Madison Living Magazine - July 2022

MADISON LIVING THE GUIDE • AROUND TOWN • CHAMBER CONNECTIONS • OUT & ABOUT • SCHOOLS • MADISON HOSPITAL

July 2022 madisonlivingmagazine.com

A RARE FEAT Samuel Wilson is successful in his goal to aquire all 139 Boy Scout merit badges

Madison Living 1

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CONTRIBUTORS Bob Labbe Gregg Parker Erin Coggins Joshua Berry Lee Marshall John Peck Mary Lynne Wright Michelle Epling William Aycock Samuel Wilson Lindsey Boothe Kassidy Chapman MARKETING Donna Counts GENERAL MANAGER French Salter

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CONTACT US Madison Living Magazine The Madison Record 7734 Madison Blvd. Suite 115 Huntsville, AL 35806 madisonlivingmagazine.com For story ideas, call John Few at 256-763-1150 or email john@themadisonrecord.com.

To advertise, call Donna Counts at 256-714-7152.

Madison Living is published monthly by Tennessee Valley Media, Inc. A one-year subscription to Madison Living is $27.99 for 12 issues per year.

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

To subscribe, call 256-772-6677.

Copyright 2022 by Tennessee Valley Media, Inc.

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THE GUIDE

Madison Concerts in the Park • Home Place Park • July 21 at 6 p.m. • www.facebook.com/MadisonALParksandRec Madison’s tradition of summertime evenings with free music returned last month with “Concerts in the Park”. The concerts have a new venue at the revamped Home Place Park at 100 Shorter St., located just south of downtown Madison and west of Madison City Schools Stadium. The city of Madison renovated Home Place Park with amphitheater seating and other considerations for outdoor performances. A parallel parking bay with electrical hookups south of Shorter Street will accommodate food trucks. The project will be ADA-accessible. Individuals can walk or bike ride to the park because of its proximity to neighborhoods, downtown and new multi-family housing. Admission is free for the concerts, which start at 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

The 2022 schedule includes Groove on July 21, and The Zooks on Aug. 18. Audience members can bring their own lawn chairs.

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THE GUIDE

The Orion Amphitheater • MidCity District in Huntsville • www.theorionhuntsville.com The Orion Amphitheater opened to great fanfare in May and has a full schedule of entertainment in July. Located in the MidCity District in Huntsville, The Orion is the area’s premier entertainment venue. Upcoming shows include: July 9 - Hank Williams Jr. with special guest David Lee Murphy; July 18 - Josh Groban: Harmony Tour with special guest Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Lucia Micarelli & Eleri Ward; July 28 - Chris Stapleton: All American Road Show with special guests Elle King and Madeline Edwards; July 29 - Summer Jam 2022 Featuring Boosie Badazz, Jeezy, with special guests Plies, Goodie Mob, and more.

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THE GUIDE

Concerts in the Park • Monday nights starting at 6:30 p.m. • Big Spring Park in Huntsville • www.artshuntsville.org Concerts in the Park began in Huntsviile’s Big Spring Park last month. Awarded the ‘Downtown Event of the Year” Concerts in the Park is a free tradition, hosted by Arts Huntsville and Huntsville Parks & Recreation, bringing live, local music to the area in the park just behind the Huntsville Museum of Art every Monday night for 10 weeks. The Concerts will take place in downtown Huntsville on the Huntsville Museum of Art outdoor stage in Big Spring International Park from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The series is FREE to the public; concertgoers should bring their own seating and leashed pets are welcome. The lineup for the next few weeks includes: July 4 - Peruvian Coin / JED Eye, July 11 - Rocket City Jazz Band Orchestra, Midlife Chrysler; July 18 - Them Damn Dogs, Karmessa; July 25 - Gypsy Soul, Poor Rover, and August 1 - Mil Music Entertainment, Unique Live Band.

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In Full Swing • Through Oct. 31 • Huntsville Botantical Garden • hsvbg.org/InFullSwing The Huntsville Botanical Garden newest exhibit, “In Full Swing,” features over 40 swings of all shapes and sizes spread throughout the Garden. The exhibit invites guests to slow down and spend time in nature in a fun, playful way. “With In Full Swing, we wanted to provide guests with a new way to enjoy the Garden,” said Sue Wagner, chief executive officer of the Garden. “We wanted to capture that joyful feeling and encourage guests to slow down, play and relax in the Garden, away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.” The exhibits features 10 different types of swings, including: tree swings that are tucked away in the forest of the Garden’s Dogwood Trail; bed swings that are the size of a twin bed; baby swings for the Garden’s littlest guests; allery swings painted by local artists with designs inspired by nature, and a wheelchair-accessible swing.

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THE GUIDE

Madison City Farmers Market • Open Saturdays 8 a.m. - noon • Trinity Baptist Church in Madison Located at 1088 Hughes Road at Trinity Baptist Church in Madison, the market is the area’s original local, producer-only farmers market, founded in 2007. Everything sold at the market is grown or crafted by local farmers and craftspeople. The vendors provide a wide selection of the freshest local veggies, fruits, cheese, eggs, meats, milk, herbs, honey, jams, relishes, homebaked goods, plants and flowers. Come see creations from local artisans including handmade cards, soaps, lotions, candles, wood crafts, sewn items and other handmade products. Go to www.madisoncityfarmersmarket.com for more information.

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Outdoor Movie Series • Madison Public Library July 8 and 23 • 6:30 p.m.

The Madison Public Library will continue their free Outdoor Summer Movie Series: “Summer of 1982” on Friday, July 8 and 23. The movie begins at 6:30 p.m. The library is located at 142 Plaza Blvd in Madison. The series will feature Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on July 8, and Tron on July 22.

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THE GUIDE 3rd Thursdays on Main • July 21 • 6 p.m.

Downtown Madison • www.facebook.com/ shoppesofdowntownmadison A new event kicked off this summer in downtown Madison an will be making a return on July 21. Third Thursdays is a fun, family-friendly street party taking place every third Thursday of the month through August. The event is the combined work of The Shoppes of Downtown Madison, “a collaborative effort of multiple businesses located in downtown Madison,” according to a press release. The shops on Main Street and Church Street are open for extended hours until 8 p.m. on these Thursdays. Additionally, Third Thursdays offers a venue for local popup vendors and small-businesses of all sorts including food trucks, home goods, and art.

The events start at 6 p.m. and go until 8 p.m. on July 21 and August 18. For updates and additional event information, The Shoppes of Downtown Madison can be found on social media at Facebook and Instagram.

