Local softball standout competes in Spain PAGE 18 stage
Hueytown invests in arts, theater PAGE 20 a of their own
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A commitment to the arts: Hueytown’s efforts include new theater, recreation
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Katsy Sellers and Debbie Kiker are among a group in Hueytown working to convert a former church multipurpose building into a new arts center. Read more starting on page 20.
It’s October already, and I’m stunned by how quickly 2024 has flown by, but it’s not surprising I feel this way.
After all, I’m 67 years old, and the older you get, the faster time seems to pass.
But I must admit that time’s quick transit causes me some anxiety and frustration.
While writing this, I learned there’s a word for this feeling – chronophobia.
An extreme fear of time or time passing, chronophobia causes anxiety and depression, and elderly people are among the most likely sufferers, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
People with chronophobia fear their own mortality, obsess over time and worry about their limited remaining days.
Perhaps I’m not chronophobic in the clinical sense, but I can relate to those feelings. Some of you may feel the same.
For this column, I did some research regarding why psychologists and other experts think we perceive time moving faster as we age.
I also read some of the tips experts offer to help us slow down time and get the most joy and satisfaction of our days.
Our life span itself has an impact on our perceptions of time’s passage.
As we age, the years seem to feel “relatively smaller” given the years we’ve lived, said Helen Dennis, an expert on aging
and retirement at the University of Southern California, in an article at dailynews.com, “Each year feels shorter compared to the total time we have lived and therefore seems to go by faster.”
One reason time seems to speed up as we get older is that we look back and recall events, but not their duration.
In other words, we may remember that something happened, but we can’t recreate what it was like to actually live through the entire event. Time gets collapsed together.
Cindy Lustig, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, seems to support that viewpoint.
“Our perception of days, weeks, years and that kind of time seems to be especially influenced by our perspective: Are we in the moment experiencing it, or are we looking backward on time?” Lustig said at lsa. umich.edu/psych.
Brain function also plays a part. For example, an 80-year-old may do the same things almost every day for years and fall into dull, almost unbreakable routines.
“Our brain lumps time together when the days or weeks are similar,” Dennis said. “Time gets blended together in one’s mind, making it feel like it went by quickly.”
For adults, it’s critical to seek out new experiences, challenges and learning opportunities to put our brains to work and
to help slow time down.
“Do something different,” said Dr. David Hamilton, an author and biochemist, at his website. “Break out of your everyday patterns.” The human brain “encodes novel experiences much more richly than it does everyday, ordinary experiences,” Hamilton said.
Dennis and others also recommend that we practice mindfulness. “That means focusing on the present moment and being aware of what you are doing and where you are,” she said.
Laboratory studies show that mindfulness exercises can stretch our perception of time, Lustig said recently in the Huffington Post.
It also helps to get out and enjoy nature, which is calming and helps us slow time down, Dennis said.
So here in West Jefferson County, you can put some of these ideas into action.
You can get out in nature at Tannehill State Park or Red Mountain Park, take a class at Lawson State Community College or Miles College, make new friends or volunteer with a community organization.
“None of us know how much time we have, but, interestingly, we do actually have a lot of control over how we experience that time,” Lustig said. “So I encourage everybody to make the most of the time that you’ve got.”
The Good Old Days
I come from a generation whose ketchup came in glass bottles. And therein lies the fundamental difference between my generation and the current one.
Glass bottles. They were everywhere. They were the essence of life.
You walked into a restaurant, and there were glass condiment bottles sitting on tables. Usually, Heinz Ketchup. You had to bruise your palm to get the stuff out.
And when you couldn’t get the ketchup to move, you handed the bottle to your daddy and watched him invent new cuss words. This is what kept families together.
Glass packaging was the norm. We had no space-age plastic polymers. We had glass, that was all.
And glass, somehow, just made us happier. It unified us. It made us American. Glass bottles kept crime rates down, literacy rates up, and it made everyone sing the national anthem at ball games.
Which reminds me, I was at a ball game the other day when the national anthem was played. Everyone stood. Many placed hands over their hearts. But do you know what? Very few people sang.
Actually, almost nobody sang.
All 42,000 silently listened to the singer on the field without opening their mouths. The singer was a recording artist from Nashville with three Grammys, two ESPYs, one Pulitzer, and whatever else.
The singer performed two minutes of vocal gymnastics so that it sounded like he was having a febrile seizure. And the boy in the seat next to me leaned over to his mom and said, “Which song is this again?”
You see, when I was a kid, everyone sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” That’s just how it was. We learned it in school. We SANG it in school. We knew all the words.
So, you sang the anthem at games. You didn’t let anyone else sing it for you. Before ball games, my grandfather would carefully balance his cigar on his beer, my father would remove his seed cap, and tens of thousands would sing Francis Scott Key in unison.
