A FROM THE PAST Historic Lincoln Theatre and its path to restoration PAGE 14
Culture ON DISPLAY
Caribbean Festival returns PAGE 16
Hueytown CityFest is back, larger than ever PAGE 18
HOUSEHOLD DROP-OFF 2025 EVENT
STRONGER STEP
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Staying hydrated and recognizing signs of heat exhaustion
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Stretching and strengthening for outdoor fun— whether it’s hiking, biking, gardening, or pickleball!
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On the Cover Staff
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Jesse Chambers Content Director jesse@jbmcmedia.com
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Face painting at last year's Hueytown CityFest Kids Zone. For more information on this year's CityFest, read this month's cover story beginning on Pg. 18.
Brittany Kenny Graphic Designer
Emily VanderMey
COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
The West Beat
by JESSE CHAMBERS
Summer 2025 begins on June 20 with the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. This month in West Beat, we examine some of the aspects of summer that make it a unique, enjoyable time.
First of all, the warm weather means lots of chances to make special moments with family and friends, including picnics and backyard barbecues with the smell of burgers, hot dogs and steaks wafting from the grill. Such gatherings may also feature such cold, refreshing treats as ice cream, smoothies, lemonade and fresh fruit, including strawberries, cantaloupes and watermelons.
Many of us will savor the beauty of nature, including butterflies, birds and other animals, as we go on long walks or hikes or bike rides. There are plenty of places in or near West Jefferson County to enjoy the outdoors, such as Red Mountain Park, the Red Rock Trail System and the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, which also hosts lots of special events. West Jefferson County also boasts several great golf courses, including Woodward Golf & Country Club, Bent Brook Golf Course and Frank House Golf Course, all in Bessemer.
We take advantage of the warm summer
weather to enjoy outdoor concerts and festivals. This includes the Marvel City Caribbean Food & Music Festival, to be held In Bessemer on June 7, and Hueytown CityFest, which is set for June 14. Summer also features the loud, raucous celebration of America’s independence on July 4. Integral to Independence Day celebrations are big fireworks shows like Hueytown’s Red, White & Boom Patriotic Celebration, back for its second year on July 3.
Time off school for the kids allows families to enjoy day trips – perhaps to the Birmingham Zoo or Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure in Bessemer, the only major theme park in the area. Summer also means water, of course – at the lake, the river or the Gulf of Mexico. There’s nothing like lying in the sand or splashing around in the warm salt water.
We experience a sense of freedom in summer, which is a time of liberation, experimentation, adventure and new activities – in part due to the longer days. Summer “teaches us to be fully awake, engaged and open to everything around us,” said writer David G. Allan in an article at CNN.com in 2021. “It’s the season for relaxing and the pursuit of happiness”
Nostalgia and our memories of the past are a big part of summer. As adults, we remember those long, carefree breaks from school and the sense of freedom that most of us associate with this season for the rest of our lives. “Summertime remains fixed in our collective consciousness,” Allan said. “This is the season when many of our deepest memories are forged; it plays a starring role in the highlight reel of our childhood.”
Summer can also mean the simplest of pleasures – things that require no planning at all. After all, as. Allan said in his article, “Not everyone can afford sailing trips and Caribbean vacations, but many of summer’s greatest pleasures are simple and inexpensive.” For example, Allan said we can “take naps, read outside, sleep in a tent and float in a pool.”
And just remember to savor each fleeting moment of the summer while you can.
“Summer is life," Allan said, adding that “life is precious and wild – and it moves too fast.”
For more about Hueytown CityFest, read our cover story in this issue, and for more about the Caribbean Festival, check out this month’s Community Feature.
Miss Dean
The first time I ever had one of Wilma Dean Jacobs’ cakes, I was a boy. I was redheaded. I was chubby. I was a connoisseur of refined sugar products.
In our town, there was only one place that sold Miss Dean’s seven-layer cakes. It was the little gas-station convenience store up the street from my house. The Happy Store.
I think it was a Chevron.
It would go like this: Your mother would send you to the Happy Store before special family occasions, such as birthdays, baby christenings, parole-release dates.
You’d ride your bike to the Happy Store, you’d walk inside. The bell would ding over your head.
And the first person you saw would be Miss Carla Waters, standing behind the cash register.
Miss Carla was about yea-high. Eighty pounds, soaking wet. Silver hair. A voice like a tuba. She was an older woman who smoked Camels. She always had one hanging from the corner of her mouth. Her husband worked up at the landfill.
The Happy Store had a small wire-metal rack of Dean’s Cakes.
There would be at least 10 or 12 cakes. Mostly carmel. Plastic cake domes. Small, unassuming, stick’em labels on the fronts. The cakes were like eating a cake made by your grandmother. Sort of.
Namely, because everyone knew who Miss Dean was. She was Miss Dean, from Andalusia, just up the road.
People YOU knew actually knew HER. Your cousins knew her. Your mom’s friends knew her. You dated a girl whose mother went to grammar school with Miss Dean.
