paddlers participated. This isn’t a race. It’s just a fun event to get more people on the water.”

To register or for more information go to marshallcounty tourismandsports.com and look up the Events section, or call 256-582-7015. Also see visitjacksoncountyal.com/event/ creek-to-cove-paddle-event

For more information about Lake Guntersville and the surrounding area, see explorelakeguntersville.com. For information on Tennessee RiverLine, visit tnriverline.org. 

Kayaks lined up in preparation for last year’s Creek to Cove paddling event.

Consumer Wise

You can save an average of 8% on your heating and cooling costs with a smart thermostat, according to Energy Star.

Are Smart Appliances Right for My Home?

PHOTO BY MARK GILLILAND, PIONEER

Let’s start by defining what “smart” means. Smart appliances—such as refrigerators, washers, ovens, thermostats and water heaters—connect to the internet. Typically, through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, these appliances can be controlled using your smartphone, tablet or voice-assistant device. They are designed to optimize energy use and add convenience. Some smart devices can even learn your habits over time.

Are smart appliances right for your home? The answer depends on your preferences and types of appliances you already have. The better question might be: Are smart appliances right for you? Do you like the newest tech and typically keep your phone within arm’s reach? Do you enjoy the convenience of calling out commands to Alexa? Or do you prefer less technology or something in between? Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle.

Many smart appliances allow you to see how much energy each device consumes. That information can be helpful to better understand your energy habits and identify where energy may be going to waste.

Smart thermostats are a popular choice for managing energy use and reducing energy waste. Heating and cooling systems are typically a home’s biggest sources of energy consumption. According to Energy Star, you can save an average of 8% cost savings on heating and cooling with a smart thermostat. Savings depend on your climate, the type of system you have and how you currently use it.

Most energy savings from a smart thermostat come from automating temperature adjustments while you are sleeping or away from home. If you are already good at manually adjusting your thermostat, you likely won’t see big savings, but you might prefer the convenience of a programmable device you can control on an app.

Smart thermostats make it much easier to program your heating and cooling schedule. Some have geofencing features that automatically adjust settings based on how far your phone is from home.

Coming in with the second-highest energy user in most homes is the water heater. I like the smart controls on my heat pump water heater. Also called a hybrid water heater, it uses heat pump technology to move heat instead of using energy to create heat. That makes it two to three times more efficient than a conventional electric resistance water heater. You can save even more energy with smart heat pump water heaters.

I can monitor energy use, change settings if we need more hot water and check how much hot water is available before I jump in the shower after my kids have used it. The app notifies me when it’s time to clean the air filter on top of the unit. I can access that information without having to go down to the basement. I can even set it to vacation mode after I’ve left the house for a trip. Not all heat pump water heaters have smart technology, so be sure to check before buying.

My refrigerator is a different story. I like the ability to monitor energy use, but it can be annoying to have my phone notify me the door is open when I’m 3,000 miles away at a work conference. There are certain features that can only be controlled through the app, which I find frustrating. The next thing I know, my husband texts me to make more ice while he’s standing right next to it, and I’m on the other side of the country.

Monitoring energy use and making it easier to control your household devices are benefits of smart appliances. Before upgrading, do your research to understand how the features work and whether they benefit your lifestyle. Smart technology can help lower your energy use. But, in some cases, you’re better off improving your energy habits with the appliances already in your home. 

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people

Odd Fish Can Provide Great Action — and delicious meals

BY JOHN N. FELSHER

The boat captain spotted a brown object lurking just beneath an old plywood chunk. He circled wide of the floating object and headed a short distance upwind.

A stiff breeze ripping the water made visibility challenging, but it also helped muffle any sounds we made. With the wind quietly pushing the boat toward the floater, the angler tossed a popping cork rig baited with a live shrimp so it landed about 10 feet upwind of the flotsam. The angler released line so the breeze would carry the rig close to the wood.

As the cork approached the plywood, the angler jerked the rod to make a commotion. The cork splashed and bobbed underwater but never returned to the surface! A large fish ripped line from the screeching reel, bending the rod almost double. After an invigorating fight, the angler finally brought the powerful beast up next to the boat where the captain netted it.

