Hoover Sun December 2023

December 2023 | Volume 12 | Issue 2

Sun HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE HOOVERSUN.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM

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Widening the funnel ALDOT ready to add lanes to US 280 in 2024

By JON ANDERSON

R

unning 392 miles, U.S. 280 goes from downtown Birmingham to Blichton, Georgia (near Savannah), but traffic congestion sometimes makes it feel like you’ve been on the road long enough to travel 392 miles between Birmingham and Chelsea.

The Alabama Department of Transportation hopes to ease the congestion by widening a 4½-mile stretch that takes travelers through Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Birmingham.

The state in 2024 plans to begin adding an extra lane on each side of U.S. 280 between Lakeshore Drive and Perimeter Park, just east of Interstate 459. That would make four dedicated through lanes on each side of the highway along that stretch of road.

See U.S. 280 | page 28

Motorists travel east and west on U.S. 280 between Perimeter Park and The Summit. The portion of U.S. 280 from Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood to Perimeter Park is slated for expansion to four through lanes in each direction. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Holiday happenings in Hoover

By JON ANDERSON

Lights glisten against the evergreen tree as people gather at Hoover City Hall during the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony in December 2020. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

INSIDE

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the state’s sixth largest city. There’s even a menorah lighting for those celebrating Hanukkah.

Here’s a quick list of holiday events, with more details on pages 30-31: ► Fire Department Toy Drive: Nov. 10-Dec. 19 Sponsors.............................4 City.......................................6

► Pictures with Santa: Nov. 16Dec. 24 ► Christmas Tree Lighting: Nov. 28 ► Celtic Angels Christmas: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 ► Bluff Park Christmas Parade: Dec. 2 ► Ho Ho Hoover: Dec. 2-3 ► Taylor Hicks Concert: Dec. 8 ► Jingle Bell Run: Dec. 9

Business.............................10 Community........................14

Schoolhouse......................16 Sports.................................18

► Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra: Dec. 10 ► Menorah Lighting: Dec. 13 ► Winter Wonderland Craft & Vendor Market: Dec. 16-17 ► Fire Department Santa Run: Dec. 24

See HOLIDAYS | page 30 Real Estate.......................26 facebook.com/hooversunnews

Head of the Class

Basketball Preview

New barbering/cosmetology academy gives students a head start.

Hoover and Spain Park boys and girls teams look forward to 2023-24 season.

See page 16

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Hoover Sun

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Hoover Sun

About Us Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson Month after month, this newspaper is delivered to 22,500 households throughout Hoover and put in two dozen other places across the city for pickup.

We hope it gives you important information about what’s happening in the city, as well as some features that provide a little slice of life and shed more light on the people and places in the state’s sixth most populous city.

But one thing I don’t always say a lot about in this editor’s note is the fine job done by our sports editor, Kyle Parmley. Kyle is a softball fanatic, but he delivers superb coverage on a host of sports.

What you may or may not realize is that Kyle is the sports editor not just for the Hoover Sun, but also for five other newspapers that our company, Starnes Media, produces. I’m proud of the work that he and his team of writers produce not just for the print paper, but also online.

When you see Kyle around town, give him a pat on the back and a word of thanks!

In this month’s print edition, he gives us a look into the boys and girls basketball programs at Hoover and Spain Park as they begin new seasons.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH Hoover’s Kendyl Mitchell (12) and Kenzie Richards (14) celebrate the Bucs’ win over St. Paul’s in a Class 7A state quarterfinal match at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Nov. 1.

Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Sun

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

dan@starnesmedia.com Please submit all articles, information and photos to:

janderson@starnesmedia.com

Publisher: Dan Starnes Community Editors: Jon Anderson Leah Ingram Eagle Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Sweeney Page Designer: Ted Perry

Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Dance Academy (7) Allsteel Fence (24) Bedzzz Express (32) Bidding Kings (3) Birmingham Orthodontics (1) Birmingham Zoo (11) BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama (17) Bromberg’s (20) Budget Blinds (17) Cardinal Roofing (1) Children’s of Alabama (11) Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (13) Danberry at Inverness (18) ENT Associates of Alabama (27) Etc. (9, 29) Family Medical Supply (10) French Drains Pro (12) Gardner Astroturf (7) Gardner Landscaping (6) Gary Palmer for Congress (15) Issis & Sons (16) Julie Ivy White (27) Medical West Hospital (19) Mike’s Merchandise (2)

Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (18) One Man & A Toolbox (8) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (20) Physician’s Care - 0751 (15) Riverchase United Methodist Church (5) Shunnarah Flooring (25) Signature Homes (25) Sikes Children’s Shoes (24) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (7) Southlake Orthopaedics (26) Sovereign CPA (10) The Crossings at Riverchase (21) TherapySouth Corporate (22) Truewood by Merrill Gardens (14) Vapor Ministries/Thrift Store (31) Virginia Samford Theatre (8) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (12) Window World of Central Alabama (23)

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Production Assistant: Simeon Delante Operations Specialist: Sarah Villar Graphic Designer: Emily VanderMey

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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December 2023 • 5

6 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

City

Council OKs $1.8 million in tax breaks for BioCryst BioCryst researchers work in the lab at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in Hoover. The company plans to expand its lab facilities in Riverchase. Photo courtesy of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals.

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council on Nov. 6 approved $1.8 million worth of tax breaks for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, for a $22 million expansion project the company plans to undertake in Riverchase.

BioCryst plans to add about 20,000 square feet of lab space at its Discovery Center of Excellence in the Riverchase Center office complex in Riverchase Corporate Park, said Paul Kendrick, a construction project manager for the company. The expansion should boost the company’s total footprint there to about 49,000 square feet. It also will add about 70 Ph.D.-level jobs over the next two years, Kendrick said.

Greg Knighton, the city of Hoover’s economic development manager, told the Hoover City Council those jobs should pay an average salary of $172,000 per year, adding more than $11.5 million in annual payroll, which should be an economic stimulus for the community.

While the company is getting a 10-year break on non-educational property taxes and a break on construction-related sales and use taxes, the expansion project should boost property taxes paid to Hoover City Schools by about $97,000 a year, which is nearly $1 million over the 10-year period, Knighton said.

Also, building permit fees for the addition and other renovation work should generate another $252,000 in revenue for the city, he said.

“This is just a home-run project,” Knighton said, noting that it falls within one of Hoover’s target growth industries — life science.

The total amount of tax abated that would have gone to the city of Hoover is estimated to be about $753,000, while the county and state

taxes abated are estimated at a little more than $1 million, Knighton said.

Sherry Hiett, associate director of business operations for BioCryst, said the company is excited to see the continued growth of the biotech community in Hoover.

BioCryst was founded in Birmingham by two biochemistry professors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1986 and opened its drug discovery center in Riverchase in the 1990s, Knighton said.

The company’s headquarters is now split between Durham, North Carolina, and Dublin, Ireland, and it has many regional offices around the world, but all of the company’s research and development is done in Hoover, Kendrick said.

Hiett thanked the Hoover City Council for both partnering with BioCryst and creating

communities that are desirable for people pursuing careers in the biotechnology industry.

“As a company with deep roots in Alabama, we greatly appreciate the support of the city in helping us to go faster to discover, develop and deliver potentially life-changing therapies to patients both locally and around the world,” she said.

BioCryst develops oral small-molecule and protein therapeutic drugs to target difficult-to-treat diseases.

“The medicines we discover and develop at our Discovery Center of Excellence in Hoover can help people living with rare diseases who are in need of new treatment options,” BioCryst President and CEO Jon Stonehouse said in a press release. “In Hoover, we can attract world-class talent at a lower cost of investment

compared to other areas.”

Hoover Council President John Lyda said the city is thankful to have been a part of BioCryst’s growth, and “we look forward to future growth as well.”

Mayor Frank Brocato said BioCryst is truly one of Alabama’s great innovation success stories, and he is thrilled the company is continuing its growth in Hoover.

“This development marks a milestone in our journey towards fostering an innovation and biotech ecosystem,” Brocato said in a news release. “The cutting-edge drug development happening at this facility holds the potential to transform the landscape of health care and improve countless lives across the globe. We are honored to support this company and their expansion.”

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December 2023 • 7

Mayor’s Minute

By Frank V. Brocato Merry Christmas and season’s greetings to you and your family.

What a year we’ve had in Hoover.

The state and nation’s eyes have been on our city this year, whether it was earning national accolades and awards, receiving a visit from our governor or hosting several national sports tourism events. Hoover continues to make its positive mark as what I believe is the best city in our region.

