Hartselle Living - November/December

PATRICIA KAUP • TASTY APPETIZERS FOR FESTIVE GATHERINGS • KATHERINE WOOD

HARTSELLE LIVING November/December 2021

CUBAN CREATIONS

MEET THE COUPLE BEHIND OLD HAVANA CAFÉ

CHAMPIONS A LOOK BACK AT A PERFECT SEASON

PLANT PASSION

KYLE LYBARGER ENJOYS EDUCATING OTHERS ABOUT NATIVE SPECIES

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FROM THE EDITOR

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It’s my favorite time of the entire year! I love the last couple months of the year and the chilly weather they bring – not to mention the holiday season. While I won’t fare well when the bone-chilling temperatures of February arrive, I’m in my element this time of year.

Let me take a moment to thank you for picking up this copy of Hartselle Living. Maybe our cover image caught your eye, or maybe you’re sitting at the doctor’s office or coffee shop biding your time until your name is called or your order is ready. Or maybe – like me and a couple other people I know – when every issue of Hartselle Living is published, it’s like Christmas Day. I know I’m a tad bit biased, but it’s always a good day when the magazine arrives at the Hartselle Enquirer office.

In this issue you will find various stories we enjoyed finding and writing for you, our readers. One such story is that of a girl who is talented in the art of jewelry making.

She recently sold more than half of her inventory at the 40th annual Depot Days Festival. Did I mention she’s 13 years old? You can read about Katherine Wood in our Arts & Culture section.

A decade ago, our Hartselle Tigers won a state championship under Coach Bob Godsey, and in our School & Sports section in this issue, our sportswriter Russell Frye takes us all back to reflect on that amazing season.

The story of Miguel and Selma Acevedo and the Old Havana Café is in our Food & Drink Section. Earlier this year, Miguel and Selma began pursuing their dream of introducing Cuban foods to our area by way of a food truck. They also do catered events and participate in community activities like Depot Days and Third Fridays in Decatur.

These stories and so much more are inside this issue of Hartselle Living.

Thanks again for reading,

ON THE COVER

Kyle Lybarger shares his passion about native plants with landowners and his 170,000 online followers.

Read his story on page 17.

Photo by Rachel Howard

4 Hartselle Living

11

ARTS & CULTURE

30 READ THIS BOOK

7 THE ART OF DESIGN

FOOD & DRINK

13-year-old makes, sells jewelry at local boutique

HOME & STYLE 11 MAKING IT HOME Hartselle becomes home for West Coast transplant

FEATURES 17 PLANT PASSION Kyle Lybarger enjoys educating others about native species

SCHOOL & SPORTS rebekah.yancey@hartselleliving.com

23 CHAMPIONS A look back at a perfect season

31 CUBAN CREATIONS Meet the couple behind Old Havana Café

34 TASTY APPETIZERS FOR FESTIVE GATHERINGS 38 CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 40 OUT & ABOUT

HARTSELLE LIVING

CONTRIBUTORS

STAFF Editorial Rebekah Yancey Alison James Contributors Constance Smith Michelle Blaylock Susan Hayes

ARTS & CULTURE

ALISON JAMES, copy editor

Alison James earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Auburn University, graduating in 2012. She began her career in community journalism in Alexander City and Dadeville, followed by a stop in Opelika before landing in north Alabama. She loves sharing the stories – and correcting the grammar of those stories – of the people and places that make north Alabama such a special place.

Rachel Howard Russell Frye Jim Meadows Marketing Baretta Taylor Anna Baker Terri Haston Administration Beth Jackson

CONSTANCE SMITH, writer

Constance Smith is a lifestyle blogger and YouTuber at AGoodLifeFarm.com. After 25 years of Army family life, Constance has planted roots here in Hartselle. She now homesteads on her small farm, where she raises heritage breed animals and is focusing on permaculture gardening. In her spare time she enjoys photography, art, kayaking and other outdoor sports.

CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 206 Cedar St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: 256-773-6566 info@hartselleliving.com

RUSSELL FRYE, writer

Russell Frye is a freelance sportswriter for the Hartselle Enquirer and Hartselle Living. He covers sports for Hartselle, Danville, Falkville, Brewer, and Priceville High Schools. He is married to Tammie and has three children, two who are grown, and Nastia who is in the sixth grade.

Hartselle Living is published bimonthly Hartselle Newspapers, LLC. A one-year subscription to Hartselle Living is $16.30 for 6 issues per year.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Hartselle area.

