ALABASTER
CONNECTION THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF ALABASTER | JUNE 2020
FOOD TRUCKS STILL OFFERING UP DELICIOUSNESS pg. 12
FARMER'S MARKET NOW OPEN pg. 20
MAKING MEN'S HEALTH A PRIORITY
TEEN COUNCIL SENIORS RECOGNIZED
FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION IDEAS
pg. 8
pg. 6
pg. 16
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FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF ALABASTER Alabaster Connection is published monthly and is delivered to citizens of the City of Alabaster. Editorial Board The Public Relations Committee of the Alabaster City Council. Committee Chair Councilwoman Sophie Martin Councilwoman Kerri Pate Councilman Greg Farrell Editor Luke Camara, me2graphics, LLC Contributors Shana Camara Emily Reed Lindsay Schluntz
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T
hree months into COVID-19 precautions, we continue to pray for the committed medical professionals and first responders serving on the front lines—vulnerable and tired, frontline workers making a living, parents balancing the multiple roles of remote worker, daycare, caregiver and spouse, and all those considered high risk. A bright spot in these difficult days was to Marty Handlon, see the THS Class of 2020 celebrate graduation in a special ceremony. The Mayor new Warrior Stadium was the perfect venue for an understandably emotional City of Alabaster close to this chapter of their lives. I’m sure Dr. Mackie captured their thoughts more than adequately when he reminded them of words from a familiar book of their school days— These are the worst of times and these are the best of times. All who heard should have received inspiration from his short but poignant keynote speech. It was a great day to celebrate the resilience of the Warrior spirit! #WarriorStrong #WarriorPride Under the Governor’s most recent Health Order amendments, please remember the importance of personal responsibility placed on each of us in our new normal. It is indeed different from the life we have known for so long, but please be mindful of the many who are still very concerned and uncomfortable with the personal risks and that of their family. As businesses operate in the new precautionary and social distancing restrictions, please be patient and gracious with business owners and employees as they work in compliance to the new guidelines. Restrictions are as difficult for them as they are for customers. Remember, your support of Alabaster businesses directly impacts the livelihood of business owners, their employees, as well as city services and thee quality of life we are responsible for providing. A little good news—ALDOT is currently bidding construction for the fourth lane on our stretch of I-65 and expects completion around the end of the year. This, in addition to the greatly improved exit and entrance ramps and the double left turn onto I-65, will be extremely helpful when everyone resumes a daily commute. Also, ALDOT is still in the progress of obtaining right of way for the Hwy 119 widening. The Recycle Bin arrived during the COVID crisis. It is now set up and available for use at Limestone Park, from sunrise until dusk, and will be monitored by cameras. Acceptable recycle material is listed on the website. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works. I want to give a special shout out of GREAT appreciation for ALL city employees for going above and beyond over the past few months. I have been amazed by the preparedness and innovative thinking which allowed them to quickly adapt to drastic changes and continue to safely serve you during this pandemic. At a time when everything seemed to drastically slow down, city employees were experiencing increased responsibilities and activity all around them. Our folks have not missed a beat, and facilities which have been closed to the public have been thoroughly deep cleaned to safely serve upon reopening. Our very small IT Department has been the absolute lifeline for many of us to continue conducting city business remotely. I am very thankful for the Council’s agreement and approval of the recommended Exemplary Performance Bonus for their dedicated commitment to the citizens of Alabaster. They are the hands and feet of public service, and we cannot quantify the level of appreciation we have for them. Wishing all you dads out there a very special day—full of love, laughter, and special memories!! Be safe and blessed,
Alabaster Water Board 205-663-6155 Fire Department 205-664-6818
1953 Municipal Way Alabaster, AL 35007 ©2020 City of Alabaster
THIS EDITION
4 Council Comments 6 Teen Council Seniors 6 Teen Council Comments 6 For Tomorrow Comments 20 Farmer's Market 20 CityFest Postponed
20 Beautification Award 21 Recycling Returning 21 CC Meeting Minutes 22 Calendar
10 City Warns of Scammers 12 Food Trucks Featured 16 Celebrating Father's Day
FEATURES
18 Citizen Spotlight 19 Business Spotlight
8 Men's Health a Priority
SPOTLIGHTS
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Scott Brakefield
Ward 6 | City Council President brakefield@cityofalabaster.com
Greetings! I want to start off my comments wishing all the Dad’s out there a Happy Father’s Day! As a father of three boys, it is amazing how time seems to fly by when they are young. It seems like I blinked, and I have one in college and two starting their freshman year of high school. So, Dads...don’t blink! June is also Men’s Health Month. You will see an article on my journey with Prostate Cancer. I would encourage all my fellow men to make sure to get a physical each year. I would like to commend Alabaster City Schools and their handling of the COVID-19 virus. Having a wife that is an administrator with ACS I have seen firsthand the long hours and critical thinking that it has taken to finish the academic year. It was also amazing to see the Graduation ceremony. It was an honor to see the State Superintendent of Education speak to our graduating class. It was also great to see graduation at Warrior Stadium. It has been a number of years since we held a graduation at our Stadium. Again, thanks ACS for making the absolute best out of a difficult situation. Lastly, I want to thank all of our city employees that have gone above and beyond during these difficult times. This was a tremendous honor to recently reward them with Hazard Pay. It was a small token of our appreciation for what they do to make our City great! Thanks again to all of our citizens for continuing to make our City great even during these challenging times. Scott
Sophie Martin | Ward 1 martin@cityofalabaster.com
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Progress continues in Ward 1. Several more abandoned structures along Highway 11 were deemed unsafe and were approved by the Abatement Board for demolition. The city council awarded the demolition bid to Cornerstone Tree Service. After completion, this will enhance and improve the overall safety in our community. I appreciate the Abatement Board’s and City Council’s support in this effort. Work is moving forward for Abbey Wooley Park in Ward 1. Construction will be taking place this summer and materials are currently being purchased for this project. I am so excited about the difference this will make for the families in our community. Digital speed limit signs continue to be placed in several Ward 1 neighborhoods. This includes Weatherly Club Drive, Lake Terrace, Arrington Avenue (5th Avenue South) and Ironwood. Speeding continues to be an issue in our community so the data gathered with the digital sign is helping us better address this problem. cityofalabaster.com
Thank you to everyone for participating in the Shop Alabaster First Challenge. This is an ongoing social media effort where we are challenging residents to promote and shop our small businesses in Alabaster. Now more than ever, it’s critical we support our local businesses as our economy begins to move forward again. Happy Father’s Day to my dad, Richard Prestridge, whose love, support and sense of humor continue to make a tremendous difference in my life. I hope everyone has a special Father’s Day celebrating their fathers, father-figures and mentors. It is an honor to serve Ward 1 and our city. If you have any questions, ideas or concerns please contact me at martin@ cityofalabaster.com. Kindest regards, Sophie
Rick Ellis | Ward 2 ellis@cityofalabaster.com
I hope everyone is still doing well as we work on coming out of the stay at home order and are getting back to some sort of normal. This month of the year I am usually thanking teachers for a great year and wishing graduates well and they move on to college, careers, etc. Even though this year’s seniors missed out on senior seasons and proms, thankfully, with the leadership of Dr. Vickers and the school board, the graduating seniors were able to have a graduation ceremony. I would also like to thank the teachers and administrators throughout the school system for the job they did switching in mid-stream from the classroom to e-learning. It was an unenviable task that took tremendous effort to pull off, but they pulled it off and were able to make the best of a bad situation. Please continue to remember Alabaster’s small businesses! With all of us trying to get back to normal, it is going to be difficult for the small businesses to return without our support. It has never been more important to Shop Alabaster First! Stay safe! Rick
Stacy Rakestraw |
Ward 3
rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com
The recent graduation at Thompson High School for the Class of 2020 was impeccable. The organization of this event was truly amazing. Our family felt safe and comfortable. Thank you to Dr. Vickers, Dr. Hester, ACS School Board, the administrators, counselors and teachers who worked together for this event to be possible. #WARRIORSTRONG The City’s long awaited recycle bin is now in place in our public works department at Limestone Park off of Highway 31 South. It opens on June 1 and you’ll be able to recycle items there to dispose of. Please see the article on page 21 for more details.
