Alabaster Connection October 2019 by me2graphicsllc

ALABASTER

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

MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP TEAM

FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE

THS IS READY TO WORK

RED RIBBON WEEK

pg. 8

pg. 10

pg. 11

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

We welcome your comments & suggestions.

ctober is the beginning of our new fiscal year, and I want to congratulate and thank all city employees for their efforts in completing another successful year. The picture on the cover and article on page 12, give credit to the professionals leading our city departments. They work together to make Alabaster better. I appreciate them more than words can express. Marty Handlon, Mayor Once again, we will finish the year with excess revenues over expenCity of Alabaster ditures, providing the ability to put $2 million towards the widening of Highway 119, without having to pull from our reserve funds. Our budget for fiscal year 2020 is conservative, and able to sustain the anticipated 10-year economic correction. However, even with conservative general fund revenue projections, we have budgeted almost $1.6 million in park improvements for Abbey Wooley Park, Veterans Park, and another soccer field located at Thompson High School. Abbey Wooley and Veterans Park improvements are a collaborative effort with Shelby County, and the new soccer field at THS is a collaborative project with Shelby County and Alabaster City Schools. Our fiscal year 2019 sales tax revenues generated approximately $5.3 million for the Alabaster City School System, and we have budgeted comparable results this year. We will kick off the month of October with our Jazz in the Park on Sunday afternoon, October 6th, at the Municipal Complex near the water tower. Come enjoy the fall weather and some great Jazz artists! Stay tuned to the City’s Facebook page for weather related updates on Sunday. Remember, Shelby County Landfill is offering their last “free” dump day of the year on October 5th. Residents, churches, and civic groups can dispose of residential trash and debris at the landfill with 1-ton trucks or smaller at no charge. The City will have roll-off dumpsters at City Hall on Saturday, October 5th from 7:00am until noon, for the convenience of our residents to take advantage of the “free” dump day. We thank the Shelby County Commission for the opportunity to promote a cleaner, more attractive Alabaster & Shelby County. And, don’t forget the Alabaster Fall Festival is the last Saturday in October. Bring the family out to enjoy this community-wide event, where children can trick-or-treat along the Buck Creek Trail. Blessed beyond measure,

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

THIS EDITION

23 Around Town 24 Beautification Board 25 Calendar 30 CC Meeting Minutes

FEATURES

7 THS Student FEMA 7 Coping with Breast Cancer 8 Fall Festival Guide 8 Football Schedules 10 THS is Ready to Work 11 Red Ribbon Week 12 Mayor's Team 14 Shelby Baptist 60th

SPOTLIGHTS

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

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Scott Brakefield

Ward 6 | City Council President brakefield@cityofalabaster.com

Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying this summer weather as we are moving into fall! Crazy, isn't it! I would like to begin my comments by congratulating those employees that were recently recognized by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce as Alabasters Fire and Police personnel of the year. From our Fire Department, Zach Cruce, Jeral Moses, John Aldrich, Zane Hawkins and Robert Smelcer and from our Police Department, Jeremy Medlin. Congratulations and thank you for your service to our City! I would like to remind you that our that there will be some cool activities happening in October around City Hall and The Buck Creek Trail. On October 6th we will be hosting Jazz in the park on the green space beside City Hall. Also, on October 26th we will be hosting our annual Fall Fest on the Buck Creek Trail. I hope you are able to get out and enjoy these wonderful events. Hopefully, the weather will turn a little bit cooler. In the coming months we hope to see some improvements taking place around the City. We will be enhancing Veterans Park with a new fields, new sign and hopefully a few more surprises. We will be working to improve Abby Wooley Park with a new basketball surface, new goals and additional upgrades within the park. We also hope that after the turn of the year will begin the process of constructing a new Police and Court facility, which is long overdue. Lastly do not forget to go and checkout your Thompson Warriors. They are currently ranked #1 in the State. They only have one more regular season home game vs Mt Brook. I hope to see you out there. Scott

Sophie Martin | Ward 1 martin@cityofalabaster.com

Progress continues in Ward 1. I’m very excited that $315,000 is in the City’s recently approved budget for enhancements to Abbey Wooley Park. We are also applying for grant opportunities that will also go towards additional improvements to Abbey Wooley Park. These include new and expanded basketball courts, bathroom enhancements, landscaping and other enhancements. Thank you to Parks and Rec for their help and I sincerely appreciate the Council and mayor for their support in this effort. Abbey Wooley Park is beautiful and one of the most historical parks in Alabaster. The upgrades and expansion will definitely benefit our community! If you have any ideas for Ward 1 or for our City, please feel free to contact me. Kindest regards, Sophie cityofalabaster.com

Rick Ellis | Ward 2 ellis@cityofalabaster.com

I keep praying for rain and some cooler temperatures and I am hopeful that, since we are moving into October, we will soon begin seeing signs of fall. One of the signs of fall that we are already seeing is Thompson High School football. They are ranked 1st in the state and, last I heard, 28th in the country in one poll. If you have the opportunity, take a Friday night and take in a game. Saturday October 5th will be Free Dump Day. This year, to go along with our regular junk and rubbish pick up, the City will be adding an additional free 100 slots scheduled for pick up on Saturday the 5th. Be sure to go to the city website to register. Also, this year the city will have two roll off dumpsters stationed at City Hall from 7am – noon for any junk and rubbish that you would like to drop off. As always, if you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions for Ward 2 or the city please contact me. Have a Happy and Safe Halloween! Rick

Stacy Rakestraw |

Ward 3

rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com

Sign up today for NOTIFY ME on the Alabaster City website. This will send alerts to your email and/or texts for the departments you choose to follow, emergency notices, power outages, training crossings blocked and more. The City Council recently voted, as part of our new budget, to fund more of the six School Resources Officers in our city school system. This reduced the payment of $400,000 for SRO’s from the school to $225,000. This also includes help from the County of $42,000 which the city has given to the school to help with their costs since the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings. Our partnership with the school system also extended further with another opportunity with Shelby County: to help build two new soccer fields behind the new Thompson Football Stadium to be used by the city, school, and county. We are excited to be working together and looking forward to more partnerships in the future to help grow our community. Many of you may have noticed the clearing of the old car lot on Hwy 31 by Alabaster Fire Station 3. The property owners are building a new car wash. Progress is what I think of it as. Thanks to the Alabaster Planning and Zoning Board, they looked over plans and required certain aesthetic aspects to be met to build it. This area will one day have a much-needed stoplight, which was approved by ALDOT when District 31 opens. Please check out our recently passed, conservative budget for the fiscal year October 2019 - September 2020. The City’s Human

COUNCIL COMMENTS Resource department will do another salary study this year to make sure we are staying competitive with wages compared to other cities with similar dynamics. Remember to be kind and patient with someone today; we all need it! Stacy

Greg Farrell

| Ward 4

farrell@cityofalabaster.com

The Council passed the Budget for the 2020 fiscal year last month. Some highlights of the Budget include funding for Capital Projects that include: construction of the Justice Center, improvements to Abbey Wooley Park, Veterans Park additions and the Hwy 119 widening project. I want to thank all Department Heads for their hard work during the Budget process. I want to congratulate my fellow Councilman Russell Bedsole on his completion of the 10-week training program at the FBI National Academy. As we enter into October, it’s that time of year that many organizations throughout the City will hold Fall Festivals as well as Jazz in the Park. Try and attend these great events. Also please watch out for the young ones that will be Trick-or-Treating on Halloween. Please be safe and have fun. Greg

