Sun Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover
Volume 5 | Issue 1 | October 2016
SCHOOL FUNDING:
What do superintendent, incoming mayor plan to do? By SYDNEY CROMWELL and JON ANDERSON
E
ducation was, in Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy’s mind, the issue that defined the 2016 Hoover municipal election. With Hoover City Schools facing an expected $11.4 million shortfall in its 2016 budget and projected $1.9 million shortfall in 2017, school funding was on the minds of both candidates and voters in the weeks leading up to Aug. 23. “I don’t think there’s a bigger thing we could talk about,” Murphy said. It’s only one of the many priorities Mayor-elect Frank Brocato is thinking about in the weeks before his inauguration in November. As he is not yet in office, Brocato did not talk a lot of specifics. However, education was Murphy one of the main points in his campaign — along with public safety and creating a city master plan — and he said nothing about that has changed since election day. “We’re going to work with them to get them in the black, and I committed that to them,” Brocato said. “What that number will be? I don’t know yet because I have seven council members there, and they are committed to doing the same thing.” The Board of Education in September approved its budget for fiscal 2017, and Murphy
Mayor-elect Frank Brocato listens as Deer Valley Elementary School students explain a project they are working on in their STEM class Sept. 13. Brocato says he is prepared to work with the school system to solve its funding issue. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
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The 18 candidates for Hoover mayor and City Council seats prepare to answer questions from the public at an Aug. 9 election forum at Shades Crest Baptist Church. Photo by Jon Anderson.
special section
home & garden
Sports .............A20 Events ............... C7 Real Estate...... C17 Calendar ..........C18 With the change in seasons comes home and landscaping improvements. Check out this guide to point you in the right direction.
See page B1
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Election takeaway: Transparency, schools, planning among priorities By JON ANDERSON
American West inspires Hoover man to create hand-stitched leather goods.
See page C1
See FUNDING | page A26
When Hoover residents went to the polls Aug. 23, they spoke clearly and loudly about their support for schools, more transparency in city government and better city planning, numerous residents say. But others say it’s tough to pick out clear
messages. While a new mayor and three new council members have been elected thus far, voters also returned three incumbents to the council. Councilman John Lyda, one of those incumbents who won re-election, said there was a message of
See VOTERS | page A25
A2 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A3
A4 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell I’ve always enjoyed getting to look inside a machine and see what makes it tick. This month, I got the chance to learn what makes two different Hoover organizations tick: the Hoover High football team and the future administration of Mayor-elect Frank Brocato. Our sports editor, Kyle Parmley, braved a weekend trip to Texas — with a crew of teenagers, no less — to experience life inside the Buccaneers locker room. The result was a glimpse at the dedication, discipline and just plain fun that drives these high school athletes. I, meanwhile, had the opportunity to sit down first with Mayor-elect Brocato and then with Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy to talk about their plans and goals over the
next four years. Those two interviews resulted in much more information than I could fit into a single story. However, the picture that emerged was of two officials ready to get to know each other and
take active steps in addressing school funding, a topic that’s on nearly every Hoover parent’s mind. Finally, October means the beginning of fall festivals, trick-or-treating and the other sweet enjoyments of autumn. October is always a busy month for Hoover, and we have a full events guide for you to enjoy the season. And if you’ve been eyeing the honey-do list rather than the pumpkin carving kit, our Fall Home and Garden Guide will help you find the right experts and advice to tackle any project.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Hoover High fans get down and do push-ups during the Bucs’ game against Mountain Brook on Sept. 2. Photo courtesy of Barry Stephenson.
Correction
A story on page B8 of the September edition of the Hoover Sun incorrectly identified the o ganization that gave outstanding ensemble and performance awards to the Rhythmic Circus group scheduled to
Sun Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Director of Digital Media: Community Editor: Sports Editor: Page Designers:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Sarah Finnegan Heather VacLav Erica Techo Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Lexi Coon
Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Tara Massouleh Katherine Polcari Sarah Cook
perform at the Hoover Library Theatre on Dec. 2-3. The awards actually came from the Minnesota SAGE Awards for Dance, named after Sage Cowles, a choreographer, performer and philanthropist.
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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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October 2016 • A5
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Hoover Sun
City State to widen Alabama 150 between Shades Crest Road, Lake Cyrus The Alabama Department of Transportation plans to widen Alabama 150 between Shades Crest Road and the entrance to Lake Cyrus, including this stretch at the intersection with Ross Bridge Parkway. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By JON ANDERSON The Alabama Department of Transportation plans to widen Alabama 150 to five lanes between Shades Crest Road and the entrance to the Lake Cyrus subdivision. The widening is part of an estimated $12 million project to replace two bridges over Shades Creek and a railroad track, said Lance Taylor, an assistant region engineer for ALDOT’s east central region office. Alabama 150 has at least five lanes between its origin at U.S. 31 and a point just west of Shades Crest Road, around Whisperwood Drive. It then tapers down to two or three lanes, headed down a hill toward Ross Bridge, Lake Cyrus and Bessemer. The state plans to extend the five lanes all the way to the entrance of Lake Cyrus, covering about half a mile to three-quarters of a mile, Taylor said. The two old bridges will be replaced by a single bridge that is about 950 feet long, he said. The plan is to open bids for the job in November or December, and work should start after the beginning of 2017, Taylor said. The whole project should take about two years to complete, he said. The Hoover City Council on Sept. 19 agreed to chip in $150,000 to add a second left-turn lane from Ross Bridge Parkway onto Alabama 150 in conjunction with the widening project. Traffic backs up significantly on Ross Bridge Parkway, and the widening project will add a second eastbound lane on Alabama 150 to accept the traffic from Ross Bridge, said Tim Westhoven, the city’s assistant executive director. The Hoover City Council also voted to chip in another $100,000 as incentive money for the state’s contractor to handle the part of the
widening project near Ross Bridge Parkway first. Taylor said the new bridge will be built to the side of the current ones, so there should be minimal disruptions to traffic during construction. In the area closer to Ross Bridge Parkway and the Whisperwood Townhomes, drivers likely will experience some narrow lanes, he said. In a separate project, staff with the city of Hoover asked the City Council to allocate $250,000 left over from various sidewalk projects to a project to extend Medford Drive from the UAB Medical West freestanding emergency
department off John Hawkins Parkway to undeveloped land just west of the Medical West facility. However, new Councilman Casey Middlebrooks asked to remove that reallocation of money from a budget amendment to explore the matter further, and other council members concurred with the request. The council also tabled a vote on tax incentives for a renovation project recently completed at the Comedy Club Stardome. The club spent more than $500,000 on a renovation project at its facility in Hoover instead of accepting an invitation to move to Birmingham, and
asked for tax incentives for staying in Hoover. The agreement presented to the council would reimburse the Comedy Club half of all additional tax revenues generated for the city by the club, over and above the tax revenues generated in 2015. The tax reimbursements, if approved, would cover revenue raised in 2017 through 2021. Councilman John Greene said he didn’t have information on the financial status of the Comedy Club to determine the real benefit to the city on granting a tax abatement. The council voted 5-0 to table the matter. Councilmen Jack Natter and Gene Smith were absent.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A7
Hoover Municipal Judge Brad Bishop, left, installs Casey Middlebrooks, center, as the new councilman in Place 6 on the Hoover City Council on Sept. 6. Middlebrooks’ father, Charles Middlebrooks, holds the Bible. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Middlebrooks appointed to complete Skelton’s term By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council has appointed Ross Bridge resident Casey Middlebrooks to fill the final two months of former Councilman Brian Skelton’s term. Skelton’s seat — Council Place 6 — had remained vacant since he died July 2, and Middlebrooks, a librarian at Spain Park High School, won the Aug. 23 election to fill that seat for the next four years. Current council members said they thought it best to go ahead and appoint Middlebrooks to finish Skelton’s term, so Hoover Municipal Judge Brad Bishop on Sept. 6 swore Middlebrooks into office, and he took a seat beside other council members and began serving. He will be sworn in again for the new term with the rest of the new City Council on Nov. 7. Middlebrooks thanked all the people who supported his campaign and said he is ready to get to work in moving Hoover forward. Middlebrooks won his seat for the 2016-20 term with a win over Inverness hotel manager Jason DeLuca by just five votes out of 12,421 votes cast in that race Aug. 23. The race was so close that DeLuca requested a recount, which cost him $3,800, but the results turned out exactly the same. Middlebrooks, a librarian from Spain Park High School, received 6,213 votes, compared to 6,208 for DeLuca, who manages the Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel
in Inverness. DeLuca said while he wishes the recount had changed the results, he accepts the outcome. “I think what it shows is that voters can be pretty confident in those machines and of what those poll workers and the city do to provide accurate elections,” he said. DeLuca said the city will be in good shape with Middlebrooks and the new City Council that takes office Nov. 7. “I’m certainly happy for Casey. I’ve offered my support any way I can in the next four years,” he said. “I’m happy to help.” In other business, the council: ► Approved SkyZone Sports Kennesaw to open a trampoline park in the former Staples store in The Centre at Riverchase shopping center at 1694 Montgomery Highway across from the Hoover Municipal Center. ► Approved a road to be built through Lot 7 of International Park off Acton Road to provide access to a public park being built by the city of Vestavia Hills. ► Declared a confiscated trailer and 13 Police Department vehicles as surplus to be sold. The trailer will be sold at auction, and nine Chevrolet Tahoes, three Chevrolet Impalas and a Ford F-150 pickup truck will be sold to other law enforcement agencies, Chief Nick Derzis said. ► Declared property at 2308 Empire Road to be a public nuisance due to high weeds and/ or grass.
Mayor’s Minute By Gary Ivey
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mayor-elect Frank Brocato and wish him success over the next four years. I have enjoyed serving the people of Hoover as mayor, and I am proud of the accomplishments that have been made in our city. Hoover was voted one of the top places to live and raise a family, and I feel certain that level of service will continue under the next administration. It’s hard to believe the Gary Ivey holidays are right around the corner! We are very excited about the abundance of Sincerely, activities in Hoover in November and December. On the afternoon of Nov. 6, Hoover kicks off its week-long veterans celebration with a reception held at the Hoover Library Plaza. Be sure and visit our website at hooveralabama.gov for a complete list of veterans
activities the week of Nov. 6-13. Also, please take a moment to thank the men and women who have served or are presently serving our country. We are happy to serve the people of Hoover and once again, thank you for the privilege of serving as your mayor. I have truly enjoyed my time in office. On behalf of the City of Hoover and my family, we want to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season!
A8 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Council to hear Ross Bridge rezoning request, delays 2 others By JON ANDERSON Requests to add 108 acres to the Blackridge community and 35 houses in Bluff Park are being delayed until the new Hoover City Council takes office Nov. 7. But the current City Council will go ahead and consider Signature Homes’ request to build 40 townhouses in a commercial section of the Ross Bridge Village Center on Oct. 17. Signature Homes wants to put the 40 townhouses on 6.2 acres now zoned as a “planned commercial” district. Hoover planning consultant Bob House said townhouses are allowed as a conditional use in such a district. In connection with Signature’s purchase of this property and other property from Daniel Corp., the developer of Ross Bridge, Signature was allowed to build 178 dwellings, including up to 110 multifamily units. However, if this new 40-townhouse development is approved, Signature has agreed not to build any more multifamily units in Ross Bridge. The remaining 138 houses all would be single-family houses, Signature Homes President Jonathan Belcher said. When the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the townhouses on Sept. 12, Chairman Mike Wood commended Belcher for “getting rid of the apartments.” Signature Homes on Nov. 7 will ask the City Council to add 108 acres to the Blackridge community at the end of Stadium Trace Parkway. However, the developer is not asking for an increase in the number of houses that
Above: Signature Homes wants to add 40 townhouses in the Ross Bridge Village Center. Map provided by city of Hoover. Right: Signature also wants to add 108 acres, shaded gray area, to the Blackridge development at the end of Stadium Trace Parkway. Sixty of the acres would be for a park along the Cahaba River. Map provided by Signature Homes.
can be built. The number of houses allowed in Blackridge still would be 1,150, including 650 houses on the 808 acres being developed by Signature Homes and 500 houses on the 823 acres being developed by Riverwoods Holdings. That would lower the overall housing density in Blackridge to 0.7 houses per acre. The property proposed to be added to Blackridge is being called the “boot property” because it is on land shaped like a boot along the Cahaba River, west of the Signature part of Blackridge and south of the 499-home Lake Wilborn development (also being developed by Signature Homes).
However, it is separated from the rest of Blackridge by railroad tracks and will not be connected to the rest of Blackridge directly by road, Belcher said. People would get to the “boot property” by driving through Lake Wilborn, Belcher said. Signature is proposing that houses on this 108-acre “boot property” be “medium-density houses, on lots of at least 60 feet wide, with at least 10 feet between each house. Single-story houses would have to be at least 1,600 square feet, and 1½-story and two-story houses would have to be at least 2,100 square feet. Homes in the “boot property” would be similar to homes in Lake
Wilborn, so they won’t seem out of character to the neighboring community, Belcher said. About 60 acres of the 108 acres would be dedicated as a park along the Cahaba River and would include a boat launch, Belcher said. That will help fulfill Signature Homes’ obligations to provide park land for Blackridge, he said. The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 12 recommended approval for the 108-acre addition. Hoover Executive Director Allen Pate said it seems like a “no-brainer” since there will be no increase in the total number of homes allowed. It just means the homes will be spread out over more land, he said. The new City Council also on Nov. 7 will consider a request from Parrish Building Co. to rezone nine acres
near the corner of Alford Avenue and Tyler Road to make way for 35 houses. Developer Zac Parrish wants the land rezoned from agricultural use to a planned residential development district. His plan is to build 3.9 homes per acre, and lots would be 75 feet wide at the building line, Parrish said. Houses would be between 2,500 and 2,800 square feet, almost double the city’s required minimum size of 1,500 square feet for that zoning classification, said Joey Miller, a civil engineer representing the property owner. One nearby resident told the zoning board the proposed development was too dense, but another said the area already is dense, so this subdivision would not change that. Erica Techo contributed to this story.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A9
Hoover police Officer Barry Stamps with the Phantom 4 Professional drone that the department bought to provide aerial views to officers on the ground. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Police tap into drones as new crime-fighting, public service tool By JON ANDERSON The Hoover Police Department has a new tool officers say will provide a whole new perspective on fighting crime. The department has purchased and received its first drone — or small unmanned aircraft system, as the Federal Aviation Administration calls them — and is ordering two more, said Capt. Gregg Rector. The Phantom 4 Professional drone Hoover bought comes equipped with a camera that can relay real-time video footage to officers on the ground, as well as maintaining that footage in a recording. But don’t expect to see any gun-toting drones — like you see in some TV shows or movies — patrolling the streets anytime soon. While the military uses armed drones, Rector said he doesn’t foresee that crossing over into civilian law enforcement in the near future — at least not in cities like Hoover. But there are multiple uses Hoover police hope to get out of the drones, Rector said. They could be used for monitoring large crowds at public events and traffic flow during peak traffic times or locating a missing person or a suspect during a manhunt, he said. A drone can provide that aerial view over a large area that can’t be seen by officers on the ground, he said. Drones also could be used to inspect spills of hazardous materials or suspicious packages — situations where you want to get a close look but not expose a person or police dog to danger, Rector said. The drones also could come in handy for reconstructing accident scenes or crime scenes, he said. Now, officers sometimes have to call in a fire department ladder truck to get an aerial view of an accident or crime scene to help draw diagrams, he said. Sending a drone to get pictures and video would be much easier and not tie up a fire truck that may be needed elsewhere, he said. Police now use helicopters for some of these functions, but drones are much less expensive to operate, Rector said. Hoover paid $2,749 for its Phantom 4 Professional drone. It weighs about three pounds and is controlled by a remote. It can go almost 20,000 feet above sea level, but Rector said he expects Hoover police to generally keep it under 400 feet. The drone batteries allow them to fly 28 minutes, but police have multiple batteries to extend flying time, and the batteries are rechargeable.
Hoover police plan to initially train three officers to fly the drones, but that could be expanded to include more people in the future, Rector said. All officers who fly the drones will be certified, he said. Officer Barry Stamps, who primarily works in the U.S. 280 corridor, will be one of those trained. Stamps said he has been operating drones as a hobby for about four years and is looking forward to using one on the job. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I thought this was something that could help us,” he said. More law enforcement agencies have started purchasing drones, said Pat Bruce, the operations supervisor for the FAA Flight Standards District Office for Alabama and northwest Florida. He doesn’t have a complete list, but numerous agencies in Alabama already have them, including the Anniston and Northport police departments and Cullman and Dale County sheriff’s offices, he said. Selma Police Chief John Brock said his department purchased four drones early this year and began using them in March at the 50th anniversary of the historic civil rights march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They’re using them mainly for crowd control at public events, he said. “They’re helping us out a lot,” Brock said. “They’re giving great pictures. The picture quality of the drones is outstanding.” “We will start using them for investigative purposes. We just haven’t gotten to that point yet,” he said. The FAA, U.S. Attorney General’s Office and Alabama Attorney General’s Office are still working out guidelines for proper usage of the drones, Brock said. “It’s real touchy on how you use them and when you use them because of the Privacy Act,” he said. Rector said Hoover police are still developing their own guidelines for use but certainly will use discretion and get warrants when needed. He understands some people’s concerns, he said. “We don’t want to violate anybody’s rights. We don’t want to violate anybody’s privacy,” Rector said. “We want to use them to help us do a better job for the citizens we serve … If there’s an expectation of privacy, we’re certainly not going to be hovering in someone’s backyard looking at somebody where we’re not supposed to be.”
A10 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Trey Lott, Curt Posey square off in Oct. 4 runoff for Council Place 1 By JON ANDERSON While almost all of the Hoover municipal election races were settled on Aug. 23, one City Council race remains to be decided. On Oct. 4, former Hoover Councilman and Greystone resident Trey Lott will face political newcomer and Bluff Park resident Curt Posey in a runoff for Hoover Council Place 1. Posey was the top vote getter for that race in the Aug. 23 election, capturing 5,256 votes, or 41.2 percent of the total votes cast, compared to 5,176 votes, or 40.6 percent, for Lott. Joe Rives, who was appointed to the City Council in February 2015 to replace Lott, came in third with 2,321 votes, or 18 percent of the total, and thus did not make the runoff. Rives opted not to endorse either Posey or Lott. Posey said he has been running on a platform of change and will be better suited to work with the new mayor and new council members than Lott, who often voted in concert with the current council on recommendations from outgoing Mayor Gary Ivey’s administration. Three current council members — John Greene, John Lyda and Gene Smith — were re-elected Aug. 23, so there are only three new faces coming to the council so far. Posey said he could be the fourth vote needed to create real change. “I don’t think we need to change everything,” Posey said, adding that he thinks city leaders can do some things better. The main thing is to be thoughtful, ask questions and look for the
Trey Lott
Curt Posey
best long-term solutions, he said. A long-term master plan is needed, especially for land use, development, traffic and schools, he said. Lott has said the city needs someone in Place 1 who has had experience in city government because the city is losing a lot of experience with the death of Councilman Brian Skelton and the decision by councilmen Jack Wright and Jack Natter not to run for re-election. Lott said his highest priority is to invest in
public safety. He also wants to find long-term financial solutions to support Hoover City Schools, maintain outstanding city services such as park and recreation offerings and the city library, and improve council communication with the public. Lott and Posey have different ideas about the best way to address financial issues related to Hoover schools. The Hoover City Council in 2004, which included Lott, voted to quit giving Hoover
schools 16 percent of the city’s sales tax revenues after learning the Hoover school system would get a one-time influx of $85.6 million in cash from a Jefferson County bond issue. The city’s budget was tight, and city officials decided to give a lesser amount to schools. Between 2009 and 2014, that amount was $2 million a year. In 2015, the amount was $2.3 million, compared to $11.5 million under the old funding formula. Cumulatively, between 2002 and 2015, city funding cuts cost the school system more than $78 million. School officials have been trimming back their expenses but are about to be hit with large increases in debt payments and have capital projects that need funding. Lott has said he doesn’t believe the school system has financial problems now, but it will in the future if something is not done to raise more money. He favors raising sales taxes by 1 percentage point to raise up to $20 million a year. However, Lott said the city needs to get input from the school board and public to determine how much of that should go to schools, and he favors a citywide vote on the tax increase. Posey is against a sales tax increase, saying it will hurt Hoover’s competitiveness with other cities. Instead, he wants to divert money from the city’s capital projects fund for the next couple of years to help schools and then start using revenues from the new sports complex to support schools.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A11
Preview of
Chamber
Luncheon
Auburn fans on edge, former kicker Al Del Greco tells chamber
October Lee Sentell, the director of the Alabama Tourism Department since 2003, is scheduled to speak to the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce at its Oct. 20 luncheon. Under his leadership, the Tourism Department has won national marketing awards for campaigns such as the Year of Alabama Sentell Arts, Year of Alabama Food and Year of Alabama History. He recently completed 10 years of service on the board of the Alabama State Council of the Arts, is vice chairman of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, is treasurer of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. He is a native of Ashland and a graduate of Auburn University. The luncheon is at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel. Networking begins at 11:15 a.m., and the meeting starts at noon. The cost is $20 for members or $25 for those without reservations. Reservations can be made through Oct. 17 by calling 9885672 or emailing Lisa Dunbar at lisa@hooverchamber.org.
