NEIGHBOR PROFILE Jessaka and David Klahn

A new builder has joined both The Village of Providence and the Village at Oakland Springs Builders Guild. Ford Classic Homes offers architectural distinction and quality workmanship to every client. The company has been in the home building business for over two decades and, during that time, has built their reputation on commitment to excellence while providing an exceptional home building experience. According to Vice President of Development, Andrew Ford, expanding from Tennessee into the Village developments in Alabama made perfect sense. “Huntsville and Madison are dynamic cities offering buyers great opportunities for job growth, schools, and family life. After visiting the Villages, we saw not just a neighborhood, but a chance to help be part of growing this community and lifestyle.” Sales manager Chesney Ford agrees. “We know that people are drawn to these communities for reasons beyond a new home. They’re drawn to the amenities, the walkability, and having places nearby for social gatherings. That lifestyle aspect is what people are looking for.” Chesney notes that, since 2020, home buyers tend to spend more time at home so, while people may have wanted a smaller home prior to the pandemic, today’s home buyer tends to want space to spread out. “Expect to see homes that offer defined spaces in addition to large gathering areas. Having room for a defined office space for adults still working from home or a designated study space for children is now a priority. We’re also seeing customers who are finishing out previously unfinished expansion spaces in order to spend more time at home,” says Chesney. “Our goal is to create functional, well thought out plans for every family.” Ford Classic Homes has now broken ground in the Village at Oakland Springs. “While Ford Classic Homes may be new to Alabama,” points out Andrew, “home buyers can rest assured they’re working with experienced builders. We’ve been building luxury homes in Tennessee for over twenty-five years with a strong focus on quality and professionalism.” Bringing with them both in-house architecture and interior design teams, Andrew states “We work to ensure a positive building experience and excellent customer service for every buyer.”

Mike Ford, Chief Executive Officer

NEIGHBOR meet your JESSAKA & DAVID KLAHN VILLAGE OF PROVIDENCE RESIDENTS FOR 2 YEARS

2www.VillageOfProvidence.com THE GANGS ALL HERE All neighbors welcome, four-legged and otherwise for 'Cupcakes on the Porch'

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE VILLAGE OF PROVIDENCE? When my husband, David, retired as an army officer we moved back to our home in Washington State. He was looking for a civilian job, and one of his offers was in Huntsville. We realized Huntsville had everything we were looking for, so we moved here and planned to live on the arsenal for a few years while we got a feel for the city. I had been into Providence a few times to eat at the restaurants and thought, “Gosh, this is really nice”, so David and I came back together to look at homes. We found out a phase with smaller lots had just opened and I thought it was fantastic to have the option of a smaller home since it’s just the two of us…and our very cute dog, Dublin.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE BUILDING IN PROVIDENCE. We ended up getting the last lot in the phase and built with VTS Homes. We pulled elements from four different plans to create our home. It’s a 100% custom build.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE OF YOUR HOME? That’s a really hard question. Besides the location, I really love the fireplace we built. We covered it with beautiful tile and added a custom-built, floating mantle that wraps all the way around. It ended up being the showpiece of the room…it’s just beautiful.

SPEAKING OF LOCATION, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE STREET YOU LIVE ON? We couldn’t be happier here. We knew we wanted a close-knit neighborhood and that sense of community that comes with it—knowing who your neighbors are and having them offer to do little things like grab your mail when you’re out of town. It’s just perfect. We’ve developed such a close-knit group of friends here. During COVID we were all so very lonely, so we developed what we like to call our island parties. We would grab our camping chairs and bring our drinks and pizzas out into the median on the street, sit in a big, spaced-out circle, and just visit.

YOU SERVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD WELCOME COMMITTEE. WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? Originally, David and I would see people moving in and go over on our own with a bottle of wine to welcome them to the neighborhood. When I found out the welcome committee was looking for a new director, I jumped at the chance. The committee has little gifts for new residents, and my partner, Sheila, created a wonderful informational flyer that gives all sorts of relevant information—where their trash and recycling can be set up, email contacts for the HOA, where to get your card keys, and links to the neighborhood Facebook page and website. We also gift them coupons and gift cards from Village businesses who wanted to contribute.

