May 2020 | Volume 8 | Issue 5
DruidCityLiving.com
Tuscaloosa’s Premier Community Newspaper
REOPEN TUSCALOOSA: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH INCIDENT COMMAND
PAGES12-13 INSIDE THIS ISSUE About Us...............2 City.......................3 Opinion...........16 Business...............8
Schools...........6 Community.......10 Food...................22 C ov id-19......19
@DruidCityLiving
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PreK Pals: Learning At Home
Covid-19 Resources:
19 -21 United Way’s Complete List
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How Three Businesses Are Handling the Quarantine
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Taste of Tuscaloosa: What We Are Eating Now
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Druid City Living | May 2020
ABOUT US PHOTO OF THE MONTH CEO
Josh Watkins
Publisher
Hanson Watkins
Editor
Laurie Mundy Perrigin editor@druidcitymedia.com
Account Manager Caroline Ford
caroline@druidcitymedia. com
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For advertising inquiries, contact us at contact@ druidcityliving.com or 205.575.3156 or Jim Watkins at 205.937.0180 Legal: Druid City Living (DCL) is published monthly. Reproduction or use of graphical content without prior permission is prohibited. DCL is designed to inform the readers regarding community news and events. Information is gathered from sources that are considered reliable, however the accuracy is not guaranteed. All articles, photos, etc. submitted become the property of DCL. We reserve the right to edit as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish any material. Any inaccuracies should be brought to the attention of the editor.
CORRECTIONS To report corrections and clarifications, email editor@druidcitymedia.com
For anyone wondering how they can help during the COVID-19 pandemic, two Tuscaloosa business owners prove it is all about a little ingenuity. Soapy Jones, the owner of Left Hand Soap Company, and Jason Spikes, the owner and head brew master of Black Warrior Brewing Company, recently got together to make hand sanitizer for the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency. Druid City Living salutes you both - thank you for your efforts. Photo: Bailey Goodman
FROM THE EDITOR Hi, readers. What an April, right? Obviously we here at Druid City Living are doing everything we can to help bring you pertinent information and resources, and we also strive to recognize those in our community who are going above and beyond to help keep us save from COVID-19. While it’s great to peek into the lives of everyone to see what they’re eating in quarantine (and what they wish they were eating, so thanks, Sheena Gregg for this month’s Taste of Tuscaloosa), I want to remind everyone that unfortunately, many area residents are struggling to put food on the table during these difficult times. If you’re so inclined, consider donating to the West Alabama Food Bank to help them help others. You can also find a full
resource list of the United Way’s Caring & Sharing with ways to help here in this month’s Druid City Living. And, if you’re looking for a one-stop shop for local restaurants or businesses – including whether they offer curbside/take out (and what hours it’s available), check out ttowntakeout.com. It’s a free space where owners can share their information. You’re welcome! Hope you have a wonderful – or at least pleasant – month of May.
Tuscaloosa’s Premier Community Newspaper | DruidCityLiving.com
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CITY
Mayor’s Minute
Over the past month, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything the City of Tuscaloosa has done to respond to the threat of COVID-19 that’s upon our doorstep. I feel immensely proud of the way the City has come together during this extremely tough time. Going into this crisis, I knew beyond a reasonable doubt that this City and its people would rise to meet this unprecedented difficulty with strength, resolve, and togetherness, because that’s what Tuscaloosa does. On April 27, 2011, a horror of a different nature befell our great City. In the aftermath of the immense destruction and suffering caused by the April 27 tornado, I was blessed to be a part of the community effort to rebuild Tuscaloosa. Looking back on that time now, I can see we were also blessed with what we learned during that experience that would help us face uncharted challenges like the one we are facing today. As a local government, we learned valuable lessons about the legal and financial process of declaring a state of emergency. Our team learned how to best work together in an emergency situation. We have defined our emergency response roles and were prepared to meet the COVID-19 challenge with clarity and preparedness. Unlike April 27, the City had time to prepare for this crisis. In the weeks before the pandemic inevitably reached our state, the City put in tremendous work in preparation. I BELIEVE THAT THE LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM APRIL 27, COMBINED WITH THE TIME WE SPENT PREPARING FOR COVID-19 HAS SAVED, AND WILL SAVE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
Another strength of Tuscaloosa’s for which I am eternally grateful is the City’s finances. The COVID-19 pandemic will have an enormous financial impact on Tuscaloosa. The single move of sending home over 25,000 students in the middle of their spring semester costs the City over half a billion dollars in annual revenue. The number of students who abruptly left Tuscaloosa this spring is equivalent in size to the fourth-largest city in Alabama. Local industries are hurting because of this unexpected loss in revenue. However, I firmly believe that sending the students home was the right decision, because we must always choose lives over livelihood. Should this crisis continue into the fall and result in the loss of football season, Tuscaloosa stands to lose an additional $200 million in revenue. But our City’s finances are strong. We have a triple A credit rating, and after April 27, we were able to pay back our $50 million reserves. Once again, our past has prepared us to meet this uncertain future, and for this I am grateful. Finally, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength and determination that each and every one of you have shown during this time. The COVID-19 pandemic is an incredibly tough situation. We are all sacrificing something right now. The heroes on the frontlines – medical professionals, first responders, sanitation workers, and so many more – are sacrificing their own health and safety. But also, each person staying home and missing important milestones is making a tremendous sacrifice. Stephanie and I were so looking forward to watching our daughter Taylor walk across the stage at her high school graduation. I know each of you has made and is still making sacrifices like this. We have all suffered a great sense of loss during this time, but I believe it’s paramount that we maintain hope. I encourage you all to smile, find joy, find something to laugh at, or otherwise take a brief respite when you can. What we all are sacrificing is flattening the curve and helping our community get through this with as little loss as possible. We are #TuscaloosaStrong, and we are in this together. God bless each of you, and may god continue to bless the City of Tuscaloosa.
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Druid City Living | May 2020
BUSINESS How Healthy Is Your Household Financial Index? BY MICHAEL FORD First and foremost, I hope you and your family are healthy and safe – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Throughout this global coronavirus pandemic, the stock market has experienced the wildest roller coaster ride in history. The S&P 500 Index recorded its fastest fall (22 days) of 30% or more in its history. The Volatility Index, or VIX, which represents the market’s expectation of 30-day forward-looking volatility, recorded its highest reading ever on March 16 and remains much higher than normal. Not only have we seen some of the sharpest down days in our history, but we have also seen several of the sharpest up days. Just when we expect the stock market to zig, it zags, and vice versa. The fact is, we cannot control how the stock market, or the bond market for that matter, will perform and what other investors will do. How can you avoid financial motion sickness which can lead to hasty investment decisions? What can you control? The answers to these questions are to have a sound financial plan with an investment policy statement in place. A financial plan provides you the opportunity to: *Assess what’s most important to you and how you want to live during the different stages of your life. *Take inventory of the financial resources you have now and what you need to accumulate or protect for those life stages.
Michael Ford is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Tuscaloosa, AL and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.
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*Set the level of risk you are willing to take along the way based on the time you have and your comfort level with risk. *Determine the legacy you want to leave behind. An investment policy statement documents your investment plan and provides guidance for informed decision-making on investments. The two go hand-in-hand, because much of the investment policy statement is derived from the financial plan. The more committed you are to planning, the more you are in control – even during times like these. By going through the financial planning process, you can acquire your household financial index number – the probability of having enough money to meet your needs, wants, and wishes for as long as you live. Once you have identified it, focus on the performance of that index to determine whether you are still on track to reach your financial goals more so than the performance of specific investments. That’s not to say performance is not important, but too much emphasis on it can lead to rash decision-making. Knowledge of your household financial index can get you through the wild roller coaster ride by looking out into the horizon and giving you confidence that your overall plan can hold up. How healthy is your household financial index? Work with a financial advisor to find out. For more information or questions, mail Michael Ford at michael. ford@raymondjames.com. Any opinions are those of the author are not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk, and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member of New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
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BUSINESS
Tuscaloosa Gives Back: Bryant Bank Donates $50,000 to the Small Business Relief Fund BY KELSEY RUSH
Bryant Bank recently provided a lead donation of $50,000 to the Small Business Relief Fund in support of West Alabama’s small business community. The Small Business Relief Fund is a Community Foundation of West Alabama fund administered by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The goal of the fund is to quickly administer much needed funding to West Alabama’s hardest-hit businesses because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “The hit that our small businesses have taken as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting everyone we know in some way. It’s personal to us at Bryant Bank because Alabama is our home, too,” said Claude Edwards, bank president. “Donating to the Small Business Relief Fund is just one step we are taking to help our customers and our community members through these unprecedented times, and I would encourage others to consider a donation as well.”
