Cahaba Sun October 2023

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I was driving to work a few weeks ago and thought to myself, “There’s no way it is actually September!”

But sure enough, it was Sept. 1, the beginning of the ninth month of the year (ninth?!).

How has this year gone by so quickly? It really is true what they tell you: the older you get, the time goes by faster and faster.

In this space, I have often relayed the value of being in the moment and soaking those moments in. I’m doing that once more.

Each day is precious, and all of them contain their own joys, pleasures, challenges and pitfalls. Just like watching an Alabama or Auburn football game. Many of us watch those games with intensity that makes it seem as if we have a vested outcome in the game, but that’s neither here nor there.

But it does illustrate the greater point. Within each three-hour game, there are great plays, plenty of average plays and a few terrible plays. The team that responds the best to each of those normally wins. Enjoy the day! Especially this one.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

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Contact Dan 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:

Dan Starnes

Kyle Parmley

Jon Anderson

Leah Ingram Eagle

Kyle Parmley

Erin Nelson

Melanie Viering

Ted Perry

Simeon Delante

Sean Dietrich

Gary Lloyd

Loyd McIntosh

Emily VanderMey

Warren Caldwell

Don Harris

Madison Gaines

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

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.

Sarah Villar

Please recycle this paper.

Operations Specialist: ON THE COVER: Josh Floyd and his mother, Jeana. Photo by Shawn Bowles.

One of the youth cheerleaders the Hewitt-Trussville High cheerleaders for Husky Youth Cheer Night in a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Tuscaloosa County on Sept. 15 at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium. Photo by Shawn Bowles.

Corbeau Wine Bar brings touch of France to Trussville

By LOYD MCINTOSH

The Trussville Entertainment District’s newest tenant is Corbeau Wine Bar, which opened in May.

Located in a corner space on Morrow Avenue, Corbeau Wine Bar has established a reputation as a relaxing spot for a glass of wine, charcuterie or flatbread pizza. It is owned by sisters Mary and Elizabeth Martin and their husbands, John and Mark (also siblings, The sisters are originally from Scottsboro but independently moved to the Trussville area and shared a passion for wine.

For years, Mary and Elizabeth often discussed going into business together but never quite landed on the right idea. However, inspiration struck while Elizabeth Martin, then a traveling nurse, was chatting with a friend over a glass of wine in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I was sitting in a wine bar one evening with a nurse friend of mine and looking around, and I thought, ‘Trussville absolutely needs a wine bar,’” she said. “So I approached Mary, and I said, ‘What would you think If we opened a wine bar in Trussville?’ We kind of just went from there.”

“I have a background in event planning and hosting, so it suits both of us,” Mary added. “She is the wine person, and I am the hostess and event planner.”

From conception to opening, it took the Martins almost two years to hone their concept, scout for locations and comb through piles of research. The sisters needed time to fine-tune their wine knowledge and develop relationships with suppliers and other wine-industry insiders who could help them bring their idea to life.

“From the time we said, ‘What do you think?’ to actually looking for a place was about a year,” Elizabeth said. “We researched for at least six months. It was quite the process. We didn’t just jump into this blindly. We really tried to absorb ourselves in it as much as possible.”

However, one element that the Martins knew could make or break their wine bar was the location. They were insistent that it had to be in the Trussville Entertainment District.

“We always wanted to be in the Entertainment District,” Mary said. “We felt like it was a good fit for the community.”

“Honestly, we maybe wouldn’t have done it had we not been able to be in the Entertainment District,” Elizabeth added. “What we offer is so much different than a sports bar or a brewery that [the Entertainment District] just grounds everything we’re doing.”

Taking as their inspiration the wine shops and cafes of French culture, they christened the cafe Corbeau, the French word for “Crow,” their maiden name. The atmosphere of Corbeau is classic French Provençal, with a modern twist.

The Martins understand that the world of wine can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers who are interested in moving up from the typical choices on supermarket shelves.

A self-described “wine nerd,” Elizabeth is, perhaps, slightly more knowledgeable about wines than her sister, but it’s clear they both are well-versed in wine, though neither could be described as a “wine snob.” The Martins designed Corbeau Wine Bar as an inviting and casual space that is fun and accessible to everyone, rather than a clinical, museum-like atmosphere where newbies are afraid of messing up.

“Wine by itself can be so intimidating,” Elizabeth said. “The last thing we wanted was to create a space that felt intimidating on its own as well.”