Russell Bedsole | Ward 5 bedsole@cityofalabaster.com

Welcome to fall, Alabaster! I hope all is well with you. Recently your Council voted to approve the budget as presented by the Mayor. Before I go any further, I would like to thank the Mayor and her staff for their thoroughness in giving the Council what they need to make the tough decisions. Overall, I think we have a lot to look forward to in this year’s budget. As a city, we are committing significant funds in two specific areas: public safety and parks. The budgeted money for public safety comes in the form of pledged money to construct the already-underway police and court facility. We are wrapping up the purchase of properties in the old Siluria area, and we expect to have a detailed drawing of the facility very soon and breaking ground soon after. The money in this budget will be added to previous dedicated funds to make this a facility you can be proud of.   The Council also approved $1Million to be dedicated toward improvements in our parks with the lion share dedicated toward some additions to Veterans Park. This money will allow us to build additional field space on the undeveloped land that was recently purchased on either side of the entry drive at Veterans Park. Also, with the fields, expect additional parking and sidewalks in that area. In addition to these funds, the budget has funds in it to part-

ner with Alabaster City Schools and Shelby County on a project for additional soccer fields behind the high school. The additional field space is a huge win for all in our city. With the topic of the budget in mind, it’s not too early to remind everyone to continue to shop locally. Your hard-earned dollars spent in our city really does add up and helps us continue to improve our city. Thank you for choosing Alabaster, and I promise we will continue to use your money wisely. Have a great October! Russell

Kerri Pate

| Ward 7

pate@cityofalabaster.com

The calendar tells us that it is fall but the temperature and my power bill tells me otherwise! But Happy Fall anyway, we know those cooler temps are just around the corner. With crisper air brings more outdoor activity. I know we will all see an increase of children playing outside, walkers, runners and cyclists. I realize we are all in what seems to be more of a hurry these days, but let’s all be aware & patient. I have had several residents bring to my attention the disregard for people riding their bikes, yes these people have rights and state laws that are set to protect them. So many of us do not know, I being one of them. The Alabama State law requires that motor vehicles allow a cyclist 3 feet clearance. And although vague, it states that a motor vehicle is to pass a cyclist safely. I learned something myself as it was brought to my attention and when I ask and researched so I wanted to pass along to you all. We recently passed the City of Alabaster 2020 budget. A few things that I am so proud that we were able to include is $2.0M towards the completion of the Highway 119 widening project. We will begin purchasing right of ways very soon. $1.1 million towards improvements to Veterans Park. This park is a shiny spot for our city, it not only brings thousands of visitors to Alabaster each year, it serves as a grand piece of our quality of life here. On any given day, rain or shine you see people young and old walking, running, having picnics or visiting the dog or skate parks. If you are fortunate you will hear the dinging of the bats and the fans screaming for their favorite little league player. We use the term “quality of life” often, these are the things that improve the vast majority of people’s lives. Of course, less traffic also contributes to your quality of life too. We all felt that we wanted to improve, clean up and add to our wonderful jewel, Veterans Park. Please watch for more details on those plans. It is truly an honor to serve you all. I would also like to mention that we have an opening for our Beautification Board, if you have any questions about what serving on that board would look like or to put your name in the hat please let me know. pate@cityofalabaster.com or 205-965-8300. Kerri cityofalabaster.com

TEEN COUNCIL COMMENTS

ALABASTER TEEN COUNCIL COMMENTS

By: Maddie Machovec Hi everyone! I’m Maddie Machovec and I’m a member of the Alabaster Teen Council. I always get super excited about going back to school, but when we hit October everything seems to stall. All of the backto-school jitters have worn off, but it’s too early to be excited for winter break. It can be hard to stay motivated and keep up the good work you’ve started for this year. One easy way to stay engaged is to get involved. All schools have multiple clubs and organizations that are easy to get involved

in, like spirit committees, community outreach, and interest-based groups. Find a group that you are interested in and go to a meeting or email the sponsor. Almost certainly, they would love to have you! Another way to get involved is to volunteer in your community. Do a little research about volunteer opportunities for your interests. If you love animals, reach out to the local animal shelter. If you love reading, volunteer at the library. If you love people, try helping out at nursing homes and senior centers. If you love kids, find an afternoon program to help with. Keeping busy and always having something to do helps keep you from sitting around and getting bored.  Another thing you can try is to find something to look forward to. Count down the days until Halloween, schedule movie nights with your friends, go watch some of Alabaster’s many amazing sports

teams compete. Looking forward to something will help keep you fixed on the fun times in the future.  Another way to keep from getting bored is to set goals and work towards achieving them. Find one thing you can do by the end of this month, maybe getting higher grades, practicing for a game or performance, or just cleaning your room or car, and say to yourself that you will do it before the month ends. Giving yourself something to work towards and look forward too will help you keep motivated. It can be hard, but with a little work and some help from friends, family, and teachers you can easily find something you love to help keep you going. Getting involved in your school, community, setting goals, and finding something to look forward too are all ways to keep yourself engaged and focused to help finish the semester strong! AC

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FEATURE

THS STUDENT SELECTED TO FEMA COUNCIL

ongratulations to Alabaster Thompson High School junior, Nyl Nnamdi ‘N2’ Aziaya. Nyl has been selected by the National Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council to represent Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC and TN) as their new Youth Preparedness Council member representing the state of Alabama. As a member, Nyl will work with other teens from Region 4 and the national council on ways to bring more awareness of emergency preparedness to youth and communities at-large. FEMA Youth Preparedness Council identifies students who are making a difference in their communities regarding emergency preparedness and awareness. Nyl has been touring since last year in

Florida, Georgia and Alabama with his ‘Get Backpack Ready with Nyl’ campaign, demonstrating the importance of having essential items in a ready bag (Backpack) in case of an emergency. He is excited about initiating other programs geared towards teen and emergency preparedness. He will be working closely with local emergency managers and the Alabama Federal Emergency Management Agency (AEMA). Nyl is a member of Thompson High School Engineering Academy, Varsity and JV football team, Top Teens of America, FEMA Region 4 Youth Preparedness Council, American Red Cross, National Society of Black Engineers JR and the Guide Right Fraternity Mentoring Program to name a few. He is the son of Ifeanyi Aziaya and Joi Witt-Aziaya. AC

ALABASTER CITY SCHOOLS UPDATE

very year the Alabaster Board of Education shares with the faculty, staff, and stakeholders how they are measuring up. Adam Moseley, President of the Alabaster Board of Education (BOE), shared what it takes to make a good school system great! “So, when we took over a little over six years ago, part of the goal and vision was to improve all areas of the school system we inherited, especially the areas of academics, facilities, arts, and extra curriculars,” he shared. This year as they examined, Moseley highlighted an area that might not be as visible. “From the facility standpoint, everyone can see the new school, the renovation of the older buildings and the maintenance of the buildings. But the one that gets me the most excited is our academics,” he exclaimed. When the BOE inherited the school system, the graduation rate was in the high 80th percentile. “Academically, we have made huge gains. Our graduation

rate is 96 or 97% and I think it is fair to say ours schools would not have shown up on any best-school list. Now we are being listed on best-of lists. In fact, Thompson Middle school was listed as a top 25 middle school this year. And US News and World Report had Thompson High School on their list of high achieving schools,” Moselely proudly shared. This drive in academics is still not done. “I think the number one priority is to continue to raise the bar as far as academics are concerned. The BOE and Dr. Vickers want to continue to push the bar high and raise those expectations. Academically, for those who want to go to college, but also those who want to go into a trade. We want to have offerings for all the students. Get them excited for school and what comes after they graduate,” he said. The growth has not been due to one individual or even one group but it comes from a large team all pulling in the same direction. “Our staff and teachers

are working hard every day to continue to make us one of the premier systems in the state. But also our community is putting in hard work as well. You know, the 33,000 folks who call Alabaster home, our city government, and our parents have really embraced the school system. The support they give to the administration is amazing. It is not just athletics, arts or band but all of the above, and then some are being supported by everyone, and I think it creates a real sense of community when people are investing in their school system. It is theirs. They all own it,” Moseley explained. AC

cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

GUIDE 2019 Amazing Grace Church

First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster

Fall Family Fun October 19 from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. 949 Highway 31 We will have family-type games such as: Sack Races, 3-Legged Race, Greased Cucumber Toss, Pumpkin Seed-Spitting Contest Plus… · 18’ Slide · Inflatables · Ladder Climb · A BBQ Lunch All FREE of charge. To attend, one simply needs to text FALL and the number attending to 205-576-5833 to save their spot.

