Absolutely Andalusia-Fall 2022

embrace the magic

COURTESY OF

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Candyland 2022

TThe Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday favorite Christmas in Candyland is back for its ninth showing with an expanded sched ule and several new additions for locals and visitors.

This year’s Christmas parade with a “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree” theme will kick off the holiday season Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. Candyland officially opens Friday, Dec. 2, and closes on Thursday, Dec. 22. Candyland’s finale will feature the new show Concert and Carols. All attractions will be open on the last evening, and last year’s fireworks will return for the close of Candyland.

“We are so blessed to have something so special and unique as Candyland in Andalusia. It’s hard to believe that this is year nine, but I remember what it was like before we had it. This wasn’t an event that we had when I was a child growing up here, and I love that my children and the children in our community are able to grow up with this tradition. I am proud of the vision of Chrissie Duffy, the Chamber, and the City of Andalusia for creating and sup

porting this spectacular event. We have people from other cities and municipali ties that call daily wanting the details on how to start this in their city. We have set the standard that others are striving for. That is why it is so important that we continue to pour into this event,” AACC Executive Director Laura Wells said.

New additions for Candyland 2022 include Santa’s Sleigh, a Characters in Candyland show, a Cocoa Ball Pit, and additional snow machines.

“The sleigh will attach to the original train engine that we already have and allow us to add character parades sim ilar to what they have at Disney World. We will be able to bring Santa and Mrs. Claus, Elsa, and other characters into Springdale by parading them around for the children to see and wave to. I am thrilled to announce the partnership we have with Meredith’s Miracles for this year’s shows on the Candyland stage. I cannot think of a better way to be able tie in and give back to our communi ty than working with this wonderful nonprofit. Characters in Candyland will perform shows consisting of Christmas

Candyland Facts

• Started in 2014 when Chrissie Duffy, then executive di rector of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, asked the Andalusia City Council to purchase snow machines, and convince some Chamber members to build cottages for imaginative play. The first year, there were nine cottages.

• In 2015, Candyland expanded, with additions of the Candyland Express Train and winter skating, as well as additional cottages. Local businesses sponsored the Can dyland Express, and the City of Andalusia rented a skating rink. The attraction was so popular, the city now owns a rink.

• In 2016, the Polar Bear Slide was added. The tubing hill creates a simulated snow tubing experience.

• 2018 brought the addition of the Polar Bear Maze.

• The City of Andalusia has partnered with NaviRetail to determine the sizes of the crowd and the economic impact.

In 2020, there were 69,852 total visits to Christmas in Can dyland. This number was very close to the crowd number for 2019, even though pandemic precautions kept some of the attractions closed.

• City of Andalusia crews begin building Christmas in Can dyland the first week of October. They have been working 10-hour-days, six days a week in preparation for the event.

• City employees staff the event to ensure that it is safe for all. The city also hires temporary part-time employees, many of whom are city retirees, to help staff the event.

• The event has gained regional and national publicity as one of the best places to be for the holidays.

sing-a-longs and fun Christmas trivia by your favorite charac ters. The cocoa ball pit will be a new addition perfect for a little younger-aged child. It is roughly 2 feet tall and will have a small slide into the ball pit. It has an overall look like a mug of hot cocoa and will be good traditional fun for children. Additional snow machines will enhance the winter skating and the snow tubing hill. We really want to be able to give the children in our area the closest experience to a winter wonder land we can. We want children as well as all ages to get outside and enjoy the outdoors in our beautiful town.”

According to Wells, there will be additional days and times on the 2022 schedule.

“We are so happy to be able to expand with more time for everyone to come and enjoy our wonderful annual event. Christ mas in Candyland was created to be a weekends in December event. This year, Christmas falls on a weekend, so we wanted to be sure to be open some additional times so that people could come out and enjoy it. I have three children and thought hard about the times they could come. We considered when the children get out of school for the holidays and decided to be open the week leading up to Christmas. We will be open Monday to Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m. during that week.

Santa, Mrs. Claus, his elves, and friends will then have to travel back to the North Pole to prepare for Christmas,” she said.

Wells added that she is beyond grateful to be a part of bring ing Candyland to life. “I have to attribute my years of being a performer myself, teaching at the Andalusia Ballet, and working at my family’s business, Vicki Popwell Portraits, for preparing me for this. Years of Nutcracker performances and designing Christmas cards have all led to my experience in all things Christmas related.”

