INSIDE THE CASEYS’ COZY HOME • GRADS WHO ARE CHASING THEIR DREAMS • UNDONE REDONE MINISTRY
CHRISTY DUTTON’S
COPPER JEWELRY
BUILDING AN
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 HooversMagazine.com Vol. 8 | Issue 6 $4.95
HERE’S TO HIM THE CASUAL PINT’S SCOTT HUSKIN
HooversMagazine.com 1
,
Nothing takes away the joy of a new home faster than a broken sewer pump. But, if Jody Potts has anything to do with it, you can keep that new home smile on your face. Because every single time Jody and his team of SouthWest Water Company service technicians install a pump at a newly constructed home, they follow a fourteen-point checklist, to ensure everything is just so.
“We always want to meet the customer’s need with the least amount of out-of-pocket expense for them,” Jody says. His most satisfying days? When he and his crew diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair the problem in one visit.
As a Senior Service Technician, Jody is responsible for maintaining 1,500 pump stations that keep the system running smoothly. And for fixing problems that arise for existing customers, too.
“That means the customer is going to benefit right away,” Jody says. “And we take extra steps to try to make sure we don’t have to come back a second time.”
For starters, he will never try to sell you an expensive pump, if all you need is a $35 check valve.
Jody Potts and SouthWest Water Company are committed to getting it right the first time. And that’s always cause for joy.
To learn more, visit CleanerCahaba.info.
2 December 2019/January 2020
WE WANT TO FILL YOUR LIFE WITH GOODNESS Hello, neighbor. We have a large variety of organic, specialty, and traditional groceries. But there’s so much more for you to discover. Come see for yourself or learn more at greenwisemarket.com.
1000 JEMISON L ANE, MOUNTAIN BROOK
FEATURES
48
PURPOSE IN PAIN Meet Tray and Melody Lovvorn, the couple who transformed brokenness into reconciliation— and a ministry.
53
SHIFTING HER PERSPECTIVE What started as a health setback for Sara Franklin has become a way for her to help others dealing with epilepsy.
58
BUILDING COMMUNITY For Christine Wells, the Hoover Public Library’s commitment to offering inclusive programming hits close to home.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Find something for everyone on your list in this special advertising section.
6 December 2019/January 2020
PHOTO BY DAWN HARRISON
66
37
15 PHOTO BY LAUREN WINTER
arts & culture
15 Copper Creations: Christy Dutton’s Recycled Metal Jewelry
schools & sports
25 Checking In: Hoover-Area Grads on What They’re Doing Now
food
& drink
29 Another Round: Scott Huskin’s Path to the Casual Pint
home
& style
37 Warm Welcome: The Caseys’ Cozy Kirkman Preserve Home
in every issue 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 8 #HooversMag 9 The Guide 22 Aldridge Gardens 72 Hoover Area Chamber 78 Out & About 86 Marketplace 88 Why I Love Hoover
HooversMagazine.com 7
contributors EDITORIAL
Graham Brooks Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Harris Wilson Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino
CONTRIBUTORS Carmen Brown Dawn Harrison Anne Riley Katie Roth Heather Skaggs Christine Wells Lauren Winter
DESIGN
Angela Caver Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green Connor Martin-Lively
Dawn Harrison, Photographer Dawn Harrison is a freelance photographer out of Birmingham. She grew up and put down roots off of 280, where she lives with her wonderful husband, five kids, one son-in-law, two grandkids, three dogs, two cats, eight cows and two ducks. When she isn’t taking pictures, you can find her burning up 280 getting to various school and sporting events, or hanging out in carpool lines. She feels extremely blessed to be a part of the publication and to continue to meet such inspiring members of our community.
Anne Riley, Writer Anne Riley lives in north Shelby County with her husband, Rob, and their three daughters, Maggie, Jenna and Kellan. Anne is the Content Team Director at Uptick Marketing by day, morphing into a freelance writer and editor after the kids go to bed. She is the author of two young adult novels (Shadows of the Hidden and Pull) and one children’s picture book (Voyage to the Star Kingdom), and her freelance writing has appeared in Fresh Style magazine, Shelby Living, Hoover’s Magazine and multiple online outlets.
MARKETING
Darniqua Bowen Kristy Brown Kari George Caroline Hairston Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Jordan Price Viridiana Romero Briana Sanders Jessica Steelman Kerrie Thompson
Katie Roth, Intern Katie Roth is a student at Samford University studying journalism and mass communications and photography. With plans to graduate in May 2020, she hopes to someday live in a big city while pursuing her career and continuing to tell people’s stories.
Heather Jones Skaggs, Writer Heather is an author, freelance writer and native of Hoover where she lives with her husband, Greg; daughter, Charlotte; and fur-baby Carrie. National publisher Arcadia Publishing and The History Press found Heather in 2012, and together they have published three books covering Hoover’s
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
history. Heather digs for the untold stories in Hoover and brings them to the pages of magazines and newspapers. Heather showcases her home community of Bluff Park in her blog at Heatherscorner.org.
Hoover’s Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Hoover’s Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Hoover’s Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Hoover’s Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Hoover, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit HooversMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting HooversMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@hooversmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
8 December 2019/January 2020
from the editor
I
ON THE COVER
I love when something that happens in the course of a normal day takes me back to a sweet memory. That’s exactly what happened when Alieta Casey opened her door to Dawn Harrison and me for our home feature interview and photo shoot for this issue. Alieta’s face lit up as she ushered us into her home, making us feel like we had known each other for years. (In Dawn’s case, that was actually true!) The warm welcome carried me back to the times my family visited our relatives in other states when I was a child. My grandparents on both sides of the family always made us feel special when we arrived for visits. My grandmother in Georgia would start talking to us before she even opened the door. We often arrived at her house late at night, but that didn’t matter; she would stay up to wait for us, her carport light keeping vigil outside. She would open the door and say, “Get in this house!” before pulling my sister and me into tight hugs. Beach trips with my grandparents in Florida for many years included a game of hideand-seek when we got to the condo. My sister and I were tasked with finding where our granddaddy was hiding first. One year he was standing behind the curtains. Whenever and wherever we found him, you can be sure some giggles and squeals and hugs ensued. When someone invites us into their home, whether it’s for a home feature or something else, I count it a privilege to be there— to see where they decorate the Christmas tree with their children or where they have friends over for a Bible study or where they talk about their day together at the dinner table. Alieta made us feel like we had brightened her day just by coming over, and I hope we did because she definitely brought cheer to our day. And this goes for every other feature we work on. It’s a privilege for us to be able to share the stories people share with us in the pages of this magazine. I like to think of us all, readers included, as a big family bound by the conversations we have and the experiences we share. And we always have room for more in our circle. Welcome to the family!
Scott Huskin
Scott opened his franchise of The Casual Pint in The Grove shopping center this past fall.
emily.sparacino@hooversmagazine.com
Photo by Jeremy Raines Design by Kate Sullivan Green
HooversMagazine.com 9
#HooversMag
Tag us in your Hoover photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
@epilepsyfdnal What a perfect drink for this weekend’s Walk To END EPILEPSY, @grapico! #purpledrink #EndEpilepsy #donation
@southernsoiree Gang’s all here! Happy Halloween from Mickey, Minnie and Donald Duck! BIG thank you to @marylynnwbrown for all of her work on the boys’ costumes!
Per fect Day at CocoCay — Bahamas
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*Perfect Day and CocoCay are registered trademarks of Royal Caribbean.The pricing and promotions listed on this advertisement are being included by the travel agency and are not the responsibility of Royal Caribbean International or its parent company or affiliates. Contact your travel agency for more information. All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Prices are subject to availability and change without notice. ©2019 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 19070913 • 10/30/2019.
10 December 2019/January 2020
THE GUIDE
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY DEC. 3 5 p.m. Hoover City Hall Hoover residents are invited to kick off the holidays at the city’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting. A Hoover City School choir will perform, and a student will light the Christmas tree during the ceremony. In keeping with tradition, Santa will make his grand entrance on a fire truck before taking pictures with all of the children. PHOTO BY LANCE SHORES HooversMagazine.com 11
THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN HOOVER
DEC. 5
DEC. 5 Sensory Storytime: Snow! Hoover Public Library 4 p.m. DEC. 6 Holiday Greenery Sale Aldridge Gardens 12 p.m. DEC. 7 Bluff Park Christmas Parade Bluff Park | 10 a.m. DEC. 9 KJ’s Reader Getaways Hoover Public Library 6:30 p.m.
Gifts of Art Holiday Market 10 A.M. The House at Aldridge Gardens
Enjoy a stress-free, fun day of shopping at this holiday market featuring handselected Alabama artists offering
reasonably priced, one-of-a-kind gifts of art. Original art pieces will include glass, ceramic, wood, metal, fabric and more. The indoor show will go until 7 p.m., and admission is free.
JAN. 30+31
Friends Midwinter Book Sale Hoover Public Library
Come on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. for the preview sale, or just hit the regular sale starting at 9 a.m. the next day. The sale includes hardbacks, paperbacks, children’s books, DVDs, audiobooks, music and more. Most items are priced under $1, so it won’t break the bank. Plus, all proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library.
Share your news! Email submissions to Emily.Sparacino@Hooversmagazine.com to be considered for our next issue. 12 December 2019/January 2020
DEC. 12 Jammin’ on the Plaza Hoover Public Library 7 p.m. DEC. 13 New Horizons Luncheon Hoover Senior Center 11 a.m. DEC. 14 Happy Birthday Alabama! Hoover Public Library 10:30 a.m. DEC. 17 Santa Stories Hoover Public Library 6:30 p.m. DEC. 22 Hunter Street Baptist Church Keyboards and Carols Hunter Street Baptist Church 5 p.m. DEC. 23 Monday at the Movies – Home Alone Hoover Public Library 2 p.m. JAN. 2 First Thursday Fiction Book Group: The Reckoning Hoover Public Library 10 a.m.
THE GUIDE JAN. 5 Sunday NovelTea: Dear Wife Hoover Public Library 3 p.m. JAN. 9 Second Thursday Fiction Book Group: Where the Crawdads Sing Hoover Public Library 10 a.m. JAN. 11 Insatiable Readers: The Roaring Twenties Hoover Public Library 10:30 a.m. JAN. 11 Purl on the Plaza Hoover Public Library 11 a.m. JAN. 16+17 The Isaacs In Concert Hoover Library Theatre 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 13
Hoover New Horizons Christmas Luncheon 11 A.M. Hoover Senior Center
JAN. 23 Trivia Night: The 2010s Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.
The Hoover Senior Center will once again host the New Horizons Christmas Luncheon, and this year’s live entertainment will be provided by the Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Band. The cost to attend is $15, and the deadline to register is Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m.
JAN. 23 Nonfiction Book Group: Hidden Figures Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.
DEC. 21
JAN. 24 Vintage Videos: Father of the Bride (1950) Hoover Public Library 2 p.m. JAN. 28 Hoover New Horizons Luncheon with Mayor’s State of the City Address Hoover Senior Center 11 a.m. JAN. 29 Live on the Plaza: George Griffin and the Firebirds Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.
25th Meadow Brook Runs – Alabama Bicentennial 9 A.M. Valley Bank, Meadow Brook Branch
Burn off some of your pre-holiday stress at this year’s Meadow Brook Runs. You can choose the 5K at 9 a.m. or the 1-mile Fun Run at 10 a.m. Prizes will be given, and thanks to Gov. Kay Ivey and her staff, each registrant gift bag will include an Alabama Bicentennial Commission commemorative coin. Valley
Bank, formerly USAAmeriBank, is located at 1100 Corporate Parkway in Birmingham. HooversMagazine.com 13
THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN
COMMUNITY
NOV. 30-DEC. 1 The Nutcracker Presented by the Birmingham Ballet Alabama Theatre DEC. 6-22 RMTC Holiday Spectacular Red Mountain Theatre Company DEC. 7+8 Christmas at Arlington Arlington Historic House and Gardens
WITCHES RIDE AGAIN Witches took flight in Bluff Park for a good cause on Oct. 20. About 100 ladies biked around Shades Cliff Pool and Park, tossing candy to children along the route. The second-annual event raised $2,366 for United Ability of Alabama.
