NEW TERM Show
A discussion with mayor, city council
Former students open time capsule 25 years later PAGE 22 PAGE 16
TIME TRAVEL PAGE 28
Westbrook house transformed for the holidays PAGE 10
Inspection Services Department
What does the Inspection Services Department do in Gardendale?
The Inspection Services Department is responsible for plan reviews, code enforcement, Issuing building permits and certificates of occupancy, and performing inspections on all building components. These components include structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, alarm/low voltage, natural/propane gas, irrigation, and signs.
Complaints: They also investigate complaints received from the public (i.e. weeds, trash, abandoned vehicles, ect.)
Planning and Zoning: is a division of the Inspection Services Department regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, building and property use, and location of all residential and commercial developments within the city. This department is also responsible for safeguarding property and public welfare through the enforcement of the city's zoning codes. This includes enforcement of the city's zoning ordinance (Ord. No. 2013-02), the Subdivision Regulations, and the Vision 2020 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Business Licenses: Inspection Services also performs inspections and verifies zoning for the release of business licenses, both for new businesses and for those having a change of location within the city. A New Business Start-Up Guide has been created to assist in this process. Information is also provided for the home occupation business licenses.
Blake Castleberry - Building Inspections Superintendent
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Physical Address: 925 Main Street Gardendale, AL 35071
Mailing Address: PO Box 889 Gardendale, AL 35071
Phone: (205) 631-1708
Noble Park hosts PumpkinFest Shortcut Recipe: Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs
Photos: Bill
/ About Us / On The Cover
About
the Cover
Who We Are
Gardendale Magazine is published monthly by JBMC Media, a Birmingham-based publishing company. The magazine is available at more than 100 locations throughout Gardendale, free of charge, and is supported by the advertisers within the pages of this magazine. Subscriptions by mail area also available for $40 per year. Visit jbmcmedia.com/magazinesubscriptions to start your subscription.
Gardendale Magazine is 100% local; the stories and photos are all about the city of Gardendale, its residents, its businesses, its schools, and its cultural institutions. It’s our promise to you that we will always keep it this way, so that the content and stories are relevant to everyone who calls Gardendale home.
Staff
Matthew Allen, Publisher (205) 883-1877 | matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Rachel Davis Karr, Content Director (205) 613-7850 | rachel@jbmcmedia.com
Michelle Salem Haynes, Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 | michelle@jbmcmedia.com
Anthony Bratina, Cover Designer
Shweta Bratina, Graphic Designer
Emily VanderMey Listo , Operations & Project Manager , Graphic Designer emily@emilylisto.com
Anthony and Crystal
created a magical holiday light show at their home in Gardendale.
@GardendaleMagazine @GardendaleMag Contact Us/Follow Us P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham, AL 35260 (205) 883-1877
PROUD MEMBER PUBLISHED BY
COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL WESTBROOK SECONDARY COVER PHOTO BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Westbrook have
There are few people I look forward to hearing from more than Peggy Tumlin. When my phone lights up with her name, I know she has found yet another story of an interesting resident or program in Gardendale that she wants to share. That was certainly the case when it came to this month’s cover–the Westbrook family, although I’m not sure even Peggy’s description did it justice because it simply has to be experienced to be truly understood. I know a visit to see their decorations is going to become a tradition for our family, and I hope you enjoy it just as much.
This issue also devotes space to the mayor and council members in this city, who work to better life for everyone here. Since coming to Gardendale a decade ago, I have been struck by how accessible Gardendale’s mayor and council members are to every single person in the city. Having been a reporter in many other places, that is not always the case. Early on, I remember being struck by the fact that Mayor Hogeland and the other council members were always willing to listen to people who truly wanted to better the city–even if there were complaints or criticisms involved. I don’t know that I have ever covered a city where people worked so well together and gave of themselves so selflessly–both those who are elected and the citizens who live here. Gardendale is a special place and, sometimes, I think we lose sight of that.
Rachel Davis Karr, Content Director
In theSpirit
Westbrook family lights up the Christmas season
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR
Last year, Anthony Westbrook decided to start shopping for permanent lights to affix to his house. He had no idea where that would lead.
“I was listening to a podcast and they started talking about permanent LED Christmas lights just underneath the soffit, and so when I started looking into it, that’s when I saw some others doing this across the country and showed it to Crystal.” Anthony remembers. “It kind of took off from there.”
“He wanted permanent house lighting and a Christmas tree and I wanted everything else,” his wife, Crystal, laughed.
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PHOTOS BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
“Everything else” is more than 180,000 lights synchronized with music to create a one-of-a-kind lightshow.
