Hoover Sun April 2023

By JON ANDERSON

Soon after Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato was elected in 2016, one of the first things he did was revive plans for a new Interstate 459 interchange just west of South Shades Crest Road.

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projects, plus $20 million worth of improvements to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Brocato said all three projects are very important and collectively should help shape the future of the city for the next 100 years.

| page A18

By JON ANDERSON

In 2018, Greystone resident Donna Francavilla, an award-winning radio and TV broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience, was called to New York City to work as a fill-in nighttime news anchor at the WCBS radio station.

It was a great opportunity, and Francavilla was enjoying her stint, but while there, something happened that changed her life forever. And now Francavilla, Ms. Senior Hoover 2023, hopes to use that

by

Local.Expertise.Banking.

River Bank & Trust has built a strong financial team for Birmingham with one shared visioncreating great customer experiences. Our experts have the knowledge and perspective gained from years of commercial, consumer, and mortgage banking experience. And they offer personal attention, hospitality, and the latest innovations and technologyeverything you’d expect from Alabama’s largest community bank, and more. Drop by our new office and experience it for yourself.

Bryan Plott, Mortgage Lender, NMLS 2051174

Jack Hutcheson, Relationship Manager, NMLS 1952745

Lee Riley, Private Banker, NMLS 527063

Brian Ethridge, Birmingham Region President, NMLS 789083

Luke Kennedy, Relationship Manager, NMLS 491818

Chrissy Aubin, Treasury Management Officer

Charlie Sexton, Relationship Manager, NMLS 1539269

Erin Price, Relationship Manager, NMLS 1047905

MEET THE EXPERTS (left to right)

About Us

Editor’s Note

Success does not come easy, even though some people make it seem that way.

Krystle Johnson, the head girls basketball coach at Hoover High, seems to have the magic formula, leading the Lady Bucs to their third consecutive state championship and fourth championship in five years.

But we all know it doesn’t really come easy. It takes a lot of hard work, and as Hoover Sun Sports Editor Kyle Parmley tells us on page B10, the girls managed an impressive 35-1 record for the entire season this year. The girls weren’t alone. Parmley also tells us on B12 about the Hoover boys’ 84-66 win over Central-Phenix City to claim a second state title for the Bucs. Head coach Scott Ware and his Bucs ended the year with a solid 31-4 record.

Also in sports, three students from Hoover and Spain Park — William

By Jon Anderson

month celebrated examples of successful character, singling out Burts at Spain Park High, K.J. Law at Hoover High and Green Valley Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jenny Smith for standing out above the rest. Read about them on B6-7.

Former Hoover High Band Director Harry McAfee is being inducted into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame (B5). And one of our cover stories features Greystone resident Donna Francavilla, who is being recognized as Ms. Senior Hoover.

Hopefully, these stories can inspire you to be all you can be, as well.

Please Support Our Community Partners

Advanced Turf Care (B3)

Alabama Dance Academy (A6)

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Ambrose Design & Remodeling (A5)

Bedzzz Express (B16)

Birmingham Orthodontics (A1)

Birmingham Zoo (A14)

Conlon, Rayshod Burts and Ty Sisson — captured individual state titles in wrestling. Parmley gives a recap of their performances on B9.

This edition also shares numerous success stories outside of sports.

The Finley Committee this past

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Bromberg’s (A10)

Budget Blinds (B2)

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Children’s of Alabama (B15)

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Galleria Woods Retirement Community (B4)

Gaynell Hendricks - Tax Assessor (A15)

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Issis & Sons (B8)

Julie Ivy White (A8)

Las Garzas (B5)

LPL Financial (A6)

Magic City Art Connection (B11, B15)

Magnetic Hope (A5)

Medical West Hospital (A20)

Montevallo Arts Council (A7)

Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (A7)

One Man & A Toolbox (B3)

Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B7)

Prince of Peace Catholic Church (B7)

River Bank & Trust (A2)

Riverchase United Methodist Church (A17)

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Tenet Healthcare Brookwood Baptist Health (A17)

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The Neighborhood Plumber (A16)

TherapySouth Corporate (B9)

Truewood by Merrill Gardens (A7)

USFL - Bruno Event Team (A11)

Vapor Ministries/Thrift Store (B14)

Vivian Mora State Farm Agency (A16)

Publisher: Community Editors:

Sports Editor: Design Editor: Photo Editor: Page Designer: Production Assistant:

Graphic Designer:

Client Success Specialist: Business Development Exec: Business Development Rep: Director of Operations: Operations Specialist:

Dan Starnes

Jon Anderson

Leah Ingram

Eagle

Neal Embry

Kyle Parmley

Melanie Viering

Erin Nelson

Ted Perry

Simeon Delante

Emily VanderMey

Warren Caldwell

Don Harris

Madison Gaines

Viktoriya Dolomanova

Sarah Villar

Sun

For advertising contact: dan@starnesmedia.com

Contact Information: Hoover Sun P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnesmedia.com

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

Published by: Hoover Sun LLC

Legals: Hoover Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Hoover Sun is designed to inform the Hoover community of area school, family and community events. Information in Hoover Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/ photos submitted become the property of Hoover Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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Find Us

Pick up the latest issue of Hoover Sun at the following locations:

► Ahepa 3 Senior Apartments

► Aldridge Gardens

► Aspire Physical Recovery Center at Hoover

► Bluff Park Diner

► Hoover City Hall

► Faulkner University

► Galleria Woods

► Greenvale Pediatrics

► Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce

► Hoover High School

► Hoover Public Library

► Hoover Recreation Center

► Hoover Senior Center

► Hyatt Regency Birmingham

- The Wynfrey Hotel

► Kasey Davis Dentistry

► Lakeview Estates

► MedCenter Hoover

► Morningside of Riverchase

► RealtySouth Alford Avenue

► Rittenhouse Village

► Holiday Retirement - Rocky Ridge

► Spain Park High School

► The Preserve

► Wild Roast Cafe

Want to join this list or get Hoover Sun mailed to your home? Contact Dan Starnes at dan@starnesmedia.com.

Spain Park’s Charlee Bennett (16) makes contact for a base hit in an area game against Hewitt-Trussville at Spain Park High School on March 14.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

TMS

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive treatment for depression using MRI-strength magnetic pulses.

It is:

• more effective than medication

• safe and well-tolerated

• non-systemic

• does not require anesthesia

• FDA-approved

• takes less than 20 min per day

• covered by most commercial insurances for treatment-resistant severe major depression

Spravato is a prescription nasal spray of Esketamine that is given in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded to two or more antidepressants.

For more information and possible side effects, visit spravato.com

For more information, please visit our website www.magnetichope.com or call us at 205-825-HOPE

1025 Montgomery Highway Ste. 200, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

Proposed Inverness retail development stirs opposition

By JON ANDERSON

A real estate developer’s proposal to put a big-box retail development on 20 acres off Valleydale Road in the Inverness area has drawn much opposition from nearby residents.

The property, now wooded, is just south of Inverness Plaza and across Valleydale from the Inverness Corners and Inverness Highlands shopping centers, near the Beaumont, Danberry and Inverness Highlands residential communities.

The property is owned by Zontanos Properties, and the development company seeking approval from the city of Hoover is Alumni Properties & Investments, based in Clanton.

The plan is to build a 103,000-square-foot big-box retail store with a liquor store, tire center and 16 gas pumping stations, plus at least eight other retail buildings, according to drawings submitted to the city of Hoover. The preliminary plan proposes a total of 189,000 square feet.

The developer did not specify the name of the big-box retailer or other potential retailers in paperwork submitted to the city.

The property already is zoned as a “planned commercial” district, but putting either a liquor store or gasoline station requires approval from the Hoover City Council.

Additionally, the developer was seeking a variance from the Hoover Board of Zoning Adjustment that would allow him to put a liquor store less than 1,000 feet from the nearest residential property.

According to revised drawings submitted to the city in mid-March, the proposed liquor store would be 732 feet from the nearest house in Beaumont, 792 feet from the nearest house in Inverness Highlands and 967 feet from the nearest house in Danberry.

The zoning variance was slated to be heard by the Board of Zoning Adjustment on March 27 (after this paper went to press), and the request for permission to put a liquor store and gasoline station on the property

is slated to be heard by the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on April 10.

The city has received at least two dozen emails from residents who oppose the development and at least a couple of emails supporting it.

“This is a terrible, terrible location with an elementary school pretty much across the street,” Inverness resident Brandy Rhodes wrote in an email to the city. “It will provide 18 wheelers delivering all day, close to Inverness

Elementary and on 280. Those of us living in Inverness will see more cars and higher speeds on Inverness parkways. The speeds are ridiculous on Inverness Parkway already. I ask (no beg) you to please consider moving this away from our school and neighborhoods. This type and size of development does not belong on Valleydale.”

Marian and Bill Dinan, residents of the area for more than 50 years, said in an email that a large percentage of

residents in the area are concerned.

“First, it will ruin the serenity of the residential homes and surrounding homes,” the Dinans wrote. “Secondly, there is plenty of business land these stores could build on 280 and other areas that would not be so adversely affected. Why choose an area that will be so greatly disturbed by such businesses? … Surely there should be respect for all those residents who have put their life savings into their homes there in such a serene setting only to have it all ruined by a big, oversized business development.”

Cyndy Kiel, who lives in a community across U.S. 280, said in an email she favors the development.

“There are already two large shopping centers and two strip centers present,” Kiel wrote. “The traffic patterns are already there with several large apartment complexes. As for the schools, the children are not permitted to access the school from Valleydale by walking. They must be dropped off! … I do not feel there will be that much of a change to the area. The traffic is already here!”

A traffic study conducted by Skipper Consulting for the developer anticipates the new development will add 999 vehicle trips in the midday peak hour and 892 vehicle trips in the afternoon peak hour.

The study recommends a new traffic signal at the Inverness Corners entrance near Milo’s, new turn lanes to get into the development, extension of existing turn lanes and a modification to allow two lanes to turn right off eastbound U.S. 280 onto Valleydale Road.

This 189,000-square-foot retail development is proposed for a 20-acre site at the corner of Valleydale Road and Inverness Center Drive in Hoover. Site plan by Williams Blackstock Architects.

Mayor’s Minute

By Frank V.

Hands down, Hoover is the absolute best city in the USA! We have so much to offer residents, visitors and businesses.

Of course, no city is without its challenges here and there. We certainly face ours, too. But, we try to tackle situations head on and get them resolved quickly.

That was one of our goals when we implemented My Hoover Connect several years ago. This program allows residents to report a concern on a wide range of issues from garbage collection, potholes, sidewalk issues or even just a general complaint. This system allows us to organize concerns and stay in touch with the person who reported it as we quickly address the problem. You can find a link to My Hoover Connect on the city’s website. You can also download the app to your smartphone.

Brocato

in the center of the city’s website. All you have to do is enter your email address or phone number, and you can start getting notices right away.

Frank V. Brocato

Now that spring is here, we are about to move into some of our most popular events of the year. For example, Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held April 22 at the Hoover Public Safety Center. This is a time when residents can discard of all their hazardous materials after they’ve done a little spring cleaning. The following Saturday, on April 29, we’ll hold our annual Celebrate Hoover Day. This family-friendly event aways draws thousands to Veterans Park for fun rides, treats and entertainment.

Another valuable resource the city offers is a service called Notify Me. Residents can sign up to receive email or text notifications about upcoming events or public meetings, or you can sign up to receive my weekly newsletter. The Notify Me tab is located

I certainly hope I’ll see you at one of these events or as you’re out and about town. Please know my door is always open to you, and my staff is here to help, should you need us.

Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

Child's Play Therapy Center held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its location at 2151 Old Rocky Ridge, Suite 100, on March 7. The company offers physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, breastfeeding coaching and counseling for depression, anxiety, behavior disorders and other mental health issues, in addition to special programs on things such as reading disorders. Child Play Therapy Center was founded in 2007 by speech pathologist Deborah Boswell and occupational therapist Kerri Bailey and is a member of the Cicero Therapies Family of Clinics. Hours are 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, the center offers flexible scheduling that includes late evenings and Saturdays (on a limited basis). The center has sensory-motor gyms, parent observation rooms and private therapy rooms.