By JON ANDERSON After a 7-6 record last year and a “curious first game” this year, Auburn fans have been on edge, former Auburn and NFL kicker Al Del Greco told the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 15. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is in a “sticky situation,” Del Greco told the 180 or so people at the chamber luncheon. “We need to expect and we need to see more when it comes to wins.” Quarterback Sean White is doing an incredible job, Del Greco said. He’s got a good-enough arm and keeps the football enough during the run to disguise the plays, which can be effective, Del Greco said. The defense is better than it has been in years, and kicker Daniel Carlson is doing well on kickoffs and field goals and feels like he can kick a 60-yard field goal, which is impressive, Del Greco said. Across the state at Alabama is arguably the best coach in college football, Del Greco said. “I really respect what he’s done. To think that you could win four national championships in a seven-year period in today’s day and age really is quite remarkable,” Del Greco said. “As an Auburn fan, it pains me to admit that, but you’ve got to give respect where respect is due.” Del Greco, who now is the golf coach at Samford University and a sports radio show host on JOX 690-AM and 94.5-FM, also talked about what it was like being a kicker. Kickers, typically smaller than most of the
Former Auburn and NFL kicker Al Del Greco, now a golf coach at Samford University and sports radio show host, talks to the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel. Photo by Jon Anderson.
other football players, aren’t usually recognized as much as the others, he said. When he played for the Tennessee Titans, he once was mistaken by a fan as the team’s noseguard, and when he played as a celebrity in the Bruno’s Memorial Classic Pro-Am golf tournament years ago at the Greystone Golf and Country Club, he was mistaken for Chi Chi Rodriguez, even though Rodiguez is a good bit older, he said. But Del Greco said he has truly been blessed to have been able to play and break records in the National Football League, play
in so many golf events, coach golf and football at Spain Park High School for 10 years and now coach golf at Samford and do the radio show. “I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to do something like that,” he said. “It’s been a blessed career.” He now is trying to help grow the golf program at Samford, which is a smaller program in Division I, he said. “It’s a challenge that I think I look forward to very, very much,” he said. “Hopefully, we have a lot of success going forward.”
A12 • October 2016
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HooverSun.com
Now Open James “Jim” Sears recently relocated his Daphne, Alabama, law office to Hoover to join with his oldest son, in the law offices of Sears & Sears, PC, 5809 Feldspar Way. He accepts cases in civil, criminal and appeals courts. He also accepts clients who have special education issues from across the state of Alabama. It is important to note that in most special education cases, there is no cost to the parents of a child who has a disability. 588-0755, searsandsearslaw.com
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Relocations and Renovations Hawthorne at Wisteria, previously known as Monte D’Oro Apartment Homes, 2870 Regal Circle, has undergone an extensive renovation, including an updated clubhouse, pavilion, fitness center and more. 790-6680, hawthorneatwisteria.com
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News and Accomplishments 3
Edgar’s Bakery, with locations at 6801 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 128,
October 2016 • A13 and 180 West Main Street, has installed public access defibrillators in all of its locations. These devices will allow people with sudden cardiac arrest to increase the chance of survival by up to 70 percent. 408-0897 (Greystone), 444-1220 (Patton Creek), edgarsbakery.com Lush Threading & Spa, 3032 John Hawkins Parkway, has changed its name to Lavish Threading Hair & Spa. 444-7000, lavishthreading.com
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Hirings and Promotions River Highlands of Birmingham, a senior living community at 1851 Data Drive, has named Merilyn Scivley as director of marketing. 982-7000, riverhighlands.com
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Closings Jesse’s Steaks and Seafood, 150 Main St. in the Patton Creek Shopping Center, has closed.
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A14 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Exotic pops now sold around town By TARA MASSOULEH Kamy Adeli has made chocolate potato chip ice pops, pickle ice pops, even ranch dressing ice pops — and he’s looking to try more. The owner of Hoover’s only ice pop shop has made more than 100 different flavors since he and his wife, Riba, opened Urban Pops in January 2015. “I sleep at night and wake up in the morning and have a recipe in my head,” he said. Though it’s Kamy Adeli’s creativity behind flavors such as strawberry cheesecake, banana pudding, cucumber chili and cranberry pomegranate, he said he gets a fair amount of his ideas directly from his customers. “A lot of times I listen to people,” Kamy Adeli said. “I always make what they want.” The ranch dressing, pickle and chocolate potato chip pops were all customer requests. And while he is willing to try anything once, Kamy Adeli said his ventures are often hit or miss. The ranch pop tanked, but much to his surprise the pickle pops sold out within a few days. Overall, Kamy Adeli has gained a lot from listening — he opened Urban Pops after insistent pushing from his 26-year-old daughter Sara. Kamy Adeli, a former restaurant manager and conference center owner, said he was not convinced until his daughter took him to an ice pop shop in New York City. There, in the dead of winter, people were lining up to get pops. “That’s what gave me the clue that I need to open one in Birmingham,” he said. After owning Arthur’s Conference Center off Valleydale Road in Pelham for 17 years, Kamy Adeli and his wife were ready for something new. They sold the business and eventually decided to take their daughter’s advice and open an ice pop shop. They named, decorated and branded the business according to her specifications as well. “She said, ‘Dad, you need to do rustic,’ and I didn’t know what rustic meant, but she told me
Above: Some of the popsicles offered at Urban Pops. Left: Kamy and Riba Adeli. Photos by Tara Massouleh.
exactly what to do,” Kamy Adeli said. Urban Pops, on the end of the Walmart Super Center strip mall on John Hawkins Parkway, more than accomplishes the “rustic” goal. Along with its exposed brick wall, marble floating counter top, dark wood tables and Birmingham memorabilia, the restaurant also features an entire wall striped in reclaimed wood Kamy Adeli put up himself. In the shop, Kamy Adeli makes pops in batches of 80. He said he makes hundreds each day, but to keep the pops fresh, they have a shelf life of only two or three days. At any given time, there are more than 30 pop flavors on hand at Urban Pops. In addition to crowd favorites such as cookies and cream and coffee and fruity flavors such as strawberry and watermelon, the Adelis bring an ethnic flair to their business with Asian flavors from India, Pakistan and their home country of Iran.
Kulfi, a traditional Indian ice cream made with pistachio and cardamom, is served as an ice pop in varieties including mango, apricot and coconut. The couple also make rosewater Rooh Afza pops from Pakistan and an Iranian flavored pop called Akbar Mashti that is laden with pistachio, saffron, rosewater and cream. Though the couple is resigned to keeping their business a “small mom-and-pop operation,” having just one brick-and-mortar store isn’t keeping them from spreading their pops all throughout the Birmingham area. Between their six carts, three concession trailers and a mobile van, Urban Pops are popping up everywhere. They’re at the West Homewood Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays, the Lake Cyrus Market on Thursdays and at the Ross Bridge Market on Fridays. Urban Pops also frequently has a cart at Children’s of Alabama hospital’s
Food Truck Fridays and at Pepper Place on Saturdays. This is all in addition their slew of wedding, birthday and corporate catering events and their newest development: Urban Pop freezer chests. Urban Pops are sold at the Galleria Chevron in Hoover, Highland Shell in Birmingham, Ross Bridge Exxon in Hoover, Coosa Mart Exxon in Valleydale and at Shell stations in Homewood, Vestavia and Cahaba Heights. To keep up with all their new business, the Adelis have enlisted the help of their other daughter Lawden, who handles external Urban Pops sales including catering, events and freezer chest and cart distribution. This way, Kamy and Riba Adeli can focus on doing what they like best: interacting with their customers. “Eighty percent of my customers are repeat customers,” Kamy Adeli said. “I don’t want to get too big; that way you lose that personal touch.” Riba Adeli, in fact, has built up quite the reputation around town. “Sometimes I go to Walmart or go to do errands and people are like ‘Oh, hello; you’re the Urban Pops lady,’” she said.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A15
Community Ashley DeRamus receives Christian Pueschel Memorial Citizen Award Hoover resident Ashley DeRamus was honored to receive the Christian Pueschel Memorial Citizen Award at the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) 2016. This award recognizes an individual with Down syndrome whose achievements, service and contributions have enhanced the value and dignity of people with Down syndrome and their families. “As an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a volunteer, an advocate and an athlete, Ashley distinguished herself by any measure,” said David C. Tolleson, executive director of NDSC. “Her example shines brightly, not only for those within our community, but for all. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do to make
the world a better place for people with Down syndrome.” The Christian Pueschel Memorial Citizen Award was presented July 23 during the annual convention banquet in Orlando. DeRamus was grateful to the National Down Syndrome Congress for the honor and said she plans to use this opportunity to increase awareness and encourage those who are affected by Down syndrome. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do,” DeRamus said. “Show them what you can do.” DeRamus continues to invest in the community and partnered with the Southern Women’s Show set for Thursday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 2 to
provide kids with disabilities an opportunity to be models for the day. The fashion show was held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and featured kids and their families on the catwalk modeling coordinating fashions. “I love helping make kids’ dreams come true,” DeRamus said. “I jump at any chance I get to do that, to break down barriers that tell kids they can’t do something because of their disability. I hope I can be an example and provide hope for these families.” For more information about Ashley DeRamus and the Ashley DeRamus Foundation, please visit ashleyderamusfoundation.org. – Submitted by Katie Beck.
SYMPHONY VOLUNTEER COUNCIL INSTALLS OFFICERS
The Symphony Volunteer Council supports the Alabama Symphony and youth music scholarships by hosting The Decorator Showhouse and the Lois Pickard luncheon/auction. Its president is Char Bonsack, and Debra Gilbreath is the executive vice president. Photos courtesy of Debra Gilbreath.
A16 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Birmingham woman crowned Mrs. Petite America 2016
Among the Vietnam veterans recognized were, from left, Stan Middlebrooks, Richard Hassinger, Robert Crooks, Tommy Ray, Billy Jett and Richard Lauer shown with Joan Lewellyn, Lily of the Cahaba, DAR. Photo courtesy of Don Roser.
DAR recognizes Vietnam veterans of Shades Valley American Legion Post Members of American Legion Post No. 134, who served during the Vietnam war, were recently recognized at a ceremony hosted by the Lily of the Cahaba Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. “On returning home, many veterans of that era did not receive the recognition they deserved for their service and sacrifice,” said Don Roser, Commander of the Shades Valley Post. “We’re very pleased that the DAR continues to remember and appreciate the sacrifices of those who served our country. And not just for the veterans of Vietnam, but for all who have served. One of our objectives with the American Legion is to be the voice of Alabama’s veterans and to make sure that the benefits earned — and promised — to those who serve our nation in uniform are preserved. Those promises must not be forgotten.” The Lily of the Cahaba Chapter, NSDAR, is a Commemorative Partner of the United States
of America Vietnam War Commemoration. In the past year, the Hoover-based DAR chapter has provided more than 200 Vietnam veterans with certificates of appreciation and lapel pins in honor of their service to our country. Roser added American Legion membership is open to men and women veterans from earlier wars as well as veterans of the Persian Gulf, Desert Storm and more. Active-duty members are also eligible to join. “The American Legion Department of Alabama is 19,000 members strong and growing. We need active veterans to continue our work within the communities,” Roser said. “We focus on the four pillars of the American Legion: veteran rehabilitation, children and youth, Americanism and national security.” For more about the Lily of the Cahaba Chapter or membership, visit lilyofthecahaba. com. – Submitted by Don Roser.
The Rev. Dallas Teague Snider of Birmingham was crowned Mrs. Petite America 2016 on Aug. 6 at the international Petite America and Petite World Pageant in Hartford, Connecticut. As Mrs. Petite America 2016, Snider will embark on introducing and executing her mission and platform #ThinkLOVEFirst, a web-based multicultural and faith initiative. Snider said she chose this platform to combat the increased frequency of hate crimes, civil disobedience and terrorist acts occurring across the country and the world. “I was inspired to create and launch Think LOVE First with a vision to usher in a culture of respect for our differences and an awareness of our common traits as human beings,” Snider said. “We should be able to look at one another and focus on how much we are alike and not on how we are different.” As a professional speaker and author of “Finding Dallas: A Spiritual Journey Through Childhood Abuse to the Glory of God’s Plan,” Snider shares her personal testimony of overcoming adversity and PTSD, which inspired her #ThinkLOVEFirst platform. – Submitted by Dallas Teague Snider.
Hoover student wins piano scholarship Nine-year-old Emma Voytanovsky, a fourth-grader at Gwin Elementary, was recently selected as the winner of the eighth Geoffrey Glaub Piano Scholarship, given by the Samford University Academy of the Arts. As a scholarship winner, Emma performed in a fall recital Sept. 18 and is also part of the 2016-17 Honors Ensemble. This means she will perform solo pieces several times through the year, including at least two Samford recitals per semester. – Submitted by Jance Voytanovsky.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A17
The 2016 Hoover Belles following their presentation ceremony. Photo courtesy of Vickie Gord Griffith/ Hoover Belle Committee.
Annual Dig in the Park kicks off final month of volleyball season By KYLE PARMLEY
Hoover Belles presented; 2017 applications open The presentation ceremony of the 2016 Hoover Belles was recently held in the grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency/Wynfrey Hotel. The group of 35 high school sophomores selected as 2016 Hoover Belles will join the girls who were selected in 2015 and will perform a minimum of 30 hours of community service. Hoover Belles must have good character, an outgoing personality, be enrolled in school and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, according to a release. Belles serve two-year terms for their junior and senior years of high school. This year’s Hoover Belles are from Hoover High School, Spain Park High School, Briarwood Christian School, John Carroll Christian School and Westminster School at Oak Mountain. Officer Nick Braden of Hoover Police Department assisted each Hoover Belle onto the garden gazebo, and they received bouquets from their fathers or close family members. The 2016 Hoover Belles: Amelia Anne Abernathy; Anna Marie Auchmuty; Grayson Camille Bartlett; Grace Catherine Bauder; Jordan Sierra Beam; Gwyneth Olivia Bishop; Anna Katherine Douglass; Connelley Rose Erwin; Mia Cameron Gage;
Anna Henderson Gilstrap; Grace Ann Heglas; Emma Rose Hill; Lauren Elizabeth Hoaglund; Ashley Daniel Hopping; Senna Kathryn House; Ava Rose Indovina; Katherine Justina Jackson; Sarah Morgan Johnson; Kathryn Ayers King; Piper Elizabeth Latham; Rachel Aileen Lebo; Sydney Madison Lee; Macy Catherine McClinton; Lillie Mattison McDonald; Elizabeth Barton Robinson; Slaton Abigail Renee Schneider; Olivia Kristin Slocum; Jennifer Helen Spell; Kathryn Michele Stubblefield; Ashley Elizabeth Thomas; Madison Rey Todd; Leah Katherine Varnell; Rae Wallis; Grace Mae-Elizabeth Waters; and Katherine Caroline Winchester. Applications for the 2017 Hoover Belles will be available at hooveral.org from Oct. 10 to Nov. 14. Return applications to the Hoover Chamber of Commerce, 1694 U.S. 31, Suite 108 by 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 14. Interviews will be held Jan. 17, 2017, at Aldridge Gardens. All Belles must be Hoover residents with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a willingness to commit to 30 hours of community service through the program. The total cost of Belle fees, gown and accessories is $230. – Submitted by Vickie Gord Griffith/Hoover Belle Committee.
Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.
Spain Park High School hosts its annual Dig in the Park volleyball tournament Oct. 1 to kick off a frantic last few weeks of the season. The all-day event will include Spanish Fort, Enterprise, John Carroll, Montgomery Academy and others. “It’s going to be tough,” Spain Park head coach Kellye Bowen said. The 16 teams will be split into four pools, with The all-day Dig in the Park volleyball tournament, the action beginning in pool play at 8 a.m. Pool set for Oct. 1, will include Spanish Fort, Enterprise, John Carroll, Montgomery Academy and others. Photo play should conclude soon courtesy of Jimmy Mitchell. after lunchtime. At that time, the teams are split at Homewood, held Oct. 7-8. into two single-elimination “Only thing you can hope for in those brackets. The top two teams in each pool move into last tournaments is getting ready for that last the gold bracket, while the bottom two in area match. You don’t want to peak too high in September,” Bowen said. each pool are placed in the silver bracket. The state tournament follows a simiEach bracket will play itself out, with the plan to conclude the tournament in the lar format, forcing teams to win multiple matches in a single day. The Jags had sucevening. In Bowen’s first two years at Spain Park, cess in a September tournament at Muscle the Jags have had experience in both the Shoals, fighting back despite an early silver and gold brackets, reaching the final setback. “Our first game was a tough loss, which in both sections, but have been unable to actually helped my kids,” Bowen said. “It close out the win. Bowen said she likes the combination of motivated my kids to play better throughcompetition and timing that the tournament out the day. They responded and came back. They won five straight.” presents. To get to that state tournament, the Jags “It’s a really good tournament,” she said. “And it’s one day near the end of the have a set of important dates ahead. The area tournament is Oct. 17. If they advance, season, so your kids are not exhausted.” The conclusion of the regular season also super regionals are later that week, needing includes the Margaret Blalock Tournament a win to advance to state.
A18 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
HOOVER SUN TAGS ALONG TO
TEXAS Big trip sheds light on Bucs football program
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By KYLE PARMLEY
oover High School football is neither average nor typical. The Bucs gained national notoriety with the MTV show “Two-A-Days,” which shone a light on the inner workings of a dominant program that has remained extremely successful in the 10 years since the show first aired in August 2006. It ran through March 2007. Thanks in part to that exposure, Hoover is afforded opportunities many programs would never dream of being involved with. One of those opportunities came in August, as the Bucs traveled to Allen, Texas, to play in the Tom Landry Classic. The Bucs were the first team in the 17-year history of the Classic to hail from outside Texas. This was no normal trip for a high school football team, and I was able to experience firsthand the inner workings of Josh Niblett’s program.
BIG EYES
As anyone knows, traveling becomes old quickly. The start of the journey is fun and exciting, but those emotions turn to boredom and exhaustion after a short period of time. At 11:30 a.m. that Thursday — Aug. 25 — the Bucs loaded up and departed the high school in search of Texas. A 30-minute bus ride to the airport led to a 90-minute flight. In and of itself, that’s not a big deal. But when dealing with roughly 100 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds, the majority of whom had never stepped foot on an aircraft, that’s no small task. “There were a lot of people walking on the plane looking a little nervous,” senior linebacker KJ Vault said. “When we were taking off, the eyes got a little big.” Nonetheless, the team made it to Dallas without a hitch. The city of Allen is less than 30 miles away from Dallas Love Field, but traffic in the metro area is not easy to navigate. It took more than an hour to reach Allen High School in the middle of the afternoon. It’s safe to say the word “congested” was redefined in my mind. Alabama is arguably the epicenter of the college football universe, and that passion bleeds into the high-school ranks, but you won’t find any high school football stadiums that seat 18,000 people with standing room available for 3,000 more. That’s what the Bucs saw upon arriving at Allen on Thursday afternoon. Eagle Stadium features amenities that rival and surpass many college athletic facilities. The press box seemingly extends into the clouds. The video board is reminiscent of ones found at mid- to high-level college programs. Players walked out of the tunnel onto the field, phones set to record, faces displaced by smiles with a touch of awe as they soaked it in. The tone of their next journey out of
Kam Ford at the Hoover-Allen game. Photo courtesy of Neil Fonville.
the meal, with the exception of a devotion and prayer. It was time to go.
SHOWTIME
Hoover’s Will Singleton reacts upon walking into Allen High School’s Eagle Stadium for the first time. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
that tunnel in the corner of the end zone would be much, much different.
