OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • INSIDE A RIVERSIDE RETREAT • A CINEMATIC STORY OF VETERANS
sharing
HOPE HOW DIAPERS & WIPES CAN LOVE ON OTHERS
ROOTS & WINGS
VITAL CONVERSATIONS PARENTS WANT TO HEAR
SEED TO CUP BREWING UP FAMILY HISTORY AT SANTOS
WINTER 2021 HooversMagazine.com Volume 10 | Issue 5 $4.95
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A MASTER CLASS IN THE ART OF COOKING. Step inside Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook and head to Habitat Cooking School for an unforgettable experience filled with storytelling and fresh ingredients. Guided by our chef, you’ll learn global techniques, master new skills and uncover the stories behind each dish as you taste your way to a new perspective. Explore classes and reserve your spot at mountain-brook.classesbykessler.com. grandbohemianmountainbrook.com | @GrandBohemianMountainbrook
BY K ESSLER
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T here's no place like
HOME for the holidays
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FEATURES
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SHARING HOPE How Lindsay Gray uses diapers, wipes and period products to love on others.
64 HIT THE ROAD
THE GREAT CAROLINA OUTDOORS Hike, bike and adventure at these three resorts in the new year.
72 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
What should you buy for friends and loved ones this season? Look no further than the shops right around you.
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PHOTO BY MORGAN HUNT
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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PHOTO BY LINDSEY DRENNAN
arts & culture
19 The Next Battle: A Cinematic Story of Veteran Suicide 25 Read This Book: Winter Reads 28 Book Nook: Southern Voices Returns
schools & sports
29 Roots & Wings: Podcast Conversations Parents Want to Hear 36 Five Questions For: Hoover High Basketball Coach Scott Ware
food
& drink
in every issue 10 Contributors 13 From the Editor 15 The Guide 26 Aldridge Gardens 78 Chamber Connection 82 Out & About 86 Marketplace 88 My Hoover
37 Seed to Cup: Brewing up Family History at Santos 46 Five Questions For: The Owners of The Electric
home
& style
47 Riverside Retreat: Modern Flair in the Donnelly Hunting Lodge
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contributors EDITORIAL
Alec Etheredge Meg Herndon Michelle Love Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino
CONTRIBUTORS
Gabby Bass-Butler Lindsey Drennan Amy Ferguson Sara Hancock Morgan Hunt Christiana Roussel
DESIGN
Jamie Dawkins Connor Martin-Lively Kimberly Myers Briana Sansom
Gabby Bass-Butler, Intern
Gabby is currently studying journalism and mass communications at Samford University. She has always had a passion for writing and telling stories, and she can often be found scrolling on Pinterest or sharing her love of books on her Bookstagram, @theliteraryvogue.
Lindsey Drennan, Photographer
Lindsey is a lifestyle and wedding photographer as well as a graphic designer. She has been in the wedding industry for over six years with Lindsey Ann Photography and has a passion for design as well. When she’s not working, you’ll find her renovating her house or playing with her golden, Aiden. You can follow her photography at @liindsey and her renovations @themodernrenovator on Instagram.
MARKETING
Octavia Campbell Evann Campbell Jessica Caudill Kari George Michaela Hancock Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Tori Montjoy Viridiana Romero
Amy Ferguson, Writer
Amy resides in Hoover’s Lake Wilborn community with her husband, Eric, their almost-2-year-old little girl, Avery, and their love-able chocolate labradoodle. She earned degrees from Auburn University and the University of Alabama, but faithfully cheers for the Auburn Tigers. She is a lover of written word, a self-proclaimed book worm and a bona fide social butterfly. During the work week, Amy works for a start-up healthcare company out of San Francisco.
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince Brittany Schofield Savana Tarwater
Morgan Hunt, Photographer
Morgan recently finished her BS in art from the University of Montevallo and MA in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. With her business, Morgan Hunt Media, she works as a freelance commercial and wedding photographer in the Birmingham area. She believes that photographs have a very unique storytelling ability, and her work lives in a space between journalism and fine art.
Hoover’s Magazine is published quarterly 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 $14.95 plus tax 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.
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from the editor
A
ON THE COVER
As we enter the holidays, I’m reminded that as much as I love good food, a festive atmosphere and dressing up, I don’t love parties—at least not big parties. It can be fun for a short bit to mingle around, meet people and come across familiar faces, but quickly I’m longing for a one-on-one coffee date or meal around a small table, to dig into nextlevel depth of conversation. That’s part of why it’s fun to create magazine stories for you where we share in-depth conversations with people doing interesting things in our community that you might not get a chance to have with them at a party. For our cover story, writer Amy Ferguson had a one-on-one coffee-type conversation with Lindsay Gray about the Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank, her background as a nurse and her passion for the bank’s work. But before you get there, I let you in on my conversations with a filmmaker about a very real narrative on veteran suicide, and on a related mental health note, one with two Hoover City Schools employees who host a podcast on mental health and wellness. And then there’s our intern Gabby Bass-Butler’s story of Santos Coffee. Even if you are well acquainted with their drinks and coffee shop, you might not have had a long talk with its owner about their family coffee farms in Guatemala and decades of family history tied to the coffee business that Gabby lets us in on. Just after that is a compilation of several conversations I had about a historic home on the Cahaba River, with its homeowners, with the owner of the furniture store that helped design many of the rooms and with a realtor who knows a lot of the home’s history. Elsewhere in the magazine, our annual Holiday Gift Guide is also full of ideas for those who are both easy and hard to buy for on your list all while shopping local, and as we head into 2022, our Hit the Road feature this season takes you to three resorts in the Carolinas where you can be active in all kinds of off-the-beaten-path ways. As we celebrate the holidays and the New Year, here’s to all the rich stories that our community will continue to live and that our team at Hoover’s Magazine has the pleasure to share with you! Feel free to send ideas for them my away any time.
Sharing Hope
Hoover resident Lindsay Gray is the executive director of Bundles of Hope, which supplies diapers to those in the Birmingham community who live below the poverty line. Photo by Morgan Hunt Design by Kimberly Myers
madoline.markham@hooversmagazine.com
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THE GUIDE
GREENERY SALE DEC. 5 9 A.M.-NOON Aldridge Gardens It’s time to decorate your mantles, mailboxes, and entryways with fresh greenery for the holidays! Find garlands and wreaths, along with bows, mailbox cover frames, and wreath frames at this annual sale. HooversMagazine.com 15
THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN NOV. 17-JAN. 2 Beyond Van Gogh: The BJCC Exhibition Hall NOV. 26-DEC. 24 Christmas Tree Farm Old Baker Farm DEC. 3-19 Holiday Spectacular Red Mountain Theatre Company
DEC. 18
Meadow Brook Runs Valley Bank, Meadow Brook Branch Get in a run to go with the holiday season around the Meadow Brook area—on what
organizers argue is “Birmingham’s most beautiful course.” Walkers and pets on leash are welcome too. The run starts at 1100 Corporate Parkway. Find more info at meadowbrookruns.org.
CITY
STEPS OF REMEMBRANCE Three hundred, forty-three firefighters and 70 police officers lost their lives the morning of September 11, 2001, as they rushed to the scene of the World Trade Center. Twenty years later, Hoover first responders got a very real taste of what that morning was like as they climbed 110 flights of stairs representing the 110 stories of the World Trade Center to remember and honor the fallen. Around 80 participants began the Hoover Climb to Remember in the parking deck of Riverchase Galleria, each wearing a lanyard with a picture and name to honor a fallen first responder from 9/11. Read more of the story from that day on hooversmagazine.com.
DEC. 4
Bluff Park 8K
Bluff Park United Methodist Church Take a slow rolling tour through the heart of Bluff Park including historic Park Avenue 16 Winter 2021
in this new 8K. With only 250 feet of climbing over the whole course, you might even forget you are running on a mountain. All registrants receive a participant T-shirt and post-race pancake and bacon breakfast. Register at runsignup.com.
DEC. 3-22 Holiday Film Series Alabama Theatre DEC. 4 Bluff Park Christmas Parade Bluff Park DEC. 9 Samford Legacy League Christmas Home Tour Various Homes DEC. 11 Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour Various Homes DEC. 14 Birmingham Boys Choir Christmas Concert Samford University Wright Center DEC. 17-19 & 21-23 Alabama Ballet’s The Nutcracker BJCC Concert Hall DEC. 19 The Reindeer Dash Pure Fitness, Vestavia Hills DEC. 22-JAN. 3 Mid-Winter Holidays Hoover City Schools Closed JAN. 17 MLK Holiday Hoover City Schools Closed JAN. 18 Hoover Historical Meeting: Water Is Life: In the Netherlands Hoover Public Library
THE GUIDE JAN. 19-23 Dear Evan Hansen BJCC Concert Hall JAN. 20-29 Birmingham Restaurant Week Winter Edition JAN. 20-FEB. 5 Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 Virginia Samford Theatre JAN. 20-22 Birmingham Boat Show BJCC Exhibition Halls FEB. 11-27 Once on this Island Red Mountain Theatre Company FEB. 11-13 Mercedes Benz Marathon Weekend FEB. 17-20 Cats BJCC Concert Hall
FEB. 23-26
Southern Voices Festival Hoover Public Library The annual festival featuring the voices of artists, musicians and writers is back! The festival week starts off Live from Laurel Canyon—a retrospective of music and stories of from artists like Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles and others who resided there from 1965 through 1976— on Wednesday and Thursday. Next up is An
Evening with Steve Berry on Friday, where he will discuss his latest books, including The Kaiser’s Web and The End of Forever. The Saturday Authors Conference start with Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & the Six and Malibu Rising, in conversation with local author Patti Callahan Henry, and then continues with authors Rachel Hawkins (The Wife Upstairs), Jason Mott (Hell of a Book), Signe Pike (The Lost Queen series), Peter Swanson (Every Vow You Break) and Kevin Wilson (Nothing to See Here). Tickets go on sale on Jan. 10 and can be purchased at southernvoices.info or by calling the box office at 205-444-7888.
