Hoover Sun February 2016

Sun Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover

Volume 4 | Issue 5 | February 2016

PEACE OF PROTECTION Hoover expands coverage with new station in Ross Bridge

The recently completed Fire Station No. 10 in the Ross Bridge Town Center in Hoover.

Photo by Frank Couch.

By JON ANDERSON People who live in the Ross Bridge and Shannon communities might rest a little easier these days, knowing they have a new permanent fire station in their community.

The Hoover Fire Department has set Feb. 7 as the tentative date for the grand opening of Hoover Fire Station No. 10 in the Ross Bridge Town Center.

The $2.3 million station, which is off Greenside Way, actually opened quietly in November, but officials held off on a grand opening ceremony until new furniture arrived.

Hoover Fire Chief Chuck Wingate said Ross Bridge has needed a new fire station for quite a while, and he’s relieved to see the new station open.

“I can go to bed at night knowing that we

See STATION | page A23

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$70M Hoover Sportsplex construction to start in June

By JON ANDERSON

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Winning the Only Option Former Hoover star Kayla Anderson maintains her drive for victory on the court for UAB.

See page B1

Construction on the $70 million sports complex approved by the Hoover City Council in December is expected to begin in June, Hoover Executive Director Allen Pate said.

The 141,000-square-foot indoor event center, to be built next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, should be completed by May 2017, and the rest of the 120-acre Hoover Sportsplex likely will be finished by February 2018, Pate said.

The indoor facility will be able to accommodate a wide variety of sports, including a full-size football or soccer field, nine regulation-size basketball courts, 12 regulation-size volleyball courts or six indoor tennis courts.

See SPORTSPLEX | page A22

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A2 • February 2016

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February 2016 • A3

A4 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Sometimes, without really meaning to, a particular issue of our paper develops a theme. It’s not something we plan out; through different reporters finding stories and community members submitting their own ideas, sometimes we end up with coincidental similarities.

This month, the theme of our paper turned out to be the great work of our students and alumni. Those included Kayla Anderson, who is a standout on the UAB women’s basketball team, and Supraja Sridhar, who is working to make sure her fellow UAB students always have a meal.

At Spain Park, we have seen students who are responding to growing use of

inspired in part by Hoover’s teachers, including this year’s Teachers of the Year and people like Marilyn Left, Greystone Elementary’s first principal.

Valentine’s Day may be all about couples, but remember to share some love for the young people of Hoover who are accomplishing big goals and the educators who helped them get started on that path.

heroin with new ways to influence their peers away from drug use.

The work of these students was

BEHIND THE LENS

By Frank Couch Hoover High School Fishing Team member Anthony Wehby reels in his line during a photo shoot for an upcoming article on the club team. The club teams have attracted signifi ant numbers to the sport similar to this year’s addition of Bowling to the Alabama High School Athletic Association to the championship level.

I recently photographed bowling and fishing eams for upcoming stories and was surprised to see the number of students participating in the sports. If you have a chance to support your local high school team, I urge you to congratulate students on tournaments wins or presenting a positive image for their school.

Technical Data: NIKON D300, Lens (mm): 180, ISO: 500, Aperture: 4, Shutter: 1/160 Got questions or ideas for another Behind The Lens? Email me at fcouch@starnespublishing.com.

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

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February 2016 • A5

A6 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

City Hoover passes ordinance to allow, regulate Uber and Lyft

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover City Council on Jan. 19 passed an ordinance to allow and regulate transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft.

The move brings Hoover in line with most other cities in the Birmingham metro area, which already have passed similar ordinances.

Hoover Councilman John Lyda, who for over a year has been advocating for measures to allow the appbased transportation companies to do business in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area, said he’s thrilled his city is finally on board with the idea.

“Hoover was probably the last major piece of the puzzle to make this widely available in metro Birmingham,” Lyda said.

Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons said in an email that the company appreciates the leadership of Lyda and the support of the City Council with its vote to bring “safe, reliable transportation options and expanded economic opportunities to Hoover."

To allow the app-based companies, Hoover and other cities needed new ordinances because most cities’ current ones regarding for-hire transportation were designed for the taxicab industry, which uses a significantly different business model, Lyda said.

People who want to use Uber to get a ride somewhere can download the Uber app on their phone. It allows them to request a particular ride, and the app gives them an estimated fare and lets them know available drivers and vehicles in the area and an estimated arrival time.

Customers can choose the vehicle they want to use, and there is no cash involved in the transaction. All payment is done via credit card over the app, not with the driver.

Uber and similar companies allow people to find and pay for a ride using an app on their phones.

Photo courtesy of Uber.

Mayor’s Minute

By Gary Ivey

We hope you are having a great 2016! We are very excited that the Hoover City Council has approved plans to build a sports complex near the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. This will be a great addition to our community!

The complex will include six football or soccer fields, eight softball and baseball fields, a walking track, 15 tennis courts, a splash pad and playground as well as a much needed 141,000-square-foot indoor facility that can be used for other events.

The indoor facility will be able to accommodate soccer or a football field, 12 volleyball courts, nine basketball courts and six tennis courts and the facility will also Gary Ivey seat 2,400 for banquets and 5,000 for events with general seating. We project that the economic impact of this complex is between $27 million and $33 million and will be built on 120 acres near the Hoover Met. This facility will also make it possible to hold our high school graduations in Hoover and not have to leave the city.

It truly is an honor to be the mayor of such a progressive and forward-thinking community. We have so much to be thankful for, so take some time to get involved in our community, if you are not already, and enjoy all the amenities Hoover has to offer.

Remember, we are here to help and serve you so please feel free to contact our office if we can be of assistance to you in any way.

Hoover Councilman Jack Natter said he has used Uber in various states over the past two years.

“I’ve been extremely pleased with the service they offer and fares,” Natter said. “I welcome them to the city of Hoover.”

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February 2016 • A7

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Firefighters practice their rappelling skills as part of a certification course. Photo courtesy of Rick Patterson.

Hoover Fire Department hosts 1st recruit school

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Last fall, the Hoover Fire Department received approval by the Alabama Fire College to host its first training recruit school.

Initially intended for Hoover firefighters, they soon attracted recruits from all over the state of Alabama.

The idea came about when the Hoover Fire Department hired a new employee who was already a paramedic but needed to be firefighter certified. Instead of sending him to a recruit school, they decided to hold their own.

Rick Patterson, battalion chief over training, safety and health for the Hoover Fire Department, said the event worked out for all parties involved.

“Our line of thinking was when we had the recruit school, we knew all of the Hoover officers would help and therefore keep up with their skills,” Patterson said. “It was a win-win.

A win for new employees, for the cities that send their employees and for our officers, who would be able to keep up their training.”

The premise of the recruit school was basic firefighter skills. Topics included classroom work — including 25 tests, which each must be passed in order to continue with the course — basic firefighting, fire exiting, ladder work, handling fire hoses and hazardous materials and search and rescue techniques.

The end of each day included physical fitness training, consisting of a round of exercises such as running up and down the drill tower,

push-ups, pull-ups, pulling hoses and dragging people out of buildings.

“This part of the process helps in getting them ready to handle all of the physical tasks required of a firefighter,” Patterson said. “You really have to be in shape to do it. The physical portion of the drills were so intensive, we had to make sure the students were up to par with their physical fitness. We notified them before the class began that they’d need to get their physical abilities up to par.”

The training began with 16 recruits, and 11 of those completed the course. Five were unable to finish either due to medical conditions or not being able to handle the physical portion.

The participants were from Hoover, Orange Beach, Indian Ford (South Shades Crest Road), Warrior, Forestdale, Vestavia, Demopolis and North Shelby.

All of the recruits had already been hired in their respective fire districts, but state law required the training. After their 360 hours of training, a graduation ceremony was held Nov. 18, 2015, and they were officially certified by the Alabama Fire College as Firefighters 1 and 2 and went back to work at their departments.

Patterson said the training was very successful, and Hoover plans to host one again in the fall of 2016. He said they will get the message out to different departments, but he can be contacted and put interested parties on a waiting list for future training.

A8 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Despite recent hike, city spending on education still behind old formula City funding cuts have cost Hoover schools $78.6 million over 14 years

By JON ANDERSON Hoover school officials say they’re grateful for the increased financial support approved by the Hoover City Council in December.

However, even though the city’s contribution to the Hoover Board of Education will increase by an estimated $1.3-1.5 million a year, the city’s funding for schools is still way below what it would have been under a previous funding formula.

For many years, the city of Hoover gave its school system 16 percent of sales tax revenues, plus a $1,500 building permit fee charged for every new home built in the city. The last year that formula was used was 2001, and the city gave more than $7 million to the schools.

In 2002, during former Mayor Barbara McCollum’s administration, a former City Council quit passing along the building permit fees, which would have amounted to $807,000 that year.

Then in fiscal 2005, under Mayor Tony Petelos, a new City Council restored the building permit fees but quit giving 16 percent of sales tax revenues to the schools. Instead, the council put a cap on contributions to schools. Between fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2014, that cap remained at $2 million a year.

Last year, the council gave a one-time bonus to the school system by passing along $346,000 in BP oil spill settlement money, increasing the council’s total contribution to schools to $2.3 million.

Still, collectively, over the past 14 years, city funding cuts have cost the Hoover school system

more than $78 million, city financial records show. Even with increased funding approved in December for fiscal 2016, the city’s contribution to schools will be nearly $8.1 million less than it would have been under the original funding formula. The 2015 contribution to Hoover schools would have been $11.5 million under the old formula.

Some City Council members for years have said the funding cuts were justified because the school system in fiscal 2007 received $85.6 million from a Jefferson County bond issue funded by a 1-cent sales tax. With that unexpected influx of money, the school system didn’t need the same contribution from the city anymore, Petelos and council members said.

But now, that pot of money received in 2007 is dwindling as the school board has been using it to prop up operating deficits, and school officials say they may have to make unpopular spending cuts if more revenue isn’t found.

The City Council responded by passing several measures on Dec. 21. One resolution reaffirmed the city’s annual $2 million contribution to the school system, and a second one called for the city to pay the full cost of school resource officers instead of half, saving the schools an estimated $863,000 this fiscal year, records show.

A third resolution approved in December allows the school system to continue receiving the $1,500 building permit fee for every new house, but it makes that money an addition to the $2 million allocation instead of an included portion of it. In fiscal 2015, those building permit

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The Hoover City Council meets at the Hoover Municipal Center in December. Photo by Jon Anderson.

fees totaled $546,000, records show.

Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said city officials wanted to make these changes to help the school system with its deficit budgets.

“We want to help the schools all we can without cutting services,” Ivey said.

Council President Jack Wright said the extra money will go a long way to help school officials narrow the gap between expenditures and revenues. “The kids of Hoover are our No. 1 asset, and our education system is our most important asset,” Wright said.

Hoover Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said she was “delighted for anything

and everything the City Council is willing to do for us.” When asked if the new money was enough, Murphy replied that she is an advocate for children.

“We’re delighted that they’re helping out and identifying ways they can support our school system further,” she said. “I hope we’ll continue to collaborate with the city to identify other additional ways we can work together to support our schools.

“As public education goes in Hoover, so goes Hoover city,” Murphy said. “I’m grateful for what they’re doing … I hope this is the beginning.”

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A9

School House

“When it rains, we drain!”

244-1114 Vinny Chiaramonte, a computer science teacher at Bumpus Middle School, at left, is Hoover’s 2015-16 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Kathryne Flippo, a kindergarten teacher at Bluff Park Elementary, is the Elementary Teacher of the Year. Photos courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

Bumpus, Bluff Park educators named Teachers of the Year

By JON ANDERSON Vinny Chiaramonte probably wasn’t the most likely candidate to become a “Teacher of the Year” when he was growing up.

While he had a high IQ of 140, he dropped out of high school as a second-year freshman, struggling to find his place in the world. Little did he know he would one day go to college, get a master’s degree and become a teacher.

And this year, Chiaramonte, a computer science teacher at Bumpus Middle School, was named the 2015-16 Secondary Teacher of the Year for Hoover City Schools.

Kathryne Flippo, a kindergarten teacher at Bluff Park Elementary, is Hoover’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Chiaramonte said what helped turned things around for him were the people in his life who saw value in him and helped him find direction.

He got his General Educational Development diploma and entered college the same time as his peers. He has now been teaching for six years and is in his second year at Bumpus, with a firm grasp of his purpose.

“I found that my place was to expose, impact, equip and empower young people to think beyond their current place in life and dream that there is quite literally a world of options out there,” Chiaramonte said in a biography he wrote after he was named Bumpus’ Teacher of the Year.

