August 2021 | Volume 14 | Issue 12
280LIVING.COM
THE 280 CORRIDOR’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
Serving a Purpose
BACK TO SCHOOL,
BACK TO NORMAL Shelby County Schools prep for students’ return
Adam Rader finds that his ministry background meshes well with his new position as director of sales and brand growth at Greystone Chick-fil-A.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
T
See page A23
Prep Preview
The Friday night lights will soon be shining for the 2021 season. Find out what’s in store for Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park.
See page B4
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Students arrive at Oak Mountain Elementary School for the first day of class for the 2020-21 school year on Aug. 13, 2020. Photo by Erin Nelson.
he 2021-22 school year will feature a return to normalcy after last year’s COVID-19 pandemic. Shelby County Schools Superintendent Lewis Brooks said the plan is for the upcoming school year to be as normal as possible. This is Brooks’ third year in this position and his 31st in education. “More than anything, we are looking forward to the opportunity to not have to deal with so much uncertainty,” Brooks said. “Our goal is to open our doors for in-person instruction and have a normal year.” Brooks said last school year was challenging and full of uncertainty. However, he and the school board made the decision to open the doors last August for in-person learning. Students in K-12 also had the option for remote learning. “When it comes to the education of our children, that does not always put people in a comfortable space,” he said. “But it puts us all in a space where we can give our kids what they deserve. If anything, what our children deserve is the opportunity to have an outstanding education. It’s something we as a school district have been proud of.”
See SCHOOL | page A30
Rerouting project underway in Chelsea By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE A road project years in the making is finally coming to fruition. Construction to create a new intersection at Shelby County 47 and Shelby County 39 in Chelsea began in May and is scheduled to be completed in November. The project is a joint collaboration between Shelby County and the city of Chelsea to both alleviate traffic
congestion at the intersection, as well as make it safer at the railroad crossing. County Engineer Randy Cole said his first concern is always public safety. “This has been a top priority for a number of years, and I’m very glad to see this under construction. Unfortunately, there have been fatalities on this stretch of road, particularly at the railroad crossing, and this has been a
See INTERSECTION | page A31
Construction is underway to create a new intersection at Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47 and is expected to be completed by November. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
A2 • August 2021
280 Living
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August 2021 • A3
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A4 • August 2021
280 Living
About Us Editor’s Note By Leah Ingram Eagle As we head into August, school starts back, regular routines begin again and summer is coming to an end (although the hot weather will continue until October!) My kids are heading into second and seventh grades in the Chelsea schools. During June, the Chelsea City Council approved a feasibility study to be completed to see what it would take to form their own school system. That process was expected to take around 90 days, so I will be following that story and sharing information online and in print as soon as it becomes available. This month’s cover story is all about “Back to School.” With the 2020-21 school year being probably the most difficult ever, I know I (and many others) are hoping this year looks much different. Even as a PTO parent, we were not allowed
to go past the lobby. My son started middle school, and I never got to meet any of his teachers. I wasn’t able to help with room mom duties at the elementary or have lunch with my daughter. I had a conversation with Shelby County Schools Superintendent Lewis Brooks and several school administrators on what the upcoming school year will look like.
Anyone driving through Chelsea has probably noticed the construction taking place near City Hall. I spoke with the county engineer and got an explanation of how the new intersection at Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47 will work. Also in this issue, read about new businesses opening in the area, several events taking place and get all the football previews from our schools from Sports Editor Kyle Parmley. I always appreciate story ideas and feedback, so feel free to email me at leagle@starnesmedia.com. Happy reading!
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
A praying mantis rests on a leaf at Lyon Blueberry Farm in Shelby County as visitors from across the area partake in summer blueberry picking. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Nick Patterson Community Editors: Leah Ingram Eagle Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Neal Embry Ingrid Schnader Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry Contributing Writer: Kari Kampakis Interns: Eric Taunton Hannah Urban Account Manager: Ted Perry Content Marketing Manager: Erica Brock Graphic Designer: Emily VanderMey Sr. Business Development Exec.: Michelle Salem Haynes Business Development Execs.: Don Harris Jarrett Tyus Client Success Specialist: Anna Bain Marketing Consultants: Warren Caldwell Kentevious Forehand Stacey Hatcher Hazen Hoagland Business Administrator: Anna Jackson
For advertising contact: dan@starnesmedia.com Contact Information: 280 Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnesmedia.com
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.
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Please Support Our Community Partners Ace Hardware, Dunnavant Square (A28) Alabama Ballet (A16) Alarmed South/OCD Club (A20) Altadena Eye Care (B19) Ascension/St. Vincent’s Health Systems (B7) Assisted Living Locators (A25) Bedzzz Express (B1, B5) Bellini’s Ristorante (B21) Benton Nissan of Hoover (A15) Boy Scouts of America - Greater Alabama Council (A28) Bromberg’s & Company Inc. (B21) Brookwood Diagnostic Center (B10) Budget Blinds (A17) Bug Cowboy’s Pest Solutions (A11) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Glass (B20) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (A9) Children’s of Alabama (A20) Chiropractic Today (B2) Clean Surface LLC (A7) ENT Associates of Alabama (B23) Eyes on Chelsea (A14) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (A26) Gardner Landscaping (A6) Grandview Medical (A3) Guin Service (A19) HaMi Boutique (A6) Hearing Solutions (A18) Hilliard Irrigation (B21) Insurance Place Birmingham (B18) Inverness Country Club (B7) Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (A11) Luckie’s Pinestraw (A1) Magic City Eyecare (B17) Max Transit (B23) Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (B11) Nature One Landscape Design (A16) Oak Highland Design/Decorating Den (A26) OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (B13)
Pak Mail (A30) Patti Henderson, Flat Fee Real Estate (B10) Peck Barham, RE/MAX Southern Homes (B22) Piggly Wiggly (B13) Raymond James Private Client Group (A31) Red Mountain Associates Thrivent Financial (B19) Renew Dermatology (A2) Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens (A13) ROME Study, UAB Division of Preventative Medicine (A22) Royal Automotive (B24) Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (B18) Sikes Children’s Shoes (B20) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (B11) Southern Air - Skeltons (A13) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (B17) SouthState Bank (A23) Space Cadets (B2) SpyGrass (A14) Stacy O’ Shields, Goosehead Insurance (B17) Starling Concrete Resurfacing Garage Experts (B22) The Harbor at Lay Lake (A21) The Joint Chiropractic (A12) The World Games Birmingham 2022 (A8) TherapySouth Greystone (A32) TrueCoders (A29) TrustCare Urgent Care (B1) Urban Home Market (B3) Urology Centers of Alabama (A10) Valley Bank (A5) Village Dermatology (A7) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (A18) Wee Peat Boutique/LuLu’s (A22) Window Decor & Design (A10) Window World of Central Alabama (A27)
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 Anna Jackson at ajackson@ starnesmedia.com.
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August 2021 • A5
Launching a business in a pandemic called for a strong banking partnership First-time entrepreneur Raveen Patel, the owner and operator of The Joint chiropractic clinics in Birmingham and Mountain Brook, had some business experience under his belt before launching his own venture in December. He handled operations and marketing for a Tuscaloosa hotel owned by his family but didn’t have much involvement with the banking and finance side of the business. He also faced the steep challenge of opening a hands-on medical business during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patel favors in-person marketing, preferably at locations such as malls, festivals and outdoor markets that attract a lot of foot traffic. This allows allow him and his team to set up their chiropractic tables for free demos of The Joint’s services. “With the pandemic, people just didn’t want to do the whole tabling aspect,” he said. It was Patel’s banker at Valley Bank who made it possible for Patel to have the time to figure out how to effectively market The Joint and its chiropractic services. Patel had a single point of contact, Birminghambased banker Tim Clower, who set up his accounts and guided him through the many other steps of starting a company from scratch.
“Tim basically set up everything,” Patel said. Valley was able to effectively serve Patel because Clower and his bank colleagues took the time to gain in-depth knowledge about Patel’s business — how it works and what financial needs might arise. And once accounts and services were set up and working properly, Valley continued to see how the bank can help as The Joint evolves and grows. “In today’s business climate, business owners are normally on call to their employees and clients at all times,” Clower said. “Therefore, one of our goals is to be able to provide excellent financial services that are accessible to them while they are operating their business. These services reflect in fewer trips to the actual bank, which saves time and removes some of the banking inconveniences of the past.” Since Patel was a newcomer to the Birmingham market, Clower helped out by sharing valuable information about the area and about marketing opportunities after gathering information from experts around Valley’s Birmingham operations. “They were helpful in showing me what’s ‘popping’ in the area in terms of newspapers, magazines, radio stations — just a lot of ideas about what to get our name into,” Patel said. For Patel, that meant spreading the word about The Joint via digital and social media marketing. The result: a sharp uptick in business that allowed him to open a second location in May. A franchise concept based in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Joint has taken a flat-fee approach to the chiropractic industry, offering monthly packages — which include up to four adjustment sessions for $39$59. No appointment is needed, and members can get services at any the Joint’s more than 600 locations nationwide. For additional information about Valley Bank’s range of business banking services, contact Tim Clower at tclower@valley.com.
Tim Clower is Vice President and Market Manager for Valley Bank at its Meadowbrook location.
©2021 Valley National Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. Equal Housing Lender. All Rights Reserved.
A6 • August 2021
280 Living
280 News Chelsea council renews auditing contract By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Mayor Tony Picklesimer thanked all of those involved that helped put on the Big Kaboom that took place July 3 during his report at the July 6 Chelsea City Council meeting. “It was a tremendous success with great weather and a huge turnout,” he said. “The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office estimated the crowd at 7,000, which was by far our biggest event yet.” He also added there was no news to report on the school system feasibility study discussed at the previous council meeting. The mayor and council approved six resolutions: ► To declare city property as surplus and authorize its disposal. ► To approve an off-premises beer and wine ABC license for the new RaceTrac in Chelsea, which is near completion. ► To authorize the mayor to execute a renewal contract to Rivertree Systems Inc. The company completed 22 audits from October 2019 to June 2021, and out of those, the city received a net revenue of $16,253. ► To authorize the paving of Rich Drive (located off Shelby County 37 on Shelby County 39 across from the middle school). ► To approve an annexation request made by Doris Rooks for 4.9 acres of property located at 239 Shady Branch Lane, Chelsea. ► To approve payments for city bills. During the community forum, Emily Sims from the Chelsea Public Library reported that the total number of people registered for the summer reading program was 494 across all age groups. Other numbers so far for their summer programs are 506 for Wednesday programs, 207 for Tuesday movie days and 250 for Tot Time.
Mayor Tony Picklesimer, third from right, and councilors discuss agenda items during their July 6 meeting. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
They also handed out over 1,000 books at the Big Kaboom over the weekend. “This far exceeds any number we’ve ever done,” Sims said. “These numbers are huge, and we are only halfway through the summer.” The Chelsea Historical Museum presented a children’s program and storytime with crafts earlier July 6 and announced upcoming events that included a members meeting July 25 with guest speaker Chris Ray and another set for 2-4 p.m. Oct. 24 with guest speaker Kim Johnson, author of “Haunted Shelby County.” Chelsea Community Center Programs Director Jane Ann Mueller said there are many sports camps taking place, as well as uniform fittings. Signups for fall sports will be posted soon. She
encouraged people to visit the Parks and Recreation Department website for more information. Mueller also said to stay tuned for the opening of the Splash Pad at Melrose Park. They hope to have a ribbon-cutting for the splash pad following the July Coffee with the Mayor event. Chelsea Fire Chief Joe Lee said six employees recently completed certification classes at the Alabama Fire College in June, increasing their knowledge and leadership abilities. During public comment, Jack Little of Highland Lakes addressed the council about the annexation possibility and brought a copy of the Dunnavant Valley small area plan, a 2014 document of what people who live in
Dates to Remember ► Aug. 3: Council meeting at City Hall. Work session begins at 5 p.m., action meeting begins at 6 p.m. ► Aug. 17: Council meeting at City Hall. Work session begins at 5 p.m., action meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Dunnavant Valley are looking for. Charmin Brooks, a resident of Birch Creek in Dunnavant Valley, also mentioned the plan and that it is implemented on a regular basis.
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A8 • August 2021
280 Living
Transport vehicle approved, baseball champions honored Members of the Chelsea 9U World Series team: Carter Smith, Cooper Vick, Austin Kang, Colt Defour, Maddox Pate, Turner Calloway, Luke Allison, Hollis Kitchen, Christian Lake, Seli Jenkins, Wyatt Stanfield, Hunter Reed, Hudson Reed and coaches Trent Reed, Bobby Lake, Jordan Allison and Tim Stanfield. Photo courtesy of Bobby Lake.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The 9U World Series Championship Chelsea Diamondback Predators team was recognized during the Chelsea City Council’s July 21 meeting. Each team member received a congratulatory certificate from Mayor Tony Picklesimer, along with a city of Chelsea pin. The team also signed a banner that will be on display at the Chelsea Community Center. Head coach Tim Stanfield said he thought after their first few games of the season that it was going to be an interesting year, but things turned around. “These guys grew together about as good as any team I’ve ever seen,” Stanfield said. After a 15-0 loss to Northport, they started hitting the ball better, he said. The team went on to state, where they played two close games but lost both. The Diamondback Predators made it to the World Series and faced Northport again, but this time came away with a win. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Stanfield said. Team members are: Carter Smith, Cooper Vick, Austin Kang, Colt Defour, Maddox Pate, Turner Calloway, Luke Allison, Hollis Kitchens, Christian Lake, Seli Jenkins, Wyatt Stanfield. Hunter Reed and Hudson Reed. Coaches were: Trent Reed, Bobby Lake, Jordan Allison and Tim Stanfield. In other business, the council: ► Appointed Mary Ann Moore to the Library Board. ► Approved the purchase of a transport unit, power stretcher and stair chair for the Chelsea Fire & Rescue Department. The lead time on a new transport unit is about a year. ► Approved for the city’s bills to be paid. Four ordinances of annexation were approved: ► Jeanette Wells for property at 2451 Forest Lakes Lane, Sterrett, consisting of 0.11 acres.
► Steve Slatton for property at 620 Shelby County 438, Wilsonville, consisting of 5 acres. ► Lori Krauss for property at 248 Chelsea Farms Lane consisting of 10.74 acres. ► Frank and Margaret Gray for property at 2209 Shelby County 336 consisting of 2.06 acres. During the community forum, Emily Sims said summer reading is winding down at the Chelsea Public Library. Beginning in August, Tot Time will be scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Councilman Casey Morris congratulated Jane Ann Mueller from the Chelsea Community Center for her commitment to the center and also for being named The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s ambassador of
the month. “It’s an honor to serve the city of Chelsea as liaison to Shelby County to those events. Thank you for allowing me that,” Mueller said. The Splash Pad at Melrose Park opened July 20. Mueller clarified that it cannot be reserved for private parties, but a pavilion can be reserved. She also noted that room rentals at the community center are increasing, and officials are booking all the way into next year. Chelsea Fire Chief Joe Lee thanked the council for approving his request for a transport unit. He reported that from Jan. 1 through June 30, the department ran 853 calls (532 medical and 358 people transported to the hospital), an average of 1.98 calls a day.
Those numbers are only about 19 calls less than 2020. “On average, 14 times each week, people are getting transported to hospitals from Chelsea,” Lee said. “Our goal is to provide the best emergency services to the people in the city.” He said other cities on the Interstate 65 corridor are looking to form a transport service because of the lack of service by private ambulances. “We are way ahead of the game,” he said. “It is by far the best service we can provide to our citizens,” Lee said. “We have control from time of arrival to your home, two Chelsea paramedics travel to the hospital. We will be with you the whole time. There’s no doubt the transport services are the wave of the future.”
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August 2021 • A9
County OKs use of American Rescue Plans Act funds for capital projects By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Funds received by the Shelby County Commission from the Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Fund (established under the American Rescue Plan Act) will be used for long-term capital improvements that will better serve the county for years to come. The $21,143,031 — the first half of funds that were received this May — was added to the operating budget, which was amended to reflect the amount. County Manager Chad Members of the Shelby County Commission meet July Scroggins said they were trying 12. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle. to look at projects that would have a life of 20 years and affect all residents of Shelby County. has been operating on Band-Aids for a long The Water Services Infrastructure Project time now, and this is definitely what they need. will benefit its wholesale and residential users. “We’ve got to get some sort of communicaThe $9,400,000 project will complete the tion there for the safety of our deputies and citiinfrastructure improvements and expansion of zens,” he said. “Chad and I have talked about it. the ductile iron water line on Shelby County It’s a no-brainer, but I appreciate it very much.” 280 from U.S. 280 near the Narrows down to The project was set to open bids July 28 and Harpersville. should award bids at the first commission meetThe Emergency Response Communication ing in August. Systems Infrastructure Project will also serve Other items Scroggins mentioned in his all county residents. The $8 million project report included: will improve the P25 radio system infrastruc► Park grants initiatives are continuing. ture covering the entire county and improve ► Construction continues on the 280 County the number of channels (call volume) and the Services Building. coverage area (eliminate holds in the cover► Road resurfacing is taking place on U.S. age area in Pelham, Alabaster and Dunnavant 280. and Vandiver). It will also provide a system ► Lots of weekend events have been taking to accommodate a regional approach by uti- place throughout the county. lizing simulcasting to free up frequencies for ► The mention of George Bentley, who proneighboring counties. The project will include vided insurance services to the county for many Shelby County owning two of the three new years, had passed away. towers with no new lease obligations. Other resolutions approved during the meet“There has been about 18 months of ing include: research on this project that will add more fre► A bid for bill printing and mail services quencies and add more capacity and coverage for the water operations department to DATAon the radio systems used by first responders,” prose for $13,770. Scroggins said.“We have holes in this county, ► Approval for a traffic signal at Shelby and this is a major issue, and this gives us County 17 and Shelby County 26 to Stone and an opportunity for us to invest these funds to Sons Electrical in the amount of $152,157.40. cover all of the county so everyone can benefit ► A bid for road sign and traffic safety matefrom this.” rial to Vulcan Sign. Scroggins said this opportunity will help the ► Committed to pay a 20% local match of county long-term and is a win-win, as they will $20,136 to be shared with other participating not have to use the monies out of their own municipalities to be recognized as a member funds. of the Clastran Transportation Steering Sheriff John Samaniego said his department Committee.