To advertise or to get more copies, call 773-6566.

Copyright 2021 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

6 Hartselle Living

RACHEL HOWARD, photographer

Rachel Howard is a Hartselle native who is proud to own and run a business in her hometown. Capturing moments on camera allows her to give the gift of memories, and that makes her soul smile. She is an avid fitness-lover and teaches spin classes as a side hobby. She enjoys singing, playing golf with her husband Nick and being a dog mom to Ralphie and Bud.

THE ART OF DESIGN 13-year-old makes, sells jewelry at local boutique STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD

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Katherine Wood first started making epoxy jewelry at the beginning of this year after being inspired by similar projects on the social media platform Pinterest. In less than a year, she has turned her inspiration into a budding business.

The 13-year-old Hartselle teenager now owns and operates Kat’s Refine Design and sells her jewelry online and at a local boutique, Forever Kate.

“I love shopping at stores like theirs just because of the unique pieces,” Wood said.

Owner Melanie Burger asked Wood to make and sell jewelry at the boutique this past summer, and so far, all of her pieces have sold out. Her creations include earrings, bracelets, initial key chains and necklaces, in addition to epoxy pieces that look like scenes from nature.

Katherine’s mother Melanie Wood said “unique” describes her daughter’s jewelry, design aesthetic and personality. Melanie wears one of Katherine’s first necklaces daily.

“Each one is an original; there will probably never be another one just like it,” she said. “She likes supporting small businesses like Forever Kate. She and Melanie (Burger) are likeminded in a lot of ways, so it has been a good fit; they make a good team.”

Through her jewelry business, Katherine has been able to get real-world experience at a young age. Her mother

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said discussions about pricing, operating costs and reasonable markups are common when they talk about the future of the jewelry-making business.

Burger often challenges Katherine to come up with new concepts and designs. Recently, one of those challenges was to come up with a new design for a customizable ring that would be easy to size up or down.

Katherine said she believes in being a “less is more” consumer, and she approaches her jewelry-making the same way.

“I like simpler designs, where you can see through the jewelry.

At first, I would have too many flowers, and it didn’t look very good,” she said. “Usually when I’m designing jewelry, I’ll have a box full of flowers that is very unorganized, and I’ll pick up a flower and go with it. I don’t really know where my creativity comes from; ideas just pop into my head.”

“As a Christian family, she just likes to give glory to God’s creation through her jewelry,” Melanie Wood added.

Kat’s Refine Design recently had a booth at the 40th annual Depot Days Festival and the Falkville Fall Festival. She said she hopes to one day expand to take custom orders, but right now school is her priority.

Katherine is the daughter of Michael and Melanie Wood of Hartselle. She is the oldest of four children.

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MAKING IT HOME Hartselle becomes home for West Coast transplant STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD 439203-1

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Patricia Kaup has been at home on Village Way in Hartselle for nearly nine years. She and her husband Marvin lived in the home until his passing in 2018.

The couple moved here from Chewelah, Washington.

The Kaups were married for more than 60 years.

The couple married June 2, 1956, – Marvin’s parents’ 25th wedding anniversary.

The Kaups moved to Alabama to be closer to their son Doug and to avoid the ice and snow of the Pacific Northwest. Before Washington, Patricia and Marvin hailed from California, 27 miles from Los Angeles.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home on Village Way features 2,900 square feet and four porches. Patricia said the screened-in porch off the den is where she enjoys spending time and watching wildlife in the backyard. She enjoys feeding and watching her hummingbirds – and spotting the occasional fox that will visit the yard.

A second favorite area of the home is her kitchen, where she enjoys cooking for friends and family.

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neutral paint colors. Patricia has included sentimental pieces of furniture throughout her home, including a cabinet that was built by her grandson.

The real showstopper is the perfectly-landscaped backyard, which features natural rock formations, an arbor covered in ivy and a red-tin roofed gazebo nestled in one corner. Patricia said she loves taking a good book to the gazebo and swinging while she enjoys an afternoon in the outdoors. In the evening, lights brighten the yard and the grand formations, changing the entire scene.

Hartselle Living 15

Three weddings have taken place on the property, one of which moved to Village Way after the couple’s original venue was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patricia said hosting weddings at her home has lifted her spirits greatly. Her granddaughter Shannon planned a wedding for the backyard in three weeks – a small affair but one to remember.

Many a prom photo has also been taken at the home. The beautiful scenery makes for a one-of-a-kind photo for various occasions, and Patricia said she loves sharing that with others.