That’s who she was.
And although you never knew her, you knew her caramel cake. Everyone did.
Miss Dean’s seven-layer caramel cake had a familiar flavor. The kind of flavor that reminded you of something special. Something nostalgic. Her caramel cake tasted exactly like cherubs singing Handel.
You can still remember exiting the Happy Store, gingerly placing the prized cake on your bike rack after purchasing it. You can remember securing the cake with bungee cords while Miss Carla was taking a smoke break on the sidewalk, watching
you like a falcon.
“You’re going to need more bungee cords,” Miss Carla would say.
“I don’t have any more bungee cords,” you would reply.
So, Miss Carla would go inside and return with five or six bungees.
“Just bring them bungees back to me,” Miss Carla would say.
Then she’d point her cigarette at you.
“WITH the price tags STILL ON,” she added.
Then you took the cake home. Your mother carried the cake to your cousin’s party. The cake was always a big hit.
All the church ladies stood around a card table, eating a slice on paper plates. The ladies all smelled like Estée Lauder Youth Dew, and they kept their pinky fingers suspended as they held their plastic forks. And they raved.
As they ate, they tried to find a way to connect the family dots, because that’s what people do in our part of the world.
“Wilma Dean Jacobs is kin to my second cousin,” one woman would say.
“Oh yeah?” another would retort. “I have a friend who was in Civic League with Wilma Dean.”
“That’s nothing,” one woman would say. “Wilma Dean Jacobs attends my son-in-law’s first cousin’s stepfather’s uncle’s orthodontist’s goddaughter’s Sunday school class.”
Our family trees in this region are not “trees” at all. They are family briar patches.
So, when I heard that Miss Wilma Dean Jacobs died, I took a moment. I drove to the local supermarket, which stocks Dean’s cakes. I tried to remember a simpler time. Before Miss Dean was a famous name.
I bought a caramel cake. And just for old-time’s sake, I bought a few bungee cords.
SEAN DIETRICH
ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN DIETRICH
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No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Come summertime in the South, we’re all about keeping things sweet and simple-emphasis on sweet!
This shortcut version of Peanut Butter Ice Cream is smooth, creamy, and needs no machine, messy rock salt and ice, and no stress. That’s why it’s called “no-churn”. Real whipped cream is the secret ingredient to make the magic happen effortlessly. A handful of honey-roasted peanuts brings the crunch and saltysweet flavor that makes each bite downright irresistible.
If you love the idea of no-churn ice creams, I also have Dulce de Leche No-Churn Ice Cream recipe on my website at gritsandgouda.com.
Ingredients
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
16-ounces (1 14-ounce can) sweetened condensed milk
½ cup creamy peanut butter
¾ cup honey roasted peanuts, divided coarsely chopped (optional)
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
By whipping the heavy whipping cream first, this substitutes the machine's paddle churning air into the ice cream with similar texture results.
Instructions
• In a large bowl or stand mixing bowl, add whipping cream. (I use a hand mixer but a stand mixer will work fine). Start out on medium-low speed for 1 minute to help prevent the cream from splashing. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, then increase to high speed. Beat it just until peaks are firm enough that they donʼt slump back in the bowl. This is called firm peaks but donʼt go too long or youʼll have cottage-cheese-looking cream.
• In a medium bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture with a rubber or silicone spatula. Fold just until combined. Don't over mix.
• Gently stir in ½ cup of the peanuts, if using them. Pour the ice cream mixture into a 9x5 inch loaf pan or 8x8 inch square pan.
• Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup peanuts.
• Cover with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil and freeze at least 3 hours or until firm enough to scoop.
• Store in the freezer up to one month.
At WestJeff Magazine, we seek to provide comprehensive coverage of business activity of all kinds in West Jefferson County – and not just the big projects. We want to hear news and updates about all of the businesses in the area, both large and small. We also report on real estate, construction and infrastructure projects. Please contact us with any tips, information or photos you have at jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
Restoring the Lincoln
by JESSE CHAMBERS
The Lincoln Theatre in Bessemer, shown in 1948, was the center of a thriving Black entertainment district.
A long-closed movie theatre in downtown Bessemer is one step closer to restoration as a community arts center after a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. The 1948-vintage Lincoln Theatre received a $56,300 Creative Places Arts Facilities grant from ASCA on March 25, according to a news release from the venue’s owners. The award will finance schematic design, the first phase of a five-phase design plan for the theatre.
The renovation of the Lincoln Theatre is the first major initiative of The Holland Project, a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2018 by the family of acclaimed TV and film actor and Bessemer native André Holland. The nonprofit also owns the nearby Albano building, a structure built in 1890 on the first lot ever sold in Bessemer. The mission of The Holland Project is to preserve and protect the Lincoln, the Albano and other historic Bessemer buildings that may be in danger of neglect or demolition. Upon its grand reopening, the Lincoln will show movies and provide production capacity for the performing arts, including drama, dance and music. Built as a 400-seat “picture house,” The Lincoln
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
PHOTO BY FLICKR USER GREG2600 AT WIKIMEDIA. CC BY SA 2
Andre Holland
is the last Black theatre – and one of only two theatre buildings – still standing in The Marvel City.
