BERRY ALWAYS BELIEVING CCHS running back doesn’t let size stop him. 18
Vol 1 | Issue 3 | JANUARY 2016 As Trussville As It Gets
Carving CHARACTERS Hobby yields thousands of handmade pieces. 10
Cabinetry Refinishing, LLC Unlimited Colors Cabinet Modifications/Additions Granite & Quartz Countertops Birmingham • 205-482-2133 www.cabinetryrefinishing.com
AN ANGEL ON THE RUN
‘TEAM’WORK FOR COMMUNITY
Nonprofit Ainsley’s Angels of America helps Hewitt-Trussville High’s Tim Tankersley fulfill his passion for races. 14
Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry offers goods and love to those who need them. 4
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I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. For me, I prefer to make changes in my life as soon as I realize they need to be made. I’m afraid that if I delay those new steps for weeks or months, I’ll forget or laziness will kick in and the change will never happen. However, I still like the things that New Year’s represents: a fresh start, a chance to reflect on experience and learn from it. Some people need the definite starting point of Jan. 1 to begin improving themselves, and I think that’s great, too. The fact that you’re embracing change and working toward it is more important that what day you start. As we step into the first days of 2016, I would encourage you to think big as you set your resolutions. Where do you want to be this year? What do you want to see? When December rolls around again, what will fill you with regret if you haven’t done it? Every year, I try to pick a person who exemplifies what I want to be but am not. Many years it has been Mr. Rogers, who had a kindness, calmness and generosity of spirit that I’m not sure any other human can achieve. This year it’s my grandfather, who passed away in October but lived his entire life full of adventure, exuberance and joy. On the days when I am tired, grumpy and just want to do the bare minimum to get through the day, I remind myself of that person and try to end the day as a better human being than when I started. Pick whatever lights a fire in you – a person to emulate, a goal to achieve – and strive for it in 2016. Help those around you who are striving for goals of their own, as well. May your memories of 2015 be sweet, and your goals for 2016 be bold.
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Editor’s Note
By Sydney Cromwell
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Tears run down the face of Clay-Chalkville senior Chris Robinson after the Cougars fell 31-28 to Spanish Fort in the state championship game, capping off a previously unbeaten season. Photo by Ron Burkett.
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Published by : Cahaba Sun LLC Legals: The Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Cahaba Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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TEAM offers goods, love to community By CHRIS MEGGINSON For more than a decade, the volunteers at Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry (TEAM) have guided their work with a phrase from the First Epistle of John: “Let us not love with words and speech, but actions and in truth.” Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. and Thursdays 5 to 7 p.m., a group of volunteers opens the doors at 88 Cedar Lane to those in need, providing food, clothing and other items as available. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit, multidenominational ministry aims to meet the needs of Trussville citizens and others in the surrounding area. Those who walk through the door may be young, old, unemployed or raising grandchildren on only their Social Security check. They include families so in need that a little boy once refused a free toothbrush because he’d rather share with his brother so someone else can have it. “We’ve had clients come into TEAM and stare at the floor and say, ‘I have never been in a place like this. I am always the one giving, but I just lost my job,’” said Louise Jensen, who heads the ministry’s board of volunteers. Through the first three quarters of 2015,
TEAM distributed an average of 460 grocery bags of food each month, serving 360 families, including 101 new families. That number increased through the holidays and early winter months, leaving shelves bare as 2016 begins. Each year, families can come to TEAM once a month for nine months out of the year for food. They can pick up a bag of food for each member of their household they’ve registered with the ministry. Clothing assistance is also available twice a month, every month. And in some situations, utility assistance is provided to eligible Trussville citizens. Their annual clock started over on January 1. “We have a barrage in January,” said Ann Forde, board secretary. “We really need the assistance of food drives.” Next month, TEAM will partner with businesses and churches across Trussville to restock its food pantry for the annual “Love Your Neighbor Food Drive” with a large communitywide drop-off day Feb. 12 at First United Methodist Church Trussville. The food drive, which also partners with local Boy Scout and Brownie troops as well as the local schools, has also helped inspire children to give. “We have several young girls who were The Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry provides an average of 460 bags of food having birthday parties, and instead of to area families each month. Photo by Ron Burkett.
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receiving gifts they wanted their friends to bring food for TEAM,” Jensen said. “One girl has done this for the past two years.” Another, an anonymous Brownie, left a note one day with her donation after helping out with her troop. “After I went home from helping out, it was all I talked about, and it made me want to give away all my toys. So here are some of them, but I know you need so much more,” the girl wrote. Jensen likes to point out, “You don’t have to go out of the country to serve. You can give to your local mission, which is TEAM.” Tax-deductible donations can be dropped off at the TEAM building during its hours of operation or at its drop box in the carport. In addition to the organizations that make up the TEAM board, the mission has ongoing relationships for donations with Kids Market and others, such as Publix on Old Springville Road, which donates its day-old baked goods each day TEAM is open. Volunteers are always welcome, whether it be helping with major drives or working one of the five weekly two-hour time slots handing out food. Forde, who has been volunteering for 11 years, currently schedules TEAM volunteers and says the work is rewarding. “I didn’t know then how much time this would eventually take, but I don’t know what I’d do without it. It’s a lot of fun. I’m fortunate to work with a bunch of great people,”
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TEAM For more information about becoming eligible for assistance, volunteering or specific donation needs, call TEAM at 661-5039 or visit its Facebook Page: TEAM (Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry).
A volunteer prepares clothing donations at the Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry. Photo by Ron Burkett.
Forde said. Individuals become eligible for TEAM assistance by living in an eligible area and by filling out a file during operating hours. For those seeking to be added to the list, TEAM encourages documentation for each family member (driver’s license, Social Security card, school ID or a birth certificate, etc.) to be provided to document the household
members, as well as a utility bill as proof of address. TEAM is comprised of board members from eight organizations: Clearbranch United Methodist Church, Deerfoot Baptist Church, Faith Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church Trussville, First Baptist Church Trussville, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church and its
newest partner, the McSweeney Foundation. For more information about becoming eligible for assistance, volunteering or specific donation needs, call TEAM at 6615039 during its hours of operation or visit its Facebook page: TEAM (Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry). Monetary donations may be mailed to TEAM., PO Box 632, Trussville, AL 35173.
