March 2022 | Volume 15 | Issue 7
205-528-9832 280LIVING.COM
THE 280 CORRIDOR’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
GAINING NEW
PERSPECTIVES Shelby County Sheriff Office’s Capt. Jason Myrick completes training at FBI’s National Academy By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
C
apt. Jason Myrick now has another accomplishment to add to his already impressive resume: He recently graduated from the FBI’s National Academy, becoming the sixth officer at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to complete the prestigious training. The executive-level program is designed for leaders in law enforcement organizations around the globe. It provides coursework in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication and forensic science. The goal is to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge and cooperation worldwide. Myrick had originally planned to begin training in January 2020, but the session was canceled due to the emerging threat of COVID-19. “I had gotten to the point of reconciling the fact I may never get to go,” Myrick said. “I was thinking my retirement was going to get here before I had a chance to attend.”
See MYRICK | page A28 Capt. Jason Myrick of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office recently completed the FBI National Academy leadership training in Quantico, Virginia, where he took graduate courses in behavioral science, forensics, leadership development, terrorism, communications, and health and fitness. Photo by Erin Nelson.
INSIDE Sponsors .......... A4 280 News ..........A6 Business .......... A10 Chamber.......... A15 Schoolhouse.... A16
Labors of Love
Summer Camp Guide........... A22 Sports.................B4 Real Estate Guide..............B8
Shelby County officials work to combat human trafficking By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
facebook.com/280living
Annie McDonald — or Miss Annie, as she’s known to thousands of area students — lives out her passions of teaching and now cooking with Miss Annie’s Home + Kitchen.
See page A25
Human trafficking is an issue that, contrary to stereotype, can affect vulnerable people anywhere, even in communities such as Shelby County. It is the fastest growing and second largest criminal activity in the world. Birmingham and surrounding areas bordered by interstates and major roadways are a popular spot for this crime. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to cause a person to perform either labor or a commercial sex act. Each year, millions of men, women and children are victimized by traffickers worldwide as part of
See TRAFFICKING | page A30
Blanket Fort Hope CEO and founder Alexa James holds a “Sold!” sign as she celebrates with Christy Ellis Brasher and Corley Ellis of Ellis Properties after signing paperwork for a new facility that will be built on property in Columbiana. Photo courtesy of Blanket Fort Hope.
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280 Living
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March 2022 • A3
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A4 • March 2022
280 Living
About Us Editor’s Note By Leah Ingram Eagle Look at us already one-fourth of the way into 2022! I think, like last year, we had really expected things to be much better (thanks, Omicron). March is one of my favorite months, but I think this year it will definitely be at the top of the list. We surprised our kids at Christmas with news of a trip to Disney and Universal Studios on March 9-13. They couldn’t believe it! They are 13 and almost 8 and have never been (I’ve only been once and I was pregnant so I didn’t get to ride many things and enjoy the full experience). It’s not a cheap trip to take, and we are trying to save as much money as possible. We are staying at my in-laws’ Marriott timeshare, so that’s free. We’re driving, so we are saving on airfare. We have been saving money the past few months, so we’ll hopefully be able to pay cash for everything while we’re there. My daughter will celebrate her eighth birthday March 11, so we’ve booked dinner at a fun
restaurant in Universal reminiscent of Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. On March 13, my husband Todd and I celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary! We’ll spend two days at Disney (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) and two days at Universal, where I’m so looking forward to experiencing the Harry Potter world and riding the Hogwarts Express in between the two parks. Our kids have never ridden
roller coasters before, so we’ll see how that goes. I know the days there will be long and tiring, but I’m looking forward to making memories that will last a lifetime. In this issue, you can read about Commander Jason Myrick with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. He recently completed an 11-week FBI training at Quantico and became the sixth employee at the SCSO to complete the training. New businesses continue to open along the U.S. 280 corridor, and I’ll share three of those in this issue that include two new restaurants and a salon studio. More spring sports are kicking off, and Kyle Parmley has previews for baseball and softball and a recap of signing day. I hope you enjoy reading this month’s issue!
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
The Oak Mountain student section erupts following a call as the Eagles face Tuscaloosa County in the Area 5 tournament Feb. 9 at Oak Mountain High School. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Nick Patterson Community Editors: Leah Ingram Eagle Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Neal Embry Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Community Reporter: Eric Taunton Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry Contributing Writers: Alana Smith Sean Dietrich Client Success Specialist: Anna Bain Content Marketing Manager: Ingrid Schnader Graphic Designer: Emily VanderMey Advertising: Michelle Salem Haynes Don Harris Jarrett Tyus Warren Caldwell Bob Willard Administrator: Anna Jackson
Please Support Our Community Partners Altadena Eye Care (A10) America’s Thrift Store (B2) Bank of England Mortgage (A27) Bedzzz Express (A29, B1) Bellini’s Ristorante (A25) Birmingham Braces (A19) Bromberg’s & Company Inc. (A26) Budget Blinds (B15) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Glass (A25) Cardinal Roofing (A21) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (A7) Chiropractic Today (B2) Classic Home Mortgage Inc. (B10) Compact2020 (A18) Cottontails Village (A8) CPAP Plus - O’Neal Medical (A30) Cremation Center of Birmingham (A27) ENT Associates of Alabama (A15) Everyday Pet Styles (A11) Eyes on Chelsea (A16) French Drains Pro (A18) Gardner Landscaping (A6) Grandview Medical Group (A3) Guin Service (A17) HaMi Boutique (A12) Hearing Solutions (A10) Hilliard Irrigation (B14) Indian Springs School (A22) Inverness Country Club (A11) Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (B14) Kidcam Summer Camps (A23) Luckie’s Pinestraw (A1) Magic City Acceptance Academy (B3) Marshall Malone, ARC Realty (B8) Mason Music Studios (A24) Max Transit (A14) MiBella Wellness Center (A5) Momentum Motorworks (A27) NAI Chase Commercial (B13) Nature One Landscape Design (B13) Oak Highland Design/ Decorating Den (B5)
One Man and a Toolbox (A12) Red Mountain Glass and Mirror (A15) Pak Mail (A8) Patti Henderson, Flat Fee Real Estate (A31) Piggly Wiggly (A19) Preserve Paints (A7) Proveer at Grande View (A13) Red Mountain Associates Thrivent Financial (A30) Red Mountain Theatre Company (A24) Renew Dermatology (A2) Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens (A26) ROME Study, UAB Division of Preventative Medicine (A20) Royal Automotive (B16) Senior Placement Services (B5) Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (A21) Sikes Children’s Shoes (A20) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (A14) Southern Coin & Collectibles (A15) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (A31) Southern States Bank (A8) Space Cadets (B15) Studio Abear (A27) Terry Crutchfield, RE/MAX Advantage South (B11) Terry Marlowe, RE/MAX Southern Homes 280 (B12) TherapySouth Greystone (A32) Town of Mt Laurel, Sarah Eddy (B9) Victory Church BHM (A9) Vintage Market Days at Hoover Met (A6) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (A16) Window Decor & Design (A31) Window World of Central Alabama (B1)
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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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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A6 • March 2022
280 Living
280 News Commission opposes bill, OKs new lanes for Valleydale Road By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Shelby County Commission unanimously passed a resolution expressing its staunch opposition to the provisions and intent of Senate Bill 157 during the Feb. 14 meeting, saying that if implemented, it would detrimentally impact the integrity of the lifespan of the county’s road and bridge system. County Engineer Randy Cole explained the details of the bill, which recently cleared the Senate Committee. The logging/timber industry is requesting to have the weight limits of their trucks increased, specifically for logging trucks. Currently, the maximum load in the state of Alabama is 80,000 pounds, along with a 10% scale tolerance that was put in as a provision several years ago, which Cole described as “grossly excessive” for what was needed. “The maximum weight for a truck on a portable scale is 88,000 pounds,” Cole said. “The timber industry wants to increase those loads on five- and six-axle vehicles and still want the same 10% scale tolerance. That would mean on a six-wheel vehicle you could carry almost 100,000 pounds. That would be incredibly detrimental to every county in the state. Our roads were never built to handle loads like that. Most of ours weren’t even built to handle the trucks we put on them.” Cole said the state’s deputy director of transportation told him there are presently seven bridges in the state that will not allow for 80,000 pounds. If the bill passes, that number would increase to more than 350 bridges. “Every county commission has been asked to pass a version of this resolution expressing our deep concern and will present this to the Legislature saying we don’t have a county commission in the state that feels like their roads can support this,” Cole said.
Members of the Shelby County Commission and other county department heads discuss items at the Feb. 14 meeting. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
The commission also approved a joint agreement between the Alabama Department of Transportation, the cities of Helena, Hoover and Pelham and Shelby County to widen a portion of Valleydale Road to U.S. 31 to five lanes and crossover to Alabama 261 and widen it from to five lanes ending at Bearden Road. The $40 million project will be funded by $10.8 million in STP funds; $16 million in
Federal STPAA funds; $6.5 million CRRSAA funds; $4 million state funds and $675,000 each from Helena, Hoover, Pelham and Shelby County. “The project started out at $1 million for the cities and county, and we got it down to $675,000, and in an unusual show of cooperation of all the players, we’ve been able to do this,” Cole said. “We added a clause in the
contract saying if the overruns are too high, we individually reserve the right to back out of the project.” With County Manager Chad Scroggins away in Washington, D.C., Chief Development Officer David Willingham shared information on several county departments Building permits saw an increase from 1,695 in 2020 to 2,322 in 2021, which included both commercial and residential. Total building permit revenues for 2021 totaled $2,005,026. A new landfill cell is under construction at the Shelby County Landfill at Alabama 70 in Columbiana. There are 400 acres under permit with a construction cost of $6.5 million. Willingham said it should be completed in September and serve the county for the next 10 years. Shelby County’s Comprehensive Plan is moving to Phase Two. From February until June, the focus will be on plan development and recommendations. This portion will include development and evaluation of growth scenarios, new future development maps and recommendations, plan strategies, stakeholder interviews and in person and virtual public meetings. Phase Three, will take place from August to October and include plan documentation and publication and the finalization and adoption of the plan should take place between August and October. The commission approved bids for the following items: ► Electronic monitoring equipment; ► EMS-BLS equipment; ► Backboard and restraining equipment; ► EMS-ALS equipment; ► AED equipment; ► Fire service equipment; ► Water meters for central pipe supply; ► Fluorosilicic acid.
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March 2022 • A7
New equipment for fire department delayed By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Due to supply chain issues, the delivery date for new equipment ordered for the Chelsea Fire & Rescue Department will be delayed. During the Feb. 1 Chelsea City Council meeting, Fire Chief Joe Lee said he has reached out to the vendors about the new trucks and found out the rescue truck won’t be ready until April and the newest fire truck for the department may not be delivered until early 2023. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed, because we need those trucks,” Lee said. He reported that there has recently been an uptick in calls, and the department has been busy the past few weeks. Chelsea Fire & Rescue currently has two rescue trucks. Besides a few fire districts, they are the only municipality in Shelby County that transports. “I give [former] chief [Wayne] Shirley credit for having the foresight to see that problem ahead of time and put those in play,” Lee said. “Our transports are the busiest trucks we have running, and EMS makes up the vast majority of calls.” Lee said the department has some awesome paramedics and added that he often receives calls for the work that they do. Mayor Tony Picklesimer said former Mayor Earl Niven is the reason the department has the transports. “It was very important to him when he was in this chair, long before any of us were serving this city, that the decision was made that we would have this service and offer it in our city,” Picklesimer said. During the mayor’s report, Picklesimer thanked the community for the support he has received after the recent death of his father. He also said he was proud of the way residents handled themselves during the public hearing the previous week.
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Chelsea Fire Chief Joe Lee addresses the council during the Feb. 1 meeting about the equipment delays expected for new vehicles. Screenshot by Leah Ingram Eagle.
“Those television cameras were set up at Liberty Baptist Church to see all the cussin’ and the fussin’,” Picklesimer said. “Thank you for the civil way that everyone presented their thoughts and ideas about the school system.” Jane Ann Mueller from the Chelsea Community Center said membership numbers are back up. As of Feb. 1, there were 1,688 members, and she said she’s encouraged by that. “We went down during COVID because people were not coming to the facility, but we’re back on the rise … and we’re glad to see the use of the building again,” Mueller said. She said things there have been busy with basketball season, signup for spring sports and the five homeschool groups that have been holding their meetings there each week. Mueller mentioned the next big event at the community center will be hosting the city’s annual Fire At The Foothills barbecue competition April 2. The only item on the meeting agenda was to pay the city’s bills.
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A8 • March 2022
280 Living
City awards Nick Grants, donation to Owens House By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Dates to Remember
Memory issues affect many families in the state, including those in Shelby County. During the Feb. 15 Chelsea City Council meeting, Mayor Tony Picklesimer welcomed Gina McIntyre to speak about the Anchor Community Respite Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church where she is the program director. The program began in October 2019 then the pandemic started five months later, forcing it to close, reopening in July 2021. McIntyre said there are a lot of people who don’t know about the program and she’s trying to spread the word. “We are a social program for people who are experiencing any kind of memory loss,” she said. “We have people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, people who have had a stroke. The people who are taking care of them rarely get a break. I have learned that really not just the people dealing with memory loss but their caregivers are one of the most isolated groups of people.” The respite ministry meets twice each week — Tuesdays and Thursdays — at Asbury United Methodist Church off Alabama 119 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The days are filled with fun and include exercise, art, brain games to stimulate their mind and more. The people who come think they’re coming to socialize and have fun. “Our biggest need right now is we need more volunteers. Even though it’s at Asbury, it’s a community ministry,” said McIntyre, who is a Chelsea resident. “We have volunteers from other churches, and almost all of the participants are not members of Asbury.” The program has 16 participants, and their limit per day is about 18 to keep a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 volunteers to participants. “We would love to open a third day but will need more volunteers to do so,” she said. 280 Living ran a story about the ministry after its opening in November 2019, which can be found at 280living.com.