Growing up in Bessemer, Holland often passed the Lincoln on the way to a nearby barber shop. His parents, Mary and Donald, saw movies at the Lincoln as teenagers. Holland purchased the building in 2017, with a vision to open it as a single-screen cinema and a community arts hub. “I want to create a space where young people can explore their interests in the arts,” he said. “It always felt a shame to me that I had to go outside of Bessemer, outside of the immediate community, in order to access the arts.”
Holland has appeared as an actor in a dozen films, including the Oscar-winning "Moonlight." He stars in “The Actor,” a crime drama directed by Duke Johnson, which was released in theatres nationwide in March.
“Part of André’s vision is about what he can bring to Bessemer through art and artists from around the world,” Mary Holland
says. “I often describe Bessemer as an arts desert, but I believe if young people had more exposure to the arts, it would create more dialogue. I think the Lincoln could rejuvenate the entire downtown area.”
The Creative Places grant award marks the second time ASCA has provided major support for The Holland Project. The first was a design grant received in 2019, which allowed the organization to engage Studio 2H Design as the architecture firm for the Lincoln. The new ASCA grant is also earmarked for design and will fund the completion of floor plans, elevations and other drawings necessary to apply for building permits. Studio 2H served as the architects for the recent renovation of the Carver Theatre and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham.
To learn more about efforts to restore the theatre, go to alabamalincoln.com.
Bank Promotions
Dedicated officers
First Financial Bank in Bessemer, which has eight branches in Jefferson, Bibb, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties, announced the promotion of two officers in April. Karen Moody was promoted to First Vice President, and Michelle Cooley was promoted to Assistant Vice President, according to a bank news release. Moody has been with First Financial for 38 years and is branch manager of the Bessemer office, bank secrecy act officer, and accounting and deposit operations supervisor. As branch manager of the Bessemer office, she’s responsible for business development in Bessemer. Cooley has been with the bank for 23 years and has been a team member with Accounting & Deposit Operations. Most recently, she was promoted to assistant branch manager of the Bessemer office and deposit operations officer. “Karen and Michelle have demonstrated exceptional dedication to our customers and communities, consistently delivering the kind of outstanding service that defines our bank.” CEO and President Kyle Goodwin said. “Their promotions are a reflection of their talent, hard work, and leadership.”
PHOTO BY JEFF NEWMAN
Michelle Cooley PHOTOS
Karen Moody
The Lincoln Theatre is located at 1926 First Ave. N. in the Downtown Bessemer Historic District.
Bessemer hosts Caribbean Festival
by JESSE CHAMBERS
National Caribbean American Heritage Month is observed each year in June, and Bessemer participates by hosting the annual Marvel City Caribbean Food and Music Festival. The family-friendly festival is fun and welcoming, according to Pauline Ford, festival coordinator and founder of the Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization (CACAO).
Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley welcomes the Marvel City Caribbean Food and Music Festival to the city at the 2024 event.
“The overall vibe is positive, uplifting, inclusive and festive,” Ford told WestJeff Magazine in 2024.
The Caribbean Festival returns to DeBardeleben Park downtown on Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees will enjoy Caribbean music and dance, including reggae, calypso and soca, which blends calypso with African and East Indian rhythms. There’s also no shortage of Caribbean food at the event, with such items for sale as jerk chicken, plantains and tropical drinks.
The musical headliner will be Nadine Sutherland, a legendary Jamaican singer who was discovered by the late reggae legend Bob Marley and signed to his Tuff Gong label in 1979. In October, Sutherland was honored by the Jamaican government for her contributions to the nation’s music.
Wayne Hall of The Wayne Hall Show, an Atlanta radio show that plays Jamaican and Caribbean music, will appear at the festival again this year. Logan the Entertainer from Birmingham will perform for the first time.
The event’s popular costume parade – under the guidance of CACAO President Gina Sealy – kicks off at noon and ends at DeBardeleben Park about half an hour later, Ford said. The parade features local officials, vintage cars and costumed performers.
The Caribbean Festival had 70 vendors in 2024, including food and
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA CARIBBEAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION
merchandise vendors, nonprofits and area colleges. “We plan to scale back a bit this year and will probably have 50 or 60 vendors,” Ford said.
The festival has been held in Bessemer since 2019 and is becoming a tradition in the city, Ford believes. "The local citizens...have come to expect the festival and look forward to it every year," she said. Attendance at the 2024 festival averaged about 5,000 fans, Ford said, citing the Bessemer Police Department.
The festival is “fully supported” by city officials, including the mayor, City Council and fire and police departments, Ford said, adding that the Bessemer Recreation Center provides a kids area during the event.
