Alabama Living CWEMC April 2013

APRIL 2013

Let’s take a road trip!

Paradise forbird watchers

Clarke-Washington EMC 2012 YT Delegates Dayla Wade and Hannah GrimesPage 8

Clarke-washington EMC Youth tour winners special Edition

Clarke- WashıngtoneleCtriC MeMbership Corp.

www.cwemc.com

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http://www.cwemc.com

Alabama Living APRIL 2013 3

AlAbAmA living is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. AREA cooperative member subscriptions are $3 a year; non-member subscriptions, $6. 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 office.

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

AlAbAmA RuRAl ElEctRic AssociAtion

AREA PREsidEntFred Braswell

EditoRLenore Vickrey

MAnAging EditoRMelissa Henninger

CREAtivE diRECtoRMark Stephenson

ARt diRECtoRMichael Cornelison

AdvERtising diRECtoRAdam Freeman

AdvERtising CooRdinAtoRBrooke Davis

RECiPE EditoR Mary Tyler Spivey

AdvERtising & EditoRiAL oFFiCEs:

340 TechnaCenter DriveMontgomery, Alabama 36117-60311-800-410-2737E-mail: [email protected]

nAtionAL AdvERtising REPREsEntAtivE:

National Country Market611 South Congress Ave., Suite 504Austin, Texas 787041-800-626-1181www.nationalcountrymarket.comwww.alabamaliving.coop

USPS 029-920 • ISSN 1047-0311

Printed in Americafrom American materials

12 Time for a road trip! Now that spring is here, it’s time to explore the dozens of sites that make our state unique. Check out a road trip this weekend with the Tourism Department’s easy guide.

22 More than fishing The 6,000-acre majestic Lake Guntersville State Park is the perfect getaway to unjangle your nerves in peace and quiet.

Vol. 66 No.4

APRIl 2013 lIVINg

dePARtments

9 Spotlight 10 Power Pack 30 Alabama gardens 36 Worth the Drive 32 Alabama outdoors 33 Fish&game Forecast 34 Cook of the Month 40 Consumer Wise 46 Alabama Snapshots

On THE COvER: The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery is an historic Alabama Road Trip stop.PHOTO: Alabama Tourism

5 Be Ready Before Disaster StrikesPreparedness is key when it comes to making it through a weather emergency unscathed.

manager

Stan Wilson

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.areapower.coop

http://www.nationalcountrymarket.com

http://www.alabamaliving.coop

Manager’s Comments

Finding the Value of Electricity

Nowadays, cell phones and personal digital devices are a part of our culture. Everyone, it seems, is connected on the go—whether they’re just making phone calls, text messag-ing, or checking e-mail. Such communica-tion freedom is a luxury we pay for, generally without grumbling.

So why is it that when it comes to electricity—a necessity in our modern world—many of us complain when the elec-tric bill comes every month? We expect elec-tricity to be there at the flip of the switch, and when it’s not, we get angry or frustrated.

Hey, I’m no different—I expect the lights to come on every time, too. And as the CEO of CWEMC I have a special responsibility to make sure your electric service is safe, reliable and affordable. But I also believe that when compared to other commodities, electricity remains a great value.

For example, over the past 10 years, gaso-line has shot up 12.66 percent on average an-nually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A loaf of white bread rose 3.73 per-cent annually, and a dozen eggs jumped 7.39 percent per year.

In comparison, electricity has in-creased just 3.7 percent a year nationally for the past decade. When you consider how reliable electricity is, the value goes up even more. CWEMC members experience outages

lasting just, on the average, about an hour and 45 minutes for the whole year something we’re proud of, considering electricity is a 24-hour-a-day commodity. Of course, we’re working hard to reduce even those brief inter-ruptions, increase our service reliability, and control costs at the same time.

Those cell phones I mentioned ear-lier? Nearly a third of all U.S. households have four electronic devices, such as cell phones, plugged in and charging, according to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the past 30 years, the amount of residential electricity used by appliances and electronics has increased from 17 percent to 31 percent. More homes than ever use major appliances and central air conditioning. Digital video recorders (DVRs), computers, and multiple televisions have become common place.

Clearly, our appetite for electricity shows no signs of slowing down. So the next time you flip a switch, use your toaster, or run your washing machine, remember the value elec-tricity holds. And know that we at CWEMC are looking out for you by working together to keep electric bills affordable, controlling costs through innovation and putting you, our members, first.

Thank you.A

4 April 2013 www.cwemc.cOm

oFFiCE loCATions

Jackson office1307 college Avenue

p.O. box 398Jackson, Al 36545

251-246-9081

Chatom officep.O. box 143

chatom, Al 36518251-847-2302

Toll Free number1-800-323-9081

office Hours7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

monday - Friday(drive-thru Hours)

Pay your bill online atwww.cwemc.com

Payment Methodspayments can be made

at our chatom and Jackson offices with

cash, checks, debit or credit cards

Our customer service representatives can

accept payments over the phone using a credit

or debit card

Stan Wilson manager of clarke-washington electric membership corporation

Percent increase of goods

02468

101214

Gasoline Bread Eggs Electricity

Annually over the past 10 years

while many consumer goods have increased dramatically over the last 10 years, electricity has remained an incredible value.

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Alabama living April 2013 5

Clarke-Washington EMC

be Ready before Disaster strikesApril showers bring May flowers...and dangerous storms

If disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, wa-ter, or electricity for some time. By tak-ing time now to prepare emergency kits, you can provide for your entire family.

Even though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food sup-plies for two weeks, consider maintain-ing a stockpile that will last that long. In fact, you can use the canned goods, dry mixes, and other staples on your cup-board shelves. Protein bars and break-

fast bars are also good to have on hand. But an ample supply of clean water

remains a top priority. A normally ac-tive person needs to drink at least 2 quarts (a half gallon) of water each day. You also need water for food prepara-tion and hygiene. Count on at least an

additional half-gallon per person, per day.

Store at least a three-day supply and consider storing a two-week supply of water for each member of your family. If you are unable to handle this much, store as much as you can. You can re-duce the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool. Don’t forget to take your pets’ wa-ter needs into account, too!

An emergency kit should also in-

clude tools to help you weather the storm. Remember to store a battery or hand-crank operated radio, can opener, flashlights, extra batteries, hand sani-tizer, and first aid supplies. Include a seven-day supply of medications for you or other family members. Finally, store

copies of important documents—birth certificates, passports, and insurance policies.

While these are the basics, you can further customize your kit by includ-ing family photos, candy, nuts or other snack foods, and even a deck of cards to help pass the time. Think ahead—re-chargeable flashlights plugged in around key areas of your home provide instant light if the power goes out.

Here at CWEMC, it is our number one priority to keep the lights on. We have an on-going, compre-hensive right of way main-tenance program. There is no other way so effective at decreasing outages than to have a clean right-of-way. Not to mention how much more safe it is for the line-men to work in/around. In the chart to the left is nu-merical evidence that our plan to decrease outages is working. We have had a steady decline of trouble (outage) calls and outage times since 2006.

There will come a time, however, that mother na-ture will overcome our

best efforts to keep the lights on. It is best to be prepared in case there is a prolonged outage.

To learn more about how to prepar-ing for storms and other emergencies, visit www.redcross.org/domore. A

CWEMC Trouble Calls

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012


http://www.redcross.org/domore

6 April 2013 www.cwemc.cOm

Comeback for Energy Tax Credits

Feds revive incentives for efficient home upgrades



AlAbAmA living April 2013 7

Clarke-Washington EMC

Ready to boost your home’s energy efficiency without breaking the bank? The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 revived energy efficiency tax credits to the tune of $500. The credit offsets the cost of upgrades such as super-efficient water heaters and furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, central air conditioners, building insulation, windows, and roofs.

This marks the third extension of the incentive initiated by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. The last round expired in 2011; the new legislation covers 2012 upgrades along with projects undertaken in 2013. If you’ve already received an energy tax credit, you’re out of luck—there’s a lifetime cap of $500.

Full details on qualifying upgrades and individual caps are at www.energystar.gov/taxcredits. Here are a few ways to lower your electric bill and save at tax time.

insulating Factors

recoup up to 10 percent of the cost of upgrading a home’s envelope. the tax credit is capped at $500 for all improvements; labor costs are not covered. eligible upgrades are:• Insulation materials• Systems designed to reduce a home’s heat loss/gain• Exterior doors • Skylights and windows ($200 maximum for upgrades between 2006-2013)• Qualifying metal or asphalt roofs

Heating and Cooling

replacing your home’s heating or cooling system? You could qualify for a tax credit ranging from $50 to $500 for units put in place between Jan. 1, 2012, and dec. 31, 2013. eligible improvements are:

• High-efficiency water heaters ($300 cap)• Electric heat pump water heaters with an energy factor of at least 2.0 ($300 cap)• Advanced main air circulating fan ($50 cap)• Qualifying central air conditioner ($300 cap)• Biomass stove (select fuels; $300 cap)

Tax Credit basics

energy tax credits are non-refundable—they can increase your refund by reducing the taxes you owe, dollar for dollar, and can be carried forward to reduce taxes in following years. You don’t get a separate check for the credit amount.

File for energy tax credits with irs Form 5695. be sure to keep a manufacturer certification statement (a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that the product or component qualifies for the tax credit) for your records. eligible upgrades must be made to a taxpayer’s primary residence by dec. 31, 2013. For a complete list of federal, state, and local energy efficiency assistance, visit the database of state incentives for renewables and efficiency, a project funded by the U.s. department of energy, at www.dsireusa.org.


http://www.energystar.gov/taxcredits

http://www.dsireusa.org


8 April 2013

Youth Tour 2013

Dayla Wade - Millry Hannah Grimes - Leroy

Once a year Clarke-Washington EMC selects two high school students as delegates to attend the Montgomery and Washington D.C. Youth Tour. These students join dozens of other students from Alabama to represent our state - all expenses paid. Once in D.C. , the group connects with hundreds os students from across the country for one incredible week in our nation’s capital. The Washington Youth Tour is a fast-paced, once in a life time opportunity to see how America works. This summer’s tour will be June 14-21.

“It’s not just a week of sight-seeing,” says a recent delegate. “It is even more than a chance to meet other students from across the nation and shake hands with Congressmen. I gained a new sense of pride in my country and respect for those who fight to defend the freedoms it offers.”

These feelings underscore the emphasis of the program - a top-notch tour of our nation’s capital that includes visits to all the major sights. Students also meet and discuss their views with students from other states while learning about history, government and careers in public service.

Washington highlights will include cruising down the Potomac River, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, touring the U.S. Supreme Court, Mount Vernon, Washington National Cathedral and Ford’s Theatre. The delegates will also explore museums, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Juniors from high schools in Clarke-Washington’s service area were asked to submit an essay. The top essayists attended an interview session at CWEMC headquarters in Jackson. A panel of judges then se-lected the winners after the interview session.

Conratulations Dayla and Hannah!


Alabama Living ApriL 2013 9

In AprilSpot Light

ApriL 12 And 13

Tri-State BBQ Festival draws competitorsClouds of sweet hickory-tainted smoke will again descend April 12 and 13 on Dothan at the Houston County Farm Center for the 8th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival, as teams from around the southeast gather to compete. Last year, teams competed for more than $10,000 in prize money, trophies and bragging rights. Professional and backyard competition teams are urged to register early to guarantee a spot in the competition that was featured last year on the TV show, “BBQ Pitmasters.” The event also offers regional and local music, arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities and more. Team entry forms and additional information can be found at www.TriStateBBQ.com, or by calling The Main Event at 334-699-1475.

APRIL 11

Huntsville auction benefits autism education, treatmentThe Riley Behavioral and Educational Center will host its 6th Annual Gala and Auction for Autism from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville. Cost is $75 per person and $150 per couple. For

more information, contact The Riley Center at 256-882-2457, or email [email protected]. The Riley Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization whose mission is to provide comprehensive services using a multidisciplinary approach to fulfill the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and treatment for children and their families faced with autism.

ApriL 20

Wetumpka’s Craterfest aims for high turnoutThe Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce will host Craterfest, a large-scale music festival on April 20.

“Wetumpka Craterfest will replace the former Riverfest (organized by the chamber) with a stronger focus on attracting tourism to the area, while maintaining the community aspect with a children’s area and offering the event at no cost with the help of sponsorships from community businesses,” says Vanessa Lynch, chamber executive director.

Keith Anderson, a country music recording artist, will be the headline act at the festival, sponsored by Creek Casino Wetumpka. Anderson is best known for his Billboard chart topping hit song, “Picking Wildflowers.”

Visit the chamber’s website at www.wetumpkachamber.org for more information.

ApriL 20

State book festival centers on food themeThe Alabama Book Festival will be Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., in Kiwanis Park at Old Alabama Town in Montgomery. The theme this year is food, in recognition of the Year of Alabama Food as designated by the Alabama Tourism Department. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.alabamabookfestival.org.

Tri-State BBQ Festival competitors prepare their barbecue for judging.

http://www.TriStateBBQ.com


http://www.wetumpkachamber.org

http://www.alabamabookfestival.org

http://www.alabamabookfestival.org

10 ApriL 2013 www.alabamaliving.coop

power Pack

Women: Learn about Social SecurityBy Kylle’ McKinney

The Social Security program treats all workers — men and women — ex-actly the same in terms of the benefits they can receive. But women may want to familiarize themselves with what the program means to them in their particular circumstances. Understand-ing the benefits may mean the differ-ence between living more comfortably versus just getting by in retirement.

