Helena City News by Dave Smith

Hele H elena Ciitttyy New elen Newwss Serving the City of Helena and surrounding area

Fall 2014

Friday Night Lights Husky style...

HILLSBORO TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TRAFFIC FLOW UPDATES

Plans for new traffic light, strategy to alleviate problems inside

CITY FORMS INAUGURAL TEEN CITY COUNCIL

City leaders working to get Helena teens involved in the community

PRESENTING A NEW HELENA GHOST STORY

HHS senior shares her true story just in time for Halloween!

FROM THE MAYOR

Greetings to all! Fall has arrived, and the first year of Helena High School is off to a great start. I would like to take this opportunity to extend congratulations to the High School administration, staff, and all the volunteers and parents who played a part in the successful opening. With the help of our Public Safety Officials and Street Department, travel to and from the new school has been relatively smooth and safe. A lot of preparation and planning has gone into coordinating traffic flow during school and large events at the school, such as

Friday night football. We feel good about how things are going up to this point and I want to thank you all for your patience and assistance. Helena High School Football got off to a great 3-0 start before dropping two games and has seen record numbers of fans turning out to support the program. The band, cheerleaders, and student section are already making their mark as the absolute best in our area. I must say that the Husky Band is one of the best marching bands I have ever listened to; this is unprecedented for a first year program. I know you will all continue to support the program as it continues to get better and better as time passes. I would like to bring to your attention some very important

resolutions that the City Council approved in September. September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and featured the theme “GO Gold”. Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month was recognized as well, as we participated in “The State of Teal” program, lighting up the Buck Creek Bridge and City Hall parking lot with teal lighting. The resolutions supported two very important awareness events and I hope you will continue to support research to help find a cure for these terrible diseases. The month of October will be recognized not only as Dyslexia awareness month, bringing attention to needed research and treatment for this condition. A resolution will be passed by the Council in support of this cause. I am mindful that October is also Down Syndrome and Breast

Cancer Awareness Month. This October will also bring in a new budget year for the City as we look at funding and improving services that are provided for our citizens. In the last budget year the city enjoyed a slight increase in tax revenues and we expect that trend to continue. City Council is working hard to balance the budget and have it passed and in place by the end of this month. I appreciate all their efforts and hard work each year to work out the best spending plan possible with the revenues available. Now on to road projects; ALDOT contractors will begin the Highway 261 /52/17/ & 91 intersection improvement this month. As stated previously, all the major construction will take place at night so that there is as little interference as possible with daily traffic at this busy intersection. The bid for the traffic control device (red light) at the intersection of County Road 52W and Hillsboro was accepted in September and that project will move forward as well. In the meantime police will be on hand to move traffic safely at that intersection during peak school hours this fall, until the light is functioning. I’ll see you at Husky Stadium on Friday nights. And remember to please shop Helena businesses first! Wishing you a blessed and safe fall season,

Mark

Mark R. Hall, Mayor J Smiley, Kelly Rice and Doris Moody pose with Mayor Mark Hall when he made the A State of Teal proclamation, which named September as Gynecological Cancers Awareness Month in Helena.

2 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Helena Huskies’ post-game Headquarters Open ’til 11PM on Friday Home Game Nights! FISH OR SHRIMP TACOS

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Helena Community Center named best in Shelby County Congratulations to the Helena Community Center staff for receiving the Best Community Center in Shelby County award in the annual Best of the Best recognitions sponsored by Shelby County Reporter and Shelby Living Magazine. “We make sure our staff is very accommodating to anyone who is interested in using this facility; we do everything we can to make their experience the best,” said Facilities Supervisor Bill Miller. The staff includes Cory Hall, Rick Rollen, Jon Diviner, Randall Curtis and Lilly Clayton “Everyone has been excited about the long-awaited and recently completed community football field,” Director Jason Powers observed. “Our youth league kids are really enjoying having their own place to play.” Some residents may have only

visited the Community Center at election time, but year-round the main floor/basketball court area as well as four meeting rooms and two cafeteria areas are used for wedding receptions, karate tournaments, birthday parties, art & craft shows, and state-wide police training. An annual health screening is held there and local clubs, such as the Lions Club and Boy Scouts, meet throughout the year. The Band Boosters and other school-sponsored events are accommodated here, as well as The Helena Belles Ball and FatherDaughter Dance. This year, it will also host the first HHS homecoming dance. For the past 18 months, Lilly Clayton has worked as Facility Coordinator. “I enjoy meeting people,” she said. “It’s satisfying to be

involved and help with so many city functions.” Jason Powers, who came aboard last November, schedules all the city athletic programs (separate from school teams) for grades 1-6. Held primarily MayAugust, these teams are coached by volunteers or parents. “This summer saw the first Youth Tennis League, a program provided by the USTA,” Powers said. “It was held on Saturdays and was well-attended. The 6-week fall league now meets Monday evenings and has a maximum capacity enrollment of 25.” “The adult tennis league from summer continues this fall, as well,” Powers noted. “We look forward to growing our tennis program.” “Personally, I’m

proud that the Helena Community Center has received this recognition. It shows that the dedication and the hard work our staff and the city have put into this facility have really paid off,” said Bill Miller. “We look forward to continuing to serve the city in the best way we can for all upcoming events.” Several other Helena businesses and institutions took home “Best of the Best” awards. Rio’s Bar and Grill won Best Bar, Home Plate Cooking won Best Caterer, Beka’s Boutique won Best Children’s Clothing Store, Express Oil Change won Best Oil Change, and Helena Market Days won Best Farmers Market.

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Helena Teen Council aims to amp up teen involvement in city When Kylie Woodman applied for acceptance into the Youth Leadership Shelby County program, an essay prompt on the application got her thinking. ‘What is one thing you could change in your community?’ She responded by saying: “I’d change the problem I think most needs to be addressed: the lack of teen involvement within the city.” With parents as involved in the city as her own (her father, City Councilman Hal Woodman, also runs the popular No Sleep in Helena blog), it’s no wonder Kylie became a Helena Belle and was accepted into the Youth Leadership program. All of this impacted her interest in strengthening community bonds by bringing Helena’s teens into city events, meetings and discussions. “I have great knowledge of the city and how to be involved, and I want to open that knowledge up to the rest of the Helena teens,” Kylie explained. What better way to teach teens about how to become involved in Helena than through the formation of a Teen Council? After discussions with her

father, mother Kyra, and City Councilwoman Cris Nelson, they presented the idea to the city, and everything moved forward quickly after that. “We’ve seen younger kids come to Helena Market Days and express an interest in building programs in the community, and we want to capitalize on that,” Cris said. They are still working out what the council can and can’t, or should and shouldn’t, do. “It’s going to be a moving target.” The Teen Council will hold their own meetings separate from the city council. A general calendar listed online will include everything Kylie, her parents and Cris have decided they want the council to participate in. “These events range from learning about the city itself, going out and volunteering, and creating events or service projects as the Teen Council sees fit,” Kylie explained. This is important, she said, because when volunteering at city events in the past, “I end up working with the same group of amazing adults at each event and

never any new teenagers.” She is sure the Teen Council will help with this issue. “I want teens to be as involved and knowledgeable about the community as the adults that live in Helena.” As this is the inaugural council, the search for members focused on 9th and 10th grade students at Helena High School. Those interested had to fill out an application and write an essay about why they want to be on the council, which will consist of 13 students this year. Each member’s term will last from September 2014 - May 2015. Once the council is firmly established, Kylie said they plan to branch out and ensure that all teens will have an opportunity to apply. Teacher recommendations may also be a part of future considerations. “I hope more than anything that this project will not just effect the students who participate, but all the teens in Helena,” Kylie said. “I want the Teen Council to be advocates and leaders of Helena, to create a stronger Helena, and to really push the boundaries of what

they believe they are capable of.” She continued, “Myself and the city council wish to prepare the teens with the knowledge and confidence to make a difference either here, in Helena, or wherever life may take them after high school, when they are in college.” When Kylie first discussed the idea of starting the council with her mom, they realized it also qualified Kylie for a Girl Scout Gold Award. A qualifying project must “solve a community problem—not only in the short term, but for years into the future.” The awareness and changes in the city that come about as a result of this council certainly have the ability to be far-reaching. “Who knows, a few years down the line, we may have a young adult who was involved with the Teen Council run for city council, and bring a fresh new perspective to the group,” Cris excitedly posited. Congratulations to Kylie and all the selected members of the first ever Helena Teen Council! We look forward to seeing what great things this council will do!

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12 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

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Personal trainer Anna Reimers is a great inspiration and motivator as she works with her clients to help set, reach and maintain their fitness goals through nutritional guidance and fitness instruction. In college,Anna was a Division One athlete in Track and Field and earned her B.S. in Health & Nutrition. Her personal training work began with her just helping friends; she loves training others to be their best. Personal trainer Cindy Dobbins works one-on-one with individuals and also teaches a weekly class that offers a rotating mix of training, that while helping you reach your goals, avoids the trap of getting stuck in a rut with your workout. Segment 1: Butts & Guts— Emphasizes lower body and abdominal strengthening with movements that strengthen the core and provide overall toning. Segment 2: Retro-Robics— Fun cardio movements with both high and low impact exercises. Segment 3: Overdrive—This class will enable you to work

Anna is an ACE Certified Trainer through American Counsel on Exercise and is also CPR/AED certified. Anna, an identical twin, is also married to an identical twin! She and her husband, Christian, have two sons, Christiansen and Carson. Christiansen, age three, is learning about good nutrition and now accompanies his mother as they run together in the park! Give Anna a call now! to a higher potential using drills with hurdles, cones, balls and ladders. It will be taught outdoors whenever weather permits. Segment 4:The Mix— Incorporates timed stations and will also meet outdoors whenever possible. Every class emphasizes good posture and core strengthening, as this is the secret to having fewer lower back issues and more energy for each day. Another perk is having fun along the way and enjoying the camaraderie and support that naturally develops among classmates. Give Cindy a call today!

City of Helena Museum receives new acquisitions New acquisitions are further expanding the collection at the City of Helena Museum, says curator Ken Penhale. A series of family photos and old postcards were donated by Charles Dunnam, the greatgrandson of Robert Thomas Dunnam (1824-1896) who

moved to Shelby County as a young man and purchased a farm at what was then Hillsboro. These show early 20th century portraits and views of the family at leisure. The original Dunham house, purchased by the family in 1867, is captured

in a painting that hangs in the upstairs museum gallery. A postcard dating from February 1908 is a wonderful memento from a trip taken to Hot Springs, Arkansas by Jefferson Davis and his wife, Claudia (nee Dunnan) Ruffin. In this photo-postcard, now enlarged and hanging in the museum, they posed in an ox-pulled rickshaw-type spoke-wheeled cart built of sticks along with their children Dewey (perched on the ox) and Faye, along with the cart driver. The postcard inscription, mailed to Annie Floyd in Helena, says: ‘Dear Annie, As you see we are traveling in an “ox-mobile” and will reach home by 22nd if

we don’t “puncture” a tire. Come and see us. Love to all. Yours, Claudia’ Other photos include a fine photo, dated 1910, of a locomotive pulling a coal car at a mine and a photo of ‘Luke’ Dunnam perched on an Indian motorcycle wearing a sweatshirt with the matching Indian logo. An Austrian china soup tureen belonging to Mirah Hand Dunnam, wife of Robert Thomas was also donated. A new showcase has also been dedicated to Indian artifacts donated by Charles Griffin that were acquired from a private collection. These include a drill that would have been used with a circular stone, several arrows with flint points, and flint-tipped tools—ax, hoe and wooden handle knife. Handmade clay bowls of an early period are also on view. If you have yet to visit the City of Helena

Museum, you will find it educational to stop in and admire these growing collections that retell and illustrate the stories from Helena’s almost 150 years as a city. It is open most Saturday and Sunday afternoons and by appointment. Call 205369-1448 for more information.