The Gameplan for Growth, Bessemer’s new comprehensive plan, sees event programming as one way to help revitalize downtown, and the Caribbean Festival plays its part.
"Every year we deliver a positive, safe, uplifting, family-friendly event to the city of Bessemer in return for their support and trust in us," Ford said. "I would like to think that the festival contributes greatly toward the revitalization of downtown Bessemer and that as it grows and more people visit, others also will see what's possible and consider becoming part of the city's growth."
CACAO, a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2011, also seeks to help students of Caribbean heritage who are attending college in Central Alabama. CACAO has awarded scholarships to Caribbean students each year since 2015.
“This past year we had five scholarship recipients from The University of Alabama, Tuskegee University, Stillman College and Troy University, bringing the total number of scholarships awarded by CACAO to 21,” Ford said.
The festival will kick off on Friday June 6, at 7 p.m. with a Caribbeanthemed VIP party at Bistro on 19th in Bessemer. Attendees will mingle with artists, diplomats and event sponsors while enjoying great food. Admission is $40 per person.
Festival admission is $12.50 per adult. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For tickets to the festival and VIP party, go to eventbrite. com and search “Marvel City Caribbean Food and Music Festival.”
For more about CACAO, call 205-683-5324 or go to cacaoonline.org.
Marvel City Caribbean Food & Music Festival 2025
All times are approximate
11:00 A.M. — Wayne Hall, The Wayne Hall Show, Atlanta
11:15 A.M. — Desi Keith, line dancing interactive NOON — Wayne Hall and Kenne Blessin
1:00 P.M. — Parade passes stage in review
1:30 P.M. — Mayor’s welcome, recognition of sponsors and special guests
2:00 P.M. — Pansonics Steel Band
2:30 P.M. — Logan the Entertainer
3:30 P.M. — DJ
4:00 P.M. — T Renee Xperience
4:30 P.M. — Jeremy Torres
5:00 P.M. — Heartbeat Dance Company
5:30 P.M. — Jaylon Johann, Revolution Reggae, Soca Band
6:00 P.M. — Nadine Sutherland (headliner)
7:00 P.M. — DJ
7:30 P.M. — Kenne Blessin, Revolution Reggae, Soca Band
8:00 P.M. — FINALE: Nadine Sutherland, Kenne Blessin and Revolution Reggae, Jeremy Torres, Jaylon Johann
ABOVE: One of the many vendors at the festival selling authentic Caribbean food. BELOW: The festival has drawn large crowds of people to DeBardeleben Park in downtown Bessemer.
Musicians take part in the annual costume parade at the Caribbean Festival.
Kicking off summer with Hueytown CityFest
by JESSE CHAMBERS
June marks the beginning of summer festival season, and Hueytown will host its biggest community celebration of the year. The seventh annual Hueytown CityFest – presented by the Hueytown Arts Council – will take place on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., at New City Park, located at 104 Forest Road.
The family-friendly festival features live music, including local and national acts, as well as food, arts and crafts, and children’s activities. The musical headliners will be the country band Restless Road, one of
Nashville’s most popular new groups. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and enjoy a great summer afternoon and evening with family and friends.
CityFest is “a major driver of community pride and economic vitality” for the city, according to Debbie Kiker, director of the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce.
Not only that, but the event’s location is ideal for city residents, according to Jake Ware, the president of the Hueytown Arts Council.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RESTLESS ROAD
The musical headliners for the 2025 Hueytown CityFest will be the popular country band Restless Road.
New City Park is “a great central location for everyone,” he said. “It’s cool to see how folks are within walking distance of first-class entertainment.”
THE LINEUP
The entertainment at CityFest will begin with several musical acts from the Birmingham area that have played CityFest before, with Blue Moon Duet at noon, 3 Generations at 1 p.m., Owen Griffice at 2 p.m. and Ava Theros at 3 p.m.
Appearing at 4 p.m., The Daze – a Birmingham jam band that is new to CityFest – will be the final act in the daytime session. “They’ll bring good vibes to get us ready for the nighttime line-up,” Ware said.
At 5:15 p.m., the evening entertainment begins with Motel Ice Machine, a local band that blends Americana, country and rockabilly and is “the unofficial CityFest Band,” Ware said. “These guys are from Hueytown and have performed at every CityFest, and the crowd always loves them. This year they’ll have a ‘special guest singer’ to join them that I know the crowd will enjoy.”
At 6:30 p.m., Logan the Entertainer – a popular Birmingham performer – will present “his super high-energy soul and funk set list,” Ware said. “He played CityFest for the first time last year, and we’ve had so many requests to bring him back.” Logan the Entertainer recorded his first album in Hueytown in 1999 and has been the opening act for such famous performers as Ronald Isley of the Isley brothers, the O’Jays, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Peabo Bryson and Earth, Wind & Fire.
CLOCKWISE: Jeh Jeh Pruitt of WBRC Fox-6 News interviews Hueytown Arts Council president Jake Ware and Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware at CityFest; Volunteers at a booth for the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the many organizations and vendors taking part in the festival; Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce Director and Arts Council volunteer Debbie Kiker with Hank the Camel, the star of the petting zoo each year at CityFest.
