Helena City News Spring Edition

Hele H elena Ciitttyy New elen Newwss Serving Helena and Surrounding Communities

Spring Edition

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PHS’ BOYS AND GIRLS SETTING DIAMONDS ON FIRE Baseball AND Softball teams headed for new heights!

OLD TOWN AMPHITHEATER ABOUT TO COME ALIVE WITH FUN Helena Market Days, Sundown Cinemas, 4th of July and more!

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From the Mayor’s Desk Got Real Questions? Get Real Answers! Call 663-9301 or Email: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

I

’d like to clear up some confusion that has apparently been going around about your city government not wanting a Walmart Neighborhood Grocery in Helena.

Nothing would make me happier, and in fact, negotiations are underway to bring them here soon.

I think the confusion came when one of the real estate agents in on the negotiations asked the city council to offer Walmart a long term sales tax holiday, and the council had NO choice but to turn that down.

A large part of the funding with which the city pays for your city services comes from the sales tax you pay when you make your purchases in Helena. The single largest source of this funding comes from sales tax you pay at the grocery store. When Winn Dixie decided to close its doors, Publix picked up the slack, and the city lost no revenue with which to provide the city services you have come to expect.

Even during the deepest recession this nation has seen since the great depression, we have maintained the same high standards of city services for our citizens by being extremely frugal. Also, our many dedicated city employees have gone nearly five years without a pay raise.

In other words, when we lost Winn Dixie as a collector of sales tax, Publix’s sales tax collections went up by about that same amount, meaning no loss in funds to pay for your city services.

Any reasonable person will understand that a mayor and council’s primary responsibility is to serve as good stewards. To offer another grocery store a sales tax holiday could easily cut the city’s largest collection source of sales tax dollars in half, and from an economic standpoint, that is not something that the City of Helena can afford to even consider.

Other, larger municipalities may be able to offer incentives such as these, but Helena, being a bedroom

community off the beaten path and with a limited number of retail stores, just cannot make an offer of this type and remain solvent. That was the council’s decision and one that I fully support.

That being said, I do not believe this is a sticking point with Walmart.

We have been meeting with their representatives, and they have made numerous other requests, all of which we have agreed to do. I look forward to making an announcement at some point in the near future concerning this welcome addition to our city.

Until then, please do your best to make your purchases in Helena where your sales tax dollars will do you the most good.

Final approval has been given by the Regional Planning Commission for Greater Birmingham through its TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) for our portion of the Buck Creek Trail. A grant from the state in the amount of $2,414,075.00 was approved April 11, 2012. My thanks to councilperson Katherine Ennis for her assistance in securing this grant for an extension to the multi-use Buck Creek Trail, which will add to the already wonderful recreational opportunities our citizens enjoy.

I am pleased to announce that we have applied for a grant from FEMA to build what will initially be three community storm shelters in Helena.

The city is required to pay 25 percent of the cost of this project, but we are allowed to cover much of that cost with in kind services. The shelters must be located on city owned property and they must provide ample parking.

The first three will provide a capacity of nearly 500 which will be a good start in providing shelter to those who have no other protection in the event of severe weather. We plan to build as many as we can afford and find we have a need for in the future. Be aware of severe weather, especially as tornado

season is upon us, and have a plan in place for what you and your family will do in the event of a severe weather outbreak.

Be sure to come out and support Helena’s annual “Summer is nearly here” party, the Buck Creek Festival and Rubber Duck Race, which is not only a great time for so many in this area, but also provides funds for various charities including Safehouse of Shelby County and the worthwhile work that they do.

Congratulations to our middle school baseball and softball teams on successful seasons. At press time, it looks as if our high school teams are in the hunt for state titles, with the PHS boy’s baseball team having only three losses on the year and ranked number one in the state and the girl’s softball team having only six losses. Good luck to Coaches Jeff Mauldin and Amy Sullivan as their respective teams move forward.

It has been brought to my attention that our ballparks have been in need of maintenance that was not being taken care of. Times have been tough and money has been tight, but I am doing my best to redouble our efforts to ensure our young people can be proud of their home ball parks. We have hired extra help to ensure the parks’ cleanliness and as money is available, we will make a few upgrades to the facilities, too. Please understand that in a down economy, everything is tight, and do your part whenever possible to pitch in and help. If you have a matter that you think needs my attention, I ask that you email me at the address below and I will do my best to find a solution that works for the good of everyone.

I recently had the pleasure of taking a group from ACIPCO, the Board of Operators Charity Committee, to lunch at Papa Saia’s. There, they presented me with a check for $4,000 to be used towards building a new log

2 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Charles W. “Sonny” Penhale

cabin in Joe Tucker Park, which Boy Scout Troop 2 and the Helena Kiwanis plans to use as their lodge. Troop 2 is sponsored by the Helena Kiwanis. The Kiwanis had a very successful pancake breakfast recently, and I understand that part of those proceeds will go towards this project as well.

The Helena Belles are proving to be very helpful in hosting local events, and I am proud that they will represent our city at the upcoming League of Municipalities Annual Convention.

Thanks to Amy Bolt and all the girls for the great job they do.

Sincerely yours, Sonny Penhale Mayor

Above, the Mayor poses with some of the Helena Belles who helped iwth the annual Easter egg hunt.

Below, he and councilman Jerry Pate accept a check from Acipco’s charity baord for $4,000 for the Boy Scouts.

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Pelham Panthers Making Bank on the Baseball and Softball Diamonds

Pelham’s varsity baseball and softball teams are both having phenomenal seasons so far this year!

Coach Jeff Mauldin, whose baseball team is 33-2 as this goes to press and ranked No. 1 in the state and on several national services as high as No. 9, says this year’s team is comprised of some of the best in all his years of coaching. “And I’m not talking about talent, although it is very good. These kids are some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to coach,” he said. “It’s funny, but as I was driving home from Virginia after my mother’s funeral recently, I couldn’t wait to get back and be around these guys. They have become like family to me. Whether we’re playing cards or ping pong, they give me a comfort. Then I get them on the practice field and I push them until they don’t like me so much anymore,” he laughs. “Then we go play some more cards.”

The practice part is evident, as is the camaraderie this team has established. “They play as an unselfish unit,” he went on. “Each is willing to sacrifice for the good of the team to help accomplish our goals.”

The Panthers clinched the area title and as this goes to press, defeated Hillcrest Tuscaloosa in a sweep. The score of the last game in the best of three series was 16-2!

Good luck as our Panthers scratch and dig to make it to the state playoffs!

Similarly, Softball Coach Amy Sullivan says her team was a little heart-broken after losing its first game of the season a few weeks back to rival Hoover, but with a 36-8 current record and a 6A region 10 area title to their credit, they have earned the respect they are garnering this season. Like Coach Mauldin said about his boys, Amy says her girls are playing very hard and are each other’s biggest fan and supporter. “We have an outstanding team chemistry this season, and it is nice to coach a team that doesn’t worry about their individual stats,” she said.

As this goes to press, the team is ranked 3rd in the state and just defeated Oak Mountain 6-0. They are positioned for their own run at the state title this year. Here’s to bringing home the bacon ladies!

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4 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

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Explorer’s Golf Tourney The Helena Police Explorers post will host their annual benefit golf tournament Thursday, May 31, at Timberline Golf Club (300 Timberline Trail) in Calera, Alabama.

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Cost: $100 per player (includes lunch and door prizes). Participants also receive a free round of golf for a later date.

Sponsorship: $100 per hole.

This golf tournament will help fund the group’s July trip to Colorado for the Explorer’s National Competition.

The Explorers are affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, which offers young people, ages 14 to 21, hands-on experience in law enforcement. They are also a tremendous help during our city’s many community events.

6 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

For more information, contact Helena Police Capt. James Penhale at 663-6499.

In addition, the Helena Police Explorers are sponsoring a drawing for an Awesome Auburn or Alabama chair, custom designed by AAA Upholstery and Calico Corners. Each $5 donation gives you three chances to win the chair decked out in your team’s colors, and the lucky winner is sure to be envied by all the sports fanatics in your neighborhood. So good luck—Roll Tide and War Eagle—and may the force be with you! For your big chance, please contact a Helena Police Explorer, advisor, or simply call the police department at 663-6499.

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Red, White, and Blue Blooded

When inquiring about Mark’s hobbies, we learned Seoul, then returned to that he is building a two-seater Sonix (kit) airplane Ft. Stewart, Georgia, at home. By the time you read this, Mark may have before first coming to Col. John “Mark” Traylor shared with us recently united the fuselage (now in his garage) with the wings Birmingham in 1996stories of the three generations of Traylor men who that are stored in a hanger at the Bessemer Airport 98. After a stint in Virginia, Mark asked his wife, have served their country in the military. and be a silver silhouette flying over the city of Karole, where she would like to settle and she said, Helena, or more likely, headed south with Karole for a His father, Rev. Frank Traylor, served in the Navy “Get me back to Birmingham, back to Helena and weekend beach trip. during World War II and was wounded February 21, get me back to Fieldstone Park! That’s it,” she told Mark, “you go play army, but I’m staying here.”

1945 at Iwo Jima when the USS Saratoga was struck “We first fell in love with Alabama when stationed by a kamikaze. After the war, he served as minister in in Ft. Rucker and thought we might live in Dothan.

In 2004, he spent a year in Iraq, then commuted Baptist churches in Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi to Helena from Ft. Rucker, retiring in 2011 from Ft But when we first lived here, we both fell in love with and Arizona until his death in 1990. Two of Rev. Knox. Karole, originally from Louisiana, raised their Helena. Of course, while we were away for three Frank’s five brothers were also in WWII—one posted two sons, 2LT John M Traylor, Jr. and PFC Zachary years, Helena doubled in size. We appreciate the low in Italy, and another in the Pacific. crime rate, great people, our great neighbors and S. Traylor, and daughter Ashley. Karole worked in great church though!”

