MADISON LIVING
July 2024
madisonlivingmagazine.com
Keeping Madison Connected
How Madison’s planned developments are making the city more walkable
Two families. Two tragedies. One big cause. SARAH’S LEGACY
DYNAMIC DUO
The Free twins have left their mark on north Alabama athletics
BENNY HANNAH
Bringing long forgotten cemeteries back to life
SUMMER FUN
There is plenty to see and do this month at the Cook Museum of Natural Science
MADISON LIVING
EDITOR
John Few
CONTRIBUTORS
Bob Labbe
Gregg Parker
Erin Coggins
Joshua Berry
Madison Living Magazine 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.
Maria Rakoczy
Lee Marshall
John Peck
MARKETING
Donna Counts
GENERAL MANAGER
French Salter
To advertise, call Donna Counts at 256-714-7152.
Madison Living is published monthly by Tennessee Valley Media, Inc. A one-year subscription is $30.79. Single copies are available at select locations. To subscribe, call 256772-6677. Copyright 2024
Photo by Cristie Clark
Sounds of Summer Concert Series
July 11, 25 • 7-9 p.m.
Home Place Park in Madison www.madisonartsalliance.org
Madison Arts Alliance prepares to “Groove” for the next offering of the 2024 “Sounds of Summer” concert. Held at Home Place Park, 100 Shorter St., two streets south of Main Street in downtown Madison, the free concert starts at 7 p.m. The band Calypso Vision will take the stage on July 11. Entertaining audiences for the past 10 years, the band gives a relaxed beachfront spirit with a heavy dose of Buffett-style classics. Second Hand Smoke performs on July 25. This group may be a duo but their sound can compete with a larger set of musicians. Their music will keep the audience moving to the beat. Food trucks will offer tempting food and snack options at the concerts. In addition, downtown eateries are nearby for a ‘sit-down meal.’ Madison Arts Alliance sponsors this concert series and presents the event in partnership with Madison Visionary Partners. For more information, visit madisonartsalliance.org.
August 9th
August 30th
September 20th In the Mood
City Lights & Stars continues with Eric Essex
FFor the 31st Season, Burritt on the Mountain is welcoming back their long running Summer Concert Series. The City Lights & Stars Concert Series will feature eight concerts this season from May through September, with musical acts from varying genres.
This years lineup features a fabulous mix of local hometown favorites and regional talent on the Isenberg Gazebo stage. Guests can enjoy being entertained under the Alabama stars with the 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. Food trucks will be onsite and wine, beer and other drinks are sold at every concert.
Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.burrittonthemountain.com.
Upcoming 2024 Concert Dates
July 19 – Eric Essix
Over a period of more than 32 years and 27 full length album releases, Eric Essix has not only maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz throughout his career. Eric shares his Birmingham Alabama southern roots through his compositions. His music reveals the soul of the man and his music.
August 9 – Gwen & The Retro Kats
This is the rare band that brings together the deep-pocket swing of the 1930s and 1940s and contemporary beats like Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk” and Lizzo’s “Juice!” A veteran on the Southeast music scene, Gwen is one of the busiest bandleaders in Atlanta, along the way being named “Favorite Jazz Artist” by the readers of Creative Loafing magazine and taking her act overseas to France, Eastern Europe and Turkey.
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Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series • Aug. 2 • VBC Playhouse
Hear the stories of the songs you’ve heard on the radio as well as some of the best songs you’ve never heard while you experience phenomenal music from the songwriters themselves. On Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m., Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series features Bill Whyte, a songwriter and comedian who’s guaranteed to make you smile; Darrell Clanton, who has performed multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry and has written songs for Bobby Vinton and B.J. Thomas; and Brooke Graham, who’ll have your toes tapping with her unique blend of Honky Tonk and Trop Rock. Get your tickets at the VBC box office or on Ticketmaster at https://bit.ly/jpss0802. They are only $25.
OutdoorSpace
Third Thursdays on Main • July 18 • 4-7 p.m. Historic Downtown Madison • www.mvpmadison.org
Madison Visionary Partners and the Shoppes of Historic Downtown Madison will host “Third Thursdays on Main” in Downtown Madison beginning July 18 from 4 - 7 p.m. Each event will feature food trucks, live music, and a variety of events for the whole family and extended shopping hours.
Summer Sunset Concert Series • July 9 • 6 p.m. Ditto Landing in South Huntsville • www.dittolanding.org
Ditto Landing, the Huntsville Music Office and Artemis Music Productions are presenting the Summer Sunset Concert Series every second Tuesday starting in June through September, 6-8 p.m. Join the fun at the Ditto Landing Pavilion and enjoy local music along the Tennessee River. It’s open to the public with free admission. Mark your calendars for the upcoming concerts: July 9 – Mike Roberts, Aug. 13 – Josh Allison, and Sept. 10 - Dawn Osborne and Jason Humphress.
McStuffins: The Exhibit • Through Sept. 22
Now through Sept. 22, become doctors-in-training and help care for toy patients in Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit at EarlyWorks Children’s Museum! Learn about staying healthy, caring for others, and problem solving. The Doc McStuffins exhibit will transform the Grand Hall at EarlyWorks into an entire hospital, complete with reception, pet vet, operating room, and so much more. he Doc McStuffins Show is about a character from the Disney Junior show, who is a girl that heals toys and helps her friends with their problems. This exhibit is open for a limited time. It is included in general admission, free to members, and all discounts apply.
Downtown Art Walk • July 26 • Courthouse Square, Downtown Huntsville • 5-8 p.m. • www.downtownhuntsville.org/downtownartwalks
Explore new scenes in beautiful Downtown Huntsville while shopping for art, jewelry, decor, treats, and more from over 50 local vendors! Each event is free to attend and will include live music, yard games, and kid-friendly activities. Other dates and locations include: August 17, 5 to 8 p.m., Butler Green; September 21, 5 to 8 p.m., Butler Green, and October 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Big Spring Park.
Concerts in the Park • Every Monday starting at 6:30 p.m. • Big Spring Park in Huntsville • www.artshuntsville.org
Concerts in the Park is held every Monday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. through August. The free series showcases local music talent. It is held behind the Huntsville Museum of Art at Big Spring Park. Upcoming concerts include: July 8 - Ricky J Taylor Combo and 3Way Handshake, July 15 - Jimmy Henderson Trio and J-Class Band, July 22 - Groupo 100F and Emily Joseph Band, July 29 - Remy Neal and Charles & Tonya Harris.
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• www.vangoghexpo.com/huntsville
When you step into Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, you’re not stepping into an ordinary art gallery. You’re stepping into a full experience that, more than just hanging paintings on a wall, surrounds you in the moving and skillful pieces of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opened recently at 6123 University Drive Unit 100 in Huntsville. You can get tickets and information concerning what days and hours it is open at www.vangoghexpo.com/huntsville. The exhibit uses high-tech projection technology to display and animate more than 400 Of Van Gogh’s works including both sketches and completed pieces. It has traveled the country and is now arriving in Huntsville.
“Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” • Through August • 6123 University Drive
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Tennessee Valley Hunting & Fishing Expo
July 12-14 • Von Braun Center South Hall www.vonbrauncenter.com or www.tvhfe.com
The Von Braun Center South Hall is the site for this year’s #1 hunting, fishing, and outdoor event. Join the experts to find out the latest in casting, shooting, and enjoying the outdoors. Tickets are \available at the door or online at tvhfe.com, starting at $10.00 per person. Children 12 years of age and under enter free.
HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN
July is a “hot” month for the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Check out the cool events the Garden has planned for you to enjoy.
STORY BY JOHN FEW
When I was searching through the local events to select which ones we would feature in this issue of Madison Living Magazine, there were several events happening at the Huntsville Botanical Garden to choose from. Instead of selecting one or two, we decided to group them together in a small section. It is amazing how many fun things they have planned in July. But you don’t need a special event to have fun at the Garden. There is always a wonderful experience awaiting you there. Nestled in the heart of our vibrant city, Huntsville Botanical Garden offers an escape into the enchanting world of nature. Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round, offering a variety of experiences across all seasons. Whether you’re seeking a serene stroll, an educational adventure, or a special event, the Garden has something for everyone. Go to www.hsvbg.org for more information.