Candyland would not be pos sible each holiday season without all the planning and behind-the-

scenes work to make it happen.

“I was already dreaming of ideas for this year’s Candyland during last year’s season. Due to weather conditions last year, we had to postpone our Cocoa with Characters to a later date, and it turned out to be the beginning of something magical. I asked if Mickey and Minnie would get on the stage and do a quick little dance, and as you can imagine, the crowd was mesmerized. I knew right then I wanted to make the Meredith’s Miracles Charac ters in Candyland happen. Also, the city employees put in so much time and preparation in all the set up and the production of Can dyland. It’s because of their hard work that we can make the magic of Candyland happen,” she said.

Wells shared three main rea sons why Andalusia continues to thrive with Candyland: tourism, retail stimulation, and community involvement.

“Christmas in Candyland brings people into our commu nity and is great for boosting business. In 2021, 80,000 people visited Candyland. Retail in Andalusia showed a 30 percent increase in December alone, and Candyland undoubtedly brings our community together in the best way possible. Whether it’s through the team building process of building a cottage, preparing for a performance on the stage,

or group of friends that come out to enjoy the festivities together, there is something for everyone. Candyland has been featured in numerous publications, is nationally recognized, and has put Andalusia on “the map.” We have made one post on our Christmas in Candyland Facebook page about this upcoming season and have reached over 230,000.”

Wells gave a special recognition to those who sponsor cottages for Candyland. “I believe this is the unique element that makes Can dyland a standout. It is wonderful to see the looks on the faces of the children interacting in the cottag es, and I love that it is more of a hands-on museum per se. We let children play and be children. It is because of the generosity of these Chamber businesses and orga nizations that saw the vision and continue to support Candyland that it continues to be great. We have some new cottages being built this year, and I can’t wait for the excitement.”

For more information about Christmas in Candyland 2022, email laura@andalusiachamber. com or call the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce at 334222-2030.

“We thank you all for your continued support of Candyland and can’t wait to see you there. Year nine is going to be amazing,” Wells said. n

Christmas in Candyland Schedule

Open December 2-22, 2022 on the Court Square in Downtown Andalusia and at Springdale on Ice at 505 E. Three Notch Street. No admission charge!

Candyland Cottage Open Play: December 2-15, 2022 schedule: Fridays - 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays - 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays - 1 to 5 p.m.

December 19-22, 2022 schedule: Monday - 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday - 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday - 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday - 1 to 9 p.m. (Final Day of Can dyland)

2022 Finale on Thursday, Dec. 22

Close Out Concert - 7 p.m. Fireworks - 9 p.m.

On the Candyland Stage Characters in Candyland Shows

Saturdays - 6 p.m. Sundays - 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 - 6 p.m.

Concerts and Carols Fridays - 7 p.m.

On the Springdale Stage Catch our talented locals on the stage throughout Candyland!

Character Meet and Greets Santa Visits

December 3-22 Saturdays - 1 to 4 p.m.

Sundays - 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 - 1 to 4 p.m. Meet Santa in front of the Springdale House.

Meet Frozen! December 3-22 Saturdays - 4 to 6 p.m. Sundays - 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 - 4 to 6 p.m. Meet Frozen characters in the Frozen Garden.

Meet Mirabel! Fridays - 5 to 7 p.m.

Stop the Grinch Saturday, Dec. 3 - 1 p.m. until

Cocoa and Characters Saturday, Dec. 10 - 4 to 6 p.m.

Attractions

Polar Bear Tubing Hill Open all Candyland hours $1 per slide

Winter Skating Rink Open all Candyland hours $5 for 30 minutes (includes skate rentals)

Candyland Express Open all Candyland hours FREE

Snow and Light Shows All day on the Square

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides $5 per person

Catch the carriage on the Square.

Nutcracker

The Sylvie King, Zoey Jones selected to play “Clara” role in 32nd annual production

TThe Andalusia Ballet returns this holiday season with its traditional annual performances of “The Nutcracker.”

Among the cast for this year’s production will be two Andalusia Junior High School students performing the coveted role of Clara. Zoey Jones, 12, and Sylvie King, 13, were each awarded the part based on their skills and their past experience.