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[Newbor n + Child + Family Por traiture] info@apeppermintphoto.com + 205.807.6431 w w w . a p e p p e r m i n t p h o t o . c o m 18 Winter 2021
&CULTURE
ARTS
THE NEXT BATTLE A new locally made film captures the real-life experience of PTSD and suicide in veterans. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED HooversMagazine.com 19
O
On average 17.2 veteran suicides a day took place in 2019, and a new narrative film is putting faces to the stories behind them. Steve Moon, a film producer with 20 years of experience who calls Hoover home, has talked to countless veterans and had them consult on the story of Out of the Fight, which can now be streamed on Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes and Voodoo. Everything you see in the movie is based on actual events, Steve is quick to note too. We talked with him this fall to learn more about the film, its story and its impact. What’s the back story on the film? I was friends with Judy Norton from the TV show The Waltons, and I talked to her about a script about veteran suicide. I know a lot of veterans, and there is suicide in my family. I met a woman named Jan in Denver who was a huge supporter of veterans and who introduced me to a lot of veterans support groups. I ended up meeting with 200 families, and they started telling me their stories of their spouse or son or daughter who committed suicide. It was never one single event that led to it. They all could not adapt to life back in the States based on everything they had seen on one or two or three or four tours of duty. We put together a script and showed it to the Army, Marines and Navy spokespeople, and they said they would love to see it developed. Where did the title come from? My wife came up with the name. I called it After War since they are no longer in it, and she said “How about Out of the Fight?” We watched a series called SEAL Team where they say “C’mon, buddy. You are not out of the fight,” so we realized it’s military language too. What impact are you seeing the film make? It’s making a huge impact in veteran communities. There are 55 VAs, and in all 55 they want to show my film to veterans and their families because it offers them a sense of a hope and is told in such a nonHollywood style. It’s real and it’s honest, and it shows the effects of PTSD and depression. We are getting so many responses where people are saying thank you for telling this story. The biggest thing is these families want to make it not taboo, so that it’s okay to have the depression and to get help. It could be that one day nothing is wrong and then something
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Actress Jordan Jude, left, plays the female lead as the wife of a veteran in Out of the Fight.
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triggers the depression. I think the movie captures that because looking back all these families say they could not have prevented it. What have you learned in making this film? Depression is depression is depression. Whether through a divorce or seeing members of your unit get killed or communities that are devastated by war, it’s whatever you have gone through. It’s never one trigger, though you may have trigger moments. We are all humans. You can come home and have a wife or husband who can’t imagine what you went through but they can be there for you. You don’t cheer up. The opposite of depression is not happiness. It’s survivability. If you have a support group or a spouse or kids or parent, you can get through it. It’s just a challenge. The thing all of those battling depression coming out of military service have in common is they all have a servant’s heart and they feel like they don’t have a place to serve and belong. It’s important that they can start serving again so they have an identity again. How did you work with veterans to ensure the accuracy of the film? When we were shooting all of the battle scenes, I brought in a group of combat veterans from Mississippi to direct them. We had researched on YouTube videos of GoPro videos from combat scenes. I told them to do what they would normally be doing in these combat situations. We didn’t Hollywood-ize it. This is what actually happened as told by veterans and their spouses. One person who watched the film said the battle scenes were great but gunfire wasn’t as loud as it should be. They had full loads with blanks, so it shows Hollywood films amplify the sounds. There’s nothing that glamorizes anything.
Out of the Fight was filmed in the Birmingham area.
The Heart Knows There Is Only One Right Choice
Paid for by John & Melody Greene
22 Winter 2021
Can you share a synopsis of the Out of the Fight?
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Here’s what I wrote that’s on IMDB: “US Army Sergeant Jason Pate returns home after several tours of duty in Afghanistan. Struggling to cope with life at home with his young wife and 5-year-old daughter, Pate finds himself in a world foreign to him. As his family suffers along with him, he decides to seek the help of a support group for returning veterans. He discovers fellow soldiers who are struggling with the same issues he is having, all the while continuing in life-altering situations that affect his entire family. Ultimately, Pate finds himself in a life-changing moment that will determine his fate and silences his demons—a fate that could take him out of the fight.” You filmed the movie in Bessemer and Hueytown. Can you talk more about the film’s Alabama ties? This was an all-Alabama crew with the exception of one person from Atlanta. I also wanted to show potential producers I bring to the state that my crew did this, and we stayed on schedule and within our budget. Hopefully the next time a producer comes to Alabama they will hire them. I wanted to build a strong film community so we can keep doing films in Alabama. We have an incredible tax incentive in Alabama to give encouragement to make films in
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Alabama, so between that and crew and locations, Alabama is a hot spot for film making.
Steve Moon with Judy Norton from The Waltons
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What other films have you made in the state? I just finished producing a Richard Dreyfuss movie that we shot in Hoover with an all Alabama crew, and we are looking to bring more movies to Hoover. A friend of mine that was in Out of the Fight got a phone call from a producer of a Bruce Willis film in LA four months ago, and he wanted to film a Bruce Willis film in Birmingham. I put the crew together and scouted locations. We shot it all in Bessemer, and we filmed one scene in an amusement park. Another time I got a phone call from a producer friend who asked about a dirt track race car movie, so my high school buddy and I scouted for it. The director and John Travolta liked it. They did the dirt track scenes in Talladega but everything else was in and around Bessemer and Hueytown, and our production office was the old Hueytown High School. We are currently shooting a film called Luna in Bessemer and Hoover about werewolves. I have another big one, Bastogne, about the siege of Bastogne in World War II that we will shoot in New Mexico, Hungary or Poland that some local crew will be on.
ARTS & CULTURE
READ THIS BOOK
Winter Reads Recommendations from
Amy Harrell
Hoover Public Library Librarian
Hoover Library’s Sunday NovelTea book group is one of the best parts of my job! Over the last five years, we have read great books, had wonderful discussions over tea (and treats), and met more than 20 authors. Here are some books the Sunday NovelTea group has read that will either make your heart warm or make your heart race. They make for great winter reads and are a few of my favorite books!
Surviving Savannah
By Patti Callahan Based around the 1838 sinking of the steamship Pulaski, this is the story of the “Titanic of the South.” Intertwining present day with the past, the narrative shifts between Everly Winthrop, a history professor and shipwreck expert who is curating a museum exhibition of the newly discovered wreckage of the Pulaski, and Lilly Forsyth, a passenger on the Pulaski. This novel explores how surviving a tragedy changes people, how they decide what to do with their second chance at life and how the past influences the present.
Glory Road
By Lauren Denton Written by one of my favorite local authors, this story is set in Alabama. After a messy divorce, Jessie McBride and her teenage daughter, Evan, came home to Glory Road to live near Jessie’s mom, Gus. Jessie cares for her mom and daughter while running her small business Twig, a garden shop. Just north of Mobile, on Glory Road, three generations of women experience a summer that changes their lives. Garden lovers will find this novel especially engaging because the book includes plant lore, too.
Need to Know
By Karen Cleveland This is not your typical book group read, but a definite Sunday NovelTea favorite. Warning: Once you start this book, you won’t be able to stop (forget dinner and sleep). This espionage thriller will keep you guessing right to the end. Vivian Miller is a wife, a mother of four and a CIA analyst on the trail of a Russian sleeper cell. She can’t trust anyone and must outwit someone close to her to save her son.
Stars of Alabama
By Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South) You can’t go wrong choosing to read any title by this author, but this is my personal favorite. Sean’s storytelling will have you laughing out loud one minute and close to tears the next. Set during the Great Depression, partially in Mobile, Alabama, three separate stories intertwine with the common thread of loving the family you choose. This heartwarming story brings hope out of difficult times.
Dear Wife
By Kimberly Belle I discovered this author at HPL’s Southern Voices Conference several years ago, and I couldn’t put this psychological thriller down until I finished the book. Beth is a woman on the run, desperate to escape an abusive marriage. The twists and turns, secrets and lies, and unexpected ending had my heart racing from the first chapter to the end.
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Are you ready for the holidays? Have you even started your holiday preparations? Christmas will be here before you know it! Aldridge Gardens is ready to help you make this holiday season one of happiness, joy and memories.
Gifts of Art December starts off with Gifts of Art, our traditional holiday art fair where you can fill every stocking on your holiday list with unique gifts from 13 local artists. Now in its sixth year, Gifts of Art breaks from the hustle and bustle of the shopping center world and
enables shoppers to find truly unique items not available anywhere else. From textiles to jewelry to glass-work to woodworking, Gifts of Art has something for every taste and budget. Doors open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2 and stay open until 7 p.m. to allow for
shopping after work. New this year are Aldridge Gardens’ “ornaments” in partnership with the Hoover Kiwanis Club. They are not necessarily holiday themed, so they can have multiple uses throughout the year. Come join the fun and have a cup of cider!
3530 Lorna Road • Hoover, Alabama 35216 • 205-682-8019 • www.aldridgegardens.com • info@aldridgegardens.com
From Our CEO
Greenery Sale Immediately following Gifts of Art, the next Saturday, Dec. 5, adorn your home with FRESH greenery directly from Aldridge Gardens’ Greenery Sale! The Gardens, in conjunction with the City of Hoover, gathers a wonderland of fresh cut greenery for every decorating option. Also
available will be wreath frames and mailbox covers (oasis will be available) for decorating as well as custom wreaths and mailbox decoration. Our incredible greenery is priced per bundle and loose depending on your needs. We will be open from 9 a.m. until noon.
Holiday Party Venue A final thought: holiday parties need to be planned now! And what better way to get in the holiday mood than a party at Hoover’s beautiful Aldridge Gardens, adorned in magical holiday splendor? The Aldridge House will be fully decorated, and our new tent is ready for the holiday season. Our
venue offers flexible spaces from intimate parties to large gatherings. And for those brave souls for whom weather is not an issue, we even offer our open-air pavilion. Contact Amanda Baker for details and pricing: amanda.baker@hooveralabama. gov.
On behalf of the staff and volunteers at Aldridge Gardens, thank you for your support and patronage in 2021. We hope your holiday season is filled with joy, love and happy memories!
