Hueytown Independence
celebration one not to miss PAGE 16
Aviation school trains next generation of flight professionals PAGE 18
ON?
Community events to check out PAGE 28
Aerospace
Community
School
ValYou Care™
by ArchWell Health
A Better Approach to Primary Care
Have you ever wondered why some doctors spend so little time with their patients? Healthcare providers often charge a fee for each service. That puts pressure on doctors to see as many patients as possible. No wonder people feel like their doctors don’t have time or don’t listen to them.
With ValYou Care™ from ArchWell Health’s, YOU are your doctor’s number one priority. Their job is to keep you healthy—NOT just treat you when you’re sick. By taking a more preventive approach to your health, we catch small problems before they become serious. And keep you active doing the things you love longer.
On the Cover
Matthew Allen Publisher (205) 617-9609
matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Salem Haynes Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 michelle@jbmcmedia.com
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.
Michelle
Jesse Chambers Content Director jesse@jbmcmedia.com
Photo by Brittney Fields
Future pilots, aviation professionals start at charter high school.
Shweta Bratina Graphic Designer
Anthony Bratina Graphic Designer
Emily VanderMey Listo Operations & Project Manager, Graphic Designer
2024 Hazardous Waste Day Collection Event
Adhesives / Epoxies Fillers / Resins (caulk, glue)
Paint (latex, acrylic, oil, and spray)
Stains / Sealants
Varnishes / Shellacs
Strippers / Removers
Thinners / Solvents
Turpentine
Wallpaper Cement
Stripper / Adhesive
Asphalt Sealers Roof Cements
Machinery / Lawn Equipment
generators, lawnmowers)
Insect Sprays and Powders / Fumigants (ant, flea, rat, roach, wasp)
Pool Chemicals (algaecides, chlorine)
Septic Tank Additives
Degreasers Yard Chemicals
(WILL ACCEPT)
Batteries (car, truck motorcycle, marine)
Cleaners / Degreasers
Rust Removers (carburetor, polish, soaps, solvents)
Filters and Fuel Additives
Fluids (antifreeze, brake, transmission)
Gas / Oil
Gas and Oil Mixture
Tires (without rims, limit 8)
(WILL NOT ACCEPT)
Aerosols (disinfectants, hair products)
Batteries (alkaline, lead, lithium, rechargeable or NiCad)
Chemicals (acids, ammonia, bleach, drain openers)
Cleaners / Degreasers
(bath, kitchen, rug, outdoor)
First Aid and Sunscreen (antiseptics, burn and wound care, sanitizers)
Light Bulbs / Tubes / Ballasts (CFL, fluorescent, sodium)
Appliances (air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, stoves)
Household
Cooking Oil and Grease
Electronics (computers, cell phones, televisions, security equipment, small appliances)
Fire Extinguishers
Smoke Alarms
Gas Cylinders / Flammables
(carbon dioxide, gasoline, kerosene, oxygen, propane)
Mercury and Mercury Containing Items (thermometers, thermostats)
The West Beat
BY JESSE CHAMBERS
The July 4th holiday is both a commemoration of America’s birthday and a loud, boisterous celebration of its independence.
It’s also a time for Americans to remember and celebrate their shared values.
For example, we all value and celebrate freedom of speech in this country, and we recognize the right of all Americans to raise their voices or share their stories — to become part of the public discourse.
For generations, it was the job of local media—primarily newspapers and TV—to offer a convenient platform where members of the public could provide news, make announcements or share their opinions with other people.
With the coming of the internet and smartphones, newspapers as we knew them have now all but died, print media in general has struggled and the total amount of local and hyper-local reporting available in many communities seems to have shrunk.
At WestJeff Magazine, we’re dedicated to giving the communities of West Jefferson County the media coverage they deserve.
We want to talk about the people, places and things that make the Western communities unique and special.
Each month, we will curate the best selection of entertaining, informative local content from West Jefferson County you’ve ever seen.
We hope that the residents and business people and organizations in that area will see the magazine as a great platform for them, as a sort of town square.
If you are part of West Jefferson County, you are a part of WestJeff Magazine. It’s your magazine
We are actively soliciting information, stories and photographs from readers in West Jefferson County.
We currently do not run op-eds or opinion pieces, but we’d love to receive news or announcements about your event, business, school or community group.
You can share your ideas for feature articles in the magazine, including cover stories or even special sections.
We’re always seeking items to include in our monthly events calendar, including city council and other government meetings.
Feel free to share or submit even your personal or humorous stories.
And we love and need good photos, as long as they are at least 500 KB, preferably at least 1 MB. We’re a print publication, so good photos are essential – and they dramatically improve a story’s impact and make it more attractive to readers.
Putting out this call is exciting for me because—as I mentioned before in this column—I covered the West Beat, including West Birmingham and West Jefferson County, for AL.com and The Birmingham News from 2012-15.
The geographic area for that beat was huge—ranging from Adamsville to McCalla and almost everything in between—and it was the assignment where I grew up as a reporter and writer, where I finally became professional.
In the years since my time at The News ended, the media business —in Birmingham and elsewhere—has continued to change radically, and The Birmingham News is no longer printed.
Now I’m back on the West Beat with WestJeff Magazine, and it’s a chance for me to help start a cool, new magazine and use the past as a portal to my future.
And it’s an opportunity for all of us at WestJeff Magazine to help create a new platform to share great stories and lots of useful community information for West Jefferson County.
To send us information, photos or story ideas – or to ask questions about photo specs – please email jesse@jbmc.com.
