Hartselle Living March/April

BRODY PEEBLES • TERRY EASTERLY • PIGSKIN ALL SPORTS BBQ

HARTSELLE LIVING March/April 2021

FARMHOUSE

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FROM THE EDITOR

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I knew from the moment I met the Beltran family that their photo would be the cover image for this issue of Hartselle Living. The sweet family of six welcomed me into their gorgeous home on Green Acres Drive in Hartselle on a chilly day in January, and I got to hear from Nora, Andy and all the children about their life story and their favorite rooms in their new home. I was even treated to a grand tour and learned about all the work it takes to build a house from the ground up. Their story, with the beautiful photos, is one you won’t want to miss.

Also in this issue, we feature Terry Easterly. The Hartselle man specializes in a Japanese-style of pottery called kintsugi – the art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold — built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. The pieces he makes also represent his life in a meaningful way. You can read more about his story and see photos of his pottery in our Arts & Culture section.

In School & Sports, contributor Russell Frye brings us a story on Brody Peebles. The Hartselle High School senior recently scored his 3,000th point and is now the most decorated player in the school’s history.

Constance Smith shares the story of All Sports BBQ and, as usual, brings us her detectable recipes from the homestead. I’m a faithful follower of Cosmopolitan Cornbread, and my husband is thankful for it!

There’s something for everyone in this issue of Hartselle Living. I think that’s one thing I loved about working on this magazine – and I hope you love it too.

Thanks for reading,

ON THE COVER

Farmhouse style meets vintage inside the Beltran home.

Turn to page 8 to learn more about the family and their dream home on Green Acres Drive in Hartselle.

Photo by Rachel Howard

4 Hartselle Living

rebekah.yancey@hartselleliving.com

17

HOME & STYLE

FOOD & DRINK

8 FARMHOUSE FLAIR

25 PIGSKIN ALL SPORTS BBQ 28 EASY SWEET POTATO RECIPES 31 SPRING ON THE HOMESTEAD

Inside the Beltrans’ Hartselle home, where rustic meets modern

ARTS & CULTURE 17 HEALING THROUGH BROKENNESS Hartselle man finds meaning in Japanese pottery making

SCHOOL & SPORTS 21 PILING UP THE POINTS Brody Peebles impacts Hartselle on and off the court

36 CHAMBER CONNECTIONS

www.rawimageswithrach.com

HARTSELLE LIVING

CONTRIBUTORS

STAFF Editorial Rebekah Yancey Alison James Contributors Constance Smith Michelle Blaylock Susan Hayes

ALISON JAMES, copy editor

Alison James earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Auburn University, graduating in 2012. She began her career in community journalism in Alexander City and Dadeville, followed by a stop in Opelika before landing in north Alabama. She loves sharing the stories – and correcting the grammar of those stories – of the people and places that make north Alabama such a special place.

Russell Frye Rachel Howard Marketing Baretta Taylor Anna Baker Administration Beth Jackson

CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 206 Cedar St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: 256-773-6566

CONSTANCE SMITH, writer

Constance Smith is a lifestyle blogger and YouTuber at CosmopolitanCornbread.com.

After 25 years of Army family life, Constance has planted roots here in Hartselle. She now homesteads on her small farm, where she raises heritage breed animals and is focusing on permaculture gardening. In her spare time she enjoys photography, art, kayaking and other outdoor sports.

RUSSELL FRYE, writer

Russell Frye is a freelance sportswriter for the Hartselle Enquirer and Hartselle Living. He covers sports for Hartselle, Danville, Falkville, Brewer, and Priceville High Schools. He is married to Tammie and has three children, two who are grown, and Nastia who is in the sixth grade.

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 2021 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

RACHEL HOWARD, photographer Rachel Howard is a Hartselle native who is proud to own and run a business in her hometown. She graduated from Hartselle High School in 2010. After working in the nursing field for several years, she decided to pick up a camera – which led her to fulfill her passion of photography. 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, slow boat rides with her husband Nick and being a dog mom to Ralphie and Bud.