Patricia and Marvin have five children. The large family now includes 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren who live in Utah, California and Texas.

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PLANT PASSION

Kyle Lybarger enjoys educating others about native species STORY BY REBEKAH YANCEY PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOWARD

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Kyle Lybarger makes his living as a private forester, spending a lot of his time outdoors. The Hartselle native locates tracts of timber and acts as a middle man between landowners and mills that want to harvest the timber.

Lybarger graduated from Hartselle High School and Alabama A&M in 2017.

He said the passion for native plants – especially the rare plants he has found in Hartselle and Morgan County – he has cultivated through his job as a forester drives him to educate others on the job and online.

“I walked around on a lot of properties, and I would take a picture of something I hadn’t seen before and try to figure out what it was when I got home,” Lybarger said, describing how he first became interested in native plants and species. “As a forester, I was used to knocking on doors to get permission to take pictures and talking to landowners.”

“While doing that, I’ve gotten grasslands around here – large tracts of land that are usually 3-or-4 acres – prairie remnants a landowner will let me burn and manage. I usually offer to do that because there are rare plants there, and I know without fire and proper management, eventually they will be overtaken and lost forever.

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I like educating people.

I find it interesting to walk around with a landowner and introduce them to rare plants on their property that they didn’t know existed.

Ye a r s in Bu si

n e ss

– Kyle Lybarger

“No one wants to spend money to manage a grassland ecosystem because there’s really no way they’re going to make money off of it,” he said. “It has to be out of goodwill.”

“A lot of what I do with my forestry job is around Athens and southern Tennessee – the other side of the river – so that’s how I learned a lot of the plants in the area,” Lybarger added.

One of his most recent unique finds was Porter’s Goldenrod.

Lybarger found a plant inside the city limits of Hartselle – one of three populations in the world, with another being in Morgan County and the third in Tennessee.

“I’ll never see anything that rare again,” he said. “It’s labeled a S1G1, which is the highest of a rarity.”

Light poppymallow and purple milkweed are two other species Lybarger has identified this year – the latter setting a state record.

Lybarger found a population of the rare plant in Etowah County.

Lybarger said he enjoys sharing his passion with others and seeing it take root in their lives.

“I like educating people. I find it interesting to walk around with a landowner and introduce them to rare plants on their property that they didn’t know existed,” he said. “Oftentimes the land has been in their family for generations or maybe they grew up there, and they gain a new appreciation for it. You can’t have an appreciation for something you didn’t even know was there.”

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Lybarger uses a smartphone app called iNaturalist when he finds a new, rare species he cannot identify. He said the app makes it easy for beginners to learn more about the plants and ecosystems that surround them.

“You can learn about any plant just by taking a photo of it; you can even see a map where other people have seen it and recorded it,” he added.

He has now begun to share his passion with others on a popular social media platform. Lybarger joined TikTok this past spring and started sharing his videos on native plants a few times a week.

His account boasts more than 170,000 followers and 1.9 million likes on the platform. A few of his videos have even gone viral, garnering more than 1 million views.

“It’s nice to put something on there that’s educational,” he said.

“I get a ton of comments – so many that I can’t even respond to all of them anymore.”

Lybarger can be found on TikTok, @nativeplanttok.

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Hartselle Living 21

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Consider nominating a teacher to Hall of Fame

SCHOOL & SPORTS

With each new school year, our thoughts turn to Sometimes teachers don’t sleep, and sometimes they those teachers in our lives who helped us gain lose a beloved pet, and sometimes their families are a skill, work through a crisis or turn a corner in crisis, but they are still charged with growing the of some sort. We all had at least one of those student sitting at the desk. teachers, and many of us had more than one.

Teachers grow each other, as well. Behind every great Teaching content and standards is not what teacher is another great teacher who mentored and makes teaching a challenging profession. guided a young or struggling new college graduate into Teaching children – ages 4-18 – is where the a professional capable of changing the lives of students. challenge lies.

It is out of an appreciation for all of this that the

BY SUSAN HAYES Children arrive at school with their own personHartselle Educator Hall of Fame was born.

HCS FEDERAL PROGRAMS alities and temperaments. They walk through the The Educator Hall of Fame recognizes teachers, prinCOORDINATOR classroom doors with talents that are part of their cipals, aides, custodians or any school staff members genetic makeup and with their own gaps in their understanding who have made a difference in the lives of students. Inductees and knowledge. Some know the letters of the alphabet before they must have worked for Hartselle City Schools for at least five ever arrive, and some are introduced to uppercase and lowercase years, and they must be retired. letters for the first time under a teacher’s care.