Bacon Tomato Dip Recipe
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.
This will be the first bowl empty at every summer lake or pool party! Made with ripe tomatoes and crispy bacon, it’s also fabulous spread between two slices of bread, topped with a lettuce leaf for a quick and easy BLT sammich!
Ingredients
6 ounces uncooked bacon about 6 slices
3 medium tomatoes equal 2 cups chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
If you start with a 12 ounce package of bacon, cut it in half crosswise so you have 6 ounces of bacon or just remove 6 slices of bacon. Keep the bacon stacked together and slice the bacon crosswise into 1/2-inch thick pieces. No need to separate the pieces yet.
Place the bacon in a cold skillet and turn the heat to medium. Cook the bacon, stirring occasionally to break up the bacon about 6 minutes or until the bacon is browned and crisp. The bacon separates easily as it warms up in the skillet.
Drain the bacon on paper towels and let cool. While bacon cooks (don’t forget to stir occasionally), slice the tomatoes in half crosswise/horizontally. Gently squeeze the tomato pulp and seeds into a small bowl. (Save this to make a fresh tomato vinaigrette-see my tip on the post). Chop the tomatoes and place in a medium size bowl.
Add the cooked bacon, mayonnaise, and sour cream and stir until combined. At this point, you can add a little salt and pepper if you like but it’s pretty salty already. Serve with corn chip scoops or tortilla chips.
DEAR YOUNG PERSON,
Home of the Brave
I am an imaginary old man. I am a compilation of stories. I am every World War II veteran you never knew. Each faceless GI from the bygone European War. I am in my late 90s and 100s now. Young people don’t remember me, but I’m still here. For now.
I was one of the hundreds of thousands of infantrymen, airmen, sailors, marines, mess sergeants, seabees, brass hats, engineers, doctors, medics, buck privates, and rear-echelon potato-peelers.
We hopped islands in the Pacific. Served in the African war theater. We beat the devil, then came home and became the old fart next door.
We were babies. Wartime was one heckuva time to be young. We went overseas as teenagers, smooth skinned, scared spitless, with government haircuts, wearing brand new wedding rings. We hadn’t seen action, so we were jittery. We smoked through a week’s rations of Luckies in one day.
Then it happened. It was different for everyone, but it happened. You had your first taste of war.
Shells landed. People screamed. And in an instant, your fear melted and you had a war job to do. It didn’t matter who you were or which post was yours. Everyone worked in the grand assembly line of battle. And when the smoke cleared and the action was over, we had new confidence in ourselves, and we were no longer boys.
Anyway, dear reader, we weren’t just boys, we were girls, too. There were a lot of females serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II. People forget that.
Speaking of women. We guys were always talking about our sweethearts, wives, and mothers. If you mentioned someone’s girl a man was liable to talk for hours about her. And even if you’d already seen his wallet photos before,
you never interrupted a guy talking about his gal. Because eventually you’d be talking about yours. Of course, the infantrymen had it hardest. They lived like pack mules. Their boots got wet, their feet swelled, and their flesh became waterlogged. The funny thing is, even though they marched through hell, they didn’t want to leave their posts. Many had to be dragged away cussing and kicking. That’s how committed these guys were.
Oh, and the food was godawful. You learned to appreciate the rarity of a creative company cook. In Italy, you could buy eggs from local merchants for outrageously inflated prices. One time I knew a guy who paid $50 for 32 eggs. He cooked them all in his tent one night and ate every one. I asked why he did this. He said he didn’t want to die without tasting eggs one last time.
A lot of guys brought banjos, guitars, and fiddles over there. We’d square dance and laugh. Others would sit on their helmets, smoking, thinking of home, wiping their eyes.
The Germans had a radio station that broadcasted American stuff like Bing and Frank. Between songs, a German gal named Axis Sally spoke over the airwaves to us GIs in a sexy voice, trying to mess with our heads.
She would speak flawless English and say, “Give up, boys, there’s no point trying, you can’t win. Everyone hates you. Your girls are at home cheating on you, they don’t love you anymore…”
This was supposed to discourage us, of course, but it usually just made us laugh. Or cry. Or both.
When the war ended, dear Young Person, we felt too much joy at once. Those of us overseas immediately wrote letters to family and told our wives we were coming home, told our kids to grease up their baseball gloves. Our letters were covered in little wet polka dots.
Stateside, there were huge celebrations happening. Sailors climbed lampposts to unfurl flags. Infantrymen stood on rooftops, toasting mugs of homebrew. Mothers were frying chickens out the wazoo.
People partied everywhere from San Bernardino to Flatbush. Big cities, little towns, the rural parts between. Ticker tape parades. Auto processions. There were girls who would kiss any guy in government clothes.
But you know what I still think about, dear Young Person? I think about all the guys who never got kissed again. Our men who still lie in the soil. These were men who fell upholding the mantle of the unalienable American spirit, the Blessings of Liberty.
They didn’t know they were heroes. They were the kids next door. But, oh, they were Children of God. And they proved, beyond speculation, that even hellfire cannot kill the great idea that is America.
So, on this Fourth of July, I hope you don’t forget about them, dear Young Person. Because as they were waving the Flag of Freedom, they never forgot about you.
Illustration by Sean Dietrich
A Bessemer ‘Gameplan,’ an honor for a pitmaster, work on Bell Hill Road
Long-time Bessemer pitmaster Van Sykes was honored recently by the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. His restaurant—Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q—was founded by his parents in 1957.
by JESSE CHAMBERS
The City of Bessemer and its project partners are working to create a new comprehensive plan for the community called Gameplan for Growth. The plan focuses on the vitality of Bessemer’s downtown, its historic neighborhoods and the U.S. Highway 11 corridor, as well as economic development, better transportation options and improved city services.
