Two recipes using favorite summer ingredients: tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and balsamic glaze
Medical West Open in McCalla UAB Medical West opens advanced hospital in the Birmingham area
Community News
Updates from Bessemer: Housing Authority Dream Center breaks ground, and Farmer’s Market returns
School News
News and photos from our schools and taking a look back at the 20232024 school year
Events Calendar
August events in West Jefferson County and surrounding areas
Sean of the South
A good word from Sean Dietrich
Holy Moly Motherhood Alana Smith tackles all things motherhood and marriage.
On the Cover
Who We Are
WestJeff Magazine serves the communities and people of West Jefferson County. Published every month, the magazine is available for free at more than 100 locations in Bessemer, Hueytown, McCalla, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Oak Grove, Sylvan Springs, and other areas.
Subscriptions are available for $35 per year. Email subscribe@jbmcmedia.com for details on how to subscribe or send a gift subscription.
Does your business want to connect with West Jefferson County residents? Email us: advertise@jbmcmedia.com, and let’s talk!
All content in this magazine remains the property of JBMC Media, LLC. Any requests to reprint or republish should be directed to matthew@jbmcmedia.com.
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
Matthew Allen
Publisher (205) 617-9609
matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Content Director jesse@jbmcmedia.com
Michelle Salem Haynes Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 michelle@jbmcmedia.com
Jesse Chambers
Photo by Brittney Fields
Keith Pennington, CEO of UAB Medical West Hospital, stands in front of their new hospital campus, set to open in August. The new campus, adjacent to I-459 in the McCalla area, represents a significant investment in healthcare for western Jefferson County. Read our story on page 17.
It’s hard to believe, but this issue is our FIFTH issue already. Honestly, we couldn’t be more excited about the start of this magazine. There are more stories out there than we can count, and we’ve found some incredible stories to tell already.
Best of all, you have loved the stories we’ve put together for these magazines. Our goal is to tell the stories of the people, places, organizations, and communities of West Jefferson County. I can say with confidence that we are off to a really good start in that mission, but we are just getting started.
We can find a lot of stories on our own, but some of the best stories are ones that we’ll never hear about…unless we hear from you.
So, what should we write about? Who in your family, at your place of employment, or in your circle of friends has a really compelling story to be told? Beyond long-form stories, we want to share the small bits of news from our communities. Did your
child’s sports team accomplish something big? Send us a photo and tell us about it. Does your church have an event coming up you want the community to know about? Send us the details. Did your business have some really good news recently? Let us know and we’ll include it in our business briefs. We love telling your stories, so keep them coming to us. You can email me (matthew@ jbmcmedia.com) or our content director, Jesse Chambers (jesse@jbmcmedia.com). You can also send us a message on Facebook or Instagram.
We are excited to hear from you!
Matthew Allen, Publisher, JBMC Media matthew@jbmcmedia.com
The West Beat
BY JESSE CHAMBERS
Most of us take pride in the cities and towns where we live, or the places where we were born, raised or educated. We also seem to take great pride when a person who grew up or went to school in our hometown achieves fame.
West Jefferson County has produced a wide array of famous or highly accomplished people, including athletes, artists, inventors, teachers, actors and politicians.
Here’s a quick rundown – far from complete – of some of the wellknown people from West Jefferson County, according to online sources, including Wikipedia.
Hueytown has several famous names, including NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, who played at Hueytown High School and won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 2013.
The city was the home of the Alabama Gang, a legendary NASCAR racing group that began in the 1960s and included retired drivers Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison, NASCAR and short track driver Red Farmer, and the late NASCAR drivers Davey Allison and Neil Bonnett.
The stock-car tradition continues in Hueytown with Jolynn “JoJo” Wilkinson, who’s 20 years old and already a veteran racer who drove in the Alabama 200 when she was 13, according to Wikipedia.
A Pleasant Grove native, the late character actor R. G. Armstrong made 185 appearances in Hollywood movies and TV shows, according to imdb.com
Brighton lays claim to Hollywood film actor Albert Hall, who had a major role in “Apocalypse Now,” and Dr. Henry Panion III, a worldfamous, award-winning music producer, composer, arranger and conductor, according to Wikipedia.
The late Ron Casey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor with The Birmingham News, was from Midfield.
McCalla lays claim to celebrated athlete Bo Jackson, who graduated from McAdory High School before winning the Heisman Trophy in 1985 as a running back at Auburn. He was also a rare two-sport professional star, playing football and baseball.
Fairfield has produced many notables, including U. W. Clemon, who became Alabama’s first Black federal judge, and former U.S. Attorney and U.S. Senator Doug Jones.
Other people from Fairfield — all deceased — include jazz musician Cleveland Eaton, beloved TV actor George “Goober” Lindsey and Allene Roberts, who acted in 12 movies in the 1940s and 1950s with stars like Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and William Holden.
Last but not certainly least, the recently deceased baseball legend Willie Mays – perhaps the best player ever – attended school in Fairfield.
Bessemer, the largest city in West Jefferson County, has a long list of notables.
Current figures with a Bessemer connection include rapper Gucci Mane, NFL head coach DeMeco Ryans, acclaimed film actor André Holland, national sports broadcaster Mike Hill; and Deborah E. McDowell, a literary scholar at The University of Virginia who was born and raised in the Marvel City and published her memoir, “Leaving Pipe Shop: Memories of Kin,” in 1996.