One of the most significant things women need to remember about Social Security is the importance of promptly reporting a name change. If you haven’t told us of a name change, your W-2 may not match the informa-tion in Social Security’s records and this could affect the amount of your future benefits. Not changing your name with Social Security also can delay your federal income tax refund. To report a name change, please fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can get the form by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov, or any Social Security office or

card center, or by calling Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You must show us certain identity documents, includ-

ing one recently issued to prove your legal name change.

If expanding your family is in your plans, it’s a good idea to apply for a So-cial Security number for your baby in the hospital, at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. Social Security will mail the card to you. If you wait, you must then sepa-rately provide evidence of your child’s age, identity, and U.S. citizenship status, as well as proof of your identity. Then, we must verify your child’s birth record, which can add 12 weeks to the time it takes to issue a card.

When women start receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other family members may be eligible for payments as well. For

example, benefits can be paid to a husband:

If he is age 62 or older; orAt any age, if he is caring for your

child (the child must be younger than 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits on your record).

Benefits also can be paid to unmar-ried children if they are:

Younger than age 18; between 18 and 19 years old, but in elementary or secondary school as full-time students; or age 18 or older and severely dis-abled (the disability must have started before age 22).

The family of a woman who dies may be eligible for survivors benefits based on her work.

For more information about women and Social Security, ask for the pub-lication, What Every Woman Should Know (SSA Publication No. 05-10127) or visit our special Women’s page on-line at www.socialsecurity.gov/women. Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs specialist, can be reached in Montgom-ery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265, or by e-mail at [email protected].

McKinney

Plans are under way for the 2013 Masters Games of Alabama, which provides games and social, mental and physical activities for active adults age 50 and older. A cooperative effort of parks and recreation professionals and the Alabama Aging Network, the Masters Games were developed in Oxford in 1990 to provide seniors an opportunity to maintain an active lifestyle by participating in a variety of Olympic-style events. Between 600 and 800 persons participate statewide in such activities as basketball free throw, dominoes, checkers, quilting, line dancing, corn hole toss, horseshoes, softball throw, swimming, frisbee, shuffleboard, pickleball, table tennis, billiards and bowling. District Games

are held in May, June, July and August in each of the program’s nine districts. Deadline for registration is May 31. Contact information for each of the districts is available at http://www.earpdc.org/pages/?pageID=71.

Time to register for 2013 Masters Games

The Masters Games features diverse areas of competition from checkers to table tennis.

Music producer Don Davis, a native of Calvert, Ala., has written a book on his history in the music industry. Titled “Nashville Steeler: My Life in Country Music,” Davis recalls his years working with the likes of Minnie Pearl, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. He produced hits for many artists and recorded his own music in the 1940s. The book contains photos of many members of the Carter family, including Anita Carter, Davis’ former wife. It is filled with anecdotes about country music and music-producing legends. Davis’ book is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and in other retail bookstores.

Musician publishes memoir

http://www.socialsecurity

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/women


http://www



By Lindsay Mott

The Fourth Annual Hangout Mu-sic Festival takes the atmosphere of a typical music festival, places it in the breathtaking setting of the white, sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, and mixes in a little Gulf Coast flavor, art and seafood.

The festival takes approximately 60 musical acts and places them on mul-tiple stages in the festival grounds. Some are on the beach around the Hangout and some are in the area the festival closes off on Beach Boulevard. Music is planned throughout each day, along with art exhibits, vendors, food, treats, games, activities, rides and more. This year’s festival will be May 17, 18 and 19, at the Hangout and surrounding area.

Music is the main focus of the festival, and organizers make sure they cover a wide variety of genres and band types, which is the goal of a festival of this sort, according to Shaul Zislin, owner of the Hangout.

“That’s what makes music festivals appealing,” he says. And this year is no different. Festival organizers have

chosen bands that fall into a multitude of categories, includ-ing rock, alternative, blues, reggae, and others. This includes main acts like headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Kings of Leon. The third headliner, Stevie Wonder, was recently announced. Other acts include the Black Crowes, the Roots, Galactic and many more. In the past, they’ve had such A-list bands as the Alabama Shakes, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White and Dave Matthews.

“We don’t want to divert from that,” Zislin said. “We want to create a world-class event with world-class talent, and we want to make sure that our fans know year after year we’ll deliver that caliber of talent.”

This year, the main change will be an “emerging artists” stage instead of the kids’ stage they’ve had previously. Based on surveys, they know attendees are looking to see a spot for more emerging bands.

Art is again being displayed as part of the festival. The festival tends to partner with a local art group, which is still being finalized. This art will be displayed throughout the festival grounds, along with a display of posters for the art-ists performing.

Food is also a big part of the event, including many local restaurants offering food of all kinds. Zislin said they are looking to again partner with Alabama Gulf Seafood, which will allow them to feature regional chefs and “the beautiful

seafood from the Gulf.” He said this was a big success last year, and they are working to offer it again.

Since the inception of the event in 2010, festival organiz-ers have added an extra stage and increased the number of acts from 50 to 60. The second year, they increased the area of the festival, taking over the beach road instead of just the beach itself. They’ve kept the number of tickets at right about 35,000 each year, with a sell-out crowd last year.

The festival is a great draw for bringing people to the area. Zislin says they have testimony from area businesses about “how great of an impact” the festival has on their business.

For festival organizers the Hangout Music Festival is all about the experience, and the experience here is different from any other music festival.

“This is really what I call the easy music festival if you’re a music lover but not ready to rough it out,” Zislin says. “This is the best opportunity in the world to experience one of these things.”

Many festivals require attendees to camp out, but the set-ting of the Hangout provides condos, hot showers, shop-ping, other tourist activities, great seafood and more.

Zislin is proud of the event, which he says brings the right talent and offers the right experience. He says it is well-pro-duced and a great way to start the summer.

“The whole state can take pride in it,” he says. Parking in the area is an issue, so those not staying on the

beach will have the option of buying a pass for a shuttle that will pick up at various locations. A map is available online. Tickets for the festival are currently on sale, including spe-cial VIP packages and payments plans, and they are con-tinuing to make big announcements regarding the festival and adding new acts. See all information at hangoutmu-sicfest.com.

Attendees of this year’s Hangout Music Festival can watch headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Kings of Leon and Stevie Wonder perform.

Hangout music festival draws big acts


Just in time for spring travel, the Ala-bama Tourism Department has ex-panded its list of featured road trips,

part of a three-year campaign focusing on itineraries that anyone can take over one, two or three days in our state, depending on where you live.

“There’s something for everyone,” says Tourism Director Lee Sentell, whose staff has made it easy to plan: You can view the entire list of road trips and get details about each trip at the official site: www.alabama.travel/road-trips.

To get you started, here’s a look at two of the excursions you can take this week-end, or plan for any season. Alabama Liv-ing will continue to feature selected road trips in future issues throughout the year.

Road Trip No. 4: Selma to Montgomery: Crossing a Bridge into History

The Edmund Pettus Bridge, spanning the Alabama River in Selma, has become one of the most iconic symbols of the mod-ern struggle for civil and voting rights in America. It is also a focal point for the 54-mile route now memorialized as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.

Begin the Trail in Selma and you can go back in time nearly 50 years and be-come an eyewitness to history by visiting the Selma Interpretive Center and National Voting Rights Museum to hear the stories behind the historic 1965 voting rights marches. The main gallery of the museum features the Footprints Hall of Fame with footprints of voting rights marchers form-ing a continuous theme. Other exhibits in-clude a voting booth and a jail cell.

Time for aroad trip!

The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places.

AlAbAmA Tourism DepArTmenT

http://www.alabama.travel/road-trips




Road Trip No. 1 - Tuscaloosa to Auburn: bCs Championship Tour

Road Trip No. 2 - Guntersville: Where eagles Fly

Road Trip No. 3 - mobile: A romantic Getaway

Road Trip No. 4 - selma to montgomery: Crossing a bridge into History

Road Trip No. 5 - Gulf shores and orange beach: spring break at the beach

Road Trip No. 6 - birmingham: Taking it to the streets, Downtown

Road Trip No. 7 - Huntsville: To the moon and back by Dinner

Road Trip No. 8 - montgomery: A place Where History runs Deep

Road Trip No. 9 - Gulf Coast birding: Fort morgan, Dauphin beach, Theodore

Road Trip No. 10 - monroeville: The To Kill a mockingbird experience

Road Trip No. 11 - selma: Civil War History in the re-making

Road Trip No. 12 - Childersburg and sylacauga: Family Fun

Road Trip No. 13 - eufaula: picture-perfect and pilgrimage-ready

Road Trip No. 14 - Tuscaloosa to eutaw: Antiques and Antebellum mansions

Road Trip No. 15 - Abbeville: Yatta Abba Yella Fella Tour

Road Trip No. 16 - eastern shore: Girlfriends bay Getaway

Road Trip No. 17 - Foley and elberta: Art, Antiques and model Trains

Road Trip No. 18 - Go for a Drive on the rTJ Golf Trail

Road Trip No. 19 - birmingham’s Five points south: Walk to James beard-recognized restaraunts

Road Trip No. 20 - Decatur: Fun in the river City

Road Trip No. 21 - Discover Dothan: The Heart of Alabama’s Wiregrass

Road Trip No. 22 - Florence: Alabama’s renaissance City

Road Trip No. 23 - Gee’s bend: pastimes to patchwork Tour

Road Trip No. 24 - rocking and rolling on the mountains: A Driving Tour Through steele, Ashville and springville

Road Trip No. 25 - Alabama’s Coastal Connection national scenic byway

Road Trip No. 26 - A bicentennial road Trip: Fort mims to Horseshoe bend

Road Trip No. 27 - Fort payne: The View From lookout mountain

Road Trip No. 28 - Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Where Kids Drive the Fun Home

Road Trip No. 29 - Famous Alabamians Hometown Heroes road Trip

Road Trip No. 30 - marion and Greensboro: interesting people, places and Food

Crossing the famous bridge, you can follow in the path of foot soldiers along U.S. Hwy. 80 to a place called “Tent City” in Lowndes County. From there, you can continue to Montgomery, stopping at the City of St. Jude, the Rosa Parks Museum and other sites before arriving at the Alabama State Capitol. At the base of the Capitol steps Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rallied a crowd of more 25,000 with his “How Long…Not Long” speech on March 25, 1965 and laid the demands of black Alabamians at the door-step of Gov. George C. Wallace, the most powerful political figure in state government at the time.

When planning your visit to the Trail, Tourism officials recom-mend allowing sufficient time to stop and see the sites, cross the bridge, and learn more about the century-long struggle for civil and voting rights that ultimately led to the passage of the land-mark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which attracts thousands of visitors from around the world, was hosted in March by the Na-tional Voting Rights Museum, a commemoration of the anniver-sary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma to Montgomery marches, as well as a celebration of the right to vote.

Along U.S. Highway 80 to Montgomery are several Trail mark-ers, including one that marks the spot where Viola Liuzzo, a white woman from Michigan, was killed. Luizzo was one of the people transporting marchers from Montgomery to Selma after a rally at the State Capitol on March 25, 1965. Accompanied by a young African-American man, she had returned to Selma, dropped off her passengers and was returning to Montgomery to pick up more marchers when she was spotted by the Ku Klux Klan. Liuzzo was pursued at high speed until she was shot and killed.

Entering Montgomery, continue to follow the Trail signs to historic sites such as the City of St. Jude, just off I-65 on West Fairview Avenue. Voting rights marchers camped here and held a “Stars for Freedom” rally on the St. Jude campus before their arrival at the Capitol.

In downtown Montgomery is the Rosa Parks Museum & Li-brary and Children’s Wing, located on the very site where Parks

was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat to white pas-sengers on a city bus. A block away is the Freedom Rides Museum at the historic Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station and at the top of Dexter Avenue is the Alabama State Capitol where the final and successful Selma to Montgomery march ended.

Just west of the Capitol is Dexter Avenue King Memorial Bap-tist Church, the only church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor. A block behind the church is the Civil Rights Memorial Center, which honors the 40 martyrs who died during the civil rights struggles between 1954 and 1968.

Road Trip No. 9: Gulf Coast Birding: Fort Morgan, Dauphin Island, Theodore

A few hundred miles south, Alabama’s Gulf Coast is a stopover point for birds as they return from Central to North America in the spring.

The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail spans Baldwin and Mobile counties and is a bird watcher’s paradise. You can watch peli-cans fly in formation as they prepare to nose dive into the Gulf of Mexico for the catch of the day, or see great blue herons sail across Mobile Bay and watch a breathtaking sunset. The trail winds through more than 50 birding sites and is enhanced by directional and interpretive signage. Loops are close enough that you can easily drive from one to the other.

Start your birding trip in Fort Morgan at the historic Civil War site where for two weeks each spring and fall bird watchers can enjoy the banding season. You’ll be able to see a variety of birds at this banding station, including hummingbirds.

Each October, local birders host the Alabama Coastal BirdFest. The event includes workshops, demonstrations, and guided bird tours. Participants can sign up for guided or unguided trips to explore some of the best birding spots on the coast. You can also shop for bird-related merchandise.

On your way to Fort Morgan, stop and visit the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge located off Fort Morgan Road. The ref-

From beaches to mountains, Alabama has a road trip designed for you and your family. Here’s the list compiled by our friends at the Alabama Tourism Department, and you can read more about each of them at http://www.alabama.travel/road-trips.



uge is made up of 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat for migratory birds, sea turtles and the endan-gered Alabama beach mouse. The refuge has been named one of the 10 Natural Wonders of Alabama because of its wild, undeveloped land. More than 370 species of birds have been iden-tified at Bon Secour during migratory seasons. Visitors can explore the area by walking one of the five trails within the refuge.

After bird watching at Bon Secour, drive to the ferry landing at Fort Morgan where the ferry takes you across Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island, named a top-four location in North America for viewing spring migrations.

