The community effort to build ball fields in McCalla
PAGE 20
BUILD IT & they will play
With a Home Equity Line of Credit featuring No Closing Costs*
These days , turning 60 doesn’t mean you’re ready to slow down. You just need a little more help than you used to. The fir st step? A pr imar y care prov ider who takes the time to under stand who you are and what you want to do nex t.
Wanda’s nex t big thing is ziplining, and we’re going to make sure she’s ready. What’s nex t for you?
Wanda Har
On the Cover Staff
Despite challenges, the Friends of McCalla put in countless hours of work to make the McCalla Youth Athletic Complex a reality. On the cover, Paislee Bullock takes fielding practice as some of her teammates look on. Pictured above is Derek Dexter, President of the McCalla Youth Athletic Association, with Caleb Gamble, left, and Ollie Dexter, players at the park. Read about how the fields came to be established starting on page 20.
Who We Are
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WestJeff Magazine serves the communities and people of West Jefferson County. Published every month, the magazine is available for free at more than 100 locations in Bessemer, Hueytown, McCalla, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Oak Grove, Sylvan Springs, and other areas.
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Brittany
Graphic Designer
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
The West Beat
by JESSE CHAMBERS
It’s October, time to celebrate Halloween, which has become one of our biggest holidays. In fact, Halloween’s popularity and cultural impact has grown tremendously in recent decades. I thought it would be fun to learn more about the origins and development of Halloween and why millions of adults seem obsessed with it, so I consulted such online sources as history.com, britannica.com and nypl.org.
The roots of Halloween are found in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was held on about Nov. 1. Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest. It was also a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be very thin. People would light bonfires, share treats and wear costumes to ward off the spirits.
However, the increasingly powerful Christian church wanted to control this frivolity and prevent converts from celebrating non-Christian festivals. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints' Day, and November 2 became All Souls Day. All Saints' Day later became known as All Hallows' Day, and October 31 became known as All Hallows' Eve, then Halloween.
Despite the church, people continued to celebrate Halloween as they pleased, and
the holiday continued to evolve over the centuries, becoming a community event with treats, costumes and the carving of jacko-lanterns. Irish and Scottish immigrants helped popularize Halloween in the U.S. in the 19th century with customs like "guising" (dressing up in costumes).
Trick-or-treating became a popular activity in America in the 1930s and 1940s, with children dressing up and going door-to-door for treats, according to history.com. Children were given everything from homemade cookies and cake to fruit, nuts, coins and toys. Not surprisingly, the candy industry played a significant role in Halloween. In the 1950s, manufacturers began to promote their candy for Halloween, and it was increasingly regarded as an affordable, convenient gift for the holiday.
Halloween has now become a major commercial event. Americans are projected to spend $11.6 billion on Halloween decorations, costumes, candy and related items in 2025, a slight decrease from the record $12.2 billion spent in 2023, according to statista.com. In 2005, Americans spent only $3.3 billion on Halloween, according to the National Retail Foundation.
Halloween has become an increasingly adult holiday. Back in 2012, USA Today said,
“Adults have slowly been stealing Halloween from kids for years. Now it appears, grownups own the holiday.” Just over half of adults celebrated Halloween in 2005, but that number is now about 70%, with the highest participation among people aged 18-34, according to several sources.
“Teen and adult interest in Halloween in the U.S. exploded” in the late 1970s, USA Today said, citing the popularity of John Carpenter’s slasher film, “Halloween.” Numerous other sources agree that the release of that film in 1978 played a big role in popularizing the holiday. The film helped turn Halloween into a night of wild, out-ofthe-box entertainment for adults and teens.
The holiday’s cultural significance has also grown. Halloween is not just another night to party, like New Year’s Eve. It’s also a night to explore or play with one’s identity, especially for teens and people in their 20s. And one can do this at a wide variety of bars and parties and special gatherings, so you can try out these identities in public.
For one night, you can be whoever you want to be. So if that’s an appealing prospect for you, start planning your costume now, pick out your candy (or alcoholic beverages) and get ready to show off. Just remember –be careful of those spirits!
Pumpkin
There are pureed pumpkin smears on my pants, and I have you to thank for this, sweetie. Whenever I see pureed pumpkin, I always think of you.
Because you are the only person I know who feeds their dogs pureed pumpkin, along with other nutritious human foods such as green beans, bananas, and special organic nitrate-free cookies that cost $9.99 each.
Each.
The problem, of course, is that one of our dogs is a bloodhound with floppy jowls. Food gets stuck in these jowls. Especially squishy foods. So, when you feed our dog pureed pumpkin, sweetheart, only fifteen-sixteenths of the pumpkin actually gets eaten. The rest gets smeared on my pants when the bloodhound rubs her face against my leg.
But it’s okay. Because I don’t know many people who love dogs as much as you do.
I remember when we first met, you told me that a member of your family had just died. You were a wreck. I was too embarrassed to ask who you were talking about. But, judging by your emotional state, I sincerely believed that it was an uncle, or a grandfather, or maybe even—I’m sorry, I’m just being honest here—your little brother.
