Sun Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover
Volume 5 | Issue 4 | January 2017
What’s on the horizon: 2017 A
CITY PLANS, A25
By JON ANDERSON
new batch of elected officials in Hoover brings new priorities for the city. New Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and members of the newly elected City Council say residents can expect to see more money going to education in 2017 and an emphasis on planning. New sidewalks are on the way, and the 155,000-square-foot Finley Center is scheduled to open its doors in May for athletic events, trade shows and other gatherings at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. A federal judge is expected to rule on school rezoning, and voters go to the polls in March to decide whether to renew property taxes for education. The city’s planning consultant also projects Hoover will gain 350 houses in 2017.
See HORIZON | page A25 SCHOOL REZONING, A27
PLUS MORE, A28
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54
The new 155,000-square foot Finley Center, under construction at right, next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, is scheduled to open in May for sporting events, trade shows and other gatherings. Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Drone.
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 News...................... A6
Chamber............... A11 Business .............. A12
Community ........ A22 School House ...... B4
Sports ................... B8 Women In Biz ..... B14
Real Estate.......... B21 Calendar ............. B22 facebook.com/thehooversun
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Becoming a Household Name The Bucs’ Jamari Blackmon was not a familiar face across the high school basketball scene before last season began, but now he’s widely regarded as one of the best guards in Alabama.
See page B10
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HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A3
A4 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Breaking your New Year’s resolutions might be as much of a tradition as setting them in the first place. I looked back over this last year and realized that I don’t think I hit a single one of the targets I set for myself when 2016 was just getting started. That’s a little disheartening, but I’m trying to reframe it in my mind as a chance for growth, not a personal failure. I’ve always had a big problem with failure. Being a Type-A, perfectionist sort of person has meant that even just coming up a little short on a goal could send me into a spiral of self-criticism. It’s never a healthy place to be, and I have to continually be on guard so that one tiny misstep doesn’t knock me back on my heels. But I shouldn’t see my resolution-breaking as a failure — and neither should you. In 2016 I found new goals that I could have never predicted
last January, and I met them. My life took turns that I couldn’t have seen coming, and flexibility is no bad thing. Reflecting on the goals I didn’t reach is also a chance to realize why I didn’t reach them. There’s that famous adage about doing things the same way every time
and expecting different results. So I’m not going to approach my resolutions the same way I did last year. If my shortcomings in 2016 are a chance to learn about myself and do better in 2017, then can I really call them failures? If you are feeling like you came up short in 2016, be kind to yourself and don’t fall into the trap of assuming one failure defines you as a person. But don’t let it stop you from raising the bar for yourself in the New Year and finding a way to reach that bar, either. You are capable of great things if you just don’t let yourself get stuck in the same old things.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH Hoover High School cheerleaders and fans react to their faces being displayed on the Jumbotron at JordanHare Stadium in Auburn. Hoover took on McGillToolen on Nov. 30 for the state championship. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Sun Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Digital Media: Director of Photography: Sports Editor: Page Designers: Community Editor: Community Reporters: Staff Writers: Copy Editor:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Heather VacLav-Hooper Sarah Finnegan Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Erica Techo Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Lexi Coon Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Louisa Jeffries
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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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HooverSun.com
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Hoover Sun
City Jones, new manager for Hoover Met complex, touts 18 years experience By JON ANDERSON Monty Jones Jr., the new general manager for the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, is no stranger to managing public facilities built for events. He has been in the facility, event, trade show, convention, sports and entertainment business for 18 years, he said. Sports Facilities Management, the company hired by the city of Hoover to manage Hoover Metropolitan Stadium and the adjoining sports complex under construction, chose Jones from among more than 125 people who applied for the general manager job. John McDonald, a regional director for SFM, said Jones was the most qualified and seemed like the best fit for the job. Jones has a track record of turning around mismanaged facilities and improving their ability to bring in revenues and decrease expenditures, McDonald said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s a quality person,” McDonald said. The Hoover City Council gave its approval for his hiring on Dec. 5. Jones most recently managed the Macon Centerplex, a facility in Macon, Georgia, that includes a 9,000-seat arena that was home to the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Macon Mayhem and a 2,700-seat multipurpose Macon City Auditorium. He also in past years has managed the 19,000-seat Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, that was home to the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes and the Augusta Entertainment Complex in Augusta, Georgia,
Construction workers make progress on the 155,000-squarefoot Finley Center at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The Finley Center, adjacent to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, will host indoor sports and other events and is scheduled to open in May. Photo by Jon Anderson.
which includes an 8,800-seat arena, 2,800-seat auditorium, 14,570-square-foot exhibit hall and seven meeting rooms. Jones also served a year as executive director for a new facility at Chicago State University that was home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams but also served as an event center that brought in concerts and other events. He also worked as director of operations for the Carolina Cobras Arena Football League team in Raleigh, North Carolina, and assistant director of game-day operations for the Cape Fear Wildcats, a minor league arena football team in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In his new job, he will oversee management and day-to-day operations of Hoover
Metropolitan Stadium, the 155,000-squarefoot Finley Center and a sports complex that includes five NCAA regulation-size soccer/ football/lacrosse fi elds, fi ve NCAA regulation-size baseball (or softball) fields, 16 tennis courts with a pro shop, a 2-mile walking track, playground, splash pad and large event lawn. When Jones took over management of the Augusta Entertainment Complex, the authority board overseeing the complex was having to subsidize the facility with $1.4 million to $1.6 million a year, Jones said. After a year with Jones, he had reduced the amount the authority had to contribute to $1.1 million, and after five years, the subsidy was down to $700,000, he said.
Monty Jones Jr. When he was at the Gila River Arena in Arizona, he was able to raise revenues by $2.8 million, he said. Tim Westhoven, Hoover’s chief operations officer, was among city staff who met with Jones and said he felt Jones has the realm of experience the city is seeking and is a very personable man who will represent the city well. Hoover Parks and Recreation Director Craig Moss met with Jones also and said he likes Jones’ expertise, education, demeanor and personality and thinks Jones will fit in really well in Hoover. Jones, whose father was in the military, was born in Guam but raised in North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina University in August 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management with a concentration in sports management. The goal is to open the Finley Center by May 2017 and the outdoor sports complex by February 2018.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A7
The outlined part of the green area shows the nine acres where Parrish Building Co. wants to build 35 houses. The Hoover City Council voted 4-2 to rezone the land from an agricultural district to planned residential development district. Map courtesy of city of Hoover.
Plans move ahead for 35 new houses in Bluff Park By JON ANDERSON Plans are moving forward for a new 35-house subdivision in Bluff Park now that the Hoover City Council has rezoned nine acres at the corner of Alford Avenue and Tyler Road. But the Nov. 21 vote to approve the rezoning was not unanimous. Councilmen Casey Middlebrooks and Derrick Murphy both voted against it, saying they thought it might be better to table the matter to give the city more time to determine if there is a better use for the vacant land. Middlebrooks noted the city is about to create a new master plan and said it might be prudent to see the results of that before rezoning land in an older part of the city. Murphy said a lot of planning goes into newer parts of the city, but Hoover’s older communities often fall by the wayside when it comes to planning. Bluff Park resident Dan Fulton said he thought that property should be used for a park, fulfilling a need identified in a city plan from 2003. Other residents said they liked an idea to re-create the historic Bluff Park Hotel on that site, saying it would help build on the area’s historic charm. Patricia Clark, one of the property owners, said she likes the idea of a park, but she’s had the property on the market since 2008, and no one has come forward with an offer to buy the nine acres for a park or a hotel. Walmart had an interest in putting a Walmart Neighborhood Market and gasoline station on the property two years ago, but residents expressed opposition, so the proposal was withdrawn. Clark, who inherited the property, said the new proposal for a 35-house subdivision was a solid offer, and she was ready to move forward and sell the property. Councilman John Lyda said he agreed the
property owners deserved to get an up-or-down answer after already having their proposal postponed by the city. Councilmen Mike Shaw, Gene Smith and Curt Posey voted with Lyda to rezone the nine acres from an agricultural district to a planned residential development district. Joey Miller, an engineer representing Parrish Building Co., said he expected the developer to move forward immediately with submitting construction plans to the city. Zac Parrish of Parrish Building Co. previously said there would be 3.9 homes per acre, and lots would be 75 feet wide at the building line. Hoover planning consultant Bob House said the lots would be more than 8,000 square feet, which is larger than the Tyler Crest townhouse lots across the street and similar in size to other nearby houses. The property is surrounded by Bluff Park United Methodist Church and St. Luke Korean Catholic Church to the west, estate zoning to the north, townhomes and agricultural zoning to the east and Bluff Park Village and R-1 single-family residential zoning to the south. The proposed development is expected to generate 350 vehicle trips per day once fully built out, which City Engineer Rodney Long said is a low volume. He doesn’t expect traffic from this development to be a significant issue, he said. The subdivision will have an exit onto both Alford Avenue and Tyler Road, and there will be two streets in the subdivision, Miller said. The two streets will have sidewalks on both sides of the roads, he said. There will be no mass grading, and at least two trees will be planted per lot, Miller said. The developer will save as many existing trees as possible, he said. The area at the intersection of Tyler and Alford will be improved with additional landscaping, Parrish said.
A8 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Brocato looks to revive plan for new I-459 interchange By JON ANDERSON Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato is seeking to revive a plan for a new Interstate 459 interchange near South Shades Crest Road. The Hoover City Council on Dec. 19 agreed to spend $2 million to buy 31.3 acres of land from USS Real Estate along South Shades Crest Road to help make the project possible. That land would provide space for a new road that would connect Brock’s Gap Parkway with Interstate 459. On the north side of I-459, the same road would connect with Ross Bridge Parkway. The idea for the new interstate interchange has been discussed for more Brocato than 10 years. During former Mayor Tony Petelos’ administration, a previous Hoover City Council in April 2009 passed a resolution in support of the interchange, and then in May 2010 the Federal Highway Administration approved a justification study submitted by the city. But the mayor who followed Petelos, Gary Ivey, did not see the project as a priority and withdrew his support of the city providing matching funds for federal highway dollars, Hoover’s retiring Executive Director Allen Pate said. Brocato said the new interchange is greatly needed to improve traffic flow in the western part of Hoover and should benefit residents in neighborhoods such as Ross Bridge, Deer Valley, Trace Crossings, Southpointe and Russet Woods. City officials estimate the new interchange would shift 6,000 vehicles a day off Alabama
Above: This map shows the proposed Interstate 459 interchange south of South Shades Crest Road. Outlined in red are the 31.3 acres the Hoover City Council agreed to buy from USS Real Estate to help make the interchange a reality. Map courtesy of city of Hoover. Right: The proposed interchange would go in this section of Interstate 459, just south of the South Shades Crest Road bridge. Photo by Jon Anderson.
150, City Administrator Allan Rice said. It also would provide a second route for traffic coming to and leaving the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, which includes Hoover Metropolitan Stadium and a new 155,000-square-foot indoor event center and adjoining multi-field sports complex under construction. More land would need to be purchased on the north side of I-459 to build the extension to Ross Bridge Parkway, Rice said. Also, the city will need to get the project back on the agenda of the Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is the body that decides how federal highway dollars are spent in the metro area, Rice said. “MPO approval is the key to being able to proceed,” he said. Hoover Council President Gene Smith said
he is glad to see the project resurfacing. He only hopes he can see it completed in his lifetime, he said. Rice said it’s certainly not a short-term project, but the city’s purchase of this land should show the city is serious about proceeding and willing to help pay at least some of the matching money required by the federal government. Many federally funded road projects require local governments to put up 20 percent of the cost for the projects. Smith said he would hope Jefferson County would be willing to help. When previous studies were done, the estimated cost for the interchange was $40 million to $50 million, Rice said. It certainly would cost more now, he said. The good news is that the land needed for the interchange remains undeveloped, Rice said.
USS Real Estate in the spring of 2015 tried to get 26 acres of this 31.3-acre parcel rezoned from industrial use to commercial use to make way for a Walmart Neighborhood Market and gasoline station, but neighbors staunchly objected. The City Council in April 2015 unanimously rejected USS Real Estate’s request. The company came back to the Planning and Zoning Commission in October, seeking to amend the Trace Crossings development plan so that property and other property in Trace Crossings zoned for restricted industrial use would be rezoned so it could only be used for commercial or office space. Residents again fought the rezoning and got it tabled. Only a portion of the 31.3 acres likely would be needed for the access road to the interstate. Rice said if any remaining land is suitable for development, he could foresee the city subdividing it and selling it.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A9
Krawcheck steps aside from Library Board after 20 years
Carmike Cinemas wants to sell beer and wine at its theaters in the Patton Creek and The Village at Lee Branch shopping centers. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By JON ANDERSON
Carmike seeks to sell beer, wine in 2 Hoover theaters By JON ANDERSON The owner of the two Carmike movie theaters in Hoover is asking the city of Hoover for permission to start selling beer and wine in the theaters. The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 12 voted unanimously in favor of the idea, with some restrictions, and now the proposal goes to the Hoover City Council on Jan. 17 for its consideration. Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis told the planning commission that the Carmike movie chain already offers beer and wine for sale in its theaters in Auburn and Montgomery and now wants to offer the same at theaters in Hoover and Orange Beach. Jon Archer, an attorney who was representing Carmike Motion Pictures Birmingham III, said Carmike believes its patrons would appreciate the opportunity to consume beer and wine while they watch movies. The company has not had any problems at its other movie theaters that offer that option, he said.
Derzis said he spoke with the police departments in Auburn and Montgomery and they confirmed there had been no problems at the theaters related to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Hoover Councilman Mike Shaw, who also represents the council on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said he had concerns about the proposal but felt comfortable enough with it with the recommended restrictions. The planning commission recommended approval as long as there is only one cash register where drinks can be purchased, only one drink served for each identification shown and no drinking allowed at the tables in the lobby/arcade area. A lot of young people go to the movies, and “this is our community, and we want to make sure we do the right thing,” Shaw said. Carmike owns the movie theaters in the Patton Creek shopping center off John Hawkins Parkway and Village at Lee Branch shopping center off U.S. 280.
Michael Krawcheck, who has served on the Hoover Library Board for 20 years, recently decided to step aside and give someone else a chance to serve. Krawcheck’s most recent four-year term ended in early December, and the Hoover City Council plans to appoint a replacement on Jan. 3. Krawcheck believes that at age 77, it’s in the long-term best interests of the library for someone else to learn the ropes who might have more longevity with the board, he said. That said, Hoover Council President Gene Smith said the council is exploring some type of emeritus status for Krawcheck that would allow him to continue contributing to the Michael Krawcheck and retiring Library Director Linda board without being a voting Andrews. Photo courtesy of Hoover Public Library. member. “He still has very valuable information and convername and always offers encouragement to sations to give,” Smith said. Krawcheck said he is open to the emer- them, she said. Krawcheck, known for his self-deprecating itus idea because he would enjoy continuing coming to board meetings and offering humor, has rarely missed a board meeting and insight. He has loved being a part of the attends most all library functions, such as perboard and looks forward to seeing the library formances in the Hoover Library Theater, the continue to prosper under the leadership of annual Southern Voices Festival, staff training new Library Director Amanda Borden, he and appreciation gatherings, and library conferences, she said. said. For years, Krawcheck supplied copies of all Retiring Library Director Linda Andrews did a great job of training Borden, so she is mentions of the Hoover library in the media to his fellow board members until library staff up for the job, Krawcheck said. Borden said Krawcheck has had a phenom- took over that task. He also has supplied catered refreshments enal impact on the Hoover Public Library. He knows the 100 or so library employees by for board meetings.
A10 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Mayor’s Minute
Bluff Park resident Dan Fulton addresses the Hoover Board of Education in January 2016. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By Frank V. Brocato I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am so excited to be your mayor and have the opportunity to be a part of all the excitement and growth that’s in Hoover’s future. We were all thrilled when we found out this past December that Hoover was the only Alabama city among the list of America’s 50 most livable places in America, according to 24/7 Wall Street. The data Frank V. Brocato said we were selected because of our healthy job market, great schools and our excellent quality of life. Hoover encompasses all that and so much more. We have stateof-the art facilities and superb police and fire protection, which makes Hoover an exceptionally safe place to live. Also the people, our churches and the level of volunteerism in our community is unprecedented. The residents really make our town extra special! Congratulations to our Hoover Bucs on winning the Class 7A high school football state championship. We are very proud of them and thank Coach Josh Niblett for his dedication and hard work making the team such a success. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to get in shape or amp up their exercise regimen. So, if you are looking for a place to do that, visit the Hoover Recreation Center today. It’s a great family facility with plenty of exercise equipment and exercise classes. The Hoover Recreation Center has something to offer every age group from our youngsters to our seniors. It’s very inexpensive and has a super friendly staff. Give them a call today or drop by the facility and take a tour with one of their staff. Hoover is a vibrant and growing community. Let’s all be mindful of our many blessings and how fortunate we are to live in a city we are proud to call home. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if we can assist you in any way. You can also visit our website at hooveral.org or call 444-7500.
