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This issue’s cover Featured Guestsautumn Lake

there’s something invigorating about the smell of wood burning on a cool, crisp day. It’s even better when marshmallows are toasting over the flames and you’re surrounded by a postcard setting. From left, Camdyn Helms, Alexa Espera and Lexon Mayo have figured out the perfect way to enjoy an early fall afternoon on Weiss Lake.

this comes with years of practice. For cousins Camdyn and alexa along with their neighbor Lexon, Weiss Lake provides a place to gather. an integral part of life for the surrounding communities, Weiss Lake is known for the families, neighbors and friends who enjoy the lake year-round. In the fall, Weiss Lake hosts everyone from anglers looking for the biggest catch to neighbors making s’mores on an autumn evening.

Joe DeScioseCOVer PHOtOGraPHer

a former senior photographer for southern Living magazine, DeSciose is an award-winning photographer whose images have been published in the new York times magazine, as well as numerous Conde nast, Hearst, and story publications. the Birmingham resident

has lived in Colorado, madrid, Barcelona and new York City.

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©2012 alabama Power

Mike Bolton Bolton wrote for the Birmingham news for more than

27 years, winning eight associated Press sweepstakes awards for the best sports story of the year in alabama. His work has appeared in Outdoor Life, Bassmaster magazine, Buckmasters magazine, sporting Classics and other major outdoors publications. His book “The

Complete alabama Fisherman” has sold more than 20,000 copies.

William Dickey specializing in lifestyle and food photography, dickey

brings more than 20 years of experience to shorelines. His work has taken him across the country, from shooting the annual easter egg roll at the White House and Graceland interiors at Christmas to the ultimate crab cakes in the Chesapeake Bay area. He lives in Birmingham with his

wife and two daughters.

Christopher Jones Jones is a freelance photographer who started his

picture-taking career after being an electrician for 11 years. He has worked for Birmingham magazine and shelbyco magazine.

Nik LaymanLayman has lived and worked in Birmingham since

2005. He has shot football from seC sidelines, worked with celebrities and traveled across the state, country and world with his camera. He and his wife, angela, a make up artist, enjoy collaborating on fashion and editorial projects.

Shorelines - Published by Alabama Power for the pleasure of our great lake lovers.

Water WHYs Fall in all its glory

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t he kids are back in school, college football season is in full swing, and nature’s palette of vibrant reds, yellows and oranges has begun painting the leaves around alabama

Power’s lakes. to everything there is a season, and the season is fall.

the days grow ever shorter, a chill creeps into the night air, and wildlife and humans alike begin to prepare for the frigid days ahead.

But until the cold of winter sets in, there is still time to enjoy outdoor life at the lake. We can while away the hours in a hammock with an inviting book in a stunning setting, cheer our favorite college football team to victory while tailgating lakeside, or cast our lures in hopes of landing a lunker bass in one of our lakes on the exciting new alabama Bass trail.

They are part of what makes the lake-style life special, and why we tailor our lives to fit each season. the stories and pictures in this issue of shorelines celebrate the changes brought by the end of summer and the arrival of fall in all its glory.

Enjoy! - BoB Blalock, alaBama Power

©2012 alabama Power

This page: It’s tough to beat a fall day, a hammock and a good book.

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Facing: Friends toss the football while burgers grill before the big game. above: Football by the lake faces its own set of challenges with a wet sideline.

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Proud southerners that we are, many of us pledge our allegiance to southeastern Conference football. as alabama writer rick Bragg put

it in a recent essay in esPn the magazine: “We believe absolutely in our supremacy over all pretenders, upstarts and false prophets from the north, east, West and some heathen parts of Florida that are too sissy to mix it up with the real men of the seC.”

In alabama, most of us believe absolutely in the supremacy of the real men of the alabama Crimson tide or the auburn tigers. and for the past three years, they have bedazzled us with crystal footballs, part of a run of six straight national college football championships by seC teams.

Who knows how this season will play out? But one thing is certain: We revel in football

saturdays, especially when we tailgate on campus in auburn or tuscaloosa. there’s nothing better than getting together with family and friends to share a feast that would end a famine and watch our favorite team in person at Bryant-Denny or Jordan-Hare.

