Hartselle Living

THE STEAKHOUSE MOBILE • HARTSELLE MEDICAL ACADEMY • MAGGIE MCKELVEY

HARTSELLE LIVING May/June 2019 $ 4.95

A CUT

ABOVE

VAN STISHER TREATS CUSTOMERS LIKE FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS

BEHIND THE CANVAS

SHELLEY PAULSON BRINGS CREATIVITY TO DOWNTOWN HARTSELLE

AT HOME ON MAIN CARTERS MAKE HISTORIC HOUSE THEIR HOME

FROM THE EDITOR

I AT HOME ON MAIN STREET • HARTSELLE MEDICAL ACADEMY • MAGGIE MCKELVEY

HARTSELLE LIVING

I love telling stories. If you ask anyone who knows me well, I enjoy talking, and I take my time having a conversation. I definitely got the gift of gab from my mother, Ramona, who has never met a stranger.

She got it from her mother, Monta Faye, who added the “e” on the end of her name because she didn’t like the way it was spelled – and who also once had a two-hour conversation with a wrong number.

That’s a true story, and I love telling stories.

One of my favorite things about working for a community magazine like Hartselle Living is that I get to play a role in telling beautiful stories to people about their families, friends and neighbors who also call Hartselle home.

In this issue of Hartselle Living, we have a conversation with Shelley Paulsen who owns Behind the Canvas downtown. Catherine Carter opens her home on Main Street to us, and we share details about her historic house and photos that highlight her decorating prowess. Constance Smith shares her twists on classic cornbread and features The Steakhouse Mobile food truck that is owned by Hartselle natives.

As always, we want your ideas and suggestions for new stories to tell. No one knows this community better than our readers, and my email “door” is always open.

May/June 2019 4.95 $

rebekah.martin@hartselleliving.com

A CUT

ABOVE

VAN STISHER TREATS CUSTOMERS LIKE FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS

BEHIND THE CANVAS

SHELLEY PAULSON BRINGS CREATIVITY TO DOWNTOWN HARTSELLE

AT HOME ON MAIN CARTERS MAKE HISTORIC HOUSE THEIR HOME

ON THE COVER

David and Catherine Carter love their home on Main Street.

Photo by Sam Roberts

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TABLE of CONTENTS

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11 AT HOME ON MAIN STREET

25 HEART FOR HEALTHCARE

Carters make historic house their home

Hartselle High helps students jumpstart their medical training

17 TIPS FOR GROWING HEALTHY TOMATOES 18 A TWIST ON CORNBREAD 22 THE STEAKHOUSE MOBILE: A local restaurant on wheels

29 PASSION IGNITES CREATIVITY Shelley Paulsen journeys ‘Behind the Canvas’

32 A CUT ABOVE Van Stisher finds success in business treating customers like family

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HARTSELLE LIVING STAFF Editorial Rebekah Martin Alison James Lauren Jackson Contributors Hope Thompson Constance Smith Jennifer L. Williams Andrea Owensby

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Marketing Tori Waits Josh Moore

IN EVERY ISSUE

Administration Beth Jackson

42 WHY I LOVE HARTSELLE 36 OUT & ABOUT 41 MARKETPLACE

CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

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407 Chestnut St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 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 2019 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

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THE GUIDE

MAY 4 SPRING OPEN HOUSE Downtown Hartselle 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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May 2

May 10

SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS MEETING

CCC RUMMAGE SALE

Mr. Henry’s Restaurant 6-8 p.m.

Committee on Church Cooperation 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 4 SPRING OPEN HOUSE Downtown Hartselle 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May 11 PFK 5K AND FUN RUN Petty Center Hartselle Junior High School 8 a.m.

2ND SATURDAY CRUISE-IN AARON LEWIS CONCERT Fredricks Outdoor 4-9 p.m.

COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE Sparkman Civic Center 6-9 p.m.

Historic Downtown Hartselle 5-8 p.m.

SELAH, LIVE IN DECATUR Princess Theater 7-9 p.m.

ADVANCED EMT CLASS Hartselle Fire Department 9-3 p.m.

May 9 SINGER SONGWRITER SERIES Princess Theater River Dan and Erin Eldenlin 7-9 p.m.

May 18 BINGO

American Legion Post 52 6:30 pm

FISHING TOURNAMENT Ingalls Harbor 6 a.m.

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THE GUIDE

June 1 THE KING’S MESSENGERS Serenity Baptist Church 6 p.m.

June 4 MUSIC TRIVIA

Bentley’s at The Outhouse 7-9 p.m.

June 12

BINGO

Bentley’s at The Outhouse 6:30-10 p.m.

American Legion Post 52 6:30 p.m.

KARAOKE NIGHT

June 6 HARTSELLE SCHOOLS FOOTBALL Mattress Fundraiser Hartselle High School 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 15 BINGO

American Legion Post 52 6:30 p.m.

June 18 MUSIC TRIVIA

June 10 THE GREATEST SHOW VBS

Bentley’s at The Outhouse 7-9 p.m.

Hartselle Church of Christ 9:30 a.m.

VBS

Liberty Baptist Church 6-8 p.m.

June 22 BINGO

American Legion Post 52 6:30 p.m.

June 11 MUSIC TRIVIA

Bentley’s at The Outhouse 7-9 p.m.