Construction status of Shelby County 52 bridge discussed By HANNAH URBAN During the June 28 Shelby County Commission meeting, County Manager Chad Scroggins discussed the possibility of using the American Recovery Act funds for infrastructure projects with a 20-year impact or longer. The specific infrastructure projects have not been determined yet, but they may include water infrastructure or capital projects that will be useful and beneficial to the community long term. They do not know how much money they will have for those projects, but the assessment is about $42 million over the course of several years, Scroggins said. The county’s budget schedule for this year should be prepared by Aug. 1 and submitted for approval at the commission meeting in early September. County Engineer Randy Cole reported that gas tax revenue is increasing due to rising gas taxes. Bids for a traffic signal at the intersection of Shelby County 26 and Shelby County 17 were recently opened and will be up for approval at the next commission meeting. Cole also discussed the status of work on several bridge projects. Work on the Shelby County 52 bridge over the Cahaba River is progressing despite being temporarily delayed due to rain, with mortars being set that are 7
feet deep, over 100 feet long and 42 tons each. Cole said the work will require cranes on both sides of the Cahaba River, and the road will be blocked off while the mortars are set, weather permitting, before and after the July Fourth holiday. If utilities can be moved around, bridge work will also be started in Pelham and Helena on Shelby County 52 at a later time. “We’re going to decide which one to do next, probably one down around the Spring Creek area. There’s one on CR-61 we’ve got to do, and one on CR-71 we’ve got to do,” Cole said. “We never run out of bridges.” Bids approved by the commission also included: ► Copper tubing PVC to Ferguson Waterworks for $60,283. ► Bridge replacement and approaches on Shelby County 24 over Spring Creek to Newell & Bush Inc. for $1,427,356.51. ► PTC pressure sealed forms to Forms Plus Services for $8,387.50 . ► Unanimous approval for the Emergency Response Plan for Water Services that is a requirement of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. ► Appointed Christie Hester-Pannell to the Central Alabama Wellness board to fill the remainder of Ed Carter’s term, which expires in May 2023.
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A10 • August 2021
280 Living
Hoover council gives OK for Pet Paradise in Tattersall By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council has given approval for Pet Paradise to build a 15,000-square-foot grooming, boarding and veterinary care facility for up to 175 pets in the Tattersall Park development next to Greystone. Several Greystone residents told the Hoover City Council on June 21 that they and residents of the Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen retirement facility located next door would be disturbed by barking dogs. Charlie Beavers, an attorney for Pet Paradise, said the company has taken numerous measures to reduce noise coming from its facilities across the country. The facility itself is heavily soundproofed with 1 foot of foam insulation in the roofing on top of insulated block, Beavers said. The company also will be restricted to having no more than 75 dogs outside at a time during the day and no dogs at all outside between 7 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Pet Paradise takes dogs outside to play for 30 minutes three times a day, and employees keep the dogs engaged while they are outside, which helps reduce barking, Beavers said. Dogs also are allowed outside on individual patios outside their suites twice a day for “potty breaks” and while their suites are being cleaned, but the limit of 75 dogs outside applies to all dogs, Beavers said. Additionally, the nearest single-family residence in Greystone is more than 800 feet away from where the Pet Paradise facility will be, Beavers said. There also is a wooded area and 102-foot elevation change between the facility and homes in Greystone, he said. Connie Devoe, who lives on Berwick Road (the closest road in Greystone), said dog barking typically can reach 80-90 decibels and sometimes can go up to 100-115 decibels and travel two miles. She’s concerned that Pet Paradise won’t guarantee that dog barking won’t be heard from inside the facility and also concerned about the barking during the day, she said. She works
Pet Paradise plans to open a 15,000-squarefoot pet grooming, boarding and veterinary facility in the Tattersall Park development in Hoover. Photos courtesy of city of Hoover.
from home and often outside on her patio and doesn’t want to be disturbed by dogs barking, she said. “I don’t necessarily believe that we won’t be able to hear the dogs,” Devoe said.
Jimmy Fallon, another resident of Berwick Road, asked council members if they would want a pet boarding facility behind their homes. “They need to put that place somewhere else where there’s no residents behind
them,” he said. Councilman Mike Shaw said he absolutely understands residents’ concerns. “Nobody wants to create noise issues with what we’re doing,” Shaw said. He noted that the council initially denied a request for a PetSuites Resort on John Hawkins Parkway in 2018 and only voted in favor of it in 2019 after eliminating an outdoor play area and requiring additional soundproofing to the walls. This situation is different because the Pet Paradise facility will be much farther away from homes than the PetSuites Resort is, he said. Also, he personally called residents and businesses near other Pet Paradise facilities in other states and could not find any complaints about the facilities, he said. Some people didn’t even realize it was near them, he said. Councilman Casey Middlebrooks noted that Devoe made reference to hunting dogs in her remarks and said it should ease her mind that while the barking of hunting dogs can travel for miles, most dog barking does not carry that far. The council also approved other conditions for the Pet Paradise facility recommended by the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission: ► Impervious fencing must be installed to keep all outdoor pet areas screened from public view ► Lights must be cast down to eliminate light pollution toward neighbors ► An underground waste treatment process approved by the city engineer must be installed ► The dumpster must have a roof over it since it likely will include pet waste ► The dumpster must be serviced an “adequate number of times” per week to lessen odors ► Concrete block exterior walls must be split-faced The 15,000-square-foot facility will be on 2 acres at the corner of Greystone Way and Tattersall Boulevard and include outdoor runs and play areas, on-site veterinary care seven days a week, grooming and day camp services, and a residence quarters for a 24-hour caretaker.
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August 2021 • A11
New addiction treatment center opens in International Park The Birmingham Recovery Center opened June 30 in the International Park office complex off Acton Road in Hoover. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By JON ANDERSON Colin Harris went through treatment programs to beat a heroin addiction 30 times, and now that the 32-year-old is clean, he spearheaded the opening of a new alcohol and drug outpatient treatment center in Hoover to help others find victory, too. Harris collaborated with two other men who successfully beat their addictions to launch the Birmingham Recovery Center in the International Park office complex off Acton Road. They opened the doors to clients June 30. The 7,500-square-foot building is the former home of Noah’s Event Venue. It is not a detox or residential facility but will offer a “partial hospitalization” program that’s essentially an all-day program, as well as different levels of outpatient services and support for family members of people with addictions, said Ian Henyon, the center’s executive director. The primary service is group counseling, but each client also will get at least one one-hour individual counseling session each week and have drug tests at least twice a week, Henyon said. The center has five clinical staff, three directors and three behavioral health technicians. There also is a medical team of two doctors and a registered nurse who will conduct medical and psychiatric evaluations. Both doctors are certified in addictionology and psychiatry and are able to prescribe most medication clients may need, except methadone, Henyon said. Harris serves as the managing director, and John Giannetto, a former heroin addict who was working in a treatment program when Harris was undergoing treatment about 10 years ago, moved from the Atlanta area to become the director of business development. Harris, who is originally from Montgomery, said there is an incredible need for addiction recovery programs in Alabama. At times, he had to go out of state to get treatment, he said. There are at least 24 similar outpatient facilities in metro Atlanta but, until now, only one
in Alabama that is not state-funded or funded through Medicaid or Medicare, Harris said. That treatment facility is run by Bradford Health Services, he said. The need for alcohol and drug addiction recovery programs is especially great right now because substance abuse and overdoses have risen dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris said. Drug overdose deaths in Alabama increased 31% from 2019-20, and Jefferson County alone saw a record 302 drug overdose deaths in 2020, according to the Birmingham Recovery Center. “We have a wonderful recovery community in our area that has been combating this, and we are going to stand and fight that same battle,” Harris said. “We have spent the past year recruiting and creating a clinical team and putting together what we consider to be a gold-standard program.” Alabama Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell said it is a celebration anytime
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people can have access to additional care. “It is just such a great opportunity to address such a critical issue in our community,” Boswell said. “Overdoses continue to happen. We are losing lots and lots of people to addiction. Honestly, to me, that’s just unacceptable.” Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he’s grateful for the work the Birmingham Recovery Center will do to help people facing addictions. As a former firefighter and paramedic, he has seen firsthand the devastation that addiction can cause for individuals and families, he said. Addiction is not just something seen in the inner city, Brocato said. “It happens across the entire socioeconomic spectrum.” Henyon, who has been clean for 14 years and now is a licensed professional counselor with 13 years in the field, said he and his colleagues want to change the way treatment is often done and viewed. When he went through treatment, the care he received was not very compassionate, he
said. It was more of a “tough love” philosophy where someone sat him down, wagged their finger at him and criticized him for his addiction, he said. That’s not the way anyone else with a chronic illness is treated, he said. “We’re going to stop blaming addicted individuals for having a disorder of the brain,” Henyon said. The Birmingham Recovery Center will be able to accommodate about 40 clients at a time, Henyon said. Harris said he and his colleagues not only want to help people break free from substance abuse, but to help them change their lives and achieve their goals. “Stopping substance abuse is not enough,” he said. “Treatment must always result in having a better life.” For more information about the Birmingham Recovery Center, go to birminghamrecovery center.com.
A12 • August 2021
280 Living
Business Happenings NOW OPEN O’Henry’s Coffees recently opened its location in Dunnavant Valley at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 111. It also took over ownership of the Chelsea Coffee House, 16699 U.S. 280. 205-719-5423, ohenryscoffees.com Charter Communication recently opened a new Spectrum store at 5237 U.S. 280 in the Brook Highland Shopping Center. Customers can shop mobile phones and accessories, pick up equipment — including self-install kits — and make payments. 866-406-7063, spectrum.com Dollar Tree recently opened at 4606 U.S. 280, Suite 114, in the River Ridge Shopping Center space formerly housed by Pier One Imports. 205-980-9076, dollartree.com Amy Booth recently opened her first brick-and-mortar location for her cookie business, The Sweetest Booth, inside O’Henry’s Coffees at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 111-B, in the Dunnavant Valley Shopping Center. 205-390-7944, thesweetestbooth.com Square 1 Nutrition, Smoothie & Juice Shop, recently opened at 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 119. It serves Herbalife loaded teas, shakes and protein bowls. 662-983-8019, Facebook @square1nutrition GRK Street, 5291 Valleydale Road, is now open. The fast-casual restaurant is inspired by the fast-paced food found in the streets of downtown Athens. Authentic street food can be ordered app-thru, curbside, takeout and delivery. 205-383-3193, greekstreet.com Maven Hair Co., 1001 Beaumont Ave., Suite 103, recently opened a new 1,500-square-foot salon. Megan Manley is the owner, and the salon has seven stylists offering services to men, women and children and specializing in haircuts and color treatments. 205-407-4337, mavenhairco.com Dr. Aaron Hawkins, the clinical medical director of The Hawkins Group, recently expanded his practice from two
offices in Auburn to include an office at 2803 Greystone Commercial Blvd. Treatments include medication and counseling services, treatment for people struggling with substance abuse, telemedicine services and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS. 205-968-1227, hawkins-psychiatry.com
COMING SOON Guidepost Montesorri of Birmingham, 1700 Corporate Drive, plans to open a brand new campus this fall and is now enrolling students. It is a high-fidelity Montessori school that serves children ages infant through kindergarten. 205-677-3619, guidepostmontessori.com/locations/ birmingham-al Starbucks will open a new location at 2653 Valleydale Road in the Walmart Neighborhood Market shopping center at the intersection of Caldwell Mill Road. The 2,000-square-foot freestanding store will include a drive-thru and is scheduled to open in early fall. starbucks.com The Hoover City Council recently approved for a Pet Paradise facility to be built in Tattersall Park on Alabama 119 near Greystone. The 15,000-square-foot facility will be on two acres at the corner of Greystone Way and Tattersall Boulevard and include outdoor runs and play areas, on-site veterinary care seven days a week, grooming and day camp services, and a residence quarters for a 24-hour caretaker. petparadise.com
ters off U.S. 280 to become its permanent campus. Renovations are expected to be complete around December. 205-731-7339, highlandscollege.com Hearing Solutions has expanded into a new, larger facility at 3000 Meadow Lake Drive, just a few doors down from its previous location. Owner Dana Walcheck is also pleased to announce that audiologist Abby Ryan has joined the team. The company works with patients to diagnose and find solutions for hearing, tinnitus, and balance needs. 205-739-2242, hearingsolutionsalabama.com Dr. Mia Cowan and MiBella Wellness are moving from 3000 Meadow Lake Drive to a bigger office at 2807 Greystone Commercial Blvd. in September. 205-995-1009, mibellawellness.com Gentry Pharmacy has relocated to its new building down the street at 3100 Blue Lake Drive. It is now open and accepting customers. 205-970-1983, gentrypharmacy.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old Highway 280, recently expanded its space with a new outdoor covered pavilion that increases its seating capacity and also provides another option for outdoor weddings. 205-610-9463, cat-n-bird.com Highlands College, 1700 Lee Branch Lane, is currently renovating the former HealthSouth corporate headquar-
Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center, 16691 U.S. 280, this fall is rebranding itself as AllerVie Health and aligning with a national network of board-certified allergists and immunologists. 205-871-9661, alabamaallergy.com
280Living.com Issis & Sons Furniture Gallery, 250 Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham, has an office job opening. For more information, contact Operations Manager Nancy Gowens at pelham@issishome.com. 205-620-6926, issisandsons.com Avadian Credit Union has launched a Spanish language version of online and mobile banking. The Spanish language service allows members to manage their accounts, transfer funds and perform many other activities from their computers or mobile devices. The bank has branches at 420 Old U.S. 280, 15660 U.S. 280 and 3439 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 100. avadiancu.com Lloyd’s Restaurant, 5301 U.S. 280, has updated its hours of operation. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; and closed Monday. 205-991-5530, lloyds280.com
NEW OWNERSHIP Abby Leib is the new owner of Rosegate Design, 6801 Cahaba Valley Road, which offers comprehensive outside design services and a turn-key workroom for custom window treatments, bedding, upholstery and pillows. 205-980-5014, therosegate.com
PERSONNEL MOVES DSLD Land Management Co., 1178 Dunnavant Valley Road, is pleased to announce several new hires. George Hall joins the team as a senior CAD operator. George graduated from Ohio Northern University with a degree in industrial technology. He will be responsible for the design and layout of site plans, easements and permit drawings for residential and commercial projects. Andy Vaughan joins the team as a landscape designer. Andy is a recent graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. He spent the summer of 2020 as an intern with the company and is also a licensed landscape designer in the state of Alabama. Laws Anderson joins the team as a landscape designer. Laws is also a recent graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. He will be responsible for conceptual as well as architectural drawings as a preliminary part of DSLD’s design/build process. Mary Katherine Keough joins the team as an assistant production manager. Mary Kather-
August 2021 • A13 ine is a recent graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in horticulture and a minor in marketing. 205-437-1012, dsldland.com Joia Johnson has been appointed to the boards of Regions Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Regions Bank, effective July 20. Johnson recently retired as chief administrative officer, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hanesbrands, an apparel manufacturer and marketer. Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Johnson served as the executive leader for the Hanesbrands board of directors’ Compensation Committee as well as the board’s Governance and Nominating Committee. She also oversaw legal, corporate social responsibility, human resources, real estate and government/trade relations functions for the company. For Regions Financial and Regions Bank, she will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Risk Committee of the boards. Johnson also serves on the board of Global Payments, a Fortune 500 payments technology company, and previously served on the boards of Crawford & Company, which specializes in insurance claims administration, and H.J. Russell & Company, a private real estate construction and property management business. Regions has four 280 corridor branches at 341 Summit Blvd., 102 Inverness Plaza, 5420 U.S. 280 and 16046 U.S. 280 in Chelsea. regions.com Interaction Advisory Group recently announced the addition of school psychologist Ameet Bosmia, Ed. S, NCSP, to its Advisory Board. IAG, a nationwide leader in autism and developmental disability training, is also exploring the growing need for understanding emotional and behavioral conditions in different professions. Bosmia will leverage his expertise for possible curriculum development and assisting the company in exploring future opportunities. 205-447-7998, interactionadvisorygroup.com Kate Etheredge was recently named the new director of library services for both the North Shelby and Mt Laurel libraries, located at 5521 Cahaba Valley Road and 111 Olmsted St., respectively. Previously, Etheredge was
the team librarian and branch manager. northshelbylibrary.org, mtlaurellibrary.org Lee Anne Montgomery was recently named the new executive director of Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, 200 One Nineteen Blvd. Montgomery joined the Somerby team earlier this year and recently moved back to her home state of Alabama to serve at Somerby St. Vincent’s One Nineteen in Hoover. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Somerby, which includes more than 30 years experience as a chief nurse executive. 205-745-4600, somerbyseniorliving.com
ANNIVERSARIES TherapySouth is celebrating its 15th anniversary of serving people with physical therapy needs. It has two locations along the 280 corridor: Chelsea, 100 Chelsea Corners, Suite 100; and Greystone, 2823 Greystone Commercial Blvd. therapysouth.com Fancy Fur Pet Grooming and Pet Boutique, 5291 Valleydale Road, recently celebrated its 13th anniversary. The company offers a range of specialty pet items and grooming services for all breeds. 205-408-1693, fancyfurpets.com Gameday In Style Boutique, 450 Inverness Corners, is celebrating its eighth anniversary this month and now offers weekly arrivals of European and American-made apparel. 205-637-7003, gamedayinstyle.com Expedia Cruises, 270 Doug Baker Blvd. in the Village at Lee Branch, recently celebrated its seventh anniversary. 205-437-3354, expediacruises.com DSLD AquaScapes, 5485 U.S. 280, recently celebrated its second anniversary. The Aquascapes division of DSLD Land Management is a water garden and retail center that includes pond and fountain resources. 205-437-1012, dsldland.com/water-gardens Dr. Andrea Nunes and Liberty Park Family Dentistry, 8000 Liberty Parkway, Suite 126, are celebrating their third anniversary in business. The family practice specializes in treating patients of all ages and offers a wide range of dental services including routine cleanings, crowns, operative care and whitening. 205-413-8116, libertyparkdentist.com
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A14 • August 2021
280 Living
SWEET SUCCESS
Baker Amy Booth opens 1st shop in Mt Laurel Amy Booth, who has been baking since 2017, recently opened in a dedicated space inside O’Henry’s Coffees in the Dunnavant Valley Shopping Center. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Amy Booth began experimenting with baking themed cookies for her daughter’s fourth birthday in 2017. Her husband was convinced she could sell them, so she gave it a shot. Not only did it work, but her business has grown exponentially over the past four years. Growing up, Booth said she didn’t even like baking but enjoyed cooking instead. Once she started, she saw the joy it brought to her customers and came to love it. She said she never could have never imagined this was going to happen. “I was a stay-at-home mom and got sucked into Pinterest,” Booth said. “I started making fondant decorations and sold them on Etsy. I shipped to all 50 states, Europe and Canada. Friends asked me to make toppers for them, but they also wanted the cake, so I made cakes for a while.” Booth said not long after that, she received a request to make 300 cookies with a company logo. “I had several people ask me, so I knew there was a need,” she said. “I knew I had to either make a big jump or scale back, so I jumped in, and it exploded.” Booth opened her own store June 19 inside the O’Henry’s Coffees location at Dunnavant Square, which opened at the beginning of June. She got connected with O’Henry’s Coffees, and they wanted to sell her cookies in their stores. In order to sell them, she had to transition from cooking out of her home in Highland Lakes and began working out of a commercial kitchen. She moved her operations to the location where O’Henry’s roasts its coffee. Booth had been looking at spaces in the Dunnavant Valley shopping center. One unit was more space than she needed on her own, and two spaces was too much for O’Henry’s Coffees, so they brainstormed about how to make it work with each business having their own
dedicated space. In the 500 square feet of open rectangular space, guests of The Sweetest Booth can see the two work tables and everything Booth and her employees are doing to create their sweets. Baskets of cookies will be in the reception area for purchase. She also has a storage area for all of her tools and ingredients, along with her 730 cookie cutters. She specializes in custom-themed sugar cookies, gourmet cookies and confections. Everything is prepared on site using fresh ingredients. She had already hired one full-time employee
who began helping her when she was still working out of her home, along with a part-time employee to help with decorating the cookies. She thinks she will be adding a third employee soon. Booth said she will still be taking custom and pre-orders. Some of the most popular requests she receives are for birthdays, holidays, baby showers, weddings, graduation, retirement, business logos and medical events. The Sweetest Booth also offers a cookie subscription box (quarterly or monthly) with flavors changing each month. Flavors for July included red velvet, blueberry muffin, orange
cream, snickerdoodle, caramel, sugar cookie and chocolate chip with peanut butter chips. She will roll out fall flavors in August that will include cinnamon, caramel and s’mores. The Sweetest Booth will initially be open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8-10 a.m. Saturday. “Everyone has been so sweet and welcoming,” Booth said. “We are very excited to be a part of the Mt Laurel community and are looking forward to serving lots of sweet treats.” The Sweetest Booth is located at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 111-B. For more information, visit thesweetestbooth.com.
