Alabaster Connection February 2015 by me2graphicsllc

The Official Publication of the City of Alabaster

Alabaster Connection February 2015

Alabaster â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s

Main Street Medical Mile

Inside this issue... Arbor Day pg 8 Neil Diamond impersonator, Keith Allynn pg 10

Fin d

ope and

ealing

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with us in 2015.

Join us on a journey of discovery during Lent. Ash Wednesday - February 18

Parking lot prayers - 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Lenten Sermon Series

Moonwalking, Selfies and Mirrors

Begins Sunday - February 22

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP TIMES 8:30 am Contemporary Worship in Restore 9:00 am Service of Word and Table in Sanctuary 10:00 am Contemporary Worship in Restore 11:00 am Traditional Worship in Sanctuary

Firs

UMC Al AbAster

10903 Highway 119 | Alabaster, AL 35007 | 663.0509

www.alabasterfumc.org

From the Mayor’s Desk... As I write these comments in the middle of January, I can’t help but feel relieved. The last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January were stressful in many ways. Specifically, I extend my sincere apology for the irritation and frustration experienced during the garbage service transition. Our transition meetings provided for what we thought was a detailed, organized, and seamless change in service providers; however, execution was far from the expectation. We were told the republic services cans would be picked up beginning 12/29 with basically mop up duty the first full Marty Handlon week of January. We are truly sorry so many of our residents Mayor, City of Alabaster had these old garbage cans lined up across their property for weeks. It was doubly frustrating to also learn the vendor stated there would be monetary charges if they were not available at roadside—which was definitely not part of the transition plan we knew about. I want to thank each of the residents for their emails, phone calls, or on-line concerns—without them we would have not been aware of many unacceptable issues. These service issues lingered longer than we expected. Even so, I hope you agree our professional and dedicated employees in administration and public works stepped up to provide answers, coordination, and follow through during this time. I also thank our new provider, Advanced Disposal, for their assistance in this transition and the immediate tweaks made in their service to meet our expectations. On a more positive note, we have received many grateful comments for the weekly recycle, without a price increase. As you may know, we have completed the installation of the new Disk Golf Course at Veterans Park. This new addition to our park was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Alabaster Sports and Entertainment Foundation (ASEF), the Teen Council, and the City. As days of warmer weather approach, we expect many to include this course on their Disk Golf Course trail across the state—just another opportunity to showcase a park we are proud of and promote tourism in the area. I want to thank each of the members who served on the 2014 Alabaster Teen Council. This council was designed to provide a voice for our teens, more awareness into their local government, promote community involvement, and more importantly, provide more positive activities for their peer groups. I’m glad we are able make these opportunities available for our young people during 2014, and I believe they learned many life lessons. We hope to install the 2015 teen council in the coming weeks. If our teens have other ideas of how we can provide these benefits, I encourage them to email me, or use the “Report a Concern” form on our website. It is my hope that this year’s teen leadership will be able to provide more entertainment opportunities for their peers. I also thank Ms. Rhonda Elmore & YMCA staff for all the support and assistance extended to our teens--its a great partnership! Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day, and a meaningful season of Lent.

IDB seeking applications

The city of Alabaster is taking applications for the industrial development board. If interested, please complete the online form: www.cityofalabaster.com/residents/citizen-involvement-form/ Previous submissions are still on file and will also be shared with the elected officials when the application period ends on February 21st.

Official Publication of the City of Alabaster Alabaster Connection is published monthly and it is delivered to citizens of the City of Alabaster Editorial Board The Public Relations Committee of the Alabaster City Council Committee Chair Councilwoman Sophie Martin Councilman Rick Walters Councilwoman Stacy Rakestraw Editor Luke Camara, me2graphics, LLC Contributors Shana Camara Heather Leavell Asha Ashley Bobby Joe Seales

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Call 447-2214 or email luke@me2graphics.com

To advertise call 447-2214

Non-Emergency City Numbers Police 24-Hours 663-7401 Alabaster Water Board 663-6155 Fire Department 664-6818

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C O u n ci l C o mm e n t s

Scott Brakefield, Ward 6 City Council President

Greetings. I would like to take this time to thank each of you for your patience during the garbage pick up transition. I heard from a number of residents expressing their frustrations regarding the transition. It took a couple of weeks but it appears that things are running much smoother. If you are still experiencing problems please feel free to contact me or City Hall. The new company has been great to work with and ultimately their bid to win the job will save the taxpayers money. We also get weekly recycling to help improve our efforts in saving Mother Nature. One of the many things I enjoy about serving on the Council is the recruitment of new business. Recently Aldi opened. We just announce that Ulta will be coming to the South Promenade. We have the Holiday Inn Express about to break ground as well as Wal Mart Neighborhood Market. We hope to be able to announce some additional stores as we move into the Spring/Summer months. It is definitely exciting times in Alabaster.

Sophie Martin, Ward 1

Progress continues in Ward 1 with the recent grand opening of the Aldi Supermarket. This new addition is an added convenience for Ward 1 and Alabaster residents. The completed supermarket, along with the finished landscaping, is a definite enhancement for our community. Thank you to Mayor Handlon for her leadership in making this happen. After a recent recommendation from the Abatement Board, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the demolition of several more abandoned structures along Highway 11. The removal of these structures will be another move forward in our community and a step towards beautification and increased property values for Ward 1 residents. Recently, long-time Alabaster resident and community leader, Paul Cohill, passed away. Mr. Cohill had a great influence in Alabaster and in Ward 1. Mr. Cohill was a devoted family man and started one of the first little league teams in Alabaster. His faith was strong, and he contributed to the growth of several churches in our area including Liberty Baptist and New Vision. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Cohill family. Please contact me if you have any ideas or concerns for Ward 1 or our city. I hope you are having a wonderful and successful 2015. Blessings, Sophie

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Bob Hicks, Ward 2

2015 has kicked off in a big way. The announcement was made last month of an Ulta beauty store coming to the Promenade, hopefully completing construction by October. This is a significant catch for Cam Ward and the city, since this is the type of business to which people will drive a fair distance. This will in turn bring customers who otherwise might not hit our center, and provide extra sales to the surrounding stores. Kudos to all involved. Although it is still the dead of winter, the Park and Rec team is hard at work preparing even more venues in which we may play as the weather improves. The city’s disc golf course has been completed at Veterans’ Park, and should provide tons of hours of fun to those who get into this challenging and creative sport. Of course, manicuring of the Buck Creek Trail is a full-time job, and work continues there year round. Don’t forget Arbor Day, when the Park and Rec team will distribute free trees on a first-come, first-serve basis shortly. Keep your eyes on this newsletter for more details... Finally, we are very close to Valentine’s Day. Current sentiment is that it is a holiday for suckers, when the florists, candy makers, jewelers and card companies make a killing. I personally have always loved Valentine’s Day, because it is a chance to really show someone you love how you feel about them. I find as I get older and more and more wrapped up in the day job, council work , caring for Kyle and attempting to keep the house together, I sometimes take Lynn for granted and am not the most romantic person. (This is where she rolls her eyes....) Five weeks after I met her, I asked her to marry me because I spotted who she was right away. She has been a patient, caring and well-grounded wife, a ferociously-protective mother and a woman who walks the walk of her faith, not just talks the talk. We will celebrate our 32nd anniversary this February, and. although we make each other nuts regularly, she will always be my valentine. I bet you have one also, and they need to be reminded. Now is the time.. Grace and peace, Bob