Corbeau’s bar and retail wine selections are curated and

constantly evolving, representing old-world wines from France, Italy and Spain and new-world selections from the U.S., Chile, Argentina and Australia, just to name a few. The Martins are eager to show interesting wines from around the globe.

Corbeau is also one of the only wine bars in the state and the only one in the Birmingham metro area to offer the Napa Technology WineStation, a self-serve system allowing customers to pour small samples or full servings of dozens of wines on display.

The Martins have regularly scheduled events on the calendar each month, such as wine tastings and classes educating people on how to host their own wine tastings. The sisters said their goal is to demystify wine and provide people with an opportunity to explore and develop a deeper appreciation.

“We have people who are novices to wine and we have people who enjoy it and collect wine, and we’ve had a lot of people who are somewhere in between,” Mary said. “That’s the fun part of this job. Finding a wine that somebody loves.”

Corbeau Wine Bar is located at 160 Morrow Ave, Suite 112, and is open on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4 to 10 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Visit corbeaubar.com for more information.

Above: Elizabeth Martin, left, and Mary Martin, sisters and co-owners of Corbeau Wine Bar in downtown Trussville. Right: The shop in downtown Trussville sells a variety of wines, offers small plates and appetizers and hosts tastings twice a month at the shop. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

Tamburro’s Italian Home is now open in Trussville, in the former Seafood and Chicken Box location at 5954 Chalkville Mountain Road. Dick Tamburro is joined in ownership now by daughter Kyleen Kramer and daughter-in-law Tina Tamburro. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 205-508-3990

Take 5 Oil Change, located at 3635 Mary Taylor Road, is now open. Services include oil changes and car washes. 205-508-3499, take5.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Winn-Dixie store at 465 Main St. is being purchased by Aldi as part of a deal in which Aldi’s is buying about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s Supermarket stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Aldi said it plans to convert some stores to its own brand but intends to continue operating the rest under their current brands. 205-661-0026, winndixie.com, aldi.us

COMING SOON

Capella Pizzeria will be opening their second location soon, in the old IronStone Pizza location at 5445 Patrick Way. Capella’s offers authentic-style Napoletana style pizza cooked in wood-fire ovens, plus Italian gelato and desserts. Their first location is in Birmingham, at 4700 U.S. 280, Suite 13. 205-438-6108, capellapizzeria.com

The Peach Cobbler Factory is opening soon in Trussville at 5870 Trussville Crossings Blvd. They offer a large variety of premium cobblers, banana puddings, cinnamon rolls and cookies. peachcobblerfactory.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

Taylor DeGeorge has joined the RealtySouth office in Trussville at 182 Main St. B. 205-919-8819, realtysouth.com/cms/Bio/ taylordegeorge

Children’s of Alabama is proud to welcome a new pediatrician to Pediatrics East Trussville. Dr. Bryan Goolsby received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and his M.D. from the Emory University School of Medicine. He is boardcertified in pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is married with two children and enjoys spending time with his family, a variety of college and professional sports, and biking. 205-836-8691, childrensal.org

BUSINESS NEWS TO SHARE?

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

SCHOOLHOUSE

Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

New app, internal tracking system implemented at Trussville City Schools

By LOYD MCINTOSH

Trussville City Schools recently approved the adoption of two new pieces of technology aimed at improving student safety and transparency at Hewitt-Trussville High School.

Anonymous Alerts — an app allowing students to report issues in the school to administrators — and K12 Bloom — a software platform that enables school staff to track and analyze student behavior — were recommended to the Trussville Board of Education by Aaron King, the new principal at Hewitt-Trussville High School.

King used the two platforms during his time as principal of Huntsville High School and said he believes they can help improve the high school’s culture of safety and student discipline.

“Both of them have the ability to help with the school culture,” King said. “We have a great school culture here, but we can always improve.”

King brought Anonymous Alerts and K12 Bloom to the attention of Trussville officials during his interview process and believes they can help rebuild trust between school administrators with students and parents after the high school’s mishandling of threats made by a student last fall.

With Anonymous Alerts, students can report bullying, behavioral and other safety concerns at any time, without identifying themselves. The platform also enables school administrators to investigate and manage reports efficiently.

King said he believes the platform will also help school administrators identify other issues, such as students dealing with depression or potential emotional issues, as well as give them an inside view of what’s happening throughout the school.