Mother’s Day Out and taught kindergarten at First Mark and his four brothers grew up hearing the stories of the previous generation and each served 4-8 Baptist of Alabaster, where the family is still active. years—Francis in the Air Force, Glen in the Army during Vietnam, Terry in the Army at Ft. Bliss and “We did not encourage our boys to Bill in the Navy in Guam. Mark is the only one, join the military, but John joined from however, who made it a career.

UA’s ROTC and was sent to Iraq, a fact he did not immediately share At the age of three, Mark recalls sitting atop his older brother’s shoulder at an air show and knowing with us,” Mark said. John is now two years into his training as an AWACS from that time forward that he wanted to fly. He (radar plane) crewman stationed at has flown Cobras, Huey’s (Iroquois), Chinooks and Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. Zach Kiowas. “The army, contrary to what people think, is in the Marine Corps Reserve in offers a lot of pilot opportunities; they have many Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he is more helicopters than the Navy has jets.”

He began his career in flight school at Ft. Rucker, employed at an oil refinery. then went to Germany, then back to Ft Rucker.

Ashley, now 14 and a freshman at Col. Traylor and his sons, John and Zach. Inset: Rev. Frank Traylor, deceased.

During 1994-95 he was stationed in Korea, north of PHS, plays on the volleyball team.

8 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Three Generations of Girl Scouts

daughter, Shelby, was a Brownie. “Our troop saved cookie sales money for six years so we could make this trip,” she said.

“The most interesting part was being together with so many A Girl Scout from age 10 to 17, Fredryce Smith says she learned many skills Girl Scouts of all ages and hearing their memories and their dreams for the future and enjoyed field trips such as to the Coca Cola Bottling Plant, Barber’s Dairy of Girl Scouting. Though some speculated that a phone app will one day show and the Birmingham News. Her troop also participated in a play that was their badges and their vests will be high tech, they also said they hope that some presented on WVOL, a popular radio station in those days. of the traditions don’t change,” Hull said.

Fredryce’s Troop 125 also made a small cookbook, assembled with a handFredyce says she taught sewing skills to Jan from an early age and now is marbleized cover and featured typed pages of everyone’s favorite recipes, passing them on to Caroline, who just acquired her own sewing machine. including one called “Porcupine Meat Balls.”

Fredyce sews with First Baptist Alabaster “I really loved to go camping— either making quilts, afghans, walker bags and to Camp Gertrude Coleman in Trussville rag dolls which they donate to local nursing or Kanawa Hollow. We would make up homes. She also has made clothes for her our blanket rolls and all ride to camp in granddaughters’ American Girl dolls. the back of a big truck. We would make Fredyce has made presentations to our own toilets and go swimming in the Troop 313 that have helped them earn Cahaba River.” two badges—Listening to the Past and Fredyce recently traveled to Savannah Her Story.

She regaled them with the th in honor of the 100 Birthday of Girl popularity of making dill pickles as Girl Scouting with her daughter and Troop Scouts in her day, and told them about the 313 leader, Jan Hull, and granddaughter, one troop member who was known for th Caroline Hull, a 7 grader at HMS. always drinking the pickle juice. She has “We learned that Juliet Gordon Low taught them to crochet and how to make Caroline and Jan Hull and Fredyce Smith in Savannah last month. came from a wealthy family, but she still blanket rolls and has sprained her ankle in knew hardship. And that she held the U.S. patent on garbage can liners! She a 3-legged race. painted, sewed, quilted and cast her own garden gate. We learned that she was Troop 313 earned a Bronze Medal for their work with Jessie’s Place, building hearing impaired, and that the girls in her first scout troop were from the local bookshelves and acquiring books for the women and children who were there. orphanage.”

They also provided groceries for a Habit For Humanity family. Jan Hull says “Juliet Low never had children and for that, she felt inadequate,” Fredyce each year the troop makes Christmas ornaments with a different theme, and she shared. “But she gave birth to the 3.2 million Girl Scouts who are active today.” envisions those to represent Girl Scouting memories that will be passed along Jan Hull has been a troop 7/25/11 leader for 7:39 12 years, through friends and families to future generations.

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Save the date: Saturday, June 30th

It’s the day the City of Helena will celebrate Independence Day with with Helena’s own U.S Band and a big fireworks display! The FREE event is sponsored by Papa Saia’s, so expect one heck of a party!

4 to 10 p.m. More in the next issue!

10 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Of All the Places in the World...

The computer monitor on Stephen Kearley’s desk flashes scenes from China, and a Happy Family Ball made from jade lies nearby. The new Helena Elementary Sschool Assistant Principal is recently back from a memorable trip where he and wife, Christy, visited the Great Wall and a special school dedicated to children whose parents are imprisoned.

“This year we had the opportunity to travel to Beijing, China, and visit this school, one of seven such schools in China. The children are housed in dorms, and part of their studies teach them to grow and sell their own food,” Kearley said.

The Kearley’s ate meals with local families and were taught to make Chinese dumplings and spring rolls.

“We were the only Americans—the others were Canadians—and everyone was fascinated with our southern accents.”

Stephen Kearley says his entire family is, so to speak, in the education business. His father was principal at three Talladega schools and then became superintendent.

Kearley attended the University of Montevallo receiving first a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, then later, his Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. In between, he

earned a Master’s Degree in Library Media at Jacksonville State University.

He is a National Board Certified Teacher in Library Media and is currently pursuing his doctorate at Samford University.

Kearley first taught at Chelsea Elementary then became the Library & Media Specialist at Elvin Hill Elementary in Columbiana. He was at Elvin Hill for nine years where Christy continues as a Special Ed teacher. After filling in as assistant principal at two schools, Helena Elementary is his first permanent placement.

Each summer, using the stipend he receives as a National Board Certified teacher, he and his family make an educational journey, which they come back and share with students. Stephen and Christy have traveled to Ireland, Scotland, and Venice, and two summers ago, they took an 8,000-mile tour of the western United States learning about landforms with sons Max, 9, and David, 10.

Last summer, they studied the history of Alabama, touching every major waterway in northern and central Alabama and visiting historical sites. This summer they will go see the U.S.S. Alabama and the Montgomery Shakespeare Festival. The family has a blog about their summer travels at: http:// onestatetwoboys.blogspot.com .

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Britney White participated in the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs (AFMC) Junior Solo Festival at Samford University Feb. 25. Students were required to play two pieces from memory, one of which was selected for them and one piece of their choice. Judges scored them based on their performances of both pieces.

Britney received all Superior scores for her solo performances on the piano.

Her piano teacher is Christie Messer at the Hunter Street Arts Academy in Hoover.

Congratulations to Britney on this terrific accomplishment!

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12 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

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O R T H O D O N T I C S Sara Wolfe, DDS, MSD

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14 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

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The Helena Middle School Choral Department features a program

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choreographed vocal performance full of tunes we all know and love.” The Music Machine Show Choir traveled to Albertville, Opelika, and full of talented singers, young musicians, and folks Homewood to represent the community and school that just love to sing and perform. Director Frank in Show Choir Festivals featuring some of the best Andrews says, “Middle School is an interesting time middle school show choirs in the Southeast. for singers because along with body and hormone Tiara Pennington, now a 7th grader, won the solo changes, both boys and girls go through a voice competition at festivals this year and last year. change that affects vocal coordination and quality.

In February, the choir continued its four-year We pride ourselves on our ability to sing a wide streak of earning Superior Ratings at the State variety of choral literature that exposes students to Festival Performance Assessment. The choir is cultural influences outside of the popular norm, as adjudicated on literature performance quality well as field a 45-member Show Choir that puts on a and ability to read a music example within a brief time period.

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Three HMS choir students, Preston Burks, Emma Bratton and Austen Lindgren, were selected to perform with the Alabama All-State Choir at Samford University in March.

Eight HMS students are representing the choral department in the Annual Alabama Young Voices Festival in Auburn May 4 and 5. They are Alexandra Abernathy, Alicia Averette, Ally Hales, Taylor Hampton, Mary Alex Kortright, Ashlyn McClearia, Austin Mitchell and Andy Perry. The choir will perform at Disney World May 10.

The community can hear these young voices for themselves Thursday evening, May 3 at the annual Spring Concert at Helena United Methodist Church.

Helena Hometown Pharmacy Celebrates a Year in Helena!

C

ongratulations to Helena Hometown Pharmacy on its first anniversary in Helena. Owners Jan Arledge (not pictured), along with left-right: Emily and Blane McPeake, owners along with mom, Jan, and Kim and Thomas, pharmacy tech and pharmacist, thanked Helena with a special celebration Sat, March 31, with fun for kids of all ages!

Blaine, Kim and Thomas, who were present when the store was held up recently, all say they feel much safer now that the bad guys have been apprehended. A big shout out to Investigator Chris Rollan and all invloved on the professional handling and speedy resolution of this case.

Jan would like to remind everybody that unlike some of the big chain drug stores, Helena Hometown Pharmacy still accepts all forms of insurance, so if you are having trouble using your insurance card with them, be sure to give HHP a call at 745-3979.

“Also, watch for our sales circulars in the mail each week. We have great values in them!”

While their first anniversary is a happy occasion, it is also bittersweet for the family, as it also marks the first anniversary of Scott Arledge’s death (Jan’s husband, Emily’s dad and Blane’s best friend.) I know he would be pleased though, looking down and seeing the business he envisioned thriving in the city his daughter and son-in-law now call home.

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City of Helena Fire Chief John W. Wilder II and his wife, Jacqueline, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Leigh Wilder to Charles Todd Self, son of the late Dr. Phillip Gilbert and Diane Gilbert of Gardendale, Alabama.

Jessica is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Dental Assisting Program and loves working as an orthodontic assistant at Wolfe Orthodontics here in Helena. Todd is a graduate of Bevil State Community College and is currently working at Harsco Metals in Tarrant, AL. The wedding is planned for May 18, 2013.

