Hoover Sun June 2016

Sun Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover

OnMark Physical Therapy is now

New name, same people, same exceptional care!

SIX CONVENIENT BIRMINGHAM LOCATIONS: Altadena Square • Chelsea (Narrows) • Crestline • Helena • Hoover • Moody

Volume 4 | Issue 9 | June 2016

Nearly 16K served in Hoover ER’s 1st year Staff at Medical West freestanding facility doubles from 65 to 130 to meet demands

By JON ANDERSON When Consuela Dambrino’s 13-year-old daughter started having severe pain in her side in October, Dambrino was thankful to have the new

Medical West freestanding emergency department just down the road from their Southpointe neighborhood.

Not only was it close by and they could avoid a 20- to 30-minute drive into Birmingham, but

there also was no wait to see a doctor, and the doctors and staff were attentive to her daughter’s needs, she said.

“Our experience was great,” Dambrino said.

“Everybody was very nice, very calm. No one was ever in a hurry, or dismissive or aggravated to be at work.”

The staff even provided copies of the images from her daughter’s scan tests on a CD to take with them, she said.

See MEDICAL WEST | page A31

POPS PITCH IN “

Berry’s Next Step

Vestavia Hills promises to treat former Berry High School mural, Finley stadium with respect.

See page B1

By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE

INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 News ................. A6 Business .........A10 Chamber ........A13 Community ....A14

Because of her daughter’s condition, the Dambrinos have since been back to the Medical West emergency department off John Hawkins Parkway about five more times, and each time they have received the same great service, Dambrino said.

It beats an emergency room experience

Events ..............A16 Sports ............... B6 School House .. B11 Real Estate...... B17 Calendar ..........B18

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facebook.com/thehooversun

Hoover City Dad Brigade projects over the past year have included painting, landscape maintenance, simple repairs and constructing garden beds. Photo by Ron Burkett.

My take on it is: Involved dads equal successful children.

”

DENNIS Back-to-school DONNELLY cleanup has become a lot easier thanks to the Hoover City Dad Brigade.

Since they began last year, the ranks of the Hoover City Dad Brigade have swelled to the point that more than 600 volunteers are expected to take part in this year’s cleanup project.

Like last summer, the group will not only tackle various “spruce up” chores at the city’s 10 elementary schools but also will take on Hoover’s three middle schools — Berry, Bumpus and Simmons — plus Brock’s Gap Intermediate.

Students’ dads, grandfathers, uncles and other father figures will gather July 23 at Home Depot on Galleria Circle for a 6:45 a.m. Chick-fil-A breakfast and to be assigned their school and tasks, which could range from painting to pressure washing to toting furniture.

See BRIGADE | page A30

A2 • June 2016

Hoover Sun PAID ADVERTISING

Clanton, Ala. Woman Sees Dramatic Results From Local Nerve Treatment Center For years, walking on the beach was not an option for 50-year-old former elementary school teacher Lynn from Clanton, Ala. Lynn developed severe Peripheral and Diabetic Neuropathy as a result of back surgery, which she had after chemotherapy for breast cancer caused damage to her spinal cord. The nerves in her feet were deadened, causing extreme discomfort, impacting her ability to balance and forcing her to walk with a cane.

“I love walking along the beach, but last year, I couldn’t make it across the sand to the ocean – the sand felt uncomfortable on my feet and my balance was too poor to walk on the uneven surface,” said Lynn.

This spring, Lynn confidently walked the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., free from the severe numbness and tingling that impacted her balance. She was able to endure the uneven surface without a cane and walked comfortably without assistance – she was even able to carry her own beach chair! Lynn was also able to walk up and down the pier without any numbness or discomfort,

another thing she was deprived of on her visits to the beach last year.

Lynn, who was forced to retire early from teaching due to pain caused by Neuropathy, attributes the monumental improvement to Neurogenx, a treatment that uses high-frequency electronic waves to gently reach deep down through muscle and tissue to relieve neuropathy symptoms and severe neuromusclar pain.

“I could tell it was working before, but the beach really showed me the progress I had made,” said Lynn. “This year, after 12 treatments at Neurogenx, I was able to walk down the beach and enjoy the feeling of the sand in my toes – that’s how I know this treatment is working.”

Lynn can now feel the difference between hot and cold surfaces, and her walking has improved so drastically that she no longer uses the cane she once relied on for stability. Additionally, Lynn has been able to reduce her dose of pain medicine for Neuropathy because her treatment with Neurogenx has been able to fix the problem as opposed to simply mask it.

“I can feel such a big difference in my stability while walking as well as my ability to sense the temperature and texture of the surface under my feet,” said Lynn. “I love this treatment and am so grateful for improvements I have seen from it.”

For more information on Lynn’s story and Neurogenx, call 205-483-3888 or visit www.neurogenxnervecenteralabama.com.

Peripheral neuropathy and chronic nerve conditions Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-noon 1849 Data Drive, Suite 1

483-3888 neurogenxnervecenter alabama.com

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A3

A4 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell With Father’s Day coming up, I’ve been recently reflecting on the male role models in my life.

I’ve written about my grandfather in these notes before, so if you regularly read them, you know how big of an impact he made on me. Although he has passed away, I think about whether my life and my choices are something that would make him proud. I like to think so.

But my Dad has been just as important in making me the person I am. He’s the person who taught me that nothing — not fear, not gender, not lack of experience — should get in the way of something I want to achieve. He taught me how to ride a bicycle — and a motorcycle, too — and pushed me to give my full effort in everything.

Though not all of his lessons stuck

Day-themed story on the Hoover City Dad Brigade. We also included local children sharing what they love about their dads, which is just too cute to miss, and a gift guide in case you can’t decide what to give Dad. I hope you enjoy them, along with the other features and event previews inside.

And remember, take time to celebrate and thank your fathers, grandfathers or father figures this month.

They’ve earned it. (sorry Dad, I can’t fix anything under my car’s hood), I wouldn’t have gotten this far in life without a father who was always in my corner.

Inside this issue, we have a Father’s

BEHIND THE LENS Onlookers watch pro golfers and celebrities tee off of the fi st tee in the Regions Tradition Pro-Am at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Hoover.

The crowd swells for celebrities and coaches as they participate in the charity tournament.

Breaking away from the pack can produce really telling images from an event like this one that shows how intent people are to not only see an event but capture and record it as well.

Technical data: NIKON D810, Lens (mm): 145, ISO: 1000, Aperture: 4.5, Shutter: 1/800.

By Frank Couch

Got a question or have an idea for next month’s Behind the Lens? Email me at fcouch@ starnespublishing.com.

Correction

The winner of the “Most Friendly Service” award for the 2016 Best of Hoover contest was listed incorrectly

Sun Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Director of Digital Media: Video Editor: Sports Editor: Page Designers:

Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Frank Couch Heather VacLav Cherie Olivier Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Ana Good Erica Techo Jon Anderson Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries

in the April edition of Hoover Sun. The Whole Scoop Ice Cream Shop won the category. We regret the error.

Contributing Writers: Leah Ingram Eagle Marienne Thomas Ogle Steve Irvine Jesse Chambers Amber Ritchie

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Hoover 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: Hoover Sun LLC Legals: The Hoover Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or

Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison

graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Hoover Sun is designed to inform the Hoover community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Hoover Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Hoover 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.

Please Support Our Community Partners 30 A Realty (B13) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A26) Alabama Outdoors (B15) Alabama Power (A31) Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (B19) Anna Lu Hemphill, Realty South (A19) ARC Realty (A2) Auto Oasis Express Wash (A23) Batts’ Chimney Services (A8) Becky Hicks, Remax Southern Homes (A23) Bedzzz Express (B1, B20) BenchMark Physical Therapy (A1) Black Pearl (B5) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A24) Brookwood Medical Center (B5) California Closets (B18) Carbon Recall (B7) Cardiovascular Associates of the Southeast (A30) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (A11) Central Alabama Cadillac Dealers (A7) Commute Smart (B18) Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare (A26) EZ Roof & EZ Restoration (A25) Frank Brocato for Mayor (B15) Geico Insurance (A15) Grandview Medical (B2) Hanna’s Garden Shop (B10) Honda Superbike Challenge of Alabama (A10) Hoover Florist (A27) Hoover Public Library (A27) Huntington Learning Center (A6) Inverness Country Club (B12) Iron City Bham (A3) Issis & Sons (B3) Iz Cafe (A13) JamJev Gymnastics (B10) Jana Hanna, RealtySouth (A11) Kasey Davis Dentistry (B2) LAH Real Estate (B17) LAH Real Estate - Hoover Office (A24) Magic City Chiropractic (A21) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (B7) Neurogenix (A2) Outdoor Living Areas (A18) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B8) Patti Schreiner, Re/MAX Southern Homes (A12) Planet Fitness (B16) Pure Dermatology & Aesthetics (B9) RealtySouth Marketing (A17) Red Mountain Theatre Company (A32) Red Pearl Restaurant (A16) Regional Planning Commission - Alabama Partners for Clean Air (B8) River Highlands of Birmingham (A9) Scott Underwood Reverse Mortgage (B6) Sentry Heating & Air (A22) Skelton’s Air (A13) Sugar Sands Realty (B18) Sweetspire Gardens (A29) The Altamont School (A3) The Maids (B6) Therapy South Hoover (B1) Tracey Mercer, Optometrist (A21) UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (A8, A12) UAB Medical West (A5) Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church (A19) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A20, B3) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (A29) Weigh To Wellness (B11) Wilcox Communities (B7) World Class Kennels (A14) Wrapsody (A16)

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A5

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A6 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

City

Architects redesign Sportsplex ballfield

Architects at Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood have redesigned the ballfield layout for the 124-acre Hoover Sportsplex next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, switching the location of the baseball/softball fields with the soccer/lacrosse/ football fields. The result is larger baseball/softball fields, one fewer soccer/lacrosse/ football field and an extra tennis court.

Photo courtesy of Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood.

By JON ANDERSON Architects have completed a redesign of the planned ballfields at the Hoover Sportsplex next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

They moved the baseball/softball fields to the northern part of the 124-acre property and the soccer/lacrosse/football fields to the southern end to get a better layout for the complex, given the topography, Hoover Executive Director Allen Pate said.

As a result, the eight youth-size baseball/softball fields became five fields the same size as the Met field, Pate said. Those fields will be big enough to accommodate 10 of the youth-size fields, he said.

Also, there now will only be five soccer/ lacrosse/football fields instead of six, due to some of the topography and the cost of developing the land, Pate said. However, the baseball/softball fields also could be

used for soccer, lacrosse or football, he said.

Another change was the addition of another tennis court, bringing the total to 16, Pate said.

Earthwork on the sports fields likely won’t begin until August or September, with a projected completion date of February 2018, Pate said.

But work will begin on the 141,000-square-foot indoor event center in June, with an expected completion date of May 2017. A ribbon cutting is planned for 11 a.m. on June 14.

The Hoover City Council on May 2

approved a $2.36 million contract to do foundation work and the concrete pad that will serve as the base for the indoor event center. Rabren General Contractors was the low bidder for the job among five companies.

The council in April agreed to pay $3.37 million to Dunn Construction Co. for the pre-engineered metal building that will go on top of the foundation to be prepared

by Rabren.

The total cost for the entire 124-acre Hoover Sportsplex is expected to be about $70 million and include a 2-mile walking track, playground and splash pad.

Mayor’s Minute

By Gary Ivey

Summertime is here, and we hope everyone is enjoying it!

May was a busy time in Hoover.

We were thrilled to have the Regions Tradition back at Greystone Golf and Country Club. It brings the community together and offers such a fun week of entertainment and great golf.

Right on the heels of that tournament, we hosted the SEC Baseball Tournament, which was a tremendous success. For over Gary Ivey the past 19 years, the top baseball teams from the Western and Eastern Divisions have met at the Hoover Met with tremendous crowds to watch America’s favorite pastime: baseball!

For the fourth year in a row, the city of Hoover will be hosting Freedom Fest on the Fourth of July at the Hoover Met Stadium. This family-friendly and free event will start at 5 p.m. with a car show, followed by live entertainment by 572 Band of the South, Bailey Ingle and then The Negotiators.

The evening closes out with a magnificent fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Don’t forget we have plenty of free parking and easy access in and out of the Hoover Met. For additional details about the event, you can visit our website at hooveralabama.gov or call City Hall at 444-7500.

Hoover has something for all ages. Please don’t hesitate to call our office if we can assist you. Our staff will continue to work hard to exceed your expectations!

Sincerely,

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A7

Council mulls regulations on door-to-door peddling

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council continues to consider changes to a proposed ordinance that would make it illegal to sell goods or services at private residences without either an invitation from the resident or a $100 “solicitation and peddling” license from the city.

The idea behind the ordinance is to protect residents from unwanted intrusion by doorto-door peddlers and criminals seeking to get into people’s home under the guise of selling something.

People applying for a peddling permit would have to obtain an identity history summary check from the FBI and indicate whether they have ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.

They also would have to show proof they have proper business licenses.

However, city officials are debating what times are appropriate to allow the door-to-door sales to take place.

The original proposed ordinance would prohibit peddling or solicitation without an invitation between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., but Councilman Jack Natter wanted the nighttime cutoff to be earlier — at 5 p.m.

Natter said people don’t like to be bothered by door-to-door sales people once they get home from work. City attorney Charlie Waldrep said case law requires cities to give sales people a reasonable amount of time after 5 p.m. to conduct business.

After discussion on May 2, the City Council amended the proposed cutoff time to 6 p.m.,

Hoover councilmen Jack Wright, left, and Jack Natter listen to discussion at the May 16 council meeting. Photo

by Ana Good.

but the council delayed a vote on the matter on May 16. Council President Jack Wright said city officials are reviewing the time question again because Waldrep is concerned the courts may consider 6 p.m. too early of a cutoff time. The ordinance is expected to come back up for consideration on June 6, Wright said.

Canvassers going to people’s homes to enlist support for or against a particular religion,

philosophy, ideology, political party, issue or candidate would be exempt from the ordinance.

People selling items or seeking donations for local affiliates of nationally recognized charities or primary, middle or secondary schools also would be exempt.