Or is there?some alabama Power lake property

owners are partial to their own version of tailgating, one that trades in the on-campus setting for a football party by — and on and in — the water.

On a september saturday, Lake martin homeowner donna melvin shared the tailgating rituals she and friends have refined over the past several years. Donna, along with matt and ann Campbell, and Jimmy and Joyce deLamar, rotate parties among each other’s lake homes during

football season. Between them, their families and friends, they cheer for Lsu, auburn and alabama, as well as the nFL’s

New Orleans Saints. (“Why limit the fun to saturdays?” donna asks.)

donna offers much of the credit for the tailgating parties to her late husband, tom. He had known matt since fourth grade, and the Campbells were part of the reason tom and donna bought property near them on Lake Martin in the mid-2000s, donna says.

“I’m so glad he brought me here to enjoy this,” she says of Tom, who died at thanksgiving in 2009.

Football traditions on the lake

“We believe absolutely in our supremacy over all pretenders.”

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use YOur smart deVICe tO FInd:The year oF aLaBaMa FooD

YearOFaLaBamaFOOd.COm

“He’s an important part of our story and a big part of the reason we tailgate.”

tom knew how to have a good time, which is what lake tailgating parties are all about, donna says. she cites last year’s first LSU-Alabama game as the perfect example – at least for the Lsu fans among their group. she and her friends pulled for Lsu, while her son, ricky, and his friends cheered for Alabama. “There was all this yelling and screaming. It was so much fun, so much fun,” donna says.

As with many on-campus tailgating parties, the Lake martin parties revolve around food.

“Being New Orleanians, there is a commitment to the food,” says matt, who moved with ann from new Orleans to dadeville a decade ago.

that commitment to the food goes beyond typical tailgating fare. start with donna’s homemade red beans and rice. add some grilled alligator sausage and boudin brought by friends from

Lafayette, La., which likely won’t show up at too many tailgating parties this side of Baton rouge. throw in ann’s sausage- and cheese-stuffed jalapeno

peppers. toss in Joyce’s coleslaw with tomatoes and cabbage fresh from her garden. Plus, there’s plenty of traditional tailgating fare: burgers and hot dogs heavy on the fixings – lettuce, tomato and pickles, and sautéed onions and mushrooms for the burgers, and ann’s chili for the hot dogs. dessert also comes by way of Louisiana – cream puffs, chocolate éclairs and petit fours from T-Sue’s Bakery in Henderson.

It’s no wonder Jimmy, a veteran of tailgating in auburn, says there is no comparison between the food on campus and at the lake. “The eats here are better.”

But there’s much more than eating going on at this Lake martin tailgate party. the younger folks toss around a football in the backyard. The young and the not-

stuffed Jalapenos – Lake MarTiN STyLe

recipe from the kitchen of ann Campbell

ingredients· 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature· 2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded· 6 ounces Capps’ smoked sausage, skin removed,

crumbled and sautéed until cooked through· 1 teaspoon Penzeys arizona dreaming seasoning

mix, or enough ancho powder, garlic powder and regular chili powder to make 1 teaspoon, or to taste

· 1 pound fresh jalapenos halved lengthwise, seeds and veins removed. use plastic gloves when

cleaning peppers· sour cream for dipping

DirectionsMix first 4 ingredients in bowl. Combine well.

Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the filling into each pepper half. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes for spicy, 30 minutes for medium, 40 minutes for mild. Best served warm, with cold sour cream for dipping.

sources: Capps’ sausage, BeauregardPenzeys spices, Hoover

“The football gamesare just another excuse to

enjoy lake living.”

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above: sandra and Bob Pope cheer for auburn from the lake. Right: Family and friends of all ages come to donna melvin’s for football saturdays on Lake martin.

so-young splash near the dock between rounds of food. Others clamber onto the deLamars’ pontoon boat to check out the scenery and visit lake friends. (“We’re nautical butterflies,” Jimmy says, deadpan.) meantime, matt (guitar), his brother tom Campbell (harmonica) and Tom’s soon-to-be son-in-law Rurik Nunan (fiddle) supply the soundtrack on the water, with songs including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Kaw-Liga” and “On the Road Again.”

all the while, one tV football game

bleeds into another and the afternoon slides into evening.