GAME PREPARATION Taking a football team to a restaurant may not sound like much, but it’s one of the most revealing moments into a team’s character and presence of mind. As the mass of Bucs descended on its dinner destination, I stood next to an assistant coach watching the players turn a full buffet into an array of trays left with scraps. What else would you expect? That particular coach explained to me how well-mannered he thought the group would be in this setting, and he was right. Families of four or five have likely had far more eventful dinners in public. The team was shuttled to the hotel for the rest of the evening to wind down and do prep work for the game the following day. If you don’t see a hotel ballroom as the ideal place for a pregame walk-through,
you’re not alone. But the Bucs reiterated their game plan, took part in film study, filled up gallon jugs with Gatorade and went to bed. Friday promised to be fun, as the team got a tour of AT&T Stadium, the luxurious home of the Dallas Cowboys, before heading to local Martin High School for lunch and a pregame walk-through. I began to notice something during this second walk-through. What had been a loud and fun group of kids in the 24 hours since departing Hoover High was beginning to morph into a collective group of laser-eyed, focused players. The transformation had started before the team returned to the hotel for a few hours, but when the team dinner rolled around, I was with 100 completely different kids than the day before. Niblett told me earlier that I would begin to see the kids “lock in,” but what I saw was more extreme than I expected. Hardly a word was uttered during
We’ve seen football coaches jump all over players for making mistakes, whether it be Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Will Muschamp or anyone else. But one of the most impressive things I witnessed during the trip was Niblett’s pregame speech to his assistant coaches. Niblett leads his assistants just like he leads his players. He implores them to be great, not just at football, but to be great men and role models for their players and families. His message to his coaches consisted of quoting a passage from the Bible, praying with them and telling the coaches to “build [the players] up,” despite mistakes or faults. The game did not go according to plan, as the Bucs lost 25-7 even after scoring on their first drive to take an early lead. “We just didn’t put any pressure on them,” Niblett said after the game. “The only pressure we put on them is when we went (up) 7-0. You have to make plays. I thought our defense played well enough to win the game. When you play in games like this, everybody’s got to play their A-game, and we didn’t tonight.” The team pulled into the Hoover High parking lot at 4 a.m. Saturday after flying back home immediately following the game. The next challenge would be recovering from the trip quickly enough to defeat Mountain Brook in the teams’ first Class 7A, Region 3 game. The Bucs did, and won 19-3. The wins are how coaches and programs are measured. But the Hoover football program offers so much more than that. The kids in the program have it hammered in their mind day after day to be citizens who contribute to society, to be better fathers, husbands and men than even they believe they can or should be at their current stage of life. Coach Niblett does it right.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A19
A20 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Sports
‘I’M JUST A PLAYER’ Preparation, dedication carry Jags’ Larry Wooden to top of his game
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By SAM CHANDLER
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tanding along the home sidelines at Jaguar Stadium on an early September morning, Spain Park High School running back Larry Wooden Jr. was asked to describe his identity as a player. For a moment, he paused. Seldom are athletes in Wooden’s position prodded to formulate their own self-image. It’s something that is often contrived for them by external voices in the school, community and media. But after four seconds of hesitation, the running back delivered an answer that spoke volumes. “I’m just a player,” he said. “I just come out and play as hard as I can.” It’s a proclamation that unfolds under the Friday night lights. Wooden, a highly recruited senior, is one of the chief offensive weapons on Spain Park’s 2016 roster. A versatile threat out of the backfield, he possesses the strength and vision of a running back and the hands of a wide receiver. To defenses, he presents a bit of a conundrum. “He has everything you want in a running back. He’s physical, he can block, he’s fast, he’s got great vision and his hands are unbelievable,” Jags head coach Shawn Raney said. “Those types of kids are very rare, and we’re very fortunate to have him.” Wooden’s ascent to the top of the talent pyramid at Spain Park — and all of metro Birmingham, for that matter — wasn’t automatic. His climb, which first started at age 7, has been characterized by perpetual physical transformation, persistent drive and, most recently, exemplary leadership.
He has everything you want in a running back. He’s physical, he can block, he’s fast, he’s got great vision and his hands are unbelievable. Those types of kids are very rare ...
Currently, he holds in-state offers from UAB, Troy and Samford and out-of-state offers from eight other schools, headlined by the University of Minnesota. While Wooden said he hasn’t thought too much about which names comprise the top of his list, he said the presence of recruiting interest has fueled him since the process began. “After I got my first offer, I was in the weight room like every morning, trying to get bigger and bigger,” said Wooden, who now stands 6 feet tall and weighs 195 pounds. Wooden estimated he spent six to seven hours a day this summer engaged in some form of preseason training. Whether it was playing catch with a teammate, working out with his father — whom he calls the most influential person in his life — or honing his speed and agility through sessions at Godspeed Elite Sports Academy in Hoover, Wooden was all football all the time. “Some games, I know I wasn’t prepared, and I don’t like that feeling,” Wooden said of his junior season. “I like games where I can have fun and do what I know I can do. That’s motivation for me.”
FINDING HIS PLACE
Although Wooden has been enrolled in Hoover City Schools since his fifth-grade year at Riverchase Elementary, he is not a native Alabamian. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lived there until he was 9. Wooden said the academic reputation of the Hoover school system coupled with the marriage of his father, Larry Wooden Sr., to his stepmother triggered the move following his fourth-grade year. The geographic shift signified the first major location change that shaped Wooden’s life path. The second transpired on a more magnified scale. When Wooden first started to play football, he didn’t line up five yards behind the center like he does now. At age 7, he was the center. “I was kind of chubby,” Wooden said with a chuckle. But his lineman status didn’t last long. During his tenure at Berry Middle, he transitioned to wide receiver at the recommendation of his coach. Wooden stayed on the flank throughout his middle school career and developed the receiving skills that are now a defining aspect of his game. He didn’t convert to running back until he entered Spain Park as a 5-foot-9, 135-pound freshman.
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SHAWN RANEY
BIGGER, FASTER
Spain Park running back Larry Wooden possesses the speed to break one loose down the sidelines. Photo by Frank Couch.
Wooden said it was this second position change that helped him realize his potential in the sport, especially after he received a vote of confidence from the Jags’ coaching staff as a sophomore. “That’s when it all started,” Wooden said, “like I could be something.” Entering the 2014 season, Wooden presumed he would occupy the fourth slot on Spain Park’s depth chart at running back. But when it was released, the coaches listed Wooden second — behind then-junior starter Wade Streeter and ahead of two seniors. Raney said that Wooden’s performance in practices, as verified by end-zone view video recordings, propelled him to the backup role. “I’m making him see cuts that an ordinary kid does not see, so if we’ve got a front-side running play and something opens up on the back
side, an ordinary back would just bull his head and go where the play’s supposed to be,” Raney said. “But a great back, when the play’s not there, he has enough vision where he can see and make the cuts that ordinary backs don’t make.” In addition to Wooden’s vision, Raney identified his running back’s innate athleticism as the second distinguishing quality that manifested itself on the practice film. After Wooden would select his running lane, Raney noted, he flashed the speed and acceleration necessary to slip through openings. “It was pretty obvious to me, even at an early age, how good he was going to be,” Raney said.
THE TURNING POINT
In what Wooden now calls a “turning point” sophomore season, he accounted for 381 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, according to
totals from MaxPreps.com. But more than anything, he was given a chance. “They trusted me,” Wooden of the coaching staff. “I wasn’t too good in middle school, and then I had a good freshman year, but I didn’t think that was going to be enough to play behind Wade, because he was like the man.” As a junior, Wooden’s numbers more than tripled. Given an almost equal amount of playing time as Streeter in 2015, Wooden rolled up 895 yards rushing, tallied 344 yards receiving and scored nine touchdowns. The breakout campaign, which ended with an appearance in the Class 7A state final, put Wooden on the map. College recruiters took notice. In the past 10 months, Wooden has received 11 offers from schools varying in both size and proximity.
Through five games this season, Wooden totaled 641 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. He said his offseason conditioning has increased his durability and, compared to last year, has left his body feeling fresher after games. “He’s gotten better over the years — gotten bigger, gotten faster, gotten stronger,” said Houston Hollis, a Spain Park senior linebacker who has played with Wooden since middle school. His dedication, however, isn’t motivated solely by the desire to polish his recruiting appeal. With the loss of a guiding voice in the now-graduated Streeter, Raney said that he has seen the soft-spoken Wooden step into an elevated leadership role. Even though he lets his actions do most of the talking, Wooden said the example he wants to set is one of humility and daily determination both on the field and in the classroom. “For me to stand out there and watch the way he practices, it makes you proud as a coach to know that you’ve got 90 other guys watching him,” Raney said. “I’m just really proud of the kid and everything about him.”
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A21
A22 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
HOOVER FOOTBALL: OCTOBER PREVIEW
GET TO KNOW ...
Kholbe Coleman-Abrams Hoover
Hoover wants to continue a trend of finishing the regular season on a high note. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Bucs finish out regular season in October By KYLE PARMLEY Hoover wants to continue a trend of finishing the regular season on a high note. The Hoover High School football team has lost just once in the month of October since 2011. The Bucs fell to Vestavia Hills last fall, snapping a seven-game winning streak over the Rebels. Fortunately, the Bucs already have gotten their revenge, as they defeated Vestavia Hills in the second round of the state playoffs, 24-0, to end the Rebels’ season. Before that game, Hoover begins the
homestretch of the regular season with a matchup against new Region 3 foe Huffman Oct. 7 at the Hoover Met. The Bucs and Vikings have never been in the same region before, but Hoover is 14-1-1 all-time against Huffman. Four of the last six meetings between the two teams have been playoff games. The Bucs stay home the next week to face Vestavia Hills Oct. 14. The two programs have played every season since 1972, with Hoover holding a 31-20 edge in the series. The Rebels will likely be fighting for a playoff berth, so the game will be tightly contested. Hoover concludes Region 3 play
Oct. 21 at Thompson. The Warriors will be looking to do something never before accomplished in school history. The Bucs have defeated Thompson all 19 times the two schools have played against each other. The Bucs will conclude the regular season by hosting Grayson High School from Loganville, Georgia. Grayson will mark the second team Hoover plays from outside the state of Alabama in 2016, after traveling to Allen, Texas, and falling to Allen High School on Aug. 26. If all goes as expected, the Bucs should find themselves back in the postseason and aiming for another deep playoff run.
LB
Senior
6’0”
210
Q: Favorite social Josh Niblett media platform? Why? A: Twitter has it by far. considers It always makes me Colemansmile and makes me Abrams one of laugh. I cry laughing. Q: Favorite Olympian? Hoover’s best leaders. Why? A: Justin Gatlin. He works so hard. Every time the Olympics come around, his goal is to beat Usain (Bolt). I just like his work ethic. Q: If you were a baseball player, what would your walk-up song be? A: “Knuck If You Buck” (by Crime Dog). That would empower me to just slam it out of the park. Q: Dream job? A: I want to have my own boat business so I could just travel across seas and see everything in the world. Q: Nightmare job? A: Digging graves. - KYLE PARMLEY
!
VOTE TUES., NOV 8
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SENSIBLE CONSERVATIVE AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP WWW.PALMERFORALABAMA.COM Paid for by Gary Palmer for Congress
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A23
SPAIN PARK FOOTBALL: OCTOBER PREVIEW
GET TO KNOW ...
Spain Park concludes the regular season in October with four games: three region contests followed by a non-region contest at Minor to conclude the 10-game slate. Photo by Ted Melton.
Jags hope to build momentum for Class 7A postseason run By KYLE PARMLEY The Spain Park High School football team will not be able to duplicate its 2015 performance in Class 7A, Region 3, but the Jaguars have no shortage of goals in 2016. A loss to Hoover in September took another undefeated region slate off the table, but records can be meaningless come playoff time. The Jags conclude the regular season in October with four games: three region contests followed by a non-region contest at Minor to conclude the 10-game slate. They open the month with a Thursday night contest at Thompson on Oct. 6, a team looking for bigger things in Mark Freeman’s second season in Alabaster. The Jags have had an abundance of success against the Warriors in recent years, defeating them each year since 2009. The game was no cakewalk last year, though. Spain Park needed a late field goal in the final minute from Crosby Gray to win 15-14.
The Jags then host Tuscaloosa County in their final regular season home game Oct. 14. The defense dominated on its way to a 24-0 win over the Wildcats last fall. Spain Park has won three of the four games the two teams have played, with two coming via shutout. A trip to Heardmont Park Oct. 21 wraps up the Region 3 gauntlet for the Jags, as they take on the resilient Eagles squad from Oak Mountain. The Jags held off the Eagles last year to finish off their unbeaten region road. Spain Park had its eight-game winning streak against the Eagles snapped in 2014. The Jags’ non-region contest against Class 6A Minor on Oct. 27 will prepare Spain Park for the 7A postseason, should it qualify. Minor is a top-notch 6A team that advanced to the third round in 2015 behind the explosiveness of do-it-all athlete Jaylond Adams, who is now a senior. The two teams last met in the second round of the 2009 state playoffs.
Damarius Farmer Spain Park
DB
Senior
5’9”
165
Q: What is your Made the favorite social media platform? game-saving A: Snapchat, beinterception cause I get a lot of against Gadsden pictures and talk to people on there. City in the opening Q: Who was your game of the season. favorite Olympian? A: Justin Gatlin, because he’s a 100-meter sprinter and I’m a sprinter also. Q: If you were a baseball player, what would your walk-up song be? A: ”Here Comes the Boom.” Q: What is your dream job? A: NFL. Q: What is your nightmare job? A: Anything in an office. Q: What show on Netflix are you binge-watching? A: I’m between series right now, but I just finished a show called “The Messengers.” - KYLE PARMLEY
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A24 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
A passion for woodworking By KATHERINE POLCARI The home of Hoover resident Laurens Cotten is filled with handcrafted pieces of furniture, each piece made by Cotten himself, and each made from a unique piece of wood. There is a story behind each of the tables sitting in Cotten’s living room. He often saves pieces of wood from being thrown away at a landfill, and he is able to salvage this discarded wood and turn it into tables, benches, boxes and more. “Unlike most people that do furniture, each piece of wood that I have tells a story,” Cotten said. Although it has become his passion, woodworking was not what Cotten expected to do with his life. It was not until Cotton realized that there were not enough job opportunities for a social studies teacher that he was able to find his skill in woodworking. He came to this realization after he decided to take a class in furniture making at University of Alabama at Birmingham. “They recruited me into the industrial arts, which is shop,” Cotten said. “At the time, there was a high demand for people in that field, so this [was] my ticket into teaching.” Cotten taught shop for 30 years during his time at Riverchase Middle School and Oak Mountain Middle School. However, it wasn’t until his retirement that he found the time to craft and sell the furniture that he does today. “When I build a table or a major piece of furniture, it’s so involved and all encompassing,” Cotten said. “Generally speaking, there are weeks, if not months, involved in building a table.” During his years of teaching, Cotten said that he did not have enough time to dedicate to his own woodworking to bring the pieces to his level of perfection he holds himself accountable to. “People have said that my work is rustic, but
Laurens Cotten crafts furniture in his workshop, lovingly known as the Doghouse. Photo by Katherine Polcari.
it’s not,” Cotten said. “The work is very refined. I would say it’s architectural, and it’s organic.” Cotten said his work is not rustic because it is far from plain. The amount of thought put into his work he said makes it more special than the term “rustic” implies. “There are a lot of people out there making what they call rustic furniture, [and] a lot of it is made out of construction lumber,” Cotten said. “The pieces that I build with, each piece
of wood is unique. Every piece has its own character.” Both his care for the wood and the amount of time that he puts into crafting each piece is what Cotton said makes his work so unique. While the recognition his work has received by customers and fellow craftsmen has been rewarding, Cotton said he does not work for the praise or even for the sales. “This is something that in the back of my
Paid for by the Campaign to Keep Judge Pat Thetford, P.O. Box 130815, Birmingham, AL 35213
mind that I have always wanted to do,” Cotten said. “It allows me a form of self-expression.” To see Cotten’s work on display alongside many other local talented artists, visit the Alabama Designer Craftsmen’s Annual Fall Show, which will be held at the Birmingham Botanical Garden in November. Visit alabamadesignercraftsmen.com for more information. Cotten’s work can also be found at Wild at Heart Wood on Etsy.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A25
VOTERS
CONTINUED from page A1 change but not complete change. Perhaps the biggest message he takes away from the election is from the voter turnout, which was 161 percent more than in 2012. This year, more than 13,700 voters came to the polls, compared to almost 5,300 in 2012 and almost 2,700 in 2008. “There was a renewed interest in city government and a new realization that city government impacts the largest part of our lives in terms of property values and the quality of our schools and overall quality of our lives,” Lyda said. This was the first time the mayor’s race has been contested since 2004, when more than 14,400 people voted, ending Barbara McCollum’s only term as mayor.
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS
Frank Brocato, who won the mayor’s race this year over incumbent Gary Ivey and Hoover City Schools Foundation President Steve McClinton, said he consistently heard from residents a desire to see more city support for Hoover schools. That’s financial and moral support, he said. People see a direct correlation between an outstanding school system and the overall quality of life, including strong property values, Brocato said. Ivey said he knows schools are extremely important, but the city has to fund a host of other services, too, and money is limited. The election turned into a “schools versus sports deal,” and the sports people didn’t get out to vote, he said. Brocato said people also want to see more planning and controlled growth. “I’m not here in any way to stifle growth in the city of Hoover. That’s not my goal,” Brocato said. “But I do want to manage our growth.” People want to make sure the school system can handle the growth, Brocato said. “I hope we don’t get in a position of having to put our children in trailers again,” he said. “Those were not happy years. Parents — they didn’t like it.”
The Hoover City Council meets at the Hoover Municipal Center. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Dan Ellis, who lost his race for Council Place 5 to Derrick Murphy, said while he didn’t win, he was pleased with the level of public engagement and how everybody had their voices heard. “I would say it was pretty much a yell,” Ellis said. Education was the driving force behind the election results, Ellis said. While he strongly believes in the importance of education, he ran on more of a pro-business platform, against raising taxes, he said. But Murphy being the most recent president of the Hoover school board gave him an exclamation point at the ballot box, Ellis said. Murphy won with 68 percent of the vote. Mike Shaw, who won Council Place 4 over Michael Holt, said voters sensed disconnect between current city leaders and the school system.
“I think the voters said we want a higher level of cooperation,” Shaw said. “I think that in general people didn’t like to see the city and school system not getting along.”
CITY OPERATIONS
Transparency also was a key factor, Shaw said. Current city leaders have worked hard for the city for many years, but for residents today, it’s not just the condition of the city that matters, he said. “It’s also about how things are run and how things are done,” Shaw said. “People want to know what is going on behind the scenes … They didn’t see the full process from beginning to end and don’t know how decisions are made. People in office didn’t communicate that well.” The new $80 million sports complex being built next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium is a good example, Shaw said. It’s a great idea, and
city leaders will make it a great facility, but the public had discomfort with it because city leaders didn’t talk about it publicly until just before they voted on it, he said. Eileen Lewis, vice president of the Monte D’Oro Neighborhood Association and a former member of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board, concurred that communication is key. “I see a mandate to communicate more — to let the citizens know, particularly about the big issues,” Lewis said. She doesn’t think it was intentional, but current city leaders tended to work behind the scenes and keep things to themselves, she said. “That’s just the way we’ve always done it,” she said. “Things and times change. All of the sudden, the public wants us to communicate more with them. I think officials have to do that.” Lewis said the public also wants their officials to plan more and not just react, and to make sure schools are the best they can be. “I was surprised at the level of concern that I heard from Hoover citizens,” she said. “It was loud, and it was clear. I think it started with the younger group, and I think it spread to the older group.” Bluff Park resident Jenni Hertz said voters spoke clearly not only about schools but also had their eyes opened to things going on behind the scenes. “People haven’t been paying as much attention to local politics as much as they probably should have,” Hertz said. “Builders and developers have absolutely no doubt influenced the way things have been done in Hoover over the last 10 years. They are the ones contributing the most money to campaigns, and they are the ones getting the most out of our city resources at this point.” City leaders have allowed growth without providing the infrastructure and schools needed to support that growth, she said. “It’s poor city planning.” Hertz said the newly elected leaders are a positive change, but the runoff for Council Place 1 is important. “I’m happy where I am, and I want to stay here, but I see things that worry me to the point that I don’t know if that’s going to be possible if things don’t change.”