Stacy Rakestraw, Ward 3

It looks like everyone is settling into the new trash and recycling system in the city. Change can be difficult, especially after being use to a routine for almost a decade. Recycling the city one day a week, every week, is much simpler than before, and you don’t have to look and see if your neighbors have their container out or not. As always, if you have an issue with the new trash service, go to “Report A Concern” on the city website. Thank you George Henry for dealing with each concern as we rolled out this new service. During the holidays, Sgt. Daniel Goodwin gave me a tour of the remodeling, inside the old city hall, for the police department. This is being paid for out of capital funds, and we have saved money by using the skills of Lt. Mike Jones, who is overseeing the daily activity of the entire project,

as well as, Sgt. Andrew Bryant and Officer Josh White, who did the wiring along with many other facets of the upgrades on the project. Thank you all for your knowledge, know-how, and hard work! The new area should be in use by the time the next newsletter comes out. Spring cannot arrive soon enough! The 3rd Annual “Alabaster Clean Sweep” will happen again this April and begins the weekend after Easter. We will have volunteer litter pick-up crews, the city dump will be open on Saturdays, a free paper shredding service will be available again, and we are working on an ‘electronics recycling service’ during the month too. More details to come!

Rick Walters, Ward 4

February is a short month but will not be short of activity. Weather permitting, the Alabaster Board of Education will begin clearing the property for our new high school. Thompson also has about 75 students ready to form a new Leo Club. The Leo’s will be an extension the Alabaster Lions Club. Lions International is the largest service organization in the world. With over 1.36 million members, Lions perform community service in 210 countries and geographic areas. Dubbed “Knights of the Blind” by Helen Keller in 1925, Lions help people in need, especially those with vision related problems. This service club is just another example of how our school system is growing, on and off campus. Our biodiesel program is also moving forward, and hundreds of cooking oil recycling containers have already been distributed. To get one, just go to our city webpage (cityofalabaster.com) and click on the “Report a Concern” tab. Just fill out the form, and one will be delivered to your house. When it is full, just repeat the process and we will swap it out. As the program grows, we hope to collect enough oil to produce fuel to run our generators and heavy equipment. The Thompson Road project is a little behind schedule, and hopefully, utility relocation will begin this spring. Once the utilities have been relocated, the bridge replacement will begin and then the road work will begin. The intersection of Thompson and Warrior drive will be realigned to square up with a new entrance for Warrior Park. It will probably be early next year before the entire project is completed. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. If you have any questions or concerns just give me a call or send me an e-mail. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and Keep in Touch!

Russell Bedsole, Ward 5

Well 2015 didn’t get off to a great start for Alabaster’s recycling program. The city received many complaints regarding service that was less than a standard we all expect. But that was the bad news. The good news is that city leaders and Advanced Disposal have been working hard to correct whatever issues existed to cause this subpar

service. I am confident that our city’s waste and recycling program will return to the high-level of professional service our city deserves. I ask for your patience as we fine-tune this process with our new partner, Advanced Disposal. As some of you may have read on AL.com, or in The Birmingham news, I spent the first 11 days of this year serving an Alabama based mission organization - Kenya Relief - at their compound in Migori, Kenya. I am so appreciative of this opportunity given to me by this very fine organization. I want you to know that the people of Kenya love Americans, and I felt their love, as well as yours, while I was away. I was able to literally tell people from all over the world about Alabaster and how any of them would be as blessed as I am to live here. I represented our city well, and I so dearly wish any of you who desire to visit Kenya will be able to do so. I am happy to be home, but I look forward to a time I can return. If any of you are looking for an opportunity to serve globally, please consider Kenya Relief. For more information, please visit Kenyarelief.org. Thank you Alabaster for being a great home, and please let me know how I may better serve you.

Tommy Ryals, Ward 7

As with any city, we are constantly being made aware of situations in which a neighbor is having difficulty with another neighbor. The recent consideration of a “no parking in the yard” ordinance is an example. While I did not vote for the ordinance because I felt it was an overreach of government authority, I know it was presented as an issue for the Council to consider because some neighbors were frustrated with other neighbors and their perceived lack of respect for the aesthetics of the neighborhood. As we mentioned in that meeting, in many, many cases, these problems would go away if we just could take a second to consider our neighbors’ points of view. We heard in that meeting that “it’s my property, I pay taxes, and I’ll do with it what I please.” The fact of the matter is that when you buy property in most areas, you are committing to follow some common rules that are there to protect all of those who live there. Those rules/laws may not address where you park, but are required to be followed. The rules may be in the form of Zoning laws the City administers or rules administered by a Homeowners Association. Following those rules and mixing in some common courtesy would mean less need for more rules. I don’t know about you, but I’m all for fewer rules by government and more “self-implemented” common courtesy. cityofalabaster.com 5

h a pp e n i n g s

Alabaster’s

Main Street Medical Mile.com goes LIVE The medical industry is blossoming here in the city of Alabaster. Concentrated near downtown Alabaster is a mile-long stretch of a variety of healthcare physicians and medical suppliers, waiting to serve the community. The long awaited website for the Alabaster Main Street Medical Mile is finally live. Featuring and highlighting the medical industry here in the city of Alabaster, the website allows citizens, as well as medical practitioners, to quickly find contact information for practitioners along the Mile. The website is clean, clear, and easy to use. It boasts mobile and tablet compatibility, rendering it useful to users sitting in front of a computer or looking up doctor information on the go, via their mobile device. At the top of the website is a large search box. From here a consumer can quickly search, using keywords and phrases, to find a local medical

6 cityofalabaster.com

provider. A user can also look up medical specialties to find a local provider offering first-class service. “The goal is to inform the general public about the medical community here in Alabaster and what’s available,” began Nathan Ingram, lead developer on the website. “A secondary benefit is a marketing initiative that will hopefully attract additional medically-related businesses to Alabaster - giving them a higher profile.” “Our goal with this website is to get awareness out there so that people will come to Alabaster, and that will help build the healthcare section of our economy,” shared council member Stacy Rakestraw. “There are so many people in our surrounding cities and counties that don’t know we have a medical community. They drive up 65 into downtown Birmingham, whereas they could stop here where we have so many physicians, clinics, and any type of medical suppliers along just this one-mile.” This new website not only benefits consumers but the medical community as well. “The doctors have

“There are so many people in our surrounding cities and counties outside of Shelby County that don’t know we have a medical community.” -Stacy Rakestraw City Council Member been surprised and glad that it’s happening,” continued Rakestraw. “Some have said that it should have happened a long time ago, asking what has taken so long.” Every medical provider with a valid business license on the Mile receives a basic listing for free. Clinics, physicians, and medical support services have the option to claim their listing which allows them to increase their exposure. There are two additional tiers above the free, basic listing. “The funds raised from these two additional options allows the city to fund the project,” stated Rakestraw. “It also allows the medical community to promote their

services to a larger audience.” For businesses to claim listings, they simply need to visit the website and follow the onscreen prompts. There are also limited sponsorship opportunities available. With the completion of the website, the next phase is underway. “What we want to do as a council is to do some rezoning so that we have an overlay along that mile that kind of enhances or dictates what gets put in that area that will best help people that are either in the hospital, visiting people in the hospital, or are employees of the hospital,” Rakestraw shared. Additionally, the community can look forward to billboards, maps, advertising, a Facebook page, and other social media promoting the Alabaster Medical Mile. Alabaster Main Street Medical Mile is a mile long corridor on Highway 31 in the heart of Alabaster - the fourth largest city in the Birmingham Metro Area. The Main Street Medical Mile features hundreds of physicians, clinics, and medical providers. The mile is anchored by the state-of-the-art Shelby Baptist Medical Center. The Joint Commission recently recognized Shelby Baptist Medical Center as one of the top hospitals in the nation. Visit MainStreetMedicalMile.com for more details.

