Cahaba Sun May 2016

PERFECT MATCH Former foster child finds success, family. 16

Vol 1 | Issue 7 | MAY 2016 As Trussville As It Gets

Saying

farewell Paine Primary principal prepares to retire. 22

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CITY FEST TIME Festival’s 36th year features daylong family activities, plus performances by local bands and a fireworks show. 6

ENGINEERING ACADEMY HTHS students rethink renewable energy for success at regional science fair. 23

X X | | MAY 4 NOVE 20MBE 16 R 20 1 5

Photo of the Month

Editor’s Note

By Sydney Cromwell The Cahaba Sun is now seven months old.

It’s not exactly a new paper, but it still feels new to me. That can be scary sometimes — I feel like I don’t know Trussville as well as I want to, yet — but it’s also exciting.

There’s this whole world of untold stories in your neighborhood, your church and your grocery store, and I hope to tell as many of them as possible.

I’m also getting to experience a new set of events each month. Personally, I can’t wait to cover City Fest this month.

Here at the Sun, we’re having fun getting to know your community and sharing what’s important to you. I hope you’ll keep reading, and I look forward to seeing you at City Fest, other events in the upcoming months or just around town.

The Fantazia Circus recently came to the Trussville Civic Center where jugglers, clowns, aerialists, trained animals and motorcycle stunt riders showed off their talents. Photo by Ron Burkett.

Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (22) Alabama Hospice Care of Birmingham (20) Alabama Orthopaedic Surgeons (17) Alabama Outdoors (23) Alabama Power (29) Batts’ Chimney Services (30) Bedzzz Express (3) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (14) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (16) Cahaba Cycles (18) California Closets (16) Central Alabama Cadillac Dealers (11) Classic Gardens (25) Commute Smart (22) Corner Shops (20) ERS Construction Products (5) EZ Roof & EZ Restoration (31) First Community

Mortgage (13) Grayson Valley Pet Clinic (8) Kirkwood by the River (30) Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. (8) Lee Marlow, RealtySouth (13) Melanie Clough, ARC Realty (32) OSE Surgery Center (18) Phoenix Builders (25) RealtySouth Marketing (21) Sugar Sands Realty (30) The Maids (1) Tom Williams BMW (9) Trussville Gas and Water (27) UAB Comprehensive Stroke Center (2) University of Alabama Men’s Basketball (10) Vitalogy Wellness Center (12, 24) Weigh To Wellness (15)

Publishers: Dan Starnes Scott Buttram General Manager: Matthew Allen Managing Editor: Sydney Cromwell Design Editor: Kristin Williams Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Page Designers: Shweta Gamble Cameron Tipton Contributing Writers: Saige Leopard Chris Megginson Rick Watson

Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison Contributing Photographer: Ron Burkett

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: The Cahaba Sun PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@ starnespublishing.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC Legals: The Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Cahaba Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

6 | MAY 20 16

City Fest tradition continues

Above: John and Jacob will be the headlining act at City Fest. Photo courtesy of John and Jacob.

Below: Inflatable hamster balls are among the activities at City Fest. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Fest.

Festival’s 36th year features family activities, local bands

By CHRIS MEGGINSON Trussville City Fest is back for its 36th year of family fun on the historic Mall in downtown Trussville on Saturday, May 7.

The one-day festival, produced by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Schaeffer Eye Center, will begin at 11 a.m. Admission is $5 per person and includes all activities. Children 2 and younger are free. T-shirts will be $10.

Children and family activities fill the day, along with craft vendors, local businesses and plenty of food vendors ranging from traditional hot dogs and popcorn to Three Earred Rabbit and Steel City Pops. Local music acts will perform on the main stage with headliner John and Jacob performing at 8 p.m. A fireworks show will cap the night at 9 p.m.

“Last year was probably one of the best years I’ve ever seen. It was a beautiful day,” said Melissa Jones, one of the event’s coordinators who has been volunteering for more than 20 years. “I want it to be as good or better than last year. It’s a great community environment, and everybody really looks forward to it.”

The event has become an annual attraction not only for Trussville residents but also vendors who block out the week as a priority

event, such as resident Jondavid Franklin, a professional balloon artist who performs under the name Mr. Twister.

“Every year during this time, I get the same phone call from North Carolina to attend the Banana Pudding Festival, but this is my city.

This is where I grew up, and they’ve always been good to me,” said Franklin, who has been part of the children’s entertainment for four years. “When a city tries to make their city better by putting on these events together, and I can contribute to that, it means I’m not just contributing to my family, I’m continuing to my city.”

Franklin, 36, said he remembers first attending what was then Dog Daze, a twoday late summer festival, as an 18-year-old with his friends. He said the food options were basically snow cones and hot dogs. The crowds fluctuated over the years, but he said he loved having a place to get together with friends in the summer. He says the transition to City Fest in 2013 has made it an even better festival.

“It was always a way you can call your friends up, get your family together, and it was a free place to get together and have a good time, but there’s a whole lot more to do now as a family,” he said. “I think that’s what’s made it so popular. It’s grown as a place (where) the Trussville

MAY 2016 | 7

community can come together, and it’s also a way of introducing Trussville’s atmosphere to others. It’s been a cool experience to see it grow.”

The family activities include a rock climbing wall, inflatable obstacle course, inflatable double slide, skee ball, train rides and inflatable hamster balls in a pool. Doodles

by Wendy will do face painting. Mr. Twister Balloons will make creations from 1-5 p.m., while the Trussville Fire Department’s Sparky the Fire Dog, Yogurt Mountain’s YoMan, the Chick-fil-A Cow and Caroll Pharmacy’s Caring Bear will make appearances.

Scout Troop 915 will kick off events on the main stage at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation of colors and national anthem. Following the band’s performance, the winners of Trussville’s Got Talent (Noah Webber, Paine; Kent Glover, HTMS; Aaron Monday, HTHS) will perform. Miss Trussville Cassidy Jones and Miss Trussville Outstanding Teen Sabrina Faire White are among the lunchtime performers. The Miss City Fest

Booth Vendors ► 2 Cute Creations ► Alabama Orthopedic Surgeons ► Alabama Parrot Rescue ► Allstate Insurance Company ► America’s First Credit Union ► Avadian Credit Union ► Bama Bully Rescue ► BB&T Bank ► Beloved Creations ► Birmingham Academy of Martial Arts ► Brik Realty ► Buddy Choat for Mayor ► Cold Creek Honey ► Committee to elect Jef Freeman ► Complete Cleaners ► Dave Blount for City Council ► Debra Ashworth ► Drayer Physical Therapy ► Durante Home Exteriors ► Eskridge & White Physiotherapy ► Frederick Maybee Crafts ► Friends of Zack Steele ► Gotta Have It Gifts ► Grace School of Theology ► Great Smiles Orthodontics ► Healing Place Church ► It Works ► Janabelle’s ► King Family Chiropractic ► Magical Designs ► Martha Driggers ► Mary Kay ► Mercy House ► Miss Kelley’s School of Dance ► Monogram Spot (Krewl Kreations) ► Montalto for Mayor ► New Bath ► One Source Heating and Cooling ► Outpatient Services East ► Rape & Brooks Orthodontics ► Robert Templin (crafts) ► Sassy South ► Sea Cadets ► Scentsy ► Sissy N Bubba Boutique ► Sons of Confederacy ► Southern Addiction Décor ► Spare Time Entertainment ► St. Vincent’s East

Attractions for kids and adults will be at City Fest 2016. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Fest.

winners will be announced at 1:20 p.m.