Also called a blackfish, the peculiar dark sea creature somewhat resembled a crappie on bad steroids with three tails, hence the name tripletail. Blackfish occur throughout the Gulf of Mexico and usually start showing up off the Alabama coast as water warms in the spring.

“Once water temperatures rise to about 72 or 73 degrees, tripletail start showing up in Alabama waters again,” says Dr. John Dindo, a marine biologist with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. “They usually disappear when the water temperature starts to change after we get the first hard cold front in October or November.”

Few people leave the dock intentionally trying to catch tripletail, but nobody ignores this species if they happen to spot one hovering beneath an object. Unlike red snapper, grouper and other fish that typically stay around their favorite reefs, tripletail move frequently and drift with the tides and winds.

“We never know when we’ll come up on a tripletail,” says Skylar Beagle with Coastal Fishing Charters in Fairhope. “We might see 20 today and none tomorrow in the same places. Sometimes, we’ll run from one spot to the next not even looking for tripletail and almost run over one. Just when we think we have them figured out, they do something different.”

Look for tripletail around any floating objects, such as logs, driftwood, old crates, weeds or other flotsam. They commonly appear under channel markers, petroleum platforms, buoys, docks and bridge pilings. Tripletail might suspend near objects as small as an aluminum can. Occasionally, they sun themselves on the surface in open water.

When hunting tripletail, many anglers “run the crab lines” in the Gulf, Mississippi Sound or lower Mobile Bay. Crabbers mark their traps with floats. Crab trap lines might stretch for miles. Boaters running the lines look under the floats or other flotsam for dark objects. Polarized sunglasses help immeasurably. After spotting something, anglers stealthily “stalk” their quarry.

Whenever possible, approach a floating object from upwind. Let the breeze push the boat into casting range. Use an electric motor only sparingly for directional control. Avoid making unnecessary noise or vibrations.

“After we spot a fish, we ease up to it as quietly as possible,” Beagle says. “I don’t want to get too close, only close enough to see the fish and cast to it.”

Tripletail mostly feed upon shrimp or small crabs. Many anglers use popping cork rigs laden with live shrimp or crab pieces to tempt tripletails. Throw the rig several feet upwind of the fish. If that’s not possible, cast well beyond it and reel the bait slowly to the fish. If nothing takes the bait, pop the cork a couple times. If the fish doesn’t bite, return to that spot later.

“To catch tripletail, we usually fish with popping corks and live shrimp,” Dindo says. “We float it right by the objects. Depending upon the fish’s mood, we might get two or three attempts at it, but it if doesn’t hit by the third cast, it probably won’t hit at all. We might have to come back to that object later.”

Tripletail sometimes hit artificial enticements such as spoons or jigheads sweetened with soft-plastic trailers. Scentenriched baits such as Gulp! tend to tempt more tripletail than ordinary plastic ones. Fly anglers catch tripletail with feathery creations that resemble shrimp or crabs.

On light tackle, tripletail provide exhilarating rodbending action. Spotting something brown under a floating object could cap off a day on the water with some delicious bonus fillets. 

Tripletail like the one this young woman proudly shows off, grow large and taste great. They make terrific sport.

PHOTO

6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18 1:21 - 2:51 1:45 - 3:15 Tu 26 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03 We 2 7 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51 Th 28 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39 Fr 29 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30 4:33 - 6:03 4:57 - 6:27

Sa 30 10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18 5:21 - 6:51 5:45 - 7:15

Su 31 NA 12:06 - 2:06 FULL MOON 6:09 - 7:39 6:33 - 8:03

JUNE A.M. PM AM PM

Su 1 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54 6:57 - 8:27 7:21 - 8:51

Mo 2 1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42 7:45 - 9:15 8:09 - 9:39

Tu 3 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30 8:33 - 10:03 8:57 - 10:27

We 4 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18 9:21 - 10:51 9:45 - 11:15

Th 5 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06 10:09 - 11:39 10:33 - 12:03

Fr 6 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54 10:57 - 12:27 11:21 - 12:51