Then you told me this deceased loved one had been named Sarge. I thought it was perhaps a nickname for an uncle who’d served his country. I don’t mind telling you that I mourned for that patriotic uncle of yours.
Then, you took me to Sarge’s grave located in the front yard of your parents’ house. A wooden cross was poking out of the ground. I was starting to get the Willies because what kind of a deranged nut buries their uncle in the front yard?
Then you placed a chew toy on the grave, and I understood.
You cried so hard over this dog. Which made me cry. And I knew then that I would love you forever.
While I write this, you are sitting on the sofa, playing on your phone, drinking coffee. You have two enormous dogs in your lap. You always have these dogs in your lap.
The dogs are yours, really. They don’t even care about me. Whenever you come around, they lose their minds. Whenever I come around, they lick themselves and ask what time this dump serves dinner.
One time I had this bright idea to train our dogs. I bought a book on canine obedience. The book suggested fastening the leashes around your waist during training sessions. That way, whenever the dogs
would try to wander, they would see the leashes and realize they were attached to a human.
According to the book, this established dominance. The idea being that everyone clearly understood their roles in the pack with them being the submissive canines and me being the lunatic with leashes tied around his vital organs.
I tried this method. I attached two ninety-pound dogs to my waist with commercial strength leashes. Things were going great for the first five minutes. Whenever I would say “Sit,” they would chew their own tails and play Ring Around the Rosie.
But then the front door opened.
You came walking into the house, sweetie, carrying groceries. They could sense your presence. One hundred sixty pounds of canine muscle bolted for the front door and yanked me off my feet.
I hit the ground, and they dragged me through the house dogsled style. The doctor tells me I will walk with a limp for the rest of my life.
But I say all this to illustrate just how much these dogs love you. They would gladly drag my lifeless body across a sea of jagged furniture just to see you.
The thing is, I know that you and I weren’t ever able to have children. And I know that even though you’re okay with this, sometimes when you see a little redheaded toddler in public, your heart hurts. I know this is true, even though you won’t admit it.
And sometimes, when a baby smiles at you, you light up like a Rockefeller Christmas tree. And I feel this little pang of guilt when that happens. Not a big one. Just a twinge.
Because you could have married someone better than me. Seriously. You could have landed a real prize. And by this stage of life, you would already have a great house, a few kids, and all the things a woman would want. Tennis bracelets. Endless shoe supply. Maybe a swanky SUV that’s roughly the size of a YMCA. I don’t know.
But you chose me. You looked at me and you didn’t see a hapless fool. Somehow you saw what I didn’t. You saw what I could be. And I could say a lot more, but I’m running out of room. Besides, I really need to get this pumpkin puree out of my pants. So, I’ll finish by saying this:
I don’t want anything from this tired and busted world. Not a single thing. I don’t want lots of money, nor a good retirement plan, nor an SUV. Nothing. Zip. Nada. All I want is to be alive to watch you grow into an old woman. But if for some reason I’m not around for that, I only ask one thing: Please, with all my heart, I beg you, don’t bury me in the front yard.
SEAN DIETRICH
ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN DIETRICH
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.
Easy Apple Pecan Cake
Apple spice may not have its own latte down at the coffee shop, but I think it deserves its share of the spotlight in the fall. My Easy Apple Pecan Cake with a brown sugar Caramel Glaze is loaded with fresh apple and crunchy pecans. You can choose to drizzle it with my homemade caramel glaze or simply dust with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
It’s a no-stress, bundt cake recipe with big flavor without a mile-long ingredient list. For more Southern shortcut fall baking ideas and the recipe for my Caramel Glaze, visit GritsAndGouda.com
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon apple pie spice or ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 medium or 2 large baking apples such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Gala Caramel Glaze* or sprinkle with powdered sugar
Garnish: 1/4 cup pecan halves (optional)
TIP
Find the Brown Sugar Caramel Glaze at GritsAndGouda.com.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease and flour a 10-12 cup bundt pan with shortening or butter. Pam’s baking spray with flour works well, too. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add the pecans to the flour mixture and stir well to coat the pecans.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs or beat with an electric mixer until light and foamy. Add the vegetable oil and beat just until combined. Add the brown sugar and vanilla and beat just until combined. Shred or finely chop the apples.
No need to peel them! You’ll need 2 ½ cups of shredded apple. I use a stand cheese grater or food processor with shredding blade attachment. Stir the shredded apple into the brown sugar mixture. Stir the flour mixture into the brown sugar mixture until all ingredients are combined. Pour the batter into the greased bundt pan. Bake on the center rack for 45 to 50 minutes or just until a toothpick comes out “almost” clean when inserted in the center of the cake. You want just a few crumbs on it but no wet batter. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Set a timer!
“The Tomato Sandwich Book” is called a “one-of-a-kind exploration” of the iconic Southern dish.