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Mayor and council honor local citizens Clockwise from left: Helena High School Cheerleading Coach Rachael Johnson accepted recognition from the council for cheerleaders’ accomplishments at UCA Cheer Camp this summer; Duane Lovelady and Ralph Watkins were recognized for their good Samaritan eﬀorts as rescuers at the South Shades Crest plane crash; the Helena Belles were presented a check for $300 by the City of Helena Farmers Market Committee for the Helena Belle Scholarship Fund; volunteers from the Helena Business Association accepted recognition for the 10th Anniversary of Movies in the Park.

Hillsboro intersection trafﬁc light project update

Helena officials are continuing their efforts to create better “go with the flow” traffic for those navigating the city. Mayor Mark Hall said negotiations with USS Real Estate to install a traffic light at Shelby County 52 and Hillsboro Parkway were recently completed and purchase of the signal box, electronic equipment and poles has begun. The $315,000 project,

which also includes a right turn lane out of Hillsboro Parkway, is being funded by USS Real Estate with the city responsible for some small administrative and engineering fees, Hall said. “The light and the lane are so important, both as safety and convenience factors, with the additional traffic from the new school,” Hall said. “The intersection will be lined up

correctly and lights will be synchronized to assist with traffic flow.” The project has been in discussion for about nine months and included some delays due to engineering changes. With county approval and the completion of the design and engineering segment, the preconstruction phase is currently underway and included the recent awarding of the light installation bid to Stone & Sons Electrical Contractors of Birmingham, Hall said. The poles will be anodized black and without wires to blend with the surroundings, he said. While a completion date has not been determined, Hall said the work will not interfere with traffic and the city will continue to post police officers at the site during high traffic times. Just up Shelby County 52, drivers may have noticed recent survey activity underway

in preparation for another improvement project designed to improve the speed of emptying the city’s five-route intersection by 40-50 percent. The state and city will share the cost of the $190,000 project with Helena picking up 20 percent plus some supervision of the work. The upgrades to the Alabama 261 and Shelby County 52, 17 and 91 intersection will include a thru traffic lane to Shelby County 91and a dedicated left turn lane onto Shelby County 17 from Alabama 261, Hall said. “We will also have an upgrade to the existing red lights and, with all the new technology, drivers will have a much more efficient traffic experience,” he said. According to Hall, construction—which will be at night after 8 p.m.—will begin in October and, depending on weather, take four to 12 weeks to complete.

MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

A Nurturing Christian Environment

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Chase Learning Center & Daycare is a child daycare and learning facility that offers a nurturing Christian environment for your precious children. We strongly believe that encouragement and compassion foster a productive and healthy learning atmosphere, and we are proud to offer that for your children. Call us at 620-1616 to speak with one of our staff members, or stop by anytime to tour our facility and meet some of our teachers. We provide after school pickup in Alabaster, Helena and Pelham and offer reasonable rates for after school care, summer care and holiday programs for children kindergarten through 12 years of age. We also provide infant care, preschool and private kindergarten. Call us today!

Chase P’Pool runs across country to raise money for sarcoma research Chase P’Pool, from Helena and a senior at the University of South Alabama, did a lot of traveling this summer..... on the road..... on foot.... on the run. Chase, 22, and a Pelham High School graduate, joined his longtime friend, Landon Cooper, on a leg of the 2014 Miles 2 Give run, raising awareness and money for research to fight sarcoma cancer. Ewing’s sarcoma can develop in bones, muscles and other soft tissues and affects about 12,000 Americans each year. The cancer

first two weeks I felt done, my body rebuilt itself,” he said. “I was really exhausted, and it was a lot of impact on my knees and joints, but the last week, I felt great and ran 13 miles every day.” Miles 2 Give was formed in 2012 by Landon Cooper, who was also from Helena and once a student at Chase Learning Center in Pelham. The day care center, owned and operated by Chase’s parents, Lorrie and Chuck P’Pool, is named for their son.

makes up one percent of all newly diagnosed cases in adults and 15 percent of pediatric cancer cases. While last year’s event was a 157-day cross country trek, this year’s is a counter-clockwise route along the perimeter of the US, which began April 29 in New York City’s Times Square and will finish there in December. Of that, Chase participated June 27-Aug. 1, running all but two of those days and traveling from Milwaukee to Montana, completing about 10 to 13 miles each day. According to Chase, he wasn’t in the best shape when he got the call to join the team and had never run that kind of mileage days back-to-back. “But I’ve always been active, and I am a runner, and while the

“Landon was older than me but close to our family, and it seemed he was always on an adventure, playing semi-pro soccer and traveling and living all over the world,” Chase said. “Then he lost a close friend to sarcoma cancer and decided helping to raise money and fight the disease was something he wanted to do.” That, and his own father’s battle with cancer, served as Chase’s inspiration to join Landon. The Miles 2 Give team consists of three to four people, including guest team members that rotate in and out during the tour. With an accompanying RV that serves as office, locker room, recovery area and sleeping quarters, the

runners run, one at a time, individual legs of five to seven miles. Each is picked up for a rest period before starting on the next leg,” Chase said. “It’s kind of like leapfrogging but there’s no set number or limit of miles,” he said. “It just depends how you’re feeling and we try to make a team total of about 30 miles per day.” Many days the team is met by local runners and often connects with races being held along the route. “We’d meet families who’ve been affected by this disease and have so many people drive by and stop and talk to us and donate,” he said. “Going through Wisconsin and Minnesota, we met so many people, then in North Dakota, saw very few. But during that time the tour seemed to pick up a lot of momentum through the media and a lot of money was donated.” During his stint on the Miles 2 Give team, Chase also

filmed a video for an internship required for his major in communications. Entitled “What is Life Elevated?”, the video documents life on the team RV—named Life Elevated for Utah’s state motto, where it was purchased. “It was kind of like living on a boat—240 square feet with a tiny stove and tiny bed, and we had ants,” he said. “And when we went through the Great Plains, with oceans of grass, it was really like being on a boat.” Chase received an A for his film project and, though it was tough, he gave his entire experience with the Miles 2 Give tour an A plus. “Funding for something important like this will come if awareness is there, and I would do it again if the circumstances are right,” Chase said. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the best thing I’ve ever done.”

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Jake’s Southern & Caribbean Cafe 3569 PELHAM PARKWAY • PELHAM, AL 35124

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HOURS: MON-THUR: 11am-9pm FRI & SAT: 11am - 11pm NOW OPEN SUNDAYS: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm! 20 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

CALL AHEAD FOR TO GO ORDERS

H E L E N A’ S C O M M U N I T Y O F FA I T H A.M.E. New Bethel A.M.E. Church Highway 261 • 201-5531 Rev. Wilma Merriweather Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM

BAPTIST CrossBridge Community Church Starkey Street (off 261) • 621-2695 Pastors Harris Cook & Bruce Squires crossbridgehelena.com Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday Prayer Service 6:30 PM

First Baptist Church Helena

815 Highway 52 E • 663-7879 Sr Pastor Greg Walker • fbhelena.org Sunday Bible Study 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM

Gospel Light Baptist Church

5781 Roy Drive • 685-0772 Pastor Steve Kilpatrick • glbcbham.com Sunday Bible Study 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

Highway 261 • 663-5257 Rev. Edwin D. Dinkins • mpbchelena.com Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM

New Elam Baptist Church Cunningham Drive • 663-2230 Rev. Lester Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM

Riverside Baptist Church

1919 Highway 52 W • 426-1910 Pastor JJ Stanbridge • rbchelena.org Sunday Worship 9:00 AM Sunday Bible Study 10:30 AM

Shiloh Baptist Church

6700 County Road 13 • 424-4539 Pastor Randy Keef Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM

CHRISTIAN—DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 869 Highway 52 • 426-1233 Pastor Tommy Morgan gracechristianchurch.org Sunday School 9:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Church of Christ at Helena 2499 Highway 58 • 620-4575 Evgs Curtis Flatt & Bryan Moody church-of-christ.org Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:30 AM

EPISCOPAL Lamb of God Charismatic Episcopal

New Vision Christian Church

2383 Highway 95 • 664-4333 Pastor Van C. Houser, Sr. • nvcc4god.org 5140 County Road 17 • 378-8022 Sunday Corporate Prayer 9:00 AM Rev. Glenn E. Davis • lambofgodcec.org Sunday Worship 10:15 AM Children’s Church 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

Voice of Faith Int’l Ministries

METHODIST Helena United Methodist Church 2035 County Road 58 • 663-0111 Rev. Mary Bendall • helenaumc.org Sunday Worship 8:30, 11:00, 11:02 AM

The Church at Cahaba Bend

1560 Cunningham Drive • 663-7396 Rev. Franklin L. Kirksey Sunday Worship 7:00 & 10:00 AM Thursday Bible Teaching 10:00 AM

PRESBYTERIAN Christ Community Church

3721 Highway 52 W • 621-8060 Rev. Lori Carden • cahababend.org Sunday School 9:15 AM Contemporary Worship 10:30 AM

Meets at Helena Intermediate • 621-6248 Pastor Phil Chambers • cccbham.org Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

NAZARENE Trinity Church of the Nazarene

3396 Helena Road • 663-2174 Pastor Mike Ensminger helenacpchurch.com Sunday School 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM

Laurel Woods Dr. & Hwy 58 • 664-4659 Rev. David Shirer • nazarene.ch/trinity/ Sunday School 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Cornerstone Church 2694 Highway 58 • 663-9332 Rev. Tim Trimble cornerstonechurchhelena.org Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:30 AM

Helena Cumberland Presbyterian

Our community of faith offers many services and programs year-round. Please visit the church’s website for additional information about upcoming events and programs.

Attend the Church of Your Choice This Sunday!

Residential Beautification Award–110 Lake Davidson Lane Tucked behind a white picket fence on Lake Davidson Lane in the Cottages of Old Town is the lushly planted yard of Randall and Dianna Strickland, still profusely a’bloom this late season with a variety of perennials. About two years ago, Dianna removed the former overgrown loropetalum and extended new planting areas, creating a continuous rock-edged curved bed. Now there grows a mix of knockout roses, blue salvia, vanilla blue salvia, miniature coral cannas, verbena, lantana, pineapple sage, phlox, zinnias, coneflower, purple Jacob’s Ladder and bougainvillea. “Our front porch is my sanctuary.” Dianna says, “I sit here to de-stress, unwind and sometimes talk to the good Lord.” “When the heat of summer dissipates, the neighbors are out

and about—we all know each other. And when football season rolls around, ours is the ‘go to’ house where we gather around the big screen in back.” Lining the front sidewalk are one-hundred year old daylilies. One hybrid called “Honey” is named after her grandmother. Connecting areas have vinca minor and sedum (turns yellow in fall) ground cover as well as chartreuse creeping jenny. The colors in this new landscape just naturally transition with the seasons, the Stricklands observe. A small pathway of white pebbles allows room for weeding (which Dianna is known to do with scissors) and watering. She also has added the occasional small sculpture and planters with personality, such as the wagon created from an old wooden Coke flat that once belonged to her father.

