Hartselle Living July/August

HARTSELLE LIVING

A CUT ABOVE

CHERYL HALE CELEBRATES

DECADES OF OWNING

HOMETOWN BARBERSHOP

PENCILS AND PAWS

RUTH FREUDENTHAL BRINGS

PET PORTRAITS TO LIFE

Dear reader,

DWe’re excited to bring you this issue of Hartselle Living, filled with stories that celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community.

In this edition, we dive into the lives of the extraordinary individuals who make our community thrive. Through their experiences, we uncover the essence of their talent and the unique ways in which it intertwines with their lives. From the 14-year-old who shares her artistry with the world by drawing amazing pet portraits, to a Hartselle woman and business owner who has been a pillar of the community for half a century – the stories in this issue will transport you to the heart of our community, allowing you to connect with the people who call it home.

Our magazine is a celebration of the human spirit and the shared experiences that bring us together during this sun-kissed season. Through the power of storytelling, we hope to inspire you to embrace the warmth of the community and create lasting memories of your own. We encourage you to explore new adventures, discover hidden gems and forge connections with those around you.

We have amazing recipes for you to try brought to you by Emily Norris, as well as columns written by community leaders.

As we embark on this summer journey, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team of writers, photographers and creatives who have worked tirelessly to bring these stories to life. Their passion and dedication are evident on each page.

Wishing you a season filled with sunshine, laughter and unforgettable experiences.

Thanks for reading, rebekah.yancey@hartselleliving.com

Cheryl Hale has been in business for nearly half a century in Hartselle. Read her story beginning on page 13 to learn more about her career as a female barber and business owner.

Photo by Rachel Howard

HARTSELLE LIVING CONTRIBUTORS

JACOB HATCHER, writer

Editorial

Rebekah Yancey

Contributors

Michelle Blaylock

Susan Hayes

Sara Laughmiller

Alex VanKoughnett

Chrissy Tucker

Connor Loyd

Marketing

Baretta Taylor

Anna Baker

Terri Haston

Administration

Beth Jackson

CONTACT US

Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

206 Cedar St. NW

P.O. Box 929

Hartselle, AL 35640

Phone: 256-773-6566

info@hartselleliving.com

Hartselle Living is published bimonthly Hartselle Newspapers, LLC.

A one-year subscription to Hartselle Living is $16.30 for 6 issues per year. Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Hartselle area. To advertise or to get more copies, call 773-6566.

Copyright 2023 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

Born in Georgia and raised in Tennessee, Jacob Hatcher now lives in Hartselle with his wife and three kids. Jacob is a freelance writer for the Hartselle Enquirer as well as a blogger at Son of a Biscuit Eater on Facebook where he writes about faith, family and life in the south. Jacob comes from a long line of master storytellers and porch sitters and loves few things in life more than a great story and a sad country song.

RACHEL HOWARD, photographer

Rachel Howard is a Hartselle native who is proud to own and run a business in her hometown. Capturing moments on camera allows her to give the gift of memories, and that makes her soul smile. She is an avid fitness-lover and teaches spin classes as a side hobby. She enjoys singing, playing golf with her husband Nick and being a dog mom to Ralphie and Bud.

JODI HYDE, photographer

Jodi Hyde has a genuine love for the Lord and tries to shine His light in everything she does. Jodi loves outdoor activities and spending quality time with her family. As a photographer, Jodi manages to freeze life’s precious moments and capture them on camera. She loves meeting new people and being creative through her photography business. Hartselle is her hometown, and is currently where she resides, and where she loves to serve in the community.

JENNIFER SHERWOOD, photographer

Jennifer Sherwood has loved photography for as long as she can remember and has owned her own business for more than 14 years. She now owns a studio in Priceville. She most enjoys photographing people with their families and capturing their exciting and memorable life moments. She is married to Jeff and has four children, Aubrey, Emmy, Caleb and Ethan.

VISIT CEDAR GROVE FARMS

STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD

IIn the face of unprecedented challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, many small businesses struggled to adapt and survive. However, there are always those remarkable individuals who rise above difficulties and turn adversity into opportunity. Melanie Kolb is one such inspiring figure. With determination and a keen eye for design, she transformed her small business from a mobile venture to a flourishing brick-and-mortar store front, specializing in Gustavian design and French country home decor.

