280 Living June 2023

En pointe

Spain Park student chosen for summer intensive at Royal Ballet School in London

By GRACE THORNTON

How hard is it for a 15-year-old from Hoover to make it into the summer intensive training program of the Royal Ballet School in London?

“Impossible,” said Pam Sayle, owner of the Alabama Dance Academy in Hoover. That is — unless you’re Meghan Gutowski.

Gutowski, a 15-year-old freshman at Spain Park High School, will be among the select students headed to the prestigious ballet school in July for the one-month experience. Numbers for this summer were not available, but last year, 2,458 students from all over the world applied, and only 659

were accepted, a school official said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Gutowski said.

Her love of dance began at an early age.

“When I was 3, I would always dance around the house,” Gutowski said.

Her mom had never been into dance, and until that point, their family had mostly been involved with her brother’s sports.

But one day, she told her mother she wanted to dance.

“She found the closest studio and put me in a ballet class,” Gutowski said.

But it wasn’t love at first position or first plié. She didn’t like it — at all.

See GUTOWSKI | page A28

United

Way of Central Alabama celebrates 100 years of serving metro area

By GRACE THORNTON

The United Way of Central Alabama has been special to Kimberly Jackson for around 15 years now. She’s seen it change people’s lives firsthand.

“It really resonates for me in my service on several nonprofit boards

that are United Way agencies; I get to see how important United Way’s support is to those agencies and how impactful it is,” she said.

Jackson is the president of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, and she said for the past seven years, she’s seen how funds from United Way

have made a difference in the lives of Birmingham-area children and teens.

BBBS is one of more than 200 programs, services and initiatives in six central Alabama counties that are meeting community needs.

See UWCA | page A30

Colby Spangler and his mom, Kim, are rethinking guardianship for Alabamians with disabilities.

Meghan Gutowski, 15, a sophomore at Spain Park High School, runs through a ballet routine at the Alabama Academy of Dance on April 6. Gutowski is attending the Royal Ballet School in London this summer.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Montiqua Pettway, left, and Kimberly Jackson during the annual A Night of Big Stars gala. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Jackson.

Financial Tips for Turning a Side Hustle Into a Business

Turning your hobby or side hustle into a business with positive cashflow can be a rewarding experience. But without the right tools and guidance, it can be hard to get your idea off the ground.

Personally, I’ve seen a number of friends turn hobbies into money-making side hustles. As just one example, I have a friend who enjoys making jewelry.

She searches thrift stores and estate sales for broken jewelry to repurpose into one-of-a-kind pieces. At first, she did this just for herself, but now she has an online store where anyone can buy her creations. Her costs are low which makes her profit margins high, so she’s able to make money on the side while doing something she enjoys.

Regardless of your reason for starting a business, keeping your finances organized from the start will help contribute to your success. Here are some key considerations.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

As you make your plans, research everything there is to know about your industry. From doing market research to a making an analysis of your competitors, its crucial to understand the field you’re diving into. First-hand information is the most valuable, so if you know someone in the industry, ask to pick their brain over a cup of coffee. They’ll teach you more than any book.

TRACK YOUR BUSINESS INVOICES, REVENUE AND EXPENSES

Remember, this isn’t your childhood lemonade stand - you have to track expenses. Even if the financial structure of your new business is simple, there are three important pieces of information to track:

• Invoices - Set up a process to send invoices and then keep track of when payment is due and when money is received. Without a system in place, it’s easy for invoices to fall through the cracks.

• Revenue - Track how much you are getting paid. If you offer several services or products, or work with different clients, you might want to separately track the revenue from each one.

• Expenses – Monitor how much money you spend, so you know what it costs to run your business. By subtracting these expenses from your revenue, you can determine if you’re profitable.

USE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

There’s plenty of free software you can take advantage of. When you’re starting off, you don’t need to be fancy, but you do need to be organized. The right software can help. Some software can link to your financial accounts to help you categorize transactions, while others can help send invoices and track payments. From bookkeeping to invoices, budgeting and taxes, there are systems for all your financial needs.

For example, having a system that lets you send invoices directly from the software and track your payment process can be a game-changer. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose from a wide array of options.

LEARN ABOUT COMMON TAX DEDUCTIONS

Learn how tax deductions work for your business’ specific industry to help you save money come tax season. If you don’t know where to start, the IRS’s Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center can be a good place to find general information. Also, seek out industry-specific tips in forums or groups where people are doing something similar. Again, first-hand information will be the most valuable. And it’s always a great idea to use a tax professional, which can save you time and money.

SET UP YOUR SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTS

Keep your business and personal accounts separate, not just for legal reasons but for peace of mind. Things will get murky if you start co-mingling your main income with your side hustle. I recommend starting with a small business checking account where you can make and receive payments.

Another option is using a business credit card for business expenses, which can make tracking the new business’ expenses easier. With responsible use and timely payoffs, you’ll also be able to take advantage of credit card rewards.

Joe Taunton is a Market Manager for Valley Bank, based in the Meadowbrook branch off Highway 280. He has been in the banking industry for over 10 years and enjoys helping people and small businesses progress in their financial journeys.

About Us

Editor’s Note

June is here, which means we are halfway through 2023!

Even though things are slower in the summer with the kids out of school, those weeks go by fast, and there’s always something going on!

Since we went to Disney/Universal last year, we don’t have a “big” family vacation planned for this year, but I hope we get to make a couple of trips to the beach.

This month for us looks like VBS and a trip to Raleigh for our nephew’s high school graduation.

In one weekend this month, I get to see Foo Fighters in concert at Oak Mountain and a performance by Sean of the South. How fun is that?

We also get to celebrate Father’s Day for my husband and my dad

By Leah Ingram Eagle

a feature on United Way of Central Alabama celebrating its 100th year.

You can also find out details on the new event space/dog park project at Oak Mountain State Park, how you can create a Little Free Library in your neighborhood and what has contributed to the decline in crimes in Shelby County over the past several years.

on June 18.

I’m also looking forward to the Alabama Press Association awards at the end of the month to see what Starnes Media and 280 Living win this year.

Lastly, I celebrate my birthday on June 28.

Our cover story this month is

Hope you are enjoying your summer and enjoy this issue of 280 Living.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Publisher:

Community Editors:

Sports Editor: Design Editor: Photo Editor: Page Designer:

Production Assistant:

Contributing Writers:

Dan Starnes

Leah Ingram Eagle

Jon Anderson

Neal Embry

Kyle Parmley

Melanie Viering

Erin Nelson

Ted Perry

Simeon Delante

Sean Dietrich

Sarah Gilliland

Candice N. Hale

Loyd McIntosh

Alana Smith

Grace Thornton

For advertising contact: dan@starnesmedia.com

Contact Information: 280 Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnesmedia.com

Graphic Designer:

Client Success Specialist: Business Development Exec: Business Development Rep:

Operations Specialist:

Emily VanderMey

Warren Caldwell

Don Harris

Madison Gaines

Sarah Villar

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: leagle@starnesmedia.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: Starnes Publishing LLC

Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the 280 community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/ photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

Ace Hardware Dunnavant Square (A14)

Adams Homes LLC (A19)

Advanced Turf Care (A9)

America’s First Federal Credit Union (A16)

American Village (B9)

Ardent Pre-School (A9)

Bedzzz Express (B1, B16)

Bellini’s Ristorante (A18)

Birmingham Orthodontics (A1)

Birmingham Water Works Board (A19)

Birmingham Zoo (B8)

Bromberg’s (A22)

Budget Blinds (B12)

Cardinal Roofing (A25)

Children’s of Alabama (B14)

Chiropractic Today (B2)

Clark Holmes Smith Oral Facial Surgery of Alabama (A18)

Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (A10)

Compact 2020 (A20)

Cook Museum of Natural Science (B9)

Cremation Center of Birmingham (B14)

Danberry at Inverness c/o Nartak Media Group (A23)

Double Oak Mountain Animal Clinic (A12)

Fancy Fur - Paws and Claws (A14)

French Drains Pro (A16)

Gardner Landscaping (A6)

Graceful Aging and Wellness (A20)

GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico (B8)

Hearing Solutions (B5)

Hilliard Irrigation (B11)

Image Hive (A31)

Iron Tribe Fitness (A7)

Leaf Filter (B1)

Luckie’s Pinestraw (A1)

M&M Jewelers (A13)

Monark Grove at Greystone (A25)

Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (B4)

North Shelby Library (A24)

One Man & A Toolbox (A13)

Outdoor Living Areas (A31)

Overture Tributary Vestavia Greystar (A27)

Pak Mail (B4)

Parrot Structural Services LLC (A21)

Piggly Wiggly (A26)

Reed Real Estate (B9)

Renew Dermatology (A3)

Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens (B14)

Royal Automotive (B3)

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (B15)

Shelby County Schools (A17)

Shoal Creek Properties (A28)

Southeastern Jewelers and Engraving (B5)

Southern Blood Services (A22)

Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (B11)

Space Cadets (B13)

Tenet Healthcare Brookwood Baptist Health (A15)

TherapySouth Corporate (A11)

TrustMark Bank (A32)

Valley Bank (A2)

Vapor Ministries/Thrift Store (A29)

Virginia Samford Theatre (A17)

Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (B13)

We’ll Do It (A5)

Window World of Central Alabama (B2)

Please Support Our Community Partners Find Us

Pick up the latest issue of 280 Living at the following locations:

► Alabama Outdoors

► Cahaba Ridge

► Chiropractic Today

► Chelsea High School

► Chelsea Library

► Cowboy’s

► Danberry

► Edgar’s Bakery

► Edward’s Chevrolet

► Ground Up Coffee & Smoothies/

Snider’s Pharmacy

► Lloyd’s Restaurant

► Mt Laurel Library

► North Shelby Library

► Oak Mountain High School

► Spain Park High School

► St. Vincent’s 119

► Somerby at St. Vincent’s

► Winn-Dixie Chelsea

► Winn-Dixie Inverness

Want to join this list or get 280 Living mailed to your home?

Contact Dan Starnes at dan@ starnesmedia.com.

Oak Mountain’s Emma Hawkins (5) catches a fly ball in shallow center field during a game against Chelsea in the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament at Goldie Paine Field on May 3.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Jail expansion discussion, resurfacing project begins

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

A work session between the Shelby County Commission, county leaders, Sheriff John Samaniego and other officers from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was held prior to the commission meeting on April 24, regarding a potential expansion for the Shelby County Jail.

The project was originally discussed in October 2020 but has been on hold for several reasons, including the economic climate during and after the pandemic.

County Manager Chad Scroggins said the county has seen the cost of construction materials go through the roof and added that many municipalities and counties around the country are using their American Rescue Plan Act funds for these construction projects, which has driven up projected bid costs.

“What the Sheriff’s Office and our county staff have all talked about is likely the best options to achieve some growth in space,” Scroggins said. “The major needs that we have in the Sheriff’s Office are expensive, but this does buy us a significant amount of time. As far as capacity goes, it has some safety features for our professionals inside the jail, and it helps with the mental health and health needs that we have at the current jail.”

The next step will be to place the project for bid and begin construction. 280 Living will provide updates as information becomes available.

During the county manager’s report in the regular commission meeting, Scroggins noted that there has been a lot of communication back and forth with the state Legislature.

“I want to commend our legislative delegation for being very active, very proactive, and listening to our concerns,” Scroggins said. “We plan on continuing to let them know what we think about the bills and the impact they have on our county.”

County Engineer David Willingham gave an update on the highway department’s resurfacing schedule and said the contractor was set to begin work the week of May 1. Most of the work during the first month will be done during the day, but some work is planned the first of June on some of the busier routes, and the county will provide that information to the public.

Of the 28 projects total, these will take place in the 280 Living coverage area:

► Meadow Drive: East of Valleydale, just north of Spain Park High School (length 2,186 ft.)

► Shelby County 39: From Shelby County 69 north to the point just south of Chelsea Recreational Park, near Kings Home Drive (length 13,470 ft.)

► Bayhill Road, Bayhill Terrace & Bayhill Circle: In Heatherwood subdivision off Masters Lane (length 1,181 ft.)

► Shelby County 11: From just west of Chelsea High School to Shelby County 280 in Chelsea (length 10,330 ft.)

► Shelby County 41: From Hawthorn Street north to Hugh Daniel Drive (length 6,937 ft.)

► Cyrus Circle: East off Shelby County 17 (Valleydale Road) to just south of Meadow Drive (length 581 ft.)

► Shelby County 433: North off Shelby County 439 (Liberty Road to Shelby County 39 (length 2,223 ft.)

► Shelby County 437: South off Shelby County 280 to U.S. 280 (length 2,183 ft.)

project of the Shelby County Jail. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

Commission hears update on county bids, website launch

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

An update on several bids was given during the May 8 meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

One was expected that same week regarding a new water services facility in Westover at the location of the current facility, which is no longer open to the public.

“This would move all operations in house under one roof, including the engineering and field personnel,” said County Manager Chad Scroggins. “We’ve been scattered and have been divided for years and think this is a better management structure to make sure everybody’s together.”

This was already a budgeted expenditure for fiscal 2023.

Also, the county plans to open bids for the jail expansion project on July 13. Scroggins said the commission is hoping for good numbers on that project.

The commission approved the purchase of a 14-passenger van for the Heardmont Senior Center. It is one of the senior centers that is not supported by a municipality, and the county works to step in and assist those facilities.

The county’s website, shelbyal.com, unveiled a new look on May 9, and the Discover Shelby tourism site went live at discovershelby.com later in May.

“They did a really good job with the way it looks,” Scroggins said. “It looks a lot fresher and less governmental, and it should serve our residents well.”

Also during the county manager’s report, Scroggins mentioned:

► The legislative session continues to be a busy one. The county is watching legislation including the grocery tax bill and simplified sellers use tax that could have an impact on the county’s budget, especially on the revenue side. “We appreciate our legislative delegation,” Scroggins said. “They’ve worked really hard, and they listen to us when we have concerns. We are very

thankful for the work they’re doing right now.”

► The budget process for fiscal 2024 has begun.

► Steve Ammons was named as a new director for the Birmingham Business Alliance in May, after resigning from the Jefferson County Commission to serve in this role. “Steve has been in that realm, and he certainly

knows the players in the Birmingham region,” Scroggins said. “Kevin [Morris] and I both serve on the BBA board, and I think this is a good move because we have someone local who understands the partners and players and understands how to communicate with them. I think Steve will do a great job leading, and that’s a good thing for our region.”

► Commissioner Robbie Hayes was recently inducted into the Chelsea High School Hall of Fame, and Commissioner Kevin Morris recently received his MBA from the University of Montevallo.

► The environmental committee was set to meet in May to discuss landfill rates, which have not been adjusted since 2009.

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Commissioners Kevn Morris and Rick Shepherd during a discussion at the May 8 Shelby County Commission meeting.

Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports property crimes trending down

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office saw a decrease in burglary, felony theft and unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle incidents in 2022 when compared to their seven-year averages.

Sheriff John Samaniego said the positive results are from the hard work of the men and women at the sheriff’s office.

“I’m very proud of these men and women for the job they do every day,” he said.

The numbers have been trending down over the past decade and Samaniego said the downturn has been significant.