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Superintendent to speak at Trussville Area Chamber Luncheon By CHRIS MEGGINSON Dr. Pattie Neill, superintendent of Trussville City Schools, is scheduled to address the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce with her annual update when the group gathers for its first luncheon of the calendar year, Thursday, Jan. 21. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Trussville Civic Center. Neill will speak shortly after the lunch. “It’s always an honor to speak at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, because I always love addressing my stakeholders. It’s usually very crowded,” Neill said. Luncheon attendees can expect to hear about TCS’s character education and anti-bullying program: PACE (Positive Attitudes Change Everything). Neill, who is in her fourth year as Trussville City Schools superintendent, says she ran a similar program when she was superintendent of the Cumberland County School District in Crossville, Tennessee from 2003-2007. “At the school level, this particular
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If you’re a school principal and you think you can reduce your discipline events by 46 percent, you’re going to listen.
”
SUPERINTENDENT PATTIE NEILL
program reduced discipline events by 46 percent. If you’re a school principal and you think you can reduce your discipline events by 46 percent, you’re going to listen,” Neill said. Neill also plans to provide updates on TCS’s reaccreditation review, a recent visit from State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice and three innovative programs offered in the school system: Payne Elementary’s robotics program, Hewitt-Trussville Middle
School’s Club Day and Hewitt-Trussville High School’s pre-pharmacy, fire science and EMS programs. The January luncheon will begin with a 30-minute network development time during which members and guests can network and exchange business cards with the estimated 80-100 individuals expected to attend. Prior to lunch, the Chamber will honor its monthly Customer Service Award winners. Door prizes will also be given away. To register, visit TrussvilleChamber.com or contact June Mathews by phone at 6657535 or email june.mathews@trussvillechamber.com. Cost is $17 (cash or check) or $17.34 if paying by credit or debit card (2 percent processing fee). Online registration is closed at midnight on Monday, Jan. 18, but the Chamber office will accept registration by phone until noon Tuesday, Jan. 19. All nonmembers must pay in advance. The address for the Trussville Civic Center is 5381 Trussville-Clay Road, Trussville, AL 35173.
Chamber of Commerce January Luncheon WHEN: Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville-Clay Road, Trussville, AL 35173 COST: $17 per person CONTACT: 655-7535
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Above: Gloria Rogers holds up the key to her new home in the Trussville area. Below: Members of the MBHS Interact Club stand with the Rogers family, who moved into the Habitat for Humanity house they built. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
Habitat completes Trussville home By SYDNEY CROMWELL Gloria Rogers became a homeowner on Dec. 6. Her new home in the Trussville area was built by Habitat for Humanity, with the help of Mountain Brook High School and Mountain Brook Baptist Church. MBHS students have been working with Habitat for Humanity since 2002. Each year, students spend about two months fundraising and constructing a home in the Birmingham area, led by the school’s Interact Club. Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Coordinator Eric Mason said each Saturday work shift brought around 25 student volunteers. “They were full every day we had,” Mason said. The dedication on Dec. 6 included the giving of a Bible frame and picture collage from the construction to the family. Habitat’s
Birmingham chapter CEO and President, Charles Moore, led the ceremony and said the Rogers family gave 300 hours of “sweat equity,” working on their house and others as part of the agreement to receive the home. They will make mortgage payments to help Habitat for Humanity build more homes. “I know you’ll make this house a beautiful home for your family,” Rogers said. MBHS students also stocked the Rogers’ pantry and some volunteers built a bookcase, which 2nd and Charles and the Literacy Council stocked with books. During the ceremony, Rogers said that even if the students had trouble occasionally in learning to construct a house, they never hesitated to help. “These guys have been amazing. They’ve been consistent, they haven’t complained,” Rogers said. “I really appreciate you guys.”
HE ONCE UPDATED HIS DAD’S SMART PHONE, TABLET AND LAPTOP IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. ALL WITHOUT LEAVING THE COMFORT OF HIS FOOTIE PAJAMAS. C H I L D R E N A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine. 1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org
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Greenway project nears completion By CHRIS YOW
The first phase of the current project is to remove the current sidewalks and to layout the project. The pedestrian bridge and sidewalks will be completed and then lighting will come before the landscaping. Photo by Chris Yow.
The Trussville Greenways project has been a long, ongoing process. In fact, the federal grant was received 17 years ago in 1998. This coming summer, however, the project is expected to be completed. Doubters will likely be skeptical, but the new contractor has a proven track record. Demolition and construction on the project has already begun, following a meeting with Alabama Department of Transportation representatives, city officials and project managers at the end of 2015. The project has a time frame of 180 working days. Working days are considered Monday-Friday with permitting weather. The project, which is funded by a federal grant administered by ALDOT, is for walking trails and lighting that will connect several city parks along the Cahaba River, including the Trussville Sports Complex. In 2013, the last contractor to work on the project was unable to complete the project within the 180-day timeframe. In 2015, Walker Patton Contracting was awarded the bid on the project. The entire project cost $1.7 million. The city paid its share of $900,000 in October of this year. “This project has been a nightmare,” Trussville Mayor Gene Melton said. “I don’t know that we’ll ever do another federally-funded project again.” In 2012, then-City Council President Brian Plant said, “It’s the most frustrating project that we have ever been involved with. It’s our city, it’s our park
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and we have absolutely no control over the construction. I would have to seriously consider whether or not it is worth ever pursuing another grant like this.” Walker Patton is the same contractor who finished the work at the Veteran’s Memorial, and is familiar with the project and the issues. Representatives from the company were very confident during the pre-construction meeting last month that work will be completed within the timeline given. At this point, however, other projects could become a hindrance. Melton said he would have to carefully watch the library expansion project. “The two projects back up to one another, and we’ve got to keep an eye out so that one doesn’t mess with the other,” he said. “We’ve got a lot going on right now, and keeping everybody going is the key.” The first phase of the current project is to remove the current sidewalks and to layout the project. The pedestrian bridge and sidewalks will be completed and then lighting will come before the landscaping. The contractors also have to figure out how to protect a nearby archaeological site and the stone that is to be laid along the riverbank. The original plans call for “native stone” to line the banks of the Cahaba River, but there is not enough stone to make that happen. There will have to be stone brought into the final design, although there could be some native stones mixed in. Melton was sure to mention the color of the sidewalk should match the color of the
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Progress has been stalled on the Trussville Greenway, but city officials and contractors are promising a summer 2016 completion. Photo by Chris Yow.