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A MOBILE BEGINNING

Kolb founded Cedar Grove Farms initially as a mobile enterprise, showcasing her collection of curated home decor items and furniture through pop-up shops and travel shows across the southeast. Her passion for interior design and her ability to source unique, high-quality pieces quickly gained her a loyal customer base. Kolb traveled extensively, attending fairs and markets, building relationships with artisans, suppliers and customers – until the Covid-19 pandemic flipped the script.

“In February 2020, I had purchased trailer loads of product –enough for 10 shows,” Kolb said. “And then Covid hit.”

It was the pandemic, Kolb said, that was catalyst through which her business model changed from booths at craft and

antique fares to a brick-and-mortar location in Hartselle and live shows on Facebook every week.

Her store now, located in East Hartselle, is close to her heart and her home, quite literally. It is located at the back of the 40acre farm she shares with her husband Chris.

PIVOTING AMIDST UNCERTAINTY

As the pandemic hit, Kolb faced the daunting task of adapting her business model to survive in the new normal. With restrictions on public gatherings and a decline in foot traffic at events, she had to think creatively to keep her entrepreneurial dreams alive. Instead of succumbing to the challenges, she decided to take a bold leap and establish a physical store front, focusing on her love for antiques and farmhouse design that features muted color palettes and carved wood.

Kolb said Chris actually encouraged her to take the leap of faith – and it is one she has never regretted taking. It has paid off.

Cedar Grove Farms exudes a charming blend of the coveted antique aesthetic and French country charm. The delicate, muted and neutral colors and the distressed finishes paired with perfectly curated pieces of art transport customers to a world of timeless elegance and tranquility.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EXPANSION

Kolb’s success is not limited to the commercial aspect of her business. She has actively engaged with her local community, hosting weekend workshops and what she calls ‘Vintage

Oil, Lube, and Filter Ser vice

Vignettes’ for her customers in an effort to share her design skills. Every Monday night, Kolb goes live on Facebook to host décor sales in real-time – engaging with her 11,000 followers.

Through her weekly live sale on Facebook, items regularly are shipped to customers in Orlando, Fla., Vermont and Washington State.

Continuing to look for ways to grow her business and interact with her clients, Kolb said the conversations she has with her returning customers are her favorite part of the job.

“I love this so much more,” she says. “Before we would have huge crowds with thirty people deep in line – you could not connect with your customers at all.”

Kolb says she loves to empower her customers to decorate their homes themselves – she doesn’t just want to sell them a product.

“As women, home design is just as important as your outfit,” she says. “I love it when people come back and say ‘Oh, my husband loves this,’” she added.

For Kolb, Cedar Grove Farms is all about the community she’s built.

“It’s much more than a business and customer relationship now,” she says.

Kolb’s customers regularly travel to Hartselle from Memphis, Nashville and Birmingham.

Cedar Grove Farms in open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10-5 on the first Saturday of the month unless there is a holiday, or by appointment.

Cedar Grove Farms is located at 726 N.

Cove Rd.,

STORY BY JACOB HATCHER

PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD

Cabins at the Caverns

FFour days after graduating from what was then Morgan County High School, Hartselle native Cheryl Hale rode a bus to Calhoun Community College to start barber school. At 16-years-old she had started to work as a shampoo girl for Myra Moore Roundtree, who owned and operated Gentleman’s Choice in Tanner Heights Shopping Center. Roundtree was the first licensed female barber in Hartselle and Hale credits watching the barbers at Gentleman’s Choice with inspiring her to follow in their footsteps.

“When I was in high school I wasn’t too good at doing homework, so I wanted to go to school for something that I wouldn’t have to do too much book work. I figured I could cut hair and wouldn’t have to do any of that,” Hale says.

At Gentleman’s Choice Hale worked alongside Roundtree, as well as June Rutherford and Wendell Emerson. “I worked for all three barbers in the afternoon and on weekends and loved my job,” Hale says. “I knew by watching them cut hair each day that I wanted to go to barber college and become a barber too.”

Her time at Gentleman’s Choice began in 1969, but by 1973 she had moved further north into the heart of Hartselle when she started working for Ralph Maner at Maner’s Barber Shop. In 1980 Maner sold the business to Hale, and it has been Cheryl’s Barber Shop ever since.

As owner and operator, Hale hired a number of female barbers, many of which went on to get their barber license and their own shops in and around Hartselle. Hale is proud of the role she has played in female barbers in Hartselle.

“Hartselle has many ladies that have benefited from the career and have made a great living serving the people of Hartselle,” she added.