Bryant Bank President, Claude Edwards and Bryant Bank customer, Harper Chambers Lumber. Photo: Bryant Bank
Small businesses in West Alabama can apply for funding through the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s website. Certain criteria must be met, such as financial hardship because of COVID-19, employee count, and current standing with state and local government jurisdictions. The business must be located in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa Counties.
“Bryant Bank has always been a great corporate citizen and this announcement is just another example of that. It was critical for our community to take swift action and to use this fund to quickly, yet responsibly, infuse capital into vulnerable small businesses in our community as they begin weathering this financial storm,” said Bobby Bragg, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors and chairman of the Small Business Relief Fund Committee. “Whether you are a business, a foundation, or an individual, we ask others to consider supporting in some capacity as Bryant Bank did.” For more information about the Small Business Relief Fund, and to complete an application for funding, visit Tuscaloosa Chamber.com or call (205)758-7588.
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Because we care....
ABOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
In 2019 alone, the Bryant Bank team invested $600,000 and over 2,500 hours of volunteerism in communities across the state of Alabama, impacting more than 300 organizations. We don’t just say we care about our communities, we live it. We turn banking into thanking every year because we know the power of caring. Why do we care so much? Because Alabama is our home, too. Member FDIC
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Druid City Living | May 2020
SCHOOLS Look for the Helpers: UA Student’s Shopping for Elderly Service Expands to Tuscaloosa BY DCL STAFF
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, University of Alabama junior Michael Arundel was at home on spring break in Chicago. That’s where the 20-year-old got the idea for Leave It To Us, a non-profit organization that helps shop for senior citizens – who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus, and thus not always able to brave the stores for food.
Tuscaloosa coordinators of Leave It To Us are Lauren Shilling, left, and Abbie Ray, top right. Ibukun Afon, bottom right, is the Birmingham coordinator. Photo: University of Alabama
Leave It To Us took off quickly, and Arundel put together an initial group of volunteers to help shop for the senior citizens – by picking up their grocery or pharmacy order. Now, that much-needed free grocery service is getting off the ground in Tuscaloosa, thanks to the efforts of UA senior Lauren Shilling and UA sophomore Abbie Ray. They’re the coordinators for Leave It To Us locally.
The research we’re doing is making it possible for kids like Allie to survive, grow up and make things happen. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.
Children’s of Alabama is dedicated to helping kids live the most fulfilling life possible. We put in a lot of time and training to make that happen.
Shilling, a 22-year-old from Los Angeles double majoring in advertising and communication studies, said she saw a story about Arundel on Instagram and reached out to him to see how she could replicate it in Tuscaloosa. “I left for spring break, but came back here, and I am now quarantined in Tuscaloosa,” she said. “I think this could be great for Tuscaloosa because now that we’re taking classes online there’s a lot of students out of work with a lot of free time. While we’re quarantining and trying to finish out the semester, we can help others.” The Tuscaloosa branch started March 31 and already has 25 volunteers. They are prepared for seniors seeking aid with their grocery shopping or pharmaceutical pickups, Shilling said. And Leave It To Us has also expanded to Birmingham, thanks to recent UA nursing graduate Ibukun Afon, who works at UAB Hospital. Afon says he’s passionate about helping people during this crisis. “Considering that I have an elderly grandparent myself who I cannot see due to risk of exposure, I figured I’d do what I can in Birmingham to help those in need,” he said. “As a nurse, helping others in need is something that we’re constantly doing, and it’s a natural fit to me to want to serve the community in whatever capacity I can when I’m not at the bedside. It’s a God-given purpose.” Those interested in volunteering and seniors in need can contact Shilling and Ray via the organization’s website, covidseniorshoppers.com/tuscaloosa_chapter.html. Other chapters of Leave it To Us are unfolding throughout the country, from Queens, NY to Los Angeles, to Baton Rouge, LA.
1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H B I R M I N G H A M , A L 3 5 2 3 3 (205) 638-9100
ChildrensAL.org
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SCHOOLS
PreK Pals’ Ponderings: The One Where They are Quarantined BY ALICIA JENNE’
Wow. When I wrote to you last month, I never imagined that this quarantine would last longer than the initial April 6 extended date. Well… I think we all know how that turned out. It has been an adjustment for all of us. Teachers have had to learn new platforms to reach students, students have had to navigate online deadlines and class meetings, moms and dads are suddenly doing school and work from home, and everything is turned upside down. Time is such an abstract concept to 4-5-year-olds, so for a while, the PreKPals just thought they were still on spring break. Once the announcement was made to close until August, Mary Agnes’ mom told me, “I just haven’t had the heart to tell her about not going back to the Jenne’ is a Tuscaloosa mom and a actual classroom yet.” None of us could Alicia veteran teacher of little people. She is the find the words to tell them that their year PreK Pals Lead Teacher for PreK#1 at Rock Quarry Elementary School. had been cut short. The Tuscaloosa Area PreK teachers are working hard to provide a little bit of normal for their PreK Pals. Some are reading and recording stories and lessons, some are adding activities to online platforms, some are doing FaceTime and phone calls, some are making packets, and some are sending “Mailbox Science Activities.” All of us are missing and mourning the loss of the sweetest time of the year with the sweetest grade level at any school. I, for one, vow to not take one minute with my little learners for granted, ever again… and I know my PreK colleagues all feel the same way.
Tori and Alex (5) enjoying a nature walk.
Mary Agnes (5) opening “Mailbox Science” from her teachers.
I thought it might be fun to show you some of the many fun things the PreK Pals are doing during this unprecedented situation. I hope it brings you some joy – it definitely brings me great happiness to see how they’re adjusting.
Salih (5) making homemade playdoh from “Mailbox Science.”
Asher (5) journal writing “Fishing at the beach.”
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Druid City Living | May 2020
SCHOOLS Tuscaloosa City Schools Keeps Kids Learning with New Sora App BY DCL STAFF
With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent break from school, the Tuscaloosa City Schools system is trying to help students find new ways to learn while they’re away from the classroom. One such way is a reading service known as “Sora” by OverDrive. Sora is the student reading app, which provides free, 24/7 access to eBooks and audiobooks for grades K-12. The idea, according to Rock Quarry Elementary School librarian Amelia Pilsch, is to engage a student’s mind through reading. “I am so proud that my district already had many supports in place for students before the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent break from school,” she said.
“READING IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE DURING THIS BREAK FROM SCHOOL. IT’S A GREAT TIME TO DITCH ASSIGNED READING AND CHOOSE BOOKS IN SORA THAT SPARK INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT.” RQES librarian Amelia Pilsch says the Sora student The “Sora Sweet Reads” program began on Apr. 15 and will run through July 31. reading app provides a way for students to keep readThe program offers a collection of juvenile and young adult titles prominently ing – even without physically being in the library to displayed in Sora for quick, easy, and unlimited access. check out a book. Photo: Amelia Pilsch Although it’s a subscription service, titles in Sora can be customized and are curated by school librarians. Students can also request titles, and Pilsch says many do. Books can then be purchased frequently and added quickly. “Books in Sora are not just the books our students see in their physical school library but also books kids want to read,” Pilsch said, adding that becoming a “bookworm” is one of the best ways to prevent learning loss. And the best thing about Sora, according to Pilsch? “It provides remote access to a huge library from home, helping to keep our families safe and healthy.” For more information about Sora, visit meet.soraapp.com.
