The holiday spirit is alive and well at TARCOG. What started out as a door decorating contest blossomed into a full blown decorating competition with staff coming in on their off time and over weekends to create some spectacular decorations. The Polar Express Team won the competition this year. Click here to view more of the incredible festive decorations!
There are 3,237 people in the TARCOG region collectively saving more than $3.4 million this year on their Medicare insurance premiums thanks to the Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
This year the program served 488 more people and saved almost $1 million more total dollars than last year during the Medicare Open Enrollment period between October and December, said Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey.
SHIP is an important program because change is inevitable in people’s lives.
For example, one client faced $282,000 in medication charges under his existing prescription plan for 2025 because of a recently diagnosed condition.
His 2024 plan didn’t cover any of the new medications he needs. After he met with SHIP Resource Coordinator Teresa Hazzard, she found a new plan for him that dropped his total medication cost for the year down to $2,000.
There are many plans out there and they all offer different coverages. Teresa said she and the other coordinators are able to compare a client’s medication list with the different plans and find the most cost-effective option to share with the client.
“We saw a lot of new clients this year, but I also saw or talked with a lot I know by name because I’ve helped them over the past 10 years,” she said. “I love it because when you look at that savings number, that’s money that is going back into our client’s pockets that they can spend on other needs.”
Open Enrollment for Medicare programs that are in place this year began last year on Oct. 15 and ended on Dec. 7. The TARCOG team responsible for answering questions and helping all TARCOG clients includes:
Teresa, who works out of TARCOG’s headquarters in Huntsville, and Kathryn Kestner from Studio 60 Senior Center in Huntsville in Madison County
Veronica Woodall in Jackson County
Lynn Hixon and Emily McCamy in DeKalb County
Tammy McElroy, Susan Bishop and Kennedy Cooper in Marshall County
Heidi Stinnett, Carla Sims, and Helen Carter in Limestone County
The specialists are responsible for answering questions and helping all TARCOG clients in their respective counties. They are also among the certified counselors and volunteers throughout the state who are committed to helping Medicare beneficiaries make informed choices regarding health benefits at no charge to Medicare recipients.
Together, the regional counselors met or talked with 3,237 seniors during the 2024 Open Enrollment period. The total savings for those clients during 2025 will amount to $3,404,862.06
TARCOG is assisting the Appalachian Regional Council (ARC) by requesting input on a survey about capacity building from local governments and nonprofits.
“ARC is continually looking for ways to improve the invaluable resources and efforts that they provide to the Appalachian Region,” says Lee Terry, TARCOG’s director of economic development and planning. “Only through organizations providing feedback will they truly be able to reach their goal of increasing the economic competitiveness of the ARC region.”
Lee asks that area leaders to consider taking a few minutes to complete the survey with input on how they can be as effective as possible in improving their services and offerings to governments and nonprofits in the region.
Share the survey with organizations that you believe can provide good insights into capacity building needs within the region! We are especially hoping to hear from those who are not currently connected to ARC. We have a survey promotion toolkit available here at https://www.arc.gov/capacity-survey-toolkit/
How long have you been at TARCOG and what do you do? I’ve been employed with TARCOG for ten years! My job is to make sure that every person eligible for Medicare/Medicaid receives help obtaining a Part D drug plan that will assist them with getting their medication at the best price available.
What did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up I did not have one specific career in mind. I just knew I wanted to be successful. It wasn’t until my late teens that I knew I wanted to be a social worker.
What do you hope to accomplish within the next year? Within the next year I hope to further improve my skills, challenge myself to assist more people and perhaps take on new leadership responsibilities at TARCOG!
Who is your hero and why? A HERO is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. My daughter Bianca HazzardTurner is my HERO because despite adversity, setbacks, and many other life challenges she never gave up and persevered to accomplish more than she ever thought she could. I admire everything about her.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? I would choose to spend the entire day with my three grands uninterrupted, just the four of us!
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? “To thine own self be true.” And, to always speak the truth with love
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Zipline in Vegas.
TARCOG’s 2024 Winter Wishes Campaign provided more than 1,000 gifts to 400 clients this year thanks to the generous sponsors who worked with us to spread cheer during the holidays.
We appreciate everyone who participated in making this year’s campaign a success.
Hello 2025 – a year in which we hope to see the TARCOG region continue to thrive!
This time last year, I was thinking about the “epic” year I saw ahead for TARCOG in 2024. When I was looking over the accomplishments of this past year, that idea was right on target. I wanted to mention all of the highlights, but there’s just too many.
I will say we ended the year on a high note with our first ever TARCOG Invitational Career Fair. As a result, we will be starting 2025 with four new employees! We are excited to welcome them to our team, which we feel has been strengthened throughout the past year. Part of this progress is due to our new Human Resources Manager Melonie Gurley, who completed our exceptional executive team in September.
We are also starting the new year with a high level of anticipation for things to come. We are looking to begin construction on our new office building on Corporate Drive in the MidCity District – right down the street from our former building. We will remain in our temporary space at 7037 Old Madison Pike, Suite 450, until construction is completed.
