Spotlight

Take us along!

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. Please include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo and include your social media handle so we can tag you! We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

Brenda Carter of Hulaco, a member of Cullman EC, and her granddaughter, Alice Fortenberry, had fun on their trip to snowy Utah, where they visited near Immigration Pass outside Salt Lake City. Jennifer Johnson of Wetumpka, a member of Central Alabama EC, took her magazine along on a trip to Arches National Park, Utah. Kenith and Angela Sims traveled all the way to South Dakota with their magazine this summer. While in Rapid City, they got a photo in front of a 1.5-ton bronze quarter pounder at a McDonald’s restaurant. They are from River Falls and members of Covington EC. The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, made a fun backdrop for this photo of Keith and Delinda Cain of Arab. The museum’s official name is the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement.

Whereville, AL

Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer by Nov. 8 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative. The winner and answer will be announced in the December issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute your own photo for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

October’s answer: This map of the U.S. in stones is located on Worth Street, one block west of U.S. Highway 431 across from the Historic Post Office in Guntersville in Marshall County. It has been fenced to prevent destruction; however, it can be viewed from the sidewalk or the street on Worth Street. (Photo submitted by Susan Lynn Allen of North Alabama EC.) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Angie Wolford of North Alabama EC. (Due to the delay in delivery of some magazines, we extended the deadline for guesses through Oct. 11.)

Find the hidden dingbat!

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.com

Many of our readers thought we were pretty sneaky hiding the October dingbat, a black cat, where we did. The cat replaced the letter “b” in Alabama at the top of Page 25. “I found that sneaky critter on my fourth round of searching the magazine,” wrote Mary S. Hutto of Shorterville, a member of Pea River Electric Cooperative. “Sly little devil! Sad to say, but he crossed my path three times before I found him! Oh, no!”

Robert and Joyce Norman of Alpine, members of Coosa Valley EC, said they almost thought they saw the cat perched on top of the pumpkin truck on Page 9, until they keep looking and found it on Page 25. Laurie Vines of Rockford said she was reading the events calendar on that page when she “had the strange feeling someone was watching me! As my eyes scanned to the top of the page to look up…lo and behold, there it was! A something, not a someone, peering at me! It was a black cat named DINGBAT!”

Robert and Dawn Smith of Hanceville, members of Cullman EC, said the dingbat looks like their cat Squeaky. And Central Alabama EC member Robin Nelson of Wetumpka said the cat reminded her of the sweet black cat, appropriately named Bama, she had as a girl growing up on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. “Thanks for the trip through time this month,” she wrote.

Congratulations to Charles Urban of Decatur, a member of Joe Wheeler EMC, our winner this month who won a prize package from Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union. For November, we’ve hidden a scarecrow, but don’t be scared when you find it! Entries are due by Nov. 8.

Sponsored by

Museum preserves the service and stories of state’s veterans

By Jim Plott

Two years ago, after a more than 80-year absence, Edgar David Gross finally came back home to Alabama.

The Navy seaman was among the 2,400 casualties at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese war planes attacked the naval base and surrounding military installations.

In 2018, after DNA testing, the seaman’s remains were reinterred to a cemetery in a rural Limestone County community where he grew up.

His story, and the stories of multiple sailors, soldiers and Marines who died or survived combat in numerous wars, are unfolded at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, near Huntsville.

Gross, age 40 at his death, served 16 years in the U.S. Navy when hostilities in the world resulted in him being recalled into service in 1940. He was aboard the USS Oklahoma when it and seven other battleships – along with multiple other ships and nearly 170 aircraft – were destroyed in the attack that thrust the U.S. into World War II.

“This museum is a tribute to the people that bought us freedom and some of them, like Edgar David Gross, paid for it with their lives,” says Museum Director Sandy Thompson, a retired U.S. Air Force sergeant. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be living and enjoying the liberties that we have today in this country.”

While the museum focuses mainly on people from Limestone County, Thompson said their stories mirror those of veterans from every part of the United States.

With more than 5,000 artifacts and documents on display, the museum covers every major war and conflict that the United States has been involved in from the American Revolution to the present.

