Gardendale Magazine ~ March 2022 by JBMC Media

MARCH 2022

Automatic

People Kemp’s rolls out automated robot service for patrons. PAGE 20

CITY SOUNDS Your City Podcast puts spotlight on Gardendale in premiere season. PAGE 18

COACH MOM Charity Mahaffey leads her son’s basketball team on and off the court. PAGE 22

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Olivia Tetralogy of Fallot Patient

The path to The path to

MENDING HER MENDING HER

HEART MENDINGHEART HER HEART The path to

The path to MENDING

HER

was actually through her leg. was actually through her leg. Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open

Olivia was born a congenital defect requiring open heart surgery at 3with months old. She heart also required a second heart surgery at 3tomonths old. also required was actually through leg. surgery as a teen replace herShe pulmonary valvea–second but her this time surgery asthrough a teen to replace herleg pulmonary valve –defect but requiring this timeopen born with heart they went aOlivia veinwas in her toa congenital insert the Harmony 3 months old. She also required a second they went through aheart veinsurgery in heratleg to heart. insert the Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her ThisHarmony less-invasive surgery asthrough a teen to replace herher pulmonary valve – but this time was actually leg. Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and went they went through a veinrequiring in her legopen to insert theshe Harmony Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect path tothe replacement shortened her recovery andThis she went heart surgery at 3 day. months old. She also required a second Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve intime, her patient heart. home next Olivia was the first pediatric inless-invasive the Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open surgery as a teen to replace herreplacement pulmonary valve — buther this time shortened time, home thethrough next day. path Olivia was thevalve, first pediatric patient inatand the she went southeast to receive thehertoHarmony and it recovery was here they went in leg to insert the Harmony heart surgery ata vein 3 months old. She also required a second nextheart. day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the Transcatheter Pulmonaryhome Valvethe in her This less-invasive southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and itwent was here at Children’s of Alabama. path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she surgery as a teen tosoutheast replaceto her pulmonary valve butit was thishere timeat receive the Harmony valve,–and home the nextofday. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the Children’s Alabama. of Alabama. they went through vein invalve, her leg insert southeast to receive theaChildren’s Harmony and to it was herethe at Harmony Children’s of Alabama. To learn more visitValve in her heart. This less-invasive Transcatheter Pulmonary To learn more visit To more ChildrensAL.org/heart visit ChildrensAL.org/heart pathlearn to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went ChildrensAL.org/heart home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the Gardendale southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at magazine [ 3 ]

was actually through her leg.

Children’s of Alabama.

/ Table of Contents /

10/

14/

13/

Events: Bluegrass workshop hosts variety of lessons

15/

Student Athlete: Volleyball standout Lydia Brakefield

Nonprofit Spotlight: Special campers attend Hometown Camp

Recipe of the Month: The historic Reuben sandwich

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/ Table of Contents /

18/

Unity Through a Podcast: Premiere season focuses on Gardendale

20/

22/

Everyday Folks: Charity Mahaffey teaches players lifelong lessons

28/

Photo Feature: James Spann headlined annual prayer breakfast

26/

School News: Just some of the exciting things happening in local schools

30/

30 Calendar: Don’t miss these events

Cover Story: Meet the Robo Waitress

Gardendale magazine [ 5 ]

/ About Us / On The Cover / Who We Are Gardendale Magazine is published monthly by JBMC Media, a Birmingham-based publishing company. The magazine is mailed directly to 8,600+ homes and businesses within the city of Gardendale, and it is solely supported by advertisers within the pages of this magazine. Gardendale Magazine is 100% local; the stories and photos are all about the city of Gardendale, its residents, its businesses, its schools, and its cultural institutions. It’s our promise to you that we will always keep it this way, so that the content and stories are relevant to everyone who calls Gardendale home.