June 25

MUSIC TRIVIA

Bentley’s at The Outhouse 7-9 p.m.

Hartselle Living 9

#HartselleLife

Tag @hartselle_living_mag in your Hartselle photos on Instagram and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish in each issue.

@chance__the__realtor Proud of my Boys this Morning!!!!

Ray and Flamez shared their testimonies at the Intermediate School!!! Fusion Student Ministry

@hartsellecityschools The HIS Robotics team placed 2nd and 3rd at the University of Alabama Robotics Competition.

Congratulations!

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@kaylimadb { o v e r c o m e } succeed in dealing with... (defeat).

@soeysauce145 Adali says they should call Hartselle “Sunny town” because everyone there was just so warm and friendly. They really were! Had a blast at the Southern Charm Vintage Market with my girls.

HOME& STYLE

AT HOME ON MAIN STREET Carters make historic house their home STORY BY JENNIFER L. WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY SAM ROBERTS Hartselle Living 11

@hartselle_living_mag

@hartselleliving

I

It took two visits, years apart, for Catherine Phillips Carter to find her way home to Hartselle.

The Houston native first looked to move to the Hartselle area in 1998 after going to school and working in Birmingham for more than a decade.

The large home with the wraparound porch on the corner of Main Street and Echols Street SE, caught her eye at once, but when she toured it, the attorney found it was not the right fit for her – yet. “It was pretty dated, and I could tell it would require a lot of work that I just did not have the time to do,” said Carter.

In 2001 she came to Hartselle to visit family and saw that, once again, a sale sign was in the yard. “This time, when I walked inside, it just fit,” she said. “Everything had been redone, and down to the colors on the walls, it was my taste at the time. It was meant to be.”

HISTORIC TIES The house, built in 1918 by Samuel Allie Blair and his wife, Lula Mae Summers, still has an old well in the basement and had a pump in the back foyer the first time Carter looked at it. The pump was no longer there when she returned in 2001, but the well remained, and Carter used it to water the garden she had in the front for several years.

According to historical accounts, Lula Mae’s father, Larkin Joseph Summers, was a Confederate soldier who settled in Hartselle not long after the town was incorporated. Lula Mae’s older brother Will owned a livery stable located on the southwest corner of Hickory and Railroad, where Standard Furniture is today. The 1916 fire that destroyed 14 downtown businesses started in the hayloft of that building.

Blair passed away in 1933 at the age of 46, and Lula Mae continued to live in the home they built and raised their four daughters. According to the 1940 census, daughter

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Elizabeth lived with her mother in the house, along with three young female boarders and a housekeeper.

Elizabeth, who graduated from Morgan County High School in 1936, married Guy D. Roberts, after whom a Hartselle road connecting Nance Ford Road and Barkley Bridge Road is named.

The Blair-Roberts family sold the house in the late 1970s to Caroline Sterling, a longtime nurse at Hartselle Medical Center, who lived in the house with her sister, Jane, through the 1980s.

Sterling sold the house in the late 1990s to a couple who did the

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renovations that caught Carter’s eye the second time she toured it in 2001.

“The green shag carpet was gone,” said Carter, who noted the wood floors were all original and in great shape. Carter said she believes at least two of the light fixtures – in the front room and the dining room – are original to the house, and other fixtures found in antique stores match the period of the house.

Catherine hosted a dinner for the Hartselle Historical Society a few years ago, and Elizabeth Blair Roberts returned to her childhood home. “She brought in a large dish and walked right to the dining room,” said Carter. “She set it in the middle of the dining room table, stepped back and told me, ‘I just wanted to see this here one more time.’ It was a special moment.”

FAVORITE SPACES Carter said since moving into the four-bedroom, three-bath house almost 20 years ago, she has renovated or at least repainted every room, including adding an HVAC unit for the upstairs, which features a large bedroom, bathroom and second kitchen. “I hated the look of the AC unit in the window up there – you could see it from the street,” she said. “I wanted this to be more of a guest retreat, and I think it is.”

Another renovation project she tackled recently is the kitchen. “There was no dishwasher in the house, nor was there room to put one,” she said “So we needed to add an island for the dishwasher, and I just love it.”

One of her favorite places in her home is in that renovated kitchen – her pantry. The Pinterest-worthy space has a window

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and a swinging screen door taken from an old area store that was being torn down. “I saw this door when I looked at the house the second time,” she said. “I just fell in love with it. Caroline told me about saving the door and how much she liked it, so I figured she would take it with her when she moved. I was so excited to see it here when we moved in!”

Carter said her other favorite spot is her porch, an expansive verandah that features several seating areas, tables and swings.

“I’ve even had parties on my porch,” she said, “with as many as 50 people out here. I also enjoy sitting out here and just watching the cars and people go by. I just love living on Main Street.”

Carter decorates her front yard for the holidays, and families stop to take pictures throughout the year with the Easter Bunny, Santa and Halloween figures.

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THOUGHTS OF DOWNSIZING Catherine and her husband David have been happy in their historic home on Main Street, but they said they are thinking of downsizing. No matter what, the couple plans to remain in Hartselle – “my law practice is here,” – but they

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said it might be time for a new family to enjoy the house they have loved.

“It has been such a joy to live here,” Carter said, “but this is a huge house for just two people. I think it’s time for a new set of eyes.”