John and Jacob will headline a lineup of eight musical performances during the afternoon and evening. The Nashville-based but ► The Healing Place Church ► The Retirement Center ► Thirty-One Gifts ► Ultimate Gutter Guard ► USA Intercultural Programs ► Vann Pediatric Dentistry

Children’s & Family Activities ► Mr. Twister Balloons, balloon twisting (1-5 p.m.) ► Doodles by Wendy, face painting (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) ► Hamster balls (11 a.m.-9 p.m.) ► Rock climbing wall ► Inflatable double slide ► Mickey’s Park Learning Club inflatable ► Obstacle Course - Backyard Challenge inflatable ► World of Sports Games ► Skee ball ► Train ► Sparky the Fire Dog (Trussville Fire Department) ► YoMan (Yogurt Mountain) ► Chick-fil-A Cow ► Caring Bear (Carroll Pharmacy) ► What-A-Guy (Whataburger ► Benny the Pin (Spare Time) ► Babe Ruff (Birmingham Barons)

locally bred alternative country band, which penned a No. 1 Billboard hit with The Band Perry, “DONE,” will take the stage at 8 p.m.

The band has toured with Kacey Musgraves

Main Stage Schedule (as of April 14) 11:30 a.m.

Presentation of Colors by Troop 915

11:30 a.m.

National anthem

12:10 p.m.

Trussville’s Got Talent Winners perform (Noah Webber, Aaron Monday, Allie Gooden, Virginia Glidewell)

12:30 p.m.

Miss Trussville Cassidy Jacks and Miss Trussville Outstanding Teen Sabrina Faire White

12:50 p.m.

Miss Kelly’s School of Dance

1:20 p.m.

Miss City Fest winners presented

1:35 p.m.

ACE of Trussville

1:55 p.m.

Birmingham Academy of Martial Arts

2:30 p.m.

Showstoppers

4:00 p.m.

HTHS Choir

4:30 p.m.

Harmonia

5:00 p.m.

Grace Vision Band

5:45 p.m.

Jackson Capps

6:45 p.m.

Elliot Root

8 p.m.

John and Jacob

9 p.m.

Fireworks

Food Vendors ► Funnel Cakes by Boy Scout Troop 915 ► Hey Got Coffee ► Kona Ice ► Nanny’s Old Fashion Lemonade ► Q&A Concessions ► Shiver Shave Ice ► Snack Attack ► Steel City Pops ► Three Earred Rabbit ► Trussville Southside Baptist ► Wheelin’ & Grillin’

and, in addition to The Band Perry, has played with other top country acts including Little Big Town and Darius Rucker. Their song “Be My Girl” has been used in the ABC show “Nashville.”

Special guest Elliot Root will open for the headliner at 6:45 p.m. The American alternative group based in Nashville has released two EPs, “II” and “Thoughts From Yesterday.”

Several volunteers help make the event possible, including local Boy Scouts who will camp out the night before to keep watch over the festival grounds. Hewitt-Trussville High School students will assist in the children’s area, and U.S. Navy Sea Cadets will provide cleanup for the event.

One staple missing from City Fest is the annual car show. Construction near the festival site has kept that event from happening this year.

For information, visit TrussvilleCityFest. com or call the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce at 655-7535.

8 | MAY 20 16

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661-6600, discovertrussvillechiropractic.com

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206-4321, brikrealty.com

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Business news to share?

If you’re a brick and mortar business in the Trussville area and want to share your event with the community, let us know.

Email matthew@starnespublishing.com

MAY 2016 | 9

ALDOT to provide road construction update at Trussville May Chamber luncheon

By CHRIS MEGGINSON Road construction updates will highlight the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon May 19.

Lance Taylor, assistant region preconstruction engineer, from the Alabama Department of Transportation, will provide the updates.

The luncheon is sponsored by Cadence Bank and catered by Jim ’N Nick’s. It will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Trussville Civic Center, followed by Taylor’s presentation at noon.

Taylor, a 23-year ALDOT veteran, oversees all division preconstruction activities including design, right-of-way and utility relocation for the East Central Region. “I have been working with the city of Trussville on a variety of projects through the years and have enjoyed the relationship we have developed,” he said about speaking to Trussville’s business leaders.

Taylor said he plans to discuss local road projects such as the recently completed resurfacing of Interstate 59, improvements to the I-459/U.S. 11 interchange and Trussville Greenway, as well as touching on regional updates of the Northern Beltline and

Chamber of Commerce May luncheon • WHEN: May 19, 11:30 a.m.

• WHERE: Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville-Clay Road • COST: $17 per person • CALL: 655-7535

ALDOT Assistant Region Preconstruction Engineer Lance Taylor will discuss work done to key area thoroughfares during the May 19 luncheon. Photo by Ron Burkett.

the I-20/59 central business district bridge replacement in downtown Birmingham. He said he plans to leave time for questions.

The monthly luncheons begin with a

30-minute network development where members and guests can network and exchange business cards with the 80-to-100 individuals expected to attend. Prior to lunch,

the Chamber will honor its monthly Customer Service Award winners. Door prizes also will be given away.

To register, visit trussvillechamber.com or contact June Mathews at 655-7535 or june. mathews@trussvillechamber.com. Cost is $17 (cash or check) or $17.34 if paying by credit or debit card (2 percent processing fee).

Online registration is closed at midnight on Monday, May 16, but the Chamber office will accept registration by phone until noon Tuesday, May 17. All nonmembers must pay in advance.

10 | MAY 20 16

Community Rotary donates books to Paine Primary The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss by giving a Dr. Seuss book to about 140 kindergartners at Paine Primary. Photo courtesy of Diane Poole.

The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by giving a Dr. Seuss book to about 140 kindergartners at Paine Primary. They have been working hard to instill the love of reading in young readers by having regular reading sessions with Paine Primary students for many years.

Several members of the Trussville Rotary Club give of their time every Wednesday morning to help these students improve their reading skills by listening while the students read to them.

Mary Jean Sanspree, an active member of the Rotary Club, came up with the idea of presenting books to the children and said the children were excited to open up their books. The teachers were given the opportunity to select their favorite book for the children in their class.

Rotarians and friends helping out with the book distribution were Tom Ruf, David and Betty Cork, Van Horne, John Patterson, Rudy Griffin, Fran Aldridge, Mary Jean Sanspree and her grandson Trent.

The club meets at 7 a.m. on Wednesday mornings at Spare Time Entertainment, 3600 Roosevelt Blvd., in Trussville.

For more information on the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club, or to help with one of their projects, please visit trussvillerotaryclub.org or email Diane Poole at diane.poole@trussvillechamber. com. ­– Submitted by Diane Poole.

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MAY 2016 | 11

Beautification board holds annual contest The Trussville Beautification Board is now accepting entries for its annual beautification contest. Yards will be judged Tuesday, May 17, and winners and awards will be announced at the Freedom Fest held July 4.