205-583-2883, childsplaytherapycenter.com

Euphoria Nail Bar on March 6 opened at 1005 Marble Terrace, Suite 109, next to the Pants Store in Stadium Trace Village.

205-593-4733, facebook.com/ENBHoover

Prentice and Brad Kauffman have opened a new gift boutique called Blackbird by Dear Prudence at 4441 Creekside Ave., Suite 117, in the Patton Creek shopping center. They have another location of Blackbird by Dear Prudence in Northville, Michigan.

205-407-7523, facebook.com/blackbirdbydp

Jim Rowell and Sonny Ippolito opened a new used automobile dealership, Lot31, in the former location of Southtown Motors at 1570 Montgomery Highway officially in January and started selling vehicles in March. Rowell has been in the automobile business for about 30 years, about 25 of which was spent with Southtown Motors. When Southtown vacated the property on Montgomery Highway, longtime friends Rowell and

Ippolito decided to start a new business there. Rowell's daughter, Jamie Rowell Parker, is serving as office manager, while his son, Will Rowell, works in finance and sales, and his wife, Dawn Rowell, handles the title work. Ippolito's wife, Lisa Ippolito, is working with social media. Rowell said they eventually plan to keep 30 to 40 vehicles on the lot.

205-238-5482, lot31.net

Discount Tire has opened a new store in the former Sears Auto Center at 3240 Galleria Circle. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 Saturdays. 205-905-4926, discounttire.com

COMING SOON

Scenthound, a dog grooming business, in mid-April plans to open its third location in the Birmingham area at 5190 Medford Drive in The Shoppes at Highway 150 shopping center near Sprouts. Business partners Jacob Lee and Brett Basik already have Scenthound locations at The Village at Lee Branch in Hoover and on Hollywood Boulevard in Birmingham. The partners plan to open a total of 10 Scenthound locations in the

Birmingham and Nashville areas. Scenthound focuses on cleaning dogs' skin, coat, ears, nails and teeth and, since opening its first location in Lee Branch a year ago already has 1,700 members in its monthly care club. Monthly memberships, starting at $35, include a bath, ear cleaning, nail clip and teeth brushing. Haircuts and other services can be added as needed. 205-526-4266, scenthound.com

CAVA, a Mediterranean-style fast-casual restaurant, plans to open in the former location of Kome Japanese Cuisine at 3076 John Hawkins Parkway, next to Verizon and across from Wells Fargo. cava.com

Space Savers Climate Storage plans to start construction soon on a 100,000-square-foot, four-story climate-controlled self-storage facility on Old Columbiana Road behind the Hoover Square shopping center. The buidling should have 650 to 700 storage units, all dehumidified and with air conditioning, owner Butch Chandler said. Construction should be complete in about eight months, he said. Space Savers Climate Storage already has two facilities in Tuscaloosa, one in Prattville, one on Meadowlark Drive off U.S. 280 and

one off Acton Road near the intersection of U.S. 280 and Interstate 459. A second facility also is being built in Prattville.

205-454-6790, spacesaversal.com

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Pro Dent Paintless Dent Repair closed its location in Cahaba Heights on Feb. 27 and relocated to 516 Mineral Trace, Suite D in the Trace Crossings community in Hoover. The business specializes in hail damage, dents, dings, scratch removal and touch ups.

205-677-3002, prodentpdr.com

Revere Control Systems has partially moved into its new corporate headquarters on a 15-acre property at 5201 Princeton Way, formerly the site of a shopping center anchored by a Winn-Dixie grocery store many years ago. Revere previously had its Hoover operations spread out among 12 buildings at 2240 Rocky Ridge Road, near Interstate 65, but needed more space to expand. The Hoover City Council in August 2021 agreed to abate about $580,000 worth of property and sales taxes to keep Revere in the city of Hoover and assist with its relocation.

205-824-0004, reverecontrol.com

NEW OWNERSHIP

Gerald Wiggins on Feb. 16 purchased a 9,044-squarefoot retail building at 2153 Clearbrook Road in Bluff Park between Shades Mountain Plaza and Bluff Park Village from Clearbrook Partners LLC for $1.89 million, according to parties involved in the sale. The recently renovated building has two tenants, Camp Bow Wow and Hoover Fitness. Michael Murray of Shannon Waltchack represented the seller, and Kyle Crew of Ironvest Partners represented the buyer.

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Full Moon Bar-B-Que, headquartered in Hoover at 3226 Lorna Road, early this year was recognized and featured for its barbecue sauces by two national media outlets. Mashed.com chose Full Moon’s white barbecue sauce as the “best Alabama white sauce,” and CNET.com said Full Moon has the “best barbecue sauce for 2023.” Both the white sauce and standard barbecue sauce are available at any of Full Moon’s 17 locations, online or grocery chains such as Publix and Piggly Wiggly. 205-822-0300, fullmoonbbq.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

America’s First Federal Credit Union, which has offices in Hoover at 3312 Old Columbiana Road and #2 Inverness Center Parkway, has promoted Nancy Rice to senior vice president and chief risk officer and Terry Sanderson to vice president and experience officer.

the credit union in 1979 at the start of her career. Since that time, she has held numerous positions, including file clerk, new accounts representative, collection clerk, loan writer, loan officer, indirect loan officer, supervisor of member services and branch manager. Sanderson moved to the branch services department in 2018, where she served as a regional director managing five of the credit union’s Birmingham branches. In her new role, she will be responsible for focusing on member and employee needs and developing plans and strategies to ensure exceptional and consistent experience is delivered to both credit union members and employees. 205-823-3985 and 205-995-0001, amfirst.org

ANNIVERSARIES

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The restaurant chain has two locations in Hoover at 4745 Chace Circle and at 601 Doug Baker Blvd. 205-682-6999 and 205-980-6063, tazikis.com

CLOSINGS

The Brixx Wood Fired Pizza + Craft Bar at 181 Main St., Suite 241, in the Patton Creek shopping center has closed. brixxpizza.com

Benton Nissan is undergoing $3 million worth of renovations for its automobile dealership at 1640 Montgomery Highway, including a new building front, showroom and office renovations and the new design for Nissan signs, general sales manager Frankie Bartlett said. The work began in February and is expected to take at least six months, he said. The job is being split up to do one side of the building at a time, he said. 205-979-5420, bentonnissanofhoover.com

Rice, a 29-year veteran of the credit union, joined the accounting department in 1994. She moved to the internal audit department in 1997 as a staff auditor and was promoted to manager of the quality assurance/risk management department in 2004. Five years later, Rice was promoted to assistant vice president for risk management, and in 2015 she was appointed vice president for risk management and began serving as the Bank Secrecy Act officer. In her new role, she will be responsible for directing the administration of credit resolutions and enterprise risk management, including vendor management, compliance, fraud, security and quality assurance. Sanderson joined

STIX has closed its Japanese restaurant at 3250 Galleria Circle permanently. stixonline.com

Tuesday Morning announced in February it plans to close at least 263 stores across the country, including the one at 1705 Montgomery Highway in Hoover and nine other locations in Alabama. Others closing in the Birmingham area include one at 5223 U.S. 280 in Brook Highland and 1610 Montclair Road in Eastwood Village. The Hoover store was expected to close by the end of March. 205-985-8680, tuesdaymorning.com

Rice

Sanderson

Working toward wellness

Birmingham Wellness Massage opens new location in Greystone

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

After spending the first part of his career as an educator, Brice Jackson decides to switch careers to become a massage therapist.

“I used to be a sixth grade teacher, and massage was my side hustle,” said Jackson, a resident of the Caldwell Mill area in Shelby County. “The teaching profession has great insurance, but not great pay, so I was probably in my second year of teaching (2006) when I realized the need, and in 2008 I went to [massage] school at night and graduated in 2009.”

When asked why he chose massage therapy as his new career, Jackson said he had a knack for always finding “the spot.” Whenever friends or family were experiencing pain, he could work out the problem and create relief for them.

At one point, he was told by someone that he missed his calling as a massage therapist, so he enrolled in night classes and graduated from Red Mountain Massage Institute.

Jackson created Birmingham Wellness Massage and initially began working with a chiropractor friend before launching his own business in 2016. He worked on his own for two years, and said he didn’t plan on growing the business but was enjoying the clients he had along with networking.

Someone once told him that they liked massages, but wouldn’t want to receive one from a man, so that made Jackson start to think of what his business could be. He got some advice from a client who was also a CFO to help build some structure and find additional therapists.

In 2020, Jackson was excited to open an office in Homewood, a beautiful space that he had renovated and was set to open April 1. The pandemic derailed those plans and he had to figure out how to recoup when he was finally able to open after half of the therapists left.

“I had gone more managerial, helping the team, and then I was hands-on again,” Jackson said. “I love to [massage] and was still doing it partially, but I had to step in and do that instead of focusing on the business.”

For the next six months, Jackson was doing all things related to his business. However, while many businesses failed during Covid, Birmingham Wellness Massage thrived. More therapists were brought on board, and by August 2021, the doors to their Hoover office in Trace Crossings opened.

Birmingham Wellness Massage - Greystone

• WHERE: 2236 Cahaba Valley Drive, Suite 101, Meadow Brook (located in the Sterling Building)

• CALL: 205-224-9406

• WEB: alabamawellnessmassage.com

Jackson’s next goal was to open a location in the Greystone area. He said it took a while to find the right spot, but he continued to add more therapists and fine-tune how they could help more clients. The third location of Birmingham Wellness Massage opened in Greystone in December 2022.

Jackson said what makes his offices unique is that they are clinical but warm, and their therapists wear scrubs, so it feels like a medical office environment.

“Every office has a bit of a different vibe, but what makes us amazing is our therapists,” he said. “What I’ve tried to do more than anything is to try to get out of the way and serve them so they feel empowered to do their best work.”

Jackson shared that values at Birmingham Wellness Massage include simple booking,

the clinical environment and dependable therapists. Birmingham Wellness Massage currently employs 22 therapists who work across the three offices.

Several types of massage therapy are provided at Birmingham Wellness Massage, the most popular include pain relief and Swedish relaxation. Client memberships are available with no contracts, so clients can start, stop and adjust their membership as needed and also save money compared to purchasing a single massage.

Jackson said the company participates in events throughout the city and takes their massage chairs to local businesses for in-office massages.

2x

Certified Property Manager

of the Year in the State of Alabama Century+ as Family Owned & Operated Business

Birmingham Wellness Massage recently opened a third location in Greystone on Cahaba Valley Drive. Photo courtesy of Brice Jackson.

Every office has a bit of a different vibe, but what makes us amazing is our therapists.

BRICE JACKSON

Events

April 5Ks

Several options for runners, walkers

By JON ANDERSON

Springtime is here, and with that come more opportunities to take part in running and walking events in Hoover.

There are at least three 5Ks taking place in the city on the first three Saturdays of April this year.

Here are more details about each event:

BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER DIABETES WALK

Southeastern Diabetes Education Services each year holds multiple walks across Alabama and the Florida panhandle, and its walk for the Birmingham-Hoover area is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, at Veterans Park in Hoover.

The walk, which includes 1-mile and 3.1mile options, raises money to help send children with diabetes to day camps and summer camps that are designed specifically for them.

Type 1 diabetes is an incurable autoimmune condition that cannot be prevented. Camp Seale Harris gives more than 600 children each year the opportunity to learn independence, confidence and skills in managing diabetes, and to gain support from friends who understand.

This year’s Birmingham-Hoover event begins at 10 a.m., but activities will continue until noon, said Rhonda McDavid, executive director for Southeastern Diabetes Education Services.