Zoey, a seventh-grader, has been involved with Anda lusia Ballet for about six years and has played a variety of roles in other productions, including other parts in “The Nutcracker.”

“I joined the ballet because I thought it would be fun and something I could enjoy with my friends,” Zoey said.

She said her previous experiences in the ballet will help her in preparing for the role of Clara. She has played sev eral roles in “The Nutcracker” in recent years, including a mouse and was a party scene girl in last year’s production.

“I’ve always enjoyed [past productions] and it was a good experience to perform with others who are at different levels. I think it is great that we have professional dancers come in because it is a great experience for us who are on lower levels,” Zoey said.

Sylvie, who is also in the seventh grade, began with the ballet when she was about 3-years-old.

“My dad used to do gymnastics and my mom was in ballet. I didn’t really prefer sports so I thought ballet was a good opportunity to challenge myself,” Sylvie said.

She said preparing for “The Nutcracker” is always a great experience for her.

“I think it is a really good opportunity. I’ve gotten to see older dances who have been dancing, probably, their entire

Drosselmeyer - Eric Lidh

Clara - Zoey Jones, Sylvie King

Party Girls - Ramsey Bergfeld, Julia Cotter, Anna Bell

Ennis, Aubri Claire Gatlin, Eleni Gibson, Lyla Henley, Ella Knowles, Sara Grace Mills, Mary Kate O’Neal, Eden Popwell, Karringtin Weaver, Ella Worrell

Little Party Girls - Saylor Hines, Lacey Rudd

Columbine Doll - Hannah Fleming, Bella Ralls

Pierrot Doll - Emma Beth Ennis, Kathryn Thompson

Harlequin Doll - Finley Hilson, Banks Merrell

Mice - Molly Brady, Charli Grace Brannon, Ka’Lissa Dees, Annabelle Kelley, Paisleigh Little, Reaghan Nicholson, Isabel Reaves, Arlen Shelnutt, Helen Wilson, Emma-Leigh Worley

Soldiers - Ramsey Bergfeld, Julia Cotter, Isabella De Prinzio, Anna Bell Ennis, Emma Beth Ennis, Hannah Fleming, Aubri Claire Gatlin, Eleni Gibson, Lyla Henley, Finley Hilson, Ella Knowles, Banks Merrell, Sara Grace Mills, Mary Kate O’Neal, Eden Popwell, Bella Ralls, Kath

ryn Thompson, Karringtin Weaver, Ella Worrell

Tree Fairy - Mia Baumgartner, Ivy Rogers

Prince - Zeke Landreneau

Snow Queen - Isabella Kipp

Snowflakes - Aliana Anderson, Mia Baumgartner, Isabella Burgess, Robin Correro, Anna Claire Godwin, Mary-Grace Hammett, Maddie Jessie, Everly Mack, Emily Anne Morgan, Ivy Rogers, Sara Catherine Sansom, Anna Williams, Cindy Williams

Golden Angel - Isabella Burgess, Sara Catherine Sansom

Angels - Emma Beth Ennis, Hannah Fleming, Finley Hil son, Zoey Jones, Sylvie King, Everly Mack, Banks Merrell, Bella Ralls, Kathryn Thompson, Aida Bryan, Elora Bryant, Emi Bzhezinska, Tenley Etheridge, Aria Jackson, Hadley McDaniel, Khloe Morris, Olivia Rhea, Swinley

Roper, Clara Stephens, Annaliese Thompson, Raylee Tidwell

Crown Bearer - Lillie Ann Burnett

Jesters - Mattie Knowles, Alice Rogers, Callie Sightler

Candy Canes - Isabella DePrinzio, Anna Rose Dixon, Maycie Johns, Adalyn Johnson, Jieun Oh, Alyssa Thomp son, Alex Veasey

Ella - Kate Worley

Spanish Lady - Mia Baumgartner, Ivy Rogers

Arabian Lady - Isabella Burgess, Sara Catherine Sansom

Arabian Corps - Isabella Burgess, Anna Claire Godwin,

Mary-Grace Hammett, Maddie Jessie, Sara Catherine Sansom, Anna Williams, Cindy Williams