The categories are: ► Best Landscape Design ► Best Turf ► Best Use of Color ► Best Homeowner-Maintained ► Best Professionally-Maintained ► Best Business There will be first-place and honor roll winners in each category. Entry forms are available at the Trussville Library, Trussville City Hall and the Trussville Chamber of Commerce Office.

Include the name, address and phone number of the nominee and the name and phone number of the person submitting the nomination. Nominations must be received by May 16 and can be turned in at the Trussville City Hall or mailed to: The Beautification Board, 131 Main St., P.O. Box 159, Trussville, AL 35173.

You may also email your nominations to Nina Orr at nrorr50@yahoo.com. If you have any questions, call 746-8606. ­– Submitted by Nina Orr.

Firehouse Subs provides vital equipment

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Trussville firefighters now have a new utility-terrain vehicle (UTV) in their fleet thanks to Firehouse Subs.

On March 31, members of the Trussville, Homewood, Tarrant, Center Point and Irondale departments gathered at the Homewood Firehouse Subs location for the awarding of five equipment grants through the restaurant’s Public Safety Foundation.

Firehouse Subs’ Public Safety Foundation raised $117,455 to provide the UTV to Trussville and hydraulic rescue and extrication equipment, such as the Jaws of Life to the other departments.

Trussville’s new UTV cost $14,967.

Foundation Senior Development Manager Meghan Vargas said the grant money is a small part of the $18 million the foundation has raised for fire departments since it began in 2005. About $1 million of that has gone to Alabama firefighters.

The UTV has four seats and a bed to carry equipment, and is designed for rescue efforts in weather emergencies or in locations that are impassable with normal rescue vehicles.

About 60 percent of the money for the

Trussville firefighters with their new utility terrain vehicle outside Firehouse Subs on March 31. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

grants came from donations by Firehouse Subs customers, which many times is just spare change. Restaurants raise money through recycling leftovers, donation canisters, $2 donation pickle buckets and offering customers to “Round Up” their bill to the next dollar with proceeds benefiting the Foundation.

“It is our customers that make this possible,” Conklin said. “To take people’s pennies and turn it into what you

see today is amazing.”

Conklin said they would like to continue expanding the grant program, which has grown to give away about $1 million per quarter across the U.S. yet still has to turn down the majority of applying departments.

“You guys are the real heroes; we’re just glad to give you the tools you need,” Firehouse area representative David Conklin said.

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12 | MAY 20 16

Ladies group shares bond deeper than bunco

By SYDNEY CROMWELL For Trussville residents Libba Ellison and Hazel Clanton, the third Thursday of each month is always reserved for bunco night, and it’s been that way for 40 years.

They’re part of a group of 12 women who began playing the dice game in 1976. The women were neighbors, family members, old classmates and church friends, all with young children. Eight of those original 12 still show up each month, now with grandchildren and great-grandchildren instead.

Almost all the members have been playing together at least 20 years.

“It was kind of on a whim,” Ellison said of why she joined the group. “At the time we were all young moms that had little children, and we were all looking for a night out. So it’s kind of evolved from there.”

The bunco nights are held at a different woman’s home each month, spread out across Birmingham. They begin with dinner before setting up the three tables and begin rolling the dice. Bunco requires exactly 12 players, so the regulars are committed to attending or send a substitute to play if they can’t make it. Each night’s winner gets a small prize, but the group agrees that winning is beside the point. Bunco nights are

“

We’re playing but we’re talking. I guess that’s how we’ve kept up with everybody over the years and what’s going on.

”

LIBBA ELLISON

about their decades-old friendships.

“The most important thing is that the friendships have developed and they’re just lifelong friends,” Ellison said. “We’ve been there for so many life events.”

They’ve been by each other’s sides through pregnancies, health scares, children getting married and family losses, to name a few.

Having seen each other through the highs and lows of life, Ellison said there’s no subject that’s off limits anymore. The rattle of dice can barely be heard as jokes, memories and favorite recipes get tossed back and forth between the tables.

“We’re playing but we’re talking,” Ellison

From left to right, Paula Cooper, Libba Ellison, Sarah Rhodes and Carol Brown play bunco together at Hazel Clanton’s Trussville home. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

said. “I guess that’s how we’ve kept up with everybody over the years and what’s going on.”

When member Beverly Harris reflected on how much had changed since the bunco nights began, Linda Wade piped up from across the table: “And we haven’t killed

each other yet, which I think is some sort of miracle.”

Those deep friendships, Clanton said, are part of what has given the bunco group its staying power. The other part, she believes, is the regularity — every third Thursday, those

MAY 2016 | 13

12 women know it’s time for bunco.

“You don’t have to know how to play.

We’ll show you in two minutes how to play,” Clanton said.

Ellison now keeps a hefty photo album of the group’s time together, though they didn’t take any photos in the early years because “I guess we didn’t anticipate it, us staying together for this long.” The photos chronicle everything from fake tattoo nights and costume parties to 15 years of goofy photos from their annual August weekend trip to Lake Martin.

“We’d do some of the silliest, craziest things,” Ellison said.

For the members who only see each other once a month, that lake trip has bonded them even closer together.

“It’s just been an amazing group of very strong women, strong Christian women, who have tremendous character and I guess longevity to stay in this group,” Ellison said.

The bunco group officially celebrated their 40th anniversary with a dinner together in February. Ellison is the last of the regulars to retire, and once she does, Clanton said it’s likely that they’ll move to daytime games instead of evenings. Except for that, all the members agree the group is going to keep on playing with little change, just like they’ve been doing for 40 years.

“The circumstances in everybody’s lives have changed, but not making sure we come and play bunco,” Clanton said.

IAL SPEC

This group of women has been playing bunco together for 40 years and they say that the friendships they’ve built are more important than who wins or loses.

ION

SECT

n e m o W f o E L L I V TRUSS 2016 Coming in July

Email matthew@starnespublishing.com for more information

14 | MAY 20 16

Trussville Fresh Farmers Market VENDORS ► Hazelrig Orchards ► Pine Mountain Produce ► Southern Oaks Farms ► Stillwater Farms ► W & W Farms ► Whitted Farms ► Smitherman Farms ► Pam’s Nigerian Goat Soaps ► Tiffany’s Gourmet Delectables ► Magic Mountain Organics ► Faulkner Farms ► Umphrey’s Produce ► Food Integrated Training ► Mayberry Blueberry ► Tekoa Apiaries HOURS The Farmers Market is open Tuesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

As long as the growers are able to produce, the market will stay open throughout the year, even until Thanksgiving.

For more information, visit the market’s Facebook page: http:// tinyurl.com/zaqf3fm.

Market offers sweeter cantaloupe variety, colorful heirloom tomatoes

By SAIGE LEOPARD For six years, the white tents at the corner of Parkway Drive and U.S. 11 always mark the sign of a new season: farmers market season.

Trussville Fresh Farmers Market, set to open April 30, now includes about 15 vendors, offering everything from traditional fruits and vegetables to free-range non-GMO pork, chicken, eggs, soap and more.