In addition to the walks, other activities will include a zumba warmup, inflatable slide and bounce house, face painting, cornhole, photo booth and dance party with a disc jockey, McDavid said. The nonprofit also will have light snacks for attendees, such as apples, chips and granola bars, she said.

Participation in the walks is free, but donations are encouraged, and walkers also are encouraged to get people to sponsor them in the walk to raise money for the nonprofit. Many walkers form teams.

Last year’s Birmingham-Hoover walk drew about 180 people on about 50 teams and raised around $65,000, McDavid said. Five other walks were held last year, pushing the total amount raised to about $120,000, she said.

This year’s goal is $70,000 for the

Birmingham-Hoover area walk and $125,000 for all the walks combined. Other walks that were scheduled for this year included walks in Dothan on March 11, Montgomery on March 12, Pensacola on March 25, Mobile on March 26 and Huntsville on April 2.

As of March 23, 137 people were registered on 25 teams for the Birmingham-Hoover walk, with pledges totaling about $12,200. All walkers are asked to register at campsealeharris.org/ diabeteswalk.

JUDY M. MERRITT MEMORIAL 5K

Jefferson State Community College is hosting its Judy M. Merritt Memorial 5K and Community EGGstravaganza on Saturday, April 8, at Veterans Park in Hoover.

The 5K is conducted in memory of Merritt, who served as Jeff State’s president for 35 years and was the first woman appointed as a college president in Alabama. She died in October 2014 at her home in Chelsea, less than four months after leaving her job at the college.

All proceeds from the run go to provide scholarships for Jeff State students with financial needs.

The race is set to begin at 9 a.m. Afterward, medals will be given to the top three male and top three female runners overall as well as the fastest runners in various age groups. All race participants also will receive swag bags and T-shirts.

Also after the race, Jeff State will have its Community Eggstravaganza — an Easter egg hunt with more than 14,000 plastic eggs full of candy, cash and prizes, including more than 2,500 tickets for free Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Papa Murphy’s pizza, Urban Cookhouse wraps, Shake Shack burgers and custards, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Baba Java coffee and more treats that will be on site.

There will be a photo booth, inflatables, face painting and free popcorn, cotton candy and drinks.

The cost to participate in the 5K is $20 ($15 for college students and children 18 and younger who use the STUDENT code at checkout). For people who would rather sleep in but still want to donate, a $15 option is available

Birmingham-Hoover Diabetes Walk

• WHAT: 3.1-mile walk or 1-mile walk for Camp Seale-Harris

• WHERE: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road

• WHEN: Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m.-noon

• COST: No cost but donations accepted

• REGISTER: campsealeharris.org/ diabeteswalk

Judy M. Merritt Memorial 5K & EGGstravaganza

• WHAT: 3.1-mile run and walk in memory of former Jefferson State Community College President Judy Merritt, benefitting scholarships

• WHERE: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road

• WHEN: Saturday, April 8, 9 a.m.

• COST: $20 ($15 for college students and children 18 and younger)

• REGISTER: jeffersonstate.edu/5k

High Country 5K

• WHAT: 3.1-mile run

• WHERE: Starts and ends at Shades Crest Baptist Church, 452 Park Ave.

• WHEN: Saturday, April 15, 8 a.m.

• COST: $35 through April 14 ($40 on race day); $10 for K-5 students

• REGISTER: shadescrest.org/high country5k

that includes a T-shirt if selected by March 27.

Participants can pick up packets Friday, April 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Judy M. Merritt Health Science Building on the Shelby-Hoover campus, or with drivethrough pickup in the front circle if the weather is nice. Race packets also will be available on race day from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Park pavilion. All runners should be checked in by 8:30 a.m.

To register, go to jeffersonstate.edu/5k. For more information, contact Libby Holmes at lholmes@jeffersonstate.edu or 205-983-5230.

HIGH COUNTRY 5K

Shades Crest Baptist Church is putting on its 21st annual High Country 5K at 8 a.m. on April 15 at the church at 452 Park Ave. in Bluff Park.

The race will follow its usual course, known to be challenging because the last three-quarters of a mile is uphill, and have its traditional

MORE NEARBY RUNS

► April 1: Birmingham Track Club Statue to Statue 15K, at Vulcan Park

► April 15: Red Shoe Run Rockin’ 5K in downtown Birmingham

► April 22: Mutt Strut 5K at Homewood Central Park, St. Elias Cedar Run 5K at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in Birmingham

► April 28: Indy 5K at Barber Motorsports Park

► April 29: Girls on the Run 5K at Patriot Park in Homewood

free pancake breakfast. However, this year, there will be a separate, delayed start for Bluff Park Elementary School students for an “Elementary School Challenge” between the various “houses” (groups of students) at the school shortly after the main start, said Matt Bearden, one of the organizers of this year’s race.

Also, this year, there will not be a free pasta dinner the night before the race or a 1-mile fun run after the 5K, Bearden said. Instead, there will be an inflatable obstacle course on which kids can play, he said.

Runners will receive a T-shirt, and the race will be chip-timed. The cost to participate is $35 through April 14 and $40 on race day. However, students in kindergarten through fifth grade pay only $10.

Bearden said the church is trying to increase participation this year back up to the level it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the race typically attracted about 300 runners a year. In 2021, there were about 125 runners, and last year there were about 130 runners.

To register, go to shadescrest.org/highcountry5k. You can scan the QR code below for a $10 discount.

Left: People participate in the 2021 Birmingham-Hoover Diabetes Walk put on by Southeastern Diabetes Education Services at Veterans Park in Hoover. Photo courtesy of John Latimer. Right: Runners take off at the start of the High Country 5K put on by Shades Crest Baptist Church in the Bluff Park community in April 2022. Photo by Jon Anderson.

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City to have only 1 Household Hazardous Waste Day this year

By JON ANDERSON

The city of Hoover has scheduled only one Household Hazardous Waste Day this year, and it will be April 22 at the Hoover Public Safety Center from 8 a.m. to noon.

The past two years, the city experimented with having a second Household Hazardous Waste Day in the fall, but the city received only about 25% of the amount of things people typically bring in the spring, according to the Public Works Department. So the decision was made to only hold the spring event this year.

Household Hazardous Waste Day gives Hoover residents a chance to safely dispose of items such as leftover wet paint, automotive fluids, household cleaners, pesticides, batteries, standard-size tires, electronics, medication, guns and ammunition. The idea is to provide for safe disposal of items that shouldn’t go into a landfill.

Last spring’s collection day attracted almost 1,300 people. Among the items collected were 680 gallons of motor oil, 150 gallons of cooking oil, 262 tires, 85 car batteries, enough paint and paint-related materials to fill 59 pallet-sized boxes and 16 pallets, 18 55-gallon drums of pesticides, eight 55-gallon drums of flammable liquids, 24 55-gallon drums of corrosive liquids and solids, nine 55-gallon drums of antifreeze, 227 propane tanks, four 55-gallon drums and three 5-gallon drums of household batteries, three 55-gallon drums of oxidizers, five pallet-size boxes of aerosols, 47 fire extinguishers, 370 fluorescent light bulbs and 1,496 compact fluorescent lamps.

The Hoover Police Department collected 32 boxes of prescription drugs and other medication totaling 590 pounds, as well as five rifles, four handguns, four boxes of ammunition, some fireworks and an airbag, Officer Brian Hale said. The city also took in 51 flags, which many people believe also should not go in landfills out of respect.

Hazardous Household Waste Day

• WHERE: Hoover Public Safety Center

• WHEN: Saturday, April 22, 8 a.m.-noon.

• WEB: hooveral.org/309/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Day

Additionally, The Foundry Rescue and Recovery Center collected about 3½ truckloads of equipment such as TV sets, computer

equipment and small appliances such as toaster ovens and coffee makers.

The dropoff day is for residents of Hoover

and Indian Springs Village only, and residents must show proof of residency, such as a valid driver’s license or other photo ID with address listed. Dropoffs from businesses will not be allowed, officials said. There also will not be a paper shredding service at this event.

For a complete list of items that will be accepted and a list of items that won’t be accepted, go to hooveral.org/309/ Household-Hazardous-Waste-Day.

For more information, call the Hoover Public Works Department at 205-444-7543.

John Graham, with the City of Hoover, removes tubs of paint from the bed of a truck as residents of Hoover drop off items for disposal, like paint, vehicle fluids and electronics, during Hoover’s Hazardous Waste Day at the Hoover Public Safety Center in April 2021. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Jessica Rainer and her daughter, Amelia Rainer, of Riverchase ride one of the carnival rides at Celebrate Hoover Day at Veterans Park in Hoover in April 2022.

by Jon Anderson.

More Cowbell to play at 2023 Celebrate Hoover Day

By JON ANDERSON

The 2023 Celebrate Hoover Day, Hoover’s main citywide festival, is scheduled for April 29 at Veterans Park off Valleydale Road.

This year’s festival will be much like past years, except for a change in the live entertainment, said Kelly Peoples, the city’s new events manager. Instead of having a variety of groups or individuals performing music, dance or demonstrations of things such as martial arts, the entertainment will be provided by a band called More Cowbell.

The band, named after a “Saturday Night Live” sketch from 2000 that starred Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken, plays cover songs by everyone from Marvin Gaye to Florida Georgia Line, Prince, Taylor Swift and Journey, according to its website.

Celebrate Hoover Day is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and More Cowbell is scheduled to play from 11:30 to 3, with a few breaks, Peoples said.

The festival as usual will have carnival rides, inflatables, a bungee jump station, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, airbrush tattoos and a car show by the Dixie Vintage Antique Automobile Car Club, Peoples said.

2023 Celebrate Hoover Day

• WHERE: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road

• WHEN: Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• COST: Admission is free; food for sale

The Hoover police and fire departments should have their specialty equipment and vehicles on display, and businesses and other organizations working with the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce will have an exhibitor tent, she said.

The event always includes food trucks, and volunteers will be handing out servings from a 10-foot-wide apple pie cooked in a giant oven.

The day begins with a ceremony to acknowledge veterans whose family members or friends have purchased brick pavers in their honor within the past year for the Veterans Plaza, next to the main pavilion at the park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Special Senior Exemption a full exemption for everyone 65 years of age or older?

No, it is an exemption that is in addition to the Over-65 exemption that will freeze the assessed value for the next applicable tax year once claimed.

I do not file income taxes. How does that affect my Special Senior Exemption claim?

Hundreds of plants for sale at Aldridge April 27-29

By JON ANDERSON

Aldridge Gardens’ spring plant sale for 2023 is set for April 27-29.

People will have the opportunity to purchase hundreds of plants, including a large selection of hydrangeas and native azaleas, said Deborah Kattus, a volunteer member of the plant committee at Aldridge.

The largest selection should be of snowflake hydrangeas, which is the signature plant at Aldridge, patented by the late gardens founder Eddie Aldridge and his father in 1971. There should be close to 100 snowflake hydrangeas and probably 20 to 30 of other snowflake varieties, including annabelles, limelights, limelight primes, little limes and bo bos, Kattus said.

Azaleas that have been ordered include Admiral Semmes, Redmond real, Southern sunset, Tallulah sunrise, Stonewall Jackson and pink carousel, she said.

The sale also should include a selection of ferns, hostas, butterfly plants, passion vines, purple coneflowers, lungwort, asters, chaste trees, milkweed and herbs such as mint, oregano, lavender and basil, Kattus said. Most of the plants and trees should be three gallons or smaller, she said.

Aldridge likes to focus on putting perennials

Aldridge Gardens Spring Plant Sale

• WHERE: Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road

• WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 27-28; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 29

• WEB: aldridgegardens.com

in its plant sale because home improvement stores and other nurseries typically carry a lot of annuals, she said. The sale includes plants bought from nurseries as well as pass-along plants propagated by volunteers at the gardens, she said. There also will be food trucks and an outside vendor selling bonsai.