Chinese Lady - Mia Baumgartner, Ivy Rogers, Cindy Williams

Chinese Corps - Ramsey Bergfeld, Julia Cotter, Anna Bell Ennis, Aubri Claire Gatlin, Eleni Gibson, Lyla Henley, Maycie Johns, Adalyn Johnson, Ella Knowles, Sara Grace Mills, Mary Kate O’Neal, Eden Popwell, Karringtin Weav er, Ella Worrell

Marzipan Lady - Anna Claire Godwin, Mary-Grace Hammett

Marzipan - Emma Beth Ennis, Hannah Fleming, Finley Hilson, Banks Merrell, Bella Ralls, Kathryn Thompson

Mother Ginger - Gina Kerr

Gingersnaps - Annabeth Adams, Claire Brady, Paige Brady, Rosie Diamond, Reyne Gibson, Georgia McKee, Ansley Morris, Hazel Rose O’Neal, Emma Patrick, Adalyn Sansom, Ayla Veasey, Madelyn Wells

Dewdrop Fairy - Aliana Anderson, Robin Correro

Flowers - Aliana Anderson, Mia Baumgartner, Isabella Burgess, Robin Correro, Anna Claire Godwin, MaryGrace Hammett, Maddie Jessie, Isabella Kipp, Everly Mack, Ivy Rogers, Sara Catherine Sansom, Anna Williams, Cindy Williams

Sugar Plum Fairy - Emily Anne Morgan

* Subject to Change

Zoey Jones, left, and Sylvie King, both seventh graders at Andalusia Junior High School will perform the role of Clara in Andalusia Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

lives and have done so much outside of ‘The Nutcracker.’ Seeing all my friends alongside me dance. It’s a great experience and a fun thing to do,” Sylvie said.

“Both of these girls have been with us since they were very young; we have watched them grow up,” said Andalusia Ballet Director Meryane Murphy. “Some students sign up very young and over time decide it is not for them. Zoey and Sylvie have stayed and put in a lot of hard work to be where they are today.”

For both girls, being selected for the role of Clara is a milestone in their ballet pursuits.

“I think it is an honor to be chosen. I was really working to get the part this year. I think it is an honor for my teachers to have the trust in me to do this part,” Zoey said.

Prior to this year, Zoey’s favorite role in “The Nutcracker” was playing a party scene girl last year. “It was fun being put into different families with your friends.”

For Sylvie, her favorite previous role was being a “little” party girl, as well as the older party girl. “It’s the same, but dif ferent. As a little party girl, you are there mostly to have fun, but the older party girl is more important because you are show ing the little girls.”

The girls each have other favorite performances with the Andalusia Ballet. Sylvie said she enjoyed playing a troll and a page in “Cinderella” when she was younger. Zoey enjoyed playing a racoon in “The Forest.”

Both said that among their favor ite things is being able to practice and perform with their teachers and friends. Murphy said the family-like atmosphere is ever-present behind the scenes.

“Our dancers really are like a family back stage. They grow up and play differ ent roles, but they are all in it together. It really is fun to watch,” she said.

Both Zoey and Sylvie are excited to per form as Clara this holiday season, but look forward to continuing to grow as dancers with their Andalusia Ballet family.

“I enjoy being able to do all the perfor mances and growing with the ballet. I also love all the teachers,” Zoey said.

“I love the excitement of coming back and having a new opportunity to do a different part. Whether it is Nutcracker or our spring performances, it’s exciting to learn what you are going to get to do. It’s always a surprise,” Sylvie said.

Murphy said she has seen that both

Fan favorite Eric Lidh will delight audiences once again this year as he becomes the mystical Herr Drosselmeyer in Andalusia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”

dancers take satisfaction in growing as dancers.

“They both seem to enjoy the challenge of improving and being able to do things better from year to year, learning different steps and different ways of putting them together,” she said.

For Murphy, there are many reasons for Zoey and Sylvie to be this year’s Claras.

“Their personalities are perfect. They both like characters and will put a lot into this role. They have been working very hard for many years and each have the technique to do a wonderful job. And, they are smart, which is important. They are on stage the entire ballet and they have to know what is going on at all times,” Martin said.

Zoey is the daughter of Dr. Troy and Angie Jones. When she is not practicing

her ballet steps, she enjoys horseback riding. She and her horse, Reveillez, have recently started working on English jump ing. Her favorite subject in school is Math.

