Hoover Sun December 2015 by Starnes Media

Sun Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover

Coming Clean

Volume 4 | Issue 3 | December 2015

Deck the malls

Decorating Riverchase Galleria is tall task

Hoover man shares his story of heroin addiction, recovery and how he’s helping other to follow in his footsteps.

See page A18

On To State

Spain Park pulled off a narrow victory over Hoover, securing their trip to the Super 7.

See page B1

INSIDE City.........................A6 Business.............. A10 School House..... A15 Events..................A22

Gift Guide........... A26 Sports..................... B1 Bluff Park.............B16 Calendar..............B26

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Anthony McMahon adjusts a giant ornament over the Riverchase Galleria food court. Photo by Frank Couch.

By JON ANDERSON So you think you’ve got a big job decorating your house for Christmas? Try decorating the 1.57 million-square-foot Riverchase Galleria. That was the task given to Glenn Bridges and his crew from the Christmas Décor franchise in Northport. They had a 26-foot-tall Christmas tree to install and decorate in the Galleria food court, 27 large ornaments to hang from the cavernous ceiling in the mall, about 50 large Christmas sprays to spread throughout the shopping center common areas and six to eight smaller Christmas trees to put up. Plus, they had to create an area for all the children to come and visit Santa and let him know what’s on their Christmas list. In all, it took an estimated 260 man-hours to get the job done, said Bridges, owner of the company. This is the first year that Bridges’ company has handled the Galleria decorating duties alone. Last year, another company started the job but was unable to finish, so Bridges and his crew were brought in to complete it. The company came highly recommended and did such a professional job last year that the Galleria invited its crew back, said Angela Jacks, marketing manager for the Galleria. They have the expertise and knowledge to ensure quality installation and storage, Jacks said. Most people never saw the Christmas Décor team because they did their work at night, after the Galleria closed. But they got the mall almost completely decorated in just two weekends, with the help of a 60-foot-tall lift.

See MALLS | page A30

Overcoming stigma Trace Crossings battles negative perceptions; faculty, parents think school quality is strong By JON ANDERSON A dark cloud of sorts has been hanging over Trace Crossings Elementary School for several years, and parents, teachers and administrators say it’s time for that cloud to go away. Superintendent Kathy Murphy said the school

has been suffering from a perception problem based on unfounded beliefs about the quality of education offered there. And administrators and teachers are eager to share what they say is the reality at their school. From their standpoint, Trace Crossings has just as much, if not more, to offer students as

any other elementary school. A talented and experienced group of teachers is using innovative programs to help children learn and progress at admirable rates, Principal Carol Barber said. Much of the perception problem appears to come from the school’s test scores, which have been lagging behind many other Hoover schools in the past decade. Lower test scores mean lower rankings on websites that rate schools, and that

See SCHOOL | page A31

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FEAR NO MIRROR

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Support Our Community Partners

About Us BEHIND THE LENS

Editor’s Note

By Sydney Cromwell This year will be my first Birmingham Christmas. I’ve lived parttime in the area for a few years, but I always returned to my family’s home in Tennessee around Christmas and New Year. I’ll still visit them for the holidays, but most of my time will be spent here, in my new home. Last year, I looked at pictures of the Galleria’s holiday lighting and wished I could see it in person. This year, I plan to make a trip there before Dec. 25 to see decorating that puts my own to shame. The great thing about being here for the holidays is how many Christmas events I have to choose from. There’s Lights on the Bluff, holiday markets, the Bring your Buddy scramble and a greenery workshop, among others. Aside from these events, there’s also the simple enjoyment of seeing holiday window displays and the growing number of lights and garlands appearing around the city. I hope the holidays are a time of happiness and safety for you and your family, whether you take part in these events or prefer to celebrate at home. As we prepare for a new year, I also hope you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on 2015, its highs and lows, and make plans for where you want to be when I’m writing this note in December 2016. I wish you confidence and peace in these final days of the year.

Sun Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Video Editor Page Designers:

Community Reporters: Staff Writer: Associate Editor: Copy Editor: Contributing Writers:

Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Cherie Olivier Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Elizabeth Chick Ana Good Erica Techo Jon Anderson Emily Featherston Lucy Ridolphi Louisa Jeffries David Knox Kari Kampakis Rick Watson Leah Ingram Eagle Marienne Thomas Ogle Steve Irvine Rachel Burchfiel Chris Megginson Jesse Chambers Grace Thornton

My childhood memories of decorating for Christmas involve handling boxes from the attic, checking lights and wrestling trees into stands. I never envied those tasked with decorating larger public spaces. Workers with Christmas Decor in Alabama began decorating the Riverchase Galleria in late October in preparation for the tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 6. I met the Christmas Decor in Alabama crew who were responsible for hanging giant infla able Christmas ornaments over the food court and escalators after stores had closed for the night. With the exception of a few cleaning-crew members, we had the place to ourselves, which was good because we were riding along the corridors of the mall in a giant diesel powered lift. The lighting inside the closed mall was dim, making photography a challenge -- along with being strapped into the lift high above the floo . In this picture of Anthony McMahon, I decided not to use a flash o convey the late hour and set the ISO to 8000 using a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second. I opened up to f2.8 on a 14mm lens. Behind the Lens highlights the inspiration and execution of a photographer’s assignment. Got a question? Email Frank Couch at fcouch@starnespublishing.com.

Contributing Photographer: Frank Couch Intern: Sam Chandler Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Warren Caldwell Distribution: Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes

Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett

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

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

Published by: Hoover Sun LLC 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) 313-1780 or by email.

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Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B16) Alabama Outdoors (A29) Alys Stephens Center, Art Play (A12) ARC Realty (B11) Artists on the Bluff (B19) Backyard Creations (A21) Baptist Health Center Hoover (A22) Batts’ Chimney Services (B25) Becky Hicks -Remax Southern Homes (A21) Bedzzz Express (B28) Beltone Hearing (A15) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A20, B3) Brookdale University Park (B14) Cahaba Cycles (B8 California Closets (A14) Cardiovascular Associates of the Southeast (A19) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (A7) Children’s of Alabama (A30) Danberry at Inverness (A32) Doorstep Delivery (A5) Encore Rehabilitation (B15) ERA King Real Estate Homewood (B27) EZ Roof & EZ Restoration (A9) Geico Insurance (B4) Grandview Medical Center (B13) Granger Thagard Associates (B5) Great Clips Seyler Enterprises (A1) Hoover Florist (B26) Hoover Public Library (B27) Impact Family Counseling (A11) Issis & Sons / O Advertising (A19) James Harwell, RealtySouth (A30) JamJev Gymnastics (B25) Jefferson Credit Union (A1) Kasey Davis Dentistry (A8, B17) Kelli Gunnells Realtor (B6) LAH Real Estate - Hoover Offi e (B10) Lazenby’s Decorative Arts Studio (B24) Limbaugh Toyota (B9) Little Imaginations (B18) Mass Mutual Financial Group (A25) MedCenter Hoover (A17) Mingle & Jingle Christmas Market (B7) Mountain Brook Art Association (B6) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (B16) OB/GYN Associates of Alabama (A6) Olli - c/o TotalCom Marketing Communications (B10) Outdoor Living Areas (A29) Over The Mountain Designs LLC (B24) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (A14) Patti Schreiner, Re/MAX Southern Homes (A25) Pediatric Smiles (B26) Pie Five, Quality Restaurant Concepts (A20) Pioneer Playschool (B23) Planet Fitness (A24) Pure Dermatology & Aesthetics (A2) RealtySouth Marketing (B5) Red Mountain Theatre Company (A10) Red Pearl Restaurant (A12) Rehaba (A23) Sampson Dentistry (B21) Selkirk Partners (A28) Sentry Heating & Air (A13) Shades Crest Baptist Church (A28, B14) Sikes Childrens Shoes (A10) Skelton’s Air (A6) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (A5) Sweetspire Gardens (B22) Target Auction Company (B16) The Maids (B8) The Neighborhood Plumber (A11) Tom Williams BMW (A27) Tracey Mercer, Optometrist (A17) Turquoise, LLC (B18) Urban Home Market (A3) USA Martial Arts (B20) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A16, B1) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (B27) Water Drainage Solutions (A11) Weigh To Wellness (A27) Wrapsody (B26)

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City Mayor’s Minute By Gary Ivey

We want to wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season! This is such a fun and festive time of year in Hoover. If you have a chance, be sure to drive by City Hall and see our magnificent Christmas tree and all the beautiful twinkle lights on the property. When you get out on the road, please be extra careful due to the increase in traffic in our city during the holidays. The Police Department will have its command bus set up again and will monitor traffic closely for easier access at all major roadways and busy intersections. 2015 has been a very busy and exciting year in the City of Hoover. We are pleased to report that the city remains fiscally sound, and we have had a balanced budget for the past 11 years. There are many new projects on the horizon for 2016. One that we are very proud of is the Veterans Memorial Arbor that will be located at Aldridge Gardens. The project will include a ceremonial area and seating that will overlook the gorgeous lake. You can become part

of the project by purchasing a bench, column or flagpole in honor of a veteran or one who is presently serving. If you would like more information, please visit the website at aldridgegardens.com or you can visit our website at hooveralabama.gov or call 444-7500. As you can see as you look around the city, Hoover continues to thrive. It is an honor for me to close this year as your mayor and be able to share in our success. However, none of this would have been possible without the City Council, our dedicated employees and the wonderful citizens that make up this city. We will all work hard to continue to Exceed your Expectations! Happy Holidays!

City keeps school funding flat at 2M for 2016 By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council in November voted 6-1 to pass the mayor’s proposed $148 million budget for fiscal 2016. Councilman John Greene cast the lone vote against the budget, saying he thinks the city should contribute more than $2 million to Hoover City Schools. “I just think in general that the city can do better than putting less than 2 percent of a $148 million budget to city schools,” said Greene, whose wife is an assistant superintendent with the school system. Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said he didn’t want to get into a debate with Greene but said he has had extensive conversations with Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy and she had not indicated a need for additional funding.

The next day, Murphy said that the school system does indeed need funding increases from the city of Hoover to help battle budget deficit problems, and she thought she had clearly conveyed that need to city officials, including the mayor. “I certainly want to be very clear that any and all increases that our city can give to us are wanted and are needed,” Murphy said. The superintendent said it was with great reluctance that she presented a 2016 school system budget with a $10.4 million deficit to the school board in September. “The common sense thought there is that I would not be giving a $10.4 million deficit budget to our board if we did not have some funding needs and some funding desires,” Murphy said today. “Would I like for our city to provide more financial resources for schools?

Absolutely.” Murphy in September said publicly that the school system was at a critical financial point and that school officials needed to join with the public and other public officials to examine potential additional sources of revenue. She said at the time that she was not ready to storm city hall to ask for another penny to be added to the city sales tax, but that might be an option to consider. Since fiscal 2009, the city has given Hoover City Schools $2 million a year. The $148 million budget passed for fiscal 2016, which began Oct. 1, includes millions of dollars for improvements to roads, parks, sewer systems and city buildings. Total revenues for 2016 are projected to come in at $127 million. The $21 million difference between revenues and expenditures will come out of the city’s fund balance.

The capital budget has about $4.4 million for road improvement projects, including Old Columbiana Road, Braddock Drive from Lorna Road and Atkins-Trimm Boulevard. The capital budget also contains more than $6 million for parks and recreation projects. That includes $3 million to put toward a new sports complex, along with several other projects: improvements to the Hoover Recreation Center, building an open-area park in Riverchase, improvements to the Hoover Met and improvements to Hoover Sports Park West, Hoover Sports Park East and the sports complex at Spain Park. Other projects for the year include upgrades to the police and fire dispatch communications and computer systems, renovations to the Hoover Municipal Center, sewer system improvements, and vehicle and roof replacements.

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97-home subdivision planned by Greystone By JON ANDERSON Signature Homes is moving forward with plans for a new 97-home subdivision off Shelby County 41 next to Greystone and Shoal Creek. The city of Hoover annexed the 103-acre parcel in early November. The subdivision, to be called Brock Point, would be just east of The Cove at Greystone and The Crest at Greystone. Shoal Creek is directly across Shelby County 41 from the site. Signature Homes President Jonathan Belcher said the housing market in north Shelby County off U.S. 280 is ripe for a new high-end development such as this. Signature plans to build homes between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet that would sell for between $500,000 to $800,000, with an average price of $600,000, Belcher said. That price range is underserved right now from a new construction standpoint, Belcher said. Kyle Murphy, president of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, agreed. There are still some new homes being built in the Village at Highland Lakes, Shoal Creek and Mt Laurel, but most of those are $350,000 or below, Murphy said. And for anyone wanting to get in the Hoover school system on the eastern side of Hoover, “there’s been nothing really new there,” Murphy said. Those people have had to look for an existing home rather than a new one, he said. Murphy said he has talked to Belcher and Signature Homes CEO Dwight Sandlin about their plans, and said, knowing them, they have probably done a lot of homework about the market demand before moving forward with this project. When Signature came to the Hoover City Council for annexation, a couple of residents expressed concerns about the impact such a development might have on the Hoover school system. Councilman John Lyda said he analyzed numbers with Hoover Finance Director Robert Yeager and determined Hoover schools would receive more in property taxes from the proposed subdivision than it would cost to educate the number of students expected from it. History has shown that 97 homes in that price range would produce 32 students at most, Belcher said. Yeager, who formerly was chief financial officer for the Hoover school system, confirmed those numbers are historically accurate. Lyda and Yeager estimated Hoover City Schools would receive $2,032 per home in Brock Point on average, for a total of about $197,000. The Hoover school system pays $4,184 of its own money to educate each student on average, so 32 students would cost Hoover about $134,000, Lyda said. That would mean a $63,000 surplus for Hoover City Schools. Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said Belcher informed her about Signature’s plans for Brock Point. While every new home development does have an impact on the school system, Murphy said she feels comfortable that Hoover City Schools can handle 20 to 30 more

children on that side of town. “That’s not a deal-breaker for us,” she said. Councilman Gene Smith, chairman of the council’s Annexation Committee, said the land in question is on the eastern side of Hoover and “there are no overcrowding issues when it comes to the education system out there.” Smith said he would be surprised if Brock Point produces 30 children for Hoover schools. Most people who can afford a home at that price are older and don’t have children in K-12 schools, he said. Plus, police and fire services already are in place, Smith said. “We wouldn’t have to add anything,” he said. Councilman Jack Natter said he saw no reason not to annex the property. Lyda said the city stands to gain $660,000 in sales tax revenues from construction of the homes, as well. Bluff Park resident Dan Fulton questioned the reliability of the numbers provided by Lyda and Yeager, saying they are only estimates. He believes the city of Hoover has not been giving enough money to Hoover schools, limiting its contribution to the school system to $2 million a year since fiscal 2009. “I consider that unacceptable. I think you can do better,” Fulton said. A 1 percentage point increase in the city’s sales tax could bring in an extra $20 million, which could be used to help the school system address budget deficits and build more schools, Fulton said. “They’ve done it in Trussville very successfully. They’ve done it in Gardendale very successfully,” he said. Lyda said Fulton is the only Hoover resident he knows who is in favor of a sales tax increase. Bluff Park resident Robin Schultz said he is concerned that Hoover would need to build another fire station to serve Brock Point. Getting a fire truck from Hoover Fire Station No. 8 in Greystone up and over Double Oak Mountain to Brock Point is quite a haul, he said. Lyda said it’s only about three miles and the fire chief isn’t concerned about the annexation. “We trust our experts,” he said. Belcher said the late Compass Bank founder Harry Brock formerly owned the property and donated it to Samford University, and now Signature Homes is working with Samford to develop it. The 103 acres includes a 13-acre lake that Signature Homes plans to leave in place, Belcher said. Plans call for 33 houses to be on the lake. At the planned price point, Signature Homes expects to build two to three homes per month and complete the subdivision in three to four years, Belcher said. Lot sizes would be comparable to The Cove at Greystone next door, he said. He described the average lot size as being 120-140 feet in width and 200 feet deep. The developer’s zoning petition estimates initial land disturbance to be 9 acres, with homes sites designed to preserve the natural features of the property.

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Above left: People conduct business at the Jefferson County Revenue Office in the Hoover Court shopping center Nov. 5. Above right: Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey speaks to the crowd at the grand opening for the satellite Jefferson County Revenue Office. Photos by Jon Anderson.

Satellite offi e opens, brings more services By JON ANDERSON Jefferson County and Hoover officials say they’re glad to finally open the county’s new satellite revenue office off U.S. 31 in the Hoover Court shopping center. The 10,460-square-foot office is located between Green Valley Drugs and Tidmore Flags and replaces the temporary and smaller satellite office that was at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium since August 2014. It handles vehicle tags, vehicle title applications and licenses for boating, hunting, fishing and motorcycle driving. People also can obtain state and county business licenses and pay property taxes and county sales taxes. People should also be able to renew driver’s licenses once the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency installs its equipment there, hopefully early next year, County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens said.