16 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Get Fit! Boot Camp

With Anna Reimers

Anna Reimers is a great inspiration and motivator for the SNAP Fitness members attending her Boot Camp classes. This month-to-month class meets Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The class is held outdoors allowing everyone to push now and be acclimated to the warming

weather and thus be more fit during the hottest months.

Duane Smith, VP of Manufacturing at Imaging Business Machines, has been a SNAP member for nine months, but says he got serious when he began Boot Camp in April. After knee scope surgery last year and three months of physical therapy, Duane was released by his doctor to continue exercising on his own. He has lost 12 pounds in 17 days since beginning Boot Camp and says he has more energy, less shortness of breath and his pants fit again!

Amber Howard, 4th grade teacher at HIS, has been working with Anna as her personal trainer for two years. She works out 5 days a week along with her husband, Dan. Amber says that she has progressed from doing only five pushups to now being able to do 55!

She loves having more energy for her students and for her family.

Sam Causey recently joined SNAP and began Boot Camp in April. He has already lost 22 pounds! Sam, who works for Alabama Power, says he has parked his riding lawnmower and is eating healthy.

Sam’s improved stamina is also a great boost to his soccer coaching duties.

“Setting small goals is key,” says Anna. “This class is for all levels. It is not a competition. I guide them through the routine and offer modified or advanced options according to the individual.

Each person gets a homework/workout assignment geared to their needs.”

In college, Anna was a Division I athlete in Track and Field and earned her B.S. in Health & Nutrition. Her personal training work began with helping her friends. She is now a member of FitPro and loves training others to be their best.

Anna is an identical twin married to an identical twin! She and her husband, Christian, have a nine-month-old son, Christiansen. Lifting Christiansen’s thirty pounds of sweetness up over her head several times a day, Anna says, is her favorite arm toning exercise!

Members of Anna Reimers’ Boot Camp show off their wall squat muscles. Each member is evaluated at the beginning and end of the month and measurements, more often than weight, will be the reward and inspiration to stay on track.

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Jane B. Holmes Public Library News and Notes From the Desk of Library Director Daniel Dearing

Greetings to everyone from the Jane B. Holmes Public Library!

The library saw a lot of familiar (and new!) faces during Spring Break. Spring and summer are great times to visit the library to beat the heat and catch up on the latest materials.

Problems paying those high gas prices? Stay in your community and save money by visiting the library for books, movies, music, and great access to the internet. The library also features free WI-FI and very reasonable prices for print, copy, and fax service.

Speaking of your community, it is that time of year again, and we need your help. The library is offering a summer reading program to our children and young adults to encourage them to retain their reading skills and read for pleasure during the summer.

To add to the fun and to create a sense of challenge that will keep kids reading, we like to offer incentives and contest prizes at various times during the summer.

Because of our limited budget, we cannot afford to offer this without help.

We appreciate any donation you care to make. Possible donations include: items to give away as prizes, small toys, coupons for free goods or services (admission tickets, fast-food coupons, etc.), gift cards, or cash to buy prizes.

We will mention the assistance you have generously donated in our publicity.

If you can help in any way, please contact Daniel Dearing at the library at 6648308, or e-mail me at ddearing@shelbycounty-al.org. We hope to include you in our summer plans. Many thanks!

Sincerely, Daniel Dearing, Library Director Do not forget! The library has some great new items! We also reserve books, music, and audio materials. Ask at the circulation desk for details.

Hours: Mon. 10-7, Tues. 10-6, Wed. 10-6, Thurs. 10-7, Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-2, Closed Sun. w w w. s h e l b y c o u n t y - a l . o r g • 6 6 4 - 8 3 0 8

Jane B. Holmes Public Library Director Daniel Dearing, Kim Roberts, Shelby County Public Libraries Director Barbara Roberts, Senator Cam Ward, Joyce Saxon, Nan Abbott, and Sandra Berry

On Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Jane B. Holmes Public Library Director Daniel Dearing accompanied other Shelby County Library Administrators to Montgomery to participate in ALABAMA LIBRARY

LEGISLATIVE DAY, an important opportunity for Library Administrators from across Alabama to thank their legislators for their support of public libraries in the state. We appreciate all their hard work and help!

Daniel Dearing, Barbara Roberts, Nan Abbott, Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, Sandra Berry, Joyce Saxon.

Get pumped up for the Jane B. Holmes Summer Reading Program 2012!

Registration begins Tuesday, 6/6/2012 all day from 10:00 to 6:00.

XYZ (eXtra Years of Zest) Club weekly activities held at the Helena Senior Citizens Center Located at 222 Tucker Road, behind city hall and next to the library MONDAY 10:00 am Chair Aerobics: Fun & gentle workout TUESDAY 11:00 am-3:00 pm Cards & Games: Bring a sack lunch & join the fun THURSDAY 10:00 am Chair Aerobics Fun and gentle workout FRIDAY 5:00 pm Social Time: Come see what fun is in store For more information, contact Liz Morris at 664-1946.

Valerie Boothe • 365-3441 Maternity • Newborn Engagement • Family Photos Toddler Birthdays • Senior Casual Your choice of location. Gift Certificates available. You don’t have to choose! I put ALL your pictures on a CD for you to keep.

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We have some BIG events planned, and you can read for Fun and some great PRIZES! Our first BIG Program will be Melinda Mills on Wednesday, 6/13/2012 at 2:00 PM. She is a talented musician with a Fun, High Energy Show!

Stop by the library for more information. We know everyone will want to read all summer long!

18 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

!

D A wo

HEext t

ith w ke ival! n a t he to st p t out he fe i R s t ge to pa you

A O G

THE ARTIST

over the Birmingham area for a place to call home. We picked Helena primarily because of the reputation of its schools. We moved in the Laura Joseph’s beautiful design was selected for the third time to be used as the Fourth of July weekend, and I remember our official festival logo. “It’s more challenging than you’d think,” said Laura, “trying first night, sitting on the back deck of our home to incorporate the waterfall at Buck Creek into the design yet have it simple in Old Cahaba watching the fireworks show. enough that it can be color separated and printed on T-shirts.”

We were hooked!”

Well, it looks like she figured out a winning combination again as the new logo “I also remember the first time we attended beautifully blends the waterfall with ducks flowing over it, a guitar and piano keys the Buck Creek Festival. It is such a wonderful in the shape of a guitar body; colored bubbles to represent fun, and optimism family event. I remember Anna Kate was about two then, and she was up near the in the guise of a bright sun which contains the dates of the event. All in all, a stage dancing with all the other children while we sat back in our folding chairs, fantastic job! and it was such fun just hanging out and enjoying the music.”

Laura is a Helena resident who moved here from Slidell, Louisiana. “My Laura works today as marketing coordinator for Plantation Patterns in Irondale. husband, T.J. and I are both originally from Decatur,” she said. “We married five She also serves as communications director for the Shelby County Republican months after Hurricane Katrina blew through. After our first child was born, Party and is a member of the party’s steering and executive committees. and hurricane season was about to be upon us, we decided that we wanted to She and T.J. have two children: Anna Kate, 4 and John Marshall, 1. come back home,” said Laura. “T.J. got a job with ACIPCO, so we looked all

BUCK CREEK FESTIVAL LOGO DESIGNER A THREE-TIME WINNER!

THE HEADLINERS...

Blues,” the legendary team of John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd spring to life once again with an action packed stage show that will blow you away!

Friday night’s headliner is an R&B Rockin With unbelievable stage antics and featuring such Machine! KOZMIC MAMA has developed a solid great hits as “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Soul Man,” following of fans through club dates, concerts, “Rawhide,” “Hey Bartender,” “Rubber Biscuit” and parties, radio shows and festival appearances. many more, “The Blues Brothers Experience” will They perform a variety of original and cover songs sing, dance, play and cartwheel their way into some ranging from “Classic” Soul and Motown to Blues of your greatest memories! Audience members from 8 and Rock. Influences include, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, James Brown, Jackson 5, Sam & Dave, to 80 will have the time of their lives rockin’ out with the original “Men In Black!” After a recent concert Staple Singers, Sly & The Family Stone and Ray in Memphis, Tenn., Willie “Too Big” Hall, original Charles to name a few. Kozmic Mama was formed in 1991 when Carla Russell, Matt Shook and Bobby drummer featured in the movie “The Blues Brothers” said, Love came together to start a band that would soon become one of the hottest live bands in North “Man! It was just like being on stage 30 years ago!”

Alabama and South Tennessee. Matt and One of the only Bobby had moved Blues Brother tribute to Huntsville from acts in the county to Atlanta, where they be licensed by the John played with the rock Belushi estate and band “Fragile.” Upon with a large reference arriving in Huntsville, of satisfied customers, Bobby and Matt “The Blues Brothers hooked up with Carla Experience” will to perform soul covers convince even the most and original songs. scrutinizing crowd! So, what are you waiting Mike Fontenot, former for? “We’ve got a full tank of gas, a half a guitarist of “King pack of cigarettes, it’s dark and we’re wearing Cotton,” and Jimmy sunglasses... HIT IT!” It’s showtime!!!

Clay, former bassist of Blazing guitar. Powerful vocals. Eloquent “Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose,” and “Baker song writing; LIZ MELENDEZ is the female and Myers” joined the group, completing the Kozmic version of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, and line-up.

Eric Clapton. Her name is becoming synonymous After you hear the versatile sound of Kozmic with great guitar across the globe. While her lead and Mama, steeped in the Rootsy tradition of Rock, rhythm guitar prowess alone is enough to distinguish Soul, Motown and Blues, it will come as no surprise her, the strength of her vocal ability and her skills as that they’re one of the most popular bands to come a songwriter make Liz a genuinely unique and out of North Alabama in a long time! powerful artist.