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H a pp e n i n g s

Arbor Day

When you think of Arbor Day, do you think of planting a flower or tree? Digging a little deeper, Arbor Day is about the beautification of the community and town. The Arbor Day website explains: “In April of 1872, Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician who worked to improve agricultural techniques, felt that Nebraska’s landscape and economy would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees.” “He set an example himself, planting orchards, shade trees, and wind breaks on his own farm

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and he urged his neighbors to follow suit. He proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees.” The success of the day spread from state to state, and before long, all 50 states began to celebrate with varying dates that worked with their local climates. In 1970, President Richard Nixon made a proclamation of National Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. Soon after the proclamation, it became a world-wide celebration – ‘Greening Week’ of Japan, ‘The New Year’s Days of Trees’ in Israel, and so forth. On the last Saturday in February, the City of Alabaster gives away about 135 gallons of assorted trees. With this annual tradition, each citizen receives a 5 gallon tree and a sapling of choice, for free. “It’s a day that we encourage people to plant a tree,” shared Tim Hamm, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We are encouraging the community to beautify the city.”

8 cityofalabaster.com

The nursery is set up at Veterans Park, and registration begins at 8:00 a.m. where citizens will receive a number on a first come, first serve basis. At 9:00 a.m. the citizens will be able to choose their trees.

A Couple’s Love

Relationships and flowers are alike in many ways. They both require work and nurturing in order to fully bloom. “I had a blind date with George’s brother. George was there, but his date didn’t come,” shared Pat Hare, giddily. “But he started calling me. I don’t know what his brother thought about that.” George shared how his cousin-in-law encouraged him to keep calling that summer 56 years ago, and it began the start of a beautiful relationship. By Christmas they were wed and starting their happily ever after. “What I love most about him is he’s so patient, loveable, and he minds well,” she giggled. “I asked him one time – I’ll never forget – have you never even told a white lie. He said no, and I found it to be true.” “She’s patient too, and she’s good about fixing my meals for me,” he laughed. “She keeps me straight - tries to get me look decent and presentable because I can probably be a slouch. She’s a good kid.”

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Founding their relationship on trust and love, the couple worked through the thorns and thistles that sprouted up around them. This blossomed into many years of dedication and happiness. “I think that young couples give up real easy these days,” continued Pat. “It’s not all a bed of roses, and it never will be, but there are more good times than bad. You have to work at it and be patient. Forgive. Forget.” “I think that the younger people want too much too soon,” George added. “We’re comfortable now, but we hadn’t always been.” The couple shared how troubles come to every rela-

They shared their adventures while camping, cruising, and traveling, but home is where the heart is. They spend much of their time in their yard caring for flowers, trees, and various herbs. “We joined Master Gardeners and became certified back in 2006,” concluded Pat. “We like having something bloom year round if it’s possible. That was our goal, to have something blooming in our yard all the time.” Just like their garden, the Hare’s relationship did not happen overnight. Pruning and weeding the relationship took work, dedication and importantly, love.

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tionship, but advised and encouraged that the two parties should work it out, not walk away. Doing things together as a couple, and as family of five, strengthened the bond between husband and wife, as well as parent and child. “We’ve enjoyed traveling. We’ve taken some nice trips, but we’ve really enjoyed being home bodies,” added Pat. “We’re Master Gardeners, and we both enjoy working out of doors. I think that’s kind of special that we both love doing that.”

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alabaster connection is the official publication of the city of alabaster Total distribution is over 16,250 Mailed to every home and business in alabaster a digital version is also available at www.cityofalabaster.com

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AlAbAster ConneCtion The Official PublicaTiOn Of The ciTy Of alabasTer

H a pp e n i n g s

Neil Diamond impersonator, Keith Allynn

For well over 23 years, Keith Allynn has been entertaining audiences across the country. After finding his talent of sounding like Elvis during a karaoke night, he was hooked on impersonations. He wanted to impress a girl who loved Neil Diamond, so he wooed her with his impersonation of him over the phone, thus leading to their mar-

“He wanted to impress a girl who loved Neil Diamond, so he wooed her with his impersonation of him over the phone...” to anyone that wants to come and enjoy Neil Diamond’s music,” Waters concluded. “Some of our folks in our community may not ever get a chance to go to Branson, so this gives a little Branson to us.” A Neil Diamond Tribute will be held at Thompson Middle School on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Advanced tickets are $10, and it will be $15 cash only at the door – no guarantees.

Warrior Wrestler, Gabe Hale Keith Allynn all dressed up to play the legend, Neil Diamond.

riage and his becoming The Diamond Image. “Keith Allynn is a Neil Diamond impersonator that has a show from March to December in Branson, Missouri,” shared Alicia Waters. “He has his own theatre and impersonates the younger version of Neil Diamond.” During the off months of his show, they travel throughout the United States to do shows. During his 90 minute show, he personifies a young version of Neil Diamond. With a few simple costume changes and minimal stage props, he puts on a one-man show. “I love the music, and I think that a lot of our seniors have memories of the Neil Diamond era growing up,” Waters said with a smile. “There are certain songs that the crowd comes alive for and I enjoy watching that.” Three years ago, a young couple came to see the show that would be considered “before their time.” The excitement that they held just to hear Neil Diamond’s music made the show that much more respectable. “It doesn’t have to just be for seniors. It is open 10 cityofalabaster.com

Wrestling is not just about pinning your opponent to the mat. Sometimes, the opponent is the one looking in the mirror. “Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Hale is a kid that had a chip on his shoulder,” began Cara Crosslin, THS Athletics Director. “He was very defensive and a wall-up.” “We’ve had to break that wall down,” added Head Coach Shawn Weltzin. “We constantly remind him that we’re on his side. We expect him to do right and we hold him accountable. We want to see him succeed.” Since he’s been wrestling, there has been a significant amount of growth and maturity. “It has made me better in school, and I’ve done better with my grades,” shared the sophomore about being a part of the team. “This is something that I can look forward to as I get older – college wise. I have to have something to fall back on if I don’t get a scholarship for wrestling.” “There’s been a change in his confidence level. How he walks, talks, even his personality has changed,” continued Crosslin. “He’s growing up and maturing, becoming more of a young man instead of a boy. And it’s been neat to see how a sport has helped him mature and grow like we’ve seen him do.” Alabama High School Athletics Association requires a certain number of credits to be eligible to wrestle, and Gabe is lacking a few of those credits. He does not wrestle the opposing teams, but he trains with the warriors and is expected to perform as if he were competing. “He’d be wrestling for us right now if he was eligible,”

Gabe Hale is proud to be called a Thompson Warrior.

added Coach Weltzin. “He’s learning how to wrestle, and this is like his ‘red shirt’ year. It gives him accountability and motivation, and he’s held to the same standards as everybody else.” “Just because he’s not wrestling in matches does not mean he’s not a part of the team,” Crosslin pointed out. “Gabe is expected to be a part of the team just like everybody else, and that’s been huge for him.” Being a part of a team has exponentially helped Gabe’s behavior and attitude. Sometimes, the sport is about more than the gold

“There’s been a change in his confidence level. How he walks, talks, even his personality has changed.”