Taste of Hoover 2021 is in the books. Thursday, Oct. 5 was a beautiful fall day and was the calm after the storm with perfect weather for our event. Taste of Hoover welcomed 377 visitors, and we can’t thank everyone enough for your support. Our restaurants and vendors provided amazing food and beverage, and the entertainment provided by the Lori Rayne Group was delightful. The Hoover City Schools Foundation and the Hoover Belle volunteers were a tremendous help in assisting throughout the evening, and we appreciate that help each year. With the completion of the Taste of Hoover, we go right into holiday party mode. Remember if you are planning a holiday party, now is the time to book your space. Aldridge Gardens and the Hoover Randle House and Gardens fill up quickly, so give us a call now. This has been a very successful year for Aldridge Gardens. We are thankful for our members, donors and volunteers that help us continue to maintain and grow the City of Hoover’s Aldridge Gardens. There are many ways to contribute to the Gardens, and to see these opportunities please visit our website aldridgegardens.com.
BOOK NOOK W E L C O M E O U R N E W E S T P E D I A T R I C I A N
Sarah Spencer, MD
Southern Voices Returns in 2022 It was October of 2020 when we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Southern Voices Festival due to COVID-19. With the library open now 69 hours per week, some indoor programming returning and all areas of the library open to the public, we are getting closer to being back to “normal,” and with much excitement we are announcing the return of the Southern Voices Festival in February 2022! This festival will be scheduled a bit differently than in years past. The artist event with quilter Cathy Fussell will take place earlier in the month on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with an artist talk at 6 p.m. Her quilts will be on display in the Friends Southern Voices Chair Gallery throughout the months of February and March. The festival continues with Live from Laurel Canyon on Wednesday, Feb. 23 and Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The show is a retrospective of music and stories of some of the most influential artists of the era such as The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and others who resided there from 1965 through 1976. Kicking off the weekend is An Evening with Steve Berry on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. to Hoover to discuss his latest books, including The Kaiser’s Web and The End of Forever. The Authors Conference begins on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. with Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & the Six and Malibu Rising, in conversation with local author Patti Callahan Henry. The day continues with authors Rachel Hawkins (The Wife Upstairs), Jason Mott (Hell of a Book), Signe Pike (The Lost Queen series), Peter Swanson (Every Vow You Break) and Kevin Wilson (Nothing to See Here). Full bios can be found by visiting our website southernvoices.info. Tickets go on sale Monday, Jan. 10 at 8 a.m. You can purchase tickets online or by calling the Box Office at 205-444-7888. Tickets are $40 for An Evening with Steve Berry and $45 for Saturdays’ Author Conference. Lunch will be on your own. Boxed lunches can be purchased from East 59 Café before the festival. We hope you have missed us as much as we have missed you, and we cannot wait to see you in February! *Prices are per person. Processing fee will be added to each ticket.
Carrie Steinmehl
G R E E N VA L E P E D I AT R I C S – H O O V E R 5 2 9 5 P R E S E R V E PA R K W AY, S U I T E 1 0 0 HOOVER, AL 35244 2 0 5 - 9 8 7- 4 4 4 4 ChildrensAL.org/greenvale-ped iatrics
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SCHOOL
&SPORTS
ROOTS & WINGS
We talk substance abuse, stress and anxiety, and more with the voices behind a podcast on these very topics. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY MORGAN HUNT HooversMagazine.com 29
30 Winter 2021
T
Roots and Wings podcast hosts Kandace VanWanderham and Brian Rodgers
There’s a lot that can be said about parenting, but two Hoover City Schools mental health professionals highlight the idea of roots and wings. In the words of Jonas Salk, “Good parents give their children roots and wings—roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them.” And that’s just what they talk on their podcast by that very name, with monthly conversations focusing on topics like social media, substance abuse and gratitude. To learn more about the podcast and what the school systems offers regarding mental health and wellness, we talked with podcast hosts Kandace VanWanderham, mental health and student services specialist at Hoover City Schools, and Brian Rodgers, an intervention counselor at Crossroads School, Hoover City Schools’ alternative school. How did the podcast come to be? Brian: We had a parent email newsletter that
went out about mental health, and I joked that we could do a podcast because it’s easier to get together and talk about these topics. You get thousands of emails, and this instead is a very accessible way to listen to a topic that might be of interest to you. We also have so many people in the district, including six social workers, who have a mental health focus, so it was a great way to connect them and have them around the table. For each episode we discuss the issue at hand and give one or two takeaways. Kandace: We have a lot of faculty and staff who listen to it. There are topics that apply to everyone community-wide. Where does the name Roots and Wings come from? Brian: As we raise kids up from an early age, there is a saying that as parents we want to develop kids with deep roots that give a foundation in our beliefs and in themselves and the wings to fly away HooversMagazine.com 31
attitude of gratitude in kids. Mental health doesn’t always have to be on the negative side. It can be a positive, enhancing thing too. When we cultivate gratitude in ourselves and our kids, it offsets the scales a little bit for all the heaviness we live with.
How does the podcast fit into what else y’all are doing with mental health for the school system? Brian: As far as our mental health approach for the district goes, the students are our primary focus, but the parents need tools to raise these resilient and creative kids too. We also want to reach the faculty. It’s a threefold approach that works together. Which episodes stand out the most to you? Kandace: We do parent seminars; we did one Brian: The one on substance abuse was less this week on stress and anxiety and the impact of scripted, and we had more dialogue. It’s eyeopening how substance abuse affects adolescents the pandemic in partnership with psychologists early and how the pandemic has affected it. We from Children’s of Alabama. You can find out about the next ones on Hoover City Schools social media have seen a rise in all of those issues. Kandace: Social media was the one I was least and on school e-news. Brian: We have also re-implemented a family familiar with. Sometimes we hear the negative side of social media, but sometimes there are some strengthening program with Impact Family positive aspects to social connections that are Counseling. It’s a six-session parent and child psycho education program where they learn virtual. Brian: Our first one was on cultivating the communication skills, boundaries, negotiation in What topics have you covered? Brian: Our first one was on gratitude around Thanksgiving, and then we went into grief in the holidays followed by alcohol awareness and substance abuse and then healthy relationships in February and finally having boundaries in social media.
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the family, and how to deal with anger issues. It’s free and led by counselors. At the high school level we are doing it in-house as an eight-session program called Bridges that focuses on similar topics with parents and children. They practice some of the things they learn. Kandace: We want to do new and innovative things every year. We partnered with the city for Be Kind week pink shirt day, and we partner with the mayor and chamber of commerce. Why do you think it’s important for mental health programs to be a part of a school system? Kandace: Students can’t learn if they aren’t well, including their mental health. Brian: I used to work at Amelia Center, and we had a program at the alternative school for Jefferson County and were able to identity kids dealing with grief. When we put a social worker and counselor that worked with them, the behavior problems almost disappeared because they had a compassionate adult giving them attention and helping them identify coping skills and seeing another path. Recidivism went from 86 percent to 12 percent, which reinforced that belief that mental
The Roots and Wings podcast hosts recommend these books on mental health and wellness.
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health matters. Some of the things kids go through nowadays are things we never had to face, but they are also struggling for independence and feel like they can deal with things themselves. That’s not a healthy place to be at any time in life. What strengths do you see in the generation that are students now? Brian: They are very adaptive and resilient. Kandace: They have faced something that most of us have never had to face in our lifetime, being at home for a year, and now we are having them back to school making those connections again. That’s strength that will become more apparent as these kids get older.
Kandace keeps a collection of stress balls in her office.
What do you get asked about the most? Kandace: Our biggest seminar last year was on human trafficking and how to protect your child from predators. Vaping is always a big issue, and stress and anxiety has been the biggest issue for the past five years. There are some great tips on breathing and a worry box you can use for stress and anxiety. Finding a scheduled time to disconnect is a good strategy too. Here in Hoover use of Veterans Park has been on the increase, and
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The Roots and Wings hosts recommend coloring as a stress-relieving activity.
as we take care of ourselves physically, it helps us mentally. Sometimes carving out that time is hard to do, but it’s important to know not only will you be healthier but your child will be as well. Is there anything else you’d want parents and community members to know about the resources the school system offers regarding mental health and wellness? Brian: Your school counselor is a resource for your child. So many times
we forget when we are going through stuff that they are there. Sometimes a parent might not think to tell the counselor if there is a death of a loved one, but they often have preexisting grief groups and can work through different activities. If they need outside resources, the counselor knows who to refer you to as well. Kandace: A lot of things we offer for the school system regarding mental health and wellness are open to the whole community. If we are all communicating the same message, it makes a bigger impact.
LISTEN IN Roots & Wings makes a great listen on your drive to and from work, school or activities. Search for “Roots & Wings” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to queue it up.
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5
SCHOOL & SPORTS
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Scott Ware
Hoover High School Boys Basketball Coach PHOTO BY TIMECAPSULE IMAGES
We’re officially into basketball season, and Scott Ware is ready to take on his second season as head coach of the Hoover High School Boys team. Before taking over in that role in the summer of 2020, he served as the lead assistant coach under Charles Burkett for seven years. Scott grew up in Sipsey, a small town outside of Jasper, and was previously the head coach at his alma mater, now called Walker High School. Here’s what he had to say about the game. Why did you get into coaching basketball? I have had a basketball in my hands since I was old enough. I love the game. Athletically I was not the most blessed person, so that led me more into learning the game and sharing it with the people who do have the athleticism to do things on the court. I have always had a love for sports in general too. My brother is a school baseball coach, and my father was a coach. It was in our blood.
teams we played almost every one of them. We split with Oak Mountain who went on to win the state championship. We beat them twice, and they beat us twice. We played well against Ramsey at home and had an outstanding game against Vestavia at home. We are disappointed we didn’t beat Oak Can you talk some about team culture Mountain the fourth time, but for the tough schedule we played and with COVID the and dynamics? We are blessed. We have good kids. We guys did a really good job at having a have had teams before with a team average successful season. What makes you passionate about the of a 3.98 GPA. Outside of the game of sport, and what did you learn working basketball they strive to do good things. I What can we expect to see from this under former Hoover coach Charles can’t tell you how many times we are at a year’s team? We will be young as far as experience goes restaurant and people brag about the Burkett? and will probably have some growing pains behavior of the guys. They carry themselves Ultimately basketball is a team game. A early. What I like about this team is how well and represent the community and team will defeat an individual any day. When you get into the game, you see that. A school and their families really well. It they play for each other. I think we will try to lot of people who don’t quite understand speaks to the way we play on the court. We win with numbers. We don’t have one guy basketball think they are just running are intense, and we want to win. I think that we will turn to; it will be more of a team around. I like the organized chaos of it. what they do off the court plays into that thing. This group pulls for each other and looks out for each other. We had a really Charles Burkett and I think about the game with that same attitude and mentality. good summer, and we are trying to be a lot in the same ways. He was a great player, excited about small wins. A lot of people Can you give some highlights of last so I think I got to see more of the player side don’t understand the pressure you are under season? from Coach Burkett. That’s helped me grow. Last year we played the toughest schedule at Hoover because of all the state We like to play full court man-to-man in the state. From 4A to 7A out of final four championships at the school. 36 Winter 2021
defense and a high-paced game with more and more possessions. At the same time we are both passionate about guys taking really good shots. Both of us were good at having conversations so the guys understand their role in order for the team to be successful.