Hartselle Living 7

FARMHOUSE FLAIR Inside the Beltrans’ Hartselle home, where rustic meets modern

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STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RAW IMAGES

Home is where the heart is for the Beltran family, and at the end of a tumultuous 2020, the family was finally able to move into their newly-built house on Green Acres Drive in Hartselle.

The family of six includes Andy and Nora and their four children: Solani, 9; Anniebeth, 8; Bellanie, 7; and Leo, 18 months. The three girls are in the first, second and third grades at Barkley Bridge Elementary School.

Andy, who works as a safety supervisor for Graycor Industries in Huntsville, said the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the building process down considerably, but his construction knowledge and experience, even though mostly commercial, made up the difference.

The 4,400-square-foot house boasts six bedrooms and five bathrooms, all meticulously designed to meet the family’s needs.

Hartselle Living 9

The couple continually compromised with each other when it came to the lighting and fixtures. While Andy gravitates toward more industrial and modern pieces, Nora loves the functional farmhouse feel. “I’ve always been a fan of the rustic look, even before the farmhouse look became popular,” Nora said.

Andy said his priority was to make sure the home, in style and structure, would stand the test of time. Nora said they would agree on the lighting, and then there would be a sale Andy couldn’t pass up. That led to the pair going back to the drawing board to find a compromise they could both live with. “You’d see us in Home Depot every day picking up or returning something else,” Andy said. Although he bought and returned many chandeliers throughout the 11-month build, the couple eventually found the perfect style mixture that suits them both.

Nora got her rustic fix with the windmill ceiling fan in the family room and live-edge dining room table, while 10 Hartselle Living

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I’ve always been a fan of the rustic look, even before the farmhouse look became popular. Andy always goes for the Victorian look – the antique and the vintage. There was a lot of meeting in the middle.

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several unique pieces around the home honor Andy’s love of industrial décor, such as the antique wheel-and-gear lighting fixture in the dining room and the galvanized metal pipe lamp in the family room.

The master bathroom features a raised marble soaking tub under a jeweled chandelier and a large, glass-doored shower with geometric tile and two showerheads.

The Beltran daughters said they love their individual rooms in their new home and the freedom to decorate their spaces in their favorite colors.

Anniebeth said she loves her bedroom that she gets all to herself and her pink desk and purple study lamp. Solani and Bellanie said they love jumping on the trampoline in the backyard.

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-Nora Beltran

Hartselle Living 13

Nora said her favorite room in the house is the kitchen, complete with marble countertops, a large island, a gas range and tons of storage. Andy loves the family room next to the kitchen, where the family can relax and watch TV or enjoy a fire.

The Beltran family is loving their new home in Hartselle, and even though the COVID-19 pandemic brought its share of setbacks, Nora and Andy said if they can build their dream home, “anyone can do it.”

Hartselle Living 15

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ARTS & CULTURE

HEALING THROUGH BROKENNESS

Hartselle artist finds meaning in Japanese pottery making STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RAW IMAGES

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Terry Easterly’s hands are rough; they’ve been through a lot. Now Easterly puts those hands to work every day through the “dirt and mud,” as he calls it, creating beautiful pieces of pottery. It’s an art that has become a business and represents his life’s story in a profound way.

Easterly owns Broken Leaf Pottery. He sells his art in a couple of businesses downtown but said he sells the majority through his Etsy shop.

“I do some wheelwork, some hand building and some casting,” Easterly said. “I do a pretty broad range of pottery making.” His favorite and what he says is the most therapeutic medium is throwing on the wheel. “It’s very calming and relaxing.”

His specialty is kintsugi, a Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold. Kintsugi is built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, the artist can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art.

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Easterly said he often has a love/hate relationship with his art. “Sometimes things just won’t work the way you want them to, or sometimes you have a vision and can’t get there,” he said.

“You just have to get started and let the clay figure out what it’s going be.”

His journey into pottery began three years ago when his friends, Pat and Rebecca Horner, were setting up their pottery and ceramics studio in downtown Hartselle. He helped the owners of Keramos move into their building on Sparkman Street and then decided to take a few classes – through which he discovered he had a knack for the craft.

Easterly said he was surprised to find this aptitude for pottery because he does not consider himself an artistic person.