FOOD & DRINK

TIPS FOR GROWING HEALTHY TOMATOES

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

There’s nothing like a big, beautiful tomato you grew yourself in the garden. Harvesting baskets of tomatoes and making a batch of salsa or tomato sauce from your own, homegrown tomatoes is priceless.

Growing heirloom tomatoes, however, can be a tremendous challenge. Here I will share a few tips for helping you keep those little tomato starts strong and healthy as they grow through the season.

PLANTING All tomatoes are not created equal and can have drastically different needs for spacing.

Determinate tomato varieties will grow to a certain point and produce all their tomatoes at once. Those plants are often smaller than other tomato varieties and do great for container gardening.

Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to grow all season long and put out tomatoes all through their growing season. These often need much more garden space than the determinate varieties.

Read your plant information and be sure to give them the space they need or even a little more than you think they need. Crowding tomato plants leads to excess moisture being trapped within the foliage, and that leads to disease. It is also an invitation to slugs, which love your tomatoes as much as you do.

Using a trellis will help keep the plants up and maintain air flow to prevent too much moisture in the plants.

If in prior seasons you have found yourself dealing with blight or disease, you don’t want to plant your tomatoes in the same bed or area. The spores from disease live in the soil, and planting the same things in the same spot year after year increases the odds of having to battle the same problems because you started in a “contaminated” area. Allow that area a couple of years to rest before trying tomatoes there again.

WATERING Tomatoes have a lower need for water than most people think. Watering tomatoes should never be done with a sprinkler, for two reasons. First, when the entire plant gets wet, it increases the ability for disease and fungus to grow. You can’t help it raining, but you can make sure that when you do the watering, it is done at ground level with drip irrigation, a soaker hose or a hand-held wand. Secondly, using an overhead sprinkler (or rain) causes dirt to splatter up onto the lower branches of the tomato plant. That is an invitation to the beginnings of disease on your plants.

Be careful not to over water. Once the fruit starts to form, you should only water them if the leaves look limp during the heat of the day or the top 3 inches of soil are dry.

While tomatoes don’t need a ton of water, they do need soil with a consistent moisture level. How often have you had a gorgeous tomato, almost ripe, just suddenly split right open?

It happens when a gush of water suddenly hits the plant, which causes the tomato to swell faster than the skin and “pop!”

Mulching around your plants is a great way to maintain that even moisture level. It keeps the roots cool and moist and helps lower the risk of splitting. Again, fungal spores overwinter in the soil, so mulching your garden is an excellent way to prevent the soil from splashing up onto your plants when it rains and thus minimize the risk for that as well.

Water your plants in the morning and let them absorb all the water they need before the heat of the day arrives. Once the sun comes up overhead, the warmth will help any excess moisture on the foliage to quickly evaporate.

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A TWIST ON CORNBREAD RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CONTANCE SMITH Cornbread has always been a favorite of mine since I first tasted that golden goodness. Over the years I have made many different varieties of it – until I settled on a favorite, staple version.

My skillet cornbread will always be our family’s favorite.

It is also fun, though, to mix things up and make versions of cornbread that are completely unexpected. Cornbread that’s outside the box – not from a box. I think you will love these twists on an old favorite.

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As the days get longer and you wait for the crocuses and tulips to start peeking out of the flower beds, you can get a jump on spring with these two recipes. They feature the springtime citrusy flavors of lemon, blueberry, lime and coconut. These are both simple recipes to make. The only hard part is deciding which to make first.

SAUSAGE CORNBREAD BAKE This recipe came by request from a reader. She saw a photo on social media and asked me to create a recipe from the photo. It wasn’t the first time I had done this, so I was happy to give it a go. With Conecuh sausage, onion and cheese, this moist cornbread recipe is substantial enough to serve as a meal on its own.

INGREDIENTS 1 lb. Conecuh sausage links, quartered and diced into ½-inch pieces 1 small onion, diced 1 Tb. butter 1 ½ c. self-rising cornmeal ½ tsp. sugar ¼ tsp. chili powder 2 eggs, beaten ¾ c. milk ¼ c. vegetable oil 1 can (14 oz.) creamed style corn 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies 1 ½ c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided INSTRUCTIONS To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9-inch square baking dish, and set it aside for now.

In a skillet, sauté the sausage and onion with the butter over medium-low heat until the onions are tender and the sausage is slightly browned. Transfer the sausage mixture to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess grease.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt and chili powder. Stir in the eggs, milk, oil, creamed corn and green chilies.

Add 1 cup of the shredded cheese and the sausage mixture. Fold it together.

Spread the batter into your prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until it tests done with a toothpick in the center. If it begins to get too brown on top while it is baking, simply cover it with some aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.

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RUSTIC BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD CAKE This cake is a lovely twist on cornbread. It is mildly sweet and has that great texture only cornbread can provide. With fresh blueberries and a crumb topping, you really can’t go wrong with this.

INGREDIENTS 1 c. all-purpose flour 1 c. yellow cornmeal (stone ground if possible) ½ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. freshly-grated nutmeg ¾ c. very finely chopped pecans 1 stick (1/2 c.) unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ c. brown sugar 3 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla extract ¼ c. milk 1 tsp. lemon zest For the topping: ¾ c. all-purpose flour 1/3 c. brown sugar ¼ c. melted and cooled unsalted butter 1 c. fresh blueberries INSTRUCTIONS To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Stir in the chopped pecans. Set this aside for now.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until it is fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks, vanilla extract, lemon zest and milk.