The TomatoSandwichBook
A book to celebrate tomato sandwiches
by JESSE CHAMBERS photos courtesy of MICHAEL J. FRANKLIN
I don’t know about you, but there’s no food I like better than red, juicy, farm-fresh tomatoes. The color, texture, taste. Yummy! They’re one of the special things about summer in the South, and I especially love tomato sandwiches.
Michael J. Franklin, a teacher in Hueytown, has written and published a book to honor this fresh treat – “The Tomato Sandwich Book.” Franklin calls it a “one-of-a-kind exploration of the tomato in its most iconic Southern presentation, the tomato sandwich.”
“The Tomato Sandwich Book” is an interesting experiment combining different elements and book genres. Franklin calls it an “anthology – of art, photography, recipes, poetry and prose – recognizing God, family, and love as universal tropes through the lens of the tomato sandwich.”
Franklin created the book with editor and illustrator Brejenn Allen of Meridian, Mississippi. His wife Lane Franklin took the photographs. “Lane was also central in explaining my vision to Brejenn artist to artist,” Franklin said.
The book is dedicated to Franklin's late uncle, Dr. Tom Camp, a general practice physician and obstetrician in Jasper for 40 years.
Camp was married to Franklin’s great aunt, Judy Mitchell Camp. “The man lived and breathed for summer's freshest and finest tomatoes for sandwiches,” Franklin said.
Not only that, but Camp was a larger-than-life figure and a huge source of inspiration for Franklin who helped him get started doing volunteer work in Honduras. The book is a fun, unique and heartfelt way for Franklin to honor his uncle and to help readers connect to their own memories of friends, loved ones and tomato sandwiches.
A teacher for 17 years, Franklin is in his second year at Hueytown Intermediate School, where he teaches English as a Second Language. He has volunteered in Honduras for 27 years, mostly with the nonprofit Alabama Honduras Medical Education Network, leading an education team he and Camp started. “The guy that got me involved in Honduras was my Uncle Tom,” Franklin said.
Franklin said his family felt the loss keenly when Camp died during “a particularly cold January” in 2018. “The days and weeks after the funeral were a blur, and our family just wasn’t the same.”
But that spring, “as the sun began to poke out,” Franklin shared a
Michael J. Franklin shown in Honduras with Dr. Camp, his “Uncle Tom.”
Dr. Camp, during a hospital stay, insisted on checking Lane Franklin’s throat after one of their trips to Honduras.
pineapple sandwich with his cousin, who got him thinking about his Uncle Tom’s love for tomatoes.
"This time of year Dad would always say tomato season is just around the corner,” his cousin said.
“At that moment, I remembered my Uncle Tom saying he peeled tomatoes with his mom for sandwiches as a child,” Franklin said. “I decided then and there I would remember my uncle in his own right through the dozens of different ways we all might sit down with our own loved ones for tomato sandwiches,” he said.
“I needed an artist who could conceptualize the child-like concept of the book in a genuine and serious way,” Franklin said. “Brejenn was able to seamlessly blend Lane's photography into original illustrations based on my off-the-wall vision.”
“At first he was just having me take pictures of all of his tomato sandwiches for ‘the book,” Lane said. “Then, after Michael had five or six pages written, I could see that this was not some pie-in-the-sky proposal. It was a true passion project.”
Perhaps the most important elements of the book are memories of loved ones.
Dr. Tom Camp takes a break for a picture while volunteering in Honduras.
“Uncle Tom loved tomato sandwiches, but there are only so many different recipes,” Franklin said. “When somebody goes after a tomato sandwich, it’s not just about whether it tastes good or not, it’s who taught them how to enjoy it, and all those different stories that can come along.”
Franklin hopes that the book’s different types of art and writing touch people’s emotions or summon up stories of long-ago summers in a variety of ways. “I definitely wanted to reflect all the different manifestations of our memories,” he said.
To finally hold a copy of the book and flip through it – after working on the project for several years – is rewarding. “It brings me a sigh of relief and a sense of joy,” Franklin said.
Franklin would like to sign a deal with a publisher to boost sales.“The profits, printing and distribution help would make my life much easier, but right now I am so proud of being my own publisher,” he said.
“The Tomato Sandwich Book” is currently available online, but Franklin is working to get the book into bookstores and boutiques and to host book signings. “I’m more than hopeful that my book becomes a fixture on coffee tables and kitchen counters across the South,” Franklin said.
The book will forever remain a touching tribute to his uncle. “He said he never wanted statues of himself in Honduras when he passed so I made sure he got a tribute more in-tune with his personality,” Franklin said.
We asked Franklin how Camp might react if he saw the book.
“My Uncle Tom hitchhiked from South Carolina to Mississippi to go to college,” Franklin said. “He went off to Mexico to be a bull fighter and bailed hay in South Dakota. His ponytail and full beard set him apart from the crowd. He told me once that a man has to have style, and I think he would say the book looks good on me.”
To order The Tomato Sandwich Book, go to thetomatosandwichbook.com.
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.