“What this means is that our citizens, the citizens that we share, will be able to come to the courthouse – this courthouse – and have a better opportunity in which to do business,” Stephens said. “The citizens of Jefferson County pay their fair share of taxes, and it’s time that we improved your quality of life. “We can’t say that there won’t be any lines here, but what we can say is that the lines will be shorter and the people will be courteous and cooperative when they deal with you,” Stephens said. Both Stephens and Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said the satellite office is a perfect example of what regional cooperation is all about. The city of Hoover contributed $100,000 to help cover the cost of the satellite courthouse. The County Commission approved spending $850,000 to build, equip and furnish the new office, but it looks like the total cost will

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be closer to $700,000 or $720,000, said Jeff Smith, director of the county’s general services department. Jefferson County also signed a 10-year lease with Hoover Court Investors LLC and Murer LLC and agreed to pay $9,588 per month for the first five years and $10,068 per month for years 6-10, Smith said. Ivey said the new office will be a great convenience for Hoover residents and people from surrounding areas. Tyler Wise, a Homewood resident, was at the new office during its first week in early November to renew his vehicle tag. He is grateful to not have to go to downtown Birmingham to do that, he said. “I just think it’s better because it’s more convenient. It’s faster,” he said. “(Today), I just walked in and out. It didn’t take me long at all – seven minutes.” Jefferson County formerly operated a

satellite office on Green Springs Highway in Homewood that handled 28 percent of the county’s revenue transactions, and county officials say they expect the new Hoover office to rise to that level as well. The temporary satellite office at the Hoover Met in September handled 8,059 transactions, representing 8.9 percent of the total revenue transactions handled by Jefferson County that month and 13 percent of the walk-in traffic, Revenue Director Travis Hulsey said. The office in Homewood closed in 2011 due to budget constraints, along with satellite offices in Forestdale and Gardendale. Stephens said county commissioners are considering reopening the Gardendale office but have no immediate plans at this time. In addition to the new Hoover office, Jefferson County has revenue offices at the courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer and a satellite office in Center Point.

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ROOFER'S CORNER

Finley Memorial Stadium, the football stadium on the campus of the former Berry High School, is named after the late Berry High School coach Bob Finley. Photo by Jon Anderson

Ex-school site’s future up in air Hoover officials xplore potential uses for former Berry High campus By JON ANDERSON Hoover school officials continue to explore possibilities for the use of the former Berry High School campus on Columbiana Road following the Hoover City Council’s Nov. 2 vote to rescind the city’s $9 million offer to buy the 35-acre property. Superintendent Kathy Murphy said some people want the school system to renovate the facility and make it a third public high school for Hoover. Others want school officials to tear it down and rebuild it as a new third high school, saying the current building is too compromised and doesn’t look like Hoover and Spain Park high schools, she said. Other possibilities include partnerships with nearby school systems, such as a joint alternative school, career tech academies or a fine arts center, Murphy has said. But Hoover school officials certainly want to make sure there is no educational need for the property before they dispose of it, Murphy said. And decisions about school rezoning need to be settled before school officials decide what to do with the former Berry campus, which now is home for the Crossroads alternative school, she said. The Hoover City Council in April offered to pay $9 million for the campus, with the idea of turning it into an athletic complex, but school officials never acted on the offer. Murphy said she wanted to explore potential educational uses first, and the U.S. Department of Justice had questions about where the Crossroads alternative school students would be moved and what the school system would do with any money received from sale of the property. The Hoover City Council on Nov. 2 did not discuss its reasons for rescinding the offer to the school board, but Councilman Gene Smith said afterward that the timeline for the offer already had expired. The proposed contract called for the city of Hoover to pay the Hoover school board $3 million cash at closing on Oct. 1 of this year and two more $3 million payments over the following two years. Some residents seemed to be under the impression that the offer was still valid, so the council wanted to formally rescind the offer, Smith said. Plus, school officials had indicated to

city officials that they did not want to sell the buildings on the campus but might be interested in selling the athletic fields, Smith said. However, school officials wanted to keep the price at $9 million, he said. If school officials decided they wanted to come back to the table and negotiate a deal, that might be possible, but some council members are not interested in buying only the athletic facilities, particularly if the price was going to remain at $9 million, Smith said. The school at 2826 Columbiana Road originally opened in 1959 as the W.A. Berry Elementary School, part of the Jefferson County school system, with 16 classrooms, 18 teachers and 600 students in grades 1-7. It was named for Col. William Andrew Berry, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education for 26 years. The building was enlarged in the early 1960s and served as Berry High School through the creation of the Hoover school district and until Hoover High opened in 1994. It then was renovated and reopened as Berry Middle School in 1996. In 2005, a new middle school opened next to Spain Park, and Berry’s sixth grade moved there. The following year, after an addition was completed at the new school, the seventh and eighth grades moved also, and the halls of the “old Berry” were left empty. Shades Mountain Elementary School moved to the “old Berry” campus for the 2008-09 school year while the elementary school was renovated, and then in the summer of 2011, Hoover officials moved the alternative school there. The facility also is used for teacher training and offices for some central office personnel, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham holds some classes there. Shades Mountain Christian School made an offer to buy the property for $13.8 million in 2006, but the deal fell through when Shades Mountain Christian couldn’t come up with enough money to make it happen. In 2007, the city of Vestavia Hills made a joint offer with Shades Mountain Christian School for $10 million, but by that time, Hoover school officials were not sure they wanted to sell the property. The joint offer expired without action by the Hoover school board. Murphy said current conversations about potential uses of the property are preliminary.

WINTER TIME ROOFING

As winter approaches, I am always asked the same question – Should shingles be installed in cold weather? The short answer is yes. However, with some precautions and a lot of experience. Here’s why. The asphalt material in the shingle loses its flexibility and resistance in colder temperatures. The shingles become harder to bend and more difficult to cut. Because the shingles are more brittle, using the same roofing techniques one would use during the warmer months will be detrimental. If your roofer uses the same nail gun pressure he uses during the summer months, the nails will be overdriven into the shingles. As the temperature drops, the “sweet spot” pressure point becomes smaller and smaller. Only an experienced roofer will know how to adjust for this in the colder months, to avoid damaging your shingles, and to insure proper installation. Installing a roof during colder months also increases the chance of shingles blowing off or not sealing properly. However, by hiring a roofing company with knowledge of the manufacturer’s guidelines and proper installation methods, there are ways to ensure a successful installation year-round. All shingles are equipped with a self-sealant strip- a line of glue that activates with the heat of the sun and holds the shingles together, preventing blow off in high winds. This glue activates at different temperatures depending on the manufacturer. As a general rule, we can see bonding happening between 45°F and 60°F, and a full bond when temperatures exceed 75°F for 48 hours. The manufacturer specifies that if the shingles are NOT bonding properly because of temperature, they should be hand-sealed. That means the crew should apply four dabs (quarter size) of roofing cement underneath each shingle with a caulking gun and then press the shingles into the cement. This will prevent the wind from lifting them before there is sufficient heat for them to self-seal. My best advice for your winter roofing project is to hire an experienced contractor. Ask questions. Make sure he can tell you HOW he can successfully install a roof in colder temperatures. You do not have to delay your home improvement; just do your research.

Call for a FREE QUOTE today

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HooverSun.com

Now Open Brookwood Medical Center’s freestanding emergency department opened in November at 7131 Cahaba Valley Road. It is the state’s second freestanding ED. 877-1000, bwmc.com

Mattress Firm is now open at 1642 Montgomery Highway in the former Devine’s Flooring America location. 822-6881, mattressfirm.com

Ace Beauty Supply is now open at 1676 Montgomery Highway. 290-5505

December 2015 • A11 the Year award from the Birmingham Business Alliance. 982-5565, bmss.com Blaine Reams, a pharmacy technician with Beaumont Pharmacy, 264 Inverness Center Drive, passed his pharmacy technician certification exam (PTCE) in October. He has been employed at Beaumont for a year and a half. 991-7171, beaumontpharmacy.com

Dr. Rob Pate has left EyeCare Associates of Hoover, 1809 Data Drive, to join Basden Eye Care in Auburn. 982-5000, webeca.com

Style Encore is now open at 640 Inverness Corners. The store carries women’s casual and business clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, and buys items from customers on the spot to be sold in the store. 582-9049, style-encoreinverness.com

Alabama Outdoors, 108 Inverness Plaza, has launched a new website. The redesigned site features real-time inventory, a mobile optimized display allowing easier shopping on any device, and simplified navigation. 980-3303, alabamaoutdoors.com

Coming Soon

Cottage Needleworks, 4524 Southlake Parkway, Suite 34, has announced new winter hours: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; and closed on Saturdays. 490-6803, cottageneedleworks.com

Revolve Kitchen and Brew will be opening in the Village at Lee Branch, 611 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 103, in the space formerly occupied by Bella at Lee Branch. The restaurant, owned by Doug Hovanec, who also owns Bellini’s, will feature more than 120 beers with about 16 beers on tap, and the menu will change with the season. Plans are for the restaurant to be open six days per week for lunch and dinner.

New Ownership Monte D’Oro apartment complex, 2870 Regal Circle, has been sold to Hawthorne Residential. The company plans to renovate and rebrand the complex as Hawthorne at Wisteria. 979-5669, hawthorneatwisteria.com

Riverchase Landing Apartments, 200 River Haven Circle, has been sold to TVO North America, a company based in El Paso, Texas. 987-0678

News and Accomplishments Bryan Sheffield, owner of the Sheffield Insurance Agency, 265 Riverchase Parkway, Suite 105, was recognized by Allstate as being part of Allstate’s “Inner Circle Elite” for outstanding business achievement and being a proven champion in growing his agency and serving customers. 987-2324, agents.allstate.com/bryan-sheffield-hoover-al1.html

The Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith accounting and business advisory firm, 1121 Riverchase Office Road, received the 2015 Small Business Champion of

“When it rains, we drain!”

Hirings and Promotions ARC Realty, 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 133, has hired Haley May, Laurance Washington, Ben Fikes and Donna Triantos as new Realtors. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com

Magic City Chiropractic and Well15 ness, 3049 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 116, has hired Crystal Pikula, LMT, as an in-house massage therapist. She has more than five years of experience and received her associate of occupational studies in massage therapy from Fortis College. 444-4844, magiccitychiro.com

Anniversaries Bella’s Bridal & Formal, 4441 Creekside Ave., Suite 125, is celebrating its 11th anniversary in December. It has been in its current location in Hoover for four years. 403-7977, bellasalabama.com

Southlake Orthopaedics. 4517 Southlake Parkway, is celebrating its 19th anniversary in business in December. 985-4111, southlakeorthopaedics.com

Danberry at Inverness, 235 Inverness Center Drive, celebrated its sixth anniversary Oct. 6. 443-9500, danberryatinverness.com

244-1114 Heavy Runoff ? Standing Water ? Erosion Problems ? Storm Drainage Clogged ? WaterDrainageSolutions.com

Hoover Sun

A12 • December 2015

Focusing on future Health academy helps Spain Park students get early grasp of careers By JON ANDERSON

Muhammed Jan and Marisa Gray, two 2014 Spain Park High School graduates who were part of the school’s Health Science Academy, check out the new $60,000 mannequin that can simulate a variety of body functions. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Marisa Gray knew as a young child she wanted to work in the medical field someday, but she didn’t know exactly the type of job she wanted to pursue. With help from the Health Science Academy at Hoover’s Spain Park High School, Gray is now well on her way to a career in nursing. During her senior year at Spain Park two years ago, she was able to jobshadow a nurse anesthetist, and now she’s studying nursing at Jefferson State Community College. The Health Science Academy helped Gray discover what she wanted to do and gave her skills to get started along the path, she said. Gray was one of three students who recently shared their experiences at the academy with members of the medical community who visited Spain Park to see what the academy has to offer. The Health Science Academy at Spain Park focuses on nursing, patient care, emergency medicine, sports medicine and pharmacology. It is one of many career academies at the school. By the end of their senior year, students have the opportunity to become certified as a patient care technician or a nurse assistant, said Jason Zajac, the academy director. For

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HooverSun.com those interested in emergency medicine, they’re able to take a dual enrollment course at the Jefferson State campus next door and take the certification test for basic emergency medical technicians. There is the potential to prepare students for other certification tests, such as those for pharmacy technicians and veterinary technicians, Zajac said. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Zajac said. “They get a chance to have, at 18, certification that makes them employable right off the bat.” Twenty-three Spain Park students are on schedule to take the nursing assistant or patient care technician exam in April, said Wendy Kendrick, a certified nurse with a doctorate in education who joined the Health Sciences Academy team this year. The same course would cost $900 to $1,000 at a college, but at Spain Park, it’s part of their free public education, and the state pays for the book and the $150 certification test, said Kendrick, who formerly taught nursing at Samford University. When the Health Science Academy began at Spain Park in 2011, it had 46 students, according to Zajac. Now in its fifth year, there are 220 students in the program, he said. The program began with one classroom and one practice mannequin, but it has expanded to several more rooms, including a mock emergency room, patient exam rooms, nursing station and a pharmacy lab. A $227,000 state grant helped them add additional equipment: four high-tech simulation mannequins, a CPR training mannequin and a standard baby mannequin. One mannequin costs $60,000, and students can do virtually anything with it they could do with a real patient, Zajac said. The mannequin simulates breathing and has heart sounds, lung sounds and a pulse in multiple locations. It can cough and talk to you to tell you if it is hurting. It even produces simulated urine, Zajac said. An instructor in another room controls the mannequin and can watch to see if the student asks appropriate questions while assessing the kind of care given. Video cameras capture the

December 2015 • A13

Wendy Kendrick, a certified nurse who teaches at the Health Science Academy at Spain Park High School, talks with members of the medical community about the academy’s programs during a fall visit. Photo by Jon Anderson.

simulated patient encounters, and the students can review the footage to see how they performed, Zajac said. “A lot of universities don’t have a setup this nice,” he said. Dr. Bill Christenberry of the Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic said it’s amazing to see what the Health Sciences Academy is doing to prepare students for career decisions ahead of them. “They can go ahead and have this under their belt and understand what they’re dealing with,” he said. Christenberry already has been working with

Spain Park. Four students came to his office to see what veterinary medicine is all about, and he helped prepare some students for the veterinary portion of the state competition for future health professionals. Spain Park first participated in the state competition two years ago and had nine students qualify to go to the national competition in Orlando, Zajac said. Last year, 19 students qualified for the national competition in Anaheim, California, and one of them placed sixth in the nation in the physical therapy competition, he said.

Zajac said he hopes to continue strengthening partnerships between the academy and the medical community and look for more job-shadowing opportunities for students. Avi Vaidya, a senior at Spain Park this year, said he took the pharmacology course last year as a junior. He is now registered as a pharmacy technician in Alabama and waiting to take his certification test when he turns 18, he said. He likes that his instructors have real-world experience, he said. “They kind of know what they’re talking about,” he said.

A14 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Behind the camera Internship takes Hoover student to Hollywood, set of hit show ‘American Horror Story’ By SYDNEY CROMWELL Tanner Robbins nervously watched his phone and email. He knew a phone call would mean he had been accepted to his dream internship, with the Television Academy in Los Angeles. An email would mean he had been rejected. He got the call. “I applied thinking, ‘OK, this is the dream,’” Robbins remembered. “That’s the greatest thing I could possibly get.” The Television Academy, which is responsible for the Emmy Awards and the Television Academy Hall of Fame, accepts 50 interns each year across different types of TV shows and careers in television, including casting, sound, publicity, costume design and editing.

Robbins, a Hoover High School graduate and current senior film student at University of Alabama, was chosen for the only internship in cinematography. He spent two months out of his summer living in L.A. and working on the set of “American Horror Story,” a horror series on the FX network. Before the internship, Robbins said he had seen a few episodes of the show. Once he learned that his mentor would be Michael Goi, the cinematographer for “American Horror Story,” Robbins said he binge-watched three seasons of the show on Netflix to better understand it. “I like the show,” Robbins said. “I knew it was a really creative production, design, cinematography-heavy show, so I thought it was perfect.” When he started the internship,

Hoover High graduate Tanner Robbins spent his summer in L.A. learning about the television industry. Photo courtesy of Tanner Robbins.

Robbins said he wanted to learn more about production techniques. Goi, however, told him that it would be more valuable to learn about the politics of being on set and handling other people. On a show’s set, the cinematographer often acts as a head of the crew, ensuring they aren’t overworked and are safe during stunts or other dangerous elements. “As a cinematographer, you have to be the representative of the crew to the director and producers,” Robbins said. “It’s really import to think about protecting the people.” On set, Robbins had very busy days. As an intern, he was only required to work 40 hours per week, but Robbins

chose to stay later, sometimes until 5 a.m., to learn more through shadowing Goi and talking to the crew. He said some of the most valuable lessons he learned were about relationship skills, preparation before shooting and fast problem solving. “I’ve gotten to have a first hand view of what it takes to put together a television show like this,” he said. “A lot of what I’ve learned is how to think on your feet.” Based on what he’s seen on set, Robbins said fans of “American Horror Story” have a “really interesting” season ahead of them. The internship wasn’t all work, though. Robbins got to experience

L.A. through its restaurants, museums, parks and hiking opportunities. He also attended movie screenings and television panels, including the actors and writers of “Community” and “Black-ish.” After he graduates from UA, Robbins hopes to return to L.A. and begin his career by working as a production assistant or taking on another internship. He hopes to eventually work on the set of dramas or thrillers, where he can have a lot of creative freedom, like his mentor Goi. “Anything where I feel like I can be really creative and do what I think is necessary,” Robbins said. “I want to get deeper into it.”