Deceased but fondly remembered are David McCampbell, a WWII U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor winner; Frank House, Major League Baseball player and one of the founders of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame; world-famous folk artist Thornton Dial; and Mildred Brown, a journalist, newspaper publisher and civil rights leader.
One of the best-known figures from West Jefferson County in the 20th century was Virginia Hill, born in Lipscomb in 1916 and a legendary organized-crime figure. A mob courier and confidante and the girlfriend of Bugsy Siegel, Hill was portrayed in two movies by Dyan Cannon and Annette Bening.
In reading this list, you may notice something important missing – more notable women from West Jefferson County. Do y’all have suggestions of other famous women we should acknowledge in West Beat? Email us at jesse@jbmcmedia.com
A Kid Named Ben
The hotel pool. The sun is high. All the hotel guests’ children are wearing bathing suits, excitedly scurrying into the pool so they can pee in it.
I travel for a living and stay in lots of hotels. In my short time on this planet, I’ve learned a few things about kids in hotels.
One: Never get into the pool. Two: When it’s approaching midnight, children will collectively hold a decathlon in the hallways above your room. Three: Regardless of which is your room, in the middle of the night, gaggles of kids will hold a laughing contest outside your door. Four: Every apple on the breakfast buffet has been fondled by a 5-year-old with a runny nose.
Anyway, the pool. There were two boys at the swimming pool who caught my attention.
One of them was named Ben. I know this because Ben’s little brother kept shouting it. It was always “BEN!” this. And “BEN!” that.
The little brother was missing both arms at the elbow joint. And one of his legs was impaired, too. When they arrived at the pool, Ben removed his little brother’s prosthetics and left the paraphernalia with their towels. Then he helped his tiny brother into the pool.
“I’m scared, Ben!” said the boy.
“Don’t worry,” said Ben. “I’ve got you.”
Ben had his arms wrapped around the little boy, bear hugging him from behind. He was carrying him.
When they eased into the water, Ben was still embracing his little brother tightly, and his brother was freaking out.
“Don’t let me go, Ben!”
“I won’t.”
“Promise!”
“Promise.”
So, Ben held his brother even tighter. In the pool, Ben carried the little boy around the shallow end until his brother calmed down. And when Ben’s brother was relaxed, Ben taught him to float on his back.
“Don’t let go of me, Ben!” said the little boy who had no arms.
“I won’t,” said Ben, supporting his brother from beneath. “I have you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Soon, Ben’s brother’s face was turned up toward the sun, lying in the supine position, floating like driftwood. Together they floated around the pool like that until Ben’s little brother was starting to enjoy himself.
“I wanna know what it’s like to swim, Ben!”
So, Ben gave his brother a piggyback ride. The armless boy placed his amputated residuums around his brother’s neck and squeezed tightly.
“Are you holding on good?” asked Ben.
“Yes.”
Whereupon Ben began to swim forward. The child without arms gripped his brother, who was dog-paddling, struggling beneath the weight of his little passenger. But he never faltered.
They trolled around the pool. Ben made boat motor sounds with his mouth.
The little boy was really enjoying himself now. And when their mother finally said it was time to get out of the pool, Ben lifted his brother out of the pool, carrying him the way a groom carries a bride.
“Don’t drop me, Ben,” I heard the child say.
“I’ll never drop you,” said Ben.
And I, for one, believe him.
Illustration by Sean Dietrich
Getting into the Swing of a New School Year
Somehow, the new school year is only a few short days away. Gosh, the summer just flies right on by, doesn’t it? It still feels like summer in this Alabama heat, but the easygoing nature of summer is coming to an end as fall and its schedules creep their way in.
I really love summertime with all its holidays and trips and days by the pool, but fall is pretty easy to love, too, once you get into the swing of it. But we have to get into the swing of it and that’s tough because, well, back-to-school is full of all things new. It’s hard to get into the swing of a whole new thing. I have thoughts like:
What will the teacher be like? Will they be kind and patient and encouraging? Will they be heavy on homework or more focused on working hard during the day?
Will there be friends in the classroom? Will there be familiar faces to ease this transition into a new and more challenging grade?
What time do we need to start the day now? A new route, bus, or new school altogether will really change the morning routine.
Pack a lunch or buy a lunch?
There will be new schedules, friends, clothes, shoes, bedtimes, and haircuts…
Not only are kids embarking on a new school year, but they are also likely starting the first practices of fall sports and extracurriculars as well. New coaches, teams, practices, cleats, and plays. But, once we get past the first few weeks of August, we will ease into it. The new will become more routine. More natural. We will be able to anticipate and prepare more easily, and our days won’t feel as rushed. We will find our stride just as September and the comfort of fall begin to show themselves. Once the wind begins to cool just a tad, we will be in the swing of it.
And it will feel so good.
Best of luck on a smooth and easy First Day of School! Xoxo, Holy Moly Motherhood
Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 9 and 4), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.
New Children’s of Alabama pediatric facility opens in Hueytown
Welcome to another monthly installment of Business News at WestJeff Magazine, where we strive to offer our readers the best available coverage of businesses both large and small in West Jefferson Country. You can help us to achieve that goal by sending us information and photos about your business or organization. Let us know about your grand opening, your move to a new facility, a business anniversary or even a major personnel change. Write to us at jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware, holding the scissors, cut the ribbon July 8 at the new Pediatrics West Hueytown facility. To Ware’s right is Tom Shufflebarger, CEO and President of Children’s of Alabama.