Other containers dotted throughout at varying heights hold herbs, geraniums and Gerbera daisies. Buster, their Boston terrier and Chloe, their white beagle, have each claimed their own special shady spots. In the front left corner is a bottle tree and just behind is a fountain. On both porch levels hang a variety of wind chimes, sun catchers and hanging baskets suspended from chains of copper bells. A hummingbird vine has entwined itself in massive proportions around the light post, bringing in green, brown and baby hummingbirds in

recent weeks. The garden and porch also are illuminated with glowing colors when dusk arrives. Congratulations to the Stricklands for sharing their happy and colorful yard!

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

River & Cape Montessori Nursery School

When it comes to childcare in Helena, there’s a new kid on the block: River and Cape Montessori Nursery School. It’s the area’s first infant and toddler Montessori program that includes children under 18 months. Director Kelly Thomson touts the school as a place that respects each child’s potential and makes plans to meet each child at his or her developmental level. Kelly, 31, is a native of Helena and a certified Montessori teacher with over a decade’s experience teaching in a Montessori classroom. Her husband, James, also 31, is quite a distance from his native home in Cape Town, South Africa and is truly living the “American Dream.” A golf pro at The Country Club of Birmingham by day, James serves as the school’s resident carpenter, building tiny chairs, tables, and anything in between. The Thomsons decided to open the school after looking unsuccessfully for Montessori infant care when expecting their daughter, Savanna James, now one. “I knew the impact the Montessori Method has on young children, especially in the 22 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

first few years, and I wanted a way to provide that for my little girl as well as other children in the area. Opening a Montessori nursery school was a natural fit,” Kelly says. The Montessori method is based on the premise that children have a natural desire to learn and will instinctively seek what they need to grow and develop. Coupling this with careful observation as well as a prepared environment of natural materials that mimic real life and promote independence provides the perfect atmosphere for learning. When asked an example of respecting the child, Kelly says, “If they are on the edge of completing a lesson or developing a new skill, we don’t rush them through just because the schedule says it’s line time. Their work is important.” “One of the exciting things we are doing is gardening,” says Kelly. “This allows the child to dig in the dirt, which is usually a hit, and it awakens their curiosity about plants: how does a plant grow, how much water and sunlight does it need, can I eat it? All of a sudden, that routine trip to the grocery store becomes a conversation about

where those foods come from.” Naturally, cooking is also a part of Kelly’s curriculum. Simple acts such as tearing herbs from the garden or washing fruits and vegetables give young children a sense of accomplishment and a sense of community as they work on separate parts of the same activity. This also helps them experiment with various flavors and learn about proper nutrition. In addition to gardening and cooking, children are taught practical life skills, grace and courtesy, mathematics and scientific concepts, and they are also encouraged to experiment with art and music. “By offering a wide variety of opportunities

and engaging all of their senses, we can cater to each kind of learner, be it an observer or a doer,” Kelly says. “They each have a place here.” The school received state licensing in August and offers both a standard rate, where the parent brings the child’s supplies, or an all-inclusive convenience rate, where the school provides for those needs. For further information, call 205-542-1424.

River & Cape Montessori Nursery School

The ﬁrst Montessori school in Shelby County to accept infants under 18 months. ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW FOR LIMITED SPACES Monday through Friday • Exclusively for children 6 weeks through the 3rd year Call Kelly Thomson today at (205) 542-1424 to schedule an appointment and tour. “The development of the child during the ﬁrst three years after birth is unequaled in intensity and importance by any period that precedes or follows in the whole life of the child.” –Dr. Maria Montessori Creator of the Montessori Method

For more information, please see our Facebook page.

OUR PROGRAM AND ITS INSTRUCTOR: • Adhere to the methods designed by Dr. Maria Montessori • Take advantage of both indoor and outdoor learning experiences • Plan menus using the “Dirty Dozen” guidelines and support our local farmers • Love and nurture every child that enters our classroom

Every child wants to learn; it’s choosing the right environment that makes the difference. For more information, contact Kelly Thomson at (205) 542-1424 or Email RiverAndCapeMontessori@gmail.com. We are conveniently located in Helena’s Dearing Downs subdivision off Highway 95.

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HUSKY DAY 2014

Youth athletes and cheerleaders broke in Husky Stadium last month with a jamboree event highlighting our local sports teams. The stadium is busy several nights each week as the Huskies compete. Go Huskies!

24 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

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HHS Health Science, Sports Medicine classes Helena High School is not only a beautiful new school with fantastic facilities and a great staff- they also offer the first Health Sciences program focused on Sports Medicine in the state, says teacher and athletic trainer Corey Locke. "We learn first in the classroom, and then the students will actually see us use these techniques out on the field after school, which makes it very effective," he said. The program is the brainchild of Superintendent Randy Fuller and Rene Day, the Shelby County district coordinator for career and technical education, college and career planning, and community partnerships. They approached Dr. Larry Lemak of Lemak Sports Medicine with the idea years ago, during the planning stages of HHS. The idea was to start a program that could expose students to all the different types of medical careers available, and what exactly workers in those different jobs do. If these students see a demonstration from a person in a medical career they might enjoy, and begin learning about it now, they have a much higher chance of

26 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

achieving that goal. “This is a living, breathing program that we actually use on campus, and add to as we figure out what works,” Corey said. Dr. Lemak himself is instrumental in the program, as he will be calling on his vast network of connections in the medical field all around Birmingham to come speak with students at HHS. "Dr. Lemak will connect us with specialists, orthopedists, neurologists, cardiologists, paramedics, nurses and others to come talk with students about what they do in their various professions," Corey said. These visiting practitioners will teach and demo alongside the Health Science and Sports Medicine teachers in Helena classrooms, first and foremost. "Later on, we will also be going on field trips to several Lemak locations, hospitals, clinics and labs so students will be able to see first-hand what good they can do in these fields," he continued. Walking students through videos of surgeries actually done by Lemak physicians is another learning tool they plan to utilize.

Three of Lemak’s brightest–Dr. Amanda Martin, who specializes in Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Dr. Robert Flannery, who specializes in Primary Care Sports Medicine, and athletic trainer Ellen Harris–are at HHS most days. They assist Corey in teaching an after-school sports medicine program which builds students’ cooperation skills and shows them how a professional sports medicine team works together in an emergency. In the pictures to the right and below, Ellen and Corey, who both act as athletic trainers for Huskies football, can be seen supervising students during the after-school program as they practice prepping and loading an individual with a neck injury for transport on a spineboard. Learning lessons and specific

skills like these in high school puts HHS students at an advantage when applying for college or nursing school later on. Faced with the years of school necessary for a medical career, any help to shorten that time can be a blessing. "If you have the goal to be a specific type of physician, go for it," pushed UAB Nursing Career Educator Paula Henry, who came to speak to HHS’s Health Science and Anatomy/ Physiology classes on September 22. "If it doesn't work out, you can fall back on what you learned in all these other medical classes to get any number of other jobs in the field of medicine.” “Really, no matter where you are in life, there is a nursing job that fits your lifestyle," she continued.  Bringing in nurses and medical school representatives to talk to students about studying and working in the medical profession is one of the largest parts of this program. "We want to expose these kids to all the types of healthcare providers that they can be," Corey said.

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It’s football season! Head over to the Helena Sports Complex to see kids of all ages playing football and cheerleading at the brand-new youth athletic ﬁeld! Come out to support our Helena Husky student-athletes!

HELENA SPORTS COMPLEX YOUTH ATHLETIC FIELD

Helena Parks and Recreation Update As the weather begins to cool and the leaves start to illustrate the beginning of Fall, there is plenty of on-going sports and activities throughout the Helena Parks and Recreation Department. Youth Basketball: Registration will wrap up on Oct. 12th. League games will begin in early November and team practices will begin in late October. The basketball league is comprised of teams from Alabaster, Pelham, Montevallo and Calera. Boys and girls are welcomed to register. Games take place during the weeknights. Cost: $140/player (uniform included) - Grades: 3-6th Register online at www. helenaparkandrec.org Mandatory uniform fitting will take place on Wed, Oct. 8th from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Helena Community Center.

Youth Football & Cheerleading: There are 5 youth football teams and cheerleading squads playing and performing as part of the Jefferson Shelby Youth Football League. We have a full schedule of games occurring all over Birmingham on a weekly basis. The new Helena Youth Athletic Field, seen in the picture below and all those to the left, opened on September 9th and has been a big success. Go to www.jsyfl.net to see your favorite teams schedule of upcoming games. Youth Soccer: The Helena soccer program kicked off in mid September with teams ranging from U7 U14. Home soccer matches take place on Saturdays at Penhale Park. The Fall soccer program has 100+ boys and girls playing. The Helena teams are playing as part of the Central Alabama

Soccer League. Tennis: The USTA, partnering with Helena Parks and Recreation, began an inaugural Fall tennis league at the Joe Tucker Park tennis courts. The league is for boys and girls 7-10 years old. The league is taking place on Monday nights. and has 24 participants. The league is completely full due to the high interest level. Tennis courts are open to the public. In order to access the courts, simply go to the Helena Police Department and check out a key to unlock the courts. The courts have lights; please turn off the lights when finished. Fall Baseball/Softball: The Helena Fall Baseball and Softball league started their seasons in late September as well. The Fall baseball league has 9 baseball teams and over 100 kids playing, ranging from tee ball through Minors 9/10 year olds. The Helena teams will be

playing throughout the Fall with other Alabaster, Jemison and Pelham baseball teams. Helena home games will take place at Penhale Park, Joe Tucker Park and the Sports Complex. The Fall softball program has 6 teams ranging from 6U thru 12U. Helenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams will be competing against Chelsea, McAdory, Oak Mountain and Alabaster. Games typically occur on Sundays at the various community parks in metro Birmingham. Home games in Helena will be played at the Sports Complex and Penhale Park. Facility Improvements: Parks and Recreation has replaced 3 batting cage nets at the Sports Complex and Penhale Park. Benches have been added to the Joe Tucker Park Tennis Courts for player seating. If you have questions about any of our activities, contact helenarec@cityofhelena.org.

Sophie Merchant, female football player Meet Sophia Merchant, fourth grader and seventy-seven pound safety for the Huskies City League 105 lb team led by Coach Stanley Funches. “I began playing backyard football with my twin brother Gabe and my older brother Alton and his friends when I was about six,” Sophia said. “First I played touch football, but now I play tackle.”