COUNCIL COMMENTS We continue to partner with Shelby County to keep our right of ways (ROW) mowed and litter picked up. There are eight county roads in our city, along with two state highways, plus the city roads. Please use our Report a Concern at www.cityofalabaster.com to turn in issues regarding mowing and litter. Thank you to ALDOT on the great job they did on the Exit 138 overpass. Soon they will begin four-laning I-65 from Exit 238 North to I-459. Happy Father’s Day to my husband Kyle, my dad Tom Schmidt and to the many fathers in our city who work so hard to provide for us and love us. Stacy
Greg Farrell
| Ward 4
farrell@cityofalabaster.com
Greetings, I hope everyone is making it through these trying times. As stores begin to reopen, please keep our small businesses in mind when shopping and eating. They are a vital part of our community. The Council recently approved Hazard Pay for the City employees due to COVID-19, these funds will come from the Council Reserve Fund. We greatly appreciate the hard work that required putting themselves in the forefront during these trying times that we have faced. I would like to thank Fred Hawkins for his efforts in reorganization of a couple of Departments within the City. Through the reorganization it will save the city around $25,000 in personnel costs. He also presented the Council with plans to perform some cost saving measures by performing much need upgrades in the production of these Departments. Would like to wish all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day.
Russell Bedsole | Ward 5 bedsole@cityofalabaster.com
Greetings! Needless to say, this has been such an unusual spring. Our parks have been empty from all the spring sports and the halls of our schools were vacant for the last portion of the school year. I am sure you will agree with me when I say that I hope we never again experience what we have experienced this spring. Despite all the interruptions, somehow Alabaster City Schools managed to pull off one heck of a graduation ceremony. Just when everyone was sure they would not get the opportunity to celebrate their graduating senior, Dr. Vickers and his staff pulled a social distancing rabbit out of their COVID hat and threw the best graduation ceremony I think of all time. A big thanks to all our fantastic teachers and school administrators for making this school year one to remember.
While I am on the topic of our schools, let me offer my congratulations to the class of 2020 from Thompson High School, Evangel Classical Christian School, Evangel School, and to any of our home-schooled students. Let me encourage you to continue educating yourself, growing, and maturing. Find the answers to all of life’s questions, and when you’re done, come back home. No, I am not talking about moving back in with your Mom and Dad. They may welcome you back in, but I am talking about your home Alabaster. Alabaster helped mold you into the person you are today and, when the time is right, come back home and be a part of the Alabaster of tomorrow. Alabaster, the worst days are behind us. We have so much to be thankful for. Your city leaders are up to the challenge to bring us out of this crisis, and with your help, we will be better than ever when this is all done. Continue to stay well and whenever possible, shop Alabaster first. Thanks, Alabaster! Russell
Kerri Pate
| Ward 7
pate@cityofalabaster.com
Sweet summertime it here at last! Neighborhood pools are open, fields and playgrounds are filling back up with children playing and schedules are beginning to look more like normal. As a parent of a graduate, I want to thank ACS for going above and beyond with a beautiful commencement ceremony held at Warrior stadium on May 19. It was wonderful having our graduation back at our beautiful high school and the students loved being back. This month we were very proud to be able to pass a resolution for hazard pay for the exemplary service by our city employees during the pandemic. The city hasn’t slowed down during this time and our employees have made sure that everything runs smoothly when all else seems amiss in the world. I’m happy to announce that our recycling bin will be open and operating beginning June 1st. Please look for more details on page 21 of this issue of The Connection. With everyone being home and on unusual schedules, rush hour traffic hasn’t been bad, but it seems traffic around town has picked up. They’ll be more children out and about. Let us all be good neighbors, looking out for each other and watching our speed through our neighborhoods. It’s also a good time to remind our children of safety while riding their bikes on city streets. It’s been so nice seeing everyone out and about again. Please remember to shop local now more than ever. Our small businesses have been hit hard and are all now open and eager to see us walk through their doors. They are the backbone of our city. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and the other men that serve as role models to our young people in our community. My children are blessed with one of the best! Kerri cityofalabaster.com
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TEEN COUNCIL
GRADUATING TEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS At the May 18 City Council meeting, the 2020 Alabaster Teen Council senior members were honored for their service during this past school year. Three graduates received a $1,000 scholarship from Central State Bank in honor of their service:Abby Grace Walker, Noah Tanner and Savanna Rakestraw. Most of these graduates were involved on the Teen Council for multiple years. Congratulations to these Seniors – thank you for your involvement and investments into your community! AC
FOUR YEARS ON THE TEEN COUNCIL
THREE YEARS ON THE TEEN COUNCIL
Maggie Keller, Savanna Rakestraw, Noah Tanner, Abby Grace Walker and Kylie Williams
Blakely Channell, Bryne Ehlers, Maggie Joe O’Neal, Sawyer Pate and Riley Stoneback
TWO YEARS ON THE TEEN COUNCIL
ONE YEAR ON THE TEEN COUNCIL
Zoie Casey
Camalie Allen, Ashley Lemley, Pablo Lopez, Chloe Sims, Jaden Sims and Holly Stokesbary
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Abby Grace Walker
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Noah Tanner
Savanna Rakestraw
FOR TOMORROW
TEEN COUNCIL COMMENTS By: Gracie Brown The summer of 2020 is going to be one that defies all norms. For all of us, we have missed out on chances to make meaningful memories for the remainder of our school year and the beginning of summer. COVID-19 has impacted us all in some manner. However, it has given us the time to grow closer with our families and neighbors that we wouldn't normally grow close to. Whatever it is, our lives have completely been turned upside down. Currently, teens are beginning to grow restless, bored, and can’t wait for summer to start. It can be difficult for us to not know what the next few months hold. I can tell you that we have to make the most of what we have been given. This may be getting together with friends at a park, going on a hike, gathering in a parking lot, catching up on reading, driving around in your car with the music on, anything that brings you joy. During a time like this, it can be so easy for teens to isolate ourselves and become estranged to those around us. It is very important we to continue maintaining relationships and interest in things we love. This means we are going to have to be creative in the ways that we enjoy our summer and use our resources to do so. Everyone's main priority during this time is still the safety and health of not only ourselves, but also others around us. This means practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and continuing to be safe in all you do. We as a Teen Council are also anxiously waiting to plan events for the summer, like our teen movies and our annual slip and slide, but like everyone else we are patiently waiting for the governor's orders to determine our next steps. For the latest information please continue to check our social media outlets. Lastly, remember that we are all going through this together and we will come out stronger on the other side.