-Cara Crosslin, THS Athletics Director

medal at the end of the competition. “That’s the whole reason why we don’t make cuts in this program,” concluded Weltzin. “I think this program has a lot to offer kids, and hopefully we can really impact them.” The athletics department is toying with the idea of starting a girl’s wrestling program as well. The scholarship opportunities are great, and this would be another great opportunity for growth in the sport.

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H a pp e n i n g s

Alexis Berger National Letter of Intent

Kurt and Lisa Berger’s daughter, Alexis, made the decision to play golf after spending a weekend at a golf course with her father. A soccer player since she was five, Alexis decided to try out for the middle school golf team, and she became the first and only female golfer. Playing both sports until her freshman year of high school, she felt it was time to choose between her loves - and she chose golf. Under the leadership of Coach Marc Rice, she

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Alexis Berger with her family and coach after signing her letter of intent to play golf at Montevallo.

has competed for Thompson High all four years, in all but one match. In the last three years, she has only lost two individual matches during team competitions. Alexis is a part of the Alabama Junior Golf Association (AJGA), the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour (SJGT) and Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) and participates in numerous tournaments throughout Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and California, for an international tournament. The dedicated young athlete trained one year with Siew Ai Lim – professional golfer in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and two years with Scott Hassee – Hank Johnson School of Golf. Receiving multiple collegiate offers, Alexis will join the University of Montevallo Falcons, in August, under Head Coach Justin Pratt while studying Marketing as well as Public Relations. Her goal is to qualify for the LPGA or the Golf Channel after completing her studies. 12 cityofalabaster.com

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Calendar

Community

February 3 Water Board 7 p.m. 4 Court Trials 9 a.m. 9 Alabaster City School Board 5:30 p.m. 9 Council 7 p.m. 10 Housing and Abatement 5 p.m. 11 Court Plea Dockets 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. 15 Court Plea Dockets 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. 17 Defensive Driving School 23 Council 7 p.m. 24 Board of Zoning Adjustments 6:30 p.m. 25 Planning and Zoning 7 p.m. All meetings are held at 1953 Municipal Way in the Council Chamber View full calendar, agendas and resolutions at www.cityofalabaster.com

library

The Albert L. Scott Library is located at 100 9th Street N.W., Alabaster. Hours of operation are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 9 a.m.-7:50 p.m. Wednesday - 10 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Friday - 9 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m.-4:50 p.m. Sunday - 1-4:50 p.m. If you would like more information concerning programs, please contact the Library at 664-6822. Free AARP Tax Help for Seniors February through early April. Available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Meeting Room. Call or come by the Albert L. Scott Library to sign up. 664-6822. Friends of the Albert L. Scott Library The Friends is a group of dedicated booklovers that wants everyone to know the benefits the library offers and how members can increase its effectiveness. We have occasional fundraisers, such as semi-annual book sales and promotions in cooperation with local merchants, to raise funds for special books and activities for all ages. Some of these include: the Summer Reading Program and the Cake and Culture Program. We also maintain several areas at the library where books can be purchased at bargain prices. These are books that have been donated, so here’s also an option for those books you no longer want in your private library. For as little as $10 a year, you can be a 16 cityofalabaster.com

Friend and support the library. There are several levels of membership, and always opportunities for a few hours of volunteering. Be a Friend! Application forms are available at the Library or at www.cityofalabaster.com ABC & D’s of Medicare February 9, 1:00 p.m. Karen Haiflich of the Medicare Information Source will help you navigate through the process of Medicare. Learn about filing, benefits, and any other questions you might have. Program takes place in the meeting room. Masterpiece Book Club February 13, 2:00 p.m. Join us as we explore Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Redheaded orphan, Anne Shirley, longs for a real home, somewhere she can truly belong. When she first arrives at the Green Gables house on Prince Edward Island, it’s everything she ever imagined. But to stay, she’ll first have to convince Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert to adopt her. And that means controlling her temper (even when Gilbert Blythe calls her “Carrots”), staying out of trouble (and away from hair dye), and not getting too carried away with her daydreams (though she would make the perfect Lady of Shallot floating down the river). Anne might not always get it quite right, but she does keep things interesting. Program takes place in the Meeting Room. Library Book Group February 19, 7:00 p.m. Join us in our discussion of The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin. In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, Amanda Coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an engrossing tale of a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed American West and the dramatic consequences of his actions. Program takes place in the Meeting Room. Cake & Culture February 22, 2:00 p.m. Join us as seasoned traveler James Lowery presents his travelogue on the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum in Los Angeles, California: The World’s Only Ongoing Urban Ice Age Excavations. Refreshments will be served. Program takes place in the Meeting Room. Jim Phillips Presents The True Story of Pirates February 23, 6:00 p.m. Join us as Jim Phillips gives a captivating historical talk on the true history of pirates. He will talk about famous pirates, ships, and buried treasure, as well as Alabama’s connection with piracy and much more! Please be aware, no children will be allowed due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

Job Search Workshops Will resume in May. Adult Computer Classes Call or come by to sign up. 664-6822. Wednesday, February 4, 10 a.m. - Computer Basics Wednesday, February 11, 10 a.m. - Basic Internet & Email Wednesday, February 18, 10 a.m. - Microsoft Word 2007 Part I

youth Events Outreach Story Time Wednesdays 10:15 a.m.

At area day care centers. Miss Jennie’s Story Time Themes Groundhogs and More! Be My Valentine! Let’s Have Some Fun! Dr. Seuss! Tunes & Tales Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. Tunes & Tales Musical stories is fun for all ages. Children six years old and younger must be with an adult. Meeting Room Toddler Tales Fridays 10:30 a.m. Toddler Tales for toddlers and caregivers. Children must be with an adult. Meeting Room Brains and Beauty: How George Washington Carver and Madame C.J. Walker Used their Scientific Brains to Improve the Beauty and Health Industry February 10, 5:30 p.m.- 7:15 p.m. This Black History Month program features science educators Winfield and Elinor Burks who believe in the hands-on approach. They have co-produced more than 50 programs in the metro area. During our program they will spotlight black scientists and entrepreneurs Carver and Walker, and guide youngsters as they make their own beauty product. Children in grades 3 and above can sign up. Meets in the Meeting Room. Pete the Cat Book Club February 12 , St. Valentine’s Day Edition 4:00 p.m. Boys and girls, 5 years old and older, can join in the fun of cool cats by reading and making Valentine cards during our meeting. Please sign up. Meets in the Meeting Room. Children age 6 and younger must be with an adult.

LEgo League February 17, 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Youngsters of all ages can play with Legos of all sizes. Kids 6 years old and younger must be with an adult. Meets in the Meeting Room. American Girls Club February 27, 4:00 p.m. This month we’ll enter Addy’s world by taking part in an American Girls reader’s theatre. To mark February as Black History Month, we’ll read the play “Friendship and Freedom: A Play about Addy.” No memorizing will be necessary. The play is about Addy, age 9, who has escaped from slavery. The action takes place in Philadelphia in 1864. There are six female roles, and girls who aren’t actors can be in the audience – and so can their dolls! Family members can be in the audience too, but all children in the audience under age 7 must be with an adult. Girls 7 years old and older can sign up for the fun! Meets in the Meeting Room. All programs are in the Meeting Room behind the youth department. Children 6 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The Friends of the Albert L. Scott Library are announcing our

Spring

Book Sale April 10-12

Friday 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Members Only Preview Sale. Join at door for as little as $10. Be ahead of the crowd & enjoy first choice!

