Cahaba Sun November 2017

TRUSSVILLE BOULDERING PARK Trussville Sports Complex adds new amenity. 18

Vol 3 | Issue 1 | November 2017 As Trussville As It Gets

Show STOPPER Trussville native Jordan Fisher takes center stage in the entertainment industry. 20

Photo courtesy of Advantage PR.

150 YEARS OF GRACE

COUGARS WEIGH OPTIONS

First Presbyterian Church of Trussville celebrates milestone. 16

Clay-Chalkville boys basketball team looks to ďŹ ll scoring void. 24

4

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

PHOTO OF THE MONTH EDITOR’S NOTE | SYDNEY CROMWELL As we approach Thanksgiving, there are two anniversaries I’ d like to acknowledge. e first is t e second birt da of t is a er, t e a aba Sun ank ou for our continuing su ort, readers i and stor ideas o e to continue serving ou for an ore ears to co e e ot er is t e second anniversar of t e assing of grandfat er, an ir orce veteran and one of t e best eo le I’ ve ever known. grandfat er and s are a first na e t oug is is s elled Sidne and as t e first grandc ild was t e reci ient not onl of e cessive s oiling, but also is adventurous s irit e was alwa s u to tr an t ing, fro traveling t e world to bungee u ing as a senior citi en nd once was born, e wanted e to e erience ever t ing, too recentl got a acket of otos fro arents, and an of favorites are of grandfat er and e i letting e drive is boat, iking toget er and t e air of us at t e start of t e ditarod dog sled race in laska t s sweetl ainful, even two ears after e assed, to look back on all t ose e ories en ou lose so eone ou love, t ere s alwa s t e wis for anot er conversation, anot er visit, anot er afternoon s ent sitting in t e sun toget er But also feel so grateful t at ad ears to learn fro a an w o s ersonal ero at s w at ll be t inking of t is anksgiving

Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Hospice Care of Birmingham (8) Alabama Orthopaedic Surgeons (22) Alabama Outdoors (16) Alabama Power (27) American Marketing (23) Andrews Sports Medicine (2) Anthony McPherson Keller Williams (18) Bedzzz Express (3) Birmingham Broadway Theatre League (32) Brandino Brass (15) Budget Blinds (19) Charlie Thigpen (11) Children’s of Alabama (6) Christmas Village (8) Closets by Design (13) Cynthia Vines Butler (11) Enroll Alabama (5) First Community Mortgage (8)

Great Clips of Trussville (31) Guide Insurance Agency (25) Hitchcock Maddox Financial Partners (14) Kirkwood by the River (10) Lee Marlow RealtySouth (14) Moss Rock Festival (5, 21) Nancy Drinkard Re/MAX Marketplace (23) Peachtree Assisted Living (9) Phoenix Builders Group (6) Pies & Pints (28) Precision Electrolysis L.L.C. (9) Spotless LLC (15) The Maids (1, 25) Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology (12) Trussville Gas and Water (24) United Way of Central Alabama (7) Virginia Samford Theatre (31) Weigh To Wellness (27) Wellness Massage LLC (10)

The Hewitt-Trussville High School varsity cheerleaders enjoy the ride during the 2017 homecoming parade through downtown Trussville on Sept. 28. Photo by Ron Burkett.

Publishers: Dan Starnes Scott Buttram General Manager: Matthew Allen Managing Editor: Sydney Cromwell Design Editor: Kristin Williams Director of Photography: Sarah Finnegan Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Assistant Sports Editor: Sam Chandler Digital Editor: Alyx Chandler Page Designer: Melanie Viering Contributing Writers: Lexi Coon Chris Megginson Bethany Adams Rick Watson Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Eric Clements Layton Dudley Vicky Hager Ellen Skrmetti Contributing Photographer: Ron Burkett

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: The Cahaba Sun PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@ starnespublishing.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC

Legals: The Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or

use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Cahaba Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/ photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

6

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Pediatrics East treats generations of patients for 60 years Dr. Phillip Harmon examines Harper Riley at Pediatrics East on Oct. 13. Photo by Ron Burkett.

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N F or 60 years, Pediatrics East has provided care for children on the northeast side of Birmingham. As patients have become parents, or now grandparents, they have continued to see the doctors they saw as a child. “ I always loved going to the doctor because they made me feel so much better physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Haley Sanford, 33, of Clay, whose family has used the practice since 1975. “ My mom has always been thankful for the caring and loving staff of Pediatrics East, and now I am thankful as a mom … I have a group of doctors who are so smart, caring, loving and truly concerned with my family getting the best care possible. That means the world to me.”

Earlier this summer the practice, which as offices in russville and la , celebrated its 60th anniversary with a celebration. It brought together several of those families, current and past employees. “ It’ s been fun to have folks reminiscing and asking about the old days, even as far back as East Lake,” said D r. Phil Harmon, who is now in his 33rd year with the practice.

D r. Vincent Carnaggio began the pediatrics

ractice at its first location at 1 ort t Street ( O porto-Madrid Boulevard) in East Lake. It was the summer of 1957 and the sian u ande ic was s reading in t e U .S., leaving plenty in need of a doctor. “ When they called and had a sick child, I

didn’ t push them off — I saw them,” Carnaggio said. “ I’ d go to the emergency room and see patients who were looking for doctors.”

Carnaggio spent Sundays helping administer the new oral polio vaccine in the community, during what was known as Polio

Sundays. His practice grew q uickly in the decade before vaccines were available for the measles, German measles and chicken pox.

He saw as many as 20 to 40 patients per day by himself, while his wife, J ean, managed the books and paid the bills. Some days, which

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

Pediatrics East celebrated its 60th anniversary over the summer with a party for employees and patients. Photo courtesy of Children’s Pediatrics East.

averaged 10-12 hours, would become 14-16 hours if a patient was admitted to the hospital because Carnaggio would attend to the atient directl , so eti es closing is office for a few hours.

By 1962, the practice needed help and

Carnaggio recruited D r. Charles Money. F ive years later, they added D r. Howard Bearman in 1967 and D r. D avid F ugaz z otto j oined the practice in the early 1970s.

Carnaggio recalls the practice became one of t e first in t e area to o en after ours,

CAHABASUN.COM

closing at 5 p.m. for an hour and then opening back up between 6-9 p.m. They offered Saturday and Sunday hours, too, so parents in two-income households could bring their sick children to their doctor instead of the ER for a costly visit. “ It really made it easier for patients to get their children seen,” Carnaggio said. “ I think we did a great service by providing that … that alone helped build our practice, being available like that.”

The practice had to move and expand multiple times to meet their capacity needs before being bought by Children’ s Hospital in 1996. Pediatrics East was the second ractice in laba a and first in Bir ing ham to j oin Children’ s, which now has more t an a do en co unit offices in entral Alabama. “ It was a good marriage for us,” Harmon said. “ Children’ s has offered us things we couldn’ t do as a small practice, and I hope we’ ve added value to Children’ s by extending their outpatient exposure.”

The following year, Pediatrics East opened a second fully-staffed location on D eerfoot Parkway in Clay. In 2011, the practice closed its Roebuck office and relocated it to Si mons D rive in Trussville.

Each of the original physicians worked for more than 40 years, including 47 years for Carnaggio, to build the practice. “ The idea was always to provide ongoing care for people, but it’ s really evolved with

7 doctors like Phil Harmon,” Carnaggio said. “ He got into it with a plan of staying and having a viable practice to help the people in the area and provide care they knew and could trust.”

Today, Harmon, who began as a medical student at the practice, is the most senior member of a team of 11 physicians.

Not only are generations of families returning as patients, but former patients have become employees. D r. Rebecca Bowman Webster, who saw D r. Carnaggio as a child, and j oined the staff in 2007, and endall riffit , w o grew u seeing r Harmon, and is now his medical assistant. “ I try to treat each child like they’ re No. 1, and I try to treat their families like they’ re the most important people, because that’ s how I was treated as a c ild, riffit said knew when I came here that they cared about me, and I want the kids to know that I care about them, what they’ ve been feeling and what they have going on in their own life.”

Harmon said at 60 years, there are no plans of further expansion – only to continue what Carnaggio and his former business partners began. “ It’ s been an honor for us to be part of this community for 60 years, and hopefully our next 60 will be j ust as successful,” said Harmon said. “ We hope to be able to continue to provide good service and a good relationship with the neighborhoods that we serve.”

8

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Four-legged search and rescue

By SY D N EY CRO MWELL

Bri, a search and rescue dog with the Red Mountain Search Dog Association, tracks down Geoff White by scent during a search drill at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

Geoff White picks a spot to hide in the woods of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

Minutes later, the Trussville resident can hear the faint j ingling of a bell, meaning Bri the Belgian Malinois is on the hunt.

