Hoover Sun vol 2 iss 1 October 2013 by Starnes Media

Sun

October 2013 • 1

HooverSun.com

Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover

Literary milestone

Volume 2 | Issue 1 | October 2013

Golden year for art

In 1982, thousands of signatures brought Hoover a public library. Thirty years later, the state-of-the-art facility provides more than 100 jobs under the leadership of director Linda Andrews.

Community page 14

Bucs, Jags rolling

Both Hoover and Spain Park High Schools finished their first three games undefeated. The 2013 season is looking bright for your local teams.

Sports page 20

INSIDE Sponsors ........... 4 City ..................... 6 Business ............ 8 Community ....... 12

School House ... 19 Sports ................ 20 Fall Home .......... 22 Calendar ............ 28

1) Betty Brown’s donation of a painting to be sold for the library in 1963 launched the Bluff Park Art Show. With Brown is Henry Kimbrell, who organized the “Come as Your Favorite Book” dance. 2) Sara Perry, left, has worked the event for nearly 50 years. She is pictured with Jeff Pierson, current show chair, and other volunteers. 3) Susan, a dedicated volunteer, said in the 1960s that she thought the effort would never reach the goal of the library fund. 4) Henry Kimbrell and his band providing music at the Art Show. 5) Helen Kumli Stephens helped start the Art Show while serving as principal of Bluff Park Elementary from 1963-1976. 6) Pictured are Lois Albright and Elsie Pond. Lois Albright’s daughter Beth Albright Johns is the current president of the Bluff Park Art Association. 7) Bluff Park residents volunteer in the show’s early days. 8) Founding member Sally Johnson and Judy Rogers, who has exhibited, served as president and worked diligently for decades. 9) Founders Liz Kimbrell and Sally Johnson. Photos courtesy of Sally Johnson.

By KATIE TURPEN

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656

facebook.com/thehooversun

In 1963, there was no library at Bluff Park Elementary School. For a student to check out a book, he or she would visit the principal, who would go into her coat closet and retrieve it. As soon as she noticed the need, Sally Johnson got involved. “I asked [the principal], ‘Wouldn’t you like to have a real library?’” Johnson said. “She replied that the county wouldn’t let them because they were an independent grammar school. “I thought, ‘We’re going to change that.’” That year, Johnson and other school parents hosted

50th

the Bluff Park Elementary School “Come as Your Favorite Book” dance, where gawky children gathered in literaturethemed costumes. On the outside, it was a fun evening, but the event’s true purpose was to provide a better library for all. The dance raised $600, a promising first step. But it still wasn’t enough. Their next thought was to turn to their hobbies. At the time, Johnson and her best friends held nightly gatherings where they painted together in her basement. She had an idea, and the following year, the Bluff Park PTA sponsored an art auction

Anniversary Bluff Park Art Show

Saturday, Oct. 5

Bluff Park Community Center

9 a.m.-5 p.m. bluffparkartshow.com

See BLUFF PARK | page 26

Simple Promise Simple 90-Day Comfort PROMISE* Pick any bed from our huge selection of the World’s Best Beds & Sleep Soundly for 90 Days Or Simply Return it For a Full Credit.

Hoover • 979-7274

Hwy. 31 across from Crest Cadillac www.bedzzzexpress.com

90-Day LOWEST PRICE PROMISE* Find it cheaper and we will Refund 115% of the Difference. *See store for details

2 â&#x20AC;˘ October 2013

Hoover Sun

by Southerland

October 2013 • 3

HooverSun.com

WHO DROVE YOUR KIDS TO THE GAME? Independence is great. We built a whole country around

driving, we want to be the company you look to when it

the idea. We enjoy the freedom to do as we please and come

is time to buy your child’s first car. Our inventory is hand

and go as we please. That is, unless, we spend half of our

picked to be safe, affordable and easy to care for. If you

life carting our teenagers from one event to another. We

don’t find the car you want on our lot, we’ll find it and bring

either lose our car or our time or both.

it to you. And you can go to any of Serra’s 14 shops around

Serra Independence Automotive is designed to give you

town for service.

your independence back and also make your growing son

Stop by our dealership on 31 in Vestavia near I-65 and

or daughter more independent as well. From safe driving

see if we can help you find a comfortable way to regain

instruction to meetings with local police about distracted

some independence.

IT’S A GREAT PLACE TO BUY YOUR FIRST CAR. 1476 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 serraindependenceautomotive.com | (205) 978-5300

SEA-114 First Car.indd 1

Scan this QR code to see our full inventory.

9/6/13 9:58 AM

4 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

About Us Photo of the Month

Support our Community Partners

Christian and Emory Congleton enjoy breakfast at Tip Top Grill in Bluff Park.

Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden My favorite pumpkin space latte is back (thank you, Starbucks), the Crock-Pot has made its season-long return to our kitchen counter, and those curious little cinnamon broom sticks are once again on display at Publix. Yep, it’s October all right. With its gourds and mums and Indian corn and raffia, this month is a blissful time of transition. Weekends are replete with fall festivals, higher stakes football and almost endless possibilities to carve out family time creatively spent. One of our favorite Saturdays of the year happens Oct. 13, when we will once again watch, from our Radio Flyer wagon vantage point, the progression of pink warriors as they make their way from the Survivor’s Breakfast in Linn Park to the starting line of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Our kids Ella and Connor will search eagerly among the sea of faces to find their precious grandmother, E, and then cheer wildly for her while I race through the throngs to capture that perfect shot of our family matriarch. Throughout the month, at least sandwiched between the too-goodto-DVR football games and our son’s Sunday soccer matches, we’ll hit as

Walden many local festivals as possible. This cooler air seems to bring out my inner extrovert, and the camaraderie that awaits, both with neighbors and new friends to be made, is something I don’t want to miss. It all culminates in Halloween, of course. The night we rush home from work, outfit everyone in their gear and traipse up to as many front doors as we can, hoping to collect more candy and chocolate than PlayDoh and crayons. After we get home, and sort our stash (Snickers for Mom, Kit Kat for Dad, nondescript orange and black wrapped things in the trash), we’ll take out one of our favorite household chotchkies – this hideous, battery-powered Frankenstein toy –

and wrap up the night with a final encore of a tune that’s echoed around the house for weeks (Ray Parker Jr. fans know what I’m talking about here). Here’s a hint – when your 2-year-old asks you to replace “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with “Ghostbusters” at bedtime, you’ve probably been listening to it too much. These are the moments of parenthood no one prepares you for – that one day, a tuckered out redhead will be laughing hysterically while you and your husband flint about the room sing-rapping, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost!” From the flavors to the flowers to the festivals and Halloween fanfare, there is so much to savor this month. Find your autumn delight. Cheers,

Rebecca

Publisher : Executive Editor : Creative Director : Editor : Managing Editor : Advertising Manager : Sales and Distribution :

Contact Information: Hoover Sun #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@hooversun.com

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

Copy Editor: Contributing Writers: Interns : Published by :

Alabama Power (20) Alfa Insurance (15) Baptist Imaging - Hoover (26) Bedzzz Express (2) Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (24) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (12) Brookwood Medical Center (18) Cahaba Dermatology and Skin Care Center (10) Children’s of Alabama (7) City of Hoover (9) Classic Events (30) D1 Sports (21) Decorating Dens Interiors (23) Eighteenth Street Orientals (31) Fi-Plan Parnters (6) Four Corners Custom Framing (19) Geico Insurance (16) Granger Thagard Associates (13) Hearlab (29) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (19, 30) Hoover Public Library (22) Hoover Tactical Firearms (21) Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel (18) Indian Springs School (17) Iron Tribe (32) Issis & Sons (25) Jesse’s Steak and Seafood (14) LAH Real Estate (17) La Paz (27) Liberty Oriental Rugs (13) Mind Blowing Mulch (22) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (13) O Sushi Japanese Cuisine (16) Osaka Sushi Restaurant (28) Outdoor Living Areas (11) Princeton Baptist Vein Center (28) RealtySouth - James Harwell (9) Remax Southern Homes - Becky Hicks (27) Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace (5) Serra Independence (3) Silver Lining Consignment Boutique (19) South Trace Pediatrics (14) Stellar Massage (12) Susette Clark-Walker / RealtySouth (20) Swimming Pool Services (24) The Cuckoo’s Nest (15) The Wade Team (7) The Whole Scoop (22) Thimbles (29) Trinity Medical Center (8) UAB Medicine (31) Vision Gymnastics (15) Vulcan Park and Museum (24)

Dan Starnes Jeff Thompson Keith McCoy Rebecca Walden Madoline Markham Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Louisa Jeffries Intisar Seraaj-Sabree Katie Turpen Sydney Cromwell Lauren Moriarty Hoover Sun LLC

For advertising contact: dan@hooversun.com Legals: The Hoover Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of

editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Hoover Sun is designed to inform the Hoover community of area school, family and community events. Information in the Hoover Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of the 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) 3131780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper

HooverSun.com

October 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 5

6 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

City Mayor’s Minute By Gary Ivey

We are very proud to say that the recently released Best of Birmingham list included 19 locations in the city of Hoover. This just confirms another reason why Hoover is such a great place to live, work and raise a family. As mayor of Hoover, I am very excited about the renovations that have been made at the Riverchase Galleria. This shopping venue is an integral part of the City of Hoover and provides an outstanding shopping, hotel and business destination. We are very happy that the new Von Maur will be opening in November just in time for the holiday shopping season. This is the state’s first Von Maur department store and is located at center court of the shopping center. This new merchant will add another dimension to our city. Von Maur is 187,000 square feet and is easily accessible from the I-459 flyover. The Hoover Hayride was mentioned in the last Mayor’s Minute, but we wanted to remind you again to come enjoy a free night of fun at Veterans Park on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5-8 p.m. The Hoover Hayride is one of our most popular events of the year, and you don’t want to miss it! With Veterans Day just around the corner, we want to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women that serve or have served in our military. The City holds a weeklong celebration in honor of Veterans Day every year with activities planned throughout the week. Our celebration will kick off at our opening reception held on Sunday

School board adapting to consistent shortfalls in revenue By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Gary Ivey

afternoon, Nov. 3 from 2-4 p.m. at the Hoover Public Library Plaza. Please be sure and plan to come out on Sunday afternoon and join us for the reception. For a complete list of our activities for Veterans week, visit our website at hooveralabama.gov. We want to exceed your expectations in every way with all we do. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you. Sincerely,

Gary Ivey Mayor

The Hoover City School System is facing another year of tightening its belt to keep pace with falling revenue. Due to increased enrollment and declines in state funding and property tax income, the school system has been working under a constricted budget since 2008. Previous cost-cutting measures such as increasing classroom sizes, delaying building projects and refinancing debts have saved over $80 million during that period. However, the school system’s expenditures are still outstripping its income by approximately $17 million, and further reductions must be made. “I think we’re much more a culture of conservatism when it comes to our expenditures,” said Cathy Antee, Hoover City Schools’ chief financial officer. At a public hearing on Sept. 5, Antee laid out the proposed budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. That budget was approved at the Board meeting Sept. 10.