Sylvie is the daughter of Dr. Parrish and Katie King. She is involved with the swim team during the summer and was on the volleyball team this past season. Her favorite subject is Math.

Sylvie, Zoey and the rest of “The Nutcracker” cast will perform the clas sic ballet on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; and on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be on the LBW Community College in the Martha and Solon Dixon Center of Performing Arts. Tickets may be purchased online at andalusiaballet.com/event or at lbwcc. edu/events. n

Angel of Hope

Local family deals with personal loss by helping others heal

Story and PhotoS by Zack Maio

Carol and David Moore display a portrait of their grandson, John David Stroud, who was killed in a 2021 car accident at the age of 17.

With the Angel of Hope preserving the lives of deceased children across the country, longtime residents Carol and David Moore are leading efforts to bring the statue to Andalusia.

“The Angel of Hope is a bronze angel statue with a wing span of more than 5 feet and a height of 4 feet. The word ‘hope’ is written on one of the angel’s wings. The purpose of the Angel of Hope is a me morial for families with lost children. Plans are being made for the statue and pedestal to be placed in Robinson Park on Church Street. The statue will be surrounded by a beautiful memorial garden. This ha rem will serve as a place for reflection and remembrance for grieving parents and others touched by the loss of a child at any age,” Carol Moore said.

The Moores’ grandson

W17-year-old John David Stroud passed away in a one-car accident June 23, 2021. After being inspired by visits to other Angels of Hope in LaGrange, Georgia, and Dothan, they made the decision to have a local one made.

“The angel provides hope for families with children who died far too young. It has given me hope and purpose as well as energy and enthusiasm to bring such an angel to Andalusia. After the loss of John David, we had to have a purpose for what happened and to have a way for our children not to be forgot ten. Near the end of 2021, we were invited to a service in La Grange called Angel of Hope. Many families in our commu nity have lost children, so this is being done for all of us and not just for John David.”

An Angel of Hope for Cov

ington County committee of eight individuals was formed.

“Our board consists of June Simpson, Sue Taylor, Michele Gerlach, Roger Powell, Dawn Thompson, Meredith Moore Jordan, my husband David Moore, and myself. We have discussed several ideas to con tinue serving the community by placing flowers on the statue on the birthday of a child and also to have special services at other times of the year. Plans are also to sell memorial tiles or brick. Our plans have not been totally developed and will be decided as soon as the ideas for the statue and pedestal are complete. We are hoping spring 2023 will be enough time to get all of our ideas in place. The Angel of Hope and garden will be here long after we are gone always providing a guiding light and a place of hope.”

The committee is working with the City of Andalusia to create an area in Robinson Park for the statue and garden.

“We usually hold meetings at City Hall on the second Tues day of each month at 6 p.m., and they are open to anyone who is interested. All you need is a big heart and a feeling of compassion as well as a need to give of yourself. Our hope is that Robinson Park will be a place of reflection and remem brance for grieving parents and bring healing and hope to everyone,” Moore said.

The total cost of the project is $15,500 and includes the bronze angel, a pedestal, a walking path, landscaping, lighting, and a fence surrounding the area. Each statue is numbered and is not sculptured until purchased with shipping reflected in the above price.

Carol Moore, John David Stroud, David Moore, and Stroud’s mother, Allison Harris.

The Angel of Hope for Covington Coun ty was ordered this summer in June with an expected arrival in October. The Angel organization received $8000 from our organizers in June with another check to be mailed when the angel is ready to ship. To help with costs, Moore and the com mittee held a fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Farmer’s Market on Tisdale Street in Andalusia.

Individuals and businesses who are still interested in helping can send or deliver tax-deductible donations to Wells Fargo in Andalusia. Checks should be payable to Covington County Partnership for Chil dren with a memo indicating they are for the Angel of Hope. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for donations at Angel of Hope for Covington County.

According to Moore, the national Angel of Hope organization had a request for the committee at the time of purchase. “We will have a special candlelight service each year on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. for people who have lost children and those seeking to comfort them. This date is known in many parts of the world as National Children’s Day.”

The original Angel of Hope is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is also known as the Christmas Box Angel.