Saturday Sale 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. No limit – buy all you want. We’ll help you carry them to your car!

Sunday 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Fill-A-Bag. We’ll give you a bag to fill. For only $5 you get everything you can pack into it. Patrons may donate books and DVD’s directly to the library by bringing them to the front desk. These donations are tax-deductible. “The Spring Book Sale is a major event in our fundraising efforts to support the library, we look forward to seeing all of our supporters there.” Stephanie Billings, President of the Friends of the Library.

albert l. Scott library 100 Ninth Street NW | Alabaster, AL 205-664-6822

Calendar

Parks and Rec

The Parks and Recreation Office is located inside the Depot at 100 Depot Street, Alabaster. Office hours are Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. If you would like more information, call 205-664-6840 or visit www. alabasterparks.org. ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY Saturday, February 28, 8:00 a.m. 140 free trees and seedlings will be given away on Saturday, February 28, at Veterans Park in the Maintenance Shop. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Tree distribution will begin at 9 a.m. ADULT SOFTBALL REGISTRATION March 2 -31 Registration for teams (not individuals) will begin on March 2 and end on March 31 at the Depot, as well as On-Line at www.alabasterparks.org. BASEBALL/SOFTBALL February 1 Softball Observations at Warrior Park located off of Thompson Road: 1:00 p.m. – 6U (ages 5/6) on Field A 1:30 p.m. – 8U (ages 7/8) on Field B 2:00 p.m. – 10U (ages 9/10) on Field A 2:30 p.m. – 12U (ages 11/12) on Field B February 5-8 Uniform fittings for Baseball and Softball at Buck Creek Field House. Time will be announced and will depend on team assignments. February 16 Fields open for practice. SOCCER Soccer Observations at Municipal Park on the 3 Acre Field located between THS & TMS: February 5 – 6:00 p.m. – U6 (ages 4/5) February 6 – 6:00 p.m. – U8 (ages 6/7) February 9 – 6:00 p.m. – U9 Girls (age 8) February 9 – 7:00 p.m. – U9 Boys (age 8) February 10 – 6:00 p.m. – U10 Girls (age 9) February 10 – 7:00 p.m. – U10 Boys (age 9) Children will need to wear their Soccer cleats. February 17, 6 p.m. Coaches Clinic at Municipal Park on the 3 Acre Field. March 2 Practices begin.

18 cityofalabaster.com

NEW On-Line Pavilion Rentals – now available. Visit www.alabasterparks.org. Several of our City Parks offer pavilions for events such as picnics, family reunions and birthday parties. The best way to assure your event happens at the location of your choice is to reserve it early. Please do not send out invitations listing one of our parks as the event location before you have secured a pavilion through Parks and Recreation. The pavilion you plan on using may not be available. Pavilions are available for use by permit only. There is a $40 rental fee (no checks accepted) which must be paid before your reservation is complete. Note: Inflatables, charcoal grills, and piñatas are not allowed in any of the City parks. Please see our web site for a complete list of rules. All open picnic tables (those not under a covering) are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis.

Senior Center

The Alabaster Senior Center is located at 1097 7th Street S.W., Alabaster. If you would like more information concerning senior programs, please contact Alabaster Senior Center at 663-1307 or awalters@ cityofalabaster.com. We are seeking a dedicated and talented volunteer who would like to play the piano every Monday morning for our Timeless Treasures singing group. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Alicia at 205-663-1307. Drumming Program February 3, 10:00 a.m. No experience necessary; but, the benefits are endless. The benefits of drumming: improve your mood, increase circulation, and improve focus, low impact exercise and creativity. No charge for this program. AARP Smart Driver Class February 6, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This is a 6 hour classroom refresher that can help the effects of aging on your driving and how you can adjust your driving. Cost is $15.00/AARP member and $20.00/AARP nonmember. Bring your own lunch. Make checks payable to AARP. Sign up at the Senior Center. Lunch at Lloyds on Hwy 280 Thursday, February 19. Space is limited. $1 to reserve your spot. Bring $10-$12 for lunch. Flea Market in Prattville & Lunch Outing Friday, February 27 Join us as we travel to Prattville and enjoy shopping and eating lunch. Cost is $1 to reserve your spot. Bring $10-$12 for lunch.

Upcoming Book Club Monday, February 23 , 10:00 a.m. We will meet every 4th Monday to discuss the book and introduce a new book. Sign up at the Senior Center. Head to Toe Fitness Class Mondays, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Build muscular strength, increase your cardiovascular endurance and improve your balance, flexibility and range of motion as you have fun and move to the music! Do all this seated or standing……it’s your choice! This class will incorporate the use of hand weights, resistance tubing, balls, etc. into an enjoyable exercise class that will help you manage your activities of everyday living with ease. So join us as we strengthen our body, mind and spirit, and support each other in the pursuit to make everyday a healthier day! $2/class. NEW Strengthen, Stretch and Restore Mondays, 2:15 - 2:45 p.m. (30 minute mat based exercise class). All participants will begin class seated on a mat on the floor. A variety of exercises will be performed on the mat with no need to get up and down during class. We will remain on the mat until the end of class. This class is designed to strengthen the body by incorporating lengthening exercises that use body weight, as well as fitness tools. Focus will be on stabilizing the body’s core which is where all movement and balance begins. We will also increase flexibility and range of motion while gently stretching all of the major muscle groups. We will also focus on correct breathing techniques, body awareness and relaxation feeling refreshed and restored by the end of class. $1/class. NEW Tai Chi for Health Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. January 6 - February 10 The Tai Chi for Health is a fun, low-impact recreational exercise program designed to improve functional ability, self-confidence, self-care, mobility, muscle strength, and coordination. The program will be led by Butho Ncube, MPH, MBA, and a Tai Chi certified instructor and Health and Community Services Coordinator at the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A). Each Tai Chi session includes warm-up and cool-down exercises, six basic core movements, and six advanced movements, breathing, and relaxation techniques. Additionally, movements are performed at a higher stance to make it easier for older participants and those with arthritis. Classes are free to the public and will be on Tuesdays, starting on January 6, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., continuing through February 10, 2015.

Beginner Zumba Gold Wednesdays, 2:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m. January 7- February 25 New to Zumba Gold? This 8-week class is the perfect place to get started. Low intensity, low-impact dance/fitness class with an opportunity to break-down and learn basic Latin and World rhythms. Same party flavor and fun. Cost is $2/ class. Arthritis Exercise Program Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. This class helps improve pain and stiffness, maintain range of motion, balance, coordination, and also increases endurance and improves overall health. Space is limited. $2/class. Intermediate Zumba Gold Wednesday, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Relatively high intensity, low-impact fitness class featuring Latin and World rhythms, and the same party flavor as regular Zumba. A great cardio workout that is fun! Cost is $2/class. Line dancing Thursdays Join us on Thursdays for the 9:30 a.m. intermediate class or the 10:30 a.m. beginner class. No experience necessary. Cost $2/class. Ageless Adventures in Movement Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ageless Adventures in Movement we use movement as a language to explore or express an idea. Let’s explore some issues of aging as we learn the basics of creative movement. We’ll learn to use the Elements of Dance to tell our stories and explore the concept of the relationship between dance and the well-being of mind, body and spirit. No prior dance experience is necessary. We’ll build our dance vocabulary as we go! This is an ongoing class $2/class. You won’t want to miss all the other Activities at the Senior Center... Timeless Treasures (singing),–Mondays, 10 a.m. Head to Toe Fitness, Mondays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Strengthen, Stretch, and Restore, Mondays, 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Mat Stretch Class:, Mondays, 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Rook, Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. Arthritis Exercise, Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. Zumba Gold I (exercise) Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. Beginner/Inter Line dancing, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. Beginner Line Dancing, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Bridge, Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Ageless Adventures in Movement, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tempo exercise, Fridays, 10:00 a.m.