Nose hard at work, Bri q uickly covers the ground between her and White. She pauses in front of i for a o ent, confir ing er find, t en races back to er andler, il Smythies, to lead the search team back to her target.

In this game of hide and seek, everyone wants the searcher to win.

White, Smythies and Bri are all part of the Red Mountain Search D og Association, a three-year-old volunteer organiz ation with the goal of becoming the go-to search and rescue team for Central Alabama.

Red Mountain Search D og Association was founded in 2014 by K enny Powell, Arthur Powell and Stephen Burton. They speciali e in air scent detection for finding issing persons. K enny Powell and her canine Sadie were t e organi ation s first air to be certified as ready to participate in search and rescue missions. Two more dog and handler pairs are working toward t eir final certification

“ It’ s been slow because we had to learn everything. We knew nothing coming in,” K enny Powell said. “ It takes so many people to make it all work.” ite, w o is a s eec at ologist, first j oined the group about two years ago. In his own work with a home healthcare service, White said he has seen patients with dementia or other mental disorders wander away from home. “ It’ s a service to the community,” White said of search and rescue training.

In addition to dog handling, the two-legged members of canine search and rescue teams also ave to learn about first aid, survival skills, maps, orienteering and reading the wind and weather signs. Since they communicate via radio, the team members must also have amateur radio operating licenses. “ It’ s the opportunity to use my outdoor skills and learn all the things that go into what you have to know as a handler,” White said. “ Also it’ s j ust amaz ing to watch the dogs work and watch what their noses can do.”

While his own dog was too old to learn the intensive training, ite works as a anker, part of the support team that works with the handler and dog. He hopes to get a puppy of his own started on the path to being “ mission

NOVEMBER 2017 ready” eventually.

It takes a multi-person team for a search dog to function at its best. “ The handler needs to be able to focus on their dog and what the dog is doing. The support crew is not only handling the navigation and communicating with base, letting them know what’ s going on, but we’ re watching for things like tracking, evidence,” said RMSD A member J anie Shelswell-White. “ And we’ re also watching their dog. After training with them for so long, you get to know the different dogs and the different kind of style of what they do and how they’ re communicating. So you’ re able to help the handler read their dog.”

The RMSD A trains together at least once per week, with each dog handler working individually with their canine every day.

Their team includes German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, a poodle and a husky. White said a good search and rescue dog has to have the right temperament to stay focused on a task, work off-leash, respond to vocal commands and enj oy what is, to them, a game of hide-and-seek. “ We do this all year round. It’ s every weekend, rain or shine. People don’ t j ust get lost when it’ s sunny and 80 degrees,” White said.

The dogs learn through drills where different team members or friends play the “ missing person” and hide in the woods. After being given that person’ s scent to track, the dogs are let loose, ranging far from their handlers as

CAHABA SUN

they search for traces of where the missing person has been.

They wear GPS collars as well as a bell, White said, so the handlers can track them and an actual missing person can hear the dog approach. The handlers track wind currents and guide the dogs toward areas where they’ re more likely to catch the scent. fter t e dog successfull finds t e erson and leads the search team to them, it’ s time for a “ big party,” White said. Toys, treats and vigorous praise from the entire team reinforce that they’ ve been very good dogs. “ This is her j ob. She actually loves it,” Powell said of her canine partner, Sadie. “ To her it’ s hide and seek, and she j ust thinks it’ s great fun.” “ The most important thing is the dog enj oys it,” White said.

In addition to working on achieving the different levels of certification from the National Association of Search and Rescue, the RMSD A team also wants to make themselves known to local law enforcement. While police often have narcotics detection or apprehension canine teams, those skillsets are different from search and rescue detection.

When a person goes missing, the RMSD A wants to be t e tea t at first res onders can turn to, without having to wait for a team from elsewhere in the state or region. “ I think that if [ my dog] and I train for the next 10 years and only help one person, that it’ ll be worth it,” said RMSD A

CAHABASUN.COM

9

Left to right, Janie Shelswell-White, Geoff White and Kenny Powell discuss wind direction during a search drill with Sadie at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. The Red Mountain Search Dog Association is a three-year-old group that trains humans and canines in scent tracking of missing people.

member J ohn Bassler.

The RMSD A welcomes potential new team members, whether or not they have a dog,

as well as anyone interested in seeing how they work.

Visit rmsda.org to learn more.

10

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Meteorologist J -P D ice to speak at chamber luncheon

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N

Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist J-P Dice will speak at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Nov. 16 to discuss his passion for weather. Photo courtesy of J-P Dice.

While most think severe weather season is in the spring or summer, it is year round in Alabama. November marks the third highest number tornadoes per month over the last 60 years, making it perfect timing for F ox 6 Chief Meteorologist J -P D ice to visit the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon to discuss his passion for weather.

The luncheon, sponsored by J immie Hale Mission, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 11: 30 a.m. at the Trussville Civic Center. “ It’ s a good opportunity for us as a meteorologist to explain what we do and how weather forecasting works, how technology works and how the business has evolved.

It’ s also a good opportunity for us to talk about weather safety issues and the ever-changing issues we have with weather in Alabama,” D ice said.

Passionate about science, D ice says he enj oys telling others the details of how meteorology works. “ Weather is something that touches everybody, but in many cases people only know about the small part they see on television, but they don’ t know about the technology of it and what all we can do,” he said.

D ice says northeast J efferson County is one of the more active areas for weather in J efferson County, including the J anuary 2012 tornado and being in the path of the deadly EF 4 tornado on April 27, 2011 before the storm lifted. Because of that, he says he always uses these opportunities to speak about being weather aware and having a safety plan in place for one’ s

home and business.

D ice, who grew up in F rostproof, F lorida, received his undergraduate degree in telecommunication news from the U niversity of F lorida and completed his master’ s degree in geoscience at Mississippi State U niversity. He began his career in broadcasting at a radio station while in high school and then was meteorologist at WCJ B-TV in Gainesville, F lorida, before moving to Alabama in 1997.

He spent 11 years at WHNT-TV in Huntsville prior to succeeding D avid Neal at WBRC F ox 6 in August 2008.

In addition to his work at F ox 6, D ice has taught meteorology and physical science at J efferson State Community College and is a commercial-rated pilot. He and his wife, Stacie, have one son.

Each month, the chamber 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.

Cost for the luncheon is $ 17 with a processing fee if paying by credit card. O nline registration is closed at midnig t on onda , ov 1 , but t e a ber office will accept registration by phone until noon Tuesday, Nov. 14.

All non-members must pay in advance.

To register, visit trussvillechamber.com or contact J une Mathews by phone at 655-7535 or email j une. mathews@ trussvillechamber.com. F or more info about TRC, contact D iane Pool at diane.poole@ trussvillecham wber.com.

The address for the Trussville Civic Center is 5381 Trussville-Clay Road.

Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.

CAHABA SUN

NOVEMBER 2017

11

CAHABASUN.COM

Trussville-area Business Happenings 75

4

H py

le

d rR

te ws Bre

11

9

Rd

3

vil alk

Ch

Hap

Old Acto n Rd

Old

Spr

y Pkw

ing ville

Rd

ot rfo Dee

7 d wR ollo

10

2 6 1

59

5

8

r Rope

11

Rd rk Pa

e Av

411

459

78

20

Now Open Cricket Wireless, 5445 Patrick Way, Suite 109, recently opened a new cellular retail store in Homestead Village.

332-3648, cricketwireless.com

1

Wellness Massage is now open at 413-B Main Street for therapeutic massages.

508-3953

2

Trussville. It is expected to open in six to eight months. edgarsbakery.com Carrington Medical Spa, 8178 Gadsden Highway, will be opening in Trussville. It is a community-oriented medical facility that provides a comprehensive weight management program under the direction of licensed physician.

508- 5723, carringtonmedispa.com

7

Christian Brothers Automotive, 5635 Chalkville Mountain Road, had a ribbon cutting on Monday, September 11, to announce the opening of their new location in the Trussville area.

533-8121, cbac.com/trussville

Anniversaries

Liberty Automotive & Tire is now open at 8917 Highway 11 in Argo.

This is the second location for the automotive center, following its first location on Gadsden Highway in Trussville.

655-2108

USA Roofing and Renovations, 7127 Gadsden Highway, Suite 201A, is celebrating its 14th anniversary in November.

655-7663, usaroofing.us

3

4

Frios Gourmet Pops is now open 5 at 5431 Patrick Way, Suite 105, in the new Homestead Village shopping center. friospops.com

Coming Soon 6

Edgar's Bakery, 156 Main St., will be opening a new location in

The Boot Barn, 1905 Edwards Lake Road, Suite B, is celebrating its first anniversary in November.

661-0310, bootbarn.com

8

9

Cahaba Insurance, 11 Office Park, is celebrating its 33rd anniversary in November.

