Alabaster Connection February 2019 by me2graphicsllc

ALABASTER

CONNECTION THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF ALABASTER | FEBRUARY 2019

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CITY OF ALABASTER ACCESS FOR ALL

PHILIP DAVIS FOUNDATION

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FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF ALABASTER Alabaster Connection is published monthly and 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 Councilwoman Kerri Pate Councilman Greg Farrell Editor Luke Camara, me2graphics, LLC Contributors Shana Camara Lindsay Schluntz Megan Owens Lynn Barnett

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Happy Valentine’s Day Alabaster! Old man winter is almost behind us with brighter and longer days just ahead. Soccer, Baseball and Softball season will soon begin and our parks will be full of families, reconnecting with ballpark friends and making new ones, as well as memories to last a lifetime. It is this quality of life and Marty Handlon, community we hold so dear. The main question we hear on a daily basis: “Is the District 31 shopping Mayor City of Alabaster development still happening?” The answer is a resounding YES, according to the developer. It is still moving forward and they hope to celebrate a ground breaking in the fall. The other question is regarding the widening of Hwy 119. It is also moving forward, although at a snail’s pace. ALDOT plans to start purchasing Right of Way this spring, which could last 12-18 months, depending on property owners. But, I-65 is moving along faster than any road project I’ve seen. If the weather holds up, we should see those new lanes open real soon. The overall economic development outlook for our area is very strong with many projects in the early phase, both in the Industrial Park and around the city. There is much happening in our city. At the January 22nd meeting, the Council approved a contract for Alabama Power to take over and maintain the streetlights throughout the city. This is the third phase of contracting for which we have approval with Alabama Power. They will be upgrading the lights to LED which will provide brighter lighting, with fewer bulb outages. We are very excited about these upgrades with no additional costs to the city. They have started the process at the Promenade, and will be doing the major intersections next, with other city street lights being the third phase. February work sessions will include the Junk and Rubbish discussions to finalize the alternative plans for continuing to provide this type of service to our citizens. I feel very good about the ideas we have been discussing, and believe they will satisfy many of the concerns we have heard from our citizens. We will certainly do our very best to market and publicize the new service options and guidelines, as soon as they are approved. Alabaster’s Prevention Team still meets monthly at City Hall, and we need our citizens to be engaged in this effort. Our next meeting is February 12th at 11:00, so please join us if you can. I’m so incredibly thankful for the dedication and support of all those who have been on this journey with us. We have decided on our prevention team logo and name: For Tomorrow. You can follow progress and keep up with scheduled meetings on For Tomorrow’s Facebook page. Late in January, our City Administrator/Planner, Brian Binzer was in a serious car accident with his family on Hwy 119. Brian was the only one in his family with major injuries, but seems to be doing well in his recovery. It may be several weeks before he is able to return to work, so please keep him and his family in your prayers during this recovery period. Stay Warm and Be Blessed!

Police 24-Hours 663-7401 Alabaster Water Board 663-6155 Fire Department 664-6818

THIS EDITION 4 Council Comments 24 Around Town 26 Beautification Board 27 Calendar 30 CC Meeting Minutes

FEATURES

6 Valentine's Day 7 Heart Health 8 Black History Month 10 Access For All 12 Alabaster Library 14 Football Feature

SPOTLIGHTS

16 Business Spotlight 18 Citizen Spotlight 20 Alabaster Helps 22 Employee Spotlight

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Scott Brakefield

Ward 6 | City Council President Greetings! There is a lot going on in the City these days. We welcomed the opening of the new Warrior Express Convenience Store and Gas Station. Progress continues to be made on the Interstate 65 widening project. Hard to believe that it has been going close to a year. We should have completion of the Thompson Road project by the end of Spring. Also, hard to believe how long that project has taken. The widening of Highway 119 to the County Road 12 (Smokey/ Butler) intersection is still progressing. The latest update from ALDOT was that they would be moving forward with right of way acquisition in 2019. Once complete they will be able to begin construction. I cannot wait to see this project begin and we have been pushing our delegation to assist our efforts with ALDOT. We should see two new firetrucks on the road in the coming months. I know our Fire Department is anxious to get them on the road and operational. Lastly, I want to give a shout out to the Thompson High School Wrestling program. In the football-crazy South, we tend to overlook other sports. No sport at Thompson High School has been more successful over the past 10 years than our wrestling program. As I write this, they have recently claimed the program’s 500th victory as well as won the State Duals Title. In February they will be competing in sectionals and then on to the State Tournament where they hope to repeat as State Champs. It would be their seventh in the past ten years. That is what I call a Dynasty. Scott

Sophie Martin | Ward 1 Progress continues in Ward 1. The city council voted unanimously to have all street lights in Alabaster, including those in neighborhoods, to be upgraded to LED lighting. This includes traditional streetlights and decorative light poles. LED lighting is more cost efficient, durable, and there is an increase in light quality. Over the three-year contract period, Alabama Power will upgrade more than 2,000 lights, provide electricity to the fixtures, and then assume all light maintenance. New street striping has been requested for several Ward 1 neighborhoods. Some include Ironwood, Weatherly Club Drive and Alabaster Boulevard. The work will be completed as soon as temperatures increase. This ensures the material will properly set. It is an honor to serve as your council representative. Please feel free to contact me at martin@cityofalabaster.com. Sophie Rick Ellis | Ward 2 4

I hope that everyone is doing well and making it through another Alabama winter. One of the things that we, as a council, have recityofalabaster.com

cently tried to improve, is to have information more readily available to the citizens. There are a number of ways to keep up with the discussions that we are having and decisions that are being made. One of the best ways is to come to our meetings. We have regularly scheduled Council meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. We also have our work sessions usually the weeks between the council meetings. All of the meetings are public meetings and anyone is welcome to come sit in and listen. If you can’t make it to a meeting, the city website is a great source of information. Anything from budgets to agendas and minutes to copies of resolutions and ordinances can be found at cityofalabaster.com. Also, each month, Alabaster Living does a video with council members to discuss the prior month’s agendas. This can be found on Facebook and the city website. If you see all of this and still have questions, you can always contact me and I will do my best to answer your questions. Also, the Park and Rec department has just recently completed our registration for our spring sports. Our Park and Rec department does a fantastic job giving the kids in the city an opportunity to get outside and learn the life lessons that team sports can teach. I hope that everyone has a Happy Valentine’s Day and, as I mentioned above, if you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at ellis@cityofalabaster.com. Rick

Stacy Rakestraw | Ward 3 If you haven’t seen Alabaster Living on Facebook, please check it out. The council does comments on recent agenda items to keep residents up to date that cannot attend our work sessions or our meetings. We hope this is helpful in getting information to you all. Congratulations to the Thompson High School Wrestling Team on their 500th win, recently. Since 2007, when this program first began, they have won six Alabama State Championships and I believe they are well on their way to the seventh. The THS girls bowling team recently won regionals and the boys came in third. They are currently working towards a State Championship. We recently set three public hearings for February 4th at 7 p.m., on properties our Housing and Abatement board have deemed unsafe. Our intersections and streetlights are getting upgraded with LED bulbs and Alabama Power will begin maintaining them.  The price is $1,740 per month and includes the monthly power to all 89 intersections. And for our 2,054 street lights, the current monthly cost is $25,750.39 and the new total will be $25,642.36 resulting in a savings of $108.03 per month and increased reliability. Please, remember there will be no change in