While on Dauphin Island, be sure to visit the Estuarium and Sea Lab where you will find marine life native to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Lo-cated at the ferry landing, the Sea Lab features a 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall with interactive exhibits and living displays showcasing the area’s marine life. Outside is a living marsh boardwalk that meanders along portions of the fourth-larg-est estuary system in the U.S.

Across the street from the Sea Lab is a Civil War fort famous for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Visitors can tour Fort Gaines for a look at how soldiers lived in the 1860s. A tour of the 19th-century brick seacoast fort includes a working blacksmith shop, bakery, Officer’s Quarters, cannons and more.

As you leave Dauphin Island, your next stop should be in Theodore at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Located on the west side of Mobile Bay, 30 minutes south of Mobile, this area also offers excellent bird watching opportunities and is home to the largest public gardens in the state. The 1,500-foot-long Bayou Boardwalk trail will take you through the backwaters to see cranes, eagles and more.

Behind the house is the pavilion where you can enjoy views of Fowl River or take a river cruise on the Southern Belle River Boat.

Portions of this article are reprinted with per-mission from the Alabama Tourism Department’s website. Details on all 40 Alabama Road Trips are available at www.alabama.travel/road-trips. A

2013 April Walking ToursA variety of community leaders will lead free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns during April. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on April 6, 13, 20 and 27 throughout the state.

AthensAthens Visitor Center

AtmoreHeritage parkBirmingham

birmingham Civil rights instituteButler

Jackson’s on The squareCourtland

Town squareCullman

Cullman County museumDecatur

old state bankEufaula

Various locationsFairhope

Fairhope Welcome CenterFlorence

Various locationsHuntsville

Constitution Village (April 6 and 13 only)

Madisonmadison roadhouse (April 20 and 27 only)

MobileDowntown mobile Alliance

MonroevilleChamber of Commerce

MontevalloChamber of Commerce

Montgomerymontgomery Area Visitors Center

Phenix CityAmphitheater

PrattvilleAutauga County Heritage Center

Sheffieldsheffield municipal building

Sylacaugab.b. Comer library

TuscumbiaColdWater books

Wetumpkaelmore County museum

Read more about birding in Alabama on Pages 20-21.




Some people come to fish the third best bass lake in the nation, as defined by Bassmas-ter magazine. Others come to gaze upon

the “million-dollar view” of the Tennessee River Valley in northeastern Alabama, ablaze in color during the fall. Others come to hike the forested trails, hit a few golf balls or simply enjoy nature in rustic splendor. Whatever the reason, the 6,000-acre Lake Guntersville State Park near the town of Guntersville in Marshall County offers vaca-tioners, wedding planners, corporate groups or couples looking for romance many options for unjangling nerves in peace and quiet.

Like a chalet crowning the mountains of France, the ma-jestic Lake Guntersville Resort State Park Lodge dominates the top of Tay l or Mou nt a i n . Perched about 600 feet above the 69,100-acre Lake Guntersville, the lodge seems more like an exclusive resort than a state facility, but for con-siderably less cost.

“Staying at a state park is very economical when com-pared to staying at a com-mercial resort somewhere,” advises Tim Whitehead of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Most of the money for the state parks is generated by the parks themselves, not tax dollars from the general treasury.”

Surrounded by forests teeming with wildlife, the staggered three-story guest residence wings of the lodge fold into the mountain. The archi-tecture blends into the cliff, becoming part of the scenery rather than attempting to overcome the natural contours.

“We have people come from all over to look

at the layout of the lodge so they can model their programs after it,” says Stephen S. Johns, Lake Guntersville Resort State Park Lodge general manager. “Guests can look out from their balconies and watch the sun set over Lake Guntersville. People come here because it’s a family-oriented facility where people enjoy good quality time together.”

The largest lodge in Alabama can house about 1,000 people in hotel rooms and suites. Some suites can accommodate up to eight people. With seven meeting and banquet rooms, plus an ex-

ecutive boardroom, the lodge offers more than 13,800 square feet of meet-

ing space for visiting confer-ences, church retreats, class

reunions, weddings and other large groups.

“We have some of the finest conference fa-cilities in northeast Ala-bama,” Johns explains. “With flexible seating

arrangements, attentive banquet staff, free high-

speed Wi-Fi and breath-taking views, the lodge is the perfect venue for any meet-ing. Groups that come here would have plenty room for whatever projects or sessions

they would like to conduct.”The Pinecrest Dining Room downstairs in

the lodge offers three meals a day, seven days a week. Guests can enjoy a sumptuous steak, prime rib or catfish meal while overlooking the lake. The restaurant also can provide banquet services for larger groups.

Guests who prefer to get off on their own may select furnished mountaintop chalets or lakeside cabins with modern conveniences. Others may prefer primitive camping or sleeping in their own

More than just fishing at Lake GuntersvilleState Park

By John N. Felsher

This is the first in a series of stories spotlighting Alabama’s State ParksWhich is your favorite? Tell us on our Facebook page!

State parks are a more affordable option than commercial resorts.



recreational vehicles. Many facilities were rebuilt or remodeled after a tornado rolled through the park on April 27, 2011.

“Almost every facility in the park was damaged by the tornado,” recalls Benny Bobo, an ADCNR district superintendent. “We lost power for more than a month, but we reopened part of the lodge about six weeks after the storm hit. We had to totally rebuild five cabins, one chalet and one bath-house. We had to repair about 15 chalets.”

“One of the chalets rebuilt after the tor-nado was the Honeymoon Chalet,” Johns echoes. “We felt a need to make something like that for honeymoons, anniversaries and other special occasions. It overlooks the lake with an indoor garden tub and three fireplaces, a kitchen and an outdoor hot tub, so guests can really enjoy a roman-tic experience.”

The park will break ground on a new na-ture center this spring to replace a facility destroyed by the tornado. The nature center will hold a lecture hall and display exhibits in a log cabin. In addition, the park planted 500 hardwood trees in the campgrounds to replace some trees lost in the storm and 8,500 shortleaf pines in the golf course area.

Located atop Taylor Mountain near the lodge, the Eagle’s Nest Golf Course offers 18 holes in a majestic mountain setting. El-evation changes frequently in the rugged terrain, making playing the course challeng-ing. While hitting a ball down the fairway, look out for deer that might wander over to the greens.

“We have a great diversity of habitat and wildlife at the park,” advises Patti Donnel-lan, park naturalist. “We have an abundance of deer and they are not shy. It’s common to see deer standing next to roads. In the winter, a lot of waterfowl and eagles migrate to the lake. Some endangered gray bats stay in caves here in the mountains during the winter. That same cave also holds endan-gered salamanders.”

Throughout the year, Donnellan con-ducts various free wildlife and nature education programs. In January and February, many people come to the park for “Eagle Awareness” weekends. The park, lake and surrounding areas attract many bald eagles during the winter.

“In January and Febru-ary, I take visitors on field trips to see the eagles and

see an eagle nest down b y t h e Lake Gun-t e r s v i l l e dam,” Don-nellan says. “Sometimes, people bring live birds here to do programs for the guests. Later in the spring, we start guided trail hikes on Saturday mornings. Each Saturday, I pick a different trail for a 30-minute hike.”

The park offers hikers about 36 miles of trails over terrain varying from moder-ate to very challenging. The trails range from about a half-mile to 3.5 miles long. Guests may accompany Donnellan or an-other park staffer on a guided hike or go it alone. Guided interpretive hikes gener-ally last about 30 minutes over moderate terrain. Some trails serve multiple uses. Besides hiking, people may ride mountain bikes or horses on some trails. Equestrians must bring their own horses.

“From spring through early fall, I’ll pe-riodically do other programs to spotlight the natural beauty of the area,” Donnellan explains. “Some programs include identify-ing wildflowers, shorebirds or butterflies, creating a wildlife friendly yard or learn-ing about animal migrations. My two most popular programs are on getting people to overcome their fear of bats and identifying edible or medicinal plants. Many people are interested in herbal remedies. Many plants that grow in people’s yards are very nutri-tious.”

Of course, no one can visit the largest lake in Alabama and one of the top fish-ing destinations in the nation without at least thinking of catching a few big ones. Charlie Bertus holds the official Lake Gun-tersville largemouth bass record with a 14.50-pounder. Duanne McQueen set the smallmouth record with a 5.85-pounder.

Besides largemouth and smallmouth bass, an-

glers might also tempt white

bass, catfish, crappie, blue-gills, sauger and other species.

“ W i t h -out a doubt,

Lake Guntersville is one of the premier bass lakes in the nation,” says Mike Ia-conelli, the 2003 Bassmas-ter Classic champion who won a major tournament

there in 2006. “It’s an amaz-ing numbers lake, but can also

produce giant bass. I caught one 10-pounder in that lake, but I caught

bunches in the 6- to 8-pound range.”Many anglers bring their own boats to

launch at one of the park marina facilities, but people without boats can rent them at the Town Creek Fishing Center on Alabama Highway 227. Park guests can also fish off the bank in many places, including behind some of the cabins. For boat reservations and prices, call the Town Creek Fishing Center at 256-582-8358 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Anglers may find considerable competi-tion on the lake next year. The Bassmaster Classic, the Super Bowl of competitive fish-ing, will be held at Guntersville Feb. 21-23, 2014. The professional anglers will compete on Lake Guntersville during those days, but weigh their catch in Birmingham each af-ternoon.

“We’re very excited to host the 2014 Bassmaster Classic,” Johns says. “That will bring a major economic impact to the greater Guntersville area. The lodge is al-ready gearing up for that. Since we’re the largest facility in the area, we’ll house a lot of the people coming to Guntersville for that event.”

When not enjoying the park facilities or cruising the lake, area visitors may want to investigate other nearby attractions. From forests and lakes to technology, some people may visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Other options include explor-ing area caves or looking for bargains in an unclaimed baggage center.

“The Tennessee River Valley is a very historical area,” Whitehead says. “The Cher-okees lived in this area. The Trail of Tears leads directly through the park. People can visit three other parks within an easy driv-ing distance. Many people visit a major cave at Cathedral Caverns.”

For more information about Lake Gun-tersville State Park, call 800-548-4553 or 256-571-5440. Online, see www.alapark.com/LakeGuntersville. For lake level and water discharge schedules, see www.tva.com/mobile/res/guhm.htm. A

Guntersville State Park has facilities ideal for weddings, business conferences,

church retreats and other visiting groups.

The park has vistas spanning the lake and mountains of the Tennessee River Valley.


http://www.alapark

http://www.tva


Looking decades beyond her 56 years, the ashen woman with dark,

sunken eyes lay in the hospi-tal bed, alone and accompa-nied only by various medical devices monitoring her condi-tion. Only the tortured wheez-ing of her labored breathing and rush of oxygen flowing through plastic tubes into her nose emanated from the sterile room before a monitor flat-lined.

Immediately, several war-riors in white hastened into the room and valiantly tried to revive the old woman. Despite every life-saving technique and device they could muster from their combined years of educa-tion and medical training, the team failed.

The woman had committed suicide some 43 years earlier. That’s when she took up smok-ing to look cool. Prostrate on the bed with what little re-mained of her lungs as burned as the thousands upon thou-sands of cigarettes she smashed into ashtrays over four de-cades, she didn’t look so cool any more. In the time it takes the average person to read this article, three more Americans will join the old woman on her journey to destiny.

“Another American with COPD dies every four min-utes,” says John W. Walsh, the president and co-founder of the COPD Foundation in Washington, D.C. “More people die from COPD in the United States each year than breast cancer and dia-betes combined. Just because someone stopped smoking 15

or 20 years ago does not mean they won’t get COPD. A lot of the damage has already been done.”

According to the World Health Organization, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a catch-all phrase to describe various debilitating respiratory ailments including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, affects more than 210 million people globally and kills about three million of them each year.

Un f o r-t u n at e l y, A l a b a m a c o m e s c l o s e t o leading the nation in a statistic no state wants. About 9.1 percent, or more than 4 3 0 , 0 0 0 of the 4.8 m i l l i o n people in Alabama, suffer from the disease. Only Kentucky with 9.3 percent tops Alabama.

“COPD is not an ‘old man’s disease,’” Walsh emphasizes. “It can affect anybody. More women are dying and being diagnosed with COPD than men each year. In Alabama, lower-income individuals are more likely to get COPD. About 18 percent of people in Alabama making less than $50,000 a year have it.”

Alabama ranks high be-cause of many factors, includ-

ing popularity of tobacco, Walsh explained. About 19 percent of Alabamians smoke every day. Another 25 per-cent quit smoking while about six percent smoke occasion-ally. Although non-smokers can develop various forms of COPD, about 80 to 90 percent of the people who do come down with the disease smoke regularly or once did.

Other factors can also con-tribute to the h igh C O P D rates, par-t i c u l a r l y a m o n g non-smok-ers. Some people, like Walsh, in-herit a ge-netic sus-ceptibility that could lead to the disease.

“COPD is a chron-ic disease that devel-ops after a

long period of time,” explains Dr. David M. Mannino, a lung specialist with the University of Kentucky Medical Center and a nationally recognized authority. “Historically, Ala-bama is a heavy smoking state. Not all smokers will get COPD and some non-smokers get COPD, but higher proportions of people who have smoked for years develop COPD. Ciga-rette smoking is the major risk factor, but not the only risk factor. People who work with

exposure to certain vapors, gases, dust and fumes can be at risk. People with early respi-ratory factors like asthma are also at risk.”

In Alabama, many people work in the timber industry, breathing in sawdust, or in var-ious dusty agricultural opera-tions. Exposure to crop dust, insecticides, fertilizers, chemi-cals, noxious fumes and other pollutants can irritate or even damage delicate lung tissue.