Volunteers and master gardeners will be present to help shoppers select the right plants for their homes and give advice about placement, care and maintenance, said Rip Weaver, the landscape architect at Aldridge. Aldridge Gardens members will receive 10% off all purchases with their membership card. For more about the gardens and the sale, visit aldridgegardens.com.

It does not, taxable income is not a qualification for the SSPE (Special Senior Property Tax Exemption)

Can I get this exemption on all my properties?

No, The Special Senior Exemption can only be claimed on the property that is your primary residence or any adjacent properties that are considered part of your primary residence.

I am over the age of 65, but my spouse is not. Can I still claim the Special Senior exemption?

Yes, you can still claim the exemption even though your spouse is not 65 years of age or older at this time. If your name is on the deed and the property is your primary residence, the exemption can be claimed.

I did not live on my property for 5 years can I claim the exemption? No, one of the qualifications to claim the exemption is to have the property assessed in your name for 5 years immediately preceding the year they are claiming.

How long will the exemption stay on the property?

The exemption will remain on the property if you renew the Over-65 Exemption each year.

If my value, goes down will I be able to claim the exemption at the lower rate?

Yes, you will only need to come in and reclaim the exemption at the lower rate.

Will my taxes increase in the future?

Since the property value is what is frozen, yes It is possible that a millage rate increase or an addition to you property could increase your taxes.

Photo

experience to help others.

Francavilla was eating dinner with her son and his family in Philadelphia in the fall of 2018, when she suddenly lost hearing in her right ear.

Back home, an MRI at Shelby Baptist Medical Center revealed a benign brain tumor between her eardrum and brain. She received radiation treatment but the problems worsened.

She could hear things that were said but couldn’t remember them. She became weak on the left side of her body and couldn’t lift her left leg without dragging it. “I fell on my face when I was walking because I couldn’t control my speed,” she said.

A girlfriend convinced her to see her doctor again, and he discovered she had hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Doctors in October 2021 put in a shunt to remove the fluid off her brain, but the tumor grew again.

This time, in July of last year, she went to California to have the tumor removed by surgeons who specialize in radiated tumors. She had “an army of support” from family and friends around the country and is grateful for the outpouring of love she received, she said.

Francavilla is still recovering and dealing with the aftermath. She can’t hear out of her right ear, has a constant ringing in her ear, must be careful with quick movements and has lost some of her balance. The latter is tough for someone who once dreamed of being a ballet dancer.

“I used to have amazing balance when I was a dancer, and now it’s lousy,” she said.

She also hasn’t gone back on the air as an anchor since the end of 2018. She did a little reporting on the tornado that came through Shelby County in March 2021, but the brain tumor and hydrocephalus created some “brain fog,” she said. “I just don’t trust I could remember information — you know, recall and report it in front of a national audience.”

Francavilla, 62, chose to focus on her health and recovery and count her blessings.

“I’m just grateful to be alive, to be walking and talking and able to contribute,” she said. “I

feel like I have a second lease on life.”

In particular, she hopes to use her experience to help others. She’s in a unique position, she said, because she has experienced dementia symptoms but came out on the other side and can talk about it. She can help people going through it and help others understand what it’s like.

“If someone has dementia, I know exactly what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling,” she said. “You become very inwardly focused, I think because you’re in survival mode, and easily frightened. I lost all confidence in myself.”

Her father went through dementia, and “for the first time, I understand what he felt and how helpless you feel,” she said.

Francavilla’s journalism career has taken her

around the country and world. She broadcast the news on radio stations in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Birmingham and worked at TV stations in Washington, D.C., and Birmingham. Most of her career — at least 20 years — was with CBS Radio, informing listeners about major news stories in Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle.

In 2000 and 2006, she participated in a journalist exchange program between Germany and America and produced a seven-part TV series on Alabama’s connection to Germany. She also has reported from Cuba, Poland, Peru, France, Italy and Spain.

Francavilla contributed or produced freelance stories to national radio and TV shows and networks, including CBS Radio’s “World News Roundup,” Westwood One’s “America in

the Morning,” National Public Radio, Voice of America, CBS TV’s “The Early Show” and the “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” series.

She has written for numerous publications, served 10 years as an Edward R. Murrow judge for the Radio Television Digital News Association and is a graduate of Leadership Hoover, Leadership Shelby County and Leadership Birmingham.

Francavilla founded her own public relations agency, Frankly Speaking Communications, where she produces corporate videos, podcasts and web, television and radio commercials.

Her voice can be heard in a variety of places, including reading scripture on Sundays as a lector at Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and describing the layout of the holes of the Greystone Legacy golf course on the country club’s website.

Francavilla is a past president of the Alabama Media Professionals and in 2016 received the organization’s Communicator of Achievement award. She now serves as chairwoman of AMP’s scholarship fund.

The Ms. Senior Alabama competition recruited her to be one of 14 contestants in its 2023 competition, set for June 10 at Oak Mountain High School. Kim Crawford-Meeks, the pageant producer, said Francavilla is an amazing, strong person who isn’t afraid to try new things and embodies the idea that everyone has a purpose.

Six months after her first surgery, Francavilla went on a ski trip with the Birmingham Ski Club to force herself to get on her feet.

“It worked out well, and I got down the hill,” she said. “I was really happy about that. I was just determined to push myself because if you feel sorry for yourself all day long, you don’t get better.”

Francavilla said she never thought she’d be in something like the Ms. Senior Alabama competition but she hopes she can be an encouragement to others to dare to dream.

“I thought my life was over, and I appreciate it so much more now,” she said.

She remembers a poster she had as a teenager that said, “If you dream it, you can become it,” and “that has inspired me all my life,” she said. “It still is true. Just because we’re older, we’re not dead yet.”

Dr. Rick Friedman, an ENT at the University of California San Diego Medical Center, and Donna Francavilla following the removal of an acoustic neuroma brain tumor in July 2022.

Photo courtesy of Donna Francavilla.

Traditional SERVICES - 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 11:00 AM

Modern SERVICE -11:00 AM

April 9th

riverchaseumc.org

1953 Old Montgomery HWY Hoover, AL 35244

PROJECTS

CONTINUED from page A1

The City Council vote on March 6 was unanimous concerning a new interstate interchange just west of South Shades Crest Road, and the council voted 6-1 regarding borrowing money to build an arts center and improving the Hoover Met. A final vote on March 20 for an $85 million warrant issue was unanimous.

The city actually received $93.3 million by issuing warrants but only had to borrow $85 million because people buying the warrants paid $8.76 million in premiums, and the city received an underwriting discount of about $425,000, records show.

Council President John Lyda said he believes these three projects will have an impact as big as or bigger than the recent expansion of the Hoover Metropolitan Complex in terms of economic impact and positioning the city for success in the future. The vote also gives the arts community something that is long overdue, Lyda said.

Councilman Casey Middlebrooks cast the lone no votes on borrowing money for the arts center and Hoover Met improvements. He said he favors the projects but didn’t feel good about borrowing money for them at this point without more specific plans ironed out.

The city is still in negotiations with the owner of the Patton Creek shopping center about building an arts center there, and final details about improvements needed at the Hoover Met are subject to talks with the Southeastern Conference, which hosts the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Met.

I-459 INTERCHANGE

The new Exit 9 interchange on I-459 actually is expected to cost about $120 million, including $5.5 million for land acquisition, $4.9 million for utility relocation, $3.5 million for preliminary engineering and $106 million for construction.

The city has an agreement with the state of Alabama that Hoover will pay $61 million, including all the costs for land acquisition, utility relocation and engineering and 44% of the construction cost. The state, administering federal money, would pick up the other $59 million in construction costs.

The Hoover City Council approved the agreement with the state on Jan. 3, and Gov. Kay Ivey signed it in February, City Administrator Allan Rice said.

The city already has spent $5.27 million to buy 22 acres on the northwest side of I-459 and 31.3 acres on the southeast side, but there still is a need to acquire some additional parcels, Rice said. That could take a few months, depending on how receptive the current property owners are, he said.

The next step will be utility relocation,

which could potentially stretch into the next fiscal year, Rice said. The design process is still underway, and it probably will be five to seven years before the interchange is complete and open, he said.

Brocato said the new interchange will go a long way in improving traffic in the western portion of the city, particularly along South Shades Crest Road and Alabama 150. It also will help serve the new Everlee community that is under construction and is slated to contain 2,344 homes and a commercial district.

Karen Apel, president of the Russet Woods Homeowners Association, said she knows the new interchange is a huge expense, but she’s glad the mayor and City Council are willing to spend the money because it will really improve traffic for the 1,000-plus homes in Russet Woods, plus all the other communities in and around western Hoover.

“The traffic is just very frustrating,” Apel said. She and other residents have been waiting a long time to get some relief, “so I’m thrilled … I’m grateful. I think it’ll be a huge benefit.”

Not everyone is as happy. Numerous residents who live in an older community along Old Section Road off Alabama 150

objected to the proposed location of a road that would connect the interstate with Ross Bridge Parkway.

Josh Gough, who owns about four acres and has horses there, said he and his wife purchased a home there in July because it’s one of only a couple of places in Hoover where people can have horses. It’s an amazing and unique neighborhood, he said.

While they are new Hoover residents, many of the people who live there have been there 30, 40 or more years and don’t want to see their neighborhood destroyed, he said.

Danny Gammon, another resident of the area, said there’s no question that traffic relief is needed, but his biggest concern is that Hoover officials don’t see his little neighborhood as being worth protection. If a connector road is going to be built, he’d like the city and state to consider some privacy and noise abatement measures, he said.

Jennifer Gough said there are people there who are going to lose their homes, “and you don’t seem to care about those people at all.”

“Those people have nowhere to go. They can’t afford to go anywhere else,” she said. “No, we’re not Trace Crossings. No, we’re not Ross Bridge, but we are a community, and those people are important.”

Stuart Hicks said he has lived there since 1985 and has seen Hoover officials add more and more developments that have caused problems, and he said this new interchange and connector road are going to cause more problems.

“At some point in time, you have to say enough. You have to stop it,” Hicks said. “At some point in time, we’ve got to stop it. We have to stop electing people that are going to do this to us.”

Resident Ruth Staubitz said eight or nine people will lose their homes. “And it’s going to create a horrendous situation for the rest of us who are living there, and we’ve been living there a long, long time,” she said. “Instead of taking care of your citizens, you’re worried about putting in these gated communities, and it doesn’t even have the roadway to deal with all these people.”

Lyda said there’s no question that the new interstate interchange and connector roads are needed to help traffic move more smoothly.

“This is a high-priority project for the council and the mayor,” he said. “It’s a project that has been in the works since 2004 when [former Mayor] Tony Petelos was first elected. It just shows how long the process takes to come to fruition.”

Top: A map shows where the new exit on Interstate 459 will connect to South Shades Crest Road (at right). Above: Blake Miller, Hoover’s assistant city engineer, center, talks with Mayor Frank Brocato and Emily Aderholt, a civil engineer for the city, about the new Exit 9 interchange for Interstate 459 as they stand on the South Shades Crest Road overpass. Photos by Erin Nelson.

People who live off Old Section Road and in other areas will have an opportunity to address more specific concerns regarding placement of the connector road and its impact when the Alabama Department of Transportation holds public involvement meetings to discuss designs late this summer, Lyda said.

ARTS CENTER

The council also plans to allocate about $17 million from the warrant issue to help pay for a new arts center, with an additional $3 million expected to be needed from other capital funds, Rice said.

The plan being discussed now is to include the arts center in a major redevelopment of the Patton Creek shopping center. The plan is for the owner of Patton Creek — The Necessity Retail REIT — to build the shell of the arts center and for the city of Hoover to lease the facility and do the internal buildout, Rice said.

The idea is to create a venue for touring Broadway plays, concerts, dance recitals and similar performances, while also having some display space for the visual arts and potentially some teaching space for visual artists, city officials have said.

Additionally, the plans include space for a 3.4-acre park in front of the arts center that could serve as a location for outdoor events.