The smell of fresh greens and dirt, the rainbow colors of produce and the relaxed atmosphere are just a few of the many reasons to support local farmers, market manager Wesley Gooch said.

“Even the soap girl milks her own goats and grows her own herbs,” Gooch said. “And everything displayed there is usually picked that morning.”

Everything sold at the market hails from nearby Blount, Chilton, St. Clair, Etowah and Jefferson counties, he said. This means nothing is shipped in and passed off as being a locally grown item.

Knowing your dinner has made its way from a local garden to your table in less than

24 hours guarantees you’re getting the most out of it, Gooch said.

“The older the veggies are, they start losing their nutritional value,” he said.

The local market started in May 2010 and is one of about 180 in Alabama, Gooch said.

The Farmers Market Authority for Alabama inspects the market and its vendors. It also provides marketing advice, ideas for diversifying the menu and regulates how meats are processed.

This year, vendors will be selling a new, smaller cantaloupe that is sweeter than the traditional variety, as well as a lot of heirloom tomatoes, Gooch said.

Gooch is a Hewitt-Trussville High School graduate who retired five years ago after working in the railroad industry for 37 years.

He said he became a grower himself when he retired.

“I’m doing what I dreamed of doing,” he said.

Gooch inspects all the farms himself — monitoring the land the growers have and ensuring his vendors are growing exactly what they said they were planning to grow.

He said his growers use pesticides only

Strawberries are just some of the locally grown produce offered at the Trussville Fresh Farmers Market. Fresh eggs, honey, soaps and more are also available.

Photos by Ron Burkett.

MAY 2016 | 15

minimally, and they are more than willing to talk to customers about that, as well as why some produce may cost a bit more than their supermarket versions.

It’s an established relationship the growers have now, he said, and there is much loyalty among them.

“We all help each other and teach each other,” Gooch said. “I haven’t seen any problems among the vendors.”

He said he gets many requests yearly from outside growers.

“I get so many of them wanting to sell at our market,” he said. “But we already have a group of diverse growers, and you want your growers to make a decent living. For instance, we only have one honey vendor. A good honey person can produce 200 to 300 pounds of honey, so once you get a good honey person, you better stick with them.”

For items purchased more frequently, Gooch has more growers, including three farmers who sell eggs from their homegrown chickens, and five vendors who grow and sell multiple varieties of lettuces including leaf, red butter and romaine.

The loyalty extends to their customer base, too, Gooch said.

“What I like about it is how at least half of our customers can now call us by name,” he said.

Freshness is important, as well as knowing where your produce is coming from. That

The Trussville Fresh Farmers Market is set to kick off its sixth year April 30 at the corner of Parkway Drive and U.S. 11. Market manager Wesley Gooch said established relationships with local farmers keep customers coming back to the market.

keeps customers returning, Gooch said.

Trussville resident, natural food chef and certified holistic health care professional Jennifer Cole Conn is one vendor who has been with the market from the beginning. Conn

owns Food Integrated Training, previously known as The Farmhouse. Her FIT company has merged with The Pantry by Stone Hollow Farmstead, where she also serves as wellness director.

At Stone Hollow Farmstead in Harpersville, the company raises its own chickens and goats to produce artisan cheeses, jams and jellies, specialty foods, a skincare line and more. All of this is sold at its food outlet, The Pantry, in Crestline Village. Much of it is sold at the Trussville Farmers Market as well.

“I think this market is everything to the community,” Conn said. “It’s people building relationships with the farmer. I’ve seen so many people over the years who know each other only because of the market.”

She said she values children’s food education and said it’s a big reason why people should buy from farmers markets instead of supermarkets.

“It’s teaching them that food doesn’t come from a can, a microwave or a drive-through,” Conn said. “It’s so important for kids to understand the growing process. Farmers market food is traceable food, and it’s such a good experience.”

Taste testing at the market can be fun, too, she said.

“Children are usually more responsive if someone else is giving food to them other than their parent,” Conn said. “It’s making memories related to food.”

Gooch said he hopes in the future to have live music every Saturday. The Cahaba Lilies, a local bluegrass band, has performed during past markets.

16 | MAY 20 16

Sports A perfect match

By KYLE PARMLEY Jaison Williams gets it.

The Hewitt-Trussville High School senior has seen it all, and at such a young age, has persevered through ups and downs to find himself staring at a walk across the stage at graduation that will symbolize another huge milestone in his life.

In and out of foster homes until eighth grade, he was nearly ready to give up.

“I didn’t know how much longer I could take it,” he said. “But I knew God had a plan, so I stuck with it and kept pushing.”

Ashley Williams and her husband, Jamie, had three children already and the couple was content with the family as it was then constructed. But the best-laid plans of men don’t always unfold exactly as expected.

“God put it on our hearts,” Ashley Williams said. “I always had a heart for adoption.”

The story took off from there.

The couple began taking adoption courses

and set the process in motion, but had no idea what the conclusion would be. Then one day, at a church staff meeting at the family’s church home, the First Baptist Church of Trussville, a woman asked for prayer for her sister.

Her sister, a teacher at Clay-Chalkville Middle School, was devastated at the likelihood that one of her favorite students — Jaison — would have to move from his current foster home.

The situation was not perfect, however.

The Williams thought they would adopt in birth order, leaving Drew (currently in 11th grade) as the oldest. As they stand now, Maggie is in the eighth grade, and Jack is in second grade.

Jaison spent a weekend with the family just to see how everything would work out.

Heck, he already had the Williams last name.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “As soon as I got there, I fit in right away. I was a little worried about it when I first got there, but once I walked in the door…”

Success as a discus thrower is only a small portion of Jaison Williams’ incredible story. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

MAY 2016 | 17

Perfect match. He never left.

Jaison had never played organized sports when he moved into the home five years ago as an eighth-grader. But he’s since flourished on the football and track and field teams, winning a state championship throwing the discus and leading the Hewitt-Trussville football program to the playoffs in his final two seasons.

He has earned a scholarship to Austin Peay State University to play football. The school held a signing ceremony that February afternoon, but Ashley had already emptied her tear ducts by then.

“When he faxed in commitment letter in that morning, I was emotional,” she said. “It hit me like a ton of bricks.”

The character he developed in the early stages of his life helped him on the field.

Throughout his athletic pursuits, he has heavily relied on a handful of quotes from some of the all-time great sports figures like Vince Lombardi and Muhammad Ali. He also repeatedly credits his faith in his story.

“I came from basically nothing and built myself up with God to get where I am today,” Jaison said.

While his athletic accomplishments are a great story all on their own merit, people don’t want to talk about that when Jaison’s name is brought up.

When asked to tell a story that perfectly encapsulated who Jaison is, track and field coach David Dobbs did not hesitate

Jaison’s addition to the Williams family has been a blessing for everyone involved. Photo courtesy of Williams family.

for a second.

“There was a guy from Huntsville High School that was a better thrower than him,” Dobbs began.

That guy had a clear uniform violation, with printed words on his shorts that were not of his high school. Jaison had the option to say nothing, and let the referees disqualify him. Jaison would have likely won the event had that happened.

“Instead of coming to us and saying, ‘Hey,

that kid’s got the wrong shorts on. We can get him DQ’ed,’ he went and told him,” Dobbs said.

