SENIORS SQUARE OFF Senior dance group gathers for exercise, more. 6
Vol 2 | Issue 2 | December 2016 As Trussville As It Gets
Santa Claus HERE COMES
Trussville resident spreads cheer in iconic red suit. 16
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Pick up some ideas of gifts to get for the loved ones in your life this holiday season. 15
Take a look ahead at area high school teams as they get ready to ďŹ re up their seasons. 22
SAVING
MONEY
THE BEST GAME PLAN. Get a free quote.
GEICO Local Office
®
205-824-4449 3301 Lorna Rd Birmingham geico.com/birmingham Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2016 GEICO.
4
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
PHOTO OF THE MONTH EDITOR’S NOTE | SYDNEY CROMWELL It’s the most wonderful time of the year. While the weather is still pretty warm as I’m writing this, the Christmas songs creeping onto my radio and my ever-growing gift list are getting me in the holiday spirit. In this month’s issue, meet the man behind the Santa suit in Trussville’s Christmas parade, along with a group of residents who find community in square dancing. If you’re experiencing Christmas overload, our other features this month include a local barbecue restaurant making a name for itself on the competition circuit and previews of the basketball season for our high school teams. Whether you’re staying in town or traveling for the holiday season, may your days be merry and bright.
Incoming Mayor Buddy Choat, right, and outgoing Mayor Gene Melton shake hands Nov. 6 at the appreciation reception for outgoing Mayor Melton on his last official day in office. Photo by Ron Burkett.
Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (14) Alabama Hospice Care of Birmingham (25) Alabama Orthopaedic Surgeons (5) Alabama Outdoors (18) Anthony McPherson Keller Williams (12) ARC Realty (32) Bedzzz Express (3) Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club (15) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (9) Cahaba Cycles (28) Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church (9) Children’s of Alabama (26) Cindy Stuman - Allstate (6) Closets by Design (21) Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare (8) First Community Mortgage (15) Geico (2) Great Clips of Trussville (7) Guide Insurance Agency (25) Jimmie Hale Mission (24)
JJ Eyes (2) Katie Boswell - Keller Williams Realty (24) Keystone Consulting & Design, LLC (7) Kirkwood by the River (27) Lee Marlow, RealtySouth (28) MDVIP (8) Neuralife (17) Mountain Brook Art Association (22) Orthodontics East (13) Phoenix Builders (27) Pies and Pints (19) RealtySouth Marketing (31) Rick Brown & Associates (17) SmartFit 24/7 (22) Solutions Weight Loss (15) Spotless, LLC (6) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (12) Susie Gunter, Realty South (14) The Maids (1, 26) Trussville Gas and Water (20) Virginia Samford Theatre (30) Vulcan Tire & Automotive (13) Weigh To Wellness (5)
Publishers: Dan Starnes Scott Buttram General Manager: Matthew Allen Managing Editor: Sydney Cromwell Design Editor: Kristin Williams Director of Photography: Sarah Finnegan Page Designer: Cameron Tipton Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Kyle Parmley Chris Megginson Megan Miller Rick Watson Saige Leopard Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison Gail King Eric Clements Contributing Photographer: Ron Burkett
For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: The Cahaba Sun PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@ starnespublishing.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC Legals: The Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or
use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Cahaba Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/ photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
Please recycle this paper.
6
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Seniors
SQUARE OFF Senior dance group gathers for exercise, socializing and prayer
By CHRIS MEGGINSON
Members of the T-Squares dance during a regular meeting. Photos by Ron Burkett.
Whether it’s a do-si-do or promenade, Trussville area seniors are up and moving every week, and even taking their moves on the road at times. A group of about 60 seniors form the Trussville Square Dance Club known as the T-Squares, which meets every Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Trussville Senior Activity Center on Cherokee Drive. The two-hour dance time is social meets aerobics meets prayer group for these seniors, ages 55 and older, who are known to not only spend the two hours a week dancing, but socializing and praying together. Each week’s meeting includes at least four square-dancing tips, some line dancing and
DECEMBER 2016 occasionally some round dancing. When the two hours are up, it’s not uncommon to see members go together to watch a movie, eat a meal or plan an upcoming trip or party. “It’s good exercise and some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. They just are salt-of-the-earth people,” said Jim Choate, T-Squares president. “They say square dancing is friendship set to music, and it really is … You develop friendships, and you become just like family.” Formed in 2008, the group is not unique to central Alabama but its design is — meeting every week and being exclusive to senior citizens. The club not only draws from the Trussville area, but across the Birmingham metro area. Ray Myers, possibly the club’s oldest member at nearly 89, lives in Hoover and has been square dancing since living in Texas in the early 1960s. He has been a member of more than a half dozen square dance clubs in Birmingham since the 1980s. “It’s my aerobics. It’s just like taking any different aerobic classes. It keeps you going. If you’re smart, you stay active,” Myers said. “One thing about that club is it meets in the afternoon, and you don’t have to dress up for it. You don’t come like a bum, but you don’t wear the western stuff.” Choate said he believes the club’s midday, informal style is one reason why he’s seen the club grow from 16 people and two squares when the club began to now up to 16 squares on some weeks. Each square requires four couples. Another reason for the growth is square dancing is fun and fairly easy to learn, he said. “The first time I saw it, I said, ‘Man, that looks like fun.’ I never had dancing lessons,” Choate said, who was introduced to square dancing in 1965. “You don’t even have to know how to dance. If you are mobile and you can listen to the caller, he will tell you everything to do. There’s seven more people in the square that’s going to help you, if you
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
7
Members of the Trussville T-Squares meet every week to enjoy square dancing and each other’s company.
need some help.” Square dance lessons are required ,though, to avoid breaking down the squares during the club’s dances. Twelve-week lessons are offered at the Wheels Around club in Fultondale. That’s actually where club member Donna Bush and her fiancé, Ed Nesmith, had their first date. Prior to her lesson, Bush, 61, first learned about T-Squares while visiting the Senior Center. “I just happened to be invited to go to the Senior Center and saw this group over there. They always seemed to be laughing and cutting up … Once they met me, they treated me like they’d known me all my life. I wanted to be a part of it immediately,” Bush said. “I hated when I became a senior. I didn’t like getting older, but I like being a senior now, and being able to share that with others.” While the club members’ ages may range from late 50s to late 80s, members say it’s hard to know how old other members are.