Public participation is critical to a successful comprehensive plan, so the planning team has held a series of public meetings this year to solicit feedback.
They’ve been encouraged by the response, said Toraine Norris, director of the city’s Economic and Community Development Department.
“Participation, especially from residents, has been very encouraging,” Norris told WestJeff Magazine. “We had a cross-section of residents show up for the meetings.”
The people who’ve taken part in the meetings have “been excited to have their voices heard,” Norris said.
The Gameplan for Growth originated after Bessemer was awarded $14 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each city department was granted a portion of the funding by the City Council, and the Economic and Community Development Department requested that its $300,000 allotment be used for a comprehensive plan, Norris said.
Conceptually, Gameplan for Growth is an outgrowth of Vision 2040, a long-range summary of Bessemer’s vision, mission and goals created
Continued on Page 13
At WestJeff Magazine, we seek to provide comprehensive coverage of business activity of all kinds in Western Jefferson County – and not just the big projects. We want to hear news and updates of all types about all of the businesses in the area, both large and small. We also report on real estate, construction and infrastructure projects. Please contact us with any tips, information or photos you have at jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
Photos courtesy of Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q
Staff photos
DeBardeleben Park in historic downtown Bessemer. Reviving downtown is a primary focus of a new Bessemer comprehensive plan currently being developed.
by the community in 2020-21, according to the comprehensive plan website. The new plan is a way of “augmenting our vision for the future with policies and actions that can bring it to life,” the site says.
The Economic and Community Development Department is working with planners from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and the consulting team of Placemakers and Kimley Horn, Norris said.
While work continues on the comprehensive plan, several city departments, including Building and Inspections, Economic and Community Development and the city’s engineering firm, are working with RPCGB to update Bessemer’s zoning regulations.
“Zoning is another crucial component of this overall planning process for the city,” Norris said.
The planning team began holding its public meetings in Bessemer in January, when they met with city officials – including the mayor, City Council and department heads – and held public meetings at City Hall with community representatives, including business, faith, housing and education leaders.
Planners launched an on-line public survey in January and received comments from about 300 people over the next three months.
More public meetings were held in Bessemer in late April, and planners received “vital input” from residents, developers, business owners and healthcare providers, Norris said. Planners presented their initial recommendations to the public on April 25 at the Bessemer Recreation Center.
In listening to public feedback regarding the plan, Norris said it’s been “fascinating” to hear “the same ideas and concerns expressed from a cross-section of the Bessemer community.”
“Everyone has an interest in seeing downtown Bessemer revived, and that is not surprising,” he said. “Downtown is a shared place in a community. It’s the center of town, the heart of a community. Everyone in a city can claim it.”
This public desire to revive downtown has come through loud and clear in the online surveys, the public meetings and during the creation of a vision statement for Bessemer four years ago, he said.
Bessemer residents are “very interested in having a walkable, electric downtown where they can shop, dine or entertain themselves without leaving their city,’ Norris said.
Currently the planning team is taking the ideas and recommendations
from the public meetings and putting together a draft of the plan. They will likely present the draft in Bessemer in the fall and seek more community feedback. Planners will then create a final document and present it to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for final approval.
“This entire process should be completed by November,” Norris said. For updates, go to bessemergameplan.com.
Keeping the fires burning
Van Sykes, owner of Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q in Bessemer, has spent much of his life working in the much-loved eatery, which his parents founded in 1957. He sticks to what he sees as the right way to prepare and present barbecue.
“Cooking barbecue the way we do is hard to do,” Sykes told Alabama News Center (ANC) recently. “Times may have changed, but nothing has changed in the way we prepare and cook barbecue over an open fire pit located in the center of the dining room for guests to watch.”
His hard work was honored May 8 when he was nominated for inclusion in the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame.
Sykes, who AL.com called “a legendary pitmaster,” was not among the four industry professionals announced as 2024 Hall of Fame inductees on May 22, but even to be nominated was an honor. He was among 10 finalists chosen from a list of 83 nominees, according to a Hall of Fame news release.
“Thankful to be honored and it’s only possible by standing on the shoulders of all the good people that have been part of the Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q family over the 67 years,” Sykes told ANC.
Bell Hill Road update
The new $400 million UAB Medical West Hospital is expected to open at 4501 Bell Hill Road in McCalla in August. In preparation, Jefferson County is adding more lanes to Bell Hill Road and installing a roundabout. The county provided a project update in a June 3 news release. At the time, the contractor and utility crews had met a critical deadline for utility relocations to the new hospital. The road contractor had begun paving Letson Farms Parkway and New Bell Hill Road. It was expected that traffic would be shifted to the new road in June. Over the next few months, construction will concentrate on the existing Bell Hill Road and work west towards Eastern Valley Road, the release states.
Continued from Page 12
Miles College, JeffCo working to promote health, sustainability
by JESSE CHAMBERS
Two important local institutions, the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) and Miles College in Fairfield, are working together to enhance community health and environmental sustainability.
The collaboration was formalized May 16, when Miles College President Bobbie Knight and Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony on the Miles campus.
This partnership aims to enhance community health and well-being in Jefferson County through increased community partnerships, job creation in environmental fields, local participation in addressing environmental concerns, community capacity building for grant funding and improved accessibility of public health and environmental data, according to a JCDH news release.