COUNCIL COMMENTS picking up limbs or bagged leaves and grass clippings as we work on changes to our curbside junk/rubbish pick up. Stacy

Greg Farrell

| Ward 4 This month I would like to give you, the citizens, some highlights of the Alabaster Annual Report for 2018. With the continuing growth to our community and with an increase of traffic along I-65, these things put more demands on the Fire Department. Here are some numbers to ponder from the annual report: - Total Incidents (calls): 3,812, (+166 more than 2017) - Total Units Response (this includes anytime one or a number of units respond to an incident,(ie; Fire Engines, Chief, Battalion Chief and Support Vehicles): 5,935 (+239 more than 2017). - Total Property Saved $1,982,108.00 - Total hours of Training for Personnel: 26,470 hrs. A breakdown of incidents for 2018: Fires: 104; EMS (medical calls): 2,427; All other incidents: 1,281 A breakdown of Station Responses for 2018: - Station 1: 1,515 (average of 4 responses a day) - Station 2: 1,124 (average of 3 responses a day) - Station 3: 1,698 (average of 4.5 responses a day) As you can see it was a busy year for the Fire Department. On top of responding to calls, the department does a large amount of public education and other community outreaches throughout the year for the community. Looking forward, the department will take delivery of two new Fire Engines in the first half of 2019. These Engines will upgrade the department and replace an aging fleet. Thanks to Chief Love and his staff for a job well done in 2018. Greg

Russell Bedsole | Ward 5 Greetings again friends. I hope your new year is off to a great start. Help me welcome one of our newest Alabaster businesses. The Warrior Express has opened up their beautiful location on Hwy 119 at Thompson Rd. The architecture of this facility is a great example of what our overlay requirements provides for in the look of the businesses going forward along this heavy business corridor. Here’s to a long healthy business life in Alabaster for The Warrior Express. I wanted to briefly discuss an exciting action the Council recently took. You may have noticed at times we are plagued with way too many street lights being out along our city-maintained streets. Once a street light outage is reported we in turn pass this along to our partners at Alabama Power to make the bulb replacement. It’s important to note the City is billed on a per fixture basis regardless if this fixture is illuminated or not. So, it is

in the City’s best interest to have our lights illuminated from both a financial prospective and an aesthetic one.  Our hard-working staff at City Hall worked to find a better economic solution to this problem. Through an agreement with Alabama Power, Alabama Power contractors will soon begin the work to change all light fixtures that are currently maintained by the City to a much more economical and dependable LED lighting. Here is the great part of the proposal. Alabama Power will perform the work at no upfront cost to change the fixtures and our monthly power bill will actually slightly decrease. At the end of it all we get a much more dependable lightning source and we also save money. Now that’s a bright idea. Have a great February! Russell

Kerri Pate

| Ward 7 I don’t know about y’all, but January has been a long, rainy and cold month. This has not been the busiest month, but I did want to highlight a few things that kept the council busy. We recently reached an agreement with Alabama Power Company (APCO) where they will soon be replacing all of the bulbs in ALL of the city street lights at no extra cost and changing them all over to LED. This will be less maintenance for APCO and more savings for the city. The city is responsible for all street light monthly costs. So if you see the trucks out working on the lights you will know what is up. Did you know??? The Alabaster Fire Department is also the Building and Fire Prevention Services department issuing all permits relating, such as: new homes, commercial and residential buildings, add-ons, remodels, swimming pools, and demolitions just to name a few. Along with working medical emergency calls, fires and wrecks, this department is very busy keeping us safe and accountable in many other ways. Just this month they issued 76 permits and the total for last year was 1,292 permits. Thank you Alabaster Fire Department. This month has also been very busy for our police department. Our school was faced with some challenges with an arrest and threat called in by a teenager from north Alabama. Our police handled these with care and dignity. As a parent of high school students, I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. As I am out and about in our city daily and I witness so many good deeds by our men and women in blue, they go above and beyond their call. Their profession is under fire and few choose to serve due to the mounting pressures. We are grateful for your willingness to serve and protect our city and our loved ones and thankful for your family’s sacrifices as well. Thank you, Alabaster Police Department, and God bless you all. Hope to see you this month at City Hall for some of our meeting. Call or email me anytime. Kerri cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

Let Me Count the Ways... CITIZENS SHOW LOVE IN CREATIVE WAYS

Amanda

ur tightly-knit, family-focused community is often lauded by its citizens for its qualities of warmth, care and love. These various expressions of affection can be found within families, relationships, and even in the ways that the City cares for its own. As you enter into the month of February and a holiday time dedicated to specifically celebrating love and friendship, we encourage you to take a few moments to cherish those you love. Find some inspiration for some creative ways to show you care from these Alabaster citizens:

AMANDA BURKS:

“For each day in February, we cut a heart out of construction paper, write one thing we love about each of our children, and tape it to their bedroom door each night. We also try to leave a note for each other by the coffee, in the car, etc.”

Carley

CARLEY TRAMBLE

“I work at PetSmart and have my own pets: a dog named Calypso, and two cats named Lennox and Santana. I show them love each day with cuddles.”

SHAWN ANELLO

Shawn

“My wife Katelynn and I have been together for seven years, married for two. Every morning when I get up at 3:00 to go to the gym and to work, I make sure her coffee will be ready for her when she gets up. I also text her every morning to remind her how I feel about her and tell her that she is a blessing to me. Then, on my days off, I make her breakfast. It’s just my way of showing her that I love her.”

LEXI CHANDLER

“I show my grandmother – I call her Mama Connie – love, just by spending time with her. We talk about everything, just about life.”

Lexi

AKASHYA CLEMENTS

“My daughter Anslee was born two months early last year. We spent 52 days in Shelby Baptist Hospital. I love her and want to teach her how to face life, even when it’s really scary. I want to show her how to do things and help her become a strong woman.”

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Akashya

cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

AMERICAN HEART HEALTH MONTH F

ebruary is famous for candies, flowers and….hearts, but not just the lovey-dovey kind. It is also Heart Health Month. We spoke with the experts at Brookwood Baptist Health here in Alabaster to offer you some tips to keep your ticker in tip-top shape. Get a Risk Assessment. You can do this online or #1 through your physician. Most people are unaware of the impact different factors have on their risk for heart attack. It is NEVER Too Early to Be Concerned. Athero#2 sclerosis, a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls, can start in your teen years. Smoking, especially when started at a young age, is a big risk factor. Get to Know a Local Doctor. Shelby Baptist #3 Medical Center offers all the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac services. The only service not offered at Shelby is a heart transplant. That service is only offered at one hospital in the city of Birmingham. Shelby Baptist has twelve full-time cardiologists and one cardiothoracic surgeon available to meet the needs of the community. They also have a robust cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program that offers free public seminars on risk and prevention. #4 Get Up and Move. The American Heart Association recommends that you have 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. This includes activities such as brisk walking, mopping, sweeping or vacuuming, or even mowing the lawn. Or, you can engage in 75 minutes per week of more vigorous-intensity exercise such as swimming laps, running, hiking up hill, etc. The important thing is to get

moving. And if you haven’t exercised in the past and plan to start a new exercise program, consult your physician first. #5 Eat Right. The Mediterranean diet is probably the most popular heart healthy diet out there today, but any diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish and poultry while avoiding red meats and certain trans fats, should contribute to a healthy heart. It is not just what you eat, it is also how much you eat. Take small portions and do not go back for seconds. Also, avoid sweets. #6 Know Your Family Heart Health History. Individuals with a family history of heart disease are at a disadvantage. They have a risk factor that can’t be modified. Therefore, they need to be focused on reducing or eliminating other risk factors. Make sure your physician is aware of your family history. Find out more information at: www.heart.org or visit your doctor. AC cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

R ECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF

B LACK HISTORY MONTH G

erry Bivins has lived in the Alabaster community for all of his almost 50 years of life. During that time, he has seen forward motion in the city itself, but also to the cultural development within it. As February is recognized as Black History Month, Gerry feels both sadness and pride. “I grew up in Alabaster. I watched the struggle that my parents experienced.” he explained. “But when I look back at black history, I’m very proud of those who did persevere and those who did not allow the racial divisions to stop them.” He shared that as a black business owner here in Alabaster, he is grateful to be a part of the next season of black history. “The city of Alabaster has changed a lot. I think we’re going in the right direction as we continue dealing with our diversity of cultures and ethnicities.” While Gerry deeply values having a month specifically dedicated to honoring black history, he thinks it is important for greater awareness of the historic difference-makers in the Alabaster community. “We have a lot of new people moving into the community – which is great, we love all our citizens. I think we need to strive to become more aware in our churches, in our schools and in our city of the pioneers in the black community over the last 50 or 100 years,” he commented. He believes that the momentum towards awareness needs to start with the church and within the school system, “I remember when we had Alabama history, but we did not have black history. Granted, I don’t know what the curriculums is now,” he acknowledged. “But I think everyone needs to be made more aware of black history.” Gerry would like to see more education about some of the pioneers in the black community – some still living, some not. “There are a lot of people, especially the younger people in the black community, who don’t even know about them,” he pointed out. “For example, people like Mayo Taylor. Now, she has a story! And so many people here don’t know why there are streets named as they are (after significant cultural contributors), like Cohill Drive.” cityofalabaster.com

MAKING BLACK HISTORY – THEN AND NOW Gerry was quick to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech as his favorite moment in black history. “That moves me right to tears, even to this day!” he exclaimed. “A couple years ago, I was blessed to take my wife, my son and my daughter to the Lorraine Motel (in Memphis) to see where he stayed, where he got shot, the vehicles he was riding in… It was surreal.” However, even with such crucial historic moments in the movement, Gerry believes that black history is still being made today. “I’m very proud when Black History Month comes around – not only because of Dr. Martin Luther King, but because I see a lot (who are like) Martin Luther King, Jr. in my community today that are staying the course – there so many names out there. I’m just grateful to be a part of the next season of black history.” Local churches have long played a key role in the development and progress of black history. Alabaster’s Soldiers of the Cross Ministries, a church under the leadership of Pastor Danita U. Ryan, is continuing to serve that purpose through a program entitled, Free Indeed (John 8:36 and Galatians 5:1). The program will be held at 10 AM on February 24th at 719 4th Place SW. The featured speaker will be Pastor Leewellyn Johnson from Church at Fairview, in Ensley. Several Alabaster residents shared their thoughts on the significance of Black History Month: WHAT DOES BLACK HISTORY MONTH MEAN TO YOU? “Black History Month is a time when African Americans can take the time out to reflect on what our people before us fought for. It is a time of rejoicing, celebrating and giving us hope. It is a life lesson that can be used daily.” - Kelsey Booker (17) “It gives me a chance to learn something about African American History that I did not learn at school. At my age American history was the white version, we did not talk much about African American history. There are a lot of moments that I didn’t learn about until Black History Month” - Pastor Keith Jones (51) ▶

FEATURE WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE BLACK HISTORY MONTH? ”I think it is important to have a month dedicated to African Americans because we have been through so much and still face obstacles today. We should celebrate the change our ancestors made by continuing to fight for our Rights and Freedom.” - Khloe Booker (14) WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN OBSERVE BLACK HISTORY DURING THIS MONTH? “We can visit the Civil Rights museum, go to a Black History play, or spend some time studying about African American History.” - Maddison Green (7) WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM BLACK HISTORY? “When our people would get together to march for a great cause, and the singing of songs that gave us great encouragement. One mind, one purpose, one force.” - Minister Brandon Torrence (30) AC

Jon Kelton

IRT-4395D-A

Financial Advisor

Brandon Torrence, Maddison Green, Kelsey Booker, Khloe Booker (l-r)

www.edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

6919 Hwy 119 Suite 300 Alabaster, AL 35007 205-621-0888

cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

ACCESS FOR ALL KEEPING ALABASTER CITIZENS INFORMED

hen it comes to knowing what is happening at City Hall, Alabaster has several ways you can be informed and stay informed. “We believe in transparency and keeping our citizens informed,” shared COUNCIL MINUTES

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (ABRIDGED) Unabridged version of minutes and resolutions/ordinances can be found on the city webpage at www.cityofalabaster.com.

DECEMBER 3, 2018, 7 PM

Absent: Greg Farrell (4)

Agenda Items: 1. Resolution 120318 Purchase Request of Panasonic In-Car Cameras for Police Department Motion Passed Unanimously 2. Resolution 120318-A Creating the Position of Human Resources Specialist Motion Passed Unanimously 3. Resolution 120318-B Authorizing Purchase of Rugged Laptop Computers for APD Vehicles Motion Passed Unanimously 4. Resolution 120318-C Amending Resolution 101518 Authorizing APD to Purchase Vehicles including Upfitting Motion Passed Unanimously 5. Resolution 120318-D Request to Purchase Advertising with AHSAA State Championship Football Program to Promote the City of Alabaster Motion Passed Unanimously 6. Resolution 120318-E Awarding a Bid for Firefighter Equipment Motion Passed Unanimously

7. Resolution 120318-F Authorizing Advertisement Agreement with Shelby County Reporter Motion Passed Unanimously 8. ABC License Request Approval for 020 Restaurant Retail Liquor for Mizu Japanese Inc. / Mizu Japanese Steakhouse - 750 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Ste 5400 Motion Passed Unanimously SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:14 PM

DECEMBER 17, 2018, 7 PM

Mayor Comments The following persons are hereby APPOINTED to the Alabaster Beautification Board and term corresponding thereto: Appointee - Place - Term Expiring Robert Hirt - B - 12/01/21 Randi Dicus - B - 12/01/21

Fire Department – Greg Farrell Building & Fire Prevention Services – Kerri Pate

Agenda Items: 1. **Ordinance 190107-080 Annexation Request, 540 Smokey Rd - PH Set for January 7th Motion Passed Unanimously 2. **Ordinance 190122-081 Zoning Amendment - PH Set for January 22nd Motion Passed Unanimously 3. Resolution 121718 Reschedule Council Meeting in January and September Due to holiday conflicts, two regular Council meeting dates are hereby rescheduled: Monday, January 21, 2019 changed to Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Monday, September 2, 2019 changed to Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Motion Passed Unanimously

Council Reports:

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

ALS Library – Sophie Martin Public Works & Garbage – Stacy Rakestraw Police Department – Russell Bedsole

Mrs. Marie Jordan addressed the Council on behalf of Maple Ridge Subdivision. SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:17 PM

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

FOR MORE ON THE CITY COUNCIL

1st and 3rd Mondays each month at 7 p.m.