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280Living.com
August 2021 • A15
Stylists unite to work together at newly opened Maven Hair Co. By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Megan Manley and some of her former co-workers wanted to be together again, so Manley took the leap and opened a salon to make that happen. “We all preferred to work in a combined environment, as we were solo during COVID19. Our goal was to all be together again,” Manley said. “Someone needed to take the initiative and make it happen, and I decided to take on the responsibility.” Manley and her friends came from the same salon on U.S. 280, and some have worked together for over a decade. All of the seven stylists at Maven Hair Co. had moved to Sola Salons and worked independently while the new building was under construction. The new 1,500-square-foot space at 1001 Beaumont Ave., Suite 103, opened June 8 after being pushed back from November 2020 due to construction delays. “We came from a super large, really busy, loud salon, and we kind of liked it being more quaint, a little bit smaller, with more of a chill vibe,” Manley said. “The new space is bright and modern, with mostly white walls and mid-century lines with lots of windows and tons of natural light.” Her plan had been in the works for a year before the building was constructed. She said she loved the thought of being independent, and the space was built out the way she wanted it. Manley has been in the industry for 12 years and worked at the same salon for 11 years. She
is not a hairstylist, which she said is rare for a salon owner. She enjoys the business side and had always wanted to open her own salon. Maven Hair Co. offers services for men, women and children, specializing in haircuts and color treatments. A few of the stylists do extensions and smoothing treatments. Facial waxing, makeup and event hair are also available options. “Our clientele have been anticipating [the opening], and everyone knows exactly where we are,” Manley said. “We have had a really great response from people seeing our building.” Maven Hair Co. also sells retail items including candles, jewelry and other boutique items. It is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only. For more information, visit mavenhairco. com or follow on Instagram @mavenhairco.
Above: Megan Manley, owner of Maven Hair Co. off Valleydale Road, left, trims Jen Culberson’s hair. The new 1,500-squarefoot space at 1001 Beaumont Ave., Suite 103, opened June 8 after being pushed back from November 2020 due to construction delays. Photo by Erin Nelson.
A16 • August 2021
280 Living
Misc. Lu Gifts & Apparel a happy place for owner Lulu Regard By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE As an avid boutique shopper, Lulu Regard created her own store last year where she combined all of her favorite things, along with some new ones. “It’s kind of a combination of all the places I’ve shopped in the past,” Regard said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” Two years ago, she began selling products in a friend’s hair salon in Hoover, but she soon decided she wanted a bigger space of her own. “I found this spot on Valleydale and moved in here,” she said. “When COVID-19 hit, it was to my benefit and allowed me to set up my shop in the former Apex Valet location.” Misc. Lu opened last September. Regard moved in some new furniture, hung rods, set up dressing rooms and hung decorations on the wall to give it the feel she wanted. Not new to running a business, she and her husband own Crazy Cajun’s in Inverness Corners. Her husband owns a home inspection business, and now she has a shop of her own. “Since opening, I’ve had a few ladies ask if they can put their stuff in my shop, and I’m all for local items,” she said. “I also get shipments every week.” Misc. Lu has a variety of items, including clothes, gourmet food, jewelry and brand names including Arthur Court, Lampe Berger air purifiers and fragrances, and E. Newton jewelry. Other items available include cards, clothing lines, handmade baby clothes, gourmet pet treats and local art pieces. “I like things that give back,” she said. Regard describes her shop as her happy place, adding that it offers a great selection of gifts in a variety of price ranges. “I don’t want it to just be for one kind of person. I want it to be for everybody,” she said. Since opening, Regard said she has built up a client base that continues to grow. Many customers have learned about the store by word of mouth and social media, and she said she has
Lulu Regard stands in the front of her store, Misc. Lu, located on Valleydale Road. Misc. Lu has a variety of items, including clothes, gourmet food, jewelry and brand names such as Arthur Court, Lampe Berger air purifiers and fragrances, and E. Newton jewelry. Other items available include cards, clothing lines, handmade baby clothes, gourmet pet treats and local art pieces. Photo by Erin Nelson.
gotten a lot of new customers from the Next Door app. “It’s wonderful to see repeat customers and new ones that come in who just found out about us,” she said. “This community has been kind and has really embraced me.” Misc. Lu is located behind the former Rite Aid at the intersection of Valleydale Road and
Caldwell Mill Road. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 am. To 3 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed Sunday and Monday. “It’s growing, and I’m excited about that,” Regard said. “It’s just what I like doing, and it’s like I’m not even going to work.”
Misc. Lu Gifts & Apparel • WHERE: 4509 Valleydale Road, Suite 1 • WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday • CALL: 205-582-2444 • WEB: Facebook @miscellaneouslu and Instagram at @misc.lu
280Living.com
August 2021 • A17 Dr. Aaron Hawkins, far left, outside of the Hawkins Group Psychiatric Consultants new office — interior seen at right — in Greystone. Since the pandemic, the need for mental health providers has increased significantly, Hawkins said. Photos by Erin Nelson.
New psychiatric medical facility opens in Greystone By HANNAH URBAN Dr. Aaron Hawkins, a board-certified psychiatrist, said there is a critical shortage of medical health care providers in Alabama. Hawkins is the clinical medical director of The Hawkins Group, a psychiatric medical facility he founded in 2019 to address the growing mental health needs in east Alabama. It has now expanded to three locations: two in Auburn and a new office in Greystone. The Hawkins Group added its Birmingham facility because a lot of the previous mental health care providers in the area either retired or moved to jobs in different places. The new office facility fills in some of those gaps. Since the pandemic, the need for mental health providers has increased significantly, Hawkins said. He wrote an article in Psychiatry
Advisor magazine about this growing need. He said because of COVID-19, rates of depression and anxiety have increased to 53.4 percent, and in the past year, 13 percent of adults turned to substance abuse to help cope. When COVID-19 began, their Auburn offices had increased referrals from primary care physicians who were struggling to meet care demands. There are seven employees working in the Greystone office, but some move between the three locations depending on the day. The doctors, physicians assistants, therapists and nurse practitioners go where the care is needed. “Our goal is to provide full, comprehensive care to our patients in each office,” said Chief Financial Officer Benny Paternostro, who manages The Hawkins Group’s day-to-day financial operations. Employees at the Greystone office include
physicians who provide medication and counseling services, an addiction medication specialist, licensed counselors and psychologists. Treatments offered include medication and counseling services, treatment for people struggling with substance abuse, telemedicine services and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS. TMS is a treatment for severe depression that has been FDA approved since 2008, but not many businesses provide it. The Hawkins Group uses it in all three offices for outpatients only. Treatment comes from a machine that uses a focused magnetic field to treat the part of the brain that does not work well in people that have depression. If someone has depression symptoms that do not respond well to medications, TMS can move directly to the part of the brain that isn’t responding well and
provide help. “The data behind it shows that it actually has less side effects than most of the medicines we use,” Hawkins said. “The remission rates, which means the symptoms that go away, are actually higher with that than certain medications as well.” His article said that since beginning the TMS treatment at his practice in early 2020, his patients have seen a 70 percent response rate and more than a 50 percent remission rate. Hawkins’ hope for the future of The Hawkins Group is that the capacity to treat people with severe depression using TMS will continue to expand because it is so effective, and that telemedicine services will be made available to a wider range of individuals in Alabama. The Hawkins Group Greystone office is at 2803 Greystone Commercial Blvd., Suite 12. For more information, visit hawkins-psychiatry.com.
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A18 • August 2021
280 Living
O’Henry’s Coffees takes ownership of Chelsea Coffee House By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE As of June 1, the Chelsea Coffee House is now owned by O’Henry’s Coffees. Former owners Jeff and Rhonda Gross opened the doors in 2012, and after nine years were ready for a change. “The good news is that the coffee house will be stronger than ever,” Gross said. “We prayed for God to send the right buyer, and we believe that has happened with Blake and Anna Stevens of O’Henry’s Coffees.” Gross said the couple had been thinking of selling the coffee house since 2019. Because Chelsea Coffee House had been using O’Henry’s products for years, he contacted O’Henry’s owner Blake Stevens in March for help with the process. “I sent an email to Blake because he’s my roaster, and we were serving O’Henry’s Coffees already, asking him to help me do this, and he decided to purchase it.” Gross was already working part-time at Liberty Baptist Church. His job demands increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he recently went full time in January. Stevens, who took over ownership of O’Henry’s in 2019, already had an established relationship with Gross. The missions of the two companies aligned, and it was a natural fit. “We are excited to take this next step,” Stevens said. ”Anna and I are honored to begin to steward the company that Jeff and Rhonda have worked so hard to build and look forward to many years of connecting over a great cup of coffee.”
“
Chelsea Coffee House announced O’Henry’s Coffees has taken ownership of the shop as of June 1. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Stevens said it was an easy transition and added that customers won’t see much of a difference. Six of the team members will continue to work there, one of whom is being promoted to a leadership role. The coffee cups will have an O’Henry’s Coffees cup sleeve, and the coffee will come in an O’Henry’s bag but will still be the same coffee. They will also offer the stamps program in which customers can get a pound of coffee free after purchasing 12 pounds, with Fridays being double stamp days. O’Henry’s is continuing to expand across the greater Birmingham area. The new Mt Laurel
location of O’Henry’s Coffees opened June 3, and the Vestavia location opened July 16 at Patchwork Farms. “We want to come in and understand and get to know the team and build relationships in the community,” Stevens said. “Folks are wanting to connect and congregate, and we love to provide opportunities to do that.” Gross said he isn’t going anywhere — Chelsea is his home, so he will continue to come in as a customer. The hours of operation will be 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Hear them before they hear you.
We prayed for God to send the right buyer, and we believe that has happened with Blake and Anna Stevens of O’Henry’s Coffees.
”
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280Living.com
August 2021 • A19
Expanding Cat-n-Bird Winery adds pavilion area By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Since opening to the public in April 2017, Cat-n-Bird Winery has continued to grow and recently expanded its space off Old Highway 280 with a new outdoor covered pavilion, which will increase its seating capacity and provide another option for outdoor weddings. Owner Matt Lyons purchased the property across the street from the winery with the intention of building a new winery but decided to add on his existing property instead. “As we were going to build a new venue, we had to rethink everything,” Lyons said. “What we did instead was decide to build a pavilion. It will be a space that should seat around 200. To say we’re excited is an understatement.” In addition to using the pavilion for weddings, it will also provide more space for the winery’s regular Saturday food truck and live music events. Lyons said the current venue was bound by space and its use was weather dependent, but the new covered area addresses those challenges. Previously, weddings and events were limited to 100 guests, because that was the indoor capacity in the event of inclement weather. Now, more weddings and events can be booked with the additional covered space. The new pavilion will feature a 32-foot by 75-foot concrete slab with large fans for the summer and heaters for the winter; hanging lights; a galvanized steel roof; wooden poles; railroad ties; rocks and landscaping; and a wheelchair-accessible ramp entrance. “We wanted to keep it open for COVID[-19]
Progress is being made on the new outdoor pavilion at Cat-n-Bird Winery. It will accommodate over 200 guests for outdoor events. Photo courtesy of Matt Lyons.
— not just 19, but whatever is next,” he said. “We may put some sort of temporary siding on it in the winter. All the space we have now will
be more of a walk through. We will also replace the two big windows on the lower level with French doors.”
Cat-n-Bird shut down during the first week of COVID-19 as the team figured out their next steps. Lyons said they soon opened up for bottle pickup and then began bringing in food trucks. “We moved tents and brought the wine up to sell by the bottle,” he said. “We also made friends with the food truck vendors, and they didn’t have a place to go so we invited them over. Guests could come pick up a bottle of wine and get lunch. From March until August 2020, we didn’t do any events with people.” As soon as the winery reopened to guests, the food trucks continued to come every Saturday, and live music returned, which continues to happen every weekend. Even despite the pandemic, 2020 was Cat-nBird Winery’s best year yet. It booked 27 weddings last year and experienced 20% growth. Lyons said they are currently on track to double the business they did last year. With the increase in wine production, Lyons said they also had to increase their cellar space. They currently have 20 wines and get their grapes and juice from multiple distributors around the world including California, Italy, South America and Australia. “We can pick and choose,” he said. “We are a community-driven winery, so we find out what people like and see if we can find it.” In addition to wines, Cat-n-Bird Winery offers wine slushies, three different kinds of champagne, sparkling wines and prosecco pops (wine poured in a glass with a Steel City Pop placed inside). Lyons and his wife Robyn continue to work their full-time jobs, his in IT sales and hers as a physical therapist, as well as run the winery. They have eight part-time employees to assist on weekends and with weddings and other events. Cat-n-Bird Winery currently hosts three to four events per week, from the Saturday food trucks and live music, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, and even celebrations of life. They are closed two days per year: the Saturday after Thanksgiving and the Saturday closest to Christmas. For more information about the winery, booking events and more, visit cat-n-bird.com or follow it on social media at @catnbirdwinery.
A20 • August 2021
280 Living
Chamber Chamber’s Minute
By The Shelby County Chamber
The state of our schools Construction progresses on a new Starbucks on Valleydale Road in front of Walmart Neighborhood Market on July 8. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Starbucks opening new location at Caldwell Mill
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Starbucks will soon open a location off the U.S. 280 corridor at the intersection of Valleydale Road and Caldwell Mill Road. It will be a freestanding location built in the parking lot of the Walmart Neighborhood Market. Located at one of the busiest intersections west of 280, this will fill the need for a coffee shop in the area. Neighborhood Brew was located near the area but closed in November 2019. Julie Krause, director of portfolio management for Midland Atlantic Properties, which represents the Valleydale Marketplace shopping center, said the spot was identified a number of years ago. “We have been looking for a use for this outparcel for a while, and we thought Starbucks
would be really great in this market,” Krause said. Krause said her company has worked with a Starbucks at a number of other locations. “Around 2016-17, we reapproached Starbucks, who had looked at this site in the past and decided to reapproach the issue,” she said. “It took a while, and we had a lot of hurdles to get through.” Krause said they worked with Shelby County and the town of Indian Springs to make sure they were satisfied and requirements were met. The location at 2653 Valleydale Road will include a drive-thru. It will be around 2,000 square feet and is scheduled to open in early fall. “It has definitely been a challenge in a lot of ways, but we have been able to get it done,” she said.
Over the past eight years, your Shelby County Chamber has actively worked on a number of programs with our partners in education. These programs — developed with input from Shelby County businesses — are designed to provide Shelby County students with the information they’ll need to make positive career choices after they’ve finished their high school careers. This business-driven approach is vital to ensuring Shelby County businesses can recruit and retain the managers and employees they need today — and tomorrow. Ensuring the 10,000-plus businesses through Shelby County have a qualified workforce is essential to our communities’ continued growth. Part of those efforts include your chamber’s collaborative partnership with all of our schools throughout Shelby County. That partnership includes programs such as “Keeping It Real” in ninth grade, “Connect 2 Careers” for 10th graders, “Communication Matters” for 11th graders and the annual “Student and Educator of the Year” program. What’s more, our recent collaboration on
registered apprenticeship opportunities and the newly established “Ready to Work” program for 12th grade students with our partners at 58 INC. and Central 6 Region 4 Workforce Council has taken these efforts to an even higher level. On Aug. 25, we’re honored to host our annual “State of Our Schools” program, featuring: ► Wayne Vickers, superintendent of Alabaster City Schools ► Dee Fowler, superintendent of Hoover City ► Scott Coefield, superintendent of Pelham City Schools ► Lewis Brooks, superintendent of Shelby County Schools. This annual program with our public education partners is another way to engage conversation and to better align education and employer needs. If you’d like to join us for the annual “State of Our Schools” program or find out more about our Career Readiness programming at The Shelby County Chamber, please give us a call at 205-663-4542 or visit our website, shelbychamber.org.
Jillian Longacre Founder/ Expert Organizer 205-567-8144 ocdclub4@gmail.com
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280Living.com
August 2021 • A21
Shelby EMA director named Health Care Professional of Year By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Shelby County Chamber held its seventh annual Health Care Professional of the Year program June 30 at the Grand Hall at Old Mill Square in Columbiana. The event is designed to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to health care in area communities. Dr. John Croushorn, an emergency physician at Shelby Baptist Medical Center, was guest speaker and delivered a recorded video presentation. Croushorn not only provided service to those battling COVID-19 last year, but was also afflicted with it himself. Croushorn said he looks at his job through a lens of hope and service and said it provides a rewarding way of living. He spent time serving in the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and also helped in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. He said he has been in many scary situations, but COVID-19 represented a fear he didn’t know how to deal with. “2020 was a promising year, then everything stopped,” Croushorn said. “From the medicine side, the pandemic at its worst was in the waiting.” After treating COVID-19 patients for seven months, Croushorn contracted it from an asymptomatic patient he was treating at the hospital. He said Facebook became an amazing source of hope for him during that time, as he received an outpouring of support. As Croushorn’s situation deteriorated, he was hospitalized and would end up missing five weeks of work. He was a recipient of convalescent plasma, which is donated by people who have fully recovered from COVID-19 whose plasma contains antibodies that attack the virus. “Even with all my experience in the military, I feel like the most difficult time in my life was waiting for plasma to work,” he said. “It is one of the most frightening things I’ve ever been through.” After being released from the hospital, Croushorn went home but was still on oxygen.
Shelby County EMA Director Hub Harvey, middle, is pictured with several of his coworkers at the Health Care Professional of the Year program presented by the Shelby County Chamber on June 30. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
He lost 15 pounds and his sense of taste and smell. Even though it was one of the most difficult things he has been through, Croushorn said he wouldn’t change a thing. “We all have a choice, and it isn’t how to respond to each new challenge, but who you’re going to be and live life through the filter of serving others. I believe we are meant to lead and meant to serve.” Pari Barzegari, director of community and career development for the chamber, said they received a great response of nominations, and the chamber’s health services work group voted to create several recognitions.
