Sun HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 10 | JULY 2020
• HOME & AUTO • BUSINESS • LIFE • SURETY
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TAKING NEXT STEPS
Protests put spotlight on police practices, racial diversity in city By JON ANDERSON
M
ost people have seen the videos and photos of Hoover police standing face to face with protesters as the protesters yell obscenities and disparaging comments at them, including calling them racist and brutal cops. It was a scene played out in cities across the country as the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked outrage among people who say there is a pattern of police officers abusing their authority and unfairly targeting — sometimes wrongly killing — people of color. Protests rang out across Alabama as well, from Mobile to Huntsville and from Auburn to Tuscaloosa. Rioting, including vandalism of
See STEPS | page A16 Protesters standoff with members of the Hoover Police Department following a June 6 protest, organized by the Alabama Rally for Injustice, to speak out against police brutality, racism and inequalities. Photo by Erin Nelson.
INSIDE Sponsors........... A4 News....................A6 Business........... A10 Chamber.......... A15
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Rising Up
Events.................. B1 Sports.................B4 School House... B10 Community...... B14
Ashley Prichard, a 2005 graduate of Hoover High, served as a temporary physician assistant in the Metropolitan Hospital Center emergency room in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in April and May. Photo courtesy of Ashley Prichard.
Hoover High grad serves in New York City hospital By JON ANDERSON
facebook.com/hooversunnews
No stranger to the halls of Hoover High, longtime lead assistant coach Scott Ware was named the Bucs’ new head basketball coach.
See page B8
Some people run from danger, but others look past it and see a chance to help others. That’s what happened with 32-yearold Ashley Prichard, a 2005 Hoover High School graduate, when she heard of the need for medical workers in the COVID19 hotspot of New York City. Prichard had just been laid off from her job as a physician’s assistant at a Birmingham area orthopedic surgeon’s clinic in March due to COVID-19 when a friend showed her an ad seeking temporary
See PRICHARD | page A18
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A2 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
OLLI is a member-led community of lifelong learners for adults age 50+. Since 2008, we have grown to more than 300 courses annually in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Gadsden. We love to learn new things, meet people with similar interests and travel locally and abroad. Many of us teach courses and lead field trips. Whatever your interests, there’s something for you in OLLI. Something special for you! OLLI is waiving the membership fee for new members through July 31. You are invited to take any or all of these programs at zero cost to you! Free bonus classes open to the public: The Whig Party; A Relative Surprise: How 23andMe and Ancestry.com Can Surprise the Heck out of You; Bernardo de Galvez and the Spanish Conquest of British West Florida during the American Revolution; Come to Your Census: How We Make Alabama Count; Where Might We Be Headed with Our Efforts in Space Exploration?; Vehicle Maintenance; Alabama’s Confederate Soldiers’ Home; Safe Driving for Seniors; Smithsonian American Art Museum and many more.
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To become a member or to register for classes: Visit olli.ua.edu/bhm or call 1-885-424-0909.
6/8/20 11:27 AM
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • A3
A Better Way. Gene on the iSSueS About Gene Smith
• Moved to what would eventually become Hoover in 1963 • Parents signed the original Petition that formed the Township of Hoover • Attended Green Valley Elementary School • Attended W.A. Berry High School, Grades 8-12, Graduating in 1975 • Hoover Fire Deptartment (1976-1993), Retired as Captain • Began working as the 3rd generation in the family’s finance business, 1987 • Hoover Appointee to UAB 310 Mental Health Board • Hoover Planning & Zoning Commission • Hoover City Council, 2004 – Present • Hoover City Council, President, 2016 – Present • Married Pam S. Jackson (Berry Class 1976) in 1978 • Has twin daughters, a son and five grandchildren • Attends Bluff Park United Methodist Church
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Paid for by Gene Smith for Mayor, P.O. Box 361522, Hoover, AL 35236 Gene Smith - Large Ad.indd 1
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A4 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
About Us Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson Between the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest that enveloped the world following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, it would be easy to forget that 2020 is the year for city elections. But on Aug. 25, Hoover voters will head to the polls to select whom they want to serve as mayor and City Council members for the next four years. Current Mayor Frank Brocato already has said he is seeking a second term, and City Council President Gene Smith announced in November he would be challenging Brocato for the job. At press time, at least three people had announced they wanted to fill Smith’s Place 2 seat on the City Council: Ron Brown, Robin Schultz and Sam Swiney. Candidates don’t officially qualify with the city clerk’s office until July 7-21, but the Hoover Sun is reporting
on candidates at hooversun.com soon after they announce, and we plan to follow up with summaries of each candidate that qualifies in the August print edition to give a complete picture of all the people who will be on the ballot. Candidates who are ready to announce they are running for office
can go ahead and contact me at 205240-6690 or janderson@starnespublishing.com now so we can share the news broadly. However, candidates who do not respond to Hoover Sun inquiries in a timely manner won’t have their information included in the August edition, so please contact us as soon as possible. We want all candidates to be included. Anyone who was a resident of the city of Hoover by May 25 of this year is eligible to seek office, and anyone who establishes residency by July 26 may vote in the municipal election. I look forward to seeing who will step up to the plate to serve their city.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Hundreds gathered for the Solidarity Rally for George Floyd, organized by Alabama Rally Against Injustice, to speak out against police brutality, racism and inequalities on June 6 at Hoover City Hall. George Floyd, a 46-yearold black man, died May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death has ignited conversations around policing as protests have continued across the Birmingham metro area, the state of Alabama, the United States and around the world. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Sun Publisher: Design Editor: Photo Editor: Community Editors:
Dan Starnes Melanie Viering Erin Nelson Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Leah Ingram Eagle Neal Embry Ingrid Schnader Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Digital Editor: Cathlene Cowart Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry
Creative Director: David McMath Account Managers: Layton Dudley Ted Perry Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes
Emily VanderMey Ethan Lynch Rhonda Smith
For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com
Contact Information: Hoover Sun P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: janderson@starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: Hoover Sun LLC Legals: Hoover Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Hoover Sun is designed to inform the Hoover community of area school, family and community events. Information in Hoover Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Hoover 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.
Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Power (B9) Alliance Wealth Management (B9) Bayshore Retreat (A8) Bedzzz Express (B2) Birmingham Orthodontics (A1) Blake Shultz, ARC Realty (B4) Breanna Sexton, RE/MAX Southern Homes (B6) Brewer Cabinets (B11) Bromberg’s & Company Inc. (B7) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (A7) Cathy O’Berry, ARC Realty (B10) Children’s of Alabama (A13) Cremation Center of Birmingham (B11) Dear Seniors (A11) Elrod Mobility (B5) ENT Associates of Alabama (A15) EW Motion Therapy (B7) Frank Brocato for Mayor (A5) French Drains Pro (A18) Gardner Landscaping (A6) Gaynell Hendricks - Tax Assessor (B11) Gene Smith for Mayor (A3, A18, B10) Heather Goss, RealtySouth (A14) Highland Design + Build (B4) Hoover Met Complex - The Finley Center (B6) Issis & Sons (A2) Jerry Austin, State Farm (A12) Julie Ivy White, Lucas & Associates (A12) Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (A6) Kitchen Tune-Up (A10) Medical West Hospital (A20) Merrill Gardens River Highlands of Birmingham (A14) Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (B8) OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (A2) OS1 (B15) Outdoor Living Areas (A19) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B5) Patti Schreiner, RE/MAX Southern Homes (A8) Red Pearl Restaurant (B14) Signature Homes (A17) Southern Blood Services (B14) Sovereign CPA (B8) Sugar Sands Realty (B11) The Seafood King (A9) TherapySouth Hoover (B3) Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology (A3) Truitt Insurance & Bonding (A1) University of Alabama/Culverhouse College of Business/Executive MBA (A5) Urban Home Market (B16) Vidal Access (A13) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (A15) W.E. Lusain Funeral Home (B3) Watts Realty (A10) Window World of Central Alabama (B1) Wrapsody (A9)
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • A5
Dear Hoover,
Running through the different neighborhoods of Hoover during this beautiful spring, I have reflected on the strength of our citizens, their families, and their jobs. This has been an exceedingly difficult time for so many in different ways. I have personally visited or called Hoover businesses throughout the city to learn more about what they are facing and lend support in any way possible. Please reach out to me with any suggestions of what we can do to make our city even more resilient as we move forward. In this time of uncertainty, one thing has remained the same, the City of Hoover is the best place to live, work and raise a family. Through this pandemic our city has grown stronger and wiser. We have gained necessary tools that have created a new foundation for moving our city forward. This is ALL due to those who call Hoover home. Thank you for the honor of representing you as your mayor. Sincerely,
Paid for by Frank Brocato for Mayor
A6 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
City City reschedules Household Hazardous Waste Day By JON ANDERSON The city of Hoover has rescheduled the Household Hazardous Waste Day that originally was supposed to be May 2 for Aug. 1. The location also has changed from original plans and will be held in the parking lot at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium again. City officials had planned to move the waste collection to the parking lot at Hoover High School due to busy spring scheduling at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, but that original collection date was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. There was not as much of a scheduling conflict with the Aug. 1 date. City officials also had planned to hold two days to collect household hazardous waste this year, but the time delay and budget constraints now mean there will be only one, said Robin Mangino, the administrative services supervisor for the Hoover Public Works and Park Maintenance Department. The Household Hazardous Waste Day gives Hoover residents a chance to properly dispose of items that shouldn’t go in the garbage or landfill. Examples of items accepted include leftover wet paint, automotive fluids, household cleaners, pesticides, batteries, standard-size tires, electronics, medication, guns and ammunition. Hoover residents can bring their hazardous items to the Hoover High School parking lot between 8 a.m. and noon, but they must be prepared to show a valid driver’s license or photo ID with a Hoover address because the event is open only to Hoover residents. Items will not be accepted from businesses. City records show that in 2019, people in 1,550 vehicles brought items for disposal. That included enough paint and paint-related materials to fill 112 3-yard boxes and 25 pallets. Workers also collected 55 55-gallon drums of pesticides, seven 55-gallon drums of flammable liquids and solids, two 55-gallon drums of antifreeze, four 55-gallon drums and five 5-gallon containers of household batteries and 40 55-gallon drums of other hazardous materials.
Items Accepted
Brett Wallis, left, and Michael Bibb pour used cooking oil into a larger container at the 2018 Household Hazardous Waste Day in the parking lot at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Residents also brought 757 gallons of used motor oil, 250 gallons of used cooking oil, 235 tires, 217 car batteries, seven boxes of aerosols, 41 fire extinguishers, 400 1-pound propane tanks, 32 20-pound propane tanks, 1,240 compact bulbs and 2,120 fluorescent bulbs, records show. Hoover police also took in 766 pounds of expired or unused medication and some old ammunition at the event, Lt. Keith Czeskleba said. They’ll collect unwanted medication again this year, as well as firearms, ammunition, edged weapons and military ordnance and souvenirs. The Foundry Rescue and Recovery Center will be back again also, collecting equipment such as TV sets, computer hard drives, keyboards, monitors, computer mice, radios, stereos, telephones, power cables and wiring. City officials also encourage people to bring old, tattered or damaged U.S. flags for proper disposal. And for the first time, Shred-It will have a truck there to shred people’s paper documents. The city pays MXI Environmental Services to dispose of most of the items collected. Records indicate last year’s cost was about $63,000.