655-4626, cahabainsurance.com

10

Southern Magnolia Gifts, 331 Main St., is celebrating its 12th anniversary in November.

655-4860

11

12

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

EVENTS

Blow Away 5K and fun run returns for 8th year

By SAM CH AN D LER D ebbie Ryer is on a mission, and she has been for q uite some time. The mother of two fro russville wants to find a cure for c stic fibrosis, a ne esis s e knows all too well. er c ildren o e, 1 , and ac , 1 were bot diagnosed wit c stic fibrosis before age e are a ong t e nearl , ericans affected b t e genetic disease, w ic significantl i acts t e lungs and ancreas Researc ers are continuall working to find a cure, R er said Peo le are doing so uc better toda , but it s still not enoug ccording to t e stic ibrosis oundation, t e average lifes an for a c stic fibrosis atient is about ears at nu ber used to be uc lower, as c ildren wit t e disease in t e 1 s rarel lived until t e start of ele entar sc ool R er, for er art, as been working to rolong t at life e ectanc even ore n 1 , s e tea ed u wit two ot er local fa ilies affected b c stic fibrosis to

o

Bo

A o

s fo

s

A

o

start a road race fundraiser e Blow wa is now set to enter its eig t ear, wit its 1 edition taking lace Saturda , ov 11, at t e russville all Race roceeds directl benefit t e laba a riends of t e stic ibrosis oundation, a non rofit grou R er el ed for in 1 e one t at we raise, for one, goes

o

s of C s os s Photo courtesy of Debbie Ryer.

to researc because all of us want to el tr to find a cure, s e said e all want t at for our c ildren Since its debut, R er said t e Blow wa as grown considerabl in regard to artici ation e inaugural event drew around 1 runners, w ile last ear s event attracted al ost four ti es as an artici ants e

1 race was t eir largest et, R er said is ear s will begin at a and will be followed b a 1 ile fun run at a e race will be c i ti ed and contested along a S rack and ield certified course as ri es will be awarded to t e to t ree ale and fe ale finis ers Registration costs for t e and 1 for t e fun run ere also is a slee in o tion available for t ose w o want to su ort t e cause wit out actuall artici ating co e orative race s irt will be included for t e first registrants Packet icku will be eld at eritage all t e da before t e race fro 1 a to Race da registration will be available fro to a ast ear, ic olas oo of rlington, e as, won t e in 1 inutes, seconds Bir ing a s rica S eegle was t e to fe ale finis er in 1 art fro t e event, R er said t e laba a riends of t e stic ibrosis oundation acce ts donations an ti e or ore infor ation or to register for t e race, go to blowawa k co

NOVEMBER 2017

o C

f oo

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

of B ’s s o f s ss fo Photo courtesy of The Lollar Group.

s s

o

13

s

Market Noel moving to the Finley Center

By LEX I CO O N After a few years of changing spaces, the J unior League of Birmingham’ s annual shopping fundraiser, Market Noel, has found a new home: the F inley Center at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The event has also moved to earlier in the year, from Nov. 15-18. “ We are so excited about being at the F inley Center … and having the dates before Thanksgiving,” said Sally McK ay, chair of Market Noel.

The Preview Noel party begins on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and general admission will continue on Thursday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., F riday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. McK ay said the event will again include Market Bliss and the Rock the Runway fashion show. At the end of the s ow, officials will also el reveal a agic

Moment, where kids with life-threatening illnesses are presented with a surprise, which was started by J LB. This year will also feature more than 100 merchants selling handcrafted goods, clothing, accessories, artwork and more, and while it serves as a fun shopping opportunity, it’ s also a maj or fundraiser for the J LB, McK ay said. “ It’ s so important because all the funds we raise at Market Noel go directly back into the community,” McK ay said. “ The best part of the event to me is … the opportunity to raise a large sum of money to give back to the community. That’ s what it’ s all about.”

Tickets are available online or at the door, although McK ay said the special events tickets are typically limited at the door. F or more infor ation, find arket oel on acebook or visit marketnoel.net.

COMMUNITY Local rotary clubs awarded grants The Trussville Rotary Clubs have each been awarded a $ 4,000 district grant from The Rotary F oundation.

The Trussville Rotary D aybreak Club req uested the grant to provide benches for the new walking track and park area of the community at Cahaba Elementary School.

The Trussville Noon Rotary Club also received a $ 4,000 grant. As partners with MegaMissions and the Bicentario and Escandon Rotary clubs of Mexico for 10 years, they have provided medical/ dental services to residents in Mexico in poor and poverty situations. e will use t e funds to furt er outfit a bus purchased several years ago for outreach to the surrounding rural and prison communities for medical/ dental screenings and care.

D istrict grants are block grants to districts that fund scholarships, proj ects and travel that align with the mission of The Rotary F oundation, which is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. These proj ects must be completed by May 2018.

The Trussville Rotary D aybreak Club meets for breakfast on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. at Spare Time Entertainment ( 3600 Roosevelt Blvd) . The Noon Rotary Club meets for lunch on Wednesdays at the Hilton Garden Inn ( 3230 Edwards Lake Parkway) in Trussville.

– Submitted by the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club.

14

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Photo courtesy of Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce. ss

of o

s

s s ff Photo courtesy of Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce.

o

Peachtree Senior Living opens in Trussville The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce ( TACC) hosted a ribbon cutting for Peachtree Senior Living on Aug. 23 to announce their new 30-unit housing development for seniors.

O n-hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony were Robb Crumpton, president of Liv D evelopment; Graham Black, director of senior living for Liv D evelopment; K aren Catete, Peachtree Senior Living executive director; J ulie Podewitz , Traditions Senior Living; Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat;

City Councilman Perry Cook; TACC Executive D irector D iane Poole and Membership Coordinator J une Mathews; Chamber Ambassadors D onna Lowery, Natalie Norton and Meagan Welch; and several Peachtree staff.

Peachtree Senior Living is located at 3740 Eagle D rive in Trussville ( near t e ost office all 1 or visit peachtree-living.com for more information.

– Submitted by Trussville A rea Chamber of Commerc e.

J efferson Title opens in Trussville The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce ( TACC) hosted a ribbon cutting for J efferson Title and Closing Services on Se t 1 to announce t eir new office J efferson Title & Closing Services is located at 1 ain Street, Suite B, in Trussville. The company was established in 1 and is celebrating its t ear in the Birmingham area. According to their website, their mission is to provide superior service in t e field of closing services, title search and title insurance. They strive for excellence in providing these services and endeavor to earn the trust, loyalty and goodwill of all they serve. F or more infor ation, lease call 1 or visit

j effersontitlecorp.com.

O n-hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony were J efferson Title President/ CEO Bruce Bright; Vice President of Closing O perations Amye von Seebach; Managing Attorney Nicholas D . Leslie; Account Executive K risti K ourmoulis; Closing Coordinator K aren “ K ay” F lynn; Trussville Councilman Alan Taylor; TACC Board Member J ay Mather; TACC Executive D irector D iane Poole, chamber Membership Coordinator J une Mathews; chamber ambassador Meagan Welch; and staff and friends.

– Submitted by Trussville A rea Chamber of Commerc e.

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

15

TVL Safe aims to increase driver awareness "Trussville Safe" yard signs in front of houses along neighborhood streets in Trussville on Oct. 1.

Photo by Ron Burkett.

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N it t e increase in foot traffic along russville s streets, a grou of citi ens is encouraging residents and visitors to el ake t e cit s roads safer russville Safe Safe , a co unit safet awareness ca aign, was launc ed in Se te ber b sta at o e o and for er teac er risti ones e ca aign asks driv ers to take a ledge t at w ile in t eir cars t e will focus on t e road, li it t eir distractions, follow t e laws and be courteous to ot ers ones said s e recogni ed t e need for suc a ca aign as ore eo le are walking to sc ools in t eir co unit and downtown undergoes revitali ation e re c anging t e wa our cit works, t e wa our cit gets around and t e wa our cit lives, so we ve also got to c ange t e wa we t ink as drivers, ones said t s not about sa ing ou re doing so et ing wrong, it s about noticing w at we re all ourselves doing t at see s so little t doesn t see like a big deal to go a little bit faster in our neig bor ood t an we re su osed to, but t e realit is ou don t know w en t ere is a bus block ing a c ild on a bike or w en ou re going to co e around a curve and be going faster t an ou s ould be or w en ou re going to

look down at our one and t e car in front of ou is going to sto ose little t ings t at don t see like a big deal could ulti atel be life c anging Safe ai s to rovide safet and driver awareness ti s t roug its acebook and wit ter accounts Safe , but ones reali ed t at t ere was a need for a visual re inder for ever one to see, w ic led to t e creation of ard signs and car agnets ile t e goal of t e ca aign is outlined in its ledge, ones sa s t e si lest intent is to get eo le to take a breat w en t e sit down be ind t e w eel and ut t eir ind on t e road Since first reac ing out a or Budd oat