► March 1: Chelsea City Council meeting, 6 p.m. ► March 15: Chelsea City Council meeting, 6 p.m. ► April 2: Bulk trash day ► April 2: Chelsea Car Show. Chelsea City Hall, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ► April 2: Fire at the Foothills BBQ cook-off (and dessert cookoff), 1-4 p.m. Chelsea Community Center
Erica Smith, a counselor at Owen’s House, and Sgt. Robert Rodriguez of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department at the Feb. 15 Chelsea City Council meeting as a resolution was passed for a $15,000 donation from the city of Chelsea to Owen’s House. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
During the meeting, the council awarded Nick Grant Funds to all five Chelsea schools: ► Forest Oaks Elementary received $4,217.79 ► Chelsea Park Elementary received $12,964.04 ► Mt Laurel Elementary received $14,665.27 ► Chelsea Middle School received $17,344.15 ► Chelsea High School received $29,565.59 “Every Nick Grant application that was
submitted was approved, and we were able to go back and approve a couple that were not approved last session,” Picklesimer said. Chelsea High School was awarded grants for several big ticket items including a golf cart ($9,500); vital sign monitors for the medical classes ($8,475) and chairs and racks for the basketball team ($6,191.97). The council also approved a donation to Owens House for $15,000 to assist in their efforts to combat child abuse and neglect. The child advocacy center, located in Columbiana,
that works to protect, strengthen and restore those who have experienced child abuse and trauma. Sgt. Robert Rodriguez of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department serves on the board for Owens House and thanked the mayor and council for their generous donation. “This is not just for Owens House, but really this donation will affect the work and mission of Owens House, which is to bring hope to families that are broken and to the kids. They play a huge part in that mission and that role,” Rodriguez said. Erica Smith, a counselor at Owens House, echoed Rodriguez’s sentiments. “Thanks [to the city of Chelsea] for the donation that will allow us to continue to provide these services for the children of Shelby County and their families,” Smith said. Other items approved included: ► Approval of a retail liquor license for a new restaurant under construction at Chelsea Crossroads, Las Mesas Mexican Grill. The owners of Habanero’s plan to move to this space. ► Approval for the city to enter into an Agreement with Shelby County Commission for installation and maintenance of a traffic control signal at Shelby County 39 and 47. ► Approval to pay the city’s bills.
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March 2022 • A9
Commission reviews comprehensive plan progress, awards grants By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Shelby County is creating a new comprehensive plan for the first time in 18 years. The Shelby County Commission held a work session before its Jan. 24 meeting, during which Christie Pannell-Hester, manager of Planning and Community Development for Shelby County Development Services, shared an overview of the plan’s progress and next steps. The purpose of the plan is to assist elected officials and county leaders with decision-making over the next 15 years based on the citizens’ vision for growth; to prepare for future growth and development; and to provide a set of action-based strategies and policies feasible for implementation. As of January, there were 2,095 responses that included 8,000 comments. Some of the survey results included: ► Top two strengths of the county: quality of public schools (86%) and quality of parks and open space (80%); ► Top two quality-of-life issues: capacity and efficiency of the roadway system (85%) and rapid growth and development (75%); ► Desired new development types: parks and recreational space (63%) and shopping, retail and entertainment venues (56%); ► Top two challenges to economic growth: capacity of roadwork (59%) and availability of reliable transportation options (26%); ► Desired transportation investments if the county received additional funding: reducing traffic congestion (82%) and maintenance of county roads and neighborhood streets (77%);
This map shows areas of Shelby County — pockets of yellow and orange primarily in Chelsea, Indian Springs Village and Helena to Alabaster — where more development is desired. Map courtesy of Christie Pannell-Hester.
Of those who completed the survey, 79% said they feel good about the future of Shelby County, and 38% of those added community support is needed in some areas.
The next steps in the process will be to draft an existing conditions and trends report. The plan is scheduled to be adopted this fall. The commission approved funding for the
park and recreation grant program for the FY22 cycle, giving $296,920.01 to six entities. County Manager Chad Scroggins said it was a good disbursement, and they were able to utilize most of the $300,000 budget. The projects could not exceed $100,000 and required a 50% match by the applicant. The budget was doubled for FY22, and the number of applicants tripled. The six grants were awarded to: ► Shelby Elementary School ($15,225.51) for playground improvements; ► Calera Elementary School ($46,978.50) for playground improvements; ► City of Montevallo ($38,150) for a restroom project at Stephen’s Park; ► City of Columbiana ($82,925) for fencing and bleachers at the softball field; ► Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama ($56,350) for a building project; ► Oak Mountain Youth Baseball & Softball Association ($57,291) to replace 18 sets of bleachers at Heardmont Park. “This grant program allows us to make our dollars go further,” Scroggins said. “It also allows groups to do their own project. They provide us with invoices and proof, and we cut them a check and let them run with it.” CFO Cheryl Naugher shared the first three months of budget numbers for FY22 and said everything is favorable at this point. Sales tax revenue was $1.4 million over budget year-todate, while rental tax is up almost $100,000 yearto-date. Lodging tax continues to climb and is up 21% from last year. Highway gas taxes are up 14% year-to-date.
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A10 • March 2022
280 Living
Business Happenings NOW OPEN Optical store Lenscrafters’ new location at 133 Summit Blvd., The Summit, is now open and offers eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses and more. 205-879-2534, lenscrafters.com Highlands College recently opened its new campus at 3600 Grandview Parkway, taking over the former Cahaba Grand Conference Center space. 205-963-6900, highlandscollege.com
COMING SOON Several new shops will soon be opening at The Summit, 214 Summit Blvd., including Levi's Next Gen, The Good Feet Store and Blue Sushi Sake Grill. 205-967-0111, thesummitbirmingham.com
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS Nordstrom Rack’s location at River Ridge at 4616 U.S. 280 plans to relocate to The Summit and open in spring 2023. The current location is the only one in the state. 205-578-3100, stores.nordstromrack.com Apex Systems, a technology services business that incorporates industry insights and experience to deliver solutions that fulfill its clients’ digital visions, is relocating from One Perimeter Park South, Suite 140, in Birmingham to an office with about 3,000 square feet on the 11th floor of The Offices at 3000 Riverchase in Hoover. The new office was expected to open around the beginning of March, said Alan Paquette, vice president for property management for Jim Wilson and Associates and property manager for The Offices at 3000 Riverchase. 205-623-1115, apexsystems.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Regions Bank, which has offices at 102 Inverness Plaza, 341 Summit Blvd. and 5420 U.S. 280, recently announced it has launched a commercial business development team focused specifically on helping small businesses build customized plans for financial success. The
new team complements Regions’ commercial banking solutions group and is led by banking veteran Jordan Baxter, a senior vice president in commercial banking. Baxter and the commercial business development team are focused on helping business owners and managers maximize growth potential and create greater efficiencies while meeting complex financial needs. regions.com Peggy Wiggins is returning to Oh Hair Beauty Salon, 10699 Old Hwy 280 Building 1, Suite 1, after having a baby and is available by appointment. Tori Woods is now with Oh Hair and is accepting appointments. Oh Hair has been in business for 23 years and is full-service, including a nail technician. 205-678-9644, ohhair.com Dr. David A. McLain, MACR, FACP, at McLain Medical Associates, P.C., 2229 Cahaba Valley Drive, has been awarded the master designation from the American College of Rheumatology. Also, Rachael Gregg, CRNP, was recently hired as a nurse practitioner to his practice to join Mallory Nabors, CRNP. 205-991-8996, facebook.com/mcLain-medical-associates RateMyAgent recently announced Stephanie Millard as a multiple winner of its 2022 Top Awards for sales. She was a top-five agent for Shelby County and a top-10 agent for Alabama. Millard is a real estate agent with Lake HomesRealty, 15 Southlake Lane, Suite 200, and focuses on properties on Lay Lake, Lake Heather, Deerwood Lake, Highland Lakes, Greystone Lake II, Lake Wehapa and Southlake. 866-525-3466, lakehomes.com
PERSONNEL MOVES Danberry at Inverness, 235 Inverness Center Drive, an all-inclusive rental senior living community, recently had three key promotions. Jaclyn Gardner has been named director of operations management by Life Care Services®, an LCS company, which manages Danberry. Gardner served as executive director at Danberry for more than 12 years. In addition, Jeana Robinson has been promoted to executive director, while Cody Lytton
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has been promoted to associate executive director. Robinson has been with Danberry since 2011 when she joined the staff as director of health care services. Lytton has been part of the Danberry team since 2010 and is considered one of the most versatile and committed employees, serving in his seventh position in 11 years. 205-443-9500, danberryatinverenss.com Ohio-based Union Home Mortgage recently announced the hiring of Carl Douglas as a producing brand manager and Michelle Benefield Smith as a loan officer in Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover and the Greater Birmingham area. Prior to joining UHM, Douglas served as a loan officer at First Bank Mortgage. Smith is also experienced in working with Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs and Rural Development loans. 1-877-846-4968, uhm.com
ANNIVERSARIES Chopt recently celebrated the first anniversary of its location at 331 Summit Blvd., The Summit, in the former Johnny Rocket's space by REI. 205-749-8880, choptsalad.com North Italia is celebrating the first anniversary of its location at 225 Summit Blvd., The Summit. 205-970-4182, northitalia.com Firestone Complete Auto Care is celebrating the second anniversary of its location at 6606 Tattersall Lane. 205-995-9057, firestonecompleteautocare.com Real and Rosemary is celebrating the second anniversary of its location at 323 Summit Blvd., The Summit. It plans to open a third location in Crestline Village this spring. 205-820-7200, realandrosemary.com The Anvil Pub and Grill, 611 Doug Baker Blvd., a British-inspired pub at the Village at Lee Branch, is celebrating its second anniversary. 205-637-7100, theanvilpub.com Fancy Fur, 5291 Valleydale Road, a pet spa and boutique, is celebrating its 14th anniversary. 205-408-1693, fancyfurpets.com
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A12 • March 2022
280 Living
Amore owners open Grand Ticino for lunch, market fare By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The owners of Amore Ristorante Italiano, a staple on the U.S. 280 corridor since 2005, have opened up a second restaurant serving lunch and takeout meals. Jared Thornton and Dino Drakos procured the lease on the vacant space, formerly occupied by Bare Naked Noodles, and opened Grand Ticino by Amore on Jan. 4. Even with a quiet opening, word about the new restaurant spread quickly across social media and neighborhood pages. The inspiration for the name comes as an homage to the Ticino region in Switzerland, which is Italian-speaking with architecture, cuisine and culture closely related to that of neighboring Italy. Frank Roncado had already met the owners since opening his business, Gracie Barra jiu jitsu, in 2019, which is just a few doors down from Amore. “They just needed a little help,” Roncado said. “I worked at restaurants during high school and college and was very familiar with it, so I just started helping out. I had some free time and started helping out in June and was just doing it to be a good friend.” With Thornton owning other businesses and Drakos running Amore, Roncado was asked to step into the role of manager of Grand Ticino by Amore in October. “It’s always been [on] a bucket-list of mine,” he said. “I went to college for a business degree so I could run a restaurant, and somewhere along the way, I did everything but that.” The original plan was to turn the space into an events center, but because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they decided on a restaurant instead. While lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features options including lasagna and meatballs with plans to add more items. Roncado said the lunch menu isn’t the largest, but that it will get bigger.
Guests dine for lunch at Grand Ticino by Amore, located in Greystone Park on U.S. 280. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the market is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photo by Erin Nelson.
The lunch menu features entrees, sandwiches, salads and “probably one of freshest tomato basil soups you’ve ever had,” Roncado said. The inside space can seat 68 guests, and outdoor seating will open when warmer weather arrives. Grand Ticino also features a market with take-away meals, sauces, salad dressings, charcuterie board meats and cheeses from western European countries, including Italy. Other items will include crackers, fine flour for making pizza dough or homemade noodles and more. There are 10 full-time employees on staff, many of whom also work at Amore. Grand Ticino features counter ordering, and everything is made fresh. While there is not a true crossover of menu items from Amore,
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Roncado said if you like the food at Amore, you’ll like what Grand Ticino has to offer. “There will always be a difference,” Roncado said. “A lot of the sauces are the same, but our menu is more of an extension of Amore’s menu.” Roncado will keep a busy schedule between running the restaurant and teaching 6 a.m. classes at Gracie Barra. However, he said he doesn’t mind at all. “They’re not long days when you’re doing what you love,” he said. “To me this is happiness every day. I’m surrounded by great people here who are so kind and so nice. I realized I’m putting in 14- to 16-hour days six days a week, and I’m happy about it.” Although there are a lot of possibilities, Roncado said they’re aware that they don’t want to
Grand Ticino by Amore • WHERE: 5511 U.S. 280, Suite 109 • HOURS: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch); market open until 6 p.m. • WEB: grandticino.com
overextend themselves. “Lots of places open up fast and do well because everyone wants to try and then fizzle out because they can’t meet the demand,” he said. “We want to make sure we live up to the name across the street.”
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March 2022 • A13 Left: HKB studio owner Denise Welch applies an eyelash extension treatment on a client. Far left: A stylist cuts hair. Photos by Leah Ingram Eagle.
Out of the lashes By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE When Denise Welch decided to take a lash class, she just thought it would be something she did as a hobby. She took a break from her job working in investments, and things went so well with her lash business that she decided to expand it and opened HKB Studio in Chelsea in early December. “My sabbatical turned into this,” she said. “I have a habit of taking something small and turning it into something bigger. I couldn’t just do lashes.” Welch took over the lease of space when the previous owner left, and her business became a reality. “I was here working before, and I didn’t want
HKB Studio • WHERE: 16618 U.S. 280, Suite 106 • CALL: 205-643-1871 • WEB: facebook.com/Denise-WelchHKB-Studio
to leave,” she said. “We gutted the place and redid it to give it a happy and fresh look. It’s very peaceful here.” When choosing a name, she wanted it to be more than just a salon, so she went with studio instead and added the name her husband chose, which stands for the initials of her three children: Hannah, Kemper and Bronx.
