Hoover Sun October 2022

Let’s Face It

FOR THE ARTS FINDING ROOM

City deep in negotiations with Patton Creek for arts center

By JON ANDERSON

The city of Hoover is getting close to inking a deal with a developer for a new arts center in the Patton Creek shopping center, city officials said.

The deal is not final yet because terms are still being hashed out, but both the owner of the Patton Creek shopping center and city officials have a similar plan in mind, said Councilman Curt Posey, a member of the Hoover Arts Council.

“We’re very close and working with them to get it done,” Posey said.

ROOM |

Appreciating the past

Renovation of old Bluff Park School honors history of 100-year-old building

By JON ANDERSON

Almost 100 years ago, in 1923, a two-class room school building was constructed in the Bluff Park community.

It was simple in design and very symmetri cal, with a small walkway at the entrance, an office for the principal, an office for the secre tary and one classroom and one bathroom on each side of the building.

Over the decades, the Bluff Park School went through several expansions and by 1988 had grown to 32 classrooms, a cafeteria that dou bled as an auditorium, a kitchen and a library.

After a new Bluff Park Elementary School was built and opened in 1993, the old school was used for a variety of things, including a

Taste of Hoover

Home & Garden

The 2022 Taste of Hoover is set for Oct. 6 at Aldridge Gardens.

The renovated Bluff Park School is now home to the Hoover City Schools Student Services Department.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Buy Buy Baby at the Patton Creek shopping center as seen from the Riverchase Galleria.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Homewood’s durable medical equipment supplier since 1996

Medirest 104 Oxmoor Road, Suite 134 205-942-1616 medirestinc.com

Q: How long has Medirest been in business?

A: Medirest has been in business for over 25 years. We are one of the largest privatelyowned Durable Medical Equipment companies in Alabama, proudly calling Homewood home since 1996.

Q: What is Durable Medical Equipment?

A: Durable medical equipment (DME) is equipment that helps you complete daily activities, like walking and bathing, and can withstand repeated use.

Q: What type of services and equipment does Medirest offer?

A: Medirest offers rental, sales and service of items such as walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, lift chairs, and power wheelchairs with alternative drive controls. We also carry hospital beds and patient lifts, diabetic shoes and custom fit orthotics.

Q: Who benefits from our equipment?

A: Both patients and their caregivers benefit from the use of DME. We hope to ease the burden of caretaking while the patient is on their journey of healing after injury or illness.

Q: What do you wish people knew

about DME?

A: Having a DME prescription filled is not as easy as filling a medication prescription. It takes a bit more time and paperwork on our end. On average, it takes a couple of days depending on the response from your doctor and\or insurance company to fill out our forms and return them to us.

Q: What is the process for getting equipment?

A: DME must be prescribed by a medical doctor, deemed medically necessary and then approved by the patient's insurance company. Only then can the equipment be distributed to the patient.

A leader on the ECONOMY A leader in the COMMUNITY

About Us

Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson

Ever since Mayor Frank Brocato launched his campaign for mayor in 2016, he has been talking about the need for a performing arts center in Hoover.

He has wanted a place where people can go to see touring Broadway shows, concerts and similar events and a place where local arts groups — choirs, dancers, bands, etc. — can perform without having to leave the city limits.

Numerous other city officials have echoed that sentiment and have been working to figure out what kind of facility makes sense and how to achieve it.

Well, as you can read about in this month’s cover story, Hoover appears to be a lot closer to seeing those dreams become a reality.

The owner of the Patton Creek shopping center has a massive

redevelopment plan in the works that includes an arts center as a focal point.

Details were still being ironed out when this edition of the Hoover Sun went to press, but the owner of the shopping center — The Neces sity Retail REIT — and Hoover city

officials seem to be on the same page about the general essence of what they want to see happen.

The hope is that Hoover could get a much larger arts center than the Hoover Library Theatre and that such an arts center could be a shot in the arm for the Patton Creek shopping center as its owner looks to reshape the center’s future.

The Hoover Sun will continue to follow developments in this venture as they occur. You can find us online at hooversun.com.

Please Support Our Community Partners

Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation (A13)

Ambrose Design & Remodeling (B10)

Bedzzz Express (B1, B16)

Birmingham Orthodontics (A1)

Bob’s Power Equipment (A15)

Brewer Cabinets (B15)

Bromberg’s (B6)

Brookwood Diagnostic Centers (A13)

Budget Blinds (B11)

Cardinal Roofing (A11)

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Warren Caldwell Eric Richardson

Brandon Merkel Matt Spivak

Emily VanderMey Don Harris Bob Willard

Carpet Warehouse Galleria (B12)

Children’s of Alabama (B8)

Christmas Village (A19)

Danberry at Inverness (A20)

Dave and Buster’s (A8)

Dave Taylor, ARC Realty (A15)

ENT Associates of Alabama (A16)

Etc. (A24)

Gardner Landscaping (B7)

Gary Palmer for Congress (A6)

Groome Transportation (A8)

Hollywood Outdoor Living (B13)

Hunter Street Baptist Church (A7)

Issis & Sons (B3)

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department (A23)

Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (A7)

LAH Real Estate (B15)

Luckie’s Pinestraw (A1)

Medical West Hospital (A5)

Medicare Advisors of Alabama (A9)

MediRest Inc (A2)

Mike Shaw - House District 47 (A3)

NAI Chase Commercial (A11)

One Man & A Toolbox (A16, B13)

OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports (B7)

Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B6)

Proveer at Grande View (A2)

Ray & Poynor (B2)

Red Mountain Glass and Mirror (A17)

Ross Bridge Dentistry (A12)

Signature Homes (B5)

Sikes Children’s Shoes (A14)

Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (A14)

Southlake Orthopaedics (A21)

Sovereign CPA (A21)

The Welch Group (B1)

TherapySouth Hoover (B3)

Tre Luna Catering & Restaurant (A20)

Truewood by Merrill (B5)

United Way of Central Alabama (A12)

Van Gogh Window Fashions (B14)

Virginia Samford Theatre (A19)

Vivian Mora State Farm Agency (A17)

Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (B7)

Walton Financial (B8)

Wild Birds Unlimited of Birmingham (B14)

Window World of Central Alabama (B2)

Dan Starnes

Jon Anderson

Ingram

Neal Embry

Parmley

Eric Taunton

Melanie Viering

Erin

Simeon

Amanda Cherry

Ashley Legenzoff

For

Anna Jackson Sarah Villar

dan@starnesmedia.com

Please

Contact

Hoover Sun

P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnesmedia.com

Published by:

313-1780

to: janderson@starnesmedia.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Sun LLC

Find Us

Senior Center

Hyatt Regency Birmingham

Kasey Davis Dentistry

► Lakeview Estates

► MedCenter Hoover

► Morningside of Riverchase

► RealtySouth Alford Avenue

► Rittenhouse Village

► Holiday Retirement - Rocky Ridge

► Spain Park High School

► The Preserve

► Wild Roast Cafe

Want to join this list or get Hoover Sun mailed to your home? Contact Anna Jackson at ajackson@starnesmedia. com.

Hoover’s Kendyl Mitchell (12) spikes the ball in a match against Mountain Brook at Spartan Arena on Aug. 30.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

KELLY PETROVICS, CRNP

ALLYSON GILSTRAP, MD

JODY GILSTRAP, MD

BONNIE MOORE, CRNP

Two Hoover polling sites split due to congestion

By JON ANDERSON

More than 7,000 voters in Hoover will have a new polling place for the Nov. 8 general elec tion, according to the Jefferson County Board of Registrars.

The county is splitting two Hoover polling places that now have too many people voting in a single location, said Barry Stephenson, chair man of the Board of Registrars. Those sites are the Hoover Recreation Center and Prince of Peace Catholic Church.

The Hoover Rec Center’s voting rolls had expanded to about 8,000 voters, which made it the largest polling place in Jefferson County, Stephenson said. Now, those voters will be split among three different polling places, Stephen son said.

About 2,500 voters will continue voting at the Hoover Rec Center, while about 2,800 will move to the Hoover Senior Center at 400 Municipal Drive and about 2,800 will move to the Birming ham First Seventh-day Adventist Church at 3520 Lorna Road, Stephenson said.

Meanwhile, the voting rolls at Prince of Peace Catholic Church had grown to about 7,000 voters, he said. About 5,300 of those people will continue voting at Prince of Peace, but about 1,700 are being moved to the Birmingham Com munity Church at 2269 Chapel Road, he said.

The polls are being split to reduce conges tion and wait times for voting. The new polling

places will stay in effect for municipal elections as well, Stephenson said.

The maps accompanying this story show voters where to go, depending on where they live.

Also, the Jefferson County Board of Regis trars is mailing cards to voters to inform them of their new locations to vote, Stephenson said.

Above: People who live in Jefferson County Precinct 3045 (area in blue) now will vote at Birmingham Community Church at 2269 Chapel Road. Right: People who live in Jefferson County Precinct 5010 (area in yellow) now will vote at the Hoover Recreation Center at 600 Municipal Drive. Maps courtesy of Jefferson County Board of Registrars.

Council OKs $328,000 for Inverness sidewalk

By JON ANDERSON

The Hoover City Council in September approved about $328,000 for the first phase of a new sidewalk on Inverness Center Drive.

The first phase of the sidewalk will be on the east side of Inverness Center Drive and will stretch 1,300 feet (about a quarter of a mile) from just north of the Danberry at Inverness senior living community to the U.S. 280 right of way, City Engineer Chris Reeves said.

Construction was expected to begin by the last week of September and should be through by the end of January, Reeves said.

Hoover Council President John Lyda said people at Danberry have been asking for a sidewalk that would connect to the Walgreens at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Inverness Center Drive, and this sidewalk will do that.

Avery Landscape & Associates was the lowest of three bidders for the job.

In other business Sept. 6, the Hoover City Council voted 6-1 to approve $117,000 for new hardware and software for management of the city’s fleet of vehicles.

Jehad Al-Dakka, the city’s chief opera tions officer, said this will put equipment in all city vehicles that will track the location, operation and performance of vehicles. The system will automatically alert fleet manage ment to any warnings on vehicles and allow

them to better assess a vehicle’s performance, Al-Dakka said.

Because of monitoring, it also should improve safe driving habits and increase fuel efficiency, he said.

Councilman Steve McClinton, who cast the lone no vote against purchasing the equip ment and software, said after the meeting he wasn’t necessarily against it, but he still had questions about it and had concerns that the GPS tracking system was too much like “Big Brother” watching over city employees.

City Administrator Allan Rice said no one will actively be monitoring employees’ vehicles and movements all the time, but the system does allow for accountability when issues arise that need verification.

It should help guard against inappropriate use of city vehicles and equipment, such as someone using a city backhoe at their per sonal residence to dig out space for a pool. It also would come in handy if a city vehicle were stolen, Rice said.

Having GPS trackers attached to vehicles also will qualify the city for a 5% discount on auto insurance premiums, he said.

Regarding the “Big Brother” concern, Al-Dakka said the system has security pro tocols that restrict who can view the data coming from vehicles, and it also has an audit function that keeps track of who is reviewing the data.

Shannon Cook of Gillespie Construction helps build a sidewalk along Chapel Road in Hoover on Aug. 26. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Sixth class of Leadership Hoover gets busy

By JON ANDERSON

The sixth class of Leadership Hoover plans to get started in October learning more in-depth about the city, after a welcome break fast in August and team-building retreat in September.

The new class includes 34 people from a variety of fields and industries, including edu cation, government, law, hospitality, health care, religion, advertising, financial services, real estate, nonprofits and utilities.