Williams approached the kid and alerted him of the violation, giving him time to correct his wardrobe.

Ashley Williams looks back on many moments and says God was preparing her heart for what was to come with Jaison.

Whether it was adopting a teenager, or seeing Jaison give his life to Christ and never look

back, or watching him sign to play college football, she can only recall those times in amazement.

“Jaison has taught our family more than we’ve taught him,” she said.

Dobbs calls it patience. Jaison calls it a drive to get better. Ashley calls it faith.

Whatever, ‘it’ is, Jaison Williams possesses it.

Has the journey been worth it for him?

“Most definitely.”

18 | MAY 20 16

Moseley, Skipper all in on Auburn

By KYLE PARMLEY Tate Moseley and Carson Skipper still have a few years left to excite the fans at Hewitt-Trussville High School, but they also have one eye set on their future as student-athletes at Auburn University.

It doesn’t hurt that the two are good friends as well.

“It’s really exciting,” Moseley said. “I was so excited when he committed. He would talk to me about it when they were talking to him.

“We talk about our signing party all the time, how it’s going to be all Auburn,” she said.

Moseley is the center fielder and leadoff hitter for the Lady Husky softball team, while Skipper is the ace on the mound for

the baseball team.

When it comes to Auburn, as is always the case in the state of Alabama, bloodlines run deep when it comes to allegiance to either Auburn or the University of Alabama.

On one hand, Skipper has been sold on Auburn from the beginning.

“Auburn is where I’ve always wanted to go. It’s my favorite school. It was a pretty easy decision for me,” Skipper said.

Then, on the other hand, Moseley’s family bleeds crimson and white.

“My whole family is (made up of) Alabama fans, still,” she said.

The conversion attempts could take a long time for Moseley, but she’s started to make a little progress. Her dad now supports the orange and blue softball program, even if he still supports other Alabama sports.

Tate Moseley is a star in the making for Hewitt-Trussville’s softball team. Photos by Kyle Parmley.

But Moseley has switched to a one-track mind since falling in love with the Loveliest Village on the Plains. “Auburn, all the way,” she said. “All Auburn.”

She laughs about the dynamic and says her family has been on board with her decision.

Family comes before school allegiances, and rightfully so.

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Carson Skipper credits his defense for nearly all of his success on the mound.

Skipper sees himself as a contact pitcher, and relies on his defense behind him on a nightly basis.

On the field, both have emerged as dynamic, key players for their teams. Skipper began as a freshman last year and has proven to be one of the most reliable options the Huskies put on the mound each week.

Skipper sees himself as a contact pitcher, and relies on his defense behind him on a nightly basis.

“Ninety-percent (of my success) is defense behind me,” he said. “If they’re

“

MAY 2016 | 19

”

All things come from hard work. If you work hard, you can just trust yourself, muscle memory, it’ll just happen.

making plays, then I’m feeling good. I let people put the ball in play a lot.”

Head coach Jeff Mauldin arrived at Hewitt-Trussville when Skipper entered the seventh grade — when he began playing middle school ball. Butch Thompson arrived at Auburn around the time Skipper’s recruiting process began.

“I feel like it’s a blessing, really,” Skipper said of the way the timing has worked out.

Moseley’s travel ball affiliation with the Birmingham Bolts was helpful in her exposure to Auburn, as she was invited to campus after participating in a camp. On her unofficial visit to the campus, she fell in love.

“I just knew that’s where I wanted to be,” she said.

Moseley made the transition to center field after Amber Hammonds graduated in 2015.

Moseley played in right last season, and she said the transition to center actually made her feel more at home.

“I play center in travel ball so it was actually weird playing right (last year). Center is my home. I’ve always played center, except for last year … I love center.”

TATE MOSELEY Moseley has also undergone an offensive transition in her young career. She switched from being a right-handed hitter and moved to the left side around the age of 9 or 10.

“I would hit a ground ball to short, and I would get thrown out by half a step,” she said.

The solution? To swap sides of the plate to make up for that half step.

She said it took about a year to become comfortable hitting left-handed, but what allowed her to reach that point is what has carried her throughout her career in every aspect: an unparalleled work ethic.

“All things come from hard work. If you work hard, you can just trust yourself, muscle memory, it’ll just happen,” she said.

Hewitt softball coach Jordan Burson added: “She works super hard, and she wants it more than I even understand. Her work ethic is amazing … It’s amazing to me that she’s willing to work so hard for something she wants to do.”

Whether the pair credits their coaches or other players, Moseley and Skipper each possess great talent — talent that will make its way to Auburn in just a few years’ time.

TWO HANDS ARE

ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE The Trussville Tribune and Starnes Publishing have partnered to bring you the Cahaba Sun, Trussville’s monthly publication with stories, photos, and more about the people, places, and things that matter to you most. The Cahaba Sun...as Trussville as it gets.

20 | MAY 20 16

The Indians have 2 new chiefs

By KYLE PARMLEY Pinson Valley High School is looking to make a resurgence on the hardwood, and the first step to that was bringing in coach Cedric Lane, a proven winner at the high school level.

Lane comes from Jackson-Olin, where he coached the previous two seasons, leading them to a berth in the regional round for the first time in 14 years. Before that, he won three consecutive state titles at Wenonah.

Despite the Indians notching just three wins last season, expectations are high from Lane’s perspective.

“I plan to take (the program) from this point,” he said. “They won three games last year, but it shouldn’t take a whole lot.”

He cited the instant success his teams attained at Jackson-Olin, and sees no reason why that cannot happen at Pinson Valley.

“My expectation is first year. That’s not the norm, but if I go in saying it’s going to take me ‘X’ amount of years to be successful, I’ll be cheating the senior class. I want to go in right away and make something happen,” he said.

Lane pointed to the administration’s desire to have a top-notch basketball program. Principal Michael Turner was the basketball coach at Leeds High School and led the Green Wave to a state championship in 2009.

Matt Glover, the athletic director and head football coach, has also been in contact with Lane about improving the relationship between the two programs and encouraging more football players to play basketball as well.

“It’s a win-win,” Lane said. “When you go into a situation like that, it’s hard not to be successful.”

One aspect of the school system that excites Lane is the direct feeder program he will have from Rudd Middle School, something he has not had in past jobs.

“It’s going to be a close-knit community … Recreation kids play their games at the high school gyms, and that means that you’ve got automatic access to all the kids in the whole community,” he said.

The Indians also hired Destiny Frazier to be the new girls basketball and volleyball coach. Frazier comes from Clay-Chalkville Middle School.

UAB softball head coach Marla Townsend achieved her 500th career win April 5, 2016. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Mitchell.

Marla Townsend eclipses UAB softball milestone

By KYLE PARMLEY Marla Townsend is the only head coach in the history of the UAB softball program, and on April 5, both the coach and the program notched their 500th career win. The Blazers defeated Jacksonville State 6-3 at home to achieve the milestone.

“For the program to get its 500th win at Mary Bowers Field is phenomenal,” Townsend told UABsports.com. “Mary and Keith Bowers witnessed so many of those wins over at George Ward Park.”