&DRINK
FOOD
SEED TO CUP
Santos Coffee is brewing family history to each cup of coffee they brew. BY GABBY BASS-BUTLER PHOTOS BY MORGAN HUNT HooversMagazine.com 37
I
In the 1930s, two women set out to save the coffee farm that they called home in Guatemala. Pulling together their dowries and selling their jewelry and cows, they did just that and managed to become the first female coffee farmers in the region at Las Margaritas, a farm that had been in their family since 1895. Fast forward 90 years later, and history is repeating itself as Wendy Madden and her sister Katie Ellis preserve that same family’s legacy with a chain of retail coffee shops that brings their Guatemalan heritage here to the United States. At Santos Coffee, they’re serving not only coffee but also a piece of history in every cup they brew. Established in 2019, Santos Coffee comes from the sisters’ farms in San Antonio, Santa Margarita and San Nicolaus in Guatemala, so it’s fitting that the name means “saint” in Spanish. Wendy has fond memories on the three farms as a child. “It really sparks the passions within you because it’s more than just making money,” she says of her ties to the coffee business. “It’s providing a great place for the community to come in and sit down and enjoy something from our family that we’ve loved.” In Santos’s coffee shop located off Stadium Trace Parkway, you can see photos and paintings depicting these farms, each with a story behind it. “I have, and [Katie] does too, scars on our knees from when we fell on the coffee drying patios,” says Wendy. “I cannot tell you the amount of coffee beans I’ve had stuck in my ears and my nose because we were jumping in the coffee silos. Christmas is a very special time at Santos, as we always we spent every Christmas at the farm.” On those farms, the coffee is made using the harvesting and processing methods Wendy and Katie learned from their grandparents, which allows Santos Coffee to be a part of every stage of the coffee bean’s life, from the moment it’s planted to when it’s brewed into your cup. Wendy’s uncle even owns the dry mill where the coffee is packaged before being imported to America. “So we can do a lot of things differently because our company is what we call a completely vertically integrated coffee concept,” Wendy explains. “That allows us to import coffee that’s a lot fresher and prepared to higher standards than what is common in the industry.” Because Santos is so involved in each stage of that lifecycle, it allows for them to produce coffee that you can only get from Santos. “When we harvest 50 bags of a particular coffee micro lot, we’re only selling it at Santos; that means nobody else in the entire world, or planet can have that coffee but us,” says Wendy. From frescas to the mint latte to crepes, you are sure to find something fun to eat or drink at Santos. “We’ve
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HooversMagazine.com 39
tried to embed into our menu a lot of things that are from Guatemala because that’s part of our heritage,” says Wendy. Crepes are common in Guatemalan coffee shops, and when Wendy moved to the States, she did could not find any that she loved. So she decided to offer them at Santos. The crepes were not first introduced at Santos though, but at Crimson Café, a coffee shop Wendy owned in Tuscaloosa in 1992, when she first moved to Alabama. “A lot of the recipes we have here, like the Mocha Milkshake and the Artichoke Flatbreads, were Crimson Cafe recipes,” she explains. You can also find an homage to Guatemala in the stylized version of the Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, in their logo and on a mural outside the shop. Down in Guatamala, Wendy and her family will spend hours upon hours in their coffee cupping lab, tasting and rating the coffee, to make sure only the best is sent to Santos. Though Wendy has sufficient experience and knows how to “cup,” she leaves most of the cupping to the experts. “My grandfather and my uncles are coffee cuppers,” she says. “It takes 20 years to become a truly experienced one and be able to tell if the coffee you’re cupping was over fermented or if it is green. Was it dried on a patio, or dried in a machine? What are the flavor notes of the coffee?” Not everyone can tell. Still, she has fine-tuned the art of making a cup of coffee at home. She recommends making sure you have the right grinder (and if not Santos can grind your coffee beans for you) and storing the coffee away from light in an airtight container. You can buy whole coffee beans from Santos so you can have the taste of the coffee shop in your home. They will even roast small batches of coffee specially for you and at your preferred roast specifications. In Wendy’s opinion, though, the best coffee is however you like it. “Coffee is such a personal thing, whether you like it with sugar or not, with cream, or with flavor or none,” she says. When it comes to her own cup, Wendy loves using her old Corningware percolator coffee pot because it reminds her of the way she used to drink coffee as a child on the farm. If she’s ever at any coffee shop or interviewing a new barista for Santos, she prefers a plain whole milk latte. It is fitting that those lattes got their start in Hoover since Wendy has been a resident there since 2004 and also both of her kids went to Hoover High School too. Since opening the Hoover shop in December 2019, Santos has added two more locations in downtown 40 Winter 2021
LOUVRE-INSPIRED When you walk into Santos, a big red coffee grinder sits at the center of the shop. Wendy and her sister saw a grinder at the Louvre in Paris and knew the moment they wanted one for their store. They struggled to find one just like the one in the Louvre, and the few times they stumbled on one it was museum quality and at museum prices. Then one day while shopping for decor for the store, the sisters went into Highway Pickers, a vintage store in Cullman County, and as soon as they walked in, they saw a grinder just like they wanted at a price that worked for them. HooversMagazine.com 41
Birmingham, and a fourth location will be opening at the crossroad of Cahaba River and Acton roads. They will also inaugurate their brand new coffee roastery and coffee lab in February of next year. Wendy is humbled by the acceptance and appreciation of Santos’ customers and hopes to expand to other states soon. While Wendy oversees these Birmingham shops, her sister Katie is usually in Guatemala, watching over their coffee farms and handling most of the operations there. “[Katie] is also an architect, and design artist, so she does a lot of things from helping us with the logos and website,” says Wendy. If you look at the store, you will see three coffee bean sculptures that Katie made and had them shipped to the US. “I have a business degree and I’m a lawyer, so I do a lot of the legal work and negotiate leases, work on permits and perform other admin duties.” It’s no surprise that the sisters started drinking coffee young too. “We had an aunt, who used to run a little store, a very small country store, behind the [coffee] processing plant,” says Wendy. “She used to have sweet bread and would teach us how to dunk them in coffee. We were 5 years old, and that’s how we started drinking it.” Wendy holds moments like those dear in her heart and hopes each customer feels the sacredness of her family’s legacy each time they come to Santos. “I want customers to be able to feel the energy of my great-grandparents and my
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LEFT: Wendy Padilla-Madden inspects a coffee plant on a recent trip to her family’s farms in Guatemala. RIGHT: This coffee silo bar sits on Santa Margarita, one of Wendy’s family’s coffee farms in Guatemala.
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PIECES OF HISTORY Almost everything in Santos has a story behind it. When you go through Santos drive-thru, it is not hard to notice the milk truck that you order through. It’s an actual Model T Ford truck that was used to deliver milk in its day. What most people don’t know is that that milk truck is an actual prop from the movie Zelda about the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, an Alabama native.
44 Winter 2021
grandmothers and recognize that this is a family-owned company run by strong and resilient women walking in the shoes of those who came before them,” says Wendy. “Also I want our customers to look around our stores and pay attention to every detail around them, because it all has a story.” Wendy’s mention of female empowerment takes us back to the story that we started this article with. Katie found an armoire with letters between their paternal grandmothers discussing that the farms were going to be mortgaged. The two women did not want to lose the farms, so they set out to rescue them and did just that. “These were women who didn’t have any formal education. It was in the 1930s, where we as women had no opportunities. We couldn’t own properties. It was very difficult,” Wendy says. “And yet, they were able to be successful. My grandmother became a very well-respected coffee farm-owner in Guatemala and that was unheard of. “Times might have changed in many regards, but not all things have. “Coffee is in our blood,” Wendy says. “I’m sure if you take a blood sample from me, it’ll come out brown because coffee is in there.” Santos Coffee Hoover location is 1021 Brocks Gap Parkway, Suite 101. You can also find them online at santoscoffee.us and on Instagram @santoscoffee or Facebook @santoscoffee.
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FOOD & DRINK
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Laura Smith
Owner of The Electric PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Bluff Park residents Ben and Laura Smith had a dream—a dream for a place where you can watch the game and have a beer, where you can bring your kids, where you can meet your neighbors after work, where you can get a similar experience to going out downtown without leaving Bluff Park. And that’s just what they have brought to life at The Electric, one of the many restaurant names on Ben’s running list of concepts in his head that fit the vibe they were going for with this one. Stop by Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at 2146 Tyler Road, Suite 212. You can also catch happy hour specials with $1 off beer and wine and $2 off house cocktails Tuesday-Friday 4-6 p.m., and you can talk to Ben and Laura about box lunches, catering and parties too. Where did the idea for The Electric come from? My husband, Ben, and I have a combined 32 years in the service industry. That’s how we met and it was both of our careers, and it’s been Ben’s dream for forever to own his own place. He is one of the owners of Paramount too. After we moved to Bluff Park six years ago, we saw Bluff Park needed a spot with a bar and good food that was super accessible. Ben just happened to meet our landlord Ken Harden and saw the potential for the traffic with the Pig where it is currently, and he was impressed with Ken and the location.
made ranch and house made beer cheese. It’s saucy deliciousness. I also really love the Camilla. It’s got chicken breasts, house made white barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and spring mix on sourdough from Birmingham Breadworks. The beer cheese dip is super popular, and right now we have chili and loaded chips with chili, beer cheese, chipotle crema and pickled red onions (pictured above).