About the Cover Kemp’s Kitchen owner Brian Kemp introduced the new robot waitress, Betsy, to his Gardendale location. Cover photo by Ron Burkett

Our Advertisers

Staff

It’s never easy asking businesses to invest in advertising, so we want to give a VERY special thank you to these businesses. Please, support them! Children’s of Alabama

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City of Gardendale

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(205) 617-9609 // P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham, AL 35260

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Matthew Allen Publisher (205) 617-9609, matthew@jbmcmedia.com Rachel Davis Karr Content Director (205) 613-7850, rachel@jbmcmedia.com Lori Kinney Marketing Consultant (205) 447-1164, lkinney1215@gmail.com Anthony Bratina, Shweta Gamble Graphic Design

/ Editor’s Note / Spring is my favorite time of year. I love the warmer weather and watching everything come back to life after the winter. I don’t love the pollen and allergies, but it’s a trade I’m willing to make. I’m so excited for the farmer’s market to reopen and the food truck events to start back up. Another thing I always look forward to in the spring is the annual Magnolia Festival next month. We are excited to see what this year’s festival will hold for us. This issue was a lot of fun because I met so many new people and got the chance to be inspired by their stories. Cathy Nunnelly first told me about her neighbor Charity Mahaffey a few years ago. In addition to running a psychiatric facility, she also finds time to be an involved mom and coach her son’s basket coach–she wins, while teaching her boys lessons they can use the rest of their lives. I also have to thank Gardendale High School Coach Kelly Ingram for introducing me to one of her players. Lydia Brakefield is a friendly inspiring young lady who is destined to do great things. She’s a sophomore in high school and already has her life more figured out than I do–balancing school, athletics, a job and her social life with boundless energy. Aaron Williams discussed feeling like the whole world around him was splintered and working to reunite the community by giving neighbors insight into how others in their community are working for improvement. His podcast, aimed at increasing the listener’s sense of community, is a chance to heal and be inspired. I can’t wait to see what city he chooses for the next season. And I got to stop by and see our friends Brian and Daniel at Kemp’s Kitchen and meet their new robot waitress who decreases the load on the existing staff and delights visitors of all ages. I love hearing your ideas and being able to tell the stories of the people in this community. Remember to send your story ideas to me at rachel@jbmcmedia.com.

Rachel Davis Karr, Content Director

Gardendale magazine [ 7 ]

/ Mayor’s Corner / Spring is almost here and I am so ready for some sunshine and warmer temperatures. Like every spring season in Gardendale, it will be busy. Make sure that you take advantage of the many opportunities available to our citizens. Young or old, there is something for everyone. Our youth sports programs are just getting underway. Our parks and recreation staff have been very busy preparing our parks for the spring season. I’m very thankful for all of them and their commitment to provide first class parks for our residents to enjoy. I’m also thankful for the dozens of volunteers who donate their skills and time to teach these sports to our children. Without them, these programs would not be possible. As you may have noticed we have begun construction of the new Bill Noble Sports Complex on Moncrief Road. Several items have been repurposed and have been relocated to Kenny Clemons Park. We have added three pavilions that will soon be available for rental, a covered batting cage structure and will soon begin installing pieces of playground equipment behind the scout hut. Along with the above-mentioned improvements here locally, we have donated items to the communities of Brookside and Corner so that their citizens can enjoy them as well. I would now like to share some important dates to remember. April 4-8 has been designated as city clean up week and we will pick up your discarded items at curbside. From appliances to grills and old furniture we will be glad to help you clean up. Our public works always does a great job and is here to serve you. Call them at 205-631-3394 for more details on what we will pick up and to get on the list for pickup. The next offering is a partnership between the city and Jefferson County. It’s the Hazardous Waste Collection Day which will be on Saturday, April 9 in the south campus parking lot of GFBC. I appreciate GFBC for graciously allowing us to use this parking lot for this event. This is another opportunity to take advantage of a free service to help you clean up your residence. Paint, tires, batteries, appliances are all acceptable items. And next is everyone’s favorite and our highlight of the spring season, Magnolia Festival 2022. The dates are Friday and Saturday, April 22-23. Literally something for everyone with this year being promised as bigger and better! Thanks to Kathleen Phillips and her team for working so hard to make this festival possible. A lot going on, so much to be thankful for, that’s Gardendale! Like I always say, “Greater things are yet to come in this city.” Stan Hogeland, Mayor City of Gardendale

[ 8 ] Gardendale magazine

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facebook: @deogloriawoodworks Instagram: @deogloriawoodworks Gardendale magazine [ 9 ]