Pam Sayle, a member of the Hoover Arts Council and owner of the Alabama Dance Academy in Hoover, said she has watched the city of Hoover pour money into sporting events and facilities for decades and neglect the arts.

She couldn’t imagine officials telling football players in Hoover they have to go to Thompson High School in Alabaster to play football because they have a field and Hoover doesn’t, but that’s exactly what has happened to dancers in the city, she said.

“Every athlete has a place to play, but dancer athletes do not,” Sayle said. “I think this is unacceptable for the city for the size that we are. … These children go to school here. They worship here. They can’t dance here. And I have watched other communities build schools with state-of-the-art theaters. That’s where we have to go to perform. We go to Birmingham. We go to Thompson High School. We go to Oak Mountain High School because all of those places have better theaters.”

There is not a theater in Hoover that can accommodate her students’ performances, she said. At the March 6 council meeting, she implored the council to “do right by them” and borrow the money for an arts center.

Brocato said he’s proud of the City Council for approving the funding to make the arts center happen. “I think there’s a lot of excitement in our city over this. It’s long overdue,” he said.

He also thanked all the people in the community who have worked hard to keep the vision for such a center in the forefront of discussions.

Councilman Curt Posey, who is the council’s liaison to the Hoover Art Council, said he

is thrilled to finally be able to move forward with this project that has been talked about and debated for many years. City officials have worked hard to do their due diligence in planning for an arts center, and now it’s time to move forward with it, he said.

Paulette Pearson, chairwoman of the Hoover Arts Council, said she and others in the arts community are thrilled. “For years, we’ve been working on this, and it’s really, really going to happen,” Pearson said.

The vote for funding was a crucial step that will help the city in its negotiations with Patton Creek as the leading potential site, she said.

Middlebrooks said city officials have been in talks with the owner of Patton Creek for 1½ years, and negotiations for a lease keep dragging on. He knows an arts center is needed and believes it will spur economic development but didn’t feel good about borrowing $17 million for an arts center without a signed lease, he said.

Rice said borrowing the money does not obligate the city to move forward with the arts center. The resolution to borrow the money was worded to state that it is the city’s intention to use the money for an arts center, but the city can use the money for other things, and the council would be the body to decide on any alternate use of the funds, he said.

Also, the city is not obligated to build an arts center in Patton Creek, Rice said. While city officials believe that is the optimal place to build it, “that’s not the only place it can go,” Rice said.

If talks with Patton Creek were to break

down, the city has other ideas of where to look next, he said.

Brocato said that while some questions remain, “the project is definitely moving forward.”

HOOVER MET IMPROVEMENTS

The council also plans to use $15 million from the warrant issue for improvements to the Hoover Met Stadium, plus another $5 million in other capital funds, Rice said. The project includes significant improvements to the parking lot, in particular a redesign to help people more clearly and safely navigate their way around the parking areas at the stadium, Rice said.

Other improvements under consideration include upgrades to the seating area, concourse, concession stands and restrooms, Rice said.

One potential renovation would be to replace all the aluminum bleacher seating in the general admission section with stadium seats — something the Southeastern Conference is requesting for the SEC Baseball Tournament, Posey and Rice said.

The city also on its own is considering reconfiguring the concession stands so that they face the playing field instead of the interior concourse so fans don’t lose their view of the games while going to get concessions, Rice said.

Other projects deemed worthwhile include creating a new ticket entry gate from the lower parking lot to the left field area and creating a partial boardwalk area in the outfield to allow for some fun game observation and hospitality space, Rice said.

But details of the Hoover Met improvements

are still dependent on talks with the SEC about what that organization wants to see, he said.

Paul Dangel, director of sales and marketing for the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel, encouraged the council to borrow the money for all three projects but especially the improvements to the Hoover Met Stadium.

It’s important for the stadium to be able to meet the needs of the SEC because there are a host of cities that have tried to get the SEC Baseball Tournament to relocate to them, Dangel said. Having the tournament in Hoover has a significant impact on the economy through hotel stays and purchases at restaurants and retail stores, he said.

“That business is all but irreplaceable to us,” he said.

Paul Sanford, a former member of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board and chief financial officer for The Barber Companies real estate investment company, said the Hoover Met was the best facility of its kind in the country when it was built, but it has to continually be updated to keep up with the times and remain an attractive venue.

“This city is in an arms race,” he said. But reinvesting in the facility is worth it, he said.

STORMWATER PROBLEMS

Numerous residents told the council they like the projects that will be funded by this warrant issue and other projects in a five-year capital plan that was approved by the council on March 6, but several advised the council it needs to invest more in stormwater management.

Kathi Thomas, a resident of Trace Crossings, said it has been well documented that stormwater problems have caused a lot of havoc in the city.

“People have died. People’s homes have been destroyed. People’s cars have been destroyed, and there’s not a long-term plan,” Thomas said. “Is the health and safety and well-being of people who live here not as important as a center for the arts?”

Schoel Engineering came up with a list of recommendations for stormwater drainage improvements, and those should be a part of the city’s capital plan, Thomas said.

Larry Wojciechowski , a board member for the Southlake Estates Residential Association, said the council needs to take a hard look at stormwater management.

“We are suffering,” Wojciechowski said. “There are people who are experiencing tens of thousands of dollars of damage every time we have a couple inches of rain.”

Thomas Van Ness of the Paradise Acres community said it’s great to see projects that will help the city grow economically, but there are serious stormwater problems that need to be addressed. Stormwater is filling up Hoover’s lakes with sediment, Van Ness said.

“These lakes have limits, and as more and more mud and trash and trees and wood come down from the mountain into the Cahaba River, we have a problem,” he said.

Economic development is great, but there has to be a balance to make a great community, Van Ness said.

“It really takes making a place where people can live and people can feel like they are living safely and their property will not be destroyed,” he said.

Lyda said there are a lot of needs in the city, and this council believes it is addressing the most pressing needs.

The city’s engineers and attorneys have worked over the last few years to determine the dividing line between stormwater drainage problems that are the city’s responsibility and those that are property owners’ responsibility, “and we’re well-positioned with where we are on that,” Lyda said.

Some people disagree with the city’s position on that issue, he said.

Posey said some of the people who have reported stormwater problems have filed legal claims against the city, and once such a claim is filed, it slows down the process of mitigating the problem. Everything related to those problems must go through the city attorney’s office first, he said.

In cases where people have not filed claims against the city, the city can more easily and more quickly come up with public-private partnerships to address issues, Posey said.

The City Council likely will take another look at the status of stormwater projects when it does its mid-year budget review soon, he said.

Top, Students warm up during a ballet class taught by Pam Sayle at the Alabama Dance Academy in Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson. Above: Fans cheer at the SEC Baseball Tournament in 2017. The fan experience could change with $20 million in stadium modifications being contemplated by Hoover officials Photo by Jon Anderson

Sun B

Home & Garden Guide 2023

Special Advertising Section

Spring is in bloom, and it’s the perfect time to plant a garden, do some cleaning or start a home renovation. Find tips and tricks from area businesses to jump-start any project in our guide.

Spring is a wonderful time of the year when homeowners can get back outside, savor the warm weather and enjoy their yards with family and friends.

It’s also a good time for homeowners to dramatically improve their landscaping or create exciting new outdoor spaces.

They can turn to the experts at Gardner Landscaping in Hoover, who’ve provided timely, top-quality service to residential and commercial customers since 2006.

“Our specialty is making a beautiful landscape with trees, shrubs and flowers,” owner Grant Gardner said. “However, we’re also very good at developing outdoor play and entertainment areas.”

Gardner and his team stay abreast of the latest outdoor design trends, and combine cultivated greenery and pops of vivid color to create the perfect outdoor environments.

They can also satisfy any client’s taste with either traditional or unusual plant materials.

Gardner Landscaping boasts a full staff of licensed, insured and talented

personnel, unlike some landscape businesses.

“We have the personnel and resources to get to your project in a timely manner,” Gardner said, adding that they strive to provide clients with a quote on their projects within 24 hours.

Gardner Landscaping employees are also highly motivated to satisfy their customers.

“We strive to satisfy individual preferences, while advising our customers based upon several factors, such as the intended purpose of the space,” Gardner said.

Gardner Landscaping works with all types and sizes of budgets and landscapes in Birmingham, Auburn, Dadeville, Alexander City or Lake Martin.

For details, call 205-401-3347 or go to gardnerlandscapingllc.com.

Need some new window coverings this spring? Steve Thackerson is ready to help you have beautiful window blinds, shutters, solar shades and draperies that you can control from anywhere. They’re easy to use and easy to afford, he said.

“Motorization is a big thing now. There are ways you can tie motorized window coverings into your home’s automation system,” said Thackerson, owner of Budget Blinds of Birmingham.

With a touch of your phone — even when you’re not home — you can raise or lower your window coverings, or you can tell Alexa to do it for you. Your Budget Blinds can also open or close at a preselected time of day or night.

“We can usually tie our product into any system you might have,” Thackerson said. “We take pride in providing style and service for every budget.”

At Budget Blinds — your local window covering expert — they take the time to understand you and your unique needs to deliver the best custom window covering solution designed for the way you live.

They do any kind of custom window covering. As far as blinds go, they offer wood and faux wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite and vertical blinds or vertical blind alternatives. They also offer shades of all kinds: roller, Roman, cellular, bamboo, woven wood, pleated, sheer, graphic and solar.

And they can get your interior plantation shutter needs taken care of with wood or composite.

“Shutters and woven wood shades are our top two sellers,”

Thackerson said.

You can see a gallery of recent projects on their website to get a feel for what they can do for your home or office, or visit their

showroom in Vestavia at 2130 Columbiana Road.

“We install them, so anything that’s purchased from us, we’ll custom measure your windows

and professionally install them,” Thackerson said. “We don’t subcontract that out. We control everything from setting up the appointment to the final installation.”

They also have better warranties than their competitors, he said. “Our manufacturers may also sell to our competitors, but they don’t give them the same warranties they give us. That sets us apart. We get the same products but better pricing and better warranties because we are the largest retailer of custom window coverings in the world.”

That comes with their national presence and the long relationships he and his wife have built in their more than 30 years in the business. He also has two salesmen with decades of experience.

“They are veteran employees who have been with me a long time,” Thackerson said.

The highly trained design consultants at Budget Blinds put their heart and soul into creating the perfect answer to your window fashion needs. They even bring their entire showroom to you with their free in-home design consultation.

They also really enjoy serving their many wonderful customers in all of Birmingham and surrounding areas.

To learn more, call them or go to their website today.

Using skill, personal touch to create beautiful lawns

Advanced Turf Care • 205-305-7949 • advancedturfcarellc.com

The typical homeowner spends lots of time and money to create a luscious green lawn that will increase their home’s value and curb appeal.

Advanced Turf Care, a full-service lawn care company in Birmingham, makes sure that homeowners maximize their investment and get the beautiful yards they deserve.

The skilled professionals at Advanced Turf Care also offer homeowners a friendly, personal touch.

“We want to give individualized attention to our customers that the big companies cannot,” owner Grant Gardner said.

The employees at Advanced Turf Care are “some of the best in the business,” he said. They have lots of knowledge and experience, as well as attention to detail and a passion for customer service.

“We want the customer to have an enjoyable experience when dealing with us,” Gardner said.

Homeowners don’t have to settle for second best in their lawn care.

“Don’t keep using a lawn service that provides you a cheap price and a lawn

One Man & A Toolbox celebrates 25 years of great service to homeowners

If your home needs routine maintenance or minor repairs, you may think you can do it yourself and save money.

you’re not proud of,” Gardner said.

For example, Advanced Turf Care uses high-quality, slow-release fertilizer that feeds your lawn and keeps it healthy all season.

Other providers “use cheap fertilizer that will give your lawn an initial green, but not provide the nourishment your lawn needs,” Gardner said.

In addition, Advanced Turf Care is there for you over the long haul and really understand weed control.

