Cahaba Sun July 2023

Now Open

ClosER .

A New, Full-Service ER Now Open in Trussville

When someone in your family needs emergency care, you want it fast. And now, you’ll get the same quality emergency care that is available at Grandview Medical Center in our new Freestanding Emergency Department in Trussville. From treatment for broken bones to care for life-threatening conditions, count on the dedicated team at our new location.

(Located off Highway 11 at The Park at Hamilton Place behind the Trussville Board of Education Building)

FSEDGrandviewHealth.com

• 9 exam rooms

• Fast Track rooms

• Imaging services include CT, X-ray and ultrasound

• Heliport on site

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

5542 Vanlerberghe Lane, Trussville

EDITOR’S NOTE | KYLE PARMLEY PHOTO OF THE MONTH

It’s so important to treat people the right way, no matter their position or perceived status.

First of all, it’s the rule that all of our parents taught us growing up: treat others how you want to be treated.

I don’t think I’m much different from anyone else, in that I hope to be treated with love, respect and appreciation each day. So, I strive to exhibit those three traits to the people I come across on a daily basis. But of course, I can always do better at that.

It is my belief that how you treat others is the defining point of your character. If you’re the best doctor, teacher or businessman in the world, yet you treat everyone like garbage, then what do you have? I would assert that you have not much of value, at all.

So, I encourage all of us to be that smiling face, give that encouraging word and enjoy the hot summer days. Thanks for reading!

Please Support Our Community Partners

Bedzzz Express (20)

Birmingham Orthodontics (1)

Bromberg’s (8)

Clearview Strategy Partners (15)

CrossPoint Baptist Church (7)

First Baptist Church Trussville (2)

Grandview Medical (3)

Legacy Ridge Assisted Living (19)

Find Us

Magnetic Hope (5)

RealtySouth - Lee Marlow (8)

Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (15)

Trussville Gas and Water (5)

Vapor Ministries/Thrift Store (11)

Window World of Central Alabama (9)

Pick up the latest issue of Cahaba Sun at the following locations:

► Edgar’s Bakery

► Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce

► Trussville Civic Center

► Trussville Gas and Water

► Trussville Police Department

► Trussville Public Library

Want to join this list or get Cahaba Sun mailed to your home?

Contact Dan Starnes at dan@starnesmedia.com.

Publisher:

Community Editors: Sports Editor: Photo Editor: Design Editor: Page Designer: Production Assistant:

Contributing Writers: Graphic Designer: Client Success Specialist: Business Development Exec: Business Development Rep:

Operations Specialist:

Dan Starnes

Kyle Parmley

Jon Anderson

Leah Ingram

Eagle

Neal Embry

Kyle Parmley

Erin Nelson

Melanie Viering

Ted Perry

Simeon Delante

Sean Dietrich

Gary Lloyd

Loyd McIntosh

Emily VanderMey

Warren Caldwell

Don Harris

Madison Gaines

Sarah Villar

For advertising contact: dan@starnesmedia.com

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

Please

Please submit all articles, information and photos to:

kparmley@starnesmedia.com

P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC

Legals: Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of 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.

Alabama’s Riley Quick, a graduate of Hewitt-Trussville High School, pitches in a SEC Tournament game between Auburn and Alabama at the Hoover Met Stadium on May 25. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Alabama Plein Air Artists paint along the Cahaba River during the Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation’s inaugural Heritage Days in April. Photo by Gary Lloyd.

We Treat DEPRESSION with Innovative Therapies

TMS

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive treatment for depression using MRI-strength magnetic pulses.

It is:

• more effective than medication

• safe and well-tolerated

• non-systemic

• does not require anesthesia

• FDA-approved

• takes less than 20 min per day

• covered by most commercial insurances for treatment-resistant severe major depression

Spravato is a prescription nasal spray of Esketamine that is given in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded to two or more antidepressants.

For more information and possible side effects, visit spravato.com

For more information, please visit our website www.magnetichope.com or call us at 205-825-HOPE (4673)

BUSINESS

New Golden Rule owner shares vision for brand

By LOYD MCINTOSH

It's been a short time since Brian Kemp bought the Golden Rule from the Matsos family and, for good reason, the Trussville native is a busy man. Already focused on his other growing restaurant brand, Kemp's Kitchen, Kemp is in the process of developing a game plan to add new life to Alabama's oldest restaurant.

Kemp purchased the Golden Rule BBQ brand from the Matsos family in March, which included the original location in Irondale (first established in 1891), the Trussville location and rights over a franchised location in Pell City.

Golden Rule, which had been under the ownership of the Matsos family since 1969, originally started working with Kemp in December 2022 with a goal of bringing the two restaurant names under one roof in Trussville. Things were trucking along just fine until Kemp was offered a deal to take over one of the Southeast's most historically significant barbecue restaurants instead.

"I was asked by the previous owner, 'Would you be interested in the entire brand?’" Kemp said. "Of course, you know, that was quite a surprise. It never crossed my mind that I'd be the owner of the oldest restaurant in the state of Alabama."

Kemp grew up in the restaurant business, starting out working at the Chick-fil-A in Century Plaza, managed by his mother, at the age of 15. Kemp stayed with Chick-fil-A for several more years, helping to open the Leeds location and even attending the Chickfil-A leadership program with the intention of becoming the youngest store operator in the company.

In his 20s, however, Kemp took a detour, leaving the restaurant business for several years to work as an insurance salesman. All the while, however, the restaurant business was a constant presence in the back of his mind as he wrestled with whether to jump back in and, if so, how.

"I had always wanted to have a restaurant, I just didn't know what I wanted to do and I was just trying to find my way through life," Kemp said.

The opportunity to own his first restaurant came in 2017, when a restaurant on Gadsden Highway called Yard Birds came up for sale. Kemp jumped at the chance and decided to give one of the Birmingham area's favorite restaurant concepts — the meat-and-three — a shot in the arm.

"I started with some of my mom's and my grandmother's recipes and came up with my own recipes to create the Kemp's Kitchen brand," he said Kemp's Kitchen eventually moved into

the old Hardee's restaurant building in 2020, only to suffer a setback in November 2021 when the building — and it seemed, the entire business — was lost in a fire. A dedicated Christian, Kemp said his faith as well as the great community helped him and the business bounce back quickly.

"It made me kind of sit there and wonder like, 'Okay, is this it? I've lost most everything that I worked for and built,' and then the community came together," he said.

"They really helped take care of the staff," Kemp said. "The Lord just blessed it and was able to take it and turn it around. Friends and family came together to help a lot and build things back. It was definitely much faster than I ever could have imagined."