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WE POUR CONCRETE TOO Trash Pandas Independence Day Celebration Toyota Field • July 4 • Gates open at 5 p.m.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas will host an Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular after their game with the Chattanooga Lookouts. The celebration will also include a patriotic jersey auction. For more information, go to www.trashpandasbaseball.com.

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THE GUIDE

2022 City Lights and Start Concert Series • Burritt on the Mountain • www.burrittonthemountain.com The City Lights & Stars Concert Series hosts seven concerts from May through September, with musical acts from varying genres. This years lineup features a fabulous mix of local hometown favorites and regional talent joining us on the Isenberg Gazebo stage. Enjoy being entertained under the stars of Alabama over a breathtaking view of the City of Huntsville only Burritt can provide. A casual atmosphere encourages attendees to bring chairs, blankets and picnic food to enjoy a relaxed musical experience. Concert Series Lineup: JJuly 1 - Eric Essix, July 22 - Austin Grimm & Friends, August 12 - Mambo Gris Gris, September 9th - Huntsville’s In the Mood Swing Band.

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Madison Living 19

THE GUIDE

Casual Dining

in Madison’s Historic District

Lunch Monday - Saturday 11am-2pm Dinner starting at 5:00pm W Wednesday - Saturday

Alligator Awesomeness! • July 16 • 12:30 pm Cook Museum of Natural Science • www.cookmuseum.org

101 Main Street, Madison • 256-461-8096 for reservations mainstreetcafemadison.com

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Learn all about alligators, how they differ from crocodiles, and how amazingly dedicated alligator mothers are! Guests will be able to see biofacts and pictures that allow them to connect with these amazing animals and understand a little more about these important apex predators that inhabit the Tennessee River.

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EVENTS

New farmers market being held in Madison’s historic downtown

O

Old Thyme Market is the newest farmers market in Madison. The market is making its home in downtown Madison every Friday afternoon throughout the summer.

Force behind the market, Alex Niblett, explained that it was her passion for both regenerative agriculture and local community that motivated her to start Old Thyme Market, “I want to start building relationships in the farming community while learning and supporting farmers at the same time. So many good things come from farmers markets. Farmers are making income, shoppers are getting connected with their food in an intimate way that doesn’t happen in any other setting, and the businesses in the area see an increase in revenue because of farmers markets.”

Madison Living 21

School’s Out and You’re

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Niblett believes the market could benefit the downtown area.

“Downtown Madison is such a special area and the business owners there are very passionate about what they do and about the downtown area,” she said. “I’m very excited to bring Old Thyme Market to Downtown Madison, and I hope that people coming to downtown for the first time will not only visit the market but also walk Main Street and check out all the amazing shops and restaurants.”

Old Thyme Market includes farmers, craftsmen, artisans, and local businesses selling goods such as produce, local honey and preserves, pottery, and art.

The markets also feature refreshments from Black Dog Grounds and Sounds, Suzy’s Pops, and Nanny’s Lemonade, and live music will be performed every week by local musicians.

The market takes place every Friday from 3pm-7pm now through September on Garner Street in downtown Madison.

For more information about Old Thyme Market, go to www.facebook.com/OldThymeMarketMadisonAL.

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A look at the new season for Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy

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Fantasy Playhouse announced its 62nd season last month, a season filled with adored classics and new twists on fairy tale favorites.

Fantasy kicks off this season in October with E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web”, followed by Huntsville’s favorite family holiday tradition, “A Christmas Carol.” Up next is the world premiere adaptation of “Snow White and the 7 Littles” by Stephen Tyler Davis (Huntsville native and Fantasy Alumni), a contemporary spin on the classic Brothers Grimm story.

Each production will take place at the Playhouse at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville with a season extra presentation of “Tinker Bell” at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

For more information about the 62nd Theater Season and their Academy classes and camps, visit the Fantasy Playhouse website at www.fantasyplayhouse.org.

Here is a look at what is in store this season.

“Charlotte’s Web” | Based on the book by E.B. White Adapted by Joseph Robinette | Oct 14-16, 2022 Wilbur the pig may be the rambunctious runt of the litter, but his lovable spirit charms a little girl named Fern and the whole Arable barnyard! When Wilbur discovers his woeful fate, he will need the help of Charlotte, a loyal spider with a

Madison Living 23

flair for writing, and a scavenger rat named Templeton for a chance at a new life. With unforgettable characters made popular by the E.B. White children’s book, “Charlotte’s Web” is a timeless story of true friendship, perseverance, and working together to help others in need.

“A Christmas Carol” | Based on the book by Charles Dickens | Adapted by Barbara Fields | Dec 2-4, 9-11, 2022 Huntsville’s most beloved family holiday tradition returns to the Fantasy Playhouse stage for the 33rd year this December! Take a trip in time through the past, present, and future with the miserly Mr. Scrooge, three Christmas Spirits, and all the whimsical characters of London town.

With more theater magic than ever before, this Charles Dickens classic will delight all ages as an inspiration to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.

“Snow White and the 7 Littles” | Original script by Stephen Tyler Davis | Feb 17-19, 2023 Snow White is not waiting for a knight in shining armor! She’s much too busy working to provide clean water for the Littles and all the creatures of the Nysland Woods.

But when her mission is halted by the jealous Queen and her magic mirror, Snow will need the help of her forest friends to save herself and the entire village. Can the Littles rescue her in time, or will the Queen’s vanity reign supreme? Find out in this new twist on a classic about kindness, community, and the true meaning of beauty.

Written by Stephen Tyler Davis, Huntsville native, and Fantasy Playhouse Alumni.

“Tinker Bell” | Based on the works of J.M. Barrie | By Patrick Flynn You don’t know Peter Pan until you’ve heard Tinker Bell’s side of the story! When all the fairies in Neverland start to disappear, Tinker Bell zips to London to find a friend. There she meets a young boy named Peter who follows her back to Neverland. All is fun and games in this magical world of flowers, wild animals, and goofy pirates until Peter welcomes the Lost Boys and the Darling children back to Tink’s island. She quickly discovers she does not like sharing her friend with anyone else! A new, twinkling light shines on themes of imagination, play, and the complicated nature of friendship from this feisty fairy’s point of view.