“There is always kind of a layer beneath that you don't have visibility on,” King said. “Even as educators, we see the school at surface level, but as a student, they see another level that we don't get to see, through the lens of social media, their personal interactions and what that looks like on a dayto-day basis in class, the lunchroom, the library, etc.”

King said most kids want a safe and welcoming environment to pursue their academics and extracurricular activities and are eager to see disruptive behavior stopped. However, fear of retaliation or being ostracized often keeps them from feeling comfortable reporting problems to school administrators.

“They’re going to see things and hear things, but they don’t want to be that kid in the hallway telling you about something that they don’t want everyone else to know about,” King said. “This is a tool that gives kids a voice, especially the kids that maybe don't feel like they have one.”

“They can be on their Chromebook in class working on their classwork, but they can go into Anonymous Alerts and send us a little note that says, ‘I’ve got a friend that you need to go talk with, they’re having a difficult day,’” King said. “We might find out they need to speak with a guidance counselor because maybe they’re thinking about self-harm.”

King said he is aware that some kids will send some

frivolous alerts early on as the app is rolled out. Additionally, he explained that if a student sends a threat through the app, there are mechanisms that allow administrators to trace the device and the student making the threat.

K12 Bloom’s system for tracking positive and negative behaviors, addressing potential threats and managing interventions will be able to replace an outdated system of triplicate paper forms that, King said, have many points of failure.

“A lot of things can happen to that piece of paper and, maybe, not make its way to an administrator,” he said. “We want to make sure we can handle it timely and in a way that is commensurate with the infraction.”

With K12 Bloom, a teacher can write up a student and describe the incident in the platform, and as soon as the teacher hits “send,” a message is immediately sent to an administrative team that can respond within minutes rather than hours or, in some cases, days.

“If a student has some sort of event that they need to speak with an administrator over and that write-up comes in during the second period, we might be able to get him before they leave the class or even the next period if need be,” King said. “We are then calling home to let Mom and Dad know what happened in class today and this is how we're going to resolve it.”

The system also provides reports with statistical analyses of events and other data, allowing school administrators better oversight of the school.

“I can pull statistical information to determine what locations are the hotspots in our building or if there is any type of data that shows me a particular class or students who have the most write-ups at a fingertip's touch," King said.

The Trussville Board of Education approved the adoption of K12 Bloom and Anonymous Alerts during its Aug. 21 board meeting.

Trussville City Schools recently adopted the use of the Anonymous Alerts app for students to report bullying and safety concerns at the Aug. 21 Board of Education meeting. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Foundations 4 Hope 5K to raise money, awareness for clean water in Africa

By LOYD MCINTOSH

More than 300 runners are expected to race through the streets of Downtown Trussville in October for the second year of the Foundations 4 Hope 5K.

The goal of the 5K is to fundraise provide access to clean drinking water throughout eastern Africa as well as to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the region.

According to Foundations 4 Hope Vice President of U.S. Operations Matt Mullinax, the inaugural event in 2022 raised enough money to build freshwater wells for 10 African villages in areas where obtaining safe and clean water is a daily struggle and waterborne diseases, such as dysentery and typhoid, are widespread.

"I was in Kenya this past year, and there was a lady digging a hole in the side of a swamp. She was panning the water out of the hole and then pouring it into her can," Mullinax said. "That's the reason these waterborne illnesses are so prevalent."

Foundations 4 Hope specifically focuses

on the nations of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan. Estimates from various world health sources estimate that one in four children born in Africa will not reach the age of 15 due to poor access to health care and clean water.

A typical well built by Foundations 4 Hope not only provides safe and clean water for an entire village but allows young women and girls the opportunity to attend

Runners take off from the start line during the 2022 Foundations

4 Hope 5K in Trussville. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Benzia Photography.

school and church services, Mullinax said. He has witnessed girls travel as much as 12 miles per day to fetch water for basic daily needs. These wells make it possible for girls to pursue an education as well as deepen their faith in Christ.

"They get up when the sun comes up and that's what they start doing, fetching water. And they still have to do all of the food prep and do the laundry," Mullinax

said. "Providing these clean water wells just allows them to have a quality of life.”

The funds raised via the Foundations 4 Hope 5K and other donations also support the building of churches and living expenses for pastors in villages throughout the region.