The house became known locally last December as “The Joy House” because of the eight-foot tall letters that spell “JOY.” There is also an 18-foot Christmas tree that serves as the centerpiece of the display. There are also singing Christmas trees on the roof, a “pixel forest” made of candy canes and so much more.
Each of the props is constructed of a frame that they purchase and then add lights and programming to customize the attractions.
“There’s a lot of engineering that Anthony does for us,” Crystal said. “It’s so many different pieces and shapes, but then you can make those shapes into different shapes.”
This means it doesn’t take the traditional form of Santa or reindeer or blowup decorations, but instead results in a dynamic, living display.
Each display is carefully choreographed to specific songs that are broadcast at 102.7 fm to make the experience more immersive. It takes about a year to fully plan the show–complete with musical selections and programming each prop to fire in response to the music at a specific time.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Crystal said. “You program the songs for each prop and when
// Continued on Page 14 //
they’re gonna light up. And I’m very particular about the songs I choose.”
The couple enjoys the creative challenge of creating the light show and making sure everything works together, but their favorite part are the stories they get from visitors. They have people bring their older relatives to enjoy the show, those who tell them they brought back the feelings of Christmas and one family nearby who brought their daughters almost every night–often in their pajamas and singing along with the music. They have also had numerous people send them messages, leave them notes or leave them small tokens of appreciation for the show.
They have also gotten a lot of support from the neighbors–no small feat, given that the traffic to see the lights often clogs the neighborhood streets.
“All of our neighbors were just so understanding, and they really loved it,” Crystal remembers. “When their families were coming in for the holidays and stuff they were bringing their families to watch the show. They’ve all been very supportive and encouraging to us about it. It’s really cool that everybody has kind of embraced the spirit of everything we’ve done.”
This year, the couple added a Halloween display (with 40,000 lights) and had several other displays to bridge the gap between Halloween and Christmas.
The schedule for the displays can be found at WestbrookFamilyLights.com. The Westbrook’s house is at 2041 Pinehurst Drive in Gardendale and the show runs on a 45-minute loop every night in December.
Opening up the past
STORY AND
BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR
In 2000, a group of fourth graders put a time capsule in the ground at Gardendale Elementary, after watching the 1980 class unearth their own capsule. The plan was for the group to gather at the school in 2020 and open their own capsule. Unfortunately, the pandemic made that impossible, so the capsule remained untouched, until some of the students and their teacher, Faye Kelly, decided that opening the capsule after 25 years had a nice ring to it. So, this fall, a dozen former students and their teacher gathered at GES to see what had been so important to them 25 years ago that they chose to preserve it.
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PHOTOS
“We were told to put something in that was important to us, but when you’re in fourth grade you don’t want to give up anything important,” Beth Varnes said. “But I was like ‘oh, I have a lot of beanie babies.’”
Varnes was one of the major driving forces behind getting the capsule opened back up. She remembers it making an impact on her when the class from 1980 returned in 2000 to open their capsule.
“We got to watch the, at that time, 30-year-olds, come back and open their time capsule,” Varnes remembers. “I thought, ‘man, that’s cool,’ they’re all adults and they’re coming back to school to get treasures out of this capsule that they had forgotten they buried. And I thought, ‘we’re going to get to do this,’ but it was so far in the future that we couldn’t really comprehend it.”
The capsule had to be moved from its original location, due to construction at the school, but the capsule, along with the cement used to seal it, was moved to the ground near the gym.
Kelly remembers when her class buried the capsule, to them it seemed like 20 years would be forever. One of the students even wondered if Kelly would be able to make it to the unearthing of the capsule.
“I had one student who said, ‘Ms. Kelly, you’re gonna be so old,’” Kelly remembers with a laugh. “Everyone always seems old when you’re in fourth grade. She said ‘if you’re in a wheelchair Ms. Kelly, I’ll come get you.’”
Kelly remembers her time as a teacher fondly, but remembers this class as being special.
Although all the students couldn’t make it–some are across the country, one just had a baby days before–about a dozen of the former classmates made the trek from cities across the state. Once the capsule was cracked open, there were several Beanie Babies, photos, a banner with the students’ predictions for the future, letters from the class and the school leaders, as well as several projects from the students.
Some current students got to attend the opening of the time capsule, even learning about the difference in price of common items then and now. Tradition help that the students should bury a time capsule to be opened in another 20 years, but a decision was made to have the students bury their own individual capsules at home, instead of a joint capsule at the school.