/ Nonprofit /

Special campers attend Hometown Camp

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARLENE SPRUILL

Story by Rachel Davis Karr Every year since 1975, ESG Foundation has hosted Special Camps for campers with cognitive disabilities. The campers participate in activities and crafts. For the last few years, the overnight camps have not been possible due to COVID restrictions and day camps made it burdensome for caregivers to deliver campers to each day. Beginning in 2019, the group held “virtual camps” to allow those who couldn’t attend in-person, and that setup made // Continued on Page 11 // [ 10 ] Gardendale magazine

it easier to implement virtual camps for the last few years, but they weren’t the same. This year, the camps will hold a one-day event that combines the activities of the longer camps into a single day of mini-events so campers can have a taste of camp without being away from home for long. This first-of-its-kind event will be held at Luman Harris Park in Gardendale on the Miracle League’s field. This Hometown Camp will be held on April 23.

/ Nonprofit /

// Continued from Page 10// A Gardendale native, Darlene Spruill, serves as the operations director for the camps and has been volunteering for the camps for more than three decades. “This will be our first time getting to see most of them in almost three years,” Spruill said.“Hometown Camp will be tailored for potential campers who ‘have never attended our camps before. [It allows] campers and camper families to come the first part of the day, and the second half of the day will be for

all new and seasoned campers.” This year, the organization also hopes to be able to have an in-person camp once again and the summer camp for youth and adults is scheduled for July 2530. There is also a fall camp for older adults as well. Kelli Moman’s sister, Karen, has attended the camps for decades and is excited to be able to return, even if it is just for one day. Moman said Karen has Down syndrome and the camps help her stay active and

// Continued on Page 12 // Gardendale magazine [ 11 ]

/ Nonprofit / // Continued from Page 11 // involved, but her favorite thing is getting to see and spend time with her friends at the camps. “She thoroughly enjoys it,” Moman said. “I think it’s very wonderful and very needed. It really takes special people to do that, and I really admire them.” Since they work to maintain a 2-to-1 ratio of campers to volunteers, they are always looking for people to help with the camps. New campers are also welcome. “Our campers are individuals with cognitive disabilities who can readily participate in group experiences,” Spruill said. “Individuals should be ambulatory with good toileting skills, capable of following directions, and able to feed, dress and take care of their personal hygiene with little to no assistance.” To volunteer to help or to find out about signing someone up for the camps, call Operations Director Darlene Spruill at (205)229.9311 or via email at specialcampsspruill@gmail.com. Volunteer applications are also available at specialcamps.com.

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[ 12 ] Gardendale magazine

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/ Events /

Bluegrass workshop hosts variety of lessons

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALABAMA BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION

The 24th Annual Bluegrass Showcase of Bands on is April 30 at the Gardendale Civic Center.

The Alabama Bluegrass Music Association will hold its 24th Annual Bluegrass Showcase of Bands on April 30, at the Gardendale Civic Center. The show will begin at 9:30 a.m. with workshops for guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, bass, fiddle, song writing, promoters and showmanship. After the workshops, the bands will take the stage at 11:30.

The Association was founded in 1996 as a nonprofit

Admission for the event is $15 and free for association members. Memberships will be for sale at the event for $25 and will include free admission and 11 issues of BamaGrass. Since the association is a 501(c)(3), so the membership is tax deductible.

Publicizing the existence of those resources, and

Educating the residents of Alabama about the

devoted to providing a network of fans, musicians, promoters, vendors and other interested parties for the purpose of: 1.