Chief Deputy Clay Hammac said this decrease is also due to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office’s partnership with the community. Through speaking to homeowner’s associations on how they can be more vigilant in helping with the fight against property crimes, and utilizing campaigns through social media and other platforms, they encourage residents to be more vigilant and report things they see that are out of the ordinary.

“One of more significant property crimes we’ve faced over the last 10 years are car burglaries and unlawful breaking and entering of vehicles,” Hammac said. “That’s so significant to us because many of those are not forced entry. They are looking for unlocked cars and easy targets. Lots of folks have firearms in their vehicles, and when they leave it unsecured in a vehicle, it ends up in the hands of a criminal.”

Another reason for the decline is thanks to Crime Intelligence Analyst Anna Shinbaum. She is a civilian employee with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office who works at the Metro Area Crime Center using historical crime trends to create patterns and help the department with predictive analytics.

Hammac said that Shinbaum has proven to be an invaluable partner to the department and described her as one of the heroes behind the scenes.

“We have employed more of an intelligence-led strategy of policing,” Hammac said. “We have [Shinbaum] to look at our evolving crime trends and evolving statistical data of crime reporting, and that allows us to be more strategically focused on those areas that require greater visibility and attention.”

Hammac said one of the things the department tries to do is make Shelby County as uncomfortable as possible for would-be criminals. County leaders and municipal leaders partner with law enforcement in leveraging intelligence, he said, such as installing flock cameras (that can identify cars and read license plates) at major thoroughfares, roadways, parks and other spots.

“All of the municipalities have 20 to 50 cameras in their cities, and all of this is in one database,” Hammac said. “We can login and see what’s going on when any major event happens.”

Shinbaum said that the main focus of the Metro Area Crime Center is to acknowledge crime doesn’t have jurisdictional boundaries and the same offenders that commit crimes in one agency’s jurisdiction are probably committing crimes in other

One of more significant property crimes we’ve faced over the last 10 years are car burglaries and unlawful breaking and entering of vehicles. That’s so significant to us because many of those are not forced entry. They are looking for unlocked cars and easy targets. Lots of folks have firearms in their vehicles, and when they leave it unsecured in a vehicle, it ends up in the hands of a criminal.

areas’ jurisdiction. Her work at the Crime Center is focused on crime data in Shelby County.

Other factors in the decreased crimes, according to Shinbaum, could include prolific offenders being in jail, crime could be

displaced (meaning it’s not happening in the same area), environmental causes such as lighting and cameras, and changes in the laws, including a misdemeanor theft category that has been added.

The data shared is specific to

felony crimes:

► Burglaries have decreased 18.6% from last year. The rates are down 26.3% when compared to 2020, and down 48.5% when compared to 2019. There were 109 burglaries reported in Shelby County

last year, which is 30.6% below the normal range.

► Thefts have decreased 15.2% from last year. They are down 6.2% when compared to 2020, and down 25.8% when compared to 2019.

There were 347 thefts reported last year, 1.8% below the normal range.

► Unlawful breaking and entering of vehicles (UBEVs) have decreased 31.2% from last year. They are down 10.2% when compared to 2020, and down 39.8% when compared to 2019.

There were 101 UBEVs reported in 2022, 23.1% below the normal range.

“We are looking for patterns so we can identify common offenders and look for ways we can help strategies to keep crime down,” Shinbaum said. “But ultimately we are sharing information so that detectives from different agencies can solve crimes and get their victims justice.”

Photo courtesy of Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

“

CHIEF DEPUTY CLAY HAMMAC

The Chelsea City Council on May 17 approved funds for a video board for Chelsea High School.

Next steps in Chelsea High School Master Plan discussed, city approves funding for videoboard

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer in May discussed several parts of a master plan for Chelsea High School with the City Council and said he plans to request a meeting with the Shelby County Board of Education to discuss paying for the projects.

The city is willing to pay:

► Seventy percent of the total cost of a competition gym and multipurpose facility, with a maximum of $13 million

► Up to $2.5 million for a locker room expansion

► Up to $2 million for stadium seating and a press box (The bid came in at $1.6 million

for seating, leaving $400,000 for concrete, electrical work and other items.)

► Up to $180,000 for a hitting facility for the Lady Hornets softball team (the bid came in at $174,000)

► $318,789 for a Daktronics video board

Picklesimer said he had received some emails that were not in favor of the city paying $318,789 for the board, but he said he received many more emails urging the council to approve it, and the council voted to do so.

“When you go out and raise $100,000 of your own money, it speaks volumes to us as a council,” Picklesimer said. The city of Chelsea is asking the Shelby County Board of

Education to pay for design and architect fees.

Shane Buchanan, husband of the volleyball booster club president, gave a presentation to the council during its work session about the team and its accomplishments and asked the council for funds to purchase an additional four sets of jerseys totaling $6,681.

In other business, the City Council:

► Approved a request from David Brogdon of Tall Timbers to rezone 40 acres off Shelby County 11 from a rural residential district to a planned mixed-use district.

► Approved an application for streetscape improvements on Chesser Drive.

► Closed a bank account for a completed utility improvement project.

Upcoming Dates

► May 22: Planning Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

► May 29: City Hall closed for Memorial Day

► June 2 and 16: City council meetings, 6 p.m.

► June 1-July 31: Summer reading at Chelsea Library

► July 1: The Big Kaboom. For more information, go to chelseafest.com

Photo by Todd Lester.

Destination Hoover International awards $4,000 in scholarships

By JON ANDERSON

Destination Hoover International, a nonprofit that seeks to foster cultural exchange and relationships between Hoover and other countries, recently gave out $2,000 scholarships to students from Hoover and Spain Park high schools.

This year’s scholarship winners are Nena Kimble from Hoover High and Sydney Broderick from Spain Park High.

Kimble, an 18-year-old resident of the Lake Cyrus community, plans to attend Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and major in linguistics. She said she wants to help educators develop programs for children — elementary or younger — to learn other languages.

“Language has the power to bring the world together, and I want to help realize that reality,” she said.

Kimble has been part of the International Baccalaureate program at Hoover High as well as the Hoover Juniorettes service club, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Hoover High Model UN and PEACE Birmingham, a group that seeks to unite African American and Jewish young people. She also has tutored a third grade student at Deer Valley Elementary this year and volunteered at the 2022 World Games. She is the daughter of Lisa Kimble.

Broderick, an 18-year-old resident of the Kirkman Preserve community, plans to attend Mississippi State University and have a double major in Spanish and international business. She said she would like to take language and business skills abroad and bring what she learns back to the Hoover community.

She said she already has been given the opportunity to learn more about different cultures in the Birmingham metro area. She works at Slice Pizza in Vestavia Hills, where she said the kitchen staff is made up primarily of people with Hispanic or Latino heritage, and they have shared authentic Hispanic food

and Latin-American music with her.

Broderick served as vice president of her senior class and president of the DECA Club (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America) at Spain Park and was in the Hoover Belles service organization, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Business Honor Society and Math Honor Society.

WE’RE LEAVING A INVESTING IN THE FUTURE, ONE LEGACY AT A TIME

Dora and Sanjay Singh understand investing. That’s why their estate plan includes a gift to the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

By focusing on education and cultural opportunities, Dora and Sanjay believe their gift will make Birmingham a more inclusive home for people from all over the world and build bridges to a better future for generations to come.

Sanjay says, “We trust the Community Foundation to manage our legacy gift because they have the experience, history and collaborative spirit to drive the transformational change we envision for Birmingham.”

Visit cfbham.org/legacy and learn how you can join Dora and Sanjay in creating a lasting legacy for our community.

She took five years of Spanish, including one year at Berry Middle School. She is the daughter of Randy and Maria Broderick.

The scholarships from Destination Hoover International were made possible by donations from Jubilee Joe’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant, which provides 5% of the proceeds from its annual Crawfish Festival to

DHI.

Since 2018, DHI has been able to give out more than $15,000 in scholarships by partnering with Jubilee Joe’s, said Shelley Shaw, president of the group.

Kash Siddiqui, owner of Jubilee Joe’s, said investing in student scholarships is a great way to give back to the community.

The Destination Hoover International nonprofit awards scholarships to Hoover High's Nena Kimble and Spain Park High's Sydney Broderick at Jubilee Joe's Cajun Seafood Restaurant in Hoover. From left are DHI board member Steve McClinton, DHI President Shelley Shaw, DHI board member Carolyn Turner, Nena Kimble, Sydney Broderick, DHI board member Mike Shaw, Jubilee Joe's owner Kash Siddiqui and his son, Zain. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Do you have ongoing pain that gets in the way of your favorite activities? Come see us! You do not need a referral to make an appointment with a physical therapist. Our team will perform an initial assessment and communicate with your healthcare team to get a referral if further medical treatment is needed. Additionally, our clinics offer a variety of wellness services that can reduce pain and improve mobility.

Carmen struggled with back pain for most of her life and received pain block injections every six months to manage her pain before she was referred to TherapySouth Greystone for physical therapy. As part of her treatment plan, Carmen was introduced to functional dry needling which gave her complete relief and eliminated her symptoms. Now, Carmen comes to the clinic biweekly to see her therapist Beth for dry needling. This allows her to stay active with her three kids and be a competitive tennis player in the community.

I can stay ahead of the pain. Even when I experience an injury while playing, I can come into the clinic the next day for dry needling. The best part is not having to depend on medication like I was for so many years. Beth takes time with me and treats my pain comprehensively. I even referred my husband to come in for dry needling after he had struggled with tendonitis and now he has been pain free for a year!

www.therapysouth.com

Beth Douglass, PT, DPT, with her patient, Carmen Ryals, Mom and Tennis Player

PET URGENT CARE NOW AVAILABLE ON HWY 280 EVERY

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Business Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

Steve Estress, Jeremy Hale and Brian Skelton have opened a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation and maintenance company called Air Experts at 7154 Cahaba Valley Road. 205-977-1642, theairexperts.net

Shoe Station is now open in Brook Highland Plaza on U.S. 280. Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Shoe Station stores can be found throughout five Southern states and online at shoestation.com for shipping all across the U.S. shoestation.com/birmingham

COMING SOON

A new car wash called The Car Wash Guys is under construction on Valleydale Road between Taco Bell and the former Rite Aid Pharmacy near the intersection of Valleydale Road and Caldwell Mill Road.

Being a pet parent can be stressful, especially when your pet gets sick or injured on the weekend. Thankfully, the team at Double Oak Mountain Animal Hospital is here to help with new Urgent Care options every Saturday and Sunday from noon all the way until 10 PM.

What is pet urgent care?

Your pet can receive the treatment they need when they need itno need to wait until Monday or seek Emergency Care services for non-critical symptoms. Often, Urgent Care services are less costly than Emergency Care, offering a more affordable and convenient weekend alternative for you and your pet.

Get expert care from veterinarians you can trust.

The staff at Double Oak Mountain work hard to create a comfortable and compassionate environment for you and your furry friends. Their Urgent Care option provides prompt access to top-quality outpatient veterinary care at a convenient location right on Highway 280. Drs. Vargas, Douglas, and Miller bring years of experience and care to the Birmingham area along with the rest of their team of dedicated professionals.

In addition to Urgent Care, Double Oak Mountain Animal Hospital also provides wellness exams, Emergency Care, ultrasounds, dental cleanings, and spay/neuter services. They have served the community for well over two decades, always striving to serve, love, and care for pets and their owners.

Saturday & Sunday 12pm-10pm General Practice Hours

Monday-Friday: 7am-6pm | Saturday: 7am-12pm

Baba Java Coffee at 4730 Chace Circle #124 is opening a second Hoover location off Alabama 119 across from Taco Mama and Edgar’s Bakery. The new shop is expected to open this fall and will serve a full coffee menu, plus gelato pops and gelato shakes, the company said. 205-777-5984, babajavacoffee.com

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

The Ted Townley State Farm agency recently located from Homewood to Inverness Corners in the Winn-Dixie shopping center. Office hours are Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205-870-8696, statefarm.com/agent/ us/al/birmingham/ted-townley

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Abby Welborn as a front desk ambassador. She is a senior at Central Alabama Community College and plans to graduate in December with an associate’s degree and pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She also works as a nurse assistant in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s of Alabama hospital. 205-903-8154, burnbootcamp.com/ locations/meadowbrook-al

Ian Chwatuk, Melody Kokiousis and Susan Alexander recently joined EXIT Realty Cahaba.

205-848-2228, exitrealtycahaba.com

ANNIVERSARIES

DSLD AquaScapes recently celebrated its fourth anniversary. The AquaScapes division of DSLD Land Management is a water garden retail center offering pool supplies and includes pond & fountain resources.

205-437-1012, dsldland.com/ water-gardens

The Chelsea location of Buffalo Wild Wings celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. The casual dining restaurant and sports bar specializes in Buffalo wings and sauces.

205-677-9058, buffalowildwings.com

Ace Hardware is celebrating its second anniversary at the Dunnavant Valley location off Shelby County 41.

205-980-7221, acehardware.com

Five Guys recently celebrated its first anniversary at the location in the Cahaba Market shopping center. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with delivery ending at 9:30 p.m.

205-407-4301, fiveguys.com

Besitos Mexican Kitchen is celebrating its one-year anniversary. It serves a combination of authentic Mexican dishes and Tex-Mex classics.

5490 US-280 East, Birmingham, 35242 (205) 991-5446

Dr. Bruce Irwin, who founded American Family Care as a single urgent care clinic at 1680 Montgomery Highway in Hoover in 1982, died April 14 at the age of 73 after a sudden illness. Irwin expanded his single Hoover clinic to dozens of other locations statewide and in 2013 launched its franchise model when the company acquired and rebranded a national urgent care franchise called Doctor’s Express. Today, the American Family Care health care network encompasses more than 300 locations across 30 states. The company headquarters is at 3700 Cahaba Beach Road, and there is a clinic at 5410 U.S. 280. 205-403-8902, afcurgentcare.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

Burn Boot Camp’s Meadow Brook location at 1801 Doug Baker Blvd. has hired

205-326-7248, facebook.com/ besitosmexicankitchen

BenchMark Physical Therapy is celebrating its one-year anniversary at the Valleydale Road location. BenchMark offers outpatient physical therapy options including manual therapy, injury prevention, return-to-performance therapy, total joint replacement, concussion management and vestibular rehabilitation programs. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

205-905-6922, benchmarkpt.com

The Lee Branch location of Express MRI is celebrating its three-year anniversary. It offers $499 all-inclusive MRIs with no doctor referral required and exam results within 24 hours.

205-834-8118, expressmri.com

Business new to share? If you have news to share with the community about a brick-and-mortar business, let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings

Birmingham Recovery Center offers telehealth with virtual drug testing

By JON ANDERSON

The Birmingham Recovery Center, an outpatient alcohol and drug treatment center in Hoover’s International Park, this year started offering telehealth services to help people who live farther away get treatment.

Officials there say they believe their center is the only one in Alabama that offers drug testing virtually as part of the treatment process.

The Birmingham Recovery Center utilizes a smartphone app called clearMINDnow, which uses saliva testing kits to determine if a person is using illicit substances during the treatment process.

Telehealth clients download the clearMINDnow app on their smartphone and are sent drug testing kits that are about the size of a pack of cigarettes, said Ian Henyon, executive director for the Birmingham Recovery Center.

Clients are tested at random times five times per month, Henyon said. They are sent messages on their phone and given six hours to complete the virtual testing process.