Additionally, Foundations 4 Hope supports a school in Haiti that launched in 2017 with fewer than 10 children. Today, the school serves more than 350 children with a 98% graduation rate.

The Foundations 4 Hope 5K will also feature a specialty race called the Jerry Can 5K Relay. Consisting of a team of three racers, each team in the Jerry Can 5K will complete the 5K with a jerry can filled with five gallons (42 pounds) of water for men's teams and three gallons (25 pounds) of water for women's teams. The event gives participants the opportunity to experience the difficulty of carrying water in eastern Africa.

Registration for the Foundations 4 Hope 5k or the Jerry Can Relay is $35 per person. Register online at https://runsignup.com/ Race/AL/Trussville/Foundations4Hope5K.

‘Perseverance in difficult times’

By GARY LLOYD

Long before being the head football coach at Hewitt-Trussville — even prior to taking over as head coach at his alma mater, Shiloh Christian School in Arkansas — a teacher assigned Josh Floyd and his fellow nine-year-old classmates to find a hymn that was important to them.

Floyd wrote “Great is Thy Faithfulness” at the top of his paper.

“He said, and this might not have been exactly it, but ‘God has been faithful while my mother has breast cancer,’” said Jeana Floyd, the Hewitt-Trussville coach’s mother. “And so, I think, we tried to keep life as normal as we could. We didn’t want [Josh and his brother] to be frightened, and I think the Lord permitted me to be healthy enough in the midst of that that I was still mom.”

Jeana was 35 years old on Jan. 10, 1990, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Josh was nine, old enough to understand something was wrong, young enough to maybe not quite grasp the future effects. She went through six weeks of radiation, followed by six months of chemotherapy.

She hopes Josh learned from that experience about “perseverance in difficult times, you know, and trusting the Lord,” she said. “I would hope Josh would affirm that. That was the example, you know, that he saw from us. Just try not to instill fear in them, letting them know God was with us.”

The example resonated. Josh remembers his mother founding the Cancer Network of Northwest Arkansas, a support group for cancer patients and their families.

“I’ve seen her walk through things, you know, with families that have gone through it, and encouraged them,” he said. “She’s lost friends along the way from it. I’ve seen her walk through those moments as well. But I think, from my standpoint, just learning from it, is she had a situation that was bad in her life, a tough situation, and from that she learned and she grew, and she tried to help others through that. That was something that, again, at that age, did I totally understand? Probably not. But the older you get, [you realize] she didn’t have to pour into other people. I think it just taught me a life lesson that when things do go bad, if you can use those — allow the Lord to use it, use negative things — to try to help other people.”

Jeana published a book, “An Uninvited Guest,” about her cancer journey. She calls it the “pink book.”

“The Lord just placed a deep place in my heart for cancer patients,” she said. And, you know, it's a family experience. It's not just individual, and it affects the spouse in certain ways. It affects parents.

It affects children. But pretty much everybody's life has been touched by cancer either personally, through a family member or a close friend. Everybody knows somebody with cancer.”

Josh remembers reading the book and thinking his mother was “super strong through something that’s very difficult.”

“Again, as a kid, you don’t necessarily think your mom was just some super-strong person,” he said. “Now, I know all that moms and wives do. You appreciate it a lot more the older you get. When you’re a kid, you don’t really notice that as much. Seeing mom go through that, you’ve just got to be pretty tough. You’ve got to be mentally tough and

physically tough.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s become increasingly obvious annually on high school football fields across the country. Pink T-shirts cover the bleachers. Players pull pink socks to their knees and slide pink armbands over their wrists. Pink tape is wrapped over black cleats and the pre-game banner is colored with the recognizable pink ribbon. Jeana remembers either Peyton or Parker, two of her grandsons and two of Josh’s three sons, getting pink bands on their braces.

“Oh, it was so sweet,” she said. “Watching them wear either pink bands or socks, it never stops touching my heart.”

Josh hasn’t worn a ton of pink over the years, mostly because coaches aren’t typically taped up or wearing apparel like wristbands. Fans can’t see their socks under khaki pants. This October, he may wear a pink wristband or a pink hat, if Hewitt-Trussville has them. Regardless, Jeana will just be thrilled to attend one of those October games, watching the youngest of Josh’s sons, Jack, play on a Thursday night before Peyton and Parker take the field on Friday night.