Friends of Hoover names Dan Fulton Volunteer of Year By JON ANDERSON The Friends of Hoover civic group named Bluff Park resident Dan Fulton as Volunteer of the Year. Fulton, a 72-year-old retired social studies teacher from Birmingham City Schools, was active in the fight to save Hoover school buses in 2013. The Hoover school board had voted to eliminate bus service for most students and later to charge student fees to ride buses instead. Both of those decisions were reversed due to community opposition. For the past several years, Fulton also pushed for change among Hoover’s elected officials. He created a “Hoover Vote 2016” campaign years ahead of the 2016 municipal election. That election resulted in a new mayor and four new City Council members. “Change was needed in the way Hoover was governed, and I would say he (Fulton) was the most influential person in that change,” said Arnold Singer, a Riverchase resident who is the program coordinator for
the Friends of Hoover and who decided which person would receive the Volunteer of the Year award. Fulton, even while battling cancer, records most meetings of the Hoover City Council and Hoover Board of Education. He posts the audio recordings online, which is quite a civic service, Singer said. Fulton also this past year served on the finance and budget committee of the Hoover school superintendent’s advisory council, and he served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels from 2002-12. He grew up on Alford Avenue in Bluff Park and moved back there to live with his elderly mother in 1998. He said he is just one of many people who were involved in the efforts to save Hoover school buses and get new people elected to city government positions. He said they now must hold those elected accountable, and he’s already had a “Hoover Vote 2020” T-shirt made. The Friends of Hoover “roasted and toasted” Fulton Dec. 12 at the Capers on Park Avenue restaurant in Bluff Park.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A11
Chamber Jerome Morgan Jr. named 2017 president By JON ANDERSON Jerome Morgan Jr., the owner of the Oncort Professional Services commercial cleaning company, has been elected as the new president of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce. Morgan has served on the Hoover chamber’s board of directors for the past five years and is to be installed as the 2017 Jerome Morgan Jr. said he is honored, humbled and president at the cham- happy to serve the Hoover community as president of the chamber. Photo by Jon Anderson. ber’s Jan. 19 luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel. Joel Smith, general manager of the HenMorgan, 42, was born in Chicago, raised drick Hoover Auto Mall, had been slated in Los Angeles and moved to Birmingham to become chamber president in 2017 but when he was in high school. He graduated was unable to do so because of scheduling from West End High School in 1993 and conflicts. Morgan, who had been slated to earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from become president in 2018, swapped places Alabama A&M University in 2001. with Smith. He worked in a West Corp. call center in The chamber also at its Jan. 19 meeting Huntsville for about two years and then for is scheduled to recognize its 2016 Member a T-Mobile call center in Hoover for about of the Year, Board Member of the Year and eight years, he said. Ambassador of the Year. The last couple of years with T-Mobile, Networking starts at 11:15 a.m., and the he owned a Jan-Pro cleaning franchise but luncheon starts at noon. The cost is $20 then six years ago formed his own company, for members and $25 for nonmembers and which is based in Birmingham. He and his members without reservations, if space is wife live in Fultondale. available. Morgan said he is honored, humbled and To reserve a spot, visit the chamber happy to serve the Hoover community as website at hooverchamber.org or call president of the chamber. 988-5672.
The new Boot location at the Grove. Rendering courtesy of Mike McCowan.
The Boot is back in town By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE Fans of the Boot at the Preserve will have a new destination in early spring when the newest Boot location opens at the Grove. The Boot at the Grove, 5532 Grove Blvd., will be in the former Superior Bank building, said Mike McCowan, Boot concept creator and consultant for the Boot brand. A complete renovation of the structure plus additions will offer about 6,000 square feet, twice the size of the Preserve eatery. The new restaurant will seat about 164 and feature a dual-sided fireplace, private room for parties and meetings and an outside patio for dining and entertainment. “We’ll also have the Boot Scoop, an ice
cream and popsicle shop that will also offer coffees and muffins,” McCowan said. “And folks will also find some of our traditional items on the menu along with new dishes we have at the 280 location.” The Boot at Brook Highland opened in May at 5279 U.S. 280. The Preserve location closed in late April. Both Hoover restaurants are owned by The MJB Boot Group. McCowan said he is thrilled about the opening of the Boot at the Grove. “I’m so excited to be back in that market,” he said. “The customer base is established, and we have such loyalty in that area. And I’ve really missed everyone.”
A12 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Hoover Happenings
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HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A13
Now Open Debbie Beadles has opened Home Care Assistance, 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 123. They provide older adults with quality care that enables them to live happier, healthier lives at home. Their services are distinguished by the caliber of their caregivers, the responsiveness of their staff and their expertise in home care. 438-6925, homecareassistance.com
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Urban Barn Clothing Co. is now open at 5361 Highway 280, Suite 108, in the Bazaar 280 shopping center behind Krispy Kreme. 451-8888, urbanbarnclothingco.com
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Camellia Women’s Imaging is now open at 2068 Valleydale Road. The clinic offers same-day breast imaging services including DEXA, tomosynthesis, 3D mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies. 544-2828, almammogram.com
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Mason Music is now open at the Crossings at Greystone, 5406 Highway 280, Suite B103. This is the music studio’s fourth Birmingham-area location. They offer music lessons, camps, instruments and more. 874-9800, masonmusicstudios.com
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Heatherwood Hills Country Club, 400 St. Anne’s Drive, has reopened after being closed for several years. The 18-hole course is accepting tee times, with memberships available. 502-4441, heatherwoodhills.com
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Atlanta-based Silverton Mortgage has opened a new office in Hoover at 100 Concourse Parkway, Suite 100. 979-9006, silvertonmortgage.com
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A14 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Armed and ready for business Outdoors enthusiast prepares to open all-inclusive recreational merchandise destination
David Roberts stands inside his soonto-be store, which will house a large selection of firearms as well as fishing and hunting merchandise. Photo by Sarah Cook.
By SARAH COOK Hoover native David Roberts said he couldn’t think of a better place to start a business. “I was born and raised here,” Roberts said, owner of the soon-to-be All American Outdoors, in the former Tidmore Flags location on U.S. 31. Roberts’ business will offer a variety of recreational merchandise with an emphasis on hunting, fishing and firearms. Because Alabama has such a strong demand for all things outdoors, Roberts said he wanted to provide the community he loves with an outlet for all their recreational needs. “Our motto is ‘get out there,’” he said. “The great thing about Alabama is you have warm weather nine out of 12 months of the year, so you can actually jump in the boat and go fishing or pretty much anything else outdoors, often.” The 6,800-square-foot store, Roberts said, will be lined with a large variety of firearms from five manufacturers. “Everybody who walks through the door has a different need,” he said. “And we want to help educate and satisfy each person who comes in.” With more than 25 years of experience in the outdoors industry, Roberts said he’s garnered a strong customer base that has been seeking something like All American Outdoors for quite some time. “I’ve built my business off of having that one-on-one time with the customer,” Roberts said, noting his customers often turn into friends who he’s helped throughout the years. Because the outdoor industry — especially hunting and other recreational firearm use — requires a large amount of education, Roberts said his staff will act as instructors who can show customers how to use the store’s products safely and effectively.
By the end of the year, Roberts said he expects at least two of his 14 to 16 employees to be associated with local law enforcement, so customers can get the best education when it comes to purchasing a firearm. “Knowledge is power, and we want people to feel competent with what they’re doing,” Roberts said. “Anytime you have firearms, you’ll have to have education involved.” Eventually, Roberts said he would like to offer discounts to law enforcement members,
first responders and veterans as a way to say thank you for their service. “I’ve always rolled out the red carpet for local law enforcement,” he said. “They’re out there protecting my neighborhood, so I can sleep safe at night.” Aside from hunting, fishing and firearms, Roberts said the store also would boast a wide variety of recreational accessories such as coolers and apparel. Along the left side of the store, Roberts said
there will be a sectioned-off area where children can play — creating a family friendly atmosphere. With plans for a soft opening underway, Roberts said he expects the store to be stocked and ready for business by late February or March. “We want to give back to the community through this business,” he said. “That’s why we are here. We want to make a difference in our community and our world.” For more information on All American Outdoors, go to its Facebook page.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A15
Finding the past in the present By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE
Sandra Plenty DeMoss has always loved prowling estate sales. In fact, she has gone to so many over the years that at one, an organizer asked if she’d assist with the event. This spring Plenty DeMoss brought her passion for estate pieces to 1218 Alford Ave. in Hoover where Alford Avenue Antiques & Vintage opened its doors on Mother’s Day 2016. “We’re not a big store. We’re a small space with quality items that move very quickly,” DeMoss said. “And because we do offer merchandise from estate sales, we don’t have much duplication.” DeMoss said visitors to the shop will find a variety of interesting pieces. “We have something for everyone including many unique items and some things found in antique stores — though the younger generation isn’t that interested in antiques,” she said. “So we carry vintage and pre-owned pieces that are name brand, including furniture, crystal and artwork, along with costume jewelry and silver plate.” And her customers are often surprised at the price, she said. “The thing they all have in common is that they’re not only fabulous in their own right but also affordable,” she said. “You can often find an item online for around $500, and we would sell for $350.” Raised in a military family that moved often, DeMoss earned an engineering degree and worked for the Alabama Department of Transportation. But she continued frequenting estate sales and eventually began handling them herself on the side. “Often when families lose loved ones, it’s hard to go through and sell their things, and
Left: Pictured left to right, Sandra Plenty DeMoss, Helen Reinhardt and Nancy Alexander. Above: Items for sale in Alford Avenue Antiques & Vintage. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.
they so want to make sure they’ve done their best to find the items new homes,” she said. “So it was a great experience for me to be able to help them, and I found that I’m good at it.” DeMoss, who lives in Hoover with her husband, Christopher, was marketing online before and after her estate sales, but her success was catching up with her. “We had so many great items that we had things in storage units and garages,” she said. “That’s when we decided to open the store. I mean, you can’t sell it if people can’t see it.” Items found in Alford Avenue Antiques & Vintage have either been purchased by the store or are on consignment, she said. “And everything that comes in is cleaned, researched and priced appropriately,” she said.
“That’s how we maintain quality.” The store is also an estate sale company, working with families, attorneys and real estate agents to assist people who want to downsize or liquidate their estates, she said. In November, DeMoss said she decided to experiment with something new just in advance of the holidays: taking a great influx of Christmas items on consignment. “A lot of people have holiday items in the garage or attic, and they’d like to find them new locations to adorn,” she said. “The store is back to its normal type of merchandise, but we wanted to provide this opportunity for our customers.” And speaking of customers, DeMoss said she couldn’t be more pleased.
“We meet seven to 10 new people each day, many who say they just want to look but end up staying an hour or more and chatting with us,” she said. “And we have many who have come in as customers and have come to work here.” And what would she advise those first-time patrons if asked? “Buy what you like, and don’t worry about value because the value is in your heart,” she said. “You want to live with things around you that you love because life is short.” Alford Avenue Antiques & Vintage is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; closed Monday. For more information, go to Facebook or call 516-4717.
A16 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
PARROT paradise
Art and Stephanie Davis with a few of the birds they take care of at Alabama Parrot Rescue. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
Cahaba Lake Drive couple run rescue while educating community about their birds By SYDNEY CROMWELL
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rt and Stephanie Davis turn heads when they take their pets for a stroll. “You see owners out walking their dogs all the time,” Art Davis said. “Here in our neighborhood, everybody knows that we’re going to be out walking our parrots.” The Davises’ Cahaba Lake Drive home is also the host of Alabama Parrot Rescue. At any given time, the Davises are taking care of 15 or more macaws, cockatoos, conures and more. It all started with a single bird 19 years ago: Turbo, an African grey parrot Art Davis bought for his wife when their children went to college. “One led to three, and before we knew it, there were seven. Now we actually have eight personal birds, total,” Art Davis said. When they moved to Hoover from Florida, the Davises found the only parrot rescue in the area was closing. The couple made the jump nearly four years ago to open their own rescue. Now the main rooms of their home are filled with cages and feathered occupants, along with two aviaries in their backyard. “When we first moved in, we had my dining room table [that] sat eight people, and I had everything lined up and pristine,” Stephanie Davis said. “We had a house. Now we have rows of cages everywhere,” Art Davis added. Because most pet birds stay in their owners’ homes, Art Davis said there are a lot more parrots in Birmingham than people might expect. Alabama Parrot Rescue receives surrendered birds from a variety of situations, including abuse, neglect or good owners who are no longer able to provide the time and care a parrot needs. Art Davis said many people buy a bird because it’s beautiful and exotic, but they don’t realize they’ve just bought an intelligent, high maintenance pet with a lifespan of 50 years or more. When they receive a bird, Art and Stephanie Davis are committed to finding a home that can care for that bird the rest of its life.
“We take the mindset that every one of our birds came from a home that no longer wanted them, and we’re not going to put them in that situation again,” Art Davis said. Every potential adopter has to meet their bird at least twice before taking it home, as well as going through a “Birdy Boot Camp” course to make sure they’re ready for the commitment. Art Davis said they work to match each person with a bird that meets their skill level. More importantly, the parrots have the final say in whether they like the person who wants to bring them home. “Let the bird pick you as its favorite person. If that doesn’t happen, maybe it’s not the right A macaw waves hello at Art and Stephanie Davis’ home, which is also the site of bird for you,” Art Davis said. Alabama Parrot Rescue. A parrot can’t be forced to like someone, Art Davis said. If they introduce a bird to its adopter and the bird repeatedly tries to neighborhood than they ever hear our parrots,” Stephanie get away, the Davises know it’s not a good match. That can be Davis said. difficult for adopters with their hearts set on a specific parrot, Art and Stephanie Davis see themselves not only as a parrot but Art Davis said both bird and human end up happier when rescue, but also as an ambassador to educate Birmingham on it’s a good match. both the wonderful and difficult parts of owning a parrot. They Some birds stay at Alabama Parrot Rescue for a couple of started Parrots in the Park, a regular social gathering of parrot months, while others can stay for a year or two while waiting owners, and take rescue birds to a variety of festivals to meet for a home. The Davises work with each parrot to improve the public. They also have an “open-door policy” for neighborits social skills, and for birds that come from inexperienced hood children to come and meet their birds. or neglectful owners, that can mean months of work to get “We always have children here in the driveway [in them used to being outside a cage and handled by humans. summer]. Some nights, there’s 15 kids here in our driveway, Volunteers also help with socialization and the daily cleaning and the birds are laughing and playing; the kids are giggling, and other work of keeping a parrot rescue running. and at the end of the night, you know your neighbors aren’t A lot of parrots equals a lot of noise, but Stephanie Davis upset at the fact you have a parrot rescue here because we go said they’re always careful to make sure their feathered guests out of our way to make sure that we’re good stewards,” Art aren’t bothering the neighbors. So far, the families that live Davis said. around them have been supportive. Learn more about adopting a bird or volunteering with the “Our neighbors have said there’s more barking dogs in the Alabama Parrot Rescue at alabamaparrotrescue.org.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A17
SHARING Christmas JOY
A18 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Hundreds take part in Hoover’s tree lighting ceremony By JON ANDERSON
Hudson Pegues laughs after getting out of a life-size inflatable artificial snow globe. Photos by Jon Anderson.
Guests at the city of Hoover’s official Christmas tree lighting were served hot chocolate, cookies and other baked goods in the refreshment tent.
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undreds of people helped usher in the Christmas season at the city of Hoover’s annual Christmas tree lighting at the Hoover Municipal Center. South Shades Crest Elementary thirdgrader Andrew Fambrough and Rocky Ridge Elementary second-grader Lucas Dunigan, two boys who have valiantly fought cancer, helped Mayor Frank Brocato flip the switch to turn on the 65,000 lights on the 32-foot-tall tree at the corner of U.S. 31 and Municipal Lane. Members of the Spain Park High School band and a choir from Green Valley Elementary School provided music for the festivities. Santa Claus showed up for the celebration on a Hoover fire engine and took pictures with children. Mrs. Claus and numerous elves joined him. There also were characters from the “Frozen” movie, a live toy soldier and a reindeer character interacting and dancing with the children. Many of the children played in the snow that was shot into the air by a snow machine, while others played in and had pictures taken inside a life-size inflatable snow globe. Guests also partook of hot chocolate, cookies and other baked goods in a refreshment tent as more Christmas music played over loudspeakers. Charles Daniel of the ABC 33/40 news team served as emcee for the Dec. 1 event.
Members of the Spain Park High School band play a Christmas tune.
Hundreds of people showed up at the Hoover Municipal Center for the lighting of the tree at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Municipal Lane.
Gwen Rosas, 8, and Lillian Rosas, 6, of Hoover visit with Santa Claus.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A19
A20 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
a foundation of
DETERMINATION Parents develop multifaceted program to support Rett syndrome research
By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE
Marie and Brian Bateh with daughter Sarah Katherine, who lent her nickname to the Suki Foundation in order to help raise funds for research and education for Rett syndrome and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Photos by Erica Techo.
Sarah Katherine ”Suki” Bateh was born Sept. 24, 2009, and lived a happy, healthy and typical first six months. But in time, her physical therapist mother, Marie Bateh, said she started seeing “red flags” that caused concern about her fourth daughter’s development. “Her muscle strength seemed low; she wasn’t walking or rolling, and before her sisters were age 1 they were saying 50 or more words, which she wasn’t,” Marie Bateh said. “A lot of people, including the pediatrician, said I was making too much of it, that she was developmentally delayed, but in my heart, I knew something was wrong.” Marie Bateh took matters into her own hands, going through the state’s early intervention system where testing showed Suki qualified for state services because she hadn’t met the appropriate development milestones. And while physicians still couldn’t determine a diagnosis, 1-yearold Suki began outpatient therapy through United Cerebral Palsy and the Bell Center. “The earlier the intervention, the better the potential to improve,” Marie Bateh said. “She wasn’t walking, talking, using her hands, and she was 1 year old but acting 6 months. So, while we were searching for answers, we were doing as much therapy as possible to try to catch up.”