“If I draw people, I draw stick figures with straight lines,” he said. “My mother was a very good artist; she lives in Florida, and she used to sell paintings of the beaches.”

What he thought was a lack of artistic talent turned out to be a lack of the right medium for his creativity. Once he began, he never turned back, and now he is involved in some sort of pottery work on a daily basis. “You’re literally playing in the mud, you know, so it’s fun,” the Hartselle man said with a laugh.

Before molding his artistic side into what it is today, Easterly owned The Computer Store on Main Street. In 2014 came a diagnosis that would change his life: Stage IV esophageal cancer.

The next year he sold his business.

“When they tell you you’re not going to survive, you start to make plans according to that,” Easterly said. “It didn’t work out like that, so here we are. I just know I’m glad it didn’t work out that way.”

Now in his seventh year of cancer treatments, Easterly said he’s doing well health wise. He said the kintsugi idea of putting broken pieces of pottery back together to create something beautiful is a kind of a metaphor for his fight against the disease, healing the broken pieces of himself. “Things have value, even when they’re broken. Once they’re functional again, they can be much more beautiful and valuable,” he said.

Easterly said it was Rebecca Horner who helped him decide on the name of his business. “She said, that’s your story: finding the healing in broken things. You need to incorporate that into your pottery,” he recounted. “That’s why I love taking something that’s broken that really is intended for the trash – something that has no value and making it valuable again.”

Easterly’s art can be found online at www.etsy.com/shop/ brokenleafpottery or at Red Ribbon Décor in downtown Hartselle.

Hartselle Living 19

Things have value, even when they’re broken.

Once they’re functional again, they can be much more beautiful and valuable.

-Terry Easterly

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SCHOOL & SPORTS

PILING UP THE POINTS Brody Peebles impacts Hartselle on and off the court STORY BY RUSSELL FRYE PHOTOS BY JIM MEADOWS

22 Hartselle Living

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B

Brody Peebles will soon graduate from Hartselle High School, but he will continue to impact his school on the court and off before that day comes.

Peebles has been impacting Hartselle basketball for the past six years with his work ethic. He has spent countless hours, night after night, becoming one of the most decorated players in Hartselle High School history.

Peebles grew up playing multiple sports in Hartselle, but he decided in eighth grade that he wanted to focus on becoming a great basketball player. “I have always wanted to be a good basketball player,” said Peebles.

“I saw some early success in junior high that gave me a hunger to become the best player I could be.”

The senior Tiger has been a part of one of the best four-year runs in Hartselle basketball history. He has helped the Tigers to multiple regular season and postseason area championships and trips to the sub-region, regional semifinals and regional finals.

The Tigers have won 86 games in his four years as a player. They have a chance to add to that total by the time this season comes to an end. Over those four years, he has averaged 24.6 points a game. He is one of two Hartselle players named first team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association; the other, Jay Knowlton, was a member of the 1994 Tiger team that won a state championship.

By the time Peebles graduates, he will have become a two-time first team All-State player and will have scored more than 3,000 points in his career to become the leading scorer in Hartselle High history.

“Becoming the leading scorer in Hartselle High School history is something I am very grateful for,” said Peebles. “My teammates and coaches have put their trust in me to make shots, and I didn’t want to let them down.”

He said his brother Jaxon has been the most significant influence in his basketball career. “I got my competitiveness from my brother,” said Peebles.

“I grew up watching him and his friends play. I wanted to not only play with them but also beat them. It took some time and growing up, but I was able to do it, finally.”

Peebles takes that competitiveness with him every night he steps on the court. “I want to play well and win games for Hartselle,” said Peebles. “When I step on the court, I can’t help but show my emotion in trying to win each possession and each moment.”

The most significant influence on life has been his parents, Dewayne and Nikki Peebles. “I have been fortunate to have parents that have supported me and loved me based on how I glorify God and treat people, rather than what I do on the basketball court,” said Peebles. “My goal in life is to make my parents proud of who I am as a person – not as a player.”

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Peebles shoots a layup despite heavy Austin defense.

Dewayne has been by his son’s side since day one and, over the past several years, has seen firsthand what the hoops star has done to become the player he is today. “I do not know if I can express how proud I am of the person and man Brody has become,” Dewayne said. “I’m excited for what the future holds for him and where God will take him next.”

