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River Region Parents I December 2021

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December2021 52

Volume 26 Number 12

Columns 6 Editor’s Note DeAnne Watson

8 Kids Say the Wisest Things Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

Holiday Savvy

How to survive the season with your finances in tact.

61 32

Keeping It Light

10 ways to simplify the season and avoid holiday burnout.

14 Montgomery Education Matters by Dr. Ann Roy Moore, Interim Superintendent

36 Pike Road Education Matters by Superintendent Charles Ledbetter, Ed.D.

46 Elmore Education Matters by Superintendent Richard Dennis

54 Teens, Tweens & Screens by Kristi Bush, LSW

Use our guide as you plan your family outings to celebrate the holidays!

Help! My Child is Being Bullied How parents can help!

56 Dinner’s Ready by Kimberley Carter Spivey

Departments On The Cover Reaghan (6) and Chandler “Champ” (2) are the children of Cedric and Rosalyn Brown. Reaghan is in first grade at MacMillan International Baccalaureate Academy in Montgomery. She enjoys dancing at Dance Generation Studio, painting/coloring, shopping at Target, reading, and playing with family and friends. Champ attends daycare at Providence Presbyterian Church and loves playing all sports, reading, trucks, and watching Paw Patrol.

12 Teacher of the Month 16 School Bits 70 Family Calendar 72 Mom to Mom

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Editor’sNote

Parents

Welcome to the 2021 Christmas Issue of River Region Parents! After a tough 2020 holiday season, many of you are excited to resume your traditions with family and friends this year. Some of you began new traditions by necessity last year and may have found that you really enjoyed the change up. Now it’s time to decide whether to go back to the old, keep the new, or do a combination of both. However you intend to spend your holidays, this issue of River Region Parents will get you in the Christmas spirit and offer helpful advice for a low stress and joy-filled season! If you tend to overspend on entertaining and gifts, and end up regretting new year’s debt, check out Kimberly Blaker’s article, Holiday Savvy: Surviving the Season with Your Finances Intact. Next up, Janeen Lewis offers advice for curbing holiday burnout in Keep It Light: 10 Ways to Simplify the Season. Giving the gift of experiences to cut down on shopping stress, farming out your to-do list, and “letting go of Martha” are just a few of the tips she shares. Be sure to check out all ten, plus Janeen’s Seven Holiday Hacks to Keep the Season Bright! If your child will be getting a new smart phone for Christmas, don’t miss this month’s Tweens, Teens and Screens where Kristi Bush shares steps for Protecting Your Kids on Their New Devices. While most local holiday activities shut down last year due to Covid-19, they are back up and running this December. Our Holiday Happenings Guide lists performances, holiday camps, Christmas light tours, parades, tree lightings and so much more. Many events are right here in the River Region and others would make a nice day trip once school lets out later this month. Whether you choose to spend the holidays cozy at home in your PJs, loading up the car to visit family or taking a family vacation somewhere warm, our family and staff at River Region Parents would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

River Region Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. River Region Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Founder Marty Watson (1950-2006) Editor DeAnne Watson editor@riverregionparents.com

Associate Editor Alison Rouse Research Editor Wendy McCollum Contributing Writers Kimberley Blaker Kristi Bush, LSW Richard Dennis Dr. Charles Ledbetter Janeen Lewis Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA Sarah Lyons Dr. Ann Roy Moore Kimberley Carter Spivey

Cover Photography Judy Barranco www.judybarrancophotography.com

Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com

Advertising Department (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 adservices@keepsharing.com Digital Manager Scott Davis Ad Design Tim Welch

DeAnne

Member

deanne@riverregionparents.com River Region Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing LLC, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, Alabama, 36123. River Region Parents is copyrighted 2021 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. opinions expressed in River Region Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

River Region Parents I December 2021

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by Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

Appreciating Your Kids (While They Are Still Kids) Recently my husband and I have become empty nesters! We love our children and love being parents, but raising them has been exhausting. We’ve been looking forward to the “empty nest” phase for a long time and we are not disappointed. However, we have both been surprised at the unique perspective this phase of life has given us. We find ourselves constantly appreciating children as human beings rather than something on our “to do” list. We are enamored by a boy who can make a toy out of anything or a little girl who can create an entire town out of a few dolls and a doll house. We are always amused by the innocent confidence children exude when they say exactly what is on their (and usually everyone else’s) minds without an ounce of embarrassment. We are also so proud of the girl who can find a reason to wake up and keep going after the death of her father or the boy who is able to tell a story about his brother’s struggle with severe depression.

River Region Parents I December 2021

The doldrums of parenthood limited our ability to appreciate our children as human beings. Our agenda of raising responsible adults also inhibited us from appreciating the struggles they faced as human beings in childhood. My heart broke recently for a little girl who screamed, “I don’t want to go home. I like it here because you appreciate me.” This child’s cry for appreciation was worded wisely, but I hear and observe children begging for appreciation in a variety of ways. Toddler’s scream, “Look at me!”, young children repeatedly ask for help and then refuse to accept it, older children ask for time, pre-teens complain endlessly, and teens make stupid attention-seeking decisions. In the book “Wrapped in Rain” by Charles Martin, there is an endearing character named Momma Ella. She teaches endless lessons, but one came in form of this quote, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

When is the last time you sat back and took the time to truly appreciate your child? Webster’s defines appreciate as “to understand fully”. Do you appreciate the struggle your daughter has with the “mean girl” in her class, or do you just tell her she has to learn to deal with difficult people? Do you appreciate your son’s treacherous navigation of the crowded school hallway with a 50-pound backpack, or do you just tell him to stop complaining? Do you appreciate that your daughter really does need a break from an exhausting week of school work, or do you just give her a bunch of chores? Do you appreciate your son’s needs to roll on the floor and laugh at a potty joke instead focus on homework? Please learn from the wisdom of Momma Ella and two empty nesters. Take the time to alleviate your child’s need for love and appreciation. When your daughter is whining about being moved from the front row to the back row, give her the same compassion you would for a friend who missed out on a promotion. When your son is crying about his soccer team’s loss, have the patience you do for your coworker complaining about his college football team’s loss. Go out of your way to give the tiny humans in your life the same love and appreciation you do for the big humans.

Dr. Beth Long received her education in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Beth has worked in six unique clinical environments across the country and currently owns Works of Wonder Therapy in Montgomery. Beth utilizes the knowledge from a variety of different disciplines to give her patients the best care possible. To learn more visit www.worksofwondertherapy.com.

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‘A Main Street Christmas’ in Prattville

Every Christmas Story Ever Told

Local Nutcracker Performances

The Nutcracker, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, will thrill audiences at a variety of venues. Alabama River Region Ballet presents The Nutcracker December 3-5 at the Davis Theatre, 251 Montgomery Street. Performances choreographed by Stevan Grebel are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. With spectacular backdrops, scenery and a growing Christmas tree, this ballet is truly magical! For more info and tickets, call (334) 356-5460 or visit www.alabamariverregionballet.com/. The Montgomery Ballet presents The Nutcracker December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Tickets begin at $22. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline. org/events/ or call (334) 481-5100.

Cloverdale Playhouse Presents Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) December 9-19 Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told —plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. The show will conclude with a performance by the new Cloverdale Playhouse Improv Troupe! Call (334) 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org/ for more info. Wetumpka Depot Players Present Christmas at the Canteen December 9-19 Join the cast from this summer’s wildly popular Home Town Canteen for a holiday-inspired look at Hollywood’s 1940s WWII canteen life. Get ready to jump, jive and jingle your way in the holiday spirit with a musical show sure to warm your heart. For tickets or more info, call (334) 868-1440 or visit www.wetumpkadepot.com. Way Off Broadway (Prattville) Presents The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon December 9-19 Written by Don Zolidis and directed by Melissa Strickland, this hilarious spoof on holiday movies will be fun for the entire family. Tickets are $10 each and reservations are required. For more info or tickets, call (334) 595-0850.

13th Annual Christmas at the Alabama Nature Center

December 4 * Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; activities from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn how to create your own nature ornament, get pictures with Santa, enjoy our Christmas movie special, and make sure to go on the hay ride! We will have hot chocolate for sale and plenty of activities to keep you warm. General admission applies and includes awesome events throughout the day. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (334) 285-4550. River Region Parents I December 2021

December 14 * 5-7:30 p.m. Historic downtown Prattville Santa will visit on Main Street at the Creekwalk Pocket Park. Children can drop off letters to Santa in a special mailbox near his sleigh. There will be take-home ornament kits for children sponsored by the Prattauga Art Guild. We will have horse-drawn carriage rides again this year, but rides will be limited. The Prattville Community Chorus will be caroling along the street and the ice-skating rink will be open from 5-9 p.m. Local dance troupes will entertain crowds in front of City Hall. For more info, visit www.prattvillechamber. com or call (334) 595-0850.

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Friday Night Dinner at Holtville High School

December 17 * Two seatings at 5 and 6:30 p.m. in the Bulldog Bistro at the back of the school. Culinary students Amanda McQueen and Justin Damian have created a diverse menu with two options. Option 1: Miso soup, Teriyaki glazed New York strip and stirfry risotto and Chinese doughnuts. Option 2: Seared Frenched bone pork chop with deconstructed loaded baked potato and honey, bacon brussels and brownie trifle. Cost of dinner is $15 per person. Make your reservations through Chef Beau at beau.myers@elmoreco.com. www.riverregionparents.com

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Cinderella

Safari of Lights

December 10-26 * 5-9 p.m. Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Way, Hope Hull Enjoy the beauty of the Safari Park at night as you drive through thousands of sparkling lights! After your drive, enjoy an illuminated walk through our Candy Cane Forest and visit with all of your favorite farm animals in the petting area. Enjoy holiday games while sipping complimentary hot chocolate. Santa will make appearances on Dec. 18, 19, 23 and 24. Tickets are $11 per person with kids under 2 free. For more info, find us on Facebook.

Through January 2 Music by Rodgers & lyrics by Hammerstein. Directed by Shelley Butler. Recommended ages 7+. Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award-winning musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music that delights audiences with its surprisingly contemporary take on the classic tale. For tickets or more info, visit https:// asf.net/ or call (334) 271-5353.

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Christmas on the Coosa

December 11 all day; parade at 6 p.m. Activities and events for the whole family. The day-long Christmas on the Coosa celebration features a car show, children’s character breakfast, entertainment for children and a showcase for local talent. The annual street parade features more than 100 entries and passes along the area for arts & crafts vendors. The evening continues with a ski-in by Santa and ends with a grand fireworks finale. For more info, find us on Facebook.

Through January 2 10 a.m.-9 p.m. except for Mondays Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s artwork like you’ve never seen it before. Beyond Van Gogh is a rich and unique multimedia experience, taking the viewer on a journey through more than 300 iconic artworks including instantly-recognizable classics “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers” and “Cafe Terrace at Night,” now freed from their frames. For more info, visit https://vangoghbirmingham.com/ or call (800) 441-0819.

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April Brothers Prattville Primary School

We asked Mrs. Brothers to share one thing about teaching that she wished more people understood. “A lot of people don’t understand why anyone would go into teaching with the poor pay and mandates of today; however, when God calls you into something, you do it. It’s more of a mission field to me than a job.” She’s been fortunate to continue raising the bar higher for herself and setting goals throughout her career. Each year she sets goals for her students to meet the benchmark in regards to reading and math. In addition, she strives to be trustworthy and supportive to her co-workers each day. It’s also important to April to have good relationships with parents and guardians of her students so they can form a partnership in their child’s learning. After she retires from teaching, she’d like to open a small business (which consists of crafts and painting) that she operates through her home called Opie Pallets.

“Teaching is a not a ‘job’, it’s something you never leave ‘at work’. Teaching is 24/7. It’s intertwined within your life. It’s relationships and bonds you make for a lifetime. It’s family.” So profoundly put, April Brothers shares her passion for what teaching means besides loving her students and changing lives. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, this year marks her 19th year at Prattville Primary School. To have such tremendous longevity with an institution not only speaks volumes of her commitment and dedication to her profession, but it displays that she’s a vital asset amongst faculty at the school. Many years ago, April interned at Prattville Primary and loved the school. She was excited that she’d applied to work in Autauga County after graduating from college. April graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with an undergraduate (dual major) in Early Childhood Education. And she received a master’s degree from Auburn University as a Reading Specialist. Why does someone decide to become a teacher with the challenges often involved?

April Brothers have been married to her husband, Allen Brothers, for 19 years. They live in Pine Level snd they have two children: Isabella (17) and Jackson (12).

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A New Day for MPS

We are excited about this new day not only because we are no longer under intervention but also because of what lies ahead for MPS. Our Capital Projects Plan is well under way after two community meetings with construction management firm Volkert Inc. During these meetings, we learned about many of the concerns citizens have, and Volkert has gathered valuable information about what direction they will need to take to meet the needs of the community. I have been concerned about the physical condition of many of the schools, so it is very gratifying to see a plan start to take shape. There are exciting developments in the classroom as well, including an ongoing partnership with the city of Montgomery, Apple and EdFarm to bring cutting edge technology to our students and teach them about important 21st century skills such as coding. Robotics programs continue to expand throughout the system as well, from the elementary to the high school level.

The first day of this month marked a new chapter for Montgomery Public Schools as the Alabama State Dept. of Education officially released MPS from state intervention. This marks the dawning of a new day at MPS, and we are facing it with renewed energy, a spirit of innovation and a striving for excellence. You may have noticed by now billboards around the city featuring students and teachers along with the proclamation of a new day for the school system. We want to create a sense of excitement among teachers, administrators, support staff, students, and the community as a whole. We believe we can be a model for school systems in Alabama, and we are now working to make that happen.

Of course, many of these developments would not be possible without the guarantee of better local funding through the passage of the ad valorem tax increase last year. Thank you again to the people of Montgomery for making that investment. People throughout MPS are committed to ensuring that your investment has a bountiful return. We have improved in many ways since I arrived at MPS back in January 2018, from stronger finances and student achievement to reduced absenteeism. And while COVID-19 may have dealt us some setbacks, initiatives such as our summer learning program that had an enrollment of more than 12,000 students. We now plan to build on these successes, sustaining and even accelerating our improvement as we move forward together. For more than four decades, Dr. Moore has educated the children of Alabama. From her first post as a pre-school teacher, to her administrative work as a principal, central office curriculum specialist, superintendent, and her mentoring the next generation of teachers as an adjunct professor at colleges and universities, teaching is her passion.

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Montgomery County Schools

Montgomery Catholic Teacher Named 2021 Publix Parent Volunteer

Eastwood Christian Holds Olympic Field Day Fun

The Eastwood Christian School Warriors enjoyed beautiful fall weather this year as students met on the field for a morning of lively competition in the annual Olympic Field Day games. The sixth-graders served as team captains and led their younger classmates in making signs, composing original cheers, and competing on the field. Each team had an Olympic name. The twelve teams represented this year were Assyrians, Athenians, Babylonians, Cretans, Greeks, Medes, Persians, Phoenicians, Romans, Spartans, Titans and Trojans. The Warriors enjoyed challenging one another as they cheered and battled through relay games such as the tug of war, a balloon toss, shooting hoops and other relays that demonstrated courage, character and blazing fast speed. In addition to winning the games, points were awarded for good sportsmanship, having a Christ-like attitude during the games, encouraging each other, and cheering for other teams. There was a two-way tie for the winner of the coveted Most Christ-like trophy, with congratulations going to the Babylonians and the Medes!

Montgomery Catholic High School teacher and librarian Mindy Walski wears multiple hats, but her biggest role is as mom to her two children, Heather and Peter. At school, she teaches AP computer science and honors statistics, is the High School librarian, media specialist, Powerschool administrator, leader of the Cyber Patriots team, and coach of the new eSports team. While her days are filled with activities on campus, her evenings and weekends are even more eventful as she supports her children on their club soccer teams. She and her husband, Bill, were recently surprised to learn they had been selected as the 2021 US Youth Publix Parent Volunteer of the Year for the Alabama Soccer Association. For the last seven years, the Walskis have served as volunteer managers for the Capital City Streaks /Alabama FC South 2007 Girls Team (2014-2021), as volunteer manager of the Capital City Streaks 2007 Boys Team (2018), and as volunteer registrars for the entire Capital City Streaks Organization for two years. They have also been instrumental in providing assistance to military families who are interested in the club’s soccer system, organized the annual Big House event for the team/families to help form long-term bonds, and have coached several soccer teams for off-season opportunities. “Mindy and Bill have excellent values including but not limited to inclusivity trying to ensure diversity in our team and they build strong relationships within and outside of the team and our club, encouraging a close team, showing incredible respect for the refereeing staff and everyone,” says fellow parent, Shawn Cole.