Children’s of Alabama hosted a ribbon cutting, grand opening and facility tour on July 8 at Pediatrics West Hueytown, its new pediatric primary care practice. Representatives from Children’s and the city of Hueytown took part. The practice houses five full-time pediatricians, is open six days a week and provides weekend access by appointment for its patients in Hueytown and the patients at Pediatrics West McAdory.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide excellent pediatric primary care in Hueytown and in this part of the state,” said Sandy Thurmond, Vice President of Primary Care Services at Children’s of Alabama, in a news release.
The facility will offer families “an excellent and convenient option for their children’s healthcare.” Thurmond said.
“The opening of Children’s new Pediatrics West facility ensures that children here and all over West Jefferson County will receive the best care close to home,” Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware said in the release.
Children’s announced the project last summer and said that Pediatrics West Bessemer would be relocated to Hueytown.
“Children’s of Alabama is excited to build a practice in Hueytown and to be a part of such a growing area in western Jefferson County,” Thurmond said in August 2023.
Ware said at the time that the new facility would “improve the quality of life” for Hueytown and surrounding communities.
The project partners in the facility’s development, design and construction included Southpace Properties, Rives Construction and CCR Architecture & Interiors.
Children’s of Alabama is a private not-for-profit that has been ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report,
Pediatrics West Hueytown is located at 2001 Old Warrior River Road near Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive. For information, call 205-481-1886 or go to childrensal.org/pediatrics-west.
Photos courtesy of Children’s of Alabama
Local media attended the ribbon cutting and heard remarks from Ware.
New Litter Gitters
The Jefferson County Commission has partnered with the Osprey Initiative to fund five new Litter Gitters across the county to help keep several lakes and rivers clean, according to a county newsletter on July 2. The Litter Gitter is an in-stream litter collection device used to intercept floating litter from stormwater runoff, according to osprey.world/litter-gitter. The county previously funded one site, but the County Commission recently approved funding of $125,000 a year for three years to add five additional locations, according to the newsletter. The Litter Gitters will be placed in two tributaries that flow into the Cahaba River – a major source of drinking water – as well as devices in the tributaries of three other creeks, including Valley Creek near Johns Road in Adger.
Miles College shows BSC interest
Miles College recently signed a letter of intent (LOI) to begin negotiations to purchase Birmingham-Southern College, the private liberal arts school that closed May 31, according to several local media outlets. The Birmingham Times, WVTM-TV, WBRC-TV and others reported the signing of the LOI in late June. At our press time, there had been no further updates. The board of trustees at BSC voted unanimously in March to shut down the historic, 192-acre campus. BSC is located near the Bush Hills, College Hills, and Smithfield neighborhoods in the western part of Birmingham.
Business Mini-Profile: CJ Harris III.
Headquartered in Hueytown, CJ’s Ventures is a growing demolition, logistics and waste management company that was founded over 20 years ago by Clinton Harris Jr. The minority- and family-owned company is now managed by his son, Clinton Harris III, better known as CJ, a 23-year-old entrepreneur. CJ’s Ventures has done a lot of demolition work in the Birmingham area and sees it as a way to improve communities. Removing dangerous or blighted structures helps reduce crime, boost the value of surrounding properties and increase the potential for new development, the company states in a new release. “We’re not just removing buildings. We’re making room for positive development,” Harris said. The company is also committed to hiring locally and providing comprehensive training. “We aim to create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for individuals facing challenges in securing stable work,” Harris said. He plans to continue growing CJ’s Ventures, taking on larger projects and expanding to serve more neighborhoods. For example, the company has installed highspeed, fiber optic cables for Alabama Power, according to a June 10 report at Bham Now. Recently, CJ launched a podcast in which he interviews industry leaders and others, including Cici Thomas, a supplier inclusion and sustainability consultant at Southern Company. For more information, call 205-436-5121 or go to cjsventures.net. To watch the monthly podcast, go to youtube.com/@cjsventures
Photo Courtesy of CJ Harris
CJ Harris is a young entrepreneur with a thriving Hueytown-based family business and his own podcast.
Photo by Wikimedia user 2C2K Photography. CC2.0
Miles College in Fairfield recently signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations to purchase Birmingham-Southern College according to a media report.
Wiener Dog Races
Wanna-be Wiener Dog Races
Furbaby Costume Contest
Trick Contest
King & Queen Palooza
Funny Pet Photo Contest
Strut Your Mutt Pet Parade
Bama Air Dog Show
Puppy Pool Pavilion
Kidz Zone
Hot Dog Eating Contest (new)
Photobooth for Pups & Humans
Vendors (For Human & Pets)
Food Trucks
Recipes
Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil
The first of August is prime tomato pickin’ season in my garden!
These two recipes are similar, using cherry tomatoes and slicing tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and bottled balsamic glaze. The ingredients vary in size, shape and how you present them.
The skewers can be a fancy appetizer for a pool party or a simple lunchbox snack, sent with the balsamic glaze as a dipping sauce in a resealable container. Both recipes are on my food blog, gritsandgouda.com, where I share all my Southern shortcut recipes!