And when the song ended, everyone applauded, and the Braves, inspired by fervent singing, dashed onto the field and ceremoniously got massacred.
Something else about my generation. We were not required to leave tips for every single financial transaction completed.
Sure, we tipped people. We tipped restaurant
servers, barbers, bartenders, and professional dancers. But we did not tip at the supermarket selfcheckout.
Know what else? There were no video ads at our gas stations. Yesterday I was pumping gas. There was a television in the pump, blaring 24-hour headline news at a volume loud enough to make your gums bleed. These videos were interspersed with noisy ads for everything from potato chips to marital aids.
Not just that, but other things were different, too. People still held the doors for each other. Children were actually pretty good conversationalists.
And we all focused better. Probably because we didn’t have cell phones competing for our attention every couple of nanoseconds. Without cell phones, we were able to perform unthinkable feats of concentration, such as—to pick an unthinkable feat at random— driving.
Music and movies were not streamed, they were shared, communal experiences. If you wanted to see a popular movie, such as, for example, The Muppet Movie, you attended a theater and sat in a roomful of B.O. Likewise, nobody knew, or cared about gluten. We left our eggs sitting on the counter. Also, butter. And there was a working spittoon at the local hardware store. And nobody looked down on those who smoked.
Yes, we were ignorant about safety, I’ll admit it. We never wore bike helmets. Seatbelts were optional. Every boy above age 3 owned a pocketknife. There were ashtrays in our airplanes and hospital waiting rooms. Parents bought their children woodburning kits. Or worse: lawn darts.
But truthfully, I miss those days. I miss being told to go outside and play instead of being shoved in a corner and handed an iPad.
Our neighborhood streets were overrun with tiny bicycles. We had Saturday morning cartoons, typewriters, tin Folgers cans, and every child was familiar with BBs. Our churches didn’t use projection screens. And most males held the doors for anyone named Ma’am, Miss, or Mama.
The truth is, I miss a lot about the way things used to be. I miss dressing up when you caught an airline flight. I miss the days when Boy Scouts weren’t in the headlines, and a guy could still work on his car if he had a ratchet set. I miss a lot.
Mercury and Mercury Containing Items (thermometers, thermostats) Asphalt
(WILL NOT ACCEPT)
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)
Trick or Treat!
Gosh, Halloween was so much fun as a kid. Dressing up, eating too much candy, and staying up way past your bedtime always made for the best night. We had a good trick-or-treating neighborhood, too— flat roads, lots of kids, and not too much traffic. My brother and I would get dressed in our costumes and wait for the dark. We’d sit out on our porch, holding our empty Halloween bags, waiting on our friends across the street so we could all head down the road together. Those minutes would pass so slowly, and I can still feel the anticipation.
When everyone was finally ready, we’d take off at a sprint to the first house with its porch lights on. Our parents trailed way behind yelling, “Make sure to say thank you!” and “Let your brother go first!” We were thrilled when the owners of the house opened the door in costume with a good “BOO!” or exclaimed, “Aren’t you the best witch I’ve ever seen!” Good neighbors made all the difference.
When we had more candy than we could carry—or when our parents were tired of walking—we’d head on back home. We had already eaten several of our favorites (Reese’s Cups and KitKats) as we walked, but we would dump our haul of candy in the middle of the living room floor to count and sort and generally be in awe over. My dad would always say, “Give me a Snickers. Gotta make sure it’s safe, you know,” and he would confiscate one from each of us. We’d pile up all the chocolate and Skittles
and Smarties and then push aside the Twizzlers and Bottle Caps and strawberry-wrapped hard candy for someone who didn’t like the good stuff. And then we ate. We ate and ate and didn’t care if we ended up with a stomachache. My mom would say, “That’s enough,” and we’d say, “But it’s Halloween!” and then we’d eat some more. I think I even slept in my costume once.
So, now, as a parent, Halloween is really special to me. I think it’s more fun now watching it through my children’s eyes than it was as a kid, honestly. My husband doesn’t love the Halloween tradition, but I think it’s because his memories of it aren’t as comforting as mine. So, I do my best to make it memorable for my boys. We go all out on costumes and decorations. We carve the pumpkin even though I hate the insides. We eat all the candy. We stay up late watching Hocus Pocus. We leave the porch light on and trick-or-treat ’til the bags are full or someone’s too tired to walk. And I can’t wait to do it again this year.
So, here’s to trick-or-treating ’til you drop and having the best Halloween with your family! Happy October, y’all.
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.
ALANA SMITH
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 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.