This year’s budget must make room for several new expenses, including a state-mandated 2 percent pay raise for teachers and increased debt service payments, along with the normal costs of running a growing school system. To offset this spending, the budget includes cuts to funds for transportation and operations, as well as downsizing custodial services and certain aid programs. Additionally, the school system is considering dipping into a reserve fund balance to soften the blow of the budget deficit. This fund has previously been used to cover building projects and losses from the 2007 economic collapse, but using it to cover normal operational costs is not a sustainable solution. “That’s not the place we want to be,” Antee said. The most recent version of the 2013-2014 budget can be found on the Hoover City Schools’ Finance Department website.

City takes another step toward Valleydale Road widening project By SYDNEY CROMWELL Hoover is one step closer to the initiation of the Valleydale Road widening project. At its regular meeting on September 3, the Hoover City Council approved a supplemental agreement with Volkert, Inc. to provide right-of-way acquisition services. This agreement allocates an additional $620,336 to Volkert, Inc., which is already responsible for environmental studies, field surveys and securing corridor approval for the project. The planned road widening will cover the 3.5mile stretch of road between Caldwell Mill Road and

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Inverness Center Drive. Valleydale Road is currently heavily congested due to traffic from Spain Park High School, Jefferson State Community College, and several major neighborhoods and business parks. The Hoover City Council has been discussing widening the road since 1999, but it started moving forward on the project in 2011 with funding assistance from the Alabama Department of Transportation and Shelby County. The most recent estimates put the project’s cost at over $12 million. Right-of-way acquisition services must be completed by September 2015, but a completion date for the road widening has not yet been named.

October 2013 • 7

HooverSun.com

Get to Know Allen Pate Executive Director of Operations, City of Hoover

hat led you to make Hoover home, and how did you get started in your current role? In my early years, I worked for Brice Building and my wife worked as a nurse for West End Baptist Hospital, which is now known as Princeton. We bought a lot off of Patton Chapel Road on Mayflower Drive before Hoover was incorporated. We decided on this location because it was more conveniently located for our jobs and family. But before we could build a house, I received a call to serve my country. We finally built a house in December 1969, two years after the City of Hoover was incorporated. I came to work for Hoover as a temporary employee hired to oversee the construction of the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. I had just left the position of laborer commissioner for the State of Alabama. While I oversaw the building of the stadium, I received additional projects and responsibilities related to the City. By the time the stadium was complete, I was hired as a direct full-time employee. I have thoroughly enjoyed my years with the City and all the opportunities and challenges along the way. What makes you the most proud to be a Hoover resident? My wife, Edna, and I raised our two sons in Hoover. They graduated from Berry High School. One graduated from Alabama and the other from Auburn. They married and gave my wife and me six beautiful and talented grandchildren who are also growing up and going to school in Hoover. I’m proud to be a part of a growing and progressive, forwardthinking city. What are your top priorities for the 2013-14 year as it relates to the City? My position provides direction to all department heads with exception of police and fire departments, and I report directly to the mayor. In looking forward to the 2014 year, we will continue to strive for growth and stability Allen Pate in this fragile economy. The City has been able to stay in the black every year by coming together and working towards the same goals. Department heads cooperate with each other to meet the needs of each department and come together collectively to meet the needs of the City as a whole. As we continue to move forward, our goal

is to continue to provide a high level of service to the citizens. One of the leading concerns among municipalities nationwide is the lack of maintenance of roads, bridges, facilities and other infrastructure due to a sluggish economy. It is a challenge to maintain aging infrastructure within a tight budget. However, Hoover continues to improve infrastructure with a strategic road expansion and improvement program. We work to meet the diverse needs of the citizenry from sports programs and facilities for all ages and genders to special needs such as the Miracle Field being constructed at Hoover East. Another challenging area in a weak economy is redevelopment. The City worked to purchase an apartment complex on Lorna Road, demolish it and resell the property, which is now the Walmart Neighborhood Market that recently opened. This single redevelopment project has renewed interest in this area of the City for retailers with Bargain Hunt opening in the former Food World location across the road. I expect we will see additional new retailers and restaurants come to the area. The departure of the Birmingham Barons from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium provided an opportunity to repurpose an existing facility without the purchase of land or new construction. We are working to bring new events to this facility that will fill hotels and restaurants. This year was the first Freedom Fest at the Met where citizens could enjoy several hours of live music culminating in a huge fireworks show. The crowd filled the stadium and parking lots even though the weather was not favorable. Even the Riverchase Galleria is part of a redevelopment strategy with the hotel recently upgraded to a Hyatt Regency, allowing for a broader online reservation market. The redevelopment of the former Macy’s into Von Maur is tentatively set to open on Nov. 2 in time for the holiday shopping season. There are other projects that are too early to speak about publicly. What is one thing readers may not know about you? I have trouble with colors. My sweet wife lays out my clothes each day. If she’s out of town and I substitute what she’s laid out in advance, people sometimes notice.

8 â&#x20AC;˘ October 2013

Hoover Happenings rest es C

d La ke R

m Colu

aba Cah

Val ley R

er R Riv

kw sP

119

s ne

r ve In

wy S

k aw

y 150

H hn

l He

ey R

d av an tV all ey R R ey

all aV

ab aV all

a yd lle a V

h Ca

a en

Ca h

7 d eR

150

kR Br oo

do w Ro

H ery om ntg Mo

Ros s Br idge es C Pkw rest y Rd

459

r Lo

119

280

d Ol

Patton Chapel Rd

w Pk ins

Va ll

R ky

ey da

d idg eR

Chapel Rd

ky R

Roc

Sha d

oo Br

n hla

Sh an no n

Ox m oo

a bian

459

kw dP

280 Colonade Pkwy

Cah a

e Av rd fl o A

s ke

d Sha

Bl ue

W Oxmoor Rd

kw eP or

Hoover Sun

119

Now Open

Bargain Hunt is now open at 3313 Lorna Road, the former Food World location. The company, which buys items from major national chains that the chain cannot sell for various reasons, sells small appliances, clothing, toys, sporting goods, furniture and electronics. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from noon-6 p.m. bargainhunt.com.

HooverSun.com

Coming Soon Steak ‘n Shake will open Dec. 5 in the former location of Brother Zeke’s Heavenly Barbecue, located at 1817 Montgomery Hwy. South. The chain gains its customer popularity through its steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes. steaknshake.com.

Pure Barre Riverchase is scheduled to open at the end of October at 1870 Chase Drive, Suite 100. The exercise facility, owned by Shelly Whitlock Smith, teaches classes using small movements at the ballet barre. purebarre.com

MedCenter Hoover, a provider of urgent care and family medicine, is coming to 1575 Montgomery Highway. Holly James said they hope to open by Jan. 1 tentatively. Hoover, AL 35216 tuscaloosamedcenter.com.

Expansions Child’s Play Therapy Center, 3057 Lorna Road, Suite 220, has doubled its business space from 4,000 to 8,000 square feet to provide more therapeutic services for children. The center offers speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and academic services. 978-9939. childsplaytherapycenter.com.

News Hoover Country Club welcomed a new manager, Gaith Alkadi, in September, who will focus on clubhouse, pool, food and beverage service, and banquet/reception activities. He has been in the club management business for 28 years. 822-0647. hoovercc.com.

Several Hoover businesses were named on Inc. Magazine’s 500|5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. Digital Marketing Services, 115 David Green Road, Building A, was listed as the No. 4 fastest growing private company in Alabama. MicroPulse Technologies, 620 Lorna Square, was No. 21, and Employment Screening Services, 2500 Southlake Park, was No. 30.

dmscolor.com micropulsetech.com es2.com.

October 2013 • 9

10 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

d Rid ge R

65 d

1561 Montgomery Highway 822-3600 hoovertacticalfirearms.com Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

R Lorna

Hoover Tactical Firearms

Read past Business Spotlights at HooverSun.com

Ro ck y

Business Spotlight

By KATIE TURPEN As Gene Smith and Thomas “Whit” Wright sit inside the member lounge of their 52,000-square-foot grocery store turned shooting range, they find it hard to believe where they are today. “We were just avid gun collectors,” Smith said. “This was a hobby that got out of control.” Smith and Thomas are owners of Hoover Tactical Firearms, located on Montgomery Highway in the former Bruno’s building. The business began in 2009 right across the street as a neighborhood gun store simply hoping for local recognition through advertisement. They got it, and their business expanded quickly. “We started looking down the road at what was good for the company and the community,” Smith said. “We wanted a handgun range. We knew if we didn’t do it, somebody else would.” In 2011, the store opened at its current location and expanded its business into a full retail shop, 12 pistol lanes, eight rifle lanes and two classrooms, where a variety of training and team-building events are held. Smith said law enforcement agencies often come to train using a specialized video simulator, and classes for women and children are available. “We pride ourselves on education,” Wright said. “We have classes that range from free ones for children to full-blown handgun safety.” Wright says that while the business already has the largest indoor training room in the Southeast, they are still looking to expand to more shooting lanes. In addition, their large

Owners Gene Smith and Thomas “Whit’ Wright stand with staff inside Hoover Tactical Firearms’ large retail area.

retail shop in the front of the business offers clothing, firearms, firearm accessories, gun rental and even gun customization. Gunsmiths customize the guns in the back of the store and use leftover Bruno’s equipment to bake on the paint. Being housed in a former grocery store also made a deli possible. Cubby’s Corner Deli, owned and operated by former police officer “Cubby” Manzella, serves hot dogs, hamburgers and sandwiches. Specials throughout the week, like Sloppy Joe Fridays, have attracted regulars, and for brave customers there are dining options such as the

Diablo, Widow Maker and Heart Attack. “Bruno’s left all their deli equipment, and Cubby had always wanted to open a restaurant,” Smith said. “It’s like a mini ‘Cheers’. He has the same people that come back every week and every evening.” Smith and Wright are thankful for their Hoover community, but they also enjoy greeting out-of-town customers. “We’ve had people as far as Demopolis, Cullman and Clanton come by,” Wright said. “We’ve also had people stop by on their way to

the beach just because they’ve heard about us and want to check us out.” Additionally, the shop has attracted famous figures, including former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, as well as sports icons from the New Orleans Saints and The University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams. Both owners are happy to share their gun knowledge with anyone who makes time for a visit. “You never know who’s going to walk through that door,” Smith said.