A26 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Mayor-elect Frank Brocato greets Deer Valley Elementary School students in the hallway as Principal Wayne Richardson gives him a tour of the school Sept. 13. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
CONTINUED from page A1 stressed that what she presented to the board is a conservative plan. While there is still a deficit, Murphy’s budget reduced that by about $9.5 million through trimming school expenses, shortening contracts and finding ways to reduce staff through attrition rather than layoffs. In total, 26 jobs were cut this year, including 11 fewer bus drivers, school officials said. Some new employees who were hired to replace others aren’t getting paid as much, Murphy said. School officials plan to continue looking for places to cut expenses, potentially including athletic and extracurricular supplements, Murphy said. The 2017 budget includes $1.3 million for athletic coaching supplements and another $1 million for non-academic supplements such as those given to the math and debate team coaches. Murphy said she has instructed principals that they soon will have to offer fresh justification for the amount paid for each supplement. Also, school officials will examine Hoover’s practice of paying supplements as a percentage of employees’ base pay rather than as a flat amount per job, Murphy said. Brocato said Murphy has committed all along that “she’s not looking for anybody’s handouts. She’s going to get her house in order. She continues to have that philosophy, and I appreciate that.” The budget also allows no room for expansion or facility improvements. “The budget that I’ve put before our public and before our board isn’t a budget that’s a growth model for growing new opportunities, growing new electives, adding additional academic experiences for our students,” Murphy said in a separate interview. “It is absolutely culled down to the necessities.” While Murphy believes this year’s cuts won’t impact the quality of Hoover students’ education, the next step to reduce the deficit in 2018 is either finding more revenue or making more cuts. And if more cuts are in order, Murphy expects many will come from the largest portion of the budget: personnel. Staffing costs account for roughly 82 percent of the total $169.9 million budget. At that point, reducing staff likely means larger classroom size or cutting electives. “It’s going to hurt who we are,” Murphy said. Revenues already have dropped from $13,715 per student in fiscal 2008 to an
Hoover City Schools budget balances, deficits Key:
HCS fund balance
HCS budget deficits
*projected
$ 120 $100
$112M $102M
$80 in millions
FUNDING
$94M
$93M $81M*
$60
$80M*
$40 $20 $0
$9.6M
$10.2M
$7.9M
2012
2013
2014
$11.4M* $1.9M*
$1.4M 2015
2016
2017
SOURCE: Hoover City Schools estimated $12,209 per student for 2017, school system records show.
CITY BUDGET TALKS
Budget talks are also underway at city hall, and Brocato expects to be part of that process after inauguration. He said he’ll have to balance education along with other city and personal priorities: public safety, roadwork, sidewalks, creating green spaces, economic development and building a city master plan. Currently, city funding for the school system sits at about $2.4 million. Increasing that contribution means either finding new revenue or taking from other areas of the budget. Brocato said he does not feel like a tax increase to fund schools is the right move at this time. “I think that we’ve asked Dr. Murphy to look at her house and get it in order, and I think we have to do the same thing on our side and make sure we’ve done everything correctly, and we are being good stewards of the money the citizens of Hoover already provide before we go out and ask for more,” Brocato said. “I don’t even want to put it on the table because we’re not there yet.” Brocato said he’d like to reduce expenses first, but find a way to do so without negatively impacting the city. If the budget came up short for all the projects the city wants to fund, Brocato said, his approach wouldn’t necessarily be about picking one department over another. He said he would prefer temporary fixes or
short-term delays so that everything can get accomplished over time. “In my 40 years, I’ve never seen us be faced with that sort of critical situation where I couldn’t delay something or patch something,” Brocato said. Murphy agreed that education funding shouldn’t necessarily occur at the expense of other city services. “Under no circumstances am I a superintendent who says, ‘Please take away from the police and the fire, and please make sure we take care of kids and leave a bunch of potholes in our roads.’ We’ve got to figure out a way to do it all,” Murphy said. The problem will be finding the right number for the city to contribute. An extra $1.9 million would cover Hoover City Schools’ deficit, but Murphy pointed out that it would not leave room for expansion or new programs. “$2 million puts a Band-Aid on it,” Murphy said. “So $2 million just gets you to the starting line, because right now we’re several yards off the starting line. Two million takes us to the starting line, and then if we really want to be productive and run a great race, then I think we’re going to have to invest even more money than that in the schools in order to continue to be Hoover.”
‘WHO DO WE WANT TO BE?’
During rezoning meetings in 2015, Murphy at one point mentioned a $12 million figure that she would like to see from the city. Murphy
said that number may not be exactly the right one — it depends on what Hoover residents, city officials and school staff want in terms of school system growth. Murphy said a question needs to be answered before a dollar figure can be decided: “Who do we want to be?” After the cuts this year to reduce the deficit, Murphy said she feels like the school system has reeled in as much as it can without significant negative impacts, and it is now the city’s turn to look at its budget. She noted that she sees a disconnect between a school system that takes $11-13 million per month to run and a city contributing $2 million per year. “Clearly, if it costs us $11 million, plus or minus, a month to run this school district, it’s difficult in my mind to believe that the best that we can do for our children is $2 million from our city a year. I’ve been honest about that; I’ve said it. I’m not going to back off from it now,” Murphy said. There are some long-term financial needs for the school system that also need to be addressed, school officials have said. Personnel costs continue to increase, and debt payments will rise by $4.4 million a year in fiscal 2018 and another $8.6 million a year in 2026, financial records show. Plus, additional school facilities could be needed to handle enrollment growth. Hoover High School, even with a $13.5 million 36-classroom addition that opened in 2013, already is quickly nearing capacity, with more than 2,900 students this year. School officials must decide whether to add more room at Hoover or Spain Park high schools, or start planning for a third high school. Brocato has promised a meeting with Murphy 30 days after taking the mayor’s office. It will likely be the first of many between the pair, as well as the rest of the council, to define the path for the school system, the price tag for that path and how the city of Hoover will contribute to it. Both Brocato and Murphy said a “thoughtful” approach is needed to accomplish this, as well as the ability to “disagree agreeably,” as Murphy put it. Each said separately that they think the 2016-20 council is up to the task. “The most important thing we can do is have a spirit of cooperation among each other,” Brocato said. However, the job of resolving Hoover City Schools’ funding is not one that can wait any longer, Murphy said. “Talk’s cheap. Rhetoric comes at no cost,” Murphy said. “It’s time for us to put up. It’s time for us to get it done.”
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • A27
Sun B SECTION
OCTOBER 2016
special section
home & garden October is the time to take on a project or two. Whether you are looking to redesign a room, revamp your garden or prepare your home for winter, we’ve got you covered. Browse through our fall home and garden guide for advice, tips and resources for every aspect of home improvement.
INDEX DSLD Land Management ............. B2 Carpet Warehouse ...................... B3 Urban Home Market ................... B4 Budget Blinds ............................. B6 Carbon Recall ............................. B7 Construx .................................... B8 Decorating Dens Interiors .......... B9
EZ Roof ..................................... B10 Kate Giffin - ReMax .................... B11 Sentry Heating and Air .............. B12 Sweetspire Gardens .................. B13 The Tile Cleaner ........................ B14 Wedgworth Construction ........... B15 Gardner Landscaping ................ B16 5 Star Roofing ........................... B16 Hanna’s Garden Shop ................ B17
Brewer Cabinets........................ B17 Classic Gardens ......................... B18 East 59 Vintage and Cafe .......... B18 Mantooth Interiors .................... B19 Granite Transformations ........... B19 Bedzzz Express ........................ B20 Paul Davis Emergency Services B22 Hoover Antique Gallery ............ B22 Flat Fee Real Estate ................. B23
special section
B2 • October 2016
home & garden
Hoover Sun
DSLD LAND MANAGEMENT
Design your dream landscape DSLD Land Management is a full-service design/build landscape contractor firm. We are a family owned and operated company that strives to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients. During our initial consultation, all on-site factors are considered from function to form, with special emphasis given to economy and value added work. DSLD Land Management, Inc. opened its doors in 1983. Today, DSLD has built an excellent reputation in landscape construction as a prominent design/build company that services central Alabama. Over the past 30 years, DSLD has been recognized and featured multiple times in publications such as Southern Living Magazine and Builder’s Architect Magazine. DSLD welcomes projects of any scope and size, and stands ready to serve our clients with a full staff of licensed and degreed designers, a full-time administrative assistant and one of the most experienced field service teams in the business.
DAVID H. SHARP
Pursing his lifelong interest in horticulture and business, coupled with a background in drainage and soil erosion, David Sharp was inspired to create the ideal landscape construction company specializing in residential design and installation. This inspiration is now DSLD Land Management, a full service design/build landscape contractor firm founded in 1983. David studied Geotechnical Engineering at the Ohio State University. While a student at OSU David was offered and accepted a scholarship to Samford University in Birmingham,
emphasis in Landscape Design. While obtaining her degree from Auburn University, Megan was able to develop a strong foundation in landscape design. She has advanced training and specializes in software such as Dynascape and ProLandscape. Megan looks forward to continuing her career with DSLD Land Management and creating spaces that reflect the lifestyle, purpose and attitude of our projects as well as injecting it with her personal flair.
RYAN H. LANSFORD
where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Soon after graduating, David became interested in applying his background in Geotechnical Engineering and Business Administration to a new course of study in Ornamental Horticulture. In addition to learning from the environment around him, David has developed a more thorough understanding of various cultural landscape design applications from his travels throughout Europe and Asia visiting gardens and landscapes in over 20 countries. David firmly believes in the value of family. Not only does he enjoy his family, but also works to improve the lives of families with at-risk children. David sits on several national boards of directors where he volunteers on behalf of foster and adopted children across the country.
J. COLE SHARP
Growing up alongside his father, Cole Sharp
learned the family business from the ground up. Cole attended Jefferson State Community College where he studied Computer Information Systems Technology and Mathematics. In addition to his major courses, he took Horticulture courses to enhance his knowledge of the family business. Today Cole is fully engaged in the day-today operations of DSLD; from sales to installation as well as providing technical support.
MEGAN A. MCNAIR
Megan McNair is a Landscape Designer. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Landscape Horticulture with an
Ryan Lansford
Ryan H. Lansford is the project manager for DSLD. He is a 2006 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Building Services. Ryan brings years of strong work ethic, skills and experience to ensure all projects are completed professionally, successfully and meet or exceed customers’ expectations. Ryan is excited to be part of the DSLD team and appreciates how everyone works toward a common goal. He especially enjoys working with their landscape designers and is happy to work at one of the leaders in the Birmingham Design Build Landscape community. For more information, call 437-1012 or visit dsldlandmgmt.com.
HooverSun.com CARPET WAREHOUSE
Offering quality flooring for more than 20 years Carpet Warehouse has served the Birmingham area for more than 20 years. Locally owned and operated by Tim and Tracy Lanier, Carpet Warehouse is conveniently located on Alabama 150 in Hoover, across from Car Max, and offers a wide selection of flooring from traditional to contemporary to fit every taste and need. Whether you are looking for carpet for your home or other types of flooring, including hardwoods, laminate, vinyl, LVT or LVP, they have something for everyone. They also offer in-home design services, free home consultations and free estimates. There are also trade discounts for contractors and do-it-yourself customers all at the guaranteed lowest prices. Carpet Warehouse prides itself on offering customers the best quality flooring at the lowest prices. “Our super low overhead enables us to truly sell for less,” said Tim Lanier, owner. “Americans serving Americans — our crews are all time proven American craftsmen.” Carpet Warehouse offers such top brands as Shaw, Mohawk, Masland, Armstrong, Bruce and Mannington, just to name a few. “There’s really too many to mention. If it’s flooring, we have it!” Lanier said. Some of their most popular types of flooring are carpet, hardwood and luxury vinyl tile and planks. The luxury vinyl planks are perfect for families with children and pets. “They look like hardwood but they are waterproof and pet proof,” Lanier said. The Laniers enjoy sharing their high level of expertise with customers. “For more than 20 years, our family has served the Over the Mountain area. We are a company you can trust. The secret to our success is our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction at the lowest prices. You don’t survive for over 20 years unless you are doing things right,” he said. For more information, call 205-989-5678 or visit carpetwhse.com.
special section
home & garden
October 2016 • B3
B4 • October 2016
special section
home & garden
Hoover Sun
special section
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • B5
home & garden
URBAN HOME MARKET
Urban Home Market: Where style, design, passion collide
T
he Birmingham retailer is well known for the vibrant, 17,000-square-foot emporium of a fresh mix of goods from home furnishings, lighting, architectural pieces, gifts and home design services. At Urban Home Market we not only know our customers, we embody them. Every season, the space is filled with the latest assortment of unique design products intended to make UHM more than just a furniture store — it is a lifestyle store. Our merchandise is always changing and we sell items right off the floor if desired. We want to immerse our customers in a complete experience appealing to all of the senses. Our aesthetic is authentic and approachable. While Urban Home Market is often mistaken as an upscale retail chain, we are a family-owned business that was spun out of a home and family grown passion. Therefore, we offer personalized service
“
”
Our customers are our friends, and what we do is never, ever about selling to them.
and products that big corporations and big box retailers cannot. There is no national sales plan provided by a corporate office in another state; it is simply Kathy McMahon and her vision. Being local allows us to focus on the “family community” and serve each customer as a friend and neighbor. These friendships tie creativity and design with authenticity because of our knowledge of our customers. “Our customers are our friends, and what we do is never, ever about selling to them,” McMahon said. Urban Home Market’s core philosophy is guided by style, design and the passion
KATHY MCMAHON
to inspire imagination throughout our store. We have a dynamic, energetic team of designers and visual merchandisers that are responsible for every aspect of the store’s look and feel. “Storytelling” is a key focus for our showroom. Each vignette serves as a series of different inspirations created to be inviting and stimulating. Our merchandising does not highlight product so much as set a mood and create a starting point to direct the customer on their own path. Every season, our team of buyers travel across the country to attend major national
furniture and accessory markets to find the latest product and design trends. This combined with our interests and the needs of our local customers determines our inventory. Our merchandising mix is very dynamic, layered and dense. We have many humble, recycled and natural materials. Many of the store’s most striking visual effects have been crafted out of mundane materials. This adds a rich layer of artistry and visual wit to the store experience. This fall, we combine classic elegance with a sense of easygoing urban sophistication through the use of soft and mixed textures and warmer tones to give an earthier feel. To learn more about the coming trends for 2017 please be sure to connect to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Our social media shows how to take trends and make them unique through our product shots and style tips for customers on the go. For more information, call 205-9804663 or visit urbanhomemarket.com.
B6 • October 2016
special section
home & garden
Hoover Sun
BUDGET BLINDS
Ready to bring the showroom to you At Budget Blinds, Steve Thackerson says he does have a storefront, but there’s really no need to come there. If you need custom window coverings, he’s ready to bring his showroom to you, with all its fabrics, materials, colors and options. “We come to your home free of charge, bring samples and custom measure each window,” he said. “And anything you purchase from us, we come back and install.” It’s a service experience and quality product that’s made Budget Blinds one of the largest retailers of custom window coverings in the world — and made Thackerson’s franchise one of its top-producing stores. Different rooms have different needs, he said, and “we want to make sure we’re selling customers a window treatment that will meet the need for that particular room.” He encourages homeowners to think through the unique needs that each room in their house might have. That can mean window coverings that are insulating, child friendly, pet friendly, light filtering or meant to black out the sun. That can mean colors and designs to change the lighting or mood of a room. And it can mean blinds, drapes, shutters or shades. “You can buy something off the shelf, and the price may be better, but it’s a totally different quality product. If you’re building a house or trying to improve a house, you want to make sure you’re getting a quality product,” Thackerson said. With Budget Blinds, the quality is not only obvious, it’s also guaranteed, he said. “There are a lot of companies out there, and our warranties are better than our competitors,” Thackerson said. “We have vendors that — due to our large volume nationwide — our corporate office has negotiated warranties that none of our competitors get.”
Thackerson family.
And customers can rest assured that Budget Blinds will be around to see those promises through. “I’ve had the franchise for 22 years and been in the business for 30 years, so you can count on us sticking around,” he said. “My sales force, not including me, has over 40 years of experience without me.” Add Thackerson in, and it’s over 70.
“We’ve been around a long time,” he said, “so the customer can buy knowing we’ll still be around if there’s a problem.” It’s that kind of experience that makes Budget Blinds an easy choice. The company’s products have been seen on “Buying & Selling” with the Property Brothers, “This Old House”, “Designing Spaces’ Military Makeover” and more. In addition to custom window coverings,
Budget Blinds also offers bedding and pillows — all custom, too. For more information or to set up a time for an in-home consultation, call 205-824-3300 or visit www.budgetblinds.com/Birmingham. If you’d like to drop in, the storefront is located at 2130 Columbiana Road. Thackerson says he’s looking forward to hearing from you.
HooverSun.com
special section
home & garden
October 2016 • B7
CARBON RECALL
Making a difference, One property at a time Carbon Recall helps lower your utility bills by focusing on making your property as energy efficient as possible. Their comprehensive plan for each property guarantees that all elements of the building work together efficiently to bring the lowest cost to the property owner. Carbon Recall Birmingham’s owner/operator is Sebastien “Skip” Kidd. He and his family have lived in the Birmingham area for six years. In addition, he was recently certified with the Building Performance Institute as a Professional Building Analyst. We recently sat down with him to discuss his business. Q: What is the typical process for a homeowner? A: It starts out with finding out what the owner is looking for, what kind of issues are they having, basically why did they call us. Typically we start with a phone consultation to discuss those issues and determine the scope of the audit. Sometimes we are able to give the property owner a few pointers to save energy just over the phone. Next is the audit. They should expect at least a few hours for the audit. A few days after the audit, we will provide an analysis of the property and plan to reduce the utility bills, much of the plan will have work scopes, estimated costs and estimated savings. But what makes Carbon Recall different is we don’t stop at the plan. We work with the property owner to make the plan happen as well. A great plan is still only a plan, and not very useful if it doesn’t get implemented. Q: What challenges does your business face? A: I can think of four challenges that get in the way of energy efficiency. The first is many homeowners think it will cost too much and not save enough, but the truth is most of the solutions have paybacks under three years.
Second, usually we wait until a failure to think about changing major appliances or A/Cs or hot water heaters. I know they’re expensive, and it can be a hard pill to swallow to change a working appliance, but you should at least have a plan before it fails. A bad decision could cost you for another 10 to 20 years. Third, we often forget that energy efficiency should be part of every job done in your home,
from painting to plumbing to heating and cooling to any remodel work. Lastly, and probably the biggest, is the impact on your property for resale. $100 per month or more in savings from energy efficiency is likely in most homes; at that rate, $100 per month on a 30-year mortgage could pay for $20,000 worth of principal. Carbon Recall will help make your home or
business more energy efficient. Your property can increase in value and reduce its environmental impact while costing you less in the long run. This is how Carbon Recall lives up to their slogan, “Making a difference, One property at a time.” For more information, call 205-719-6886, visit carbonrecallbirminhgam.com or find us on Facebook.
B8 • October 2016
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Hoover Sun
CONSTRUX
Professionals make remodeling a breeze Are you thinking about building or remodeling your home? Take the next step and call the experts at Construx to assist you. Whether you have a specific vision for your home or just a couple of vague ideas, Construx can make it happen. “Many people are choosing to remodel their current home at this time when the economic situation is working in their favor,” said owner and partner Kent Irwin. “And by doing it now, you can immediately enjoy those upgrades while adding value to your home.”
BATHROOM TRENDS
► Get rid of the tub/shower combo and replace it with a separate walk-in shower. ► Add timeless glass shower walls. ► Add features to allow you to age in place, such as hand-held showers, seats and grab bars. ► Install big plank tiles for floors and walls.
KITCHEN TRENDS
► Create an open floor plan — opening your kitchen to an adjoining room creates a dramatic effect and a great update. ► Install hardwood flooring to flow with the rest of the house and feel warm and inviting. ► Create a kitchen island to make a good break between the kitchen and living space. Consider making it look like furniture. ► Install quartz countertops.
OUTDOOR TRENDS
► Increase curb appeal and make a good first impression by updating front doors and entryways. ► Install new windows to add energy efficiency and comfort. ► Build a wood deck or screened-in porch for extra outdoor living space. Call Construx at 533-2668 for an appointment and free estimate or for more information. You can also visit us at construxhome.com.