After fifty years of cutting hair, Hale has seen trends come and go. From the resurgence of the mullet to the return of flattop, she says there’s nothing new under the sun. She’s bonded with her customers and says they really become like your family. “Those little boys that used to sit on the board in my chair are bringing their own sons to sit on the board. It really has come full circle.”

Looking back over her time as a barber, Hale says she is pleased she chose this career for herself. “If I had it to do over again, I would do it the same. I’ve gained so many friends through this. Of course, after all these years on concrete I can’t stand forever anymore, but I have no regrets. I have always loved it up here,” she says.

One exceptional season of her career was when things opened back up after the Covid pandemic. The barber shop had to be closed for seven weeks. The social distancing proved to be an obstacle, but Hale says they were able to adapt and improvise in order to serve their customers.

“For the first two weeks after we opened we couldn’t even sit down and take a break. Folks hadn’t had a haircut in two months and they were desperate,” she added. “That was a real landmark in our business.”

Hale says at this stage in her life she is just taking the future one day at a time. “All my classmates are retired and want me to come eat lunch with them, but I just can’t. We have fun up here and enjoy our people. It’s kind of a hang out. There’s always a good joke being told and a good time being had.

“I may get physically tired, but I am always ready to return to work. This job gives a sense of accomplishment,” Hale says. “As the saying goes, you can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear with some folks. That’s the best part; when you see the smile on their face after you’ve given them a haircut. That is one of the best things about this job, when you see how you’ve helped people.”

Hartselle City Schools have spectacular support systems

OOn a Sunday in March, Karen Bynum passed away. For more than twenty years, she served Barkley Bridge Elementary School as its school nurse. A registered nurse, Bynum certainly possessed all the qualifications needed to meet the medical needs of the school. But it wasn’t her medical training that endeared her to students – it was her kindness.

She had a soft voice and a gentle, reassuring manner. She was comforting to children who were sick, and she was calming and competent in the face of student, staff, parent and grandparent emergencies. Her’s was a life well-lived. She made a difference in the lives of children.

BY SUSAN HAYES FEDERAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR HARTSELLE CITY SCHOOLS

And she is not alone. All of our Hartselle schools employ secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers’ aides, nurses, custodians, bus drivers and lunchroom workers who arrive each day prepared to meet the needs of the kids who depend on them. Much of what they do is unremarkable, and it goes unnoticed – unless it goes undone. Much of what they do is scheduled and routine – but students need the predictability of routine. And much of what they do goes uncelebrated – but not today. Today they are the focus.

Parents might be surprised at the observations made by the many employees who are in the schools to support their children. Bus drivers notice when children have not gotten the sleep they need. Lunchroom workers notice when appetites change. Secretaries notice consistent late arrivals to school. Teachers’ aides notice shifts in moods and behaviors. In short, every person employed by the school district

is there to pay attention to the needs of kids and intervene where they should.

Most every student who has passed through the halls of Hartselle’s schools can share a story of receiving support, kindness or encouragement from someone in the school who was not a teacher or a principal or a counselor. We often refer to these employees as support personnel – and the title is fitting.

My thoughts again turn to Nurse Bynum. I remember one morning one of our Barkley Bridge kindergartners came to the health room complaining of an injured finger.

He told Nurse Bynum on the night before he had tried to take some food out of his grandaddy’s dog’s food dish, and that the dog had snapped at his hand in response.

Nurse Bynum carefully examined that little finger and saw nothing other than one tiny spot that was a bit redder than the rest of the finger.

In her very kind Nurse Bynum way, she comforted him with, “Well. You’re going to be okay. It’s just a superficial bite.”

Bewildered, he locked eyes with her for a moment, looked again at his own finger, and then insisted “No. No. It’s a dog bite!”

Enjoy these years with your children. The little ones and the big ones. Enjoy your summer days. Have your fun. Find your joy. Make your memories, because they are not just superficial either.

And when you send them back to school in August, know that they will be loved and supported by all who work within the schoolhouse.

Summer Cookouts Start Here

PENCILS AND PAWS

Ruth Freudenthal brings pet portraits to life

STORY BY CONNOR LOYD

PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD

A“As far as I can remember I was always drawing,” recalls Ruth Freudenthal, a young artist who, at 14-yearsold, creates more detailed and impressive portraits than most adults.

Ruth’s mother, Sharon Freudenthal, remembers this, too. Very early on, she noticed signs that her daughter, the third born of her seven children, had an innate gift for visual memory.