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She’s like any other 7-year-old who has a lot to say and likes to talk about what she wants to talk about. Even though she can’t do all that others can, she can do a lot and handles all her challenges with grace.
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SHARON BAROODY
Meanwhile, a neurologist suspected Rett syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder that predominantly affects females who experience an early period of apparently normal or near normal development until there is a slowing or stagnation of skills. The problems that develop are in the workings of the brain responsible for cognitive, sensory, emotional, motor and automotive function. Areas affected can include learning, speech, sensory sensations, mood, movement, breathing, cardiac function and even chewing, swallowing and digestion. But despite physical disabilities, those with
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A21
The Bateh family.
RS are believed to function mentally at a much higher level than once thought. “We looked it up, and it was the worst of the worst,” Marie Bateh said. “But when the doctor ran genetic testing looking for mutations, it came back negative, and we thought our prayers were answered.” But despite the good news, Suki eventually began withdrawing into her own world and didn’t respond when her name was called, Marie Bateh said. “That was when my sister, a special-needs teacher, said it reminded her of a little girl she knows with Rett syndrome,” she said. “That’s when we sought out Dr. Alan Percy at UAB who studied under Andreas Rett, the doctor and researcher for whom Rett syndrome is named.” After further testing — that was positive
— Dr. Percy diagnosed Suki, then 2 years old, with Rett syndrome. “But we were thankful to finally have an answer,” Marie Bateh said. And the family had another reason to be thankful — it was Marie Bateh’s relentless push to create a proactive therapy plan at such an early age that in all likelihood made a major difference in Suki’s situation and her future. While 80 percent of children with RS are in wheelchairs, Suki learned to walk, and though she had lost the use of her right hand, she uses a pointer in her left. At 5 years old, she began holding her breath, which interferes with chewing and swallowing, so she has a feeding tube — but is able to eat normal blended food. And while she can’t communicate verbally, Suki is cognitively aware, which has enabled
her to learn and now use a Tobii — an eye gaze computer system that allows the user to look at words and letters on a screen that are then generated into speech. Last year, Suki entered kindergarten at Prince of Peace Catholic School. She is now a first-grader attending every day with her communications partner, Sharon Baroody, who assists her in her class activities and provides any needed care. Baroody, who has known her charge all her life, describes Suki as a determined child who loves to be around others. “And she wins over those who might be tentative around her because she communicates very well, especially with her eyes,” she said. “She’s like any other 7-year-old who has a lot to say and likes to talk about what she wants
to talk about. Even though she can’t do all that others can, she can do a lot and handles all her challenges with grace.” Someone else who’s known Suki all of her life is Abbie Bateh, 11, one of her four sisters, who said Suki is “the quiet one who likes to tell us a lot of jokes.” “We all listen to music together, read stories, watch TV, jump on the trampoline and talk on her Tobii,” Abbie said. “We learned how to use her Tobii, and it’s so cool to talk with her. It’s like her language.” After Suki’s diagnosis, Marie and Brian Bateh realized there were other parents who didn’t know about state-provided services and could lose valuable time in getting their children assistance. “We felt there was a need for education and family support, and after talking with Mike Warren [president/CEO] at Children’s of Alabama, decided to start the Suki Foundation that would be our voice and promote awareness and assist children in reaching their potential through early intervention services,” Marie Bateh said. “We’re about halfway to our goal of $1 million, money that will be matched for research at UAB and for an area clinic that will help sustain medical care for children in the Southeast.” Percy said he “wholeheartedly supports” the Batehs effort and dedication to the foundation. Funding from the foundation is matched by UAB to create an endowed professorship specifically to study Rett syndrome and related disorders. “The Batehs have been stalwart supporters of this initiative and have worked tirelessly for the past five years or more to build this funding. As we work to develop effective treatments including a fundamental cure, this effort will allow UAB to continue to attract talented clinician-scientists and fundamental research experts to this task,” Percy said. Marie Bateh said she, her family and countless others maintain great hope and faith that “God in his time will save our girls and a cure will be found.” “Meanwhile we will concentrate on providing better quality of life for these children and give them the best possible life we can, regardless of the challenges,” she said.
A22 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Community Lancers have served as the student face at UAH for more than 40 years
Birmingham’s first Believe Rally at Macy’s at the Riverchase Galleria. Photo courtesy of Aubrey Huffman.
Macy’s celebrates 9th annual iconic Believe campaign with Make-A-Wish In the season of giving, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish teamed up for the ninth annual Believe campaign, which included the iconic letter writing program and festivities to spread the spirit of generosity and goodwill. From the beginning of November through Dec. 24, “Believers” of all ages could mail a letter to Santa at the big red letterbox at any local Macy’s store or online at macys. com/believe. For every letter received, in store or online, Macy’s donated $1 to MakeA-Wish, up to $1 million, to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. On Thursday, Nov. 10, Make-A-Wish Alabama and Macy’s hosted Birmingham’s first Believe Rally at Macy’s at the Riverchase Galleria at 6:30 p.m. The event featured the Briarwood High School band and
cheerleaders, as well as cheerleaders from the University of Alabama Birmingham, school mascots, newly elected Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, the Fire Department of Hoover, the Hoover Police Department and Alabama wish kids. Since 2008, Macy’s Believe campaign has brought together communities across the country, gathering support for the common cause and resulting in nearly $13 million donated to Make-A-Wish. This season also marks a major milestone, as Macy’s celebrates $100 million in total giving to Make-A-Wish since 2003. That represents nearly three wishes granted every day for the past 13 years. For more information about the Believe campaign and festivities for the holiday season, visit macys.com/believe. – Submitted by Aubrey Huffman.
For the 16 students selected to serve as Lancers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for the 2016-17 academic year, the mandate is twofold. The first is to serve as the university’s official ambassadors at formal functions throughout the fall and spring, among them convocation, Peace on Earth, commencement and the board of trustees meeting; the second is to burnish the Lancers’ 43-year reputation as one Khadir of the most prestigious organizations on campus. “Being a Lancer is a really big deal,” said junior accounting major Jamie Furlong, who serves as the organization’s public relations officer. “We are the student face of the university and the embodiment of the passion, professionalism and hospitality of the Charger community.” Students interested in joining the Lancers — originally called the university’s “Hosts and Hostesses” — must meet the organization’s membership criteria, including maintaining an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or a graduate GPA of 3.0 and successfully completing an in-person interview. Once selected, they are required to donate a minimum of 15 hours of their time fulfilling their role as ambassadors, in addition to participating in at least one philanthropic event. Over its nearly half-century in existence, the Lancers have faced several ups and downs. In 1979, the organization came close to folding before Margaret Wright, wife of then-president Dr. John Wright, stepped in to help renew enthusiasm.
In 1993, the Lancers began inducting new members with a fall pinning ceremony at the Lowe House, a tradition that continues to this day. And since celebrating their 40th anniversary, the organization has experienced a resurgence in popularity, with students eager to join the more than 300 alumni who served as Lancers before them. “We encourage anyone who shares our love for UAH and our dedication to serving the university and President Altenkirch to apply for membership to the Lancers,” Furlong said. “It’s a great way to get involved on campus, to sharpen your communication and presentation skills, and to network with community members, business leaders, donors, and alumni —people you might otherwise not have a chance to meet as a regular student.” The 2016-17 officers are: Casey Rickles, Owens Cross Roads, president; Spencer Elmlinger, Florence, Kentucky, vice president; Jamie Furlong, Cullman, public relations officer; Hannah Powell, Huntsville, programs officer; and Rachel Hall, New Site, secretary. The members include: Christian Bailey, Huntsville; Stephen Fast, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Luke Geisen, Cullman; Shatura Hall, Los Angeles; Peyton Hefflin, Athens; Sana Khadir, Hoover; Bobby Marsh, Huntsville; Dale TeGantvoort, Madison; Vu Ton, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Hang Vu, Madison; and Jacob Wintzell, Huntsville. – Submitted by Diana LaChance.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A23
State school board group gives Legacy Award to Donald Sweeney By JON ANDERSON The Alabama Association of School Boards in December honored Donald Sweeney, one of the attorneys for the Hoover school board, with a Legacy Award for his leadership and service in education law for more than 40 years. Sweeney, who works with numerous school boards across Sweeny the state (including the Hoover, Homewood and Mountain Brook school boards), was presented the award during the association’s annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel. “This is a special award that AASB created to honor Mr. Sweeney’s unique and immense contributions to the association and to local school boards,” AASB Executive Director Sally Smith said in a news release. “For more than 40 years, his name has been synonymous with the practice of education law in this state, and his sound counsel has been invaluable to AASB, its members and countless school board attorneys throughout the state.” Sweeney, a partner in the Bradley Arant Boult Cummings law firm, is nationally
recognized as an authority in public education law. He was the founder and fi rst president of the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys and is the only Alabama attorney to serve as president of the National School Board Association’s Council of School Board Attorneys. Sweeney has also served as attorney for the last three Governor’s Task Forces on Education, as chairman of the State Attorney General’s Public Education Task Force, and as state chairman for the National Organization on Legal Problems of Education. Sweeney is an adjunct professor of law at Cumberland Law School and authored “Education Law: A Legal Reference.” He also specializes in employment law, transportation law and civil rights legislation. He once was selected as Lawyer of the Year for the city of Birmingham and has served as president of the Rotary Club of Birmingham and the Country Club of Birmingham. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Walter Gewin on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith opens Huntsville office By JON ANDERSON The Hoover-based Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith public accounting firm is expanding its footprint by opening an office in Huntsville. The company already has nearly 100 clients in north Alabama and three team members already living and working in the Carroll area, so it’s both a strategic and practical decision, the company said in a press release. Jamey Carroll, chairman of the Alabama Society of Certifi ed Public Accountants, recently joined the Barfield, Murphy, Shank
& Smith firm and will be a part of the Huntsville team. During his 20-year career, Carroll has gained experience in auditing, consulting, and personal and business accounting related to the construction, manufacturing, retail and emergency industries. Other members of the Huntsville team include the firm’s controller, David Brown, tax manager Amy Stapler and Cynthia Hudson. The firm’s Huntsville office will be at 4245 Balmoral Drive. For more information about Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith, visit the company’s website at bmss.com.
From left: Kaden Johnson, Sophie Temple and Isabella Murton. Photo courtesy of Gary Murton.
Hoover students take top prize at AMSTI festival A team from Green Valley Elementary recently won first place in the “Longest Ride” competition at the Engaging Elementary Engineers Science Festival at the University of Montevallo. More than 50 teams from area schools competed in designing and building a roller coaster from materials given to the students at the start of the event. The engineering objective was to build a working coaster that provided the longest track ride. In a stellar show by all the participants, the
winning Green Valley team members were: Kaden Johnson, Sophie Temple and Isabella Murton. The entire Green Valley team performed well and is coached and mentored by Melissa Hitt. The Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) hosted the festival. AMSTI is a developmental system of STEM, a nationwide curriculum to improve competitiveness in science and technology development. – Submitted by Gary Murton.
A24 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Hoover couple’s life as extras in ‘Dirty Dancing’ By SARAH TUTTLE The musical “Dirty Dancing” is coming to the BJCC, but for Jack and Betty Rollins, the film the musical is based on holds a special place on their dance floor. The Hoover couple always lived a life full of dance. But becoming extras in the 1987 classic movie “Dirty Dancing” was something they just happened to stumble upon. “You couldn’t get into the Miller family, my family, unless you danced,” Betty Rollins said. “We always joked you had to dance if you wanted to be part of my family.” Jack and Betty Rollins jitterbugged and waltzed whenever and wherever they could. The two of them traveled all over the country ballroom dancing and taking workshops when they were in their prime. They also taught dance, and they continued to teach and take ballroom up until four years ago. Betty Rollins’ sister, Patt Rocks, contributed to the family dance legacy as she and her husband Tom taught “shag dance” in South Carolina. One day, Patt Rocks saw an advertisement in the paper for dancing extras for a film at Lake Lure, North Carolina. Patt Rocks had no idea what the film was, but she went to Lake Lure and she and her husband were cast as extras. “I told my sister, ‘You’re gonna be in this picture without me, I can’t believe you’re doing this,’” Betty Rollins said. “Then Patt told them about Jack and I because they needed more dancers. The casting director called me and told me, ‘Come on; we want you.’” Jack and Betty Rollins went to Lake Lure intending to film for seven days. However, it went on for 10 days. Betty Rollins said it took longer than expected because they ran out of money and had to find backers, so they could finish the film. “Don’t I wish I had put the 10 or 50 bucks in to help back the film if I knew what it was going to be,” Betty Rollins said. Betty Rollins said the setup of all of the extras was like a circus tent with long tables. Everyone would go in about 6 a.m. and get their hair and makeup done, then some nights they weren’t finished until almost
11 p.m. The long days were full of horrible, cold and rainy weather. “The fun thing was the professional dancers that were there would come into the tent. There was always music going, and we were freezing, but they would come in and start soul train lines,” Betty Rollins said. “We would watch all those kids and they were having the time of their lives.” Throughout filming, Jack and Betty Rollins did not see much except for the group scenes they were in. They never saw the “dirty” dancing scenes being filmed and did not even know that would end up being part of the title. Jack and Betty Rollins also only saw the main actors a few times. Patt Rocks, however, got to know Patrick Swayze. “My sister was working for television at the time, and she went out to the bar at night and would interview Patrick,” Betty Rollins said. “One night at the bar he looked at her and said, ‘This movie is going to make me.’” The couple said that no one had ever heard of most of the actors. The cast came from all walks of life. “The only thing I ever knew about Jennifer Grey was she was Joel Grey’s daughter,” Jack Rollins said. One of Betty Rollins’ favorite moments from filming was getting to know choreographer Kenny Ortega. She described him as fantastic, cordial and patient. “Kenny came up and said to me one day, ‘What do you think about Patrick?’ and I said, ‘Forget Patrick, I would pay you before I paid Patrick to dance with me,’” Betty Rollins said. “So Kenny grabbed me, and we danced.” Jack and Betty Rollins said they both would go back and do “Dirty Dancing” again in a heartbeat. The only thing they regret is not mingling and soaking up all the stories of everyone who was there. “We were really fortunate to be in the movie as far as people were concerned, but the kinds of teachers and training we got after was the icing on the cake,” Betty Rollins said. “The best part was getting to keep up with some of the other dancers and extras from the film.” “Dirty Dancing” on stage is coming to the BJCC in January. To learn more, visit birmingham-theater. com/theaters/bjcc-concert-hall/dirty-dancing.
Betty and Jack Rollins at their Hoover home. Dancing has always been a big part of their lives. Photo by Sarah Tuttle.
Breathing should be the last thing on your mind. Celebrating 50 Years HOMEWOOD HOOVER CHELSEA ALABASTER CULLMAN TRUSSVILLE
Our board-certified allergists at Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center are committed to the peace of mind that comes with every effortless breath. We provide children and adults with the individualized care needed for a better quality of life. Specialized Diagnosis and Treatment: • Asthma
• Food Allergies
• Sinus Issues
• Drug and Insect Allergies
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HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A25
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: CITY PLANS
Above: Sally Flynn walks her grandson, Flynn Cataldo, home from Greystone Elementary School. Hoover officials say they want to continue adding sidewalks in other parts of the city. Riverchase Elementary School second-grade teacher Catherine Bryant works with Rudy Bernabe on his nonfiction writing. City leaders say they plan to increase funding for Hoover City Schools this year. Photos by Jon Anderson.
What’s on the horizon: 2017
I
ncreasing education funding and getting starting on a master plan are key priorities for the city in 2017, new Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and city council members say. As of press time, Brocato was still working on his 2017 budget recommendation for the council, but he said it will include a significant increase in funding for schools. He wasn’t ready to announce a number, but “right now, we can double what we’ve been doing. I’m very comfortable saying that,” Brocato said. Currently, city funding for the school system is about $2.5 million a year. The council in December 2015 also agreed to start paying the full cost of school resource officers, which is about $1.7 million a year, instead of half. Brocato said he expects to find extra money for schools in the existing revenue stream and does not foresee a tax increase. “That’s the very last thing we want to do,” he said. “Before we would look at a tax, the citizens would have to be knocking on our
doors, saying we want this tax to fund X, Y, Z.” Some residents have proposed a one-percentage point sales tax increase for schools, but Brocato said he hasn’t heard a huge outcry for that. Revisions to a Jefferson County sales Brocato tax approved by the Legislature in 2015 should provide an extra $2 million to $2.5 million for Hoover schools each year, so that should take some of the pressure off the city, Brocato said. The mayor said he also doesn’t expect the city to return to a set percentage of city sales tax revenues going to schools. In fiscal 2004, that amount was 16 percent. In fiscal 2016, 16 percent would have amounted to $11.4 million. A fixed-dollar amount is more likely, Brocato said. “We’re going to a commit to a number, and we’re going to do everything we can to stay with that number,” he said. “They are a part of our city that needs to be taken care
of, just like any other department in our city. If there’s a need and we can fill that need without seriously compromising something like public safety, we want to fill that need.” Hoover Council President Gene Smith if the school system’s needs exceed the capability of the city’s current revenue, city officials will need to look for new revenue sources, such as a small sales or property tax increase. If the city were to start charging residents for garbage service, that could free up $7 million, Smith said. However, Smith said the council is waiting on the mayor’s budget recommendation. Both he and the mayor said the city once again will start having public hearings regarding the budget. This will allow the council and the public to hear requests from department heads, Smith said. In recent years, the
See HORIZON | page A26
A26 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: CITY PLANS
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: TAXES
Construction workers level out land for expansion of the Hoover RV Park. Photo by Jon Anderson.