“Symptoms include diffi-culty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and discharging fluids such as phlegm when coughing,” Man-nino says. “Many people mis-take their increased breathless-ness and coughing as a normal part of aging. Shortness of breath is not normal.”

People with these symp-toms should see a doctor at once, Mannino advises. Fortu-nately, people who develop the disease can obtain treatment – especially if they catch it early.

“We can prescribe various different treatments to im-prove lung function,” Manni-no advises. “Things are getting better. When I was in medical school in the 1970s, there were no good treatments for COPD. Now, we understand the dis-eases much better and have many more types of therapies. I see some people with very severe cases who have been functioning very well for 10 years or more.”

For more information about COPD, see www.copdfounda-tion.org. Call 866-316-COPD (2673) or e-mail [email protected]. A

COPD affects 9% of state’s population

Alabama a leader in a statistic no state wantsBy John N. Felsher

Spirometer measures respiration flow of COPD patient.

http://www.copdfounda-tion.org







Birds, birding trails remarkable assets for Alabama

If you are, or happen to know a birder, you may un-derstand how a tiny feathered creature can elicit such unbridled excitement. If you aren’t a birder

but are looking for a pastime that can be enjoyed al-most anywhere, you may want to try your wings at

bird watching, and Alabama is the perfect state in which to do that.

Alabama is a “birding paradise,” ac-cording to Renee Morrison, assistant

director for Jacksonville State Uni-versity Field Schools, president of the Environmental Education As-

sociation of Alabama and project coordinator for the Appalachian Highland Birding Trail.

More than 450 bird species can be found in Ala-bama. Some live here year-round, others are seasonal residents and still others stop through during spring and fall migrations. Morrison cites the state’s rich natu-ral diversity and abundance of nationally protected natural areas as reasons for its popularity among birds—and birders.

Those birders are great resources in and of themselves because they are part of a

phenomenon called “birding economics,” which includes the economic impact of everything from bird seed and binocular

sales to money birders spend on lodging and food. And, says Grey Bren-

nan, regional director with the Alabama Tourism Department, birders represent a huge opportunity for many communities, especially in rural areas, to boost their eco-tourism economies.

According to Brennan, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report from

several years ago estimated that the 46 million

birders in the U.S. have

a n $ 8 5 b i l l i o n d o l l a r economic i m p a c t

on the nation, numbers that no doubt have increased since that report

“One winter morning the President electrified his nervous Cabinet by burst-ing into a meeting with, ‘Gentlemen, do you know what has happened this morning?’ They waited with bated breath as he an-nounced, ‘Just now I saw a chestnut-sided warbler and this is only February.’’ -- Corinne Roosevelt Robinson on her brother, Theodore Roosevelt

Hummingbird photographed in

Scottsboro. pHoTo bY mAriA ClArK

A Birding Paradise




was published. The study also showed that Alabama, despite its remarkable birding resources, was underused as a birding site by residents and visitors alike—“a good in-dication that an Alabama statewide birding trail would increase participation and eco-nomic impact,” Brennan says.

To harness the potential economic pos-sibilities of birding, Brennan and many, many others across Alabama—state and federal agencies, birding and conservation groups, chambers of commerce and eco-nomic development organizations among them—are involved in a highly collabora-tive effort to develop and expand a state-wide birding trail system.

That trail actually first began in 2002 as a local, grassroots effort to establish the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail, which in-cludes sites in Baldwin and Mobile coun-ties that are internationally known bird-ing spots, especially during spring and fall when hundreds of migratory bird species stop along the coast to eat and rest before or after they journey across the Gulf of Mexico.

Within a couple of years another trail—the North Alabama Birding Trail—was also established through a collaboration among local chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus, the Alabama Department of Con-servation and Natural Resources and other people and groups in the area. According to Keith Hudson, wildlife biologist with ADCNR who helped establish the NABT, this trail takes advantage of the exceptional resources provided by the Tennessee River, which draws an amazing array of water fowl as well as the almost mythic whoop-ing and sand hill cranes in the winter and is home to a huge diversity of birds year-round.

The North Alabama trail officially opened in 2005 and since then six more regional trails have been established—the West Alabama, Appalachian Highlands, Piedmont Plateau, Black Belt Nature and Heritage, Pineywoods and Wiregrass bird-

ing trails—to create a network of eight trails (visit www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/birding-trails/ to see them all), each representing one of Ala-bama’s varied geographic areas.

The “trails” are actually driving routes that link prime birding locations in each region and across the state, all of which can be accessed by vehicle and provide road-side viewing opportunities, but some of which also offer birders access to walking, boating and canoeing trails.

Though the trails are primarily self-guided with directional signs to help visi-tors find the sites, some sites also provide interpretative signs with information on the types of birds most commonly spotted at that site or details about the site’s habitat. Still others, such as the North Alabama, Appalachian Highlands and Wiregrass trails, have viewing facilities or visitor cen-ters, sometimes referred to as “gateways,” that provide printed trail maps, bird lists, photos of commonly seen birds, infor-mation on other local tourist attractions, educational films, lectures, organized bird and naturalist hikes, classes and a variety of other events and services.

The thing about birding is that it can be done virtually anywhere in the world, from backyards and back roads to big cities and remote wildernesses, by people of all ages, physical abilities and levels of interest.

Birding also offers people the chance to become citizen scientists by participating in annual bird counts, reporting rare sight-ings and assisting with bird banding events. In fact, along with the state’s professional ornithologists and biologists, birders play a huge role in scientific work with birds, as do members of the Alabama Ornithologi-cal Society.

According to AOS President Bianca Allen, the mission of AOS is “to foster a greater knowledge of birds and to promote conservation of all natural resources. When someone learns about the birds and begins to appreciate them, they naturally want to

do what they can to preserve the natural world that supports the birds and other wildlife.”

Becoming a birder—or even just a ca-sual birdwatcher—is easy and relatively in-expensive. “All it takes is a pair of binocu-lars and a field guide and you’re ready to go birding,” says Allen. “If you don’t have these, join in local birding activities and others will share these with you. You won’t find a friendlier set of people than birders and most are more than anxious to share their knowledge, equipment, field guides, etc.,” she adds.

AOS publishes the scientific birding journal for Alabama, Alabama Birdlife; offers grants to support scientific research projects that address Alabama’s environ-mental issues; and its members help state and federal wildlife and natural resource organizations track conservation concerns. In addition, AOS hosts three meetings each year, two on Dauphin Island during the spring and fall migration months (April and October) and a winter meeting that changes location each year.

This year’s spring meeting will be held April 19-20 on Dauphin Island and it, like membership in the AOS, is open to anyone. To learn more go to http://aosbirds.org/.

Want to support Alabama birds and the birding trails? “Take a birding trail vaca-tion with family or friends, enjoying the individual sites and then the shopping, res-taurants, museums and accommodations in the cities and towns where the birding trails are located,” suggests Brennan.

“Buy an Alabama hunting or fishing li-cense, or make a contribution to the Non-Game Wildlife program,” adds Hudson, who says that a portion of the monies from licenses go to create and manage habitats that support all species of birds–game and nongame.

Or, as the Alabama Birding Trails web-site says, “Grab your binoculars, brush up on your bird-calling skills and wing it to Alabama. It’s for the birds!” A

Great horned owl. pHoTo bY mAriA ClArK

Binoculars are essential to a birder. pHoTo bY KATie JACKson

Red-bellied woodpecker. pHoTo bY Gene TilleY

Painted bunting. pHoTo bY JeFF D. JoHnson

Blue heron. pHoTo bY beTH TATTersAll

http://www.outdooralabama.com/

http://aosbirds.org/


The old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers…,” and in Alabama those May flowers sometimes have a little extra help from some special green-thumbed gardeners.

The Alabama Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service program sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The now-32-year old program began when a visiting Master Gardener from New York joined talents with an extension agent to host Alabama’s first Master Gardener training class.

To become a Master Gardener takes a bit of dedication beyond simply digging in the soil and planting annuals and perennials. County extension offices offer classes from January to March, for one day per week, four hours per class. At the end of the 50-hour class, participants have earned the title of Master Gardener. To be-come a certified Master Gardener, an additional 50 hours of volun-teer service is required.

Since those first training classes in 1981, the Master Gardener program sprouted roots to create 37 active associations in the state and more than 100 full-time employees. As of 2011, there were 2,112 certified Master Gardeners and 394 interns trained. With nearly 200,500 hours volunteered, Alabama’s Master Gardeners con-tacted more than 1.5 million clients in 2011 alone.

“The Master Gardener program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to assist county Extension System offices,” said Kerry Smith, coordinator of the Alabama Master Gardener Program at Auburn University. “Many times these volunteers then feel em-powered to teach others about the research-based principles they’ve learned. The service of Master Gardener volunteers directly benefits their communities by providing leadership to involving others in beautification projects, environmental stewardship projects, commu-nity gardens, other horticulture-related projects, and horticulture-related educational programs.”

According to Smith, Master Gardeners support a statewide toll-free Horticulture Helpline, 877-ALA-GROW, designed to increase public knowledge of resource management related to home gar-dens, grounds and pests. On the local level, Master Gardeners are involved in a wide variety of community activities from seminars and demonstration gardens to food banks and outdoor teaching gardens for public schools.

Houston County may have one of Alabama’s smaller gardening associations, but it’s also one of the most active. Based in a hot-house on the grounds of the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, the Wiregrass Master Gardener Association is one of the associations

MASTERINGBloomMaster Gardener programs gobeyond just digging and plantingBy Lori M. Quiller

the

Cheryl Hatcher and Wayne Van Landingham weed a garden at Dothan Botanical Gardens.



Smith had in mind when describing the demonstration gardens and donations for area food banks. With about 60 members and five lifetime members, this small army of gardeners takes great pride in working Alabama’s heartland.

“We’re a small organization, but we stay very active,” said Wayne Van Landingham, president of the Wiregrass Master Gardener As-sociation. “We have exhibit booths at events during the year to help spread information about planting and pest control, and we have one of largest plant sales in the state. We actively support the gardens here in Landmark Park at the Dothan Area Botanical Gar-dens, and we have service projects that we do all across the county.”

The mission of the Alabama Master Gardener Program is sim-ple: To provide educational outreach into the community of science-based knowledge of horticulture. And, they make sure they spread their knowledge as much as possible while working in their communities.

“I wanted to do this for a long time, so when I was accepted into the program, I was very happy,” said Pat Smith, an intern currently participating in the classes with the Wiregrass Master Gardener Association. Originally from Canada, Smith said she has always had a love of gardening but wanted to learn more. “Now that I understand more about gardening, it’s fascinating! We get test-ed on what we learn in class, and it keeps us on our toes.”

With Houston County nestled in the midst of Alabama’s farmland, it’s difficult to believe there are children in this area who are unfamiliar with basic gardening tech-niques. In a county famous for its Peanut Festival and some of the best tomatoes in the state, the Wiregrass Master Gardeners take great pride in passing their knowledge down to some of the area’s youngest gardeners.

Cheryl Hatcher, Wiregrass Master Gardener Association’s com-munication chair, takes special pride in using the gardens at Land-mark Park as an outdoor classroom.

“Landmark Park has a lot of programs with students, and we help with that,” Hatcher said. “During these events, we’ll ask the students about fruits and vegetables, especially if they know where they come from. You’d be amazed at how many kids don’t know where a tomato comes from. When we ask them, they answer, ‘The grocery store.’ Some of the children have never put their hands in the soil before. So this is where it starts, and we dig the hole and plant their first plant together.”

Mallory Kelley, regional extension agent based in Elmore County, is the agent to call for home grounds, gardens and home pests. She is responsible for seven counties: Autauga, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon, Coosa, Tallapoosa and Lee Counties. For her, the program

is truly an extension of her office for those times when she cannot be everywhere at once.

“I enjoy teaching the Master Gardener program,” Kelley said. “I get to teach these residents fact-based gardening skills so they can help me teach others in our community who want to learn how to be better gardeners. You gain such a wealth of knowledge about so many things in this program. It truly is a great way to connect the dots. Master Gardeners are taught how to garden and how to research. We never give out unresearched information. You can bet that the information we have is the best information there is out there because it has been researched through the field studies with Auburn University and published through the

extension offices.”The gardeners said they often look at

their volunteer service as continuing educa-tion and opportunities for them to acquire new information to pass along to others.

Passing along her knowledge is how Linda Griebel in Wetumpka convinced her good friend Jane Mobley to join in the fun. Both are advanced Master Gardeners in El-more County and members of the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association.

In 2010, Mobley, Griebel, and the Cen-tral Alabama Master Gardeners Association undertook a special assignment at the We-tumpka Middle School when school admin-istrators asked the gardeners to design and plant an heirloom garden on school grounds as a memorial to former county commis-sioner and member of the gardening asso-ciation, Don Whorton.

The group quickly got to work research-ing what plants would work best in the gar-den and what design would work best for the school, especially considering that the

students would be taking part in the maintenance of the garden later on. The garden’s legend is on display at its entrance as a guide for visitors.

“Each student passes by this garden every day at least once a day,” Mobley said. “It’s been a wonderful success! Everyone who sees the garden is impressed, and some of Mr. Whorton’s own plants were used here. After two years, the garden has really grown. The students are so inspired by it, and it’s a great location for teach-ers to have class outside when the weather is nice. It was a great learning experience for the students, but also for the gardeners, too. We learn with every project that we do, and we carry that knowledge on with us to the next project. These experiences are truly wonderful to take part in and share with others.”