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ACA Honors Family Member at Pink Out Game

On October 22, Alabama Christian Academy celebrated Tonya Prempramot, recognizing her in her fight against breast cancer. She was recognized on the field with ACA Head of School Greg Glenn. She was also named honorary coach for that game. Prempramot is a true bright spot on campus with unparalleled strength and we support her every step of the way! River Region Parents I December 2021

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Montgomery County Schools

Trinity Transforms Class Into ‘Emergency Room’ Second-grade students at Trinity Presbyterian School were surprised to enter their classroom and see it transformed into Trinity’s emergency room! Students scrubbed in for surgery and used their knowledge of nouns and place value to complete surgical tasks. They also used their writing skills to write about becoming a doctor. It was a fantastic day in the ER!

Peter Pan Homeschools for a Day

Local homeschoolers took to the stage to perform Peter Pan for friends and family at Academy Days Co-op in Montgomery recently. The performance culminated weeks of rehearsing lines, blocking on stage, and creating sets and costumes. In the spotlight on stage are Elisha Vest as Peter and Garrison Campbell as Captain Hook with (standing) Annelise Brown, Emily Moore and Maria Richardson as pirates holding captive the Lost Boys (front row) played by Joshua Maddox, Berthalizbeth Cano-Gomez, Jessica Dannelley, Grace DuPre, and the two Darling children, John and Wendy (back row) played by Adolfo Cano-Luna and Kailey Franklin. Held weekly during the school year at Eastmont Baptist Church, Academy Days Co-op offers classes in subjects difficult to teach at home or best taught in group settings, such as drama, science labs, STEM, foreign languages, creative writing and P.E. Visit AcademyDays.com for more info.

River Region Parents I December 2021

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Mercedes-Benz Plant Donates Vehicles to Alabama High Schools and Colleges

Dalraida Student Wins Holiday Art Contest

Joycelan Bailey from Misty Trussell’s third-grade QUEST class at Dalraida Elementary School was a winner in the Montgomery Humane Society’s Howl-iday Card contest. She drew a beautiful picture showing her adopting a new puppy that finds its forever home with her family. Mary Hughes from the Montgomery Humane Society presented her with a certificate and medal. From left are Trussell, Bailey and Hughes.

As Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) moves closer to start of production of its electric vehicles in 2022, the Vance, Ala., plant is also taking steps to accelerate the number of students who want to pursue a career in the automotive industry. MBUSI is donating 15 sport utility vehicles with a combined value of more than $700,000 to 13 high schools and two community colleges in Alabama for instructors to use as valuable classroom tools. The majority of the GLE SUVs were previously used to test and ensure MercedesBenz quality standards. Once quality tests have been completed, these vehicles cannot be sold for customer use or driven on public roads, but they can be used for training in a classroom. Currently, MBUSI has donated more than 40 vehicles to area high schools that serve as feeder schools to the two-year colleges. MBUSI is also seeing cross-collaboration as some schools and colleges have instructors visiting one another’s workshops to see how they are set up and inspiring some to duplicate or borrow one another’s ideas. MBUSI Human Resource Specialist Steve Colburn has worked to develop relationships with both secondary and postsecondary educational systems to identify recipients of the vehicles. Colburn works to encourage students to pursue careers in technical education and promote opportunities within the automotive industry, especially within Mercedes-Benz U.S. International. “We are committed to getting vehicles out in the community when they become available – especially for those schools with automotive tech programs in place,” said Colburn. “We want these vehicles to be used and for the students to really learn the technical aspects of our SUVS.” Shown, Nancy Prine, Career & Technical Education, Alabama State Department of Education

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Montgomery County Schools

STJ Launches New Website Along With 2022-2023 Admissions Season

Saint James School has launched its new website just in time for the 2022-2023 admissions season! The new website will showcase more interactive features, along with streamlining the admissions process for interested families. The new web address is www.stjmontgomery.org. For the time being, all searches for the old address, www.stjweb.org, will be sent directly to the new website. November 1 marked the official beginning of the admissions season for the upcoming school year. The new website will allow for registration for Welcome Wednesday held Dec. 8. The website will also allow for registration of Lunch Tours and shadowing opportunities. “Our new website wonderfully compliments this rolling ad-missions process with interactive features that allow families to request tours, apply, and even enroll online,” said Saint James Director of Admissions and Enrollment Elizabeth Hawke. The new website was designed by High Level Marketing, formerly Bell Media of Montgomery. STJ alumnus Nathan Yates is chief operating officer.

ACA’s NEST School Playground Completes Construction

Construction is complete on Alabama Christian Academy’s new NEST School playground and we have enjoyed watching our youngest NEST School students play on it. This addition to our campus was made possible by the generous support of parents and friends through last year’s Feed the Need campaign. A playground dedication occurred November 2. Many NEST school parents, faculty and staff attended as well as the NEST school students. We thank God for our playground and the ways that our NEST School is growing.

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MCS Collects Canned Goods for Mercy House Montgomery Christian School students concluded Spirit Week with a canned food drive for Mercy House, a local nonprofit that serves the Washington Park community as a food pantry, clothes closet and much more. The students at MCS collected 688 cans. Each year the fifthgrade class delivers and helps to sort the canned food. Fifth-grade teacher Allison Jackson led the students in giving back to the community. Montgomery Christian School holistically teaches the students not just about others who serve, but brings the importance of service to the students through opportunities such as giving cans to those in need.

GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR ME

Evangel Christian Academy Encouraging each child to achieve their God-given potential

AISA Blue Ribbon School “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord... Jeremiah 29:11

3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36106 ecalions.org 334-272-3882

Accredited: ACTS, AISA, SACS, Advanced ED, NCPSA

Sylvan Seniors Visit Local Veterans

Seniors at The School at Sylvan recently visited the Veterans Affairs Clinic in Chantilly to honor our veterans and thank them for their service. The senior class of 2022 reminded our veterans that they have not been forgotten and that we are grateful to them for defending and protecting our freedoms. 21

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STJ Students Named Nat’l Merit Scholarship Winners

Saint James 2021 graduates Paige Hemmer and Zach Ohliger were both offered and have accepted National Merit Corporation scholarships. Approximately 7,500 students nationwide were notified that they have been awarded scholarships specifically designated for National Merit Finalists. Both Hemmer and Ohliger were named National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists back in February. They were reviewed and evaluated based on their academic record, information about Saint James School’s curricula and grading system, national test scores, school recommendations, information about their activities and leadership, and an essay each wrote. Upon completion of these requirements, 15,000 students nationwide were notified that they had been named a National Merit Finalist. Hemmer received the National Merit Furman University Scholarship, and Ohliger received the National Merit Auburn University Scholarship. Both students graduated from Saint James School as a part of the Class of 2021.

River Region Parents I December 2021

MacMillan Earns Blue Ribbon Status

MacMillan International Academy was one of only five schools in Alabama chosen for the prestigious National Blue Ribbon award this year. Mrs. Goshay and librarian Mrs. Moseley traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive MacMillan’s award on behalf of the hard work of the students, teachers and staff.

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ECA Teacher Publishes Christmas Book

Evangel Christian Academy art teacher LaDonna LeMaster wrote and illustrated a Christmas book for children. The idea for Phineas Jingle came from a tradition LeMaster started with her grandchildren years ago. Each year, they receive Christmas pajamas from a special elf. Her children and grandchildren enjoyed the back story of this elf so much that they encouraged her to publish a book about him. The book has just been released in time for the holidays by Amazon. The students at ECA are very excited about the book, and LeMaster donated a copy to the school’s library. Phineas Jingle is an elf that was excited to be assigned to work with Santa at the North Pole. However, he is not very successful with the normal “elf jobs.” Finally, Phineas finds his true talent and becomes a blessing to others. LeMaster wrote the book in hopes that other families would enjoy the Christmas pajama tradition and that children would realize that everyone has his own unique gifts and talents that can be used to bless others. Phineas Jingle is available on Amazon and is destined to become a Christmas favorite.

“R” is for Rodeo at Eastwood Christian School

After studying the letter R, the kindergarten students at Eastwood Christian School celebrated with a Rodeo. Dressed as cowgirls and cowboys, the students had a rip-roaring time playing games which included a stick-horse race, a hula hoop roping game, and a rattlesnake boot toss and dash.

Macon East Volleyball AISA AAA State Runner-Up

Macon East Academy’s Lady Knights, veterans in the AISA state tournament, fought hard but lost to defending state champions, Glenwood Academy, in three sets. The Gators defeated the Lady Knights 25-12, 25-15, and 25-21 at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. Maddie Ross and Sara Cochran were selected as members of the state all-tournament team, and Ross represented Macon East in the AISA East All-Star team at the Montgomery Multiplex. Coach Codi Berry also represented Macon East by coaching the All-Star team.

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Trinity Volleyball Wins 3A State Championship!

After battling it out against Catholic, Trinity came out with the WIN! Emma Moody led Trinity with 13 kills, two digs, three blocks and an ace, followed by Emma Kate Smith with 13 kills, Addison Cherry with four kills, 42 assists, nine digs and two aces, Ella Grace Lowe with six digs, Isabel Hill with nine digs, Reese Patterson with nine kills and three digs and Charlee Cone with four kills and six digs.

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ACA Holds Book Character Parade

Alabama Christian Academy had a book character dress-up day that ended with a parade of costumes. The students always love this day! It offers a chance not only for them to dress up, but also a chance for them to read a book and do a report on it to share with their class.

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Saint James Celebrates Veterans Day Saint James School has a rich history of leaders and families who serve in numerous branches of the United States military. This connection to our military families makes Veterans Day an extraspecial holiday at Saint James. Saint James holds this celebration each year with special performances by the Saint James Marching Trojans, Saint James School Combined Choirs, and remarks from head of school, Dr. Larry McLemore. This year’s keynote speaker was Col. Sherry StearnsBoles,USAF Retired. The Saint James Marching Trojans and Combined Choirs performed numerous pieces, including God Bless the USA arr. Johnnie Vinson. Saint James School has been led by numerous military leaders throughout its history. For instance, former head of school, Lt. General Raymond B. Furlong, for whom Furlong Hall is named, was commander of Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, before becoming Head of School at Saint James. Further, Colonel Don Brewer, who taught at Saint James School for almost 20 years, was an outstanding member of our faculty who encouraged students to further their education. Saint James gives a mathematics award each year in his memory. Many of his students became engineers and several also served in the military.

The celebration began with a Veterans Day Assembly November 5. Military family members in the various armed forces were honored at the celebration. Keynote speaker Col. Stearns-Boles spoke to the Saint James student body and others in attendance about the importance of Veterans Day by focusing on the who, what, when, where and why we celebrate. She then focused on ways the students can honor veterans and their service in their daily lives by putting good into action every day. During the first week of November, students throughout the high school, middle school and elementary school created “thank you” cards to our service men and women. These were taken to the local VA Hospital and distributed among the patients by students whose parents are veterans. The cards were handed out on November 9 by seniors Foster Rasmussen and Sierra Boles, and juniors Eli Griggs, Preston Phillips and Matthew Ohliger. As a final tribute of the week, a special dessert was served at the dining hall on Friday, November 12. Food service

staff members who are veterans and who have military service men and women in their families were honored. Saint James School is proud to honor our military community and the ways they enrich Saint James School, Montgomery, and the surrounding area. Saint James School offers a tuition discount to full-time active U.S. service members.

From left, Preston Phillips, Eli Griggs, Foster Rasmussen, Sierra Boles and Matthew Ohliger visited the local VA Hospital to distribute “thank you” cards to patients and staff.

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Trinity First-Graders Celebrate Fifties Style

Students in first grade at Trinity Presbyterian School celebrated 100 days of school Fifties style! Students came dressed in their fifties attire and had a full day of themed activities. They ended the fun day with Coke floats!

Breakfast for Heroes at Montgomery Christian

Montgomery Christian School honored veterans and active military with a Breakfast for Heroes on November 11. Fourteen families were represented. They enjoyed a time of eating, visiting and a small presentation. Each veteran was given a “Thank You Packet” created by MCS students. Each introduced him or herself, told his/her branch and number of years of service. This was a fantastic way for MCS students to honor the veterans in their families. MCS is proud of these servicemen and women in our community and is grateful for the many years of service represented at the breakfast.

SAVE THE DATE 2022

Send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

March 5 & 6

TUTUS & TIARAS May 31 - June 3rd

SUMMER SESSION (5 week session) Begins June 6

MARCH 14

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River Region Parents I December 2021

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BEAUTY & THE BEAST

REGISTRATION opens for Tutus & Tiaras and 5 week Summer Session

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Eastwood K-4 Students Study Transportation

Eastwood Christian School’s K4 students learned about travel by air, land and water. They enthusiastically constructed play-size models of the modes of transportation, then enjoyed them on the playground! www.riverregionparents.com

STJ Students Place Well at Alabama National Fair Art Show

Saint James High School art students submitted pieces for the 43rd Annual School Art Show for the Alabama National Fair. The following won ribbons in their category. In Opaque Painting, Wendy Stombaugh was awarded 3rd place. Natalie Magee was awarded 3rd place, and Luke Beasley was awarded Honorable Mention in Watercolor Painting. In Color Drawing, Magee placed 3rd for grades 10-12, while Alice Chen placed 3rd for grades 7-9. Stombaugh placed 2nd and Phu Lam placed 3rd in Black and White Drawing. Beasley placed 2nd in Printmaking. For the Photography competition, Saint James art students fared just as well. Cole Williams was chosen Best of Show, along with 2nd place in Floral and 1st place in Insect and Scenic categories. In the Animals category, 1st place went to Natalie Barna, and 3rd place went to Matthew Ohliger. Kyle Domingo won 1st place, and Jack Catchings placed 3rd in the Floral category for a Saint James sweep. For the People category, 2nd place went to Bandgi Patel and 3rd place to Chaeyoon Chung. Saint James also won all three ribbons for the Insect category, with 2nd place going to Ohliger and 3rd place to Domingo. For the category entitled “Items Not Listed,” Barr Armistead won 1st place, and Chaeyoon Chung won 3rd place. These pieces will be displayed on campus in Saint James’s Furlong Hall. These artists are a part of the classes of Art 1, Art 2, Art 3, AP Drawing and Photography taught by Evelyn Shoults. Front row from left: Alice Chen, Kyle Domingo, Jack Catchings, Natalie Barna, Chaeyoon Chung and Luke Beasley; back row from left: Phu Lam, Bandgi Patel, Natalie Magee, Barr Armistead, Wendy Stombaugh, Cole Williams and Matthew Ohliger.

Montgomery Catholic Named Jostens 2021 National Yearbook Program of Excellence

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2021 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Bronze Level. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy. The Montgomery Catholic award-winning yearbook program is led by Editors in Chief Allie Berg and Matthew Barranco, under the direction of Sinead Turner, Montgomery Catholic’s high school yearbook adviser. “This was my first year guiding this program, and I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of my staff—especially Allie and Matthew—and of the product that we put together,” Turner said. Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to Montgomery Catholic’s high school yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.

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Montgomery County Schools

Eastwood Teams Perform Shakespeare

On an outdoor stage, beneath a beautiful November sky, Eastwood Christian School students performed two abbreviated plays. The Candidi (12th, 10th and 8th grades) and Caeruli (11th, 9th and 7th grades) teams presented a comedy and a tragedy to family and faculty. The Candidi (the white team) performed As You Like It, themed as pirates, complete with rousing music and a lion! The Caeruli (the blue team) presented Julius Caesar, with costumes drawn from the Star Wars universe. While this year’s was one of the closest competitions to date, the Caeruli clenched the victory and took possession of the “Gilded Bard” trophy. After the plays, trivia challenge and coloring competition were over, the directors of the spring musical announced that the Eastwood Players will be performing Les Miserables in March of 2022!