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
► Hub Harvey (Shelby County EMA director)
Harvey said this was truly a group/team award, which is why he asked so many people to join him in the photo. “This is an individual award that was not possible without a great team,” he said.
OTHER NOMINEES
► Devin Davis, registered nurse (American Family Care) ► Amy Lynn Dispennette, registered nurse (ExpectCare) ► Courtnay Dunn, registered nurse and clinical director (ExpectCare) ► Lina Evans (Shelby County Coroner) ► Dr. Justin Fogo (Chelsea Family Chiropractic) ► Jennifer Garrett, registered nurse (Alabaster City Schools)
► Dr. Luis Gonzales (Gonzales & Carr Oral Facial Surgery) ► Dr. Lee Goldenberg (Greystone Chiropractic) ► Dr. J. Andrew Ho (Vision First Eye Center) ► Dr. Tracy Jacobs (Grandview Medical Group) ► Kellie Kelly, registered nurse (Helena High School) ► Dr. Nicholas Kentros (Pelham Dental Care) ► Lance Lee, community educator (ExpectCare) ► Daniel Listi, CEO (Shelby Baptist Medical Center) ► Dr. Timothy Nettles ► Dr. Kelly Page (Chelsea Orthodontics) ► Andrea Pitts, registered nurse (ExpectCare) ► Dr. Jamie Reid (Helena Vision Care) ► Carin Rutland, director of pharmacy (Shelby Baptist Medical Center) ► Dr. Bobby Shunnarah (Montevallo Family Dentistry) ► Doug Snider, pharmacist/owner (Snider’s Pharmacy ► Hanna Stiltner (Soul Story Therapy) ► Laura Tucker, social worker (ExpectCare) Other award winners were:
HEART OF HEALTH CARE
► Dr. Nicholas Kentros (Pelham Dental Care) ► Hanna Stiltner (Soul Story Therapy)
COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY
► Dr. Bobby Shunnarah (Montevallo Family Dentistry)
LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
► Lina Evans, Shelby County Coroner (Safe Shelby)
A22 • August 2021
280 Living
Picklesimer gives update on current, upcoming projects By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Chelsea Business Alliance and The Shelby County Chamber hosted a “Coffee with the Mayor” event at the Chelsea Community Center on July 13. As guests enjoyed coffee and breakfast, Mayor Tony Picklesimer addressed the full capacity crowd by thanking his staff, the Chelsea City Council and praised the Chelsea Public Library. “We as citizens of Chelsea are blessed to have a group of people [like this] working for us,” he said. “This council is a high energy group and always supports and encourages me on projects we’ve completed and by working with me as we plan future projects.” Picklesimer began with an update on projects that have recently been completed and ones that are still in the works. ► Fire Station 33 at Shelby County 51: He said it was much needed to serve the east end of the city, which is one of Chelsea’s fastest growing areas. The station gives more support to the neighboring city of Westover when needed and also provides a quick response to Chelsea Park Elementary School, he said. ► The Playground at Melrose Park: The three-story tall playground was completed earlier this year, and Picklesimer said it has “been a hit with the young folks.” ► The Splash Pad at Melrose Park: It was scheduled to have already opened but remains on hold due to weather and construction delays. The exact opening date is to be determined. He also thanked Southwest Water for its $100,000 contribution toward the splash pad. Both the playground and splash pad were made possible by generous contributions made by the Shelby County Commission. ► Phase 2 of renovations at the Chelsea Sports Complex off Shelby County 11 are well underway. The batting cage is near completion, and lights are being installed for the new fields. The championship field will host many big games for years to come, he said. ► The walking trail/cross-country course has been completed at the sports complex. That
Mayor Tony Picklesimer addresses a full-capacity crowd having coffee and breakfast during a “Coffee with the Mayor” event hosted by the Chelsea Business Alliance and The Shelby County Chamber at the Chelsea Community Center on July 13. Photos by Leah Ingram Eagle.
project was done by a 50/50 partnership with the Shelby County Commission. This track will be used heavily by the track and field teams at Chelsea High School, along with Chelsea residents. ► Another project already in the works is the new intersection realignment at Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47 in front of City Hall. While the project is anticipated to be complete by November, Picklesimer said it will also require some detours and present an aggravation to drivers. He asked for patience throughout the process and thanked Shelby County Engineer Randy Cole and his staff at the highway department for their work. “When we have collaboration between the city and the county, we can get a lot of projects done, and collaboration is a big part of what we do to accomplish things,” Picklesimer said. “All of the new projects have been made possible due to the city’s continual growth and booming housing market.”
► Groundbreaking will soon be announced for the Therachem location in the Foothills Business Park. The biopharma company is based out of India and this will be the U.S. headquarters for the company. ► Five businesses are currently under construction in the city. Opening soon will be AutoZone and RaceTrac. In the fall, Buffalo Wild Wings and Arby’s are set to open, and there is a Mexican restaurant under construction in front of the Publix shopping center. “In addition to the newly opened Chicken Fry’d, O’Henry’s purchased Chelsea Coffee House and will bring a lot of name recognition to Chelsea,” Picklesimer said. ► Picklesimer said the housing market continues to be strong with a new subdivision on Liberty Road, expansion in Chelsea Park and Willow Oaks and new phases in several other subdivisions. “Maintaining this growth pattern is something I take very seriously,” he said. “We will
continue to partner with 58 INC. in the coming months to continue to spotlight the city try to keep this growth coming.” Another topic covered was the recent feasibility study about the potential for the city to form its own school system. Results should be in by October and then that, along with annexation opportunities for surrounding areas would be voted on by the citizens. “It will be your choice whether we form a new school system; it’s not the mayor or council’s decision,” he said. “The formation of a school system is not to divide, but to bring together. Annexation will be by election of residents as it should be.” Picklesimer concluded by saying that it has been one of the highest honors of his life to serve as the mayor of Chelsea. “The city slogan is ‘It’s All About Family,’ and I want to thank each of you for playing a part in the process and success we’ve had. I get way more credit than I deserve. My prayer is for the continued success of the city of Chelsea.”
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280Living.com
August 2021 • A23
Community Have a community announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Adam Rader serves his purpose by combining work, passion By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Customers at the Chick-fil-A Greystone may have noticed a new face since the restaurant reopened its doors in May. Adam Rader became the director of sales and brand growth in October, filling the role Bethany Ivey had been in for the past six years. Rader began his new position in October, the same month he married his wife Anna Kate, a Spain Park High School graduate. She moved to Birmingham from Memphis in June 2020 for a new job, and Rader joined her in October, just in time for their wedding at The Barn at Shady Lane in Hoover. Anna Kate works as a graphic designer for the Church at Brook Hills. Before starting with Chick-fil-A, Rader worked for the past five years with a nonprofit organization that served inner city youth in Memphis. “A lot of my job was just being part of the community,” Rader said. “I taught Bible studies, coached sports, worked as a counselor at a school and lots of other things.” It was during that time he earned his master’s degree in ministry leadership and helped start a church plant in Memphis. He knew once he moved to Birmingham, he first wanted to work at a church or nonprofit, but due to COVID-19, none were hiring. “I had friends who were owner/operators for Chick-fil-A in Texas and Oklahoma who had offered me jobs,” he said. “I said I’d never work in fast food, but when I moved, they told me I should start looking at Chick-fil-A.” Rader interviewed at other Chick-fil-A locations in the area but said he didn’t feel like the Lord wanted him to go to those. When a position opened at the Greystone location to start working toward the director role, he was hired. Rader said all employees start out as team
Adam Rader, the director of sales and brand growth for Chick-fil-A at Greystone, stands beside the restaurant’s sign. With his ministry background, he said working at Chick-fil-A meshes well. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
members because there is so much of the business to learn. “If you don’t get the basics down, it’s hard to do everything else,” he said. After a few months, he moved to team leader. When Ivey announced she was leaving to take a position with Shelby County Schools, he moved into her position. He said those were very big shoes to fill. “It’s been a whirlwind with COVID-19 and everything opening back up,” he said. “It’s a lot of learning and figuring out what we can and can’t do.” So far, the only event they’ve been able to host is a lemonade stand to raise money for orphans. The play area is still closed, and
inside pickup and curbside options are still available. Customers aren’t required to wear masks because of Alabama state law, as are the employees who have been vaccinated, though each one carries a mask that they can put on if guests are uncomfortable. Rader said every day is completely different. He spends time doing marketing, managing catering, handling social media and giveaways, working on outside sales and outreach, attending events, coordinating events, scheduling school spirit nights, handling the customer care comments and even tracking and forecasting the business’ sales. Because lunch is the busiest time, he can be
found helping out behind the counter to assist the staff in getting orders out quickly. Rader said his go-to meal is a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and cheese and a side of fruit. He also loves the seasonal tortilla strip soup. But he’s also there when disasters strike. When a tornado hit Eagle Point in March, he made sure that food was donated for volunteers helping with cleanup. With his ministry background, he said that working at Chick-fil-A meshes well. “I was wanting to do a ministry job to figure out where I was going and didn’t think I could do that here,” Rader said. “Being able to have conversations with people, leading the staff and helping develop team members and building relationships, is basically what I was doing in Memphis. Instead of leading them to Christ, I am teaching values by leading by example and trying to serve as much as possible and be a light for the community to bring people together.” He said going into this role, Ivey and others told him to get his feet underneath himself the first few months and create a plan from there. Rader said he is at that point. “Looking back, it’s crazy how the Lord gives you gifts that you don’t think you would use,” he said. “When I was working as a team member, I was questioning what I was doing, and now it makes sense. It’s different from what I thought I would be doing, but it’s basically the same thing I would be doing at a church or nonprofit. All in all, it’s different from what I thought it would be, but it’s better than what I thought, too.” Rader said he is excited for the future and ready to start hosting events again. For more information and to stay up to date on upcoming events, follow the Greystone Chick-fil-A on Facebook and Instagram at @CFAGreystone.
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A24 • August 2021
280 Living
Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Hoover BOE plans to spend $98M over next 7 years The Hoover school board plans to spend more than $98 million on capital projects over the next seven years, including a 10-classroom addition at Bluff Park Elementary School. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By JON ANDERSON The Hoover school board plans to spend more than $98 million on capital projects over the next seven years, including two new elementary schools, a 10-classroom addition at Bluff Park Elementary, theater and athletic upgrades, 24 new buses and a host of capital maintenance projects, according to a plan approved by the board. The capital spending would pull the school system’s reserves down by more than $50 million, according to Chief Financial Officer Michele McCay. The school board expects to end the current fiscal year with $99 million in reserve, so unless some additional revenue sources are found, it’s likely the reserve fund would fall to roughly $49 million by the end of fiscal 2028 if expenses go as projected. That would give the school system enough cash on hand to cover three months’ worth of expenses, compared to 11 months’ worth of expenses that could be covered now, McCay said. State officials recommend school systems keep two to three months’ worth of expenses on hand to cover emergencies, McCay said. She prefers to keep about seven months’ worth of expenses in the system’s bank account but could still be comfortable with five months of expenses, she said. The problem is that the school system is expected to drop below five months’ worth of reserves in about three years, she said. In the past, school officials have been good financial managers, not having to borrow additional money since 2007, but “we’re coming to the point where we have to make some pretty tough decisions,” McCay said. The school system expects to end this fiscal year with $153 million worth of debt and should be able to make payments on that debt with recurring revenues, but “we need to come up with additional sources of revenue in order to maintain the infrastructure that we have and provide the services that our citizens and our students deserve,” she said. That’s especially true because sales and income tax revenues are vulnerable, and even the value of commercial property could drop as brick-and-mortar businesses and the office market face difficult times, McCay said. The future buildout of approved residential growth in Hoover raises financial challenges for the school system, she said. Developments that already have been approved are expected to generate more than 2,000 new students for the system, she said. The school system has to find money for additional land, buildings, furniture and fixtures, utilities, food, buses, fuel, teachers and staff to serve all these students, McCay said. USS Real Estate has agreed to donate 100 acres to the Hoover Board of Education on land currently just outside the Hoover city limits off Alabama 150, next to Lake Cyrus, but school officials still would have to pay for construction and operational costs for any new school that would go there. School officials have not specified what type of school might go there, but the capital plan approved identifies the need for two new elementary schools somewhere. School board President Amy Tosney said she expects one of those will be in the Everlee community to be built between Lake Cyrus and Ross Bridge. School officials estimated they would need to spend $20 million to build the first elementary school in fiscal 2023 and 2024 and another $20 million to build the second one in fiscal 2027 and 2028. “I don’t think there’s any question, if we take on two new elementary schools over the next few years, we’re going to have to have additional revenue to offset the loss of revenue that’s coming up sales taxes,” school board member Craig Kelley said. Currently, Hoover residents can vote to raise their property taxes by only 2.4 mills before reaching the maximum of 75 mills allowed by state law, but it’s going to take 10-12 additional
► Flooring projects at Spain Park High and Green Valley and Trace Crossings elementaries ($600,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Lighting projects ($300,000) ► Bleacher installation at Bumpus Middle ($200,000) ► New playground at Riverchase Elementary ($180,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2023: $32 million
FISCAL 2024
The Hoover Board of Education is considering building a new theater at Hoover High School. A proposal from Lathan Architects is for a 1,276-seat theater that would be built next to the new band room in an area that now is parking lot, shown in red. Map courtesy of Lathan Architects.
mills to raise the additional $16 million a year that the Hoover school system likely will need to meet growth demands, Kelley said. The city likely will need a statewide referendum to accomplish that, and Homewood was not successful in accomplishing a similar effort a couple of years ago, he said. Kelley said he would like to see the city of Hoover return to its practice of giving building permit fees to the school system on top of other city allocations instead of as a part of an overall $5 million cash contribution per year. As a general rule, the city requires homebuilders to pay a $1,500 building permit fee for each home they build, but Signature Homes and U.S. Steel each have agreed to pay $3,000 building permit fees for houses in new developments. Kelley said some council members have assured him they want to start passing that full contribution to the school system as a separate contribution instead of including it as part of the annual $5 million cash contribution. However, several of the council members prefer for the school system to seek more money from property taxes instead, he said. Here is a breakdown of planned capital expenses over the next seven years, by year:
FISCAL 2022
► Hoover High theater upgrade (partial payment of $5.3 million) ► Roofing projects at Simmons Middle and Greystone and South Shades Crest elementaries ($4.7 million) ► Spain Park High theater upgrade ($2 million) ► Bathroom upgrades ($1.25 million) ► Cooling tower replacement at Bluff Park Elementary ($1.2 million)
► Architectural services for new elementary school ($1.12 million) ► Twelve new 72-passenger buses ($1,050,000) ► Mechanical upgrade at Gwin Elementary ($1 million) ► Flooring projects ($599,000) ► Architectural services for 10-classroom addition at Bluff Park Elementary and athletic upgrades at Berry and Bumpus middle schools ($576,000) ► Paving projects ($570,000, including $500,000 for a road behind Hoover High) ► Playground repairs ($300,000) ► Lighting projects ($180,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) ► Security camera refresh ($120,000) ► Locker upgrades at Simmons Middle School ($80,000) ► Central office canopies ($30,000) Total cost for fiscal 2022: $20.2 million
FISCAL 2023
► New elementary school (Partial cost of $10 million) ► Complete Hoover High theater upgrade (remaining $5 million) ► Ten-classroom addition at Bluff Park Elementary ($4.5 million) ► Athletic upgrades at Berry and Bumpus middle schools ($4.5 million) ► Roofing projects at Brock’s Gap Intermediate and Gwin Elementary ($1.5 million) ► Heating, ventilation and air conditioning conversion ($1.3 million) ► Bathroom upgrades ($1.25 million) ► Transportation building addition ($1.2 million) ► Twelve new 72-passenger buses ($1,050,000)
► Completion of elementary school ($10 million) ► HVAC projects ($1.2 million) ► Roofing project at Rocky Ridge Elementary ($600,000) ► Lighting projects ($320,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Extend canopy at Greystone Elementary ($200,000) ► Flooring projects ($200,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2024: $13 million
FISCAL 2025
► Roofing projects ($1.2 million) ► HVAC projects ($800,000) ► Lighting projects ($320,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Flooring projects ($200,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2025: $3 million
FISCAL 2026
► Roofing project ($1.2 million) ► Architect fees for another elementary school ($1.12 million) ► HVAC project ($800,000) ► Lighting project ($320,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Flooring projects ($200,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2026: $4.12 million
FISCAL 2027
► New elementary school (Partial cost of $10 million) ► Roofing projects ($1.2 million) ► HVAC projects ($800,000) ► Lighting projects ($320,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Flooring projects ($200,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2027: $13 million
FISCAL 2028
► Completion of elementary school ($10 million) ► Roofing projects ($1.2 million) ► HVAC projects ($800,000) ► Lighting projects ($320,000) ► Paving projects ($300,000) ► Flooring projects ($200,000) ► Painting projects ($180,000) Total cost for fiscal 2028: $13 million
280Living.com
August 2021 • A25
New assistant principal approved for OMHS By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Ashli Polizos will serve as the new assistant principal of Oak Mountain High School. Her appointment by the board was made at the June 24 meeting of the Shelby County Board of Education meeting. Polizos will move to the role of assistant principal after previously serving as an administrative assistant. She has 15 years of experience in education, all in Shelby County Schools. “Thank you to the board for your support and belief in me. Thanks to Dr. [Lewis] Brooks for the opportunity and to Dr. [Kristi] Sayers, who has been a great mentor,” Polizos said. “I believe this is the best system in the state, and I am excited to be in this new role.” Two other administrator roles were also approved. Genet Holcomb will be the new principal for Helena Elementary School. She has 28 years of experience and most recently was the principal at Calera Elementary School. She has also been assistant principal at Helena Intermediate and Inverness Elementary. “I joined the [Shelby County] system in 1992. I’ve spent the last five years embracing the Helena community, and I’m sad to be leaving a great support and prosperous school. I’m looking forward to returning to Helena,” she said. The new principal at Columbiana Middle School will be Dustin Smith. He had most recently been principal at Calera Middle School. Smith said this new job opportunity was a blessing and a privilege and he looks forward to serving in the new role. During his superintendent’s report, Lewis Brooks thanked the board members for their support and leadership in the Shelby County school district. He also recognized board President Aubrey Miller, who was the June spotlight by the Alabama Association of School Boards. “I want to recognize how important you are to the process of Shelby County Schools and are such an important part of the school district,” Brooks said.