“Before she could even speak well, I noticed a really strong visual ability,” Sharon explains, thinking back to a time long before Ruth was able to read when she identified a business card on the fridge as belonging to “Momma’s doctor” based solely on her memory of the way his sign looked.

As she grew up, Ruth would often draw for hours a day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her family was preparing to sell a house they had outgrown, and while her parents worked on fixing up the house, Ruth would spend the long hours drawing in her notebook. At the time, her main subject of choice was horses. She would go outside and study the nearby horses before coming back in and putting pencil to paper.

When the family first began discussions about getting a dog, Ruth started checking out library books about man’s best friend, learning more about them and, by extent, how to better draw them. “She was on a husky roll for a long time, she thought those were just beautiful,” Sharon says.

As Ruth would draw these dogs, particularly huskies, her mom would post them on Facebook. Without knowing it at the time, these drawings are what would lead to her first commissioned artwork.

Ruth’s aunt, impressed by her niece’s artwork, reached out and asked if she could draw her pet, Pepper. Ruth set to work on the piece throughout the month of December, and although it took quite a long time to finish it, she eventually completed the portrait on January 1, 2022, making it her first paid commission.

After Ruth had finished Pepper’s portrait, word began to spread, initially just among friends of the family. One friend would reach out, then another; with each passing commission, Ruth would get better and better. Sharon would continue to post the finished artwork on Facebook, which would in turn lead to more people reaching out and placing orders for pet portraits of their own.

That year, Ruth completed a total of 41 paid commissions; now in 2023, she’s currently working on number 86. “And that’s basically just from word of mouth,” Sharon says.

At any given time, Ruth keeps a list of upcoming art commissions to be working through. At the moment, the list’s schedule runs through the end of July to the first of August, meaning that would be the wait time before she could begin work if a new order was placed now.

The amount of time it takes to complete one of these commissions depends on the size and complexity of the portrait being created. For instance, a large portrait featuring multiple

subjects will take longer to complete than a smaller one featuring a single animal.

Another important factor to consider is, of course, school.

Entering the eighth grade this fall, half of Ruth’s time is devoted to her studies, with the afternoon hours more often reserved for working on art projects.

When Ruth is ready to begin work on a new portrait, Sharon is always sure to send a text to the client to confirm they are still interested and will pay once the artwork is completed.

Once the process starts, Ruth will use reference pictures the clients provide to plan out the portrait, putting elements together and making it all look right. This is a time-consuming process which can take hours to do well. Fortunately, the quality of the photos doesn’t matter; even blurry or low-quality pics will work.

Since she’s spent so much time intensely studying the ways dogs look, both from books and from her own family’s dog, Millie, Ruth can extrapolate great detail from fairly basic photos.

After this composition stage, Ruth will then meticulously pick out each color that she is going to use. She keeps a binder that lists every color she uses on each project, labeled so that she can go back and find the color she’s looking for if she wants.

These small details are important, since one of Ruth’s commissions roughly has 50 to 70 colors in it.

“It’s not as simple as ‘It’s a brown dog.’ No, there are millions of shades of brown, and to make it look realistic is very scientific,” Sharon explains. Ruth adds that there is also outside shading to consider, such as bits of blue bouncing off the sky and through the window.

Let’s See Eye-to-Eye on Your Vision Care

Typically, Ruth will start with the eyes and the nose, a difficult part of the subject to get right which can ruin everything else if not done correctly. After she finishes that section, she’ll move on to another part of the animal. The main body is usually the last part she completes since there isn’t as much personality to it as other areas.

Materials-wise, Ruth likes to use thick Bristol paper and her favorite brand of colored pencils, Prismacolor. Although they can be pretty expensive, the high quality that they provide is well worth it for her. It offers a totally different feel, and even has its own unique smell to it. She also utilizes artist’s tape to keep the paper on her clipboard. Early on, Ruth would often simply lay on the floor as she worked, but now has a desk which she uses instead. After the portrait is completed, they send it off to the client who ordered it. In the past couple years, they’ve mailed art all over the United States, from Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Despite the detail and precision involved in her process, Ruth has never actually had an art lesson. Instead, she slowly got better and honed her skills over the countless hours she spent as a child simply drawing what she saw around her.

“There’s really no recipe for it,” Sharon admits, “other than to say, from what I have observed, any child that spends hours a day across their entire lifespan doing the same thing will become extremely good at it.

However, what allows you to stay focused and driven to improve those skills involves something less tangible, an innate passion or natural aptitude inherent in the person’s neurology that is harder to explain,” she continued.