“I think I would have wanted to try football even without their influence, though, because I just like sports,” she added. Sophia also plays soccer, basketball and softball. When asked the initial reaction from her teammates upon finding a girl on their team, Sophia (whom they call Sophie) said, “Yes, I think they were surprised. They would turn

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to their teammate and say, ‘Oh, you just got tackled by a girl!’” “The guys on the team treat me like one of them now. They are quick to say, ‘Good tackle, Sophie!’” “At school the other kids see me in my jersey and say, “Oh Sophia Merchant with Coach Stanley Funches. my gosh, she plays for me.” football!’” Sophia enjoys watching In the second game, she had Patriot football with her dad, an interception and secured the ball, before going out-of-bounds. Zulfi, and has been known to sneak in watching a little Auburn The team is 3-0 at press time. Sophia shared about the team’s football when he is not around. “Sophia can talk stats,” Zulfi practices, “We warm up and do noted. “And she attends some of “Oklahomas,” and then we have the local high school games, but a scrimmage.” she likes playing more than she She proceeds confidently in likes watching.” detail, “we practice having two Sophia’s determination and linemen blocking two opposite naturally competitive nature are linemen while the running back conducive to carrying her further goes up one hole—wherever the in the sport of her choice as she coach points. The linebacker continues through high school. doesn’t know which way he will “This is only my first season in have to go.” football, and I can’t really know Sophia’s mother Kati shared, yet if I will enjoy it enough to “On Husky Day, some parents keep playing,” she reasoned. who didn’t know this team were Sophia also plays goalie on her asking, ‘Why is this girl dressed soccer team, and her dad says in football pads?’” she is fearless. “She can block; “But,” she continued, “the I have seen her block ten goals. team parents have been great She dives, whatever she needs to and the community generally do—that’s just her personality.” positive, although I worry about This confident young athlete, her every single game.” who has grown up in Helena, “My friends come to my will have the good fortune to be games and support me,” Sophia a Husky through high school smiled, “my best friend since and a part of our ever-expanding first grade comes to my games sports programs. with her mom and they cheer

Boosterthon Fun Run raised $53K

Students at HIS outdid themselves this year—raising over $53K over a two-week period in conjunction with the 2014 Boosterthon Fun Run. Event chair Ali Carson and co-chair Emily McFall were finalizing the numbers on the day of the Duct Tape finale, in which Principal Kathy Paiml and Assistant Principal Genet

Holcomb spent the two-hour lunch period being duct-taped together by students. Each child was given a colored piece of tape representing the amount he/she raised to apply as they wished to their school leaders, who had issued this incentive. Each grade had incentives as well, and classrooms individually

FIRST PLACE MALLORY CATO

chose rewards such as Stinky Feet Day (going barefoot), Pie in the Face, Movie Day, and Popsicle Day. Third grade brought in $20,371; fourth grade $16,035 and fifth grade $14,629, far above the $40K average total estimated from Boosterthon. Classrooms placing first and second were Ms. Melynda Parker’s 5th grade with $3,098 and Mrs. Terri Portwood’s 3rd grade with $2,620. “We calculate that from the 915 students in this school, they raised about $1,703 per lap,” said Ali Carson. “We very much appreciate all the volunteer help we received and want to thank True Value Hardware for donating the 17 rolls of duct tape and Dr. Priscilla Denny for donating all of our Boosterthon t-shirts.”

SECOND PLACE ASHLYN SAVINCKI

Carson also noted some $3,800 in pledges is still to be collected, so that the final total may end up over $55K! The top three students schoolwide were Mallory Cato (Mrs. Parker’s class) who brought in $920, Ashlyn Savincki (Mrs. Portwood’s class) with $490 and Jonah Crutsinger (Mr. Maxwell’s class) with $475. A portion of the funds raised are used for staff development and parent development opportunities. For example, last year a child psychologist was brought in to speak with parents about current issues of concern relating to their children. From the overall amount raised, 5% is given to the P.E. program and each teacher receives 5% for their classroom. Congratulations to everyone at HIS for this outstanding effort!

THIRD PLACE JONAH CRUTSINGER

Home Plate Cooking—Helena’s premier caterer for the holidays With October already upon us, the holiday season isn’t too far off. Do you love eating holiday meals but dislike cooking them? Are you having a party or family get-together and need some help cooking everything on the menu? Helena’s own Home Plate Cooking has the holiday solutions you need! Over the past several years, Home Plate has become Helena’s go-to establishment for great home cooked meals “To Go!” What owner Kay Brashier wants you to know is they also offer holiday and wedding catering (complete with servers) at fantastic rates. With a menu of 17 main dishes, 15 sides, 5 breads, 12 desserts and an assortment of drinks, party trays and other items, Home Plate can put together just about any meal you need. Holiday favorites like

32 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

chicken and dressing, squash or sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, layered cakes and pecan pie are just a few of their most popular holiday menu items. The full menu can be accessed on their website, www.homeplatecooking.com, where dishes have the sizes they are available in along with prices. Customers can order dishes by the sizes listed, or work with Home Plate’s helpful staff to decide what will work best for their event. “You can tell us what dishes you want, how many people are coming, and where the event will be, and we will price everything for you,” Kay explained. The last day to place orders for Thanksgiving is Friday, November 21. The week of Thanksgiving, Home Plate will be open Monday-Wednesday 10:00am-

7:00pm, and closed ThursdaySunday. The last day to place orders for Christmas is Friday, December 19. Home Plate will be open Dec. 22 and 23 from 10:00am7:00pm and on Christmas Eve from 10:00am-2:00pm. It will be closed Christmas Day through January 4. During these two holiday weeks, the restaurant will not be able to provide hot lunches, and only a limited amount of extras will be available. For catering events with less than 50 people, the order needs to be placed at least 48 hours beforehand. For events with more than 50 people, placing the order a week in advance is necessary for stocking and preparation purposes. With a catering crew ready to deliver your meal

anywhere across the greater Birmingham area, no matter where your holiday party takes place, Home Plate can take care of you. Catering days fill up around the holidays, so Kay says to call as soon as you know the date of your event. Visit the website, give Kay a call or drop by the store to plan your holiday meals today!

“If you start with a defined plan, you may finish with less than you hoped, but if you let it be an evolution of thoughts, the end product will be more dramatic,” said Jeff Oetting, owner of the Coal Yard restaurant. “When we first saw the buildings in Old Town, we were intrigued by the fact that they were all contiguous. Our vision for the Ice & Coal Gallery was fairly clear, and that building required less repairs and

construction, so we were able to open it first.” Oetting pointed out that Old Town is somewhat like a strip center – it’s been a progression of independent efforts, with no anchor store, so to speak. “We see that as changing with the opening of The Coal Yard. We envisioned these adjacent spaces where people can co-mingle and enjoy food, wine, music and art.” Some of the custom unique features of the Coal Yard include the restored coal cart (it sat abandoned and languishing for years near Old Town), lighting fixtures created from repurposed chicken feeders, and a handsome upper bar back, circa 1909, reclaimed from an old bar in St. Louis. Tim Robinson, manager of the Coal Yard, said, “we are creating a fun, comfortable space to wine and dine. The interior will be true to the landmark look and rustic charm of this area of Helena. Ken Penhale told us this building has stood for 101 years.” The restaurant menu will feature locally sourced quality food on weekdays from 3-10 p.m. and 3-12 p.m. on weekends. Their chef will create his vision of a good selection of appetizers, salads and entrees plus seasonal specials. There will be a small children’s menu. The entry door will be in the uppermost building on the left. There you will place your order, then choose a table in one of the two buildings. The dining and bar areas are non-smoking. A tiered deck is currently being

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added on the back, where smoking will be allowed. “The Coal Yard will offer a variety of craft beers from the Birmingham, Gadsden and Huntsville areas including Avondale Brewery, Good People, Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer as well as Back 40, a Gadsden product that recently won a Savoy Award,” Robinson said. Also available are mixed drinks and a menu of five to six custom cocktails. The Coal Yard will offer a varietal house wine (purchased by the barrel) as well as bottled selections. “We will have folk and acoustic music, maybe some blues, live on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings on the newly rebuilt stage.” The music selections are designed to be complementary to your dining experience, with occasional headliners combined with a small plates menu. “In the beginning, we will concentrate on dinner, and later segue into adding breakfast and lunch,” Robinson explained. “We envision being a communal destination for residents as well as the extended area. Complimentary valet parking will be available.” Though no official opening date is set, Robinson anticipates October and says it will be well-promoted through social media. “We plan to first have a private event for our workers, employees and their families, followed by a Friday night soft opening for the public. Thereafter we’ll have the ribboncutting and Grand Opening.”

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Helena resident John Schilleci was inducted into the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in early 2014. John was involved in softball for over 40 years. He served as the Secretary of the Central Alabama ASA from 1972 to 1989 and served as Deputy Commissioner from 1982 through 1994. John coached men’s softball teams for eleven years and

women’s teams for seventeen years. His women’s team, the Rookies, went undefeated in league play four consecutive years. John retired from coaching with a career record of 839 wins and 291 losses. John was also inducted into the Central Alabama Amateur Softball Association in 2002. Congratulations on this accomplishment!

Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens announces retirement “I’ve had enough of chasing crooks.” Shelby County’s district attorney for the past 22 years--and an assistant DA in Jefferson County nine years prior to that—Robby is stepping down from his post this month. “I’ll be 65 and it’s been 31 years,” Robby said. “There just comes a time.” While he’ll be leaving office more than halfway through his fourth elected term, he’s got every confidence in his successor, Jill Lee, also from Helena and who was recently appointed to take the job by Gov. Robert Bentley at Robby’s urging. “Jill, who’s been my assistant for about 20 years, is more than well prepared for this job,” Robby said. “She’ll be the first female district attorney of Shelby County and is someone the county will be very proud of.” While the district attorney’s office deals with many different crimes including burglary, theft, robbery and rape, Robby said his career has centered mainly on homicides. “I started doing homicide cases in Bessemer and that’s what followed me for the last 25 years,” Robby said. “I like the hands-on opportunity to deal with people that have been harmed in some way and the opportunity to help a little bit. While all our cases are important, dealing with those victims remaining following a homicide is a special kind of calling.” Personal tragedy—losing his wife of 35 years, Denise, to

cancer in 2007—brought to Robby the opportunity to help himself to even better assist those affected by the loss of loved ones, he said. “I took courses and counseling work with Community Grief Support Service in Homewood, and facilitate a loss group at Riverchase Church of Christ in Pelham,” he said. “I also studied at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa at night and on weekends and received a certificate in thanatology, which is the study of death and dying and enables you to help others with loss and grief. “ It took Robby “a couple of years to get my feet on the ground again” after losing his wife, and his studies have given him a better understanding of what people go through, he said. “I find I deal with homicide victims and families a little differently now,” he said. “I always felt I was empathetic, but life has a lot of roads you don’t understand unless you walk them yourself.” The long road of Robby’s career has led him to countless difficult cases, some drawing national attention. “Probably the most senseless case was the road rage incident

in Shelby County when one woman shot another,” he said. “One lady went to prison, losing her family, while the other lost her life and her handicapped child became a ward of the state.” He also tried a number of multiple homicides. “The one I’ll never forget is the case when four boys killed an entire family in Pelham, including a mom, dad and two girls, ages five and six,” he said. “It ended with the death penalty and it’s these kinds of cases that have made this job a very long ride.” But Robby’s work to better Shelby County wasn’t just around the courthouse: He established “Owens House,” a county advocacy center that offers full time counseling to aid in the recovery of children that have been sexually or physically abused and assists with the prosecution of offenders. He began the “Metro Area Investigators” monthly meeting for investigators from the Shelby/Jefferson County area who discuss problems and issues that can benefit each other. He initiated an on-call program that makes district

attorneys available to all police agencies 24 hours-a-day. He was named 1996 District Attorney of the Year by the Alabama District Attorney Investigators Association. Right now, Robby is concentrating his efforts on his retirement plans, which he quickly admits “won’t include doing anything for the first couple of months.” It will include spending more time with wife, Karen, a Birmingham architect. The two met in a grief group after her husband had passed away from cancer, and they’ve been married four years. “I told Karen I’m going to sell used cars and she said, ‘yeah, right,’’ he said. “But I do know I won’t be sitting around with my thumb in my ear. Far from it, he is looking forward to a life full of his group work, church projects, and enjoying his children and grandchildren, he said. “And I’ll be right here, on Bearden Dairy Farm in Helena, my grandfather’s farm, where my daddy came in 1929 and where I was born and raised,” Robby said. “I built a house here in 1979, and this is where I hope to die.”