There is really no way to repay a teacher or staff member for Sometimes, students of all ages have bad days. They don’t all that was given to you, but you can do something special for sleep well, or they lose a beloved pet, or their family is in crisis. him or her by completing a brief nomination form. The form But they come to school. will then be reviewed by the Hall of Fame standing committee.

They might come to school because someone made them You are who you are thanks to someone who could see it attend, but it is the teacher who must grow the student sitting along your journey. at the desk, no matter what the remainder of the day will bring.

To access the nomination form, go to www.hartselletigers.

This is not easy for the student, and it is certainly not easy org and find the Hartselle Educator Hall of Fame page under for the teacher. the Our System tab in the top toolbar.

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Jordan Orr celebrates the Tigers’ 13-3 win over the Vigor Wolves to claim the 2011 state championship.

CHAMPIONS A look back at a perfect season

123 MAIN STREET W. HARTSELLE, ALABAMA 35640 256.502.9544 22 Hartselle Living

STORY BY RUSSELL FRYE PHOTOS BY JIM MEADOWS 439218-1

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It has been 10 years since the Hartselle Tiger football team experienced perfection and the thrill of victory. In December 2011, Coach Bob Godsey and his Tigers lifted the blue map as state champions.

Ask any Hartselle fan who stood out to them from the 2011 season, and they will likely answer one or more of the following names: linebacker Jordan Orr, offensive lineman Will Swann, quarterback Deacon Aldridge, running back Blake Slayton, linebacker Dax Gillespie, running back Masio Stover and kicker Gavin Marsh.

Ten players were named to the Decatur Daily 4A-6A All-Area team – including player of the year Jordan Orr, who had 173 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception, and Godsey, who was named coach of the year.

Three Tigers were named to the 5A All-State team.

First-team honorees were Orr and Swann, while Gillespie was named to the Honorable Mention team.

An old saying in football goes, “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” That statement was true about the Tigers. They held eight opponents to 10 points or less. The offense, however, was just as impressive, scoring 42 or more points in seven games.

Hartselle outscored opponents 509-138. The average game score was 33.9 to 9.3. The 509 points scored still stands as a school record.

Aldridge runs the ball in the Tigers’ 13-3 win over Vigor for the 2011 state championship.

Hartselle fans gather to greet the Tigers as they unload from their buses and walk into Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Hartselle entered the 2011 season with the bitter taste of a 24-21 semifinal loss to Briarwood Christian that ended their season at 12-2.

Here is a walk down memory lane, taking a look at the 15 games that made up the perfect season.

Hartselle 23, Athens 0 The Tigers went on the road to Athens to open the 2010 season.

The defense dominated the Golden Eagle offense, holding them to 27 yards rushing and zero points. The Tiger offense, led by the duo of Aldridge and Slayton, rushed for 268 yards in the win.

Hartselle 54, Brewer 0 For their first home game, the Tigers hosted county rival Brewer at JP Cain Stadium. Aldridge was 10 of 11 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. The defense rose to the occasion once again, holding the Patriots scoreless for their second shutout of the season.

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Hartselle 57, Hayden 0 The defense was the star of the game, as the Tigers picked up their third win of the season on the road at Hayden. The Wildcats were held to 23 total yards and had four turnovers as the third straight shutout victim for the Hartselle defense.

Hayden didn’t cross midfield until late in the fourth quarter.

Slayton had 88 yards rushing and three touchdowns, while Aldridge finished with 83 yards passing and one touchdown in limited action.

Hartselle’s defense rises to the occasion against Cullman, as the Tigers defeat the rival Bearcats 20-13.

Hartselle Living 25

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Hartselle Coach Bob Godsey looks on prior to kickoff of the 2011 state championship game with Vigor.

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Hartselle 17, Walker 3 The Tigers gave up some points in their fourth game of the season, as Walker took an early 3-0 lead. It was all Hartselle after that, though, as the Tigers outscored the Vikings 17-0 for the win.

Aldridge finished with 15 completions for 170 yards passing and 86 yards rushing, while Slayton had 64 yards rushing and 57 receiving.

Hartselle 28, Decatur 21 In their first real test of the season, the Tigers defeated their bitter rival Decatur by a touchdown. The Red Raiders forced Hartselle into uncharacteristic turnovers and mistakes, but in the end, the Tigers came out on top. Slayton finished with 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead the Hartselle attack.