In Ruth’s case, this inherent gift for memorization and visual learning translates itself into many areas of her life, such as her schoolwork. She’s very mathematically inclined because of its visual and logical nature, whereas language arts subjects come much less easily because of her dyslexia. In fact, it’s not uncommon for children with dyslexia to be very artistic or visually minded, Sharon said.

In addition to continuing her pet portrait commissions, Ruth and her mother also have some other potential plans in the works for the near future. For instance, this winter, they’re planning to make and sell Christmas ornaments featuring people’s pets painted on them. These festive decorations would be cheaper than full blown commissions.

Last year, Ruth made some ornaments just for her family members, each of which featured wildlife creatures interacting with holiday objects in various ways; a bobcat taking a Santa hat, a fox sneaking away with a present in its mouth and a racoon stealing a snowman’s nose.

Right now, they’re considering using these ornament drawings as inspiration and turning them into Christmas cards, prints of which could be sold at a much higher number and significantly cheaper than an original commission would cost.

Other potential ideas that could be on the horizon include a children’s book designed to help promote animal rescue and an art series depicting various wildlife.

Those wishing to order a portrait for themselves can contact Sharon Freudenthal on her and her daughter’s Facebook page, “Ruth’s Art.” Although it’s far from the only page on the site

which bears that name, it can be easily identified by its banner, which features a collage of nine dogs, and the series of detailed dog portraits posted on the timeline underneath. Sharon handles all social media communication for Ruth’s Art. She can be contacted at 256-230-7570.

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@shelbibrooke_: indulged in some strawberry picking.

@paula.aolani: Jack’s first mound appearance as a blonde and he pitches a PERFECT game!

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Rep. Scott Stadthagen

Rep. Scott Stadthagen started his business Hagen Homes, Inc. after graduating from college in 2005. Stadthagen holds many local leadership positions in Hartselle, including Chair of the Hartselle Area Chamber Commerce, member of the Economic Development group of Hartselle, member of the Morgan County Builders Association, member of the Hartselle Rotary, member of the Hartselle Kiwanis, and member of the Leadership of Hartselle Association. He is married to Amy and the couple have one daughter, Collins.

What is your favorite aspect of public service?

Rep. Scott Stadthagen says serving the people of Morgan County and Alabama is his favorite aspect of public service.

“Running for office never crossed my mind until I was the Chairman of the Hartselle Chamber of Commerce and worked on securing grants and built the Hartselle Farmers Market pro bono,” he says. “After the farmers market project was finished, I wanted to do more, and felt led to run for office. I am passionate about Morgan County and our state, and work on bills that protect and better our way of life.”

What motivates you?

For the husband and father, hard work and his faith in God is a major motivator.

“I try to live every day to do the best I can, and to help others along the way,” he says.

“I grew up the child of a single mother. I worked hard to earn a scholarship to play football so that I would be able to go to college, and then I’ve worked hard to build a company that now builds homes across North Alabama. Now, I serve in the legislature as the Majority Leader. I work hard for our Republican caucus members, my friends and neighbors in Morgan County and citizens across Alabama. I’m

also heavily motivated to preserve the way of life that I want my daughter Collins, and everyone’s children and grandchildren to grow up in.”

What disappoints you about the current political discourse?

“There is always a lot of talk in the media about the discourse between the Democrats and Republicans, but in Alabama we have passed meaningful bipartisan legislation like the grocery tax and overtime bill, that will have a direct impact on Alabamians,” Stadthagen says.

“That was a result of the Republican and Democratic caucuses working together to better Alabama.”

How do you describe Hartselle and Morgan County to your colleagues?

“I tell my colleagues in the legislature that first and foremost it is the people in Morgan County that make living here truly special. The constituents that I serve are hardworking, honest, humble, courteous, and we wouldn’t be southern without being hospitable and social,” he says.

“They know from my stories that we have a small-town feel with all the amenities within a stone’s throw. If I were to have a weekend guest in town, I’d want to take

them to a football game on Friday night where everyone calls you by name and let them see the sheer number of fans that come out to support our kids. I’d tell them that one of the secrets to our school system consistently being ranked one of the top in the state comes from what they are seeing in the stands – and in that these are all our kids, and their success is our success. Then, on Saturday I’d want to take them downtown to see all of our incredible shops and have lunch at the historic Freight House train station restaurant. Morgan county is a gem of a community and word is getting out as we see more and more families move into our area.

What has been your most unique constituent request?