October 2013 • 11

HooverSun.com

Restaurant Showcase

Mr. Chen’s

Read past Restaurant Showcases at HooverSun.com

65 R Lorna d

Authentic Chinese Cooking

1917 Hoover Court 824-8283 mrchenschinesecooking.com Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

By INTISAR SERAAJ-SABREE Sherry Chen has received complaints not about her food but other Chinese restaurants. When they taste Mr. Chen’s authentic Chinese and Taiwanese food, they notice the freshness of the ingredients, she said. And for that, they come back. With the help of local vegetables and frequently changed vegetable oil, the eatery tries to produce fresh-tasting and healthy dishes. “People are more concerned about health issues,” said Chen, manager and co-owner of the U.S. 31 restaurant. By combining the spicy Chinese Szechuan cooking style with the light and sweet Taiwanese cooking style, the restaurant’s chefs create lighter and less fatty dishes, decreasing the levels of cholesterol. This combination of traditional cooking styles creates a flavor similar to the food in parts of southern China. Customers appreciate this authenticity, especially those who have tasted authentic Chinese food before, Chen said. With their cuisine, her husband’s yearnings to be back in China lessen. “Before this restaurant, every summer [my husband] went back to China and he always missed the Chinese food,” Chen said. “But now [that] we have Mr. Chen’s here, he’s not getting that homesick.” It was home that the co-owner and previous owner of the Red Pearl Restaurant on Green Springs Highway, Wlung Chen, had in mind when he opened the restaurant in 2009. He

Mr. Chen’s dishes incorporate fresh vegetables in a combination of Chinese Szechuan and Taiwanese cooking styles.

Mr. Chen’s co-owner Sherry Chen is a part of the team that serves up authentic ﬂavors in Hoover Court. Photos by Intisar Seraaj-Sabree.

saw the need for authentic Chinese food in Hoover and wanted to introduce traditional recipes to locals. Due to his time as a chef at The Summer Palace in Beijing, Wlung was extensively acquainted with traditional Chinese dishes and cooking styles. Now authentic Chinese food like shredded beef bean curd with cilantro, whole flounder in

inc.

hot bean sauce and sautéed sweat pea leaves is within reach in the area. Other best-selling dishes include pan fried or steamed dumplings, boiled fish in hot oil, eggplant with basil pork, and stir fried pork with squid. Mr. Chen’s also has locations in Jackson, Miss. and Tuscaloosa, Ala. In December, a fourth location will open in Montgomery, Ala.,

Sherry said. Wlung and Jianxin Zhu, the third co-owner, will continue put their focus into strengthening each location by providing fresh, healthy and authentic Chinese food for customers. “I’m really happy when customers come here, and after they eat [their] food they are very satisfied,” Sherry said. “That’s what I like to hear.”

• Patios & Walls • Outdoor Kitchens • Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire pits • Arbors and Pergolas

“Your rock and stone experts”

View hundreds of additional photos of our past work on our website:

www.OutdoorLivingAreas.net

402-2110 Alabama G C L #43737

12 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Community

Taste of Hoover returns to Aldridge Gardens By KATIE TURPEN

Taste of Hoover

Oct. 10 • 5-8 p.m. Aldridge Gardens facebook.com/tasteofhoover

On Thursday, Oct. 10 from 5-8 p.m., Aldridge Gardens and the Hoover Sun will host the second annual Taste of Hoover. This special culinary event will give guests the opportunity to sample food from a variety of Hoover’s finest restaurants. This year’s featured restaurants include The Whole Scoop, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, Full Moon BBQ, Creekside Tavern, Earth Fare, Fresh Art Café, Southern Legacy BBQ & Brew, The Melting Pot and Beef O’Brady’s. Last year’s Taste of Hoover featured 20 restaurants and drew a crowd of 1,500 people. This year’s event is expected to be even bigger. Tickets are $15 for Aldridge Gardens members and $30 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit aldridgegardens.com. Aldridge Gardens is located at 3530 Lorna Road.

Charity card offers 20 percent off purchases from Hoover retailers The Junior League of Birmingham, local retailers and restaurants are partnering to bring back the Shop Save & Share charity shopping event. Cardholders can receive a 20 percent discount at more than 500 retailers and restaurants throughout the Birmingham area. Participating Hoover merchants include: Alanna Rose Photography, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Ashley Mac’s, Boot at Preserve Village, Brava Rotisserie Grill, The Cajun Cleaver, Calico Corners/ Calico Home, Edible Arrangements, Extreme Fit Boot Camps,

Iron Tribe Fitness 150, Iron Tribe Fitness Hoover, Isabelle’s, Jersey Mike’s Subs, La Dolce Vita, Mommy and Me Time Fitness, On A Shoestring Antiques, Organic Harvest, Party City, Salvatore’s Pizza & Pasta, Schaeffer Eye Center, Shipley Do-nuts, Silver Lining Consignment Boutique, Sports Trucks, Then Again Consignment Boutique, Thompson’s Frame Factory, Tidmore Flags, Turquoise, Villaggio, The Whole Scoop and Yoe Xpress. The $40 purchase of a Shop Save & Share card is a donation to the Junior League of Birmingham that offers card holders savings

from Oct. 23-Nov.3. Funds raised support the JLB’s community projects that address some of Birmingham’s most critical issues, including literacy, domestic violence prevention, health education, and life skills for families in transition. Visit jlbonline.com or shopsaveshare.net to purchase your Shop Save & Share card and to review a complete listing of participating merchants and sponsors. -Submitted by Junior League of Birmingham

October 2013 • 13

HooverSun.com

Former Miss Alabama talks to Hoover Belles

Front row: Caroline Steele, Katie Hatch. Back row: Sydney James, Madison Minyard, Reed Williams.

Miss Alabama 1997 Beth Stomps Feller spoke recently at the annual Back to School Hoover Belle Ice Cream Social. She shared a message of responsibility, commitment and dedication to one’s self and a group through the story of her journey to become Miss Alabama. Her personal emphasis on volunteerism and community service has continued as an adult. She encouraged the Belles to consider their years of community service as a commitment

that will continue beyond high school and sang “Love Changes Everything” from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Aspects of Love. The Hoover Belles are high school juniors and seniors selected to serve as hostesses for the City of Hoover. Hoover Belle committee chairman Laura Boyd and members Jennie Alley, Sandra Barnett, Pam Harris, Cathy Head, Jan Pruitt and Kay Witt were present at the event in addition to the Belles.

14 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Cultural cornerstone Hoover Public Library celebrates 30 years

Hoover Public Library Celebrates 30th Anniversary Saturday, Oct. 6, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Hoover Library Plaza • hooverlibrary.org

By KATIE TURPEN Driving down U.S. 31 in Hoover, it is hard to miss the glass-front structure that sprawls across a picturesque hillside. The Hoover Public Library, now a community and cultural hub of the South, began as a simple petition 30 years ago. In July 1982, a group of Hoover citizens who eventually became the Friends of the Hoover Library circulated a petition for a library. It soon had thousands of signatures. By April of the following year, a spot had been chosen for the library at River Oaks Village on Lorna Road. Linda Andrews was working at the Eastwood Mall Branch of the Birmingham Public Library at the time and recalls the exhilaration she felt when asked to be the director of the new Hoover location. “It was very appealing to me to be able to start a library in a small community,” Andrews said. “At that time, Hoover seemed like such a far-off suburb. We wanted to give the community a taste of what was out there.” Andrews and her team of three employees purchased and prepared more than 8,000 books and materials, and on Oct. 8, 1983, the Hoover library held a grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony performed by Mayor Frank Skinner. “We were just serving the community the best we could,” Andrews said. “We wanted to be respectful and welcoming.”

(above) The Hoover Public Library opened on Oct. 8, 1983, at River Oaks Village with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Mayor Skinner. (right) Linda Andrews has been the director of the Hoover Public Library since it opened its doors to the public in 1983.

In the first few years, the library began to receive funding and support from the city government and local civic organizations. Andrews has vivid memories of those early years. She recalls bussing citizens from Hoover to downtown to view art galleries, which supported her vision that a library should be more than just a warehouse of reading materials. “I’ve always thought library programs should be more than just books,” Andrews said. “It’s good for people to be exposed to all sorts of cultural experiences.” In November of 1985, the library reopened on the second floor of the Hoover Municipal Complex, which was more than double the space at River Oaks Village. Andrews

remembers how the Alabama Symphony Orchestra performed to a small crowd in the parking lot of the complex that April. There was no doubt the library was becoming a popular destination. Authors such as E.L. Konigsburg, Steven Kellogg, and S.E. Hinton entertained children. In 1990 circulation increased to the fourth largest in the state. In 1992, the Hoover Public library hit a milestone when it opened its permanent state-of-the-art facility. The 45,000-square-foot building features innovative additions such as the Library Theatre, which has become a cultural destination in the South and welcomes groups such as the Alabama Ballet. Also that

year, the library began the annual tradition of Southern Voices, a threeday conference exploring Southern culture through contemporary arts. “We were growing up with the Hoover community,” Andrews said. “When you’re helping people, you feel good. We have a lot of fun.” February 2001 marked a new stage in the library’s evolution with a total renovation and construction project. Andrews explained the meaning behind the library’s current all glass front entrance. “The whole front of the library is glass to represent all access and no barriers,” she said. “We had over 700,000 people come in the library last year.” Today the 85,000-square-foot

facility is thriving with programs, events and gathering spaces for the whole community. Andrews recognizes that while people come to the library for independent study, they are choosing to be surrounded by others. “Everyone is pursuing their own mission, but it’s very important to feel connected,” Andrews said. Andrew also notes how the growth of the Hoover library is reflected in her personal journey through the years. “When I started out, I had never supervised more than eight people. Now, I supervise 100.” Andrews said. “You grow with the job.” To commemorate the 30-year anniversary, the library is planning to have a speaker and refreshments on the Library Plaza. Additionally, archival photos will be displayed throughout the facility along with the paintings of featured artist Darrell Ezekiel. To further the celebration, the Library Plaza Café, Coffee-ology, will have a cake. Andrews always hears that technology will erase the need for libraries. She disregards this idea, standing firmly by the same creative vision she had when her journey began 30 years ago. “It’s a place where people can come together and enjoy a book and the cultural arts,” Andrews said. “Libraries will survive. We just have to adjust and be innovative and embrace the future.”

October 2013 • 15

HooverSun.com

Couple’s fun, spooky trail keeps trick-or-treaters coming back for more By REBECCA WALDEN Shortly after newlyweds Rhonna and Jonathan Phillips settled into their first home in Bluff Park in 1995, the trails surrounding their lot sparked an idea. “At that time, there seemed to be this growing momentum of negativity around Halloween,” Rhonna Phillips said. “People started getting paranoid and suspicious, and I saw more and more places moving away from trick-or-treating in the traditional sense. The day was boiling down to these trunk-or-treat events, which are great, but you lose that old fashioned appeal of going to your neighbors.” In response – and as a unique way to get acquainted with the neighborhood they still call home almost two decades later – the Phillips devised their Halloween Trick or Treat Trail. A modest affair, according to Phillips, the 1995 event was characterized by little more than a sign in their yard, a few luminaries along the property’s main 500foot trail, and a campfire at the end where she and Jonathan handed out candy. Phillips said that their first year garnered a great response from curious neighbors and has led, through year over year word-of-mouth promotion, to nearly 300 trail visitors. As neighborhood interest has grown, so have standards for the trail itself. “For about 15 years, several friends of ours have gotten involved and lent their creative talents,” she said, describing themes so elaborate – think extra-terrestrial crash site, complete with animatronics, fog machines and video projection – that the Phillips make an annual tradition out of pillaging day-of and day-after Halloween store sales to keep their stockpile fresh and plentiful. What should visitors look for on this year’s trail? There will be many new additions,

Rhonna and Jonathan Phillips host a Halloween trail at their Bluff Park home each year.

including the Phillips’ recently acquired lifesized Hannibal Lecter. “That thing freaks me out,” she said. “I don’t even like to see it in the garage.” Several who visited the trail as children have since come back to help stage and operate the the site. They range from tweens to late teens and add energy to the trail, running around in Zentai suits and re-creating the fun others created for them as youngsters. “Several years ago, we had a mom stop by our house mid-afternoon on Halloween to ask if her 7-year-old could come look around at the setup in the daylight,” Phillips said. “He’d heard about us and wanted to come but was scared, and she wanted to show him it was OK.