Denise Welch turns sabbatical from job into new business endeavor: HKB Studio
Welch has her lash business and three stylists and a barber also working in the studio. She recently hired another person to help her with lash appointments. The stylists do cuts and colors, while Welch handles lashes, brows and waxing. She said they use almost exclusively natural products in the studio, including sugar wax. HKB Studio also offers items from local vendors including candles, jewelry, door hangers, charcuterie boards and more. “I wanted to have some type of retail, and instead of going out of state or ordering in bulk, I chose local vendors,” she said. “Everything has been selling really well.” The charcuterie boards are made with locally sourced wood, the bath soaps and bath bombs are all natural, and the soy candles are made by
the special needs community in Shelby County. She said the response from the community has been overwhelming in a good way. Someone told her about the parking lot being full over the holiday season, but she sees that as a good problem to have. Welch said she and the stylists all stay busy. She said the girls are beyond happy, and everyone helps each other. There’s no gossiping or negativity in the studio. She said she is blessed to have the stylists that are there. She likes the way things are going right now and will see where things go in the future. “I am so grateful I decided to take a step back from what I normally did,” Welch said. “I was in a crazy hustling job before and this is really peaceful. It’s nice to get up everyday and be your own boss.”
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A14 • March 2022
280 Living
Pair partners up to bring 1st Scenthound to 280 corridor By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Two former Auburn graduates recently teamed up to open a new dog centered business on the 280 corridor. Brett Basik was working as an investment banker on Wall Street and Jacob Lee was working for a well known consulting firm until last year when the two decided to open their own businesses. Basik and Lee opened their first Scenthound location in Lee Branch on Feb. 1, and plan to open 10 additional stores over the next four years, including four in Birmingham and six in Nashville. Scenthound is a wellness-focused dog care concept designed to keep them clean and healthy. Although Basik and Lee both attended Auburn University and their wives were in the same sorority, they never crossed paths until they were in business school at the University of Virginia. Basik graduated from Briarwood Christian School and said he is excited to open a business near where he grew up. Lee is from Nashville and is also looking forward to bringing franchises there. “We had always dreamed of being entrepreneurs and had that itch and were talking about it for about a year,” Basik said. “We pulled the trigger and did it this past summer.” Lee said while they were in the process of looking at different businesses and franchises, he
remembered a colleague had told him about a Scenthound location she had opened in South Carolina. “We love the aspect of creating a service that improves the health and well-being of dogs and allows pet parents to be better owners and connect more with their dogs,” Lee said. He added that he and Basik’s prior corporate jobs were high pressure with long hours and high stakes, which prepared them to become business owners. “The way I think about my prior experience, I learned to figure out and solve problems and get stuff done,” Lee said. “You just figure stuff out. My father-in-law is the CEO of Milo’s and has been a great mentor to me, and my family has a business in Tennessee, so I’ve been able to reach out to them. It’s been great to have the support system.” Basik said that while they looked at spaces around the U.S. 280 corridor, the option at The Village at Lee Branch — next to Marco’s Pizza — was by far the best. “It had the right customer base close by,” he said. “To grow up in a city and be able to come back and provide jobs and reinvest in the community is a cool opportunity.” Bobby Turner will manage the location and has a wealth of experience managing retail stores, movie theaters and hotels. Five employees will be hired to work as groomers, SCENT techs. Scenthound focuses on a three tier membership model that allows
Lacey Ruff brushes the teeth of Athena, a 3-year-old pit bull, during training at Scenthound on Jan. 26. Scenthound opened to the public Feb. 1 at Lee Branch. Photo by Erin Nelson.
owners to choose the best fit for their dog and comes with a 25% discount on services. The basic package is $29 per month and includes a bath, nail trim, ear cleaning and teeth brushing. Add-on services including haircuts, dog facials, deshedding treatments, tele-vet access and more. “We want to encourage people to become members, as these really are services that should be done once a month,” Lee said. “The point of a la carte function is that all dogs need the routine maintenance and you can
choose your journey based on what's best for your dog.” Pet parents drop their dogs off at their appointment time and will receive notification when they are ready for pick up. They will receive a “SCENT Check” that will provide an evaluation of the dog’s skin, coat, ears, nails and teeth. “We’re providing that easy button for people where they can be great dog parents and don’t have to think much about it,” Basik said. Basic and Lee know the concept of
doing these services at home can be intimidating for a lot of pet parents, and are glad to bring Scenthound to the area. “We love the aspect of having a service that does improve the health and well-being of dogs and allow pet parents to be better owners and connect more with their dogs,” Lee said. Scenthound is located at 1401 Doug Baker Blvd. and will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit scenthound.com/birmingham-al-001.
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March 2022 • A15
Chamber Chamber’s Minute
By The Shelby County Chamber
Alabama’s #1 Source for Gold and Silver
The intrinsic value of monthly luncheons Attending The Shelby County Chamber ’s monthly luncheons keeps you in the know about what is happening in the Shelby County business world. We strive to connect our local business and community leaders with relevant information that is critical for the continued success of our county and its communities. What’s more, each event offers new opportunities to network. Each month, investors and future investors hear from speakers on a wide variety of current and informative topics in the chamber’s key areas of business growth, career readiness and business advocacy. Luncheons are structured around each of The Shelby County Chamber’s seven work groups. All of these work groups meet monthly to discuss projects the chamber will complete during the year, as well as relevant topics for each luncheon. Furthermore, luncheons are a great way for our health care, education, tourism and general business industries to showcase what they can offer.
We invite you to attend our upcoming March “Community Luncheon,” hosted by the Tourism and Recreation Work Group, which will be March 30 and feature an update on Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama’s largest state park. The meeting will be at the Pelham Civic Complex, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. for business networking and the program beginning promptly at noon. Showcase tables will be available for tourism related businesses to highlight their products and services. The cost is $20 per person for current chamber investors and $30 per person for “future” investors and includes a luncheon buffet. To allow for proper planning, reservations are requested by no later than March 25. To learn more about all our upcoming events and make reservations, visit our events calendar on-line at shelbychamber.org. – Submitted by The Shelby County Chamber.
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A16 • March 2022
280 Living
Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
4 SCS employees receive Journey Shaper Awards By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Three employees at the Shelby County Central Office and one principal were honored for their recent acts of service during the Feb. 17 Shelby County Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Lewis Brooks shared a letter he recently received from retired optometrist James Driggars in Clanton. Driggars had become involved in a family situation with a Shelby County student whose father lost his job after sustaining injuries from a fall 18 months ago. His worker’s compensation had run out, and Driggars found out his son did not have Medicaid or food assistance. Doing what he could to help, Driggars called the Shelby County Schools Central Office where he was assisted by Tracy Whitfield, Susan Goodwin and Jennifer Cofer and was then referred to Elvin Hill Elementary School Principal Courtney Madison. Driggars included in his note to Brooks that, “These ladies are all exceptional, and you are most fortunate to have them. I wanted you to know what you already knew, thank you for helping this family.” Brooks said the ladies really epitomize service and presented them each with a Journey Shaper Award. “Each of these ladies is an example of what we want to do in our district,” Brooks said. “We are an organization that serves the public and we try to do it very well. Much appreciation to each and every one of them.” The Journey Shaper Award draws its name from the school district’s motto “Prepared
for the Journey” and is to honor individuals who display excellence by going “above and beyond” what is expected of them, especially as it pertains to helping shape the journey of others. Brooks also recognized Feb. 15 as School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, saying he is thankful for the law enforcement officers who help serve schools throughout the county. “This is the 10th anniversary of our Safe Schools Initiative, and in that time period, our school resource officers have become embedded in our school culture and we certainly appreciate them,” Brooks said. February was Career Tech Month, and CTE Supervisor Julie Godfrey shared that the career tech program in Shelby County has 64 teachers, 52 programs and 8,396 students. Programs are offered at middle schools and high schools throughout the county, as well as the Career and Technical Education Center in Columbiana. Career tech partners with the Ready to Work program, the Shelby County Chamber, 58 INC. Microsoft TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools), and The Onin Group which assists high school seniors in finding jobs. A few career tech highlights for this year include: ► Montevallo Middle School was recently awarded Project Lead the Way Grant (PLTW) for $103,000; ► The CTEC automotive and collision repair teachers earned the Governor’s Award, a seal of excellence for a simulated workplace; ► Mercedes-Benz donated a new 2022 Mercedes SUV for CTEC for students to work on
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Shelby County Schools Superintendent Lewis Brooks stands with Tracy Whitfield, who, along with Susan Goodwin, Jennifer Cofer and Elvin Hill Elementary Principal Courtney Madison, received Journey Shaper awards on Feb. 17. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
in the manufacturing and automotive programs; ► Seniors in the surgical tech program at Chelsea High School and the Healthcare Academy at CTEC recently began internships at Shelby Baptist Medical Center; ► The Future Teachers of Alabama started an education and training program at Shelby County High School this year that provides a foundation education and training class. During the meeting, the board also gave approval for: ► Textbook disposal; ► A renewal of the CNP produce bid to Forestwood Farm through May 28; ► Job descriptions for student services program specialist and maintenance supervisor positions; ► Personnel actions; ► Bus subs and aides;
► Rental bids for flooring, partial reroofing, ceiling tile products and ceiling tile installation for various Shelby County schools; In the architect and construction report, Barbara Snyder gave an update on several projects including: ► Work at Elvin Hill Elementary is almost complete; ► The CTEC plumbing department received new ductwork and ventilation; ► Renovation projects at the central office; ► A sidewalk was created at Chelsea High School for access to the greenhouse; ► Paving project at Shelby County High School is nearing completion; ► Construction has begun on additional classrooms at Helena Middle School. The next board meeting will be 5 p.m. March 17 at the central office in Columbiana.
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March 2022 • A17
Members of the public listen during a public hearing on the proposed Chelsea city school system Jan. 28 at Liberty Baptist Church. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
Residents share sentiments at 1st public hearing on proposed system By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
for approval.”
Chelsea residents had their chance to voice comments and concerns during the first public hearing on a proposed new city school system and property tax. A large crowd filled the seats at Liberty Baptist Church on Jan. 28. Chelsea Public Information Officer Wayne Morris opened the meeting saying hopefully the conversation will lead to a greater understanding about the issue and what direction the city should take. Mayor Tony Picklesimer and Chelsea City Council members each had the opportunity to speak before the meeting was open to public comment. Picklesimer said it has been his desire from the outset of this endeavor to try to find a way to build a new high school and to offer better facilities to the students who attend Chelsea schools. His original intent was to include all areas and all 4,500 students who are currently in Chelsea schools, but the citizens of some of those areas — Dunnavant Valley and Highland Lakes — made it clear they did not want to be involved. “As a grandfather, I’m a yes to 30-mill property tax that would enable us to build a new high school,” Picklesimer said. “But I’m not standing here as a grandfather, I’m standing here as your mayor. You elected me, and it’s my job to represent you and what you would like to see happen. Ultimately, this will come down to a decision of the voters of the city of Chelsea, as it should be.” Picklesimer presented four options in regard to formation of a city school system: ► Do nothing: City officials now know it’s feasible to form a school system thanks to a feasibility report, but the move does not have to be acted on. ► Vote on 11 mills of property tax: This would be sufficient to begin the system but would not allow for immediate additional funding for renovation and construction to existing facilities. ► Vote on 20 mills of property tax: This would be sufficient to begin a system and provide funding for a bond of approximately $40 million for renovation and construction of existing facilities ► Vote on 30 mills of property tax: This would be sufficient to begin a school system and provide funding for a bond of approximately $80 million for the construction of a new high school. Separating from the Shelby County Board of Education and forming a city school system would include two elementary schools, an intermediate school, a junior high school and a new high school. Picklesimer said one thing that may or may not have been made clear is all the council will be to decide on a taxation level that will be presented to the citizens. “We cannot make this decision as a City Council,” he said. This decision will come down to a vote of the people. The council is trying to determine by this public hearing what level of taxation to propose to you
More than 20 people signed up to share their comments and opinions. Here is what some of them had to say: ► Amber Polk said she agrees that new facilities are needed but doesn’t think Chelsea can afford to split from Shelby County and form its own school system. She also mentioned a district tax as a fifth option. “I think the question we need to be asking is do we want a new school system or do we want improved facilities? Those are two different issues. I believe we are one of the best school systems in the state, so why would we want to spend $40 million a year to create what we already have?” ► Mark Manning said he disapproves of a creation of a Chelsea city school system and also disapproves of any increase to property tax. He said he believes that increasing the property tax is illogical, unreasonable and not viable. ► Wayne Scotts said he supports paying a higher percentage. ► Angie Moreland said Shelby County Schools have given her children a great education and helped them realize their passions. While Chelsea school facilities need improvement, she is against breaking away from the Shelby County Schools system. ► Amanda Mundy asked if teachers were supportive of a new school system and how it will affect the educators there now. She believes raising taxes will hurt the city in the long run. ► Richard Wilbanks said what he opposes is a forced tax versus a choice tax. ► Joe Frost encouraged Picklesimer and council to put their energy into batting with the Shelby County Board of Education. ► Brandon Jones said the way things are with the current economy, increasing a tax burden is not appropriate at this time. Picklesimer addressed a few of the comments at the end of the meeting. Regarding the 1-cent sales tax passed in 2019, Picklesimer said $4.4 million has been collected, and of that, $1,060,505 has been spent on Nick Grants for requested items within Chelsea schools. The remainder of the money is in the bank to continue to provide grants to the schools. He also said he has taken a lot of criticism about the $600 example used for property tax. He said due to the median price of houses in the city, he chose that number based on the average. “I know this is a big deal. I love Chelsea and want the best for students and your children and grandchildren,” Picklesimer said. “If this isn’t the route you choose to go, then so be it. This is the last term you’ll have me. If we do not move forward, my last three years as your mayor will be a whole lot easier. That is not what this is about. This is about representing you, the people.” The council will now decide how many mills is needed before the issue goes to a vote of the citizens.
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A18 • March 2022
280 Living
Eagle Scout gives gift of reading at Chelsea Park By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE When Chelsea High School senior Kyle Vinson was planning his Eagle Scout project, he decided on something that would benefit the community as well as his former elementary school. “I wanted it to be something memorable,” Vinson said. “The purpose of the project is to give back to your community. Since I went to Chelsea Park for so many years, it made sense to reach out to them.” Beginning with Cub Scouts in first grade, Vinson transitioned to Boy Scouts in fifth grade. He earned his Eagle Scout rank Jan. 12, and this was his last project before aging out of the program after turning 18 in January. He reached out to Chelsea Park Elementary School Assistant Principal Jessi Adams in August about a project idea: a Little Free Library where books could be donated and borrowed. “He and I met and talked about the timeframe, and [I] helped him find a place [for it],” Adams said. “We wanted it to be not just where CPES students could have access to it, but also the entire neighborhood. We put it at the school’s front entrance where everyone can see it when pulling up to the school.” Vinson presented Adams with proposal documents to approve before starting the project. He said the project was bigger than the two of them. He had friends and others from his Scout troop help him. “This was definitely not a one person job,” he said. “We probably had about 12 people working on it. Thanks to our efficiency, we got the actual house for the books constructed in one day. My mom and I worked on the painting part. It was a group effort.”
The Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization and has design options and building instructions on its website, which is where Vinson found his inspiration. After calculating expenses, he estimated the cost to be around $250. To raise the money, he and his mom sold Filipino food to family and friends. (Vinson is half-Filipino, and his mom is full-Filipino). “I think that was a creative way of doing it,” he said. ”We have a large network of friends, and I was expecting to get around $150, and we raised $340.” The project itself wound up costing $86. Vinson said he got all of the supplies from Home Depot, and didn’t factor in any discounts for Eagle Scout projects. The construction started off in a friend’s garage. The following week, a hole was dug at the school and filled with 130 pounds of concrete and a 4-inch-by-4-inch post. Decking screws were used, so Vinson said the library “isn’t going anywhere.” Vinson, who is left-handed, said he wanted to give the library something that was characteristic of himself, not in words, but with a special touch, so he made the handle lefthand friendly as a shout out to left-handed people. The Little Free Library was completed at the end of November. Vinson put the first books inside and gave the rest of the money he had raised for the project to CPES. Adams said they will be used at the next book fair to purchase additional books. Driving by the Little Free Library every day, Adams said some day there may be two or three books in there and the next day it’s full. “It’s a fun way for kids to get to read, and I think that's the most important thing … giving to the community and fostering a love of reading,” Adams said.
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Kyle Vinson stands in front of the little library he built at Chelsea Park Elementary as his Eagle Scout Project. Photo courtesy of Kyle Vinson.
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A20 • March 2022
280 Living
Leadership changes coming to Briarwood Christian School By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Two leaders at Briarwood Christian School will not return after this school year. Superintendent Stephen Steiner announced his upcoming resignation Jan. 25, saying it was “one of the most difficult ones his family has ever experienced, but he is confident of God’s leading.” Steiner said serving as Briarwood’s superintendent since 2018 was one of “immense responsibility and was an even greater privilege, one that he has appreciated and never taken for granted.” Four days after Steiner’s announcement, the news that Upper Principal Shawn Brower would also be leaving Briarwood at the end of the school year came in an email to Briarwood parents. However, Brower was not leaving by choice, but because his contract would not be renewed. Brower has been the principal at BCS since 2015 and also served as the men’s varsity soccer coach. BCS is a ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, and the church quickly announced a transition team made up of pastors and elders who would be charged with “providing needed leadership during the transition.” “Dr. Brower was informed at the earliest stage possible he would not be offered a contract for the 2022-23 academic year,” the email read. “Someone who is dismissed would be removed immediately from their responsibilities. However, someone who is not renewed is provided the opportunity to fulfill their duties, work out the rest of the contract and have time to prayerfully consider where God is calling them next. Early notice of his non-renewal was given with the full intent to honor and help Dr. Brower.” The church leaders had initially said Brower did not fill out his intent to return the form and submit it by the deadline, but they later backstepped from that statement. Another email from Jim Alexander, pastor of board directed ministries at the church, was sent to parents
Hundreds of students, parents and alumni came out to show their support for Briarwood Christian School Upper Principal Shawn Brower at a rally Jan. 30 at Veterans Park. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
saying Brower did in fact complete and submit the form acknowledging his desire to return. A petition was created by the Briarwood student body at change.org to keep Brower on as principal, and a rally in his support was organized Jan. 30 at Veterans Park. Hundreds of parents, students, alumni along with current and former teachers turned out to show their support for Brower. Some of the major factors throughout the situation mentioned at the rally included a lack of transparency between the church and parents of students at the school, the school board being uninformed, a lack of transparency, no consideration of parental input and an overreach and abuse of power by church leadership that has
led to trust issues. During the rally, BCS parents by Ashley Werchanowskyj and Amie Beth Shaver read a statement, saying, “A few church leaders have disappointed and deceived our Briarwood family and have made decisions that impact everyone without following the proper protocols and channels that are in place … This egregious decision has brought to light the lack of transparency, lack of parental input and the overall overreach by a few men in church leadership. Their unfortunate actions and lack of transparency has damaged the trust we place in them.” An email from Brower was sent out during the rally and read aloud to the crowd. He began by saying he loves Briarwood Christian School in a
way that he can’t fully describe and wants what is best for both the school and the church. Regarding his contract renewal, Brower said it “came as a surprise to me on Jan. 25 as I had every intention of returning to Briarwood based on the submission of my timely response of my intent to return form, it is a decision that has been made and I’m saddened by this decision.” 280 Living reached out to Brower for comment on his status, and he responded “I am finishing out the school year and the soccer season, and both will be great!” Attempts were made to obtain comments from multiple representatives of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, but we received no comment prior to publication.
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March 2022 • A21
OMMS’ Larry Haynes named Middle School Principal of Year Larry Haynes, principal at Oak Mountain Middle School, was recently named Middle School Principal of the Year by the Alabama Association of Middle School Principals, an affiliate organization of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Haynes was surprised at OMMS with the announcement by Vic Wilson, executive director of CLAS; Katrina Akers, legal services coordinator with CLAS; Dan Chappell, with Interior Elements; Lewis Brooks, Superintendent for Shelby County Schools; board members Jimmy Bice and Jane Hampton; and several district leaders. Haynes had previously been named the Principal of the Year for District 5 and was one of three finalists for the state award. “I am extremely proud that this honor is being bestowed upon my long-time colleague and friend, Dr. Larry Haynes,” Brooks said. “Dr. Haynes is a dedicated professional who is committed to serving his school and community. There is no one that I know of that has a bigger heart for people.” Haynes has served as principal at OMMS since 2004. His leadership has been unwavering through good times and bad, school officials said, including the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic and when the OMMS facility suffered significant damage in the March 2021 tornado. “As a long-serving teacher and administrator, this opportunity is both exciting and humbling. However, this recognition is not about me,” Haynes said. “My colleagues now and throughout my service at Oak Mountain Middle School are the difference makers who have made OMMS an exceptional place to be. Any recognition for me is the result of the teachers and staff members who have worked together as a team and a family, now and since 2004, to provide the absolute best for our students.” “Supportive parents, amazing students, community partners and a tremendous vision and guidance from Dr. Brooks and the staff at the
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OMMS Principal Larry Haynes, second from left, stands with his staff, Administrative Assistant Kristi Turner, Assistant Principal Sheryl Jones and Assistant Principal Sheryl Jones. Photo courtesy of Oak Mountain Middle School Facebook page.
Shelby County Board of Education have also played a vital role in the success of our school throughout my tenure.” Haynes said. “I cannot adequately put the right words together to fully express my sincerest appreciation to the entire Oak Mountain community. I have been blessed beyond measure throughout my career.” The Middle School Principal of the Year Award is sponsored by the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals, the Alabama Association of Middle School Principals, the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The business sponsor of the award is Horace Mann. It is the second year in a row for a Shelby County Schools administrator to win the award. Caroline Obert won Middle School Principal of the Year last year while still serving as principal of Chelsea Middle School. Obert now serves as principal of Huntsville Junior High. – Submitted by Cindy Warner, Shelby County Schools.
How My Chamber Investment Works for Me “Business networking at The Shelby County Chamber works! At my very first event – before I even decided to invest in the Chamber – I met someone who was looking for locksmith services. Then, at my second event I made even more potential business contacts, I would not have made elsewhere. We know we won’t get a contract every time where at a Shelby County Chamber event, but feel positive that the business contacts we do make will more than pay for our annual investment. If you’re a small business in Shelby County, and you’re looking to grow your business, investing in this Chamber may be one of the best decisions you make.”
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A22 • March 2022
2022 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
As days turn warmer, it’s time to start thinking about summertime at last, and no summer is complete without a camp experience. Peruse our guide to learn more about which programs best fit your child’s personality, interest, age and availability. No matter which you choose, it’s time to jump in for fun and adventure this summer.
SUMMER@SPRINGS OFFERS FUN, ADVENTUROUS COURSES Share experiences. Expand horizons. Sharpen your mind in a beautiful setting this summer. Summer@Springs offers academic enrichment courses designed to be fun and adventurous for students who want to make the most of their summer breaks. Summer@Springs courses are open to the public for students entering grades eight through 12 and run weekly in June and July. Courses include Driver’s Ed, ACT Boot Camp, Study Skills, Research & Academic Writing, Algebra I & II Readiness, AP Chemistry Prep, Sign Language, First Aid, Weightlifting, Cooking and Photography. Summer@Springs is a program of Indian Springs School, an independent, coeducational day and boarding school serving a vibrant community of 300 students in grades eight through 12. Summer@Springs courses are taught by the school’s award-winning faculty on its inspiring, 350-acre campus located off Interstate 65 near Pelham. Guided by the motto “Learning through Living,” Indian Springs School fosters a love of learning and creativity, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship
CAMP DETAILS ► Variety of courses for students entering eighth through 12th grades running weekly in June and July For more information and to register, visit summeratsprings.org
with respect for individuality and independent thought. Summer@Springs offers all students the opportunity to experience Indian Springs School, ranked “Best Private High School” in Alabama for eight consecutive years. For more information about Summer@ Springs and to register for courses, please visit summeratsprings.org. For more information about Indian Springs School and to apply for the 2021-22 school year, please visit indiansprings.org. Admission to Indian Springs School is rolling based on the availability of space for grades eight through 12.
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2022 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280Living.com
March 2022 • A23
rediscover the Spirit of Summer at Kidcam Summer Day Camp at Oak Mountain State Park At Kidcam, day camp isn’t just something we do, it’s all we do! That's why we have been the trusted name in summer camps by thousands of families for almost 50 years. Our mission is to bring the Spirit of Summer to life by creating memorable moments and lasting relationships, through a powerful summer camp experience that inspires greatness and brings smiles to faces. This year we will rediscover that Spirit of Summer by letting kids be kids through the power of camp! Kidcam campers (aka Rockstars) will feel that they are a part of something truly special, while they revel in a summer of friendships, adventure and wonder! Kidcam Summer Day Camp offers 10 weeks of day camp action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity. Campers celebrate a different theme each week while participating in Kidcam traditions, sports, creative arts, STEM, movement, specialty programs, swimming and water play. For campers ages 5-13, Kidcam Summer Day Camp thrives in the heart of Al-
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Rockstars utilize the whole park, and during camp you can find them on the trails exploring, swimming in the lake,
visiting the petting farm, paddle boating or at the Wildlife Center learning about native birds in Alabama. Discover how your child can be a Rockstar and learn more about the Spirit of Summer at Kidcam. Full 10-week and weekly camp sessions are available now. Parents can sign up their Rockstars by visiting kidcamcamp.com.
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2022 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
A24 • March 2022
RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE CAMPS TEACH PERFORMANCE AND LIFE SKILLS If you’re looking for a camp that will inspire your child’s interest in the arts, Red Mountain Theatre has a camp for you. These camps teach performance skills, such as acting, dancing and singing; and life skills, such as creativity, collaboration and confidence. “We meet the child or young adult the way that they are,” said Drew Francis, Director of Operations for Red Mountain Theatre. “They can pick and choose how intensive their summer camp experience is.” Red Mountain Theatre offers three kinds of camp levels. Technique camps or Broadway boot camps are for the ones looking to perfect their skills in musical theatre. Campers will improve their skills in voice, dance and acting. For those who want something fun to try out and see if they are interest-
ed in musical theatre, there is a beginner-friendly camp option too. During these blast theme camps, campers are provided with scripts, and then they perform at the end of the week. The playmaking camp is perfect for young campers. Your 4-to-6-year-old can learn how to use their body and their voice. “Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling,” Francis said. “These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play.” Red Mountain Theatre camps are for children ages 4-18. To find out more dates, go to the Red Mountain Theatre website at redmountain theatre.org/education.
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To see a full list of camps and classes, or register, go to RedMountainTheatre.org Financial aid available Classes and times are subject to change
StarnesCampArticle2022.indd 1
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280 Living
MASON MUSIC CAMPS INSPIRE PASSION FOR MUSIC IN CHILDREN Every summer for the last 10 years, Mason Music has inspired hundreds of students all over Birmingham to have fun while learning about music. Mason Music's summer camps are designed to give incredible music experiences tailored to each child’s age and stage of musicianship to make sure they have something exciting and educational to do during break. Mason Music has camps for every age, from preschool children (ages 3-5) to advanced musicians (up to age 18). “Our camps are designed to help your child grow as a musician,” said Nicole Patton, director of marketing. Mason Music's Camp for Beginners is a great starting point for younger students who are interested in learning more about the guitar, piano, voice, drums and violin. “They get a full week of in-depth introduction of all five of our main instruments,” Patton explained. At the
end of the week, the camp’s instructors offer parents feedback on what instrument their child may enjoy pursuing in private lessons. “Playing with other young musicians is the best way to grow and have fun,” Patton continued, “so we offer two rock band camps for students ages 10-18 where they are placed in a band with other musicians like them.” In Rock Band Camp: Performance Edition, campers learn songs together and perform publicly for friends and family at the end of camp. In Rock Band Camp: Recording Edition, campers are able to rehearse, write and record together to create an actual demo of their music. “Music is a huge part of our lives and connects us all, so it’s our goal at Mason Music to find that connection,” Patton said. “We want to inspire a community of people to be passionate about playing music."