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WOMEN

DRIVEN TO SERVE

Alice Lessmann’s path from nursing to defense and the Madison Board of Education STORY BY DREW WOOLLEY PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

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Editor’s note: The Madison area has many influential, trail-blazing women leaders who are making a huge impact within our community. Over the next few months, we will spotlight several of these remarkable women and why we consider them some of our area’s most influential people. This month we will look at a remarkable example of leadership. Alice Lessmann is someone many in this area is familiar with or has heard about before. That is because she is everywhere. A business leader, a community volunteer, mentor, school board member and mother, she puts everything into what she is doing to serve others. Madison is very fortunate to have this former cheerleader continuing to cheer for this city in so many remarkable ways.

A

Alice Lessmann knows a thing or two about managing a busy schedule. In her college days at UAH, the newest member of the City of Madison Board of Education juggled her studies along with several jobs outside the classroom to pay her way.

“I was cheerleading, doing the National Guard, working at Huntsville Hospital and going to college,” she says.

“They all offered some money for school so I didn’t have any debt. You just do what you’ve got to do.”

It’s an attitude that has served Lessmann well throughout a career where she has thrived no matter what hat she is asked to wear.

It might be joining the National Guard in 1993, where she served as an Alpha Supply Specialist in Huntsville’s 203 Air Defense Artillery Unit and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 2015. Or graduating from the UAH nursing program in 1998 to become one of the only nurse practitioners at Huntsville Hospital to work in the spine and neurosurgery operating room.

Navigating those very different worlds wasn’t always easy. When she joined the Army, Lessmann recalls people

28 Madison Living

telling her the experience would be just like cheer camp — predictions that didn’t really prove out.

“It’s not, it’s very different,” she says with a laugh.

“Cheerleading and shooting at the range on the weekend with an M16 rifle is a change in direction. But you adapt and do what’s needed.”

For all of the challenges Lessmann has taken on in her career, easily the biggest risk was starting a business with her husband, Steve. Ever since she had met him in the National Guard, Lessmann knew her husband had dreamed of running a business. In 2005, with Steve constantly on the road as a defense contractor and Lessmann wanting more time with their then 1-year-old daughter, the moment seemed right.

“An opportunity came up and we decided to take the risk,” she remembers. “If it worked out, one of us could work from home with the kids. If it didn’t, then I could always provide for us. So we took that chance.”

With that, they launched Signalink Inc., a Madisonbased small business that provides technical and logistical support to aerospace and defense clients. Lessmann trav-

Madison Living 29

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eled to Maryland to earn certification as a facility security officer, adding yet another feather to her cap, and eventually quit her job as a nurse practitioner to focus fully on the family business.

Today, Lessmann serves as Signalink’s CEO, earning the business recognition as the 2020 Huntsville Madison County Chamber’s Government Contracting Technology Business of the Year and the 2019 Madison Chamber’s Best Business of the Year.

“People always think it’s strange that I switched from being a nurse practitioner to Signalink,” she says. “I never thought I’d be the CEO of a tech company. But this has fit our family very well and family is always the priority.”

As busy as Signalink has kept her, Lessmann found she still had some time on her hands after leaving her job as a nurse practitioner. She decided to invest that time in her kids’ schools, both by volunteering and becoming active in the PTA. With her kids growing older and needing less parental involvement at school, others encouraged Lessmann to continue her work with the schools by applying to join the school board.

“I’ve always just been involved with schools and want to keep it up,” she says.

“We’re stakeholders in Madison. We live here, work here, go to school here. We just love Madison.”

Lessmann recently served the remainder of Renae Bartlett’s term after her retirement and is currently in the midst of her first full five-year term. Right now, her first priority is to shepherd the school system through the end of then pandemic and keep up the high standards that are expected of Madison City Schools.

“We’ve got a lot of newcomers so we want to keep up all the opportunities that drew them,” Lessmann says. “If you have great schools you’re going to have a great community and vice versa. I really believe they go hand in hand.”

Even with so much on her plate, Lessmann has still made time to lead and support a staggering number of local volunteer and community organizations. A graduate of the Leadership

Madison Living 31

Greater Huntsville Flagship Class 32, she has served as chair of the Women’s Business Council and on the board of Women in Defense, as well as being a member of the Women’s Economic Development Council and Women in Technology.

Lessmann says she finds the organizations for and led by women especially inspiring as they provide support and a sounding board for the unique challenges they face in the workplace.

“All of these women are juggling different things in their lives, businesses and families. It can be a struggle to be productive at work when it’s also ingrained in us to be the caregivers,” she says. “Sometimes you feel guilty in your home life. You have to find that sweet spot and it helps to have other women who can relate and remind you you’re not the only one doing this.”

As she settles into her role on the school board, Lessmann is focused on soaking up her daughter Leah’s final weeks before graduation and making the most of her son Ben’s remaining years at Bob Jones. But if her past is any indication, she won’t be able to pass up a new challenge for too long.

“I think I just like to serve. From being a nurse to a soldier to a volunteer, they’re all jobs where you serve,” she says. “I had many mentors and people who helped me out along the way, so I want to give back.”

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SAMUEL WILSON Madison teen is successful in his goal to aquire all 139 Boy Scout merit badges STORY BY JOHN FEW PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

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Samuel Wilson has been a Madison Boy Scout with Troop 83.

For his Eagle Scout project, Samuel did a lot of work at Anyone who was ever a Boy Scout will tell you that earning the rank of Eagle is the highest achievement pos- Ashley Park.

“The drainage ditch was too small after 30 years of sible. But when a young Madison teen accomplished that feat at the age of fourteen, he decided to set his personal growth,” his mother said. “He noticed the park was having an erosion problem because the ditch would overflow. bar even higher.

Samuel Wilson, now eighteen-years-old, has accom- He met with the city engineer and then the city surveyplished a feat so rare in scouting that only a handful of or and the ditch was widened and 200 tons of rock was Boy Scouts have ever reached it. He has earned all 139 brought in to line the ditch. He also repainted the swing merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America, com- sets and put new boards on two of the benches that had lost numerous boards.” pleting the requirements just before his 18th birthday.

That was in 2018. This summer plans to repaint the “Just to understand exactly how rare that is, about one out of every four scouts will attain the rank of Eagle benches.

“Earning my Eagle Scout was a major goal of mine, and -- that equals to about 1,500 scouts each year,” Samuel said. “There have only been around 500 scouts who have I learned that getting all the badges was actually achievachieved this goal since the Boy Scouts were founded in able, even though it is very difficult to do,” Samuel said.

The positive attitude to try anything at least once, and 1910.”