sidewalks at Civitan Park. The contractor noted he understood, but the color would not be exactly the same in the beginning due to weather wear on the concrete at the park. “We don’t want this project to look like it was just thrown together,” Melton said. “This has got to be done right.” After 17 years of waiting, the citizens of Trussville are hesitant to accept promises, but this time the city, ALDOT and other officials
are confident in the abilities of the contractor to finish. Resident David Nix said he was hesitant to believe the project will be completed. “It’s a disaster,” he said. “I’m not optimistic just because of the past.” Several other citizens echoed that sentiment. Jef Freeman of Downtown Redevelopment said he was hopeful the project would be
completed because of its economic impact. “When the Greenway is finished, it will assist us in recruiting developers to downtown Trussville,” Freeman said. The mayor agreed, and added the project will be something Trussville residents will be proud of when it’s finished. “By the end of the summer in 2016, we are going to have a beautiful place right here in Trussville,” Melton said.
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Randy Flowers said one of his favorite things to carve is a caricature, as he gets to have fun without worrying about the accuracy of the face. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
Carving a character By SYDNEY CROMWELL What attracted Randy Flowers to carving wasn’t the woodwork itself. He wanted to collect chess sets, and some friends who carved had a pattern for a “hillbilly chess set.” “I’ve always liked piddling with stuff and making stuff with my hands, so I said, ‘I can do that!’” Flowers said. Nearly 40 years and hundreds of carvings later, the Trussville resident never got around to making the chess set. His talent and love for carving, however, has only gotten stronger. “Anybody can carve,” Flowers said. “Really it just takes the willingness to want to do it, to try. You’re going to make mistakes, use that as a learning experience and all, and over time you’d be surprised what any individual can do.” Flowers’ day job is working with security systems for Southern Company’s nuclear power plants. He travels a lot, so carving is just a hobby for his downtime. He gives many away as gifts to friends and family, but the time and effort of carving makes each one special. “Everything becomes a piece of the family,” Flowers said. Because of that, the Flowers home is dotted with wood carvings. There are a number of Santa Clauses and cowboys, which were some of Flowers’ first projects,
Flowers works on carving a face out of a piece of basswood.
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Flowers sits in his Trussville home’s kitchen with some of his wood carvings and his toolkit. He has been carving for nearly 40 years. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
An avid carver, Flowers has a table full of partially finished creations for friends, family and his own enjoyment.
as well as more unique carvings such as an igloo with its resident’s feet sticking out of the entrance. Flowers enjoys carving a lot of caricatures because he can tell a story and have some fun without worrying too much about accuracy. If the ears are lopsided or the nose turns out too big, that’s no problem. He said sometimes people see a resemblance to real faces in his carvings, but he is rarely working from a pattern. “I generally just start with a block of wood and whatever comes out, comes out,” Flowers said. Some of his carvings are more memorable. When Flowers’ sons were in the HTHS Husky Band, Flowers remembers the band booster club president trying to demonstrate how the color guard’s capes would look. When the president posed to show how the capes would look, a fellow parent joked that he practiced that pose in front of the mirror. At the Christmas concert that year, Flowers gave the booster president a gift — a carving of himself, standing in front of a mirror with the color guard cape. In 2012, Auburn University had a particularly bad football season and a fan gained local fame for attending games with a paper bag on his head. To tease an Auburn fan friend, Flowers carved the paper bag fan as
a Christmas gift. Many times, Flowers said any mistakes he makes while carving can be adapted to fit the overall goal. There’s only been one carving he gave up on entirely: an attempted statue of his oldest son and his wife. “I tried to practice on a woman’s face and it was the ugliest man I’ve ever seen, much less the woman. So I just kind of pushed it aside,” Flowers said. Since then, he mostly sticks with male faces. Flowers said he enjoys adding wrinkles and other elements to his caricatures to give them character. As Flowers describes it, he has two big problems in carving: procrastination and not knowing when to quit. He said he has carved gifts on Christmas Eve more than once. He also recalled a class where he couldn’t get the face of a carving quite right, and the instructor finally told him to stop carving and paint it. “It’s one of my favorite ones now,” Flowers said. “You can do a great carving and then a bad paint job and ruin it, or you can take an OK carving and do a great paint job and it’ll look great.” Giving away his creations, he said, is a lot of fun. Flowers has also taught a Sunday school class at First Baptist Trussville based
on carving and has held Christmas parties for Independence Place, which provides social and recreational opportunities for adults with special needs. Flowers’ wife, Cindy, volunteers there. Each person at the party gets a small wood carving at the end. “That’s just the thrill. To see the look on their face, it makes me feel good,” Flowers said. Flowers meets with the Tannehill Woodcarvers each month, which he said is a nice chance to take a break and clear his head. He has also taught classes for about five years. In his first class, only one person got injured. Unfortunately, that person was Flowers. “Give it a try. Just have a lot of Band-Aids around,” Flowers said. “You can have fun even with little stuff… but it’s something that’s really relaxing.” Above all, Flowers said that he has kept up wood carving because he enjoys the calm feeling of focusing on his work, and seeing the finished product look better than he had hoped. “When I actually sit down and carve, the world kind of goes away during that period of time,” Flowers said, then continued in his characteristic joking manner, “until she [Cindy] starts complaining about all the chips on the floor.”