We’ve also had a big change in staffing at City Hall, as we’ve welcomed our new city administrator, Ken Grimes. Ken is no stranger to Frank V. Brocato our area, as he was born and raised just down the street in Bessemer. With a background in chamber of commerce and economic development work, he most recently served as the city administrator and director of external affairs for the city of Orange Beach. That role has provided him with experience in handling natural disasters as well as rebuilding municipal tourism after the 2010 BP oil spill that affected our state’s coast.

His list of accolades and affiliations are impressive. But what I heard most about Ken as he endured the interview process was that he possesses a strong work ethic, he is committed to excellence and sets a daily example leading with character and integrity. That’s just the kind of attitude we love having on the Hoover team. Welcome, Ken! As we end this year, I hope you’ll take some time to spend with family making memories that last a lifetime. 2023 has flown quickly before our eyes, and every moment is to be cherished. May the blessings of the season shine bright on you and your family.

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8 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Liberty Park resident seeks to unseat Gary Palmer in Congress Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills, center, talks with people at Veterans Park in Hoover on Oct. 5. He announced he is running against U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer in the March 2024 Republican primary for the Sixth Congressional District of Alabama.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

By JON ANDERSON A Vestavia Hills resident with more than 24 years in the automotive industry, Gerrick Wilkins, on Oct. 5 announced he is opposing Gary Palmer in the Republican primary for Alabama Congressional District 6 in March 2024.

The new Congressional District 6, approved by a federal court on Oct. 5, stretches from Jefferson County to Autauga County and includes Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Clay, Shelby County, most of north Jefferson County and parts of Hoover and Homewood.

Wilkins said he decided to run after Palmer earlier this year announced he would seek a sixth two-year term, breaking a promise not to serve more than 10 years.

Wilkins said he believes in term limits and not career politicians and feels that Palmer has done more talk than action and made some poor decisions that do not adequately represent Alabama values.

Wilkins said Palmer “refused to support the Parents Bill of Rights,” legislation passed by the House of Representatives in March that, among other things, would allow parents to review curriculum and inspect reading materials at their child’s school and prevent school officials from taking the place of parents in regard to giving consent for vaccinations or changing a child’s gender identification or sex-based accommodations without parental consent.

When the legislation was approved with a 213-208 vote, Palmer was one of 14 members of the House of Representatives who did not vote, according to online Congressional records.

Wilkins also criticized Palmer for advocating for spending billions of dollars to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia while the United States faces an “invasion” at its southern border.

Wilkins said government cannot overlook the pressing moral issues of the day.

“Our society faces an urgent call to safeguard the unborn, to counter child exploitation and eradicate the scourge of human trafficking that

is pervading our country,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins also said he will fight for fiscal responsibility in Congress, support a balanced budget amendment and push for significant cuts to the federal bureaucracy.

He said the federal government has overstepped its bounds in regard to education. He said he plans to introduce legislation to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and allocate those tax dollars back to the state and local governments.

BACKGROUND

Wilkins grew up in New Mexico and attended Pensacola Christian College, where he met his wife, Carol. They married and moved to Virginia, where he finished his undergraduate studies in theology and his wife got her master’s degree at Liberty University.

He then began working in the automotive industry and has been in that industry for more than 24 years. Most recently, for almost five years, he has served as a broker in the sale of dealerships, closing 34 franchise dealership sales valued at more than $500 million, he said.

He and his family lived in Dallas a few years, but they have been in the Birmingham area the past 17 years, he said. His family moved to Inverness initially and then to Liberty Park in 2014. He and his wife have a 19-year-old daughter who attends the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

Wilkins obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Samford University in 2016 and serves on an advisory board for Samford’s Brock School of Business. He also is on the board for Mission Increase Central Alabama, an organization that provides free coaching to

nonprofits on a Biblical approach to fundraising.

He has never run for public office before but believes his experience in business will serve him well in Congress, he said.

When asked whom he supports in the 2024 presidential election, Wilkins said he thinks any of the Republican candidates would be better than Biden.

“I voted for Trump in the last election and will likely vote for him again at this point, unless something changes between now and March,” he said. “He’s a business leader, and he’s an outsider like myself, and he’s focused on draining the swamp and getting rid of the corruption. I think it’s the career politicians that got us into this problem, and we need more business leaders like Trump in office.”

To learn more about Wilkins, visit his website at wilkinsforal.com.

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December 2023 • 9

10 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Business

Business Happenings NOW OPEN Marc Batson has opened an insurance agency called Iron City Benefits at 1318 Alford Ave., Suite 201. The business offers health insurance and worker's compensation insurance in Alabama and seven other Southeastern states, specializing in policies with no deductibles and no copays. Batson has been in the insurance business about five years and is in the process of selling another insurance agency in Sylacauga so he can focus on Iron City Benefits, which is closer to his Bluff Park home.

888-244-4849, ironcitybenefits.com

its first Alabama location in the same location as Baba Java Coffee at 1801 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 121B. A grand opening was held Nov. 11. All treats are made inhouse daily with all-natural ingredients. There are more than 80 flavors offered on rotation along with dips and toppings, and the business also provides a variety of vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free options.

205-747-0685, pop-bar.com

COMING SOON

locations in Huntsville and Madison, plans to open a third location in Hoover in The Village at Brock’s Gap at 1031 Brock’s Gap Parkway. The restaurant is roughly 7,500 square feet and is owned by the Power Brands Hospitality Group and will have John Morice as the owner-operator. It is being built by Stanley Graham Construction. The goal is to have it open by February, said Zeel Zaveri, one of the owners. philsandovals.com The Power Brands Hospitality Group plans to open a Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria in the Stadium Trace Village development, at the corner of Peridot Place and Emery Drive, co-owner Zeel Zaveri said. The restaurant will be about 3,800 square feet and will have Joshua Sullivan as the owner-operator. It will be the second Grimaldi's in Alabama. grimaldispizzeria.com

Central State Bank has opened a new branch in the Greystone area at 6801 Cahaba Valley Road. The branch manager is Abby Oney.

205-668-0711, centralstatebank.com

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Super Chix has signed on to open a location at 5357 U.S. 280. The chain has another Hoover location at Stadium Trace. The Texas-based restaurant specializes in made-to-order chicken dishes and features gourmet toppings, as well as frozen custard. Perla Chavez will operate the location, which will share building space with Cookie Fix. superchix.com Popbar, a company that makes handcrafted frozen gelato, sorbetto and yogurt treats on sticks, has opened

Phil Sandoval’s Mexican Restaurant, currently with

The La-Z-Boy store at 2944 John Hawkins Parkway began a complete renovation of the store's interior space on Nov. 6. The store will remain open throughout the renovation process, with all merchandise moved into one half of the building while work is done on the other half, manager Austin Smith said. The estimated completion date is mid-to-late January, Smith said.

205-733-1937, la-z-boy.com

NEW OWNERSHIP The Power Hospitality Group has taken over ownership of the Saw's BBQ franchise at 3780 Riverchase Village.

That group also owns the Super Chix, Taco Mama and MELT restaurants in Stadium Trace Village; Biscuit Belly in The Village at Brock's Gap; the Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria being built in Stadium Trace Village;

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HooverSun.com and the Phil Sandoval's Mexican Restaurant being built in The Village at Brock's Gap. At least one more restaurant is in the works in Hoover, co-owner and Hoover resident Zeel Zaveri said.

205-315-4637, sawsbbq.com Prime Smile Dental Care is now in the former dental practice of Dr. Donald Reed on Cahaba Valley Drive.

They provide minimally invasive, individualized dental care. Their services range from routine cleanings or deep periodontal treatments for the whole family to dentures, Invisalign/clear braces, implants, root canals, extractions, snoring, TMJ and CPAP alternatives.

205-981-0000, primesmiledental.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Bradley Logan, the director of interior design at Lathan Associates Architects at 300 Chase Park South, Suite 200, recently was awarded the Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award

by The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences. Logan is a member of the college’s Leadership Board and supports the interior design program by speaking in classes and consulting with students. He is a professional member and former president of the American Society of Interior Designers and last year won several ASID awards, taking home gold for corporate design, gold and bronze for institutional design,and sweeping the digital rendering category with gold, silver and bronze wins. The Jack Davis Professional Achievement Awards have been given out since 1986 to honor alumni in multiple professional fields and are named to honor the first man to graduate from the college with a degree in nutrition, Lewis Clifton “Jack” Davis Jr. 205-988-9112, lathanassociates.com

December 2023 • 11

PERSONNEL MOVES Sha'Kayla Harris has joined RealtySouth as a real estate agent at the company's over-the-mountain office at 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137.