The lead vocalist, Carla Russell, says her vocal With three CD releases to her credit, Liz has influences vary from blues to hard rock including garnered a sizeable following touring the southeast Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Mavis Staple, Otis and beyond. She has headlined major festivals such Redding, James Brown, Big Mama Thornton, as the Madrid Blues Festival in her home state of Robert Plant, Etta James and Ann Wilson. Carla has New Mexico, the Riverbend Music Festival in recorded for many recording artists/studios.

Chattanooga (the only female besides Koko Taylor to do so), and coBe sure to come out headlined major Friday night and get festivals such as Helena’s “Welcome to the Cape Fear Summer Party” started!

Blues Festival Saturday night’s in Wilmington, headliner is THE N.C. and the BLUES BROTHERS Blues 2003 EXPERIENCE, the Festival in New nation’s hottest Blues York and been Brothers tribute show. invited to open Let them take you on a for artists like soulful journey as they The Nappy turn back the hands of Roots. She has time and continue their performed on “mission from God!” stage with such With Bucky Heard as notables as Bob “Joliet Jake Blues” and Margolin, Henry Justin Clark as “Elwood Butler, Francine 20 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Reed, Chris Duarte, E.G. Kight, Hubert Sumlin, and Candye Kane.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Liz maintains a regular touring schedule to promote the national release of her most recent recordings as a highly sought-after performer, songwriter and recording artist. www. lizmelendezband.com Twenty-plus years of performances in the U.S and Europe and seven albums have helped MICROWAVE DAVE & THE NUKES establish a multinational audience. Venues vary from French soccer stadiums to Bike Week in Daytona Beach, from blues cruises on the Big Red Boat to neighborhood saloons, but the thousands of shows delivered by the band all reflect one core element: the heritage blues music enjoys as a lifter of spirits. As Microwave Dave puts it: “Blues is America’s first—and still best—self-help program.” Rick Godfrey on bass, harmonica and vocals and James Irvin’s drumming round out the trio fronted by Microwave Dave on vocals and guitars. Microwave Dave also performs solo in a modern one-man-band setting.

AFTER 2 GLASSES members Paul Walters and Jean Campbell began playing together years ago at the home jam session of a mutual friend. They experimented with different styles and techniques for a couple of years and played a few parties and open mics just for fun. But in the summer of 2009, the pair was asked to play for the South side 4th of July Block Party.

Paul played in his first band in high school and has been an avid music follower of and instrument collector for years. He sings, plays mandolin, guitar, psaltery and various other unusual instruments. Growing up, Jean played various instruments, but narrowed her focus to guitar and lap steel in the last decade. She sings and plays standard guitar and as well as a special lap steel guitar made by Jack Dudley at Don’t Fret Instruments. She also plays a Johnson Tricone Resonator guitar lap style as well as a 1939 Rickenbacker lap steel.

If you have never been to Helena’s Buck Creek Festival before, it’s the city’s annual “Get ready for summer” pary. So strap on your laid back attitude and get ready for a great time—we’ll see you there!

SPONSORS MUSIC Presenting Vulcan Materials Helena Quatty Clear Channel Radio Stations The Bull and Magic 96 ABC 33/40 Shelby County Reporter Regions Bank Jim N Nicks Alabaster, Pinnex Group

STAGE SCHEDULE, FRIDAY, MAY 11th 6:00 pm Tommy Crowder Band 7:45 pm LaReunion Idol 8:15 pm Kozmic Mama

Patron Shelby Baptist Medical Center Official Family Eye Care of Helena Karen Miller AllState Deb’s Party Rentals Davidson Law Firm Farmerguard Pest Control Helena Hometown Pharmacy Alabama Telco Verizon Wireless Essential Solutions, Inc.

A m p it h e a te

Buck Creek Blue Grass Band After Two Glasses St. Bernard All Star Jazz Band Deja Blue Razz-Ma-Tazz Microwave Dave and the Nukes Liz Melendez Band The Blues Brothers Experience

r

1st Ave 2nd Ave

3rd Ave

3rd St

Contributing Big Red Balanced Sconecard Advisors, LLC Promrose School of Rivenwoods

PARKING Baptis C h u r c ht CR 52

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)

NG P A R lKeIn a H e ntary Eleme l Schoo

The Rubber Duck Race begins promptly somewhere around 2-3 p.m.

Get there early to see what they have decided!

10:00 am 11:00 am 12:30 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 5:15 pm 6:45 pm 8:15 pm

PARKING fo r V e n d o r s

2nd St

Activity State Senator Cam Ward Dennis & Jeannene O’Brien Representative April Weaver In Memory of Larry Childers Pepsi/ Buffalo Rock Cahaba Wellness

SATURDAY, MAY 12th

PARK J o e T u cI Nk eG Park r

Pa rk Ru les

NO PE TS NO CO OL ER S No Bic ycl es/ Gol fca rts

i65

Kick Off the Buck Creek Festival With A Papa Saia’s Crawfish & Shrimp Boil!

SATURDAY, MAY 12: 11AM - TILL

205-621-6161

Shelby County’s Victory GMC named One of the Top Dealerships in the Nation for Outstanding Customer Experience!

This rare accolade is touted in Forbes Magazine, USA Today, Dealer Magazine and Automotive News. Victory was honored at the 12th Annual Digital Dealer Conference in April and is recognized on WomenCertified.com as one of thirty-four Top Dealerships in the Nation for Outstanding Customer Experience.

WomenCertified®, the voice of female consumers, awards businesses and brands based on consumer experience.

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businesses and brands that women in local communities would recommend.

Through customer surveys Victory GMC demonstrated not only great service, but a sincere commitment to meeting the needs and preferences of their female customers.“We are proud to be named one of the Top Dealerships in the nation for Outstanding Customer Experience and to be the only dealership in Alabama honored with this award. It is a true testament to the remarkable work of all the employees at Victory GMC. The customer experience we provide our clients is always our highest priority, and we are proud of the exceptional work we do, every day.” says Warren Bailey, President of Victory GMC. Articles featuring the nationally

recognized dealerships have been published in major publications describing the importance of an outstanding customer experience and specifically the outstanding customer experiences of women. There’s an old adage that just might be true: “when you’re able to satisfy the wants and needs of a woman, you’ve superseded those of a man.” Car dealerships are often feared and avoided by women due to historical behaviors toward customers in general and specifically women. Changing that perception is a long term goal at Victory GMC, and this award is a powerful measurement of success. “We like to say we’re refreshingly different,” says Brad Bailey, who also works in the family business and spearheads e-commerce

and marketing efforts for the dealership.

“When our customers shop here, or buy here, or service their vehicle here – we want them to be pleased with our effort to treat them the right way. And that’s what this award says.”Victory has recently been featured in local publications for its strong family values and unique business philosophy. This is the first time notoriety of a national magnitude has been awarded to Victory, and there’s a good chance it won’t be the last.

Victory GMC is located off I-65 in Calera and operates a used car dealership on Hwy. 17 in Helena. It’s owners are partners in the new Blue Rain Car Wash about to open next to the new ALDI on Pelham Parkway.

Named One of the Top Dealerships in the Nation for Outstanding Customer Experience!

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Melanie Henderson is H.E.S. Teacher of the Year.

Henderson says she has known forever that she was going to be a teacher—first playing school as a child.

By age 12 she was teaching Sunday School to four-year-olds. While in college at UAB, she taught Bible School and Pre-School.

Now at HES for ten years, she says her memories of her own kindergarten teacher influenced her to choose kindergarten level. A stint as Day Care Director reinforced her desire to teach because “Kindergarten is where my heart is.”

“I believe that every child can learn—you just have to find the way to reach and teach to their learning style.

Children come to me as they are and I meet them where they are.”

“Children need to understand what they are capable of and to learn to believe in themselves. If I can get them there, light that little spark—a love for reading or writing or mathematical thinking—if I can inspire them to do more, then the sky’s the limit.”

Henderson believes kindergarten is the time, too, for children to learn to share, to compromise and to be happy for someone else. “One of the most exciting parts of my job is seeing the

children start to appreciate each other and celebrate each other’s successes—to see the classroom growing, discovering, exploring, and building as a little family and community. When that happens, the children are able to concentrate on learning.”

“Our HES kindergarten team of 14 teachers is amazing. I would not be the teacher I am if it weren’t for them.

I think this should be a team award,” Henderson said.

Melanie is married to Richard Henderson, who works in IT at BCBS, and they are parents to Reed, 14, and Brittney, 9.

The Henderson family is looking forward to a special adventure as they have been chosen as one of four families to have their adoption story told on CBS’s 13th annual Home For the Holidays show.

After fostering Brittney, for the past 2½ years, the long process was at last completed and Brittney was formally adopted this past August 25. Friend Denise Davis nominated the Henderson family without their knowledge.

“She just fits in our family perfectly,” Melanie said, “and everyone even

says she looks just like me and like Reed. This experience has been a great journey and big blessing.”

Brittney’s dream was a Yorkie puppy, which was her Christmas present in 2010. She also wanted to be a cheerleader and was a Panthers cheerleader first through third grade.

CBS came to Helena over the August 26 weekend and filmed the family at home and around Helena, as

well as Melanie in her classroom. They Hendersons will fly to L.A. on Nov. 16 to be in the audience at the taped show that will air Nov. 21.

“So many people think foster kids are troubled kids and that is just not the case,” Henderson said. “We wish we had the room, the resources and money to adopt more kids, but by sharing our story, we hope to influence others who may be considering adoption.”

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 23

KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST, ALWAYS A BIG HIT, HOSTS INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

Students prepared Japanese flags and other decorations to make the overseas visitors feel welcome.