Kemp opened a second Kemp's Kitchen location in Gardendale in 2021. However, another opportunity presented itself when the Trussville Golden Rule location abruptly closed its doors in August 2022. The Matsos family and Kemp came together to relaunch in Trussville, co-branding as Kemp’s Kitchen & Bakery and Golden Rule BBQ & Grill in

December 2022.

Shortly thereafter, the family made their offer to sell the Golden Rule brand outright to Kemp.

"I prayed about it and talked to my family, and I just really felt like that was the right decision to make," Kemp said. "It was a good time for both of us."

In just a few weeks since buying Golden Rule, Kemp wasted no time putting his stamp on the venerable barbecue brand. At the Trussville location, for instance, he made a handful of renovations right off the bat, such as new marble floors in the dining room and adding a drive-through window for the first time in the restaurant's history — a must-have considering downtown Trussville's legendary parking issues. He is also making some updates to the menu, including brisket macaroni bites, a new item Kemp said will debut this summer.

Kemp also made an important update, taking into consideration that most people like the smell of barbecue but don't necessarily want to bottle it as a cologne.

"One thing that people complained about

there was smelling like the pit when they leave the restaurant," Kemp said. "We got some proper ventilation in there now, so that doesn't happen."

Kemp is also working on making sure the food at all three locations — Irondale, Trussville and Pell City — is consistent while building on Golden Rule's legacy. For instance, Kemp is bringing back the original baby back ribs and hand-cut french fries, while also making sure the pork and brisket follow the original recipes and methods first developed more than 130 years ago.

Kemp's vision is to update the customer service aspects of the Golden Rule brand and carefully open new locations over time, keeping one foot in the future and the other firmly rooted in the restaurant's rich history.

"We're trying to get those three locations as similar as possible and back to the original source, like it is here in Irondale," Kemp said. "We obviously want to stay relevant with the times but we want to also keep that old-school customer service and thrive off of being the oldest restaurant in the state."

Brian Kemp, the new owner of Golden Rule BBQ, in the dining room at the original Golden Rule BBQ in Irondale. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

Corbeau Wine Bar is now open in Trussville. Corbeau is a wine bar that is owned and operated by Elizabeth and Mary Martin, and their husbands Mark and John Martin. Corbeau is the only wine bar in the state of Alabama to have self-serve wine on tap. Corbeau is open Monday-Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

205-508-3750, corbeaubar.com

COMING SOON

Tamburro’s Italian Home is coming to Trussville this fall. According to the Trussville Tribune, the italian restaurant is returning after closing its doors in 2010. The original founder, Dick Tamburro, brought Tamburro’s to Trussville in 1994. Now, his daughter Kyleen Kramer and daughter-in-law Tina Tamburro are set to recreate the historic restaurant.

a Mississippi-based company and renamed Cavalier Healthcare of Trussville. Cavalier Healthcare offers skilled nursing, long-term care, palliative care, hospice care, end-of-life care and a host of other rehabilitative services.

205-655-3226, trussville.cavalierhealthcare.com

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

The Trussville location of Birmingham Orthodontics has relocated to 442 Main St. Suite 101. Birmingham Orthodontics has been voted “Best Of” by Hoover Sun readers in 2018 and 2020.

205-655-7716, bhamorthodontics.com

BUSINESS NEWS TO SHARE?

Trussville Academy of Gymnastics’ new facility is now open at 601 Parkway Drive.

205-508-0352, trussville.org/trussville academyofgymnastics

NEW OWNERSHIP

Trussville Health and Rehab has been acquired by

If you have news to share with the community about a brick-and-mortar business in Trussville or the greater Birmingham area, let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings

Professional boxing coming to Trussville

By LOYD MCINTOSH

Professional boxing will make an appearance in Trussville on July 15 at the Trussville Civic Center. Trussville Fight Night, promoted by One One Six Boxing Promotions, will feature some of the Southeast’s most promising up-and-coming professional pugilists for a night of hooks, jabs and knockouts.

Owned and operated by St. Clair County resident Brandi McCain, One One Six Boxing Promotions is one of only two professional boxing promoters in Alabama and one of the few female-owned boxing promoters in the nation. Since 2020, One One Six Boxing Promotions has held more than a dozen events throughout north Alabama and Tennessee, including Pell City, where McCain has held four events.

However, after the venue for the July event fell through in mid-May, McCain reached out to Josh Taylor, events manager of the Trussville Civic Center, for help. According to McCain, Taylor was enthusiastic about bringing professional boxing to Trussville.

“I could tell by his voice when he answered the phone that it was going to be good because he didn’t hesitate,” McCain explained. “He was like, ‘Boxing? I love boxing,’ and I

thought, ‘We’re in.’ He is probably one of the most accommodating people I’ve ever dealt with when arranging a venue. This was all booked in no time.

“I’ve been wanting to get to the Birmingham metro area for a while but Trussville turned out to be a win-win,” McCain added.

“My fighters are really excited because of the area, the shopping, and better hotels and better

Nicholas Adams will be one of the entrants at Trussville Fight Night on July 15 at the Trussville Civic Center.

Photo courtesy of One One Six Boxing Promotions.

food. What I thought was going to be a disaster has turned into something everyone seems to be very thrilled about.”

While the fight card is still being finalized, Trussville Fight Night is shaping up to be one of McCain’s best events top to bottom. Of local interest, Nicholas “Baby Boy” Adams will be in action against Arkansas native Stanley Alexander in a six-round, super

middleweight bout. Adams, a Pell City native fighting out of Juarez Boxing in Irondale, is undefeated at 4-0 since his pro debut in July 2021, all by knockout.

Also appearing in the main event is Saben Cura, a featherweight from Pensacola, Florida. Sporting a record of 10-0, Cura will be facing a veteran from Philadelphia, Eric Palmer, in a six-round slugfest.

In the four-round co-main event, Jessie Fletcher III (4-0) of Atlanta will face Christopher “Solo” Hatley from Little Rock, Arkansas (4-2), for the Alabama state welterweight title in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Another bout of interest on the card is a four-rounder between middleweights Eric Hadley and Martin Brown, each with only one professional fight under their belts.

There will also be a handful of young boxers from Alabama getting some action, including Shaquille Cameron (6-0), a super middleweight from Gadsden, taking on Thomas Haney from St. Louis, Missouri; and Joshua Martin (2-0), a heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, facing journeyman Jayvone Dafney from McComb, Mississippi.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with bouts beginning at 6 p.m. Learn more or purchase tickets online at oneonesixboxing.com.

Ready

to invest in your very own fixer upper? This house sits back off the road offering privacy with beautiful scenery all around it! Five bedrooms and three bathrooms with several flex or bonus rooms. This is a unique opportunity on this handyman special just minutes away from downtown Trussville and the entertainment district. The possibiliities here are endless!