280Living.com
March 2022 • A25
TEACHING and COOKING with LOVE By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Annie McDonald loved her kindergarten teacher so much, she wanted to be a teacher herself someday. However, McDonald married just after she graduated from high school, had her first of three daughters by the time she was 19 and never attended college. “Honestly, nobody in my family went to college — they were mommas who stayed at home,” McDonald said. She and her husband worked at Hargis Christian Retreat on weekends, and when an opportunity to teach field trip groups came along, she jumped at the chance. While there, she met a certified teacher and the two of them decided to start doing in-school field trips. They did that together for a year before her friend moved away. Then, her husband encouraged her to continue doing it on her own. Her project took off, and now Miss Annie has been a fixture in elementary school classrooms for the past 25 years. She teaches science-based programs where she dresses up in costumes and presents hands-on learning opportunities to elementary students. “I’m in 35 different schools in eight to 10 different school systems, including all the Shelby County schools,” McDonald said. “It moved to full-time about 15 years ago, and I am at a different school every day. I probably teach about 20,000 kids a year.” She bakes every night and always brings a treat to the teachers when she comes to their classrooms. She appreciates what they do and loves to bring them something (usually her famous pumpkin bread) for them to enjoy while she is working with the students. McDonald said it’s just such a cool job and that God provided her a way to use her gift of teaching and to love kids. “It’s such an amazing blessing to me. It’s so
Annie McDaniel prepares her famous pumpkin bread at her home. McDaniel is known throughout the community as “Miss Annie” for her in school field trips with elementary school students and recently published her first cookbook. Photo by Erin Nelson.
cool I get to be Miss Annie,” she said. “God knew I wanted to teach, and the traditional way didn’t work out for me, but this has been even better.” She knows at some point she will transition from being Miss Annie at school to her new venture — Miss Annie Home + Kitchen — but it will be in God’s timing, she said. Through her love of cooking, she began
sharing recipes on Facebook and her YouTube channel in October. She began helping out her friend, Sue Garrett of “Mama Sue’s Southern Kitchen,’’ while she was undergoing her cancer treatment. “I started working for her helping her ship out her cookbooks,” McDonald said. “I asked her if I could help and did a few videos last year. She said I could consider doing this, too,
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and encouraged me to make my own videos and create a cookbook.” Her first cookbook, “A Collection of Family Favorites – Volume 1” was recently released and sold out in two days. McDonald said she made the cookbook she’s always wanted and it’s full of her favorite things. “Every recipe I love,” she said. “It includes the recipe for my famous pumpkin bread, my grandmother’s fudge and my mom’s apple pie. It also includes a few of Mama Sue’s recipes.” She has plans to publish a second cookbook in the fall that includes recipes for holiday celebrations. McDonald said she lives by two mottos. “You can do hard things” came to her after her husband, Daryl, had a massive stroke eight years ago. It was during the journey of his recovery and rehabilitation that she repeated those words to herself. She wrote them on sticky notes and put them in places she would see them every day to encourage her to keep going. Her other motto is “Stronger every day.” When Daryl completed his time at Lakeshore Rehab, his nurse hugged McDonald and whispered those words in her ear. They stuck with her. “I started selling T-shirts a couple years ago [with these mottos on them],” she said. “Probably thousands of shirts people have bought, one, because it resonates with them. God knew how far that message was gonna go. I can be an instrument in his hands sharing that message that we all can do, and are doing, hard things.” When she isn’t teaching in a school or in her kitchen, McDonald is also a certified life coach, a mom of three daughters and a grandmother of nine. She prioritizes her health by exercising daily and loves spending time with her family. “I’m willing to take the next right step,” she said. “I can’t be Miss Annie forever, but I feel like Miss Annie’s Home + Kitchen is the place I’m being led.” For more information, visit missannie.com and missannieshomeandkitchen.com.
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A26 • March 2022
280 Living
Opinion Sean of the South By Sean Dietrich
Finding ‘the beautiful’ in Alabama I gave a speech in a little theater in Ashland, Alabama. I told stories to warm up the audience before a bluegrass band took the stage. The band was good. The lead singer was the grandson of Ralph Stanley, and he sounded like it. The boys picked their strings so fast their instruments started melting. The people in the audience were in good spirits. Thank God for that. Last week, I spoke to a crowd of Presbyterians in Florida. I’ve had conversations with water heaters that went better. I wish I could tell you how much I love Alabama, but I think I already have. I’ve been writing about this state for a long time. I wrote a novel about it, sang about it, told stories about it and once I got stuck in Birmingham traffic on a holiday weekend. I am not from Alabama, I married into it. But I’m glad I did. There are a lot of reasons why I love it. One big reason is barbecue. You can get pulled pork anywhere in the state. In Mountain Brook it comes served on fine china with garnishes of parsley. Down in Georgiana, you get it from a utility shed beside a gas station. Tell them Sean sent you. Alabama football is also important to me. I have been watching the boys in crimson since the day of my birth. Literally. I was born during the third quarter of a Liberty Bowl. My father held his infant son
before a black-and-white Once, at a joint in Pensacola, I saw one such fight. TV in the delivery room and introduced him to Coach It was just after the Iron Paul “Bear” Bryant. It was Bowl. An ambulance had to decided that my middle be called. The paramedics name would be Paul. didn’t bring enough stretchThe literature from Alaers to accommodate all the bama couldn’t be any better. injured. They placed the I don’t care who you are, fallen victims in the parking lot like soldiers after the Kathryn Tucker Windham is queen. Battle of Atlanta. And music, Lord have Before each man was mercy. William Lee Golden placed into the back of an Dietrich ambulance, he would either couldn’t be any cooler. Nat moan, “Roll Tide!” or “Gene “King” Cole had no equals. If I had a son, his middle name would be Stallings can kiss my …” Assuredly, it’s a great state. I don’t know Hiram. His first name would be Jalen. Maybe how a place can feel so much like home Tua. If I had twins: Satchel Paige and when it’s not. Willie Mays. Take me to the Panhandle bay of my A lot of people don’t realize that the youth, and I will swoon over our wireFlorida Panhandle, my home, is an unoffi- grass, palmettos, and endless longleafs. cial extension of Alabama. At one time in But drop me in Alabama, and I become a American history, West Florida and Ala- novice poet. bama were the same territory. Politicians Bessemer, Dadeville, Gadsden, Prattfought over who owned the Panhandle. ville, LaFayette (pronounced: la-FETT). Alabama lost, and we became Floridians. Loachapoka, Notasulga, Weogufka, Even so, few who I ran with rooted for Macedonia, Letohatchee, Opelika, TalFSU or the University of Florida. At least lapoosa, Montevallo, Talladega (tal-anot publicly. There were only crimson caps DIGGA), Sylacauga, Tuscaloosa. with white “A’s,” or orange caps with the I enjoy sunrises on Lake Martin. I like the streets of Tuskegee. The Mount Vernon letters “AU” embroidered upon them. I have seen tavern-clearing brawls over Theater in Tallassee is perfect. Hank Williams’ boyhood home still these two caps.
stands in Georgiana. In McMullen, they have a population of 10 people. The porches overlooking Lake Guntersville are a revelation. I know a judge in Greenville who picks one mean guitar. I know a football coach in Ashland who wears overalls. Don’t drive too fast through Eufaula, you don’t want to miss the old homes. Visit Luverne at least once, and eat at Michael’s. Don’t forget the Loveliest Village on the Plains. A lot of people think that after they die, if they’ve lived a good life, they will wake up in Fairhope. It’s all lovely to me. Once, at a crucial time in my life, I thought I had no family. Somehow I was invited into the arms of a place called Brewton. There I found the greatest thing this state ever produced. Her name is Jamie. She’s a woman whose straight-talking father used to say, “If you don’t like football, strong women, loud preachin’, pork butts, Hank Aaron, Jesus, and the Bear, then you ain’t an Alabamian, you just live here.” I think it’s time I found some barbecue. Sean Dietrich is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored nine books and is the creator of the “Sean of the South” blog and podcast.
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280Living.com
March 2022 • A27
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A28 • March 2022
280 Living
MYRICK
CONTINUED from page A1 However, restrictions were lifted, and Myrick, who was scheduled to be in class No. 282, got bumped up to class No. 280 due to several openings. Myrick, who is the commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and special operations group for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, traveled to the FBI campus in Quantico, Virginia, in October to take part in a 10-week training course. He said that although the group was significantly smaller than usual, having less attendees wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Our class was cut in half and had around 132 students, but the cool thing about it was our group being smaller [was] we got to know everyone,” he said. His classmates included local and county law enforcement and employees of federal agencies from throughout the U.S. and other countries around the world. There were people from different walks of life who all do many of the same functions in their jobs, but in a different way, Myrick said. “All of these people were there together for 10 weeks, and the real value was that we got to draw from each other’s experiences in life and professionally,” Myrick said. “We were able to develop friendships for the rest of our lives. It was such a moving experience.” The class schedule had three courses on Mondays and Wednesdays and two on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But before the learning began, the first thing each day was a physical fitness class. Myrick said he thoroughly enjoyed the media relations class. It began with an on-camera interview where he had to answer tough questions and provide on-the-spot answers. Guests speakers included former Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, known as one of the best oncamera police chiefs, and Detroit Deputy Police Chief Eric Ewing, who spoke about how Detroit is trying to change its public relations image. Myrick’s other classes included forensics for managers, where he listened to former FBI negotiator Vince Dalfonzo, who was a critical part of the boy in a bunker negotiation in the 2013 Alabama bunker hostage crisis and the 2009 situation when Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by Somali pirates. Tough topics were addressed in his at-risk employment class, including how officer suicide and long-term effects of the job can influence an officer’s mental health. Myrick said that most officers suffer in silence and never say anything for fear of losing their jobs or credibility. That is something that the SCSO has done a good job combating, he said. “We have a very comprehensive wellness program we’ve developed that includes counselors, nutritional health, financial health and other resources, and I’m proud to say that talking to my classmates, we are doing pretty good on that front,” Myrick said. He hopes the state of Alabama will adopt a law enforcement assistance program similar to South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program, a state-funded comprehensive program for officers that Myrick believes should serve as a model. “This is the stuff we need these days,” he said. “We need to put a spotlight on our officers’ health and well-being so they can make it to retirement and have a life after law
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jason Myrick inside his office. Myrick recently completed the FBI National Academy leadership training in Quantico, Virginia, where he took graduate courses in behavioral science, forensics, leadership development, terrorism, communications and health and fitness. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Above: Myrick stands by New York Police Department vehicles while on a weekend visit to New York during his time at the FBI National Academy. Left: Myrick and other classmates in training session No. 280 stand in front of the Washington Monument. Below: Myrick, far left, stands with several of his classmates in the 280th class of the FBI National Academy. Photos courtesy of Jason Myrick.
enforcement. So many don’t make it. Officer suicides are up, and we are trying to find better ways to help our people stay healthy.” Myrick said his risk management/stress management classes were most beneficial for him and shined a light on the fact that more responsibility must be taken for officers and how they cope with their jobs and lives. Besides the daily workouts, the physical aspect of the program included Friday morning circuit training, rotations, functional fitness exercises and strength and endurance training. The final test of the fitness challenge was the Yellow Brick Road, a 6.1-mile run on a Marine Corp. field course that requires running through creeks, jumping through simulated windows, rock climbing, crawling under barbed wire and more. Those who completed the test — which Myrick did — received a yellow brick to memorialize their achievement. The group attended seminars on Friday afternoons on a variety of topics including racism in policing, how policing is viewed in America
and others issues that were designed to help develop empathy and have a leveled response, Myrick said. “For so long, law enforcement has been associated with force and that has come to have some negative connotations,” he said. “It needs to have a more cooperative or community-related response and find different ways to accomplish the same goal, but expanding horizons to get to that end result we want. I think the public demands it of us. Sheriff [John] Samaniego is huge on us being very even-keeled on how we view things and have a professional response and show courtesy and protect our citizens.” On weekends, the group took class-led trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; New York; Philadelphia; the Law Enforcement Museum; the African American Museum and more. “All of these enrichment tours helped us gain a better perspective of the world at large that will help us be better leaders in moving forward,” he said. Myrick completed the course and graduated from the FBI’s National Academy Session No. 280 on
Dec. 16. His wife, Erin, and son, Brennan, were in attendance at the ceremony, along with FBI Director Chris Gray. Samaniego said the sheriff’s department is honored to have exemplary individuals like Myrick at the agency and serving citizens of Shelby County. “We are proud to have another one of Shelby County’s finest graduating from the FBI National Academy and are even more glad to have him back at home. He has had an outstanding career, and we look forward to more achievements in his future,” he said. Myrick said one of the greatest things he learned at the National Academy was perspective and how to be a more empathic leader in decisions he makes. He also is glad for the friendships he made and how
they will help him in the future. “It really extended our ability to work,” he said. “We may not have the resources to work, but I have an extended family now that I can reach out to and find somebody that will help us get what we need.” Myrick will turn 50 soon and has a total of 31 years in law enforcement, including five years as a Marine police officer and 26 as a civilian officer. Although he is looking to the future, he said things are going well in the present. “There will be something next; I’m just waiting to see what this is,” Myrick said. “I’ll be here for the foreseeable future. I don’t know what the future really holds, but I enjoy what I’m doing, and as long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll keep on doing it.”
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March 2022 • A29
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A30 • March 2022 TRAFFICKING
CONTINUED from page A1 an estimated $150 billion market second only to illegal drugs. Dozens of cases are reported annually in Alabama, but the actual number of victims is likely much higher as most cases go unreported, according to law enforcement. To heighten awareness, the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force sponsored Jan. 11 as Alabama Human Trafficking Awareness Day for the eighth year. They garnered support from mayors across the state who were asked to sign proclamations in observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January. Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer signed the proclamation during a January City Council meeting. “Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. It is a truly heinous crime, committed in the shadows — and in plain sight,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a January news release that coincided with Human Trafficking Awareness Month. “The victims are not limited to women and children, but include members of every age, sex and demographic.” Specific numbers are hard to quantify because many cases are not reported, but the Department of Homeland Security estimates the commercial sex industry generates $110 million each year in the Birmingham-metro area. This does not include illegal activity that occurs in massage parlors or strip clubs, nor does it include child trafficking estimates as that is more difficult to quantify. The U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking reported 90% or more people who are prostituted are actually being trafficked and advocates believe that number in Alabama is even higher. The greater Birmingham area —where several highways converge — is a crossroads for this activity and has been dubbed the “human trafficking superhighway.” This is due to the city being a hub of transportation networks and interstate highways, as well as having an international airport and being host city to major sporting, entertainment and business events, said Jan Bell, co-founder of the Child Trafficking Solutions Project.