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Angel on the run By SAIGE LEOPARD Crossing a finish line is a good feeling for anyone — whether an avid or a novice runner. But for Trussville resident and special needs high school student Tim Tankersley, 18, it means even more. Diagnosed at six months old with cerebral palsy, Tim is legally blind and is in a wheelchair, but his days are spent much like other teens — choosing a sport to play or a club to participate in, and the highlights of the school day are seeing friends and lunch. “He loves school, and he’s extremely social,” said his mom, Dorinda Tankersley. “He loves to go and do and see people.” Dorinda and her husband, Jeff, Trussville residents for 12 years, have known for a long time that Tim also loves to move fast. Now, Tim’s passions include competing in 5K races, or 3.1 miles. “He’s always loved amusement parks and roller coasters,” Dorinda says. He, along with five other special needs athletes from the Birmingham area, recently competed in October’s Maple Leaf Run and November’s Blow Away 5K with the help of Ainsley’s Angels of America. The nonprofit group provides race wheelchairs and entry fees to special needs athletes and motivation to the runners who will be pushing them or running alongside them. Ainsley’s Central Alabama Ambassador Vera Spinks
knows firsthand what this organization can do for their Angel rider athletes. Her 13-year-old daughter, Kylie, also has cerebral palsy. After much prodding from Kylie to start running together, Spinks started the nonprofit in Alabama, making her home base Tuscaloosa two years ago. “Many ‘runners’ think of it as pushing someone,” Spinks said. “I always promise them that the athlete will be pulling them by the end of the race.” The organization also forms “teams” for the participant — comprised of a special needs athlete or rider, a runner and a guardian — someone who assists in helping the rider and runner accomplish their goal that day. But the team aspect goes far beyond just placing a special needs person with someone to push the wheelchair. The rider athletes get the chance to accomplish something on their own. It also gives parents or caretakers a secure spot on the sidelines, cheering on their loved one. “We didn’t just want it to be a parent-child team,” Spinks says. “That’s why it was organized this way.” And truly, the word “team” has many connotations. For local coach James “Jamey” Curlee, 46, teamwork is nothing new. An 18-year veteran teacher at Hewitt-Trussville High School, Curlee teaches biomedical science and coaches lacrosse and cross-country. As a previous children’s pastor at CrossPoint Church in Argo, he’s known Tim a long time, and he still attends
HTHS teacher and coach Jamey Curlee participated in the Maple Leaf 5K with his wife, Janet, daughter Miley and student Tim Tankersley. Photo courtesy of Dorinda Tankersley.
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church with the Tankersleys. He also sees Tim at school often — in his classroom and even for just a short friendly hello in the hallways during the school day. Curlee says that coaching cross-country keeps him in shape throughout the year, and he has finished plenty of 5Ks and half marathons. He said he stood proudly at Tim’s side during the recent races, but getting to be Tim’s “runner” hasn’t been an easy path. With Tim weighing almost 100 pounds, plus the weight of a much older wheelchair, it proved more difficult than expected when he pushed him in the 2014 Maple Leaf Run. “It was ridiculously hard,” Curlee said. After that race, he worked out a new plan. Curlee’s wife, Janet, discovered Ainsley’s Angels online and got involved. He was then able to push Tim in this year’s CrossPoint 5K and the Maple Leaf Run using the provided much lighter wheelchair. “I know him well enough to know when he’s happy and excited, and I just love hearing him laugh and cut up when we do the races together,” Curlee says. He has a bucket list for their team’s future, too. “My goal is to run the Mercedes half marathon with Tim,” he says. The rest of the Tankersley family doesn’t share a love of running, Dorinda says, and all this wouldn’t be possible without Curlee’s help. “We are not runners,” she chuckles. “He is a brave man. They have always had such a great relationship. Tim loves doing this with Coach Curlee, and he’s an absolute blessing to Tim.” Spinks is hoping to grow Ainsley’s Angels in the area so that more people can race and accomplish their goal. The current race schedule and more information about Ainsley’s Angels is available at ainsleyangels.org.
Coach Jamey Curlee fist-bumps student Tim Tankersley. They raced together in the city’s Maple Leaf Run and Blow Away 5K. Photo by Ron Burkett.
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Brilliant displays Photos by RON BURKETT
T
he holiday season may be at its end, but we wanted to celebrate the hard work our Trussville neighbors put into decorating their homes for Christmas. Photographer Ron Burkett traveled around the city to capture the lights, inflatables and Nativity scenes that decorated our city in December.
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Above: Brandon Berry (1) opens his senior campaign with a 130-yard, two-touchdown performance at Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Bottom right: Berry looks on during his team’s blowout victory in Tony Lunceford Stadium to open Class 6A, Region 6 play on Aug. 28. Photos by Ron Burkett.
Brandon Berry: Unstoppable By ERIK HARRIS It was the dawn of December 2015 and Brandon Berry sat, surrounded by the latest broadcast of SportsCenter and walls peppered with Clay-Chalkville football news clippings. The Class of 2016 running back was in his bedroom, not far from the campus of Clay-Chalkville High School, when he opened his iPhone for a quick Twitter post. He knew the upcoming days were ripe with possibility. That possibility was made present thanks in large part to years of shaping from Yvette Murray. The single mother has built her son’s toughness like a builder creates a busy bridge.
Murray began boarding down that strength throughout Berry’s greenest of days. It was a steamy Saturday afternoon in Birmingham’s East Lake Park when she tightly grasped 4-year-old Berry’s face mask, knelt down and showered him with tough love. “I really wasn’t supposed to be playing because I was only 4 and you were supposed to be five, but they put me in the game and this kid ran me over,” said Berry of his most vivid memory. “On the next play my momma grabbed me and said, ‘Are you going to let him run you over like that?’” The short, stocky youngster, constantly fighting the threat of tripping over the bottom of his own uniform, answered her not with words, but with a shock heard round the park.