MLS # 1349664

Annual Trussville Freedom Celebration set for Independence Day

By STAFF

Independence Day is a day of celebration in the United States, with plenty of festivities planned in Trussville and surrounding communities.

In Trussville, the Trussville Freedom Celebration is scheduled for July 4 on the Mall in Trussville, presented by First Baptist Church Trussville with the support of several corporate sponsors. Pyro Shows of Alabama plans to put on a 15-minute fireworks display about 9 p.m.

Food trucks will be on site beginning at 5 p.m. DJ Platinum will provide music throughout the evening, featuring a performance from Act of Congress at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission to the event, but prices for food vendors may vary. Parking will be available around the historic Cahaba Project neighborhood.

Here are some other July 4 events in the Birmingham metro area:

BIRMINGHAM

The “Thunder on the Mountain” fireworks show will be put on by the Vulcan Park & Museum at 9 p.m. on July 4.

It’s a 20-minute fireworks show handled

by Pyro Shows of Alabama and shot from the base of the Vulcan statue, allowing for easy viewing from both sides of Red Mountain.

The official soundtrack for the show will be simulcast on all iHeart Media Birmingham radio stations, including Magic 96.5, News Radio 105.5 WERC, 103.7 The Q, 102.5 The Bull and La Jefa 98.3.

The show will feature some of the traditional favorites such as happy faces and hearts, but Pyro Shows of Alabama always tries to do something different each year and works to meet special requests of the sponsors, said Marvin Jones, the company’s show director.

Just prior to the Thunder on the Mountain show, the UAB Summer Band plans to put on a free concert outside Bartow Arena on the south side of the arena from 7 to 8:30 p.m. People are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to watch both the concert and the fireworks show.

HOMEWOOD

The city of Homewood and Homewood Parks and Recreation Board are having an Independence Day celebration July 4, in downtown Homewood at 5 p.m.

Two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Avenue South will be blocked for pedestrian traffic, rides and inflatables designed to appeal to all ages of children. A disc jockey will provide music and interactive activities for attendees.

There is no admission charge to enter the area, but the rides and other attractions require a wristband that can be purchased for $10. The wristbands will be sold in a tent near the intersection of 18th Street South and 29th Avenue South. All money raised from the event goes to the Homewood High School band.

All activities will end when the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display begins at Vulcan Park at 9 p.m.

HOOVER

The city of Hoover has a 15-minute fireworks show scheduled for after sunset (roughly 9 p.m.) on Sunday, July 2, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The fireworks will be shot by Pyro Shows of Alabama from the lower Hoover Met parking lot by the soccer fields, said Marvin Jones, the show director for the company.

People are encouraged to find a spot in the Hoover Met parking lot to view the show.

Fireworks light up the sky during the annual Freedom Celebration for the Fourth of July in 2021. Photo by Ron Burkett.

COVER STORY: Cahaba River-inspired art sought for juried art show in Trussville

OPPORTUNITY MEETING NEED’

By GARY LLOYD

Kathy Prince has long looked forward to the Bluff Park Art Show, Moss Rock Festival and Magic City Art Connection. She has enjoyed day trips to the Kentuck Art Center & Festival in Northport, Panoply Arts Festival in Huntsville and the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival.

“It was fun to see the recurring artists, some at a professional level and what they were doing that was new, who were the newcomers, who were the prize winners,” Prince said.

Prince has worked in healthcare for 40 years, and retirement is on the horizon. She always knew that, upon retirement, she’d want to feed her neglected passions — a second act for her life.

“I always knew that when that time came, I wanted to grow my passion for art and creating art,” said Prince, a longtime Trussville resident. “I wanted to find a way to serve my community as well. It seems that when you open yourself up to possibilities, opportunity has a way of finding you. As it turned out, the opportunities I sought presented themselves, as if on cue. Meeting and getting involved with artists and art organizations was the catalyst, but eventually, the connections I made began to merge with a need.”

Prince has hoped for an art festival in the city she calls home. Now, that time has come.

She attended a Cahaba River Society presentation at the Trussville Public Library last year, and afterward struck up a conversation with the organization’s executive director, Beth Stewart.

“I wondered if there had ever been consideration of opportunities for artists to paint the river and showcase the work to bring awareness to the Cahaba River Society mission,” Prince said. “She told me it was something she had always wanted to do but needed to partner with artists to accomplish this. Here was opportunity meeting need.”

The collaboration was the origin of what is being called Cahaba Inspired, an inaugural juried art exhibition at the Trussville Public Library scheduled for Nov. 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The deadline for entries is Aug. 15, and acceptance notifications will be sent Sept. 20. The exhibition will remain open Nov. 9 through Nov. 30. Cash awards will be given, including $500 for best in show and a people’s choice award.

The competition is open to all artists. All works created since Jan. 1, 2020, that can be exhibited and hung on a wall will be considered. Both representational and abstract works are welcome. Acceptable work includes but is not limited to drawing, painting, photography, collage, mixed media and printmaking. The maximum size for a finished framed/readyto-hang work is 48 x 48 inches. Accepted works must be delivered and retrieved in person and must be delivered ready to hang.

For questions about the juried competition and show, Prince may be contacted at 205-655-0608 or kprince109@gmail. com with the subject line “Cahaba Inspired.” More information can be found at cahabariversociety.org.

Graham C. Boettcher is director and CEO of the Birmingham Museum of Art and will serve as the art exhibition’s juror. He arrived at the museum in 2006,

first serving as The Luce Foundation Curatorial Fellow of American Art, and subsequently as The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art, chief curator and deputy director, prior to his appointment as director in 2017.

According to the Cahaba River Society, “This themed show will explore our relation to water and nature, embodied by the Cahaba River. The artistic process and the show will encourage artists and audience to immerse themselves in experiences with nature and in nature. We hope the artwork inspires people to value and protect the Cahaba, an essential resource.”

The Cahaba River, famous for its rare Cahaba lilies, flows through the heart of Alabama, from its headwaters near Trussville until it reaches the Alabama River southwest of Selma, passing through Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry, and Dallas counties.

“We are working hard to make it

something exciting and special, so that it can become the core building block to create a new annual art event for our growing city,” Prince said. “In support of this effort, we are launching Operation Arts Trussville. This is an evolving organization people will begin to hear more and more about.”

For Prince, the key to this inaugural event is community involvement.

“I believe our community spirit and our relationships will ultimately create the Trussville of the future,” Prince said. “The time is prime to do those things to build something we will be proud of as a community. I hope Trussville will rally around the idea of a new annual art show by attending and volunteering with Operation Arts Trussville. Community involvement will help make Trussville identify with something of its own making. Something special. Something unique.”

Alabama Plein Air Artists paint along the Cahaba River during the Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation’s inaugural Heritage Days in April. Photo by Gary Lloyd.