Hartselle 44, West Point 10 The Tigers had an explosive first half on their way to a 41-0 halftime lead. Stover finished with 107 yards rushing on two carries for a 53.5 yards-per-carry average. Aldridge had 114 yards passing and two touchdowns, while Gillespie added a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown.

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Hartselle 55, Curry 7 The offense shone, putting up 527 total yards and 55 points in the win over Curry. The Tigers rushed for 433 yards, with Slayton leading the way with 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Stover added 104 yards and two touchdowns, while Deandre Mack added two more touchdowns. The defense held the Yellow Jackets to 99 yards and seven points.

Aldridge scores on a touchdown run in the Tigers’ early-season win over Brewer.

Hartselle 49, Mortimer Jordan 13 The Tigers led 28-6 after one quarter and 42-6 at halftime.

Aldridge finished with 131 yards passing and three touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown. Slayton added 117 yards and scored on runs of 33 and 48 yards.

Hartselle 20, Cullman 13 The visiting Tigers jumped out to an early 13-0 lead behind the arms and legs of Aldridge. He hit Slayton with a 56-yard touchdown pass and then scored on a 55-yard run following a Cullman turnover. Slayton scored a touchdown after the Bearcats tied the game at 13-13. He scored another after the Tigers forced a Cullman turnover late in the fourth.

Hartselle 42, Austin 14 The Tigers closed the regular season with a home win over Austin that Hartselle dominated from the opening kickoff. Stover

ran for 216 yards and two scores, filling in for Slayton, who had a mild injury. The Tigers finished with 425 yards rushing in the victory. The win gave the Tigers a perfect regular season record for the third time in school history.

PLAYOFFS: Hartselle 52, Boaz 13 The Tigers opened the playoffs at Bryant-Denny Stadium with a 52-13 win over Boaz. Aldridge passed for 199 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 88 yards and two touchdowns on three carries. Stover added two touchdown runs.

PLAYOFFS: Hartselle 22, Pinson Valley 21 Pinson Valley jumped out to a 14-0 lead – the largest deficit of the season for the Tigers – but saw Hartselle outscore them 22-7 to win the second-round playoff game. With the Tigers trailing 21-19 later in the fourth quarter, Aldridge led a gamewinning drive that included two fourth-down conversions and a Hartselle Living 27

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W 34-yard completion to Jeston Thompson that set up Marsh for the winning 19-yard field goal.

QUARTERFINALS: Hartselle 17, Center Point 7 Hartselle hit the road again, traveling to Center Point for a quarterfinal matchup with the Eagles. The defense held Center Point scoreless on two drives that ended inside the Tigers’ 10yard line. Slayton put the Tigers on the board with a one-yard run that capped a 14-play, 91-yard drive in the first half. In the second half, Stover added to the lead with a two-yard run for a 14-0 lead. After an Eagles touchdown, Marsh hit a field goal for the final 17-7 score.

SEMIFINALS: Hartselle 16, Briarwood Christian 14 The matchup the Tigers had been looking for since the 2010 season happened in the semifinals when Briarwood Christian visited JP Cain Stadium. The defense intercepted four Lions’ passes and held off a late charge in the two-point victory. Marsh finished with field goals of 32, 39 and 41 to elevate the Tigers to the state championship game.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Hartselle 13, Vigor 3 In the state finals, Hartselle’s opponent was the Vigor Wolves, who entered the game with a 12-2 record. In the second quarter, the Wolves drew first blood with a field goal for a 3-0 lead.

After that, they held the Tigers scoreless until Marsh hit a 38yard field in the third quarter to tie the game at 3-3. He hit a 47-yard field goal late in the third for a 6-3 lead.

Slayton later added a 12-yard run to give Hartselle a 13-3 lead heading to the fourth quarter. He finished with 79 yards rushing 28 Hartselle Living

on 18 carries. Aldridge, injured on the game’s second drive, came back to lead the Tigers to the victory. He rushed for 67 yards.

Godsey, who now coaches at Madison Academy, said the entire 2011 team was remarkable, especially with how each player had a role and played it to perfection each week.

“A lot of things went through my mind as I was able to lift the championship trophy,” Godsey said. “I thought about all the former Hartselle teams and players that had been so close to winning it all and how important it was for them. I thought about how far this particular team had come, and they got to experience something like a state championship.

“I also thought about Coach Larry Peck, who had given so much to Hartselle football, and he would go out as he deserved: a champion. Finally, I thought about our fans; the support our town gives all of our events is amazing.