Alabama Christian Academy Group Helps Hurricane Victims

WeServe at Alabama Christian Academy, led by Don Gilliam, has already kicked off the year with service projects helping local veterans clean up their homes, volunteering to give manicures to a group of elderly women at the Elizabeth Wright Assisted Living Apartments, providing a student team for clean-up work at Hope Inspired Ministries, and sending our band to serve lunch for a whole week to Hope Inspired Ministries’ workforce training classes. ACA was privileged to have the opportunity to help the victims of Hurricane Ida in Houma, La., by sending water, tarps and 5W30 motor oil. We partnered with Penske trucking to transport all of the donations down there.

ARTFUL WELLNESS YOGA

This November and December, take time to release the stress of the season and feel revived with an hour of Artful Wellness at the MMFA. Led by Breezeville Yoga, this class offers wellness for your mind and body, in a unique environment enhanced by art and natural beauty. Learn more and register at mmfa.org. Blount Cultural Park One Museum Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 Open Tuesday–Sunday Free Entry + Parking mmfa.org | @MontgomeryMFA

River Region Parents I December 2021

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STJ Choir Students Qualify For All-State Choral Festival

Seven Saint James School choir members have shown excellence in choral performance and have been invited to be a part of the All-State Choir and Choral Festival. The All-State Choral Festival features the best choral students in the state. Saint James will be represented by Hamilton Cunningham, Anna Dickey, Emily Headley, Nicole Jung, Austin Oh, Abigail Roark, and TJ Vance. These amazing students are taught by Dr. Sallye York as a part of the Saint James high school and middle school choirs. Auditions were held on November 8 in Enterprise, Ala. The students and Dr. York traveled there to audition for the Alabama Vocal Association All State Choirs. The board members of the Alabama Vocal Association spent the entire week traveling around the state to audition hundreds of choral students from Alabama. The 2022 All-State Choral Festival will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center March 10-12. Front row from left are Nicole Jung, Bree Bennett, Abigail Roark and Park Hobbs; back row: Tyler Pettway, TJ Vance, Anna Dickey, Austin Oh, Emily Headley, Hamilton Cunningham and Dr. York.

Evangel Names Homecoming Court

Evangel Christian Academy recently named its homecoming court. The ninth grade attendant was Taylor Rivers, tenth grade was Madesti Powell, and eleventh grade was Hannah Allen. Cameron Bennett and Destiny Betton were the twelfth grade attendants. Kysha McNeely was named ECA’s homecoming queen. The court was presented during ECA’s homecoming football game. 29

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Montgomery County Schools

Eastwood Names Junior National Young Leaders Conference Nominees

Saint James Holds Fall Recognition Assembly To Honor Academic Achievements

On November 3, Saint James School administration and high school came together to celebrate the incredible achievements of several high school students. The students honored in the Fall Recognition Assembly achieved extraordinary excellence on national tests and exams in the past year between November 2020 and the end of October 2021. From National Merit recognition to perfect scores on Advanced Placement exams and sections of the ACT tests, these students demonstrate what talent, effort and perseverance can accomplish. In September 2021, Saint James senior Haley Brightwell was named a National Merit Commended Student. This designation places her in the top 3% of the 1.7 million students nationally who took the qualifying exam last fall, the PSAT/NMSQT. Scoring a perfect score of 36 on a section of the ACT test (ie: English, reading, math or science) were seniors Barr Armistead, Michael Doyle, Emily Headley and Jake Yohn. Armistead scored a 36 on the February 2021 and March 2021 reading tests; Doyle also scored a 36 on the reading section. Headley scored a 36 in the English section; and Yohn scored a 36 on the reading section. Saint James juniors AJ Kavlick, Matthew Ohliger, Selina Sun, Davis Taylor and Justin Kang scored a perfect score on one or more sections of the ACT. Kavlick scored a 36 in the English section; Ohliger scored a 36 on the reading section. Sun scored a 36 in both the reading and English sections of the ACT. Taylor scored a 36 on the reading test. Impressively, Kang scored a 36 in math, reading, English and STEM, with a resulting 36 overall composite score. Eleven students scored a perfect 5 on an Advanced Placement exam. These scholars included Will Alexander and Will Gulsby for AP World History; Caden Hayes, AJ Kavlick, Kelsey Shaffer, Selina Sun, Davis Taylor and Kendal Wright for AP European History; Paul Kreischer for AP Computer Science Principles; and Aroa Jung for AP Drawing. Haley Brightwell scored a perfect score of 5 for AP U.S. History, AP Language and Composition, and AP Chemistry. Three current seniors were honored by the College Board as AP Scholars – which means they earned an average grade of three or higher on three or more Advanced Placement exams. The AP Scholar designation was awarded to these three students who are still in high school: Barr Armistead, Hamilton Cunningham and Sydney Eng. Saint James senior Haley Brightwell was named an AP Scholar with Honors. In order to be designated an AP Scholar with Honors, a student must have an average score of 3.25 on all of his/her AP exams and a score of 3 or higher on 4 or more exams. Also, after taking the AP exams in May 2021, sixteen 2021 Saint James alumni were also designated AP Scholars. In total, 20 Saint James students were named AP Scholars for 2021. Annually, Saint James hosts an Awards Day assembly in the spring to recognize a multitude of student achievements ranging from individual college scholarship announcements to the Yale Book Award to the highest average in a subject. Each fall, school administration honors each student individually who has achieved national recognition for extraordinary academic excellence. Honorees at the Saint James School Fall Recognition Assembly include, front row from left: Emily Headley, Caden Hayes, Will Gulsby, Sydney Eng, Kendal Wright, Aroa Jung, Haley Brightwell, Kelsey Shaffer and Selina Sun; back row: Jake Yohn, Davis Taylor, Matthew Ohliger, Will Alexander, Paul Kreischer, Barr Armistead, AJ Kavlick, Justin Kang, Hamilton Cunningham and Michael Doyle. River Region Parents I December 2021

Eastwood Christian School recognized four sixth-grade students as nominees to represent the school at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer. The Junior National Young Leaders Conference offers highachieving middle school students the opportunity to learn about leadership in a challenging and interactive program designed for the nation’s most promising middle school students. Eastwood’s 2021/2022 nominees are Mariam Jacobsen, Sophia MacLeod, Brice Webb and Charlie Williams.

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Evangel Enjoys Pumpkin Patch Day

The elementary students at Evangel Christian Academy recently enjoyed a special Pumpkin Patch Day. The event was held on campus and the students enjoyed carnival-style games and a hayride. The hayride took the students to a pumpkin patch where they handpicked their own pumpkins. The students had a great time and look forward to next year’s pumpkin patch. www.riverregionparents.com

Field Trip Fun for MEA Lower School Macon East Academy second-grade and kindergarten students recently spent the day visiting SweetCreek Farm Market in Pike Road. The students enjoyed spending time together away from school, climbing on the hay bales, playing on a fun playground, pumpkins and a hayride!

ACA Cheerleaders Participate In Auburn Halftime Show

Below, Alabama Christian Academy’s varsity cheer team was invited to participate in the UCA Spirit Day at the Auburn University vs. Ole Miss game October 30. The girls had the opportunity to practice in Auburn’s indoor practice field that morning and then perform a dance routine with other local cheerleaders during halftime of the Auburn game.

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Trinity Preschoolers Take Fall Field Trip K4 students from Trinity Presbyterian School enjoyed a beautiful day at Cornfield County Farms in Wetumpka.

Saint James Youth Judicial Team Competes In State Competition

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During the weekend of November 6-7, the Saint James School Youth Judicial Team competed at the state level in downtown Montgomery. After a year spent competing only over Zoom, this experience for in-person, live competition was extra special. Through the process of this year’s competitions, the team gained valuable experience, especially those students who were not in high school yet the last time in-person competitions were allowed. Students were required to argue both sides of the case, not just one. The Saint James Team members are Will Alexander, Brooke Bender, Anna Dickey, Ava Donaldson, Caroline Gregory, Will Gulsby, Georgeann Killough, Austin Oh, Foster Rasmussen, Emmett Rasmussen, Jaden Rossell, Jordan Rossell, Taylor Schofield, Elaine Vo and Jake Yohn. Yohn served as chief justice and presided over the final trial. Schofield, Dickey and Bender also served as judges. Killough and Gregory served as bailiffs. The Saint James team, comprised of mostly 10th-grade students, is excited to compete again next year in hopes of landing in the top ten! The Saint James Youth Judicial team includes, front row from left, Caroline Gregory, Taylor Schofield, Anna Dickey, Brooke Bender, Elaine Vo, Ava Donaldson, Jordan Rossell and Jaden Rossell; back row: Austin Oh, Will Alexander, Emmett Rasmussen andJake Yohn. Not pictured: Foster Rasmussen, Will Gulsby and Georgeann Killough.

ACA’s Johnson Named Merit Scholar Semifinalist and Chosen for MSO Alabama Christian Academy recognizes Bailie Johnson for the outstanding achievement of National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. Johnson was chosen for this based on his Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. An announcement will be made in February of those moving on to the Finalist level. Johnson was also chosen to perform in the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.

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Floyd Middle Magnet Students Chosen to Appear on Television

Two students from Floyd Middle Magnet school got the chance of a lifetime when they were chosen to appear on The Wonder Years television show. Katelyn Glass and Anyria Hatchett were selected to appear as background actors. They, along with other middle schoolers from around the area, got their first taste of the Hollywood experience. These students got paid as background actors and got a chance to meet and interact with the cast of The Wonder Years reboot. The television show comes on ABC each Wednesday and is based around a family in the 1960s living in Montgomery, Ala.

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Eastwood Performs Three Piggy Opera

Eastwood Christian School’s kindergarten students delighted an audience of family, faculty and friends with the Three Piggy Opera. These enthusiastic young performers dressed in costumes complete with face paint! They delivered lines, sang songs, and recited verses to communicate the principle of working hard as unto the Lord, as taught in Colossians 3:23.

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Montgomery County Schools

Trinity Students Place in Art Contest

ACA Student Competes in Pageants

Trinity School had six students recognized by the Montgomery Humane Society for their entries in their citywide holiday card contest. Maggie Stephens won first place, Emory Harris took second, and Kayleigh Creel, Marley Sharpless, Rissie Price and Coleman Parker received honorable mention honors.

Ella Grace Dicks, Miss Teen South Montgomery, is a freshman at Alabama Christian Academy and a member of Landmark Church of Christ. She will compete in January in the High School America Alabama and Miss Teen USA Alabama Scholarship Pageants. Dicks has been competing in pageants for approximately two years and a few of the current titles she holds are: Teen Miss Elmore County, Teen Miss East Alabama and Teen Miss Gulf Coast. In addition to the scholarship programs and opportunities to improve her interview and communication skills, Dicks uses pageants as as a way to volunteer throughout her community and to promote the platform BRAVE (Building Respect and Values for Everyone.) She has faced the challenges of middle school and has experienced bullying and speaks to things we can do to combat bullying. “It is important to understand the unique challenges everyone faces and how important it is to treat everyone with love, patience, tolerance and care,” Dicks says.

Saint James and Dream Court Make a Great Team

MCS Third-Graders Grow Garden Veggies

Montgomery Christian School’s third grade experiences learning coming to life. Mrs. Williams and her students have been growing vegetables in their tower garden. The students had the opportunity to eat a salad with the lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers. Lynn Henry donated the tower garden and has helped Williams bring farming to life for the third-graders. River Region Parents I December 2021

Back in May of 2021, Dream Court found that it had a need. Mr. Terry Talley donated a container to Dream Court to use as storage for its equipment. The storage unit at O’Connor Tennis Center needed a paint job. Director Jessica Weyreuter started asking several parents and students who their favorite art teacher was, and Evelyn Shoults’s name was recommended by many. Shoults is an art teacher and head of the art department at Saint James School. She quickly agreed to lead this project and gathered a number of her students who were willing and able to participate. More than 23 Saint James students committed more than 20 hours of time to create a masterpiece on the storage container. “I am honored that Dream Court asked the Saint James Art Department to design and paint a mural for them,” Shoults said. “This opportunity allowed our students to use their talents outside of the classroom while giving back and adding beauty to our local community. Being able to give back and put good into action is the Saint James way.” Dream Court’s mission is to provide an adaptive tennis program to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, striving for inclusion and acceptance. Dream Court focuses on having fun while learning and promoting an active lifestyle, modeling social behaviors, and developing self-esteem. Most importantly, the program encourages inclusion and acceptance in sports and in day-to-day life.The organization’s motto is “Serving Hope, Changing Lives.” Through the program, the goal is to enhance not only the life of the special needs athlete, but to strengthen the family as a whole. From left are Selina Sun, Aroa Jung, Elaine Vo, Rana Jung, Emerson Hagen, Evelyn Shoults, Kelsey Shaffer, Cole Williams, Wendy Stombaugh and Ava Donaldson. 34

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas... December brings the holiday season and with it lots of family time and good cheer! As the cold weather and short days come upon us, we look forward to the memories we have of earlier holidays and the memories we will make during this season. Pike Road Schools have had a busy and productive first semester this school year. We continue to grow quickly and we continue to see evidence of academic growth in our students through performances on tests that place them in the highest strata of Alabama school systems. We are moving forward in the process to build a high school in Pike Road with a

River Region Parents I December 2021

planned opening date of August, 2025. The school will be constructed to handle 1500 students in grades 9-12. This important work will create more space on all our campuses when complete through school grade realignments. Construction work continues on the ten classroom addition at Pike Road Elementary School. We are looking forward to occupying that space next school year. Our students have excelled in competitive arenas this fall. Cross country girls finished 8th in the state, cross country boys finished 11th in the state, volleyball finished in the final four, football is in the final four at the time of this article, cheerleading has qualified for nationals,the FFA land judging team has proven competitive, the Youth Judicial team produced the Best Attorney and Best Witness, our show choir performed with great success at Disneyworld, and our band has earned superior ratings at every competition this fall! We are so proud of the success of Pike Road students as we work

hard to ensure the success of every graduate as they move on to become leaders in our world after graduation from Pike Road. The growth of the Pike Road School System is seen in the number of students, number of classrooms, number of schools, number of courses offered, and number of students excelling. We are proud of our growth, and proud of the continuing excellence we are seeing at Pike Road. May you have a very merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and enjoy the coming of a new year! It is my hope that you are richly blessed by God in this special time of year!

Chuck Ledbetter has been an educator for 30 years. He earned a B.A. in history from Auburn University; a Masters of Education in history from AUM; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Auburn University. Ledbetter was a history teacher for 11 years, an assistant principal, a middle school principal, a high school principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and for finance, and is in his 11th year as a superintendent. He is married to Kim and has three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

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Pike Road Holds Accessibility Expo

Pike Road’s Special Education Department will host its annual Accessibility Expo December 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Pike Road Intermediate School. Our goal is to connect families, community groups, disability groups and our school system. Come to learn more about the services available from the River Region. We want to raise awareness and ensure families are connected with all available resources, no matter their situation—getting together to make the world a more accessible place.

Macon East Classes Tour Downtown Montgomery

The Macon East Academy fifth- and sixth-grade classes visited the State of Alabama Capitol, the First White House of the Confederacy, and the Alabama Archives and History Museum. Mrs. Maddox’s sixth-grade class then toured Browder Veneer Works while Mrs. Keeble’s class toured the Mooseum.

MEA Alum Becomes Auburn Basketball Student Manager

Send your school news by the 15th of each month to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

Mayor Swears in New School Board Member

We want to welcome Ethan Taylor to the Pike Road School Board! The Pike Road Town Council recently appointed him to the open position on the Board. Mayor Stone swore him in prior to a recent board meeting. River Region Parents I December 2021

As Auburn University Basketball gets underway, be on the lookout for Macon East Academy alumnus Will Desmarais, Class of 2021. Selected from hundreds of applicants, he was chosen this year to be an Auburn University Men’s Basketball Student Manager. Desmarais spent many seasons doing the stats for MEA’s football and baseball teams.