Around Town

City Council Meeting Minutes (Abridged)

(Unabridged version of minutes and resolutions/ordinances can be found on city webpage at www.cityofalabaster.com)

December 8th, 7:00 p.m.

Mayor Comments Proclamation THS Wind Ensemble Agenda Items *Public Hearing on these items 1. Ordinance 14-012* No parking in front/ side yards within residential districts Council Member Walters introduced Ordinance 14-012. Council President Brakefield then opened the public hearing on this matter, allowing those present to speak for and against the proposed Ordinance 14-012. The Council President shared certain ground rules relative to decorum and requested those speaking to keep comments addressed to Council, without repetition of other comments and as concise as possible. With this, the public hearing opened and those speaking for the Ordinance addressed the Council. Those sharing indicated their desire for this Ordinance to protect the image, safety and overall value of the community by preventing degradation of highly visible areas. After those speaking for Ordinance finished, those speaking against shared their opposition to the proposed Ordinance. Their comments focused on private property rights, this was better handled by homeowner associations, questions/validity of enforcement, government overreach, and proposed exemptions contained within proposal. After approximately 45 minutes of comments, Council President Brakefield closed the public hearing. Council Member Walters made a motion to APPROVE Ordinance 14-02. Council Member Hicks seconded. After Council comments thanking the audience for presence, participation and comments, a roll call vote was called for. Ayes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Walters, Hicks Nays â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rakestraw, Martin, Bedsole, Ryals, Brakefield Motion Failed

20 cityofalabaster.com

2. Resolution 120814 CR26/SR119 ALDOT Signal Maintenance Agreement Council Member Rakestraw introduced Resolution 120814 and made a motion to approve. Council Member Hicks seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously 3. Motion 050/070 Alcohol License â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1550 Kent Dairy Road Council Member Martin made a motion to approve an 050/070 Alcohol License for 1550 Kent Dairy Road. Council Member Ryals seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously Audience Comments: Resident asked about setting speed limits on CR26. Was directed to contact the County Highway department.

Said meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

December 22nd, 7:02 p.m. Mayor Comments Mayor Handlon recognized departmental leadership present in the audience, thanking them for their hard work and dedication. The Mayor also recognized Patrick Edward Kennedy Jr. on receiving rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts. Agenda Items 1. Resolution 122214 Council Meeting Schedule 2015 Council Member Bedsole made a motion to approve Resolution 122214. Council Member Hicks seconded. No further discussion. Motion Passed Unanimously 2. Resolution 122214-A Truck purchase & surplus Council Member Ryals made a motion to approve Resolution 122214-A, authorizing the purchase of a Ford F150 from state bid for $19,097. Council Member Walters seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously

3. Resolution 122214-B Pouring Rights Agreement Council Member Martin made a motion to approve Resolution 122214-B. Council Member Hicks seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously 4. Resolution 122214-C Employee Pay Grade/Scale Council Member Rakestraw made a motion to approve Resolution 122214-C. Council Member Bedsole seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously 5. Resolution 122214-D Alabaster Arts Council Agreement Council Member Walters made a motion to approve Resolution 122214-D. Council Member Hicks seconded. Abstain - Martin Motion Passed Said meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. *As a reminder, minutes will be a month behind as they must first be approved by the council at a subsequent meeting.

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Around Town

Citizen Spotlight Bobby Joe Seales

Born and raised in Alabaster, Bobby Joe Seales has found the quaint city to be home. Seales went to college at the University of Montevallo, as a Math major, but researching his own family history gave him a change of heart. “I started collecting coins, and I got interested in the history of the coins,” he shared. “Then Diane and I got married and I published a book on my family history - on my mother’s side.” Tracking his mother’s side of the family was easy because everyone was here in Alabaster and Shelby County. When he tried to track his father’s side of the family, without access to Ances-

“If I can do, or have done, anything to preserve the past history of Alabaster, Shelby County, and Alabama, then I feel that I have accomplished much.” -Bobby Joe Seales

try.com or microfilm, it was difficult. “History is important to everyone,” continued Seales. “It lets us see and remember what was done in the past and what the future holds. If I can do, or have done, anything to preserve the past history of Alabaster, Shelby County, and Alabama, then I feel that I have accomplished much.” Doing all of the checking and cross checking drew him away from his love of math and into a newfound affection for history. He found documents proving his family’s existence before Shelby County was even a county. “I’ve seen the Alabaster-Siluria area go from a small community to a thriving city that still has 22 cityofalabaster.com

Alabaster resident, and local historian, Bobby Joe Seales is a walking wikipedia of historical knowledge.

that home town feeling,” he added. November 1st of this year, Seales will retire as President of Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. and Director of the Shelby County Museum and Archives – positions he has held since November 7, 1999. His knowledge of history has built him quite a reputation. He is still interested in Shelby County history and plans to continue sharing that with others, even after retirement. “To me, it is important that I continue to share our history,” he said. “Why I like history, I have no idea. I hated it in high school and I hated it in college, but look at what I’m doing now.” Although he is retiring from two prominent roles, he will never completely let go of his love for history. He will be speaking to different groups and at many engagements. During this “retirement,” he looks forward to publishing two more books – a pictorial history book and a family history update. Additionally, he hopes to one day have the opportunity to Grand Marshall the Alabaster Christmas Parade. “I enjoy sharing things because if you don’t share, it’s gone,” he concluded. “My motto is that history never written, is soon forgotten. I thoroughly believe in sharing family and local history.”

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Around Town

Business Spotlight

Frank’s Furniture Warehouse 351 1st Street Southwest

Located in the same shopping center as the America’s Thrift Store sits family-oriented Frank’s Furniture Warehouse. “It started out as just a warehouse – mattresses and just one bedroom set on display back behind the Thrift Store,” began Frank Carr, owner of Frank’s Furniture Warehouse. “It was strictly by appointment. I sold mattresses and had a catalog where I could order merchandise.” The business grew rapidly, and he was forced to move the business. Now, Carr owns a hunting lodge called Blackwell Bend Hunting Lodge, in Selma, and a laundry mat, Frank’s Coin Laundry, as well as the furniture warehouse. “I taught professional archery for 18 years and had a pro shop down in Columbiana. I was retiring from shooting professional archery, and a buddy of mine had opened a little furniture warehouse over in Louisiana,” he shared about his unlikely move into the furniture industry. “He told me he was making pretty good money at it and told me to come over and take a look.” Carr was simply looking for something to do after retiring from professional archery. The two-

“I like to keep the business on a personal level and give customers a good place to buy merchandise at a real reasonable price compared to anyone else.”

Frank’s Furniture Warehouse has all your furniture needs met under one roof, right down the street from your house.