“I want them to avoid making some of the same mistakes I did and make wise choices,” he wrote. “I became a teacher because I want to build relationships with students at this critical time in their development, so that I can impact and equip them in a positive way and empower them for their personal journey through this world. I want to instill in them the confidence I lacked as a student. I want them to know and believe they have an advocate and that I care about them as individuals.”

Chiaramonte has been a leader among teachers since arriving at Bumpus. He served on the team that works with the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan and helped plan and design

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the structure for a staff development retreat. He also led staff sessions to hash out solutions and implementation methods, and he led teachers in integrating technology in the classroom and how to use Twitter in their teaching.

But it’s the impact he’s able to have on students that gives him the most reward, he said.

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ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Flippo, Hoover’s 2015-16 Elementary Teacher of the Year, has been teaching for nine years, the past four at Bluff Park.

Flippo, in her biography essay, said she remembers growing up, watching her father go to a job he never truly enjoyed. That cemented in her a desire to pursue a profession that’s meaningful to her, and she found that in teaching.

“I strive to teach my students to be thinkers, to explore their curiosities, to harvest their interests, and to express themselves,” Flippo wrote.

“Students love to learn, and I feel like it is my job as an educator to harness that and be their facilitator.”

Young children and teachers of young children often are overlooked, she said. There is an epidemic of ignorance about how they should be learning in school, she said.

“Children learn through real life experiences, hands-on approaches, in-depth conversations, and in a classroom that promotes a community that is safe for people to voice their opinions and to learn from different opinions,” she wrote.

Many people walk into her classroom, see many things happening at the same time and perceive the classroom is in chaos, she wrote.

“It isn’t the sterile classroom with no talking that I learned in,” she said. “It involves noise, movement and discussion. Learners grow through conversations and expressing their thoughts. I am laying a foundation in my students each year to be excited about school and learning, to celebrate their differences, and to celebrate their voice and the impact it has on our world.”

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A10 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Community mourns passing of innovative, caring educator Marilyn Left, 1st principal of Greystone Elementary School, died Dec. 22

By JON ANDERSON Marilyn Left liked to play classical music over the intercoms in the hallways at Greystone Elementary School, but she wasn’t afraid to let some rock ’n’ roll in every now and then, too.

Left, the first principal at Greystone, once rode a motorcycle onto the school stage during a talent show with “Born To Be Wild” blaring.

She knew how to have a good time, but her focus was always on providing the best possible education for the children at Greystone, said Lana Murphy, a third-grade teacher who has been at the school since it opened in 1994.

Left died Dec. 22, 10½ years after retiring from her job at Greystone in 2005. She was 75.

Former colleagues described her as an innovative and caring leader who was well respected.

“She was a visionary,” said Sonia Carrington, a retired principal from Rocky Ridge Elementary School who was one of the original teachers at Greystone under Left. “She thought outside of the box. She wanted Greystone to be on the cutting edge.”

Left was always encouraging teachers to try new strategies, Carrington said. “It was all about the kids and what helped them learn.”

For example, Left knew there were wetlands near Greystone Elementary and prompted teachers to make use of the wetlands in their lesson plans and curriculum, from science to art and music, Carrington said.

Marilyn Left poses while on vacation. The Lefts liked to travel with family and took all five of their grandchildren on extended trips. Photo courtesy of Tony Left.

Left also was very encouraging to teachers and supportive of fellow principals, winning their admiration, Carrington said. “We were all very, very close,” she said. “We respected her — appreciated her knowledge and ideas … She became not only our principal, but she was a friend to all of us.

“She was a very unique lady,” Carrington said.

“I’m just very sad she’s gone.”

‘A DIFFERENT AIR ABOUT IT’

Playing classical music over the intercoms in the hallways was Left’s way of giving Greystone “a different air about it,” Murphy said.

Left also planned multi-age classrooms and special “enrichment Fridays” when children

could choose special classes to attend, from chess to gardening, Murphy said.

“She was just really creative with planning and scheduling and allowing us to do a lot of things that typical Alabama classrooms in the elementary world didn’t do,” Murphy said.

Left spent hours and hours at the school late at night writing grant applications to help the school get extra money for special initiatives and had most of the faculty seeking grant money, too, Murphy said.

Left also was very personable, she said. One time, when one of the teachers’ daughters was sick, Left held the girl in her arms for three hours while the girl slept because the school could not get a substitute for her mother. Another time,

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A11

City schools accepting character nominations

Left took over Murphy’s class because one of Murphy’s children hit his head and had to go get stitches.

“She understood about you being a mother and trying to have a full-time position,” Murphy said.

AVID READER AND TRAVELER

Left began her career teaching in Point Pleasant and Lakewood, New Jersey, before her husband, Tony, was transferred to Birmingham by his employer in 1969. She then established the kindergarten at Saint Francis Xavier School, where she taught for 10 years, her husband said.

She worked one year in a school for children in an abuse shelter and then taught fourth-graders for four years at Pinson Elementary School.

Along the way, Left obtained three master’s degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham — in early childhood education, early development and education administration, he said.

She worked two years as an assistant principal at Cahaba Heights Elementary School and one year as an assistant principal at Leeds Elementary. Once she obtained her doctorate in educational leadership, she received her first principal job at Greystone.

Outside of work, Left enjoyed knitting, cross-stitching, and training and showing Samoyed dogs (white Siberian sled dogs). She also was an avid reader and loved to travel.

She and her husband traveled to Canada several times, went on four trips to Europe and expeditions to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. They also traveled across the United States twice, staying at various state parks.

The Lefts liked to travel with family and have taken all five of their grandchildren on extended trips – two to Eastern Europe, one to the Canadian Rockies and two on an Alaskan cruise, Tony Left said.

Marilyn Left was diagnosed with a blood disorder called myelodysplasia three to four years ago and had to have a blood transfusion every two weeks, her husband said. She eventually died of pneumonia and kidney failure – on her fourth daughter’s 46th birthday, he said.

She and her husband were married for 53 years and 124 days, he said.

By JON ANDERSON

Marilyn Left worked two years as an assistant principal at Cahaba Heights Elementary School. Photo courtesy of Tony Left.

Marilyn Left loved to travel the world with her husband, Tony. Here she is getting up close and personal with some iguanas at the Auckland Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, in March 2006, not long after she retired from Greystone Elementary. Photo courtesy of Tony Left.

The Hoover school system and Finley Committee are now taking nominations for the 2016 Finley Awards for outstanding character.

The awards are given each year to honor a school district employee, one senior from Hoover High and one senior from Spain Park High.

Nominees should: ► Set high standards for himself/herself ►Assume responsibility where appropriate ► Exhibit quiet leadership ► Encourage others ► Demonstrate an outstanding work ethic ► Have genuine concern for others ► Show respect for others ► Have a humble manner ► Be honest ► Set a positive example for peers Nominations are being accepted through Feb. 5, and the winners are scheduled to be honored at a banquet on March 24 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center off U.S. 280, along with grade-level character award winners from all schools in the Hoover system.

The Finley Awards began in 1996 and are named in honor of longtime educator and coach Robert Finley, who served at Hoover’s Berry High School from 1963-94 and was known for his

Robert Finley was a longtime educator and coach at Hoover’s Berry High School from 1963-94. Rendering by Daniel Moore.

outstanding character.

Nominations are to be made online through a link on the news portion of the Hoover City Schools website at hoovercityschools.net and must include three to five recommendation letters of no more than 500 words.

A12 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Theater troupe wins best in show 4th year in row

By JON ANDERSON The theater department at Spain Park High School won best in show for the fourth year in a row for their one-act play at the statewide Walter Trumbauer Secondary Theatre Festival.

The school also had three students win first place in the state for their individual events, while one captured second place and four others took third.

“I’ve got some great kids, some hard-working kids,” said Spain Park theater teacher Eric St. John, who was named the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s Secondary Teacher of the Year at the same event. “I was very pleased with their performance.”

Spain Park sent a cast and crew made up of 25 students to perform an original one-act play at the state competition at Troy University. The play was called “Pals” and was based on the true story of British men who served in special hastily-formed Army battalions made up of volunteers during World War I. The idea was that men would be more willing to serve in the military if they could serve alongside people they already knew, so many of the battalions were made up of people from the same communities.

The downside was that many of the Pals battalions lacked proper training and suffered higher numbers of casualties than regular Army battalions. As a result, some towns were decimated, losing large percentages of the men in their communities, St. John said.

“It’s a pretty tragic story,” he said.

The Spain Park students used letters written

by World War I soldiers as research and came up with their own script for their play, wrote original music to go with it and sewed their own costumes together, St. John said.

To make the play more authentic, they even learned a Yorkshire dialect. One of St. John’s friends from Samford University who is from Lancashire County, England, worked with the students on the dialect, he said. The students had to listen to Yorkshire recordings at night as

Above: Max Johnson and Macey Rowland, foreground, perform in Spain Park High School’s original one-act play “Pals.”

Left: Jacob Salathe, left, and Johnson perform. Photos courtesy of Eric St. John.

homework, he said. The dialect sounds similar to that used by the servants on the popular “Downton Abbey” TV show, St. John said.

Spain Park students competed against 30 other one-act plays in the district competition and 16 shows at the state level, he said.

By winning best in show, they qualified to perform the play at the 2016 Southeastern Theatre Conference but instead chose to seek entry into the Atlanta Fringe Festival.

The students first performed “Pals” at their school in November and plan to do it again in late May. They also are performing two other plays this year: Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” on Feb. 25-28 and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” on May 5-8.

St. John has been teaching theater for 17 years, including 12 in Alabama. This is his fifth year at Spain Park.

Here are the Spain Park students who placed in individual events at the state competition: ► Macey Rowland, first place, varsity solo comedic female musical ► Leah DeBerry, first place, novice playwriting ► Ashley Johnson, first place, novice stage management ► Cassidy Johnson, second place, varsity sound design ► Adam Gilliland and Max Johnson, third place, varsity duet pantomime ► Morgan Gerelds and Lauren Bryan, third place, varsity duet comedic reader’s theatre ► Adam Gilliland and Ethan Parish, third place, varsity duet comedic contemporary acting ► Ben Peinhardt, third place, varsity scene design Hoover High School also had several individual winners at the state competition: ► Hana Park, first place, novice solo acting female contemporary comedic ► Josh Anthony and Christian Hatcher, second place, novice duet pantomime ► Sara Hardy and Noell Gooch, second place, varsity duet pantomime ► Skylar Thornton and Ashley Kate Otwell, second place, novice duet comedic reader’s theatre ► Gigi McLendon, third place, novice playwriting

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February 2016 • A13

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A14 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

From left, Traci Ingleright, Marva Raby and Todd Parker were selected from among nominees at each of Hoover’s 17 schools and now will be considered alongside teachers from other school systems throughout the state to be included in the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame. Photos courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

Hoover system teachers in running Gwin, Bumpus, Spain Park educators nominated for JSU Hall of Fame

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover school system has nominated teachers from Gwin Elementary, Bumpus Middle and Spain Park High for the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame.

This year’s nominees from Hoover are: Traci Ingleright, an enrichment teacher from Gwin Elementary; Marva Raby, a Spanish teacher from Bumpus Middle; and Todd Parker, an American government and Scholars Bowl teacher from Spain Park High.

Ingleright has been teaching for 21 years, including 10 in her current position at Gwin.

She has served on the Alabama Environmental Literacy Plan Task Force, as a board member of the Environmental Education Association of Alabama and on the Governor’s Task Force for Environmental Literacy in Alabama.

Under her leadership, Gwin has received the Project Learning Tree Green School Award, the

National Wildlife Federation Green Flag Award and the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Auburn University and a master’s degree and education specialist degree in special education from the University of Alabama.

Raby has taught for more than 20 years, including 14 in her current job at Bumpus. She is a native of Costa Rica and is fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese. She began her teaching career in Connecticut, where she taught a variety of high school subjects, including Spanish, French, English as a second language and bilingual education (world history, math and health).

In Alabama, she has taught in an adult education program, taught conversational Spanish at the Hoover Public Library and taught Spanish, French and English as a second language to middle school students.

Raby has a degree in foreign relations from

the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Bridgeport and a certificate of advanced studies from Fairfield University in Connecticut. She also has certificates for culture and language studies abroad from the University of Rouen in France and a certificate for international studies in bilingual education from the University of Braga in Portugal.

Parker has been a teacher for 25 years, including the past 10 at Spain Park.

He started his teaching career as a social studies teacher and basketball coach at Central Park Christian School for three years, then taught two years as a history teacher at Pelham High School and 12 years as the dean of students and basketball coach at John Carroll Catholic High School.