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Macon East 8th-Graders Make Science Presentations

Coach David Lamb’s 8th-grade science students at Macon East Academy show off their projects. Their assignment was to choose their favorite topic discussed in class so far this year, create a project and make a presentation to the class. Some of the topics chosen were the periodic table, chemical bonding, and chemical reactions.

Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@ riverregionparents.com.

Pike Road Cheerleading Squads Move to UCA Nationals

Pike Road High School’s varsity cheerleaders were named the Space Center Regional champions and received a bid to join our Junior High at UCA Nationals. Our girls are also AHSAA 5A South Super Regional Champions!

Passion for Women’s Health Established in 1991, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecologic services. The practice also offers gynecological surgical services and the most innovative up-to-date Robotic Davinci Surgeries. The OB-GYN team of physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners strive to provide excellence in women’s healthcare and are welcoming new patients.

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Pine Level Students Share Halloween Love

Ms. Dorsey’s third-grade class at Pine Level Elementary School had “mini” trick or treating around the class for one of our friends who was sick and did not get to join in on Halloween fun. We are so thankful for such a loving group of students. Everyone was so excited to be able to give him some candy!

PJHS Students Making Props

The Prattville Junior High theatre class has been making props for aFall Showcase. Students are learning the secrets behind the scenes of plays and how they make food look real, how to interject sounds, how to fake injuries, etc. The students love hands-on learning!

Billingsley Students Attend Alfa Conference

Billingsley School students Baylor Stange, Caydin Green, and Kayden Bland attended the Alfa Youth Leadership Conference November 1-2 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana. The conference teaches students how to advocate for agriculture, identify their potential and fill leadership roles.

Please send Your School News to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

Pine Level Students Learn Fire Safety

The Pine Level Fire Department came and spoke to the students of Pine Level Elementary School about ways to be proactive if there ever was a fire. The students got some goodies and even got to see the fire truck!

Billingsley Students Hold Powder Puff Game

On October 21, students at Billingsley High School participated in a Powder Puff football game. The girls, dressed in jerseys, were coached by some of the senior football players. Proceeds from the game will help fund activities for the Billingsley High School Class of 2022.

River Region Parents I December 2021

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PJHS Students Learn by Doing

PLES Holds Fall Fun Day

Every year, grade-level teachers and department groups at Pine Level Elementary work together to develop themes and costumes for Fall Fun Day. Each group submits a picture to Principal Christen Harry. Administrators use a rubric to judge the costumes, theme, cohesive concepts, etc. Not only do student love that their teachers, counselors, custodian, front office staff and administratorsdress up but they also dress up and participate in a costume contest within their grade-level peers. It increases the sense of teamwork, community and family which defines the climate and culture of Pine Level. Winners are announced at the end of the day and prizes are distributed! Pictured are the two faculty/staff teams that TIED for 1st place!

Students at Prattville Junior High performed some great activities for the inaugural visit from the STEM bus. The bus presents an on-campus field trip for students with materials and equipment to perform experiments, make discoveries and foster creativity. These Cats are working on an electricity project and will then write up their findings in a report.

Artists Visit Prattville Intermediate

Under the guidance of P’zazz Art Studio, students at Prattville Intermediate School took part in an after-school art program.

Y GIVE ANYTHING ELSE

This year give the gift that lasts all year! Give an annual Prattville Y Membership for your loved one! Purchase 12 months for the price of 10! Also available, gift certificates for massage, youth sports, & more! Call or stop by the Prattville YMCA today!

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Autauga County Schools

Billingsley Competes in BEST Robotics Event

Students from Billingsley School participated in the Montgomery BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) Robotics Competition November 6. The theme of the competition was DEMODAZE. Students created a robot that could sort trash and recyclables on construction sites, focusing on safety and precision. Billingsley students brought home two awards for Team Exhibit Design and Construction and Founders Award for Creative Design.

Marbury Choir & Band Perform in Atlanta

The Marbury High School Show Choir performed the National Anthem before an Atlanta Hawks game and our Marbury Northstar Band gave an after-game performance. Our students were so excited to be able to perform at an NBA game!

PPS Students Lead Conferences

Prattville Primary School students participated in student-led conferences. Each student conferenced with his or her parents. They went over their goals, how they are doing at meeting their goals, as well as things they need to work toward. Student-led conferences were a great success.

PJHS Cheerleaders and Softball Team Help YMCA

The Prattville Junior High cheerleaders and softball teams volunteered with the YMCA Field of Dreams. We are grateful to partner with community members to make a difference.

Billingsley School Rocks! Billingsley School participated in the world-wide student initiative, Rock Your School, on October 21. Students, faculty and staff dressed up like rock stars and enjoyed a fun day of engaging and rigorous learning.

River Region Parents I December 2021

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PCA’s Naomi Taake Signs Brewton-Parker Volleyball Scholarship

Prattville Christian Academy’s Naomi Taake signed a Letter of Intent to play volleyball with Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga. She is the fifth player to join a collegiate team in the school’s program and continue her volleyball career while advancing her education. Taake is an outside hitter for the Lady Panthers. During her high school volleyball career, she earned 115 kills, 20 assists, 16 blocks, 210 digs, and 31 aces. She was an integral part of the 2020 history-making season as the Lady Panthers advanced deeper into postseason play than ever before and gave it all she had during her senior season this year when the team was consistently ranked in the area’s top teams. “Naomi is one of the most dedicated players I have ever coached,” said Kaylon Cantrell, PCA’s head volleyball coach. “Not only is she a skilled player, but she also knows and understands the game well. I’m so excited to watch her continue to grow as an athlete and young woman in this next chapter of her life.” Taake has put in the work needed both in and out of season for many years to make this dream a reality. She had a tough season-ending knee injury, but that didn’t stop her from being the team’s biggest cheerleader and supporter! She continued to attend practices and games in support of her teammates as the team’s unofficial “hype girl.” She was honored with the team’s Panther Spirit Award this year which is given to one player for their spirit, support and encouragement during the season. As a new Baron, she will play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as a part of the Southern States Athletic Conference. In addition to her athletic affiliations, she will become a part of the rich Christian heritage of Brewton-Parker College, a private Baptist college founded in 1904.

Sunday, December 12 TWO PERFORMANCES!

3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

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Autauga County Schools

PJHS Offers Opportunity For Future Engineers

PLES Facility Dog Lights Up the Room

Maggie, Pine Level Elementary School’s facility dog, visits all our classrooms. This student loves taking a break to enjoy her. Maggie helps students with anxiety, social or emotional issues.

The Prattville Junior High STEM class is finishing up a unit on orthopedics. Students were given a list of specific requirements to create a working product. They then had to test their product, make adjustments, and present their findings to the class. It’s a great way to pique their interest with real-life applications.

Pine Level STEAM

Third-grade students at Pine Level Elementary school worked in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) lab to create animal life cycles. The students had to collaborate with their partner to decide which animal they wanted to research, draw and build to complete the activity. Some questions the students had to research were: length of each stage of life of the animal, food the animal eats in each stage of life, and habitat of the animal in each stage of life.

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Celebrating the Joy of Christmas And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” — Luke 2:10 —

— DECEMBER 5 —

— DECEMBER 20 —

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Emphasis

Christmas Communion 4:00 & 5:30 PM // Stakely Sanctuary

8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 AM // Stakely Sanctuary Special Guest: Scott Ray, IMB

— DECEMBER 24 —

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship

Preschool + Children’s Choirs Christmas Program

4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 PM // Stakely Sanctuary

6:00 PM // Stakely Sanctuary

— DECEMBER 26 —

— DECEMBER 9-12 —

Worship Service

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Just last month, the Alabama State Department of Education honored educators across Alabama with the second annual Thank Alabama Teachers Week. Children’s author Michael Murpurgo said, “It’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.” I couldn’t agree more, and I am grateful for all our teachers! We have just completed our school and district 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year selection process and I am pleased to recognize these individuals. The following elementary (K-6th grade) teachers were honored by their respective campuses: Emily Wells, Eclectic Elementary; Erika Shockley (5th/6th), Eclectic Middle; Sheila Wright, Holtville Elementary; Beverlee Forney (5th/6th), Holtville Middle; LaNaye Stokes, Coosada Elementary; Zoie Frasier, Airport Road Intermediate; Leah McAlister (5th/6th), Millbrook Middle; Stacey

Williams, Wetumpka Elementary; and Shelby Nobles (5th/6th), Wetumpka Middle. The following secondary (7th-12th grade) teachers were honored by their respective campuses: Walter Porter (7th/8th), Eclectic Middle; Walter Snelick, Elmore County High; Rachael Jones (7th/8th), Holtville Middle; Trey Fetner, Holtville High; Alicia Diggs (7th/8th), Millbrook Middle; Abigail Betts, Stanhope Elmore High; Ardrinnia Strum (7th/8th), Wetumpka Middle; Jeff Glass, Wetumpka High; and Amy Colquitt, Elmore County Technical Center. The Elementary Teacher of the Year for the district is Shelby Nobles, Wetumpka Middle, and the Secondary Teacher of the Year is Jeff Glass, Wetumpka High. Each school’s teacher of the year was selected by their peers and participated in a rigorous application process from which the elementary and secondary teachers of the year were chosen. The elementary and secondary teachers of the year will advance to the state teacher of the year selection process in January 2022 and will serve their terms during the 2022-2023 school year.

In other news, we are in the midst of the third year of a competitive robotics grant covering all our schools. We fully implemented the grant activities during the 2020-2021 school year. Since then, our students’ interest in robotics programs has grown almost 600%! We have partnered with Google through the Google Buddy program which assists teachers and students with the engineering design process. Through robotics and other STEM programs, students are learning essential, 21st century skills to equip them for the future. Recognizing our remarkable staff is a fantastic way to close out 2021. Elmore County is blessed to have a wonderful, caring staff working with over 11,300 students every day. We consider it a privilege to teach and take care of our students, and we look forward to great things to come in 2022! Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.

Connect With Us f bcprattville.org @fbcprattville

River Region Parents I December 2021

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Elmore County Schools

WMS Names Teachers & Support Staff of the Year

ECTC Hosts Women In Construction

Wetumpka Middle School has named Coach Shelby Nobles (for 5th and 6th grades) and Ardrinnia Strum (for 7th and 8th grades) as Teachers of the Year. Nurse Rachael Garrett was named Support Staff of the Year.

Elmore County Tech Center hosted speakers from the local Montgomery chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in October. Pictured is Josie Young from Russell Construction of Alabama, Inc. sharing with seniors about careers in construction.Young was featured as a contractor in HGTV’s Home Town Takeover in Wetumpka.

Slapout Show 2.0 is Ready to Win AGAIN!

Coach Shelby Nobles

Ardrinnia Strum

Experience being a Holtville Bulldog by watching Slapout Show 2.0. Viewers are welcomed and guided through each segment’s sampling of life as a Holtville High School student by student hosts Kenai Jones and Reagan DeVaughn. Various students, faculty, classes, facilities, teams and groups are featured throughout four video segments. Thirty-six students from two different classes (Business Essentials and Internet Marketing) planned, filmed and directed the entire YouTube video in hopes of winning a $1,000 educational grant from Reach and Teach. Fall 2020 was the first season of the Reach and Teach: Campus Tour contest and The Slapout Show won with more than 2,000 views. Fall 2021 is a new school year with two completely different classes and HHS is hoping for a repeat win. The four segments that were selected: Cooking with Coach, Mascot Matchup, Extra Eats, & All Access. Cooking with Coach features the students’ three favorite coaches— Reese Claybrook, Trey Fetner and Scott Tubbs—in a heated cooking competition hosted by culinary teacher Chef Beau Myers. Mascot Matchup follows mascot Brutsie throughout a regular day at school. Extra Eats features five of the students’ favorite restaurants in the local area—Sheila’s Pizza, Anna’s Place, Coaches Corner, Joe Mama’s and Hog Rock BBQ. All Access gives a behind the scenes view of Holtville’s last home football game of the season and features countless students—football players, cheerleaders, mascot, band, majorettes, dance team, color guard and student section. Slapout Show 2.0 will premiere on YouTube on Monday, November 29, at 6 p.m. and views will be counted toward the Reach and Teach: Campus Tour contest through Monday, December 13, at midnight. The winner will be determined using the following metrics: 40% total views, 30% technical & creativity rubric, and 30% professional panel review.

ECTC Names October Student of the Month

Rachael Garrett River Region Parents I December 2021

Elmore County High senior Kirsten from the Medical Sciences program was named Elmore County Tech Center student of the month in October. She’s pictured with Career Tech Education Director Emilie Johnson, left, and Medical Science instructor Lori Higgins. 48

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Red Ribbon Week Success at Coosada

Students at Coosada Elementary School get fired up about Red Ribbon Week. During this week students learn the importance of being drug- and bully-free in fun and engaging ways. The faculty and staff at CES go all out to help students make good choices to grow in a safe and healthy manner. Students enjoyed a kick off parade led by the band, cheerleaders and football players from Stanhope Elmore. The students also enjoyed a full week of dress-up days to help them remember to be drug-free. Monday was “Don’t get caught sleeping, Say no to drugs.” The students really enjoyed wearing their pajamas to school. The rest of the week’s dress-up days included “shade out drugs”- wear sunglasses, “friends don’t let friends do drugs”- dress like a friend, “combat drugs” -wear camo/ military gear, and “Don’t let drugs trick you, they are not a treat”- the students wore costumes. Teachers all over the building participated in the dress-up days as well as a door decorating contest. Saving the best for last, students participated in a Super Mario Candy Grab. They visited Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road throughout the school in a safe, nurturing environment to grab some candy.

Holtville Freshmen Set Future Goals

Freshman students from Holtville High School participated in a goalsetting session hosted by Elmore County’s career coach in October preparing for their futures and writing their goals on a banner that will hang in the school hallways through graduation in 2025.

Send Your School News by the 12th of each month to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

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Elmore County Schools

ECTC Graduates Help with New Campus Construction

Two more former Elmore County Tech Center students have been spotted working on the new building construction site at the ECTC campus. Dylan Giddens is a 2018 graduate from Wetumpka High who took both Electrical and Construction at ECTC while in school. Caleb Eady is a 2021 graduate from Holtville High who took both Electrical and Computer/IT courses at ECTC.

ECTC Graduates Become New Montgomery Fire Recruits

Four Elmore County Tech Center graduates from the Public Safety & Law program joined the newest recruit class with Montgomery Fire/Rescue to begin their careers in public service: Katie Reeves (Holtville High 2020), Alex Drinkard (Wetumpka High 2017), Logan Thornton (Elmore County High 2021), and Tanner McCord (Stanhope Elmore High 2021).

Send Your School News by the 15th of each month to: editor@riverregionparents.com.

Airport Road Intermediate School Holds STEM Expo

On November 8, Airport Road Intermediate School held its STEM Expo and Rock Your School Day. The STEM Expo/ Rock Your School Day is an annual schoolwide event which showcases individual and group projects focused on various STEM topics. It allowed our students to flex their creativity in solving and presenting challenges and issues that are relevant to them. This year’s theme was “Caution....Future Leaders Under Construction.”

Wetumpka Baseball Players Sign to Play College Ball

Five Wetumpka baseball players have signed National Letters of Intent to play college baseball. From left are Coach Russ Brooks, Dawson Fuller, Garrit Terrell, Noah Jones, Douglas Johnson, Kyle Morrison, and Coach Michael Dismukes. Morrison has signed with Troy, Terrell with Snead State, and Fuller, Jones and Johnson have each signed with Southern Union State Community College. River Region Parents I December 2021

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During the 2020 holiday season, a survey by American Research Group, Inc. found the average American planned on spending roughly $851 on gifts. Despite gift spending being slightly down, throw in the costs of holiday cards, decorating, baking, holiday dinners, and unplanned purchases, and holiday shopping can add up to a heap of change. www.riverregionparents.com 52

River Region Parents I December 2021

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Many people are set back financially for months, if not longer, following the holiday season. One big reason for this is that credit cards make it easy to overspend, leaving individuals and families to suffer the consequences later. The problem with credit cards isn’t just the monthly payments. It’s the long-term cost from accrued interest.