Peddling permits issued by the Hoover Department of Revenue would be good for only three months.

Hoover hires new chief school finance officer from Jackson County

By JON ANDERSON

Tina Hancock, Hoover City Schools’ new chief school finance officer, left, meets Tammy Dunn, Hoover’s chief academic officer for mathematics and science, after the May 17 school board meeting in which Hancock was hired. Photo by Jon Anderson.

The Hoover school board has hired a new chief school finance officer from Jackson County to replace Cathy Antee.

The board chose Tina Hancock, who has been chief school finance officer for the Jackson County Board of Education in northeast Alabama for the past five years.

Prior to that, Hancock spent 14 years as a business education and technology teacher — 10 years in Jackson County and four years in Scottsboro.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University, where she majored in accounting and minored in computer information systems. Hancock went on to get her master’s degree from Alabama A&M in business education. She was certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2007.

Hancock said she’s excited about coming to Hoover.

She’s sure there will be some adjustments because every system’s processes are a little bit different, but she is eager to get started working on the fiscal 2017 budget, she said.

Hancock was one of three finalists interviewed by the Hoover school board. The others were Jefferson County Chief School Finance Officer Sheila Jones and former Birmingham Chief School Finance Officer Arthur Watts Jr., who is now working as a finance supervisor for Montgomery Public Schools.

Derrick Murphy, who served as Hoover’s school board president for the past year, said all three candidates were very qualified and able. Hancock stood out because, in addition to her finance skills, she had spent time as a classroom teacher and has a direct understanding of how financial decisions will impact the day-to-day life of teachers, Murphy said. Her knowledge about information technology issues also is a plus, he said.

A8 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Council to consider rezoning 1,527 acres for new development

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council on June 6 plans to vote on a proposal to rezone 1,527 acres to accommodate 1,150 houses in a development called Blackridge.

The property is just southwest of the 500house Lake Wilborn property that Signature Homes is developing at the end of Stadium Trace Parkway. It is between Lake Wilborn and Shelby County 52, east of South Shades Crest Road and north of the Cahaba River.

The property currently is zoned for either agricultural use or is not zoned at all. Signature Homes and a company called Riverwoods Holdings are asking for it to be rezoned as a Planned Unit Development, which gives the developers flexibility in how the land is developed.

The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on May 9 voted 6-0-1 to recommend approval of the rezoning, with Sammy Harris abstaining from the vote. Zoning board member Mark Schroeter was absent.

Signature Homes President and CEO Jonathan Belcher said his company wants to build 650 houses on the 700 acres it owns right next to Lake Wilborn. The company’s proposal would allow up to 362 of those houses to be built on “medium-density lots” with a minimum lot width of 60 feet. The other 288 houses would be on lots of at least 15,000 square feet and at least 75 feet in width.

Signature Homes plans to put the larger homes around a 100-acre lake. Signature’s portion of the property would be a gated community with private roads, bounded on both sides by railroad tracks.

Further south, Riverwoods Holdings is proposing to put 500 houses on 823 acres between the second set of railroad tracks and Shelby County 52.

Some people have expressed concern about adding 1,150 more houses in Hoover, saying the school system can’t handle that many more

Signature Homes President Jonathan Belcher presents a request to rezone 1,527 acres to make way for 1,150 houses in a development called Blackridge during the May 9 Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Signature Homes and a company called Riverwoods Holdings want to develop 1,150 houses on 1,527 acres called Blackridge just southwest of the planned Lake Wilborn development at the end of Stadium Trace Parkway.

The Blackridge development is in yellow, while Lake Wilborn is in blue. The red line is the existing Elvira Road, which would be replaced with a new road. Photos by Jon Anderson.

houses right now.

Belcher said the 1,150 houses is a much smaller number of houses than originally approved for the property when it was annexed into Hoover around 1994. The annexation agreement allows for 2.25 houses per acre. With 1,527 acres, 3,435 houses would have been allowed under that formula, and that was the number for which school officials were originally told to plan, he said.

But the new proposal calls for just 0.75 homes per acre, Belcher said. Signature Homes is giving up more than 2,200 home sites as a result of the lower density.

The annexation agreement for the property requires the landowners to donate an acre of

land for recreational use for every 100 residents, assuming 2.5 residents per dwelling, Belcher said. That would amount to about 29 acres, and Signature is proposing to create a 60-acre park on adjacent land it owns next to the Cahaba River, with 4,000 to 5,000 linear feet along the Cahaba.

The annexation agreement also requires the landowners to donate land for a public safety building (fire station) and build the station for the city. It also requires that the developer donate a prepared school site for every 1,800 dwellings, assuming one student per three dwellings.

This development would not contain 1,800 homes, but the annexation agreement also

included another 800 or so acres on the southwest side of Shelby County 52.

Just like other property owners, these landowners must pay a fee of $1,500 for every house built, Hoover Executive Director Allen Pate said.

That fee is then forwarded to the school system.

Riverchase resident Arnold Singer told the zoning board that with increases in the Consumer Price Index, the building permit fee should now be $2,410.

“I think it’s time after all these years to increase the $1,500, and that would provide some additional help to the Board of Education,” Singer said.

Belcher said if the City Council approves the rezoning request on June 6, he will move forward immediately with preliminary plans for land development.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A9

Embrace each day with peace of mind.

Former University of Alabama and NFL football player Bobby Humphrey delivers the keynote speech at the May 3 Hoover Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham The Wynfrey Hotel. Photos courtesy of Lance Shores/city of Hoover.

Humphrey challenges community to add faith, action to prayers

By JON ANDERSON Former University of Alabama and NFL standout Bobby Humphrey recently challenged people in the Hoover community to add faith and action to their prayers during his speech at the Hoover Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

Humphrey, now vice president for business development for Bryant Bank and manager for the Speed City Track Club, spoke to about 560 people at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel.

Prayer breakfasts occur all over Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey welcomes guests to the prayer the country, but Humphrey said breakfast, which drew about 560 people. prayer is meaningless without faith, and faith is dead without walk a different walk, and I needed Jesus Christ works to back it up.

“There are things you’re hoping for that you as my Lord and Savior to help me do that walk,” can’t see, but I do believe if we continue to bow Humphrey said. “Your life can be changed, and before God in prayer, we will see a change, but your life can be different.”

And everyone must realize that life is not just we have to put it into action,” Humphrey said.

He recalled that as a young boy he always about them, Humphrey said. Each person has wanted to play football, but his mother wouldn’t something to give to help others, he said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m let him for three years. Without her knowledge, he joined his school team in eighth grade. He going to live my life every day as if God is going would go to practice after school and make it to make it happen, and I really and truly believe God will deliver me,” he said. home before the sun went down.

Several ministers also spoke and prayed at the Then came the first game, during which he scored four touchdowns and won the most valu- Hoover prayer breakfast.

The Rev. John Fallon from Prince of Peace able player trophy. But, he said, he dreaded going home because it was after dark. He just knew his Catholic Church prayed that the leaders of the brothers had picked out a nice switch to be used city of Hoover would have the patience for things that take time, appreciation for the things on him, he said.

When he got home, he showed his mother the they have, tolerance for those with different struggles, freedom to live beyond the limitations trophy he won.

“She didn’t know nothing about football, of their past and the ability to feel God’s love and but she knew I had received something for my mankind’s love for one another.

“Help us work together and make it a better efforts,” he said. “She saw a look in my eyes and a passion that I had about the game, and home for all of God’s people,” Fallon prayed. she allowed me to play from that day forward.” “Bless this meal we share together, and fill us That was a faith about being able to play foot- with the strength to live in harmony.”

Blake Lindsey, pastor of the Church of the ball one day, but that’s not the same kind of faith Highlands’ new Grandview campus, thanked he is encouraging others to have, he said.

“The faith I’m talking about is faith and belief God for the opportunity to personally connect in Jesus Christ — that he can move every moun- with Him and build a relationship with Him. He thanked God for all the leaders in the room tain you have to cross,” Humphrey said. “That and prayed for God’s blessing, favor, wisdom faith is much more important.”

It’s the kind of faith that prompted a woman and protection to be over them and that everyone who had been sick for 12 years to creep through present would be salt and light to the world.

Buddy Gray, the senior pastor at Hunter Street a crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment so she could be healed, Humphrey said. It’s the kind Baptist Church, prayed that God would help of faith that prompted a blind man to receive his everyone love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and love their neighbors as sight, he said.

Humphrey talked about problems he had in themselves.

ABC 33/40 news anchor Brenda Ladun served the early 1990s that put him in jail in Columbus, Georgia, on charges of cocaine possession as mistress of ceremonies, and Erin Saway and assault and how that led him to turn his life Moore sang “The Lord’s Prayer” and “God Bless America.” The breakfast was organized by the around.

“I committed my life in jail that I was going to Hoover Beautification Board.

That’s the beauty of life at River Highlands, a picturesque community offering carefree living with utmost warmth, hospitality and security for the future. Newly renovated residences provide privacy and options. Resort-style services make life easier and more fulfilling. And, residents and staff help loved ones feel right at home.

ExplorE HoovEr’s finEst sEnior living lifEstylE today.

Call 800.724.6321 or visit RiverHighlands.com for more information.

1851 Data Drive, Hoover, AL 35244 Memory Care Application & License Pending

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A10 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

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HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A11

Now Open Alford Avenue Antiques is now open at 1218 Alford Ave., near the intersection with I-65.

516-4767

1

Lifeline Smartphone & Tablet Repair is now open at 3075 John Hawkins Parkway. The store offers repairs for a wide line of products, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, Mac and Apple products.

682-2745, lifelinerepairs.com

2

Coming Soon Panda Express will open its second area location at 3780 Lorna Road, in the Riverchase Village Shopping Center. No official opening date has been set, but it could open as soon as late June. pandaexpress.com

3

Chicken Salad Chick will be opening a new restaurant at 3780 Riverchase Village, Suite 110, in the space formerly occupied by Southern Wicker. This will be the second location in Hoover, following their restaurant at Lee Branch.

518-0256, chickensaladchick.com

4

First Watch, a daytime-only restaurant offering breakfast, brunch and lunch items, will open this summer at 4741 Chace Circle. The restaurant will replace The Egg &

5

I, which was sold to First Watch in 2015. firstwatch.com

News and Accomplishments Fancy Fur, 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 139, is now carrying several different lines of healthy pet foods. Products include goat’s milk, Open Farm grain-free dog food, and Fromm pet food.

408-1693, fancyfurpets.com

6

Hirings and Promotions Pure Dermatology & Aesthetics, 5346 Stadium Trace Parkway, Suite 100, has hired Stacey Oliver as a Certified Physician Assistant. She is a member of the Society of Dermatology for Physician Assistants and is state certified in Alabama and Georgia. She provides dermatologic care for patients of all ages, treating a variety of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, fungus and warts as well as in-office surgeries and procedures.

682-8022, puredermalabama.com

7

Anniversaries Iron City Realty, 1957 Hoover Court, Suite 309, is celebrating its first anniversary in business in June.

979-2760, ironcityrealty.com

8

Business news

to share?

Now Open Coming Soon

Relocation Expansion Anniversary

If you are in a brick and mortar business in Hoover and want to share your event with the community, let us know.

Sun

Email dan@hooversun.com

When choosing a real estate agent, you want an EXPERT! Realtor Jana Hanna is a

2015 REALTYSOUTH TOP PRODUCER and she is ready to work for you!

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A12 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Setting a new stage for comedy

By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE An unchanged look for more than two decades was no laughing matter to Stardome Comedy Club owner Bruce Ayers. So he decided it was time for some major improvements, to the tune of more than $500,000.

Now, when patrons pull into the parking lot, they will notice a newly painted building and a freshened landscape.

But that’s only the opening act.

The 14,500-square-foot building — once a dinner theater — had undergone some improvements after the Ayers took over, but he said it had remained virtually unchanged for 23 years.

“It was time for an update,” he said.

“The people who come here really enjoy it, but we wanted to make it even better. We started in March, and barely anything was left untouched with the renovations.”

While the work included new floors and paint, the primary focus of the project was the various “rooms” available for luncheons, banquets and private and corporate events.

The Stardome has made its home at 1818 Data Drive in Hoover since 1993 and has hosted top-notch entertainers such as Cedric the Entertainer, Margaret Cho and Jeff Dunham and his puppets. Ayers and his wife, CheChe, own the club with daughters Gina Zimmerman and Dena Dow. The club gave Steve Harvey his first headline job, and the comedian has described the Stardome as “the best comedy club in the country.”

And with the newly renovated insides, the club now can do more than

Located on Data Drive in Hoover since 1993, the Stardome is co-owned and operated by Bruce and CheChe Ayers and their daughters. Pictured from left: Dena Dow, CheChe Ayers, Bruce Ayers and Gina Zimmerman.

Photo courtesy of David Grissom.

offer side-splitting laughs.

The 70-seat Broadway Room, with new sound system and lighting, is an ideal space for mystery dinner theater, open mic shows and private parties, Ayers said.

The Blues Bar underwent a complete transformation and was gutted for new equipment, new bar and “a new look,” he said. It’s joined by the addition of the Star Bar, a newly created space.

“We wanted to offer our customers more and better bar service, and this

addition will accomplish just that,” Ayers said.

The renovations also included redone restrooms and another building exit.

“This makes it much easier when people are exiting after the first show of the evening while others are entering for the second,” he said.

The Showroom is the primary entertainment area, and it is done in a Las Vegas style with tiered- and floor-dining seating and VIP skyboxes.

After studying the room layout,

Ayers and his architect decided to reduce the seating capacity from 420 to 400.

“This is an awesome room, but frankly, the seating was tight, plus many people were not actually facing the stage,” Ayers said. “Now it’s more intimate with everyone facing the stage, which has been completely redone with the guidance of a Hollywood set designer. And all the sound, lighting and electronics are new and state-of-the-art.”

Mike Gibson is an architect and

president of Appleseed Workshop, a Birmingham design and building group that was key in the Stardome renovations.

“Bruce had a lot of offers to move the club downtown but, like the Appleseed Workshop, thinks the first and best choice is to find the value in what is already there,” Gibson said.