503-896-7940, shakaylaharris.realtysouth.com

Gagliano Mortgage, 4500 Valleydale Road, Suite F, is celebrating its 27th anniversary this month.

205-390-7041, birminghammortgagecompany.com

Sally Bishop has joined the staff at Ridge Crossings Apartments at 100 Tree Crossing Parkway.

205-894-5530, irtliving.com/Apartments-In/ Hoover-AL/Ridge-Crossings Dr. Patrick Rowan, a board certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine, has joined UAB Medical West and is seeing patients at the UAB Medical West Hoover Health Center at 5310 Medford Drive and at Medical West Orthopedics at 919 Medical Center Drive in Bessemer. He received his undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College and his medical degree from the University of Alabama - Birmingham School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Missouri and sports medicine fellowship at the Andrews Research and Education Foundation in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

205-820-8440, medicalwesthospital.org Dr. Kathryn Bates has joined the staff at Kasey Davis Dentistry in Bluff Park at 589A Shades Crest Road.

205-822-7277, kaseydavisdentistry.com Dr. Fenton Cain Jr. has joined the staff at Dental Care of Hoover at 2720 John Hawkins Parkway. Cain is a native of Mobile. He received his bachelor of science degree from Rhodes College in Memphis and a doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and Academy of Laser Dentistry.

205-206-7113, dentalcareofhoover.com

ANNIVERSARIES Compassionate Crossings is celebrating its first anniversary. Dr. Lindsay Floyd, a Hoover resident who graduated Hoover High School in 1999 and the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007, founded the business to offer in-home pet euthanasia services. The service operates primarily on weeknights, weekends and most holidays and gives pet owners an option for this service when their primary veterinary clinic is closed.

205-317-6747, compassionate-crossings.com

The Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux at 6401 Tattersall Park Drive is celebrating four years on Dec. 9.

205-538-2700, walk-ons.com Valley Tax Partners, 4958 Valleydale Road, is celebrating 10 years in business.

205-518-8850, valleytaxpartners.com

CLOSINGS MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes has closed its location in Stadium Trace Village at 1028 Marble Terrace, Suite 100.

Business News to Share?

Do you have news to share with the community about a business in Hoover or the greater Birmingham area?

Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings

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Hoover Sun

‘Happy in their own skin’ Tattoo shop coming soon to Lorna Road

By JON ANDERSON The city of Hoover soon will be getting its first tattoo shop.

Matthew Crane, the owner of the Stay Gold Tattoo Studio shops in Fultondale and Birmingham’s Southside, won approval to relocate his business in Five Points South to the Lorna Town Square shopping center on Lorna Road, near the Golden Corral.

The Hoover City Council gave its approval in September, and Crane said he hopes to have his new shop in Hoover open by mid-December or early January and no later than February.

Hoover City Planner Mac Martin told the city’s zoning board and City Council that the city administration did not believe a tattoo studio fits with the purpose of the redevelopment plan for the city’s “central business district,” which is an area with a 6-mile-wide area that includes Lorna Road.

Greg Knighton, Hoover’s economic development manager and one of two zoning board members who voted against the tattoo studio, agreed.

But all Hoover council members except Council President John Lyda voted in favor of the tattoo studio.

Councilman Casey Middlebrooks said he’s not thrilled to have a tattoo shop on Lorna Road, but he checked Crane’s credentials and found only positive things about his shops.

“I think you are a positive light in that industry,” Middlebrooks told Crane when the council

Left to right: Danny Ramirez, Caroline Gray, Katie Lee, Matthew Crane, Jasper White, and Kat Greaves at Stay Gold Tattoo Studio in Fultondale on Oct. 24. Crane, founder and owner of the shop, is opening a new location on Lorna Road in Hoover. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

voted. “Honestly, this isn’t good for my political career, but I have a tattoo. I might have more than one, and it would be very hypocritical of me to deny you a place of business in this thriving city when I myself have one.”

Councilman Derrick Murphy asked police Chief Nick Derzis if he had any concerns about a tattoo shop being in the city. Derzis said he did some research, talked to police departments

in Birmingham and Fultondale and didn’t find anything that concerned him.

Murphy confessed that he not only has a tattoo; he has three brands.

Crane said he knows that tattoo shops carry a stigma and people often think they attract gang members, “but we’re not the norm, and we’re really trying to get away from what the norm is.”

The main reason he wants to relocate his shop from Birmingham to Hoover is because he no longer felt his shop was in a safe place, he said.

He looked at locations in Pelham, Hoover and Trussville before settling on Lorna Town Square, he said.

The 1,400-square-foot space is smaller than what he has in Birmingham, but it’s big enough for nine tattoo stations and a body piercing

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December 2023 • 13

The new location of Stay Gold Tattoo Studio at Lorna Town Square on Lorna Road.

station, the rent is $2,300 a month cheaper, the parking is better and he doesn’t think he’ll have to worry about homeless people flashing his customers and staff, he said.

Crane said his shops are designated as “safe places” for people in trouble.

He has been in the tattoo business about 24 years, has been an owner for more than 8 years and has always run a reputable business, he said.

While bikers and gang members are part of the tattoo market, there are people from all walks of life who get tattoos, from blue-collar workers to doctors, lawyers, athletes — even preachers, he said.

LOVE FOR TATTOOS

Crane, 44, grew up in Birmingham’s Ensley community and moved around a lot as his stepdad got different football and wrestling coaching jobs in places like Cullman and Huntsville.

He was 18 when he got his first tattoo — a half-shell heart — in Florida. Two days later, he got two more tattoos. He came home, found Tattoo Jungle in Pelham and got a couple more, then another couple more. The owner of the

shop could see he was really into it, offered him a job at the front counter and trained him on how to give tattoos.

Crane said he worked other jobs through the years — carpenter, pipe fitter, welder, underground coal miner — but he always stepped back into doing tattoos. Finally, he worked four jobs for about two years, saved his money and opened his own tattoo studio in Fultondale in June 2015, he said.

In 2017, he bought out another guy’s tattoo studio on Birmingham’s Southside and made it his second shop. In 2019, he opened a new shop in Columbus, Mississippi, but soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. All his shops had to shut down for about six months, and the Mississippi shop wasn’t profitable enough to keep it open, he said.

His shops in Fultondale and Birmingham each average about $200,000 to $300,000 a year in revenue, he said.

He’s not sure how many customers he has in a year, but he estimated his shops probably do about 20 tattoos a day, which would be about 7,300 in a year. His shops do a wide variety of

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styles, so it’s hard to say what’s most popular, but it might be the “American traditional” tattoos, he said. That style features bold black outlines and a limited color palette, with common motifs influenced by sailor tattoos.

Names, animals, portraits of people and caricatures also are popular, Crane said. Some tattoo artists charge by the hour, which can range from $100 to $250 an hour, and some charge by the tattoo, he said. His shops have a minimum price of $70 for a small tattoo, but other tattoos can cost several thousand dollars, he said. A palmsize tattoo might take 30 to 45 minutes, but a full back or full chest might take several sessions over several days, he said. It could take 20 to 100 hours of work, depending on what’s in it, he said.

Some of the tattoo artists who work in his studios are booked for six months to a year out, but others are able to handle walk-in business, he said. He has both male and female tattoo artists in his studios.

Crane himself rarely gives tattoos anymore, he said. He might do tattoos occasionally, but he mostly handles the business side of things

now, he said.

When asked what it is he loves about the tattoo business, Crane said, “It’s as free as you can be to be whoever it is you are but still provide for yourself.

“It’s just about the art and what you can provide — making people happy in their own skin,” he said.

Some people get tattoos for healing, others for empowerment, and for some people, it’s just a matter of putting things they like on their body, he said.

Most of his customers are between the ages of 18 and 40, but he gets some people who get their first tattoos in their 70s or 80s, he said.

While state law allows for people under age 18 to get a tattoo with a parent’s permission, Crane said nobody under the age of 16 gets a tattoo in his shops at any point in time. “I don’t think at 15 you should be choosing what you’re going to be putting on your body permanently,” he said.

Young people are still trying to figure themselves out, and he wants to try to keep them from making a mistake they’ll regret later in life, he said.

Crane said he’s excited to open the new shop in Hoover and thinks the location will be good because — as far as he is aware — there is not another tattoo shop in Hoover or Vestavia Hills.

That said, he believes a lot of his customers from the Birmingham store will follow him to Hoover, and some of them even come from out of state, he said.

Amy Creel, who lives in the adjacent Four Seasons Condominiums off Lorna Road, said she has known Crane for 20 years and supports his desire to open a business there. “He’s a really good, upstanding guy. The business is very lucrative,” she said. “Tattoo shops aren’t what they used to be, stipulated as the place where ruffians go and hang out and there’s lot of trouble. It’s not like that anymore.”