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October 2016 • B9
KATE GIFFIN - RE/MAX
Selling the dream, making it reality Ask Kate Giffin anything about Ross Bridge. “The construction of homes in Ross Bridge officially began in 2005. It was nothing but dirt,” she said. When she started working as a Realtor, Ross Bridge was only a stretch of land in Hoover with a breathtaking new Renaissance Resort and golf course. “The on-site Realtors were selling a dream out of a trailer before a model home was built,” she said. “We painted a picture of a thriving community with parks, pools, walking trails, community events and potential retail spaces with the possibility of so much more.” Kate moved to Birmingham in 1998 with a degree in psychology, unsure of what she wanted to do. “I tried sitting in an office for a few years working at the Parisian corporate headquarters, but it wasn’t for me,” she said. Kate’s mother was a Realtor, and she grew up watching her mother show and sell houses in Carrollton, Georgia, so she decided to try the profession herself. In 2002, she obtained her Realtor license and began working for LAH. After learning about a company called Signature Homes and the new community Ross Bridge, in the spring of 2006 she joined Signature Homes as an on-site agent selling homes. However, after giving birth to twins in the fall of 2007 and juggling a demanding schedule, she decided to change paths slightly to give herself more flexible hours. “In order to pull all this off — to be a mother to two little kids and to have some type of balance — I had to shrink my area
of expertise and focus on a micro-area,” she said. “I decided not to be everything to everybody.” Kate decided to specialize in the neighborhood she helped launch a few years earlier: Ross Bridge. She sells both resale and newly constructed houses in the planned community of approximately 1,450 homes. “I sold so many people their houses to begin with and just made it my niche going forward,” she said. “I know this
neighborhood and the floor plans of almost every home like the back of my hand. It’s a big enough neighborhood that I can live and (mostly) work out of this one spot. I watch it every day. It’s my niche, it’s my market, it’s my spot.” She moved to Ross Bridge in 2006 and has since built another home in the community as well as investing in its growth. Kate and her husband John are co-owners of the new restaurant in the community,
Front Porch, and can personally attest to what makes the neighborhood unique and a wonderful place to live. “Just imagine this,” she said. “You’re moving in from out of town and you have children and you want to be in a good school system and you discover this neighborhood. When you drive through, you see kids everywhere. You see swimming pools, a gorgeous resort-style hotel, a new restaurant, food trucks, a farmer’s market, movies in the park as well as other community events. You see a way to connect and to be a part of something and to get involved and not be a stranger on the street,” she said. “Ross Bridge is all that and more.” Kate has seen residents work together to raise money for kids with cancer and start farmer’s markets to build camaraderie. “It’s so active, fun and community-oriented, and that’s just the norm,” she said. “It is a unique and special neighborhood among Birmingham and really among anywhere.” Kate, now a Re/Max agent since 2010, has been the top-selling Realtor in Ross Bridge for the last five years straight. She was also voted the top Realtor in Hoover this summer in the annual Best of Hoover contest. Kate said she does not regret a second she’s spent working to make the community what it is. “We sold that dream over and over and over at the beginning,” she said. “That dream is a reality that I am honored to be a part of and still sell every day.” For more information, call 205-8731025 or visit kategiffin.com.
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B10 • October 2016
home & garden
Hoover Sun
EZ ROOF
Nominate a deserving family for a free roof You have come to know EZ Roof as your neighborhood roofing company, your friend in the roofing industry, who is going to treat you like family and act with integrity. We pride ourselves on our reputation and our local roots. As a family-owned business with deep community ties, we know just how important it is to support our friends and neighbors. And we know that by helping those who need a hand, we will only make our community stronger. While we’ve been doing that on a small scale, we want to do something bigger. If there is one thing we’ve learned over the years, it is that everyone needs a roof, but not everyone can afford the unexpected expense it brings. We want to fix that, one roof at a time. We are launching a new tradition at EZ Roof: The EZ Roof Giveaway, in which we will donate a free roof replacement to a deserving family in our community. It is with great passion that we begin this new endeavor, and we could not have done it without your support! We invite you to nominate a family in need (or even yourself) for this unique opportunity. Visit our website, ez-roofer.com, and submit your nomination — including name, a brief explanation of why you think your nomination deserves a new roof, and a photo of the roof if available. You may also mail in nominations to our office at 2677-B Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35244. Please make sure we have any necessary information to contact you or your nomination. The submission deadline is Dec. 1, 2016, and the winner will be selected Dec. 5. EZ Roof staff will select the winner in-house, but reserves the right to use social media such as Facebook as a means of narrowing down final selections or for choosing a winner from in-house selections. For official rules, visit ez-roofer.com. For more information about our services, call 205968-1034 or visit our website ez-roofer.com.
EZ Roof
Giveaway Free Estimates • Financing Available
Visit our showroom at the corner of Caldwell Mill and Valleydale Road 205.968.1034 | www.ez-roofer.com |info@ez-roofer.com
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October 2016 • B11
DECORATING DEN INTERIORS
Create perfect outdoor space for fall As our patios and porches are becoming more sophisticated and refined, today’s homeowners are driven to find peaceful sanctuaries as a prescription for their stressful lives. Outdoor spaces can also be an extension of your home, providing you with additional living space. Creating your perfect outdoor space will be the result of the successful combination of many design elements — landscaping, stonework, carpentry, furnishings, lighting and accessories. Careful planning will be the key to the creation of your personal sanctuary, so begin with creating your personal “wish list.” You may be amazed at how long this list might become! Think about incorporating your year-round needs. Do you frequently entertain outdoors? Do you spend time outdoors in the evenings simply relaxing? Is outdoor grilling a yearround requirement for you? Do you enjoy planning simple family meals outdoors? Once you’ve assessed your needs, then planning your outdoor space becomes much easier. Think about incorporating these simple ideas: 1. Comfortable furniture: This should be the most important element in your design. Today’s outdoor furnishings have been manufactured to withstand all that Mother Nature can bestow. The age of folding, vinyl strapped furniture is definitely over. Many furniture pieces of today look similar to indoor furniture but have been constructed and designed to stand up to all the outdoor elements. A comfortable outdoor sofa or swing can be the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon nap! 2. Fabulous fabrics: The biggest name in outdoor fabrics today is Sunbrella. This collection of fabrics is colorful, design-oriented
and totally durable. Sunbrella features gorgeous fabrics manufactured to resist fading from ultraviolet rays, mildewing from damp conditions, and odor absorption. It is just the ultimate outdoor upholstery or drapery fabric that will be used and enjoyed by your family for years. And of course, Sunbrella Fabrics are carried by Decorating Den Interiors. 3. Let there be light: Be sure to consider incorporating various types of lighting in your outdoor space design, just as you would inside your home. Landscape lighting, overhead lighting, ceiling fans, sconces and decorative side table lighting are all great ideas.
Develop a creative lighting plan to help you create a space with increased ambiance and functionality. An outdoor fireplace or a firepit can be another great source for ambient lighting … and heat! 4. Don’t forget the draperies: Beautiful window treatments aren’t just for the indoors anymore. With the outdoor fabrics mentioned above, you can add softness and privacy to your outdoor oasis. From full draperies to pillows to canopies, the sky’s the limit for your outdoor space! As with your indoor spaces, you want to create an outdoor space that is perfect for you and your family’s needs. Planning is the most
important step in creating your outdoor oasis, and this may be a good time to call in a professional to help. A decorator can guide you through the steps and help you select the best products to make your room the perfect place for you to make lasting family memories. At Decorating Den Interiors, we have access to over a dozen outdoor furnishings, accessory and fabric vendors that can help you make your outdoor space the room of your dreams, with your ideas, your style and your budget. Call today for your complimentary consultation! For more information, call 205-447-4589 or visit laurapurvis.decoratingdens.com.
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B12 • October 2016
home & garden
Hoover Sun
SENTRY HEATING AND COOLING
On guard for your comfort! Charlie Conklin is going to retire. Someday. But probably not any time soon. “He says he’s retiring eventually, but you know how that goes,” said his daughter, Lauren Conklin, laughing. For now, Charles enjoys the time he spends working with Lauren at Sentry Heating and Cooling, the business he started nearly 30 years ago with the intention of providing quality, 24/7 heat and air conditioning services. Lauren enrolled in business school, but, like many students, struggled with deciding what she wanted to do after graduating. “I’d had an interest in working for my dad, but I thought, well, I don’t know anything about the industry, so what value will I add to it?” Lauren said. “Then I started realizing that he’s going to need somebody young and fresh in the office giving new ideas, technology-wise.” The father-daughter team, as well as Michael Tortomase, who joined the company in 2003 and added a plumbing division, form the foundation of the company. “We are local and we are family-owned and operated; that makes us different,” Lauren said. Sentry Heating and Cooling provides heat, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical services as well as service agreement contracts. “I compare it [getting agreement contracts] to getting your oil changed on a car.” Lauren said. “If you’re going to spend that much money on your home or on your unit or other things in your house, you want to make sure they’re working properly.” In October, as the temperature starts to drop, she recommends that people get furnace tuneups. “It’s right before everything gets cold,” she said. “We’ll check everything out and it will prepare you for that cold weather that’s about to hit. Alabama has crazy weather and it could
be warm for a while longer, but once that cold weather hits, especially if the furnace has been off for the majority of the year, things can happen.” The company is firmly planted in the community, supporting local sports teams, animal rescues and other charities, as well as offering internships. “We like to give back, especially to the schools and children,” Lauren said. “We
know that those kids are the future generation of workers who can come to work for us… And internships are a great thing for the community because we are eventually going to have those guys working for people in the community.” Serving the community at large and individual clients well, after all, is the company’s highest priority. “We treat our customers like we would our
family,” Lauren said. “We understand when everyone’s hot that they’re grumpy and they’re upset that something’s not working…They’re not just another customer writing a check to us. We really and truly do care.” Sentry Heating and Cooling is located at 2490 Rocky Ridge Road in Vestavia Hills. For more information or to schedule service, call 979-9864 or visit sentryheating.com.
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October 2016 • B13
SWEETSPIRE GARDENS
Budding garden shop finds its niche Once just ideas jotted down in a notebook he carried with him for nearly 15 years, Sweetspire Gardens became Jason Cooper’s reality in November, and the Bluff Park area garden store owner is ecstatic. “The reception has been fantastic, and we couldn’t ask to be part of a better, more supportive community,” Cooper said. “We’re seasonal and a young shop, so we’re making small changes to adjust to the wants and needs of our clients.” Sweetspire Gardens, located in Hoover at 2146 Tyler Road, Suite 212, offers a variety of plants including annuals, perennials, vegetables, woody ornamentals and interior plus numerous soils and soil amendments. Home accessories like containers and ironwork are also available. The garden center’s services include in-store and on-site consultation, landscape design, installation of annual and perennial gardens, sod, shrubs, hardscapes, plus maintenance services such as pruning, Cooper said. “We opened with the idea to be a little garden shop tied to the community and serving its needs where you’ll find good quality, healthy plants and a source of knowledge,” he said. “You may have white stuff growing on your crepe myrtle, and you can bring me a leaf and I’ll identify it as powdery mildew and can also help you do away with it.” A Birmingham native and resident of Bluff Park, Cooper brings vast knowledge and more than 23 years of experience to the business. After meeting his wife, Fran, and receiving his degree in horticulture at Auburn University, he returned home in 2006 to take a job with Birmingham-Southern College overseeing the grounds and sports facilities. “But two years ago my wife and I sat down and said, “It’s now or never,” and we made the decision to move forward with our longtime
dream,” he said. “And when it came to a name, we tossed around a lot including Sweetspire, which comes from Virginia Sweetspire that is a good, native plant that is often overlooked. Everyone in the family had input, and our two daughters just loved it.” The shop itself is truly a family operation with Fran working on the business side and handling gifts and specialty items. “And our girls, ages 6 and 9, can ring up items, carry purchases to your car, and do a lot of watering,” Cooper said. “One of the
greatest things is a lot of our clients are local and understand it may be a 6-year-old waiting on them. The community just loves to come in and support that.” While Sweetspire Gardens’ services are extensive, Cooper said the business has found a special niche handling somewhat smaller jobs for clients. “We do a lot of landscape plans for large projects that may be hired out to big companies, and we have many, many excellent contacts we can recommend to our customers,” he said.
“But many jobs are too small for the bigger businesses, and we can often get those type done quickly where we’re in and out in a day.” But it’s not all garden planning and planting for Cooper, who makes community education one of the store’s top priorities, hosting free monthly classes on topics appropriate to the time of year. “We’ve taught decorating with greenery for the winter holidays, preparing gardens for the spring, and planting containers for fall seasonal color,” he said. “We’re thinking about a class on terrariums for which we may have to charge for materials, but everyone will go home with their own terrarium.” Sweetspire Gardens has also partnered with area schools, with Cooper speaking to lower grade students about plants when the topic arises in their science schedule. “I’ve gotten a lot of great questions and responses, some I would have expected from high school biology students,” he said. Cooper said he started Auburn University majoring in art and graphic design and had even considered construction science before changing to horticulture. “One day I was helping a friend pack up his car to go to Florida to take a job overseeing a golf course and he said, ‘I can’t believe I’m going to get paid for what I love to do,’” Cooper said. “I realized then that landscape design is not that different from graphic design — it’s just that my canvas has dirt, rocks, trees, plants and turf, and it changes as it matures and evolves.” Store hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m. While closed on Mondays, on-site design consulting is available by appointment. For more information, call 205-968-1391, visit its Facebook page or visit sweetspiregardens.com.
B14 • October 2016
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Hoover Sun
THE TILE CLEANER
Keep your hard surfaces looking great! The Tile Cleaner, LLC, was formed to provide both homeowners and business owners alike a service of caring for and repairing hard surfaces such as tile, natural stone, concrete and vinyl composition tile. Their services include: deep cleaning tile and grout; repairing tile and grout; clear and color sealing; cleaning, polishing and sealing natural stone; stripping and waxing vinyl composite tile; concrete cleaning; and brickwork
tuck pointing. With the tremendous growth in hard surfaces, primarily because of the permanency of a high valued amenity, there are not many companies that exist to help owners in the maintenance, repairs, and care of them. Hard surfaces cannot be installed and forgotten, they need routine care and cannot just be cleaned with anything. The Tile Cleaner is a member of the Better
Business Bureau and Home Advisor Pro, plus they’re fully licensed and insured with more than 25 years of installation and care of hard surfaces. They are part of a national affiliation of certified cleaners that take care in their services while utilizing the utmost modern equipment, technologies, and quality products. They use totally green cleaning emulsions and sealers. Not a franchise, the company is locally owned and operated.
Whether it is a kitchen, bathroom, shower, backsplash, patio, deck, sidewalk or driveway at your home, restaurant, store or church, The Tile Cleaner, LLC, can help repair, clean and maintain your hard surfaces. As with any valued asset, care and protection adds to its longevity, and we proudly provide these services in a professional manner. For more information, call 205-215-4007 or visit birminghamtilecleaner.com.
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WEDGWORTH CONSTRUCTION
Wedgworth delivers from start to finish Frustration and confusion often creep in during the construction process. Decisions have to be made, and questions arise during the process of building a place to call home. Wedgworth Construction stands with their clients every step of the way to guarantee they end up with the house of their dreams without going over budget. “We go to every meeting, we work with them, keep the budget in mind…we’re very conscious,” said Patty Leeming, project manager of the company. “We won’t just let you select something crazy without telling you.” This includes staying involved in every aspect of construction, working with the architect, interior designer and landscaper. For the construction company, which works largely in Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook, keeping a close relationship and constant communication with the client is the key to keeping the process smooth and making the final product a success. “One thing about home-building is that everybody does it totally different,” said Mike Wedgworth, the founder of the company. “A lot of people do design build, a lot of people do custom homes, but ours is the real thing. If a person comes in, we take them from a blank sheet of paper, help them select a lot in one of
our communities and help them design the plan and decide on the products they bring in, all the time keeping the budget in sight.” Wedgworth graduated from Auburn University with a degree in building science. After four years of working for local constructions, he launched Wedgworth Construction. Since 1979, the company has built more than 400 homes, including energy star-rated homes that heat and cool at about $300 a month. “I believe we have more homes than anyone in the area that are certified by a third party and it really works,” Wedgworth said. “It’s cleaner air and a more comfortable home.” Currently, the company is developing three communities, one in Vestavia, one off Rocky Ridge Road and one in Mountain Brook. The houses range from $600,000 to $1 million. “Many homebuilders will just send the client to the decorator or to the light fixture place without a lot of support. In our process, we give full support and we give the negatives or positives as to how it relates to the budget,” Wedgworth said. “We deliver from the beginning to the end.” Wedgworth Construction is located at 4154 Crosshaven Drive in Vestavia. For more information, call 967-1831 or visit wedgworth.net.
October 2016 • B15
B16 • October 2016
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home & garden
5 STAR ROOFING AND RESTORATION
GARDNER LANDSCAPING
5 Star Roofing has you covered
Landscaping with attention to detail Grant Gardner grew up with a love for landscaping, which has allowed him to find a career that he is passionate about. He has worked in the landscaping business for 15 years, which led him to open Gardner Landscaping in 2007. The company prides itself on quickly responding to your needs with high quality work. Furthermore, in order to ensure customer satisfaction, each job is done to the owner’s specifications. “I am a very visual person, and I visualize what it will take to make a landscape that the customer will be proud of,” Gardner said. Gardner Landscaping offers full service landscaping, installation and design, irrigation, outdoor living areas, landscape lighting, patios and walkways, decks, gazebos, lawn maintenance, flowers, trees, lawn aeration, landscape cleanup, drainage systems and weed
control. Gardner Landscaping is a one-stop shop for all of your lawn care and landscaping needs. They also have a garden center, Gardner Nurseries, which is conveniently located by the Riverchase Galleria. Gardner Nurseries stocks a wide variety of plants, flowers, trees, stone and hardscape materials. “We are able to provide the detail to what we do that makes our customers happy,” Gardner said. “We are able to complete projects within a short period of time and are responsive to our customers’ needs.” Gardner Landscaping works with all types of budgets and strives to provide customers with landscaping they will take pride in and that will increase property value. For more information, call 823-3168 or visit GardnerLandscapingLLC.com.
5 Star Roofing and Restoration has all of your roofing needs covered. The family-owned business is fully licensed, insured and maintains the highest Better Business Bureau rating. “Our core business is to offer repairs and replacements of commercial and residential roofs,” said Adam Brook, operations manager. “Additionally, we have the experience, size and depth of knowledge to offer full storm restoration services including framing, siding and interior repair.” 5 Star Roofing and Restoration partners with GAF, the manufacturer of the best-selling shingle in America, to supply the highest quality shingles, professional sales training and factory installation certification. Their sales reps are factory trained, and the company maintains factory installation certification. They are committed to serving customer needs and providing them with prompt, professional service. “We strive to exceed customers’ expectations during every phase of the job process,” Brook said. “We achieve this goal by building into our processes our vision that quality and excellence are valued over short-term
rewards. We believe the secret to our success is consistently holding to our core values of quality, honesty, integrity, ethics and accountability.” Fall is the perfect time to make those updates and small repairs to your roof to prevent further damage. Brook advises to “repair small leaks quickly, keep your roof and gutters free of debris, and install the proper attic ventilation to extend the life of the roof.” He also advises to have your roof inspected annually to look for tiny cracks in the shingles, granulation loss and seal around roof penetrations. Check out their $99 roof tune-up for fall. For more information, call 518-8433 or visit 5starroofer.com.
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HANNA’S GARDEN SHOP
BREWER CABINETS
Welcome fall with a mini-garden in your favorite container Here are some fun tips from Andy Hanna, owner of Hanna’s Garden Shop on U.S. 280: ► Think outside the flower box: Pansies, violas and mums are popular fall and winter annuals, but consider expanding your plant palette to include snapdragons, dianthus, ornamental kale, Swiss chard or mustard greens. All of these will last throughout a typical Alabama winter. You can also add acorus grass for green color all year. ► Vary container sizes: Instead of planting one large container, try placing plants throughout three different-sized containers in one location. Each can feature plants of the same color or complementary colors. Hanna’s sells ceramic and concrete containers in a variety of sizes and colors. ► Mix it up: In addition to your flowers, try adding in greenery for a backdrop in your container. Ornamental grasses such as
October 2016 • B17
carex or juncus complement any annual or perennial bloom, as do evergreens such as false cypress, boxwood and arbor vitae. Your summertime marigolds and petunias can also remain in your containers until the first frost of the season. ► Add pumpkins: Arrange a set of ornamental pumpkins around your containers. Hanna’s sells a variety of sizes and textures in greens, whites, yellows and classic oranges. Be careful not to water your pumpkins when you water your flowers, though, so they don’t rot prematurely. Hanna’s Garden Shop, located at 5485 U.S. 280 E. across from the Lee Branch Shopping Center, offers not just flowers but also trees, shrubs, sod, fertilizers and gardening accessories, as well as the expertise of its staff. For more information call 205-991-2939, visit hannasgardenshop.com or email support@hannasgardenshop.com.
Craftsmanship runs in the family Jason Brewer, owner of Brewer Cabinets, has been in the business, well, as long as he can remember. “I literally grew up in a cabinet shop,” Jason said. His parents opened Brewer Cabinets in 1982, and the company is proud to be family owned and operated. But Jason isn’t the only one with ample experience in the field — his other two designers have been in the business for 40 and 20 years, respectively, and his installers have been with the company for 30 and 20 years, respectively. “Versus the big box stores, we have far more experience in design and installation and are still less expensive and offer more personal attention,” Jason said. “Versus a custom shop, we offer a more durable finish that is more consistent with a better warranty. All of our cabinets are made to order.” Brewer Cabinets designs, sells and installs
kitchen and bath cabinets and countertops and provides a quality product at a fair price. It is a job that Jason Brewer and his team take immense pride in. “[I enjoy] creating and designing something beautiful and functional, then seeing the finished product, especially when the customer is so proud of their new kitchen that they send me pictures or brag to their friends,” he said. On trend this fall? “Gray is a really popular color lately,” Jason said. “We do a lot of gray stain on oak, knotty alder and poplar, as well as maple. There are several shades of gray paint. White paint is still really popular. Shaker doors are still really popular, or any door style that has really simple lines, hence fewer places that collect dirt. Floor plans are very open. Remodels will take out walls between the kitchen and family room.” For more information, call 205-942-4000 or visit brewercabinets.com.