CHURCH
HELPING THE HUNGRY Thirty-five middle school youth group students from Prince of Peace Catholic Parish packed 25 bags for the Weekender Backpack ministry. Their families donated the shelf-stable food items that will go to the food-insecure students at Simmons Middle School, St. Barnabas Catholic School and Holy Family Catholic School. Each backpack contains two days’ worth of food to supplement the students over the weekend when they don’t have access to school meals. Every month, the Weekender Backpack ministry packs more than 500 bags of food. The students also wrote more than 65 notes to place in the bags with the intention of brightening the recipients’ day and 14 December 2019/January 2020
bringing a smile to their faces. Those interested in participating in the Weekender Backpack ministry can help pack and assemble on the first Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. in Deasy Hall. Financial donations are also welcome to help defray the cost of the food.
DEC. 11 Trans-Siberian Orchestra BJCC Legacy Arena DEC. 12 Legacy League Christmas Home Tour 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. DEC. 13-15, 20-22 Alabama Ballet’s The Nutcracker Samford University Wright Center DEC. 19 Birmingham Boys Choir Christmas Concert Briarwood Presbyterian Church DEC. 13-15 Once On This Island Presented by Broadway In Birmingham BJCC Concert Hall DEC. 20 Handel’s Messiah Alys Stephens Center DEC. 21 Home for the Holidays Alys Stephens Center DEC. 28 Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Alabama Theatre DEC. 31 Cheers! The New Years Eve Concert | Alys Stephens Center
THE GUIDE JAN. 7-12 Les Miserables BJCC Concert Hall JAN. 10-11 Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto Alabama Symphony Orchestra Alys Stephens Center JAN. 12 Branford Marsalis Quartet Alys Stephens Center JAN. 16 Tonight at the Wright Movie Night presents The Karate Kid Samford University Wright Center JAN. 17-18 Symphonie Fantastique by Alabama Symphony Orchestra Alys Stephens Center JAN. 23- FEB. 9 Cabaret Virginia Samford Theatre JAN. 24 Robben Ford Alys Stephens Center JAN. 27 Drum Tao 2020 Alys Stephens Center JAN. 28 An Acoustic Evening with Travis Tritt Alabama Theatre
EDUCATION
KEEPING ALABAMA BEAUTIFUL Jefferson State Community College, along with the Alabama Community College System, joined the state’s bicentennial efforts with the Clean Home Alabama initiative. Students, employees and community members met in the
parking lot of the Best Buy store off U.S. 280 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, before using canoes to remove garbage and debris from a section of the Cahaba River. To learn more about the effort, visit JeffersonState.edu/cleanhomeal/.
PLACES
TOP-NOTCH RESORT Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa was named one of the Top 100 Resorts by Golf Magazine this year. Renaissance Ross Bridge is one of 11 golf sites across Alabama on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. “This is the first time Golf Magazine has named its Top 100 Resorts and we are delighted to have Renaissance
Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on this list,” Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail President John Cannon writes. “To be compared with iconic golf venues such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes, Broadmoor, Greenbrier and others showcases the quality of golf experience we deliver in Alabama.”
HooversMagazine.com 15
THE GUIDE COMMUNITY
WASHINGTON D.C. FLY-IN FOLLOWUP The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and 58 INC. held the inaugural Shelby County Washington D.C. Fly-In in October. A delegation of 20 local leaders across the public and private sector made the trip to discuss Shelby County opportunities. The program was planned by the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Work Group and included a breakfast with the Alabama Congressional Delegation and individual meetings with Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Doug Jones and Rep. Gary Palmer’s staff.
16 December 2019/January 2020
&CULTURE
ARTS
COPPER CREATIONS Christy Dutton brings recycled metal back to life in her handmade jewelry for Amelia Christopher Designs. BY ANNE RILEY PHOTOS BY LAUREN WINTER HooversMagazine.com 17
W
We all know the beach can be an inspiring place, but it’s normally a sit-back-and-relax kind of inspiration that encourages you to do less than usual. For Christy Dutton of Amelia Christopher Designs, however, a trip to the beach had the exact opposite effect: It launched her into a whole new
18 December 2019/January 2020
side business. Christy, a Hoover resident, creates one-of-akind jewelry incorporating genuine pearl, leather and copper designs. “I began making jewelry when I saw a pearl necklace in a Seaside boutique and thought I could create my own,” she says. Now,
she’s inspired to make new pieces every time she goes back to the Gulf Coast. The result is a collection of unique, handmade jewelry that can dress an outfit up or down, and looks great layered. Christy, a native of Starkville, Mississippi, grew up taking art lessons from students at Mississippi
State University, where her dad worked as a professor. But the city of Birmingham was a big part of her childhood, too. Christy’s grandmother lived in the Magic City, and so Christy, along with her three sisters, made frequent trips to visit her. They also enjoyed the Birmingham Zoo and HooversMagazine.com 19
Christy Dutton makes her unique jewelry using recycled copper, leather and pearl.
20 December 2019/January 2020
Vulcan on their family trips. Something about Birmingham appealed to Christy—so much so that she chose to attend college at Birmingham-Southern College instead of staying in her hometown of Starkville. Her art classes at Birmingham-Southern added more fuel to her artistic fire, especially those taught by Bob Tucker, who created the fish installation at Children’s of Alabama before the renovation. These days, Christy and her family live in the Green Valley area of Hoover. Christy works full-time as a physical therapist at Healthworx and prioritizes time with her family, but when she finds a spare minute, she pours her creative energy into her jewelry— specifically recycled copper jewelry. “I started copper jewelry to practice for precious metals, but I loved the texture and softness and strength of copper, and never changed to another metal,” Christy says. “Copper is antibacterial, and since I work in healthcare, that is a wonderful natural property.” But it’s not just the copper element that Christy loves about her creations. The recycled part is important to her, too. “I love using recycled copper because it had a purpose before I had my hands on it,” Christy says. Sometimes, that purpose comes with a really cool story. Other times, she never knows HooversMagazine.com 21
where the copper came from or who had it before her. Recently, she has been using copper pieces from someone in Michigan who recovered the pieces from their late father’s lantern workshop. The pieces were shaped into long strips, half moons and circles. Christy never knew what the pieces were originally intended for, but in her hands, they became seed pods with pearls. The idea for the seed pods was inspired by a sermon about the prodigal son delivered by Clay Farrington, pastor at Riverchase United Methodist Church. In the sermon, Farrington related how he had ordered locust bean pods from Amazon to supplement the sermon. When he got them, he realized they smelled awful and he could not pass them around the church. If the prodigal son had been willing to eat them, Farrington said, then he must have been very desperate indeed, and his desperation drove him back to his father. This picture stuck with Christy and, thus, the seed pods were born. Each one turned out beautifully unique, thanks to the various hard spots in the copper pieces that dictated how they could be formed. As she continues to create jewelry, Christy is in
4730 Chace Cir, Suite 124
205-777-5984
www.babajavacoffee.com 22 December 2019/January 2020
@babajavacoffee
“
.I love using recycled copper because it had a purpose before I had my hands on it.
”
–Christy Dutton
the process of picking up a new skill: soldering. She uses the Tiffany technique, which is also employed by stained glass artists. “I have learned by watching lots of YouTube videos and listening to other artists’ wisdom in Facebook artist groups,” Christy says of her new adventure. “I have been experimenting with adding texture to the solder, and have melted many things accidentally. I hope to continue to improve my skills.” Christy’s jewelry can be found at Lou Lou’s in the Patton Creek shopping center. You’ll also find Christy’s wares at the Bluff Park Art Show. Follow her on Facebook at Amelia Christopher Designs.
T.M. BURGIN FARM, SITE OF WHAT WOULD OPEN AS THE AMERICAN VILLAGE ON NOVEMBER 30, 1999
Thank You to the many men and women whose dedication and generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure as board members, donors, volunteers, supporters and staff have raised the American Village and sustained it in its vital work these 20 years. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and may you be blessed in the New Year. Mark your calendars and join us on Monday, February 17, 2020 as we celebrate the
20AmericanVillage th Anniversary OF THE
WWW. AMERICANVILLAGE.ORG
HooversMagazine.com 23
News from our Chief Executive Officer Tynette Lynch
Aldridge Gardens for your special event Creating memorable experiences is what Aldridge Gardens is all about. So many options are available throughout the Gardens and we are sure there is one that will create the perfect atmosphere for your event. Lakeside in the woods, shade garden, lakefront, under the arbor, under the gingko, under the Pavilion or just about any place you can envision at Aldridge Gardens we can make it happen for your special occasion. Now is the time of the year to start planning and getting your Spring and Summer events booked at Aldridge Gardens. Also don’t forget those Corporate retreats and smaller meetings. The Aldridge House is available and can accommodate those as well. For information visit our website at www.aldridgegardens.com or call 205-682-8019 for additional information.
In the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, Aldridge Gardens becomes a winter wonderland full of nature’s decorations. The quietness of winter sets in over the lake and early morning visitors witness the beauty of it all. Holiday parties are happening day in and day out at the Gardens and gift giving is on everyone’s mind. What better time to think about giving a membership to Aldridge Gardens, or a paver on our Walk of Life or Veterans Memorial Plaza in honor of someone special. These are gifts that continue to give and also support Aldridge Gardens while doing so. While most people are enjoying the winter months we are in the “Spring Planning” mode for weddings, birthday parties and just about any event you can imagine happening at Aldridge Gardens. Our booking calendar is filling up fast, so be sure and contact Amanda Baker, our Director of Sales and Events to book your space now. Happy Holidays from the Aldridge Gardens Team.
3530 Lorna Road • Hoover, Alabama 35216 • 205-682-8019 • www.aldridgegardens.com • info@aldridgegardens.com
Spring Plant Sale
Membership Levels
Spring flowers, birds chirping and green grass. Ah, Spring....seems like a LONG way away. But the best time to be planning your spring garden plants is BEFORE you need them! Mark your calendars NOW for the Aldridge Gardens’ Annual Plant Sale, April 30, May 1 and May 2nd (until noon). A Spring tradition, the Plant Sale is the highlight of the Spring, held traditionally the last week in April. Hydrangeas are always the focus, especially the famous Snowflake, patented by Gardens’ founder Eddie Aldridge. Other selections of hydrangea include varieties of our native Oakleaf, along with that other outstanding native, Annabelle, and “her’" varieties. Hydrangea paniculata varieties, a blessing for those yards with little to no shade, are always one of our featured plants. And of course the incredible French Hydrangeas are always in demand, just in time for Mother's Day!! In addition to our hydrangeas, we always have a great selection of native azaleas,
All membership levels are yearly from date of application and are for individuals OR families: HARMONY — $50 Entry level membership ENHANCED — $75 includes an Aldridge Gardens’ Coffee Mug Gift pass-along plants, herbs, select wildflowers and native trees and shrubs, all selected to be successful in the landscapes of the Birmingham metro area. AND, Friday we usually have a special guest for our shoppers. Last year, the Grumpy Gardener himself, Steve Bender, joined us to promote the publication of his recent book. Plan to come early—the best plants go FAST!! Remember, Members get an invitation to the Thursday evening preview sale AND a minimum of 10% off all purchases! So start dreaming about spring flowers, birds chirping, green grass and... the Aldridge Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale!
ELLEN HUFF — $100 Enhanced gift plus One Seminar Certificate ANNABELLE — $250 Ellen Huff benefits plus Aldridge Gardens’ logo item PROPAGATOR — $1,000 Professional level sponsorship. Includes all lower level privileges plus engraved paver in Entrance Plaza signifying the sponsorship donation, and “Meet the Artist” time at our Artist Receptions Ask about our special Bonsai and Photographers’ Guild memberships!