Add in the dry mixture and stir until it is just combined. Gently fold in the blueberries.

Prepare a 9-inch square baking pan by coating it with butter or spraying it with baking spray.

Spread the thick batter evenly into the pan. Set this aside while you prepare the topping.

In a bowl, combine the flour and brown sugar. I find mixing this with a fork to work best. Break up any brown sugar lumps.

Add in the melted butter and mix with the fork until a crumbly mixture has formed and there is no more visible dry flour.

Sprinkle this all over the top of the batter.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a wooden pick tests done in the center.

Cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

This cake is great by itself at room temperature or warm with some vanilla ice cream.

A LOCAL RESTAURANT ON WHEELS

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

On any given weekday, mouth-watering smoke can be smelled wafting from the smoke stack of a sharp black trailer with bold red signage. The aroma of steaks, chicken and more, grilling to perfection, will draw a crowd from all directions.

The Smokehouse Mobile is a food truck owned

by Hartselle natives, Austin and Ashley Johnson.

Austin began his restaurant career at the age of 17 and has worked in steakhouses ever since.

The idea of a steakhouse on wheels came to Austin in 2011, when the area had been devastated

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by tornadoes. At the time, he worked at an area steakhouse restaurant, and it had lost power, like so many around. He and other staff members began transporting food from the restaurant to other locations and, in the process, were detoured through an especially hard-hit area.

Austin said he remembers looking at the homes and feeling how surreal it was. One house was just fine; then the house next to it looked like something had taken a “scoop out of it;� and the house on the other side was untouched.

Driving through the area, Austin said he saw all of the people who were so terribly impacted. It was then he was struck with an idea. He thought, “How can we cook food and take it where it needs to be?” He said he wanted a way to be able to help people like them, and that is when the idea of a food truck hit him.

That day he made the decision to work toward owning one. Five years later, that goal came to fruition – much more quickly than he ever expected it to.

In 2016 the Johnsons launched The Steakhouse Mobile. The restaurant on wheels features grilled meat sandwiches – hand-cut New York strip or sirloin, marinated chicken, steakhouse burgers and more.

Austin spent three and a half years studying everything he needed to know about running a food truck – but he will admit that a month into Hartselle Living 23

actually launching one, his reaction was “Wow!” A mobile restaurant faces many challenges he never had to even contemplate in all his years of working in a brick-and-mortar restaurant – things like the “restaurant” breaking down, blown tires, generator problems, the logistics of storing everything in limited space, water limitations, traffic or even the weather.

Despite the challenges, Austin said he loves what he does. Serving up fresh, hot food right off the grill – “there’s nothing like it.”

Austin said he is still mindful of what sparked his original desire for a restaurant on wheels – to be able to take food to the people who need it, where they need it. He said helping people is an honor, and he gives all the glory to God. The Steakhouse Mobile hosts fundraisers for those in need and even gives out free food for events like “Love Week” at Daystar Church.

Find The Steakhouse Mobile on Redstone Arsenal during lunchtime Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; by the hospital in Decatur; or serving at local events like the Easter Egg Drop at Daystar Church, Depot Days in September, a weeknight fellowship at First Baptist Church or a catering event.

Connect with The Steakhouse Mobile on Facebook for up-to-date information on its location.

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SCHOOL & SPORTS

HEART FOR HEALTHCARE Hartselle High helps students jumpstart their medical training STORY BY LAUREN JACKSON PHOTOS BY JODI HYDE Hartselle Living 25

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From its humble beginnings with 32 students, the Hartselle High School medical academy continues to grow, with 230 students registered for next year and more growth expected.

Slightly different than traditional classes, the medical academy gives students the chance to learn real-world medical knowledge that will help them prepare for careers in the health field.

Lynne Shelton has almost 30 years of nursing experience and is one of the instructors at the high school.

Shelton said the medical academy gives students a chance to explore different careers and get a real look at what the profession is like. “We try to tailor our hands-on experiences to whatever the student wants to explore,” she explained. “We cover all of the basic information that any healthcare worker would need to know. Then in the upper level classes, they try to experience things that they are mainly interested in – especially with our clinical areas.”

In addition to learning in the classroom, students participate in clinical hours that allow them to job shadow professionals in the community. Shelton said clinicals can be especially eye-opening for students. “A lot of times students will say they were interested in this class because they like to watch “Grey’s Anatomy” or that type of show, and that’s their biggest surprise – when they go out to their clinical, and it’s not like that,” Shelton said. “It’s not adrenaline-pumping action the whole time

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you are there. It can be at times, but for the most part it’s just your everyday, run-of-the-mill things that happen in healthcare.”

Jan Langston, another medical academy instructor, said students are learning in an environment that is similar to what they will encounter in college.

“These students have a heads up. Some of the things they are learning, even the basics of handwashing – that is what nursing students learn in their first semester of nursing school,” Langston said. “When these students come in and show me they know the concepts of washing their hands, then they have a heads up if they go to nursing school because they are not so scared in front of that nursing instructor. They have had to stand in front of me already.”