For more information about the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, log on to www.aces.edu. To learn more about Alabama’s Master Gardener program, check out www.alabamamg.org. A

Central Alabama Master Gardeners built an heirloom garden at Wetumpka Middle School, left; at right, a Wiregrass Master Gardener vegetable garden in Dothan.

Linda Griebel and Jane Mobley prune plants at Wetumpka Middle School.

http://www.aces.edu

http://www.alabamamg.org


28 ApriL 2013 www.alabamaliving.coop28 ApriL 2013 www.alabamaliving.coop

Hernando Desoto and company loved ham. In

fact, pork was so be-loved in the 1500s, when Spanish armies marched through the New World, the entourage included legions of pigs from the homeland. But many European swine escaped into American forests. For five centuries they have gone hog wild.

Alabama’s feral swine have roots from Desoto’s Spanish invasion. And just as the Spaniard attempted to conquer everything in his path, so do his pigs. “They will eat anything and eat it often,” says Scot Duncan, associate professor of biology at Birmingham-Southern College. “Feral swine are omnivorous, just like us.” It adores acorns but also eats fruit, vegetation, garbage, lizards, turtles, bugs, bird eggs, and will suck down a snake like a strand of spaghetti.

“A voracious appetite makes it extremely destructive,” the professor adds. “Wild hogs destroy beneficial plants, causing a disruption of native trees and forests. By eating so much vegetation, hogs cause serious land erosion problems.”

But eating is not a pig’s only pastime. Wild hogs love love. Their breeding season is on days ending in Y.

They are sexually mature at 6 months. The happy, albeit ugly, couple’s litter ranges from four to 14. Do the math; in five years a pair of pigs can become thousands. “We are see-ing increases in populations where they have never been in large numbers before,” notes Duncan. “I’ve seen wild hogs in metro Birmingham.”

Typically, free-range porkers prefer low-lying areas near water. But they adjust quickly. “They are one of few ani-mals that learn from your mistakes,” says Andalusia’s Mark J. Hainds, author of “Year of the Pig.” If you shoot at one and miss, it won’t be visible the next time. They learn who to fear and adjust accordingly. Hog wild becomes hog savvy.

Pigs on game reserves walk around almost as freely as if in a petting zoo. They know it is safe. But pigs near hunting camps are as elusive as Bigfoot. “They travel in small groups, usually sows and piglets,” Hainds continues. “Wild hogs communicate with each other and know how to take evasive

action.” As a last resort, their hunter becomes the hunted.

“Most wild animals leave hogs alone,” says Hainds. “Unfortunately, dogs never learn. I’ve seen hounds attack, and it is brutal – for the hounds.” When dogs assail a three- to five-foot long, three-feet tall razor-tusked boar, the pig is angry. The dog is filleted. As Hainds omi-nously notes, “A boar can

and will rip an attacker to shreds in minutes.” If you’re close enough to see its teeth, be afraid, be very afraid.

A wild hog’s protruding tusks are continuously grow-ing, self-sharpening, and three to five inches long. In attack mode the 200- to 450-pound boar lowers its head, charges and gouges upwards. Sows have smaller tusks, seldom used as weapons. But she will charge, bite and fight to the death to protect her babies.

As if assault with a deadly snout isn’t enough, the ar-mored oinker carries diseases, like tuberculosis, anthrax, pseudorabies and brucellosis. All are transmittable to hu-mans. Just ask our Native Americans.

“Five hundred years ago, Desoto wrote of vast numbers of Indians roaming our forests (many of whom he massacred). But about a century later, others came to these shores and saw little sign of these people,” Duncan says. “The prevailing theory, which I believe to be true, is that Desoto’s release of hogs introduced diseases carried by the animals. Indians had no immune system to fight it. Tribal populations were decimated by some estimates of up to 90 percent.”

That’s why in Alabama wild hogs can be hunted year-round and shot until you run out of ammo. You can trap them, but if you release it from the cage you may be put in one. Trap and release is against Alabama state law. And why would you want to? Wild swine tastes fine.

“My family is six generations of hog farmers,” notes Hainds. “There is no comparison to the superior flavor of a free roaming, acorn-fed wild pig to that of a domesticated one. It has very little grease and is much healthier.” Wild hogs may be deemed a nuisance, but one man’s pest is an-other man’s bacon. A

On the increase, Alabama’s wild hogs are also wily

By Emmett Burnett

Wild boars can be hunted year-round in Alabama. pHoTo CourTesY u.s. FisH AnD WilDliFe serViCe


April6 • Enterprise, Weevil City Cruisers 17th Annual Car Show. Enterprise Community College. Registration: $25 per vehicle Contact Barrie Johnson, President, at 334-347-8680.7 • Tuscaloosa, The “George Wood Memorial” ALGBA Poultry Show. Jaycees Park, Sponsored by Alabama Gamefowl Breeders Association Contact Donnie Buchanan at 256-293-6904 or [email protected] - May 26 • Hartselle, 72nd National Exhibition Hartselle Fine Arts Center. Artwork from all over the United States. More than 100 entries selected and awarded by nationally and internationally known jurists. www.hartsellefineartscenter.org.11 • Huntsville, 6th Annual Gala & Auction for Autism. Huntsville Museum of Art, 6-10 p.m. Contact the Riley Center at 256-882-2457 or visit www.therileycenter.org.12 • Jacksonville, Senior (55 or older) Dance Jacksonville Senior Center, every 2nd Friday of each month. Admission: $3 per person or $5 per couple Contact Helen Altman at 256-435-8115.12 & 13 • Dothan, 8th Annual Tri-State BBQ Festival. Houston County Farm Center. For team entry forms and information contact The Main Event at 334-699-1475 or visit www.TriStateBBQ.com.12 & 13 • Centre, 15th Annual Cherokee County Home & Garden Show. Gadsden State Cherokee Arena. Fri. Noon-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact 256-927-8455 for information.13 • Auburn, B.E.E.F. U. Auburn University, Stanley P. Wilson Beef Unity and Lambert-Powell Meats Laboratory. Registration at 9 a.m. Admission: $10, includes lunch and t-shirt Contact Bob Ebert at 334-844-1563 or [email protected] • Dothan, Alabama Good Sams Spring Jamboree. National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Contact Cathy Riggins, 256-593-6507.

20 • Ozark, 7th Annual Ozark Crawdad & Music Festival. Downtown Ozark on the Square. 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Admission: Free Information: 334-774-2618 www.ozarkalabama.us.20 • LaFayette, Log-a-Load for Kids Turkey Shoot. Proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital The Oaks, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tickets: $10 Contact Kimberly Fuller, 706-590-0291.20 • Frankville, 36th Annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. Old Frankville School. House music at 5 p.m., competition at 6 p.m. Admission: $7 adults, $4 for 12 years old and under. Contact Tom Fuller at 251-847-2237.

20 • Weogufka, 5th Annual Mule Day Weogufka Center, 9 a.m. Contact the Weogufka Center Office at 334-578-1364 or visit www.weogufkacenter.com.20-21 • Guntersville, 52nd Annual

Art on the Lake. Guntersville Rec Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $2, children 12 and under free www.artonthelake_guntersville.com.20 & 21 • Cullman, 29th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair. St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $5, children 5 and under are free. Contact Joyce Nix at 256-255-5860 or visit www.bloominfestival.com.25-28 • Union Springs, “The Hallelujah Girls” Red Door Theatre. Evening performances preceded by a seated dinner (reservations required). Contact 334-738-8687 or visit www.reddoortheatre.org.26 • Montgomery, Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet Lee High School Cafeteria, 6 p.m. Tickets: $15 Contact 334-272-2558 for information.26 & 27 • Belk, 7th Annual Belk Bluegrass Festival Belk Community Park. Fri. 1 -10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission: $20 for 2 day pass.

Contact Wayne Gilreath at 205-596-3251 or visit www.belkbluegrass.com.27 • Dothan, Geocache Treasure Hunt Landmark Park, beginner course at 9:30a.m. followed by the hunt at 11. Real life treasure hunt in search of caches of hidden prizes using a handheld GPS unit or smart phone. Registration: $10 Contact Laura V. Stakelum, 334-794-3452.27 • Pisgah, Pisgah Festival. Civitan Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $1 per vehicle Contact Angela Whisenant at 256-605-2172.27 & 28 • Dothan, 6th Annual Gem & Mineral Show. Westgate Park Recreation Center Gym. Admission and parking: Free Contact Arnie Lambert at 334-792-7116 or [email protected]. www.wiregrassrockhounds.com.27 & 28 • Troy, TroyFest Art & Craft Festival Downtown, Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: Free. www.troyfest.com.27 • Union Springs, 34th Annual Chunnenuggee fair. Downtown, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Contact Susan Anderson at 334-738-4060 or visit www.chunnenuggeefair.com.May3 & 4 • Somerville, 9th Annual Somerville Celebration Festival Contact Somerville Town Hall at 256-778-8282 for more information.4 • Pell City, “Rush of Fools” Christian Concert Pell City Center, 7 p.m. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at the door, $18 VIP. Contact the Pell City Center box office at 205-338-1874 or visit www.pellcitycenter.com.4 • Bridgeport, Primitive Skills Workshop Russell Cave National Park, 10 a.m. Admission: Free, pre-registration only and limited to the first 40 people. Contact Shelia Reed at 256-495-2672.

Around Alabama

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

The Hicks Family Band will present an acoustic concert of gospel and bluegrass music on Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m., at the historic Bell’s Landing Presbyterian Church in the north Monroe County village of Hybart.

The concert is a fundraiser for the Hybart-Bell’s Landing Preser-vation Society, which maintains two church buildings and three cemeteries in the community. The musicians will perform classic bluegrass and traditional hymns.

The church, which dates from 1818, is located in Hybart, on Highway 41, which is 24 miles north of Monroeville, and 17 miles south of Camden. Donations will be accepted; please email [email protected].

For more information, contact Harriet Swift of the Hybart-Bell’s Landing Preservation Society, 504-945-6842, or email [email protected]

Around Alabama

April 27Historic Monroe County church hosts bluegrass gospel concert


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http://www.hartsellefineartscenter.org

http://www.therileycenter.org

http://www.TriStateBBQ.com


http://www.ozarkalabama.us

http://www.weogufkacenter.com

http://www.artonthelake_guntersville.com

http://www.bloominfestival.com

http://www.bloominfestival.com

http://www.reddoortheatre.org

http://www.belkbluegrass.com


http://www.wiregrassrockhounds.com

http://www.troyfest.com

http://www.chunnenuggeefair.com

http://www.pellcitycenter.com






March Gardening Tips

Spring is fully upon us and with it, berry season begins, starting with strawberries and working on

through blueberries, blackberries and raspberries as the season progresses. As you savor the flavors of these fresh little packages of nutrition consider planting some of your own for next year.

All these berries are easy to grow and, luckily, you don’t have to plant acres and acres of them to produce enough fruit for you and your family to enjoy.

Strawberries, for example, grow quite well in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes and can be used as bedding plants. Since blackberries and raspberries typi-cally have thorns, you may not want them in a high-traffic area such as a patio or along a walkway, but they are perfect for a small sunny corner of the yard or along a fence line. Provide them a little support, such as a trellis or a couple of rows of wire strung between two posts, and they will be easier to manage and pick.

Blueberry bushes also do well as con-tainer plants in larger pots and even make nice ornamental shrubs. I planted several last year in a bed that had previously been home to boxwoods and, though they are not evergreen, the blueberries have such attractive bark that they looked lovely

even without their leaves this winter.All of these fruits need lots of sun and

containerized plants will need to be wa-tered especially in the hottest, driest pe-riods of summer, but otherwise they can be relatively low maintenance. Just spend some time choosing a variety that works well in your area by asking other garden-ers what they use or by getting advice from your local Cooperative Extension office or Master Gardener group.

Speaking of advice, Alabama Coopera-tive Extension professionals are moder-ating a national eXtension series of free 30- to 45-minute webinars addressing fire ants and other insects that affect the home and landscape. The webinars are provided live one day a month (Fridays this spring and Wednesdays this fall) at 1 p.m. Cen-tral Time, but are also archived online so if you miss one you can watch at your leisure on the “Don’t be Bugged” Webinar Series page at www.extension.org/pages/66408/dont-bug-me-webinar-series-2013.

This time of year is also a great time to get out and see gardens, both public and private, as they spring into full bloom and leaf. Be on the lookout for garden shows and tours in your area. April is, after all, National Gardening Month and the month when we celebrate Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 26), so many events may be planned.

One such opportunity for Japanese maple fans is the first annual Outdoor Expo, a family-friendly event to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 at Pat Dye’s Crooked Oaks Hunting Preserve and Quail Hollow Gardens and Nursery

in Notasulga, Ala. This event, proceeds from which will benefit the Auburn Uni-versity School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, features garden tours, food, mu-sic, outdoor education opportunities and outdoor-related vendors. To learn more about the Expo and a Spring Fling gala to be held the night before go to www.auburn.edu/springfling.

Whatever you do this month, make sure you enjoy spring! A

power Plants

Katie Jackson, who recently retired as chief editor for the Auburn University College of Agriculture and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, is now a fulltime freelance writer and editor. Contact her at

[email protected].

d plant strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

d Frequent local farmers markets, many of which will reopen this month for the summer season.

d sow seeds for beans, corn, squash, melons and other summer vegetable crops.

d Transplant tomatoes, peppers and eggplants into the garden.

d Fertilize warm-season lawns and plant new lawns.

d plant summer annual flowers after the last predicted spring frost date.

d prune spring-flowering shrubs such as spirea, flowering quince, azalea, jasmine and forsythia after they have bloomed.

d move houseplants outside when any chance of a hard freeze has passed.

d plant container-grown roses and keep an eye out for insect and disease problems on all roses.