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A15

School House POP students, from left, Haley Brown, Maddy Bach and Mary Awad portray witches in their literature class production of Macbeth. Photo courtesy of Jill Spero.

Shakespeare comes alive at Prince of Peace school Students at Prince of Peace Catholic School have the opportunity to participate in a long-standing tradition during their eighth grade year: studying and performing William Shakespeare’s plays. Amy Everson’s eighth grade world literature class will study and perform several plays throughout the year, which is their last year at Prince of Peace. This is a rite of passage at the school, said Prince of Peace Catholic Parish Jill Spero, and students take it seriously. Seventh-grade students learn about Shakespeare’s life and the time in which he lived through his

novels and stories. The chance to act out the plays is the “crown jewel” of the students’ two-year literary journey through Renaissance England, Spero said. The productions are primarily student-led in order to give a chance for interpersonal communication and leadership skills development. “The tradition is firmly rooted within the curriculum, a brightly lit torch eagerly anticipated and lovingly passed on in a ritual of student self-discovery and accomplishment,” Spero said. - Submitted by Jill Spero

Service group raises $525 for flood victim Prince of Peace’s House of St. James middle school service group raised $525 for the South Carolina flood victims. The students created and raffled off two Halloween baskets full of treats and decorations at the Prince of Peace Fall Festival on Oct. 16, 2015. The money was donated to the Red Cross. - Submitted by Jill Spero.

From left to right: Carley Rickman, Braden Cornelius, Alex Richard, Marjorie Kingsmore. Photo courtesy of Jill Spero.

Outdoor Social a hit with Bluff Park kids Bluff Park Elementary held its annual Outdoor Social on Oct. 8. Students were able to participate in crafts, games, food and several interactive educational exhibits. There was also a pumpkin decorating contest, outdoor activities and the chance to meet animals from the Alabama Wildlife Center, including a great horned owl. -Submitted by Amanda Briscoe Top left: Cub Scouts Han Briscoe and Jarrett Goldsby pose with the Alabama Wildlife Center’s great horned owl. Left: Students Shelby Benoit, Erin Riley, Anna O’Brien, Lucy Wills and Emma Kathryn Jones attended the Bluff Park Elementary Outdoor Social. Photos courtesy of Amanda Briscoe.

YE YEARS

A16 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

RAISING A FIGHTER Ross Bridge, Deer Valley communities come together to support 23-month-old By ERICA TECHO

Jeanna Sims kisses her son, Mason. Mason has faced health issues his entire life, including infections in his IV line and intestinal problems. Photo courtesy of Jeanna and Jay Sims.

Mason Sims is almost 2 years old, and he has never been able to eat solid food. He’s on an IV for nutrients and medication for 20 hours a day, and due to health complications has been in and out of the hospital several times since birth. Despite these obstacles, Mason and his family keep fighting. “He is the sweetest baby,” said Jeanna Sims, Mason’s mom. “With everything he has gone through, he’s still smiling.” The Hoover community has also rallied to help the Sims family, which lives in Deer Valley. Cameron Iverson knows Jeanna through Zumba at the Hoover YMCA and has helped to organize fundraisers for the family. The group is hosting a Zumba-based fundraiser in Ross Bridge on Dec. 11 to help the Sims family pay for medical bills. Mason and his twin brother, Gray, were “surprise” babies for Jeanna and Jay Sims. The boys shared a placenta in the womb -- a high-risk factor in pregnancy. At 16 weeks, the Sims found out the babies were growing at drastically different rates. They were warned Mason might not make it through the week, but Jeanna and Jay refused the option of elective reduction. “Every week, we would be going to our high-risk doctor and weren’t sure if he’d -- if they’d -- make it,” Jeanna said. Jeanna had a cesarean section at 28 weeks. Mason was born at 1 pound, 6 ounces, and Gray was born at 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Mason spent the next eight months in the hospital, with his brother in a different hospital for two months. “It was just a lot at first,” Jeanna said.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A17 Left: Twins Gray and Mason shared a placenta in the womb, making Jeanna’s pregnancy high risk. They were born at 28 weeks. Far left: The Sims family – Jeanna, Jay, Parker, Addison, Gray and Mason. Photos courtesy of Jeanna and Jay Sims.

“He is such a fighter, though,” Jeanna said. “People start praying like crazy and he pulls through.” On Sept. 28, Jeanna took Mason to Nebraska for a chance at an intestinal transplant, which could improve some of his health problems. “That’s one of the things that keeps him in the hospital,” said Iverson. “It’s one of the reasons he needs a transplant so bad — he’s so susceptible.” To help cover past and future costs for the Sims family, Iverson created a GoFundMe page. The goal is lofty — $300,000 — and Iverson said Jeanna had some reservations about starting the page. “She’s very concerned that GoFundMe is asking for money for a transplant, which is what it says,” Iverson said. “I said, ‘But that is the goal. If a doctor turns that down because Mason can’t handle it or because they find some other way, that’s fine.’ ” After arriving in Nebraska, doctors told Jeanna

“

I just feel like I can’t express enough how much I appreciate the love and support.

”

JEANNA SIMS

that the survival rate five years post transplant is only 60 percent. The statistics were tough, but the Sims made the decision to look into intestinal rehab. Doctors also recommended heart surgery for Mason’s pulmonary vein stenosis, a condition that obstructs blood vessels. Even though an intestinal transplant isn’t the next step, the Sims family is continuing to look for the best treatment option. The GoFundMe page has raised over $13,000,

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and there have been multiple community fundraisers, including an Iron Bowl football ticket raffle, that have raised money for the family. While Iverson can see donations as they come in, the family has full control of the money raised. They are able to take money out as it is needed and choose how to spend it. “They’re a very deserving family because they’re not going to misuse,” Iverson said. “They’re so humble. They won’t ask, they will not ask you for money — I made her do this.” In addition to the GoFundMe donations, community support has provided the Sims family with meals, gift cards, carpools and play dates for their two older children, Parker and Addison. There have also been efforts to get kids in the community involved, and some children have asked for donations for Mason rather than presents at their birthday parties. Jeanna said seeing families willing to help them is one of the most moving qualities of the community’s support.

“That brings me to tears, that people are raising their kids to be selfless and giving,” Jeanna said. Although Mason and Gray’s health problems prevent them from going to church, Jeanna also said she appreciates the support of their community at Hunter Street Baptist. Prayers and faith have been a huge help in their family’s struggles, Jeanna said. “It has literally carried us through some of his sickest times,” Jeanna said. “Our faith has been our rock.” Iverson said the community has several more fundraising efforts in the works, and she hopes everyone will band together to support the Sims family. “I just feel like I can’t express enough how much I appreciate the love and support,” Jeanna said. “We just pray that they’re blessed more than they have blessed us.” The GoFundMe page for the Sims family can be found at gofundme.com/Mason-Gray.

A18 • December 2015

HEROIN ON THE RISE

Hoover Sun

Coming Clean is part of a three-part series for the Hoover Sun. The next installment, focused on community efforts toward addiction prevention, will be in the January edition of the Hoover Sun.

COMING CLEAN D Hoover man shares his story of heroin addiction and recovery By ERICA TECHO

alton Smith has an addictive personality. He started drinking in his early teens. As a student at Spain Park, he smoked and sold marijuana, eventually progressing to psychedelic drugs. He was addicted to heroin before he graduated from high school. “A lot of kids, they get drunk, they feel miserable, they don’t want to do it ever again — they’re done,” said Smith, who is now 21 years old. “But I remember thinking, when can I do it again?” That desire for getting high and feeling high didn’t stem from a major tragedy, Smith said. His parents got divorced when he was 10 years old, but he said he wouldn’t consider that a tragic turning point in his life. “I grew up in a great family,” Smith said. “I had anything that I wanted. I had nothing wrong with my childhood. I didn’t have a traumatic childhood like a lot of people like myself. I didn’t really have that.” While some kids could drink alcohol or smoke marijuana once and never go back, Smith said he couldn’t do that. He would want to be drunk or high again as soon as he could. “A lot of kids won’t even think about it,” he said. “They’re like, ‘That’s not for me.’ But for me, I’m all or nothing. I didn’t care; it sounded fun to me.” At first, addiction did not have a large impact on his life. He still played sports and did well in school. He was still the guy other parents wanted their kids to hang out with, Smith said, until he got into a crowd that only cared about one thing — getting high. Then he started selling drugs and trading for pills. He first snorted heroin when he was 16 or 17. “I remember the first time just really loving it,” he said. “It gave me this euphoria that I had never felt in my entire life, and that’s why, in my opinion, heroin is the devil drug. That’s why I think it’s such an epidemic, is because it’s such a powerful drug.” In Shelby County, there were 32 overdose deaths in 2014 and 13 deaths between January and May this year. Of those deaths, 11 were believed to be heroin-related. Shelby County Drug Task Force Commander Lt. Clay Hammac there is a rough estimate that 25 percent of overdoses in the county can be attributed to heroin. “Shelby County, we categorize it as a consumer county,” Hammac said. “This is not a county where drug dealers are prevalent, but this is a county where drug use and abuse are on the rise.” In 2014, 27 heroin overdoses were reported in the city of Hoover. Ten of those overdoses resulted in death. As of October 2015, Hoover already had 27 overdoses. “In my 30-plus years as a policeman, I’ve never seen a drug hit like heroin has,” Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said. “We’ve been keeping stats for probably five years, and our overdose deaths continue to rise.” Hoover PD’s first encounter with heroin was in 2003, said Hoover PD Captain Gregg Rector, and the city’s first heroin overdose death was in October 2008. “We’ve gone from seven years ago, we really weren’t seeing it at all. It was really just sporadic what we were seeing,” Rector said. “Fast-forward three years to 2011 and 2012, and we had five deaths each of those two years.” The heroin epidemic comes from a combination of the drug’s addictiveness and its relatively low cost, Rector said. A $15 or $20 bag of heroin could be enough to get two people high. Those bags, however, are unpredictable. Rector said users cannot know what their heroin is cut with or how potent the drug is. Hammac said the heroin problem in Shelby County derives from addiction to prescription medications. While these situations often start with a legitimate cause for the prescription drug - often an opiate-based medication - some patients become dependent. When the prescription becomes harder to obtain or more expensive to purchase, they may transition to heroin. Sometimes heroin is cut to make it less potent, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has confirmed instances of fentanyl-cut heroin, Rector said. Fentanyl, a prescription opiate used to treat severe chronic pain, is also a highly addictive substance and increases the high of heroin. “It doesn’t say 80 milligrams on a sack of heroin,” Smith

Dalton Smith poses while sharing his experience with drugs, including heroin, and how he was able to break his addiction to what he calls the ‘devil drug.’ Photo by Frank Couch.

said. “You don’t know what the hell you’re getting.” Smith said he overdosed twice while he was using. The first time he injected heroin, rather than snorting it, it almost killed him. “I remember the first time I got shot up, it was by a guy who had just done a 13-year sentence,” Smith said, “and he looked me in the eyes and he said, ‘You’ll never stop, and you’ll never go back.” While prescription drug addiction affects multiple age groups in Shelby County, Hammac said most of the time, young adults are the ones transitioning from prescription drug use to heroin. Sometimes this comes from a more open attitude toward drug use, he said. “Older adults know the stigma that surrounds heroin from decades ago,” Hammac said, “and that stigma probably does not exist with younger adults.” Hammac said prevention is a goal for the Sheriff’s Office, which seeks to inform students, families and educators about the danger of drug use and addiction to prevent overdose deaths. When someone transitions to injecting heroin, they will overdose within the first minute after using. Some police and fire departments have access to Narcan or Naloxone, a medication that reverses the effect of heroin. Responders can administer it on scene and potentially prevent an overdose death, but Rector said a lack of options following that step prevents some people from getting treatment. “I wish there were more places that were readily available,” Rector said. “I wish there were a place that I knew today that if I had someone who walked into my office and said, ‘Hey, I’m a heroin addict, I need help, I need to go to rehab and I need to go today.’ I don’t know that there’s any place that I could call up for a person who didn’t have insurance.” Even with help from his parents, Smith tried to quit using several times and would manage to stay clean for a few months, but he kept going back to drugs. He dropped out of Spain Park and was placed into an alternative school, and he spent his last week in high school in treatment and didn’t know if he would graduate. “It was just this vicious, dark cycle,” he said. “I could not find my way out.” Smith just celebrated being clean for two and a half years. He said he still doesn’t smoke or drink because he doesn’t want to potentially open the floodgates. “I might be able to, I might get away with it,” he said, “but eventually it’s not going to fit my cup of tea, and I’m going to want to go back to heroin.” Smith now has a job and is back in school working on a degree. He also speaks to student groups and sponsors individuals recovering from addiction. His goal, he said, is that they know they can beat their addiction. “There is a way out. That’s what I try to do,” he said. “If I’m talking to kids who have never gotten high before or kids that

BY THE NUMBERS: HOOVER Heroin overdose deaths, by year

5 4

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

*2015 data through October SOURCE: HOOVER POLICE DEPARTMENT

have full, active addiction, I always want it to be known that there is a way out.” Treatment was an important part of his recovery process, Smith said. While different strategies work for different people, he said it seems impossible to stop using heroin without treatment. He also advocates treatment, he said, because of the life skills he learned while going through it. Before those 10 months in an intensive in-patient treatment center in Atlanta, he said he didn’t have coping skills or the ability to make a life for himself. “It completely turned my life around,” he said. “I learned how to live again. I learned how to see the beauty in life again. I learned how to be a responsible adult.” Smith said he believes it’s almost impossible to stop every teenager from ever trying drugs, and he knows he might not be able to reach people until they are at their breaking point. But being able to help at least one person, he said, is what keeps him going. “Sponsoring guys, they think I’m helping them and I’m saving their life and all that, but they’re helping me save my life,” he said. “People did it for me, and I’m going to do it for other people.”

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A19

1493 Montgomery Highway Vestavia, AL 35216 • 205-874-9586

A20 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Waste not, want not Bumpus student grows out hair to donate to cancer foundation By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Daniel Morales, an eighth-grade student at Bumpus Middle School, is growing out his hair to donate to cancer victims. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Middle school boys don’t usually decide to grow their hair out to donate for cancer victims’ wigs. Daniel Morales knows this, but he decided to do it anyway. The eighth-grade student at Bumpus Middle School has been growing out his hair since the beginning of summer. Daniel had a classmate with cancer, now in remission, and several students decided to shave their heads as a show of support. When Daniel learned about the local Hope for Autumn Foundation, he wanted to do something, too. “Daniel said, ‘Well, I don’t want to waste my hair,’” his mother, Sas Morales, said. It’s not the first time Daniel has found a way to give back to others. He volunteered at the Hoover Library over the summer and regularly reads books to his older family members. But, as his mother says, he has “a theory about serving others” and wants to keep his volunteer work to himself. “I love doing community service, and I love volunteering, but I feel like everybody needs to do community service, but I don’t need a reward,” Daniel said. “Community service is kind of just for myself to be happy. I feel better about myself.” In addition to volunteering, Daniel plays flute in the Bumpus band, sings in the choir and is a member of the robotics team. He also travels each week with a friend to Briarwood Church to take an intensive course in American Sign Language (ASL). Though his hair is now well below his shoulders,

Daniel doesn’t tell most people why he’s growing it out. Some people do double-takes and ask when he’s going to cut it, and a few have tried to tell him that long hair is for girls. None of it fazes him. “He’s really confident for a boy his age to do his own thing,” Sas said. “You’ve got to stand strong if you’re going to make it through this long hair situation.” Those few comments aside, however, Daniel said most people are supportive of his lengthy locks even if they don’t know the reason behind them. He and his mother agree that the challenge isn’t other people’s opinions – it’s trying to take care of a huge amount of hair. “It takes a lot of work,” Daniel said of his daily routine, especially in the hot summer months. Daniel is trying to grow his hair at least 10 inches, which is in the middle of the length range that most hair donation companies accept. However long it grows, he has both parents’ support. When asked about his son’s decision, Daniel’s father Marco turns to reveal his own hair, which falls to the middle of his back. “I suppose it’s no shock to us,” Sas laughed. Marco is originally from Chile, where he said it’s common for men to have long hair. Daniel’s hair is actually shorter than both his parents’. “We have a cultural background of men having long hair,” Sas said. “We’re 100 percent behind it.” Daniel still has a couple months left to grow out his hair. Once he cuts it all off, though, Daniel said he plans to grow it right back out again. “I love having long hair,” Daniel said.

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HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A21

The art of roses By REBECCA WALDEN Catholic as it sounds, the term “consulting rosarian” has nothing to do with catechism. In this case, it reflects the journey of one local lover of roses from his home in Hoover all the way to Savannah, Georgia, where he learned to hone his craft and receive the coveted distinction. Long before receiving the honor, though, Paul Saeger was a recreational gardener who had happened into rose gardening by way of his father-in-law. “I started growing roses when our older son was born,” Saeger said. “We were living in Nashville at the time, and to paraphrase a rather famous line from the movie ‘Gone With the Wind’, we didn’t know nuthin’ about carin’ for a baby.” To support the new parents, Saeger’s in-laws came to Nashville to help out. “My wife and mother-in-law were busy with the baby and my father-inlaw was going nuts with nothing to do, so he dug me a rose bed,” he said. The following spring, Saeger had planted his first two rose bushes, and he was hooked. “That was in 1962 and I’ve been growing roses ever since,” Saeger said. In retirement, Saeger has been able to take his passion for rose gardening and turn it into a skilled art. In 2013, he became a Master Gardener through the Shelby County Extension Office, a division of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Hoover resident Paul Saeger recently became a Consulting Rosarian through the Deep South District of the American Rose Society. Photo courtesy of Paul Saeger.