What about the drink menu? We have one cocktail of each spirit and a full bar so we can make anything to order. My favorite is Velvet Elvis. With a George Dickel Rye whiskey, Montenegro, What are some of your favorite menu Hoodoo chicory liquer and cocoa bitters, it’s like a spin on an old fashioned. Our items? My favorite is the Boardman, Ohio: frozen guava margarita is the most pastrami, pickled red onions, house popular though. We have all packaged beer and some local brews and domestics. 46 Winter 2021
We also have 9-ounce cans of wine. What’s the look and feel of the interior like? We wanted it to feel new vintage. I love anything from the ‘70s, so we wanted to pay homage to that throwback with a lot of plates that look like the ones you had at your grandma’s house growing up. We wanted that nostalgia, but we also wanted it to be new and fun so it appeals to all generations. You have three kids, ages 12, 7 and 4. What are their favorite parts of The Electric? My kids really like our outdoor area with giant Connect 4 and Jenga. They love the grilled cheese and PB&J, and my 7 year old loves the TJ: ham, peperoni, Swiss cheese and slaw on a potato roll with garlic mayo.
&STYLE
HOME
RIVERSIDE RETREAT
The Patel family has brought modern flair to the 1928 Donnelly hunting lodge as they have made it their home. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY LINDSEY DRENNAN HooversMagazine.com 47
Sunroom The Patels put up Turkish lights from Istanbul in this glassedin room overlooking the pool. They use the space as a prayer room.
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The Donnelly Lodge was built in 1928.
I
If you were to travel back to the first half of the twentieth century, you might meet the Donnelly family at either their stately home on Highland Avenue in Birmingham or their hunting lodge in the country. They spent weekends and vacations out at the lodge on the Cahaba River hunting, fishing, distilling liquor and gathering friends who had cabins on the property that surrounded theirs. Today only one of those cabins remains, but the 1928 lodge still sits in its bucolic glory, now nestled behind the Walmart on John Hawkins Parkway. The Donnelly family sold it to Dr. Arthur Ludwig, a doctor at UAB, in the 1970s, and he added on a wing of bedrooms and living areas full of ornate details. With the addition, four levels cascade down the hill to the left of the home’s entryway toward the Cahaba River, giving each of the bedrooms a view of the river from its own level with its own balcony. Altogether the cozy lodge of a home has 10,000 square feet and is unlike any of the other homes in the Cahaba River Estates around it. When the Patel family bought the home and the 8 acres that surround it in 2020 with real estate agent Mo Deeb, they wanted to preserve the lodge’s originality while modernizing it with elements of their more contemporary style. To brighten up rooms that often felt like a cave, they put up
sheetrock over some rock walls, knocked down walls that closed off some rooms and brought in lots of white paint. Working with Scandanavian Design & Leather Gallery owner Theresa Thornton, Tanveer Patel selected an eclectic mix of contemporary furnishings and art that connect with the elements of the rustic hunting lodge that still remain, blending Tanveer’s style with the home’s heritage. In keeping with the Indian tradition of joint family, Tanveer and her husband, Maqbool, both entrepreneurs, share the home with their younger son Ozair, an engineering student, and their older son and daughter-in-law, Adil Patel and Haniya Halim, a software engineer and resident physician in psychiatry, respectively. The family calls the house “Aashiyana,” which means “home” in Urdu—the same name Tanveer’s father gave her family’s home. Perhaps more than anything, the lodge (as it’s still known in the neighborhood) continues riverside respite amongst nature to all who drive up almost 100 years into its life. “You are in the city, but it feels like you are in the country,” Tanveer says. Editor’s Note: Thanks to Judy Hall Collins, a realtor and Cahaba River Estates resident, for sharing information on this home’s history for this article. HooversMagazine.com 49
Living Room Two half moon sofas from Scandanavian Design & Leather Gallery face each other in this spacious room that opens to the dining room, offering plenty of seating for both entertaining and enjoying the space with their family. The abstract paintings behind one of them add a bright pop of color to the room too.
The Patel Family
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The hand painted brown and gold doors on this buffet resemble a wood grain with gold accents.
Dining Room A long hand finished black ebony Caracole table from Scandanavian Design & Leather Gallery blends the home’s dark stone with the white elements of its interior design.
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Kitchen The large vent hood above the kitchen’s new island harkens back to the home’s days as a hunting lodge, while the new metallic accents and white countertops are representative of the more modern, glamorous elements the Patels have brought to the home.
Outdoor Living Area This spacious deck above the garage offers a retreat of a space overlooking the property’s lake. Rebecca Kinney designed the greenery for the space and the surrounding yard.
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Entryway Glass flowers greet visitors on the ceiling when you enter the home, with white and gold artwork that brightens up the area that is visible from the living room as well.
Guest Room Tanveer wanted each bedroom to feature a different accent color, and this space for guests pops with coral lamps, pillows and art.
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Master Bathroom The massive ornate tub in this master space was installed when Dr. Arthur Ludwig added onto the home in the second half of the twentieth century. Adjacent to it the Patels brought in more contemporary tile and mirrors in the vanity area.
54 Winter 2021
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Sharing How Lindsay Gray uses diapers, wipes and period products to love on others.
T
BY AMY FERGUSON PHOTOS BY MORGAN HUNT
Twenty years from now, when we reflect back to the coronavirus pandemic that shook the world and disrupted all of our lives, what will you remember? For me, I’m confident it will be nurses: the ones on the front lines who repeatedly put themselves in harm’s way, sacrificing their own physical, mental and emotional health to fight the pandemic; the ones who worked extra hours in departments they’ve never practiced in before; the ones who remained at the bedside, holding the hands of the dying so they wouldn’t be alone. Even in the pre-pandemic world, which seems like a lifetime ago, it always took a special breed of human to serve as nurse. The gig demands a servant’s heart, a supernatural capacity to remain calm under pressure, and the herculean ability to offer kindness and compassion to others in their most vulnerable moments. Hoover’s very own Lindsay Gray is one of these superhumans. Lindsay originally hails from Pell City, but has
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lived in Hoover for the past 17 years with her husband and three children. When she isn’t going above and beyond for others, she can be spotted exploring around the Moss Rock area or relishing all the magical flavors one can discover at the Tasting TBL in Ross Bridge. Raised by a mother and father who were both nurses by trade, Lindsay’s fascination with the complexity of the human body was inevitable. Her own career in nursing began at one of Birmingham’s largest hospitals, where she worked for a decade as an obstetrical nurse and childbirth educator. In this role, her passion for women and children rose to new heights with each passing year, but her perspective as a young nurse shifted when the hospital began serving Medicaid patients. “[In serving a new demographic of patients], I discovered that birth isn’t always an exciting time for a very large group of women in our community,” Lindsay says. “For some, it’s
Bundles of Hope Executive Director Lindsay Gray
extremely stressful having little to no support system.” One woman in particular Lindsay will never forget. The patient was young, vulnerable and certain she was in labor, but it was a false alarm. Instead of packing up to head home with her partner or support person, the nurse caring for the patient was obligated to call a taxi to escort her home. “I had a hard time understanding how she had no one to call to pick her up,” Lindsay recalls. “I wanted to know where she was going, if she was going to be safe and if there were things that she needed. At this same time in my personal life, I met Jesus. The concept of love in action and serving our neighbors really collided all at once in different areas of my life.” So when members of Lindsay’s church formed a local diaper bank in 2014 and asked her to participate as a founding board member, she was
of course all in. As an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank set out to supply diapers to those in the Birmingham community who live below the poverty line. In its first year alone, the nonprofit served over 1,000 families and distributed nearly 20,000 diapers. And while the team was excited to have reached so many people, they were only getting started. “We always had our eyes set on growth,” Lindsay says. “We quickly realized we were onto something that could be scaled into a mammoth mission.” In 2017, Lindsay was named the executive director of Bundles of Hope and has elevated every aspect of the organization since. Fast forward to 2020. As the story now goes, an unexpected and devastating pandemic hit families all across the world, and suddenly, the need for organizations like Bundles of Hope was HooversMagazine.com 59
GET INVOLVED WITH
Bundles of Hope DONATE DIAPERS Donate new as well as opened/outgrown packages of diapers of any size as well as pull-ups, wipes and period
products. Donations can be dropped off at The Changing Station, 1430
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203.
You can also call (205) 607-2112 to schedule a pick up.
JOIN THE PERIOD PACK Sign up to provide period products to a neighbor in need of access to this vital resource for only $10 a month.
60 Winter 2021
at an all-time high. And so was Lindsay’s energy, focus and high-level of determination to meet the physical needs of our community’s tiniest residents as well as the emotional and/or financial needs of their caregivers to get them out and on the other side of the coronavirus crisis. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we amped up our network of volunteers to meet vital needs of babies and their families,” Lindsay says. “We were able to provide diapers, wipes, and other essentials by safely implementing drive-thrus, door deliveries and quarantine kits.” And the impact of these efforts was truly staggering. In 2020, Bundles of Hope shared $1,173,356 in resources, which translates to 731,356 diapers and 17,137 families
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME Help out by bundling diapers on the
first Saturday of the month. The team
repackages diapers into bundles of 25 and each family receives two bundles a month, a week’s supplemental supply.
HOST A PRODUCT DRIVE They are easy to organize and can be
hosted by an individual or group such as
an office, church, school, or club. Bundles of Hope will provide collection bins and
served. And thus, a new bar was set. In 2021, Lindsay’s vision of success for the organization was defined as distributing at least 1 million diapers by partnering with other nonprofits and ministries across the state to impact as many Alabama families as possible. And they are well on their way to reaching that goal. Jessica McLean, the diaper bank’s program resource officer, has been a key player for Bundles of Hope ever since she became involved almost six years ago. She fell in love with the intimacy of the small group of women who served local families with diapers and now considers it a privilege to follow the lead of her boss, mentor, fellow mother and friend, Lindsay Gray.
informational flyers.