“I honestly can’t think of any unique or odd constituent requests to share, but the field trip requests when our local schools come to Montgomery are one of my favorite parts of my role as a State Representative, Stadthagen says. “I believe it is important to teach our future generations about how the government works. My hope is that they come away from my tour with a better understanding of the governmental process and that they had fun doing it.”

@hey_hartselle on Instagram and use the hashtag #HeyHartselle for a chance to be featured on this page in each issue.

@emily_ingouf: graduateddd

@mckendree_deeann: We’re officially HOMEOWNERS!!!

W Get involved in reading this summer

We had a fantastic kick-off to our summer reading program this year with 94 kids and 46 adults in attendance. This year our program will run every Thursday from June 1 to July 20. It’s never too late to get involved and join in the fun. Our calendars are posted on the City of Hartselle and Friends of the Library Facebook pages, and online at Hartselle.org > Community > William Bradford Huie Library.

BY MICHELLE BLAYLOCK LIBRARY MANAGER WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE LIBRARY OF HARTSELLE

Summer reading is extremely important to help kids maintain their reading skills during the summer. The old phrase, “use it or lose it” is very true. Research has shown kids lose up to two months of reading skills and fluency over the course of summer vacation. Summer is a perfect time for kids to have the chance to read whatever they like. Unlike during school time, where reading is often guided and specific books are chosen to introduce new skills, kids have the luxury to read anything that interests them during the summer. I also encourage parents to not force their child to finish a book that they have lost interest in. The point of summer reading programs is for kids to have fun, maybe find new authors or genres to explore and practice reading skills.

In addition to encouraging our young patrons through our summer reading program, we also have reading bingos and reading logs for our young adult and adult patrons. There is something for everyone in the summer reading program this year. We hope to see you soon at the library!

ALMOST CAJUN SALMON

BY EMILY NORRIS SOUTHERN FRIED SKINNY

HHaving a meal preparation company and cooking hundreds of servings every week, I’m always looking for easy dinners at home when we aren’t eating Southern Fried Skinny.

This salmon is a staple! If you have a Sam’s Club or Costco membership, you can get whole salmon filets for a great price.

I portion my fish out and vacuum seal with my Food Saver and freeze for easy thawing that preserves the freshness.

INGREDIENTS

• Two salmon filets (see my note about the skin)

• Honey Dijon mustard

• Old Bay blackened seasoning

• Non-stick cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place salmon filets on a greased baking sheet, skin side down.

2. Cover sides and top of filets with honey Dijon mustard.

3. Sprinkle Old Bay on sides and top to taste.

4. Bake 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Fish should be flaky.

5. Serve immediately.

How easy is that? Minimal ingredients, one pan and quick! If you’re cutting sugar or just prefer different mustard, that’s going to work just as well. We like the honey Dijon because it deepens the flavor profile of your fish. The mustard combined with the seasoning ends up forming a thin crust over your filets.

I like to leave the skin on my filets and peel off before eating. Did you know salmon skin is great for dogs? Line your baking sheet with foil so you aren’t scrubbing so much later. Enjoy!

BACON BALSAMIC BRUSSELS SPROUTS

BY EMILY NORRIS SOUTHERN FRIED SKINNY

WWhen you were a kid, do you remember your mother trying to convince you that brussels sprouts were “so good,” but they were actually awful? Me too. Maybe you’ve had them at your favorite steak house recently or heard other people raving about how great they are now and you’re wondering what changed? The brussels sprouts have actually changed! Did you know brussels sprouts were created by humans? In the 1960s, brussels sprouts were very bitter and after decades of turning people off, a seed company started looking into ways to make the taste better. So, if you think you hated brussels sprouts, try out this savory recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. fresh brussels sprouts

• ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 4-6 slices thick cut bacon

• 1 table spoon balsamic vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash and cut the brussel sprouts in half. Remove any shriveled or brown leaves.

2. In a mixing bowl, toss sprouts with olive oil.

3. Spread evenly on baking sheet or casserole pan (use aluminum foil for easy clean up)*.

4. Season to taste with black pepper.

5. Place baking sheet on middle rack in a 425-degree oven.

6. Roast 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until sprouts are golden brown.

While sprouts are roasting:

7. Fry bacon and remove from pan. Reserve 1 teaspoon of bacon grease.

8. Whisk together bacon grease and balsamic vinegar.

When sprouts are finished roasting:

9. Toss with sauce, being sure to coat all sprouts

10. Serve immediately.

*I like to put my brussels sprouts cut side down in your pan. This ensures the inside is done and gives the slightest crunch to the edge. Don’t worry if you can’t get them all face down. Your pan may be crowded and that’s okay. When stirring at the halfway point, how they sit in the pan won’t matter.