So what can you do to ensure you start the new year without new debt? First, create a holiday budget. Include gifts, food, decorations, and postage for holiday cards, wrapping supplies, and the babysitter for your shopping trip. Then review your list, and decide where you can cut costs. Gifts to extended family and friends are an excellent place to start. Talk to those you exchange gifts with, and see if they’ll either forego the gift exchange or set a dollar limit. Another option for families or groups is to draw names. This will reduce the number of gifts everyone has to buy. Doing a white elephant gift exchange is also a fun option. Planning your gift budget based on value rather than the amount to spend on each person is also an excellent way to reduce your holiday expense. Decide in advance on a gift value for each gift recipient. Then look for great buys. Let’s say you’ve decided on a gift value of $50 for your sister. Now, try to find a gift that’s a $50 value but only costs you $30 or $40. If you have many gifts to buy, this can shave a lot of expense. Do you usually send out more holiday cards than you receive? If so, opt instead for a phone call during the holiday season. This is particularly meaningful for those you don’t talk to often, and it won’t cost you a thing. Another option is to only mail cards to those who send one to you. Cut back on the baking. When’s the last time you heard someone complain of a shortage of holiday goodies? Probably never. Most of us eat far more than we’d like to just because it’s there. If you’re hosting any parties, hold potluck dinners instead of playing head chef. You could offer to provide the meat. Then ask everyone to bring a specific type of dish to avoid duplicates. Eliminate your babysitting expense by exchanging babysitting with a neighbor — that way, each of you has the opportunity to shop without the kids. Plan your shopping before you head out. Do online research to find the best deals on the items on your shopping list. If you can’t find a good deal on something, consider an alternative. Also, check newspaper fliers and the ‘coupon’ page of the store websites you plan to shop. If possible, leave credit cards at home when you go shopping to avoid impulse purchases. Many people spend far more than they intend by purchasing irresistible spur of the moment bargains. Finally, if you use your credit card, try to make a realistic plan to double or triple your monthly payments. This will reduce your interest expense and quickly eliminate your debt. rrp Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family and lifestyle writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.com.

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Protecting Your Kids on Their New Devices The holidays are here! It is a beautiful time of year for friends and family to gather together, enjoy one another, eat all the food, and be thankful for the blessings from the past year. As wonderful as all of the activities are during the holidays, they can also be incredibly challenging. Everyone is busy rushing from one event to another. Not to mention the gift buying! This can feel like a huge challenge if you have a list full of friends and family. Speaking of lists, so many kids and teens will be putting on their lists, as they do every year, new devices. Ipads, gaming devices, cell phones, computers…anything that will connect them to their friends. Or, frighteningly, people who are not their friends. Research points to 90 percent of children owning a device by age 11, with a cell phone being the number one device. While this is to be expected, it can also feel incredibly overwhelming. As parents, when we give our children a device, we are met with the challenge of making sure those devices are safe for them to use. This includes any age restrictions we need to place on the devices, as well as the random device checks that we must do in order to protect them. I talk a lot about giving yourself small wins as parents, so these challenges do not feel quite so hard and overwhelming. One way to give yourself a win, and overcome a bit of the challenges you are facing with new devices, is to do random device checks. What does this look like? Here are a few easy steps that you can take each week, bi weekly or monthly in your home. The frequency is up to you, as River Region Parents I December 2021

are the rules you establish around devices within your family. First, make sure the device check is, in fact, random. Never the same time of day or a set day. Let your child know that you will be checking their devices, but do not tell them WHEN you will check them. This is a perfect opportunity to have an open conversation with them about why you are checking their devices. The conversation can look something like, “I am doing this to protect you.” Then, discuss what that protection looks like and why it is so important. Of course, there are numerous other reasons you may discuss with them, but I do believe having an open conversation is crucial in fostering a positive digital relationship with your child. Next, the random checks need to include a check of all devices. You may even split devices (phone, computer, games, tablets) to different days if it feels like too much for one day. Or you may check all devices at once. The key is to make sure that they are all monitored. All cell phones should be monitored for texting activity, online history and activity, pictures, and videos (do not forget to check the deleted pictures). All apps on the phone should be reviewed. Open each app and take a look at the activity within the app. This is a great opportunity to weed out any apps that you do not like for your child, or to add apps they have requested. Computers should be checked for online activity (a great way to do this is to review the history), pictures, videos and any games that are on the computer. 54

Gaming devices should be checked for any chatting history, as well as game appropriateness. This is the same with any tablets your child may have. Each and every device, as well as apps, should be checked for age appropriate restrictions. At first this is going to feel overwhelming. However. as you get use to doing random checks they will become much easier and you will become accustomed where to look. Finally, please do not forget to discuss any “social media challenges” that they may see. It is incredibly important that they are not participating, as some of them are not only dangerous, but hold serious legal consequences if caught. These challenges are mostly circulating through Tik Tok and Snapchat, so if your child has these apps be aware that they have probably been exposed. As we move further into the holidays, and devices seem to be the present that every child or teenager is wishing for, give yourself and your child the gift of protection. Take small steps. Embrace the small wins. Even when it feels overwhelming, we have to do the work to protect our kids in their online space. As always, if you need help, I am here!

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.

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by Kimberley Carter Spivey

The Christmas holidays are upon us, and we couldn’t be more excited to share a new recipe for your entire family to enjoy! During the holiday season, cooking is one of the main traditions amongst families across the globe. Although foods are prepared in various ways in households around the world, they all tend to be savored and appreciated... and cooked with lots of love during this time of year. This month Alycia Jeong is sharing a delicious Korean Christmas cuisine that’s a popular signature dish and part of her family’s tradition during the holiday season. Alycia and her husband, Shin, met in college and have been married since 2010. They have three sons: Noah (7), John David (4), and Ian (1). Being a working mom, Alycia’s three boys certainly keep her on her toes. When she’s not wearing her mom’s hat, she’s busy as a property manager and realtor in the River Region. When asked what inspires her to cook and how her passion emerged, here’s what Alycia had to share: “This question made me think! When I started cooking for my family, I had a lot to learn. My husband came to America from South Korea when he was 24, and I knew nothing about Korean food. I can remember many humbling interactions over the years as I have tried to learn Korean cooking. My dear husband has supported and given me many cooking tips. I hope that our combined cultures will allow my children to grow up loving all types of foods.” River Region Parents I December 2021

This classic Bulgogi dish is sure to wow family and friends at your holiday gathering. Passed down from family to family, it’s a staple meal in the Jeong household, and hopefully, it will become one of your favorites, too. Alycia adds, “For anyone who is newly into cooking (whether a young adult or otherwise), invite a friend over and take baby steps. I could never have imagined 11 years ago that I would enjoy cooking Korean food. After years of practice and sharing meals with family and friends, I can see that God has allowed me to develop a joy for cooking.”

until dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of soy sauce. Optional: add one tablespoon of minced garlic. Veggies (thinly sliced): one carrot, one onion, one bell pepper, and three medium or ten small green onions (including the bulbs). Mix all vegetables, sauce, and meat in a large mixing bowl. Preheat a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Add meat and vegetables into a pan on medium heat until veggies are at desired softness; usually around 10 minutes. Serve with rice and a side of kimchi.

Beef Bulgogi Ingredients 2lbs beef (flank, ribeye, or top sirloin) Brown sugar Soy sauce Minced garlic Carrot Onion Bell pepper Green onion

Directions Cut the meat into thinly sliced strips. Marinate in the sauce for 30 minutes, up to overnight. If you opt to marinate for 30 minutes, you can include your vegetables. However, if you marinade for longer or overnight, add vegetables when cooking. For the sauce, heat a 1/2 cup of water. Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Mix 56

Kimberley Carter Spivey is a freelance writer, blogger, author, and entrepreneur. When she’s not working as an Instructional Systems Designer and copy-editor on Maxwell AFB, she’s busy freelancing, blogging, or toiling away at her next book. Her debut book Bloom: How to Get from Good Enough to a Life You Love can be purchased on Amazon and girlyouwrite.com.

www.riverregionparents.com

Baptist East Delivers Postpartum & Women’s Services Expansion Now

Open

Because we continue to be the provider of choice for women’s services in the River Region, Baptist Medical Center East has expanded! We’ve added another 26 luxury, state-of-the-art rooms that provide an exceptional, patient-centered atmosphere. And our team of respected and experienced physicians, together with a professional and knowledgeable staff, provide the highest level of clinical care and expertise for women. Maybe it’s why we have received the Women’s Choice Award for Obstetrics six years in a row.

East BaptistDelivers.com

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River Region Parents I December 2021

www.riverregionparents.com

It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but research confirms a different reality -- most Americans have elevated stress levels during the holiday season. And with the challenges of the last two years, instead of being full of good tidings and cheer, families may feel drained of peace. Even if you are staying in or are paring down your family festivities this year, keeping things as light and easy as possible will make the end of the year more enjoyable. Here are ten tips that will simplify the season and make it merry and bright.

1. Focus on your reason for the season. Why are you celebrating? Is it

for spiritual reasons? Maybe you want to focus on family and friends or enjoy the spirit of giving during the holidays. Keep what is most important about the holidays at the center of your celebration. Reconsider any task or commitment that takes your time, energy, enjoyment or finances away from your reason for celebrating in the first place.

2. Set firm boundaries around your time. Even during a year in which

gatherings may be fewer, it’s easy to get caught up in organizing donations, planning for your family celebration, or connecting virtually with clubs and associates. This year, pick one project you want to volunteer your time to, or pick a variety of simple acts of kindness you can do with your family safely. Spend time with your friends and loved ones, but don’t feel guilty if you can’t commit to every Zoom party or virtual fundraiser.

3. Let go of Martha.

7 Holiday Hacks to Make the Season Bright

One of the 1. If you have an artificial tree, wrap the center pole with a most stressstrand of lights before you add the branches. This will make relieving the tree shine brighter from the inside. things you can do at 2. Use a wastebasket to hold rolls of wrapping paper. the holidays is set the 3. Use egg cartons to store small ornaments and ornament bar a little hooks. Use wine boxes to store larger, fragile ornaments. lower. Martha Stewart is an 4. Spread a thick layer of whipped cream on a cookie sheet. Freeze it for several hours and remove. Cut hearts out of the elegant hostwhipped cream with a cookie cutter and serve in hot cocoa. ess, but you don’t have to 5. Hang lightweight ornaments on long ribbons from your light do everyfixture or chandelier to make an elegant holiday decoration. thing the way Martha would 6. Skip expensive candles and potpourri. Add water and natuto have a ral ingredients like apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks or cloves beautiful to a crockpot and heat. season. Embrace simpler 7. To keep Christmas lights from getting tangled, wrap them around a clothes hanger or power cord holder. decorations, meals and gift giving than you so you can hire others to help with your have in the past. Try quick shortcuts or holiday tasks. Have groceries delivered or holiday hacks. If you let go of expectause curbside pick-up. Grocery stores also tions, you may be pleasantly surprised to have a plethora of pre-packaged holiday find yourself content with a celebration you foods that make delicious sides, cutting hadn’t even envisioned. down on your time in the kitchen. Buy desserts from your local bakery. No time to 4. Farm out your to-do list. At the clean the house? Hire a cleaning service beginning of the season make a to-do list just for the holiday season or ask for this of what you want to accomplish. If you find service as a gift for a later time. that it is too long for the amount of time that you have, consider delegating some of the 5. Gift others with experiences. items. If you contribute to a Christmas club Ask those you give gifts to if there is an at your bank, you might even consider setexperience they would like to have. Tickets ting aside some of the money specifically to the theatre? Family passes to an amuse-

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ment park or aquarium? A relaxing day at the spa? Experiences give friends and family the opportunity to make memories and pamper themselves, unique gifts that are muchappreciated. And it also allows family and friends to enjoy their present in the future at a time when they feel comfortable visiting their favorite experience venues.

6. Set a holiday tea time. Recent

research shows that drinking green and black tea has many health benefits, including promoting relaxation. Herbal teas, while not true tea, still help with anxiety and stress. In keeping with the holiday spirit, sip some calming peppermint tea, or try chamomile, lemon balm or passionflower.

7. Take a hike. One way to tell your stress to take a hike might be to actually take one yourself. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that trigger a happier, more relaxed mood. Aerobic exercise outdoors away from screens and to-do lists can clear your mind and help you keep what’s important in perspective. 8. Reconnect with long lost friends and relatives. Meet with an old friend you haven’t talked to for years, and catch up. Take some time off and visit relatives you miss seeing on a regular basis. If you are staying home this holiday season, connect via Zoom or Face Time. Surrounding yourself with people you enjoy is powerful when you want to combat holiday stress.

9. Do something kind for someone else. You don’t have to overcommit yourself

to a charity or fundraiser to be kind. Small random acts of kindness can make someone’s day. Let someone in front of you at the supermarket line or let someone drive their car in front of yours in the parking lot. Send an anonymous Christmas card with cash or a gift card to a college student or elderly person that you know is struggling financially or that is socially distancing. Throw change in Salvation Army buckets or donate online.

10. Celebrate memories more than material possessions. Material gifts

are nice, but most of us quickly forget gifts we have received in past years. The thing that we remember the most are the memories we make with friends and family. At the end of another unusual year, make some happy memories this holiday season and bid stress good bye. rrp

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist, teacher and mom to Andrew and Gracie.

River Region Parents I December 2021

www.riverregionparents.com

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First Baptist presents Unto Us December 9-12 @ First Baptist Church 305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Thursday and Friday at 7 PM; Saturday and Sunday at 4 PM. Come experience the splendor of Christmas in historic Stakely Sanctuary as the FBC choir and orchestra present, Unto Us, a musical presentation that celebrates the birth of Jesus and the hope He brings. (334) 241.5156 montgomeryfbc.org

Frazer Christmas Events ad on page 3

December 5, 19, 23, 24 @ Frazer UMC 6000 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 December 5: The Story of the Savior in Scripture and Song, 4 pm; December 19: A Service of Hope For Those Who Hurt, 4 pm.; December 23: Contemporary Christmas Eve Service, 6 pm.; December 24: Christmas Eve Services, Traditional at 4 pm and Contemporary at 6 pm. (334) 272.8622 www.frazer.church

Newtopia’s Annual Christmas Party ad on page 51

Friday, December 10 3731 Malcolm Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 5-7 pm. Admission $10 for 2 and under and $15 for ages 3-12. Come dressed in your ugly sweater for a competition and prizes. Dance party with Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Pictures and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus! (334) 356.4518 www.newtopiafunpark.com

Alabama River Region Ballet “The Nutcracker”

December 3-5 @ Davis Theatre 7981 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 “The Nutcracker,” choreographed by Stevan Grebel and set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, will thrill the audience with the prodigious dancing of the Youth Ballet Company and students from the school. With spectacular backdrops,

scenery and a growing Christmas tree, this ballet is truly magical! (334) 356.5460 riverregionballet@gmail.com alabamariverregionballet.com

Planetarium presents: “Tis the Season!”