At 7:30 p.m., the crowd will hear the M-80s, who are “one of the best 1980’s cover bands in the Southeast,” Ware said, adding that the group regularly sells out such Birmingham venues as Iron City.
At 8:30 p.m., headliners Restless Road will cap off the festival. This act is known for their powerful lyrics and for the beautiful harmonies created by vocalists Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols and Colton Pack.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
Anything we can do to showcase awesome talent in our area and bring it here to folks in their backyard is what we are all about.”
—JAKE WARE, president of the Hueytown Arts Council
The group has accumulated more than 300 million streams and attracted over 5 million social media followers. Restless Road is touring in support of their debut album, “Last Rodeo,” which features such popular tracks as “I Don’t Wanna Be That Guy,” “Sundown Somewhere,” “On My Way,” “Bar Friends” and “Growing Old With You,” which was a No. 1 hit on Sirius XM The Highway.
Restless Road has made numerous TV appearances, including “The Bachelor” on ABC, “Today” on NBC and Country Music Television. The group has received favorable attention from such media platforms as Spotify, People and Billboard and played major venues like Gramercy Theater in New York City, Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville and Lafayette London in the U.K.
This year’s eclectic lineup at CityFest reflects an effort to include “all different kinds of genres so there’s a little something for everyone,” Ware said. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into just one type of crowd. I think that’s one of the reasons why this event has been so successful.
“Anything we can do to showcase awesome talent in our area and bring it here to folks in their backyard is what we are all about,” he said.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
In addition to music, CityFest will offer numerous other amenities, including a wide variety of vendors and about a dozen food trucks, Ware said. The Kid Zone will offer lots of fun activities, including bounce houses, face painting and balloons. In fact, this area will be bigger in 2025 with more games, activities and inflatables, according to Ware. “We’ve had many local churches and groups step up this year to make the Kid Zone fun,” he said.
A big crowd gathered for an evening musical performance at CityFest. The event draws about 5,000 people, organizers say.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
PHOTO COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN ARTS COUNCIL
Attendees enjoying Hueytown CityFest in 2024. The event is a great chance to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the summer weather.
As usual, kids will be able to enjoy a petting zoo with goats, lambs and other animals headlined by Hank the Camel. “Hank has become quite the celebrity in Hueytown and he brings a big variety of his barn animal friends for folks of all ages to enjoy,” Ware said in 2024.
SHOWING OFF HUEYTOWN
Ware and other organizers began producing CityFest as a way to take part in Alabama’s Bicentennial celebration, which began in 2017 and climaxed in 2019.
“It was a way to show Hueytown’s role in our state's 200-year history,” Ware said. “We had local talent perform and we created a pop-up museum of Hueytown with artifacts from early settlers of Hueytown, The Alabama Gang, and even Jameis Winston’s Heisman Trophy. The event was such a success that people wanted CityFest to be an annual occurrence. Ever since, we have continued to grow and make this event bigger and bigger with vendors, food and entertainment.”
CityFest has certainly had a positive effect on Hueytown. “The whole point of this event was to create a fun and free event that the whole community could come out and enjoy,” Ware said. Attendance at CityFest in 2024 was about 5,000. “We are looking for about the same this year,” Ware said.
The event also attracts visitors from across Alabama – visitors who discover other shops, restaurants and attractions in Hueytown. “This increased foot traffic provides a direct boost to the local economy, supporting small businesses and encouraging future investment in the community,” Kiker said. “By bringing residents, businesses and visitors together, the festival helps create positive media attention that highlights all the best aspects of our city.”
CityFest is not only significant for the community but is personally significant for Ware because “it’s become the event I always dreamed it could be,” he said, adding that the event has done more than provide Hueytown with quality entertainment.
“Without CityFest, there would be no Hueytown Arts Council, art shows or community theater,” he said. “Because we created CityFest, all these wonderful things have happened in this community, and it’s definitely cool to think about that ripple effect. This idea of CityFest has brought a great group of people together to accomplish great things for nothing more than the joy of doing it.”
CityFest and its success is also a sign of Hueytown’s increasing cultural vitality, according to Kiker. “CityFest not only celebrates Hueytown’s unique spirit but also strengthens its reputation as a vibrant and growing destination,” she said.
GET ALL THE DEETS
Hueytown CityFest offers a Kids Zone with face painting and other diversions, lots of food trucks and other vendors and inflatables.
Admission to Hueytown CityFest is free. CityFest also provides attendees with free parking at Hueytown Primary School and the Hueytown Family Recreation Center. A free shuttle will transport attendees to the festival. There is a paid lot across the street from New City Park at Hueytown Intermediate School. The cost is $10 per car.
For more information about Hueytown Cityfest, call 205-903-6312 or go to facebook.com/hueytowncityfest. To learn more about the Hueytown Arts Council, go to hueytownarts.org. You can reach the Hueytown Area Chamber of Commerce at 205-491-7010 or hueytownchamber.com.