Visit www.cityofalabaster.com/161/City-Council

cityofalabaster.com

City Clerk Mark Frey. And in Alabaster, you have several ways to get the official word on what is happening and be heard! CITY BUSINESS The city’s government is made up of seven elected council members chosen by ward every four years. Along with the Mayor, they oversee policies, procedures, city finances and provide oversight for the various departments. “Every time the council has a quorum, it is an open meeting. People are always welcome to come and sit in. All action items where the council will be voting is handled in an open meeting. The only time the public is not allowed is during an executive session, which is very limited in scope and does not allow votes or polls to be taken,” shared Frey. Work sessions are typically held twice a month and are a time for the council to spend asking questions and reviewing

upcoming business. These are also open to the public. Of course, you can always connect with your elected representatives. “You can always reach out to your council person or the Mayor’s office. If it is important to the public, it is important to the council. Their contact information is included in each edition of the Alabaster Connection, online, and available through city hall,” Frey stated. Not only are the meetings accessible to the public, but all records are as well. “We will provide access to all public records; they can be pulled and viewed at no cost. And of course, everything is available. This includes budgets, agendas and approved minutes from council meetings and work sessions,” shared Frey. Approved minutes from prior meetings are available online or in print at city hall and in the Alabaster Connection. Copies made at city hall will incur a small fee per copy. ▶

FEATURE The public is always given a voice at council meetings. “Everyone, regardless of prior approval, is given an opportunity at every council meeting to address the council during the public comment agenda item. Public hearings, which are announced at least two weeks before they are held, are specifically for the council to hear the public speak for or against ordinances or zoning changes the council is considering. They are important times for public input into a topic,” said Frey. CITY’S VOICE The City of Alabaster has invested in multiple streams of sharing information. The Alabaster Connection, which is published by the city, is sent free-of-charge to every citizen each month. Video comments from council members are recorded and shared each month and can be viewed online through Facebook at Alabaster Living by Video Visions. The city’s Facebook page

and website also provide up-to-date information. “We have multiple avenues of sharing official information with the public,” shared Patrick Johnson, head of IT for the City. “You can simply go to cityofalabaster. com/161/City-Council and from there view each council person’s contact information, view the latest video comments, view past and upcoming meeting agendas and minutes and get access to all our ordinances and resolutions,” shared Johnson. The Alabaster Connection shares a calendar of upcoming events, council and mayoral comments, and past approved minutes while also sharing about the people and stories that make Alabaster great. The city’s Facebook page for City Hall (facebook.com/AlabasterCityHall) is a great way to stay connected. “Two ways we use social media is to provide information about upcoming events and to share important information. We know we can hit thousands of people via social

media. The pubic is more than welcome to send messages through our Facebook page,” said Johnson. ACCESS While it can be tempting to read something online and think it is true, that might not always be the case. “I was shocked at all of the misinformation that was out there,” shared Frey. He encourages citizens to seek out the official source of information because things can be taken out of context or be misreported with unintended consequences. Ultimately, it is all about access to the public. “The city’s goal is to be transparent in all we do for the public,” shared Frey. “Transparency is an ongoing effort, not something we look at once and think we are done. The media changes, the way people use media changes. So, we have to be fluid in how we disseminate the information and how we present it.” AC

cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

READY TODAY, READY TOMORROW ALABASTER’S LIBRARY IS READY TO SERVE

n antiquated view of a public library is filled with visions of stuffy older workers, hauling around carts with dusty books, daring anyone to speak above a whisper so they can rain down the wrath of a gentle “shhh” using the classic pose of one finger to their lips with their other hand on their hip! A more realistic view of the Alabaster Library is a place full of energy, a dedicated staff full of fresh new ideas to share at normal vocal volume. The library also offers media in the form of an expansive DVD selection and the Hoopla app which allows you to download e-books and even full albums. Yup, times have changed at the Albert L Scott Library.

INFORMATION AGE In the Information Age, our library has stayed relevant by becoming a hub of information in this digital age, while still working with the most prevalent medium of books. “Our patrons come to use our Wi-Fi, check out the latest movies and books, search job sites, check up on the latest information about taxes, and print documents, just to name a few of the many services they enjoy,” shared Candice Murdock, the reference librarian. The library offers one of the only truly free Wi-Fi access points around town; no need to buy a cup of coffee or a pastry to get online. You also have access to a printer and free research tools only accessible at the library, like Ancestory.com library edition. “It is the biggest ancestry database there is,” Murdock proudly shares. Students of all ages use the library for many reasons. “We have a lot of tutors come in with their students: math tutors and reading tutors. They use the resources here that aren’t available at your local coffeeshop, like the selection of books for cityofalabaster.com

all reading levels and interests,” shared Carol Smith, Public Service Librarian. Another reason students come is to take an exam. “We do a lot of test proctoring. There are so many people now that do online education so we get to do proctor exams like the real estate test. They can call or set it up through a proctoring service,” said Smith. As great as the internet and books are for gathering information, it sometimes takes an expert to show you what you are missing. This is a big reason the library offers classes and seminars. “For the adults, a big hit is our monthly Medicare classes and seminars. They have been very much in demand. We host two classes each month. Every month we have new citizens who are turning 65 or have loved ones who are, so it is a big hit,” shared Smith And what good is a computer or the internet if you do not understand it. “We have classes for Microsoft Office and how to use the Ancestry website. We also host a social media class geared towards

our older citizens, teaching them how to stay connected on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest,” she said with a big grin. And of course, the most popular classes are hands-on ones. “People want to use their hands. They want to get off of a screen and not just pin something, but build something,” exclaimed Smith, adding, “So we offer quite a bit of crafty classes, kind of build-it-and-they-willsmile type of classes.” GATHERING PLACE Public libraries have always been about connecting people. Sometimes it is with new ideas, a new novel, or DVD, but it is also a place to gather people. “People come to the library because they feel comfortable to come to,” states Nann Abbott the library director. “It is a central space.” “People have started coming in to meet up and play board games,” said Abbott. “They are just showing up, they feel comfortable here. It is a nice place to play. I think people use the space because it is available to them and because they ▶

FEATURE feel isolated. They are isolated at home and cannot do everything at home. This is a safe space and pleasant, and it is a very neutral space too. So, you gather some friends and you meet up at the library.” One spontaneous group of ladies have started a knitting and crocheting club. “They have about 20 ladies organized that come to socialize and maybe get a scarf farther along,” said Abbott with a smile. People have come to expect the library to be free and open to everyone, which is why it is such an attractive location to gather. “It is a space where contracts are signed, interviews are held and training sessions are hosted. We have a homeschool group that comes often. The requirements for people who just want to come in and use the room is if it is open and they are able to do that,” explained Abbott. Something new this year has been a sensory story time. “On the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. we host a special story time. We combine a story with a

video and music from YouTube. It involves movement, songs and a story for our students and citizens with special needs and their families. It last for 45 minutes,” shared Frances Smith, Youth Services Librarian. “I believe in the library,” declares Murdock. “It is important what we do; we are a great equalizer. We make everything we have available to everyone. You don’t have to have money to have these things. You don’t have to go to Redbox, you can get e-books and movies all for free! There are so many resources you can access here beside books, but you can get new books here! You don’t need to buy them, you can get them for free!” For the Miller family, the library is their home away from home. “We come here all the time to study, research school projects, relax and we have even led some of the programs,” shared Deborah Miller. This summer her husband, an architect who designed a mounting system to display the Saturn V rocket at the U. S. Space and

Rocket Center in Huntsville, will be leading a summer reading session about rockets in space. They are involved with the library because they have experienced the ways it has brought their family together, while connecting them to their community. The dream of the library staff is to add a makerspace for the craft classes, more tables for the smaller gatherings, several larger rooms for classes, and larger shelf space to house even more new and updated material. To find out more about your library, plan a trip. A library card is free, and the possibilities are endless. AC

LIBRARY HOURS: 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.