Shelton agreed. “It’s a bigger help when they get into their professional programs; they have already been exposed to the foundational information that is offered for any type of healthcare worker,” she said. “I have students that were in their first year of dental school, and they contacted me and told me they took the same test that we

took on HIPPA and infection control. They got a jump on that. For other students, like nursing students, they have a head start on clinical skills, like taking vitals.”

The students also learn through simulations like those that are used in higher

education and have detailed discussions on the simulations to identify any problem areas, and another way the students are exposed to additional instruction is through Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations

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Students of America. Students take part in additional hands-on learning experiences as well as develop leadership skills through different projects in the community, Shelton explained.

Beyond preparing the students for college, Langston said she wants to prepare the students for the workforce. Through in-class career exploration and shadowing practitioners, Langston said the medical academy allows students to test out the medical field without wasting time and money in college. “You basically want to show them what a working environment is like,” Langston said.

Shelton said she hopes these classes can help students better explore their options. “I didn’t take a class like this in high school; I wish would have had something like this,” she said. “I would not have wasted my time thinking I was going to be an engineer.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

PASSION IGNITES CREATIVITY Shelley Paulsen journeys ‘Behind the Canvas’

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STORY BY HOPE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY DUSTIN MITCHELL

Teaching others how to live creatively while igniting passion to create is the hope and goal of local artist and art studio owner, Shelley Paulsen.

One of the misconceptions about art as a form of creative self-expression, Paulsen said, is the idea that unless one is born “with natural talent,” one is not an artist and has no hope of learning to be one. However, Paulsen said she believes a creative and artistic lifestyle is accessible to anyone. She recalls attempting to draw a horse at the

age of 4 and her frustration at not immediately being able to draw as well as her mother – a defining moment in her life that ignited her passion to perfect her artistic skills and ultimately seek a professional degree. This memory and others like it are what she draws from as she teaches children’s art classes today. “I cannot imagine a life without art or creative living now,” said Paulsen. “A lot of my fondest memories have included either drawing or painting.”

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Although Paulsen had a love for creating art as a young girl, she said she did not become an “artist” overnight. Time, dedication and practice were involved in her development as an artist, and Paulsen expresses her gratitude for the family members who encouraged her to pursue her craft and fostered her artistic nature as a young girl.

She speaks fondly of her mother and grandmother, who provided her with art lessons in high school and supported her in

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her dream to pursue a fine arts degree. “As in many fields,” explained Paulsen, “art is a skill anyone can be good at with some hard work and lots of practice.” While it is true not everyone will go on to become a professional artist, Paulsen said this should not prevent people from living a creative life – which is the belief that ultimately led her to open her art studio, Behind the Canvas, on Main Street in downtown Hartselle in 2015. Paulsen said she wanted to establish an environment where she could share the beauty of art and foster the creativity of others, as well as create and display her own artwork.

The ability to tap into one’s own creativity is something Paulsen said she feels anyone can learn to do. Sharing this passion for creativity is a goal Paulsen had in mind when opening her studio in the Hartselle community. “We loved raising our children here in Hartselle, but over the years I saw a need in this community for more outlets for creative expression,” said Paulsen. She said assisting children in unlocking their own creativity fosters complex problem-solving skills and imagination that will serve them in any career path they pursue. For older adults, art provides similar cognitive benefits, as well as providing them an opportunity to relax and learn a new craft. Paulsen boasts a wide range of ages in her current classes and said she is constantly impressed by the strides her students show through their artwork.

“Creating art can teach us how to think differently, helping us to grow and also to be more aware of ourselves and our environment,” said Paulsen. “Creating can expand our potential, and the more we create, the more our potential grows.”

As a way of helping members of the community express their creativity in ways they might not have considered before, Paulsen offers a variety of activities at her studio, including monthly group classes for ages 6 through adult as well as private and semi-private lessons for extra instruction or for those who feel they work better one-on-one. She also hosts private paint parties and birthday parties in her art studio, which can be requested on an individual basis.

Paulsen said her hope for her students, and for those who visit her studio, is that they gain confidence in their value as unique and powerful individuals. She said everyone experiences creativity differently, and no two pieces of artwork will be the same.

Paulsen reiterates to her students and the community that creating art is not exclusive to those with natural talent but can be learned through desire and dedication.

“If you can write and are able and willing to practice, then I can teach you how to draw,” Paulsen said. Sharing this creative spirit with the community is something she said she looks forward to continuing in the coming years.

To stay up to date on the latest events happening at Behind the Canvas, follow the studio on Facebook at Behind the Canvas Art Studio or on Instagram or visit Behind the Canvas online at behindthecanvasartstudio.com. To ask about classes or to schedule a birthday party or work party, call 256-754-5566.

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A CUT ABOVE

Van Stisher finds success in business treating customers like family

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STORY BY CLIF KNIGHT PHOTOS BY REBEKAH MARTIN

When she was a little girl, Van Stisher had no idea she’d grow up to be a barber.

“I received a ballerina doll for Christmas and immediately wanted to be a ballerina. How far apart can you be?” she recalled with a laugh. “The closest I came to being a ballerina was having to tip toe to reach the tops of the heads of my tallest customers.”

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However, what she missed as a dancer was soon replaced by becoming a leader in a new generation of female barbers – and owner of her own business.