280 Living With the arrival of The World Games in July in Birmingham and several participating venues in Shelby County, trafficking could see “a tremendous uptick,” Bell said. This is not a new problem, but one that agencies in Shelby County have been dealing with for years. Here is a look at several local entities involved in the fight against trafficking.
being an issue where they live. While some people don’t want to get involved, he said the greatest tool for law enforcement when rescuing people from trafficking is the partnership with citizens they serve. “From a community standpoint, as readers look at this, hopefully it shocks their conscience,” Hammac said. “We should never be comfortable with this idea or the fact that this exists locally. If anything makes them question the next time they see something that just does not look quite right, it’s never a burden to reach out to law enforcement.” Anonymous tips can be left for the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force via phone at 205-670-0436, its website http://dtf. shelbyal.com or on the SCSO app.
SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Major Clay Hammac of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department said he would argue that human trafficking is the largest criminal enterprise on the face of the planet. “This is one of those uncomfortable truths we have to share with the public to make sure our community is being vigilant and partnering with us and identifying the signs and signals of human trafficking, which often happens right in front of our eyes, Hammac said. With his involvement in the Drug Enforcement Task Force, Hammac said it was brought to their attention that there was a problem with sex trafficking along the major thoroughfares that touch the interstate, including U.S. 280, Interstates 65 and 20, and his team wanted to be proactive and aggressive with addressing those threats. He said when they began looking into the matter, it was far more complex than traditional prostitution and it was quickly made clear it was a far greater network and father reaching that they ever imagined. “There are traveling groups in which young ladies and men are being trafficked for sexual servitude for profit along these major roadways,” Hammac said. “They went all across the state and would hit three to five states total, stopping at major off ramps.” When they performed their first operation, a reverse prostitution sting, their intent was to go after the “Johns,” a slang term given to those who patronize paid sex workers. He said they were not naive to believe they could put an end to human trafficking in Shelby County, but the goal was to make this as uncomfortable as possible for “Johns” to patronize this area and dry up the demand in order to keep our community safer. The operation lasted over a
BLANKET FORT HOPE
Major Clay Hammac of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department said he would argue that human trafficking is the largest criminal enterprise on the face of the planet. Photo courtesy of Clay Hammac.
year and around 50 arrests of various “Johns” were made. Wanting to do more than just the “enforcement approach,” Hammac wanted to take an aggressive stance on education and prevention, so he reached out and visited all of the local hotels on U.S. 280 and around I-65 and invited them to a day of training in what human trafficking looks like. The event was at Asbury United Methodist Church, and a full sanctuary of hotel staff learned what signs to look for and what to do if they suspect someone is a victim of trafficking. Hammac said it was a very fruitful meeting where they engaged in serious dialogue. He said the FBI has utilized partnerships in local hotel operations and it has been successful as well. “We have established great relationships with local hotels and they have been very good about reaching out to the Drug Enforcement Task Force when they have questions and we usually follow through really quickly,” Hammac said. Hammac said residents of many local communities never think about human trafficking
A nonprofit located in Shelby County, the mission of Blanket Fort Hope is to restore hope in the lives of child sex trafficking survivors through access to essential services, compassionate care and a loving Christian witness. While they work with children, the majority of their clients range from 16-18 years old. They have trained over 6,000 individuals to compassionately respond and identify child sex trafficking survivors. “There are more than 5,700 child victims of sex trafficking in Alabama every year, the majority of which never self-identify,” BFH Executive Director Alexis James said. “The ones that do find themselves in homes unequipped to care for the intense trauma they have experienced. This Restoration Home will provide for their basic and therapeutic needs, while maintaining a loving Christian witness that will accept any child, regardless of background.” Currently located in Pelham, BFH recently purchased 73 acres of land off Shelby County 25 in Columbiana, just a short drive from Chelsea, where it will build a Restoration Home and offices. James said statistics show that every time a child is rescued from a trafficking situation and put into a non-therapeutic home, there is an 80% chance that child will run away, inevitably returning to their trafficker for “safety.” The Restoration Home will provide a place for
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280Living.com
March 2022 • A31
them to live for a temporary time, around six to nine months, and also get the help they need. There are fewer than 700 beds nationwide, and fewer than 25 beds proposed for Alabama in the next two years. BFH will be able to serve nine child survivors at a time, with the ability to expand that reach with the construction of additional Therapeutic Foster Care Cottages. Construction is set to begin this year and is projected to cost around $1.2 million. This will cover construction and first year staffing. Restoration costs for each child is estimated to be around $2,500 per month. Blanket Fort Hope is also heading up the training for the staff and volunteers of The World Games. They will be putting together a presentation in collaboration with the state and other agencies. “We had to be more in-depth about what this looks like,” James said. “The people out there working, we need for them to understand what to look for and we want to make sure they have every tool possible to recognize what trafficking looks like and what their next steps should be.” In addition to helping victims, Blanket Fort Hope also offers training. Their community training program helps people understand the realities of child sex trafficking in Alabama, while their professional training is for foster care families and professionals to help them respond to the trauma experienced by sex trafficking survivors.
SHELBY COUNTY DHR
Kim Mashego, director of Shelby County DHR, said their department works in collaboration with law enforcement, child advocacy center Owen’s House and the Shelby County District Attorney. “Our main goal at DHR is assessment, identification of the young person who may have been trafficked and providing services to them and their family,” Mashego said. “One of the things we are learning more about is that victims don’t self identify.” DHR works to provide temporary foster care services, medical services, the assessment of any other services that might be needed including trauma, medical and returning to their family. They also work with Family Connections, which can provide a temporary shelter.
“I think this is something occurring on a daily basis,” Mashego said. “Some people are initially approached by their peers and brought into this. As a community, we need to continue to be aware and look for signs and make reports of abuse or neglect and make a report to DHR or local law enforcement.”
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Maribeth Bowman is a forensic interviewer and multidisciplinary team coordinator at Owen’s House where their mission is to assess and intervene to prevent child abuse within Shelby County. They have a multidisciplinary team made up of specially trained individuals who investigate crimes against children and vulnerable adults in Shelby County. They provide forensic interviews, family support, counseling and body safety education programs within Shelby County and Pelham City Schools, reaching about 7,000 students per year. “Human trafficking comes to us in various ways,” Bowman said. “It’s always kind of an assumption that things like this don’t happen in Shelby County. People think it’s a huge underground network, when in reality a lot of what we see is a boyfriend taking advantage of his girlfriend or interfamily trafficking where a mom is selling her daughter for money or drugs.” At Owen’s House, Bowman said they coordinate a team to investigate, provide forensic interviews and services along with trauma-focused counseling that victims need. Counselors there do over 1,000 sessions each year. “What we see in child abuse is that 90% of offenders are known by their victims, it’s not always strangers you should be afraid of, it’s people you know,” Bowman said. “Offenders often groom communities specifically for that reason. They’re the people you would never expect would be a part of something like that.” Bowman said she is excited about Blanket Fort Hope’s new facility coming to Columbiana so the child trafficking victims will have a place to stay. To report trafficking in our coverage area, call the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. – Jesse Chambers also contributed to this report.
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McPhail, Hammett star at indoor state meet By KYLE PARMLEY The indoor track and field season concluded Feb. 4-5 at the Birmingham CrossPlex, as the state meet for all classifications was conducted. In Class 6A, Northridge won on the girls side, with Scottsboro winning the boys competition. In 7A, Hoover swept the boys and girls state titles. Chelsea’s girls finished fifth in 6A, led by star runner Cady McPhail. She set a CrossPlex record with a 2:10.72 in the 800-meter race, winning the event. She also placed fourth in the 400 and anchored the 4x400-meter relay team that finished fourth. Lexi Redd, Ty Cason, Jadlyn Debardlabon, Mia Dunavant, Alana McCulla, Morgan Brewer and Addison Foster also competed for the Chelsea girls. Chelsea’s Miles Brush was one of three guys to beat the previous state record in the 1,600, finishing second in a photo finish with a time of 4:16.6. He also finished fourth in the 3,200, while Matt Gray was fourth in the 60. Andrew Fielding, Brandon Sims, Owen Key and Javion Holyfield also took part for the Hornets. Oak Mountain’s Ethan Hammett put on a show of his own, winning the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 4 inches. Mitch Allen also had a solid event, finishing fourth in triple jump. The boys 4x800 relay team of Quest Agee, Josh Stidfole, Noah Arrington and Matthew Womack finished fourth. Mary Spina, Sara Cothran, Cade George, Omar Crooks, Jack Stanfield, Wesley Yeatman, Davion Foster, CJ Branson, Madisyn Lawrence-Owen, Jordan Wright, Samantha Bennett and Julia Bueche all competed for Oak Mountain. Spain Park’s Mackenzie Culpepper put forth a great showing as well, leading the Jags to a
Left: Chelsea’s Cady McPhail crosses the finish line in first place in the girls 800-meter run during the AHSAA Class 6A indoor track and field state championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Right: Oak Mountain’s Ethan Hammett competes in the boys triple jump during the AHSAA Class 7A state indoor track and field championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Feb. 5. Photos by Erin Nelson.
fourth-place team finish in 7A. She won the 800 with a blistering time of 2:13.4 and was second in the 400 with a time of 56.79 seconds. She was also part of the 4x400 relay team — along with Sydney Baker, Maddie Davis and Delaney Vickers — that finished second.
John Landers earned a podium spot by finishing third in the pole vault, while Vickers went fourth in the 400 and fifth in the 800. Zane McPeters, Keith Warner, JT Brownlee, Kenneth Bishop and LaCoria Nelson were among the other Jags to compete.
Briarwood also competed at state. Ansley Murphy finished fifth in the girls pole vault and Charlie Thompson was sixth in high jump. Livi Reebals, Reese Rasmussen, Bela Doss, Charlie Thompson and Sallie Montgomery competed as well.
B2 • March 2022
280 Living
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B4 • March 2022
280 Living
Sports NATIONAL SIGNING DAY 2022
GOING TO THE
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By KYLE PARMLEY
n National Signing Day 2022, several local schools honored many of the student-athletes preparing to enter the world of college athletics upon graduation. Briarwood and Spain Park combined to recognize 13 student-athletes as they signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic pursuits at the collegiate level.
MACKENZIE CULPEPPER
▶ SPORT: Track and field ▶ COLLEGE: Vanderbilt University
HALEY LOCKHART
▶ SPORT: Golf ▶ COLLEGE: Huntingdon College
CARSYN TINNEY
▶ SPORT: Lacrosse ▶ COLLEGE: University of Montevallo
Photos by Erin Nelson.
MICHAEL GLICK
▶ SPORT: Baseball ▶ COLLEGE: Bevill State Community College
WILLIAM MOULTON
▶ SPORT: Lacrosse ▶ COLLEGE: Sacred Heart University
TAYLOR TRIBLE
▶ SPORT: Golf ▶ COLLEGE: University of Southern Mississippi
PAIGE INGERSOLL
▶ SPORT: Beach volleyball ▶ COLLEGE: University of Louisiana Monroe
AUDREY ROTHMAN
▶ SPORT: Volleyball ▶ COLLEGE: Florida State University
COLIN TURNER
▶ SPORT: Basketball ▶ COLLEGE: University of North Georgia
▶ SPORT: Soccer ▶ COLLEGE: Bryan College
EMMA JOLLEY
▶ SPORT: Softball ▶ COLLEGE: BirminghamSouthern College
SYDNEY SOEHN
▶ SPORT: Soccer ▶ COLLEGE: Wofford College
SAM WASKO
▶ SPORT: Tennis ▶ COLLEGE: BirminghamSouthern College
280Living.com
March 2022 • B5
Above: Spain Park’s Lucas Mitchell throws the ball down the lane as the Jags face Hoover in the AHSAA state bowling championship game Jan. 28 at The Alley in Gadsden. Left: The Jags react after defeating Hoover to win the state title. Photos by Erin Nelson.
Jags win 3rd bowling state title; Bucs finish 2nd By KYLE PARMLEY In an all-Hoover City Schools final, the Spain Park High School boys bowling team knocked off Hoover to win the Class 6A/7A state title Jan. 28 at the state tournament at The Alley in Gadsden. Spain Park knocked off Hoover 4-2 in the best-of-seven final series of Baker games, giving the Jaguars their third state championship in program history. The final was a close battle throughout. The Jags won 205-201 in the first game before Hoover edged the Jags 170-169 in the second game. Hoover took a 2-1 lead after winning 288-203 in the third game — a game in which Hoover began the game with 10 straight strikes. Spain Park rallied to win the final three games, winning 279-188, 246-191 and 201-143. “None of these guys had ever been to state before, so for them to come out and play like
they did, I could not be more proud,” Spain Park coach Stephen Hobbs said. It was the third state title for Spain Park, with the Jags also winning in 2016 and 2017. Hoover finished as the runner-up for the second straight season. Eight teams in each classification qualified for the state tournament. Competition on the first day consisted of each team bowling three traditional games and using total pins to set up the single elimination bracket used the second day. Hoover’s boys earned the No. 1 seed, rolling up 2,805 pins on the initial day of competition. Alex Lee was the top Buccaneers bowler, finishing second overall with a three-game total of 663. Carter Hughes posted a 621, and Connor Davis finished with 543. A.J. Nelson, Rhett Pearson, Matt Lawley, Andrew Choi and Aiden Dockery also competed for Hoover. Spain Park’s boys finished as the No. 3 seed, with Cole Henson leading the charge as the
tournament’s top medalist. He posted a threegame score of 663 with a single-game high of 246. Ethan Lee scored 527, and Michael Kimble posted 511. Russell Partin, Liam Hilson, Lucas Mitchell and Luke Belmont also competed. In bracket play, a best-of-seven series of Baker games was used as the format. A Baker game consists of five players on the same team alternating, each bowling twice over a 10-frame game. In boys action, Hoover took down Spanish Fort 4-2 in the opening round. Hoover won the first two games before dropping the third and fifth, but eventually took care of business in the sixth game to advance. Spain Park had no trouble with Baldwin County, dominating en route to a 4-0 victory. In the semifinals, Hoover took down Thompson, and Spain Park beat Hewitt-Trussville to earn their way into the final round. Hoover won the opening game in a tiebreaker and was able
to carry that momentum to a 4-3 win, despite Thompson accumulating more pins. Spain Park jumped out to a 3-1 lead over Hewitt and held on for a 4-2 win. “We were down 3-1 against Thompson and very easily could’ve folded,” Hoover coach Dustin Edgar said. “I’m super proud of how our guys fought back. They faced a lot of adversity and gave themselves a shot at a state championship.” Spain Park’s girls had an outstanding day one, posting a score of 2,296 to earn the No. 2 seed. Emma Hawkins rolled a three-game total of 561 to finish as the third individual medalist, breaking a program record with her 244 in the second game of the day. Emma Jolley posted a 476, and Morgan Jolley scored 456. Maggie Daniel, Kyndal Heaton, Blakley Watts, Emily Goddard and Caroline Whisenhunt all bowled for the Lady Jags as well.