RQES students Savannah H. and Andrew E. (6) enjoy reading eBooks using the Sora app. Photo: Amelia Pilsch
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Druid City Living | May 2020
COMMUNITY Feeding the Frontlines: DCH Foundation Launches Effort to Feed Health Care Workers, First Responders BY DCL STAFF
A
rea healthcare workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic often work long, difficult hours. To show appreciation, The DCH Foundation’s COVID-19 Fund has launched a program called “Feeding the Frontlines,” designed to provide meals for health care workers. The idea behind Feeding the Frontlines is to match people who want to help the DCH Health System and local restaurants at the same time. With a donor contribution of $250 for a single meal or $1,500 for a week of meals, the Foundation staff will connect with a local restaurant, purchase the food and work with DCH’s Volunteer Services Director to arrange for it to be sent to a department at one of the DCH Health System campuses. Now, that program is being expanded to include meals coordination for first responders and other frontline industries, such as police, fire, nursing home, and EMS workers. The DCH Foundation is expanding the Feeding the Frontlines program to also coordinate meals for first responders and other frontline industries such as police, fire, nursing home and EMS workers. It works just as it does with health care workers – DCH’s Volunteer Services Department or a point of contact with the first responders arrange for the meal to be delivered.
Nick’s Kids Foundation participated in Feeding the Frontlines, sending over Full Moon Barbecue to DCH health care workers on April 1. Photo: The DCH Foundation
Contact Brandt LaPish at Elizabeth.lapish@dchsystem.com if you are interested in participating.
EFFICIENT ENERGY WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. At Alabama Power, we want to do all we can to support the communities we all call home. Spending more time at home has become the new normal for many of us, and we want to make it as simple as possible for our customers to be energy efficient while staying comfortable.
We invite you to visit our website to learn how you can save energy and money. Check out helpful resources like our energy usage tracker, easy online bill management programs and energy-saving tips. Alabama Power is here to provide reliable energy you can count on so you can focus on the things that matter most.
AlabamaPower.com/energyusage
© 2020 Alabama Power Company
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COMMUNITY How Tuscaloosa Businesses and Nonprofits Are Making It Through Covid-19’s Disruptions BY HANSON WATKINS
LAURA OLIVER-AGEE OWNER, SWAG SCREENPRINTING
How are you dealing with the shutdown at Swag? We have been doing everything can do remotely. Our screen printing machine is on casters, so we brought it home. Customer service is at home. My graphic designer works at home. The bookkeeper just comes in to cut checks. I guess this has hit you pretty hard? Almost everything we do is for an event... whether it is a T-shirt for a reunion or an invitation for a wedding. We had about a month’s worth of sales canceled in a week and no new sales.
Estella Gray (5), Augusta (2), Patrick and Laura Oliver-Agee wearing Support Small Tuscaloosa T-shirts made at Swag. Photo: Laura Oliver-Agee
How is your business doing? I prayed about what I should do. I wasn’t sure if this was God’s way of telling me to slow down, or if I should battle. That night, I came home and we’d just done “Living with Landon’ - Landon is a blogger we work with in Nashvile. With our T-shirts, we raised $35,000 in just a few days for the tornadoes. So I thought, “Why don’t we sell T-shirts and give the money back to businesses?” We give every business their own link on our site. For every shirt they sell, they get $12 plus we have a virtual tip jar. 100% of the tip jar goes to that business.We have raised almost $50,000 for small businesses. We have over 350 businesses signed up now. Plus I haven’t had to lay anyone off. People can go to www.theswagstore.net to see all the cities and all the businesses that we support.
ALEXIS WILSON DIRECTOR, HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
How are you dealing with the shutdown at Head Start? We work with families with children ages five and under. In terms of teaching the children, we are trying to do videochat, use the Ready Rosie app (clients like it) and are sending home paper packets for those who don’t have internet connections. Most of our clients do not have a computer, but connect with a cell phone or tablet. About 30% of our clients are in rural areas that don’t have internet OR cell phone. We really, really miss the face to face with children. We work with low income families and are worried about the mental health factor. Plus, do they have food? Is there anything going on they need help with? Our families are used to us providing diapers and formula. While stimulus is great, how long will it last for families with a mortgage? Worried about the long term financial impact. So we are trying to make sure they are using the resources, like grab and go meals on a weekly basis. What is it like working at home? It is also an adjustment, just not being around our clients, not being in the mix. We are usually part of the action and on site. I have two children of my own, five and ten, both girls. The educator in me wanted a schedule. We had to adjust that because they were too sleepy. So we adjusted. Now we do Alexis Wilson, Director school after they have played and are more awake in the afternoon. That doesn’t mean they aren’t Head Start/Early Head Start learning, just the environment is very different. We have started to do a lot more hands on activities, Photo: Alexis Wilson like science projects.
KELSEY RUSH VP/MARKETING DIRECTOR, BRYANT BANK
How are you dealing with this at Bryant Bank? About 60% of our staff are working are working remotely. We had a few IT related challenges with ensuring security and printing. Printing is a big thing at a bank. We have a great IT team that is flexible and has gone to homes to set up so employees could work remotely. Then PPP came out and that added a whole level of workload, a workload I have never seen. Bankers working 18-20 days to get the info to their customers, seven days a week. That has been our life the last few weeks. Even our marketing department has even been helping with tracking and sending info to SBA. As of today, we have 937 PPP applications in the pipeline, We were able to get 690 submitted before the money ran out. That was about $125 million in loans just for Bryant Bank. Now we are making sure that all the applications are complete, so we can get those applications in as soon as Congress approves more money for small businesses.
Kelsey Rush, VP/ Marketing Director Bryant Bank Photo: Kelsey Rush
What has been the client reaction? Our customers have been pretty understanding. We have had to have some hard conversations. In terms of the PPP, we used our bankers instead of online portals like many banks. I think our clients have liked that they have had a banker that they could call and work with instead of just an online portal. We really value relationships, both in good times and bad times.
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Druid City Living | May 2020
COMMUNITY REOPENING TUSCALOOSA: THE PLAN BY RICHARD RUSH In late January of 2020, city officials in Tuscaloosa began monitoring and planning for a potential pandemic that was beginning to catch the attention of news outlets across the world. The quick transmission and international spread indicated an urgent need for preparation, even with the only known U.S. case being in the extreme northwest. On March 13, the first case of COVID-19 was documented in Alabama, and the City of Tuscaloosa moved from planning to action, as coronavirus’s spread to Tuscaloosa appeared imminent.
ACTIVATING INCIDENT COMMAND As the domestic spread of the coronavirus accelerated, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox activated the City of Tuscaloosa’s Incident Command Level 1. On Feb. 27, Maddox named Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Chief Randy Smith as Incident Commander. The incident command structure is designed to provide an organized uniform method of dealing with large events, from tornadoes to University of Alabama football games. It’s built to scale up or down as the incident dictates and can even form additional branches, as was needed to respond to an EF-1 tornado that touched down in north Tuscaloosa on Easter Sunday. The city of Tuscaloosa’s incident command responding to the coronavirus is made up seven branches. The first branch is the incident commander and command staff, including a deputy incident commander, a safety officer, a public information officer, an employee advocate, and a liaison. The remaining branches include a planning section, a logistics section, an operations section, finance, project teams, and a special section called Tuscaloosa’s Promise. Tuscaloosa’s Promise is tasked with assuring Tuscaloosa is ready in the event local hospitals reach their capacity. Each section reports up through the command structure to the incident commander. Most incident commands activated by the city of Tuscaloosa are housed in the Harrison Taylor Incident Command Center, a bunker like series of rooms below city hall. But early into this incident, it became apparent that space wouldn’t be the best fit. Incident command and the accompanying staff all moved to the campus of the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, converting the Mercedes Club into a briefing room and the dining room into the command floor. City staff has even converted an office that houses incident command for Amphitheater shows in a makeshift studio where Mayor Maddox hosts his Mayor’s Virtual Townhall Meetings to keep Tuscaloosans informed about the virus and the city’s response.