“This partnership highlights Miles College’s dedication to the well-being of Jefferson County residents,” Knight said during the ceremony. “By
pooling our resources and expertise, we can tackle pressing environmental issues while enhancing community health and prosperity.”
The collaborative effort “represents a significant step forward in our efforts to ensure a healthy environment for all Jefferson County residents,” Hicks told attendees. “We look forward to working closely with Miles College to educate and empower our communities to tackle environmental challenges.”
The goals that are part of the agreement “are essential for the well-being of our community,” Knight said. “Through active environmental partnerships, we aim to actively identify and remediate environmental issues that impact the social determinants of health, ensuring that our communities have a healthy lifestyle and a healthy environment.”
Knight also emphasized the positive economic benefits of the partnership, which she said “will also generate job opportunities in environmental fields associated with public health for Jefferson County residents, fostering economic growth and sustainability.”
Actively engaging with the public and other stakeholders is an important part of the collaboration.
“We are committed to engaging students, residents and stakeholders in addressing various environmental concerns, such as resiliency, flooding, storm water pollution, air quality and green spaces,” Knight said.
Improving access to health and environmental data in the area can have a positive impact, Knight said. “Establishing a trusted source for public health and environmental data will promote and inform decision-making processes in Jefferson County.”
In running its Environmental Health program, the JCDH has heard from community members that it needs to be “at the table” and to be “stakeholders in the community,” Hicks said. “People have also told us that we need to have the technical expertise to bring resources in.”
However, the JCDH “has some of the expertise,
Continued on Page 15
Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks and Miles College President Bobbie Knight (seated) signed a memorandum of understanding on the Miles College campus May 16. The institutions will collaborate to help improve the environment and community health.
Photo courtesy of Jordyn Davis/ Bham Now
but we don’t have all of the expertise,” he said. “We realize that we cannot do that alone.”
Hence the need for the partnership.
“Miles College is a strong institution here in our community and has another set of expertise and resources that the health department doesn’t have,” Hicks said.
When you put the JCDH and Miles together, “it’s an unstoppable force,” he said.
“This is not about one community in Jefferson County,” Hicks said. “This is about the whole of the county, so MIles College is going to be along every community member in Jefferson County and helping us to address these needs, bringing in valuable resources where they are needed most.”
Hicks mentioned the environmental science program at Miles College and said that the students at Miles “are highly engaged in the communities.”
The students can be a powerful force in the community outreach that is part of this collaboration, he said.
“One thing we have to do as a governmental agency is to find ways to engage directly with those with lived experiences and bring them to the table,” he said. “The students are going to be that vehicle to engage directly in the communities, to hear from the communities, come up with ideas for these projects, and then we are going to teach the students and communities together how to bring these resources in.”
This learning opportunity for students is consistent with Knight’s efforts at the school since becoming president. She has worked to secure partnerships with corporate, governmental and philanthropic agencies to provide her students with meaningful internships and job placements, as well as valuable networking and experiential learning opportunities, the Miles College website states.
In his remarks to attendees, Hicks praised the leadership at Miles, including Knight, for immediately showing enthusiasm for the idea of a partnership.
“When you have that kind of leadership and commitment you can do a lot of great things,” he said.
Knight was not shy about expressing great optimism about the collaboration between Miles and the JCDH.
“Together we will achieve great things and create a healthier, more sustainable environment for all,” she said.
For more information about the JCDH, call 205-933-9110 or go to jcdh.org. For more about Miles College, call 205-929-1000 or go to miles.edu.
RED, WHITE & BOOM
Hueytown to celebrate Independence Day on July 3
by JESSE CHAMBERS
Each year on Independence Day, Americans celebrate their nation’s founding event—the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Not only that, but they celebrate in style— with good food, good fun and, of course, fireworks.
Fireworks were discovered by the Chinese about 2,000 years ago, but they’ve become as American as baseball and apple pie, and they’ve been a big part of Independence Day since July 4, 1777, when fireworks displays were held in Philadelphia and Boston, historians say.
They’ll also be part of this year’s Independence Day celebration in Hueytown, which will light up the night sky with an explosive patriotic celebration.
The Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce and several other event partners will present
Continued on Page 17
Photos courtesy Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce
Attendees having a great time at the Independence Day celebration in Hueytown in 2023. The Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce and its partners will present the Red, White & Boom Patriotic Celebration on July 3.
from Page 14
the inaugural Red, White & Boom Patriotic Celebration on Wednesday, July 3, at Hueytown City Park, 104 Forest Road, from 6-8 p.m.
One of the highlights of Red, White & Boom is the popular Bicycle Parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. The fireworks show will begin at 8 p.m.
The event has been held for the last few years and was organized by North Highlands Baptist Church and Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. However, the churches reached out to the Chamber for help this year, according to Chamber Director Debbie Kiker.
“I jumped on it,” Kiker said, adding that Red, White & Boom will now be “a true citywide event.”
In the Bicycle Parade, children decorate their bikes, tricycles, scooters and wagons in patriotic colors. Kids are encouraged to adorn their bikes with red, white and blue crêpe paper, bows, ribbons, streamers and balloons, as well as small American flags, DIY decorations like paper pinwheels and painted stars or patriotic decor from the discount store.
“Kids love the bicycle parade,” Kiker said. “It’s a biggie.”
Other fun activities at Red, White & Boom will include face painting, inflatables, a photo booth and lots of crafts and games. For the first time, the event will include field games, which are outdoor activities that traditionally include such competitions as relays, sack races and threelegged races.