Among the artifacts is a metal piece from the forward deck of the battleship USS Arizona, which was bombed and destroyed at Pearl Harbor. Thompson said the piece – “one of our prized possessions” – was removed from the ship to make room for the memorial. The museum requested and was given the item. The museum also displays many authentic uniforms of each war, including those worn by enemy combatants. “We had someone from Germany who toured the museum. When he returned home, he sent us an actual German uniform from World War II,” Thompson says. “You just never know who is going to walk through the doors and what they might bring.” In pre-pandemic times, the museum attracted about 12,000 visitors a year, Thompson says.

A tribute to those who served

The non-profit and mostly privately funded museum had its beginning in 1995 when Veterans Service Officer Kenneth David decided to collect World War II military artifacts to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of that war. “Once it was over, a lot of the donors decided that the items they brought were too Navy seaman Edgar David Gross, a native of Limestone County, was stationed on the USS Oklahoma and was among the casualties of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Included is a flag that draped his casket when his valuable to be returned to a closet or attic and be forgotten or damaged so they left them remains were returned to Alabama two years ago. where they thought they would PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT be protected,” Thompson says. “Pretty soon people started bringing items from other wars and combats, and everything just sort of morphed into this wonderful museum.” Officially open in November 2002, the museum set up shop in the former L&N railroad freight depot. Eight years later the Limestone County Commission donated a larger adjacent building to help the museum manage its mushrooming collection.

Sandy Thompson, director of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, stands in front of the museum’s Pearl Harbor exhibit. The exhibit includes an actual piece of the battleship USS Arizona which was sunk in the Japanese attack. PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT

The Athens museum has displays like this one from World War II for every major war and conflict the U.S. has been involved in from the American Revolution to the present. PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT Museum volunteer Yvonne Dempsey adjusts the hat of a mockup of Navy WAVE Nell Smith Lutz (also in the photo), who served during World War II.

Gov. Kay Ivey toured the Athens museum in July 2021 when she attended the grand opening in the new building.

PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT

Displays and artifacts are preserved at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens.

PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

The 20,000-square-foot building, half of which is dedicated to museum displays, was officially opened July 1 with Gov. Kay Ivey among the more than 750 people who attended the event.

Ivey called the museum a tribute to Alabamians who served in the armed forces and a beacon to remind current and future generations of the hardships and sacrifices men and women in uniform endured in defense of freedom.

The new addition includes a larger library and veteran research center, a virtual reality room, gift shop and several new exhibits including one honoring the sacrifices made by civilians on the “home front” during World War II.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum hosts a monthly “coffee call,” a free socializing and light breakfast event for veterans and their families. The event, which has been placed on hiatus during the pandemic, is sponsored by area businesses.

Thompson said the museum plans to unveil additional exhibits and make additional improvements inside the building. Meanwhile, the museum is hoping to acquire additional property for a memorial park.

“The role of this museum as we see it is not only to entertain, but to educate,” Thompson says. “We want to convey the incredi-

Displays and artifacts are preserved at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens. PHOTOS BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ble sacrifices and the intensity of war.” The museum at 100 W. Pryor Street in downtown Athens is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are appreciated. Visit AlabamaVeteransMuseum.com

Other selected veteran and military museums in Alabama

U.S. Army Aviation Museum (Fort Rucker)

Building 6000 Novosel Street

ArmyAviationMuseum.org

334-598-2508 A military museum housing more than 160 military aircraft and one of the largest collections of military helicopters. Indoor and outdoor exhibits. Donations appreciated and gift shop proceeds fund the museum. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

More than 160 aircraft from all eras are on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. ARMY AVIATION MUSEUM

U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum (Huntsville)

2060A Airport Road Email info@memorial.museum.org 256-883-3737 Indoor and outdoor displays of more than 30 military vehicles along with exhibits. Donation requested. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday

Talladega Hall of Heroes (City of Talladega)

112 Court Square East

TalladegaHeroes.org

256-268-7217 Museum pays tribute to veterans and first responders. Donations accepted. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. second Saturdays

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

(Tuskegee) 1616 Chappie James Ave.