THE FIRST 10 DAYS At the start of Tuscaloosa’s coronavirus response, things moved quickly. “We were reviewing orders from the Alabama Department of Public Health and Governor’s Office that seemed to be coming out every few hours,” said Scott Holmes, an attorney with the Office of the City Attorney who is assigned to the operations section of incident command. “Conditions began to change quickly, and we were forced to respond just as fast, drafting policy that would normally be worked on for weeks or months in a matter of hours.” In the first 10 days of the crisis, the city of Tuscaloosa went from activating incident command to putting an evening curfew in place to issuing a full 24-hour curfew. Fortunately, the breakneck speed of developments has slowed somewhat, and city staff started in mid-April to begin the planning process for coming out of the 24-hour curfew and reopening businesses.
REOPEN TUSCALOOSA PLAN “We are thankful our state leaders have kept open communication with us throughout their planning process, and they recognize that each city and region in our state is unique, and what’s good for Saraland might not be right for Tuscaloosa,” said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Maddox has tapped Brendan Moore, Executive Director of Urban Development, and Associate City Attorney Scott Holmes with formulating what the city is calling Reopen Tuscaloosa. “It is a huge task,” said Holmes. “We want to be ready to go when it’s time, but we have to get this right. And again, we’re in a situation of taking months’ worth of policy work and compressing it into a week or two.” City staff have been busy working out the details of the plan to be unveiled on Apr. 28.
The city of Tuscaloosa’s Incident Command Center, activated to help mitigate the response to COVID-19, is located in the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Photo: City of Tuscaloosa
“I think our plan will look pretty familiar to people,” said Holmes. “Many of the features you’re seeing on the state and national level will be there, but our plan will be Tuscaloosa’s plan and will be tailored to our community, our resources, and our medical realities.”
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COMMUNITY THE TIMING: THREE PHASES Tuscaloosa’s plan, while still in the drafting stage, will likely consist of three phases that will reopen businesses by category of business. Methods will be put in place to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19. “At this point, the plan is designed to have a minimum of 14 days between each phase. This timing should allow us to gauge the effect of each phase. If we’re seeing increased numbers of coronavirus infections, we won’t move to the next phase, and can move backward if necessary,” Holmes said about the timing of Tuscaloosa’s reopening plan. The city will engage with business owners from various sectors of the Tuscaloosa economy with help from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, using the Chamber’s input to help put the details into the plan. “We want the plan to be as business friendly as possible, ultimately it’s our small businesses that are taking the brunt of the coronavirus related closures, but the absolutely critical feature is that this plan put the health and well-being of our community first. It will not help our local restaurants to reopen, restaff, retrain, restock, and then reclose,” Maddox said.
THE FRAMEWORK City staff is still putting together the matrix that will be used to determine when it is medically appropriate to move forward with reopening and how to gauge when it is safe to move from one phase to the next. “We’re working with a number of local medical authorities and closely with Dr. Robin Wilson from DCH to put together an objective set of numbers to look at to guide us,” Holmes said in describing the framework of the matrix. “It will contain daily new coronavirus hospitalizations, positive test numbers, and medical dates, but will also look at testing ability, hospital capacity, PPE inventory numbers, and other indicators of our local outbreak status and preparedness.” Mayor Maddox is excited to see Tuscaloosa come back to life. “We’re Tuscaloosa, we’re known for packing a couple hundred thousand people into our town. We don’t do sitting at home well, it’s not in this city’s DNA. I look forward to responsibly getting everyone back to work, back to shopping in our local stores, and back to eating in our amazing restaurants, but we have to do it right. We only want to have to reopen Tuscaloosa once.” Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Service EMS Officer Blake Squires works at a computer station inside the Incident Command Center. Photo: City of Tuscaloosa
Richard Rush is the Director of Communications for the City of Tuscaloosa. Photo: City of Tuscaloosa
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Druid City Living | May 2020
COMMUNITY Alabama Armchair Critic: Trolls, Mutants, Lovers, and Spies are on Tap at the Movies BY JERRY ROBERTS
With so many releases being shuffled over concerns about the coronavirus (the new James Bond film, No Time to Die, has been pushed to November) it leaves a diverse group of new films being released. If you’ve got some extra time, you can probably catch many of these new films on demand now. Yes, we all miss going to the movie theater – but it’s great to be able to see some of these new movies from the comfort of our own couches, too. The New Mutants is an interesting step in the Marvel line of superhero films – it’s a horror movie (!) – and it deals with a group of young mutants trapped in a highly secured facility where they try an escape the guards and themselves. The biggest question about this film is where it resides with regards to the other films. It was released through 20 Century Fox, which is owned by Disney, but Disney doesn’t consider it part of the MCU. Common thinking is that this is Disney’s outsider attempt to restart the X-Men series after their acquisition of Fox but without having a horror film as part of their brand name. Either way, it’s an interesting direction for these superhero movies. (Rated PG-13) The Lovebirds is a very strange romantic comedy starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as lovers who find themselves involved in a bizarre hit and run incident. As they spend the night on the lam, they try and figure out how to clear their names and wonder how their relationship will ever survive. (Rated R) Trolls World Tour is a sequel to 2016’s Trolls. Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) discovering six distinct Troll tribes scattered across the globe, each defined by their style of music – Rock, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and Funk. The problem is that two trolls – Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom) and King Thrash (Ozzy Osbourne) – want to destroy the other forms of music so that Rock will reign supreme. (Rated PG) My Spy is finally the movie attached to that cute trailer that everyone saw before Rise of Skywalker. Dave Bautista plays a tough-as-nails spy who gets wrangled into being security for a cute kid (Chloe Coleman). It was originally supposed to come out last August but got pushed to January, then March, and then finally to April as an Amazon Prime release. Either way, it seems to have finally found a home. (Rated PG-13) Antebellum is a bizarre concept from the producers of Get Out and Us. It stars Janelle Monáe as a successful author who finds herself trapped in a twisting reality that eventually finds her as a slave working in the cotton fields of the Antebellum south. (Not Yet Rated) Jerry Roberts is an Alabama movie critic and movie fan who believes in Birth-Movies-Death. He is the historian for armchaircinema.com, armchairoscars.com, and he has a blog at overthinkingoscar.wordpress.com.
Why sit in a waiting room when you’re not feeling well? With our new online check-in, you don’t have to. We text your estimated wait time. When you reach the front of the line, you receive a text to let you know you’re next. Now you can wait where you want. SOUTH 5005 Oscar Baxter Dr. Tuscaloosa 205.343.2225
NORTH 3909 McFarland Blvd. Northport WE ACCEPT 205.333.1993
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COMMUNITY
Family Counseling Service: Coping with Major Life Changes in the Wake of Coronavirus BY LARRY DEAVERS
Every American has been impacted by the CODIV-19 virus and our national and local response to it. The last several weeks have created a great deal of unexpected change and uncertainty in a very short period, which can leave any one of us feeling a bit unnerved. Though circumstances can seem daunting, each of us has dealt with difficult and uncertain situations at other points in our lives. One of your strongest assets in dealing with the suddenness and comprehensiveness of this change is knowing that, though the nation going through it all together is something that has not been experienced since WWII, you as an individual have survived and conquered other trying times, perhaps even on multiple occasions. Now is the time to draw on that experience. Remind yourself that you can make it through tough situations, and you have – even when you thought they demanded more than you could give. Below are some ideas to remind you of strengths you may have forgotten and strategies that you may just need to dust off to manage this latest trial. Larry Deavers is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of Family Counseling Service of West Alabama.