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FEATURE

TWIN BROTHERS MAKE ALABASTER PROUD

labaster residents and twin brothers, Maleek and Mehkii Billingsley, recently returned from playing in the Diamond Sports Group All American Bowl, a national competition for football players around the country. They competed against their third-grade peers, and their team, the 3rd Grade White, won the championship trophy. The two brothers also collected individual accolades. Maleek Billingsley had thirteen tackles and seven sacks in two games. He was awarded the Defensive MVP and he also made the All American All Academic

cityofalabaster.com

team for having all A’s in school. Mehkii started as quarterback and had a total of seven rushes for forty-nine yards and three tackles playing outside linebacker. Maleek and Mehkii attend Creek View Elementary school and play football and basketball through the city’s sports leagues. For Maleek it was a great experience. “Winning the championship and meeting new people was great. We also went to the beach and that was my favorite part too,” shared Maleek, adding, “Yeah, I would do it again!” Mehkii thought it was a great oppor-

tunity. “I felt kind of good and happy, because it felt good to play with players from all around the country,” he shared. The two brothers hope to return next year and are looking forward to the playing basketball this winter. “We would love to go back again,” shared Mehkii for both brothers. AC

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SANCTUARY - FOR THE -

HEART

SANCTUARY CHRISTIAN BOOKS AND GIFTS

arrel Holcombe, owner of Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts, loves his work and can’t imagine doing anything else for his career. “I've always been deeply interested in theological publications, so operating a bookstore has been a tremendous blessing,” he said. “I also love interacting with people of faith from different backgrounds.”

SERVING THE FAMILY OF GOD On a typical day in his store, he encounters customers coming from a variety of churches, denominations, and sub-cultures within the local Christian community. “They may express and practice their faith in diverse ways, but they share a commitment to be followers of Jesus. It is a privilege to serve them.” He has had this privilege for over thirty-seven years, spending thirty years at The Amen Corner in Pelham, followed by the last seven years in Alabaster at Sanctuary Christian Books cityofalabaster.com

and Gifts. Darrel has found Alabaster to be a pleasant location for his store, saying, “Alabaster is on the southern edge of the Birmingham metropolitan area. This allows us to serve not only the suburban areas throughout Shelby County, but also the rural areas south of us.” Currently, the most popular section in the store contains their wide variety of Christian-themed greeting cards for all occasions, including seasonal cards. The Bible section is also very well-visited, offering a variety of versions, print sizes, and an assortment of study Bibles. A FAMILY-OWNED STORE LOVING FAMILIES Even though there are several larger retailers in this community offering religious book sections and gifts, Darrel perceives one valuable component of Sanctuary to be found in the fact that it is an independent, family-owned store – not a chain store. ▶

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT “It is my hope that a visit to my store would feel very much like visiting a church. Our guests are surrounded by gifts, Bibles, music and books designed to enhance their faith. When a person leaves, I hope they feel more hopeful, more at peace, and more cognizant of God's love for us all.” As we enjoy the month of February, Darrel encourages us to remember that St. Valentine's Day is a time when we express our devotion to those we love. “The Apostle John wrote that God is love,” he says. “All genuine love, therefore, is sacred. If it's love, it belongs to God.” Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts offers Christian-themed St. Valentine's Day cards and a variety of gifts appropriate for this special and sacred day.  “Our reason for existence is to enhance and strengthen the spiritual lives of our guests. Everyone is welcome, regardless of where they are spiritually. It is my prayer that we would be a sanctuary for our community, not only in name but in reality.” AC

Alabaster Promenade  100 South Colonial Drive Suite 1600 Alabaster, AL 35007 1-205-663-2370 www.SanctuaryChristianBooks.com

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CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

A LEADER LEADING LEADERS DANNY GOGGINS RETIRES AS LOCAL SCOUTMASTER

rom the age of 12, Danny Goggins knew he wanted to be a Boy Scout. “I had seen boys in their uniforms doing different things around the town [of Alabaster] and it looked like they were having fun! So, I asked my dad if I could join, he carried me to a meeting, and now I’ve been a Boy Scout basically all my life,” he shared.

A PART OF THE COMMUNITY Having lived in Alabaster for all of his 69 years, Danny recalls many of the changes that Troop 148 – now known as Troop 548 – has seen. As the City grew and changed, so did the Troop and its location within the community, “We were originally located in Siluria and were sponsored by Siluria Mill,” Danny says. “When they went out of business, the American Legion cityofalabaster.com

sponsored us for many years. Now we’re sponsored by Alabaster First United Methodist Church.” Most of Danny’s work over the last few years has been done locally with Troop 548 and the local Shelby District. As a result of his investments and exemplary leadership, he has earned a number of special awards and recognitions, such as the District Award of Merit from the Shelby District; the Silver Beaver, an award that recognizes volunteer leaders for distinguished service to youth; and the Blue Ox in 2016. To receive this award, one must have at least 20 years of service in the Boy Scouts as a volunteer leader. THE VALUE OF LEADERSHIP “One thing that I think is special about the Boy Scouts, is that it has a leadership component in it. You can’t actually ▶

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT advance in Boy Scouts unless you hold leadership positions. It teaches boys to be leaders and I think that’s probably – besides the values – one of the greatest strengths of the Boy Scouts themselves.” A product of leaders before him, Danny made Eagle Scout with the Bronze Palm in 1966. He has also led expeditions to all four of the Boy Scouts of America High Adventure Bases, including nine trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, one trip to Sea Base in the Florida Keys, one trip to the Northern Tier Canoe Base at Ely, Minnesota, and two trips to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. MOVING FORWARD His own outstanding caliber of leadership and the impact it has had on the Scouts, the local community, and the hundreds of individual lives that he has touched with his service was clearly seen at his retirement party on January 13. The Scouts’ area at the Alabaster FUMC was filled with people celebrating Danny as he retired as the Scoutmaster of the local Troop to become the new Committee Chairman. Included in the crowd that day were more than 20 of the 55 Scouts that made Eagle under his leadership. “It was tremendous to see those young men and how they’ve developed,” he said proudly. “I also had a lot of my family there and a lot of

people that through the years I worked with in Scouts, Scoutmasters and members of the Committee. I was really honored that so many of them came!” FOREVER A FAMILY Danny quickly acknowledges that he didn’t reach his many scouting milestones alone, saying, “My wife, Jo, has been terrific in every way! She helped me bounce ideas around, helped me with more paperwork than I’d ever want, and she helped when we moved [the troop’s location to the church] and decorated our area. I can’t thank her enough for what she does for me!” His sons, Jason and Gary, have each attained the rank of Eagle. “We had many, many adventures together when they were growing up – Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, in the Smokey Mountains, at Gulf Shores and state parks… lots of adventures.” He is also grateful for his step-daughter, Stephanie Axtell and his step-son, Russell Morris, and he likes to spend time at the lake with the grandkids. And even though he has retired from his Scoutmaster position, he’s not going to be far away from his local Scouts, “I plan to stay very active in the troop itself. I would miss it too much if I wasn’t.” AC