Membership Remember the old American Express ad from the 1980s: “Membership has its privileges”? Well, as cheesy as that ad is in 2019, it is absolutely true of an Aldridge Gardens’ membership! To begin, Aldridge Gardens belongs to the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program: “A current membership card from the American Horticultural Society participating garden entitles you to special admission privileges and discounts at 320 gardens throughout North America!” This means an Aldridge Gardens’ membership gets you free or discounted admission to gardens all over the United States! Gardens like Huntsville Botanical Garden ($14), Atlanta Botanical Garden ($21.95), Cheekwood Estate and Gardens (Nashville-$20), Chicago Botanic Garden (no admission fee, but free parking -$25), Missouri Botanical Garden ($14), and
Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans-$12) to name a few, are all FREE admission! If you visit gardens in your travels, the free admission alone will pay for your Aldridge Gardens’ membership! Besides the Reciprocal Admission Program, Aldridge Gardens’ yearly membership includes Members’ Hours at the Gardens, (fishing in the Aldridge lake and dog walking MondayThursday, 3:00PM to closing, and extended Members’ Only Hours during Daylight Saving Time), discounts at our Annual Spring Plant Sale, and discounts in Roots, The Aldridge Garden and Gift Shop. In addition, members get discounted admission to our
Educational classes and seminars, Summer Camps at Aldridge Gardens, and special events such as Taste of Hoover. Members can also look forward to our monthly guided Bird Walks and Members’ Only Garden Education and Information Talks (both normally March through November). So yes, Membership DOES have its privileges!! Join now by grabbing a membership brochure at the Gardens’ Gatehouse or in the Aldridge House, or apply online at: aldridgegardens.com/support/ membership/. Membership is for a family and starts at $50.00/year., and makes a GREAT Holiday present!
M O D E R N N E W B O R N + C H I L D + FA M I LY P O R T R A I T U R E INFOAPEPPERMINTPHOTO.COM | 205.807.6431 H E I R LO O M A L B U M S | A R C H I VA L Q UA L I T Y P O R T R A I T S
W W W . A P E P P E R M I N T P H O T O . C O M 26 December 2019/January 2020
SCHOOL
&SPORTS
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Students tell us what they’ve been up to since graduating from high school. BY CARMEN BROWN PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED HooversMagazine.com 27
We see and hear about the great things students at Hoover-area schools are doing regularly, but what about after they graduate from high school and move to different cities? We caught up with three of many students who have carried their knowledge and determination to other places as they pursue their dreams.
why employers should hire people with disabilities, dealing with injuries at work and dismantling stereotypes about people with disabilities. “I just finished one about applying to college,” Mary Mary White, a 2019 graduate of Hoover High School, says. “That was a lot of fun.” was born with hydrocephalus as well as mild cerebral Mary was accepted into the ACCESS program at palsy. Throughout her life, she has had 42 brain surgeries, all of which consist of shots that leave her in MSU, a highly competitive program for students with pain for several hours afterward. Although she was intellectual disabilities that only admitted six mainstreamed until ninth grade, her mother, Jana freshmen this past year, her mother says. “This program teaches her to live independently White, says she was told Mary would no longer be on and learn how to cook and clean, a college path after having to and she’s learning to job shadow,” enroll in special education Jana says. classes. Mary has been awarded several But “Awesome Mary,” as she is local and national scholarships, called in her now-famous including the Jeff Ridgeway YouTube videos, along with her Advocacy Award and the Melissa mom, began working to make Stoneberger Scholarship, which sure she would achieve her dream includes a trip to San Francisco, to go to college. Now a freshman where she will speak at the majoring in communications at organization’s fundraiser. She Mississippi State University, was one of five seniors across the Mary is committed to state who was named an Alabama encouraging those with different Public Television Hero, an honor abilities through speaking that took her to Montgomery this engagements at colleges, past May to speak in front of the elementary schools and civic House and Senate. Her mother organizations like Kiwanis, and, says she was most recently thrilled to learn Mary will of course, her YouTube videos, which won an ADDY receive the prestigious Vulcan Award for her award from the National Advertising Federation in community involvement and advocacy. 2017. Mary, who plans to pursue a career as an advocate “When she was younger, she would film silly videos for people with disabilities, says her hope for everyone on her phone, and one day her track coach saw it and is they will follow their dreams like she has. “My helped her come up with the idea to do the YouTube dream was to go to Mississippi State, and I did it,” she videos, and it just sort of caught on,” Jana says. Mary’s videos have covered tips for P.E. coaches, says. “I just keep my head up and keep going.”
Survivor + Advocate
28 December 2019/January 2020
Outstanding Teen for 2014, a varsity cheerleader, a member of the Ambassador Club, a peer mentor and tutor and was on the Student Advisory Board. Her senior DeJaneal Brown, a 2015 graduate of Spain Park, is law year, she received a full scholarship offer to Howard school-bound for fall of 2020. She plans to focus on a University, but she says she ultimately chose Georgetown because, as her career interests career in health and corporate law. involve helping underserved She describes herself as a people populations, she’s always had a person with a passion for justice, special admiration and respect for health and education. She the school’s emphasis on helping currently works as a contract students who excel academically procurement manager at but might not otherwise be able to Georgetown University, where she attend college. recently graduated with a degree in Having come from a large healthcare management and family that includes a total of 14 policy. DeJaneal plans to pursue a siblings (both biological and step), dual degree program with a DeJaneal says she always grew up master’s in public policy along with with the mindset of how she could her juris doctorate. be of service to others. “I was the “I’ve always been interested in big sister, always helping my mom public policy and advocacy,” and my family,” she says. DeJaneal says. “I would like to “Community, family, helping learn ways to provide equitable funding for different income levels. I would like to start people. That’s what it means to be fulfilled. You find your best career when you can turn your passion into profit my own educational consulting firm.” While at Spain Park, DeJaneal was Miss Birmingham’s making.”
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Since being at Georgia Tech, Tanya has worked on a team to develop the game of Risk and has also worked for Microsoft’s largest nonprofit, Distance Teaching for Tanya Gupta, a 2019 valedictorian of Spain Park High Mobile Learning, in which she formulated game models School, says her experience as a presentation team to help predict how students will retain certain sets of member of the BEST Robotics Team while simultaneously English vocabulary. She says she is particularly interested in financial software, as taking a computer science class led she served as vice president of to her decision to pursue a career as finance as part of Spain Park’s a software developer. Now working Student for Student Scholarship on a computer science degree with a Foundation. focus on intelligence and modeling/ Because she earned college credit simulation at Georgia Tech, Tanya through her AP classes her senior recently started working as a year, Tanya is on a fast track to software developer with Radius getting her master’s degree in Technology. “Technology and computer science in four years. She computer science is behind every then plans to complement that with field now,” she says. “Artificial an MBA. “In 10 years I can see intelligence is where the future is myself leading a team of software headed.” developers, hopefully in the Tanya applied to 24 colleges and financial field,” Tanya says, noting came close to choosing another her father, who works in financial software, and her school before deciding an hour before her deadline to stay closer to home and attend Georgia Tech. “It’s one mother, a nurse practitioner, always stressed the of the top five schools in the country for computer importance of higher education. “They always told me science,” she says. “There’s no doubting their academic there’s more to learn than you will ever know. I just never want to stop learning.” reputation.”
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ANOTHER ROUND
After beating cancer, Scott Huskin was ready for a new adventure—and opening a craft beer spot was a big part of it. BY LAUREN DOWDLE PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES HooversMagazine.com 31
32 December 2019/January 2020
C
Cold drinks, savory dishes and a welcoming atmosphere are just a few things Hoover’s new craft beer destination is serving up. Scott Huskin opened The Casual Pint in September in The Grove shopping center an it’s the second location for this franchise in Alabama, with the other one found in Huntsville. But for Scott, this next chapter of his life was about more than opening a craft beer spot for the community. With a background in engineering, he had a manufacturing company in Knoxville, Tennessee. He traveled a good bit with his job, which left him out of shape and heavier than he would have liked. So when his daughters got involved with the Susan G. Komen half-marathon breast cancer fundraiser about five years ago, Scott started training so he could participate, too. “I trained for it for over a year, and I was in the best shape I had been in 25 years. I was looking good again,” Scott says with a laugh. The day of the event, he was ready to go. However, about halfway through the race, he says he started to feel a cramp in his side. The pain continued to get worse, but he was able to finish the race and find his wife—before passing out from the pain. “I woke up three days later in the hospital to a doctor coming in saying I had Stage 4 colon cancer, with a full blockage, and they were rushing me off to surgery,” Scott says. He spent the next month in the hospital and was given a 4- to 5-percent chance to survive. “I wasn’t supposed to make it through it. I sold off the manufacturing company, our rental houses, and put everything in a trust fund for my wife and kids for when I was gone.” Scott completed a year of chemotherapy, and after his treatments on Fridays, he would grab a drink at The Casual Pint in Knoxville. One of the servers began to notice he was starting to look sick, having lost weight and hair, and he asked what was going on. Scott shared his story with them, and when he and his wife went to leave, someone at the bar paid their tab. HooversMagazine.com 33
BUSINESS BASICS The Casual Pint is located at 5541 Grove Boulevard in Hoover. They are open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The same thing happened the following Friday, and at the end of the month, the server brought them a check. Locals from the surrounding neighborhood had donated money to give him—and that kindness continued the whole time he went to The Casual Pint. “I never bought another beer,” he says. “The money they gave me at the end of each month enabled me to do things with my family I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.” A year-and-a-half after being told he didn’t have much longer to live, Scott had beat the odds. He spent the next year or two working around the house and on old cars. Then, his wife accepted a job at UAB, bringing the family down to Alabama. On the weekends, they would drive around Hoover, and it never failed that his wife would point something out each time. “My wife kept telling me every time we drove by The Grove that it was a good place for The Casual Pint,” Scott says. After hearing her say that quite a few times, he says her not-so-subtle hint finally set in. So, he began traveling around the country to talk with other owners of the franchise before opening the new location in Hoover. “It’s an interesting concept: It’s not really a restaurant, but not a bar either. It’s like a coffee shop for craft beer,” Scott says of the family-friendly spot. HooversMagazine.com 35
“We’re really a craft beer bar that has food, like an upscale bar and grill.” The Casual Pint has 35 beers on tap and roughly 200 craft beers in the store. Customers can also take home their favorites by filling up a six pack with any variety of singles or grabbing a package, crowler, growler or keg to go. “I can find a beer for just about anybody,” Scott says. Pairing perfectly with their craft beers is their menu, which they try to keep under $10. Some popular dishes include the flatbreads, pretzels with beer cheese and brats. They also have menu items like wings, burgers, wraps and salads. Scott says they’re focused on providing a comfortable place for people in the nearby neighborhoods to come, hang out and have a beer or two. Their outdoor patio is also dog-friendly. And The Casual Pint has events during the week that add to the welcoming atmosphere. There’s trivia on Monday nights with a tap takeover from a brewery, wine tasting on Wednesday nights featuring a different winery, magic night on Thursdays and live entertainment on Fridays. For more information, thecasualpint.com.
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It’s an interesting concept: It’s not really a restaurant, but not a bar either. It’s like a coffee shop for craft beer.