Focus on what you can control. Give yourself permission to be a bit on-edge. It would be unusual if you
were not, at least a little. When those thoughts go through your mind that say, “What are you going to do?” “How will we survive?” “We are going to lose everything!” simply try to recognize that those thoughts are to be expected, but they are likely based in more of an emotional reaction than on actual facts.
Yes, there are legitimate problems, inconveniences, and even threats to our health, but the odds are still greatly on your side.
Manage your thoughts. Rather than giving in to your self-defeating thoughts and allowing your anxiety and fear to run rampant, make an
intentional effort to reign in those thoughts. Challenge them with more practical, factual observations. “This is only temporary.” “We are going to get through this.” “The most likely outcome is very much in our favor.” Avoid giving into the temptation to just sit and dwell on the worstcase scenario. The old adage that 90% of the things we worry about never happens is absolutely true.
Keep a regular schedule and routine as much as possible. If you are working from home, try to stick to your normal
sleep and work schedule. Put safeguards in place that allow you to focus on getting work done, such as an established workstation, rules about interruptions from family, avoid taking personal calls while you are working, etc.
NATURE
Even if you are not working from home, a routine for each day will boost your sense of confidence, accomplishment, and purpose. Giving in to treating every day like Saturday diminishes your sense of meaning very quickly.
Include some physical activity in every day. What you
WALK
Take advantage of this opportunity. Use this time to make
HIKE
choose is up to you, but getting your blood pumping and your heart rate up for a little while does wonders to improve your mood, focus, energy level, self-confidence and general sense of well-being. You will be imminently more prepared to deal with stress, and you will find that the stress does not seem so overwhelming. You may even discover that it improves your sleep.
connections with old friends online or by phone. Re-invest some of that pent-up energy into your family relationships. Do something special with your spouse. Get some of those tasks done at home you have been putting off. We often wait until we feel like doing something to get started. The truth is that motivation most often comes after we take those first steps to get something done. Once you begin working on that project, doing some spring cleaning, re-claiming that old storage room, or setting up your man-cave, when you get over that initial hump, your motivation will kick in and you will be surprised at what you can get done and how much accomplishment you feel afterwards.
BIKE
GET
OUT SIDE
RUN
JUMP
Be safe. Stay happy. DISCOVER YOUR PARKS tcpara.org
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Druid City Living | May 2020
OPINION Give Life to Your Story: Quality Quarantine Time (and Beyond) BY JEREMY WILSON
“I
’m sorry son, I just don’t have time to do that right now.” How many times have we uttered some form of this phrase to a family member? Now insert the quarantine. Many of us are flooded with more home hours than we ever thought possible. I find myself asking, “Now what? How do I begin this trend of quality time? Why does this feel so unnatural? Who are these kids? Who am I? What store is running a great deal on tablets?” All these questions have raced through my mind at some point since March 16. Maybe you’ve experienced them as well.
WE ARE BOMBARDED BY PARENTING RESOURCES THAT TELL US TO SPEND QUALITY TIME INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN. WHAT DOES “QUALITY TIME” MEAN? WELL THE TRUTH IS: IT’S ALL RELATIVE. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE’S NO STANDARD ON HOW TO DO THIS CORRECTLY.
Though there are many resources and in-laws who speak great wisdom into the “how” on family investment, my focus has moved away from “how” we do it, and now centers on the “why.” I think if we get the “why” figured out, the “how” will come much more naturally. So, why is quality time with our children important? Because your family needs you to be there. No, your mere presence isn’t enough. Altogether using multiple screens while being in the same room can’t be the yardstick by which we measure. If that’s the standard, then Uncle Marty’s ashes on the mantle are doing a wonderful job as a father. Being present – actively engaging and listening (yes, listening) is key. Presence means the relationship is giving and receiving. You’ve heard it said, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This is absolutely true. Because your parents set an example. They may or may not have set a good example. In many cases, we learn great ways to do things like parenting. However, in some cases, we learn what not to do. Maybe your parents weren’t the best, and you fear not being able to overcome what they were. You aren’t defined by your parents.
IN CASE YOUR UPBRINGING WAS A ROUGH ONE, BE ENCOURAGED: WITHOUT STRUGGLE, THERE IS NO STRENGTH. WE OFTEN FIND OUR STRONGEST MOTIVATORS BORN OUT OF HEARTACHE AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
Because God gave you a mission field within four walls. The ultimate example of a perfect father is chronicled throughout the 66-books we refer to as the Bible. “But he allowed his son to die on a cross.” I remind you that God had his other children (you) in mind when Christ was crucified, and Jesus went to that cross willingly. The “how” takes on many different forms, but the “why” hasn’t changed in the past 6,200 years. While some are guilty of making every excuse in the world to get out of family time, our heavenly Father destroyed every wall and left no stone unturned, including the one in front of his own son’s grave. He did this to ensure that our quality time with Him would always be available. What better example is there than the one who is the standard for quality? And oh, by the way, he created time. In short, if we want our time to be quality time, then why not draw close to the One who manufactures quality, created time, and desires strongly to be in an authentic relationship with His own children – us. That’s why. Jeremy Wilson is new to the Youth for Christ staff. He, his wife Crystal, and his 3-children: Kayleigh (13), Liam (9), and Titus (6) moved to the Tuscaloosa/Northport area at the beginning of March. A graduate of Tennessee Temple University, Jeremy has been in student ministry for 12-years. He is excited about the opportunity to serve the community and teenagers of the Tuscaloosa area. Feel free to reach out and welcome him: jeremy@tuscaloosayfc.com PHOTO: JEREMY WILSON
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Tuscaloosa’s Premier Community Newspaper | DruidCityLiving.com
OPINION The Land of Oz: Monday Morning Quarterbacks Really Drive Me Nuts BY DEREK OSBORN
A monthly editorial piece of masterful opinionated writing (insert joke here) regarding life and times in the big town of Tuscaloosa, coupled with the musings of a guy nicknamed “Oz.”
T
here are plenty of Monday morning quarterbacks to go around. At the time this masterful composition was being carefully constructed (mid-April), the common theme among the talking heads was whether or not the President, the Governors, the Mayors, the (insert elected official you randomly want to blame here) acted swiftly enough to the Covid-19 outbreak. The simple answer is likely “no.” But as always, the simple answer almost never covers the complexity of the issue. And in this case, it doesn’t even come close. Enter the Monday morning quarterbacks.
SIMPLE DEFINITION OF THE MMQB: A PERSON WHO PASSES JUDGMENT ON AND CRITICIZES SOMETHING AFTER THE EVENT. Being a MMQB is easy. Being proactive in potentially SHUTTING DOWN A COUNTRY, OR A STATE, OR A CITY affecting the lives of hundreds of millions of people to help stop the spread of a novel virus we knew nothing about is not. Here’s your reminder: we’ve never encountered anything like this before. The most common comparison is the Spanish Flu of 1918 which, by the way, didn’t even originate in Spain. During that time, there was a tacit agreement among some Western governments and newspapers not to report any bad news, keeping the information on the flu out of the headlines. Spain had no such agreement and disseminated the virus news at will. Fast forward to 2020, when news (fake or otherwise) flows freely like a waterfall into the depths of social media hell. Waiting at the bottom sits a vocal minority who are apparently experts on just about everything; the “woulda coulda shoulda’s” who have no problem judging your leadership and decision making. Has the virus response been handled correctly at all levels? Probably not. Did we act fast enough? Probably not. Could this all have been avoided? We don’t know yet. Was there a Covid-19 instruction manual available back in January? No.
SHOULD WE ACTIVELY JUDGE OTHERS FOR DOING THE BEST THEY CAN IN A SITUATION THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY’D ENCOUNTER?
If that is what makes you happy, then knock yourself out.
WE GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE Good things happen when friends work as a team. Your friends and neighbors at the DCH Health System work together every day to make this a healthier community. And when we’re not on the job, we make west Alabama a better place to live by volunteering with civic organizations, charities and PTOs. You’ll even find us coaching youth sports teams. We’re proud to be your home team – to be Caring. For Life.