Most recently, he became a Consulting Rosarian through the Deep South District of the American Rose Society. The distinction was hard earned, requiring Saeger to be a member of the local rose society (the Birmingham Rose Society) for three consecutive years while actively growing a number of roses and satisfying application requirements, plus three letters of recommendation from

active Consulting Rosarians. Saeger then attended the district Consulting Rosarian School, which was held in Savannah at the January meeting of the Deep South District of the American Rose Society. One four-hour, 50-question multiple choice test later, spanning a variety of subjects including fertilization, chemical safety, major insects and diseases, Saeger exceeded the 75 or

higher scoring requirement to earn his certification. All the while, Saeger has maintained and expanded a residential rose garden resplendent with more than 100 shrubs, including hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, minifloras, polyanthas and David Austin shrubs. “When we moved into our home 17 years ago, I had raised rose beds built

and I populated those beds the following spring,” Saeger said. “Over time, I added an additional bed and began growing roses in large pots. Recently I’ve gotten interested in Old Garden Roses and have added two cultivars of Bourbon, one China and one Tea rose.” For those curious but intimidated about the prospect of rose gardening, what Saeger calls “the casual rose grower,” his advice is to do your homework and keep an open mind. “I think too many people are intimidated by growing roses,” he said. “They see them as hard to grow and demanding of too much time and effort. As a result, if they try to grow roses at all, they grow Knockouts. While Knockouts have their place, people are missing a lot by not growing other types as well. Roses don’t have to be that demanding. It just takes the right rose in the right place with the right maintenance routine.” Saeger is quick to acknowledge that growing roses at the scale he grows them is not for everyone. Nevertheless, he encourages those who are interested to follow their curiosity. “To have a rose garden the size that I have obviously takes work,” he said. “But no one forced me to have a garden this size. I do it because I enjoy growing roses. I enjoy not only the pleasure that I get from them but the pleasure that other people get from them as well. The important thing is to try. But if it becomes a job, it’s time to find something else to do.”

A22 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Events

AWC gears up for bake sale

Lights on the Bluff returns Dec. 12. Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Baptist Church.

Lights on the Bluff Saturday, Dec. 12, 5-7:30 p.m.

The Alabama Wildlife Center (AWC) will host its annual Holiday Craft and Bake Sale Fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road. A variety of items will be sold at the event, including homemade baked goods, original wildlife artwork, jewelry and handmade quilts and throws. The event will also feature free refreshments, crafting activities for kids and a visit from Santa Claus, who is scheduled to make a guest appearance and will be available for pictures from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “We are able to provide a great venue and forum for people in our community to come do their holiday shopping and take care of their holiday entertainment needs, all while helping out a wonderful cause,”

AWC Executive Director Doug Adair said. Those who attend will also have the opportunity to meet glove-trained birds from the wildlife center, as they will be showcased in a Birds of Prey show that will take place during the event. Serving as a primary fundraiser for the AWC, Adair said, the holiday sale will be a great opportunity for fellowship and fun, enabling the center to continue its impactful work. “We depend on the support of the people who believe in what we do in order to fulfill our mission,” Adair said, “so opportunities to generate that support, such as the holiday craft and bake sale, are very important.” For more information, call 663-7930.

Bluff Park Baptist Church, , 2211 McGwier Drive, will hold its annual Lights on the Bluff event on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5-7:30 p.m. The free event will feature a live nativity production, which begins at 5 p.m., along with food, crafts and hayrides previewing the community’s holiday lights. Hayrides will depart every 15 minutes following the live nativity. Call 822-3240 for more information.

The Hoover Songbirds are planning a Christmas carol sing-along on Dec. 16. Photo courtesy of Hoover Senior Center.

The participants of the 2014 Bring Your Old Buddy Scramble line up at the Ross Bridge golf course. Photo courtesy of Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Bring Your Old Buddy Scramble Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. The ninth annual Bring Your Old Buddy (BYOB) Scramble will tee off with a 10 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa. With more than 1,400 golfers teeing off at the same time on each of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

courses across the state, the BYOB gives players the opportunity to participate in the world’s largest shotgun start. The cost is $130 per player and includes the round of golf, cart, range balls, lunch and a 2016 trail discount card. Proceeds benefit local and state charities. Online registration can be found at rtjgolf.com/byob. Call 949-3085 for more information.

Holiday Sing-Along with Songbirds Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. The Hoover Songbirds will perform a Christmas carol sing-along concert for senior citizens at the Hoover Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec 16, at 1 p.m. Hot chocolate, cookies and a visit from Santa Claus will be included in the festivities. Although this is a free event, those who plan on attending are asked to pre-register in person or over the phone by Dec. 14. Call 739-6700 for more information.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A23

Pratt Brown, Pratt Brown Landscapes; Kate Newton, Landscape Services; Kimberly Bean, greenery sale chairwoman; and Amy Ager, greenery sale cochairwoman at the Red Mountain Greenery Sale. Photo courtesy of Red Mountain Garden Club

Holiday Greenery Workshop Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-noon Aldridge Gardens will host a Holiday Greenery Workshop on Monday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. Led by floral designers Carol Harris and Ricky Whitley, the course will provide participants with a hands-on experience, demonstrating how to decorate mantels, mailboxes,

Library Theatre puts on ‘Scrooge’ By JON ANDERSON

lampposts and entry halls using a variety of Alabama greenery just in time for the holidays. The course, which is limited to 20 participants, costs $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers, with discounts at Roots garden and gift shop included in the price of purchase. Those interested can register at aldridgegardens.com. Call 682-8019 for more information.

The youth orchestra will perform a holiday concert at the Riverchase Galleria. Photo courtesy of Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 and 4 p.m. Under the direction of Blake Richardson,

the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform two free holiday concerts at the Riverchase Galleria on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 4 p.m. Call 251-6929 for more information.

Most people likely have seen some version of Charles Dickens’ famous “A Christmas Carol” story before, but probably not quite like the version to be presented Dec. 3-5 at the Hoover Library Theatre. Director Jack Mann and a cast of 21 actors will be putting on a stage version of “Scrooge – The Musical,” with a twist. Theatergoers who come to the show will get to see the story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a miserly, bitter businessman into a person with a more generous spirit, with the help of some apparitions. But this production is a bit unusual, Mann said. “We’re actually letting the audience see how the show is put together,” he said. When the audience first arrives, they’ll pretty much see a blank stage instead of an elaborate set, Mann said. As the show progresses, the set is put together scene by scene, he said. The set, being created by Hoover Public Library employees Greg Patterson and Scott Littleton, will be rather minimal on purpose, Mann said. The audience will get to use their imagination to envision what the surroundings look like, based on the dialogue and actions of the actors, he said. “It’s a great experience for the actors and I expect will be a pleasant one for everyone involved,” he said. Plus, the audience will get to see the actors working backstage to some extent, Mann said. Instead of exiting the stage for costume changes, someone will bring some of the actors their clothes for a change on the stage, he said. “A Christmas Carol” was adapted into a screen musical in 1970 by writer-composer-lyricist Leslie Bricusse. It then began making the

Cast members in “Scrooge -- The Musical” rehearse a song at the Hoover Library Theatre. Photo by Jon Anderson.

rounds as a stage musical, including new songs not included in the movie. The show has about 25 songs, including some instrumentals, and lasts a little more than two hours with an intermission, Mann said. “It’s got some great music and some wonderful children playing the Cratchit children,” the offspring of Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit. There are 45 characters in the musical, played by 21 actors, Mann said. “Almost everybody in the show will be playing more than one character,” he said. The cast includes many names that are familiar in the Birmingham area theater community, including: Howard Green as the old Scrooge, Kyle Holman as the ghost of Scrooge’s former partner Jacob Marley, Ben Burford as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Mr. Fezziwig (the proprietor of a warehouse business), Suzanne Mann (Mann’s wife) as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Julia Hixson as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

A24 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Remembering their ‘rock’

Farmer helped Hoover Public Library grow into community treasure

By JON ANDERSON

George Farmer served on the Hoover Library Board for 33 years, including serving many years as chairman. He and others helped it grow from a small storefront operation to an 85,000-square-foot library with the largest circulation of any single-location municipal library in the state. Photo courtesy of Hoover Public Library.

When the Hoover Library Theatre first opened in 1992 and had trouble drawing a crowd for events, Library Board member George Farmer helped “pack the pews” by filling two to three rows with his friends and people from his church. He wanted to make sure the theater – and every other aspect of the library – was successful, and he was thrilled when the theater began selling out shows on the first day of ticket sales, Library Director Linda Andrews said. It was just one of many ways Farmer showed his love for the facility that he, other Library Board members and Andrews helped grow from a small storefront operation to an 85,000-square-foot library with the largest circulation of any single-location municipal library in the state. Farmer, who died in September at the age of 87, had a special place in his heart for the library and took great pride in its success, said his son, Dan Farmer. George Farmer was one of the founding members of the Library Board 33 years ago and served as its chairman, vice chairman and treasurer at different times over the years. He provided the library with a continuity of purpose and perspective that comes with experience, care and commitment, said Andrews, who was asked to give the eulogy at his funeral. “He was committed to excellence and set the standard of service to the community which has brought our library to the place where it is today,” Andrews said. “Our library has been referred to as the heart of the city, and George

Farmer gave his love and commitment to this library, as a parent would give love to a child.” Eloise Martens, another founding member of the Library Board, said Farmer was a rock and anchor for the board. He was always very thoughtful and never made rash decisions, she said. “It’s rare that you have an opportunity to serve with someone like that,” Martens said. “He had such integrity and a dedication to this library. We will sorely miss him.” Farmer was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1928. He worked in a textile mill owned by the Union Bleaching and Finishing Co. and later became a salesman for Prudential Insurance Co. of America. He and his wife, Helen, moved to the Birmingham area in 1967, his son said. Farmer was promoted to district manager and moved to Huntsville for a year and a half before being brought back to Birmingham. He retired from Prudential in 1981 with 30 years of service to the company. “He was always very upbeat and optimistic,” his son said. “He always looked for the best in people and in situations. I think that’s why he was so successful in sales.” Farmer loved to meet new people and hear their stories, his son said. He never met a stranger, and people seemed to look to him for leadership, his son said. Farmer was appointed to the Library Board in 1982 and was a faithful leader for the group, providing financial guidance and managerial skills, Andrews said. He also helped secure nearly $13,000 in grants for the library from Prudential because of his volunteer work, which at least once included modeling in a fashion show fundraiser for the library.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A25

George Farmer talks with Hoover Councilman Jack Natter during a 2013 Veterans Week celebration at the Hoover Public Library. Photo courtesy of Hoover Public Library.

He always attended library board meetings, Southern Voices conferences and shows in the Library Theatre, Andrews said. When he could no longer drive to board meetings, library staff would pick him up from his home, she said. But his service extended beyond the library.

He also volunteered for 14 years at the food bank at Green Valley Baptist Church, was a mentor for college students, volunteered with the March of Dimes and performed with the Meadowbrook Baptist Church Sunshine Singers senior group at area nursing homes. Dan Farmer said his father loved music and

had a great sense of humor. Martens said Farmer was known for his corny jokes, which she is now going to miss. Michael Krawcheck, another Library Board member, said Farmer wasn’t a backslapper or demonstrative person, but he was a doer and someone who treated everyone with respect and

courtesy, no matter their station in life. “He and Helen both conveyed a certain dignity and charm – an old school and perhaps lost art form in human behavior,” Krawcheck said. “They represent a tradition of humanity, humility and civility – things we’re seeing less and less of.”

A26 • December 2015

holiday gift guide

Hoover Sun

For the

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Pomeroy Accent Pillow $39 This Pomeroy accent pillow is perfect for the festive, yet elegant Christmas decor.

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For the

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For the

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For the

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Vietri Old St. Nick 2015 Limited Square Platter $189 This 15.75” festive platter is a collector’s item with each platter signed and numbered by the artisan. Bromberg’s 131 Summit Blvd. 969-1776

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A28 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

SINGING FROM THE HEART Riverchase Community Choir members represent many area churches, sing lively “Sunday night” gospel music By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE You don’t have to belong to a church or even have a good voice. In fact, the only requirement for becoming a member of the Riverchase Community Choir is the enjoyment of gospel music, said Director Andy Cooley of Bessemer. “It’s such down-to-earth music that tells a story and feels so good that I tell the members to just sing from the heart,” he said. “We don’t sing show tunes, but if you enjoy old-time hymns we’d love for you to join us. We’re really laid back, and people can take part if they can hold up a book.” According to Cooley, the current group, with about 40 participants, specializes in “songs we used to sing on Sunday night.” “We do songs like ‘I’ll Fly Away,’ ‘Mansion Over the Hilltop’ and ‘It Is Well With My Soul,’” he said. “It used to be that many churches had a morning book, which is more formal, and then a Sunday night book, which was more lively and casual.” According to Cooley, “depending on who shows up,” there will be as many as 14 or 16 Birmingham-area churches represented at each choir gathering. In addition to Riverchase United Methodist Church, the churches include: Morgan UMC and Canaan Baptist, Bessemer; Pleasant Hill UMC, McCalla; Dogwood Grove Baptist Church, Adger; People’s Church, Hueytown; Hoover First UMC,

Andy Cooley leads the Riverchase Community Choir in singing a hymn before going to a performance in Vernon, Alabama. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Hunter Street Baptist Church and Grace Covenant Fellowship, Hoover; Alabaster First UMC; Vestavia Hills UMC, St. Mark’s UMC, Crossroads Church of the Nazarene and Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia; Roebuck Park Seventh Day Adventist; and Canterbury UMC, Mountain Brook.

“We’re pretty stretched out,” Cooley said. The choir originated as the Riverchase UMC Gospel Choir and changed to the Riverchase Community Choir in 2012. The group, which usually rehearses the first Sunday of the month at Riverchase UMC, typically performs at retirement centers,

assisted living and nursing home facilities, senior centers and churches, he said. “One reason people like to take part is that they are not obligated weekly to rehearse and sing at three services each Sunday,” he said. “We have a great time, but we’re not that structured.”

Cooley, now retired, studied classical music for voice at Birmingham-Southern College and worked as a full-time choir director for churches in the Birmingham area. “For years I took part-time jobs in the regular workforce and then did Wednesday nights and Sundays in church,” he said. “But when our last child graduated from college in 1994, I quit working for pay and started volunteering.” Barbara Sheppard of Hoover, who takes part in the choir, praises Cooley as “a great director with a wonderful voice who was key in extending the experience to the community.” “The environment is so open and welcoming — Andy doesn’t require to do tryouts or prove you can read music or even sing,” Sheppard said. “We don’t make it difficult for anyone to become a part of our merry little band.” And speaking of a band, Cooley said the choir is always looking for musicians. “We have a bass player and pianist right now, but our violinist is moving out of state and we’re devastated,” he said. Cooley said he hopes anyone interested in joining the Riverchase Community Choir will contact him at andyeza@bellsouth.net. “I just need either phone or email contact information, and I’ll keep you informed on rehearsal and performance dates,” he said. “Then just come on and jump in.”

HooverSun.com

December 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ A29

A30 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Above: The holiday decorations at Riverchase Galleria were officially lit on Friday, Nov. 6. Photos by Erica Techo. Left: Santa Claus and Mayor Gary Ivey also made an appearance.

MALLS

CONTINUED from page A1 Three people did the heavy jobs with the lift on one weekend, and a crew of eight to 10 people followed up the next weekend, Bridges said. Christmas decorating isn’t the primary business for Bridges. In fact, the full name of his company is Christmas Décor by Bama Exterminating. Yes, his main business is a pest control company. Bridges admits pest control and Christmas decorations are an odd mix, but it works well for them, he said. “The pest control business slows some in the winter months. We were looking for something to keep our guys busy. It just seemed like a perfect fit for us, and it has been,” Bridges said.