Huntsville Botanical Garden and UAH partner for Shakespeare in the Garden
TTransport to “fair Verona” or journey to the imaginary seacoast of Bohemia as Huntsville Botanical Garden and UAH’s Huntsville Shakespeare present Shakespeare in the Garden. All are invited to experience alternating performances of Shakespeare’s theatrical masterpieces, Romeo and Juliet and The Winter’s Tale, held in the amphitheater at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG).
On July 26, August 3, and August 9 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), Shakespeare’s greatest love story takes the stage. This 90-minute version of Romeo and Juliet is a family-friendly way to experience the timeless tale of love and tragedy between two starcrossed lovers!
For those looking for an alternative to teenage romance, performances of The Winter’s Tale will be held on July 27, August 2, and August 10 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Witness the 90-minute familyfriendly version of a captivating story of jealousy, forgiveness, and redemption, where ancient Greek oracles coexist with Renaissance sculptors and “what’s past is prologue.”
Tickets are $25 for Garden members, $35 for nonmembers, and can be purchased at hsvbg.org/calendar.
There are no rain dates and no refunds for canceled performances. In case of weather cancellation by the venue, tickets may be rescheduled for a later performance if they are available, first come first served.
Concessions, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol into the Garden.
Celebrate cultures from around the world at Huntsville Botanical Garden
GGet ready to experience world cultures from the comfort and stunning surroundings of Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG)—no passport required! Global Rhythm & Blooms is an enriching event series dedicated to celebrating the vibrant tapestry of cultures from Huntsville’s international communities through music, dance, food and drink. The event series will take place in the shade of the Cedar Glade on Thursdays through Sept. 26, from 5 p.m. until dusk.
“Music, food, and flowers transcend language barriers and are deeply rooted aspects of cultures around the world,” said HBG CEO Susan Wagner. “Huntsville Botanical Garden is a place that invites and welcomes people of all walks of life to enjoy the beauty of nature, and the Global Rhythm & Blooms event series gives guests another reason to connect not only with our surroundings but also with each other.”
Global Rhythm & Blooms will rotate to a different culture or group of cultures every two weeks, allowing visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in cultural traditions expressed through entertainment, food and beverages representative of that week’s designated culture. HBG is working with Huntsville and North Ala-
bama cultural organizations to ensure cultural sensitivity.
“We are delighted by the support and assistance provided by the City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” said HBG Director of Marketing and Communications Laura McPhail. “Their help linking us with various community organizations helps us connect with subject matter experts to make these experiences more authentic. We’re very excited at the prospect of the Garden shining a light on the resources they provide while bringing the community together.”
Global Rhythm & Blooms is free for HBG members and is $10 for non-members, after 5 p.m. Registration is not required. Leashed dogs are welcome to attend for $5 each.
Upcoming Schedule:
July 11 & 18 – Caribbean
July 25 & August 8 – British
August 15 – Bayou / Cajun and Creole
August 22 & 29 – Native American
Sept. 5 & 12 – India
Sept. 19 & 26 – German Oktoberfest
Huntsville
Botanical
Garden Roots & Shoots Farmer’s Market
HHuntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) will host the new Roots & Shoots Farmer’s Market every fourth Saturday in July and August from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. Visitors are invited to shop for fresh, locally sourced produce, meat and handmade goods while supporting local growers and artisans.
The Market will be held July 27 and Aug. 24.
“Attending the farmer’s market is an opportunity for shoppers to buy fresh, delicious food directly from local farmers and food businesses,” said HBG Visitor Programs Coordinator Sharon Singletary. “It’s a great way to support our local growers.”
Roots & Shoots will take place at HBG’s Grisham Pavilion, located at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. Admission to the garden is not required to attend the farmer’s market, though guests are encouraged to make a day out of it and see the Garden before taking home their fresh bounty from the market.
Golden Hours
Through September
5 p.m. to dusk
Huntsville Botanical Garden www.hsvbg.org/golden-hour
Huntsville Botanical Garden is changing things up this year—with double the Golden Hours! From April 19 through September, Garden hours on Thursdays and Fridays are extended to dusk. Enjoy food, drink, and entertainment in the shade of the Cedar Glade, and explore the 118 acres during the golden light of evenings at the Garden. Great for decompressing after work, enjoying a lovely date night, or simply seeing the Garden in a different light. Members get in free; non-members pay $10. Start your weekend with a cold drink, some yummy food from the café, and live music from local musicians. The Cafe will be open for food and beverages and a bar area will be available at the Cedar Glade. For more information, go to hsvbg.org/golden-hour.
SPAR KLE
Huntsville Botanical Garden is hosting a whimsical journey through an mesmerizing exhibit, Glass in Flight. Wander among 21 breathtaking, larger-than-life glass sculptures that capture the delicate beauty and intricate details of nature’s most fascinating pollinators – from the vibrant wings of butterflies to the iridescent shimmer of dragonflies, the meticulous craftsmanship of beetles, and the gentle buzz of bees. This exhibit is more than a display; it’s an invitation to see the Garden and its inhabitants in an enchanting light. Each piece, crafted with exceptional artistry by artist Alex Heveri, tells a story of flight, transformation, and the delicate balance of nature. For more information, go to hsvbg.org/glass-in-flight.
Firefly Garden Hike • July 9, 16, 23 • 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. • Huntsville Botanical Garden • hsvbg.org
A special guided hike featuring the amazing fireflies that call the Garden home! These intriguing insects are most active as the sun is setting and it starts to get dark. You’ll learn about their life cycle and how you can create a habitat for them in your own backyard. The Huntsville Botanical Garden is located at 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue in Huntsville.
Butterfly Release • July 13, 27 • Huntsville Botanical Garden
Guests of all ages will enjoy sharing in the magic of safely releasing live butterflies into the Purdy Butterfly House. This program begins with a brief presentation about butterflies and their habitat, followed by taking part in the safe restoration of our indoor butterfly population. Don’t forget your camera – these photo opportunities are not to be missed! Butterfly Each program lasts approximately 30 minutes. Registration is required, and space is limited.
Glass in Flight • Through October • Huntsville Botanical Garden • www.hsvbg.org/glass-in-flight
Splash N’ Play
July 13 • 2-5 p.m. to dusk • Huntsville Botanical Garden • www.hsvbg.org
Get ready to make a splash at Splash N’ Play – the ultimate kids’ water event happening on Saturday, July 13, at the Grisham Pavilion at Huntsville Botanical Garden! Grab the sunscreen and bring the whole family to beat the heat during an afternoon of wet fun at the Garden. The event includes a waterslide, foam party with Metropolitan DJ, bounce houses, face painting, HMCPL Bookmobile, education stations, food and fun.
Canning 101
July 20 • 9:30 a.m.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Learn how to take your produce and make it last year round with Canning 101! Class attendees will learn the step-by-step process of water-bath canning, tips/tricks, and recipes to take home. To learn the process hands-on, the class will work together to make dill pickles and sweet pickle relish. At the end of the class, each attendee will take a quart of dill pickles home to enjoy.
Gardening with KIds: Fairly Gardens • July 20 • 10 a.m.
Forests can be a magical place for people of all ages. Come learn about the layers of the forest and how to keep them safe just like our magical friends do. Attendees will create a Fairy Garden to take home. Some decorations will be provided but feel free to bring any personal items you would like to include…except for glitter. Fairies are allergic to glitter!
MADISON
KEEPING MADISON CONNECTED
STORY BY MARIA RAKOCZY
PHOTOS BY CRISTIE CLARK
Pictured above: Michael and Mitchell Clark, age 7, walking along Bradford Creek Greenway.
MMeet New Urbanism, the city planning theory that is taking the country, and Madison, by storm.
If you’re familiar with Seaside and Rosemary Beach, FL or the Village of Providence right here at home, then you’ve already met New Urbanism in its quintessential forms. As these examples demonstrate, New Urbanist communities are mixed-use developments with restaurants, retail, residential, and office spaces all in one.
At the forefront of the theory is walkability. In New Urbanist communities, cars are secondary and foot traffic is primary. Condensed footprints and plentiful sidewalks are conducive to a stroll, rather than a drive, around town.