“The Stardome was kind of 1980s dark,’ so we worked to make it feel lighter and more open with a modern finish. We only had about three weeks to do it, but it was great to come into a space that hadn’t had anything done in a long time and breathe new life into it.”

Sylinda Daniel, senior account executive for the Hoover Chamber of Commerce, was one of the early patrons to attend a Stardome show following the building’s makeover.

“I’ve been there many times, but I really love the new look, the new setup, and the sound and lighting were amazing,” Daniel said. “The Stardome is so conveniently located and has always been a great asset to the city.

I’ll definitely be back.”

Those are the kind of words Ayers, who has been in the entertainment business since 1975, said he likes to hear.

“My wife and I could have retired long ago, but this is what our family does; it’s our passion, and we’re very proud of the Stardome and to be part of the great city of Hoover,” he said. “For us, it’s all about raising the level of experience, so when you come, you say, ‘This was so great.’”

For more information, go to stardome.com.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A13

Chamber State needs long-term budget reform, Lt. Gov. tells chamber Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey talks to the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce about state budget challenges during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel on May 19. Photo by Jon Anderson.

By JON ANDERSON The state of Alabama needs to get serious about addressing its long-term budget challenges and quit finding temporary solutions to squeeze by from year to year. That’s the message Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey gave to the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce in May. “Each year, we’re doing the same thing and getting pretty much the same results,” Ivey told the 200 people gathered at the luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel on May 19.

For the most part, legislators have not raised taxes and lived within their means, if you count using non-recurring funds to fix problems, she said.

From 2009-11, the state used federal stimulus money to prop up state funds, and from 2013 to 2015, legislators borrowed money from the Alabama Trust Fund, Ivey said.

For fiscal 2016, lawmakers transferred use tax money out of the Education Trust Fund to help the general fund, and for fiscal 2017, they’re going to use money from the BP oil spill lawsuit settlement, she said.

It’s getting harder and harder to find these temporary solutions, and the problems aren’t going away, Ivey said.

The cost of Medicaid has risen from $345 million in 2011 to $700 million today, and many people agrees that Alabama needs new prisons due to overcrowding and deteriorating structures, she said.

The Senate this year passed an $800 million bond issue to build four new prisons, but an

amended plan got reduced to $550 million for three new prisons in a legislative conference committee, Ivey said. Then, the whole plan failed to pass due to procedural delays by Democrats, she said.

“It’s a serious need and situation, and it’s got to be addressed,” Ivey said.

Alabama also has an increasing burden of funding health insurance and retirement benefits for state employees, she said.

The state is providing $1 billion a year to prop up shortfalls in the Retirement Systems of Alabama and $1.2 billion a year to

subsidize rising health insurance costs, she said.

Everyone wants to provide a sound retirement program to protect future retirees’ pensions, but there needs to be a plan to accomplish that, Ivey said.

“We don’t talk about it because people that are affected by it get all up in arms and concerned” whenever the topic is raised, she said. “We must consider alternatives of how we can change our budgets or we’ll be in the same situation we are today for years to come.”

Preview of

June

Luncheon Dr. Harold Jones, dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions, is scheduled to be the speaker for the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon June 18.

Jones has served as dean there since April 2001 and seen Jones enrollment in the school grow to 1,500 students.

Research funding for the school has increased to $14 million, and an increase in philanthropic contributions helped the school give out $866,172 in scholarships last year.

Jones recently has been active in studying the potential impact of health care reform on the health care workforce.

The June 18 chamber luncheon will be at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel at noon, with networking beginning at 11:15 a.m. Reservations are due June 15 and can be made by calling 988-5672 or emailing admin@ hooverchamber.org. The cost is $20, payable at the door, or $25 for non-members or people without reservations. Cancellations are accepted until the morning of the luncheon. Attendees can pay by cash, check or major credit cards.

A14 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Community HHS student accepted into Coast Guard Academy

The Friendship Force of Birmingham hosted delegates from Russia during an Open World Program. Ann Taylor, far left, Friendship Force club president poses with the six delegates and Charlotte Laggy, program coordinator.

Lake Williams has received an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Lake is an honors student at Hoover High School where he is a peer helper and the captain of the soccer team. Lake will pursue a bachelor’s degree in marine and environmental sciences and wants to be a Coast Guard pilot. Lake reports to the Academy on June 27 to be a 4th class cadet.

The Coast Guard Academy Corps of Cadets is comprised of almost 1,000 men and women from

the United States, Europe, Middle East and the Caribbean, each pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard or their host country’s military service. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is one of the smallest of the five federal service academies, which include U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

– Submitted by Beth Staula.

Friendship Force hosts Russian delegates The Friendship Force of Birmingham hosted delegates from Russia during an Open World Program. Open World is sponsored by the Library of Congress.

Prior to coming to our area, this group was welcomed to Washington, D.C. While

in our area they met with various groups and studied each group’s involvement in the community. The delegates stayed in the homes of members of The Friendship Force of Birmingham.

– Submitted by Inez McCollum.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A15

A worship team made mostly of children leads other children in singing and motions during Hunter Street Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School in the summer of 2015. Photo courtesy of Hunter Street Baptist Church.

Roundup: Vacation Bible Schools galore in Hoover this summer

By JON ANDERSON As school lets out, it’s that time of year again for a host of Vacation Bible Schools. Here are dates, times and a few details of some of the ones planned in the Hoover area this summer: ► June 6-10: Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 9 a.m.-noon. For kids who have finished 4K through fifth grade. Free. Optional T-shirts for $12. Register at briarwood.org/ special-events/ Info: 776-5251. ► June 6-10: Green Valley Baptist, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Walk This Way VBS is for children who have completed 5K through fifth grade.

Free. Optional sports camp for kids who have just completed grades 1-5 is June 6-9; noon4:30 p.m. for $85. Info: 822-2173; Ally Kozlowski at akozlowski@gvbc.org. ► June 6-10: Hunter Street Baptist Church, 8:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. Summer Quest Submerged is for kids who have completed grades 1-6. Free but children must register. If both parents work, additional Oasis offered for $85 with dropoff as early as 7 a.m. and pickup by 5:30 p.m. (registration required). Oasis activities include movies, games and a field trip to Legacy Park on Wednesday for water games. VBS Info: 985-7295; Oasis Info: 985-5300; hunterstreet.org. ► June 6-10: Lakeside Baptist Church, 9 a.m.-noon. Submerged VBS is for kids who have completed 3K through sixth grade. Family night Thursday night with dinner. Free. Register at lakesidebaptist.org. Info: 822-1240. ► June 6-10: Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 8:30-noon. CaveQuest VBS is for 3-year-olds through rising fifth-graders and includes a Friday afternoon performance for parents. $60 per family. Register at popcatholic. org. Info: 822-9125. ► June 6-10: Shades Mountain Baptist Church, 9 a.m.-noon. Rise of the Kingdom VBS is for kids entering kindergarten through completed sixth grade and young adults with special needs. Register at shades.org/events/vbs-2016.

Info: 822-1670. ► June 6-10: St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 9 a.m.-noon. CaveQuest VBS is for 4K through rising fifth-graders; includes recital for parents Thursday night, June 9. Register at stpeterapostle.com. Info: 822-4480. ► June 6-10: Valleydale Church, 8:45-noon.

Early dropoff available at 7:30 a.m. Submerged VBS is for kids who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade; water activity day Friday. VBS is free, but optional VBS Camp is available from noon to 5 p.m. for $80 for first child and $50 for each additional child. Register at valleydale.org/vbs. Info: 991-5282 or email vbs@valleydale.org. ► June 6-11: Birmingham Seventh-day

Adventist Church, 9 a.m.-noon. CaveQuest VBS is for children ages 4-13. Register at birmingham1st.org. Info: 607-2426. ► June 12-15: Riverchase Church of Christ, 5:15-7:15 p.m. Sunday; 6:15-8:15 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; dinner 5-6 each night. “Let God Be Your Travel Guide” VBS includes classes for all age groups, including adults.

Nursery provided. Register at riverchasechurch. org or call 988-5808. ► June 12-16: Bluff Park Baptist Church, 6:30-9 p.m.; light supper at 6 p.m. Submerged VBS is for kids age 4 through sixth grade. Free.

Register at bluffparkbaptist.org/vacation-bible-school or call 822-3240. ► June 12-16: First Baptist Church of Hoover, 5-7:30 p.m. Sunday; 6-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. CaveQuest VBS is for kids in 4-year-old kindergarten through sixth grade.

Free. Info: 823-3472; fbchoover.org. ► June 13-16: Cross Creek Church, 6-8 p.m. at Deer Valley Elementary. Kid’s Camp VBS is for children ages 4-10. Concludes with evening cookout party for parents and kids on Thursday. Register at crosscreekchurch.net.

Info: 453-9190 . ► June 13-16: Riverchase Baptist Church, 9 a.m.-noon. Deep Sea Discovery VBS is for kids who have completed 5K through fifth grade.

Play day with inflatables June 16. Free. Register at riverchasebaptist.org/vbs. Info: 985-4495. ► June 13-17: Riverchase United Methodist Church, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Surf Shack VBS is for children ages 4 through completed fifth grade and includes T-shirt. Cost: $25 per child. Info: 987-4030; Riverchaseumc.org/ vacationbibleschool. ► June 13-17: Shades Crest Baptist Church, 9 a.m.-noon. Deep Sea Discovery VBS is for kids who have finished 4K through sixth grade. Free.

June 15 family night will include food trucks and inflatables. Info: 822-1360; shadescrest.org. ► June 27-30: Discovery United Methodist Church, 5:30-8:15 p.m. For kids who have completed 4K through fifth grade. Includes dinner.

Register at 987-4000; discoveryumc.org. ► June 27-30: Oakmont Presbyterian Church, 8:45 a.m.-noon. Surf Shack VBS is for children finishing 5K through fifth grade.

Info: Cindy Davenport at 823-5910 or nackdav@gmail.com; 2016.cokesburyvbs.com/ oakmontchurch. ► July 18-20: Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, 6-7:30 p.m. “Praisin’ in the Pines” VBS is for kids age 4 through rising fifth-graders. Register at chapelinthepines.net.

Info: 822-4210. ► July 18-22: Bluff Park United Methodist Church, 5:15-7:50 p.m. CaveQuest VBS is for kids going into 4K through fifth grade. Info: 822-0910; bluffparkumc.org.

A16 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Events

People gather for a free outdoor movie in June 2015 at Veterans Park during the Free Friday Flicks outdoor movie series, which kicks off its 2016 season June 3. Photo by Ron Burkett.

Free Friday Flicks returns to Veterans Park

By JON ANDERSON It’s time for free outdoor movies again at Veterans Park.

The Free Friday Flicks summer outdoor movie series kicks off June 3 with Disney animated film “Inside Out” and will continue with seven other films scheduled on Friday nights throughout the summer through July 29.

No movie will be shown July 1, and Aug. 8 is reserved as a rain date.

Here’s the complete lineup for this summer: ► June 3: “Inside Out” ► June 10: “Minions” ► June 17: “Hotel Transylvania 2”

► June 24: “Cinderella” (2015 version) ► July 1: No movie ► July 8: “Shaun the Sheep” ► July 15: “The Peanuts Movie” ► July 22: “Kung Fu Panda 3” ► July 29: “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” ► Aug. 8: Rain date All the movies are animated, except “Cinderella” and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” and all are rated PG except for “The Peanuts Movie,” which is rated G, and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” which is rated PG-13.

The movie images are 30 feet wide and will

be shown on a 38-foot-wide screen, said Keri Lane Hontzas, founder of the movie series and the company called Backyard Movie Parties.

The movies are shown at Veterans Park off Valleydale Road on the grassy area near the main pavilion.

Each movie is scheduled to start at dusk. The sun sets between 7:50 and 8:01 p.m. during the weeks the movies are scheduled. Hontzas encourages people to come early — around 6:30 p.m. — and have picnics in the park prior to the show.

There are typically food vendors present, but people are welcome to bring their own food as well. Hontzas also encourages people to bring

blankets or lawn chairs.

This is the fourth year that Backyard Movie Parties had held its Free Friday Flicks series at Veterans Park in Hoover. Before that, the movie series was shown at Homewood Park. The movies typically draw 1,500 to 2,000 people, Hontzas said.

To get updates on movie cancellations due to bad weather, follow Backyard Movie Parties on Twitter at @BYMovieParties or on Facebook.

Summer weather in the South can be tricky, so even if it is raining at 5 p.m., the skies could clear by movie time, Hontzas said. She usually tries to decide whether or not to cancel about 6 or 6:30 p.m., she said.

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HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A17

Running in memory of Meredith Maddox

By ERICA TECHO The third annual Aubie 5K and 1-mile fun run is set for June 25.

Hosted by the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club, this will be the second year the event is held in memory of former Hoover High School track coach Meredith Maddox.

Maddox remained active in GBAC with her family even though she did not graduate from Auburn University. Her father, Elon Maddox, was president of the club at the time of Maddox’s death in March 2015, and the club chose to hold the event in her honor that year.

During her time as a track coach, Maddox influenced several students and athletes through her encouragement and ability to overcome obstacles, including the wheelchair she was confined to following a car wreck in 2000, said GBAC member Jason Bryant.

“She had just been a really big inspiration to a lot of folks,” he said.

Maddox’s influence will continue through this race, Bryant said. Proceeds from the race go to the GBAC Meredith LeAnn Maddox Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which supports academically gifted students who want to attend Auburn University, according to the GBAC website.

In addition to the 5K and fun run, there will be kid-friendly activities such as a moon bounce and balloons. The event will be at Veterans Park, which Bryant said makes a good event space for morning events. “It really works well to bring your kids, bring your family and have fun at the park that day,” he said.

There will also be food vendors and giveaways, Bryant said, and they are working to make sure Aubie and former Auburn athletes can attend.

The cost for the 5K is $35 when postmarked before June 19, and it goes up to $40 between June 20 and race day. The fun run is $20 for

The 2016 Aubie 5K will be the second in honor of Meredith Maddox. Photo courtesy of GBAC.

Aubie 5K and 1-mile fun run • WHERE: Veterans Park • WHEN: June 25 at 8 a.m.