“The football games are just another excuse to enjoy lake living … the good food, friends, a boat ride, kids swimming in the water,” Matt says. “It’s more exciting to tailgate at the game, but this is delightful.”

For one thing, there’s less hassle, donna says.

“You sit in an air-conditioned home with a 55-inch widescreen TV, friends, fabulous food and the lake. How great is that?” she says. “One of the advantages of being at the lake, you don’t have to worry about parking, you don’t have to worry about traffic. You just come in, relax, have a great time and enjoy the reason you’re there. There’s none of the extra aggravation.”

the hallowed tailgating tradition on the campus of our favorite seC team on football saturdays will continue for as long as our teams play the game. But some alabama Power lake property owners prefer to tailgate by the water. the way these Lake martin friends celebrate the teams they have pledged their allegiance to, who can blame them?

- BoB Blalock, alaBama Power

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Dragons heLp BuiLD hoMeS

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Gadsden has long been known for the beautiful Coosa river along Lake neely Henry that runs through the heart of downtown. Home to

riverfest, the Boys and Girls Club duck race, Renew Our Rivers, fishing tournaments and boat races, the Coosa experienced something it has never seen before when dragons took to the water on Aug. 18. Dragon boats, that is … to raise money and build homes for Gadsden-etowah Habitat for Humanity.

Dragon boat racing is a centuries-old Chinese tradition that has emerged as a modern international sport. However, on a hot, sunny day in Gadsden, it was a day of amateur fun on the water to raise money to build homes for neighbors in need.

Twenty-five teams boarded the traditionally decorated 46-foot-long boats. Similar to canoes, the dragon boats are decorated with beautiful Chinese dragon heads and tails and are powered by 20 paddlers, a drummer dressed in costume and a steerer.

those who dressed up didn’t disappoint. a gorilla, a water monster, a rock star, an Alabama fan with an imaginative “Roll Tide”

cap, an auburn fan complete with an aubie tiger tail, and an owl all raced for a good cause.

“We have some great costumes,” said Suzanne Scharfenberg of the Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity. “We are so busy, yet so excited with this outpouring of support. It’s great for our first year.”

Gadsden mayor sherman Guyton was on hand to kick off the inaugural event. “This river system is one of the greatest assets this community has and we are taking advantage of that today for a great charity. the crowd and volunteer participation is unbelievable.”

under the direction of dynamic dragon Boat racing, entrants competed in two heats. among the 25 teams was north Glencoe Baptist Church, which stood out in their bright orange shirts and a “gorilla” drummer.

After their first heat, a winded Chad Strawn, a fourth-grade teacher at Glencoe Elementary, said, “It’s a great day of fun

Facing: teams from local organizations and businesses in a close race. Right: Families enjoy the dragon boat races.

“This river system is one of the greatest assets this

community has.”

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for the whole family. as a teacher, it is exciting to see families together enjoying this great natural resource of our community and teaching their children about the importance of helping other families in need.”

another racer coming off the water, Jody Willoughby, local attorney and Southside municipal judge, said, “People in Gadsden know how to have

a good time for a good cause. the main thing I remember about the Coosa as a kid was riverfest. now, it’s used for more than just recreation as we have all kinds of things happening on this river system. and to be part of such a great cause is very rewarding.”

typically building three houses a year, volunteers are working on the 41st house since Habitat’s inception in Gadsden. applications for a Habitat house are accepted three to five times a year. Families are selected based on guidelines established by Habitat for Humanity International.

We have raised more than $40,000, which was our original goal. This is just what we need to build an entire house and we have already selected a family of three to move into it,” scharfenberg says. “We have been very blessed and fortunate here in etowah County to have a strong system of support from the city of Gadsden, the City Council, the commissioners, the community and civic organizations, businesses and individuals, churches and youth groups. etowah County is a wonderful place to live. the citizens in our community continue to be a blessing to one another and those in need.”

the dragons are coming back to the Coosa river in Gadsden on saturday aug. 17, 2013. make your plans to attend.

- Holly riley, alaBama Power

This Page: Drummers played a major role in the day and had their own competition. Facing: the Gadsden state Community College team, Cardinal Fury, paddles during a race.