Hewitt-Trussville High School Engineering Academy seniors

Jacob Lee, Ben Capps and Wes Ellison presented to NASA engineers at the Houston Space Center.

Photo courtesy of Jason Dooley.

Engineering Academy students present project to NASA engineers

Hewitt-Trussville High School Engineering Academy seniors Jacob Lee, Ben Capps and Wes Ellison have been working on a device that could be utilized to clean solar panels on the moon. They had to research the properties of lunar dust and determine the best method for removing the dust from solar panels without

scratching the panels. The team had to pass a preliminary design review and a critical design review with NASA in order to progress to the presentation level. This team was chosen to present its project solution to NASA engineers at the Houston Space Center.

– Submitted by Jason Dooley.

Brynlea Franklin and Frenchi Garcia recently repainted the “Home of the Huskies” sign in front of HewittTrussville High School.

Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.

Art students repaint school sign

Hewitt-Trussville High School’s Brynlea Franklin and Frenchi Garcia, students in Laykin Rubin's Art II class, recently volunteered to repaint the

“Home of the Huskies” sign in front of Hewitt-Trussville High School.

– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

All-South Metro Baseball

Kizer, Pope earn 1st team honors

By KYLE PARMLEY

The 2023 high school baseball season was a riveting one. Vestavia Hills won its first state championship in over 20 years, and several teams throughout the area had great seasons.

Here is this year’s version of the All-South Metro Baseball Team, put together by Starnes Media. Jackson Harris of Vestavia Hills and Cole Edwards of Spain Park share the Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year honors, after both had stellar senior campaigns.

Oak Mountain’s Matthew Heiberger is the Pitcher of the Year, as he was one of the toughest arms to face in the state. The University of Alabama signee allowed nine earned runs all year and posted a 1.63 earned run average.

Vestavia Hills’ Jamie Harris is the Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season after leading the Rebels to the Class 7A state title.

► Players & Hitters of the Year: Jackson Harris, Vestavia Hills, and Cole Edwards, Spain Park

► Pitcher of the Year: Matthew Heiberger, Oak Mountain

► Coach of the Year: Jamie Harris, Vestavia Hills

1ST TEAM

► Pitcher: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; put together a stellar freshman campaign, allowing a single earned run over 21 1/3 innings pitched.

► Pitcher: Jable Ramey, Vestavia Hills; the senior put together a 7-1 record with a 1.72 ERA for the state champs.

► Pitcher: Matthew Heiberger, Oak Mountain; the Pitcher of the Year had a 1.63 ERA and struck out 68 batters in 38 2/3 innings.

► Pitcher: CJ Gross, Spain Park; racked up an area-high 10 wins on the year.

► Catcher: Clay Spencer, Spain Park; finished the year with 33 RBIs.

► First base: Cole Edwards, Spain Park; the Auburn signee capped off his career by hitting six homers with 48 RBIs.

► Second base: Kurt Kizer, Hewitt-Trussville; hit .378 and drove in 34 runs for the Huskies.

► Third base: John Paul Head, Vestavia Hills; drove in 34 runs for the Rebels.

► Shortstop: James Graphos, Mountain Brook; the Spartans’ top middle infielder racked up 43 hits and stole 21 bases.

► Infield: Jackson Harris, Vestavia Hills; the Samford signee hit .430 with an on-base percentage of .554. He hit five home runs and drove in 35 runs as well.

► Infield: Jake Souders, Briarwood; finished with a .437 average, four homers and 37 RBIs.

► Outfield: Matthew Widra, Spain Park; had a big year for the Jags, hitting .414 with an on-base percentage of .513.

► Outfield: Grayson Pope, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the Huskies’ top hitters, reaching base at a .460 clip.

► Outfield: Charlie Berryman, Mountain Brook; led the Spartans with six homers.

► Designated hitter: Christopher

Johnston, Vestavia Hills; slugged six homers and knocked in 38 runs for the state champs.

► Designated hitter: Brady Waugh, Briarwood; slugged five homers and posted 38 RBIs.

► Utility: John Robicheaux, Mountain Brook; did a little bit of everything for the Spartans, reaching base in nearly half of his at-bats.

► Utility: Mason Blasche, Hoover; knocked in 33 runs to lead the Bucs’ offense.

2ND TEAM

► Pitcher: Kenneth Diddell, Mountain Brook; led the area with six saves and put forth a 1.14 ERA.

► Pitcher: Lucas Thornton, Spain Park; went 6-1 with a 1.51 ERA to bolster the Jags’ pitching staff.

► Pitcher: Ryan Vermillion, Vestavia Hills; saved his best for the postseason, notching key wins and saves throughout the playoffs. He went 5-0 with four saves on the year.

► Pitcher: Drake Meeks, Briarwood; went 6-1 with 2.12 ERA for the Lions.

► Catcher: Hudson Walburn, Vestavia Hills; slugged six homers and knocked in 33 runs.

► First base: Tripp Gann, Homewood; hit .415, piled up 39 hits and knocked in 23 runs.

► Second base: RJ Hamilton, Hoover; hit .330 and stole 25 bases for the Bucs.

► Third base: Evan Smallwood, Spain Park; had an on-base percentage of .472 and stole 18 bases on the year.

► Shortstop: Nick McCord, Oak Mountain; hit .340, stole 16 bases and pitched some for the Eagles.

► Infield: Gabe Wilbur, John Carroll; led the area with a .439 average.

► Infield: Noah Smith, John Carroll; hit for a .418 average and drove in 26 runs.

► Outfield: Will Clark, Briarwood; drove in 34 runs for the Lions.

► Outfield: Brett Moseley, Hewitt-Trussville; stole 21 bases without being caught and posted a .327 average.

► Outfield: Chris McNeill, Chelsea; finished with an on-base percentage of .500.

► Designated hitter: Jackson Morgan, Chelsea; one of the top sluggers in the area with seven home runs.

► Designated hitter: Jacob Tobias, Spain Park; drove in 27 runs for the Jags.

► Utility: Colin Rengering, Hoover; hit .320 and logged innings on the mound for the Bucs.

► Utility: Jack Ross, Homewood; hit .337 and drove in 23 runs while also logging some innings on the mound.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Pitcher: Will Adams, Hoover; Braxton Williams, John Carroll; Kevin Jasinski, Oak Mountain; Colby Durden, Hewitt-Trussville; Logan Moller, Chelsea; Aiden Black, Vestavia Hills; Will Argo, Hewitt-Trussville; JR Thompson, Spain Park; Caleb Barnett, Mountain Brook.

► Catcher: Will Lawrence, Hoover; Peyton Parkinson, Oak Mountain.

► Infield: Jackson Parris, Homewood; Jackson Miller, John Carroll.