Pumpkin Patch All Month Long & Truck or Treat on October 27 from 4-6:30 p.m. 8828 Hwy 119 "The Pumpkins are here!" The annual Pumpkin Patch at First Presbyterian Church Alabaster is here again. We've been known as "The Pumpkin Patch Church" to our community for over 10 years now and we continue that tradition again this year. All the proceeds from this fundraiser are given back to our community, and this time it will be split between SafeHouse and

Shelby Emergency Assistance. We love being a part of this city and community and are excited to be able to serve and give back. So, any day in October, we invite you to come on out, take some pictures, enjoy some family time, and buy a pumpkin or two, knowing that you are helping our community along the way. We hope to see you there.

Community Baptist Church Truck-A-Paloosa October 27, 5-8 p.m. 8254 Hwy 17 in Maylene Community Baptist Church is having a fall festival called “Truck-A-Paloosa.” In addi-

tion to the games and candies, several different types of vehicles will be on the church campus for kids and their families to look at and interact with. This is a free event.

Church of God Fall Festival for Families October 27, 6-8 p.m. 530 1st Ave West

The Branch at Mission Hill Baptist Church Fall Festival October 31, 6-8 p.m. 1669 Mission Hill Road · Free Admission · Candy, Games, Food.

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FEATURE

THS is

READY TO WORK

hompson High School is the site of a new and exciting program called Ready to Work. “Ready to Work is a career exposure and soft skills training program for high school seniors. Originally designed as an adult soft skill training program by Alabama Industrial Development Training, Ready to Work has since been implemented at the high school level by the Onin Group in Tuscaloosa. Since then, it has grown across the state to dozens of high schools,” shared Jackson Pruett with the Shelby County Chamber. The Shelby County Chamber, 58 INC (the county’s economic development partners), the Onin Group, and The Alabaster Board of Education are all partners in this program. The way the program works is to teach students what is commonly called “soft skills.” “These high school students will be learning critical skills such as punctuality, dress codes, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, all before fully joining the labor force. In our conversations with existing industry, soft skills are the top issue that employers are concerned about. Many of the technical skills needed for success can be taught on the job, but soft skills training needs to occur as early and as often as possible,” shared Pruett. Ready to Work also has a goal of helping students find and select a path after graduating high school. “For some students, this means going directly to work; for others that may mean community college or a four year school. Students will also finish the program with a national career readiness certificate, so that’s a goal as well,” Pruett said. Because this is a partnership between so many entities and cityofalabaster.com

individuals, they are always looking for new partners to expand the program. “If you represent an employer that wants to get involved, we would love to talk to you. We are searching for guest speakers and industry tour hosts. Additionally, if you have entry-level career opportunities, we would love to talk about how you can partner with us. Contact me, Jackson Pruett at The Shelby County Chamber (jackson@shelbychamber.org),” he shared. Ready to Work also serves to connect students with potential employers after graduation. “The end goal for our employer partners is that they will have exposed young people to their company and the careers they offer. Many of our employer partners also plan on hiring individuals they meet through this program,” Pruett shared enthusiastically To Find out more about Ready to Work contact Jackson Pruett jackson@shelbychamber.org. AC

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FEATURE

ALABASTER CELEBRATES RED RIBBON WEEK

labaster City School and the city’s drug prevention program, For Tomorrow, are planning a stellar week of events and information sharing for the annual Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week was started in the wake of the tragic murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena in Mexico by the drug cartel in 1985. His friends, family members and colleagues started to wear red satin ribbons in his honor and to remember his fight against illegal drugs. This tragic event, combined with the rise of concerned parents about drug and substance abuse, gave rise to the first National Red Ribbon celebration in 1988. It is always the last week of October. According to Carol Williams, the contract prevention specialist working with Alabaster’s For Tomorrow coalition, “The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to be a catalyst to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.” This year’s events are still being finalized, but will utilize social media to share facts and encourage parents to talk with their children about staying drugfree. “We will partner with Thompson High School Peer Helpers as well as plan outreach in the high school. Last year, Peer Helpers developed a presentation to educate their peers and taught the lesson in Freshman classes,” shared Williams. SPOTTING TROUBLE According to Williams, the biggest indicator of substance abuse is change. “Parents need to be aware of changes in behaviors. Adolescents are going through a lot of changes during middle and high school, but being aware of changes that are outside of normal teenage growing pains can be a good indicator that parents need to seek help for their child.

It may not be that the child is using substances. It could be that there is a mental health issue or even bullying.” Some changes in behavior to take note of are: changes in relationships with family or friends; changes in weight; chewing gum or eating mints to cover up breath; bloodshot eyes; cash flow problems; unexplained damage to their car; secretive; unusually loud or overly withdrawn; and long periods of sleeplessness or sleeping too much. Williams urges parents, friends, and adults in the lives of children to “Pay attention to changes in school and work patterns as well. If you see drops in grades or your child is missing school or work, it is time for a conversation.” UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM It is often thought that substance abuse is an inner-city problem. This is just not the case. “Substance abuse has no socio-economic, geographic or racial boundaries. Ninety percent of substance use disorders, addictions, start in the teen years. It has nothing to do with the geographic location of a family. Alabaster has been hit by the opioid epidemic just from what our Fire Department has seen. In 2018, Alabaster Fire Department ran 42 overdose calls and had 39 Narcan administrations. Alabaster Fire Department also responded to 21 suicide attempt calls,” exclaimed Williams. Some more sobering stats point to an increase in marijuana use around the country and even vaping, a once thought safe product, is causing unknown lung ailments in teenagers. “The misuse of medications is another problem for youth as well as adults. We are still seeing the effects of the opioid crisis, but we are also seeing more misuse of benzodiazepines (ex. Xanax). Two-thirds of youth

who misuse a medication report that they took them from their own home or that of a friend or relative without their knowledge,” Williams soberly explained. PREVENTION AND HELP If you suspect someone is using drugs or abusing substances, taking quick action is key. “Seek professional help. One place to start is your child’s school counselor. Alabaster City Schools maintains a comprehensive list of resources for help in our area. There are also professional counselors available in the city. We are also fortunate to have a local help line through Children’s of Alabama that a parent can call to get referrals and other information. The calls are handled by a mental health professional. The help line is called the Psychiatric Intake Response Center. The number is 205-638-PIRC (7472),” she said. AC

RESOURCES Psychiatric Intake Response Center 205-638-PIRC (7472) Recovery Organization of Support Specialists 24/7 Helpline 844-307-1760 Recovery Resource Center 205-458-3377 The Addiction Prevention Coalition in Birmingham runs a regular Parents of Addicted Loved Ones group. You can find information about the group on their website (apcbham.org). Al-Anon has family groups in our area as well. Visit their website for locations and schedules (al-anon.org) cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