“Many people in the Utah area believe a similar angel once existed in a Salt Lake City cemetery; however, the name of the angel came from a fictional story known as ‘The Christmas Box’ written by Richard Paul Evans. Mr. Evans erected the statue due to the many requests by grieving par ents. Today, there are more than 160 dedi cated statutes in the United States, Canada, and Japan,” she said.

Carol and David Moore are the parents of Allison (Scott) Harris and Meredith (Tim) Jordan and are grandparents to John

For more information message the Angel of Hope for Covington County Facebook

page or call 334-488-0659 or 334-343-9295.

“We thank you Covington County for your outstanding response to this project. You will make it possible,” the Moores said. n

David Stroud, Spencer Stroud, and Wilson Stroud.

ABOVE: John David with his mother and grandmother. BELOW: John David enjoying a kayaking trip and an upclose view from the Auburn sideline as a younger child.

CHRISTMAS PARADES

Four Covington County communities open the holiday season with annual Christ mas parades.

Andalusia

The Andalusia Area Chamber of Com merce will hold a Christmas Parade on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.”

Opp

The Opp Chamber of Commerce will host its Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “An Ornamental Christmas.”

Red Level

The Town of Red Level will hold its Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m.

Florala

The Florala Chamber of Commerce will hold its Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Christmas on the Big Screen.”

FBC LIVE NATIVITY

First Baptist Church of Andalusia will

hold its annual “Evening in Bethlehem” Live Nativity on Dec. 2, 3 and 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly. The drivethrough nativity entrance starts on Tisdale Street. The nativity includes live animals and actors playing roles of key figures from the Bi ble. The event is free and there is a dropoff for those wishing to donate canned food or other non-perishable items that will be given to the Christian Service Center.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Pilot Club of Andalusia will hold its annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast event on Saturday, Dec. 3, 5:30 a.m. until noon, at

the Kiwanis Building. Tickets are $8 per per son for all you can eat. Funds raised assist the Pilot Club with its annual local charitable contri butions. Tickets are available from any Pilot Club member, Sanbuck Insurance, and the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce.

HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES

The Pilot Club of Andalusia will feature holiday-decorated homes during its annual Holiday Tour of Homes. The event will be held Sunday, Dec. 4 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Participants visit each home on their own during the alloted time. Tickets are $15 and available from any Pilot Club member, Sanbuck Insurance, and the Anda lusia Area Chamber of Commerce.

Learning Life Skills

Jana Clark’s Family and Consumer Sciences class engages students through hands-on learning, community involvement

JJana Clark was influenced by her family and a personal experience so much that she found her calling as a family and consumer scienc es teacher at Andalusia High School.

“As a career and technical education teacher, I aim to focus on college and career readiness skills. There are 16 career clusters in CTE with family and consumer sciences falling under the human services cluster. Several years ago, our state CTE representatives asked us to survey the careers in our area in order to determine for which programs we would teach and prepare our students. Due to the number of social workers, counselors, teachers, daycare workers, and healthcare professionals in Covington County, my career tech director Anthony Mikel and I decided to choose the family studies and community services program. As a result, many of my former students are now daycare and elementary school teachers, CNAs and nurses, social workers, and mental health counselors,” Clark said.

She teaches four different classes: family studies and community services I and II, food and nutrition, and family and consumer sci ences. Cooking and sewing are offered as traditional home econom ics skills.

“I also cover career readiness skills such as how to complete a job application, how to create a résumé, and how to perform in an interview. The students then participate in a mock interview with business leaders in Covington County. Before COVID, I would also set up a job shadowing opportunity for my students to see what a day in the life of their future career might look like.”

Additional topics include lifespan development, budgeting, mar riage and family life, parenting, fashion, housing, food and nutrition, table manners and formal table setting, and basic sewing skills. As a result, there are two credentials offered: ServSafe and Guest Service Gold.

“Two of my classes volunteer at Andalusia Elementary School on Thursdays and Fridays during their class time. They deliver 175 Full Tummy bags to AES every Thursday and teach a lesson for their AES classes. In order to prepare for that, I teach my students how to create a lesson plan and how to manage time-on-task. In addition to these skills, I incorporate time management, higher order thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, communication/social, and cop ing skills into my classes,” she said.

Clark serves as the sponsor of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, more commonly referred to as FCCLA. Stu dents who are members of FCCLA serve the community through volunteering at local activities and events.