► Outfield: Jack Ollis, Hewitt-Trussville; Gabe Young, Mountain Brook; Josh Hart, Oak Mountain.

► Designated hitter: Brooks Braswell, Oak Mountain.

Top: Hewitt-Trussville’s Kurt Kizer (13) moves to tag Spain Park’s Cole Edwards (4) out at second base on an attempted steal during an area game at Phil English Field in Trussville on April 14. Above: Hewitt-Trussville’s Grayson Pope (3) catches a fly ball. Photos by Erin Nelson.

By KYLE PARMLEY

Success during a high school softball season is largely dependent on how well a team plays together as a unit. However, within that unit, there are always several standout individuals worthy of being recognized for their superb seasons.

Hewitt-Trussville garnered player superlatives once again in Starnes Media’s annual All-South Metro Softball Team, with Hannah Dorsett earning Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year honors. Dorsett moved over to shortstop this season and helped lead the Huskies to a third state championship over the last five years.

Sara Phillips earned the Pitcher of the Year award for the second straight year and shares the honor this spring with Tait Davidson of Vestavia Hills.

Taylor Burt is this year’s Coach of the Year after guiding Hewitt-Trussville to an incredible run, culminating in a state title after a 4-4 start to the season.

► Player of the Year: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville

► Hitter of the Year: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville

► Pitchers of the Year: Sara Phillips, Hewitt-Trussville, and Tait Davidson, Vestavia Hills

► Coach of the Year: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville

1ST TEAM

► Pitcher: Sara Phillips, Hewitt-Trussville; the junior earned Pitcher of the Year honor for the second straight year by posting a 22-1 record with a 1.22 earned run average.

► Pitcher: Tait Davidson, Vestavia Hills; tied for the most wins in the area with 22, while also saving nine games for the Rebels. She also posted a 1.52 ERA and racked up 254 strikeouts.

► Pitcher: Ella Reed, Spain Park; the senior logged the most innings across the area, posting a 20-win season and 1.78 ERA in 165 innings.

► Catcher: Maggie Daniel, Spain Park; had another strong season behind the plate for the Jags, hitting .444 with 10 home runs and 39 runs batted in.

► First base: Gracie Reeves, Hewitt-Trussville; had a handful of walk-off hits throughout the year, including to win the state championship. She also had 36 RBIs.

► Second base: Carolyne Hecklinski, Hoover; piled up 64 hits in her senior season, knocking home 38 runs and hitting .471.

► Third base: Olivia Faggard, Hewitt-Trussville; experienced another strong season, batting .435 with nine homers and 60 RBIs.

► Shortstop: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville; hit for a .506 average, racking up 88 hits in a stellar season. She stole 61 bases and was caught just once. It is her third consecutive first team selection.

► Infield: Bella Foran, Hoover; the tough lefty hitter reached base at a .533 clip as a junior.

► Infield: Kayla Franklin, Vestavia Hills; led the area with 61 RBIs, belting nine homers as well.

► Outfield: Emma Hawkins, Oak Mountain; reached base nearly half of her at-bats and hit for a .434 average to spark the Eagles’ offense.

► Outfield: Mallory Ogle, John Carroll; put forth a monster .553 average with 31 RBIs and helped out the Cavs in the pitching circle.

► Outfield: Hannah Christian, Hoover; hit .488 with 61 hits and 31 RBIs in a stellar campaign.

► Designated hitter: Katie Flannery, Spain

Park; capped off a stellar career with a .481 average and eye-popping .609 on-base percentage. She also hit 11 home runs despite being walked 41 times.

► Designated hitter: Meredith Kellum, Briarwood; hit .466 with six homers to lead the Lions offense.

► Utility: Miah Simmons, Vestavia Hills; drove in 51 runs at the plate and won 14 games in the circle.

► Utility: Ellie Pitts, Mountain Brook; did it all for the Spartans, pitching effectively, driving in 30 runs, hitting .449 and stealing 34 bases in a strong season.

2ND TEAM

► Pitcher: Ella Ussery, Spain Park; formed a solid combo in the circle with Reed, winning 13 games.

► Pitcher: Kaitlyn Raines, Hoover; posted a 15-3 record with a 2.21 ERA in

nearly 100 innings.

► Pitcher: Emily Sims, Hoover; finished her career by posting a 1.36 ERA to lead the Bucs.

All-South Metro Softball Dorsett named Player of Year

► Catcher: Chaney Peters, Hewitt-Trussville; moved to catcher for the Huskies and provided stability, while coming up clutch throughout the season. She finished with nine homers and 51 RBIs.

► First base: Kayla Coley-Drayton, John Carroll; an all-metro selection for the second straight year after driving in 31 runs.

► Second base: Claire Robinett, Mountain Brook; stole 28 bases and reached base at an impressive .524 clip.

► Third base: Charlee Bennett, Spain Park; hit five homers and drove in 31 runs.

► Shortstop: Elizabeth Zaleski, Oak Mountain; hit .398 with 25 RBIs in her final season at Oak Mountain.

► Infield: Kloeanne Smith, Homewood; had an impressive eighth grade campaign, hitting .418 and knocking in 26 runs.

► Infield: Gracie Mills, John Carroll; hit .494 to earn all-metro honors for the third straight year.

► Outfield: Kathryn Bryars, Chelsea; finished her career by hitting .367 with 28 RBIs.

► Outfield: Sheridan Andrews, Oak Mountain; the freshman knocked in 29 runs for the Eagles.

► Outfield: Emily Williams, John Carroll; had a strong season for the Cavs, hitting .472 and driving in 38 runs.

► Designated hitter: Lexie Kelly, Hewitt-Trussville; came up big several times for the Huskies, hitting six homers.

► Designated hitter: Sydney Carroll, Chelsea; one of the top home run hitters in the area with eight.

► Utility: Marrison Kearse, Mountain Brook; another versatile player for the Spartans, posting a .414 on-base percentage and driving in 23 runs.

► Utility: Zaylen Tucker, Hewitt-Trussville; came on strong in the second half of the season at the plate and in the circle. She finished with a .392 average and stole 44 bases.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Pitcher: Kate Hicks, Hewitt-Trussville; Julie Amacher, Chelsea; Grace Pilgrim, Homewood; Olivia Christian, Hoover.

► Catcher: Patty Ann Frierson, Mountain Brook; Anna DuBose, Oak Mountain; Abby Hibbs, Chelsea.

► Infield: Emma Stearns, Mountain Brook; Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook; Annie Gregory, Mountain Brook; Alea Rye, Oak Mountain; Carolyn Graham, Oak Mountain; Baylor McCluney, Chelsea; Claire Purkey, Chelsea; Klara Thompson, Spain Park.