New Legacy for McCalla
by JESSE CHAMBERS
New Legacy
Legacy Community Federal Credit Union, which started as a credit union for UAB employees that now serves a 10-county area membership area, has served the Birmingham area since 1955 and is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a new branch in McCalla. The branch, located at 4681 Bell Hill Road, opened to the public July 8 and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 28, according to a Legacy news release. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, local credit union executives and representatives from the League of Credit Unions and Affiliates. Legacy also held a community grand opening at the new facility Aug. 26. “The branch reflects Legacy’s modern approach to credit union service – tech-enabled, human-centered, and community-focused,” the news release states. 205-930-5000. legacycreditunion.com
The 2150 Center
the semester and reconvene with industry professionals to present their findings.
Seeing 20/20
20/20 Optical in Bessemer held a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony recently. The store, located at 512 19th St. N., officially reopened July 7 and held the ribboncutting on Aug. 2, according to the store’s Facebook page. Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley was among the attendees at the event, which included giveaways, music and food, and 20/20 Optical was recognized by the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce in its August newsletter. 20/20 Optical has served the Birmingham area for 38 years, according to the company’s website. 205-424-2020. my2020optical.com
Charter school
The 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth, a non-profit business and innovation collaborative started at Miles College in 2024, is expanding its reach with a collaboration in New York City at its new Infrastructure iLAB Public-Private Partnership Knowledge Center. The new iLab will serve as a hub for students, faculty, corporate leaders and government partners to explore economic development and entrepreneurship. Miles College made the announcement in July on its website. “We’re creating a space where students and industry leaders can co-design real-world solutions,” said Erskine “Chuck” Faush, CEO of the 2150 Project, on the Miles website. “This iLab will prepare HBCU talent to lead on the front lines of infrastructure innovation and unlock new opportunities through strategic partnerships.” According to a July 30 report at AL.com, students and professors from several universities will gather for campus sessions during
Bessemer will have a new charter school next year where students can get a head start in their health care careers, according to an Aug. 12 report by WBRC-6 News. The Invictus Career Institute and Regional Workforce Development Center is a partnership between Invictus and the non-profit Lifting As We Climb Foundation. Chris Anderson, executive director of the foundation, told WBRC that said the school will connect students with hands-on training and mentorship opportunities from large health-care providers in the Birmingham area. The planned home is the original UAB Medical West facility in Bessemer. The Alabama Public Charter School Commission announced Aug. 20 on its Facebook page that it had approved the opening of the school. The inaugural class will include around 75 sixth graders and 75 ninth graders, with additional grades added over time.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGACY CREDIT UNION FACEBOOK PAGE
BY 2C2K PHOTOGRAPHY, FLICKR AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY 2.0
The 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth at Miles College will now have a presence in New York City.
Legacy Credit Union recently opened a branch in McCalla. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell joined Michelle Roth and Tobi Weingart of the League of Credit Unions & Affiliates at the event.
Yall Yall ''
FEST FEST
Habitat for Humanity in Pleasant Grove
by WESTJEFF MAGAZINE STAFF
Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, which is located in Fairfield, seeks to empower “hardworking families to achieve stability, self-reliance, and brighter futures through affordable housing,” according to its website. But the nonprofit does not give away houses for free.
Instead, working families take part in Habitat Birmingham’s homeownership and home repair programs and gain the skills and resources they need to build and maintain their own homes. Ashton Johnson, vice president of development for Habitat Birmingham, told WVTM-13 News that the homes are earned.
“It's not a handout, it's a hand up,” Johnson told the station in October 2024. “They partner with us, and they put in those hours, and they go through financial education classes to make this a sustainable home ownership.”
Habitat Birmingham is continuing its efforts to give this opportunity to more people in the area. The organization kicked off construction for the new Providence Grove neighborhood in Pleasant Grove on Aug. 15, according to WVTM-13 News and Bham Now. It will include 27 homes for families, volunteers and community partners to collaborate on building affordable housing.
The organization offers families a chance
“to get a zero-percent interest mortgage, which allows them to create stability for their family, to create hope and to create a place where their family can thrive,” Drew Bonner, chief operating officer at Habitat for Humanity, told WVTM in August.
“Providence Grove is more than a housing development — it’s a foundation for brighter futures,” Charles Moore, President & CEO of Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, told bhamnow.com on Aug. 11. “This neighborhood will create opportunities for stability, safety, and community for generations to come.”
Habitat Birmingham is always looking for volunteers, including individuals, corporations, community groups and churches, to join them in building affordable homeownership opportunities for local families. No prior experience is necessary, says the website.
All volunteers are required to sign up online before their chosen opportunity. To see the volunteer calendar, go to hfhgb.volunteermatrix.com.
ABOVE: Habitat Birmingham volunteers at work on a new home in the area in May. The nonprofit recently announced it will also build new homes in Pleasant Grove. BELOW: Ebony, a Habitat Homeowner, working alongside volunteers during the Women Build event this summer.