For each test, the client must do a live video of themselves opening a sealed testing kit and putting a large cotton swab in their mouth to gather saliva samples and immediately put the swab into the testing kit, Henyon said. A person is reviewing the video live to make sure the test is conducted properly, he said. Results are sent electronically to both the client and staff at the Birmingham Recovery Center within a few hours, he said.

If a person fails the test, they are asked to come in for a urine screen that is sent to a lab for analysis, Henyon said.

As of late April, only one client who completed a virtual saliva test failed the test, and that was because the client was taking a prescription drug that the Birmingham Recovery Center did not have in its records, Henyon said.

Henyon, who has been working in drug

treatment for 16 years, said most people do not use illicit substances while in treatment, but there is a small percentage who do.

“Being able to use remote testing, where we can monitor our clients for use and make sure he or she is staying on the recovery track, is vital,” Henyon said. “We have to hold clients accountable, and by coupling the virtual testing process with telehealth, we are able to do just that.”

The telehealth option is available only for people who live more than 30 miles from the treatment center or have a medical condition that impedes travel, Henyon said.

For now, the Birmingham Recovery Center is capping the number of telehealth clients at 10, and as of late April six people are using the service, he said. Clients are asked to commit about three months to the telehealth program.

In addition to the drug testing, the telehealth program utilizes Zoom for three group therapy

sessions per week, plus a one-on-one meeting each week between the client and a therapist.

Henyon said he believes in-person therapy and treatment is better than teletherapy, but teletherapy is certainly better than no treatment at all.

And people who live far away from treatment centers are going without treatment too often, he said. It’s not realistic to ask people to drive two hours three times a week for treatment, he said.

Colin Harris, managing director of the Birmingham Recovery Center, said the whole idea with teletherapy is to make treatment more accessible. “By offering telehealth options, we can help more and more people get on the road to recovery — and be successful,” Harris said.

The cost for telehealth is the same as in-person treatment: $3,600 a month, Henyon said. Health insurance plans often cover in-person

treatment but sometimes do not cover telehealth, he said.

People who are interested in the telehealth program will undergo a 15-to-20-minute phone assessment and medical screening to determine if the program is a good fit.

Since opening its 7,500-square-foot facility at the end of June 2021, the Birmingham Recovery Center has treated probably close to 1,000 people, Henyon said.

“The demand is much higher than we anticipated,” he said. “We quickly have run out of space at this building.”

To find out more about the Birmingham Recovery Center or its telehealth options, call 205-813-7400 or visit birminghamrecovery center.com.

An example of the digital saliva drug testing device used by clearMINDnow. Photos courtesy of Direct Communications.

A gift store that gives back

King’s Home opens King’s Home Collections to support mission, provide jobs

By CANDICE N. HALE

Lew Burdette, the president of King’s Home, recently opened a new gift shop in the Chelsea Corners Shopping Center.

King’s Home Collections features refurbished furniture crafted by the ladies of King’s Home along with upscale gifts, with the sales supporting women, children and youth from Shelby County who come to the King’s Home campus to escape domestic violence and homelessness.

“Home’s Collections is not a thrift store, but an upscale and unique gift shop with price points ranging from $10 to $900,” Burdette said.

Located in an 1,100-square-foot space next to the Chelsea Winn-Dixie, King’s Home Collections showcases different, refurbished furniture like desks, dressers, bed sets and living room pieces.

There is a garden area that highlights the horticulture program from King’s Home, along with birdhouses, fresh eggs, vases, decorative stakes for potted soil and laser engraving for plant pots and planters.

The store also features products from Prodigal Pottery, which are handmade and created by 12 women at King’s Home, and a naturals program that includes candles (in mugs) and handmade jewelry from Wellhouse, a safe haven for victims of human trafficking, and Thistle Farms merchandise including body products, lotions and candles.

Money made from each purchase at King’s Home Collections is put right back into the campus’s residents, including through its jobs and retail programs.

“My wife, Suzie, had the great idea for the storefront and refurbishing idea,” Burdette said. “She has restored and painted furniture throughout the years. She designed the store, worked countless hours showing the mothers how to refurbish and restore

and provided leadership to get it off the ground.”

Suzie Burdette instituted a jobs program at King’s Home Collections where three mothers work in the woodshop restoring and refinishing furniture donated at the King’s Home thrift store locations in Eastwood, Pinson and Hanceville.

In the youth retail program, there are three teenagers working in the store learning the basic retail services and skills.

“Our garden program director teaches our youth how to handle workplace safety on one major item once a month like pallet crosses, furniture refurbishing, fresh eggs or other life lessons,” Lew Burdette said.

The furniture at King’s Home Collections will be updated and restocked every day. As soon as a piece is sold, another piece is brought in. The store has pieces staged daily, and the employees are always ready to work on another project.

Since their grand opening in April, the business has done well, and the community has shown a great response.

“As we develop more pieces, I know our moms will learn more and more,” Burdette said.

King’s Home Collections hopes to reach a yearly goal of $150,000 in sales or even exceed that to keep the jobs program going. They want people to support King’s Home and to provide customers with great products.

“They need to come and see the store for an in-person tour — a great, upscale and trendy gift shop for everybody. All kinds of things — a large variety of gifts — people aren’t expecting to see. Remember, every purchase helps others,” Burdette said.

The King’s Collections is now open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 110 Chelsea Corners Way. For more information, visit their Facebook page: “King’s Home Collections.”

A shopper looks at items inside the King’s Home Collection store during their grand opening April 14. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

Emmy Squared Pizza to open at Summit

By SARAH GILLILAND

A new food offering will soon be available at The Summit.

Emmy Squared Pizza, an “elevated, casual food concept” from the Pizza Loves Emily family of restaurants, plans to open its first location in Alabama soon.

According to its website, Emmy Squared Pizza is an “award-winning neighborhood pizza and burger restaurant.” Its Birmingham location will offer classic menu items, including Le Matt Burger, Detroit-style pizzas, salads, appetizers and alcoholic beverages.

Founded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 2016, the restaurant quickly gained a cult following and critical acclaim. The restaurant was founded by Emily Hyland and executive chef Matthew Hyland, with partners Howard Greenstone and Ken Levitan.

Over the last six years, the brand has expanded to 21 locations across the U.S., earning accolades such as winning Nashville’s Battle of the Burger and being named “The Best New Burgers in NYC” by New Yorkbased website Gothamist.

“We are thrilled to open Emmy Squared’s first location in Alabama this spring,” said Marketing Manager Keysha Cosme. “We’ve spent time in Birmingham and always enjoyed the warm friendliness and community in this vibrant city. Birmingham is home to a delicious and thriving food scene, and we are excited to introduce Emmy Squared and our delicious offerings. In the past few months, we have also seen an increased demand for Emmy Squared in various cities throughout the U.S., Birmingham being one of them.”

Cosme said Emmy Squared is a “neighborhood restaurant serving delicious, elevated food in a casual, welcoming environment.”

Each of the Emmy Squared locations’ designs is inspired by the local community in which it resides, while offering a consistent dining experience, she said.

“We strive to provide guests with amazing

food, using high-quality artisanal and locally sourced ingredients paired with warm and personal service,” she said.

Cosme said those ingredients, the artisanal and unique toppings and the signature Detroitstyle pizza marked by its square shape, crispy bottom, fluffy dough, cheesy "frico" crust and signature sauce stripes set Emmy Squared apart.

Cosme said the company is committed to

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contributing to the community through job opportunities, supporting local charities and offering a fun and friendly environment to enjoy great food and drinks with friends and family.

In addition to the restaurant space, Emmy Squared Pizza will offer event space and “party packs” that include a choice of appetizers, salads, pizza and/or sandwiches. These packs can serve 8-10 people or 18-20 people

and the menu offerings will vary by location. The restaurant offers catering, reserved seating for large parties and a kids’ makeyour-own pizza party. Event space and offerings will also vary by location.

Emmy Squared Pizza will be located in the section of The Summit near Trader Joe’s and Barnes & Noble at 214 Summit Blvd. For more information, visit emmysquared pizza.com.

A variety of Detroit-style pizzas on the menu at Emmy Squared Pizza, an “elevated, casual food concept” from the Pizza Loves Emily family of restaurants. Emmy Squared Pizza is opening its first location in Alabama at The Summit this spring. Photo courtesy of Emmy Squared Pizza.

Card and gaming store opens in Greystone

By LOYD MCINTOSH

On a Saturday at the end of April, Jeff Lentz was busy getting things in order at his new shop, Yellowhammer Cards & Gaming.

Boxes of sports, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards were scattered about on the floor, while autographed and framed athletic jerseys leaned against the wall waiting to be hung and a vintage NFL Blitz video game stood ready for a player to press “play.”

The official opening of the store was still a week away, and the bright Yellowhammer sign was already attracting attention. On that Saturday, a young girl and her mother peered in the window to see if the store was open. Lentz allowed them in and spent 10 minutes or so talking about Yu-Gi-Oh and what they can expect once the shop opens, before sending them off with some free merchandise and huge smiles.

Clearly, Lentz was having the time of his life and couldn’t wait until his store was ready to meet the public.

“We have a lot of people already walking in, and we’re not even open yet,” Lentz said in April. “The sign has only been up for two weeks, and there’s been a lot of activity.”

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Lentz grew up playing football in the area and was once coached by professional wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes. Lentz moved to Wilsonville with his parents before moving to Chelsea with his family, where he coaches youth basketball and his son plays football.

Lentz spent a dozen years in the automobile business, selling cars for Benton Nissan, until the

coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. An avid sports card collector and trader since childhood, Lentz’s hobby turned into a side hustle and, before long, he decided the time was right to turn his passion into a business.

“I’ve been doing it as a hobby just having fun,” Lentz said. “Once COVID hit, I thought, ‘I do this anyway; I may as well not work anymore.’ Once they shut down our work, I didn’t go back and hopefully will not.”

Yellowhammer Cards & Gaming, situated on U.S. 280 between Hunan Cuisine and A’more Ristorante Italiano, takes up two units in the twostory strip mall on the edge of Double Oak Mountain.

Lentz’s vision has become reality.

For instance, a large, sectional sofa is already in place facing a big-screen

television for showing important sporting events. Lentz wants the shop to be a place for dads and sons, mothers and daughters to spend some time browsing, playing Pokemon games and watching a ball game.

“I wanted it to be more of like a hangout instead of the typical shop, where you walk in and there’s stuff everywhere and you have one little alley to walk and feel bad if you don’t buy anything,” Lentz said.

At its core, Yellowhammer Cards & Gaming is a shop for sports card enthusiasts of all ages. Around the store, Lentz has boxes upon boxes of cards featuring star and upcoming athletes representing every sport imaginable, from the more familiar leagues like the NBA, Major League Baseball and the NFL, to leagues and organizations rising in popularity like Formula 1, Ultimate Fighting

Championship and the English Premier League.

But it’s not just sports cards that are popular right now. In 2023, cards featuring Disney characters are hot, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the entertainment giant.

Lentz is also ensuring that every level of enthusiast can find something within their budget, from dollar packs for kids looking to spend their allowance money to the serious collector who may drop several thousand bucks on a single card and considers the hobby an investment.

“If you invested in Pokemon when it first came out or the Michael Jordan Fleer 1987 card, it outpaces the stock market,” Lentz said. For example,

YouTube star Logan Paul paid more than $5 million for a Pokemon Pikachu Illustrator card in 2022.

While this is an extreme example, part of the allure of collecting cards is the chance that you may just possess a diamond in the rough. Lentz said one of the services Yellowhammer Cards & Gaming will provide is appraising cards and memorabilia and, if an item has significant value, either buy it or put it up for sale.

“There are probably 100 people within a mile from here that have a fortune sitting in their attic and don’t even know it,” Lentz said. “Bring it in.”

Yellowhammer Cards & Gaming opened at 5510 U.S. 280 in May.

Above: Yellowhammer Cards and Gaming is a new trading cards and game store at the Greystone Centre on U.S. 280. Right: Asher Walsh, 13, looks through a box of trading cards with his dad Chris. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Colby’s Act: Rethinking guardianship for Alabamians with disabilities

By CANDICE N. HALE

Oak Mountain High School graduate Colby Spangler, 24, cannot answer why he was born with cerebral palsy, but he can tell people that his voice and ideas are important.

More specifically, Colby and other people with disabilities across the state have not seen a modern update on the laws on guardianships and conservatorships since the 1980s. That is, until the work of Colby and his mother, Kim Spangler.

During a seniors’ banquet ceremony for the OMHS band, when students acknowledged their college choices, Colby, then a freshman, asked his parents, “Where am I going to college?” They decided to investigate his options to make an informed decision.

His mother learned that Colby’s individualized education program (IEP) levels had to reach certain criteria to determine if Colby could even go to college. It also brought up the school-to-guardian pipeline discussion from school officials, telling his parents to become his legal guardians.

However, once Colby started applying to colleges, the programs either required or preferred that college students remained their own guardians. This led to the Spangler family’s decision to let Colby become his own guardian when he turned 19 years old.

During Colby’s high school years, Kim Spangler advocated for her son’s disability rights and for a supported decision-making agreement bill, which she said would change the lives of Alabamians with disabilities.

“A lot of people are not aware that you are signing over a lot of rights [with guardianship] — like the rights to vote, marry, where to live or who to live with,” Kim Spangler said. “Also,

you maintain so much control over someone else’s life, and then you may decide you don’t want to anymore. Most importantly, when the original guardian passes away, there is often a downward spiral in a person’s life.”

Supported decision-making (SDM) is a substitute to guardianship and conservatorship. In 2022, Colby’s mother introduced the Colby’s Act bill, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), into legislation.

The Colby Act defines SDM as: “The process

of supporting and accommodating an adult in the decision-making process without impeding the self-determination of the adult. This term includes assistance in making, communicating, and effectuating life decisions.”

Colby understands the importance of the bill passing in the state Legislature not only for his own life, but also for the lives of others like him.

“It will help me live a full life — to vote, to marry and to go to church,” he said. “It will

help people with disabilities to live their own lives and speak for themselves.”

In April, Colby’s Act passed unanimously and is now waiting for Governor Kay Ivey to sign the bill into law.

“I can choose for myself. I don’t need a guardian,” Colby said.

Colby is able to lead a full life just like anyone else. He currently lives in a basement apartment on his own, attends Highlands College and commutes to his job at Publix.

Kim loves that Colby now functions as his own guardian, but it also couldn’t happen without the support of the community and the awareness they pushed for his disability and rights. Colby even has his own “Dream Team” — his support team that consists of nine other people, including his parents, experts and mutual friends.

“When we increase Alabamians with disabilities’ support and awareness from inclusion to belonging, then they won’t have to live such isolated lives like they have had to in the past,” Kim said.

Colby Spangler carries groceries for Julie Senter as they walk to her vehicle at Publix at The Village at Lee Branch. Colby’s Act was recently passed by the state Legislature to honor the rights of individuals with disabilities to speak for themselves and make their own decisions. Photo by Erin Nelson.

It will help me live a full life — to vote, to marry and to go to church. It will help people with disabilities to live their own lives and speak for themselves.