Attendees can have their pictures taken with Uncle Sam or the Statue of Liberty, and the event will also feature live music from church groups.
No Independence Day celebration would be complete without lots of food, or course, and Red, White & Boom will not disappoint in this area. The event will offer at least half a dozen food trucks, with such summer treats as barbecue, hot dogs, chicken salad and shaved ice.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
The event partners are the Hueytown Chamber, the City of Hueytown, American Legion Post 1228, North Highlands Baptist Church and Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, as well as Hueytown Arts Council, Summit Life Church, Valley Creek Baptist Church, Crossroad Baptist Church, Hueytown First Methodist Church, Garywood Church of God, Hueytown Baptist Church And Union Hill Baptist Church.
For more information, call the Chamber at 205-491-7010 or go to hueytownchamber.com.
Aerospace and Aviation High School provides ‘life-altering’ opportunities
A diverse student body attends the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School in Bessemer in search of the training they need to pursue careers in the state’s booming aerospace and defense sectors, as well as other STEM-related careers.
Story by JESSE CHAMBERS
Photos by BRITTNEY FIELDS
Aerospace and defense are booming sectors in the world economy, according to media reports. The global aerospace and defense industry was valued at $856 billion in 2023, a 7.5% increase over 2022, according to consulting firm KPMG.
This growth is expected to continue, driven by increased air travel, a revival of demand for airliners and other equipment, and the spread of new technologies, including drones.
Over the last few decades, aerospace and defense have also become a huge, growing part of the Alabama economy.
Alabama is now home to hundreds of aerospace, aviation and defense companies both large and small, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Airbus, Northrop Grumman and Kaiser Aircraft Industries. NASA has been a vital presence in Huntsville for decades .
Since 2016, Alabama has attracted $3.6 billion in aerospace investment, generating about 8,000 job commitments, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Of course, if Alabamians want their share of the skilled jobs that
are coming to the state, they need training. That’s where the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School comes in.
Located in Bessemer, AAHS opened in 2022 and is the first aviationfocused, free public charter school in Alabama
The school offers a unique, career-focused curriculum designed to give students a direct path to the aviation industry and an advanced STEM education in an intentionally diverse school community.
“Even though there are a lot of jobs and a lot of opportunities in the industry, a lot of them are not being met, or they are not being met by folks from Alabama,” said Porshia Allen, AAHS School Director.
“We’re working collectively to build a talent pipeline here locally, and AAHS has an opportunity to play a part in that,” said AAHS Founder Ruben Morris, a teacher and education innovator for over 20 years.
“With the current demand for pilots and aviation professionals, this school is addressing and fulfilling an urgent need that will be sustainable for decades,” said S. Keith Hargrove, Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Tuskegee University, one of the school’s academic partners.
Continued on Page 20
Officials at the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School are excited about the many highly trained aviation professionals they will send into the workforce in the future, as shown in this display at the AAHS campus.
Continued from Page 18
Bessemer has been a great location for AAHS, even though it wasn’t the location Morris originally wanted, officials say.
A native of East Birmingham – a neighborhood near Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport – Morris wanted to open the school there.
That location didn’t work out, but Bessemer offered another opportunity.
“Bessemer has rolled out a red carpet for us,” Morris said.
“One of the biggest advantages we have here is the support and partnership of the Bessemer Municipal Airport,” Allen said.
Tim Wasyluka, executive director of the Bessemer Airport Authority, praises AAHS staff and board members.
“Their passion for developing and operating AAHS is contagious,” Wasyluka said. “I believe AAHS will provide positive, life-altering impacts on students and their families.”
Wasyluka cites a study by the Aeronautics Bureau of the Alabama Department of Transportation that attributes a $4.9 billion economic impact to the 80 airports in the state.
“Future AAHS graduates will be well-positioned to join these airports and the companies operating at these airports,” he said.
It seems clear that AAHS has a bright future, and that includes a brand-new campus to be built soon at the
Bessemer Municipal Airport.
“We are shooting for a transition to a campus near or on the Bessemer Airport by about Fall 2025,” Allen said.
The new facility “will give our students, whom we call ‘champions,’ the opportunity to have even closer, hands-on experience with the aviation field,” said Mauri Robinson, AAHS Director of Operations and Finance.
The new airport campus “is exciting to me due to the influx of young people pursuing their future in aviation,” Wasyluka said.
The school’s other defense and industry partners include the 117th Air Guard Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, Kaiser Aircraft, Blue Origin Aerospace Company and Delta TechOps, the maintenance division of Delta Air Lines
Pinnacle Aerospace Academy, located at the Bessemer Airport, regularly trains about 15-20 AAHS students in aircraft repair and maintenance on the school’s campus, Robinson said.
The school also partners with several Alabama colleges and universities, including UAB, Miles College and Auburn University.
For AAHS to be effective, “it takes really strong partnerships,” Allen said.
“It was always the plan to surround ourselves with
Continued on Page 21
Photos Courtesy AAHS AAHS Director Porshia Allen
AAHS Founder Ruben Morris
Continued from Page 20
people that have lived and breathed this and are experts in the field,” Morris said. “Aviation is constantly changing, and staying in lockstep with industry partners is critical to the mission of making sure we are producing students who are ready for any postsecondary opportunity available.”
AAHS has established a different education model, officials say.
“We’ve reimagined high school,” Morris said. “Career-connected learning is where education innovation is headed.”
Each student also follows his or her own academic “flight plan,” according to the AAHS website.