“Some of our most common volunteer efforts include St. Mary’s Red Beans and Rice Drive and 5K, the Monster Mash Dash 5K, Candyland, The Full Tummy Project, Community Christmas, the Covington County Fair and fair booth competition, and delivering

Story and PhotoS by Zack Maio

Members of Jana Clark’s student organization

FCCLA, formerly known as FHA, volunteer to fill Full Tummy Bags at least once a year. The club also contributes monthly food donations based on the need of the Full Tummy Project.

Christmas cards and gifts to An dalusia Manor residents. We also participate in a few field trips each year to expose our students to different activities and volunteer programs outside of our county. In the past, we have traveled to Atlanta to attend the Ameri casmart Fashion Market and Fashion Show and then explore other Atlanta attractions during our stay.”

She is currently in her 10th year of teaching at Andalusia High School and 15th year overall. She began teaching at Florala High School in the fall of 2008 under principal Terry Holley.

Each of her classes includes a mix of ninth through twelfth grade students. She follows the career and technical Alabama Course of Study standards for each one of my classes and plans her lessons and activities in con junction with those standards.

“The skills I teach will be needed on a daily basis. Life is hard enough already, so if they have a solid foundation with these skills, I feel they will have a better chance at success not only in their careers but also in their personal lives as well. Many of the skills I teach are no longer taught at

home because both parents work outside of the home. Therefore, many of my students come to me with no background knowledge of basic cooking or cleaning skills. As a result, I have to start from scratch. When I first started teaching, I could just build on the skills that my students already acquired,” Clark said.

Prep work is essential because her class is mainly hands on. “I do a lot of prep work in order to get ready for sewing and food labs. I spend my planning and time after school, including weekends, gro cery shopping, planning lessons, and creating a lot of my own re sources to use in the classroom.”

The skills students learn in her class will undoubtedly be benefi cial for their futures.

“I hope my students gain confidence from knowing that they can achieve hard things, for my class challenges them to step outside of their comfort zones and experience things they never thought possible. I hope my stu dents can breathe a little easier at their first jobs, in their social and personal relationships, and in life in general as a result of my class,” she said.

A 2003 Florala High School

Full Tummy Project of Covington County directors Katie King, middle, and Jenny Pate, right, and Jana Clark work together to fill Full Tummy bags for Covington County students.

Clark’s second block family and consumer sciences class excelled during the sewing unit.

alumna, Clark enjoys the relationships she builds with students the most.

“Due to the nature of my class, I get to know the students on a different level than might be possible in the average classroom. Students who might not achieve success in the core subjects sometimes excel in my classroom. They find their niche and build confidence in their newfound abilities. For mer students who are now adults inform me through social media about the jobs they were hired for using their ServSafe certificate, send me pictures of new recipes they have cooked, and still ask if I will be a reference for a college or job application. I am often invited to and attend weddings and baby showers of former students. I recently ran into three former stu dents who were shopping together in Walmart with their children. One of the students made the comment that it was crazy they were now shopping for their own food to cook for their own family and children versus cooking in my class and caring for the computerized baby.”

During her senior year of high school, she intended to become an English teacher but changed her mind upon being placed in Patricia Wilcox’s parenting class. “She was my former home economics teacher. Not even a month into the class, I remember thinking to myself, ‘This is good stuff. This is what stu

dents really need to know and learn—things about real life.’ At that moment, I decided to become a family and consumer sciences teacher. I believe that core subjects are equally as important, but the knowledge of basic life skills gives students a competitive advan tage over those students who have not been exposed to career and technical education classes.”

Clark earned her associate’s degree from LBW Community College in 2005 and bache lor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from the University of Montevallo in 2008.

“Family and consumer sciences is a dying art, yet there is a need for it now more than ever. Due to the rising popularity of technol ogy and other factors, work ethic and social skills are at an all-time low. I am forever grateful to those who want to spotlight the im portance of teaching family and consumer sci ences. I pray the existing family and consumer sciences programs in Covington County’s schools will continue to thrive and flourish. It is my hope the schools that do not currently have the program decide to implement one in the near future.”

She expressed her gratitude to many people for giving her the opportunity at AHS.