Chamber Honors
by LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BESSEMER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
On Sept. 11, the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce hosted a program in remembrance of 9/11 and also presented awards to first responders and others making a difference in the community.
Doctor of the Year 2024: Dr. Michael Moore
The award was presented by Keith Pennington, CEO of UAB Medical West, who noted that Dr. Moore has been serving the Bessemer
community for the last 40 years, and is now the Chief Medical Officer at UAB Medical West.
“His dedication and commitment throughout the years truly show what it means to be a provider in a community hospital setting,” Pennington said.
“I’m honored,” Moore said. “It’s been my pleasure and privilege to be a member of the medical community. I’ve been fortunate, blessed and privileged to be able to get to know and serve patients who are part of this community.”
Business of the Year 2024: The Back Porch Restaurant
Award presenter Mitch Avery said this small, black-owned business in the heart of downtown Bessemer makes a huge impact on the city by donating meals to local shelters and local citizens in need. The Back Porch also partners with local school daycares and businesses to provide nutritious meals and financial assistance to better the community.
“The restaurant’s combination of exceptional hospitality, outstanding food and deep seated commitment to charity makes them deserving of the business award… They embody the spirit of generosity, resilience and excellence making our community better to anyone that steps foot in the door,” Avery said.
“When I was a little kid I used to get on top of a milk carton and watch my mama cook, boy she used to do miracles in the kitchen,” said owner Chef Ron Cook. “I said when I grew up I wanted to be just like her. I took it further than her so I know she’d be proud.”
CENTER: Doctor of the Year award winner, Dr. Michael Moore of UAB Medical West
THIRD FROM LEFT: Restaurant of the Year award winner, Ron Cook, owner of The Back Porch Restaurant
Emergency Medical Transport of the Year 2024: Flight Nurse Ian Hannah (Regional Air-Medical Services)
Hannah received the award for his dedication, skill and unwavering commitment to patient care that exemplify the very best of what it means to be a flight nurse, said presenter Belinda Sims.
“Throughout his career, Ian has constantly gone above and beyond to provide life-saving skills and care for the community. His ability to remain calm under pressure, coupled with his passion for others, has made a profound impact on his community and his colleagues.”
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2024: Sgt. Dominique Morgan (Bessemer Police Department)
The award was presented by Chief Mike Wood, who shared that Morgan received this award for her heroic actions after coming upon a house
Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year 2024: Det. Tealla Shepard and Sgt. Jeremy Barbin (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department)
The award was presented by Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, who shared that Sgt. Jeremy Barbin delivered a baby while on duty.
“This once in a lifetime incident is truly a commendable action by our personnel and is a credit to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office,” Pettway said.
Pettway also noted that Det. Shepard is an outstanding detective, who is always working hard on the cases she has to give families closure.
“She’s done an outstanding job in a short period of time,” he said.
SECOND FROM LEFT: Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award winner, Ofc. Dominique Morgan CENTER: Firefighter of the Year award winner, Mario Wren
fire, making multiple trips inside the burning home, and making sure everyone got out safely.
“I had responded to a call that got canceled, and I thank God because he was the one that redirected me that day to get to the house fire,” Morgan said.
Firefighter of the Year 2024: Mario Wren (Bessemer Fire Department)
The award was presented by Chief Kendric Hughley, who shared that Wren was recognized by a captain on an opposite shift who doesn’t see him
on a regular basis.
“Mario was recommended for this award for his influence on the young members of the department is undeniable,” Hughley said. “His name frequently comes up with our newer firefighters highlighting the positive impact he has made. He treats everyone with the same level of respect.”
Wren said none of this could have happened without the support of his family.
“I was born and raised here,” Hughley said. “I love this city with all my heart. To see what it has become today it means a lot to me.”
SECOND FROM LEFT: Emergency Medical Transport of the Year award winner, flight nurse Ian Hannah of Regional Air-Medical Services
ABOVE: Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year award winners, Det. Tealla Shepard and Sgt. Jeremy Barbin (2nd and 3rd from right)
In The Kitchen with Kathleen Phillips
Grits & Gouda blogger
Kathleen Phillips 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.
Apple Cider Cookies
In October, I’m all about everything applecinnamon and apple cider! If you’ve ever had an apple cider donut and loved it, you’re going to enjoy these Shortcut Apple Cider Cookies! They start with a sugar cookie mix and the secret ingredient is powdered apple cider drink mix to roll the cookie balls in!
On my food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, you’ll also find Shortcut Caramel Apple Pie (Galette), Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing, and Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs.
Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick)
salted butter, very soft 1 large egg
1 (17.9 ounce) package snickerdoodle cookie mix (I used Betty Crocker)
2 (.74 ounce) packages spiced apple cider instant drink mix (I used Alpine)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Ignore the directions on the cookie package! Do not use 1 tablespoon water listed in the package directions.