”
–Scott Huskin
HooversMagazine.com 37
&STYLE
HOME
WARM + WELCOMING From its pink front door to the serene back porch, the Casey family’s home is an enjoyable place to be. BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS BY DAWN HARRISON HooversMagazine.com 39
I
If a home’s exterior can hint at the personalities of the people who live inside, then the front of Alieta Casey’s home leaves few questions about her love of people and her views on hospitality. With its swing and rocker, the spacious front porch begs for those Southern afternoon conversations that stretch into the first few minutes of dusk. A doormat bearing the phrase “You are about to get hugged” lies at the foot of a pink front door – a conversation piece Alieta and her husband, Logan, are frequently asked about when someone sees it for the first time. Logan is fine with the color, by the way. Alieta says he told her to choose whatever made her happy, and that just so happened to be a pale pink shade named “Lovable” by Sherwin-Williams. “I’ve loved it,” she says. She and Logan built their home in Kirkman Preserve in 2015. They wanted more space than their former Vestavia Hills home could offer them and their three children, Lola, Charlie and Mills. Hoover was also where they lived when Logan did his medical residency. “We’re happy this is where we’ve landed now,” Alieta says. And one of the best parts of building was being able to choose a floorplan
40 December 2019/January 2020
they loved from the beginning. “We chose one we thought would fit our family the best.” Alieta, whose more than 18,000 followers on Instagram know her as @alietatreasurehunting, embraced the chance to decorate a whole home from floor to ceiling. Although she’s never had formal design training, Alieta says she got her artistic eye from her mother, who taught art for 40 years. She follows her instincts when it comes to arranging and decorating spaces to be conducive to comfort and togetherness. “Warm and welcoming is always what I’m going for … a space where people feel comfortable and safe,” she says, noting she and Logan chose an open-concept layout with their frequent Bible studies and family gatherings in mind. Alieta followed her friends’ advice and wrote Bible verses on the walls before the sheetrock was placed. Alieta, Logan and their kids added one more special item to the house in the early stages of construction. “Before they poured the foundation, we came over here as a family one night and placed a Bible down to be a reminder of what we were building our life on,” Alieta says.
Entryway Alieta wanted to make sure anyone who enters the house knows as soon as he or she walks in the front door that the Caseys are happy they’re there. “I love for a place when you first walk in to be warm and welcoming,” she says. “I wanted an entry that wasn’t overwhelming. I want people to feel relaxed and welcome.” HooversMagazine.com 41
Dining Room Alieta didn’t want a wooden dining table to compete with the reclaimed wood accent wall, and she wanted a table that’s easy to clean up after the kids have used it. Her solution? A concrete table she found and ordered sight unseen online. “It was different but still went with our style. And it was so heavy,” she says, laughing as she recounts the day the table arrived. “It won’t move.”
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Hallway Alcove Alieta put her garage sale treasure hunting skills to work in the small alcove just outside of the master bedroom. She found arch shutters that originated from a home in New Orleans. Old porch posts flank a filing cabinet, which holds a vintage typewriter. HooversMagazine.com 43
Kitchen Alieta wanted a light and bright kitchen with lots of space. “We rented the cutest bungalow in Cahaba Heights with gorgeous white craftsman cabinets. I loved it and knew that was going to be my style,� she says. The penny tile Alieta chose for the backsplash was actually an accent tile option for the bathroom when they were building the house, but she wanted it more for the kitchen.
44 December 2019/January 2020
Eat-In Kitchen Area The table between the kitchen and living room was where the Caseys ate most of their meals before Alieta turned a sitting room into the formal dining room. They now use the table mostly when they have guests over and need extra seating.
HooversMagazine.com 45
Master Bedroom Alieta created a faux fireplace by placing shiplap wallpaper behind a mantle she bought for $10 at a garage sale. “That was a really fun project,” she says. “I wanted that room to be light and airy and like a retreat.” When they were building the house, she and Logan decided to add two extra windows in the room and changed what were windows in the plan to French doors leading out to the back deck. The nightstands on either side of the bed are two halves of a dining table. Alieta found them on Facebook Marketplace from a woman who had cut a whole table in half to make two side tables.
Back Porch The back porch gives the Caseys a comfortable outdoor space in which to relax and enjoy the prime view they wanted of the neighborhood lake.
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HooversMagazine.com 47
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50 December 2019/January 2020
purpose in pain Meet Tray and Melody Lovvorn, the couple who transformed brokenness into reconciliation— and a ministry. By Katie Roth Photos by Dawn Harrison
HooversMagazine.com 51
The struggles they overcame in their own marriage have helped Tray and Melody Lovvorn minister to other couples.
T
Tray and Melody Lovvorn always tell people their “divorce didn’t work out.” That’s not exactly what you would expect to hear from a couple, but the Lovvorns have turned the story behind that phrase into a whole ministry. The Lovvorns started a non-profit organization called Undone Redone in 2012 and have been telling their unconventional story ever since: married for 11 years, divorced for six years and remarried for 11 more
52 December 2019/January 2020
years as of this past October. Tray and Melody are able to walk alongside couples and individuals in search of healing from sexual addictions or betrayal trauma because they have lived through it. While their story is a not a flawless one, it is a hopeful one. And that’s their main message. “Life is messy,” Tray says. “Even in the pain and even in the mess, there is hope.” “We’ve been through this. We can’t take people
where we’ve not been,” Melody says. “When people call us or sit down with us, they’re almost like, ‘Brace yourselves. This is messy.’ And we’re like, ‘You can’t shock us or surprise us.’ It’s messy, but it’s beautiful because we get to see God resurrecting something that looks absolutely hopeless to the world around us.” The couple first met in 1989 while attending college at Samford University. It was Tray’s freshman year and Melody’s junior year. They quickly learned that they grew up with very similar worldviews and began dating the following January. As two likeminded people who both wanted to go into Christian ministry, they seemed like a perfect match. Two years later, the pair was pastoring a church together and decided to get married. However, 10 years into the Lovvorns’ marriage, years of hidden struggles began to appear. Tray’s struggle with pornography spiraled into sexual infidelity, eventually wrecking the marriage. “That was a secret struggle. I thought marriage was going to fix the problem, but it didn’t. It went further underground. (There was) more shame,” Tray explains. “Ultimately, everything kind of blew up. The way I like to describe that is like when kids try to see how long they can hold a beach ball underwater. Everybody knows it’s got to come shooting to the
surface at some point.” At 30 years old, Melody found herself trying to navigate the aftermath of divorce while simultaneously caring for four young children. It was the last thing she expected her life to look like. But the unexpected end of a marriage was just the beginning of healing for both Tray and Melody. They learned that oftentimes things have to get worse before they can get better, and one must first become undone to eventually become redone, later sparking the idea to help others in similar situations. During their six years apart, Tray and Melody both grew to realize their lack of authenticity. In the past, they had worked to cover up life’s imperfections and portray a clean, neat image of a happy marriage and a happy family. It was a stretch from the reality. “A big part of our story is just the image that we were trying to give,” Tray says. “(We were) leading with strength and trying to cover up anything that was less than stellar.” It was in those years apart that Tray and Melody realized they both needed to experience individual growth and healing. But eventually, the two slowly journeyed from co-parents back to potential partners—and they remarried in 2008. As painful as it can be for the Lovvorns to relive
HooversMagazine.com 53
their past through sharing their story, they know it’s worth it to help other couples in similar situations. “I feel like I’ve got the hardest, but the best job in the world. I’m walking people through the darkest hour of their lives…and we get to see God show up every single day,” Melody says. And not only do they regularly walk alongside people as they recover from sexual brokenness and trauma, but they also help people foster and maintain healthy relationships in all areas of life. The Undone Redone ministry offers various coaching and workshop opportunities, along with conferences. There are six different relationship and recovery coaching packages for individuals and couples, and workshops in the form of marriage retreats, digital safety and “grace-based” parenting. As parents of four, Tray and Melody know the importance of protecting young minds in the current digital age and partner with My Secure Family to help educate other parents on online safety. Now that their children are grown and either graduates of or current students at Samford University, the Lovvorns have been able to stay busy with their ministry, which they run out of Hoover, off U.S. 280. They have created more than 200 podcast episodes, more than 200 YouTube videos and have even been featured in a documentary movie called “The Heart of Man.” They have also recently submitted the manuscript for a book titled “Our Divorce Didn’t Work Out,” which is set to release in the fall of 2020. To hear about the Lovvorns' story in more detail, listen to episode 32 of the Undone Redone podcast. Follow Undone Redone on social media @undoneredone, and learn more about their ministry at undoneredone.com. 54 December 2019/January 2020
Shifting her
Perspective
By Heather Jones Skaggs Photos by Dawn Harrison and contributed It is the middle of the night on August 25, 2018, and Sara Franklin opens her eyes to see her husband standing over her and the room packed with emergency medical personnel and firemen. "You have had a seizure, and we are taking you to the hospital,” Sara’s husband, Drew, calmly tells her. The seizure Sara experienced was the onset of epilepsy. The tonic-clonic seizure, or “grand mal” seizure, changed the path of her life and career, but not her faith. HooversMagazine.com 55
A technician measures Sara's head and marks her scalp with a special pencil to indicate where to attach the electrodes for an EEG.
56 December 2019/January 2020
Following a number of tests with a neurologist a few weeks after the first seizure, doctors were unable to find a root cause. “This was a bit of a setback to life,” Sara admits. “It is against state law for anyone to drive for six months after any type of seizure activity.” A native of Hoover, Sara has nearly a decade of public and community relations experience. In the field of public relations, where a standard 9-to-5 day is not really the norm, the new mom of a six-month-old baby—and a working mom at that—was determined to press forward with family life and work while trying to keep everything balanced. All of this while watching her health and trying to find a cause for her seizure. But in November, Sara suffered additional seizures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 54,000 people are affected by epilepsy and seizures in the state of Alabama. One in 10 people will have a seizure at some point during their lifetime. One in 26 people will have epilepsy. “I was diagnosed with epilepsy in November after having the additional complex partial seizures. Recurring seizures is when someone is diagnosed with epilepsy,” Sara explains. Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types and control varying from person to person. It is also the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages.
A major health event can shake the very foundation of a person’s life. “Before my seizures, I was convinced that I was working in a role that I would be working in for the long haul, but it was clear and necessary that I step away from work for the time being,” Sara says. It was a difficult decision, no doubt, but Sara says she wanted to take time for doctors to evaluate her onset of seizures and find a potential solution. “One of my former professors encouraged me to stay involved with local professional organizations during this time away, and reminded me that life was not ‘over forever,’ and that was some of the most encouraging advice I received during this time.” If the onset of a neurological condition were not enough for the Franklins to go through, Drew, who Sara describes as a typically healthy person, returned from a work trip feeling unwell. He started experiencing numbness in his arms that was moving into his face. He also had excruciating headaches. Six ER visits, a sinus surgery and two hospital ICU stays later, it was determined that Drew had a brain infection that also caused brain swelling due to a sinus infection that had leaked into his skull – a very rare occurrence. With both facing health challenges that were life-threatening, Sara says her faith kept her strong with the support of her family and friends.