► Outfield: Emily Mackin, Oak Mountain; Madison Letson, Homewood; Blakley Watts, Spain Park; Caroline Charles, Spain Park; Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook

Clockwise from top left: Hewitt-Trussville's Hannah Dorsett (15) catches the final out of the game during the Class 7A state championship game against Fairhope on May 20 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. Photo by Kyle Parmley. Hewitt-Trussville’s Gracie Reeves (25) makes the tag at first base in a game against Hillcrest in the annual Hoover Classic softball tournament at the Hoover Met Complex on April 21.

Photo by Erin Nelson. HewittTrussville head coach Taylor Burt during the Class 7A state championship game against Fairhope. Hewitt-Trussville’s Olivia Faggard (28) celebrates during the Class 7A state championship game. Photos by Kyle Parmley.

Coming back strong

Huskies rally from loser’s bracket, claim state title

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Huskies decided they didn’t want to experience the pain again.

After leaving the state tournament as runners-up last spring, the Hewitt-Trussville High School softball team reclaimed its spot at the top of the mountain.

Hewitt-Trussville climbed out of the loser’s bracket and defeated Fairhope twice, 7-4 and 12-2, on May 20 to win its third Class 7A state championship in the last five years.

“I cannot even begin to explain to you how incredibly proud I am of them, coming back after last night’s loss and showing up today and doing exactly what they said they were going to do,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Taylor Burt said following the win.

The Huskies won the second game in runrule fashion, as senior Gracie Reeves stroked a walk-off base hit to cap off her career in the most fitting way possible, while Peyton Hull came around to score and win the ball game.

Reeves, Hannah Dorsett, Rubie Simon and Taylor Davis were in seventh grade when Burt arrived as the head coach at Hewitt-Trussville. They have been involved with the program through all three championships and played key roles in this one, especially.

“I can’t even begin to tell you what those four mean to me,” Burt said. “They’re the best humans.”

The Huskies reached the final by taking care of business against Sparkman in the loser’s bracket final, beating the Senators 5-0 that Saturday morning. Hewitt won its first two games of the state tournament the day prior, squeaking past Daphne 3-2 before beating Central-Phenix City 6-0. Fairhope sent the Huskies to the loser’s bracket with a 1-0 win to cap off the first evening of play.

With Fairhope winning all three of its games the first day of the tournament, the Pirates awaited their opponent in the title game, needing to be defeated twice. The Huskies did just that.

In the first game, star pitchers Sara Phillips and Ryley Harrison matched zeroes on the scoreboard for the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Hewitt’s Chaney Peters got a hold of one and hit a solo home run to dead center field to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. They added three more runs in the inning to stake Phillips to a 4-0 edge.

Phillips drove in a run on a hit in the sixth and Hewitt added a pair more in the seventh. Fairhope notched three runs in the seventh, but it was too little, too late.

The second and decisive game got underway, with Fairhope staking claim to a 2-0 lead against Phillips. But inclement weather delayed play in the bottom of the first for just over an hour. After that, the Huskies came out hot.

They got on the board with Lexie Kelly’s double in the second. Faggard and Kelly had run-scoring hits the following inning as well, to give Hewitt a 3-2 lead. The hits kept coming in the fourth, as Hewitt posted eight runs to open up an 11-2 lead before walking it off in the fifth. Kelly and Faggard were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts, while Phillips was named tournament MVP.

Hewitt-Trussville started the tournament

with a 3-2 win over Daphne, as the Huskies scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Phillips came on in relief and fired 4 2/3 scoreless innings, punching out eight batters.

The Huskies then beat Central 6-0, piling up 15 hits in the process. Zaylen Tucker, Kelly and Phillips all notched three hits in the game, with Tucker and Phillips combining for the shutout in the circle.

The only run in the 1-0 loss to Fairhope came on a controversial call at the plate in the first inning. Phillips and Harrison both threw complete games, with Harrison striking out an impressive 16 batters over seven innings.

The following day, Sparkman eliminated

defending champion Thompson to get to Hewitt. In the 5-0 win, Faggard had three more hits and drove in a pair, while Phillips threw six scoreless frames.

Phillips led the way for the pitching staff throughout the tournament, with Hicks and Tucker providing key quality innings over the two days as well.

"I know last year she left with a sour taste in her mouth," Burt said of Phillips. "She was ready to come back and get this, and she did the dang thing. We had wonderful help from our other pitchers too to give her a little bit of a break, and they did everything they needed to do."

After starting the season 4-4, the Huskies rolled off 22 wins in a row and hit their stride heading into April. Hewitt-Trussville went 6-0 in regular season area play and won the area tournament after winning three games in a day facing elimination.

They rolled through the 7A East Regional, notching impressive wins over Thompson and Spain Park to advance to the state tournament.

The Huskies are familiar with the state tournament path. The program is on quite a run over the last five years, winning three state championships (2019, 2021, 2023) and finishing as the runner-up once (2022).

Mother Nature was a factor all week in Oxford, forcing delays in four of the five days of the tournament. It struck one last time, with rain beginning to fall right as Hewitt scored the winning run, turning into a heavy downpour soon thereafter.

That was the least of anyone’s worries while holding a blue map.

“I know it’s raining, but I don’t even care. I love it. I’m so proud of them,” Burt said.

Left: HewittTrussville celebrates during the Class 7A state championship softball game on May 20 at Chocclocco Park in Oxford.

Below: HewittTrussville’s Sara Phillips (22) celebrates a triple Photos by Kyle Parmley.

Huskies athletes recognized for strong seasons, careers

By KYLE PARMLEY

Several Hewitt-Trussville High School student-athletes have received accolades and been honored for accomplishments during the 2022-23 school year.

Eight Huskies will be part of the AHSAA All-Star Week in Montgomery in mid-July. Those teams feature some of the top rising seniors in the state.

Brett Moseley (baseball), Aubrey Payne (golf), Gavin Isbell (golf), Nolan Armstrong (tennis), Jordan Hunter (basketball), Reid Stodghill (basketball), Sara Phillips (softball) and Jhovanka Rivas (soccer) will all play in North-South all-star competitions during the week of July 17-21.

A handful of baseball and softball players were recognized by the Alabama Sports Writers Association on the postseason allstate teams. Hannah Dorsett led the way for the state champion Huskies softball team, winning Class 7A Hitter of the Year, making the super all-state team and earning first team infield honors on the all-state squad.

Dorsett is a UAB signee and capped off her career by helping the Huskies win their third state championship in the last

five years. For the season, she hit for a .506 average, accumulating 88 hits, hitting five home runs and driving in 34 runs. She also stole 61 bases, getting caught only once.

Phillips was named a first team pitcher after her great junior year. Chaney Peters and Olivia Faggard were each on the 7A second team after stellar seasons, with

Struggling to align your people strategy with your business strategy?