Townsend was named UAB’s first head coach Sept. 1, 1998.

During her tenure, Townsend, who graduated from Pinson Valley High School in 1982,

has guided the Blazers to five NCAA Tournaments (2010-14). UAB is currently sitting on six straight seasons of 30 wins or more.

She won the Conference USA Coach of the Year award in 2013, as UAB reached 40 wins for the first time in history, and advanced to the Super Regionals. That team had six players earn all-conference honors, and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association named Townsend and crew as the Mideast Coaching Staff of the Year.

Townsend also garnered C-USA Coach of the Year honors in 2002 and 2006. Before coming to UAB in 1998, she coached at Pelham High School and led the Classic White Lightning, a 16-and-under Amateur Softball Association team, in 1995 and 1996.

MAY 2016 | 21

School House

HTHS students ‘sign’ Dr. Seuss On March 2, the HTHS American Sign Language II classes went to the Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) in Talladega, Alabama. These students had the opportunity to sign classic Dr. Seuss books for students ages 3-11.

HTHS students prepared for almost a month prior to going to ASD so that they

Freshman wins art competition

were completely prepared to sign for these children.

While there, several high school students from ASD took the HTHS students on a tour of the historic campus and also had a time for them to all eat lunch together.

– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

Photos courtesy of Trussville City Schools.

In honor of Black History Month, McDonald’s sponsored a Celebration of Creativity in the Community Art Contest. Students were asked to express their depiction of the civil rights movement and the country’s progression. There were several divisions and a People’s Choice award.

HTHS freshman and Art I student Trevor Mastro placed second overall in the high school division. He, his family and all finalists were invited by McDonald’s to a dinner and an awards ceremony at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to find out placement of his artwork.

Mastro’s second place finish came with a $250 check.

– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

Health students compete at state level The following Biomedical Academy, EMT and Pharmacy Tech students at HTHS gave winning performances at the state Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competition: ► Ben Wedlund and Kaley Ann Fulton placed second in EMT

► Ivy Null and Jessica Boswell placed second in CPR ► Lucy Rinehuls placed second in Pharmacology Instructors are Aaron Nafziger and Jamey Curlee.

– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

22 | MAY 20 16

Betsy Schmitt to retire as Paine Primary principal

By CHRIS MEGGINSON When Paine Primary School changes its name this summer, so will the name on its principal’s desk. After 37 years as an educator in Alabama, including 23 in Trussville, Principal Betsy Schmitt will retire June 30.

The principal of the new Paine Elementary will be Tygar Evans.

“My plan had always been to retire from Paine Primary School,” Schmitt said. “This is the school I helped build, so for me it is fitting that my journey ends at Paine Primary School.”

When Ned and Goldie Paine donated the 38 acres on U.S. 11 for a new school, Schmitt went with the Paines to tour other schools, pick out bricks and select colors.

Moving from the largest elementary school in Alabama to the new Paine Primary in 2003 is one of Schmitt’s career highlights, along with being involved in the creation of Trussville City Schools a few years later.

“The community support has always been outstanding. Even when we were a Jefferson County school, the city provided us with funding that other schools may not have.

Goldie Paine, business support, community support and the support of the city have been exceptional, and that can be rare,” Schmitt said. “I will forever be grateful to Ned and

Cahaba Sun quarter pg - 4.56” x 5.75”

HOMEWOOD HOOVER CHELSEA ALABASTER CULLMAN TRUSSVILLE

Goldie Paine. They became great friends … They stepped up big to ensure all of the kids of Trussville had a beautiful place to be educated in.”

As Schmitt prepares to say goodbye to the school and her career in education, she will carry several memories with her.

After graduating from Auburn University in 1979, she began her teaching career as an exceptional education resource teacher at Rocky Ridge Elementary School, followed by stints in contained units at Cahaba Heights Community School and Irondale Community, where she worked with autism students from Allan Cott School. In April 1993, she married her husband, Joe, and moved to Trussville. That same year, Jefferson County Schools was looking for a second assistant principal at Hewitt Elementary. She became principal in 1997 and moved to Paine Primary when it opened in 2003.

“If it wasn’t for Joe Schmitt, I wouldn’t know much about Trussville at all,” Schmitt said.

It’s fitting then that her husband plays a part in one of her favorite memories in the city. He often spent time weed-eating and mowing the grounds around Hewitt Elementary. One summer, he discovered a dog had found a hole under the steps of the building to keep her six puppies safe. By September 15AAC0004-REV

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Betsy Schmitt retires in June from her position as principal of Paine Primary School, a school she helped create.

Photo by Ron Burkett.

of that year, the dogs were old enough to be adopted. Schmitt set up at the school for the puppies to be adopted. The mother, Lady Girl, sat and watched as each puppy, “little muddy noses and all,” was adopted. The Schmitts took Lady Girl home.

Schmitt admits becoming a principal was a huge change, but one for which she was ready.

She said she is thankful for teachers and staff who began with her at Hewitt and are still with her today. “That’s something rare in education today, and I think that’s been because of

a consistency in leadership,” she said.

Two of her best memories with her staff are how it responded when bad weather hit. During the last year at Hewitt Elementary, Schmitt and her staff brought students back to the school and fed them sandwiches during the Cahaba River flood of 2003 until the water subsided. Nearly a decade later, on Jan. 28, 2014, about 30 students and 10 to 12 staff borrowed sleeping bags from the kindergarten classes and toothbrushes from the Dental Health Month supply to spend the night in the Paine Primary library during the snow and ice storm. The teachers posted photos and videos to the students’ families via Facebook.

“We made it fun. We had art, music, PE, pizza for dinner and had breakfast ready to pop in the next morning,” Schmitt said. “The next day, they were asking, ‘Can’t we do it again?’”

Schmitt now plans to make a focus on getting healthy, spending time with her mother in Opelika, hitting the beach, traveling and enjoying life with her husband and their two dogs, Max and Cocoa. But she said she will miss the kids most of all.

“The kids at this age love you. They’re going to hug you, love you and speak to you.

It’s a great age to work with,” she said. “I’ve been more than blessed.”

MAY 2016 | 23

HTHS engineering students rethink renewable energy

By SYDNEY CROMWELL In Chris Bond’s Engineering Academy classroom, seniors are asked to find a problem and solve it. Hewitt-Trussville High School students Travis Gunn and Elijah Greene decided to find an energy source that could work in the middle of the wilderness.

“Some people say you don’t need it, but in the age of technology, it’s GPS, communication devices, everything. I mean, you can still pull out a map and a compass, but the easier ways all rely on electricity. So instead of packing an extra pack of batteries, which may or may not all go dead, we decided to design something that would create electricity as a renewable source,” Gunn said.

Gunn and Greene’s senior project — a trekking pole that generates electricity through the movement of walking — was so successful that they won a regional science and engineering fair and placed second in their category at a state fair. This earned Gunn and Greene a spot at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, later this month.

The Engineering Academy starts in middle school and gives students the chance to learn about design and creation through hands-on experience. Bond’s classroom includes a 3D

printer, 3D design software and other tools.

The academy courses culminate in the senior project.

“They discover problems that exist in the world and find solutions to those problems,” Bond said. “They look around at things that they love, things that they’re passionate about but also issues that family members might have.”