Parker holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Samford University and a master’s degree in secondary education and educational specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ingleright, Raby and Parker were selected from among nominees at each of Hoover’s 17 schools and now will be considered alongside teachers from other school systems throughout the state. Jacksonville State each year chooses one teacher from each of the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Nominees are judged on their standards of behavior and ethics, leadership, enthusiasm about teaching, demonstration of competence in their subject matter, cooperation with colleagues and administrators, and how well they seek to encourage, inspire and motivate students toward greater accomplishment.

Nominees must be currently teaching subject matter to students at least 50 percent of each school day. Degrees held, length of teaching experience and current teaching assignments also are taken into consideration. No preference is given to nominees who attended Jacksonville State University.

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A15

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Multiple Hoover students selected for all-state jazz band

BUMPUS MIDDLE SCHOOL

► Tyner Patterson: Trumpet

HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL

► Josh Constantine: Alto saxophone, Gold

A team of three Altamont students recently won the Alabama State Championship in First Lego League (FLL) Robotics.

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By ANA GOOD Numerous Hoover middle and high school students packed up their instruments in late January and headed to Montgomery, where they performed in the all-state jazz band festival.

The festival, held in conjunction with the Alabama Music Educators Association In-Service Conference, is a big deal, said Mark Foster, the band director at Mountain Brook Junior High School who also is jazz chair for the Alabama Bandmasters Association and in charge of coordinating all aspects of the jazz festival.

“The selection process can be highly competitive,” Foster said. “It’s quite an honor to be selected for one of the all-state jazz bands.”

Interested students from across the state submit audition recordings to the ABA in November of each year in order to be considered for the allstate jazz band. A panel of judges evaluates the submissions blindly, meaning they do not know who is playing or their school, Foster said.

From there, high school students who make the cut are placed into one of three jazz bands based on their skill level: gold, silver or bronze.

A fourth band is made up of middle school students. This year’s performances were set for Jan 21-23 at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center.

The students from Hoover who were selected for the 2015-16 all-state jazz band were:

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By receiving the Champions Award, the students will move on to the FLL World Festival in April. More than 233,000 individuals from 80 countries compete in the FLL, and The Variables will be one of 85 teams moving on to the World Festival.

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

For more information about FLL and next year’s competition, visit firstlegoleague.org.

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A16 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Hoover 2016-17 school year to begin Aug. 4 Board approves calendar that includes week off at Thanksgiving

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover school board has approved a 2016-17 calendar that brings students back from summer break on Aug. 4 and allows for a full week out of school at Thanksgiving.

Faculty overwhelmingly favored that calendar of two options presented to them for a vote, and Assistant Superintendent Melody Greene told the school board in January that a majority of parents did, too.

School board member Jill Ganus Veitch was the only board member to vote against the calendar, saying she was concerned about having such a short summer. Students in sports and band essentially will have to be back at school in mid-July, giving them only a six-week summer, Veitch said.

Greene said there were parents who complained about how early school would be starting but said it’s difficult to get the required 180 instructional days into the school year and keep the two semesters balanced without returning that early in August.

Some were willing to give up a few off days during Thanksgiving week, but 82 percent of teachers and parents wanted to keep that full week out of school, Greene said.

Veitch asked if school officials could implement some “e-days,” or electronic learning days, to allow students to complete some work online over a period of time without physically being at school and return to school a little later in August.

Greene said the “e-days” that had been implemented in the past were very unpopular.

The other 2016-17 calendar that was presented to parents for a vote would have started school on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and provided three weekdays out of school for Thanksgiving (Wednesday-Friday). But Greene said that calendar was less popular.

The calendar that was approved is essentially the Option A presented to faculty and parents for a vote, with one change, Greene said. The only change was moving a teacher workday from Oct. 11 to Jan. 3, to give teachers time to get ready for students after the winter break, she said.

SEPARATE VOTE FOR 2017-18

School employees and parents also were asked to vote on two calendar options for the 2017-18 school year.

Employees again overwhelmingly favored an option that would start school on Aug. 8, 2017, and include a full week out for Thanksgiving,

The Hoover Board of Education meets at Trace Crossings Elementary School on Jan. 12.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

versus an Option B that would start school on Aug. 14, 2017, and have three weekdays out of school at Thanksgiving, Greene said.

Results from the parent vote for the 2017-18 calendar were not available before the Hoover Sun went to press.

Option A would end the first semester on Dec. 20, while Option B would end the semester on Dec. 22.

The rest of the proposed 2017-18 calendars were mostly similar, including the same week of spring break for 2018 (March 26-30) and students out of school for Labor Day (Sept. 4), a teacher workday on Oct. 9, Veterans Day (Nov. 10), two professional development days for teachers on Feb 19-20, a teacher workday on April 23 and Memorial Day (May 28).

Both of the 2017-18 calendars also would end school on May 23, 2018, with Spain Park High’s graduation on May 22 and Hoover High’s graduation on May 23. The school board is expected to consider the 2017-18 calendar at its Feb. 8 meeting at Berry Middle School at 5:30 p.m.

HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS 2016-17 CALENDAR ► Aug. 4: First day for students ► Sept. 5: School closed for Labor Day ► Oct. 5: End of first nine weeks ► Oct. 10: Teacher workday (no students) ► Nov. 11: School closed for Veterans Day ► Nov. 21-25: School closed for Thanksgiving ► Dec. 16: End of first semester ► Dec. 19-Jan. 3: Winter break ► Jan. 4: Students return ► Jan. 16: School closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day ► Feb. 20-21: Professional development days (no students) ► March 10: End of third nine weeks ► March 27-31: Spring break ► April 14 and 17: School closed for Easter weekend or weather makeup days ► May 23: Spain Park High School graduation ► May 24: Hoover High School graduation; last day for students

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A17

Spain Park senior to participate in All-State Orchestra

By SYDNEY CROMWELL In her seven years of playing clarinet, Spain Park High senior Katherine Hunter has racked up several honors: two-year section leader in the Jaguar band, two years in the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra and an invitation to perform in the All-State Band.

This year, Hunter is adding to that list with her selection to participate in the All-State Orchestra.

“Katherine is an outstanding young musician,” Spain Park band director Chris Neugent said.

Hunter auditioned through an online recording and was chosen for a spot in the orchestra, which will perform this month at University of Alabama. Hunter said she received her sheet music in December to practice for the All-State Orchestra Festival.

Neugent said Spain Park typically has two or three participants in the orchestra each year.

He’s excited for Hunter to represent the Jags, especially since she’s a standout both in the band and in her classwork. Hunter was recently chosen as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.

“She’s a rock star everywhere she goes here at Spain Park, both in the music room and in the academic classroom,” Neugent said.

Hunter and the All-State Orchestra will perform Sunday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. in the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama.

Katherine Hunter and the All-State Orchestra will perform Sunday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. in the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama.

Photo courtesy of Belmont Studio.

Five Hoover City Schools employees were honored among 100 outstanding graduates of Samford University’s Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education. Shown here, from left, are Marissa Benjamin, math coach at Rocky Ridge Elementary; Ann Elizabeth McInvale, firstgrade teacher at Trace Crossings Elementary; Wayne Richardson, principal at Deer Valley Elementary; and Chris Robbins, principal at Berry Middle. Pictured below is Kara Chism, assistant principal at Rocky Ridge Elementary. Photos by Jon Anderson.

5 Hoover educators named outstanding Samford grads

By JON ANDERSON Five principals and teachers from Hoover City Schools were among 100 people recognized as outstanding graduates from Samford University’s Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education during the school’s centennial celebration.

They were: ► Marissa Benjamin, math coach at Rocky Ridge Elementary School ► Kara Chism, assistant principal at Rocky Ridge Elementary School ► Ann Elizabeth McInvale, first-grade teacher at Trace Crossings Elementary School ► Wayne Richardson, principal at Deer Valley Elementary School ► Chris Robbins, principal at Berry Middle School The Learning For Life award recipients were chosen for their success in their fields and their ability to give back to their communities, according to School of Education Dean Jeanie Box. “The work of educators takes courage, passion and determination,” Box said in opening remarks during the centennial celebration, according to a

university press release.

“For 100 years, graduates from the school of education have been changing lives every day, making a difference for children, adolescents, adults and families.”

Samford President Andrew Westmoreland Chism congratulated the honorees as “the very best in education, not just in Alabama, but around the world.

“I still believe after all these years that there is no nobler calling than teaching, Westmoreland said. “My happiest moments in my career have been in the classroom …

“Your contributions are joyous for you and those receiving what you do. You say things that make a difference in lives.”

Not all the honorees were teachers or principals. Others came from fields such as health care, sports administration, ministry, athletics training, family studies and human development.

A18 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A19

Now Open Sushi Village 280 is now open at 601 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 101, in Lee Branch. The restaurant offers sushi, hibachi and create-your-own stir fry, and it is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

968-1588, sushivillageal.com

1

Link Financial is now open at 1980 Braddock Drive. The financial institution offers business services including business check cashing, small business loans and more.

558-8000, linkfinancial.net

2

Coming Soon

Gigi’s Cupcakes, 4745 Chace Circle, Suite 121, has added two sugar-free cupcakes to its menu: the Chocolate Magic cupcake and the White Magic cupcake. Both are ideal for diabetic and other health-conscious customers.

444-4170, hooveral.gigiscupcakesusa.com

7

Hirings and Promotions RealtySouth’s Inverness office, 109 Inverness Plaza, has hired Melissa Garrett and Kelli Bell as Realtors.

991-6565, realtysouth.com

8

Mugshots will open its third Birmingham-area location at 110 Inverness Plaza this spring. mugshotsgrillandbar.com

3

Relocations and Renovations Pure Barre 280 has relocated to 610 Inverness Corners, near Winn-Dixie off Valleydale Road. The facility utilizes the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements set to music for a whole-body workout.

991-5224, purebarre.com

4

KBR, an engineering, technology and construction firm, is moving its offices from International Park to the Galleria Tower, 3000 Riverchase Galleria. The company will move approximately 400 employees to new offices that will occupy the fourth, 11th, 12th and 14th floors of the office building.

972-6000, kbr.com

5

New Ownership Sullivan Communications, a communications company providing services to the business community, 202 Business Center Drive, has been bought by BearCom, a Dallas-based company.

988-5522, sullivancomm.com

6

News and Accomplishments

Baptist Health Center Hoover Primary Care, 5295 Preserve Parkway, welcomes Dr. Amita Chhabra to their practice. Dr. Chhabra specializes in family medicine.

682-6077, bhchoover.com

9

Southlake Orthopaedics, 4517 Southlake Parkway, welcomes Dr. John S. Kirchner, foot and ankle surgeon, to their practice.

985-4111, southlakeorthopaedics.com 10

Keller Williams, 1 Chase Corporate Drive, Suite 150, has hired Lance McKinley as a Realtor®.

822-2272, kellerwilliamshoover.com 11

Anniversaries Pure Barre 280, 610 Inverness Corners, is celebrating its fifth anniversary in February.

991-5224, purebarre.com 12

Closings 13

Hoover Title Mart, 1631 Montgomery Highway, has closed.

Business news

to share?

Now Open Coming Soon

Relocation Expansion Anniversary

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

Sun

Email dan@hooversun.com

A20 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Freddy’s in works for Lee Branch Currently in 25 states, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is looking forward to expanding its brand to Shelby County.

Here is what the typical Freddy’s looks like.

Photo courtesy of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE A new fast-casual restaurant franchise is coming to Hoover.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is getting ready to open in The Village at Lee Branch off U.S. 280 in February and is planning to open a second location in western Hoover in the future, said Bryan Pyle, the franchise operator for the Lee Branch site.

The freestanding, 3,500-square-foot building in the Village at Lee Branch will be at 301 Doug Baker Blvd., behind the Walgreens next to BBVA Compass Bank. The restaurant will seat 100 guests inside, with additional seating on the patio. It also will have drive-through service.

This will be the first location for Freddy’s in Alabama. The next one in the Birmingham area likely will be in Vestavia Hills, and the third one is planned for western Hoover, Pyle said. Others are to be built in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.

Currently in 25 states, Freddy’s is looking forward to expanding its brand, Pyle said.

“We are excited about our whole territory, especially the greater Birmingham area,” Pyle said. “There has been a lot of positive opportunities for us as we look for great sites to invest in the community and sink our teeth in there.

As we did our research, Birmingham was very attractive to us. We could tell the communities are thriving around the Birmingham area into Hoover.”