24 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

A group from Japan touring with Friendship International, a group in which Helena Kiwaniians Gerald and Callie Waldrop are heavily involved, lent an international flavor to this year’s annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast at Helena Elementary. Slaving over the hot cooktops at the school were Claudia Deason and her son, Dennis, along with ACE Hardware manager Daniel Barron, while HUMC pastor Mike Edmondson, local State Farm agent Jarrod Gibson and Shawyn Barton from Knox Pest Control served up the flapjacks (at least these were the crews working when we strolled through to eat our fill of the breakfast feast and snap a few pictures).

Thanks to Boy Scouts from Troop 2 who took up tickets and served in various capacities and Key Clubs from Evangel and Pelham High School, who were also on hand as volunteers. Mayor Sonny Penhale was in attendance, as was Shelby County Schools Superintendent Randy Fuller.

HES Principal Mary Cooper and her new assistant principal Stephen Kearly served as hosts, and City Councilman Jerry Pate was there working in his capacity as a leader with Boy

Scout Troop 2, sponsored by Kiwanis.

1, 075 tickets were sold, and over $5,000 in gross revenue was raised.

The proceeds will benefit various local projects, such as maintenance on the Boundless Playground at Joe Tucker Park and other worthwhile community projects.

Hats off to the Helena Kiwanis Club for all the work they do to benefit our community! Helena’s Kiwanis Club meets for breakfast every Tuesday morning at the Helena Senior Center behind city hall.

Anyone who would like to become involved is urged to join them!

Scout leader and Councilman Jerry Pate collects tickets with Thomas Ward, ASM, Jeffrey Ward, Life Scout and Brandon Lee, Star scout from Troop 2.

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 25

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL… We’re the Home of the Free Because of the Brave!

SGT Jon M. Aaron

LT James Brooks Dickey

4/14 K CO (DET B), UNIT 43671, FPO AP 96426-3671; Al Anbar, Iraq; Son of Karen Dickinson

PFC Jonathan R. Barnett

US Army; Calvary Scout-3rd Brigade-1st Armor Div.; Fort Riley, KN; Son of Susan Barnett

1999 Stephanie Ct, Auburn, AL 36830; Son of Charlie & Janie Brooks and Janet & Dennis Dickey

AEAN Benjamin Lee Doaks

US Navy; NAS Jacksonville, FL; Son of Joe & Tammy Williams, grandson of Rev. Clifton & Mattie Taylor

PFC Matt Barnett

SSG Jay Gortney

US Army; Delta Co.-232nd Medical Battalion; Fort Sam Houston, TX; Son of Susan Barnett

Alabama Army National Guard 20th Special Forces, Iraq; Husband of April

SGT Steven M Bennett

SPC Michael Hubbard

Petty Officer 1st Class Termaine J. Pruitt US Navy; Guam; Husband of Loretta, father of Termaine Jr, Trevorn, Chelicia & Tristin, son of Janice & Austin Pruitt

PVC Dwight A Rosse Jr.

US Army; 1-32 Cav 1st Bct, Fort Campbell, Ky; Son of Dwight & Michelle Rosse, brother of Britney & Carlton

SPC Adam T. Saulters

US Army; 82nd Airborne Division, Iraq; Son of Patty Saulters, brother of Casee Saulters

SPC Patrick D. Sharp

US Army; Camp Liberty, Iraq; Grandson of Ruth Meadows, husband of Kimberly, brother of Bonnie Hubbard

US Army, 82nd Airborne; Al Asad, Iraq; Son of Shawn Sharp

US Army;, 82nd Airborne, 1-504 PIR; Baghdad, Iraq; Cousin of Paul Zimmerman

US Navy; Japan; Son of Stanley & Sue Kang, sister Sunny Kang

SRA Mitch Braswell

US Army; Fort Rucker, Ala.; Son of Tom Lefebvre

US Army (3rd Inf. Div., 1-30 Inf.); Ft. Stewart, GA; Father of Jesi Mason Squires, son of Bruce & Tammy, brother of Aubrey & Austin

US Army; Paratrooper/Rigger; Fort Benning, GA; Son of Clara & Ken Lorino

SFC Eric Bond

USAF; 16th EMS, 16th Special Op. Wing; Afghanistan; Son of Mike & Judi Braswell

PVT Vincent Brown

USMC; Stationed in Chesapeake, VA; Son of Leonetta Prevo

SGT Paul Bushnell

USMC; Expeditionary Unit deployed from 29 Palms, CA; Son of Bill & Julie English, Sarah’s husband

SGT Dallas C Caviness

US Army; 172 Infantry Brigade; Germany; Husband of Rebecca, Father of Norah, Son of Rhonda & brother of Devin

2nd Lt. William B. Cofer

US Army ; Fort Benning, GA; Son of Dorothy & Jim Cofer, brother of Deborah, boyfriend of Kristen Beam

LCPL Roberto M Conde

USMC; Expeditionary Unit deployed from Camp Lejeune, NC; Son of Robert & Aurette Conde

Petty Officer 1st Class Austin C. Daniel

Lt. Commander David Kang CW3 Corey Lefebvre

CPL Rodney Stephens

PVT 1st Class Jacob S. Lenoir

Army National Guard; 152nd Military Police Task Force 382nd, Iraq; Father of Andrea & AnnaBelle

Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik B. McKenzie

US Air Force; 552nd TRS; Tinker AFB, OK; Son of Mark & Karole Traylor

2nd Lt. Jacob Allen Meins

USMC; 3-23 Infantry; Baton Rouge, LA; Son of Mark & Karole Traylor

HM2 Daniel Mills

VMMT 204 Flightline, MCAS New River, NC; Son of Keith & Sherill Vansant

MSG Jacqueline M. Moore

Army Reserve; Afghanistan; Husband of Kathie, dad of Maggie, son of Bette Ward, brother of Michelle (Lin) Saville

SSgt Christopher S Murphy

US Navy; USS Nimitz; Son of Randy & Peggy Walton, brother of Annalee

US Army ; Ft Stewart , Ga, Son of Beth Eades. husband of Caitylyn McClesky-Lenoir US Navy; USS Curtis Wilber, Yokosuka, Japan; Son of Bond & Lisa McKenzie, Brooke’s brother, Megan’s husband USAF, Air Force Special Operations Command; Son of Kathy Meins Martin US Navy; Marine Corp Training & Advisory Group; Helena Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic US Army, 387th; Wichita, KS; Wife of Leroy E. Lucas, mother of Cameshia, Shaun, Chibukia & Chris

US Navy; Norfolk, VA; Son of Mike & Claudia Daniel, brother of Justin, Tatum & Autumn

USMC; MWHS 3, San Diego, CA; Son of Jack & Karen Murphy. husband of Alyssa

US Army; Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI; Son of Carol Darrenkamp, brother of Jon & Stephen

US Navy ROTC Unit-University of Pennsylvania; Daughter of Ted & the late Sara Oelschlager

2nd Lt Eric C Darrenkamp

SPC Ashley Bruce Squires

2LT John M Traylor, Jr PFC Zachary S Traylor

SGT John Christian Vansant Major Maxwell B. Ward Adam Walton

LT Kimberly A. Oelschlager

E-mail Helena active duty military personnel’s name, address and where they’re stationed to helenacitynews@aol.com.

If your loved one has returned, please let us know so that we can keep our prayer list current. Thank you!

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26 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Bunnies & Belles in the Park Thanks to all who came out and participated in the City’s Annual Egg Hunt!

Winners (by age group) this year were: 0-2 - Khloe Winfrey - age 15 months with parents, Matthew and Kristin 3-5 - Sarah Catherine Courington with mom, Lucy Courington & the Penhales 6-8 - Jolee Long with mom & brother, Rebecca & Gregory Long & Rodney and Lynleigh Golden Special thanks to Dr. Priscila Denny of Oak Mountain Orthodontics for sponsoring the egg hunt again this year by supplying all the winners’ Easter baskets!

H.M.S. Assistant Principal Comes Home Returning to HMS as Assistant Principal this year, Jennifer Cleere says, “The faculty, parents and students have welcomed me back with open arms.

It has been a wonderful transition for me—like coming home.”

Cleere grew up in Alabaster. She studied marketing and public relations at the University of Montevallo and worked for EBSCO and in the corporate office at Books a Million for a time, then moved to Florida and received her teaching certificate through the University of South Florida. Next came a Masters in Gifted Education from the University of South Alabama, then her Administrative Masters from Montevallo.

“It seemed for a while that I was a permanent graduate student, but it has been a very God-led journey and I feel very blessed every time I walk into the doors here.”

She taught in Florida, then in Gulf Shores for three years plus one year at RMS before coming to HMS as 8th grade Gifted and English Language Arts teacher in 2007.

“That first year I was fortunate to be on the leadership team and be involved in establishing policies and procedures for the school. I saw first hand how school improvement works. Being mentored by

Jennie Goolsby and Coach Knight was such a plus.”

Cleere recalls the sense of community and sense of ownership that first year. The pride the students and their parents showed was exceptional.

At the end of her first HMS year, as the last hire, she was transferred to Oak Mountain Middle School, but instead took a job with the county as Gifted Ed Lead Teacher for the past two years. This, she says, allowed her to see the operations of many different schools and learn from Dr. MacPherson.

“As Assistant Principal, I handle a lot of discipline

issues. What every student wants is to be listened to.

I am firm and consistent and approach each situation on an individual basis. I have learned so much from Coach Knight; he is so patient.”

“This position allows me to get back to working directly with the students and building relationships there, which I missed in my district work. I also work with the curriculum and leadership teams. This is a people job.”

Traveling to all the elementary, intermediate and middle schools in the county, Cleere developed an immediate sense of the energy from each school and says HMS emanated “good energy” from the day the doors opened.

“I’m prejudiced, but I believe it is by far the best middle school in Shelby County. Mrs. Goolsby and Coach Knight and our staff modeled that from the beginning.”