HooversMagazine.com 57
“One thing that resonates with our family as we look on this past year and a half is how thankful we are for our family, our close friends, and especially our local church family,” Sara says. “Our Sunday school class, church staff, and even people we didn’t know personally were reaching out to us and praying for us.” Sara says it’s about recognizing the fact that you aren’t promised an easy life even if you are a follower of Jesus. “We can all turn our pain into purpose,” she says. “We are here to glorify God for the number of days we are here, and to point others toward him. He is the one that provides peace, no matter our circumstances. We hope to use this experience from our past year and a half to point others to Jesus Christ.” As the Franklins were on the road to recovery, Sara began attending professional development meetings when she could and talked about her epilepsy. She found a common bond with an acquaintance that was serving as chair of the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama board. Later, when the foundation was looking for a new executive director in Alabama, Sara was encouraged to apply. “Fast forward a few months, and I got the job offer,” Sara recalls. “I couldn’t believe that what I once saw as a tragedy turned into an opportunity to walk with others and encourage them through their own journeys of epilepsy. There are more than 54,000 people with epilepsy living in our state, many of them below the poverty line, and I want to walk alongside them as they seek to end seizures in their own lives.” The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama was founded in 1971 as an affiliate of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and is now an official chapter of the national organization. Alabama’s chapter recently moved to Hoover and serves the entire state. “The Foundation is leading the fight to END EPILEPSY® in Alabama by connecting people to treatment, support and resources,” Sara says. The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama, a chapter of the national organization is located in Hoover. One of Sara’s first projects as executive director was coordinating the Walk to END EPILEPSY® in Birmingham on Nov. 2 at Railroad Park. “This was our only statewide Walk to End Epilepsy in Alabama for 2019, but we hope to have more walks in cities across the state in the coming years,” Sara says. Around 800 people attended the November walk and brought in $67,000 in donations. “We are excited about the momentum that is building with our turnout and the addition of corporate sponsors that we were able to add this year.” Nationally, the foundation is working with companies like Uber and hoping to provide discounted rates for people with epilepsy to help with the periods of time that seizure patients cannot drive. “I have found that a lot of people with epilepsy struggle with the feeling of being a hassle rather than a help when it comes to employment, struggling with how to navigate and make a living, and having a career with epilepsy.” Looking back over her life over the last year, Sara counts many blessings from family and friends—and also a newfound way of helping people. “It’s neat to watch the Lord’s whispers and confirmation of his plan,” Sara says. 58 December 2019/January 2020
“
I couldn’t believe that what I once saw as a tragedy turned into an opportunity to walk with others and encourage them through their own journeys of epilepsy –Sara Franklin
”
HooversMagazine.com 59
BUILDING COMMUNITY The Hoover Public Library’s commitment to offering inclusive programming hits close to home. By Christine Wells | Photos Contributed
HooversMagazine.com 61
Christine Wells, right, with her brother Will.
For the first several years of my brother’s life, I was the only one who could understand what Will was trying to say. My parents called me his translator. As a child, Will lived in an elaborate world of Disney characters, Elvis songs and knock-knock jokes. But as he has aged, his needs, interests and communication abilities have changed. My brother’s multiple diagnoses include Down Syndrome and autism, although those words do not begin to describe him as a person. His diagnoses have made finding a program or service that could support and include Will—and provide him with the basic need of community support—difficult. However, he loves to be in the community. We spent many hours at
62 December 2019/January 2020
the Hoover Public Library when we were kids, and I know we checked out every available Dr. Seuss book dozens of times. My decades of experience with my brother, combined with experience as a preschool teacher and case manager at a research-based preschool for kids with autism, have made me passionate about inclusion and respect for the community of children and adults with autism, Down Syndrome and other forms of disabilities or neurodiversity. Many of my experiences in life have been molded by my relationship with my brother. When I began working at the Hoover Public Library in 2017, we were just beginning to discuss the possibility of offering a sensory storytime. Katie Jane
The City of Hoover opened the EXPLORE playground with inclusive play areas and accessible bathrooms in May.
HooversMagazine.com 63
Morris, our Outreach Librarian, created our first iteration of Sensory Storytime in 2018. Now, in 2019, I am thrilled to be leading Sensory Storytime for kids ages 2-12 with autism or other sensory challenges, along with Polly Edwards. Sensory Storytime is smaller and quieter than our other storytimes. We cover the lights in our storytime room with blue fabric to dim the harsh light, and we provide fidget toys and manipulatives to the kids. Everything is prepared to be gentle toward sensory input, and to make storytime a welcoming environment. The Hoover Public Library has been working to change the conversation around access and inclusion in storytimes, children’s programs and services. We expanded the age range for Sensory Storytime. We provide outreach to Special Education classrooms at many Hoover City Schools, and we are working with programs in the area to provide outreach and sensory-friendly programming here at the library. We recently partnered with Spring Valley School for a special display featuring Dyslexia Awareness month, and portions of our Parenting collection are currently being re-labeled with puzzle piece stickers to make it easier to find books that address parenting children with autism.
64 December 2019/January 2020
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We focus on more than just the kids. Kids with disabilities and neurodiversity become adults with the same needs, and it is vital that adults with disabilities and neurodiversity feel welcomed and supported by public library programming. Visitors from ARC of Central Alabama, a program that serves adults with intellectual disabilities, come to the Hoover Library on a weekly basis. “The inclusive programming and welcoming atmosphere at the Hoover Library has tremendously enhanced the lives of those we serve,” says Kim Spangler, Community Experiences Coordinator for ARC of Central Alabama. “The library employees are always kind, and they go above and beyond to make our experience at the library a good one.” Because we are consistently trying to improve inclusivity in our programming and services, we are also launching new programs for adults with disabilities in the spring of 2020. We will show sensory-friendly movies in January and March, and we are planning programs that focus on STEM activities and stories designed for our patrons with neurodiversity. It is our goal to provide programming and services that would welcome, support and embrace patrons HooversMagazine.com 65
like my brother. Because of my experience with Will, I have a passion for inclusivity and am hyperaware of how programming can be improved or expanded to serve patrons of all abilities. That passion is supported at the Hoover Public Library and the city of Hoover, which has been working to increase awareness of community members with differing abilities and to make programs and services more inclusive and accessible. These efforts include the universally designed EXPLORE playground with inclusive play areas and accessible bathrooms with adult changing tables, and the therapeutic programs offered at the Hoover Recreation Center serving children and adults with a variety of disabilities and neurodiversity. We want to ensure that every member of the community we serve feels that they are not only in the community, but a part of the community. From left, Polly Edwards, Christine Wells and Katie Jane Morris.
Christine Wells is a Library Specialist at the Hoover Public Library.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING
holiday
GIF T GUIDE
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1. Handmade Stockings Handmade stockings made from vintage Suzanni textiles with Uzbek trim. Perfect for every fireplace. $75. Paige Albright Orientals, 2814 Petticoat Ln., Birmingham, AL 35223.
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2. Kid’s Christmas PJs Santa Print by Magnolia Baby. Available in 2-piece pajamas, zip-up pjs, infant footie pjs, toddler dress, and infant dress. From $38. 2 Girls & a Dog, 16161 Hwy. 280 #2, Chelsea, AL 35043. (205) 677-2225. 2girlsandadog.com.
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3. Edible Gifts Captain Rodney’s is great for dips and grilling, $14. With SanSaba Pecan mix, just add eggs & butter, and you have pecan pie, $16. SanSaba Jalapeno Peach & Pecan Preserves, $10. Gifted, 2643 Pelham Pkwy., Pelham, AL 35124.
4. Decorative Acrylic Tray Weezie B. Designs is offering a modern acrylic tray including a set of 5 interchangeable inserts with designs for each season that is perfect for your holiday décor or to give as a gift! $70. Weezie B. Designs, Weeziebdesigns.com.
5. Radko Children’s of Alabama Ornaments These annual ornaments are in! If you adore Radko ornaments as much as we do and want to support a wonderful cause, this ornament is a must! $55. Bromberg’s, 2800 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, AL 35223.
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6. Crossbody Bags Our best-selling 3-in-1 crossbody bags easily convert to a wristlet or clutch and make the perfect gift for anyone on your list! $30. Moda Boutique, 6801 Cahaba Valley Rd., Ste. 110, Birmingham, AL 35242.
7. Canvas Tote The genuine leather handles stitched to heavyweight canvas provides a clean modern look. Offered in a simplistic design that you can carry anywhere; the perfect getaway bag! $42.99. Branch Boutique, 701 Doug Baker Blvd. #109, Birmingham, AL 35242.
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8. AlphaRet Overnight Cream This anti-aging retinoid cream reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by exfoliating, boosting collagen production, hydrating, and evening skin tone—all without irritating your skin. $120. Cahaba Dermatology, 2279 Valleydale Rd. #100, Birmingham, AL 35244.
9. Boots + Dress CK Bradley Plaid Dress, $269. Joie Booties, $348. Shea Davis Boutique, 2822 18th St. S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 637-5683.
10. Cookie Fix Frozen Dough + Skillets Make an over-the-top dessert at home with Cookie Fix Frozen Dough to-go. Cookie Dough, $18. Lodge 5-inch skillet, $11.25. Cookie Fix, 2854 18th St. S., Homewood, AL 35209.
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11. Colgate Optic White Professional Take-Home Whitening Kit
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Achieve professional results of a 7-shade improvement at home with ten 10-minute sessions using 9% Hydrogen Peroxide. Fast and easy-to-use. $275. Davenport Dental and Wellness Center, 2940 Clairmont Ave., Birmingham, AL 35205. (205) 277-2297.
12. Boys Jackets Dark grey Glen Plaid Check boys jacket, $90, and navy blazer with gold buttons, $83. Both are high quality design, class, elegance and fashion, using top of the line fabrics. Mon Ami, 40 Church St., Mountain Brook, AL 35213.
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13. Louis Vuitton Keychains
Repurposed Louis Vuitton keychains. $30. Oh My Sole, 4045 Helena Rd., Helena, AL 35080
14. His and Hers Frames by LOEWE
Made in Italy. $485 each. iiis. an optical shop, 1925 11th Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35205. (205) 930-9394. eyeglassesiiis.com.
15. Westover Fountain
Add the tranquility of a water fountain to your outdoor living space. The cast stone Westover Fountain is perfect for smaller spaces at just 28.5� in diameter. DSLD Aquascapes, 5485 US-280, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 437-1012.
16. Soap, Candle & Bath Bomb Magic City Christmas candle with clean, crisp pine scent; Lille & Hazel soaps; and bath bomb hand made locally. Candle $28, soap $9, bath bomb $7. At Home, 2921 18th St. S., Homewood, AL 35209.
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17. Wine Bottle Holder Take your party on the go with this piece by Myra Bag. Comes in a one bottle holder or two-bottle holder. No two are alike! $22. The Sassy Shopper, 1614 Kent Dairy Rd., Suite 202, Alabaster, AL 35007.
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18. Original PK Grill + Smoker Lightweight and durable, the PK has a capsule shape and 4 vents to grill hot and fast or low and slow. $369. Alabama Gas Light and Grill, 2828 Linden Ave., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 870-4060.
19. Idlewild Jewelry Company Necklace Local jewelry designer Tabitha Fraizer creates couture one-of-a-kind pieces, handmade to bring new life to Vintage Baubles. This piece is Sandra made with brooch and beads from the 1960s. $160. Lamb’s Ears, 70 Church Street, Birmingham AL 35213.
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20. Hydrating Holiday Premium HydraFacial HydraFacial with choice of booster and perk. ZO Skin Health products: Exfoliating Polish, Vitamin C Self Activating, BrightAlive Skin Brightner. $425. Rx Wellness Spa, Suite 608, Bld. 1, 833 St Vincent’s Dr., Birmingham, AL 35205. (205) 918-918.
21. Tom Beckbe Backpacks Tom Beckbe Rucksack in olive leather/waxed cotton. Tom Beckbe Field Bag in olive leather/ waxed cotton. $349 each. Caliber Sports, 2822 Central Ave, Homewood, AL 35209.
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22. Gameday Sweatshirts Super soft gameday sweatshirts. $59. The Ditsy Daisy, 16383 Highway 280, Chelsea, AL. (205) 678-6166.
23. Gifts for Her 3-D Headband, 3� diameter, $50. Kim Beige snake tube dress, $130. Lotion -Light and intoxication blends of gardenia wrapped in white exotics, $48. Hemline, 1802 29th Ave. S., Homewood, AL 35209.
24. Duke Cannon Soap A great gift for that difficult to shop for guy in your life. A huge bar of soap by Duke Cannon Supply Co. smells like accomplishment! $6.95. Cedar Creek Nursery, 2979 Hwy. 119, Montevallo, AL 35115.
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25. Bag + Jewelry This bag by Kent Stetson has a battery pack and can convert from clutch to shoulder bag, $212. 3-Carat Diamond & Ruby Bracelet, $11,000. Natural Color Fresh Water Pearls, $250. Wallace-Burke, 1811 29th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35209. (205)874-1044.