He came that night and was so into it and so excited that he wanted to be a part of it. Four years later, he still shows up, and now he helps us to man the trail.” Phillips said it’s not uncommon for visitors to become so entranced by the trail’s themes and entertainment that what used to be the main event, filling up candy sacks to bursting, is often forgotten. Not to worry, though, trick-ortreaters, there will be plenty of candy, and much adventure, for those curious to check it out. Editor’s Note: In the tradition of the trail’s history, location information is only via street sign in the Bluff Park neighborhood and/or word of mouth. If you can find it, prepare for fun that begins at dusk on Halloween night.

16 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Popping corks for a good cause Uncorked! on the Green community festival to beneﬁt breast cancer research By INTISAR SERAAJ-SABREE

Uncorked! on the Green

This month you can enjoy food and drinks on the Green in Ross Bridge — for free. Uncorked! on the Green will hold its 7th annual free outdoor food and drink festival on Saturday, Oct. 12. From noon-5 p.m., attendees will be given access to free samples of craft beer provided by Birmingham Budweiser, as well as wine and food samples from local restaurants. Several local eateries will participate, including Firebirds, Hoover Country Club, Full Moon, Chris Z’s, La Dolce Vita and The Whole Scoop. Uncorked! on the Green isn’t just about food and drink, though. It also highlights local artists and regional bands. “You might be selling art right next to a wine booth,” said Audrey Alverson-Stowe, president and owner of festival host Classic Events, Inc. “But you wouldn’t care because the wine booth draws crowds.” Last year more than 7,000 people were in attendance at the festival, and it has become a high priority for people in the area. One family even rescheduled their beach vacation because they could not tolerate the thought of missing the event, Stowe noted. Each booth will feature experts who can discuss the products with guests. Along with sponsors’ free goodies, attendees can register to win prize giveaways, including a one-night stay and breakfast for two at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa. “[The festival is] a huge success for the community; that’s the goal,” Stowe said. Stowe said they chose Ross Bridge for a location because of its prestige. In 2010, the National Association of Home Builders awarded the community with the “Best Community in American Living” award. With a nationally recognized community venue booked, Stowe also wanted to make

Saturday, Oct. 12 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Green at Ross Bridge Arts & Music: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wine Tasting: noon-2:30 p.m. Local Flavor Food Tasting: 2-4 p.m. Beer Tasting: 2:30-5 p.m.

Magic City Face Paint will offer face painting in the children’s zone, along with featured arts and crafts and bounce houses.

sure the event provided a family-friendly atmosphere. A children’s zone will feature activities such as arts and crafts, face painting and bounce houses. With intent to keep everything local, Stowe chose to donate proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA), which directly donates to The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Attendees can register for a breast cancer car tag or purchase breast cancer products at the event. “Every dollar [the BCRFA] raises stays right here in Alabama,” Stowe said. For a list of the anticipated selection of wines and beers, visit uncorkedonthegreen.com. For more, call 951-0412.

October 2013 • 17

HooverSun.com

Moss Rock Festival next month Moss Rock Festival Saturday, Nov. 2 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 1-4 p.m. The Preserve mossrockfestival.com

By KATIE TURPEN Eight years ago, Hoover artist Craig Skowronek had a revelation. He discovered building decks was a reflection of a deeper talent, one that could pull him from the depths of personal struggle. “I just discovered there was an artist inside of me,” Skowronek said. “Although, it took me awhile to feel comfortable being called that.” Today, Skowronek uses 25 different types of hardwood to build unique furniture and gifts that he sells at his shop, Lula Woodworks, in Hoover. Skowronek will be one of the many artists displaying work at the Sixth Annual Moss Rock Festival at the Preserve. Skowronek enjoys transforming ordinary items such as cutting boards and tables into distinctive yet functional pieces of art. He looks forward to showcasing his work at this year’s festival, which he describes as well orchestrated and representative of a beautiful community. “Homeowners let us invade their neighborhood and don’t complain,” Skowronek said. “The houses are gorgeous. Every aspect is just wonderful.” Last year, the Moss Rock Festival welcomed 15,000 visitors. Held in the first week of November, the festival is a unique mix of vendors with a focus on art, design and environment. Art includes painting, ink, woodworking, jewelry, metalwork and photography. Greenliving vendors showcase everything from the opportunity for a total green home makeover to

fuel-efficient cars. The event also features live music, engaging installations, geocaching, hiking opportunities and a cake expo. It all takes place amid the setting of the 250-acre Moss Rock Preserve, which borders the Preserve community. “It’s great to see my neighbors in such a leisurely context,” Hoover artist Anthony Tavis said. “It’s such an eclectic mix.” For three years, Tavis has lived in Hoover right down the street from the festival. He paints original folk art made from salvaged and recycled materials. His website reads, “go to California for the wine, Vermont for the maple syrup and Alabama for the folk art.” His paintings, which are inspired by cultural and musical themes, will be displayed at this year’s festival for the second year in a row. “I like to look at different architecture,” Tavis said. “I try to capture the spirit of a place.” Tavis is originally from Rhode Island but now feels comfortable calling himself an Alabamian, boasting that he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s a feeling that is particularly strong during the festival. “I remember last year I was sitting on a trolley coming into the festival and just started thinking, ‘Wow this really is a nice community,’” Tavis said. “We have such great resources. It gave me a sense of pride.” The festival is free to the public. Parking is available at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, where shuttles will take visitors through the Preserve neighborhood to the event.

18 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Calling all animal lovers 2013 WOOFstock offers family fun for furry friends and their owners By KATIE TURPEN This month, bring your furry friend or just a light jacket and a love of animals to Veterans Park for the pet extravaganza of the season, WOOFstock 2013. The event, which is free to the public, will feature the Bama Air Dogs, dog races, dog contests, adoptions, micro-chipping, a Kid’s Fun Zone and a variety of pet and food vendors. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” Dee Nance of Hoover Parks and Recreation said. An animal lover’s event would not be complete without acrobatic canines. The Bama Air Dogs will perform Frisbee routines to music throughout the day. Weenie Dog Races will allow people to register their dog for a racecourse in which all participants receive a T-shirt and the winner receives a trophy. Dog contests include categories such as “Looks Most Like Owner, “Smallest” and “Ugliest” pet. A variety of vendors will be set up throughout the park offering everything from ice cream to pet-care products. Nance encourages anyone who is interested to join the event, which usually draws a large crowd and helps a reputable cause. “Vendors can be anything or anybody,” Nance said. “All the funds will go to petrelated rescues.” For the kids, the event features a Kid’s Zone that includes games, inflatables and face painting. Young Rembrandts, a community after-school program that teaches art to children, will be there as well. In addition to entertainment and food, community members will have the opportunity to adopt a new pet and even the chance to bring the pet home that same day. “There will be lots of rescue organizations at the event. Some of them will actually adopt on site,” Nance said. “Those organizations can

WOOF stock

October 12 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Veterans Park Hooveral.org

also set up arrangements and home visits.” Pet owners will be able to have their pets microchipped, a form of technology that helps track a missing pet. Nance said pet owners should take advantage of this opportunity. “There will be micro-chipping for $25,” Nance said. “Micro-chipping normally runs for $50 or $60 so this is a big deal.” The event, sponsored by Hoover Parks and Recreation, began in 1999 as simply a day in the park for pet lovers but has now turned into a treasured family event for the entire community. “It’s gotten better every year,” Nance said. “I encourage people to just come out, visit the vendors and listen to the music.” Parking will be available at Spain Park High School with complimentary shuttles running directly to the park. For more information on WOOFstock, contact Dee Nance at nanced@ ci.hoover.al.us.

October 2013 • 19

HooverSun.com

School House Gwin teacher awarded Conservation Educator of the Year by AWF

Spain Park senior advocates for CF

AWF President Charles V. Welden III, Horace Horn of PowerSouth Energy, Gov. Robert Bentley, and Matt Bowden of Alabama Power Company present the award to Traci Knight Ingleright.

Allison Hanby and Congressman Spencer Bachus.

Traci Knight Ingleright, an enrichment teacher at Gwin Elementary School, was recently awarded the Conservation Educator of the Year Award at the 2013 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. Gov. Robert Bentley provided opening remarks and assisted with the presentation of the awards at the event. The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 30 years, the AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

Allison Hanby, a senior at Spain Park High School, was selected to go to Washington, D.C., as a teen advocate for cystic fibrosis this summer. She met with elected officials to raise awareness about CF. When meeting with congressmen, she shared the story of Rachel Griffin, a Birmingham resident who is fighting CF and has participated in many drug trials at UAB and Children’s of Alabama. Allison also attended Girls State at The University of Alabama and the YMCA Conference of National Affairs in North Carolina this summer. In addition, she was a member of the Spain Park High School law team that participated in the YMCA National Judicial Competition in Chicago.

During her career, Ingleright has served on the Alabama Environmental Literacy Plan Task Force and as a board member of the Environmental Education Association of Alabama and the Governor’s Task Force for Environmental Literacy in Alabama. She is a life member of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and a member of Ben Knight Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, named in honor of her father. In 2008, Gwin achieved Certified Alabama Outdoor Classroom Status, and this year it received the Project Learning Tree Green School Award, the National Wildlife Federation Green Flag Award and the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award. Gwin was the first school in the nation to receive all of these awards.

20 â&#x20AC;˘ October 2013

Hoover Sun

Sports

Hoover Buccaneers quarterback Jack Hutcheson, left, and Spain Park quarterback Mickey Forrest were on fire through the first three weeks of the season. Hoover photo courtesy of Kevin Brooks / Hoover City Schools. Spain Park photo courtesy of Ted Melton / actionsportspix. smugmug.com.

Hoover Buccaneers

Spain Park Jaguars

Remaining schedule

Sept. 27: Vestavia Hills Oct. 4: Bessemer City Oct. 11: Hillcrest Oct. 18: @ Minor (Adamsville) Oct. 25: Tuscaloosa County Oct. 31: @ Opelika

Sept. 27: @ Lee (Montgomery) Oct. 4: Thompson Oct. 11: @ Oak Mountain Oct. 18: Stanhope Elmore Oct. 25: @ Pelham Nov. 1: @ Oxford

Follow your team throughout October and into the playoffs at hooversun.com.