The HOA emails me each month with a list of new owners and we pick a weekend to run by and deliver their gifts. It’s so nice because we get to spend time with new owners, just chatting and answering any questions they may have. Sometimes it’s ten minutes, sometimes it’s an hour depending on what kind of information they need.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BACKGROUND. I was born and raised in Seattle. My mom was an artist who paints and sculpts and I grew up around creative people. My husband is an army officer, so we moved around quite a bit, and I’ve been able to experience a variety of lifestyles and communities in the places we’ve lived. When we landed at Providence, I had no idea I would love it so much. And this is such an amazing city! We have art and culture and music and an up-and-coming food scene. There’s just so much going on here and it’s so bustling. I’ve always had jobs in customer service and sales, and I also worked as a dog trainer for several years. These days I love working with the welcome committee. I also started “Cupcakes on the Porch” where I bake cupcakes and make lemonade or hot apple cider and post on the neighborhood Facebook page, inviting the community to come to the porch, grab a cupcake or cookie and a drink, and meet a neighbor. My nickname in the neighborhood is “the cruise director”.

I S THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE READERS TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE IN VILLAGE OF PROVIDENCE?

We just love it. I love having friends over and going to their homes for dinner. So many people here are passionate about serving the community. We’ve fundraised for animal rescues, Toys for Tots, and the Humane Society. This is a place where neighbors support one another and the community. It’s just perfect.

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a time to

GROW

For many, this time of year brings out the gardener within us. Seeing the trees produce their first buds of the season and the grass slowly shift from dormant to verdant, we develop that hard-to-explain itch to get out in the glorious weather, plunge our hands into rich soil, and reconnect with Mother Nature.

Perhaps John Muir best captured this connection when he said, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

Whether you’re planning on building the perfect pot-plant collection or are considering installing a flower bed in your back yard, it’s important to know what to plant and when. And you won’t get better advice than that offered by the experts at Indian Creek Nursery, a gardener’s paradise that has been serving the community for over twenty years. We asked Indian Creek plant expert, Stephanie Massey, for any tips and tricks to ensure success as a home gardener.

While many home gardeners

fall victim to spring fever come January and February, Stephanie cautions against planting too early. “I tell people to play it safe and wait to start spring planting until after Easter.” Massey also advises there are some plants that, while lovely, aren’t acclimated to our unpredictable winters. “If you want to grow more tropical plants like mandevilla or bougainvillea, you have to know you’re planting them for a single season. Most of the perennials we carry at Indian Creek are plants that will survive our winters.” Gorgeous potted plants are a common sight on many a front porch in Providence, and Massey suggests a three-prong approach for planting the perfect pot. “I use a little rhyme to remind people how to fill them—thrill, fill, and spill. Plant your ‘thrill’ plant in the center of your pot, then add your ‘fill’ plants around that, and finish with your ‘spill’ plants that will grow over the sides of the pot.” Many homeowners are interested in planting a particular style of garden. For those interested in starting a cutting garden, Stephanie recommends plants like purple cone flower and shasta daisy. “These plants grow tall enough and replenish themselves fast enough that you’ll have fresh flowers in your home for months.” “If you want to start an herb garden this spring, I recommend using starter plants rather than seeds,” advises Massey. “And there are some herbs, like rosemary, that you can overwinter, so you won’t need to replant every year.” And if you’d like to grow plants that will attract butterflies, bees, or birds, Stephanie suggests visiting Indian Creek and allowing their staff guide to you to the perfect plants. The plant world is always coming up with new perennials to showcase, and Massey says to be on the lookout for some real showstoppers. “Echinaceas, or cone flowers, will be released this year in colors we’ve never had before, and growers have created a new drift rose in vibrant orange that is both disease resistant and compact. There’s also a new sun-tolerant fern that will thrive in pots or in the ground.” Massey’s final piece of advice for those planting perennials is this—be patient. “In the south, because of our soil, I always tell people it’s a three-year plan: the first year your plants will sleep, then the next year they’ll creep, and the third year they’ll leap and really put on a show. Plants are just amazing, and I love what I do.” If you’re planning to add a garden to your back yard or want to flank your front door with show-stopping flowerpots or baskets, be sure to stop by Indian Creek. Their expert team is ready and waiting to help with all your gardening needs.

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