•
For teacher, writing is “a gift”
by JESSE CHAMBERS
A Pleasant Grove High School English teacher, Alyah Abrams is also an avid creative writer.
“Writing has always been a safe space for me,” she said. “I’m able to tell my story but also the stories of people I’ve encountered.”
She took a big step in her career recently when she published a young adult novel, “What Jada Knows,” the story of a 17-yearold girl trying to cope with the death of her best friend, Dee, and facing challenges with family, relationships and identity.
Abrams began writing “What Jada Knows” in 2019 as a college English major at The University of Montevallo, where she graduated in 2020. “I was inspired by the literature I studied, but I noticed that there was a lack of representation of young women of color,” she said. “I also wanted to create something that merged narrative and poetry.”
LEFT: Pleasant Grove High School English teacher Alyah Abrams is passionate about her own writing. BELOW: The cover for Abram’s recently published young-adult novel, “What Jada Knows.” PHOTO COURTESY ALYAH ABRAMS
In developing characters, Abrams used her experience writing short stories. “My major aim was to show that there is hope after loss.”
Abrams began teaching in 2021 and drew on her classroom time. “My teaching experience and interactions with young people helped me develop the language, culture and conflicts within the novel,” she said. “I would ask myself, what do my students enjoy reading? What will inspire them to read and write more?”
Abrams began writing when she was seven years old after the loss of her father. “I started writing from a place of grief, but it transformed into something joyous,” she said.
A first-grade teacher saw Abram’s talent and read her work aloud in class, and this experience “sparked a deeper interest in creative writing,” Abrams said.
Writing became “a positive constant” in
After high school, Abrams began writing seriously and started blogging. She’s also written two poetry books, “A Collective of Waves” and “Shedding.”
“Writing is a gift that I nurture daily,” Abrams said. “I’m blessed to be able to write and share my writing with others. It doesn’t feel like real work to me.”
Abrams is working on a children’s book and plans to continue writing about Jada and the novel’s other characters. “I'd love to see ‘What Jada Knows' adapted for the screen or stage,” she said. She has high hopes for her writing and her teaching. “I hope to inspire the next generation of writers,” Abrams said.
Learn more at lifewithlyah.com. Her books are available on such major outlets as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
PHOTO BY ELEANOR BROWN
UAB West partners with McAdory High Art Program
McAdory High School is honored to partner with the new UAB West Hospital in McCalla to launch the “Drawn Together” Art Wall, a rotating gallery featuring student artwork from local schools. The display debuted with photography by 15 McAdory students, presented by CEO Keith Pennington alongside students, families, art teachers and Principal Andrew Reid, celebrating the power of creativity to uplift and inspire within a healing space.
Hueytown High Students attend Exceptional Education Prom
Special Education students and peer helpers from Hueytown High School recently enjoyed a fun evening at the Jefferson County Exceptional Education Prom. The students had a great time dancing and socializing with their friends.
Hueytown High hosts Prom – A Night of Enchanted Lights
On April 12, students from Hueytown High School attended the school’s prom, which was themed A Night of Enchanted Lights. Students made lifelong memories during the event hosted at the beautiful Regions Field in Birmingham.
Joy Minniefield commits to Coastal Alabama North
Congratulations to Hueytown High School student, Joy Minniefield, for committing to play basketball at Coastal Alabama North Community College.
McAdory High art students’ work featured at Birmingham Museum of Art
McAdory High School is proud to recognize the following students selected to exhibit their work at the Birmingham Museum of Art through the Visual Art Achievement Program, sponsored by the Alabama State Council for the Arts: Courtney Byron, Melanie Alvarez-Martinez, Keila Diaz-Garcia, Dayleen Gonzalez, Brayden Johnson, Saniya Lee, Sarah Nelson, Yolanda Velasco-Lopez and Zoey Weaver. Special congratulations to Yolanda Velasco-Lopez for earning first place in the photography category.
Author Mary Anne Freeman Inspires Oak Grove Elementary Students
Oak Grove Elementary celebrated a special day as "Let’s Roll, Oliver!" author Mary Anne Freeman visited to celebrate her victory in the school’s March Madness Book Tournament. Freeman spent the day sharing her writing journey with students, highlighting the true star of her book, her dog Oliver, and inspiring future authors with her words of encouragement.
Pleasant Grove High students host Easter Egg Hunt
Pleasant Grove High School's FCCLA students, led by Mrs. Colston’s “My Event Planning” class, hosted a spring egg hunt for the self-contained class, creating a memorable experience. From hand-decorated baskets to candy-filled eggs, students planned every detail, showcasing creativity, compassion and teamwork – earning heartfelt thanks from Ms. Thompson, Mrs. Falls, and Mrs. Smith for bringing the event to life.