“Give us time to make your lawn truly healthy,” Gardner said. “The best control of weeds is achieved months before they appear.”

Advanced Turf Care also takes care of your shrubs and trees, which need fertilization and pest protection just like your lawn.

For details, call 205-305-7949 or go to advancedturfcarellc.com.

However, even if you believe you have the right skills and tools to do a job, it will likely take you a lot longer than it should, because you don’t do home repairs every day.

Most home projects, even small handyman jobs, are better left to the experienced professionals at One Man & A Toolbox, now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

One Man & A Toolbox can handle any small project, including minor carpentry, plumbing and electrical fixes. They can also do painting, caulking, shelving and more.

“Any odd jobs around your home, we’ll get them done right the first time,” said owner Jay Moss.

Moss and company can also do many other special tasks, like putting up decorations or assembling a swing set.

“No matter how crazy you think the task is, call us and we’ll try to figure it out,” Moss said.

One Man & A Toolbox can also tackle larger home improvement projects.

Moss warns homeowners against calling unlicensed, uninsured repairmen from Angi or Craigslist. Many will ask for money to buy materials before starting and won’t return or won’t be available for warranty issues that arise after the job.

One Man & A Toolbox has skilled, reliable employees who are licensed, insured and bonded.

And the company is here to stay. The 25th anniversary “shows the good reputation we have to be able to stay in business,” Moss said. Call 205-823-2111 or go to oneman-toolbox.com.

Experience life to the fullest

Galleria Woods • 205-277-6915 • galleriawoodsseniorliving.com

Galleria Woods Senior Living Community offers a plethora of residential options, comprehensive services and enjoyable amenities.

Anne Smyth is the Director of Sales and Marketing and has worked there for six years. She talks about what makes Galleria Woods Senior Living as pleasant as it is in the interview below:

Q: What services does Galleria Woods offer?

A: We offer a full-service life plan including assisted and skilled nursing services and rehabilitation. Galleria Woods is unique to Birmingham and residents receive benefits that they wouldn’t get at other senior living communities in the area. Those benefits include care for life, reduced rates for healthcare centers and tax benefits with the life plan community. The overall concept is to provide a continuum of care no matter what may be ahead for residents.

Q: What can residents look forward to when they live here?

A: Besides the stunning location of Galleria Woods — 20 wooded acres in Birmingham’s prestigious Riverchase area — residents can expect peace of mind in knowing that their future is

set. They should expect an excellent dining experience, exercise classes, lectures on various topics, trying new restaurants and activities in Birmingham and weekend trips away. Our residents come from different parts of the country and carry unique stories. Between well-known guests like James Spann making an appearance or weekend trips to the Smoky Mountains, residents will experience life to the fullest.

Q: What is your benchmark for success?

A: Our staff at Galleria Woods prioritizes the well-being and safety of our residents above all else. We work to ensure they are living their best life in retirement. This includes checking off some of their “bucket list” items. Now that they don’t have to worry about day-today tasks, their free time expands and they can focus on accomplishing their individual dreams and goals.

Family-owned Allsteel Fence provides security, curb appeal

Allsteel Fence • 205-942-8249 • allsteelfence.com

While multigenerational family businesses are rare these days, Allsteel Fence is the exception as a third generation family business. It prides itself on its deeply-rooted values of customer service and high-quality products.

Founded by Bob Jones in 1964, the company has grown from a one-room office with one installation crew and salesman to now over 40 employees and three locations, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Anniston. Allsteel fabricates their own chain-link wire, provides security gate operator systems, builds custom gates in house, and has the largest inventory of fence materials in central Alabama. They have the capability to serve all clients’ residential, commercial, and industrial fencing needs. Allsteel Fence offers chain-link, ornamental, wood, PVC, custom gates, and gate operator systems, and sells all of these products directly to the public. And if you’re looking to do-ityourself, Allsteel offers a better variety,

a more knowledgeable sales staff, and prices that always beat the big box stores.

For the past 59 years, Allsteel Fence has remained in the Jones family and is currently owned by Bob’s son, Jeff, and managed by his two sons, Jonathan and Alex. Company Vice President Jonathan Jones said Allsteel Fence is able to offer a high level of quality because it manufactures and fabricates so many of its own products.

Allsteel Fence’s products provide security and curb appeal to all residential and commercial customers, Jones said. “Our residential fences are often used to provide containment or privacy for pets and children,” he said. “Our commercial fences are typically used to provide security to one’s property.”

And, as the business looks to its next 59 years, it will continue to offer high-quality products and unmatched customer service that have become a family tradition.

Galleria Woods residents, from left, Ruby Ingram, Suzanne Challiss and Ruth Stone.

Former Hoover band director to be inducted into Hall of Fame

By JON ANDERSON

A former Hoover High School band director has been selected for induction into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.

Harry McAfee, who served as Hoover’s band director from 2001 to 2010, is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 28 at the Alabama Bandmasters Association All-State Festival in Huntsville.

Steve McLendon, a former longtime band director from Dothan High School and Hall of Fame inductee who nominated McAfee, said McAfee is most deserving and should have been inducted a long time ago.

McAfee served as president of the Alabama Bandmasters Association from 2007 to 2009 and was the group’s executive secretary/treasurer for several years after he retired. He was a band director in public schools in Alabama for 37 years and developed some very strong band programs, McLendon said.

“Everywhere he’s been, he’s been highly successful. He’s just a fantastic teacher,” McLendon said. “He’s just been a very active teacher and mentor to many other directors in the state.”

After graduating from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham in 1967 and getting a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Montevallo in 1972, McAfee got his first job as a band director at Calera High School.

After one year there, he became the band director at Bottenfield Junior High School in Adamsville for 11 years, team teaching with Minor High School band director Johnny Jacobs, and then he took over at Minor High School for four years after Jacobs retired.

McAfee then spent one year at Gardendale High School before taking over a fledgling

program at Shades Valley High School. Over 11 years at Shades Valley, McAfee grew that program from 29 students to about 230 students.

In 2001, McAfee interviewed to become the first band director at Spain Park High School but ended up taking over for Pat Morrow at Hoover High, when Morrow became the Hoover school system’s public relations coordinator. He stayed nine years as head of the Hoover band program before retiring in 2010.

Since retiring, McAfee has continued to teach on a part-time basis at schools that included Simmons and Bumpus middle schools, Homewood Middle School, Pizitz Middle School, Thompson High School and Thompson Middle

School. For a while, he was teaching four days a week, but after the pandemic, he cut back to two days a week at just Simmons and Bumpus middle schools, he said.

He also has done a lot of judging, serving as a head judge for the Alabama Bandmasters Association at music performance assessments and judge at marching band competitions.

In January 2020, McAfee was inducted into the Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, which is a broader group that includes choral directors and elementary music teachers.

Now, in addition to teaching part-time, McAfee conducts the Birmingham Community Concert Band and plays in two other bands (the

Retired Hoover High School Band Director Harry McAfee, at left, and John Bradley, a former longtime band director for Monroe County High School, are being inducted into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame on April 28. Photo courtesy of Harry McAfee.

Alabama Winds and Celebration Winds).

He previously played for 26 years with the 313th Army Band of the U.S. Army Reserve and has occasionally been an extra with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He remains active with the Alabama Federation of Musicians union.

McAfee said being inducted into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame means a lot to him. There are many strong conductors who are in that Hall of Fame, and it especially means a lot that a good friend — former longtime Monroe County Band Director John Bradley — is being inducted into the Hall of Fame with him, McAfee said.

Diana S. KnightCPA, CVA Jeff W. Maze, CPA, MA Jason Lybrand, CPA, MBA

Burts, Law, Smith named 2023 Finley Award winners Natural leaders, caring hearts

By JON ANDERSON

Some people get appointed or elected to leadership positions, but others just lead because it’s a part of who they are.

Rayshod Burts, an 18-year-old senior at Spain Park High School, is one of those leaders, according to a coach who nominated him for Spain Park’s Finley Award for outstanding character.

Burts was among three people to receive the Hoover school system’s top Finley Award in a banquet at the Finley Center on March 23. The others were K.J. Law, a senior at Hoover High School, and Jenny Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Green Valley Elementary School.

RAYSHOD BURTS

Burts, who was chosen from among 28 Spain Park seniors nominated to receive the prestigious award this year, was a natural leader for the school’s football team, one of his coaches wrote in a nomination letter.

“He was not designated the leader. He was not told to be the leader; he accepted the role innately by encouraging and showing others what right looks like,” the coach wrote.

Burts also exemplifies many other traits of Bob Finley, the late Berry High School coach for whom the character award is named, the coach wrote.

“Rayshod was never one to complain, even when times became arduous in our season. He never boasted or bragged about his accomplishments or capability,” the coach wrote.

“Rayshod had what we in the coaching profession call a ‘lunch-pail mentality;’ he came to work every single day with a smile on his face, a great work ethic and a humble attitude.”

It takes a special person to be an offensive lineman in football because the main job is to protect others, the coach wrote. “It takes a selfless person to accomplish this task. Rayshod Burts was the selfless servant leader that every team needs and wants.”

Another coach, who worked with Burts both at Berry Middle School and Spain Park, said in a letter that Burts’s humility stood out.

“Rayshod was not too big to think he did not make mistakes,” the coach wrote. “When he does make a mistake, he owns up to it and also welcomes the critique so he can improve as a player and a person.”

Burts is the kind of player who really gets after opponents on the field but will help them up after the play is done, always showing respect to everyone, the coach said.

Burts is a two-sport athlete. He also wrestled for Spain Park and in February won the 285pound 7A state title.

Matt Thompson, who coached Burts in both football and wrestling, said he has had the opportunity to watch Burts grow as a player and person over the past six or so years and seen him develop into one of the best at each sport.

“He just gets in there and goes to work and has all the intangibles — whatever it takes to be a good competitor,” Thompson said. “He’s going to work harder than anybody else, and he doesn’t ever complain.”

Burts is always taking people under his wing and encouraging others, Thompson said.

“In wrestling, if another teammate loses, he’s going to be one of the ones who goes over there and picks ‘em up,” Thompson said.

A teacher at the Riverchase Career Connection Center, where Burts is involved in the Fire Science Academy, said in a letter that Burts is self-motivated and keeps up with his grades while being an accomplished athlete.

“He acts with generosity and compassion, and he is well respected by his peers and teachers,” the teacher wrote. “Rayshod comes by my classroom and speaks to me every day with a smile and a wave.”

Burts said it’s a blessing to receive the Finley Award and thanked everyone who has stood by him over the years, from God to his teachers, coaches, mother and other family members. He’s glad so many people have supported him

and believed in him, he said.

“It feels awesome,” Burts said. “They believed in me, so I just kept working.”

He wants to become the best man he can be for his children and any other young people for whom he can be a mentor, he said. A few months back, one of his coaches asked him to have a talk with a young boy in the community who was having some struggles, so he did and has been checking in with the boy periodically, he said.

“It feels good to know you can help somebody,” Burts said.

Burts said he hopes to either become a firefighter or do something related to wrestling.

K.J. LAW

Law, a senior who plans to attend Tuskegee University to play football and study business, was chosen from among 35 seniors at Hoover High nominated for the Finley Award this year.

Rebecca Mercer, a finance teacher who teaches Law in advanced accounting and who nominated him for the Finley Award, said that while Law is not an obvious leader, she could tell immediately by observing him that he was a quiet leader.

“All of his classmates just look to him and watch what he does, and they follow,” Mercer said. “He is really that guiding light for his classmates.”

Also, she teaches more than 100 students, and Law is the only one who every day asks her how her day is going when he walks into her classroom and wishes her a good day on his way out.

“He is so caring and kind, and that’s just the type of kid we need to honor,” she said. “As a coach, I know the dedication it takes to be a student-athlete at Hoover, and he never complains and is always on time and does all the right things. He’s an incredible kid.”