NPS.gov/tuai.index.htm

334-724-0922 Tour the hangar and training grounds of the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African American pilots who were trained and participated in combat missions during World War II. Free. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

(Mobile) 2703 Battleship Parkway

USSAlabama.com

251-432-0261 Tour the USS Alabama battleship and submarine USS Drum and view military planes and equipment. Admission charged with discounts for some. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday

Pecan on Broad fronts the main street in downtown Camden.

Pecan on Broad breathes life into Camden’s downtown

Story and photos by Jennifer Kornegay

The pecan is an exceedingly Southern food and an absolutely Alabama one too, resulting in the strong regional flavor that Camden’s Pecan on Broad, a specialty market and restaurant that opened in 2019, evokes simply with its name.

The moniker is also rooted in reality. Part of its building was a pecan business in a former life, and it fronts Broad Street, the main thoroughfare in the small town’s downtown. But this spot is much more than either the literal or figurative aspects of its brand.

For starters, it’s packed with an array of offerings. Shelves are heavy with sauces, spices, jams and relishes. Tables are stacked with candles, glassware and pottery. The cold case is laden with casseroles, soups and cakes. A chalkboard announces the day’s multiple ice cream options. The old vault in the side of the building that was once a bank now holds bottles of wine instead of bills.

When Ryan Dunagan and Chris Bailey came to visit a friend in Camden a few years ago, the surrounding countryside’s rustic beauty and the town’s laidback vibe instantly earned their affections. Then, the historic-home and antiquing enthusiasts bought Riverbend, a circa 1840 house in Camden, and began restoring and reviving the structure, while still living in Mobile. Soon, weekends turned into weeks, and they decided to make the move permanent.

“Once we knew Camden was our new home, we wanted to do something beneficial for the entire community, and that sparked the idea for Pecan on Broad,” Bailey said.

In keeping with their love of old things, both are into smalltown downtowns, and they quickly noticed that Camden’s was lacking life. They also noted that Camden already had visitors, mostly outdoorsmen. “We realized they could bring their families with them, except there wasn’t much else to do,” Dunagan says.

Enter Pecan on Broad with its food products, home-décor and gift items, plus a restaurant serving some Southern classics but

also selections less-common to rural towns. They hoped residents would enjoy it all often, and that as news spread, it would draw more — and more diverse — visitors to Camden. It worked so well, the success came as a surprise. “We knew we were filling a void,” Dunagan says. “And we wanted it to be a springboard for further development downtown, but when we realized we really were bringing people from outside the area, we were kinda shocked.” And the big win: Other businesses are seeing more people too. People have driven more than an hour for Pecan on Broad’s Saturday brunch, where they feast on savory brisket and grits or French toast casserole and candied Conecuh sausage. At lunchtime, you’ll find all ages tucking into chicken salad (generous amounts of shredded rotisserie chicken seasoned simply); broccoli salad (florets with pecans, red onion and tart dried cranberries); daily specials, including meat ’n’ three favorites; and hearty soups with gooey grilled pimento cheese on the side. Dunagan is the kitchen wiz half of the team. While he has no official culinary background, he relishes cooking and learned from his dad, who made most of the meals in his family. He makes everything in-house but hired a local lady Pecan on Broad’s salad trio plate (a scoop each of orzo pasta salad, for the sweets. “Our signature chicken salad and broccoli salad) is always popular, as are its pimento dessert is the hummingbird cheese and hummingbird cake. cake, and of course, we do pecan pie,” he says. He’s particularly proud of his take on pimento cheese, of which they sell “a ton.” “I go lighter on the mayo and use cream cheese too, plus some jalapeno peppers,” he said. There’s almost always a steady flow of folks popping in to grab items from the cold case, including that prized pimento cheese, as well as casseroles, take-and-bake pizzas, soups, cinnamon rolls, plus a wide range of meats. Dunagan has also employed skills from his interior design career, which is ongoing, to create Pecan on Broad’s sophisticated yet comfortable style, which called for keeping as much of the original Pecan on Broad building intact as was possible. 110 Broad Street, Camden, AL 36736 Whether they come to Pecan on Broad for a double scoop of 334-455-4036 Creole praline ice cream, some fancy mustard, a chicken pot pie pecanonbroad.com or a whimsical tea towel, when they leave, everyone walks under Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday “Y’all come back!” painted on the wall above the door. With so 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday much in one spot that’s underpinned with a true “you all” mindset, Left, The Pecan co-owner, Ryan Dunagan. chances are good most folks will RSVP “yes” to that invitation.