“Brad Garner, former science teacher and coach at Florala High School and Andalusia High School, informed me of the job open ing and encouraged me to apply. Bennie Shellhouse, assistant principal at Andalusia High School at the time, set up my interview with Dr. Daniel Shakespeare and settled any concerns I had about losing tenure at my pre vious school. Dr. Shakespeare recognized my potential and made me feel I could conquer the world through my teaching.”

Clark is the daughter of Leon and Ann Nichols of Florala and James Morrow of An dalusia. She is married to her husband, Chris Clark, and they have a 13-year-old daughter, Anna, who is an eighth grade student at An dalusia Junior High School. n

Clark shows Kyler Kimbril how to fold, iron, and hem of the last step of his apron: the pockets.

Jana Clark demonstrates for Anna Williams how to set the embroidery machine to embroider her apron.

Feeding Her

Story by Stephanie SnodgraSS

IIt’s the macarons for retired Straughn High School Guidance Counselor Linda Varner — a passion that led her to France in October to learn how to perfectly craft the “temperamental” delicacies from the people who created them.

Varner, who retired about five years ago and considers herself a hobby baker, dis covered her love of baked treats at first bite atop the quintessential Parisian landmark, the Eiffel Tower in 2018. Varner said she found herself in Paris following an invite to visit from her daughter-in-law’s parents who lived in Germany. She said she booked a tour of London and Paris to make the most of the adventure.

“Things don’t come more French than that,” Varner said of the tasting experience. “From that first bite, it was the most deli cious thing I’d ever tasted, but they are so expensive. I knew that to ‘feed my habit,’ I had to learn how to cook them at home.”

She immediately turned to YouTube and any source of information she could find on baking macarons. She went as far as to take her first baking class at The Black Cat Café in Enterprise.

“Chef has baking classes ever so often,” Varner said. “I found out about them during my Googling. I learned so much from her.

It took two classes and countless online tutorials two years from her first bite before Varner said her macarons met her stan dard.

“Those things are so temperamental,” she said of the cooking. “If its humid at all, they won’t bake right. If you don’t stir them right – the French call it macronage – they don’t turn out right. If you don’t whip your egg whites to the exact consistency, they don’t turn out right. I bake mine at this temp and you do it, and they would fail. You have to learn your oven and timing. And have a lot of perseverance.

“Describing the taste – the shell is egg whites and sugar, so you get a little crunch with a little chew in the middle,” she said. “The filling is whatever you can imagine; whatever you can make you can fill them with it. My favorite is chocolate because I’m a chocolate lover.

“That taste, it just did something to me,” she said. “Making them at home, but in France – well, that’s another. For about two years, I had been eyeing this ‘cooking vacation’ near Bourdeax (France) called Le Gargantua. It was always full when I checked. At the beginning of September,

Retired Straughn High School Guidance Counselor Linda Varner enjoys her first macaron at the top of the Eiffel Tower in 2018.

I clicked over, and it said partially full, and I did everything I could to get into it.”

In fact, to provide a full hands-on experience, only six seats are available. Varner got the sixth for the session. She left Covington County – alone –on September 30th and returned October 7th.

“I was so scared going by myself,” she said. “It was three planes, a shuttle, and a train, but I did it.”

During her stay, Varner said the group made two field trips and spent the remainder of the time cooking. The all-inclusive vacation also included three gourmet meals a day and fantastic wine.

“It was an experience all the way around,” she said. “We also made bread and croissants, which are tremendously hard to make. It’s layers upon layers and a lot of rolling and folding. Everything we ate was just delicious. I could not have eaten another bite once we left there. It was amazing.”

Also amazing were the trips to a local bakery and the site claiming to have the best macarons in the world, as well as the chocolate factory that was the inspiration for the movie, Chocolat, staring Johnny Depp.

“It was days and days of experiences I will never forget,” Varner said. “I want everyone who dreams of doing something like this to do it. If I can con quer my fear of going alone, you can do it, too.”

And since her fear of traveling alone is abated, the France trip was just the first for her, Varner said.

“I’m going to Italy,” she said. “Cooking classes there are something I dream of, and I’m going to do it – maybe in a couple of years.” n

LEFT PHOTO: Rows and rows of the ‘temperamental’ delicacies in the bakery. RIGHT PHOTO: A chocolate display inside the site credited as the inspiration for the Johnny Depp movie, Chocolat.

Varner pauses in the rolling and folding of her croissant making.