ALABASTER FOR TOMORROW COMMENTS By: Brandon Matthews For Tomorrow, Program Director It may look a little different than before, but summer is here! I realize the challenge it has been over the last few months settling into a “new normal.” However, life is beginning to slowly open back up around us and there are things you can do to help your kids adjust to summer. Routines and Rules are important ingredients to helping your child thrive over the summer months. Simple things like daily chores, a curfew, limiting screen time, and a consistent sleep time and wake up time are all helpful habits to retain a routine. Also, as you plan for your kids’ activities, don’t forget to include yourself in
the fun. There is no greater investment than the time you spend with your family. Your kids are watching you and the example you set. What they will learn from watching you over the summer will be carried into their future. We are hoping for a happy, healthy summer for you and your family. For more information visit us at www.alabasterfortomorrow.com and facebook. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT For Tomorrow is working hard to be a source of education and encouragement to you and your family. We are thankful for each person who volunteers their time and talents to contribute today for tomorrow. We would love to have you join us to learn and lend your abilities to our community. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, June 16th at City Hall beginning at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome and lunch will be served. If you have any questions you can reach us at info@alabasterfortomorrow.com. cityofalabaster.com
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FEATURE
MAKING MEN'S HEALTH A PRIORITY Council President Scott Brakefield Beats Cancer
C
ity Council President Scott Brakefield is a cancer survivor. In 2018 during a routine exam, his doctor found an elevated PSA, or Prostate-Specific Antigen. “I had no symptoms, I had no issues at all. My doctor put me on a round of antibiotics just to remove the possibility of an infection,” shared Brakefield. He then had his levels tested again, which came back as elevated. Because the testing and biopsy showed it was in the early stages, and Prostate Cancer is slow growing, he waited until December of 2019 to have the cancer and prostate removed. “They were able to take it out, all the cancer was contained to the prostate. My prognosis was very good,” he said. Due to the early detection and due to the fact that it did not spread, he was able to avoid any chemo or radiation treatments. “I still go back regularly for screening but so far so good,” he declared. But his journey to becoming a cancer survivor did not start in 2018. It actually goes back to 2011. “In 2011 I lost my mom. It is funny how God does things,” recalled Brakefield. Just before she passed, he was able to spend a family trip with his mother during Thanksgiving that year. As she left, she called out, “I love you Bubba.’ She went to bed that night and never woke up.” “She had struggled with cardiovascular disease, she was a smoker, and didn’t really take good care of herself. That was nine years ago now, but then I’m sitting there at 36 years old, my mom just died, and my dad had prostate cancer in his early 50s, so I decided that I would get a physical every year,” he said. So, the catalysts of his mom’s death and his dad’s cancer started Brakefield on his annual ritual of getting a physical. After six years of uneventful examinations, it was the seventh that found cancer. “I credit these physicals with allowing us to find the cancer and find it early,” Brakefield stated.
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The early detection allowed him to take a slow thoughtful approach to treatment. “It is funny how the idea of seeing your kids grow up, become a grandparent, all of that comes into your mind. It is important to go in and have a physical. But that means early prevention and detection and getting past that male mentality of, ‘If I don’t feel bad, I don’t need to go to the doctor,’ For me, early detection was great because it was so early. I was able to have time to process. It gave me a pause so I could wrap my head around, ‘This is my life and this is what is going on’,” he said. His biggest advice for any man is to get in the habit of getting an annual checkup. “I laugh when guys tell me they feel fine, and they don’t need to get a checkup. I was super stubborn, but after my mom died and my dad’s surgery, I just said, ‘I might feel fine and be in perfect health, but you can’t outrun genetics’,” he shared. He now finds himself being an advocate for early detection and prevention. “Just agree to go ahead and go in each year to get a physical. Get your blood work done, and your blood pressure checked. It isn’t a lot of work, but it pays big dividends. I would highly encourage everyone to have a physical. Get that baseline and continue to monitor,” Brakefield emphatically said. His other piece of advice is to have that support network. “No one wants to hear that they have cancer. It was a gut punch, and the talk with my wife and three sons was hard. But they were all supportive and I couldn’t be more appreciative of my wife. From day one, she was sad, but she was like, ‘OK let’s get this done.’ She was there encouraging me and super supportive. She was just absolutely amazing,” he recalled. He could also call on his dad for support. “My dad is now 72 years old. Me and my Dad, my little brother, and my oldest son all played golf this weekend. If I had a question, he had the answer. I couldn’t count how many people, after the word got out, would send me a message about their journey. This meant I had other people to reach out to and to learn from their experiences,” Brakefield shared. Now, several months after his prostatectomy, Brakefield is optimistic. “I feel great! As far as the cancer, I feel great, blood pressure is fine. Everything is fine, just trying to shed some pounds,” he said with a laugh.
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FEATURE •
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CIT Y WARNS M A C S F O S R E L L A C
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all spoofing is one of the most rampant forms of intrusion tactics being used to gain information or be harmful to unsuspecting victims. We have seen a significant rise in the number of reports for receiving a call from a number which is considered to be legitimate, then having an experience which is fraudulent in nature. The purpose of these harmful or, in most cases, deceptive calls is to obtain financial information for theft. The City of Alabaster Police Department works with other agencies to investigate these complaints in an effort to stop this type of crime. Here are a few items which can be helpful for the investigation: 1. The time and date of the call 2. The caller’s phone number 3. A description of the caller’s voice or their personality
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• 4. A description of what the caller wanted to achieve 5. A recording of the call (if available) Having any discussion with the caller can be harmful, so please do not risk yourself by trying to gain information from the caller who is highly trained to be deceptive. Please use the following rules when getting a scam call (www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/ spoofing-and-caller-id): • If you answer the phone and the caller - or a recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes" or "No." Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment. Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately. If you have a voice mail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voice mail if you do not set a password.