“I do remember specifically begging God to let me live long enough to see the boys grow up,” Jeana said. “And he did answer that prayer. And then I prayed, ‘Lord, I would love to meet their wives.’ And he blessed me with more years to see them marry my lovely daughters-in-law. And then I said, ‘Lord, I'm really greedy. I'd like to live to see my grandchildren.’ And Peyton was first and he's a senior this year. So, the Lord has been extremely gracious, and I have had no recurrence of cancer. I've had many years now of health.”

Above: Josh Floyd, 9, his mother, Jeana, and brother, Nick, 6, after Jeana completed treatments for breast cancer. Photo courtesy of Jeana Floyd. Right: Josh Floyd and his mom, Jeana, in May 2020.

Photo courtesy of Josh Floyd.

UNDER THE LIGHTS

By KYLE PARMLEY

The high school football season has begun, and the true identity of each team is beginning to emerge. For Hewitt-Trussville, the Huskies got off to a tough start against Central-Phenix City, but they rebounded to earn wins over Gadsden City and Oak Mountain. The win over Oak Mountain was an impressive one to begin Class 7A, Region 3 play. Here are some highlights from the first few HewittTrussville games.

Photos by Shawn Bowles

Left: Kennedy Mitchell (6) scored two touchdowns on the ground against Central. Above: Jaqson Melton (5) rushed for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Oak Mountain.

Riggs Dunn (12) returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown against Central.

Jadon Loving (1) led the Huskies with 141 receiving yards and three touchdowns against Gadsden City.

By KYLE PARMLEY

September was by no means an easy month for the Hewitt-Trussville High School football team.

But October promises to be just as much of a challenge for the Huskies. They will round out the regular season with four games throughout the month, all Class 7A, Region 3 contests that will prove pivotal for potential playoff seeding.

Hewitt-Trussville welcomes four-time defending 7A state champion Thompson to Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Oct. 6. The last time the two teams played, the Huskies nearly won the game, but Thompson prevailed 14-12. The teams have met twice in the playoffs in recent years, with Thompson winning both of those matchups. Thompson holds a 9-6 edge in the series.

The Huskies follow that up with another stiff challenge, as they travel to Vestavia Hills to take on the building Rebels. In each of the last three seasons, the Huskies have won this matchup in a tight, high-scoring affair. Last season, Hewitt held on for a 45-37 win that would prove to be a strong victory. After losing the first 12 games in the series, Hewitt has won four of the last five meetings.

Hewitt-Trussville plays its final home game Oct. 20, as it hosts Spain Park in another pivotal contest. This appears to be a much different Spain Park program than the one the Huskies have blown out each of the last three seasons, including a 35-10 result last fall. Hewitt holds a 6-2 edge in the series.

Hewitt-Trussville wraps up the regular

Sports Editor’s Note

HewittTrussville linebacker Owen Robinson (30) reacts in a game at Heardmont Park on Sept. 8.

Huskies conclude regular season in October Varsity Sports Calendar

FOOTBALL

Oct. 6: vs. Thompson. 7 p.m.

season Oct. 27 with a trip to Chelsea, as the Huskies play their 10th game in 10 weeks. It remains to be seen how important this game could be for the Huskies, but they won 45-14 in this game last fall. Although the programs are only 30 miles apart, last season’s contest was the first meeting between the two.

Hewitt-Trussville will have an open week Nov. 3 ahead of a potential playoff run.

By Kyle Parmley

Why do we overreact?

By the time you read this, we will be smack in the middle of football season. High school, college and pro football are all in full force by now.

As the season goes, some teams ascend, some teams peak early and plateau and some teams are unable to pull themselves out of a rut and eventually bottom out.

There is a reason you play 10, 12 or 17 games in a season. Each game represents a chance to show off your team’s progress throughout the season. For some, that’s a great thing. For other teams, it brings further disappointment.

But one of the funniest things to me is that after the first week or two of a season, we all come to the table with the hottest of opinions. This team is terrible!

This team is amazing!

This coach should be fired!

Why do we do this, all based on one game? Why does everything have to be the greatest of all time or the worst of all time? There is plenty of space in between both of those places.

After game one, we are ready to crown national champions and fire coaches on the spot. And yes, sometimes the first game of a season is certainly an indication of the direction a team is going that season.

If you’re a fan of a high school team, sometimes your team is going to go 6-4 and squeeze into the playoffs. Sure, you wish they were good enough to win the state championship, but some of the best coaching jobs come from teams in this area.