Peebles was highly recruited by numerous schools across the Southeast, including Belmont and Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. In the end, he has chosen to continue his career at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., playing for Coach Ritchie McKay. “Liberty offered me more than just basketball,” said Peebles.

“I will be able to grow in my Christian walk and influence while being able to play basketball. That is important to me.”

McKay saw Peebles play one game and offered him the same night. “Brody has me excited about the future of our basketball program,” said McKay. “He is one of those silent assassins; when he gets on the court and behind those lines, he is a dog competitor. He has a natural, intuitive ability in the game of basketball. Coach Key did a great job, and I think Brody has greatness ahead of him.”

Brody Peebles gets his start in Hartselle Rec League basketball.

“I know when I get to Liberty, Coach McKay’s interest in me goes beyond basketball,” added Peebles. “He wants me to succeed as a person and grow as a Christian, not just allow life to be about basketball.”

Peebles said he knows he can’t let up once he gets to Liberty.

“I have to work every day on the little things to continue to get better.”

Hartselle Living 23

Open Tuesday - Friday 10-5; Saturday 10-4

Peebles’ Hartselle teammates have a special place in his heart and in memories he will always carry with him as he continues his basketball career. “My teammates are what I get most emotional about when thinking about my time at Hartselle,” said Peebles.

“They have entrusted me to lead them and have allowed me to become the player I am today.”

Peebles has had numerous supporters throughout the years, from his family, friends, teammates to the community at large, but the one person who stands out most is his high school coach, Faron Key. “Coach Key noticed something in me as a scrawny seventhgrader,” said Peebles. “He put his faith and trust in me as a freshman and has taught me how to become not only a better player but, more importantly, a better man.”

Key said Peebles is clearly the best player to ever play at Hartselle. “The only thing that is missing from Brody’s legacy is a championship. Our job is to get him there and let him shine on the state’s biggest stage,” Key said. He also praised Peebles’ character, in addition to his skills on the court. “Brody’s heart for others really shines. He is the perfect kind of player to have. He is respected by his teammates as well as his school.”

Growing up in Hartselle has impacted Brody. He says that the community’s love for the Tigers basketball program and for him is humbling and something he will always carry with him.

But to Brody, nothing is more important than leaving behind a legacy for players who will follow in his footsteps.

“I want people to remember me for how I made them feel and about how I treated them,” said Brody. “I want to use my platform to glorify Christ and to share the love of God.” 24 Hartselle Living

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Celebrate Spring!

FOOD & DRINK

DELICIOUS DAYS Pigskin All Sports BBQ brings flavor and fun to the Hartselle area

A

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

At the corner of Nance Ford Road and Highway 31 South in Hartselle, there’s an eye-catching metal pig. That pig stands to welcome visitors to the Pigskin All Sports BBQ restaurant.

Nikki Echols, her sister Mandi George and Wendy Buckelew are the owners and masterminds behind the restaurant. Echols and George have a long family history in the BBQ business: Their grandparents started a restaurant in 1988, and their father, Jackie Burgess, worked for them.

After Echols and George’s grandparents’ restaurant closed, the three women decided to pick up the barbecue torch, opening their own restaurant in 2015. Now a third generation has made barbecue their dream.

The Pigskin All Sports BBQ restaurant has been a Hartselle Enquirer Readers’ Choice “Best of the Best” award recipient for several categories, to include the “best Brunswick stew” in the Tennessee Valley.

Hartselle Living 25

Delicious days at the restaurant start early. Buckelew comes in at 2:30 a.m. to get the day’s fresh food going. Whether it is pork, turkey, chicken or ribs, there’s a lot to be prepped and cooked every day before the restaurant opens. Fridays, in addition to the barbecue, they offer catfish plates with all the fixings and delicious fried pies.

Echols and Buckelew both agree the pork sandwiches are their favorite menu items. George goes for the BBQ Melts, which are barbecue sandwiches on panini bread, toasted with melty cheese.

The women said popular dishes include the barbecue salads and the barbecue baked potatoes. Buckelew said they bake an average of 160 pounds of potatoes every day for that menu item.