McAdory High School hosts art show
The 2025 McAdory High School Art Show was a remarkable showcase of student creativity, made possible through the generous support of families, faculty, administration and community partners. The school extends its sincere appreciation to 1969 Coffee Company for providing refreshments and the many volunteers who assisted with setup and presentation.
Staci Lewis named Outstanding Principal of the Year
Pleasant Grove Elementary School proudly congratulates Mrs. Staci Lewis on being named the Jefferson County Council PTA Outstanding Principal of the Year. Her exceptional leadership, dedication and compassion have made a lasting impact on the school and community.
Union State Bank Donates to Pleasant Grove Elementary
Pleasant Grove Elementary extends sincere thanks to Union State Bank, Pleasant Grove Branch, for their generous donation to the school library in honor of National Library Week. Their continued support plays a vital role in enriching student learning and fostering a love of reading.
Keyana Lewis-Sayles wins cooking competition
McAdory High School proudly congratulates Keyana Lewis-Sayles for earning first place in the For Love of Cooking competition at Jefferson State Community College, securing a full scholarship. Her standout dish – spicy honey chicken – impressed the panel of professional chefs and showcased her exceptional culinary talent.
Western Area Events
May 1: Hueytown Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast. 7-8 a.m. North Highlands Baptist Church. 4851 15th Street Rd. Hueytown. The fourth annual Mayor's Community Prayer Breakfast will feature keynote speaker Chris Stewart, who will offer a message of hope and unity. Complimentary ticket required for attendance. To learn more, call 205-491-7010 or go to hueytownchamber.com.
June 2: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com
June 2: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org
June 3: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov
June 3: Bessemer City Council. 6 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
June 3: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
June 5: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716
Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205-325-5300. jccal.org
June 5, 12, 19 and 26: District 8 Walking Group. Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road. Each Thursday at 8 a.m., meet at the CrossPlex Starbucks for a coffee and a casual 1.5 mile loop. Walkers of all abilities and speeds are welcome. Sponsored by the Freshwater Land Trust. freshwaterlandtrust. org/get-involved/events
PHOTO BY MATTHEW ALLEN
Debardeleben Park, a historic spot in downtown Bessemer. The Bessemer Historic Preservation Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at City Hall.
June 7: Marvel City Caribbean Food & Music Festival. Noon-9 p.m. DeBardeleben Park, 1623 Second Ave. N., Bessemer. A lively celebration featuring Caribbean cuisine, music and a colorful parade.The festival highlights reggae, soca and authentic island dishes like jerk chicken and plantains. cacaoonline.org
June 9: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. cityofmidfield.com
June 9-13: Gross Out Day Camp. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Camp Fletcher, 5150 Fletcher Road, Bessemer. Gross Out Camp is an award-winning, hands-on field biology day camp for children entering first through fourth grade, hosted by Fresh Air Family. Campers engage in activities like fishing, exploring creeks, observing wildlife and conducting science experiments, all while enjoying the great outdoors in small, screen-free groups. 205-540-6642. grossoutcamp.org
June 10: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council holds a planning session on the second Tuesday of each month in the multi-purpose room on the first floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
June 10: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov
June 10: Bessemer Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
June 14: Hueytown Cityfest. Hueytown City Park. 104 Forest Road, Hueytown. Hueytown Cityfest is a community-wide event featuring vendors, food trucks and live music, headlined by musical act Reckless Road. Admission is free facebook.com/ hueytowncityfest
June 16: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org
Dave Matthews and his band will appear this month at the new Coca-Cola Amphitheatre downtown.
June 16: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com
June 17: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
June 17: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
June 17: Bessemer Planning and Zoning Commission. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org
June 17: Hueytown Planning & Zoning Commission. 5-6 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. This nine-member board, appointed by the mayor and City Council, meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov
PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA USER SLGCKGC
June 19: Fairfield City School Board. 6 p.m. Fairfield Board of Education, Gladys T. Coleman Boardroom, 6405 Avenue D. Fairfield. The five-member school board meets on the third Thursday of each month. 205-783-6850. fairfieldschoolsystem.com
June 23: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. cityofmidfield.com
June 24: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, however this month the meeting will be held on the second and third Tuesday, due to the holiday schedule.. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov
June 24: Bessemer Historic Preservation Commission. 5:30 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Historic Preservation Commission, established by city ordinance, helps identify, protect and preserve Bessemer’s historic properties and districts. bessemeral.org/bessemerhistoric-preservation-commission
June 26: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205- 325-5300. jccal.org
June 28: Jefferson County Memorial Quilt Workshop. 1-3 p.m. Bessemer Public Library, 400 19th Street North, Bessemer. This community event honors the 33 African Americans who were lynched in Jefferson County between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. Participants ages 14 and up are invited to create quilt squares that will become part of a memorial quilt, fostering dialogue and reconciliation through art and history. For details, go to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute website at bcri.org.