If you’re a college football fan, sometimes your team is going to go 8-4 (that sounds like a dream for Auburn fans and a disaster for Alabama fans at this moment, but it won’t always be that way). And that’s OK some years. As long as the right people are in place and there is a vision toward the program’s values, you can see that dream season coming in the not-too-distant future.

It’s just human nature, but we are all prisoners of the moment at times. We label things

as one extreme or another.

For example, I was at the 2013 Iron Bowl and witnessed Auburn’s game-winning field goal return. So, it’s hard for me to ever say that a finish to the game is the wildest one I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure what can top that one as “the greatest finish I’ve seen.”

A great example of this is the 2014 season, when the Hoover High School football team lost its first two games. The Bucs were playing a pair of high-caliber out-of-state opponents, but I’m sure many supporters were anxious about the team. But Hoover didn’t allow a point in the next two games and ripped off 12 straight wins to capture a state championship.

In this 2023 season, there will be some great teams and some awful teams, but the majority of them will fall somewhere in the middle.

That coach you were worried about after the first game may lead his team to the state championship.

But I must say, the hot takes are always wildly entertaining.

Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at Starnes Media.

Oct. 13: @ Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: vs. Spain Park. 7 p.m.

Oct. 27: @ Chelsea. 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Oct. 3: @ Vestavia Hills. 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 5: vs. Springville, Albertville. Springville High School. TBA.

Oct. 10: vs. Thompson. 5 p.m.

Oct. 12: vs. Pinson Valley. 5 p.m.

Oct. 19: Area tournament. TBA.

Oct. 25-27: North Regional Tournament. Von Braun Center. TBA.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Oct. 14: Dew It On the Trails. Point Mallard.

Oct. 21: Husky Challenge. Hewitt-Trussville High School.

Oct. 26: Oakville Invitational. Oakville Indian Mounds Park.

FLAG FOOTBALL

Oct. 3: vs. Vestavia Hills, Spain Park. Vestavia Hills High School. 5 p.m.

Oct. 5: vs. Center Point. 6 p.m.

Oct. 11: @ Helena. 6 p.m.

Oct. 17: @ Hoover. 6 p.m.

Oct. 23: @ Oxford. 5:30 p.m.

Photo by Shawn Bowles.

Parmley

Southern Musings

By Gary Lloyd

Learning to treasure the moments

Most folks today rarely, if ever, look around.

Do I want someone staring down at me from one of those elevated booths as I slather ranch sauce on fried chicken at Jim ‘N Nick’s? Of course not.

But I’d take that every time over a dining room full of zombielike humans, mere feet from each other, faces buried in a glow of 15-second videos, swiping from one to the next with greasy fingers.

Sadly, that mindless scrolling is most of what we see these days, and not just over plates of chicken tenders. We see it in the chill of the frozen food section, in the heat of a Gulf Shores beach chair, in the dark of movie theaters, in the left lane of Interstate 459 at a smooth 87 mph. It hurts me each time I see it — more so because I know, at times, I’m also guilty.

But occasionally, in a world that needs an intervention due to technological overdose, there’s an old man who restores my faith. He’s never the same man by name, but always the same man by outlook, by character. His collared shirt is always tucked into pressed khaki pants, and he’s never one to shy away from conversation with a stranger. One night in August, that old man was perched in one of those elevated booths with his wife, under a flat-screen television tuned to ESPN.

We were at Jim ‘N Nick’s for dinner after our son’s fifth day of 3K, an interesting time for us all. A quiet house. Trusting others with our son. Our son was devouring honey-butter-covered cheese biscuits while we preached using his “inside voice.” It’s been nice having a daily routine, a normal work schedule. But I also feel guilty for that feeling, for feeling as if life is somehow easier at times with our son at school. I suppose it’s why parents try their absolute best to fill the remaining time with trips and experiences.

As we played I-Spy — our son seems to only want to play this game at Jim ‘N Nick’s — the old man and his wife prepared to leave. The old man stopped at our table and told us how precious our son was, how time slipped by so fast as his own son graduated high school and then college and was now a college professor.

“Treasure these moments,” he told us.

Then, he was gone, off to the closest handicap space in the parking lot, settling himself into the passenger seat wrapped in an Auburn University cover. I suppose I can forgive him for that. Maybe.