26 Hartselle Living

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Then there are the desserts. As diners walk up to the counter, they can’t miss the display case filled with beautiful pies – created from “secret family recipes” that have been passed down from Echols and George’s Mamaw. Echols is the official dessert maker for the restaurant, and she jokes that if something happened to her, there would not be any more desserts. She shares the recipes with no one. Visitors will find a wide variety of the pies available, from chocolate or lemon ice box to peanut butter, cheesecake and more.

Pigskin All Sports BBQ offers something else that is rather unusual. When Thanksgiving rolls around, the restaurant expands its services to include smoking customers’ turkey for them. Pigskin BBQ has to limit the number, but the women take sign-ups as the holiday season nears. Contact the restaurant for more information.

In addition to providing a great variety of dishes for patrons, Pigskin All Sports BBQ also serves as a drop-off location for Feeding Families of Alabama, a local charity that helps to provide food for the community.

Pigskin All Sports BBQ is offering carry out and drive-through service. Stop by for a quick lunch or complete family supper. The restaurant is located at 400 Nance Ford Road in Hartselle.

Hartselle Living 27

EASY SWEET POTATO RECIPES

I

RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH I absolutely love sweet potatoes. Too often, people tend to think of them as winter or holiday ingredients, but these simple sweet potato recipes will convince you to enjoy them all year long.

MASHED SWEET POTATOES Mashed sweet potatoes are a lovely and simple side dish. They have so much flavor and are a great alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.

INGREDIENTS • 3 lbs. sweet potatoes • 1/2 cup canned coconut milk, full-fat (or use regular milk, if you like) • salt and pepper to taste, optional INSTRUCTIONS 1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place them in a saucepan.

2. Add enough water to cover the potatoes by an inch or so.

3. Bring them to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

4. Drain the potatoes in a colander and return to the saucepan.

5. Add in the coconut milk and mash with a potato masher until smooth.

6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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SWEET POTATO FRIES Savory sweet potato fries need no sugar, as the sweet potato is already, well, sweet.

Very little goes into making your own sweet potato fries, so you can let these bake while you make your main dish, and they’ll be ready in no time.

INGREDIENTS • 2 sweet potatoes • 1 Tb. avocado oil • 1/2 tsp. sea salt INSTRUCTIONS 1. To begin, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside for now.

3. Peel your sweet potatoes.

4. Carefully cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch slices and then into 1/2-inch sticks.

5. Place the fries in a mixing bowl and drizzle them with the oil.

6. Sprinkle with salt and toss with your hands to coat the fries.

7. Arrange the fries in a single layer on the lined baking sheet.

8. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip with a spatula.

9. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until they are cooked through and brown in spots.

Hartselle Living 29

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30 Hartselle Living

SPRING ON THE HOMESTEAD

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

Spring on the homestead is an exciting time. It is the season when the farm begins to awaken after a long, restful winter. We start cleaning out the garden beds, which is followed by amending and planting. Hopes and dreams of a productive garden are sown into the soil along with the seeds and baby plants.

Often in the spring, we find ourselves welcoming new babies to the farm, though this year I chose to hatch out eggs in the autumn. We have a batch of new Icelandic chickens with their “bouffant hair-dos” and multi-colored feathers. They are an unusual variety and are said to be a hardy, ancient “Viking” breed. I can attest to the fact that they definitely have some character. It will be interesting to see how they grow and develop over time.

As the season rolls on, I look forward to preserving more foods for the pantry. Early in the growing season, before anything comes from the garden, one of the first things I find myself preserving is honeysuckle jelly.

Hartselle Living 31

I make it from the blossoms that grow wild all over the homestead. I’ll also make several batches of strawberry jalapeno jam with strawberries from one of the local farm stands.

It won’t be long before the sunflowers begin to stretch toward the sky, the tomatoes blossom and the bean tendrils wind across the trellises. I’ll find myself spending an entire morning working in the gardens until it is too hot to work outside any longer. Then I’ll come in, clean up and head to the kitchen. I’ll spend the afternoon canning, freezing or dehydrating what has been harvested.