Gunn said his knowledge about engineering has grown “leaps and bounds” because of his involvement in the Engineering Academy since seventh grade. He said he plans to use that knowledge when he begins studying mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the fall.

Gunn and Greene said they tried out several different ideas before settling on their final design, in which the up-and-down motion of the trekking pole as its user walks moves magnets through copper wire inside to generate electricity.

The pair began building their prototype in January and finished it March 4, the night before their regional fair. Except for circuit boards and a small section of carbon fiber tube, everything in the pole was designed and built in Bond’s classroom.

The finished pole is just as sturdy as a regular trekking pole and only slightly heavier, though Gunn said the weight is about the

Travis Gunn and Elijah Greene with their renewable energy trekking pole and awards at a recent science and engineering fair.

Photo courtesy of Chris Bond.

same as an additional pack of batteries.

“In this case, you have unlimited batteries,” he said.

Bond said he always enters a few of his class’ senior projects into the annual Birmingham-area science and engineering fair.

He said he chose Gunn and Greene’s project because it was innovative and incorporated both science and engineering in its design.

“Every year we’re pretty successful at the fair because of the great work that goes on in that classroom,” Bond said.

After their overall win at the regional fair, Gunn said he and Greene were hoping to win again at the state level, but he said

they are still excited about their second place finish. They have some final battery testing and improvements to make to their informational poster before heading to the international fair.

According to the Intel fair’s website, Gunn and Greene’s trekking pole will be competing against projects from about 1,700 students from 75 countries. About $4 million in prizes will be given to top competitors, but Gunn said his goal is to place in the “top four,” or top 25 percent, in their project’s category.

Intel’s International Science And Engineering Fair is May 8-13.

24 | MAY 20 16

HTHS band plays in St. Patrick’s Day parade Members of the Marching Husky Band traveled to New York City in March to perform in the 255th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade March 17.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Day, groupphotos. com.

CCHS student accepted into early college

HTHS team wins NASA competition Three Trussville students are hoping their food will taste quite literally out of this world. The culinary team of Nailah Johnson, Cloe Wilson and Brittany Long, taught by Chef Anna Hallman, won the recent NASA HUNCH culinary competition in Huntsville.

The team’s dish was butternut squash puree with honey cinnamon Greek yogurt.

They had to develop this recipe while keeping in mind the unique eating conditions in space, including rehydration, food texture and nutritional value.

Bass Riggins has been accepted into the University of Alabama UA Early College program.

By winning this competition, Johnson, Wilson and Long will go on to compete in the national competition in Houston. ­– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

Winning team

The HTMS softball team recently placed second in the Moody Tournament.

Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.

Clay-Chalkville High School junior Bass Riggins began college before he even graduated from high school. The University of Alabama UA Early College program accepted Bass Riggins into its program in November 2015. Bass completed and passed the UAEC Gateway class in December 2015 and is currently midway through his first semester at UAEC. UA Early College students are high school students from across the United States who earn college credit online and are eligible for the UA Summer Residential/Honors Ready Experience.

The students may earn up to 30 hours of college credit from the University of Alabama and still enter UA eligible for freshman scholarships. ­– Submitted by Paige Riggins.

MAY 2016 | 25

4th-graders visit state Capitol Students in Paine Intermediate’s fourthgrade classes visited the state Capitol in Montgomery in March.

Their visit included meeting several state legislators and a trip to the Civil Rights Memorial. Photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools.

6th-grader acts as Senate page Top row: Jahan Fatima, Kate Hemrick, Miriam Newman, Caroline O’Kelley and Libby Armstrong. Bottom row: Kylee Moon, Ava Legg, Ellie Christian, Brecken Phillips and Cailey Mosley. Photo courtesy of Leslie Armstrong.

Blaze 06 White girls soccer champs The U10 Trussville United Soccer Club girls team, Blaze 06 White, won the U10 bracket of the Shamrock Cup Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the weekend

of March 19-20. The team is led by Coach Andy McMahon. Emily McMahon is also pictured.

Sixth-grader Sarah Kate Potter had a learning experience in March acting as a state Senate page for Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery.

She sat in on committee meetings, paged in the chamber during session, toured the Capitol, met several senators, saw Gov. Bentley and met Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey.

While there, Potter and the other pages learned the processes of a bill and how it gets passed.

– Submitted by Trussville City Schools.

26 | MAY 20 16

The annual Spring Carnival was held in Magnolia Park from March 24 to April 3. Photos by Ron Burkett.

Rides & smiles Trussville marks spring with a day at the carnival

Left and above: The Spring Carnival brought fun for kids and adults with classic entertainment such as games and rides. Below: Savanah Brewer, 6, shows her painted face.

Jurmel Chancellor, 10, with a prize he won at a carnival basketball game.

Above: The “Moby Dick� was a wild vertical ride at the Spring Carnival.

Left: Carnival-goers go down a slide.

28 | MAY 20 16

Opinion Trinket teaches a lesson in letting go This morning when I moved some magazines to make room for two mugs of steaming coffee, I accidentally knocked a yellow glass ball off the table. It bounced off the area rug, hit the wooden floor and rolled into the corner of the fi replace, which cracked the knick-knack into three pieces.

It was not entirely my fault and seemed insignificant, but the result was a look of sadness on Jilda’s face I had not seen in a long time.

I asked if her mom or grandmother had given it to her, but she said no. Turns out, it was the first gift I ever bought her after we started dating in 1968.

I turned that over in my mind a moment, digging for a trace of memory, and finally, it came back to me slowly.

It was the Friday after Thanksgiving, and she’d somehow convinced her mom and dad to let her go with me and our friends, Dale and Debbie, to Gatlinburg. The only hitch was that we’d have to drive up and back on the same day. Her mom and dad were not idiots. Allowing their 16-year-old daughter

My South

By Rick Watson to stay overnight without adult supervision was not in the stars.

We left out before daylight that morning and drove the five hours to Gatlinburg in Dale’s Ford Maverick that was the color of rust.

As we weaved our way through scenic roads into the mountains, we passed deer and all kinds of critters that regarded us curiously. The clouds were gray as woodsmoke, and soon snow began falling. When we stopped at Maloney’s Point for a photo op, there was enough snow on the ground to build a little snowman.

Once we got into Gatlinburg, we did a little sightseeing and grabbed a bite of lunch but realized there were many miles to go.

Getting snowed in didn't seem like a good idea, so we got back on the road.

We stopped at a tiny gift shop filled with candles and glass figurines to buy a few souvenirs. The place smelled of musk and patchouli. Somewhere in the back, a percolator was gurgling a fresh pot of apple cider that made the shop smell like Christmas.

That’s where I bought her the little yellow ball.

I know it must have been inexpensive, because I didn’t have a lot of money then, but it was a hit with my new girlfriend. It seemed to make her happy, and she held on

to the keepsake through the years.

It managed to survive generations of children who’ve visited our home.

For some reason, kids who could barely walk would hoist themselves up wobble-legged, balance on one hand, and reach straight for that little yellow ball. I can’t count the times it was dropped and rolled across our wooden floor like a big marble.