A groundbreaking announcement is forthcoming. Construction is estimated to take about 13 months.
We are also excited about continuing and even expanding upon our high level of care through our Area Agency on Agency programs, as well as securing grant funding and other economic development and planning opportunities for the deserving residents of our region.
Everything that we do is because of our commitment to our member governments and the care we have for our aging and disabled clients, and none of the work we do could be done without the support we receive from our board of directors. When every piece of our organization is aligned, the result is one of the best team’s around and our entire region benefits from it!
Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to 2025!
The holiday spirit is alive and well at TARCOG. What started out as a door decorating contest blossomed into a full blown decorating competition with staff coming in on their off time and over weekends to create some spectacular decorations. The Polar Express Team won the competition this year. Click here to view more of the incredible festive decorations!
Elkmont Senior Center location in the old train depot building.
One thing you’re sure to find at the Elkmont Senior Center is good conversation.
Currently housed in the old train depot building, the center is waiting to move into the old town hall building next door in January. The building has been renovated to accommodate the center and its participants in this small Limestone County town of about 411 people.
Some say they’ll miss the old train depot building. The truth is, though, they don’t really care where they gather as long as they have a place to meet.
The center serves hot lunches and delivers meals to homebound as well. There’s exercise equipment, a pool table, games and puzzles. But a group of center regulars seem content to sit and visit with each other.
Sheila Vickers, Becky Proctor and Maxine Compton
Early in the morning, Maxine Compton, 90, sits with Sheila Vickers, center manager and Becky Proctor, a center assistant, talking about dishes to be prepared for an upcoming holiday.
2025 will bring a new location
The move to the new center comes up and Maxine jokes — “I’m afraid I’ll die out before we get there,” and laughs saying the move has been discussed for a long time.
“She keeps saying she’s going to check out on us but she better not,” Sheila added.
Dates have been set. The center will close on Dec. 20 and reopen in the new location, where the old Town Hall was located, within walking distance of the current location.
New Elkmont Senior Center location in the old Town Hall building.
Elkmont and the military
Maxine said she hopes to take a series of framed photos of community members who served in the military.
“This was a special project we did,” Maxine said. “It wasn’t tied to any special occasion, we just started asking people in the community to bring in photos of their family or friends from the town who served in the military.”
It took longer to get the pictures than it did to put them together, she said.
“Let me show you my husband,” as she points to Harold “Hoot” Compton in a Navy uniform. He was 17 at the time. She said he got his nickname as a small boy because he went around hooting like a hoot owl all the time.
Maxine Compton points to a photo of her husband, “Hoot.”
Did he still do it as an adult?
“Until the day he died,” Maxine added with a smile. “No one knew his real name; everyone knew him as Hoot.”
“He lied about his age when he joined the Navy, and they were on a ship headed to Japan when they figured out, he was only 17,” Maxine recalled. “They were going to send him home, but he wouldn’t get on a plane, he just wouldn’t do it, so they ended up letting him stay.”
She said he never got on an airplane at any time during his life. The pair married 1953. He died in 2007.
Fun and Games
As more people arrived, Madison Herron from North Alabama Hospice is among them, ready to play games and give away prizes. The group discussion continued about popular places to shop and the differences between area stores.
Madison Herron with North Alabama Hospice plays games and gives out prizes at the Elkmont Senior Center.
Back to the new building, Sheila mentions they will be grateful for a new three compartment sink and new upgraded kitchen equipment, where 12 to 14 hot meals will be served in the center each weekday. Another 20-plus meals are delivered to homes thanks to volunteers who help.
Sheila Vickers and Angie Holt
As meals arrived for the day, the group disbursed as volunteers got busy finishing preparations for home delivered meals.
Volunteers deliver meals
Glenn Turner, who turns 76 in January, has been delivering meals for years.
“I just like to help people,” Glenn said.
His caregiver, Angie Holt, has been going with him for the past two years to help out. Bobby and Wanda Emerson also volunteer to deliver meals.
Jim Johnson
Why come to the Senior Center?
Jim Johnson, 79, said he’s been a regular at the Senior Center for the past 14 years after he retired as postmaster and school bus driver.
“All the people here are the reason I like to come,” Jim said. “It’s a nice bunch of folks.”
Born in Nebraska, Jim’s family moved to Elkmont when he was 13. When his dad was transferred back to Nebraska five years later, Jim decided to stay here. He eventually met and married his wife, Linda.
“She’s volunteering at the library today but normally she comes here when she’s not volunteering or we don’t have a doctor’s appointment,” Jim said.
Charles Christensen, is 86 but says his age “keeps changing every minute, every second really.” He and his wife, Peggy, who also owns a local antiques shop, have been coming to the center for 15 years “for the lunches and comradery.”
He also likes to use the exercise equipment.
“It’s good to have around because it encourages us as we get older to do something,” he said. “Taking trips as a group are also enjoyable.”
Charles brought up the bike and walking trail behind the old depot building. On what was once the train boarding area, a large Santa Claus and “the Elkmont Elk,” overlook the town’s Tinsel Trail set up for the Christmas holidays, right along the trail.