• Procell, Vi Peel
• Cryo therapy for weight loss or pain management
• Permanent Makeup
• Weight Loss Inc. Injections
• IV Drips
• 4D Baby Sonars
• Sneak Peek Early Gender Reveal
Carla Heron, Owner
Apex Academy hosts ribbon cutting
Apex Academy of Jiu Jitsu opened the doors of its new location at 222 Decatur Highway in October. The location teaches classes for all ages and is open Monday through Friday. For more information, visit their Facebook or call (205)706.5853.
Magnolia and June opens in Gardendale
Magnolia and June is a new boutique with fashionable clothes for all ages. Jillian Hand and her daughter started the boutique in their laundry room in 2021, but have now grown into a full boutique and screen-printing shop, with bright, bold pieces curated by Bailey McCurdy. You can shop online at MagnoliaandJun.com.
City announces Academy coming to Gardendale
Academy Sports + Outdoors is coming to Gardendale on Odum Road near Exit 271 on I-65. It will be located next to Longhorn Steakhouse. This will bring new jobs, increased revenue and new shoppers will pay dividends to the city for many years to come. Sitework for the 55,000 square foot building is currently underway.
Gardendale Council focused on shared goals
As Mayor Stan Hogeland and the five men who comprise the Gardendale City Council were sworn in on November 3, they were focused on moving the city forward.
The three veteran councilmembers–Alvin Currington, Adam Berendt and Will Hardman alongside newcomers Tim Bagwell and Taylor Houchins–already have shared views on how to move Gardendale forward. One of the things they agree on is the need for citizens to be more involved and vocal in the city.
“We need for every citizen to look for ways to get involved,” Hogeland said. “We have numerous board positions that citizens can participate and serve. My door is always open for anyone who would like to come and talk.”
“It’s important to participate,” District 1 Councilman Tim Bagwell said. “For example, the long term comprehensive plan is in a public comment phase. Though not legally binding, it does provide a road map for future growth and development and land use. Let us know what you think at plangardendale.com. It’s important to communicate, we can’t fix a problem or meet a need if we don’t know it exists.”
Many of the council members, as well as the Mayor, are active on
“I am usually on social media quite a bit and respond to a lot of questions,” District 2 Councilman Adam Berendt said. “I have been told by a lot of people that they appreciate that. I hope people see all of us as honest and approachable. I tell people I will always get you an answer, I cannot guarantee you it will be the answer you want, but I try to follow up with any question or item someone brings to my attention.”
Keeping the small-town feel of Gardendale is important to keep the dialog open between officials and residents.
“The biggest strength of our city is that we have a strong sense of community,” District 4 Councilman Taylor Houchins said. This city rallies around its own and is quite loyal. I wouldn’t call this a weakness, but our biggest challenge is growing while still trying to maintain that small town feel that has endeared families to Gardendale for generations.
“The main thing I want citizens to know is that I’m approachable and always open to conversation. Whether it’s an idea, a concern, or just feedback about something in our city, I would love to hear it. Your voices matter! I may not always have all the answers, but I promise to listen, communicate honestly, and do my best to represent everyone fairly.”
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STORIES BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF GARDENDALE
social media, which gives residents an easy way to reach out to the election officials.
Stan Hogeland
Mayor of Gardendale
There is no one who personifies Gardendale more than Mayor Stan Hogeland. Not only was he born and raised in the city, his entire life has been devoted to working for the people and city he loves.
“I took my first job with the city at age 14, and my first full time job at age 18,” Hogeland said. “I graduated from Gardendale High School. I retired as Parks and Recreation Director after a 35-year career.”
At that point, Hogeland said he felt called to retire from the department he loved and serve the city in a new way. He ran for, and was elected as the councilman for District 5 in 2012. He also served as the city’s first council president, until then-mayor Othell Phillips resigned as mayor in 2015. Hogeland served the remainder of that term as mayor and ran for the office unopposed in 2016, 2020 and 2025.
As he begins serving his eleventh year as mayor, Hogeland is looking forward to continuing his life of service to the community.
“My hope and prayer is to continue the momentum that we have been blessed with for the last 10 years in attracting new businesses, continuing our emphasis on improving public safety and putting children first in education and recreation,” Hogeland said. “We are a very blessed city with strong Christian values. Our sense of community is special. We must continue our efforts to improve on a daily basis and look for quality of life improvements that our citizens expect and deserve.”
Although Hogeland was unopposed once again in the most recent election, he wants to make it clear that he welcomes feedback and input from each member of the community.
“I’ve dedicated my entire life to the City of Gardendale,” Hogeland said. “I welcome every conversation with every citizen with ideas to improve our city. I’m pretty easy to get in touch with. I have never been more excited to begin another term. I truly believe that “greater things are yet to come in this city. It is both an honor and a blessing to serve as your Mayor of Gardendale.”