The drive to earn all the badges began when Samuel sometimes over and over again until he achieves his goal, was an eleven-year-old Webelo Scout, the last classifica- has been the driving factor in Samuel’s accomplishment.

Merit badges are the basis for teaching young boys a tion a Cub Scout achieves before becoming a Boy Scout.

“He had earned all of the badges available to Webelos at variety of skills, such as backpacking, bugling, wilderness that time,” said his mother, Nicky. “He was very quick to camping and welding.

When asked which badges were the most memorable to say, he could go on to earn all the Boy Scout badges too earn, Samuel said, “Most badges have a story. There are -- and he did.”

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For his Eagle Scout project, Samuel renovated Ashley Park at the age of only 13 years old, completing it at age 14. some, like fingerprinting where you can earn that badge in about half an hour. Other badges did not require a lot of hands-on effort, mostly about what you learn.” Then, there are others that at times seemed to pushed Samuel’s limits and brought several new adventures into his life.

The bicycling merit badge was one of the most memorable one to earn, Samuel said. “I did not know how to bike until that time. I knew if I was going to earn that badge, I had to learn how. Immediately, deciding to earn that badge was a challenge.”

One of the requirements facing Samuel in earning this badge was that had to complete a 50-mile bike ride in under eight hours. “I thought, wow, I have a lot of work to do,” he said. “It was difficult, but I got there. In fact, my dad and I had such an adventure with it that we have continued to do ‘half century’ (50-mile) bike rides as a hobby. It was so much fun the first time, and we learned a lot from it, so we continued doing it.”

Samuel says his main hobbies are automotive maintenance and model railroading. He developed a love for the hobby when he earned his first Boy Scout badge, the Model Railroad Merit Badge. Since then, he has been working on a model train layout at his grandfather’s house in Tennessee.

Samuel has kept the badges in order on his sashes as he has earned them.

“If you want to learn how do something without getting

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your feet too wet into it, the merit badges are a fantastic way to do that,” Samuel said. “If you want to learn pottery, there is a pottery badge.”

Some of the skills he learned earning the badges, Samuel says he will certainly develop further on in the future.

“Welding was something I had a lot of fun learning,” he said. “I want to get my own welder just because I enjoyed it so much, and there is a lot I can do with it in relation to automotive maintenance.”

Some new skills Samuel may not be so eager to continue as he moves forward in life.

“You do not have to master each skill, but you have to try it and be able to meet the requirements,” he said.

“With the bugling badge, you had to learn how to bugle and how to play ten calls. I did that. Did I play them very well? Maybe not.”

Reaching his goal, Samuel wrapped it up just in time.

“I finished my last one the day before I aged out, just because it was such a time crunch to get everything done,” he explained. “Some people want to earn them all, but they just do not have the time or can’t get around to all of them.”

Samuel said he would go to “Merit Badge University” summer camps, where they offer scouts the environment to earn multiple badges while there. “I would sometimes double up on summer camps just to get in as many as I could,” he added. “I would earn two or three badges a

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We work tirelessly to help kids get well because Hugh has a long list of stuff he wants to do.

One of Samuel’s favorite hobbies is automotive maintenance, which the Boy Scouts have a merit badge for too.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

weekend, three or four times every summer and every fall. If I had not done that, I do not think there would have been a way for me to earn all of them.”

The Wilsons put a lot of time, and miles, into helping Samuel have the opportunity to earn more badges. “We have gone as far as Ohio to attend some merit badge universities,” Samuel said.

Samuel’s next big challenge will be starting college at Austin Peay in Clarksville, TN, where he will major in communications. He graduated from Excalibur Christian School in May.

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LINDSEY BOOTHE From creating a porch farm stand to homemade utensils and recipes, to publishing a cookbook, this Madison mom loves to share her creative passion STORY BY GREGG PARKER PHOTOS BY WILLIAM AYCOCK

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Lindsey Boothe is a very gifted artist, but not with paint or traditional mediums. Her canvas is in the kitchen and her unique creations take many forms. From her heirloom recipes to the wooden utensils she carves by hand, Lindsey has become a master at her art - bringing the kitchen and dining room back into focus as the centerpiece of a loving home. Even the photographs she takes to display her many creations are very artistic. To top it all off, this wife and mother of two young children, has a desire to use her talents to bring an extra helping of healthy joy into the lives of others.

Lindsey has deep roots in Appalachia, being from West Virginia. She and her family made their way to Madison in 2020, bringing with her the art of crafting utensils from wood. Coupled with a love for cooking, Lindsey has now made a business out of her passion, which we will cover later in the story. This has extended into another creation of Lindsey’s, her “Front Porch Farm Stand”.

Lindsey conceptualized the Front Porch Farm Stand as

a gathering place for people and provisions.

“I thought the stand would be a great way to meet my neighbors and be a win-win for all of us,” Boothe said.

“I started with ‘rules’ of the ‘Little Free Library’ stands but wanted it more personal. I realized not everyone gardens, but everyone has something to offer,” Boothe said.

“As long as it’s something you’d find at a typical farm stand, you’re welcome to bring it by.”

“The concept of the front porch started in the South to escape the summer heat. It became an architectural movement all over the country due to strong communities that stemmed from front porch visits,” Boothe said.

However, Americans have lost that way of life “with our increasingly busy schedules and obsession with technology. I’m hoping to simply bring that back,” Boothe said.

A farm stand also can reduce wasted food by sharing with others.

Boothe recommends sharing jellies and jams, eggs, teas, herbs, cookies, pastries, and plants. Her farm stand has a

Madison Living 41

recipe box for card swaps, along with Mason jars with water for cut flowers. Neighbors can leave helpful supplies for gardeners, like empty jars or egg cartons.

“I’ll put something special out every ‘Farm Stand Friday,’” she said. People have no limits on how much to take but stands operate best when people take only as much as they give.

A stand works on the honor system. “There will always be miscreants, but the good always prevails,” Boothe said. “(Usually), we’re talking ‘small tomatoes’ here. If someone takes all of those, I assume they have food insecurity. With produce, we’re hoping for a quick turnaround anyways to prevent waste.”

Feedback about the Front Porch Farm Stand has been totally positive. “I’ve had lovely cottage floral arrangements, fresh tomatoes, artisan teas and many other things. I’ve received lots of messages of support.

I’m hoping those turn into additional stands,” Boothe said.

Her husband Brandon works as engineer. Lindsey owns Alabama Treenware and cares for their two youngsters. “My husband is the most supportive person of all of my ‘antics,’” Lindsey said. “Our little guys love to help me carry things out and see what people leave.”