Preserving bluegrass music resources in Alabama,

bluegrass music genre and its importance to the southern traditional music culture in America. Gardendale magazine [ 13 ]

/ Recipe of the Month / WHAT IS A REUBEN SANDWICH? I am a sucker for food history. I often rattle off the history of what I make for dinner before I realize it. My kids usually roll their eyes and say, “Mom, don’t tell us the history of it, we just wanna eat it!” In short, there’s a controversy behind who invented the Reuben Sandwich. One legend is that Patricia B. Taylor, daughter of Arnold Reuben (1883-1970), the founder of Reubens Restaurant and Delicatessen, claims that her father made the first Reuben Sandwich in 1914 for a down-on-her-luck actress. Another claim to the famous sandwich is that Reuben Kulakofsky (1873-1960), a wholesale grocer in Omaha, Nebraska created the Reuben Sandwich. Kulakofsky belonged to a weekly poker group whose members apparently enjoyed fixing their own sandwiches every bit as much as they enjoyed playing poker. One of the players, Charles Schimmel, owner of the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, put the Reuben Sandwich on the hotel menu. Prep Time: 1 hr 15 mins / Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins / Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins / Main Course Servings: 4 servings Calories: 649 kcal 3.5 to 4 pounds corned beef brisket (flat or point) rinsed and drained Seasoning packet from corned beef brisket package 1 medium onion quartered Water (about 3 cups) 8 large slices rye or hearty white bread 1/3 cup softened butter 1/2 cup Thousand Island or Russian Salad Dressing 1 cup sauerkraut (or cabbage slaw) 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Place the corned beef on the trivet inside a 6-quart Instant Pot and add the seasonings and onion.

GRILLED REUBEN SANDWICHES Spread the salad dressing evenly on both sides of the bread slices. Add 3 ounces of sliced or shredded corned beef, 1/4 cup sauerkraut, and 1/2 cup cheese on 4 slices. Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle until hot Spread softened butter on the top pieces of bread and place that side down in the pan. Now, spread the remaining butter evenly on the other side of the sandwich bread which will now be on the top.

Pour in just enough water to come half way up the brisket-that’s all that’s necessary and probably could get by with less.

Cook 2 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned. Turn gently with a spatula and cook 1 to 2 minutes on the other side until lightly browned and the cheese is melted.

Put the lid on the Instant Pot and seal the valve.

Cook in batches if using a skillet.

Set the Instant Pot to manual (high) pressure for 1.5 hours. For a 4 pound brisket, cook 1 hour 40 minutes.

NOTES

Allow the pot to release naturally for 15 minutes after cooking, then quick release. Remove the brisket to a cutting board and let cool to the touch. Cut the brisket across the grain into slices or shred it.

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Calories are based on 3 ounces cooked corned beef. How to cook corned beef in the slow cooker: Just add corned beef, onion seasoning from packet and 2 cups of water in a large slow cooker or Crockpot. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours or until the meat is tender.

/ Student Athlete /

Brakefield talks top grades and volleyball future

Balancing

act

PHOTO BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR

Gardendale magazine [ 15 ]

/ Nonprofit /

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYDIA BRAKFIELD

Lydia Brakefield works as hard off the court as she does on it.

Story by Rachel Davis Karr In just her third year playing volleyball, Lydia Brakfield has already made a name for herself on the team. The sophomore has the highest GPA on the team and constantly looks for ways to improve herself on and off the court. “I love to grow and get better and challenge myself,” Brakefield said. “I can’t sit still.I like to make plans and stay busy.” The desire to stay busy instead of sitting idle is part of what she loves about volleyball. “I love how you’re always going,” Brakefield said. “You’re always doing something. There’s never a moment where you’re waiting or sitting. It’s always go, go, go. It can be really exciting and crazy things happen all the time–like weird plays.” That need to always be on the go also influenced her plans for her future career. She wants to be a neurosurgeon. The idea for that career path actuall started in an unusual place–television shows. // Continued on Page 17 //

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I really have to balance when can I hang out with friends, when can I focus on volleyball and when can I focus on school. Sometimes I put a little too much into friends and maybe my grades drop a little so I need to focus on that. It just takes work to balance everything and keep my priorities straight.”