As we drove north on Highway 11 back home, country music shuffled on my Apple CarPlay. I always shuffle my 400-plus songs and hope for something I haven’t heard in a while. Of all the songs to play at the time, still thinking of the old man with the three simple yet powerful words of advice, “Three-Year-Old” by Eric Church played. It’s impossible to pick the best lyrics, but here are my favorites: “Sometimes, all you need is a hand to hold Couple arms to kill the cold And when you're wrong, you should just say so I learned that from a three-year-old”

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

Sean of the South

By Sean Dietrich

they, they, they

I was watching cable news today. They said this was the most challenging time in our national history. They said that circumstances have never been this bad. They said we’d be lucky to make it through these hard times in good enough shape to bury.

They said a lot of things.

Well, I got to thinking about “they” today. Who are “they,” anyway? “They” are everywhere. You can’t get away from “they.”

They are always talking at you. They are always making predictions. They are always telling you about things that are going to happen.

They are your invisible critics who love telling you what you can and cannot do. They are the voices that make quick judgments and pretend to know the score. They’re everywhere, and they never shut up. You’ve heard them before.

“They say not to eat eggs.”

“They say to avoid butter.”

“They say you should sing ‘Happy Birthday’ three times while washing your hands in the sink…”

“They say, with your kind of cancer, your chances of survival are bad.”

“They say you might never get your life back after the big mistakes you made.”

“They say you’re done for.”

“Hold up. Wait a second. Now they’re saying butter and eggs are good for you.”

They, they, they.

You can’t get away from them. Their voices penetrate your brain from every angle. And if you ever start to actually concentrate about what they’re saying, you’ll discover something important:

They are full of beans.

They have no idea; they don’t know you, they don’t know how you’re made or what kind of uncharacteristic strength lies within you. In fact, they don’t know jack diddly.

They said that Gerald would never recover from the chemo treatments that nearly killed him. They also said he was going to die before age 40. Gerald is 89 today, and healthy. And I wonder what “they” would have to say about that.

They were also wrong about Rachel, whose children and grandchildren abandoned her because they said she was a “drunk old woman.” They said her family was ruined, they said Rachel would never see her grandkids again.

Today, Rachel celebrated her 19th year of sobriety, and she just attended her grandchild’s 30th birthday party last week. She is closer to her family than ever before. They severely underestimated her.

They said Donald was going to die of a rare autoimmune disorder. He couldn’t keep weight on, he was severely malnourished. He was withering into oblivion, and he kept getting worse. Until one day — snap — it all changed. There were no logical explanations; nobody knows what brought the change. They can’t explain it.

It might have been all the prayers. Or it could have been that Donald finally quit listening to “them.” Either way, Donald is fully recovered now. He is at a healthy weight, and he is a personal trainer who can bench press a Buick Roadmaster.

They said that there was no way Mikayla would ever walk again. Due to a host of health problems after a car accident, Mikayla was using a wheelchair and losing use of her feet. Her cognitive skills were affected, and they said she might be in a vegetative state one day.

But that didn’t happen.

Somehow, Mikayla took a turn for the better. Again, I don’t know what the magic bullet was. I don’t know why the course of her destiny changed. I only know one thing: “they” were flat wrong about her.

And here’s the thing. They will often be wrong. In fact, they usually are. Which is why I want you to know something.

They can’t tell you what will happen in your life. They cannot see what the future will bring. And above all, they cannot tell you what you cannot do. So don’t let their voices in. Don’t listen to their falsely confident tone. Don’t let them boss you around. Don’t pay attention to them.

One day, you’re going to get through whatever private mess you’re going through. Someday, you will be surprised at how far you’ve come. And this transformation you undergo will not only blow your mind but, mark my words, it will blow “theirs,” too.

For once in their lives, “they” will be speechless.

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.

Dietrich

Lloyd

TRUSSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Mondays and Thursdays: Yarn Manglers. Mondays 6-7:30 p.m. and Thursdays 2-4 p.m. Knitters and crocheters, join for fellowship and creativity. Ages 18 and older.

Thursdays: Children’s Storytime. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time and lots of fun. Birth through pre-K.

Oct. 3: Friends of the Trussville Library Meeting. 11 a.m.-noon. Join us for the monthly meeting. This group’s members support library staff by providing extra hands for special events and money for programs and prizes.

Oct. 9: Teen-DIY Mini Hogwarts Trunk. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Calling all Harry Potter fans! Join us to create a DIY Mini Hogwarts Trunk. All supplies will be provided. 6th-12th grades.