The AAHS staff makes “sure that every champion who comes to our school has a clearly defined pathway into a career that will allow them to not only participate in the workforce but be a values-based leader and actually soar,” Morris said, citing such core values as accountability and respect.
“We want every champion to be a champion of excellence,” he said.
This is especially important in the aerospace and defense sectors, where people’s lives and billions of dollars are at stake, Morris said.
“One loose screw or one casual oversight on a checklist could be costly,” he said. “You don’t just wake up as an adult one day and become a detail-oriented, excellent leader. Building those habits of mind and skills should start earlier.”
“The soft skills are what the industry is looking for,” Allen said. “It’s more than just knowing how to work on a plane. It’s also the value of being on time and meeting job expectations. “
The school strives to “make learning sticky for kids, and that’s really putting it in context around how they will use it in the real world,” Morris said.
It is fun and gratifying to watch the educational model at AAHS play out day to day, Allen said.
“I love that we are small by design,” she said. “It allows us to give one-on-one attention to the students.”
In the school’s first year, 2022-23, AAHS enrollment finished the year at 86. At the end of the 2023-24 school year, enrollment was 150.
The school’s goal for enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is 250, and AAHS plans to eventually reach an enrollment of about 400, Robinson said.
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Students at the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School receive top-quality training and have access to a hangar and flight simulators. Students seeking to become aircraft mechanics receive hands-on training on campus from professionals at Pinnacle Aerospace Academy in Bessemer.
The Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School offers students “a warm, inviting vibe,” said School Director Porshia Allen. In addition, there’s “a high degree of focus,” said AAHS Founder Ruben Morris said. “Everybody wants to be on point here.”
Continued from Page 21
Allen enjoys seeing her students make industry connections “in real time,” including the students in the school’s aircraft maintenance pathway who work with Pinnacle.
“It is exciting to see those bulbs go off and see them get that hands-on experience,” Allen said
AAHS has several students who are taking flight lessons and are preparing to take their first solo flights this summer or by the end of the year, Allen said.
The school also offers “a warm, inviting vibe “ and “an amazing, nurturing staff,” Allen said.
In addition, there is “a high degree of focus,” Morris said. “Everybody wants to be on point here, and that’s a culture we want to cultivate for future leaders in this industry.”
AAHS is a place of freedom and experimentation, as well.
“We’ve created a space where people are going to be innovative and try things that haven’t been done before,” Morris said. “Teachers feel they have the space to be creative.
“People are really excited about what’s happening and bought into the mission,” he said.
School leaders emphasize that AAHS wasn’t founded just to send students into the aviation field. It’s a great place for students wishing to pursue any STEM-related career, including coding, robotics, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
“We are a career-connected STEM school,” Morris said. “Not every kid here wants to be a pilot. For anybody who’s interested in any level of STEM, (AAHS) is a great option for you.”
It is exciting for school officials to have a truly diverse group of students finding opportunities in a traditionally lily-white industry.
“It’s been a persistent, structural issue within the aviation industry since its inception,” Morris said. “The reality is I didn’t meet a pilot who looked like me until I was over 30, and I didn’t meet a female pilot who looked like me until I was over 40. But people of color have constantly demonstrated in
aviation and aerospace – and not only people of color but women – that they are all able to lead and excel in the aviation industry.”
“We know that less than 10 percent of pilots are women, and we are excited,” Allen said, noting that one of the female students at AAHS was scheduled to take her solo flight this summer.
AAHS “provides an opportunity to diversify the population of aviation professionals, which is also sorely needed in this growing profession,” Hargrove said,
The school “is in the position of preparing a future generation of leaders to pursue what otherwise may have been unattainable dreams,” Wasyluka said.
There are discussions taking place regarding a second campus for AAHS in partnership with Tuskegee University, which is starting its own flight school and a degree program in aviation science.
This new flight school will renew a tradition in aviation in Tuskegee begun during WWII by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the U.S. military.
“We are exploring that opportunity, and there’s a possibility of us expanding down to Macon County in partnership with Tuskegee and Auburn University,” Morris said.
“The vision and impact of AAHS cannot be quantified,” Hargrove said. “In the tradition of the Tuskegee Airmen, when this sector of the population had limited opportunities to control the skies, AAHS will shatter those constraints, and we hope to assist them with the same impact and significance.”
“We believe with the growth of AAHS, there will be amazing opportunities to expand its presence throughout the state of Alabama and its affiliation with Tuskegee University,” Hargrove said.
Located at 1414 Second Ave. N. in Bessemer, AAHS is currently accepting enrollment applications from rising 9th and 10th graders for the 2024-25 school year.
For more information, call 205-538-0702 or go to alaahs.org.
Hueytown has high hopes for 400-acre West Rock Mountain Preserve
By JESSE CHAMBERS
The City of Hueytown is planning to create a major new recreation facility for West Jefferson County—the West Rock Mountain Preserve, the city’s first-ever nature park.
Located along West Rock Mountain, the park will be built on 400 acres the city purchased from The University of Alabama and will offer hiking, biking and other uses.
City officials announced the creation of the park in August 2023 during a town hall meeting in Hueytown. The city is continuing its planning and fundraising efforts for the project.
At press time, the city was awaiting approval of a $400,000 grant application it submitted to the Federal Highway Administration through the Recreational Trails Program for Fiscal Year 2024, according to documents supplied to WestJeff Magazine
If awarded, this money will allow the city to proceed with Phase 1 of West Rock Mountain Preserve and build 6.3 miles of biking and hiking trails, the south trailhead and related signage.