“We’re just about all the same age,” Myers said, who would like to see more single men join the club to give dance options for the single women in the group. “They just blow me away with their age,” Bush said. “They are so keen, and they don’t seem their age there. I’m hoping that’s the way we’ll turn out, that as we get older and older we’ll still be keen or as young-looking as they are.” The club hosts a potluck luncheon at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month, where it invites and honors two local firefighters and two law enforcement officers. In addition to its weekly meetings, T-Squares occasionally hosts activities at the Pell City Veterans Home and Fair Haven Retirement Community, as well as hosting its annual Dance for a Cure fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, which raises an average of $2,000 per year. For more information, contact Jim Choate at 948-7360 or jim_patchoate@bellsouth.net.
8
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
Trussville-area
CAHABASUN.COM
75
Business Happenings
OB/GYN Associates of Alabama has opened a new clinic at 3536 Vann Road. They are accepting patients from 8:30 to noon on Mondays. 271-1600, obgynal.com
3
Old Acto n Rd
Rd ing ville Spr
Rd
Express Oil Change, 425 Main St., is celebrating its 19th anniversary in Trussville this month. 655-9690, expressoil.com
py
Hap
Rd llow o H
le
Anniversaries 5
y Pkw
4
vil alk Ch
Serendipity Boutique has opened at 418 Main St. This is the second location for the boutique, with its first being in Cahaba Heights. The boutique carries women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. 970-2398, shopserendipityboutique.com
2
Brik Realty, 192 Main St., has hired Jennifer Davis as a Realtor. 206-4333, brikrealty.com
ot rfo Dee
Casa Fiesta is now open at 5084 Pinnacle Square, Suite 112. casafiestamexican.com
1
Hirings and Promotions
Old
Now Open
ter ws e r B
Rd
2
4 11
5
59 3 1
wn to ns
Rd
r Rope
rk Pa
e
e Qu
Rd e Av
411
If you’re a brick-and-mortar business in the Trussville area and want to share your event with the community, let us know. Email matthew@starnespublishing.com.
459
20 78
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
9
CHAMBER Speaker McCutcheon to address Trussville chamber members By CHRIS MEGGINSON Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, will be the featured speaker at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Dec. 15 at the Trussville Civic Center. The luncheon, sponsored by Brumlow Legal Group, is at 11:30 a.m. Raised in rural Toney, McCutcheon is a former farmer and retired law enforcement officer. He retired as a homicide investigator and member of the negotiations team with the city of Huntsville before being elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2006. He was re-elected by House District 25 (Limestone and Madison counties) twice and chaired the House Rules Committee. He also serves as the chairman of the Permanent Joint Transportation Committee. On Aug. 15, he was appointed p=speaker of the House after Rep.
Mike Hubbard was convicted on ethics charges and removed from office. McCutcheon is only the fourth Republican to sit in the speaker chair. Trussville is one of numerous cities McCutcheon is visiting during his first quarter as speaker and said he looks forward to being in Trussville. “One of the objectives is to, of course, to be in the House members’ districts and to be able to share a little bit about what we’re trying to do in the House. In light of all of the issues we’ve had in Montgomery, I think it’s important to see the House members working together and hear from the speaker some of the things that are important to him,” McCutcheon said. Those items of importance include the state’s corrections issue, which could lead to a special session this winter, improving infrastructure and transportation and discussing the need for a budget reform joint commission between the House and
Senate to address the general fund. Each month, chamber luncheons begin with a 30-minute network development time during which members and guests can network and exchange business cards with the estimated 80 to 100 expected to attend. Lunch is served at noon, followed by the recognition of the Custom Service Award winners and speaker. Door prizes will also be given away. To register, visit TrussvilleChamber.com or contact June Mathews at 655-7535 or june.mathews@trussvillechamber.com. Cost is $17 (cash or check) or $17.34 if paying by credit or debit card (2 percent processing fee). Online registration is closed at midnight, Dec. 12, but the chamber office will accept registration by phone until noon, Dec. 13. All nonmembers must pay in advance. The Trussville Civic Center is at 5381 Trussville-Clay Road.
McCutcheon
10
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Barbecue
CHAMPIONS Barbecue Stop doing award-winning barbecue the way they always have
A
By SAIGE LEOPARD lthough the building that Barbecue Stop in Clay calls home is tiny with only a few tables inside, its owners have lived a big life in the barbecue competition world outside of its walls. Cliff and Debbie Mortimer opened the restaurant in 2013. The front window boasts half a dozen barbecue contest trophies from places across the nation including Reno, Chicago, New York, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan. But even those displayed awards are just a fraction from an impressive collection, numbering past 250. The Mortimers previously lived in Youngstown, Ohio, where they opened Armadillo’s Barbecue in 1993 and operated it until 2012. Armadillo’s proved itself a winner. Its competition-style ribs won the most outstanding ribs category seven years straight at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The Mortimers competed in about 17 cook-offs a year where prize money can be more than $2,500. Cliff Mortimer has competed in about 300 competitions through the years, and won quite a few of them. About 80 percent of the time, his wins have come from the best ribs category. “We mainly did ribs and sauce competitions at festivals,” Cliff Mortimer said. “They have really good rib festivals at the places we traveled to, usually in the Northeast.” He served as past president of the National Barbecue Cookers Association, or NBCA, and has competed under different names, too, including Texas Outlaw BBQ and Texas Thunder BBQ, based out of Kentucky and Texas. “These are friends of mine that are top-dog cooks who have been in the business longer than me,” Cliff Mortimer said. What he said he loves most about competitions is bringing the crowd. The events are usually in summer with live entertainment. Along with the beer and soda the contests offered, the festivals would draw about 500,000 or more people. He said he also especially enjoyed the people’s
The recipe for barbecue at the Barbecue Stop is almost identical to what owner Cliff Mortimer takes to competitions around the U.S. Photos by Ron Burkett.
choice division of the cook-off. “I’ve eaten a lot of bad barbecue being on the road,” Cliff Mortimer said. “It’s not all about your team winning. The best thing is that we’re selling this food in our booth to thousands of people, and they give great feedback. We would have the longest lines. People talk ... about barbecue, that is.” The Mortimers later moved to Atlanta and then, finally,
to Clay. But one thing has remained the same: their method for competition-style barbecue that has been perfected for taste, texture and tenderness. Working with a smaller menu at Barbecue Stop, they serve family specials, sandwiches, whole butts, salads, burgers, ribs, wings, kid’s meals and desserts, including banana pudding and chocolate cookie pudding. Barbecue Stop is mostly a carryout restaurant, but it also
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
11 Barbecue Stop employees Brooke Hopwood, Brooke Park, Lee Whitlock, Tommy Whitlock and owner Cliff Mortimer pose with some of Mortimer’s most prized trophies from barbecue competition.