• WEB: thegbac.org/2016-aubie-5k/

s, d n a h e k a e sh w e r o f e B s. d n a h d l o we h

adults and $10 for kids ages 12 and younger.

“It will be just a big Auburn family gettogether, and a fun day for folks that like to run or even folks who want to walk the 5K,” Bryant said.

At RealtySouth, real estate doesn’t simply equate to hard negotiation and paperwork.

For us, it’s more than a transaction. It’s the Hydrangeas Under the Stars is the main annual fundraiser for Aldridge Gardens, and it helps keep the gardens’ services free. Photo courtesy of Aldridge Gardens.

Dine under the stars to support Aldridge Gardens

By ERICA TECHO Aldridge Gardens’ Hydrangeas Under the Stars event returns in June.

Proceeds for the gardens’ annual fundraiser go toward supporting Aldridge Gardens, helping it grow and keeping services free. Tynette Lynch, chief executive officer for the gardens, said the event sells out every year.

“It’s a way to support Aldridge Gardens, where we can grow,” Lynch said. “We never charge a fee to come into the gardens … To be able to do that, we have to be able to raise money to continue.”

Money raised through the event also helps support the gardens’ educational programs, such as field trips and summer camps.

Tickets are $250 for individuals and $2,000 for a reserved table for eight, and there are several sponsorship packages available. By the end of April, Lynch said there were only a handful of tables still available, and she expects they will have to cut off the sale of individual tickets as the event draws closer.

Hydrangeas Under the Stars • WHERE: Aldridge Gardens • WHEN: June 11, 6-9 p.m.

• WEB: aldridgegardens.com

“We have a limited capacity because we put a large tent up, but we have about 225 to 250 attend.

That’s our max capacity,” she said.

The event is set for June 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. A rain date is scheduled for June 12.

There will be a silent and live auction with items ranging from jewelry to vacation packages.

The Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute will provide catering.

To purchase a ticket or table or to become a sponsor, call Aldridge Gardens at 682-8019 or visit the Aldridge Gardens website at aldridgegardens.com.

relationship that matters most. For more than 60 years, we’ve been running in the same crowds. If I look familiar, it’s not necessarily because I sold your parent’s home. Our children swim in the same pool. They’ve laughed on the merry-go-round together at the mall. Your community is our community.

We are proud to be your neighbor.

It’s Who We Are.

www.realtysouth.com/welcomehome

Who We Are CLASSMATES POOL-VillageLivingHALF.indd 1

5/9/16 8:38 AM

A18 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Don’t miss these farmers markets

By JESSE CHAMBERS

There are few summertime activities more fun and relaxing than browsing at a farmers market.

After all, what’s not to like about fresh, home-grown fruits and vegetables?

The Hoover area has its share of markets open this summer, including the following: ► Riverchase United Methodist Church: The farmers market at RUMC, featuring produce from local growers, will be held on Thursdays beginning May 26, from 1-5 p.m., in the church’s upper parking lot.

RUMC is located at 1953 Old Montgomery Highway between Riverchase Parkway and Highway 150, just off of U.S. 31. For more information, call 987-4030 or go to facebook.com/riverchasemethodist. ► Valleydale Farmers Market: The Valleydale market opens May 28 and will continue each Saturday through Sept.

3 from 8 a.m-12 noon. A wide variety of vendors offer food and other products.

They include Akem Pottery, Bare Naked Noodles, Carmack Honey, Hooks Farms, Kemp Preserves and Mud Pie Home Bakery.

The market is located at 4601 Valleydale Road. For more information, go to valleydalefarmersmarket.com or email valleydalefarmersmarket@gmail.com.

The Valleydale market opens May 28 and will continue each Saturday through Sept.

3 from 8 a.m-12 noon. Photos courtesy of Valleydale Farmers Market.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A19

Gaming, cosplay convention comes to town

By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Magic City Con is relatively new on the Birmingham scene. The convention has decided to move to the Hyatt Regency in Hoover this month for its second year of games, costumes, comics, panels and more.

Organizers Rita Houston and Jamie Phelps said about 3,000 people attended the inaugural Magic City Con at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center last year. With tickets already sold in around 40 states and a few other countries, they said this year is going to be bigger and better.

For those who have been to a convention before, some elements of the June 10-12 event will be familiar, including shopping at the booths of over 90 vendors and attending panels on a wide variety of topics.

There are a few things that make Magic City Con unique from other cons in the area, including their focus on gaming, cosplay (costume play) and voice actors. 2nd and Charles will sponsor a tabletop gaming room again this year, including volunteers to teach people how to play, and there will be video gaming rooms set up as well.

Houston said there will be professional cosplayers at the convention and they will hold a cosplay “date” auction, where attendees can bid on costumed characters to attend Saturday’s Masquerade Ball with them. The money raised will be donated to Extra Life Children’s Charity, and Danny Shorago, the voice actor for Hancock in “Fallout 4,” will be auctioned off dressed as his character.

Attendees can also participate in a costume contest and, if needed, Houston said Magic City Con will provide a “coat check” to hold costumes or accessories and a “first aid” station to repair any costume mishaps.

“It kind of gives them a place to show that off because that’s the whole point of cosplay is you spend all these hundreds of hours making something, why not enjoy it?” Houston said.

Voice actor Jennifer Hale, known for her

Hoover High School is putting on three baseball camps in June. Photo courtesy of Barry Stephenson.

HHS to host 3 baseball camps

By KYLE PARMLEY

Attendees enjoy the first annual Magic City Con. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

work on “Mass Effect,” “Metroid Prime,” “Bioshock Infinite” and other video games, will be giving her first voice acting class at the convention. She is a returning guest from last year.

Several panelists and vendors are returning, Houston said, but they all have been asked to bring something new to the table.

“Basically we brought back everything that everybody thought was popular, except we tried to make it a little bit different and interesting,” Houston said.

One of the most popular aspects last year was KidCon, a Saturday morning set of activities just for children. This year’s KidCon, Phelps said, will include an interactive Star Wars academy and Hogwarts School. There will also be a Lego bricks company, balloon artist and face painter and a fencing demonstration.

“It’s really important to get the whole family involved,” Houston said.

Other new introductions to Magic City Con

Magic City Con • WHERE: Hyatt Regency – The Wynfrey Hotel • WHEN: June 10-12 • SCHEDULE: Friday: 4 p.m.-midnight; Saturday: 8 a.m.-Sunday 1:30 a.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• WEB: Magiccitycon.com

this year include a Fear Factor competition, a “side quest” throughout the convention benefiting Blanket Fort Hope and after hours events, including the Masquerade Ball and a replica of the Mos Eisley Cantina from “Star Wars.”

A full schedule and information about Magic City Con can be found at magiccitycon.com.

Hoover is putting on three different baseball camps in the month of June, headed up

by Hoover High School baseball coach Adam Moseley.

The Middle School Elite Camp takes place May 31-June 3, and is designed to teach kids who were in middle school in the last school year the ins and outs of the high school system.

Coaches with the high school program and even players will help with the camp, which will also feature a character development aspect.

The Middle School Summer League June 6-30 is available to all rising seventh- and eighth-graders. The two-week camp will allow kids to compete in two to three games per week and will take place during the daytime hours.

June 13-16, kids from the ages of 5 through 12 are invited to participate in the June Youth Camp, which will focus on the fundamentals of the game of baseball.

For more prices and more information, contact Adam Moseley by email at amoseley@ hoover.k12.al.us or by phone at 439-1200.

A20 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Healing at Iron Horse Hunting retreat aims to offer wounded veterans a reprieve from suffering

By AMBER RITCHIE Deep in the lush forest of central Alabama, you can find Hoover resident Justin Kane leading a group of veterans and volunteers on a hunting excursion. The camping site on Iron Horse Farms — complete with wheelchair access — serves as a sanctuary of healing for veterans.

Four years ago, the Kane family started a foundation called St. Michael’s Iron Horse Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, based in Marion.

Their mission is to bring wounded and suffering veterans — both physically and mentally — to their farm on hunting retreats for a chance to heal through fellowship, counseling, communication and relaxation.

Iron Horse Charities hosts twoday retreats for eight to 10 veterans at no cost. The retreats include room and board, daily home-cooked meals, training and assistance as well as hunting equipment for exploring more than 2,000 acres of wildlife-filled woods.

There are also counselors and guides available to help those who may experience symptoms of post-traumatic

stress disorder during the trip.

The foundation follows Christian principles and is named after archangel St. Michael “to assist God’s plan to work with and comfort the wounded of body and mind of our U.S. Armed Forces,” according to its website. “We are also dedicated to feed, clothe and spiritually nurture those in dire need of these things within the central Alabama area, which is mired in severe poverty.”

St. Michael, one of the seven principal archangels, is regarded as the leader of God’s army of angels in heaven.

“It’s a shame the way veterans returning home are treated,” said Kane, founder of Iron Horse Charities. “Men and women come back from duty with PTSD, and they might go to the VA for assistance, but many have nowhere to go — no home or places to connect with other veterans.

During one of our retreats, we’ll have 12 strangers get together on a Friday and become best friends by Sunday.”

Joe Evans, who Kane refers to as the “master chef” of the foundation, attends the retreats to grill meats and cook meals around a fire for everyone.

Veterans pose with the results of their hunts at Iron Horse Charities. Photos courtesy of Justin Kane.

“The volunteers and I come down [to the retreats] and really get an appreciation for the veterans’ stories, hearing them talk about places I’ve only heard about on the news,” he said. “If we can help them out by giving them a little solace over the weekend, I’m happy. We might not even see a deer or turkey, but participants really enjoy sitting in the woods for a few hours.”

There is also a small butterfly garden with swings and a picnic table

pavilion where veterans can relax.

Word travels fast, and since its inception, Iron Horse Charities has grown tremendously.

“Our retreats were so popular during deer season last year that we had to lease an extra 1,200 acres in addition to our land, which can already accommodate 15 to 20 hunters at a time,” Kane said.

Kane works with the Wounded Warriors Project, an organization dedicated to supporting injured veterans

and their families, to find people who are interested in participating in the retreats.

After acquiring the land, Kane discovered another benefit: The soil was incredibly fertile.

“We had no idea what we were doing,” he said. “I’m not a farmer by trade, but we grew about 50,000 pounds of produce last summer.”

The foundation donated surplus fruits and vegetables to Edmundite Missions in Selma. That group serves

“

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A21

It’s a shame the way veterans returning home are treated. ... During one of our retreats, we’ll have 12 strangers get together on a Friday and become best friends by Sunday.

”

JUSTIN KANE

Veterans pose with the results of their hunts at Iron Horse Charities. In the future, Kane said, he hopes to build a lodge for larger groups and families and house a center for counseling services and a gymnasium with an aquatics area for physical rehabilitation.

a thousand meals a day to disenfranchised groups as well as elderly individuals who have trouble leaving their homes. The mission also has started a program to feed underprivileged kids during weekends and holidays, with a large portion of its resources credited to Iron Horse Farms.

Iron Horse Charities also donates to charities in Birmingham such as Jimmie Hale and Brother Bryan, homeless shelters that help many veterans during tough times. Many of

these organizations are often limited to only serving canned food, so the fresh produce donations are welcome.

The nutritional value that comes with the fruits and vegetables is a bonus.

“I’ll pull up there on a Saturday afternoon with a pickup filled with tomatoes, eggplants, melons, corn … there’s no better feeling,” Kane said.

“We believe everybody should have access to fresh, affordable food that promotes our natural energy to live a more fulfilling and sustained life.”

The Kane family owns and locally operates the foundation, which originated as a trust and was converted to a charity that can accept donations.

When the number of veterans wanting to come to their outings started to outpace their resources, the Kane family began using revenue from Iron Horse Farms and Kane Steel & Iron.

The foundation is supported through donations and fundraisers, as well as through Iron Horse Farms and Kane Steel & Iron, two organizations

that sell farm goods and products to help assist community outreach projects. All donations assist the foundation in its mission to help veterans heal and assimilate back into society, Kane said.

Kane Steel & Iron supplies goods such as tubing, steel plates, handrails and pipes. They also offer manufacturing services for cattle guards, shooting houses, garden trellises and pergolas.

Iron Horse Farms offers wholesale fresh vegetables, pine straw bales

and firewood, focusing on complete customer satisfaction. Their produce is available at many local farmers markets, and Kane said he hopes to have their products in restaurants and supermarkets soon.

Additionally, Iron Horse Farms will soon offer vegetable baskets that will be delivered weekly to residents of central Alabama who sign up for their summer growth program.

In the future, Kane said, he hopes to build a lodge for larger groups and families and house a center for counseling services and a gymnasium with an aquatics area for physical rehabilitation. As for now, he said he is focused on growing the Kane manufacturing and fabrication business, along with pine straw sales.

“We also want to install a chicken coop in to add eggs to our donations,” Kane added. “We’d also like to build a playground for children visiting.”

“It’s because of these people we have freedom in this country and can sleep safely at night. Our country is so fortunate due to the sacrifices made by those protecting it. There’s something really special about the individuals we help,” he said.

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HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A23

E ON FATHER’S D K A T S ’ N E R AY CHILD

Ala’a Alnajjar

All art drawn by Bluff Park Elementary fifth-graders

Audrey Hankins

WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A GOOD FATHER? “A good dad just teaches you about many things you need to understand, like homework, helping with sports and any other outdoor activity — teaches you how to mow the grass and weedeat. My dad taught me how to pull weeds since I was probably in kindergarten.”

CLAY SPENCER, FIFTH-GRADER AT GREYSTONE ELEMENTARY

“Pushing them hard to get better at things.”

JARETT FAIRLEY, THIRD-GRADER AT SOUTH SHADES CREST ELEMENTARY

“He has to be funny.

He’s always there for you. He supports you.

He would go to all your dance stuff and all your basketball stuff. He would tell you you’re beautiful every day.”

SHELBY MILLENDER, FIFTH-GRADER AT GREYSTONE ELEMENTARY

A24 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

CHILDREN’S TAKE ON FATHER’S DAY

Christlyn Brewer

JaMiyah Hill

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FATHER? “He’s really funny, and he’s always making me laugh a lot, and he really makes funny jokes, too.”