To achieve “very soft” butter, microwave it at HIGH (1100 watts) for 8 seconds, turn it over, then microwave it an additional 8 seconds. You want it almost to the melty point without melting it.
Beat the butter and egg together in a large bowl for 1 minute with an electric hand mixer. Add the cookie mix and ONE of the apple cider drink mix packages. Mix together with the hand mixer until the mixture is soft crumbles and sticks together when pinched.
Combine the cinnamon sugar with the remaining package of apple cider drink mix in a small bowl. Make 1-inch balls with the cookie dough using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or measure out about
GritsAndGouda.com
2 tablespoons of dough and shape into balls. Then, roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar/ apple cider drink mix mixture.
Place the cookie balls on parchment- lined baking sheets. Bake for 11 minutes or until edges are set and are barely golden. They will still be soft in the center but will firm up when cooled.
Notes
• I like to slightly press down the cookies with my fingertips for flatter cookies, but for thicker cookies just bake the cookie balls after rolling in the sugar mixture.
• Shortcut Tip: You can also use the Snickerdoodles cookie mix and just stir the second package of apple cider mix into the packet of cinnamon sugar that comes in that cookie mix package.
Apple Cider Cookies
From McCalla to SPAIN
by LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Alysa Newman has been playing softball since she was three-years-old. She said her older sister played and she was along for the ride. “We were always at the ballfield,” Newman said. “I started with t-ball and kept going and haven’t stopped since.”
During her career at McAdory High School, she was an All-American player as a senior in 2019.
Newman played one year at Lurleen B. Wallace Community
College, then transferred to Central Alabama Community College where she played for two years. That team went to the world series in Yuma, Arizona.
Her final stop in college was playing two years at The W (Mississippi University for Women) where she was the leading hitter her senior year with a .405 batting average.
Earlier this year, Newman was one of only 32 athletes in the country
visited a statue of Philip IV in the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid and spent time inside the magnificent Royal Palace in Madrid.
to be selected to participate with the Beyond Softball organization on an international trip to Spain. She said in addition to her high batting average, she only had three strikeouts in 165 at bats.
With the help of family, friends, her church and others, Newman was able to raise the $7,500 needed for the trip that took place June 8-18. The nine-hour flight was the first time she had flown by herself.
“Everybody helped me out,” she said. “I had an overwhelming amount of support. I was definitely blessed to be able to have a community of people to help out.”
Newman, along with one of her teammates from high school, played softball games in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia as part of the touring series. The age range for the teams was 18 to 41, and the first team they played was nationally ranked.
“We lost the first game (in Madrid) but won their other games 9-3 and 22-1.
Newman celebrated her 23rd birthday during the trip and said she would advise anyone to take part in this adventure. “It was definitely a great experience,” she said.
Currently, Newman lives with her family in McCalla and is finishing her degree in Healthcare Management with a psychology minor with an anticipated graduation date of May 2025.
Community News
Miles College unveils new practice field
by WESTJEFF MAGAZINE STAFF
Miles College in Fairfield has a new, state-ofthe-art turf practice field for its football team and intramural sports. The college announced the completion of the field in late August, just in time for football season.
The grant, awarded through the HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program, made it possible to convert the school’s natural grass field to a high-quality turf field. The program, funded by Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
and supported by the NFL Foundation, was designed to enhance field quality, safety and accessibility for students and local community groups that serve youth through football. The program targeted select HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama.
“This practice field allows our athletes to have game-day scenarios,” said Fred Watson, the school’s Director of Athletics, in a news release.
“This new field will not only benefit the football program but will also benefit our students intramural athletics and serve as a resource for the broader Miles College community and local youth programs,”
Miles College President Bobbie Knight said.
For more information about Miles College and its athletic programs, go to www. milesgoldenbears.com
FAR LEFT: McCalla resident Alysa Newman with her family while playing softball at The Mississippi University for Women. L-R: Brandi Newman (mother); Alysa; Jeff Newman (father); Breanna Newman (sister). Courtesy Alysa Newman. THIS PAGE: In Spain for a softball tournament, Newman saw amazing sights. She
PHOTO COURTESY ALYSA NEWMAN
PHOTO COURTESY ALYSA NEWMAN
Hueytown makes cultural impact with Arts Council, new theater, recreation center
by JESSE CHAMBERS
The city of Hueytown is a growing, prosperous community with some recent economic wins. For example, Children’s of Alabama opened its new Pediatrics West Hueytown clinic in the city in July.
In August, Hueytown learned it would receive $400,000 in federal grant money to build the first phase of its new 330-acre West Rock Mountain Preserve – the first nature preserve in the city.