Ms. Cleere enjoys attending school sports events, working out at the YMCA and is joining with other teachers to train for a half marathon. She enjoys kayaking when visiting her brother at the beach. On her desk is a photo of her dogs, Jiminy and Cricket. Welcome home, Ms. Cleere!

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 27

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A.M.E.

Churches

New Bethel A.M.E. Church Highway 261 • 201-5531 Pastor Rev. Wilma Merriweather Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

BAPTIST

CrossBridge Community Church Starkey Street (off Hwy 261) • 621-2695 Pastors Morrell Aldridge, Harris Cook & Bruce Squires crossbridgehelena.com Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Prayer Service 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church Helena 3616 Helena Road • 663-7879 Senior Pastor Dr. Mark DeVine, Pastor Greg Walker fbhelena.org Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Gospel Light Baptist Church 5781 Roy Drive • 685-0772 Pastor Steve Kilpatrick • glbcbham.com Sunday Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Highway 261 • 663-5257 Pastor Rev. Edwin D. Dinkins • mpbchelena.com Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

New Elam Baptist Church Cunningham Drive Pastor Rev. Lester Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Riverside Baptist Church 1919 Highway 52 West • 426-1910 Pastor J.J. Stanbridge • e-mail: jj@rbchelena.org Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Bible Study 10:30 a.m.

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church 6700 Highway 13 • 424-4539 Pastor Rev. Randy Keef Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

CHRISTIAN-DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 869 Highway 52 • 426-1233 Pastor Tommy Morgan • gracechristianchurch.org Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

When it comes to value, quality, and personal customer service, Cedar Creek Nursery is always eager to help. We’re not just another retail nursery…

We’re growers as well.

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Helena 2499 Highway 58 • 620-4575 Evangelists Curtis Flatt & Bryan Moody church-of-christ.org Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

28 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

METHODIST

Helena United Methodist Church 2035 County Road 58 • 663-0111 Pastor Rev. Michael Edmondson • helenaumc.org Worship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Modern Worship Sunday 7:19 p.m.

The Church at Cahaba Bend 3721 Highway 52 West • 621-8060 Pastor Rev. Lyle Holland • cahababend.org Sunday School 9:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Contemporary Worship 9:30 & 10:45 a.m.

NAZARENE

Trinity Church of the Nazarene Laurel Woods Dr. & Hwy 58 • 664-4659 Pastor Rev. David Shirer • nazarene.ch/trinity/ Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Celebration Church Meets at Helena Intermediate • 602-0805 Pastor David Bradford • hiscelebrationchurch.com Small Groups/Bible Study 9:15 a.m.

Contemporary Worship 10:30 a.m.

Cornerstone Church 2694 Highway 58 • 663-9332 Pastor Rev. Tim Trimble Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

New Vision Christian Church 2383 Highway 95 • 664-4333 Pastor Van C. Houser, Sr. • nvcc4god.org Sun. Corporate Prayer 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m.

SNS@HIS Meets at Helena Intermediate Teacher/Leader Dr. Wayne Williams Sunday Night Service 6:00 p.m.

Voice of Faith International Ministries 1560 Cunningham Drive • 663-7396 Pastor Rev. Franklin L. Kirksey Sunday Worship 7:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

PRESBYTERIAN

Christ Community Church Meets at Helena Elementary • 621-6248 Pastor Phil Chambers • cccbham.org Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

Helena Cumberland Presbyterian 3396 Helena Road • 663-2174 Pastor Rev. Tommy Johnson • helenacpchurch.com Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.

Attend the Church of Your Choice This Sunday!

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Helena and Pelham Gear up for Relay

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Helena Native Raising Money for Special Needs Individuals

Jack Wilson, Helena native and currently a senior at UAB, is participating in a charity event in May called Gear Up Florida through an organization called Push America. This event is a bicycle ride covering 800 miles from Miami, FL to Tallahasse, Fla. Push America is an organization that raises money and awareness for adults and children with a wide variety of disabilities. Their aim is to make the lives of these individuals as fulfilling and happy as possible by giving them opportunities they usually wouldn’t have. They strive to make everyone see what these people are capable of doing and not casting them aside for being different. Push America was founded and is run by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, of which Jack is a member and is the only national philanthropic organization owned and run by a fraternity. It has raised over 15 million dollars since its founding in 1986 and 100% of the proceeds go directly to this organization. Jack is asking for your help in his fund raising. In order for him to participate in this event, he needs to raise $2500 in the next couple of weeks. If anybody would like to help Jack with his fundraising, they may contact him directly at jrwilson@uab. edu, or on his cell, 205-706-2510. edu

We are long overdue for a cure to cancer. Everybody knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Each year the American Cancer Society raises money to help fight against cancer with Relay For Life. The North Shelby Relay For Life is scheduled to convene at Pelham High School May 18th at 6:00pm.

The organizers of the event say they have 38 registered teams so far. Teams range from young fund raisers such as the Mighty Mites of Helena to Adults like Team Psi Xi Omega of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Several Businesses have gotten on board for this great cause as well. Please bring your donations to Iberiabank in Pelham. It is not too late to start or join a team. Contact Amy Turner at (205) 401-0817 for more information.

Team M*A*S*H will continue to take submissions for the “Faces of Relay” video. This video will be shown during the luminaria ceremony and is a very moving tribute to our cancer survivors & those we have lost. You will definitely want your loved one to be represented. DVDs will also be available for purchase. For more information, please contact Emily Morris at emily_morris333@bellsouth.net.

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Author Crystal Watford, 7th grade English/Language Arts teacher at HMS, grew up in the mining town of West Blockton and today, just happens to work across the way from Helena’s former Roebuck mining community. She and her husband, Lee, explored the area well before the current construction of Helena High School began.

The cover photograph of her second novel, Overcome, was taken from inside the engine mount structure of Eureka No. 4 mine.

Both of the YA (Young Adult) books she has penned have been based on life in mining communities. Overcome is a fictionalized story woven around the 1926 Mossboro mine explosion.

Set in a fictional Helena of the 1930’s, it incorporates local landmarks and revolves around a strong female character. The fictional family is “being held down, terrorized into submission.”

“I wanted to tell a story that would captivate my students,” she said.

Watford says she was a responsible older sister to her brother and was always driven to prove that she, as a female, could do anything she put her mind to.

“You tell me I can’t do something, and I will prove you wrong!” she said. For example, she was the first woman on the construction crew at her former church.

Watford researched the process of excavating

coal for this novel and actually wrote the novel in 2010. The editing process, however, took 18 months.

“I wrote Overcome during NaNoWriMo, which is an annual challenge held each November that encourages writers to produce 50,000 words during a 30 day period.”

The student version of the program requires 15,000 – 20,000 words and Watford says a competition sprung up between her and participating students.

“It is a wonderful teaching tool,” she says.

“Beyond teaching them the principles, this challenge encourages them to apply and produce.”

“For me, as well, it was not about making money, but doing it!”

In addition to writing, Watford enjoys photography, riding her scooter and Trivia Night at La Reunion. She is also learning Italian. In 2013, she and teacher Angie Festino will lead an EF Tours group to London, Paris and Barcelona.

Overcome can be ordered online at amazon.com.

Local Middle School Teacher Publishes Helena Historical Fiction Sunny

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30 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Mason Webber to Run Track for University of Montevallo Mason Webber has logged thousands of miles during his high school career. A true distance runner, he is happiest when clicking off miles out on the trails. Constantly striving for self improvement, he looks forward to hard workouts. After a brutally cold weekend when asked about his long run, Mason responded, “It was freezing! I went eleven and it was so cold, my face was chapped and burning when I got through. It was the best run I’ve had in a long time.”

In his years at Pelham High, Mason has become the front runner for the Panthers. When asked about his greatest accomplishments so far he said, “The first time I broke 5 minutes in the mile and running 1 hour and 20 minutes in a half marathon.” He was the

Cross Country MVP in 2010 as well as 2011 and has consistently been the teams’ best two miler and miler.

Not surprisingly he can also turn out a quick 4x8 or 4x4 relay split. A polite and quiet natured guy, Mason leads through example. Because of his work ethic and leadership he has inspired a new era of runners to follow in his footsteps.

Montevallo’s new head coach Tommy Barksdale said, “We are excited that Mason is joining the team and think he will be a good fit to our program.” As Mason continues his training and racing at the next level, I have no doubt he will find ongoing success.

Mason Webber is the son of Jessica Vice and Lynn Webber and is coached

by Marty Springfield and Jennifer Argo.

Caroline and Drew Ann Long,Pushing for Carts Drew Ann Long visited Helena Middle School’s 8th grade Honor Society today. She has a daughter, Caroline, who attends Thompson Middle. She is 11years-old. Caroline was born with Rett syndrome, which is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use.

The Easter Seals organization has been providing Caroline and her family assistance since she was 13-months-old. Drew Ann explained to the students that Easter Seals is only funded by donations, and without donations and fund raisers they would not be able to provide help for children or adults with special needs who cannot afford to get the equipment or services that they need. Easter Seals is able to help people free of charge because of the programs that raise money for them like the “Penny Drive” that the National Junior Honor

Photo courtesy of Stacie Collins Photography

Society has going on at Helena Middle School.

Caroline has been chosen as the Child Ambassador for Easter Seals. She and her mother have been able to travel and go on speaking engagements to educate the public so we can learn how important it

is to support Easter Seals.

Drew Ann has also talked about Caroline’s Carts, a shopping cart that is designed for special needs children and adults. Her website is http://CarolinesCart.com. The seat for the cart is manufactured in Birmingham, and the cart is made and assembled in Georgia.

Congressman Spencer Bachus presented a spec sheet for Caroline’s Cart to the President in Washington, D.C. in support of a bill that will help entrepreneurs and small business owners to keep production in the U.S. Drew Ann would love for you to visit her page on Facebook so that you can learn more about Caroline’s Cart.