Many times, when these calls come in, it is best to immediately hang-up on them. Sometimes this works to end the harassment, but there can be cases where the caller continues to call. Please make sure and report these repeating calls to the Alabaster Police Department so we can look into these issues.
FEATURE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
How are Christians the salt and light of the world? “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14) “Jesus Christ spent three years teaching before giving His life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and save those who would repent and follow Him - those referred to in Scripture as “His sheep”. During that time, Jesus revealed who He was through His miracles and perfect obedience to God. He was revealed as and proved to be the Son of God and God in the flesh. What He taught revolved around exposing sinfulness and explaining how God commands us to live. The terms “salt” and “light” are first descriptions of Jesus and also those who truly follow Him. The Scripture teaches when a person truly believes in Jesus, they begin turning away from their sin and obeying His teachings. This is known as repentance, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life. The person that obeys habitually is the one whose eyes have been opened to his sinfulness and his hopelessness. This draws him to the incredible offer of forgiveness that Jesus’ death provides and His promise of eternal life in Heaven. He or she trusts in Him and begins to separate themselves from evil and obey Jesus in a serious and deliberate manner. This reflects the new life described in Scripture. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come,” and Ephesians 4:24 says, “Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Salt preserves and makes food taste good. Likewise the Christian’s new life is to be a blessing in society in contrast to the moral decay in our sin-infected world. Unlike the world, he or she is to be humble, faithful, caring, honest, sincere and pure. Their consistent desire to do good reveals the character of Jesus to the world.
Light, in this passage, describes enabling one to see or understand. Those around us must not only hear our good words, but they must see our good works so that they may be convinced of the truth and excellency of Jesus and the Christian faith. Seeing Christlikeness in us, they may be compelled to believe and imitate the good works God does through us and glorify God themselves. Like the positive effects of salt and light the Christian through his or her character and good works are to be a positive influence in the world. They become a guiding light to Jesus. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Do you have this wonderful light? Let your light shine! At Evangel we offer various bible studies by our Pastors and Elders to learn further how to come to Jesus and be salt and light. All are welcome! (See website) Evangel Church PCA – 423 Thompson Rd. Alabaster, AL. 35007 205-664-0889, evangelchurchpca.org - Live video webcast Colby Reeves - Evangel Member
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FEATURE
STILL DELIVERING DELICIOUSNESS DURING COVID-19 Alabaster food trucks facing these challenging times with solid solutions
J
ohn Miller is the president of the Central Alabama Food Truck Association. He acknowledged the difficulties that this pandemic season has created for small business owners like himself. “Food trucks had a lot of momentum before COVID-19 came,” he shared. “Most food trucks that are currently operational are very clean. However, the health inspectors have especially been all over all food trucks during this time to make sure they are remaining compliant. It’s not a bad thing, though, as no one wants to be shut down and we don’t want anyone getting sick.” Food trucks clearly can’t make as much money as they obviously would during carnivals and other large public gatherings that would be typical during this time. However, for John – and for many other food truck owners in the Alabaster area – it’s not so much about money right now. “It’s about giving back to a community that has supported us for so many years and making people happy especially during this time.”
DIXIELAND FUNNEL CAKES John is also the owner and CEO of Dixieland Funnel Cakes. He started the truck about four years ago and now runs it along with his daughter, general manager Mckaelia Sturgis. To give back to his community, John decided to help bring some kind of normalcy by continuing operations and visiting the various neighborhoods in the area, like an ice cream truck does. “People seem to like it,” he said, pleased.
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However, continuing operations during a pandemic requires additional efforts to be made. “Every day, the vehicle is thoroughly sanitized. And a couple times a week, each vehicle is pulled off the road and receives a full scrub-down, including bleach, for both the interior and exterior,” John pointed out. “Thankfully we already had a stockpile of cleaning supplies before everyone else came and cleared them off all the shelves!” Social distancing is also enforced for walk-up orders, or people can call ahead to place their orders and remain in their cars to pick it up. “The funnel cake is our most popular item, followed by the fried Oreos and a fried Moon Pie,” he exclaimed. “Our freshsqueezed lemonades are also favorites and if you purchase the special cup, you get half price refills for the year!” Dixieland Funnel Cakes is very active on social media pages, promoting the truck’s schedule and notifying the different area groups to make sure they know where and when the vehicle will be parked. “We’re sure to maintain contact with the various homeowners’ associations so it’s not a surprise that we’re in their neighborhoods!”
TACOS EL TIO The Tacos El Tio truck is typically seen at the Advance Auto Parts store on 119 in Alabaster. “If we are not there in the afternoon, we are probably at the Siluria Brewing Co.,” said co-owner Abril Ponce. “You can always check our Facebook page to try and locate us!”
FEATURE Although their customers often choose to try something different each day, the consistent favorite menu items are the steak or chicken quesadillas, steak burritos, and steak or pastor tacos. Since they’ve been open, the truck has been taking orders and delivering the meals to people’s cars. This process has been helpful under the pandemic restrictions. “Customers have to wait in their cars and one of us takes it out to them. We are sanitizing our payment phone and everything that our customers touch,” Abril’s father (and co-owner) Israel Ponce pointed out. “We also have put down tape so customers can be six-feet apart when waiting to order.”
BEULAH MAE’S The family-owned and operated Beulah Mae’s is named after the grandmother of the food truck’s owner and scheduler, Ashia Montgomery. Her sisters, Jaccolah Carter and Glena Murray, are the cooks and co-owners. Their mother, Juliette Montgomery, serves as the cashier and face of the company. The family has worked hard together to ensure that their restaurant-on-wheels can continue to operate during this difficult season. “Our workers utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfect the serving area regularly,” Ashia said. “Customers are required to socially distance by six feet.” But even with these restrictions, the food truck continues to be a popular location for families in Alabaster to frequent. Their three most popular orders right now are the catfish, the lemon-peppered wings and their famous mac and cheese recipe. Find their location posted daily on their Facebook and Instagram feeds.
SUNSHINE LEMONADE Not even a pandemic can slow down Mother Nature’s heatwaves. So as the weather continues to warm up, the summer season’s favorite beverages are back in high demand! Kendall Walters is one of the owner/operators of Sunshine Lemonade. “Our fresh-squeezed, old-fashioned lemonade is our top seller, followed by our strawberry lemonade and watermelon lemonade.” As has become the new normal for most food-serving establishments, Sunshine Lemonade employees have adapted to several of the recommended guidelines for restaurants. “We have a hand sanitizer bottle for both guests and employees to use, but with no guest contact. Customers are not permitted to self-serve our straws or napkins, and we also offer a no-contact payment system with chip readers or wireless pay (Apple, Samsung, Google Pay). Preor-
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FEATURE der and prepay options are also available for all menu items.” The food truck’s employees are dedicated to ensuring the safety of their customers, using hand sanitizer or putting on new gloves for every customer interaction. “We post our schedule weekly on Instagram and Facebook. We also do updates of the days we are out and about.” Kendall encouraged, “You can find us @sunshinetruck on both social media platforms.”