The Village of Providence was one of the first to debut New Urbanism in the Huntsville-Madison area when it was designed in 2002. Since then, similar developments have exploded in popularity and number
in North Alabama. It’s following a pattern all across the nation of people moving towards mixed-use developments.
“Today, prospective office tenants prefer amenityrich mixed-use centers (also known as “live-workplay” locations) over single-use office parks by a margin of 83 to 17 percent, according to a 2014 study by the NAIOP Research Foundation, which represents the commercial real estate industry in the US,” cites the Congress for the New Urbanism of the increasing demand.
The shift toward mixed-use developments can be seen right here in Madison. In the last ten years, the city has acquired two mixed-use developments, Town Madison and Village of Oakland Springs (sister development to Village of Providence), and others adjacent to Madison like Clift Farm, and has seen the city take a proactive approach to make the infrastructure all over
Madison Mayor Paul Finley and City Planner Mary Beth Broeren compare plans with construction of Sunshine Oaks Park. The new park is situated off Mose Chapel Road north of Mill Road. Once completed, it will be easily accessible to the Bradford Creek Greenway. Amenities include a 18-hole disc golf course, two pavilions, bathrooms and a playground area.
Joey Ceci, President of Breland Companies, the developer behind Town Madison, stands in front of Toyota Field in Town Madison. The stadium is home to the Rocket City Trash Pandas and hosts a variety of special events throughout the year.
town more walkable.
Town Madison is the most recent of these New Urbanist developments and perhaps most prominent for Toyota Field and its I-565-adjacent location.
President of Breland Companies, the developer behind Town Madison, Joey Ceci explained the advantages of New Urbanist principles in the community, “We wanted Town Madison to have the feel of a small southern town so we incorporated design principles like New Urbanist to do that. These principles create a community that is not only walkable but timeless in that it can change and adapt as the years pass.”
Sidewalks and residential areas placed within walking distance of restaurants, office spaces, and entertainment venues like Toyota Field make the area walkable.
“Town Madison features wide sidewalks and multiuse paths along with a lot of green space that makes walking easy for our residents and visitors,” said Ceci. “We will continue that by carrying the multi-use [path] along the length of Town Madison Boulevard and connect it to other existing Madison greenways in the fu -
ture.”
That multi-use path is part of the Singing River Trail, which is engaging in efforts to bring walkability and connectivity to all of North Alabama. Breland and the City of Madison worked together to bring the added connectivity to the area.
Work involved creating a wider sidewalk on Town Madison Boulevard after the road had already been built in order to continue the Singing River Trail from where the Huntsville side of the trail ends on Zeirdt Road. When the city approached Louis Breland, founder of Breland Companies, city planner Mary Beth Broeren said he was ready to get on board.
“That road was already built, and it’s not typical that once a road is built and you’ve got an idea of what your infrastructure costs are that the developer is then going to say, ‘Oh yeah I’ll just build a wider sidewalk after the fact.’ But [Breland] was willing to do that, and so, the Singing River Trail is on the north side of Town Madison Boulevard,” said Broeren.
The city has plans to extend the multi-use path through the rest of Town Madison and to other parts of
Retail and dining businesses are in easy walking reach of Toyota Field and residences at Town Madison.
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the city. Ideally, the path will have routes that wind throughout Town Madison all the way to James Record Road on one route and to downtown Madison on another.
Like Town Madison, the Village of Oakland Springs has also prioritized the pedestrian with its intentional design and layout. It features singlefamily and multi-family residential and a burgeoning local retail and restaurant scene.
“Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) is on beautiful display at the Village at Oakland Springs. Like our sister community of Village of Providence in Huntsville, Oakland Springs is already an active, elegant neighborhood of friends and families. It’s a basic tenet of TND: putting pedestrians first and vehicles second. Narrower streets and strategic placement of trees and sidewalks make walking the priority. This is evident in everything we do,” advertises Village of Oakland Springs.
Both Village of Oakland Springs and Town Madison were designed by Andrés Duany and DPZ CoDesign, one of the leading firms in New Urbanism and the same firm behind Village of Providence.
The City of Madison and city planner, Mary Beth Broeren, have also been instrumental in bringing (256)908-8862 www.VitalityLivingUplandPark.com
Michael
Clark, age 7, ride their bikes along Bradford Creek Greenway, which connects Palmer Park to Heritage Elementary School. The route
views of the creek, hardwood forests along the bands, wetland areas supporting fish, wildlife, birds
Susan Few walks along the storefronts in Madison’s historic downtown. Over the years the city has renovated the downtown area, encouraging more business and residential growth whole maintaining its historic charm. It is easily accessible on foot and plans are underway to connect pedestrian and bike paths to other areas of the city, like Town Madison.
Developments like the
are zoned specifically to allow for residential and business areas close together to increase convenience for residents.
Village of Oakland Springs (above)
Madison Mayor Paul Finley and City Planner Mary Beth Broeren examine how the new Sunshine Oaks Park and disc golf course is easily accessible by pedestrian and bike traffic via Bradford Creek Greenway.
walkability and connectivity to Madison beyond these planned developments through additional sidewalks and crosswalks along major thoroughfares and by establishing and extending greenway systems. Adding sidewalks to the downtown area, multi-use paths along County Line Road, Hughes Road, parts of Wall Triana, and near Journey Middle School are a few examples of the additions the city has made to increase connectivity.
Greenways and outdoor path systems have been talked about by the city since 1999, and a grant in 2003 facilitated the start of Bradford Creek Greenway. Adding sidewalks to major streets has been a more recent development. Broeren explained that the city did not require sidewalks on collector streets until 2006 and only a few years before that, the city started requiring sidewalks in residential areas. Since 2006, the city has “been playing catchup”.
In addition to sidewalks and pathways, the city uses zoning as a way to encourage connectivity and walkability in the city. Developments like the Village of Oakland Springs and the downtown area are zoned specifically to allow for residential and business areas close together, which Broeren says also
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The city has plans for a multi-use path through the Bradford Station development and along the north side of Keiser Boulevard that will connect to downtown (shown here) and will ideally feature a pedestrian crossing under the railroad tracks to connect to Bradford Creek Greenway.
increases convenience for residents.
And the city is far from done in its projects to make Madison walkable and connected. The city has plans for a multi-use path through the Bradford Station development and along the north side of Keiser Boulevard that will connect to downtown and will ideally feature a pedestrian crossing under the railroad tracks to connect to Bradford Creek Greenway. Plans for the new Community Center include another connection to Bradford Creek Greenway from the parking lot along Browns Ferry Road.
An all-together new greenway is underway for the Village of Oakland Springs. A mile of the Oakland Springs Greenway has already been paved with another mile north of Powell Road in the works. The city’s master plan also calls for the multi-use path near Journey Middle School on the Garner Street extension to be extended all the way down to Madison Boulevard
in the future.
“We’ve got a number of projects that we have in our plan that we want to go forward with and it’s just a matter of getting them funded and balancing all of those priorities,” said Broeren.
On why the city has chosen to emphasize walkability, she commented, “I think it’s nice to provide recreational options for people. It also, in certain locations, can help reduce traffic on the roads if you’ve got a walkable community. People might be inclined to walk to a restaurant rather than get in a car and drive. Certainly, that’s a goal for mixed use projects like Town Madison and like the Village of Oakland Springs. So that not only reduces traffic on the roads, it reduces air quality impacts, and so, there are a multitude of benefits”.
And the demand is evidently there among Madison residents as Broeren said the city’s projects are partly
A decorated house for the 4th of July sites along a picturesque street in the Village of Oakland Springs with traditional sidewalks easily accessible to the retail and dining sections of the development.
in response to interest from residents, “On our collector roads that’s where we hear a lot from residents like ‘We’d like a sidewalk along Gillespie Road, for example, or on Wall Triana.’”
As the demand for New Urbanisttype communities increases across the country, Madison is taking it to another level. Madison is taking the principles of walkability and connectivity beyond planned mixed-use developments to connect the entire city in walkable outdoor spaces.
Once completed, the Sunshine Oaks Park will include a 18-hole disc golf course spread out over 40 acres.