MAYOR’S LEADERSHIP TEAM I

BRIAN BINZER

City Administrator

CANDACE CONNELL HR Director

SANDY HARIKA Municipal Court Director

CURTIS RIGNEY APD Chief

cityofalabaster.com

n the midst of the biggest economic recession of this generation, Alabaster had the opportunity to learn some valuable lessons. First and foremost, building a reserve for future economic or natural devastations needed to be a priority. Thankfully, in 2009 the City Council passed a MARTY HANDLON resolution mandating the Mayor annual financial contribution towards building a reserve of at least $2.5 million, the cost of almost one month’s operations. Since that time, elected officials have all have realized recovery from a recession of that size can take years and the majority of the services provided by the city are not optional. In the good times and the bad, they are still responsible for life and safety provided by police, fire, municipal court, garbage, and sewer. ▶

FEATURE Furthermore, when people have less disposable income, they tend to look to community resources for recreation and leisure activities offered by our parks and library. This is why it is important to recognize the team which ensures the availability of these services. Any successful coach or CEO would agree the success of the TEAM, or the organization it represents, depends on the heart of the team itself, having the right people in the right positions, and having a unified mission. The City of Alabaster’s Department Heads, aka the Mayor’s Leadership Team, now has all of those qualities. They are public servants in the best sense of the words. They believe in the services they provide, and the reasons they are important—Quality of Life for the people of Alabaster. This Leadership Team works together to solve any city-wide issue presented to them, contributing their individual skills and expertise wherever needed. There are countless stories of how this team has positively impacted this community. Team effort has become more important in recent years, due to the growth of the city, and the realization an economic downturn can have a devastating effect on our ability to protect the high quality of life our citizens have come to expect. However, what makes this team even more worthy of recognition is their commitment to excellent customer service, both internal and external customers, and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. They have worked to improve the internal operations of our local government—being proactive and progressive in what we do, more efficient with our resources, and building pride in the total Alabaster experience, while also understanding the importance of being able to sustain what we provide. As we begin this new fiscal year, it is important to recognize the people responsible for the positive financial position the city enjoys at this moment, as well as the current conservative budget the mayor was proud to present for the Council’s consideration—a budget which can tolerate an anticipated economic correction. The financial position currently represents almost two month’s operating reserves made up of a Council Reserve Fund of $3.4 million, and an unrestricted reserve of $4 million. Neither of these would be possible without the wholehearted commitment of this team. And, it is this financial position and related financial policies which have allowed the city to receive an upgraded rating from AA- to AA. What makes this team so great is their understanding of the limited resources available, in the midst of unlimited needs and wants, and that their department is just one spoke in the wheel of this life altering machine. Over the past seven years, they have rallied behind financial commitments to priorities of the moment, directed at departmental improvements other than their own, knowing the city has to be elevated to an expected level in order for the whole organization to ever attain excellence. AC

MIKE BROTHERS Superint. of Env. Services

MARK FREY City Clerk

FRED HAWKINS Director of Engineering & Building Services

MARK HARRIS Director Public Works

JOHN HAGGARD Finance Director/Treasurer

NANN ABBOTT Library Director

PATRICK JOHNSON Director of IT

TIM HAMM Parks & Rec Director

TIM LOVE AFD Chief cityofalabaster.com

FEATURE

SHELBY BAPTIST CELEBRATES 60 YEARS

t a 60th Anniversary celebration held on September 9th, Mayor Marty Handlon extended her appreciation for all that Shelby Baptist Medical Center has brought to the community, stating, “We look at our community as medical, industry, retail and residential. The collaboration with the Medical Mile is really important to us. We’re so thankful that [Shelby Baptist] has grown from the small county hospital to this award-wining, state-of-the-art regional medical center that offers such a variety of specialties.” CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT Mayor Handlon presented a proclamation in celebration of the event, saying, “Shelby Baptist Medical Center’s unique culture of dedication to its patients and its desire to extend its community built on care beyond the hospital doors continues to be its strength and ensures its future success.” Senator Cam Ward also presented a proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey, in recognition of the people who work at Shelby Baptist Medical Center, the community, and all the citizens who enjoy the services it provides.

“The true definition of whether a community is healthy or not is based on two things: its schools and its healthcare. If you look at this facility and the growth it’s had over the last 60 years, along with the successes that our schools are having, this community is truly blessed and healthy.” Over the last 60 years, Shelby Baptist Medical Center has grown from a small community hospital to a state-of-the-art, full-service acute care facility dedicated to serving people. HONORING A LEGACY After opening on September 28, 1959 as Shelby Memorial Hospital, as Shelby County’s needs grew and so did the hospital and its services. Recognizing the value of receiving quality care, especially when time is of the essence, a dedicated obstetrics department was added in 1966 “I would say that all anybody would have to do is try to drive north on I-65 at 7:00 in the morning and they’ll understand how time can be crucial. There’s not another hospital (south of Birmingham) that does deliveries until you get to Montgomery,” pointed out Dr. James Head, MD, who delivered the first baby at this hospital.

Over the next few decades, the Board of Directors added several new operating rooms, an intensive care unit, a CT scanner, and many more private patient rooms with hotel-like amenities for patients’ comfort and care. In 1996, the facility joined the Baptist Health System and became Shelby Baptist Medical Center. This shift triggered additional expansions, including the addition of a dialysis center, cancer center, nursing home, and a recreational therapy unit in cooperation with the Shelby County YMCA. MOVING MEDICAL CARE FORWARD More recently, as Dr. Jade Bryce, Chief Medical Officer pointed out, “The additions of minimally invasive surgical robots, more advanced imaging technologies and a structural heart disease program that has been able to help so many people already, are definitely some of the center pieces that inspire the growth of Shelby.” “What we can do for our patients is above what any other medical center can do for miles. We would like to continue the wonderful tradition that Shelby has had for the last 60 years. We look forward to continuing this tradition for years to come,” CEO Daniel Liste agreed. “Here at Shelby Baptist, we are surrounded by our faith. We start every meeting with a prayer and we ensure that every one of our employees, patients and visitors has the opportunity to pray with us, heal with us and to become better in our service.” Liste has only been at Shelby Baptist Medical Center for just over a year. However, he is thankful to the Alabaster community and the surrounding area for giving the medical facility a chance to offer healing, care, and to be their hospital. AC

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ALABASTER HELPS

Knitted Knockers –

Boosting Self-Confidence for Breast Cancer Fighters & Survivors

hile Jeani Atkison was battling breast cancer in 2015, she didn’t realize the impact that her journey would eventually have on the lives of other local women recovering from the disease. After her surgery, doctors attempted to sell her the prostheses available at the time. “But they are so very heavy and uncomfortable,” she shared. Knowing they wouldn’t work for her long-term, she sought out an alternative solution. She soon discovered an organization founded in the northwestern United States called Knitted Knockers that sends crocheted and knitted versions of breast prostheses. “Knitted Knockers are special, soft, light weight breast prosthetics that are very comfortable for women who have undergone mastectomies, lumpectomies and radiation, and/ or are undergoing reconstruction. They can be worn with any regular bra and are machine washable. By simply removing some stuffing they can be used to balance out uneven breasts,” she explained. “I found the pattern on the Knitted Knockers website, made myself a pair and decided more people needed