Sa 7 5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42 NA 12:09 - 1:39

Su 8 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30 12:33 - 2:03 12:57 - 2:27

Mo 9 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18 1:21 - 2:51 1:45 - 3:15

Tu 10 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03

We 11 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51

Th 12 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39

Fr 13 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30 4:33 - 6:03 4:57 - 6:27

Sa 14 NA 12:06 - 2:06 NEW MOON 6:09 - 7:39 6:33 - 8:03

Su 15 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54 6:57 - 8:27 7:21 - 8:51

Mo 16 1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42 7:45 - 9:15 8:09 - 9:39

Tu 1 7 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30 8:33 - 10:03 8:57 - 10:27

We 18 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18 9:21 - 10:51 9:45 - 11:15

Th 19 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06 10:09 - 11:39 10:33 - 12:03

Fr 20 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54 10:57 - 12:27 11:21 - 12:51

Sa 21 5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42 NA 12:09 - 1:39

Su 22 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30 12:33 - 2:03 12:57 - 2:27

Mo 23 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18 1:21 - 2:51 1:45 - 3:15

Tu 24 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03

We 25 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51

Th 26 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39

Fr 2 7 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30 4:33 - 6:03 4:57 - 6:27

Sa 28 10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18 5:21 - 6:51 5:45 - 7:15

Su 29 NA 12:06 - 2:06 6:09 - 7:39 6:33 - 8:03

Mo 30 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54 FULL MOON 6:57 - 8:27 7:21 - 8:51

When

HOW TVA PREPARES THE GRID for the Hottest Days Ahead

It’s May and folks across north Alabama know exactly what that means - the days get longer and the heat and humidity start to really roll in.

At the Tennessee Valley Authority, summer preparation doesn’t wait for the first 90 degree day. Long before your air conditioner kicks into overdrive, crews across the Valley are completing work that keeps the lights on.

Each spring, TVA performs hundreds of readiness checks across its power system to get ready for the season ahead. At TVA’s generating plants - including nuclear, natural gas, hydro, and coal - teams complete preventative maintenance activities and inspect important equipment that will have to work the hardest when temperatures rise. Surveys along thousands of miles of power lines and upgrades to the transmission system keep electricity flowing freely from TVA’s plants to local power companies, and ultimately to more than 1.2 million Alabamians.

A great example of this work happened in March at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, where Browns Ferry Unit 3 completed a major scheduled refueling and maintenance outage. Crews carried out thousands of individual activities, from inspections and refurbishments to replenishing the reactor with more than 300 fuel bundles. The team also replaced the unit’s 425,000-pound generator rotor. This was all done to improve performance, especially during high-demand months, and prepare the unit to operate for the next two years.

Whether you live in the city or a rural community, work like this directly supports the dependable power we all count on when temperatures soar. Hotter days are surely coming. TVA’s power system is ready for this summer and preparing for future growth as more people and businesses move into Alabama and the Tennessee Valley region. 

Kevin Chandler is the Alabama Director of Customer Relations for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

During the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 3 outage, crews completed refueling and maintenance tasks, part of the year-round preparation to ensure the grid is ready when summer heat arrives.

Meet the Beauty in the Beast

Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!

For nearly a century, Mount St. Helens slept — until its explosive 1980 eruption sent ash 80,000 feet into the sky. From that volcanic force came something extraordinary: Helenite.

Created from heated volcanic rock from Mount St. Helens, this brilliant green gemstone now shines in a spectacular 6½-carat pear-cut pendant, set in a luxurious gold-finished setting and suspended from an 18" chain.

Vivid, fiery, unforgettable — and yours for just $99.

Try the Helenite Necklace risk-free. If you’re not completely dazzled, return it within 30 days for a full refund.

Jewelry Specifications:

• 6 ½ ctw Helenite in gold-finished setting

• 18" gold-finished chain

Helenite Necklace (6 ½ ctw) Only $99 +S&P

Helenite Stud Earrings (1 ctw) $99 +S&P

Helenite Set $198 (necklace & earrings) $99 +S&P

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How To Place an Ad in Marketplace

Closing Deadlines (in our office):

July 2026 Issue by May 25

August 2026 Issue by June 25

September 2026 Issue by July 25

Ads are $1.75 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) 4102737 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, 340 TechnaCenter Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117 Attn: Classifieds.