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“I came back and hit him real hard and it made a loud noise. After that, I was known as Shock Dog,” said Berry. Years removed from his little league nickname and days prior to the 2015 Class 6A state championship game in Tuscaloosa, Berry sat in the quiet of his room, clicking his way through a passionate Twitter post. “Last senior game, what do I have to lose? Just play all out and go hard every play! Make them notice you,” wrote Berry on Dec. 1. Three days later, the slashing runner stayed true to his words, and did so under Alabama high school football’s brightest lights. Berry, the starting ball carrier for topranked Clay-Chalkville, led his team with 129 all-purpose yards in the 6A state finals against No. 2 Spanish Fort. Despite the flashy numbers, it’s what Berry did without the ball that makes his mom smile. After being pulled down for a 10-yard loss on the previous play, Berry reached back into his past to find some of that old shock. He peeled back and delivered a charge into Toro defensive back Cedrick Dees that opened the sideline for T.J. Simmons to convert a 3rdand-29 with a 52-yard touchdown, reviving the Cougars back into a 14-7 ballgame. “I just wanted to go out with my team and perform the best I can,” said Berry as he scrolled through his highlights in the ClayChalkville locker room. “Even when the ball
JANUARY 2016 | 19
is not coming towards me or I’m not getting the ball, just go make a block that can probably turn into a touchdown.” As Berry thumbed through his senior highlights, underclassmen tossing a football just feet away on the field he collected a 28-2 record on, he had a lot to look at. His stats are plenty — 133 carries for 1,028 yards and six scores as a senior to go along with a 9.7 yards per catch average. There’s nothing minimal about his heart or his work ethic, but the first thing college coaches see when they look at this otherwise limitless player is his short stature. “The only thing he has going against him is the size, because he has the ability and he’s very smart,” said Berry’s high school running backs coach, Bret Rogers. “He knows what to do, he knows what the people around him are supposed to do, so it helps when he’s out there and it hurts when he’s not, because some of the people around him rely on him to tell them what to do.” “Some of the schools look at the height and weight before they even come and look at the video,” continued Rogers. The departing senior, standing at roughly 5-foot-6 and described by Murray as a pit bull, has never been the tallest guy in the huddle and has never let that curb his ambition. “My dad always told me that height has nothing to do with it. It’s about what kind of heart you have, and my heart is as big as
anyone’s and I’m not scared of anything,” said Berry, a deep glimmer of passion filling his eyes. It was an easy Sunday not so long ago when Murray saw that same passion. Berry and Murray settled into their seat in the Worship Center on Derby Parkway in Birmingham as he flipped open his notebook and readied his pen. “I thought he [Berry] was bringing his notebook into church so he could write down what the pastor was saying,” said Murray, who later discovered her son inking a script of football plays into his pages. “However, he told me verbatim what the pastor had been talking about, so he was paying attention somehow,” added Murray. Now, if he could only get that same attention from college coaches. Unlike many 1,000-yard rushers, Berry has a deeply rooted wish of playing college football, but no scholarship offers to call his own. With National Signing Day quickly approaching in February, he calmly scrolls through his many highlights, just waiting for an opportunity. “I do have interest in playing in college because I love football,” said Berry. “I’m emotional and passionate about it. Ever since I was little, I just wanted to play football.” Scholarship or not, some runners can’t be stopped. “If I have an opportunity to walk on, I will walk on,” said Berry. “I’ll work hard
and won’t be lazy at any time. I can earn a scholarship wherever I go.” That opportunity begins and ends with a most trusted father figure. Jerry Hood has served as Clay-Chalkville’s head coach for seven years, compiling an on-field record of 78-12. Twenty-nine of those wins came consecutively over the past two seasons [tied for the 14th longest winning streak in state history] before second-ranked Spanish Fort ended the Cougars’ quest to repeat as 6A state champions in the 2015 Super 7 title game. Hood’s impact reaches much farther than the win-loss column, though. “I’ve been a single parent for a long time,” said Murray. “Hood has always been like a father figure to all of the guys, but I know he’s always been a father figure to Brandon and always encouraging him.” According to Hood, he has sent around 42 players to the next level. “My mom asked me what college I wanted to go to and I just told her that we have to trust in Coach Hood. Every time for his seniors, he makes something happen,” said Berry. “[Hood] is going to make sure I go to college, even if it’s not for a football scholarship.” As the sun fell, bleeding orange over the turf in Cougar Stadium, Berry rose from his chair in the quiet office and remembered — there’s still some weights that need lifting and highlights that need posting.
Clay-Chalkville running back Brandon Berry turns upfield against Spanish Fort in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Dec. 4. Photo by Ron Burkett.
We are searching for Trussville’s best salesperson. But this isn’t just about making phone calls or sending emails. If you know how to build lasting relationships with a wide variety of people, and you have the drive to be the best at what you do, we’d like to talk.
205-313-1780 | jobs@starnespublishing.com
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HTHS lacrosse aims high in 3rd season By ERIK HARRIS Hewitt-Trussville’s lacrosse program has only existed for three years, yet the expectations couldn’t be much higher. “Our expectation since last year is to win state. That’s our goal and we’re going to work harder every day,” said Hewitt-Trussville senior J.B. Curlee, the son of coach Jamey Curlee. “We’re going to try just as hard as we did last year to make it to playoffs and hopefully make it to state. That next level is always a goal for us,” added Katie Witte, who serves as a senior leader on the Huskies’ girls team. Both squads shattered expectations last season, reaching the playoffs in only the second year operating at the high school level. Hewitt-Trussville, like all other lacrosse teams in the state, competes at the club level. Without a decision J.B. made five years ago, the young program might not be around at all, much less flourishing. Curlee remembers when his son, a middle school student at the time, darkened his doorway and told him lacrosse was his sport of choice. “I knew nothing about [lacrosse] and I had coached football and baseball here for 10 years. For him to come home and say he
From left to right: J.B. Curlee, Katie Witte, Tyler Wills, Emma Burford and Skylar Defuank. Kneeling: Lizzy Witte. Photo by Erik Harris.
wanted to play lacrosse, I was like, ‘I don’t even know what that is,’” said Curlee. “But after a year of him playing it, I began to like it and I began to see the beauty of the combination of all the sports.”
That beauty needed to be seen in Trussville. Young J.B. was playing his newfound game, but was forced to commute to Mountain Brook to do so. With homework to be done and sleep to be had, J.B. was logging
long nights across town and something had to change. “There wasn’t a Hewitt team yet, so I went to play at Mountain Brook and it was all right, but the practices started at 8:30 and ended at 10:30 so I was getting home at 11 every night, which is not ideal for a student, so my dad got curious and asked ‘What if we just make a team here in Trussville?’” said J.B. After asking a few questions and recruiting just enough kids, Curlee had launched a team. Most of the kids involved were picking up a lacrosse stick for the first time, so patience was needed to build this project. “At the first practice, we had to pretty much explain to everyone how to catch and throw, what the rules are, and that took a pretty long time, so we weren’t really expecting anything the first year,” said J.B. Twenty-four guys took the field that opening season in 2014. The girls’ team was even smaller, and the final result screamed inexperience. Both units combined for a 2-22 overall record, with the guys holding a 2-10 mark at the end of a tough first season. “It’s so awful. You get so scared because you have to go out and play against teams who have been playing for multiple years and you don’t know what you’re doing,” said Witte.