“A football state championship was the one thing missing, and it had now been delivered.”

The energy all over town during that season was unbelievable.

Large crowds attended every game, every send-off, every pep rally.

Godsey said the Walk of Champions going into Bryant-Denny was an unforgettable experience.

“We were waiting on the bus till 5:15 to start the Walk of Champions when the police called me out and said, ‘You are going to have to bring them off the bus; this is getting out of control,’” Godsey said. “People were running up the street to be a part of it. Things like that are what makes Hartselle such a special place.”

The 2011 Tigers gave the City of Hartselle memories that will last a lifetime.

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The Tigers celebrate their 2011 state championship win over Vigor at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

We have many new and exciting things We are also expanding our digital service happening!

Camellia Net to offer lower wait times for more First is the announcement by Mayor popular books and audiobooks. This service can Garrison and our City Council that they continue to be accessed through the Libby app. have procured funding for a new library.

Funding for Hoopla and the Camellia Net exMy staff and I are extremely thankful for pansion comes from a $15,000 Library Services the city’s support. We are looking forward and Technology Act Grant and the City of Hartto working to develop the library our growselle’s 25 percent match – $3,750 – required for ing community needs. We also appreciate this grant. We appreciate this opportunity to the support from other city departments, provide these digital services to our community MICHELLE BLAYLOCK our library board and, of course, our fanand hope everyone will take the opportunity to LIBRARY MANAGER tastic patrons. explore Hoopla and Camellia Net. WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE LIBRARY OF HARTSELLE Another piece of exciting news is that To obtain a library card, please stop by the

by January we will be offering Hoopla, a digital streaming library with your proof of address. Our librarians will be service that will allow our patrons with library cards to happy to help you. borrow eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows and more.

We have also expanded our hours and are now open until This service can be accessed on a computer, tablet, phone 7 p.m. Mondays. We hope this helps patrons who could not and even some TVs through the Hoopla app. There is no make it to the library by 5 p.m. waiting. Titles can be streamed immediately or downloadWe are also offering additional programing Monday ed to be watched later. Check-out times vary depending evenings. We have painting classes, game nights, craft on format: Movies and TV episodes are checked out for nights, children’s activities and more. Please check the City three days, music albums are checked out for seven days, of Hartselle Facebook or Huie Library League Facebook for and audiobooks, comics and eBooks are checked out for all the details or stop by the library for a calendar of events.

21 days.

Great things are happening at the library!

Hartselle Living 29

READ THIS BOOK

Alabama authors All these great books were written by Alabama authors. We love to support our fellow Alabamians! We are featuring suspense, romance, mystery and supernatural titles.

The William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle is proud to offer readers recommendations from our librarians. Visit the library to check out these and more.

FOOD & DRINK

These books were selected

by Sarah Laughmiller, Chrissy Tucker and Alex VanKoughnett.

“THE PROFESSOR”

by Robert Bailey

Born and raised in and around Huntsville Robert Bailey is thought of as the John Grisham of Alabama, according to AL.com. His book “The Professor” is about a terrible trucking accident that leaves a young family dead. Now, a small-town Alabama lawyer is taking the case against the freight carrier – and the dark truths of what really happened are being uncovered. Readers say it’s full of suspense, and they can’t put it down.

“THE EX HEX”

by Erin Sterling

Erin Sterling is an Auburn native. In her newest novel, Vivienne Jones is a witch who cursed her exboyfriend when they broke up years ago. She used the harmless curse to mend her broken heart. Years later, however, he has returned, and the simple curse isn’t so harmless. Is it normal for inanimate objects or talking cats to attack the handsome Graves Glen? Readers say this book is “Hocus Pocus” meets rom-com.

“UNINTENDED TARGET”

by D.L. Wood

This is a suspense novel by Alabama native D.L. Wood. Chloe travels to the island of St. Gideon to get her mind off her brother’s recent death. She meets Jack and starts to feel hope that life is turning around – that is, until they are framed for murder and hiding from killers who think Chloe knows her brother’s secrets. Now Chloe and Jack must find evidence they are innocent and save their own lives.

Readers say “run, don’t walk” to get this must-read suspense novel.

“BAD WITCH BURNING”

by Jessica Lewis

Jessica Lewis is a Hartselle author. In her debut novel, Katrell is a powerful witch with the guts to summon and speak with the dead. She uses her powers as a source of income for her family. However, danger is lurking. She is warned by the ghosts to stop summoning them because anything can go wrong.