these than just me.” She brought the idea to a crocheting class she leads at Evangel Presbyterian Church on Thompson Road. Once the ladies got to work making them, she brought them to show her radiologist at the Shelby Cancer Center. With the team’s help, Knitted Knockers are now available through Shelby Hospital, and since 2016, the Knitted Knockers are now also available at Baptist Princeton and at The Forge, a counseling ministry for cancer patients outside of St. Vincent’s East. “They’re completely free to anyone who wants to knit them themselves or get them through these three locations. They don’t have to buy anything! They just need to contact me first to make sure we have the right sizes ready for them.” Jeani said the hardest part of the effort has been getting the word out that this option exists. “The most important part for people to be aware of, is that with the Knitted Knockers, they don’t have to buy anything to use them! This is our way of helping ladies who can’t afford pricey prostheses or who don’t have the insurance necessary. Besides, the solutions that hospitals try to sell just are uncomfortable and older ladies, especially, struggle with them because they’re so heavy and hot!” She explained that the fiber-filled 100% cotton knitted knockers are lightweight and extremely comfortable. They are machine washable in a lingerie bag and hung to dry. They can be worn long-term and are also utilized by those deciding whether they want to pursue reconstruction surgeries or not. “They’re good for ladies’ self-esteem, especially, because their clothes fit better. They can be worn with the person’s own bras, so there’s no need to buy anything special. They’re completely free!” At least 50 pairs have already been distributed. Not only is the crocheting class continuing to produce the pattern, but individuals who can’t come to the class – ladies from Calera to ladies near the Summit – are now also participating in the effort. “The pattern is available online through KnittedKnockers. org, and is available as both a knitting pattern or as a crocheting pattern,” she encouraged. “I can pick up finished pairs!” The finished products are tagged with care instructions and contact information for the local Knitted Knockers chapter that can be passed on to other ladies who could benefit from this free resource. For more information about Knitted Knockers, or to join in the effort, contact Jeani Atkison at 205-663-0399. AC cityofalabaster.com

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

BUILDING

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY

Brandon Matthews, Lead Pastor of Cultivate Church

randon Matthews came to Alabaster for a purpose – to invest into the lives of the people in the community. He, along with is wife, Jen, and their best friends, Brandon and Danielle Doss, moved to the city in July 2011 to plant Cultivate Church. “We came here to make a difference in the lives of others through the goodness of Jesus,” he explained.

BEING A SOLUTION-MAKER Although they have lived in Alabaster for less than a decade, the Matthews family views this community as home. As such, they are determined to make the place they love a better place to be. “I don't want to only be a consumer. I want to be a contributor. I believe one of the greatest ways to make a difference in our community is through the local church. We can all do more together than we can alone, and a church community is the perfect place for that,” Brandon pointed out. With this in mind, Brandon Matthews, Brandon Doss and the rest of the Cultivate Church team strive to position the church in ways that can address needs within the community. “We have served our first responders, senior citizens, helped cityofalabaster.com

with citywide clean up, served meals, given clothes, and more. We are thankful to be a part of making Alabaster the incredible place that it is.” FINDING POWER IN PRAYER As the lead pastor for Cultivate Church, Brandon also assisted in the planning of the very first citywide prayer breakfast last year “The event was held to gather those who lead our community spiritually to unite together and pray for our city,” he said. “We believe miracles happen when people pray and Jesus is present.” PLANNING FOR TOMORROW Another of the specific programs that Brandon is directly involved in is called For Tomorrow. This program is all about helping people avoid and overcome substance abuse. It works to educate and empower youth and families to eradicate drugs and prevent substance abuse. Some of Brandon’s favorite positive steps that For Tomorrow has achieved for the community, include: Providing information about substance use and ways to ▶

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

address it when kids sign up to play ball through the Parks and Rec Department. Instigating a family-friendly vendor program with local gas stations for the removal of products that may be harmful for children and teenagers from counters and immediate line of sight. Hosting a variety of Parent Universities to give parents and caregivers a forum to come and learn more about what our young people are facing. “The goal is to better equip these adults to navigate these difficult situations with their children. We realize that what we do today affects our tomorrow, so Alabaster has chosen to be proactive in helping in this effort. I simply volunteer my time and abilities to contribute to this team along with so many other incredible leaders in our city.” Brandon is always quick to recognize the work that others in the city are also doing, all with similar goals. “I am thankful for the leadership of our Mayor and city. Because of their leadership, we have great opportunities to touch the lives of others.” To learn more about Cultivate Church, visit www.cultivatechurch.tv. AC

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

DO NOT MISS OUT ON LICKIN' GOOD DONUTS!

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hen you pull up under the bright neon lights of the Lickin Good Donuts sign while the sky is still dark, you can’t help but feel the excitement of knowing that it’s going to be a good day. This new donut shop opens every Monday through Saturday at 5:00 a.m., and an hour later on Sundays. With the popularity of the fresh pastries and breakfast sandwiches in the display counter, plan to arrive early! Yuthvitou Kong, “Tou” for short, is the owner of the Lickin Good Donuts shop in Alabaster. He and his team say that it’s not uncommon to sell out of their tasty treats, especially on the weekends. “Our busiest times during the week is right around 6:00 on weekday mornings and between 8:00 and 8:30 on the weekends,” they shared. Alabaster’s Lickin Good Donuts ▶

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT location opened on July 1 near the Starbucks on 119 and Kent Dairy Road. Although there are also locations in Jemison and Clanton, the Alabaster community has embraced the sweetly scented storefront with open arms. The most popular flavors of donuts at the Alabaster store right now include maple bacon yeast rolls, chocolate cake donuts, and white cream filled donuts with chocolate frosting. However, each morning offers a variety of other flavor options as well. Customers are encouraged to choose a dozen or half-dozen box in order to eventually try them all. From donut holes to sour cream doughnuts; Bavarian cream filled yeast rolls; cake donuts of different flavors, like blueberry or vanilla; to festively frosted and sprinkled rounds, the options are endless… and delicious! Tou and his team remind customers that there is always more than just donuts available, though! Freshly made breakfast sandwiches are also individually wrapped

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IRT-1948H -A

Financial Advisor

and awaiting a first taste. The Conecuh sausage kolache is one of the favorites. Bottled and fresh beverages are also offered, including coffee, smoothies and the traditional (but now trendy!) Taiwanese bubble tea. “Bubble tea is a tea blended with milk and fruit juices,” they explained. “The fun bubbles at the bottom are like colored tapioca pearls.” So, whether you stop by Lickin Good Donuts while the sun is still waking up on your way to work, or bring the kids in for a special treat in the middle of the day, you’re sure to find something delicious to choose from! AC FACEBOOK: @LickinGoodDonutsAlabaster HOURS: Monday-Saturday 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday 6 a.m.-1 p.m. ADDRESS: 9330 Hwy 119, Alabaster, AL

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

RICK BENSONINSPECTING TO SAVE LIVES

ick Benson knows a lot about fires. “I began my firefighting career as a volunteer with the Saginaw Volunteer Fire Department in 1985. Later that year I became the chief of the department. I served with Saginaw until I was hired by the Alabaster Fire Department in February 1997,” he shared. He also knows a lot about building safety. “In January 2016, I moved from the fire engine to administration to oversee the City’s Building Department. In December 2016, I was asked to assume the Fire Marshal responsibilities as well,” he recalled. Within the last month the building department and the fire department have reorganized with the hiring of Fred Hawkins, Director of Engineering and Building Services. This necessitated some change. “Fred is now over the Building Department. This will allow me the opportunity and time to perform solely as the Fire Marshal,” said Benson With this reorganization, Benson is excited to be a full-time advocate for fire prevention and safety. “I am happy for the opportunity to focus on public education and community risk reduction activities as well as improving our code enforcement,” Benson said with a smile. One of his goals is to prevent injuries before they happen. “We will be focusing on developing a comprehensive risk assessment of our community and implementing initiatives in response to the risk assessment. We want to go beyond reduction of fires and fire loss and focus on home safety - especially for the elderly and children, work safety and school safety,” he shared.