Bridges secured a franchise agreement with the national Christmas Décor company in 2008. They started doing only residential work at first but expanded to commercial jobs about five years ago. Business decorating now amounts to about 40 percent of their business, Bridges said. The company, based in Northport, has grown every year and this year has 125 to 150 decorating jobs in the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Northport areas, he said. In 2013, Bridges’ company was named the National Franchise of the Year for Christmas Décor. “It’s something our employees enjoy and they take personal pride in doing,” Bridges said. “They kind of look at every job like they’re doing their own house. They’re pretty particular about how they do it.” Installation starts in some places on Oct. 1 and continues until around the week before

Christmas, he said. Then, in January, they take everything down. The Riverchase Galleria is one of the larger jobs they tackle. Others of similar size include decorating several buildings for the city of Clay and decorating an area around an ice skating rink the city of Tuscaloosa puts up at Christmas. Last year, they started handling the decorations at the St. Vincent’s Hospital campus near downtown Birmingham. “We’ve really just struggled in the past to get really reliable and quality support with our decorations,” said Diana Scalici, director of support services for the St. Vincent’s downtown Birmingham campus. “These guys have just been wonderful to work with.” The crew from Christmas Décor cares about getting a job done on time and doing it well, she said. After taking over last year, “We got feedback

that our main lobby had never looked better,” Scalici said. “They just did a knockout job last year. We got numerous comments about how nice and warm the lobby looked.” The Christmas Décor team started working with St. Vincent’s in July about getting decorations lined up for this season, she said. A lot of the decorations that St. Vincent’s had were purchased years ago and have experienced a lot of wear and tear, she said. The hospital has limited funds for decorations, so Christmas Décor has worked with hospital officials to come up with a plan to slowly update what they have, she said. “If they felt like our decorations weren’t up to par, they don’t want to put it up because it’s a reflection on them,” she said. Scalici said St. Vincent’s officials also like that Christmas Décor takes all the decorations down and stores them for the hospital. “I can’t say enough good things about them,” she said.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • A31 said the partnership is a great benefit for the university. “It’s a great place for us to see good, quality teaching,” Birkenfield said. “There’s a focus on student data – mining down on areas where students need to grow and then utilizing our students to make that happen. That’s exactly what we want our students to see.” Birkenfield said she would not hesitate to send her child to Trace Crossings if she had an elementary-age child. “It’s a creative environment for teachers to do the things they need to do to make that learning happen, she said. “This is one of the best things going on in our department.” Barber said there are numerous Trace Crossings teachers who have children there as well. “These are educators who would never compromise the education of their own child,” she said. Assistant Principal Amanda Stone is one of those educators. Stone could send her second-grade son to another school, but she likes the educational tools at his fingertips at Trace.

SCHOOL

CONTINUED from page A1 concerns parents who rely on those websites to pick where their children will go to learn. It’s of particular concern to parents who fear their communities may be rezoned from a higher-ranked school to attend Trace Crossings. During a recent meeting to discuss rezoning, parents at Deer Valley Elementary voiced their worries for the quality of education being offered at Trace Crossings and the prospect of their children being rezoned there. The GreatSchools website gave Deer Valley a 10 out of 10, while Trace Crossings was rated 5 out of 10. Barber said it’s important for people to consider test scores in context and remember that there is more to a school than its test scores.

TESTING TRACE CROSSINGS

But Barber said she is proud of the test scores at Trace Crossings. The most recent ACT Aspire test scores, released publicly by the state in the second week of November, showed: ► 51 percent of Trace Crossings fourth-graders showed proficiency in reading, ranking eighth of the 10 Hoover elementary schools. ► 43 percent of Trace Crossings third-graders showed proficiency in reading, ranking ninth out of 10 schools. ► In math, 53 percent of Trace Crossings fourth-graders showed proficiency, ranking last among Hoover’s elementary schools ► 55 percent of third-graders showed proficiency in math, ranking last among Hoover schools. That may not look good, but Trace Crossings did outperform statewide averages in reading and math. The statewide average proficiency rate was 38 percent in fourth-grade reading, 35 percent in third-grade reading, 48 percent in fourth-grade math and 54 percent in third-grade math. More importantly, people have to look at the demographics of the school and where the students at Trace Crossings started out, Barber said. Forty-five percent of the students come from low-income families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and “that’s going to impact test scores,” Barber said. Some of these students don’t have access to a lot of printed materials at home and did not have the advantage of preschool, so they start out behind some of their peers, Barber said. Plus, a high percentage of them live in apartments, and students from apartments often are more transient, which has a major impact on a child’s learning, Barber said. “Our test scores are not going to be the same as Greystone and Deer Valley” because the demographics are different and the children are starting out at a different level, she said. But that is not a reflection of the quality of teaching taking place, Barber said. “There are lots of children who have had very limited experience with reading and math, and they [teachers] are working diligently with those children to bring them up to what is expected of third- and fourth-graders,” Barber said.

First-graders Morgan Kimble and Sam Kuykendall work collectively using code to solve a problem on tablets. The Maker Studio at Hoover’s Trace Crossings Elementary School is filled with technology for students to learn problem solving, including how to use coding to program robots. Photo by Frank Couch.

ACT ASPIRE PROFICIENCY RATES, SPRING 2015

READING GRADE 3

MATH GRADE 3

BLUFF PARK DEER VALLEY GREEN VALLEY GREYSTONE GWIN RIVERCHASE ROCKY RIDGE SHADES MTN. S. SHADES

53% 61% 51% 52% 53% 59% 48% 45% 42% TRACE CROSSINGS 43% (9th)* STATE AVG. 35%

READING GRADE 4

77% 80% 70% 78% 62% 76% 63% 63% 62% 65% (10th) 54%

61% 55% 41% 61% 54% 69% 46% 55% 60% 51% (8th) 38%

MATH GRADE 4 65% 66% 54% 76% 72% 69% 58% 73% 62% 53% (10th) 48%

*Ranking among 10 Hoover elementary schools SOURCE: ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

2015 LEARNING GAINS, HOOVER ELEMENTARIES Percentage of students progressing at least one grade level, by subject, in one year: BLUFF PARK DEER VALLEY GREEN VALLEY GREYSTONE GWIN RIVERCHASE ROCKY RIDGE SHADES MTN. S. SHADES

TRACE CROSSINGS

ENGLISH

MATH

79% 77% 68% 70% 78% 75% 71% 84% 78% 77% (5th)*

83% 85% 73% 81% 74% 72% 73% 83% 66% 75% (5th)

READING 78% 74% 76% 80% 82% 80% 77% 77% 84% 83% (2nd)

*Ranking among 10 Hoover elementary schools SOURCE: HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS

WHAT TRACE CROSSINGS OFFERS

Barber said Trace Crossings has so much to offer students. Ninety percent of faculty members have a master’s degree or higher, including three who have education specialist degrees and one who has a doctorate. Nine achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; two teachers have won the Presidential Award for Math and Science Teaching; two are published authors; and one – Minette Wiggins – was the 2015-16 Alabama Elementary Teacher of the Year. Trace Crossings has many innovative learning environments, including a Maker Studio that provides students with hands-on applications of engineering and robotics skills. Students get to work together and use creative thinking skills to solve problems. In one project, kindergartners were asked to determine which animals might make a good pet and which animals might not. One of the animals they had to consider was a cow. Many of the children had no first-hand interaction with a cow before, so they used a 3-in-1 projector to project a proportionately-scaled cow image on the floor and then used building blocks as measurement tools to see how big a cow really is compared to

ENROLLMENT DROPS

Enrollment at Trace Crossings has dropped tremendously over the past 12 years. The school had 1,008 students in 2003 and was split in half to 545 students when many were rezoned to the new Riverchase Elementary in 2004. Enrollment climbed back up, but dropped again to 520 in 2011 when the entire fifth grade was moved to the new Brock’s Gap Intermediate School. Enrollment stayed steady in 2012 but has dropped each year since, according to enrollment numbers provided to the state. This year, the school reported 425 K-4 students. A separate preschool program has 65 pre-K students there. Some parents who pushed for rezoning to change the student body makeup – and test scores – at Trace Crossings have said people were moving out of their school zone or sending their children to private school due to concerns with test scores. Barber said no parents who switched to private schools or decided to homeschool told her they did so because of concerns with the quality of education. Some have speculated that racism or classism caused parents to move, as the school has had a majority of minority students since 2013 and greater numbers of low-income students enrolled. Barber said no one has given that reason for leaving, and school officials see the diversity in the school as a plus. The school is now about one-third white, one-third black and one-third other races, she said. “When a child comes to our school, it doesn’t make any difference what race or nationality that child represents,” Barber said. “It’s our obligation to teach that child and teach that child well. Every child that walks into our school is going to get a quality education based on his or her needs.” The school’s diversity gives each child an opportunity to interact with children of different races and backgrounds and prepares them better for the real world, Barber said.

other animals. “It was very meaningful for the kids,” kindergarten teacher Celeste Burton said. The Maker Studio was one of 12 “success stories” showcased at the School Superintendents of Alabama’s 2015 fall conference. Trace Crossings also converted a science lab into a Maker Space with hands-on science projects and has a Maker Square that focuses on math enrichment. “What we’re really trying to do is the application of math and reading through science,” Barber said. “Kids love science.” The children may not even realize the things they are doing are educational, she said. “They’re just having fun. They think it’s just play, but it’s strategic, organized play.” Trace Crossings has an extra multi-purpose room in addition to the gym, two children’s kitchens, an outdoor learning lab in the woods, a garden, a playground that includes soccer fields, a special preschool playground and two computer labs, Barber said. There are also a variety of clubs for students to join, ranging from guitar, food and clay clubs to a robotics team, choir and GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science).

“From a facilities standpoint … we have a lot of resources that other schools don’t have,” she said.

SAMFORD CONNECTION

One of the most unique features at Trace Crossings is a partnership with the School of Education at Samford University that immerses third-year education students in the classrooms at Trace Crossings. The education students are partnered with teachers and assist in instruction for struggling learners and students who need an accelerated experience, Barber said. This year, there are 42 Samford education students helping out at Trace Crossings, she said. Three Samford professors teach some of their courses at the Trace Crossings campus as well. The fact that Samford has continued this program for five years at Trace Crossings speaks to the quality of the school, Barber said. “I don’t think Samford would risk their program in any way, shape or form with partnering their students with any teachers of lesser quality,” Barber said. Karen Birkenfield, one of Samford’s education professors who teaches at Trace Crossings,

OVERCOMING PERCEPTIONS

Brian Pierson, president-elect of the Deer Valley Elementary PTO, said he doesn’t have an issue with the quality of instruction at Trace Crossings. “I’m not sure what the problem is, other than just a stigma – that perception that people have,” Pierson said. “I don’t have any reason to think there was lesser opportunities than there are at any other school. I feel like the city has the same standards for all their teachers.” However, “it’s a touchy situation when you’re dealing with people’s kids,” Pierson said. Many people, including Pierson’s family, chose where to live in part because of where they want their children to go to school, and they don’t like the idea of someone else changing that. Test scores are one of the most common tools used to evaluate schools, Pierson said. Short of visiting the school and meeting the faculty, it’s hard to show those other variables, he said. That’s exactly what Barber and Wood want people to do – visit Trace Crossings and see for themselves what the school is like. They have a lot of pride in Trace Crossings. “’For those students that are rezoned to Trace, I’d be happy to speak to each and every one of the parents,” Wood said. “’Trace is the Place’ is our current motto. I stand behind that motto 100 percent.”

Sun

Bluff Park Business Guide B16 Real Estate B25 Calendar B26

TWICE AS NICE

SECTION

Spain Park’s second victory over Hoover sends team to 7A Championship By CHRIS MEGGINSON “We’re going to state!” The cheer was heard all over the turf at Spain Park’s Bob Finley Field on Friday, Nov. 20. Carolina-blue-painted students stormed the turf and players chanted, danced and pointed to their ring finger following a 7-6 thrilling semifinal victory over Hoover. The top-ranked Spain Park Jaguars (12-1) will play for the AHSAA Class 7A state championship Wednesday, Dec. 2 when they meet the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets (12-1) at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Spain Park will be the visiting team on the scoreboard for the first time in the playoffs and will enter the stadium via the Crimson Tide’s traditional Walk of Champions at 5:15 p.m. “This is unbelievable. It’s been a fun journey with these kids. They’ve worked so hard,” said Patrick Kellogg, Spain Park athletic director. “The energy and excitement has been literally unprecedented. The coaches, the players and our students have had a great energy about them. You could see that carrying over in their school days. They’ve done a wonderful job.” The Yellow Jackets are riding an eight-game win streak. Spain Park, riding a 12-game win streak, previously played for a 6A title in 2007.

See JAGS | page B4

Parker Kelley (5) catches the game’s only touchdown during the Hoover-Spain Park semifinal game. Photo by Ted Melton.

B2 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Spain Park quarterback Joey Beatty runs for yardage against Hewitt-Trussville. Photo by Ted Melton.

BEATTY THE BOLD JAGUARS’ QUARTERBACK FINDS CONFIDENCE IN CONSISTENCY

By SAM CHANDLER

pain Park senior quarterback Joey Beatty constructed a stunning debut in his first start at the varsity level. In the Jags’ season opener at Austin High School on Aug. 21, the 5-foot-10 gunslinger threw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to make quick decisions and find the open receiver. “He’s not going to make many mistakes, and he’ll come up with some plays for us,” Spain Park coach Shawn Raney said after the game. “I think he’ll continue to get better because he’s a good worker and a good kid.” Although the Jags would go on to lose their opener in heartbreaking fashion, falling to Austin 38-35 in triple overtime, Raney’s initial postgame assessment has proven to be incredibly accurate. Over the course of the season, Beatty has emerged as a reliable game manager who makes few mistakes, showcasing his ability to limit turnovers while sparking big offensive plays. Like the time when Beatty hit tight end Will Greene in stride down the right sideline on a precise 40-yard touchdown pass in the second half against Hoover High on Oct. 1. The clutch TD gave the Jags a 17-0 advantage and essentially knocked the wind out of the Bucs’ sails, helping the Jags solidify the first victory in school history over their archrival. Or, there was the time when Beatty, under intense duress from the Hewitt-Trussville defense, adroitly rolled out of a collapsing pocket, bounced off of a Husky defender to avoid being sacked and then delivered a 21-yard dart to trusted wide receiver Bridge Suber in the

corner of the end zone. “I think I’ve done well,” Beatty said. “I mean not totally amazing; I have great players around me to help me, so I think I’ve done OK.” The results suggest that’s a modest understatement. Since suffering the stinging defeat on opening night, the Jags have been on a tear. With Beatty under center, Spain Park (12-1, 7-0) has clicked off an impressive winning streak, going undefeated in region play and ascending to the top ranking in Class 7A. “After the first game, after that loss, we didn’t ever hang our heads, we just kept working,” Suber said. “I think we found ourselves in that game, found out who we needed to be on offense and who we needed to be on defense. Now the sky’s the limit.”

It certainly appears so. To supplement Beatty’s chemistry with his receiving corps, Spain Park also boasts one of the most dynamic and punishing backfields in the state. Behind a powerful offensive line, running backs Larry Wooden and Wade Streeter are capable of breaking loose on any given play. “It helps me a lot, because it can take the pressure off of me when I’m throwing the ball with play action because they’re all sucked in to the run, and I have wide open receivers I can easily deliver the ball to,” Beatty said. On the defense, the Jags are just as stout. Led by linebacker Perry Young, the Spain Park defense has held opponents to 80 points all season, tallying four shutout performances. “I thought we were capable of big things, I

really did,” Beatty said. “I’m comfortable with all the offensive players, and I knew our defense was going to be really, really good this year, so I was really hoping that we would have a good season.” Thanks to consistent, disciplined play across the board, especially from their quarterback, those initial hopes have come to fruition. And, as the Jags prepare for their state championship battle with McGill-Toolen, they appear poised to make history. Led by Beatty — whose progressive growth in confidence mirrors that of his entire team — there’s reason to believe Spain Park has a legitimate shot of winning its first state title. “I’m shooting for it, I know that, and I hope everyone around me is, too,” Beatty said. “That’s what we’re really pushing for.”

HooverSun.com

December 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B3

B4 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

AHSAA CLASS 7A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP • Who: Spain Park vs. McGill-Toolen • When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2 • Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa • Listen: AHSAARadioNetwork.com • Watch: PathToThePlayoffs.com • Tickets: $12, Super7AL.com

JAGS

CONTINUED from page B1 Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy is proud to make her first state championship trip. This will be the 16th consecutive for Hoover City Schools since 2000, with Hoover having previously attended seven straight twice (2000-06, 2008-2014). “This is such an awesome experience for me personally and professionally,” Murphy said. “I’ve done this for 31 years. I’ve been to some great places, and football in Alabama is great stuff, but what a unique atmosphere here. Folks love football and are passionate about our bands and our cheerleaders.” KEEPING IT EXCITING Following the dramatic 7-6 semifinal win over Hoover, Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney said fans may can expect another thriller in Tuscaloosa like the team provided the last few weeks and in their road action this season. “We’re not skilled enough to go out and blow people out. We’ve just got to fight, play good defense, play good in special teams and get what we can get on offense,” Raney said. “If we can get it this week, it’ll be the same thing. It keeps our fans excited, I can promise you that.”

Cameron Toyer (21, center) and teammates celebrate an interception in the fourth quarter. Photo by Dan Starnes.

Sometimes that looks like a senior, who dropped a touchdown pass in the quarterfinals, fulfilling a coach’s promise that he’d catch one in the semifinal. Such was the case when Parker Kelly caught a tipped ball with 2:33 left to tie the game against Hoover. Then, the Jaguars relied on special teams once again. Senior kicker Crosby Gray made yet another eventual game-winning kick. “I just knew to get myself mentally prepared,” Gray said. “It’s the most amazing feeling. [Going to state is] once in a lifetime. Words still can’t explain it.” As the Bucs, who had two long field goals already in the game, moved toward field goal range again, junior cornerback Cameron Toyer picked off a pass at the Spain Park 23 with 1:24 to play. “I saw the quarterback eyeing him down, and I

Tyler Sumpter (44) was a critical player on special teams this season. Photo by Dan Starnes.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • B5

Bredt Stover (57) celebrates with teammates after the win on Nov. 20. Photo by Dan Starnes.