HORIZON
CONTINUED from page A25 council has only received the mayor’s final budget recommendation and did not get to see what requests were left out of the mayor’s budget, he said. Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said she has been meeting with Brocato to discuss budget needs. She understands the city has many responsibilities other than schools but is pleased that city leaders have expressed a desire to increase school funding. The city may choose to earmark some contributions, but “money is money,” whether it’s set aside for a particular purpose or given to use with discretion, she said. Brocato said he hopes to have a 2017 budget adopted by the end of January. Brocato and Smith also said the
Property tax renewal vote coming in March
H city will get moving on a master plan in 2017. The mayor said he foresees hiring a professional planner to assist with that effort. The city will get input from the community and staff, but “I’m not going to have this 20-person committee to try to get it done,” he said. The mayor said he already has started meeting with commercial and residential developers. “We’re asking them to kind of rethink how they bring things to Hoover,” he said. “We want to urbanize it a bit.” He wants to find a place that can be turned into a city center and perhaps include a performing arts center, he said. He also wants to see development plans that include green space and encourage walking and bicycling, he said. Sidewalk projects will be a priority, he said. The city historically has relied on federal money to build
sidewalks, but that process can be very slow, he said. He wants to see if the city can afford to go ahead and handle some sidewalk projects without federal money, he said. The largest city project for 2017 is completing the 155,000-square-foot Finley Center for sports and other events, next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. That project is on schedule for completion in May, in time for the 2017 SEC Baseball Tournament, Brocato said. He’s eager to see all the events that will take place there, he said. It should help fill a void from the closing of the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on U.S. 280, he said. Sports Facilities Management, the company hired to manage the complex, already is getting a lot of calls, he said. The adjacent Hoover RV Park also is being partially relocated and expanded from 149 to 172 spaces.
oover residents in March will be asked to renew three property taxes that together brought in $20.7 million for Hoover schools in fiscal 2015. The vote originally was planned to take place on Nov. 8, 2016 — the same time as the general election, but the Jefferson County Commission delayed the tax renewal vote until March 7. Two of the taxes cover all of Jefferson County and will be voted on by all Jefferson County voters. Together, they total 7.5 mills and brought in about $7.1 million for Hoover City Schools (plus additional money for other school districts) in fiscal 2015, school officials said. A separate 13.9-mill property tax just for the Hoover school system brought in about $13.6 million for Hoover schools in 2015 and will be voted on by only registered voters in the Hoover portion of Jefferson County, tax attorney Heyward Hosch said. Superintendent Kathy Murphy emphasized that they are tax renewals, not new taxes. “That money is substantial and important to us,” Murphy said. Murphy School board member Craig Kelley said it is extremely important to get the tax renewals passed to maintain current funding for Hoover City Schools. All three taxes are set to expire in 2021, and officials are seeking to get all three extended for 25 years to 2046. It’s important to go ahead and get them approved far in advance in order to maintain school systems’ credit ratings and allow school systems to obtain financing for needed capital projects, Hosch said. Plus, if a first tax renewal vote fails, there still could be time to seek a second vote later, he said. There are other property taxes in Hoover and Jefferson and Shelby counties that support Hoover schools. In total, the school system estimates it will receive $70.2 million in property tax revenues in fiscal 2017, which represents 42 percent of the total $168 million in revenue projected in the 2017 budget.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A27
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: SCHOOL REZONING
2017: The year rezoning could become reality
I
t has been nearly 10 months since the Hoover school board approved a rezoning plan that could shift about 2,000 students to new school zones, but community discussion about it has virtually ceased. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala in May gave preliminary approval to the plan but held off on implementing it for the 201617 school year because she wants more information from Hoover school officials about how it will impact minority students. Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said she’s a little concerned the topic has dropped off the public’s radar so much because some people may have forgotten about it, but it’s not going away. She’s hopeful the federal judge will give final approval to the plan in time for the 2017-18 school year, which is expected to begin in August. There are two main goals of the plan: redistribute students to make better use of available space at schools and “undo” previous rezoning plans that forced minority populations to travel farther to school. Here are some key elements of the plan, as presented to the court: ► South Shades Crest Elementary would change from a K-4 school to a K-2 school, and Brock’s Gap Intermediate, now with grades 5-6, would begin to serve students in grades 3-5 in the South Shades Crest Elementary zone only.
► Trace Crossings and Deer Valley elementary schools, now serving grades K-4, would return as K-5 schools. ► Bumpus Middle, now serving grades 7-8, would switch to a 6-8 school, similar to Berry and Simmons middle schools. ► Trace Crossings Elementary students would, after grade 5, split up between Bumpus and Simmons middle schools but at more equal percentages than originally proposed. All the students from Trace Crossings Elementary would reunite at Hoover High. ► Students in numerous apartment complexes and single-family homes would be rezoned to different schools. Go to hooverrezoning.com to see rezoning maps with specifics. ► Students entering grades 9-12 would be “grandfathered” to stay in their current school zone, as would students who would have just one year in a school because of rezoning, such as students entering grades 5 or 8. Haikala in May gave Hoover school officials, the U.S. Department of Justice and NAACP Legal Defense Fund until Jan. 17 to file a report of how Hoover schools are doing in regard to desegregation goals. A 1968 U.S. Supreme Court order requires school districts to ensure that black students are treated fairly with regard to student assignment, facilities, transportation and extracurricular activities, and that racial discrimination does not occur in the hiring and
This map shows the proposed elementary school attendance zones, as presented to the federal court in April. Map courtesy of Hoover City Schools.
placement of faculty and staff. Haikala also wants an assessment of how Hoover’s rezoning plan would impact its efforts to fulfill the court mandates. Murphy said Hoover school officials know they need to increase minority representation among school employees and are beefing up efforts to achieve that. Hoover teachers also have gone through training on how to better teach diverse classrooms. Murphy said her staff will meet the Jan. 17 report deadline, and the school district’s
attorney has stayed in touch with the Justice Department and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “I believe we are on the same page,” she said. There may be some tweaking to the final rezoning plan, but she does not anticipate significant changes, she said. School leaders are eager to get final approval so parents can know for sure what will happen, but they understand it’s necessary to answer all the judge’s questions, she said.
A28 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Above: Signature Homes plans to build 40 townhouses and 20,000 square feet of commercial space called Taylor’s Court on what is now a gravel lot next to the Ross Bridge Village Center. Sketch by Nequette Architecture and Design. Right: This shows the preliminary lot layout for the 499 houses expected in the Lake Wilborn development just west of Bumpus Middle School. Preliminary plans already have been approved for the first 203 houses, and Signature Homes hopes to start building houses in April. Map courtesy of Signature Homes.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: HOUSING
City projected to add at least 350 new homes
H
oover is expected to gain about 350 new houses in 2017, according to projections from the city’s planning consultant, Bob House. Most of the new houses coming are in the western part of the city, in communities such as Ross Bridge, Lake Wilborn and McGill Crossings. House projects there will be 150 or more
houses built in Ross Bridge in 2017. Signature Homes, the most active developer and home builder in Hoover, expects to build 90 to 100 of those, President Jonathan Belcher said. Signature still has five areas of Ross Bridge to complete, Belcher said. About 14 houses in The Hamptons (priced in the $400,000s) should be completed in the first quarter, and
the final 70 houses should be built in Sawyer Trail (priced in the $300,000s) in 2017, he said. There are 46 home sites remaining in Glasscott (starting in the $700,000s), and Signature plans to start development of 22 of those this spring, Belcher said. Development of the rest of Glasscott should stretch into 2018, he said.
Signature Homes also plans to begin construction of 40 town houses (starting in the mid-$200,000s) and 20,000 square feet of commercial space in the Ross Bridge Town Center by April. That sector will be called Taylor’s Court and also should stretch into 2018, he said. The fifth area is between the Ross Bridge Town Center and Birchall Apartments and
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A29
Construction workers build a house in the Sawyer Trail section of Ross Bridge. Left: Houses are under construction next to the Preserve Town Center. Photos by Jon Anderson.
should include 62 houses, Belcher said. He hopes to initiate building plans in the spring and start construction in the summer, he said. Development there also should carry over into 2018, he said. U.S. Steel and Daniel Corp. also still have areas in Ross Bridge set aside for commercial, office and industrial development, Belcher said. Lake Wilborn, Blackridge and others Signature Homes also has been busy preparing its 408-acre Lake Wilborn development for houses at the end of Stadium Trace Parkway, west of Bumpus Middle School. The entire development is slated to contain 499 houses. Preliminary plans have been
approved for the first 203 houses, and Signature hopes to start building houses in April, Belcher said. They hope to complete 40 to 50 houses (priced from the $300,000s to $500,000s) in 2017, he said. Signature Homes also is getting started on the 1,739-acre Blackridge community, which is slated to contain 1,150 houses just southwest of Lake Wilborn. Signature Homes already has gained approval of preliminary plans for 165 of the 650 houses (starting in the $500,000s) it plans to develop on the 916 acres it owns. The other 823 acres are owned by Riverwoods Holdings and will contain 500 houses.
Belcher said the extension of Stadium Trace Parkway is under way, and he expects to have the bridge over the first set of railroad tracks completed by spring. Preparation of home sites should begin in the summer, but the first houses probably won’t be built until 2018, he said. Also in western Hoover, House said he expects to see 20 or more homes built in McGill Crossings off Ross Bridge Parkway, 10 or more homes in Lake Cyrus and 10 or more homes in Trace Crossings. Closer to the center of Hoover, The Preserve subdivision should gain at least 25 more homes in 2017, House said. On the eastern side of the city, Signature
Homes already has final plans approved for 50 of the 97 lots in the Brock Point subdivision off Dunnavant Valley Road, just east of the Cove at Greystone. Construction should start in January, and 35 to 40 houses (priced in the $500,000s to $700,000s) should be built there by the end of the year, Belcher said. The total number of homes sold in Hoover through the end of November was 1,776, which is the most homes sold in a year since 1,733 were sold in 2006, Belcher said. Only about 340 of the homes sold in 2016 were new (19 percent of the total), he said. That compares with 780 new homes sold in 2006, or 46 percent, he said.
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A30 • January 2017
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: SOUTHERN VOICES LINEUP
Hoover Sun
Wells tops lineup for Southern Voices Festival
T Above: Author and actress Rebecca Wells speaks at Middle Tennessee State University in October 2015. Wells is the headliner for the 2017 Southern Voices Festival at the Hoover Public Library. She is scheduled to perform a one-woman stage show based on the characters in her book “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” their real-life counterparts and her memoirs in the Hoover Library Theatre on Friday, Feb. 24. Photo courtesy of Middle Tennessee State University. Right: The keynote speaker for the Feb. 25 authors’ conference is Chris Bohjalian, who has written 19 books, most of them New York Times bestsellers. Photo courtesy of Hoover Public Library.
ickets for the 2017 Southern Voices Festival go on sale Jan. 6, and new Hoover Library Director Amanda Borden said this year’s lineup should draw a lot of interest. Rebecca Wells, the woman who introduced the world to the “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” is slated to be the headliner for the 25th anniversary of the festival, scheduled for Feb. 21-25. The Louisiana-born Wells will perform a one-woman stage show based on the Ya-Ya characters, their real-life counterparts and her memoirs in the Hoover Library Theatre on Feb. 24. “She’s going to bring the characters to life on stage through her voices,” Borden said. “I’m really excited about that. It’s different than anything we’ve done in the past.” Wells’ “Divine Secrets” book, which explores relationships between mothers and daughters and the complex bonds of female friendships, topped The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year and spawned a movie, as well as Ya-Ya girlfriend groups across the United States and in some foreign countries. “She’s a really amazing woman, and she’s also very warm,” Borden said. “You just feel like you get to know her after hearing her speak.” The keynote speaker for the Feb. 25 authors’ conference is Chris Bohjalian, who has written 19 books, most of them New York Times bestsellers. His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews,
Zoe Speaks is scheduled to perform in the Hoover Library Theatre on Feb. 22-23. Photo courtesy of Zoe Speaks
Bookpage and Salon. Bohjalian won numerous awards for his book “The Sandcastle Girls,” which is about the Turkish genocide of Armenian people in the early 1900s. But he writes about all kinds of topics, including nuclear holocaust and homelessness, Borden said. His latest book, “The Guest Room,” is about human trafficking, a marriage in crisis and two women. He has a new book, called “The Sleepwalker,” coming out in January. “He just is all over the place,” Borden said. “He’s really very intriguing because he can write about so many topics.” Other authors scheduled to speak at the Saturday authors’ conference include mystery writers Mary Kubica and Lou Berney, western author C.J. Box, Mississippi authors Julie Cantrell and Michael Farris Smith, nonfiction
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • A31 Left: Artists Darius and Bethanne Hill and their three children. A reception is scheduled to honor the Hills and their work on Feb. 21. Below: Artwork by Bethanne Hill. Bottom: One of Darius Hill’s creations. Photos courtesy of Hoover Public Library.
author Rabia Chaudry and two traditional Southern women’s fiction writers, Kristie Woodson Harvey and Karen White. The festival also will include two performances by the mountain music band Zoe Speaks from Kentucky on Feb. 22-23 and feature the artwork of husband and wife artists Bethanne and Darius Hill, who will be honored at a reception on Feb. 21. Read more about the authors, musicians and artists at hooverlibrary.org/sv. The reception for the Hills is free. Tickets for Zoe Speaks on Feb. 22-23 are $25, while tickets for Wells’ performance on Feb. 24 are $35, with a limit of four tickets per person, and tickets for the Saturday authors conference are $40, with a limit of six tickets per person. All tickets also have a $2.50 processing fee. Tickets for the authors’ conference will be specific to the venue selected (the Hoover Library Theatre or the Library Plaza), but each Saturday author will speak at both venues at different times.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON: SOUTHERN VOICES LINEUP
OTHER SPEAKERS DURING SATURDAY AUTHORS’ CONFERENCE
Berney
Box
Cantrell
Chaudry
Woodson Harvey
Kubica
White
Tickets for the authors’ conference will be specific to the venue selected (the Hoover Library Theatre or the Library Plaza), but each Saturday author will speak at both venues at different times.
Farris Smith
SunB SECTION
JANUARY 2017
School House B4 Sports B8 Women in Business B14 Real Estate B21 Calendar B22
23RD ANNIVERSARY HELP US CELEBRATE 23 YEARS OF A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP
Greene, McEwan named Hoover Teachers of the Year By JON ANDERSON Melody Greene comes from a family of educators who loved teaching, but that’s not what really motivated Hoover’s new Elementary Teacher of the Year to get into the field. Greene, a fourth-grade teacher at Greystone Elementary, vividly remembers her fifth-grade year in school with a very demanding teacher. “I was just very stressed out and felt like I could never live up to her expectations,” Greene said. The next year, her sixth-grade teacher provided a completely different experience, pushing students to achieve but demonstrating love and providing opportunities for students with different learning styles to succeed, Greene said. “I knew she cared about us as kids,” Greene said. “At the end of my sixth-grade year, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Greene, now in her 14th year as a teacher, is being honored for showing that same love for students in a way that helps them move forward. She was named Hoover’s 2016-17 Elementary Teacher of the Year in mid-December. Paul McEwan, a biology teacher at Hoover High, was named Hoover’s Secondary Teacher of the Year. Greene, 35, earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Montevallo in 2003 and completed the rigorous certification process by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2010. She taught sixth grade for 10 years at Berry Middle School before moving to Greystone, where she is now in her fourth year with the fourth grade. She lives in Chelsea with her husband and two daughters, who attend Greystone Elementary. Greystone Principal Stacey Stocks said Greene is the kind of teacher who will go to all lengths to do what’s right for children. “She looks at every single one of her students as individuals and will work tirelessly to find what helps them to be successful,” Stocks said. She uses chants and music and whatever techniques she can find to reach students, Stocks said.
See TEACHERS | page B4
Above: Greystone Elementary fourth-grade teacher Melody Greene is the 2016-17 Hoover Elementary Teacher of the Year. Right: Hoover High School biology teacher Paul McEwan is the Hoover City Schools 2016-17 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Photos courtesy of Jason Gaston/Hoover City Schools.
B2 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B3
B4 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
School House Hoover school board mulls 2017-18 calendar options By JON ANDERSON Hoover parents and employees of Hoover City Schools appear to like their full week out of school for Thanksgiving. School officials gave people a week to vote on three calendar options for the 2017-18 school year, and 77.5 percent chose either of the two calendars that allows students a full week for Thanksgiving. The Hoover Parent Teacher Council wanted to give people a chance to consider a third option that matched the three-day school week for Thanksgiving offered by other over-themountain school systems, HPTC President Shelley Shaw said. The group didn’t favor one calendar over another but wanted to offer the option, she said. However, only 22.5 percent of people favored the calendar with a three-day school week for Thanksgiving, Superintendent Kathy Murphy said. There were not many differences between the calendars beyond that.