“In business for 12 years, I like to keep the business on a personal level and give customers a good place to buy merchandise at a real reasonable price compared to anyone else,” Carr added. “I take care of my customers and leave it like that.” Although the business is growing fast, Carr has no desire to spread outside of the city. He loves the challenge of keeping the focus on people. “Customer service brings people back, price is number two,” he continued. “I believe in taking care of my cus-

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time International Bow-hunting Organization (IBO) World Champion and seven-time international champion was not looking for running a full-time business after retiring, but the rapid growth proved otherwise. 24 cityofalabaster.com

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tomers and a lot of times, even if I lose 300 or 400 dollars on a deal, if the customer is not happy or thinks something’s wrong, I take care of it.” His son Richard Blake Carr and the general manager of the warehouse, Tony Honeycutt, shared sentiments of the remarkable customer services provided. “Men typically don’t like to shop for furniture, but they like to talk about hunting,” added Honeycutt about how Carr connects with the customer. “It’s a simple business. It’s keeping people happy. Come in, tell us what you want we get you in that direction.” Providing an excellent service and maintaining a satisfied customer is worth more than losing a few dollars on a deal. “He has an amazing ability to satisfy customers where he really will lose a couple of hundreds of dollars on a deal or not even break even, just to give people what they want,” added Carr’s youngest son Richard. “That actually helps out the business because everybody talks about it and comes to see.” “The goal isn’t to sell you a sofa,” concluded Honeycutt. “The goal is to sell you a sofa, a dining room table, a coffee table - for the rest of your life. You’re going to move. You’re going to need something else.”

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Around Town

First Mayor of Alabaster George Lafayette Scott, Jr.

The Town of Alabaster was officially incorporated on February 23, 1953. At that time there were 427 inhabitants residing in the limits of Alabaster. In April 1953 George L. Scott, Jr. was elected the first Mayor of Alabaster, receiving 86 votes of the total 102 votes cast, and served as Mayor until October 1964. The people of Siluria, the adjoining town, on April 27, 1971 voted to merge with Alabaster. Siluria had incorporated on May 25, 1954 with a population of approximately 600. The First Bank of Alabaster officially opened on January 21, 1952. George L. Scott, Jr. was President and served on the Board of Directors until his death on December 27, 1966. This was the first and only bank in Alabaster and was located on Main Street. The slogan George L. Scott, Jr. was elected the first for Alabaster Mayor of Alabaster, receiving 86 votes at that time of the total 102 votes cast, and served was “Watch as Mayor until October 1964 Us Grow.” In January 1965 the bank was moved to a new building located on U.S. Highway 31 across from Shelby Memorial Hospital. George L. Scott, Jr., along with many other leaders in Alabaster, was instrumental in bringing the Shelby Memorial Hospital to Alabaster and Shelby County. The dedication and opening of the hospital was in September 1959. The hospital was two stories in height, 313 feet long and 36 feet wide. A wing 51 feet by 40 feet was built on the second story to the rear of the main building. The dedication of the Shelby Memorial Hospital in Alabaster is remembered as one of the outstanding events in the history of Shelby County. George Lafayette Scott, Sr. (1878-1965), the fa-

26 cityofalabaster.com

Alabaster 1953. Aerial view of Alabaster when it was incorporated. Includes the Alabaster Lime Company owned by George L. Scott.

“George L. Scott, Jr., along with many other leaders in Alabaster, was instrumental in bringing the Shelby Memorial Hospital to Alabaster and Shelby County. “

ther to George L. Scott, Jr., was an Alabaster Pioneer and built the Alabaster Lime Company in 1929. The shipping point on the railroad was known as “Scott Rock,” named for him. Later, housing was built to accommodate some of the employees. After his father’s retirement, George L. Scott, Jr. became President of the company until his retirement in June 1966. The community acquired its name Alabaster from this “white calcium carbonate mineral.”

Photos courtesy of Shelby County Museum & Archives – Bobby Joe Seales, President

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WATCH COMMERCIAL-FREE TV!

Only with the Hopper can you enjoy these features:

LARGEST CABLE PROVIDERS

• PrimeTime Anytime™ - instant access to your favorite primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC in HD.*

• Instantly skip commercials when you play back recorded primetime shows*

Instant commercial skipping feature*

YES

The most HD channels

YES YES

Lowest All-Digital Prices Nationwide

FREE Installation in up to 6 rooms

YES

* Feature must be enabled by customer.

• Watch all your live and recorded TV anywhere.* • Record and store up to 2,000 hours of your favorite movies and shows.**

• Watch 4 HD programs on different TV’s. Monthly DVR and receiver fees will apply. * Feature must be enabled by customer ** Actual recording capacity varies based on type of programming. Commercial skipping feature is only available with playback the next day of select primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC as part of PrimeTime Anytime feature. Watching TV anywhere requires a broadband connected, Sling-enabled DVR. Both features require a qualifying package and are subject to availability.

All offers require 24-month commitment and credit qualification. Remote viewing requires Wi-Fi connection or use of Hopper Transfer feature.

Call Now And Save 50%

1-800-705-1833 With qualifying packages and offers

Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST Promo Code: MB12015

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Offers valid through 6/10/15 and require activation of new qualifying DISH service with 24-month commitment and credit qualification. An Early Termination fee of $20 for each month remaining will apply if service is terminated during the first 24 months. All prices, fees, charges, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. PROGRAMMING DISCOUNT: Requires qualifying programming. Receive a discount for each of the first 12 months as follows: $35 per month with America’s Top 250; $30 per month with America’s Top 200; $25 per month with America’s Top 120, America’s Top 120 Plus; $15 per month with Smart Pack; $25 per month with DishLATINO Dos, DishLATINO Max; $20 per month with DishLATINO Plus; $15 per month with DishLATINO Clásico; $5 per month with DishLATINO Basico. After 12-month promotional period, then-current monthly price applies and is subject to change. You will forfeit discount in the case of a downgrade from qualifying programming or service disconnection during first 12 months. HD FREE FOR LIFE: Requires qualifying programming and continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Additional $10/mo. HD fee is waived for life of current account. Offer is limited to channels associated with selected programming package. Qualifying programming packages are America’s Top 120 and above, DishLATINO Plus and above. You may forfeit free HD in the case of service disconnection. PREMIUMS FREE FOR 3 MONTHS: Receive Showtime, Starz, Blockbuster @Home and Encore free for the first 3 months. You must maintain all four movie services during the promotional period. Offer value $132. After 3 months, then-current prices will apply unless you elect to downgrade. 6 FREE MONTHS OF PROTECTION PLAN: Receive the Protection Plan free for the first 6 months. Offer value $48. After 6 months, then-current price will apply unless you elect to downgrade. Change of Service fee will apply if you cancel the Protection Plan during the first 6 months. DIGITAL HOME ADVANTAGE: EQUIPMENT: All equipment remains the property of DISH at all times and must be returned to DISH within thirty days of account deactivation or you will be charged an unreturned equipment fee ranging from $100 to $400 per receiver. Lease Upgrade fees are not deposits and are non-refundable. Maximum of 6 leased receivers (supporting up to 6 total TVs) per account. You will be charged a monthly equipment rental fee for each receiver beyond the first, based on model of receiver. WHOLE-HOME HD DVR: Monthly fees: Hopper, $12; Joey, $7, Super Joey, $10; second Hopper, $12. First Hopper HD DVR receiver and up to 3 Joey receivers available for a one-time $199 Upgrade fee. $199 Upgrade fee waived at time of service activation with subscription to America’s Top 120 and above or DishLATINO Plus and above. A second Hopper HD DVR receiver is available for a one-time Upgrade fee: $49 for a Hopper, $99 for a Hopper with Sling. With a second Hopper HD DVR receiver, one additional Joey receiver is available for a one-time $99 Upgrade fee. Hopper and Joey receivers cannot be combined with any other receiver models or types. PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop features must be enabled by customer and are subject to availability. With PrimeTime Anytime record ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus two channels. With addition of Super Joey record two additional channels. AutoHop feature is available at varying times, starting the day after airing, for select primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC recorded with PrimeTime Anytime. Recording capacity varies; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 12/01/14. Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an Internet-connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. On Demand availability varies based on your programming subscription. Requires Android OS 4.0 or higher to watch on an Android device and iOS 7.0 or higher to watch on iPhone or iPad. Select DVR recordings cannot be transferred. ALL OTHER RECEIVER MODELS: Lease Upgrade fee(s) will apply for select receivers, based on model and number of receivers. Monthly DVR and receiver fees may apply. Digital Home Advantage offer is available from DISH and participating retailers for new and qualified former DISH residential customers in the continental United States. You must provide your Social Security Number and a valid major credit card. Participating retailers may require additional terms and conditions. The first month of DISH service must be paid at time of activation. Number of channels may decline. Local and state sales taxes and state reimbursement charges may apply. Where applicable, monthly equipment rental fees and programming are taxed separately. Standard Professional Installation includes typical installation of one single-dish antenna configuration, typical hook-up of an eligible receiver configuration and equipment testing. More complex installations may require additional fees; other installation restrictions apply. Prices valid at time of activation only; additional fees will apply to upgrade after installation. 0 Any unreturned equipment fees will automatically be charged to your DISH account or credit or debit card provided to DISH. DISH shall determine eligibility for this offer in its sole and absolute discretion. Programming and other services provided are subject to the terms and conditions of the Digital Home Advantage Customer Agreement and Residential Customer Agreement, available at www.dish.com or upon request. Blackout and other restrictions apply to sports programming. All service marks and trademarks belong to their respective owners. ©2015 DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand® require compatible HD DVR receiver model. HBO GO® and MAX GO® are only accessible in the US and certain US territories where a high-speed connection is available. Minimum connection of 3 Mbps required for HD viewing on laptop. Minimum 3G connection is required for viewing on mobile devices. Some restrictions may apply. SHOWTIME and related marks are registered trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. ESPN GamePlan, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court and MLS Direct Kick automatically continue at a special renewal rate each year provided DISH carries this service, unless you call to cancel prior to the start of the season. ESPN GamePlan, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, ESPN Full Court and MLS Direct Kick are nonrefundable, nonproratable and nontransferable once the season begins. NHL, the NHL Shield and Center Ice name and logo are registered trademarks and The Game Lives Where You Do is a trademark of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2015. All Rights Reserved. NBA, the NBA logo and team identifications are the exclusive property of NBA Properties, Inc. © 2015. All rights reserved. © 2015 NFL Enterprises LLC. NFL and the NFL Shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League. MLS Direct Kick is a trademark of MLS. Sling is a registered trademark of Sling Media, Inc. All new customers are subject to a one-time processing fee.