Hueytown is also seeking to promote another important community sector – the arts. Leading the way is the non-profit Hueytown Arts Council, formed in 2018.
The dedicated volunteers at the HAC have worked tirelessly to grow the arts in Hueytown and boost the visibility of local writers, performers and visual artists.
They’ve organized events, including the annual Hueytown CityFest, the Hueytown Area Arts Show, the Gospel Music Fest and the Art and Authors Expo. They’ve presented movies and music in the park, a Christmas concert and art classes for children and adults.
The HAC has also received praise from city leaders. “They’ve brought more local events and entertainment to Hueytown, and they’ve
Continued on Page 22
BY
L-R: Katsy Sellars, chairperson of the Hueytown Arts Council’s Theatre Committee; Jake Ware, long-time HAC president; and Debbie Kiker, HAC member and the director of the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce, stand at the entrance to the new Hueytown Family Recreation Center.
PHOTO
BRITTNEY FIELDS
Continued from Page 20
strengthened our city’s connection to the arts,” said Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware. “This helps us build a stronger, more vibrant community.”
Recently, the HAC achieved a long-standing goal that should take their efforts to another level. The group found a space to open the city’s own theater – the new Hueytown Community Theatre.
The HCT will host its first-ever events – two interactive screenings of the film “Hocus Pocus” – on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 in its brand-new home at the Hueytown Family Recreation Center, a facility the city recently purchased from Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and rebranded.
Together, the theater and the new recreation center will allow the HAC and the city to broaden the menu of quality, family-friendly arts and entertainment programming available to area residents and boost the city’s quality of life.
Getting started
Hueytown native Jake Ware – president of the HAC since it began – said the organization started as a committee to plan an event for Hueytown during Alabama’s bicentennial celebration, which began in 2017.
Ware, who earned an English degree at The University of Alabama in 2015, said he had the idea that Hueytown should take part in the bicentennial because the city “had some great contributions to Alabama history.”
Those contributions included the famed Alabama Gang stock-car racing group and Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Jameis Winston.
Ware said he received encouragement for the idea from his father, Mayor Ware, after his dad was elected in 2016.
“We created CityFest and it was a huge hit,” Ware said. “People wanted us to keep doing the event, so we turned our committee into the Hueytown Arts Council.”
He’s quick to mention numerous other volunteers who worked hard to help him get the HAC started.
These include Debbie Kiker, Sherri McFarland and Roxanne Crane, along with original members Jay Jacks, Pam Jacks, Micheal Cashaw, LaDale Bishop, Traci Ware, Beverly Deadwyler, Elisa Sproule and Carol Watson.
“Now we’ve added members like Michelle McClinton, Katsy Sellers, Wesley Wicks, Bradley and Kayla Knobloch, and many more that have helped us take our group to the next level,” Ware said.
Kiker, who has a fine arts degree from The University of Alabama and serves as director of the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce, is pleased by the way the HAC has grown.
“We started out with only a handful of volunteers and blossomed into over 25 dedicated individuals who love the arts,” Kiker said.
Michelle McClinton, a Hueytown resident for nearly 30 years, serves as the secretary for the
HAC and the HCT. She also works as a medical office administrator and serves as director of the Children’s Ministry at Cross Road Baptist Church in Hueytown.
She’s proud that the HAC “is recognized as a group that is there to help,” she said. “We have partnered with the library, schools and the chamber and other organizations to help promote their events, as well.”
Creating the theater
The city has given the HAC the use of two rooms in the new Hueytown Family Recreation Center for use as a 50-seat theater and a prop and dressing room.
“Having access to the new facility to establish a theater program shows the commitment our city leadership has to our vision and organization,” Ware said.
This access is the culmination of several years of planning.
BELOW & RIGHT: All 12 volunteers on the Community Theatre committee of the Hueytown Arts Council pitched in this summer to clean and paint the new space for the Hueytown Community Theatre. BELOW RIGHT: Rock band Sister Hazel were the headliners at the 2024 Hueytown CityFest, a popular annual event that led to the creation of the Hueytown Arts Council.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
PHOTOS COURTESY HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
Retired school teacher Katsy Sellers, a Concord native who lives in Rock Creek, has volunteered with the HAC since 2022 and serves as chairperson of the organization’s Theatre Committee.
“I grew up loving theater and always being a part of it wherever I could,” Sellers said.
This included College Night productions at The University of Montevallo, where Sellers attended college.
A teacher at Concord Elementary School for 28 years, Sellers wrote grants and ran an afterschool drama program called Stage Sensations.
Finding its own dedicated space in the new community center was critical to the creation of the HCT, Sellers said.