Her stand is open 24/7, but she does prefer daytime visits.

In addition to the Front Porch Farm Stand, Boothe officially launched Alabama Treenware in April of this year after already creating a bit of a social media buzz over her products.

What started as a hobby carving spoons from wood has emerged as a business venture for Boothe.

Boothe grew up in West Virginia and said while there she was looking for a new hobby, and became interested in wood carving, notably making spoons and other utensils from wood. “I love cooking and have always loved making things with my hands,” she explained. “I am the type that says I am not going to buy it when I can make it.”

She did some research on the internet and ended up reaching out to nationally acclaimed folk artist Stan Jennings, who had founded Allegheny Treenware. “It just so happened that he only lived about 45 minutes from me, so I called and asked if he would teach me.”

He agreed to teach Boothe the craft and she picked it up with the determination and creativity of a budding artist. “He was very patient with me and gave me his first spoon carving gouge to take home and practice,” she said.

When Boothe and her family relocated to Madison, Boothe continued to make her wooden creations. “I carved a few spoons, but never did anything with it,” she said.

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“I was building outdoor mud kitchens for kids and ended breaking my hand on a saw in December 2020,” Boothe said. “I ended up crushing it with some wood I was working on. After that, I couldn’t work with the big lumber for a while, so I started working on making small wood objects just to help rehabilitate my hand.”

One day someone sent Boothe a message and asked if she could make them a wooden spoon.

“I told them that I really did know how to make wooden utensils, for real,” she recalled. “So I made her a couple of them and soon Instagram found out about it and suddenly I had several people wanting wooden utensils.”

As word got out about the quality and uniqueness of her products, she wanted to start a business. However, getting a business license working out of her home became difficult, and it had to be put on hold until Boothe and her husband could purchase the home they were renting off County Line Road.

After finally purchasing the home, Boothe said she and her family were able to settle and she could go full steam ahead with the business. And Alabama Treenware was born.

Posting photos of her goods on social media, and her initial customers doing so as well has helped drum up business for Boothe.

Boothe began “marketing” her products via

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Madison Living 45

social media and got some attention from locals who wanted to purchase her products. As her customers started posting her work, business started rolling in.

“I woke up one morning with tons of orders, and it was in large part because a local jam maker with thousands of Facebook followers posted pics of the spoons they’d gotten from me.’”

Boothe started writing blog entries about her work, her recipes and her experiences with woodworking as she was getting into her hobby, and was urged by friends to publish her writing, which led to her book, “Provisions: Food, Drink, and Tools for Your Table”, which includes old family recipes along with photos of and some commentary on her wood products.

Of course, being able to share with the world her hobby and passion for her work through her writing also helped spark her business, which continues to grow.

Boothe carves all of her products from local repurposed wood. She said she gets a significant amount of her wood from friends or neighbors who will contact her about a fallen tree in their yard or the like, or she will sometimes see a fallen tree while driving around and arrange to pick it up.

She says her utensils are “organic by nature and heirloom by choice.” She teaches classes at Burritt on the Mountain on woodworking and has developed quite a following her in North Alabama. And she said she has found that growing her network has also grown a unique community.

“I thought I was building a spoon business, but I’ve actually built a community of like-minded folks who I have come to enjoy and who all support each other.”

Find out more about Alabama Treenware and how you can purchase Boothe’s products, and her book, at the Alabama Treenware website.

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Boothe’s recipes will be shared in Madison Living Magazine each month. You can find her first submission on page 63 in this issue.

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46 Madison Living

Lindsey writes in her blog: “Mama, I think this would look good in your picture.”

I hear this more often than not when I’m taking my pictures, always paired with the most unique offering tucked away in the dimpled little hands of my four-year-old. I always make sure to take a picture with his suggestion.

This time, the kids, with help from Grammy, made “Welcome Home!” signs for Bean the day he was coming home from a long work trip. Stetson insisted we take pictures of them and brought out what he thought would look good for the picture.

Couldn’t agree more, buddy.

SPORTS

TENNIS BROTHERS Brothers Parker and Houston Jacques have a lot in common, including their passion for tennis and winning state titles STORY BY BOB LABBE PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

Madison Living 47

W

Winning is one of the direct responses of an athlete in their endeavor to participate and face the challenge of competition. For Parker and Houston Jacques of Madison Academy, being conquerors of their domain in tennis has been handed down from their father as both have experienced the taste of victory on the big stage.

Parker, a recent graduate of Madison Academy and who will attempt to play collegiate tennis at the University of Georgia, and Houston, who completed his freshman school year at Madison Academy, were both AHSAA state champions in 2022. Parker won his second straight Class 4A/5A No. 1 singles with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Edward Lee of LAMP while Houston took the state title as the No. 2 singles with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 shellacking of Ian Kim also of LAMP. The siblings also teamed together to capture their second consecutive state championship in doubles with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of their opponents from Saint James.

Their efforts combined with other teammates gave the Mustangs a team state trophy, as well.

Their father is Eddie Jacques, a former young tennis phenom from Huntsville High School who was the No. 1 recruit in the country when he signed with the Georgia Bulldogs. The elder Jacques won three consecutive SEC singles titles and was ranked no lower than fifth nationally and was chosen as a NCAA AllAmerican. Today, he’s the owner and tennis director at the Athletic Club of Alabama in Huntsville.

The Jacques were born in Huntsville to Eddie and Robin Jacques and became all-round athletes at an early age where Parker played baseball as a shortstop at Mayfair Park. Houston also played baseball and tried his hand at basketball. Both also play golf, but it was tennis that would come to them through their father and stick to their ribs like a good meal.

“My grandmother took me to my first tennis lesson

Good genes: Their father is a former young tennis phenom from Huntsville High School who was the No. 1 recruit in the country when he signed with the Georgia Bulldogs.

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when I was four years old and I remember during a kindergarten birthday party at the tennis club I played with a group of fellow kids,” said Parker, 18. For Houston, his memory of his youth tennis also includes watching and soon joining in play with his brother and father. “I figured out at age 12 I was pretty good at the sport as I played in tournaments and got better and better results,” said Houston, 16.

“As for Parker, he means a lot as he’s always been there for me and is a great person to have around, especially spiritually,” said Houston, referring to their attending The Church of the Highlands in Madison where both Parker and Houston have volunteered in the outreach programs.