Does fully resurrecting someone count as something gone wrong? This book is captivating. You don’t want to miss this one.

CUBAN CREATIONS Meet the couple behind Old Havana Café STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

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At the Old Havana Café, diners will meet Miguel and Selma Acevedo. Miguel and Selma have lived a life most people only hear about in the movies.

The Acevedos both escaped communist authoritarianism in Cuba and have built a new life here in America.

They met in Miami in a cafeteria; Selma worked there, and Miguel would go there to get lunch. Through the course of their short conversations, Selma learned Miguel had worked as a Bulgarian translator, and in a wild coincidence, she had been sent to school to learn Bulgarian economics and also spoke the language. So,

32 Hartselle Living

one day when Miguel stopped in, Selma surprised him by wishing him a nice day in Bulgarian.

Miguel says, with a twinkle in his eye, that he was pleasantly shocked someone spoke the rare language and, even better, that it was “someone I liked!”

Miguel and Selma love people and love to share their story of coming to America and their adoration for this country. One of the stories Selma shares is how she would make empanadas at home and then ride her bicycle around the community selling them. Private citizens were not allowed to own a restaurant in Cuba.

When their son Dennis came to the Huntsville area with his job, Miguel and Selma moved to Hartselle and made it home.

They said they felt right at home as soon as they arrived, and the community has been so welcoming.

Earlier this year, Miguel and Selma brought to life their dream of introducing Cuban foods to the area by way of a food truck.

They also offer catering and participate in events like Depot Days and Third Fridays in Decatur.

After weeks of an unusually wet summer in northern Alabama, hindering them from opening the truck, they had an idea: They decided to offer curbside take-out from their commissary. The couple shared that announcement on their Facebook page, and they said the response was overwhelming.

In no time, they decided to have a permanent take-out location, in addition to their food truck. They began the process of preparing their commissary for customers, with a service counter and cheerful waiting area.

Cuban food is different from Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine.

It has spice but not the burn and centers on bread rather than tortillas. It has flavors of Spain, the Mediterranean and even some African influence. Selma describes Cuban food as “food of love.”

The menu at Old Havana Café will change a bit with the seasons.

In the hotter seasons, the couple will offer cooler foods, like classic Cuban or steak sandwiches, empanadas and croquetas, a type of dumpling or fritter. As the weather turns cold, they’ll offer more warm comfort foods like Ropa Vieja and Cuban bowls.

Customers can also find something not offered anywhere else around: Cuban coffees like cafecito or cortadito.

Stop on in at Old Havana Café to discover favorite Cuban classics. The café is located at 800 Highway 31 South, Suite C, in the same shopping center as Tractor Supply.

Hartselle Living 33

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When the weather turns colder, we find ourselves looking forward to all of the gatherings and celebrations in the autumn and winter.

There’s football parties, holiday festivals and more. These appetizers will be welcome additions to party spreads, no matter the reason.

CHORIZO QUESO DIP Everyone loves a great dip recipe. Whether it is a holiday or a football party, this rich and hearty dip will be so much better than anything you could ever pour out of a jar.

INGREDIENTS • 8 oz. chorizo bulk sausage • 10 oz. extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded • 2 Tb. butter • 2 Tb. all-purpose flour • 12 oz. evaporated milk • 1/4 cup Neufchatel cheese (light cream cheese) • 2/3 cup diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained (like Rotel) • Crackers, chips or bread chunks, for dipping

TASTY APPETIZERS FOR FESTIVE GATHERINGS RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

INSTRUCTIONS 1. To begin, sauté the sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat until it is cooked through and browned on the edges. While it cooks, use a spoon to break up the sausage into little bits, stirring continually.

2. Scoop the sausage from the skillet and place it on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.

3. Add the butter to the drippings that are still in the skillet. Melt it over medium heat.

4. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk together.

Cook for one minute.

5. Pour in the evaporated milk and whisk.

Bring this up to a gentle simmer and cook for a minute, stirring continually.

6. Reduce the heat to low and add in the Neufchatel cheese and half the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until melted in. Do the same with the other half of the shredded cheese.

7. Add in the diced tomatoes with green chilies.

8. Finally, add in most of the cooked chorizo and stir it all together. Reserve some of the chorizo to sprinkle on top as a garnish before serving.

9. Enjoy with bread, crackers or chips as desired.

Hartselle Living 35

JALAPEÑO PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

Is any party spread really complete without a good pimento cheese spread here in the South? This spread is incredibly simple to make, and you’ll love the gentle kick of heat the minced jalapeño peppers add to this version.