► Aerosol spray cans (with contents) ► Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, gas and/or mixed gas) ► Batteries (automotive and alkaline) ► Caulk/glue ► Chemical drain cleaners ► Fluorescent light bulbs ► Household cleaners (bleach, oven cleaners, metal cleaners, polishes and toilet cleaners) ► Oil and latex paint, aerosol paint, paint thinners/strippers/ removers (Please note that empty latex paint containers and hardened solid paint are safe to put in the regular garbage. People can bring the liquid to a solid by mixing the paint with cat litter, sand or sawdust. Please remove the paint can lid before putting in your trash bin.) ► Pesticides and herbicides ► Polish (auto and furniture) ► Preservatives
► Solvents ► Stains/varnish ► Standard vehicle tires (not commercial or heavy equipment tires) ► Used cooking oil ► Prescription and non-prescription medication ► Fireworks/pyrotechnics/ flares ► Gunpowder ► Military ordnance/relics/ souvenirs ► Ammunition ► Explosives/explosive materials ► Reloading supplies ► Firearms ► Edged weapons ► Computer monitors, keyboards, mice, cables ► Power supplies ► TV sets ► Radios/stereos ► Telephones ► Sealed medical waste containers
Items Not Accepted ► Refrigerators/freezers ► Stoves/microwaves ► Toasters/toaster ovens ► Coffee makers ► Lawn equipment (weed trimmers, mowers) ► Radioactive material of
any kind ► Asbestos ► PCB ► Air conditioners ► Medical waste ► Unidentified materials/ containers
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HooverSun.com
July 2020 • A7
Mayor’s Minute
By Frank V. Brocato Let me begin by thanking our residents. Demonstrations those who have shared their are always welcome in our city voices over the past several if they are peaceful, but there weeks concerning continuing is absolutely no excuse for positive race relations in our violence, looting, destruction city. The city of Hoover has or assault on our police officers. I also pray for those who been listening and observing are hurting and know that as as you have communicated citizens of Hoover we have your thoughts, your concerns a special opportunity to do and your opinions regarding the need to unite people of all something about relationships backgrounds. I often hear from that have broken down in our our citizens that they choose to society. My promise to our citFrank V. Brocato live in our great city because of izens is to keep you protected its diversity. and to lean into positive conIn addition to listening, we have taken mea- versations — and positive actions — to make surable action on these issues. We created our city what it truly can be. Leadership Hoover, which places leaders of But let me say this: no mayor, governor or all backgrounds together from throughout the president by themselves can bring about the city to learn from one another. change needed in this situation. Ultimately, it Since taking office, I have led improve- is a heart issue. Real change comes within the ments in the diversity of our city workforce hearts of people in our communities. It starts and made appointments to our boards and with respectful, open discussion around our commissions to reflect the true demographic kitchen tables, in our neighborhoods and at our makeup of our city. workplaces. We must continue to learn about We have encouraged and supported the work each other, to respect each other’s differences of Hoover-AHEAD, which is creating positive and to support one another. dialogue about race and culture in Hoover at the I believe our ongoing efforts will benefit grassroots level. We are a wonderfully diverse Hoover’s residents and businesses for years to community, and I am so proud of what we are come. Our actions have established a positive accomplishing, but our work is not finished. direction for Hoover, and we all play a role in Like you, I am proud of our incredible being a part of the solution. We will build on Hoover Police Department for working to the strength of our diversity and offer hope for manage demonstrations as individuals exer- our city, our state and our country. cise their First Amendment rights. I pray for our first responders daily, and I ask that you join me in those prayers. They have kept the peace and protected our local businesses and
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This year’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is scheduled for July 17-19. Staff photo.
Back-to-school sales tax holiday set for July 17-19 By JON ANDERSON This year’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is scheduled for July 17-19. Those who shop between 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 17, and midnight Sunday, July 19, will not have to pay state sales and use taxes and some local sales and use taxes on select items. The three-day sales and use tax holiday was first created by the Legislature in 2006 to give people a break from taxes as they shop for items needed for their children to return to school. The state gives counties and municipalities the option of whether to waive their own sales and use taxes for the same period. The Hoover City Council approved Hoover’s participation this year with a May 18 vote. Jefferson and Shelby counties also are participating, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue’s website. However, Jefferson County only waives half of its sales and use taxes. The 1 percent sales tax allocated for education in Jefferson County will be still collected. Items exempt include clothing with a sales price of $100 or less per item (excluding certain accessories and protective and sports
equipment); computer equipment and supplies with a sales price of $750 or less per item or computer package; and noncommercial purchases of school supplies, school art supplies or school instructional materials up to $50 per item. Clothing items eligible for the waiver include: belts, boots, caps, coats, diapers, dresses, gloves, gym suits, hats, hosiery, jackets, jeans, neckties, pajamas, pants, raincoats, robes, sandals, scarves, school uniforms, shirts, shoes, shorts, socks, sneakers and underwear. School supplies eligible for the waiver include binders, blackboard chalk, book bags, calculators, cellophane tape, compasses, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue and paste, highlighters, index cards, index card boxes, legal pads, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil boxes and other school supply boxes, pencil sharpeners, pencils, pens, protractors, rulers, scissors, writing tablets, clay and glazes, paints, art paint brushes, sketch and drawing pads, watercolors, reference maps and globes, required textbooks priced between $30 and $50 and books priced at $30 or less. For a complete list of tax-exempt and taxable items, go to revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/ sales-tax-holidays.
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A8 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Council picks Riverchase resident for park board By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council has appointed Riverchase resident Jeremy Vice to the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board. Vice, 47, will replace Howard Peyton, who resigned to take care of some family matters. He will complete the final 16 months of Peyton’s term on the board. Vice is a regional vice president for the Minnesota-based Prime Therapeutics, responsible for the company’s relationships with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the Florida Blue and Capital Health Plan. His office is in a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama building in Riverchase. Vice has been with Prime Therapeutics for 10 years, and prior to that he worked with CVS Caremark and Advance PCS for 11 years. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1998. Vice moved to the Birmingham area from Gadsden in 1995 to finish his degree at UAB and has lived in Hoover most of the time since. He met his wife, Tara, in the singles ministry at Hunter Street Baptist Church in 1999, and they married in 2000. After two years in Pelham, they moved to Riverchase in 2002 and have been there since. He said he and his family have always enjoyed the first-class and world-class recreation and park amenities in Hoover, from Wildflower Park in Riverchase to the Moss Rock Preserve and Veterans Park. “We’ve got such a nice and diverse park system. It’s just great,” Vice said. “You can find anything you’re looking for, whether it’s walking or biking on a trail or taking advantage of the Finley Center or the Met.” Vice’s three sons — Wesley, Mason and Graham — have been active in Hoover’s youth
“
I look forward to jumping in and getting to know other folks on the board, getting the lay of the land and figuring out how I could contribute.
”
JEREMY VICE
sports programs, including soccer, flag football and baseball, and he has the chance to coach them some in soccer and baseball. For the past few years, he has been looking for a way to give back to the community in some way, he said. “Hoover’s been good to us. We love Hoover. I just felt like it was a good opportunity for me to plug in,” he said. “I certainly don’t intend to come in and rock the boat in a negative way … I look forward to jumping in and getting to know other folks on the board, getting the lay of the land and figuring out how I could contribute.” Vice and his wife both are active members at Hunter Street Baptist Church. He sings in the choir and works in the children, youth and men’s ministries. He previously served as a bivocational worship pastor at several small churches in Gadsden, Homewood and Helena. Hoover Councilman John Lyda, who works at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, said he has known Vice for 25 years. “Jeremy has got a genuine heart for service,” Lyda said. “He’s just looking for an opportunity in the community to give back. He understands business and budgets and will be a good asset for the park board.”
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Jeremy Vice is a new member of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board. He is pictured here with his wife, Tara, and sons, from left, Graham, Mason and Wesley. Photo courtesy of Tara Vice.
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HooverSun.com
July 2020 • A9
Jason and Kimberly McDougall want to renovate the University of Tots building at 1325 Alford Ave. and turn it into a Montessori Kids Universe day care. They are seeking to rezone part of the property to accommodate their plans. This is a rendering of what the facility likely will look like if renovated, as presented to the city. Rendering courtesy of city of Hoover.
Montessori Kids Universe day care proposed for Alford Avenue The owners of the Montessori Kids Universe day care in Homewood are trying to get property on Alford Avenue in Hoover rezoned to allow for a second location. Jason and Kimberly McDougall are in the process of trying to purchase the University of Tots day care at 1325 Alford Ave. and an adjacent single-family home at 1331 Alford Ave. They are planning a major renovation of the buildings and property to accommodate a new Montessori Kids Universe for Hoover. The University of Tots is in a 7,600-squarefoot building on a .75-acre parcel, and the single-family home has 2,500 square feet on a 1.25-acre parcel, Hoover City Planner Mac Martin said. The McDougalls are asking the city of Hoover for permission to have the two parcels combined into one and to extend the current zoning for the University of Tots day care to the lot that has the single-family home as
well, Martin said. Kimberly McDougall said their plan includes a significant renovation to the University of Tots building as well as a new high-quality playground, splash pad, butterfly garden and other gardens. “We want it to be very green and appealing to the neighborhood,” McDougall said. The plan also includes an expansion of the parking area, but that is mostly for special events such as kindergarten graduation as opposed to day-to-day use, she said. The drop-off of children will take place over three hours in the morning, and pickup will be spread over four hours, so they do not expect a significant impact on traffic on Alford Avenue, McDougall said. The building now being used as a single-family house would be renovated for use as a possible music building, library and office. The University of Tots is licensed to handle up to 155 children but only has about 30 children right now, Martin said. McDougall said
The McDougalls are trying to combine the day care property with an adjacent single-family home so they can use both buildings for the day care. Map courtesy of city of Hoover.
she and her husband plan to have no more than 120 to 135 students. The University of Tots property is zoned for multifamily use, but that’s a little bit of a misnomer, Martin said. It is zoned that way
because, currently, the only zoning possibilities for a day care in the city of Hoover are to have a commercial zoning or operate as a “conditional use” in a multi-family zone, he said. The McDougalls are seeking to extend that multifamily zoning to the entire 2 acres, with the condition that the property only be operated as a day care, Martin said. The request was presented to the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on June 8, but was continued after city officials learned someone was still living in the single-family home as a renter and believed he would be able to stay there on a month-to-month basis as long as he wanted, Martin said. If the property is rezoned for multi-family use, he could no longer live there, Martin said. The planning commission agreed to continue the case until July 13 to give the parties involved time to address the issue. In other business on June 8, the Planning Commission approved final plans for 68 residential lots in Phase 6B of the Lake Wilborn community.
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The Seafood King HOOVER: 1843 Montgomery Hwy. #105 Hoover, AL 35244 | 205.777.3518 The Seafood King HOMEWOOD: 180 State Farm Pkwy. Homewood, AL 35209 | 205.637.3630
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A10 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Business
HITTING THE
A box of six Cinnaholic rolls with a variety of frostings and toppings. Cinnaholic, a gourmet cinnamon roll bakery, is heading to The Village at Lee Branch in the space formerly occupied by Southern Spoiled Boutique next to Moe’s Southwest Grill. Photo courtesy of Cinnaholic.