Vacation Rentals

GULF SHORES / ORANGE BEACH / FORT MORGAN – Choose from hundreds of beach houses and condos! Verified Owners. No Booking Fees. ALAVHR.com

MENTONE, AL LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COTTAGE RENTALS – Best brow views, River Front –cottagesofmentone.com, Call or text (504)4818666

PANAMA CITY BEACH CONDO – Owner rental – 2BR / 2BA, wireless internet, just remodeled inside and outside – (502)7777819, larrysusemichel@reagan.com, www. theroneycondo.com

GULF FRONT CONDOS – 2BR / 2BA and 1BR / 2BA. Balconies overlook the beach. No pets. Private rentals save agency fees. amariewisener@gmail.com (256) 636-2884.

Pet Friendly – Save $$$ by booking directly from Verified Owners. ALAVHR.com

ABSOLUTELY LOWEST PRICES ON THE BEACH! Affordable Beachfront & Beachside Vacation Condos – Sugar Beach Condos in Orange Beach, AL. Rent Direct from Christian Family Owners. –www.gulfshorescondos.com, (251)752-2366.

PANAMA CITY BEACH CONDO - Rent directly from owner. 2BR/2BA. Egdewater Beach and Golf Resort. (256)586-3667, https:// huntssandtrap.com

MILITARY / SERVICE DISCOUNTS on dozens of rentals. No Booking Fees. (251)333-6500, ALAVHR.com

MENTONE, AL – MOUNTAINWOOD COTTAGES & CABOOSE. We offer a unique escape from the everyday.  Choose your cozy sanctuary: A charming Cottage tucked in the woods, or a surprisingly spacious and unforgettable stay in a beautifully converted train Caboose.  Your mountain retreat awaits. Mountainwoodcottages.com or Claudiascaboose.com  (256)202-4784

OWNERS – Join the fastest growing regional site in Alabama. Low annual fee. Verified Owners, no booking fees or commissions. Alabama Vacation Home Rentals. Locally Owned and Operated. (251)333-6500, ALAVHR.com

Education/Free

FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE – write to P.O. Box 52, Trinity, AL, 35673

THE BEAST is HERE! Don’t be deceived, be informed! Leave mailing address only – TBSM, POB 374, Ellijay, GA 30540 – TBSMADS@yahoo. com – (888)211-1715

ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? If you’re a member of an electric cooperative, please contact your local co-op office with your new address so you can keep receiving Alabama Living. If you’re not a member of an electric co-op, send your new address to contact@ alabamaliving.coop.

Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color.

Cup o’ Joe

The Family Clothesline

Iwas swinging on my tire swing in the backyard, because that is what bored 10-year-old boys do on a summer afternoon. It wasn’t my first choice. I had already made a long loop around Hickory Circle and discovered to my dismay that all of my friends were indisposed; they had either gone shopping with their parents or were engaged in an undesirable chore like cutting the grass.

After an unsuccessful attempt to locate and harass my little sister for sport, I found my way into our backyard, which was unlike anyone else’s on the block. It had a pitch from top to bottom. It was a good idea to walk in our backyard wearing shoes, because there was nary a blade of grass -- just rocks and an occasional rogue weed. An assortment of large oak and hickory trees kept it almost

ILLUSTRATION BY DENNIS

exclusively in the shade, except for a sliver near the far end where dad planted his garden. At the foot of the brick steps was a well-used rusty swing set I had outgrown, and a homemade wooden cage where I kept chipmunks. At the foot of a small dogwood in the center of the yard was the final resting place of Buck, my beloved boxer.

If you weaved your way uphill, you came upon an old army surplus hammock where I spent some of my summer evenings with a flashlight and a cache of comics. Nearby, my tire swing hung from a scaly bark hickory tree, so near our house that I could touch the eaves with my feet. And close by, exposed to that sliver of sunshine, was the family clothesline.