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B6 • March 2022
280 Living
2022
Left: Briarwood’s Brady Waugh (7) catches during a game against Northridge on Feb. 20, 2021. Right: Chelsea’s Reid Gongwer (32) catches the ball at first base for an out as Sparkman’s Tucker Burns (3) heads toward the bag in a game during the Hoover Bucs Classic spring break tournament at the Hoover Met Plex on March 27, 2021. Photos by Erin Nelson.
BASEBALL PREVIEW
Lions, Hornets, Eagles, Jags enter the season with big goals By KYLE PARMLEY The first pitch of the high school baseball season has been thrown in what should be an extremely competitive campaign amongst the teams in the area. Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park each have high hopes for the year. Here’s a look at each team as the season gets going.
BRAND-NEW LIONS LOOK FOR NEW STARS
According to Briarwood Christian School baseball coach Steve Renfroe, it’s brand new this season. The Lions are replacing nearly every starter, with Brady Waugh and Luke Sibley the only consistent starters returning to the team this spring. Waugh can play anywhere, so his landing spot this year will be dependent upon some other lineup choices. “This is a bunch of young kids that are going to play hard and I’m looking forward to being with them,” Renfroe said. That’s certainly not to say the Lions don’t expect to be competitive in Class 6A, Area 9 this season. They are up against stout competition with Chelsea, Homewood and Mountain Brook, but Renfroe has been looking forward to coaching this squad. “They make it a lot of fun coming to work,” he said. “There’s no way to know how fast they’ll mature, but eventually, before they leave here, they’re going to be really good. It’s fun going to work with these guys.”
HORNETS EAGER FOR ANOTHER PLAYOFF RUN
Chelsea High School has been home to one of the top baseball programs in Class 6A the last several years, and that status should remain steady for the 2022 season. The Hornets return plenty of players from a team that reached the semifinals last year. “We had a really good group last year,” head coach Michael Stallings said. “The chemistry was really good, the work ethic across the board was really good. We just had a really good mix.” Stallings hopes the same can be said of this year’s team, which has 12 seniors, many of which contributed
Left: Oak Mountain’s Maddox Macrory (15) pitches in a game against Lincoln County (Tennessee) during the Hoover Bucs Classic spring break tournament at the Hoover Met Plex on March 27, 2021. Right: Spain Park’s Evan Smallwood (7) makes contact during an at-bat in a game against Grissom during the Hoover Bucs Classic spring break tournament at Hoover High School on March 27, 2021. Photos by Erin Nelson.
in a significant way last season. Chelsea will have to replace three pitchers who combined for about 190 innings and 20 wins on the mound last season. Reid Gongwer will likely anchor this year’s staff, as the South Alabama signee has experience pitching in big games for the Hornets. Campbell McCluney is another senior pitcher who will need to take on a bigger role as well. Andrew Floyd, a Southern Union Community College signee, will look to take on more innings as well. Kaden Heatherly will also be in the mix. Kaleb Hester and Chris McNeill are returning outfielders, while Evan Jones is a returning second baseman. Gongwer played first base when he wasn’t on the mound, and Christian Kallaher is back as the team’s catcher. There are several others who will compete for time on the mound and in the lineup as well. “Going out and competing hard, that’s the expectation. The results will be what they will be, but I fully anticipate that this group will go out and compete,” Stallings said. The expectation is that the Hornets will be one of the best teams in the state once again. “The No. 1 goal is to win area and when you get in the playoffs, make a deep run and see how far you can
go. These guys want to be there at the end. I think they understand what it takes,” Stallings said.
EAGLES RETURN SEVERAL POSITION PLAYERS
If the Oak Mountain High School baseball team can duplicate its strong start from last season and couple it with an equally strong finish, the Eagles will be a dangerous team in 2022. Last spring, Oak Mountain got off to a hot start, but was unable to continue that momentum to the finish line and missed out on the playoffs. The Eagles have plenty of returning players who would like to flip that script this season. “We return a lot of guys that were in the lineup last year that saw a lot of time in the field and had a lot of at-bats,” Oak Mountain head coach Derek Irons said. University of Southern Mississippi signee Davis Gillespie is back following an all-state season. Second baseman Andrew Hunt, first baseman Maddox Macrory and Matthew Heiberger are key components of the lineup back as well. Taylor Bush is a senior catcher who should take on a bigger role this year, while Chapman Wallock is also a senior ready for bigger things. McCollum Mansfield plays shortstop and pitches, and Grant Rakers and
Conner Moore are senior outfielders looking to fill some shoes in the outfield. The Eagles have 12 seniors this spring and Irons is hopeful the lessons learned from last year and the experience returning this year will make for a winning combination. “The difference between a state championship and not making the playoffs could be a play or two,” Irons said. “If you can find a way into the playoffs, you could play for a while, so hopefully we give ourselves a chance to do that.”
JAGS AIM FOR POSTSEASON RETURN
The Spain Park High School baseball team qualified for the state playoffs last spring for the first time since 2017 and is looking to string consecutive playoff appearances together. The Jaguars do have some key positions to fill, but also return a group of players who made key contributions to a team that posted a 23-13 record last year. “We really like the group that we have this year,” Spain Park head coach Will Smith said. “It’s a group that is fun to be around. We’ve got a lot of guys with experience that are back, but we’ve got to replace some big holes.” Evan Smallwood will play on the left side of the infield for this team,
while Josh Harrington returns as the team’s primary second baseman. Cole Edwards, an Auburn commit, is back and will play in the infield as well. Michael Glick, who recently signed with Bevill State Community College, is back in the outfield. Wilkins Hunter and Ryan Cole both had plenty of at-bats last year. Spain Park has eight seniors to lead the way this season, with pitchers Nick Milano and Tate Burkholder, infielder John Cooke and outfielder Hughes Orr in a group that also includes Harrington, Glick, Hunter and pitcher Jake Majors. Majors enters the year as the team’s likely ace on the pitching staff. He was the Jags’ No. 2 pitcher last season and came on strong down the stretch. He went 2-0 in area play and won the playoff game at Sparkman. JR Thompson pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season, notching saves against the likes of Hewitt-Trussville and Sparkman. He will have to take a step forward this year and take on more innings, while some others such as Smallwood and Cole will be expected to log innings as well. “It’s been a fun group to be around in the fall and getting to this point,” Smith said. “The bar has been set. Now, are they going to be able to reach it?”
280Living.com
March 2022 • B7
2022
Left: Oak Mountain’s Elizabeth Zaleski (22) hits the ball during a game against Spain Park on April 15 at Oak Mountain High School. Right: Chelsea’s Jadyn Buff (11) eyes a catch during a game against Hoover on Feb. 23, 2021, at Jim Brown Field in Hoover. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Lady Lions, Hornets, Eagles, Jags ready for a new year By KYLE PARMLEY The high school softball season has arrived, with the local teams optimistic about their chances to make 2022 a special season. Here’s a look ahead at what to expect from Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park this spring.
LIONS PUSHING FOR CONSISTENCY
At Briarwood Christian School, head coach Ashley Segreto is pushing her team to continue its positive growth. That means finding an ability to overcome adverse situations and being consistent on a day-to-day basis. “Our girls have stuck together and our program is building momentum,” Segreto said. “Their dedication in the offseason has been better than ever and I am excited to see their hard work play out.” The last few seasons have featured a number of bumps in the road, but Segreto has been proud of the resilience of her girls. “This group could have given up and let defeat define them, but they kept showing up. They pushed to get better and conquered all the obstacles that were thrown at them. They are better people and athletes for it,” she said. Briarwood has most of its starters back from last year and Segreto believes that will pay dividends for this year’s team. Pitcher Cameron Fountain and Camille Jarvis are the Lions’ two seniors. Fountain has played a huge role on the team for a handful of years now. “Cameron is a true leader and when she is absent, her absence is felt. She has personally helped develop many of our younger athletes and is willing to work with them any time they need or want,” Segreto said. Briarwood has a couple new assistants in the program this year, as Briarwood alum Taylor Wheat and Chelsea alum Lexi Serio have stepped in with “fresh ideas and excitement.”
GALLMAN TAKES OVER HORNETS
Sara Gallman is the fourth coach in the last four years for the Chelsea
Left: Chelsea’s Olivia Trout during an Auburn Tournament game in February 2020 at Auburn Softball Complex. Right: Spain Park’s Emma Jolley (22) hits the ball during a game against Pike Road on Feb. 18, 2021, at Spain Park High School in Hoover.
High School softball program. But just as her predecessors can attest, she is inheriting a team with the talent to win plenty of games. “This being my first year as head coach, there are some nerves, but more than anything I am just so excited,” said Gallman, who was an assistant coach last year. “I have so much faith in this team and I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish.” The Hornets have seven seniors this year and several other key contributors from last year’s team. Jadyn Buff, Brooke Jones, Maddie Riggins, Gracie Walker, Hannah Marler, Olivia Morgan and Olivia Trout are the team’s seniors. Buff has plenty of experience and can play middle infield or outfield, using her speed as a weapon at the plate and defensively. Kathryn Bryars is a speedy outfielder who played last year as well. Marler returns as the team’s primary catcher and will be battery mates with Trout, who pitches and plays outfield. Along with Trout, Maia Harris and Hardy Erwin are some of the arms Chelsea will rely upon this season. The Hornets were successful last season, posting a 24-17 record and making it to the regional tournament. But Gallman believes there’s even more opportunity to build upon that. She wants to see her team rise to the occasion, even in tough moments.
“We need to be able to execute as a team. If we can do that, then we can win those close games that we didn’t last year,” she said.
EAGLES EMBRACING UNDERDOG ROLE
In a move no one has been able to provide an adequate explanation for, the Oak Mountain High School softball program was moved to Area 6 in Class 7A last year and this year, while every other sport at the school competes in Area 5. For the softball team, that’s been a significant hurdle, having to compete against perennial powers Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills and Spain Park. But the Eagles are playing the cards they have been dealt and looking to make the most of the situation. “We’re an underdog in the best area in the state,” second-year head coach Jordan Burson said. “We’ve got a great group of seniors and are going to build and grow all year long and peak at the right time.” Oak Mountain returns three starters that played a significant role last season. First baseman Sarah Katona hit for a .404 average last season and is looking to continue that success. Emily Hart has primarily been a third baseman and is a powerful bat in the lineup. She may also get some innings in the pitching circle
this season. Elizabeth Zaleski is back at shortstop and is a consistent player both offensively and defensively. Allison Turner is a junior who is expected to be one of the pitching leaders for the Eagles. “We are looking to our younger talent to step up and provide some complimentary bats and pitching to our established veterans,” Burson said.
NEW-LOOK JAGS READY FOR 2022
The 2022 season seems to mark the beginning of a new era of Spain Park High School softball. The Jags will have a bit of a different look this year, but they still have several pieces that will make up a highly competitive team. The Spain Park pitching staff has a few players looking to step up into big roles. Ella Reed, a junior, will anchor the staff after putting together consecutive strong seasons as the team’s second pitcher. Seniors Caroline Whisenhunt — who transferred in from Hoover — and Katherine Brown will also provide quality innings for the Jags. Whisenhunt and Brown are two of Spain Park’s five seniors this season, and all five will be relied upon to make significant contributions. When not pitching, Whisenhunt will play a
corner infield spot and be a power bat in the middle of the order. Emma Jolley is primarily an outfielder and recently signed with Birmingham-Southern College to continue her playing career. Her twin sister, Morgan Jolley, will likely start at first base and be a big part of the team. Kyndal Heaton is a third baseman with the ability to play just about anywhere on the field. Juniors Katie Flannery (an Oregon commit), Reed and Blakley Watts are all back and each played a big part in last year’s success. Flannery will likely play shortstop, while Watts is an experienced outfielder as well. In the sophomore class, Emma Hawkins has quickly become an integral part of the team, playing in the outfield and getting on base at a high clip. Maggie Daniel is back as the team’s starting catcher and is one of the top catchers in the entire area. Reagan Stewart pitches and can play first base. Charlee Bennett got called up to the varsity team last spring and played a big role, including hitting a clutch home run in the postseason. Although just a freshman, she could carve out a role on this year’s team. There are several others that could get called up to the varsity team throughout the season, while Urse Hawkins is bullish on the potential of the Berry Middle School team.
B8 • March 2022
REAL ESTATE GUIDE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
2022
REAL ESTATE GUIDE Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or seller looking to move to a larger space or to a new area, the real estate market can be intimidating. There are credit scores to check, financing options to consider and a
never-ending list of details to review — granite countertops or butcher’s block; hardwood or carpet; tub or shower, or both? To make those first steps into the real estate market a little easier, 280 Living has gathered information about homes along the
U.S. 280 corridor. In our annual Real Estate Guide, 280 Living spoke to local real estate agents to get advice from the pros, compared how homes in different neighborhoods fare on the market and gathered a few tips.
