Your TARCOG E-Newsletter for June

Area Agency on Aging PUBLIC HEARING ONArea Plan FY 2026-2029A public hearing will be held this month to gather input from older adults, caregivers, service providers, and community members across Dekalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. The meeting will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the North Huntsville Public Library, 3011 Sparkman Drive. “This hearing is a critical part of developing our comprehensive Area Plan for FY 2026-2029, which guides the delivery of coordinated, supportive services, nutrition programs, and senior center activities in our region,” said TARCOG’S Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey. She said feedback gathered during this hearing will help the agency shape programs and services that reflect the real needs of our communities. This meeting is for the entire community, not just those who receive TARCOG services. All voices are welcome, and multiple ways to participate will be provided to ensure accessibility. TARCOG seeks input from:Older adults with limited incomeRural residentsMinority communitiesIndividuals with limited English proficiency For those who can’t attend in person, there are still ways to share your input via:
Online or paper comment forms. Click here to complete Needs Survey.
Phone calls to 256-830-0818Email to info@tarcog.us
Written comments mailed to: TARCOG, PO Box 1087, Huntsville, AL 35807

$1.5 million brownfields grant underway in Fort Payne, Gurley and AthensTARCOG appreciates Alabama House of Representatives Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter for highlighting a Fort Payne project that will impact six vacant warehouses over two blocks and three acres along Gault Avenue.
The site is the focus of an environmental evaluation to prepare the section of Gault Avenue for redevelopment.
Ledbetter, who was guest speaker at TARCOG’s June Board Meeting and Picnic, announced the $1.5 million grant on Tuesday, June 24, that includes the DeKalb County project, as well as projects in Limestone and Madison counties. The $1.5 million Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant will be the starting point for the transformation of the selected sites. In the past, the connected warehouses on Gault Avenue in Fort Payne held cotton or machining operations. For years, they have remained vacant and because of potential environmental contamination, the site hasn’t been attractive to developers. This grant will also cover projects for the Singing River Trail in the Town of Gurley and another one in the City of Athens. The grant includes the three cities as coalition partners in this funding opportunity with TARCOG, who helped secure the funding for these important projects. TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gillaim Jordan said the whole purpose of this type of brownfield grant is to take unproductive properties due to real or perceived contamination and make them usable again. This process is the first step toward making these sites attractive to developers again.Read the story

Growing our economy: Sylvania is ready for new business

The Town of Sylvania now has in place a new Zoning Ordinance designed to help guide future development of the municipality.
“We want our town to grow,” said Mayor Terry McClendon. “We’re looking to attract anything and everything that’s revenue based.”
He called the new Zoning Ordinance a tool to help attract new businesses, especially along Alabama Highway 75).
“All the other towns around us have done it and are benefitting and it’s been tried before in our town, but we made history by doing this … and it’s a good thing for our future generations.”
TARCOG worked with Mayor McClendon and other town leaders and residents for a year holding meetings and discussions to determine what the town needed and wanted in an ordinance to help spur commercial development along its section of Alabama Highway 75.

TARCOG helped the Town of Sylvania develop a new Zoning Ordinance

Read the story

Let’s talk about: Fraud and elder abuse

During June, around the U.S., awareness is placed on Medicare fraud prevention and elder abuse.
At TARCOG, Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey said the observances are an opportunity to expand the conversation to include all types of fraud and scams because it is so prevalent among the aging community.
“These are all very important topics all year long,” Sheila said. “We try to highlight national observances through community and staff education and awareness, but these are issues that we are constantly tracking and working to let our seniors know what to be mindful of when new scams start showing up because unfortunately, it’s an ongoing crime.”
On the front lines to educate and provide tools and tactics to safeguard against becoming a victim is Teresa Hazzard. She is TARCOG’s Senior Medicare Patrol coordinator.
In recent weeks, she’s been upset with herself because for the second year in a row, she’s been targeted by scam artists.

TARCOG staff participates with their hand prints for a special staff training event for World Elder Abuse Awareness.The training was called: Not On Our Watch: Recognizing Abuse, Responding with Action

Senior Center Spotlight: Martling Friendship Center

There are two important signs outside the Martling Friendship Center. One identifies the building and the other tells you about its focus.
When you open the front door, you understand why the “Quilts for Sale” sign out front is so important. The pulpit that served the Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church for years is there, surround by quilts on display.
To the left, quilts are on the exercise equipment but can easily be moved to use the treadmill and bicycles. Then to the right, a large bolt of batting is set up. And along one wall is an old church pew filled with quilt tops from people in the community waiting for the ladies at the friendship center to finish the quilts.
The quilting frame takes up a large portion of the right side of the room and stays in use daily.
“We’re more than just quilting here,” said Joyce Lambert, 81. “But we do a lot of it and enjoy it.”Read more

There’s always a Quilting Bee at the Martling Friendship Center

Employee of the Month: Ruby Banks

Ruby Banks has been named Employee of the Month for June. It’s the second time since TARCOG began the recognition program last year that she’s been honored.
She was employee of the month in May of 2024.
It’s no surprise because Ruby is one of our “go to” people at TARCOG. She keeps our operations running smoothly whether it’s a computer, phone, printer, or any other number of technical situations. She remains calm no matter the problem and always finds a resolution as quickly as possible. Read more

TARCOG IT Specialist Ruby Banks

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