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/HABITATBHAM
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/HABITATBHAM
Health & Wellness
Welcome to our Health & Wellness page, the newest addition to WestJeff Magazine. Each month, we share tips from a variety of sources showing you how to improve the quality of your life in simple, practical ways. Let us know if there’s a particular health or wellness topic you’d like to see us cover. Write to us at jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
by JESSE CHAMBERS
Have a happy, healthy Halloween
It’s time for Halloween, including ghosts, goblins and scary movies, as well as lots of candy. However, you may wish to celebrate a fun, tasty Halloween without gorging on sweets, or you may want to limit your children’s intake of candy and prevent them from indulging in an epic sugar rush.
Here are a few of the tips for a healthier Halloween we found at several sources, including the American Heart Association (AHA), UAB Medicine and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (ANDF).
Fill ‘em up
Experts say to feed your kids a full meal before they go trick-or-treating or attend a Halloween party. With full tummies, they might eat less candy.
Use smaller bags
One tip from the experts: Give your children smaller bags for their trick-or-treat candy, not a pillow case or big shopping bag, and encourage them to take fewer pieces of candy.
Talk and plan
Talk to your kids about smart eating. The AHA suggests you plan in advance how much candy they’ll be allowed to keep and eat on Halloween night. Instead of completely eliminating treats, teach children about moderation and balance, the ANDF says.
Do other stuff
The ANDF says to involve children in decorating pumpkins, making costumes, or playing games to shift focus away from candy.
Be a health-minded host
You don’t have to pass out candy on Halloween. You can give out healthier treats, such as clementines, oranges, sugar-free gum, juice boxes, yogurt tubes, snack-sized packages of pretzels, popcorn, dried fruit, trail mix or nuts, the AHA suggests.
It’s not just food
You can also pass out non-edible treats like glow sticks, mini-plush toys, crayons, coloring books, stickers or stamps, the AHA suggests. UAB Medicine suggests that you think of Mardi Gras. Instead of candy, give your spooky visitors lots of Halloween souvenirs and trinkets.
Make your own treats
The ANDF suggests that you make your own healthier treats. Try popcorn tossed with cinnamon and sugar, chocolate-covered fresh fruit, cinnamon-roasted pumpkin seed, warm apple cider with cinnamon sticks, baked apples or pears, or even just apple slices. The AHA notes that there are lots of ideas online for healthy snacks with a Halloween theme, such as banana ghosts or apple monster mouths.
Less soda pop
Cut back on sugary treats like soda and offer water, unsweetened tea, juice and fat-free or low-fat milk.
Get moving
All of the experts suggest incorporating physical activity into trick-or-treating or other Halloween festivities. The AHA suggests a zombie dance party or three-legged monster race. The ANDF suggests a costume parade, relay race or "Monster Tag" — one child is the monster and whomever he or she tags turns into a zombie. When trick-or-treating with your kids, walk, don’t drive, so you can help burn off the candy bars, UAB Medicine suggests.
For more about the AHA, go to heart.org. The ANDF website is eatright.org. For lots of health tips from UAB Medicine, go uab.edu/news.
Kids love Halloween, but there are ways to give them a fun but healthier holiday.
U.S.
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happens Amazing
When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries taking place today will help shape the future of treatments and lead to cures – benefitting not only our patients and families, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.
Childrens AL •org
DOWNTOWN MAIN CAMPUS 1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233
We are here in your neighborhood at Greenvale Pediatrics Hoover. Call 205-987-4444 to schedule an appointment.
Fields from Dreams
by JESSE CHAMBERS
photos by BRITTNEY FIELDS
Sports fields and other outdoor athletic facilities are valuable assets for communities. They give people places to run, play and exercise. They allow young people to play organized sports and build character.
An athletic complex can serve as a much-needed gathering point for a community, and people of all ages can take part in supporting youth athletic programs. A nice athletic facility and youth sports program can also attract positive media attention to a small town.
This is all true of the McCalla Youth Athletic Complex, located at 6301 Eastern Valley Road, which has been built in several stages over the last decade. The facilities there include four top-quality fields for baseball and softball, concessions, bathrooms and a walking trail. This athletic complex was badly needed in McCalla. Before it was built, teens either had no fields to play on or had to use fields in other communities.
At the complex, the nonprofit McCalla Youth Athletic Association (MYAA) offers baseball and softball from tee-ball through 12U, with both sports open to boys and girls, according to MYAA President
Derek Dexter.
The response from the community has been great. “We had 374 participants in our spring 2025 season, and we currently have 347 participants in our fall 2025 season,” Dexter said. “Our spring and fall seasons have grown each year over the past several years, and we love to see it.”
Plans for the athletic complex began in about 2010 after Norfolk Southern Railway donated 26 acres of land to the newly formed nonprofit Friends of McCalla (FOM), which was created to help bring the athletic complex and park to reality.
A 501c3 nonprofit, the Friends of McCalla was founded by the late Buddy Moore in 2010, and Moore served as president. In 2014, Moore retired from the board, and B.K. “Skipper” Goodwin III – already a board member – became FOM chairman and president.
After becoming FOM chairman and president, Goodwin said he was asked by Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens to lead the
effort to build the athletic complex and park for McCalla. The FOM began with $300,000 in seed money from Jefferson County, according to Stephens.