COLBY SPANGLER

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Friday, June 9th

Homewood Central Park, 11a-1p

Friday, June 16th

Alabama Farmers Market, 11a-1p

Friday, June 23rd

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Friday, July 7th

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Yellow Leaf Farms

NEWEST COMMUNITY IN THE CHELSEA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Yellow Leaf Farms is our newest community in the Chelsea School District. Very quiet neighborhood that sits on wooded homesites. Just 2.5 miles from the 280 corridor. Close to dining, entertainment, shopping, and Grandview Medical Center.

Directions to the Adams Home community of Yellow Leaf Farms: Starting from the Landmark Clock Tower in front of Chelsea Park community, go East 1.4 miles on Hwy 280 toward Westover, turn right on Hwy 51, follow 2.5 miles to Yellow Leaf Farms.

Featuring single level four-side brick homes, stay tuned for more information on this upcoming community!

enjoy fresh fruit-infused water and learn how to infuse your own as we Hydrate the City!

Little Free Library inspires local resident to build her own

By GRACE THORNTON

Last summer, when Kim Carter was an aide at Inverness Elementary School, she got inspired with a new dream.

A teacher read a story to the kids about someone who collected discarded books and made them available for people to read. The teacher also told them about the concept of the Little Free Library, an organization that encourages people to build small boxes in their yard to hold books that their neighbors can take, borrow or swap.

“It really inspired me,” Carter said. “I came home, and my husband and I built ours. It’s not pretty at all, and a year later it’s kind of falling apart. But the neighbors love it, and they bring books as well as take them.”

Little Free Libraries have been popping up all over in recent years. The first one was built in 2009, when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, got the idea to use an old wooden door to make a tiny, schoolhouse-shaped library in his yard as a tribute to his mom, who was a teacher.

Since then, more than 150,000 people across all 50 states and 120 countries have built their own and registered them with the Little Free Library organization.

And according to the Little Free Library app, dozens of those are in the Birmingham area, including Carter’s, which is in the Broken Bow neighborhood off Alabama 119.

“I’ve watched as my neighborhood has used and loved it,” she said. “It’s a great little program everyone should be a part of.”

To start a Little Free Library, there are a range of different options. An easy way to get started is to buy a kit or prebuilt library from the organization’s website, where a number of size, shape and color options are available. Many Little Free Libraries are built on posts, but a kit is also available for a bench that combines with the library and doesn’t require any digging.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can design and build it yourself in whatever shape you

want. You can also build from blueprints available online. The Little Free Library website has links to blueprints and tutorial videos on library shapes ranging from a covered bridge to a fullsize TARDIS from “Doctor Who.” The site also has ideas for how to build a library on a budget.

There are no stipulations for how your library has to be displayed — the organization just requests that it be accessible to the public all the time.

“Books being available all the time is just the best,” Carter said.

Celebrating Fathers in June

She said after seeing how her neighborhood has responded to her library, she wants to pass it on to other neighborhoods that might not have one.

According to the Little Free Library organization, it’s possible for someone to steward a library that’s not in his or her own yard as long as the steward has the permission of the property owner or the city, if it’s on public property, such as in a park.

For more information, go to their website at littlefreelibrary.org.

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I’ve watched as my neighborhood has used and loved it. It’s a great little program everyone should be a part of. KIM CARTER

Summer reading programs kick off at local libraries

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

Local libraries are gearing up for the return of their summer reading programs.

At the North Shelby Library and Mt Laurel Library, the theme will be All Together Now. Youth services librarian Vanessa Warner said that sums up how the library employees feel about spending the summer with their patrons.

“We have planned many fun activities for children, teens and adults,” Warner said. “In addition, the North Shelby Library’s Children’s Department is back in its original location with an exciting new look, and we can’t wait to have our kids and their families enjoy it this summer.”

The Mt Laurel Library will kick off summer reading with cupcakes, slushies, crafts and more on Friday, June 2, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The North Shelby Library’s summer reading kickoff will be on Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m. It will feature Hoop for Fitness at the library.

Several favorite performers are returning this summer, including Animal Tales, Lee Bryan (“That Puppet Guy”), Mr. Larry the Magician and more. The annual LEGO competition will return to in-person judging. There will be crafts, STEM programs, story times, video game tournaments, obstacle courses, painting, food and more.

Now that the children’s department at the North Shelby Library is back in its original area, larger programs at the library will be held in the first floor meeting room. The teen department is holding a Super Smash Tournament Series that will take place throughout the summer. All of the information can be found on the library’s calendar.

In addition to the programming, summer reading participants will be able to log their reading and activities through the libraries’ online logging program, READsquared. There will be a program for children (birth through fifth grade), teens (sixth through 12th grade) and adults (ages 18 and older).

“Children participating in the online reading program will log reading and activities to work toward a personal point goal and earn brag tags along the way. In addition, all the points they earn will contribute to a cumulative goal that will allow the libraries to host the second annual Mega Ice Cream Party at each location,” Warner said.

Participating teens will work toward a cumulative point goal in order to earn a Sugar Rush Party just for teens, and participating adults will earn chances to win prizes.

“Summer reading programs are crucial

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to supporting the literacy and enrichment of our community,” Warner said. “North Shelby Library and Mt Laurel Library would not be able to make these programs possible without the support of our many sponsors, such as Indian Springs Village, The Friends of the North Shelby Library, The Friends of the Mt Laurel Library and so many more.”

CHELSEA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Amy Mayfield was recently hired as the new children’s services librarian at the Chelsea Public Library. She said this year’s summer

reading will feature a superhero theme: Reading is My Superpower.

Mayfield said there will be plenty of reading and prizes this summer, along with lots of fun programming. At the Chelsea Community Center, movies will be shown on Tuesdays at 1 p.m.:

► June 6: “DC League of Super Pets”

► June 13: “Minions: Rise of Gru”

► June 20: “Puss in Boots”

► June 27: “The Incredibles”

► July 4: No movie

► July 11: “Lego Batman”

► July 18: “The Bad Guys”

► July 25: “Paws of Fury”

Shows or craft days will be held on Wednesdays at 2 p.m.:

► June 7: Gene Cordova (comedian)

► June 14: Doc Magic

► June 21: Didgeridoo Down Under

► June 28: Red Mountain Theatre

► July 5: D.I.Y. Superhero Shield

► July 12: D.I.Y. Cape

► July 19: Super Slime

► July 26: Superhero Training Camp

Other regular programming at the Chelsea Library throughout the summer will include:

► Dungeons & Dragons Club: Tuesdays, 4-6 p.m.

► Bring Your Own Crafts: Fridays, 11 a.m.

► Teen Theater Club: Fridays, 2 p.m.

► Tot Time: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.

► Mini Music: second and fourth Thursdays,10:30 a.m.

► Book Club: second Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.

► Pokemon Trading Club: third Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m.

► Lego Saturday: second Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

► Book Sale: second Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

► K.Z.T. Steam Day: fourth Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Helical Piers

Guests enjoy a show during the 2021 summer reading program at the North Shelby Library. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Warner

OMSP working on dog park, renovations for event space

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

After announcing the closing of the demonstration farm in April, Oak Mountain State Park is working to redevelop the barn for more event space, while also adding a dog park.

OMSP officials reported an increase in the number of visitors arriving with dogs, and the addition of a dog park will make it easier for owners to interact with their pets in a safe environment. The state park has leash laws in place, so the new dog park area will allow dogs to run and play off leash, said Scottie Jackson, central district superintendent for Alabama State Parks.

“The main concern whenever we are looking at plans moving forward at the park, we are constantly taking into account the needs and desires of our guests and the best interest and health of the animals,” Jackson said. “As our collection of animals began to age, it made sense for them to go and enjoy happy retirement homes.”

Jackson said she knows closing the farm, which has been around over 50 years, would be disappointing to many longtime visitors, but it was best for the animals and the long-term future of Oak Mountain State Park.

“The demonstration farm has been a beloved facility at the park, and I think there certainly is some sadness to see it come to an end,” Jackson said. “At the same time, we’re also excited about creating a new amenity at the park for our visitors to enjoy.”

When it came to looking for appropriate homes for the animals, Jackson said all of the families that took the animals in were vetted by staff and had knowledge and experience. They all went in groups with other animals with which they were already familiar and comfortable.

The iconic red barn located near the park’s main entrance will remain and will be renovated to become a rental venue for parties, weddings and other events.

“We want to freshen the space and make it better for our guests by adding additional

amenities to it and give it a facelift to make it the best it can be,” Jackson said.

While the process is still in the planning phase, she did confirm that the entrance to the dog park will be separate from the barn space, and there will be separate play areas for large

and small dogs so they can all enjoy the park in a safe and comfortable environment.

The event space and dog park will be separated by fencing, and other new features will likely be added to the dog park over time. It will also include a small retail area for purchasing

treats, toys and other items.

Other nearby areas, such as the stables and facilities for guided horseback riding, won’t be affected by the changes. There will be no fee to use the dog park after visitors pay the Oak Mountain State Park entrance fee at the gate.

The red barn that used to house Oak Mountain State Park’s demonstration farm is being turned into an event venue. Photo courtesy of Oak Mountain State Park.

Norris named Alabama’s Teacher of the Year

Jeff Norris, a sixth grade teacher at Oak Mountain Middle School, was named Alabama Teacher of the Year during a special ceremony held at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art on May 10.

As the 2023-2024 Alabama Teacher of the Year, Norris will serve as the state’s official ambassador for education and the teaching profession, according to the Alabama State Department of Education.

Norris was one of four finalists narrowed down from a list of 16 candidates previously announced by the state Board of Education.

Kevin Pughsley, a teacher at Berry Middle School who had previously worked for the Shelby County District, was named as the state’s Alternate Teacher of the Year.

Norris strives to live out John Maxwell’s philosophy, “a great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”

He began his formal career in a variety of distinct positions with the Shelby County school system, including as a third and fifth grade classroom educator. He was also a gifted education teacher.

Norris attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and degrees in both educational and teacher leadership. He also entered school administration for eight years and served as an administrative assistant, assistant principal at Inverness Elementary School and principal at Helena Elementary School.

As the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to consider life changes, Norris decided to return to the classroom. He taught advanced English before transitioning to sixth grade mathematics.

“My beliefs about teaching center on three

words: environment, engagement and empowerment,” Norris said. “I ensure that my students are connected to the world around them. When I plan lessons, I keep engagement at the forefront and will go to extreme lengths to engage and gain the attention of our students.

When asked to describe the positive impact that Norris is having on achievement, one student (Saisha) said, “This was the best class! My friends, classmates and Mr. Norris were more like my family, and this was the first class where I could open up and truly talk without overthinking.”

Another student (Tessa) said, “I remember on the first day of school, Mr. Norris handed us a quote to illustrate. Mine was, ‘There is no elevator to success – you have to take the stairs.’ I told it to my dad, and he still tells it to me constantly. Every time I hear it, I think back to that day in English class that changed my life.”

Norris said when he thinks about individuals who have influenced him throughout his life, he automatically recalls many of his favorite teachers.

“I experienced first-hand the impact of quality educators who cared about their students and

wanted to leave a lasting impression,” Norris said. “I do not take my position lightly because I know I have this same ability.”

As a teacher, Norris plans lessons that keep student engagement at the forefront and will go to extreme lengths to “hook” his students. He has recently attended professional development, completed research and implemented the concept of classroom transformations – a physical transformation of the classroom environment to set the tone for learning that immediately grabs students’ interest while providing a theme that ties standards to activities.

In addition to classroom transformations, Norris has also become a fan and self-proclaimed “missionary” of the “Build Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics” book by Peter Liljedahl. In the book, Liljedahl outlines and advocates for 14 practices to instill a culture of thinking in classrooms.

“My classroom and school are my mission field, and I use every opportunity available to have a positive impact on my students’ lives,” Norris said. “I hope the passion and enthusiasm I have for teaching are contagious.”

“Todd Whitaker says, ‘The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day.’” Norris said. “Each day is unique and may bring challenges, but it also brings an opportunity for growth, learning and perseverance. I am proud and honored to represent Oak Mountain Middle School, Shelby County Schools and teachers around District 3 who love what they do, the students they teach, and who inspire greatness each day.”

– Submitted by Cindy Warner, Shelby County Schools.

Sixth-grade teacher Jeff Norris in his classroom at Oak Mountain Middle School. Photo courtesy of Shelby County Schools.

Chelsea SGA inducts 2023 Hall of Fame members

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

Six more inductees became members of the Chelsea High School Hall of Fame at a ceremony held April 27.

This marked the induction of the third class since the program, sponsored by the Chelsea High School Student Government Association, was created in 2021.

ATHLETIC INDUCTEE: MITCH JONES

Mitch Jones played baseball and football at Chelsea High School and was the 1999 Shelby County Player of the Year. He played collegiate baseball at UAB and was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2003.

“The opportunity that was granted here at Chelsea, it was just such a wonderful experience for me,” Jones said. “I had a blast doing it. It was a lot of tough times, and we weren't always successful, but it was fun. I truly am humbled, I'm honored and I'm thankful to be considered.”

COMMUNITY INDUCTEE: DR. ROBBIE HAYES

Robbie Hayes, who graduated from Pelham High School, is an optometrist who opened Hayes Eye Center in Chelsea in 1991. He founded Morningstar United Methodist Church, has served on the Shelby County Commission for over 18 years and has spent decades working as a volunteer on the sidelines during Chelsea High School football games.

“Find ways to help your community — that's all I've tried to do,” Hayes said. “Find ways to help others over self. This is an award I never expected to get just by doing what is right in the community. I will always bleed Chelsea blue.”

HERITAGE INDUCTEE: EARLENE ISBELL

Earlene Isbell was a teacher at Chelsea High School for many years and served as a member of the Chelsea City Council. Isbell passed in

2022, but her family was in attendance on her behalf to accept the award.

ACADEMIC INDUCTEE: ALEX LOVORN

Alex Lovorn was the 2007 valedictorian for Chelsea High School and currently runs a ministry for middle and high school students helping them focus on their own personal growth.

“I hope you realize that it's so much greater just to invest your life in others and that you make an impact by the way you serve,” Lovorn said.

STUDENT IMPACT INDUCTEE: COACH LEE HIBBS

Lee Hibbs was a teacher and coach at Chelsea High School for many years.

“Excluding the birth of my two boys, this is probably one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had,” Hibbs said.

“It’s nothing that I've done. It's being with

people that have been in my life that has made me the person tonight. I'm the one to be truly blessed.”

FACULTY INDUCTEE: ANN HODGENS

Ann Hodgens worked as the bookkeeper for Chelsea High School for 30 years and then spent an additional 15 years after her retirement volunteering.

“I love Chelsea. I have lived here my entire life, and this is really tremendous, and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart,” Hodgens said.