The proactive approach has led to the creation of a new program that is looking to prevent accidents before they happen. “We plan to begin providing home inspections, especially for our elderly, and be advocates to improve the safety of the homes we protect – i.e.: trip hazards, fall protection devices, smoke detector and battery installations, stair lighting, etc.” shared Benson. This new proactive emphasis will not just be for residential structures but also commercial. “We are concentrating on more comprehensive fire inspections of our businesses as well,” shared Benson, adding, “We are focusing on our high-risk occupancies such as apartment complexes, nursing homes and schools. We are expanding our smoke detector program and trying to make it where we do not have to put out a fire but rather prevent one in the first place.” But accidents do still happen, and when they do, Benson wants you to know the Fire Department has you covered. “We have done a great job of improving our reactive response, meaning that we are getting on site faster and with better information, and we are mitigating unfortunate situations by providing better training, personnel, and equipment,” he said with satisfaction. To find out more about the Fire Department and free services like Installation of Free Smoke Detectors or Installation of Car Seats, visit: www.Alabasterfire.org or call: 205-621-8752.AC Magic City Smooth Jazz presents

featuring

Choko Aiken On Purpose feat. Dwight Houston Thompson High School Jazz Ensemble

5:00 PM9:00 PM Sunday, October 6 Alabaster Municipal Complex 1953 Municipal Way Food Trucks On Site brought to you by The Alabaster Arts Council, The City of Alabaster & The Shelby County Arts Council More info: alabastercityfest.com/jazz

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ALABASTER TOUR OF LIGHTS

2019 THEME: “A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS” Sponsored by Alabaster Beautification Board The ALABASTER CONNECTION will publish a map of homes in the December issue which will feature a map of homes who celebrate Christmas/Holidays with awesome lights and creative decorations at their home for old and young to drive by and enjoy (ooh and ah)! This year’s theme is “A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS”! Homes will be listed by address. NOVEMBER 9TH IS DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Send an e-mail to beauty@cityofalabaster.com. Put in subject line: TOUR OF LIGHTS giving your name, address, phone number and a brief description of your display/decorations in-order to be listed. Any information such as display type, # of lights, radio station #, etc. is helpful in-case your home will be featured in a follow-up issue. Display Deadline: By December 1st all decorations are to be in place for the Alabaster Tour of Lights!

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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE How should Christian’s react to a world full of self-centeredness? When Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor?” He replied with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke10:30-37). This parable has stood the test of time. It reminds us of how we should help our neighbors, who as the parable shows, is anyone around us that has a need. It is so famous, states have named laws “Good Samaritan” laws to protect those who try and help others. But while we may know of the parable, do we remember the extent of the help? Jesus chooses a Samaritan because all the Jews of Jesus day would have hated him. And yet he is the good neighbor who does good works even for his enemy as Jesus tells us to do in Luke 6:27. Yet he not only nurses all the wounds of this stranger who hates him but he goes the extra mile by paying for a place for him to rest and anything else that he might need. “Going the extra mile” is another saying that Jesus gave us in Matthew 5:41. And this is how we are to help others, even if they are our enemies. We should not just help but we should do everything we can to meet their need completely. This is the difference between giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish. The difference between us feeding the poor on holidays and feeding them every day. The difference between helping an orphan in need and making that orphan our child. We see this when Christians reach out to children through Fostering and Adoption. We see this when they want to help inner cities and move to that area in order to help every day. We even see missionaries moving to other countries and plant churches that not only spread the gospel, but also help the local people by training them in ways to provide for themselves. These are just some of the ways that Jesus told us to help our neighbors and if we love Him, we will love our neighbors by meeting their needs completely. In Philip-

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pians 2:4 Paul says to consider the interest of others as more important than our own. He demonstrates this in the next few verses by showing how Jesus, though in the form of God, did not count equality with God as a thing to be grasped, but humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of death, death on the cross. When God saw our need of a Savior, He responded in love. We needed a Savior and through death Jesus became that Savior. We should be thankful that like the Good Samaritan, he met our need completely. So if we love Jesus, let us show it by loving our neighbor and doing good for them as Christ did for us. For anything less is not truly loving our neighbor. - Marty Hayes - Evangel Member. At Evangel we offer various bible studies by our Pastors and Elders to learn further how be a good neighbor. All are welcome! (See website) Evangel Church PCA 423 Thompson Rd. Alabaster, AL. 35007 205-664-0889 - evangelchurchpca.org

AROUND TOWN

WALTERS HONORED BY SENIOR CENTER

ROYAL MARKET GRAND OPENING 134 Market Center Drive www.facebook.com/Boutiquethrift The Royal Market celebrated their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting with the Mayor and city officials. The Royal Market is a mixture of a thrift and consignment story, furniture story and boutique store. They offer great weekly deals, and a large selection of items for your home and racks and racks of clothing.

Alicia Walters was honored by the Seniors and the staff at the Alabaster Senior Center before she resigned to take another position. Walters shared many kind words, much of them through tears, thanking the seniors and the staff for their dedication, loyalty and friendship over the past few years while she served as the director. They seniors then took some time to recall fond memories of Walters, often resulting in tears and laughter.

ALABASTER FIRE FILLS THE BOOT

DREAMERS SCHOOL OF COSMETOLOGY 844 HWY 31, Suite E Kimberly Cunningham, former instructor for Shelby County Schools, is living her dream of helping others to live theirs as license cosmetologist and barbers. She recently celebrated the Grand Opening for Dreamers School of Cosmetology. Call now and set your appointment to get enrolled! You can have your license in as little as 10-12 months. She also offers continuing education and refresher classes! Call Mrs. Kim 205-624-4676

Annually Alabaster Fire Department participates in the campaign to end Muscular Dystrophy, a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, by Filling the Boot. This year the AFD Raise over $6,500 for research into preventing and reversing this debilitating condition.

LEGION POST UPDATE Alabaster American Legion Post 138 meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council room at the Alabaster City Hall. All presently active Legion members and former members are encouraged to attend. Any veteran interested in becoming a Legion member is welcome to attend as well. Should additional information be needed, please contact Post Commander Mr. Paul Gonthier. His contact information is: 230 Summer Hill Drive, Alabaster; (205) 728-5700 paul.m.Gonthier@gmail.com. cityofalabaster.com

AROUND TOWN

BUSY FALL FOR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY!

he Friends of the Albert L. Scott Library are selling tickets to the Belk Charity Day Sale. All proceeds will be donated to the library to fund some of those all-important “extras.” We will sell tickets at our Semi-Annual Book and Bake Sale in October. Easy! Convenient! The Belk big sale is November 9, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Almost everything is on sale that day, and many designer brands that are rarely discounted will be 25% off! It is a great opportunity and the “charity” tickets only add to the attraction. Any member of the Friends group can sell you a ticket for five dollars. This entire amount is retained by us for donation to the library. For you, the net cost is zero, as Belk will accept the ticket for five dollars off any purchase on November 9—even after all the sale discounts! It’s win-win! The ticket is also good for “presale” purchases. Judy Mosely, President of the Friends, is coordinating this activity. She can be reached at telephone number 205-3055300 if you wish to purchase a ticket prior to the book sale.