Spain Park cheerleaders and players celebrate their win. Photo by Dan Starnes.

just jumped the pass. We’re going to state now,” Toyer said, still in shock after being toted all over the field by teammates after the win. “This one is for the seniors. I’m an Alabama fan. It’s always been a dream to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium.” The Jags still needed to rely once more on the “super leg” of senior Tyler Sumpter, who helped flip the field in the second half, and boomed a 43-yard punt that lasted eight seconds, giving Hoover only 16 seconds to work the field. Time ran out on the Bucs as they tried to set up for a field goal after a long first down pass. “Special teams has been a weapon all year, both of them (Gray and Sumpter),” Raney said. “Those kids have been unbelievable all year. We ask them to do everything.” STORY AFTER STORY “God has blessed me and this team. It’s amazing all of the sub-stories that’s went on with this team,” Raney said. For Raney, the biggest is the Jaguars’ turnaround from a 6-4 season in 2014 to clipping off a 12-game win streak, following a season-opening loss to Class 6A Austin, 38-35. “Last year was not a good year for us. This year, after losing the first game, I felt better after a loss than I did after a win last year, because of how our kids responded right away,” Raney said. That immediate response came in form of a 31-0 shutout of Hueytown in the home opener. It proved to be the first of four consecutive home shutouts, including the program’s first win over Hoover, 17-0, on Oct. 1.

But it was quickly reestablished that most of the games en route to a 7A title would be war, beginning with a 15-14 win at Thompson following Crosby Gray’s first game-winning kick. Gray did it again two weeks later for a 31-28 win at Hewitt-Trussville and was called upon for game-winning kicks in the state quarterfinals and semifinals. STAT LEADERS Senior quarterback Joey Beatty has led the Jags’ offense all year, completing 69 percent of his 200 pass attempts for 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bridge Suber has been his No. 1 target with more than 400 yards on 35 catches. Running backs Wade Streeter and Larry Wooden have compiled 905 and 865 yards on the ground, respectively. The Jags’ defense has allowed only 9.46 points per game. Houston Hollis leads the defense with 79 tackles. Crosby Gray is the Jags’ leading scorer with 78 points, connecting on 15-of-19 field goal tries and a perfect 33-of-33 PATs. PLAYOFF RECAPS Spain Park played three straight home games, beating Hazel Green, 31-7, and rallying against No. 2 James Clemens, 13-10, before beating Hoover 7-6. The Bucs bagged Buckhorn in week one, 38-7 and avenged a regular season loss to Vestavia with a 24-0 shutout in the quarterfinals. For complete coverage of Spain Park’s championship run, visit HooverSun.com/sports.

B6 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Trails and tribulations Shades Mountain Christian’s youth cross-country team teaching life lessons as well as running By SAM CHANDLER Dave Scherbarth, the athletics director at Shades Mountain Christian School, received an uproarious response to a simple question he posed on a cool, gray Saturday morning earlier this fall. “Runners, are you ready?” he hollered through a speaker. After a brief pause, the booming reply from a flurry of energetic youngsters came through loud and clear, “Yeah!” A moment later, they were off. Now wrapping up its second wildly successful season, the Shades Mountain Christian School youth cross-country team has been a hit with both students and parents, opening the door to competition at an early age while teaching valuable life lessons along the way. “They learn that they’re not going to quit, and whatever they start, they’re going to finish,” Shades Mountain youth cross-country coach Mindy Barber said. “It’s not about being first. It’s about beating your own times each week. But the biggest thing is, when we go through life, there are going to be things that we don’t like or don’t enjoy or don’t always feel good, but we have to finish as we’re running for the Lord.” With a strong emphasis on perseverance, constant echoes of encouragement and innovative ways to make running fun, the team has grown to

The Shades Mountain Christian School youth cross-country team just completed its second year of competition (not all team members photographed). Photo by Sam Chandler.

nearly 50 members since its inception last fall, with runners ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. To help facilitate team community, especially considering the wide age bracket, Barber has established a buddy system that pairs younger runners with an older team member. On practice days, the older runners will finish up their distance runs with one of their younger teammates,

making sure they’re staying safe along the course. “To watch them partner together and really work as brothers and sisters, that’s what it’s all about,” Barber said. “The relationship goes throughout the school. We say it’s one big family, and it’s not just a cliché. It really is one big family.” In addition to traditional distance runs, Barber has found ways to make running a more appealing activity to

her young audience, incorporating fun conditioning games such as capture the flag and Indian runs into every practice. “I usually have some kids that don’t want to run, but we just tell them to come and run, and they forget that they’re running,” Barber said. “They don’t even know that they’re conditioning.” Over the course of the fall, the team participated in five meets, competing

in the Birmingham Regional Independent Athletic Association along with schools such as Westminster Christian, Jefferson Christian Academy and Highlands School. At every meet, which was held either on the Shades Mountain Christian or Westminster campus, races were divided into four coed divisions: kindergarten, first/second grade, third/ fourth grade and fifth/ sixth grade. Each division ran varying race distances, with the youngest runners completing a half-mile course and the oldest runners completing a 1½-mile course. Claire Davis, whose son Isaiah is a first-grader on the Shades Mountain Christian team, spoke highly of her family’s cross-country experience. “The coaches are so great. They love them so much and just genuinely care about their kids,” Davis said. “I’m excited this school has this program because that’s not even a normal program for public schools or anything like that.” Over the course of the season, Barber, a second-grade teacher who’s completed multiple marathons, has seen her runners make great strides on the course, progressively lowering their times and improving their finish positions. And to her, that’s what makes it all so worthwhile. “That’s an encouragement to me to see their faces to know that they can do it, and the key being that we can’t do it in our own power, but we can do anything through Christ,” Barber said.

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • B7

Shades Mountain’s Pausic sets state mark, wins second state cross-country title

Shades Mountain Christian senior Dylan Pausic pushes through the pain in the last mile of the 1A-2A state championship race on Nov. 14, capping his prep cross-country career with a second-straight title. Photo by Sam Chandler. By SAM CHANDLER Standing on the starting line at Oakville Indian Mounds Park on Nov. 14, Shades Mountain Christian senior Dylan Pausic knew the likely outcome of his final prep cross-country race. The defending 1A-2A state champion, he was expected to secure his second-straight AHSAA state title. It’s safe to say he did not disappoint. After establishing a considerable lead of at least 40 meters by the one-mile mark, Pausic cruised to a dominant 20-second victory, clocking a time of 16:20.40 and breaking the previous 1A-2A meet record of 16:21.50. “He kind of anticipated today was going to be the way it played out,” Shades Mountain Christian coach Glenn Ross said after the race. “I think he ran as well as he could. He ran strong. It’s just one of those things that’s hard to do when you’re by yourself, good as he is, but he runs hard, he works hard, he did well.” After setting a hot pace out of the gate in his past few races, Pausic employed a different strategy at the state meet, aiming to stay strong and relaxed through the first two miles. “Then the last mile,” he said, “just all guts kicking in.” Relying on fumes down the home stretch, Pausic, who recorded a time of 16:22.81 in a landslide 46-second victory at last year’s state championship, seized his final chance at a record attempt after narrowly missing the mark in 2014. “It was good, it was very good,” Pausic said, “but I mean, I had some personal goals that were

kind of different, but that was good.” Chief atop the list of Pausic’s other goals included breaking the elusive 16-minute barrier, a feat that stood just eight seconds off his 5k personal best. Due to the lack of competition, however, he was forced to run alone for the final two-and-a-half miles of the race, significantly increasing the difficulty of the task. But that’s something he’s used to. Over four minutes faster than anybody else on his team, Pausic pushed himself at practice on a daily basis, effectively building his mental toughness in preparation for race day “My coach always tells me just to pick some time and try to enjoy yourself,” Pausic said, “because you know it’s hard running by yourself going all those miles and stuff in training.” Characterized by perseverance and determination, Ross said Pausic made it easy to a coach a now two-time state champion, the only exception being his incredibly high threshold for an increased workload. “The hardest part with him sometimes is pulling in the reins because he likes to push himself so hard,” Ross said. In 7A, the Hoover High and Spain Park girls finished second and third, respectively. The Bucs’ Sydney Steely (7th) and Amellia Rumore (13th), along with the Jags’ Sarah Sims McGrath (9th) and Zoe Shore (12th), garnered All-State recognition. On the boys’ side, Tommy McDonough clocked a personal-best time of 15:52.84 to place sixth, leading Hoover to a third-place team finish.

B8 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Lady Bucs stopped short in Elite Eight Hoover volleyball finish s 34-7 By DAVID KNOX The Hoover Lady Buccaneers’ volleyball season ended with a 3-2 loss to McGill-Toolen in the Alabama High School Volleyball Tournament Elite Eight at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Oct. 28. The Lady Bucs, runner-ups last season to Mountain Brook, couldn’t get past the opener against the Dirty Dozen from Mobile, which took the match 25-16, 14-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-7. McGill-Toolen eventually advanced to the final, where they lost 3-0 to Mountain Brook. The Lady Bucs put together two strong games, especially the fourth when facing elimination. But overall, the Lady Bucs couldn’t sustain enough momentum. “It’s a tough loss,” said coach Chris Camper. “It was such a well-played match. It was hard for either team to get momentum. They just executed better. “I told our coaches that the first four points of the fifth would decide it.” Indeed, McGill built a 3-1 lead that stretched to 5-1 and then to 11-5 as the Lady Bucs ran out of gas. "We didn’t serve as aggressively in the fifth as we should have,” Camper said. “Nora Webster played out of her mind, Ali Lowe played out of her mind. We had some

Above: Erin Test (10) and Caroline Sanford (4) block a McGill-Toolen shot at the net. Left: Libero Olivia Portera sets for a teammate. Right: Hoover coach Chris Camper gives his team instructions. Photos by Frank Couch.

unforced errors, and we couldn’t stop them at the net. Their slide attack was very tough. We made the right adjustments but they could just hit it over us.” McGill-Toolen coach Kate Wood praised Hoover. “Hoover’s an outstanding team and they did things that really stressed us. I thought they blocked really well. It wasn’t a picture-perfect match, but we showed a lot of grit in winning.”

Lowe had 16 kills, 10 digs, 4.5 blocks and three aces. Webster, a junior, had 13 kills and two digs. Caroline Sanford added 12 kills, 2.5 blocks and a dig. Junior libero Olivia Portera had 24 digs, an assist and an ace. Junior Jamie Gregg had 20 digs and 45 assists, a kill and a block. For McGill, 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker Elizabeth Burnett had 21 kills, five aces, two digs and a block. The Lady Bucs finished 34-7.

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HooverSun.com

December 2015 • B9

Defensive back P.J. Hall (13) returns an interception against Hewitt-Trussville. Photo courtesy of John Perry.

Hoover’s Jeremiah Moon (50) is a Florida commitment. Photo courtesy of Barry Stephenson.

Hoover High’s all-stars

Jeremiah Moon, P.J. Hall to take field in annual Alabama-Mississippi rivalry By DAVID KNOX Hoover High’s Jeremiah Moon and P.J. Hall have been selected to the Alabama team for the 29th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game on Dec. 12 at the University of Southern Mississippi’s M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg. Sixteen players already committed to Division I-A schools have been selected to the 40-player Alabama All-Star Team that will face Mississippi. The roster is comprised of current high school seniors. The annual contest, an event of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association and the Alabama High

School Athletic Association, will be played in Mississippi for the first time. The head coach for Alabama is Thompson High School’s Mark Freeman. Mountain Brook’s Chris Yeager is an assistant. The annual all-star event has been played in Alabama since its inception in 1988. Alabama, 21-7 in the series, has won the last seven games with the last four being played at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The game was played at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium from 1988-2010 with the exception of 2007, when two games were played in the series. The first, in June, was played at Mobile, and the second game was played at Troy University in December. The game has since been played in December.

Moon is among the many players already committed to colleges. The outside linebacker/ defensive end is a University of Florida commitment. Hall, a cornerback, is not committed. He has offers from Louisville, Minnesota, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech. Alabama’s all-stars won last year’s game 36-30 with the game-winning touchdown coming on the final play of the game. Alabama game MVP in 2014 was Kerryon Johnson of Madison Academy, now a freshman at Auburn. Among the recent MVPs have been two Alabama standouts, current Crimson Tide linebacker Rashaan Evans (2013) and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (2011).

29th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game When: Saturday, Dec. 12 Where: M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi Host: University of Southern Miss. Kickoff: Noon Watch: Raycom TV

B10 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Entering the history books This map, painted by the founder of the Hoover Historical Society, shows the growth of Hoover, with different colors indicating different years of expansion.

Hoover Historical Society looking ahead to city’s 50th anniversary By SYDNEY CROMWELL When Hoover celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, it won’t be just another milestone. UAB history professor and author Pamela King said most historians consider a place historic once it reaches that 50-year marker. In advance of this important date, the Hoover Historical Society is beginning work on its 50th anniversary book about the city. The society has hired King to dig through the archives and piece together the story of the city that grew out of a Birmingham suburb. “When people think of Hoover, they think new, and they think suburb and they think ‘What is Hoover?’ That’s my perception being out in the community,” King said. “So one thing that fascinates me about Hoover is trying to understand what it is … what drives it, what holds it together.” The book is going to focus particularly on the past 25 years, since the HHS created a book

Commercial development along U.S. 31 in Hoover as of 1987. Photo courtesy of Hoover Historical Society.

celebrating the city’s first 25 years, but King said the entire history will be included. Carolyn Kolar, the HHS president, said they are finding old maps and articles to write the book, but they also have a unique opportunity to interview some of the earliest residents. King and the society have talked to former mayors, early developers and the city’s first fire chief, among others. “You can ask them what they were thinking, what they did, what the biggest controversies were – obstacles, successes, regrets – from the people who have actually been on the ground doing it,” King said. As they research, King said she is particularly interested in the personality of Hoover and how it quickly distinguished itself from the city of Birmingham. Within a diverse city, King said she has discovered a consistent sense of pragmatism and a desire to provide the best quality of life for its residents. And, Kolar added, community involvement. “[Hoover] doesn’t seem to let itself get derailed by newness, change. It’s really adaptable,” King said. “From what I can gather, the people that live here love it here.” The paths of interstates and highways out of Birmingham shaped the expansion of Hoover

from the beginning. King said Hoover is unique because, unlike many cities, it does not have a definable town center. “Hoover doesn’t exist without transportation. It is a child Pamela King, left, and Carolyn Kolar hold an aerial photo of the of interstates, basiearly development of Hoover inside the Hoover Historical Society’s cally, and of course archives. Photo by Sydney Cromwell. commerce. So development is its story,” “Hoover keeps up,” King said. King said. The book is planned to come out in 2017, When Hoover became large enough to begin and King said there will be pictures and maps experiencing “big city problems” such as traf- to accompany the narrative. Kolar said celebrafic, commerce and immigration, King said her tion plans have not been made yet, but the 25th research shows the city adapted well. anniversary was a big deal, and she expects the “It seems to me that Hoover has moved same for Hoover’s 50th year. through all of those things pretty sanely,” King Kolar said she wants this book and the 50th said. anniversary to bring new members to the HHS As King and historical society members and new contributions to their archives, as readexplore their archives, they’re not just looking ers “will realize that we’re making history, it’s for information from the early years. Recent important to preserve the history.” changes, such as Hoover’s adoption of highly “Just because they’re recent doesn’t mean planned neighborhoods such as the Preserve and they have no value,” Kolar said. Greystone, are just as much part of the city’s Keep up with the historical society’s activities story. at hooverhistoricalsociety.org.

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December 2015 • B11

Working toward the

ANSWER TO CANCER By ERICA TECHO Hoover resident Kayla Perry is dedicated to finding an answer to cancer. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer, in 2013, and in September 2014 she created Open Hands Overflowing Hearts (OHOH). OHOH is dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and raising awareness about the need for pediatric cancer research. “That’s kind of what sparked her [Kayla’s] fire of having the foundation, is realizing how many doctors have to look at children and their parents and say, ‘I don’t know what to do with this,’ because they don’t know because there’s not enough research,” said Hayden Patton, OHOH director of development. To raise money, OHOH hosts several events throughout the year, including Answer to Cancer in December. Answer to Cancer is the end event for 100 Ways, 100 Days, a

Answer to Cancer • Dec. 6, 4-8 p.m. • Regions Field • Ohoh.org fundraiser that kicked off in September, as well as a chance to raise a lot of money. Last year’s event raised more than $150,000 and had around 1,000 attendees. “Seeing how the organization [OHOH] didn’t even start until Sept. 1, all the planning for the event didn’t start until October,” Patton said. “So that’s pretty huge for an event.” This year will have the same activities as last year’s Answer to Cancer — games, food, drinks, a silent and live auction, a kids zone, a live band and a few other surprises — but Patton said the goal is to raise even more money. Patton said she hopes the event’s activities will attract attendance, but

Children play games at Answer to Cancer in 2014. Photo courtesy of Open Hands Overflowing Hearts

she also said the best reason to come is to support a good cause. “The biggest reason is the cause,” she said. “Pediatric cancer is so underfunded, and this is our biggest event of the year to kind of bring together all of our efforts of the year and really end the year with a bang of raising as much money as we can.” OHOH hopes to raise $1 million by the end of 2015, and Patton said they hope at least $200,000 is raised through Answer to Cancer. Sponsorships are one of the key ways to make sure Answer to Cancer is successful,

Patton said, and they will accept sponsorships up until the week of the event. There are five levels of sponsorships, ranging from $500 to $10,000. All money raised at the event will be donated to pediatric cancer research, and Patton said OHOH guarantees a portion of the money will remain local, going to Children’s of Alabama. She also said a unique quality of OHOH is its ability to be a filter for donations; they can help direct donations toward specific research projects or hospitals if a donor requests that. OHOH’s growth over the last year

and its influence as a young organization is amazing, Patton said, and she hopes that Answer to Cancer will help continue to spread that message. “I believe people believe in Kayla,” she said. “I think that people believe in the cause and there is getting a lot more awareness where people are realizing how underfunded childhood cancer is.” Answer to Cancer is Dec. 6 at Regions Field. Tickets can be purchased online at ohoh.org, and information on sponsorship is available by emailing hayden@ohoh.org.