SWEET SPOT By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE A new restaurant to satisfy your sweet tooth is heading to The Village at Lee Branch. Cinnaholic, a gourmet cinnamon roll bakery, is moving in the former space held by Southern Spoiled Boutique next to Moe’s Southwest Grill. It will be the first franchise in the state. Owner John Rumore, a Bluff Park resident, said he chose the location because the restaurants in Lee Branch will complement the store’s product. “We wanted to set up where people are dining and looking for dessert when they come out,” he said. “There are a tremendous amount of great restaurants in that area, and the demographics of the area are also great.” The company’s co-founders, Shannon and Florian Radke, opened the first Cinnaholic bakery in Berkeley, California, in 2010. In 2014, they appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” After the show, they adopted a franchise business model and began expanding Cinnaholic locations across the U.S. and Canada. The store was originally slated to open in early April, but the timeline was pushed back following the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction on the location required plumbing and electrical work to accommodate the restaurant, plus adding an additional heating and air conditioning unit and framing the walls. “The good Lord probably had it worked out for me before I knew it,” Rumore said. Rumore comes from a family of entrepreneurs and said he gets his drive from his father,
Duke. His dad, along with Rumore’s uncle Joe, were part of the Birmingham radio industry for four decades, and his family was in the exterior car wash business. He and his brother Paul took over that business after his father retired and had four locations at once. After selling the last location in 2018, Rumore said he was looking to go in a different direction and explore a different franchise. After doing his research, Cinnaholic caught his attention. The company broke into the top 500 in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of fastest growing bakery franchises. Rumore said coming from a large Italian family that loves to cook, he found everything about the company appealing. “It’s a really good product,” he said. “My wife and I went to the locations in Atlanta and Knoxville, and they are really catching on. There are a total of 40 locations in the U.S. and Canada, with about 100 more in development.” Cinnaholic’s menu will feature its award-winning, handcrafted cinnamon rolls, brownies, edible cookie dough and baked cookies. Everything is made in-house from scratch, and all of the products are egg, dairy, lactose and cholesterol free. “That's the uniqueness of the concept,” Rumore said. “You can customize it any way you want with 20 different frostings and 20 different toppings.” The most popular one is called “The Cookie Monster:” a cinnamon roll topped with cream cheese frosting, homemade cookie dough, chocolate chips and chocolate sauce. Rumore said his favorite combination is
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“Mawmaw’s Pecan Pie,” which was developed by a store in Knoxville. It features maple frosting, house-made pie crumbs, fresh pecans and caramel sauce. His wife’s favorite is the “Toasted Coconut Pie Roll” with caramel frosting, toasted coconut, sliced almonds and chocolate sauce. Cinnaholic will be partnering with Hooverbased Baba Java Coffee to carry its products in the store. Rumore said it will be a great partnership using the store’s products and will feature coffee, iced coffee, espresso and more on the menu.
Premade options will be in a display case for customers to see, but once ordered, a warm roll will be taken out of the oven and topped with frosting and topping choices by a staff member. Rumore spent a week in Atlanta training and learning all recipes and said he will hire around 12 employees for the Lee Branch location. He has plans to open a second store in the Birmingham area, but the location is to be determined. To find out more about Cinnaholic, visit its website at cinnaholic.com or Facebook at facebook.com/CinnaholicHooverLeeBranch.
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July 2020 • A11
Urgent care orthopedic clinic opens in Trace Crossings By JON ANDERSON A new orthopedic urgent care clinic opened June 15 in the Trace Crossings community. The full-service, walk-in clinic, called the OS1 Sports Injury Clinic, offers urgent care specifically for sports-related and orthopedic-related injuries ranging from fractures, dislocations, sprains and overuse injuries. Chip Vance, CEO and president of a new company called OS1 Holdings, said the concept is not new, but it’s new to the Birmingham area. Two aspects that make it unique are that you don’t have to have an appointment and the clinic has office hours that extend beyond a typical doctors’ office. The OS1 Sports Injury Clinic, located in a 3,600-square-foot space in The Village at Brock’s Gap next to The Trak Shak, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Also, the clinic has a fellowship-trained sports medicine physician, Dr. Chris Williams, at the helm. Williams is scheduled to complete his fellowship and clinical training at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center at the end of July. Because Williams has trained with orthopedic surgeons, he knows what needs to happen to get patients ready for surgery, Vance said. Williams is a graduate of the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and completed his residency at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, with a specialty in emergency medicine. He has worked in several emergency rooms in Louisiana and in Birmingham, giving him experience dealing with traumatic injuries. Williams said he’s excited about opening
OS1 Sports Injury Clinic • WHERE: 1031 Brock’s Gap Parkway • HOURS: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday • CALL: 205-352-2911 • WEB: bettersooner.com
Orthopedic physician Dr. Chris Williams sits in the extremity MRI room at the new OS1 Sports Injury Clinic at The Village at Brock’s Gap shopping center. Photo by Erin Nelson.
the new clinic and the future of this type of enterprise. The clinic also has comprehensive diagnostic imaging equipment on site, including a digital X-ray machine and extremity MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine, so patients won’t have to go elsewhere and wait longer to get results. Being seen and getting test results and treatment quickly can make a big difference in the recovery and healing time for orthopedic injuries, Vance said. The business model for the OS1 Sports Injury Clinic was developed through the collaboration of
its founders: Bill Dexheimer (who has founded several health care and health care information technology businesses), Dr. Lyle Cain, Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, Dr. Bruce Irwin (the founder of American Family Care), Randy Johansen (president of American Family Care), Dr. A.J. “Lonnie” Strickland, John Miller (professor of strategic management at the University of Alabama Graduate School of Business), Dr. Kennie Bramlett and several other orthopedic physicians and executives. The goal was to take the medical experience that most people have and create a more service-minded
option for the public, Vance said. That includes the extended office hours and a focus on communication with the patient and, in the case of children, their parents, he said. They want to make sure everything is fully explained so no one walks away with unanswered questions, he said. Hoover was picked for the company’s first clinic because of the active lifestyles of people who live in the area, including youth, adults and senior adults, Vance said. That includes everything from sports to people who are weekend warriors or avid gardeners, he said. Trace Crossings was deemed a
good location because of the proximity to thousands of homes, three schools — Hoover High, Bumpus Middle and Trace Crossings Elementary — and the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, which features a sprawling sports complex that draws both Hoover residents and visitors from across the country, Vance said. The clinic in Trace Crossings is the first of 15 clinics that OS1 Holdings plans to open in the next three to five years, Vance said. Conversations already are in the works to open clinics in Huntsville and Newark, New Jersey, he said. Each clinic will be owned by a physician or group of physicians and managed by OS1. Vance was brought in because of his customer service experience with Enterprise Holdings, where he spent the past 12 years as vice president and general manager for the company’s north Florida region, overseeing 60 Enterprise locations and four business entities. In addition to Williams, the Trace Crossings clinic should have six other full-time or part-time employees, including a nurse practitioner, medical assistants, X-ray technician and receptionist, Vance said.
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A12 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
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Now Open AIM (Autism In Motion) Clinics opened a clinic at 1820 Southpark Drive in April. It is the company’s ninth location, with other programs in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The clinics treat children ages 2-21 who have autism and offer three programs that help young people of all skill levels and abilities reach their goals. 205-490-8228, aimclinics.com
1
Moore Oil Co. finished a large-scale renovation of the Shell gasoline station at the corner of John Hawkins Parkway and Merchants Drive. It previously was home to both the gas station and a Goodyear tire store, but Milam & Co. converted the roughly 5,000-square-foot space into a full-scale convenience store.
2
Edgar’s Bakery’s location at 5215 Peridot Place in the Stadium Trace Village development is now open. 205-987-0790, edgarsbakery.com
3
College Admission Pros, a college admissions consulting company founded by Janet Turner, the former executive director of the Hoover City Schools Foundation, is now open and located at The Offices at 3000 Riverchase, formerly known as the Galleria Tower. Turner helps students establish goals, narrow their list of colleges and universities, prepare for the ACT college preparatory test, manage the application process and more. 205-541-4434, collegeadmissionpros.com
4
Cajun Roux Bar and Grill, 5330 Peridot Place, Suite 132, is now open in the Stadium Trace Village development at the corner of John Hawkins Parkway and Stadium Trace Parkway. 205-985-7689, cajunroux.net
5
OS1 Sports Injury Clinic, 1031 Brock’s Gap Parkway, opened June 15 as a full-service, walk-in urgent orthopedic care clinic in The Village at Brock’s Gap shopping center at the corner of Stadium Trace Parkway and Brock’s Gap Parkway. Dr. Chris Williams, who completes his fellowship and clinical training at the Andrews Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Center in July, is the primary medical provider in the 3,600-squarefoot space. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 205-352-2911, bettersooner.com
6
eds-America, a commercial real estate consulting and development firm, has relocated its office from the Avondale community in Birmingham to a 1,200-squarefoot space at 1031 Brock’s Gap Parkway at The Village at Brock’s Gap. 205-397-9398, eds-america.com
7
Coming Soon Young Shin, owner of the Pho Pho Vietnamese & Sushi Bar in the Pizitz Food Hall in Birmingham, plans to open another location in an 1,800-square-foot space that formerly was part of the Organic Harvest grocery store at 1580 Montgomery Highway, said Lyndsy Yim, the Realtor who helped Shin acquire the space. The restaurant should seat about 20 people and will serve bowls of Vietnamese noodle cuisine and sushi, Yim said. The target opening date is August. phobirmingham.com
8
Pivot Fitness plans to open in a 2,400-square-foot space in Galleria Trace Plaza shopping center at 2801 John Hawkins Parkway, next to Tortugas restaurant, in early July, co-owner and manager Conrad Taylor said. The gym and fitness facility will offer functional fitness classes that incorporate weightlifting movements, cardio and gymnastics, and high-intensity interval training with a focus on running, rowing, TRX suspension training, dumbbells and bodyweight movements. The center also offers individualized nutrition plans and coaching. There are group classes and memberships for workouts outside class times. All services are under the guidance of certified trainers. pivotfitnesshoover.com
9
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant 10 and Bar, 5250 Peridot Place, is scheduled to open July 3 in the new Stadium Trace Village development at the corner of John Hawkins Parkway and Stadium Trace Parkway. The Missouri-based tavern has nine locations in Missouri and one each in Arkansas and Kansas. Two more locations are scheduled to open in
July 2020 • A13 Oklahoma and Arkansas this year. bigwhiskeys.com OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports plans to open a 17,256-square-foot clinic at 118 Mars Hill Road. alabamaorthospineandsports.com
11
Cinnaholic, a gourmet cinnamon roll bakery, will open a new location at 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 300, in The Village at Lee Branch shopping center. It is the first franchise location in Alabama and offers create-your-own cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats such as made-from-scratch brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough. 205-573-6166, cinnaholic.com
12
Hadi Sultan plans to open Alabama Halal Foods, a grocery store specializing in Indian and Pakistani food, in a 3,000-square-foot space at 3150 Lorna Road, Suite 108, according to Lyndsy Yim, the Realtor handling the transaction for Sultan.
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13
Relocations and Renovations Birmingham Direct Primary Care left its space in Hoover and has relocated to 921 Oxmoor Road at the corner of Oxmoor Road and Broadway Street. It is now open and seeing patients. 205-582-3322, birminghamdpc.com
14
The Crafters House is relocating to a 2,500-square-foot space in the Riverchase Galleria formerly occupied by Destination Maternity, Galleria General Manager Mike White said. 205-383-1905, thecraftershouse.com
15
Potions Boutique is relocating from an 800-square-foot spot in the Riverchase Galleria to an 1,800-square-foot spot in the mall. 205-756-7372, potionsboutique.com
16
J&V Fashion, a women’s boutique, has relocated from a 2,400-square-foot space in the Riverchase Galleria to a 4,000-square-foot space in the mall near J.C. Penney, Galleria General Manager Mike White said. The new space formerly was occupied by Austin 5. 205-582-9275
17
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Austin 5, a women’s clothing store, relocated from its spot in the Riverchase Galleria to a 2,400-square foot space that formerly was home to Garage, Galleria General Manager Mike White said.