READ THIS BOOK

Out of this world science fiction and fantasy reads:

Each of these books are great reads for any kind of science fiction and fantasy reader. They range from magical realism to aliens.

“WEYWARD”

Author: Emilia Hart

From the librarians:

The William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle is proud to offer readers recommendations from our librarians. These books are picked by Sarah Laughmiller, Chrissy Tucker and Alex VanKoughnett. Come to the ibrary to check these out and more.

In this magical realism novel, the journeys of three women across five centuries are intertwined and show how resilient women are when being abused. In 1619, Altha Weyward is on trial for supposedly using witchcraft to kill a beloved village man. In 1942, Violet Ayres is trying to uncover the secrets of mother and the family she was forced to forget. In 2019, Kate Ayres is running away from her controlling and abusive husband before he kills her. Each of these women are hyper connected to nature and it appears as though this connection allows them to bend nature to their will.

“GONE”

Author: Michael Grant

Perdido Beach, California is like any other surfing town. Lives are as normal as can be. Kids don’t have special powers. They aren’t trapped in a dome. They aren’t controlled by an alien being. However, this all changes in the blink of an eye. All at once, everyone 15 and older are gone. There is no explanation or trace as to where they have gone. Everyone 14 and younger are the only ones left. Without electricity, the internet, adults, and order, children must learn to survive.

“DANCE WITH A FAE PRINCE”

Author: Elise Kova

In this high-fantasy retelling of Cinderella, Katria is the daughter of a once rich merchant. After his death, her stepmother Joyce treats her like an object. Katria does her best to not lose her spirit. Eventually, Joyce sells Katria and one of the last relics from her birthmother to the mysterious Lord Fenwood. The new life waiting for Katria is one fit for a queen. Her husband leaves her and peace and buys her anything she could ever want or need. The only catch is that there are four rules she must never break. However, her life becomes very interesting when she breaks all the rules.

“THE LAST CUENTISTA”

Author: Donna Barba Higuera

Petra Pena just wants to be a storyteller like her beloved abuelita. However, the world is about to end because Hailey’s Comet was knocked off course. Since becoming aware of the Earth’s impending doom, humans have created ships that will transport them to another planet that is similar enough to Earth for humans to survive. It will just take over 300 years to get there. Petra’s family is chosen to be one of the very few families who will be put in stasis for the 300 years to rebuild Earth on the new planet. But trouble is lurking. A secret faction of people have infiltrated the spaceships command and are determined to not remake Earth. They want to make a utopia where everyone is the same. It’s up to Petra to stop them.

“THE SANDMAN”

Author: Neil Gaiman

The Sandman, from DC Comics, follows the journey of Morpheus, Dream of the Endless. Morpheus is an immortal being who is the King of Dreams. He runs his realm, the Dreaming, with a tight grip to ensure that the waking world remains as it is. After a Nightmare gets loose and requires Morpheus to leave the Dreaming to retrieve it, he is captured and held for more than seventy years. Once he finally is set free, he is free to return to the Dreaming and restore it to its glory. However, he must return three of his creations to the Dreaming and find his lost objects of power to do so. Issues #1-8 cover the first part of Morpheus’s story.

IMPACT STUDENT LEADERSHIP GRADUATION

BECOME A MEMBER

NEW MEMBERS:

• Anita Vibbert KD2KAG

• Brooks Lock & Key

• Juanita Womack – Realtor –Agency on Main

• Big Bob Gibson BBQ

• Brasfield & Gorrie LLC

HARTSELLE FOR TOMORROW FOUNDATION

TThis past March, the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce received word of a milestone achieved: the official approval letter for the formation of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation d/b/a “Hartselle for Tomorrow.”

The HACC Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit, charitable organization that exists to support and foster broad community and charitable programs that advance the welfare of Hartselle and the surrounding

areas. The foundation runs parallel to the Chamber in helping to support programs that grow people and build place. The Chamber’s vision statement is “We Build Community Through Business.” The Foundation expands the Chamber’s capacity to achieve this vision.

The first actionable item to accomplish through the Hartselle for Tomorrow Foundation is to take ownership of the former Hartselle Post Office located at 113 Sparkman St., and work on a renovation plan. This building has served our community for nearly 100 years (since 1939.) It is on the historic registry and many in our community have memories of it as both the post office and Hartselle Utilities. It has been vacant since 2002. With the Chamber’s purchase of the Old Post Office, not only will the Chamber gain much-needed additional office and

program space, but the community will gain an educational center, an event space, a tourism and visitors center and an e-Center business incubator.