In 1963, dryers were becoming more common in suburbia, but by no means did everybody own one. We didn’t, which meant that almost every day my mom would make her way from our back porch to the clothesline with a basket of wet laundry in tow.

It was a ritual. She began at the highest point of the line, folding a wet sheet over the metal wire, holding it in place with several wooden clothes pins she fished from her apron pocket. From there, she worked her way down the 50 foot strand, the articles got smaller. There were no bras or panties; instead, her “unmentionables” were dried on a wooden rack in the basement, far from prying eyes. On the other hand, mine and dad’s tidy-whiteys were proudly displayed for everyone to see. Once she was finished, it reminded me of flags on a ship, fluttering in the breeze. The long-sleeve shirts appeared to be waving to an unseen friend.

It was also a social event. If Mrs. Reynolds, our next-door neighbor, was hanging her laundry, it was a safe bet that she and mom would take a few minutes to “catch up” on family events, or discuss the latest episode of “As The World Turns.”

Later in the day, the process was repeated in reverse, and in a few minutes, mother headed back in the house with a basket full of clothes freshly dried by Mother Nature.

As you might expect, scientists have done a bit of research on clothes that are dried outside, which says that they smell better due to sunlight-activated chemical reactions that create aldehydes and ketones, whatever those are. This produces a fresh scent. The sun also kills bacteria and the wind dissipates odors. But a 10-year-old didn’t care about all of that. All I cared about was how wonderful our clothes smelled once they had been washed and hung out to dry. All the dryer sheets in the world can’t even come close.

The next year Dad bought a dryer, and almost immediately the clothesline became a relic of an earlier time. Now, instead of an outdoor trip to dry our clothes, we headed to our musty basement.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I do now. The modern convenience of the dryer undoubtedly made our life easier, but something else was lost.

Those summer afternoons, the smell of sun-dried sheets, Mom chatting over the fence, the steady swish of my tire swing, were more than just part of my childhood. They were lessons in simplicity, in slowing down, in finding joy in the ordinary.

Sometimes, I take a towel from our washer and hang it over a chair on my deck. When it’s dry, I’ll smell it and catch a whiff of laundry fresh from the line. Suddenly, I’m ten years old again, swinging on my tire in the backyard, watching those colorful flags of family life flapping gently in the breeze.

Joe Hobby is a standup comedian, a syndicated columnist, and a long-time writer for Jay Leno. He’s a member of Cullman Electric Cooperative and is very happy now that he can use Sprout from his little place on Smith Lake. Contact him

Throw Yourself a Bone

The very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 30x60 HD power pocket binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers. Call today!

listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

— J., La Crescent, MN

“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

Fresh From the Garden

See page 34

Send us your “Stars and Stripes” snapshots

See page 9

ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST!

GET TO SHOOTING!

FOR YOUR SHOT AT SOME COOL CASH.

Breathtaking landscapes, people enjoying the outdoors, a curious animal in its natural habitat — photos of these scenes and many, many more offer brief but beautiful flashes of real life, and we want to see your best ones.

Enter this year’s annual photo contest beginning on June 1; all entries must be uploaded at alabamaliving. coop (no hard copies will be accepted). There will be a link to a form on the home page. Be sure to note the size requirements on the form (photos should be at least 1MB in size) and fill out all the fields carefully. If your photo includes an identifiable person, be sure you have that person’s permission to enter the photo. The deadline for entries is June 30.

First-place winners will win $100, and those winning photos plus several honorable mentions will be published in the September issue of Alabama Living!

This year’s categories will be Nature - insects and animals; Nature - scenery; At play (recreational sports or activities or fun); and Alabama travels (photos taken at scenic sites around the state). Note that all photos entered must have been taken in Alabama.

Some guidelines:

• “ The photo doesn’t do it justice.” Remember that we can’t judge the beautiful colors of a sunset you saw with your eyes; all we can go by is the photo. So the photo needs to really capture the colors, clarity, composition, etc.

• Entries could have been taken in any year, but more recent photos tend to be of better quality, we have found.

• Each entrant is limited to two photos per category. If more than two photos in a category are entered, we will take the first two received and disregard the rest.

Good luck, and make some good photos!