18
News and Accomplishments The Sears Outlet Center, 4391 Creekside Ave. in the Patton Creek shopping center, has rebranded as an American Freight store. The store still sells appliances, furniture and mattresses. 205-941-6848, searsoutlet.com
19
Jason McDougall would like to convert the University of Tots location at 1325 Alford Ave. into a Montessori Kids Universe preschool. He is asking the city of Hoover to combine that property with an adjacent lot that has a single-family house and rezone the property so that all of it is zoned for multi-family use, with the condition that it only be used as a school. The University of Tots lot already is zoned for multifamily use. 205-867-5309, montessorikidsuniverse.com
20
J.C. Penney at the Riverchase Galleria survived the first round of 154 store closures the company is pursuing as it goes through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. However, the company plans to announce 88 more store closings in the coming weeks. 205-988-9603, jcpenney.com
21
Closings 22
Ignite Fitness, 2801 John Hawkins Parkway in the Galleria Trace Plaza shopping center, has closed.
Destination Maternity has closed its 2,500-square-foot store at the Riverchase Galleria due to bankruptcy, Galleria General Manager Mike White said.
23
Garage has closed its 2,400-square-foot store at the Riverchase Galleria as its lease expired, Galleria General Manager Mike White said.
24
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(Still) Serving Children Safely It has always been our priority
to ensure the safety and well-being of each child in our care — and that remains our commitment as we continue our mission during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s how we have redesigned our operations to keep our patients and their families as safe as possible: q All visitors are screened immediately for signs of illness and fever. q We follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities. q Our staff practices safe hand hygiene. q We are wearing masks for your safety. Thank you for wearing your face covering. q All visitors to campus are required to wear masks. q Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing guidelines.
A14 • July 2020
Hoover Sun Construction on a freestanding UAB Medical West Clinic is seen June 8 at The Village Brock’s Gap along Stadium Trace Parkway. The clinic will take up about 5,500 square feet of an 11,000-squarefoot building. Photo by Erin Nelson.
UAB Medical West plans new clinic in Trace Crossings By JON ANDERSON The UAB Medical West hospital in Bessemer plans to open a new clinic in a new office building in The Village at Brock’s Gap shopping center in the Trace Crossings community. The clinic will take up about 5,500 square feet of an 11,000-square-foot building under construction along Stadium Trace Parkway. The building is owned by the developers of the shopping center: Altera Development and eds-America, which is managing the center. UAB Medical West is leasing the space. The hospital plans to have room for four medical providers there, including at least three primary care physicians, said Medical West CEO Keith Pennington. The fourth provider could be another primary care physician, or it may be
some type of specialist.. The hospital likely won’t identify the doctors going into The Village at Brock’s Gap until July or August; however, it will not be the primary care physicians already operating in the Medical West Hoover Health Center primary care clinic that adjoins the UAB Medical West freestanding emergency department across Interstate 459, Pennington said. The doctors practicing there, Dr. Harveen Sodhi and Dr. J.D. Shugrue, will stay. Pennington said Medical West wants to add primary care doctors in Trace Crossings because it’s such a growing area. The new clinic is not far from the Medical West freestanding emergency department and will be a good distance from the new Medical West hospital slated to be built in McCalla.
The goal is to have the new clinic up and running by September or October. “A lot of that depends on the weather,” he said. There already has been one month with a lot of rain that caused some delays, he said. Eds-America is talking with other potential tenants about the rest of the space in the new office building, and it likely will be used for medical purposes, said Patrick Denney, CEO of Eds-America. UAB Medical West has first rights to the rest of the building but is not expected to take up more space, Denney said. The rest of The Village at Brock’s Gap is mostly leased, with tenants including The Pointe Dance Arts, Keller Williams Hoover, Burn Boot Camp, EW Motion Therapy, Trak Shak, The Whole Scoop ice cream shop, CakEffect, Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen and newcomers Sugaring
NYC Organic Waxing and Lash Studio, OS1 Sports Injury Clinic, Moe’s Original BBQ and Touch & Glow Nails & Spa. There are three other vacant spaces in the part of the shopping center that is already built, Denney said. That includes a little more than 13,000 square feet that was home to the Harvest Market before it closed, a 2,400-square-foot space next to Tre Luna and a 1,288-square-foot space between Moe’s and OS1 Sports Injury Clinic. Denney said interest in the shopping center has not slowed down, despite the COVID-19 outbreak and temporary business shutdowns. “More and more people want to get off Main Street and get in the development [closer to homes],” he said. “We haven’t seen any slack in interest.”
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July 2020 • A15
Chamber Back Forty Beer founder: COVID-19 fosters business innovation By JON ANDERSON The COVID-19 outbreak wreaked havoc for a lot of businesses but also is fostering a new wave of entrepreneurship and innovation, the founder of Back Forty Beer Co. told the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce on June 18. Jason Wilson, who founded Back Forty Beer Co. in Gadsden 11 years ago, told Hoover chamber members in an online meeting that he doesn’t think the COVID19 outbreak is going to cause a depression. Rather, he sees it as a disruption that will cause a massive transition of wealth for a lot of people. “I think there are a lot of successful people who are going to lose everything if they’re not willing to pivot and keep up, and I think there are some really young entrepreneurs who are about to make a fortune in this because they’re willing to work around the clock and work hard when an opportunity presents itself,” Wilson said. Approximately 75 percent of S&P 500 businesses were founded during a time of depression or catastrophe, he said. “I do believe that what we’re going to see ahead of us is a massive resurgence in our economy of innovation and technology,” Wilson said. “I think you’re going to see a tremendous surge in innovation and creativity and new business ventures as a result of this because I think you just woke up millions of sleepy entrepreneurs and business owners who for the first time in a long time maybe had to get after it a little bit.” He felt that way about his business, he said. Almost overnight, Back Forty Beer Co. lost about 60% of its customers when bars and restaurant dining rooms were shut down
July Chamber Luncheon Preview
Jason Wilson, the founder of Back Forty Beer Co., shares the story of his company and the growth in the craft beer industry in Alabama during a Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon in 2019 at the Hoover Country Club. Photo by Jon Anderson.
due to COVID-19, he said. The leaders of the company panicked and lost a lot of sleep for four to five days, but they had to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and figure out how to survive, Wilson said. They had to figure out what to do with all of their alcohol. They have a list of 50 things their company would do if it weren’t producing alcohol, and one of those was produce and sell hand sanitizer because alcohol is one of the ingredients, he said. It was a “eureka” moment. Within about a week, they converted some of their canning
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and packaging lines for hand sanitizer and located supplies of hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, ethyl alcohol, containers, fine mist sprayers and pumps, he said. Over the past 12 weeks, Back Forty Beer Co. has sold more than $1 million worth of hand sanitizer, he said. And that line of business is here to stay, he said. “I don’t think it’ll always be this incredible shortage of hand sanitizer out there, but I do think the demand for hand sanitizer has increased exponentially for good. I don’t think that’s going away.”
The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce is switching things up for its July luncheon and will hold it outdoors at Aldridge Gardens as the community continues to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The luncheon is set for July 16 at noon, with networking at 11:15 a.m. Chamber officials plan to announce the winner of the 2020 Freedom Award, given annually to someone who has shown outstanding long-term patriotism and service in the U.S. military or support of the military. The Hoover Veterans Committee is asking people to submit nominations for the award by 5 p.m. July 8. Nominees must be a Hoover resident, employee of the city of Hoover, a chamber member or an employee of a chamber member. They also must be a role model in the Hoover community and have good character and a good reputation. Nomination forms can be obtained from retired. Brig. Gen. Paul Pocopanni, chairman of the Hoover Veterans Committee, at paulpocopanni@bellsouth.net. The speaker at the July luncheon will be Jeremy Ward, the development director at American Village. The cost for the luncheon is $20, payable at the door, for members and $25 for non-members or people without reservations. Reservations are due by 10 a.m. July 14. For more information, call 205-9885672 or email the chamber office at lisa@ hooverchamber.org.
A16 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Protesters lay facedown on the grass in front of Hoover City Hall on June 6 during a demonstration, organized by Alabama Rally Against Injustice, Faith in Action Alabama and Alabama Arise, to speak out against police brutality, racism and inequalities. Photos by Erin Nelson.
STEPS
CONTINUED from page A1 buildings and statues and attacks on journalists, hit downtown Birmingham. In Huntsville, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters to keep them at bay. As of press time, Hoover police had not used such tactics but had arrested scores of protesters, mostly on charges of disorderly conduct for disobeying police orders to stay out of roadways. Some were arrested for throwing items at police, and some faced charges of resisting arrest. ► For more photos, view Protests happened our online in other cities around gallery at Birmingham, but the hooversun. ones in Hoover stood out com because Hoover police made more arrests. Hoover also drew more attention from protesters because of the November 2018 shooting of E.J. Bradford at the Riverchase Galleria by a Hoover police officer, who was later cleared by the attorney general’s office of any wrongdoing. A racist video by Hoover teenagers that made national news in 2019 and racially charged debates over Hoover school rezoning and buses in years past have added to the unrest. A group called Alabama Rally Against Injustice that organized protests across the state after Floyd’s death criticized Hoover for its response following a June 6 protest at City Hall. The rally drew an estimated 800 protesters. Most left after two hours of speeches, but about 100 stayed to protest more, with organizers telling them to be prepared to be arrested. Indeed, police did arrest 23 people and charge them with disorderly conduct in the aftermath of the rally that day as protesters challenged them and stood in the roadway. Alabama Rally Against Injustice issued a statement, saying “We are not only severely troubled by the fact that Hoover was the only city that has arrested peaceful protestors [sic], but also by the fact that the city refuses to have the difficult conversations necessary to bring about lasting and meaningful change. “While the arrests happened after Alabama Rally Against Injustice’s event had concluded, we hope the city of Hoover will review their protocols and procedures as it pertains to peaceful protests and that in the future they will be willing to have conversations with the public, instead of locking up citizens that are attempting to exercise their First Amendment rights,” the organization said. Hoover police spokesman Lt. Keith Czeskleba emphasized the 23 arrests that day were for disorderly conduct and occurred after the rally concluded.
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More protests have ensued, but a major question looming is what happens next? Satura Dudley, a 20-year-old Hoover resident who has been a leader of the protests in Hoover, said protesters had a “list of
Devon Earl shakes hands with Hoover police officer Tae Lewis as he speaks with Lewis and officer Brian Golson on June 6 in front of Hoover City Hall. Earl is working to help build a bridge between the black community and law enforcement in Hoover.