Following remarks from SGA Advisor Ryan Adams and Chelsea High School Principal Brandon Turner, members of the SGA shared some of their accomplishments from past two years, which included:

► The “Brave for Levi” home run tournament, in which they raised money to support childhood cancer in honor of Levi Rawlins,

Members of the 2023 Chelsea High School Hall of Fame, from left, include Robbie Hayes, Ann Hodgens, Lee Hibbs, Earlene Isbell’s son accepting on her behalf, Mitch Jones and Alex Lovorn.

and a separate event that raised money for the Hope for Autumn Foundation, which also supported childhood cancer

► The creation of an SGA float for the Chelsea Christmas Parade

► A “Wear Green Day” for Dwarfism Awareness Day

► A Back-Back-Back-to-School adult softball tournament

► A Senior Sunrise event, held in October where the seniors gathered at the football field to have breakfast together

► Hosting, along with the Oak Mountain High SGA, the first annual Yellowhammer Summit Conference collaboration between the student government associations of central Alabama

► Taking on a T-shirt fundraiser featuring Chelsea logoed shirts

► Honoring and recognizing past Hall of Fame inductees

► Organizing homecoming week activities

Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

Meet the Hoover school board’s newest member: Rex Blair

By JON ANDERSON

Greystone resident Rex Blair takes his seat on the Hoover Board of Education on June 1. Blair, 47, is replacing Amy Mudano, whose five-year term ended May 31. Blair is the regional operations director for DaVita, a kidney care company, overseeing more than 150 employees at 14 dialysis centers in the greater Birmingham area.

He has two children who already have graduated from Spain Park, two attending there now and two more at Berry Middle School.

Before joining DaVita, Blair served 2½ years with SS&C Health, a financial services and health care technology company, and spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree from Harvard University in applied physics. Blair also was an assistant professor of physics at West Point.

The Hoover Sun sat down with Blair recently to find out more about him and his views on school system issues. Here are excerpts from that interview:

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Hoover school board?

A: I like being involved in making a difference in things. … I’ve got the military background of managing lots of people from lots of places, from all walks of life. I’ve got the educational background. I even taught at West Point for three years, where I was the course director for 1,000 cadets for introduction to physics, so I feel like I kind of cut my teeth a little bit from the education side. Health care has taught me a lot about the P&L [profit and loss] side, the finance side. I’ve had to manage big budgets and understand we have limited resources, so as I thought through all that and how it applied to a school system. What better way to get involved in something that’s helping

to shape not just your children, but the children of this community? I’m back in this community. I’m going to stay in this community, and this felt like one of the most immediate ways I can get engaged and use my experiences and helping make sure this community stays strong … and how we educate our children and set them up for success.

Q: What do you see are the biggest issues facing the school system?

A: When you look at the numbers that the high schools have, Spain Park is over 1,500,

and I think Hoover High is near 2,500, roughly. Those are pretty large high school populations. … So I worry about overcrowding. I’ve seen school systems as I’ve traveled around the country where you have very bad teacher-to-student ratios, and I’ve been at ones where you have very good, and not surprisingly, the better the student-teacher ratio, the better performance students had because the teachers have the opportunity to be engaged individually with those students. … The second part is how do we retain and bring in talent? My understanding is we lost some talent during

COVID. … Are we losing people, and if so, why? And are we able to bring in the top-tier teachers in the area, and if not, why?

Q: You previously mentioned concerns about external pressures on the school system as it relates to divisive topics. Can you elaborate?

A: I think we need to be careful about anybody from any side trying to come in and change curriculum for the sake of an issue that doesn’t relate specifically to helping the students be educated. … I’m always leery of

Rex Blair is replacing Amy Mudano on the Hoover Board of Education.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

anything that sounds inflammatory. I think schools are more about — how do we make sure our students are set up for success to compete, not just with our students here in the United States, but globally. I would rather us focus on how are we doing in terms of preparing our students in English, history, math, science — in those basic subjects — compared to other folks who are around the world? Anything that distracts us from making sure our children are competitive in this global economy, that’s what I’m leery of.

Q: Superintendent Dee Fowler has made it known he likely will depart in about a year. What does Hoover need in its next superintendent?

A: I think Dr. Fowler’s done a great job. I think he’s really been a rock for us right now, especially through COVID. … I’d love to kind of get another Dr. Fowler. … How do we have someone with that growth mindset of you’re not just coming in to manage something? We’ve got to continue to grow and then be excited about it. … Are they strategic? Do they recognize this isn’t just about managing principals, staff and students? It’s thinking big picture. It’s engaging with the community. It’s engaging with the board. It’s engaging with different stakeholders. Someone who’s operational, but we’ve got limited budgets. How are we going to get the most bang for our buck? And they have the experience on how to utilize the dollars to put them in the right place.

Q: What do you think needs to be done to get Hoover released from the federal lawsuit about desegregation?

A: All I know is what I’ve read so far. I haven’t seen anything behind the scenes. It seems pretty straightforward. It seems it’s the staff and faculty, facilities, transportation, extracurricular activities and then sometimes, there was one about disciplinary action. It isn’t clear to me where we have failed to demonstrate those things. When I look around and I look at our facilities, no matter what school you go to, the facilities look the same to me. Extracurricular, we have kids from all walks of life participating in our different sports systems, so I’d like

to know where we’re not meeting that factor. Plus, transportation, goodness gracious, I think we’re pretty good about getting kids to school. So I’m confused, even if we could only knock down a few, why haven’t we? What’s been the holdup? … I believe that we have done what’s been asked. I think we’ve demonstrated that we don’t have two separate school systems. I think that’s what the original court case was about — that there was a dual system. I think we’ve integrated everyone. Our population seems to suggest that — 53 languages, all walks of life, the different percentages I saw of minority students; it makes up a very large chunk of our student population.

Q: Do you believe the Hoover school system needs more funding than it currently is getting? There has been much discussion about raising property taxes by 2.4 mills to get up to the cap of 75 mills for Hoover residents in Jefferson County.

A: I think if you’re going to raise taxes, then what you do owe the community is what is the money going for? I do believe in accountability. If we’re going to go to the community and say we need an additional millions of dollars

— whatever the 2.4 mills equates to — I think it's fair to say this percentage of it is going to go to new teacher salaries, or this percentage of it is going to go to a refurbishment of this, or this percentage is going to go to that. … And we owe them some sort of metric to demonstrate that the money was used successfully because if it’s not, then we need to reallocate the money. You can’t just go on and spend money that’s being wasted.

Q: Is there anything that you would like to see emphasized more in Hoover schools?

A: I would like to know if a student needs help, how are we attacking it? … Are there things where a student can go after school and get additional help? Maybe we can’t do it because of resources or maybe we haven’t turned that back on because of COVID. There was something like that at Berry Middle School, … and one of my students took advantage of that, and it actually helped them out a lot. …They may still be doing that. I don’t know if they are. And if they are, are they doing it at all schools? Do they have the resources at all the schools? … Are we doing the best we can to make sure we provide the students

who have a desire the resources they need to be successful?

Q: If you could change one thing about Hoover schools, what would it be?

A: Technology is fantastic, and it really helped us through COVID. Anecdotally, I have seen where sometimes my kids have sat in the classroom and instead of being taught by the teacher, they were taught by a video of the teacher teaching the class. That concerns me a little bit. I know as someone who has taught physics, you can look a student in the eye and you can see comprehension or you don’t, and you can’t do that if their eyes are down looking at a computer screen. … I would want to make sure that we’re not leveraging technology so hard that we’re moving away from what makes the teacher-student relationship so important to that education.

Q: What would you like parents, students and residents of Hoover to know about you?

A: The reason I’m doing this is because I truly and genuinely want to make sure that our schools are positioned to be the best they can be for everybody. … This isn’t just some extra thing I’m doing flippantly. I gave it a lot of thought. I gave it prayer. … When something’s important enough, I think we all make decisions to step into the gap and say, ‘I’ll do it.’ It may come at a cost, but it’s so important that, if not me, then who? Will I make mistakes, or will I misstep? Yeah, because I’m human, but I’m going to bring positive intent to the role.

Q: Five years from now, what will you have wanted to accomplish in Hoover schools?

A: I would like for people when I leave, that teachers say we didn’t always agree, but we knew he cared about us and the students — and not because I always did what they liked, but because they knew that I did what I said, I meant what I said and I always was a straightshooter. … The second thing is — I’m really passionate about math and science. I have two physics degrees. It’s something I love. I think it’s important. … I don’t like that our science and math scores are lower than our history and English scores. I would like to see those gaps close.

Overture Tributary | 55+ Active Adult Living Offering Countless Activity Programs at Overture Tributary

Overture Tributary’s celebrated reputation in Birmingham is owed to more than just its first-rate, premium apartment and cottage style homes.

The active adult community’s lifestyle innovation and wellbeing emphasis are perhaps its most significant differentiators. They encompass detailed measures to keep every resident feeling energetic, engaged, fulfilled, and connected with their neighbors. It’s a community whose idea of creating a satisfactory experience does not end with the home finishes and technological conveniences (though those are essential, as well), but continues to include individual wellness in a wide sense of the concept.

Through detailed planning and professional oversight, led by a full-time Lifestyle Coordinator, residents can depend on routine exercise classes and activities to maintain or

further develop their fitness/ health. The community’s extraordinary fitness center is comprehensively outfitted for both individual training and enjoyable group sessions in the adjoining yoga studio. Organized gatherings might also include chess and billiards contests to keep the strategic wheels spinning.

Overture Tributary exists to help residents develop strong community ties with one another. The idea is that your family lives nearby for regular visits, while your neighbors are right next door and ready to join you on the next fitness outing, game night, language course, spa day, or evening trip to a local restaurant. Choose how to spend each day, organize new activities of your own, have the family over for a meal, and treat every day as a chance to reach every wellness goal on your terms.

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Friday, July 28th | 5:00pm - 7:00pm 3171 US-280, Birmingham, AL 35243 Join

The Blair family from left, Connor, Eli, Rex, Michelle, Garrett, Ashleigh, Graham, and Rex Jr. at their home in Greystone in November 2022. Photo courtesy of Rex Blair.

“After my first class, I told my mom I didn’t want to dance anymore, but she had already paid for the whole year,” Gutowski said.

And as it turns out, her mom’s desire to instill some stick-toitiveness has reaped some big and unexpected rewards. For one, now Gutowski loves dance.

“It’s an escape from reality,” she said. “You can do so much with it, and I like the way it makes me feel. I just love it so much.”

Not only that — she’s exceptionally good at it, Sayle said.

She said Gutowski is “definitely a talent on the rise.”

“It’s very difficult to get into this program,” Sayle said of the Royal Ballet School. “I’ve had my studio for 27 years and never had a student I thought would even get in to do the audition, but I thought she had a good shot.”

Gutowski joined Sayle’s studio four years ago, and Sayle knew immediately she was different.

“She was blessed with a lot of natural ability as far as flexibility and what in the industry people look for as far as feet turnout and body type,” she said. “But that’s not enough; you have to back it up with your work and your training. She works incredibly hard, and it pays off.”

People who want to dance professionally train six days a week for five hours a day, at least, Sayle said.

“It’s very difficult for them to juggle school with training,” she said. “Meghan is starting virtual school next year so she can train more hours.”

In addition to training, Gutowski spends a lot of time at serious competitions where scouts are looking

for the future professionals of the world, Sayle said.

Gutowski recently advanced past the regionals of the American Dance Competition International Ballet Competition and was invited to the finals in Florida. On March 22, Gutowski performed as one of the top 12 at the gala and placed 10th out of 150 girls at the finals.

“It’s a major accomplishment,

a huge deal for her,” Sayle said, noting that she’s never had a student invited to perform at the final round of the gala before. “And she’s only 15.”

Sayle said one factor that makes the ADC IBC finals even more intense is that on the first day, competitors are taught a classical solo that they have to perform on stage 24 hours later.

“It shows the judges things like — are they good at picking up choreography? Are they good under pressure?” Sayle said. “They’re able to practice their other dances for months, but they only have a day for this one. All the coaches and students scramble to find studio space so the coaches can work with their students even for an hour to give them last-minute tips.”

But Gutowski “went out and did a beautiful job,” Sayle said. All that work comes with a payoff, too, she said. Ballet students win scholarships at performances such as these. Gutowski has racked up about 15 so far. At this competition, she was awarded scholarships to Next Generation Ballet in Florida, the Pittsburgh Ballet, Cary Ballet

Meghan Gutowski performs a variation from “La Esmeralda” during a Universal Ballet competition. Photo courtesy of Pam Sayle.

Conservatory in North Carolina and the Colorado Ballet. Some scholarships are for this summer, some next summer and some can be used as short stays during the academic school year, Sayle said.

Last year at the Universal Ballet Competition, Gutowski won a scholarship for an intensive in Kansas City, which she participated in recently during spring break, and she has another at a ballet academy in Houston

soon. This summer, in addition to her month at the Royal Ballet School, she will spend time at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle.

Gutowski said she loves the intensives.

“Every place is different, and there’s a lot of different teachers and dancers to learn from,” she said.

That all helps toward her goal of dancing professionally one day.

“I just really want to dance in Europe, any place in Europe,” Gutowski said. “It’s been a dream of mine.”

At the end of April, Gutowski had the lead role as the Queen of Hearts in Alabama Dance Academy’s spring production of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Gutowski’s mother, Rachel, said it’s moving for her to watch her daughter perform and know all the training she’s done to

make that happen.

“I was thinking it was going to be a little phase, but it just grabbed her,” she said. “When she was first able to really string sentences together, she would tell me she wanted to dance. By the time she was in the third or fourth grade, I could really tell she had something extra. It’s very emotional for me watching her do something that comes so naturally for her.”

Meghan Gutowski runs through a ballet routine at the Alabama Academy of Dance.

Photos by Erin Nelson.

UWCA pools resources from donors to help fund the work of these agencies.

“As long as we can continue to undergird and support United Way, those nonprofit agencies will have the support they need,” said Jackson, who lives in the Liberty Park area.

That’s why in conjunction with UWCA’s 100th anniversary celebration this year, the organization has a goal of making sure its work is endowed for the next 100 years.

“We are firm believers that when we come together as a whole, the possibilities are endless,” said Drew Langloh, UWCA president and CEO. “Our 100-year impact on the central Alabama community proves this, and we look forward to continuing to pave the way for real, tangible change for the next 100 years.”

Those future plans start with a celebration of where they’ve been and where they’re headed. On June 24, UWCA supporters, partners and neighbors are invited to CityWalk in Birmingham from 3 to 8 p.m. to enjoy live music, food, performers, games, a partner agency fair and more.

In the coming months, UWCA will also unveil six community park projects, one in each county served by the organization.

Jackson said she’s especially excited about that aspect of the 100th anniversary. As part of her long involvement with UWCA — which has included being a part of its Young Leaders Society, DIVAS, Women United, J. Mason Davis Leadership Society and the Tocqueville Society — she is now serving on the centennial celebration committee and the centennial parks subcommittee.

“We want to identify an existing park that can be renovated or expanded or find a property where a park can be built,” she said.

Part of the project involves fundraising to construct and maintain the parks as well as to find volunteers needed along the way.

“I’m excited about the impact that the parks will have on bringing the community together, as well as offering opportunities for outdoor classrooms, providing a chance for children to learn in an outdoor space that is in the heart of their community,” Jackson said. “We’re trying

to make the parks accessible to the whole community and bring diverse individuals together to enjoy the space. That helps communities thrive.”

Jackson said bringing different voices to the table is one of the best parts of UWCA.

That’s how it all started 100 years ago, Langloh said — around a table. In 1923, a group of local business people got together to deal with the social problems in the rapidly growing city of Birmingham.

“When you read the minutes from back then, you begin to understand that the organization was seen as a device or a mechanism,” Langloh said. “Oftentimes, they would come together if there was a big issue brewing in the community that needed attention.”

Calling themselves Birmingham Community Chest at that time, they organized to help fight issues like tuberculosis, a disease that was heavily burdening local medical facilities.