HERE ARE DETAILS OF THE BOOK AND BAKE SALE: What: Friends of Albert L. Scott Library Semiannual Book and Bake Sale When: Friday Oct 4, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Friends only) Saturday Oct 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday Oct 6, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Community Room at the Library 100 Ninth ST NW Alabaster, AL 35007 This is our major fundraiser each year. What could be better than to accept docityofalabaster.com

nated books and sell them very inexpensively to local citizens? Everyone wins— twice! Book lovers can often find just the book they have intended to read and buy it for a dollar—or less! And, every dollar, or half-dollar, goes directly to enhance the effectiveness of the Alabaster Library. The sale is an awesome opportunity to stock up on reading, reference, children’s and other books. There will also be baked goods, delicious and also inexpensive. Hardbacks are $1.00, while paperbacks and all children’s books are just $.50. Books on CD are $1.50 and DVDs will be available for $2.00 each. Friday night, the sale is open to current paid-up members of the Friends. Of course, we would love to have you join at the door. Annual dues are ten dollars. Come early for best selection or on Sunday afternoon for the $6 “all you can bag” clearance. And don’t forget to purchase your Belk Charity Day ticket! See you there! AC

OCTOBER BEAUTIFICATION AWARD Ken and Danette Lindsey 419 Meadowlark Place This property is set back from the street, showing good curb appeal. An extended circle driveway has been added off to the right of the property with a raised flagstone bed of plants around a large tree. The lawn and plants across the front of the house are trimmed and well-maintained. This property is truly an inspiration to this neighborhood.

CONSTITUTION WEEK

CHILDHOOD CANCER MONTH Mayor Handlon proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer largely affecting children, survivorship, and most importantly, to help raise funds for additional research and family support.

Mayor Handlon proclaimed September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Alabaster. Constitution Week aims to emphasize citizen responsibility for protecting and defending the Constitution, and encourage the study of historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in 1787. To find out more about this week of remembrance visit: ar.org/nationalsociety/education/constitution-week

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CALENDAR OCTOBER October 1: Water Board 7 pm October 7: Council 7 pm October 9: Plea Dockets 9 am & 2 pm October 17: School Board October 21: Council 7 pm October 22: Planning and Zoning 7 pm October 23: Plea Dockets 9 am & 2 pm

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. 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

If you would like more information concerning programs, please contact the Library at 664-6822. Census Count Matters @ your local library! – Stop by to learn all about the upcoming 2020 Census.

ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES POWERPOINT 2013 October 1 at 10 am

This class will cover the basics of creating a functional and beautiful presentation.

BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS October 8 at 10 am

This class is for beginners. Introduces students to starting the computer, navigating the desktop and file management.

mands that are available in Word as well as formatting and editing documents.

TAI CHI FOR HEALTH PART 2: ADVANCED CLASS

testing your knowledge of Downton Abbey. Costumes or fancy hats are more than welcome! Teams of one to four members can compete for a grand prize!

Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am starting October 2

SAVE YOUR STORIES!: PRESERVING ORAL HISTORY

Join us as local instructor Rachel Hickman teaches this ADVANCED 8-week course in Tai Chi. This class is only for people who can stand unassisted for the entire time. Tai Chi is an exercise that improves balance, sharpens the mind and circulates oxygen throughout the body while gently massaging all the joints, ligaments and muscles of the entire body. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and flexible, flat-soled shoes that encompass the foot. Try not to miss any classes because each class builds upon the previous ones. Newcomers will not be allowed after the first class takes place. Participants must complete the Enrollment Form at the front desk before the first class.

October 10 at 6 pm

YA YA YARNERS

Join us as Mark Sims and Sarah Tackett continue their class that helps families preserve and write down their family stories. You can join the class at any time. The first session is on July 25th and will continue through November on the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm. Program takes place in the meeting room.

ABC & DS OF MEDICARE October 14 at 1 pmk

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.

October 7, 21, & 28. 5:30 pm

LIBRARY BOOK GROUP

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. If you already have a project under way bring it along to work on. We also do community projects such as 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 205-664-6822 or email Carol Smith at csmith@shelbycounty-al.org.

October 17 at 7 pm

Join us to discuss Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas. It is the spring of 1885 and wealthy New York socialite Beret Osmundsen has been estranged from her younger sister, Lillie, for a year when she gets word from her aunt and uncle that Lillie has died suddenly in Denver. What they do not tell her is that Lillie had become a prostitute and was brutally murdered in the brothel where she had been living. When Beret discovers the sordid truth of Lillie's death, she makes her way to Denver, determined to find her sister's murderer.

MEDICARE 101 October 24 at 6 pm

WORD 2013 CRASH COURSE

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October 29 at 10 am

October 8 at 6 pm

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LIBRARY YOUTH EVENTS STORY TIMES:

PETE THE CAT BOOK CLUB October 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Have pumpkin and 2020 Census Month fun with Pete the Cat in the meeting room. Kids in kindergarten and above can sign up. Kids ages 5 and 6 must be with an adult.

TODDLER TALES

AMERICAN GIRLS CLUB FALL FASHION AND COSTUME SHOW

Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

October 18 at 4:00 p.m.

OUTREACH STORY TIME Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.

At day care centers

SENSORY STORY TIME Second and fourth Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.

LEGO® LEAGUE October 1 from 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Budding builders can use our bricks to build their structures. Kids ages 5 years old and younger must be with an adult. The fun is in the meeting room.

HOMESCHOOL HAPPENING: MUSIC OF THE MINES October 7 from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Join us when educator Tyler Malugani visits from Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. This hands-on presentation will include rocks and molecule and chemistry activities. Students in grades kindergarten to 12 can sign up. Kids ages 5 and 6 must be with an adult. Gather in the meeting room.

RAINBOW MAGIC MONDAY

Girls age 7 years old and older can model in a costume fashion show. They can dress like an American Girl character or wear another costume or outfit. They can come with or without a doll. If a girl does not want to model she can be in the audience along with family members. We’ll also have 2020 Census Month coloring fun! All kids in the audience must be with an adult. Sign up for the fun. The runway is in the meeting room.

SUPER TURBO TIME October 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Fans of the Super Turbo book series can put on their superhero capes and meet and learn about a real pet featured in the book series. Kids age 5 to 9 years old can sign up. Kids ages 5 and 6 must be with an adult. We’ll meet in the meeting room.

READALICIOUS BOOK CLUB October 25 at 4:00 p.m.

Followers of the Pinkalicious books are invited to our new book club. We’ll read, talk, create, and play games. Kids ages 5 to 9 years old can sign up. Kids ages 5 and 6 must be with an adult. We’ll be in the meeting room.

October 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Grab your fairy wings if you like, talk about Rainbow Magic fairies and enjoy a fairy-inspired face painting session. Kids in kindergarten and above can sign up. 5 and 6 year olds must be with an adult. Meets in the meeting room.

that they have written and get feedback. Meets in the meeting room.

COSTUME CAPERS October 31 from 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Children who love tricks, treats, and laughs may wear a costume if they like and gather in our meeting room to enjoy the skills of comical magician Russell Davis. All children must be with an adult.

PARKS AND REC

Alabaster Parks and Recreation offers a variety of youth sports and a couple of adult programs, along with several community events throughout the year. Additionally, they oversee pavilion rentals for all City parks. The Parks and Recreation Office is located at 7305 Hwy. 119, Alabaster. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If you would like more information concerning Parks and Recreation programs, please contact the Office at 205-664-6840 or parksandrec@cityofalabaster.com.

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.

BARK IN THE PARK

WORDPLAY

Saturday, Oct. 5

October 29 from 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.

•The 13th annual Bark in the Park will be held at Veterans Park (7305 Hwy. 119, Alabaster) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. •This event is hosted by the City of Alabaster and the Shelby Humane Society. •Admission is FREE for a fun filled day

Calling all writers ages 11 to 18 years old to share their writing talents with others. We’d love to hear poetry, short stories, scripts, songs, or books. Talented tweens and teens can sign up to read something

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CALENDAR that celebrates the bond between people and their dogs. There will be music, food trucks, vendors selling everything from dog bones to t-shirts, children’s activities, low cost vaccine and microchip clinic, and more. There will also be adoption booths where you can find adorable dogs looking for new homes. •Please contact the Shelby Humane Society with any questions at 205-6693916 or info@shelbyhumane.org.