The Stay Gold Tattoo Studio will be at 3133 Lorna Road. Other tenants in Lorna Town Square include Boost Mobile, flA.S.H. Movementz Dance Studio, Sky Vape & CBD, Soap Box Laundromat, Templo de los Milagros Hoover, Imperio Tienda Hispana and Taqueria Los Primos.

14 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Community Have a community announcement? Email Jon Anderson at janderson@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

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Hoover Sun

Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Jon Anderson at janderson@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

New barbering/cosmetology academy gives students head start

By HARPER HARWELL Ellory Fenton, a senior at Spain Park High School, has wanted to go into cosmetology for years, so when she heard the Hoover school system was starting a Barbering and Cosmetology Academy this year, she was quite excited.

Fenton is one of 97 students from Hoover and Spain Park high schools enrolled in the new academy at the Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3).

The academy began in August, and RC3 in September opened a new $577,000 lab workspace where students can practice. Students can choose from several courses, including barbering, natural hair styling and straight hair styling.

The program is designed to last three years, with students starting in 10th grade and completing their training upon graduation.

Debra Walker Smith, the executive director of career and technical education for Hoover City Schools, oversees the academy. She said she is excited that the cosmetology academy is finally open after receiving a high interest level from students and industry workers.

“What we try to do is see what the need is in industry and see if student interest also supports that,” Smith said. “We do surveys, and we talk to our industry partners, and we try to find areas that are high demand and high need.”

Students do not have to pay extra tuition to attend courses for the academy, but they do have to purchase their own materials for the classes. The cost is $50 a year ($25 per course), which the academy tries to communicate to students one course at a time so students are not discouraged to apply.

All students must undergo an application

Nyel Settles, a senior at Hoover High School, drapes a mannequin during her cosmetology and barbering class at the Riverchase Career Connection Center on Oct. 19. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

process to be considered for the cosmetology program. Students must answer essay and career interest questions, as well as questions about their grades, attendance and any disciplinary concerns.

“RC3 is a simulated workplace, so the goal of the application is to get students in the mindset of, ‘When I start to apply for positions in employment or colleges, these are some of the

things that I’ll be required to do,’” Smith said.

“We feel like it’s very important to give them that opportunity.”

After graduation, “the next steps for them would be to sit for the state board exam in order to become a licensed cosmetologist,” Smith said. “What we do is we try to cover all the state-required standards and give them as many contact hours performing things in our labs …

so that they can develop their craft.”

Le’Neka Smith, one of the two cosmetology instructors at the academy, has been licensed in cosmetology since 2002 and has her own salon, called The Cut Up, in Oxford.

“I’m so excited to be here to help bring everything that I’ve learned over the past 20+ years to help the next generation of leaders in this industry,” she said.

She appreciates that the academy is providing students with hands-on experience, she said.

“It brings excitement to them that somebody values them enough to simulate a space as RC3 has to get them ready for their career in the industry,” Smith said.

Fenton said she plans to go to college to get a business degree first and then go into cosmetology school. She eventually would like to have her own salon, so she wants a good understanding of finances, she said.

Fenton said she appreciates that the instructors at the academy take the students seriously and are investing in helping them improve their craft.

“I think that the RC3 environment as a whole has been really inviting. All of these girls are new, and it’s been really nice to see people in actual work environments,” she said. “This isn’t a work environment that everybody always respects, so I think it’s really nice that we’ve had the opportunity to be taken seriously.”

RC3 now has six career academies to help prepare students to enter the workforce. The others are the Culinary and Hospitality Academy, Cyber Innovation Academy, Fire Science Academy, Health Science Academy and Skilled Trades Academy.

Learn more about RC3 at www.hoovercity schools.net/domain/1741.

HooverSun.com

December 2023 • 17

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18 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Sports Bucs, Jags finish season at state tournament Spain Park’s Megan Ingersoll (7) hits the ball over the net in a Class 7A state quarterfinal match against Enterprise at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Nov. 1.

Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

By KYLE PARMLEY The city of Hoover made its presence felt at the Class 7A state volleyball tournament.

Hoover and Spain Park high schools were two of the eight teams in the state tournament, which was held Nov. 1 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Hoover won 3-0 over St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals, while Spain Park took a 3-2 loss to Enterprise.

Hoover advanced to the semifinals, where the Bucs fell to Bob Jones in three sets.

While both teams desired to lift a state championship trophy, Hoover and Spain Park overcame plenty of hurdles throughout the season to simply reach state.

In the quarterfinal win for Hoover, St. Paul’s made the Bucs earn it, with the final score line reading 27-25, 25-18, 26-24. In the match, libero Sydney Durban had 27 digs. Kendyl Mitchell posted a double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs. Defensive specialist Olivia Guenster finished with 17 digs and four aces, while Madi Lopez had 16 assists.

Spain Park fell to Enterprise in a highly competitive match. The Jags won the first two sets, before Enterprise rallied to take the final three.

Megan Ingersoll had 27 kills and Cailyn Kyes added 40 assists.

The Jags finished the season with a 21-20 record, but they won the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament and finished second at the North Super Regional. Head coach Kellye Bowen said “grit” was the defining reason the Jags were able to make a strong push toward the end of the season.

“A lot of people counted us out three weeks ago,” she said.

After graduating eight players from last year’s team, Spain Park entered the year with little

varsity experience. Seniors Grace Devlin, Mae Elliott, Rigby Perrien and Ella Ussery were the eldest on a team Bowen said grew throughout the season more so than any she has coached.

“We’re a young team, we’ve never been here before,” Bowen said. “None of our kids have seen the court here. I couldn’t be more proud of them. Hopefully they’ll remember what it feels like to lose like this.”

In the semifinals, Hoover ran into a hot Bob Jones team. Durban finished the match with 21 digs. Mitchell had 10 kills and eight digs, Lopez finished with 11 assists and six digs, and Guenster added 13 digs.

Hoover (31-24) advanced to the state tournament for the second straight year under head coach Amanda Wood, following a convincing win over Vestavia Hills in the area tournament

and a five-set win over Huntsville in the super regional tournament.

The Bucs will certainly miss the contributions of seniors Grace Johnston, Mitchell and Kenzie Richards.

“I’m just proud of them,” Wood said. “It felt like everyone counted us out after we graduated nine seniors last year. They worked so hard and they earned every bit of it.”

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December 2023 • 19

Welcoming Dr. Patrick Rowan Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

UAB Medical West is proud to welcome Dr. Patrick Rowan to our team of medical professionals.

Dr. Rowan is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He received his undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College and his medical degree from The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Dr. Rowan completed his orthopedic surgery residency at The University of Missouri and his sports medicine fellowship with Andrews Research and Education Foundation in Gulf Breeze, Florida. We are thrilled to welcome him to the UAB Medical West family.

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20 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Bucs embracing new journey following state title

By KYLE PARMLEY Much was made of the run the Hoover High School boys basketball team put together last season.

The Bucs were led by a trio of sophomores and rolled through the playoffs, winning two games at the regional tournament and two at the state tournament to claim the program’s second state title.

Yes, Jarett Fairley, Salim London and DeWayne Brown return, now juniors. But Hoover was far more than those three last winter. Four seniors graduated, three of whom are now playing college basketball.

“Things are going to look a little different,” Hoover head coach Scott Ware said. “The talk is that we’ve got our three main guys back. They are back and they’re super important to the team, but those role players are big time for us with the system and the way we want to play.”

There are two seniors on this year’s team, in Elijah Thomas and Trace Cunningham. Thomas helps Hoover stretch the floor and shoots the 3-point shot well. Cunningham is up from the junior varsity team and Ware noted that “he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”

“Those two guys have been good ‘lead by example’ guys as seniors,” Ware said.

Having a shift in some of the leadership roles may not be the worst thing for Hoover’s team, in terms of forcing the team to adapt to changes around them and avoid the complacency that can so easily set in after a championship.

“When you’re at the top, you can’t

Hoover’s DeWayne Brown (55) shoots a layup guarded by Central’s Emarre Griffin (10) during the Class 7A state championship game between the Bucs and Central-Phenix City at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 4.

Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

rest on what you’ve done,” Ware said. “You’ve got to keep working, and the guys have done that.”

Ware is emphasizing the journey

of the 2023-24 team on its own.

There is no talk of repeating as champions or anything of that nature.

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“New goals, new opportunities, new highs, new lows,” he said.

Brown, at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, is almost always the

biggest player on the floor, no matter the opponent. However, Brown’s backup, Jackson Sheffield, is also 6-9.