As
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“Now you walk out onto the field and you’re telling the new girls where to stand and what to do.” Naturally, players from both Hewitt-Trussville teams have begun to find confidence. The girls and boys rosters celebrated landmark victories last spring and hope to carry that momentum into 2016. Head coach Tom McCormick and the girls welcome back plenty of experience from 2015’s postseason run. His team is headlined by UAH signee LeAnn Guess, who became the third female Husky to sign an athletic scholarship. McCormick won’t be lacking smarts on his roster with a pair of U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-Americans returning for their senior campaigns. Witte and Emma Burford began playing for McCormick as sophomores, and have mastered the art of juggling academics and athletics. “Lots of times [I’ll be] waiting on practice to start and I’ll already be typing up an essay on my phone or something like that and making it work,” said Burford. “We’re working hard to not only live up to what we did last season, but to go farther.” On the boys’ side, head coach Kris Knisely will have eight returning starters to work with in 2016. His team finished last year 6-5, culminating with a loss in the semifinal round of the playoffs. Offensively, Knisely will look to Carter McAlpin and Ben Wedlin for production. “The biggest thing for Carter [McAlpin] is
LeAnn Guess (far left) signs to play lacrosse for the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Photo by Erik Harris.
he sees the field and he can anticipate what’s going to happen,” said Knisely. “He’s very athletic too.” Mitchell Peterson will return as an experienced faceoff weapon. Knisely expects Hunter Bailey and Gabe Hodge, both underclassmen, to share the net. J.B., perhaps the most experienced Husky, will need to bring
10 OPTIONS IN JANUARY TUESDAY, JAN. 5TH THURSDAY, JAN. 7TH SATURDAY, JAN. 9TH TUESDAY, JAN. 12TH
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leadership to the defense. At the end of the season, Curlee hopes to hoist a state championship trophy, but keeps a wider perspective on the task at hand. “It would be great to win state, but with all of us coaches, our goal is to produce better men and women for our community and
that’s what we’re really trying to do,” said Curlee, grinning as he remembers a quiet drive through Trussville. “I’ve driven by here at 6 o’clock at night and I’ll see two or three guys out here just catching and throwing on their own, away from practice, and that’s what it takes,” said Curlee.
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Fairhope, coast hold special places in my heart
“
L
ooking back, some of the best times of my life were near the ocean. In the late sixties when Jilda and I first started dating, it was Panama City, Florida. But through the years, we cast our nets wider, in America and abroad. In 1980, I was in Mobile with Ma Bell putting that city back together after Hurricane Frederic. Jilda joined me and we spent a lot of my off time by the sea. I have a picture on my desk of Jilda and me taken that year. We were standing at the edge of Mobile Bay, in early summer as the sun edged down into the sea. She had long flowing blonde hair that fell in loose curls to her waist. She wore a Harley-Davidson halter top, and I thought she looked like a fashion model. My hair was blowing in the evening breeze (yes, I too had hair in 1980). We smiled broadly for the camera as if we didn’t have a care in the world. Actually, back then I doubt we had many cares, but if we had it wasn’t evident in this photograph. Later, after posing for the photograph, we drove to the east side of the bay to Fairhope, Alabama. It was a beautiful place and that evening as darkness fell, we sat with our legs
The sidewalks were packed with people windowshopping at beautifully decorated stores and dining on the patios of upscale restaurants. You could hear music mixed with the sound of laughter and it felt like Tahoe, Aspen or Jackson Hole.
My South
By Rick Watson dangling off the public fishing dock as the vapor lamps hissed to life. Moths as big as bats danced and darted in the circle of light. All of a sudden, we heard people off in the distance shouting, “Jubilee, Jubilee, Jubilee.” It became a chant as people rushed down to the water’s edge. We didn’t noticed at first, but fish, crabs, shrimp and all kinds of sea life seemed to be in some kind of mating frenzy in the bay. For a few hours, people with nets, cans and
large buckets caught all the seafood they could carry. We later learned that Jubilee is a phenomenon that happens from time to time in Mobile Bay. It was a magical day. We hadn’t been back to Fairhope since 1980, but we recently went to Orange Beach for my birthday. On Saturday afternoon, we decided to take a short road trip to Fairhope. Don’t you love the name Fairhope? It’s always been beautiful, but it became what resembles an artist community with bookshops, boutiques and art galleries. Narcissus, with blossoms as fragile as webs, bloomed on the corner in front of the public library in the warm January sun. Out on the library’s lawn is a steel sculpture of an open book. The sidewalks were packed with people
”
window-shopping at beautifully decorated stores and dining on the patios of upscale restaurants. You could hear music mixed with the sound of laughter and it felt like Tahoe, Aspen or Jackson Hole. We sat on a bench by the bay and I shot a selfie of us smiling into the camera. We weren’t quite as fetching as we were in 1980, but we smiled as broadly. We decided on the way home to spend our anniversary in one of the hotels in Fairhope and spend some time by the water. Maybe I’ll dig out my old bell-bottom jeans for the trip. Rick Watson is a columnist and author. His latest book, “Life Changes,” is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email at rick@homefolkmedia.com.
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School House
Front row from left to right: MaryAnn Blalock, Joleigh Parker, Alexa Tortorigi, Abby Weems, Emma McGowin, Kalee Rose Perry, Hannah Hammond, Alyssa Dexter, Mallory Chatman, Halli Reese. Back row from left to right: Abbie Grace Barber, Haley Howell, Hannah Katherine Adams, Kaylie Burgin, Erin Lisenba, Anna-Claire Cole, Haley O’Brien, Olivia LaBorde, Anna Schappacher, Reagan Parker, Makayla Smith. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Booker.