The Hartselle for Tomorrow Foundation has already applied with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and has received fundraising approval. The Foundation seeks to raise $140,000+ to purchase the building and invest in a historically conscious redevelopment plan. This will be a community-wide effort, with support from individuals, businesses and other partner organizations. Sen. Arthur Orr, through the Community Foundation of Decatur, was an inaugural investor for this project. Will you join us in our efforts to preserve this piece of Hartselle’s past, present and future? For more information, visit hartsellechamber.com/Hartselle-fortomorrow-community-foundation.

IIMPACT Student Leadership, through the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce, is a program designed to promote classroom and community leadership among high school students in Morgan County and is open to all sophomores and juniors in Hartselle City and Morgan County Schools. IMPACT was created to grow lifelong community leaders in the Hartselle area through mentorship, experiential and peer learning, community networking, service projects and problem-solving opportunities. IMPACT aspires to contribute to the development of citizens that are aware of the building blocks of a strong community, who can identify opportunities, understand their individual impact and have the tools to produce change. The 2023 IMPACT Student Leadership program, which began in January

and is sponsored by Maegan Jones of MarMac Real Estate, concluded May 18 with a dinner and awards ceremony for students and their families. Student groups presented projects and heard a challenge from Leonard Morris, owner of ReDiscover Confidence and student pastor at Life Church of Hartselle. The Chamber would like to thank Mr. Rocky Smith, Hartselle City Schools Director of Operations, for his leadership and facilitation of the program this year. He is pictured above with the 2023 IMPACT Student Leadership Award winners Mary Frances Istede (Hartselle High School, Outstanding Student Leader Award), Aleah Greenhaw (Danville High School, Character Award) and Micah Cobb (Brewer High School, Servant Leadership Award.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• July 4 – HACC Office Closed

• July 12 – Serve Day Volunteer Meeting

• July 14-15 – SUMMER DAZE

• July 14 – Summer Daze Restaurant Tour

• July 15 – “Dog Daze of Summer” Dog Parade Summer Daze Sidewalk Sale

• The University of North Alabama

• Mobex Global

• Hornsby Family Medicine

• Rent-a-Husband Now

• CenterWell Home Health

• Crystal Garden Event Venue

• Apples Florist & Gifts

• Turner Construction Company

• All American Tree Service

• DaveChops

• July 15 – Serve Day

• July 21 – Chamber 101

• July 30 – August 6 – Fill the Bus

• July 31 – Depot Days Lunch & Learn

• Aug. 2 – Teacher Welcome Reception

• Sept. 16 – Depot Days

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For more information and to register for upcoming events, visit hartsellechamber.com/events/calendar

• Emily Dobbs Hair Stylist: Braswell Hair Skin & Body Hartselle

Photos by Rachel Howard

OUT & ABOUT

HARTSELLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS FUN DAY

The school year came to an end at Hartselle Junior High School with its annual Fun Day held May 19.

Photos by Jodi Hyde

1. Jackson Kirby and Conner Kempenich

2. Jesi Chittam and Anna Grace Delucenay

3. Evan Juric

4. Emarie Farley and Jaden Wise

5. Mackenzie Farragher

6. Gavin Morse, Abby Carpenter and Anna Lamson

7. Doc Moore, Carter Wilson and Liam McDonald

8. Ashanti Johnson

9. William Pierce

10. Noriko Jones and Chloe Butler

11. Ensleigh McCarley and Maddi Pitman

12. Chloe Butler and Lacey Welch

13. Elijah Barnes, Isaiah Clemons, and Leland Gosnell

14. Kiyah Morgan, Ellen Cockrin, Makala Cagle

15. Cole Newsom, Eli Warnick, Taylor White, Uriah Vest and Luke Brown

16. Claire Evans

Our convenient, online appointments make it easy to schedule a pediatrics visit — giving you more time for the things that matter. Since we broke ground at Hartselle Health Park in 2020, we’ve invested in leading physicians, modern facilities, and important services like imaging and urgent care. Taking care of you and your family is a privilege, and that’s why we bring healthcare to you.

If you are 45 or older, with an average risk of colon cancer you may be able to schedule a colonoscopy without a physician office visit.

Colonoscopy scheduling made simple