In the meantime, here is something interesting to try: if you hear someone on radio or television or anywhere else for that matter state that we didn’t do enough fast enough, and that they would have most certainly done it better, go check their social media feeds to see what they were doing in February. You’ll likely find that none of them were flexing their own personal option of social distancing, even when they “were aware of the danger.” If being a leader was easy, everybody would do it. Let’s learn from our mistakes and become better – and cut out the Monday morning quarterbacking. Derek Osborn is a non-profit and addictions and prevention speaker and consultant. He lives in Tuscaloosa with his wife, Lynn, and their daughters, Savannah and Anica. Follow him on Twitter @ozborn34. PHOTO: DEREK OSBORNE
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Druid City Living | May 2020
OPINION The Mommy Chronicles: Lessons Learned During a Pandemic BY MARLENA RICE
A
s a work from home mom during this school year, I worked hard to find a good balance between freedom, work, and time with my family.
So, while these things I’ve learned to perfect over the last seven+ months may seem small, I’ve learned how significant those two 15-minute drives were in my day – and how much they mean to my physical and mental health. Fast forward to now. Gone are the days I pick up my Little and head out for ice-cream and a nice walk before we head home. Gone also are the days I come home in the mornings to an empty house for a full day of nothing but silence and work.
IF I’VE LEARNED NOTHING ELSE DURING THIS PANDEMIC, I’VE LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE STRUCTURE. I’ve learned how to manage my mental health. And I understand how to sort through the important things and the things that don’t really matter. I’m not a teacher, and I don’t have to pretend to be one. I started e-learning on day one with a notebook and pen, ready to jot done every single task my Little completed to make sure we were “keeping up” with what his normal school day would be like. Scratch this. Normal is gone, and it’s okay. E-learning is meant to be flexible, so test Beaux William works in his math workbook during his the limits and find the right time and length of day specifically suitable for your Little. daily e-learning lessons. Work is work, but family is family. Don’t stress if you can’t sit at your desk for eight full Photo: Marlena Rice hours, especially if you are homeschooling. Work an hour and teach an hour if you can. Also, setting up your child’s study station next to your workstation keeps you together while being able to manage productivity. Enjoy the time more than anything.
MANY OF US ARE GETTING MORE TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN NOW THAN WE’VE EVER HAD. SET ASIDE THE FRUSTRATIONS AND APPRECIATE IT. I need to keep up self-care, and it is important for my Little too. Yes, we are stuck at home, but it’s still important for us to wake up, get dressed, and keep some routine in our lives. For the moms with six-year-old little boys… showers and teeth brushing are optional. Marlena Rice is a busy mom and writer who lives in Tuscaloosa with her husband, Rod, and their son, Beaux William. Check out her blog at heartfullybuilt.com.
Lake Living: Deep Breaths as We Collectively Adapt to the Unknown BY ALLISON ADAMS
W
e are finding just how connected we all are.
We have discovered how much we NEED connection and that connection, even at a distance, is the way “through.” Love moves people to act together to find solutions. We are seeing a movement of Americans taking their place in healing our nation and our world. As the internet is loaded with workers trying to maintain business, groups of coaches bombarding to train us for when the gates open again to life, and television shows doing daily counts, there is somehow a softness in the ability to be home, to be quiet and alone. The writer in me has the urge to document every day – so I never forget. I am using Trello (because it is free) to keep pictures of how each day begins and ends (you know we love food and the outdoors here) as the days blend together. I’m also finding a need to reach out to those I know and love but have lost touch with. So, this May, pull out the old stationery, curl up in a sunny corner, and write a love letter (or two or three or four) to those you haven’t seen in forever. Make the effort to connect, even in some small way. Some writers type and email (that is the way of the world) but there is nothing like a great letter. There is a connection to the brain, the heart, and the hand. Writing in cursive is a lost art that I am sad to see disappear in our children.
WE ARE ALL A PATCHWORK OF DIFFERENCES, YET EACH HOME IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS EVERY STATE, REGION, AND COUNTRY IS WOVEN WITH A THREAD OF SIMILARITIES AS WE ALL COLLECTIVELY TRY TO ADAPT TO THE UNKNOWN. Fear breeds separation and isolation. Our children are watching parents cyber bully people for expressing their own feelings. We need to make every effort we can to do better, to be as kind as we can be (even when we’re stressed). We will find that, as we did after 9/11, we will survive, and we will live differently. When will we be able to gather? Will we be able to have normal events again? What, exactly, will “normal” look like? When the floodgates open, let us all vow to live more authentically, more peacefully, and with more intention than ever. May God bless you and your family,
Allison Join Allison at allisonpadams.com for other stories and a free planner page to help remind you to live each day fully.
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COVID-19 RESOURCES We here at Druid City Living are in awe of all the work the United Way of West Alabama is doing during this coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, we wanted to publish United Way’s “Caring and Sharing COVID-19 Resources” guide for our readers. One caveat: Given the current, ever-changing COVID-19 situation, some of these services may change. The best thing to do is to visit uwwa.org for the full, (daily) updated list or call 211. United Way supports 211, a free and confidential helpline service that connects people across West Alabama to the local resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operators connect callers with resources to food, shelter, utility assistance & other basic human service needs. Tuscaloosa 311 is the non-emergency telephone line for Tuscaloosa. 311 helps residents submit service requests, get assistance with permits or licenses, find information on city events, or report a problem with any city services.
FOOD
Tuscaloosa County & City Schools Child Nutrition Programs Any child 18 or younger gets a free breakfast and lunch for the week. The child must be in the vehicle to receive the meal. The child does not have to be a current student in the school system. Tuscaloosa County School System Service Time: MONDAYS, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm Vance Elementary, Brookwood Elementary, Holt High, Hillcrest High, Northside High, Flatwoods Elementary, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary, Crestmont Elementary Mobile Sites: - Green Village Community, 9:45-10:10am - Valley Hill, 10:40-11am - Crescent East, 11:20-11:50am - Brown House, 12:35-12:55am - Knoll Circle, 1:05-1:25pm - Country Ridge Mobile Homes, 10-10:20am - Bear Creek Mobile Homes, 10:45-11:10am - Inverness Apartments, 11:35-11:55am - Chestnut Trace, 12-12:30pm - Branscomb Apartments, 1-1:20pm Tuscaloosa City Schools: MONDAYS - The Alberta School of Performing Arts, 11am-Noon - Central High, 11am-Noon - Woodland Forrest Elementary, 11am-Noon - Northridge Middle, 11am-Noon - Skyland Elementary, 11am-Noon -Central Elementary, 11am-Noon - Copper Creek, 11:30-11:50am - Creekwood, 11:30-11:50am - Forester Gardens, 11-11:20am - Hay Court, 11-11:20am - McKenzie Court, 11-11:20am - Rosedale, 11:30-11:50am - University Manor, 11-11:20am - Wood Village, 11:30-11:50am Vowell’s Fresh Market a) Food assistance: Offering a morning snack from 7am-8am; Offering a lunch sack from 1pm-2pm b) Child must be present at pickup c) K-6th grade d) Available at Cottondale and Bear Creek locations 3. West Alabama Food Bank a) Families can receive food assistance from 9-11:00 am, Monday & Wednesday b) Must present identification Grace Presbyterian Church (205) 758-1193, 113 Hargrove Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 a) Food Assistance: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 1:30-3:30pm. MUST HAVE: photo ID. b) Emergency Food Bags are available in Tuscaloosa, M-F, 9-4