A Bessemer native who lives in Hoover, Goodwin is now retired but served for 27 years as CEO and president of First Financial Bank and FirstFed Bancorp Inc., the bank’s holding company. First Financial Bank has a branch in McCalla, and the bank’s board agreed to let Goodwin lead the FOM’s effort to build the athletic complex.
Stephens, a Bessemer native, said he believed that Goodwin had what it took to get the project done. “When you are the president of a bank, you have a level of integrity I feel good about,” Stephens said.
McCalla needed a creative solution to build its complex because it is unincorporated and has no tax base. “There were no tax funds for a project such as ours, so all funding had to come from outside sources,” Goodwin said. “That meant fundraising from individuals and companies – cash, in-kind work, use of equipment and materials. We were just constantly raising funds.”
It took about a decade of work and dedication on the part of Goodwin and the other board members – as well as lots of donors and volunteers – to get the project completed. “It took 10 years because we had all these problems we persevered through,” Goodwin said.
The project initially required an enormous amount of grading and earth moving, but fortunately for the FOM, Goodwin was able to find some help. “I called on a friend and developer, Stan Pate, to ask for his assistance,” he said. “Stan immediately agreed to get this job done at no cost to the park.”
TOP: Two fields at the McCalla Youth Athletic Complex are seen under the night lights. BELOW: volunteers work the concession stands at the park.
Derek Dexter (L), Friends of McCalla board member and president of the McCalla Youth Athletic Association, and Skipper Goodwin, Friends of McCalla board chair and president.
At an early phase of the project, the FOM was forced to relocate an endangered colony of bats for environmental purposes while building a culvert. Later the organizers had to blast through some rock near one of the new ballfields. FOM also had to adapt to some changes in Alabama state laws related to fundraising for nonprofits. And during the 2020 pandemic, the world all but stopped, which hampered the FOM. “COVID-19 came along and people weren't ready to donate,” Goodwin said.
“We had to just stay with it, and we did, and we never wavered,” he said. “We had people say that we couldn't get it done, and I said we will get it done.”
“McCalla has deserved this facility for a long time, and FOM and MYAA have worked hard for years to make sure it happened,” Dexter said. “It took a lot of perseverance, staying on course, and working through a lot of challenges, but the goal never changed – to give this community a firstclass facility it could truly call its own.”
Dexter has served on the FOM board since 2014. He has been active with MYAA in various capacities since 2011 and has served as president since 2023, he said.
with no compensation at all.”
“The county has worked with FOM for over a decade,” Stephens said. “I would give what money I could out of my district funds. It’s been my largest contribution over the years because that area has grown so much and it did not have a park.”
Jefferson County provided the athletic complex a total of $1.1 million, Stephens said. This included $500,000 in 2021 taken from federal COVID-19 infrastructure aid.
The FOM raised a total of $3 million for the complex, including the Jefferson County monies, Goodwin said.
The concessions building, one of the last facilities to be completed at the facility in 2025, was named in memory of the family of Buddy and Paddy Moore.
The four main fields at the complex are named after corporate supporters: Buddy Moore Trucking, First Financial Bank, Bright Star Restaurant and Publix Charities.
Goodwin still serves as FOM chairman and president, and the other members are Derek Dexter, Hank Tyler, Mark Rhea, Jim Byram, Daryl Oglesby, Ronnie Acker and Don Holmes (retired).
Goodwin praises the efforts and dedication of his fellow board members at FOM. “The board was made up of citizens and business people in the Bessemer and McCalla area, and I went to them and they accepted the challenge with me,” Goodwin said. “These people spent untold hours over a 10-year period to make what was a dream come true
Goodwin and the FOM board members “have been there through thick and thin, they have worked tirelessly to get this done and sought funds from all different areas,” Stephens said. “We kept up with their accounting to make sure the funds were properly spent and they were.”
The amount of cash donations and grants have totaled $3 million, including the support from Jefferson County, according to Goodwin.
“There have been approximately 50 cash donors – many with multiple donations – and many more in-kind donors of labor and materials at various levels over the years,” Goodwin said. “In-kind donations cannot be accurately counted, especially since many have worked as personal duties allowed.”
“I have a permanent, complete list of people who have donated and contributed. I just really appreciate them very much,” Goodwin said.
“The park looks great as you turn in off Eastern Valley Road,” Goodwin said. “Every aspect has been done with quality, people had waited for so long. It is totally owned by the community. No outside investors. We never caved into that.”
“I am proud to go down there now and see that facility and see the number of kids using it and see it as a focal point for the community,” Stephens said.
“Every community needs a quality athletic facility not only for the young people but for the community as well,” Dexter said. “Youth athletics teaches so many valuable lessons, and to be able to provide that in a facility like ours is a blessing. Time spent at a ballpark creates lasting friendships, memories, a sense of family and so much more. It gives adults a chance to invest in the youth whether it’s coaching or
Youth athletics teach so many valuable lessons, and to be able to provide that in a facility like ours is a blessing..”