Celida Soto speaks to those gathered at the Solidarity Rally for George Floyd, organized by Alabama Rally Against Injustice, on June 6.
demands” for Hoover city leaders, including: ► Reallocating resources from the Hoover Police Department to social services, such as mental health services ► Providing more training to police officers, including de-escalation and bias training ► Addressing mistreatment of protesters ► Showing respect for the COVID-19 disease by providing masks to people arrested and keeping them separated from one another (though most protesters have not been separating themselves from one another during protests) Celida Soto, a Birmingham woman with Alabama Rally Against Injustice, said people in the minority community have been having
conversations with Hoover officials for more than four years and she “doesn’t see any type of forward motion.” The city of Hoover spends an “absurd” percentage of its budget on public safety and uses a “quasi-military approach” to policing, Soto said. The Police Department’s tactical equipment purchases are unnecessary and reactive, she said. The city should take some of that money and reallocate it for social services such as mental health counseling and violence intervention, she said. Also, police need to be trained better on how to de-escalate confrontational situations, Soto said.
Efforts to reach Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis for a response to the comments by Dudley and Soto were unsuccessful, but Derzis previously has said the Hoover Police Department is open to peaceful protests. “We have stated in the past that we will work with everyone,” Derzis said. “It’s disheartening when people come out and immediately start cussing and throwing things at police. We’re out there to provide a safe environment for protection of the protesters. All I ask is to come over and be peaceful.” Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he believes Hoover police officers have performed in an incredible manner and with much restraint, despite being pelted with eggs and bottles of water and urine and having foul language and personal insults directed toward them. “They never overreacted,” Brocato said. “Overall, I think they did a wonderful job. They were very proactive in working with the organizers of the demonstrations and laying out guidelines. “For the most part, 95% of the people who came to our protests were peaceful and just wanted to get their message out,” Brocato continued. “But there was a faction embedded in just about every group that came with the intent of causing damage or getting arrested. Some wanted to get arrested and make it more spectacular by resisting and things like that, and some just walked up to our police officers and asked to be arrested after they broke the law [by stepping into the roadway after being instructed not to do so by police].” Police did try to keep the protesters on public property because private property
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • A17
owners didn’t want them on their property, Brocato said. And the protesters did not have a permit to walk along the public right of way, he said. “We don’t even have a Christmas parade or anything like that down Highway 31 because it’s too difficult to manage,” Brocato said. “We certainly can’t afford to have large masses of people walking without any control down Highway 31. It’s a recipe for disaster.” Some residents have applauded police for maintaining order and keeping things from reaching the point they did in Birmingham on May 31. Brocato said Hoover officials are always going to protect the rights of people to demonstrate, and he believes the city has an excellent track record of showing that.
DEFUNDING POLICE
Brocato said he does not subscribe to the idea that the Police Department needs to be “defunded” in any way. “People move to the city of Hoover because we are a very safe city, and we want to continue to be a safe city,” he said. The city has spent several million dollars in community service agreements with various agencies that provide social services dealing with things such as homelessness, mental illness, hunger, abuse and disabilities, Brocato said. As other social service opportunities arise, the mayor and Hoover City Council will evaluate them, he said. He agrees that mental health is a huge problem facing the country, but “defunding the Police Department is not the way to address that,” he said. “Those are two separate issues.” Hoover Councilman Curt Posey said it’s important to listen to everyone’s concerns, but it’s time to move beyond yelling and protesting and start having discussion. He examined the Police Department budgets of the six largest cities in Alabama and found that funding for Hoover police is not disproportionate, he said. Hoover budgeted $14.4 million for police in its general fund in fiscal 2020, putting Hoover in sixth place among those cities, and Hoover is ranked sixth in population,
he said. Birmingham led the list with $92.8 million for police, followed by $50.5 million in Huntsville, $49.3 million in Montgomery, $34.3 million in Tuscaloosa, and $28.7 million in Mobile, according to numbers provided by Posey. Breaking it down by population, Hoover budgeted $165 per resident, ranking it fifth among the top six cities. According to Posey’s numbers, funds budgeted for police per resident were $444 in Birmingham, $332 in Tuscaloosa, $250 in Montgomery, $249 in Huntsville and $154 in Mobile. “There’s no fluff in our budget,” Posey said. “We are doing more with less.” As Hoover continues to add homes and grow in population, public safety needs also will grow, he added. Personnel are particularly critical to maintain good response times, he said.
MORE ACTION REQUESTED
A group of about 150 people sent a letter to the editor to the Hoover Sun (published online), asking city leaders to move beyond discussion and institute “transformative and sustainable changes to city government and administration designed to promote equity and inclusion for all citizens in our diverse city.” Specifically, the group wants city leaders to: ► Create a website that summarizes data regarding traffic stops, tickets, arrests, school discipline, educational outcomes, city employment and city contract awards by race, ethnicity and gender. ► Hire a chief diversity officer for the city to oversee data requests, conduct diversity climate assessment, review city policies and compare with best practices related to equity and inclusion, and work with citizen groups and advisory boards. ► Create an equity and inclusion advisory board of racially and ethnically diverse Hoover residents to recommend data-driven policy changes and training initiatives. ► Require diversity, equity and implicit bias training for all city employees and officials. ► Incorporate criteria related to diversity, equity and inclusion into all departmental and
About 200 people attended a prayer gathering regarding race relations June 4 in the parking lot at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Photo by Jon Anderson.
employee evaluations.
POLICY, PROCEDURE REVIEWS
Brocato said his administration has been working since he was elected to make the city’s workforce more diverse and address diversity and inclusion citywide. He initiated the Leadership Hoover organization that includes people from all walks of life and has a specific session dedicated to diversity, and he began appointing more minorities to city boards. He also appointed a diversity coordinator within the city’s personnel department that has been to training to help Hoover be more effective in that area. The city has started actively recruiting minorities through job fairs to ensure a diverse pool of applicants and has diverse panels of employees conduct interviews, he said. All of this was done prior to the Galleria shooting because it was the right thing to do, Brocato said. Also, the Hoover Police Department is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies, which is a joint effort of four major groups of law enforcement executives, including the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives. That process includes a deep dive into every policy and procedure of the Police Department, Brocato said. “It’s going to expose us to outside assessors from departments all over the country that will either reinforce our policies or show us where we have any shortcomings,” he said. Brocato said the COVID-19 outbreak has slowed that process down, but he hopes to have those outside assessments done by the end of this year. A police officer has been assigned to work on that accreditation fulltime, he said. “It’s a huge priority of the chief, the mayor and the City Council.” Brocato said all department heads go through diversity and inclusion training, and he himself has attended diversity and inclusion forums. Also, the Police Department should have diversity training from an outside federal agency this summer, he said. “We’re not just talking,” he said. “We’re doing.”
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A18 • July 2020
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PRICHARD
CONTINUED from page A1 medical workers in the Big Apple, where hospitals were being flooded with COVID-19 patients. Thirty-six hours later, on April 1, she was on a plane to New York with four other physician assistants and nurses from Alabama and Mississippi. “I just saw a need and wanted to be able to help out. I knew I was young and healthy,” Prichard said. “I just kind of felt that if God sent me here, I would be protected.” Prichard said she was among about 50 shortterm medical workers sent to the Metropolitan Hospital Center in the East Harlem neighborhood in New York City by a company called Krucial Staffing. The community hospital was short-staffed before the COVID-19 crisis hit, but the shortage became worse as patient numbers climbed and some staff became unavailable, Prichard said. “People were calling in sick because they were scared and didn’t want to come to work,” she said. Others had to stay home with kids whose schools or daycares had closed. The 50 short-term workers from all over the country were divided up between a COVID-19 testing center, the emergency room and intensive care unit. Prichard was among six physician assistants and nurse practitioners sent to the emergency room. Her job was to fill in anywhere and everywhere she was needed. She had limited experience with emergency medicine, mostly from a four-week rotation in the emergency room when she was a student, but “I definitely picked it up as I went,” she said. She would assess patients as they arrived, order tests and X-rays, prescribe and administer medication, suture and splint wounds, admit patients and send them to surgery if needed.
SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT
Metropolitan Hospital, a community hospital, wasn’t as flooded with patients as some of the Level 1 trauma centers in New York City, but the crisis, impact and threat of COVID-19
Ashley Prichard, a 2005 graduate of Hoover High School, served as a temporary physician assistant at Metropolitan Hospital Center emergency room in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in April and May. Photos courtesy of Ashley Prichard.
were definitely real, Prichard said. “It was affecting anyone and everyone.” About half the patients coming into the ER tested positive for COVID-19, and about half of those were being admitted to the hospital, mostly with breathing problems, Prichard said. Others with less severe symptoms were sent home to quarantine and get better. The threat of infection spreading to medical workers was real, so they all suited up in personal protective equipment from head to toe, Prichard said. She would put on an N95 mask, another mask over that, paper scrubs, a jacket,
two pairs of gloves, a hat, face shield and shoe booties. Still, one of the temporary workers contracted COVID-19 while there and had to be sent home to Detroit to quarantine, Prichard said. “It was scary.” Of course, the thought that she could contract the disease crossed her mind, “but I did not let myself worry about that,” she said.
LONG DAYS, GRATEFUL HEARTS
Her initial assignment was for 21 straight days of 12-hour shifts, but the need persisted,
and Prichard agreed to stay on until June 19. In the latter part of her stay, she worked 12-hour days six days a week. However, the demand at her hospital lessened as time went on, and Prichard was demobilized and came back to Alabama on May 23. While she was there, Krucial Staffing put her up in a hotel and paid her well with hazard pay, she said. One of the things that amazed her the most was all the support the medical workers received from the community, she said. Every day, people donated and sent them meals. New
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One of the things that amazed Prichard the most was all the support the medical workers received from the New York community, she said. Every day, people donated and sent them meals. New York firefighters paraded by the hospital to show support, and New York police gave medical workers an escort to work one day.
York firefighters paraded by the hospital to show support, and New York police gave medical workers an escort to work one day. Even the little expressions of gratitude meant so much, Prichard said. While there weren’t many people out and about, when hospital workers did venture out into the world and saw people, people would stop and clap for them, she said. Every night at 7 p.m., people in the city would go out on their balconies and cheer and clap for the health care workers, she said. “That kind of would motivate me to keep working every day,” she said. “Everybody was just so thankful.”
neighborhood, said her parents were worried about her going to a COVID-19 hotspot but were supportive. Her dad, Mike Prichard, said he at first told her there was no way she was going to New York to work. “I didn’t want her to go,” he said. But the more she talked about it and her desire to be a first responder, he realized she had a genuine desire to go and help others and backed off his opposition, he said. Still, “it was a whole wave of emotions.” He shifted and began offering advice on how to protect herself in a big city, being aware of her surroundings at all times. He also thought it was a good opportunity for her to show those New Yorkers what a good Southern woman was like, he said. While she was there, he sent her face masks,
SUPPORT FROM HOME
Prichard, who grew up in the Monte D’Oro
face shields and safety glasses and stayed in touch via telephone and FaceTime. Prichard said her brother and sister sent her flowers, and friends sent her letters and packages with her favorite snacks. “That definitely helped encourage me.”
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
The regular staff at Metropolitan Hospital also was extremely appreciative of the shortterm support workers, Prichard said. It was a great experience getting to work alongside them and bond with them and other people from all over the country. She talked with some of the doctors who were there during the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, and they told her this was an even tougher experience than that, she said.
Her time in New York also gave her some valuable professional experience and an opportunity to improve her skills, she said. She learned so much in the ER. Prichard said the staff at her hospital always had plenty of personal protective equipment, and she was tested twice to see if she had COVID-19 — once about halfway through her stay and again at the end. She tested negative both times. Still, when she returned to Alabama, she had to quarantine at her home in Vestavia Hills for two weeks, and her younger sister, who lives with her, had to stay with her dad during that time. This was not how Prichard had expected to spend the last few months, but “it has been the best experience for me.”