LAWN&GARDEN
Native plants enhance the landscape’s beauty
By Dr. Eddie Miles Louis Smith, MSU Extension
I am a big fan of incorporating unique native plants into the landscape due to their ecological, aesthetic and practical advantages.
Native plants are exceptionally well-suited to the local soil, climate and environmental conditions, making them more resilient and easier to maintain than non-native species.
INative plants play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife such as pollinators, and by providing essential habitats and food sources, which in turn promotes biodiversity. They also help prevent soil erosion and manage water runoff because they often have deep root systems.
Integrating native plants into the landscape creates a more sustainable and environmentally friendly garden and also provides a connection to the natural heritage of the region.
During a recent visit to Backhouse Garden in Carriere, Mississippi, I was particularly drawn to the Star Anise shrub nestled in the back of the gardens.
This plant is well-suited for full shade to part shade conditions, although it can tolerate more sun with sufficient moisture. It thrives in
Although sometimes considered a weed, the Spiderwort belongs to the dayflower family. Its three-petaled flowers bloom in blue, purple or pink. Below: A goldfish pond with a cascading waterfall is the stunning focal point of a garden filled with native plants.
loam or sandy soils that are moist to wet with a neutral or acidic pH.
In spring, Star Anise produces unique red flowers that attract a wide variety of beneficial pollinators. Later in the season, the green seed pods add to the plant’s character and eventually turn brown.
Leaves, stems and seeds that are crushed release a delightful anise spice fragrance, adding an extra sensory dimension to the garden experience.
Another native plant that caught my eye at Backhouse Garden was the Spiderwort. Some people consider it a weed, but this herbaceous, clump-forming perennial belongs to the dayflower family. Spiderwort spreads via underground stolons.
Spiderwort produces stunning, three-petaled flowers in shades of blue, purple or pink. After the blooming period, trim back the stems to encourage healthy growth and maintain the plant’s appearance.
This native prefers moist to wet fertile locations, but it can adapt to average garden soils in both sunny and shaded areas. It is a versatile addition to the landscape.
I was captivated by other native plants scattered throughout the garden, but my favorite feature was the goldfish pond with a cascading waterfall. This was a stunning focal point for all the native plants in the sur-
rounding garden beds, as the sound of the water combined with the sight of colorful fish and lush vegetation created an enchanting environment.
Native plants can significantly enhance the beauty of a landscape.
They offer a sustainable solution that harmonizes with the local ecosystem while providing a diverse array of plants to cater to various aesthetic preferences and garden conditions.
Star Anise produces red flowers, then green seed pods that eventually turn brown. When crushed, the plant releases a delightful anise spice fragrance.
DYNAMIC DUO
The Free twins have certainly left their mark on the north Alabama athletic community
STORY BY BOB LABBE
PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY
EEvery successful athlete has someone who supports them, drives them to be a better competitor both mentally and physically. The supportive relationship can come from anyone but is remarkably better when the inspiring person is a family member.
For Parker and Peyton Free, recent brother and sister graduates from Bob Jones High, supporting one another since they began in athletics was always magnified from the standpoint they are twins. The fraternal twosome recently completed their prep athletic careers for the Patriots, and each signed an athletic scholarship to continue to partake in their favorite athletic endeavor. Parker signed to play tennis at Samford while Peyton put her signature on the line to play soccer at Georgia Southern.
“I think he (Parker) made me a better athlete as he was very athletic and I would always want to beat him when we competed as my pride would rise to where it made me better,” said Peyton.
“We have a good relationship, especially closer to last two years as we realized we would be separated soon as we go to college,” said Parker. “Being twins, I feel we’re on the same wavelength many times.”
The 18-year old twins were born six minutes apart on Nov. 25, 2005, the day after Thanksgiving to Troy and Emily Free. Parker was born at 12:20 in the afternoon while Peyton came to join him minutes later. Both would venture into a normal childhood and begin in athletics by age three. Peyton jumped into soccer among other sports at age three and by age seven she was named the Most Valuable Player as part of the indoor soccer league, and she said that moment was ultimately the reason she stayed with soccer. Meanwhile, Parker was participating in several sports including baseball, football, basketball and soccer. His father was a coach of tennis for 10 years in Louisiana and urged Parker to take up the sport. Parker did so at age seven playing a couple USTA tournaments a year and soon began a serious run at his best sport by age 12 where he stopped other sports and concentrated strictly on his talents in tennis.
Parker’s talents have led him to being ranked No. 2 in Alabama and No. 140 nationally by the USTA in 18U boys. While at Bob Jones, he won the Class 7A individual State Championship both as a sophomore and junior, but chose not to play high school tennis in his just completed senior season. Instead, he put forth all his efforts to USTA events prepping
for his upcoming college career.
“I’ve always loved the individual part of tennis and that I love as you don’t have to rely on teammates. It’s more personal whether you win or lose,” said Parker.
The 5-foot-5 Peyton stuck with soccer throughout her years and was named All-State for her play in high school as team captain for the Patriots. She also earned Midfielder of the Year award. She has surged through her play with a Birmingham-based club team. “I describe my play as very aggressive and I dribble the ball a lot,” added Peyton, who also loves to sing and bake where her specialties are chocolate chip cookies and banana bread.
As for being brother and sister, the relationship is even closer due to the fact of being fraternal twins. Peyton said of their bond, “I always had someone to compete against whether it was playing soccer in the backyard or going one-on-one playing basketball on the goal we had on our driveway. Parker is funny, smart, kind and hard-working. He’s very good in math and would help me with my homework. I see all the little things he does to be better. I twice had COVID-19 and was bed-ridden for one week on one of those times and Parker was there to help. Remarkably, he never caught COVID.”
“Peyton never played tennis as it was always soccer for her, but she was always there for me when I played,” said Parker of his thoughts of their relationship. “I helped her with soccer as we took individual lessons when we were younger. She is very aggressive and powerful on the soccer field. She’s strong and can dominate others with her strength. She’s fearless. Matter of fact, she has shown me up several times through the years and that caused me to be disappointed in myself.”
Though both played soccer they never participated on the same team in a co-ed setting.
Like most siblings, Christmas season has always been special for Parker and Peyton. Peyton reflected on some of their experiences with their two older siblings, Jansyn and Austin. She spoke of early Christmas mornings, “We would go to bed in the same room the night before Christmas and some would sleep on air mattresses we had. We would all get up in on Christmas morning and go to our Christmas tree to see what was waiting for each one of us. It’s great memories.”
Peyton will study biology in college with aspirations of getting into the school of dentistry. She left Bob Jones with a 4.09 grade point average. Parker’s grade point average was among the top 50 in
senior class at 4.4 and he will study accounting with a dream of someday being a business owner.
Like his sister, Parker feels he, too, is aggressive in his sport. “Yeah, I’m aggressive on the baseline and like my forehand stroke as it’s my best stroke. I do use my backhand, both one hand and two-handed. I like volleys as I work my way forward towards my opponents running them off the court.”
The dynamic twosome has left their marks on their high school and the athletic community in North Alabama. Their friends have presented them with nicknames that allow others to identify who they are: “She Free” and “He Free.”
BENNY HANNAH
Bringing long forgotten cemeteries back to life
STORY BY MARIA RAKOCZY
PHOTOS BY JOHN AND SUSAN FEW
Benny Hannah does the impossible. He brings cemeteries back to life.
He raises old, forgotten cemeteries from the dead and with them, the memories of those buried there.
BHannah does his work through his membership to the Sons of the American Revolution and specifically seeks to honor and immortalize Revolutionary War veterans buried in North Alabama cemeteries.
Hannah has been a member of the Tennessee Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution for more than a decade since 2013. He joined after his brother in West Virginia researched their family’s genealogy and found three or four ancestors connected to the Revolutionary War. After his brother joined the organization in West Virginia, Hannah soon followed suit in Alabama.
During his time with the organization, he has served in a number of leadership roles including secretary, Vice
President, and President from 2021-2022 for the Tennessee Valley Chapter. He also served as secretary at the state level, and currently, he serves as Vice President for the state. He is expected to serve as state president starting in the spring of next year.