and cit council e bers in t e su er, ones said t e res onse as been tre endous as ore eo le learn about Safe ver bod t at we ave reac ed out to as been so ositive, so encouraging and so e cited Peo le are like, ou are so rig t e need t is e re all in t e rat race ever da of c ecking t ings off our list, and we all ust need to slow down and t ink about t is, ones said ord of Safe began to s read in id Se te ber wit a review of t e ca aign at t e russville rea a ber of o erce lunc eon, followed b a rocla ation b t e a or and cit council on Se t ike ost ca aigns, it s about educating

and aking eo le aware of doing t e rig t t ing, oat said e want to be uni ue e o e t at our co unit will be one of t e first to lead t is Safe began wit t e el of eig t founding s onsors efferson e orial uneral o e and ardens, Bir ing a cade of artial rts B , Bir ing a ntegrative ealt , ergenc Pet are, el s P ar ac , Parcels oo Business enter, Riders arle avidson and russville ast Realt Sout ideo roduction for t e ca aign as been rovided b Peter Bradberr Since its launc , t e ca aign as been art of t e ewitt russville o eco ing arade, russville s ational ig t Out and t e all reedo est ones said t e success el s fuel ca aign ing into t e winter and ne t ear ver t ing kee s falling into lace and it feels like t e rig t t ing to do at s w at driving us t e e cite ent and encourage ent fro t e co unit t at we ve reac ed out to and s oken to so far e love our cit , we love t e eo le in our cit and we ust want to ake russville as safe as ossible e o e t is can be ositive and bring our co unit toget er for a co on goal, ones said or u dates on w ere to ick u a Safe ard sign, visit acebook co Safe

16

Celebrating 150 years of grace NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

First Presbyterian Church of Trussville celebrated its anniversary with a gospel singing on Oct. 1.

Photos by Ron Burkett.

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N

A q uaint, white wooden church with blue doors sits alongside Highway 11 — a staple in most Southern small towns. Every Sunday, the church bell signals its call to worship for its weekly congregation of 35-40 “ sweet folks.”

F irst Presbyterian Church of Trussville is celebrating 150 years of worship in Trussville and marked the anniversary with a gospel singing on O ct. 1. The old wooden pews were nearly three q uarters full — roughly double that of a regular Sunday morning worship service.

Church fans were tucked in the back of pews and light shone in from the red, blue and gold stained glass windows that line the front, right and rear walls. Voices sang traditional hymns, including “ Amaz ing Grace,” “ Rock of Ages,” “ It Is Well With My Soul” and “ I’ ll F ly Away,” as Patty K irkley played the piano and Roger Beason played the organ.

It’ s the traditional-style worship the church has cherished for decades, as they celebrate God’ s grace.

Evelyn Goodwin, who has been active in the church since 1958, said the church has long subscribed to the “ where two or more

are gathered, there I am also” mentality when looking at its smaller membership siz e, referencing Matthew 18: 20.

When Rev. Thomas Lloyd took over as part-time pastor in D ecember 2013, the

church was recovering from dipping below a doz en regular attenders on Sundays. The split of Eastminster Presbyterian earlier that summer and members coming in from other churches — one as far as Columbiana — has

helped the church attendance climb back up. “ They’ re coming from far away to come and worship with us, so that’ s a good sign,” Goodwin said.

While small in number, with 43 members

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

Attendees listen to, from left to right, Russell Lloyd, Rick Atkerson, Evelyn Goodwin and Sharon Black sing, accompanied by Patty Kirkley on piano at the 150th anniversary service at First Presbyterian Church of Trussville on Oct. 1.

and “ 19 friends” on the current registry, the congregation remains active and loyal to service for other members, honoring birthdays, maintaining an active prayer list, j oining together for outreach and being there for others when a death, illness or other crisis occurs. They serve locally through Trussville Ecumenical Assistance Ministry ( T.E.A.M.) as well as the Presbyterian Children’ s Home and O peration Christmas Child this fall.

280living.com

Twice a year, the church collects funds for Bibles for Troops, raising enough for 200 Bibles eac t e first alf of t is ear “ I’ m thrilled it’ s still here,” Lloyd said of the 150-year mark. “ The people are strong Christians. They have a backbone about their faith. They know what they believe. They aren t fig ting about w at kind of wors i The older generation Christians, they have a solid foundation, and it is a wonderful thing

thehomewoodstar.com

to minister to them.”

The church began on O ct. 2, 1867 in the home of Sarah Talley and became Cave Springs ( Cumberland) Presbyterian Church, named for the caves and springs located near the current property. There were 17 members by letter from another church and four by experience, the church history reads. The name was later changed to Mount Nebo. The church became part of Presbyterian U .S.A. in 1906 and was later named F irst Presbyterian Church in 1958.

The church building was built in 1899 in partnership with the F ree Masons as a twostor building e to oor was t e asonic Lodge and meeting room, while the main oor was t e sanctuar , w ere a different denomination’ s service met on rotation each month. A two-story bell tower faced what is now Highway 11.

The original entrance was what is now the back right side of the sanctuary — the original stone steps are still in place with a large gap sealed off between the stained glass windows.

The church began having weekly services in 1956 and the building was remodeled in the earl 1 s e to oor and bell tower were removed and a fellowship hall with bathroo s, a kitc en, nurser , storage and office were added it was t e first indoor lu b ing. The congregation pulled away from Presbyterian U .S.A. and became an independent Presbyterian church in 1981.

O ver the years, the church has had a solid

hooversun.com

17

CAHABASUN.COM

vestaviavoice.com

core of support, such as Herbert Huffman and his wife Louise Morrow Huffman, for whom the church bell is named. Huffman used to play Santa Claus for the children at Christmas, while his wife was the church organist from her teenage years until her death in 1997. Evelyn Goodwin and her late husband Wheeler Goodwin, who attended the church as a child in the 1930s, were also one of the many families to wear many hats. Evelyn Goodwin grew up in Berlin, Germany during World War II and has been known to sing Christmas carols in German for the church.

Members are hoping the anniversary celebration will be an opportunity for more to visit their little old church on the side of the highway and learn its stories, which are plentiful after 150 years and thousands of worship services. lot of eo le co e t e first ti e because they want to see it … it’ s such a landmark in Trussville,” said Carol Megginson, who helped organiz e the anniversary celebration.

Lloyd says the church welcomes new visitors who may have never been there before. “ I tell the congregation, these pews represent people we haven’ t met yet, and we pray for those people,” Lloyd said. “ This 150th is an opportunity for the people of Trussville to remember there’ s this church here that still worships God and is available to them.”

F irst Presbyterian Church of Trussville is located at 2107 Gadsden Highway ( Highway 11) .

villagelivingonline.com

18

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Trussville boulders proj ect completed

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N The Trussville Sports Complex has a new feature for those seeking a day outdoors.

Work was completed in September on a boulder trail, which opens up rock climbing o ortunities on five boulders tucked be ond t e ball fields, in t e tree line ne t to t e disc golf course and mountain biking trail. “ It adds yet another layer of recreational activity that can speak to someone in the community. There’ s now a host of sports that people can do outside in Trussville,” said Ty Tyler, stewardship director at Access F und, a Colorado-based climbing advocacy organiz ation.

The municipal cooperation proj ect, approved by the city earlier this year, was paid for by a grant from the Community F oundation of Greater Birmingham. The grant helped fund three years of work by Access F und and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition ( SCC) to improve climbing areas in Central Alabama, known as the Greater Birmingham Climbing Resource Improvement Proj ect.

K ate J ohnson and Chris Wu, who make up the Access F und-J eep Conservation Team East, spent two weeks in Trussville to lay out trails to the boulders and create basic pad platforms to limit deterioration of the site and

The Access Fund recently completed work on a bouldering area at the Trussville Sports Complex. Photo courtesy of Kate Johnson.

erosion. O nce complete, the team explored the boulders to get chalk on the rocks and help create multiple climbing routes, known as boulder problems. “ While the boulders aren’ t as plentiful as Alabama standbys like Horse Pens 40 or even Moss Rock, the climbing at the Trussville S orts o le is definitel ig ualit and

worth checking out,” said J ohnson. “ There are o ortunities to find over ung lines, tec nical face climbing and varied traverses, from beginner problems to super-hard, all with relatively friendly landings and easy access.”

Cody Roney, the executive director of SCC, said each boulder has between one and 10 boulder problems. She estimates there to

be at least 25-30 at the new Trussville location and something for everyone. “ As things start to develop it will be a place where the beginner climber can go and climb t eir first rock and an advanced cli ber can go out and have a great day out climbing,” Roney said.