SOUTHERN ROOTS FOOD COMPANY Michelle Fuller and her fiancé Jorge Cordova co-own Southern Roots Food Company and will celebrate their truck’s first full year of business in July 2020. They love their business and have adjusted during this season in order to accommodate for their customers to place pre-orders and to pre-pay, along with offering curbside service. ”This allows us and our customers to be as contactless as possible,” she pointed out. But just because they have reduced their physical contact with customers doesn’t mean that they don’t want to still stay in touch! Southern Roots Food Company keeps their Facebook page updated as to where they can be found around town. “We also post in the Alabaster Eats and Alabaster Food Trucks Facebook pages,” she reminded. “This allows us to communicate and let our Alabaster community know where we will be located.” No matter where they are parked, Michelle knows that their food will keep their customers coming back time and time again to enjoy the simply southern tastes from their truck. “What makes our food stand out from others is that we smoke most of our food on the menu. Our customers absolutely love the different taste that we have to offer,” she exclaimed. “Our top three most popular menu items are our smoked bread pudding with a whiskey sauce, homemade smoked mac & cheese topped with bacon, and our loaded BBQ nachos.”
KONA ICE OF BIRMINGHAM Kona Ice is another of the food trucks continuing to serve the Alabaster area. The business is committed to delivering smiles, one Kona at a time - especially during this time when we could all use more to smile about! They are usually found driving through various neighborhoods daily from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., weather permitting. Lisa Thomaston is the manager of the Birmingham Kona Ice
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trucks. “As a small business, we struggled with whether to shut down or not,” she admitted. “We would discuss it every time we would get phone calls, text messages, emails or Facebook messages from customers letting us know that they appreciated us.” In order to continue serving the community and provide some sense of normalcy during this uncertain time, they have made several new accommodations due to the virus. “First off, we have applied Micro Shield-360 (a two-step sanitization process) to all of our trucks to help with germs. We are committed to adhering to all social distancing and safety standards as determined by the CDC and our local health departments. Drivers are also washing their hands in between each stop and change their gloves for every family,” she explained. When you place your order at the bright blue truck window, the driver will add the flavors to each shaved ice for each customer, as the self-serve Flavorwave component of the process has unfortunately been closed during this time. One of the favorite items of the summer so far is the color change cup filled above the brim with their delicious, frozen Kona treat! Contactless card readers ensure that the driver doesn’t touch anyone’s card. “We are now also accepting Venmo, Apple Pay and Android Pay. As far as cash, the customer can drop it into a basket and the employee takes it and dumps it into another basket – never touching it. We call this our ‘dirty money,’” Lisa said with a grin. “Our money boxes have what we call ‘clean money’ for their change. At the end of the night, we do our best to disinfect the ‘dirty money’ before putting it back into use.” Lisa was quick to say that they are so thankful to each and every one that has supported their small business. “We look forward to seeing you all out in the neighborhoods!”
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The Branch
At Mission Hills
Brook Lovett, Senior Pastor Brook@ thebranchatmissionhills.com
Kent Robbins, Associate Pastor of Worship Kent@thebranchatmissionhills.com 615-478-6379
205-296-7342 and During this time of uncertainty, social distancing, quarantine, The Branch at Mission Hills Church is offering the following services following the new social protocols:
SUNDAY
WEDNESDAY
10:30 am On Campus In-Person Service
6:30 pm On Campus In-Person Service
*To watch services online, visit facebook.com/TheBranchatMissionHills or our church website at www.thebranchatmissionhills.com
Right Now Media Contact the church to get your free/unlimited access to this web-based video library of Christian videos for children, youth and adults
The Branch at Mission Hills 1669 Mission Hills Road, Alabaster, AL 35007 www.thebranchatmissionhills.com Church Phone 205-358-8680
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
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FEATURE
IDEAS FOR CELEBRATING DAD ON FATHER’S DAY
F
or the Chapin family, Father’s Day this year will likely consist of making dad, Daniel Chapin, feel special and loved. “I usually make something special for breakfast, I have done cinnamon rolls in the past because it is easy for small hands to help with, we go to church, and then we go over to his grandmother’s house for lunch with all of his family,” said mom, Meredith Chapin. The Alabaster couple has three young children, Olivia, Logan and Lacey Claire, who love to make gifts whenever they can to help with celebrations. They plan to celebrate their dad on June 21 with activities the whole family can participate in. “My oldest is five and loves to draw so she makes cards for everyone and every-
Jon Kelton
IRT-1848E-A
Financial Advisor
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6919 Hwy 119 Suite 300 Alabaster, AL 35007 205-621-0888
cityofalabaster.com
thing,” Meredith Chapin said. “They also love to rewrap things from around the house and give those as ‘gifts’ too, so it is always fun to see what they find.” Since the family has spent the last several months quarantined at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Meredith said Father’s Day might be a bit different this year. “We are not in a rush to re-enter society with three young children, but we have been seeing family in small settings over the past couple of weeks,” Meredith said. “Hopefully gathering with all the family will feel like a safe place again by then.” Some ideas to help celebrate dad this Father’s Day include: • Set up a backyard barbecue. • Watch your dad’s favorite television show or movie.
• • • • • • •
Go fishing. Work on a project together. Go on a family hike together. Ride bikes. Plan a game night for the family. Learn something new together. Pitch a tent somewhere and enjoy time with dad under the stars. • Have an ice cream night. • Look through old photos or videos together. • Make dad a king for a day with all of his favorite things. • Gift a subscription service to something like Amazon Prime, Shipt, Netflix, Hulu, or dad’s favorite magazine or newspaper. “We like to keep things simple and try to teach our kids about each holiday as it comes up, and why it is important,” Meredith Chapin said. We also make a point to celebrate all of the big holidays with both sides of our family, even if it is not on the exact day.
edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT
Albritton & Ardovino family dentistry
205.664.7610 www.aafamilydental.com
• New Patients Welcome • General & Cosmetic Dentistry for the whole family • We offer Same Day Crowns • Please visit our website for a complete list of services @ www.aafamilydental.com Dr. Ardovino
Dr. Albritton
• No insurance? Ask about our Office Saving’s Plan
100 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Suite 400 In Alabaster Colonial Promenade next to American Family Care
CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT
INVESTING IN BUILDING A STRONG ALABASTER Recognizing a long-time community member: Mike Allen
play golf when time allows and is an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster. In the Alabaster community, Mike has served on the Alabaster Water Board for about 10 years. He has previously served on the Alabaster Industrial Development Board and the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. “It was exciting to talk with other community members about the tremendous possibilities for Alabaster’s future,” he enthused.