As members of the United States Tennis Association, where both participate in tournaments throughout the South, Parker is ranked in 18-under No. 140 in the U.S., No. 25 in the South and No. 2 in Alabama. Houston also boasts good rankings in the 16-under division. He does not have a national ranking but is listed No. 43 in the South and No. 4 in Alabama.

“Over the past two years he’s gotten focused on his tennis game and his level of play has improved and it’s pushed me to be better,” said Parker, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 145 pounds.

The 6-2, 160 Houston added, “I’ve never beaten Parker in a match as he has destroyed me, but I never quit as I’ve gotten better and want to try again.”

Their father is their coach. With his numerous years as a player and coach he can usually give quick advice to both of his sons without knowing many details. As youngsters, their parents would alternate which would accommodate a son to their tournament as due to their age difference, many times tournament play were held in different locations at the same time.

Parker has been mainly clear of any major injuries while Houston suffered a fracture of the L-5 vertebrae and was sidelined for seven months and wore a back brace for eight weeks during the summer of 2020. He was suffering from back pain the entire length of a tournament and soon had an MRI where the injury was found. There has been no determination of the cause of the fracture.

Both Parker and Houston have been diagnosed with Dyslexia. For Parker, spelling and sometimes reading are challenges as the processing time for him to measure what is before him is slower than should be. Heading into college he carries a 3.9 grade point average. Houston is an A-B student in the classroom and, he, too, has a goal of playing at

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Georgia like his father and brother before him and possibly turn professional.

On the court within the lines Houston has a big serve, which has been clocked at 113 miles per hour. He has a sizable forehand and is very comfortable staying at the baseline hitting solid ground strokes in attempts to cause an error by his opponents. Parker is more aggressive and most confident with his volleys at the net, and he tries to use a variety of shots and spins to keep his opponents off balance. His maximum serve is at the 115 miles per hour mark.

“I have learned a lot from Parker and will continue to do so,” said Houston. “Our father is very smart. We do butt heads at times, but we both know our father is helping us and is correct.”

“I finally figured out when I was near 10 years of age, I was pretty good at this sport by winning an Alabama Qualifier Tournament,” said Parker. “By the time I made it to the 14U age group I knew I was better than many of the other players.”

The Jacques’ memories of Christmas center around receiving tennis equipment and many times would share the gear with one another like good brothers do. They would play an array of games inside the house and many times took their competitive styles outdoors. Those many years of comradery as brothers, tennis players and competitors made the Jacques brother strive to be winners and beyond.

STORY BY KENDALL COPE PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

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....................... AROUND TOWN .......................

Defying the odds

...

Lee Marshall

Founder / CEO Kids to Love Foundation

54 Madison Living

I

I love to share stories with you about youth in foster care who are defying the odds. Our Kids to Love family celebrated three young women who accomplished a significant milestone in life: they graduated high school.

Graduation is not a given for foster youth, only 50% of foster children will receive a high school diploma. We are so proud of Haylee, Celest and Emylee who worked hard to put themselves in that 50%!

Haylee, Celest and Emylee share a common thread. All three girls lived at Davidson Farms.

Their success is another testament of the difference Davidson Farms makes.

Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is one of my favorite quotes, and it’s why education is one of the most important tenets in all of Kids to Love’s programs.

Next month, we will honor nearly 40 foster youth who join Haylee, Celest and Emylee in receiving their high school diploma. We will award them scholarships to continue their

education, whether through college, a trade school or a career certification. Kids to Love has awarded more than 850 scholarships since 2004!

So on behalf of the Kids to Love team, congratulations to the Class of 2022! We can’t wait to see you change the world.

KIDS TO LOVE

FOSTER CARE TO LAW DEGREE Laila-Rose Hudson hopes her story inspires other foster children STORY BY LEE MARSHALL

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F

For Laila-Rose Hudson, May 14, 2022, had been a long time coming.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “It’s very, very surreal. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I couldn’t be any happier.”

That moment was when she walked across the stage at Ohio State University to receive her law degree.

It wasn’t an easy journey.

Laila-Rose was a foster child and although she knew at age 11 she wanted to become a lawyer, she heard from foster parents and social workers that kids like her didn’t become lawyers. She would never be able to afford it.

“At first I was very much subscribed to those odds,” she said. “And I let other people often put limiting beliefs onto me, and I just accepted them as reality.”

That changed her senior year in high school, when her government teacher pulled her aside and asked her if she’d ever thought about law school. She wasn’t even sure how she would pay for college.

Laila-Rose was one of the recipients of a Kids to Love scholarship, which are given each year to children in foster care. She used that scholarship her first year of col-

56 Madison Living

lege, at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

Laila-Rose was taking mostly communications classes at Berry but also had a government class. One day, her professor kept her after class and asked her if she had considered a career in law. It was another push to help her realize that communications wasn’t on the path she truly wanted to be on.

“It’s not really what I was going for,” she said. “And I knew in my heart that I was not being true to myself.

I was taking the path of least resistance, and that’s not me.”

She took a semester off and transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she changed her major to political science and started her pre-law track.

She joined the mock trial team and finally realized her teachers and advisors were right.

“I think that all these people having faith in me gave me the ability to have faith in myself,” she said. “And so even though I could look on a computer and look what the odds said, that wasn’t my reality. It didn’t have to be. I could be different. And I just started to believe that, slowly but surely.”

Laila-Rose received a Kids to Love scholarship to help with college tuition, and after graduation, Kids to Love continued to support her as she continued her career track through law school.

“I just was really shocked,” Laila-Rose said. “I didn’t think you would be able to do that or and it was such a nice surprise and a little bit — even though I had a very generous scholarship here — just a little bit less of a loan I had to take out.”

When it came time to apply to schools, Laila-Rose sent applications everywhere — and to her surprise, she got accepted to several. After getting acceptance letters from several schools including USC, Penn State and Emory University, she settled on attending the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University.

“I saw the people. I saw the culture. I saw the family that was here,” she said. “And foster kids are always looking for family, and I knew that this was my place somehow.”

She also came back to the Kids to Love Scholarship Luncheon — this time, as a guest speaker.

“I was super honored to get to stand in front of a bunch of current and former foster youth that are hopefully coming behind me and doing great things and to get this chance to tell them a story of hope, to inspire them,” she said. “I love any opportunity I get to do things like that.”

That wasn’t the last time she spoke to a group about her journey, either. Laila-Rose was a speaker at her law school graduation. And after taking a much-needed vacation, she’s going to start studying for the bar exam.