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REAL ESTATE GUIDE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280Living.com
By MARSHALL MALONE
March 2022 • B9
A HOUSING FORECAST FOR 2022
Imagine that you are in a ship, repairing the mast in the aftermath of a storm while the clouds of another storm begin to engulf you. That describes the real estate market in 2021; after the coronavirus’s impact on the housing market of 2020, when homes sold at tremendous speeds, under multiple offers and provided a testing ground for even the most experienced of real estate agents. This has buyers and sellers asking what is in store for 2022 as buying activity is strong while we sit in the worst housing shortage in 50-years. Generally this means higher prices, and fewer days on market, with more people competing for each home. This might worry future home buyers who will look at a minimum of eight homes over eight weeks to find their home, only to find out they will most likely need to offer well above asking price in order to compete with other buyers. There are two pricing strategies in a tight market: ► Price higher than market value because it is assumed you will get it. This will probably result in the listing sitting on MLS longer while losing momentum, and eventually selling for less. ► Price it slightly lower than market value, chumming the waters for more buyers who are desperate to make a purchase. This should force a multiple offer cage match ending in a higher sales price. More often than not the market will correct poor pricing strategies, though there will be lessons learned from each. Due to the COVID fueled buying frenzy of 2020, and a decade of depressed housing starts, fewer homes sold in Jefferson and Shelby County in 2021 than the year before. In short, fewer homes being available resulted in listings selling faster and for more money. In 2021, we also saw a growing trend of
JEFFERSON AND SHELBY COUNTIES BY YEAR 2020
2021
16,334
14,957
22
11
Average list price
$294,803
$307,879
Average sold price
$290,685
$310,829
$4,748,064,702
$4,649,347,036
Homes sold Average days on the market
Total price
SOURCE: GREATER BIRMINGHAM MLS
multi-generational homes being purchased (11% nationally) as buyers pooled their resources to give them an edge in the market. Expect this to continue as home valuations continue to rise above affordable levels for firsttime home buyers. We saw more investors offering cash for homes to gain a better return on their money in real estate than in the stock market. We saw a great migration of big city dwellers move to more rural communities where they can work remotely. And we saw mortgage rates at historically low levels, stimulating higher demand. First-time home buyers will likely be the most impacted by the latest mortgage rate news, along with recent job numbers, which should decrease their number below 34% of transactions, which was last year’s number. High-end houses (more than $500,000) will most likely continue to sell at current or increased levels, as the people who can afford them will be least impacted by interest rates and job numbers. Right now until early summer is the best time to sell in 2022. Expect a mini-surge in early spring, followed by a tapering off. More inventory could open up as forbearance sellers lose
their federal protection. There will probably be an average of 20 days on the market replacing last year’s 11 days. Though interest rates are going up, they are still historically very low; so buying levels should still be strong. This could also be a difficult year for real estate agents and we could see at least 20% of them stepping out of the business. Be kind to them, because they are losing sleep in a tough market and they are working diligently on your behalf. This year will most likely be a strong year in real estate, though perhaps not as frantic as 2021. It would be wise to have your ducks in a row prior to getting on the battlefield to buy a home. An experienced real estate agent can coach you on what to do to get ready. According to the National Association of Realtors: ► 34% of home buyers are first-time buyers. ► 11% of purchases are multi-generational homes. This is an increasing trend as people are pooling resources to buy bigger homes. ► 15% of buyers purchased a new home compared to 29% in 1989. Inventory landscape and new construction dropped off and hasn’t caught up; it is almost half. ► 29% of buyers purchase for more than
What Can Impact Demand? Here are some things that may impact demand in 2022: ► An uptick in mortgage rates, which will discourage some buyers. ► The core inflation rate is now at 4%, which means less money in our pockets for buying homes. ► The CARES Act’s forbearance programs could end, removing some protection for many people in vulnerable situations, forcing them to sell their home. ► There are more people returning to the office, which is slowing the migration to smaller cities. All of these factors could ease the market buying pool, if only a little. ► There are 4 million fewer total jobs in the United States than 2 years ago, making it harder to find jobs, though the unemployment rate appears strong at just under 5%.
the asking price. ► Expect the house buying process to take eight weeks and include looking at eight homes. ► 52% of buyers want an agent to find the right home. ► 90% of buyers would use their agent or recommend an agent to others. – Marshall Malone is a third-generation Realtor currently at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook.
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B10 • March 2022
280 Living
REAL ESTATE: MARKET TRENDS
BROOK HIGHLAND
CHELSEA PARK
Number of homes sold
Number of homes sold
100
93 78
166
65
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Average sold price
2016
150 130
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Average sold price
100 0
101 2016
2017
2018
$344K
$275K
$268K
$360K
$263K $255K $258K
$500K
$279K
$467K
$468K $446K
$200K
2016
2017
2018
$591K
$496K
$481K
$327K $300K
0
2021
$312K
$417K $387K
2020
$600K
$442K $400K
2019
Average sold price
$350K
$500K
172
194
89
50 0
164
157
172
123
59 50 0
199
200
243
175
67
Number of homes sold
300
78
75
GREYSTONE
2019
2020
2021
0
$400K
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
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280Living.com
March 2022 • B11
BY THE NUMBERS: 280 CORRIDOR MARKET
Number of homes sold 80
76
73
70
65
77
2021
61
60 57
50 40 0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
$400K
$355K $350K
$363K
$336K $294K
$288K
Total listings: 1,271 Total sold value: $637,134,309 Average days on market: 17 Average list price: $501,135 Average sold price: $501,285
2021 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
2020
Average sold price
$300K
CHELSEA (ZIP 35043)
NORTH SHELBY/ HOOVER (ZIP 35242)
INVERNESS
$296K
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Total listings: 1,223 Total sold value: $534,093,450 Average days on market: 20 Average list price: $442,529 Average sold price: $436,707
Total listings: 552 Total sold value: $193,320,817 Average days on market: 10 Average list price: $346,506 Average sold price: $350,218
2020 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Total listings: 40 Total sold value: $15,266,653 Average days on market: 34 Average list price: $393,830 Average sold price: $381,666
$250K
0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MLS
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B12 • March 2022
280 Living
7 THINGS I’LL TELL MY CHILDREN ABOUT BUYING A HOME By MARSHALL MALONE You have decided to buy your first house, and have already heard some good advice, which looks like this: begin saving early, know your budget, examine your credit, seek firsttime home buyer assistance programs, compare mortgage rates/fees, get a preapproval letter and hire an experienced real estate agent. Before 2020, this was what you needed to know about preparing yourself financially before buying a home because in the U.S. 280 corridor, most homes sold nearly twice as fast at a 14 day average in contrast to 2020, which averaged in 31 days. Collectively, these homes sold for almost 9% more than they would have in the previous year, so this adds pressure on your lender, your appraisal and your wallet. It’s a war zone in Birmingham real estate, and the cards are stacked against first-time home buyers. Homes are selling at lightning speed, and competing offers are coming out of the woodwork. So it is important when you send an offer to buy your next home that yours stands out above the rest. So how can you bring your A-game? I’m going to be honest here; it’s money. Most sellers are looking to walk away with the most money and the least hassle. But here are a few tricks that can win you the house you want. While the higher offer carries a lot of weight, there are some things you can do to make your offer look better. This assumes you have taken the opening advice. If you haven’t — stop here and come back to this when you do. This is how you need to truly compete: When your Realtor hears the feared words, “this is a multiple offer situation…” you know that you are now eating at the adult table. It’s time to trigger your A-game because you are no longer holding all the cards. Here are things you can do to make your contract worthy of a good hard look.
OFFER OVER ASKING PRICE
In the average scenario, you will probably be
what is important to them. If your offer caters to that seller’s needs, your chances increase. For example, a seller has just gotten a job offer out of state, and needs to move quickly. If your offer can expedite a quicker close, that might put you over the top with that seller. If you are not a cash buyer, going through the preapproval and underwriting process is one way to do that.
GO BEYOND PREAPPROVAL
When a seller is looking at two offers, one from a cash buyer and one from a buyer with a preapproval letter from a national mortgage company, they will go with the cash buyer. Lenders that you hear about on TV or podcasts are on their own timeline, and often sabotage deals because they are not ready in time for closing. A local mortgage lender is hungrier for your business, and they know how to fight on your behalf. Most real estate agents know the good lenders from the bad and it is important to let them advise you to find the right one. Choose a local mortgage lender who can go beyond preapproval, and take you through underwriting. Lenders need to take an in-depth look at your credit and financial background to determine if you're eligible for a loan, and being able to do this prior to making an offer goes a very long way. This insures the seller that you are no longer a financial risk, and you can probably close much faster.
VA AND FHA LOANS
paying more than the list price. Your Realtor can give you an idea of what the house is worth in comparison to what the seller is asking, so that you can determine how far above asking price you can or should go. Have your Realtor do a comparative analysis to show you the top two or three highest priced similar houses. This should tell you what dollar amount the seller is trying to achieve. Often the seller has an inflated perspective on what their home is worth, and you need to identify your genuine stopping point so that you don’t go out of control. The past year
was unprecedented in Birmingham for ridiculous offers, and 2022 is starting out in a similar fashion.
THINK LIKE A SELLER
There are many kinds of sellers, and you want to know where they are coming from. Have your Realtor investigate why they are selling. Are they downsizing to a smaller home, are they an investor who has just flipped the house or are they growing out of the house? Every buyer has their own objectives, and it is important to know
VA loans typically have lower interest rates than conventional loans and require no down payment. They also come without mortgage insurance costs, which limit your buying power. FHA loans might be a good fit if you have less money set aside to fund your down payment and/or you have a below-average credit score. These have served a good purpose for a very long time, but it is important to know that a seller might frown on them because they either have ridiculous inspection criteria (FHA), or the program itself could run out of money at the most inconvenient time (VA). These details can lengthen the contract period, and can often
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280Living.com throw mischief in an otherwise ordinary contract. FHA or VA might be your only option, but if it is possible to get a conventional loan, that will be more comforting to a seller who is looking at multiple offers.
APPRAISAL GAP ADDENDUM
Recently a home in Forest Park went under contract for $25,000 over asking price, which was not a terrific surprise. The winning offer also included an appraisal gap addendum, which promised to cover the difference between the appraisal price and the price they chose to offer for the house. In this case the buyer knew they were offering more than appraisal value and wanted to insure the seller they would pay the difference, whatever that difference might be. This is what it looks like: “In the event, the appraised value comes in below Purchase Price, then Buyer agrees to pay up to $__________ over appraised value not to exceed the purchase price. Any such cash differential shall be applied to Buyer’s required Cash at Closing.” Some buyers will cap the amount of that difference they will pay, which is also wise. But your Realtor will be able to give you a good sense of what your competition looks like, and when this is an important thing to do.
REMOVE THE INSPECTION CONTINGENCY WITH A PRE-BUY INSPECTION
It is difficult for an agent to recommend that you avoid an inspection contingency on your offer, but every agent also knows that inspection addendums are often used for the buyer to have second thoughts, break the contract with no repercussions and leave the seller high and dry. More often the inspection is used to renegotiate the contract. These prospects make sellers jumpy. A good agent really wants you to take time during the contract period to know the condition of the house you are buying. But if you know you are competing for the house of your dreams, you can hedge your bets by having an inspection done prior to your offer or offer deadline. This way, you can remove the inspection contingency from the contract and still know what it is
REAL ESTATE GUIDE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION you are buying. A home in Crestwood recently saw seven offers, and four of them removed the inspection contingency. The seller didn’t even look at the three remaining offers. Beware; these pre-buy inspections do cost money so use this tactic sparingly. They are often not as thorough as a general inspection, but they can help you know what you are buying and give you the confidence to put your money on the table. Talk to your Realtor about where you can go to find an inspector that can do this.
REMOVE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO SELLER
There are many things that a first-time home buyer will ask of a seller that should be reconsidered in the event that the seller is holding multiple offers. Home warranties, termite bonds and closing costs are things that often cost the seller money, depending on how the contract is written. The moment the listing agent says there are multiple offers, the burden of these things should shift to the buyer. The least amount of money a seller needs to pay to close their house, the more appealing that offer will look.
WRITE A LETTER
This is an old school option, but submitting a letter to the seller that describes the importance of their home to your future life can mean a lot. Mention how important it will be to you and your family or how you can walk to work from that location. Include anything that can connect the seller to you on an emotional level. If sellers are viewing two equivalent offers, they might just go with the buyer they like over the one they don’t know at all. None of these will guarantee a win, but they will go a long way toward helping you compete in this unprecedented real estate market. It is important to remember that on average you will probably see eight homes over the next eight weeks, though probably more. Get your ducks in a row, and try to have fun. Hire a good agent who can guide you through these steps and be alert.
March 2022 • B13
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It’s easy to find a good real estate company. They’re everywhere. It’s harder to find a great real estate company. At NAI Chase Commercial Realty we live by – and succeed – by what drives us: do your very best, every day, for your client. Whether it’s brokerage services, consulting, property management or customized answers for unique problems, we’re continuously striving for the best outcome for our clients. And when you have extraordinarily talented people, you have success. We believe that success is a derivative of excellence. And we’ve learned that excellence is not a destination, it’s a condition. Call NAI Chase Commercial today and Discover the Difference.
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NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, AND THE SAME IS SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGE OF PRICE, RENTAL OR OTHER CONDITIONS, PRIOR SALE, LEASE OR FINANCING, OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE, AND OF ANY SPECIAL LISTING CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY OUR PRINCIPALS NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY OR ANY HAZARDS CONTAINED THEREIN ARE ANY TO BE IMPLIED. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES, WORLDWIDE.
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B14 • March 2022
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HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU GET WITH $500,000?
GRIFFIN PARK TRACE
EAGLE POINT GRIFFIN PARK ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
SALE PRICE: $507,495 AGENT: Diane Godber COMPANY: Clayton Properties Group ACRES: 0 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,753 BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3 YEAR BUILT: 2021 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Oak Mountain
LIME CREEK LANE
ASHLAND DRIVE
LIME CREEK
HIGHLAND LAKES
■ SALE PRICE: $506,850 ■ AGENT: Katy Murphy ■ COMPANY: KM Realty ■ ACRES: 0.48 acres ■ SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,839 ■ BEDS: 4 ■ BATHS: 3 ■ YEAR BUILT: 2021 ■ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Forest Oaks Elementary
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
SALE PRICE: $524,000 AGENT: Terry Marlowe COMPANY: RE/MAX Southern Homes ACRES: 0.5 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,927 BEDS: 4 BATHS: 2.5 YEAR BUILT: 2007 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Mt Laurel
SOURCE: GREATER BIRMINGHAM MLS
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Hilliard Irrigation Building Relationships is Priority #1
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March 2022 • B15
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Emily and Jeremy Harmon with their 2022 GMC Yukon SLT
For every friend in need. When Emily Harmon needed a new SUV, we’re proud to say that she and her husband, Jeremy, turned to their friends at Royal Buick GMC. You don’t have to know anyone here on the lot to get the best deals in the business, though! We make fast friends by offering fair prices and the easiest shopping experience you’ve ever seen.
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At the Corner of I-65 and Highway 31 | 3010 Columbiana Road, Vestavia Hills