“It’s a great day of fun for the whole family.”

use YOur smart deVICe tO FInd:GaDSDeN-eToWah haBiTaT For

huMaNiTy DraGoN BoaT FeSTivaLHaBItatdraGOnBOat.COm

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the sun sets over Weiss Lake.

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left: Fall leaves paint a vivid portrait on Weiss Lake.

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LeGaCY On tHe Lake one man’s commitment to Weiss Lake

melvyn salter is a man of callings. as a young man, he was called into ministry

– a path that led him to Centre in 1976 to pastor the community’s First Baptist Church.

In 1998, after leading the church for 22 years, he was moved to retirement and a stab at entrepreneurship – opening a travel charter business.

But by 2006, his thoughts returned to service to the community. He was again called to help his neighbors and, in doing so, Weiss Lake.

“Since I moved to Cherokee County, I’ve held a growing concern for the lake and its impact on our community,” said salter, reminiscing about impactful discussions with one church deacon in particular who was involved in lake improvement. “I felt we had no real controls in place – no zoning or building codes – to address the issues we were facing.”

these discussions, and salter’s view that the lake had a direct impact on the health and economy of east-central Alabama, led the former pastor and business owner to turn his sights to public office. He campaigned for the combined probate judge and county commissioner seat of Cherokee County.

First and foremost on his list of concerns was the sewage control problem created by recreational vehicles frequenting parks around the lake. after salter’s election, he soon discovered he first needed to dig out of a hole of inherited issues before he could begin laying a foundation for progress.

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Right: Judge melvyn salter on the bench.

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one man’s commitment to Weiss Lake

“When I came in, we were approaching the deadline for creating a Fema (Federal Emergency Management Agency) flood-plain compliance policy,” Salter said. “If we didn’t get something together, people were in danger of losing their flood insurance.”

The commission quickly requested a one-year extension and put together one of the most sophisticated policies in the state. meanwhile, salter was making inroads on his main mission to improve Weiss.

“That first year, we set up meetings with the county government, alabama Power and the state health department,” salter said. “I knew that if we were ever going to get anything accomplished, we had to get rid of the ‘it’s your fault, not my fault’ mentality and get everyone to the table.”

With the major players on board in year one, salter said broadening the scope of discussion to other stakeholders – particularly area realtors – led to bigger strides in year two by increasing local buy-in to the process.

By year three, salter said, work began – coordinated with the state health department – on drafting an ordinance to empower the Cherokee County Health department to address sewage issues.

“It became an economic issue in the community,” Salter said. “There was some

opposition and it took time for the pieces to fall together, but at the end of the day people realized that the lake is an economic driver for

this community – we sell more fishing licenses than any other county because of Weiss.”

Along with the fishing licenses, the tourists and their injection of money into the local economy made Weiss and salter’s calling something that couldn’t be ignored. after many public meetings, discussions and revisions, the Cherokee County Commission approved a sewage ordinance in march 2012 marking the highlight of salter’s tenure – one that ends this year because of a state law barring re-election for people 70 and older.

“I would love to run again because I feel like there is more to be achieved,” salter said. “But on the positive side, too often people sit back and think about what they want to do next term instead of putting in the work and doing it – I haven’t had that luxury.”

there is still plenty of work to be done, salter said.

“Along with Weiss Lake, Cherokee County is on the alabama scenic river trail, we have terrapin Creek and rock Village. there is so much potential past what we have already accomplished.”

- Brandon glover, alaBama Power

“People were in danger of losing their flood

insurance.”

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Facing: Martin Dam releases flood waters.

dam anatOmY Managingriverflows

managing the flows within the rivers that pass through Alabama Power’s 14 dams and 11 lakes is a crucial part

of harnessing the renewable power of water. this third installment of dam anatomy takes a closer look at how these resources help managing shifts in flows caused by the state’s sometimes unpredictable rainfall.

All of the Alabama Power-managed rivers and dams operate under a federal license, which along with the authority given to the company by the u.s. army Corps of engineers provides guidance for how we store and release water. these operating guidelines outline a predetermined schedule, known as a guide curve or rule curve.

In times of heavy rains, may increase these levels, or in times of abnormally dry conditions, which may drop lakes below normal levels – alabama Power has responses in place to help reduce the impact. these extreme times are generally known as flood control or drought mitigation.