(Special thanks to Stacie Collins and Sharon Worthy for their help in taking pictures and gathering info for this article!)

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 31

Every Satuday

2012

8:00 am to 12:00 pm

June 4 - September 24 Helena Old Town Ampitheater

Come buy local produce, organic food products and browse various vendors. Chef demonstrations are also scheduled most Saturdays.

Upcoming Demonstrations (Demonstrations held from 9-10 am) June 02: Fox Valley - Chef Sue LeMieux 09: Joes Italian - Chef Sonia Bertelone!

16: La Dolce Vita - Chef Ben Tamburello 23: Chef Vizzinia (3-time winner of the Silver Plate Award) 30: Cafe De Paris: Chef Estinfort July 01: TBA 07: Echelon Catering - Chef Gray Byrum 14: not sure 07/21: Bright Star - Chef Austin Davis 28: Dyron’s Low Country Cuisine - Chef Randall Baldwin August 04: Ross Bridge: Chef Robert Kamm 11: TBA 18: Hot & Hot Fish Club - Chef Chris Hastings If you would like to volunteer for the Helene Market Day’s 2012 season, contact Cris Nelson at 296-6153 or Ron Holly at 410-4496.

Volunteers to set up and take down tables, as well as volunteers to man the information table are also need each week during the market. Having an early commitment and the ability to structure a monthly schedule in advance would make the market operate more smoothly and would allow the regular volunteers some time off.

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Helena Residents Become Eagle Scouts Juniors Stephen Mixson and Ryan Kailey, charter members of Helena’s Boy Scout Troop 2, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Both 17, they take honors and AP classes at Pelham High. Stephen plays drums and Ryan the trumpet in the school’s band.

Ryan began scouting in first grade and loves baseball. For his Eagle project, he raised money and materials to construct five picnic tables with his troop at the Helena Sports Complex where he works. Son of Chris and Denise Kailey, Ryan is active in the youth ministry of Helena United Methodist Church.

Stephen’s Eagle project was placing a flag pole at Camp Tranquility in Oak Mountain State Park, and he’s participating with Troop 2 in the renovation of that campsite. Son of Glenda and Jeff Evans and Mike and Carmen Mixson, He also works in the concession stands for the Helena Parks and Rec. Department and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Alabaster. Congratulations guys!

Alabaster Competitive Soccer Club Tryouts Starting June 2 • USSF Licensed Coaches from around the area and from the University of Montevallo Men’s and Women’s soccer programs.

• Practices and Skills Training in Alabaster.

• Very Affordable. www.alabastersoccer.org Phone: 205-378-9722 Email: info@acscsoccer.org TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 33

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34 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Guitar Lessons Adults and Children

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS Mondays Fire Explorers at Station 2, 5:00 p.m.

Tuesdays Storytime at Jane B. Holmes Library, 11:00 a.m.

Tuesdays Kiwanis Club at Helena Senior Citizens Center, 7:00 a.m.

Thursdays Storytime at Jane B. Holmes Library, 11:00 a.m.

Thursdays Police Explorers at Helena Explorers Post, 4:00 p.m.

Sundown Cinemas (June 1-August 3), HBA sponsored, Amphitheater Park, 8:00 p.m.

Fridays Saturdays Helena Market Days (June 2 until…), Amphitheater Park, 6:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

(over 5 years)

ALL STYLES ALL LEVELS 30 MIN - 1 HOUR LESSONS • CLASSICALLY TRAINED • OVER 10 YEARS TEACHING EXPERIENCE

May 1st 4th 7th 9th 11th

12th -

13th 14th 17th 18th 19th 21st 23rd 24th 28th 31st

-

Helena Business Association meeting, La Reunion, 8:00 a.m.

IYAZ Youth Athletics Benefit Concert, Pelham Civic Complex, 7:30 p.m. page 31 Emergency Siren Test, 10:00 a.m.

Gone Fishin’ for Special Needs Students, ages 5-21, May 9-11, Oak Mtn, Info 620-2520 Buck Creek Festival, Amphitheater Park-Music, Food & Much More, 6:00 p.m.-10:15 p.m.

Pelham Varsity Spring Football Game vs Carver-Montgomery, Ned Bearden Stadium, 7:00 p.m.

Buck Creek Festival, Amphitheater Park: Pancake Breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m.; Live Music, Games, Food, Arts & Crafts 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Duck Race 3:00 p.m. page 19-21 Mother’s Day Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

Planning & Zoning Commission, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

Aaron’s Staff Respite Care–special needs 0-21, LNLC, must reserve aaronsstaffrespite.org Relay for Life of North Shelby, Pelham High stadium, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. 401-0817 XTERRA Championships May 19-20, Oak Mtn State Park xterraplanet.com Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

Shelby County Schools 2011-12 year ends at 3:00 p.m.

Shelby County Schools Teacher Workday Pelham High School graduation, Pelham Civic Complex, 7:00 p.m.

Memorial Day - Municipal Offices Closed, Mon. garbage collected Tue. w/ usual route Helena Explorers Golf Benefit, Timberline Golf Club & AU/UA Chair drawing, page 6

June

4th - Emergency Siren Test, 10:00 a.m.

5th - Helena Business Association Meeting, La Reunion, 8:00 a.m.

11th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

- Panther Youth Football Camp (5K-8th grade) June 11-14, Pelham City Park page 10 18th - Aaron’s Staff Respite Care-special needs 0-21, LNLC, must reserve aaronsstaffrespite.org 17th - Father’s Day 18th - Panther Youth Football Camp (5K-8th grade) June 18-21, Helena Sports Complex page 10 25th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

28th - Planning & Zoning Commission, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00 p.m.

30th - City’s Annual Independence Day Celebration with U.S Band, Amphitheater Park

Exchange Student Lucian Grote Heads Home

ROBBY RYLAND

Guitar Instructor

Luc Grote will return home to Braunschweig, Germany at the end of the school year with a whole new view of American life in Alabama and the South. As an exchange student living with Dennis and Christi Wilson and their children, Zachary and Parker, Luc says he “loves everything about America!”

With his host family, Luc has been to Gatlinburg and Gulf Shores, a NASCAR race in Talladega and an Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa.

He liked the parades, beads and all the Moon Pies at Mobile’s Mardi Gras celebration.

Some cultural differences Luc notes are there are no NASCAR races, no wrestling tournaments and very few football teams in Germany.

He played soccer at PHS, a sport which he says does not generate the same fans and support here as does American football.

Having found a taste for sweet tea soon after arriving, Luc says other American foods he will miss are Reese Cups, Chick-fil-A and Sumo Japanese Steakhouse. And, most certainly, Dennis Wilson’s biscuits and chocolate gravy! (Send us the recipe, Dennis!)

RobbyRylandGuitarMusic.com 205.260.9025

Luc had the advantage of attending Driver’s Ed while here and got his American driver’s license. He says that the same training in Germany would cost about $2,000. When he turns 18, he will be able to convert to a German license and drive on the (speed-limitless) Autobahn. Luc adds that it is more common to travel by bus in Germany as everything is less sprawling.

At PHS, Luc loves his art class with Mrs. Harrison most of all. Christi, his host mom, says Luc “draws and builds the most amazing things—he is so talented.”

Luc also has enjoyed learning Spanish. He likes playing guitar, and going to the Guitar Gallery is his favorite outing. He likes all rock music and pressed to choose favorites, he mentions Green Day, Linkin Park and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In Germany much time is devoted to family and “having Luc with us has brought us back together to hang out more as a family,” the Wilsons say. To his friends back home considering the exchange student experience, Luc says, “Do it, you definitely will not regret it.

Be willing to adapt yourself and try to experience everything you can.”

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 35

A Different Kind of Spring Break Over the past eight years, Riverside Baptist Church has been involved in international missions in Belize. For the past two years they have sponsored a family mission trip to the improverished, most sparsely populated nation in Central America.

This year during Spring Break, a team of 18 members, including two children, five teenagers and 11 adults traveled to the village of Silk Grass to minister to local residents.

They were involved in leading praise and worship such as

children’s Vacation Bible School (VBS), Bible study for youth and ladies as well as a men’s fellowship supper. In addition, they completed the 30’x40’ walls for an educational building at Silk Grass Baptist Church.

“Our children and teenagers participated in relationship building as well as many activities to share God’s love,” said Pam Golden.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the missions to Belize may contact Bill or Pam Golden at (205) 426-1910.

Spring Cleaning? Consider us an extra garage!

Home Plate To Go Expands Kay Brashier’s Home Plate Cooking To Go has expanded and opened it’s decorative and inviting new front door to the Helena Community and beyond. The word is out now, after Marissa Mitchell from ABC33/40 visited and interviewed Kay in her segment called ‘Making Your Hobby Your Business.’ Kay mentioned that her previous location, at the back of the Helena BP Coosa Mart Shopping center (on the corner of Highway 17 and 58), lacked visibility. Now that she has taken her natural flair for good, home-style cooking and artful presentation to a walk-in storefront, “lots of new customers know I’m here for the first time. My previous customers love the new look and have been very supportive.”

Along with entree and dessert daily specials, Home Plate Cooking To Go is available for catering and weddings. The shop displays samples of bright and festive cake designs as well as a selection of cookies and party-themed cake-pops and some fabulously decadent cupcakes. See daily specials and more at: http://www.homeplatecooking.com/ menu.htm menu.htm. Home Plate Cooking To Go is located at 1915 Highway 58, and their phone is (205) 621-6502.

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Credit and Debit Cards Accepted 36 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

H.I.S. Teacher of the Year: April Atkins After 10 years of teaching elementary education and seeing many teachers and student teachers come and go, April Atkins says she has come to realize that teaching is a true love, an art form, and only for the natural born leader.

“I found my true love of teaching thanks to my poor niece who was forced to sit in my ‘classroom’, a.k.a. my bedroom, until she was old enough to realize she could revolt!”