Brown was a matchup nightmare down the stretch last season. He’s expanded his game in the offseason, according to Ware, now showing the ability to play on the perimeter in addition to his back-to-the-basket game.

Fairley has steadily improved, learning how to take full advantage of his quick first step and decision-making skills. Ware said he can play multiple positions given his versatile skill set on the wing.

London is one of those players that elicit all of the coach clichés: “coach on the floor,” “leads by example,” “selfless,” and so on. Ware said the coaching staff began charting hockey assists — essentially the pass leading to an assist — and London leads that stat amongst the team. He is also one of the team’s top defenders.

Ware expects Seneca Robinson and Cameron Torbor to play significant roles on the team as well.

Riley Frye, Austin Dudley, Messiah Millin and Caleb Williams will have the opportunity to take big steps and make an impact.

Hoover won 31 games last year and will have a tall task to reach that number once again. The Bucs are playing in a prestigious tournament in Illinois in addition to playing teams like Buckhorn, Huntsville, Huffman, Oxford and Cullman in regular season action. They will compete in Class 7A, Area 5 with Vestavia Hills, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County as well.

HooverSun.com

December 2023 • 21

New faces, same standard for Lady Bucs Hoover’s Ariana Peagler (14) dribbles the ball guarded by Prattville’s Macayla Hines (15) during an AHSAA Class 7A girls state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 2. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

BY KYLE PARMLEY The journey to the four-peat has officially begun, although it will look a little different for the Hoover High School girls basketball team.

There is no more Aniya Hubbard or Reniya Kelly. They are both off playing Division I college basketball these days, after illustrious careers with the Lady Bucs.

Now, they give way to the likes of Khloe Ford and Kristen Winston, potentially two of the next star players for a proud program that has won the last three — and four of the last five — Class 7A titles.

“This group has never really had to blaze their own trail,” Hoover head coach Krystle Johnson said.

“They’ve been role players or on JV. In an effort to have them create their own path, it’s the journey to the four-peat.”

Emphasis on the word “journey,” because that’s what Johnson expects this to be. The Lady Bucs will be by no means a finished product in the early months of the season, as this group of players is expected to grow and settle into roles.

“We have 12 people that at any moment could fill a role,” Johnson said. “We should be harder to scout because there’s not one person to stop.”

Ford and Winston are garnering college offers, and there’s also senior guard Ariana Peagler, the team’s lone returning starter.

Kamryn Lee, Katie Ridgeway and Jillian Clark-Williamson are seniors in addition to Peagler. Lee and Peagler are no strangers to the big moments, but Ridgeway and

Clark-Williamson will get their first significant taste of varsity ball this year.

“People look at what we lost, but these people were practicing against them every day,” Johnson said. “Jill had to guard Reniya five days a week. She’s not going to face anybody on another team better than Reniya. That’s the whole thing about being a program.”

Johnson hopes to see Ford, now a sophomore, have a breakout season.

Ford now stands 6-foot-3, and Johnson noted her strong spring and summer AAU seasons.

Winston will be the first seventh grader to see the varsity floor for Hoover.

“You see her play and you’ll understand why,” Johnson said.

Sophomore Aaliyah Blanchard has grown several inches and expanded her game. Junior point guard Kaitlyn Gipson transferred to Hoover from Paul Bryant and will

make an immediate impact, as she has already eclipsed 1,000 career points as a high school player.

Nia Brown, Layla Cannon, Tatum English and Jaliyah Manuel are also on the varsity team.

“It may not be the names you know, but ones that people will soon find out,” Johnson said. “The name on the front of the jersey is still the same.”

Hoover has only lost nine games over the last five years. It will be

tough to maintain that pace this winter, especially with the Lady Bucs playing teams like Bob Jones, Huffman and Hazel Green, in addition to several out-of-state teams.

The Lady Bucs will play in Class 7A, Area 5 with Thompson, Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills.

“You can talk as much as you want and try to explain it to them, but until they do it themselves, they won’t understand how you have to play every night,” Johnson said.

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22 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

‘Hungry and focused’ Jags embark on new season Spain Park’s Korbin Long (2) attempts a 3-pointer during an AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinal game between CentralPhenix City and Spain Park at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 2. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

By KYLE PARMLEY The Spain Park High School boys basketball team is on quite a run of late.

The Jags have advanced to the Class 7A final four each of the last three seasons, advancing to the state semifinals and playing on the state’s biggest stage in Birmingham.

Could the Jags make it four trips in a row with another successful season? Sure, but head coach Chris Laatsch is not looking at it that way.

“Every year is [unique],” Laatsch said. “You have to develop new roles and identities. I love that. It’s exciting because we have a ton of spots that nobody has grabbed yet.”

Spain Park lost six players from last year’s roster, meaning the makeup and identity of this year’s team will take on a different look.

“That’s what I get excited about every year, is a new journey,” Laatsch said. “You see if you can get these individual parts and make it a good-looking puzzle, and figure out the best way for this group to play.”

Korbin Long returns as the team’s point guard, and will be in his third year on the varsity team. He is someone the Jags will rely heavily on this season. TJ Lamar will have an expanded role this season playing in the post. Lamar is only playing organized basketball for the third year and is “raw, but has a high motor.”

There are eight seniors on this year’s Jags team, with Chapman Blevins, Parker Chase, Josh Helms, Alex Buchanan, Nick Richardson and Jackson Bradley making up a large portion of the roster.

“There’s a lot of inexperience, but I like our guys,” Laatsch said. “They’re going to be hungry and focused and get better every day.”

Josh Fonbah is a junior, and the Jags have three sophomores in Harrison Stewart, Quinn Davis and Cooper Gann.

What will the Jags look like on the offensive side? That remains to be seen as the season gets going.

“They’re going to play hard every night, going to compete,” Laatsch said. “That’s who they are. We’ll be undersized. We’re going to be able to stretch the floor a little bit, we’ve got a lot of guys who can shoot the 3 and get to the basket.”

But there’s no secret what Spain Park will be on the other side of the floor.

“We’ll be multiple defensively, try to

compete and get after people,” Laatsch said.

Laatsch isn’t sticking any outcome-based expectations on this year’s team, although he certainly believes the capability could be there for the team to reach a deep postseason round.

“We try not to talk a lot about the past or how many wins in a row or final fours, because every team is different. Every team has different potential. At the end of the day, we want

Peace on Earth

everyone to pull in the same direction,” he said.

Spain Park’s schedule features plenty of topnotch teams, including Scottsboro, Enterprise, Huntsville, Baker, Hoover and Vestavia Hills.

The Jags play in Class 7A, Area 6 against Oak Mountain, Chelsea and Hewitt-Trussville.

“Our area is going to be a dog fight,” Laatsch said. “Good coaches in the area and teams that play hard. Super competitive and a lot of fun.”

HooverSun.com

December 2023 • 23

Lady Jags beginning rebuilding process

By KYLE PARMLEY John Hadder built the Vincent High School boys basketball program into a perennial contender. Hadder took Vincent to 12 area titles in the 14 years he coached there, advancing to the state final four twice and finishing as the state runner-up once.

When he retired following last season, he didn’t know what would come next. Until he got a call from Spain Park, asking him to take on the task of leading the girls program.

Although Hadder had not previously coached a girls program, he accepted the job and took over a program that won a Class 7A state championship as recently as 2020, but has since fallen on hard times.

Spain Park won state titles in 2017-18 and 2019-20, but the Lady Jags won just one game last season and Hadder has been tasked with rebuilding the program.

“Even though there have been a lot of challenges, I enjoy it,” he said. “I enjoy getting here every morning.”

Like many coaches inheriting a situation requiring a rebuild, there is always the difficult balance of attempting to win now versus building for the future. The Lady Jags have a pair of seniors this season in Zyian Heyligar and Indiana Gannett, although Gannett will miss the season with an injury.

“We’re dedicated to getting this thing turned around, but it’s going to be a process,” Hadder said. “It’s going to take a few years. We’re just going to build toward that. We can get better as the year goes on.”

The roster has several juniors, headlined by Jordyn Corey and Tori Flournoy, who played key roles last season. Trinity Daniels, Mary Cothran Hunter and Campbell Busby are part of that group as well.

Spain Park will even have a pair of seventh graders playing a big part this season, with guards Ava Leonard and Nylah Calhoun showing plenty of promise and potential.

WINDOWS

Spain Park’s Jordyn Corey (23) dribbles the ball downcourt in a game against Hewitt-Trussville on Jan. 13. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

“They both have real high ceilings,” Hadder said. “We just went ahead and made the decision that they were going to come up and play on our varsity.”