Flood controlWater management and dam operation go

hand in hand.Before alabama Power’s dams were

built, many of the state’s rivers were known for their wild unpredictability. the lakes created by the company’s dams were designed to minimize the impact of the large volume of water from heavy rains.

Certain lakes – called storage lakes – were designed with flood control as a purpose. these lakes are drawn down each fall to make room for the normally heavier winter and spring rains, which in turn help refill them to normal summer pool levels during the late spring.

As a part of its flood control capacity, alabama Power also relies on its right to manage water above normal rule curve levels on property surrounding storage lakes when managing large-volume flows. alabama Power’s smith, Weiss, neely Henry, Logan martin, Harris and martin lakes are considered storage lakes.

Other lakes, called run-of-river lakes, were designed to pass heavy flows downstream and have limited flood control capability. Alabama Power’s run-of-river lakes have

levels that vary little throughout the year and include Lay, mitchell, Jordan/Bouldin, Yates and thurlow.

Drought mitigationWhen rains fall short of expectations –

resulting in drought conditions – alabama Power works to balance the needs of lake and river stakeholders in impacted watersheds.

alabama Power hydrologists use rainfall and seasonal climate predictions to model potential short- and long-term impacts to the lakes and river systems. If predictions and modeling suggests that drought impacts could cause lakes not to fill, the company – along with state and federal regulatory agencies – can request a temporary increase in winter pool levels on the storage lakes most likely to be affected as well as reductions in downstream minimum flow requirements.

during drought conditions, alabama Power works to balance the impact of scarce resources among all stakeholders – leading to lower lake levels, reduced downstream water releases and decreased power generation at company dams.

- Brandon glover, alaBama Power

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Facing: Student anglers fish on Smith Lake.

suppose for a moment that you are a fisherman who lives in another state. You are a big fan of saturday morning fishing shows. You watch

in amazement as the Bassmasters tV show features pro anglers catching big bass after big bass at Lay Lake. another show later in the morning features the host and his guest catching bragging-size spotted bass on Lake Jordan.

Wouldn’t it be cool to go to alabama some time and catch fish like that? the tourism industry is trying to turn those dreams into reality with the recently opened alabama Bass trail. the trail highlights 11 bodies of water in the state and is anchored by five Alabama Power lakes – Smith Lake, Lake neely Henry, Lake Logan martin, Lay Lake and Lake Jordan.

“The state has hit the jackpot with its unique series of recreational trails, and the alabama Bass trail is adding to that legacy,” said Doug Powell of Alabama Power. “The

formation of the alabama’s robert trent Jones Golf trail several years ago was the first foray into such tourism, and that trail is on track to have its 10 millionth visitor this year. Other trails in alabama have followed. the alabama scenic river trail has attracted canoeists and kayakers from

other states by the thousands. the alabama Birding trail which stretches across the state is a must-do for birders across the South.”

alabama Power plays a multifaceted role in its partnership with the alabama Bass Trail. Its primary focus is enhancing fishing quality and assisting in conservation and conservation education. Working with the

alabama student angler Bass Fishing association, alabama Power provides many volunteer opportunities in conjunction with its renew Our rivers initiative. High school bass teams across the state assist alabama Power in building fish-attracting devices that are placed in lakes to provide quality fish habitat. Those young anglers also assist in shoreline cleanup and the seeding of

eroded shorelines.In return, each club

that completes 250 hours of community service

receives a $500 grant to be used for bass club expenses courtesy of the

alabama Bass trail. the monetary awards are made possible from private donations.

kay donaldson, the program director for the alabama Bass trail, says alabama Power’s involvement is a win-win situation for everyone.

“The students not only receive a grant but they also learn about conservation and about the importance of fish habitat,”

BassfishingaboundsinAlabama

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Facing: High school student anglers and a volunteer help install fish attractors made of cypress trees and bamboo in Smith Lake.

she said. “The program provides the bass club members with the opportunity to learn about jobs that they may not have otherwise ever thought about.