December 1-17 @ Planetarium 1010 Forrest Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 This great traces the development of many of the world’s endearing holiday customs, and how they involve lighting up the winter season, from the burning Yule log and sparkling Christmas tree lights, to the lighting of the Menorah and luminaries. It also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice. Not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Pagan, Nordic, Roman, Egyptian and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions: from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe to songs about lords a-leaping, and ladies dancing. And the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles. (334) 241.4799 montgomery.troy.edu/planetarium

Planetarium presents: Season of Light and The Alien Who Stole Christmas

December 1-18 @ Planetarium 1010 Forrest Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 The Alien Who Stole Christmas--Ride along with Santa as he is abducted by a flying saucer on Christmas Eve. The UFO takes Santa on a tour of the solar system and shows him some unearthly children who were left off his list. Season of Light--This traditional Christmas offering is narrated by NPR’s Noah Adams. This show covers the various celebrations around the world which occur on or around the Winter Solstice. Extensive time devoted to the traditional Christmas story. (334) 241.4799 m01planet@troy.edu montgomery.troy.edu/planetarium

2021 Capital City Governors Tree Lighting

December 3 @ Capital 1142 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 TBA, Come enjoy the National Guard Band 30 minutes prior to tree lighting. - Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol. (334) 834.3022 ext. 2 montgomeryal.gov

Eastdale Mall - Santa’s Magical Arrival on Ice

December 3 @ Eastdale Mall 1000 Eastdale Mall Montgomery, AL 36117 7 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive in his magical sleigh during a spectacular ice show at the Eastdale Mall Ice Palace. Ice Palace skaters will perform whimsical vignettes featuring traditional Holiday tunes that will delight children of all ages. (334) 277.7380 richard@shopeastdale.com eastdale-mall.com

Alabama Shakespeare presents, “A Christmas Carol”

December 3-24 1 Festival Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 ASF favorite Greta Lambert is a one-woman tour de force as she takes on more than a dozen roles to bring this beloved holiday classic to life. You’ll be mesmerized as Greta brings this beloved and heartwarming holiday classic to life and transports you back to a magical evening in Victorian England to enjoy the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounters with Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. (334) 271.5353 boxoffice@asf.net asf.net

Eastdale Mall - Photos with Santa December 3-24 @ Eastdale Mall 1000 Eastdale Mall Montgomery, AL 36117 Monday-Sunday, 11a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Packages and Digital Files are available to purchase! (334) 277.7380 richard@shopeastdale.com eastdale-mall.com

Annual Holiday Light Festival The Montgomery Zoo

December 3-25 @ Montgomery Zoo 2301 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36110 5:30- 9:30 p.m. each night. See the Montgomery Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland displaying thousands of sparkling and twinkling lights and festive decorations at Christmas Lights Festival. Take a leisurely stroll, a brisk train ride, or see the lights from atop the Zoofari Skylift Adventure Ride. Visit Santa, enjoy the live nightly entertainment at the Overlook Cafe, and no winter’s night would be complete without some warming hot chocolate and

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fresh baked cookies. Travel through the hallways of the Mann Museum while being delighted and joyed viewing 20 Christmas Trees decorated by various companies, groups, and organizations from the River Region community. At the end of the Christmas Tree Village, you will enter a Winter Wonderland where Santa and his elves await a visit with all the little boys, girls, and their families. Your Santa visit will be a fun and safe experience following all of the Federal and State COVID-19 compliance guidelines. (334) 240.4900

montgomeryzoo.com

Holiday Dinner Cruise

December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 @ Downtown Riverwalk Cruise the Alabama River with Santa on the Harriott II Riverboat, Downtown Riverwalk. (334) 625.2100 montgomeryal.gov

First United Methodist Church Announces Gift Hope

December 4 2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Gift Hope will offer people in the River Region an opportunity to rethink the traditional holiday gift by honoring friends and family with specific gift donations to local non-profits. This year’s Gift Hope program is the 10th annual community-wide event benefitting more than 30 area non-profit organizations. fumcmontgomery.org/gifthope

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis December 4 Montgomery, AL 36106

(470) 440-2856 kmaliska@arthritis.org

Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Tour Open House

December 6, 13 and 20 1142 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 5:30 -7:30 P.M. The 1907 Governor’s Mansion will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. (334) 834.3022, ext. 4

governor.alabama.gov

The Montgomery Chorale Holiday Performances

December 7 @ Church of the Ascension 315 Clanton Ave Montgomery, AL 36104 7 p.m., Messiah Sing Along (334) 265.3737 montgomerychorale.org

23rd Annual Lights of Love, Virtual

December 9 @ Jackson Hospital 1725 Pine St Montgomery, AL 36106 Virtual Event. Tree will be lit on December 9th and will shine brightly through the month of December. For a contribution of $15 or more to the Jackson Hospital Foundation, a light will be placed on the Lights of Love tree inside of Jackson Hospital in front lobby in honor, or in memory, of someone special to you. For contributions of $100 or more Moravian stars will be placed on the tree. For contributions of $500 or more a decorative angel will be placed on the tree. (334) 293.6940 jackson.org

The Montgomery Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”

December 9 @ MPAC 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, AL 36104 6:30 p.m. One night only at the MPAC. LEAP (Linking Education Arts Performance) set tentatively for December 8th at 10 a.m. for the Montgomery Area. Field trip for students at a fraction of the cost with a full theatre experience. (334) 409.0522

montgomeryballet.org

River Region Parents I December 2021

Cloverdale Playhouse presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Then Some”

December 9-19 @ Cloverdale Playhouse 960 Cloverdale Road Montgomery, AL 36106 Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told -- plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. A madcap romp through the holiday season! The show will conclude with a performance by the new Cloverdale Playhouse Improv Troupe! (334) 262.1530

cloverdaleplayhouse.org

2021 Capital City Christmas Parade

December 10 @ Downtown Montgomery, AL 36104 6 p.m. The City of Montgomery would like to invite you to the Christmas Parade. Depart from Cramton Bowl and Parade downtown from Capitol Steps to the Court Street Fountain. A limited number of parade entries will be accepted. (334) 414.5525

montgomeryal.gov

F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Christmas Open House December 11 919 Felder Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 Free and Open to the Public from 10 am to 3pm on Dec. 11, 2021. Author Maire Martello will be signing copies of her new guide book Stepping Out with Scott and Zelda. (334) 264.4222 thefitzgeraldmuseum.org

His Vessel Ministries Seat at the Table Open House

December 14 300 Water Street Montgomery, AL 36104 3-6 p.m. He has prepared a table for you, come find your seat for 2022. Open House will feature discipleship, bible study, and prayer opportunities for 2022. Refreshments served. Live Music

(334) 356.4478 hisvessel.org

Glenn Miller Holiday Concert featuring Airmen of Note

December 15-16 @ Davis Theatre 251 Montgomery Street Montgomery, AL Annual Glenn Miller Holiday Concert. This year’s performance is free to the public. Will be accepting canned food donations for the Montgomery Area Food Bank. This performance will be held at the Davis Theatre. Featuring The United States Air force Band, Airmen of Note, premier jazz ensemble, will perform holiday and Glenn Miller favorites. The Airmen of Note ensemble was created in 1950 to carry on the style and tradition of the Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Dance Band. (334) 241.9567 troy.edu/davistheatre

Holiday Pops Concert

December 17 @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, AL 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Join the MSO for an evening of everyone’s seasonal favorites. (334) 240.4004 centremontgomery.org

F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Mask-erade Ball

December 31 919 Felder Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 Let’s ring in the new Roaring 20s all over! (334) 264.4222 thefitzgeraldmuseum.org

Prattville

City of Prattville’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration

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December 2 @ Grassy area near the Fountain at Court and Third Streets. 6-9 p.m. Heritage Park by the Fountain and Autauga Creek Dam. Tree lighting, music, visits with Santa, “Ice” Skating. No charge for tree lighting event/Charge for Ice Skating. (334) 595.0854

prattvilleal.gov

City of Prattville’s Annual Christmas Parade

December 3 @ Autauga County Courthouse The parade will start at 7pm at the Autauga County Courthouse at 4th and Court Streets. It will follow Main Street, turn right on Northington, then left on Doster Road to Stanley Jensen Stadium. (334) 595.0854

prattvilleal.gov

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Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon

December 9-19 @ Prattville Way Off Broadway Theatre Cultural Arts Building 203 West 4th Street Prattville, AL 36067 Thursdays and Sundays. A comedy by Don Zolidis, presented by special arrangement with Playscripts. Tickets are $10 (334) 595.0854 artguild.prattvilleal.gov

The Prattville Ballet’s “The Nutcracker Ballet”

December 11 @ Jeff State Performing Arts Center, 1850 Lay Dam Rd, Clanton, AL 35045 2 p.m., The Nutcracker Ballet. Presented by The Prattville Ballet and students of C.J.’s Dance Factory. Share the joy of Clara’s journey with her Nutcracker and the magic of Christmas with the whole family! Cost: $20 tickets go on sale Thanksgiving Day. Go to: tututix.com. (334) 467.8603 cjsdancefactory.com

Annual Christmas Concert by Prattville Prattville Pops

December 10 @ Doster Community Center 424 South Northington Street Prattville, AL 36067 7 p.m. This annual concert will delight the entire family with Christmas songs and sing-a-longs. The concert will be held at Doster Community Center on South Northington in Prattville. (334) 595-0854 pops.prattvilleal.gov

City of Prattville Main Street Christmas

December 14 @ Downtown Prattville 5 – 8:30 pm. Carolers, Kids Projects, Visits with Santa, “Ice” Skating. Giveaways form Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants. Charge for Ice Skating. All other free and open to the public. (334) 595.0854

prattvilleal.gov

Christmas Variety Show

December 16 @ Doster Community Center 424 South Northington Street Prattville, AL 36067 7 p.m. Performances by local and regional talent (334) 595.0854 artguild.prattvilleal.gov

First Baptist Church of Prattville ad on page 46

138 South Washington St., Prattville, AL 36067 Christmas Eve Service, Friday, December 24, 3 pm and 5 pm. www.fbcprattville.org

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First Presbyterian Church ad on page 41

220 South Chestnut Street, Prattville, AL 36067 Lessons and Carols Service, December 12 at 10:30 am and Candlelight Communion Service December 24 at 5 pm.

Wetumpka City of Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa ad on page 18

December 11 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Christmas extravaganza with Breakfast with Santa, arts & crafts, car show, parade, food, classic car show, entertainment and activities on the Coosa River culminating with a spectacular fireworks exhibition at dusk. (334) 567.5147 wetumpkachamber.com

Downtown Dickens Christmas and Tree Lighting

December 3-4 @ Downtown Wetumpka 5-8 p.m. The Annual Tree lighting will take place on Friday, December 3 from 6-6:30 p.m. Join the Wetumpka Chamber, Main Street Wetumpka, and the City of Wetumpka for a two-night community event as we celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting and enjoy a Victorian Christmas in historic downtown Wetumpka! A Downtown Dickens Christmas will be held on December 3rd and 4th from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm, where you’ll be transported back to scenes from “A Christmas Carol” with period costumes, photos with Father Christmas, authentic vendors, The Kelly Holiday Artist Market, and decorated downtown businesses. This is the perfect time to walk around our whimsical historic business district and complete your holiday shopping. (334) 567.5147 wetumpkachamber.com

City of Wetumpka Christmas Decoration Contest

December 9 6:00 p.m. There will be judging to those who have submitted applications. Prizes will be awarded. (334) 567.5147 cityofwetumpka.com

Millbrook Christmas Music and Tree Lighting

December 2 @ Millbrook Village Green Stage Millbrook, AL 36054 6:00 p.m. on the Village Green. There will be caroling, a live Nativity, refreshments for sale, the Tree Lighting and the Christmas Lights and Music show. (334) 285.6428 cityofmillbrook.org

Millbrook Spirit of Christmas Parade, “March of Toy Soldiers”

December 4 @ Sports Complex behind Smokehouse Bar-B-Q and will end at the intersection at City Hall Parade is at 2 p.m. Vendors will be set up at Village Green Park from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; there will be arts, crafts, and food. This is one of the great things about living in a small community - family fun, not too crowded and loads of excitement for everyone. No admission fee. (334) 285.7232 cityofmillbrook.org

Pike Road

Pike Road Dance Academy: Holly Jolly Christmas Show

December 13 @ Saint James Church 9045 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 6-8 p.m. A Christmas Performance with studio. Christmas routines to ignite the Christmas spirit. (334) 782.9200 pikeroaddance.com

Tallassee Christmas Tree Lighting

December 3 @ Veterans Park 6 p.m. at Veterans Park. Santa will arrive. (334) 283.5151 tallassee-al.gov

Holiday Market

December 3-4 @ Veterans Park Vendors selling crafts and food. (334) 283.5151 tallassee-al.gov

Holiday Parade

December 4 10 a.m. Begins at Tallassee Church of Christ and goes thru Central Blvd down to Barnette Blvd. and end at Tallassee High school. Holiday activities after parade in downtown Tallassee for children. Trains ride, Santa and more. (334) 283.5151 tallassee-al.gov

Auburn/Opelika Christmas at Chocotafaula ad on page 55 December 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 929 County Road 14 Auburn, AL 36830 Saturdays 10:00am-4:00pm & Sundays 12:004:00pm. Beginning in 2020, Choctafaula hosted “Christmas at Choctafaula”, featuring hayrides to see exotic and domestic animals, horse-drawn carriage rides ($2), hand-led pony rides ($5), meet & greet with Santa Claus, face painting, Christmas crafts and more! Christmas at Choctafaula has a selection of Fraser fir trees available for purchase. Our goal is to provide an experience that the whole family will enjoy. We hope to see you this holiday season! General admission $15, parents free with children 12 and under. Looking for a space to host your next event? Our barn is perfect for your next party, wedding, school event or sorority/fraternity function.

what we treat

(334) 750.2521 or (334) 209.1777 visitchoctofaula.com

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical ad on page 43

December 12 @ Gogue Performing Arts Center 910 S College St Auburn, AL 36849 3 pm and 7:30 pm. Your favorite holiday special comes to you live on stage. Tickets available now! (334) 844.8497 goguecenter.auburn.edu

Birmingham and North McWane Science Center Magic of Model Trains

November 21-January 2 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 Magic of Model Trains will return to spread

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some holiday cheer and amaze guests. Discover trains of every shape and size inside this popular exhibit of train displays. Every set in the exhibit is designed to scale with the size of the trains. The meticulous detail of the scenery includes covered bridges, downtown storefronts and, of course, several train stations that will keep your family entertained for hours. Sponsored by Royal Cup (205) 714.8300

mcwane.org

scheduled in 15 minute increments. If registering through the website, your reservation will be confirmed as soon as possible. Admission is free, and donations are accepted and appreciated to help with expenses. (334) 580.7990 reservations@anelecticministry.org www.aneclecticministry.org

Eufaula/Dothan

McWane Science Center Celebration in Whoville in IMAX

Eufaula Christmas Tour of Homes

(205) 714.8300 mcwane.org

(334) 687.3793 eufaulapilgrimage.com

December 11 @ McWane Science Center 200 19th Street N Birmingham, AL 35203 Newly renovated IMAX. Showings at 11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. both days

Alabama Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

December 17-23 @ BJCC Concert Hall 1 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 Alabama Ballet is proud to present George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® as one of only eight companies in the world licensed by The Balanchine Trust to perform this holiday masterpiece. Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies transport the young and young at heart to a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets. (205) 322.4300 alabamaballet.org

Calera North Pole Express Train Rides

December 3-5, 10-12, and 17-18 @ Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum 1919 9th Street Calera, AL 35040 Please visit our website www.hodrrm.org for times. “All Aboard” says the conductor, and your journey begins. Through the dark night, the magical train speeds to the top of the world! Upon arrival at the brilliantly decorated North Pole, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves board the train to visit with everyone, so be sure to bring your camera! You’ll enjoy chocolate milk and cookies and sing Christmas carols along with the live musician, Mr. Jim. Listen to a special Christmas story and receive a Christmas gift. 1(205) 757.8383 hodrrm.org

Christmas at the Station

December 4,11 and 18 @ The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum 1919 9th Street Calera, AL 35040 Christmas at the Station is a newly reimagined daytime holiday event at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum each Saturday before Christmas in December. Bring the family for a fun-filled Christmas experience riding trains, seeing Santa, exploring a festive maze, and more on the Museum grounds! 1(205) 757.8383 hodrrm.org

Eclectic Christmas Begins With Christ: An Eclectic Christmas

December 1-10 1733 Claud Road Eclectic, AL 36024 Come join us in December to experience the true story of the first Christmas. Time slots are River Region Parents I December 2021

December 4-5 Stroll through history and witness the magnificence of Eufaula’s finest homes all aglow in holiday splendor. Enjoy a seated luncheon or an elegant dinner at the grand historical Shorter Mansion.