TEACHERS
CONTINUED from page B1 People who enter her classroom will find students moving around and talking a lot. “I’m a very strong believer that kids learn better when they interact and talk with one another,” Greene said. McEwan, Hoover’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, uses a similar strategy with high school
Students from Riverchase Elementary School work on an assignment. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Forty-five percent of survey respondents chose Option B, which would provide three more days for winter break than Option A. Option B would start school one day earlier (Aug. 9, 2017) and end school one day later (May 24, 2018) than Option A. Option B also would allow only one teacher workday (Feb. 19) in February, compared to two teacher workdays (Feb. 19-20) with Option A. Murphy recommended the school board approve Option B since it appears to be the favorite, but the school board is not slated to vote on the 2017-18 calendar until its next meeting Jan. 9. People have until then to let school board members know how they feel about the calendar proposal. Hoover schools spokesman Jason Gaston said the survey with three options was available to parents, school employees and the community at large from Dec. 2 to Dec. 9. More than 3,500 people responded to the survey, Murphy said. In putting together the calendar options, Gaston said school officials tried to develop
options that had what they consider to be a reasonable start date, a balance of instructional days between the two semesters and an ending date before Memorial Day, which is May 28, 2018. Here are the highlights from the Option B 2017-2018 calendar recommended by Murphy: ► First day for students: Aug. 9 ► Labor Day holiday: Sept. 4 ► Teacher workday (no students): Oct. 9 ► Veterans Day holiday: Nov. 10 ► Thanksgiving holiday: Nov. 20-24 ► Winter break: Dec. 21-Jan. 4 ► Teacher workday (no students): Jan. 4
► First day back for students: Jan. 5 ► Martin Luther King Jr. holiday: Jan. 15 ► Teacher workday (no students): Feb. 19 ► Spring break: March 26-30 ► Teacher workday (no students): April 23 ► Spain Park High graduation: May 23 ► Hoover High graduation: May 24 ► Last day for students: May 24 ► Teacher workday: May 25 ► Memorial Day holiday: May 28 To see all three calendar options that were considered, go to hoovercityschools. net. However, the voting period has ended, Gaston said.
students. He employs an “argument-driven inquiry” strategy that focuses on students working together to solve problems. McEwan said he tries to find questions that will interest students and puts them more in charge of their own learning. They become doctors trying to diagnose whether a patient has cancer or crime scene technicians trying to discern where a victim got food poisoning. “Mr. McEwan is an excellent classroom teacher with an unwavering belief in young
people,” Assistant Principal Jennifer Hogan said in a nomination letter. “He is very thoughtful in designing his lessons so that they are relevant and engaging to his students. “He fully understands the individual needs of all of his students and is able to stretch each student to his or her fullest potential,” Hogan wrote. “The students who leave his classroom are fully armed with strategies for how to problem-solve and think critically.” McEwan, 55, has been teaching for 32 years in
high schools in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina. This is his 11th year at Hoover, where he teaches biology to ninth-graders and 11th-grade International Baccalaureate students. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and a master’s degree in instructional technology, both from Asbury University. McEwan and his wife live in Alabaster. They have a daughter who is married and works for a church in Moody and a son who is a senior at the University of Alabama.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B5
Hoover administrator named AL Assistant Principal of Year By JON ANDERSON Carrie Busby, an assistant principal at Hoover High School, has been named the Assistant Principal of the Year by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Busby was presented the award during a pep rally at Hoover High by the group’s executive director, Earl Franks. She has been an assistant principal at the school since January 2013 and oversees the 12th grade. Prior to that, she was an English teacher and peer helper teacher at Hoover High and has served a total of 21 years there, school officials said. The Assistant Principal of the Year awards
program is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Busby now will be considered for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award, scheduled to be announced in April. Busby also will be recognized at the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools annual conference in Mobile in June and then in July will travel to Philadelphia for the National Principals Conference. Busby has served on the board of directors for the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals and on several of the group’s committees. She lives in Helena with her husband, Scott, and two children, Jake and Riley.
Hoover High’s Carrie Busby was named Assistant Principal of the Year by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Photo courtesy of Jason Gaston, Hoover City Schools.
Birmingham Swim League swimmers score big at local, state meets During the past two months, Birmingham Swim League swimmers have performed in three meets. In September, BSL hosted its Sprint Into Fall meet at the CrossPlex; in October, they traveled to Mobile for the Vance Rose Invitational; and in early November, they hosted the Speedo Cranberry Classic Invitational at the CrossPlex. Each meet at the CrossPlex included more than 600 swimmers and featured teams from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The meet in Mobile featured almost 400 swimmers and included teams from Lower Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Even with well over 1,000 swimmers coming from all over the Southeast, BSL performed impressively from top to bottom. Homewood resident Jakob Icimsoy, 16, led
BSL with nine individual wins, while fellow resident Birch Ely, 16, finished with three individual wins. Wells Ely, 11, Lily Blish, 12, and Isabel Blish, 15, helped to contribute to team
scoring by finishing in the top eight of several events. Vestavia residents bolstered BSL’s point totals with Adeline Carroll, 13, Jake Casey, 17, Rachel Morris, 15, Chris Rubin, 15, and John Shields, 18, placing in the top eight over several events each. Mountain Brook residents Lauren Crabtree, 16, and James Hoyt, 18, combined to win four individual events, including the Girls 50 Fly and Boys 25 Free, respectively. Several Hoover residents impacted the team point totals. Erica Han, 14, Dana Mays, 13, Nicole Smith, 17, and Ariana Zamani, 13, combined to win 10 individual events. Fellow Hoover swimmers Caron Muir, 11, Abby Williamson, 15, and Justin Zhang, 16, also contributed points to the BSL total.
To top off the impressive run, BSL swimmers have combined to qualify in 31 events for the 2017 Short Course Southeastern Championship. John Nicholson, 9, leads the team with five new qualifying events, followed closely by Dana Mays, 13, with four new qualifying events. The championship meet will be conducted in February at Auburn University. In December, BSL split between several meets, with the 12 & Unders swimming at the Santa Splash at the CrossPlex; 13 & Overs competing in Nashville; and a few select qualifiers competing at USA Swimming’s Winter Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio. For more information on BSL or to join the team, visit BirminghamSwimLeague.org or email the coaches at Swim4BSL@gmail.com. – Submitted by Angela Morris.
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B6 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
80 Prince of Peace students recognized by 2016 Duke University TIP program Prince of Peace Catholic School is proud to announce that 80 of its students in grades four through seven have qualified for Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) by scoring far above grade level on the achievement test. The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) works with students, their families and educators to identify, recognize,
challenge, engage and help students reach their highest potential. “I am so proud of these students who are performing well above grade level in our challenging academic curriculum. Prince of Peace Catholic School provides a world-class education while also instilling strong faith and family values,” said Principal Connie Angstadt. – Submitted by Jill Spero.
Prince of Peace Catholic School had 80 students in grades four through seven recognized by Duke University’s Talent Identification Program for their above-grade-level test scores in November 2016. Photo courtesy of Jill Spero.
Prince of Peace robotics team wins 3 awards at competition The popularity of robotics engineering in education continues to grow, as does the size of the highly successful robotics team at Prince of Peace Catholic Middle School. The team recently added three trophies to their collection from the Shelton State BEST “Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology” Robotics Competition in October. The team took second place in the engineering notebook category, third place for T-shirt design and third place in the “BEST Award” category. By placing third in the BEST category, the POP team advanced to the five-state regional competition at Auburn University, which was in December. POP ranked highest of all competing middle schools and outperformed 11 high schools. The team was also invited to be part of the Shelton’s BEST Engineering Day event in the spring. POP’s robotics team has been competing in the BEST Robotics program for the past seven years. Prince of Peace is beginning to incorporate a model of BEST Robotics into its middle school
curriculum to advance its STREAM initiative (science, technology, religion, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.) The school has added coding to its technology curriculum and has partnered with CTS, a Hoover-based technology provider, to use game-based programming to introduce critical thinking and coding principles that go hand in hand with robotics. The BEST award competition is sponsored by colleges across Alabama in conjunction with corporations such as Mercedes and Alabama Power, which donate time and materials for the advancement of education in engineering and robotics. The mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through participation in this science and engineering-based robotics competition. There are five categories to the competition: robot performance, engineering notebook, display booth and interviews, marketing presentation, and spirit and sportsmanship. – Submitted by Jill Spero.
The award-winning POP School robotics team, front row: Lucas Ward, Paul Wenter, Prithvi Vencatesan, Braxton Nichols. Second row: Ella Weise, Brogan Torchia, Avery Calvert, Julien Fuselier, Katie Swetz, Bella Berryman. Third row: Josh Waites, Sean O’Neal, Campbell McFadden, Jeff Satchwell, Braden Cornelius. Photo courtesy of Jill Spero.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B7
Guest speaker Don Lutomski talked to students about what he was passionate about as part of the eighth-graders’ 2016 Passion Project work. Photo courtesy of Michelle Berg.
Simmons Middle 8th-graders undertake Passion Project As part of the eighth-grade language arts program, Simmons Middle School students began working on their Passion Project. This is the school’s second year undertaking the project. The project is a spinoff of Google's “Genius Hour,” which gives employees 20 percent of their time at work to focus on something they are passionate about in hopes that something will come out of that that helps the company as a whole. Because Google lets its people invest their time in personal passions and pursuits, both the company and the employees thrive. The Simmons Passion Project has the same principle. As part of the curriculum, students are required to do a research paper, so the Passion Project allows them to reflect on something they are passionate about in their own lives and write about it. As part of the process, two days of language arts class periods focused on guest speakers sharing their passions and the role their passions play in their lives. Students heard about sports, music, baking, the DEA, domestic violence and missionary work, to name a few. One speaker, Don Lutomski, spoke to the students about finances and financial planning, which is his job. He said his passion was that he always wanted to help people and to put people in the position to have flexibility in their lives. This passion is what he addressed with the students. With the help of a visual aid, Lutomski
showed the students what would happen if they saved the cost of one Chick-fil-A meal every day over time. The students “saw” the money grow and what would happen as they started their careers, continued to save, participated in a 401(k) program, and took advantage of a company funds-matching program. He reminded the students to get in the habit of saving money early. Another speaker was eighth-grade science teacher Mike Tucker, who explained he was a teacher by career, but his passion is what he did outside of his job: music. Today, he plays in the group The M-80s, an authentic 1980s pop/rock tribute band. What started as a hobby, playing in places like backyards and a middle school dance, eventually grew to playing in more public venues like Buck Creek Festival in Helena and the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. “How often do you get to play the guitar, during a sunset, over the Mississippi River, on the rooftop of a hotel, while over 800 people are dancing to your performance?” Tucker asked the students. The conference gave students a chance to hear about different passions and how a passion can play a huge role in a person’s life. The students walked away with an understanding that there are different reasons to be passionate about something. – Submitted by Michelle Berg.
Part of the cast of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” Photo courtesy of Michelle Berg.
Simmons performers wrap up ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ The Simmons Middle School Theatre Outreach Program (TOP) recently performed its fall musical “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” for 1,400 local students from Bluff Park, Green Valley and Gwin Elementary schools, as well as for 850 members of the Simmons student body. In addition to the four school performances, 1,900 additional patrons attended the two evening performances that were open to the public. This was a momentous event for the Simmons Middle School Theatre, as it marked the largest audience to date. The cast of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” included sixth- through eighth-grade onstage performers with an additional group of students who participated in the backstage pit chorus. The musical was directed and choreographed by Theatre Director Delle Kincaid, with music directed by Choir Director Dan Cater and scenic design by art teacher Carrie McGrann.
TOP, established by Kincaid, is founded on the belief that performing arts are an essential component to a rich and excellent education and that passion for theater ignites at an early age. Therefore, it is the mission of TOP to provide young, area school children with high-quality, live theatrical experiences at low or no cost to audiences. The cast included: Lily Morgan (Belle); Jackson White (Beast); Blakely Glover; Ali Hyde; Alia Truss and Emily Vessey (narrators); Daniel Eudy (Maurice); Harry Tidwell (Cogsworth); Ella Nunn (Mrs. Potts); Camden June (Babette); Mary Caroline Stephens (Madame de la Grande Bouche); Danny Tackett (Chip); Ross Cooley (Gaston); Duncan Bates (Lefou); Chloe Cope; Taleen Hejazen and Abigail Shipley (Silly Girls); Madee Frier (Old Beggar/ Enchantress); and Wesley Crenshaw (Monsieur D’Arque). – Submitted by Michelle Berg.
B8 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Sports
Blue map returns to Hoover ‘Special group of kids’ cap dominant season with 12th state title By KYLE PARMLEY “Welcome back home.” Those were the words of Hoover defensive end Christon Taylor, and likely the thoughts of everyone else associated with the Hoover High School football team, as the Buccaneers came away with their 12th state title in school history Nov. 30. “To God be the glory,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said following the game. “That’s awesome. What a special group of kids and special group of coaches.” Hoover (12-2) dominated much of the contest with its relentless defense, coupled with timely plays from its offense, en route to a 17-7 victory over top-ranked McGill-Toolen (13-1) at the Super 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. “It was very gratifying,” said Kholbe Coleman-Abrams, who picked up seven tackles and a sack on the night. “Last year, it was a heartbreak [not making it to the state championship game], so this year, we came out on a mission saying it wasn’t going to happen again.” The win capped off quite a season for the Bucs. Hoover started the year in Montgomery where it picked up a 23-7 win over Central-Phenix City — an eventual Class 7A semifinalist — on a rainy night at the Cramton Bowl. Then followed a trip to Texas to play Allen in the Tom Landry Classic, a game that the Bucs scored just a first-quarter touchdown in a 25-7 defeat. Upon returning home, Hoover beat seven straight region opponents decisively, holding them all to single digits and claiming the Region 3 title. Mountain Brook and Spain Park combined to score just 11 points at the Hoover Met, and consecutive road trips to Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain culminated in runaway victories. Hoover then took care of Huffman and Vestavia Hills, scoring 38 points in each contest, before shutting out Thompson to complete the 7-0 slate. The Bucs capped the regular season with a loss to Grayson (Georgia) in a nationally televised game, in which special teams mistakes doomed them against one of the nation’s top teams. Hoover managed to knock off Bob Jones, James Clemens and Gadsden City — all Region 4 teams — in the playoffs before advancing to the Super 7. Right: Hoover head coach Josh Niblett is doused with a celebratory cooler dump after the Bucs captured the Class 7A state championship. Far right: Wide receiver Shedrick Jackson pulls in a pass.
Hoover players hold the Class 7A state championship trophy as they celebrate their win over McGill-Toolen on Nov. 30 at the Super 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.
Bucs’ relentless defense puts stamp on state title By KYLE PARMLEY On fi st-and-10, McGill-Toolen quarterback Bubba Thompson was sacked by Hoover’s Will Singleton. On second-and-19, Thompson was sacked by Christon Taylor. On fourth-and-28, Thompson was sacked by DeCarlos Hurt. Game. Set. Match. McGill-Toolen’s last drive of the game went nowhere fast and served as a microcosm for what the Buccaneer defense did all night in the victory over the Yellow Jackets to claim the Class 7A state football championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium. “The last segment of defensive
snaps were probably three of the best of the game,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said following the game. “For us to push the pocket, and to be as disciplined as we were, gave us an opportunity to get those sacks,” Niblett said. “To be able to come up with that at the end of the game is just the epitome of what this team’s about; being clutch and being undeniable at a time we needed it the most.” The ferocious pass rush from Hoover harassed McGill’s star quarterback all night long, bringing him down in the backfield nine tim s, led by three from Taylor. Hurt picked up two. Other guys to join in on the sack party were Ricky Palao and Tre Copeland.
The offense was able to capitalize on a Jayden Jordan interception, turning it into points to give Hoover a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. The Bucs stretched the lead to 17-0 by taking the opening kickoff of the second half and driving the field The Bucs made a habit of completely shutting down opponent offenses all season long. Take out losses to out-ofstate foes Allen (Texas) and Grayson (Georgia), and Hoover’s defense allowed a paltry average of 6.3 points per game. The Bucs gave up seven to McGill-Toolen, an offense that averaged well over 40 points per game in its 13 wins leading up to the night.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B9
B10 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
By the end of last year, Blackmon was playing at the level of the top basketball players in the area. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Becoming a
household name
By KYLE PARMLEY
W
ith five seconds remaining on the clock, Jamari Blackmon takes the inbounds pass and calmly jogs up the court. One dribble. Two dribbles. Clock running. In this situation, most players would sprint toward the basket on the opposite end as quickly as possible, more often than not flying into the lane completely out of control. At that point, a last-second shot is typically nothing more than wishful
thinking, a blind attempt without an awareness of the open man in the corner. On Blackmon’s third dribble, now a step shy of half court, he instantly accelerates past his defender. He attempts a behind-the-back crossover near the wing, and loses control of the ball for an instant, allowing his defender to regain position. Homewood tied the game on the previous possession with a pair of free throws, as the 2016 Class 6A state champions visited the Bucs, who
HooverSun.com advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals last season, in a big-time early-season clash. Blackmon already had scored 21 points for Hoover, and was the clear and obvious choice to take the last shot. Now at the top of the key with the final tenths-of-a-second evaporating quicker than the eye can see, Blackmon elevates. His defender’s outstretched arm is now in his face, and forces Blackmon to double clutch. He gets the shot off, but it bounds off the back of the rim. But in that same moment, the whistle blows. Hoover started last season 2-9 through its first 11 games, as the 2015 state champion team graduated nine seniors. The Bucs were forced to reload in 2016, but head coach Charles Burkett put together a loaded schedule that was going to test his young team. Blackmon led the Bucs through that storm, one they endured and reaped great benefits from. At the Final Four, Blackmon scored 29 points in a close overtime loss to McGill-Toolen. A foul is called on the shot as time expires, sending Blackmon to the free-throw stripe. He has three tries to make one and send the Bucs home a winner. The first one falls with ease. The bench clears and makes a beeline straight for the hero. Blackmon summed up the moment succinctly. “It feels really good,” he said.