THERE’S A SOLUTION FOR THAT

Members of a high-performing team go above and beyond because their role, team, manager and culture engages and inspires them.

In order to have a high performing team, not only must you have the right people in the right roles, but you must also know how to manage them in the way in which they will respond.

We unleash the power of behavioral analytics to allow you to achieve both of these objectives. Then, we transfer the knowledge to you and allow you to build a winning-culture with ongoing support.

CONTACT US TODAY

for a free six-minute demo and learn how to make your organization a high performing culture.

Cvstrategy.com

Zaylen Tucker being named honorable mention as well.

Kurt Kizer of the Hewitt-Trussville baseball team was named to the 7A second team on the baseball all-state team. Kizer is headed to Snead State Community College to continue his baseball career. For his senior campaign, he hit .378 with a .480 on-base percentage. He drove in 34 runs in 32 games for the Huskies.

Several soccer players made the list of all-state and all-metro players. From the boys team, Parker Briggs earned first team all-state honors across all classifications, in addition to making the first team 7A list.

Michael Christopoulos and Asher Tharp were each featured on the 7A second team, while Carson Jackson, Jason Merriweather and Seth Walker were all named honorable mention all-state.

On the all-metro team, Briggs was first team, Christopoulos was second team and Tharp, Jackson, Merriweather and Walker were all honorable mention.

For the girls, Libby Armstrong and Mariella Delfin were each first team all-metro. Ella Allen and Lily Burford made the cut as second team players, with Brecken Phillips earning honorable mention.

Hewitt-Trussville’s Parker Briggs (10) dribbles the ball as he moves toward the goal in a game against Boaz at Hewitt-Trussville High School on March 22. Photo by Erin Nelson.

OPINION

“Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?” my 6-year-old niece asked me.

We were by the swimming pool. It was the perfect afternoon. The sky was Technicolor blue. The smell of Kingsford smoke was in the air.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to answer my niece’s question. At least not in a way she would understand.

After all, this particular American holiday is a grandiose thing. How do you describe to a 6-year-old the significance of Old Glory, “purple mountains majesty” and the inexpressible splendor of Dale Earnhardt Sr.?

“Well, sweetie,” I said. “That’s a good question …”

But then I sort of drew a blank. Why do we celebrate the Fourth?

I suddenly realized I know less about this American holiday than I thought I did. In fact, one could say that I don’t know Shinola about the Fourth of July.

And, apparently, I’m not alone. Because I conducted an informal study by asking students in Mrs. Anderson’s Sunday school class why we celebrate this uniquely American holiday.

Here are some answers I received:

► John, 11, said, “It was the French or something.”

► Eilene, 9, “That’s when we won the war against Mexico. No wait. I mean China.”

► Benji, 9, “Because that’s when we do

Sean of the South

By Sean Dietrich

Fourth of July

the fireworks.”

► Ashley, 12, “We celebrate this holiday because in 1812, we signed a Treaty of Paris, and it just became a thing.”

► And my favorite answer of all comes from Landon, age 8, who answered with the utmost sincerity: “It’s when Diana Ross made our flag.”

So all this got me thinking. Exactly how much do my fellow adults know about the Fourth of July? I posed the same question to grown-ups.

► Pamela, 32, “Well, the Fourth of July is our nation’s literal birthday, when all those guys signed the Constitution.”

► Anders, 63, said, “It’s America’s birthday. Everyone knows that. The Pilgrims and all that.”

► Emily, 21, “It’s the anniversary of our nation, when the big war finally ended in Germany.”

► Robert, 39, “I can’t remember which battle we won. The Revolution, maybe? All I know is that our nation is going to be 230 years old.”

So, we had some work to do.

Because the Fourth of July is not the date of a famous battle. Nor does it mark the beginning of the Revolutionary War, nor the ending. The Revolutionary War started on April 19, 1775,

and ended Sept. 3, 1783.

Neither is the Fourth of July the date of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, which was written between June 11 and June 28, 1776. The Declaration wasn’t signed on July 4, either. It was signed on Aug. 2.

Similarly, the Fourth has nothing to do with the Constitution, which was penned Sept. 17, 1787. And no, July Fourth is not George Washington’s birthday. It is, however, the birthday of President Calvin Coolidge. Also, Geraldo Rivera.

The reason we celebrate this date is straightforward and simple. On July 4, 1776, the 56 members of the Second Continental Congress officially adopted a document that confessed high treason against Great Britain.

It was a document the 13 colonies had been pleading for. A document that would change global history.

It was a humble manuscript, engrossed on animal skin, which took Thomas Jefferson 17 arduous days to draft. A declaration.

A document whose second paragraph reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …”

But the reason I personally celebrate this holiday is deeper than a sheet of parchment. I don’t celebrate because we are the most

Southern Musings

By Gary Lloyd

powerful nation, or the most economically prosperous, or the country with the highest funded military.

I celebrate the Fourth of July for one simple reason: Because I love you. Plain and simple.

You see, being an American means that we live in a place where you and I are equals. Not metaphorically, not philosophically, but literally. It says so on our founding document.

You matter as much as I do. This is true not only because it was written in the most beautiful English prose, but by a deft hand. It’s true because it’s true.

So, I celebrate because, no matter who you are, no matter what you believe, no matter where you come from, no matter which language you speak, or who you marry, or what kind of wild stuff you post on social media, you’re my brother. You’re my sister. And I love you dearly.

And even though we don’t always get along, even though we aggravate each other, you and I are on the same side. Our ancestors died proving it. And Thomas Jefferson put it in writing.

So happy 247th birthday, America. And may God bless Diana Ross.

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.

Payphoning it forward in Trussville

You know those phone calls you make, the ones where you’re bounced from line to line, as if you’re a human pinball?

Well, have I got a story for you.

There’s this payphone in Trussville, and I’ll leave its exact coordinates out of this space in case WiMacTel gets ahold of this column. More on that in a minute. Anyway, if you have a child who enjoys playground slides and swings, you’ve seen it. Maybe you used it to dial home when you were a kid.

In a world of smartphones, pocket-sized social media addictions with more lenses than a Nikon D3500, I decided to trace back this relic, a black phone attached to a cord inside a metal box bolted to concrete. Here’s what I found out.

City of Trussville officials did not know this payphone’s origin, or if there were other outdoor public payphones remaining in the city. They, along with myself, ventured to guess

there were not. I researched online — CNBC articles, Wikipedia, random Google searches — and spent the most time on this website for The Payphone Project, which tracks the de-evolution of payphones and phone booths across America. I took several close-up photos of the payphone with my iPhone so that I had all its information — its phone number, CenturyTel’s number, the service number, instructions and more.