It is always exciting to see what comes from the garden or what discoveries are made. This past year as I was watering the raised garden beds, the bee balm patch suddenly started shaking crazily. I saw little brown things bolt across the flower bed, and a couple more ran off into the yard.

It was a litter of wild baby bunnies.

I carefully scooped them up and placed them back into their nest.

Every day I would carefully peek into the bee balm to see if they were still

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there. Most of my raised garden beds are much too tall to be in danger of becoming breakfast for the rabbits. I don’t mind sharing a flower bed with the little babies.

I knew it would only be a short time, and I enjoyed watching them grow. It didn’t take long for them to go off to live their rabbit lives.

What discoveries and challenges will this year bring for the farm? Time will tell.

But every year is an adventure on our little Hartselle homestead.

Hartselle Living 33

Learning about learning

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Hartselle City Schools’ career tech programs are Godsey recalls that as she moved through high designed to prepare students for careers as engischool, “my heart was leaning toward teaching.” She neers, medical professionals, financial industry said when she had the opportunity to use the skills professionals and more. When we think about cashe had gained from Edde’s classroom to “interact reers beyond schooling, however, it’s easy to forget with younger students in their classrooms, I knew careers in the field of education. for sure that teaching had my whole heart.” Godsey Nanette Edde’s Education and Training classes adds that it was under Edde’s tutelage that she began grow future educators. Beginning students focus to truly understand the value of teacher-student reon the role of the teacher, teaching and learning lationships and their impact on learning. As a result, processes, learning styles and human growth/ she works to build relationships with the students in SUSAN HAYES development. her Crestline classroom.

FEDERAL PROGRAMS Coursework culminates in a student internship Reeder said she has always known she wanted COORDINATOR in one of Hartselle’s schools. The internship allows to teach, but she “learned the most about being a students to spend quality time in elementary classrooms. Be- teacher while in the elementary classrooms” as part of Edde’s fore one college dollar is ever spent, Education and Training Education and Training program. “Every teacher I observed at students can determine whether the call to teach is one they are Hartselle truly cared about students and their learning. These willing to answer. teachers provided engaging lessons for all students. I hope to Olivia Godsey began teaching at Crestline Elementary in carry this into my own Burleson classroom!”

August 2020, and Olivia Reeder has recently been hired to finEdde herself is thrilled to see her students grow into young ish the school year at F.E. Burleson Elementary. Both of these professionals. “I am so proud of these girls!” young professionals were educated and nurtured by Edde in Edde’s program and all of Hartselle City Schools’ programs the fledgling years of her Education and Training program. align with its mission to They are the first graduates of the HHS program to return to “Inspire and Prepare ALL Students for Learning, Leadership Hartselle and find employment within the school district. and Life.”

THE ART OF LIGHT MAIN STREET WEST 396563-1

PURVEYORS OF THE ART IN ITS MANY FORMS

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34 Hartselle Living

123 MAIN STREET W. HARTSELLE, ALABAMA 35640 256.502.9544

William Bradford Huie Library welcomes returning patrons

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If you have not had a chance to stop by the young adult and juvenile fiction collections William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle room to expand. for a visit recently, we hope you will make time With the help of city workers from the Parks soon. The librarians have been extremely busy and Rec Department, we were able to rearrange working to improve our library space. existing shelving to provide more efficient use Thanks to the fantastic grant we received of shelf space and to create a more open and recently, we have needed to make space for welcoming space. our new books. After a great deal of planning, Our library is growing and adapting to our we decided a change to the layout of the library “new normal.” We are open to the public from was necessary. With the plan in hand, our two 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. amazing library assistants, Alex and Sarah, A mask that covers both mouth and nose is MICHELLE BLAYLOCK jumped into action. required to be worn at all times when inside the LIBRARY MANAGER Our fiction and non-fiction books’ locations building. A temperature check is also required have now been swapped. This has provided additional upon entering the library; the temperature check station is space for our fiction collection, and the non-fiction books located just inside the entrance door. We also offer online still have room to grow. We also shelved the mystery book and DVD reservations and curbside pickup. books in with the main fiction collection, giving us room to For information about these services or other services move the young adult collection to the glass room where offered by the library, please contact us at 256-773-9880. the mystery books had been shelved. This gives both the Hope to see you soon!