/ Nonprofit / // Continued from Page 16 // “I know they’re not super-realistic,” Brakefield laughed. “But I started thinking about how I can’t just sit and do the same thing every day so I need a job that switches up and changes and something that challenges me to always improve. I think the brain is very interesting and complex, and I would like to learn how it works and how to fix it.” It’s hard to believe she only started playing volleyball in 8th grade because there were open spots on the team. Until then, she had been a dancer most of her life. Once she started playing volleyball though, she fell in love with it. Now she sees volleyball as her future–even looking at college prospects who have a promising volleyball program. “My dream school is Kentucky. They have a good medical program and a good hospital there. I want to be a surgeon. They have a good volleyball team. They won a national championship. She hasn’t been to the Kentucky campus yet, but is hoping to be able to visit and maybe attend on of the school’s camps this year. In the meantime, managing her role as a team leader, keeping her grades up, spending time with friends and working part-time after school keeps Brakefield busy, but she never loses sight of what her priorities are. “It takes a lot of discipline,” Brakefield explained. “I really have to balance when can I hang out with friends, when can I focus on volleyball and when can I focus on school. Sometimes I put a little too much into friends and maybe my grades drop a little so I need to focus on that. It just takes work to balance everything and keep my priorities straight.”

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Gardendale magazine [ 17 ]

/ Feature /

PHOTOS COURTESY OF YOUR CITY PODCAST

Aaron Williams interviewed Mayor Stan Hogeland on one episode of his podcast focused on Gardendale.

Unity through a

PODCAST

Connecting the community one interview at a time Story by Rachel Davis Karr Aaron Williams never set out to make a podcast. He wanted to do something on a small, local scale to heal the community at a time when the entire country seemed to be divided. Eventually he decided the best way to heal his neighbors was to make them realize who their local leaders were. “It was the evolution of an idea,” Williams explains. “I was feeling a lot of stress about the division that was going on. People didn’t trust each other. They didn’t trust the government. That was breaking my heart.” // Continued on Page 19 // [ 18 ] Gardendale magazine

Initially, Williams wanted to create a website featuring all of the local business offerings. That turned into a very daunting task because of the volume of items you would have to constantly be changing. Eventually he decided that he would do a podcast that features a city leader in each episode and would allow the community to get to know the other people who call Gardendale home. “I just felt like if people knew their neighbors better, they could trust them more,” Williams said. Williams wrote down the types of leaders he wanted

// Continued on Page 19 // to talk to in order to shape the podcast. He admits the original list did not look like the final project. “It started with a skeleton and filled in a different way than I thought it would,” Williams said. Williams, along with help from the Gardendale Chamber of Commerce, finally narrowed the list of leaders to be interviewed: •

Episode 1: Heather Lebischak and Bill Casaday

•

Episode 2: Draper Roberts

•

Episode 3: Mayor Stan Hogeland

•

Episode 4: Patrice Brooks and Sue Jeffreys

•

Episode 5: Kermit Dooley

•

Episode 6: Bryan Knox

•

Episode 7: Kathleen Phillips

•

Episode 8: Mike Holmes

•

Episode 9: Chad Eads

“I was trying to paint a picture of Gardendale in these interviews,” Williams said. Williams’ wife Yu-Ting acts as his sounding board for ideas and also watches the episodes with Williams before they are released to the apps and gives her opinion. She also manages the podcast’s social media channels. You can listen to the Your City Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. As for which city will be next to be featured, nothing has been decided yet.

Gardendale magazine [ 19 ]

/ Restaurant Profile /

PHOTOS BY RON BURKETT

Meet the Robo-Waitress Kemp’s introduces new robot employee Story by Rachel Davis Karr Kemp’s Kitchen recently made an investment in its Gardendale location with a robotic serving assistant. The robot can deliver orders or even assist a server with cleaning a table by running dirty dishes back to the kitchen. // Continued on Page 21 //

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Kemp’s marketing director, Daniel Harp, said that COVID concerns, along with recent employee shortages in the service industry, led the restaurant to look into robotic assistants. Then, when the restaurant’s Trussville location caught fire and burned a few months ago, the Gardendale location saw an influx of business as customers trekked from Trussville to