DAEONNA MCGEE, THIRD-GRADER AT ROCKY RIDGE ELEMENTARY

“When I feel a little bit down or scared, he always tries to get courage in me to inspire me to do the things I’m scared of, and he also helps me do other stuff when I’m wrong or right so I can make sense.”

KAYLYNN NUTTER, SECOND-GRADER AT ROCKY RIDGE ELEMENTARY

“When he drives us to a place where we don’t even know what’s there. I did know that we were going to Tennessee, but I didn’t know there was an aquarium there, and he drove us there. I was surprised. There were penguins there. I love penguins.”

JOHN CAMACHO, THIRDGRADER AT GREEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A25

CHILDREN’S TAKE ON FATHER’S DAY

Joseph Rees

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FATHER? “He doesn’t let me have too many treats, or my sister or my little brother, because if I eat too many treats, I might get cavities and I might get fat.”

SIMON TEMPLE, FIRSTGRADER AT GREEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY

“He drives us really far away, and he takes us to like Florida. He gets me a lot of toys. I’ve got like one hundred million thousand toys.”

RAMEEN KHAYYAM, FIRST-GRADER AT SOUTH SHADES CREST ELEMENTARY

Watch students describe what their fathers mean to them:

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hooversun.com/videos

Lane Helton

A26 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

CHILDREN’S TAKE ON FATHER’S DAY

Moisha Mohdia

Rachel Sasser

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOUR FATHER HAS GIVEN YOU? “He told me not to tell anybody that I’m going to tell on you if you don’t give me a dollar. I think it’s called blackmail.”

NASH DORIAN, FIRST-GRADER AT RIVERCHASE ELEMENTARY

“He always tells me to clean my room. My room is a disaster area because I have so many toys and I forget to clean my room after I play.”

“Don’t be afraid to do new things.”

PAIGE AUSTIN, SECOND-GRADER AT SOUTH SHADES CREST ELEMENTARY

SADIE BROWN, KINDERGARTNER AT RIVERCHASE ELEMENTARY

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June 2016 • A27

CHILDREN’S TAKE ON FATHER’S DAY

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“I’m going to love them.

They’re going to have fun.

I’m going to get a job or a business and make a lot of money so I can take care of my family.”

SHELVYN ALLEN, FOURTH-GRADER AT GREEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY

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“I want to teach them a sport because I am really athletic, and I want to teach my kids to be nice and be safe and care about one another and be brave and courageous.”

JAKE FRIDLEY, SECOND-GRADER AT SOUTH SHADES CREST ELEMENTARY

A28 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

CELEBRATE HOOVER DAY

2016

Clockwise from top: Spain Park cheerleaders and band members perform at Celebrate Hoover Day on April 30. A group from the Howlin’ Mad Smith Detachment re-enacts the famous Iwo Jima photo. A giant apple pie was one of the attractions at Celebrate Hoover Day, and visitors got to enjoy a slice. Livi Brown, 6, of Hoover holding a Black-Hooded Caique. Photos by Ron Burkett.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A29

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A30 • June 2016 BRIGADE

CONTINUED from page A1 There will be two team leaders per school who have met with their school’s principal to determine the buildings’ needs and materials required. Participants can expect to work from 7:30 a.m. to about noon.

The Dad Brigade is the brainchild of Derrick Murphy, past Hoover City Schools board chair and current City Council candidate. It was launched last year in an effort to engage more fathers in their children’s school experience.

“Traditionally, it’s the moms who are more involved in school activities, and we look at this as a way fathers can become a bigger part of the equation and enhance relationships with teachers and administrators,” Murphy said. “Our volunteers range from family members to area church volunteers to high school athletes earning community hours. Whether you have a connection to a student or just want to help, your participation helps our facilities, but more importantly, benefits the kids socially and academically.”

The Green Valley Dads (GV Dads) group — inspired by the 2015 Dad Brigade project — is led this year by Dennis Donnelly. Though it had a slow beginning, participants have had workdays of pruning bushes, trash pickup and, just this spring, building garden beds. They are also planning to construct an outdoor classroom next school year, Donnelly said.

Donnelly said the GV Dads seek to take on tasks not typically addressed by the city school system. “Helping around school grounds and continually taking input from teachers as far as what they need, that’s ongoing,” he said.

“And for us to be out there and demonstrate stewardship encourages the kids to be a part of school life. My take on it is: Involved dads equal successful children.”

Jenny Smith, a Deer Valley first-grade teacher, said she and her colleagues appreciate the efforts of the dads group.

“They work hard on projects our maintenance and landscaping teams are not able to do such as pressure washing, painting, building garden beds and cleaning out our greenhouse,” she said. “Green Valley is over 50 years old,

Hoover Sun For more details about the Hoover City Dad Brigade or to sign up to participate, go to hoovercityschools. net or find them on acebook. and these types of improvements are much needed. And in addition, they are setting wonderful examples for our students.”

The Deer Valley Dads is a longstanding group, and Keith Stephens is its leader. Some of the projects undertaken in the past year include painting hallways, cleaning out vegetable garden beds, laying pine straw and assembling a shed, he said.

“Not only is it good for the students to realize their dads are involved, it’s especially positive for young boys to see men pitching in and helping out and encourages them to do the same when they’re older,” Stephens said. “This kind of effort lets the students know that their school is important to the community.”

Mark Hamilton, Home Depot store manager, admits he was skeptical when Murphy contacted him about partnering in the Hoover City Dad Brigade in 2015.

“I was immediately intrigued and knew it was right up our alley and a perfect project for Home Depot to be involved in,” Hamilton said.

“But 400 volunteers showing up to take part?

That concerned me.”

But show up they did, and Hamilton said he couldn’t hide his amazement, calling it “a phenomenal response and a testament to the city and the families that live here.”

Since that first Dad Brigade event, Home Depot has not only donated materials to individual and group projects, but many of its employees have donated their time working alongside the dads group members.

“It’s great to make that big impact once a year, but we’re here year-round as your neighbor and welcome schools to contact us for assistance,” he said.

Hamilton said he’s looking forward to July 23 and the potential 600 volunteers descending on his store. “Let me just say, if anyone can pull it off, Derrick Murphy can,” he said. “I’m sure not going to doubt him.”

Left: Derrick Murphy, Hoover City Dad Brigade founder, levels off topsoil in new garden beds at Deer Valley Elementary.

Photo courtesy of Jason Gaston.

Above: The Dad Brigade has worked year-round to maintain Green Valley Elementary, including pressure washing, painting and landscaping.

Photo by Ron Burkett.

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HooverSun.com

June 2016 • A31 Dr. Bryan Balentine goes over test results with Virginia Chambers of Hoover in an exam room at the Medical West freestanding emergency department off John Hawkins Parkway.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

MEDICAL WEST

CONTINUED from page A1 Dambrino had at University Hospital last year when she fell through the attic floor while chasing a squirrel.

“We were stacked up like cordwood in the hallways,” and it took a couple of hours to be seen, Dambrino said.

The Medical West freestanding emergency department in western Hoover in May celebrated its first anniversary, noting 15,738 patients served in a year’s time.

Keith Pennington, CEO of the Medical West hospital in Bessemer, said the emergency department in Hoover, which was the first freestanding emergency department to open in Alabama, has far exceeded expectations.

“We’ve had a very successful year,” Pennington said of the 24,342-square-foot facility in The Shoppes of Hoover shopping center at the corner of Interstate 459 and John Hawkins Parkway.

About 1,500 patients were transferred to hospitals for further treatment, and more than 600 were admitted to Medical West in Bessemer, he said.

Surveys indicated 99 percent of the patients treated there were satisfied with their care, Pennington said.

Dr. Conrad De Los Santos, an emergency physician who is chief of staff at Medical West and one of 12 full-time doctors who rotate at the Hoover emergency department, said the facility in Hoover has seen patients with all kinds of conditions in the past year, from heart attacks and strokes to trauma injuries from vehicle accidents.

As with any emergency department, there have even been people who came in with stubbed toes, De Los Santos said. But, without a doubt, there have been patients treated there whose lives were saved because they had quick access to emergency medical care, he said.

“We greatly enjoy our presence here in Hoover. We feel that we’ve made a difference in the lives of the citizens of Hoover and the surrounding areas,” De Los Santos said. “We’re very happy and proud to be here in one year. We hope that one year, of course, will turn into 50 years and beyond … We are very dedicated to

providing excellent emergency care and aftercare if you need to be admitted.”

While most of the patients treated at the Hoover emergency department come from nearby areas, some have come from other parts of the metro area. There have even been patients from eastern Birmingham when other hospitals’ emergency rooms were too busy, De Los Santos said.

“They’ll pass by five, six, seven, eight hospitals to come here,” he said.

Strangely enough, some patients have even come to the freestanding Hoover emergency department from Tuscaloosa, he said.

The staff at the Medical West ER in Hoover is fully capable of handling delivery of babies and has come close to it on a couple of occasions, De Los Santos said. There was one patient who did not know she was pregnant but came in with abdominal pains, he said. When they discovered the pregnancy, they transferred her to Medical West hospital, and she delivered a baby within an hour, he said.

Stand-alone ERs prefer to have baby deliveries done at the hospital, where there is a full neonatal intensive care unit available if needed, De Los Santos said.

Hoover Fire Chief Chuck Wingate said the Medical West emergency facility has been a fantastic addition for the city. He likes that the stand-alone center can do everything that most hospital-based emergency rooms can, only sooner because of the proximity.

The Hoover Fire Department, which has its own transport units, brought 50 patients to the Medical West stand-alone emergency department in the first year, said Capt. David Hambright, the Fire Department’s lead emergency medical services officer. Regional Paramedical Services brought about 650 patients there, he said.

Monty Gooch, director of the Medical West freestanding emergency department, said the facility receives close to 100 patients by EMS vehicles each month. The rest come by private vehicle.

The $13.5 million facility has two trauma rooms, 10 exam rooms, a CT scan machine,

X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment, a full-service laboratory and a helipad if patients need transfer to a hospital by helicopter.

So far, there has been no need to use the helipad, but it’s there if it is needed, Gooch said. Usually, it’s quicker to transfer patients by ambulance unless there is a severe traffic backup, De Los Santos said.

When the stand-alone emergency room opened, Medical West hired 65 people to staff the facility, but as word has spread and demand has grown, there now are about 130 people on staff there, including about 65 patient care staff, Gooch said.

De Los Santos said the support shown by Hoover officials has been great, but he would love to see the city allow better signage to help people find the emergency center easier. Some patients have driven by the entrance road three times without seeing the sign, he said.

The freestanding emergency department can be found right next to the Sprouts grocery store off John Hawkins Parkway, at 5300 Medford Drive.

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Vestavia promises to respect Berry mural, Finley stadium The “Quest for Knowledge” mural on the side of the former Berry High School is a source of pride for many people in the Hoover community, and the Vestavia Hills schools superintendent said it will be treated with honor and respect. Photo

by Jon Anderson.

By JON ANDERSON Ever since Hoover school officials announced they were considering selling the former Berry High School campus to Vestavia Hills, some Berry alumni and former teachers have worried about what would happen to the giant mural on the building that faces Columbiana Road.

The tile mural, designed by a former Berry High art student and completed in 1965 with more than 138,000 tiles, covers a 20-foot-by42-foot brick wall and depicts five fields of education: the humanities, sciences, arts, mathematics and athletics. Five silhouetted individuals holding symbols of those fields surround a torch shining as a beacon for those who seek the truth through education. The various hues of the figures represent the diversity of races among mankind.

Wayne Wood, a retired teacher and coach for Hoover City Schools who worked at Berry High School under the popular Berry coach Bob Finley, said the Berry mural and campus should be a source of pride and respect not only for people in Hoover, but also in Vestavia Hills, the Birmingham/Jefferson County area and state as a whole.

“It is certainly a landmark worth preserving for future generations, but more importantly a symbol for unity in society through education and cooperation,” Wood said.

Before Vestavia Hills formed its own school system in 1970 and Hoover formed its school system in 1988, students from the two cities attended Berry High School together as part of the Jefferson County school system. Wood said he hopes Vestavia will not only save the

mural but also keep Finley’s name on the football stadium.

Vestavia Hills schools Superintendent Sheila Phillips said Vestavia officials recognize that the Berry campus is a place brimming with history and pride.

“If Vestavia Hills acquires the Berry campus,

we will treat the facility, its historic mural and the Finley name on its stadium with the honor and respect they deserve,” Phillips said in a written statement. “Our goal in purchasing this facility is to meet the educational needs of our students, not to tear down the legacy of a school that once served both our communities.”

The Vestavia Hills Board of Education offered the Hoover Board of Education $11 million for the property, including $2 million that came from the city of Vestavia Hills. The

“

See BERRY | page B16

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SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, June 11th

June 2016 • B3

Hoover Sun

B4 • June 2016

I SPY: CAN YOU FIND THESE SPOTS AROUND TOWN?

T

1

2

4

3

ake part in our photo scavenger hunt to see if you can identify some or all of these locations.

It’s a great way to spend time getting out into your community and taking note of some of the details that make our area unique.

Take a look at these detailed shots and try to identify their locations. Some you might pass every day, and others might take a bit of investigation.

Clues will be posted on our Facebook page throughout the month of June. We will reveal the locations of all of the photos in our July publication.

Good luck!

5

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B5

B6 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Sports

COOL o n t h e co u rse

By SAM CHANDLER Even at its highest levels, golf is like a puzzle.

All of the game’s pieces fit together, but at times, it can feel nearly impossible to solve.

It’s a common quandary golf enthusiasts know all too well. Whether errant tee shots or wayward putts, varying components constantly threaten to derail an otherwise commendable round.

But, as with any temper-testing challenge, there is a solution to the problem.

It begins with composure.

“I think that’s the difference in the really good golfers and those who can’t quite get to that point, because they can’t control those emotions as well,” Spain Park girls golf coach Kelly Holland said. “The golfers that are really good are able to have a short memory, and they’re able to forget if something didn’t go as well.”