Z achary Lesch-Huie, Southeast regional director of Access F und, said climbers like to go to different places all the time, which can make Trussville’ s boulders an attraction for not only local residents, but climbers around Central and North Alabama “ I think when people think about climbing, they think about going to exotic places or maybe out in California, but the truth is we have great climbing areas right in our backyard and sometimes those are j ust as valuable,” said Lesch-Huie. “ F or local Alabamians, it’ s a great climbing resource you can go to after work, [ and] its real family-friendly. Y ou can go and park and have a short walk, take your kids, knock out a few hours and head home.”

The Southeastern Climbers Coalition will manage information about the boulders on its website, seclimbers.org, under climbing areas. SCC will also work to organiz e volunteer da s, beginning wit a graffiti re oval day this fall.

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

19

Restoration Springs to provide transitional housing for men with addiction Restoration Springs opens this month as a program to bridge between rehabilitation and everyday life for men battling addiction.

Photo by Ron Burkett.

By CH RIS MEGGIN SO N More than 700 Alabamians die each year as a result of opioid addiction. Trussville residents Bill and Lisa Bright have experienced the pain of losing a child to addiction and are on a mission to honor their son and save lives through the Will Bright F oundation. “ If we can prevent one family from getting that call, then we’ ve succeeded,” Bill Bright said.

F ive years ago, Will died from a heroin overdose at age e was one of five fro his 2005 Hewitt-Trussville graduating class to die from drug addiction, according to his father. “ It’ s rampant. It doesn’ t know a z ip code.

It doesn’ t know a profession. I don’ t hardly know anyone now who isn’ t affected one way or another,” Bill Bright said.

Will battled drug addiction since eighth grade, with multiple stints in rehab at Turning Point and The F oundry. A graduate of The F oundry’ s 12-month program, he served meals and provided food assistance in the community. He and other men from The F oundry also traveled around, speaking about addiction and raising money to fund scholarships for rehab programs. “ Will had a deep passion about helping people who were down and out, because he

understood that really clearly,” said Micah Andrews, CEO of The F oundry.

After leaving The F oundry, the Brights had a ard ti e finding a safe lace for ill to sta away from his struggles. After his death, the Brights began asking themselves what could have been different.

His parents picked up where Will left off, raising financial su ort to a for ot ers recovery, but realiz ed there was a need to break the cycle of being in and out of rehab and halfway houses. They began seeking property to develop transitional housing for men

with addiction. Within the last year, a woman they did not know, Lillian K irkley, donated three chalet-style cabins next to a pond on more than 125 acres of land in F ayette, AL. The property, now known as Restoration Springs, is set to open later this month and will house six to eight men. Applicants will be referred to the Will Bright F oundation after completion of a Christian-based recovery program, beginning with Turning Point and The F oundry. Those selected after an interview will be trained in life skills and receive training for j ob skills.

Restoration Springs will also work with businesses in the F ayette area to secure j obs for the residents. After 30 days, they are expected to have a j ob and pay a weekly rent, attend church services, perform community service hours and help keep up the facility grounds. The goal is to continue to provide support as they slowly transition back into society after rehab.

Andrews called the Brights’ concept “ one of the most cutting edge programs” in drug rehab. He said he sees the facility as similar to an ill patient leaving intensive care for a step-down unit before returning home.

While there are no models of transitional living in Alabama that match what Will Bright F oundation is providing, they do not see themselves as groundbreakers. “ We’ re nothing but two parents who had a tragedy, and we’ re trying to make the best of it,” Bill Bright said. “ It’ s humbling. O ur goal is to make a difference in some of these guy’ s lives and try to keep them here.”

Restoration Springs will only be available to men. While Lisa Bright said they are not opposed to one day working on a facility for women, they want to focus on their responsibility of developing the F ayette property.

To learn more about the Will Bright F oundation, or to make a donation, visit WillBright F oundation.com.

20

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

COVER STORY: Jordan Fisher takes center stage in the entertainment industry Jordan Fisher dances with Lindsay Arnold during the season premiere of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” on Sept.

18. Photo courtesy of ABC/Eric McCandless.

show STOPPER

By BETH AN Y AD AMS

O

n Sept. 18, Trussville residents tuned into the 25th season of “ D ancing with the Stars” with special interest. D ancing with Lindsay Arnold was Trussville native J ordan F isher, who has spent the last 13 years gaining the notice of the entertainment industry and making his hometown proud.

In addition to his appearance on the popular reality show, F isher has also appeared on programs like “ The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “ Grease: LIVE.” ore recentl , e ad a five ont run in the cast of “ Hamilton” on Broadway — an experience that he called “ incredible.”

On to of is first full lengt albu , which was released in O ctober, his musical experience includes a Top 30 single and a duet with Lin-Manuel Miranda for the “ Moana” soundtrack.

But before he took the stage on Broadway, F isher grew up a resident of Trussville, w ere is love of t e arts was first sparked at Paine Intermediate. “ [ T] here was a girl I had a crush on in fift grade, and s e asked e to oin t e drama club, and I lied and told her that

I was already planning on it, when I had not,” he said. “ I fell in love with acting and music and dance and creativity and all of those things all on the same day.”

After his theater debut performing on unction unction in Sc ool ouse Rock J r.,” F isher made the leap to the Red Mountain Theatre Company, where he was discovered by a talent scout. “ A lot of who I am happened because of my time with Red Mountain, so I cannot credit them enough where my success is concerned,” F isher said. He added that his time with the company helped to create the foundation on which he has begun building his career.

But the strongest support that F isher has received was from his grandparents, who raised him from a young age and later legally adopted him. “ I’ ve been loved by them better than any parent could ever love a child,” he said. “ They’ re the most incredible, loving, su ortive, kind, war , generous, sel ess people you’ ll ever meet in your entire life, and I’ m insanely grateful to call them my parents.”

In fact, he hopes to one day come full circle and be the type of parent that he is grateful to have had.

“ My ultimate goal is to be a really great father and a great husband and provider, and ultimately I think that a lot of that starts with what it is that I do to provide,” he said. Currently, he is learning about the production side of the industry, hoping to establish himself as a producer so that one day he can better control his schedule and have time to spend with his family.

But for now, F isher is focusing on getting the most out of everything that he does. “ I love all facets of what I do, and I look forward to doing it for the rest of my life,” he said. “ And honestly, my goal ever da is to ust sit in eac o ent and en o ever t ing t at doing D espite his success and the fact that he and his family now call California home, F isher hasn’ t completely left Alabama behind. ou definitel can t take t e Roll ide out of our blood,” he said. He regularly comes back to visit his girlfriend, and he alwa s finds ti e for t e one t ing e can t get in LA. “ Y ou can’ t replicate good old Bama barbecue,” he said. “ There’ s something so great about a simple Styrofoam box and a barbecue sandwich and some fries and a tea nd t at s definitel a w en

there, for sure.”

F isher has received “ insane” love from the folks back in Trussville, and he says that there’ s something special about representing his hometown. “ [ I] t’ s really nice to feel that kind of love and that kind of support from a city that you spent the better part of your childhood in,” he said. “ It’ s an incredible feeling.”

To any Trussville kids who hope to make their own way in the entertainment industry, F isher notes that success is a marathon — not a sprint. “ I started at 10, so I’ ve got 13 years in it already, and eo le are ust now starting to take notice,” he said.

He noted that “ sometimes it takes longer [ and] sometimes it happens the next day” but emphasiz ed the importance of “ recogni ing t at our ourne is our ourne Additionally, he urged aspiring artists to identify the thing that they look forward to doing every day. “ [ T] hat is what you are meant to do,” he said. “ And regardless of how great your day is or how poor your day is, if your head hits the pillow and you want to wake up and do it all over again, don’ t let anybody tell you that you shouldn’ t.”

22

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

SCHOOL HOUSE Trussville students earn National Merit semifinalist status

Paws for a Cause Gala award winners are, left to right, Eddie Seal, Katie Riggins and Josh Haynes. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.

Paws for a Cause celebrates teachers The 2017 Paws for a Cause Gala was held on Aug. 26 at the Trussville Civic Center. The gala is an annual fundraiser for the Trussville City Schools F oundation.

The evening included dinner, bingo and giveaways, as well as awards for some of

Trussville’ s educators.

The Gala winners included Eddie Seal, Volunteer Excellence in Service Award; K atie Riggins, Athletic Excellence in Service Award; and J osh Haynes, Education Excellence in Service Award.

– Submitted by Trussville City Sc hools.

F our Hewitt-Trussville High School students were announced recentl as se ifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, j oining approximately 16,000 other high school seniors in receiving this honor.

These students were Logan Cobb, Tin D inh, Nicholas Hallman and Alexandra Mueller.

Additionally, D esi Gillespie was recogniz ed as a commended scholar. e nationwide ool of se ifinalists re resents less than one percent of U .S. high school seniors. About 1.6 million j uniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Q ualifying Test ( PSAT/ NMSQ T) , which served as the initial screen of program entrants.