“I can still hear my mom’s voice yelling at me from the kitchen, ‘April, if you can’t be a nice teacher, you can’t be a teacher at all!’”

“Somewhere along the way, I guess I figured out how to be a nice teacher, because now here I am, 32 years old and teaching for my tenth year. And still loving it every moment.”

Scouring the Internet for games, activities, and lessons is exciting and intriguing to Atkins. And she is frequently called a “nerd” by her husband, because he will find her on the computer at midnight on weekends listening to a professional development video.

“I just believe that you can never stop learning and growing as a teacher if you want to be your best.”

“And, I work hard every year to truly make a connection with my children and their families. I

Yard of the Month:

believe if a level of trust is not in place between a teacher and her students, the learning can’t begin.”

“Glogster, Animoto, Clickers, and Smartboards— our world is changing so quickly that it is hard to keep up with all the available technology. Teachers are working with children whose entire lives have been immersed in the digital world. Teachers must blog, produce podcasts, Skype with a class in another state, and so much more. Web 2.0 has revolutionized the classroom. It gives rise to more project-based learning, higher order thinking, and problem solving.”

However, Atkins says, schools must find a way to keep up with this ever-changing beast called technology.

Atkins was a leader in getting Factivation for Multiplication implemented in 3rd and 4th grade classrooms. She is coordinator of the Technology Club and uses ‘Whole Brain Teaching’ with her students, giving them more ownership of their lessons and thus better retention and deeper levels of learning.

Atkins serves as HMS Cheerleading Coach and choreographer and is married to Jeff Atkins, Assistant Principal at Thompson High School. They are the parents of Gunner and have two Labs, Kaylee and Reagan and Allie the cat. The family enjoys camping and canoeing together for leisure.

Gene and Jeanie Jones

You may in the past have seen a man in a golf cart circling the yard at 1500 Secretariat Drive. Upon closer observation, you might have even noticed the oxygen tank and gardening tools at hand.

This would have been Gene Jones, who moved to Dearing Downs with his wife Jeanie, in 2002. After Gene’s early retirement from Energen due to his disability, he and Jeanie enjoyed sculpting their front, back and side yard into a lush display of perennials incorporating azaleas, hydrangeas, hostas, ferns, candy tuft, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.

In the back beds, white impatiens return each year to create an underlying carpet. Gene, who also loved to feed the birds, built houses for them in their backyard sanctuary.

From their previous home, they brought crape myrtle, fuchsia, camellias, a flowering peach tree and a single Lady Diana rosebush. Over the arched arbor entrance to the back yard grow clematis, already budding, and on the nearby fence, yellow jasmine has already burst forth in our mild winter.

Gene’s previous interest in growing

roses turned to daylilies when they moved to Dearing Downs and he and Jeanie traveled to breeder John Rice’s Thoroughbred Daylily gardens in Kentucky where they acquired many different varieties. Before Gene passed, he had over 100 different daylilies happily thriving.

Red Volunteer was one of the first they planted, Jeanie recalls. Other exotic daylilies include Truly Angelica, Strutter’s Ball, Silk Road, Silaom Baby Talk, and Rainbow Italian Ice – many of these ruffled and unusual color blends.

Jeanie’s favorite daylily is Crown of Creation. Gene also named two varieties after his granddaughters, Emily and Ally O’Dell, now 13 and 10, who live nearby.

Jeanie keeps herself busy with activities at First Baptist of Pelham, including Sunday

school and teaching Bible school. She has been on two mission trips, as well, one to New Orleans where the project included rebuilding facilities for a daycare and a women’s drug rehab center.

She also enjoyed seeing Colorado where the men of the group helped build a church addition near Lake Vallecito in Bayfield and the women cooked meals. This trip included a swing by the Grand Canyon, as well.

Gene and Jeanie lived in France the first 13 months after marrying while Gene was in the Army. They celebrated

their 40th wedding anniversary in 2001 with a trip to Tuscany, Italy.

Jeanie’s responsibilities now also include visiting her 91-year old mother, Dorothy Linn, at Maplewood Lane, enjoying her three grandchildren and pet-sitting for them as needed.

Jeanie Jones with her son, Jeff Jones, a builder in Trussville.

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 37

Helena Elementary’s Living Museum

February is an exciting month for the second graders at Helena Elementary School. While celebrating Black History Month and in honor of President’s Day the students participate in a study of famous Americans. Each student chose a particular American from the past or the present to research. Since the children have recently discovered biographies as a genre of literature, they read biographies of their chosen individual and look for information on the Internet, at the public library and in the school media center.

The unit of study culminated with the presentation of a Living Museum on February 28th and

Erin Moller as Hellen Keller

March 1st. Each child played the role of a famous American. They wore costumes and gave interviews to showcase their knowledge and appreciation of that famous American.

Family and friends were invited to visit the museum held in the hallways of Helena Elementary.

Second grade sized versions of famous Americans such as Helen Keller, President George Washington as well as Barrack Obama were seen giving speeches about their accomplishments. Teacher Debbie Patterson said the day was a huge success where learning was not only meaningful but fun.

“History became much more than a lesson in a

Madison Tsimpides Thomas Williams as Martha Washington as Michael Jackson

Ellie Crawford as Madonna

book.” This annual Living Museum has become one of the most productive times of the school year for the second graders.

Top Row, Left-Right) Corbin Tucker as Robert E. Lee Carter Simmons as Tim Tebow Brody McAbee as Joe Dimaggio Alex Brown as George Washington 2nd Row: Ryan Scott as Elvis Jayden Holifield as President Obama Benton Blount as Steve Jobs Mac Turner as Stonewall Jackson

Caleb Watley as James Spaan

38 Helena City News / www.CityOfHelena.org / Email Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

Monicah Clark as Rosa Parks

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H.M.S. Teacher of the Year:

Debbie Newman

Math teacher Debbie Newman is the HMS Teacher of the Year, having first realized her desire to teach while a 7th grader in her preAlgebra class.

Her father’s encouragement further sparked her desire, Newman says, and from her mother, she learned to enjoy crafts, sewing, music and drawing which she has also found to be valuable tools in her teaching career.

Newman pursued her education degree while husband Eddie’s career demanded the couple move often.

“By providing middle school students with a strong foundation of basic math skills, they are better able to be successful in high school and college,” she said.

Henderson says she has found that students need to be reminded often that honesty and integrity are still highly desirable traits, and she models that behavior. “I make it very clear to my students that I care about how much they learn and about the way they treat each other.”

“Someone once said, ‘Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’.”

“My students know I set high standards for

them because I care about who and what they will become. It’s the greatest investment I can make in our future.”

Henderson is sponsor for the 7th Grade Scholar’s Bowl, MST for Greater Birmingham Mathematics Partnership and received Power of One recognition.

She and husband Eddie attend First Baptist Church of Alabaster where she is a 5th grade Sunday School teacher as well as a member of the choir and Women’s Ministry participant.

Henderson points out that, “The greatest reward of my 30-year teaching career has been observing the success of my former students as they graduate from high school and college and become responsible citizens, fulfilling their dreams as doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, businessmen and women, and moms and dads in their local communities.”

“On numerous occasions I have been proud to say, ‘That college football player was in my 7th grade math class’ or ‘I taught that nurse, teacher, or doctor when they were in 7th or 8th grade’,” Henderson said. “I pray that I have developed a legacy worthy of my calling.”

TO ADVERTISE, CALL 746-1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Spring 2012 39

CITY OF HELENA P.O. Box 613 Helena, AL 35080

Please Do Your Shopping in Helena!

Whenever possible, please make your purchases here—our merchants need your business! You’ll save gas and time, and your city NEEDS your sales taxes!

RECYCLE, and always patronize our hometown grocery and drug stores!

Buy your gas here, too. YOU CAN HELP improve your city services!

Friday, May 11, 2012: Pelham Panthers Spring Football Game vs Carver-Montgomery, Ned Bearden Stadium, 7 p.m. www.pelhampantherfootball.com

Mayor

Charles W. “Sonny” Penhale

City Clerk Amanda Traywick

City Council Leigh Hulsey Barbara Hyche Cris Nelson Jerry Deon Pate Katherine Ennis

PRESORT STD. U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 26000 HELENA, AL

POSTAL PATRON

MEMORIAL DAY GARBAGE NOTICE… May 28 - Memorial Day: Municipal Offices Closed. NO Garbage Pick-Up–Monday & Tuesday’s garbage collected May 29. Must be curbside by 6 A.M.!

IMPORTANT DATES HAVE A

QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR? CONTACT HIM BY E-MAIL: sonny@sonny-penhale.com

May 11 - 11th Annual Buck Creek Festival, Amphitheater Park, 6:00 p.m.-10:15 p.m. www.buckcreekfestival.com - PHS Panthers football vs Carver-Montgomery, Ned Bearden Stadium (Pelham), 7 p.m.

May 12 - Buck Creek Festival, Amphitheater Park, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Pancake Breakfast 7-10 a.m., Duck Race 3 p.m.

May 18 - Relay for Life of North Shelby, Pelham High football stadium, 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. May 19 May 23 - Shelby County Schools 2011-12 year ends-close at 3 p.m.

May 24 - Pelham High School Graduation, Pelham Civic Complex, 7 p.m.

June 1-2 - Amphitheater Park Events: HBA’s Sundown Cinemas begin June 1, 8 p.m.; Market Days begin June 2, 6 a.m.-12 p.m.

All household garbage must be curbside by 6:00 a.m. on designated collection day!

Helena City News is provided by the City of Helena and the advertisers as a public service.

If there is anything you would like to see included, or if you have any comments, contact the publisher, Dave Smith, through the “Contact Us” info button at www.MyHelenaCityNews.com. Phone 746-1188.

This and every issue of Helena City News is brought to you by our advertisers!

May is Healthy Vision Month

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