The goal of Leadership Hoover is to gather together a group of leaders and emerging leaders who are interested in expanding their leadership skills, deepening their sense of civic responsibility, becoming more involved in helping the community and learning about Hoover’s issues and needs.

The group typically meets once a month to explore different facets of life in Hoover. The effort began with a meet-and-greet breakfast in August at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel and a team-building retreat in September at the McDowell Conference and Retreat Center in Winston County.

In October, the class plans to focus on public safety, likely hearing from leaders in Hoover’s police, fire and emergency communications departments and touring facilities such as a Hoover fire station, the Hoover jail, the Police Department’s new Frank and Pam Barefield Training Center and the National Computer Forensics Institute.

In November, the focus will be on education (K-12 and postsecondary), and in December, the group will hear from city, county and state government leaders.

In January, the class will examine economic development, and then in February, the focus will turn to Hoover’s diversity with a “one community day.”

The class in March will examine small busi nesses and entrepreneurs and in April will ana lyze various things that add to Hoover’s quality of life, such as park facilities and the Hoover

Public Library.

The nine-month effort concludes in May with a graduation ceremony and presentation of projects the various groups have undertaken. Each group typically by December must iden tify and have approved a project they want to tackle to help improve life in the city.

The fifth Leadership Hoover class took on projects dealing with fighting fraud, revital izing a city park, supporting the Riverchase Career Connection Center, keeping residents informed of happenings and building a data base of amenities in the city.

Leadership Hoover’s executive director from last year, Lori Leonard, left in the spring to take a job as director of marketing for the Hunts ville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jennifer Whisenant, executive director for the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Asso ciation and a member of the Leadership Hoover board of directors, is serving as interim execu tive director for the Hoover group.

The 34 members of the sixth class of

Leadership Hoover are:

► Keneisha Alford, The Achievement Network

► Amanda Borden, Hoover Public Library

► Zebbie Carney, Eugene’s Hot Chicken

► Charles Decroes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

► Mike Dozier, Alabama Power Co.

► Shane Eaker, Encompass Health

► Felicia Fortune, Your Kid’s Urgent Care Alabama

► Jason Franklin, City of Hoover

► Damian Gilbert, Regions Bank

► Layla Hamilton, Eisai

► Nathan Harris, Abogados Centro Legal

► Monique Houser, Cahaba Safeguard Administrators

► Tammie Howard, Burton Advertising

► Guy Hunt, Noble Bank & Trust

► Larry Ingram, LaBella Associates

► Amanda Knerr, Hope for Autumn Foundation

► Ty Moody, Einstein’s Playground

► Phillip Moultrie, Valent Group

► Kelly Peoples, City of Hoover

► Irina Pritchett, Regions

► Philip Richards, Alabama Medicare Advi sory Group

► James Robinson, Spire

► Christian Ronalds, Birmingham First Sev enth-Day Adventist Church

► Jeanie Shea, Jeanie Shea LLC

► Billy Silver, U.S. Steel Corp.

► Vino Sivam, Regions Bank

► Greg Triola, Books-A-Million/Preferred Growth Properties

► Alice Turney, Riverchase Elementary School

► Chris Washington, Division 12 Consulting

► Raquel Morgan Williams, Alabama Power Co.

► Tensia Arrington Williams, Blue Cross and Blue Shield

► Uriah Williams, Morgan Stanley

► Liz Williford, Southern Nuclear

► Jennifer Wilson, Regions Private Wealth

Members of the sixth class of Leadership Hoover pose for a photo at a meetand-greet breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel on Aug. 25. Nineteen of the 34 members of the new class were present.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

Taylor England, a Vestavia Hills resident originally from San Diego, skates outside the Finley Center in the Hoover Metropolitan Complex in September 2021. She said then she skates there whenever she can because there isn’t another skate park nearby. The city of Hoover has set aside land for a skate park at the Hoover Met Complex Photo by Erin Nelson.

Fundraising for Hoover skate park going slowly

By JON ANDERSON

Efforts to raise money to build a skate park at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex have not been very successful thus far.

A year ago, Blackridge resident Johnny Grimes had formed a nonprofit called Skate Alabama and announced the group wanted to build a 20,000-square-foot park for skateboarding, inline skating and BMX biking at the Hoover Met Complex, which at the time was expected to cost $600,000 to $900,000.

Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice said then that if the skateboard community could raise the money to build a new skate park, the city would allow it to be built at the Met Complex and would oversee and maintain it.

A year later, Grimes said the group thus far has received about $20,000 in pledges, and half of that is from his own family.

“It’s just a big, big task,” Grimes said.

The biggest challenge is that it’s hard to ask people, companies and other organizations for

money if the city is not willing to at least partially fund the project, Grimes said. Other cities, such as Cullman and Huntsville, have put money in their skate parks, he said.

Huntsville, in particular, is putting $3 million of city money together with a $1 million private dona tion to build one of the biggest skate parks in the country, Grimes said.

Hoover officials have shown enthusiasm for a skate park, and their agreement to provide land and maintenance of a park is very much appreciated, but financial assistance with construction would go a long way to help entice other donors, he said.

Hoover Council President John Lyda said he can understand how city participation in construction would lend some credibility to fundraising efforts and said he believes the City Council would wel come further conversations with Grimes and other skate park supporters.

However, the council will be looking to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board for advice about pri orities for park and recreation projects in the city, Lyda said.

Mayor’s Minute

By Frank V. Brocato

On any given day, nearly 20 people per minute are phys ically abused by an intimate part ner in the United States. That equates to more than 10 million women and men who are victims of this horrible crime every year. Domestic violence plagues communities of all sizes, shades and socioeconomic statuses.

On Oct. 18 at 6 p.m., I am joining with several over-themountain mayors to host “A Domestic Violence Awareness Forum: Protecting Our Teens and Young Adults From Dating Vio lence.” The event will be held at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center.

Mountain Brook Mayor Stew art Welch, Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry and Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky will all join me for this joint meeting, which is open to the public.

The forum will include repre sentatives from the YWCA Cen tral Alabama, One Place Metro Alabama Justice Center and the Meghan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund.

The presentations will focus on several topics, including: the scope of domestic and dating violence in Jefferson County; resources available to help and

educate the public; tips on how to recognize dating or rela tionship violence in the work place, amongst friends, rela tives and espe cially teens; and tips on how to respond appro priately when someone needs help. Attendees will also receive information on primary pre vention programs available to schools and groups that focus on creating safe and healthy rela tionships in an effort to stop rela tionship violence before it starts. This is key, considering those between the ages of 16 to 24 are the most at-risk age group for relationship violence and 40% of teens ages 14-17 have been exposed to at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.

As leaders, it is our job to sound the alarm and lead the charge for change in our cities. We are here to do just that! But it takes all of us, working together, to learn the facts, to know the signs and to use the tools that can truly help.

Frank V. Brocato

Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

5.11 Tactical has opened a store at 1713 Montgom ery Highway, Suite 127, in the Riverchase Promenade shopping center. The company sells tactical gear for law enforcement, first responders, tactical operators and outdoor enthusiasts. 205-419-4013, 511tactical.com

Furniture Masters has opened a new location in The Village on Lorna shopping center at 3317 Lorna Road and held a grand opening on Sept. 17. 205-407-4677, furnituremastersal.com

Onsite Women’s Health has now opened a second lo cation to provide mammography services in partnership with Birmingham Obstetrics and Gynecology at 2321 John Hawkins Parkway. Onsite Women’s Health first partnered with Birmingham Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2015 and wanted to expand with the OB/GYN compa ny at the Hoover location so it can offer more conve nient breast cancer screening opportunities for women. Onsite operates in 25 states and plans to add locations in two more states soon. The company has performed 1.5 million studies since 2013 and 98,000 risk assess ment exams since January 2018. onsitewomenshealth.com

Moss Rock Pharmacy has opened in The Preserve at 610 Preserve Parkway, Suite 160. 205-332-3888, facebook.com/mossrockpharmacy

City Bowls has opened a new location in The Village at Brock’s Gap at 1031 Brock’s Gap Parkway, Suite 187, next to Moe’s Original BBQ. 205-407-4112, thecitybowls.com

Magic City Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy has opened in The Galleries at Riverchase shopping center at 3075 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite J. The clinic helps women with pelvic floor dysfunction, lymphedema and breast cancer-associated conditions who want to live with less pain and discomfort. 205-202-0874, magiccitypt.com

Dr. Lynn McMullan and Dr. Ariana Zeb opened a new dentist office on Sept. 12 called Dental Care of Hoover at 2720 John Hawkins Parkway on an outparcel next to IHOP in the Colonial Promenade Hoover shopping center. In addition to routine cleanings and simple fillings, the dentists also offer more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services. The practice is accepting new patients of all ages. 659-250-0137, dentalcareofhoover.com

My Eyelab opened Sept. 19 at 1711 U.S. 31 next to JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts. 205-286-3747, myeyelab.com

The Element Wellness Center has opened in the Tattersall Park development at 6600 Tattersall Lane, Unit B. The center’s philosophy is to provide wellness by nurturing the body and leveraging strategic, controlled stressors inspired by nature. 205-326-7333, elementwellness.me

COMING SOON

Smoothie King has opened its new location at 1539 Montgomery Highway in the Hoover Crossings shopping center. 205-761-1001, smoothieking.com

The White House Interiors opened a second location in the former Earth Fare grocery store on the Riverchase Galleria campus at 3230 Galleria Circle in early Septem ber. The new location has 26,103 square feet. The White House Interiors is owned by Ann Marie James. twhinteriors.com

John Cassimus has converted his Crazy Cazboy’s store at 1855 Montgomery Highway in The Plaza at Riverchase shopping center into a store called Bidding Kings. The store conducts auctions for liquidated mer chandise online every Tuesday to Tuesday, and winning bidders pick up their items at the store in Hoover. 205-202-0765, biddingkings.com

Alabama Goods, a retail company that sells gifts, food and distinctive goods made exclusively in Alabama, has signed two leases to expand operations and its retail footprint. One lease was signed to open a third store at Stadium Trace Village, on the corner of John Hawkins Parkway and Stadium Trace Parkway. Alabama Goods will occupy approximately 2,500 square feet along with two restaurants and a retail establishment. Originally slated to open July 2022, the opening date of the store has been pushed back to accommodate construction delays. Construction should be completed summer 2023. Alabama Goods currently operates retail stores in Homewood and Huntsville. Additionally, a lease was signed to support an expansion of the operations center in West Homewood, which manages online and corporate sales for the company. The expansion dou bles the original size of the center in preparation for the upcoming gift-giving season. 205-803-3900, alabamagoods.com

Construction is underway for a new Sonic drive-in restaurant on Meadowview Drive, just off U.S. 280 be tween Inverness and Meadow Brook. sonic.com

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Taco Bell has completed its relocation from 5192 Cald well Mill Road in the Valleydale Village shopping center to a stand-alone location at 4525 Valleydale Road next to Domino’s and across from the Sherwin Williams paint store. 659-287-0018, tacobell.com

Whataburger is now open at 1727 Montgomery Highway in the Riverchase Promenade shopping center. whataburger.com

Vella Bella Furniture has opened at 1845 Montgomery Highway, Suite 211, in The Plaza at Riverchase shopping center, in the former Isabelle’s Thrifty Boutique loca tion. vellabella.com

Jambo Grill has opened in the former location of Customs Cafe at 1845 Montgomery Highway, Suite 207, in The Plaza at Riverchase shopping center. It is an Afro Caribbean restaurant serving kabobs, wings and more. 205-922-5776