caters and crafts six sauces from scratch, along with everything else on the menu. It does barbecue the way the Mortimers do it at the cook-offs: smoking pork butts for 14 hours that have the beloved “smoke ring” and fall apart with one look. The restaurant’s most popular sauces are Southern Peach and Carolina, for those who like a tangy, vinegar-style sauce. Cliff Mortimer also put a traditional Alabama white sauce on the menu a year ago that is often requested. The secret to great barbecue is in the details, he said. “One thing I’ve learned is you have to put the money behind the product,” Cliff Mortimer said. “You start out with top-notch produces and reliable equipment. Don’t be afraid to spend a little money.” Popular with the local ClayChalkville students for its pork fries, now dubbed “Cougar fries” — or fries with pork and cheese on top — Barbecue Stop partners with the local schools for
fundraisers throughout the year. Since he has cut back to about two or three cook-offs each year, with their most recent win being Best Ribs at Wausau Balloon and Rib Fest in Wisconsin last year, Cliff Mortimer works at the restaurant every day now, cooking and maintaining each aspect of the business to keep it thriving. His goals include growing the restaurant and the careers of the 15 employees he has working there. Birmingham may even have a large barbecue festival in its future, if the Mortimers have anything to do with it. “We might attract about 35,000 people if we did it right,” Cliff Mortimer said. Other plans include the possibility of bottling and selling its sauces in supermarkets, he said. Barbecue Stop is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, and is at 6633 Old Springville Road. For more information, call 681-5575 or go to its Facebook page at Barbecue Stop.
Ribs on the grill at the Barbecue Stop.
Accepting New Patients Dr. Danika Hickman is board certified in family medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School. Dr. Hickman completed her residency at the Medical Center East (now St. Vincent’s East) Family Practice Residency Program. She sees patients from adolescents through seniors.
For an appointment, call (205) 661-0650. 3536 Vann Road (green-roofed building) Birmingham, AL 35235 stvprimarycare.com/trussville
Dr. Danika Hickman
14
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Family business Carroll Pharmacy serving community Deana Carroll, Meagan Carroll Reynolds and Greg Carroll. Photo by Ron Burkett.
By CHRIS MEGGINSON From their mission statement to the customer reviews, one word that consistently describes Carroll Pharmacy in Clay and Trussville is caring. Pharmacists Greg Carroll, Deana Carroll and Meagan Carroll Reynolds lead the family-owned and operated business. They take pride in continuing the core values they learned from their parents’ independently owned businesses: keeping God first, hard work, service and loving people. “Taking care of people, serving the public and giving back to a community that serves you is what we like doing,” said Deana Carroll, whose father owned a service station in Wetumpka. Greg Carroll grew up in a restaurant family, but learned in college that the health care field was where he was supposed to be. Carroll Pharmacy serves its customers in a variety of ways. In addition to filling traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions, the family of pharmacists is one of the few independent pharmacies in central Alabama providing prescription compounding for personalized, nutritional and hormone counseling and community education. “We provide an option that otherwise wouldn’t be available if we weren’t here,”
Greg Carroll said. “I like to think of us compounding pharmacists as problem solvers for our physicians and patients.” Part of that problem-solving approach also includes the stores’ inclusion of essential oils and other recommendations of holistic remedies. The location also offers synchronized refills, online refills, prescription delivery and drive-through service. That personal service is why the Carrolls expanded from their Clay location,
established in 1995, to Trussville in 2010. Greg Carroll grew up on Meadow Lane down the street from Don and Betty Haisten, who owned Haisten Rexall Drugs on North Chalkville Road since 1979. He considers Don Haisten a mentor through his early career as a pharmacist. That is why he chose to open his first store 21 years ago in neighboring Clay, to avoid competing with his friend in Trussville. When Haisten Rexall Drugs closed in the mid-2000s, the
Carrolls began praying about filling the void the long-standing business left in downtown Trussville. Since then, the store’s gift shop has grown from a small number of collectibles to a boutique offering clothing and jewelry for women, men and children, including 10 to 15 variations of Hewitt-Trussville Husky shirts during the fall season. Christmas ornaments and other décor are in stock this month. “It gave some options for women who come in our store while they wait on their prescriptions. They enjoy it,” Greg Carroll said. “I can tell by the sales it’s been a win-win for them, and it’s helped generate some income that stays local in the community that might otherwise go outside the community or mail order.” The move to Trussville also allowed Carroll Pharmacy to expand its brand and community involvement. One way is through the addition of its Caring Bear mascot at store and citywide events. Another is the annual Elf Party through a partnership with Elf Magic, which provides elves for adoption, elf juice and snacks and photo opportunities with Santa, the elves and Caring Bear. This year’s Elf Parties will be Nov. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Trussville and Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clay store (6767 Old Springville Road).
DECEMBER 2016
holiday gift guide
CAHABA SUN
15
CAHABASUN.COM
For the
BUSY HOMEOWNER The Maids gift certificate Any amount Give friends or family the gift of a clean home, worry-free. The Maids 871-9338 maids.com
For the
POWER NAPPER Malouf Shredded Gel Dough™ Pillow Sizes and prices vary Shredded Gel Dough™ clusters create a cooler, softer memory foam pillow that is breathable and moldable. Bedzzz Express bedzzzexpress.com
For the
COLD NATURED True Grit Frosty Tipped Pullover $145 Throw on an extra cozy layer when cooler weather hits with True Grit pullovers at Alabama Outdoors. Alabama Outdoors 4710 Frank St., Suite 116 655-6025
For the
GIFTED GRILLER Big Green Egg grill $773.10 The perfect tool fire up a barbecue all year long. Argo Power Equipment 750 U.S. 11, Suite 01 467-3300
16
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
COVER STORY: Trussville resident Creed Stone spreads holiday cheer in a recognizable red suit
Santa Claus HERE COMES
By MEGAN MILLER
F
rom a fun holiday activity for his children to a Trussville Yuletide tradition, Creed Stone has more than 30 years of experience playing everyone’s favorite man in the red suit. Stone began playing Santa on his son’s first Christmas, the Christmas of 1984. He built a platform in his front yard with lights and rocking chairs, and although a few friends and neighbors stopped by the first night, by the end of the week his street was full of traffic jams of people trying to bring their Christmas wishes to St. Nick. After playing Santa at his home for a few years, Stone transitioned into doing cookies or breakfast with Santa events and photography sessions, which has now transformed into the holy grail of holiday cheer: getting to play Santa in a Christmas parade. This will be Stone’s third time appearing in the annual Trussville Christmas parade, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. As Santa, Stone sits atop a fire truck, waving to children, friends and family, and tossing candy to parade-goers. Although this is the bulk of his job on that particular day, Stone said his favorite part of the parade, or any event for that matter, is the one-on-one
interactions with the children. “I like spending time with the kids one-on-one and getting to know them,” Stone said. “It’s a lot of fun.” Stone has been playing Santa for so long that in order to keep up with all of the exchanges he has with the children, he started keeping a notebook to record the moments that make him laugh or touch his heart. “The first time I went to the Boys and Girls Club in Hueytown, about 260 kids came to see me,” Stone said. “I noticed two little girls in line holding hands, and you could tell by the way they were dressed they came from different backgrounds, different socioeconomic settings. I asked the first girl what she wanted for Christmas, and she said she didn’t want anything. I said, ‘Surely you can think of something you want from Santa.’ She shook her head and said, ‘I don’t want anything from Santa, but that’s my friend down there, and I want you to bring her anything she wants.’” Stone also recalls visiting the hospital when his mother-in-law had open-heart surgery, and he showed up after work wearing a green Carhartt jacket and a red cap. His wife had asked him to go out to the car to get something, and once in the elevator Stone remembers a 6-year-old girl who stood in front of him and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Creed Stone may be best known in Trussville as Santa in the annual Christmas parade. Photo by Ron Burkett.