HITTING THE SCENE
Jamari Blackmon’s name was not a familiar one across the high school basketball scene before last season began. As a ninth-grader, he played on the freshman basketball team. “To be honest with you, Jamari could’ve played with us as a freshman,” Burkett said. “We had nine seniors, and we were strong. I’m a firm believer in you play to get better, as opposed to sitting. He wouldn’t have gotten enough reps.” While Dylan Smith, Austin Cherry and the Bucs were on the way to the 2015 state championship, Blackmon was busy leading his freshman team to an unbeaten season. The next point guard may not have been obvious to fans at the time, but Burkett knew what he had waiting on the freshman roster. “He was a shoo-in,” Burkett said, who
January 2017 • B11 started Blackmon in every game last season as a sophomore. Blackmon took his lumps along with the rest of the team early last season. The Bucs struggled out of the gate, as a young team with young leaders facing top-level competition night-in and night-out. “Just the overall pace of the game and the level of competition that we play,” Burkett said of Blackmon’s adjustment to the varsity level. “There’s no nights off for us … He was exposed early, but he answered the challenge by the end of the year.” By the end of the year, Blackmon was playing at the level of the top players in the area. He led the team to victories over James Clemens and Oak Mountain to advance to the Final Four in Birmingham, where he had his big game in the Final Four. The overtime loss hit the sophomore like a ton of bricks. “It was tough,” Blackmon said. “We worked really hard. Just to get there and lose in overtime after doing all that, it was heartbreaking.” But a person’s response to adversity is a defining moment in basketball and in life. “We worked really hard in the offseason. We started about a month after, and we just went at it and went full speed the whole time,” Blackmon said.
TRIPLE THREAT
Blackmon is the complete package as a guard. “He’s a two-way guard,” Burkett said. “He defends, he’s one of our top defenders and I think he’s one of the best defenders around, not just on our team. He’s a triple threat guy. He handles it; he can get to the basket; he finishes; he’s got a good midrange game, and he can shoot the three-ball.” With that wide-ranging skill set, Blackmon could easily point to one aspect of his game that he needed to improve: finishing through contact. “Last year, he could get to the basket, but he wasn’t able to finish,” Burkett said. “Now, he’s beefed up, and he’ll finish those.” Blackmon got in the gym and the weight room, put on 10 pounds and is already reaping
Jamari Blackmon goes to help a teammate up in Hoover’s Final Four loss to McGill-Toolen last season. Photo by Frank Couch.
the benefits of that offseason work. “I would come in [during the summer] and get one of my teammates to get the pad and hit me with it. It’s hard. I finish with my left hand, too, finishing strong,” Blackmon said. Opposing coaches laud Blackmon’s toughness. According to Burkett, he is humble and laid-back, but extremely competitive. “You can’t get caught up in him not talking trash and parallel that to him not being tough,”
Burkett said. “That’s the worst thing you could do, because he’s a competitor, and he’s a scorer.” Blackmon has dreams of being a future college and professional basketball player. His ceiling is high, and Burkett calls him one of the top guards in the state. “I think he put everybody on notice last year as a sophomore, and I think he’s going to continue to do that,” Burkett said.
B12 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Lady Jags’ basketball program trending up By KYLE PARMLEY Mike Chase does not hesitate when asked about the current state of the Spain Park High School girls basketball program. From top to bottom, it’s in great shape, according to the coach in his eighth year at the helm. His varsity team is talented, and has but one senior. The middle school groups have great potential. “I think we’ve got great buy-in from the players and the parents,” Chase said. “If you get it right with a young group, it can get the tide flowing in your direction. You’ve got a solid group that is bought in, that is all coming back, that’s got a lot of experience. They teach the young kids. Once you get the ball rolling in the right direction, then it’s certainly a lot easier.” The Lady Jaguars last advanced to the Elite Eight in 2014, but a Final Four berth has eluded them in Chase’s tenure at Spain Park, something he achieved twice at Clay-Chalkville High School, where he reached the Class 6A state championship game in 2004 and 2008. “I’m starting to see a lot of the same combinations of kids that I had when we were really good out at Clay,” Chase said. While the future looks bright for the Lady Jags, the present team also is looking to make some noise this season. Spain Park notched quality early-season wins over the
Bailey Bowers is part of Spain Park’s young, talented backcourt. Photo by Todd Lester.
likes of Gadsden City, Hewitt-Trussville and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Their first three losses were to Sparkman (twice) and Homewood, two of the top teams in the entire state. Chase is encouraged by the start for multiple reasons. Obviously, the team strives to win each game. But the team is also winning games without playing a perfect game, which is encouraging. No team wants to peak too early. Improving is part of the process. “I don’t want to be winning games and go back and look at tape and look at stats and say, ‘we’re shooting the ball as good as we can
shoot it,’ or ‘we’re really running our offense as good as we can run it,’” Chase said. “Because then, 10 games into the season, where are you going to go your next 20 games? You’re not going to go anywhere.” Claire Holt is the most experienced player on the team, as the junior has played varsity games since she was in eighth grade. Ahrielle Parks, Bailey Bowers and Sarah Ashlee Barker are three young guards who provide great backcourt depth. Barrett Herring has improved greatly and is the Lady Jags’ most consistent post player. Monique Speigner is the team’s only senior.
Mallory and Morgan Duke, Hannah Reister, Christen Rushing and Maddison McDonald make up a rather deep junior class. “I’m trying to get these guys to buy into — and I think they’ve done a good job — is if you want individual glory, do that in the spring and summer when you’re on your AAU team,” Chase said. Chase acclaimed his team for its chemistry, willingness to take coaching and attitude as its strengths, allowing the Lady Jags to focus solely on improving the on-court product. “That’s actually kind of the fun part about it,” he said.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B13
‘Substantial amount’ of improvement for 1st-year bowling team By KYLE PARMLEY Leslie Norris is trying to get the word out. “I try to bring it up as much as I can,” she said. “We all post stuff on Instagram and talk about it all the time. People ask, ‘Wait, you’re on the bowling team? We have that?’ I get the name out there.” The Hoover High School girls bowling team is in its first year of competition and trying to establish a foundation for a new athletics program. Competing against many schools that have fielded teams for the past year or two, the Bucs began the season a step behind the others. But after taking their lumps in the first few matches, they have started to gain some traction. “Our main goal — since it is our first year and a lot of other teams have been working for multiple years — is to kind of establish the program so that in future years we can build on and get to the same caliber as the other teams that are more experienced,” Norris said. When asked about how much the team has improved over the last handful of months, Abby Tissier exclaimed, “A substantial amount.” The varsity team consists solely of girls who also play softball, but Kellie Eubanks — who serves as the bowling coach as well as an assistant on the softball team — has lauded the girls on the team for their efforts in getting the team jumpstarted, with the hopes it will attract a more diverse crowd in the coming years. In sanctioned bowling matches, teams compete with five bowlers. The first aspect is a traditional round, in which each of the five players
Caroline Hart is one of a handful of Hoover girls who have picked up bowling as a second sport, along with softball. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
bowls a game of 10 frames, with the total scores tallied. After that, there are three Baker games, a format that requires slightly more strategy. In a Baker game, each of the five players rotates through twice to complete a single 10-frame game. Ideally, the most experienced player will take the role of anchor, bowling the fifth and 10th frames. Hoover does not have a single girl that always handles that role, but even in that slot,
the pressure does not bother Tissier, a catcher who has signed with Auburn to play softball. “There’s not as much pressure as in softball,” she said. “We don’t put a lot of pressure on ourselves.” That’s not to say the girls are immune to any sort of anxiety. Tissier and Norris joked about each player’s nervous quirks, many that involve the hand towels the players use before bowling. “When I get nervous, I tie all the
towels in knots and they get mad at me,” Norris said lightly. Against Hueytown on Dec. 12, Hoover defeated Hueytown, behind Norris, Tissier, Caroline Hart, Willa Green and Sydney Chandler. Hoover’s bowlers are not technically advanced enough to know precisely how to correct themselves after mistakes or to build upon a successful frame, but they are rapidly improving, competing and having fun at the same time.
“It’s so fun,” Tissier said. “I’m so competitive; it’s just kind of like an outlet for us. If you’re terrible, it happens. But I’m really happy that we did it.” The relationships that are being further cultivated can’t hurt once softball season arrives. “We’re bonding more with the other seniors so we’re able to lead more on the softball field, because we’re more comfortable with each other,” Norris said.
B14 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
TION C E S ING
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S S E N I S BU 2017 HOOVER Running a business takes ambition, smarts and a lot of drive. The women who run businesses in Hoover have all three, plus a passion for what they do. From retail and food to health care and fitness, our annual Women In Business feature is a chance to get to know some of the faces behind the success of many of the businesses in our area.
TYNETTE LYNCH ALDRIDGE GARDENS For Tynette Lynch, CEO of Aldridge Gardens, her favorite part of her job is her enviable walk into work. “My favorite part of running Aldridge Gardens is every morning when I walk down the path to my office, taking in the beauty of nature and this calming atmosphere,” she said. Aldridge Gardens is a garden open to the public seven days a week. There is no admissions charge, and visitors enjoy picnicking, fishing and strolling the grounds at their leisure. “I feel that success is when someone that visits Aldridge Gardens says to me, ‘We never knew such a beautiful place existed’ right here in Hoover, and that there is not a charge to visit,” Lynch said. Lynch is responsible for the dayto-day operations of the garden, as well as fundraising for their nonprofit organization. The mission of the garden —
► WHERE: 3530 Lorna Road ► CALL: 682-8019 to offer a beautiful setting where you can see nature and art in balance — is never far from her mind. “We have a fantastic master plan and our goal is to be able to complete projects from this plan which will enhance the visitor’s experience at Aldridge Gardens,” Lynch said. Lynch counts her husband, four children and numerous grandchildren as some of the garden’s biggest fans. “They love the gardens and enjoy it as much as we do,” she said. “They might be some of our most frequent visitors to the gardens — they love to fish and feed the ducks.”
DR. ERIN NELSON ANGLIN & NELSON PEDIATRIC, FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Dr. Erin Nelson is a cosmetic and family dentist. But to her daughter, Gia? “If you ask my daughter, she will tell you that mommy ‘fixes teeth’!” Dr. Nelson said. “But I like to think that is just one part of my job. I try to talk with my patients and get to know them and make them feel as comfortable as possible. I try to provide a relaxing environment so that they have a great experience.” A Birmingham native, Dr. Nelson grew up in a family of dentists and, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama, she went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at UAB. In 2012, she joined Dr. Mike Anglin’s practice in Hoover. “I think our practice is unique because we are literally a one-stop shop,” Dr. Nelson said. “I am a family and cosmetic dentist and focus primarily on adults and teens, and Dr. Anglin is our pediatric dentist who focuses on children of all ages.” Their patients include multi-generation families — grandparents, parents and children, all from the same family. “Some of those families make all of their appointments at the same time,” Dr. Nelson said. “With 11 chairs in the office, we are able to accommodate everyone.” Dr. Anglin and Dr. Nelson’s mission is simple. “[We want] to provide quality dental care to our families in an environment that makes them feel safe and welcomed,” Dr. Nelson said. To do so, the two are always striving to do better and learn the latest techniques and materials out there to help their patients, Dr. Nelson said. “I think Dr. Mike and I would both agree that success is making a patient who is apprehensive feel at ease while providing a health service that they need,” she said. Dentists tend to not always be patients’ favorite doctor to see — but Dr. Nelson is trying to change that. “Working with people in an area that is sometimes scary for them is always challenging,” she said. “We strive hard to make their visits as easy and comfortable as possible.” In addition to treating patients, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Anglin run the business side of their practice.
► WHERE: 3825 Lorna Road, Suite 206 ► CALL: 988-9800 “Sometimes running a business is the not-so-fun part,” Dr. Nelson said. “But we are a team and try to help each other in any way we can. At the end of the day, the struggles of operating a business are real, but
seeing our patients smile makes it all worthwhile.” Dr. Nelson is married to husband Mark, and they have two children, daughter Gia and son AJ. Finding balance between her career and personal life, as is the case for so many women, can be a challenge. “It can be overwhelming at times, but I have great faith in the Lord and a wonderful husband,” she said. “I learn more and more every day, and that it all comes down to doing my best, putting my trust in the Lord and those who work around me.”
HooverSun.com
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
January 2017 • B15
CAROL RINEY BELLA’S BRIDAL AND FORMAL The moment a bride-to-be tries on her dream dress can feel like magic. At Bella’s Bridal and Formal, Carol Riney lives to create those moments. “When a girl says yes to the dress, it’s the most perfect experience. Making them feel comfortable, making them feel special and beautiful is the most amazing thing,” Riney said. Riney started Bella’s Bridal 13 years ago in Pelham. She wasn’t satisfied with her career in finance and decided to take a leap into bridal and prom gowns. She chose the name, “Bella,” from the shared Spanish and Italian word for “beautiful.” Bella’s Bridal moved ► WHERE: 4441 to Hoover in 2011, and Creekside Ave., sometime in March or Suite 125 April they will be moving ► CALL: 403-7977 again. The new location in ► WEBSITE: bellas the Whole Foods shopping alabama.com center will be over 12,000 square feet and have room not only for gowns but for a runway and stage, six private bridal suites, a bridesmaid area and spaces for alterations and pageant training. Riney said she believes it will be one of the largest bridal and formal shops in the state. “It’s going to be a great new store,” she said. Along with bridal gowns, Bella’s Bridal stocks bridesmaid and mother of the bride dresses, prom and pageant wear and accessories from a variety of lines. Riney attends markets each year to hand-select the gowns that will appear in her store. “Customer service is everything, and having the right designers. We always keep fresh inventory. I have a rule in my store that no dress celebrates a birthday,” Riney said. She also added that most of the dresses she carries are under $2,000 and her staff will take the time to make any budget work. “We can work with any budget. We can customize
almost any dress, and we go above and beyond to find what they’re looking for,” Riney said. “Our consultants are a great group of ladies that care about helping the girl find the perfect dress.” Bella’s Bridal dressed four of the top five contestants in the 2016 Miss Alabama pageant, including winner Hayley Barber. Riney said her clients come to her because of their customer service, pricing and the selection and quality of dresses on the racks. Bella’s offers appointments for brides and their wedding parties or family to try on dresses with the
help of a consultant, as well as in-store alterations to ensure the fit is perfect. Riney said she and her staff always remember that every dress they sell will be part of a beautiful moment in their customer’s life. “This is the most special dress a girl will ever wear,” Riney said. An opening date for the new Bella’s Bridal location has not been set yet, but Riney said they plan to move before the end of April. Bella’s Bridal and Formal is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
LAURA PURVIS DECORATING DEN INTERIORS In 1999, Decorating Den Interiors owner Laura Purvis began sewing custom window treatments in her basement after a friend needed draperies for a new home. It was the beginning of a career. “My hobby grew into a full custom window treatment workroom,” Purvis said. In 2013, she decided it was time to offer her clients more than just curtains. She purchased Decorating Den Interiors, the world’s largest interior decorating franchise company. “It was one of the best decisions I ever made,” she said. “My passion for fabrics and furnishings and my eye for all things design has turned into my dream job.” Decorating Den Interiors offers full-service interior design services including furniture, accessories, window treatments and remodeling. “I can handle anything inside the house and out,” Purvis said. Purvis has access to over 100 vendors, giving her a greater choice of products and saving her time and her clients money. “I bring everything to the client’s home so they do not have to run around town looking at a thousand sofas to find the right piece,” Purvis said. “Not only can I do furniture and accessories, but I also have 14 years of experience with window treatments of all types. I owned a custom window treatment workroom where I designed and sewed all the window treatments myself.” When Purvis first launched her business, her top priority was reaching her sales goal. Now, it is about the relationships she builds with her clientele. “Once I got started I realized that it is about so much more than sales,” she said. “I have a passion for design and I really have a vested interest in bringing my clients the best design ideas possible and to bring some beauty into their homes. I have relationships with my clients. They end up being friends instead of just clients. I know about their kids and families and usually get to know the entire family, and relationships are built that last much longer than the job.” Purvis wants to bring a new concept to Birmingham – an all-inclusive design center, similar to something clients might see in Atlanta. “Birmingham doesn’t have anything like that, and I
► EMAIL: laurap@decoratingden.com ► CALL: 447-4589 want to have a one-stop shop where you can come in and buy furniture, accessories, art, window treatments and remodeling services all under one roof,” she said. “No more running around town to look for individuals to do each part of the project. You will be able to come
in and see everything at once and get the one-on-one personal service of an interior designer for all your project needs.” Success to Purvis is happy clients. “I won’t quit until they are overjoyed with their spaces and want to shout to the world what a great experience working with me is,” she said. Meeting new people, being surrounded daily by beautiful fabrics and furniture, and living up to her business’ mission is what keeps Purvis so professionally fulfilled. “My business’ mission is to bring beautiful design ideas to my clients in the comfort of their homes and make their dream rooms become reality,” she said.