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B18 • October 2016 CLASSIC GARDENS & LANDSCAPE
Where love of gardening runs deep Every Saturday morning from 8-9 a.m., owner Mike Pender, Chris Keith, and/or Chris Joyner answer horticultural questions from Birmingham residents calling into their live radio show on WERC 105.5. The owner of Classic Gardens draws on vast knowledge and years of experience. “I was born gardening,” Pender said. “Other kids would be playing baseball and football, and I would be planting flowers.” In 1990, he and his wife, Ann, started Classic Gardens & Landscape Inc. in Birmingham. As the garden center grew, they added landscaping and fertilization/weed control of lawns. Ann was pregnant with their fourth child and Mike was working full time when he decided to go back to school. For two years, he took night classes at Jefferson State Community College and received his horticulture degree, an investment that seems to have paid off. “People are always impressed with the
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depth of our knowledge,” he said. With fall approaching, Mike recommends that Birmingham residents winterize their lawns with Fertilome Winterizer, a fertilizer produced in Dallas. The danger of purchasing generic fertilizer is that it is often produced further north and is meant for a different type of grass. “Fertilome Winterizer feeds the root system, stores carbs and helps grasses green early in the spring,” he said. Classic Gardens’ many gardening products and services include landscaping, irrigation, hardscaping and fertilization/weed control of lawns and a garden center. “There’s a saying that goes, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’” Mike said. “I got into this business because it’s what I love to do.” Classic Gardens is located at 1855 Carson Road. For more information, call 205-854-4005 or visit classicgardens.com.
EAST 59 VINTAGE & CAFÉ
Coffee, food, décor and more! East 59 Vintage & Café was established in East Lake in 2013. After a few years of operating success, we began to look for the perfect location for our business to expand. The Hoover Library Plaza is an ideal location for us to bring our coffee, cafe, and vintage style to Hoover! Our combination of food, coffee drinks and home decor items may seem odd to some people. However, we have found that our customers love that they are able to sip their favorite latte while perusing the unique vintage and gift items we offer. At our East Lake location we sell a combination of new home décor pieces and furniture as well as vintage/antique pieces. Our store is about 50 percent old and 50 percent new items. We focus on quality items at reasonable prices. Our motto when buying items to put into the store is, “Where would I put this in my house?” If none of us can picture it in our
own homes, we don’t carry the item. While we will feature some of our favorite vintage and antique pieces in our Hoover Café, we encourage shoppers to come out to our East Lake location to see our full collection of furniture and gift items. You can also get décor ideas from posts on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. We offer a variety of jewelry, unique greeting cards, local handmade gifts and a chalk paint line called Farmhouse Paints. We will be hosting painting demonstrations as well as decorating ideas on a regular basis as part of the Library’s ongoing lecture series. Our Hoover Café is located at 200 Municipal Lane, in the Hoover Public Library Plaza. Our store hours are Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 205-838-0559 or visit east59.net.
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October 2016 • B19
home & garden
MANTOOTH INTERIORS
GRANITE TRANSFORMATIONS
Let them share interior motives Our team has interior motives. So when you meet us, don’t be surprised by how much we want to get to know you. Working with our clients to create comfortable and inspirational living environments is what makes the Mantooth design team excited every day. Our desire to collaborate with you so your style appears in every detail of your home is what sets us apart. Is your interior design team creative, collaborative and courageous? At Mantooth, these are crucial attributes we bring to your project. Creativity is a must. Collaboration means that your personality will absolutely shine through in every design detail. And lastly, courage is essential. You come to us expecting design expertise and our team is never afraid to share our vision with you. Your design vision begins with a Mantooth team that listens. We know our ear for what you tell us about you is just as important to the success of your project as our eye for style. Our desire to collaborate with you to create living spaces that reflect your style in every detail sets us apart. It’s true. And you’ll see how much in just one visit. With Mantooth you’ll see your personal style. But elevated. Together, we’ll create living spaces that
Granite Transformations is a locally owned family business.
Ready for a low-worry countertop?
have “You” written all over them. Every line — every fabric — every last detail. All artfully drawn together to make you, your family and your friends say, “of course.” Let’s get to know one another. And let’s get started. For more information, visit us at 2813 18th St. South, Homewood, call us at 879-5474 or visit mantoothinteriors.com.
Countertops from Granite Transformations may look like an ordinary granite, marble, concrete, quartz or recycled glass surface. But upon closer inspection, you’ll quickly learn how premium countertops from Granite Transformations will make your life easier. Owned by Birmingham native Brandon Plowden and his wife, Darcie, the company’s products are created by grinding up granite, quartz or recycled glass, then cooking it to create a new solid material. The end result is thinner but stronger than traditional granite, quartz and marble. Instead of being porous, it’s solid and sturdy so there’s no need to worry about staining your surface — not to mention that it can withstand heat up to 500 degrees. Best of all, Granite Transformations countertops are scratchand stain-resistant and backed by a lifetime warranty. Granite Transformations offers product and installation of countertops, backsplashes, mosaic tiles and cabinet re-facing. The thin
design also allows the product to be installed easily on top of existing countertops with no demolition required. “The countertops have zero porosity and are FDA-approved for food preparation as well as for hospitals and labs,” Plowden said. “Plus, that makes them easy to clean. For cleaning, you just need to use warm water and liquid soap. There’s no maintenance thanks to Forever Seal!” The experts at Granite Transformations provide a quick turnaround. Ninety percent of installs are completed in one day, but that won’t be the first time they visit a customer’s home. Instead of visiting a show room with staged commercial lighting, a design consultant brings samples to the home, allowing the customer to select the product in the natural light of the kitchen or bathroom where it will be installed. For more information, call 334-273-8144 or visit gtalabama.com.
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home & garden
Hoover Sun
BEDZZZ EXPRESS
Choosing the right mattress can positively impact your life
B
ecause you’ll spend approximately one third of your life in your bed, ensuring it’s comfortable should be a top priority at purchase. And you may be debating right now as to whether you need a new mattress, going through the struggle of, “Oh, it’s still okay,” and, “I’ll just flip it again.” But if it’s often a topic of discussion in your home, chances are you know you need an upgrade. It’s an investment worth making because better sleep can positively impact you in many ways. With more than 20 years in the industry and loyal to our slogan, “Where Dreams Begin,” Bedzzz Express strives to successfully assist our customers in making the ideal mattress selection from the many brands and types we offer. Each team member is experienced and knowledgeable about identifying sleep habits and guiding families and individuals through selecting the perfect mattress for their lifestyle. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right mattress for you.
WHEN?
All mattresses should be replaced every 7-10 years. Other signs you need to replace your mattress are: ► Visible sagging, indentions or lumps ► Squeaking upon movement ► Waking up with aches and pains
We only offer quality top brands that offer great products. Buying a mattress is not only a necessary purchase but also an investment in your mental and physical health.
WHAT BRAND?
► You and your partner roll in toward the middle throughout the night
WHAT SIZE?
When shopping for a mattress, make sure to measure the area it’s going to go. Also take into consideration the size and number of people who will be needing the bed. Mattresses should be longer than the tallest person using it and wide enough to allow you to fold your arms behind your head without going off the mattress or touching your partner. The Bedzzz Express Mattress Size Guide will help determine which mattress is best for your specific needs.
WHAT COMFORT TYPE?
Our mattresses come in a variety of comfort types to fit any preference. While some types are known to be better for back pain and sleeping positions, it ultimately comes down to your preference. Make sure to try out many different mattresses for 10-15 minutes before making a purchase.
WHAT LEVEL OF QUALITY?
One of the biggest factors affecting your sleep experience is the quality of your mattress. Higher quality mattresses last longer and will provide better overnight support for your back and neck.
At Bedzzz Express, we only offer quality mattresses from top brands. Our sleep experts are knowledgeable in our inventory and the different products available from different companies. We currently sell products by: ► I Comfort ► Tempur-pedic ► Beautyrest ► Serta ► Sealy ► Stearns & Foster ► King Koil Founded in Birmingham in 1995, Bedzzz Express now has 46 stores in four states and takes great pride in a top-brand inventory of best mattresses at the best prices. All premium mattresses come with a Triple Z Guarantee that includes a 90 day Simple Zzz’s guarantee, giving you the assurance that you will sleep soundly for 90 days or simply return it for a full store credit. Plus, the 90-day Lowest Price Promise means you got the very best price — if you find your mattress cheaper within 90 days of purchase we will simply refund 115% of the difference. For more information, visit any Bedzzz Express location or bedzzzexpress.com.
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October 2016 • B21
B22 • October 2016
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Hoover Sun
home & garden
PAUL DAVIS EMERGENCY SERVICES
HOOVER ANTIQUE GALLERY
We’re here to help in emergencies Water damage from broken pipes, rain, wind and fire destruction. It can happen to anyone at any time. But if it happens to you and your home or business in or around Hoover, you’ve got Paul Davis Emergency Services of South Birmingham ready to help and restore your property to its previous state with the most effective equipment and processes. Paul Davis Emergency Services owners/operators Mitchell Oda and Celia Wong have extensive experience in water mitigation, cleanup and insurance, having been longtime partners in two other PDES locations in Huntsville and Texas before establishing the Hoover location. The company recently took part in the Louisiana disaster recovery program. They provide emergency response 24 hours a day, with someone ready to rapidly respond to your call. Paul Davis Emergency Services of South Birmingham offers: ► Water extraction and drying ► Fire, smoke and odor cleanup ► Mold remediation ► Wind and storm damage ► Biohazard/crime scene cleanup For nearly 50 years, the Paul Davis Network — with more than 300 franchisees throughout the country — has a proven reputation for solution innovation, state-of-the-art technology, and a dedication to team training and technical competency. The company is relentless in its pursuit of new methodologies and prides itself on satisfying the needs of property owners, property managers and insurance institutions. Mitchell Oda and Celia Wong are pleased to bring the Paul Davis Emergency Services values and best-in-class services. For more information, call 205-428-6333 or visit http:// south-birmingham.pauldavis.com.
A personal way to collect décor Hoover Antique Gallery aims to help Hoover residents perfect their homes this holiday season. “We are so heavily weighted in great things for the home that anybody who is getting ready for the holidays, who needs that special piece of furniture for Thanksgiving or Christmas can come here and find it,” said owner Chris Feagin, who opened the store almost 10 years ago. “Anything for the home that can be imagined to make someone’s holiday better or complete can probably be found at Hoover Antique Gallery, and it’s something that will be unique to them. It’s a place for someone who wants to collect their decor, it is very personal.” Hoover Antique Gallery is an 18,000-square-foot space with 80 antique dealers located inside. “Our inventory is diverse, and we have a
great selection of furniture that is not something everybody can boast about,” Feagin said. “You can go to different cities, different towns, even different states, and you will not see the same mix that we have at Hoover Antiques.” Feagin created Hoover Antique Gallery when the Riverchase Antique Gallery decided to close 10 years ago. Feagin himself had been a vendor in the Riverchase store and had managed the location as well. The store’s inventory is full of unique items and pieces from traditional to contemporary styles. “Anybody who is looking for a unique piece of furniture that you won’t find anywhere else — this is the place to come shop,” Feagin said. For more information, call 205-822-9500 or visit their Facebook page or website, Hooverantiquegallery.com.
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home & garden
October 2016 • B23
FLAT FEE REAL ESTATE BIRMINGHAM
Buying? Selling? Cut out the bargaining Maybe you’re looking to put your home on the market this fall. Or maybe you’re looking to buy a new home. If you’ve been through this process before, you know it can be stressful and expensive, especially in today’s real estate market. “We can make it easier and less stressful,” said Amy Landers Pewitt of Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham. Flat Fee Real Estate is an innovative company designed to sell homes with a reasonable, predetermined listing fee, but with full real estate services. And it costs less, too. “By listing with Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham, you will pay a low listing commission, thus saving equity, and also receive the benefit of a Realtor team dedicated to selling your home and assisting you in making wise and informed decisions when you purchase your next home,” Pewitt said. Amy Pewitt and Susan Haynes started the company with the foundation of using their more than 30 combined years of selling real estate and past experience as certified appraisers. This unique combination of Realtor with appraiser background sets them apart from the typical agent. They use their experience to assist their buyers and sellers in making wise decisions while saving money. “We have appraised thousands of homes in practically every neighborhood and market in the greater Birmingham area, and we’ve learned a lot about the market,” Pewitt said. “Hoover, Gardendale, Homewood, Vestavia, Inverness, Mountain Brook, Chelsea — and every area in between, we want to utilize our real estate experience to represent you and help you get the best possible deal when buying and selling.” Selling or buying a home is a major financial
decision, Pewitt said, and like other major life decisions like medical care or financial planning, you should perform extensive research on the person you’re selecting to help guide you through the process. “Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham has the comprehensive knowledge and experience to realize your real estate goals, while saving you as much money as possible,” she said. And they have season-specific suggestions for sellers looking to see their house sell this autumn.
“If you are selling your home during the fall, there are many decorating tips, staging tips and ways to embrace the fall season,” Pewitt said. As popular holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving roll around, there are things to keep in mind as you keep your house ready for potential buyers to drive or drop by, she said. They are little things that can make a big difference. “Don’t hesitate on getting your home decorated for the upcoming holiday, as it can help a potential home buyer envision themselves in
your home during these holidays,” Pewitt said. But, she added, “just don’t go overboard with your decorating.” It’s important to be selective in your choices this time of year, she said. “It not a good idea to decorate your home with gory Halloween decorations and then have a potential buyer walk in to be greeted by a bloody skull. Be tactful, and try to appeal to the masses.” For more information, call 205-970-6000 or visit flatfeerealestatebirmingham.com.
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School House C4 Events C7 Real Estate C17 Calendar C18
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BEAUTY with a PURPOSE
Hoover man creates hand-stitched leather goods with inspiration from the West By SARAH COOK
David Byland makes all his leather products by hand from his basement studio in Hoover, where he lives with his wife, Laura. Photo by Sarah Cook.
David Byland might spend several weeks crafting a handbag, notebook cover or set of spur straps. Everything is hand stitched or hand engraved in his basement studio where the unmistakable scent of leather permeates every corner. After he finishes a project, Byland has no doubt his craft will endure a lifetime. That’s the purpose of his art, Byland said, to create something that endures and is useful — but is also beautiful. “I can have a vision come to life, and little by little I can see it unfold, and when I’m done, I have something I can say I’m proud of,” Byland said while sitting in his studio surrounded by scraps of bison leather that have been shipped to his Hoover home from ranches hundreds of miles away. “It’s sort of
become the thing I enjoy doing most.” For about 20 years, Byland has used leather to create custom pieces meant to last through the years. The hobby began when he realized he needed a custom sheath for an obscure-sized knife. “I thought, well, I’ll make it myself,” Byland said. “And that’s how it all really began.” Once he began studying the art of working with leather, the self-taught artist said he really started to take to the craft. Some time after that, Bison Art Studio was born.
AN UNLIKELY ENCOUNTER
Before Byland lived in Alabama and long before Bison Art Studio began, the artist
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HOMECOMING SPAIN PARK
Photos by Sarah Finnegan and Ted Melton.
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BEAUTY
CONTINUED from page C1 lived in Oklahoma where he taught broadcast journalism and editing at Oklahoma Baptist University. “I’ve always liked the West,” Byland said, who counts Roy Rogers, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone as some of his favorite frontiersmen. While in Oklahoma, Byland worked as a cook for a group of cowboys for three summers. The ranchers’ simple, honest way of life struck a chord with Byland, who would frequently take his wife, Laura, and three daughters on camping trips so they could experience sunrises on horseback and admire the way mountain trails meander through the landscape. One specific camping trip, however, especially inspired Byland, he said. “Whenever we go camping, I tell the girls to stay behind me, and if we see any bison, to stop and go the other direction,” Byland said. “One time, we did come up on one laying down in a field of tall buffalo grass. The girls were
Hoover Sun Because the process of making leather products is lengthy, Byland said, each project takes on its own character. This notebook, at left, was one of those projects where “everything just went right,” he said. Far left: All Byland’s leather products are handcrafted from his basement studio in Hoover. Here, Byland uses a swivel knife to carve in a design to dampened leather. Photos by Sarah Cook.
right behind me, and suddenly the bison just stood up.” After instructing his family to retreat to safety and slowly back up, so as to not alarm the 1,400-pound animal, Byland said he stole a moment to marvel at the majestic creature. Much like the American West, Byland said, the bison embodies strength and beauty. “That kind of experience sort of gives you a sense of what life had been like 100 or 200 years ago,” he said. That memory, along with his fondness for the leather medium, launched Byland into a fulltime leather artist later in life.
MAKING MEANINGFUL ART
From a stenciled drawing to the final product, Byland plays a part in every step of the creative process when it comes to making anything from a leather wallet to a saddle (he was recently commissioned to make custom clutches for a group of bridesmaids). Because professional leatherwork is somewhat of a lost art form, Byland said it isn’t hard to solicit interest in his craft. “I don’t make anything that doesn’t serve a
purpose,” he said. “Everything I make is something you can use.” Mostly showing his work at local and regional art shows and marketplaces like Pepper Place Market, Byland’s art is both visually appealing and comes with a special meaning, the artist said. He said he hopes his craft can become an enjoyable element in the homes of those who purchase his work. “You can buy a saddle or a leather bag today,
and it’s going to be mass produced. Every one would look exactly the same, and you would know exactly what you’re getting,” Byland said. “But, to me, that’s not where the value is. The value is in the handmade object, and this is my way of keeping this craft, this art form, alive and getting it in the hands of a new generation that otherwise wouldn’t have it.” For more information on Bison Art Studio, visit bisonartstudio.com or Byland’s Etsy page, etsy.com/people/BisonArtStudios.
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Events Taste of Hoover to feature 30 local eateries, caterers The Whole Scoop is one of many Hoover businesses bringing their best flavors to Taste of Hoover. Photo by Sarah Cook.
By SARAH COOK Hoover residents will have the opportunity to taste some of the area’s best cuisine beneath the boughs of autumn trees come Oct. 6, as Aldridge Gardens hosts its fifth annual Taste of Hoover. Tynette Lynch, CEO of Aldridge Gardens, said when the leaves begin to change color and stringed lights weave their way through the branches, the space takes on a special sparkle. “I like to call it the biggest garden party in Hoover,” Lynch said. This year, the event will boast about 30 restaurants and caterers, all located in or operating out of Hoover. David Cohen, owner of The Whole Scoop Ice Cream off South Shades Crest Road, is one of those 30 vendors. Cohen participated in the inaugural Taste of Hoover in 2011, and he said he can’t wait to set up shop again this year. “It just keeps growing and growing,” Cohen said, who has owned The Whole Scoop for five years. Cohen, who hails from South Florida but now proudly claims Hoover as home, said events like Taste of Hoover celebrate what he loves most about living in Hoover — community. His ice cream shop is a visible testimony to his devotion to his adopted hometown. Photos of patrons line the walls, and popsicle sticks — all autographed by happy customers — decorate the interior. “We were just trying to find something that we could do that was us and something that was good for the community,” Cohen said. “And we came up with ice cream.” Along with sweet vendors such as The Whole Scoop, Lynch said Taste of Hoover will offer some savory flavors such as Dale’s Southern Grill, Chicken Salad Chick, Moe’s Original
BBQ and Fried Green Tomatoes. Some notable new vendors in the event’s lineup, Lynch said, include Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes, Jake’s Soul Food Café and the culinary staff of Galleria Woods Retirement Community. “It’s a great opportunity for the local restaurants to get some exposure,” she said. “They all come out and create just a great, beautiful atmosphere.” The setup for the event will be casual — but with a layer of garden elegance. Tents, stringed lights and tables will dot a portion of the
32-acre gardens, Lynch said. Last year’s event was such a hit that tickets quickly sold out. This year, residents are getting their tickets early, she said. “We’ve found by creating this garden atmosphere with the table and chairs, people tend to stay until the very end,” Lynch said. “It’s a social event, and it’s a lot of fun.” Proceeds from the event benefit Aldridge Gardens, which is a designated 501(c)(3) notfor-profit organization, she said. Many of Aldridge Gardens’ efforts work to give back to the community. Recently, Lynch
said the gardens hosted a group of blind veterans from UAB who fished in the garden’s waters. “We want people to know we’re here and come enjoy what we have,” she said. Cohen, who participates in community events like Taste of Hoover often, said there’s no better way to celebrate the season — and all the great vendors within the city — than taking a night to savor the sights and flavors of the area. “We get to be a part of the community, and it’s a lot of fun,” Cohen said. “And that’s what it’s really all about.”