“They learn that there are jobs with Alabama Power in the conservation field, jobs in lure manufacturing, jobs in being game wardens and things like that. they think that is really cool.”

the bass clubs submerge hundreds of pieces of underwater structure approved by alabama Power. that structure includes 5-gallon buckets filled with bamboo and concrete. the students also construct bundles of five to seven cypress trees tied together. each high school angler takes his or her turn on the transportation boat to submerge the structures.

most recently, high school bass teams submerged 20 bamboo fish attracting devices and 10 bundles of cypress trees in the Clear Creek area of Lewis smith Lake.

alabama Power maps the placement of the structures and provides GPs coordinates for artificial fish habitat structures on five alabama Bass trail lakes. For a list of those GPs coordinates, as well as habitat

coordinates on other alabama Power lakes, visit alabamapower.com/lakes/fishdata.asp.

the concerted effort of which alabama Power is a major part also adds less obvious benefits to the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing association, says rose ellis, the district III director of the alabama student angler Bass Fishing association.

“These high school bass clubs are the great equalizer,” she said. “Everyone can fish in a high school bass club. We have quite a

few female participants and several of them did really well last year.

“We have parents tell us that if it wasn’t for this program their kids would have definitely dropped out of high school. each school has its own GPa requirement for participation and it encourages students to keep their grades up.

“Another thing it does is involve people from the community to support kids,” ellis said. “The drivers of the boats in all our tournaments are volunteers. We have schools that offer a curriculum headed by volunteers.”

as the alabama Bass trail gains momentum, there is much to look forward to in both tourism and conservation. as alabama Power continues conservation

efforts on the trail, bringing volunteers of is another benefit.

to learn more about the alabama Bass trail, visit its website, alabamabasstrail.org, which provides all the information needed to fish any of the 11 bodies of water on the trail, including videos of each lake’s top fishermen telling how to fish the lake all times of the year.

The website provides up-to-date fishing reports and weather conditions. there are maps of the location of ramps, marinas and the best places to fish on each lake. Looking for a fishing guide on one of Alabama Power’s lakes? that is included, too.

For those wanting to visit alabama for several days of fishing, the Alabama Bass Trail website includes a complete listing of motels, hotels and campgrounds near each lake.

Catch interviews and footage of the conservation project with the Alabama Bass Trail that were featured on “On the Job” on Oct. 21. Visit onthejobtv.org.

- mike Bolton

“We have quite a few female participants.”

use YOur smart deVICe tO VIeW:“oN The JoB’S” viDeo oF aLaBaMa

BaSS TraiL’S CoNServaTioN proJeCTOntHeJOBtV.OrG

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OPen HOuse AtShorelineManagementoffices

ShorelineManagementofficescontactinformation

Bouldin ......................205-755-4420 205-280-4476Harris ........................256-396-5093Jordan ........................205-755-4420 205-280-4476Lay ............................205-755-4420 205-280-4476Logan martin ............205-472-0481martin .......................256-825-0053 256-825-1102

mitchell .....................205-755-4420 205-280-4476neely Henry ..............205-472-0481smith .........................205-384-7385 205-384-7347thurlow .....................256-825-0053 256-825-1102Weiss .........................256-927-2597Yates ..........................256-825-0053 256-825-1102

use YOur smart deVICe tO FInd:More iNForMaTioN

oN ShoreLiNeSaLaBamaPOWer.COm/COmmunItY/Lakes/HOme.asP

Stop in and say hello. This fall, join us for Alabama Power Company’s annual shoreline management Public education Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We look forward to seeing you and talking about your lake and how we can better serve you.

Nov. 15 – Weiss Lake

Nov. 28 – Lake Harris

Nov. 30 – ten Islands

Dec. 6 – Lake mitchell, Lay Lake

Dec. 12 – Lake martin

Dec. 13 – smith Lake

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Cooler temperatures bring increased heating costs and stresses to your home’s energy system.

Our energy experts have taken a look at how lake homeowners can prepare for cooler temperatures and cut their energy use.

“There are easy, affordable and less time-consuming ways that people can make changes to their home to save on their energy bills,” says Valerie Gossage, an alabama Power market specialist who performs free energy checkups in homes on Lake Harris. “Now is the time to look at how you can prepare for winter temperatures.”

For Linda and Larry smith, having an energy-efficient home is important as they transition from weekend lake dwellers to living there every day. “We have been on the lake for 19 to 20 years now and have always loved being on the lake. now, we are here much more often

and being able to conserve energy throughout the year is important to us,” Linda smith says.