In years past, we’ve gone through phases where we’d declutter our home. Each time we did, that routine was painful because it meant deciding what was meaningful and what we could let go. The little glass ball always made the cut.

Standing there with the pieces of that keepsake in my hand as I remembered that magical day in Tennessee made me a little sad, too.

Rick Watson is a columnist and author.

His latest book, “Life Changes,” is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email at rick@homefolkmedia.com.

MAY 2016 | 29

Trussville

8512 Highlands Trace

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

747020

35173

8512 Highlands Trace

New

$229,900

747110

35173

7460 Shallow Creek Circle

New

$171,600

747081

35173

661 Chris Court

New

$850,000

747075

35173

5414 Camellia Lane

New

$209,900

747069

35173

6080 Mountainview Trace

New

$220,000

747014

35173

504 Knoll Lane

New

$357,750

746874

35173

7718 Windsong Drive

New

$280,000

746850

35173

3153 Cahaba Park Drive

New

$239,900

746804

35173

7033 Arbor Lane

New

$289,900

746757

35173

8199 Advent Cutoff Road

New

$189,900

746806

35173

5913 Longview Lane

New

$224,900

746719

35173

3740 Lookout Drive

New

$249,900

746670

35173

692 Hickory Valley Road

New

$325,000

746647

35173

7198 Petes Way

New

$195,000

746646

35173

608 Tiffany Drive

New

$229,900

5913 Longview Lane

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on April 18.

Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

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30 | M AY 201 6

Calendar Trussville Events May 1-7: Summer basketball registration. Trussville Parks and Recreation.

May 19: Zoning Adjustment Board. 7 p.m. City Hall.

Library Events

May 7: Trussville City Fest. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The Mall in Trussville. Tickets are $5 each.

Contact bobbie.roper@trussvillechamber.com.

May 21: Alabama Recreation and Parks Association State Track Meet.

8 a.m. HTHS Husky Stadium.

May 10: Intro to Chess.

6 p.m. Learn the basics of chess from Coach Charles Smith. Contact beckyt@bham.lib.al.us.

May 9: Planning and Zoning meeting. 6 p.m. City Hall.

May 24: City Council. 6 p.m. City Hall.

May 10: City Council. 6 p.m. City Hall.

May 16: Summer Basketball Practice Begins. 6:15-9:30 p.m. Trussville Civic Center, Athletic Center and Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.

May 16: Adult Softball Summer League Meeting. 7 p.m. Trussville Civic Center.

May 19: Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Trussville Civic Center. Registration is $17. Visit trussvillechamber.com.

May 26: First Responders Breakfast.

7:30-9 a.m. Trussville Civic Center. Registration is $12. Call 655-7535.

May 28: Pool opens. 11 a.m. Trussville City Pool, 219 Parkway Drive.

May 30: Memorial Day. City offices closed.

Tuesdays: Trussville Farmer’s Market. 1-5 p.m. The Mall in downtown Trussville.

Saturdays: Trussville Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.-noon. Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 90 Parkway Drive.

May 23: American Girl Club. 6:30 p.m. Registration required at least a week in advance. This month’s American Girl is Josefina. Snacks and crafts provided.

May 24: Intro to Chess.

6 p.m. Learn the basics of chess from Coach Charles Smith. Contact beckyt@bham.lib.al.us.

Thursdays: Storytime with Ms. Shawna. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. All ages welcome.

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Trussville City Schools May 2: Board of Education meeting.

7 p.m. Board offices.

May 10: Marching Band Meeting. 7 p.m. Band rooms.

May 2-13: AP exams. HTHS.

May 17: Preschool Parents Meeting.

6-7:30 p.m. Paine Primary.

May 3-5: Volleyball spring training.

HTHS. May 4: Fifth-grade field trip to Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.

May 4-7 AHSAA Track and Field State Meet. Foley, Alabama.

May 9: Paine Primary PTO Meeting.

10 a.m.

May 20: Fifth-grade Extravaganza.

Paine Intermediate.

May 22: Gayle Glenn/Allen Gillespie piano recital. 2-5 p.m. Choir room.

May 24: Last day for students. Dismiss at noon.

May 24: Graduation. 7 p.m.

May 9: HTHS Spring Choir Concert.

7-8:30 p.m. HTHS Performing Arts Center.

May 25-28: Track and Field Camp.

5-7 p.m. HTHS Stadium.

May 9-13: Girls Basketball Tryouts.

HTHS Gym.

May 26-27: HTHS Football Camp.

Husky Field.

May 10: Third-Grade field trip to DeSoto Caverns.

Submit your calendar events to Sydney@starnespublishing.com.

Area Events May 1: Sixth Annual Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon. Southside Baptist Church, 1016 19th St. South. Begins at 6 p.m. Sunday and will continue around the clock until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5. Everyone is welcome to read or listen. Reading will be in 15-minute increments. For details or to sign up to read, visit www.libertypark.org/biblemarathon.

students. Visit operabirmingham.org.

May 1: Southern Bazaar. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. BJCC. Arts, crafts, clothes and jewelry. Free admission. Southernbazaar1@gmail.com.

May 18-22: Regions Golf Tournament. Greystone Golf & Country Club. $20-$80.

Visit regionstradition.com.

May 1: Springfest. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Patrick Catholic Church, 301 Shamrock Trail, Adamsville. Food, games, plant sale, auction and raffle. Visit saintpatrickcc.com/Springfest.

May 18: Flicks Among the Flowers.

8 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Outdoor movies. Visit bbgardens.org.

May 7: Garden Art Party. Iron City.

Benefiting Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. 7 p.m.

Tickets are $95 per person. Call 871-1970 for information.

May 7: The Run for Kids Challenge.

Oak Mountain State Park. 12 hour 50K and 10K races beginning at 7 a.m. at the Cedar Pavilion.

Visit southeasterntrailruns.com.

May 14: Do Dah Day. 11 a.m. Caldwell Park.

Pet parade, music, food and more. Benefiting local animal charities. Free admission. Visit dodahday.org.

May 15: Southeastern Outings Sunday Stroll, Dunnavant Valley Greenway Walking Trail. 1:30 p.m. Depart 1:30 p.m. from the DVGWT trail head on Shelby County Highway 41. Contact: Edd Spencer, 205317-5868.

May 21-22: Great Southern Gun and Knife Show. BJCC Exhibition Hall. May 21 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 22 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Visit greatsoutherngunshow.com.

May 21-22: Auditions for Mary Poppins. May 21st at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and May 22nd at 2 p.m. in the Springville Middle School auditorium at 6691 Highway 11 (Main St.), Springville, AL 35146. The play offers a wide variety of parts for actors of all ages, including a large chorus of townspeople. Rehearsals will be during June and July. No experience is necessary.

May 14: Spring Walking Tour: Forest Park. 10 a.m. Vulcan Park and Museum.

Visitvulcan.com.

May 22: XTERRA Southeast Championship. 8 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Racer registration $30-$160 plus park admission. Visit xterraplanet.com.

May 14: 38th Annual Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition. 10:30 a.m. UAB Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. $25 adults, $10

May 24-29: SEC Baseball Tournament. Hoover Met Stadium. Ten team tournament. Visit secticketoffice.com.

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