Camden l

Ready to make Alabama proud

Miss Alabama 2021 is Lauren Bradford, a Gulf Shores native whose accomplishments and talents make her a worthy representative for our state. She’s a 2021 summa cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a degree in finance, and after her year of service as Miss Alabama, she’ll attend Vanderbilt University to pursue an advanced degree in finance. She’s a talented classical violinist, who began studying the instrument at age 6; it’s her talent in the competitions, and she continues to practice every day.

Preparing for the Miss America competition in December has become a full-time job; she spends her time networking, having meetings about her social impact initiative, called “UNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan,” doing interviews, visiting sponsors, traveling to events and doing speaking engagements, and practicing for the interview portion of the competition. She’s had several events in her hometown (her parents, Wade and Lisa Bradford, are members of Baldwin EMC), and says her community has been incredibly supportive; she’s the first Miss Alabama from Baldwin County in the 100-year history of Miss Alabama. – Allison Law

What has life been like since you won the crown this summer?

Life has been so full and so rewarding. I have had opportunities that I never dreamed – I’ve already traveled the state quite a bit and met people from all backgrounds. I have experienced the fullest extent of the word “busy” like never before. This is an incredible honor that I want to view with reverence in every moment – I never want to take it for granted.

Talk about your social impact initiative.

Growing up, it was always a rule in our household that we would not get a phone until we were going into high school. Therefore, I was able to have a front row seat to how technology usage was impacting my peers in an alarming way. I watched as communication abilities decreased, grades slipped, and addictions to screens were formed. …

I created “UNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan” in 2015. The name came from the parallel philosophy of balance in food intake, where dessert is an occasional indulgence. Our leisure technology consumption should be the same: integrated into life, work, and education in a cohesive way and used for its intended purpose: as a tool. UNPLUG is ultimately an educational campaign for people of all ages to gain an understanding of the harmful consequences of tech overuse, while learning practical steps to find a balance of use. It has grown beyond my wildest dreams; I believe that people everywhere inherently understand that screens have the potential to control our lives and strip us from our abilities to engage in human connectivity. I’m proud to have spread a positive message of how we can integrate technology into our lives in a healthier way.

How did you prepare for the Miss Alabama pageant?

I was scheduled to compete in Miss Alabama in the summer of 2020. Because of the pandemic, it was postponed for one year. So, I actually held my local title of Miss Jefferson County for almost two years before competing at Miss Alabama. Throughout that time, I grew so much as a person. … I did all of the external preparation: curating my talent (I performed “My Heart Will Go On” from the film “Titanic” on violin), mock interviews, always watching the evolvement of current events, growing my Social Impact Initiative, etc.

But I also did a lot of the internal preparation as well. My faith is the most important thing in my life. … Throughout preparation, my faith kept me anchored to something so much bigger than me. It helped me to have a vision of what my goals actually would be as Miss Alabama. It gave me a purpose for the why behind even competing for this job. And it gave me peace during the competition week.

Tell us, how does it feel to wear that beautiful crown?

It’s so surreal! Every time

I put it on, I try to take a moment to appreciate that I have been given this opportunity to steward, to make an impact, to be a role-model, to be a champion for those who need one. I never want to forget that – my heart is full of gratitude.

To book Bradford for a speaking engagement, visit

MissAlabama.

com.

Help your pets Staying hopeful about pet welfare – and staying warm stay warm this winter

Building an outdoor shelter for your pet can be a great family project.

September’s article about pet abandonment generated a large number of responses. It is obvious that people care deeply about the wellbeing of the unfortunate dogs and cats. Frequently we feel despondent about our failure to make any meaningful difference. However, change is slow.

We have been working towards reducing animal suffering for centuries. The first SPCA was established in England in 1824. The first American SPCA started in New York in 1866. The Humane Society was formed in the U.S. in 1954. Through the tireless work of many generations of compassionate human beings, we as a society now treat animals with more care than we used to.

When I feel despair, I remind myself that every bit matters and every passion counts. We just have to keep the conversation alive. We will continue to talk about these issues and we will also brainstorm how to make some VERY small but forward moving changes next year.