October 2013 • 21

HooverSun.com

Track to track

Bucs complete 51-mile run from Tuscaloosa to Hoover High

By REBECCA WALDEN If you think driving to Tuscaloosa is onerous, try telling that to the 39 high school students who recently ran that distance — all 51 miles of it. The feat was conceptualized by Hoover cross-country and track coach Devon Hind. He envisioned a training activity that would help motivate his team and also prepare them for this fall’s season. “We had done an 18-hour relay to kick off last season, and Coach knew he needed to raise the bar this year,” said assistant cross-country and track coach Lori McCombs. “He called me up toward the end of the 2012-13 school year and said, ‘This wild idea came to me that we can run from track to track.’” And on Aug. 7 and 8, that’s exactly what they did. At a parents’ meeting just prior to summer break, Hind shared his plan, along with a training regimen for interested participants where training dos and don’ts were clearly identified. Hind cleared logistical hurdles by first driving the course to check the feasibility of this idea and then talking with a police officer about the effort. With that permission secured, the challenge of assessing athlete stamina came. “At five different times throughout the summer, we hosted qualifying events where the students had to meet different time attempts,” said McCombs. “If they were as much as one second over the time limit, they were unable to participate.” Of the 80-member team, 39

After completing a five-event summer qualifier, the Hoover Bucs cross-country team received the green light from coach Devon Hind to embark on an ambitious 51-mile training run.

Thirty-five members of the Bucs crosscountry team completed a twoday, 51-mile run from Tuscaloosa to Hoover. Photo courtesy of assistant coach Lori McCombs.

qualified. “This is the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” said junior and second-year cross-country team member Caitlin Camper. Fellow junior Anna Gerard, now entering her third year on the team,

agreed: “As hard and challenging as the run was, it was the greatest thing I — and the whole team — ever did.” McCombs said she was game for the challenge, until Hind talked her into biking the distance. “Coach quickly reminded me that

we are getting old,” she said, laughing. “He convinced me the consequences of it would be too much, so I accompanied the kids vis bicycle instead.” The group split up their adventure over the course of two days, with the first day taking them from Tuscaloosa

to nearly Bessemer. First-year runners were capped at 14 miles, while seasoned team members were permitted to complete 31 miles — a marathon and then some. Fueled by frequent stops for Gatorade and graham crackers, participants were rewarded for that first day with a trip to Splash Adventure Water Park. After an overnighter at the local Hampton Inn, runners were back on the bus early that morning for round two. Coach Hind fired them up with a motivational speech, and with that, they hit the asphalt for the remaining 20 miles of their journey. “That first day, there was a lot of chatter amongst the kids,” said McCombs, describing the mixture of nerves and exhilaration that characterized the first leg of their long-distance feat. “But on that second day, they were stoic. They would get their snacks, keep their heads down and stay focused.” If the kids were feeling weary, passersby and local police gave them plenty of pep. “We had police officers get on their loudspeakers, calling out encouraging affirmations to the kids, and plenty of drivers would take the nearest exit, loop back around and ask us what we were doing. Folks were just in awe,” she said, including herself. “It was such an uncommon experience; you thank God that you got to watch every moment. People give this generation a hard time, but let me tell you, these are some of the most mentally and physically tough kids I have ever seen.”

22 • October 2013

Tips from the pros

Hoover Sun

How to increase storage in tight spaces

By Sarah Haynie California Closet Company 709 3rd Ave. N. 581-1677 californiaclosets.com Fall is a great time to reorganize your closet, and it is another way to avoid the chilly outside air. While everyone else waits until spring to clean, half of your work could be done by the time the last frost melts. Bring in your autumn colors from the attic, lint roll your sweaters and dust off your boots. Before you get too excited about the numerous possibilities for new outfit combinations, invest in cedar chips or lavender scented items such as sprays, soaps or sachets to avoid moths. After you have moth-proofed your wardrobe, decide what can stay and what can be thrown or given away. If there is an untreatable stain, a hole that cannot be camouflaged or a tear that cannot be mended, throw it away. If it is something you plan on wearing after you have lost a couple of pounds, is too large or is not a good length anymore, give it away. Then choose what organization system best fits you and your needs. Try placing all your suits together, all black clothing items and all dressy attire together. For watches or bracelets, use separate paper towel stand to organize thin and chunky wrist accessories. And try using shelf dividers or bookends to keep floppy purse styles upright after stuffing them with old t-shirts or purse pillows. Whether based on function, color or style, items are easier to find when they are in a designated area.

ozy, quaint homes attract many home buyers and renters. Be it a cottage-style house or a studio apartment, smaller living spaces often involve getting creative with storage. People live in a smaller homes for a variety of reasons. Some choose to live in a smaller home so they can be right in the thick of things in a city or urban center. Others scale back on living space in an effort to save money. But storage space in small quarters is often at a premium, and thinking creatively is a necessity to keep the home tidy and items out of view. Rainy or chilly days are the perfect times to tackle indoor organization projects. When the outdoors aren’t beckoning, you can devote your attention to addressing storage issues in your home. To begin, take inventory of what you have, going through your possessions and determining what can stay and what can go. Part with anything you haven’t used in quite some time. The next step is to sort items and get organized. Then you can find a place for everything. For example, if you have a dozen bath towels but only one sauce pot, you will need to find more room for linens than kitchen cookware. You may need to borrow space from one area of the home to give to another area. The following are some additional tips to increase space in an otherwise cramped home. Add shelves. Increase cabinet and closet space by adding shelves into them. This may double or even triple the amount of usable space, especially if you customize the shelving to fit storage containers you use to store everything from shoes to craft items.

Opt for dual-purpose furniture. Benches with lids that lift up and sofas that convert into guest beds are just a few of the many ways you can keep a small home neat and increase storage space. An ottoman is a great place to store extra blankets and linens, while a trunk or crate with a sturdy top can be used in lieu of a traditional coffee table to keep books or board games. Think vertically. When floor space is at a premium, you may need to look up for storage. Frequently used pots and pans can be hung from a decorative rack in your kitchen. Use magnets on jars to store a spice rack on the wall near the stove. Racks above cabinets or on doors can be used to store everything from shoes to jewelry to toiletries. Shelving in children’s rooms can store lesser used toys away from the floor. Empty

walls are valuable real estate in a small home, and tall bookshelves can house a number of different things. Take advantage of oddly shaped crevices. If you have space under a staircase or a spot by a dormer or in an attic eave, use the space to store items. You may need to get creative, such as adding a door and small closet into the staircase, but such spaces make practical storage areas and add character to a home. Make use of space beneath your bed. There likely is ample room to store more things than just dust bunnies beneath your bed. A bed frame with built-in drawers is the perfect place to keep bed linens and out-of-season clothes. Beds can be raised on blocks to create more space underneath for storing rolling plastic containers and even seldom-used suitcases.

October 2013 • 23

HooverSun.com

Winterizing 101

How to prepare your yard for winter

hanging seasons can be tough on a lawn. Always exposed to the elements, lawns can fare especially poorly upon the arrival of winter, a season known for its harsh and unforgiving weather. Even the most perfectly manicured lawn can suffer at the hands of winter weather, causing homeowners to sit idly by and hope spring arrives that much sooner. But as punishing as winter weather can be on a lawn, homeowners are not without recourse. Much like homeowners can take steps to help their lawns survive sizzling summer heat waves during the warmer months of the year, they also can take steps to help their lawns make it through the often stormy weather synonymous with winter. Don’t procrastinate. Putting off the process of winterizing a lawn can put that lawn in jeopardy. Lawns will turn dormant the closer you get to winter, and they may reject the nutrients found in fertilizer as a result. Those nutrients will prove valuable once spring weather returns, so start the winterization process in early fall so the lawn has sufficient time to absorb nutrients and strengthen itself for the seasons to come. Treat trouble spots. Summer can be even harder on a lawn than winter, especially for those lawns located in regions where heat waves and drought are common. In such instances, certain spots on the lawn seem to be hit harder than others, and those spots should get special attention when winterizing the lawn.

Removing debris, including dead leaves, from a lawn before the arrival of winter weather can help prevent suffocation.

Check the soil’s pH levels before fertilizing or applying any treatments. Such a test will reveal which spots need the most attention, and treating trouble spots now will make spring lawn care that much easier. Aerate the property. Aerating can help a lawn recover after a long summer and help it survive the potentially harsh months that lie ahead. Aerating, which involves puncturing the soil or removing cores of soil from the ground, can restore a lawn to health by improving its drainage and allowing

more water and air to reach the roots of the grass. Aerating also makes it easier for nutrients to penetrate the soil, which encourages a healthier lawn over the long haul. Aerators can be purchased or rented, but homeowners uncomfortable with the process may want to enlist a professional to tackle the job. Parents of small children who spend lots of time in the yard may need to aerate their lawn more than most, as heavy lawn traffic compresses the soil, a potentially harmful process that can be reversed via aeration. Take steps to strengthen the roots. Aerating promotes stronger roots, but homeowners might also want to find a winterizing product with potassium and phosphorous, both of which can strengthen roots. Different types of lawns will respond differently to certain winterizers, so discuss your options with a lawn care professional who can help you find the right fit for your property. Remove debris from the lawn. Debris left on a lawn over the winter can prove very harmful. Piles of debris left scattered around a lawn can suffocate the blades of grass, leading to long-term damage and a potentially unsightly lawn come the spring. In addition, piles of debris might make good homes for organisms that can damage the lawn. As fall moves into winter, periodically remove all debris, including leaves and branches fallen from trees.

Tips from the pros

By Michael Miller Mind Blowing Mulch mindblowingmulch.com 777-1471 Fall days are the perfect time to prepare your landscape for winter. As most things go dormant in winter, early fall is the best time to restore any damages summer may have caused your lawn or garden. There are four essential steps to preparing your lawn for winter. First, rake leaves and remove debris, including branches and dead plants, to avoid dry and dead spots that create uneven growth in the spring. Next, open up the soil and allow for water and air to have more direct access to roots. This permits the flow of nutrients to penetrate the soil for long-lasting results. Also, find a good “winterizer” that contains the same ingredients as lawn food, particularly one with less nitrogen and more potassium and phosphorous to strengthen roots. Lastly, get in the habit of pulling weeds. Don’t forget to prepare the trees and shrubbery, too. With only four steps, your tree and shrubbery will be safe until spring. Not including the period from mid-summer to early fall, remember to properly water trees and shrubs. Beginning in mid-fall, ensure trees and shrubs receive one inch of water each week until the first frost. Also, prune all trees, and trim back hedge growth and bushes. Then, add 3-4 inches of hardwood mulch to reduce soil moisture loss and to insulate the root system from fluctuating temperatures. Caring for your yard is a year-round process, and winter is no exception. Properly preparing your yard for winter will prevent damage and ensure it enters the following spring healthy and ready to flourish.