Freddy’s was co-founded in 2002 by two brothers for their father, WWII veteran Freddy Simon of Wichita, Kansas. They worked with restaurateur Scott Rendler to recreate recipes and an atmosphere similar to that of his generation and the 1940s and ’50s post-war era.

Menu items include fresh-made dishes, such as lean beef steakburgers, Vienna beef hot dogs, shoestring fries and freshly-churned chocolate or vanilla frozen custard with a variety of toppings.

Pyle said that once someone tries frozen custard, it’s all they will want.

“It’s similar to ice cream, but custard is denser, richer and creamier, and that’s due to the churning process,” he said. “It eliminates ice crystals and excess air. We make it fresh on-site throughout the day, and it’s served with an assortment of toppings, either in a cup or a cone. Eat it with a spoon with a cup, as a sundae or concrete (blending the custard and toppings together).”

Freddy’s locations try to plug into the community, partnering with schools on fundraisers. The restaurants offer a very family-friendly atmosphere that focuses on unity and quality of family time, Pyle said.

“We relate to any age, gender, time of life,” Pyle said. “My grandfather loves it because it takes him back to when his parents took him to a hamburger and shake place. Kids just really resonate with it also. Inside, we have bright red colors, and it’s lively.”

The restaurant also features pictures of the menu items to let guests know what they offer.

Pictures of Freddy himself, from all ages, fill the restaurant.

“Freddy is now 90 years old. You get to know who Freddy is, and it puts a face to a name,” Pyle said.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers • WHERE: The Village at Lee Branch shopping center, 301 Doug Baker Blvd.

• WEB: freddysusa.com

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A21

Investment plans in pipeline New developer to invest $22 million in Trace Crossings, Lake Cyrus

By JON ANDERSON A new developer is coming to Hoover, with plans to invest about $22 million in two residential projects.

The Blake Whitney Thompson Co., based in St. Petersburg, Florida, but with most of its management in Atlanta, plans to purchase the 499 lots in the Lake Wilborn section of Trace Crossings and remaining 107 lots in Lake Cyrus, said Blake Thompson, the owner and managing director of the company.

Thompson said in mid-January he planned to close the deal by the end of February and begin work immediately on the two projects. Lake Wilborn currently is owned by U.S. Steel, and the 107 lots left to develop in Lake Cyrus are owned by two individuals, but Christian Ross, the due diligence coordinator for The BWT Co., would not name them.

The initial land purchase will be about $15 million, and The BWT Co. plans to invest another $7 million or so in infrastructure for the two subdivisions, Thompson said.

Preliminary plans for the first 93 lots in Lake Wilborn, which is just down Stadium Trace Parkway from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium and Bumpus Middle School, should be coming to the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission for approval on Feb. 8.

The Lake Wilborn project has been managed

by Signature Homes for U.S. Steel, and Signature Homes and Embassy Homes will be the homebuilders for Lake Wilborn under The BWT Co.’s ownership, Ross said. Embassy Homes will be the homebuilder for 86 of the homes in Lake Cyrus, and custom homebuilders will build the rest, Ross said.

Both Signature Homes and Embassy Homes

Above: Blake Thompson, owner and managing director for The Blake Whitney Thompson Co., plans to invest $22 million in two residential developments in Hoover. Photo courtesy of The Blake Whitney Thompson Co. Left: This is the conceptual plan approved for Lake Wilborn by the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission in March 2013.

Sketch provided by city of Hoover.

are quality homebuilders who are familiar with the Hoover market and know what the Hoover community expects, he said.

“We’re taking something that works really well already and hopefully just helping it along,” Thompson said. “U.S. Steel has been an absolute

pleasure to deal with. They’ve been flexible, and they want to put it in the hands of a developer that’s going to make the projects what Hoover wants it to be.”

Jessica Franklin, a spokeswoman for U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh, said the company would not be commenting about the land sale.

The BWT Co. expects land and infrastructure preparation for Lake Wilborn to take about eight months. The first homes likely will be available for homeowners in early 2017, Thompson said.

Build out for the 499 homes in Lake Wilborn should take five to six years, and finishing the 107 lots in Lake Cyrus, which include 28 estatesize lots, should take about 2½ years, he said.

However, that all depends on market demand, which for now Thompson sees as strong.

The BWT Co. came into the Birmingham area several years ago with the purchase of 350 acres in the Carrington Lake subdivision in Trussville, where they are developing 300 lots, Thompson said.

Overall, the company has more than 100 active neighborhoods across the Southeast, including projects in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina, Thompson said.

Outside the Birmingham area, current projects are underway in Auburn and Mobile, he said.

Thompson’s experience in residential development includes mid-rise towers, low-rise complexes, townhomes and single-family homes, according to the company’s website. He also has co-sponsored ownership and operation of large office buildings in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa and Texas.

See more about The Blake Whitney Thompson Co. at bwtcompany.com.

A22 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

SPORTSPLEX

ECONOMIC IMPACT

CONTINUED from page A1 The indoor facility is slated to include a recreational walking track suspended 14 feet in the air, an athletic training and rehab center, a food court and a covered walkway connecting it to the Hoover Met. It will not be tall enough to accommodate a football game with punting but could handle a 7-on-7 game, said Jeffrey Brewer, the regional president for Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, which created the architectural design.

The outdoor portion of the complex is supposed to include six NCAA regulation-size soccer/lacrosse/football fields, eight baseball/ softball fields, 15 tennis courts, a 2-mile walking track, playground, splash pad and open area for tent tailgating.

City officials are waiting until after the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament in May to get started on the indoor center because it will take up part of the current Hoover RV Park, all of which is needed for the SEC tournament, Pate said.

In the meantime, an archaeological study already has been completed, and the city is doing environmental studies and drilling test holes for the foundation of the indoor event center, Pate said. It also will take several weeks to months to get a construction permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, he said.

The entire complex is to be built on 120 acres to the south and east of the Hoover Met. The city already owns 103 of the acres and would like to buy 17 more from the Hoover Board of Education to make the project work, Pate said.

All the outdoor fields would have artificial turf, Pate said. The project would add about 1,700 parking spaces, bringing the total number of parking spaces at the Met to about 5,000, he said.

The indoor facility is expected to take up about 32 of the current RV parking spaces at the Met, but more RV spaces are slated to be added elsewhere, potentially expanding the total number of RV spaces from 145 to 176, Pate said.

City officials say they expect the Hoover Sportsplex to be well used, particularly for sports tournaments that draw people from across Alabama and out of state.

“When we build this, it will be full,” Pate said.

“There’s just that kind of demand out there.”

The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the Hoover Sportsplex would have an economic impact of $27-33 million a year. That includes an estimated $13.216.8 million from the outdoor facilities and $14-17 million from the indoor facility. Some of that estimation was based on numbers from the Birmingham Crossplex, Pate said.

The 750,000-square-foot Birmingham Crossplex includes an indoor hydraulic track, indoor Olympic swimming pool and an arena with 20,000 square feet of floor space and seating for 5,000 spectators. The Crossplex brought an economic impact of $12.6 million its first year of operation, and that expanded to $20 million the second year, according to a memo from Tim Westhoven, Hoover’s assistant executive director.

The city of Hoover plans to borrow roughly $70 million to build its complex, which initially would increase the city’s annual debt service payments from $9.2 million to $11.6 million, Pate said. However, all of the city’s current debt is slated to expire in five years, so in 2023, the city’s annual debt payments would drop to $4.6 million, Pate said.

From an operational standpoint, the Hoover Sportsplex likely will require six new employees and have a total annual operating cost of $1,020,000, Pate said. The city expects to gain about $920,000 a year in direct revenue from facility rentals, so the net direct operational loss would be about $100,000 a year, Pate said.

However, 3 percent of the expected economic impact (sales taxes) would generate $900,000 a year, much more than offsetting the cost, he said.

Plus, Ivey said the facility is a great benefit to the quality of life in Hoover.

'BEGGING FOR THESE FIELDS'

City officials have been working behind the

scenes to find space for such an athletic complex for about two years, Pate said. The city has not added any athletic fields in 15 years, and new facilities are needed to handle the city’s growing population and attract bigger sports tournaments, he said.

Just in the past 10 years, the youth football program has grown from 200 children to 1,000 children, while lacrosse has sprung up from nothing to more than 500 children now, Pate said.

Hoover also has 1,800 children involved in its fall and spring soccer programs and 1,300 playing baseball, Pate said. There are 100 adult softball teams playing on three fields at Spain Park, with four games per night on each field and no time available for practices, he said.

“Parks and Recreation has lagged behind, and it’s time to catch up,” Pate said.

Several representatives from Hoover youth sports leagues said this facility is much needed and long overdue in Hoover.

“We’ve been beating this drum for the past 10 years, begging for these fields,” said Rickey Phillips, president of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board. “This right here is a godsend.”

John Parker, president of the Hoover Softball Association, said the recreational softball program has grown from 150 girls to 325 in the past five years, and the number of travel softball teams has risen from three to 10, now including 110 players, he said.

“The facilities we have are old, and there’s not enough space,” Parker said.

Plus, a facility like this, when combined with existing softball fields in Hoover, will allow the city to be host for more softball tournaments and teams coming from other areas, Parker said.

Right now, Hoover has only four softball fields big enough for tournament play, and they can handle only about 35 to 40 teams, Parker said. So when tournaments come to town, they have to spread outside of Hoover to fields in places such as Vestavia Hills, Trussville and Hueytown, he said.

With this complex, Hoover will be able to handle tournaments with 180 to 200 teams and likely could even get the World Series, which has 400 to 500 teams, he said.

“We can fill the hotels. We can fill the restaurants. They can buy gas – all in one city,” he said.

Hoover’s softball fields are booked 9½ months out of the year with tournaments, and even more want to come, he said.

Richard Bisso, president of the Hoover Soccer Club, said the families that travel with Hoover soccer teams spend $500 to $800 per family per weekend when they go out of town.

“I think it would be outstanding to have that here in our community,” he said. “There is something to sports tourism.”

REQUESTS TO DELAY VOTE

Several Hoover residents asked the City Council to delay a vote on the project back in December to give residents more time to study and comment on such an expensive project.

Hoover resident Dustin Chandler said unless council members could honestly say they are providing the Hoover school system enough money to fund a top-notch school system, they should postpone the vote.

Councilman John Greene was the only council member to vote against the project. Greene said the sports complex would be an outstanding addition to the city, but the timing for a vote back in December was not right. He recommended the council postpone its vote until January, but no one would second his motion to table the vote.

Instead, the project passed on a 6-1 vote.

Greene said questions still remained about whether the city is providing enough money for its school system, and until those questions are resolved, he is not in favor of such a large expenditure.

Pate said it’s still undetermined exactly which Hoover sports leagues will have access to the new fields and indoor facility at the Sportsplex.

“It’s going to be a balancing act between the local teams and kids versus bringing in outside tournaments,” Pate said. “We certainly want the locals to have an opportunity to use it, but on the other hand, we do want to bring in some revenue.”

Pate said he soon will be traveling to look at similar complexes in Lake Point, Georgia, Orlando and the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area. .talking to officials there about facility utilization and other aspects of their complexes.

It’s time to nominate favorites for 2016 THE CATEGORIES FOOD AND DRINK ► Most Friendly Service ► Most Kid Friendly Restaurant ► Best Breakfast/Brunch ► Best Date Night ► Best Ladies’ Lunch Spot ► Best Casual Dining ► Best Asian Food ► Best Italian Food ► Best Mediterranean Food

► Best Mexican Food ► Best New Restaurant (must have opened after February 2015) ► Best Burger ► Best Pizza ► Best Place for a Sweet Treat ► Best Cheese Dip ► Best Dessert (name of the dessert and restaurant)

Sun

BUSINESSES AND SERVICES ► Best New Business (must have opened after February 2015) ► Best Place to Buy a Gift ► Best Children’s Store ► Best Women’s Clothing Store ► Best Store for Men ► Best Place to Buy Home Décor ► Best Customer Service ► Best Veterinarian ► Best Mechanic Shop ► Best Salon ► Best Golf Course ► Best Grocery Store ► Best Real Estate Agent ► Best New Car Dealership ► Best Used Car Dealership

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ► Best Workout Facility ► Best Dentist ► Best Orthodontist ► Best Pediatrician ► Best Family Practitioner

► Best Pharmacy ► Best Spa ► Best Chiropractor ► Best Orthopedist

COMMUNITY ► Best Outdoor Space ► Best Community Event ► Best Neighborhood ► Best Church Choir

► Best Teacher ► Best Place for Family Outing

Visit hooversun.com/nominate-best-of by February 12.