Victorian Christmas

December 12 @ Landmark Park 430 Landmark Drive Dothan, AL 36303 1:00-4:00p.m., Sample turn-of-the-century desserts, sip hot chocolate or mulled cider and try your hand at making traditional Christmas decorations. Free.

(334) 794.3452 landmarkparkdothan.com

Just for Kids YMCA Camp Chandler Christmas Camps

December 18-20 1240 Jordan Dam Road Wetumpka, AL 36092 Arriving on Dec 18th at 2-3 p.m. and departing Dec. 20th at 4-5 p.m. This adventure is for old and new campers (ages 5-14), old and new staff, friends and relatives. Fee: $135 (members) and $150 (non-members), which includes t-shirt and camp store. (334) 229.0035 jikner@ymcamontgomery.org ymcamontgomery.org

YMCA Goodtimes Holiday Childcare

December-January 2325 Mill Ridge Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 Program will run everyday except Thanksgiving Day or the day after. 7:00 a.m. thru 6 p.m. Please call for more information. (334) 279.8666

Lake Martin and Alexander City Alexander City Breakfast with Santa

December 4 @ Main Street 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Square.

(256) 307.3949 mainstreetalexandercity.org

Alexander City Parade

December 6 @ Downtown Alexander City 6 p.m., One of East Alabama’s largest parades featuring elaborate floats, dancing groups, marching bands, horse-riding clubs and Santa Claus highlight. (256) 234.3461 alexcitychamber.com

Alexander City Downtown Christmas and Holiday Market December 11 @ Main Street Alexander City, AL 35010 Holiday Market from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Downtown Christmas from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (256) 307.3949 mainstreetalexandercity.org

Alexander City Live Nativity, Music and Late Night Shopping December 16 @ Main Street 5-7 p.m.

(256) 307.3949 mainstreetalexandercity.org

Out of State/Georgia Stone Mountain Christmas

November 13 - January 2 @ Stone Mountain Park 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA There is nothing like the Christmas season that magically transforms Stone Mountain Park into a land of enchantment. Within the glow of more than two million twinkling lights, you can watch live entertainment, engage in fun attractions and reconnect with friends and family during this special time of year. Make a Stone Mountain Christmas a part of your holiday tradition. Events include Wonderland Walkway, Snow Angel Castle, Holly Jolly Cabaret, The Polar Express 4D Experience, Snow Angel Fireworks and Snowfall Celebration, Sleigh Ride, Simply Christmas, Christmas Parade, Visit with Santa Claus, storytelling and live shows, great food and holiday shopping! (800) 401.2407 stonemountainpark.com

Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier

November 19 – December 31 @ Lake Lanier 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Buford, GA 30518 Nightly 5:00-8:00pm. Rekindle an old tradition or create a new one at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s Magical Nights of Lights holiday celebration. A seven-mile drive through tour of animated, festive, holiday light displays. At the end of your tour, the Holiday Village awaits you with carnival rides and games, pony rides and numerous holiday treats. Warm up with a hot cup of cocoa or step inside Santa’s Workshop for some holiday shopping and a visit with Santa. (470) 323.3440 lakelanierislands.com

Annual Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens

November 19- January 3 @ Callaway Gardens 17800 US Hwy 27 Pine Mountain, GA 31822 Nestled amidst wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens, Fantasy In Lights is the Southeast’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show with more than eight million twinkling lights celebrating the holiday season. Drive your car or ride the Jolly Trolley to experience scenes like Magical Field of Lights, March of the Toy Soldiers and Snowflake Valley. At Robin Lake Beach, enjoy ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ and ‘The Nativity’, light and sound shows enticing passers-by to stop, reflect and enjoy. (844) 512.3826 callawaygardens.com

Lanier Islands Snow Island

November 19-December 31 @ Lake Lanier 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Buford, GA 30518 Take the crew snow tubing, get your skates on and practice your figure eights at the ice rink, hop on the carnival rides, make snow angels, warm up with s’ mores and hot cocoa, and shop in Santa’s Workshop. Don’t forget to stop in and let the little ones tell Jolly Ole St. Nick what they hope to find under the tree. (470) 323.3440 lakelanierislands.com

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MERRY CHRISTMAS! www.riverregionparents.com

Grading Family Movies: Streaming, Digital Rentals, and Theatrical Releases Encanto

hat to ore ch

A Boy Called Christmas

8 Bit Christmas

Sex A

Profanity A

Alcohol/Drugs A-

Netflix

Rating PG

Overall A-

Violence B-

Sex A

Profanity A

Alcohol/Drugs A

Theaters & HBO Max

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

B-

A-

Trying to fend off his daughter’s demands for a phone, Jake decides to share a story from his past, so he tells her about his desperate childhood longing for a Nintendo Entertainment System. Facing implacable parental opposition, Jake and his friends dream up schemes to obtain one on their own. Filled with 80s nostalgia that will appeal to parents, the plot is aimed squarely at kids. Instead of being a movie that will appeal to all ages, it turns into one that will provide equal opportunity boredom. Photo © Warner Bros

A Castle for Christmas

Netflix

Rating TV-G

Overall B

Violence A-

Sex B

Profanity B+

Alcohol/Drugs B-

Sophie Brown is a successful author whose latest book has enraged her fans. Looking for a peaceful retreat, she heads off to Scotland to visit Castle Don Dunbar, a place with happy memories for her late father. Sophie loves Scotland and, on a whim, buys the castle. But she hasn’t counted on its curmudgeonly owner and his plan to keep her deposit…and his castle. As predictable as the rest of the genre, this movie manages to deliver some sweetness and charm. Photo ©Netflix

ide cal

ivo

Violence A

After his father embarks on a dangerous quest in search of magic, Nicholas discovers that his late mother had a map to the fabled kingdom of Elfhelm. Along with his pet mouse, Miika, Nicholas travels into the frozen woods to find his father and the home of the elves. Solidly acted, this Christmas film is darker than most but carries reassuring messages about living with grief, coping with adversity, and recovering from shattered illusions. It’s too scary for small children but older kids will enjoy this distinctive origin tale for Saint Nick. Photo © Netflix

op up ’s e d

Overall A-

r ’s

ve, e nd .

Rating PG

Disney strikes again in this tale of a non-magical girl in a family full of unusually gifted relatives. Mirabel lives in a vibrant home in Colombia with family members who have amazing abilities. But when the magic starts to fade, it’s up to Mirabel to save it all. This top tier Disney film is drenched in color, life, and tributes to Colombian culture. It also shares positive messages about valuing individual gifts and treasuring familiy ties. It’s funny, sweet, and a joy for viewers of all ages. Photo

ks y ta

Theaters

Love Hard

Netflix

Rating TV-14

Overall B-

Violence B

Sex B

Profanity D

Alcohol/Drugs D

Natalie is unlucky in love but she finally found the right guy – Josh, a handsome, sensitive guy she met on a dating app. In an impulsive moment, she decides to surprise him by flying out to meet him in person at Christmas, only to learn that she’s been catfished. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, this movie has messages about honesty and acceptance. It also comes with significant amounts of profanity plus alcohol consumption and off screen drug use. Photo ©Netflix Grades range from: A= absence of content concerns to D= excess of content concerns Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com 65

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When parents send their kids to school they hope that they are safe and happy as they learn and grow, but when your child becomes a victim of bullying it can be hard to know how to help them. According to www.stopbullying.gov between 1 in 3 and 1 in 4 U.S. students say they have been bullied. This is most common in middle school and most often takes the form of social or verbal bullying. Due to recent programs and education, studies have shown the number of kids being bullied is declining. However it is still a problem that should be taken seriously. Parents can educate themselves in what they should do so they are prepared if their child feels like they are being targeted by a bully.

Here are some tips to give your student.

River Region Parents I December 2021

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Just say stop

The first thing your child can do when faced with a bully is to say “Stop!”. It is healthy for all kids to understand boundaries. If someone is speaking to them, touching them, or treating them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, they have the right to say “No!” or “Stop!” If it continues, they can walk away from the situation. Learning to verbalize their feelings and take charge of the situation will benefit them into adulthood. They should never have to feel stuck. Likewise, kids should understand that if someone asks them to stop, they need to respect others enough to change the behavior immediately.

Walk away

If your child has asked their bully to stop and the behavior continues, let them know the best choice is to walk away. Ask your child if they have a person they feel safe telling about the bullying behavior at school. Let them know that if they have asked the bully to stop and they did not, they should then walk away and go tell someone they feel safe talking to about the situation. It is never a good idea to start a physical fight with anyone. If your child is not comfortable talking to an adult at school or they have reported bullying but don’t feel heard, it may be a good idea for

the parent to contact the school directly and come up with a plan to stop any future bullying. By first allowing your child to address the situation, you teaching them empowerment.

Use the buddy system

they can use as an outlet when they have these feelings - running, drawing, journaling, sports, hanging out with friends, etc. If your child has something they enjoy and are good at, it helps them feel important and boosts their overall happiness.

Often kids who are targeted by bullies are perceived as different by their peers. Bullying often happens with a group of kids targeting a child who is alone. Encourage your child to play with other kids with similar interests. A group of kids are less likely to be targeted.

What not to do

Laugh it off

• Blame yourself - it is not your fault • Fight back - it’s never a good idea to physical hurt someone else • Bully others - do not hurt others because you have been hurt • Keep silent - remaining silent while you or someone else are being targeted will not help stop the situation • Avoid school - everyone deserves to be safe and learn at school • Hurt yourself - if you feel like you want to hurt yourself or others, talk to someone immediately rrp

It is no surprise that bullies find enjoyment out of picking on others because they get a reaction. Sometimes laughing it off or making it into a joke can stop the bully in his tracks. This isn’t always easy to do if your child is not a natural at making jokes or if they are already upset, but in some situations, it can turn things around quickly.

Find an outlet

Kids who feel like they have been bullied at school may begin to feel angry, depressed, or blame themselves. It is important to let your child know that it is not their fault. Help your child find something

Being bullied creates a wide range of emotions and reactions for the victims. While you have given them positive strategies for handling the situation, you may also want to remind them of the following things not to do:

Sarah Lyons is a contributing writer and has been featured in more than 100 parenting publications nationwide.

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attained bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and both children attended Tuskegee University. Since then, James III has started his own cleaning service, while Lauren is a third-year medical student. The Coopers also supported their children through various extracurricular activities including basketball, band, Scouts and 4-H club. The entire family enjoys the shared hobby of photography. The Coopers currently lead their church’s media ministry, which broadcasts the church services for Facebook, YouTube, telephone conferencing, and drive-in broadcasts. Through these ministries, the church has succeeded in reaching parishioners beyond the walls of the sanctuary. Services are now being broadcast to people in the Macon County community and beyond, who are not able to attend church regularly, for whatever reason (COVID-19, physically challenged, homebound, lack of transportation, taking care of a loved one, etc). James also serves as a member of the Macon County Community Partners Taskforce (formed to combat COVID-19 in Macon County) where he is the co-chair of the Efficient Distribution and Management of Resources Sub-committee for the Taskforce.

For 33 years, the Family Guidance Center of Alabama has sponsored the Families of the Year Awards, recognizing outstanding families nominated for exceptional family teamwork, individual growth and family involvement. This year four families from Alabama’s River Region were nominated and showcased through interviews on the WSFA evening news in November. In addition to the Family Guidance Center and River Region Parents magazine, sponsors of the program include: WSFA-TV, Aronov, Synovus, Cumulus Broadcasting, the J.K. Lowder Family Foundation and Minuteman Press.

The Jordan & Jes Dodwell Family

The James & Cassandra Cooper Family James Cooper, 63, and his wife Cassandra, 60, of Tuskegee were nominated by John and Deborah Ellis of Shorter. The Coopers are the parents of James Edward III, 33, and Lauren, 29, and despite having adult children, continue to function as a true team. Most recently, the family pulled together to launch a campaign to help get James

Pike Road residents Jordan Dodwell, 31, and his wife Jes, 30, have been nominated by Jessica Bedient. They are the parents of five young children ranging in age from 1 to 5 years old. Chandler Holt and Averie Kate are the two oldest. The three youngest girls were adopted from foster care earlier this year, but Reese, Nova and Aspen have been with the Dodwell family for two years prior. Over that time, the whole family has learned and grown together as they have adjusted from life as a family of four, to life as a family of seven! Chandler and Averie have fully embraced being big brother and big sister to the three younger sisters. Jes and Jordan have worked hard to help each of the children during times of transition and are now happy to officially be a forever family. Jes is the “check-in team coordinator” for Church of the Highlands Montgomery campus. Every week and for nearly all church events, the Dodwells can be found helping out at

elected as probate judge of Macon County. James and Cassandra met when they were both students at Tuskegee University, and they have supported each other’s educational pursuits through the years even through full-time jobs and parenting responsibilities. As a result, both have now River Region Parents I December 2021

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church events. Because they were a foster family in Montgomery for years, they are now in the process to become instructors so they can help others become foster families. Jes is on the board of the Montgomery Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and is looking forward to volunteering there every month when in-person meetings resume.

Alberta, 57; Tiffany, 52; and Cassandra, 47, by Patsy Reese. Smith’s wife of 48 years, Brenda, passed away in 2016, but the couple taught their children to always be of service to others. Both Joseph and Brenda worked in the medical field and retired after more than 25 years at the VA hospital in Miami, Florida. After Smith’s retirement, he moved to Selma to spend time with his mother. He helped people by driving them to appointments and cooking for some—whatever he could do to make their lives easier. When Brenda retired, she joined him, along with their daughters. The family joined Calvary Missionary Baptist Church working in the church and community. One of Brenda’s favorite songs was “Let the Work I Have Done Speak for Me.” Following Brenda’s death, Joseph showed his family how to carry on with all the traditions they celebrated with her and enjoy them remembering her smile. He still loves to travel and cook for his family. All three of the Smiths’ daughters and all three grandsons have drifted toward service, some in the medical field or community politics.

The Eric & Elizabeth Leatherwood Family

Edited by Alison Rouse

For more information about the awards selection or the Family Guidance Center, please call (334) 270-4100 or visit www.familyguidancecenter.org.

Eric and Elizabeth Nan Leatherwood, both 43, of Pike Road were nominated by Doug and Dawn Singleton. The Leatherwoods are the parents of five children: Thomas, 15; Isabella, 12; Sarah, 9; Paul, 6; and Daniel, 4. The family has owned Leatherwood Plant Nursery for almost 12 years and are frequently in attendance at the EastChase and Wetumpka Farmers’ Markets, greeting customers and helping them pick out flowers. Elizabeth Nan has been teaching workout classes for more than 11 years and encourages participants with Scripture and fellowship during each class. She loves to help women to stay faithfully fit and in shape, and to look to the Lord for their ultimate strength. She also teaches a free dance fitness class to involve the citizens of Pike Road. In addition to their own children, the Leatherwoods have opened their home to others through foster care. Sometimes they have offered respite care for foster children. Both Eric and Elizabeth Nan help teach GAs and RAs at First Baptist Church in downtown Montgomery, where they are members. Elizabeth Nan is also a member of the Britton YMCA Board.

The Joseph Smith Family

Selma resident and Air Force veteran Joseph Smith is now 87 years old and was nominated, along with his adult children 69

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FamilyCalendar Wednesday, December 1

Montgomery Bus Boycott Commemoration Through December 7 Various activities at Rosa Parks Museum and Legacy Museum. For more info and schedule, visit www. mgmbusboycott.com/full. Kids Club Winter Workshop Online at Michael’s Other projects available through December 12 4 p.m. Free fun events with no registration required. Each day is a different project that kids can enjoy making for themselves, or gifting to others for the holidays! For more info, visit https://www.michaels. com/.