SERVING LONG-TERM
Mike Allen celebrated 40 years of marriage to his wife Marcia last September. They have lived in the Alabaster area all their lives. “We both attended Thompson schools when the schools and the community were much smaller. It’s home because we grew up here and roots are deep here,” they said. “We really grew up with the community – Alabaster has grown to be bigger and better and we like to think we have grown within it.”
HOME SWEET (GROWING!) HOME Mike grew up on a small cattle farm which was then situated where Meadowview subdivision is today. “We weren’t within the city limits at that time – we were kind of removed from the City center,” he recalled. “It was an exciting day when we got to make a trip to the Food Center and Gillis Pharmacy.” As the City grew, and his family’s involvement in the City expanded, Mike began coaching various youth sports. Marcia became a teacher at Creek View Elementary and served in that capacity for 25 years. Mike and Marcia’s adult daughter (Mary Beth Cline) married her husband Jon and have two sons (Murphy and Perry). Mike and Marcia’s adult son (Michael) is married to Michelle.
INVOLVED FROM ALL ANGLES Mike has attained an Electrical Engineering degree from Auburn University and works as a construction Project Manager at Alabama Power Company. He likes to
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Currently, Mike serves on the Alabaster Planning and Zoning Commission, and has for about 15 years. “The Planning and Zoning Commission exists to help plan for healthy growth for the community,” he explained. “The Commission tries to make sure that we have the right balance of land devoted to industry, commercial and residential, and that these different interests, and all our residents, can coexist in ways that makes for a happy, healthy community.” Also, as a member of the Board of Directors of Alabaster Water, Mike gets to help oversee the company’s effort to make sure our community has an adequate, reliable, clean and affordable supply of water for Alabaster. “It’s a challenge to do that in an area that has grown as rapidly as Alabaster has in the last few decades, but the employees at Alabaster Water have done a great job,” he commended. “I work at Alabama Power, so I get to bring a little public utility experience to my role on the Board at Alabaster Water.”
A STRONG FOUNDATION Mike believes that strong neighborhoods are the building blocks of a great community. “I would say that Alabaster is a wonderful place because of its wonderful people – and you are one of them. Get involved! Get to know your neighbors and your neighborhood.”
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
READY TO SEE YOU THROUGH ALABASTER EYE CARE
Optometrist Dr. Graham Rowland and his wife, Amber, opened the Alabaster Eye Care practice seven years ago. “We grew up in the area, so serving the needs of our county while being close to our family has been a blessing,” Dr. Rowland said.
The office is located in the Publix shopping center on Highway 119 near the Thompson schools. “We’re a small office, so people often ask how long we’ve been here. They’re shocked to realize they have driven past us for years without realizing it!” he said with a knowing smile. Alabaster Eye Care offers comprehensive eye care including glasses, contacts, treatment of ocular disease and injuries, and co-management of surgery. “I have a sub-specialty in pediatrics and really enjoy working with kids,” Dr. Graham said. “We’re not a high-volume practice – we just try to treat every patient with respect and give them the highest quality care possible.” Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the small business, the doctor says, “It has been... well, it’s a mess. So many businesses are hurting right now, and many may not recover.” The office is currently following CDC guidelines and are back open for routine eye care now. However, they are being careful to schedule time between patients for sterilizing, asking patients to wait in their car rather than in the waiting room, and trying to minimize the number of people in the office at any given time. “I think most practices are taking similar precautions,” the doctor acknowledged. Things are going to be a little strange for a while, and it may take well over a year to get back to what feels like normal again.
“Handshakes will be replaced with a wave and a smile (though you may not see it because of the mask).” The business is currently open Tuesday through Friday, and one Saturday a month. “Our hours are a little more limited, and while we do accept walk-ins, we’re staying pretty busy, so appointments are recommended.” If individuals have a current contact lens prescription, Alabaster Eye Care is happy to fill orders. They generally don’t recommend opting for online retailers for glasses or contacts, saying, “It’s an unregulated mess and most of them come straight from China with little to no quality control. Studies consistently indicate that half of all online orders are wrong. Some states are actually trying to ban them because of the health risks!” However, Dr. Graham acknowledges these are strange times, and if someone absolutely has to have something just to get by, going online is an option. “We typically tell our patients, if you have to order online, only pay for the absolute minimum – don’t get extra coatings or progressive lenses – there’s a reason.” For now, Dr. Graham says he and his team will just keep carrying on. “If you need us, we are just a phone call away. We are happy to answer any questions, and if you think you have an eye problem, don’t hesitate to call. Our number is 205-624-3088.” cityofalabaster.com
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AROUND TOWN
FARMERS MARKET The City of Alabaster is pleased to announce the start of the Farmer’s Market which will be every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. from June 13 to August 1 (except July 4). It will be located at the municipal complex green area near the Senior Center. “This market really adds to our citizens’ quality of life and provides more opportunities to shop local,” says City Administrator Brian Binzer. “People enjoy venturing out on a Saturday, exploring the outdoors and seeing their friends and neighbors. Now that folks are cooking more often, this also provides healthy food alternatives for our citizens.” The City has received much positive feedback from citizens that they enjoy the quality of farmers, the picturesque setting and the fact that the market is very close to where they live. Binzer adds, “We have great community support from John Aaron, who runs a local law office in Alabaster. John is on our Farmer’s Market Board. We meet to set the rules and organize the event. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is absolutely essential in helping us set up and take down the tents for the vendors. Plus, they put up the directional banners every Saturday.” While the wellbeing of Alabaster’s citizens is always a priority, the City will be adding precautions this year due to COVID-19 to make this event as safe as possible. For a list of vendors, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AlabasterFarmersMarket.
CITYFEST 2020 POSTPONED With social distancing and COVID-19 being on everyone’s mind, it is with great sadness that the Alabaster Arts Council (ACC), the organizer behind Alabaster CityFest, has postponed 2020’s itineration of this beloved annual event. Jamie Cole, Vice President of the AAC, explains the reason behind this heartbreaking news. “As with most large festivals of this type, the organizers of Alabaster CityFest are first concerned with following guidance from health experts and our local, state and national officials. Canceling wasn’t easy on us personally, but it was a necessity with regard to the guidance,” he shared. The AAC has already started early planning for 2021 and is working off the organizing that was already done for this year’s canceled festival. As for the coming year, Cole says they are looking at possible options for upcoming events. “The best I can say is ‘stay tuned.’ We’re all hoping that we can enjoy cultural events together this fall. There’s just no way to predict,” he said. Be sure to check out the list of upcoming live streaming shows on their website at alabastercityfest.com/ stayathomeshows.
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RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION BOARD JUNE WINNER John, Judy and Johnnie Parlier 109 Blue Spring Place Congratulations to John, Judy and Johnnie Parlier of 109 Blue Spring Place for our June Residential Beautification Winners! This property is located in the Summer Brook subdivision of Ward 4. The lawn is free of weeds and well maintained. The focal point is a large raised flowerbed filled with seasonal plants and flowers. This property shows pride of ownership and is an inspiration to the neighborhood.
COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION BOARD JUNE WINNER Central State Bank Corner of Highway 119 and Kent Dairy Road Central State Bank corner of Highway 119 and Kent Dairy Road is our June/August Commercial Beautification Winner. The building is a modern gem with great colorful flower touches and a well maintained lawn.
AROUND TOWN
RECYCLING DROP-OFF OPENING JUNE 1, 2020 Alabaster is pleased to once again offer in-city recycling for those who wish to utilize this service. Recycle drop-off will be available starting June 1, 2020 at the Public Works Department located at Limestone Park on Hwy 31. Drop-off will be available Monday-Friday from daylight to dusk. Recycling will be restricted to items accepted by Birmingham Recycle and Recovery so please see the city's website for acceptable items. Items placed in the drop-off bin should be separated and not bagged. Bagged items will not be accepted. Recycle Center Signage of acceptable items will be posted at drop-off location.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (ABRIDGED) Unabridged version of minutes and resolutions/ordinances can be found on the city webpage at www.cityofalabaster.com.
APRIL 6, 2020 AT 7 PM
Agenda Items: Absent: Stacy Rakestraw (3). A quorum was present.
1.Resolution 040620 Accepting the FY 2019 Audit from BMSS, LLC Motion Passed Unanimously 2.Resolution 040620-A FMLA Leave Expansion and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Policy Motion Passed Unanimously 3.Resolution 040620-B A Resolution Authorizing Agreement with Barge Design relating to theAbby Wooley Park Project Motion Passed Unanimously 4.Resolution 040620-C Authorizing Agreement with ATC Group Services for Veterans Park Geotechnical Testing for Veterans Park Motion Passed Unanimously 5.Resolution 040620-D Proposal for CE&I Services for Veterans Park Entrance Realignment from Gonzalez Strength and Associates Inc Motion Passed Unanimously 6.Resolution 040620-E GSA Re-Design of Road following Park Layout Change
- Supplement #1 Motion Passed Unanimously 7.Resolution 040620-F Vacation of Temporary Construction Easement Associated with Glass, Dewey and Salvation Army Properties Motion Passed Unanimously 8.Resolution 040620-G Appointing Chief Court Clerk and Chief Magistrate Motion Passed Unanimously 9.Resolution 040620-H Authorizing Generator Maintenance Agreement with PATCO Electrical Contractors Inc Motion Passed Unanimously 10.Resolution 040620-I Authoring ADEM MS4 Permit Application Fee Motion Passed Unanimously 11.Ordinance 20-98 An ordinance to adopt a small cell tower ordinance for the City of Alabaster, Alabama by creating Chapter 40, Article III, small cell technology of the City of Alabama SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:19 PM
APRIL 20, 2020 AT 7 PM
Agenda Items:
1.Resolution 042020 Authorizing Reorganization of Engineering, Building and Environmental Services Motion Passed Unanimously 2.Resolution 042020-A Amending the City Administrator / Planner Job Description Ayes - 5; Nays - 2; Abstain None; Motion Passed 3. Resolution 042020-B Authorizing Spring Sports Fee Refunds and Fiscal Year 2020 Mid-Year Budget Amendment Motion Passed Unanimously 4. Resolution 042020-C Authorizing Purchase of Equipment for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Previously Approved in the FY20 Budget Motion Passed Unanimously 5. Resolution 042020-D Authorizing an Agreement with Volkert relating to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Motion Passed Unanimously 6. Resolution 042020-E Appointing Place 4 of the Alabaster City Schools Board
of Education and Setting the Term Thereof Motion Passed Unanimously 7. Resolution 042020-F Authorizing Contract with Municode for Municode Meetings Software and Support Motion Passed Unanimously *Ordinance 20-98 An ordinance to adopt a small cell tower ordinance for the City of Alabaster, Alabama by creating Chapter 40, Article III, small cell technology of the City of Alabama 8. *Ordinance 20-98 To adopt a small cell tower ordinance for the City of Alabaster, Alabama by creating Chapter 40, Article III, small cell technology of the City of Alabama Motion Passed Unanimously 9. Ordinance 20-97 (Postponed) An Ordinance to rezone property from B-3 To Institution SAID MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:30 PM * Public Hearing on these Items ** Set Public Hearing on these Items cityofalabaster.com
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CALENDAR
CALENDAR LIBRARY The Albert L. Scott Library is located at 100 9th Street N.W., Alabaster. Mon., Tue. and Thu.: 9 am - 7:50 pm Wednesday: 10 am - 5:50 pm Friday: 9 am - 5:50 pm Saturday: 10 am - 4:50 pm Sunday: 1 pm - 4:50 pm
If you would like more information concerning programs, please contact the Library at 664-6822.
ADULT PROGRAMS YA YA YARNERS June 8, 15, 29. 5:30 p.m.
The Ya Ya Yarners are meeting at the Albert L. Scott Library now! Do you knit or crochet? Would you like to learn how? If so, we have a group for you… the Ya Ya Yarners! We will teach you if you don’t know how. We will start you with one of two simple projects. We will supply the needles or hooks and yarn and a pattern. If you already have a project under way bring it along to work on. We also do community projects such as hats for service members, lap blankets, prayer shawls and many other things. For more information please call the library at 205-664-6822 or email Carol Smith at csmith@shelbycounty-al.org. Program takes place in the meeting room.
ABC & DS OF MEDICARE June 8, 1 p.m.
Karen Haiflich of the Medicare Information Source will help you navigate through the process of Medicare. Learn about filing, benefits, and any other questions you might have. Program takes place in the meeting room.
LIBRARY BOOK GROUP June 18, 7 p.m.
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Join us to discuss The Feather Thief by cityofalabaster.com
Kirk Wallace Johnson. On a June evening in 2009, 20-year-old Edwin Rist breaks into the British Natural History Museum at Tring and steals hundreds of dead bird skins from some of the most colorful and iridescent species in the collection. After hearing about this strange heist, author Kirk Johnson becomes obsessed with getting to the bottom of the story and solving some of the crime’s remaining mysteries. Program takes place in the meeting room.
MEDICARE 101 June 25. 6 p.m.
A fun and informative class to learn what to expect with Medicare and how to ask the right questions. Perfect for anyone wanting to learn about their Medicare options. Presented by Eric Smith, the founder of Medicare Advisors of Alabama. Program takes place in the meeting room.
YOUTH PROGRAMS We’re looking excited to welcome back our friends and neighbors. “Imagine Your Story” is our theme for summer at the library – a project designed for children of all ages. Besides new books, we’ll have some new performers and most programs will be streamed online. We’ll have prizes for reading and more. New this summer, we will be launching an enhancement of our summer challenge for kids from birth through 18 years old! It’s called READsquared. It is accessed via our website or the READsquared app starting May 25 to enroll kids in our summer challenge, keep track of their reading progress and know when kids are eligible for prizes. Families need to remember to come to the library for their gift packet and details about dozens of entertaining, and educational performers. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, live audience size will be limited, and social distancing will be used. If patrons want to be in the meeting room for a program, sign up. Sign up is available in person at the library and via telephone. It is planned to live-
stream or stream most programs. Programs are in the meeting room. Kids under age 7 must be with an adult at the library. Visit our website or Facebook page or visit or call the library, 205-664-6822, to stay current.