Ashli Polizos was approved for the role of assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School at the June 24 Shelby County Board of Education meeting. She previously served as an administrative assistant at OMHS. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
Director of Instruction Leah Ann Wood gave an update on the summer school program, saying she wanted to brag on all the departments, teachers and staff and that it was a systemwide effort. “We have had great results. We just finished with elementary, the middle school finished last week, and the high school is not finished yet,” she said at the time. More than 600 elementary students, 188
middle schoolers and 445 high schoolers worked to recover credits needed to move to the next grade level. These included both traditional and remote students. Assistant Superintendent of Operations David Calhoun gave an update on several construction projects that were both approved by the board. The first is for a small construction contract for water damage repairs and the refinishing of
the gymnasium floor at Chelsea Middle School, which sustained damage from an October tornado. The work will be to repair the damaged portion of the floor, have the floor sanded, restriped, graphics put back down and sealed with polyurethane. The total cost of the project is $27,754. Damage at Montevallo took place in May. As the ground settled, the building shifted and the tongue and groove planking on the gym floor tried to pull apart, creating a gap. The floor will be repaired, repainted and resealed for a total project cost of $18,904. Also approved was a bid for emergency repairs at Heardmont Park Stadium that sustained damage in a March tornado. Calhoun said the state allowed them to move expeditiously and make the necessary repairs to prevent further damage but did not allow them to do a total makeover. While Shelby County owns the facility, Calhoun said the school system has a vested interest and is responsible for the football field and track, field lights, track equipment, pressbox and more. Improvements to the press box will also be made. The project went to David Acton Building Corporation for a total of $96,000. The board also approved the following items: ► ARCpoint Labs to be the student drug testing provider for the 2021-22 school year. They have been the provider for the past five years. They will be in charge of random student drug testing. ► K&K Insurance as the 2021-22 student insurance provider. They have been so for the past 10 years, but are now underwritten by AXIS insurance. Basic school day insurance increased from $29 to $30 per student to cover accidents at school. ► A revision of the educational leave policy. ► A revision of the school wellness policy. ► Approval of revised job descriptions for the community education activities program manager and community education nurse program manager. ► Approval of personnel actions. ► Approval bus subs and aides.
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A26 • August 2021
280 Living
Jay McGaughy named OMMS assistant principal By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Four more principals and assistant principals were approved during the July 15 Shelby County Board of Education meeting. ► Jay McGaughy was approved for the assistant principal position at Oak Mountain Middle School. He is currently working as the administrative assistant at OMMS. ► Jennifer Nabors was approved as the assistant principal position of Calera Middle School. Nabors has 21 years of experience and is currently serving as the administrative assistant at CMS. ► Kristen Glover was approved for the assistant principal position at Helena Middle School. She has nine years of education experience and currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Oak Mountain Intermediate School. ► Shannon Montgomery was approved for the principal position at Calera Elementary School. She has 16 years experience in elementary education and currently serves as assistant principal at Montevallo Elementary. Also, April Tolbert was approved for the supervisor of guidance and testing position. With 26 years experience, she is currently the counselor at Helena Middle School. During his superintendent’s report, Lewis Brooks mentioned a grant from United Way of Central Alabama in the amount of $13,651 that will go to the Shelby County student fund for those who are free or reduced lunch eligible. “This will be used to buy clothing, school supplies, pay fees, dental appointments and more,” he said. “Other recent expenditures included band instruments,
glassings, clothing, hearing aid repair and more.” He added that annual administrative meetings would be in late July in Alabaster and said everyone will be excited to see one another and get prepared for the school year. The board approved renaming the Helena High School Athletic Complex to the Mark Hall Athletic Complex in honor of the city’s former mayor. The signage at the entrance to Husky Stadium and entrance to the softball/baseball complex will both read “Mark Hall Athletic Complex.” Other bids approved by the board included: ► A bid for produce services for lunchroom and cafeterias to Regional Produce for $326,090.25 ► Digital regulator thermometers for food in the kitchen at each school in compliance with the health department. The lowest bidder was ITD Food Safety req lowest resp bidder ITD food safety $22,74.98. ► A one-year renewal to Mayer Electric for technology and wiring supplies. ► Approval of personnel actions ► Approval bus subs and aides ► Approval of an emergency declaration at Montevallo Middle School to address the structural issue specific to the gym that happened before the school year ended in may underground water leak, a line runs close to the building and improvements need to be made to stabilize that area so it doesn’t affect the upcoming school year. ► Approving a change order to an architect’s job project completed at Calera Intermediate School for the floor be raised. The project come in under the projected cost, which decreased by $2,960.
Jay McGaughy was approved for the assistant principal position at Oak Mountain Middle School. He is currently working as the administrative assistant at OMMS. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
280Living.com
August 2021 • A27 A new playground recently opened at Oak Mountain Elementary School. It was the first phase of a threephase project, and the new equipment will be accessible for children of all physical abilities. Photo courtesy of Oak Mountain Elementary School.
OMES works toward completion of playground By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Just before the end of the 2020-21 school year, the first phase of the new Oak Mountain Elementary School playground was completed. Principal Jan Curtis said the previous playground was 25 years old and in need of replacing. Several pieces of the previous playground equipment were left, however, including some swings that were newer. The total cost of the new playground project was $300,000 and is being completed in three phases at a total of $100,000 each. “We were able to fundraise the first phase through our amazing PTO through fundraisers along with community support,” Curtis said. “Our physical education teacher, Sally Youngblood, wrote a grant, and we received a matching $100,000 Parks and Recreation grant from
the Shelby County Commission. That helped us to be able to purchase our phase two playground equipment, which was set to be installed before the new school year begins in August 2021.” Struthers Recreation designed the playground and is handling the installation. The playground’s location remains the same, between the elementary and middle schools. The new equipment will be accessible for children of all physical abilities. The ground surface is Poured in Place, which is a rubberized foundation that allows all children to have access to the equipment. There are also sensory features so children can make music and see a kaleidoscope spinning, among other things on the playground they can enjoy, Curtis said. “Our dream of having an inclusive, engaging
place for our children to play is made possible through our school community, the Oak Mountain community and the Shelby County Commission,” Curtis said. “Also, the Indian Springs Kiwanis Club has given money to support our efforts. We are very grateful for the support of Indian Springs Mayor Brenda Bell-Guercio as well.” T-shirts were sold during the 2020-21 school year to help fund the playground, and everyone wore them for the Boosterthon event. Curtis said she is excited about having other fundraisers through the year, along with community support. OMES is working to raise the last $100,000 for phase three that will complete the project. A Pave the Way For Play campaign is in progress. The 30th anniversary Legacy Brick Campaign and Playground Project allows individuals,
families, corporations and more to purchase a brick or multiple bricks to be engraved. They will be used to pave an area near the playground in recognition for those sponsors. Bricks start at $100, and all proceeds will help fund the last phase of the playground. As of press time, Curtis said they have sold almost 100 bricks with hopes to sell many more. They can be purchased online at brickmarkers.com/ donors/omes. Curtis said they hope to be in a position to begin the third phase in the fall or winter or next year. The area is also there for others to enjoy. “This is a community playground,” Curtis said. “It's not just for the school. It will be located at the school, but will be open to the community when school is not in session. I want this to be a place children and families can come and enjoy it.”
A28 • August 2021
280 Living The Briarwood bass fishing team won the Lake Jordan Tournament and was crowned the ASABFA state champions and Team of the Year. Photo courtesy of Curtis Gossett.
Briarwood fishing team ends season with big win
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With seven new members to the Briarwood bass fishing team this spring, it was hard to predict what kind of season this young team would have. With five returning seniors and great leadership, hopes were high. The first regional tournament was at Lake Martin in Alexander City, where the team won. Their confidence grew before the next regional tournament at Lake Guntersville. Although they did not come out with a win, the team held its own against some great high school programs in north Alabama. The team’s last regional tournament was on Weiss Lake, where they won.
All that was left was the state championship tournament at Lake Jordan in Wetumpka. The Briarwood team would go into the state championship in third place in the Team of the Year race. The team won the Lake Jordan Tournament and was crowned the ASABFA state champions and Team of the Year! Senior leadership was one of the main keys to winning the ASABFA state championship and Team of the Year honors. Seniors on the team were Jordan Martens, Aaron Cale, Carson Miller, Ben Cornish and Carson McKeen. – Submitted by Briarwood Bass Fishing Team Head Coach Curtis Gossett.
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280Living.com
August 2021 • A29
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Not everyone will like you, and that’s OK One crucial component of living a happy, healthy, positive life is to let go of unrealistic ideas and goals. One of those ideas is to believe it’s even possible to make everybody like you. The truth is, some people will never like you. No matter what you do or say, you will never win them over, gain their approval or earn their respect. I say this not to discourage anyone, but more significantly, to set you free. Oftentimes, the problem lies within the person who dismisses you. Maybe they have a critical spirit. Maybe they only pay attention to people who can help them. Maybe their hearts are too hard, too small or too cynical to see any good in you, and rather than give you the benefit of the doubt, they automatically assume the worst. When you’re friendly, they’ll call you fake. When you’re quiet, they’ll call you aloof. When you’re energetic, they’ll call you intense. And when you’re winning, they’ll call you lucky or overrated. The good news is, you don’t need mass approval to live a spectacular life. You don’t need a majority vote to carry out God’s special mission for you. He is a God of miracles, and when He wants a job done, He’ll make it
happen. Even the most powerful individuals can’t thwart His long-term plan and what He has in mind for you. It’s usually pretty obvious when somebody likes you. Chances are, you notice the nuances of how people treat you, and you assume they must see something positive when they react like this: ► Their eyes light up when they see you. ► They open their arms to give you a hug. ► They smile at you. ► They laugh at your jokes. ► They give you fist bumps and high fives. ► They care about your life and ask questions about what’s going on. ► They listen intently when you speak. ► They say they like you. ► They see the best in you. ► They show you grace. ► They perk up when you’re around and love spending time with you. It’s good to notice how people treat you and to invest your time and energy in relationships that bring out your best. But even more important than how people react to you is how you react to them. After all, one fundamental truth about relationships is that people like people who like them. They are instinctively drawn to individuals who make them feel safe, protected and accepted.
Think for a minute about how you treat others and whether your reaction invites them in or pushes them away. ► Are you warm and encouraging? ► Are you pleasant to be around? ► Do you wish the best for others? ► Do you listen more than you talk? ► Do you encourage people to pursue their dreams — and genuinely like people despite their flaws? Liking people becomes much easier as you draw closer to God. As you mature spiritually, you start to see people through His eyes. You learn to love with a heart like Christ. You understand how we are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior. You treat people well not to gain popularity but because it makes you feel good. You live for the comfort of inner peace. Not everyone in your life will like you — and that is OK. People are fickle and can turn on a dime, but even on your worst day, God still loves you. He sees the potential of who you can be. If you could see the way He looks at you, with the proud smile of a beaming Father, you’d never doubt your worth again. You wouldn’t lose sleep over those who critique you because you’d feel secure as His beloved child. And here is something for you to think
about: Rather than wait for people to like you, why not like them first? Why not create the community you long to be part of? You were designed to live in unity with God and His people, and through Him, you gain the confidence to connect with others. You open your heart to love and seeing the best in people. Every quality you hope to find in a friend is what others are looking for, too. So be that person who invites people in — who is kind, warm, and engaging — and know that with every person you genuinely like, you improve your odds of meeting someone who genuinely likes you, too. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham-area mom of four girls, author, speaker and blogger. Her new book for moms, “Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter,” is now available on Amazon, Audible and everywhere books are sold. Kari’s two books for teen and tween girls — “Liked” and “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know” — have been used widely across the country for small group studies. Join Kari on Facebook and Instagram, visit her blog at karikampakis.com or find her on the “Girl Mom” podcast.
A30 • August 2021
280 Living
SCHOOL
Important dates
CONTINUED from page A1 Regarding vaccination protocols, Brooks said it will not be mandatory for students to be vaccinated, but schools will have to respond to students who do test positive and will work under the guidance of the Alabama Department of Public Health and follow the Notifiable Disease Rule regarding symptoms, exposure and quarantine.
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
Shelby County Schools’ 2021-22 Moving Forward Together reopening plan was published in July to provide a clear explanation of the new school year. There will be two instructional options, including traditional, on-campus, in-person instruction for grades K-12. Elementary students in grades K-5 will not have a remote learning option for this school year. A virtual option will be available for students in grades 6-12 only who have met district qualifications. “We will have special virtual teachers at the middle school and high school levels,” Brooks said. “By law, we are only required to have the virtual option for 9-12 grades, but we wanted to have it for our secondary students.” Shelby County Schools will begin with a staggered start. Students with last names that begin with A-J will start Thursday, Aug. 12, and students with K-Z last names will start Friday, Aug. 13. All in-person students return to campus Monday, Aug. 16. Brooks said it’s probably been controversial about opening school with a two-day staggered start, but it’s based on what they dealt with last year. Ultimately, he believes it is beneficial not only for the students but also the teachers. “The students get to understand the spaces they operate in,” he said. “Starting on a split schedule gives students the opportunity to become comfortable, and it helps them navigate spaces better, and teachers were able to create a more personal relationship with students because they have smaller numbers.” The first semester will be 81 days and runs from Aug. 12 through Dec. 16. The second semester runs from Jan. 11 through May 26 and will be 85 days, for a total of 176 student days.
MASKS
Wearing masks will be a personal decision, but not mandatory. Social distancing will still be practiced as much as possible, along with frequent hand washing. Hand sanitizer will be provided to students and staff. Students will have lunch, physical education and recess as normal. They will be encouraged to bring personal water bottles and water fountains will be available. The hallways and hightouch surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day. Academic and extracurricular field trips will be back, although students may opt out if they choose. In the event that instruction has to switch to remote learning for traditional students, all instructional information will be posted on Google Classroom or Schoology. “We certainly look forward to the opportunity for parents to visit the schools,” he said. “They can come for lunch, and there will be
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Students arrive at Oak Mountain Elementary School for the first day of class in the 2020-21 school year on Aug. 13, 2020. Photo by Erin Nelson.
field trips.”
TRANSPORTATION
Buses will run as normal. They will be cleaned and disinfected daily, and opening windows will be allowed during transport, weather permitting. Students will be encouraged to separate as much as possible, and drivers will use seating charts for riders. Siblings who ride the same bus will be seated together.
CHILD NUTRITION
Free breakfast and lunch will be provided for all students for the 2021-22 school year. Hand washing will be encouraged before eating, and the cafeterias will be cleaned throughout the school day. Athletics, extracurricular activities, pep rallies and after-school care will also return to normal. Parents and approved visitors will be allowed, but restrictions may vary at each individual school.
ENROLLMENT
For 2020, the total enrollment of schools was 20,563. Specific to the schools in the 280 Living coverage area: Chelsea Schools ► Chelsea High: 1,385 ► Chelsea Middle: 1,069 ► Forest Oaks Elementary: 649 ► Chelsea Park Elementary: 864 ► Mt Laurel Elementary: 502 Oak Mountain Schools ► Oak Mountain High: 1,511 ► Oak Mountain Middle: 1,075 ► Oak Mountain Intermediate: 653 ► Inverness Elementary: 518 ► Oak Mountain Elementary: 642
A PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
Oak Mountain Elementary School Principal Jan Curtis said she is proud of the way the students, their families and teachers worked through the challenges of the last school year.
UPS
“When students were learning at home, their parents and teachers worked together to ensure that students were continuing to grow as readers and problem-solvers,” she said. “However, we are very eager to have all of our students working in classrooms with their teachers this year.” She said that there is nothing more exciting than seeing children actively engaged in learning opportunities and that the teachers are preparing wonderful learning experiences for incoming students. “We are also looking forward to parents being able to join their children for lunch and being able to volunteer in the school,” she said. “Our students benefit when there is a strong partnership between families and the school, and we are excited about seeing our students’ parents in our school building this year.”
A TEACHER’S PERSPECTIVE
Erin Moody, a second grade teacher at Chelsea Park Elementary, was virtual for the first semester of the 2020 school year and said it was hard to make a connection with her students through a computer screen. “I’m a people person and a talker. I love to interact with people in person,” she said. “With virtual classes, you only get to see them a couple of times per week and get no one on one time.” Moody said she loves to have fun with her classes, something that was difficult to do over a computer. It was hard for her personality to come across over Google Meet, she said. “I wanted the kids to have best experience they could have because everything else was already so different.” In addition to teaching virtual students from Chelsea Park, she also taught some from other schools including Calera and Vincent. “I never felt pressure to do a better job,” she said. “They always told us to do what we could do.” After spending half of the year as a virtual teacher, she was moved to work as a
► Aug. 12: First day for last names A-J ► Aug. 13: First day for last names K-Z ► Aug. 16: All in-person students return ► Sept. 6: Labor Day (school closed) ► Oct. 8: Teacher workday (school closed) ► Oct. 11: Instructional planning (no students) ► Nov. 11: Veterans Day (school closed) ► Nov. 22-26: Thanksgiving break ► Dec. 16: First semester ends/ early dismissal 1 p.m. ► Dec. 17: Teacher workday (no students) ► Dec. 17-Jan. 2: Christmas break ► Jan. 3: Second semester begins ► Jan. 3-7: January term (all students remote) ► Jan. 10: Teacher workday (no students) ► Jan. 17: MLK Jr. Birthday (school closed) ► Feb. 21: Instructional planning (no students) ► March 11: Teacher workday (no students) ► March 28-April 1: Spring Break ► April 15: Remote learning day (all students) ► May 23-25: High school graduations ► May 26: Second semester ends/early dismissal 1 p.m.
reading intervention small group teacher for the second half of the school year because there weren’t enough students from Chelsea Park who were virtual the second semester for her to teach. “It was great to see kids and get to interact with them,” she said. “I also got to see so many of my former students come in, and it was fun to see how much they had grown.” Moody was also a mom to a first grader and said every time she went into her classroom, it was like a normal year for the kids. She said her daughter thought things they had to do, like eating in the classroom, was fun. For the upcoming school year, Moody said she is looking forward to having a classroom full of students again, going on field trips and seeing parents at the school. “I’m looking forward to opening our doors up again,” she said. “The sense of community never went away, but it’s so much better as a parent when you can go inside your kids’ school, and I’m excited about that.” Any modifications will be based on the circumstances of public health and the impact on schools. If public health again becomes a challenge, Shelby County Schools will refer to the 2020 reopen plan of Back Together, Cautious Together and eLearning Together. For more information on the plan, visit shelbyed.k12.al.us/index-crisis.html.
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280Living.com
August 2020 • A31
INTERSECTION
CONTINUED from page A1 high priority project for both the Shelby County Commission and the city of Chelsea. We had to acquire the right of way, get it designed, coordinate with the railroad and relocate a major water line as part of this project. It has a lot of moving parts, and it was difficult to pull it all together.” There have been several hurdles to finally get to the point of construction, one of them being due to the railroad tracks involved. “CSX railroad is a very independent organization,” Cole said. “They have their priorities and protocols, and they don’t necessarily mesh easily with our priorities. However, we were able to work out mutually agreeable terms to upgrade that crossing.” With the intersection’s current design, traffic backs up southbound toward Columbiana, and cars can become stopped over the railroad tracks. Cole said when that happens, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. “Part of the problem is [the] traffic light, which has to be there. That intersection did not function well when we put it in,” Cole said. “The only thing to do is move the light further away from railroad track and create a new intersection.”