His volunteer work with the SAR began in the local schools, teaching history to the younger generations.
“I was first of all encouraged by a lot of their programs in schools supporting history and patriotism and education, which is our core principles of what we work with the SAR and especially getting kids back to learning about history again,” said Hannah.
Today, he continues his work to pass on history with his cemetery restoration efforts.
“During my presidency of the chapter is when I really got involved in wanting to do these grave markings and recognizing our patriots who participated in the Revolu-
Benny Hannah has recently been working on rehabilitating the Gray Cemetery off of Balch Road in Madison.
tionary War. We have a lot who flowed through this area. Some stayed and passed away here. Some went on to Arkansas [and] Texas,” said Hannah.
His interest in cemetery work began when he encountered SAR members from New York who were doing cemetery restoration and securing historical markers for Revolutionary War veterans in their state. Hannah saw it as a great project to bring to the many historic cemeteries in Alabama. His work now includes restoring entire cemeteries and erecting historical markers for Revolutionary War veterans buried there.
Hannah works with a group of about forty volunteers to clear debris from overgrown cemeteries, restore and clean headstones, and maintain the sites. The work is not always easy. It is often physically demanding, from dodging brush and stumps to lifting heavy headstones and box tombs.
“Actually, my wife took an old pair of blue jeans and cut the legs off and put elastic in it to go over my arms because I kept coming home with all these cuts and bruises and bleeding from my arms from the briars, and
she says, ‘You got to do a little better job protecting yourself,’” laughed Hannah.
Many of the cemeteries he works on are hundreds of years old and former family cemeteries or defunct church cemeteries that have been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. With the population growth in North Alabama currently, many cemeteries are endangered by the encroachment of new developments as was the case with one cemetery in Meridianville that was unknowingly damaged by construction crews of a new subdivision.
Hannah and his volunteers use what they have to clean up these historic cemeteries and when their own axes and strength aren’t enough, Hannah has found help in local leaders, as in the case of the Crawford-Ryan cemetery in Morgan County. When one particular tree was too large for Hannah and his volunteers to handle, state Senator Arthur Orr secured them a $1,500 grant to contract a tree removal company.
Accessing cemeteries is another challenge Hannah faces, as a cemetery he recently worked on in Decatur demonstrates. The positioning of the cemetery between
The Gray Cemetery has one patriot from the American Revolution buried there, John Gray (above, next to the grave of his wife, Eleanor, which is pictured on page 55). Hannah suspects there could be another two patriots in the cemetery.
locking of the gates to the cemetery made it difficult for Hannah and the public to regularly access.
Locating these cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried in the first place is challenge in and of itself, and then confirming that a patriot is buried there can be another challenge.
Hannah and the SAR partners with The William G. Pomeroy Foundation who supplies the $1,500-historical markers for the patriots, but the Pomeroy Foundation has a few requirements in order to acquire a marker. One of those is confirmation either through records or an original headstone that the patriot is in fact buried there.
With many cemeteries in bad shape with broken and missing headstones and records sometimes scarce, confirming a veteran’s burial can be difficult, but Hannah has another group of volunteers dedicated to researching for confirming evidence.
Once the veteran is confirmed and the cemetery restored, the historical marker is erected and then unveiled
often DAR representatives. Hannah even reaches out to descendants of the patriots and some make trips from all over the country to attend the ceremony and visit the gravesite.
The Gray Cemetery right here in Madison is one of Hannah’s current projects and where a celebratory ceremony will soon be taking place. The Gray Cemetery is located off of Balch Road near the Gillespie Road intersection. It was formerly used by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church that sat on the property until the late 1920s.
So far one patriot, John Gray, has been confirmed to be buried there, and Hannah suspects there could be another two patriots.
The cemetery, which is one of the largest Hannah has worked on at almost two acres, has been three years’ work so far, and Hannah has partnered with local historian and volunteer cemetery restorer John Rankin to clean, restore, and maintain the cemetery.
McCartney Campbell, local Boy Scout is working on his Eagle Scout project ar the Gray Cemetery by building a bridge for foot traffic to cross a gap on the way from the planned adjacent parking area to the cemetery.
One of the fallen tombstones at the Gray Cemetery that will soon be restored.
Tennessee Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution also honored the grave marking for John Amonett, a Revolutionary
Patriot, in May. Four groups came together to celebrate and mark this special Patriot: Huntsville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Descendents of George Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, Children of the American Revolution and the Tennessee
Chapter SAR. The event was supported by the Alabama State
and the TVC Color
The Tennessee Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution recently gathered at the Russell Cemetery in Somerville to unveil the new Pomeroy Patriot Burials Historic Roadside marker. The marker identifies Revolutionary War Patriot Electious Thompson, who is buried at the cemetery.
War
Valley
Honor Guard
Guard.
The Gray cemetery presents its own challenges to restoration. To start, it is boxed in on all sides by a neighborhood, a storage unit facility, and a wooded area, making it difficult for the public to access and for Hannah and his team to remove the cleared debris from the cemetery.
“This particular cemetery has been a real bear because first of all, typically, when we’re cleaning a cemetery, we’ve got some place that we can drag all the brush and the trees and the bushes and the briars but this particular cemetery is all boxed in except for the south end which is opened up into kind of a swampy area. So, we started making all these piles of debris within the cemetery,”
Hannah explained.
The south end of the grounds also contains a former dirt road that was once used by wagons to bring coffins to the church and cemetery. The road now forms a deep gulley that cuts across the land, presenting another potential danger and obstacle to easy access.
Public access is another one of the Pomeroy Foundation’s criteria in order to supply a historical marker, and thus, a major concern of Hannah’s when renovating cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried.
Fortunately, Hannah is working on solutions for the Gray cemetery. The city is currently building a paved road through the wooded area on the far south end of the cemetery to access their nearby water treatment plant
but the road will also double as a public access point to the cemetery and a small parking lot planned for the road will additionally make public access even easier. As for the former road and current gully, a local Boy Scout plans to earn his Eagle Scout badge by building a bridge for foot traffic to cross the gap on the way from the parking area to the cemetery.
Restoration of the Gray Cemetery is ongoing, and Hannah plans to map the cemetery and register it with the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance. He also plans to apply for a historical marker for the cemetery and hold an SAR ceremony for the patriot, John Gray, there as soon as the city’s road is finished and public access has been established.
“Basically, when we find a patriot in the cemetery, we’re not going to just clean up the area around where the patriot is. If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right. We’ll clean up the whole cemetery,” explained Hannah.
So far, Hannah has acquired seven historical markers for the state of Alabama.
For his efforts, the SAR’s sister organization, the DAR, has presented Hannah with three awards including the America 250 medal and the Hannah White Arnett Medal, presented by the regent of state.
The work is important to him because of the signifi-
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cance of the sacrifices these early patriots made to found our country. He recalls being hit by the importance of this work upon finding a stone in one cemetery he was clearing that read, ‘Lost but not forgotten’.
“That really just broke my heart to see something like that and knowing that we have so many people in these early days who sacrificed so much and especially in taking a stand for our country and being able to start and develop such a nation as we have today. I think it’s only fair that we search out those individuals and give them some of the honor that they deserve,” recalled Hannah.
He plans to keep going for a long time: “I’ve pretty much just set a personal goal that as long as I’m able to get out there and clean up these cemeteries, rebuild their headstones and place markers on their graves and have ceremonies to recognize these folks, I’m going to do it as long as I can, as long as I’m able.”
The Tennessee Valley Chapter is one of the leading chapters in the country in cemetery restoration. Hannah hopes to get other chapters interested in doing the same thing in their areas. He also hopes to cover all the veterans in North Alabama and then bring more cemeteries back to life throughout the entire state.
Hannah is always looking for more volunteers to join him and posts regular updates on his projects on Facebook.
STORIES BEHIND THE STARS
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). Over 6,300 Alabamians paid the price of freedom in World War II. A small team of volunteers has researched and written stories of over 5,300 service members from Alabama who did not come home from the war and hope to have all completed by the end of the year. We are featuring some of the stories of those from Madison County in each issue of Madison Living Magazine through the end of the year. Check out “Remembering
on Facebook for more.