NEW OWNERSHIP

Insurance agency owner Lamar Adcock, who has been an agent in Greystone for 15 years, shared that Farmers acquired MetLife Property and Casualty at the end of 2021, and his office has now transitioned to Farmers in the same location at Greystone Park. 205-995-7872, farmersagent.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ashley McMakin, founder and chief executive officer of Ashley Mac’s, a fast casual café, catering and gourmetto-go business with five Birmingham locations, is Ala bama’s Gold Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales $5 Million to $20 Million category. Ashley Mac’s is one of 11

businesses being honored as the 2022 Retailers of the Year by the Alabama Retail Association. ashleymacs.com

Capstone Building Corp. has completed con struction of the Anthem Apartments and Cottages in Huntsville. The devel opment has 14 apartment buildings with 312 units and 48 garages, and 94-sin gle-family cottages with stand-alone garages, a club house, pavilion, two saltwater pools, firepit terraces, a dog park, playground, herb garden and manicured lawn games area. 205-803-5226, capstonebuilding.com

Lake Homes Realty for the sixth consecutive year has made the Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the country. Lake Homes Realty, with a 149% growth in revenues, was ranked 3,481 on the 2022 list, down from 2,711 last year. Lake Homes Realty is one of 20 Birmingham-Hoover metro area companies and 60 Alabama companies on this year’s list. There are 197 real estate companies on this year’s list, and Lake Homes Realty ranked 132 among those. The company helps people find, buy and sell lake homes and land across the country. Lake Homes Realty also for the fifth consecutive year was honored by Auburn University as a Top Tiger company, meaning it is one of the fastest-growing companies founded, owned or led by Auburn University alumni. Lake Homes Real ty’s CEO and lead economic analyst is Glenn Phillips, who graduated from Auburn. 205-985-2991, lakehomes.com

N.A.I. Chase Commercial RE was awarded the lease assignment for Inverness Center North 40, 42 and 44 Inverness Center Parkway. 253-961-4660, chasecommercial.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

Regions Bank, which has an operations center at 2090 Office Parkway Circle and numerous branches in Hoover, has promoted Tom Speir to head of strategy and corporate development. Speir will report to Regions Chief Financial Officer David Turner and will lead the bank’s enterprise-wide strategic planning process and corporate development initiatives. He will be respon sible for the bank’s mergers and acquisitions strate gy, identifying opportunities for Regions to further expand its range of specialty capabilities and high-value financial services for clients across the banking sector. In addition, he will oversee the bank’s small business investment company and strategic equity investment programs. Speir brings 20 years of experience to his new role. He previously served as assistant treasurer and head of balance sheet management for Regions. Speir joined Regions in 2009 after spending his early career at Wachovia Bank in Charlotte, where he served as securitized products portfolio manager in the trea sury department. 256-562-2200, regions.com

Urgent Care for Children, which has a location in The Village at Brock’s Gap at 1001 Brock’s Gap Parkway, Suite 115, has named Helen Combs as its new CEO. Combs has more than 25 years in medical leadership. Previously, she served as director of clinical innova tion for Acclinate and as chief administrative officer of Alabama Allergy and Asthma Center with a dual role as a managing partner of Clinical Research Center of Alabama.

205-961-2834, childrensurgent.com

ANNIVERSARIES

The laundry company Champion Cleaners, 5363 U.S. 280, Suite 105-B, celebrated its 20th year anniversary in September. The company offers free dry cleaning, laundry pick up and delivery. 205-602-3842, championcleaners.com

CLOSINGS

The Shell gasoline station at the corner of Riverchase Parkway East and Valleydale Road has closed.

Overstock Furniture and Mattress is closing its location in the former Sears store at the Riverchase Galleria.

479-449-4193, ofurniture.com

Simply scrubs: Just Liv Uniforms specializes in medical uniforms

By ASHLEY LEGENZOFF

After working almost 20 years in the health care industry, Emisha Bland decided to go from wearing scrubs to selling them, with a goal of having a uniform to fit everyone’s personality.

Bland spent her days in scrubs while working as a unit secretary at Jeremiah’s Hope, a col laboration between Jefferson State and Ascen sion St. Vincent’s, with the college’s Center for Workforce Education providing training in various health care programs and wrap-around services.

She then went into occupational health and obtained her phlebotomy certification and has worked as a medical assistant for the last three years.

Bland always had trouble finding the right size scrubs to fit her petite frame. After years of dealing with scrubs being the wrong fit and having to alter or return them, she’d had enough.

“I knew the need for the uniforms, as I was in them all day,” Bland said. “I wanted to branch out and find something different.”

Equipped with research from the Uniform Retailers Association (URA) and personal experiences, Bland opened her store, Just Liv Uniforms, in Greystone Center off U.S. 280. in April with a mission to sell affordable uniforms for those in the health care industry.

After spending years caring for people as her profession, Bland knew she wanted to keep a personal touch with Just Liv Uniforms.

When choosing the name of her business and logo, she drew inspiration from medical care items such as lifelines and stethoscopes. She wanted to encourage people to “just keep living.”

To ensure things stay personal, Bland has refrained from offering an online shop and has

kept everything in person at her storefront busi ness. She said that allows people to get a better feel of what size they choose from the options in her store.

Bland knows how busy life can be for people who work in the medical field. Many don’t have time to go home and change out of their scrubs before going to other activities. One of Bland’s primary goals in forming Just Liv Uniforms is making sure the scrubs are cute, stylish and comfortable.

“Some of the uniforms I have basically look like outfits, but they are work wear,” said

Bland. “You would be comfortable going to dinner wearing them. Everything in my store are things that I would wear and to help make people want to go to work.”

Brands available at Just Liv Uniforms include Koi, White Swan, Adar, Banu, Aura and Med Couture. The store also offers caps, compression and design socks, lab jackets and embroidery services.

Same day delivery is available within a 30-mile radius and those with a health care ID receive a 10% discount on purchases.

On her website, Bland said, “This has been

Just Liv Uniforms

► WHERE: 5510 U.S. 280, Suite 121, Birmingham 35242

► CALL: 205-407-4676

► WEB: justlivuniforms.com

► HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

a passion of mine for quite a while and some thing that I feel so connected with and am really looking forward to this journey.”

Just Liv Uniforms in Greystone offers scrubs that are designed to be comfortable and trendy, as well as accessories. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.

Liz Lane Gallery moves from Homewood to Hoover

By ERIC TAUNTON

Liz Lane spent a lot of time with her mom in her art studio and the multiple art galleries she owned while growing up in Tuscaloosa.

Lane said she spent so much time around her mom that she didn’t realize her own passion about art until she got older.

“I didn’t really do a lot of art classes or any thing like that. I just had constant exposure to art,” Lane said. “I’ve always just done art. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t normal to do the amount of art that I was doing. I watched my mom do it, and I just thought that’s what people did.”

Now, Lane features her mom’s art in her own gallery, Liz Lane Gallery, which she moved from Homewood to Hoover in July. Lane also has a second location in Asheville, North Carolina.

She had been in Homewood for five years, and the plan was always to move her gallery somewhere closer to her home in Hoover. But her plan became more urgent when the ceiling started to cave in at their Homewood location, she said.

“I knew I needed to move, but it was pushed a little faster than I planned on it happening because our ceiling started to cave in,” Lane said. “There was a storm, and I guess the pipes that go into the sewer system weren’t draining right, and I guess they’d never been cleaned out in over 60 years. We walked in one morning, and there was a 4-by-6-foot hole in the ceiling.”

Lane graduated from The University of Ala bama with a degree in fashion design and took a brief hiatus from painting after college. She started painting again when she worked at Four Seasons on 18th Street South in Homewood.

“They were nice enough to let me start putting out paintings that I’d done just for fun, and they started selling right away,” Lane said. “The more I sold, the more I kept doing it.”

Once she started painting again, she couldn’t stop. Lane said she sometimes stayed up until

2 a.m. to paint.

Lane mainly paints abstract and figure pieces with a “feminine voice,” something that she said can’t be described, only felt.

Her art reflects topics and issues that she’s passionate about, such as women’s empower ment and the environment, she said.

She wants her gallery to be a safe, creative space for women because female artists struggle to find representation, something she has expe rienced firsthand, she said.

“From talking to other female artists, I knew it was a problem,” Lane said. “It’s competitive

no matter who you are when you’re going into art, especially for women, so I had an oppor tunity to have studio space and start a gallery at the same time. I don’t have a specific rule about only representing women, but I definitely decided early on that I was going to provide a space for that.”

She learned the importance of protecting the environment from her father, who taught chem ical engineering at The University of Alabama, she said.

“Just because he’s a scientist and he’s worked a lot on alternative energies, I always grew up

hearing about it from a very young age,” Lane said. “I feel like it’s always been a part of my vocabulary.”

She said though a lot of people are “disheart ened'' about the effect climate change has had on the Earth recently, she’s very optimistic about the future because now “people believe it’s hap pening, for the most part.”

“With my gallery, my primary focus is creat ing beauty in the world, and I feel like you can’t have beauty in the world without protecting the rights of other people and the environment,” Lane said. “They can’t be separated.”

Liz Lane, owner of Liz Lane Gallery, stands in her new studio and gallery space in the Bluff Park Village Shopping Center. Lane relocated her business to Bluff Park from Homewood in July. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Burn Boot Camp expands to Meadow Brook

By JON ANDERSON

Jim Safron has had good success with his Burn Boot Camp locations in Hoover and Homewood and now is opening a third location in Meadow Brook.

The new location of the high-intensity work out gym is at the corner of Alabama 119 and Doug Baker Boulevard, in just more than 5,000 square feet of a new strip shopping center being built by developer Jim Mitchell.

Safron, who lives in Hoover’s Blackridge community, said he hopes to have the Meadow Brook location open by mid-October.

He originally had hoped to open there in June of last year, but there were a lot of challenges with development and construction of the strip center, he said.

Safron said the U.S. 280 corridor actually was one of the first locations where he wanted to build a Burn Boot Camp in the Birmingham area, but opportunities solidified more quickly in Hoover and Homewood.

He opened the Hoover location in The Village at Brock’s Gap in February 2019, and Home wood followed in January 2021. The Hoover location has grown to more than 600 members, and Homewood is nearing 600 members, he said.

He sees great potential in the U.S. 280 cor ridor, and this spot is less than a mile off U.S. 280. He likes being close to the highway but not directly on it, and this shopping center should have good access in and out, he said.

“I think the location is perfect,” Safron said. “I think it’s [been] worth the wait.”

He’s also still looking for opportunities to open Burn Boot Camp locations in Mountain Brook and the Liberty Park section of Vestavia Hills, he said.

Safron formerly worked in management for several big-box retail companies such as Com pUSA, Gateway Computers, Office Depot, Office Max and Lowe’s. While he was working in North Carolina as the Southeast manager of product protection plans for Lowe’s, his wife

started going to a Burn Boot Camp in North Carolina.

They liked the business model so much that he opened a Burn Boot Camp in Woodstock, Geor gia, but he ended up selling it later because he didn’t see a lot of prime locations left to expand the franchise in the Atlanta area, he said. He and his wife saw a lot of opportunity in the Birming ham market and moved to Hoover.

What he likes so much about Burn Boot Camp is that it’s primarily for women, he said. “It creates a very different environment when you don’t have men in the picture,” he said. “It creates a community.”

The women who come to Burn Boot Camp end up forming new lifelong friendships, sup porting and encouraging one another as they work to improve their physical fitness, he said. But it’s certainly not like a book club, he said.

“Our workouts are really hard.”

Burn Boot Camp offers high-intensity work outs that vary from day to day. One day might be focused on cardio health, while other days the focus will be on upper body strength, jumping, arm days or leg days, he said.

“It’s dynamic,” Safron said. “No workout is ever the same.”