Law also is a two-sport athlete, having played wide receiver for the Hoover football team and now playing in the outfield for the

school’s baseball team.

That is very difficult and time-consuming, and many students would be overwhelmed to take on such a commitment, Mercer said in a recommendation letter.

“K.J. is not the average student,” she wrote. “He has a truly outstanding work ethic. Though he has had to miss classes for games, he has never had a single missing assignment in my class. He stays on top of his work, communicating with his teachers his athletic requirements at least a week in advance. K.J. is committed to Hoover academics as much as Hoover athletics — an incredible and unique dedication among many of his peers.”

Glenith Moncus, another accounting teacher, said in a statement that accounting can be really tedious, and concepts can be difficult to understand, which typically leads to frustration.

“K.J.’s response was the opposite,” Moncus wrote. “He chose to continue giving his best, asking questions and seeking help. He still had a positive attitude, even when class was difficult. I really admire his humility. He never brings attention to himself, and I could always rely on him to work productively without constant supervision.”

Melissa Haughery, another teacher, noted Law’s maturity in a letter.

“From the moment K.J. walked into my English classroom in August, it was obvious that he possessed a sophistication that is not typical of an incoming high school senior,” Haughery wrote. “Granted, he had that same senior year excitement and enthusiasm as his peers, yet he also very humbly set a tone of grace for the entire class.”

He was well dressed and understood that it’s important to make a strong first impression on the first day of school, like in an interview, Haughery wrote.

“He spoke proudly without arrogant senior entitlement, looked me in the eye, and said yes and no ma’am. I immediately knew he would be going places.”

Left: Rayshod Burts, a senior at Spain Park High School and recipient of the 2023 Finley Award, stands beside a fire engine at the Hoover Fire Academy at Riverchase Career Connection Center. Right: K J Law, one of the 2023 Finley Award winners, stands outside the baseball field at Hoover High School before a game March 14. Photos by Erin Nelson.

In his first essay, Law wrote about being a football and baseball player, but he didn’t write about the numerous awards and leadership recognitions he has received, Haughery said. Instead, he focused on how sports had taught him about teamwork, time management, cooperation and work ethic.

“It has been a long time since I have taught a student so well-rounded yet strong across the board,” Haughery wrote. “K.J. is an amazing kid of character, and his parents have raised an outstanding young man.”

Hoover football coach Wade Waldrop wrote in a letter that Law, a captain for the football team, performs at a high level on the field, in the classroom and socially.

“He possesses strong leadership skills that others are drawn to follow,” Waldrop wrote. “His teammates and coaches looked to him for guidance and leadership throughout his time at Hoover High.”

Law goes out of his way to help teammates, teaching younger players what to do and how to do it.

“He helped numerous teammates with transportation to and from practices and workouts throughout the year,” Waldrop said. “He genuinely cares for others and demonstrates it with his actions.”

Law said he is honored to be selected for this prestigious award and thanked God and his family for helping him become the person he is today and his teachers for seeing something in him and believing in him.

“I will work hard to continue Coach Finley’s legacy and inspire others to do the same,” he said.

JENNY

SMITH

Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Green Valley Elementary, was named the winner of the Finley Award for outstanding character from among almost 1,900 employees in Hoover City Schools.

Smith has spent all 16 years of her teaching career at Green Valley Elementary and even taught at Green Valley as a student teacher for a semester while she was at Samford University.

Katelyn Schillaci, one of Smith’s fellow

kindergarten teachers who nominated her for the Finley Award, said Smith shows strength and passion in everything she does and truly has a caring heart.

“She cares about every single child that walks through her door, but also the adults that walk in her door,” Schillaci said. “I’ve known her for eight years, and in that time, our relationship has just grown stronger. She cares about me as a person, but also my family, and she brings us all little goodie bags every month. She truly is very caring about everybody, not just people that are in her circle.”

Erika Hardy, another kindergarten teacher, said Smith leads by example, but she also doesn’t mind following.

“Life has thrown her some really tough curve balls, and she’s been able to handle them and come out on top with a smile and a great attitude,” Hardy said. “She’s always willing to give a helping hand, an encouraging word.”

Smith said it’s a huge honor to receive the Finley Award.

“I have loved being here. There are a lot of deserving people in this system that I have been able to work with, and to be chosen out of all of them is such an honor,” she said.

Smith, who lives in the Brook Highland community off U.S. 280, started out as a second grade teacher at Green Valley, then moved to first grade and last year switched to kindergarten.

Many members of the first class she ever taught graduated college last year, she said. She has stayed in touch with many of them over the years, attending birthday parties, graduation parties and other events, she said.

“That’s been the biggest blessing is getting to know their families and watch the kids grow up,” Smith said. “I got to know them when they were little bitty and just watched them grow and mature and learn.”

She has been a foster parent for 10 years, and two of her former foster children who lived with her for four years and attended Green Valley were able to come from Tuscaloosa to see the announcement of her winning the Finley Award. Seeing them again was a treat, she said.

Jenny Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Green Valley Elementary, makes a batch of reindeer cupcakes with her class on Dec. 12, 2022. Smith was named the faculty winner for the 2023 Finley Award. Photo courtesy of Green Valley Elementary.

Hoover students show progress in mid-year tests

By JON ANDERSON

Elementary and middle school students in the Hoover school system continue to show progress in math and English performance, according to mid-year benchmark tests given this winter, the district’s chief academic officer told the Hoover school board in March.

The percentage of K-8 students on grade level has increased 3 percentage points in math, from 62% to 65% since the beginning of this school year, and 2 percentage points in English, from 65% to 67%, Chief Academic Officer Chris Robbins said.

That’s also 5 percentage points higher in English than the winter before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Robbins said. In math, the percentage of students on grade level was 1 percentage point less than pre-COVID mid-year levels, he said.

Broken down by school, Greystone Elementary had the highest percentage of students on grade level at 77% in math and 81% in English, followed by Bluff Park Elementary with 76% on grade level in math and 78% on grade level in English, according to numbers shared by Robbins.

Green Valley Elementary had the lowest percentage of students on grade level (55% in math and 57% in English).

Hoover’s benchmark tests also identify the percentage of students who are in greater need of academic intervention (meaning they fell in the bottom 25% of students nationally and are significantly below grade level).

These results also showed progress, with the percentage of K-8 students needing intervention dropping from 15% to 13% in English and 18% to 15% in math.

Broken down by school, Greystone Elementary had the lowest percentage of students needing intervention (7% in both English and math). Bluff Park had only 6% of its students needing intervention in English and 9% needing intervention in math. Green Valley Elementary had the highest percentage of students needing intervention (24% in math and 22% in reading).

The benchmark tests also gauge whether students are “on track” to meet their target growth gains for the year. At the mid-year mark, 63% of Hoover K-8 students were on track to meet their targeted growth in English, and 64% were on track to meet their targeted growth in math. That’s 2 percentage points less in math than at the mid-year point the previous school year, but identical to “on track” performance in English the previous year, Robbins said.

Broken down by school, Bluff Park Elementary had the greatest percentage of students on track to meet growth targets (72% in math and 76% in English), followed by South Shades Crest Elementary School (71% in math and 74% in English).

Brock’s Gap Intermediate School had the lowest percentage of students on track to meet growth targets in math (55%), and Bumpus

Middle School had the lowest percentage of students on track to meet growth targets in English (53%).

This year’s winter benchmark test also showed the gap between black and white students in achieving desired growth in English had shrunk this year. Last year, black students in Hoover elementary and middle schools were 10 percentage points behind white students in achieving desired growth in English at the mid-year point, and this year, that gap had shrunk to 7 percentage points, Robbins said.

In math, the gap between black and white students grew by 1 percentage point from 4% to 5%.

There were no mid-year benchmark assessments given for grades 9-12.

Robbins told the school board he was encouraged by the mid-year test results overall.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

“The things that need to get larger are getting larger, and the things that need to get smaller are getting smaller.”

More detailed test results given to administrators and teachers help them identify what’s going well and where there is the most need for improvement, Robbins said. Administrators and teachers will continue to monitor the growth of all students and subgroups and make adjustments accordingly, Robbins said.

They also will continue to gather data to guide summer professional development decisions and to identify priorities for the next school year, he said.

The next benchmark test is the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program test, which begins in April, Robbins said. “We want our students to finish strong and our teachers to finish strong,” he said.

The percentage of K-8 students on grade level has increased 3 percentage points in math and 2 percentage points in English during this school year. Here, Berry Middle School sixth graders work on prime factorization in October 2022. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Bucs, Jags pin down 3 state titles

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Hoover and Spain Park high school wrestling teams capped off their seasons at the state tournament Feb. 16-18 in Huntsville and walked away with a combined three individual state championships.

Spain Park finished fifth as a team with 116.5 points, while Hoover was sixth with 100.5 points. Vestavia Hills won the tournament, Thompson was second, Huntsville took third and Hewitt-Trussville claimed fourth.

For Spain Park, William Conlon won the 182pound division with three pins. Conlon defeated MGM’s Jarrek Boeck, Bob Jones’s Ronin Amsler and Hoover’s Jack Lamey Jr. Rayshod Burts was also victorious, notching a pin and two decisions to win at 285 pounds. He defeated Prattville’s Garrett Mitchell, Vestavia Hills’ Mitch Taylor and Hewitt-Trussville’s Zack Chatman.

Bradley Williams went 3-1 at 138 pounds,

placing second with two pins and a tech fall. Jackson Mitchell was second at 170 pounds with a pin and a decision. Kyle Oliveira was second at 195 pounds with three decisions.

Brad Cummings won a match at 152 pounds with a major decision.

For Hoover, Ty Sisson won the 126-pound class, going 3-0 and beating Enterprise’s Grier Hunt in the final. He won by fall over Baker’s Logan Odom and beat Thompson’s Jordan Weltzin by decision to reach the final. Jack Lamey Jr. came home second at 182 pounds. He won by tech fall over Hewitt-Trussville’s Cameron Cantwell and won by fall over Thompson’s Nathan Black before squaring off against Conlon in the final.

Broc Metcalf (145) and Ian Addison (152) finished third in their classes.

Keith Christein was fifth in the 160 division. Vincent Aspito (132) and Chaleb Powell (285) also competed for the Bucs.

Ethan has a passion for mixed martial arts, both in the ring and on-screen. He was featured as a stuntman in the Netflix series, Cobra Kai, which unfortunately caused him to put professional MMA fighting.

Following his surgery, Ethan was referred to TherapySouth Riverchase for physical therapy. After a successful recovery, he was discharged and finally made his professional debut— taking home the win after a 47-second knockout. Ethan has continued to work with his therapist on strengthening his neck, training to prevent injury and staying healthy for his upcoming fights.

The game we play is pretty rough on the body, so any injuries I have keep me coming back. I continue to see Chris in the weeks leading up to my fights for full body adjustments, wellness checks and dry needling. Any bumps, bruises, or flare ups—I come see him and he takes care of me!

Spain Park’s Brad Cummings competes in the state wrestling tournament in Huntsville.

Photo courtesy of Dawn Harrison.

Never gets old

with them, my teammates, coaches and everyone who supports us — the hard work has paid off.”

Johnson has been part of eight of the nine championships won by Hoover’s girls program. But the elation remains the same.

By KYLE PARMLEY

It has become quite difficult to find something the Hoover High School girls basketball team has not accomplished.

But there was one feat the Lady Bucs had yet to check off, and it bothered coach Krystle Johnson to no end.

Until March 4, when the Lady Bucs blew past Sparkman 55-44 in the Class 7A state final, Hoover’s girls had yet to win three consecutive state championships.

Consider that box checked now.

“It’s a blessing to be back at this stage,” Johnson said. ”We’ve never had a three-peat in school history, so it’s a big deal.”

Hoover led from wire to wire, breaking away to a 20-5 edge after a quarter of play and entering the halftime break with a 35-15 lead.