Pvt Buford D Byrom, 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division
PPvt Buford D Byrom was born and raised in Madison County. He served in the 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division and was killed in action on January 19, 1945 in Germany. He was 21 years old.
Buford Danial Byrom was born July 9, 1923 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama to Benjamin Thomas Byrom and Mamie Alma (Cole) Byrom. His parents were both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a clerk in a grocery store and as a collector. Buford had two younger sisters and a younger brother. In 1940, Buford was living with his family on 11th Avenue in Huntsville.
When Buford was inducted into the US Army on 26 January 1943 he had been working as a gas station attendant. He entered the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) at Texas A&M University and upon
completion of training would have been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. However, by February 1944 it was evident that more infantrymen would be needed for the invasion of Europe and the ASTP was drastically reduced with many participants transferred as privates to infantry units. Buford apparently was transferred to the 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division, known as “The Hellcats”. The 12th AD was
The 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division, known as “The Hellcats” experienced fierce fighting around the town of Herrlisheim, France in 1945. Once of the casualties was Pvt. Buford D. Byrom of Huntsville.
Alabama WWII Fallen”
activated on 15 September 1942 and trained at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, and Camp Barkeley in Abilene, Texas. The division consisted of three battalions each of tanks, armored infantry, and self-propelled artillery. The armored infantry was fully equipped with M2 and M3 halftracks.
The 12th AD departed the States for the European Theater on 20 September 1944 and arrived at Liverpool, England on 2 October 1944. The Hellcats landed at Le Havre, France, on 11 November 1944 and then joined the US Seventh Army at Rouen. Over the next weeks, the division advanced across France towards the German border, liberating the towns of Rohrbachlès-Bitche and Bettviller by 12 December 1944, and Utweiler, Germany on 21 December 1944. The area in which the division operated in December and January 1944 was a wet, cold quagmire of mud, rain, and snow.
The new year of 1945 began with a German counteroffensive, known as Operation Nordwind. The German plan was to strike in Alsace and force an American withdrawal, split the Seventh Army, and get behind
Patton’s Third Army, disrupting the entire Allied line.
Elements of the Hellcats were tasked to eliminate a German bridgehead near the town of Herrlisheim on the west bank of the Rhine River, which they attacked on 9 January 1945.
Over the next several days both sides suffered heavy casualties in the house to house fighting. On 18 January 1945, Private Byrom and the rest of Company B were part of an abortive attack on Herrlisheim to try to reach any survivors who might be in town. Private Byrom was killed in action on 19 January 1945, likely during this attack or a German counterattack. A few days later the Germans decided that they had no chance to break through the Seventh Army and called off their Nordwind offensive.
Buford Danial Byrom was initially buried in France and was reinterred in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama in April 1948. He is also memorialized at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial.
Thank you Private Byrom for your service and your sacrifice, you will not be forgotten.
HAVE FUN BEATING THE HEAT
There is plenty to see and do this month at the Cook Museum of Natural Science...and their air conditioning works great!
STORY BY JOHN FEW
WWhile putting this issue of Madison Living Magazine together, I am glad to be inside “chained” to my computer under the comfort of air conditioning. The National Weather Service said to expect heat indices up to 109 degrees. That means one thing for me -- I’m staying indoors as much as possible. Fortunately, for those summer fun seekers, the dangerous heat forecast does not need to put a cool spell on their enjoyment. The Tennessee Valley is home to several amazing inside attractions. One of those is just a “hop, skip and a jump” away from Madison, in neighboring Decatur - the Cook Museum of National Science.
More than a decade ago, a plan to replace Cook’s Pest Control’s small bug museum gradually blossomed into a vision that became tangible five years ago with the opening of the Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur.
Since then, almost 410,000 visitors have seen a chuckwalla, an eastern indigo snake, a Mexican alligator lizard and many other live animals and other exhibits at the museum on Fourth Avenue Northeast.
The nonprofit Cook Museum of Natural Science, which opened June 7, 2019, celebrated its fifth anniversary last month.
The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state-ofthe-art natural science museum. It provides a handson, immersive experience where kids and adults can explore, interact with, and learn about nature. “Families leave the Cook Museum feeling fulfilled by their time together and inspired by the things they saw and learned,” said Joy Harris with Cook Museum. “It truly is an amazing experience for families and children of all ages!”
Cook Museum Executive Director Scott Mayo said the museum features North American species and gives visitors a chance to get close to the bugs, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
“I grew up in the panhandle of Florida where if it rains a baby alligator will be found in a mud puddle,” Mayo said. “We have two alligators here, and it amazes me how many people here have never seen a live alligator.”
Harris said the museum has some special events planned in July. On Saturday, July 13, Cook will host two events: Rocks Rock! Fun Day and Member Appreciation Day.
The Rocks Rock! Fun Day will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. During the event, guests can travel through the exhibits to collect a set of six Rocks and Minerals Collectible Cards. A new rock-themed “Science on the Spot” will be unveiled at the event, and guests can participate in a rock sorting and testing activity. They can round out your visit by mining gemstones at the museum’s Mining Co. to see what rocks they discover at the Mining Sluice. More information about the Mining Co. can be found at www.cookmuseum.org/mining.
At the same time, the Cook Museum will celebrate its fifth year anniversary during the 2024 Member Appreciation Day. “There will be special activities, a craft, and a light snack,” Harris said. “There will be two onsite giveaways members can enter.”
Members will get a special 50% off discount on mining bags to use at the Museum’s Mining Sluice.
Harris said the museum will have a “Sensory Friendly Day” on Sunday, July 21, and a “Day of Play” on Friday, July 26.
During the “Day of Play”, individuals and families
are welcome to come and try their hands at a variety of games and activities. They can use their wits to see how fast they can put together the puzzles. There will be Magna-Tiles® to build with, tea party sets, inflatable bowling, and more.
About Cook Museum of Natural Science
John Cook Sr., the founder of Cook’s Pest Control, opened the museum’s predecessor in 1980. It welcomed over 750,000 guests to view its collection of insects, rocks, minerals, seashells, coral, and more before it closed in 2016. The Cook family decided to reinvent the museum with interactive, engaging, and hands-on experiences. The new museum opened in June 2019.
The museum has a large variety of live animals including many different species of saltwater fish, live coral, moon jellyfish, and numerous species of freshwater turtles and fish. Their terrariums house snakes, turtles, alligators, and more, and their Wonderful World of Insects exhibit is home to various kinds of terrestrial and aquatic insects.
They have a number of interesting and education-
al exhibits to give guests a closer look at some of the amazing creatures and environments in nature. Many of the exhibits include interactive activities, such as a meteorite from outer space, digital seashell generator, kinetic sand table, and a tree with a rope bridge to climb.
Nature’s Table serves up fresh, tasty food for dining in, carry-out, and catering. Located inside the Cook Museum, Nature’s Table is open to the general public without an admission ticket. Patrons can enjoy healthy wraps, sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, smoothies, coffee, and more, all made to order with the freshest ingredients.
For more information about Cook Museum, its many exhibits and events, go to www.cookmuseum.org. The museum is located at 133 4th Ave. NE in Decatur.
Cook Museum Mining Company
DINING
DELICIOUS!
Mouth-watering King Crab Legs, along with summer cocktails, make a return to Tom Brown’s lineup
SSummer is here and that means the scrumptious return of King Crab Legs to Tom Brown’s Restaurant. “It is the return everyone’s been eagerly awaiting,” Whitney Pritchett, Marketing Coordinator for Tom Brown’s explained. “Our succulent, one-pound King Crab Legs are finally back.” Juicy, tender, and impressively large, these crab legs are sure to satisfy anyone’s seafood cravings, she said.
It’s not the only menu item that has changed this summer. Tom Brown’s Summer Cocktail Menu has also
returned. Described as a refreshing journey through the vibrant tastes of summer, the summer cocktail menu has been crafted exclusively by Tom Brown’s talented bartending team. “Each cocktail is a masterpiece, blending the essence of summer with a touch of creativity. From the zesty notes of citrus to sweet berries, our summer cocktails bring the sunshine and joy of the season to every sip,” Pritchett said.