Kathleen is a food blogger, food stylist, cookbook author, and former Oxmoor House test kitchen director (Southern Living cookbooks). On her food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, she creates Southern shortcut recipes. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Mozzarella Tomato Basil Salad
1 (8-ounce) log or roll of fresh mozzarella, sliced
15 to 18 basil leaves (about 1/3 cup packed)
3 Roma tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch-thick
2 tablespoons olive oil vinaigrette (optional)
3 tablespoons bottled balsamic glaze (such as Bertolli)
Layer tomato slices, basil leaves, and mozzarella slices on a platter, alternating each one as you arrange it on the platter.
If you like, drizzle with an olive oil vinaigrette or even simply extra virgin olive oil.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze right before serving.
Pro tip: Roma tomatoes are the perfect size and shape for this salad because they slice up to be the same size as the mozzarella.
Note: Balsamic glaze can be found in your supermarket on the salad dressing and vinegar aisle.
Tomato and Mozzarella Skewers (with Balsamic Glaze)
12 mozzarella balls (pearls)
24 cherry or grape tomatoes
24 very small basil leaves or large leaves folded over
12 (4 to 5-inch) wooden skewers
2 to 3 tablespoons bottled balsamic glaze (such as Bertolli)
On one wooden skewer (4 to 5-inches), thread a tomato, a basil leaf, a mozzarella pearl, then another basil leaf and tomato. Repeat this sequence with the remaining ingredients and skewers. Place the finished tomato, basil and mozzarella skewers on a serving platter. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve immediately.
These skewers can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator and just drizzle with balsamic glaze right before serving.
For a back-to-school treat for teachers, pack the skewers in a sealable container and the balsamic glaze in a separate little container for a dipping sauce.
UAB Medical West unveils stunning new facility in McCalla
By Jesse Chambers
This is an exciting time of economic growth for West Jefferson County. For example, Bessemer has attracted investments over the last decade from such companies as Dollar General, Amazon, Milo’s Tea Company, BLOX and Steyr Arms USA.
McCalla is currently seeing the construction of a massive, $1.1 billion manufacturing facility and distribution center for Smucker’s.
And in early August, McCalla will see the longawaited opening of another major project – the new $400 million UAB Medical West hospital. A ribbon cutting was held on July 11.
Located at 5000 Medical West Way near Exit 1 on I-459, UAB Medical West is a stunning piece of architecture that will likely serve as an area landmark for decades.
The opening of the hospital will also give West Jefferson County the newest and perhaps most advanced hospital in the Birmingham metro area.
“Our new facility offers West Jefferson County
residents and beyond access to unparalleled technology, health care and services that will meet our patients where they are,” UAB Medical West CEO Keith Pennington said in a news release,
“This new world-class facility enables us to further our mission and vision to provide lifechanging care and be the leader in improving the health and lives of the residents of the western part of our community and beyond,” said Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of UAB Health System and the UAB/St. Vincent’s Alliance.
Big Numbers
The numbers on the new UAB Medical West facility are impressive. For example, the hospital has nine floors, measures 412,000 square feet and will provide 200 beds.
The complex also includes a seven-story medical office building measuring about 127,000 square feet.
UAB Medical West will offer a new surgical
and endoscopy suite, including robotic surgery and 12 operating rooms, as well as cutting-edge imaging technology, such as 3-D mammography.
The hospital will also have 38 ICU rooms, more than at the old Medical West campus in Bessemer.
In addition, the project provides another big economic boost to an already growing area.
“With all of the growth happening in West Jefferson County, we feel this is the perfect time to welcome a new state-of-the-art facility,’’ Pennington said in 2022, according to onstructionequipmentguide.com.
Pennington also told the outlet that the Bell Hill Road location is ideal.
“Just three miles from our current location and now visible from I-459, this new facility will be convenient for all residents in West Jefferson County,” he said.
Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
Natural beauty
Visitors to the new hospital will see lots of artwork that refers to the bounty of nature outside, including depictions of lilies from the Cahaba River, birds, plants and other wildlife.
“Each floor was designed around flora native to the state of Alabama,” Pennington said in a news release.
The grounds at UAB Medical West include many natural features, such as trees, a pond and walking trails.
“Our new facility was designed around nature,” Pennington said.
UAB Medical West features floor-to-ceiling windows in patient rooms, rocking chairs and fireplaces.
The facility is designed to be “a true space of wellness and healing not only for patients, but for our staff members, visitors and our entire community,” Pennington said.
A long history
The completion of the new facility comes in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the hospital’s founding.
“Our current facility was built in 1964 and although multiple renovations have been made throughout the years, we knew that a new facility would have to be part of our future growth plans,” Pennington said in a UAB news release in 2021.
The hospital – originally called Memorial Hospital –was founded by the city of Bessemer under the leadership of Mayor Jess Lanier, according to a history of the facility published at bhamwiki.com.
Memorial Hospital found itself in financial trouble in the early 1970s, however, and Dr. Ben Carraway bought the hospital from the city, the website says. The facility then operated as an independent hospital under the name Carraway Methodist Medical Center.
The UAB Health System purchased the Carraway Methodist Medical Center after the facility encountered further financial problems in the late 1990s and early 2000s. UAB then changed the name of the hospital to Medical West.
The UAB Health System later made numerous additions and improvements at the hospital, including one-day surgery facilities.
In 2017, Cushman & Wakefield/EGS Commercial Real Estate of Birmingham was engaged by UAB for site selection for a 46-acre development site in McCalla.