26. Cire Trudon Candle
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To have the right gift at the right time - this is the Art of Gifting. Cire Trudon offers universal, timeless and classy pieces that will WOW anyone. Illuminated, 2415 Montevallo Rd., Mountain Brook, AL.
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27. Royal Chain Collection Necklace This 14K lariat necklace is sure to be a headturner! Adorned with 3 polished discs and 1 straight bar, this will get everyone’s attention! $339. Shay’s Jewelers, 3301 Lorna Rd. # 1, Birmingham, AL 35216.
28. Diva Detergent Who doesn’t love the fragrance of Diva Detergent available in 5 different sizes, the perfect gift for anyone? We will even gift wrap it for you! Please Reply, 42 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213.
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29. Ronaldo Designer Jewelry Handcrafted in the USA, made of 14K gold and sterling silver. The I Love You Forever bracelet (pictured center) shows that special someone your love will last forever. $117. Monograms Plus, 1360 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.
30. STAR Necklace The STAR pops up on shoes and shirts and more on an adjustable length choker necklace. $15. Clotheshorse, Rocky Ridge Business District, 2512 Rocky Ridge Road, Shop 104. 2512 Rocky Ridge Rd., Ste. 104, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243.
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31. Earthborn Pottery Rectangular Bakers Earthborn Pottery rectangular bakers Hand-made from Southern red clay, fired at extremely high temperatures to ensure a durable, high-quality product. They are microwave, dishwasher and oven safe — perfect for any of your Turkey Day casseroles. $130. The Cook Store, 2841 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham AL 35223.
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Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce C O N N E C T I O N S
December ‘19/ January ‘20 Events Tuesday, December 3, 2019 5:30 pm-7:00pm Business After Hours~hosted by the Entreprenurial Council The Crafter’s House Shawn Hicks - Owner 3417 Old Columbiana Road Unit A Hoover, AL 35226 (205) 520-8428
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
New Member Orientation 8:30 am-9:30 am Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Offices 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 375 Hoover, AL 35244 ***No Cost but Please Reserve Your Seat! This is for new members, new employees to current members or anyone that wants to network with our newest members!
Save the Date! December 2019 and January 2020 will be a great time to get involved with the Chamber! In December we will hear from Greg Powell, owner of FiPlan Partners as he brings the 2020 OutPowell look. As president and CEO of Fi Plan Partners, Greg Powell advises organizations, families, and individuals who wish to enhance and preserve their wealth. If you are around Greg for just a few minutes, you will quickly learn that he loves to ask questions and create dialogue. These two things are a driving force in Your Financial HouseÆ, a nationally acclaimed man-
agement tool he created which gives clients an insightful and enjoyable experience of bringing all aspects of their financial life under one roof. Referred to as ìthe Builder,î Greg oversees the Brocato building of Your Financial HouseÆ just like the builder who built your home. We will meet on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at the Hoover Country Club. And, make plans to join us on January 16, 2020 at the Hyatt Wynfrey Hotel for the State of the City Address with Mayor Frank Brocato. We will hear a recap of 2019 as well as the plans for 2020 and beyond.
Recent Ribbon Cuttings
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Monthly Membership Luncheon 11:15 am-1:00 pm Sponsor: America’s First Federal Credit Union Speaker: Greg Powell, Fi-Plan Partners: 2020 Outlook: How To Take Control Of Your Market Anxiety $20 per person and we take Cash, Check or Credit Card RSVP’s are required! Call (205) 988-5672 or visit www.hooverchamber.org to make your reservation today! ***For a complete list of events, visit www. hooverchamber.org
Brock’s Gap Dentistry Drs. Lauren Denson, Lauten Johnson, and Al Jones were joined by Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Hoover Chamber Ambassadors as well as family and many friends to celebrate the expansion of their dental offices.
Galleria McDonald’s Renovation The Black Family was excited to have Hoover City Councilors Gene Smith, John Greene and John Lyda along with fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as they celebrated their Re-Grand Opening.
Wrapsody~New Location Wrapsody Owner Christie Howell was joined by her staff, friends and fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce as she celebrated the Grand Opening of the store’s new location at Stadium Trace along Highway.
The Flying Biscuit Owners Morgan and Ann Yund were joined by friends, family and Hoover Chamber Ambassadors for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Hoover location of the Flying Biscuit in The Shops of the Colonnade.
Thursday, December 12, 2019 Coffee and Contacts 7:30 am-9:00 am Wild Roast Coffee Shop Bart Styes - Owner 585 Shades Crest Road Hoover, AL 35226 (205) 790-1803 ***There is no cost or RSVP required!
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HOOVER, AL 35244
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
God’s Warrior Center God’s Warrior Center, Inc. CEO, Deborah Davison was joined by family, friends and Hoover Area Chamber Ambassadors to celebrate the ribbon cutting of her brand new ministry God’s Warrior Center.
Harvest Market Harvest Market owner and CEO Steve Shelton, his partner Jeff Gentry and Dan Moran were joined by Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, City Councilman John Lyda, family, friends, and Chamber Ambassadors for a ribbon cutting.
Jubilee Joe’s Groundbreaking Ceremony Kashif (Kash) Siddiqui announces his $4.4 million development of “The Shoppes at Hwy 150 Crossings,” to include anchoring and relocating Jubilee Joe’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant.
4 Chamber Business After Hours The Mountain Brook Chamber, the Homewood Chamber, the Hoover Chamber and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce joined forces to host one HUGE Business After Hours at Soiree Event Gallery!
Entrepreneurial Council Meeting 8:30 am-9:30 am Speaker: Connie Shepperd Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 375 Hoover, AL 35244
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Professional Development Seminar 11:30 am-1:00 pm Social Media 2.0-In our first Social Media Workshop we focused on building a strategy for engagement. What should you post, when, where and how. Now that you know the basics, let's talk next level. How do you utilize social media ads? How can I keep events and groups engaging? How long am I supposed to 'Go Live' and what if I donít want to be in the video?! How do I measure my success? We will talk about all of this and more in Social Media 2.0 for Entrepreneurs! Led byJenn Campbell, Jenn Campbell Consulting
Thursday, January 9,2020
Cookie Cutter Haircuts Cookie Cutter Haircuts for Kids Owner Todd Hengst and his family was joined by Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as they celebrated the Grand Opening of the newest kid-centered hair salon in Hoover!
The Casual Pint at The Grove The Casual Pint Owner Scott Huskin was joined by friends, fellow craft-beer connoisseurs, Mayor Frank Brocato, City Councilman John Lyda and Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as he celebrated the Grand Opening of Hoover’s newest hangout!
Star Asset Security Star Asset Security Leadership Team, friends, family, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and City Councilmen Mike Shaw and John Lyda were joined by fellow Hoover Chamber members as they celebrated the business’s grand opening.
Profile by Sanford Profile by Sanford Operational Manager Jordan Lusk was joined by Business Development Lead Macey Leininger, staff and clients as they celebrated the Grand Opening of their locations in Lee Branch, Vestavia Hills and The Grove.
205 - 988 - 5672
7:30 am-9:00 am To Be Held at The Offices of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 375 Hoover, AL 35244 Co-Hosted by the Hoover Area Chamber and the Birmingham Referral Group
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Monthly Membership Luncheon 11:00 am-1:00 pm Hyatt Wynfrey Hotel | 1000 Riverchase Galleria. Hoover, AL 35244 Speaker: Mayor Frank Brocato, State of the City of Hoover Sponsor: America’s First Federal Credit Union $20 per person. Cash, Check or Credit Card RSVP’s are required! Call (205) 988-5672 or visit www.hooverchamber.org to make your reservation today!
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Business After Hours 5:30 pm-7:00 pm Whole Foods~Riverchase 3780 Riverchase VIllage, Hoover, AL 35244 205-730-2680
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New Members
AS OF NOVEMBER 5, 2019 uTechnology Transfer LLC 9/3/2019 u European Wax Center - Lee Branch 9/5/2019 uBrock’s Gap Dental Group 9/5/2019 uSCI Restoration Services 9/6/2019 uSouthern Smiles Dental 9/6/2019 uTom Williams Lexus of Birmingham 9/9/2019 uCentsable Inspections 9/10/2019 uTom Williams BMW of Birmingham 9/11/2019 uNorthwestern Mutual~Brian Koon 9/11/2019 uGoo-Goo Car Wash 9/11/2019 uSofos Harbert Renewable Energy 9/16/2019 uMassage Envy Greystone 9/17/2019 uSouthern Prep Academy 9/17/2019 uISHI? 9/19/2019 u Harvest Market 9/20/2019 uOff the Beaten Path Antiques & Gifts, LLC 9/23/2019 u The Surgeons Group, P.C./ Dr. Winn Mathews 9/25/2019 uCAREAVAN TRANSPORT 9/25/2019 uLegacy Insurance~Doug Garrett 9/26/2019 uCHRISWERE & Associates, Certified Public Accountants (CPA) 9/30/2019 uThe Alabama Autism Assistance Program 9/30/2019
uBudgetel Hoover & Budgetel Birmingham 10/2/2019 u ASH Renovations 10/3/2019 u Assurance Planners 10/3/2019 uEddie Hill Consulting Group, LLC 10/3/2019 uAdam Jones Hypnosis 10/3/2019 uAlabama Insurance Agency, Inc. 10/7/2019 u PGA Tour Superstore 10/7/2019 u Daikin Applied 10/7/2019 uSusan’s Hallmark 10/9/2019 uSivirt, LLC 10/10/2019 uRock N Roll Sushi 10/11/2019 uKitchen Tune-Up Hoover, AL 10/14/2019 uOrange Theory Fitness 10/15/2019 uDuluth Trading Company 10/16/2019 uSmoosh - Custom Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches 10/16/2019 u Little Donkey 10/22/2019 u The Seafood King Hoover 10/22/2019 uKabob-Licious 10/22/2019 uFlying Biscuit Cafe 10/23/2019 uCasa Fiesta Grill 10/29/2019 uDear Seniors 10/29/2019 uDreamcakes Cafe 10/30/2019 u700 Riverchase Apartments 10/30/2019
Thank you to our 2019 Board of Trustees
The Presidents Circle of the Board of Trustees 1. Joe Thomas, Chairman, Capstone Financial Group* 2. Terri Q. Williams, AT&T Alabama* 3. Jason Cobb, America’s First Federal Credit Union* 4. Antonio D. Sankey, Antonio D. Sankey & Assoc., LLC 5. John Lyda, Blue Cross and Blue Shield 6. Cris Ferguson, Brookwood Baptist Medical Center 7. Lori D. Moler, Children’s of Alabama* 8. Chris Schmidt, J.D., Daniel Corporation* 9. Jennifer Strickland, First Commercial Bank 10. Mark Garnett, HealthSpring of Alabama, Inc. 11. Joel Smith, Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall 12. Paul Dangel, Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel 13. Jerry Cross, Jefferson County EIDA* 14. Henry King, King Acura 15. Dan Mikos, Mikos-Kampakis Insurance* 16. Jerome Morgan, Jr., Oncort Professional Services 17. Richard Head, RE/MAX Advantage* 18. Karen Waldrop, Regions Financial 19. Charlie Conklin, Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 20. Tim Prince, Hoover’s Magazine, Shelby County Reporter 21. Kathleen Spencer, Spencer Consulting Group* 22. Dan Ellis, TASC* 23. Sam Hess, Jet’s Pizza 24. Sam Hess, Tropical Smoothie 25. David Custred, McLeod Software 26. Bill Powell, Honorary Presidents Circle *Designates a Past President of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce The Board of Trustees Eric Land, ABC 33/40 Television Pete Gagliano, ADT Security Services Steve Swofford, Alabama Credit Union Timothy C. Lee, M.D., MPH, Alabama Heart & Vascular, P.C. Alison Howell, Alabama Power Company Jabo Waggoner, Alabama Senate, District Sixteen Linda Cencula, Avadian Credit Union Veronica Ritchey, BB&T Bank Robert P. (Rob) Fowler, Balch & Bingham LLP Heather McInnish, BancorpSouth Deborah Stephens, Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. Ken Crow, Belk Ashfaq Taufique, Birmingham Islamic Society Leanne Messer, Brookdale Place University Park Jamie White, Brown Heating & Cooling Bud Cason, Bud’s Best Cookies Paul Huckeba, C B & S Bank Garland Stansell, Children’s of Alabama