However, Sparkman finally made some progress in the fourth quarter, slowly cutting into Hoover’s lead, which swelled to as much as 22 early in the third quarter.

But Hoover made the plays down the stretch to put the game away and grab that blue map for the fourth time in five years.

“It’s the mission every year,” Johnson said. “That’s the reason we put them through what we put them through. I want to give a lot of credit to my assistant coaches, too. They’re always watching film, and we’re always going back and forth on the bench.”

Johnson said she believes Reniya Kelly, who capped off her storied career with 25 points, should be Miss Basketball, saying she’s been the best player in Alabama the last three years.

“I’m just on Cloud Nine,” Kelly said following the game. “It’s bittersweet. It’s my last ride. To go out

“This feeling never gets old, because of the work they put in to get to this stage,” she said. “It’s not something you take for granted. Through the years, it never gets old. I remember every single one of them. I remember what color jerseys we wore and everything.”

Layla Etchison is another senior who finished an outstanding season. She scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting on the day. Senior Alanah Pooler pulled down 8 rebounds as well. Etchison and Pooler were named to the all-tournament team, with Kelly earning tournament MVP honors.

All three players espoused praise for their coach. Etchison spoke of her motivating skills and Pooler called her a “breath of fresh air.”

“Words can’t describe how much I love her,” Kelly said.

Kennedi McCray, Jamiyah Hill, Kristen McMillan and Alicia Reyes also finished their careers with the Lady Bucs on top.

Hoover completed the season with a 35-1 record, with its only loss coming to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa by a single point on a day the Lady Bucs shot around 20% from the field. Hoover took down 13 out-of-state teams and went unbeaten in Area 5 play throughout the regular season and area tournament. They won the Northwest Regional as well, prior to defeating Prattville and Sparkman in the state tournament.

“Our schedule is top notch,” Johnson said.

Carrying on a tradition that has been passed on for many years at Hoover, players and coaches painted their fingernails identically prior to the game. Kelly has waited patiently until her senior season to make the choice, and she went with the traditional combination of orange, black and white, plus one other color.

Gold on the ring finger — the finger where she will soon flash her newest piece of hardware.

Above: Hoover’s Layla Etchison (2) takes a shot. Right: Hoover’s Alanah Pooler (00) moves to shoot the ball guarded by Sparkman’s Jalei O’Neal (13) during the Class 7A state championship game between the Lady Bucs and Sparkman at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.

Right: The Lady Bucs celebrate with the Class 7A state championship trophy after a 55-44 win over Sparkman at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 4. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Below: Hoover’s Reniya Kelly (10) hugs coach Krystle Johnson.

Lady Bucs accomplish mission, win 3rd straight title

‘It’s everything’ Bucs cap off magical day with state title

By KYLE PARMLEY

As the Hoover High School girls basketball players exited the floor, fresh off winning a third consecutive state title, they challenged the boys to replicate what they just saw.

“They were telling us, ‘Let’s go,’ so we had to win it,” said guard Salim London.

Determined not to let their classmates down, the Hoover boys triumphed, beating Central-Phenix City 84-66 on March 4 in the Class 7A state championship game at Legacy Arena.

“It’s an incredible moment,” Hoover head coach Scott Ware said. “This is what you work for. These guys started back on Aug. 31, with our first one-hour practice, and it’s been a grind. Basketball is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The finish line of that marathon appeared as the Bucs pushed to capture the program’s second state title.

“It’s everything,” sophomore DeWayne Brown said.

Hoover grabbed an early 14-5 lead, but Central made a push in the second quarter, briefly taking the lead late in the second quarter before the Bucs went into halftime with a 32-31 edge. Central came out fast again in the third quarter, but Hoover finished the third on an 11-3 push and finished things strong in the fourth quarter to claim the win.

Three sophomores stole the show. Central’s Jacoby Hill carried the Red Devils once again, pouring in 37

points and pulling down 7 rebounds.

But Hoover’s sophomore duo was up to the task. London went off for 34 points on an incredibly efficient 13-of-19 shooting. Brown did plenty of damage on his own, going for 24 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks. Central had no answer for him in the paint.

“They are two of the guys that have carried us all year long,” Ware said. “They’re really, really good and we’re blessed to have them on our side.”

Other Bucs also shined in the championship game, including Jonathan Caicedo, a senior who spent only his final season at Hoover after moving from Florida. Caicedo did a little of everything for the Bucs, finishing with 8 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

“He’s been that Swiss Army knife for us all year,” Ware said. “He accepted that role and is a big part of why we’re sitting here.”

London was named state tournament MVP, while Caicedo and Brown were also named all-tournament.

Ware believes one of the keys to this Bucs team’s growth from failing to qualify for the playoffs last year to winning the state title this year is its collective willingness to make sacrifices.

“You can do amazing things when you don’t care who gets the credit,” he said. “We have five guys on the floor that can score at all times, and that’s tough for other teams. I’m super proud of the guys for accepting that and rolling with it this year.”

Hoover finished the year with a record of 31-4. The Bucs won the KSA Events Classic in Orlando and the Big Orange Classic, in addition to the Northwest Regional and the state tournament.

Hoover’s boys and girls swept the 7A state titles, the first school to do it at any classification in Alabama since Tanner in 2011.

“It says a lot,” Ware said. “It says that there’s some pretty good basketball being played here at Hoover.”

Hoover head coach Scott Ware and the Bucs celebrate with the Class 7A state championship trophy following an 84-66 win over CentralPhenix City at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 4. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Above: Hoover’s Salim London (5) shoots a layup guarded by Central’s Jacoby Hill (2). Below left: The Bucs run up to claim the Class 7A state championship trophy following an 84-66 win over Central-Phenix City. Below right: Hoover’s DeWayne Brown (55) shoots the ball.

All-South Metro Basketball

By KYLE PARMLEY

The 2022-23 high school basketball season was one that will not soon be forgotten, with the Hoover High School boys and girls basketball teams sweeping the Class 7A state championships on the same day in early March. Several other teams from the Starnes Media coverage area advanced to the state and regional tournaments in highly successful campaigns.

Because of Hoover’s dominance, it is difficult to name anyone but Scott Ware and Krystle Johnson as the boys and girls Coaches of the Year. After sharing the honor with teammate Aniya Hubbard last season, Hoover’s Reniya Kelly claims the Player of the Year title to herself this time around. Vestavia Hills’ Win Miller is the boys Player of the Year after capping off a record-setting career with the Rebels.

Here is this year’s All-South Metro Team.

BOYS AWARDS

► Player of the Year: Win Miller, Vestavia Hills

► Coach of the Year: Scott Ware, Hoover

GIRLS AWARDS

► Player of the Year: Reniya Kelly, Hoover

► Coach of the Year: Krystle Johnson, Hoover

BOYS 1ST TEAM

► Win Miller, Vestavia Hills: Averaged 22 points per game and led the Rebels to a 26-5 record. He finished his career with 2,011 career points and is the program’s all-time leading scorer.

► Caleb White, Pinson Valley: Led the Indians with 21 points per game, shooting 40% from 3-point range. The Indians’ only loss of the season came in the regional final, as they finished 29-1 on the year.

► Paul Lanzi, Chelsea: Capped off an outstanding career by averaging 18.8 points per

game for the Hornets. He finished his career with 1,370 points and 185 made 3-pointers.

► Ty Davis, Mountain Brook: Led the Spartans as a do-it-all point guard, averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6 assists per game, as his team advanced to the Class 6A state final.

► Matt Heiberger, Oak Mountain: Willed the Eagles to victory many times, including going over 30 points several times down the stretch. The Alabama baseball signee averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Kelly, Johnson, Ware garner postseason honors

BOYS 2ND TEAM

► Terry Coner Jr., Pinson Valley: The senior guard went for 17 points and 5 rebounds per game for the Indians.

► Kalib Thomas, John Carroll: Led the Cavs to a No. 2 ranking in Class 5A, averaging 16.9 points per game.

► Zach Gray, Spain Park: One of the most consistent players in the area, going for 16 points a game for a Jags team that reached the final four.

► DeWayne Brown, Hoover: A force in the paint, despite being a sophomore. He averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

► Sam Wright, Spain Park: The leading scorer and rebounder for the Jags, averaging 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

BOYS 3RD TEAM

► Jackson Weaver, Vestavia Hills: Stepped up as a primary option for the Rebels this season, going for 15 points a night in his junior season.

► Salim London, Hoover: The sophomore

Hoover’s Reniya Kelly (10) shoots a 3-pointer during an AHSAA Class 7A girls state semifinal game against Prattville at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 2. Photos by Erin Nelson.

went for 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the state champs.

► Avery Futch, Chelsea: The junior forward went for 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds, while also shooting 35% from 3-point range for the Hornets.

► Julius Clark, Mountain Brook: A consistent player for several years, compiling 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in his senior season.

► Tre Thomas, Oak Mountain: The senior averaged 10.1 and 6.2 rebounds, but piled up an impressive 130 blocks on the year as well.

BOYS HONORABLE MENTION

► Ray Rolley, Hewitt-Trussville; Devon McKinnon, Clay-Chalkville; Canon Armstead, Homewood; KJ Beck, John Carroll; Braylon Bernard, John Carroll; Aden Malpass, John Carroll; Jarett Fairley, Hoover; KJ Kirk, ClayChalkville; John Colvin, Mountain Brook;

Chase James, Spain Park; Drew Mears, Briarwood; William Lloyd, Briarwood; Elijah Herron, Hoover

GIRLS 1ST TEAM

► Reniya Kelly, Hoover: The Player of the Year averaged 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5 assists per game for the state champs.

► Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills: The sophomore has established herself as one of the state’s top players, going for 17 points per game for the 28-5 Lady Rebels.

► Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville: Eclipsed 15 points and 4 assists per game for the Lady Huskies as a junior.

► Raegan Whitaker, Oak Mountain: Led the area in scoring with 18 points per game, while pulling down nearly 10 rebounds a night as well.

► Layla Etchison, Hoover: Stepped up in her senior season to provide 12.1 points per game.

GIRLS 2ND TEAM

► Anna Towry, Vestavia Hills: Joined the 1,000-point club during her senior season after averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds.

► Kamoriah Gaines, Clay-Chalkville: Helped lead the Lady Cougars to the regional final, going for 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest.

► Haley Trotter, Chelsea: Nearly averaged a double-double, going for 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Lady Hornets.

► Audre Benson, Hewitt-Trussville: Averaged 12.1 points per game and produced a program-record 98 steals.

► Taylor Smith, Briarwood: Went for 10.8 points and school record 64 blocks.

GIRLS 3RD TEAM

► Sophia Brown, Chelsea: Capped off her career by playing in the regional tournament for

a fifth time in her career, averaging 11.7 points for the season.

► Emma Stearns, Mountain Brook: Averaged 10.7 points for the Lady Spartans.

► Kayla Warren, Homewood: Led a balanced Lady Patriots team with nearly 10 points per game.

► Alanah Pooler, Hoover: Stabilized the Lady Bucs on both ends of the floor, averaging 7.7 points for the season.

► Mira McCool, Homewood: Piled up 39 blocks for the Lady Patriots.

GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION

► Sarah Passink, Mountain Brook; Emma Kerley, Briarwood; Mary Beth Dicen, Briarwood; Jill Gaylard, Vestavia Hills; Annie McBride, Homewood; Sadie Schwallie, Chelsea; Olivia Pryor, Chelsea; Kameron Sanders, ClayChalkville; Kristen McMillan, Hoover; Madison Moore, Chelsea; April Hooks, Hewitt-Trussville

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Left: Hoover head coach Krystle Johnson during the Class 7A state championship game between the Lady Bucs and Sparkman at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 4. The Lady Bucs defeated Sparkman 55-44 to claim the Class 7A state title for the third consecutive year. Right: Hoover head coach Scott Ware high-fives his players as the Bucs defeat Central-Phenix City 84-66 to claim the Class 7A state title at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 4.

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