As always, Tom Brown’s only uses the highest quality ingredients. Their syrups, purees, and garnishes are
all house-made. “Each summer cocktail is bursting with flavor,” she added.
If you haven’t heard of Tom Brown’s Restaurant, you may be one of the few. The wildly popular restaurant has taken Madison and all of North Alabama by storm for the last four years, and Tom Brown’s has certainly stolen the hearts of North Alabamians for good reason. A meal there is not just food on a plate. It is an experience.
An array of factors mixed perfectly together are responsible for the signature Tom Brown’s experience, but the real driving forces behind it are the people of Tom Brown’s. Tom and Ashley Brown are the fearless leaders of the Tom Brown family.
“Our mission is to provide the Huntsville and Madison area with premium steak and seafood options in a unique, relaxed atmosphere,” Ashley Brown said “Our recipes are made from scratch at Tom Brown’s and only use the finest ingredients. From our delicious meals, extraordinary atmosphere, and staff’s southern hospitality, you will feel right at home while you make memories
that will last a lifetime.”
The sourcing of the ingredients is crucial to achieving the level of quality and consistency, for which, they strive. After diving into research and experiencing some trial and error, the Browns intentionally selected a family-owned and trusted farm to supply consistent quality meat for their popular ribeye steaks, filet mignons, and more. The seafood for dishes like their scallops and redfish too is all intentionally sourced from a local fisher and a local market.
“We really did some digging on our meats, and what’s cool about our meat is all of our meat comes from the same exact farm. So, it’s the same exact vendor, exclusive to us in North Alabama. They’re not going to sell to anyone else in North Alabama, or in Alabama period, and so, every cow’s fed exactly the same. Everything is exactly the same. So, it’s consistent across the board,” Brown explained.
Each steak is wet-aged for a minimum of 21 days, and every steak is hand-cut by the Town Brown’s staff.
Tom Brown’s has fresh, never frozen fish flown in
Tom Tom’s Old Fashioned
each week. Yes, you read that correctly. They fly their fish in weekly. “Our fresh fish comes from as far as the waters off of the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii,” Brown said.
Pritchett summed up the very human inspiration behind the restaurant’s origin and that continues to fuel it today, “As a family we always eat. We bond over Tom’s cooking. We bond at the dining table where my mom has her beautiful décor. What we enjoy, food and family and a beautiful environment, we’re bringing that to you, and you can always enjoy the beautiful scenery and experience and the food, but it’s coming from a place of love, and it was born out of us making memories as a family.”
Tom Brown’s Restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 8pm and 4pm to 9pm Friday and Saturday at Hays Farm in South Huntsville and The Shoppes of Madison.
For more about Tom Brown’s Restaurant, go to www.tombrownsrestaurant.com, and see their ad on page 9.
Lemon Drop Martini
RECIPES
“We all scream for homemade ice cream!”
TTo celebrate July being National Ice Cream Month, I thought it was fitting to search for a couple of homemade ice cream recipes to include in this issue of Madison Living Magazine. I came across this one from Premier Protein. It uses their high protein shakes as an ingredient. They can be found in area grocery stores, including WalMart. You can find find more of their recipes at PremierProtein.com.
Peanut Butter Jelly Ice Cream
Servings: 12
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup Premier Protein Strawberries & Cream Protein Shake
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry jelly
In large, heavy saucepan, heat milk, protein shake, brown sugar and salt until bubbles form around sides of pan. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg. Return to pan, whisking constantly.
Cook and stir over low heat until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon. Remove from heat, whisk in peanut butter. Quickly transfer to bowl; place in ice water
and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in cream and vanilla. Press wax paper onto surface of custard. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer 2/3 full; freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.
When ice cream is frozen, spoon into freezer container, layering with jelly; freeze 2-4 hours before serving.
Chocolate Ice Cream with “Caramel” Sauce
Recipe courtesy of “Chelsea’s Messy Apron”
Servings: 8
1 large sweet potato
1 bag (10 ounces) dark chocolate chips, plus additional for topping (optional)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 Premier Protein Chocolate Protein Shake “Caramel” Sauce:
3 tablespoons coconut oil (measured when solid)
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 -1/2 tablespoons almond butter
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Wash and scrub sweet potato. Pierce with fork several times. Place on microwave-safe plate and microwave 5 minutes; flip and microwave 5 minutes. Allow it to cool.
In microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips in 20-second increments, stirring between each increment until smooth and melted. Set it aside.
Remove sweet potato skin and thoroughly mash. Pack into 3/4 cup measuring cup. Place in large blender.
Add melted chocolate to blender along with vanilla, sea salt, coconut sugar and chocolate protein shake.
Place lid on blender and blend on high for at least 1 minute, or until ingredients are smooth and incorporated.
Transfer to ice cream maker and prepare according to manufacturer’s directions then transfer to airtight container and freeze 2-3 hours.
To make “caramel” sauce: In microwave-safe bowl, microwave coconut oil and syrup 30 seconds. Stir and microwave 30 seconds, or until melted and smooth. Stir in almond butter and whisk until smooth. Add sea salt and vanilla extract; whisk to combine.
Set “caramel” sauce aside at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Top ice cream with sauce and additional chocolate chips, if desired.
SARAH GAYLE’S LEGACY
Two families. Two tragedies. One big cause.
STORY BY ERIN COGGINS
IIn November of 2021, Brandon and Meredith Gibbs held their 17-month-old daughter, Sarah Gayle, as she gained her angel wings. In just an instant, their world forever changed, and they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their days carrying on Sarah Gayle’s legacy.
Knowing Brandon, Chad Whitworth and his wife, Kelley reached out to the Gibbs family to offer what comfort they could. They knew the hurt of losing a child. Their son, Wells, was stillborn.
“We wanted the Gibbs’ to have someone to reach out to. Chad wanted Brandon to know he was there, and likewise, I wanted Meredith to have someone she could reach out to if she needed to,” Kelley said.
To keep Well’s memory alive, the Whitworths’ created the Wells Clayton Whitworth Memorial Foundation in 2019 in order to help families that experience the loss of a child outside of the hospital. In 2021, their Foundation dedicated their annual Pheasant Shoot fundraiser in Sarah Gayle’s memory.
“We wanted to do something special for them and we knew that it helped us to see Wells’ name. As a parent, you worry that people will forget your child. Seeing
others remember your little one is really special,” Kelley said. “Since Sarah Gayle has passed away, we have become close to the Gibbs family. We are just connected in a way that is hard to describe. There is just so much understanding. Our situations are different, but we understand each other.”
The Gibbs appreciated the support the Whitworths’ provided and understanding the need to help others who have lost a child led to the creation of the Sarah Gayle Gibbs Foundation. Through their annual Clay Shoot, held every May, the Foundation has donated over $100,000 to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation for the Pediatric Intensive Care Center. This year, in addition to their monetary donation, they were able to donate gift cards for patient family care. The Foundation also provides care bags that include a few comfort items, as well as a way to get in touch with the Gibbs, for those families who find themselves in the PICU.
“When we were in the hospital with Sarah Gayle, we were fortunate that we were able to be with her every day. We had family close by that helped with our other two children and jobs that we were able to step away
Brandon and Meredith Gibbs with their children Grant and Brewer
from without causing a disruption of income,” Meredith said. “This, however, is not the case for everyone. We learned this quickly by noticing that there were small children in rooms around us by themselves. It broke our hearts.”
Like the Sarah Gayle Gibbs Foundation, the Wells Clayton Whitworth Memorial Foundation has given back. The Foundation has grown to assist 12 area hospitals and numerous funeral homes. They have raised over $500,000 to date and helped more than 325 families with expenses such as burial, cremation, plots, head-
stones and grief counseling.
“We have also been able to purchase cooling tables at several hospitals which allows the family more time with their child while in the hospital,” Kelley said.
Now, the two families and Foundations are teaming up for a joint fundraiser. The Foundations’ Southern Social will be held Thursday, Aug. 22 at Mars Music Hall. The concert, Kelley’s idea, will feature ‘90s country cover artist Josh Weathers along with Julianna Rankin as the opening act.