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

Matt Blount American Legion Post 555 now serving Helena, Alabaster and Pelham Barry Blount may be a retired Command Sergeant Major now, but he’s still on a military mission of sorts-—as an organizer of the new American Legion Post 555, which will serve the Helena, Alabaster and Pelham area. Barry, who served in the Army from 19762005, said there is definitely an opportunity for an American Legion Post to flourish here. “It will serve men and women from all branches of the service, including those active, in the Reserves and the National Guard,” Barry said. “There are many generations of veterans in Helena, and in the surrounding area, including Pelham and Alabaster.” Chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans’ organization, the American Legion developed from a group of World War I veterans to one

of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Today, membership is over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. Posts are organized into 55 departments, one in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. From its inception, the American Legion has focused on service to veterans, service members and communities, all important elements that can benefit the Helena area. “One mission of the post is helping take care of our vets,” Barry said. “There are many benefits individuals are entitled to depending on their service, qualifications and disabilities, and we would keep them aware of those benefits and entitlements.” Another function of a local American Legion Post is to

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sponsor various youth programs, he said. “These range from citizenship to scholarships to Boys State. In fact, in July one of our Alabama Boys State participants ran for and was elected president at the National event, which is a first for Alabama.” Other American Legion programs include Heroes to Hometowns, which connects local Legionnaires with recovering wounded warriors and their families to provide support, career and education support, and a variety of donation and fundraising opportunities to help veterans and their families and provide college scholarships. According to Barry, participation is the key to a successful post. “We received our charter last month, so now we’re reaching out through word of mouth and education to get a solid foundation of people to join and become involved,” he said. “I’ve met so many veterans from our area, from retired professors to police officers, to plumbers and electricians—I’m hoping we can tap into them as resources. We have to start slow, but work together as a team to insure success.” Barry, with his wife Terrie, also has a very personal motivation in his quest to form a post in the area—the passing of his middle son, Matt, in 2012, from cancer after returning home after service

as a medic in the field in Iraq. “He was only 30 when he died, but lasted over two years after his diagnosis, and the determination he showed coupled with the loss we experienced has influenced me to give back to the community,” Barry said. “An American Legion Post offers so many opportunities to open doors for the youth of tomorrow while helping those who have served our country.” In dedication to Matt’s service, the founding members of American Legion Post 555 voted to name it the Matt Blount American Legion Post. For more information about this American Legion Post, contact Barry Blount at csmblount@gmail.com / 205531-4131.

Easing the trafﬁc ﬂow in Helena One of the hardest issues to work with when introducing a new school is the increased traffic flow, but HHS is prepared. Not only did Helena devise a driving route around the school, but the flow of traffic during pick up and drop off times for several schools in the city have been revised as well, to stem the usual traffic breakdown issues before they begin. According to the Helena Police Department, Chief Doug Jones, Lt. Brad Flynn and several traffic patrol officers met with the administration at HHS to come up with a workable solution for the city. “We have about 800-900 cars coming to the high school now,” Lt. Flynn said. “Since the overwhelming majority of parents drop off their kids, we had to figure something out.” This school year, there is less

traffic on 261 north of Helena Elementary, even at peak school traffic times, because so many high school students are going to HHS now, instead of PHS. The road exiting HHS between the football stadium and the baseball fields, temporarily called Stadium Drive, only allows drivers to exit right onto Hillsboro Parkway. This way, no drivers will interrupt flow by going left across traffic. There are seven dedicated officers each morning to monitor work and school traffic around the city, with at least one directing traffic at each school. With the new traffic flow plan, an officer has now been helping direct drivers across CR52 after dropping their kids off at HHS. “We knew the help there would make up for time lost on Morgan Road due to traffic,”

Lt. Flynn explained. Other adjustments have been made around HES to ease the pressure on 261. Morning drop-off traffic for the school is now directed down to 3rd Avenue in Old Town, where drivers turn onto 2nd Street toward HES. From around 7:00-8:00am and 2:303:30pm each school day, 2nd Street becomes a one-way street for school traffic. Turning onto 2nd St. from the bus lot in front of the school is no longer permitted. Turning

across traffic onto 3rd St. from Northbound 261 is also no longer permitted. In August, a parent told one of the morning traffic officers, “I haven’t seen the traffic flow this smoothly in years!” There is no better indicator of progress than a harried parent complementing a drop-off lane.

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1 0 2 2 F i r s t S t . N o r t h , S t e . 4 0 0 | A l a b a s ter, AL w w w. b h s a l a . c o m

Come Before Winter by Chris VanCleave, Chairman of Helena Beautification Board Every year about this time my mind begins to reflect on the season that has passed; the hard work, the early hours in the garden and the tremendous joy that my garden brings to me. I also begin to reflect on what needs to be done to prepare for the next season in the garden, before the chill of winter takes hold in my Helena garden. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR FALL CLEANUP AND SPRUCE UP: The summer has likely taken a toll on some of your plants and the autumn winds will make their way into your garden, leaving leaves, twigs or other garden debris in your planting beds. Now is a good time to clean them out. Leaves will often become moldy during the mild winter months and can be a problem for you in the spring. Reapply mulch. By now, some of your spring mulch has broken down and needs to be reapplied. Mulch in your garden beds keeps down weeds and helps with moisture retention at the roots of your plants. Remove annuals and replace with fall chrysanthemums. Vibrant yellows, golds and purple hues welcome fall like no other flower in the garden. Once the blooms are spent, we always plant ours in the back garden. Just snip off

the spent booms and plant, and you’ll enjoy them again next year. Here in Shelby County, local garden shops and roadside stands have a great selection. It’s a great time to divide lilies and irises for blooms next spring. Why not share some with a neighbor? Clean your gardening tools. Removing dirt and grime will help extend the life of your gardening tools. Pruners and cutters need to be oiled to keep rust at bay. I am reminded at this time of year of a passage of scripture from the Bible, 2 Timothy 4:21 “Make every effort to come before winter.” This passage is a reminder to me to set things right in my garden and in my life before winter comes. Paul is writing to Timothy to ask him to come. He had left Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus. An aged Paul who was a prisoner in Rome, loved his friend and had a desire to see him one last time. The final conversation I had

with my grandmother was in the late summer of 1987. We stood in the Nashville airport and she cried as she held me tight and told me she would never see me again. I brushed it off and said, “I’ll see you at Christmas.” She just smiled and held my face and stared into my eyes as if looking deep inside my soul. Little did I know it would indeed be the last time I stared

the most of the time you have on this earth. As grandma used to say, “this ain’t no dress rehearsal.” Are there relationships in your life that need to be mended? Loose ends left untied? Are there words unspoken that now need to be said? Just as our gardens get messy, so do our lives. I urge you to take a few moments this fall and reflect upon not only your garden, but

Photo Credit: Charles Prince. Used by permission.

into her beautiful caring eyes and touch the hands of a woman I truly loved. She passed away two days before Thanksgiving and a few hours before my arrival at her bedside. Time is fleeting. I was reminded that day, and a thousand times since, to make

your life and set these things in order that have gone awry with the people around you. You’ll be a better person and will recapture for yourself and them a renewed sense of energy. And hopefully, by the grace of God, you’ll be at peace come winter…

In memory of Jerry Gardner Owensby Jerry Owensby, a former Assistant to the Mayor in Helena, passed away at Marietta’s Place in Manchester, Iowa, on September 17, 2014. He will be interred with military rights at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, near the place of his birth. Jerry served honorably in the Army-Air Force from 1944 to 1946. He retired as a member of management from Burroughs Corporation which later became

UNISYS. Jerry was married to the former Ethel Skinner who died in 2006. Survivors include his two daughters, Margaret Vogt of Manchester, Iowa and Geraldine Murphy of Frisco, Texas. He has six grandsons and five great-granddaughters, and many loving friends and family members across the United States.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Good Neighbor Home / Marietta’s Place or the Alzheimer’s Association.

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

Jared Fuchs wins national 4-H competition:

“Inspire a Future Scientist”

Homeschool student Jared Fuchs cast a spotlight on Helena last month when he won the grand prize in a National 4-H Council and HughesNet video contest titled “Inspire a Future Scientist.” The submitted videos, which could only be 15 seconds long, needed to demonstrate each entrant’s love of science. Ever since going out to look at the stars with his dad for the first time at age 5, Jared has been awed by science. In middle school, he read The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. “I didn’t understand most of what I read, but I thought it was fascinating!” Jared said. “I took my first physics class after that. The benefits you get from learning far outweigh the difficulty of actually learning the math and science.” “Why do I love science?” Jared’s video begins, with Clair de Lune playing lightly on a piano in the background. “It is a search for knowledge, the confrontation of imagination and reality, a way of understanding the smallest of subatomic particles to the structure of our universe. It has 40 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

shown us who we are, and where we are going. That is why I love science.” Clips of a Space Shuttle launch, the moon rover, subatomic particles, New York’s Times Square and outer space provide the backdrop for his video, showing great feats science has achieved and giving Jared’s words more weight. After all videos were submitted, a panel of judges chose their top ten favorite videos. On the contest website, organizers say they chose Jared’s video as a finalist because it “shows how science, from subatomic particles to the structure of the universe, explains who we are and where we are going.” The videos a were up on the 4-H website for several weeks of online voting, with the popular vote deciding the winner. City Councilman Hall Woodman helped alert Helena residents to the contest and kept voting going while the Fuchs were out of town, and thanks to local support for our own scientist, Jared was named the winner. “Congratulations to Jared for creating a compelling and

imaginative video that shows his love of science,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president & CEO, National 4-H Council. “We are thrilled at the amazing number of people who watched all of the videos and cast their votes to pick their favorite young scientist, and we encourage all young people to visit www.4-H. org and find their local 4-H club, so they can be a part of this year’s 4-H National Youth Science Day.” This award may be Jared’s first national recognition from 4-H, but it’s far from his first achievement through the organization. The 17-year-old has been learning, teaching others and working through 4-H since he was much younger. Through the generosity of Hope Christian School, which allows 4-H groups to meet in their classrooms, Jared has taught hundreds of students about science and rocketry, which is one of his biggest passions. “Jared has a true desire to share his love of science with others, and being in 4-H has allowed him to learn he has a love of teaching,” his mother

said. “And he has a much better feel for his career choices.” The grand prize Jared won is $1,000 and a trip to the 4-H National Youth Science Day in Washington, D.C., in October. The 2014 NYSD theme is “Rockets to the Rescue,” putting Jared ahead of the curve already. We can’t wait to see what new initiatives this future scientist will put into practice. Jared’s winning video, along with all others submitted, can be found on the 4-H YouTube Channel’s “Inspire a Future Scientist Contest” playlist, found on the National 4-H channel here: http://www.youtube.com/ user/national4H Congratulations, Jared!

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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL… We’re the Home of the Free Because of the Brave!