Lloyd

I called the CenturyTel number, which apparently had been changed. Instead of CenturyTel, I was directed to a free medical alert device promotion. I told the woman on the other end of the line that I had the wrong number. She tried to sell me on some “free” medical alert devices anyway.

Next, I called the actual local payphone’s number, 205-6619347. It’s unsurprisingly disconnected. I then called the Service and Refund number printed on the phone. It was no longer in service, but a recorded message advised me to contact Lumen Technologies — via email. The call then disconnected automatically.

I emailed Lumen Technologies’ public relations email address with my phone-related questions: How long has this payphone been here? Are there others in Trussville? How long has that one quarter been fossilized in the coin slot? I was contacted by the global issues director, who told me my inquiry was a “great story idea.” He advised that their payphone business was sold to WiMacTel, previously FSH, in 2004. I was a high school

sophomore, and at the time was likely using a navy Motorola Razr, all the craze back then, even at a dime per text message.

I contacted WiMacTel — via email. Two days passed without a reply. I sent another email message, and I’m still awaiting a reply, a year later. Maybe it’s for the best that I never received a response, so that this bulky artifact remains in place. So, all that to tell you that I tried. I had planned on a long feature story, a deep look at a past communication method that somehow is still bolted to a sidewalk in this undisclosed Trussville location.

But, like trying to get through to someone, anyone, I was passed off to one person then the next until, finally, I was disconnected. Click.

Gary Lloyd is the author of six books and a contributing writer to the Cahaba Sun.

Dietrich

TRUSSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Mondays: Meditation with Anita Theart. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Breath work and meditation class for beginners. This will be a six-week series with the overall intention to offer the beginner the tools and inspiration to practice. Each class will build on the previous one. Ages 18 and older. Not meeting July 3.

Mondays and Thursdays: Yarn Manglers. Mondays 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursdays 2-4 p.m. Knitters and crocheters, join for fellowship and creativity. Ages 18 and older.

Thursdays: Children’s storytime. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join Ms. Alicia for summer-themed stories, songs, bubble time and lots of fun. Birth through pre-K.

July 5: Take-Home Puzzle Mirror Craft. Stop by the adult department and pick up supplies to make a jigsaw puzzle-frame mirror. While supplies last. Ages 18 and older.

July 6, 20: Summer Storytime. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Alicia for a summer-themed storytime in the library auditorium with stories, songs, bubble time and lots of fun. No registration is needed. Birth-2nd grade.

July 6: The Ice Cream Machine. 4-5:30 p.m. Join us for a sweet writing workshop as we create short stories based on the book “The Ice Cream Machine” by Adam Rubin. Registration is required. 3rd-6th grades.

July 10: Books & Brews. 7:15-8:15 p.m. An evening

Adult Book Club meeting in the event room at Ferus Artisan Ales. Connect with your community and share your thoughts about this month’s book while enjoying delicious food and drinks. July’s title is “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin. Ages 18 and older.

July 11: Friends of the Trussville Library Meeting. 11 a.m. to noon. Join us for the monthly meeting. The group’s members support library staff by providing extra hands for special events and money for programs and prizes.

July 11: Teen Perler Beads. 2-3 p.m. Join us to create a Perler bead piece. Choose from several pegboard options or create your own. The beads are arranged on pegboards to form patterns and then fused together with heat from an iron. All supplies will be provided. Please make sure to register as supplies are limited. 6th-12th grades.

July 11: The Circus King. 5-6 p.m. Storyteller and musician, Sean Driscoll, combines comedy theater, puppets, magic, music and animation into an extraordinary live performance. K-5th grades.

July 12: Volunteer Fair. 2-6 p.m. Are you a teen in need of volunteer hours? Are you an adult looking for ways to get plugged in to your community through acts of service? Come learn what opportunities are available in the area.

July 13: Starshine Faces. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Watch the story come to life as the shows incorporate storytelling with face painting. Each child will be able to have their face painted after the performance. Space is limited. Registration required. K-5th grades.

July 13: Starshine Face Painting. 2-3 p.m. Come learn about the art of face painting. Starshine will be teaching us face painting skills while also offering face painting to program attendees. 6th-12th grades.

July 17: Drawing with Susan Shoemaker. 6-8 p.m. In this class, Susan will share the techniques she uses to draw animal portraits on 4x4 canvas with colored pencils and acrylic. Ages 18 and older.

July 18: DIY Puzzles for Kids. 10:30 a.m. Drop by the library auditorium to create your own unique jigsaw puzzle. No

registration is needed. While supplies last. Birth-5th grade.

July 18: Henna Tattoos. 2-3 p.m. Henna tattoos are traditional, nonpermanent tattoos that go away after a couple weeks. After we have learned about the henna tattoos, we will all have a chance to give ourselves a henna tattoo with the help of our expert. 6th-12th grades.

July 19: Adult Book Club 2023. 2-3 p.m. Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month. We will read a variety of selections, both fiction and nonfiction. This month’s title is “The Great Circle” by Maggie Shipstead. Ages 18 and older.

July 19: Video Game Tournament. 4-5:30 p.m. The Trussville Public Library is hosting a Mario Kart video game tournament. Come practice your driving skills, become a king of drifting and maybe take home the gold. 6th-12th grades.

July 20: Paws & Pages. 4-5:30 p.m. Learn about all the great things that Greater Birmingham Humane Society is doing in our community and make a toy to donate. This program is open to elementary ages. Space is limited. Registration is required. K-6th grades.

July 20: Adult Summer Reading Finale – Disco Part. 6-8 p.m. Magic City Disco will entertain us with dance performance and then teach us some fun moves. Light snacks and beverages provided. Ages 18 and older.

July 24: Teen Department Summer Reading Finale. 2-3 p.m. Join the Teen Department as we bring the Summer Reading program to a close with grand prizes and frozen treats. 6th-12th grades.

July 25: Children’s Summer Reading Finale. 4-6 p.m. Enjoy a fun foam party and a frozen treat in Masonic Park as we celebrate all you have accomplished this summer. Make sure to wear some play clothes and bring a towel. No registration is needed. K-6th grades.

Scan with your phone’s camera to go to our specials page.

*Offers cannot be combined, some promotions may be limited to select sets. Not responsible for errors in ad copy. Quantities and selections may vary by location. Mattress images are for illustration purposes only Gifts with purchase (including gift cards and rebates) are not valid with any other promotions except special financing for 6 or 12 months.** Monthly payment is based on purchase price alone excluding tax and delivery charges. Credit purchases subject to credit approval. Other transactions may affect the monthly payment. *** 0% APR for 60 months financing available with purchases of $1999 or over and does not include sales tax.

** The special terms APR of 8.99% will apply to the qualifying purchase, and 48 monthly payments equal to 2.5090% of the original special terms balance are required.*** The Nationwide Marketing Group credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit.

The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00.