Tim Bagwell
District 1
Tim Bagwell was appointed to the Gardendale City Council in June, when council member Bryan Knox resigned his seat to become the director of the Gardendale Civic Center. He then ran as an incumbent and was reelected.
“I accepted the appointment because Gardendale is my home and the home of my family and so many very cherished friends, where we attend church and sent our children to school and where we have participated in many varied activities since we were kids ourselves,” Bagwell said. “It’s a special community, one which merits preserving, strengthening and growing, and I was honored that the council and mayor thought to ask me to serve. I ran for a full four year term for the same reasons, and also because this position is a learning process and stepping down after a few months just as I was getting a grasp of things seemed to me to be quitting before the job was done.”
Bagwell grew up in Mt Olive and is a Gardendale High School graduate, as is his wife. They have two adult sons, a daughterin-law and recently celebrated the birth of their first grandson.
Bagwell has been a real estate appraiser for three and a half decades, inheriting the company from his father.
Bagwell praised the job that city leaders have done over the last decade and recognized that it has left this council in a good position to move the city forward.
“I want to keep that going, and to continue to do so in ways that preserves the community spirit of Gardendale,” Bagwell said. “Challenges and opportunities await: early planning for the Northern Beltline, maintaining a balance between continued demand for residential and commercial growth with preserving the character of our community, an ever-evolving puzzle of resource allocation and wants and needs, doing everything we can to keep our local schools as well-performing as we can. My biggest hope is that I play my part in answering these challenges with wisdom and effectiveness.”
Bagwell had a clear message for the voters in the city.
“To those who voted for me, I thank you for your confidence and support, and I ask for your continued support and prayers,” Bagwell said. “I ask that you stay in touch with me on things which matter to you in this community, and to be active in community affairs themselves.
“To those who did not vote for me, my response is ‘it takes all kinds of instruments to make an orchestra.’ Your perspective and mine might be different, but if we can respectfully discuss those differences and come to a better understanding, even if not always agreement, that’s part of what makes effective self-governance work and work more effectively. I also ask you to stay in touch and for your prayers.”
“I’m looking forward to continue to grow into the job so that I can continue to get better at serving the citizens of Gardendale. It is a job which tends to look bigger and bigger the more you look at it. It’s a major responsibility that I do not take lightly, so I welcome the opportunity to continue to learn how to best serve my fellow citizens.”
Adam Berendt
District 2
As Adam Berendt begins his third term on the Gardendale City Council, he’s focused on the future of the city–both in terms of development and in terms of the next generation. He devoted a great deal of his time to the city’s Park and Recreation Department and with various youth sports programs in the city. Since he was unopposed in the most recent election, Berendt spent that time working on the city’s programs.
“I have worked hard this Summer to fill vacant spots on our Park and Recreation Board, and also to help form a new Youth Basketball Association to oversee the basketball program,” he explained. “I am excited to work with all of the great parents and volunteers on these 2 boards, and to see the basketball program grow in the city.”
Although Berendt has lived in the city for more than 20 years (and in the area since 1992), he hadn’t really considered a council seat, but a vacancy in his district led to neighbors asking him to run. After so much encouragement, he decided to throw his hat in the ring.
Now, as he begins his third term, it’s hard to believe how much has changed. He hopes the city will continue grow in smart ways this term, with an eye on what
“There have been a lot of big projects and developments over the past 2 terms,” he explained. “For the new term I would say completing the development by the interstate, and continuing to pursue more development options and housing options that citizens want and need.”
He knows that meeting those needs won’t be easy, but feels confident the city can rise to meet those challenges.
“Gardendale is limited in the availability of new undeveloped land when compared to a lot of other areas as the city is mostly built on ridges and mostly built out,” Berendt said. “So, that can be a challenge, as land and building costs are high for new projects and housing.”
He believes the strength of the city is in the community involvement.
“I think we have a strong sense of community especially with the schools, parks and youth sports options for families,” Berendt said. “I want to work hard to keep that community spirit alive and growing in the city.”
Berendt has a software development degree from Jefferson State, a bachelor’s degree In business administration from Huntingdon College, and a master’s degree in management from Troy University. He has worked in the software development and IT Management Field for about 27 years. Entering this term, he is excited about the city and where it is headed.
“I am very excited to be representing the citizens of District 2,” Berendt said. “It is basically the entire center of the city, and really the heart of Gardendale. We are all working hard to provide the best city services, park and recreation options, and new development and growth options we can for citizens while staying within the budget we have for the city. That would not be possible without citizens shopping local and having fantastic employees in the city departments that keep things going every day.”