24 • October 2013

Tips

from the pros

By Glen Jacobson Swimming Pool Services, LLC 400 Doug Baker Blvd. Suite 100 601-3385 Closing a pool for the winter can be just as intricate as keeping a pool open year-round. But with these tips, you can make closing your pool a quick doit-yourself project. This method will keep you from draining the pool below the skimmer, which is not good for vinyl or plaster pools. First, go to a pool store and find professional help in choosing the right products and materials to properly close your pool. Then, balance the water chemistry, and add a dose of algaecide and stain control as preventative maintenance. Make sure to turn the power off on all equipment, remove timer clips and assure that the pumps cannot be turned on. Also, remove drain plugs and gauges, and loosen tops on all pumps, filters and chlorinators. Next, blow out all the water from the return and suction lines with compressed air. Skimmer lines should be plugged with skim-insures or gizmos to keep the skimmer from cracking if the water freezes. The returns should be plugged, and if possible, the main drain valve should be closed with air in it. Water left in the main drain should be below the frost line. After this, remove handrails, ladders and cover holes with duct tape to keep debris out. Finally, install a cover of choice and a cover pump, depending on the cover you choose. Be cautious of using a tarp. If a child or animal falls onto a tarp, they can be swallowed and dragged into the water, possibly drowning. Consider a properly installed safety cover. The cost is higher, but it is well worth the peace of mind.

Hoover Sun

How to winterize your pool H

omeowners with pools who live in regions where winter can be harsh know they must eventually prepare their pools for the colder seasons ahead. People who live in climates not conducive to year-round outdoor swimming often find that the cooler weather of autumn makes this season the perfect time to winterize their pools. Gather all of the necessary equipment. To winterize your pool, you will need the pool cover, drain plugs, certain chemicals, and cleaning equipment. Have all of the tools you will need nearby so you will not be scrambling for items once you start working. Check the chemical levels in the pool. Check the pool’s chemical levels so you can create a sterile environment that won’t be overtaken by microorganisms in the water during the offseason. Many pool experts recommended ensuring the pH is at the appropriate level (7.4 - 7.8), checking the alkalinity of the water to ensure it is between 80 and 120 ppm, as well as verifying the calcium hardness is at the right level. Creating the right water environment reduces the risk that any problems will develop over the winter. Bring up the pool chlorine to shock level. Bringing the chlorine to shock level means the pool will have a higher amount of chlorine, which is necessary to kill off any remaining algae or microorganisms in the water. Keep the water filtering and at this elevated chlorine level for a few days prior to closing the pool to ensure

that there will be no algae blooms once the cover is in place and you cannot monitor the water. Drain some of the water. Depending on the type of cover you are using, and whether or not you will be using plugs to block any ports into and out of your pool, you may need to drain several inches of water to ensure that it falls below filter skimmer baskets and return jets. All water should be forced out from any hoses and internal components of the pool so that the water will not freeze and cause damage. Adhere to manufacturers’ instructions on winterizing the filter. Some filters may need to be completely drained and cleaned. Some people prefer to remove the filter pump, gaskets and hoses and

store everything in their garages for the winter. It may be possible to move smaller filters indoors. If not, covering the filter with a large, black garbage bag may protect it further from the weather. Be sure to turn off the electricity to the filter outlet at the breaker for the season. Take steps to inhibit algae growth. If desired, put a polyquat algaecide into the water and distribute it evenly to further inhibit algae growth. Install the cover per the manufacturer’s instructions and anchor it into place. It is a good idea to place a leaf net over the cover to catch any leaves as they fall so that they can easily be removed and not contribute to swampy conditions on the top of the pool cover over time.

October 2013 • 25

HooverSun.com

Budget-friendly outdoor renovation ideas

omeowners are increasingly extending their living spaces outside the walls of their homes. Expansive and intricate stonework patios and decked-out outdoor kitchens are the kind of additions many homeowners dream of. Those with unlimited budgets can enjoy just about any look they desire, but many homeowners may not have the money to go all the way with their outdoor living spaces.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to create budget-friendly spaces that are functional, fun and eye catching. Decks and patios are popular gathering spots outside a home, and homeowners have numerous inexpensive options at their disposal when choosing patio materials. And those who can do their own labor when installing a patio can save a substantial amount of money. Instead of higher-

priced composite or resin decks, homeowners can go with standard wood, which will need to be stained periodically. Scaling back the size of the deck means less materials to buy and less labor involved. The cost of patio blocks depends on the material and style. Poured concrete patios will cost less than placed blocks or stones because concrete is less labor-intensive. For those who desire the look of patio blocks without the cost, stamped concrete can mimic the look for less. Homeowners may not need to replace patio furniture, even if chairs and tables have seen better days. A can of spray paint can cover up any rusted areas or spots where paint has peeled off due to exposure to the elements. Updating cushions and purchasing a coordinating umbrella can revitalize the patio’s entire look. Also, very often stores run sales to clear out merchandise for new displays. Sometimes saving means repurposing antiques or items found at garage sales. Thanks to the Internet, people can easily advertise items they no longer need or desire. A person can search for backyard items they need at a deep discount if they are fine with previously used materials. From patio furniture to masonry blocks to above-ground pools, patient homeowners can find just about any item they may need to upgrade their backyards. Though not all homeowners can afford to create the backyard of their dreams, with a little ingenuity and some hard work, homeowners can still create an outdoor oasis.

Tips from the pros

By Laura Purvis Decorating Den Interiors 447-4589 lindabutler.decoratingden.com Your outdoor spaces can serve as an additional room in your home. With a little creativity and effort, you can have an outdoor space that you can enjoy all year round. Fire pits and heaters can transform outdoor spaces into warm and comfortable lounging areas. Fire pits range from $60-$600. Some low-cost options include wrought iron and copper wood-burning pits, while more expensive and permanent options include stone and brick fire pits. Home improvement warehouses often carry them, and they usually come with a screen to keep the embers contained. Although not as aesthetically pleasing as a fire pit, outdoor heaters powered by propane are a good option as well. Throw blankets and area rugs add another design element to your home décor and can help keep you warm. They are warm on your feet and keep you cozy on a cold winter day. Draperies can be placed anywhere from a screened porch to a shower. With thousands of weather-resistant fabrics on the market, warming up the coolest part of your home with draperies can be relatively inexpensive and create a more decorated feel for the most casual areas. However, if you do not use an outdoor fabric for outdoor spaces, make sure to take them inside when it is not in use.

26 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

James Harwell and Friends entertain the crowd during last year’s event.

BLUFF PARK

CONTINUED from page 1 featuring local artists and raised $850 for the library. The year after, Johnson and fellow library supporters formed a nonprofit organization and put on a successful art show, and a chain reaction for art appreciation began. The Bluff Park Art Show was born. “Fifty years later, we are still best friends,” Johnson said. “To know these people and have lived with them, I couldn’t ask for a better life. There is a character here that you will not find anywhere else. These people are so unselfish. It’s Bluff Park. It’s just how it is.” On Oct. 5, the Bluff Park Art Show will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The event has been named one of the top

10 events for 2013 by the Alabama Tourism Department, and like years past it’s predicted to host thousands in the hilltop community. “It’s hard to be in suburbia and find an art show that’s lasted this long,” said Jason Tucker, a 13-year resident and pastor at Bluff Park Community Church. Held each year at Bluff Park Community Center, the show features the works of more than 140 artists, a bake sale, pit barbecue and live music. Children have an array of crafts to keep them occupied and are also given the opportunity for special art opportunities provided by the Shades Mountain Women’s Club. Bluff Park Art Show Chair Jeff Pierson said the event is one that generations of families enjoy. “We have patrons who tell us that they were brought to the

‘We have patrons who tell us that they were brought to the show as children, brought their children and are now bringing their grandchildren.’ - Jeff Pierson show as children, brought their children and are now bringing their grandchildren,” Pierson said. Artists are invited to submit one piece of their work to win prizes in several categories. The overall winner will receive $3,500 and the Bluff Park Art Association Permanent Collection Purchase Award. This year’s 50th anniversary event has attracted a talented lineup

Sally Powell, a Birmingham artist, displays her work at the 2012 Bluff Park Art Show. Photos by Jeff Thompson.

of more than 140 local and longdistance artists, each with his or her unique ability to reach a community with a creative talent. Art annually displayed includes painting, photography, jewelry, metalwork and all types of crafts that dazzle the eyes and captivate the soul. Two of this year’s Hoover artists include Brittany Carol Moore and Toby Klein. Moore works with film and digital photography and urges her viewers to

use their imaginations to delve into the surreal aspects of her work. “Although I have only been in the show twice, I grew up going to the show and went with my family every fall,” Moore said. “The goal of my art is to remove the view from reality.” Klein’s longtime passion for art began in her childhood during an art class. “I wanted to paint better than the girl sitting next to me,” Klein

October 2013 • 27

Hoover artists

HooverSun.com

Name

Medium

Dan Browning Karen Dixon Robin Fuller Marla Kenney Toby Klein Brittany Carol Moore Jayne Morgan Emily Nelson Nevin Newton Trisha Robinson Mary Sowell Walt Stricklin Sherri Van Pelt

Woodworking Glass Woodworking Painting Mixed Media Photography Painting Mixed Media Woodworking Painting Mixed Media Photography Glass

said. “To be a successful artist has been a lifelong dream of mine since high school.” Post retirement, Klein devoted more time to her work, and today her dream has materialized into reality. Klein’s work is displayed at the Hoover Public Library, Temple Beth El, Alabama Power and other places statewide. “My watercolor has evolved through the years,” Klein said. “I just want my work to be different.” Pierson is proud to see the dedicated efforts of Johnson and other founders come to fruition. He said it has been an exciting yearlong commemoration, but it all comes down to the main event this fall. “If you think back to the events happening in the Birmingham area 50 years ago, you realize that amidst the turmoil of that era, different groups of concerned individuals were working toward the common cause of the betterment of their children’s lives in whatever forms those concerns took,” Pierson said. “The fact remains that we are here 50 years later because of the imagination and dedication of a group of PTA mothers who wanted a library for their children.”