/ Faith /

// Continued from Page 20 // Gardendale, the restaurant decided to implement the new tool. The robot is the first of its kind in the state and one of only a dozen or so in the United States. The kitchen staff loads the plate or plates onto the robot and types in the table or tables that placed the order. The robot has been programmed with the layout of the restaurant and where each table number is. The sensors also allow the robot to avoid people, chairs or other moveable objects that might be in the dining room. For cleanup, the robot can retrieve dishes or allow a staff member to place them on the robot instead of carrying them to the kitchen. The robot then returns to the kitchen for another staff member to unload, while the server is freed up to greet and serve another guest. “We didn’t get this to take someone’s job,” Harp said. “We got this so when we hire someone, it makes their job easier.” When it came time to name the new staff member, they relied on their most veteran employee, Sandra. Initially,

she said the robot would be named Rosie after the iconic robot maid in The Jetsons, but the company said everyone named them that. Sandra then decided her new coworker would be called “Betsy.” Meanwhile, many of the Trussville regulars have found their way to the Gardendale location to see their favorite staffers. Raymond Hembree, Gary Wadsworth and Mark Liveoak were regulars in Trussville for breakfast. The Gardendale location doesn’t serve breakfast every day, but they have also learned to love the lunch menu, but it isn’t really about the food anyway. “We spent a lot of time at the Trussville location, so we come here to see our friends,” Liveoak said. “We love the people,” Hembree added. “They’re just like family to us.” Once the Trussville location is rebuilt, there will likely be one or two robots at that location as well, Harp said. The owners are also opening an upscale bar and grill near the Birmingham Airport named Alpha Charlie.

Gardendale magazine [ 21 ]

/ Everyday Folks /

Something to prove Charity Mahaffey teaches players lifelong lessons

PHOTO BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR

Charity Mahaffey coached her boys team to an undefeated regular season for a second year.

Story by Rachel Davis Karr Charity Mahaffey wanted her son, Roman, to

grow and influence choices they make down the road,” Mahaffey explained.

love basketball as much as she does. She grew

Three years ago, she felt that her son wasn’t

up playing the sport and cheering for it in high

learning the game the way she wanted and

school, so she knows that it teaches lessons

wasn’t having fun, so she volunteered to coach

that reach far beyond the court.

his team at the Gardendale Civic Center.

“I didn’t realize it then, but the lessons you

“I wanted them to fall in love with the game,”

learn about teamwork help individuals as they

Mahaffey said. “I think the kids respond well to

// Continued on Page 23 //

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/ Everyday Folks /

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARITY MAHAFFEY

// Continued from Page 22 // clear instruction and encouragement.” She recognizes that Gardendale is more of a baseball community and many coaches just seemed ready to get the basketball over and get on to baseball, but she wanted to see the boys learn more of the basketball fundamentals and appreciate the fast-paced game. “I love that moment when the lightbulb goes on and it just clicks for them,” Mahaffey said. “There is nothing better than the excitement of the kids when they’re loving the game and learning and improving.” She also appreciated the parents of her players and the trust they placed in her. She said the parents really bought into the things she was trying to teach the boys and understood that it was about more than just the fundamentals of basketball. As the full-time director of a psychiatric facility, Mahaffey didn’t need more things to do, but she did have something to prove to her players–a lesson she could only teach by example. As the only female coach in the boys league, Mahaffey sent a clear message to her players that it didn’t matter what other people thought. “I want them to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything because of gender, race, etc.,” Mahaffey said. “Don’t let that stop you.” Whatever she did worked. Her first year as a coach, the team went undefeated. She took last year off from coaching, but returned to coaching her son this year, as well as a girl’s team. This year’s boys team was undefeated in their regular season. Their first loss was to Fultondale in the All-Star tournament. As her players reacted to losing at halftime, Mahaffey took the chance to teach them something else–not to quit even when they were down and that it was ok to lose, as long as they gave it all they had. “Keep your heads up,” Mahaffey coached the dejected players. “Have fun! We have to keep playing , we haven’t lost yet.” Gardendale magazine [ 23 ]

Celebrations SHARE YOUR

IN GARDENDALE MAGAZINE

Engagements

Weddings

Birthdays

Anniversaries

Share your moments with all of Gardendale. Engaged? Recently married? Celebrating a special birthday or anniversary? Share it with us so we can let everybody in town know about it! Here’s what to do: • Email a high-resolution photo, 50-75 word description, and the name(s) of the people in the announcement to celebrations@jbmcmedia.com. • Choose from one of two sizes to share your celebration: a 1/4 page space ($95) or a 1/2 page ($190). Payment can be made with debit or credit card, or through PayPal or Venmo. • Your announcement will also be shared on our Facebook and Instagram pages. • Deadline is the 5th of the month prior to the issue you wish the celebration to appear in.