Stone said the girl proceeded to tell him everything she wanted for Christmas. “The mom said, ‘You don’t know that man,’ and the little girl said, ‘I do, too!’ When her mother turned around she realized why her daughter was talking to me. I got the hint she was a single parent so when they got off the elevator I gave her a hug, and it made her night.” Stone said the one thing people should know about being Santa is that parents shouldn’t try to dissuade their children from talking to him when they see him in public. “Parents get so upset when kids act up, and they want to come see me, but it’s perfectly all right,” Stone said. “There’s an age group that doesn’t want anything to do with me, so I tell them not to get upset or apologize.” In addition to attending events as Santa and doing photography sessions, Stone also does home visits for families that request Santa at their Christmas parties. “I get to hand out presents and read the Christmas story,” Stone said. “That means a lot.” Outside of playing Santa, Stone enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible, as well as hunting, fishing, traveling and other outdoor activities. Stone has been married for 35 years and has two sons, ages 31 and 40.
18
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
COMMUNITY Gifts of Art to be held at Aldridge Gardens
“Snow White: The Queen’s Fair Daughter” was one of ACTA’s recent performances. Photo courtesy of ACTA Theatre.
ACTA begins youth acting classes Starting January 2017, ACTA Theatre in Trussville will offer acting classes for grades 3-12. Classes will be on Tuesdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Classes will be taught by Lucy Lunsford and local guest instructors. Participants will learn how to audition, line delivery, set and costume
design, theater lingo and more, along with group games and challenges. The cost for the classes will be $80 per month / $20 per lesson. To register, go to actatheater.com to download a registration form or call 6553902 for more information. – Submitted by ACTA Theatre.
Ever since Aldridge Gardens opened to the public in 2002, it has been serving the community through its motto: Nature and Art in Balance. Over 80,000 people come to the gardens every year. They come to walk the path around the lake; to admire the enchanting bronze sculptures and installations throughout the gardens; to educate themselves through workshops led by experts in the fields of horticulture, culinary arts, fine arts, wildlife and more. Hydrangea and camellia blooms draw people from all over the country. Children come for hands-on field trips and summer camps. Families come to celebrate reunions and weddings, or simply to enjoy picnics. Eagle Scouts contribute with projects that enhance the dynamic experience of the gardens. Annual events like Whispers from the Past celebrate Native American culture and contributions, while Taste of Hoover highlights the variety of culinary styles found throughout the city. Plant sales and
horticultural workshops bring the beauty of native plants to Hoover residents. Aldridge Gardens brings artists, ranging from local to international fame, to Hoover. The Art in the Gardens show is an anticipated annual event. In the indoor gallery, artwork can always be found, open to the public, for sale, by different area artists. The largest collection of Frank Fleming sculptures is also available to see and enjoy year round in the gallery. This Dec. 8 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Aldridge Gardens will host Gifts of Art, the first event of its kind at the gardens. Nine Alabama artists were hand-selected by the Art and Sculpture Committee. With pottery, woodwork, glass, iron, jewelry and painting, there is something for everyone. Sizes and price points are just right for the holiday season. We welcome you to come by during your morning errands, your lunch break, or enjoy refreshments after 5p.m. Gifts of Art hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 8 only.
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
19
Homewood Girl Scout Daisies participate in an investiture ceremony. Photo courtesy of Hannah Wallace.
Girl Scouts Founder’s Day event reconnects former area Scouts Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama hosted a Founder’s Day event to reconnect former Girl Scouts and friends at Camp Coleman in Trussville on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. The council hosted walking tours of the camp, conducted a traditional flag ceremony, displayed local Girl Scout memorabilia and served refreshments. Founder’s Day celebrations were also held at Kanawahala Program Center in Chelsea, Camp Trico in Guntersville, the Decatur Girl Scout Little House and Camp Cottaquilla in Anniston. Girl Scouts of North-Central America has over 13,000 members — 9,500 girls and 4,000 adults in 36 counties in the state of Alabama who believe girls can change the
world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year since we’ve made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents. Girl Scouts continue the mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way partner. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit girlscoutsnca. org or call 800-734-4541. – Submitted by Hannah Wallace.
Merged churches move back to Deerfoot Back in 2014, Deerfoot Community Bible Church and Springville Road Community Church merged to form a new church: Grace Community Church @ Deerfoot. During the past two years, the new church has met at the Springville Road campus, while extensive renovations began at the 18,000-square-foot Deerfoot campus. In addition to the renovation of the existing structure, work has begun on a new 15,000square-foot two-story children’s center, located behind the main structure. In addition to both churches’ close relationship in doctrinal beliefs, DCBC’s pastor, George Maronge, Jr., and SRCC’s pastor, Thad Blount, have had a close relationship stretching back to their days at the Southeastern Bible College, where Pastor Blount was
a student and Pastor Maronge was a member of the faculty in the department of pastoral ministires. In the new merged church, Paster Blount, 52, serves as senior pastor and Pastor Maronge, 68, serves as associate pastor. The new congregation numbers close to 300 and offers ministry to all ages, from newborns to shut-ins. While the new facilities have brought room to grow, the main purpose of the church will remain knowing Christ and making Christ known. The first Sunday service back at 6020 Deerfoot Parkway was Nov. 27, at 10:30 a.m. For more information, see their webpage at gccdeerfoot.com. – Submitted by George Maronge.