CHANGES AND COST
The new plan involves moving the intersection several hundred feet down Shelby County 39 and installing a new signal there. Traffic going toward Columbiana will turn left between Liberty Baptist Church and Chelsea Church of God onto the newly constructed road, which will tie back into Shelby County 47 just before the Chelsea Community Center. “Coming from Columbiana, there will not be a T-intersection. It will be circular,” Cole said. “It will be a smooth curve and connect back into [Shelby County 39] much closer to the middle school.” Shelby County 39 will be leveled, straightened and moved closer to Chelsea City Hall. Shelby County 47 will turn into a cul-de-sac where the traffic signal is currently positioned and will function only as a turnaround.
The plans for the new intersection at Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Another feature of this project will be to improve the railroad tracks to take out the sharp hump over which drivers must go. Cole said 18-wheelers have front and rear wheels so far apart that the undercarriage of their trailers drags the track, and in some cases, the trucks have gotten stuck on the track, which causes a major safety issue. “We are going to flatten out over the railroad tracks so that it won’t dip down,” Cole said. “It will continue with a positive grade uphill and straighten out the road, which will go between the former Weldon Store location and Chelsea City Hall, making it a much straighter shot.” The bid award for the project was approximately $3.8 million and went to Selective Inc. of Hoover. There are no state or federal funds being used in the project, which is being paid
for jointly by Shelby County and the city of Chelsea, — around 70 percent from the county and 30 percent from the city of Chelsea.
DELAYS AND DETOURS
Cole said anytime the department does a project “under traffic,” there will invariably be inconveniences to the public. He said they are attempting to minimize those, and there will be no construction taking place that will allow any blockages or land closures during school traffic hours in the mornings and afternoons. “Hopefully by the first of November, the project will be completed, and that won’t be much of the school year that is impacted,” he said. Plans for detours are to be done primarily while school is in session, and traffic will continue on the existing alignment
until completion. Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer asks for patience from those traveling in that area during the construction phase and said he appreciates CSX cooperating with the city for this project, adding that he looks forward to improved traffic flow for everybody involved. “This project has been in the works longer than five years, and we are excited they are finally getting to it,” Picklesimer said. “It’s going to be a tremendous relief to all the traffic on [Shelby County 39], especially the middle school traffic. We are anxiously looking forward to the completion of the project and relief to our traffic in front of City Hall. Although I realize there will be some delays and some heartache while in process, the end product should provide some much-needed relief.”
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Spain Park’s Annabelle Widra (66) celebrates during a game against Hewitt-Trussville in March at Spain Park High School. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Many athletes from high school sports teams in the U.S. 280 corridor were recognized and honored for their outstanding 2021 spring seasons. Two standouts from the area are Spain Park softball player Annabelle Widra and Chelsea soccer player Haley Duca, who were each crowned as the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year in their respective sport. Widra graduated from Spain Park this spring after six stellar years with the Jaguars. She led the program to a pair of runner-up finishes in Class 7A and a 21-0 record in the shortened 2020 season. In her last season, the 5-foot-7 senior righthanded pitcher and shortstop led her team to a 35-7 record, posting a 20-5 record with a 1.31 earned run average in the circle. Widra struck out 236 batters and walked just 12 in 123 innings pitched. She was named Miss Softball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and also batted for a .490 average with 15 home runs and 47 runs batted in. A Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American, Widra was a five-time ASWA all-state honoree and the Starnes Media All-South Metro Player of the Year. She was ranked as the nation’s No. 8 recruit in the Class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball. Duca is a 5-foot-3 senior forward and midfielder. She scored 38 goals and passed for 19 assists this past season, leading the Hornets (14-6-1) to the Class 6A quarterfinals. A
Chelsea’s Haley Duca (4) takes possession of the ball in a game against John Carroll in April at Chelsea High School. Photo by Erin Nelson.
United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection, Duca was also a two-time First Team SuperAll State and First Team All-Metro honoree, according to a release. She finished her high school career with 100 goals and 52 assists. Several athletes were selected to play in
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B2 • August 2021
280 Living
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August 2021 • B3
B4 • August 2021
280 Living
Sports BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Lions look to live up to high expectations By KYLE PARMLEY When talking to other coaches throughout the area, one of the first teams that comes up as one to watch this fall is the Briarwood Christian School football team. The Lions moved up from Class 5A to 6A last fall and did not miss a beat, posting an 8-3 record and making it to the second round of the state playoffs. Briarwood has plenty of experience returning on both sides of the ball, which leads many to believe it is a team with the potential for a big season. But the Lions’ head coach is keeping his team focused on the process. “It’s the same thing, new version,” said third-year head coach Matthew Forester. “I want us to be tough, physical, smart players who can go toe to toe with anyone in the state. We need to be the best versions of ourselves every day.”
OFFENSE
There are plenty of familiar faces back on the Briarwood offense. The most notable name is at the quarterback position, with junior Christopher Vizzina back for his third year as the starter. Vizzina visited several Power 5 schools over the summer and has received many scholarship offers. “He’s done a great job prioritizing being here this summer,” Forester said. “I’ve loved him being here at summer workouts and him working and not being satisfied.” Luke Reebals is back as running back and is another player who has played a lot of football in a Briarwood uniform. “Normally, you don’t have game-changers like that stay around for three years,” Forester said. Cooper Higgins and Colton Williams will provide stability and depth as running back as well. Nicholas Dicen is the top returner out wide and gives Vizzina a reliable option in the passing game. Forester expects the receiving core to be more versatile this year and be a bigger threat overall. Along with Dicen, Ethan Anderson, Jay Butler, Luke Gilbert and others will have a shot to earn playing time. Up front, Alex Moorer and Charlie Heidepreim are returning starters along the offensive line. Peyton Fox started at right tackle last fall, but the Lions have moved him to tight end this year. Rich Connell and James-Michael Tedesco are two linemen who have stood out to Forester in preseason workouts as well.
DEFENSE
The Briarwood defense is what Forester prides himself on most, as he served as the defensive coordinator before elevating to head coach. Last fall, his defense allowed 14 points per game. Several starters are back on the defense, but Forester said this is the first time in at least 10 years in which the Lions do not have a returning starter at one of the linebacker positions. “There are holes we’ve got to fill on defense,” he said. “The great thing about Briarwood kids is they’re going to step up and fill them.” Haddon Stubbs will give the linebacker unit some experience at the very least, as he moves down from the safety position. Forester is
Above: Briarwood quarterback Christopher Vizzina (17) keeps the ball during a Class 6A second-round playoff game against Oxford on Nov. 13. Photo by James Nicolas. Below left: The Lions take the field at the start of a game against Chelsea. Photo by Erin Nelson. Below right: Briarwood’s Seth Alford (20) tackles Spain Park’s David Moultry (20) during an August 2020 game. Photo by Todd Lester.
confident in Stubbs’ ability to provide leadership to that unit, along with senior Grant Bruce, who will get his first shot at significant playing time. Hardy Thompson and Knox Merry will also get a chance to play there. Up front, Miller Stubblefield and Holden Patterson are two high-level players who return along a defensive line in which Forester is confident. Clay Dorrill played last fall and will step into a bigger role, while Garrett Harmon and Preston King will also rotate into the mix. In the secondary, Reece Garner and Seth Alford return as starters. Both played corner last fall, but Alford is going to make the transition to safety this season. Other players who could make an impact in the secondary are Nicolas Frost, Brady Waugh and Grant Dickinson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Briarwood special teams units will feature a mixture of old and new. Aidan Punch and Reid Hollis are in a battle to handle the kicking duties for the Lions. Fox is back as the snapper for field goals, and Anderson will be the holder. In the punting game, Stubbs returns to handle the punting duties, while Harmon steps into a new role as the deep snapper. Reebals and
Briarwood’s Nicholas Dicen (24) runs the ball during an August 2020 game against Spain Park. Dicen is the Lions’ top returner out wide and gives Vizzina a reliable option in the passing game. Photo by Todd Lester.
Dicen are back to handle things in the return game as well.
SCHEDULE
Briarwood has not lost more than one region game in a season since 2015 and looks to keep that streak alive this fall. Mountain Brook was
the only Region 5 foe to topple the Lions last fall. In region play this fall, Briarwood hosts Chelsea, Shades Valley and Homewood and hits the road to play Woodlawn, Huffman and Mountain Brook. Outside of the region, Briarwood
opens the season against Madison Academy and Spain Park before diving into region play. The Lions host Mortimer Jordan midway through the year and conclude the regular season with a trip to Corner. “I love our schedule,” Forester said.
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B6 • August 2021
280 Living
CHELSEA FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Hornets looking to break through By KYLE PARMLEY A winning season has eluded the Chelsea High School football team in the three years Dustin Goodwin has been the head coach. The Hornets have been on the cusp the past two years, going 5-6 in 2019 and 4-6 last fall. The 2019 team made the playoffs, and there’s reason to think 2021 may be the season Chelsea gets over the hump and back to the postseason once again. “This team has potential,” Goodwin said. “The senior leadership and upperclassmen leadership is going to have a lot to do with where it goes.”
OFFENSE
For the first time in Goodwin’s tenure, Chelsea enters the season settled on its quarterback position. Hayden Garrison took over as the Hornets’ starting quarterback in the second half of the season last fall and showed promise. This fall, Goodwin expects the junior to take the next step. Garrison has grown to nearly 6 feet, 4 inches and has gotten stronger over the offseason. “Some of the stuff that makes him special are his intangibles: being able to keep his eyes downfield and sit in the pocket when we need to, having that ability but also being able to feel pressure, make subtle adjustments and extend plays,” Goodwin said. “That’s taken for granted a lot, but he has the potential to be a big-time player.” Cooper Griffin started a game as quarterback last fall and played well against Mountain Brook. He will serve as the Hornets’ backup quarterback this season, but Goodwin values his talent and leadership so much that Griffin is going to play tight end. “I can’t speak highly enough of him,” Goodwin said. “He’s too good an athlete not to play. He just wants to get on the field and help his team win. You root for guys like that who aren’t selfish.” Chelsea is replacing Collier Blair, who started much of his four years with the Hornets. Goodwin said the Hornets will look to the players Matt Gray and Emerson Russell — who, at 5-4, 140 pounds, resembles Blair in stature — to make plays out of the backfield. Josh Williams could get opportunities to run the ball as well. Thomas Simpson is the primary returning receiver for the Hornets, with Griffin also lining up out there. JyDarian McKinney, EJ Hudnall and MJ Conrad are guys Goodwin wants to see step up as well. Up front, Ethan Vickers and Will Fant are back to lead the offensive line. Both have established themselves as critical players and leaders for the Hornets. Emmanuel Waller and Garyson Maddox will both split time on the offensive and defensive lines this season.
DEFENSE
After several years serving as the Chelsea defensive coordinator, Zeb Ellison took the head coaching job at Shelby County. Goodwin promoted Ted Darby to the defensive coordinator role, after he coached the Hornets’ secondary. “The kids are excited about what we’re doing, which is going to be similar to what we’ve done but will be tweaked a little,” Goodwin said. Throughout the lead-up to the season, Darby has been instructing his new unit to play as a collective group. “Our defense has got to have that firefighter mentality to answer the bell and get the ball back immediately, and that’s how he’s trained
Chelsea’s Thomas Simpson (15), above left, and Garyson Maddox (68), above right, during an August 2020 game against Oak Mountain at Heardmont Park. Simpson is the primary returning receiver for the Hornets, while Maddox and Emmanuel Waller will both split time on the offensive and defensive lines this season. Photos by Todd Lester.
“
The kids are excited about what we’re doing, which is going to be similar to what we’ve done but will be tweaked a little.
”
DUSTIN GOODWIN
them,” Goodwin said. Waller’s stock has risen in recent months, as the versatile defensive lineman now possesses offers from UAB and Mississippi State. Goodwin expects him to have a big season, but also wants to see his other linemen take advantage of the extra attention opposing offenses will have to pay to Waller. Along with Maddox, Kaleb Thomason also possesses experience along the defensive front. In the middle, Marquis Turner is back at linebacker. Brady Clements also played some as linebacker last year and will step into a bigger role. Goodwin also mentioned the likes of Cody Fortenberry, Kyler Simmons, Jackson Laughlin and Jackson Bailey as other potential contributors. Evan Jones is the lone returning starter in the secondary at safety. Cade Turner impressed at corner in the spring, while Evan Durham showed out at the other safety spot. Durham has played several different positions over the past few years and is now looking to contribute on the back end of the defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chelsea graduated its kicker, punter and long snapper from last year’s squad, so the Hornets will be looking to reload at those spots. Goodwin pegged Jack Seymour as a possible kicker and punter, with Connor Ridderhoff handling the snapping duties.
SCHEDULE
Chelsea will have to navigate Class 6A, Region 5 if it hopes to make the playoffs. The Hornets have home region games against Homewood, Shades Valley and Mountain Brook. They will take to the road to face Briarwood, Woodlawn and Huffman. Outside of region play, the Hornets take on four Shelby County schools. They begin the season with Oak Mountain and Helena, play Pelham for homecoming at the midway point and conclude with Calera.
Left: Chelsea’s Hayden Garrison (11) runs the ball during a September 2020 game against Pelham at Pelham High School. Garrison has grown to nearly 6 feet, 4 inches and has gotten stronger over the offseason. Below: Chelsea’s Marquis Turner (4), who returns for the 2021 season at linebacker, moves in to make a stop against Pelham. Photos by Erin Nelson.
280Living.com
August 2021 • B7
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B8 • August 2021
280 Living
OAK MOUNTAIN FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Eagles mixing things up under new coach Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (9) runs the ball during a game against Pelham in August 2020 at Heardmont Park. Smith, who is entering his fourth year as the Eagles’ starter, will help guide the Eagles into the spread era. Photo by Erin Nelson.
By KYLE PARMLEY In Tyler Crane’s experience, the seniors “make it or break it.” The new Oak Mountain High School head football coach believes that in order for the Eagles to be successful this fall under a new regime, the eldest players are going to have to be the ones to buy in and lead the way. So far, that has gone according to plan. “Our guys have done everything we’ve asked them to do and more,” Crane said. “They want to learn. They’ve embraced it.” Last fall, Oak Mountain had one of its best seasons in school history. The Eagles started out 4-0 for the first time ever and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. After the season, Cris Bell left to take the head coaching job at Scottsboro. Enter Crane, who comes from Central-Phenix City. He was previously an assistant at Oak Mountain in 2016 and 2017 as well. When he had the opportunity to take his first head coaching position, he could not imagine a better place than Oak Mountain. “I love all the kids I’ve had at other places, but there’s something special about kids at Oak Mountain. They work so hard, and they don’t want to upset you,” he said.
OFFENSE
The Oak Mountain offense is going to be different this fall, and that’s putting it mildly. After running an option-based attack for nearly a decade, Crane is bringing a spread offense with him. “We’re going to spread it out and make sure we get touches with everyone that needs touches,” he said. “There’s a lot of great athletes here and a lot of guys who can make plays when given the chance.” There is perhaps no better quarterback to help guide Oak Mountain into the spread era than Evan Smith, the dynamic athlete who will enter his fourth year as the Eagles’ starter. Smith’s athleticism allowed him to pile up rushing yards, including an eye-popping 320 yards in a playoff victory over Austin last November. Smith recently committed to Northwestern as a defensive back and has adjusted well so far. “This guy can do anything you want him to,” Crane said. Cade George has emerged as one of the top receiving options for the Eagles. Ethan Hammett, Joseph Regan, Tristyn Vardaman, Peyton Swann and Jackson Blackwell will also be in the rotation this fall. “Cade George has done an excellent job of taking the bull by the horns and trying to get that position,” Crane said. “He’s fast. He’s a little water bug and he can go.” Along the offensive line, Crane has been impressed by what he has seen. Nic Rigdon, Mason Burnett, Hudson Youngblood, Sawyer Hutto and Charlie Serra have all stepped up this summer to make their case to start. Taking care of things in the backfield at the running back position will be a combination of CJ Branson, Aiden Laughlin and Trey Vassell.
DEFENSE
Crane retained Rusty Frisch as the defensive coordinator, so the Eagles will not look much different on that side of the ball. They do hope the production is slightly better this fall, as the 2020 Oak Mountain defense surrendered nearly 30 points per game. “We’ve got athletes, we just need
“
Left: Oak Mountain cheerleaders rally fans during a game last season. Above left: Cade George (10) jumps out of a tackle by Pelham’s Fabian Calderon (27). Photos by Erin Nelson. Above right: Cameron Atkinson (7) tackles an Austin receiver during their 2020 matchup. Photo by James Nicholas.
We’re going to take it one week at a time and do everything that we can to prepare to be successful.
”
TYLER CRANE
depth,” Crane said. “Once we get to that point, we’re going to be OK.” Several players have stood out on the defense. Cam Atkinson, Gavin Nelson, Garrett Murphy, Mattox Vines, Devan Moss, Quest Agee and Corbit Grundhoefer are all names Crane mentioned as likely contributors. “The list can go on and on,” he said. “We’ve got guys who can play, we’ve just got to put them in the right places.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
Murphy will be part of the kicking and punting games this year for the Eagles. Wesley Neumann is also a kicker and Ellis Porch is a punter. Jacob Helgason and Jack Ronilo
are competing for snapping duties. The Eagles’ return game will feature a combination of Moss, George, Grundhoefer, Smith and Branson.
SCHEDULE
Crane said he would not have it any other way than for his first head
coaching gig to be in Class 7A, Region 3. Facing the likes of Thompson, Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills, Spain Park, Gadsden City and Tuscaloosa County does not faze him. The non-region portion of the schedule serves the Eagles no
favors, either. Oak Mountain opens the season with games against Chelsea and Pelham and closes their regular season against Clay-Chalkville. “We’re going to take it one week at a time and do everything that we can to prepare to be successful,” Crane said.
280Living.com
August 2021 • B9
SPAIN PARK FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Jags transitioning to option attack this fall By KYLE PARMLEY Change is afoot within the Spain Park High School football program. For the past few years, the Jaguars have employed a wide open, spread offense, because that’s what best utilized the playmakers on the Spain Park offense. That resulted in over 3,000 passing yards last year. But a new quarterback and almost all new skill players means the Jags will look to shake things up this year. It’s what Shawn Raney loves about coaching high school football. You play with the cards you are dealt, and sometimes that means employing a different brand of football to give your team the best chance to win. This year, that means the Jags are attempting to go back to Raney’s roots, being a team that relies on its defense and running the football. “I want us to play hard and be physical and be able to run the football and play better defensively than we’ve played,” the ninth-year head coach said.