Community Soup Bowl (205) 752-2421, 1711 23rd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (Located behind Piggly Wiggly) Food Assistance: FREE Daily lunches: 11:00 am-12:50 pm b) Individuals may pick up to-go plates outside the facility Salvation Army (205) 632-3691, 1035 29th St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 a) Food Assistance: Monday-Wednesday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm & 1–3:00pm b) Maximum assistance: every 4 months-MUST BRING: Proof of Income, Proof of Residence, Photo ID, and SocialSecurity Cards for all household members required Meals on Wheels (205) 752-5429 a) Food Assistance: Mid-day (11:00am-12:30pm) meals delivered on a continuous basis to Tuscaloosa County residents b) Telephone application required for approval c) Minimum payment required for assistance-MUST HAVE: Photo ID, Social Security Card, & Proof of Residence Required-MUST BE: Unable to Prepare Meals Independently d) Volunteers are needed. Contact Diane Lewis at 205-469-0383 to volunteer. Vineyard Community Church, 3800 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL (Near Wright’s restaurant) a) Food Assistance: 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9-10:00am b) No requirements c) Drive-thru food pantry Tracy Dent Foundation Family Resource Center, 15591 Thomas Chapel Road,Tuscaloosa, AL Provides food through the Pantry each Monday, 9-11:00 am University Church of Christ Harvest Hands Food Pantry, 205-3947536, !200 Julia Tutwiler Dr. By referral only, currently full to capacity but will continue to distribute as long as able Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St., 205-758-5535 a) Assistance provided daily, M-F, 1:30-2:30pm b) Immune Kit Drive-Thru consisting of vegetables and juices, set up service by below schedule by calling 205-758-5535 from 10am-Noon. Individuals 60+ or with health-compromising disease: March 24 & April Pregnant women or households with children under 18: March 30 & April General public: April 7 & April 27\ *Free garden seeds will be given through drive-thru program Westside Community Action Council, Inc., Beulah Baptist Church, and Miracle Valley Community Outreach, Inc. Partnership: a) Service Workers with children Drive Through Food Pick-up: Monday, April 6, 2020, From 11 am to 1 pm, at Beulah Baptist Church, 3100 25th St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 a)You must bring identification and proof of having worked within the last 45 days verified by a pay stub or letter from your employer. b) You may be eligible to drive through to receive a week’s worth of food to last a family of 4 on April 6th, April 13th, April 20th, And April 27th. Other dates will be based on community needs. c) Donations and volunteers are welcomed. CDC and City of Tuscaloosa safety recommendations are being used. For more information, please call Mrs. Earnestine Tucker, at 205-345-0201, or Beulah Baptist Church, at 205-758-9560. Catholic Social Services, 205-759-1268 We are accepting applications ONLY by phone for FOOD. Please do not come to the office. We will do PHONE APPLICATIONS ONLY! Call Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday: 9:30-11:30 or 1:30-3:30.
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Druid City Living | May 2020
COVID-19 RESOURCES GROCERY DELIVERY:
TES Grocery Stops a) Grocery service is offered for individuals opting to stay home b) Call 205-758-5535 or go to temporaryemergencyservices.org/contact to schedule service c) Max of 50 grocery items d) Payment due upon delivery e) No delivery charge Leave It to Us - Free Senior Shoppers (a UA student volunteer group) a.) Grocery shopping service for seniors 60+ b.) Prepare your grocery/toiletry list c.) Contact Tuscaloosa coordinators Lauren 954-540-0856 or Abbie 205535-7344 d.) Make sure to leave your name, phone number, and address e.) A volunteer will shop for and deliver your items f.) You will review and pay for your items upon delivery
PHARMACY DELIVERY:
Compassion Coalition (205) 561-4048 a) Seniors 65+ or those without transportation b) Payment due upon delivery.
MEDICATION/PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE:
Walgreens Senior Hour/Day a) Tuesdays Seniors 55+ can enjoy up to 30% off b) Tuesdays 8-9am is a dedicated Seniors 55+ shopping hour c) Drive-thru pick up Familywize Prescription and Delivery Discount a) Anyone can use: BIN 610194 / Card ID: FW100 / Group ID: FW100 / PCN: FW b) Give above details when filling or refilling prescriptions at any pharmacy to see available discounts c) At Walgreens and CVS stores that offer delivery, you can request free delivery with Familywize Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St., 205-758-5535 Assistance provided daily, M-F, 10am-3pm Insulin Assistance for those with diabetes taking Novo Nordisk Please see facebook post for complete information.
HOUSING
CSP Properties Management has stopped all face-to-face housing applications. Applicants are encouraged to mail completed applications to 527 Black Bears Way, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 or drop off in the mail slot. All non-emergency maintenance has been suspended.
CHILDCARE
Boys & Girls Club and YMCA a) M-F, 6:45 am – 7:15 pm b) Children of essential workers only, ages 6-14 c) Three locations: YMCA, Downtown Branch – 2300, 13th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 YMCA, Benjamin Barnes Branch – 2939 18th Street, uscaloosa, AL 35401 Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama – 2201 Alberta Pkwy, Tuscaloosa 35404
d) Reservations & Registration required through either organization e) $80/wk or $16/day
BABY ITEMS
Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St., 205-758-5535 Please call for assistance. Catholic Social Services, 205-759-1268 Please call for assistance.
EDUCATION
Tuscaloosa City Schools Home Academic Packets Academic Resources: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/AtHome
Community Service Programs Early Intervention Pursuant to the guidelines issued by Alabama’s Early Intervention system, CSP is not providing in-home visits; however, we do continue to offer video conferencing to families who have the capability and choose to utilize this service. Children’s Hands-On Museum Offering CHOM At-Home programs to children and families via our social media sites, website link, and SWAY: www.chomonline. org
ADULT EDUCATION
Shelton State Community College Shelton State Community College Adult Education provides instructional support for adult students, ages seventeen and older who have completely withdrawn from school, are preparing for the GED and ACT WorkKeys Tests, are seeking to improve academic skills for workplace success and college entry, and/or hoping to increase proficiency in English language skills. Remote learning is offered through online instruction with monitoring and guidance facilitated by a Shelton State Adult Education instructor at no cost to the student. Available in Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties. For more information and to enroll, call 205.391.2638 or email kbobo@sheltonstate. edu.
MENTAL HEALTH
Family Counseling Services Offering counseling sessions (including new clients) through teletherapy capabilities To schedule an appointment and fill out the intake package, go online: https://www.counselingservice.org/teletherapy-scheduling Indian Rivers Behavorial Health, 2209 9th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, 205-391-3131, www.IRBH.org a) Currently providing limited services only, Monday-Friday, from 8:00-5:00 b) IRBH will see someone if they are currently in a mental health related crisis. c) Scheduled appointments to get medication from the doctor or nurse practitioner will continue as scheduled. d) Hospital Discharges will be seen for follow-up. e) Shots will continue as scheduled. f) New Patient Registration/Intakes: follow us on Facebook or our website for updates. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Crisis Text Line—Text “HOME” to 741741
LEGAL SERVICES
Legal Services Alabama, (205) 758-7503, 2315 9th St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Provide assistance in many types of Civil Cases to low income Alabamians. We are statewide covering all counties with our office in Tuscaloosa covering eight-ten of these counties with a four person staff. Currently our physical office is close to walk-ins due to the COVID-19 but we are working remotely and handing cases by phone if possible. We are seeing clients in person only when absolutely necessary.
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
FOCUS 50+ a) Providing critical medical transportation for seniors. (There is currently a waiting list). b) To schedule a transport, email dpigg@focusonseniorcitizens. org with the following information: Name / Origination address / Destination address / Appointment day & time
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COVID-19 RESOURCES UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Community Service Programs, 601 Black Bears Way All energy assistance appointments have been suspended. Call 205-4690370 after April 30,2020 for scheduling updates. Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St. a) Assistance is handled by appointment on Mondays, 10am-12pm b) Call 205-391-6647 to schedule an appointment. Catholic Social Services, 205-759-1268 We are accepting applications ONLY by phone for Financial Assistance. Please do not come to the office. We will do PHONE APPLICATIONS ONLY! Call Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday: 9:30-11:30 or 1:30-3:30.