20
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
SCHOOL HOUSE Former Mayor Gene Melton at his surprise reception at HewittTrussville Stadium. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
Principal Joy Tyner with her nephew, Andrew Tyner, the starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
Special guest visits Cahaba Elementary Major League Baseball player Andrew Tyner was a recent special guest at Cahaba Elementary. Tyner is the starting pitcher for the Oakland A’s and Principal Joy Tyner’s nephew. Andrew Tyner was invited to speak
with the students for Red Ribbon Week on “Aim High” (career) day. He talked with the students about hard work and not giving up on what they want to do in life. – Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
TCS celebrates 20 years with Mayor Melton On Oct. 14, the Trussville City Schools superintendent, Board of Education members, Trussville City Council members (past and present), Foundation members, family and friends of former Mayor Gene Melton surprised him with a reception in the Husky Room of Hewitt-Trussville Stadium, in honor of his 20 years of service as the mayor
of Trussville. At the end of the first quarter, Melton was honored on the 50-yard line with a framed #50 HT Jersey (his football number when he played for Hewitt High School). Several of Melton’s teammates joined him on the field for the celebration. – Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
21
Trussville music teachers were honored at the October Board of Education meeting. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
Governor recognizes music teachers At the Oct. 24 board meeting, the music education teachers of Trussville City Schools were honored with a proclamation from Gov. Robert Bentley recognizing the city of Trussville as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. The award is from the NAMM Foundation. The proclamation further commended the music educators as “truly committed to educating and helping our young people.” Across the nation, 476 school districts were recognized for the honor, with only four of those recognized in Alabama: Albertville City Schools, Homewood City Schools, Hoover
City Schools and Trussville City Schools. Trussville City Schools is proud of the commitment of its music educators in Trussville and thanks them for their dedication and service to the students of Trussville. TCS music educators are: Chris Byars (Magnolia music), Kay Carter (HTMS choir), Brian Cocke (Paine music), Stephanie Ezell (HTHS band), Tina Fortenberry (Cahaba music), Allen Gillespie (HTHS choir), Corinth Lewis (HTMS band), Natalie Owens (Paine music), Brandon Peters (HTMS band) and Scott Waid (HTHS band). – Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
HTMS crowns homecoming court
Eighth-grade court. Photos courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
Seventh-grade court.
The 2016 homecoming court for Hewitt-Trussville Middle School included the eighth-grade court: Grace Gardner, Lizzy Freeman, Carlie Witcher, Londyn Johnson
and Olivia O’Neal; and the seventh-grade court: Alaya Robbins, Bella Sahagun, Megan Ho, Emma Puryear and Carly DeSimone. – Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
22
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
SPORTS Lane hitting the reset button with Indians By KYLE PARMLEY Cedric Lane is starting over at Pinson Valley. Even if he weren’t in his first year as the high school’s head boys basketball coach, he would still be pushing the reset button. The Indians graduated nine seniors off a team that won just three games in the 2015-2016 campaign, so a changing of the guard was coming either way. “It’s a great fit for me,” said Lane, a three-time state champion coach at Wenonah. “I get a chance to start something fresh. We get a chance to build.” That journey started in a big way in the season opener, as the Indians dropped 132 points on his former team, Jackson-Olin, on Nov. 8. Pinson Valley racked up 47 points in the first quarter and 84 through the half. In order for the team to build off that success, the on-court chemistry will need to be developed, as the majority of the collection of talent does not have extensive experience playing alongside one another. “Right now, we’re still working on our chemistry,” Lane said before the season. “We’re still trying to put some pieces together, because we’ve only got one back from varsity last year.” Despite any presumed challenges, Lane made one thing clear. “We expect to put a product on the floor that people can appreciate and a team you’ll have to respect,” he said.
The way he goes about reaching that goal is evident to his new group of student-athletes. “He always wants us to go hard,” said shooting guard Jerell Willie. “It’s very fast-paced,” freshman Colby Jones said. “We’re always pressing. He stresses us to go hard every play and every practice.” Lane singled out Jones as a player with the potential to win “Mr. Basketball,” a statewide award given to the best player in the state each year. Although a ninth-grader, Jones has impressed his coach with more than just basketball skills. “Colby is a special kid. I’ve coached several special kids. First of all, to make it to ninth grade and to have never made a B, that says a lot. Not to mention that he’s a really great basketball player,” Lane said. Jones also plays saxophone in the band and has solid basketball genetics. His brother, C.J., is a freshman at Arkansas, while his father, Chad, played at UAB in the late 1990s. How does he manage his time to be successful on and off the court? “It takes discipline,” Jones said. “You got to cut certain things out, like TV and the phone. You got to study.” Leadership will be the X-factor for Pinson Valley, according to Lane, and a young player like Jones will be needed to step into that role, as the Indians’ roster consists of primarily underclassmen.
Avoid the
Holiday
Bulge Membership Types 24/7 Gym Access
Unlimited Classes
or combine both for maximum results
Come try us out - your first workout is FREE Tanning | Personal Training | Cardio | Strength
FITNESS CENTER Conveniently located in The Argo Village Shopping Center
205.508.0339 | www.SmartFit247.com
Cedric Lane singled out Freshman Colby Jones as a player with the potential to win “Mr. Basketball” in his career. Photo courtesy of Danny Joiner.
“Our underclassmen are our strength,” Lane said. “We may only have one or two seniors start this year. That’s a good problem to have.”