The gyms also offer child care and focus meetings where women can discuss goals they want to achieve with a trainer. And Burn Boot Camp is designed for women at any level of fitness.

Amanda James, a 39-year-old Helena resi dent, said she started going to the Burn Boot Camp in Hoover about a year and 10 months ago after seeing her sister do it in Nashville.

At first, she thought it would be way too hard for her because she had never lifted weights or

done boot camp-style core training before, she said. She had never done a pullup or burpee. Before, she couldn’t keep moving more than a minute or two at a time, and now her stamina has increased significantly, and she is getting stronger, she said. “I’ve lost about 20 pounds. I feel better. I sleep better.”

The trainers are encouraging, know you by name and correct your form so you don’t get injured, James said. She likes the variety in the workouts and child care for her 4-year-old daughter.

Also, she has developed a lot of new friend ships with women who text and encourage each other daily. They even arranged a beach trip together in September.

“I’ve made so many friends. It’s a super-en couraging atmosphere,” James said. “It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Participants warm up during a class led by Ashley George at Burn Boot Camp in the Village at Brock’s Gap in Hoover on Sept. 12. A new Burn Boot Camp location is scheduled to open in Meadow Brook on U.S. 280 in October.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Hoover mom opens Nursing Queen storefront to serve breastfeeding needs

By AMANDA CHERRY

When Quinn Reitz had her first child, she found herself disappointed with the breastfeed ing clothes on the market at the time.

So the Hoover mom decided to start her own business called Nursing Queen in 2017. She began operating out of her Green Valley home as an online retailer, but last year she opened a storefront and warehouse in Pelham.

Most of her business remains online, but Reitz says she loves meeting the customers and babies when they come by the store.

After her first child was born, she was look ing for loose and flowy shirts with more discreet nursing openings. What she found at the time were clingy clothes with obvious nursing flaps.

Although she had been a TV news reporter and had no experience in fashion design, she began to look into designing her own breastfeed ing clothes. She sought resources online about how to start a clothing line and searched high and low for possible clothing factories.

One factory told her she needed to go back to the basics: understanding fabric. She started by visiting a fabric expo in Miami, and now she can see a shirt in any store and identify its exact blend of fabric, she said.

Once she got a feel for the fabric, she started Nursing Queen with a hoodie and a tank top. Now she works with overseas manufacturers to produce a variety of styles, and she tests the styles and fabrics herself.

Reitz opened Nursing Queen’s brick-and-mor tar location in June 2021 because the business was taking over her house. When she had filled the garage, the basement, and the guest room and had added a storage shed to the backyard, she realized she was at max capacity. Now, instead of her team packaging items on the washer and dryer, they have several work tables and shelves in their warehouse.

Nursing Queen’s work hours are convenient for their staff of mainly mothers because they all come in after school dropoff and leave at the same time to pick up their children from school.

When designing the clothes, Reitz takes inspi ration from mainstream clothing. She’ll be wear ing something and think, “How can I make this breastfeeding-friendly?”

She hides zippers behind ruffles and in the seams of tiered dresses and color-blocked tops. Styles are trendy and bright but also comfortable and wearable. Nursing Queen’s clothes are also designed to be more discreet. While breastfeed ing, the top of the breast and the stomach remain covered, and often no one can tell the person is nursing.

Nursing Queen’s clothing allows breastfeed ers to avoid wearing a nursing tank top under a normal shirt, a practice that can be hot during

Alabama summers. When it’s cold outside, the company’s sweatshirts allow users to remain covered instead of having to pull up a regular sweatshirt and uncover their stomachs.

Those who breastfeed their babies while in a baby carrier also find the nursing clothes help ful so they don’t have to juggle multiple layers of clothing while wearing the carrier, she said. Styles with a zipper all the way across are pop ular among pumping moms because the shirts allow them to pump both sides at once.

As a bonus, many customers report the clothes are stylish and discreet enough to continue wear ing after they’re done breastfeeding, Reitz said. They just pop the zipper pull inside the shirt

where it cannot be seen.

Quinn Reitz, owner of the Nursing Queen, shows a modification she designed on a shirt, that provides easy access for breastfeeding, at the Nursing Queen warehouse Aug. 25. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Reitz has many more ideas for her business and said she will continue to expand her offer ings. For example, she would love to create formal wear for nursing parents and beautiful dresses for attending children’s baptisms.

Reitz affirms that moms can decide with their babies how best to feed them, but “we’re here to support breastfeeding moms, pumping moms and exclusively pumping moms if you choose that.”

For more information, visit nursingqueen.com or find someone at the store weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 206 Oak Mountain Circle in Pelham.

The area around the former Bluff Park Community Center is blocked off as city officials redraw plans for a pavilion on the site.

City reworks plans for Bluff Park pavilion

By JON ANDERSON

Officials with the city of Hoover continue to revise plans for a new pavilion at the Bluff Park Community Park on Cloudland Drive.

The project has been in the works since at least 2018 but was delayed after bids for the job came in higher than anticipated.

When the city sought bids for pavilion construction in 2019, three companies sub mitted bids, and the lowest was $467,000 by Construction Services Group, City Clerk Wendy Dickerson said.

The City Council had budgeted $172,912 to demolish the Bluff Park Community Center and build a pavilion. The community center, which had been deemed unsafe due to a deteriorating subfloor, was torn down, but the pavilion has not been built.

Jehad Al-Dakka, who became the city’s chief operations officer in 2021, said an

architectural firm (Turner Batson) and a structural engineer this summer have been reviewing the design and layout of the pavil ion to try to find a less expensive way to do it.

“The whole design we’re working on is completely different,” Al-Dakka said.

They think they may be able to preserve and use some of the existing slab that was there for the community center, since part of it is in great shape, he said.

The pavilion being planned is roughly 26 feet by 49 feet, but the plan could include some seating that extends outside the pavil ion, Al-Dakka said.

The pavilion also will have restrooms and a storage area, but he’s not sure how big the storage area would be yet, he said.

“We are going to move forward with it,” Al-Dakka said. “We’re trying to get the best design first to make it work.”

Hoover girls named Rising Stars

By JON ANDERSON

At least four girls from Hoover are headed to the Miss Alabama and Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen competitions next year as “Rising Stars.”

Taytum Teague, a fourth grader at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, and Anna Clare Huddleston, a third grader at Brock’s Gap, both will be going to the Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen 2023 competition with Miss Hoover’s Outstanding Teen 2023 Kar rington Channell.

Meanwhile, Mallie Kate Perry, a fifth grader at Gwin Elementary School, and her younger sister, Madeline Perry, a third grader at Gwin,

both will be going to the Miss Alabama 2023 competition with Jayla Duncan, who was crowned Miss Iron City 2023 in July. Duncan also spent the past year as Miss Hoover’s Out standing Teen 2022.

Two other young ladies will represent Hoover at Miss Alabama 2023 as Rising Stars.

Izzie Waldron, a first grader at Briarwood Christian School who lives in Pelham, and Josie Hicks, a first grader at J.E. Turner Ele mentary School who lives in Citronelle, will be going as Rising Stars with Miss Hoover 2023 Mary-Coker Green.

The Rising Stars program gives young girls a chance to be mentored by older girls and also learn about scholarship competitions.

When It Comes To Your Health Experience Matters

ENT Associates of Alabama, P.C. is the largest Otolaryngology practice in Alabama with 10 locations,15 physicians, and over 600 years of combined staff and physician experience.

Our practice includes general ear, nose, and throat, head and neck diseases and surgeries, cosmetic surgery, robotic procedures, in-office balloon sinuplasty, allergy treatment, and hearing solutions. We concentrate our training and experience in these areas to provide the best possible medical care for our patients.

At ENT Associates of Alabama, P.C. the patient’s experience matters. We treat each patient as a person, not just another case. We pride ourselves in delivering a positive personal expe rience along with a positive outcome

Mallie Kate Perry Teague Waldron

Hicks Huddleston Madeline Perry

Photo by Jon Anderson.

2022

By JON ANDERSON

With more than 200 restaurants in Hoover, it’s hard to get around to all of them, but each year you get a chance to taste food from dozens of them at the Taste of Hoover event at Aldridge Gardens.

The 2022 Taste of Hoover is scheduled for Oct. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. and has at least 37 food and beverage establishments scheduled to partic ipate, including at least 29 restaurants and cater ers and eight beverage providers, said Tynette Lynch, the CEO of Aldridge Gardens and direc tor of tourism and hospitality for the city.

“We have picked up a few new establish ments this year, and we’re excited about that,” Lynch said.

New participants this year include Brock’s Gap Brewing Co., FAB Fruit, Steak ‘n Shake, The Joyful Food Co., Teriyaki Madness and Twin Peaks.

For $50, guests at the event can sample food and drinks from each of the vendors present while listening to music and strolling through the gardens. There’s a $5 discount for mem bers of Aldridge Gardens, and children 12 and younger get in free.

This year, music will be provided by Bren dan Young, a Nashville recording artist from the Birmingham area whose native genre is coun try music. His sound is a balance between old and new country, with influences ranging from older artists such as George Strait and Waylon Jennings to newer artists such as Josh Turner and Chris Young.

Getting restaurants to participate in the event has gotten easier since it began in 2012 because Taste of Hoover has become an established event in town, Lynch said. People enjoy being able to spend a casual night out socializing in the

of

set for Oct.

gardens, eating and drinking, she said.

One change this year is the addition of more “designer lighting” because some people said certain areas were a little too dark last year, Lynch said. The event is a bit more spread out than in its early years and has additional seating in areas such as the shade garden.

Tickets will be limited to about 350 people to make sure there is enough food for everyone, Lynch said. The event frequently is a sellout.

Last year’s Taste of Hoover raised about $18,000 for Aldridge Gardens, but the main purpose of the event is not to raise money but to showcase the city’s food and beverage pro viders, Lynch said.

Here is the complete list of food and beverage

providers scheduled to participate as of Sept. 22:

► Baba Java Coffee

► Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant &

Bar

► Brock’s Gap Brewing Co.

► Buffalo Wild Wings

► CakEffect

► Carrabba’s Italian Grill

► Casual Pint at The Grove

► Chattanooga Whiskey ► Coca-Cola United

► Dread River Distillery

► Edible Arrangements

► Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes

► FAB Fruit

► GRK Street

at Aldridge

Taste of Hoover

• WHERE: Aldridge Gardens

• WHEN: Oct. 6, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• COST: $50 per person; $5 discount for Aldridge Gardens members; free for children 12 and younger.

• WEB: aldridgegardens.com

► International Wines

► Jefferson State Community College Culi nary Institute

► Jimmy John’s

► Lemonade Junkeez

► Merk’s Tavern & Kitchen

► Newk’s Eatery

► Pollo Lucas

► R&S Food Services/Yellow Bicycle Catering

► Rock N Roll Sushi

► Santos Coffee

► Savoie Catering

► Saw’s BBQ

► Steak ‘n Shake

► Super Chix

► Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

► Teriyaki Madness

► The Casual Pint at The Grove

► The Happy Catering Co.

► The Joyful Food Co.

► The Whole Scoop

► Tre Luna Catering

► Twin Peaks

► Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

Tickets can be purchased online at aldridge gardens.com.

Christina Hixson serves samples for CakEffect at the 2021 Taste of Hoover event at Aldridge Gardens. Photo by Jon Anderson.

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

People gather for the city of Hoover’s annual Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony and Climb to Remember at the Riverchase Galleria, honoring 2,977 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Comedian Cho lined up for education foundation fundraiser

By JON ANDERSON

Comedian Henry Cho is scheduled to per form at the Stardome Comedy Club on Oct. 4, to help raise money for the Hoover City Schools Foundation.