Stisher was introduced to the late Ralph Maner’s Barber Shop when she was a young teenager. “I worked in the summer giving shampoos, answering the phone and sweeping the floor,” she said. “I was paid $40

a week. I thought it was fun.” That job led Stisher to barbering school at Calhoun Community College after she graduated from Morgan County High School. It also opened the door for part-time work while in training and full-time work after graduation with her cousin, Cheryl Hale, owner of Cheryl’s Barber Shop in Morgan Plaza Shopping Center.

“I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Cheryl, another cousin Mark Shaneyfelt and my sister, Libby McCravy,” Stisher said. “It was gratifying to be a part of the family business for 18 years. They contributed a lot to my growth as a barber and helped me gain the self-confidence I needed to step out on my own.”

The opportunity for her and husband Don to purchase an established barber shop on West Main Street from the late Bob White came in 1998 “like a shot out of the dark,” Stisher said.

“Mr. White contacted me and said, ‘I’m thinking about selling my shop. Are you interested?’ I was caught off guard and could only say let me think about it,” Stisher said.

“The offer was something we prayed about and discussed a lot over the next few weeks. I was conflicted because I liked my job and didn’t want my family to think I was turning my back on them. The more I thought about it, the more excited I became, and I realized God was guiding me to make a decision that was in the best interest of me and my family.”

Van’s Barber Shop opened its doors Jan. 4, 1999, with four barbers: Van Stisher, owner/operator; Bob White, former owner; and June and Leigh Ann Thorneberry. White retired later the same year because of health issues.

The current staff consists of Stisher, Thorneberry, Annette Lawton, Amber Caver and Johanna Hopper, plus the newest addition Marshall Miller, who specializes in hot lather shaves and is available by appointment only. “We’re seeing more of our customers growing beards and have been getting more inquiries about hot lather shaves,” Stisher said. “That’s why we decided to bring back hot lather shaves and expand our services with Main Street Shaves and Marshall Miller as its operator.” Appointments may be made by calling Van’s at 256-773-4062 or Miller’s cell phone at 256-755-2040.

“I’m so blessed to be someone who has the opportunity to carry on the rich tradition of barbers from Hartselle’s past,” Stisher said.

The decor of her shop is a model of the past, from the deer horn front door handle to the western saddle that sits in the entryway.

A shelf above the barber’s chairs is lined with used western boots, and the walls are filled with vintage automobile license plates and antique barbershop memorabilia.

A friendly, welcoming atmosphere is appealing to customers.

“You are family when you walk in the door,” Stisher said. “We want your visit to be fun. We want you to feel like you were treated as a member of our family when you leave.”

Stisher said her shop is “fortunate to have a dedicated, experienced staff that goes the extra mile to serve their customers. They play such an important role in our success.”

“There’s not a day that passes that we don’t see new faces,” she added. “I’m told by newcomers that our name was the first to pop up when they went on Google to find a barber.”

Stisher is the wife of Don Stisher, District 3 Morgan County commissioner. They have a daughter, Cassie, and a grandson, Daigen, 11, a fifth-grader who attends Hartselle Intermediate School.

They live on a farm on Highway 55, east of Falkville.

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Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce NEW MEMBER PERKS Did you know new members receive a FREE ad in Hartselle Living? Plus, members are listed in the Chamber’s Membership Directory and receive recognition in the Chamber’s E-Newsletter, Hartselle Living Magazine and on the Chamber’s social media accounts. They are invited to serve on committees and the Board of Directors, attend Chamber events and leave their information in the Chamber foyer, and Chamber staff members only refer Chamber members.

WHY I JOINED “I felt it was important to get involved and meet other like-minded individuals and business owners in the community who had in interest in the success of our community. I also wanted an opportunity to serve our community and our schools.”

—Michael Holifield, State Farm Insurance

NEW MEMBERS The Chamber would like to welcome the following new members: • Colvard Insurance Group • Larry’s Signs • Downtown Southern Sass • The Prayers for Kayleigh Foundation • Storey Automotive • DOC Orthopedics and Sports Medicine New members from Feb. 8 to April 1, 2019 34 Hartselle Living

HARTSELLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/STAFF Executive Committee

Bradley Colburn, Hartselle City Schools Chairman of the Board: Grant McKelvey, Daxton Maze, Hartselle Utilities McKelvey Technologies and Green Pro Secretary/Treasurer: Tammy Lott, Mike Tucker, LifeWork Physical Therapy Redstone Federal Credit Union Pastor Brad Sheats, Life Church Chad Hughey, State Farm Insurance Directors Sherry Floyd, Sonoco Dr. Chuck Gill, Morgan Animal Hospital Janan Downs, Zoey’s Downtown RaJane Hampton, United Country Four Oaks Realty and Auction Dr. Ashley Holladay, Hartselle Family Dentistry

Staff Andrea Owensby, President Kassi Hill, Administration and Events Coordinator

NETWORKING AT NINE The Chamber’s Networking at Nine events are new social opportunities for our members!

Each N@N is hosted by a different Chamber member at his or her business location. They begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately one hour. The event starts with networking with other attendees and ends with a brief meeting that includes new member/ guest introductions, Chamber announcements and updates from Chamber members. In February the Michael Holifield State Farm hosted our N@N, and we were at Behind the Canvas in March. If your business would like to host a Networking at Nine event, contact the Chamber.