Warding off the chill

Now, back to the present! It is the beginning of winter and four months of cold days are ahead of us. Lucky for us, the winter here is not like winter in Montana, but it gets cold. Below freezing temperatures are not uncommon, especially in north Alabama where we live.

Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to hypothermia and should be kept inside during cold weather. In the past, I got some letters from upset readers for pushing the idea that dogs should mostly be indoors. Thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and Pyrenees, indeed do better than short-hair breeds, but even they get cold! The signs of hypothermia (uncomfortably low body temperature) could be whining, shivering, anxiety, slow move-

Goutam Mukherjee, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (Dr. G) has been a veterinarian for more than 30 years. He owns High Falls Holistic Veterinary Care near Geraldine, Alabama. To suggest topics for future discussions, email him at contact@alabamaliving.coop ments, weakness, or burrowing for a warm place. An easy way to tell if your pet is cold is to notice how they are resting. Curled up in a tight ball means they are cold and conserving body heat while being sprawled out shows they are warm and comfortable. Feed them a little extra with high-quality food. This helps them better maintain their body temperature. Having access to warm water will be a great plus for many outdoor pets. Several manufacturers like K&H sell heated pet bowls for less than $20.

The next big issue is shelter. A thermometer reading alone does not give us the whole picture of how a pet feels. Wind and rain can also affect how cold we are. Just like us, they tend to lose body heat much faster if they are wet and subjected to even a slight breeze on a cold winter day.

Build a shelter or buy a shelter. Orienting the opening to the southeast may be a good idea. There are many YouTube videos to guide you. Foam board insulation is a better choice than fiberglass insulation. T1-11 can be used for the exterior and the interior. Make the inside chew and scratch-proof. Be careful when heating the doghouse. I’ve personally heard of two cases where the doghouse caught fire from a heat lamp. Consider something like a Safe Chicken Coop Heater. These are around $40. There are also thermostatically controlled outlets (thermocube) to make sure heating apparatuses turn on when the temperature drops below a certain point. Please discuss the details with a licensed electrician.

Now, about cats. Cats tend to do better to find shelters, but they also need our help and will cherish a nice cozy house. I guarantee that they will kill more mice if they can rest easy in their heated hunting cabin. K&H Pet Products and Kitty Tube make many kinds of heated cat houses. Above all, consider safety. Think of and plan for all the possible ways things can go wrong. You will sleep with a clear conscience.

During these holiday seasons, please shop from smile. Amazon.com and designate an animal charity of your choice to benefit a few cents from your every purchase. Happy holidays to you and all your friends, whether they bark, meow, squawk, or even hiss.

Creating cozy outdoor rooms for winter

Outdoor spaces have become essential gathering places for many of us over the last 20 months, and thankfully we don’t have to abandon them this fall and winter. We just have to create a room (or two) for them.

Like many folks, my husband and I discovered the joys of small outdoor get-togethers during the pandemic summer of 2020 when an oscillating fan and cool drinks could make even the hottest, buggiest days and nights bearable. As temperatures began to plummet last fall, though, staying outside required more effort. At first, we simply bundled up against the cold, but it soon became clear that we needed more protection from the elements, which is when we created two “outdoor rooms” — one on our front porch and the other on our back patio.

The outdoor room concept entails designating outdoor living spaces and designing them to meet particular needs — entertaining, exercising, meditating, etc. These rooms can be elaborate and expensive or simple and economical. We opted for functional and cost-effective and created them using small space heaters, wind screens and lap blankets, all of which allowed us a degree of refuge from the worst of winter’s elements.

Truth be told, our outdoor rooms weren’t always warm and cozy, but they made being together with friends and family possible. And, despite having vivid memories of chattering teeth, we and our stalwart loved ones look forward to doing it again this year. Here are a few ideas if you, too, want to create an outdoor room (or two) of your own.

Location: Pick a room site that’s close enough to the house for easy access to the kitchen and bathrooms; access to an outdoor faucet and an electrical source is also helpful. If possible, find a place that’s sheltered on at least one side by an outside wall or fence. (Just a hint: south-facing sites tend to be warmer.) Covered porches and patios and open carports are great locations, too, because they offer sufficient air flow but also cover from rain — or even sleet and snow.