INGREDIENTS • 2 Tb. jarred pimento peppers, diced • 4 oz. light cream cheese, room temperature • 5 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded • 5 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded • 1/4 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 tsp. sea salt • 1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced • Crackers or veggies for serving INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine the diced pimento peppers, cheeses, mayonnaise, salt and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix until it is combined.

2. Stir in the minced jalapeño pepper.

3. Serve with crackers or dipping veggies.

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UPCOMING EVENTS • Santa at the Depot, Nov. 7, presented by Mutual of Omaha Mortgage • Quarterly Breakfast

BECOMER A MEMBE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS (new members from July 29, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2021)

• Town and Country Cleaners • Osaka Sushi & Steakhouse • Limestone Building Company • Green Life Chiropractic • Liberty Learning Foundation

& Business, Nov. 18

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DEPOT DAYS

• Hartselle Young Professionals Cash

photos by Freedom Light Productions

We hope everyone had as much fun at the 40th Depot Days Celebration as we did! We want to thank our Presenting Sponsor, Decatur Morgan Hospital; our Silver and Gold Sponsors, Diamond Pro Printing, Cerrowire, Sonoco Reels and Plugs, Hartselle Enquirer and Joe Wheeler EMC; and our Art Show sponsors, Behind the Canvas Art Studio and Main Street West Gallery. Additionally, thank you to more than 50 volunteers who helped us execute Depot Days through serving on various planning committees, donating items and food for volunteers and serving our community by volunteering at the event throughout the day. You are all true leaders in our community, and we are better because of each of you.

Time to start planning for next year! If you are interested in serving in our planning, please reach out to the HACC at 256-773-4370.

Mob, Nov. 20 • City Appreciation

T H

HARTSELLE STATE OF THE SCHOOLS

The Hartselle State of the Schools Breakfast took place Oct. 6, presented by Redstone Federal Credit Union. Dr. DeeDee Jones, Hartselle City Schools superintendent, presented plans for the new Crestline Elementary School along with an annual review of the past school

year’s accolades and accomplishments. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Redstone Federal Credit Union, and our Gold Sponsors, CerroWire, Hartselle Enquirer and Sonoco Reels and Plugs, for helping us execute this event.

Luncheon, Dec. 9, presented by Sonoco Reels and Plugs • Quarterly Lunch & Learn, Dec. 16

AMBASSADORS

Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Recruitment is underway.

Ambassadors are a highly visible, prestigious group of volunteers who give their time to provide crucial links among the Chamber, its members and the community. Our Ambassadors are passionate about the Chamber, and their involvement not only benefits our organization but helps their own business exposure as well.

Do you LOVE Hartselle and desire to promote our city to businesses and individuals? Do you enjoy hosting others and sharing “Hartselle Hospitality”? We have a place for you! Visit HartselleChamber.com to learn more about our Ambassador Recruitment for 2022.

Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 817, Hartselle, AL 35640 38 Hartselle Living

256. 773.4370  admin@hartsellechamber.com Hartselle Living 39

OUT & ABOUT 1

40TH ANNUAL DEPOT DAYS

2

Thousands enjoyed the festivities during the 40th annual Depot Days held in downtown Hartselle.

and the den…

Photos by Rachel Howard 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

John Roberts and Madison Roberts David Evans Harrison Shaneyfelt Brian Williams and Alleigh Williams Seth Prater, Camryn Prater, Maggie Beth Prater, Lilly Prater, Katie Harris, Kayla Harris and Waylon Harris 6. Kira Mullican and Zay Sanders 7. Dallas Ohsner, Ella Ohsner and Eli Simmons 8. Shane Sieweke

e h H t k a c e D and the living room, lls

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OUT & ABOUT

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QUANESHA BURKS RETURNS TO HARTSELLE Hartselle’s hometown Olympian Quanesha Burks visited the William Bradford Huie Library and Hartselle High School Oct. 4 to share her stories from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Photos by Rachel Howard 1. Jeff Hyche, Burks, Myra Garrett and Pat Smith 2. Vicki Blankenship and Burks 3. Caroline Wilson, Burks and Carson Wilson 4. Dr. Brad Cooper 5. Alex VanKoughnett, Sarah Laughmiller, Burks and Michelle Blaylock 6. Ethan LyBrand, Chloe LyBrand and Burks 7. Cindy Roberts, Burks and Michelle Blaylock

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