After that, she’s not sure what her future holds, but she does know she wants to be involved with children who come from the same background she did.

She has a message for young girls in foster care as well: Have a family when it’s right and love yourself first.

Many girls in foster care haven’t had much affection shown to them, she says, and she doesn’t want anyone to jump into a relationship and start a family because they don’t feel loved enough.

“It has been my experience that although I’ve had good romantic relationships, I outgrew them,” Laila-Rose said. “And I have seen a lot who find that those kinds of relationships end up limiting them, and they don’t go on to do the things that they want to do because maybe they have children younger than they originally intended or and they just have a whole world of responsibility, and they don’t get to focus on them. And it’s so important.

“I have gotten to enjoy my twenties, work hard in my twenties, set myself up for success. And that’s so important. I don’t know if I could have done this with a child.

It would have been much harder.”

For Laila-Rose, it’s a good time in her life, and she wants other foster children to know the same thing is on the horizon for them, if they want it.

“I just want foster kids to know, former and current, that they have something very meaningful to contribute to the world, even if it’s just their story,” she said. “And if it’s their artwork, if it’s their culinary abilities, they have something that’s worth something, and they should know that because I don’t think that they’re told enough.”

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....................... MADISON HOSPITAL .......................

What a success story!

J

Just over a year ago, Micheal Kelso was hooked to a ventilator – motionless and close to death – in the Madison Hospital ICU. I am pleased to report that Micheal recently returned to Madison Hospital – healthy and happy – to celebrate becoming a father for the first time.

For Micheal and his wife, Ashton, the arrival of baby Anthony Bowen Kelso on May 23 was nothing short of a miracle after Mary Lynne COVID-19 nearly destroyed their Wright family. It’s also a testament to the remarkable skills of our clinical President team that helped save Micheal’s Madison Hospital life.

Rewind to April 2021. Coronavirus was spreading fast across North Alabama; Micheal got sick along with thousands of others. His symptoms were mild at first, but when he started struggling to breathe Ashton got scared and drove him from their home in Priceville to the Madison Hospital Emergency Department.

Micheal was admitted to the hospital and initially given supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula. That wasn’t strong enough, so the doctors put him on a BiPap machine.

But the virus was relentless. Less than 48 hours into his hospital stay, Micheal was crashing; doctors determined that a ventilator was his best chance for survival.

For 21 long days, he remained on the vent in a medicallyinduced coma. He developed a potentially fatal staph infection and a clot in his carotid artery. His fever spiked to 103 degrees.

...

58 Madison Living

Twice, Ashton was told that Micheal could die.

“It was devastating,” she says. “Here he is 31 years old and I’m 34. You don’t expect to deal with something like that at our age.”

Fortunately, Micheal had an army of specially-trained Madison Hospital caregivers on his side including ICU nurses, respiratory therapists, infectious disease experts, critical care pulmonologists and gastroenterologists. To lower his temperature, the medical team surrounded his bed with fans and ice packs and built a makeshift tent to keep the cool air from escaping, then arranged to borrow a high-tech cooling blanket from Decatur Morgan Hospital. And they tried different medications until they found a broad-spectrum antibiotic that brought Micheal back from the brink.

Ashton says the medical team also recognized that Micheal’s blood pressure readings improved when she was nearby and let her spend time at his bedside. She is fully vaccinated and wore protective equipment.

All told, Micheal spent 32 days in the hospital and another two weeks at a local rehab facility. He returned home on June 4, 2021; in October, Ashton learned she was pregnant.

After witnessing the amazing care that Micheal received at Madison Hospital, “there was never a question where I was going to have my baby,” Ashton says. “From the nurses to the doctors to the security officers and dietary services, everyone I encountered was just incredible.”

Baby boy Bowen – the couple’s first child – made his grand entrance on May 23, delivered by OBGYN James Morgan Tucker, MD. “Being that close to death and having a miracle happen, it’s almost like a book,” Ashton says. “Now we can close that chapter and move on to celebrate our son being born.”

Micheal, Ashton and their newborn son Bowen

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OUT&ABOUT

MADISON CONCERTS IN THE PARK & 3RD THURSDAYS ON MAIN - Two events have converged together to make downtown Madison the place to be on the third Thursday of each month through the summer. Madison’s tradition of summertime evenings with free music returned on June 16 with a performance by Calypso Vision at “Concerts in the Park”. The concert series have a new venue at the revamped Home Place Park at 100 Shorter St., located just south of downtown Madison and west of Madison City Schools Stadium. The City of Madison renovated Home Place Park with amphitheater seating and other considerations for outdoor performances (see page 6 for information on future concerts in the series). In addition, the “3rd Thursdays on Main” continued last month on the same evening. The shops on Main Street and Church Street are open for extended hours until 8 p.m. on these Thursdays. Additionally, Third Thursdays offers a venue for local pop-up vendors and small-businesses of all sorts including food trucks, home goods, and art. The events start at 6 p.m. and go until 8 p.m. ( see page 16). Here are some fun photos of both events by photographer Kassidy Chapman.

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RECIPE

Maxine’s Pound Cake

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Lindsey Boothe

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When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandparents— Nanny and Pops. Their best friends lived a stone’s throw away. Their names were Maxine and Lloyd. They were always together, so much that I always thought her name was “Maxine Lloyd” because Nanny would always talk about them together.

Lloyd and Pops were golf buddies, but what I most remember about them was Maxine’s

pound cake. Nanny seemingly always had one on the kitchen table in her circa 1960s jadeite green Tupperware box. It was what started my love affair with pound cake.

I have tried, and this is no exaggeration, close to 20 pound cake recipes trying to find one that tasted like hers to no avail.

You see, Maxine’s recipe was gone when she had her first stroke. She always gave them away and so no one ever thought to

alabamatreenware.com

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Alabama Treenware. Lindsey hand carves wooden kitchen utensils, including the one pictured here, in her Madison, Alabama, wood shop using all local hardwoods. Alabama Treenware regularly posts stories and recipes such as this one online at www.facebook.com/alabamatreenware and on Instagram @Alabamatreenware.

Visit www.alabamatreenware.com to learn more.

ask her for the recipe; or so we all thought. After several years of trying, my mom recently tracked down the recipe through Maxine’s step-daughter, Jenny Mae, just in time for my my birthday. I guess they found it when they were cleaning out Maxine’s little yellow house after she passed away. Just another reason to share your heirloom recipes with loved ones. This recipe is the best gift Mom could have given me. Once I got my hands on it and made it for the first time, it was just as I remembered it. It was obvious why the cake has such a unique flavor that I no other cakes could replicate—it combines three different extracts/flavorings: butter, vanilla, and almond. It truly does make a difference, so make sure to use them all!