Alvin Currington
District 3
Alvin Currington and his wife chose Gardendale as the place they wanted to raise a family more than two decades ago.
As Currington looked at ways to become involved in the community, an opportunity to run for council came his way. Now, beginning his fifth term, he remains focused on ensuring the city remains ideal for families, while balancing the needs of businesses and the growth of the city.
“I think our biggest priority would be public safety–I’d like to see our first responders in the police and fire departments grow,” Currington said. “Aside from that, the biggest goal is to increase walkability.”
To that end, the city received a grant to connect from the Jefferson County Courthouse satellite office to Veterans Park, but Currington said the next step will be connecting that sidewalk to Moncrief Road so the city would be walkable from the court house to Bill Noble Park.
To those who voted for him, Currington said, “I continue to appreciate their trust and confidence in my abilities to represent them. I also like to remind them that if they have a question or need anything or don’t know who to ask a question–I’m always available.”
To those who didn’t vote for him?
“I would say the same thing–I represent everybody and they can always reach out to me,” Currington said. “Technically I represent District 3, but really I represent everyone in city, and I am always available to talk to anyone if they have concerns, questions or ideas.”
Like many other council members, Currington touts the city’s employees as the biggest strength of the city.
“We’ve got some really people who work for the city,” he said. “Some have worked there a long time, some are new–but they are all really great people. They are the ones who provide all the services, and they’re the ones that makes the wheels turn. We
have a very seasoned leadership team with a lot of diverse experience.”
Currington hopes the city will be able to continue the success it has enjoyed over the past years, but knows that maintaining the balance of the city is as important as growth. While the city has enjoyed retail, commercial and residential growth, it can’t continue to grow unchecked and that shouldn’t be seen as a negative or a lessening of the leaders’ dedication to the city’s wellbeing. Often, things like infrastructure go unseen, but remain important for the city ro thrive.
“We know everyone always wants to know what’s next, but we also need to be able to keep things going forward and moving in a positive direction,” Currington said.
He also encourages more citizens to step up and get involved.
“All of our meetings are public,” Currington said. “We encourage people to come. We encourage people to get involved. We have different boards throughout the city and sometimes we need people to step up and fill in the gap. Don’t sit on the sidelines, come get involved in your community.”
Taylor Houchins
District 4
The newest member of the Gardendale City Council, Taylor Houchins, was recently elected to serve District 4. The 34-year-old has called Gardendale home for his entire life and has shaped many more young lives in his roles as a teacher and coach at Bragg Middle School and Gardendale High School. Now he hopes to be able to shape the future of the city he loves.
“Running for council was not originally something that was on my agenda,” Houchins said. “I had toyed with the idea in the past, but never saw it as something that could come to fruition. However, I am a man of faith, and I continued to feel a pull from our Lord telling me that this was something I should do. I take great pride in the City of Gardendale; I want to help lead and serve this city to my utmost ability to ensure that my family and the families of our community can continue to call it home for generations to come.”
Houchins is committed to the growth of the city, but knows that the growth has to be approached in the correct way to ensure the city remains stable and thriving.
“My main focus, outside of helping the community grow, is safety,” Houchins said. “I want to ensure that with this growth comes the necessary components to protect our citizens. Safety is not simply achieved through bolstering the Fire and Police departments. While appropriately supporting those entities is paramount, we must also make sure to adequately maintain and improve our infrastructure in order to handle the growth of the city.”
Houchins also said he is committed to uniting the voters in his district, whether they initially voted for him or not.
“To the people who voted for me, I say thank you,” Houchins said. “Thank you for believing in me
and placing your trust in my leadership. Your support means so much to me, and I will work diligently to honor that confidence by representing you with integrity, transparency, and dedication. To those who did not vote for me, I want you to know that I hear you, too. My commitment is to serve everyone in our community, not just those who supported me. I will work to earn your trust and make sure your voices are heard as we move forward together. No matter how we voted, we all share the same hope to see our community thrive. Let’s focus on what unites us and build something even better, together.”
“As I begin my term, I am really looking forward to listening, learning, and serving,” Houchins said. “This is an exciting opportunity, and I’m eager to work alongside fellow council members, city staff, and our residents to build on the progress we’ve already made. I’m most excited about connecting with people, hearing ideas, concerns, and hopes for our community.”
Will Hardman
District 5
Will Hardman has served the city as council member a decade ago, beginning when he was appointed to fill Stan Hogeland’s seat as he stepped into the mayor’s role.