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In times of such uncertainty, one thing you can be certain of is that Medical West is here for you. Our Freestanding Emergency Department is committed to providing safe, quality healthcare for our community. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken the necessary precautions to ensure our facilities are a safe environment for our patients and staff members.
These precautions include:
• 6 foot distancing in all areas • Restricted visitation • Patients & staff wearing masks and checking temperatures before entering the facility • Hand sanitizers located throughout the facility
As always, your safety is our priority and we thank you for your cooperation during these challenging times. We look forward to serving you in any way we can. Thank you for choosing the Medical West Freestanding Emergency Department for your healthcare needs.
Medical West Freestanding Emergency Department 5300 Medford Drive | Hoover, AL 35244 | (205) 820-8416 | Located off of Hwy 150 next to Sprouts In Case of Emergency, DIal 9-1-1
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2020 Sci/Fi Fantasy Fest at Hoover library goes virtual Horror novelist Grady Hendrix, far left, and comic artist Matthew Atchley, left. Photos courtesy of Hoover Public Library.
By JON ANDERSON The sixth annual Sci/Fi Fantasy Fest will indeed be held at the Hoover Public Library this summer, but it will be a virtual festival instead of people coming in person. Organizers decided to press on with the event, which will be held on its original dates of July 24-25, said Krysten Griffin, the chairwoman — or overlord — of the festival. People will be able to attend a host of panel discussions and talks online through the Google Meet video-communication service, which is free and requires no account, login or username, Griffin said. “We’ll just post a link, and you can click on it and come hang out,” she said. The festival is “a celebration of all things science fiction, fantasy and geeky,” Griffin said. Special guests this year include: ► Horror novelist Grady Hendrix, whose recent New York Times bestseller “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” is slated for TV development by Amazon. The book is described by Penguin Random House as “Steel Magnolias meets Dracula” and tells the tale of a women’s true crime book club in Charleston in the 1990s that does battle with a mysterious and handsome newcomer. Griffin said Hendrix’s writing always has a humor element. Hendrix also is supposed to talk about what it was like working in the library for the American Society for Psychical Research. ► The Dungeoncast hosts Will and Brian, who have a Dungeons and Dragons podcast and YouTube vlog. They are scheduled to talk about all things Dungeons and Dragons, including the history of the game, how to run campaigns and running a podcast, Griffin said.
► John Anderson, an actor and comedian from Birmingham who played a ravager in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and has had appearances in “Black Panther,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Anderson has been at Hoover’s Sci/Fi Fantasy Fest every year but the first year and will lead a talk about Star Trek, Griffin said. “He’s a huge Trekkie, and that’s a topic that is safe for him to discuss,” she said. He is involved in other projects he can’t talk about right now, she said. ► Comic artist Matthew Atchley, whose current claim to fame is that he is the artist for actor Sean Astin’s political cartoon series. In addition to talks by the special guests,
there will be numerous other panel discussions, including talks about Star Trek, Star Wars and how to get science fiction and fantasy books published. One of the more popular parts of the Sci/ Fi Fantasy Fest, the costume contest, will be conducted differently this year as well. People are invited to submit photos of themselves in costumes to festival organizers through July 15. The photos will be shared on the festival website and on social media starting July 19, and the public will be allowed to vote for their favorite costume in the week leading up to the festival. The winner will be announced during the festival. The event normally includes a gaming room, where people are invited to play board games and role playing games, so this year there will be online games through the Zoom and Board Game Arena platforms. There will be some type of online activity for kids on Saturday morning, and the festival’s website will include a vendor page where
vendors that normally sell goods at the event will have links to their digital shops and websites. Items typically include everything from science fiction and fantasy books to pop culture art, T-shirts, decals and jewelry. A new feature this year will be a 1950s radio show contest, where people submit scripts for a 15-minute to 20-minute 1950s-style radio show. Festival organizers will choose a winner, and library staff will give an audio performance. Griffin said they also hope to have an online Netflix viewing party for an anime movie on Friday night. Leading up to the festival, on July 19, the library will livestream a prop-building contest, where four staff members are given boxes of odds and ends and a few basic supplies to build fantasy and science fiction props. The public will vote to determine the best. Plans for this year’s festival are still in development, but more details will be released at hplscifi.com.
B2 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
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HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B3
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Has Never Been More Important Improving your health and protecting your health means moving. Reducing risk factors means moving. There are things you can control— and getting help to move better with less pain is one of them. We can help. We are movement specialists. • Fitness evaluations and movement screens • Wellness services and therapeutic exercise programs to keep you moving • Physical therapy services for injuries, chronic pain, and post-surgical rehab There’s no time like the present to start moving. Especially when you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see us!
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B4 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Sports
Hoover alum comes back home from Clemson to UAB By KYLE PARMLEY Trey Jemison is returning home. After spending the first two years of his college basketball career at Clemson, the Homewood and Hoover native announced May 14 that he would be returning to the Birmingham area to play at UAB. “It’s kind of crazy,” Jemison said. “I’m super excited. To be so close to home, that’s the best part. I love Birmingham, I love Homewood and Hoover. Being back around all these people who have known me is a great feeling.” Jemison chose UAB over the likes of Samford, Georgia Southern, Troy, Tennessee Tech and Louisiana. As a sophomore at Homewood, Jemison helped lead the Patriots to the 2016 Class 6A state title, the first in the program’s history. He transferred to Hoover for his senior season, where he helped the Bucs to a 7A regional final appearance. That season, he averaged 19 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks per game and was named all-state honorable mention. Jemison will be one of many new faces on the Southside, as new head coach and UAB alum Andy Kennedy has taken over the program and remade the roster. “We are excited that Trey has chosen to return home and be a part of this program,” Kennedy said in a release. “He will immediately give us a huge presence in the paint with his abilities on both ends of the court. Trey had a tremendous high school career in this city, and the two years he spent in the ACC [have] prepared him to make an immediate impact for
Trey Jemison announced his intentions to transfer to UAB from Clemson on May 14. Once Jemison enrolls at UAB, he will apply for immediate eligibility to play during the 202021 season. Jemison played at Hoover his senior season, helping lead the Bucs to a regional final appearance. Staff photo.
Blazer basketball.” The 7-foot center shot 49% from the floor last season for Clemson, playing in 30 of the team’s 31 games. He posted career highs of 10 points against Alabama A&M and seven rebounds against Notre Dame. He said the biggest lesson he learned from Clemson coach Brad Brownell is the mentality to continue working hard, no matter what. “Now that I [have] come back to UAB, I’m going to bring the mindset of we’re working hard, but it’s not enough,” Jemison said. “That’s what’s going to help us get better.” Jemison said Kennedy recruited him out of high school while Kennedy was in the midst of his 12-year tenure at Ole Miss. Jemison also knows a handful of players on UAB’s current roster, along with Phillip Pearson, one of the program’s assistant coaches. Once Jemison enrolls at UAB, he will apply for immediate eligibility to play during the 2020-21 season. That decision from the NCAA could go either way. But he believes that the pieces are in place for UAB to be competitive right away. The Blazers last qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2015. “It would mean so much to me,” Jemison said. “I feel like we can be something huge in Birmingham if we do the right things.” There’s an added bonus of returning home for Jemison as well. He will get to see his sister Kayla’s senior volleyball and track seasons at Hoover High. “My sister was really excited,” he said. “We’re really close. She was excited to see me back in the city, and I’m excited to see her play volleyball and run track.”
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HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B5
Bucs, Jags soccer players earn postseason accolades By KYLE PARMLEY The 2020 high school soccer season was a short one, but players across the state were still able to make their marks. The Hoover boys and girls teams were off to strong starts before the season was halted in mid-March. The boys, coming off a Class 7A state championship, posted an 8-1-2 record, while the girls were 6-3. On the Spain Park side, the boys raced out to an 8-2-1 start to the season, while the girls were finding their footing at 4-2-3. From the Hoover and Spain Park programs, several players were named to postseason teams. The all-metro and all-state teams were voted on by coaches across the area and state.
HOOVER
► Sam Bauder: first team all-state, first team all-metro. ► Carter Mock: first team all-state, first team all-metro. ► Dylan Steely: second team all-state, second team all-metro. ► Richard Ujueta: first team all-state, second all-metro. ► Jay Udeh: honorable mention all-state, honorable mention all-metro. ► Ryder Strickland: honorable mention all-state, honorable mention all-metro. ► Greyson Wilkins: honorable mention all-state. ► Mac Smith: first team super all-state, first team Class 7A all-state, Metro A-Division all-senior first team. ► Haley Lowell: first team super all-state, first team Class 7A all-state, Metro A-Division all-senior first team. ► Will Patridge: Metro A-Division Coach of the Year. ► Britton Slifka: second team super allstate, first team Class 7A all-state, Metro A-Division all-underclassmen. ► Kyla Shaw: second team super allstate, second team Class 7A all-state, Metro
Hoover’s Sam Bauder (2) battles Adrian Martinez (22) for possession during a varsity match against John Carroll High School on March 10. The Bucs defeated the Cavaliers 6-1. Photo by Erin Nelson.
A-Division honorable mention.
SPAIN PARK
► Logan Edwards: honorable mention allstate, first team all-metro. ► Justin Fisher: honorable mention allstate, first team all-metro. ► Matt Hall: Metro Coach of the Year. ► Will Tidwell: honorable mention allstate, second team all-metro.
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► Allan Melendez: honorable mention allstate, second team all-metro. ► Kaleb Jowers: honorable mention allstate, honorable mention all-metro. ► Conner Warren: honorable mention all-metro. ► Molly McNulty: honorable mention super all-state, second team Class 7A all-state, Metro A-Division all-senior first team. ► Tatum Ahlemeyer: honorable
mention super all-state, Metro A-Division all-underclassmen. ► Vivian Gray: honorable mention super all-state, Metro A-Division all-underclassmen. ► Sydney Soehn: honorable mention super all-state, Metro A-Division honorable mention. ► Hannah Horton: Metro A-Division honorable mention. ► Brooke Savage: Metro A-Division honorable mention.
B6 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Ashford, Ledbetter among those on All-South Metro team By KYLE PARMLEY With the decision by the Alabama Sports Writers Association to not publish an all-state baseball team from the truncated 2020 season, we at Starnes Media decided to put together an All-South Metro team from the high school baseball season for the first time. Hoover and Spain Park had plenty of representation on the team, including a combined four first-team selections.