Here are some energy- and money-saving tips for lake homeowners:❖ make sure the heating and

cooling unit outside your lake home is debris-free. Often, leaves, branches and shrubbery block the unit, causing it to work harder. Keeping this area well-maintained and debris-free allows the unit to operate at normal efficiency. ❖ Fireplaces are one of the most

overlooked reasons your energy bill can rise. A fireplace draws conditioned air out of your home. Close dampers when not in use, because a fireplace draws warm, conditioned air out of your home and up through the chimney.❖ Weatherstripping is an

adhesive strip that can be bought at home improvement stores. simply scrape off the old weatherstripping with a putty knife. Test-fit the

left: An energy-efficient home is important to Hunter Bend Home Owner Association President Larry smith and his wife, Linda. Facing: Valerie Gossage gives tammy sanders and Wayne Browning energy tips from their energy checkup.

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enerGY essentIaLs Saving energy throughout your home

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Shorelines wants to make sure we have the most up-to-date information about our readers. keep in touch, and we will bring you the latest from the lakes.

Sharewithusyour:

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Lake of interest

Contactus:phone: 205-257-2599email: G2shorelines@southernco.comweb: alabamapower.com/community/lakes/home.aspmail: shorelines MN-0668 P.O. Box 2641 Birmingham, aL 35291

On tHe mOVe Send us your information

COOSA:❑ Jordan❑ Lay❑ Logan martin❑ mitchell

❑ neely Henry❑ WeissTALLAPOOSA:❑ Harris❑ martin

❑ thurlow❑ YatesWARRIOR:❑ smith

✁

weatherstripping to length, making sure to cut slightly longer than needed if the material is flexible, such as vinyl or foam. attach the weatherstripping on the frame of doors and windows, ensuring a snug fit. ❖ most ceiling fans are designed

to be reversible for winter operation. In this mode, room air is pulled from floor level, circulated through the warmer air near the ceiling, and directed back down toward the floor, warming your home. ❖ A well-insulated home can

save up to 30 percent on your energy bill. Fall is the time of year to check your insulation before winter’s colder temperatures set in. add more insulation if needed to your attic, crawl space and basement.

use YOur smart deVICe tO FInd:More iNForMaTioN

oN eNerGy eFFiCieNCyaLaBamaPOWer.COm/tIPs

❖ air leaks and radiant heat transfer through window panes and around the frame can cause drafts and heat loss. Choose thermal or double-pane windows for your home to help protect it from harsh outside weather elements in both the winter and the summer. ❖ air can escape through the

outlets in the walls of your home. Add easy-to-install foam insulation between the outlet and the outlet plate to protect against leaking air. ❖ Installing a programmable

thermostat can help save 10 percent on your energy bill. these are especially helpful if you are away from home, and they can be adjusted for your living patterns. For optimal use, set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter.❖ One of the most cost-effective

ways to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system is to clean or change your air filters regularly. This prevents dirty filters from slowing down airflow.

- allison westlake, alaBama Power

enerGY essentIaLs Saving energy throughout your home

CastInG OFF your moments, your memories

1. Denise Mills and her dog enjoy a boat ride on Lake Martin. Fourth of July Boat Parade, lake martin: 2. ms. Lake martin: Hannah Lee Bush, teen miss Lake martin: Julianna Cannon and Junior miss Lake martin: mallory milford. 3. the Werner and Conboy families show their patriotism. 4. Henry and kathy Hagel with michael, erica, mattoy and Cameron Hagel make the boat parade a family affair. Riverside Poker Run, logan martin: 5. matt stamps and his son davis draw a poker card. 6. riverside mayor rusty Jessup announces the winners. 7. Friends take a break from collecting poker cards. Dragon Boat Race, neely henry: 8. Gadsden mayor sherman Guyton and state rep. Craig Ford display one of the dragons. 9. spectators take in the dragon boat race. 10. tracy Cotton with Lindsey and Gracie watch the races. 11. kate smythe, kimberly robbins and Jenny Burton canoe during a weekend on Lake martin. 12. Weiss Lake fishing guide Mark Collins. Photos courtesy of wynter Byrd, william dickey, kacy eoff and the Bluffs overlooking weiss lake. submit your event photos to g2shorelines@southernco.com.

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