24
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Huskies expecting competitive rebuilding year By KYLE PARMLEY Marcus Thomas said he thinks this season is a rebuilding one for his Hewitt-Trussville boys basketball team. With that being said, he still has every inclination that the Huskies will put a competitive product on the floor each night. “They’re working hard, and they’re learning a lot,” Thomas said, entering his second season as head coach and having the interim tag removed from his title. “We are young, and we lost five seniors last year.” Gone are the likes of Josh Monski, Matt Hicks, Glenn Horsley, Grant Page and William Kirk, meaning the returners will see an increase in responsibility. Damon Harper led the Huskies in scoring last season and will likely do so again. He played primarily shooting guard last year, but he will be asked to slide over to the point occasionally this year. “Damon’s going to have more
ball-handling responsibilities this year,” Thomas said. “It’s really his natural position, but he scores the ball so well at times, you kind of want to take those responsibilities off of him.” Harrison Stanley has been a big contributor for Hewitt-Trussville over the last two years, and he will slide back to the small forward position after playing in the post last season. He is a player who provides length and shooting ability to stretch the defense. Other players to look out for include Sam Frazier and Anthony Temple at the point guard position, along with TJ Alexander, Jordan Eaton, Patrick Bishop, Bryant Howell and Malachi Moore. Although just a freshman, Moore has impressed Thomas and could garner minutes for the Huskies. One aspect of the team that has stuck out to Thomas is the group’s desire to be around each other off the court. While all teams search for chemistry on the court, the Huskies have formed a bond outside of school that will help expedite
that process on the hardwood. “This year’s group does so many things together,” Thomas said. “I can’t remember a team that has done more bonding activities than this group. One day they may bowl, the next day they’re all hanging out at each other’s home.” Hewitt-Trussville was hard-pressed to make it past the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament last year, as two of the state’s best teams — Spain Park and Mountain Brook — clung to the two regional qualifier spots. This year, the Huskies are in Area 7 with Gadsden City, Grissom and Huntsville. Thomas doesn’t see the road to the postseason becoming any easier. “You just switch from one side to the other,” he said. “Yes, the league was loaded last year. But seeing the group that’s in our area this year, I don’t see that big of a drop off.” Not that he necessarily worries about those things too often. “We just got to come and play,” Thomas concluded.
Damon Harper led the Huskies in scoring last year and will play more point guard this season. Photo by Ron Burkett.
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
25
Lady Huskies embrace high expectations By KYLE PARMLEY It’s safe to say Tonya Hunter has raised the bar significantly for the Hewitt-Trussville High School girls basketball program. Now in her third year as head coach, the conversations about the postseason are much different than when Hunter started. “It’s kind of funny. When we first got here, I challenged [the girls] to tell me how you get to the Final Four, to tell me how to do it, and they couldn’t,” Hunter said. “If you ask them now, they can map out every single moment of the playoffs.” The Lady Huskies reached the Northeast Regional for just the second time in school history last season, and nearly reached the Final Four in Birmingham. Hewitt-Trussville led Buckhorn at the half, but a rough second half allowed Buckhorn to pull away and win the regional final. “They experienced that last year, and they are so hungry for it,” Hunter said. “They want it right now, but you can’t win a state championship right now. You can’t win it tomorrow.” “We’ve just got to get better, bring everybody along better, and try to play our best at the end of the year,” she said. Hunter knows what she’s getting from the
Bailey Berry's shooting ability will be an important asset to the Lady Huskies. Photo courtesy of Danny Joiner.
five girls who will likely make up the starting lineup, as all return as contributors from a year ago. Point guard Morgan Kirk is entering her third year on the varsity team and is still just a sophomore. “She’s picking it up. She’s started speaking like me. She’s doing stuff; she’s
correcting people; she’s getting people in the right spots. I’m excited for her this year,” Hunter said. London Coleman entered the fray last year for the Lady Huskies and instantly turned into one of the team’s best all-around players. Her versatility and ability to score in
multiple ways gives Hunter some flexibility. She said she is comfortable playing Coleman at any position on the floor. “She’s that type of kid where we can put her in any spot, and she’s going to be successful, and she’s going to make her teammates be successful,” Hunter said. Bailey Berry and Christina Till give Hewitt-Trussville a pair of weapons to really stretch a defense, as both are proficient outside shooters. Berry has started drawing interest from colleges due to her skill set, but Hunter is not content with just shooting the long-range shot. “We don’t try to settle for the [three-point shot],” she said. “We want them to be players. I don’t want to stick them in the corner and allow them not to be players. Bailey’s gotten a whole lot better on her ballhandling, too.” Mallory Posey will get the majority of the minutes in the post for Hewitt-Trussville and brings a great deal of experience to the table. Beyond those five, new faces will lead the way. Leah Harrison and Erica Jones are two freshmen expected to contribute, with Harrison backing up Kirk and Coleman in the backcourt and Jones spelling Posey down low. Hayden Neugent and Whitney Winchester are both expected to chip in as well.
26
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Cougars returning bulk of roster By KYLE PARMLEY Year 3 feels more like Year 2 for ClayChalkville High School head boys basketball coach Jeremy Monceaux. After his first year on the job in the 20142015 season, Monceaux’s Cougars graduated nine seniors, nearly all of his contributing players on the varsity team. “It was different because your second year felt like your first year,” he said. “Obviously, we were very blessed that first year to be very talented, and a lot of them are still playing [in college].” He was essentially forced to start over last fall. “We took our lumps last year because of that. We finished the season 11-15 last year. A lot of people are surprised when they hear that, because we won nine of our last 12 games,” Monceaux said. His young team struggled out of the gates last year with an almost entirely different team, but by the end of the season, was playing well enough to take eventual Class 6A semifinalist Huffman to the wire in the Class
6A Northeast Sub-Regional. “It took them awhile to get going,” Monceaux said. “From a maturity standpoint, we lost games last year by the way you should lose games when you’re young. We were blown out only twice.” Much of that team is returning this fall, and Monceaux is counting on a deep roster to allow the Cougars the opportunity to put together a successful campaign. “I feel really good about our senior class and what they can do,” he said. “We don’t have any superstars, but we do have a bunch of hard-nosed kids. Being able to put seven, eight, nine, 10 guys out there that can contribute and do what we do to help us be successful will be very helpful.” What the Cougars do will remain consistent, regardless of the roster, the opponent, or any other circumstances. “Hopefully, our identity every year that I’m here is that we’re going to guard people,” Monceaux said. “I want when people come in to play us, for us to make it hard for them for 32 minutes in the game to score. We struggled scoring last year big
Jeremy Monceaux coaches Jonathan Billingsley on opening night, Nov. 8. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
time, but because we played defense and that was the mainstay of what we do, we were in every game.” He also guessed he spends about 70 percent of each practice focused on the defensive side of the floor.
As far as the on-court talent goes, ClayChalkville returns a pair of seniors who will shoulder much of the load: point guard Jalen Jordan and forward Anthony Holmes. “[Jalen] works his tail off every day, and he does exactly what I tell him to do, but he’s not a verbal guy,” Monceaux said. “Anthony Holmes is probably our leader from a standpoint of that’s who they seem to follow. When he holds people accountable, they listen.” Sophomore guard Eddie Smith and Keithan Parker are a pair of players who will also contribute greatly to the Cougars’ attack. Smith is the youngest player on the roster, the only 10th-grader among 14 juniors and seniors. Other role players Clay-Chalkville is counting on to step up are Otis Black, Caleb Toney and Brandon Harper. All three have come through the freshman and junior varsity programs, and now look to contribute at the varsity level. “They are three guys that really have to mature quickly, learn their role, be OK with their role, and on the defensive end, be able to stand up for us and be really good,” Monceaux said.