Adriana Britt, Teagan Huey, Kamia Dawsey, Alyssa Cole, Zadi Thompson-McWhorter and Lynlee Franks are also on the team this year.

With his team, Hadder emphasizes playing tough defense. Even when shots don’t fall, the saying goes, “defense travels.”

“If you can be gritty and tough, you’ll at least

give yourself a chance the nights you aren’t great offensively,” he said.

Over the first two months of the season, the Lady Jags will challenge themselves with teams like Vestavia Hills, Helena, Pell City, Clay-Chalkville, Hoover and Mountain Brook.

Games like that will certainly serve to help the team improve.

“I’m hoping that by the time January rolls around, we have started to jell to where things are second nature. How that translates into results, I

DOORS

SIDING

can’t speak to that, but if you do those things well [operate offensively and play strong defense], it gives you a chance to find success,” Hadder said.

The Lady Jags will take on Chelsea, Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain in Class 7A, Area 6 play.

“I’m excited to be here and excited to turn things around,” Hadder said. “We’ve got some kids that want to do that. I’m excited to see how far we can go from where we are and what we look like later on.”

ROOFING

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24 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

Varsity Sports Calendar BASKETBALL HOOVER Dec. 1: Boys vs. Spain Park. 7 p.m.

Dec. 5: Boys vs. Cullman. 7 p.m.

Dec. 8: Boys @ Huntsville. 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9: vs. Huffman. Oxford High School.

10 a.m.

Dec. 21-23: Girls at Big Orange Classic. Hoover High School.

Dec. 15: vs. McAdory. Girls at 6 p.m., boys at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 27-29: Girls at Ball-N-Prep National Showcase. Hazel Green High School.

Dec. 18: Girls vs. Westminster-Oak Mountain. 6 p.m.

Dec. 28-30: Boys at Big Orange Classic. Hoover High School.

Dec. 9: Boys vs. Buckhorn. 5 p.m.

Dec. 10: Girls at Larry & Connie Davidson Classic. Oxford High School.

SPAIN PARK

Dec. 15: Boys vs. McGill-Toolen. Coastal Alabama Community College. 6 p.m.

Dec. 15: Girls vs. Galloway. TBA. Dec. 16: Boys @ Escambia County. 3 p.m.

Dec. 16: Girls @ River Ridge. TBA.

Dec. 20-22: Boys at Alpha Tournament.

Kingsport, Tennessee.

Dec. 1: Girls @ John Carroll. 6 p.m.

Dec. 1: Boys @ Hoover. 7 p.m.

Dec. 5: @ Thompson. Girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.

Dec. 8: vs. Homewood. Girls at 6 p.m., boys at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8: @ Mountain Brook. 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 14: Moody Quad. Moody High School.

6 p.m.

Dec. 15-16: Pelham Invitational. Pelham High School.

Dec. 19: Girls vs. Gardendale. 5 p.m.

Dec. 30: Scott Rohrer Tournament.

Finley Center.

Dec. 20-22: Boys at Mako Classic.

Orange Beach High School.

SPAIN PARK

Dec. 21: Girls vs. Bessemer City. 6 p.m.

Dec. 5: Home match. 6 p.m.

Dec. 28-30: Metro Tournament.

Homewood High School.

Dec. 8-9: Swede Umbach Invitational.

Auburn High School.

WRESTLING

Dec. 12: Home match. 6 p.m.

HOOVER

Dec. 19: vs. Chelsea. 6 p.m.

Dec. 7: Home match. 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 30: @ Hoover. TBA.

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Sports Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley

Let them celebrate As someone who covers plenty of high school sports throughout the year, I get the great opportunity to see many, many teams be crowned champions.

Area champions, regional champions, state champions. There are so many trophies handed out during the course of all the seasons.

For example, if you go to the Super 7 high school football state championships, you’ll see eight state titles awarded over a three-day period.

I can easily see how you become numb Parmley to that, if you work a large number of championship events. You see the same movie unfold over and over. Team A wins and rushes the field in a bundle of elation and claims a trophy for its efforts. Rinse, repeat.

I’m often frustrated at how the teams that win these championship events are stifled in the immediate aftermath of victory. After a very brief explosion of joy, players and coaches are shuffled back to their places so that the mundane and repetitive awards ceremony can commence.

For the high school athletic teams in this state, they are told that reaching these championship events is the pinnacle of their seasons. But too often, they are only allowed to celebrate for a single moment and then moved out of the way for the next title game.

What gets lost so often is the context each team carries at the end of a season. The teams fortunate enough to win a state championship have logged countless hours, days and months with each other, achieving triumphs and persevering through struggles along the way. They didn’t just show up at the end ready to win it all.

These coaches and athletes have dedicated their lives for a portion of time to ensure that their particular team has a chance at glory.

While those of us who are fortunate enough to cover these events regularly can always come back next year, many of the players and coaches get one shot at claiming a state title. The least we can do is allow them to bask in the moment of reaching the mountaintop of their sport.

It’ll be OK if the next game starts a few minutes later than planned. The teams deserve at least a minute or two to soak up a championship moment.

Let them enjoy it!

Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at Starnes Media.

December 2023 • 25

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Hoover Sun

Real Estate

By the numbers: October 2022 vs. 2023

35216 35216 35226 3522635216

35 35242 35242

35226

35242 35244 35244

35022 35022 35080 35022 35080

65 65

35244

65

35080

Median Home Prices

■

October 2022

$SOOK 400K 300K $269.SK

■

October 2023

$306.9K

$545K

$51OK $S26 2K

$554.7K

355K

200K 100K 35022

35080

35216

35226

35242

35226

35244

Chart: Melanie Viering • Source: Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service • Created with Datawrapper

Note: Real estate data is by zip code, but some parts of these zip codes are outside the city limits. Data provided by the Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service on Nov. 7, 2023

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December 2023 • 27

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28 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

U.S. 280

CONTINUED from page 1 To make that happen, the state will have to replace the Pump House Road bridge over U.S. 280 in Mountain Brook because there is not enough room for additional lanes with the current bridge structure.

The state also plans to add a third left-turn lane from westbound U.S. 280 onto I-459 and make repairs to the I-459 bridge deck, said DeJarvis Leonard, the lead engineer for ALDOT’s East Central Region.

Additionally, the project includes repairs on the existing U.S. 280 Leonard roadbed between Lakeshore Drive and Rosedale Drive in Homewood and repaving of the stretch between Perimeter Park and the Cahaba River, Leonard said. That makes the total project cover about 5.8 miles.

It’s clear the project is needed, Leonard said. Currently, there are an estimated nearly 100,000 vehicles per day traveling U.S. 280 at I-459, he said. The stretch of road in question is operating at a D or F level of service during peak traffic times (roughly 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-6 p.m.), he said.

In traffic design lingo, a D level of service equates to “approaching unstable flow,” and an F level of service means “forced or breakdown flow,” in which travel time cannot be predicted and generally there is more demand than capacity.

“We’re pretty much at full congestion,” Leonard said.

Adding an extra through lane on each side of the highway should improve the level of service to a B or a C, Leonard said. A B level of service means “reasonably free flow,” and a C level of service means “stable flow, at or near free flow.”

The planned road changes should take five to 10 minutes off the travel time between I-459 and the Red Mountain Expressway, Leonard said.

“We’re excited about the project and think it should be a win-win for everyone,” he said.

Motorists travel on U.S. 280 between The Summit and Pump House Road. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

COST AND TIMELINE

The expected cost is $25 million to $30 million, but the project is still in the final design stage, and construction bids probably won’t be taken until March, Leonard said.

Construction should start in early May and take 18 to 24 months to complete, he said.

The bulk of the work will be scheduled at night and on weekends so as to minimize disruptions to weekday traffic, Leonard said.

There will be some traffic interruptions, especially during bridge construction, but the public will be notified in advance about major traffic flow alterations, he said.

This project has been in the planning stages for three to four years, Leonard said.

Originally, it was a smaller project that involved new lanes being added only between Lakeshore Drive and Pump House Road — a stretch of about 2.1 miles, Leonard said. However, it was such a small job that it didn’t attract the attention of a lot of contractors, and the bids received were high, he said.

ALDOT decided to broaden the scope of the job and believes that will attract more bidders and help bring the cost per mile down, he said.

The project already has been approved by the Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization and added to the state’s transportation improvement plan, Leonard said.

It will be funded by the state, including state and federal tax dollars, he said.

The city of Birmingham is making adjustments to improve the entrance to The Summit shopping center from U.S. 280 in conjunction with the ALDOT project, Leonard said.