Berry NiceBy Katie Jackson

http://www.extension.org/pages/66408/

http://www.auburn.edu/springfling

http://www.auburn.edu/springfling




A big THANK YOU! to all

who have graciously donated to the Alabama military support

Foundation via the check off on your Alabama state Tax forms. Your donation assists in educating and recognizing employers who stand behind members of the Guard and reserve as they serve our nation. Your support is key to fostering and promoting a positive relationship between Guard and reserve members and their employers. Your donations help inform both employers and military members of their legal rights and responsibilities. outstanding employers are recognized through awards presented to them at events across Alabama. We hope that you will keep the foundation in mind as you complete your 2013 tax returns.

Your contributions to the Alabama military support Foundation help preserve the Guard and reserve’s efficient and cost effective capabilities for the defense of our nation.


Alabama Outdoors

When most people think of fly fishing, they naturally envision wader-clad anglers wearing vests

bulging with hand-tied imitations of nature’s bounty and tossing these feathery creations to wily trout in swiftly flowing crystalline mountain streams.

Although saltwater fly fishing increases in popularity every year, many Alabama fly anglers dream of cork poppers dropping next to lily pads along wooded shorelines to tempt big bluegills and other members of the sunfish family. Among the most wide-

spread and com-mon fish species, bluegills and sev-eral other miscel-laneous sunfish types generally lumped under t he name of “bream,” “perch” o r “p a n f i s h” populate nearly every water body in Alabama.

Bream rarely w e i g h m o r e than a pound, a l though an-glers occasion-ally catch some brutes topping two pounds. The Alabama state record bluegill

weighed 4.75 pounds! The largest of the bream species, redear sunfish commonly weigh more than a pound and occasionally tip the scales at more than five pounds. Also called shellcrackers because of their propen-sity for eating snails, redear sunfish look like paler versions of bluegills, but with orange to red highlights on their “ear flaps” behind their gills.

Each spring, bream spawn in hollowed out beds on lake and river bottoms. In a good bedding area, these one- to two-foot square shallow depressions could look like a submerged field pockmarked by minia-ture bomb craters. Highly prolific, these

diminutive fish may remain on their beds through October and could breed several times a year.

Like clustered road signs, these under-water depressions point the way to fabulous fly-fishing opportunities. While guarding their nests, pugnacious perch attack any-thing. When snatching surface temptations, tiny bluegill mouths make distinctive snap-ping noises. Quite audible for considerable distances, they pinpoint feeding locations and beds.

Bluegills eat almost anything including small fish, worms, grubs, bread, crustaceans, table scraps or just about anything else they can fit into their tiny mouths. Most of all, though, panfish relish insects. Bluegills readily hit trout flies, but can’t resist small cork popping bugs that resemble insects blown into the water. Many anglers also cast plastic, foam or rubber “natural” baits resembling crickets, spiders, dragonflies or other critters.

Over a good bluegill bed, toss a pop-ping bug as close to the shore or cover as possible. Throw past the bed and pull the bait over the bed. Let it rest a few moments to let the ripples fade. Then give it a small twitch or pop. Let it rest again for several seconds and repeat. Sometimes, just a slow, steady pull across the surface attracts at-tention. Retrieve the bug until it passes the shoreline drop-off. Often, the biggest blue-gills stay in slightly deeper water and may hover over the drop-off edge.

What they lack in size, bream more than make up in fighting ability, aggressiveness and pugnacious attitude. Anglers might experience several strikes on a single cast. When feeding, bluegills sometimes may race each other for bugs like miniature sharks homing in for the kill. Sometimes, a hungry bluegill may attempt to obliterate a popper. At other times, bream act almost timid, gently tasting an apparent morsel be-fore committing itself to strike. Frequently, they simply suck down a bug. All of a sud-den, the popper vanishes without the slight-est ripple breaking the surface.

After feeling the hook, though, these tiny fish fight like Olympic champions,

Bantam Division. Pound for pound, or more appropriately ounce for ounce, few species can outfight bluegills. Hooking one on ultralight fly tackle enormously magni-fies this experience.

When fishing spawning beds, keep casting in the same area as long as fish keep striking. Gregarious little creatures, hundreds of bream may crowd a bedding flat. One angler might catch a dozen or more fish from one small area without moving the boat. If fish stop biting, keep changing bug colors to show them some-thing different. After exhausting all avail-able color combinations, move to another bedding area. Give the first area a rest for a few hours and return later to catch more tasty fish.

Anyone fortunate enough to stumble upon a mayfly hatch could experience in-tense action. After spending most of their lives underwater as nymphs, adult mayflies emerge from the water in late spring with only one purpose: to mate. After they mate, they die and fall back into the water. Some-times, they cling to low overhanging bushes to dry their wings. When flies fall back into the water, ravenous bluegills gorge them-selves. A good mayfly hatch could attract every fish around. Beneath an insect-laden branch, water boils like a piranha feeding frenzy with striking fish. Waiting for succu-lent mayflies to hit the water, fish demolish anything touching the surface.

Although bream anglers won’t land any monsters, they can fill an ice chest with great tasting fish. In most public waters, unless otherwise specified, the state of Ala-bama allows anglers to catch up to 50 highly prolific bream each day. A

John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer and photographer who lives in Semmes, Ala. He’s written more than 1,700 articles for more than 117 magazines. He co-hosts a weekly outdoors radio show. Contact him through his website at www.JohnNFelsher.com.

Bug-busting bream give Bama anglers great sportBy John N. Felsher

One of the most popular game fish, bluegills may look small,

but can put up a good fight on light tackle.

pHoTo bY JoHn n. FelsHer

http://www.JohnNFelsher.com

http://www.JohnNFelsher.com



Tables indicate peak fish and game feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour before and an hour after. Minor peaks, half-hour before and after. Adjusted for daylight savings time.

Minor Major Minor Majora.m. p.m.

APR. 16 05:01 11:46 - - 06:31 17 12:01 05:16 07:16 12:16 18 12:31 05:46 08:01 01:01 19 01:01 06:16 09:01 01:31 20 01:31 06:31 09:46 02:01 21 02:16 07:01 11:01 02:46 22 03:01 07:16 - - 03:46 23 07:46 12:31 - - 04:46 24 - - 01:46 - - 06:16 25 08:31 02:16 12:31 07:31 26 09:01 02:46 02:16 08:31 27 09:31 03:01 03:31 09:16 28 03:16 09:46 09:46 04:16 29 03:46 10:16 10:31 05:01 30 04:01 10:46 11:01 05:46MAY 1 - - 05:22 07:07 12:22 2 - - 05:37 07:52 12:52 3 01:07 06:07 08:52 01:22 4 01:37 06:37 09:37 02:07 5 02:22 07:07 10:37 02:52 6 03:07 07:52 11:37 03:52 7 04:37 08:37 - - 04:37 8 09:52 12:52 - - 05:52 9 08:07 01:37 12:22 07:07 10 09:07 02:22 02:37 08:22 11 02:52 09:52 04:07 09:22 12 03:22 10:22 10:22 05:07 13 03:52 11:07 11:07 06:07 14 04:22 11:37 11:52 06:52 15 - - 04:52 07:37 12:22 16 - - 05:22 08:22 12:52 17 01:07 05:52 08:52 01:22 18 01:37 06:22 09:37 02:07 19 02:22 06:52 10:22 02:37 20 03:07 07:22 11:07 03:07 21 03:52 08:07 11:52 03:52 22 05:22 08:52 12:37 04:37 23 06:52 10:07 - - 05:22 24 08:07 01:22 12:37 06:37 25 08:52 01:52 02:52 07:52 26 02:22 09:37 08:52 04:07 27 02:52 10:07 09:52 05:07 28 03:22 10:37 10:37 05:52 29 03:52 11:22 11:22 06:37 30 04:37 11:52 12:07 07:22 31 - - 05:07 08:07 12:37

Electric CooperativesLaunch Legislative AppTo help you better communicate with the Alabama legislature, the Alabama rural electric Association of Cooperatives has produced a helpful application customized for your smartphone and tablet.

FEATURES• interactive directory of members of

the Alabama House of representa-tives and senate

• legislative committee list• links to the most current legislative

action.As a service to all Alabamians, AreA is offering this app for the low price of only $4.99, downloadable on both the Apple App store and Google play.

34 ApriL 2013 Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen-tested by a professional cook or registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Alabama Recipes

Canning RecipesCOOK OF THE MONTH:

Maxine McCaghrenJoe Wheeler eMC

Upcoming recipe themes and deadlines are: June Seafood Deadline: April 15 July Pie Deadline: May 15 August Ice Cream Deadline: June 15

Please send all submissions to: Recipe Editor, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Or e-mail to: recipes@areapower. coop.

Be sure to include your address, phone number and the name of your electric cooperative.

Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. sounds easy, right? i think it all depends on the outcome. There are many ways to ensure the food isn’t spoiled after it’s put into jars and cans; a boiling water bath is probably the most well-known. During this process, air is pushed out of the jar, and as it cools, a vacuum seal is formed. The seal is the most important, because it prevents air from getting back in, which causes spoilage later. some folks i know who love canning call it “putting up.” Hope you enjoy these canning recipes.

Tip: Choose the freshest fruits and vegetables available, preferably fresh-picked. Avoid overripe or under-ripe foods, which can affect the acidity and stability of the final product. Cucumbers especially need to be at their peak of freshness to make great pickles.

You could win $50!

Apple Butter (Makes 9-10 pints)

1 peck (10-12 pounds or about 32 medium) tart cooking apples (Granny Smith or other)

10 cups sugar (about) 4 cups water

2 teaspoons ground cloves

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

Wash, peel, slice and cook apples with water. Cover and let simmer slowly until tender. Rub through coarse sifter or use blender. There should be about 5 quarts of pulp. Add half as much sugar as pulp. Put in a large saucepan and add spices. Mix and let simmer about 2 hours stirring frequently to keep from scorching. When thickened, pour into hot sterilized jars and seal at once. The apple butter becomes stiffer when cold.

Maxine McCaghren, Joe Wheeler EMC

Instant Pickles

2 cups sugar 11/2 cup vinegar 7 cups of sliced

cucumbers 1 cup sliced onion

1 red or green pepper, sliced

2 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon celery seeds

Mix sugar and vinegar together. Stir until dissolved, but do not heat. Add the salt and celery seeds. Place cucumbers, onions and peppers into 2 quart(s) or container, then pour vinegar mixture over the cucumbers and refrigerate 24 hours.

Laura Symonds, Joe Wheeler EMC

Alabama Living ApriL 2013 35Want to see the Cook of the Month recipe before the magazine gets to your door?Become a fan of Alabama Living on Facebook.

Apple Ring Pickles

7 pounds cucumbers 1 cup lime 3 cups vinegar 1 bottle red food

coloring

1 teaspoon alum 10 cups sugar 10 cinnamon sticks 1 bag Red Hots, candy

Soak cucumbers in lime and 1 gallon of water for 24 hours. Wash well. Soak in ice for 3 hours. Drain water. Add 1 cup vinegar, food coloring, alum and enough water to cover the pickles. Simmer for 2 hours. Wash well. Place pickles in 2 cups vinegar, sugar, cinnamon sticks and red hot candy. Bring to a boil making sure that all ingredients are well mixed. Place in hot sterilized jars and seal. Delicious with vegetables or by themselves.

Kathy Rozzelle Pittman, Wiregrass EC

Canned Okra 1 gallon okra 8 tablespoons vinegar 21/2 tablespoons canning salt

Have jars and lids ready. Cut up okra. Cover with water, vinegar and salt and cook until okra turns pale green color. Place in jars and seal. Hot bath for 5 to 7 minutes. Ready to eat in 2 weeks.

Nancie Allen, Franklin EC

Peach Pickles 19-20 small peaches (6

pounds) 1 quart of white vinegar

(5 percent acidity) 6 cups sugar

1 tablespoon of whole cloves

4 (2 1/2 inch) sticks of cinnamon

Peel peaches, set aside. Bring vinegar and sugar to a boil in Dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Place cloves in 6-inch square of cheese cloth. Tie with string. Add spice bag and cinnamon to vinegar mixture. Add half of peaches and cook for 10 minutes. Remove peaches with slotted spoon. Repeat procedure with remaining peaches. Bring syrup to a boil and remove from heat. Add peaches, cover and let stand for 8 hours. Remove peaches with slotted spoon and pack into hot jars. Remove spice bag and cinnamon and discard. Bring syrup to a boil, filling jars to 1/2 inch of top. Remove air bubbles. Wipe jar rims and cover at once with metal lids, screw on bands. Process in boiling water bath for 20 minutes. Yields 3 quarts.

Dorothy Lowery, Pioneer EC

Tomato-Basil Simmer Sauce 12 pounds ripe tomatoes

(about 25 tomatoes) peeled

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons kosher salt or 4 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves; chopped

1 cup lightly packed assorted fresh herbs (such as oregano, thyme, parsley, or Italian (flat-leaf) parsley) chopped

6 tablespoons lemon juice (I would use fresh lemons)

Cut peeled tomatoes into chunks and add some of the chunks to the food processor. Cover and process until chopped. Transfer chopped tomatoes to a 7- to 8-quart nonreactive heavy pot. Repeat chopping remaining tomatoes, in batches, in the food processor. Add all tomatoes to the pot. Add brown sugar, salt, vinegar and black pepper to the tomato mixture. Bring to boil. Boil steadily, uncovered, for 70 to 80 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is reduced to about 11 cups and is desired sauce consistency. Remove from heat; stir in herbs. Spoon 1 tablespoon lemon juice into each of six hot, clean pint canning jars. Ladle sauce into jars with lemon juice, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims; adjust lids. Process filled jars in a boiling-water canner for 35 minutes (start time when water returns to a full boil). Remove jars; cool on wire racks. Makes 6 pints. Tomatoes are easy to peel if you blanch them first. This is great with pasta (of course), grilled chicken, dip for garlic bread or grilled cheese sandwiches.