Hueytown has also created a new webpage for the park and will soon begin accepting donations online, as well as volunteer sign-ups.
The city purchased a total of 850 acres from the university, and the other 450 acres may be used for single-family residences, athletic fields, swimming pools, commercial venues or other purposes. Officials credit the purchase of the property to the Hueytown residents who notified the city that the university’s land had been posted for clearcutting timber.
The town hall was attended by about 80 people —the largest attendance ever at a town hall in Hueytown, said Debbie Kiker, director of the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce.
The city plans to hold additional town hall meetings to solicit further input from residents.
Mayor Steve Ware and the Hueytown City Council believe the preserve—in addition to offering recreation and improved health outcomes —will have a positive economic impact on the city by attracting homebuyers, increasing property values, boosting traffic at local businesses and generating municipal revenue through tourism, according to an August news release from the Hueytown Chamber. For more information and project updates, go to hueytownal.gov/1232/
Hueytown-West-Rock-Mountain-Preserve.
‘Incredible’ Fairfield artists
Miles College opened a new exhibit space on the first floor of its C.A. Kirkendoll Learning Resource Center during the spring term, and the inaugural exhibit was “Roots and Renaissance: An African American Journey Through Art,” which ran until May 10. The exhibit, featuring work from 25 local Black artists, was curated by the Fairfield Black Art Collective, according to Alabama News Center. Miles College President Bobbie Knight told the outlet that the FBAC is raising awareness about the “incredible talent” of Fairfield visual artists. For more about the FBAC, go to fairfieldblackartcollective.com.
Hope for the Northside
The Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation,
the Regions Foundation and other partners held a ribbon cutting May 29 at three newly completed, affordable homes in Bessemer’s Northside neighborhood, according to a report at bhamnow. com. The homes are part of the Northside Community Housing Development Initiative, which seeks to attract new investment to the neighborhood. For more about the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation, go to brcal.org.
New gear for Hueytown Police
The Hueytown Police Department will purchase eight new license plate readers (LPRs) for its vehicles using a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a report at wbrc.com. Hueytown Police Chief Mike Yarbrough told Fox 6 News the LPRs will help police with stolen vehicles, BOLO alerts and tracking down missing persons.
Photos courtesy the City of Hueytown
Some of the beautiful trees, plants, natural features and unexplored pathways to be discovered at the 400-acre site of the new West Rock Mountain Preserve in Hueytown. The city is planning to add hiking and biking trails to the site.
Hueytown Primary School
Perfect Attendance Popsicles with Deputy Owen
Field Day fun at Hueytown Primary School
Principal Felisha Reid and Assistant Principal Vergie Gibson-Davis enjoying Fine Arts Night
Hueytown Primary School Literacy Picnic
Teacher Appreciation Week Fun. Principal Felisha Reid and Assistant Principal Vergie Gibson-Davis spreading cheer.
Hueytown Middle School Fall Registration
Hueytown Middle School Registration is a two-step process. Parents and guardians must first register students online. Parents and guardians then must participate in onsite registration. Residence documents can either be uploaded online or brought to the school during assigned onsite registration dates. For questions, email Dr. Peterson, speterson@jefcoed.com, Mrs. Longmire, nlongmire@jefcoed.com, or Mrs. Davis, denisedavis@jefcoed. com.
Registration will begin at the school’s gym entrance:
Eighth Grade: July 29, 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Seventh Grade: July 30, 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1p.m.-3 p.m.
Sixth Grade: July 31, 8:30 a.m.- 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Make-up registration/second-party families needing language assistance in Spanish:
Aug. 1: 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Aug. 2: 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Hueytown High School Band Camps
Hueytown High School will present a percussion and guard camp from July 15-19 and a full band camp from July 22 – 31. For more information, call 205-379-4150 or go to jefcoed.com/hueytownhs.
Hueytown Middle School
Hueytown Middle School’s Transition Ceremony took place on May 14 at Hueytown High School. Nathaniel Rutledge was the guest speaker. HMS transitioned 304 eighth graders to continue their educational journey in high school.
Summer Camps
Red Mountain Theatre
Theater camps at Red Mountain Theatre give kids an outlet to use their creativity and imagination in dramatic ways, at all ages and skill levels. Whole day and half day camps continue through July and early August. Most camps end with a short performance for parents and friends. Kids ages 4-6 enjoy half-day classes in which they learn the basics of theater through collaboration and creative play. Kids ages 7-8 take part in week-long classes in which they learn several Broadway-style production numbers and perform for friends and family. Students from ages 7-12 immerse themselves in a favorite book or film world, create original characters and learn the basics of storytelling and stagecraft. Campers from ages 9-14 learn an entire 30-minute original script, music and choreography in five days. Students from ages 9-18 take part in intensive workshops in which they work on their acting, dancing and singing. For more information, including financial aid, lunch plans and before or after care options, call 205-324-2424 or go to, redmountaintheatre.org/summer-camps-2024.
Girls Inc. of Central Alabama
The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer and the nonprofit Girls Inc. of Central Alabama will host a free summer mini-camp for rising fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade girls at the Southside Homes in Bessemer from July 15-19. For more information about Girls Inc., call 205-599-5555 or go to girlsinccentral-al.org. For more information about the Bessemer Housing Authority, call 205-481-4420 or go to besha.org.