[ 24 ] Gardendale magazine

ANY YARD CAN HARBOR PESTS.

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/ School News /

Gardendale High School Wrestling Team The Gardendale High School Wrestling team sent ten competitors to the state tournament. The Powe brothers-Daishon, Melton, Isaiah and Demarcus made up almost half the team, while Keenan and Kennedy Wyatt, Vincent Zeigler, Brody Scoggins, Jackson Blankenship and Gage Beyke rounded out the state competitors. Daishon Powe won state in his division-132 lbs. Melton Powe won state in his division-160 lbs. and was named the Most Valuable Player for the 5A/6A group.

Gardendale Elementary Rocket Bots Two teams from Gardendale Elementary competed at the state championships for robotics. One of the teams placed 7th and the other placed 4th. The team that placed 4th qualified to compete in the World Championships in Dallas.

Gardendale Elementary School Character Awards Gardendale Elementary shared this picture of its January Character Award winners for Responsibility recently. The students were given these awards to show how responsible they are in the school.

[ 26 ] Gardendale magazine

/ School News /

Bragg Middle School Students of the Month

These students were chosen by their teachers as the Bragg Middle School Students of the Month. One student is chosen from each team in each grade for the honor. The awards are based on hard work, displays of character and willingness to go above and beyond. Each student who receives this award is given lunch by Buffalo Wild Wings. The students for February are: •

6th Grade Maroon-Lacey Caldwell

•

6th Grade Gray-Charles Ragsdale

•

7th Grade Maroon-Sela DeArman

•

7th Grade Gray-Cameron Maxwell

•

8th Grade Maroon-Conner Ma

•

8th Grade Gray-Addi Gamble

Snow Rogers Elementary Snow Bots

Two Snow Rogers robotics teams brought home wins at a competition in early February. Two teams placed third and fifth in the competition.

Snow Rogers Elementary Babies

Second graders at Snow Rogers Elementary made sand babies that were the exact same weight they were when they were born. One class even set up a nursery for their sand babies. This gave them a chance to analyze data they recorded about the babies.

Gardendale magazine [ 27 ]

/ Feature /

Spann hosts Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

Story and photos by Rachel Davis Karr Gardendale’s annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast was headlined this year by James Spann, meteorologist for ABC 33/40. In addition to being the area’s most well-known weatherman, Spann is also known for his faith. “Why are you here?” Spann asked the crowd. He asked them to think about why God left them on the earth, instead of whisking them off to Heaven when they were saved. He then told those gathered that they were on the earth to help others. He said the world will try to teach that you should “look out for number one,” but that God teaches that you should look out for others. He also challenged the crowd to be a blessing to someone else. Spann told his own story about his alcoholic dad leaving when he was a young boy and having to move from his hometown to Tuscaloosa. // Continued on Page 29 // [ 28 ] Gardendale magazine

// Continued from Page 28 // Those early hard times meant he had to go to work when he was just a child, but that work ethic is what carries him even now. He said he isn’t the best at anything–even being a weatherman– but the effort he puts forth makes the difference. “I will work harder than anyone else in this room to accomplish a goal,” Spann said. He also talked about getting saved at 12 years old, but really changing his life at 37 when he prayed a specific prayer. “Open my eyes and open my ears to the needs of the people around me,” Spann said. He said that one prayer changed his perspective on everything.

Gardendale magazine [ 29 ]

/ Calendar /

// March 18

// April 4-8

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Spring Author Expo at the Gardendale Public Library

City-Wide Spring Clean up: The City of Gardendale Public Works Department will offer curbside pickup of household items for this week. The following restrictions apply:

For more information, visit gardendalepubliclibrary.org or call 205.631.6639.

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*All pickup requests must be made by calling 205.631.3394 and must be received by noon on Wednesday, April 6.

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*Old appliances, grills, televisions, etc will be accepted.

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*Hazardous items, such as paint, propane cylinders, gas cans, etc. will NOT be accepted.