“We could locate space for performances, but a huge holdup was trying to find space for rehearsals,” she said.
At press time, HAC volunteers were working at the new theater space doing clean-up, painting and other chores,
“There are 12 volunteers on the HAC Community Theatre committee, and we have all pitched in,” Kiker said.
“We’ve painted it black so it can serve as a
black-box theater,” Sellers said. “We’re getting pipes and drapes that will be our backstage or backdrop area. We’re pricing lighting.”
One of the volunteers is Gina Aldrich, who has helped repaint the theater, worked on fundraising and collaborated on event planning.
“It’s incredibly exciting to bring something to our community that will, hopefully, last for generations,” said Aldrich, a nearly lifelong Hueytown resident who retired in 2023 after 31 years as an elementary school teacher.
“We’re so excited about Hueytown having our own community theater,” McClinton said. “We’ve been working hard to get funding for this. We know it will be great for the city, as well as the community. We want it to be a place where people can come and express themselves.”
Jacks, a Hueytown City Councilman, has been a big advocate for the HAC. A retired school teacher and administrator, Jacks serves on the City Council’s Park and Recreation Committee.
The HAC is grateful to the City Council for allowing them to use space at the new recreation center, so the organization is seeking to cover the expenses for the chairs, lighting and other
elements, Jacks said.
As part of that effort, the HAC will look for grants, Sellers said.
At press time, the group was also running its Sponsor-A-Chair campaign, Sellers said. “People can donate $100 and get their name on the back of a chair.”
Sellers said the HCT is starting out “with some soft-opening kind of productions,” such as the film screening, and hopes to present a full schedule beginning in 2025-26.
The screenings of “Hocus Pocus” on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. will be an entertaining kick-off for the theater. “You’ll watch the movie but there will be sound effects and fun, interactive things with audience participation,” Sellers said. At press time, the Oct. 18 screening was sold out, but there were tickets left for the Oct. 19 show.
On Nov. 16, the HAC will host Candy Cane Lane, a Christmas Market, in the gym at the recreation center from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will primarily feature vendors, but the HCT will present some “short skits” in the theater, Sellers said. “People can see the space and get a little taste of some performances.”
Continued on Page 24
ABOVE LEFT: Some of the attendees at the 2024 CityFest music festival. LEFT: The stage at Hueytown Community Theatre being prepared for the screenings in October. ABOVE: Katsy Sellars, chairperson of the Hueytown Arts Council’s Theatre Committee, grew up loving theater. While teaching at Concord Elementary School, she wrote grants to help support an after-school drama program.
PHOTO COURTESY HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL PHOTOS COURTESY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Continued from Page 23
Theater for the community
The HCT is of great benefit to Hueytown, Jacks said. “There’s local talent in our city, and I think we can capitalize on that,” he said.
“It’s just another way to promote the arts in an area where people maybe haven’t had an opportunity to experience them,” Sellers said.
In addition to sports, the theater “is another outlet for kids, as well as grownups,” she said.
“The theater will give people an opportunity to do something productive and enjoyable and creative,” Sellers said. “It gives different people from different walks of life a chance to come together and create something. It just expands your horizons – to be a part of it or just to come see it.”
Aldrich has a very personal reason for being active in the HAC and the new theater.
“The arts are so important to my family,” she said. “Discovering theater at Hueytown Middle School changed our son Braydie’s life. He lacked confidence in an academic setting. After that first acting experience, he was enchanted.”
Braydie continued acting at Hueytown High School and received a theatrical scholarship to Samford University, where he earned an BFA in youth theater.
Aldrich believes that the HAC and HCT “provide opportunities for kids and adults
who need a place to belong and express feelings in creative ways – a safe space of acceptance, engagement and encouragement,” she said.
A place to connect
Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church came to the city regarding the possible purchase of their Family Life Center about a year and a half ago, Mayor Ware said.
“I thought it was a great idea,” he said. “It’s an excellent way to bring about that sense of community and provide a place where families can gather, connect, and create memories.”
After an appraisal and other steps, the city purchased the facility from the church.
“We negotiated a fair deal for the city,” Mayor Ware said. “Our focus was on ensuring that this valuable resource could continue to serve our community.”
TOP LEFT: The stage at Hueytown Community Theatre being prepared for the screenings of “Hocus Pocus” in October. BELOW: Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware, a strong supporter of the arts in the city, reads to some school children in 2024.
The new facility will be very beneficial, he said. It brings a lot of life and energy to Hueytown, with more local events and increased foot traffic,” he said. “Hueytown is booming, and we’re attracting visitors from all over West Jefferson County to experience what our city has to offer.”