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Flurry of festivals set for October By JON ANDERSON Fall has finally arrived, and with the new season comes the annual array of fall festivals and similar events. Here are details on several planned in the Hoover area: ► Southcrest Baptist Church: Kids’ Day in the Pumpkin Patch, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Includes free hot dogs, inflatables, face painting and games. Also Fall Family Festival, Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m. Includes free food, games, inflatables, hayrides and candy. Second event is indoor (rain or shine). Information: 425-4991 or southcrestchurch.net. ► Hoover Crescent Islamic Center: Fall Festival, health fair and blood drive, Oct. 8, noon-4 p.m. Includes carnival rides for kids; free flu shots, general health screenings by the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America and blood drive by LifeSouth. Food for sale. Please dress modestly. Information: 879-4247. ► Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church: Yard sale, country store with homemade preserves and pickles. Oct. 15, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Information: 822-4210. ► The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles: Trunk or Treat, Oct. 23, 4-7 p.m. Church members decorate vehicles and give out candy to kids. Free. Information: 988-8000. ► Bluff Park United Methodist Church: Fall Festival, Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m. Includes carnival
Two girls get their faces painted at Shades Mountain Baptist Church’s 2015 fall carnival. This year’s carnival at the church is set for Oct. 26. Photo courtesy of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
games, raffle baskets, a haunted house, cake walk and inflatables. Activities require tickets; tickets are 25 cents each. Proceeds benefit the church children’s and youth ministries and Little Imaginations preschool. There also will be food trucks. Information: Stanley Davidson at sdavidson@bpumc.org. ► Hunter Street Baptist Church: Trunk or Treat, Oct. 26, time to be determined; children invited to play games and get candy; concessions available. Information: 985-7295. ► Shades Crest Baptist Church: Crest Fest, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m. Will include food trucks. Information: 822-1360. ► Shades Mountain Baptist Church: Fall Carnival, Oct. 26, 5-8 p.m. Includes free carnival rides, inflatables, games, candy, cupcake
walks and cookie walks. Food trucks will have food available for sale. Rain or shine event. Information: shades.org/carnival or 822-1670. ► Metropolitan Church of God: Trunk or Treat, Oct. 26, 6:30-8 p.m. Church members give out candy from their vehicles in the church parking lot. Also includes inflatables, a game truck, laser tag and hot dogs — all free. Information: 795-4448. ► Green Valley Baptist Church: Fall Festival, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m. Includes carnival games, inflatables and Trunk or Treat event for children 12 and younger. Costumes welcome. Free admission. Only cost is food from food trucks or donations to water dunk tank containing church staff members. Information: 822-2173. ► Oakmont Presbyterian Church:
Harvest Fest, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m. Games, food, hayrides and Trunk or Treat candy giveaway from vehicles. Cost: one can of food for food bank. Information: 823-5910. ► Riverchase United Methodist Church: Trunk or Treat, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m. Children invited to get candy from church members’ vehicles in the parking lot at corner of Old Montgomery Highway and Carl Raines Lake Road. Information: 987-4030. ► The Station Church: Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat, Oct. 30, evening (time to be determined). Includes free inflatables, games and activities for kids. Church members also will decorate vehicles and give out candy from vehicles. Information: 915-0879 or thestationchurch.org.
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The Hoover Public Library is partnering with the Alabama Phoenix Festival for a Sci Fi Fantasy Fest, scheduled for Oct. 21-23. Photo courtesy of the Hoover Public Library.
The Medicine Tail Dancers and Singers demonstrate traditional dancing at Whispers from the Past. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Sci Fi Fantasy Fest coming to Hoover library By JON ANDERSON If you show up at the Hoover Public Library or Hoover Senior Center on Oct. 21-23, don’t be surprised if you see people dressed up like a Star Wars storm trooper or Master Chief from the Halo video game. The library is joining forces with the Alabama Phoenix Festival to put on a Sci Fi Fantasy Fest. The library held its festival for the first time last year and drew about 500 people, but this year officials are expecting 1,500 to 2,000 people, thanks to the partnership with the Phoenix Festival, said Krysten Griffin, a fiction librarian who is chairwoman of the event. The Alabama Phoenix Festival was first held at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on U.S. 280 in 2012 and 2013 and moved to the Sheraton Birmingham in 2014. But last year, one of the organizers moved to Missouri, and the event didn’t take place. So when the Hoover Library proposed a partnership this year, they jumped at the chance, said Stan Daniel, one of the Phoenix Festival organizers and owner of Kingdom Comics in Vestavia Hills. The festival will include a costume
contest, tabletop game demonstrations, costume design talks and many discussion panels on topics ranging from tabletop board games and comics to costuming, Star Wars, Star Trek and Dr. Who, Griffin said. There also will be two Magic: The Gathering trading card tournaments (7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday) and a Pokemon Walk at Aldridge Gardens from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. There are a lot of Pokemon items to be caught at Aldridge for the Pokemon Go app, Griffin said. The festival will be held 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23. It will take up the entire library and the Senior Center, Griffin said. Regular library patrons not interested in the festival may want to come early Friday or wait until Monday to visit, Griffin said. “Parking is going to be extremely limited, and the library is just going to be full of people, and it’s going to be very loud,” she said. But if you’re interested in science fiction or fantasy, “it’s going to be a lot of fun, and everyone should come,” she said. For more information, call the Hoover Library fiction department at 444-7820.
Annual Native American festival returns Oct. 2 to Aldridge Gardens By SYDNEY CROMWELL Aldridge Gardens hopes rain won’t keep visitors away from Whispers from the Past this fall. In 2015, the annual Native American festival was rained out, and Aldridge Education Director Audrey Wilson said the rain date only drew about 1,000 people. This year, sunny skies on the event date of Oct. 2 could bring closer to 2,000 people to the gardens. Whispers from the Past will include its most recognizable event: dancing demonstrations by the Medicine Tail Dancers and Singers representing a variety of Southeastern Native American tribes. There also will be demonstrations of flintknapping, basket making, fishing and lacrosse. Wilson said this year marks the return of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s artifacts collection, which includes pottery, baskets and projectile points such as knives and scrapers found in the area. Anthropology students will be on hand to talk about the collection, Wilson said. Children can participate in several activities, including loom beading, leaf pounding,
gourd painting, lacrosse, corn grinding and fishing. Wilson said last year’s fishing, done with old-fashioned cane rods, was popular, and the gardens will have more fishermen this year so more kids can learn. “The fishing was too much of a big hit,” Wilson said. Other presentations will include Native American storytelling, a puppet show and demonstration of traditional hunting tools. Vendors will be selling food, jewelry and other items throughout the day. Whispers from the Past will be from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Oct. 9 is the rain date. Wilson said her favorite part of the event is the morning, when they build a fire and bless the day’s event. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 2 to 18; children younger than 2 are free. Children’s tickets include take-home crafts while supplies last. Off-site parking and a shuttle will be available at the Bed, Bath and Beyond location on Lorna Road, and Wilson recommended purchasing tickets at the Aldridge Gardens gate. For more information, go to aldridgegardens. com.
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Uncorking 10 years of beer, wine sampling event By TARA MASSOULEH Uncorked! on the Green is celebrating its 10th anniversary with another day of specialty beer and wine tastings, live performers, food trucks and family fun. The event, hosted by Classic Events Inc. and benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA), will be Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m in front of the Ross Bridge welcome center. Eventgoers will have the chance to sample more than 50 local and national craft beers and dozens of specialty wines for free. However, the event’s main attraction and namesake wasn’t always part of the equation. Coordinator Audrey Alverson said Uncorked started as an art show called Arts and Music On the Green. During its second year, coordinators decided it was time to add a new dimension to the event. “We wanted to support the artists better and draw more crowds,” Alverson said. “But now Uncorked has become the most popular aspect of the show.” The event will feature beers from areas
including California, Colorado, Mexico and Germany. Many Alabama-brewed beers from Avondale, Good People, Straight to Ale, Blue Pants and Yellowhammer will also be available. Wine distributors will include Girlfriends, Chocolate Box, Thorny Rose and Quickfire. The wine tasting will go from noon to 2 p.m., with the beer tasting following from 2:30 p.m. until the event ends at 5 p.m. In addition, the event will feature performers including contortionists, stilt walkers and giant puppets who will roam the crowds while DJ Mickey Nightrain plays from atop a 30-foot platform. Alverson said although the event features beer and wine, it is also a family-friendly event. Each year, a huge kids’ station is set up with inflatables, face painting, balloon animals and a creative-crafts tent. And of course, Uncorked will continue to pay homage to its roots by featuring 50 artsand-crafts booths dispersed among the beer and wine tents. “It has become a totally integrated event,” Alverson said. “You’ll be able to look at art
Uncorked! on the Green features beer from more than 50 local and national craft breweries, plus performers, a grilling competition and a family fun area. Photo courtesy of Lisa Watwood.
while you’re standing in line to get some wine.” AllSouth will once again sponsor a grilling competition for local restaurants. Guests can sample recipes infused with beer and wine from participating chefs and vote for their favorites. This year, the competition has expanded from five participating restaurants to 10. For those looking for a more substantial meal, local food trucks will be present. Alverson said about 7,000 people came out for last year’s event. Over the past nine years, the event has raised thousands of dollars to fund breast-cancer research in Alabama by way of a $5 suggested donation for attendees and $30 VIP ticket sales.
VIP tickets for Uncorked can be purchased at uncorkedonthegreen.com. The $30 ticket includes covered seating, exclusive beer-andwine samplings, snacks, soda, water, reserved restroom and TVs playing the Auburn and Alabama football games. Alverson said the best thing about the festival is the opportunity it gives people to try and see something new — whether that is a new IPA or a contortionist performing from inside a huge bubble. “When you go to the grocery store and are afraid to try some new beer you’ve never had before … now you can come out here and figure out what are the beers you really like,” she said.
FARE Walk to raise money for food allergy research, advocacy, education By JESSE CHAMBERS The annual FARE Walk for Food Allergy will be at Veterans Park on Oct. 23 with check-in and other activities beginning at 1:30 p.m. The walk, held in hundreds of cities across the country, raises money for research, advocacy and education and to help support those living with allergies. It also raises public awareness of the need to create a safer, more inclusive
world for the 15 million Americans who have food allergies, organizers said. “The FARE Walk is very motivational and uplifting as we recognize all of our local families, children and adults that have food allergies,” said Jim Steiner, national walk director. In addition to the walk, the event will feature music, kids’ activities and local and national sponsor tables and information,
Steiner said. There is “no open food or eating at the walks,” Steiner said. However, the event features such national sponsors and partners as Enjoy Life, SunButter, Skeeter Nut Free, Nice N Clean and Don’t Go Nuts. Organizers also ask that no attendees bring pets to the walk, due to allergies. Some local support groups, such as the No Nuts Moms Group, helped to organize the event.
Participants in the FARE Walk raise money from sponsors prior to the event. To register, go to bit.ly/2cxEGkn. Each registrant is given a web page and access to fundraising tools. Learn more about No Nut Moms of Birmingham by searching No Nuts Moms Group of Birmingham Alabama Community on Facebook. To learn more about allergies go to foodallergy.org.
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October 2016 • C11
Paws for the Cause to benefit the Shelby Humane Society BY JESSE CHAMBERS The Shelby Humane Society in Columbiana takes in more than 5,000 unwanted pets each year — many of them lost, neglected or abused — but it takes a lot of money to care for these animals. That’s where Paws for the Cause comes in. The annual Paws fundraiser — now in its eighth year and featuring both a 5K run and a 1-mile fun run and pet walk — will be at Veterans Park in Hoover Oct. 8. The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. and the fun run at 9:30 a.m. Pets are welcome at the event. All proceeds will support the society’s efforts to care for animals and educate the public about the responsibilities of animal ownership. The nonprofit Best Friends of Shelby Humane Society
A colorful pup at the Paws for the Cause run. Photo courtesy of Forget Me Not Photography.
will plan the event with the help of The Animal League of Birmingham, according to Best Friends spokesperson Stephanie Clayton. Early registration, prior to Sept. 15, will be $30 for the 5K, $20 for the one-mile fun run or $35 for both. The sleep-in option will be $25. After Sept. 15, registration will be $35 for the 5K, $25 for the fun run or $40 for both. Packet pickup the week of the race will be available at The Trak Shak at 4700 U.S. 280 E. Packet pickup and late registration will be on race day beginning at 7 a.m. Participants can register online at runsignup.com. For more information and updates, go to shelbyhumane.org or to the Facebook pages for Shelby Humane Society or Best Friends of Shelby Humane Society. Questions, including sponsorship opportunities, can be emailed to bestfriendsofshelbyhumane@gmail.com.
145 artists head to Hoover for 53rd annual Bluff Park Art Show Artists and shoppers mingle at the Bluff Park Art Show. Photo courtesy of Jessa Pease.
By JON ANDERSON The Bluff Park Art Association is gearing up for the 53rd annual Bluff Park Art Show Oct. 1 at the Bluff Park Community Center. The show will feature the works of 145 artists from 10 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas) and Washington, D.C., said Trish Hoover, an art enthusiast from Crestline who is one of three main organizers of this year’s show. Most of the artists have been in the show before, but this will be the first time for 38 of them, Hoover said. Ninety-one are from Alabama. The artists were selected by a screening committee after submitting samples of their work in May, she said. The show will include paintings, jewelry, clay, woodworking, fiber arts, sculptures,
metalworking, digital imagery, glass and mixed media, Hoover said. Artists will get a 10-footby-10-foot tent to showcase and sell their art. Admission to the show is free, but the Bluff Park Art Association gets 20 percent of all sales, with proceeds going to support the arts in the greater Birmingham community.
The Bluff Park Art Association will be giving out 15 cash awards totaling $12,000 to the top pieces of artwork selected in the show, including a $3,500 grand prize and a $500 Popular Vote Award. This year’s judge is DeeDee Morrison, a sculptor who operates out of a studio in the
Wade Sand and Gravel quarry off Arkadelphia Road in Birmingham. The association also chose to use a painting of historic Bluff Park by Hoover artist Jayne Morgan on this year’s T-shirts, brochures and advertisements, Hoover said. The picture includes some Bluff Park businesses, Bluff Park Elementary School and other iconic places in the community, she said. Food vendors for this year’s show include Taco Tech, Moe’s Original BBQ, Tip Top Grill, Urban Pops and the Bluff Park United Methodist Church women’s group. There is no parking available for guests at the community center on the day of the show, but free shuttles are available from Shades Mountain Independent Church, the Bluff Park Village shopping center, Bluff Park United Methodist Church and Shades Crest Baptist Church. For more information, go to bluffparkartassociation.org.
C12 • October 2016
Hoover Sun Teams race with their rucks during the 2015 10K Ruck Challenge. This year’s challenge is scheduled for 8 a.m. Oct. 22 at Veterans Park. Photo by Erica Techo.
Costumed kids enjoy the Hoover Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park. Photo by Patty Bradley.
Veterans Park to host hayrides, Halloween-themed family night By SYDNEY CROMWELL The best parts of Halloween are coming to Veterans Park, pulled behind tractors with Hoover city employees at the wheel. The annual Hoover Hayride and Family Night will be Oct. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. Erin Colbaugh, who is organizing the event for the city of Hoover, said it will once again be free and will include costumes, candy and hayrides around the park. “It’s a great time for families to gather at the park in a safe environment,” Colbaugh said. Local businesses set up booths to hand out candy, and Colbaugh said last year there were more than 80 that participated. Other entertainment will include balloon artists, face
painters, visits from children’s characters and vendors with food available for purchase. The hayrides last about 15 minutes, but can be ridden multiple times. Colbaugh said the city decorates the ride route with different Halloween scenes. About 15,000 people attended in 2015, and the city is anticipating similar numbers this year. Colbaugh said keeping up with this many people takes a lot of volunteers, from the city staff driving the tractors to the high school groups, such as ambassadors and drama club members, who will spend their time in costumes and managing the activities. Find more information go at hooveralabama.gov.
10K ruck challenge returns to raise funds for veterans By ERICA TECHO National Veterans Day in Birmingham is hosting its fourth 5K fun run/walk and 10K ruck challenge in October. The annual event raises money for veteran charities and raises awareness of the events going on in Birmingham during Veterans Day weekend. In addition to a 5K family fun run or walk, there is also a 10K ruck challenge. The 10K ruck challenge, or Veteran Challenge, is open to individuals or teams of four or more. Runners will wear rucks — weighted backpacks or vests — that are 40 pounds for men and 25 pounds for women. The teams competing in the 10K will decide which veteran charities will benefit from this year’s proceeds. The military unit with the best time will receive 40 percent of the proceeds for their charity; second place will receive 20 percent, and third place will receive
10 percent. The civilian unit with the fastest time will receive the remaining 30 percent for the veteran charity of their choice. All money raised will be presented to the charities during the World Peace Luncheon on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) before the Birmingham Veterans Day parade. In the 5K, the first three men, women and youth under 13 to complete the race will be recognized. First-place winners in the three categories will also receive two tickets to the World Peace Luncheon and the Veterans Day Parade. The race is Oct. 22 at Veterans Park and starts at 8 a.m. The 5K fun run and 10K ruck is $20 per person, $25 after Oct. 15, and the 10K ruck for a group is $85, or $100 after Oct. 15. For details on the event or to register, go to active.com and search 4th Annual 10K Ruck Challenge Hosted by National Veterans Day in Birmingham or go to nationalveteransday.org.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • C13
Walk to cure neurofibromatosis at Veterans Park By TARA MASSOULEH
Participants at last year’s NF Walk celebrate at the end of the 3-mile walk to raise money and awareness for neurofibromatosis. Photo courtesy of Shelley Barrett Photography.
High school marching band festival Oct. 15 By JESSE CHAMBERS The power, pageantry and musicianship of that uniquely American institution of the marching band will be celebrated once again at the Hoover Invitational Marching Festival, to be held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15. In 2015, the annual competition — hosted by the Hoover High School Band — featured 13 high school marching bands from Alabama and Mississippi, and judges from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Ohio. Last year’s event also featured an exhibition performance by the Hoover High School Band and a performance by the school’s jazz ensemble.
The festival is held each year on the third Saturday in October. Organizers believe the Hoover Met is a good place for the event, with plenty of parking, restrooms and concessions, as well as ample warmup areas and easy field access for bands and their equipment. Bands wishing to enter the competition must submit a registration form and $100 non-refundable entry fee to the Hoover High School Band by Fri., Sept. 30. For details, call 439-1228 or 439-1328, email Hoover High School Director of Bands Ryan Fitchpatrick at rfitchpatrick@hoover.k12.al.us or go to http://hooverband.com. Festival tickets can be purchased at the door: adults, $8; students, $5.
Veterans Park will once again play host to Alabama’s NF Walk Oct. 16. The 3-mile walk raises money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, an organization that supports research to cure neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis, or NF for short, is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The condition can lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and disabling pain. There is no cure or treatment for NF. During this year’s walk, adults and children of any age will take part in activities including carnival games, live music, dancing, face painting, children’s activities and a raffle-prize drawing. There also will be food and drinks. The Alabama NF Walk is one of 40 walks put on by the Children’s Tumor Foundation nationwide. NF Walk Manager Jessica Beckerman said Alabama’s is one of the largest. The average attendance rate for other walks is about 200 people, but Alabama’s usually draws between 500 and 600. “It’s one of our biggest events,” Beckerman said. “The community really comes together for it.” The walk is superhero themed to celebrate and honor local “NF heroes” who are living with the disorder. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for children and free for children younger than 3. Check-in for the race is at 1 p.m. The walk is at 2 p.m. with announcements, raffles and other activities following. To learn more about the walk or register, go to nfwalk.org/Alabama.