Watch for the BEST OF HOOVER ballot in the March print issue and online. Results will run in the April issue.

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • A23 Left: Firefighters inspect supplies stored inside a fire truck in the recently completed Hoover Fire Station 10 at Ross Bridge.

The new station also has four firefighter bedrooms, an officer bedroom, restrooms and showers, a meeting area, living room, seen below left, an office, gear room and a nice kitchen. Photos

by Frank Couch.

STATION

CONTINUED from page A1 are providing our citizens enough coverage throughout the city,” Wingate said. “I think the people feel very good about it, too.”

Now, the Hoover Fire Department’s response time to calls in Ross Bridge is anywhere from one to six minutes, whereas some of the calls took more than 12 minutes when firefighters were coming from Fire Station No. 6 off Alabama 150, Wingate said.

Hoover officials knew the new station was needed when homes started being built more than five miles from Station No. 6, he said.

City officials opened a temporary station in a modular building at the northeast corner of Ross Bridge Parkway and Shannon-Oxmoor Road in March 2014 until the permanent station could be built. Next to the modular building, Signature Homes built a 20-foot-by-50-foot bay to house the aerial ladder truck that serves the Ross Bridge community. It’s no longer needed now that the permanent station is in place.

Construction of the permanent station took about a year, Wingate said.

Homeowners also were feeling the pinch before the temporary station opened because insurance rates tend to be higher when homes are more than five miles from a fire station.

Lane Siddall, who has lived in Ross Bridge with his wife, Lindsay, and son, Bentley, for four years, said it’s always good when a new fire station is built closer to your home.

“It just gives you a feeling of security thinking they’ll be able to have a quicker response time,” Siddall said. Also, the potential for lower insurance rates is a plus, he said.

He and his son, a fourth-grader at Deer Valley Elementary, recently visited the new fire station and firefighters there. “We just wanted to meet ‘em and just thank ‘em for being in the community,” Siddall said.

He was also glad to see the fire station designated as a “Safe Place,” where young people or other people in distress can come for help whenever they need it, he said.

Wingate said the Ross Bridge community has been welcoming. Some of the residents brought

Thanksgiving dinner to the station, and two to three businesses offered to cater the fire station’s open house, he said. “It’s been well-received in the area.”

The 6,027-square-foot station, by the Dungan Nequette architectural firm, is designed to fit in architecturally with the Ross Bridge

community. It has two bays, though right now only one fire truck that has a 75-foot-long ladder, which is needed to help serve the six-story Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. The new station also has four firefighter bedrooms, an officer bedroom, restrooms and showers, a meeting area, living room, office, gear room and a nice kitchen, Wingate said.

Twelve firefighters work out of it, including one part-timer, Wingate said. That’s enough to have three per shift, he said.

The Ross Bridge fire station serves the entire Ross Bridge community, including the singlefamily homes and apartment complexes. It also serves people who live outside the city limits of Hoover in the Shannon community, but within two miles of the city. There are about 100 people in the Shannon community who pay fire dues to the city of Hoover to be covered, Wingate said.

Hoover’s next fire station likely will be built somewhere between the current end of Stadium Trace Parkway and Shelby County 52 as that area develops, Wingate said.

Sun

Gift Guide B17

Sports

Real Estate B21 Calendar B21

SECTION

B FEBRUARY 2016

Winning is the only option

Former Hoover star Kayla Anderson maintains drive for victory at UAB

By KYLE PARMLEY Kayla Anderson has been nothing but a winner her entire life.

The former Hoover High star and current senior forward on the UAB women’s basketball team has excelled at every level she has played.

Anderson started playing basketball for the Alabama Twisters AAU team in fifth grade. That team won six straight state championships. She then played on the varsity squad at HHS all four years as a student. The Lady Bucs reached the state title game each season, winning two of them in 2010 and 2012.

Now, Anderson is currently completing her senior campaign at UAB, a program that has had a winning season in each of her three seasons on campus.

The desire to win is strong, and her track record proves she knows what it takes to achieve victory. But the love of winning is not the only factor driving her. The fear of the opposite outcome looms larger.

“For me, it’s not even so much about winning.

I hate to lose more than I love to win,” Anderson said.

To prove that she is all about winning, Anderson’s success as a basketball player has been squarely rooted in her ability to block shots, play solid defense and do the things that are not necessarily eye-popping numbers on the stat sheet.

On Dec. 13, in a game against South Alabama, Anderson broke the UAB record for blocked shots in a career. Deanna Jackson, Conference USA Player of the Year in 2001, previously held the mark and is undoubtedly one of the best players in program history.

The 6-foot-1 forward makes no attempt to hide the fact that she was gunning for the record.

“The block record is something that I’ve been trying to reach since my freshman year here at UAB, and I’m glad that I got it early in my senior year,” she said.

Blocked shots do not just happen by chance.

Much like any other facet of the game, there is an art and a philosophy when swatting shots away

See ANDERSON | page B10

Kayla Anderson goes up for a shot against Lipscomb in 2014. She broke UAB’s record for career blocks this past December. Photo courtesy of UAB Athletics.

B2 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B3

B4 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

SEASON PREVIEW: HOOVER BASEBALL

Moseley eager to watch young Bucs grow

By KYLE PARMLEY The unknown rules the day for Hoover baseball coach Adam Moseley, who enters his second season with the Bucs.

“No idea,” Moseley said when asked who his top pitchers are heading into the season. “We lost so much from last year.”

Six seniors from the 2015 squad signed scholarships to play college baseball, leaving the door open for a number of last year’s junior varsity players to step in and make an impact.

“We had a good JV team, so there’s just a lot of guys that are going to move up and be in a dogfight to play,” Moseley said.

Noah Barron will be a lynchpin for the 2016 edition of the Bucs, as he returns as the starting center fielder.

Reid Chandler, who will play third base and in the outfield, was one of Hoover’s best hitters a year ago. Both athletes are slated to go to Central Alabama Community College following their high school careers.

A couple of other players expected to play a big role on this year’s team are Garrett Farquhar and Christopher Vacarella.

“There are a bunch that have a shot,” Moseley said.

“If we’re looking at guys that people know about, those are the guys.”

Relatively unknown players will emerge, and that is Moseley’s favorite thing to see.

“Seeing the roles that guys develop and seeing kids grow and face some adversity and learn how to deal with it — that’s the fun part about it,” he said.

Moseley won a state championship and advanced as far as the quarterfinals five times in eight years at Grissom. He now aims to achieve and sustain that success at Hoover.

In order to do that, the Bucs will navigate a region of Thompson, Oak Mountain and Tuscaloosa County.

“Now that you’re in (Class) 7A, the playoffs are on a whole different level,” Moseley said. “The feeling last year was every series was a playoff series.”

Hoover opens its 2016 season with a tournament in Tampa Feb. 15-16.

Reid Chandler returns as a key figure in the lineup for the Hoover High baseball team. Photo courtesy of Hoover High School.

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February 2016 • B5

SEASON PREVIEW: SPAIN PARK BASEBALL

Wade Streeter warms up during the Spain Park High School baseball team’s preseason throwing and conditioning workouts. Photos by Frank Couch.

Jags relying on vets to reach postseason goals

By KYLE PARMLEY Life is tough in Class 7A, Area 6.

The Spain Park baseball team knows this as well as anyone, as the area consistently boasts four of the best teams in the state each year.

Class 6A state champions in 2014, the Jaguars did not qualify for the postseason last year.

Hewitt-Trussville, the top-ranked team in 7A for multiple weeks, also stayed home during the playoffs, while Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook moved on.

Spain Park will try to get back in the playoffs with a top-heavy roster, with 12 seniors and 16 juniors, many of whom got experience last year.

“We’ve got a big group of juniors and seniors that are coming back that have led the offseason,” said head coach Will Smith, who enters his 12th season manning the dugout for the Jags.

The Jags will have to replace their top pitcher and hitter, along with their starting catcher.

“Those three holes will be tough to replace, but we’ve got a lot of junior and seniors that have been around high-level baseball before, and we need them to step up and have good years for us this year,” Smith said.

On the mound, Spain Park will look to Jake Whitehead and Will Battersby to anchor the rotation, with Quinton Hoffman and Hayden Freeman expected to provide support innings.

“We’re not going to strike a lot of people out,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to learn to play defense behind them.”

Bryan Sanderson, Wade Streeter and Drew Hawker return as the starting outfield. A key battle will be behind the plate, where Reed Thomas and Will Evans will attempt to provide

Bryan Sanderson, Wade Streeter, seen above, and Drew Hawker return as the starting outfield. Spain Park will try to get back in the playoff mix with a top-heavy roster, with 12 seniors and 16 juniors, many of whom got experience last year.

a solid option at catcher.

Overall, the Jags will look similar to last season’s squad. In order for the results to be different, players will have to learn from experience.

“We’re going to have to have more consistent years by guys that had a lot of at-bats and pitched some innings last year,” Smith said.

B6 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: HOOVER INDOOR TRACK

Caitlyn Little of Hoover High School, at right, leads teammate Michelle Nkoudou in the 60-meter hurdles during the Ice Breaker Invitational at the Birmingham Crossplex on Saturday, Jan. 9. Contributed photo.

John Paul Rumore of Hoover High School runs the 3,200-meter race during the Ice Breaker Invitational track meet at the Birmingham Crossplex on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Contributed photo.

Hoover track teams gear up for state meet

By SAM CHANDLER The Hoover High girls indoor track team, led by a quartet of individual state champions, is looking for a three-peat state championship this year, while Hoover’s boys are trying to rebound after a runner-up performance a year ago.

The athletes have been busy with a series of preparatory meets in December and January and are looking forward to the state championship at the Birmingham Crossplex on Feb. 5-6.

Here are some athletes to watch:

GIRLS

► Brittley Humphrey, senior: 10-time individual state champion may be the best hurdler

in Alabama history. She represented the United States and placed second in the 100-meter hurdles at last summer’s International Association of Athletics Federation’s World Youth Championships. ► Presley Weems, senior: Samford commit was the 7A indoor 800-meter champion in 2015. ► Sydney Steely, sophomore: Decorated underclassman won the 7A indoor 400-meter state title last season. ► Caitlyn Little, junior: Talented sprinter clinched titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter races at the 7A outdoor state meet last spring.

BOYS

► Tommy McDonough, junior: Distance star

finished second in the 3,200-meter race at the 2015 7A outdoor state meet. ► P.J. Hall: Dual-sport athlete on the gridiron and track who placed in the triple jump at last spring’s state meet. ► Jacob Doak, junior: Pole vaulter tallied a third-place finish at the indoor state meet last season.

TOP NEWCOMERS

► Amellia Rumore, freshman: Earned all-state honors at November’s Class 7A state cross country meet with a 13th-place finish. ► Noah Williams, sophomore: Started off his sophomore campaign by placing second in the triple jump and winning the 60-meter hurdles at

the Magic City Invitational on Dec. 5.

COACH’S TAKE

► Head Coach Devon Hind: “If we are to win the state, our girls need to simply remain healthy. We are the heavy favorite to repeat as champions, but James Clemens [High School] has a very strong team this year as well.

“On the boys side, we have to really improve in all areas, and we need to score in every event.

We are not a team of stars, but we are filled with very good, quality athletes. Our boys will have a big challenge this year to win. I am expecting Auburn to be the heavy favorite during indoor track.”

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February 2016 • B7

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: SPAIN PARK INDOOR TRACK

Jags look to best last year’s results

By KYLE PARMLEY The indoor track and field season is racing toward a close, culminating with the Alabama High School Athletic Association state championships Feb. 5-6 at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Spain Park’s indoor team will look to improve upon last year’s results at the state meet, where the boys placed 11th overall and girls finished 14th, and will look to a few individuals to help in that process.

Zoe Shore, who earned all-state cross-country honors in the fall, and Sarah Sims McGrath are the top two ladies for the Jags. In the championship last season, McGrath finished eighth and Shore right behind her in ninth in the 1,600meter run.

They both eclipsed the top 10 in the 3,200meter run as well, as Shore came home with a fourth-place honor and McGrath finishing ninth.

The duo competed in the Ice Breaker Invitational on Jan. 9. McGrath placed sixth in the 1,600-meter run and ninth in the 3,200-meter run. Shore ran only in the 1,600-meter race and finished eighth.

Teams from across the state used the Icebreaker Invitational, another meet held at the Birmingham Crossplex, as a tune-up for the championships.

The Jags’ Kaleigh Carney is coming off a 13th place finish in the long jump at the state meet a year ago. She improved upon that last month, tying for ninth in the high jump at the Ice Breaker meet.