B12 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Left: Jim Langley outside Oak Hill Cemetery, which is the subject of his most recent book. Photo courtesy of Jim Langley. Above: Delmont’s Slang Blade is a collection of over 1,000 witty remarks and stories that Hoover resident Jim Langley has heard.

Author shares

family wit, local legends By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE At age 65, Jim Langley finds himself with a new career of creativity—one of writer, storyteller and artist. To date, the “retired” resident of the James Hill subdivision of Ross Bridge has authored three self-published books, is researching and conducting tours of historic areas of Birmingham, and has begun testing his talent with brushes and canvas. “I guess you could blame part of what I’m doing on my ADD brain. But a lot of people say they got bored in retirement and I’ve definitely avoided that,” Langley said. “My wife says I’m working harder than ever.” According to Langley, his first writing venture came about by accident, resulting from ongoing visits with his mother during a nursing home stay. “There’s not a lot of conversation during those situations, so my daughter and I started talking with my mom about her life and experiences during the time of the Depression, which really turned into interviews,” he said. “I took lots of notes and after she passed away, I began compiling the stories and put them in a little book for the family.” It wasn’t just family members who enjoyed “The Pearls of Pauline.” Word of mouth spread and eventually brought the volume to the attention of the editor of Tombigbee Country Magazine, Destry “Bo” Webster. Webster, whose monthly publication features “old time stories, humor and folklore,” said he got such raves from readers when he spotlighted a few of Langley’s stories, he printed the entire 125 pages over the next 18 months. “It was such a huge hit, we had lots of people calling each month asking what Miss Pauline was going to do next,” Webster said. “All our readers loved it, and I know would love a volume two.”

The author’s second book, initially entitled “Delmont Says” and now known as “Delmont’s Slang Blade,” was taken from about 4,000 comical sayings and comments made by family, friends and other sources Langley had jotted down over several years. “It has a lot of humor and some anecdotes and, for example, about 20 ways to say someone is lazy, including ‘he’s not afraid of work; he can sit by it all day,’” Langley said. “Everyone likes to have something fun or witty to say, and this gives you a few comments you can put in your back pocket.” Hoover City Council President Jack Wright was so taken with “Delmont’s Slang Blade” that he purchased 30 copies last Christmas as gifts for family and friends. “It’s slapstick humor. Very unusual and people love to get unusual things,” Wright said. “Jim’s a colorful guy who writes colorful stuff.” And Langley continued penning “colorful stuff” with his most recent book, “Tales of Oak Hill.” Inspired by a pilgrimage presentation by students portraying people buried in a historic Columbus, Mississippi cemetery, Langley began researching Birmingham’s first cemetery, Oak Hill, founded in 1871. Located behind the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex, about 10,000 people are buried there, he said. “There are a lot of original landowners who sold or gave land to start Birmingham and many names you see around the area on buildings and parks, such as Sloss, Linn and Caldwell,” he said. “And families who own plots continue to have burials there, including that of Fred Shuttlesworth, who passed away in 2011.” From his research, Langley included about 55 people in “Tales of Oak Hill”, which is subtitled “The Famous and Infamous Citizens of Birmingham Tell Their Stories from Their Final Resting Place.” The book, which contains photos and a map of the

cemetery, portrays the individuals as if they are speaking. It is also used as a cemetery tour guidebook, he said. “There are Alabama governors, a survivor of the Titanic and an exiled Austrian count,” he said. “And Louise ‘Lou’ Wooster, Birmingham’s first madam, who during the city’s cholera epidemic stayed when most had fled and helped nurse the ill and prepare the dead for burial. She eventually built a big home across from city hall and, until her death, claimed the love of her life was John Wilkes Booth.” Stuart Oaks, director of the Oak Hill Memorial Association, said it’s great to have enthusiastic visitors like Langley to the cemetery. “I really appreciate Jim’s keen interest in Oak Hill,” Oaks said. “He’s one of those great guys who gets together great groups for tours, and they have a whole lot of fun.” Langley’s latest project, an historical tour of Birmingham, is being readied for print as a guidebook. To date, he’s conducted three groups through the tour, which includes sites pertaining to Civil Rights and black history in the morning and an afternoon of visits to Vulcan, Sloss Furnace and some of the original downtown streets. He doesn’t charge for any of the outings or the presentations he gives on his books to various senior groups, churches and historical societies. “I just get lunch and expenses,” he said. Asked about future plans, Langley said he hopes to write some historical fiction and has had several ideas, though “none have jelled quite yet.” But what is definite is he will continue to pursue his interests. “It’s really two-fold”, he said. “I had an aortic heart valve replacement at 45, which gave me an epiphany about doing the things I’ve never done. Plus, whether you’re serving in the Army or working in the business world, there’s not a lot of room or time for creativity. And this is my time.”

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December 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B13

Located on Hwy 280, east of I-459

GrandviewHealth.com

B14 â&#x20AC;˘ December 2015

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HOOVER

Clockwise, from top left: Hoover High wrestling coach Jacob Gaydosh hoists up his father, Vestavia Hills wrestling coach Steve Gaydosh. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha. Spain Park High School golfer Andrew Tomko takes a stroke. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha. Hoover School Board President Derrick Murphy and his wife, Shenavia, play with their children, Bailyn, Asher Robert and Galien, at their Ross Bridge home. Photo by Keith McCoy.

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December 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B15

Edward Pegues, the winner of the 2015 Iron City Chef competition, congratulates Jefferson State Community College student Ian Triggs on his surprise scholarship award. Photo by Jordan Hays.

Above: The Spain Park band practices prior to the September Sparks in the Park marching band competition. Photo by Jordan Hays. Right: Despite ongoing cancer treatments, Kayla Perry has been able to successfully finish her freshman year at Auburn University and raise money for cancer research through her foundation, Open Hands, Overflowing Hearts. Photo by Ron Burkett.

Hoover resident and Pelham police officer Dustin Chandler holds his daughter, Carly, who has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. An all-inclusive playground called Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clubhouse is being built in Pelham in her name. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

B16 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

BLUFF PARK

luff Park is more than just a collection of shops. Ask the retailers who work there, and they’ll all say they love not just their customers, but the community of businesses in the area. There’s something about Bluff Park that makes it a great place to work. In this special business spotlight, learn more about the variety of retailers that call Bluff Park home and meet the men and women behind the storefronts.

INDEX

business spotlight | special advertising section

Artists on the Bluff........................ B19 Kasey Davis Dentistry.................... B17 Lazenby’s Decorative Art Studio....................................... B24 Little Imaginations.......................... B18 Over the Mountain Designs........ B24

Pioneer Playschool........................ B23 Sampson Dentistry........................ B21 Sweetspire Gardens....................... B22 Turquoise......................................... B18 USA Martial Arts...........................B20

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December 2015 • B17

BLUFF PARK

business spotlight | special advertising section

Kasey Davis Dentistry The inviting ambiance of Kasey Davis Dentistry immediately creates an atmosphere of calm and relaxation, rather than the typical anxiety that can often accompany a trip to the dentist. Kasey and her close-knit team provide a family atmosphere that is quick to alleviate any anxieties. “We understand the fear and uncertainty that can often accompany a trip to the dentist. Our focus is on helping patients feel comfortable. We want them to be greeted with a smile,” she said. Kasey graduated summa cum laude from the University of Montevallo in 2004 and received her doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Dentistry in 2008. Upon graduation, she worked in a large private practice in St. Clair County before opening her own business. “It was good timing,” she said.

Fate stepped in when she and her husband, a Bluff Park native put down roots in the community and they discovered the location that soon would house her practice. “It was just meant to be,” she said. Though Kasey Davis Dentistry has only been in business for a year, they are quickly becoming well known in the community as a family dental service providing care for people of all ages and dental concerns. Kasey Davis Dentistry offers all aspects of dentistry, including pediatric dentistry. “We have patients of all ages, including children, middle age and older patients,” Kasey said. Kasey Davis Dentistry offers cutting edge services with small town care, seamlessly blending the two. “We are like a family ourselves, and we love getting to know our patients and spending

KaseyDavis

Den tistry

time with them,” Kasey said. “We want to cater to this community. I would love to be known as the home town dentist.” Kasey works with patients on an individual basis to discover how to best meet their vision for their dental health and address concerns. She is committed to helping patients discover the smile they were meant to have and to rediscover their self-confidence as a result. Together the team addresses the patient’s concerns creating a stress free experience. “We want to serve the patient’s needs and give them a smile they can be proud of. We have compassion for working people who may put off their dental needs for financial reasons. Our Office Manager, Jennifer, is an expert in working with insurance and educating our customers. Our hygienist,

Beverly loves what she does and her joy is contagious. Our patients love her. And Mary Beth, my assistant, always makes the patients feel calm and at ease. They are family, and I couldn’t do it without them,” Kasey said She also provides cosmetic procedures, such as whitening, veneers and clear aligners. Current specials include free in office whitening treatment for new patients. For football season, Kasey Davis Dentistry is offering free mouth guards for Hoover High School football players. Kasey Davis Dentistry is located at 589 Shades Crest Road. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 205-822-7277 or visit kaseydavisdentistry.com.

B18 • December 2015

BLUFF PARK

business spotlight | special advertising section

Hoover Sun

Turquoise

Little Imaginations Turquoise offers the perfect experience for the Bluff Park shopper who wants clothing that is distinct, different and on trend without having to leave the neighborhood. Anne Weed and her daughter, Courtland Tison manage the shop that has been in business for 10 years. Turquoise offers shoppers sophisticated, yet comfortable clothing. Turquoise was born out of a love of fashion and a desire to fill a need in Bluff Park. “There was a need for this type of clothing here,” said Anne. “There’s nothing like it here.” Turquoise makes fashion affordable and accessible for everyone without having to venture to a major shopping area. There’s something for everyone from clothing to accessories with a beautiful selection of jewelry with each piece being unique. “You don’t have to put a lot

of money into your wardrobe,” Anne said. “ We love to see people go out of the door pleased. We want them to be comfortable. We have all age groups shopping here from pre teens to grandmothers.” Anne says they rarely reorder, which keeps the look of the store fresh, especially for its regular customers. “We get in two to three shipments per week,” Anne said. “It’s so rewarding when customers walk out and love what they’ve bought. We want them to be proud when they walk out the door.” Turquoise is located at 593 Shades Crest Rd. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For information visit www.facebook.com/ turquoise.llc.

Little Imaginations Preschool is a ministry of Bluff Park United Methodist Church. Little Imaginations makes learning fun for children, as they grow in a variety of areas, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. The school focuses on engaging children to learn through active exploration in a safe and nurturing environment, which develops the child’s imagination, creativity and skills. “We love to find creative ways to engage the kids and help them learn and to prepare them for what they are going to need in school,” said Tracy Estes, school director. “We focus on individual guidance and attention for students.” Activities like painting or playing with blocks allows the child to develop skills while they are having fun. Through painting a child learns to use their imagination, learn about colors and how to use them, develop motor

skills, as well as to express themselves. As they play with blocks, they learn about shapes, sizes, height and depth, as well as how to think and make choices. Whether playing games outside, singing, dancing or listening to music, role playing with puppets, or learning about technology, the children learn through fun and interaction. “We want to provide a very positive atmosphere for learning,” said Tracy. “We are like a family here and parents are welcome anytime.” Little Imaginations takes children from 6 months to 4 K classes. Little Imaginations is located at 733 Valley Street. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information please call (205) 822-5813 or visit bluffparkumc.org/ children/little-imaginations/.

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BLUFF PARK

December 2015 • B19

business spotlight | special advertising section

Artists on the Bluff Artists on the Bluff is located in the oldest building in Bluff Park, which was once a two room school house and later Bluff Park Elementary. The school, which was not being utilized, was transformed into Artists on the Bluff through a partnership with the Hoover Board of Education and the City of Hoover. It was incorporated into an Art Center in 2011 and features 15 artists studios, multi media teaching suites, meeting rooms, a 112 seat performing arts theatre, three art galleries, including The Soon-Bok Lee Sellers Gallery featuring local, state, regional and national arts shows; The Artists on the Bluff Residents’ Gallery featuring the works of residential artists and the Capers Gallery also showcases the work of residential artists. The newly opened restaurant, Capers on Park Avenue, under

the guidance of Jay Roberson, Executive Chef, serves up comfort food that will feed your soul as well as your appetite. The restaurant recently won The idea of an art center was the brainchild of Advisor Linda Williams, who spearheaded the project to transform the abandoned school into a thriving arts community and it is one that she is passionate about. Whether restoring floors or renovating rooms into studios, each project has been a labor of love and it shows. Formerly the Director of Community of Education of Hoover Schools, Linda’s vision of creating a center for the arts in Bluff Park is being realized and growing each day. “We’ll reach the stars,” said Linda. “And if we don’t, it’s because we didn’t try.” They’re already well on their way. The

schools classrooms have been transformed into art studios for such mediums at drawing, pottery, mixed media and decorative art, woodworking, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink and photography. Artists include Deborah Ballog, kiln formed glass, Amy Collins, oil, watercolor, pen and ink, Sam Collins, Digital photography and mixed media, Sandra Fuller, drawing, pastel water media and monoprinting, Susan Gordon, pottery, Lana Hobbs Pottery, Frank Holden, encaustic, oil and mixed media, Rik Lazenby, mixed media and decorative art, Jayne Morgan, acrylic and oil, Butch Oglesby, fine art photography, Maria Paracca, fiber, David Traylor, woodworking, Dirk Walker, oil, and Darla Williamson Zentangle, mixed media and pottery. There is even a theatre troupe, The Seasoned Performers,

a nationally recognized non-profit company of senior adults that produces and performs original plays. There are art classes in fused glass, Zentangle, fiber art, painting, drawing fine furniture making, photography, pottery and acting for senior adults. Artists on the Bluff is already attracting visitors from throughout the state. Soon Linda plans for artists to begin teaching classes via satellite, which will attract an even wider audience. “When you’ve got the best, they’ll come from anywhere,” said Linda. Artists on the Bluff is located at 571 Park Avenue. Office hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit artistsonthebluff.com.

B20 • December 2015

BLUFF PARK

Hoover Sun

business spotlight | special advertising section

USA Martial Arts

Many drive by the “Martial Arts” sign on Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park, but few know just what the sign leads to. For passers-by, the local martial arts school, USA Martial Arts, appears to be just another home in the Shades Crest Historic District. However, taking a turn down the driveway reveals a campus tucked away, where a red brick building stands as The Bluff Park Dojo. The house seen from Shades Crest was originally built in 1902. The residence was host to a dress shop in the 1930’s, then the brick building – not seen from the road – became Francis Armstrong’s “The Dance Center” in the 70’s and 80’s. In 1984 Van Bushnell began teaching Tae Kwon Do classes there, assisted by his wife, Pam Bushnell. After 30 years of teaching martial arts in Bluff Park, Mr. Bushnell passed down The

Bluff Park Dojo to long-time students, Keith and Sarah MacConkey. Keith began his training at the age of 10. His father, who also trained in Karate, sparked Keith’s love for the martial arts. Keith trained at several schools over the years, and settled at The Bluff Park Dojo in 2004. Sarah began taking Aikido classes at the school in 2006, pursuing an interest in Japanese culture. “And that’s how we met,” said Sarah. Keith and Sarah now each have black belts in multiple martial arts. Together they teach classes in Aikido, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo; even offering special classes in traditional weapons. Their guiding principle is that the student comes first. Class sizes are limited and trained instructors ensure each student receives individual

attention. “We value quality and authenticity, and strive to uphold a family atmosphere in every class,” said Keith. We offer classes for all ages and experience levels. Students start as early as four, and our oldest students range upwards of 60 years old. It is never too late to do something you are interested in.” The MacConkeys affirm the benefits to martial arts training no matter what the student’s age. They use consistency and positive reinforcement in their children’s classes to develop discipline and respect. Junior students learn to channel their energy into a constructive outlet while building coordination and focus. Teen and adult classes provide fellowship, exercise and stress-relief. Through training students can achieve heightened confidence and awareness,

in addition to greater endurance, flexibility and agility and a practical knowledge of self-defense skills. “Some may doubt their abilities or feel hesitant to try something new. We encourage anyone who is interested to go for it! Sometimes the hardest part of a worthwhile journey is just taking that first step,” said Keith. Curious first-timers are welcome to visit the dojo and try out a class. “Martial Arts is a great way to have fun and challenge yourself while learning an exciting new skill.” The Bluff Park Dojo is located at 645 Shades Crest Road. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, please call 205-822-1671 or visit bluffparkdojo.com.