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
27
Lady Cougars feature balanced roster this season By KYLE PARMLEY Despite competing with an eight-player rotation for the latter half of the 2015-2016 season, the Clay-Chalkville High School girls basketball team made up for what it lacked in depth with heart and effort. The Lady Cougars stood up to and battled a more-talented Shades Valley team toe-to-toe in the Class 6A Northeast Sub-Regional, falling just short in the final minutes. “I think the kids kind of took that as a positive thing and will learn from it,” said head coach Justin Haynie before the 2016-2017 season began. “They definitely don’t want to be satisfied with that same result. They want to get past that. I think they have the confidence that they can do it.” For the cast of players returning this year, the lessons learned from that game, and from last season as a whole, morph into experience. The Lady Cougars boast a pair of seniors who already have decided on their college futures. Point guard Raven Omar accepted Mike Morris’ offer to play basketball at Samford University, while forward Alex Johnson will head to Alabama A&M to continue her academic and athletic ventures. “Both these kids are pretty happy with what they got. I’m happy that they’re signing early,” Haynie said. Omar is a diminutive point guard in stature only. Her ability to drive into the lane and convert around the basket rivals players much taller than her at times. She appears to be the emotional leader of the group, but she missed the first several days of practice due to Clay-Chalkville’s volleyball postseason run. This allowed some other players
to step into that void. “It’s given the other kids a little bit of an opportunity to have to step up,” Haynie remarked. “Somebody had to do it. And they have. We have five seniors this year, and they’ve done a really good job with it.” Johnson also has begun to fill the shoes required of a senior, and Haynie said, “her personality’s coming out a little more,” on and off the court. On the court, Johnson has improved immensely over the last two years, rising from a seldom-used role player who struggled in the post to a player the Lady Cougars have ultimate confidence in dumping the ball to in the paint to get much-needed baskets. One player Clay-Chalkville will rely on is not even in high school, yet she already has varsity experience. Amiya Payne played last year as a seventh-grader and performed well in spurts as she adjusted to the high school game. She scored nine points in the season’s final game and is poised for a big season. “Last year, she was kind of shy about taking shots. Heck, she was 12 years old,” Haynie said. “You can tell a difference in her. She’s going to have to get a lot more shots up this year.” Haynie sees the potential for this year’s unit to shoot the ball much better than last year, as Payne’s shooting ability is combined with the likes of Darci Champion, Mekaila Hill, new backup point guard Kaley Johnson and Erica Lockhart, a transfer from Huffman. That offensive ability will give Haynie something he has not had in years past: diversity in the scoring department.
Alex Johnson has improved immensely and is now one of the Lady Cougars’ top players. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
“We’ve been kind of top-heavy in scoring,” he said. “I think this year, our leading scorer will change from night to night, which will help. It’s a good ingredient to have.”
28
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
OPINION My South By Rick Watson
Christmas questions Now the countdown can begin for Christmas at the Watson household. We’ve been clandestinely ordering presents for months. But on the Friday after Thanksgiving, we had a crew of kids playing in our backyard, so I took the opportunity to do a little reconnaissance work for the jolly fat guy. And what I found was that kids think about Christmas much the same way we did 60 years ago. Asking my great-niece Joy if she’d been good for Santa this year, she glanced uneasily at her older sister Daisy. The 3-year-old seemed to be mentally sorting through some of the events over the past year when Daisy bailed her out by reporting, “She’s been good.” That was excellent news, I said to the child, who was obviously relieved. When we discussed Christmas gifting with Jordan, my great-nephew who lives next door, he gave careful consideration to what gifts he’d like Jilda and me to get him. I’m sure in his mind he was clicking
off things he’d like along for months. That was a genius with the associated price tags. move on their part, because it gave families in rural areas of He’s very mindful of money and rarely asks us for anything the country a chance to help expensive. Santa shop for their children. “What about a new winter Those pages were “visual outfit?” Jilda suggested. He crack” for most kids. By the jumped all over that with, time Christmas rolled around, “No, my mom takes care of the pages were dog-eared and my clothing needs. I think you worn as thin as onionskin. guys and Santa should focus Our TV was black and on toys and games.” Good white in those days and I think answer, I thought. toy manufacturers believed Watson He’s almost 8 years old and that TV was a fad, and not a brilliant for his age, but I shook my head at media outlet where they should sink a sigthe way he framed his answer to our question. nificant portion of their advertising dollars. I might have thought that same thing when I I do remember advertisements for Slinkys was his age, but my answer would have been and View-Master slide views. These looked like binoculars, but you poked in a round a lot more direct. “I’d rather have toys.” In the 1950s, the Sears Christmas Wish cardboard disk with tiny color photographs Book hit our mailbox in the fall. They got it in cutout slots in the disk. You would point into the homes early enough to torture kids the View-Master toward the light and click
a lever, which advanced the pictures. Santa brought me one of those. These days, sales pitches inundate children’s programming on TV and fill their parent’s email inboxes with the latest and greatest in technology toys, games and other high-dollar offerings. Jilda and I don’t have kids, but we find ways to spend Christmas dollars on our nieces and nephews. We try to get them things they might enjoy but probably aren’t on their “A” list. We look for unique toys, books and games that will endure long after the Christmas lights are packed away for another year. I know the Christmas Wish Book is pretty much a thing of the past, but if it were the only way to reach children today, I’d bet they would enjoy it as much as we did when we were kids. Rick Watson is a columnist and author. His latest book, “Life Goes On,” is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email at rick@homefolkmedia.com.
TRUSSVILLE’S ONLY BIKE SHOP | 183 MAIN ST.
SANTA...
MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF THIS YEAR! WE’LL EVEN STORE IT ‘TIL CHRISTMAS...FOR FREE! Trek Precaliber 16 Boys’ Bike $229.99
Trek Precaliber 16 Girls’ Bike $229.99
Trek Precaliber 20 Boys’ Bike $299.99
Trek Precaliber 20 SS
Girls’ Bike $249.99
GROWTH SPURTS HAPPEN. WE CAN HELP. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR KIDS’ BIKE TRADE-UP PROGRAM OVER THE PHONE, ONLINE, OR IN-STORE.