HARTSELLE TOURS On Feb. 14 the Chamber hosted its first #HartselleTours event at ICOOL USA Incorporated. Chamber members and community leaders toured the facility on Thompson Road. ICool manufactures high quality refrigerant and refrigerant accessories for the HVAC industry, and it currently employs more than 40 at the growing Hartselle plant. #madeinmorganco

RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Something Blue Shoppe celebrated a ribbon cutting for its expansion Feb. 11.

RAW Images celebrated its new business with a ribbon cutting Feb. 12.

Gilchrist Pharmacy, Hartselle Family Medicine and DOC Orthopedics and Sports Med celebrated their new building with a ribbon cutting March 14.

Storey Automotive celebrated its new business with a ribbon cutting March 7.

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

256. 773.4370  andrea@hartsellechamber.com

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OUT &ABOUT BIG DADDY WEAVE CHRISTIAN CONCERT AT HARTSELLE HIGH

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The Big Daddy Weave concert held at Hartselle High School March 6 was a night of worship for local churches and fans. Donations were collected for two students in the Hartselle/Priceville area who are battling cancer.

PHOTOS BY HOPE THOMPSON 1. Karen and Keivyn Chockley 2. Jamie and Debi Numez 3. Vicky Bellew and Nikki Eddy 4. Charlene Morris and Jan Morris 5. Melanie Finley, Kevin Finley and Chealsie Finley 6. Andrew Nelson and Karen Nelson 7. Kayli Brooks and Nevin Hope 8. Mary Konesky, Patricia Konesky and Vanessa Stacks 9. Nick and Ashley Belpasso 10. Donna Barnett, Cynthia South Berdie Spear 11. Mike and Susan Capps 12. Bradie Hill, Karen Mayer, Harley Mayer and Katlin Mayer 13. Tina Gibson, Johnson Kate Hazel, Truitt VanMeter, Brandy VanMeter, Danny Gibson, Eliza Hazel, Justin Hazel and Tori Hazel 14. Rachel Ryan and Bryan Keenum 15. Ashlee Liles, Sam Liles and Marilyn Liles

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OUT &ABOUT SWAMP JOHN’S FUNDRAISER

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A Swamp John’s fundraising event was held at the Somerville Fire and Rescue facility March 9. The event was held in support of Pastor Patrick McDonald, who suffered a brain aneurysm.

PHOTOS BY HOPE THOMPSON 1. Lindsey Puckett, Wyatt Puckett, Dakota Puckett, Colton Puckett, Derick Puckett and Westin Puckett 2. Thomas Staggs and James Dougette 3. Elisabeth McDonald, Amber McDonald, James McDonald and Abby McDonald 4. Heather McDonald, Joshua McDonald, Taylor McDonald, Rebekah McDonald, Joseph McDonald, Mitch McDonald and Elijah McDonald 5. Kaytlin Parker and Jason Parker 6. Esther Brown and James Bowen 7. Bobbie Jackson and Michael Ray 8. Cody Peebles and Mitch McDonald 9. James Gay and Steven Gay 10. Ryan Holbrooks, Jason Staggs and James McDonald 11. Denise Moody, David Knox and Logan Mortensen

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McDonald is recovering in Atlanta, Ga., at this time.

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OUT &ABOUT

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Mary Poppins was staged at the Hartselle High School auditorium March 28, performed by the Hartselle Junior High School theater club, which is sponsored by Lisa King.

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PHOTOS BY HOPE THOMPSON 1. Sharon Gilbert and Nolan Gilbert 2. Ty Bragwell and Leah Walker 3. Debbie Fowler and James Fowler 4. Jaxson Austin, Thomas Hulsey and Kennon Champlin 5. Casandra Garrison, Dana Sharp and Karen Wingenter 6. Taylor Garrison and Kalin Sharp 7. Pyper Adams and London Adams 8. Mayor Randy Garrison and Lynn Garrison 9. Ed Birdwell and Patsy Birdwell 10. Cindy Louderback, June Hartsell and Dr. Hartsell 11. Dexter Langford and Mary Langford 12. Margaret Melty and Ella Riddle 13. Jeremy Reed and Melissa Bright

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HARTSELLE JUNIOR HIGH PRESENTS MARY POPPINS

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Marketplace Hartselle Living • 256.332.1881

Need appliance or air conditioner parts?

How about a water filter for your refrigerator?We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A1Appliance.com Caregivers & Nurses ALWAYS THERE INHOME CARE Immediate need, Flexible hours, Benefits available. Call for more information 256-539-1400 www.alwaysthereinc. com Carroll Fulmer Now Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers. Over-the-road positions Available. Dry vans. No hazmat. Must have one year over-theroad experience and a clean MVR. Competitive pay and bonus package.

Good home time. Call 800-633-9710 ext. 2

Lenders’ New 1st Time Homebuyer’s Plan at Clayton Homes, Cullman.

You can be APPROVED! 256-734-1930 Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers Competitive pay and benefits.

Pre-employment drug test required Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Call: 205-298-6799 or email us at: jtate@ forestryenv.com G&G STEEL, Inc. is currently seeking qualified Welders & Machinists Apply in person or at www. ggsteel.com Competitive pay and benefits.