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Celebrating each unique life in a special way

Hartselle Living 35

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HACC MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! DragonFly Athletics Kingdom Minds Ink Brian’s Hot Dawgz Bella & Blake Boutique FlashFiber WCU Credit Union Main Street West Gallery *New Members from Nov. 25, 2020, to Jan. 29, 2021

36 Hartselle Living

As we take the time to welcome our newest members, we want to extend an open invitation to join us! With your membership, you will join like-minded business owners, large and small, who have committed to advancing the economic, industrial, commercial, educational, professional, cultural and civic welfare of Hartselle and the surrounding areas – and there definitely is strength in numbers!

The fundamental mission of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce is to build our community through business, ensuring the socioeconomic vitality of the Hartselle area. As a Chamber member, you will have access to a growing network of business and industry leaders who have recognized the benefit of joining together for the greater good.

A chamber of commerce is a membership organization that advocates on behalf of local businesses. It is backed by a board comprising business people from the local community. The chamber is a resource, advocate and connector for business. It is not a government entity, although it does work with local elected leaders to help create a positive business environment. A lot goes on at the local, state and federal levels – too much for the average business owner to track on their own. The Chamber tracks these issues and keeps you informed as to how any changes might affect you and your business.

As a member, you will be eligible to sponsor various events organized by

the Chamber. The Chamber coordinates many events throughout the year, including Depot Days, which draws more than 20,000 people to our city. Other annual events include the Cinderella Ball, Christmas Open House, Teacher Appreciation and the State of the City.

Monthly events, including networking events and ribbon cuttings, are put together by the Chamber for Chamber members, as well.

By networking, you get to know others in your community, develop partnerships and support other businesses. If your business is ever in need, you’ll have a community of business owners to turn to for help.

Maximize your membership by not only joining the Chamber but getting involved in it. The Chamber offers five task forces for increased involvement: Governmental Affairs and Advocacy, Leadership and Networking, Workforce and Education, Business Development and Community Enhancement. These task forces offer a way for you to deepen your involvement in the Chamber and the community by working with other business leaders to address more targeted issues that affect the entire community.

Membership definitely has its privileges and is likely less expensive than you think. The cost to join is dependent on the size of your business, but the benefits that come with your membership far outweigh the monetary cost to join.

– Missy Evans President/CEO

HACC TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN 2021 Each year, the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce executes the Total Resource Campaign with a mission of developing the leadership and financial resources of the Chamber through a six-week, all-volunteer effort focused on securing business sponsors for the Chamber’s comprehensive program of work and attracting new members.

The purpose of the TRC is to generate revenue for the Chamber to carry out its mission of building a healthy economy and improving the quality of life in the Hartselle area. Many member businesses find that being identified with the Chamber is a positive opportunity for their business.

The Chamber’s programs, newsletters and events are excellent ways for businesses to promote the products and services they provide to the community while also sponsoring the Chamber.

Be on the lookout for our capable and responsible volunteer team to secure your HACC sponsorships for 2021!

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UPCOMING EVENTS New Member Coffee – April 9 @ 8 a.m.

Business After Hours – April 15 @ 5 p.m.

Hartselle 101 Tour – April 16 @ 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

HACC Annual Gala – May 7 @ 6 p.m.

Register online at www.hartsellechamber.com

HACC YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The HACC Young Professionals’ purpose is to engage individuals who want to develop and advance their careers, to make a positive impact on the community and to boost their leadership potential.

The HACC Young Professionals facilitate growth opportunities by hosting: • Quarterly organized functions • Monthly informal networking gatherings • Regular professional development events Membership criteria: professionals from 21-40 years of age HYP applications are accepted yearround. If you are interested in becoming a member of the HACC Young Professionals, check them out at hartsellechamber.com/ young-professionals. You can also follow them on Facebook @hartselleyoungpros and Instagram @hartselleyp.

Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 817, Hartselle, AL 35640

256. 773.4370  admin@hartsellechamber.com

Hartselle Living 37

Kerry Richardson

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Cell 256-636-1831

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