“What I find interesting is that even though the issues today are very different, the dynamic is very similar for the organization,” Langloh said, noting that BCC has gone through several

name changes over the years, including United Appeal in 1956 and UWCA in 1992. “Today, we still roll up our sleeves and sit at a common table together and talk about issues facing us today and how we are going to go about solving them. Even though we’re very different than we were in 1923, the reason for our existence is the same.”

Over the past 100 years, UWCA has met a variety of changing needs. It organized relief during the Great Depression. It led the way in race relations with the addition of its first Black board member, Dr. A.G. Gaston, in 1966 and with the establishment of a boys’ club in his name.

UWCA also leveraged nearly $21 million to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Alabama in 2006.

All of this and much more has been done with the vital support of the community, Langloh said. In 1923, Birmingham Community Chest met a fundraising goal of $500,000 to help its 31 agencies. Now with more than 200 agencies, UWCA is hoping to raise its endowment to $100 million to ensure that kind of assistance keeps

going.

“The whole reason for United Way is to serve the community,” said Langloh, who has worked with UWCA for 24 years, 15 of those as CEO. “To me, it all starts with this fundamental belief that this organization is owned by the community, not owned by anyone in particular. Because of that, we’ve been successful in that each generation that comes along has picked it up and stewarded it through their time and then handed it off.”

UWCA has worked over the years to “keep fighting for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community,” and Langloh said he is “pretty confident and hopeful that the work we’re doing now will help perpetuate that model into the future.

“The issues will be different, but what I’m really hopeful for as we’re launching this endowment campaign is to make sure it’s still there to bring the community together to work on their problems, whatever they might be,” he said.

For more information about the centennial celebration, visit uwca.org/100years.

Kim Jackson, center, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Sue Johnson, CEO of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, after Mayor Woodfin declared January the “mentoring month” in the city of Birmingham in January 2023. Photo courtesy of Kim Jackson.

2023

Sports B6 Get Away for a Day B8 Events B10 Opinion B14

By LOYD MCINTOSH

The Oak Mountain High School mountain biking team won its first state championship, and two riders won individual titles following the conclusion of the 2023 season in early May. The Eagles were the top squad in the state all season long, taking first place in the first four events on the 2023 schedule before coming in a close second to Hoover High School in the state championship meet at Fort McClellan in Anniston on May 6-7. Despite the second-place finish in the final meet of the season, Oak Mountain had amassed enough points throughout its meets to claim the regular season Division I title.

“It was a very successful year for us,” said John Harrison, Oak Mountain head coach. “Hoover squeaked by us by a few points in the final race, but it wasn’t enough for them to take the championship away from us.”

Additionally, Oak Mountain senior Sam Calvert earned the 2023 varsity boys championship, and James McCallister captured the eighth grade boys title. Calvert’s points championship is especially impressive considering he was recovering from a crash in the fourth race of the season at Noccalula Falls.

“Sam is the fastest mountain biker in the state, but he didn’t get to race as hard in the last race because the week before he had a really bad crash and got a concussion,” Harrison said. “He had enough points to stay in the lead and win the state championship.”

Calvert, who has been on the Eagles’ mountain biking team since the sixth grade, has developed into one of the top mountain bikers in the Southeast and signed a scholarship to continue racing at the University of Montevallo. Harrison said Calvert has been vital to the success of the team

as a competitor and as mentor to the team’s future leaders.

“Sam is one of my team co-captains, and he is definitely a leader on the team,” Harrison said. “He sets a great example for everybody else, and he's been really good about helping the younger riders on the team.”

Since its inception, the OMHS mountain biking program has grown from two athletes to 49, including 10 girls, an important metric since a portion of a team’s point total must come from girls’ competitions during the season.

“We had 10 girls on the team this season, which is more than double the amount that we’ve ever had before, which really helped us a lot with scoring,” Harrison said.

Several additional members of the Oak Mountain Eagles finished strong in 2023, including Ben Walker (eighth place, varsity boys), Alana Smith (fifth place, JV2 girls), C.J. Taylor (fifth place, JV2 boys), Sarah McCallister (second

place, JV1 girls), Wilson Davis (seventh place, JV1 boys), Anysa French (eighth place, freshman girls) and Nina Evans (second place, freshmen girls).

The success is the culmination of close to a decade of work to not only establish the Eagles mountain biking program, but to make mountain biking a viable sport for high schoolers and middle schoolers throughout Alabama. Harrison launched the team with just two athletes nine years ago, when his sons expressed interest in competing in the newly formed Alabama chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

After eight years under the auspices of NICA, Harrison helped spearhead the formation of the Alabama Cycling Association. Officially launched in 2023, ACA brought more than 30 teams for the inaugural season.

Mountain biking is a club sport unsanctioned by the Alabama High School Athletic

Association, meaning that mountain biking teams don’t receive funding from school athletic departments. Harrison said the team has a great relationship with Oak Mountain High School, including support from principal Andrew Gunn, who has allowed the team to use the school for recruiting, meetings and other team-related events.

The Oak Mountain team has raised its own funding over the years and relies on volunteer coaching. Harrison, for instance, is an engineer at Schoel Engineering, and all of the 14 assistants helping run the team are parents, including Tara McCalister, who has two children on the team. In fact, it was McCallister who ran the team during the last competition in Anniston, while Harrison was away for his son’s wedding in Montana.

“The state championship was the first time in nine years that I’ve ever had to miss a race,” Harrison said. “She [Tara] took over for the state championship and managed the team perfectly and brought home state championships. I'm so proud of her.”

Now with a state championship and the sport continuing to grow, Harrison said he has no intention of changing his coaching philosophy, which has always been focused on encouraging young people to get a bike and do their best, whatever their best may be.

“What I always tell them at the sign-up meetings is, ‘Every time you show up for practice, I expect 100%, and every time you race, I expect 100%,’” Harrison said. “‘I don’t care what your 100% is. If your 100% isn’t as fast as somebody else, that doesn’t matter to me.’”

“That philosophy has been very successful for us,” he added, “and kept the riders coming back and bringing their friends with them, which has kept us growing.”

No one ever questions the bi-annual dental checkups, the yearly’s, the mam smash, the male probes, the 24-hour clean outs. These procedures are considered as “the normal” preventative protocol. However, no one considers having their spine evaluated to prevent problems from developing, why is that? When do you think adding noninvasive spinal checkups to the list make sense?

Consider this point. Spinal evaluations ARE extremely important because it houses the spinal cord and nervous system. Your entire human body inside and out depends on a healthy spinal column. If, over time, the spinal column becomes out of balance, wear and tear will occur which can lead to pain, inflexibility, lack of proper function of body systems, reduced optimal living, osteoarthritis, and potentially more! A spinal structure out of balance negatively affects how you live your life. Wouldn’t prevention of spinal deterioration and the associated health problems make sense?

Indeed, chiropractors are most known for pain relief by using our hands and providing chiropractic adjustments. Often relief from pain in the back, neck, shoulders, knees, and other parts of the body will occur. It’s done so by gradually realigning the spine, restoring proper motion of the restricted areas and ultimately, reducing pressure on the nerves. Even if there is chronic pain, consider chiropractic care because it can help improve the situation.

Yet, why wait for pain? Be proactive with evaluations and care prior to any spinal

problems occurring. By doing so, the benefits are life changing. Here are some points to consider.

1-Chiropractic adjustments improve joint mobility and increases flexibility thus making it easier to perform daily activities and exercise.

2-Chiropractic care helps correct postural imbalances, leading to better overall health and improved posture because poor posture can lead to a host of health problems, including back pain and reduced lung capacity.

3-Chiro care can improve athletic performance and prevent injuries by improving joint mobility and reducing muscle tension hence why chiropractic care can help athletes perform at their best.

4-Most importantly, Chiro care is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. With regular chiropractic adjustment anywhere from weekly to monthly, one can improve their overall wellness and help prevent future health problems.

For individuals in their 50’s through 70’s, chiro care offers the much-needed improved flexibility and pain relief. It’s called protecting the health that you have and improving the functional abilities of what you have lost. Additionally, for this age group, chiro care improve balance and coordination, helps reduce the risk of falls and other accidents. Also, it helps improve your immune system function by reducing stress on the nervous system and enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Naturally, this can lead to improved overall health and an improved quality of life. Regular chiro

Summertime = Spinal Check Ups

care may help reduce the reliance off pain medication as a result of improved spinal function and less nerve compression. If you have stress and anxiety, chiropractic care helps by reducing tension in the muscles and promoting relaxation. These benefits can lead to a better quality of life, improved overall health and longevity. I call it, one’s “do-ability” scale increases. Interested in longevity? Chiropractic care helps by reducing nerve pressure and addressing the underlying causes of pain, discomfort, and disease, hence contributing to a longer, healthier life. Specifically, by improving spinal health and restoring proper alignment, chiropractic care reduces the pressure on the nerves which can improve overall nerve function, leading to better health and longevity. Chiropractic enhances immune system function by reducing stress on the nervous system and promoting optimal immune response. This helps prevent illnesses and diseases which ultimately causes a shorten lifespan. Wellness chiropractors often encourage healthy lifestyle habits and provide advice to their patients, including exercise and nutrition recommendations. Healthier habits lead to a longer healthier life. Also, chiro care can help with stress and anxiety. This can help prevent stress-related illnesses and promote overall health and longevity.

Spinal checkups will help determine if you have the following, and if chiropractic care can help you:

1- Misalignment: Your spine can become misaligned due to poor posture, injury, or repetitive strain. These can

cause pain, limit mobility, and interfere with nerve function. Chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine and improve nerve function. 2- Joint stiffness: joint stiffness can occur due to lack of use or repetitive strain. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve joint mobility and flexibility, making it easier to move and perform daily activities. 3- Pain: Pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and other areas of the body can be caused by a variety of factors, including misalignments, muscle tension, and nerve impingement. Chiropractic care can help alleviate pain by addressing the underlying cause. 4- Improved posture: Poor posture can lead to back pain, neck pain, and other health problems. Chiropractic care can help correct postural imbalances, leading to better overall health. 5- Your overall wellbeing: Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help improve overall wellbeing and help prevent future health problems.

In a nutshell, annually and potentially often based on your lifestyle, spinal evaluations are important. Chiropractic care can help a variety of individuals with a variety of desired health goals. Who does not want to live a longer and healthier life? Find yourself a great chiropractor and add spinal checkups to your list of checkups.

Undeniably Denali

Sandy and Mark came to us in search of an SUV with all their ideal options. One perfect match stood out from the rest of our huge selection; the GMC Yukon Denali was undoubtedly the choice for them. Appointments like a 14-speaker Bose sound system and heated and ventilated front seats went above and beyond what the Prevosts were looking for. For everything you want and more in an SUV, there’s Royal!

More about the GMC Yukon Denali

The 2023 GMC Yukon Denali is an even more refined take on this unmistakable full-size SUV. Tow up to 8,200 lbs. with the available Max Trailering Package. Drive into the future with available Super Cruise Hands-Free Driver Assistance Technology. And luxuriate in one of three instantly iconic Denali interior color selections. Explore it all now at Royal Buick GMC.

For every ride there’s Royal.

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At the Corner of I-65 and Highway 31 | 3010 Columbiana Road, Vestavia Hills

Sandy and Mark Prevost with their new 2023 GMC Yukon Denali.

3 soccer teams advance to state semifinals

By KYLE PARMLEY

High school soccer season has ended, with several of the schools in the 280 Living coverage area posting strong seasons.

Notably, Briarwood’s girls, Oak Mountain’s boys and Oak Mountain’s girls all advanced to the state semifinals. Each played in the state semifinals in Huntsville at John Hunt Park on May 11.

Briarwood’s fantastic season ended in a 2-1 loss to Montgomery Academy, as the Eagles won in penalty kicks in the Class 6A semifinals. Each team scored a goal in regulation,

as Briarwood’s Taylor Leib scored the game’s first goal in the 52nd minute. Montgomery Academy tied the game seven minutes later, and the score remained that way through the remainder of regulation and a pair of overtime periods. Briarwood’s first two penalty kicks were stopped, and Montgomery Academy converted enough to take the win.

Briarwood finished the year with a 17-4-1 record. Before the semifinals, the Lions had not yielded a goal in any of their playoff games to that point, as they defeated Hueytown, Indian Springs and Northridge by combined scores of 22-0.

Jolee Giadrosich, Abigail Hoaglund, Piper Eighmy, Lindsey Weigant, Makayla Sato and Bradford Latta were seniors for the Lions this season.

Oak Mountain’s girls suffered a tough 1-0 loss to Sparkman in the 7A semifinals. Sparkman’s Chelsea Curtis scored 10 minutes into the second half to convert the game’s only goal.

Oak Mountain posted a 22-4 mark on the year. To get to the semifinals, the Eagles beat Hoover 2-1 and Spain Park 1-0. Kate Murray, Gabriella Plaia, Lily Ann Neumann, Kathleen Matuszak, Juliet Williams and Kierson

McDonald were the team’s seniors.

Oak Mountain’s boys took a 1-0 loss to Huntsville in the semifinals as well. Huntsville’s Caleb Alldredge scored in the 16th minute, notching the game’s only goal. Oak Mountain outshot the Panthers 15-2 in the game, but the three on goal were turned away by Huntsville’s goalkeeper.

The Eagles finished with a 22-3-2 record after defeating Vestavia Hills 4-1 and beating Hoover 3-1 in the previous playoff rounds. Seniors for the Eagles were Joey Schneider, Adam Alemond, Garrett Murphy, Tripp Whitehurst and Caleb Smith.

Left: Oak Mountain’s Kierson McDonald (17) dribbles the ball downfield guarded by Auburn’s Lulabelle Hammer (14) in a game at Oak Mountain High School on April 25.

Right: Briarwood’s Taylor Leib (10) dribbles the ball downfield guarded by Helena’s Stephanie Hall (20) in a match at Briarwood Christian School on April 6. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Hornets post runner-up finish in state outdoor track

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Chelsea High School girls outdoor track and field team capped off a strong school year with a runner-up finish in the Class 7A state meet, held May 4-6 in Gulf Shores.

No one was catching Hoover, which swept the boys and girls competitions in dominant fashion. Hoover’s girls scored 125 points to win the meet easily, but Chelsea’s girls secured the red map trophy by accumulating 79 points.

Hewitt-Trussville scored 71 points to finish third. Auburn and Foley rounded out the top five. Hoover scored 146.5 points to win the boys meet, with Vestavia Hills, Hewitt-Trussville, Huntsville and Auburn behind.

Briarwood competed in the 6A meet, while Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park all had athletes in the 7A meet.

Oak Mountain’s boys were 12th with 17.5 points, and Spain Park’s boys finished 13th,

accumulating 14 points. Chelsea’s boys were 15th with 13 points. Oak Mountain scored 8 points, and Spain Park notched 2 points in the girls meet.

Chelsea’s girls were led by Cady McPhail, who capped an outstanding career at Chelsea with another strong showing at state. She won the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 10 seconds. She also won the 1,600 in 4:52 and was fourth in the 3,200. The girls 4x800-meter relay team also won in 9:24. Lily Rigor grabbed top honors in the 300meter hurdles, running it in 44.79 seconds.