On the boys side, Daniel Nixon and Christian Strong will look to carry the banner.

At the Ice Breaker Invitational, Nixon won the 800-meter run, the event in which he placed

Sarah Sims McGrath of Spain Park High School competes in the 3,200-meter run during the Ice Breaker Invitational track meet at the Birmingham Crossplex on Jan. 9. Contributed photo.

third in last year’s state meet. He picked up another top 10 result at last year’s final event, coming in seventh in the 400-meter dash. His most impressive performance came in the Magic City Invitational on Dec. 5, when he won both the 400-meter and 800-meter events.

Strong placed sixth in the 60-meter hurdles at state last year, and came home ninth in the same event at this season’s Ice Breaker.

Damon Wright placed 10th in the shot put at state a year ago but impressively won the event at the Ice Breaker Invitational and will look to reach the podium at the state championship meet.

Jerome Kirkland will look to improve his standing in the long jump, as he came home 11th last season.

Perry Young, a productive linebacker for the Spain Park football team who will play college football at the University of Cincinnati, posted a 17th-place finish in the 60-meter dash. Chase Young came home 21st, and both participated in the same event at the Ice Breaker meet.

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B8 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Spain Park swimmer captures 2 state titles Rachel Cunningham set to compete in 2016 Olympic trials in June

By JON ANDERSON and SYDNEY CROMWELL

Hoover boys only made the finals cut in one event. The relay team of John Michael Alfano, Jason Lee, Justin Spain Park High School’s Rachel Sims and Guy Griffies placed 16th in Cunningham captured two state cham- the 200-yard medley relay. pionship medals at the Alabama High Here are the top results from the School Athletic Association’s 6A-7A Spain Park and Hoover teams: Swimming and Diving Championship at the end of last year.

SPAIN PARK Cunningham won first place in both the 100-yard breaststroke with a time ► First place, girls 200-yard indiof 1:02.35 and the 200-yard individ- vidual medley: Rachel Cunningham ual medley with a time of 2:04.44. ► First place, girls 100-yard breastBoth performances broke her own Spain Park team records and narrowly stroke: Rachel Cunningham ► Second place, boys 1-meter divmissed breaking the state records.

Cunningham is an Olympic Trial ing: Zachary El-Fallah qualifier in the 100-meter and 200- ► Fifth place, boys 1-meter diving: meter breaststroke and will be compet- Jon Pickett ing in the 2016 Olympic trials in June. ► Fifth place, boys 50-yard freeThe Spain Park girls team finished style: Peyton Clutts 12th as a team in the state meet, while ► Seventh place, girls 200-yard medthe Spain Park boys placed 13th. ley relay: Tyler Dean, Rachel CunningThe Hoover girls team placed ninth in the state, while the Hoover boys ham, Bailey Deas, Caitlin Bullard ► Ninth place, boys 500-yard freefinished 37th.

Swimmer Sydney Biswal and diver style: Ward Lockhart Victoria Perry were the top scorers ► Ninth place, boys 100-yard backon the Hoover girls team, while the stroke: Peyton Clutts

► 13th place, girls 200-yard individual medley: Bailey Deas ► 15th place, girls 400-yard freestyle relay: Bailey Deas, Caroline Rice, Tyler Dean, Rachel Cunningham

HOOVER ► Fifth place, girls 200-yard freestyle relay: Erica Han, Amanda Sall, Katrina Chapman, Abigail Williamson ► Fifth place, girls 400-yard freestyle relay: Erica Han, Kylie Vanlandingham, Amanda Sall, Abigail Williamson ► 10th place, girls 1-meter diving: Victoria Perry ► 11th place, girls 100-yard breaststroke: Sydney Biswal ► 11th place, girls 200-yard medley relay: Katrina Chapman, Sydney Biswal, Taylor Sims, Kylie Vanlandingham ► 13th place, girls 500-yard freestyle: Ariana Zamani

Spain Park High School’s Rachel Cunningham holds one of two state championship medals she won at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 6A-7A Swimming and Diving Championship in Auburn in December. Photo courtesy of Beth Cunningham.

► 13th place, girls 100-yard freestyle: Abigail Williamson ► 14th place, girls 100-yard freestyle: Kylie Vanlandingham ► 14th place, girls 50-yard freestyle: Abigail Williamson ► 14th place, girls 100-yard breaststroke: Alexa Smith

► 14th place, girls 200-yard individual medley: Sydney Biswal ► 15th place, girls 200-yard individual medley: Taylor Sims ► 15th place, girls 100-yard butterfly: Amanda Sall ► 15th place, girls 500-yard freestyle: Kylie Vanlandingham

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February 2016 • B9

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B10 • February 2016

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ANDERSON

CONTINUED from page B1 from the goal.

“When I block a shot, my objective is to keep the ball in play as many times as possible. I don’t want to block it out of bounds or block it back into that person’s hands,” Anderson said.

“She never tried to slap the ball out of bounds,” said Donnie Quinn, Anderson’s high school coach at Hoover. “That helped her stay out of foul trouble and helped her stay on the court longer to reach that record. It does no good to block shots if you foul every time.”

Quinn, now the boys’ basketball coach at Spain Park High School, played a large role in preparing her to succeed at the college level, because his offense requires a “high basketball IQ.” The results proved themselves, as his Lady Bucs made the AHSAA Class 6A Final Four each season Anderson was there and sent many members of those teams to the next level.

He also saw Anderson’s mentality develop as she progressed through high school.

“There are winners and there are people that aren’t winners,” Quinn said. “There are players that have skills, but not what it takes to get there.

She was fortunate to play on some good teams.”

Anderson uses the attitude she developed to fuel everything she does on the basketball court.

She is willing to extend that competitive desire to members of her own team, if it comes to that.

“I do not like to feel like I’m not giving my best or that someone is outdoing me,” she said.

“If someone is having a good practice, then I have to have a great practice. That’s how we work at practice and that’s how I push my teammates.”

Anderson broke Jackson’s record of 125 career blocks in large part due to a breakout sophomore campaign in the 2013-2014 season, as she set another school record with 56 blocks in a single season.

That single-season mark could have been much higher, if not for a torn ACL in her knee late in the season that caused Anderson to miss UAB’s final five games. At the time, she was

Former Hoover High athlete Kayla Anderson blocks one of many shots in her UAB career. Photo courtesy of UAB Athletics.

playing the best basketball of her life.

“She was getting better and better,” UAB head coach Randy Norton said, who was in his first season leading the Blazers at the time. “I told her at that time that if she continues to improve, she was going to be an all-conference player.”

Anderson returned a handful of games into the next season, but nearly two years after the injury, is still not playing at her full capacity.

“It’s changed the way I play,” Anderson admitted. “I’m not as quick as I used to be and I can’t move as fast as everyone else on the court, so I had to learn how to adjust and

anticipate better.”

Audra Smith was the head coach at UAB at the time Anderson signed with the Blazers.

Choosing to accept the program’s scholarship offer was not a hard decision, as Anderson has been familiar with the program for the majority of her life.

“All I knew was UAB basketball. Even before Coach Smith started recruiting me, I was already up here at men’s and women’s games, watching games as a little girl,” she said.

She has never been on a team with a losing record, but that’s not the measure Anderson

uses to define seasons that did not live up to expectations.

“I’ve had seasons where I felt like we came up short,” she said. “We could’ve done a lot better and we just didn’t reach the goal that we set for ourselves.”

Kayla Anderson has won just about everything, but there are still goals to achieve in her last season at UAB. “I want to put my team in a good position so that when we get to the conference tournament, we come out on top. I want to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.”

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B11

REACHING OUT Peer groups help students connect with conversations on addiction HEROIN ON THE RISE

Reaching Out is the final installment of a three-part series about heroin use and addiction in Hoover.

By ERICA TECHO The way students learn about drugs and addiction is changing.

Doomsday stories and scare tactics do not work anymore, so addiction experts now are focusing on stimulating more open conversation.

“Unfortunately the way we’ve done prevention in our industry up to this point has been really focused on telling kids, ‘Just don’t ever try it,’” said Sandor Cheka, executive director of the Addiction Prevention Coalition. “And what they see is a valedictorian smoke pot on the weekends and they’re still a valedictorian the next day.”

Cheka is among experts who are teaching students about drugs and addiction while at the same time trying to foster beneficial discussion.

“By encouraging our students to really engage their fellow classmates, it’s more relational,” Cheka said. “The evidence-based practices really point to the fact that if you get these kids in relational dialogues, you have much more of a chance of creating change.”

The Addiction Prevention Coalition has 17 student groups in the Birmingham area, including chapters at Hoover and Spain Park high schools, where students are encouraged to lead the conversation.

Rather than use a set curriculum, Cheka said students are able to talk about the issues facing their peers.

J’La Jenkins has been a member of the Spain Park High School chapter for three years. She joined to try to help other students and is now chapter president.

“I feel like our group is for any and everybody,” she said. “We’re not just saying ‘Don’t do drugs.’ We want to help you through your transition or whatever issues you may be facing.”

Both of Jenkins’ grandfathers died as the result of addiction. Her

paternal grandfather died from alcohol poisoning at 14, and her maternal grandfather died at 54 after struggling with drinking and smoking, she said.

“I really wanted to have that relationship with my grandfathers, Drew Callner, at left, and Dalton Smith talk about their experiences with heroin addiction and I never really got to have that. and give tips on how to approach conversations about addiction. Photo by Erica Techo.

Those addictions took that away research to create, and by the time it hits schools, any students surfrom me,” Jenkins said.

During chapter meetings, students are able to guide the conversa- veyed for research have graduated, and the issues facing students tions. They can discuss anything from peer pressure to addiction to likely have changed as well, he said.

“What one group of high schoolers faces is going to be completely coping with difficult schoolwork, Cheka said.

“It becomes a place where they find a safety net that they didn’t different in the next four years,” Cheka said.

Dalton Smith, a former Spain Park High School student and recovhave before,” he said.

Peer-to-peer communication allows for more understanding, he ering heroin addict, visits schools to share his experience with addicsaid. “It’s not an adult saying, ‘Don’t do this.’ That’s what we go tion. At 21 years old, Smith has been clean for two years, and he said through and get tired of hearing. So if you have a peer, that’s some- he hopes students are able to learn from his mistakes.

“I talk to a lot of kids that are white collar kids, and they don’t body who can relate to you; that’s somebody who understands things, think it’s [addiction] going to happen to them because their family adolescent issues.”

As president of their chapter, Jenkins said she emphasizes for stu- has money or whatever … they want to believe,” Smith said. “This, dents to know themselves. If they are strong in their beliefs and stance what I call a disease, it doesn’t care.”

When Smith spoke at Spain Park, Jenkins said his story hit home against using drugs or alcohol, they’re less likely to find themselves in situations where someone is offering them a chance to use, she said. for the audience.

“It really makes it real for us, that it’s possible to become addicted Peers have approached her, but she said that by staying strong in her at the age of 17, 16, because a lot of the time I feel that young people, response, they don’t ask as much.

Cheka said it’s important to realize that federal anti-drug cur- we don’t see it as an addiction until you’re losing everything,” Jenriculum might not fit every school. That curriculum takes years of kins said.

Hoover Sun

B12 • February 2016

A LIFETIME OF

LOVE I

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

Bill and Warren Fravert on their wedding day in 1950. This photo ran in the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Sunday paper. Photo courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal.

t was April Fool’s Day 1949 when Bill Fravert proposed to his girlfriend, Warren, but after being married now 65 years, it’s clear it was no joke when the couple promised to love one another forever.

The Fraverts, now residents in the Danberry at Inverness senior living community, met while they were both students at the University of Louisville in December 1947.

When asked how they got together, their responses were different.

“I chased him until he paid attention!”

Warren said. “We dated three years before we got married, and we didn’t go steady.

When he gave me his fraternity pin, he told me ‘Here’s something you’ve been wanting for a long time,’ although he swears he didn’t say that.”

Bill’s recollection was a little different.

“We were both attracted to one another,” Bill said. “She keeps saying she chased me until she caught me, and I guess she did.”

While Bill proposed April 1, neither of them realized it was April Fool’s Day, so

it wasn’t mistaken for a joke. They had just graduated from the University of Louisville in January, and they married in October 1950. She was 24, and he was 29.

Had they gotten married as young as many people did in 1950, they could have been married more than 70 years by now.

Bill’s college education was delayed by his service in the military. He was attending the University of Louisville in November 1942 when he signed up for the Air Force. He was called up in February 1943. He started out as an aviation student, but he lost a kidney due to an accident and had to leave the flying program.