Jamie Petterson, Tallapoosa River EC

Fire & Ice Pickles 2 jars (32 ounces each)

of dill pickle slices (any cheap brand will do fine)

4 cups sugar 1 tablespoon hot pepper

sauce (like Tabasco) 1 teaspoon crushed red

pepper flakes Optional: 3 peeled garlic

cloves and/or onion slices

Drain pickles in a colander and discard juice. Put drained pickles in a large bowl, mix in the sugar and pepper mixture. Cover and let stand 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Spoon pickles and liquid into 3 pint-size jars adding garlic clove to each jar (if desired). Put lid on and refrigerate for 1 week. Sweet & spicy pickles-great on a sandwich or all by themselves as a snack. They are hot, sweet and crisp! Sara Upton, Baldwin EMC


Satisfy a Crawfish CravingCa-John’s Faunsdale bar & Grill35558 Alabama 25Faunsdale, Al 334-628-3240

There are out-of-the-way places to have lunch. Then there are places even farther off the beaten path.

And finally, there’s Ca-John’s Faunsdale Bar & Grill in Faunsdale. This tiny town in Marengo County (recent census data puts the population at 98) is only a few miles down a county road off Highway 80 West, but it feels like the absolute middle of nowhere and looks like you’ve stepped back in time, a rather desolate time at that.

Ca-John’s is housed in a brick building whose exterior is definitely worn. A few empty lots dotted with rock and rubble around it are the only evidence of other buildings that once shared its street. But while the scene outside is a bit bleak, once you walk through the red-framed door into the Bar & Grill, the eclectic decor and the smells of Cajun spices and craw-

fish will put a smile on your face and leave you pondering the question looming large on a hanging banner. “Who’s your crawdaddy?” it asks. The answer? That’d be Ca-John himself.

Ca-John is owner John Broussard’s nickname, earned in his childhood home of Louisiana. There, he learned to love the way his Cajun mama prepared crawfish. When he came to Alabama, he brought his crawfish cravings with him and started a crawfish farm and catering company in

1989. A few years later, he partnered with the already open (and already quite well known) Faunsdale Bar & Grill to put on the first Alabama Crawfish Festival. Soon after that, he bought the restaurant and put his name on the sign and his mama’s crawfish delicacies on the menu. He kept the crawfish festival going for 21 years, but the 2012 event may have been the last. As of press time, Ca-John’s was not sure if it would host the popular event this April.

Despite the possible demise of the festival, you can still get a taste of Ca-John’s cooking at the Bar & Grill, but only on the weekends. Saturday for lunch is a good time to go. You’ll probably encounter some locals, old fellas sitting over tall glasses of sweet tea complain-

ing about politics and/or the too hot or too cold weather. You’ll also encounter an impressive display of Confederate flags and used baseball caps hanging in-side the B&G’s cavernous, wood-paneled and wood-floored interior. Sit down on a wood bench at a wood table, and if it’s nippy out, imagine the warmth that should be coming (but really isn’t) from the crackling wood-burning stove in the center of the dining room. While you wait for drinks and a menu (it won’t be long) check out the entire wall covered in ink. All the scribblings are actually names; guests are free to sign the wall and leave a comment about their experience, and it looks like thousands have.

The spot itself is interesting to be sure, but the draw is the food, specifically any-thing with mudbugs in it. The crawfish pie is good enough to have made the Alabama Tourism Department’s now fa-mous “100 Alabama Dishes to Eat Before You Die” list and is a treat you won’t find many other places. It’s listed under appe-tizers and at about six inches around, it is an appropriate starter portion. That first bite will make you wish it was six-feet in diameter, and that if it was, it wouldn’t be considered rude to take a quick swim in the rich liquid surrounding bits of craw-fish tail meat. The crust is light and flaky, the crawfish, delish, but it is the blend of flavors and mild heat in the filling that make the pie the stuff of food fantasies. If you feel like you’re digging around to find enough precious crawfish in the pie, you’ll think you’ve struck gold with the crawfish po boy. A generous helping of crawfish tails dusted in cornmeal and deep fried is mounded on top of lettuce, tomato, pick-les and onion nestled in a hoagie-style roll and served with cocktail sauce on the side.

Other items, like a darn tasty cheese-burger, are on the menu too, but if you take the time to drive to Faunsdale to eat at Ca-John’s, you ought to be eating craw-fish. A

Worth the drive

Faunsdale

Jennifer Kornegay is the author of a new children’s book, “The Alabama Adventures of Walter and Wimbly: Two Marmalade Cats on a Mission.” She travels to an out-of-the way restaurant destination in Alabama every month.

She may be reached for comment at [email protected].

For a weekend road trip, Ca-John’s offers authentic crawfish dishes

Crawfish po boy, dusted in cornmeal and deep-fired.




Market place

Miscellaneous - 12

neW AnD useD sTAir liFT eleVATors – Car lifts, scooters, power Wheelchairs – Walk-in Tubs - Covers state of Alabama – 23 years (800)682-0658

DiVorCe mADe eAsY – unConTesTeD, losT, in prison or Aliens. $179.00 - 26 years experience – (417)443-6511

meTAl rooFinG $1.79/linFT – FACTorY DireCT! 1sT quAliTY, 40yr Warranty, energy star rated. (price subject to change) 706-383-8554

WAll beDs oF AlAbAmA / soliD WooD & loG FurniTure / HAnDCrAFTeD AmisH CAsKeTs / AlAbAmA mATTress ouTleT – sHoWroom Collinsville, Al – Custom built / Factory Direct - (256)490-4025, www.andyswallbeds.com, www.alabamamattressoutlet.com

AermoTor WATer pumpinG WinDmills – windmill parts – decorative windmills – custom built windmill towers - call Windpower (256)638-4399 or (256)638-2352

18X21 CArporT $695 insTAlleD – oTHer siZes AVAilAble - (706)383-8554

CusTom mACHine quilTinG bY JoYCe – bring me your quilt tops or t-shirts. Various designs offered – (256)735-1543

Keep ponD WATer CleAn AnD FisH HeAlTHY with our aeration systems and pond supplies. Windmill electric and Fountain Aerators. Windpower (256)638-4399, (256)899-3850

Free booKs / DVDs – soon government will enforce the “mark” of the beast as church and state unite! let bible reveal. The bible says, pob 99, lenoir City, Tn 37771 – [email protected], (888)211-1715

CHurCH FurniTure – Does Your church need pews, pulpit set, baptistery, steeple or windows? big sale on new cushioned pews and upholstery for hard pews – (800)231-8360 or www.pews1.com

FinAnCiAl Help lines For Al FAmilies bAnKrupTCY ADViCe For Free (877)933-1139 morTGAGe relieF Help line (888) 216-4173 sTuDenT loAn relieF line (888)694-8235 DebT relieF non-proFiT line (888) 779-4272 numbers provided by www.careconnectusa.org A public benefit organization

FloorinG For Your Home! 1sT quality – no seconds: Hardwood, laminate, Carpet, luxury Vinyl Tile & planks, sheet Vinyl, Ceramic Tile – in Home estimates and professional installation available – proTrax Flooring (334)531-3020, protraxinfo.gmail.com

Business Opportunities - 3

piAno TuninG pAYs – leArn WiTH American Tuning school home-study course – (800)497-9793

sTArT Your oWn business! miA bella’s Gourmet scented products. Try the best! Candles / Gifts / beauty. Wonderful income potential! enter Free Candle Drawing - www.naturesbest.scent-team.com

AGriCulTurAl CollATerAl inspeCTion and ApprAisAls – Ag background required – Training courses available. Call (800)488-7570, or visit www.amagappraisers.com

Vacation Rentals - 44

GulF sHores plAnATion ConDos – beachview sleeps 6, beachfront sleeps 4 – (251)223-9248

WWW.GulFsHores4renT.Com beautiful west beach in Gulf shores – 4 great condos, each sleeps 6. Call (404)219-3189 or (404)702-9824

orAnGe beACH GulF FronT ConDo – WinDWArD poinTe – 3br / 2bA, owner rate – (251)626-6566

DisneY – 15 min: 5br / 3bA, private pool – www.orlandovacationoasis.com – (251)504-5756

orAnGe beACH, Al ConDo – sleeps 4, GulF AnD riVer amenities – Great rates – (228)369-4680 – [email protected]

AppAlACHiAn TrAil – CAbins bY the trail in the Georgia mountains – 3000’ above sea level, snowy winters, cool summers, inexpensive rates – (800)284-6866, www.bloodmountain.com

FT. WAlTon beACH House – 3br / 2bA – best buy at the beach – (205)566-0892, [email protected]

pensAColA beACH ConDo – GulF front – 7th floor balcony – 3br / 2bA, sleeps 6, pool – (850)572-6295 or (850)968-2170 – www.ss703pensacola.com

GulF sHores ConDo beACHsiDe – 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 pools, Wireless internet, non-smoking, no pets - (256)287-0368, (205)613-3446

piGeon ForGe ConDo – 2bD / 2bath, sleeps 8, on main parkway – (256)601-7193, https://www.facebook.com/rusticWoodsGetawaypF/info

GulF sHores, WesT beACH - GulF view, sleeps 6 - www.vrbo.com/92623, (404)641-4939, (404)641-5314

menTone, Al – looKouT mounTAin – billiard table, Jacuzzi, spacious home, sleeps 14 – www.duskdowningheights.com, (850)766-5042, (850)661-0678.

GATlinburG, Tn – 3br / 3bA ToWnHouse on bAsKin CreeK – 10 minute walk downtown, 3 miles to smokey mountain national park – (334)289-0304

GulF sHores plAnTATion – GulF FronT – 2br / 2bA, remodeled, sleeps 6-8, unit 1133 – www.youngsuncoast.com, (800)826-1213

GulF sHores renTAl – GreAT rates! (256)490-4025, (256)523-5154 or www.gulfshoresrentals.us

DesTin, Fl renTAl bY oWner - CHeCK ouT pATsDesTinConDo.com - 2br/2bA, ground level. Across from beach with gated access - Call (334)312-6630 - email [email protected] for more info & reservations

GATlinburG: beAuTiFul mounTAin ConDos in a great resort complete with large pool, game room, sauna, two hot tubs, grills and wireless internet. reserve yours now. Call Jennifer in scottsboro at 256-599-4438

GulF sHores / FT. morGAn – AFForDAble priVATe beACH & bAY Homes, 1-9 bedrooms, pet Friendly Available – (800)678-2306 – http://www.gulfrentals.com

GulF sHores plAnTATion - GulF view, beach side, 2 bedrooms / 2 baths, no smoking / no pets. owner rates (205)339-3850

GulF sHores ConDo – 2br / 1.5bA, sleeps 6, pool, beach access – (334)790-9545

CAbins / piGeon ForGe, Tn – sleeps 2-6, GreAT loCATion - (251)649-3344, (251)649-4049, www.hideawayprop.com

orAnGe beACH ConDo, 3br/3bA; 2,000 sq.FT.; beautifully decorated; gorgeous waterfront view; boat slips available; great rates - owner rented (251)604-5226

GorGeous piGeon ForGe CAbins by oWner with year round specials - (865)712-7633

CAbin in menTone – 2/2, broW view, hottub – For rent $100/night or sale $199,000 – (706)767-0177

GATlinburG – DoWnToWn luXurY CreeKsiDe ConDo – 2br / 2bA, sleeps 6 – [email protected], (256)599-5552

WWW.VACATionsmiTHlAKe.Com – niCe 3br / 2bA, Deep WATer, covered dock - $75 night – (256)352-5721, [email protected]

GulF sHores – CrYsTAl ToWer ConDo - 2 bedroom/ 2 bath, Great ocean View - www.vrbo.com #145108 - Call owner (205)429-4886, [email protected]

piGeon ForGe, Tn: $89 - $125, 2br/2bA, hot tub, pool table, fireplace, swimming pool, creek – (251)363-1973, www.mylittlebitofheaven.com

GATlinburG ToWnHouse on bAsKins CreeK! GreAT rATes! 4br/3bA, short walk downtown attractions! (205)333-9585, [email protected]

KATHY’s orAnGe beACH ConDo – 2br/2bA, non-smoKinG. besT rates beachside! Family friendly – (205)253-4985, www.KathysCondo.eu.pn

lAKe JorDAn CAbin – GreAT Fishing. boat House - $75 night – (334)313-0078

GATlinburG / piGeon ForGe – 2 and 3 beDroom luXurY CAbins – Home theatre room, hot tub, gameroom – www.wardvacationproperties.com, (251)363-8576

pAnAmA CiTY beACH ConDo – oWner renTAl – 2br / 2bA, wireless internet, just remodeled inside and outside – (334)790-0000, [email protected], www.theroneycondo.com

GATlinburG, Tn – FonD memories start here in our chalet – Great vacation area for all seasons – Two queen beds, full kitchen, 1 bath, Jacuzzi, deck with grill – 3 night special - Call (866)316-3255, look for us on FACebooK / billshideaway

GulF sHores, GulF FronT – 1br / 1bA - seacrest Condo - King bed, hall bunks free Wi-Fi – owner rates (256)352-5721, [email protected]