OFFENSE
Raney hired Danny Ward to run the Spain Park offense this fall. Ward comes from Oak Mountain, where he previously coached the offensive line. Oak Mountain ran an optionbased attack under Cris Bell, and Ward is going to implement a similar system at Spain Park. “It’s good to bring some new people in and get some different ideas and energy,” Raney said. “When you bring in different personalities, it shakes things up.” After putting up big numbers last fall, quarterback Bennett Meredith transferred to crosstown rival Hoover. That leaves the signal-calling position to junior Evan Smallwood, who plays a much different style than Meredith. Smallwood will be the initiator of the Jags’ new option-oriented attack. Raney said, “You don’t just dabble in the option; it’s got to be a commitment to go to it.” He also believes Smallwood is the perfect guy for the transition. “He’s a great leader, and he’s a real humble, real quiet kid,” Raney said. Zamir Farris breaks summer camp as the primary running back for the Jags, suddenly a critical position in their offense. Spain Park lost its top two receivers to other schools, with Raney mentioning Pierson Cole and Landon Miller as part of a group looking to fill in significant gaps on the outside. In an option offense, those receivers are required to be physical blockers in addition to being effective pass catchers. “With our skillset, I just feel like that’s something we’re going to have to do,” Raney said. On the offensive line, there are three guys with plenty of experience returning. Connor May and Rayshod Burts should be able to pave the way for a strong running game.
Above: Spain Park quarterback Evan Smallwood (7) fights for yards during an October game against Hueytown at Hueytown High School. Smallwood will be the initiator of the Jags’ new option-oriented attack in the 2021 season. Below left: Spain Park’s Zamir Farris (28) completes a long kickoff return during a September game against Thompson at Jaguar Stadium. Below right: Spain Park’s Connor May (75) during an August 2020 game against Briarwood at Jaguar Stadium. Photos by Todd Lester.
Spain Park linebacker Ethan Gutowski (27) battles Vestavia Hills’ Hasting Sykes (86) at the line of scrimmage during an October game at Jaguar Stadium. Gutowski and Jonas Harrelson will look to fill in at linebacker in the 2021 season.
DEFENSE
Spain Park’s defense struggled mightily last fall, surrendering an average of 38 points per game. Raney attributes that to a cast of players forced into roles too soon due to injury and other factors. As tough as 2020 was for that unit, Raney hopes the growing pains have set the stage for an effective unit this season. “We’ve simplified some things on defense so they can play faster,” Raney said. “We’ll be strong at the point of attack with good secondary guys to cover up. All those kids who played a lot, the inconsistency last
year will be fixed through size and strength and experience.” Mason Bowden is back at defensive end for the Jags, with Caldwell Bussey and Brian Alston back up front as well. Ethan Gutowski and Jonas Harrelson will look to fill in at linebacker. There is a good bit of returning talent in the secondary, with Jack Kendrick, Alex Smith and Tyler
Hunter among those who received playing time last year. “Defensively, we’ve got some guys that look the part and can do it. I’m excited to coach those guys and see what they can do,” Raney said.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Braxton Sumpter is the younger brother of Tyler, who starred at Spain Park and is now at West Virginia.
Sumpter is expected to shoulder all of the kicking and punting duties for the Jags and makes it a position Raney worries very little about. “He’s been working really hard,” Raney said.
SCHEDULE
Spain Park has struggled to three consecutive 4-6 seasons and are going to face a tough road to
surpass that this fall. After opening the season with non-region games against Huntsville and Briarwood, the Jags dive into Class 7A, Region 3 play. They only notched a onepoint win over Tuscaloosa County in region play a season ago. The Jags conclude the regular season with a game against Hueytown.
B10 • August 2021
280 Living
Indian Springs’ Nabors named Gatorade Player of the Year Indian Springs’ Jackson Nabors (14) heads the ball in a Class 4A-5A secondround playoff game against John Carroll in April at Indian Springs School. Nabors, a rising senior, won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Alabama. Photo by Erin Nelson.
By HANNAH URBAN Jackson Nabors, a rising senior soccer player at Indian Springs School, recently won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Alabama. The award recognizes the most elite athletes in the nation for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. There are 607 state winners chosen, one from each state and the district of Columbia in seven different sports. Nabors still doesn’t know who nominated him for the award. His athletic director gave him the information on the second-to-last day of school. He was in Los Angeles when he found out that he won after his parents sent him a text message letting him know. “It was 6:30 a.m., and I looked over at my phone and happened to see it,” he said. “I was thrilled and excited and very blessed to have won that award.” Nabors, 17, has been playing soccer for 12 years. He said he loves it because all of his best friends play with him, and they love to win. He played left back position for 10 years, but his coach, Rik Tozzi, switched him to striker this year. He thought it was a good move for the whole team, and it worked out. Nabors earned a state-best record of 52 goals and 23 assists for the 2020-21 soccer season. J.J. Williams, a professional soccer player in the Birmingham Legion club, works one-onone with Nabors to help him train for games. He learns how to better turn, strike a ball, receive a ball and better positioning off of the ball from Williams. The only challenging thing Nabors has encountered in soccer is creating a schedule for homework and other commitments so they don’t get in the way of practices. “But even that’s not bad, I love doing that. I’ve been doing it since sixth grade.” he said. “I’ve found a good routine.” Outside of soccer, Nabors works with two organizations that help serve his community. When he was a sophomore he volunteered
with the YouthServe, attending service events around Birmingham to help as many people as possible. More recently he joined Youth Philanthropy Council, an organization that gives participants $20,000 to give to nonprofits in Alabama and also allows various opportunities for service projects. The Indian Springs team won its fourth state championship this year with a 2-0 win against Russellville on May 7. It is the first one Nabors has participated in, and he scored both of the
winning goals. The Gatorade Player of the Year Award gives Nabors $1,000 in grant money to donate to a local or national youth sports organization of his choosing. He said he is looking at two local options: NorthStar Soccer ministries and TOPSoccer. NorthStar teaches unprivileged children to play soccer, and TOPSoccer works to encourage the physical, mental and emotional growth of children with special needs through soccer. The main thing Nabors said he has learned
from playing soccer is how to be a good leader. He is one of the older players on the team this year. He said some of his teammates couldn’t even kick a ball at first, so a big part of growth for his whole team is learning how to win together and how to lose together. Nabors hopes to continue playing soccer in college. He is considering five different schools: Sewanee University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Princeton University, Amherst College and Davidson College.
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280Living.com
August 2021 • B11
Jaedyn Archinard heads to Howard for pole vaulting Jaedyn Archinard, a 2021 graduate of Indian Springs School, holds a pole vaulting pole at Heardmont Park on June 23. Archinard will be attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., this fall and will be competing with the university’s track and field program as a walk-on. Photo by Erin Nelson.
By HANNAH URBAN In the spring of 2020, after 13 long years of doing gymnastics, Jaedyn Archinard, a recent graduate of Indian Springs School, became a pole vaulting athlete. On May 24, Archinard signed with Howard University in Washington, D.C., as the first female pole vaulter on its track and field team. Archinard attended an all-sports camp when she was younger, during which she learned soccer, softball, tennis, dance, golf and ice skating, but none of those piqued her interest. She enjoyed gymnastics because there was always something new to learn and it allowed her to do lots of traveling around the United States, including New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Colorado and Georgia. Often, her family would make a vacation out of these trips, she said. However, things became stressful for Archinard when the COVID-19 pandemic first began. Wear and tear pains plagued her before and after the pandemic, and no one was allowed to use the gym because it was closed. When the opportunity came to switch to pole vaulting, she felt ready to move on. “It was a really hard decision; it was a really big decision, but everyone supported me,” she said. Pole vaulting is something different and fun that she can do close to where she lives in Hoover. Jaedyn trains at Peak Athletics Pole Vaulting Club with her coach, Chris Spears. After two months, she gained a personal record jump of 9 feet, 6 inches. She dedicates her fast progress to Spears’ teaching methods. “My coach is really good about helping me understand how to make
corrections, basing it off of certain gymnastics things,” she said. “He’s just good about wording things right so it clicks better in my head.” She also said she really enjoys the sport, which encourages her to work harder. In the summer, Jaedyn practices pole vaulting four days a week, with two days dedicated to jumping and the other two for training. Jumping practice lasts for 2½ hours, with the first few minutes for warmups and stretches, and the rest of the time is just pole vaulting. Training days are between 2½ to 3½ hours long, and include running, conditioning and weight training. Howard University pole vaulting will bring some new challenges for Archinard. When she did gymnastics, she was a part of a lot of different teams, meaning she knew where she fit in and how to make new friends. She has only been on one other pole vaulting team, so understanding her place on the university’s team might prove more difficult. But, those differences are also refreshing. Archinard said she is super excited to meet new coaches and learn how they handle corrections and leadership. She also loves that she gets to be a part of a team in college and meet new people. Some other girls on the team have practiced pole vaulting, but she will be the first female to specialize in it. “He [Coach David Oliver] did say I’m gonna have to train with the sprinters, so I’m not sure how hard that will be ... but it’s very exciting, and I’m very thankful to have this opportunity,” she said. Archinard said she hopes to also try other track and field events during her time at Howard.
B12 • August 2021
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ALL-STARS
CONTINUED from page B1 their respective sports’ North-South all-star events, which took place in July in Montgomery. These games featured a collection of the top rising seniors in each AHSAA sport and showcase them. Briarwood’s Kara Coleman was selected to play in the all-star tennis event, while Oak Mountain’s Eleanor Forbes and Spain Park’s Taylor Trible were selected for the girls golf showcase. In soccer, Chelsea’s Avery Burleson, Briarwood’s Savannah Sato, Spain Park’s Sydney Soehn and Oak Mountain’s Hayley Wells played in the girls game, while Corbitt Grundhoefer from Oak Mountain, Webster Jackson of Westminster-Oak Mountain, Alan Melendez of Spain Park and Nathan Tozzi from Indian Springs played in the boys game. Oak Mountain’s Davis Gillespie was featured in the North-South baseball game, while Spain Park’s Audrey Rothman and Oak Mountain’s Kathryn Smith were in the volleyball match. In basketball, Evan Smith and Wilder Evers of Oak Mountain were each named to the boys basketball game, along with Colin Turner and Camille Chase of Spain Park. In postseason baseball awards, Gillespie and Chelsea’s Connor Ball were selected as first team all-state players by the ASWA. Oak Mountain’s Maddox Macrory was honorable mention. In softball, Widra and Lydia Coleman, also from Spain Park, were first team all-state. Oak Mountain’s Dawn Autry and Chelsea’s Tyler Erwin were named to the second team. In soccer, Spain Park’s Matt Hall was named Large School Coach of the Year after leading the Jags to the
Above left: Briarwood’s Kara Coleman competes in a singles match against Homewood’s Linlee Dunn during the Class 6A sectionals in April at Pell City Civic Center. Above right: Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a layup while being guarded by Auburn’s Gabe Forthofer (13) during the Class 7A state semifinal game in March at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena. Photos by Erin Nelson.
Class 7A state title for the first time in the program. Melendez, Duca and Oak Mountain’s Wells, Kaitlin Maynard and Kierson McDonald were all named to the first team super allstate squad as well, as voted by the coaches. Making second team super
all-state were Chelsea’s Mackenzie Titus, Spain Park’s Vivian Gray and Maddie McNulty, Oak Mountain’s Lane Hope and Briarwood’s Anna Martin on the girls side and Chelsea’s Matt Reinsch, Spain Park’s Seth Acton and Jacob Jowers and Oak Mountain’s Grant Renfrow on
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL BUCCANEERS FOOTBALL COVERAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU THROUGHOUT THE SEASON BY
the boys side. Chelsea’s Chris Nettuno was first team all-state in 6A, and Spain Park’s Kaleb Jowers was first team in 7A, while Spain Park’s Josh Rowland (7A) and Briarwood’s Sam Jauregui and Matthias Leib (6A) were second teamers.
Rounding out the soccer allstate honorees, Briarwood’s Berkley Barnett was first team all-state in 6A, while Briarwood’s Emily Scott was second team. In 7A, Oak Mountain’s Aubrey Gaut and Spain Park’s Tatum Ahlemeyer were second team.
280Living.com
OLLI@UA is a member-led community of lifelong learners. Since 2008, we’ve grown to more than 300 courses annually in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Gadsden. We love to learn new things, meet people with similar interests and travel locally and abroad. Many of us teach courses and lead field trips. Whatever your interests, there’s something for you in OLLI. Join us for our open house and hear guest speaker John Archibald. Monday, August 9, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverchase United Methodist Church. To learn more, visit olli.ua.edu/bhm or call (205) 348-6482. Fall course registration begins soon!
August 2021 • B13
B14 • August 2021
280 Living
SWEET
HARVEST Photos by Erin Nelson Clockwise, from above: Grant, 8, and Harrison, 6, campers with Grace Kids Camp in Liberty Park, pick blueberries at Lyon Blueberry Farm in Shelby County on July 7. Caleb, 7, a camper with Grace Kids Camp in Liberty Park, puts blueberries into his basket. Water droplets drip off of blueberries. Vestavia Hills resident Patty Roark reaches into a bush to pick blueberries.
Harrison reaches for blueberries.
Harrison, 6, Grant, 8, and Caleb, 7, walk along a row of blueberry bushes.
280Living.com
August 2021 • B15
SUMMERTIME FUN
IN CHELSEA
Thousands turned out for Chelsea's CityFest and Big Kaboom on July 3, which included vendors, food trucks, children's activities and live music. Photos by Leah Ingram Eagle.
Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer and his wife Cindy.
B16 • August 2021
280 Living
Events Hoover schools foundation to host cornhole tournament
OMSP’s Ridge 2 Blazing Ridge race scheduled for Aug. 21
By JON ANDERSON
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Runners and walkers who want a challenging experience on backcountry trails that few people ever see can participate in the annual Ridge 2 Blazing Ridge event at Oak Mountain State Park on Aug. 21. Organizer David Tosch said this year’s route will be the most challenging yet and will follow part of the first 7 miles of the Blood Rock 100 Course, adding that runners will need to drink lots of water on the first 8 miles. The race will have 10.5-mile and 21-mile route options. The 10.5-mile route will have over 5,000 feet of elevation change. “Besides the fact that it’s so hot, the race uses some trails that are rugged and steep, and there are places participants will have to put their hands on rocks to help climb up,” he said. “On the other hand, it's nothing that virtually anybody can’t do.” Tosch said runners are required to begin the race with 16 to 20 ounces of water and can refill at stations throughout the course. Many participants walk the entire course, he said. The race will start at 7 a.m. at Redbud Pavilion and will include three of the most demanding climbs within Oak Mountain State Park. On Friday, Aug. 20, packet pickup and late registration will be at Mountain High Outfitters at The Summit from 4:30-6 p.m. Late registration and packet pickup will be from 6-6:50 a.m. Saturday at Redbud Pavilion. Food and beverages will be provided at the
Runners participate in the 2020 Ridge 2 Blazing Ridge run at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of “MRuns” Suman Silwal.
Ridge 2 Blazing Ridge • WHERE: Oak Mountain State Park • WHEN: 7 a.m., Aug. 21 • COST: $50 for 10.5-mile ($60 after Aug. 9) and $65-for 21 mile ($75 after Aug. 9) • WEB: ultrasignup.com
end of the race. Tosch said the event is more of a party atmosphere than a competitive race. The race can only accommodate 300 runners and usually sells out. Registration closes Aug. 17 and is $50 for the 10.5-mile route ($60 after Aug. 9) and $65 for the 21-mile route ($75 after Aug. 9). Oak Mountain State Park charges a $5 entry fee per person. For more information or to register, visit ultrasignup.com.
The Hoover City Schools Foundation plans to host a cornhole tournament Aug. 28 in conjunction with the Central Alabama Cornhole Club. The tournament, which will be a fundraiser for the foundation, is scheduled to be 10 a.m. in the parking lot of The Village at Brock’s Gap shopping center at the corner of Stadium Trace Parkway and Brock’s Gap Parkway in the Trace Robbie Cornell tosses a bag during a cornhole tournament in Homewood in April. The Hoover City Crossings community. “Cornhole is a game that has Schools Foundation will host its own tournament Aug. 28. Photo by Ingrid Schnader. grown in popularity, so we decided to take this opportunity to hold a tournament to benefit the Hoover City Schools Foundation,” said Jason DeLuca, president of Cornhole Tournament the foundation’s board of directors. “It’s a family-friendly game and an event that we hope • WHERE: Parking lot of The Village we can grow each year.” at Brock’s Gap shopping center Teams of two people can join the tourna• WHEN: 10 a.m. (registration at ment either as social players for $40 or com9:30 a.m.), Aug. 28 petitive players for $50. The top competitive • COST: $40 for social players; players will win cash prizes, and top three $50 for competitive players social teams will win gift cards. • WEB: hoovercsf.org or alabama People can register on the foundation’s cornhole.com website: hoovercsf.org or the Central Alabama Cornhole Club website — alabamacornhole. com. The foundation is looking for businesses very fun day.” The foundation, which was created in 1992, to serve as sponsors for the event. Interested businesses can contact foundation Executive uses proceeds from its fundraisers to support enhanced academics in Hoover schools, Director Shelley Shaw. “We have several levels of sponsorship that including professional development and can give businesses of all sizes and means the grants for teachers with innovative projects chance to support our city schools,” Shaw said. and projects that support science, technology, “We encourage you to come be part of this engineering and math education.
Summer Shindig offers fun times on Old Baker Farm By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Lifeline Children’s Services is holding its 10th annual R(un) for One 5K and 1-mile fun run Aug. 28 at Veterans Park in Hoover. Photo courtesy of Lifeline Children’s Services.
R(un) for One 5K set for Aug. 28 at Veterans Park By JON ANDERSON Lifeline Children’s Services is holding its 10th annual R(un) for One 5K and 1-mile fun run Aug. 28 at Veterans Park in Hoover. The run is a fundraiser for Lifeline’s (un) adopted ministry, which serves orphaned and vulnerable children around the world. The run in Hoover is one of eight scheduled around the Southeast on Aug. 28. Others are scheduled to be held in Athens, Georgia; Atlanta; Charlotte; Jackson, Mississippi; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Pace, Florida; and Raleigh, North Carolina. The 5K in Hoover is scheduled for 8 a.m., and the 1-mile fun run will be at 8:45 a.m. The cost to participate is $30 for the 5K and $15 for the 1-mile fun run. The 5K will be timed by staff from the Trak Shak on U.S. 280, said Brittany Finch, the event coordinator. Last year, about 300 runners participated in the Birmingham area runs and raised about $100,000, Finch said. The goal this year is to draw about 400 runners and again raise at least $100,000, she said. Most of the money raised
R(un) for One 5K • WHERE: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road • WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 28, 5K at 8 a.m.; 1-mile fun run at 8:45 a.m. • WEB: runforone5k.org
comes from businesses that serve as sponsors for the runs, she said. As of late June, more than $57,000 already had been raised, according to the race website. All runners will receive a shirt. However, people need to register by Aug. 11 to guarantee a T-shirt size. People can pick up race packets at the Trak Shak on U.S. 280 on Friday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but people can still register for the runs on race day at Veterans Park, beginning at 7 a.m. People can register in advance and find more information at runforone5k.org.