Jadlyn Debardlabon was second in long jump, and Alana McCulla finished second in pole vault. Rigor was fourth in 100 hurdles, while Ty Cason pointed in a couple events (fifth in 1,600 and sixth in 800). Mia Dunavant also posted a seventh-place finish in the 1,600. The girls 4x400 relay team was fifth, and Sarah Johnston competed in javelin.

For Chelsea’s boys, Parker Campbell was fourth in the 3,200, while Gabe Pendley finished fifth in javelin. Eryk Brown, Alex Redd, Hudson Williams and Brandon Sims also competed.

Oak Mountain’s Devan Moss stole the show by winning the 100-meter dash in 10.65 seconds. Julia Bueche finished fourth in the 300 hurdles, while John Shoemaker finished fifth in the 3,200, and Tre Thomas was sixth in high jump. Samantha Bennett, Adelaide McKeown, Catarina Williams, Matthew Womack, Lauren Cole, Sara Cothran, Trey Vassell, Samiah Jones, Corrin Hammett and Harper Richey also competed for the Eagles.

For Spain Park, Keith Warner finished sixth in the 3,200 and eighth in the 1,600 to earn points. Zachary Erickson finished fifth in discus as well. Loren Jackson, Jonathan Graham, Delaney Vickers, Kenneth Bishop, Madison Harvey, Laila Sibley, Elizabeth Baty, Indiana

Gannett, Christian Johnson, LaCoria Nelson and Rayshod Burts also competed for the Jags.

In the 6A meet, Briarwood’s girls finished seventh with 31.5 points. Mountain Brook scored 94 points to win.

For Briarwood, the girls 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay teams earned points by placing sixth and fifth, respectively. The Lions also had a pair of scorers in the triple jump, as Emma Kerley finished fourth, and Sallie Montgomery was sixth. Livi Reebals had a strong showing in the 100-meter hurdles, as she finished fourth.

Bela Doss was fifth in a couple events, as she earned points in the 800 and 1,600 races. Reese Rasmussen was seventh in the 300 hurdles, and Ansley Murphy was seventh in pole vault.

Greyce Godbehere, Gabe Margene, Lena Anne Parker, Brandon Dixon, Luci Williams, Charlie Thompson, Blakeley Margene and Anna Reid Frost also competed for Briarwood.

Left: Chelesa’s Cady McPhail leads a race during the AHSAA Class 7A, Section 3 track and field sectionals at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on April 29. Above: Chelsea’s Lily Rigor competes in the girls 300-meter hurdles. Photos by Richard Force.

2023 REGIONS TRADITION

Left: Bo Jackson, former Auburn football star and MLB and NFL All-Star, tees off on hole 1 during the Drummond Company Celebrity ProAm of the Regions Tradition, benefiting Children’s of Alabama, on May 10 at Greystone Golf and Country Club. Right: Spectators gather at hole 1.

Above: Charles Barkley, former Auburn forward and NBA Hall of Famer, shakes hands with Jazz LaRue, 6, as he introduces himself to LaRue, Raine Keir, 15, left, and Thomas Evans, 15.

Below: The group also met Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart.

Above: PGA Pro John Daly tees off.

Above left: Country music singer Riley Green tees off on hole 1. Above right: Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy smiles as he is presented with a birthday cake.

Photos by Erin Nelson

get awayFOR A DAY

Birmingham

Zoo

Summer is an awesome time to enjoy the Birmingham Zoo

The 122-acre Birmingham Zoo is home to about 550 animals of 180 species from six continents, including zebras, giraffes, jaguars, orangutans and elephants.

The state’s most popular not-for-profit attraction, the zoo draws nearly 500,000 visitors annually.

It’s also the only Alabama zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. And summer is a perfect time to visit this magnificent facility.

There’s lots of animal experiences, including the Kiwanis giraffe encounters, goat walks, and reptile and lorikeet feedings.

In addition to its collection of animals, the zoo features the Red Diamond Express Train, the Protective Carousel and the Junior League of Birmingham Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo.

The Birmingham Zoo will also host several special events this summer.

► June 10: Zoo Brews. Sample craft breweries from around Alabama and the Southeast.

6-10 p.m. Ages 21 and older. Purchase tickets online to take part in the fun.

► Aug 2: Pancakes and Princesses. Grab your tiara and best ball gown and enjoy a royal brunch with your favorite princesses, as well as magical singing and ambassador animals. The first seating will be from 8:30-10 a.m. and the second seating will be from 10 a.m. to noon. Purchase tickets in advance for this magical day.

► Aug. 2: Fairytales and Frogs. Enjoy fairytale characters, as well as music, games and other activities. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free with zoo admission.

Fall events will include Oktoberfest Sept. 23 and Zoo Gala Oct. 5

Ticket links are created about two months before an event. Check the zoo’s website regularly for updated links and information.

Located at 2630 Cahaba Road, the zoo is open Wednesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cook Museum of Natural Science offers exciting, hands-on experience

At the Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur, visitors of all ages learn about the wonders of nature — and not by looking passively at dry, dull, traditional displays.

Instead, they enjoy an exciting, hands-on, immersive experience featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits.

Attendees touch a meteorite. They climb to the top of Big Tree. They’re mesmerized by moon jellies. They build a volcano and watch it erupt.

“Hands-on, immersive experiences engage people through more than listening, reading or watching,” said Joy Harris, the Cook Museum’s marketing coordinator. “When people not only see and hear, but also interact with something, they’re more likely to retain and recall the experience.”

The Cook Museum has drawn nearly 300,000 total visitors since it opened in 2019 and is a perfect Getaway for a Day. Less than 90 minutes from Birmingham, the facility is open seven days a week all summer and offers families the chance to make amazing memories together.

In addition, the museum is driven by a powerful mission.

“North America, and Alabama specifically, have amazing biodiversity that Cook Museum wants to showcase so people will be excited and educated about the natural world around them,” she said.

By providing amazing

experiences, the Cook Museum hopes to “spark an interest for visitors to explore topics further on their own,” Harris said.

In addition to exhibits, the museum provides extensive educational programming.

A great spot for field trips and

group visits, the museum hosted nearly 15,000 students on field trips in 2022.

The museum offers 5-day summer camps for children ages 5-12 on such topics as robotics and zoology. This summer’s theme is “Biomes Bonanza.”

The Aquarist for a Day camps — held year-round — allow kids in grades 4 through 8 to explore careers at the Cook Museum through live animal feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, science classes and dissections of shark and squid.

Homeschool classes for grades

Reed Real Estate

K-12 feature a new topic each month. All classes are hands-on, and many seventh- through 12th-grade classes include a dissection of a crab, grasshopper, sea star or sea urchin.

The Cook Museum offers event spaces for meetings, banquets and other events of all sizes, as well as birthday party packages.

Visitors can enjoy the Nature’s Table cafe in the museum lobby for healthy, delicious food with fresh ingredients, such as sandwiches, salads, wraps and protein bowls. Nature's Table also offers catering and boxed meals for events and parties.

Museum memberships offer such benefits as unlimited free general admission for a year, 10% discounts at Nature’s Table and the Museum Store, discounts on birthday party packages and camp registrations and early registration for classes and camps.

Through Labor Day, the Cook Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

Admission is $20 for adults ages 15 and over, $15 for children ages 3-14 and $17 for seniors ages 65 and up and military personnel with IDs. Infants ages 2 and younger are admitted free. Group packages are available.

For more information, including upcoming classes, camps and events, call 256-351-4505 or go to cookmuseum.org.

205-665-3535 • americanvillage.org

Spend a day with American patriots in the 18th century

The British are back! Join the revolution and declare your independence this summer at the American Village in Montevallo. Visitors will be fully immersed and engaged in programs designed to highlight America’s journey for independence, liberty and self-government.

Step back in time to the founding era of our nation, led by a passionate staff of costumed historical interpreters. Meet patriots of the past such as Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Phillis Wheatley, Eliza Hamilton, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Martha Washington. Discover the West Wing of Independence Hall with it’s multi-sensory experience and film “Choosing to be an American People.”

Explore the distinctive American Village campus, which includes more than 20 historically-inspired buildings on 188 acres. Play Colonial games, learn about apothecary

Find the perfect summer vacation rental in Gulf Shores and the Fort Morgan area

medicine in the herb garden, see a lighthearted puppet show and so much more.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy family-friendly activities, both indoors and outside.

The American Village is open to the public in June and July from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday (excluding July 4-5). The summer season kicks offs with an American Arts & Crafts Fair June 2-3, and food trucks will be onsite every Saturday.

On July 4, celebrate Independence Day 1776 with all-day red, white and blue family fun, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at twilight’s last gleaming.

Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for youth, $9 for seniors and free to veterans, active military and children ages 4 and younger. For more information and a calendar of events, visit americanvillage.org. Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages @AmericanVillage_Alabama.

With gorgeous, white-sand beaches and a variety of recreation, The Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores area is a perfect summer getaway just four hours from Birmingham. The best way to enjoy this premiere vacation spot with family and friends is by renting a comfortable residential property on the beach.

The expert local agents at family-owned and operated Reed Real Estate in Gulf Shores can help you find your perfect rental. The agents know the homes personally, and will make your experience enjoyable from start to finish by providing friendly, personal service.

By booking directly with Reed Real Estate, you avoid unnecessary service fees of up to 25% charged by third-party websites like VRBO, Airbnb and Expedia. Reed also handles all of the details, such as contracts and 24/7 maintenance calls, allowing you to enjoy your

trip worry-free. The company will assist you with other guest services as well, including midweek housekeeping, setting up a canopy and chairs on your beach or planning a romantic getaway.

You can start planning your trip on the Reed Real Estate website by searching for the type of rental you’re looking for — pet friendly or boat friendly properties, rentals with private pools, houses that can accommodate large groups, even budget-friendly or summer daily rentals.

If you are looking for something more permanent in the area, Reed has great properties for sale, as well.

Check out their amazing year-round specials that will make your dream vacation even more affordable. You can book online at gulfrentals.com or call a friendly reservationist at 800-678-2306.

Cook Museum of Natural Science

256-351-4505 • cookmuseum.org

3358 Alabama 180, Gulf Shores • 800-678-2306 • gulfrentals.com

Vacation Bible School roundup

Local churches are gearing up to host Vacation Bible School this summer. Here’s a look at some of them taking place around the U.S. 280 corridor.

ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

► Where: 6690 Cahaba Valley Road

► Dates: June 26-29

► Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Ready, Set, Move! Follow Jesus Here, There, and Everywhere!

► Register: myasbury.ccbchurch.com/goto/ forms/1237/responses/new

CHRIST CHURCH BIRMINGHAM

► Where: 5091 Caldwell Mill Road

► Dates: June 5-8

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: christchurchbham.com/ vbs2023

CROSSBRIDGE CHURCH

► Where: 3039 Brook Highland Parkway

► Dates: June 5-9

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: vbspro.events/p/events/cbkvbs

DOUBLE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH (CHELSEA)

► Where: 101 Chelsea Park Drive

► Dates: June 12-15

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: vbspro.events/p/ eventsdoccchelsea

DOUBLE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH (MT LAUREL)

► Where: 115 Olmsted St.

► Dates: June 12-16

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: vbspro.events/p/ eventsdoubleoakmtl2023

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

► Where: 4954 Valleydale Road

► Dates: Mondays in July, except July 3

► Time: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

► Theme: Creative Arts VBS

► Register: fcc-bhm.org/vbs

LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH

► Where: 11050 Chelsea Road, Chelsea

► Dates: June 5-9

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: lbcchelsea.com

MEADOW BROOK BAPTIST CHURCH

► Where: 4984 Meadow Brook Road

► Dates: June 5-9

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Twists and Turns

► Register: meadowbrookbaptist.org

NORTH SHELBY BAPTIST CHURCH

► Where: 4100 Belcher Drive

► Dates: June 12-16

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Twists and Turns: Following Jesus Changes the Game

► Register: northshelbybaptist.org/ childrens-ministry/#vbs

Children participate in Vacation Bible School at CrossBridge Church in 2022. Photo

OAK MOUNTAIN PRESBYTERIAN

► Where: 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace

► Dates: June 5-9

► Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

► Theme: Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light

► Register: ompc.org/childrens

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST

► Where: 7340 Cahaba Valley Road

► Dates: June 19-23

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Wilderness Adventure: Through the Sacraments

► Register: stmarkrc.org/ vacation-bible-school

VALLEYDALE CHURCH

► Where: 2324 Valleydale Road

► Dates: June 5-9

► Time: 9 a.m. to noon

► Theme: Twists and Turns: Following Jesus Changes the Game Register: valleydale.org/events

Popular mountain bike race returns to Oak Mountain for 29th running Bump N’ Grind turns 29

By LOYD MCINTOSH

Oak Mountain will once again host some of the nation’s best mountain biking athletes this summer.

The 29th Annual Bump N’ Grind Mountain Bike Race series is scheduled for June 9-11 and will feature five different races on the mountain biking trails throughout Oak Mountain State Park.

More than 500 athletes are expected to participate in the 2023 Bump N’ Grind, an annual event that has grown into one the longest mountain bike races in Alabama and one of the longest races in the nation.

The event has been organized each year by the volunteer efforts of Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (B.U.M.P.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the building and maintenance of mountain biking trails throughout greater Birmingham. Now a multi-day event attracting athletes and spectators from all over the country, Bump N’ Grind is a far cry from the race’s humble beginnings, when trails specifically designed for mountain bikes were few and far between.

“Early on, the race really didn’t have a lot of trail to work with,” said Jacob Tubbs, Bump N’ Grind race director and a B.U.M.P. board member. “So, the story of B.U.M.P. and the story of mountain biking in general is sort of intertwined.”

"We transformed from 'Hey, you know, let's just ride our bikes through whatever trails are in the woods,' to 'Let's do purpose-built mountain bike trails,'" Tubbs said. “Single-track trails that are built by hand to ride bikes on was a new concept in the early ‘90s.”

Trailblazers in the world of mountain biking, B.U.M.P. volunteers have established 37 miles of mountain bike-specific trails throughout Oak Mountain, some of the first such trails in the Southeast. The work to complete the current trail system was all done by hand, volunteers spending hours to create trails with shovels, picks,

hoes and axes, which took years to complete.

The early few editions of Bump N’ Grind were held on a grueling 10-mile loop that took racers up a steep incline and back down multiple times. Today, the course for the main race on Sunday is almost 23 miles long, most of it on mountain biking-specific, single-track trails, which, Tubbs said, sets Oak Mountain apart from most mountain biking race courses in the nation.

“There is very little dirt road or asphalt in it,” Tubbs said. “That’s very unique to be able to have a huge lap of 20 plus miles and have all of it except for 3.7 miles of it be on trail.

“We get people from all over the country who come to our race because it's so unique,” he added. “You get this big loop tour of a giant, beautiful park and you're in the woods on a trail

the whole time.”

For fans of mountain biking or anyone interested in watching these athletes in action, B.U.M.P. has worked hard to make the races spectator friendly. Tubbs acknowledges that traditionally, mountain biking may not have been the most exciting sport to watch live. However, he says the improvements to the main course as well as the supporting events will be fun to watch, especially the new Short Track XC to close out racing on Saturday.

“The course is fun, it has a lot of little twists and we’ve thrown in a couple of jumps that are fun to watch and fun to ride,” Tubbs said. “It’s high speed because the course is pretty short, so these guys are going to go wide-open and you will not believe how fast some of these guys and girls can haul.”