—DEREK DEXTER, MYAA president
volunteering to work concessions. It gives the youth a chance to play ball, be a teammate, or just hang out at the ballpark and play in the dirt. All of that builds onto a community spirit that these families can take with them throughout the years to come.”
“The response by the community has been overwhelming,” Goodwin said regarding McCalla’s youth sports programs. “There is no idle time. New records of participation are still being set.”
“The most gratifying part is absolutely seeing the response by the community and the kids and we formed it to build character,” he said. “Sports and exercise do that, and to see all those kids out there, to see the community working together on the baseball activities and to see parents with kids in the walking track. The most rewarding place is that McCalla deserves that.”
“We couldn’t do this without the continued support of the community,” Dexter said. “McCalla shows up and shows out every season. From not only registering their child, but volunteering to coach, helping with facility upkeep, working concessions, all the things it takes to put on our seasons, we couldn’t do it with the support of the community. And it’s all worth it when you get a chance to see kids playing ball, eating snow cones, covered in dirt, having fun. That’s what a ballpark should be, and that’s what we strive to make sure it does.”
“It adds to the community and gives them a sense of belonging and a focal point for community activities,” Stephens said. “It gets kids out of the house. It creates relationships within the community. It grows a bond as they build a team concept and compete against each other. It brands the community. They have a great athletic program thanks to the MYAA and FOM.”
Fall Ball registration for this year is already closed, but it usually runs from late July through August. “Spring registration typically opens in January, so that’s the time families can look out for sign-ups,” Dexter said. For more information, go to mccallayouthathletics.com.
FAR LEFT: a sign designates one of the fields as Buddy Moore Field, in honor of the founder of the Friends of McCalla. TOP: a coach offers batting stance instruction to a young ballplayer. RIGHT: Payson Raines, 4, practices fielding a baseball. BOTTOM: coaches and players gather for a quick photo after a recent practice.
Greater Birmingham Home Builders partner with Boys & Girls Club for back-to-school drive
Thanks to the support of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB), the Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama's Teen Center is fully stocked for the new school year. The association provided fully stocked backpacks and a variety of additional supplies, ensuring that students from schools across the West Jefferson community have the resources they need. In addition to these gifts, the GBAHB makes a continued investment that includes hands-on skilled labor opportunities and career nights.
Spartan students and sponsors give back to the community at Valley Creek Clean Up
Recently, Valley Creek got a fresh look thanks to the efforts of Pleasant Grove High School students and generous Spartan sponsors. With an impressive turnout from the band, cheer and football and basketball teams, the day was all about putting the G.R.O.V.E. in Pleasant Grove, emphasizing Growth, Respect, Opportunity, Vision and Effort.
Pleasant Grove High School theatre director takes her talents to the stage
Pleasant Grove High School's theatre director, Taylor Chatman, recently took her talents from the classroom to the stage. She appeared recently as Alice in Virginia Samford Theatre’s production of the musical "Big River," showcasing her skills beyond directing. Winner of seven Tony awards, including Best Musical, “Big River” is based on Mark Twain’s classic novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and features the music of country legend Roger Miller.
Rep. Leigh Hulsey makes contribution to McAdory High School
State Representative Leigh Hulsey recently made a generous contribution to McAdory Middle and High Schools, personally presenting checks to school leadership. This donation will provide crucial support for various initiatives, directly benefiting students and faculty by helping to enhance educational programs and resources.
Pleasant Grove Marching Band Energizes Brighton Elementary's Pep Rally
The Pleasant Grove High School marching band kicked off the new school year with a powerful performance, leading the annual back-toschool pep rally at Brighton Elementary. The band's music and energy filled the gymnasium, getting the elementary students excited for the year ahead. This tradition highlights the strong bond between the two schools and fosters a sense of community pride.
Western Area Events
Oct. 4: Survivors & Thrivers Brunch. 10-11:15 a.m. North Highlands Baptist Church, 4851 15th St. Road, Hueytown. Join the Hueytown Chamber of Commerce for this fourth annual event to honor breast cancer fighters and survivors, featuring stories, food and fun contests. Tickets are $15, with all proceeds directly funding mammograms for uninsured local citizens through the Baptist Health Foundation. 205-491-7010. hueytownchamber.com
Oct. 4, 11 and 18: Free Fitness in the Park. 9 a.m. Hueytown City Park, 104 Forest Road. Join instructor Kim Dobbs for a variety of free fitness sessions including cardio, stretching, kickboxing, choreographed drumming and pilates. Bring a mat and water. This event is free and sponsored by the Hueytown Chamber of Commerce. 205-491-7010. hueytownchamber.com
Oct. 6: 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
Oct. 6: 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
Oct. 7: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road.The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov
Oct. 7: 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
Oct. 7: 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. 205-428-954.
U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY JANINE SCIANNA. PUBLIC DOMAIN
The Hueytown police and fire departments will host National Night Out Oct. 9.