UAB announced in 2018 that it was moving forward with plans to build the new hospital at the McCalla site, despite overtures from the city of Hoover to build the facility there.
In August 2019, the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency approved a Certificate of Need filed by Medical West Hospital to construct the replacement hospital, according to UAB News.
In April 2021, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees voted to allow the UAB Health System to buy the existing 9.7-acre Medical West Hospital campus in Bessemer as part of a $51.25-million deal, according to AL.com. The outlet reported that the purchase was meant to help UAB to secure a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to construct the new hospital in McCalla. UAB purchased the old campus in
Continued on Page 20
Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
from Page 18
December 2021, according to the Birmingham Business Journal.
The UAB Health System broke ground for the new hospital in November 2021.
It was announced in January 2022 that the Medical West Hospital Authority, an affiliate of UAB Health System, would receive a roughly $309 million federal loan for the construction in McCalla. The loan was part of $1 billion in federal funding announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh to build and improve community facilities.
The development site was located in unincorporated Jefferson County and therefore considered rural, allowing UAB to apply for the USDA funding, reported selmasun.com.
Project Partners
The firms Concourse, Raymond James, Thornton Farrish, PNC Bank, GNC and Maynard, Cooper & Gale assisted UAB in the financial aspects of the project.
Brasfield & Gorrie served as the general contractor for the construction of the new facility, and Johnson Development was the project manager.
The design and build team also included HKS and KPS as architects and CCI, Bhate Geosciences and Building & Earth as site engineers.
The UAB Medical West project presented some interesting challenges for the builders, Brasfield & Gorrie operations manager Paul Garrick told constructionequipmentguide.com in 2022.
“The job site is on the side of a hill and requires a tremendous amount of excavation,” he said. “There’s also a spring on the property that flows continuously. Managing the water that leaves the site during rainy days has been a major challenge.”
Garrick added that healthcare facilities are always complex because they require complicated systems that are essential for patient care.
The satisfaction of working on such an important facility made it worthwhile, however.
“It’s equal parts gratifying and humbling to know that we contributed to bringing to life a facility that will save and improve so many lives in our
Continued on Page 21
Carla Jean Whitley | Brasfield & Gorrie
Continued
Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
community,” he said. “It is priceless that, for the rest of our lives, we will be able to drive by this facility and tell our friends and family that we had a small hand in building it.”
Pennington told AL.com in 2021 that the new facility would be better designed than the old facility in Bessemer.
He said the new building would provide patients with more privacy and would bring more departments together so that patients don’t have to travel to different buildings for different services.
“Those kinds of inefficiencies will go away in the new building,” Pennington said.
Handling the traffic
Jefferson County is in the process of doing major road improvements in the area around the new UAB Medical West facility in order to handle the increased traffic.
The county is adding more lanes to Bell Hill Road, increasing it from a two- or three-lane road to a five-lane road.
According to recent updates from the county, contractors were paving Letson Farms Parkway and New Bell Hill Road in order to temporarily shift traffic over from the old Bell Hill Road.
Over the next few months, construction is to concentrate on the existing Bell Hill Road and work west towards Eastern Valley Road, according to a county news release.
More information
In addition to the new hospital, Medical West provides a wide variety of healthcare services in West Jefferson County, according to its website.
They offer primary care out of offices in downtown Bessemer, Hueytown, Park West, Hoover, Vance and Tannehill.
There is also a freestanding emergency room on Highway 150 in Hoover that was the first of its kind in the state.
To learn more about UAB Medical West, call 205-481-7000 or go to medicalwesthospital.org.
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Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
Britney Fields | WestJeff Magazine
Bessemer Housing Authority breaks ground for Dream Center, Bessemer Farmers Market returns
By JESSE CHAMBERS
The Bessemer Housing Authority seeks to help families avoid homelessness and housing instability, and it serves a diverse group of people who need safe, clean, drug-free housing that’s affordable for low-income families.
Now the BHA is leading a fundraising effort to build the multipurpose Dream Center to deliver essential services and education opportunities to public housing residents and the community.
The BHA hosted a groundbreaking center for the Dream Center on June 4 at the location of the new facility on Fairfax Avenue near the BHA offices with numerous local dignitaries in attendance, including Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley.
The BHA said in a news release that they are “reimagining public housing with a one-stop center that will help close the gap in services our residents need to grow, dream, play, learn and thrive.”
With adequate resources, BHA is “strategically positioned” to address gaps in the funding needed to provide residents the services they need, the release states. “The Dream Center will be the focal
point for community building, healthy and safe activity options, educational programming, help build interpersonal communication and early childhood education.”
The center is designed to “provide a safe space for creativity” and to “help close the gap between hopelessness and dreaming and make advancements towards eliminating barriers that plague our community,” the release says.
Cortney Coleman, BHA Executive Director, is leading the effort to build the center.
He told AL.com in March that he grew up in public housing in Ensley and found a safe haven in a similar community center at Tuxedo Court.
He went to that center every day, Coleman told WBRC TV-6. “I learned how to sharpen my social skills. I learned conflict resolution.”
The BHA fundraising effort seeks about $5.7 to build the 13,500-square-foot facility, according to a BHA spokesperson.
“We don’t have anywhere for kids to go to do any type of athletic
Continued on Page 24
Photo courtesy of Bessemer Housing Authority
Attendees at the June 4 groundbreaking for the new Dream Center community facility in Bessemer, which will provide essential services and educational opportunities under one roof for Bessemer Housing Authority residents and the community.