“Being involved in politics was never on my radar,” Hardman said. “After being contacted to consider the option I asked a few men in my church, who I admired for their faith, for their guidance on the decision. Each of them encouraged me to “go for it.” After prayer and discussions with my wife we decided to begin the journey. Although there have been many challenges it has been a big blessing to be a part of what Gardendale is becoming.”
As he begins his fourth term, he is proud of what they have accomplished, and focused on continuing that growth.
“To be transparent, what I want to accomplish in the next term is to keep the momentum strong,” Hardman said. “We want to continue to strengthen our first responder departments while keeping a solid financial position. I feel the last few administrations, under the leadership of Stan Hogeland, have done a tremendous job of growing our city in several areas while trying to keep the feel of community. That’s our goal.”
In discussing the city’s strengths and weaknesses, Hardman had clear insights.
“In my opinion, the two greatest strengths of our city are our employees and the feel of community,” Hardman said. “Our employees do an incredible job keeping Gardendale a beautiful and safe place to live. It has been an honor to work with them over the past 10 years. I have nothing but admiration for each of our department heads and their teams.
“Gardendale has seen tremendous growth over the last few years. We now offer a great restaurant selection, incredible health care, and first class parks while keeping the small town feel.
“I don’t like saying our community has weaknesses. But there are challenges. I like to keep it real though. Our biggest challenge is the topography of our area. It’s difficult finding the next opportunity for growth. I also feel every community faces the
trials of keeping a strong financial position while growing your workforce.”
Hardman wants residents to know that the council members, mayor and employees are all working together for the betterment of the city, even if they can’t always discuss it or defend themselves against attacks. Hardman and his wife have lived in the city for more than two decades and have raised five children in the Gardendale area and want their hometown to thrive as much as anyone..
“Citizens need to understand being involved in small town politics isn’t easy,” Hardman said. “The current and past administrations sincerely have the citizens’ best interest at heart. Each team I have had the honor to serve with makes every decision based on what’s best for our community and our people. We aren’t always the favorites among certain groups of people but I assure you everything we do is to make Gardendale a better place to worship, live, work and play.”
PumpkinFest at Bill Noble
PHOTOS BY GARY SCHULTZ
The annual PumpkinFest event at Bill Noble Park drew ghosts and goblins from all over the area to enjoy the treats provided by the staff and vendors at the park. The next community event at Bill Noble will be the Christmas Village event on December 2, 5-8 p.m.
City Employee Spotlight
KENTON TILBURG
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, GARDENDALE PARKS AND RECREATION
Kenton Tilburg grew up in Florida, but three years ago he felt called to move to the North Jefferson area for his church. After researching various places, he felt drawn to Gardendale. One night, he was looking at the city’s website and a pop up asked if he had a question for the mayor. He filled out the form and asked about working for the city. Since it was 11:00 at night, he was surprised to find a response from Mayor Stan Hogeland sitting in his inbox less than an hour later.
That was three years ago. After completing the application process, he was hired to work for the parks and recreation department. He, his wife and their two children moved from Florida to Gardendale. It was a little bit of a culture shock to go from Florida’s beaches and sand to Gardendale’s hills and trees, but the family has fallen in love with the city. Another culture shock for Tilburg was going from working for a county department in Florida that had 2,300 employees to working with 8 or 9 here.
“It’s a lot more personable,” Tilburg said. “You get a lot closer with the guys, so it’s more of a family atmosphere. However, it dysfunctional that can be at times, but it’s kind of the closest to getting to really know your coworkers really well and not just have different divisions where everybody’s just a different number. The family atmosphere, I would say, is one of my favorite things. And it’s fun to work for a city where you live. I’ve always enjoyed working where I live, so it kind of gives you a sense of pride in your community.”
Part of that sense of community, for Tilburg is looking at ways to strengthen the community spirit.
“I’m King Christmas. I mean, it’s one of the things I’m known for,” Tilburg said. “So that is so fitting, and that is hilarious the timing. I love Christmas year around. I am all about Christmas. I love that we
have the Christmas parade, and we have the decorations.”
He and a friend have even put together a proposal to add a Christmas event to the city’s yearly events.
“[We] actually put together a proposal for a Christmas festival on the same weekend as the Christmas Parade at the Civic Center,” Tilburg said. “We’ve talked to the mayor, but we want to have a sit-down meeting with them to kind of lay it out and see if it’s something that they consider incorporating, because this town is too perfect for, like, the Hallmark-type Christmas movie. It’s just too perfect for it. And it needs something like that.”
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The Gardendale Civic Center has a long history of being a key quality of life asset for our city. We are excited as we embark on the next years of our journey with remodeling and updates that will make the Civic Center better than ever.