1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Edward Berry, Mountain Brook; went a perfect 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 28 innings. ► Pitcher: Reid Gongwer, Chelsea; won all four decisions, struck out 30 in 24 innings and posted a 0.58 ERA. ► Pitcher: Will Heisler, Homewood; went 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA, striking out 30 in 22⅓ innings. ► Pitcher: Graham Duncan, Vestavia Hills; went 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA and 1.12 walks plus hits per inning pitched. ► Catcher: Harrison Ware, Mountain Brook; hit for a .347 average with 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored. ► First baseman: Jackson Webster, Chelsea; was a force in the Hornets’ lineup, hitting .436 with a .542 on-base percentage and drove in 10 runs. ► Second baseman: Mitchell Pierce, Oak Mountain; hit for a .389 average with nine RBIs and 12 runs. ► Third baseman: Wesley Helms, Briarwood; led the Lions with a .450 batting average. ► Shortstop: Hudson Boren, Hewitt-Trussville; finished the year
Spain Park’s Colton Ledbetter (15) makes contact during an at-bat during a game against Briarwood Christian on Feb. 29 at Jay D. Kynerd Field. Photo by Erin Nelson.
on an 11-game hitting streak and hit .414 with 16 runs scored and 11 RBIs. ► Infield: Carson McKinney, Briarwood; the infielder and pitcher went 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA on the mound for the Lions. ► Infield: Carter Sidor, Spain Park; hit for a .463 average with 15 RBIs, 13 runs scored and seven stolen bases. ► Outfield: Colton Ledbetter, Spain Park; led the Jags’ offense with four home runs and 14 RBIs, adding 18 runs and 17 stolen bases while posting a .414 average. ► Outfield: Mason Maners, Vestavia Hills; hit for a .481 average with a .569 on-base percentage to go along with 12 stolen bases. ► Outfield: Jackson Smitherman, Homewood; had a great season for the Patriots, hitting .529 with 18 RBIs and
six stolen bases. ► Outfield: Robby Ashford, Hoover; hit .353 with 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored to go along with six stolen bases. ► Utility: Colson Lawrence, Hoover; went 2-1 with 26 strikeouts on the mound and hit .333 with nine RBIs and 20 runs for the Bucs. ► Utility: Carter Frederick, Chelsea; was 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 37 strikeouts as a pitcher and hit for a .351 average and drove in 13 runs.
2ND TEAM
► Pitcher: Curt Gann, Mountain Brook; went 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA for the Spartans. ► Pitcher: Jake Rivers, Oak Mountain; posted a 2-0 mark with a 1.61 ERA and 15 strikeouts. ► Pitcher: Eli Mefford, Spain
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Park; went 4-1 with a 0.94 ERA and 20 strikeouts. ► Pitcher: Connor Ball, Chelsea; went 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 28⅔ innings. ► Catcher: Davis Young, Hoover; hit .351 with two homers and 12 RBIs. ► First baseman: Cole Sester, Oak Mountain; hit .439 with 11 RBIs, while also going 2-1 on the mound. ► Second baseman: Tyler Mauldin, Hewitt-Trussville; scored nine runs along with posting a 4-0 pitching record and 0.75 ERA, including a no-hitter. ► Third baseman: Davis Gillespie, Oak Mountain; hit .372 with a home runs, three doubles and 11 RBIs. ► Shortstop: Alex Gauld, Mountain Brook; hit .309, driving in 16 runs and scoring 16 runs.
► Infield: JT Weisberg, John Carroll; hit for a .400 average, scoring 12 runs. ► Infield: Brock Payne, Mountain Brook; hit .357, knocking in nine runs and scoring 12. ► Outfield: Will Yarbro, Mountain Brook; drove in 19 runs and scored 14 runs. ► Outfield: Davis White, Mountain Brook; hit .320 with 16 RBIs. ► Outfield: Evan Radford, Hoover; played first base and outfield and helped lead the Bucs to a 12-4 record. ► Outfield: Noah Lessley, ClayChalkville; pitched and played outfield, posting a 0.44 ERA in 16 innings. ► Utility: Tyler Waugh, Briarwood; hit .394 with a .522 on-base percentage, driving in 13 runs. ► Utility: Barry White, Pinson Valley; went 3-1 on the mound and drove in eight runs at the plate.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Mitchell Walker, John Carroll; Jaxson Lucas, Spain Park; Porter Phelan, Mountain Brook; Owen Knight, Vestavia Hills; Will Tarpley, Pinson Valley ► Catcher: Hagen Gingras, Pinson Valley; Gavin Ellison, Hewitt-Trussville ► Infield: Lucas Steele, Hoover; Josh Ervin, Clay-Chalkville ► Outfield: Ricky Zimmerman, John Carroll; Aden Malpass, John Carroll; Harrison Hodges, Mountain Brook; Parker Campbell, Oak Mountain ► Utility: Matt Miller, Hewitt-Trussville; Kobe Lewis, Clay-Chalkville; Kendall Garner, Clay-Chalkville
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B7
Bucs, Jags heavily represented on All-South Metro team By KYLE PARMLEY The 2020 high school softball season was far from a normal one, with the season ending just a month after it began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some teams played a bevy of games in that time, while others were not able to get as much field time. Spain Park played 21 games, while Hoover played 12. Understanding that not all things would be equal, the Alabama Sports Writers Association decided against naming an all-state team this season. But we at Starnes Media felt it important to recognize the local players who had standout seasons, and thus put together an All-South Metro team for the first time.
1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Annabelle Widra, Spain Park; the junior Michigan commit led the charge for an undefeated Jags team. As a pitcher, she posted a 9-0 record with a 0.53 ERA. At the plate, she hit for a .549 average and slugged eight home runs ► Pitcher: KK Hughes, Hewitt-Trussville; the South Alabama signee led the Huskies’ pitching staff, going 7-0 with a 1.00 ERA for the season. ► Pitcher: Brookelyn Cannon, Hoover; the junior Troy commit put together a strong start to the year, striking out 60 hitters in 50 innings. She posted a 2.30 ERA and hit for a .313 average and three homers. ► Catcher: Gwynnie Hornibrook, Vestavia Hills; the junior Samford commit hit .333 with three homers and 14 RBIs for the Rebels. ► First base: Crystal Maze, Hewitt-Trussville; the Troy commit
► Utility: Claire Boone, John Carroll; hit .452 with three homers and 14 RBIs while splitting time between catcher and second base.
2ND TEAM
Spain Park’s Alexis Anderson (8) bats during a Jag Classic game March 6 at Spain Park High School. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
slugged five homers and drove in 11 runs while hitting .485. ► Second base: Charlotte Phillips, John Carroll; the sophomore hit for a .442 average with two homers and 11 RBIs while splitting time at catcher as well. ► Third base: Kenleigh Cahalan, Hewitt-Trussville; the freshman lefthander hit six home runs and drove in 20 runs while hitting for a .523 average. ► Shortstop: Jenna Lord, Hewitt-Trussville; the junior Alabama commit finished with a team-high eight homers and 21 RBIs. ► Infield: Alexis Anderson, Spain Park; the senior hit for a school-record .553 average for the unbeaten Jags. ► Infield: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville; the sure-handed freshman hit for a .421 average as the Huskies’ second baseman. ► Outfield: Riley Sullivan, Oak Mountain; the junior West Alabama
commit hit for a .414 average with three homers and 13 RBIs for the Eagles. Outfield: Jakaria Byrd, Homewood; the Patriots’ spark plug hit for an impressive .633 average, stole seven bases and drove in nine runs. ► Outfield: Lydia Coleman, Spain Park; hit for a .455 average for the Jags. ► Outfield: Gracie Hillman, Hoover; hit for a .421 average and stole 11 bases for the Bucs. ► Utility: Abi Brown, Oak Mountain; the senior Florida International University signee finished her career by hitting for a .376 average. ► Utility: Macey Ogle, John Carroll; impressed at the plate and in the circle for the Cavs, hitting .429 with four homers and 18 RBIs, as well as posting a 5-1 record. ► Utility: Anyce Harvey, Hewitt-Trussville; the Middle Tennessee commit hit .436 with 15 RBIs.
► Pitcher: Arden Plugge, Vestavia Hills; the UAB signee wrapped up her prep career with a 0.93 ERA, winning all three of her decisions. ► Pitcher: Tyler Erwin, Chelsea; the junior struck out 45 batters and posted a 2.40 ERA while driving in seven runs at the plate. ► Pitcher: Ella Reed, Spain Park; impressed in her first extended varsity action, going 11-0 with a 0.82 ERA. ► Catcher: Brooke Burback, Chelsea; the UAB signee hit three home runs and drove in 11 runs. ► First base: Chloe Brittain, Spain Park; the junior hit .375 with four homers for the Jags. ► Second base: Elizabeth Zaleski, Oak Mountain; hit .385 with two homers in a short season for the Eagles. ► Third base: Hunter Dunn, Homewood; impressed for the Patriots, slugging five homers, driving in 20 runs and hitting .524 overall. ► Shortstop: Mary Claire Wilson, Vestavia Hills; the Liberty signee hit .417 with three homers and 11 RBIs. ► Infield: Jordan Moore, Hoover; the Samford signee hit .333 with four homers. ► Infield: Lindsay Parker, Spain Park; hit .417 in her final year with the Jags. ► Outfielder: Jordan Walker, Pinson Valley; also played shortstop and pitched for the Indians, going 3-1 with 25 strikeouts in the circle. ► Outfielder: Abigail Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville; the Samford signee hit for a strong .455 average in her
senior season. ► Outfielder: Blakley Watts, Briarwood; hit for a .410 average and finished with a .625 on-base percentage. ► Outfielder: Kyndall Bailey, Ramsay; the Purdue commit hit a gaudy .857 with six homers and 29 stolen bases for the undefeated Rams. ► Utility: Katie Flannery, Spain Park; hit for a .500 average and three homers in limited action for the Jags. ► Utility: Charity Bibbs, Vestavia Hills; posted a 5-2 record and 1.85 ERA pitching in addition to slugging four home runs. ► Utility: Taylor Harrington, Spain Park; finished her final season with a .377 average. ► Utility: Maggie Daniel, Spain Park; hit .353 with two homers as an eighth-grader.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Abigail Bryars, Chelsea; Ka’Mya Hampton, Pinson Valley; McKenzie Cagle, Pinson Valley. ► Catcher: Hannah Presley, Hoover; Maggie Reaves, Mountain Brook. ► First base: Meredith Kellum, Briarwood; Kylie Hicks, Pinson Valley. ► Second base: Karson Rich, Chelsea; Abby Brown, Homewood. ► Shortstop: Sara Frances Berte, Mountain Brook; Caroline Campbell, Briarwood; Olivia Bergert, Chelsea. ► Outfielder: Katie Norris, Hoover; Mackenzie Thompson, Spain Park; Harper Niblett, Hoover; Catherine Grace Couch, Mountain Brook; Emma Bauer, John Carroll; Zoe Couch, Homewood; Mallory Ogle, John Carroll.
B8 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Bucs’ Ware promoted to basketball head coach
Scott Ware was introduced as Hoover High School’s new head boys basketball coach May 29. Ware served as the lead assistant coach with the program for the past seven years. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
By KYLE PARMLEY Applications arrived at the desk of Andy Urban from places near and far, but the Hoover High School athletic director said he knew from the get-go the best candidate to take over as the head coach of the boys basketball program was within arm’s reach. On May 29, Hoover announced Scott Ware as the Bucs’ new head basketball coach. Ware is no stranger to the halls of Hoover High, having served as the lead assistant coach with the program for the past seven years. Ware takes over for Charles Burkett, who took the head job at Athens High in mid-May after 14 years at Hoover. “We had hundreds of applicants, but we knew we had what we felt like was the best coach we could get in our building. I told him that the day I met with him,” Urban said. In his first comments in front of a small gathering on the day his hire became official, Ware had many people to thank. “I have to first of all thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without him, this wouldn’t be possible,” Ware said. “I need to thank [Hoover Principal] John Montgomery and Andy for having the belief in me that I can move this program forward. I also want to thank Coach Burkett for his friendship and support in this.” Following 10 seasons as the head coach at Walker (now Jasper), Ware said Burkett called him “out of the blue” and expressed interest in Ware coming to be an assistant at Hoover.
“
I hope they’re just as excited as I am about this because they already know me. They already know what to expect.
”
SCOTT WARE
“I didn’t know why in the world I was entertaining that,” Ware said of his thought at the time. “Right now, I know. I’m super excited, I’m ready to get back in the gym with the guys and go to work to be the best version of us that we can be.”