SGT Jon M. Aaron

SSG Jay Gortney

4/14 K CO (DET B), UNIT 43671, FPO AP 96426-3671; Al Anbar, Iraq; Karen Dickinson’s son

ARNG; 20th Special Forces; Iraq; April’s husband

SGT Steven M Bennett

USA; Ranger; Scofield BKS, HI; John Gray’s son, Lauren & Ryan Gray’s brother

USA; Paratrooper/Rigger; Fort Benning, GA; Clara & Ken Lorino’s son

APO3 David R. Black

USN; USS Stennis; Bremerton Wa.; Ruth and Perry Black’s son

SGT Brooks Gray

AMN Brad Hubbard

SPC Brad Bokenkamp

USAF Fort Gordon - Augusta, GA Rod & Susan Hubbard’s son

SFC Eric Bond

USA; Camp Liberty, Iraq; Ruth Meadows grandson, Kimberly’s husband, Bonnie Hubbard’s brother

USA; HHB 210 Field Artillery Brigade, 21D: Camp Casey, South Korea; Ed & Amy Bokenkamp’s son

SPC Michael Hubbard

USA; 82nd ABD, 1-504 PIR; Baghdad, Iraq; Paul Zimmerman’s cousin

SPC Eric Hunley

SRA Mitch Braswell

ARNG; 1/167 Inf. Bn Co. B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Mike & Barbara Hunley’s son; late Chris Hunley’s brother

PVT Vincent Brown

ARNG; 1/167 Inf. Bn Co. B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Amy’s husband, Colin & Gavin’s father

USAF; 16th EMS, 16th Special Op. Wing; Afghanistan; Mike & Judi Braswell’s son USMC; Chesapeake, VA; Leonetta Prevo’s son

SGT Dallas C Caviness

SGT Peter J. “Pete” Reese

ARNG; 152nd MP Co.; Lauren’s husband; Kai, Sam, Dalton, Brook & Kaiti’s father

Lt. Colonel David Russell Rigg

ALARNG; National Guard Bureau Headquarters; The Pentagon Shirley & Rusty Rigg’s son & Kim Rigg’s brother

SPC Dwight A Rosse Jr.

USA; 1-32 Cav 1st Bct, Fort Campbell, KY; Dwight & Michelle Rosse’s son, Britney & Carlton’s brother

SPC Patrick D. Sharp

USA; 82nd ABD; Al Asad, Iraq; Shawn Sharp’s son

SPC Ashley Bruce Squires

USA; 3rd Inf. Div., 1-30 Inf.; Ft. Stewart, GA; Jesi Mason Squires’s father, Bruce & Tammy son, Aubrey & Austin’s brother

CPL Rodney Stephens

CPL Michael Jeffries

Lt. Commander David Kang

ARNG; 152nd Military Police Task Force 382nd, Iraq; Andrea & AnnaBelle’s father

2LT John M Traylor, Jr

USAF; 552nd TRS; Tinker AFB, OK; Mark & Karole Traylor’s son

USA; 172 Inf. Brigade; Germany; Rebecca’s husband, Norah’s father, Rhonda’s son & Devin’s brother

USN; Japan; Stanley & Sue Kang’s son, Sunny Kang’s brother

1st Lt. William B. Cofer

USA; Fort Rucker, AL.; Tom Lefebvre’s son

CPO Austin C. Daniel

USA; Sniper Unit of 1-64 Inf; Fort Stewart, GA; Beth Eades’ son, Caitlyn’s husband

2nd Lt Eric C Darrenkamp

USN; USS Curtis Wilber, Yokosuka, Japan; Bond & Lisa McKenzie’s son, Brooke’s brother, Megan’s husband

USA; Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan; son of Louis and Donna Vildibill

2nd Lt. Jacob Allen Meins

USAF, Special Operations Command; Kathy Meins Martin’s son

USAR; Afghanistan; Kathie’s husband, Maggie’s dad, Bette Ward’s son, Michelle (Lin) Saville’s brother

MSG Jacqueline M. Moore

Adam Walton

USA; Fort Campbell, KY; Dorothy & Jim Cofer’s son, Deborah’s brother USN; Norfolk, VA; Mike & Claudia Daniel’s son, Justin, Tatum & Autumn’s brother USA; Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI; Carol Darrenkamp’s son, Jon & Stephen’s brother

LT James Brooks Dickey

USN; Carmel Pacific Ridge, 5925 Linda Vista Rd Apt #1323, San Diego, CA 92110; Charlie & Janie Brooks & Janet & Dennis Dickey’s son

AEAN Benjamin Lee Doaks

USN; NAS Jacksonville, FL; Joe & Tammy Williams’ son, Rev. Clifton & Mattie Taylor’s grandson

LCPL Jared M. Fitzgerald

USMC; 9th Communication Battalion; Camp Pendleton; CA 92055 Rosemarie Butler’s son and Jeff’s stepson, Justin and Tyler’s brother

Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin D. Gilbert USCG, Machinery Technician; Key West, FL; Leslie’s husband, Annette & Dan Duffy’s son-in-law

CW3 Corey Lefebvre SGT Jacob S. Lenoir

Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik B. McKenzie

USA, 387th; Wichita, KS; Leroy E. Lucas’ wife, Cameshia, Shaun, Chibukia & Chris’ mom

SSGT Christopher S. Murphy

USMC; MWHS 3, San Diego, CA; Jack & Karen Murphy’s son, Alyssa’s husband

LT Commander Kimberly A. Oelschlager

USN; US Navy Hospital (Balboa)-Physician’s Asst., San Diego, CA; Ted & the late Sara Oelschlager’s daughter

Chief Petty Officer Termaine J. Pruitt

USN; NAS Pensacola, FL; Termaine Jr, Trevorn, Chelicia & Tristin’s father, Janice & Austin Pruitt’s son

PFC Zachary S Traylor

USMC; 3-23 Inf; Baton Rouge, LA; Mark & Karole Traylor’s son

SGT John Christian Vansant

USMC; VMMT 204 Flightline, MCAS; New River, NC; Keith & Sherill Vansant’s son

SPC James Vildibill

Major Maxwell B. Ward

USN; USS Nimitz; Randy & Peggy Walton’s son, Annalee’s brother

PFC Zachary Walton

USA; 3-1 Cav. Regt. Delta Troop; Ft Benning, GA; Becky Click’s son, Alex Walton & Sydney Mollica’s brother, Amber’s husband

FC3 William J. Welch

USN; USS Lake Erie, Pearl Harbor, HI; Devinne Brooks’ husband

E3 Spencer R. Wood

USN Corpman; Balboa Hospital; San Diego, CA Rish & Christa Wood’s son, Whitney Brown’s stepbrother

E-mail Helena active duty military personnel’s name, address and where they’re stationed to helenacitynews@aol.com. If your loved one has returned, PLEASE let us know so that we can keep our prayer list current. Thank you!

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42 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

MONDAYS Exercise Classes, Helena Senior Center, 10:00 AM Police Explorers, Explorer Training Facility, 4:00-7:00 PM Fire Explorers, Station 2, 5:00 PM TUESDAYS Kiwanis, Helena Senior Center, 7:00 AM; 3rd Tues. 5:30 PM Story Time, Jane B. Holmes Public Library, 11:00 AM THURSDAYS Exercise Classes, Helena Senior Center, 10:00 AM Story Time, Jane B. Holmes Public Library, 11:00 AM

October

10th - Helena Intermediate Fall Festival 5:00 pm-7:00 pm $15 armbands 11th - Helena Intermediate Fall Festival 11:00 am-7:00 pm $20 armbands 13th - Columbus Day–Shelby Co. Schools-No Students, Teacher Workday 14th - Shelby County Schools Parenting Day - Helena McDonalds McLibrary Fundraiser, visit between 5:00-8:00 pm 15th - Helena Elementary Art to Remember (mugs, etc.) Oct. 15-29 16th - Helena Middle vs Riverchase Middle, Husky Stadium, 5:30 pm - Helena Planning & Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 18th - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 19th - Helena Historic Preservation Committee, Helena Museum, 2:30 pm 20th - Helena Elementary Boosterthon Kick-off, 1:35-2:50 pm - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 24th - Helena High vs Central, Husky Stadium, 7:00 pm 29th - HES Boosterthon: 2nd 8:00-9:00; 1st 9:00-10:00; 5K 10:00-11:00 am 30th - Helena High vs Pleasant Grove, Husky Stadium, 7:00 pm 31st - HALLOWEEN–Please be careful and watch for little ghosts & goblins - HIS PJ Readathon & LifeSouth Blood Drive 7:00 am-4:00 pm

November 2nd - Daylight Savings Time Ends, Fall back one hour before retiring Sat. night 3rd - HIS Book Fair Nov. 3-7 - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 4th - Helena Business Association Meeting, 8:00 am, for meeting site visit helenabusinessassociation.com or their Facebook page 5th - Emergency Siren Test, 10:00 am 11th - VETERANS DAY–Municipal Offices & Shelby Co. Schools Closed Garbage will be collected as usual 14th - HES PTO Spirit Day fundraiser, pay $1 to wear your team colors - HIS Coin Drop fundraiser Nov. 14-20 15th - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 16th - Helena Historic Preservation Committee, Helena Museum, 2:30 pm 17th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 20th - Helena Planning & Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 24th - Shelby County Schools Thanksgiving Holidays Nov. 24-28 27th - HAPPY THANKSGIVING–Municipal Offices Closed Nov. 27-28 No garbage collection on Thanksgiving, will run one day behind thru Sat.

December

1st - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 pm 2nd - Helena Business Association Meeting, 8:00 am, for meeting site visit helenabusinessassociation.com or their Facebook page 3rd - Emergency Siren Test, 10:00 am 4th - HES Breakfast with Santa Last Names A-M, 7:00-8:00 am 5th - HES Breakfast with Santa Last Names N-Z, 7:00-8:00 am 6th - 44th Annual Helena Christmas Parade, 1:00 pm

44 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org CityOfHelena

Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club

A Southern Christmas Bazaar Saturday, November 1, 2014 10AM-8PM Sunday, November 2, 2014 12PM-5PM Sponsorships available from $50.00 to $1500.00

More than 50 merchants from Alabama and surrounding states will participate in the premier shopping event. Shoppers will enjoy a wide variety of unique Christmas themed items. Merchants are offering clothing, food, collectibles, decorations and much more. Prepare to be amazed as you browse through Candy Cane Lane, Mistletoe Drive or Jingle Bell Parkway. A Southern Christmas Bazaar is presented solely for the purpose of raising funds to benefit the projects of the Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club. Beneficiary projects will be focused on health, wellness and nutrition in Shelby County. Rotarian volunteers have put together what is destined to be THE event in Shelby County for fun, shopping, decorating and celebrating.