FIRE / STORM DAMAGE ASSISTANCE
American Red Cross, West AL Chapter, (205) 758-3608 a) An auto attendant will pick up and there should be an automated number choice for those needing to report an event. Choosing that option will direct them to our dispatchers who will take their information and get it pushed down to the chapter level. b) This is an immediate needs organization, so financial assistance is provided only to those that call us within the 7 days after the event occurs with the day of the event being day 1. Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St., 205-758-5535 Assistance provided as normal, M-F, 10am-3pm
OTHER GENERAL SERVICES
Free Showers: Temporary Emergency Services, daily, M-F, 10am-3pm Free Do-It-Yourself Laundry: Temporary Emergency Services, daily, M-F, 10am-3pm Free Computer Use: Temporary Emergency Services, 205-758-5535 If you need to use a computer to file for food stamps, file for benefits or check your email, call to schedule an appointment. Alabama Department of Public Health, West Central District offices Open to the public for regular services including: a) Family Planning b) WIC - WIC recipients are asked to call the WIC office and they will reload WIC benefits without having to come to the Tuscaloosa County Health Department. They are also telling the WIC participants that they don’t have to bring their child to the Health Department for recertification, the nutritionist will contact the parent via phone call for the needed information. c) STD testing, TB, Vital Statistics & environmental services ** There will be a triage before entering the building to prevent COVID-19 spread.
COVID-19 TESTING SITES
DCH Regional Medical Center, 809 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Remote/drive-thru testing, M-F, 8:00am-2:00pm Maude Whatley Health Center, 2731 MLK Blvd, Tuscaloosa By appointment only, MWF, 9am-1pm To schedule an appointment, call (205) 614-6240 Alabama Department of Public Health – West Central District, Chilton & Pickens counties a) Drive-thru, outdoor testing, Wednesdays 9am-3pm & by appointment (physician referral recommended) b) To make an appointment in Chilton County, contact Sandra McCool 205-755-1287, 301 Health Center Dr, Clanton, AL 35045 c) To make an appointment in Pickens County, contact Tamara Jackson, 205-367-8157, 80 William E. Hill Drive Carrollton, Alabama 35447 Questions asked before screening: -Are you symptomatic with fever, or cough, or shortness of breath (trouble breathing)? -Are you age 65 or older? -Are you a healthcare worker? -Are you a person with conditions that place you at a higher risk (you have diabetes or heart disease or asthma or cancer or other conditions that weaken the immune system)? -If you have no symptoms, testing is not recommended. Testing supplies are limited so we must prioritize.
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Druid City Living | May 2020
FOOD
TASTE OF TUSCALOOSA What We’re Eating (and Wish We Were Eating) Right Now BY SHEENA GREGG Sheena Gregg is a registered dietitian and local “Filipino Foodie.” Follow her adventures at www.afilipinofoodie.com.
I don’t know about you, but the extended time at home sure has put food on my mind more than normal. Sure, I’ve enjoyed making from-scratch biscuits for my family more often, but there’s something to be said for enjoying the atmosphere of our delicious restaurants in Tuscaloosa and Northport. I don’t normally like loud places, but I promise you once this quarantine is over, I can’t wait to eat in the hustle and bustle of DePalma’s, Avenue Pub, and FIVE restaurants. And trying to balance seeing patients from home while wrangling a boisterous toddler is making me more antsy than ever to get out of the house. I know I’m not the only one. So, I decided to chat with some other Tuscaloosa folk to see what foods they’re eating and what they can’t wait to eat soon.
MARY HARMON YOUNG
NIKKI RICHARDSON
I miss Chuck’s Fish for a date night. We love their Uptown Shrimp and Uptown Beef. I get the Donkey Sushi Roll and it’s so good. My husband, Jay, is counting down the days for a dinner at Evangeline’s. He loves the atmosphere there and switches back and forth between the filet and the pork chops. Our son, John Thomas, misses Heat Pizza – he loves eating on the patio and getting to play in the grass and throw pennies in the fountain. Our daughter, Sadie Grace, misses Hokkaido. She loves their soup and eats all the veggies and mushrooms she can get.
As a family of six, we have varying tastes in food. However, one of my favorite things about this time of self-quarantine has been falling in love with eating at home again. Some of our favorite lunches or dinners at home have been soup and sandwiches/ wraps, a quick protein (fish, chicken) with a big salad, or a light pasta dish (we sub zoodles for pasta when we can) with a pesto or a quick and easy tomato sauce. We’ve made it a priority to have lots of fresh produce on hand, so if we make an iffy choice for a meal, there’s some balance. We’ve talked a lot to our kids about debits and credits when it comes to nutrition. Nothing is off limits, but we need to seek a balance at the end of the day. My husband and I both share cooking duty, so some of our favorite dinners have been tuna steaks (all four kids love fish, especially tuna) and chicken fried rice. We have eaten 90% of our meals at home, but we’ve enjoyed being able to order from some of our staple favorites like LaBamba, Gourmade Kitchen, and Southern Ale House. One meal our family can’t wait to enjoy again is a sushi night at Chuck’s – that’s something we all miss.
JACOB SUMMERS AND LINDSEY MCCUTCHEN During the quarantine, we’ve been focusing on mostly healthy/ reasonable cooking. I still try to eat about 4000 calories a day, and Lindsey eats less than 2000. We both have to fuel our goals and our fitness routines. When this is done, Lindsey really wants to sit down at Hokkaido and enjoy some sushi. Personally, I’m just eager to sit down some place where I can eat my weight in protein – some place locally owned, like Hokkaido where I can get steak, chicken, and shrimp. More than anything, we both want to be able to go to one of our local bars (likely Black Warrior where we know some of the patrons and staff) and to sit down and have a cold beer with friends. We also miss Sunday brunches. Another Broken Egg, Brick & Spoon, or Avenue Pub might be on the menu.
Top Left: These days, you can find Sheena Greg frequently practicing facial expressions getting ready for Zoom appointments with clients. Middle Left: The Richardson family has been trying to focus on healthy meals while in quarantine. Bottom Left: Mary Harmon Young and her husband, Jay, are dreaming of a date night at Chuck’s Fish soon. Right: Jacob Summers and his girlfriend, Lindsey McCutchen, are ready to hit up the local breweries as soon as possible.
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FOOD DCL Recipes for May: Easy Veggies At Home BY AMY POORE
Hi all. Given that we’re all at home these days, I suspect we’re cooking more than ever. If you want to give your kitchen a bit of a break, whip up this cucumber, tomato, and onion salad. It takes just minutes, and it’s a true classic on any Southern table. If you have some cauliflower on hand, try dressing it up a bit by baking it. The cheese, sour cream, and onions really add a wonderful compliment to this veggie. I hope everyone is doing well and taking a little time to gather around the dining room table as a family these days. Great cooking just makes everything so much better. Bon Appétit!
Amy CUCUMBER, TOMATO, AND ONION SALAD
3 cucumbers, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick 3 tomatoes, chopped 1 onion, sliced 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 cup water 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar 1 Tbsp. fresh, coarsely ground black pepper 2 tsps. salt
Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours. Serve chilled.
LOADED BAKED CAULIFLOWER
1 large head cauliflower (cut into small florets) 2 Tbsps. melted butter Salt and pepper to taste 2/3 cup sour cream 1/4 cup heavy cream 2 cloves minced garlic 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 6 Tbsps. bacon bits (cooked) 1/4 cup chopped green onion
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with butter and season with salt and pepper. In a small baking dish, place cauliflower in a single layer and roast in over for 15-20 minutes, tossing halfway through. In the same bowl used for the cauliflower, mix sour cream and heavy cream until smooth. Then stir in garlic, half the cheddar cheese, half the bacon bits, and half the green onions. Remove cauliflower from oven when done roasting and add the sour cream mixture. Stir to coat. Return to baking dish and top with remaining cheese and bacon bits. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until cheese melts. Top with remaining green onions. Serve immediately. Amy Poore is a Tuscaloosa mom, a wife, and a foodie. To see more of Amy’s delicious recipes, visit her blog, Poore Amy, at pooreamy.com