Cheerleaders win state HTMS cheerleaders put on a show during their first competition on Saturday, Nov. 21. The squad captured the audience with their enthusiasm and energy and brought home the first place trophy at the state competition held at Wallace State
Community College. The cheerleaders were led by coaches Charlotte Booker, Rebecca Brown and Liz Lewis, and Todd and Amy Bragan organized stunts, choreography and music. – Submitted by Charlotte Booker
Trussville cheerleaders take home 1st-, 2nd-place trophies The cheerleaders of Hewitt-Trussville Middle won the first place trophy at the 2015 Southern Regional Cheer Championship. The high school Husky cheerleaders also earned second place in their regional competition. – Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
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State superintendent visits Trussville schools By ERICA TECHO Trussville City Schools were recently recognized by State Superintendent Tommy Bice. Bice visited Trussville City Schools on Dec. 2 along with State Board of Education member Jeff Newman and staff from the State Department of Education. They attended three “Innovation Celebration” programs in the schools. The programs recognized EMS, fire science and pharmacy tech programs at Hewitt-Trussville High School; Club Days at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School and the robotics program for second-graders at Paine Elementary School.
Bice learned about each of the programs at the schools and participated in the lessons. While at Paine Elementary School, Bice participated while students wrote code for robots and said he was impressed with the students’ ability to work with robots. Superintendent Pattie Neill said it was great to highlight Trussville City Schools’ programs during Bice’s visit. “It is a pleasure to have Dr. Bice and our guests in the system today so we can highlight the wonderful lessons occurring in our system,” Neill said. “Lessons like these occur each and every day throughout our system in all of our classrooms, and it is nice for others to see the great teaching and learning going on in Trussville City Schools.”
HTHS writers compete in UA essay contest The University of Alabama sponsors an annual essay contest, and all Pre-AP English students in Christy Dooley’s class worked diligently to write in-class essays about the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” and how it still speaks powerfully to readers today. Although many students wrote outstanding essays, Dooley narrowed it to the top six for consideration.
HTHS student Susanne Voltz was chosen to represent the Huskies at the essay contest. School representatives will be honored at an awards luncheon for all participating contestants on Feb. 5, 2016. The statewide student winner as judged by the College of Communication & Information Sciences will be announced at the luncheon.
Each school representative will receive a check for $75, and the statewide winner receives $500 and an additional $500 to the student’s school. HTHS has had two previous statewide winners; Connor Staggs and Melissa Lawrence won in back to back years. Good luck to Susanne Voltz as she represents HTHS this year! – Submitted by Christy Dooley
IN JANUARY, 30% TO 50% OFF SOFAS & CHAIRS
State Superintendent Tommy Bice visited Paine Elementary and Hewitt-Trussville High and Middle Schools during a December trip to Trussville. Photo courtesy of Sandra Vernon.
HTHS top essay writers for the To Kill a Mockingbird essay contest. Back row: Kathleen Carraway, Shelby White, Susanne Voltz. Front row: Abigail Williamson, Kelsey Hutchens. Not pictured: Myles Taylor.
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Dawn Kilgore
Scholars team wins invitational The HTHS Scholars Bowl team won the Thompson Invitational in Alabaster. The A and B teams both finished in first and second place. Both teams finished with a 5-1 record in the victory. Sponsor Josh Haynes said, “I am very proud of all of our students that have worked so hard to win.”
The next tournament is January 9 at Covenant Christian in Huntsville. There is also a junior varsity tournament on January 14 in Gadsden, which will be a qualifier for the ASCA state tournament. The varsity team’s qualifying tournament will come later in February. — Submitted by Trussville City Schools
Rachel Brockman
Trussville City Schools selects teachers of year The 2015 teachers of the year for Trussville City Schools were named in December. Rachel Brockman, Paine Primary’s media specialist, was chosen as the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Dawn Kilgore,
HTHS’s exceptional education case manager, was chosen as the Secondary Teacher of the Year. — Submitted by Trussville City Schools
Hewitt-Trussville students chosen for all-state choir The following Hewitt-Trussville High students auditioned and were chosen for the 2016 All-State Choir Festival at Samford University: Kara Cargile, Logan Cobb, Allie Gooden, Desi Gillespie, Brendan Hathaway, Grace Jackson, Rachel Johnston, Kalen Kennedy, Abbie Self, Khalia Kennedy, Josh Rezek, Odi Ozuligbo and Austin Sanford. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
TWO HANDS ARE
ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE The Trussville Tribune and Starnes Publishing have partnered to bring you the Cahaba Sun, Trussville’s monthly publication with stories, photos, and more about the people, places, and things that matter to you most. The Cahaba Sun...as Trussville as it gets.
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Swimmers compete for state title Several members of the Husky swimming and diving team competed at the state championships in December. Photo courtesy of Sandra Vernon.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL Nine HTHS student athletes qualified to compete in the AHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn on Dec. 4-5. These students were Caleb Knox, Drake Amick, Brandt Gooden, Lauren Bautista, Alex Mueller, Emily Bradley, Jackson Weyhe, Noah Weissgerber and Will Bradley. The boys team placed 23rd overall. The results included: ► Eighth place, boys 100-yard butterfly: Drake Amick ► 11th place, boys 200-yard freestyle: Drake Amick ► 14th place, boys 500-yard freestyle: Caleb Knox
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► 14th place, boys 200-yard freestyle relay: Jackson Weyhe, Caleb Knox, Brandt Gooden, Drake Amick ► 18th place, boys 200-yard freestyle: Caleb Knox ► Preliminary placement, boys 50-yard freestyle: Brandt Gooden ► Preliminary placement, girls 50-yard freestyle: Emily Bradley, Alex Mueller, Lauren Bautista ► Preliminary placement, girls 100yard freestyle: Emily Bradley ► Preliminary placement, boys 100yard breaststroke: Brandt Gooden ► Preliminary placement, boys 400-yard freestyle relay: Noah Weissgerber, Will Bradley, Brandt Gooden, Drake Amick
Hewitt-Trussville’s Collin LaFon throws a shotput. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.
Shotput athlete shines on track and field eam The HTHS track and field team includes transfer student and shotput athlete Collin LaFon. In his first season participating, Collin is AHSAA Indoor Track and Field’s first athlete to use a wheelchair. Most recently, he threw 3.86 meters in the shotput event at Birmingham’s Crossplex facility in December. - Submitted by Trussville City Schools.