STAY INFORMED Be sure to sign-up for the Bundles of Hope monthly email to stay in the know on
events, volunteer opportunities, etc. You
can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram at @BundlesDiapers. For more information on how to get involved, visit bundlesdiaperbank.org.
HooversMagazine.com 61
“Lindsay lives and breathes this mission,” says Jessica. “Our team is composed of strong capable women who love our mission and give a lot to it, but we all draw from Lindsay’s love, guidance and passion for this work. She has a genuine desire to affect change and connect with people on the most basic human level, and always goes the extra mile to make sure those we serve feel respected and loved. She is a true force for good.” As we slowly emerge from the pandemic in 2021, Lindsay continues to use her forces for good and has worked with her team to expand the Bundles of Hope diaper drives to include all elements of a woman’s journey from postnatal care and breastfeeding to periods—including a movement to destigmatize and normalize this very natural part of human life, a phenomenon that has come to be known as “period poverty.” “This is a silent, under-discussed need in our community,” Lindsay says. “We have to start having conversations about our periods.” The reality is that one in five American girls and millions of women worldwide cannot afford the hygiene products they need on a monthly basis. That means there are barriers for participating in activities, going to school and more. “We aren’t having it,” Lindsay exclaims. “We are going to do something about it, and we are going to change some things.”
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2015
2016
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The Great Carolina Outdoors Hike, bike and adventure at these three resorts in the new year. By Christiana Roussel | Photos Contributed
Once the holidays are in our collective rearview mirror, most of us look at the new year as a fresh start—a time to refresh, set new goals, and embrace new habits. We vow to eat better, exercise more and maybe indulge a little less. With those goals in mind, why not ease into things with a vacation geared to healthier habits? After all, there’s no rule saying that these mindful changes have to be monastic or arduous or even not fun. With a vacation to any one of these resorts, you might just fall in love with being the healthiest version of yourself. 64 Winter 2021
choose-your-own
Lowcountry Adventure Palmetto Bluff | Bluffton, South Carolina Situated on the bucolic South Carolina coast, Palmetto Bluff is a destination that combines worldclass hospitality with impeccable cuisine, set against a backdrop of Spanish moss-laden trees, sandy walkways and plough mud teeming with activity. Guests at the resort can choose to stay at the signature Montage Resort on property or at one of the private homes available. No matter where you lay your head at night, you’ll be ensconced in comfort and graceful hospitality, ensuring you’re plenty rested for days filled with outdoor adventure.
Getting There Hopping a flight to Savannah is the fastest way to get to the Lowcountry, but there are plenty of guests who opt to drive. From the airport, it is a quick car ride to the resort.
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HIT THE ROAD
What To Do Honestly, there are not enough hours in the day to explore everything Palmetto Bluff has to offer, but we suggest you try. Start by picking up complimentary bicycles and Bike the Bluff—a 6-7-mile ride through Palmetto Bluff’s 20,000 acres including historic architecture, wildlife and views of the May River—just to get the lay of the land. From there, you may decide to hike, shoot sporting clays, swim, play tennis, paddleboard, fish, canoe, ride horses, play golf or go boating. Or maybe this is the vacation where you try something totally new—pickleball. As the fastest growing sport in the world, there are pickleball courts popping up in cities from coast to coast. Easy for beginners to learn, fast-paced and fun, the pickleball “addiction” is being embraced across generations. Six pickleball courts at Palmetto Bluff’s Wilson Lawn and Racquet Club make this the ideal spot to give it a go.
Where To Eat All of that exertion is bound to spark a strong appetite. On property, there are numerous dining options, from casual to white tablecloth, to satiate yourself. The town of Bluffton certainly merits a visit if you are in the area, and dining at FARM might be the best reason of all. Chef Brandon Carter uses fresh blue crab, hand-picked by local Gullah women at the nearby Bluffton Oyster Company, in his blue crab rice dish (pictured on right). Anson Mills rice provides the base for this dish while sofrito and fried shallots round out its savoriness.
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Hiking Among the Smokies
The Swag | Waynesville, North Carolina Named for the space between two mountains, The Swag resort’s 250-acres nestle up against the Great Smoky Mountains in westernmost North Carolina, making it the perfect getaway for hikers and families who enjoy intergenerational active travel. This mountaintop idyll began as a private getaway for Deener and Dan Matthews, a couple who enjoyed hosting friends from nearby Knoxville. In 2018, The Swag was purchased by Annie and David Colquitt, who had honeymooned at The Swag and fallen in love with the destination. The Colquitts’ adoration is apparent in the very thoughtful updates they’ve added since taking the helm—a cozy spa, more lawn games, outdoor patio dining and an experts-in-residence program.
Getting There The journey to The Swag is almost as lovely as the destination itself. From Birmingham, you can either go through Atlanta and head north, or skip that inevitable traffic and go through Chattanooga and Knoxville, a far prettier and less snarled drive for sure. Make sure you savor the final part of the journey up The Swag’s driveway. It is fun to watch the thermometer on your car drop several degrees as you traverse the switchbacks to reach the resort. The resort operates mid-April to Thanksgiving.
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HIT THE ROAD
What To Do At the core of The Swag is rest. For some, this looks like solo hikes out to beloved knobs with epic views. For others, it means stashing the cell phone and laptop for days on end, reconnecting with family and making new friends in fellow travelers. Badminton, croquet, horseback riding and plenty of swanky Stave puzzles round out the offerings which only serve to switch off the digital brain, resetting your mental bandwidth. Picnics are happily packed for those wishing to be off exploring for the day, and the only traffic jam you’ll find is at the multitude of hummingbird feeders that dot the expansive porch. Another popular activity at The Swag are naturally intimate weddings held out on Gooseberry Knob. Some weddings have even been so small as to necessitate the asking of the innkeeper to serve as witness to the union. Full buyouts of the resort for a wedding, anniversary or family reunion can make any occasion that much more private and special.
Where To Eat The Swag is truly a destination away from it all and as an all-inclusive resort your stay includes all meals, which can be enjoyed family style with other guests (a fantastic way to make new friends) or at private tables. “Social Hour” precedes dinner each evening, allowing guests to mingle in a treasured and convivial setting, sharing stories of the day and settling into a relaxed evening.
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Cycling Through Europe
(or so it feels)
Hotel Domestique | Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina Named for the racing position professional cyclist George Hincapie held in his Tour de France career, the Hotel Domestique provides an elevated biking experience in a bucolic mountain setting. Located just outside Greenville, South Carolina, the resort has the look and feel of something straight out of the Italian countryside. Tall slender cypress trees line the terrace of the barrel-tiled roof with stucco-façade. The muted palette of the décor is punctuated by a punchy orange which feels richly Mediterranean.
Getting There From Birmingham, take I-20 East to Atlanta and then go north on I-85 toward Greenville. Travelers Rest is located about 30 minutes east of downtown Greenville.
What To Do The main draw for Hotel Domestique is, quite simply, biking. The surrounding area is replete with enough hills and straightaways to engage riders of all skill levels. The Swamp Rabbit Trail in nearby downtown Travelers Rest is a popular trail and easy to navigate. Avid cyclists often arrive with their own bikes, but the hotel has a small fleet to accommodate riders as well. High-end road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes are all available to rent for the day. The front desk has a thick binder, full of area rides, broken down by distance. You may also access local rides online at ridewithgps. com. Guests looking for a local guide should reach out to Justin Creech of Blue Ridge Bike Tours at 864-448-4184. Aside from two-wheeled challenges, Hotel Domestique boasts a serene pool and jacuzzi, perfect for recovering from a ride or just enjoying some much-needed downtime. The fountained terrace and adjacent firepit make ideal settings for an afternoon glass of wine or nightcap. Guest rooms are well-appointed and each comes with a Hypervolt percussion massager, to really get the kinks out after a long bike—or car—ride.
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HIT THE ROAD
Where to Eat Restaurant 17 (so named for the number of times George Hincapie competed in the Tour de France) is the hotel’s on-site restaurant where Chef Haydn Shaak’s seasonal menu is as inspired as it is wow-inducing. Guests looking to dine off-site should head to Camp in downtown Greenville, where Chef Drew Erickson is stunning diners with his world-class cuisine that employs techniques garnered working with Chef Thomas Keller in Yountville, California’s, famous French Laundry. Come hungry and adventurous.
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Meet Your Travel Guide Proud to call Birmingham home, Christiana Roussel loves discovering every corner of the Magic City. But the road beckons often. She’s been known to make a wrong turn into the right choice, dig in with the locals and try to talk her way out of a speeding ticket or two. Curiosity drives her and finding connection is her passion.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING
GIF T GUIDE 2
1. Gift Sets Have a glass of wine from our vast selection while you shop for the perfect gift this holiday season. Also, shop glass art, pottery, candles, jewelry and other unique items from local artists. Prices vary. Just a Tish. 115 W. College Street, Columbiana, AL 35051. (205) 671-5267. justatishwine.com.
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2. Flameware Pottery Handmade by Terry Silverman at The Pottery Works in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, this cookware suits the needs of everyone in the kitchen, from the gourmet chef to the everyday cook. Prices vary. The Cook Store. 2841 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 879-5277. thecookstoremtnbrook.com.
3. Pop Its! Find these Pop Its!—flexible silicone toys that resembles bubble wrap—plus other fashion and gift items for girls sizes 7-16. $8-$29. Sgt. Peppers by Dear Prudence. 4441 Creekside Avenue, Suite 117, Hoover, AL 35244. (205) 4077523. sgtpeppersbydp.com.
4. Annual Children’s of Alabama Ornament Christopher Radko Toting Treasure Teddies Wishing you a bear-y Christmas! These teddies are riding in style on their little red wagon piled high with toys and holiday joy. $64. Bromberg’s. 2800 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 871-3276. brombergs.com.
5. Estelle Colored Wine Glasses These colored glasses are inspired by the designer’s grandmother Estelle, who loved antiques. $27 stemless, $29 stems. A’mano. 281 Rele Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 871-9093. shopamanogifts.com.