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Bobby Haynes, Costco Wholesale Randolph Pickell, Diversicare of Riverchase Mike Hawthorne, Edge Realty Group Fred Johnston, Express Oil/Tire Engineers Cody Burns, FOX 6 WBRC Debbie Hultquist, Fresenius Medical Care Keegan Jett, Galleria Woods Retirement Community Leisha Harris, Grandview Medical Center Len Luther, P.E., Gresham, Smith and Partners Neil Thakor, Holiday Inn ñ Hoover Kerry Bradley, Hoover Tactical Firearms Charlie Faulkner, Jefferson Credit Union Tony Cooper, Jimmie Hale Mission Joe McGee, Legacy Community Federal Credit Union Dwight Burrell, Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln Bridget Baughan, McDonald’s Keith Pennington,UAB Medical Center West Todd Beegle, On Tap Sports Café Chuck Herndon, Peoples Bank of Alabama Dr. John R. Phillips, III, PT Orthodontics Hugh Morrow, Broker, RE/MAX Preferred Rick Smith, Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa Mike White, Riverchase Galleria Andy Davis, St. Vincent’s Health System Kyle Hogan, Sam’s Club Sam Dillender, Santek Waste Services Kent O’Rear, ServPro of Birmingham Dr. Jack Schaeffer, Schaeffer Eye Centers Sarah Turner, Signature Homes Alain Gallet, Terracon Monique Holiness, The Home Depot-Inverness Elena Horn, The Home Depot-Riverchase Bethany Bell, The Trails at Cahaba River Gregory Rothfeld, Tom Williams BMW of Birmingham Robert Bailey, Tom Williams Lexus of Birmingham Tara J. Elliott, Troy University Alison Lindsay, WIAT-42 News Phillip Corley, Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC Darin Boykin, Walmart SuperCenter, Highway 150 Richard Edwards, WalMart of 280 Sherry Webb, Webb Payroll Service, Inc. Tanja Bell, Birmingham Airport Authority Daniel Heldreth, Jason’s Deli Ira Levine, Levine & Associates Fred Dumas, Dave & Buster’s Hayley DeShazo, American Family Care Purvi Shaj, Ross Bridge Medical Center Zeke Ethridge, Alabama Vein & Restoration MedSpa David Wanniger, Comfort Care Home Health & Hospice Benjamin Yim, Omniwon Digital Agency Bob Mitchell, Oddessy Early Schools
HOOVER, AL 35244
F i n d U s O n l i ne
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Hoover Chamber Officers and Board of Directors
Chamber Officers Terry Turner 2019 Board President
Terry D. Turner Jr. Gentle, Turner & Sexton Attorneys 2019 Board President
Paul Dangel The HyattRegency Wynfrey Hotel 1st Vice President
Alison Howell Steineker, 2nd Vice President Alabama Power Company
Kathleen Spencer, Hyatt Place of Inverness Secretary
Adam West Warren Averett CPAs Treasurer
Paul Dangel 1st Vice President
Alison Howell Steineker 2nd Vice President
Kathleen Spencer Secretary
Adam West Treasurer Jerome Morgan, Jr., Oncort Professional Servies Immediate Past President
Greg Knighton City of Hoover City of Hoover Liaison
April DeLuca Magic City Law Legal Advisor
Jeff McDowell McDowell Security Services, LLC
Jerome Morgan Jr. Immediate Past President
Greg Knighton City of Hoover Liaison
April DeLuca Legal Advisor
Matthew Allen, Birmingham Fun and Family Magazine
Paul Huckeba C B & S Bank
Ira Levine, CCIM, Levine & Associates
Tynette Lynch Aldridge Gardens
Lynn Ray Business Telephones, Inc.
Joel Smith, Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall, 1st Vice President
David Custred McLeod Software
Mike White Riverchase Galleria
205 - 988 - 5672
Board of Directors uMatthew Allen uPaul Huckeba uIra Levine uTynette Lynch uJeff McDowell uLynn Ray uJoel Smith uMike White uDavid Custred
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OUT & ABOUT
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PHOTOS BY LAUREN DOWDLE
Residents enjoyed sampling dishes and drinks from dozens of local restaurants and caterers at Aldridge Gardens on Oct. 10. 1. Sherrel Moore, Nichole Bailey and Logan Greene 2. Bridget McCurrach and Sophie Anderson 3. Tamara Archer and Ross Beshear 4. Tony and Erin Colbaugh 5. Lauren and Ryker Garrett with Dina Shunnarah 6. Monroe and Thomas Dowdle 7. Ryan Hallmark and Elizabeth Vesson 8. Andrea and Amy Brewers 9. Dana Wilson and Melina Fiorella 10. Taylor Bradsher, Madison Harvel, McKenzie Falk and Chef Glenn Rinsky 11. Anna, Naomi and Brice Jackson 12. Sue and David Cohen
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Let Caliber help you get ready for your next Upland adventure 2822 Central Ave. Homewood. Al. 35209 Phone 987-5800 www.caliberxl.com HooversMagazine.com 79
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HEAD OVER TEAL 5/10K + FAMILY FUN DAY
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PHOTOS BY EMILY SPARACINO
The 10th annual Head Over Teal 5K/10K and Family Fall Festival drew hundreds of people to The Preserve in Hoover on Sept. 21. 1. Mary Anne King, Alex Krallman, Jennifer Smiley, Stephanie Cannon and Kelly Rice 2. Julie Loux and Ainslie McLean 3. Taylor Rosser and Eliza Sanford 4. Lauren Cornelius and Jonathan Cornelius 5. Anne Amick and Jordan Jones 6. David and Lesley Byrd 7. Coretta Collins, Christina Ray and Rachel Messer 8. Hannah Brown, Stepheni Oden and Tori Nix 9. Linda Daniel, William Persall and Jennifer Butler 10. Violet Chaffinch, Morgan Chaffinch and Chase McLain 11. Reaves and Lenora Stroupe with Felicia Lee
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OUT & ABOUT
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BARIATRIC HEALTH & WELLNESS
Do you need to lose a little or a lot ? 9
Bariatric Health and Wellness offers a non surgical weight loss program that is easy to follow, customized for you, and affordable. • Dr John Morgan has helped over 30,000+ people lose over 150,000 lbs. • Lose up to a pant size in 2 weeks • Free Consultation • Experienced Staff
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• Online protocol available • Appetite Suppressants If you are ready for a healthier body and mind, Bariatric Health and Wellness is for you!
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2017 Canyon Rd #17 Vestavia Hills 205-397-8856 bariatricdirect.com HooversMagazine.com 81
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VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
The Hoover Senior Center’s Volunteer Appreciation Party 2019 was held Sept. 13. 1. Anne Frazier, Larry Swetonic and Barbara Traywick 2. Ginger Schweitzer and Colleen Hampton 3. Gene Powell, Tillie Powers and Odessa Usher
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4. Rebecca DeShazo and Joyce Cattelane 5. DeAndre Jackson and Keegan Jett 6. Caroline Boone, Peggy Sawaya, Delores McGill, Pearl Barley, Anita Johnstone and Ethel Taff
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GREYSTONE LADIES CLUB LUNCHEON PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
The Greystone Ladies Club heard a presentation from Urban Home Market about how to decorate a room from start to finish at the club’s October luncheon.
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1. Ursula Norcross, Wilma Thompson and Brenda Arthur 2. Terri Wilson and Kathy McMahon 3. Jennifer Gilbert and Ranea Breen 4. Allison Oswald and Wilma Thompson 5. JoAnn Stephenson and Holley LaGrone 6. Kathi Wallace and Carole Marks
The Heart Knows There Is Only One Right Choice
Paid for by John & Melody Greene
• Preventative Care & Wellness • Surgery • Online Store • Boarding • Grooming Join our Healthy Paws Club anuual wellness plans to save you money while providing your pet the best preventative care! 1665 Montgomery Highway, Hoover. AL 35216 205-822-4779 • PATTONCHAPELAC.COM HooversMagazine.com 83
OUT & ABOUT
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HOOVER HAYRIDE + FAMILY NIGHT
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PHOTOS BY EMILY SPARACINO
Hundreds of people gathered at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road for the 2019 Hoover Hayride and Family Night featuring trick-or-treating, food trucks and other fall activities. 1. Ethan, Ian and Owen Chatterton 2. Jamey, Tasha, Braeden, Luke and Dylan McNeely
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3. Liarra Dunlap and Sean Shepperly 4. Ana Hall and Elizabeth Hagood 5. Kamden Johnson 6. Evie Grace Coker 7. Shelby Grace, Caroline, Samantha and Josh Lamb 8. Mouisa Mayes and Gabby Aniton 9. JeriKay and Zeke Moujoodi 10. David and Heather Limbaugh 11. Wyatt Mount 12. Chris, Lindsay, Bella and Christian Weeks 13. Brynn, Trey and Collin Denny 14. Mary and Joshua Davis 15. Erica Davis 16. Alba, Alini and Luis Diaz 17. Vivian, Guetty and Jordan Anderson
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HOOVER SERVICE CLUB FASHION SHOW
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The Hoover Service Club’s meeting on Oct. 10 at the Hoover Country Club featured a fashion show for game day attire. Clothing was provided by Sylvia Gonda, owner of Gameday In Style Boutique in Inverness. 1. Shelly Shaw, Kim Allen, Vicki Nutter, Debbie Rutherford, Jean Ingram, Darlene Real Higginbotham (fashion consultant), Liz Elliott, Lynne Cooper, Rhonda Boyd, Elaine Thompson and Collette Scott
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Smile out loud
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PIONEER CON PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAWKINS
Jefferson State Community College’s Shelby-Hoover Campus hosted the fourth Pioneer Con, a “celebration of all things geeky,” on Oct. 17.
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1. Hidee Brooks, Jeffrey Cashmore, Reese Palmer, Ashley Arnett, Mauricio Aragon, Raymond Bowman and Solomon Smith 2. Alex Headrick and Missie DeLoach 3. Timothy Courson and Mallory Allen 4. Caleb Woodard and Skye Bartz 5. Austyn Lucas, Lyris McGinnis, Grace Tuell and Jordan Ray 6. Dylan Rooks, Katherine Bodden, Austin Rooks and Dylan Ellison
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MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Hoover's Magazine • 205.669.3131
Need appliance or air conditioner parts? How about a water filter for your refrigerator? We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A-1Appliance.com Acceptance Loan Company. Personal Loans! Let us pay off your title loan! 224 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham. 205663-5821 General Painting -Interior & Exterior -Residential Painting -Top Quality Materials -Window Glazing, Caulking & Priming -We do all the prep work! Call Alex: 205955-3439 American Auctioneers, LLC 1-866-789-5169 american-auctioneers. com Call us for your auctions needs!! •Land/ Acreage•Estates •Residential/Commercial Real Estate•Business Liquidations•Construction Farm Equipment •Lake/ Recreational Properties INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $18.38+/hour + production & safety $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. Apply online at AGSOUTH. COM or call Charlie Seagle at (205) 808-4833 Pre-employment drug test required. Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production,
Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walkin applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774. Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 Bent Creek Apartments. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager. On-site Maintenance. 3001 7th Street. North Clanton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800548-2547(V) 800-5482546(T/A) bentcreek@ morrowapts.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/Employer Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $13.66/ hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www. bc.com Core Focus Personnel 205-826-3088 • Now Hiring Production Mill Worker, Jemison. 12hrs (days/nights), ability to pass drug test, background check, physical. Positions working in outside temperature conditions. Previous manufacturing experience required. $11.75/hr to start.