Bill would later serve for 11 months as a radio operator in the China Burma India (CBI) Theater, on the beach at the Bay of Bengal, which is modern-day Bangladesh. He tracked flights for the U.S. Army Air Corps going from India to China in early 1944 after D-Day. Bill came back to the University of Louisville, where he met Warren. After graduation, they married on Oct. 14, 1950, in their hometown of Louisville.

“When we got married, we didn’t have any money,” Warren said. “I borrowed

HooverSun.com my dress from a friend of mine, and my shoes were white satin bedroom slippers. We were married at the First Unitarian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and had our reception at the American Legion Post. All we had was punch, beer and little sandwiches.”

LIFE THROUGH THE YEARS

The couple lived in Louisville for 12 years, then in Columbus, Ohio, for another 12 before moving to Alabama in 1974.

Bill worked for Detroit Diesel-Allison in the service and sales department until his retirement in 1991. Warren worked for 30 years — from 1978-2008 — as a real estate agent for what is known today as RealtySouth. They also raised three children, living at different times in Vestavia Hills, Riverchase and Caldwell Crossings before moving to Danberry at Inverness in June 2013.

Now 94 and 89, the Fraverts are both in good health. Bill does suffer from macular degeneration and managed diabetes, and Warren has arthritis, but Warren often tells him they could be in a lot worse condition. They have outlived many of their friends and family and aren’t sure why.

“The only bad part about getting old is outliving friends and family you’d still like to have around,” Bill said.

The couple credits their health to staying active. They rode bicycles when they lived in Columbus, walked almost daily at Wald Park in Vestavia Hills and walked laps inside the Riverchase Galleria. When the Hoover Recreation Center opened, they were members there until moving to Danberry.

“Being active all the time has probably helped,” Warren said. “Bill uses the walker, and if I have to go far, I use a walker, too. We can’t really complain much about being this old.”

“Nothing strenuous but just continuous activity,” added Bill.

‘LOOK WHERE WE ENDED UP’

The couple has also gotten involved in life at Danberry. They go to a chair exercise class every Friday. Bill goes to a discussion group on Wednesdays while Warren plays

“

February 2016 • B13

We haven’t had what I would call an exciting life, but we’ve had a good life. There have been no tragedies. We are so fortunate. Our three children have all done well. They’re all happily married. What more can you ask?

”

WARREN FRAVERT

mahjongg. Warren served on the residential advisory council for two years and continues to volunteer at Danberry’s library. They enjoy happy hour and meeting their friends for dinner.

Their three children, now in their mid-to-late 50s, live nearby, and they spend time with them often. Bill said they’ve gotten a great deal of pleasure watching their kids grow in the business community. Their oldest child recently retired, and the couple couldn’t believe they were around long enough for that.

“We are blessed they’re happily married and they live close to us,” Warren said. “We are so lucky. It sounds cliché, but when we all get together, it’s one big happy family. We have such a good time together.”

When asked for words of wisdom on a long marriage, Warren said Bill “puts up with her” and Bill said he just “walks away.”

Warren said she and Bill have been fortunate throughout their life and enjoyed the years.

“We haven’t had what I would call an exciting life, but we’ve had a good life,” Warren said.

“There have been no tragedies. We are so fortunate. Our three children have all done well.

They’re all happily married. What more can you ask? We didn’t know where we were going, and look where we ended up.”

Warren and Bill Fravert now live in the Danberry at Inverness senior living community in Hoover. Photo courtesy of Warren Fravert.

B14 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Riverchase Loves Artists celebrates 10 years

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Riverchase Loves Artists art show will hold its 10th annual event this month. The event has grown each year and now has more artists’ request to participate than they have room to accommodate.

Lynne Cooper started the event through the Riverchase Women’s Club in 2006, when they were looking for an activity to promote the community and raise money for charity. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Riverchase Country Club.

“We thought an art show would be a fun thing to do,” Cooper said. “We got some artists to help us along the way, and over the years, we’ve developed a show that has become very unique and popular with artists and the community.”

Cooper said RLA showcases between 45 and 50 artists. It began with more local artists before word spread through the art community and generated a lot of interest. The artists range from those just starting out to some into their 70s.

“It really runs the spectrum of ages and talents,” Cooper said. “We have very high quality artists. The show features mixed media, glass, wood, pottery, jewelry and fabrics. We really have everything.”

To keep the show evolving, she said they plan to mix previous artists with those who haven’t participated in the

Leigh Ann Hurst, Lynne Cooper and Pat Palmer are among the participants and volunteers at the Riverchase Loves Artists show, which is entering its 10th year. Photo courtesy of Lynne Cooper.

show before.

“We have a few artists that have been with us since the very beginning,” Cooper said. “We are trying to keep some of the same artists and also bring new ones in. We are always looking for new and creative people.”

This year will be the third time Pat Palmer, a Vestavia Hills resident, will

be participating in the RLA show.

Her work includes impressionistic and abstract art, as well as copper and metal, and recently she has been concentrating on large acrylic paintings, watercolor and mixed media.

She has been in the Birmingham area for over 30 years and has experience with several local art shows. Palmer

said RLA is a great one to be a part of. She appreciates that it is indoors, and that there are people to help her unload her pieces and also assist with setup.

“They do a very good job of advertising with local television and papers, and they also make posters and invitations,” Palmer said. “They work hard

10th annual Riverchase Loves Artists art show • WHERE: Riverchase Country Club, 2000 Club Road • WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• DETAILS: Admission is free and open to the public. Shuttle from parking lot to clubhouse. Food and drink available.

• WEB: riverchaseloves artists.com

on it all, and there are other committees that work equally as hard. I’ve put on a lot of art shows in my time, and there is so much work that goes into it to make it a success.”

Palmer is originally from the artrich area of Asheville, North Carolina, and still has a summer home there. She has recruited two artists she knows to come be a part of RLA. David Goldhagen, a glass blower from Hayesville, North Carolina, and Holly Williams, owner of Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm from Blairsville, Georgia, will be a part of the show for the first time this year.

“They will be good assets to the show,” Palmer said. “They’re excited about being here this year.”

RLA also features a preview party on Friday night before the show, when artists can invite previous customers to have a chance to shop early.

Cooper said the one thing the artists all have in common is that they are the nicest group of people she has ever worked with.

“They are so sweet and nice,” she said. “I think everybody has fun.”

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B15

Supraja Sridhar stands in the UAB dining hall. She helped form Donor to Diner and the One Meal Initiative to help students struggling to pay for food. Photo courtesy of Adam Pope.

Hoover resident raises awareness of food insecurity

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE When UAB student Supraja “Sippy” Sridhar shared her student meal plan with some friends, she was just doing her part to help.

She soon realized it was a much bigger issue. “l have a large meal plan, and had a lot of leftovers on it,” she said. “My friend was having problems paying for her food, so for the rest of the year, I paid for meals for my friends who were having a hard time.”

Sridhar knew if she had friends who needed food, there were probably many others on campus facing the same problem. Food insecurity is an unknown issue on many college campuses. It’s estimated to affect between 5 and 25 percent of students at some point during their college careers, but the exact number is not known since college students are often omitted from poverty statistics.

Sridhar, a Hoover resident who went to Berry Middle School and the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate school, helped start the Donor to Diner program. The service-oriented organization at UAB seeks to provide easy access to food and other commodities to economically disadvantaged students who do not have access to food on a regular basis. The organization has partnered with UAB’s administration, campus restaurants and the Office of Student Advocacy, Rights & Conduct to not only help reduce food insecurity on campus, but also promote awareness of the issue.

Sridhar came across case managers at UAB who had resources to help, but many students didn’t know the service was available, she said.

“When I started Donor to Diner, the purpose was to increase awareness,” she said.

“This situation is not unique to UAB. It’s a problem many campuses face across the nation.”

Sridhar said many of these students work a job but still can’t afford to put food on the table. Some are even temporarily homeless.

“They go to school and work, but after paying for school, they couldn’t afford rent,” she said. “I wanted not only to increase awareness to those who want to make a difference and study and get an education, but to make it a little bit easier on their part.”

Sridhar’s idea was to do a meal transfer or exchange. That’s when the One Meal Initiative was formed. The initiative would be anonymous and discreet, so those who donated wouldn’t know who would receive the meal.

“We initiated it in the fall of 2015,” Sridhar said. “The program would allow students to either donate a meal from their meal plan, or $10 for a meal voucher. Recipients could then come in and enjoy a meal in the dining hall.

The first event had over 250 meal donations worth $2,500. Sridhar said the meal vouchers flew off the shelves.

“We campaigned this very hard by handing out fliers, talking to students, putting the information in campus newsletters and hanging up information in the dorms,” Sridhar said. “We wanted to make sure everyone knew this program existed, not only to get people to donate, but also so students would know the resources were available.”

Since its beginning, the program has served over 350 students at UAB. The Office of Student Conduct, Rights and Advocacy has also seen a significant increase in usage. They have a pantry that provides students with food, as well as school supplies and personal care items.

Due to the success of the first meal voucher donation event, Sridhar is arranging another one this semester. She hopes to incorporate online donations as well, and also work with UAB Campus Recreation to organize a food drive to help replenish the food pantry after the holidays.

Sridhar plans to continue helping students in need and raising awareness of the issue.

She is co-producing and directing a short documentary to spread the word about food insecurity, not only at UAB, but in the community as well.

“A lot of people didn’t know this was a problem and wanted to help,” she said. “The first thing to do is let people know the problem exists. Students are the future of this country, and it’s a shame to see someone who cares and is motivated for education lack such a basic essential.”

Sridhar said food has always been big in her household. Her family has donated food, helped cook in food kitchens and served the homeless, so creating this program was an easy decision for her.

“This isn’t the first time I had helped people in need, but I thought it was something no one had done, and it needed some attention,” she said. “UAB has the resources, and it’s a matter of connecting people to those resources. We have this platform and want to use it.”

For more information, email donortodiner@gmail.com or visit donortodiner.blogspot.com.

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B16 • February 2016

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B17

B18 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Community Distinguished Young Women now accepting applications

Choir members perform during the Sacred Music Festival. Photo courtesy of Bluff Park United Methodist Church.

Over the Mountain Festival to feature Rutter works

By EMILY FEATHERSTON

Participants in the 2016 Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County Program, including second alternate Andrea Burris, Distinguished Young Woman 2016 Abigail Albritton, Distinguished Young Woman 2015 Hannah Walter and first alternate Lian Remley. Photo courtesy of Miranda Wesley.

High school juniors interested in participating in this year’s Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County Program can begin submitting their applications.

The program, formerly Jefferson County’s Junior Miss, is accepting applications from high school girls graduating in 2017 who live in Jefferson County. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2016.

There is no entry fee to participate, and girls will compete in the categories of fitness, self expression, interview, scholastics and talent. Participants are eligible for various scholarships, ranging from $12,000 to $60,000. During last year’s program, participants

were awarded more than $14,000 in cash-tuition scholarships in addition to college granted scholarships from Troy University, Auburn University, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

The Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County Program will be July 29 and July 30 at Mountain Brook High School. For more information, visit distinguishedYW.org and click the “apply now” icon to receive an application. Potential participants can also contact Chairman Eddie Macksoud at Jefferson@ distinguishedYW.org or 907-0210.

- Submitted by Miranda Wesley.

For the third time in its eight-year history, the Over the Mountain Festival, celebrating sacred music, is returning to Bluff Park United Methodist Church.

The free program will take place Sunday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m.

This year, the program will be based on the works of John Rutter. The featured piece will be Rutter’s “Requiem,” which was completed in 1985.

The selections are not what board member Gaston White said most would consider “contemporary Christian music,” but the pieces are more modern than what the festival has featured in the past.

White said it was this year’s director, Milburn Price, who suggested basing the program on Rutter’s work.

In addition to “Requiem,” the program

’

will feature two other pieces by Rutter: “Thy Perfect Love” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” White said this year’s chorus will be comprised of about 70 voices and will be accompanied by between 25 and 30 professional musicians, many of whom are in the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

There will also be hymns where the congregation will join the chorus, and the program will be about an hour in length.

Doors will open at 3:30 p.m., and White suggested those hoping to attend arrive early, as last year’s event was standing-room only. “The place was just really packed full,” he said.

The festival has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about the festival, visit otmfestivals.org.

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B19

Hoover Service Club hosts food drive

Friendship Force announces offi ers

Paula Campbell, a member of the Hoover Service Club, puts away food donations from the Hoover Service Club members. The food was donated at the November meeting and is being used at the Oak Mountain Mission Ministries. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Gregory.