These students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500

Logan Cobb, Alexandra Mueller and Nicholas Hallman are among the four HTHS students named as National Merit o s s s s Photo submitted

by Trussville City Schools.

National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $ 32 million, that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, se ifinalists ust sub it a detailed scholarship application, which includes academic records, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leaders i abilities, official reco endations and an essa bout ercent of se ifinalists are e ected to attain finalist standing, and about alf of t e finalists will win a ational erit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

– Submitted by Trussville City Sc hools.

NOVEMBER 2017

A

s

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

s s fo f s s Photo submitted by Trussville City Schools.

of

C

23

A

HTHS students kick off 2017 Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Twenty-six Hewitt-Trussville High School students came together recently to pack meals for local families in need.

The students were selected by the school to artici ate in t e 1 ick fil eader cade , a national rogra for ig sc ool students to learn about leadership and putting their skills into action. The 26 students packed roughly 100 meals to kick off their time

in the academy.

Students in t e eader cade are encour aged to use the skills they learn to put together an “ impact proj ect” throughout the school ear, wit t e ick fil oundation and local franchises sponsoring the program and student proj ects. earn ore at c ickfilaleaderacade co – Submitted by Trussville City Sc hools.

Senators present check for Trussville City Schools t t e Se t egislative Breakfast, State Senator Shay Shellnutt presented Trussville City Sc ools Su erintendent Pattie eill wit a , check for the school system on behalf of Senator Slade Blackwell

Photo submitted by Trussville City Schools.

24

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

SPORTS Cougars look to everyone to fill scoring void Head coach Jeremy Monceaux is in his fourth season at ClayChalkville and feels that his program is now fully established.

Photo

by Kyle Parmley.

By K Y LE PARMLEY A lengthy conversation with J eremy Monceaux about the 2017-18 version of the ClayChalkville High School boys basketball team goes by without a single mention of the word defense.

But defense is what the fourth-year head coach of the Cougars hangs his hat on. Any opponent that has faced them in his tenure can attest to that. Monceaux has ingrained that mindset so deeply into his program that he doesn’ t even need to bring it up anymore. “ That’ s a given,” he said.

Great defense has allowed Clay-Chalkville to advance to a sub-regional game each of the last three seasons and go toe-to-toe with a team that eventually made it to the F inal F our.

The Cougars battled Woodlawn to the end without star player Hasan Abdullah in 2015, and lost in t e final seconds to uff an in 2016 and Parker last season.

There is hope that this year’ s team could be the one that breaks through to the regional tournament. Monceaux now has a senior

class that has been with him since its freshman year, and there “ is no secret what’ s being demanded” from each player in the program. la alkville likel won t be t e first name brought up when discussing the top Class 6A teams in the area, but Monceaux believes his team will raise eyebrows throughout the year. “ I think we’ ll surprise some people early, because I don’ t think anybody’ s expecting us

to be really good,” he said. “ I fully expect to be in the mix at the end regardless of what the record looks like at that point.”

After graduating the likes of J alen J ordan and Anthony Holmes, the Cougars will have to re lace a significant c unk of t eir lead ership and scoring production. That predicament likely won’ t have an immediate solution at the outset of the season, but the Cougars do have some options.

Nick Howard is taking advantage of the rule implemented last year that allows homeschooled students to participate in athletics at the school for which they are z oned. Howard is a guard who has the ability to shoot the ball fro an w ere on t e oor e s ad a great deal of success at the AAU level, and Monceaux is eager to see how his game translates to the maj or high school level.

Along with Howard, O tis Black, Caleb Toney, Brandon Harper, J ovan Gale and Christian Bryant are seniors. Toney played a significant role last season and s ould take another step forward this winter. onceau didn t want to oint to a s ecific senior to take on the brunt of the scoring load left behind, and said that everyone, including the underclassmen, will need to contribute in order to have a successful season. “ We feel good about it,” Monceaux said. “ Y oung, talented and unproven … If they’ re able to stay together as a unit, by the end of the year, we’ re going to give somebody a game that you wouldn’ t expect.”

The Cougars open up the season against Grissom on Nov. 7.

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

Lady Cougars move to Plan B after injury

By K Y LE PARMLEY F or any team, graduating a pair of D ivision I basketball players presents a challenge.

Add to that a knee inj ury to one of the top returners, and the challenge becomes far greater.

The Clay-Chalkville High School girls basketball team has won its area each of the past four ears, but will ave to ai for a fift t is winter without the services of Raven O mar and Alex J ohnson, who signed with Samford and Alabama A& M, respectively.

Set to take O mar’ s place at point guard was K hali J ohnson, a sophomore on the verge of a breakout season. But she suffered a knee inj ury in the weeks leading up to the opening of practice that will sideline her for the season. “ That set us back a little bit and we’ re aving to s uf e so e la ers around a little bit and play them in different positions,” said head coach J ustin Haynie. “ Y ou feel bad for the kid, because she’ s worked her tail off. I felt terrible for her.”

But don’ t expect the Lady Cougars to

simply mail it in. Even with the loss of K hali J ohnson, Clay-Chalkville has three returning starters and some young talent that will be forced into action.

Erica Lockhart will likely slide over and play point guard after playing shooting guard last year. D arci Champion is a guard with great experience, and Mekaila Hill will be the Lady Cougars’ primary post presence. “ I think we’ ll be O K ,” Haynie said.

O ffense may not come as organically at the beginning of the season as Haynie would like, but he expects that problem to solve itself as players become comfortable in their roles. “ The offense may struggle a little bit, but we’ ve got some kids that can shoot it,” Haynie said. “ I think Erica’ s going to have a really big year. She’ ll probably surprise a lot of people, especially having the ball in her hand every possession.”

U ntil things get settled, the Lady Cougars will lean heavily on their two seniors, Champion and Hill, to steer the ship. Haynie has been impressed with both, pointing out that they have shown the ability to act as on-court

25 Darci Champion is one of two seniors for the Lady Cougars, along with Mekaila Hill. Photo

by Kyle Parmley.

coaches. “ Y ou don’ t have to worry about them, and they’ re out there telling the other kids where they need to be,” Haynie said. “ I’ ve coached the girls long enough now that the kids who have been around know what we’ re doing, and they understand it and they coach each other and coach the younger ones up.”

Much of that on-court coaching comes on t e defensive end of t e oor, w ere t e ad Cougars expect to be really sound with their half-court man-to-man defense, even as their offense gets up to speed.

“ I think we’ re pretty good at it,” Haynie said. “ We work hard at it in practice and in the summertime. With a young team and having somebody get hurt like that at the beginning of the year, we may do some different things and figure out w at we re good at Several young players will get a chance to make an impact beginning on Nov. 7 as the Lady Cougars open their season against O akman. “ They’ ll work hard. Some of them are young and haven’ t ever played varsity,” Haynie said.

26

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM Kewaski Jackson is one of the players expected to lead the Indians this season.

Photo courtesy of Danny Joiner.

High aspirations Pinson Valley High School boys

By K Y LE PARMLEY

Cedric Lane has lofty goals for his Pinson Valley High School boys basketball team this year.

The second-year coach wants the Indians to become nationally ranked and to win every game they play.

Who wouldn’ t want those things?

O ne of those goals is certainly attainable.

Pinson alle la s in enoug ig rofile tournaments across the Southeast that if it erfor s well, it could find itself earning some national recognition. “ If you want to be the top team in the state, you’ ve got to beat some of the top teams in the state,” Lane said. “ If you want to be the top team in the nation, you’ ve got to get on another scale.”

Going undefeated is not a likely scenario, given the tough schedule the Indians play in those tournaments — over three consecutive weekends in D ecember, Pinson Valley travels to Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia — along with the fact that a few of their ke la ers could otentiall iss t e first handful of games due to the football team’ s potential postseason success.

But that’ s not going to stop them from trying.

basketball team sets high expectations

“ We expect to win every game we play,” Lane said. “ If we lose a game, we expect to win the rest of them.”

Lane said he lost his team a few games last year by playing some of those football guys too soon upon their arrival to the basketball team after the football season had ended. “ I’ ll try not to [ make that] mistake this year,” he said, while adding that he still likes the team he has before the football players rej oin the fray. at confidence is not borne of delusion After seeing his team blossom into a top 10 team in Class 6A last year and advance to the Northeast Regional, the Indians return a host of contributors and expect the emergence of a few young players as well. “ We look like an experienced team and we know what to do,” Lane said. “ The guys know each other. The most important thing is [ that the] guys understand their strengths and weaknesses — what shots they need to take, what shots they don’ t need to take.”