I got the chance to talk with Jenny Mae and about our memories surrounding this oh-so-special cake. She told me that Maxine used to make 3-4 of the cakes at a time. Her other half, Lloyd, would thoughtfully work beside her in the kitchen, cutting out cardboard circles (this was long before the day of an abundance of Amazon boxes) for Maxine to set her cakes on. Then he would wrap them in foil and fill the basement deep freeze with them. As Jenny Mae said, “That way whenever someone needed a cake, Maxine was there and ready with one”. I’m not sure what constitutes as a “need for cake,” but I like the idea of their teamwork and giving spirit. Today, I hope you’ll share some of Maxine’s cake with someone. Maybe 25 years from now someone will be making the cake to share with a friend and will talk about how good your cake was and how you were always willing to share. Make sure to give them the recipe while you have the chance.

This recipe was submitted by Lindsey Boothe, owner of

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Maxine’s Pound Cake 5 eggs 3 cups sugar 2 sticks oleo* ½ cup shortening ¾ cup canned milk + ¼ cup water to make 1 cup of liquid 3-¼ cups cake flour, sifted ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon butter flavoring 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Cream oleo, shortening, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, then measure and add salt.

Add flour alternately with milk to creamed mixture. Mix well. Fold in extract by hand. Pour batter into greased and floured tube pan. Place pan in cold oven and set to 325°.

Bake one hour and forty-five minutes, checking after one hour and thirty minutes. Do not open the oven door before this. *Recipe is written as it was in Maxine’s original cookbook. Today, I substitute salted butter for the oleo.

Lindsey Boothe has published a cookbook, Provisions: Food, Drink, and Tools for Your Table. It features heirloom recipes using fresh, local ingredients that you will be proud to share these dishes with friends and neighbors alike. You can find more information about it at www.alabamatreenware.com.

CHAMBER CONNECTIONS

Local business owners are teaming up to showcase Madison’s historic downtown

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Michelle Epling Executive Director Madison Chamber of Commerce

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As we approach the heart of summertime, I had the opportunity to attend the fifth anniversary celebration of Kathleen’s Bridal on Friday, May 6th, as a kickoff to summer and celebrating our downtown business owners. The owner (Meighan Winton) had completely transformed downtown Madison with gold tablecloths, an ice sculpture, a large projector screen, and the prettiest appetizer spread provided by Main Street Café.

These downtown business owners are truly the heart of

our city. They work as entrepreneurs everyday providing services to our citizens for such major milestones as getting married, going to a formal gala, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

You will see over the next few months these “Shoppes of Downtown Madison” are continuing to make small changes to bring about fun ways to come downtown to spend time with the shop owners and your family. During the months of May and June they launched the first 3rd Thursdays on Main and showcased food trucks, artists, and vendors to find new ways to make shopping in downtown Madison a fun place to hang out!

The next time you need to buy a hostess gift, meet someone for lunch/dinner, and/or find a new outfit, please consider shopping with our local retail establishments to support our local economy! They truly are the heartbeat of our city.

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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS Congratulations to the following business on their recent ribbon cuttings and grand openings.

Michelle Newberry Epling, Executive Director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, hosted “Coffee & Commerce” last month at Black Dog Vinyl & Hifi Coffee Shop (pictured left and below). Carey Rosenblum, Broker/Owner of Rosenblum Realty sponsored this well-attended networking event.

Congratulations to Baker’s Learning Kitchen, LLC on their grand opening! Check them out at 1031 Putnam Drive, Huntville.

Check out more events and services through the Madison Chamber of Commerce at www.madisonalchamber.com and follow them on Facebook

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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS Congratulations to the following business on their recent ribbon cuttings and grand openings.

Congratulations to Bank Independent, on their groundbreaking for the new West Sales Office, located at 11254 County Line Rd, in Madison.

SpineCare, 11743 County Line Road, hosted a celebration last for its 20th anniversary. In addition, the chiropractic center held a grand opening for their newest venture, SpineFit. Congratulations!

Ribbon Cutting for Miller Plaza at Beacon Hill Collaborative Community Thrift Store located at 8006 Old Madison Pike Ste. 10 Madison.

Congratulations!

Check out more events and services through the Madison Chamber of Commerce at www.madisonalchamber.com and follow them on Facebook

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OUT&ABOUT

MADISON CITY FARMERS MARKET - Photographer Sam Wilson (Side note: you can read about him on page 33) spent the morning on June 11 at the Madison City Farmers Market. He captured these fun scenes for us to share, including a unique mascot at the booth for Brown Family Farms, and “man’s best friend” who decided it was too hot to keep walking around. Located at 1088 Hughes Road at Trinity Baptist Church in Madison, the market features producer-only farmers market. The vendors provide a wide selection of the freshest local veggies, fruits, cheese, eggs, meats, milk, herbs, honey, jams, relishes, home-baked goods, plants and flowers. There are also creations from local artisans, including handmade cards, soaps, lotions, candles, wood crafts, sewn items and other handmade products. There are local musicians too. See page 12 or more information.

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OUT&ABOUT

There was a huge celebration on June 19 at Toyota Field. The Rocket City Trash Pandas are postseason bound! With a thrilling 7-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits, the Trash Pandas clinched the Southern League’s first half North Division title and will be playing playoff baseball for the first time in team history. The victory gives the Trash Pandas a spot in the Southern League playoffs, set to begin at the conclusion of the regular season in late September. Congratulations!

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YOUR LOC AL REAL ESTATE EXPERT WITH GLOBAL REACH

WE ARE ENGEL & VÖLKERS.

Engel & Völkers Huntsville 320 The Bridge Street • Suite 104 Huntsville • AL 35806 • (256) 520-7983 Learn more at klootegroup.evrealestate.com

Angie Kloote • Engel & Völkers Huntsville Advisor / VP, Sales & Marketing 320 The Bridge Street • Suite 104 Huntsville • AL 35806 (256) 520-7983 angie.kloote@evrealestate.com ©2022 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

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The moment everything changes.

Catch your breath. You’re going to do great, and we’re here to help. From pregnancy to birth and all the moments in between, we have everything you need.

Visit oHHbaby.org to learn more about our dedicated maternity services.

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