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Daughter of HES teacher receives recognition at JSU Meagan Danielle Harris has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). This membership honor, for first-year and second-year college students, is based on grade point average and class standing. Meagan is a 2013 graduate of Pelham High School and a product of Helena Elementary, Intermediate, and Middle Schools. She is the daughter of Todd and Terri Harris, of Alabaster. Meagan was selected to serve as a 2014-2015 Jacksonville State University Ambassador. She is a leader in the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. Meagan

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Helena Ghost Story -The Worst Babysitting Job Ever Tired of hearing the same ghost stories over and over? A Helena High School senior has a new story–one that actually happened to her–so sit down and buckle up for a wild ride! "Several years ago, I had a babysitting job watching a threeyear-old boy at his house in Helena. I'd watched him before, so this was no big deal," she started. "He had the flu, so he was already in bed on the second floor when his parents left for their anniversary dinner." After a couple inconsequential hours of homework, our narrator heard a loud thump from upstairs. "I thought, 'oh no, he fell out of bed!' and ran up the stairs.... Only to find all the lights are on, and all the doors and windows are wide open, even the ones with child locks," she said. "The little boy was in his bed, asleep." After closing and locking all of the doors and windows, she checked on the sick child once

more, turned out the light, and went back downstairs, thinking this had to be a fluke. "As far as I know, there is no ghost story of someone dying in the house or anything like that," she reasoned. "It's a perfectly nondescript suburban house!" But fifteen minutes later, she heard another loud thump. Once again thinking the boy had fallen, she ran upstairs to find... The same scene. All the lights are on, down to every lamp. Every door and window is open. And the little boy? Fast asleep in bed. "The third time it happened, when I went to turn off the light in the boy's room, he sleepily asked why I kept turning the lights on and off," she said. “I didn't have an answer for him. I decided I wouldn't go back upstairs, even if I heard a thump, unless I heard him start to cry.” Fifteen minutes later, she heard a thump, followed by a small voice crying. She rushed upstairs,

fearing the worst, only to find the same scene once again. Had something or someone heard her thoughts? After another 15 minutes, like clockwork, she heard the thump again. But this time, it was followed by another and another, until ten full minutes of thumping passed by with no sounds from the little boy. Finally, it stopped. After 20 minutes of scared silence, our intrepid babysitter walked through the entire house to find everything as it should be. No errant lights on, all the doors and windows closed and locked, and the little boy sound asleep... So she went back to her homework. "I'd like to say I stayed vigilant, but I somehow managed to fall asleep on the couch," she said sheepishly. Next thing she knew, she was awoken to the front door slamming open and someone running past her up the stairs. "I thought, 'oh no, his parents are home and I'm asleep on the couch

Little Italy’s Pizza–tailgating mecca for hungry Huskies Sharon Irvine has been working in the food business for 15 years, but it wasn’t until she came to Little Italy’s Pizza in Helena that she truly found her passion: running a family-friendly, community-oriented restaurant. “When I first started working at Little Italy’s, I realized this was something I really enjoyed,” she said. “We have a lot of repeat customers because we make each visit so personal.” When former owner Russ Rozof told Sharon he wanted to open another location in Birmingham (called Little Italy’s Pies and Pints) and offered her the opportunity to take over in Helena, she was ecstatic. “This was such a great opportunity– I’ve always wanted to run a restaurant, so this was the perfect opportunity.” Since taking over, Sharon has extended hours until 11:00pm 46 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

on Helena High School football Home Game nights. This hometown pizza palace already puts so much back into the community, it’s no wonder she has decided to make Little Italy the post-game hangout spot for Huskies football. “It’s her pleasure to stay open later on Husky football home game nights for all the hungry sports fans,” Sharon said. “I love seeing happy kids and happy families eating pizza at Little Italy’s.” Located at 131 Ace Place, Little Italy’s is located next to Helena’s True Value Hardware. Every day features a lunch buffet from 11:00am-2:00pm. All the pizza, pasta, salad and breadsticks you could eat– plus a drink and several dessert pizzas to choose

from– for only $7.49. Children aged ten-and-under eat for $4.99 while those three-and-under eat for free.“Everybody loves our Chocolate Chip Pizza!” Sharon said. “As soon as we put it out on the buffet, it’s gone!” On Tuesday nights, they offer a Kids’ Night Buffet from 5:008:00pm. With one adult buffet

instead of watching him!'" She took off up the stairs, apologizing profusely, only to find no parent there. Instead, all the lights were on, all the doors and windows were open, and the little boy was fast asleep in bed. "At this point, I'm scared out of my mind. I turn all the outside lights on and walk the perimeter of the yard, but find nothing." So for the next couple hours, she sat, phone in hand, on the front porch with the door open so she could keep an eye on the outside as well as the inside of the house. There was no falling asleep this time. When the boy's parents finally got home and asked why she was sitting on the porch, she told them about the entire experience. The mother was very apologetic: "I'm so sorry!" she said. "It's never been this bad before, and it's never happened to a babysitter!" She left as soon as possible and never babysat for that poor little boy again. Happy Halloween! for $7.49, up to two kids eat for $0.99 each. Sharon reminds us that Little Italy’s Pizza is also proud to offer free delivery within the Helena City Limits. The phone number is 664-9999. Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am9:00pm. Hours are 11: 00am11:00pm on Huskies’ home game nights.

BEST HAUNTED HOUSE IN Birmingham. An eyewitness account from Warehouse 31

If you love Halloween and the Haunted Houses that come along with it, be sure you make plans to visit Warehouse 31! Housed in the old Marvin’s Hardware building at 3050 Lee Street in Pelham, the state’s newest haunted house is placed perfectly for a night of scary fun minutes away from home. While waiting at the Monster’s Midway, we watched in awe at the performance of Lilly Lace, the dancing fire-eater. A group of zombified hip-hop dancers put on several high-energy performances to remixed Halloween songs, too. Once we had paid and our group was called in, we headed to the 3-D Experience first. The small group they put us in served to heighten the experience. It was a brilliantly decorated maze of hallways, flashing lights and funhouse mirrors and we were never able to see the clowns coming! Wearing 3D glasses, the special effects were amazing, and the frights came unexpectedly—out of nowhere! After escaping from the clowns, we headed excitedly to Rigamortis Rigamortis. Strobe lights and dizzying hallways

lead into a maze of rooms, each depicting a very different mindnumbing scene. The intricate props, smoke, lighting, actors and, unlike other haunted houses in the area, SMELLS, completely immersed us in the story of each room. It seemed as if the characters wandering through Rigamortis were pulled right out of classic horror films, scurrying like spiders along the floor and several of them tried to pull us back in with them! (But not to worry, they are not allowed to touch you nor you them.) As Helena residents, we are always interested in ghost stories from our hometown. We were pleasantly surprised when we realized Warehouse 31 managed to pull in elements from the Helena ghost story on the page to your left. You’ll have to check it out for yourself to see what I mean! All in all, it was a truly immersing experience that came together for a night none of us will soon forget. Be sure to take your family and friends to experience the best haunted house experience in central Alabama before they close Nov. 1!

Scares Galore Around every twisted turn.

enjoy your “last meal at the Monsters midway

try to find your way out——or fill an open grave!

More than just the murals jump out and grab you...

for hours and ticket information, visit www.Warehouse31.com

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

Cross Country Coach Jon Russell The Helena High Huskies are proud to introduce their cross country and track & field coach, Jon Russell. Coach Russell and his wife Brittany made their move to Helena just a few short months ago. Brittney, just out of nursing school, began her career

as a registered nurse at UAB, while her husband got settled into his new position at Helena High School. Coach Russell had a successful college career, running both track and cross country at the University of North Alabama.

Boys’ Cross Country Team: Pictured left to right: (seated) Spencer Hodges, Josh Dickson, Blake Vaughn, Clayton Smyly, Philip Parker; (kneeling) Carter Pierce, Jared Cleghorn, Brannon Owens, Furman Taylor, Bradon Hulsey, Steven Williams, Isaiah Doesey: (standing) Assistant Coach Heidi Kouveras, Grayson Curtis, Casey Pierce, Tyler Treadwell, Quinn Frank, Jacob Lackey, Head Coach Jon Russell.

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Girls’ Cross Country Team: Pictured left to right: (kneeling) Josie Staﬀord, Gabrielle Byrd, Claire Vaughn, Trinity Scozzaro, Cynthia Muriithia, Aszah Preuc; (standing) Assistant Coach Heidi Kouveras, Erin Atkinson, Maggie Lucas, Hannah Johnson, Ashlyn Coats, Maggie Blanton, Anna Elliot, Head Coach Jon Russell.

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LIBRARY DIRECTOR DANIEL DEARING JANE B. HOLMES PUBLIC LIBRARY 230 Tucker Road, Helena • 664-8308

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Story Time EVERY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 AM

HOURS: Monday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM; Tuesday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Wednesday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM; Friday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM-2:00 PM; Closed on Sunday.

Come by for this fun, free program every Tuesday and Thursday! Mrs. Jennie will be here to tell you some great stories and have a good time!

Good day to everyone from the Jane B. Holmes Public Library! The library celebrated another year in our present location! The Jane B. Holmes Public Library turned 27 with a fun Book Sale and FREE refreshments. The Friends of the library and the staff would like to thank the Library Board for volunteering their time to help our library be the best it can be, and to plan for the future. This includes the great effort spent promoting and assisting with the book sale. Special thanks to everyone who donated their time and materials to make our sale a success. The donation program helps our library in so many ways, so remember to bring in your gently used books, movies, or music. Books not added to our collection are sold in our sale, with all proceeds benefitting the library – a GREAT resource! Speaking of resources, school is back in full swing, and remember the library for homework, use the FREE WI-FI, and utilize our computer center. Do not forget to check out some material to read for pleasure! Reading is a great, healthy way to escape for a little while, and it will improve your comprehension skills. We always remind adults and kids alike that the fall is a wonderful time to visit the library. As the days grow shorter, there is more time to read in the evenings, and great books always come out in the fall. So check out what is new by looking on the catalogue or asking a staff member at our library! The library is always adding new material and programs! Check out the web-site at www.cityofhelena.org – Click on Library (Left side of screen) For new residents of Helena, or those of you who have been busy getting youngsters ready for school, remember Story Time! The Jane B. Holmes Public Library is fortunate to have Story Time EVERY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 AM. Miss Jennie is ready to read and have fun! Check us out soon! The Jane B. Holmes Public Library – Your hometown Library! Sincerely, Daniel Dearing, Library Director

Tues., Oct. 14

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mon., Dec. 15

McLibrary Night–Visit the Helena McDonald’s 5:00-8:00PM and a portion of the payment for your order will go to the library! Interested in volunteering for this event? Please call the library and ask for Dan! 664-8308 A Visit with Santa Claus 6:00PM

Check out our calendar at www.cityofhelena.org for more events and additional information!

Stop by soon to check out a book or two, a movie and/or some tunes—we have the classics to the latest releases and everything in between! TITLES JUST IN…

Angels Walking – Karen Kingsbury, The Drop – Dennis Lehane, The Eye of Heaven – Clive Cussler, Eyes Only – Fern Michaels, Festive in Death – J.D. Robb, Murder 101 – Faye Kellerman, The River – Beverly Lewis

GREAT FLICKS…

Noah; Orphan Black – Season 1; The Other Woman; Watsons go to Birmingham; Vampire Diaries – Season 5; Mom’s Night Out; Legends of Oz; Brick Mansions

CLASSIC TUNES TO THE LATEST HITS…

Hypnotic Eye (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers); Sundown Heaven Town Deluxe (Tim McGraw); El Pintor (Interpol); I Don’t Dance (Lee Brice); Between the Stars (Flyleaf); Bulletproof Picasso (Train) We also reserve books, music and audio materials at the Jane B. Holmes Public Library. Ask at the circulation desk or call the library at 205-664-8308 for details.