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8 7. Custom Gift Boxes Looking for a unique holiday experience for yourself or as a gift? Curate a collection of gifts and greenery at Plant that will arrive beautifully packed from the shop to the front door. The store customizes for any holiday and occasion and takes online orders. Customizable pricing. Plant. 10876 AL-25, Calera, AL 35040. (205) 319-7071. plantcalera.com.
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8. ‘50s Swimming Pool Print This digitalized enhanced photo comes in a distressed teal frame. $110. Vintage Interiors. 2838 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124. (205) 620-1900. vintageinteriorsal.com.
9. Classic Camo Carryall
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This heavy-duty, 14-ounce waxed cotton canvas is inspired by vintage patterns proven in the field with an updated color palette for the hardwood bottoms and marshes the brand calls home for three seasons each year. $195. Tom Beckbe. 2423 Canterbury Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 286-8203. tombeckbe.com
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10. Shacket Shackets—a combination of a shirt and a jacket—are the item of the season, and Dear Prudence at Patton Creek and The Summit has lots of them to choose from. $60. Dear Prudence.Patton Creek and The Summit. dearprudence.com.
11. Custom Gift Boxes Fill a basket with laundry soap, soap bars, bath bombs and even flamingo soap that in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo give back $1 for each flamingo bar sold. Various Prices. Buff City Soap. Hoover, Greystone and Mountain Brook. buffcitysoap.com.
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12. Alabama Flag Charcuterie Board This charcuterie board was crafted in Huntsville specially for Alabama Goods. The channels on the board represent Alabama’s state flag, and the middle of the board is designed for food or a bowl. Plus, the board is made from bamboo that is water-resistant, durable, resistant to bacteria and hard (even though it is lightweight). $59.99. Alabama Goods. 2933 18th Street S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 803-3900. alabamagoods.com.
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13. Kent Stetson Handbags These handmade handbags created by Rhode Island designer Kent Stetson are “a great way to spark fun conversations, producing moments when life and art fuse together,” Stetson says. $210. Wallace-Burke. 1811 29th Avenue S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 874-1044. wallaceburke.com.
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14. Nutcracker Soldier Add this painted metal nutcracker to your holiday décor collection. $68.95. Sweet Peas Garden Shop. 2829 Linden Avenue, Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 879-3839. sweetpeasgardenshop.com.
15. Pink Hat Inspired by vintage men’s styles, this hat is designed to make a statement. $135. Hemline. 1802 29th Avenue S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 802-9252. shophemline.com.
16. Myra Double Wine Carrier A best-selling gift item for the wine lover, this unique wine carrier pairs well with a bottle of wine or other gift items for your sassy friend. Download the store’s app and follow @lovethesassyshopper. $38. The Sassy Shopper. 224 Kent Stone Way, Suite 200, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 624-4084. thesassyshopper.com.
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17. Cocoa Bombs Try different flavored cocoa bombs for everyone’s liking: cookies and cream, mint chocolate, peppermint, strawberry, caramel macchiato and many others. Stop by the shop for a special treat this holiday season! $5-6. Creations Galore and Moore. 8261 US-31, Calera, AL 35040. (205) 690-8399. creationsgaloreandmoore.com.
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18. Lala Skirt This fun tiered ruffle skirt is made of 100 percent silk, has a drawstring waist and comes in multiple different colors. $299. Dukes Clothier. 53 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. (205) 739-2244. dukesclothier.com.
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19. Gift Card & Home Spa Supplies Pair high-quality candles, bath and body products, and other local gift items with a gift certificate for one of Absolute’s services to create the perfect gift. Call for pricing details. Absolute Health and Wellness. 8919 Highway 119, Suite 102, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 624-3605. absolutehealthwellness.com.
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20. Serving Tray This tray was made by Becky Bolton of Calera, Alabama, in her signature blue glaze with fish around the inner circle and a ruffled edge. $50. Blue Phrog. 955 Main Street, Montevallo, AL 35115. (205) 665-3766. bluephroggallery.com.
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21. Red Coat This lightweight, wool-blend coat is perfect for winters in the South. Select from a variety of colors and check out the store’s trendy boutique items, furniture and home decor selection while you’re at it. $69. Collective and Co. Home. 251 Buck Creek Plaza, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 624-3102. collectiveandcompany.com.
22. 14-Karat Diamond Fashion Set
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The best gifts come in small packages. This 14-karat yellow gold chain link diamond fashion set includes a bangle, ring, necklace and earrings. After all, ‘tis the season to sparkle, shine and shop local. Starting at $1,465. Southeastern Jewelers. 5299 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 980-9030. southeasternjewelers.net.
23. Diba True NirVana Boots
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You’ll be walking on cloud nine in these boots featuring a comfy wedge for a height that instantly boosts your style. Its urban chic silhouette is covered in suede with a side gore panel and a rear pull tab lofted by a molded rubber lug sole. $96. Oh My Sole. 4045 Helena Road, Helena, AL 35080. (205) 406-5602. ohmysoulboutique.com.
24. BuDhaGirl, Myra Bag & Vintage Havana Sneaker Step 1: Add BuDhaGirl Bracelets to any outfit ($125). Step 2: Pick out a Myra Bag to carry all your essentials ($59$96). Step 3: Complete your outfit with a sneaker from Vintage Havana ($139). $59 - $139. Hami Boutique. 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 101, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 834-8833. shophamiboutique.com.
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25. 14-Karat Yellow & White Gold Stackable Diamond Bracelets Shay’s has many stackable diamond bracelet styles in stock now, so shop early for the holidays. Prices start around $1,300. Shay’s Jewelry. 1678 Montgomery Highway, 103C, Hoover, AL 35216. (205) 978-5880. shaysjewelers.com.
26. Cocktail Books Brush up on your knowledge with these spirited titles. $15-$35. At Home Furnishings. 2921 18th Street S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 879-3510. athome-furnishings.com.
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27. Neoprene Tote + Hat The perfect carry-all tote can’t wait to join you on your weekend travels, brunch or girls night out! It is lightweight yet durable with a dash of contrasting color and finished with a removable wristlet pouch and hard bottom liner. Gift it along with this tan brim hat that funs up any outfit. $65 tote, $30 hat. High Cotton Boutique. 415 Chelsea Crossroads, Chelsea, AL 35043. (205) 677-2200. highcottonboutique.com.
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28. Mini Drones This is the toy this season! Choose from the blue hand-operated drone for indoor and outdoor play or the red globe-shaped drone with a magic controller and built-in lights. $19.99 blue, $35 red. Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop. 2830 18th Street S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 879-3986. homewoodtoy-hobby.com.
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29. Kids Boutique Sets Cute, comfortable and easy fitting—these kids boutique sets are always a big hit with selections for every season, and they always come with a free bow of your choice. $24 $32. Consigned Design. 72 Fulton Springs Road, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 664-7540. consigned.design.
30. Kendra Scott’s Holiday Set All three of these pieces are sure to dazzle: Alex Gunmetal pendant necklace in emerald cat’s eye, Alex gunmetal drop earrings in emerald cat’s eye and Elora gunmetal hoop earrings in emerald cat’s eye. Complimentary gift wrapping is available. $65, $55, $70. Cahaba Lily South. 5479 US-280. Suite 117, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 490-6210. cahabalilysouth.com.
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31. Sorel Mate’riaux
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This modern, versatile wedge has waterproof suede to boot. $250. ShoeFly. 823 18th Street S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 870-7131.
32. Nest Candles
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Mantooth Interiors is your home for all Nest collections and fragrances. Its large selection of holiday scents make a great gift for friends and family. $49. Mantooth Interiors. 2813 18th Street S., Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 879-5474. mantoothinteriors.com.
33. Beanies These hand-knit cashmere beanies by Brazeau Tricot each have a crown motif. $134. B. Prince. 271 Rele Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 871-1965. shopbprince.com.
34. Bogg Brrr and a Half Cooler The half cooler takes up half the space, leaving plenty is room for towels, sunscreen, books, and more. $32.95. Village Drug. 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 116, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 713-8393. villagedrugco.com.
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35. Watercolor Painting This beautifully framed c. 1870 English watercolor measures 14.75 by 11.5 inches, and you can find more art and treasured finds on the store’s website or Instagram handle @printscharmingsohonyc. $245. Prints Charming. 1903 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (571) 214-9586. printscharmingsoho.com.
36. Cookie Dough + Skillet Gift someone Cookie Fix Frozen Dough To-Go and pair it with a 5-inch Lodge skillet they can bake it in. Frozen Dough $20, Skillet $11.25. Cookie Fix. Cahaba Heights and Homewood. (205) 582-2623. cookiefix.com.
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Winter 2021 Events
Ambassadors’ Committee
Thursday, December 16, 2021 Member Appreciation Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Riverchase Galleria Food Court No Charge
Amy Tucker Baker Camp Arnold Capital Management
Brenda Williams Mary Kay ~ Brenda Williams
Celena Miller Birmingham Realty
Denise Grissom Sawyer Solutions, LLC
Derrick Ellis Dreamtrips
Devin Smith Nick the Marketer
Fred Hughes Hughes Independent Agency
Justin Banks Colonial Life
Kelly Peoples Down Syndrome Alabama
Peter Northcott LAH Real Estate
Rachel Kent Trowbridge First Federal Mortgage
Rick Mosier Keller Williams Real Estate - Hoover
Thursday, January 13, 2022 Coffee & Contacts 7:30 a.m. Location TBD
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Chamber Membership Luncheon State of the City Address 11:15 a.m. Hyatt Regency The Wynfrey Hotel Reservations Required $25
Thursday, January 27, 2022 Business After Hours 4:30 p.m. Location TBD
Thursday, February 10, 2022 Coffee & Contacts 7:30 a.m. Location TBD
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Chamber Membership Luncheon 11:15 a.m. $25 Location TBD
Thursday, February 24, 2022 Business After Hours 4:30 p.m. Location TBD
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Shannon Driver Gagliano Mortgage, Inc.