State and Birmingham area officials have looked at numerous ways to improve traffic flow on U.S. 280 over recent decades, including an option to build an elevated roadway in parts of the corridor. However, there was enough opposition from cities and communities in the corridor to eliminate that idea from consideration. Among

the concerns, residents said they feared an elevated roadway would be unsightly and add noise and light pollution, hurting their property values.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Regarding the new plan to add lanes to U.S. 280, Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch said he believes it will help move traffic through the area faster between downtown Birmingham and I-459.

Some Mountain Brook residents two years ago expressed concerns during a public meeting that the elimination of an acceleration lane from Overton Road onto U.S. 280 will make traffic back up too long on Overton, causing a logjam there.

Leonard said ALDOT needs to turn that acceleration lane into a through lane because there is not enough room for both to exist due to the terrain. He understands that would make it more difficult for traffic

from Overton Road to merge onto U.S. 280, but in response to resident concerns, ALDOT plans to alter the traffic light timing to give dedicated time for right turns from Overton onto U.S. 280, he said.

Welch Welch said that should help compensate some for the removal of the acceleration lane.

“I know they’re going to try to address the problem as best they can with the timing of the lights, and hopefully it won’t get too bad,” he said.

People would be surprised how much traffic can flow through an intersection in 20 seconds, he said.

“I think ALDOT’s doing the best they can to solve a problem that’s a pretty tough problem,” Welch said.

Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry said he definitely views the additional lanes on U.S. 280 Curry as a positive. The traffic volumes on U.S. 280 have far surpassed the original projections for the roadway, he said.

The additional lanes on the highway will help more traffic more efficiently, he said.

“I don’t think there’s any way it would do anything but help us,” he said. “It’ll be safer.

It’ll be quicker.”

While that stretch of U.S. 280 isn’t in the Hoover city limits, it will affect many Hoover residents as well, especially those who live in the Greystone or Inverness areas.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he knows that U.S. 280 is a difficult problem to solve and that ALDOT has studied the situation.

“I’m grateful they’re actually putting new lanes on 280 to help the problem,” Brocato said. “I think that eventually that will be the solution as it moves out through Chelsea as well.”

About 10 years ago, ALDOT implemented a change in traffic patterns at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Valleydale Road, for drivers on Brocato westbound U.S. 280 who want to turn left onto Valleydale and drivers on eastbound U.S. 280 who want to turn left onto Cahaba Beach Road.

Those drivers now must go through the traffic light at Valleydale Road and make a U-turn and then a right turn instead. That took some adjustment by drivers, but the changes did help move traffic quicker, Brocato said.

The U.S. 280 corridor is vital to a number of cities, including Hoover, Brocato said.

“We certainly want to support anything ALDOT does to help move traffic through there safely and efficiently and at the same time gives our communities the opportunity to continue shopping on 280,” he said.

HooverSun.com

December 2023 • 29

30 • December 2023

Hoover Sun

HOLIDAYS

CONTINUED from page 1

FIRE DEPARTMENT TOY DRIVE

► WHEN: Nov. 10-Dec. 19 ► WHERE: All Hoover fire stations ► WEB: hooverfire.org The Hoover Fire Department each year collects toys to be distributed to children of deployed soldiers at Christmas.

People can bring unwrapped toys to any Hoover fire station until Dec. 19. If firefighters are out on a call and the station is empty, the toys can be left under a covered area at the station.

Deliveries can be made any time, but the preference is for deliveries between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The toy drive is coordinated by the Alabama National Guard Foundation, and the toys are delivered on Christmas Eve to children of active duty members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

The Hoover Fire Department has participated in the toy drive for 20-plus years alongside other departments, such as the North Shelby and Rocky Ridge fire departments.

Left: A Celtic Angels Christmas performance. Photo courtesy of Brandon Marlon. Right: Taylor Hicks will be at the Lyric Theatre in Birmingham in Dec. 8. Photo courtesy of David McClister.

PICTURES WITH SANTA

► WHEN: Nov. 16-Dec. 24, 2-5:30 p.m. most days ► WHERE: Riverchase Galleria ► WEB: riverchasegalleria.com Santa Claus will be available for pictures on the lower level of the Riverchase Galleria, by the food court in front of the Von Maur department store. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ups are welcomed. People who make reservations in advance can schedule a free phone call from Santa.

Reservations can be made from 2 to 5:30 p.m. most days at whereissanta.com/mall/0119.

The mall also will have special times for pets to have pictures made with Santa on Mondays and Tuesdays (4-7 p.m.) between Nov. 20 and Dec. 5. Reservations for pet photos can be made at riverchasegalleria.com/en/events/ santa-pet-pictures-44357.

There also will be a special time set aside for photos with Santa for children with special sensory needs on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

► WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m. ► WHERE: Hoover City Hall parking lot The city of Hoover will have its annual Christmas tree lighting in the parking lot at Hoover City Hall, with help from Gwin Elementary School fourth-grader Jesse Humphreys, who underwent a kidney transplant earlier this year.

Shades Mountain Elementary School’s choir will sing a couple of holiday songs, and the Shades of Blue jazz ensemble from Spain Park High School will entertain the crowd as well, Hoover events director Kelly Peoples said. There also will be Red Diamond coffee, hot chocolate and snacks.

Santa Claus is expected to arrive on a Hoover fire truck and make his way to the Hoover Library Plaza, where he will be available for photos with children, Peoples said. Children also will have a chance to receive a take-home holiday craft.

Will Lochamy, a Hoover resident who is co-host of “The Morning Blend” show on Birmingham Mountain Radio, will serve as master of ceremonies for the tree lighting.

CELTIC ANGELS CHRISTMAS

► WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. ► WHERE: Hoover Library Theatre ► WEB: thelibrarytheatre.com This show includes Irish step dancing by the Celtic Knight Dancers, directed by Sarah Costello of Belfast and Dublin native Louise Barry; vocals of traditional and contemporary Irish and holiday tunes by Barry, Searlait Ni Caiside, Olivia Bradley, Michaela Groth and Katie Sweeney; and a live band.

The musical arranger is Peter Sheridan of Cavan and Celtic Thunder.

Tickets for each performance were $35 plus a $3 processing fee. Both performances are sold out, but occasionally tickets are returned and are available for resale. To inquire, call the Hoover Library Theatre box office at 205-444-7888, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

BLUFF PARK CHRISTMAS PARADE

► WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. ► WHERE: Streets of Bluff Park ► WEB: “Bluff Park Christmas Parade” on Facebook

Milexa Ayala and Jose and Joacquin Reveron pose for a photo with Santa Claus at the 2022 Ho Ho Hoover-Randle Open House at the Hoover-Randle Home and Gardens in December 2022. Photo by Jon Anderson.

The 2023 Bluff Park Christmas parade, which is open to the entire community (not just Bluff Park), once again will begin and end at the Bluff Park Community Park next to the Shades Cliff pool, said Kristen Fountain, one of the organizers.

The parade will proceed along Cloudland Drive (behind Bluff Park Elementary School), turn right onto Lester Lane, then turn south on Clearview Road (which turns into Maiden Lane), right onto Rockview Lane, right onto Cloudland Drive and end back at the park next to the Shades Cliff Pool.

Last year, the parade had an estimated 300-350 people in it, with 37 groups taking part, including churches, Scout troops, Bluff Park Elementary School, Simmons Middle School dance team and cheerleaders, businesses, the Hoover Belles, part of the Hoover High School marching band, Mayor Frank Brocato and groups of family members and friends.

Winning awards for best floats last year were the Simmons cheerleaders, the Seewald family, Simmons dance team, Hoover Public Library and the Rickels family. The top floats again this year will receive gift cards to local restaurants or businesses, Fountain said.

The fee to be part of the parade is $45, and there is a link to register on the event’s Facebook page. Parade organizers also are selling sponsorships for $100 to help cover costs, such as liability insurance and assistance from Hoover police officers. That $100 includes a parade entry fee. Money raised this year helps pay for next year’s parade. The parade will take place rain or shine, organizers say. Other organizers are Kristin Mathis, Alli Nations, Lauren Toth and Lori Redding.

Organizers ask people who drive to Bluff Park to watch the parade to park at Shades Crest Baptist Church and Bluff Park Elementary School.

The parade will go behind the school on Cloudland Drive but not by Shades Crest Baptist on Park Avenue.

HOOVER HELPS VIP PARTY AND HO HO HOOVER-RANDLE OPEN HOUSE

► WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 2 (7-10 p.m.), and Sunday, Dec. 3 (2-5 p.m.) ► WHERE: Hoover-Randle Home and Gardens

► WEB: hooverhelps.org The Hoover Helps nonprofit, which provides food and clothing for needy children, is holding its fourth annual Ho Ho Hoover fundraiser at the Hoover-Randle Home and Gardens.