The Hoover Invitational Marching Festival will be at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
C14 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Familiar participants back for annual Shop Save & Share event For the 11th consecutive year, the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) will hold its Shop Save & Share fundraiser in late October. This initiative supports the League’s more than 30 community projects while at the same time driving customers to local retailers and restaurants. When you purchase a Shop Save & Share card for $40, you receive a 20 percent discount on merchandise and food at the fundraiser’s more than 500 participating stores and restaurants. Since its inception, Shop Save & Share has put over $475,000 back into the community. Also, through the Junior League of Birmingham, a Shop Save & Share donation does the following: ► Provides eight meals through Meals on Wheels in Jefferson County; ► Provides one week of snacks, magazines and books to mothers restricted to bed rest in the UAB NICU; ► Provides one child who is suffering from “under nutrition” to have food provided to them for the weekends for an entire school year through the Backpack Buddies program; ► Provides 1.5 children one book per month for five years through Better Basics & JLB Imagination Library. This year’s Shop Save & Share program will run from Oct. 19-30, and the Junior League of Birmingham is thrilled to have Birmingham’s best retailers and restaurants on board for 2016, including several located in Hoover. When it comes to using your card, many customers said the variety of retailers is what keeps them coming back year after year. Wrapsody is one business returning as a Shop Save & Share participant this year. “Shop Save & Share is one of our favorite community activities to participate in each year,” said Barbara Fullenwider, assistant manager at Wrapsody. “We are pleased to support the Junior League of Birmingham year after year with this fundraiser as it truly makes a difference in our community.” Restaurants are always an important part of the Shop Save & Share event, and this year is no different. Cedar’s
Tracy Vinzant said this will be the first year the Hoover Senior Center has hosted a large-scale crafts bazaar. Photo courtesy of the Hoover Senior Center.
Senior Center hosts craft showcase By JESSE CHAMBERS Alice Sanborn of Sew Precious and Barbara Fullenwider of Wrapsody are among the many Hoover merchants participating in the Junior League of Birmingham’s Shop Save & Share fundraiser. Photo courtesy of the Junior League of Birmingham.
Grill, The Cajun Cleaver, Ashley Mac’s, The Whole Scoop and more are participating. It is also a great time to get a one-of-a-kind sewn piece of clothing made. “At Sew Precious, we enjoy participating with those in the community looking to help the less fortunate,” said Alice Sanborn, store manager at Sew Precious. Some other Hoover-area retailers that will be participating in the 2016 Shop Save & Share event include Schaeffer Eye Center, Party City, Turquoise and Orange Theory Fitness, just to name a few. Visit shopsaveandshare.net for a complete retailer listing, to purchase a card, and for more information. Additional information about the fundraiser can be found on social media on Facebook: Shop Save & Share; Instagram: @jlbshopsaveshare; or on Twitter: @JLBirmingham (#jlbshopsaveshare). – Submitted by Junior League of Birmingham.
The Hoover Senior Center will host its largest ever showcase of craft items made by its members at the Crafty Creations Bazaar on Friday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event, which is free and open to the public, will allow members to show off their talents and to sell their handmade items, according to Tracy Vinzant, the senior center’s event coordinator. “Members who participate in our knitting, crocheting and painting groups will have their creations for sale,” Vinzant said. “Examples of other items you might see are handmade ink pens, oil paintings and photography.” This will be the first year that the center has hosted a large-scale crafts bazaar, according to Vinzant. “In the past, we have had craft showcases where the various creative arts groups were able to display their talents for their peers to enjoy,” she said. “Those were such a success that we thought, ‘Why not give them an opportunity to sell their unique items?’” With the Christmas season on the way, the bazaar offers another benefit to attendees, according to Vinzant. “It’s a great opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping by purchasing a one-of-a-kind gift,” she said. Light refreshments will be served. The Hoover Senior Center is located at 400 Municipal Drive. For more information, call 739-6700 or go to the Hoover New Horizons Facebook page.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • C15
Flavor Run 5K adds tasty experience to color run By JESSE CHAMBERS Color runs, in which 5K participants are splattered with harmless colored powders and paints by race volunteers, are becoming commonplace in Birmingham and around the country. But the Flavor Run 5K, which began in 2013 in Tampa, Florida, takes the concept a step further, with fruit-flavored powders the runners can taste. The Flavor Run 5K Birmingham, which benefits children’s charities, is scheduled to return to Hoover for its second year Oct. 22. The event will take place at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium at 10 a.m. The event offers what the Flavor Run website calls “made in the USA fruit-flavored powder, local vendors and 100 percent quality fun.” The flavors of the paint, made with cornstarch, are strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, banana, grape and orange. The Flavor Run events, which are held nationally, also feature a post-run festival with
Photo courtesy of Flavor Run.
fruit, healthy vendors, live entertainment and children's activities, according to the website. The Flavor Run is being held in about 20 U.S. cities this year, including Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Dallas and Phoenix.
The Flavor Run was started by John McMahan, a running and fitness advocate who also founded Running for Brews, which stages 5Ks in which participants enjoy craft brews after their runs.
McMahan got the idea for the Flavor Run after participating in a color run in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2012, according to tampabay. com. “It was so fun, and I thought it would be great if the cornstarch tasted good too,” he said. He then worked with a food lab to develop a product that would wash off easily but have flavor and aroma. Tickets for the Flavor Run in Birmingham range from $25-$60. Children ages six and under can run or walk free. Due to quality control and venue size, organizers limit the number of tickets sold, so prospective attendees are urged to register early. At our press time, the local charities to be benefited by the event had not yet been determined, according to one of the event websites. For more about the Flavor Run, go to flavorrun.com. For tickets and information, go to flavorrunbirmingham.eventbrite.com. There is also a Facebook event page at Flavor Run Birmingham.
Grace on the Bluff returns Oct. 1 to spread message By JESSE CHAMBERS Bluff Park Baptist Church in Hoover will host its annual Grace on the Bluff event — a yard sale with a twist — Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. The event is set up like a yard sale, but the items are free, giving the church a special opportunity to spread the Christian message, according to Pastor Tony Barber. “The idea is basically the demonstration of God’s love,” Barber said. “Every time we do it, before I let people in, I tell them, ‘God’s grace is free, and everything here is free.’” That said, organizers “don’t beat people on the head with the Bible” or “walk around trying to
convert them while they’re here,” Barber said. However, Grace on the Bluff is “a good way to expose (attendees) to the Gospel,” Barber said. “We have handouts in the bags — a gospel tract, information about the church and a plan for salvation,” he said. Grace on the Bluff features clothes, toys and books, as well as other items, Barber said. “We have a whole bunch of miscellaneous stuff — everything from knickknacks to furniture,” he said. “It’s really a good yard sale. You’ll find a little bit of everything.” The event is always on the first Saturday in October, Barber said. “It coincides with the Bluff Park Art Show, and there are a lot of yard sales that go on,” he said.
More than 100 attended last year’s sale, Barber said. “Especially as we get more publicity, we are getting a better turnout every year,” he said. “It’s hard to find places that will give you stuff for free.” The church — at 2211 McGwier Drive — will begin taking donations Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m., following a prayer meeting. Donations also will be accepted during regular business hours Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 until about 8 p.m. For more information, call 822-3240 or go to bluffparkbaptist.org. To arrange a special time to drop off a donation or have a heavy item picked up, call 823-2216.
Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Baptist Church.
C16 • October 2016
Golfers in the 2015 Hoover Cup. Photo courtesy of Hoover Parks and Recreation.
Hoover Cup tees off to benefit foundation By LEXI COON Golfers will be teeing off to start the third annual Hoover Cup at the Inverness Country Club on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. The tournament benefits the Hoover Parks and Recreation Foundation. It raised $10,000 its first year and has since funded numerous projects including the Hoover East Accessible Playground, the Aldridge Gardens Memorial Arbor and a variety of programs and workshops. “[The Hoover Cup helps] by promoting special projects in the community,” said Dee Nance, superintendent of Parks and Special Events. Last year, at least 80 golfers took part in the tournament, and it raised more than $7,500. This year, they are looking to raise between $8,000 and $10,000 and are seeking sponsors for the course. “[The Hoover Cup] brings a lot of people together from the business side, community side, and it helps share the message of the Foundation,” Nance said. Golfers wanting to compete in this year’s tournament can register for $125. Teams of four cost $500. Registration fees include a continental breakfast, a golf cart, drinks along the course and lunch after the round. In addition to door prizes, there will be awards for closest to the pin, longest drive, longest putt and straightest drive. For more information or to sign up, go to hooveral.gov.
Hoover Sun
Hope Floats returns as Wrapped in Hope event By JESSE CHAMBERS The Wrapsody retail shops in Hoover and Auburn will, for the eighth consecutive year, host a special fundraiser to help kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. They also will raise money for care and support of cancer patients. The Wrapped in Hope event — formerly called Hope Floats — will be at the stores from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. All Wrapsody customers will receive an honorary ribbon with each purchase so they can honor or remember a friend, family member or loved one with breast cancer in both stores’ celebration windows. “We want [Wrapped in Hope] to truly be about wrapping those going through breast cancer in hope and love — celebrating their fight, their daily struggles and caring for those that are faced with the hardship of this overwhelming disease,” said Wrapsody co-owner Sarah Brown. In Hoover, Wrapsody will raise money for the Angel Squad at the UAB Kirklin Clinic, and the Auburn store will raise money for the East Alabama Medical Center Breast Fund, Brown said; 10 percent of all sales that week will be given directly to the Angel Squad and to EAMC. “The Angel Squad … truly cares for those going through cancer in such a direct way” and are “angels to those that are touched by them,” Brown said. “Many of them are breast-cancer survivors themselves, so they
Hope Floats has become the new Wrapped in Hope event. Photo courtesy of Wrapsody.
are truly able to wrap them in hope and love due to their own experiences.” Each store also will hold a raffle for a $500 Wrapsody gift card. Raffle tickets are available with a $10 donation. All proceeds go to Angel Squad or UAMC. Brown and her co-owner, Terry Shea, will not hold a balloon release this year — the main focus of Hope Floats — due to environmental concerns after the balloons pop, Brown said. In 2015, employees and customers released thousands of pink-and-white balloons at a celebration in October. The series of cancer fundraisers at Wrapsody began in 2009. “We honestly were inspired by customers and friends that had breast cancer,” Brown said. One of those customers was Rashel Ross,
a survivor who had started a foundation to help cancer patients obtain meals and pay bills, Brown said. “The first year we actually gave the money to a local lady fighting breast cancer,” she said. Brown credits the store manager at the time, Merri Crow, with the idea of using balloons to honor or to remember patients as a way of celebrating something hopeful. The annual events have benefited such entities as the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer research and The Joy to Life Foundation in Montgomery. The events in 2015 raised almost $10,000 for the Angel Squad and the EAMC. For more information, call 989-7277 or 334-887-7447 or go to wrapsodyonline. com.
HooverSun.com
October 2016 • C17
Hoover
741 Chestnut Park Lane
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
761981
35226
741 Chestnut Park Lane
New
$1,695,000
762561
35226
2371 Sunrise Way
New
$418,070
762459
35226
2309 Farley Place
New
$225,000
762436
35226
4519 Jessup Lane
New
$350,000
762422
35226
4531 Jessup Lane
New
$390,000
762394
35226
2525 Huntington Parc Court
New
$430,000
762366
35226
1105 Regent Drive
New
$269,000
762272
35226
1714 Kestwick Circle
New
$329,000
762172
35226
2185 Ross Avenue
New
$425,000
762137
35226
3004 Whispering Pines Circle
New
$249,900
762013
35226
72 Shades Crest Road
New
$399,000
761989
35226
74 Shades Crest Road
New
$599,900
761980
35226
4418 Village Green Way
New
$849,900
761961
35226
574 Hackberry Ridge Trace
New
$175,000
762014
35226
480 Matzek Drive
New
$389,900
761959
35226
1020 Alford Avenue
New
$221,900
761812
35226
657 Trumpet Circle
New
$329,900
761783
35226
2442 Northampton Drive
New
$435,000
761748
35226
3164 Starlake Drive
New
$439,900
761747
35226
2283 Abbeyglen Circle
New
$259,900
480 Matzek Drive
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Sept. 19. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.
C18 • October 2016
Hoover Sun
Calendar Hoover Events Tuesday nights: Kids eat free at Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato. 610 Preserve Parkway. (One child per adult). Visit vecchiabirmingham.com.
The first 100 people get Chick-Fil-A for a year. Those wanting to camp out may do so starting the morning of Wednesday, October 5.
Oct. 8: Paws for the Cause 5K/1mile fun run/ dog walk. 8:30 a.m. Veterans Park. Fundraiser for Shelby Humane Society. Visit runsignup.com.
Oct. 17: Hoover Cup Golf Tournament. Inverness Country Club. Presented by Hoover Parks and Recreation. Visit aldridgegardens.com.
Oct. 1: Bluff Park Art Show. Bluff Park Community Center. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 145 artists will exhibit at the 53rd event. Food trucks, hands on activities for kids. Free admission. Visit bluffparkartassociation.org.
Oct. 6: Economic Development Meeting. 8:30 a.m. Hoover Chamber of Commerce.
Oct. 13: Hoover Chamber Coffee & Contacts. 7:30-9 a.m. Alabama Technology Network, Jefferson State Community College. Hooverchamber.org.
Oct. 19: Chamber Ambassador Meeting. 4:30 p.m. Hoover Chamber Office. Visitors welcome. Visit hooverchamber.org.
Oct. 15: Members Only Guided Bird Walk. 8 a.m. Aldridge Gardens. RSVP. Visit aldridgegardens.com.
Oct. 20: Hoover Chamber Luncheon. Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel. 11:15 a.m. Networking, Noon Luncheon. Call 205-988-5672 or email lisa@ hooverchamber.org for reservations. Visit hooverchamber.org.
Oct. 2: Whispers from the Past: A Native American Experience. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aldridge Gardens. $10 visitors 18 and older, $5 children up to age 17. Visit aldridgegardens.com. Oct. 6: Chick-Fil-A at the Grove Grand Opening.
High School Football Hoover High School Football
Spain Park High School Football
Oct. 7: vs. Huffman, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: Taste of Hoover. Aldridge Gardens. Sample dishes from Hoover restaurants. Live entertainment. $30 members/$40 non-members. Visit aldridgegardens.com. Oct. 8: Uncorked! On the Green. Ross Bridge Welcome Center. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sampling of craft beers and fine wines, music, entertainment, art and kids’ zone. Visit uncorkedonthegreen.com.
Oct. 15: Business After Hours. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Brookdale University Park. Visit hooverchamber.org. Oct. 16: Alabama NF Walk. 1 p.m. Children’s Tumor Foundation. Visit nfwalk.org/Alabama.
Stardome Comedy Club p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; Sunday, 6:30 p.m. $20.
Oct. 6: @ Thompson, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1-2: Bruce Bruce. $31.50 reserved/$41.50 VIP. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2.
Oct. 14: vs. Vestavia Hills, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14: vs. Tuscaloosa County, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: Chris D’elia. 7:30 p.m. $30/$50 VIP.
Oct. 21: @ Thompson, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: @ Oak Mountain, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: Killer Beaz. 7:30 p.m. $9.75.
Oct. 21-22: James Gregory. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 8:45 p.m. Sunday. $21.50.
Oct. 28: vs. Grayson, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: @ Minor, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7-9: Finis Henderson. Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 6:30
Oct. 19-20: Laugh Til it Hurts with TP Hearn. 7:30 p.m. $15.
Oct. 28-30: Sommore. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $31.50-$36.50.
Hoover Public Library Events Kids
9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Mondays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays: ExploraStory. 10:30 a.m.
Mondays: Story Lab. 4 p.m. Ages 3-8.
Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: Mother Goose. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 1: Spin-A-Story: Zaniest Zoo. 10:30 a.m.
Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m.
Oct. 3: Reader’s Café. 6:30 p.m. Upper elementary book club.
Wednesdays: Rockin’ Tots.
HooverSun.com Oct. 3: Reader’s Café. 6:30 p.m. Upper elementary book club. Oct. 4: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Tech. 4 p.m. Coding. Ages 7-11. Oct. 7: Tween Scene: Decorate Your Space. Halloween Edition. 4 p.m. Oct. 8: Fly Guy Kidz Kitchen. 10:30 a.m. All ages. Oct. 9: Young Artists Reception. 3 p.m. Oct. 11: Raging Readers. Middle School Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12: Homeschool Hub. 2 p.m. Raptor biology. Oct. 14: Movers and Shakers. Barnyard Boogie. 11 a.m.
October 2016 • C19 Oct. 8: Purl @ the Plaza. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Library Plaza. Recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month by knitting chemo caps and lap blankets. Oct. 10: Helping Hands. 3 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Adult Program Room. Drop in to make newspaper rolls for a local humane society. Adults and teens. Oct. 11: Daytime Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Program Room. The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. Oct. 11: Purge the Paper Piles. 6:30 p.m. Adult Program Room. Learn how to tackle the papers in your home. Oct. 11: Spanish Conversation Club. 7 p.m. Library Plaza. Practice your Spanish and celebrate the culture! Adults 17 and up.
Oct. 15: Crafty Characters. 10:30 a.m. Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.
Oct. 13: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Adult Program Room. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
Oct. 17: Reading Sidekicks. Beginning Reader Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Ages 5 and up.
Oct. 13-14: Marc Cohn. 7:30 p.m. Library Theatre. $25.
Oct. 18: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Art. 4 p.m. Ages 5-9.
Oct. 15: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Adult Program Room. Share and network with other aspiring writers.
Oct. 28: Once Upon A Pumpkin. 7 p.m. Halloween Party. Oct. 31: Trick or Treat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Wear your costume and trick or treat throughout the library. Teens Oct. 4: Movie Night Out. Showing of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children at Patton Creek Carmike. Registration required. Ages 13-18. Oct. 25: HOLA! Spanish Conversations for Teens. 6:30 p.m. All fluency levels welcome. Grades 9-12. Adults Tuesdays, October 4-25: Adult English Classes. 6:30 p.m. Free basic or intermediate English classes. Thursdays, October 6-27: English Conversation Club. 6:30 p.m. Informal English practice for speakers of other languages. Oct. 2: Unknown Lyric. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Classical/fusion guitar and violin duo performance. Oct. 3: Friends of the Hoover Library Meeting. 10 a.m. The Library Plaza. Marvin Clemons, author of Great Temple of Travel reveals the history of Birmingham’s Terminal Station. Refreshments at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 3: Discoveries in the Making. 6:30 p.m. Adult Program Room. “A Canine Model of Aging and Disease” and “Early Life Stress and Cardiovascular Disease.” Presented by the UAB Graduate School. Oct. 6: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Adult Program Room. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Oct. 6: Traditional Instruments Reimagined: Matt Bryant and Holland Hopson. 6:30 p.m. Library Plaza. UAB and UA professors play ukulele and banjo.
Oct. 15: Financial Planning Expo. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Free. Oct. 17: Last Will. & Testament. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Movie about who wrote the works of William Shakespeare. Oct. 17: Neuroscience Café: Brain Signatures of Autism. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Room. Presented by the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. Oct. 18: Financial Planning Expo. 1-5 p.m. Library Theatre and Theatre Meeting Rooms. Informative workshops and a chance to meet one on one with financial planners. Oct. 18: Glue Gun Gang: Ghost in a Jar. 6:30 p.m. Adult Program Room. Adults only. Reservations required. Oct. 18: French Conversation Club. 7 p.m. Library Plaza. Practice your French and celebrate the culture. Oct. 19: No Jacket Required Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Program Room. This month’s genre: Unsolved Mysteries. Oct. 20: Glue Gun Gang: Ghost in a Jar. 10:30 a.m. Adult Program Room. Oct. 21– 23: 2nd Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fest. Fri. 7 p.m.-11 pm; Sat. 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Hoover Library & Hoover Senior Center. Oct. 24: Monday at the Movies: Hocus Pocus. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Free admission and refreshments! 444-7820. Oct. 27: All Day Color & Chill. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Adult Program Room. Adults and teens. Oct. 27: Nighttime Nonfiction Book Group. 7 p.m. Allen Board Room. The Case Against the Supreme Court by Erwin Chemerinsky.
Area Events Oct. 1: “The Truth” About Breast Cancer Comedy Tour. 7 p.m. Featuring Carla “The Truth” Youngblood. Historic Carver Theater. $15. Visit keepyoulaughing. com. Oct. 1: 14th Annual Fiesta Birmingham. 12 p.m.8 p.m. Linn Park. Presenting the best of Hispanic art, music, food and dance. $10. Visit fiestabirmingham.com. Oct. 3: BAO Bingo. Birmingham AIDS Outreach. 7 p.m. $15 for 5 games. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach. org. Oct. 6: Tiempo Libre. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Free admission. Visit alysstephens.org. Oct. 8-31: Boo at the Zoo. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Birmingham Zoo. Visit birminghamzoo.com for more
information. Oct. 15: Susan G. Komen North Central Alabama Race for the Cure. 8 a.m. 5K/1 mile walk. Visit komencnalabama.org. Oct. 15: Barktoberfest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Helena Amphitheater. Presented by Two by Two Rescue. Kid zone, pet adoptions, live music and more. Visit twobytworescue.com. Oct. 22: Walk With Compassion. 9 a.m. Railroad Park. Walk to end child poverty. Visit walkwithcompassion.com. Oct. 29: 75th Annual Magic City Classic. Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M. 2:30 p.m. Visit magiccityclassic.com.