The Old Baker Farm will host its annual Summer Shindig this month. On Saturday, Aug. 14, guests will be welcomed to the farm, located just a few miles from Chelsea, for the event from 5-9 p.m. For the $10 admission fee per person, visitors can take a hayride to the sunflower patch and pick five per person; take a little red train ride; visit some of the farm animals; enjoy hay activities and other games; shop local vendors; and enjoy food trucks and live music. The event will end with a 15-minute fireworks display. Several food trucks will offer a variety of food, and 30-40 local Admission includes a hayride to the sunflower patch artisans will have booths set up with items including candles, where each person may pick up to five flowers. Photo courtesy of Old Baker Farm. handcrafted wooden items, handmade pillows, homemade candy, homemade bread, jewelry, T-shirts and more. Pam Baker, who owns the farm with her husband Jerry, said there will be people assisting Summer Shindig in cutting the sunflowers, which they planted in all colors this year. Guests are welcome to • WHERE: Old Baker Farm, 1041 take their own photos in the sunflower field, Farmingdale Road, Harpersville but professional photographers are required to • WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 14, 5-9 p.m. follow the rules and fees listed on the farm’s • COST: Admission $10 per person website. • WEB: oldbakerfarm.com Hand sanitizer stations will be available, and the Bakers treat all surfaces with a product that will not allow bacteria or viruses to live small fee. over half a second. For more information on Old Baker Farm, Guests can pay admissions by cash or a debit/credit card, which will include a visit oldbakerfarm.com.
280Living.com
August 2021 • B17
Save the O’s 5K fundraiser returns for 17th year By HANNAH URBAN The annual Save the O’s 5K will be in person this year on Saturday, Aug. 21, but it will also include a virtual option. The fundraiser is held in honor of Lori Johnson, who died of ovarian cancer in 2006 at the age of 41. She was married to John Johnson, one of the organizers of the event. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation works with Johnson each year to put together the event and raise money for ovarian cancer research. Last year, the fundraiser was virtual because of COVID-19. Supporters ran on treadmills at their homes to honor the women who battle ovarian cancer. Ashley Thompson, executive director of the foundation, said Lori fought courageously for herself and other women. The Johnson family wanted to honor Lori after her death by having the event in Greystone. “They thought this was a great idea because all of her friends surrounded her while she was battling ovarian cancer,” Thompson said. “It was just a great opportunity for the community to come out and honor her memory.” The Greystone Country Club is hosting the event, and Thompson said they are expecting 300 to 350 participants. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m., and the event will include a 5K that begins at 8 a.m., a 1-mile fun run and walk, a silent auction and a pool party at the end of the race. Kim Evans found out she had ovarian cancer in May 2013 while she was the women’s golf coach at Auburn University. She went to the 5K after hearing about it from former Executive Director Susan Green. Evans was receiving chemotherapy treatment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and many of her family, friends, colleagues and players came to support her at the race. “Since the very first year, even when I was fighting cancer that August, I actually went to the race and walked about two blocks,” Evans
Participants in the 2017 Save the O’s fundraiser to benefit the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Ashley Thompson.
said. “The next year I came back and did the full 5K, which was fun. I didn’t exactly run it, but I did walk it and run some of it.” The proceeds from the event will help to provide funding for ovarian cancer research and the Just a Need patient support program, which provides neuropathy kits free of charge to women to help prevent pain in the nerves during their chemotherapy treatment. Evans has been cancer-free since October 2013. After her recovery, Green asked her to be on the foundation board. She accepted and currently serves as president. “It takes grit and strength to get through ovarian cancer, but also a lot of hope and the belief that you can stay in it long enough to make it through the fight,” Evans said. She is one of many women who have been honored for their battle with ovarian cancer in the Save the O’s 5K. Participants
Save the O’s 5K • WHERE: Greystone Country Club, 4100 Greystone Drive • WHEN: Aug. 21; registration opens at 6:30 a.m. • COST: Registration costs vary • WEB: savetheos5k.com or nlovca. org
are encouraged to form teams with family or friends to challenge each other to raise more money for ovarian cancer research. To learn more about the Save the O’s 5K or register to participate, visit savetheos5k.com or nlovca.org.
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B18 • August 2021
280 Living
Metro Roundup TRUSSVILLE
1st bronze bust added at vets memorial park By GARY LLOYD The first bronze bust of a Trussville veteran was recently added to the Trussville Veterans Memorial at Civitan Park. The bust of Army Sgt. Jason Stegall, who died in 2009, was unveiled in the park May 30. The bronze bust is the result of approximately $11,000 in donations and the Brought to passion of Navy vetyou by our eran Mark Davis, the sister paper: founder of the Alabama Fallen Warriors Project. The bust was molded by cahabasun.com retired Army Col. Lee Busby and cast at the University of Alabama. “He’s got a God-gifted talent,” Davis said of Busby. Stegall died in December 2009 after returning to the United States from Iraq and developing a case of swine flu while stationed in Texas. Doctors put him in a medically induced coma to fly him to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, but he had a bad reaction to his medicine and never woke up from the coma, his wife, Ashley Stegall, said. He died at Georgetown University Hospital about a week later, she said. While Jason Stegall was on an 18-month tour in Iraq, he earned a Bronze Star for helping stop two suicide bombers in trucks from completing an attack on a U.S. base. He and another paratrooper were serving as guards that day and saved
“” It’s just a heart that I have for veterans.
MARK DAVIS
countless lives, despite being temporarily knocked unconscious during the fight, Ashley Stegall said. Jason Stegall also earned two Purple Heart medals while in Iraq. One time, he was wounded in the side during a firefight while on patrol but still led his squad out of harm’s way back to their base. On another occasion, a bullet came through the back of his helmet and exited the front, grazing his head in the process. Davis said the goal of the Alabama Fallen Warriors Project is to raise enough money to create bronze busts of every military member from Alabama killed on active duty since 9/11. Next on the list for the park in Trussville is Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Michael Hosey, a Trussville man killed in action in Afghanistan in September 2011 at the age of 27. The May 30 unveiling event was attended by Trussville city officials and the newly created Trussville Veterans Committee, which Davis helped to set up. The committee is tasked with finding ways to recognize veterans and plan Veterans Day events. “It’s just a heart that I have for veterans,” Davis said.
The bronze bust of Army Sgt. Jason Stegall, molded by retired Army Col. Lee Busby, seen at Civitan Park in Trussville. Stegall, who died in 2009, earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for his life-saving actions while on active duty. Photo by Gary Lloyd.
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August 2021 • B19
VESTAVIA HILLS
Residents speak out against proposed 280 widening near Vestavia By NEAL EMBRY The current Alabama Department of Transportation proposal to widen U.S. 280 to four lanes in both directions between Pump House Road and Lakeshore Drive was met with concern by area residents at a July 13 public meeting at Mountain Brook City Hall. Brought to The plan is to you by our eventually widen the sister paper: highway from Lakeshore Drive all the way to Interstate 459 in order to alleviate vestavia traffic congestion, voice.com but the first phase stops just short of the Pump House Bridge, which will eventually have to be replaced in order to make room for the widening, said DeJarvis Leonard, the East Central Region engineer for ALDOT. Public response was overwhelmingly negative at the meeting, with most of the concern coming from Mountain Brook residents who would be affected by the removal of the merge lane onto U.S. 280 coming off Overton Road. Leonard said an additional 40 seconds of green light time will be added to the existing traffic signal to compensate for the lost turn lane. Residents expressed doubt that the plan would work and said it would back traffic up on Overton, which would then affect residential neighborhoods in the area. One resident said it would be “impossible” to get down Overton Road onto the highway. “You can’t get onto Overton,” she said. Most of the meeting’s attendees live in the Lockerbie subdivision, which does not directly meet with Overton, but is near the road and interacts with the road’s traffic. Residents of the subdivision expressed concern about cars flying down Overton to try and get on
the highway, which can be dangerous, especially with poor visibility of oncoming traffic. If traffic is backed up any more than it already is on Overton, those residents said they’re concerned about getting out of their neighborhood. Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston said the intersection does not warrant a traffic signal, but the city may post signage reminding drivers on Overton Road to not block the intersection, allowing Lockerbie residents to access the road. Leonard told the audience that he anticipates they may have to wait, at most, an additional five minutes to access U.S. 280 from Overton once time is added to the traffic signal. He also said he has spoken with officials from Vestavia Hills, who will encourage residents in Liberty Park to use I-459 to get to downtown Birmingham as opposed to coming through Overton Road onto U.S. 280. Richard Caudle, a traffic engineer with Skipper Consulting, said there are also plans to add a right-turn lane from U.S. 280 onto Rocky Ridge Road, and to relocate the U-turn lane from eastbound traffic onto westbound traffic, currently at Overton Road, down to the intersection with Rocky Ridge Road. There are also plans to add a right-turn lane onto Overton Road from U.S. 280 westbound, Caudle said. One resident accused ALDOT of ignoring the people who live and drive on Overton, while others expressed concern about the impact to neighborhoods near Rocky Ridge and Green Valley roads. One resident said the project represents a temporary fix that she does not believe will work. “You’re putting a Band-Aid on the situation,” she said. It is not known if another public meeting will be held. The project was set to be let out for bid at the end of July.
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Motorists travel along U.S. 280 near Pump House Road. Photo by Erin Nelson.
B20 • August 2021
280 Living
MOUNTAIN BROOK
Journalist John Archibald discusses his new book at June chamber luncheon By JESSE CHAMBERS John Archibald, a columnist at al.com and The Birmingham News, received national attention when he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2018. Archibald recently received more plaudits when he published a book based on his expeBrought to riences growing up with you by our his family in Alabama sister paper: in the 1960s and 1970s. “Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in villageliving the Wake of the Civil online.com Rights Revolution” was released in March by Knopf and has been praised by such outlets as The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and National Public Radio. In the book, Archibald examines the role of his late father — Robert Archibald Jr., a Methodist pastor who died in 2013 — and other white people in the church in failing to speak out more forcefully for racial justice during the civil rights era. Archibald discussed the book when he was keynote speaker at the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce luncheon held via Zoom in June. The book’s title, “Shaking the Gates of Hell,” comes from Methodism founder John Wesley, said Archibald, who enumerated his family’s church ties. “My dad was a Methodist preacher, and so
was his dad, and his (grandfather), and so on, and my mom’s dad was a Methodist preacher, and so was his dad, and I have a uncle and an aunt and a niece and a nephew who are all Methodist preachers,” Archibald said. His father was a minister in Alabaster when Archibald was born in 1963. In 2018, Archibald found filing cabinets containing every sermon his father gave during his career. As he read Robert Archibald’s sermons from the civil rights era, Archibald saw that his father was not directly addressing racial justice. “The thing that was the most apparent was the silence of it all,” Archibald said, “That was when I had to find out why this is not representative of this man I knew.” After all, his dad “was a good man,” Archibald said. “He was there when we needed him and taught us to treat all people well, and he worked behind the scenes to make things better.” People who knew Archibald’s father told the author about “a conspiracy of silence” that existed in the South, including the church, he said. People who spoke out against segregation were often punished or threatened, and Archibald was told his father was silent because he wanted to protect his family Archibald said he understands his dad’s fear, but “it doesn’t make me feel any better about it. “If you have a pulpit and you don’t use it, what good is it?” he said. All of us have pulpits in our own way,
John Archibald, a columnist at al.com and The Birmingham News, recently published a book, “Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution.” Photo courtesy of Wikimedia user Fuzheado.
Archibald said, “whether its the dinner table or the mass media.” He noted that we can’t know with certainly how we would have acted in another time. “But I know you can learn from the mistakes of the people you most admire, good people, and use that to help determine how you will live your life and what you will stand
for,” Archibald said. “Shaking the Gates of Hell” is “not a condemnation of my father,” he said. “It’s a love story in many ways.” The book is told through Archibald’s father, “but I believe it’s about us and about how we live in our own time,” the author said. For more about chamber events, go to mtnbrookchamber.org.
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August 2021 • B21
HOMEWOOD
Tailgate Challenge celebrates return of football season Aug. 28 By INGRID SCHNADER Football fans, supporters of The Bell Center and more will gather at The Bell Center on Aug. 28 for the 13th annual Tailgate Challenge. There are two main things attendees love about the event, said Marketing and Development Coordinator Macy Craddock. “People in Alabama are always really excited to get back to football season, so it’s a kickoff for the football season, to celebrate that it’s LSU fans serve food at their tent during The Bell Center’s coming back,” she said. “A annual Tailgate Challenge fundraiser in 2017. Photo by Jesse Chambers. close second to that is people just love the food.” Every team tent brings Brought to a sample of food to let you by our the crowd try, which can Tailgate Challenge sister paper: be anything from storebought cookies to some• WHERE: The Bell Center, 1700 29th thing that took days to Court S. cook. Judges will award • WHEN: Aug. 28 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. thehomewood a prize for the team with • COST: Tickets are $15 during the star.com the best-tasting food. In presale and $20 the day of the event; addition, teams will also children ages 12 and younger are compete for most team spirit and best all around. admitted for free “It’s always really interesting,” Craddock • WEB: thebellcenter.org/events/ said. “No two teams are ever the same.” tailgate-challenge Tickets are $15 during the presale and $20 the day of the event. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted for free. Money raised from the event goes toward The assistance for families who receive services from Bell Center’s overall budget. It’s spent on pro- The Bell Center. The event is at The Bell Center, 1700 29th Court grams such as feeding therapy, music therapy and functional vision assessments. It also helps S., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, purchase new equipment and provides tuition visit thebellcenter.org/events/tailgate-challenge.
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B22 • August 2021
280 Living
280
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
1292406
35242
1292435
Address
Status
Price
1012 Highland Park Place
New
$549,900
35242
3000 Newbury Circle
New
$649,900
1292122
35242
5112 Meadow Brook Road
New
$699,900
1291374
35242
682 Highland Lakes Cove
New
$649,900
1290803
35242
9013 Park Crest Road
New
$544,500
1292193
35242
6001 Club Place
New
$649,782
1292090
35242
6044 Terrace Hills Drive
New
$359,900
1290634
35242
790 Provence Drive
New
$548,900
1292008
35242
1100 Highland Village Trail
New
$849,900
1291990
35242
1001 Eagle Mountain Lane
New
$715,000
1291883
35242
5018 Greystone Way
New
$949,000
1292338
35242
5 Wentworth
New
$875,000
1292048
35043
496 Bent Creek Trace
New
$469,900
1291918
35043
4246 Shelby County 331
New
$599,000
1290359
35043
16 Baron Drive
New
$445,900
1291453
35043
104 Oaklyn Hills Drive
New
$375,000
1289357
35043
101 Courtyard Drive
New
$574,900
1289289
35043
9 Allen Drive
New
$159,900
1288055
35043
1004 Willow Branch Trail
New
$419,900
1288754
35043
9074 Old Highway 280
New
$550,000
1012 Highland Park Place
496 Bent Creek Trace
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on July 19. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
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August 2021 • B23
Calendar Mt Laurel Library KIDS PROGRAMS Aug. 9: Back to School Kahoot. Are you ready to go back to school? Complete this trivia Kahoot to find out. Play on your own or with your whole family. Registration required. Aug. 14: Crafty Saturday. 10 a.m. Pick up a craft to go at the library. All ages with parent help. Registration is not required, but supplies
are limited.
North Shelby will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Aug. 16.
Aug. 28: LEGO Club. 11 a.m. Stop by to build a creation with LEGO bricks. No registration required. ADULT PROGRAMS Aug. 5: Mt Laurel Book Club. 7 p.m. Discussing “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie. No registration required.
Chelsea Public Library PRESCHOOL Thursdays: Tot Time. 10:30 a.m. Chelsea Community Center. Join Mrs. Emily each week for stories, music and games. CHILDREN Aug. 10: Virtual Music and Books Club. 5:30 p.m. Join online for music and books club. Aug. 14: Lego Day. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come and create with Legos. Be sure to display your creation with a name tag for all to see for a week on our children’s floor.
North Shelby Library
Aug. 28: KZT Hands On S.T.E.A.M. Day. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CHILDREN
librarian@shelbycounty-al.org for more information. Registration required.
Aug. 1-31: Craft Kit-to-Go. In honor of dog (and cat) days of summer, stop by the Children’s Department to pick up a pawsome, pet-themed craft kit. No registration required, but while supplies last. All ages with adult assistance.
Aug. 11: Tween Leadership Council virtual meeting. 4 p.m. Last fully virtual meeting before in-person meetings begin. The council will meet to solidify plans for September through December. Applications available on the children’s page at northshelbylibrary.org, or in the Children’s Department.
Aug. 1-31: International Pirate Month. Stop by the Children’s Department any time in August for drop-in activities. Aug. 1-31: STEM Kit-to-Go. Stop by the Children’s Department and pick up a STEM kit and make your own balloon race car. No registration required, but while supplies last. All ages with adult assistance. TWEENS (AGES 8-12)
TEENS Aug. 9: Teen Book Club. 5 p.m. Join Mrs. Amy each month for book discussion and a free dinner. ADULTS Aug. 9: Medicare Info. 4 p.m. Debra Quinn will be available to walk you through the ins and outs of Medicare. Aug. 12: Book Club. 10 a.m. Join every month to discuss a new book and topic each month.
Aug. 1-31: Tween Activity Kit: Make Your Own Crystal Yeti. Stop by the Children’s Department and pick up a kit to make your own crystal yeti. No registration required,but while supplies last. Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31: Tween Minecrafternoons. 4 p.m. Join other tweens on the library’s Minecraft Realm. Patrons must have their own supported version of Minecraft at home in order to play. If your child is not already a member of the Tween Realm, please email Vanessa at nschildrens
TEENS Aug. 16: Teen Leadership Council meeting. 6 p.m. The Teen Leadership Council will meet in person to plan programs. Pizza will be served. Please come with at least two programming ideas. Also, it's not too late to apply. Applications are available on the teen page at northshelbylibrary. org, or in the Teen Department. Aug. 28: Teen Volunteer Day. Help the library and earn community service hours. The library will host several volunteer days this semester. Each time it is offered, students in grades 6-12 can sign up for 1-2 hours of service. Limit five volunteers per day. Contact Kaitlyn at 205-439-5512 or nsprogramming@ shelbycounty-al.org to sign up for a time. ADULTS Aug. 3 and 17: Language
Club. 6 p.m. This club is for people who want to practice with like-minded individuals who all have the same goal of improving their education of language. Aug. 6: Digital Family Breakout. 5 p.m. Work together and solve the clues to unlock the Breakout Box. Registration required. Aug. 9: “Reading with Horses” Virtual Painting Kit-to-Go. 10 a.m. This is part of an ongoing #animalsreading series. Registration required. Kit can be picked up at the library. Follow along with the included instructions or go to the library’s YouTube channel for a video overview. Aug. 19: NSL Book Club. 10:30 a.m. Registration required. Aug. 24: True Crime Digital Book Club. 6 p.m. More than a book club, The True Crime Club covers true crime books and documentaries. Registration required. Aug. 30: Fantasy Football League Draft. 6 p.m. Join the library’s fantasy football league. Draft players, track rankings and follow this program through the football season. Your library contact will be the commissioner of the league. Highly recommended to bring your own device, such as a laptop, but this is not required. Registration required.
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