The event, to be called Comedy for Kids, will include a catered meal from Ragtime Café. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets range in price from $75 to $150 per person.

“We invite everyone to turn fun into funds at the Comedy for Kids event this fall,” said Paul Dangel, president of the foundation’s board of directors, in a press release. “Henry Cho and his versatile comedic style will be a hit!”

Cho, who can be heard nationally several times weekly on Sirius XM channels 97 and 98 and Pandora Radio’s PG Comedy Radio Chan nel, is known for his clean comedy, forgoing profanity and objectionable material.

The Hendrick Hoover Automall is the title sponsor for the Comedy for Kids event.

“Giving back to organizations within the Hoover community like the Hoover City Schools Foundation fits our mission perfectly,” said Joel

Comedy for Kids

• WHERE: Stardome Comedy Club

• WHEN: Oct. 4, 6 p.m.

• COST: $75 to $150 per person

• DETAILS: Benefitting Hoover City Schools Foundation

• WEB: hoovercsf.org/events

Smith, general manager for the Hendrick Hoover Automall. “Our children are our future leaders, and anything we can do to support their learning efforts is a worthwhile cause.”

The Hoover City Schools Foundation recently awarded nearly $45,000 in grants to teachers, and this new event will help the foundation do more for this school year and beyond, said Shel ley Shaw, executive director for the foundation. The foundation is celebrating its 30th anniver sary this year.

Tickets for the Comedy for Kids event can be purchased on the foundation’s website at hoovercsf.org/events.

Hoover’s fall festival moves to weekend and daytime

By JON ANDERSON

The city of Hoover’s annual fall event at Veterans Park is making some changes this year.

Say goodbye to the Hoover Hayride and Family Night, and say hello to Hay Hoover, a similar event that is being moved to a daytime weekend date.

Typically, the fall event has been held on a Thursday or Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m., but this year it will be on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The city’s new events coordinator, Brittany Callaway, said Thursday nights presented a challenge because it was a school night. Par ents had to rush home from work to get kids dressed up in costumes and to the park, and then wind up the night in time for kids to get enough sleep before school the next day, Cal laway said.

Friday nights were a challenge because of conflicts with high school football games, she said. Having the event on a Saturday will avoid both of those problems and allow for the event to be extended from three hours to four

Hay Hoover

• WHERE: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road

• WHEN: Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• COST: Admission is free; food avail able for purchase

hours, Callaway said.

Also, moving to the daytime keeps the city from having to worry about lighting issues, she said. It’s hard to light up a park that large that doesn’t have significant permanent night lighting, she said.

Kids still will be encouraged to dress up in costumes and have a chance to ride on hay rides and receive candy from businesses and organizations organized by the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce. There also will be food trucks, pony rides, a petting zoo, air brush tattoos and soccer activities provided by a group called Soccer Shots.

Comedian Henry Cho, known for his clean approach to comedy, is scheduled to perform at the Stardome Comedy Club on Oct. 4 to help raise money for Hoover City Schools. Photo by George Walker IV, The Tennessean.

People load onto a trailer for a hayride at the 2021 Hoover Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park. Photo by Jon Anderson.

FINDING ROOM

from page A1

City Administrator Allan Rice said the plan is for the owner of the Patton Creek shopping center to tear down a significant portion of the buildings there and build new structures with a different layout for the center. The plans as of mid-September included a performance hall with 1,000 to 1,200 seats, a separate black box theater with about 400 seats and a lobby that could double as an art gallery, Rice and Posey said.

There’s also the potential for some

multipurpose space where art classes could be taught, Posey said.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato told the Leadership Hoover group recently that the arts center could cost about $40 million, but that amount could change with fluctuating construction costs. Also, the project won’t be a done deal until an agreement is officially reached with the owner of the shopping center and the Hoover City Council signs off on it, Rice said.

The idea is for the owner of the Patton Creek shopping center — The Necessity Retail REIT — to handle the construction and lease the facility to the city, but the terms of

that lease agreement were still being worked out, Rice said. In particular, there was a ques tion as to whether the city would be leasing to eventually own the center or just paying rent, he said.

The idea is for the arts center to be a venue for touring Broadway plays, concerts, dance recitals and similar performances, while also having some display space for the visual arts and potentially some teaching space for visual artists, Posey said.

“I think we would be able to compete with the BJCC [Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex] for big shows,” Posey said.

This wouldn’t be as large as the Legacy

Arena or BJCC concert hall, but the venue would be attractive to event promoters because of its location, he said.

The population and demographics of Hoover and surrounding areas make it an attractive place for an arts center, and there are only a few arts venues in the city, and none within a 10-mile radius of Hoover City Hall can accommodate audiences of 500 to 2,000 people, according to a feasibility study that was completed in January.

“The Met Complex has been a great thing for sports and has done wonderful things to draw people to our city. We need to do the same thing for the arts,” Posey said. “We

ITALIAN INSPIRED FOOD WITH A TWIST SERVED IN OUR WARM, ENCHANTED EATERY.

Vacant storefronts on Main Street in the Patton Creek shopping center. Photo by Erin Nelson.

want to foster that and bring both along at the same rate.”

The owner of the Patton Creek shopping center finds an arts center attractive because it serves as a draw to bring people into the shopping center, Posey said. The arts center will be the focal point for redevelopment of Patton Creek, he said.

The owner of Patton Creek has potential new tenants lined up, but development of the arts center is a key factor in them wanting to come, Posey said. There’s a lot of synergy in having a place where people can come see a show and shop and eat at restaurants in the same location, he said.

One of the biggest complaints that city offi cials receive is that they aren’t doing enough to redevelop existing shopping centers but instead just building new ones, Posey said. “I think this is going to change that,” he said.

This could be the biggest redevelopment project the city has ever had, he said.

Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice has said the proposed redevelopment plan for Patton Creek calls for taking down about 75% of the buildings that are currently there and redeveloping the area.

“It’s not a redecoration. It’s a rebuild on a significant part of it,” Rice said. “It’s really going to be transformational.”

This development represents the kind of new development the city has been seeking since Mayor Frank Brocato first took office six years ago, Rice said. City officials want to see a mixed-use development that’s walkable with residential uses mixed in with retail, entertainment and food establishments — a destination place where people want to go and spend some time, he said.

The beautiful thing about Patton Creek is that it already has a lot of the infrastructure needed for such a development, but it does need a new layout and design, he said.

The plan for the arts center includes a 3.4acre park right in front of the center, which could serve as a location for outdoor arts events, Posey said.

The feasibility study conducted by consul tant Victor Gotesman determined there is sig nificant market demand for a new performing

arts center in Hoover. He recommended a facility that can seat 1,200 people.

A key potential user would be the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s music director, Carlos Izcaray, said he would like to consider Hoover as a potential home for the orchestra if the orchestra pit were to be large enough.

Other potential users identified by the study include the Alabama Dance Academy, Bir mingham Boys Choir, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Bluff Park Art Association, Mountain Brook Art Association and The Pointe Dance studio. Such a facility also likely would be ideal for corporate events, weddings and other private events, Gotesman said in his report.

He projected potential income of $2.1 mil lion and potential annual expenses of about $3 million for a 1,200-seat venue. Any difference in annual operating costs could be covered by a direct allocation from the city budget, interest earnings off of an endowment fund, donations from corporations and individuals and/or fundraising events, the study said.

Posey noted it’s common for arts facili ties not to be self-supporting. Governments often help supplement such facilities because they add to the quality of life in the area, he said. “We need to do this for the people of Hoover,” Posey said.

Paulette Pearson, chairwoman of the Hoover Arts Council, said she is very excited to see five to six years’ worth of planning starting to show promise.

“It’s actually going to happen,” Pearson said. “It’s what we’ve needed in this city for a very long time.”

Diana

William

Top: Hoover Councilman Curt Posey, a volunteer performer with the Birmingham Ballet and member of the Hoover Arts Council, has been pushing for a new arts facility in Hoover for many years. Above: Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice said an arts center fits in well with redevelopment plans for the Patton Creek shopping center. Photos by Jon Anderson.

“ ”

I think we would be able to compete with the BJCC for big shows.

CURT POSEY

BLUFF PARK SCHOOL

CONTINUED from page A1

community school, after-school care facility, storage area, community meeting space, home for the Hoover Historical Society and working studios for artists.

But in 2017, Hoover school officials decided the majority of the old school, which had been renamed as Artists on the Bluff, was in too poor shape to keep, and the artists and historical soci ety were forced to leave.

School officials decided to demolish the majority of the building but vowed to keep the original two-classroom building for histo ry’s sake.

It took almost $500,000 to demolish most of the buildings and about $1 million to ren ovate the original 3,472-square-foot building, but Battle Miller Construction completed the renovation in February, and the building now is being used by the school system’s student services department.

School officials took great care to keep the exterior design as close as possible to the original building, said Matt Wilson, the school system’s director of operations. They kept the majority of the original bricks intact, and when they had to replace some, they ordered special bricks from New England and special mortar from the Midwest to match the style, Wilson said.

The windows are new, but they, too, match the original design, he said.

Inside, most of the interior was gutted, but workers were able to keep the original pine wood flooring in place, Wilson said. The floor was wavy, however, due to the age of the build ing and floor joists that had been eaten away by termites, he said. Workers had to strengthen the support for about 30% of the building, which was a lot of work, he said.

The termite damage to the subfloor and some exterior walls, which was discovered after reno vations began, added about $26,000 to the cost, Wilson said. There also was a lot of asbestos that had to be removed prior to demolition.

Other than the flooring, the rest of the interior is new, including new walls, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, wiring, lighting and the addition of a sprinkler system, Wilson said. The building also was made accessible for people in wheelchairs.

The building now contains offices for three people, a conference room, small kitchen, two new bathrooms and storage rooms.

“They did a great job,” said Bob Lawry, director of student services for the school system, who is one of three people who work in the building on a regular basis. “This really suits our needs.”

The student services department has moved around from place to place over the years, for a while operating out of the former Berry Middle School on Columbiana Road and for the past six or seven years at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, Lawry said.

They were occupying some unused class rooms at Brock’s Gap Intermediate, and it’s nice to have their own space now that is more fitting to what they do and more centrally located in the city from an east-west perspective, he said.

The conference room is used by other people in the school district as well, plus for meetings of school support personnel from other districts in the Birmingham area, Lawry said.

One thing Lawry would like to add on the wall of a hallway in the old school building is some historical photographs of the building and Bluff Park, but they need some sponsors to pay for that, he said.

The building truly is appreciated by the community, he said. “It’s not abnormal to have people stop and take a picture of the outside,” Lawry said.

A number of them said they went to school there years ago, and one school system employee recalled time spent in the principal’s office.

Wilson said he’s proud of the work done to save the building and maintain its historical integrity.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I think the end result we received was exactly what we were look ing for.”

The lobby of the Hoover City Schools Student Services building in the historic Bluff Park School.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

Above and right: The original Bluff Park School — built in the 1920s — sits ready for renovation work in March 2021, five days after demolition work was completed on other buildings that had been built around the original facility over the years. Photo by Jon Anderson.

The Bluff Park School housed Artists on the Bluff until 2017. Staff photo. Below: The renovated Bluff Park School in Hoover on Aug. 26. The building is now home for the Hoover City Schools Student Services Department Photo by Erin Nelson.

A BETTER WAY TO PROTECT & SERVE

I believe that individuals dealing with a mental health episode or drug addiction should have access to treatment. Jail shouldn’t be the only option. This is an important step towards bridging the gap. — Sheriff Mark Pettway

•

Scheduled to open in October 2022, the new Crisis Diversion Center for Jefferson County provides an alternative to jail for individuals with mental illness and/or addiction issues who need treatment rather than incarceration.