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FarmerGuard gives back FarmerGuard Pest Control donated $1,032.00 to the Helena High School Band Boosters. The money raised was part of their “FarmerGuard Gives Back” program that raises money for various Helena organizations. “We love our community and are especially proud of the new Helena High School Band and all of the hard work Band Director Jeff Burnside, students, and parents have

put into getting this program off and running,” said owner Alan Farmer. “It's exciting to watch the amazing half-time show and to see one of the area's greatest high school marching bands right here in Helena."

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

Tiﬀany Borden, mother of two, helps advocate for Dyslexia Awareness. The colorful and eye-catching posters of DDA remind us that great minds like DaVinci, Picasso and Alexander Graham Bell were dyslexic and inform us that today, dyslexia is no longer a stigma.

50 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Ramona Rice and Pam Moran are the State Founder and co-founder for the grassroots movement Decoding Dyslexia of Alabama. They are also Helena moms, and have been active at First Fridays and Market Days educating our community about the relatively unknown facts and myths surrounding dyslexia.

“We’re finding that children with dyslexia have frequently been made to feel slow or left behind,” notes Ramona. “It is now well-established that dyslexic children are highly creative out-of-the-box thinkers.” “Twenty percent of the population—1 in 5 persons— has dyslexia,” she continued. “In school, these children need sequenced, explicit, multi-sensory instruction that is evidence-based in order to learn.” The advocates make available handouts that list the signs of dyslexia in preschool, elementary and high school age children, as well as for adults. There is also information compiled by Alabama and National Resources for Dyslexia

and a list of books on the topic, for both children and adult reading levels. An example is Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz. Another Helena mother, Susan Beddingfield, is a tutor for students with dyslexia. Her daughter, Katy, is now a junior and in the top 15% of her class at Montevallo, where she is majoring in costume and makeup design. “Katy,” her mom says, “will talk to anyone about being dyslexic. She is not afraid of failure, but realizes it is part of the learning process.” October has been declared Dyslexia Awareness Month in Helena. For more information visit: www.decodingdyslexiaALA.com

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Hi-yield & Fertilizer Products

UHAUL

Rentals & Moving Supplies

NURSERY

Bulk Goods Mulch Topsoil Sand Garden Soil Gravel Decorative Rock

WE DELIVER!

Got a Sweet Tooth?

Mamma’s Desserts feed the entire family.

From Hwy 11, turn towards Ballantrae Golf Club and look immediately on your left.

Order Yours

Today! Check out our Hwy 119 Alabaster location!

“Meet me at LUNCH MENU 10:30am - 3pm Starting at Just $6.59! Take Home Meals for 4 from $24.99!

LANDSCAPE

PLANTS

Annuals Trees Perrenials Shrubs

Design Instillation Hardscapes Retaining Walls Patios Irrigation

FREE ! ESTIMATES

Like Us:

Facebook Helena’s Landscape Supply and Nursery Look for Our Coupon in Valpak April 2014

4726 Highway 52 in Helena

205.621.5255

Monday-Saturday 10:30am to 9pm

www.joesitalianonline.com

663-4111 21 Weatherly Club Dr.

WANTED

People with BELLY FAT!

Are you at your wit’s end trying to get rid of it? And men, this includes you too! FREE GOURMET DINNER SEMINAR Stress, Hormones, & Health (true causes of belly fat)

Speaker, Lifestyle Mentor, and Wellness Coach, Dr. Farah Sultan, MD Dr. Sultan will tell you about the latest scientific breakthroughs and methods that help you permanently and safely remove unwanted belly fat while quickly reclaiming your health, your youth and your life!

Two Options: Wednesday, October 15th or Wednesday, October 22nd at Seasons 52, 245 Summit Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35243 Bonus Events! Saturday, October 4th with Pat Witting and Saturday, October 25th with Dr. Farah Sultan Protein Shake Demo after the talk at Vitalogy Wellness Center • • • • •

Learn how hormone imbalances-man or woman-can distort your midsection into a large belly and prevent weight loss even with diet and exercise. Learn how hormone imbalances can affect your sleep cycles, carbohydrate cravings and fat burning. Learn why "counting calories" doesn't always work for belly fat. Learn the BIGGEST MISTAKE that people make with exercise that prevents weight loss. LEARN WHAT REALLY WORKS for permanent loss of belly fat and bulges. Safely & Healthily!

Tired of what you see in the mirror? All that dieting hype? Imagine yourself without belly fat!

Farah Sultan, MD

Limited Seating Available Call or email Lisa, Jodi, or Andrea @ 205.413.8599 or rsvp@vitalogywellness.com 2704 20th St. South • Homewood, AL 35209 • www.VitalogyWellness.com

VITALOGY WELLNESS CENTER IS EXCITED TO WELCOME PAT WITTIG TO OUR TEAM. Pat is a board certified nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health and wellness. Pat is passionate about promoting hormone health, weight loss, and wellness. Do you want to make a change to your overall health and manage your weight?

Call today to schedule a consultation with Pat @ 205.413.8599

52 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

WELLNESS CENTER

Be sure to mark your calendars for the ďŹ rst Friday of each month, and make your way down to Old Town Helena for a fun family event!

Essential Solutions, LLC Cris Nelson, E.A.

Enrolled Agent

L-R, Front Row – Joni Kiger, Cris Nelson, E.A. Back Row: Kenyatta Ector, E.A., Charlie Poole, E.A.

Let Our Team Help You With Your Taxes. • Accounting/Bookkeeping Service • Year End Business Reporting • Tax Return Preparation Corporate and Individual

Southern Vintage Market HOME AND GARDEN DECOR

Come see our unique mix of old and new furnishings for home and garden. GLASSWARE • FURNITURE LINENS • YARD ART DECORATIONS

our 1st Don’t miss EN HOUSE P O Anniversaryember 1st! Sat. Nov any cks, and m z Pri es, sna on sale! items

8111 Hwy 119 Alabaster 1/2 Mile South of Publix Open Wed - Sat 10am - 5pm

903-0369

If you have any questions, please give us a call. (205) 663-8686 The “Essential Solution” to all your accounting & tax needs! 138 5th Avenue N.E., Alabaster www.Essential-Solutions.biz

SHINE A LIGHT ON YOUR BUSINESS NOW! REACH 22,400 HOMES AND BUSINESSES EACH CYCLE.

ADVERTISE IN THE HELENA & PELHAM CITY NEWS! Effectively market yourself to EVERY Home and Business in Pelham, Helena & Indian Springs.

Call Dave Smith at 746-1188 TO GET STARTED TODAY!!!

54 Fall 2014 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Join us on the breezy, open‐air patio for live music & Happy Hour Specials! MONDAY - FRIDAY 3:00 - 7:00 MARGARITAS DRAFT BEER DOMESTIC MEXICAN WELLS

$4.95 $1.50 $1.99 $2.99 $3.50

205-982-7281 • TheMargaritaGrill.com 234 Cahaba Valley Road • Pelham, AL 35124

Front row, from left to right – Hannah Montalbano, Cassidy Cato, Jacquelyn Webb, Klaire Thomason, Kenzie Handley, Audrey Ballard, Madison Roussell, Lauren Vines, Carly Stegall, Maddie Rodriguez, Madison Hollabaugh Second row, from left to right – Madison Townley, Caitlin Rutland, Katie Pace, Marianna Stamba, Mackenzie Rosener Third row, from left to right – Summer Lambert, Hayley Johnson, Cameron Jones, Amanda Shirley Back row, from left to right – Mallie Saville, Madeline Akins, Mandy Saville, Parker Freels, Quiana Morre, Riley Busby, Coach Rachael Johnson Not pictured – Gabby Mauterer & Maghan Wilson

Indroducing Helena High School’s ﬁrst cheerleaders Helena High School Varsity and JV Cheerleading squads attended UCA Cheer Camp at the University of Alabama June 24-27. These young women were then recognized at the August 18 city council meeting for their accomplishments at cheer camp over the summer. The awards the Helena cheer squads won are First In Cheer for the

Large Division, as well as the Leadership Award, which is voted on by all the other teams at camp. Cheerleaders who have been named UCA All Americans are Riley Busby, Hayley Johnson, Cameron Jones and Marianna Stamba. All of these girls are on the JV squad.

The MaxCare Van is a Sign that CLEAN is on the way!

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!  CARPET CLEANING  TILE & GROUT CLEANING

CALL US TODAY!

516-8266 www.maxcarecarpetcleaning.com

Landscaping & Maintenance

CLIP & SAVE!!!

(205) 914 - 4196

4 Areas Clean & Protect

Email: mtzlandscaping@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/MTZ.LNM

179

Commercial • Residential GRASS CUTTING BLOWING EDGING HEDGE TRIMMING WEED EATING

LANDSCAPING INSTALLATION MULCH & PINESTRAW FLOWER BEDS SEASONAL LEAF REMOVAL LOT & YARD CLEAN UP

Owner Godfrey McNeely

Living/dining room combinations, combined living areas, great rooms over 250 sq. ft. count as two rooms. Not valid with other promotional offers. Cash value $.0005.

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Fall Edition 2014

Happy Halloween!

SHOP HELENA FIRST!

Helena City News P.O. Box 50, Helena, AL 35080 www.MyHelenaCityNews.com/www.CityOfHelena.org

PRESORT STD. U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 15 PELHAM, AL

MAYOR

Mark R. Hall

CITY CLERK Amanda Traywick

CITY COUNCIL

Leigh Hulsey Pres. Pro-Tem, Place 1 Mike Jones, Place 2 Cris Nelson, President, Place 3 Leslie Bartlett, Place 4 Hal Woodman, Place 5

HELENA CHRISTMAS PARADE

POSTAL PATRON

Send us your articles & pictures! Article and/or picture submissions should be directed to: helenacitynews@aol.com. Photos should be in color, high resolution (just as they come off your camera), and saved as JPEG files. For additional information, call 746-1188.

Saturday Dec. 6 Lineup 10:00AM Parade starts 11:30AM Check out the Helena Christmas Parade Facebook page for latest updates

For Advertising Information, call 746-1188 or Visit Us at www.MyHelenaCityNews.com Opinions expressed in the Helena City News are often those of contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein.

This and every issue of the Helena City News is brought to you by our advertisers! Get your eyes examined by

Dr. Jamie Reid

If you are in need of eye care, you can count on Dr. Jamie for courteous, professional service!

GO HUSKIES!

Helena Vision Care, LLC Jamie Cason Reid, O.D.

5358-A Hwy 17 South • 664-7577 • Fax: 664-7654

JESSE GILLILAND

TREE & STUMP SERVICE

(205) 365-7218

Call Today for Your Free Estimate • 24 Hour Emergency Service • Financing Available • Senior Citizen Discounts • Licensed & Insured

• Prevent Wind & Storm Damage • Dangerous Tree & Limb Removal • Trimming & Pruning • Stump Removal

“Can I Help You With Your Legal Matters?” Elizabeth A. Roland, P. C. ATTORNEY AT LAW

www.elizabethroland.com 267 Village Pkwy, In the Commerce Center at Dearing Downs on Hwy 95 620-1278 No representation is made that the quality of services to be performed is greater than the quality of services performed by other lawyers.

SUNNY CLEANERS & ALTERATIONS

205-620-4809 5135 Hwy 17 Suite D

(corner of Hwys 17 & 58, next to Exxon) • Wedding Gowns • Draperies

See us online @ www.MyHelenaCityNews.com