June 28: Nurturing Golden Hearts Benefits & Honors Gala. 7 p.m. Bessemer Civic Center, 1130 9th Ave. SW, Bessemer. The gala will celebrate Nurturing Golden Hearts impactful community work and honor outstanding individuals in Jefferson County. The event will feature a formal dinner, live entertainment and opportunities for attendees to support the nonprofit's mission to combat hunger and provide essential resources to local families. 205-203-0107. nurturinggoldenhearts.org
Veteran stand-up comic Cedric the Entertainer will play the Stardome Comedy Club this month.
Enjoy Hydrangeas Under the Stars, an event at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover on June 7.
BY WIKIMEDIA USER SUHAYL091. OWN WORK. CC BY 4.0
PHOTO BY FLICKR AND WIKIMEDIA USER BERT SANCHEZ
Ongoing: Exercise classes. Legacy YMCA, 1501 Fourth Ave S.W., Bessemer. Legacy presents a wide variety of exercise classes for members year round, including swimming, aerobics, aquacise, yoga, cycling, Zumba and Power HITT. Legacy also offers lots of youth sports, camps and health and wellness programs. For details, call 205-426-1211 or go to legacyymca.org.
Ongoing: Classes and workshops. Bessemer Public Library, 400 19th St. N. Bessemer. The library presents a wide range of classes, workshops and other activities for children, teens and adults. Adult classes include nutrition, computers and self-publishing. Activities for children include a toddler playgroup and Pre-K storytimes. 205-428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com
Other Area Events
June 5-8: Steel City Jazz Fest. Times vary. Linn Park. 20th Street North, Birmingham. The Steel City Smooth Jazz Festival features live music, food and entertainment. This year’s lineup includes Grammy-winning artists such as The Isley Brothers, Musiq Soulchild, Boney James and Jonathan Butler, as well as renowned performers like Maysa, Eric Essix and Damien Escobar. For ticket prices, go to steelcityjazzfest.org.
June 6: Zoo Brews. 6-9 p.m. Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham. Experience craft brews from all over Alabama and the Southeast, as well as tasty selections from local food trucks. Event for adults only, ages 21 and up. For tickets and other information, call 205-879-4909 or go to birminghamzoo.com
June 7: Fiesta Italiana. 3 p.m. Sloss Furnaces, 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham. Fiesta Italiana is a vibrant celebration of Italian culture featuring authentic cuisine, live music, cooking demonstrations and traditional games. festaitalianabham.com
June 7: Hydrangeas Under the Stars. 6-9 p.m. Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover. Enjoy a special evening of great food and entertainment with both silent and live auctions at Aldridge Gardens' premier annual fundraiser and garden gala. For information about individual tickets and tables, call 205-739-6558 or go to aldridgegardens.com.
June 13–14: Cedric the Entertainer. Showtimes vary. Stardome, 1818 Data Drive, Hoover. Cedric the Entertainer is a veteran stand-up comic, actor, TV host and producer. He is the star of “The Neighborhood,” a long-running sitcom on CBS-TV. Tickets $55-$75. 205-444-0008. stardome.com
June 20: Heart. 7:30 p.m. Legacy Arena. 2100 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham. Legendary Seattle rock band Heart is on tour for the first time after a five-year hiatus. In 2023, the band celebrated its 50th anniversary. For tickets, go to bjcc.org.
June 24: Dave Matthews Band. 7:30 p.m. Coca-Cola Amphitheatre. 2350 15th Ave. N., Birmingham. The recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be taking the stage at the new Coca-Cola Amphitheatre. Matthews and the band will play their hits, as well as songs from their latest album, “Walk Around the Moon.” For tickets, go to coca-colaamphitheater. com.
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Ross Bridge Farmers Market. 4-8 p.m. Ross Bridge, 2101 Grand Avenue, Hoover. Enjoy exciting themes on Fridays in June, including Peach Day on June 13 and Berry Day on June 20. Each market features local farmers, vendors, face painting and live music. Admission is free; vendor costs vary. rossbridgefarmersmarket.com
Ann Wilson of legendary rock band Heart, who will appear at Legacy Arena on June 20.
PHOTO BY JEFF PATTISON AT FACEBOOK.COM/HEART
PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO BY JACK DYKINGA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Back pain holding you back?
Our team of orthopedic specialists are here to help.
Welcoming Jay Fitts, MD
Orthopedic
& Spine Surgeon
At UAB Medical West, our team of orthopedic specialists are dedicated to helping patients restore mobility and enhance their quality of life. We are committed to bringing quality, stateof-the-art orthopedic care to the residents of West Jefferson County, AL and are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jay Fitts to our team. Dr. Fitts specializes in spine surgery and is now accepting new patients at both our brand new main hospital location and our Hoover location. To schedule an appointment with a UAB Medical West Orthopedic surgeon, call us today at (205) 481-8570. For more information about UAB Medical West and all of our services, visit us online at medicalwesthospital.org.
J. Dory Curtis, MD | Erika Issis-Vasha, PA-C | Patrick Rowan, MD | Scott Seibert, MD | Jay Fitts, MD