We made Crisis Intervention Certification a requirement for our deputies so that they can recognize and respond to mental health issues. We provide training to all deputies for this certification; currently, two-thirds of deputies have completed training.

Our efforts have resulted in Sheriff Mark Pettway earning 2022 Law Enforcement Executive of the Year honors from Crisis Intervention Team International.

The Mental Health Crisis Center will be located at 401 Beacon Parkway West in Birmingham on the bottom level

New pastor settles in at Prince of Peace

By JON ANDERSON

About two years ago, the Rev. John Fallon, the pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, called the Rev. Jon Chalmers, who was pastor at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bir mingham, and asked him what he thought about coming to Prince of Peace.

Chalmers said he thought Fallon was “mess ing with me” because Prince of Peace is the largest Catholic parish in the Birmingham metro area and Holy Rosary is the smallest. But he quickly learned that Fallon, who was consider ing retirement, was serious.

The decision was Bishop Steven Raica’s to make, but Fallon was chairman of the parish personnel board for the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham at the time, and a year later Raica transferred Chalmers to Prince of Peace as an associate minister.

In July of this year, when Fallon retired as the lead pastor at Prince of Peace, Raica appointed Chalmers to take the lead role, with Fallon stay ing on as pastor emeritus to assist with duties such as Mass and visiting the sick.

Chalmers said being at Prince of Peace as an associate for a year before taking on the lead role was good because it gave him a chance to get to know the place, but the move from Birmingham was quite a change.

Holy Rosary had one Mass each Sunday, while Prince of Peace, with about 4,000 fam ilies, has several thousand people coming to eight Masses each weekend, and that’s a con servative number, Chalmers said.

The two parishes also are very different. Holy Rosary is in Gate City, a low-income area of Birmingham with a history of violence, while Prince of Peace is in a wealthier suburban zip

code that is considered much safer.

Holy Rosary is primarily African Ameri can, while Prince of Peace is “phenomenally diverse” and potentially has a higher Hispanic population than non-Hispanic.

Following in the footsteps of Fallon, who has been at Prince of Peace for 24 years, might be intimidating for some priests, especially with Fallon still being active there, but Chalmers said the transition is working well.

“I’m not taking his place in any meaningful way,” Chalmers said. “He and I both have our respective strengths. We don’t compete with

each other. He remains pastor emeritus. He remains a welcoming, grandfather-like sage in the community, and I’m very happy for him to continue in that role.

“I have a bit more experience in communica tion with the community, a bit more experience in the administrative side of the house and how we knit program areas together,” Chalmers said. “It’s really a nice partnership.”

Chalmers said he has been friends with both Fallon and the Rev. Ray Dunmyer, another retired priest who assists at Prince of Peace, for a long time.

“We work well together. Our communica tion patterns are really solid,” Chalmers said. “I think Father Fallon — he has the good of this community at heart and is incredibly supportive of me.”

Fallon said he believes Prince of Peace is in excellent hands with Chalmers because he preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ and the people have been receptive to him.

Chalmers said they each have different styles

Are you on the right track to Financial Success?

The future is full of uncertainty, but your Retirement Plan doesn't have to be. Let us help you plan for tomorrow without the stress of the unknown with our Family O ce & Wealth Management Services.

Prince of Peace Catholic Church Rev. Jon Chalmers offers Mass for the Prince of Peace Catholic School on Aug. 24.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

Simply put,

for

build lasting

be

OCTOBER IS

AWARENESS MONTH

TherapySouth is proud to help patients regain control of their lives through restorative movement and wellness as part of our Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Program. Our PTs work with you and your medical doctor to create an individualized and comprehensive

plan to restore the physical strength and sense of well-being that you may have lost during treatment. We’d love to be part of your team!

Sports

UNDER THE LIGHTS

Hoover running back Ahamari Williams (1) has been a bright spot for the Bucs offense so far. In the seasonopening game against Auburn, Williams kept the Bucs in the game by rushing for 131 yards and scoring a tying 27-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Hoover defense was on fire in the Bucs’ 56-7 win over Bartlett (Tenn.) on Aug. 26. Bradley Shaw (7) (pictured) and Devan Carlisle each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the team’s first win of the season.

Spain Park senior quarterback Evan Smallwood (7) has adapted well to the new Jags offense this season, proving to be a great leader for the team. In the season-opening game against Calera, Smallwood scored on an 8-yard run in the final minute to give his team a 14-10 win.

Spain Park’s Jonathan Bibbs (3) has helped provide production for a young Jags offense. Bibbs caught five passes for 81 yards against Hoover, including a 15-yard touchdown from Evan Smallwood that tied the game in the second quarter. Hoover eventually went on to win 24-10.

Spain Park running back Zamir Farris (0) has been a vocal point of the offense so far this season. Against Briarwood, Farris scored a 27-yard touchdown run that sparked a comeback effort. He also caught a 29-yard receiving touchdown to start the game’s scoring.

Hoover defensive back Jay Avery (3) had one of the biggest plays of the game in the 20-14 win over Vestavia Hills. His second-quarter interception set the Bucs up with a short field to score their first touchdown of the night.

The high school football season is in full force, with Hoover and Spain Park’s games featuring plenty of standout performances and electric moments. Here’s a look at some of the biggest moments from the first few games of the year.

Photos by Julia Freeman, Todd Lester and Barry Stephenson.

The 60-Day Merrill Family Guarantee

We are so confident you’ll love living here, we guarantee it. If you are not completely satisfied with your new home, we will refund your rent for up to 60 days of your stay. Please call or visit our website for more information. And feel an extra layer of comfort—even before you move in.

BY MERRILL SENIOR LIVING

Bucs, Jags to round out regular season in October

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Hoover and Spain Park high school football teams will wrap up the regular season in October, with both teams looking to make their final pushes to qualify for the Class 7A state playoffs.

Hoover concludes its regular season with three Region 3 contests, while Spain Park plays three region games and a non-region foe to finish things out.

On Oct. 7, Hoover hosts Tuscaloosa County in what will be the Buccaneers’ final home game of the season. Tuscaloosa County has struggled in recent years, and the Bucs have had no problems dispatching the Wildcats. Last fall, Hoover won running away, 49-7. The Bucs have won 11 straight over Tuscaloosa County and hold an 18-3 edge in the series, according to AHSFHS.org.

The following Friday, Hoover travels to Chelsea, a new face in Region 3 after ascend ing from 6A beginning this school year. The Bucs and Hornets have never faced one another despite being just over 20 miles apart. Like Hoover’s Wade Waldrop, Chelsea has a firstyear head coach in Todd Cassity.

The Bucs will finish out the regular season at Thompson on Oct. 21, in a matchup that has developed into one of the top rivalries in the state. Hoover was the only team to topple Thompson last fall on the Warriors’ route to a third straight state championship. The Bucs won 24-21, but Thompson exacted some revenge in November with a convincing win in the 7A semifinals.

Hoover and Thompson have squared off in the semifinals five consecutive years, with Thompson winning the last four. Since Hoover won the first 20 meetings between the two schools, Thompson has won seven of the last 10.

Hoover will take its open date Week 10 before potentially beginning its playoff run.

Spain Park will open the month with a trip to Chelsea on Oct. 7. Spain Park and Chelsea have

met twice previously, with the Jags earning 14-point wins in 2012 and 2013. Like Hoover and Chelsea, this is another game featuring first-year head coaches, with Tim Vakakes’s squad squaring off against Cassity’s Hornets.

Spain Park hosts Hewitt-Trussville on Oct. 14 in another region contest, with the Jags hoping to keep it closer than it has been the

last couple years. Four of the first five games between the Jags and Huskies were tight affairs, but Hewitt has blown out the Jags each of the last two seasons, including a 38-17 vic tory last year.

A playoff berth could be on the line for one or both teams on Oct. 21, as Spain Park hosts Oak Mountain to complete region play. Spain

Park has dominated the series against Oak Mountain up until the last two years, when the Eagles have notched convincing wins over their nearest 7A foe.

The Jags round out the regular season Oct. 27 at Pelham. Spain Park holds a 7-5 edge in a series that is being renewed for the first time since 2013.

Deborah Sema, D DMD, MS · Andrew Havron, D DMD, MS

Spain Park wide receiver Reggie Jackson (2) hauls in a pass in front of Hoover defensive back Keith Christein (2) during a game between Hoover High School and Spain Park High School on Sept. 2 at the Hoover Met. Photo by Barry Stephenson.

Hoover High freshman selected for national baseball game

By JON ANDERSON

A Hoover High School freshman was selected to play in the seventh annual 14U Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival in Fort Myers, Florida, in early September.

Jaxson Wood, who will be on the Hoover High baseball team this spring, was one of 48 players selected to play in the Sept. 4 game at JetBlue Park, which is the spring training facility for the Boston Red Sox. He was one of 24 players on the East Coast team, which lost 12-2 to the West Coast team, according to his father, T.K. Wood.

The game was streamed live on perfect game.tv and aired on CBS Sports.

Jaxson Wood, who played shortstop, second and third base and left field, recently turned 15 but was able to play in the 14U game because he was in that age group during the 14U Per fect Game season this year, his father said. He also recently verbally committed to play

college baseball at the University of Tennes see in the future after being offered a schol arship there, his father said.

Each player selected for the 14U Perfect Game Select Festival raised money for two charitable causes. One was an effort to help families experiencing pediatric cancer at Gol isano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, and the other was to raise money for the Perfect Game Cares Foundation’s Grow the Game Fund, which seeks to provide opportunities for baseball and softball players from under served and at-risk communities across the country.

Jaxson Wood raised more than $2,800 for the charities, and the 48 players selected for the festival this year together raised more than $133,000, T.K. Wood said.

Jaxson Wood also was named the G Form Heart, Bravery and Passion Impact Player at the Perfect Game banquet the night before the game.

SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS & WALK-INS

Available in Hoover for All Your Orthopedic Needs!

At OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports, we proudly offer prompt, exceptional orthopedic care to meet your unique bone, joint, and muscle needs. In doing so, we provide our patients with access to convenient and comprehensive treatment at our Walk-In Clinic from our specialty-trained experts.

Walk-Ins Welcome

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

118 Mars Hill Road Hoover, AL 35244

Additionally, our patients will save on time by avoiding a trip to the ER and save on money with access to specialized care at the cost of an office visit versus the expense of an ER visit.

To schedule a same-day appointment, call (205) 506-4113.

Varsity Sports Calendar

FOOTBALL

HOOVER

Oct. 7: vs. Tuscaloosa County. 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: vs. Chelsea. 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: @ Thompson. 7 p.m.

SPAIN PARK

Oct. 7: @ Chelsea. 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: vs. Oak Mountain. 7 p.m.

Oct. 27: @ Pelham. 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

HOOVER

Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Battle of Old Shell Road. UMS-Wright Preparatory School.

Oct. 4: @ Spain Park. 4 p.m.

Oct. 6: @ Jasper. Noon.

Oct. 11: Tri-match vs. Chelsea, Spark man. Hoover High School. 4 p.m.

Oct. 12-15: Area tournament. TBD.

Oct. 19-21: Super regional tourna ment. TBD.

Oct. 25-27: State tournament. TBD.

SPAIN PARK

Oct. 4: vs. Hoover. 4 p.m.

Oct. 6: vs. Oak Mountain. 5 p.m.

Oct. 7-8: Margaret Blalock Tourna ment. TBD.

Oct. 12-15: Area tournament. TBD.

Oct. 19-21: Super regional tourna ment. TBD.