FAMILIAR FACE, NEW ROLE
After serving the City of Gardendale as the District 1 Councilman, Bryan Knox took on the role of Director of the Gardendale Civic Center this year. Stepping into this role gives Knox a chance to serve the community in a new way and keep the Gardendale Civic Center as a functional, welcoming space for the community.
As he takes the reins, the Civic Center is entering an exciting time of renewal and revitalization as it approaches the 25th anniversary of its grand opening. Those updates include a remodel of the exhibition hall to make it more versatile and upgrade the appearance of the room, as well as a resurfacing of the indoor walking track, solar shades on the walking track and a top-notch security system for the facility to ensure the Civic Center remains a safe place for all of Gardendale residents and visitors.
Bryan Knox
Director, Gardendale Civic Center
PO Box 889 / 857 Main St
Gardendale, AL 35071
205-631-5679 (o) • 205-514-8903 (c)
Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs
In The Kitchen with Kathleen Phillips
Kathleen Phillips is a food blogger, food stylist, cookbook author, and former Oxmoor House test kitchen director (Southern Living cookbooks). On her food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, she creates Southern shortcut recipes. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Food Blogger, GritsAndGouda.com
You know it’s going to be a fun party when the deviled eggs show up in costume! These Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs made their debut at my 8th Annual Holiday Cooking Show in November. They were listed as the most favorite recipe on our surveys!
This playful twist on an old-fashioned classic appetizer and side dish gets it’s green color from creamy avocado. Believe it or not, no mayo is needed! The edible “trees” are decorated with bits of red and yellow bell pepper for ornaments. Add a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese for a dusting of snow...which is all we ever get in Alabama, right?
INGREDIENTS
6 large boiled eggs
2/3 to 3/4 cup mashed very ripe avocado (1 medium avocado)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt or salt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons lime juice, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
(optional) Green food coloring for extra green color
1 small yellow or orange bell pepper
Minced red bell pepper or mini sweet red pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the boiled, peeled eggs in half crosswise instead of the typical lengthwise cuts. This will give you more of a round half than an oval half.
If desired, you can cut a tiny bit off the bottoms of the egg halves so they won’t wobble. This will be especially helpful after adding the filling.
Place the egg whites on your serving platter.
In a food processor, blender or in a large bowl using an electric mixer add the cooked yolks, avocado, lime juice, mustard and garlic salt. Process or mix until the egg mixture is smooth.
If you want a little more bright green color, add a drop or two of green food coloring.
You can also mash everything together with a potato masher or fork, but this way will give you the smoothest mixture to squeeze out of the pastry bag into the egg
cooked whites.
For fluted Christmas trees, spoon the filling mixture into a pastry bag (I prefer disposable pastry bags) fitted with a size 1M fluted piping tip. Squeeze the filling out so it almost fills the “bowl” of the egg whites, then release the pressure as you pull the bag upward, forming a pyramid shape, like a tree.
Using tweezers or a toothpick, decorate the tree with minced red pepper.
Using a knife or a tiny star-shaped cutters for food, cut out 12 stars from the yellow bell pepper. Place the star on top of each tree.
Finally, sprinkle a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese over the trees to resemble snow.
Store the Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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DECEMBER pop ups
12/6 nothing bundt cakes 12/13 The apple house 12/18 merge metals
december HIGHLIGHTS
12/12-12/24 enjoy our 12 days of christmas flash sales. follow our socials! live Christmas trees are still available join our loyalty program to earn free savings
SRES Honor Roll
These Snow Rogers Elementary students made the honor roll.
GES Congratulates Art Show Winners
These talented Gardendale Elementary School students whose creativity shined in this year’s Annual Jefferson County Board of Education Art Show.
Winners:
• Amelia Langdon –Landscape
• Victor Williams –Hamburger
• Hashem Dofash
– Owl
• Major Austin-Maxwell – Spaceship
GHS Government visits Alabama State Capitol
Students from Gardendale High School’s government class visited the Alabama State Capitol recently.
SRES Celebrates ACAP Scores
These Snow Rogers Alumni for making 4s on their ACAP from last spring.Not pictured: Tristen Pugh and Jazzleyn Cooley
Bragg Students of the Month
Bragg Middle School announced the November Students of the Month. These students were chosen by their teachers for their hard work, a great display of character and their willingness to go above and beyond.
Students of the Month are treated to lunch, courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings in Gardendale and given gift certificates, courtesy of Sonic.