Community News
Continued from Page 22
activities, nor do we have space where we can hold any type of programming,” Coleman told AL.com. “We want to fill that gap.”
“This center will be the space for where they can dream, which is why we call it the Dream Center,” Coleman told WBRC.
The center will offer athletics, cooking classes, music and theater education and a K4 program, as well as a commercial kitchen, a multi-purpose space for events, exercise and basketball, a computer lab, game room and other recreation facilities.
The housing authority has already begun a capital campaign. The authority currently has $1 million in hand for the project, according to the BHA.
To make a donation, go to https://square.link/u/RO0BeDb2. To learn more about the campaign, contact dreamcenter@besha.org
Farmers market in ‘your own backyard’
Farmers markets preserve America’s farmland, stimulate local economies, increase access to fresh food and promote health and sustainability, according to the Farmers Market Coalition.
The Bessemer Farmers Market – now open for the summer each Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Bessemer Recreation Center – certainly meets those goals.
It’s one of only two Certified Farmers Markets in Western Jefferson County, said Alisha Ruffin Brown, the new market coordinator.
But the Bessemer Farmers Market is also meant by the organizers to be a really fun community gathering place.
“We are excited about creating a market experience for the City of Bessemer,” Brown told WestJeff Magazine. “We want to provide an atmosphere where residents can come out, bring their families, lawn chairs, blankets, shop with vendors, enjoy the park, live music, and healthy cooking demonstrations and enjoy a peaceful morning and afternoon in the city of Bessemer. The reason to enjoy, is to have a market in your own backyard.”
The Recreation Center “is a great location” for the market, Brown said. “And they donate their space to us. “
The final market of the season is scheduled
for Aug. 31, but the market may continue through the fall based on “attendance and demand,” Brown said.
The market was scheduled to have 10-12 vendors its first week in late June, Brown said. “It will vary from week to week based on scheduling of the vendors and farmers market.”
In addition to farmers selling their fresh fruits and vegetables, the market will have food trucks, vendors selling desserts, such as cakes and cupcakes, and vendors with other products, including body care.
The non-profit Alabama Clean Air Partners will also take part.
There will be a kids area, cooking demonstrations and other activities, according to The Cutoff News.
For more information, go to bessemerfarmersmarket.org.
The market is on social media at facebook.com/ bessemerfarmersmarket and instagram.com/ bessemer_farmers_market.
Rendering courtesy the City of Hueytown
A rendering of the Dream Center, a new multi-function community center being constructed by Bessemer Housing Authority. The agency is raising money to finish the $5.7 million project.
Public domain photo by USDA
Farmers markets are a great way to meet area farmers, get great food and have fun with your neighbors. Check out the Bessemer Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at the Bessemer Recreation Center.
LOCALLY MADE
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bathtub caddies | bed swings
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custom orders accepted
facebook: @deogloriawoodworks
Instagram: @deogloriawoodworks
At WestJeff Magazine, we’ve enjoyed sharing news and photos from the schools in West Jefferson County, including these great photos from the spring – all sent to us by teachers and principals. At Oak Grove Elementary School, kids celebrated Read Across America Week, including a tribute to Dr. Seuss, and later held a Color Run. A Hueytown Primary School student enjoyed an art class. Three students were the spelling bee winners at Charles F. Hard Elementary School in Bessemer.
Have a great 2024-25 school year! And send your school news and photos to katie@jbmcmedia.com.
National Night Out
Bessemer City Schools, in partnership with the Bessemer Police Department, are hosting a National Night Out event for the community on Tuesday, August 6 from 5-8 p.m. The event will take place at the Bessemer Recreation Center, located at 100 14th St. in Bessemer. Giveaways, food trucks, a gaming truck, kickball, basketball, inflatables, a splash pad, face painting, a Tik Tok Challenge, a live DJ and line dancing will all be at the event to entertain all who join. Hot dogs, chips and cotton candy will be available. Attendees can also receive onsite help with school registration.
2024 High School Broyles Award
Hueytown High School Assistant Football Coach Scott Glenn received the 2024 High School Broyles Award, which honors the top high school assistant football coach in each participating state. Glenn, who is an offensive line coach, was also named the Alabama Football Coaches Association Class 6A Assistant Coach of the Year. “Coach Glenn is a special person,” Hueytown head coach Greg Patterson told AL.com. “His work ethic and love for our players is unmatched.”
Say cheese!
Hueytown High School seniors should schedule their Prestige Photography session for their senior portraits at schedule. prestigeportraits.com. Sessions will take place Aug. 5-7 in the auditorium. Seniors should have received a postcard or email with an appointment code.
McAdory High School seniors must have their portraits done before Sept. 1 to be included in the McAdory High School yearbook. To schedule an appointment, seniors can call Iron City Studios at, 205783-5281 or to ironcitystudios.com.
Big increase
Glen Oaks Intermediate School boasts a 20% or higher increase in ACAP Reading Supplemental Benchmark Scores, joining only 11 other districts across the state.
Way to go!
Bessemer City School’s third graders boosted their 2024 ACAP scores by an impressive 20%. “This reflects dedication and hard work from students, educators and parents alike,” said Dr. Dana Arreola, BCS Superintendent.