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BLUFF PARK

December 2015 • B21

business spotlight | special advertising section

Sampson Dentistry Dr. James Sampson loves working with people and as a result has an innate ability to put patients at ease in the dental chair, which is a great asset for a dentist. He received his undergraduate degree from Samford University and went on to receive his doctorate in Dentistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2008. Upon graduation from UAB, James was the recipient of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain Award for clinical excellence. He also completed a fellowship in Laser Dentistry from the World Clinical Laser Institute in 2012. James’s passion for dentistry grew out of his childhood love for science and art and a natural ability to work with his hands. “I love everything about dentistry,” he said. “I love the relationships, challenges, modern technology, the constant learning, and the artistic components.” He envisioned having a dental practice with an easy-going and welcoming atmosphere not often seen in dentistry. This is rooted in the fact that James is no stranger to the dental chair himself. “I’ve had lots of dental procedures over the years,” James said. “I have the same dental struggles and anxieties as my patients, so I can easily relate to them. I love sweets, flossing is a struggle. I don’t like shots, and so on. We strive to create the type of dental experience that we would want as patients and that would put us at ease.” The entire staff at Sampson Dentistry is committed to making that vision a reality and to making sure everyone’s dental

experience is a good one. “We have a great team here. Everyone is easy going and makes everyone feel welcome,” James said. “We want our patients to know they are cared about. I think this one of our strongest attributes.” Sampson Dentistry is committed to providing optimal and modern care for their patients. “There is a wide spectrum of treatment philosophies and our patients seem to appreciate that we fall on the conservative end of that spectrum,” James said. “With newer methods and materials, we are learning that less can be more. It is our goal to minimize the intervention we have to take and, when we do need to act, we lean towards the most minimally invasive thing we can do that will give us a favorable long-term outcome.” When treatment is required, James takes pride in creating natural, life-like restorations that mimic the real thing both in function and beauty. “I get a lot of a joy in the art of dentistry. From the front tooth that everyone sees to the smallest filling that no one sees, I love to make it all look real,” he said. Sampson Dentistry offers a wide variety of restorative services including cosmetic restorations, dental implants, crowns, and periodontal therapy. Nitrous gas sedation is available to anyone needing a little help relaxing. Emergencies can usually be worked in on the same day. Sampson Dentistry is located at 763 Shades Mountain Plaza. For information, call 205-823-2355 or visit sampson dentistry.com.

B22 • December 2015

BLUFF PARK

business spotlight | special advertising section

Hoover Sun

Sweetspire Gardens

On Nov. 7, Bluff Park was graced with the grand opening of Sweetspire Gardens, bringing the community an independently locally owned garden center right in the heart of the community. Sweetspire Gardens offers a variety of interior and exterior plants, annuals, perennials, a large selection herbs and vegetable seedlings, a variety of soils and mulches, including certified organic soil and compost, and gardening tools and accessories. There is a large selection of pottery, as well as pre-planted containers and fresh cut flowers for the perfect grab and go gift. And for those who love a garden, but may not have the space for one, there is also a selection of terrariums and miniature gardens. In addition, they will also plant your favorite container for you. The holidays will bring a variety of seasonal

w o N

items, including wreaths, greenery, plants and poinsettias. Jason Cooper, an experienced horticulturist has dreamed of opening the full service garden center since 2001. “It’s all about timing and location,” said Jason, who has lived in Bluff Park with his family for seven years. “Bluff Park is the right spot. We love the community and want to give back.” Jason grew up in Birmingham and received his degree in horticulture from Auburn University in 1997. He has worked in the green industry ever since and has worked on projects from home design to large businesses. He also served a tenure as the Director of Landscape Services for Birmingham-Southern College. In addition, Jason offers horticultural

consulting, garden design, and planting services. His more than 20 years of experience in the green industry brings tremendous insight to residential, commercial and institutional landscape projects. Whether a customer’s landscaping issues are large or small, Jason’s expertise can assist in pinpointing the issue and finding the right solution. For in-store consulting, customers can bring in a photo of the plant or area of concern for suggestions and recommendations to remedy the issue. Jason is passionate about bringing his years of experience and expertise to the local community. “The question I get most often,” he said, “is ‘Why is this not growing?’ and there can be many reasons why. There is a science to it and sometimes one small change can make a big difference. It’s just making others aware and giving

guidance along the way.” Jason is also experienced in design work and can take on projects that range from a small home garden to a full residential or commercial landscape, each designed to fit the client’s needs. It’s this kind of experience, knowledge and care that gives customers a unique experience. “We want to offer expertise as well as care for the customer,” Jason said. “We want to provide someone with a love of gardening with the best possible materials, resources and inspiration to make it as successful as possible and enjoy it.” Sweetspire Gardens is located at 2146 Tyler Road. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday and Monday consultations by appointment only. For more information call 205-968-1391 or visit sweetspiregardens.com.

n e p o

Annuals - Perennials Fresh Flowers Ornamentals House Plants Pottery Potting Soil Mulches Garden Design and Consulting

2146 Tyler Road Bluff Park Village Center

(205) 968-1391 www.sweetspiregardens.com

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BLUFF PARK

business spotlight | special advertising section

Pioneer Playschool

Designed with a western motif and located on three and a half beautiful, shaded acres, Pioneer Playschool is a child’s fantasy and a parent’s dream come true. Founded in 1972, by Tom and Pat Lyle, Pioneer Playschool offers children an imaginative and safe place to explore and grow, while learning skills that last a lifetime. Pioneer provides a home-like environment with constructive tutelage and fun experiences. There are playgrounds specifically designed for the needs of each age group. School age children receive a balance of structured supervision and play time. While pre schoolers engage in activities to foster motor skills and engage their minds in creative activities. “Everyday is different,” said Stephanie Lyle Rye, daughter of Tom and Pat, who now oversees the business. Though Tom died in 2014, Pat is still very much a part of the school bringing more than 40 years of experience in childhood education. Pioneer accepts pre school children from ages two and a half. “Teachers and instructors adapt and adjust to each child’s needs,” said Stephanie. “Whether it’s help with reading, spelling or math. For our pre school children, we want them to be well prepared with a solid foundation in reading and writing.” “For pre school children, we focus on holistic learning with an emphasis on phonics and the alphabet,” said Stephanie. “Our vision is to offer a safe, creative and nurturing environment for children. There are home cooked meals, snacks and drinks during the day. Each age group has their

own playground so that children are safe and secure with their own age group.” There is after school care for children up to the age of 11 years old. Pioneer’s school bus picks up children from area schools that include, Bluff Park, Gwin, Green Valley, South Shades Crest, Deer Valley, and Trace Crossings and brings them to Pioneer Playschool. After school care offers help with homework. “We have two certified teachers for both kindergarteners and after school aged kids,” said Stephanie. Once the homework is done, children are encouraged to play outside. At Pioneer they engage in a variety of activities from playing games at the Ball Field to exploring the tree forts. Indoors there is free play on 15 stand up arcade machines. There’s also air hockey, daily arts and crafts and interior play rooms. In addition, children learn about life skills and learn to engage in a respectful way. “We don’t allow bullying. Kids here learn respect. We celebrate our differences,” said Stephanie. “If there’s a disagreement, we encourage kids to take the challenge and get to know the person by asking them three things, which teaches them to engage and helps them interact.” Stephanie grew up at Pioneer, and now her children come here as well. “I’ve been in bluff Park all of my life. I spent my childhood here,” she said. Pioneer Playschool is located at 2262 Chapel Road. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call 205-823-2431 or visit pioneerplayschool.com.

December 2015 • B23

B24 • December 2015

BLUFF PARK

Hoover Sun

business spotlight | special advertising section

Over the Mountain Designs

Lazenby’s Decorative Arts Studio Jim Isaminger is a Bluff Park native, who is committed to the community and Over the Mountain Designs, is a testament to that commitment. The company has been in business two and a half years, but Jim a third generation contractor, brings more than 17 years of experience in the commercial and residential construction business with him. “I love being part of the community and having the opportunity to carry on the knowledge and wisdom that I’ve learned,” he said. “We are rooted in this community. This is home to us. We live here. We know what the challenges are with some of the older homes,” he said Jim is a licensed homebuilder, who offers clients a variety of services from renovations,

to home additions and outdoor living spaces to building the home of your dreams “We are a full package, one stop shop.” In fact, his new building on Shades Crest Road is an example of taking an older structure and renovating it. “We can revive your house the same way we did this corner,” Jim said. He is passionate about residential work. “We love turning a space into a gathering spot for the family that you will use for the rest of your life,” he said. Over the Mountain Designs is located at 599 Shades Crest Road. Hours are from Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Appointments are recommended but walk ins are welcome. For information, call 205-582-9444, or visit otmdesigns.net.

The beauty, skill and mastery of Rik Lazenby’s work seems like something reserved for only the most prosperous, but the quality of his work is accessible to everyone. From the most opulent homes and commercial properties to the residential homeowner on a budget, Lazenby’s can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Rik’s sharp eye for detail elevates each project into a work of art. Together with his daughter, Jennifer, they have taken on all types of projects and each one results in a unique design that is custom made for the client. “Sometimes the client has a vision about what they want and sometimes they want some guidance,” Rik said. “Whatever we do, we always add something extra just for the client that makes it theirs.”

The father, daughter duo works in tandem. Jennifer has become an artist in her own right through her father’s tutelage. “Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from my dad,” she said. Rik earned a Masters Degree in Art at the University of Alabama and taught upon graduation. When he retired in 2000 from a career in school administration, he returned to his love of art opening the business that July. Lazenby’s offers a variety of services that include decorative finishes for walls and ceilings, cabinetry, countertops, plasters, murals, furnishing finishes, Italian plasters, ceiling finishes and even domes. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a. m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 205-2815273 or visit lazenbydecorativeart.com.

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December 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B25

Hoover

2135 Woodledge Drive

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

733492

35226

2135 Woodledge Drive

New

$399,900

734075

35226

3220 Oriole Drive

New

$314,900

734068

35226

517 Rayburn Road

New

$215,000

734014

35226

1083 Magnolia Run #19

New

$500,000

733921

35226

3408 Hanford Lane

New

$274,900

733879

35226

2343 Abbeyglen Circle

New

$242,900

733846

35226

1600 Frontier Drive

New

$299,000

733770

35226

1300 Shenandoah Drive #5

New

$219,900

733750

35226

806 Vestavia Villa Court #806

New

$81,900

733746

35226

615 Preserve Way #88

New

$439,900

733739

35226

2617 Swiss Lane

New

$255,000

733732

35226

1113 Al Seier Road

New

$289,900

733686

35226

423 Renaissance Drive #445

New

$469,500

733590

35226

991 Cobble Creek Drive #5

New

$559,900

733138

35226

2287 Summer Ridge Drive

New

$184,900

733424

35226

1064 Magnolia Run

New

$477,000

733391

35226

3433 Conley Road

New

$199,900

733324

35226

308 Ashland Lane

New

$225,000

733322

35226

2304 Haden St.

New

$214,900

733256

35226

1343 Al Seier Road

New

$264,900

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Nov. 16. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

2287 Summer Ridge Drive

B26 • December 2015

Hoover Sun

Calendar Hoover Events Dec. 3-5: SCROOGE! The Musical. 7:30 p.m. Hoover Library Theatre. $25. $25. Visit hooveral. org. Dec. 3: The Chemistry of Coffee by Dr. Tracy Hamilton. 1:30 p.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1973 Merryvale Road. The presentation will be followed by coffee tasting and light refreshments. Free. Information on 2016 OLLI programs will be available.

Dec. 10: Hoover Chamber Coffee & Contacts. 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Hendrick ChryslerDodge-Jeep-Ram, 1626 Montgomery Hwy. Visit hooverchamber.org.

Senior Center, 400 Municipal Drive. Visit hooveral.org.

Dec. 10: Hoover Service Club: 10:30 a.m. Simmons Middle School Choir and Holiday Music Program. Visit hooveral.org.

Dec. 17: Hoover Chamber Luncheon. 11:15 a.m. networking; luncheon at noon. Hyatt Regency, The Wynfrey Hotel. 11:15 a.m. Visit hooverchamber.com.

Dec. 15: Lunch and Learn. 12 p.m. Hoover

Dec. 17: Wake Up Santa! 6:30 p.m. Hoover Library Theatre. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Hoover Library Events Kids

library.org. Storytime for ages 3 and up. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Mondays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Stories and crafts for twos and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Thursdays: Storytime Live. 10:30 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Stories, songs, games and puppetry for ages 3 and up. Visit hooverlibrary. org.

Tuesdays: Father Goose. 9:30 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Visit hooverlibrary.org. Stories, songs and snacks for ones and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Programming Room. Wear your pajamas for stories, songs and a bedtime snack. All ages. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Stories, songs and finger pl ys for birth to 12 months and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org. Wednesdays: Tiny Tot Tales. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A short action-packed story time for children under four. Children’s Programming Room. Visit hooverlibrary.org. Wednesdays: After Lunch Bunch. 1:30 p.m. Children’s Programming Room. Visit hoover-

Adults Dec. 1: Adult English Classes. 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Free basic or intermediate English classes. No registration required. Dec. 3: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith.

Dec. 6: Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: Italy. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Presented by Coffee-ol-ogy Café with complimentary samples provided. Free. Dec. 7: Helping Hands. 3 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Drop in to make newspaper rolls for a local humane society. Teens and adults. Dec. 8: Spanish Conversation Club. 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Library Plaza. All Spanish fluency levels welcome to practice and learn. Dec. 10: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Dec. 10: Harmony Hills Chorus. 6:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Formed in 1971, this Birmingham-based women’s barbershop chorus performs a program of holiday music. Dec. 12: Star Wars Original Trilogy Movie Showing. Library Theatre. Original Star Wars trilogy. Free admission and refreshments! Episode IV: A New Hope – 10:30 a.m.; Episode V: The Empire

HooverSun.com

December 2015 • AB27

Strikes Back – 1:30 p.m.; Episode VI: Return of the Jedi – 3:45 p.m. Dec. 12: Purl @ the Plaza. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Library Plaza. Close out the year by finishing projects! Come knit, crochet or embroider. Dec. 14: Bing Crosby Rediscovered. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Explore the life and legend of the iconic entertainer. 90 minutes. Free admission and refreshments. Dec. 14: Trivia Night. 7 p.m. Beef ‘O’Brady’s— The Grove. Compete for great prizes.

Dec. 16: Coffee, Cocoa and Conversations. 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Book group open house. Meet the leaders and see next year’s selections. Dec. 18: Color & Chill for Adults & Teens. 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Dec. 21: Monday at the Movies. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Christmas With The Kranks.

Area Events Dec. 4-19: Annual Holiday Art Show. Presented by Mountain Brook Art Association. Brookwood Village. 10 a.m.-8p.m. Two-week free holiday art show. Purchases will support Birmingham’s Hand in Paw Animal Assisted Therapy. Visit MountainBrookArtAssociation.com. Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 17-23, & 26-31: Zoo Light Safari presented by Wells Fargo. Birmingham Zoo. 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. $8 for non-members, free for members, $12.00 unlimited wristbands, $3.50 per attraction. Over one million lights synchronized to holiday music and activities. Visit birminghamzoo.com. Dec. 4-19: Annual Holiday Art Show. Presented by Mountain Brook Art Association. Brookwood Village. 10 a.m.-8p.m. Two-week free holiday art show. Purchases will support Birmingham’s Hand in Paw Animal Assisted Therapy. Visit MountainBrookArtAssociation.com. Dec. 5: Birmingham City Scholastic Chess Tournament. 8 a.m. Beginners welcomed. Sun Valley Elementary School, 1010 18th Ave NW. Visit alabamachess.com. Dec. 5: Yuletide in Dogtown. 3 p.m. – 7

p.m. Alys Stephens Center. The dogs are back in town for this ArtPlay/ASC favorite holiday production.

NOT WELCOME HERE.

Dec. 10: Christmas Home Tour and Holiday Gift Market. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Homes in Mountain Brook and Vestavia. $25 through Dec. 8 and $30 at door. Visit Samford. edu/legacyleague or call 726-2247. Dec. 11: The Mutt-cracker. 7:30 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Benefitting the Gre ter Birmingham Humane Society. $20-$45. Visit ticketmaster.com Dec. 12-13: The Nutracker and premiering Dross, a prequel that tells the story behind the Nutcracker. BJCC Concert Hall Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec 13 at 2 p.m. $20-$45. Visit ticketmaster.com. Dec. 13: Eric Essix & 5 Men on a Stool. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. If you’re looking to get in the groove of the holidays, you shouldn’t miss “Holiday Soul” at the ASC. Dec. 30: Season 6 Premiere of Downton Abbey. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Free, tick reservations available. Find out what will happen next on the most-watched drama in PBS history. Visit AlysStephens.org.

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