Pinson Valley put together a stellar record of 30-3 over the summer, backing up its head coach’ s belief. His system has taken hold, and the group of largely inexperienced players he inherited last year should excel with a season under its belt.

Lane said, “ Y ou can’ t get that stuff without

experience. Everybody knows what they need to be doing now, it’ s j ust a matter of getting out there and executing.”

Lane’ s teams are generally known for t eir roficienc on t e offensive side, and he wasted no time giving Indians supporters a taste of t at last season n is first ga e on the sidelines, Pinson Valley put together a stunning display, defeating J ackson-O lin 132-67.

That offensive style is one of the most fast-paced in the area. The Indians look to get u t e oor as uickl as ossible, and ore often t an not, fire u a s ot wit in a handful of passes. “ I was proud of how the guys gelled this summer,” Lane said. “ If that’ s any indication of what we’ re going to look like this season, we’ re going to be scary.”

That aggression translates to the defensive end of t e oor as well, as t e ndians attempt to force turnovers as often as possible. Even if that energy sometimes leads to an open shot, it’ s the thought planted in an opponent’ s mind that carries over. “ It looks chaotic, but it’ s organiz ed,” Lane said. “ Everybody knows what they’ re doing. F rom the outside, it may j ust look like they’ re sliding and j umping, but they’ re going where they’ re supposed to be. We may

give up an open shot every now and then.”

Pinson Valley will look to players like K ewaski J ackson, Colby J ones and Cam Scott to lead the way initially. All three are expected to have big seasons, and all three are only sophomores.

LiAllen D ailey, J ackie Matthews, O rion Morris and GaQ uincy McK instry will certainly make their presence felt once football season concludes. Geordon Pollard is another la er to look for on a dee ndians s uad Pinson Valley has had strong teams in the ast, but as not been a erennial state final contender, something that it appears to be this season. Lane has not encountered many mental hurdles getting his team to believe that, because even though it is not common territory for the school, his current players are young. “ The only thing they know is what happened last year,” he said. “ The older guys didn’ t play before we got here last year…

Last year, it was challenging to get the guys to buy in because they weren’ t used to doing the type of work that we were doing, and a lot of t e uit e u ed t at urdle last year, so now let’ s j ust build on what we started.”

The Indians open their season at Thompson on Nov. 9.

28

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

OPINION My South By Rick Watson

The writer’s block toolkit When talking with a friend recently, I mentioned that coming up with fresh ideas for this column was sometimes a struggle.

When the muse is on vacay, I use a wacky toolkit to help me get through it. These tools might not work for any other writer, but for me, they never fail. e last ti e t is a ened, ri ed through a box of souvenirs. I also read a book of uotes and i ed back t roug old pictures.

Nada.

Twisting the key on a tiny music box on desk, sat and ga ed out office window while listening to those tinkling tones. That music always transports me to another place. e first few tools didn t el e t is time, but something off to the left caught my attention. It was a pair of old welding goggles. These babies make anyone wearing them look like a bug-eyed alien. An idea

was born. working there in the late My dad wore a hood 1950s. He used them daily, when he did arc welding, and they were well worn. but when he used an acetBut he took care of his stuff. ylene torch, he wore these When he retired in the goggles. F or decades, early 80s, his supervisor t e ve dangled on a ook gave him his work gloves in o e office en and these goggles. He had picked them up and slipped an old Army issue locker the elastic straps over my at the foot of his bed, and ears, the world became t at s w ere e ke t t e things that meant somea darker place. The only things visible were surfaces thing to him. When he died Watson that reflected the ambiin 1986, my mom gave the ent light in the room. It was goggles to me. like one of those horror movies.

Closing my eyes, I held the elastic bands The goggles gave a different perspec- close to my nose. I wanted to see if the years tive on the familiar things around me. I tried had left a trace of my dad behind. Either wearing them while typing, but that was a time had taken his scent away or taken my fruitless exercise. ability to smell it.

The company where my dad worked My dad was not a yapper. When he issued these goggles to him when he started said something, it usually carried weight.

didn t alwa s listen, but s ould ave Being self absorbed during s didn t help. At the time, I was sometimes deaf to the advice that could have made my life an easier j ourney.

Losing a father never crossed my mind. I t oug t e d live forever isdo for e in those years was as rare as pocket money. I had no idea cancer would take him so soon.

Removing the goggles from my eyes, I hung them back on the bookshelf hook. A wave of sadness swept over me as I turned back to the keyboard. at s t e t ing about writing toolkit t s i ossible to know w et er t e tools will produce a happy topic or a sad one. The only implicit guarantee is an idea.

Ric k W atson is a c olumn H is latest book “ L if e G oes O on A maz on .c om. Y ou c an c email at ric k@ ric kw atson -w

ist an d author. n ” is available on tac t him via riter.c om

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

Trussville

CAHABASUN.COM

7619 Barclay Terrace

Real Estate Listings 796546 35173

7619 Barclay Terrace

New

$569,000

797884

35173

603 Saddlewood Road

New

$254,900

797795

35173

7783 Jayden Drive

New

$284,000

797592

35173

111 Cooper Ave.

New

$199,900

797558

35173

9675 Old Springville Road

New

$359,900

797347

35173

7626 Cottonridge Road

New

$399,900

797132

35173

8501 Carrington Lake Crest

New

$379,900

797096

35173

3131 Birch St.

New

$105,000

797300

35173

6800 Candlewood Lane

New

$209,900

796956

35173

528 Birch St.

New

$169,900

797102

35173

6508 Chalkville Road

New

$267,900

796909 35173

5821 Janet Drive

New

$119,900

796869 35173

5415 Camellia Lane

New

$217,500

796862

35173

201 Winterberry Lane

New

$194,500

796694

35173

520 Lake Ridge Drive

New

$339,900

796572

35173

2080 Overlook Place

New

$227,900

795071

35173

6116 Clubhouse Drive

New

$399,900

796285

35173

3129 Cedarbrook Lane

New

$159,900

796169

35173

509 Birch St.

New

$189,900

796002 35173

8116 Carrington Drive

New

$350,000

795365

35173

3233 Trace Circle

New

$279,900

796491

35173

7636 Paine Drive

New

$247,050

795988 35173

4543 Rock Creek Circle

New

$154,900

795965

35173

3736 Lookout Drive

New

$268,800

795857

35173

8450 Scott Drive

New

$595,000

795672

35173

8212 Matson Circle

New

$275,000

795545

35173

4279 Willowbrook Circle

New

$369,900

795531

35173

340 Lakeridge Drive

New

$283,400

795524

35173

3232 Cahaba Manor Drive

New

$332,500

795339

35173

6217 Jonathans Way

New

$309,900

795237

35173

4619 Trussville Clay Road

New

$250,000

795108

35173

123 Wimberly Drive

New

$395,900

794591

35173

1155 Overlook Drive

New

$181,500

794761

35173

3428 Cedarbrook Circle

New

$184,900

794672

35173

839 Vanessa Drive

New

$424,900

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on October 11.

Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

6508 Chalkville Road

7636 Paine Drive

1155 Overlook Drive

29

30

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

CALENDAR TRUSSVILLE EVENTS Oct. 1-Nov. 12: Online registrations for winter youth basketball. Trussville Athletic Center.

Evaluations will take place Nov. 13-17 for 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 18U boys and 8U, 10U and 12U girls. $115 per player to participate. For further information call or email Zach Manning, 508-5666 or zachmanning@hotmail.com.

Nov. 4-5: State ARPA Youth Flag Football Tournament. All day. Trussville Athletic Center.

Nov. 5: Writer’s Workshop. 2 p.m. Clay Public Library. This session is all about revision, polishing and encouragement. Light refreshments will be served.

Nov. 5: Closing Jericho March – Stand for Life. 2 p.m. Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church. This march will close the church’s 40 Days for Life event to support the pro-life movement.

Nov. 7: Storytime. 10 a.m. Clay Public Library.

Nov. 9: Lego Day. All day. Clay Public Library.

All ages welcome.

Nov. 9: Independence Place Basketball League Away Game vs. United Ability. 10:30 a.m. Shades Crest Baptist Church.

Visit independenceplaceofalabama.org.

Nov. 10-11: Clay Public Library closed for Veterans Day. Nov. 11: Veterans Day. City of Trussville offices closed.

Nov. 13: Planning and Zoning meeting. 6 p.m. City Hall.

Nov. 14: Storytime. 10 a.m. Clay Public Library.

Nov. 14: City Council meeting. 6 p.m.

City Hall.

Nov. 16: Book Club. 11 a.m. Clay Public Library. This month’s book is “The Pocket Wife” by Susan Crawford, and copies are available at the library. Enjoy refreshments and discussion.

Nov. 16: Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trussville Civic Center. Lunch is sponsored by the Jimmie Hale Mission. $17 per person, plus a processing fee if paid by credit card. Visit trussvillechamber.com or email june.mathews@ trussvillechamber.com to register.