Space One Eleven Arts Center Art Camps
Registration is open for the Summer 2024 Art Camps at the Space One Eleven Arts Center in the Loft District in downtown Birmingham. These camps give young artists plenty of time to work on their projects, make new friends and create finished works for the end-ofsummer student and teaching artist exhibition. The exhibition will be held at the gallery on July 26 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. All camps are taught by professional artists. Space One Eleven is located at 2409 Second Ave. N. For more information, call 205-328-0553 or go to spaceoneeleven.org.
Rising Grades 6 – 12
• Clay Camp: July 8-12, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Portfolio Development Camp: July 8-12, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Sew Cool Fashion Camp: A two-week camp, July 8-12 and July 15-19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Mural Camp: July 15-19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Architecture Camp: July 15-19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Illustration Camp: July 22-26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m
From left to right: Dr. Angela Allen, Hueytown Middle School Counselor; Chief Nathaniel Rutledge, Former City of Bessemer’s Police Chief; and Dr. Serra Peterson, Hueytown Middle School Principal.
Events Calendar
Western Area Events
July 3, 20, 17, 24 & 31: 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.
July 4, 11, 18 & 25: 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.
July 1: 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
July 1: 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.
July 2: 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
July 2: 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
July 3: Red, White, and Boom Patriotic Celebration. 6 p.m. 104 Forest Road, Hueytown. This family-friendly event will feature food trucks, music, games and inflatables. A bike parade starts at 7 p.m, and fireworks start at 8 p.m. For more information, call the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce at 205-491-7010.
July 8: 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.
July 9: 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
July 9: 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.
July 15: 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
July 15: 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.
July 16: 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.
July 16: 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. 205-4244060. bessemeral.org
July 18: Kids’ Art in the Park. 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Hueytown City Park. 104 Forest Rd. Children entering grades 1-5 are invited to unlock their creativity at this special event hosted by the Hueytown Arts Council. Children will create a project with the help of an adult. $10 per session per child, and parents must remain on site. Deadline to register is July 8. 205-903-6312. hueytownarts. org/art-in-the-park.
July 20-21: 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.
July 22: 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.
July 23: 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.
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. 205428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com
Continued on Page 30
LOCALLY MADE | LOCALLY
SOURCED
cutting boards | Charcuterie trays
bathtub caddies | bed swings
stovetop covers | tables | planters
shelves | bookcases
custom orders accepted
facebook: @deogloriawoodworks
Instagram: @deogloriawoodworks
than getting their hands dirty and making art.
Other Area Events
July 1-3: Birmingham Barons vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas. Regions Field. 1401 First Ave. S. Birmingham. Enjoy a fun night of summer baseball with family and friends. Fireworks on July 3. 205988-3200. milb.com/birmingham.
July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. 9 p.m. Vulcan Park & Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive. An impressive firework display will brighten Vulcan and the sky above him. A special arrangement of music keyed to the fireworks will be available on iHeart media radio stations 102.5 The Bull, 103.1 The Vulcan, 103.7 The Q, 104.1 The Beat, Birmingham’s ALT 991, B106.5, 105 Hallelujah FM, Magic 96.5, News Radio 960 WERC, News Radio 105.5 WERC and La Jefa 98.3. 205-933-1409. 205-933-1409. visitvulcan.com
July 5-10: Transplant Games of America. Various venues in the Birmingham area. Hosted by the Transplant Life Foundation, the Transplant Games of America athletics competition brings together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, caregivers, transplant and donation professionals, those awaiting transplant, supporters and spectators in support of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. Events will be held at such venues as the BJCC, the Birmingham CrossPlex, Vestavia Bowl, Highland Park Golf Course, Hoover Met Complex and Barber Vintage Museum. 616-356-2331. transplantgamesofamerica.org.
July 13: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. 6:30 p.m. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N., Birmingham. The Legion FC is Birmingham’s only professional soccer club. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com
Continued on Page 31
Photo by Wikimedia user Ancal84
Kids love nothing better
The Hueytown Arts Council will host an art event for kids in grades 1-5 on July 18.
Other Area Events
July 17: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Rhode Island FC. 7 p.m. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N. Birmingham. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com
July 20: City Walk Art Market. 3-8 p.m.2200 Ninth Ave. N., Birmingham. Enjoy interactive art, local vendors, music and food trucks. The event will take place next to the City Walk Bham Skatepark. 205-458-8200. citywalkbham.com
July 26: Buddy Guy. Alabama Theatre. 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. 7:30 p.m. See and hear Buddy Guy, legendary blues singer and guitarist, perform hits from throughout his storied career as part of his “Damn Right Farewell” tour. Guy is the winner of the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award. 205-252-2262. alabamatheatre.com.
July 27: Birmingham Legion FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Protective Stadium. 1020 24th St. N. Birmingham. 6:30 p.m. 205-600-4696. bhmlegion.com
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.
Photo by Wikimedia user Alex G from Puteaux, France
Legendary blues singer and guitarist Buddy Guy will make a stop at the Alabama Theatre July 26 as part of his “Damn Right Farewell” tour.
Photo courtesy of Tannehill State Park
In addition to breathtaking natural beauty, hiking and fishing, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park hosts many special events, including the long-popular Trade Days July 20-21.
Photo courtesy Legacy YMCA
Legacy YMCA in Bessemer offers its members a wide variety of exercise classes, as well as youth sports, camps, and health and wellness programs.
Staff photo
Protective Stadium will host professional soccer in July as the Birmingham Legion FC of the USL Championship takes on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Rhode Island FC.
In the little moments and major milestones of childhood, we are here for our patients and their families – helping, healing, teaching and discovering.
Childrens AL •org