Thursday, December 2

Red Door Theatre in Union Springs Presents Smoke on the Mountain -- Through December 5 Dream Field Farms, 6376 US Hwy. 82, Fitzpatrick. The story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1938. By the evening’s end, the Sanders Family has endeared themselves by revealing their weaknesses and allowing us to share in their triumphs. For tickets or more info, call (334) 738-8687 or visit www.reddoortheatre.org. Wetumpka Depot Players Present Jingle Arghh the Way -- Through December 3 7 p.m. Fun for the entire family, this rollicking play will transport the young and young at heart to the high seas. Shhhh...we hear that the big guy in red will be boating in to jump aboard the pirate ship! For tickets or more info, call (334) 868-1440 or visit www.wetumpkadepot.com. Prattville’s Holiday ‘Ice’ Skating Rink -Through December 30 Opens at 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Banks of the Autauga Creek under the lights of the Christmas Tree at Heritage Park. Cost is $5 per person for 30 minutes and includes skates. For more info, visit www.prattvilleal.gov or call (334) 595-0850. Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Cinderella Through January 2 Music by Rodgers & lyrics by Hammerstein. Directed by Shelley Butler. Recommended ages 7+. Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award-winning musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music that delights audiences with its surprisingly contemporary take on the classic tale. For tickets or more info, visit https://asf.net/ or call (334) 271-5353.

Friday, December 3

12’s Day of Giving 5 a.m.-7 p.m. at Renfroe’s Market on EastChase Parkway. Join WSFA 12 News, Dixie Electric Cooperative, Auburn University at Montgomery and our sponsors as we collect food, money and toys for The Montgomery Area Food Bank, Hands on River Region Christmas Clearinghouse, and Toys for Tots. Visit wsfa.com for more information. Town of Pike Road Christmas Tree Lighting, Season of Giving Kickoff 5:30 p.m. Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Rd. Enjoy music and performances from local students, a Christmas story read by Mayor Stone, and, of course, a snowy surprise! Today will also kick off the Season of Giving Holiday Collections Drive. We invite you to drop off donations of winter clothing, hygiene items and non-perishable food items at Town Hall. Donations will

River Region Parents I December 2021

go directly to the Food Pantry at Woodland UMC and the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care Systems. Wetumpka’s Downtown Dickens Christmas Event Also December 4 5-8 p.m. Celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. and enjoy a Victorian Christmas in historic downtown Wetumpka with period costumes, photos with Father Christmas, authentic vendors, The Kelly Holiday Artist Market, and decorated downtown businesses. This is the perfect time to walk around our whimsical historic business district and complete your holiday shopping. For more info, visit https://business. wetumpkachamber.org/. 51st Annual Montgomery Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show -- Through December 5 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 3 & 4; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5. Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive. Adults $2 or $3 weekend Pass. 18 and under free with student ID and paid adult. For more info, visit http:// montgomerygemandmineralsociety.com. Annual Holiday Pop-Up Shoppe at EastChase Weekends through Christmas Eve 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays; 1-6 p.m. Sundays. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Near Buffalo’s Café and Santa’s Workshop. The pop-up will feature local boutiques, kids’ items and Bates House of Turkey!

Saturday, December 4

13th Annual Christmas at the Alabama Nature Center Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., activities from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn how to create your own nature ornament, get pictures with Santa, enjoy our Christmas movie special, and make sure to go on the hay ride! We will have hot chocolate for sale and plenty of activities to keep you warm. General admission applies and includes awesome events throughout the day. For more info, visit www.alabamawildlife.org/ or call (334) 285-4550. Christmas on Madison 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsored by Southern Art & Makers Collective and includes Montgomery Curb Market, Armory Learning Arts Center, Fennel & Figs and Crave Cafe Food Truck. For more info, find us on Facebook. AgDash 5K 8 a.m. Riverwalk Stadium, 200 Coosa Street. Sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation, the race will begin in front of Riverwalk Stadium and lead runners through the best sites of downtown Montgomery. The 3.1-mile route will finish back at Riverwalk Stadium, leading runners directly onto the Montgomery Biscuits’ center field. Non-Federation members are $35 and Federation members are $30. For more info, find us on Facebook. Wetumpka Cruiser 5-7 p.m. Special showcase of antique cars located in Downtown Wetumpka on E Commerce Street. Prattville Christmas Concert 7 p.m. Doster Community Center on South Northington in Prattville. Concert features the Community Chorus and the Prattville Pops. Free admission, but donations of non-perishable food items to benefit the AICC Food Bank are requested. For more info, call (334) 595-0854 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov/. On the Mend – Teen Workshop 10 a.m.-noon. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Teens will participate in a mending/upcycling workshop that will teach them how to sew their own decorative patch. During the workshop, students will get a brief

introduction to the global history of patching and mending garments and other textiles to prolong their use and combat “fast fashion.” Space in this workshop is limited to 12 participants. $15 for non-members; $10 for members. For more info or to register by phone, contact Brandy at bmorrison@mmfa.org or call (334) 625-4365.

Wednesday, December 8

Family Heirloom Christmas Card Event 5-8 p.m. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Looking for a classic holiday backdrop with lovely decorations and a festive tree for the perfect Christmas card photo? Join us for a free Family Heirloom Christmas Card mini photoshoot with featured photographer Eva Hernandez of Bokeh Amore Photography. For more info, call (334) 625-4333 or visit https://mmfa.org/.

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Thursday, December 9

Wetumpka Depot Players Present Christmas at the Canteen -- Through December 19 Join the cast from this summer’s wild popular Home Town Canteen for a holiday-inspired look at Hollywood’s 1940s WWII canteen life. Get ready to jump, jive and jingle your way in the holiday spirit with a musical show sure to warm your heart. For tickets or more info, call (334) 868-1440 or visit www.wetumpkadepot.com. Way Off Broadway (Prattville) Presents The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon Through December 19 Written by Don Zolidis and directed by Melissa Strickland. This hilarious spoof on holiday movies will be fun for the entire family. Tickets are $10 each and reservations are required. For more info or tickets, call (334) 595-0850.

Friday, December 10

MPAC Presents Comedian Heather McMahan: The Farewell Tour 8 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. A beloved Instagram storyteller & the best friend everyone wants, Heather’s fandom skyrocketed in 2019 with fans and the industry falling for her voice, her wit and her southern flair. Tickets begin at $29. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline.org/events/ or call (334) 481-5100. Prattville Pops Christmas Concert This concert will feature not only Christmas music, but also some special arrangements of patriotic favorites. Enjoy this free concert with family and friends and be ready to sing along to your holiday favorites. This concert is free and open to the public. For more info, call (334) 595-0850. Safari of Lights -- Through December 26 5-9 p.m. closed Christmas Day. Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Way, Hope Hull. Enjoy the beauty of the Safari Park at night as you drive through thousands of sparkling lights! After your drive, enjoy an illuminated walk through our Candy Cane Forest and visit with all of your favorite farm animals in the petting area. Enjoy holiday games while sipping complimentary hot chocolate. Santa will be making appearances on Dec. 18, 19, 23 and 24. Tickets are $11 per person with kids under 2 free. For more info, find us on Facebook.

www.riverregionparents.com

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FamilyCalendar Saturday, December 11

MPAC Live Presents Eric Martin’s Big Acoustic: The Voice of Mr. Big 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Eric Martin started his career singing for a San Francisco band called 415 that opened for established acts like Billy Squire, Hall & Oates, Journey, ZZ Top and Foreigner. 415 later changed its name to the Eric Martin Band (EMB) and parted ways in the mid-’80s. After the breakup, Eric released solo efforts and then teamed up with Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey and Paul Gilbert to form Mr. Big. Combined, worldwide sales topped the 7 million mark. Tickets begin at $10. For tickets or more info, visit mpaconline.org/events/ or call (334) 481-5100. The Capri Theatre Presents It’s a Wonderful Life 7 p.m. Enjoy the annual Christmas classic even more by helping the homeless. Sponsored by the Old Cloverdale Association. The Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless is partnering with the Capri Theatre for the return of Sockball fight! Please bring a pair of clean, unused socks and join in our Sockball Fight before the show. All socks (and hats and gloves) will be collected and given to the homeless in the Montgomery area. For more info, call (334) 262-4858 or visit http://capritheatre.org/. Missions Pancake Breakfast at Frazer UMC 8-11 a.m. Bring your appetite for the Men’s Ministry Annual Pancake Breakfast! We will be serving pancakes, bacon, sausage, syrup, coffee, orange juice, and milk! Cost: $5 for adults and $3 for children under age 12. Pay at the door. Breakfast is served in The Gathering Place. For more info, visit https:// frazer.church/ or call (334) 272-8622.

Tuesday, December 14

‘A Main Street Christmas’ in Prattville 5-7:30 p.m. Historic downtown Prattville. Santa will visit on Main Street at the Creekwalk Pocket Park. Children can drop off letters to Santa in a special mailbox near his sleigh. There will be take-home ornament kits for children sponsored by the Prattauga Art Guild. We will have horse-drawn carriage rides again this year, but rides will be limited. The Prattville Community Chorus will be caroling along the street and the ice-skating rink will be open from 5-9 p.m. Local dance troupes will entertain crowds in front of City Hall. For more info, visit www.prattvillechamber.com or call (334) 595-0850. ArtTalk at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 6-8 p.m. Free. Get to know the River Region art scene with this critique group, where artists gather each month to enjoy camaraderie with peers and get a taste of local restaurants’ signature items. Participants can bring one work of art for feedback or just join the conversation for some creative inspiration! Registration required. For more info, call (334) 625-4333 or visit mmfa.org.

music, dancing, and lots of fun. For more info, call (334) 595-0850. 2021 Lunchtime Lecture Series: Food For Thought Third Thursdays at noon. Fascinating hour-long lectures on the history of Alabama presented by the Alabama Department of Archives & History. In-person lectures are held in the ADAH’s Joseph M. Farley Alabama Power Auditorium. They are also livestreamed through the ADAH’s social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). Visit www.archives.alabama.gov for more info about upcoming programs. Today’s topic is “Discoveries at the Site of Alabama’s First State House,” presented by Linda Derry.

Friday, December 17

Deadline to Register for Christmas Camp at YMCA Camp Chandler Check-in is 10 a.m. December 18; check-out is 5 p.m. December 20. Christmas camp is for children ages 5-14 and activities include archery, riflery, fishing, canoes, pedal boats, climbing tower and field games. Christmas Camp will also include a campfire with s’mores, holiday crafts, Christmas goodies and a party. Cost is $135 per child for YMCA members and $150 per child for non-members. Register online or at Member Services; limited spaces available. For info, contact Jennifer at (334) 229-0035 or jikner@ ymcamontgomery.org. Friday Night Dinner at Holtville High School Two seatings at 5 and 6:30 p.m. in the Bulldog Bistro at the back of the school. Culinary students Amanda McQueen and Justin Damian have created a diverse menu with two options. Option 1: Miso soup, Teriyaki glazed New York strip and stir-fry risotto and Chinese doughnuts. Option 2: Seared Frenched bone pork chop with deconstructed loaded baked potato and honey, bacon brussels and brownie trifle. Cost of dinner is $15 per person. Make your reservations through Chef Beau at beau. myers@elmoreco.com.

Sunday, December 19

Blue Christmas: A worship experience of Hope for those who are hurting at the holidays 4-5 p.m. Frazer UMC. For more info, visit https:// frazer.church/ or call (334) 272-8622.

Saturday, December 25

Camellia Bowl 2021 1:30 p.m. Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall Street, Montgomery. A postseason college football game matching up the Sun Belt Conference against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in December. The game is played yearly and televised nationally on ESPN. Follow us on Facebook.

Sunday, January 2

Thursday, December 16

Free Community Preschool Dance Classes Tuesday & Thursday 45-minute classes at Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Ave. Open to all kids ages 3-5. Must be potty-trained. No special dance clothing required; shoes donated by Montgomery City Councilor Marche Johnson. For more info and to register, e-mail artscouncil@ montgomeryal.gov.

Prattville Christmas Variety Show 7 p.m. Doster Community Center. The second annual Christmas Variety Show will feature local and regional talent and is fun for the entire family. There will be

Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

Newcomers’ Club of Montgomery, Inc. Monthly Luncheon 11:30 a.m. at Arrowhead Country Club. The program will be a holiday singalong. For more info, contact kweimar@icloud.com or ijwetzel@msn.com. Also, visit http://newcomersmontgomery.com/.

www.facebook.com/RiverRegionParents

Region has a shortage of dermatologists, so I felt Montgomery would be the best place to start a practice. RRP: Being a mom is exhausting. If you could delegate one thing, what would it be and why? PL: I like a clean home, so I would delegate that to someone who finds joy in cleaning.

Dr. Porcia Love

RRP: How would you describe your parenting style? PL: JC and I are most likely authoritative parents—parenting similarly to how we were parented as children. Even though our children are very young, we are firm and hold high expectations. However, we do try to reward our children when they meet those expectations. Also, we try to explain the reasons for our rules and expectations. And by doing so, help them understand what we ask of them.

RRP: With the Christmas holidays quickly approaching, what is a Christmas tradition for you and your family?

RRP: What do you hope to instill in your children that will carry on with them for years to come? And perhaps, carry through generations?

PL: We are members of St. Jude Catholic Church, and we enjoy attending Midnight Mass at the church. The kids usually participate in the Children’s Christmas Program. Luckily, the service starts a bit early, so the kids can get in bed at a reasonable hour to get ready for Santa.

PL: I hope to instill in my children that they are intelligent, beautiful, and strong individuals. I want them to be courageous and believe in themselves. I also want them to be respectful of others. And treat others the way they would like to be treated. RRP: How do you feel about parenting your children as they get older in a world filled with innovative/advancing technology and impressionable trends? PL: Technology continues to change, and we encourage our children to learn how to use it. We often play computer games or watch some television shows or movies with them. However, we do set limits on screen time at home. We set limits on technology and encourage the importance of reading, writing, and playtime.

RRP: During the Christmas season of planning, day-to-day tasks can seem a bit daunting at times. Do you find balance through a structured routine?

RRP: Any advice or words of wisdom for new moms?

PL: We have somewhat of a routine. We try to take holiday photos during the first or second weekend in November so that Christmas cards are mailed by the end of November. We try to put up holiday decorations during the week of Thanksgiving. During their vacation, I also ensure the kids take a mid-day nap and keep their standard bedtimes.

PL: I always laugh at this question. Because as a mom of three young children, I still consider myself a new mom. There are, however, a few things I have learned over the years. Allow others to help you when they offer you help. Take some time to take care of yourself — whether it is exercise, spa time, or simply prayer or meditation. Take lots of pictures of your kids. You will find yourself cherishing them as they get older. Lastly, try to find a community of moms with which you feel comfortable sharing different experiences.

RRP: Becoming a doctor has been your passion. You always knew that you wanted to help people. What inspired you to establish your dermatology practice to serve Montgomery and the surrounding areas?

Porcia Love is the founder of River Region Dermatology & Laser in Montgomery, AL. Porcia has been married to JC Love, III for ten years and they have three children: Caroline (6), Catherine (4), and James (3).

PL: My husband and I are natives of Montgomery, so we wanted our children to grow up around family. Additionally, the River

River Region Parents I December 2021

www.riverregionparents.com

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PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE TO OUR PATIENTS IN A COMPASSIONATE AND PERSONALIZED MANNER Dr. Porcia Love, FAAD · Jo Shuford-Guice, MSN, FNP-BC ACNE · DISCOLORATION · HAIR LOSS · SKIN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT · BOTOX · CHEMICAL PEELS · FILLER · FACIAL REJUVENATION · LASER SERVICES · MICRONEEDLING · COOLSCULPTING

2060 Berryhill Rd., Montgomery, AL 36117 · (334) 676-33661· RRDermatologyLaser.com www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

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— Y M E D A C A Y R E M O — M O N TG

KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, February 3, 2022

6pm | Lower School Campus | 1550 Perry Hill Road  Dinner provided for parents and their rising Kindergartener.  Learn about the MA Difference, which puts an emphasis on nurturing and developing the whole child through a robust curriculum.  Hear about TailorMAde Tuition, where families pay what they can afford.  See why MA was named Montgomery’s #1 Best Private K-12 school in Niche Best Schools 2022 rankings.

RSVP at MontgomeryAcademy.org/OpenHouse by January 31

Th e M o n t g o m e r y A c a d e m y montgomeryacademy.org

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