Helen GA CAbin For renT – sleeps 2-6, 2.5 bATHs, FireplACe, Jacuzzi, washer/dryer – www.HomeAWAY.com/101769 - (251)948-2918, email [email protected]

http://www.andyswallbeds.com

http://www.alabamamattressoutlet.com

http://www.alabamamattressoutlet.com


http://www.pews1.com

http://www.careconnectusa.org

http://www.naturesbest.scent-team.com

http://www.naturesbest.scent-team.com

http://www.amagappraisers.com

http://www.orlandovacationoasis.com

http://www.orlandovacationoasis.com


http://www.bloodmountain

http://www.ss703pensacola.com

http://www.ss703pensacola.com

https://www

http://www.vrbo

http://www.duskdowningheights.com

http://www.duskdowningheights.com

http://www.youngsuncoast.com

http://www.youngsuncoast.com

http://www.gulfshoresrentals.us

http://www.gulfrentals.com

http://www.gulfrentals.com

http://www.hideawayprop.com


http://www.vrbo.com


http://www.mylittlebitofheaven.com

http://www.mylittlebitofheaven.com


http://www.KathysCondo

http://www.wardvacationproperties.com

http://www.wardvacationproperties.com


http://www.theroneycondo.com

http://www.theroneycondo.com

http://www.HOME

http://www.HOME




GulF sHores CoTTAGe – WATerFronT, 2 / 1, peT FrienDlY – rATes AnD CAlenDAr online http://www.vrbo.com/152418, (251)223-6114

piGeon ForGe, Tn – 3 beDroom, 1.5 bath house for rent $75.00 a night – Call bonnie at (256)338-1957

ForT morGAn / inDies ConDo – 4TH Floor, 3/2 sleeps 8, GulF View balcony, pool – owner discount call (228)343-9611 or email [email protected]

GulF sHores / FT. morGAn / noT A ConDo! The original “beach House” on Ft. morgan peninsula – 2br/1bA – pet friendly, non-smoking – $895/wk, (256)418-2131, www.originalbeachhouseal.com

piGeon ForGe ConDo – 2br / 2bA, two pools, hot tub. pictures available – [email protected], (256)656-1852

GulF sHores plAnTATion – TWo Great beachfront Condos – owner (770)442-8643

AFForDAble beACHsiDe VACATion ConDos – Gulf shores & orange beach, Al. rent Direct from Christian Family owners. lowest prices on the beach – www.gulfshorescondos.com, (251)550-9421, (205)556-0368, (205)752-1231

CAbin renTAl – ColllinsVille, Al – 2br / 2bA – www.flipkey.com – (256)523-3523

GulF sHores: reserVe our WesT beACH ConDo noW For THis summer - 2 large, one bedroom, sleeper sofa and full kitchen…nice pool . non smoking, no pets. Call Jennifer in scottsboro at 256-599-4438. Condos also available in Daytona beach.

Real Estate Sales/Rentals - 4

GulF sHores ConDos – 4.7 miles from beach, starting prices $54,900 – www.peteonThebeach.com, click Colony Club – (251)948-8008

TombiGbee WATerFronT House, Two rivers West Greene County – Three bedroom, 2 bath, large recroom with pool Table - $131,000.00 – (205)394-9944

monroe CounTY AlAbAmA, eureKA lAnDinG (Al riVer) – selling Furnished Fishing Camp - $65,000 – (251)639-2393

All Your reAl esTATe neeDs, in mosT oF THe Free WorlD - residential, Commercial, industrial, Campgrounds, marinas, Hotels, mining operations, businesses and more - Jim Johnson realty #71809 - [email protected] 256-602-4565

WAnTeD: 100 To 200 ACres in baldwin, escambia or Covington Counties. Call randy (318)933-0040

Travel - 2

CAribbeAn Cruises AT THe loWesT priCe – (256)974-0500 or (800)726-0954

Cruise THe bAHAmAs AnD FloriDA KeYs on a private 47’ leopard Catamaran – www.playinghookycharters.com – Captain James (251)401-3367 for more information

Musical Notes - 2

piAnos TuneD, repAireD, reFinisHeD - box 171, Coy, Al 36435 – (334)337-4503

plAY Gospel sonGs bY eAr - 10 lessons $12.95. “leArn Gospel musiC”. Chording, runs, fills - $12.95 both $24. Davidsons, 6727Al metcalf, shawnee missions, Kansas 66204 – (913)262-4982

Education - 3

WWW.2HomesCHool.orG – YeAr round enrollment. everybody homeschools. it is just a matter of what degree – (256)653-2593 or website

beCome An orDAineD minisTer correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. ministers for Christ outreach, 6630 West Cactus #b107-767, Glendale, Arizona 85304. http://www.ordination.org

Free bible CorresponDenCe Course – write to 23600 Alabama Highway 24, Trinity, Al, 35673

Critters - 2

CHiHuAHuA puppies. reGisTereD, guaranteed healthy, raised indoors in loving home, vet records and references. (256)796-2893

ADorAble AKC YorKY puppies – eXCellenT blooD lines – (334)301-1120, (334)537-4242, [email protected]

Fruits / Nuts / Berries - 1

olD TimeY WHiTe AnD YelloW self pollinating seeD corn – (334)886-2925

How To Place a Line Ad in Marketplace

Closing Deadlines (in our office):June 2013 – April 25July 2013 – May 25

August 2013 – June 25

-Ads are $1.75 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis

-Telephone numbers, email addresses and web-sites are considered 1 word each

-Ads will not be taken over the phone. You may email your ad to [email protected] or call (800)410-2737 ask for Heather for pricing.

-We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards

Mail ad submission along with a check or money order made payable to: ALABAMA LIVING, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 – Attn: Classifieds.

http://www.vrbo.com/152418


http://www.originalbeachhouseal.com

http://www.originalbeachhouseal.com


http://www.gulfshorescondos.com

http://www.flipkey.com

http://www.PeteOnTheBeach.com


http://www.playinghookycharters.com

http://www.playinghookycharters.com

http://www.ordination.org

http://www.ordination.org




Q:We have two teenage daughters who take long showers, so our water heating costs are high.

Does using solar water heating make sense? What are my solar options, and is there a system I can make myself?

A:For a typical family of four, water heating can account for about 20 percent of its annual utility bills.

If you have two daughters taking long showers, yours may be somewhat higher, but don’t expect a solar water heating system to cut your costs to zero. A target savings of 50 percent often provides a good economic payback.

Before you consider using solar or any other efficient water heating methods, install low-flow showerheads with shut-off tickle (lathering) valves—and have a talk with your family about taking shorter showers.

The two basic types of solar water heat-ing systems are “active” and “passive.” Ac-tive systems require a storage tank, electric pumps, and controls to function. Some-times 12-volt pumps can be powered by a photovoltaic solar panel located near the solar water heating collectors on the roof.

In cold climates, the system has to in-clude some type of antifreeze working fluid and heat exchanger so it does not freeze at night during winter. Other systems that cir-culate the actual potable water through the collector need a draining system to empty the collectors at night during winter.

Passive water heating systems rely on the natural upward flow of less-dense warm water to move the water through the solar collector. In these systems, the warm water storage tank is located above the solar col-lector—usually on the roof or in the attic,

so there are some structural considerations with these types of devices. These systems are less expensive than more sophisticated active systems, but they tend to be less ef-ficient, especially during cold weather.

There are many types of solar collec-tor designs. The best one for your house depends on your climate, your hot water requirements, and your budget. They can be as simple as black copper tubes in an insulated box with a glass top to ones with vacuum tubes, concentrating reflectors, and heat pipe technology. Discuss the various types with your solar contractor.

Unless you are an accomplished crafts-man, I suggest you build a passive solar water heater. Trying to build an active sys-tem—with collectors on the roof, plumbing and control systems, and storage tanks—is beyond the skill level of most homeowners. I am a design mechanical engineer, and I don’t think I could build a system myself from scratch. If you do decide to go with an active system, in general, use a system with an OG-300 rating from the Solar Rat-ing and Certification Corporation (www.solar-rating.org). A knowledgeable, quali-fied installer is important too—look for contractors with certification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Prac-titioners (www.nabcep.org). And check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (www.dsireusa.org) for local incentives on installing a solar water heat-ing system, in addition to the federal tax credit—just remember to review specific program requirements regarding system types, sizing, certifications, installers, and the like to make sure your system qualifies.

Otherwise, try building a passive “batch” system, which is a preheater for your exist-ing water heater, with the simplest design called a “breadbox.” It uses a horizontal metal water tank inside a box with a clear top. The sun shines through to heat the water. Another slightly more efficient op-tion uses a tall box tilted at an angle to face the sun. This allows the warmer water to be drawn first from the top of the tank.

You can buy a stainless steel water tank specially designed for this application with inlet and outlet water fittings. If you can find an old water heater that’s not leaky, strip off the metal skin and insulation to use the inner tank. Paint it flat black to ab-sorb more of the sun’s heat.

It does help to insulate the solid sides and bottom of the box, especially if you plan to use it most of the year. Very heavy insulation is not needed because the tank will not get extremely warm, especially if you are using hot water throughout the day. One-inch thick foil-faced rigid foam sheets should be fine. Attach them inside the box so they reflect the sun’s heat to the tank.

Install water valves and plumbing so the solar tank can be drained and bypassed during cold weather. Install heavy insula-tion around any exposed pipes and bury as much as possible underground. A

For more information, see these resources:

www.find-solar.org/ includes a directory of installers and a calculator to estimate the performance of solar water heaters and PV systems,

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/solar-water-heaters has basic graphics that describe various designs

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/siting-your-solar-water-heating-system has links to other resources

The following companies offer solar kits and components: Alternative Energy Store, (877) 211-8192, www.altestore.com; Build It Solar, www.builditsolar.com; and Solar Components, (603) 668-8186, www.solar-components.com.

Send your questions to:James DulleyAlabama Living6906 Royalgreen Dr.Cincinnati, OH 45244

You can also reach Dulley online atwww.dulley.com

Consumer Wise

Get the Facts BeforeInstalling Solar Water HeaterHarnessing sunshine might help reduce your water heating bill, but know your options first to determine the best system for your family.

James Dulleyis a nationally syndicated engineering consultant basedin Cincinnati

http://www.solar-rating.org

http://www.solar-rating.org

http://www.nabcep.org


http://www.find-solar.org/

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/

http://www.altestore.com

http://www.builditsolar.com

http://www.solar-components.com



http://www.dulley.com



Market place

42 april 2013 www.alabamaliving.coop

Clarke and Washington Counties Relay for Life Events 2013

Grove Hill: April 19 @ 6 p.m., Main Street

Jackson: May 17 @ 6 p.m., Jackson FairgroundsWashington Co: May 3 @ 5 p.m., Chatom Comm Ctr.Thomasville: April 13 @ 5 p.m., Gates Dr. Park




When I was growing up in the 1960’s in north Mississippi, we were taught to be responsible

for our actions. If I had trouble with a teacher in school, I was whipped at home regardless of who was to blame. Today it seems that neither children nor parents are responsible for anything bad that hap-pens at school – or for their education. When I talk to teachers, it’s the parents’ fault. It’s always someone else’s fault.

It’s not just our schools. If we broke someone else’s property, we replaced it. Today, someone would be more likely to blame you for leaving it where they could break it, and most often not even offer to replace it. It’s always somebody else’s fault.

The concept of “it’s not my fault so I

don’t have to deal with it” is infuriat-ing. As I consider what happened to our standards of responsibilty, it seems an environment of government dependence and entitlement is to blame for much of the change. (After all, it couldn’t be our fault.) Just last night, I asked a taxi driver, a recent immigrant from Nigeria, what he thought about the U.S. He said that Amer-icans depend upon the government for too much – both the rich and the poor.

Italy intrigues me. Italian history is a legacy of greatness, dominance and con-quest. The Roman Empire was the breed-ing ground for much of the world’s cul-ture. Roman history is the story of driven people doing what was necessary, taking responsibility and not assigning blame for the damage. I doubt if Roman Legions thought about fault as they conquered the world. I doubt they even counted the bod-ies. But people and civilizations change. And Italy changed.

In 2009, six Italian scientists and a gov-ernment official were convicted of man-slaughter for the deaths of more than 300 people. They were not killed by a scien-tific experiment gone awry or a targeted murder, but by an earthquake. They were convicted of failing to accurately predict the earthquake.

The earthquake, near the town of L’Aquila, followed a series of 400 smaller tremors over the course of four months. The seven defendants predicted the trem-ors had released seismic pressure, and that a major earthquake was unlikely in the short term. The experts were wrong, and L’Aquila, severely damaged by earthquakes four times before, was again struck and people were killed.

Of course, the deaths could not be the

residents’ fault for remaining in an area known for devastating earthqukes (and had over 400 recent tremors). It had to be someone else’s fault. A progressive Italian government system wouldn’t have it any other way. It had to be the fault of those predicting earthquakes. The convictions will not make earthquake prediction more accurate in Italy. In fact, it should have the opposite effect – I would be hesitant to predict anything in Italy.

What about us? It strikes me that our culture is moving in the direction of It-aly’s. Anything that goes wrong must be someone else’s fault. Did you lose money in the Great Recession? It must have been the fault of unscrupulous investment bro-kers and bankers. Our progressive gov-ernment is prosecuting some of them for failing to disclose the risks of investing in the stock market and is imposing laws and regulations that make financial forecast-ing more complicated and difficult. Some deserve to be prosecuted, but not for a failure to predict the recession or that an investment would decline in value. Did your business lose money or did your property depreciate in value during the time period of the Gulf oil spill? You don’t have to prove damages; the government will ensure you are compensated for your losses. It wasn’t your fault; politicians were on television and told us so.

I suspect my Nigerian driver was right – we rely too much on an increasingly progressive government to make up for our mistakes and shortcomings. We are no longer responsible for things that go wrong. If I am wrong or if I hurt your feelings, it is not my fault.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a good month.

Our Sources Say

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

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