B16 • January 2017
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Hoover Sun
DR. KASEY DAVIS KASEY DAVIS DENTISTRY Dr. Kasey Davis of Kasey Davis Dentistry knows that the dentist’s office isn’t necessarily everyone’s favorite place, but she’s doing her part to make sure that her dental office is warm and inviting. “From the first day of drawing plans, I wanted my practice to have a pleasant, welcoming feel,” she said. “I am more than aware that the dentist is not the most exciting to do on most people’s list. I remember being a little girl and just thinking the dentist’s office was so cold, scary and just smelled funny. “Of course there are aspects we just can’t avoid — the drill, the chair, the numbing — these are always going to play a role in dentistry. However, I wanted my patients to at least be excited to see smiling, familiar faces and feel comfortable knowing that we would make the experience as easy as possible,” Davis continued. “I feel like we’ve been able to create that environment and I am so proud of that.” Before she opened her own practice two years ago, Davis got her start at a group practice in St. Clair County after graduating from UAB’s School of Dentistry. She stayed there for six years, learning both about herself and about how to run a successful practice. “You know, in dental school, we learn about teeth — everything you would ever need or want to know about the head, neck and oral cavity,” Davis said. “However, we don’t have courses in business, human resources, accounting, et cetera. So a lot of kids get out of school and are wonderful practitioners, but may have no idea how to run a business. “I learn new things every day, but
► WHERE: 589 Shades Crest Road ► CALL: 822-7277 ► WEBSITE: kaseydavisdentistry.com I attribute so much knowledge to not jumping into business ownership and just observing other business owners while perfecting my dental skills,” she said. “I’m so thankful I was patient and started my practice when I felt ready.” Davis balances her dental practice with her personal life — maintaining a healthy marriage, raising four children, being involved in her church and having fellowship with friends, just to name a few of her many hats. “You take one day at a time,” she said. “You prioritize. You realize what matters most, and you go from there. There is no perfect recipe and everyone is different. But for me, I try my best to focus on the good, don’t sweat the small stuff and never, ever skip an opportunity to love on the ones that mean the most. When I do this, everything else seems to fall into place.” Davis counts her ever-growing clientele among her friends. “My most favorite part of my business is meeting new patients and visiting with existing ones on a daily basis,” she said. “You really do build relationships, even friendships, with your patient base. These people mean so much to me, much more than they probably know. I love looking at my schedule the day before and seeing who I’m going to get to talk to the next day. Their families and their lives mean so much to me.”
DR. NOVA LAW NOVA ESSENCE MEDI SPA For Dr. Nova Law, medical director of Nova Essence Medispa, her successes number many. Through her two practices — a primary care medical practice on the Southside of Birmingham and the Medispa in the Patton Creek area of Hoover — Law, a board certified family practitioner, has seen lives change. She’s given families their lives back by balancing out their hormones. She’s found out the etiology of their illnesses, which had been a mystery to most patients for a long time. She’s grown back the hair of patients who were told that they were a lost cause. She’s gotten patients off of ► WHERE: 160 Main St., medications who were Suite 200, Patton Creek told they had to stay on ► CALL: 319-4445 them for life. She has ► WEBSITE: novaessence gotten women pregnant medispa.com in their late thirties and forties who never had children by balancing out their hormones. And that’s just the start of her successes. Her favorite part of running her business? “Seeing the patients so happy when they get a great report back in regards to their labs, sharing in their joy of losing weight, coming off their medications, feeling great because their hormones are balanced and the entire family is happy,” she said. “Then, they want to improve their appearance and that is when I send them to our Medispa in Hoover and we can fix them from head to toe — fix their hair in our multicultural hair salon, grow their hair back with any of our hair growth systems, do their nails and treat their underlying fungus medically in our nail tech room, massages and medi-cupping that helps with their body aches, body contouring that will help their physical appearance and they do not have to pay an arm and a leg to do it, and facial procedures to get rid of wrinkles, age spots, hyperpigmentation, and acne.” Law is a graduate of UCLA (undergrad) and Michigan State Medical School, and completed her family practice residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
Originally from Birmingham, Law returned to her hometown in 2003 to start her private practice. “Then, due to the high demand from my patients requesting cosmetic procedures, I opened a second location of an official Medispa in Hoover at the Patton Creek Shopping Center in August 2015,” she said. Committed to comprehensive care, the Medispa offers late hours and Saturday hours to accommodate their patients. “We have many patients who travel to see us at both locations from all over the world,” Law said. “They heard about our reputation of finding out the etiology
of their illness or performing a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that yields excellent results.” It is critical to Law that all of her patients receive superior customer service. “At Nova Essence Medispa, we purposely unite the concept of feeling healthy, energetic, and looking fabulous,” she said. “We are committed to providing advanced aesthetic enhancements and skin care and anti-aging medical treatments through physician developed, performed, and supervised services within the relaxing, luxurious, and convenient atmosphere of a medical day spa.”
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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January 2017 • B17
SHELLY SMITH PURE BARRE RIVERCHASE In 2012, Shelly Smith’s father, Mark Whitlock, passed away from cancer. It was the impetus she needed to make a change in her own life. Using business skills she learned from her father — the previous owner of Mark’s Outdoors in Vestavia — Smith opened Pure Barre Riverchase to further expound on her deep passion for fitness and, in particular, Pure Barre classes she had been taking. “The saying is true — ‘do what you love, love what you do,’” Smith said. “I did just that and reached out to the corporate office of Pure Barre. Then, I started working to make my dreams come true.” Smith became the owner of her own Pure Barre location in fall 2013, and since then her studio has held over 6,800 classes to date. “I took the lessons learned from my dad, who had a career in retail, customer service, and business ownership, and applied them to my very own business,” she said. “I take each person, each client’s situation, personal. The customer service level that I try to offer to everyone is something that, I think, cannot be found everywhere. We want to know every customer by name. We want to customize your workouts because we know what you like. We want to know your story, your goals, and to celebrate you at every milestone. And we do.” Life is celebrated at PBR — birthdays, the first day back to Pure Barre after baby, bridal parties, Halloween costume parties, you name it. “Life is short but oh so sweet, and I try to help everyone through our doors embrace the time here on earth that we have been given,” Smith said. “Just because we are a business built on fitness doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the ride with a glass of wine and good friends at the barre.” The friendships made at PBR are one of the highlights for Smith, as is watching her clients transform before her eyes. “I love that I have the ability to see lives change,” she said. “To see on the outward bodies changing for the better and these people are changing to love themselves after seeing what they can accomplish with their own efforts. It truly is the best business that I can imagine being a part of.” Pure Barre workouts are known for their exhilarating technique — they lift, tone and burn, otherwise known as “LTB.”
► WHERE: 1870 Chace Drive, Suite 100 ► CALL: 982-8366 ► WEBSITE: purebarre.com/al-briverchase “Pure Barre is the fastest, most effective, yet safest way to change your body,” Smith said. “In just 55 minutes you will achieve a full-body workout concentrating on the areas women struggle with the most — hips, thighs, seat, abdominals and arms.
The Pure Barre technique is low-impact, protecting your joints by avoiding any bouncing or jumping. Each strength section of the workout is followed by a stretching section in order to create long, lean muscles without bulk.” Smith strives to make her hour with her clients the best hour of their day. In addition to her staff, her husband, mother, brother and other family members help her with events at PBR and her son, Jackson, has been a part of PBR since day one. “He is a year and a half and he loves to work out with mommy,” Smith said. “Life is a journey that is best enjoyed with your loved ones by your side. If my dad, Mark Whitlock, was still alive, I think he would agree.”
DR. DIANE COUNCE NEUROLOGIST Dr. Diane Counce is a board certified neurologist and a board certified neuroradiologist. But to some, she is known by another moniker: Botox queen. In addition to having a general neurology practice, Counce has given Botox injections for 19 years and is one of the biggest consumers of Botox in the Southeast — but she doesn’t use it for cosmetic purposes. Counce uses the injections to help treat chronic daily headaches, limb spasticity and cervical dystonia. “I am a big believer in Botox’s benefit for patients, and in that sense I have one of the largest Botox clinics in the Southeast,” she said. Counce said that although Botox has been used since the 1980s for medical issues, only in the 2000s when it began being used for cosmetic purposes did consumers know about the injections. ► WHERE: 1000 “There are lots of different Southlake Park Suite options for headaches outside 200 of just pills, which helps,” ► CALL: 536-8736 Counce said. ► WEBSITE: Counce offers services to councemd.com children ages 5-17 and all adults 18 and older. She works with patients who suffer from seizures, epilepsy, strokes, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, concussions, muscle disorders, and, most commonly, headaches and migraines. In addition to running her own neurology practice since 2001, she is the medical director of an infusion center called Trina Health, which offers new, innovative treatment for diabetes, and is assisting the small business in getting its feet off the ground. As the owner of her own private practice, Counce is her own boss. “I have the ability to, if I want something changed, have it changed right then and there,” she said. “I don’t have to ask anybody if I want to take off. I’m my own boss.” Counce is a married mother of two — a 20-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son — and to help balance
her career with her personal life, she works as a strictly outpatient physician. She constantly works to keep her practice up-to-date as health care treatments routinely change, all while still making work enjoyable for both herself and her employees. “From a medical aspect, I am always staying on top of current and innovative treatments available for neurology patients that people might not necessarily think about,” she said. She is so well-known for her use of Botox in treatments that national companies turn to her for her expertise. Physicians also refer patients to her for cervical dystonia from multiple causes including failed neck surgeries, spasticity from injury and stroke, and
chronic migraines. “A success for me is becoming a physician who national companies go to to ask questions and advice on ways to improve,” Counce said. “They use me as a resource and I think that a success, to me, is national companies listening to what I have to say based on my experience.” Eventually, Counce would love to give back by offering a program or conference for graduating residents or physicians on how to own their own successful private practice. “I’d love to help them learn to become a successful practice financially so they don’t feel like the only option is to be bought out by a hospital or a big clinic,” she said.
B18 • January 2017
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
KYLA CARR ANNIE’S TRUE LOVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER For the children at her daycare center, Kyla Carr is both a family member and a teacher. Her own nieces and nephews have called her “Annie” for years, and so do the kids at Annie’s True Love Child Development Center. Carr has been in childcare for 14 years and bought the former Learning Academy on Hackberry Lane in 2013. She considers the daycare to be the most important part of her life, and she makes a point to be there to get to know every child and parent. “I actually take time out. I’m the first face they see, I’m the last face,” she said. Annie’s offers childcare for ages six weeks to 12 years, as well as daily devotionals, Spanish classes, reading, playtime and other opportunities to learn. Carr’s staff is CPR-certified and includes a licensed nurse. The most important part of the job, however, is building strong relationships. Though her children have different backgrounds, Carr is always teaching
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Hoover Sun
ALEX HARE BLUFF PARK ICE CREAM SHOPPE
► WHERE: 2424 Hackberry Lane ► CALL: 823-5899 ► WEB: anniestruelove.com them to accept differences and act as a family. When parents need to drop off a child early or need extra care outside of regular hours, they’re always invited to Carr’s house, she said. Every day, Carr said she tries to encourage her children to achieve their best for the rest of their lives. “There’s nothing like having that impression on kids. I’m able to see them grow, I’m able to see my vision flourishing through their little bitty selves.” Annie’s True Love Child Development Center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
beyond expectations, and Though Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe is homegrown after being open for only three months they were — owned by Birmingham resident Alex Hare and her voted #1 Best Ice Cream Place in Birmingham. father — their ice cream is “Our mission is to make the nation’s best. “The ice cream itself is people happy and to continue to serve the best an award-winning ice cream from Madison, Wisconsin, ice cream in Birmingham,” Hare said. “My goal for and each flavor is unique and like no other you can ► WHERE: 815 Shades this business is for it to get in the Birmingham become a destination. Crest Road area,” Hare said. Another goal is to ► CALL: 423-5055 hopefully open another In July 2015, Hare location in the future.” and her father, who Hare said she loves her customers, was preparing to retire from the construction industry after 47 years, and counts them as her favorite part of decided to open an ice cream shop running her business. “I love seeing people come in and — he for something fun to do in his get so excited over our ice cream,” she retirement, she for an opportunity to said. “Our main goal is to make sure run and manage the business. And it worked. Only open since June 22 everyone has a happy experience and of this year, Hare said business has been always leaves smiling.”
JULIE WHITE KRISTI PARKER, JUDY BEATON
LUCAS AND ASSOCIATES
EMBASSY HOMES
take it lightly.” Every morning, Julie Her business has White wakes up with a passion for the day ahead grown every year, but of her. Whether she’s White said she doesn’t want to have a team spending the day with ► CALL: 796-7843 of agents working for first-time homebuyers ► WEB: juliewhiterealtor.com her. She prefers to be or handling a slew of closing paperwork, personally involved White said real estate gives her a great with every client. “If you hire me sense of joy and satisfaction. because you trust me — you get me. I’m a hands-on kind of business owner. White came to the real estate world in 2007 after 18 years of teaching. She’s That’s very important to me.” she said. found that a small, local real estate Home — wherever that is — is a company was the perfect fit for her and remarkably special place. It’s always has been with Lucas & Associates for more than “just four walls and a roof,” White said. “It’s a huge investment both almost three years. financially and emotionally.” No two sales are the same, which White said can be both exciting and As she helps clients with the buying challenging. She works with clients who or selling process, White said they often live primarily in Hoover, Homewood, become friends. “The house buying or selling part is Vestavia and North Shelby County. usually just the beginning, What starts “The sheer magnitude of clients trusting you to help guide them in these out as a business relationship often turns into friendships that I value and treasure. decisions,” White said, “that can be a weighty burden oftentimes. And I don’t I love what I do and I love my clients!”
Parker has been with At Embassy Homes, Embassy for five years. duo Kristi Parker and Judy Beaton are in the As co-sales managers, they oversee 15 agents business of customizing selling in 16 Birmingham homes to exactly fit ► CALL: 965-9521 communities. Both said their customers’ needs. ► WEB: embassyhome Embassy Homes that the relationships builders.com builds neighborhoods and service they provide across the Birmingham to clients are their favorite parts of the job. “It is such a metro area and the state, totaling more pleasure helping customers achieve than 4,000 new homes. Though their design plans have won honors from the one of their most important dreams National Association of Home Builders of a lifetime; building a new home and and the Parade of Homes, Beaton said working closely with them throughout the process,” Beaton said. clients can use the Embassy Decorator In addition to awards, Embassy also Center to choose how their finished home will look. sets itself apart in the homebuilding “Being able to choose what a house world by offering multiple warranties, will look like inside and outside is an unique amenities and attention to exciting experience that is not offered detail. “One would be hard pressed to by most other builders,” Beaton said. find a builder who cares more about the integrity of the home,” Beaton said. Beaton joined Embassy in 2013, while
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January 2017 • B19
WHITNEY CULPEPPER
DR. ROSALYNN CRAWFORD-MCKENDALL
HOOVER HOMETOWN PHARMACY
INDIAN SPRINGS PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
country,” she said. Whitney Culpepper of Hoover Hometown Now, she is a pharmacy owner herself. Pharmacy began her career “My absolute favorite in pharmacy long before part about owning my she was a pharmacist. business is meeting new Her high school job in her hometown of Fort people,” Culpepper said. “I go to local restaurants Payne was as a cashier and ► WHERE: 2801 John and see familiar faces, eventually a technician at Hawkins Parkway, an independent pharmacy and it feels good to Suite 101A actually be a part of the in town. ► CALL: 650-1960 community.” “I instantly fell in love ► WEB: hooverhome Hoover Hometown with pharmacy and how the town.com Pharmacy prides itself on local pharmacy was such a huge part of the community and really getting to know each patient by name. “We take time each day to really connected and helped their patients,” invest in our patients,” Culpepper Culpepper said. “I knew then that I wanted to eventually own my own store.” said. “We provide patient care After completing her degree at Samford, through prescriptions, immunizations, adherence counseling, and monitoring Culpepper completed a residency with the National Community Pharmacists of things such as blood pressure. We are here to help a patient with all of Association in Washington, D.C. their healthcare needs, not to just “This experience helped me meet dispense some tablets and have them and network with some of the most successful pharmacy owners around the go on their way.”
For Dr. Rosalynn CrawfordMcKendall, her favorite part of running Indian Springs Pediatric Dentistry is interacting with the children and families she serves both in her practice and outside of the office as well. “I enjoy being afforded opportunities to attend birthday parties, school activities, patients’ recitals and just interacting with them outside the office,” she said. “Oftentimes, these interactions include presenting and providing dental materials to children and parents at fairs and schools.” Originally from Boligee, Alabama, Crawford-McKendall earned her DDS degree from NYU’s College of Dentistry. In practice since 1998, CrawfordMcKendall worked in New Jersey and Maryland before returning to Alabama. “I am thrilled to return to my roots and the proximity of family in Alabama,” she said. “I am excited about having established my private practice in Hoover/Pelham where I have been able
► WHERE: 6496 Quail Run Drive ► CALL: 739-7773 ► WEB: indianspringskidsdentistry.com to bring my diversified experience as a pediatric dentist for children and families in and around the greater Birmingham area.” Her practice, Indian Springs Pediatric Dentistry, is dedicated to providing excellent pediatric dental care, and they go the extra mile, seeking to be a family-oriented practice. “Our practice offers Friday as well as Saturday hours to help parents who are unable to take off work for appointments,” Crawford-McKendall said. “Our office also has the ability to service children unable to be treated in an office setting at Children’s Hospital for care.”