EOE-Minorities/Females/ Vets/Disabled

DRIVERS Hanna Truck Lines is seeking Professional Flatbed Drivers. 53 cpm No surprises: Starting pay (all miles): 51 cpm, 52 cpm at 6 months, 53 cpm at 1 year. 100% Outbounds loads Pre-loaded & Tarped.

75% Inbound No Tarp.

Late Model Peterbilt Trucks. Air Ride Trailers.

Home weekends. Low cost BCBS Health & Dental Ins. Matching 401K. Qualifications: 18 months Class A CDL driving experience with 6 months flatbed; Applicants must meet all D.O.T. requirements.

Contact recruiting at 1-800-634-7315 or come

by HTL office at 1700 Boone Blvd, Northport.

EOE

Call today to connect with a

SENIOR LIVING ADVISOR INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

Come work with us as a Caregiver or CNA! Competitive wages, Shift premium for weekends, Flexible Schedules, Friendly Staff, Endless Opportunities, Apply today at www. homeinstead.com/250 or call 256-883-3080 Now Booking! Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Estate, Antique, Farm Equipment and Real Estate Auctions. Call Auctioneer Chris McNatt • ASL#1474 • TSL#5074 • Firm 2652 • 256-8743786 Smith Motors Two locations on Hwy 31, Decatur Lot #1 256-350-9938 Lot #2 256-350-9937 smithmotorsautosales. com

Town Hill Mini Storage 160 Units Vacancies All Sizes 256-332-9928 Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205) 5618118 & get your career started!

White Oak Transportation is hiring CDL-A drivers in your area. Great Pay! Excellent Benefits!

Visit our website www. whiteoaktrans.com for more information EOEM/F/D/V

UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS — Learn the different types of senior care available LOCAL KNOWLEDGE — Our Advisors have the local knowledge to help you hand pick communities in your area SIMPLIFY — Your dedicated Advisor will simplify your search and help schedule tours

A Place for Mom has helped over a million families find senior living solutions that meet their unique needs.

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There’s no cost to you!

(888) 870-9042 ! We’re paid by our partner communities

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WHY I LOVE HARTSELLE

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Maggie McKelvey has lived in and loved Hartselle since she was 5 years old. A graduate of Hartselle High School, Maggie is married to Grant, and they have three children, Barrett, Bragg and Brewer.

Share a little about your educational background.

I am a 2002 graduate of Hartselle High School. I studied at the University of Alabama, where I graduated summa cum laude in biochemistry and math and was a cheerleader and a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.

My family moved from Germany back to Hartselle when I was 5 years old. So I’ve lived in Hartselle since then, minus the eight years I was away for school.

What is your job title, and what does your work entail?

I am a family and cosmetic dentist. My partner, Ashley Holladay, and I own Hartselle Family Dentistry. We see adults and children five days a week, and we love our jobs.

We love our staff, we love our patients, and we have so much fun every day! I also own a Dental Assisting School, where I teach students aspiring to get into the dental field. I have been teaching for seven years now, and this is a true passion of mine. I have always been a teacher at heart.

How did you choose your job?

Funny thing – I actually grew up thinking I did not want to be a dentist. My father is a dentist, and naturally, I wanted to do something completely different. However, I went on a few mission trips with my dad as a teenager and fell in love with helping and loving on people. I still wasn’t sure that dentistry was how I wanted to carry on that desire to help others, but I knew I wanted to have a family one day and not be married to a hospital. When I was at Alabama, I spoke with several physicians who all told me, “You need to be a dentist!” So I finally had to admit to my father that he was right all along – dentistry truly is one of the greatest professions.

What is your favorite place to visit in Hartselle?

I really enjoy history. I love driving around and looking at old houses and visiting historical sites. So when I get some “me” time, I love to drive around and look for old cemeteries.

I could spend hours, and sometimes do, in an old graveyard.

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What is your favorite Hartselle restaurant, and what do you like about it?

My family loves Holy Smoke Barbeque and Pig Skin.

I’ve known the owners of Holy Smoke for a long time, the Hyatts; they are great people and so much fun to be around.

And, of course, the wings are delicious!!

Why do you love Hartselle?

I love living in a small town. I love the history that I have here, that my family has here. I love that I can be in line at Dollar General and the person behind me asks if I’m Tonya Hendrix’s daughter. I love that the mailman walks up to my door to deliver my mail and says, “You have to be Mark Hendrix’s daughter.” I love seeing the people I used to babysit, or teach gymnastics to, or see running around at the football games, grow into beautiful, successful adults. I love the football games now just as much as I did when I was a child. I love that the people of Hartselle are deeply rooted in a devotion to academics, sports, arts and community. Last but definitely not least, I love that my boys are given so many opportunities to thrive as children and as leaders in a successful and supportive school system.

FAST FIVE

How long have you lived in Hartselle?

1. Favorite hobby: Hiking with my family, riding horses and watching Hallmark movies 2. Favorite food: rare steak, guacamole, Starbucks and Denise Lang cake 3. Goal or ambition: This sounds really cheesy, but it’s true: to become a better Christian woman, a better mom and a better wife – and most definitely to travel to New Zealand 4. Church: Fairview–The Grace Place in Falkville 5. Something people might not know about me is: I love all animals. My goal is to have a farm full of them one day

CASH

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