That’s what sets Jordan Susce apart. Throughout the spring season, the Spain Park junior demonstrated limitless composure and uncompromising resiliency as she led her team to five tournament victories.

“She’s been in situations this year where maybe she hadn’t played as well as she wanted to, but she’s one of the best rebounders I’ve ever seen,” Holland said. “She just keeps working at it until she figures it out and gets back on track.”

Her resolve was on full display at the sub-state

tournament in early May. Keeping cool despite various hiccups, Susce fired a 2-under-par 70 to tie for low-medalist honors and spur the Lady Jags to the team title.

It wasn’t her first time finishing atop the leaderboard as an individual.

During the 2016 season, Susce won Vestavia’s Hike the Hills tournament, the Spain Park Invitational and the Athens Golden Eagle Invitational.

She concluded her spring campaign by tying for ninth at the AHSAA Class 6A-7A state championships. Along with teammate Caroline Waldrop, who placed seventh, she helped Spain Park finish third against a premier field.

Susce’s success on the high school scene hasn’t come by accident.

Rather, it’s the product of her persistence.

Personally coached by swing instructor Wayne Flint at Riverchase Country Club, Susce works on her game seven days a week. “You try to get a club in your hand every day no matter what, even if it’s for 10, 15 minutes,” Susce said. “Just go putting just to do something.”

Already equipped with a laser-like focus, Susce’s devotion to golf grew sharper this spring. After playing on Spain Park’s golf and tennis teams as a freshman and sophomore, she shifted her focus solely to the links for her junior season.

The act of dedication didn’t go unnoticed.

“Jordan brings to the team that she’s going to

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Spain Park's Jordan Susce on the first green during the Spain Park Invitational golf tournament in April at Timberline Golf Club in Calera. Photo by Frank Couch.

work harder than anybody else to be the best,” teammate Mary Katherine Horton said.

Growing up on the Riverchase golf course, Susce was first introduced to the game at an early age by her father, former Mississippi State baseball player Steve Susce.

Years later, Jordan still approaches the game with passion and eagerness.

She doesn’t plan — or want — to stop.

Bringing her dedication from the course into the classroom, Jordan, a newly inducted member of the National Honor Society, dreams of playing collegiately at a high-level, Division I school.

“I love it, and I never want to stop playing,” Jordan said, “and that’s why I chose it — to play for life.”

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B7

Jags golf claims another blue trophy

By KYLE PARMLEY Spain Park boys golf put together two great days at Hampton Cove in Huntsville and won the Class 7A boys state championship by 14 strokes over Fairhope. The title was the Jags’ fourth in the past five years, and puts the overall total at seven.

“These guys really did a great job preparing for this tournament with the three practice round we played the days leading up to the state tournament,” head coach Brian Carter said.

Landon Carner fired a second-round 69 to lead the Jags, matching Thomas Luther’s number from the first round. The two were the only competitors to shoot a sub-70 round in the tournament.

From left: Coach Brian Carter, Nick Robillard, Thomas Luther, Conley Miller, Landon Carner, Reed Hereford.

Photo courtesy of Brian Carter.

Carner finished just a single stroke behind the individual champion, Austin Coggin of Vestavia Hills. Miller and Luther tied for fourth overall.

“We had a great plan going in that each guy felt comfortable with and they really attacked the golf course that best suited their specific golf game,” Carter said.

Reed Hereford finished 13th, shooting a 73 each day. Nick Robillard tied for 14th, rebounding from a 75 to shoot a 73, for a total of 148.

“I am so proud of these guys for achieving another state championship for Spain Park. They now get to put their names into an elite group of great teams that have played here before them and help carry on a legacy of dominant golf,” Carter said.

Lady Bucs take home runner-up trophy

By KYLE PARMLEY The Hoover girls golf team fell just short of the three-peat, finishing second in the Class 6A-7A state championship at Hampton Cove in Huntsville.

Huntsville’s Michaela Morard was the difference, firing an unbelievable 68 (4-under par) in Round 1 to put her team ahead of the Lady Bucs by six strokes after the first day of play.

“The girls and I are disappointed, but are already thinking about next year, especially since I have everyone back,” Hoover coach Lori Elgin

said. “Our goal will be the same as the last three years: to win the state championship.”

Julie Baker led the way for Hoover with a 148, good for fourth overall. She shot 73 in the first round, and capped off the tournament with a 75.

Mychael O’Berry rebounded from a 77 on the first day to fire an even-par 72 in the second round, and claimed fifth place.

Carson McKie also notched a top 10 finish, with a 155. Emily Baker rounded out the scoring with a 168 over the two-day event.

“I am very proud of my team and everything they accomplished this year,” Elgin said.

The Lady Bucs claimed the runner-up trophy at the state tournament. Photo courtesy of Lori Elgin.

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B8 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

DOMINANCE CONTINUES Hoover girls track and field team wins 5th straight Class 7A title

By SAM CHANDLER The Hoover High School girls track and field team had won four consecutive state outdoor track and field championships entering the AHSAA Class 4A-7A meet.

On May 7 in sunny Gulf Shores, the Bucs pushed that tally to five — with ease.

Paced by record-setting performances from seniors Presley Weems and Brittley Humphrey, the Hoover girls breezed to the 7A title by scoring 171 points. They finished 87 points ahead of runner-up Mountain Brook High School.

“We were a dominant team all year, and the girls just came and did what they do every week,” Bucs head track and field coach Devon Hind said. “It’s just an incredible team.”

Refusing to leave without a bang, Weems and Humphrey put on a show in the final state meet of their illustrious prep careers.

Weems, a Samford signee, bolted to a pair of individual victories in the 800 meter and 1,600-meter runs. Her blistering 800 time of 2 minutes, 8.99 seconds set a new all-time state record by nearly three seconds. She also set a 7A state-meet record in the 1,600, lowering her previous personal best by 14 ticks to cross the

line in 4:52.35.

“They don’t get much better than that,” Hind said. “You just cannot...I mean that’s just superhuman. Nobody does that.”

As if it wasn’t enough, she also secured a runner-up finish in the 400 meters with a personal-best 55.92 In addition to her individual triumphs, Weems ran a leg on the gold medal 4x800-meter relay.

Along with Erin Cannon, Sydney Steely and her younger sister, sophomore Ava Weems, she helped the team register a state-meet record in 9:16.77.

Humphrey added to the Bucs’ barrage.

Running four races within a span of 90 minutes, the LSU signee lowered her all-time state record in the 100-meter hurdles and tied her alltime state record in the 300-meter hurdles. With marks of 13.49 and 42.46, she secured the 12th and 13th individual state titles of her career.

Humphrey also placed second in the 100 meters (12.24) and 200 meters (24.33).

“Brittley’s been doing that for four straight years, and she’s just flawless when it comes to the hurdles. She ran excellent. She ran some really good times, had some great performances in the 100 and 200, which is an unbelievably

Brittley Humphrey finished her career with a bang, winning two events and setting the state record in both. Photo by Sam Chandler.

difficult quadruple,” Hind said. “That’s just an unheard of thing to even try, and then she medaled in all of them.”

Teammate Caitlyn Little closely trailed Humphrey in the 100 hurdles, 100 and 200, placing second, third and fourth, respectively.

Little also ran a leg on the team’s championship-winning 4x100-meter relay team.

Along with Camiya Knight, Jairyn Russell and Michelle Nkoudou, the Bucs blazed a state-meet record in 47.23.

In the field, Genesis Jones leaped 18 feet, 4 inches to capture a first-place finish in the long jump. She also placed second in the high jump (5-4) and third in the triple jump (37-6).

Led by Tommy McDonough and Marion Humphrey, the Hoover boys totaled 95 points to

secure a runner-up team finish. They outgained Hewitt-Trussville High School by one point, but fell short of Auburn High School’s 130.

McDonough placed second in the 800 and 1,600 while finishing third in the 3,200. He also anchored the Bucs’ runner-up 4x800 team consisting of Trent Hamner, Joe Leventry and Codey Martin.

Marion secured a quartet of third-place finishes in the triple jump, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 4x400-meter relay.

“The amazing thing about our boys team is we have 91 points returning,” Hind said. “Our seniors scored four points, so we have 91 points returning. That’s pretty amazing in itself right there.”

Prior to the meet, the Hoover boys had won

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B9

Spain Park’s Daniel Nixon, right, competes April 29 at the sectional meet at Mountain Brook High School. Photo by Sam Chandler.

six of the past seven state outdoor championships.

With their resounding triumph, the Hoover girls have now won nine combined indoor and outdoor titles since 2012.

“It was a great weekend. The kids did great, so Hoover can be proud,” Hind said. “The whole city of Hoover can be proud of them.”

SHADES MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN

Dylan Pausic and Walker Long capped their stellar prep careers with a trio of state championships at the 1A-3A meet in Cullman.

Pausic won the 1,600 and 3,200 in landslide

fashion, clocking times of 4:28.56 and 9:39.79.

He bested his closest competitor by 12 seconds in the 1,600 and 34 seconds in the 3,200.

His 3,200 mark broke the 1A state-meet record that had stood since 1985.

Pausic, a South Alabama signee, leaves Shades Mountain with four 1A state-meet records in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track.

He won five individual state titles his senior year.

Similarly, Long clinched his fourth consecutive state championship in the discus. His throw of 161-9 outdistanced the second-place finisher by over 17 feet.

Two weeks prior — at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational on April 22-23 — Long registered the farthest throw (171-10) of the outdoor season regardless of classification.

SPAIN PARK

Spain Park High School senior Daniel Nixon entered the 4A-7A meet favored to defend his state title in the 800 meters.

He did not disappoint.

Nixon, a Mississippi State signee, rolled to a first-place finish in 1:53.11, lowering his own 7A state-meet record. He also placed second in

the 400 meters (48.52) and ran a leg on the Jags’ fourth-place 4x400-meter relay.

All in all, Nixon played a key role in helping the Spain Park boys seal a fifth-place finish with 49 points.

Christian Strong, Damon Wright and Jerome Kirkland supplemented Nixon’s performance with strong showings of their own.

Strong finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.80) and fifth in the 300 hurdles (39.82); Wright placed second in the shot put with a heave of 54-8; and Kirkland notched a thirdplace finish in the long jump with a leap of 23-4.

B10 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

For Wittig, game becomes a way of life

By STEVE IRVINE Bill Wittig’s introduction to lacrosse began by calling the number on a roadside sign advertising the sport in the spring of 2007. The first game he witnessed was soon after when his son played on the U11 team — the Shades Valley Lizards — advertised on the sign.

The unexpected introduction to the sport eventually turned into a way of life for the Wittig family. Not only have summers been filled with travel lacrosse, but they also took a family vacation to watch the Lacrosse World Championship in Denver in the summer of 2014.

“I was just looking for something for the kids to do in the spring,” Wittig said.

I’ll help out “They didn’t seem whenever all that interested in soccer. They never I can [to] really were into help keep baseball or anything.

We were just looking lacrosse for something else to growing. get involved in.”

BILL WITTIG Both his sons — Jake and John — played lacrosse at the youth level.

John, his youngest son, just concluded his high school career for Hoover High School. Bill Wittig has been heavily involved throughout.

He served as an assistant coach when Hoover formed a U13 team in 2008 and became a head coach the following season. His roles in the Hoover High lacrosse program have been varied and thorough. He served as a coach in the program, including serving as the junior varsity head coach, and is currently the president of the Hoover Lacrosse Board.

Wittig also played an instrumental role in helping the Bucs program take an important step. The program celebrated its 10th

“ ”

Bill Wittig has been the head coach of Hoover’s junior varsity lacrosse team and is now the president of the Hoover Lacrosse Board. Photos courtesy of Gina Wittig.

anniversary this year and has enjoyed success throughout. The Bucs won state titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and claimed another in 2013.

But, it wasn’t until this year that the program has officially been recognized as a club at the school.

“It does give us a little more standing in the school,” Wittig said. “The guys get their (team) picture in the yearbook, we can meet together during school hours during club day and be included in (school) communication. And it has given us more access to the facilities.”

Just as exciting to everyone involved in the sport is the growth of lacrosse throughout the Birmingham metro in approximately the past 10 years.

Wittig said that 175 kids were registered for the sport in 2005. The number of kids — boys

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and girls — participating in the Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association grew to 1,100 participants in 2010, 1,500 in 2015 and more than 1,600 this spring.

State championships aren’t awarded for the youngest divisions. Those teams participate in a jamboree at the conclusion of the regular season. In all other divisions, playoffs are held.

Spain Park High School won the state Division I title — beating Vestavia Hills in the championship game. Hoover teams won state titles in the Boys Middle School Division and Girls Grades 6-8 Division and lost in the U13 championship game.

Hopefully the numbers and success will continue to grow, perhaps for the same reasons that the Wittig family fell in love with the sport.

“It’s a great combination of lots of different

sports,” Wittig said. “It’s got the physicality of football. It’s a contact sport but not a collision sport. In other words, the object of the game is not to hit the guy but you can hit him in the course of playing. It’s got some of the speed of basketball and hockey and some of the skills of a lot of other sports. They call it the fastest game on two feet.”

For the first time since 2007, Wittig won’t have a son playing the sport at on a GBYLA team.

“Hopefully, I’ll retain a role on the Hoover Lacrosse Board,” Wittig said. “I don’t know if I’ll be president or not. I’m still kind of hopeful that my son [John] will end up playing on the Auburn club team so I can go watch him play. I’ll help out whenever I can [to] help keep lacrosse growing.”

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June 2016 • B11

School House Greystone teacher named Air Force Association Teacher of Year

By JON ANDERSON The Air Force Association in May honored Greystone Elementary School second-grade teacher Carol McLaughlin as the Teacher of the Year for the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa area.

Lt. Col. Bill Lussier, president of the Air Force Association Chapter 100, and U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, who represents Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District, personally presented McLaughlin with the award at her school in front of her students, administrators and parents.

Lussier said the award is given out annually to a teacher who excels in teaching science, technology, engineering and math. McLaughlin was chosen because of the work she did with her students on a “Three Little Pigs” project in which the students were asked to design a wind-resistant house for less than $800.