Oct. 9: Buffy Trivia. 6:30-7:30 p.m. See how much you and your friends know about “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Register online

and compete for prizes. Ages 18 and older.

Oct. 10: Basic Sewing for Teens. 5-7 p.m. Join us to learn the basics in this monthly series with Ms. September.

Oct. 12: Writing Workshop for Kids. 4-5 p.m. Join us for a creative writing workshop as we create alternate endings for “The Skull: a Tyrolean Folktale” by Jon Klassen. Registration is required. 3rd-6th grades.

Oct. 12 and 26: Sewing for Charity. 6-7:50 p.m. Join us to sew items that are donated to various charities. Ages 18 and older.

Oct. 14: Bookin’ It 5K Race/Walk. 8-10 a.m. The Friends of the Trussville Library had so much fun raising money for the library last year, they had to do it again. See the library website for registration. All ages.

Oct. 16: 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. October’s title is “How to Sell a Haunted House” by Grady Hendrix. Ages 18 and older.

Oct. 18: Adult Book Club. 2-3 p.m. Join us each month. Check our online calendar or with the Adult Department for this month’s title. Ages 18 and older.

Oct. 19: Understanding Medicare. 1-2 p.m. Educational seminar about Medicare options. Your questions will be addressed by Health Benefits specialist Linda Reynolds. Ages 18 and older.

Oct. 19: Graphic Novel Book Club. 4-5 p.m. Read or listen to "Simon and Chester: Super Detectives" by Cale Atkinson, then join us as we discuss the book, play games and make a craft. Registration required. 1st-3rd grades.

Oct. 21: Skins & Skulls. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn about native Alabama mammals as the Jefferson County 4-H brings the skins and skulls of 10 different animals. All ages.

Oct. 30: Teen Halloween Trivia Night. 4:30-6 p.m. Join us for a fun night of Halloween themed trivia. We would love for you to wear your Halloween costume. Earn prizes for best costume and trivia winner. 6th-12th grades.

Oct. 31: Trick or Treat at the Library. 5-7 p.m. Stations will be set up around the library for children to collect candy and prizes. The stations will be decorated with various literary themes — see if you can guess them all. All ages.

Donna O’Barr Robinson always puts her clients first

At Red Barn Real Estate, Donna O’Barr Robinson — the agency’s founder — takes customer service very seriously.

“I just want to be the best I can be for my clients,” she says.

In fact, Robinson says that she and her fellow agents at Red Barn work hard to help their clients – in buying or selling property — to fulfill the “dreams and visions” they have for themselves and their families.

A veteran real estate agent, Robinson started the company in March 2021 in a unique venue — the red and white barn located on her property in Pinson.

Located at 5366 Clay-Palmerdale Road, Red Barn — now celebrating its second anniversary — is a full-service agency, including staging services, that has grown to three agents. Robinson also obtained her license as a real estate broker to better serve her clients.

Before starting Red Barn, Robinson worked at O’Neal Steel for 20 years and at Realty South for another decade.

Despite this long career, she relished taking on the exciting new challenge of running her own business.

“I’m trying to show my kids that you keep going and learn something new every day,” Robinson says.

She also draws tremendous comfort and strength from her religious faith in navigating the inevitable

challenges of running an agency.

“Give God your life, which includes your business, and H will provide for your needs,” Robinson says.

She expresses her deep gratitude to the many clients who have turned to Red Barn with their real estate needs since she founded the company.

Robinson’s clients have also expressed their appreciation to her in numerous testimonials.

“She is very honest and professional and made the whole process painless,” a client says.

“Not only is Donna a great realtor but she cares deeply for her customers,” another client says.

“Donna is one of the most thoughtful, caring real estate professionals with whom I’ve ever worked,” says another satisfied customer. “She truly cares about her clients as people first and as customers second.”

It is important to care about people, to treat them with kindness and to offer something positive during this tough period in our history, Robinson says.

“I feel like in this day and time people are worried and they’re afraid of what tomorrow is going to bring,” she says. “I like to do something that is encouraging, that lifts people up.”

For more information about Red Barn Real Estate and its services, visit redbarnala.com, call 205-305-6998 or email donna@redbarnala.com.

The Red Barn Real Estate Group

Donna Robinson

Michael Early Shelia Gray

Susie Gunter