Oct. 25-27: State tournament. TBD.

orthoalabama.com

Jaxson Wood, a freshman at Hoover High School, fields the ball during a game in the 14U Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival in Fort Myers, Florida, on Sept. 4. Photo courtesy of Perfect Game USA.

of preaching and celebrating Mass, and he cer tainly doesn’t have Fallon’s Irish accent.

“But we’re strongly aligned with the idea that a parish ought to be a welcoming and engag ing place for all people — that it ought to be a place where people find not only hope but joy,” Chalmers said.

They both are focused on the concepts of loving God and loving neighbors, he said.

BACKGROUND

Chalmers originally is from the Pittsburgh area, but he has family ties to Birmingham. His great-grandfather moved from Scotland to the Ensley community as a 16-year-old bricklayer. His grandfather worked in the steel industry with U.S. Steel and wound up in Pittsburgh, so Chalmers said he has kind of come full circle because the land Prince of Peace sits on came from U.S. Steel.

Chalmers finished high school in New Jersey after his mom moved there, and he went to the University of Chicago as an economics major but switched to history. He came to Alabama for what was supposed to be a brief stint to do some research on a labor law case and ended up transferring to the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in labor studies.

As an undergraduate student, he got involved with the Student Coalition for Community Health and the university’s rural services research program, working to address health issues in rural parts of Alabama. A big part of their work was to use schools to improve the health and wealth of communities, he said. When the director of the program retired, Chalmers was hired to replace him.

Chalmers then earned a master’s degree from the Harvard University School of Education and got married, but his first wife died at age 30 after battling cancer for one-and-a-half years, he said. He met his second wife, Margaret, in 2003, and they married in 2004.

Raised as an Episcopalian, Chalmers said he was intrigued with the intersection of social out reach work with theology and decided to seek

ordination as an Episcopal priest. He quit his job and obtained a degree from Yale Divinity School in 2007.

He served as the Episcopal campus chaplain at Alabama for two years and then served as an associate minister for missions and outreach at an Episcopal church in Greenville, South Caro lina. He had a heavy focus on a project in Haiti to integrate a vocational school into medical mission work.

Chalmers worked on the Haiti project for three years and, after increasingly digging into Catholic theology, decided to seek ordination as a Catholic priest.

Because he was already married, he had to seek dispensation from the obligation of celi bacy from Pope Benedict XVI. He got it and was ordained in 2012.

He worked for a Catholic health care system in South Carolina for four years, dealing with clinical bioethics issues, before taking a job as president of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic School in Birmingham.

Chalmers stayed at Cristo Rey until 2021, when he was transferred to Prince of Peace and concurrently made executive vice president of John Carroll Catholic High School, dealing with finances, strategic planning, development and

alumni engagement.

He now spends part of his time at Prince of Peace and part at John Carroll. He also oversees the K-8 Prince of Peace Catholic School.

Kelly Doss, who serves as the operations business manager for the Prince of Peace parish and president of Prince of Peace Catho lic School, said he’s extremely excited to work with Chalmers.

His past work with nonprofits and schools makes him a perfect fit for Prince of Peace, Doss said. He really understands the business side of things, and having him as an associate minister for a year made the transition to senior pastor much easier, Doss said.

“He had a year to understand the way the church operates and who the players are,” Doss said. And now Chalmers has a chance to put his own unique signature on the operations, he said.

Chalmers said while some people are sur prised to find out he is married and a “small handful” of people express skepticism at the idea most people say it must be OK if the pope and bishop have approved it.

While he is the only married priest in the Birmingham diocese (which covers the top two-thirds of Alabama), there are at least three married Catholic priests in the Mobile diocese

and about 250 nationwide, he said.

Marsha Hernandez, a member at Prince of Peace for eight years, said she thinks it gives Chalmers a unique perspective that most priests don’t have. “I feel like from a personal experi ence, that helps him better relate to many of our situations,” she said.

He also speaks very freely about his personal experiences with pain and grief, she said. “I feel like he speaks from his heart.”

It’s also clear he’s very well-educated, Her nandez said. “His sermons are very theological. You have to really focus and pay attention to be able to absorb everything that he says.”

While many people at Prince of Peace are still getting to know him, she had an opportu nity to work at the Holy Rosary food pantry with people who know him well, and they raved about him, she said. His experience in fundrais ing and technology should help Prince of Peace as well, she said.

Chalmers said he loves being at Prince of Peace. “As Catholic parishes go, it’s flourish ing and complex,” he said. He wants to con tinue the church’s rich liturgical and worship life and continue asking more questions about how Prince of Peace can show love to its neigh bors, he said.

Prince of Peace Catholic Church Rev. Jon Chalmers blesses the sacraments for Holy Communion for the Prince of Peace Catholic School. Photo by Jon Anderson.

When it comes to landscaping, Alabama has it made: There’s a broad variety of trees and shrubs to choose from here.

Now is the perfect time to try some out, according to the experts at Gardner Landscaping.

“Fall is often considered the best time of year to plant new trees and shrubs,” Grant Gardner said.

But how do you choose which ones? A lot of factors come into play when it comes to selecting the right plants for your landscaping, Grant said — factors like sun exposure, soil type, the slope of the landscape and your own preferences in color and type.

“At Gardner Landscaping, we take pride in coming up with a plan that meets the needs of each customer and landscape,” he said.

That attention to detail is one of the things that sets Gardner Landscaping

apart from many other landscapers. Another is that they have the personnel and resources to get your project completed quickly.

“We will normally provide you with the pricing for your project within one day from when we meet with you,” Grant said.

Gardner Landscaping specializes in trees and shrubs, and they can use trees and shrubs to create beautiful entertainment and privacy areas.

Grant said, “More customers are looking to spend more time around their homes now. We have the best prices in town on large and small trees and shrubs to have great looking landscapes, privacy screens, shade and curb appeal. We also do a lot of clean ups, drainage and landscape borders, as well to get your property where it’s managed correctly. Please call us today, we have the vision to create these enjoyable areas. We would love to help you!”

Let Ambrose Design & Remodeling take the stress out of home remodeling

Ambrose Design & Remodeling • 256-867-8679 • ambrose-design.com

Ambrose Design & Remodeling has entered the bustling sphere of home remodeling in Birmingham. John Ambrose, the owner, and lead designer of Ambrose Design said he and his team curate and transform spaces to foster enhanced living. Starting with the customer’s vision, Ambrose Design brings their dream to life through creative and innovative projects. Ambrose elaborates on his emerging business in the interview below:

Q: Please describe your business's area of expertise.

A: We focus on designing and installing custom and semicustom kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, pet-washing areas, and family drop zones.

Q: What type of services do you offer?

A: We leverage our relationships with suppliers and trades people to ensure we are giving our clients the highest quality products at the most optimal price. We offer new build, renovations, and interior design consults. Consults frequently include:

► New build consult: Space planning, elevation and visual renderings, virtual kitchen and bath designs, lighting, plumbing, appliances, tile, countertops, and flooring.

► Renovations consult: We use our new build model and work with our clients to reinvent their current space to enhance their daily lives.

► Interior Design Consult: Furniture, rugs, pillows, paint, flooring, lighting, and surfaces

Q: Please describe your educational and experiential background, as well as why you went into your profession?

A: Early out of college, I spent 10 years of my life working for

Parisian Department store, where I ended up becoming the general manager for one of the company’s flagship locations. It was such a rewarding time in my life that gave me the confidence I needed to one day start my own business. Retail gave me a keen sense of awareness for color, texture, and detail that assists me in each project to this day.

Q: What is your benchmark for success at Ambrose Design & Remodeling?

A: Strong business

relationships, product knowledge, quality and value are the keys to growing any sustainable business. We know we are succeeding because our clients are our best source of new business.

Q: What is your approach or philosophy to customer service?

A: Part of providing the best customer service is understanding that everyone, no matter their project size or budget, deserves the best

Ambrose Design & Remodeling LLC

and most creative ideas to accomplish their goals and dreams. We are attentive to the individual interests, visions, and needs of each of our customers.

Q: What do you most want potential customers to know about you and your business?

A: We want potential customers to know that we…

► Cut out the “middleman” to provide the best pricing on custom and semi-custom cabinetry with many options made here in Alabama

► Carry an array of lines to ensure we meet your project needs, budget, and timing

► Keep overhead low by working with clients through an appointment-only basis

► Offer free virtual renderings with your initial kitchen quote

Q: What kind of customers do you work with?

A: We work with…

► Established homeowners looking to refresh, update, or design their dream spaces

► First-time home buyers seeking to update their starter home

► Rental property owners seeking to update new and existing properties

► New construction buyers and builders

creating & transforming spaces for better living

Let us take the stress out of home remodeling

ambrose-design.com

867-8679

Find beautiful new window coverings for fall

The window covering experts at Budget Blinds take the time to understand you and your needs and provide custom window treatments that are perfect for your home.

Budget Blinds has any window covering you could ever want.

They offer blinds, including wood, faux wood, aluminum, vinyl and composite, as well as vertical blinds and vertical blind alternatives.

They offer all kinds of shades, such as roller, Roman, cellular, bamboo, woven wood, pleated, sheer, graphic and solar.

Budget Blinds has wood, café and composite interior and exterior shutters.

In addition, many window coverings are now motorized and can be controlled remotely.

“You get the convenience of being able to control window coverings when you’re not at home, using the apps on your phone,” Budget Blinds co-owner Steve Thackerson says.

You can also tie motorized window coverings into your home’s automation system and control them using Alexa or preset them to open or close any time of the day or night.

In the fall, with colder weather, Budget Blinds can show you how to use window coverings — cellular shades, cellular shutters

and custom draperies — to help insulate your house.

“The cellular shade is the number-one rated insulator on the market,” Thackerson says.

The shades have small cell pockets on the side that prevent hot air or cold air from coming in, Thackerson says.

“Cellular shutters, when the louvers are closed, block out a

lot of the heat or cold, and the composite material is a very good insulator,” he says.

Customers can visit the Budget Blinds showroom or schedule a free in-home consultation.

And if a customer finds something they like in the showroom, the Budget Blinds staff goes to the customer’s home to take measurements and make

sure the product will work.

“Once you see a window covering in your home, that color or style might not match, or it might not fit the window properly,” Thackerson said.

Budget Blinds also provides custom, professional installation by experienced consultants.

Thackerson has an additional edge on his competitors because

Budget Blinds is an international company that is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

“We get the same products but better pricing and better warranties,” he says.

In fact, Budget Blinds “gets an extra warranty that no other retailer gets in the window covering industry,” Thackerson says.

In addition to the manufacturer’s basic warranty, Budget Blinds offers a one-time replacement warranty with no questions asked.

“We will replace all of the products one time, no matter what happens to them,” Thackerson says.

“During a storm, a dog may go crazy and tear up the blinds,” he says. “We can replace them at no cost to the customer.”

In addition to the Budget Blinds 30th anniversary, Thackerson and his wife, Michelle, the co-owner, have run their franchise for 28 years and enjoy serving their customers in Greater Birmingham.

They have one of the largest individual Budget Blinds franchises and one of the few franchises with its original owners, Thackerson says.

To learn more, call 205-8243300 or go to budgetblinds.com/ birmingham.

More than 27 years serving the community

Carpet Warehouse • 205-989-5678 • carpetwhse.com

Carpet Warehouse has served the Birmingham area for over 27 years. Locally owned and operated by Tim and Tracy Lanier, Carpet Warehouse is conveniently located on Highway 150 in Hoover across from CarMax and offers a wide selection to fit every need and taste — from traditional to contemporary.