The students teamed up to design the houses, build them and even test them with a leaf blower, McLaughlin said. Three of the houses withstood the leaf blower on a high setting, just a few inches away, she said.

Lussier said he was impressed how McLaughlin focused not only on how the houses would be designed, but also coming up with a design within a budget.

The project also involves having a Realtor come into the classroom to talk with the students about how they would sell the houses they designed to the three little pigs, and then the students follow up with sales presentations, she said.

Lussier told McLaughlin’s students the Air Force wants to reward teachers who instill a love

Left: Greystone Elementary School secondgrade teacher Carol McLaughlin, back row, center, poses for a photo with her class after receiving the U.S. Air Force Association’s Teacher of the Year Award for the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa area on Monday, May 2. On the back row with her are Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Lussier, left, and U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer. Above: Lt. Col. Lussier, left, and Rep. Palmer present McLaughlin with the Air Force’s Teacher of the Year Award.

Photos by Jon Anderson.

of science, technology, engineering and math in their students, because the Air Force will need people in the future to design high-speed aircraft, space vehicles and the computers the Air Force uses.

Palmer, who serves on the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee, told the students the United States will be sending a mission to Mars in the next 10 years or so.

They could be involved in that effort or in flying

some supersonic aircraft for the Air Force, he said.

The Air Force Association also gave McLaughlin $500 for winning the award. More than 60 teachers from the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa area were nominated for the award from Chapter 100 this year, Lussier said.

McLaughlin also will receive a free oneyear membership to the Air Force Association, which includes a one-year subscription to the Air

Force’s Airman magazine that McLaughlin can share with her students.

This is McLaughlin’s 25th year in teaching and her 10th year at Greystone Elementary.

Greystone Principal Kathy Wheaton said she nominated McLaughlin for this award because she does such a fine job with project-based learning, integrating numerous subjects into the same project.

“She builds learners,” Wheaton said.

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B12 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Prince of Peace student receives 1st Werszner Memorial scholarship The Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus Council No. 11537 awarded the first Patrick Francis Werszner Memorial Scholarship to Hoover resident Michael Grondin.

Michael, an eighth-grader student at Prince of Peace Catholic School, received the scholarship April 23.

He will attend John Carroll Catholic High School next year.

Michael is an all-around star student. He has a 4.0 GPA, is the vice president of National Junior Honor Society and is a member of the band, choir and musical theater groups. He is also a cantor for school Masses, an altar server, a member of the church’s middle school youth group and a vacation Bible school volunteer. He also plays on John Carroll’s middle school basketball and soccer teams.

The $1,000 scholarship is

designated for a student planning to attend JCCHS. It is awarded based on scholarship, service and extracurricular activities as well as an essay.

This year’s essay question was, “What is the importance of Christ’s resurrection?”

The scholarship is renewable for $500 for each of the next three years as long as certain criteria are met.

This scholarship was established to honor Patrick Francis Werszner, who suffered a fatal fall from a ledge at Stephen’s Gap Caver Preserve in Scottsboro on Sept. 6, 2015.

Werszner was 19 and a member of the POP Council 11537, a 2014 graduate of JCCHS, a student at UAB and a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church and St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Chapel at the time of his death.

– Submitted by Jill Spero.

Knight of Columbus Alvie Allison congratulates Prince of Peace Catholic School student Michael Grondin for winning the 2016 Patrick Francis Werszner Memorial Scholarship. Photo courtesy of Jill Spero.

Altamont students Toby Conn, Noah Warren and Jaye Conn with their trophy from FIRST Lego League.

Photo courtesy of Tye Warren.

Altamont team receives judge’s award in robotics competition

By ERICA TECHO The Variables, a robotics team from the Altamont School, received the judge’s award during the FIRST Lego League World Competition in April.

The team includes Mountain Brook resident Noah Warren and Hoover residents Jaye Conn and

Toby Conn.

The theme for this year’s competition was “The Trash Trek Challenge,” which presents teams with the challenge of exploring the collection, sorting, production and reuse of trash. The Variables’ project mission looked at K-Cups, which are not biodegradable, and the problems they can present to landfills.

Spain Park FBLA students succeed at conference At the Alabama Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Conference from April 7-8 in Birmingham, several Spain Park High School students placed in their areas of competition and will advance to this summer’s national competition in Atlanta.

The SPHSBiz FBLA Chapter also won an Outstanding Level on their Blueprint and the District 2 Largest Chapter Award, second only to Hoover High School. Jane Bruce is the Information Technology Academy Director

who leads the SPHSBiz FBLA Chapter.

The following students won awards at state: ► Matthew Pickard and Arrez Charania placed first in Global Business; ► Michael Dowben placed second in Insurance and Risk Management; ► Cassady Wade placed second in Introduction to Business; ► Davis Culwell and Amer Mohammed placed fourth in Management Decision Making; ► Tyler Noles placed fourth in Securities

and Investment; ► Shams Halani and Adam Salem placed second in Social Media Campaign; ► Gordie Stewart and Houston Hollis placed fourth in Sports and Entertainment Marketing; ► Elise Gasser placed second in Database Design and Application; ► Sectric Guilford placed third in Cyber Security.

– Submitted by Hoover City Schools.

Front row, from left: Amer Mohammed, Arrez Charania, Michael Dowben, Matthew Pickard, Davis Culwell, Tyler Noles. Back row, from left: Cassady Wade, Adam Salem, Sectric Guilford, Houston Hollis, Shams Halani. Photo courtesy of Jane Bruce.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B13

Hoover student wins ‘Best in Show’ at statewide high school art exhibit Hoover High School senior Byron Arroyo won Best in Show at the 2016 Statewide High School Art Exhibit for his piece titled “Cyborg.”

Photo courtesy of Shelby County Arts Council.

By ERICA TECHO Hoover High School senior Byron Arroyo won “Best in Show” out of around 250 works at the 2016 Statewide High School Art Exhibit.

The art exhibit was sponsored by the Shelby County Arts Council and the UAB Department of Art and Art History.

Arroyo’s artwork, a 3-D design titled “Cyborg,” stands six feet tall and was constructed out of a mixture of metal and clay.

Juror Lauren Lake, UAB Department of Art and History chair, said she was “very impressed with the quality of the works from [across] the state,” according to a press release.

Winners of the competition were announced during the opening reception and College Preview Day on Sunday, April 10, at the Shelby County Arts Council Gallery.

This gallery is a yearly event that is intended as an educational opportunity, according to a release. Students learn to photograph their work for submission, complete the entry process and prepare their piece for public display.

The Gallery Exhibit was on display through the month of April at the SCAC Gallery in Columbiana.

Winners in each category: ► Byron Arroyo, 12th grade, Hoover High

School: Best of Show and Best of 3-D Design ► Megan Naylor, 10th grade, Clay-Chalkville High School: Best of Drawing, “Wild Raw Emotions” ► Jenesye King, 10th grade, Alabama School of Fine Arts: Best of Mixed Media, “Americanized” ► Emily Kent, 11th grade, Saint James School: Best of Painting, “Gastonburg” ► Katie Mosley, 11th grade, Hoover High School: Best of Photography, “Untitled” Receiving Honorable Mentions for their artwork: ► Laura Alston, 12th grade, Spain Park High School: Mixed Media ► Joshua Barnes, 11th grade, Alabama School of Fine Arts: Mixed Media ► Derek Cebrian, 11th grade, Hoover High School: Drawing ► Jordan Clayton, 10th grade, Booker T. Washington Magnet School: Photography ► Sydney Harrington, 12th grade, Oak Mountain High School: Painting ► Daniel Hernandez, 12th grade, Hewitt-Trussville High School: Mixed Media ► Caleb Griffin, 12th grade, Booker T. Washington Magnet School: Photography ► Amelia Reardon, 11th grade, Oak Mountain High School: Mixed Media

Hoover Jazz Band swings high at Savannah Music Festival The award-winning Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Band competed against the nation’s top high school jazz bands at the Savannah Swing Central Jazz Festival, held March 30 through April 1. First Edition was one of 12 bands selected by audition. Under the direction of Sallie Vines White, this is the band’s fifth appearance at Swing Central since 2008.

Competing on a national level is a regular occurrence for First Edition. In 2014, the band was selected as a featured performer at the Jazz Educator’s Network in Dallas and in 2012 performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. First Edition has received all superior ratings at the Loyola Jazz Festival in New Orleans from 200005 and again in 2015. Additionally, the band participated in the North Texas Jazz Festival in 2006 and 2007. The First Edition Jazz Band regularly performs at venues throughout the greater Birmingham area and is well represented at the Alabama All-State Jazz Bands each year. Recently, jazz artists Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross from

the Dave Matthews band conducted a clinic with the band.

Swing Central Jazz (SCJ) celebrates 10 years of being affiliated with the 27-year-old Savannah Music Festival (SMF). The highly acclaimed SCJ brings the nation’s top high school jazz bands together in Savannah for three days of intensive workshops, performances and public competition. The 22-member jazz faculty, led by SMF Associate Artistic Director Marcus Roberts and SCJ Associate Director Jim Ketch, include some of the world’s best jazz performers and educators like Wycliffe Gordon, Stephen Riley, Brianna Thomas, Terrell Stafford and Jason Marsalis.

The competition concluded with a finale on Friday, April 1, at the historic Lucas Theatre for the Arts in Savannah. It included a showing of the 1920 film “Within Our Gates” with an original score composed and conducted by Wycliffe Gordon and performed by this year’s Swing Central Jazz faculty.

– Submitted by Debbie Greengard.

REDUCED

B14 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Murphy makes her mark Hoover Schools superintendent wraps up busy 1st year, says work still to be done

By JON ANDERSON When Kathy Murphy came to work as Hoover’s school superintendent a year ago, she came in with a full plate.

The school system was embroiled in a controversy about charging students fees to ride the bus, in the midst of a major effort to redraw school attendance zones and facing budget deficit problems.

Now, a year has passed, and school board members say they are more than satisfied with Murphy’s work so far to tackle those issues, while at the same time manage the day-to-day life of the school system.

SCHOOL BUSES, REZONING

The board, at Murphy’s recommendation, rescinded the school bus fee plan in August, just two months after Murphy arrived.

Murphy said it was a difficult philosophical stretch to say the school district was providing a free public education and then charge students a fee to get to school.

“We recognize the value of getting our children to school,” she said. “It was the right thing to do for our students. That was something that was very troubling and bothersome to many of the people in our community.”

As for rezoning, Murphy set former Superintendent Andy Craig’s school rezoning plan aside and pretty much started over, in a process that “frankly has been more challenging than I had expected.”

Murphy said she’d like to be able to check off the rezoning effort as completed, but as of press time, she was still waiting for U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala to make a decision about approving the plan submitted jointly by the school district, the U.S. Department of Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Derrick Murphy, who served as school board president this past year, said he thought the superintendent did a great job of involving the community in the rezoning process, listening to people and working with the Justice Department and Legal Defense Fund to craft a plan.

School board member Earl Cooper said there were some people who didn’t like the result of the rezoning process, but they at least understood the need for rezoning because the superintendent helped educate them.

“She was open, honest and transparent,” Cooper said. “She communicates and gets feedback. That’s an exceptional leader.”

Above: Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy leads a meeting about school rezoning in February at Hunter Street Baptist Church.

Below: Murphy talks with the community about rezoning at a meeting at Gwin Elementary School in February. Photos by Jon Anderson.

BUDGET DEFICITS

When Murphy started work in June, she inherited a 2015 budget that started with a $7 million deficit. Four months later, at the end of the budget year, the 2015 deficit turned out to be just $1.4 million, but partly because some big expenditures were delayed until 2016.

Staffing decisions for the 2015-16 school year already had been made in the spring before she started, so when it was time for her to present a 2016 budget to the school board, she reluctantly presented a budget with a $10.4 million deficit and said cuts would be coming later.

With 85 percent of the operating budget tied up in personnel, “that’s a place you have to make some adjustments,” she said.

In April, Murphy said 15-20 positions likely would be cut for the coming school year, resulting in a savings of $1.2 million to $1.8 million.

About 14 of those job cuts likely will be at the high school level, she said.

She and her staff have worked with principals to identify electives that are less popular, and some of those teaching jobs will be cut, she said.

“We’re trying to make sure we’re offering our students the things they want, but there’s no way we can decrease expenditures if we keep doing the same things we’ve done in the past,” she said.

Where possible, school officials are making job cuts in conjunction with retirements and job reassignments, Murphy said. For example, numerous positions already have gone unfilled in the current budget year, including an assistant principal, a counselor, some maintenance

staff, a maintenance supervisor, district interventionist, tech support job and a child nutrition job, Murphy said. Those cuts should save about $950,000 in fiscal 2016, she said.

School officials also are examining the supplements paid to athletic coaches and other faculty who serve as sponsors for academic teams and extracurricular groups, she said.

“There’s no way I’m going to wave a wand in the next year or potentially two years from now and be able to say we’re not spending a dime more than we take in, but you’re very clearly going to see that we’re making great strides in

the direction of adjusting our expenditures to our revenues,” Murphy said.

RELATIONS WITH CITY LEADERS

Cooper said the superintendent has been very transparent with the mayor and City Council about the school system needing more money as residential growth puts a strain on the district.

Murphy said she hasn’t been bashful about sharing the school district’s needs with elected officials and that she has great respect for the mayor and City Council, even if they don’t agree on everything. “It’s vital that we work together

for the good of our community and the good of our children,” she said. It’s not about the adults; it’s about the kids, she said.

The superintendent also has had numerous other important issues to address, including the sale of the former Berry High School property, which as of press time was being considered by Judge Haikala as well.

Murphy also recommended the addition of a second legal firm and has been busy finding a new chief school finance officer to replace Cathy Antee and a new assistant superintendent to replace Melody Greene.

The school board in April gave Murphy a strongly positive evaluation, with an overall score of 4.4 out of 5. A score of 4 would mean she consistently demonstrates a high level of performance, and a 5 would mean she far exceeds expectations and demonstrates exceptional quality and/or unique contributions.

Cooper said he greatly appreciates the work she has done.