Events Calendar
Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27: Hueytown Harvest Farmers Market. 3-7 p.m. 3050 Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive, Bessemer. At Hueytown Harvest, everything on sale is grown, raised or made by farmers, ranchers, beekeepers, makers and artisans in Alabama. Open Tuesdays only, rain or shine. hueytownharvest.com
Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28: District 8 Walking Group. Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road. Each Wednesday 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
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30: GriefShare support. Concord Baptist Church, Hueytown, 5951 Warrior River Road. For those struggling with the loss of a close family member or friend, GriefShare grief recovery support group meetings are held Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. A Sunday afternoon group is also held 3-5 p.m. weekly until Nov. 9. For questions or more details, call 205-491-2166 and leave a message for Cheryl Gallego or visit online at griefshare.org/findagroup.
Oct. 9: FORE Progress Golf Tournament. Noon. Frank House Municipal Golf Course, 801 Golf Course Road, Bessemer. Join the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce for a day of friendly competition, conversation and community support. This popular event offers an excellent opportunity to network and gain exposure to more than 135 golfers and local business professionals. The deadline to register for the tournament was Sept. 25, and the deadline to secure a sponsorship was Sept. 18. However, you can still purchase raffle tickets and view nine exciting silent auction packages at the Chamber. Bid on 9 exciting packages available for silent auction. 205-425-3253. bessemerchamber.com
Oct. 9: National Night Out. 6-7:30 p.m. City Park, 104 Forest Road, Hueytown. Join the Hueytown Police Department, Fire & Rescue, Public Works and the Hueytown Chamber of Commerce for an evening of family fun and community connection. This event will feature Touch-a-Truck, inflatables, face painting, crafts and games. 205-491-7010. hueytownchamber.com
Oct. 9: 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
Oct. 13: 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. 205-923-7578. cityofmidfield.com
Oct. 14: 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
Fall is a good time for golf, and the FORE Progress Golf Tournament will tee off in Bessemer Oct. 9.
Oct. 14: 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
Oct. 14: 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
Oct. 16: 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
Oct. 20: 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
PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS BY LILRIZZ, CC0
Oct. 21: 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
Oct. 21: 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
Oct. 21: Hueytown Planning & Zoning Commission. 5-6 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. The board meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov
Oct. 21: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov
Oct. 23: 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
Oct. 25: It’s Fall Y’all Fest. 5 p.m. City Park, 104 Forest Road, Hueytown. Get ready for a festive fall day packed with fun, games and friendly competition, including a hayride, inflatables and a turkey toss. Bring your crew and wear your best costumes for contests, crafts and food from local trucks. hueytownchamber.com
Oct. 27: 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. 205-923-7578. cityofmidfield.com
Oct. 28: 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. The Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. bessemeral.org/bessemer-historic-preservation-commission
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
Oct. 20: 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
Oct. 21: 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.
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
PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS BY LAWRENCE JACKSON. PUBLIC DOMAIN
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will appear in Birmingham.
Other Area Events
Oct. 2-4: Greek Food Festival. 10:30 a.m.9 p.m. Holy Trinity Holy Cross, 307 19th St. S., Birmingham. Become Greek for a day at this beloved cultural event, which offers homemade food, music and dancing. Enjoy free admission, a convenient drive-through and free parking. Since 1972, this event has donated over $3 million to local and national charities. 205-716-3080. bhamgreekfestival.com
Oct. 10 and 12: Alabama Symphony Orchestra. 7 p.m. Oct. 10 & 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12. BJCC Concert Hall. 1001 19th St. N., Birmingham. The ASO will present “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert.” Experience the magic of Harry Potter soaring across the big screen in high-definition. Presented by CineConcerts. alabamasymphony.org
Oct. 17: A Conversation with Kamala Harris. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. At this special event, former Vice President Kamala Harris will discuss surprising insights from her presidential campaign and her new vision for the country. In partnership with BooksA-Million, every ticket includes a copy of her new book, “107 DAYS.” 205-252-2262. alabamatheatre.com
Oct. 17: St. Paul and the Broken Bones. 7 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company. 201 41st St. S. This popular Birmingham-based soul band will appear in support of their newest record, to be released in October. Tickets range from $53-$83. 205-936-8861. avondalebrewing.com/calendar-tickets
Oct. 30-Nov. 2: Disney on Ice. Showtimes vary. Legacy Arena. 2100 Richard Arrington Jr., Blvd. N. Join Mickey and friends for “Mickey’s Search Party,” a magical adventure filled with world-class skating, acrobatics and stunts. Help search for Tinker Bell as you explore the immersive worlds of Disney stories like “Coco,” “Moana,” and “Frozen.” 205-458-8400. bjcc.org
PHOTO FROM GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL FACEBOOK PAGE
PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS AND FLICKR BY LEE BURCHFIELD. CC BY 2.0
Popular Birmingham band St. Paul and the Broken_Bones will play at Avondale Brewing Co.
Some of the goodies to be had at the Greek Food Festival Oct. 2-4.
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Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon Welcoming Jay Fitts, MD
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.
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