Cub Scouts share joy with assisted living center Cub Scout Pack 326, based out of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover, went Christmas caroling at the Brookdale assisted living center in Homewood.

The trip was designed to help fulfill the Scout oath “to help other people at all times.”

The Scouts and their families dedicated a Sunday afternoon to sing Christmas carols with residents of the center, including classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Silent Night,” “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

– Submitted by Rick DeFilippo.

The Friendship Force of Birmingham announced its officers for 2016. The officers are Barbara Hill as secretary, Jean Coan as assistant treasurer, Maureen Fowler as second vice president of membership, Vicki Smith and Reba Williams as co-vice presidents and Ann Taylor as president. Not pictured is Rosemary Tenney, treasurer. Photo courtesy of Inez McCollum.

Cub Scout Pack 326 sings Christmas carols to residents of the Brookdale assisted living center in Homewood. Photo courtesy of Rick DeFilippo.

B20 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

Events 4th annual Hearts and Harmony Gala set for Feb. 19

By JON ANDERSON The Hoover Service Club is holding the fourth annual Hearts and Harmony Gala on Feb. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel. The event includes a steak dinner, dancing with music provided by the First Edition jazz ensemble from Hoover High School, and live and silent auctions. The silent auction is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. during a cocktail hour with a cash bar, and the live auction is planned after dinner, Hoover Service Club President Betty Daigle said.

Auction items this year include: a getaway for two night at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa (including breakfast and a visit to the spa); a package that includes a Cahaba lily canoe trip for six with a picnic lunch, A Cahaba lily painting by Joyce Byrd and a lily sculpture; a wicker patio sofa with custom-made cushions

Vicki and Jack Nutter dance at the 2015 Hearts and Harmony Gala fundraiser for the Hoover Service Club at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel. This year’s event is set for Feb. 19. Photo courtesy of Randall Veazey Studio.

and pillows; and a Daniel Moore print called “Game Changers.”

Hoover Councilman John Lyda is scheduled to be the auctioneer.

The gala is the club’s primary fundraiser, with

proceeds going toward charities and college scholarships.

Last year’s gala raised $35,000, with $16,000 going toward scholarships for 13 students from Hoover and Spain Park high schools and the rest

going to charities and nonprofits, Daigle said.

Groups receiving money from last year’s event include Aldridge Gardens, the United Way food bank at Green Valley Baptist Church, Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, the Hoover Helps charity that sends food home in students’ backpacks, Autumn’s Fund (for families of children with cancer), Focus on Recovery (a residence for women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction) and Triumph Services (which serves adults with developmental disabilities).

About 220 people attended last year’s gala, and organizers hope to see at least 250 people this year and raise at least $40,000 as they celebrate the club’s 40th anniversary, Daigle said.

Tickets are $100, with $40 of that being tax-deductible. Tickets should be ordered by Feb. 10 and can be obtained at hooverserviceclub.com or by calling Martha Veazey at 9034987 or Daigle at 821-8021.

Bargains on the Bluff supports children’s ministry

By JESSE CHAMBERS Bluff Park United Methodist Church will host the spring installment of its popular “Bargains on the Bluff” women’s and children’s consignment sale Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

“Bargains on the Bluff” raises money for the church’s Little Imaginations Preschool and its other children’s programs.

The event will feature all sizes of clothing – preemie, preteen, junior and maternity – as well as children’s toys, books, accessories and furniture.

Select merchandise will be marked down 25 percent on Saturday.

Registration for consignors opened in early

January, and those interested should check the church’s web site for details, according to Melissa Hendon, program coordinator for the church’s children’s ministry.

After several years of raising money for a playground, organizers can now direct a large portion of the proceeds to the church’s Vacation Bible School and other mission and community outreach programs the children take part in, according to Hendon.

Using money raised at the sales, the kids at the church go on shopping trips to buy food, school supplies and other items for distribution to less fortunate children at schools in the Birmingham area or through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. “We will go to Wal-Mart with a huge

parade of kids going through the store and buying three or four buggies of stuff,” Hendon said.

And the consignment sales are a lot of fun, in part due to the positive attitude of the volunteers, according to Hendon. “We love what we do and we love our purpose,” she said. “So when people come to shop, they can see it.”

There will be a volunteer and consignor preview sale on Thursday, Feb. 25. Volunteers who work two or more shifts can shop that day beginning at 2 p.m., and volunteers who work one shift can begin shopping at 3 p.m. Consignors can shop at 4 p.m. The preview sale will continue until 7 p.m.

For more information about Bargains on the Bluff, go to bluffparkumc.org.

Children at Bluff Park UMC take some of the proceeds from Bargains on the Bluff to buy food and other supplies for children in need.

Photo courtesy of Bluff Park UMC.

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HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B21

Hoover

Calendar

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

738136

35226

3625 James Hill Terrace

New

$395,000

738077

35226

4014 Newtown Lane

New

$435,000

738066

35226

1380 Deer Trail Road

New

$244,500

738005

35226

3433 Hurricane Road

New

$235,000

737944

35226

3704 James Hill Circle

New

$395,000

737923

35226

3257 Mockingbird Lane

New

$249,900

737921

35226

716 Sanders Road

New

$267,900

737865

35226

3390 Sawyer Drive

New

$250,000

737856

35226

2624 Apollo Circle

New

$299,000

737810

35226

2652 Creekview Drive

New

$229,000

737783

35226

1523 Haddon Drive

New

$489,900

737708

35226

1216 Rumson Drive

New

$239,900

737654

35226

1112 Delwood Place

New

$229,900

737644

35226

4287 Abbotts Way

New

$375,000

737564

35226

3709 Carisbrooke Drive

New

$425,000

737545

35226

219 Cambo Terrace

New

$269,900

737503

35226

426 Delcris Drive

New

$349,900

737463

35226

2253 Chapel Road

New

$220,000

737384

35226

1716 Valpar Drive

New

$310,000

738131

35226

2230 Mcgwier Drive

New

$245,000

2230 Mcgwier Drive Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Jan. 18.

Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

Hoover Events Feb. 4: Economic Development Committee Meeting. 8:30 a.m.

Hoover Chamber Office Visitors welcome.

Visit hooverchamber.org.

com for information. Visit neurogenxnervecenteralabama.com.

Feb. 6: 10th Annual Riverchase Loves Artists. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Riverchase Country Club. 2000 Club Road. Free admission. Breakfast and lunch available for purchase in the downstairs cafe. Notable artists, new and past favorites, will all be exhibiting their work in a variety of mediums with proceeds from sale benefiting charities Visit riverchaselovesartists.com.

Feb. 3-5: Mike Merryfield Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. 7:30 p.m. $9.75. Visit stardome. com.

Feb. 11: Hoover Chamber Coffee & Contacts. 7:30-9:00 a.m. Costco Wholesale, 3650 Galleria Circle, Hoover 35244. Contact Bobby Haynes at 909-1039 or w362mbr@costco.com for information.

Feb. 15: Over the Mountain Festival. 4 p.m. Bluff Park United Methodist Church. 733 Valley Street, Hoover. Free concert. Visit otmfestivals.org.

Feb. 17: Chamber Ambassador Meeting. Hoover Chamber Office Visitors Welcome. Visit hooverchamber.org.

Feb. 18: Hoover Chamber Luncheon. Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel.

11:15 a.m. Networking, Noon Luncheon. Call 988-5672 or email lisa@hooverchamber. org for reservations. Visit hooverchamber. org.

Feb. 25: Business after Hours. 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Neurogenx Nerve Center of Hoover, 1849 Data Drive, Suite 2, Hoover 35244. Contact 549-4899 or paul@nncal.

Stardome Comedy Club

Feb. 6-8: DL Hugley. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover.

Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. $30. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 7-8: Miranda Sings. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. 2 p.m. $28. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 10-12: Casio Kid. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover.

7:30 p.m. $9.75 Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 13: Open Mic Night. Comedy Club at the StarDome, Broadway Room.

1818 Data Drive, Hoover. $8. Visit stardome. com.

Feb. 13: Finis Henderson. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. $20-$25. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 17-18: Will Marfori. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover.7:30 p.m. $9.75. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 19 & 22: The Tennessee Tramp. Comedy Club at the StarDome.

B22 • February 2016

Hoover Sun

1818 Data Drive, Hoover. 7:30 p.m. $9.75. Visit stardome.com.

20 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. $32.50. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 20-21: Sheryl Underwood. Comedy Club at the StarDome. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. Feb.

Feb. 25-28 Piff the Magic Dragon. Comedy Club Stardome, 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. As seen

on America’s Got Talent. Ages 17 and up. $23. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday. 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit stardome.com.

at the StarDome, Broadway Room. 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. $12. Visit stardome.com.

Feb. 28 Girl on Girl Comedy. Comedy Club

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

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

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

Tuesdays: Early Birds. 10 a.m. Children’s Programming Room. Stories, songs and finger pl ys for birth to 12 months and their caregiver. Register each week. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Wednesdays: Tiny Tot Tales. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A short action-packed story time for children under four. Children’s Programming Room.

Visit hooverlibrary.org.

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

Classes. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Free. Basic or Intermediate English classes.

No registration required. (No class February 23).

444-7820.

Feb. 1: Friends of the Hoover Library: The Greater Birmingham Humane Society. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

Refreshments at 9:45 a.m. Free and open to the public. 444-7840.

Feb. 4: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

Skype with Susan Vreeland, author of Lisette’s List.

444-7820.

Feb. 7: Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: Germany. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Presented

by Coffee-ol-ogy Café with complimentary samples provided. Free. 444-7821.

Feb. 8: Helping Hands. 3:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Nonfiction Department Drop in to make newspaper rolls for a local humane society. Teens and adults.

444-7840.

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

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

Feb. 8: Discoveries in the Making.

6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The UAB Graduate School will feature talks by UAB student researchers. Learn about the exciting work being done in a wide variety of fields 444-7840.

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

Feb. 8: Trivia Night. 7 p.m. Beef ‘O’Brady’s - The Grove. Round up your friends and compete for great prizes at local Hoover restaurant, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (5519 Grove Blvd.). 444-7820.

Adults

Feb. 9: Daytime Nonfiction Book G oup.

10:30 a.m. Theatre Conference Room.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusita-

Tuesdays, February 2-16. Adult English

nia by Erik Larson. 444-7840.

Feb. 9: Spanish Conversation Club. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Library Plaza. All Spanish fluency levels welcome to practice and learn. 444-7820.

Feb. 11: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

Lisette’s List by Susan Vreeland. 444-7820.

Feb. 11: Glue Gun Gang: Heart Pin Cushions. 10:30 a.m. Nonfiction Department Make a pin cushion from a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Adults only. Reservations required. Sign up begins February 1. 444-7840.

Feb. 11: Introduction to Grant Writing.

6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Presented by grant writer Kim Richardson. 444-7840.

Feb. 13: Purl @ the Plaza. 1–5 p.m. Library Plaza. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by crafting for a loved one! 444-7821.

Feb. 15: Neuroscience Cafe: Light Therapy for Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Diso der. 6:30 p.m.

Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Presented by the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. 444-7840.

Feb. 16: French Conversation Club. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Library Plaza. All French fluency levels welcome to practice and learn. 444-7820.

Feb. 17: No Jacket Required Nonfi tion Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. This month’s genre: Poetry. 4447840.

Feb. 18: NOYOKO. 6:30 p.m. Library Plaza.

Beatles tribute act that performs songs from the Fab Four’s entire catalog ranging from the biggest hits to the deepest cuts. 444-7821.

Feb. 19: After Hours @ the Plaza: Bingo!

7-9 p.m. Library Plaza. Join us for a library-themed Bingo night. 444-7800.

Feb. 20: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Share your literary works and network with other aspiring writers. 444-7820.

Feb. 21: Rachel Hebert. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Hebert’s songs grow up from the swamp and peat and clay of the American Southeast. 444-7821.

Feb. 24: Kellylee Evans. 7:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Tickets $25. 444-7888.

Feb. 25: Nighttime Nonfiction Book Group. 7:00 p.m. Allen Board Room. The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. 444-7840.

Feb. 25: Kellylee Evans. 7:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Tickets $25. 444-7888.

Feb. 29: Salvage Gardens. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Programming Room. Learn how the upcycle group at Birmingham Botanical Gardens utilizes everything from glass bottles to botanicals found in your back yard.​444-7840.

Feb. 29: Monday at the Movies. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historical struggle to secure voting rights for all people. (PG-13, 128 minutes). Free admission and refreshments. 444-7820.

HooverSun.com

February 2016 • B23

KaseyDavis

Dentistry