Whether you’re looking for carpet for your home or other types of flooring — including hardwoods, laminate, luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile — Carpet Warehouse has something for everyone. It also offers in-home design services, free home consultations and free estimates.

Whether you are a general contractor or a do-it-yourselfer, you’ll find the best selection of top-quality flooring at the guaranteed lowest prices at Carpet Warehouse, which even beats the big-box stores.

“Our super-low overhead enables us to truly sell for less,” Tim Lanier said. “from our family to yours — our crews are all time-proven craftsmen.”

Carpet Warehouse offers top brands like Shaw, Mohawk, Masland, Armstrong, Bruce and Mannington, just to name a few.

“There’s really too many to mention,” Lanier said. “If it’s flooring, we have it.”

Some of the store’s most popular types of flooring are carpet, hardwood and luxury vinyl tile and planks. The luxury vinyl planks are perfect for families with children and pets.

“They look like hardwood, but they are waterproof and pet-proof,” Lanier said.

Whether you're shopping for a single room, re-decorating your entire house, or seeking the solution to a complex flooring challenge, the expert Carpet Warehouse staff can help.

Customers can browse their supplier’s websites and, if they need design expertise, the knowledgeable professionals at Carpet Warehouse can help them pick and match their colors with ease.

For 27 years, our family has served the Over the Mountain area. We are a company you can trust. The secret to our success is our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction at the lowest prices.

TIM LANIER

The Laniers enjoy sharing their high level of expertise with customers.

“For 27 years, our family has served the Over the Mountain area. We are a company you can trust. The secret to our success is our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction at the lowest prices. You don’t survive for 27 years unless you are doing things right,” he said.

“

One Man & A Toolbox celebrates 25 years of great service to homeowners

One

If your home needs routine maintenance or minor repairs, you may think you can do it yourself and save money.

However, even if you believe you have the right skills and tools to do a job, it will likely take you a lot longer than it should, because you don’t do home repairs every day.

205-823-2111

Make your outdoor living space more luxurious

Hollywood Outdoor Living • 205-979-7727 • hollywoodoutdoorliving.com

Most home projects, even small handyman jobs, are better left to the experienced professionals at One Man & A Toolbox, now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

One Man & A Toolbox can handle any small project, including minor carpentry, plumbing and electrical fixes. They can also do painting, caulking, shelving and more.

“Any odd jobs around your home, we’ll get them done right the first time,” said owner Jay Moss.

Moss and company can also do many other special tasks, like putting up decorations or assembling a swing set.

“No matter how crazy you think the task is, call us and we’ll try to figure it out,” Moss said.

One Man & A Toolbox can also tackle larger home improvement projects.

Moss warns homeowners against calling unlicensed, uninsured repairmen from Angi or Craigslist. Many will ask for money to buy materials before starting and won’t return or won’t be available for warranty issues that arise after the job.

One Man & A Toolbox has skilled, reliable employees who are licensed, insured and bonded.

And the company is here to stay. The 25th anniversary “shows the good reputation we have to be able to stay in business,” Moss said.

Call 205-823-2111 or go to oneman-toolbox.com.

How we started… Hollywood Outdoor Living (previously Hollywood Pools) was founded in 1986 at its original location on Hollywood Boulevard in Homewood. As a familyowned business, we pride ourselves in knowing our customers, selling high quality products, and offering reliable pool and spa services.

Where we’ve been...

In 2000, we moved from Hollywood Boulevard to a building at 1020 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills. That same year, we acquired Casual & Custom Furniture and began to offer lines of luxury outdoor furniture.

After more growth in 2005, we renovated and moved into our facility at 1441 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia

Hills. In 2018, we continued to expand our pool and spa services through the acquisition of Alabama Pools.

Where we’re going…

In March 2021, we acquired Alabama Gaslight & Grill, a 52-year-old company that offered gas and charcoal grills, luxury lighting, as well as fireplace products and accessories. In 2022, the companies completed a rebranding and chose our new name: Hollywood Outdoor Living. Our company’s new identity reflects our growth and sustains our legacy of providing luxury pools, spas, grills, lighting, furniture, and fireplaces. Visit our new website (hollywood outdoorliving.com), come see us in the store, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.

Enjoy nature from the comfort of home with Wild Birds Unlimited

Wild Birds Unlimited • 205-823-6500 • birmingham.wbu.com

As the leaves start to change and people gear up for some of their favorite holidays, Tracy Hill from Wild Birds Unlimited reminds us that there’s another thing to look forward to during this season.

“As the weather turns colder and natural food sources are depleted like insects and berries on trees, the birds really start coming to the feeders,” she said.

Wild Birds Unlimited helps people enjoy a hobby they can do right from their backyard: feeding birds.

Winter in Alabama is a great time and place to feed the birds, Hill said. Birds that aren’t normally here will migrate south for the winter.

“We get lots of yellow-rumped warblers, and everybody loves those,” she said. “The yellow-bellied sapsucker. We get red-breasted nuthatches that spend the winter here and lots of woodpeckers. It’s just a whole new variety of birds to watch.”

One product customers are loving right now — especially children — are Wild Birds Unlimited’s Seed Character feeders. These seed cylinders are shaped and colored to look like woodland creatures such as squirrels, raccoons and owls.

“The birds just pick away at the little seed characters, and they’re sort of unique to us. No one else would have them,” she said. “They’re just fun, and the customers love them.”

The right window treatments can dramatically transform your home, making it more stylish and comfortable and even increasing its value.

If you need window treatments — and want Birmingham’s best selection and best customer service — go to Van Gogh Window Fashions in Hoover.

Van Gogh carries a wide variety of blinds, draperies, custom shades and custom shutters, and the friendly, welltrained Van Gogh staff will do everything they can to help you find the right products and features for your home.

This personal service is especially important because window treatments have become more technologically sophisticated.

“There’s so many details in the products now,” said owner Cary Miller, with 35 years of industry experience.

His staff makes sure customers get the right applications and know how to properly use and enjoy the products.

“Some of the best customer service we do is on the front end,” Miller said.

“We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t after installing thousands of window coverings,” he said.

When a customer makes a purchase, the staff takes meticulous measurements and installs the products carefully.

Customers can shop at home with our designers who offer suggestions and expertise based on your needs and decor. They also have fabrics and hand samples to make the decisions easier.

But the staff urges customers to visit the showroom to truly understand the products.

“Seeing them function in the showroom makes a huge difference,” Miller said.

Miller said the window treatment’s function and design elements must work together.

“I love it when everything comes together and the customer loves it and it’s everything they expected it to be,” he said.

LAH Real Estate continues to give back to its Birmingham neighbors

LAH Real Estate • 205-870-8580 • lahrealestate.com

LAH Real Estate is continuing its longstanding tradition of giving back to the greater Birmingham community during this upcoming holiday season and we want to encourage you to join us!

Starting in 2013, our President and Founder Maurice Humphries made it a point to emphasize LAH’s philanthropic efforts. He started an initiative where at the start of each year, agents and staff could recommend any number of charities for LAH to consider supporting throughout the year. Since then, LAH has made numerous contributions to local and national charities that each reflect the core values of our LAH family.

Out of the over 50 charities LAH supported in 2021, one of our favorite annual traditions has been our companywide canned food drive, which supports the Community Foodbank of Central Alabama. LAH’s four residential offices in Mountain Brook, Homewood, Crestline, and Hoover compete to collect as much as they can. In 2021, we collected over 500

pounds of canned goods.

“2020 was such a challenging year for everyone, but it was important for us to still find ways to give back. This canned food drive has been a crucial way for us to support an organization that is so important to so many people in our area, and we’ve been collecting every year since,” Humphries said.

LAH Real Estate was founded in Birmingham 30 years ago. We take pride in our strong ties with our community. Support your local LAH office with a canned food donation! We will be collecting through Nov. 21.

Providing quality products at reasonable prices since 1982

Brewer Cabinets • 205-942-4000

From the time the doors opened in 1982, Brewer Cabinets’ goal has been to provide quality products at reasonable prices while being attentive to the individual needs of customers.

They offer residential and commercial cabinetry using high-quality cabinets and granite, quartz and laminate counters.

Brewer’s parents, Jim and Jan Brewer, started the business in their basement over 40 years ago with a vision in mind. Their dreams were brought to fruition through hiring people of integrity, offering cutting-edge products and providing a seamless buying experience for customers.

To foster an authentic customer experience, Brewer Cabinets bypasses the catalogs and instead features modern kitchen displays in their showroom and offers plenty of door samples to customers. At the first appointment, the designer gives customers an overview of the showroom layout then discusses with them their design or layout. Every step in between design and installation is structured to foster a smooth buying experience. By the end of the process, customers can rest assured that their

brewercabinets.com

cabinets and countertops will be quickly installed and reflect their dream layout.

For Brewer Cabinets, business success directly translates to having good employees. “My parents did a fantastic job holding onto good people all these years,” the president and owner of Brewer Cabinets, Jason Brewer, said. “We equip employees to be direct and honest in all interactions with customers and do what we say we will.”

Since Brewer Cabinets is a detailsfocused business, they have a system for staying on top of each order, following up with customers and anticipating their needs. Brewer said their proactive approach ensures customers won’t have to track them down — their team approaches customers about fixing or refining anything that needs it after cabinet and counter installation. “We always get the job finished,” Brewer said.

Since

Scan with your phone’s camera to go to our specials page.

OPEN MON - FRI 10AM - 7PM SAT 9AM - 6PM • SUN 1PM - 6PM

Alabaster 621-7010 Gardendale 631-2322 Greystone 408-0280

Homewood 802-8888 Hoover 979-7274 Hoover 982-8006 Hueytown 744-4948

Inverness 739-2339 Leeds 699-7000 McCalla 426-1833 Mountain Brook 956-8033 Pelham 663-2337

Trussville 661-6200

Trussville 655-6906 Vestavia 978-3068

Bedzzz Express Outlet Greystone 408-1250

BIRMINGHAM OWNED AND LOCALLY OPERATED FOR OVER 28 YEARS EVERYDAY SAVINGS ZION Plush or Pillow Top King for Queen King or Queen Mattress SAVE UP TO $800 $1299 Save $900 on a Purple Plus Mattress + Ascent® Adjustable Base Terms apply. FREE SLEEP ESSENTIALS BUNDLE with a purchase of a Tempur-pedic mattress Includes: 2 Pillows, set of sheets ADAPT MEDIUM OR ADAPT HYBRID QUEEN MATTRESS STARTING AT $42 MO $2799 OVER 60 MO ** *** 60 MONTH SPECIAL FINANCING PLUS EXPRESS DELIVERY Join the 1,000,000 satisfied Tempur-Pedic customers who trusted their purchase to Bedzzz Express. Bedzzz Express Outlet Pelham 664-0096

*Offers cannot be combined, some promotions may be limited to select sets. Not responsible for errors in ad copy. Quantities and selections may vary by location. Mattress images are for illustra tion purposes only Gifts with purchase (including gift cards and rebates) are not valid with any other promotions except special financing for 6 or 12 months.*** 0% APR for 60 months financing available with purchases of $1999 or over and does not include sales tax. **Monthly payment is based on purchase price alone excluding tax and delivery charges. Credit purchases subject to credit approval. Other transactions may affect the monthly pay ment. ***The Nationwide Marketing Group credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Special terms apply to qualifying pur chases charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the pro motional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accu rate as of 9/14/2022 and is subject to change. For current infor mation, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires 108/10/2022.

**** Free base offer applies to Queen set purchase of $799 and above or King set purchase $999 and above. King base applies to either one horizontal King Base or one of two TXL bases.***** Free Delivery on mattress sets $699 and up, Local area.