It’s a two-part event. There’s “An Old-Fashioned Christmas” VIP party from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, and the Ho Ho Hoover-Randle Open House from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3.

The VIP party is designed to be a come-and-go festive celebration with cocktail attire, food provided by Tre Luna Catering and cocktails by Sweet Home Alabama Spirits and Tito’s.

Guests can purchase $50 raffle tickets for a chance to win a Van Winkle 12-Year Lot B bottle of bourbon (valued at about $1,000) or $25 tickets with an opportunity to choose surprise jewelry items from a “bling tree,” with there being at least one premium jewelry item from the tree.

There also will be $25 tickets for a “wine pull,” in which guests pay $25 to pull out a bottle of wine without knowing what kind of wine it is.

The plan is to have at least one premium bottle of wine in the mix, Hoover Helps co-founder Greg Bishop said.

This year, there also will be a Barbie-themed Christmas tree with opportunities for additional $25 donations to Hoover Helps, co-founder and Executive Director Donna Bishop said.

Hoover Helps is having a silent auction that includes a Jack Daniel’s Distillery barrel signed by the distiller and a day at the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, that includes lunch, a tour and whiskey tasting. Other auction items include a number of high-end bourbon bottles, coolers, a wakeboard, a Republic National Distributing Co. neon sign and a stay at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel.

An online link to auction items should be available at hooverhelps.org. Participants do not have to be present to win. The auction is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. Saturday, and the raffle ticket sales for the Van Winkle bourbon will cut off at 9:30 p.m., Greg Bishop said. Tickets to the VIP party cost $55.

On Sunday, guests can tour the Hoover-Randle Home and Gardens and see at least 10 Christmas trees decorated by nonprofits and other organizations in Hoover in ways that identify their missions. Participating groups include the Hoover

Service Club, Hoover Fire Department, Hoover City Schools Foundation, Hoover Beautification Board, Hoover Historical Society, Hoover Arts Council, Leadership Hoover, Hoover-AHEAD and Hoover Helps.

Last year, the Riverchase Career Connection Center won the People’s Choice award and first place from the judges, while the Hoover Service Club placed second and the Hoover Arts Council came in third. A tree from Hoover High School was voted to have the best craftsmanship.

There also will be entertainment by the dance teams and choirs from Hoover and Spain Park high schools and desserts provided by Publix, Target, Jubilee Joe’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant, Biscuit Belly, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and Michelle’s Chocolate Laboratory. Ms. Senior Alabama Kathy Paiml also is scheduled to attend.

Tickets for the Sunday open house are $15, but children ages 12 and younger get in free. Parking and free shuttles will be available at the nearby Shades Mountain Community Church.

Last year’s two-day Ho Ho Hoover event made about $10,000, Greg Bishop said.

Tickets for both events are available by searching for “Hoover Helps” and “Ho Ho Hoover” on eventbrite.com.

TAYLOR HICKS IN CONCERT

► WHEN: Friday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. ► WHERE: Lyric Theatre ► WEB: lyricbham.com/events Hoover native and “American Idol” Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks is scheduled to perform at the Lyric Theatre in Birmingham on Friday, Dec. 8.

He’ll be singing Christmas classics, including his new cover of “Jingle Bells,” as well as hits by the Doobie Brothers. Tickets range from $32.50 to $42.50 and are available through Ticketmaster.

This event also is a benefit for Toys for Tots.

JINGLE BELL RUN

► WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 9 ► WHERE: Veterans Park ► WEB: events.arthritis.org The Arthritis Foundation is putting on its annual Jingle Bell Run to raise money for the foundation and give people an opportunity to exercise and show holiday spirit at the same time.

Runners, walkers and their pets in the 5K are encouraged to dress up in holiday costumes, but it’s not required. Each runner will be given a race T-shirt and jingle bells.

The festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. with day-of registration and packet pickup, followed by an opening ceremony at 8 a.m.; costume contest for individuals, groups and pets at 8:30 a.m.; warm-up at 8:45; lineup at 8:50; and the race start at 9 a.m.

The cost to run the race with a timing chip is $45 through Dec. 8, or you can run without the timing chip for $40. Either way, the cost goes up $5 after Dec. 8.

Participants, either as individuals or teams, are invited to raise additional money for the foundation by asking for donations in connection with the race.

Finisher medals will be given to all participants who complete the race, and additional medals will be given out to top finishers in various age groups afterward at the post-race celebration. Dogs and strollers are welcome in the 5K. Last year’s Jingle Bell Run drew about 550 people and raised about $75,000, said Kelly Maliska, executive director for the Arthritis Foundation. The goal this year is to attract at least 800 runners and walkers and raise $115,000, she said.

HooverSun.com

December 2023 • 31

Left: About 550 people participated in the 2022 Jingle Bell Run for the Arthritis Foundation at Veterans Park in Hoover in December 2022. Photo by Jon Anderson. Above: The Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra performs at the Riverchase Galleria. Photo courtesy of Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra.

For more information, contact Maliska at kmaliska@arthritis.org or 470-440-2856, or go to events.arthritis.org.

ALABAMA SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

from as far away as Lee and Madison counties.

Sponsors of the holiday concerts are Publix, the Riverchase Galleria and Drummond Co.

MENORAH LIGHTING

► WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 and 4 p.m. ► WHERE: Riverchase Galleria food court ► WEB: alabamasymphony.org/events The Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra is scheduled to perform holiday tunes twice at the Riverchase Galleria food court on Sunday, Dec. 10.

The free performances will be at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Each performance should last about an hour, said Maria Wilson, the symphony’s director of education.

The youth symphony has a new music director, Daniel Cho, who also serves as assistant conductor for the ASO. Before coming to Birmingham in June, Cho served as assistant conductor for the Eugene Symphony in Oregon, Yakima Symphony in Washington, Oregon Mozart Players and Eugene Opera.

This year’s youth orchestra has 65 musicians, ages 12-22, who mostly live within about 50 miles of Birmingham, but some of whom come

► WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 5-6 p.m. ► WHERE: Hoover Public Library ► WEB: events.hooverlibrary.org/event/ 9451173 The city of Hoover is partnering with Chabad of Alabama, a Jewish outreach organization based in Mountain Brook, to have a menorah lighting at the Hoover Public Library to celebrate Hannukah.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said the library has been having a menorah lighting for years, but this year the city is advertising it more so the community can be more involved.

Rabbi Levi Weinbaum of Chabad of Alabama, said his organization has been involved with menorah lightings at The Summit for 11 years, Vestavia Hills City Hall for five years, Homewood City Hall for four years and Birmingham City Hall for two years. This will be the first time his organization has been involved with menorah lightings in Hoover and Mountain Brook, he said.

In addition to the lighting of a menorah, there

will be music, arts and crafts and games for children, as well as doughnuts, latkes and chocolate gelt (Yiddish for money) served, Weinbaum said.

A dreidel mascot also will be present.

WINTER WONDERLAND CRAFT AND VENDOR MARKET

► WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 16 (11 a.m.-8 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 17 (noon-6 p.m.) ► WHERE: Riverchase Galleria ► WEB: hometownvendormarket.com The Riverchase Galleria is hosting this event to give local, independent businesses and merchants an opportunity to sell their wares at the mall. The items will include food, drinks, jewelry, toys, handmade crafts, home decor, clothing, art, educational products, wellness products, wigs, real estate and photography services and more.

Each 10-by-10-foot booth costs $150. Interested vendors can register online at hometown vendormarket.com.

FIRE DEPARTMENT SANTA RUN

► WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 24, 3-9:30 p.m. ► WHERE: Throughout the city ► WEB: hooverfire.org

For kids who want to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, the Hoover Fire Department plans to give the jolly old elf a ride all around town on the night of his big deliveries.

Firefighters will be escorting Saint Nick throughout city streets in their shiny, red fire engines between roughly 3 and 9:30 p.m. as they help him scout out the neighborhoods.

People frequently come out to the edge of their driveways to see Santa as he rides by in the fire truck, but he has a busy schedule to keep and doesn’t have time to stop for pictures or anything like that.

However, Santa covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time. There are a few dead-end streets that are less easily accessible that may not make the list, but every station in town assists Santa.

People can go to the Hoover Fire Department website for an estimated arrival time at various streets, but people should be aware that Santa’s schedule could be interrupted if firefighters are called to respond to an emergency.

In the event of very bad weather, Santa may stay at Hoover fire stations for visits from kids, but notices to that effect will be posted on Christmas Eve if necessary.

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