Students of the Month
6th Grade - Foster Ma and Aubrey Armstead
7th Grade - Allison Reynolds and Brent Webb
8th Grade - Julianna Cruse and Chloe Berendt
Fultondale High School
Congratulations to Fultondale High School student Kennedee Sanders for earning Honorable Mention at the Exceptional Education Art Show.
Mortimer Jordan Cheer
Congratulations to the Mortimer Jordan cheerleaders, who placed 2nd in the Jefferson County Cheer Competition.
Morris Mayor and Council
The Town of Morris celebrated the newly elected officials as they took their oaths of office and pledged to serve the community with dedication and vision.
Toddler Town Opens
Toddler Town is a vibrant and safe haven for little explorers, designed to help toddlers learn, play, and grow — all while having fun!
Fultondale Opens Public Safety Training Center
The City of Fultondale Police Department and Fultondale Fire & Rescue celebrated the opening of their new Public Training Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony
This addition to the city will serve as a shared space for ongoing training, education and collaboration; strengthening the skills of those who serve and protect the community every day.
Ribbon Cutting at 4:19 MEGA Store and Boutique
4:19 Mega Store & Boutique recently opened at its new, larger location in Fultondale. They offer a wide variety of vinyl, blanks, embroidery, screen printing supplies and custom design products.
Ribbon Cutting Jesus Loves You International Ministries
Jesus Loves You International Ministries, Inc. recently hosted a ribbon cutting. This growing ministry is dedicated to spreading love, faith, and hope throughout our community and beyond. Learn more about their mission at jluim.org and follow them on Facebook.
Nix Agency Ribbon Cutting
The Nix Agency – Nationwide Insurance, located in Warrior, Alabama, recently opened.
Gardendale Police hire new dispatcher
The Gardendale Police Department recently announced the hiring of Dispatcher Kayla Headrick.
Gardendale Police hire four new officers
Gardendale Police Department announced the hire of four new officers:William Artman, Luke Hall, Ryan Myers and Garrett McConnell.
Gardendale Police hire new crossing guard
The Gardendale Police Department recently announced the hiring of Crossing Guard, Ashley Kilgore.
City honors Greg Colvert
The City of Gardendale recognized and thanked Greg Colvert for his 13 years of service as a city council member.
Civic Center hires Laborer
The Gardendale Civic Center hired Gary Higginbottom as a part time laborer.
Gardendale Police Department hires Caufield
Gardendale Police Department recently hired Cade Caufield as a parttime staff member.
Amazing
Gardendale Christmas Parade
The annual Gardendale Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will be December 4 at 6 p.m. This year’s theme will be “A Storybook Christmas.” Each float brings classic holiday tales and favorite characters to life.
Rocket Around the Christmas Tree
The annual Christmas Tree Trail will open at the Civic Center on Dec. 4 and will be displayed until December 28. The trees, sponsored by local businesses, groups and individuals, serve as a fundraiser for the Dick Lee Scholarship Fund.
Coat Drive and Food Trucks
Stephen’s Hotdog Wagon, Pandy’s Sno Biz, GreenTop BBQ and more will be serving up delicious eats while they collect new or gently used coats to help keep local families warm this winter. Saturday, December 20 at the Gardendale Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kids Art Classes
The kids art class at Bill Noble Park will be December 12 (6-8 p.m.). The cost is $20 per child and registration is at BillNoblePark.com.
Kids Cooking Classes
The kids cooking class at Bill Noble Park will be December 19 (6-8 p.m.). The cost is $25 per child and registration is at BillNoblePark.com.
Golden Eagles
The Gardendale Golden Eagles meet on the second Friday of the month at the Gardendale Senior Center beginning at 12:15 pm and ending at 1:30 pm. The group is open to anyone 55 or older and features lunch speakers and fun day trips.
Stock Little Free Library
Help us stock our Little Free Library! We are in need of children’s and young adult books in good to perfect condition to stock our Little Free Library (LFL) located by the soccer fields off of Fieldstown Road. Donations can be placed directly in the LFL or you can bring them to the front desk at the library.
Library Food Pantry
Our library food pantry always need the following items: hearty soups/stews/chili, varieties of canned chicken/tuna/ham, singlesized and normal cereal, granola type bars, fruit cups, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal/grits packets, pasta and Alfredo and other sauces and any toiletries. We take food only if it is not outdated and not opened.
Historical Museum Hours
The Kermit E. Dooley Gardendale Historical Museum (170 Bell Street) will be open to the public every Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is maintained and operated by the Gardendale Historical Society.
MyGardendale
For a complete list of events and happenings, visit MyGardendale.com to see an interactive calendar.
To have an item added to our calendar, please send information to rachel@jbmcmedia.com.