The recreation center will be very “family focused,” Jacks said. “It gives our citizens another place that’s safe for families to go for recreation.” The recreation center fills a big need in Hueytown for spaces people can rent for events, such as receptions, weddings and parties, Jacks said. Rental spaces in the recreation center include a pavilion, a room with a fireplace and a large, covered concrete back patio. Other amenities at the facility include a gym with a walking and running track and a game room with pool and foosball tables.
The city plans to gradually make additions and improvements to the center, Jacks said. “We eventually want to add a weight room,” he said. “We’ll do little stages at a time.”
Arts Council past and future
Ware is proud of what the HAC has accomplished in the last seven years.
“We’ve given away thousands of dollars in scholarships,” he said, referring to the Arts Council Scholarship the group gives annually to two graduating seniors from Hueytown High School. “We’ve created countless opportunities to promote the arts from extremely talented people in our area and we’ve created a music event that draws people from all across the Southeast.”
The organization expects to do more great things. “We continue to grow and make awesome ideas a reality,” Ware said. “There’s nothing this group can’t do when we put our mind to it.”
For more information about the Hueytown Arts Council of the Hueytown Community Theatre, including the Sponsor-A-Chair campaign or tickets to “Hocus Pocus,” call 205-903-6312 or go to hueytownarts.org.
For more about the Hueytown Family Recreation Center, located at 1348 Hueytown Road, call 205-491-7010 or go to hueytownal.gov.
PHOTO COURTESY HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
PHOTOS COURTESY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Representative Brinyark donates to Oak Grove Band
Oak Grove High School was excited to have a special guest, state representative from District 16, Bryan Brinyark.” He recently visited the school and made a generous donation of $20,000 to the Oak Grove band program. The contribution will assist in funding new marching band uniforms.
Representative Sellers Donates to Hueytown Schools
State representative from District 57, Dr. Patrick L. Sellers recently visited Hueytown Elementary, Middle and High Schools. During his visits he gave generous donations to each school. The financial support will assist the schools in continuing to educate and inspire future leaders.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: KADEN HAGGARD
Exceptional Pit Stop Provides Real Life Skills for Students
Students at Hueytown High School have been working on the Exceptional Pit Stop. Students of the exceptional education classes are learning and practicing life and employable skills through a seasonal beverage and snack cart. Since school began, the students have practiced completing applications and time cards and developing a signature lemonade called the Golden Gulp. They completed the project by delivering the Golden Gulp drinks around the school, giving them the opportunity to practice counting and collecting money, along with working on their interpersonal skills.
Representative Tillman Donates to Hard Elementary School
Charles F. Hard Elementary School recently welcomed former student and state representative for District 56, Ontario Tillman. During his visit to his elementary school alma mater, he made a generous $5,000 donation. Mr. Tillman’s contribution will make a huge difference in the lives of students at Hard Elementary.
Bessemer City Schools Achieves Reading Goals
Dads & Decals Supports Pleasant Grove Football Program
In recent news at Pleasant Grove High School, the football program hosted Dads & Decals at The Grove. It is a new tradition inviting fathers, father figures and mentors to come together in support of the football program. The event provided an opportunity for the men of the community to assist by placing the decals on the football helmets prior to the first game of the season.
Bessemer City Schools was recently featured on WBRC FOX 6 News highlighting the work of the system’s reading specialists. The broadcast announced 97% of the school system’s third-grade students met the state reading requirements. This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of the teachers, reading coaches and Bessemer District Reading Specialist Mrs. Cook.
Western Area Events
Oct. 1: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov.
Oct. 1: 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. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
Oct. 1: 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.
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: West End Crocheters. 1011:30 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.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31: 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.
Oct. 7: 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.
Oct. 7: 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.
Oct. 8: 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.
Oct. 8: 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.
New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty will appear at Avondale Brewing Company Oct. 2.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROMBONE SHORTY
Oct. 8: 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 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
Oct. 10: 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.
Oct. 14: 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.
Oct. 15: 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.
Oct. 15: 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.
Oct. 15: 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.
Oct. 15: 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.
Oct. 17: 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.
Oct. 18: “Hocus Pocus.” Hueytown Community Theatre, 1848 Hueytown Road. This Halloween-themed, family-friendly, interactive movie experience will be the first presentation at the new Hueytown Community Theatre by the Hueytown Arts Council. For event time and other details, call 205-903-6312 or go to hueytownarts.org.
Oct. 19-20: Tannehill Trade Days. 8 a.m. to 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.
It’s Halloween, a great time to enjoy the silent film classic “Phantom of the Opera” at the Alabama Theatre Oct. 27.
Events Calendar
Oct. 21: 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.
Oct. 21: 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.
Oct. 22: 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.
Oct. 24: 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.