Mountain bikers race the 27th annual Bump N’ Grind race at Oak Mountain State Park in May 2021. Staff photo.

Tubbs added that the Bump N’ Grind would not be successful without the support of local government, including the city of Pelham and Shelby County Manager Chad Scroggins, and the countless hours B.U.M.P. volunteers have put in to ensure the event and Alabama’s system of biking trails can be enjoyed by bikers of all skill levels.

“We are blessed with a combination of natural resources that you need to make great mountain biking in Alabama,” Tubbs said. “We also have a generous state park system, generous municipalities close by that support us and have made a lot of this possible.”

The 2023 Bump N’ Grind proceeds go to B.U.M.P. for the creation and preservation of bike trails throughout Alabama. Learn more or register online at bumpngrindraces.com.

courtesy of Emilee Orr.

A view of the pond at Dunnavant Valley Park. The trail connects with the Dunnavant Valley trailhead, which goes all the way to the soccer fields on Shelby County 41.

The FARM Barn Burner race set for June 10

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

The FARM: Functional Athletic Rehabilitation and Movement is hosting one of the only races in the Birmingham area this month. The race will take place Saturday, June 10, at 7 a.m.

Dr. Beau Beard, co-founder and clinic director of The FARM, said this is the first year for the race, and he decided to put it on mainly to highlight the new trail systems between Dunnavant Valley Park and Double Oak Park. Participants can run the 5- or 10-mile version of the race. The 5-mile option starts at the Dunnavant Valley Fields parking lot off Shelby County 41, and runners will go a quarter mile before hitting the Dunnavant Valley Greenway, which parallels the North Fork of Yellow Leaf Creek for 1.9 miles. From there, runners will continue through the trailhead parking lot

and run the trail paralleling the highway before entering Dunnavant Valley Park. Runners will continue to the first aid station and 5-mile turnaround at the barn located next to the pond, then loop back on the same course

The 10-mile option will take the same route, but instead of turning around at the barn, runners will climb up a Jeep road for a half mile before entering Laurel Loop, which is two miles, and then enter Raven's Roost for a quarter mile before getting back onto the main Jeep road. The road will take runners a half mile to the edge of Double Oak Way to the second aid station, where runners will turn around.

The route will take them onto Fire on the Mountain for 0.72 miles before getting back onto the main road one last time. Then it’s all downhill from there, Beard said.

All of the profits from the race will be split with the nonprofit Coosa Riverkeeper. The

The FARM Barn Burner

• WHERE: Dunnavant Valley Fields parking lot off Shelby County 41.

• WHEN: Friday, June 9: Packet pickup and late registration at The FARM, 203 Narrows Parkway, Suite A, 2-6 p.m.; Saturday, June 10: Packet pickup and late registration at the 280 County Services Building parking lot/start line area, 5:456:45 a.m. 5- and 10-miler will start at 7 a.m.

• WEB: ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=101186

FARM has been the Coosa Riverkeeper Fish Guide sponsor for the North Fork of Yellow Leaf Creek for the past several years, and Beard is on the board of directors.

“It is our pleasure to help out such a wonderful organization and to protect the wild places we all love,” Beard said. “Yellow Leaf

Creek runs by our office and home in Shelby County, so we want to keep protecting the waterways that supply us with water and fish.”

Registration for the 5-miler is $40 and the 10-miler is $75 and can be completed at ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=101186.

Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

The Free Friday Flicks outdoor summer movie series, previously held at Veterans Park in Hoover, will move to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham this year.

Free Friday Flicks moving from Hoover to Railroad Park

By JON ANDERSON

The Free Friday Flicks outdoor summer movie series put on by Backyard Movie Parties is moving from Hoover’s Veterans Park to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham this year.

The city of Hoover decided to end its relationship with Backyard Movie Parties and try some other things this summer, but details of the city’s potential alternative plans were not finalized or available as of press time.

Free Friday Flicks has been at Veterans Park in Hoover for 10 years and before that was at Homewood Park since the early 1990s.

Keri Lane, the owner of Backyard Movie Parties, said some Hoover residents expressed disappointment that Free Friday Flicks was moving, but overall, there has been significant interest in the move to Railroad Park.

Movies this year are “Encanto” on June 2, “Drumline” on June 9, “The Princess & the Frog” on June 16, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” on June 23 and “Back to the Future” on June 30.

People are invited to set up blankets and chairs in the grassy area at Railroad Park near the main pavilion to watch movies on an outdoor screen each Friday night in June. The movie images are 30 feet wide and will be shown on a 38-foot-wide screen, Lane said. Each movie is scheduled to start at dusk. The sun sets between 7:53 and 8:01 p.m. during the weeks the movies are scheduled. Lane encourages people to come early — around 6:30 p.m. — and have picnics in the park prior to the show.

Michael’s at The BoxCar at Railroad Park should be open to serve food, and there also should be other food trucks there, but people are welcome to bring their own food as well, Lane said.

To get updates on movie selections and on cancellations due to bad weather, follow Free Friday Flicks on Facebook or Instagram. Backyard Movie Parties also will be giving away picnic packs each week of the series on its Free Friday Flicks social media pages, Lane said.

Runners participate in the Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue MeowA-Thon 5K at Veterans Park in October 2020.

by Erin Nelson.

Meow-A-Thon set for June 3

By JON ANDERSON

People who want to help save abandoned, stray and injured cats and kittens — or who just enjoy a run or walk in the park — have another chance to do so with the 2023 Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue 5K Meow-A-Thon and 1-mile Whisker Walk.

This will be the sixth year for the event, held at Veterans Park in Hoover. This year’s 5K and walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 3. Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 7 a.m., while the 5K will start at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile Whisker Walk will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Awards will be given out to the overall top three male and female runners in the 5K, as well as the top three male and female runners in various age groups, said Kitty Kat Haven founder and Executive Director Rita Bowman.

Last year’s event drew 216 participants, which is probably one of the better turnouts, and raised about $9,000, including money from sponsors, registration fees and T-shirt sales, race director Kim Tyler said. The lead sponsors this year are Hargrove Engineering, Holmes Feline Clinic and Alford Avenue Veterinary Hospital.

The cost to register is $25 for the 5K and

Kitty Kat Haven 5K Meow-A-Thon & 1-Mile Whisker Walk

• WHERE: Veterans Park in Hoover

• WHEN: June 3, 7 a.m.

• WEB: runsignup.com/meowathon

$15 for the 1-mile Whisker Walk through Friday, June 2. The price goes up $5 for each on race day. Online registration is at runsignup.com/meowathon.

Packet pickup and in-person registration is Friday, June 2, at Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue’s facility at 3432 Old Columbiana Road from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue has placed more than 800 cats into homes in the past year. Since the nonprofit first opened in 2016, it has saved and found homes for more than 5,500 cats and kittens. There are about 60 cats at the center and another 150 cats and kittens in foster care elsewhere, Bowman said.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

Photo

Hoover-AHEAD to hold third annual Juneteenth celebration

By GRACE THORNTON

Hoover-AHEAD (Ambassadors for Hoover Equity and Diversity) will hold its third annual Juneteenth celebration June 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hoover Public Library.

The event will include activities from storytelling to kids’ arts and crafts and film screenings. An African dance troupe and local choirs will perform, and food trucks will be on site.

Juneteenth — observed officially on June 19 — celebrates the day when 250,000 enslaved African Americans were given their freedom in Texas. The decree brought by Union troops on June 19, 1865 — 2½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation — freed the last slaves still held in Confederate territory.

“I grew up in Oklahoma, and out there

Juneteenth is a fact of life and always celebrated,” said Withrow Newell, ambassador and event committee chair for HooverAHEAD, which was founded in 2019. “But coming to the Deep South, it’s surprising a lot of people don’t know about Juneteenth. It’s such a beautiful and truly American story.”

He said the day celebrates “that pure joy

Hoover-AHEAD Juneteenth Celebration

• WHERE: Hoover Public Library

• WHEN: June 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• WEB: hoover-ahead.com/ events/hoover-ahead-events/juneteenth-2023

people probably felt not only knowing bondage is over, but bondage has been over.”

The event fits with Hoover-AHEAD’s goals of celebrating different cultures and promoting racial equity and inclusion, Newell said.

“With the Juneteenth celebration, we’re hoping to continue to produce an event that brings the community together and offer an opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures.”

The celebration is free, and everyone is welcome. For more information, visit hoover-ahead.com/events/hoover-aheadevents/juneteenth-2023 or visit the group’s Facebook page. A calendar of other upcoming cultural events is also available on the group’s website.

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The African Dance and Drum Ensemble performs at a Juneteenth celebration at Veterans Park in Hoover in June 2022. Photo courtesy of Cherinita Ladd-Reese.

Sean of the South

By Sean Dietrich

My Father’s Grave

Colorado Springs — I’m standing on Pikes Peak, 14,000 feet above sea level.

I’m looking at the world from a mountaintop.

In 1994, we scattered Daddy’s ashes here. He came packed in a cardboard box. I was a child.

The day we turned him loose, I prayed for something grand to happen. Maybe a gust of wind, a big cloud, or even snow. I’d heard it can snow on Pikes Peak during the summer.

Dietrich

That’s what I wanted. I wanted nature to deliver something. But there were no gusts. No clouds. No snow. Only hot sun.

Anyway, my father’s death happened suddenly. I was 12. And this view takes me to that age again. The scenery up here is breathtaking. I can see clear to Kansas, and the sun is shining so hard it burns me.

The altitude is getting to me. There are tiny sparks in my vision. The EMT at the visitor’s center told me this means I am in oxygen debt.

Twenty-four years. It’s been so long since he’s been gone that I often forget his face. I have to open a photo album to remember.

I have a favorite photograph. A faded Polaroid. He’s wearing his denim, his boots, and his work jacket. He’s all iron worker.

I loved him.

He used to play make-believe with me when I was little. Daddy would wear a cowboy hat and play Old West Saloon. I was Wyatt Earp;

he was Billy the Kid.

We’d have gunfights at high noon. Our living room became the showdown at O.K. Corral. I would take him down with a cap gun. I was the best shot in the West. He would grab his gut, then fall on the floor.

Then, I would jump on his chest. He would kiss me on the forehead. He’d say, “That’s my little cowboy.” How could a man disappear like dust?

I remember where we emptied his ashes. I am standing on the exact spot. I’ve been waiting years to stand here.

I expect to cry, or feel like someone is jumping on my chest, but I don’t. Instead, I smile. I remove my hat and hold it to my chest.

And I thank my father. I’m not sure what I’m thanking him for, but I am thanking him.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m thanking him for 12 years of love — which is more than some kids get. Maybe, for all the make-believe games in the living room, for forehead kisses.

Maybe I’m thanking him for who I am today. I wouldn’t be who I am if not for his early departure.

And all of a sudden, I miss him. I wish he could swoop down from heaven momentarily and talk to me. I wish I could be a boy, and we could play make-believe.

But he can’t. That’s not the way it works. People are here, then they aren’t. It’s that simple. I’m used to this by now.

I stand on a rock near the edge. “I miss you,” I tell him.

My voice disappears. But at least I’ve said it. And my time here is done. I’m getting tired. I’m ready to crawl down the mountain and get away from this altitude.

I turn to walk away. A cloud begins to form. I stop to watch.

It spins into shape out of pure nothingness. A large, swelling fog.

Nearby, tourists start hollering things like, “Hey! Come look at this cloud!” Folks with cameras aim them at the phenomenon. Everyone gathers.

A pillar of white grows in front of us. In only seconds, mist swallows the whole world. Nobody can see anything but the cloud.

Then.

Snow.

It starts falling hard. Then, gusts of wind. I watch until the show is over and the world turns sunny again.

Experts say sudden weather changes are common this time of year on top of the mountain. And I’m sure they are. Maybe that’s all it was — warm and cold fronts colliding. But then, maybe it was something else. Maybe it was a wink. Or a smile. Or a wave. Or a kiss on the forehead.

Maybe.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored nine books and is the creator of the “Sean of the South” blog and podcast.

Hope lives

Our dedicated doctors, nurses, researchers and sta are committed to finding a cure, so kids like Adrian can live their healthiest life – cancer free. We never give up hope of a world without childhood cancer and blood disorders, and that’s why we are here.

Holy Moly Motherhood By Alana Smith

Summer Feels

All at once, it’s summer. It seems like it was just March, and now, here we are in June with everything green and alive again.

Birds are chirping, lawnmowers are mowing and American flags are flying — it’s such a good feeling. I think I can smell the hot dogs from here.

My kids are eight and three, and we are constantly on the go, just like everyone else. Baseball and work and trying to squeeze in every little thing. It really wears on you, honestly. So this year, I want to really embrace these few weeks of summertime. I’m craving simple and slow-moving days.

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experience all the summer feels.

So, I’ll have to let them stay out until dark some nights. Have dinner picnics in the grass. Let them spend the night with friends even when it means they are cranky the next day. Stay up late with them watching “The Sandlot.” Give them time and space to explore. I’ll have to schedule less, so we can do more.

Smith

When I think back on my own childhood, I have such vivid memories of summer. The moment we walked out of school in May was one of the best feelings. Three whole months of fun! No math or early mornings or spelling tests! I can picture it now — being barefoot in the grass, chasing lightning bugs in the dark, playing in the sprinkler and riding bikes all day across the neighborhood. Freedom, right? At least it felt that way.

I’m sure I had a schedule to stick to and activities to attend, but what I remember most are all the feelings. The summer feels. Sun burns and popsicles. Baseball in the front yard. Knocking on our neighbor’s door and running to hide in the bushes. Slip ‘n slides and water guns. Jumping on the trampoline. Staying up way too late.

Now that I’m grown, it’s easy for me to want to get everyone in the tub and into bed during the week. I love a good schedule, and it makes my own bedtime so much more peaceful if the kids actually go to bed on time. But, I also want to create space for my kids to make memories and

And scheduling less is hard for me, because I want to do all the things and go to all the places. Sometimes I feel like I’m doing my best work when I’m taking my kids to some new and exciting place.

“We are making memories!” I’ll think. Which we are. But, if you think back to what makes you the most nostalgic about summer, it’s probably not that trip to Disney. It’s likely your old backyard, or the neighborhood pool, or just sitting in the driveway with friends.

It’s the simple stuff. The easygoing, summer feels.

Here are a few simple things for your summer bucket list this year:

► Take a hike

► Make homemade ice cream

► Go camping for one night, whether it’s in the backyard or at Oak Mountain State Park

► Set up a slip ‘n slide

► Go on a scavenger hunt

► Explore a creek

► Go to the Lee Branch farmers market

► Catch lightning bugs

► Go to the movies

► Have a sleepover

► Make a summer memory jar and write down fun memories. Read them before school starts!

As a small business owner, my investment in The Shelby County Chamber was a great decision for my company for a variety of reasons, but the special discount I receive from Office Depot as a Chamber investor is unbelievable! Every time I go, I receive a discount, but I almost didn’t believe the Office Depot salesperson on my last visit: I’d ordered 500 sheets with color printing, cut in half that came to almost $700 with tax. When I shared with them my Chamber discount, my total was only $112 with tax. The savings on this one order covered my annual Chamber investment – for multiple years!

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