Montgomery expressed similar sentiments as Urban about the promotion of Ware. “When this development came about, Coach Urban got with me and started talking about what we wanted to do as far as moving on about a new head basketball coach. It took me and him about two minutes to get to the answer,” Montgomery said. Ware said he feels ready for the opportunity to take over the Hoover program, which compiled a 313-129 record and won the 2015 Class 7A state championship during Burkett’s tenure. Last season, the Bucs went 22-11, reaching the Northeast Regional semifinals. “Taking a step back and being an assistant under Charles was really eye-opening,” Ware said. “There’s a lot of things that I’ve definitely learned from him and this program and watching others that we’ve played against. There’s just some things that I think this time around I’ll do different than I did before.”
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One area Ware already has a leg up compared to most new head coaches is that he’s already extremely well acquainted with every single person in the program, from players to support staff. “You know the kids, you already have a relationship with them,” he said. “I hope they’re just as excited as I am about this because they already know me. They already know what to expect.” Ware said philosophically, the Bucs won’t look much different, since Burkett always allowed Ware to have a great deal of input into how the team and program did things on and off the court. He’s “super excited” to get started. “I love the guys and think we’ve got a really good group of guys,” Ware said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running. I’m very humbled and honored that they would even think to put me in this position.”
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B9
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WHAT HAPPENS IF I CLAIM PRIOR TO MY FULL RETIREMENT AGE? Several things will and could happen. Let us suppose you claim at 62, your benefit will be reduced by 25% of what your full retirement benefit would be if you waited. For example, the $2,800 would be reduced to $2,100 monthly. This reduction is permanent. Please be aware that if you are still working and haven’t reached your full retirement age, but go ahead and claim, your benefits could be severely reduced. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T NEED THE MONEY NOW BECAUSE I’M STILL WORKING? Basically, for each year you wait and don’t claim you’ll receive a 5% increase until you reach your full retirement age. At full retirement age, you will receive an 8% increase annually in the payments going forward. If you have not claimed by age 70, benefits automatically begin.
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B10 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Jon Anderson at janderson@starnespublishing.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
At least 20% Hoover parents favor virtual school for 2020-21 By JON ANDERSON Eighteen percent of the parents in the Hoover school system say they aren’t comfortable having their children return to school campuses in August, and 20% would rather do school completely virtual again, according to a survey. Another 34 percent said they might be interested in full-time virtual instruction for the 2020-21 school year, said Ron Dodson, a central office administrator. That’s based on a survey completed by 3,183 households the week after school let out, representing 5,460 of the school system’s 14,000 students, Dodson said. If those survey results are representative of the entire district’s population, that could mean anywhere from 2,700 to 7,400 students might opt for full-time virtual instruction in the 202021 school year, he said. “That’s a big change in a short period of time,” Dodson said. “We have 1,065 saying absolutely sign me up … This is a really big deal.” Parents of incoming first-graders represented 43% of those who favored a virtual school experience this coming year, while only 2 percent of households with students entering grades 10-12 favored a virtual school experience, according to the survey results. Dodson said he hopes most students are able to start the school year face to face with teachers and their peers because having those relationships established is one reason why the virtual instruction worked this spring. The students and parents already knew the teachers, and the students in given classrooms knew one another, he said. However, parents have the option to enroll
is the best way to provide instruction for K-2 students, but it could be a good supplemental tool in the event that all instruction goes virtual again. “And K-2 students can begin using those devices in the classroom on campus,” Murphy said. The school district plans to use $400,000 in federal CARES Act (COVID-19 relief) money to help pay for the new Chromebooks, plus use $800,000 that initially was to be used for new projectors in the middle schools, Murphy said. The Chromebooks for K-2 students were deemed a higher priority, and the school district can look at funding the middle school projectors the following year, she said.
MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN
Drew Wilder, 10, a Riverchase Elementary student, works on a Google Chromebook as he completes math assignments while sitting in a hammock in his front yard in April during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Erin Nelson.
students in all-virtual school, and the deadline for registering intent to do so is noon July 10. Also, the school district needs to be prepared for all students to go to virtual instruction again if a serious resurgence in the COVID-19 disease occurs or some other problem requires it, such as a transportation issue or shortage in school cleaning supplies, Dodson said. For that reason, school officials plan to spend $1.2 million to buy Chromebooks for students in kindergarten through second grade. All students in grades 3-12 have had Chromebooks available for their use, but the
K-2 students had paper instructional packets sent home periodically as the school year ended with home-based instruction. Superintendent Kathy Murphy said teachers discovered many of those K-2 students were ready to have instruction supplemented by technology. Dodson said one way teachers were able to help those K-2 students advance this past spring was when they were able to use their personal device or their parents’ devices to get additional instruction. Murphy said she doesn’t believe technology
There still are many questions about how students will be able to return to campus in August, Murphy said. One of the big issues is transportation. Guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend school buses have only one student per seat and every other seat empty. “There are not enough buses, nor enough drivers, to be able to get children to school in that sort of fashion,” Murphy said. Other questions concern how meals will be served and how physical education, band and choir instruction will proceed, she said. State schools Superintendent Eric Mackey was expected to release his “Roadmap to Reopening Alabama Schools” on June 19 and discuss it with superintendents during meetings on June 22-24, Murphy said. Hoover officials plan to communicate more with parents about what to expect in the coming days.
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July 2020 • B11
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Destination Hoover International awards 2020 scholarships Destination Hoover International, a nonprofit formed to foster cultural exchange and international relationships between Hoover and people across the world, chose Adelle Knight of Hoover High and Juan Luis Contreras of Spain Park High as its scholarship recipients for 2020. Both recently graduated from their respective schools and were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Knight, who will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham, plans to pursue a degree in biology. In an essay that was part of her scholarship application, she said environmental changes are a worldwide problem, so she expects to be working with people and ideas from all over the world. “I hope to promote cultural exchange through environmental justice by attaining a degree in biology in college and later in my career to help the world, in at least this one respect, understand the other people in it a little bit better,”
Knight wrote. Contreras plans to attend Auburn University, major in biology and follow a pre-med track with a minor in Spanish to become a physician. When four students from Guatemala came to Spain Park, Contreras was asked to help get them acquainted with the school and go in some of their classes because he is fluent in Spanish. That experience sparked a desire to create change on campus, so he and his sister founded a club called Take Time to Care or TC3. “This initiative proved that [by] working together, we could offer greater opportunities to become accepted and involved, especially for those like my new Guatemalan friends,” Contreras wrote in his scholarship application. Destination Hoover International raised money for the scholarships in part by a yearly contribution from Jubilee Joe’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant. – Submitted by Shelley Shaw.
Clifford inducted into education honor society Caroline Clifford, the 21-year-old daughter of Chris and Kim Clifford of Hoover, was inducted into the Xi chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi international education honor society at the University of Alabama on April 3. Clifford was chosen based on her high academic achievement, worthy ideals and evidence of leadership attributes. She was a 2016 graduate of Hoover High School. Kappa Delta Pi was founded in 1911, and the Xi chapter was established in 1922. There are more than 400 chapters and 57,000 members of Kappa Delta Pi internationally. – Submitted by University of Alabama.
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B12 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
Hoover High School honored the 663 graduating members of the Class of 2020 — spaced 6 feet apart — during a commencement ceremony at the Hoover Met on May 21. Graduates, faculty and guests were required to wear face masks upon entrance to the stadium for the ceremony. Photos by Erin Nelson.
HOOVER CLASS OF 2020
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B13
SPAIN PARK CLASS OF 2020
Spain Park High School honored the 392 graduating members of the Class of 2020 — spaced 6 feet apart — during a commencement ceremony at the Hoover Met on May 20. Graduates, faculty and guests were required to wear face masks upon entrance to the stadium for the ceremony. Photos by Erin Nelson.
B14 • July 2020
Hoover Sun
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Community Have a community announcement? Email Jon Anderson at janderson@ starnespublishing.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue. Community outreach volunteer Ben Wildman places bags of hot meals in the back seat of a vehicle, in addition to boxed and canned foods, hand soap and toilet paper, during the weekly food distribution day June 10 at Birmingham’s First Seventh-day Adventist Church on Lorna Road. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Faith groups provide food, hand sanitizer to public By JON ANDERSON The Birmingham First Seventh-day Adventist Church and Birmingham Islamic Society have been providing food to people in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and economic hardships being experienced by individuals and families. Starting May 27, the Birmingham Seventh-day Adventist Church began distributing bags of dry, non-perishable food and hot meals to any community members who needed them. The church also purchased several 20-gallon containers of hand sanitizer and was refilling people’s hand sanitizer containers as needed. Both the food and hand sanitizer were given to people as they drove through the church parking lot, without people having to
exit their vehicles. The church planned to continue doing this each Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. for as long as needed. The church also procured thousands of non-surgical masks for free distribution. The Birmingham First Seventh-day Adventist Church is at 3520 Lorna Road, next to Aldridge Gardens. For more information, contact Pastor Christian Ronalds at 205-987-7208. The Birmingham Islamic Society in April was providing canned food and other non-perishable groceries to people at the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center at 2524 Hackberry Lane. That food distribution also was being provided as a drive-through service. For more information, contact Birmingham Islamic Society President Emeritus Ashfaq Taufique at 205-223-3646.
Hartline heads up Surviving Spouse Advisory Council Anne Hartline, who retired surviving spouse chapter and state from Hoover City Schools in liaisons for MOAA regional lead2004 as director of the Hoover ership training conferences. Coalition for a Safe and Healthy She has given presentations Community, is serving as chairin Greenville, South Carolina, woman of the Surviving Spouse Orlando, Portland and Hershey, Advisory Council, which advises Pennsylvania, and spoken to the the president of the Military OffiMOAA state conventions in Florcers Association of America. ida and Georgia. She also facilThe purpose of the SSAC is to itated training for the regional make recommendations regarding leadership workshops during the Anne Hartline. Photo MOAA’s programs and resources MOAA national board meeting in courtesy of Military for surviving spouses of military Officers Association Washington, D.C., in November. officers and to provide information of America. MOAA has 350,000 members. to MOAA chapters, state councils Hartline has participated in the and the general membership on how to encour- group’s “Storming the Hill” lobbying effort age, engage and educate surviving spouses. for the past five years. She previously served Hartline, whose husband James “Red” Har- as surviving spouse liaison on the boards of the tline was a retired U.S. Army colonel who Greater Birmingham Chapter of MOAA and the served 36 years in the Army, has taken the lead MOAA Alabama Council of Chapters. during the past year to develop workshops for – Submitted by Anne Hartline.
Photographers raise funds in Front Porch Project Miss Hoover 2020 Caitlyn McTier has raised more than $2,100 for the Children’s Miracle Network by taking photos of families as part of the Front Porch Project. One of the more than 60 families she photographed was Ross Bridge’s Ajay and Radhika Singh and their daughter Riya. To schedule an appointment, go to bit.ly/ fppwebsite. Spain Park High School rising senior John Ajay and Radhika Singh and their daughter Riya. Photo Watson also is taking courtesy of Caitlyn McTier. pictures as part of the To have your picture taken, text Watson at Front Porch Project and has raised more than $1,200 for BHMCares, which gives money to 205-470-4485. – Submitted by Miss Hoover Foundation and restaurants that, in turn, provide free meals for John Watson. health care workers.
HooverSun.com
July 2020 • B15
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