Charles Christensen
The biking and hiking trail winds from Veto through the heart of Elkmont to Mitchell-Coffman Park at Piney Chapel in Athens. It’s a little more than 10 miles and it used to be part of the old L&N railroad line.
Senior employment
Becky Proctor, 68, is part of a TARCOG senior employment program and works at the center to help clean up after lunch and willing to do anything else that’s needed.
“I did fall in love with this center,” Becky said. “I think everyone here is closer, it’s smaller and because we’re together most every day everyone is open.
Becky Proctor
Sharing and caring
“We all know everybody’s whole life,” Maxine added. It’s like a counseling center
“At the new center we may get a couch and let people take turns laying on it, Sheila joked.
“Or a recliner,” Charles added.
“Hey, what about a nap room?” Jim suggested.
Snakes and other critters
From there, the conversation turned to snakes, partly because of a recent episode of the popular TV series Yellowstone was discussed in which rattle snakes played a prominent role.
There was mention of rattlesnake rodeos held in Opp in south Alabama and Georgia
Charles talked about the generous population of rattlers near the Elk River in the western part of Limestone County.
“My wife and I taught our kids not to be scared of snakes,” he said. “We bought a book so they could learn the different types.
He recalls one day seeing his daughters walking around outside with speckled king snakes wrapped around their necks and handling them.
“They’re very docile snakes,” he said, “And they knew that from the book.”
Sheila said in her home, with four boys growing up, instead of flowers on her kitchen table she had snakes, frogs, turtles and lizards.
“One time we had a babysitter and when we got home, the boys had taken bullfrogs in the bath tub with them and then had a frog jumping contest down the stairs. The babysitter said they told her they did it all the time,” she recalled. “I told her, no, they don’t.”
Something for everyone
Paul Cluxton
“Mr. Paul” Cluxton, 88, starting coming to the center when he moved in with his son several years ago.
“Nice people here,” he said. “They bring me coffee with salt, something I picked up going to school.”
He has a stack of word find books that he enjoys working on to keep his mind sharp.
“I got to coming here and started doing these (word find puzzles) and the more I do, the more they give me and now I have a pile of them, but it keeps me busy,” Mr. Paul said. “I do three or four a day.”
Larry Nichols, 74, is a fixer of small things like flashlights.
“This is a great place for company,” he said. “There’s good friendship here and everybody tries to help everybody.
Larry Nichols
Concern for friends
Conversation continued about people who weren’t there – with reports on who was at a doctor visit, with family or recovering from an illness or surgery.
Larry described Elkmont as friendly place filled with helpful people in general. He recalled giving directions to a man looking for the local pizza place.
“I told him to be careful that he could get killed around here – with kindness,” he added.
Sheila says anyone interested in visiting the center should stop by or give her a call at 256-732-4777.
TARCOG and Neighborhood Concepts, Inc., sponsored a free, three-hour Funding Lab workshop on Dec. 5, for business owners seeking to grow their businesses.
The AssistAL informational workshop held at the TARCOG office on Old Madison Pike, provided details of Alabama’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) capital program, the application process, and how businesses can get support along the way.
During The Funding Lab, Reginald Smith, small business finance expert, covered details about a new SSBCI program, including how it can help businesses, how the process works, and what they may need to better their chances of success. Michelle Kloske, a business advisor with the Alabama Small Business Development Center at UAH, was also there to answer questions.
Harry Lawler, owner of Sunny Blues Barbershop in downtown Huntsville, said he learned a lot of “great information” that will help him grow his business. He started his own shop after cutting hair for 20 years and spending eight of those managing three shops for a company that served Redstone Arsenal.
He started his shop on Jefferson Street about three years ago.
Harry said his biggest takeaway from the Fund Lab was about how to present himself when going to talk to someone about a loan.
“Basically, I learned that I don’t need to talk too much, that the paperwork will speak for itself,” he said. “I’m glad y’all held this workshop and I’m glad that I came. I would come again if you had it.”
The Rebuild Alabama Act (RAA) Annual Grant Program for FY25 has been announced and is now accepting applications through February 7, 2025.
The ALDOT administered program awards funding to eligible projects annually based on a competitive application process. For FY25, a total of $15 million has been allocated for this program.
Of that $15 million, $10 million will be awarded with no cash match required on projects up to $250,000.
The remaining $5 million will be awarded with a 50/50 match required up to $100,000 for any amount requested over $250,000.
That means the maximum amount of RAA funding that can be requested per project this year is $250,000 with no match, or $350,000 with a local match of $100,000.
TARCOG is available to assist in determining project eligibility.
Applications will be accepted from now until no later than 5:00pm on February 7, 2025.
As always, if there is any way that TARCOG can be of assistance to you in applying for these funds or if we can provide more information about this opportunity, please reach out to the TARCOG Economic Development Staff at 256-830-0818.
The Rebuild Alabama Act (RAA) Annual Grant Program for FY25 has been announced and is now accepting applications through February 7, 2025.