28 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Community Calendar Oct. 1: School Spirit Night for Bluff Park Elementary School. Riverchase Chick-Fil-A. Oct. 1: Spain Park Powder Puff Game. 6-8 p.m. Oct. 2: Cooking Class with Chef Bill Tsantes and Jennifer Tsantes. Bluff Park United Methodist. 6-7 p.m. Free. Email Sara Perry at ssphc54@aol.com. Oct. 2: Heatherwood Garden Club Monthly Meeting. Email Ann Davis at madzydeco@ earthlink.net. Oct. 3: Spain Park High School Bonfire. Veterans Park. 6:30 p.m. Email Candace Strickland at cstrickland@hoover.k12.al.us. Oct. 4: Fall Frenzy. Deer Valley Elementary. Call 439-3300. Oct. 4: Spain Park Homecoming Game. Oct. 5: Bluff Park Art Show. Bluff Park Elementary School. The annual show held by the Bluff Park Art Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Free. Visit bluffparkartassociation.org. Oct. 5: Orphan Run. 7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. run. Veterans Park. Christ City Church event will raise funds for adoptions and organizations providing orphan care. Visit christcitychurch.org/ orphanrun.asp. Oct. 5: Grace on the Bluff Yard Sale. Bluff Park Baptist Church Front Lawn, 2211 McGwier Drive. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5: Spain Park Homecoming Dance. Hoover Met Banquet Room. 8-10:30 p.m. Oct. 5: Arts and Crafts Fair. Shades Crest Baptist Church. Fellowship Hall. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Proceeds will help fund the purchase of sewing machines for women in Moldova who are escaping human trafficking. Lunch and baked goods will be available for purchase. Call 822-1360. Oct. 6: Whispers from the Past. Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road. 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. There will be Native American historical demonstrations, arts and crafts for kids and live entertainment. Admission is charged. Visit

aldridgegardens.com. Oct. 6: Hearts for Hasberry 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m. Veterans Park. Event to support Hoover resident Greg Hasberry and his family as he searches for a kidney donor. $35 5K, $30 Fun Run. Oct. 6: Blessing of the Animals. Bluff Park United Methodist. 6 p.m. Email Sara Perry at ssphc54@aol.com. Oct. 9: Greystone Ladies Club Meeting. Sheylane Thompson of Greystone Antiques will make a presentation on dried botanicals. Email greystoneladiesclub@gmail.com or call Carole D. Marks at 914-0100. Oct. 9: Cooking Class with Rose Mary Dallam. Bluff Park United Methodist. 6-7 p.m. Free. Email Sara Perry at ssphc54@aol.com. Oct. 10: Taste of Hoover. Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road. 5-9 p.m. Samples from more than 25 of Hoover’s best restaurants will be available. $15 members, $30 nonmembers. Visit aldridgegardens.com. Oct. 10: Shades Mountain Women’s Club Monthly Meeting and Membership Party. Prince of Peace Catholic Church. 6:45 p.m. Women ages 18 and up are welcome to come and see how this group serves the community and the world. Oct. 10: Hoover Service Club Monthly Luncheon. Hoover Country Club. 11 a.m. Will Pearson, the founder and editor of Mental Floss magazine will speak. $18. For reservations or more, email hscinformation-HSC@yahoo.com. Oct. 11: Hoover High football vs. Northcrest. Hoover Met. Oct. 11: Bengali Association of Greater Birmingham. 6-11 p.m. Oct. 12: “Back 9” Halloween Fun Run. Riverchase Country Club Golf Course. 7:30 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. 5K. Open to all Riverchase residents. Participants are encouraged to dress up in the spirit of Halloween. There will ne bounce houses, children’s races and tennis for kids. $20 tickets include a pancake breakfast and a T-shirt. $8 pancake breakfast for non-

Hoover Events

race participants. To register email Jessica Armstrong at jessicaorton2@gmail.com by Oct.1, or by mail a completed form to RCC, 2000 Club Road, Hoover, AL 35244. For more, call 988-4140.

$6. Sponsored by the Deer Valley Dads. Keynote speaker will be Coach Josh Niblett. All Hoover area dads with children in Hoover City Schools are encouraged to attend.Email Steve McClinton at steve.mclinton@gmail.com.

Oct. 12: WOOFstock. Veterans Park. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your dogs out for a fun day filled with pet-friendly vendors, frisbee demos, kids activities and more. Free. Visit hooveral.org

Oct. 18: Spain Park Pink Out Pep Rally and Senior Night.

Oct. 12: Uncorked! on Green and Arts & Music on the Green. Ross Bridge. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Arts on the Green, noon-5 p.m. Uncorked! on the Green. Outdoor tasting festival with wine and beer tasting and cooking demonstrations, a juried art show featuring regional artists and craftsmen, and music by area musicians. Visit ArtsAndMusicOnTheGreen.com and UncorkedOnTheGreen.com. Oct. 12: 50th Anniversary Celebration and Homecoming Festivities for Green Valley Elementary School. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $5, free for kids ages 3 & under. Admission includes games, rides and lunch while supplies last. Desserts, face painting and cariactures will be available for purchase. Email gveshoover@ gmail.com. Oct. 13: 2013 Fall Festival. Dundale Road cul de sac. Presented by the Monte D’Oro Neighborhood Association. Food, fun and face painting for children and adults alike. Oct. 15: Lunch and Learn. Hoover Senior Center. Noon. Contact Tracy Vinzant at 7396767 or at vinzantt@ci.hoover.al.us. Oct. 15: Hoover Parks and Recreation Foundation Golf Tournament. 8 a.m. Pine Tree Country Club. All donations are taxdeductible. $600 tee sponsorship/team. $125 individual. Contact Dee at nanced@ci.hoover. al.us or 444-7765. Oct. 16: Cooking Class with Charlotte McCrary. Bluff Park United Methodist. 6-7 p.m. Free. Email Sara Perry at ssphc54@aol.com. Oct. 17: HHS First Edition Jazz Band. Hoover Public Library. For more, call 444-7800. Oct 17 & 24: Annual Fall “Locker Room” Breakfast. Deer Valley Elementary. 7:10 a.m.

Oct. 18: Children’s Harbor Pig Iron BBQ Challenge. 5-8 p.m. Hoover RV Park next to Hoover Met. Food, live music and kids’ zone. Call Jim Ray at 256-749-0069. Oct. 18: Pig Iron BBQ. Hoover Met, RV Park. 5 p.m. More than 50 participants will serve up barbecue, prizes and other goodies. $1,500 per cooking team $10 per person at gate on the day of the event. Call (334) 857-2133. Oct. 18: Giant Fall Festival. Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Call 822-9125. Oct. 19: Hoover High Band Marching Invitational Exhibition. Call 439-1228. Oct. 19: Aldridge Gardens Bird Walk with Dr. Richard & Patricia Ryel. Aldridge Gardens. 8-10 a.m. Visit aldridgegardens.com. Oct. 19-27: Alabama Woodworkers Annual Show. Hoover Public Library. Oct. 20: Buddy Walk. Hoover Met. 2-4 p.m. Presented by the PADS Association. Visit downsyndromealabama.org. Oct. 22: School of the Arts Monthly Social/ Event: Coffee & Canvas. Shades Crest Baptist Church. 7-9 p.m. Email Lauren McKenzie at sotadirector@shadescrest.org. Oct. 22: Horizons Luncheon. Hoover Senior Center. 11 a.m. For more, contact Dana Stewart at 444-7884 or at stewartd@ci.hoover.al.us. Oct. 23: Cooking Class with Olivia Howard. Bluff Park United Methodist. 6-7 p.m. Free. Email Sara Perry at ssphc54@aol.com. Oct. 24: Hoover High Football vs. Tuscaloosa County. 7 p.m. Hoover Met. Oct. 24: Aldridge Gardens Propagator Club. 5-7 p.m. Tour and reception at the Randle Home.

Oct. 24: HHS Cross Country Invitational. Veterans Park. Oct. 25: Hoover Hayride & Family Night. Veterans Park. 5-8 p.m. Free. Oct. 26: Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships. Oct. 26: Shelby Humane Society’s Pet Costume Contest. Riverchase Galleria. Call 669-3916. Oct. 26: Monster Mash Kids Costume Contest. Riverchase Galleria. Call 985-3020. Oct. 27: Community Fall Festival. Riverchase Baptist Church. 4-6 p.m. Games, music and food for everyone. Free. Email Jeremy@ rbcstaff.com. Oct. 27: Annual Trunk or Treat. Asbury United Methodist, 6690 Cahaba Valley Road. 4-7 p.m. This is a free, fun family time for children of all ages. Come visit all of the decorated cars, vans and pickup trucks, and enjoy fun games and food. Email asburyfamilyministry@yahoo.com. Oct. 27: Hometown Fair. For Ross Bridge residents only. Wristbands are required. Oct. 27: Community Fall Festival. Riverchase Baptist Church. 4-6 p.m. There will be games, music and food for everyone. Admission is free. For more, contact Jeremy Simpson at Jeremy@ rbcstaff.com. Oct. 29: Hoover High 3K, benefitting Susan G. Komen. Oct. 30: Annual Halloween Carnival. Bluff Park United Methodist. Food and games. Wear your Halloween costume! 6-8 pm. Free. Email Sara Perry, ssphc54@aol.com Oct. 31: Halloween Costume Party. Hoover Senior Center.12:30 p.m. Contact Tracy Vinzant, 739-6767 or vinzantt@ci.hoover.al.us Oct. 31: State HS Sectionals Cross Country Meet. Veterans Park. Oct. 31. Halloween Special Coffee & Contacts. Sam’s Club. 3053 John Hawkins Parkway. 982-0596. 7:30-9 a.m.

October 2013 • 29

HooverSun.com Comedy Club Stardome stardome.com 444-0008

Hoover Library Events Children’s Programs Mondays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. For 2 year olds and caregivers.

Oct. 1-3: Larry XL Oct. 4-6: Gary Owen Oct. 8-20: John Morgan Oct. 14: Camp Conquest Fundraiser Oct. 25-27: Sheryl Underwood

Tuesdays: Mother Goose. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. For 1 year olds and caregivers.

Moonlight on the Mountain

Thursdays: Storytime Live. 10:30 a.m.

moonlightonthemtn.com

Oct. 10: Gary Furr and Friends, with Laura McGhee. Oct. 11: Gretchen Peters, Mike June opens. $15. Oct. 25: Act of Congress. $15. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. and cost $12 unless otherwise noted. Open Mic Night is $5.

Chamber of Commerce Oct. 17: Monthly Luncheon. Hoover Country Club. 11:15 a.m. Oct. 22: 5th Annual Poppy Seed Paper Christmas Open House. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. The Preserve Town Hall. 601 Preserve Way. Fcontact Blake Gray or Robin Shelton at info@ poppyseedpaper.com

Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m. For babies 0-12 months and caregivers. Wednesdays: Tiny Tot Tales. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays: After Lunch Bunch. 1:30 p.m. Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28: This just in! 6:30 p.m. A book club for grades 4-6.Read a book published in the last six months, make a commercial to spread the word. Registration required.

Adults

For more, visit hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7800. Oct. 3: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Mission to Paris by Alan Furst will be discussed. Refreshments provided. For more, call 4447820. Oct. 5: Fiesta. Noon-8 p.m. Linn Park. For more, visit fiestabirmingham.com. Oct. 6: Hoover Public Library 30th Anniversary Celebration. 2:30 p.m. The Library Plaza. Stop by the library and join the 30th Anniversary Celebration. For more, call 444-7840. Oct. 7: Friends of the Hoover Public Library Monthly Meeting. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served at 9:45 a.m. The program will begin at 10 a.m. Judge Helen Shores Lee will discuss her book, The Gentle Giant of Dynamite Hill. Oct. 7: Wading through the Waters of Alabama Medicaid. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Admission is free. Medicaid specialists will teach you how to pay for skilled nursing and long-term care for your loved ones. Reservations required. For more, call 444-7816. Oct. 8: Daytime Nonfiction Book Group.