WEEKLY PROGRAMS Drama Workshop For kids 8 to 10 years old Tuesdays (starting June 9) 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Register for the Summer Challenge and sign up for the workshop. Class size is limited. Drama Workshop For kids 11 to 15 years old Tuesdays (starting June 9) 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Register for the Summer Challenge and sign up for the workshop. Class size is limited. Imagination Station Story Time Wednesdays 10:15 a.m. Toddler Tales 10:30 a.m. Streaming & Dreaming 3:30 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS Must call Library to Sign Up: June 1, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Summer Challenge Kids’ Beyond Imagination Kickoff w/Mr. Larry Magic June 2, 6 p.m.
Summer Challenge Tweens’ & Teens’ Kickoff with Magician Tim Sonefelt Kids 11 to 18 years old June 3, 3:30 p.m.
Sloss Furnaces Virtual Tour June 4, 4 p.m.
Tweens’ & Teens’ Try It Thursday Kids 11-18 years old June 8, 10:30 a.m.
Once Upon a Magic-filled Show with Magician Tommy Johns June 8, 3:30 p.m.
Imagine Butterflies & Moths with Bert Lindbergh “The Bug Man” June 11, 10:30 a.m.
Maynard, Magic, & Music June 11, 4 p.m.
Tweens’ & Teens’ Surprise STEM Lab with Shelby 4H. Kids 11-18 years old
CALENDAR June 15, 10:30 a.m.
Skin & Bones Comedy Circus June 15, 3:30 p.m.
Cap’n Dave Music Show June 17, 3:30 p.m.
Professor Whizzpop
ONLINE ARTHRITIS EXERCISE Seated: June 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 10:30 Standing: 12:30
ONLINE BOOK CLUB June 22
June 18, 10:30 a.m.
Skins & Skulls with Shelby 4H June 18, 4 p.m.
Didgeridoo Down Under June 22, 10:30 a.m.
Miss Kit’s Bubble School June 22, 5:30 p.m.
Family Creativity Night: An Artist’s America with Michael Albert. Families can sign up June 25, 4 p.m.
Tweens’ & Teens’ Try It Thursday. Kids 11-18 years old June 29, 10:30 a.m.
Be At Your Best Drums June 29, 3:30 p.m.
Munching with a Mermaid
SENIOR CENTER
The Alabaster Senior Center, which is operated by the Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department, offers a variety of programs and services for individuals 55 years of age and older who live in Shelby County. The Senior Center is located at 1097 7th Street S.W., Alabaster. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If you would like more information concerning Senior programs, please contact the Alabaster Senior Center at 205-6631307 or belder@cityofalabaster.com. Due to the Pandemic, the Senior Center remains closed; however, that is subject to change as State restrictions chwange. Online Activities offered through the Alabaster Senior Center during June:
ONLINE ARTHRITIS EXERCISE Seated: June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at10:30 Standing: 12:30
PARKS & REC Alabaster Parks and Recreation offers a variety of youth sports and a couple of adult programs, along with several community events throughout the year. Additionally, they oversee pavilion rentals for all City parks. The Parks and Recreation Office is located at 7305 Hwy. 119, Alabaster. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. If you would like more information concerning Parks and Recreation programs, please contact the Office at 205-664-6840 or parksandrec@cityofalabaster.com. If you would like to receive emails from Parks and Recreation regarding registrations and events, you can sign up by going to www.alabasterparks.org and scrolling down the page to the SIGN UP link. The only required information is your name and email address. NOTE: We cannot accept Checks as a method of payment. Please be prepared to pay for any fees with Cash, Debit, Visa, Master Card, or Discover.
DOG PARK MAINTENANCE The Dog Park at Veterans Park will be closed on Wednesday, June 3, for maintenance. If needed, the Rain-Out date will be the following Wednesday, June 10.
FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES IN THE PARK FREE movies at Veterans Park located at 7305 Hwy. 119 in Alabaster. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends enjoying the outdoors while watching an entertaining
movie. The movies will begin showing around dusk (usually 8:00 p.m.). Bring a blanket or some chairs, snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic), and some bug repellant. Movie schedule:
June 12: Disney “The Lion King 2019” (118 minutes – rated PG) June 19: Disney “Frozen II - 2019” (103 minutes – rated PG) July 10: Movie TBA July 24: Movie TBA
ADULT KICKBALL REGISTRATION - COED Walk-in Registration for teams (not individuals) will begin on June 1 and end on June 26 at the Parks and Recreation office located at Veterans Park – weekdays only from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On-Line Registration for teams (not individuals) will begin on June 1 at 8:00 a.m. and end on June 27 at 11:00 p.m.. For more information, please contact Nik McCrimon at 664-6840 or nmccrimon@cityofalabaster.com
PAVILIONS FOR RENT Several of our City Parks offer pavilions for events such as picnics, family reunions and birthday parties. The best way to assure your event happens at the location of your choice is to reserve it early. Reserve online at www.alabasterparks.org Please do not send out invitations listing one of our parks as the event location before you have secured a pavilion through Parks and Recreation. The pavilion you plan on using may not be available. Pavilions are available for use by permit only. There is a $40 rental fee (no checks accepted) which must be paid before your reservation is complete. Inflatables, charcoal grills, and piñatas are not allowed in any of the City parks. Please see our web site for a complete list of rules. All open picnic tables (those not under a covering) are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis. cityofalabaster.com
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CITY COUNCIL SOPHIE MARTIN, WARD 1 205-506-8961 martin@cityofalabaster.com
CITY OF ALABASTER 1953 Municipal Way Alabaster, AL 35007 www.cityofalabaster.com 205-664-6800 MARTY HANDLON, MAYOR 205-664-6831 handlon@cityofalabaster.com
RICK ELLIS, WARD 2 ellis@cityofalabaster.com STACY RAKESTRAW, WARD 3 205-529-3326 rakestraw@cityofalabaster.com GREG FARRELL, WARD 4 farrell@cityofalabaster.com
A Christ Centered, Family Focused, Full Service Hair Salon
RUSSELL BEDSOLE, WARD 5 205-229-6021 bedsole@cityofalabaster.com SCOTT BRAKEFIELD, PRESIDENT, WARD 6 205-915-4439 brakefield@cityofalabaster.com KERRI PATE, WARD 7 205-965-8300 pate@cityofalabaster.com
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128 Market Center Drive, Suite 124, Alabaster, 35007 Located between Restore and H&R Bloack in the old Winn Dixie shopping center
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