Heat source: The most important and potentially most expensive component of a cold-weather outdoor space is a reliable, safe source of heat. Options range from fire pits and chimineas to gas and electric heaters to custom-built outdoor fireplaces. Costs vary depending on the size and style of the heat source and the type of fuel it uses (wood, gas, electricity, etc.) so do some research before you buy and keep an eye out for sales. Check local codes and ordinances that may restrict outdoor fires and certain fuel types. Most important of all, though, is to use a safe heat source — no burns or noxious fumes allowed!

Wind breaks: Wind, which can gutter flames and chill the warmest of outdoor rooms, is difficult to manage but you can mitigate its effects. Options include natural barriers of evergreen trees and shrubs (planted in pots or in the ground) and purchased or DIY permanent or portable screens made with weather-resistant wind/solar screen fabrics, vinyl, plexiglass, wood or other materials. As with heaters, pick something that fits your budget and is safe, but also keep in mind whether you’ll want these in place come warmer weather.

Combined these three primary elements with sufficient lighting and comfortable, cozy furniture, rugs and lap blankets you can enjoy outside gatherings into the upcoming holidays and on through the winter. You may just find a new appreciation for the winter landscape and who your fair-weather friends really are.

Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.

NOVEMBER TIPS

• Clean equipment and tools before storing them for the winter. • Plant cool season vegetables (leafy greens, garlic and onions, root crops, etc.) and flowers (poppies, snapdragons, pansies, etc.) • Continue planting trees, shrubs and spring-blooming bulbs. • Collect pinecones, leaves and other natural treasures to use as DIY gift and decorating projects. • Start planning for the coming year’s gardening projects. • Keep bird feeders and baths clean and full. • Wash windows to let in more winter light. • Bring potted houseplants in for the winter.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Sign up for Medicare Part B online

You can sign up for Medicare Part B online! If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part A and want to enroll in Part B during the Special Enrollment Period, please visit our Medicare web page at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/.

From there, you can enroll in Part B by completing these forms: CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B [Medical Insurance]) and CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information).

You can also fax or mail the CMS-40B and CMS-L564 to your local Social Security office to enroll. You can find the fax number and address for your local office at ssa.gov/locator. Please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) if you have any questions.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov. Note: When completing the forms:  State, “I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)” in the remarks section of the CMS-40B form or online application.  If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best you can on behalf of your employer without your employer’s signature.  Submit one of the following types of secondary evidence by uploading it from a saved document on your computer: - Income tax returns that show health insurance premiums paid. - W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions. - Pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions. - Health insurance cards with a policy effective date. - Explanations of benefits paid by the Group Health Plan or

Large Group Health Plan. - Statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

Please let your friends and loved ones know about this online, mail, or fax option.

November crossword by Myles Mellor

Across 1 Spectacle in the sky seen on Nov 12-13, 1833 which became known as “the night the stars fell on Alabama” 8 What the original Thanksgiving celebrated 9 Caramel ____ slab pie 10 Thanksgiving vegetable: ____ beans 12 Herb used in stuffing 13 Measurement of distance, abbr. 14 Salty Chinese sauce 17 Thanksgiving side: cranberry ____ 20 Large coffee pot 22 State where leafpeepers enjoy fall colors, abbr. 24 Very very long time 26 Type of dressing seen at many Alabama

Thanksgiving dinners 28 Thanksgiving pie 30 Stuffing ingredients 32 Roasting spit 34 Yes at sea 35 Cornmeal cakes 36 Turkey topping Down 2 Traditional Thanksgiving food 3 Have a debt to 4 Arrange cutlery, bowls etc. at the table 5 Autumnal color 6 Trade show 7 Red root vegetables 8 Holds close 11 Source 15 Deja ___ 16 On Nov 5, 1970, one of the first black Alabama legislators was elected to the House of

Representatives, 2 words 18 “In the ___ Tonight” (Phil Collins song) 19 Ear holder 21 Rejection word 23 Little Women sister 25 Sounds 26 Herb in curry powder 27 Dark film genre, for short 28 Apple core item 29 Yuletide beverage 31 Beside 33 Medical professional, abbr.