monitorin

g starting

around

per week

*with $99 customer purchase of alarm inmstallation charge and onitoring services.

• A burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds. • 1 out of every 5 homes will experience a break-in or home invasion. • A home without a security system is 3 times more likely 1

to be burglarized. 3 • 85% of Police Officials4 surveyed believe home alarms deter burglary attempts.

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2008 National Crime Report http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2009/june/ucr_stats060109 2. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/press/vdhbpr.cfm 3. FBI, 2008 National Crime Report http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2009/june/ucr_stats060109 4. http://www.beyondidentitytheft.com/home-security-statistics.html

Call Now and Receive

FREE

FIRE AND EMERGENCY PANIC ALERT EXPIRES IN 30 DAYS • RESV. CODE 102012

Call Now and Receive

FREE WIRELESS REMOTE

EXPIRES IN 30 DAYS • RESV. CODE 102012

Fire, Theft, Flood, Emergency Front and back door protection Window coverage Infrared Interior Motion Detector Control panel with battery back-up Interior siren

Call Today, Protect Tomorrow!

1-800-313-8032 Mon-Fri 8am - 11pm • Sat 9am - 8pm • Sun 10am - 6pm EST

$99.00 Customer Installation Charge. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $36.99 per month ($1,331.64). Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may be required. Satisfactory credit history required. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Dealer customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Licenses: AL-12-1104, AK-35221, AR-E08-014, AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DE-07-212, FL-EC13003427, EC13003401, GA-LVA205395, HI-CT30946, IA-AC-0036, ID-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-City of Indianapolis: 80988, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC354, St. Louis County: 53328, MS-15007958, MT-247, NC-25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-68518, City of Las Vegas: B14-00075-6-121756, C11-11262-L-121756, NY-Licensed by the N.Y.S. Department of State UID#12000286451, OH-53891446, City of Cincinnati: AC86, OK-1048, OR-170997, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number: PA22999, RI-3582, SC-BAC5630, TN-C1520, TX-B13734, ACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VT-ES-2382, WA-602588694/PROTEYH934RS, WI-City of Milwaukee: 0001697, WV-042433, WY-LV-G21499. 3750 Priority Way South Dr. Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46240 For full list of licenses visit our website www.protectyourhome.com. Protect Your Home – 3750 Priority Way South Dr., Ste 200, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Around Town

Jeremy Dane Polk

David Michael Sprich

Congratulations to Jeremy Dane Polk on his recent hiring by the Alabaster Fire Safely Service. During the brief swearing in ceremony, lead by Mayor Handlon, he pledged to help the citizens of Alabaster to the best of his abilities.

Congratulations to David Sprich on his recent promotion to Apparatus Operator. During the brief ceremony he was challenged by his oath to help those in their time of need.

Adult Psychiatric Unit Ribbon Cutting

Residential Beautification Winner

Shelby Baptist Medical Center opened its 20-bed adult inpatient psychiatric unit on Jan. 19. The facility is the only one in the county and is expecting to reach capacity soon after opening. The facility makes it easier for patients and their families to receive the care they need close to home.

30 cityofalabaster.com

Congratulations The Cornelius family, at 134 Mission Drive, our February Beautification Award winners! Many friends and neighbors alike recognize Mrs. Corneliusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tireless efforts to maintain a lovely home and landscape. Her warm hospitality is matched by her visually welcoming home, and she contributes to making Alabaster a more beautiful place for everyone. Thank you, Mrs. Cornelius!

City of Alabaster 1953 Municipal Way Alabaster, AL 35007 www.cityofalabaster.com 664-6800

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid PERMIT 48 ALABASTER, AL

Marty Handlon, Mayor 664-6831 | handlon@cityofalabaster.com City Council

Sophie Martin, Ward 1 358-8742 | martin@cityofalabaster.com Bob Hicks, Ward 2 663-1801 | hicks@cityofalabaster.com Stacy Rakestraw, Ward 3 529-3326 | rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com Rick Walters, Ward 4 281-7394 | walters@cityofalabaster.com

Russell Bedsole, Ward 5 205-229-6021 | bedsole@cityofalabaster.com Scott Brakefield, President, Ward 6 685-0302 | brakefield@cityofalabaster.com Tommy Ryals, Ward 7 664-1301 | ryals@cityofalabaster.com

Postal Patron

Shaping Tomorrow Today!

Open House Grammar School (Grades K-5) February 5th & 6th, 7:45 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10:00 a.m. Grades 6-12 February 4th, 7:45 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10:00 a.m. Join us for this tour and informational session to discover the difference of an excellent classical education formed upon a biblical worldview.

w w w. e va n g e l c l a s s i c a l . o r g

423 Thompson Road | Alabaster, AL 35007 | 205-216-0149