KAREN JENKINS
KELLI GUNNELLS
HOOVER FLORIST
REALTY SOUTH
At Hoover Florist, Karen Jenkins is following in her mother and grandparents’ footsteps as a florist. Though she originally wanted to be an accountant, Jenkins said she loves the way her job brightens other people’s days. “I really enjoy working with flowers and just putting smiles on people’s faces, because I think that’s what flowers do for people,” Jenkins said. Jenkins’ mother started Hoover Florist in 1981. She was the first to teach Jenkins how to arrange flowers, a practice that takes a long time to master. The shop moved to its larger space in Hoover Court in 2006, and Jenkins said they continue to stay busy providing arrangements for holidays, major events and everyday bouquets. Hoover Florist also sells gifts, clothing and special occasion gift baskets. Many of Jenkins’ customers are frequent visitors to the shop, and she makes a point to learn their
► WHERE: 1905 Hoover Court ► CALL: 823-5273 ► WEB: hooverflorist.net floral likes and dislikes so that future arrangements match their tastes. Even when they move away, some customers continue to call Hoover Florist just to continue the friendships they’ve made. “After several years of doing it, you just kind of know,” Jenkins said. Jenkins said she believes her grandparents and mother would be proud of the way Hoover Florist has flourished. She likes to know that every flower leaving her shop will be “giving somebody a happy [moment] during the day.” Hoover Florist is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As Kelli Gunnells’ father used to say, “when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” Gunnells agrees. “I completely agree and love what I do, and I’m so passionate about the opportunity to assist others through changes in their lives,” Gunnells said. Gunnells, who was recently named Realtor of the Year for the Birmingham Association of Realtors, considers her work a ministry. She currently serves as the president of the Greater Alabama MLS and is on the Birmingham Association of Realtors Board of Directors, all while being a top producer in the metro area. “If you consider the life events that generally surround a real estate purchase, there are many times very personal and emotional events that are transpiring that precipitate the change in housing need, such as a marriage, children being born, children leaving
► WHERE: 1220 Alford Ave. ► CALL: 281-8545 ► WEB: kelligunnells.com for college, or the death of a spouse,” Gunnells said. “Being available for my clients to walk them through the transaction and be available for the many emotions that take place during the process is a blessing.” Her close relationship with her clients is what Gunnells considers to be the best part of her work. She seeks to be a trusted, knowledgeable resource not only for her clients who are in the market, but also for clients who are not actively in the market “who seek information with respect to their property values and potential projects and how that might affect or enhance value relative to their long range real estate goals,” she said.
B20 • January 2017
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
MARY LOU KUNKA LOU LOU’S such as leggings. Mary Lou Kunka brought a lifetime The store carries denim from size 0 of retail experience with her when to 5X, and Kunka said most women she opened Lou who try on a pair Lou’s in December ► WHERE: 160 Main St., Suite 128 2013. However, she of their jeans don’t ► CALL: 982-5117 put them back on decided the most ► WEB: shopatloulous.com important voice the shelf. The shop to guide her new has always offered monogramming and personalization, business was not her own. “We figured we’d let the customer tell us but the added square footage made room for a laser machine to engrave what she’d want, and the store I thought metal, leather, wood and more. it was going to be is most certainly not the store that it is today,” Kunka said. One thing customers can count on at Lou Lou’s is an honest opinion That strategy seems to be successful, as Lou Lou’s doubled its space at Patton when trying on clothes. Kunka said her trustworthy, friendly staff keep Creek in November. At Lou Lou’s, Kunka shoppers coming back. said, she wants every woman from teens to seniors to find fashionable “I don’t want you buying something clothes at a moderate price point. that makes you feel bad. That’s not fun,” Kunka said. “We’re here to help Lou Lou’s has expanded its product you feel good about yourself.” lines in shoes, teen clothing and basics
DIANA KNIGHT, CPA, CVA MARY LOU RUTHERFORD, CPA, CBA SOVEREIGN CPA GROUP Sovereign CPA Group is have many long-term relationships (some in a certified public accountexcess of 25 years) with ing firm located in Hoover. SOV E R E I GN CPA GROUP LLC clients, including individuDiana Knight and Mary als and business entities. Lou Rutherford, two of the four founding memTheir goal is to be able ► WHERE: 2 Chase to provide solutions for bers of the firm, have ex- Corporate Drive, #40 their clients — whether perience and knowledge ► CALL: 402-4245 in many areas related to ► WEB: sovereigncpa.com it be related to their clients’ business needs, the field of accounting. Together they provide the traditional long-term personal and estate planning services performed by a public accountneeds, or simply being a trusted advisor, ing firm, which include business and inavailable to assist their clients through the challenges of life. They truly enjoy dividual income tax return planning and building and maintaining their relationcompliance, as well as financial statement audits. Additional services they ships with their clients. offer include financial planning, trust Both Knight and Rutherford believe advisory and administration services, that if they don’t meet the needs of their clients, they are not doing their job, and and valuations of businesses. Knight and Rutherford believe the key strive to meet that goal every day. At to serving their clients is to be ready to the same time, they uphold the accountadapt to different situations and differability, integrity, quality and healthy ent needs on an ongoing basis. They work/life balance principles that are the core values of Sovereign CPA Group. take great pride in the fact that they
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Hoover Sun
PATTI SCHREINER RE/MAX is depersonalized When Realtor Patti Schreiner bought her and decluttered. The upfront work before first house, she had a rare experience — she the professional ► WHERE: 903 Montgomery photographer takes loved it. Highway photos and putting “We had a great ► CALL: 979-8500 experience buying our the listing out to over ► WEB: pattisold.com 900 websites is so first house, and I knew that I wanted to be a important. How you Realtor someday,” she said. “The idea live in a house and how you sell a house are very different.” stuck with me through raising young children and another job. In 1994, I got Schreiner works with buyers and sellers of all ages to help them get into my license and got started.” the house, townhome or condo of their Schreiner’s clients say her slogan should be “Call Patti and Start dreams and get their current house sold. “Whether it’s first time buyers or Packing!” sellers, fifteenth time, low or high price “They were thrilled that their house ranges, or vacation home buyers or sold quickly for a good price and they sellers, it is an honor to serve them,” could move on to their next home,” Schreiner said. “I spend time with she said. “The American dream is alive sellers before listing, giving them tips and well — we will always want a home of our own.” on things to do to be sure the house
DAMITRA MERRITT, BECKY HESTLEY VISITING ANGELS and respite services for At Visiting Angels families. Merritt said Living Assistance Services, caregivers their goal is to have a provide their patients “complete picture” of each family’s needs that with the priceless gift of they can fulfill. independence. ► CALL: 979-7400 “We are client-centric,” Visiting Angels began ► WEB: visitingangels.com providing in-home, Hestley said. “We work non-medical care to with the client, their family and members of Birmingham seniors the health care team to provide continuity about five years ago. In September of care for our clients.” 2016, the franchise’s new owner transferred operations of their office to Finding the right staff member to care Becky Hestley and Damitra Merritt. for each client is critical to Visiting Angels’ “We care for people and want to level of care. In fact, Merritt said that’s her favorite part of the job. “It is our goal to help families and loved ones continue meaningful, independent lives regardless make sure our clients and their families of age or circumstance,” Hestley said. are completely satisfied with our care.” The caregivers at Visiting Angels When they do their jobs right, Hestley customize their care to the needs of said, families will often stay in touch even after they no longer need Visiting each patient and their family. This Angels’ services. Since September 2016, can mean full- or part-time work in Visiting Angels has brought 15 new temporary or long-term circumstances. Their services include meal preparation caregivers on staff and have added 28 or diet monitoring, light housekeeping, clients, adding up to 1,000 hours per running errands, dementia or stroke care week of in-home care services.
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B21
Hoover
4937 Crystal Circle
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
769645
35226
4937 Crystal Circle
New
$399,900
769654
35226
2062 Ross Park Way
New
$255,000
769633
35226
3426 Sawyer Drive
New
$351,050
769631
35226
141 Pine Rock Lane
New
$349,900
769615
35226
3528 Deerfield Drive
New
$245,000
769561
35226
1020 Castlemaine Trail
New
$190,000
769406
35226
145 Pine Rock Lane
New
$167,000
769366
35226
657 Village Crest Circle
New
$179,900
769326
35226
3695 James Hill Terrace
New
$439,900
769186
35226
2539 Sebonac Road
New
$417,000
769167
35226
2213 Larkspur Drive
New
$128,450
768868
35226
140 Castlehill Drive
New
$299,900
768816
35226
805 Crest Cove
New
$305,000
768761
35226
1780 Napier Drive
New
$190,000
769135
35226
3437 Hurricane Road
New
$289,000
768753
35226
3328 Teakwood Road
New
$259,900
768641
35226
2661 Montauk Road
New
$425,000
768577
35226
660 Heritage Park Lane
New
$479,900
768429
35226
553 Oakline Drive
New
$449,900
768389
35226
2405 Candlebrook Drive
New
$249,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Dec. 19. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
3437 Hurricane Road
B22 • January 2017
Hoover Sun
Calendar Hoover Events Tuesday nights: Kids eat free at Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato. 610 Preserve Parkway. (One child per adult.) Visit vecchiabirmingham.com.
Jan. 12: Hoover Chamber Coffee & Contacts. 7:30-9 a.m. Park Crest Events, 2030 Little Valley Rd. Visit hooverchamber.org.
Jan. 4: Artists on the Bluff monthly meeting. 6:30 p.m. Lake Bluff Park District. Visit artistsonthebluff. com.
Jan. 17: Hoover Historical Society meeting. 1:30 p.m. at the Hoover Library. John Killian will speak on Wartime Jefferson County 1860s, discussing skirmishes in Tannehill and Avondale and Union sympathizers. Visit hooverhistoricalsociety.org.
Jan. 5: Economic Development Committee meeting. 8:30 a.m. Hoover Chamber of Commerce. Visit hooverchamber.org.
Jan. 18: Chamber Ambassador meeting. 4:30 p.m. Hoover Chamber Office. Visitors welcome. Visit
Stardome Comedy Club Jan. 4-8: Mike Gardner. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $9.75-$16.50. Jan. 10-11: Rickey Smiley. 7:30 p.m. $40 VIP, $35 general admission. Jan. 12-15: John Morgan. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Friday. 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $9.75. Jan. 18: Open Mic finale. 7:30 p.m. $9.75. Jan. 19: wellRED Comedy Tour. 7:30 p.m. $25, VIP $43. Jan. 20-22: Michael Blackson. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $28, VIP $33. Jan. 24: Christopher Titus. 7:30 p.m. $30. Jan. 27-29: Lil Duval. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $21.50.
hooverchamber.org. Jan. 19: Hoover Chamber luncheon. 11:15 a.m. networking, noon luncheon. Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel. Call 988-5672 or email lisa@ hooverchamber.org for reservations. Visit hooverchamber.org. Jan. 26: Business After Hours - America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses. 5:30 p.m. Visit hooverchamber.org.
Hoover Public Library Kids Mondays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mondays: Story Lab. 4 p.m. Ages 3-8. Tuesdays: Mother Goose. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m. Wednesdays: Rockin’ Tots. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: ExploraStory. 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 7: Crafty Characters presents Jack Frost. 10:30 a.m. Story and craft for all ages.
Jan. 20: Bad Art. 4 p.m. Create something out of a mishmash of materials. Teens Jan. 9: Helping Hands. 3 p.m. Make newspaper rolls for Humane Society. Teens and adults. Jan. 10: Best Books of 2016: Championship Tailgate Party. 4 p.m. For parents, teachers and fellow librarians. Jan. 10: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: ArtEggshells. 4 p.m. Design and decorate a flower pot from eggshells. Jan. 17: Raging Readers: Middle School Bookclub. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20: Bad Art. 4 p.m. Create something out of a mishmash of materials. Jan. 23: Reading Sidekicks: Beginning
HooverSun.com
January 2017 • B23
Hoover Public Library (cont) Reader Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Read and discuss books by a selected author and complete a related project. Jan. 24: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Minecraft Math. 4 p.m. Design and decorate a flower pot from eggshells. Adults Jan. 5: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. “Long Man” by Amy Greene. Fitzgerald Room. Jan. 7: How to Find Grants. 10:30 a.m. Training Center. Learn how to use the Foundation Center Cooperative database to find grants for nonprofits and individuals. Reservations required. (Also Jan. 8 at 2:30 p.m.) Jan. 9: State of the City Address with Mayor Frank Brocato of Hoover. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Refreshments at 9:45 am. Free and open to the public. Jan. 9: Discoveries in the Making. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Presented by the UAB Graduate School. Free. Jan. 10: The A, B, C and Ds of Medicare. 1 p.m. Adult Program Room. Get simple and straightforward answers about Medicare. Jan. 10: No Reading Required: Leadership Lessons from The Game of Thrones. 7 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Jan. 12: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. “Long Man” by Amy Greene. Fitzgerald Room. Jan. 12: Molly Ringwald. 7:30 p.m. Library Theatre. Tickets $25. Jan. 13: Craft for a Cause: Valentines for Children’s Hospital. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nonfiction Department 800s Room. Create a card to lift spirits. Adults and teens. Jan. 13: Molly Ringwald. 7:30 p.m. Library Theatre. Tickets $25. Jan. 14: Purl @ the Plaza. Beginner’s Knit and Crochet Lessons. 11 a.m. Plaza Reading Room. Jan. 15: Sean Gaskell. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Jan. 17: Edison. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library The-
atre. Free admission and refreshments. Jan. 17: Glue Gun Gang: Vision Boards. 6:30 p.m. Nonfiction Department 800s Room. Create a collage of your goals for 2017. Adults only. Reservations required.
Area Events Through Jan. 15: Birmingham’s Winter Wonderland. Railroad Park. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Outdoor ice skating rink. Open seven days per week. $10 for two-hour session. Visit railroadpark.org.
Jan. 19: Glue Gun Gang: Vision Boards. 10:30 a.m. Nonfiction Department 800s Room. See Jan. 17 for more information.
Jan. 7: Southeastern Outings Dayhike in Sipsey Wilderness, Bankhead National Forest. 4-mile hike. Call Dan Frederick at 631-4680 or email seoutings@ bellsouthnet. Visit seoutings.org.
Jan. 19: SenoritAwesome. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Soulful and bluesy singer/songwriter.
Jan. 7-8: Monster Jam Triple Threat Series. 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Legacy Arena at BJCC. Visit monsterjam.com.
Jan. 19: Noche de Película en Español: Pulling Strings. 6:30 p.m. Library Theatre.
Jan. 12: Turtle Island Quartet with Cyrus Chestnut. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $42-$78. Visit alysstephens.org.
Jan. 23: Monday at the Movies. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Free admission and refreshments. 444-7820.
Jan. 12: Greater Birmingham Teenage Republicans meeting. 6:30 p.m. Nino’s Italian Restaurant, Pelham. Visit jeffco-gop.com.
Jan. 23: Neuroscience Café. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Presented by the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center.
Jan. 14: MLK Day 5K Drum Run. 7 a.m. Kelly Ingram Park. $30 registration. Visit mlkday5kbham.com.
Jan. 24: How to Find Funding for Your Education or Career Training. 10:30 a.m. Adult Program Room. A program for those wanting to re-career or reenter the job market. Jan. 26: Nighttime Nonfiction Book Group. 7 p.m. Theatre Conference Room. The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff. Jan. 27: After Hours @ the Plaza: Game Nite. 7-10 p.m. Library Plaza. Put your game face on and team up with your fellow gamers. Jan. 28: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Share and network with other aspiring writers. Fitzgerald Room. Jan. 28: Queen of Crime: A Celebration of Agatha Christie. Join us as we celebrate the life of Dame Agatha Christie. Library Theatre. Mystery of Agatha Christie with David Suchet, PBS documentary screening. 1 p.m. Influence of Agatha Christie on Crime Fiction, discussion with Dr. Daniel Siegel, UAB English Department, 2 p.m. Murder on the Orient Express, movie showing. 2:45 p.m. Jan. 30: Stock Market 101. Learn the basics with UAB’s Dr. Stephanie Yates. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.
Jan. 14: WWE Live. 7:30 p.m. Legacy Arena at BJCC. $17-$102. Visit wwe.com. Jan. 15: Southern Bridal Show. Noon to 5 p.m. BJCC Exhibition Halls. $12 advance, $15 at the door. Visit eliteevents.com. Jan. 18: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $49-$82. Visit alysstephenscenter.org. Jan. 26-Feb. 11: The Miss Firecracker Contest. Theatre Downtown. $12$18. Visit theatredowntown.org. Jan. 26-Feb. 12: Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Virginia Samford Theatre. $15-$35. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. Jan. 27: Alabama Symphony Orchestra EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $25-$74. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Jan. 27-29: Kami-Con Season 9. BJCC Exhibition Halls. Celebrating Japanese culture, anime and manga and more. $25-$45. Visit kamicon.net. Jan. 28: 11th annual Chinese New Year Festival. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Boutwell Auditorium. $5 tickets, 12 and under are free. Visit bhmchinesefestival.org. Jan. 28-29: Birmingham Feline Fanciers CFA Cat Show. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Zamora Temple. $4-$8. Visit birminghamfelinefanciers.com.