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ALABASTER HELPS

L IFE AFTER LOSS

The Philip Davis Foundation serves to support public safety officers in their time of need.

hen Paula Davis’s husband, police officer Philip Davis, was killed in the line of duty in December 2009, life became a sudden blur. “I had two small children. I was freaking out, wondering how to pay bills, and what was I going to do,” she recalls. “Thankfully, I had some people around me who helped me through and with even just the basics.” Once on the other side of the tragedy, she realized that there were other widows and families of first responders who were also experiencing similar experiences. She determined to do what she could to help, and in 2011 she began the paperwork for establishing The Philip Davis Foundation.

RESPONDING TO FIRST RESPONDERS The non-profit organization provides prompt funding for law enforcement and firefighter families in the Greater Birmingham Area who find themselves in need, whether due to long-term medical issues, sudden significant illness or injury, or a line of duty death. The foundation has assisted 17 officers and their families since the foundation began. “They don’t need to pay it back and we don’t expect them to do future ▶ cityofalabaster.com

Sarah, Paula and John Davis (l-r)

ALABASTER HELPS fundraising for us. We just hope that we can help them get to the place where they will be able to pay help forward to someone else in the future.” The Foundation’s board includes several police officers, chaplains, a financial planner and others who are equipped to promptly process requests for support, guidance, and financial assistance for expenses and the new future ahead. “We get together and see what we can do,” Paula explained. “We aim to provide an immediate response so [the affected families] don’t have to worry for the next month or two on how they’re going to buy groceries, clothes, cover funeral expenses, and such.” BE A HERO FOR THE HEROES Most of the money raised for the foundation’s work to continue each year comes from a golf tournament fundraiser at Ballantrae every May. However, support from the community is also essential to the foundation continuing to serve the needs of first responders in crisis. Towards this end, in 2018, the Pelham, Alabaster and Chelsea public safety officials partnered together over the three-day weekend before Thanksgiving to do a Fillthe-Boot fundraiser that garnered over $6,000 for the Philip Davis Foundation. “The Philip Davis Foundation helps not only police officers, but also firefighters, including certain firefighter families in need in Alabaster, North Shelby and Chelsea just last year. They’re such a great organization and we are so thankful that they were available to help these individuals and their families,” Pelham Police Chief Tim Honeycutt said. “It’s very touching how they are so giving with the limited funding that they do have, so it was our pleasure to put something together to help financially support them.” He encourages any civic organization looking to partner with a strong, difference-making group with a good foundation to assist in similar fashion.

“They are doing so much to try to help public safety. If their fundraising efforts are decreased in any given year, that’s less funding they have to be able to help the families who need it.” Chief Honeycutt also recognizes the current significance of the Foundation’s work, saying, “Right now, in this day and time, with law enforcement officers simply under attack every day as they go out to do their jobs, a group like the Philip Davis Foundation is more and more critical. They need to have funding available to help those families in their time of need.” A HEALING HEART HELPING THE HURTING Although it’s difficult for Paula Davis to personally attend first responder funerals and relive those memories from her own experiences, her heart goes out to those surviving families because she knows firsthand what they’re going through. “There will always be a personal need in our lives, occasions when my children, John and Sarah, need a ‘dad-figure’ to step in with dances and other school functions, just to have a guy to talk with on those occasions when mom’s reasoning and opinions are void,” she said with a small smile. “There are the needs for coaching, helping them grow up and filling the love of a ‘dad’ and to know what it would be like to have someone in that role when they grow older.” Paula’s burden for helping others stems from her desire to give back to the community that helps her and her family,

Officer Philip Davis

“The work the foundation achieves also helps me and my children, now ages 11 and nine, to resolve some of our grief through being able to pay it forward.” AC The Philip Davis Act of 2018 was proposed by Representative Matt Fridy and Senator Cam Ward, which allows workman’s comp benefits to be available for surviving children of first responders up to the age of 18, rather than ending at a maximum of 10 years from the loss of their parent. Thank you for your work toward supporting these families! Contributions to the Philip Davis Foundation may be sent to: The Philip Davis Foundation P.O. Box 1434 Pelham, AL 35124 www.officerphilipdavis.com

cityofalabaster.com

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

TAZ TO THE RESCUE!

Tunzyaan Griffin – Building Inspections Department

that can make my job as a building inspector and fire investigator more difficult,” he pointed out. “It allows us to ensure that we provide the best service to ensure the safety of the people who live and work in Alabaster.” This joint approach makes a huge difference to Taz and he’s quick to give kudos to the team he works with. “The guys I work with are really exceptional. They know what they’re doing, they’re willing to work together and share knowledge – it’s a big deal and it makes our jobs a lot easier.”

t was a shoulder injury that set Tunzyaan Griffin – Taz, to those who know him – on a new career trajectory. It happened in 1996, the day before he was to take the test to join the police department in his Mississippi hometown, making him unable to pass the pullups and pushups portion of the physical test. When the opportunity arose to take the test to join the fire department that following spring, Taz jumped at it and was hired in December 1997. “I’ve loved it ever since,” he exclaimed. “I was on the line for five-and-a-half years, cityofalabaster.com

moved up to inspection, and after getting my training, I moved into investigation.” IT TAKES A TEAM Of the twenty-plus years that Taz has been in the fire service, three years were spent in Birmingham at UAB, and only since September 2018 has he been serving the city of Alabaster in the building inspections department. “I really like how they have things set up here in Alabaster. The building inspections and fire department are all here together, which prevents problems

KEEPING CITIZENS SAFE As a building inspector, Taz serves to inspect all new construction in the city. Whether someone is building a home, a business or a commercial property, his role is to make sure that it is built in compliance with the building codes that the city of Alabaster has adopted. Occasionally, he is called upon to assist with fire investigations as well. “Chief Love is excellent,” Taz said with admiration. “He’s one of the most balanced and fair people I’ve ever worked with.” FINDING A GROOVE It’s not all about work for Taz, though, “I have my wife, Haley, and together, we have five kids – three boys and two girls. Our oldest is 15 and our youngest is five. We say we’re seven strong, a basketball team plus two!” Being new to the area, Taz said they will be spending the next year just getting settled in, “I enjoy Alabaster so far. The people are nice, the area is nice, we’ve been to a few events here and we’re finding a groove to get into.” Welcome to Alabaster, Griffin family! AC

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AROUND TOWN

GET INVOLVED! ALABASTER CLEAN SWEEP!