Western Area Events
Aug. 7, 14, 21 & 28: West End Crocheters. 10-11:30 a.m. West End Branch Library,1348 Tuscaloosa Ave, Birmingham. Learn to crochet or work on a project of your own while enjoying snacks and making friends. Free admission. 205-226-4089. cobpl.org/ locations/branch/WestEnd.
Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: District 8 Walking Group. Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road. Each Thursday at 8 a.m., meet at the CrossPlex Starbucks for a coffee and a casual 1.5 mile loop. Walkers of all abilities and speeds are welcome. Sponsored by the Freshwater Land Trust. freshwaterlandtrust.org/get-involved/events.
Aug. 5: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org.
Aug. 5: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com.
Aug. 6: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov.
Aug. 6: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
Aug. 6: Bessemer City Council. 6 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-4244060. bessemeral.org.
Aug. 8: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205- 325-5300. jccal.org.
Aug. 12: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
Aug. 13: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council holds a planning session on the second Tuesday of each month in the multi-purpose room on the first floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
Aug. 13: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The premeeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov.
Aug. 13: Bessemer Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-4244060. bessemeral.org.
Aug. 15: Fairfield City School Board. 6 p.m. Fairfield Board of Education, Gladys T. Coleman Boardroom, 6405 Avenue D. Fairfield. The five-member School Board meets on the third Thursday of each month. 205-783-6850. fairfieldschoolsystem.com.
Aug. 17-18: Tannehill Trade Days. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. This long-popular Tannehill event features more than 300 vendors and dealers selling a wide range of clothing, jewelry, knives, tools, furniture and other items. Regular and overflow spaces for vendors are $40 for the weekend. 205-477-5711. tannehillstatepark.org/trade-days.
Photo by Wikimedia user Kravk.
Fans of crocheting say it’s fun, relaxing and creative. Find out for yourself at the West End Branch Library on Wednesdays.
Events Calendar
Western Area Events
Continued from Page 27
Aug. 19: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org.
Aug. 19: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com.
Aug. 20: Bessemer Planning and Zoning Commission. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
Aug. 20: Hueytown Planning & Zoning Commission. 5-6 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. This nine-member board, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov.
Aug. 20: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
Aug. 20: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
Aug. 26: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
Aug. 26: Bessemer Beautification Board. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Beautification Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
Aug. 27: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov.
Aug. 29: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205- 325-5300. jccal.org.
Ongoing: Exercise classes. Legacy YMCA, 1501 Fourth Ave S.W., Bessemer. Legacy presents a wide variety of exercise classes for members year round, including swimming, aerobics, aquacise, yoga, cycling, Zumba and Power HITT. Legacy also offers lots of youth sports, camps and health and wellness programs. For details, call 205-426-1211 or go to legacyymca.org.
Ongoing: Classes and workshops. Bessemer Public Library, 400 19th St. N. Bessemer. The library presents a wide range of classes, workshops and other activities for children, teens and adults. Adult classes include nutrition, computers and self-publishing. Activities for children include a toddler playgroup and Pre-K storytimes. 205-428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com
Other Area Events
Aug. 1-4: Birmingham Barons vs. Montgomery Biscuits. Regions Field. 1401 First Ave. S. Birmingham. Enjoy a fun night of summer baseball with family and friends. 205-988-3200. milb.com/birmingham.
Aug. 2: Freedom Friday in the Park. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Avondale Park, 4101 Fifth Ave. S. Freedom Friday is a monthly multicultural event supporting women’s well-being. Presented by the nonprofit Women Under Construction Network, the event is designed to help women reduce work/life stress, mitigate health issues and promote exercise through dance. Vendors will be present with all sorts of information for women. Free admission. For more information, go to eventbrite.com and search “WUCNetwork Freedom Friday in the Park.”
Aug. 2: Art on The Rocks. 7-11 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. The BMA’s popular summer art event returns with live music from funk rapper Ric Wilson, as well as DJs, artist demos, pop-up performances and specialty cocktails. Regular admission is $25 for members and $50 for non-members; VIP admission is $40 for members and $80 for non-members. 205-254-2565. artsbma.org
Continued on Page 29
Photo by Wikimedia user Sean Pathasema of the Birmingham Museum of Art, CC by 3.0. The Birmingham Museum of Art is busy in August, with the return of its popular Art on the Rocks series and an ongoing exhibition of Disney costumes.
Other Area Events
Continued from Page 28
Aug. 3: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Hartford Athletic. 6:30 p.m. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N., Birmingham. The Legion FC – part of the USL Championship – is Birmingham’s only professional soccer club. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com.
Aug. 9: Magic City Pop-Up Plaza. 3-7 p.m. Railroad Park, 1600 First Ave. S. A wide variety of food trucks and retail vendors from the Birmingham area will set up on the Plaza at Railroad Park downtown. Admission free. 205-521-9933. railroadpark.org.
Through Aug. 10: Material Resonance. Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, 1221 10th Ave. S., Birmingham. AEIVA celebrates its 10th anniversary on the UAB campus with “Material Resonance,” an exhibition featuring more than 60 artists who are represented in the museum’s permanent collections. The artists in the show represent many of the most iconic exhibitions from AEIVA’s past decade and provide glimpses into future exhibitions. Admission is free. 205-934-4011. uab.edu/aeiva.