FALL FEST ON BUCK CREEK TRAIL Saturday, Oct. 26

•The 11th annual Fall Fest will be held at Buck Creek Trail from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with FREE admission. •This will be a great family outing with live music by 2BLU and the Lucky Stiffs, inflatables, Trick-or-Treat Trail, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, children’s carnival style swings, and hay rides. •All activities will be located behind the Alabaster Senior Center. •Parking will be available at: -Alabaster Administrative Building and Alabaster Senior Center; both located off 11th Avenue SW. -Buck Creek Park 701 6th Avenue SW, with shuttles running to the trail.

CHRISTMAS PARADE REGISTRATION

•On-Line Registration: Begins at 8 a.m. on Oct. 14 and ends at 11 p.m. on Nov. 1. Available at www.alabasterparks.org. •Walk-in Registration: Oct. 14 thru Nov. 1 – weekdays only from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Parks and Rec Office located at Veterans Park. •Cost: Free; however, you are required to register in order to participate. •Participants: All participants are strongly encouraged to decorate even if their entry is not a “float”. •Theme: The 2019 theme will be “A Storybook Christmas”. •Event Date: The Christmas Parade will cityofalabaster.com

be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m., on Highway 31 South.

FALL SPORTS PROGRAMS •Our athletic fields are quite busy with Fall Sports underway. We currently have 970 participants in our youth programs which include Football, Cheer, Flag Football, Soccer, Girls’ Softball, Baseball, and Start Smart Soccer. •As always, our programs depend on volunteers who selflessly give of their time and experience to work with our youth. We would like to say “Thank You!” to each of you. You may be the one person who makes a difference in the life of a child.

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

The Alabaster Senior Center, which is operated by the Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department, offers a variety of programs and services for individuals 55 years of age and older who live in Shelby County. The Senior Center is located at 1097 – 7th Street S.W., Alabaster. Hours

of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If you would like more information concerning Senior programs, please contact the Alabaster Senior Center at 205-663-1307 or belder@cityofalabaster.com.

BISCUITS WITH JIM N NICKS October 11 at 9:15 a.m.

BINGO WITH KINDRED HOSPICE October 11 at 11:45 a.m.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY CLASS October 15 at 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Come in or call to Sign Up.

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT EVENT October 22 at 9:00 a.m.

PENNY AUCTION WITH KINDRED AT HOME October 28 at 12:00 p.m.

BINGO WITH SOUTHEAST HOSPICE October 29 at 12:00 p.m.

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES GENTLE YOGA Tuesdays from 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Combines traditional/modified yoga postures and breathing techniques. Come improve your overall health through understanding your body better and leave feeling refreshed and re-energized. Gentle movement is modified to allow the class to be completed by a standing or seated participant; all levels of fitness are welcome. Mats are provided. Space is limited. $2.00/class.

ARTHRITIS EXERCISE PROGRAM Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Helps alleviate pain and stiffness, maintain

CALENDAR 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. $2.00/class.

ARTHRITIS & MORE Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

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.

INTERMEDIATE LINE DANCING Thursdays from 9:15 a.m.-10:05 a.m.

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. $2.00/class.

BEGINNER LINE DANCING

ZUMBA GOLD

Thursdays from 10:10 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Thursdays from 12:30 p.m.-1:20 p.m. (50 min)

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. $2.00/class.

GENTLE YOGA Thursdays from 2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

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. Mats are provided. Space is limited. $2.00/class.

The design of the class introduces easy to follow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination. Come ready to sweat and prepare to leave empowered and feeling strong! $2.00/class.

MOVIN’ & GROOVIN’ Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m. (50 min)

Focuses on stretching, cardio, light weights and having fun! All taught to music! Learn safe ways to improve muscles to make everyday 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. $2.00/class.

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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. AUGUST 5, 2019 AT 7 PM

Absent: Stacy Rakestraw (4), Russell Bedsole (5)

Mayor’s Report • Mayor Handlon introduced Miss Audrey Green to the City Council. Audrey is an Alabaster City Schools student who received national recognition at Duke University for performing exceptionally well on the ACT’s reading subtest.

Agenda Items: 1.Resolution 080519 Authorize Police Department to Purchase a Modular Office Building to be used for Training Classes Motion Passed Unanimously 2.Resolution 080519 – A Authorize Mayor to Sign Agreement with M4A for the 2020 Nutrition Program for Eligible Seniors in the City Motion Passed Unanimously 3.Resolution 080519 – B Award Bid to Coston

General Contractors, Inc. for Drainage Improvements at Municipal Park Motion Passed Unanimously 4.**Ordinance 19-91 Reset Public Hearing to Amend Various Sections of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Alabaster Motion Passed Unanimously 5.Resolution 080519 – C Authorize ATRIP II Grant Application through the Alabama Department of Transportation for Project related to the State-maintained Highway System Motion Passed Unanimously 6.Resolution 080519 – D Authorize CSX Railroad Rightof-way Agreements for LN 043177 and LN 041754 ROW located behind Main Street Motion Passed Unanimously 7.Resolution 080519 – E Authorize Application for Alabama Historic Commission Grant for Proposed Amphitheater

Motion Passed Unanimously 8.Resolution 080519 – F Authorize Application of Park and Cultural Grant through the Greater Birmingham Community Foundation for Proposed Amphitheater Motion Passed Unanimously 9.Resolution 080519 – G Authorize the Acquisition of Property for the City of Alabaster Justice Center Motion Passed Unanimously 10.Resolution 080519 – H Authorize the Acquisition of Property for the City of Alabaster Justice Center Motion Passed Unanimously SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:26 PM AUG. 19, 2019 AT 7:02 PM

Absent: Stacy Rakestraw (4), Russell Bedsole (5)

Mayor’s Report •Mayor Handlon introduced Fire Chief Tim Love and Shaylee Beck of the Muscular

Dystrophy Association.

Agenda Items: 1.Resolution 081919 Awarding Bid for Fire Department Uniforms Motion Passed Unanimously 2.Resolution 081919-A Adoption of State Mandated Transportation Plan for FY2020 Motion Passed Unanimously 3.Resolution 081919-B Authorizing the Acquisition of Property for the City of Alabaster Justice Center Motion Passed Unanimously 4.Resolution 081919-C Authorizing the Acquisition of Property for the City of Alabaster Justice Center Motion Passed Unanimously 5.* Ordinance 19-92 19-92 Rezoning Property of Oswald Quintana from Mobile Home District (MHD) to Estate District (E) Motion Passed Unanimously SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:31 PM

NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME MONTH Mayor Handlon presented Alabaster families with a proclamation reminding the community that Down Syndrome is the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorder and the leading cause of intellectual and developmental delay. In the United States, approximately one in every 700 children are born with Down Syndrome, representing an estimated 6,000 births per year. She also encouraged the public to be aware that the State of Alabama supports the initiative of organizations working to ensure people with Down Syndrome have adequate services, are valued by society, and can lead fulfilling and productive lives in our community. Everyone is encouraged to wear a blue and yellow ribbon to show their support for Down Syndrome Awareness.

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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 GREG FARRELL, WARD 4 farrell@cityofalabaster.com

RUSSELL BEDSOLE, WARD 5 205-229-6021 bedsole@cityofalabaster.com SCOTT BRAKEFIELD, PRESIDENT, WARD 6 205-915-4439 brakefield@cityofalabaster.com KERRI PATE, WARD 7 965-8300 pate@cityofalabaster.com

We’re not just professionals in medicine. We’re experts in making you smile. A COMMUNITY BUILT ON SUPPORT We never forget that there’s more to care than medicine. There’s compassion. Attentiveness. And a healthy dose of kindness. Which is why when it comes to your care, all of us are here to treat you well. Find a physician at BrookwoodBaptistHealth.com

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