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Community Spann shares thoughts to live by at luncheon ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann was the featured speaker at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) monthly luncheon on Dec. 17. Santa was also a welcome guest at the luncheon, along with Trussville Fire Department personnel who were on hand to pick up toys donated for the annual toy drive. Spann didn’t come to talk about the weather, he said, but shared three quotes to live by: 1) Tell people what you know, and don’t tell them what you don’t know; 2) If you have a servant’s heart, you will be successful in everything you do; and 3) Have passion in your job, have integrity, and have a servant’s heart. Also at the luncheon, the chamber
presented prize money and ribbons to the winners of the Christmas parade float competition sponsored by America’s First Federal Credit Union. First place went to Trinity Contractors, second place to Boy Scout Troop 216 and third place to Positive Choices. The chamber also recognized its December Customer Service Award recipient, Darrell Wood Auto Service. This month’s recipient had two nominations. For more information on the chamber, visit trussvillechamber.com or call the chamber at (205) 655-7535. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. – Submitted by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce
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Business news
to share? Rotary District Governor Pat Cross (third from right) recently visited the Trussville Rotary. Photo courtesy of Diane Poole.
Rotary district governor visits Daybreak Club The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club recently welcomed District Governor Pat Cross to its regular Wednesday morning meeting. DG Cross presented club president Eddie Seal with a Star Award on behalf of the club, which means the club donates $212.50 per capita to the Rotary Foundation. She recognized current Assistant Governor John Griscom and former District Governor Mary Jean Sanspree from the club. New members Fran Aldridge, Russell Ledbetter and Kim Resmondo were inducted into the
club. She also recognized the club’s recent 25th birthday. The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club meets for breakfast on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn (3230 Edwards Lake Parkway). For more information on the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club, or to help with one of their projects, please visit trussvillerotaryclub.org or email Diane Poole at diane.poole@trussvillechamber.com. – Submitted by Diane Poole
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Trussville
8714 Highlands Drive
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
736149
35173
8714 Highlands Drive
New
$259,900
736150
35173
5775 Carrington Lake Parkway New
$550,000
736146
35173
3133 Cahaba Park Drive
New
$244,900
736115
35173
7218 Crown Ridge Drive
New
$399,900
736035
35173
4936 Branchville Road
New
$134,500
735996
35173
7645 Cottonridge Road
New
$379,000
735885
35173
1160 Overlook Drive
New
$189,000
735816
35173
1220 Overlook Drive
New
$179,000
735809
35173
318 Glen Cross Way
New
$242,990
735707
35173
6540 Hemlock Street
New
$279,900
734632
35173
120 Waterford Circle
New
$325,000
735691
35173
450 Lakeridge Drive
New
$344,900
735608
35173
414 Roundabout Drive
New
$279,900
735520
35173
330 Brentwood Avenue
New
$349,900
120 Waterford Circle
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Dec. 21. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
” Michelle Creamer made us feel like we were her only customers.” Regina and Curtis Peacock found the process of looking for a home overwhelming
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A Relationship Company
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questions. “We consider her a friend and highly recommend her to anyone shopping for a home. You will not be disappointed!” Michelle says being part of the ARC Realty Company team is a great
4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 205.969.8910 www.arcrealtyco.com
fit for her. “This company has visionary leaders who care about their agents and about Birmingham.” Michelle Creamer • (205) 999-8164 mcreamer@charter.net • mcreamer@arcrealtyco.com
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Calendar Community Events Jan. 4: Monday Movie Night. Trussville Public Library. 6 p.m. January’s movie is “The Great Mouse Detective.” Snacks provided. Jan. 4: Board of Education. Trussville City Schools board office 7 p.m. Jan. 5: City Council. Trussville City Hall. 7 p.m. Jan. 6: Students return to school. Trussville City Schools. Jan. 11: Planning and Zoning Com-
Area Events
mission. Trussville City Hall. 6 p.m. Jan. 12: Intro to Chess. Trussville Public Library. 6 p.m. Free introductory instruction from coach Charles A. Smith. Sign-ups not required. Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Day. Jan. 19: Dudes and Doughnuts Book Club. Trussville Public Library. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Snacks served. Sign-up not required. Jan. 19: City Council. Trussville City Hall. 7 p.m.
Jan. 10: Southern Bridal Show. BJCC Exhibition Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. $10 advance, $15 at door. Visit eliteevents.com. Jan. 14-16: Lyric Theatre Grand Opening: 3 Nights of Moderne Vaudeville.
Jan. 21: Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville Clay Road. $17 per person. Jan. 21: Chips and Chapters. Trussville Public Library. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monthly book club for 4th-6th graders. The January theme is “animals.” Snacks served. Sign-up not required. Jan. 21: Zoning Adjustments. Trussville City Hall. 7 p.m.
Library. 6 p.m. Free introductory instruction from coach Charles A. Smith. Sign-ups not required. Wednesdays: Trussville Farmer’s Market. 1-5 p.m. The Mall. Thursdays: Storytime with Ms. Shawna. Trussville Public Library. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. All ages welcome. Saturdays: Trussville Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.-noon. Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
Jan. 26: Intro to Chess. Trussville Public
7:30 p.m. 1800 Third Ave. N. $40-$60. Visit lyricbham.com. Jan. 26: An Evening with Art Garfunkel. 7 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $50$200. Visit tickets.samford.edu.
Jan. 27-31: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Legacy Arena at the BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. Jan. 27-29 at 7 p.m.; Jan. 28-30 at 10:30 a.m.; Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. $16-$81. Visit ringling.com.
“Buying or selling a home in Trussville? Melanie Clough makes the process easier.”
When Ginger Allen decided to sell her home and buy a new one, she turned to ARC Realty Realtor Melanie Clough for guidance. “Melanie was GREAT to work with! She did so much behind the scenes that I had no clue about until the issues were solved,” says Ginger. “Knowing that I’m a teacher and couldn’t often take phone calls, she fielded calls from the loan officer, appraisers, and inspectors. She offered to help me stage my house and even helped me figure out the placing of furniture in my new one. She was diligent in looking out for my best interest in both selling my house and purchasing my new one. She was honest and upfront, never once looking for a commission but for my best interest.” Helping people buy and sell homes is a passion for Melanie. “I love what I do. This is a people business and I get to work with great people, like my team at ARC Realty and customers like Ginger Allen.”
A Relationship Company 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 205.969.8910 www.arcrealtyco.com
Melanie Clough • 205.577.3842 mclough@arcrealtyco.com
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