Aug. 13-18: Birmingham Barons vs. Tennessee Smokies. Regions Field. 1401 First Ave. S. Birmingham. Enjoy a fun night of summer baseball with family and friends as the Barons take the field in a Southern League game. 205-988-3200. milb.com/birmingham.
Aug. 16: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Detroit City FC. 7 p.m. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N. Birmingham. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com.
Continued from Page 30
Top: This painting by New York-based artist David Sandlin, a UAB graduate, is part of the ‘Material Resonance” exhibition at UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts.
Right: The painting “Birth of a Fire Monkey,” by popular Birmingham artist John Lytle Wilson, is part of the ‘Material Resonance” exhibition at UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts.
Photos courtesy UAB Media Relations.
Photo by Wikimedia userJpwhitmore Railroad Park will be the site of the Magic City Pop-Up Plaza event on Aug. 9, featuring food trucks and retail vendors.
Other Area Events
Continued from Page 29
Aug. 17: Dragon Boat Race & Festival. 8 a.m-2 p.m. East Lake Park, 8400
First Ave. N. This event features competition between Dragon Boat race teams, a merchant market, a Bloody Mary Contest, a Kids Zone and food trucks. The event is family friendly and seeks to raise money for Mitchell’s Place and raise awareness of autism in Birmingham. For more information, call 205-957-0294 or go to mpdragonboats.swell.gives.
Through August 18: Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd. Featuring 70 costumes from nearly 50 years of Disney films, this show highlights the innovative ways the studio’s iconic characters are brought to life on screen. $30. 205-254-2565. artsbma.org.
Aug. 19-25: Sidewalk Film Festival. Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, 1821 Second Ave. N. The nationally acclaimed 26th annual Sidewalk Film Festival returns to the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema and several other venues in downtown Birmingham’s historic theatre district. For information, including schedule and tickets, call 205-324-0888 or go to sidewalkfest.com.
Aug. 20-25: Birmingham Barons vs. Biloxi Shuckers. Regions Field. 1401 First Ave. S. Birmingham. Enjoy Southern League baseball with family and friends as the Barons take on Biloxi. 205-988-3200. milb.com/birmingham.
Aug. 22: Mississippi Noir Night. 7-8 p.m. Thank You Bookshop, 5502 Crestwood Blvd., Unit B. Two award-winning Mississippi mystery and thriller writers – Ace Atkins and Snowden Wright – will appear to discuss their new novels. Atkins’s new book is “Don’t Let the Devil Ride.” Wright’s new novel is “The Queen City Detective Agency.” Free admission. Thank You Bookshop is a woman-owned, independent bookshop. 205-202-3021. thankyoubookshop.com.
Aug. 24: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhound. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N. Birmingham. 6:30 p.m. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com.
Photo by Wikimedia user Chris Rycroft
The ancient Chinese sport of dragon boating will be on display at East Lake Park on Aug. 17.
Photo by Bill Dabney courtesy of Ace Atkins.
Ace Atkins, a New York Times-bestselling mystery writer, will appear at Thank You Books in Crestwood on August 22.
ADGER / NORTH JOHNS
Kimbrel’s Grocery
North Johns Community Center
ALLIANCE / BIRMINGPORT
Buddy Vines Fish Camp
S&W Red Top Grocery
BESSEMER
Alex Barber & Style Shop
Bessemer Area Chamber
Bessemer City Hall
Bessemer Family Eye Care
Bessemer Hall of History
Bessemer Public Library
Bessemer Recreation Center
Bistro on 19th
Bob Sykes BBQ
Bright Star
Deb’s Hot Dogs
El Comal Mexican Restaurant
First Financial Bank
BESSEMER (CONT.)
Los Sombreros Mexican Restaurant
Pediatrics West
Roller Motion Skate Center
Simmons Sporting Goods
The Hangar Bar & Grill
Wagon Wheel Deli & Grill
BRIGHTON
Bre’s Gourmet Restaurant
Brighton Community School
CONCORD
Concord Community Center
Hill’s Carpet & Floor Coverings
Buckmaster Property Group - KW
Metro South
HUEYTOWN
American Pride Trophies & Awards
Cinco de Mayo Mexican Grill
HUEYTOWN (CONT.)
First Financial Bank
Food Giant
Highlander Foodland
Hueytown Area Chamber
Hueytown City Hall
Hueytown Hardware
Hueytown Public Library
Pharmacy Xpress
Piggly Wiggly
Speedy’s Mexican
The Leopard Lilly Boutique
Uncle Sam’s BBQ
Venue 3131
Virginia Mines Grocery
Weldon Pharmacy
McCALLA
Chick-fil-A
First Financial Bank
Pediatric Smiles
Pediatrics West
OAK GROVE
Warrior River Water Authority
PLEASANT GROVE
Dieguez Smiles Orthodontics
Hill’s Foodland
Jack’s Restaurant
Olipita Mediterranean Grill
Pleasant Grove Public Library
Union State Bank
Val’s Print and Copy Center
ROCK CREEK
All American Metal Components
Rock Creek Pharmacy
SYLVAN SPRINGS
Allstar Diner
Old Southern Feed and Hardware
Sylvan Springs Community Center
FMS Pharmacy
Hinkle Pharmacy
Legacy YMCA
Day Dreams Boutique
Fast Pace Urgent Care
Piggly Wiggly
Sylvan Springs Town Hall Find
San Antonio Grill
MULGA
Mulga Town Hall
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