Nov. 18: Art for Alzheimer’s Show and Sale. 9:30-11 a.m. Trussville First United Methodist Church. Donated work by local artists will be sold with proceeds benefiting Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. There will also be prayer for patients, their families and researchers. Call 6553259 for more information.

Nov. 21: Storytime. 10 a.m. Clay Public Library.

Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day. Nov. 23-24: Trussville city offices and Clay Public Library closed for Thanksgiving.

Nov. 27: Winter Youth Basketball League practice begins. Trussville Athletic Center. Games start Dec. 9. For further information call or email Zach Manning, 508-5666 or zachmanning@hotmail.com.

Nov. 28: Storytime. 10 a.m. Clay Public Library.

Nov. 28: City Council meeting. 6 p.m.

City Hall.

Nov. 29: Coaches Education Class.

5:45-8:45 p.m. Trussville Athletic Center. This course is required for anyone coaching a Trussville youth league sport or who will coach at a Trussville Parks and Recreation ballfield. No pre-registration required to attend.

TRUSSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS Nov. 10: Schools and offices closed for Veterans Day. Nov. 16: Paine Elementary PTO meeting. 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 16: Second Grade Music Program. 6:30 p.m. Paine Elementary.

Nov. 19: Hewitt-Trussville Student Athlete Foundation meeting. 3 p.m.

Husky Room at the stadium.

Nov. 21: HTHS PTO Meeting. 12:30 p.m.

Nov. 22-24: Thanksgiving break.

Schools and offices closed.

AREA EVENTS Nov. 1: UAB Student Recital. 12:20 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Visit uab. edu/cas/music.

Nov. 5: The Lone Bellow. 8 p.m. Iron City. Tickets $22.50-$80. Visit ironcitybham. com.

Nov. 1: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre.

Visit ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 6: BAO Bingo. 7 p.m. Birmingham AIDS Outreach. $15-$25. Visit birmingham aidsoutreach.org.

Nov. 2: UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band Concert. 7 p.m.

Free. Visit uab.edu/cas/music.

Nov. 8: Bon Iver. 7:30 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $33.50-$123.50. Visit boniver.org.

Nov. 2: Dia de los Muertos no. 15: Day of the Dead Festival. 4-10 p.m.

Pepper Place. Tickets $10 ages 13 and up, $2 kids ages 7-12, under 7 are free. Visit barehandsinc.org.

Nov. 9: UAB Faculty Recital. 7 p.m.

Free. Visit uab.edu/cas/music.

Nov. 9: American Chamber Players. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. Visit Samford.edu/wrightcenter.

Nov. 3: Darren Knight’s Southern Momma An Em Comedy Tour. 7:30 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Visit ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 9: Magic Men Live. 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Tickets $28-$78. Visit magic menlive.com.

Nov. 3: Bruce Hornsby. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $48-$68. Visit alys stephens.org.

Nov. 10: Operation Finally Home welcomes Craig Morgan “American Stories Tour” with Mac Powell and other guests. 8 p.m. Lyric Theatre. $45.50. Visit lyricbham.com/events.

Nov. 3: 14th Annual Harvest of Hope. 6 p.m. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Benefiting Cornerstone School. Visit csalabama.auction-bid.org/microsite.

Nov. 4: Vulcan 10K. 8 a.m. Course follows a scenic route from downtown Birmingham through Highland Park and Five Points South before returning to a finish next to Linn Park. $45 registration fee. Visit birmingham trackclub.com.

Nov. 4: Birmingham-Southern football vs. Milsaps. 1 p.m. Tickets $10. Ages 18 and over. Visit bscsports.net.

Nov. 4: UAB football vs. Rice. 2 p.m. Legion Field. Visit uabsports.com.

Nov. 4: The Beach Boys. 7:30 p.m.

Alabama Theatre. Tickets $55-$75. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

Nov. 5: Southeastern Outings Dayhike. 1 p.m. Horse Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton. Easy 3.2-mile walk. Depart at 9 a.m. from the Floor Décor Store on Green Springs Highway or meet at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby inside the left entrance (as you face the front of the store) of the Wal-Mart Super Center in Sumiton, Alabama. For information, contact Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth. net or 631-4680.

Nov. 5: Emmylou Harris. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $55-$76. Visit alys stephens.org.

Nov. 10: Dionne Warwick. 8 a.m.

Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $56-$76. Visit alysstephens.org.

Nov. 10-12: Homestead Hollow Arts & Crafts Festival. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets $4 ages 3 to 12, $8 adults, kids ages 2 and under are free. Visit homesteadhollow. com.

Nov. 11: Southeastern Outings Moderately Easy Dayhike. 8 a.m.

Alum Hollow on Green Mountain, Nature Trail also on Green Mountain, and Monte Sano State Park — all in the Huntsville area. 8 a.m. Depart from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride or 9:30 a.m. from the Wendy’s in Valley Bend at Jones Valley. For information, contact Barbara Kammerud, bjkamm@gmail.com or call 256-536-7074.

Nov. 11: National Veterans Day Parade. 1:30 p.m. Linn Park. Visit national veteransday.org.

Nov. 12: Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park. 1 p.m. A moderate 4-mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham. Bring $5 per person for adults ($2 seniors age 62 and over and children age 4-11) for park admission fee plus your drink.

Contact Edd Spencer at 317-5868.

Nov. 12: Modigliani Quartet. 2 p.m.

NOVEMBER 2017

CAHABA SUN

CAHABASUN.COM

31

AREA EVENTS (CONT.) Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $35-$55. Visit alysstephens.org.

p.m. Sunday. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Admission $3-$5. Visit tannehill.org.

Nov. 14: The ASO Presents: Baroque Explorations: Music for Trumpets, Timpani, Violin & Organ.

7:30 p.m. Independent Presbyterian Church.

Visit alysstephens.org.

Nov. 18-19: Dolores Hydock presents Silence: The Adventure of a Medieval Warrior Woman. 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. Tickets start at $15. Visit redmountain theatre.org.

Nov. 14-Dec. 16: North Pole Express. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. Tickets $27$47. Visit hodrrm.org for information.

Nov. 16-19: STARS presents A Charlie Brown Christmas. 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Virginia Samford Theatre. Tickets $20 adult, $15 students. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org.

Nov. 17: Kevin Spencer. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $10-$15. Visit alys stephens.org.

Nov. 17: The ASO Presents: Justin Brown conducts Beethoven. 11 a.m.

Alys Stephens Center. Visit alysstephens.org.

Nov. 17-18: The ASO Presents: Justin Brown conducts Beethoven.

8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Visit alysstephens. org.

Nov. 18: Southeastern Outings Dayhike on the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin near Alexander City. 9 a.m.

Moderately strenuous 3.6 mile loop trail at Lake Martin. Depart 9 a.m. from the parking lot of the Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone.

For information, contact Dan Frederick at seout ings@bellsouth.net or 631-4680 Nov. 18: A Southern Christmas Bazaar. Pelham Civic Complex. $7 tickets for ages 7 and up. Visit rotarysouthernchristmas. com.

Nov. 18: John Prine with special guest John Moreland. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Tickets $59-$296. Visit alabama theatre.org.

Nov. 18-19: Tannehill Trade Days.

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 12:30-4:30

Nov. 19: Southeastern Outings Dayhike. 1:30 p.m. Cahaba Environmental Center at Living River, Shelby-Bibb County line near Boothton and Marvel. Depart at 1:30 p.m. from McDonald’s Galleria. For information, contact Dan Frederick at seoutings@bellsouth.net or 631-4680.

Nov. 19: TIMELESS with special guest Kenny Lattimore. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Tickets $37.50-$82. Visit alysstephens.org.

Nov. 24-25: Tannehill Crafter’s Open House. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 12:30 p.m.4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Admission $3-$5. Visit tannehill.org.

Nov. 25: UAB football vs. UTEP. 2 p.m. Legion Field. Visit uabsports.com.

Nov. 26: Southeastern Outings Dayhike in a Forest Preserve in Homewood. 2 p.m. Meet in the Homewood High School east (nearest Brookwood Village Shopping Center) parking lot, just off Lakeshore Drive. For information, contact Dan Frederick at seoutings@bellsouth.net or call 631-4680.

Nov. 27: The Hip Hop Nutcracker.

7:30 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Tickets $33-$53.

Visit alabamatheatre.com.

Nov. 28: Fourth Annual Bell Art Party. - p.m. rim ab Brewer . Benefiting the Bell Center. Art for sale, music and give-aways.

Food from Local Taco and drinks from Trim Tab Brewery. Free admission.

Nov. 29: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical. 7 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Tickets $29.25-$39.25. Ages 2 and up must have a ticket. Visit rudolphthe musical.com.

Pre-Sort Standard U .S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54