Oct. 28: 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.
Oct. 28: 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.
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 selfpublishing. Activities for children include a toddler playgroup and Pre-K storytimes. 205-428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com.
There are lots of Halloween events in October, including the film “Hocus Pocus” in Hueytown Oct. 18, the Halloween Bar Crawl in Birmingham Oct. 26 and a live performance of spooky music by candlelight at Birmingham Museum of Art Oct. 26.
Other Area Events
Oct. 2: Trombone Shorty. 7-10 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company, 201 41st St. S. Trombone Shorty, from New Orleans, fuses rock, pop, jazz, funk and hip hop and will be accompanied by Orleans Avenue. He’s touring in support of his recent album, “Lifted.” Opening will be Dumpstaphunk. $33. 205-203-4546. avondalebrewing.com.
Oct. 3-20: Joe Minter is Here. Historic Marc Steel Building, 600 Sixth Ave. S. Birmingham sculptor Joe Minter will present as many as 30 pieces in this exhibition at a historic warehouse in Titusville. The event is produced by Create Birmingham. The exhibit will be open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. There will be an opening reception Oct. 3 from 5:30-7 p.m. 205-458-1393. createbirmingham.org.
Oct. 3-5: Greek Food Festival. 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Holy TrinityHoly Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 307 19th St. S. Enjoy delicious, homemade Greek entrees and desserts prepared and served by the church’s parishioners at this 51st annual event, which also features Greek music and dance. 205-716-3080. birminghamgreekfestival.net.
Oct. 4: Talib Kweli. 8 p.m. Iron City, 513 22nd St. S. Talib Kwel is a Brooklyn-born American rapper who has collaborated with such artists as Mos Def, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Pharrell Williams. $30. ironcitybham.com.
Oct. 12: Alabama Farmers Market Fall Festival. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Alabama Farmers Market, 344 Finley Ave W, Birmingham. This family-friendly event features live music, inflatables, games, face painting, a pumpkin patch, food and craft vendors, and a large outdoor flea market. Free admission. 205-251-8737. alabamafarmersmarket.org.
Oct. 20: Birmingham Punk Rock Flea Market. Noon-6 p.m. Cahaba Brewing Company, 4500 Fifth Ave. S., Building C. The market will have over 100 vendors from around the Southeast. There will be vintage, music, oddities, art, collectors items, records, zines and more. Free admission. punkrockflea.com or facebook.com/birminghampunkrockflea.
Oct. 26: Halloween Bar Crawl. 4 p.m.-midnight. Tin Roof, 2709 Seventh Ave. S. Meet new people, explore some of the best bars in Birmingham and enjoy a fun Halloween atmosphere at the seventh annual official Halloween Bar Crawl. Venues include Tin Roof, Carrigan’s Beer Garden, Hi-Wire Brewing Birmingham, Mojo Pub, Slice Birmingham, The Quest Club and Trimtab Brewing Company. $10-$15. For tickets and more information, go to eventvesta.com/events/75310/t/tickets.
Oct. 26: Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Discover Halloween-inspired music by the glow of candlelight at the BMA’s Steiner Auditorium in a live, multi-sensory musical experience. Musical selections will include themes from such movies and TV shows as “Beetlejuice,” “The Addams Family,” “Halloween” and “Psycho.” For times, tickets and other information, call 402-249-2445 or go to eventvesta.com/events/79753/t/tickets.
Oct. 27: Phantom of the Opera. 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. The historic Alabama Theatre is the perfect setting to enjoy this silent horror film classic starring Lon Chaney. You will hear the film’s original score played live on Big Bertha, the Alabama Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. $16. 205-252-2262. alabamatheatre.com.
Oct. 31: Mania: The ABBA Tribute. 7:30 p.m. Lyric Theatre, 1800 Third Ave. N. If you’re a fan of the 1970s Swedish vocal group ABBA, you might enjoy this ABBA tribute show which has toured the world since 1999 and was formerly called “ABBA Mania.” $25. 205-252-2262. lyricbham.com.
ABOVE: Brooklyn-born rapper Talib Kweli will appear at Iron City Birmingham Oct. 4. BELOW: If you love the 1970s Swedish vocal group ABBA, check out Mania: The ABBA Tribute at the historic Lyric Theatre in Birmingham Oct. 31.
PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA USER A BUNCH OF GREEN HOOD. CC BY-SA 4.0
PHOTO COURTESY OF TALIB KWELI
For kids like Gwen
Because Gwen came to Children’s for the diagnosis and treatment of her blood disorder, she received the best care available thanks to ground-breaking research made possible by clinical trials for cancers and blood disorders. The research happening today will lead to future cures, and it is happening here at Children’s of Alabama.