10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne will be discussed. For more, call 444-7816. Oct. 10: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce will be discussed. Refreshments will be provided. Oct. 10-11: Fahrenheit 451. 8 p.m. Tickets $25. For more, call 444-7888. Oct. 12: DIY @ the Plaza: Easy Floor Upgrades - Hardwood and Tile. 10:30 a.m. Jones-Warren Construction and Home Depot show you how to upgrade the flooring in your home. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 12: Purl @ The Plaza. 3 p.m. Join old friends and make new ones at this crafty meeting of all fiber enthusiasts. Bring your yarn and knit, crochet or embroider. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 13: Global Cuisine @ The Plaza. 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. Coffee-ol-ogy Café explores Poland’s native foods and culture. Complimentary samples provided. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 14: Operation Hope – Hope Coalition America. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. Learn how to identify new sales and marketing opportunities and protect your assets (people, product and profits). For more, call 444-7816. Oct. 15: Helping Hands. 2:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Stop by to make newspaper rolls that will be donated to a local humane society. Teens and adults welcome. For more, call 444-7840. Oct. 16: No Jacket Required Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. Join us to discuss your recently read nonfiction book of choice in this month’s genre: pet stories. For more, call 444-7840. Oct. 17: Author Time @ Hoover Library: Ann Hood. 10 a.m. Adult Programming Room. Admission is free. Ann Hood, author of The Obituary Writer, joins us for a chat via Skype.

Visit hooverlibrary.org/authortime to register or call 444-7820. Oct. 17: Glue Gun Gang: Halloween Wreath. 2:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Make a spooky wreath using old books. Adults only. Reservations required. For more, call 4447840.

thimbles

Oct. 17: Playing @ The Plaza: Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Band. 6:30 p.m. Hoover High School’s jazz band performs an evening of jazz. Come out and support young musicians from our community. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 19-26: Alabama Woodworkers Annual Show. All Day. Friends Art Gallery. Annual show for the Alabama Woodworkers Guild. For more, call 444-7888. Oct. 22: Frugalistics. 2:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Bring coupons you don’t need and swap for ones you do. For more, call 444-7840. Oct. 24: Nonfiction Book Group. 7 p.m. Allen Board Room. To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 by Adam Hochschild will be discussed. Oct. 25: After Hours @ The Plaza: Game Nite. 7 p.m. Admission is free. Just for Halloween – dress if you dare, but keep it tasteful. Enjoy video games, Apples to Apples, Scrabble and more. Bring your own favorite board games and set up, also. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 26: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Admission is free. Mingle and share with your fellow amateur writers. For more, call 444-7820. Oct. 27: Instrumentalists @ The Plaza: Matthew Devine, Jazz Piano. 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. Join us for an afternoon of solo jazz piano. For more, call 444-7821. Oct. 28: Monday @ The Movies. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Admission is free. When a naive young woman marries a rich widower and settles in his gigantic mansion, she finds the memory of the first wife maintaining a grip on her husband and the servants. This film stars Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. Not Rated, 130 minutes. For more, call 444-7820.

WE’VE MOVED!

30 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

Greater Birmingham Area Events Oct. 1-5: Oak Mountain State Fall Fair. 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1 p.m.-midnight Saturday. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. (Purchase tickets at the gate or at Walgreens. Call 9854900 or visit oakmountainstatefair.com. Oct. 1-6: Rosenwald Revisited by Ann Smithwick. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Birmingham Museum of Art. Free. Ann Smithwick is a professional documentary photographer based in Memphis. She discovered her home was a former “Rosenwald School,” which established a foundation for African-American education in the U.S. Call 254-2565 or visit artsbma.org. Oct. 3-6: Antiques at the Gardens. 1-5 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Sunday. Free for members, $10 for nonmembers. The show will include antique dealers from across the nation, presenting antiques, furniture, porcelain, fine art, silver, garden accessories and jewelry. Visit bbgardens.org. Oct. 3-6: ‘Bill W. & Dr. Bob.’ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 -4:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th Street South. $25-30, $17 for students and groups of 10 or more. This play tells the true story of how stockbroker Bill Wilson and surgeon Bob Smith, both alcoholics, formed a relationship that was the genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous and the first 12-step program. Call 251-1206 or visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. Oct. 5: Fiesta Hispanic Cultural Festival. Linn Park. Noon-8 p.m. The festival will display the culture, music and food of more than 20 Latin American countries. Visit fiestabirmingham.com. Oct. 6: Hot Strings Music & Arts Festival. Colonial Brookwood Village. Artists, kids activities and live music. Three on a String, Mandolin Orange, Act of Congress and Matthew Mayfield will perform. Benefits local rescue mission and recovery center The Foundry. $15. Visit HotStrings.org. Oct. 6: New York Polyphony. 3-4:15 p.m.

Cathedral Church of the Advent, 2017 Sixth Ave. North. Free. This ensemble is regarded as one of the finest singing groups in the world, ranging from medieval melodies to cutting-edge contemporary compositions. Call 226-3505 or visit adventbirmingham.org. Oct. 10: America’s Got Talent Live. 7:30 p.m. BJCC. $27-$55.25. Call 1-800-745-3000. Oct. 10: Light the Night. 5:30 p.m. The Summit. Free. Join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by celebrating and commemorating the lives touched by blood cancers by walking for a cure for cancer. There will be food, entertainment, illuminated balloons and goodies. Call 989-0098 or visit lightthenight.org/al. Oct. 11-13: The 9th Annual Barber Vintage Festival. 7:30 a.m. 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway. Three days of motorcycle entertainment, including The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Motorcycles by Moonlight Benefit Dinner. Call 699-7275 or visit barbervintagefestival.org. Oct. 13: Break ‘n Bread Food & Wine Festival. 1-5 p.m. Railroad Park, 1600 First Ave South. $35 for adults ages 21 and older, $12 for youth ages 12 to 20 and free for children under age 12. Visit breaknbread.zeekeeinteractive.com. Oct. 19-20: Fall Plant Sale. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. For more, call 414-3950, email rwalters@bbgardens.org or visit bbgardens.org. October 22: Borealis Wind Quintet with Leon Bates. 7:30 p.m. Samford University Brock Recital Hall. Presented by the Birmingham Chamber Music Society. $25, $10 for students with ID. Call 726-2853 or visit www.samford. edu/arts/. Oct. 26: Zombie Chase. 10 a.m. Red Mountain Park. 5K run presented by Birmingham Young Professionals Kiwanis will benefit Better Basics, an organization that provides literacy intervention for elementary and middle-school students throughout Alabama. $40 before Oct. 12, $50 after Oct. 12. Visit facebook.com/ TheZombieChase.

October 2013 • 31

HooverSun.com

Start Halloween a few days early Hoover Hay Ride and Family Fun Night

Hayrides run all evening around Veterans Park as a part of the event.

By KATIE TURPEN Who says you have to wait until Oct. 31 to wear a fun costume and collect delicious treats? On Oct. 25, parents and children are invited to grab their candy bags and scary masks and head to the annual Hoover Hay Ride and Family Night at Veterans Park. The free event, organized by Hoover Parks and Recreation, will feature hayrides around the park, balloon artists, a magician and face painting. Children will also have the opportunity to collect candy and various giveaways throughout the night. “It’s definitely a family-friendly event,” said Erin Colbaugh with Hoover Parks and Recreation. “We encourage parents and their kids to come dressed up in their best costumes.” The Hoover Chamber of Commerce will set up vendors in a large pavilion in the park to hand out a variety of treats to children. Colbaugh said last year’s event had a great

turnout from community participants, and she hopes families will recognize the event as the good environment for their children to celebrate Halloween. “Last year, we had over 60 Hoover businesses participate,” said Colbaugh. “It’s a great, safe way for families to send their kids out.” Parking will be available at Spain Park High School with complimentary trolleys running directly to the park throughout the evening. For more information on the Hoover Hay Ride and Family Night, contact Erin Colbaugh at 4447732.

Hoover Hay Ride and Family Night

October 25 5-8 p.m. Veterans Park hooveral.org

Mahesh Changlani, MD • Alan S. Gertler, MD • Jody Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner

Heart KNOWLEDGE that can change your world. Convenience that can change your life. The UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road is a full-service heart clinic, providing you with primary cardiology expertise conveniently located just off I-459. • Easy access to UAB cardiologists • Appointments within a week • No physician referral required

Are you at risk for heart disease? Introducing Heart-To-Heart Check Ups. This comprehensive risk assessment can uncover heart disease even before you have symptoms. In most cases, you only pay your co-pay.

Call 800-822-8816 to schedule an appointment. Learn more at uabmedicine.org/heartacton

32 • October 2013

Hoover Sun

“They Laughed and Said, ‘Dude, You’re Fat.’ “But Then I Looked in The Mirror…”

“Iron Tribe got me off the couch -- and into shape!” –Jason The mirror was right. My friends were, too. I was fat. What a humiliating difference a few years can make …

Jason Before Iron Tribe

You see, 15 years ago, I was in great shape. Even played sports in college. But after an injury, I stopped exercising. I got lazy, and my body went downhill. Then, I married a marathon runner. She was in great shape, and I had to catch up -- fast. That’s when I found Iron Tribe Fitness. I started with their 101 Intro Program, which was a huge help for me. I was so out of shape, I couldn’t even do a pull-up. But the 101 helped me get my confidence back. I saw changes in my body, too -- in only 30 days. After graduating from 101, I was nervous to start the regular classes. But my coaches were there for me. They helped me learn the moves and get better. Then, one day … BOOM. I had a great

Jason is down 60lbs and loving life!

great and feel even better, on my lunch hour. With my schedule, I never thought that would be possible. I went from a 265-pound couch potato to a 205-pound Iron Tribe Athlete.

That’s #WhyiTribe

workout and competed with the rest of the class. That’s when I thought, “I can do this!”

Request your Free Report and see how other busy guys are

Now, I’m competing with my wife, the marathon runner. In fact, after seeing my slimmer stomach, she joined Iron Tribe, too. Now she’s even more competitive. She wins her age group all the time when she runs.

getting it done at Iron Tribe Fitness. Call any of our 6 locations at the numbers below. When you call, mention Offer Code: “Make It Work” to receive a special Gift Voucher worth $100. Or, visit

www.IronTribe101.com/make-it-work

The best part about Iron Tribe? I got my confidence back. I got in shape again. It’s been fun. And it’s fast -- I get in, get my workout done, and get out in less than 55 minutes! Now I can look

Call any of our six area locations:

Hurry. Supplies are limited to the first 20 people.

Take action now!

Homewood 205.874.6300

Mtn. Brook

205.802.1775

Hwy 280

205.873.2135

Hoover

205.822.1234

Downtown

205.254.6121

Hwy 150

205.733.5900