Sherry Emmerke Hilton Garden Inn - Homewood
Steve Hart LUTCF
Not pictured: Joan Bryant, EW Motion Therapy Lynn Ray, Business Telephones, Inc. - BTI Stephanie McElmurray, Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham SE Liberty Park
Celebrating Growth
Ben True State Farm August 27, 2021
Birmingham Wellness Center September 14, 2021
Center for Vein Restoration August 12, 2021
Charley’s September 30, 2021
Exit Elite Realty August 31, 2021
Frank and Pam Barefield Training Center September 15, 2021
Hoover Toyota September 10, 2021
Michele Coley Allstate Insurance September 9, 2021
Uplift Nutrition October 7, 2021
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uloanDepot
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Thank you to our 2021 Board of Trustees
Gina Cannady, Legacy Community Federal Credit Union - Corporate Ridge Mr. Ira Levine, Levine & Associates Buz Boyd, Lexus of Birmingham Terry Poole, Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln Cale McWatters, Loyd Select Staffing Jamie Black, McDonald’s Christina Bunn, Medical West Hospital Luke Elder, Mercedes Benz of Birmingham Benjamin Yim, OMNIWON Digital Todd Beegle, On Tap Sports Cafe - Galleria Dr. Mary Gilmer, Ortho Alabama Spine and Sports Chip Vance, OS1 Sports & Injury Clinic Rodney Berry, Peoples Bank of Alabama - International Park Chuck Kramer, Progress Bank and Trust Rick Smith, Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa Mike White, Riverchase Galleria Dwight Sandlin, Signature Homes Brian Skelton, Skelton’s Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration Michelle Suggs, Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen James Robinson, Spire Energy Dana Meginniss, St. Vincent’s Health System - St. Vincent’s Drive Vivian Mora, State Farm Insurance - Vivian Mora Agency Reggie Torbor, Taproot Cafe Terry Rippstein, Terracon Consultants, Inc. Leo Wang, The Seafood King Homewood Jason Jiang, The Seafood King Hoover Peter Gong, The Seafood King-Bessemer Aeriell Lapsley, The Trails at Cahaba River Mark Grenier, Topgolf Gus McKenzie, Troy University Ida Adnyana, UNAGI Bento & Sushi Matt Roth, WalkOns Phillip Corley, Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC Darin Boykin, WalMart - Hoover #1229 Richard Edwards, WalMart SuperCenter - Highway 280 Cody Burns, WBRC Fox 6 Television Paul Sutton, werkplas Kristen Vaughn, Wind Creek Hospitality Tracy Horton, WorkSmart Staffing Birmingham
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OUT & ABOUT
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BLUFF PARK ART SHOW
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PHOTOS BY SARA HANCOCK
The Bluff Park Art Association held its 58th annual show with an eclectic mix of media at The Park at Shades Cliff on Oct. 2. 1. Ana Andricain 2. Emilia Von Spakovsky 3. Gary Curtis 4. Haley Kirkpatrick 5. Jeanie Stephenson 6. Joye Hehn 7. Katie Adams 8. Laura Stacy 9. Penny Dobson 10. Ronald Lewis 11. Stewart Rein 12. Susan Matthews 13. Aaliya Batada, Claire Ransom, Emily Shirey, Emily Blakemore, Maddie Smith, Emma Jones and Anna Claire Norton 14. Tammy Hayes
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OUT & ABOUT
HOOVER SERVICE CLUB FALL FASHION SHOW
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PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Hoover Service Club members and guests saw new fall fashions presented by Laurel Bassett of Town and Country Clothes on Sept. 9. 1. Janet D. Reid and Rhonda Boyd 2. Collette Scott, Shelley Shaw, Frances Brocato, Melanie PoseyJoseph and Roberta Atkinson 3. Frances Brocato, Shelley Shaw, Collette Scott, Treva Medbery, Bonnie Campbell, Elaine Thompson, Roberta Atkinson, Melanie PoseyJoseph, Ashley Gann, Laura Cooper, Shannon Driver, Debbie Rutherford and Laurel Bassett (artist and owner of Town and Country Clothes Boutique)
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4. Debbie Rutherford and Laurel Bassett of Town and Country Clothes
18 years and counting...
5. Lori Heglas and Betty Moulton
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OUT & ABOUT
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MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Hoover’s Magazine • 205.669.3131
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 Beelman Truck Co Now Hiring Experienced Drivers and Recent Grads. Great pay. Great benefits. More home time. Apply online at beelman. com or call 205-665-5507 Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $14/hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com $80,000+ Yearly Potential Sales positions available at Burton Campers. Please call Mickey Price for phone interview: 205-668-0075 Comfort Keepers NOW HIRING. Job requirements: A caring spirit and passion for helping others. For more information visit: www. comfortkeepers.com or Call 205-338-7909. 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
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WELDER NEEDED MIG & TIG •Light gauge stainless, aluminized, galvanized Manufacturing and Assembly Helpers Needed •Paid Holidays •Typical Shifts 6:00am2:30pm Call RICK: 205761-3975
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 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 3 34-409-0035 or apply on-line at www.Oxfordhealthcare. com LAND FOR SALE 180 acres, located on Walnut Creek. Will not divide property. Call for more information: 205-369-5641 South Haven Health & Rehab NOW HIRING!!! •LPN’s & RN’s -$5,000 Sign-on Bonus for Full-Time shift •CNA’s Apply in person: 3141 Old Columbiana Rd Birmingham,AL-35266 CLOCK REPAIR SVS. * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can fix your Mother’s clock. Alabaster/ Pelham. Call Stephen (205)663-2822
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Land for Sale Covington County-46 Acres $184,000 -Located on Booth Rd. West of Florala -Potential Country Homesite, Recreational Getaway -Power Available Contact Clay Baker: 251-895-6460 claybaker@speaksland. com Land for Sale Shelby County-36 Acres $5950/ acre -Located on County Road 51 near Wilsonville -Recently Thinned -Potential Homesite or Mini-Farm Contact Clay Baker: 251-895-6460 claybaker@speaksland. com
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. Now hiring RN’s and LPN’s throughout Alabama! $250 community referral bonus for RN’s and LPN’s. Signon Bonuses available at select locations! For more information please contact: Paige Gandolfi Call/text: 724-691-7474 pgandolfi@wexfordhealth. com CUSTARD DOG TRAINING Obedience & Attack 334-231-0334 WHATLEY PLUMBING - PLUMBERS WANTED Located in Chilton County Since 2011. Skills Needed: Dependability, Honesty, Teamwork, Eagerness to Learn. Valid driver’s license required. To apply, email: whatleyplumbing 7558555@gmail.com 205755-8555
Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!
JOIN OUR TEAM! Just Plumbing & Gas Now Hiring PLUMBERS & HELPERS Apprentice $18/ hour, Journeyman $25/ hour with certification cards. Must have driver’s license. Full-Time Monday-Friday (Weekend work available). In-town work. SIGN-ON BONUS AFTER 90 DAYS! Call Tommy: 205-296-0294 Wright Brothers Construction Co., Inc. seeking Carpenters and a Crane Operator in the Helena area. Please apply online: www.wbcci. com/careers/apply-now Or send resume: hr@wbcci. com Please call 423-3362261 with any questions. Equal Opportunity Employer. Females & Minorities encouraged to apply. Drug Free Workplace. E-Verify Employer. Kelly Education • Shelby County Schools • Hiring Substitute Teachers. Limitless opportunities for passionate people! •Free pre-hire training •Paid orientation •Ongoing professional development •Steady, yet flexible, work •Weekly pay •Your preference of schools. Contact Anne Gamble: O: 205.682.7062 M: 205.532.1122 anne. gamble@kellyservices.com Maintenance/Handyman Needed PT/FT $12/ hr Must have basic skill set for home projects Valid DL/own mode of transportation Own tools, RELIABLE/DEPENDABLE 205-988-0160
Vulcan Steel Products Now Hiring Machine Operator (1st & 2nd shift) Starting at $18.50 per hour. Top-notch health benefits, 401k, & company stock options Apply online: https://apply. jobappnetwork.com/ vulcan-steel-products Call: 205-620-5185 Acceptance Loan Company, Inc. Personal loans! Let us pay off your title loans! 224 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham 205-663-5821 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 High Expectations Cleaning 205-728-8854 highexpertcleaning.com Southeastern Sealcoating Seeking hardworking team members to join our paving crew. •Paving Operators •Screw Operators •Rake Man Full-Time $15-$20/hour 401(k), Health/dental/ vision insurance, & paid time off! Apply in person: 1330 Adamsville Industrial Parkway, Birmingham PAINTERS WANTED Must have: •5 years painting & construction experience •Dependable transportation •Clean, neat appearance •Drug and alcohol free •Previous work history (References) •Carpentry skills a plus. Good pay for right people! Call 205-621-2627
HA N D -S E L EC T ED F U R NI S H I N GS , ACCESSORIES & U NI Q U E G I F TS
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MY HOOVER EMILY COX Local Artist + Mom
Moss Rock Preserve
Moss Rock Preserve I love to go in the spring when the mountain laurel is blooming. With woodland waterfalls, wildflowers, giant rocks and trees, it’s just lovely. My kids like to splash in the waterfalls near the boulder field, play in the sand next to Hurricane Creek and of course climb the boulders.
First Memory
Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting My aunt lived here in the ‘90s when I was in elementary school, and she invited my mom and me to come to this tree lighting. I remember being so excited to be at such a big mall. The lights and decorations and the reindeer carousel were all beautiful, and we went to the Disney Store before we left.
Family Fun Day
Explore Playground + The Whole Scoop One of my favorite things we did this summer was taking the kids to meet friends at the Explore playground and splash pad by the Met, and then go get ice cream at The Whole Scoop on our way home. Everything is so close together that it makes such a fun day.
Curry Please
Taste of Thailand This restaurant on Lorna Road was the first place I ever tried sushi and my first experience with Thai food, which has since become one of my favorite kinds of food. It is one of the first places my husband, Brian, and I went out to eat together when we started dating. I usually order their pineapple curry with chicken. It is excellent!
Faith in Community
Hunter Street Baptist Church Some of the best friends I have made here are ladies from my small group at Hunter Street. I also love all the outreach the church is involved in. My kids have been through the Hunter Street Weekday program, and my daughter and older son are currently taking violin and guitar lessons with the Hunter Street Arts Academy.
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