4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS Cahaba Heights Oak Mountain
Homewood Trussville
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
Trussville
3245 Cahaba Manor Drive
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
767397
35173
3245 Cahaba Manor Drive
New
$334,900
767415
35173
5278 Drew Run
New
$384,900
767407
35173
115 Sunnybrook Lane
New
$149,400
767360
35173
114 Maple Avenue
New
$92,000
767325
35173
266 Hickory Valley Road
New
$369,900
767312
35173
7532 Happy Hollow Road
New
$224,900
767194
35173
6755 Charles Drive
New
$159,000
767070
35173
661 Oak Drive E
New
$244,780
766924
35173
4522 Rock Creek Drive
New
$149,900
766800 35173
601 Mermont Drive
New
$219,900
767301
35173
200 Maple Avenue
New
$116,900
766784
35173
222 Spring Street
New
$313,000
766780
35173
6554 Spring Street
New
$297,000
766777
35173
6550 Spring Street
New
$302,000
766726
35173
8543 Herring Lane
New
$389,900
766709
35173
2069 Enclave Drive
New
$195,360
766637
35173
8151 Willowbrook Terrace
New
$364,900
766631
35173
5479 Camellia Lane
New
$187,500
766570
35173
121 Lake Street
New
$300,000
766550
35173
5179 Missy Lane
New
$344,900
766491
35173
294 Dawns Way
New
$245,000
767275
35173
505 Rockridge Avenue
New
$234,900
766475
35173
3614 Buckeye Lane
New
$259,900
766381
35173
4145 Overlook Circle
New
$170,000
766370
35173
3469 Hampton Court
New
$240,000
766337
35173
7055 Roper Road
New
$389,900
766282
35173
1350 Overlook Drive
New
$274,900
766255
35173
8738 Highlands Drive
New
$239,900
766254
35173
6105 Clubhouse Drive
New
$449,900
766214
35173
102 Lynn Drive
New
$172,500
767248
35173
8762 Will Keith Road
New
$179,900
766206
35173
6126 Longmeadow Circle
New
$249,900
766188
35173
5860 Longview Lane
New
$312,885
766282
35173
1215 Overlook Drive
New
$274,900
766099
35173
3380 Cedarbrook Circle
New
$144,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Nov. 14. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
200 Maple Avenue
505 Rockridge Avenue
8762 Will Keith Road
29
30
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
CAHABASUN.COM
CALENDAR TRUSSVILLE EVENTS Dec. 1: Trussville Youth League Coach Education Classes. 6-8:30 p.m. Trussville Athletic Center. All coaches who work with a Trussville youth league team or use a Trussville ballfield must attend this training. Dec. 2-4, 9-11: “It’s a Wonderful Life.” ACTA Theatre. For more information, call 655-3902. Dec. 10: Christmas Parade. 3 p.m. The parade
Dec. 13: City Council Meeting. 6 p.m. Trussville City Hall.
Dec. 15: Zoning Adjustments Board Meeting. 7 p.m. Trussville City Hall.
Dec. 12: Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. 6 p.m. Trussville City Hall.
Dec. 13: Clay-Chalkville Choral Concert. 6-9:30 p.m. Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church.
Dec. 25: Christmas.
Dec. 13: Intro to Chess. 6 p.m. Join Coach Charles Smith for free introductory lessons. Contact kpdavis@bham.lib.al.us; 205-655-2022.
Dec. 15: Chamber Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Trussville Civic Center. $17 per person. Email june.mathews@trussvillechamber.com.
starts on Parkway Drive and ends at the mall with a tree lighting. Hosted by Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dec. 27: City Council Meeting. 6 p.m. Trussville City Hall.
TRUSSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS Nov. 30: HTHS Job Fair. HTHS small gymnasium.
Fair. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family nights from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Dec. 8: HTHS Christmas Band Concert. 5-9 p.m. HTHS Performing Arts Center.
Dec. 4: HTHS Leadership Retreat.
Dec. 6: HTMS Christmas Band Concert. 5-9 p.m. HTHS Performing Arts Center.
Dec. 10: ACT Testing. HTHS.
Dec. 5-9: Magnolia Elementary Winter Book
Dec. 12: HTHS and HTMS Choral Concert. 7-9
p.m. HTHS Auditorium. Dec. 20: Students dismiss at noon. Dec. 21-Jan. 2: Winter break. All schools closed.
DECEMBER 2016
CAHABA SUN
31
CAHABASUN.COM
HTHS ATHLETICS Nov. 30: Cheer Practice. 1:45-5 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 7: Cheer Practice. 1:45-5 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 12: Competition Cheer Practice. 2:304:30 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 26: Competition Cheer Practice. 2:304:30 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 2: Boys and Girls Basketball vs. Clay Chalkville High School.
Dec. 8: Boys Basketball at Mountain Brook.
Dec. 14: Cheer Practice. 1:45-5 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 27-28: Wrestling Match. Buford High School.
Dec. 16: Boys and Girls Basketball vs. Huntsville.
Dec. 27 & 29: Boys Basketball Brindle Mountain Tournament. Guntersville.
Dec. 18: Hewitt-Trussville Student Athletes Foundation Meeting. 3-5 p.m. Husky Room at Stadium.
Dec. 28-29: Girls Basketball and Prep Tournament.
Dec. 2-4: Wrestling Match. Harrison High School. Dec. 3: Magic City Invitational Indoor Track. Birmingham Crossplex. Dec. 5: Competition Cheer Practice. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium. Dec. 6: Boys and Girls Basketball at Gadsden City.
Dec. 9-10: Wrestling Match. Cleveland High School. Dec. 10: Holiday Invitational. Indoor Track. Birmingham Crossplex. Dec. 11: Cheer Competition. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Dec. 12: Girls Basketball vs. Oxford.
Dec. 19: Competition Cheer Practice. 2:304:30 p.m. Visitor’s locker room stadium.
Dec. 29-31: Boys Basketball Homewood Tournament.
AREA EVENTS Dec. 2-4 & 7-11: Holiday Spectacular 2016. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. Performances by the RMTC Conservatory Students along with local artists. Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. $19 and up. Visit redmountaintheatre.org.
Dec. 8: Live at the Lyric: The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show. 7 p.m. $27.50-$39.50. Visit lyricbham.com. Dec. 9-23: Alabama Theatre. Holiday Film Series. Visit alabamatheatre.com for showtimes.
Dec. 10-11: Birmingham Ballet: The Nutcracker. BJCC Concert Hall. $30-$48. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Visit birminghamballet.com. Dec. 28-29: St. Paul & The Broken Bones. 8
p.m. $25-$35. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve at the Alabama. 6 p.m. Ring in the new year with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. $18-$75. Visit alabamasymphony.org.
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54