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DRYWALL REPAIRS SAME DAY SERVICE Offering: •Plastering •Stucco •Water Damage Repair $$FREE ESTIMATES$$ Please Call: 205-502-6023 ETS RESTORATIONS •Retaining Walls •Concrete Work •Demolition •Landscaping •Construction •Tree Removal •Tree Trimming •Bobcat Work •Hardscapes •Hauling Residential & Commercial FREE ESTIMATES!!! CALL NOW (205)209-7787 $2000 SIGN ON BONUS NEW PAY SCALE TO QUALIFYING DRIVERS EVERGREEN TRANSPORT, is accepting applications for local drivers in the Calera and Leeds, AL, area. Must have Class A CDL, good driving record, 1 yr verifiable tractor trailer experience. Good pay and benefits. Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Calera, AL, or call for info 205-668-3316. Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers Competitive pay and benefits. Pre-employment drug test required Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Call: 205-2986799 or email us at: jtate@ forestryenv.com NOW AVAILABLE LPN’s, RN’s 12 HOUR SHIFTS CNA’s Full-time & part-time
Apply in person: Hatley Health Care 300 Medical Center Drive Clanton, AL 35045 Heritage Christian Academy is now accepting enrollment for K3-12th Grades. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! Call 205978-6001, to schedule a Campus Tour! Office Manager FullTime Position Must have experience in Bookkeeping, Quickbooks Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Apply in person: 1110 Highway 31, Calera Call 205-663-1511 Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is hiring experienced -Sandblasters -Industrial Painters Helpers. Must be able to pass drug test and e-verify check. Must be willing to travel. Professional references required. Please send resume to: icgsecretary@hotmail.com or call (205)688-9004 Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com Lancaster Place Apartments. Location, community & quality living in Calera, AL. 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments available. Call today for specials!! 205-668-6871. Or visit hpilancasterplace. com
Now Hiring!! •Caregivers-ADL’s, assist with medications and some lifting 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7pm •Activity Director PartTime •Cooks-some 12/ hr shifts Call Shay McNeal 205-620-2905 Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256245-6500 •TDD#s: 800548-2547(V) •800-5482546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer Are you a motivated professional? Are you looking for a dynamic career? Are you ready to control your own level of success? See why McKinnons’ is an exciting place to work and grow. Now accepting applications for Sales, Service, and Detail Shop. Apply with the receptionist. 205-755-3430 Shake up your career!!! Are you looking for something new and FUN? Milo’s is always looking for great managers to come join our growing and dynamic team. Apply online at miloshamburgers. com Montgomery Stockyard Drop Station at Gray & Son’s in Clanton. Call Lane at 205-389-4530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205-965-8657
MARKETPLACE Oxford Healthcare in Montgomery currently hiring certified CNA’s and/ or Home Health aides in the Clanton, Marbury and Maplesville areas. Must be able to pass complete background check, have reliable transportation and have a strong work ethic. Serious inquiries only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www. Oxfordhealthcare.com Help Wanted - full time/ part time available! Warehouse environment assisting with painting, building, designing props and scenes. Visit www.phobiafactory.com to submit your application. Looking for a house to rent in Shelby County? We can help. Call for available rentals and specials (205)433-9811 Coosa Pines Mill in Childersburg hiring Entry Level Technicians •Full time positions w/ comprehensive benefits package •Starting rate $15.70/hr w/an increase up to $21.93/hr after 90 days •18 years or older with High School Diploma or GED *All successful applicants will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen and criminal background check* Specializing in all your hair care needs SERENITY SALON Barber/Stylist Chairs Available for Rent 2 Convenient Locations •2005 Valleydale Rd. •Pelham •3000 Meadow Lake Dr. Suite 107 Call Nichole 205-240-5428 CLOCK REPAIR SVS. * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can fix your Mother’s clock. Alabaster/ Pelham. Call Stephen (205)663-2822
Electrician - FT Supreme Electric, local-based company in Pelham. Must be willing to learn & work hard. Go to: supremeelectric-al. com Print employment application under Contact Us. Mail to: Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327. Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205)5618118 and get your career started! White Oak Transportation is hiring CDL-A drivers in your area. Great Pay! Excellent Benefits! Visit our website www.whiteoaktrans.com for more information EOEM/F/D/V Acceptance Loan Company, Inc. Personal loans! Let us pay off your title loans! 224 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham 205663-5821 Pharmaceutical Grade Pharmaceutical Grade CBD Oil, a unique concept for sublingual absorption. Helps pain, anxiety, energy & more. Order from home 205-276-7778. www.CiliByDesign.com/ BrendaGlaze Merchandise and DSD (Direct Store Delivery) Workers-Needed! •7am-Start/5pm-End •Base+Bonus •No weekends/nights •Able to travel locally •Health/ Dental Available •Able to lift/push items up to 50lbs,with/without aid of dolly Apply on-line: www.citywholesale.com Interview Call: 205-7954527
Package Store 2398 Greensprings Hwy Homewood,AL NowHiring!! Requirements: •Must be 21 years old •Retail experience •Able to multi-task,work any shift,lift kegs,and check in orders •Beer,wine,& liquor experience a plus Call: 205-322-3333 Commercial Cleaning Company hiring General Cleaners in Columbiana. Part-time position Monday-Friday, 5:30pm until 8:30pm. Duties include sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, sanitizing restrooms and trash removal. Email resumes and/or your contact information to dave@ eaglecleaningservice.com Driver needed to deliver small packages to Birmingham area dentists •Vehicle provided •Have clean driving record+good knowledge of area roads •4/days a week •25-35/ hours Call:205-663-6500 Trucking company hiring qualified local delivery drivers •Must have clean driving/criminal background •Verifiable commercial driver experience •Good communication skills a must Serious Inquiries Call: 205-3109810 $Cash Paid For Used RV’s!$ Motor Homes, Travel/Enclosed trailers, consignment welcome, Cars and Trucks, Pick up available, Mccluskey Auto and RV Sales, LLC 205833-4575
Construction Workers Needed for Local Construction Company. Must be experienced and dependable. Job is five days a week. Salary based on skills. Must have remodeling experience. Call Adam 205-863-9059 Small Engine Technician Full-Time Must have knowledge of: -Lawn Mowers -Pressure Washers -Chainsaws -2-Cycle/4Cycle Weed Eaters MUST BE DEPENDABLE! Call: (205)281-0565 Email: qtr@ mindspring.com Service Tech, Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning AL Cert# 89282 Now Hiring Full-Time Certified Technician • Minimum 5 years experience • Residential, Commercial and Refrigeration • Ipad Experience • On-Call Rotation Apply at: www. servicetechhvac.com Sitting Angels Home Care, LLC NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Doctor Appointments, Bathing/ Dressing Meal Preparation, Errands, Laundry,Light House Keeping and More. Lenette Walls, Owner 205405-6991 Shelby County Openings: Loaders: •1st shift 7am4pm, Monday-Friday •2nd Shift- 4:30pm Finish, Sunday–Thursday $11.00/ hr Packers-1st shift 7am4pm, Monday-Friday $11.00/hr Replenisher1st Shift 6am-3:30pm $12.00/hr Standup Forklift Operators 1st Shift-6am3:30pm $12.00/hr Apply online: www.mystaffmark. com The Harvest Place Christian Church Join us for worship every SUNDAY The Harvest
Place Christian Church 14 Westside Ln, Columbiana, AL 35051 Bishop Wales Williams, Jr Chief Apostle •Morning Worship Sunday 11am •Life Enrichment Classes Sunday 10:15am •Join Us Every Tuesday Night at JOYFEST •Midweek WorshipBegins at 6:30pm www. getyourharvest.org Land For Sale 51acres +/Helena located on South Shades Crest Rd. Great development/investment potential or private estate location $17,500/per acre Includes old farm house good frontage 205-5873090 revcoltom@gmail. com Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc $10,000 Sign-OnBonus! Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers •2yrs Exp•Pass D.O.T Physical/ Background Check •Hazmat Endorsement Apply Online: www. drive4western.com EOE Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in routeservice work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/ pass background/drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@charter.net WASTE PRO IS NOW HIRING CDL DRIVERS & MECHANICS Go online to WWW.WASTEPROUSA. COM to fill out an application
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WHY I LOVE HOOVER
Teresa White
Co-Owner of Customs Café BY HEATHER JONES SKAGGS
Teresa White has made Hoover the home of her small business for 10 years. Teresa opened Coffee-ology Café inside the Hoover Public Library in 2009, and then rebranded the restaurant as Customs Café and relocated to the Plaza at Riverchase in 2016. Teresa says she loves Hoover as the setting for her café because of its cultural diversity. We talked to Teresa about some of her favorite foods, experiences in Hoover and what celebrity she would love to serve. What are your favorite aspects of Hoover? One of my favorite aspects of the city of Hoover is the cultural diversity. Since Customs Café offers cultural cuisines from around the world along with a traditional menu, people from around the globe dine with us and share their family food traditions and food culture. On our “Welcome” chalkboard, we encourage our customers to write “welcome” in their native language. To date, we have 25 different languages on the board. How did the Customs Café get started? Customs Café began as the vision of our family to offer home-style foods from around the world in a restaurant. Since we are an international family, Craig Casiday, my son and business partner, and I learned to find “where the local eats” when traveling abroad. In 2010 we created and served 43 internationally and ethnically inspired menus at our café. With the same spirit of culinary adventure, we now serve a homestyle menu from a featured part of the world each month at Customs Café. 90 December 2019/January 2020
better support, small businesses? Having operated a business in three different cities in Alabama, I have to say that the City of Hoover employees are the most courteous and helpful we have encountered. Also, I’m impressed with the quality of life here – from the large variety of public parks to having one of the best public libraries in the country, Hoover has a lot to offer. Supporting locally owned, family businesses is becoming increasingly important, so I would encourage Hoover residents, city employees and city officials to select a small business to patronize every week. Small business owners are our neighbors and friends. In 2018, I began a group for women business owners, Women B.O.S.S., which meets at 8 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at Customs Café to What is the most delicious dish you have support and inspire women in business. served, or tasted? The most delicious dish we have offered What is the most adventurous thing you is a tie between Bananas Foster Bread have ever eaten? Pudding (from our Louisiana Creole menu It was an adventure to try escargot, but served every March) and Old Berlin Beer my greatest food adventure soon became Cheese Soup (originally featured on our one of my favorite meals: Haggis, tatties German menu but now available every and neeps. A plate of haggis, potatoes and day). Conversations about the former turnips in Edinburgh at “The Last Drop “Baby Doe’s Restaurant” began when we Inn.” serve our Beer Cheese Soup, so I’d say it’s pretty good. If you could serve a dish from Customs Café to anyone in the world—celebrity, What do you love about your job? royalty, political figure, spiritual figure— The rewards and challenges of creating a who would it be? one-of-a-kind restaurant really keep me I would love to serve Queen Elizabeth for going. Craig and I have a great partnership three reasons: I admire her strength of in which he can express his genius in the character and her devotion to the Crown; kitchen and on TV, and I have the reins she would probably set me straight about a over marketing, hospitality and finance. few things (like a grouchy grandparent) and Being self-directed and independent, I that would be delightful; and I would love to enjoy operating my own business. ask what she carries in her purse. I don’t think I can pass from this life without How do you hope Customs Café impacts knowing that. Hoover? Our mission at Customs Café is to share What is one thing that no one knows delicious food and global culture in a about you? pleasant dining experience. We believe that I don’t really have a “bucket list.” I have Hoover is the perfect city for that because hopes and aspirations for my life, but we have so much cultural diversity here. finding out the contents of the Queen’s handbag is about the only thing I feel that I In what way can Hoover continue to, or MUST do.
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Comfortable Medical Waiting
Dedicated Spa Check-in Area
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Private Spa Lounge
Birmingham’s Only Float Pool