he Alabaster Beautification Board and the City of Alabaster want to remind everyone that during the month of April the City will be focusing on bringing volutneers together to help clean up all areas of our city such as streets, roads, schoolyards, parking lots, vacant lots or abandoned properties, business frontages, etc. We are asking residents, civic groups, businesses, schools, churches, etc. to help identify areas that need to be cleaned-up. Make a difference by volunteering to be a part of the City’s cleanup and become a good steward of our environment. CLEAN-UP: Saturday 4/6/19 DEADLINE FOR VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: 3/22/19 Shred-it and Electronic recycling: Saturday 4/13/19 at Thompson Intermediate on Hwy 119

Please sign up by contacting Councilperson Stacy Rakestraw: rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com

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ALABASTER NAMED ONE OF TOP 50 SAFEST CITIES IN ALABAMA

active citizenship are all key ingredients that combine to make these communities among the safest and most desirable places to reside and raise a family” Find out more at the city’s website: www.cityofalabaster.com.

labaster was recently recognized as one of the safest cities in Alabama by The Home Security Advisor website. Using a methodology that looks at violent and property crime as reported to the FBI Uniform Crime report, they compared each city’s numbers to create a list of the safest communities in the state. Alabaster came in at number six overall and number three for cities with populations over 20,000. “This is a great recognition of our police officers. They are proactive professionals who don’t just seek to solve crime but to prevent it before it happens,” said Mayor Marty Handlon. According to The Home Security Advisor website, “In our experience, the towns, cities and communities listed in our Top 50 share a number of qualities of which their residents should be proud. Strong leadership, dedicated law enforcement and

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BEAUTIFICATION BOARD

BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER The Olive Garden 20 South Colonial Drive Unit 8 Alabaster, AL 35007 To nominate a property for the Beautification Award, email the Beautification Board.

BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER Jack & Lynda Beebe 153 Shelby Farms Drive This property has a well landscaped yard with a bit of color, for this time of the year. The scrubs are trimmed and the lawn is free of weeds, The owners obviously take great pride in attempting to maintain the beauty of their neighborhood. This property is in the new Shelby Farms subdivision in Ward 6 off of Highway 119. The Beautification winner for February is in Ward 6. Next month the winner will be from Ward 7. To nominate a property for the Beautification Award, email the Beautification Board.

CONTACT THE BEAUTIFICATION BOARD: beauty@cityofalabaster.com

- NEW YEAR - NEW CHURCH - NEW YOU -

SHELBY CHURCH communities

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COMMUNITY FEBRUARY

hats for service members, lap blankets, prayer shawls and many other things, plus we have a really good time. We hope you will join us! For more information please call the library at 664-6822 or email Carol Smith at csmith@shelbycounty-al.org. Program takes place in the meeting room.

LIBRARY BOOK GROUP February 21 at 7 pm

Mon., Tue. and Thu.: 9 am - 7:50 pm Wednesday: 10 am - 5:50 pm Friday: 9 am - 5:50 pm Saturday: 10 am - 4:50 pm Sunday: 1 pm - 4:50 pm

February 18 at 10 am

If you would like more information concerning programs, please contact the Library at 664-6822.

February 25 at 10 am

Join us to discuss The Dry by Jane Harper. After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead. Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets. Program takes place in the meeting room.

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February 4th School Board 5:30 pm February 4th Council 7 pm February 6th Court Plea Dockets 9 am & 2 pm February 12th Board of Zoning Adj. 6:30 pm February 13th Court Plea Dockets 9 am & 2 pm February 18th Council 7 pm

ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES

February 19th Planning Commission 7 pm

Call or come by to sign up. 664-6822.

All meetings are held at 1953 Municipal Way in the Council Chamber. View full calendar, agendas and resolutions at www.cityofalabaster.com.

BEGINNING ANCESTRY LIBRARY ED.

LIBRARY The Albert L. Scott Library is located at 100 9th Street N.W., Alabaster. Hours of operation are:

February 4 at 10 am

Learn how to discover your family tree using Ancestry.com library edition. We will go over the basics of Ancestry and show you some other great Genealogy sources.

MICROSOFT EXCEL PART 1 Learn basic information regarding the different icons and functions available.

MICROSOFT EXCEL PART 2

February 28 at 6 pm

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.

YA YA YARNERS

February 11 at 1 pm

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.

Mondays, February 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm

SAVE YOUR STORIES! : PRESERVING ORAL HISTORY

The Ya Ya Yarners are meeting at the Albert L. Scott Library now! Do you knit or crochet? Would you like to learn how? If so, we have a group for you… the Ya Ya Yarners! We will teach you if you don’t know how. We will start you with one of two simple projects. We will supply the needles or hooks and yarn and a pattern. We also do community projects such as

February 14 at 6 pm

Join us as Mark Sims and Sarah Tackett present a workshop that will help families preserve and write down their family stories. This is a continuing class that runs through May on the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm. Program takes place in the meeting room.

A fun and informative class to learn what to expect with Medicare and how to ask the right questions. Perfect for anyone wanting to learn about their Medicare options. Presented by Eric Smith, the founder of Medicare Advisors of Alabama. Program takes place in the meeting room.

LIBRARY YOUTH EVENTS STORY TIMES Fridays at 10:30 a.m

Toddler Tales in the meeting room 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 3:30 pm

Sensory Story Time in the meeting room Wednesdays at 10:15 am

Outreach Story Time at day care centers. cityofalabaster.com

CALENDAR ELEPHANT & PIGGIE READ & PLAY TIME Feb. 5 from 6 pm - 6:45 pm

Kids in grades 1 and up can sign up. Kids under age 7 must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

PETE THE CAT BOOK CLUB VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION Feb. 7 at 4 pm

HOMESCHOOL HAPPENING: MARTIAL ARTS Feb. 11 from 10 am -11 am

Students in grades K through 12 can sign up. An expert from Battleground Martial Arts will visit for a hands-on, safe demonstration of martial arts games. Kids under age 7 must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

WONDER KIDS’ BOOK CLUB Feb. 12 from 6 pm - 7 pm

Kids age 6 and older can sign up for reading and craft fun. The theme is Black History is No Mystery. We’ll read selections from The People Could Fly and explore: Henry’s Freedom Box and other books. Children will do activities including a craft. Kids under age 7 must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

HIDDEN SCIENCE IN MOVIES Feb. 19 from 6 pm - 7:15 pm

Science and math educators Winfield and Elinor Burks lead families in activities including: the film Black Panther, space, holograms, kinetic energy, masks, Stan Lee, huts in geometrics, time in Africa. Kids in elementary school and beyond can sign up. Kids under age 7 must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

AMERICAN GIRLS CLUB Feb. 22 at 4 pm

Girls age 7 and older can sign up and cityofalabaster.com

be in a play about Addy. Girls can come with or without a doll and family can watch the play but children in the audience must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

PARKS AND REC STAY INFORMED BY EMAIL If you would like to receive emails from Parks and Recreation regarding registrations and events, you can sign up by going to www.alabasterparks.org and scrolling down the page to the SIGN-UP link. The only required information is your name and email address. NOTE: We cannot accept Checks as a method of payment. Please be prepared to pay for any fees with Cash, Debit, Visa, Master Card, or Discover.

ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY Saturday, February 23 at 8 am

140 trees and seedlings will be given away at no charge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 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 Registration for teams (not individuals) will begin on March 1. It will end on March 29 at the Alabaster Parks and Recreation office located in Veterans Park. It will end On-Line at www.alabasterparks.org on March 30.

START SMART BASEBALL Monday, February 11 at 8 am

Registration will begin for Start Smart Baseball at the Alabaster Parks & Recreation office located in Veterans Park. Registration will close out once 20 children have registered, or at 5 pm on Friday, February 22, whichever occurs first. The fee is $90 (plus 10% for non-residents). The program is designed for children

ages 3 and 4 as of April 30, 2019. It is a six-week program with emphasis on fundamentals. The six week sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 6 pm beginning Saturday, April 2 and ending May 7. There will be a game and pizza/cupcake party on May 11 at 10 am. Registration must be done in person at the Parks and Recreation office. Birth Certificate copies are required for new participants.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Monday, February 11

Practices begin for Baseball and Softball.

SOCCER Monday, February 11

Practices begin for Soccer.

PAVILIONS FOR RENT On-Line Pavilion Rentals – available at www.alabasterparks.org Several of our City Parks offer pavilions for events such as picnics, family reunions and birthday parties. The best way to ensure 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 AARP- SMART DRIVER CLASS Tuesday, Feb 5 from 9 am - 3:30 pm

This is a 6-hour classroom refresher that

CALENDAR 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. You will need to stop by the Senior Center and reserve your spot. Space is limited.

PAPER CRAFTING CLASS Monday, Feb. 11 from 12:30-3 pm

Join us and learn a variety of techniques in card making. Need to bring sharp paper cutting scissors, Scotch double sided tape, colored pencils or water-based markers. Space is limited. $5.00 to reserve your spot.

BIRDING OUTING Tuesday, Feb. 26 12:45 - 3 pm

Did you know we have our very own birding site her in Alabaster? We will be outside so wear warm layers and shoes/ boots depending on the weather and come on out to see what birds can be spotted at this time of year. We will talk about birding and how to get involved in birding as a hobby. You do not need to have attended the January birding class to attend this class. $1.00 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES OFFERED AT THE ALABASTER SENIOR CENTER

BASIC “HOW TO” CLASS

GENTLE YOGA Tuesdays from 1:15 - 2:30 pm

This will be a basic “How To” class. This will be a discussion and hands-on class. Learn how to work an electric drill, how to check your breaker box and change fuses and what tools should I have in a basic toolbox. $2.00 to reserve your spot.

Combines traditional/modified yoga postures and breathing techniques. Come improve your overall health through understanding your body better and leave feeling refreshed and reenergized. Gentle movement is modified to allow the class to be completed by a standing or seated participant; all levels of fitness are welcome. Space is limited. $2/class.

Friday, Feb. 15 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

We will enjoy light refreshments prior to the Symphony and then enjoy lunch at Chow Town in Hoover. Bring $10-12 for lunch/ $1.00 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

GARDENING CLASS Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 9:30 - 11 am

We are combining a gardening class and health class together, because they naturally go together. We will be learning hands-on the different ways to grow sprouts and seeds, their many health benefits, recipes, tips and tricks and why you would want to incorporate them into your life. $12.00 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

Thursdays at 9:15 am

For dancers with some prior line dance experience. High beginner and intermediate dances will be taught with more complicated steps and at a faster pace. Students may move up to this class when they feel they are ready. Space is limited. $2/class.

BEGINNER CLASS BEGINNER LINE DANCING Thursdays from 10:10 - 11 am

Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 12 - 1 pm

ALABAMA SYMPHONY OUTING

INTERMEDIATE CLASS LINE DANCING

ARTHRITIS EXERCISE PROGRAM Wednesdays from 9:30 - 10:30 am

Helps alleviate pain and stiffness, maintain range of motion, improve balance and coordination, increase endurance and overall health. This is a seated class with health tips given on steps you can take to healthier living. Space is limited. $2/class.

ARTHRITIS & MORE Wednesdays from 1 - 2 pm

This class is designed for those seeking to improve or maintain their mobility, muscle strength and functional ability. This class will include a variety of exercises working from head to toe while sitting and standing. $2.00/class.

For students, new to line dancing. Several easy beginner dances will be taught in each class. Instruction will proceed at an easy pace and repetition will be emphasized. Appropriate supportive shoes should be worn such as tennis shoes, boots, and flats. High heels and backless shoes are not appropriate. Safety is a priority. Space is limited. $2/class.

GENTLE YOGA Thursdays from 2:15 - 3:30 pm

MOVIN’& GROOVIN Fridays from 9:30 - 10:20 am

Focuses on stretching, cardio, light weights and having fun! All taught to music! Learn safe ways to improve muscles to make every day activities easier. Emphasis is on improving and maintaining overall health from head to toe. You won’t want to miss this class. Space is limited. $2/class. cityofalabaster.com

COUNCIL MINUTES

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (ABRIDGED) Unabridged version of minutes and resolutions/ordinances can be found on the city webpage at www.cityofalabaster.com.

DECEMBER 3, 2018, 7 PM

Absent: Greg Farrell (4)

Fire Department – Greg Farrell Building & Fire Prevention Services – Kerri Pate

Agenda Items:

The following persons are hereby APPOINTED to the Alabaster Beautification Board and term corresponding thereto: Appointee - Place - Term Expiring Robert Hirt - B - 12/01/21 Randi Dicus - B - 12/01/21

1. **Ordinance 190107-080 Annexation Request, 540 Smokey Rd - PH Set for January 7th Motion Passed Unanimously 2. **Ordinance 190122-081 Zoning Amendment - PH Set for January 22nd Motion Passed Unanimously 3. Resolution 121718 Reschedule Council Meeting in January and September Due to holiday conflicts, two regular Council meeting dates are hereby rescheduled: Monday, January 21, 2019 changed to Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Monday, September 2, 2019 changed to Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Motion Passed Unanimously

Council Reports:

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

ALS Library – Sophie Martin Public Works & Garbage – Stacy Rakestraw Police Department – Russell Bedsole

Mrs. Marie Jordan addressed the Council on behalf of Maple Ridge Subdivision.

SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:14 PM

DECEMBER 17, 2018, 7 PM

Mayor Comments

SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:17 PM

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

FOR MORE ON THE CITY COUNCIL

1st and 3rd Mondays each month at 7 p.m.

Visit www.cityofalabaster.com/161/City-Council

cityofalabaster.com

CITY COUNCIL SOPHIE MARTIN, WARD 1 506-8961 martin@cityofalabaster.com

CITY OF ALABASTER 1953 Municipal Way Alabaster, AL 35007 www.cityofalabaster.com 664-6800 MARTY HANDLON, MAYOR 664-6831 handlon@cityofalabaster.com

RICK ELLIS, WARD 2 ellis@cityofalabaster.com STACY RAKESTRAW, WARD 3 529-3326 rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com

RUSSELL BEDSOLE, WARD 5 205-229-6021 bedsole@cityofalabaster.com SCOTT BRAKEFIELD, PRESIDENT, WARD 6 brakefield@cityofalabaster.com

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 48 ALABASTER, AL

KERRI PATE, WARD 7 965-8300 pate@cityofalabaster.com

GREG FARRELL, WARD 4 farrell@cityofalabaster.com

POSTAL PATRON

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