10:30 a.m. Social Cafe: Author Teresa Howard will discuss her sci-fi books and love of the sci-fi/fantasy genre at the Gardendale Library. .

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*Building supplies, such as roofing, lumber, etc. will NOT be accepted.

// March 29

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*All items must be placed at the curb. Elderly or infirm residents who need assistance placing items at the roadside can receive help by letting the city know when they call to schedule their pickup.

// March 19 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Bring a friend and play board games in the library. Bring your own or borrow ours. No registration required

// March 25

6-7 p.m. Family Bedtime Story Time: Wear your PJs and visit the library. Call 205.631.6639 to register for this event.

// April 2 2-3 p.m.: City of Gardendale Arts Council presents Cullman Senior Outreach Hee Haw. Tickets $10. Show at the Gardendale CIvic Center. Contact the Gardendale Public LIbrary for more information. // Continued on Page 31 // [ 30 ] Gardendale magazine

// April 9 8-11:30 a.m. (or until capacity is reached) Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day: The dropoff point for north Jefferson County will be the Gardendale First Baptist South Campus on Main Street. Items collected

/ Calendar /

// Continued from Page 30// will include:

// April 12

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*Ammunition

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*Appliances

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*Batteries

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*Electronics

6-7 p.m.: The whole family can come to the Gardendale Public Library and create an easter inspired craft. Our crafts are generally geared towards toddlers to 4th grade but any one can enjoy the craft! Parents will stay the whole time and help with the craft. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please call or visit the library to sign up.

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*Household Cooking Grease

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*Paint

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*Paper Shredding

6 p.m. North Jefferson Rotary Club Trivia Night: The annual Rotary Trivia Night will be held at the Gardendale CIvic Center. Entry fee is $25 a person or $200 a team. Each team will consist of 8 players. For more information, call or text Carol Stewart at 205.540.5288.

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*Pesticides, Herbicides and Fertilizers

// April 19

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*Prescription Drugs

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*TIres

6 p.m. Family Movie Night: Gardendale Public Library will host a movie night for the whole family.

// April 5 6-7 p.m. Free Easter Bunny Pictures: Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny and receive a fun treat. Hosted by the Gardendale Public Library.

// April 7 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 p.m. Free Easter Bunny Pictures: Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny and receive a fun treat. Hosted by the Gardendale Public Library.

// April 15

// April 20 STEAM Lab: Ages 4-10 can join the Gardendale Public Library for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Call or visit the library to register or for more information.

// April 22-23 Magnolia Festival: The annual Gardendale Magnolia Festival will be held this year on April 22-23. There will be vendors, exhibits, carnival rides and live entertainment.

Gardendale magazine [ 31 ]

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Dr. Robert Robinson Dr. Blake Pearson Dr. Walter Haynes Dr. Elizabeth Kuhn Wendy Conner, CRNP Analyn Blair, CRNP (205) 250-6805 3535 Grandview Pkwy., Bldg. 1, Ste. 150

[ 32 ] Gardendale magazine

Bariatric and Robotic General Surgery Dr. Andrew DeWitt (205) 502-4400 2660 10th Ave. S., POB I, Ste. 222 Brookwood Clinic Dr. Mark Adams Dr. Walter Dunn Jenna Bosch, CRNP (205) 250-8100 513 Brookwood Blvd., Medical Office D, Ste. 200 General Surgery Dr. Raleigh Kent III (205) 250-6068 513 Brookwood Blvd., Medical Office D, Ste. 200 Ophthalmology Dr. John Owen (205) 250-6042 One Independence Dr., Ste. 700 Pulmonology Dr. Karl Schroeder (205) 250-8910 3570 Grandview Pkwy., Ste. 100

GARDENDALE Gardendale Clinic Dr. Fred Patton Dr. Elizabeth Carstensen (205) 631-5671 527 Fieldstown Rd., Ste. C Gardendale Primary Care Dr. Gilbert Douglas IV Emily Snider, CRNP (205) 631-0055 313 Fieldstown Rd., Ste. 103 North Gardendale Primary Care Dr. Alan Hanley (205) 631-2124 2650 Decatur Hwy.

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