“Her enthusiasm, her passion for the job, her work ethic, the transparency — everything she has taken on for Hoover City Schools has been nothing short of exceptional,” Cooper said. “I think she has represented the Hoover school district about as well as anybody could be expected to … She has exceeded expectations in a big way.”

Murphy said while her plate has been full, she doesn’t regret coming to Hoover from Monroe County.

“What a terrific school district,” she said. Her biggest regret is that her daughter didn’t get to experience Hoover City Schools, she said.

She appreciates the great leadership team in the schools and being surrounded by educators that consistently rank among the top teachers in the state, she said. The school board is smart and thoughtful and has made her a better superintendent, she said.

But Hoover hasn’t arrived yet, Murphy said.

There’s still a lot of work to do with academic progress and many other challenges to tackle, she said.

HooverSun.com

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B16 • June 2016 BERRY

CONTINUED from page B1 Hoover City Council on May 16 de-annexed the Berry property from the city of Hoover so Vestavia Hills can annex it. State law prohibits city school systems from operating schools outside of their city limits.

The Hoover City Council could have used that requirement to block the sale of the property and keep it in Hoover, but council members said they wanted to cooperate with the wishes of the Hoover school board.

Council President Jack Wright said it’s the school board’s property and needs a lot of money spent on it, and if the school board can put $11 million in the bank and that’s the board’s desire, the council will honor their desire. The campus never had adequate parking for a school and is on the edge of Hoover anyway, Wright said.

The city of Hoover looked at the property long and hard and even offered to pay $9 million for it in April 2015, with the idea of turning it into a sports complex.

School officials did not act on the city’s offer because Superintendent Kathy Murphy wanted to first consider all potential educational uses of the property first, and the City Council rescinded its offer in November, having identified a better site for the sports complex, Wright said.

Councilman John Lyda said clearly the Hoover Board of Education has no interest in the property. He thinks it would be bad business “to pull the rug out from under the Board of Education” by refusing to de-annex the campus.

Councilman John Greene said he had mixed emotions about de-annexing the property because it has been with the school system and city for so long. His wife, Assistant Superintendent Melody Greene, graduated from Berry High School and his children went there when it was a middle school, he said.

However, even though part of the campus

Hoover Sun

This process is still in its infancy. We will ensure that our stakeholders have the opportunity to make their voices heard in the conversations that take place in the months ahead.

”

SHEILA PHILLIPS

Numerous people in the Hoover community are hoping Vestavia Hills will keep the stadium at the former Berry High School named after the popular Berry Coach Bob Finley, who died of a heart attack while doing field maintenance at the stadium in 1994. Photo by Jon Anderson.

is being used as the Crossroads alternative school and for office space for some central office employees, much of the building is in disrepair and it would cost a lot of money for the school system to get it back up to code for use again, Greene said.

“I think we’re at the point now where the best thing for the school system is to sell the property,” he said.

Councilman Brian Skelton said that because the school board wants to sell the property, he will support it. However, he personally believes at “some time in the future, we’ll probably wish we had it back.”

Meanwhile, Vestavia officials still are trying to figure out exactly how they want to use the Berry campus.

Phillips said they don’t yet know which students the Berry campus will serve, but it’s easy to see the district needs more room for students.

Schools such as Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, Louis Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School have been operating at capacity for some time, she said.

“We believe the purchase of the Berry campus coupled with available space at other facilities in the district may present us with the option of reconfiguring our middle schools into junior high schools,” Phillips said.

The idea of moving away from Vestavia’s longstanding commitment to the middle school model requires more than just space, Phillips said. It also requires the district to rethink its approach to curriculum and instruction,

athletics and extracurricular programs, she said.

“These issues require thoughtful consideration and input from our stakeholders,” she said. “This process is still in its infancy. We will ensure that our stakeholders have the opportunity to make their voices heard in the conversations that take place in the months ahead.”

Some parts of the Berry campus need renovation before they can be used, Phillips said.

In addition to spending $11 million to buy the Berry property, Vestavia officials likely would need to spend $20 million to $21 million to renovate the school in phases, Phillips said in March.

The shell and structure of the building is strong, but some parts are better than others, she said. Because the school dates back to the 1960s and is so traditional in its design, a lot of redesigning may be necessary to meet current needs, Phillips said.

She knows discussions about campuses and facilities are sensitive topics for residents in the two communities, so she’s thankful that Hoover officials have worked collaboratively with Vestavia officials in this endeavor, she said.

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B17

Hoover

3698 Chalybe Lane

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

750059

35226

3698 Chalybe Lane

New

$350,000

750277

35226

1416 Berry Road

New

$249,900

750216

35226

5030 Melrose Way

New

$189,900

750186

35226

1804 Polo Court

New

$424,900

750178

35226

2594 Foothills Drive

New

$298,000

750163

35226

2668 Montauk Road

New

$425,000

750110

35226

3262 Starlake Drive

New

$370,000

750074

35226

2306 Patton Street

New

$229,900

750038

35226

2328 Mountain Oaks Lane

New

$145,000

750034

35226

1777 Deo Dara Drive

New

$469,900

750017

35226

2263 Abbeyglen Circle

New

$285,000

749954

35226

2213 Kenbridge Circle

New

$259,900

749942

35226

3208 Colesbury Drive

New

$258,500

749884

35226

5796 Colony Lane

New

$169,900

750080

35226

1302 Deer Trail Road

New

$249,900

749883

35226

1425 Shades Crest Road

New

$484,000

749853

35226

1778 Cornwall Road

New

$220,000

749848

35226

2100 Larkspur Lane

New

$169,900

749719

35226

5211 Lake Crest Circle

New

$639,000

749706

35226

5449 Colony Way

New

$259,999

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on May 16.

Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

1302 Deer Trail Road

B18 • June 2016

Hoover Sun

Calendar Hoover Events Every Tuesday night: Kids eat free at Vecchia. (One child per adult).

June 2: Economic Development Committee Meeting. 8:30 a.m. Hoover Chamber Office. Visit hooverchamber.org.

June 3: Free Friday Flicks. Veterans Park.

“Inside Out.” 6:30 p.m. Visit hooveral.org.

June 6-10 Summer Paint & Clay Camp.

With Jayne Morgan and Lana Hobbs. Artists on the Bluff, 571 Park Avenue, Hoover. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $250. For ages 7-15. Visit lanahobbs.com.

June 9: Hoover Chamber Coffee & Contacts. 7:30-9 a.m. PGA Superstore, Inverness Plaza. Visit hooverchamber.org.

June 10: Free Friday Films. Veterans Park.

“Minions.” 6:30 p.m. Visit hooveral.org.

June 13-17 Summer Clay Camp- Session 1. With Lana Hobbs. Artists on the Bluff, 571 Park Avenue, Hoover. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $250. For ages 7-12. Visit lanahobbs.com.

June 15: Chamber Ambassador Meeting. 4:30 p.m. Hoover Chamber Office. Visit

hooverchamber.org.

June 16-18: 37th Annual National Sacred Harp Singing Convention. First Christian Church, 4954 Valleydale Road. 9:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. each day. Visit mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/ national.html.

June 16: Hoover Chamber Luncheon.

Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel. 11:15 a.m.

Networking, Noon Luncheon. Call 988-5672 or email lisa@hooverchamber.org for reservations. Visit hooverchamber.org.

June 24: Free Friday Films. Veterans Park.

“Cinderella.” 6:30 p.m. Visit hooveral.org.

June 25: Aubie 5K Run and 1-mile fun run. 8 a.m. Veteran’s Park. In memory of Meredith Leann Maddox.

Stardome Comedy Club 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. Visit stardome.com.

June 3-5: Felipe Esparza. 7:30 p.m. Friday.

6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $20

June 17: Free Friday Films. Veterans Park.

“Hotel Transylvania 2.” 6:30 p.m. Visit hooveral.org.

June 7-9 Drew Thomas. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. $9.75.

June 18: St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Block Party. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Visit onenineteen. com.

June 10-12 Corey Holcomb. 7:35 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. Friday, 6:35 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. Saturday, 6:35 p.m. Sunday. $28, $33 VIP.

June 20-24 Summer Clay Camp- Session 2. With Lana Hobbs. Artists on the Bluff, 571 Park Avenue, Hoover. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $250. For ages 7-12. Visit lanahobbs.com.

June 17-19: Fortune Feimster. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $21.

June 23: Business after Hours. 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Riverchase Country Club. Visit hooverchamber. org.

June 21-26: John Morgan. $24. 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday. 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $9.75.

Hoover Public Library Events Kids Mondays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Stories and crafts for twos and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

- cOMMUTESMART RIDESHARE COMMUTER STORY

The Smarter Way to Work!

Do you ever sit in traffic and think, “There has to be a better way to get to work?”

CommuteSmart is here to help everyone enjoy an easier commute and reduce air pollution in Jefferson and Shelby counties. CommuteSmart offers free online ridematching, carpool and vanpool services, the Emergency Ride Home program and more. We can help you find a commute alternative from home to work and back.

Visit commutesmart.org for more information

Tuesdays: Father Goose. 9:30 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Stories, songs and snacks for ones and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m. Children’s Pro-

gramming Room. Stories, songs and finger plays for birth to 12 months and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Wednesday: Tiny Tot Tales. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A short action-packed story time for

HooverSun.com

June 2016 • B19

children under four. Children’s Programming Room.

Visit hooverlibrary.org.

June 28: Happy Fun Karaoke Dance Party. 6:30 p.m. Grades 7-12.

Wednesdays: After Lunch Bunch. 1:30 p.m. Children’s Programming Room. Visit hooverlibrary.org. Storytime for ages 3 and up. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Adults

Thursdays: Storytime Live. 10:30 a.m.

Children’s Programming Room. Stories, songs, games and puppetry for ages 3 and up. Visit hooverlibrary. org.

Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Programming Room. Wear your pajamas for stories, songs and a bedtime snack. All ages. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

June 7: Roger Day. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

June 8: Roger Day. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

June 9: Roger Day. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

June 10: Movin’ with M.A.C. 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. For ages 3-7.

June 12: Young Artists Reception. 3 p.m.

Celebrating featured children’s gallery artists.

June 13: Story Gym: Let’s Jump. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

June 14: Arthur Atsma. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Magician and entertainer.

June 15: Arthur Atsma. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m.

Magician and entertainer.

June 16: Arthur Atsma. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m.

Magician and entertainer.

June 16 Angry Birds. 4 p.m.

June 18: Pixar Party. 10:30 a.m.

June 20: Story Gym: Race On. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For ages 4 and under.

June 21: David Stephens. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Puppet show.

June 22: David Stephens. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m.

Puppet show.

June 23: David Stephens. 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m.

Puppet show.

June 27: Choose Your Own Adventure.

4 p.m.

June 27: Story Gym: Dance Break! 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For ages 4 and under.

June 28: Atlantic Coast Theatre. Presents “The Tortoise and the Hare.” 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

June 29: Atlantic Coast Theatre. Presents “The Tortoise and the Hare.” 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

June 30: Atlantic Coast Theatre. Presents “The Tortoise and the Hare.” 2 p.m.

June 30: Nerf Olympics. 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Teens June 7: Laser Blast Combat. 6:30 p.m.

Grades 7-12.

June 10: Friday Open Gaming. Grades 7-12.

June 13: Helping Hands. 3 p.m. Make newspaper rolls for local humane society.

June 14: Iron Chef. 6:30 p.m. Grades 7-12.

June 17: Friday Open Gaming. Grades 7-12.

June 21: Movie Night Out: Finding Dory.

4 p.m.

June 24: Friday Open Gaming. Grades 7-12.

All Month: Wednesday Walk & Talk. 8:30 a.m. -9:30 a.m. Main Library Entrance. Log some steps and chat about books, movies and more during an easy stroll around Howard Lake before the library opens. The walk begins and ends at the library.

June 2: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m.

Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell.

June 5: Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: French. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Presented by Customs Café with complimentary samples.

June 6: Heels & Wheels. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Experts from Fleet Feet Sports Birmingham and Brick Alley Bicycles will give tips on the best shoes, bikes, clothing, how to get started and more.

June 9: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian.

June 9: Carlos Pino. 6:30 p.m. Library Plaza.

Guitarist Carlos Pino and his band play a mixture of classic jazz and original compositions. Free.

June 10: All Day Color & Chill.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Choose a picture page and let the colors flow as you chat and unwind. Adults and teens.

June 11: Sixth Annual World Wide Knit in Public Day. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Library Plaza. Celebrate the wonderful world of knitting. Purl @ the Plaza 1 p.m.5 p.m.

June 13: Undefeated. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. This Oscar-winning film documents the struggles of a high school football team as they attempt a winning season after years of losses Free admission and refreshments.

June 13: Helping Hands. 3:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Make newspaper rolls for a local humane society. Adults and teens.

June 14: Daytime Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. The Case Against the Supreme Court by Erwin Chemerinsky.

June 15: No Jacket Required Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. This month’s genre: Self-Help.

June 16: Use It or Lose It: Benefits of Exercise for Both Body and Brain.

6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

June 16: I Love the 80s Trivia. 7 p.m. Library Plaza. Show off your 80s trivia and pop culture knowledge and win great prizes.

June 17: After Hours @ the Plaza: Bingo! 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Library Plaza. Join us for a library-themed Bingo night.

June 18: Lonnie Holley. 7:30 p.m. Library Theatre. Birmingham native. $12.50. For tickets, visit hooverlibrary.org/lonnieholley.

June 20: Golf for Everyone. 7 p.m. Theatre Meeting Rooms. The basics of golf and how the game aids with professional development and health.

June 21: Glue Gun Gang: Patriotic Houses. 6:30 p.m.

Adult Programming Room. Paint and decorate wood houses in a folk art style for the 4th of July. Adults only. Free. Reservation required. Sign up begins June 1.

June 23: Glue Gun Gang: Patriotic Houses. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room.

Paint and decorate wood houses in a folk art style for the 4th of July. Adults only. Free. Reservation required. Sign up begins June 1.

June 23: Nighttime Nonfiction Book Group. 7 p.m. Allen Board Room. The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.

June 24: Friday Night at the Movies.

“Inside Out.” 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre.

June 25: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Conference Room. Network with aspiring writers and share your literary works.