“Our pheasant shoot is very limited in the number
The Whitworth Family
of people who can attend. It is also limited to hunters and people who enjoy those types of outdoor sporting events. So, we wanted to do something that would reach a broader audience, while still being something that we enjoy,” Kelley said.
To properly coordinate the event, the families have been working with Chris Hendley from the Hendley Group. They searched social media for the perfect artist which is how Kelley found Weathers and fell in love with his style.
“Juliana Rankin, who is the opening artist, was suggested by my dad. He had met her at The Princess in Decatur and thought she would be a good fit for what we were envisioning,” Meredith said. “It is important to us that tickets remain reasonable, but still bring in a profit, as we are raising money for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.”
The Gibbs consider the nurses and doctors who took care of Sarah Gayle in the PICU family. Sarah Gayle spent 12 days in PICU in May 2021 after being diagnosed with a febrile seizure. Just six months later, another seizure landed her back in the PICU where the
Gibbs held her for the last time.
“They made sure that they explained everything to us in a way that we could understand. They made sure that we were taking care of ourselves while they took care of Sarah Gayle,” Meredith said. “They have continued to support us in the years since. Every single person in the unit from the doctors to the janitors is an angel on earth.”
The PICU recently dedicated a room in honor of Sarah Gayle on her birthday, May 29. After revealing the plaque with her name on it, the nurses opened the curtain of “her room” to a birthday party that they had planned, complete with a cake and a banner that included her signature bow and ponytail.”
“Seeing the plaque with Sarah Gayle’s name on it in a place that means so much to us was very bittersweet. We are devastated that our girl isn’t here,” Meredith said. “We are also proud of the difference that she is making in the lives of other families who find themselves with critically ill children.”
Like the Gibbs’, the Whitworths’ feel indebted to the nurses and doctors at the Huntsville Hospital NICU.
Kelley had an ultrasound visit just three days before her scheduled c-section to deliver Wells and everything looked great. But the morning they were prepping her for surgery, they were unable to detect Wells’ heartbeat. An ultrasound confirmed he had passed away.
“We were devastated. We delivered Wells and he was 7lbs, 13 ounces, a beautiful baby boy. He looked so much like his older brother, Miller, with a little dimple in his chin,” Kelley said. “We do not have an answer to what caused Wells to pass away. In most stillbirth cases, about 40-50% remain unexplained. We were so thankful to my doctor and the nurses at Huntsville Hospital that did their best to comfort us during our time there. They were some of the only people to meet Wells, other than our family. We will forever be connected to them.”
The Whitworths experienced the same bittersweet moment as the Gibbs’ family when Huntsville Hospital NICU named a room in Wells’ honor. They delivered their third son, Tuck, in Wells’ room.
“This is such a huge honor for us and a wonderful reminder of how many people came to love and support us in those early days after losing Wells,” Kelley said.
“We have had numerous friends send us pictures of their newborns being born in Wells’ room and that really brings us joy.”
Meredith and Brandon remember their baby girl as one who radiated pure joy. She was her brother’s biggest fan and her sister’s best friend. And as they realized immediately on that dark day in November 2021, they are committed to spending the rest of their lives carrying on Sarah Gayle’s legacy.
“Losing a child is very isolating. It is an out of body experience to see everyone else’s world keep spinning when yours has stopped. I vividly remember the days following Sarah Gayle’s funeral when people around us were going back to work. I couldn’t comprehend how things were going back to ‘normal’ when our normal was so uprooted,” Meredith said. “The biggest thing that we want families who have lost a child to know is that they are not alone. It is not a club that we would wish on our worst enemy, but it is one that is filled with people who are willing to support others.”
Tickets to the Foundations’ Southern Social are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
Kelley and Chad Whitworth with Meredith and Brandon Gibbs.
MADISON CITY SCHOOLS
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
The unseen heroes of the halls
...
By Madeline Shaw
For Madison City Schools Public Relations
MMadison City Schools not only wants to provide the best learning environment for students but also a safe environment. One of the many ways that Madison City Schools continue to ensure safety for their students is through partnership with the Madison Police Department.
Madison City Schools superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols explained he believes “School Resource Officers help show a good partnership with the schools and city as a whole. Having the ability to have School Resource Officers for our district helps show that Madison is a city focused on the safety of students.”
Madison City Schools has been able to have a great relationship with the Police Department and this has allowed the
schools to have Schools Resource Officers (SRO) available at every Madison City School. The School Resource Officers are certified law enforcement officers that are hired by Madison City Schools to patrol each elementary, middle, and high school throughout the year. The school resource officers help partner with each individual school to help provide the best safety for each school, they also help bring awareness through a curriculum to help educate children about drug and alcohol abuse.
By the end of every school year officers are more than a police officer when they become a SRO at the schools, they become a friend. The SRO at each school strives to create a relationship between
the children at each school to help build a trusting relationship and a reliable adult that they can come to if the children ever need help with anything.
One of the many ways that the SRO’s and overall community of city officials help the children of Madison City Schools have a healthy relationship with their local police officers is through a kids camp that is held by the Madison City School resource Officers.
The School Resource Officer Camp is put on by the nonprofit Madison Police Foundation, and the camp is run by all the Madison City School Resource officers. The kids camp is for any upcoming rising sixth graders and it’s a week-long camp that teaches the kids all about what the police department provides to the community through their work, allowing children to have a better understanding of their role in the community.
Each day of the camp offers something different that helps each kid have the absolute best experience. Kids are able to tour City Hall, Madison Police and Fire Department, hear from the local Madison City SWAT, see a K9 Demonstration, and much more. There is also a day when the state troopers, Medical Air Evac, and Madison Police and Fire Department are able to come and teach the kids about their jobs. The camp is very thankful for the donation of each individual’s time to come to each of the three camps and educate each group.
The camp is offered for three different weeks and this summer they have had 210 kids attend this year’s camp. Throughout the week the kids not only get to make new friends but also build a lasting relationship with the school resource officers that they will know as they continue to grow up in the Madison City School system.
Photos from the recent Madison Police Foundation School Resource Officer Camp.
MADISON CITY SCHOOLS
Here are more fun photos from the recent Madison Police Foundation School Resource Officer Camp.
Hope, Heal, Home
Lee Marshall Founder / CEO Kids to Love Foundation Kidstolove.org ...
TThere is a special spirit in the air at Davidson Farms. It’s a place of peace, a picture of our commitment to young ladies in foster care: Hope, Heal, Home.
The people who care for our girls at the Farm are second to none, and among them is a special mentor for the young ladies who live at The Whitaker Cottage Community. The cottages are a place for those who have aged out of the foster care system to live while they begin a career or continue their education. Judiece Oliphant, a former foster youth herself, can relate to their season of life and is there to guide them.
“When you’re uncertain about what’s next it’s hard to be yourself and think about what you want next,” Judiece says.
Judiece is like a big sister, a listening ear and encouraging voice to walk with them through
day-to-day life.
“Some days I am helping the girls with their homework. Some days I am in the kitchen with them cooking,” Judiece says. “They’re learning budgeting, shopping, and setting appointments.”
Foster youth rarely have a parent or adult to help them launch into adult life. Judiece builds relationships with the girls to understand their unique challenges and hopes.
“There’s so many different aspects to being here that I feel like feed each individual girl and it can look different from girl to girl,” she says. “I just want to see them grow and happy.”
You can help Judiece and the rest of our team make an impact. A monthly gift through our Promise Partners campaign is a great way to become involved. Learn more at kidstolove.org.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO
A family vacation destination
STORY BY TERESA GIBBS
NNestled at the southernmost point of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, is an amazing destination that beckons travelers to unwind and soak up the sun’s warm embrace. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is renowned for its year-round warm weather and breathtaking landscapes. It’s a land where the mountains meet the desert, and the desert meets the seashore.
Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s premier tourist destinations and is home to some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, outstanding spas, award-winning restaurants, and top ranked golf courses.
A plane ride from Huntsville, Alabama will deliver you to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico and from there, a scenic 45-minute ride via taxi, shuttle, or rental car will have you in Cabo San Lucas – often referred to as simply Cabo.
A couple of years ago, my husband and I took a trip to La Paz located two hours north of Cabo. That trip left us wanting to return to the amazing Baja California Peninsula - so we did! This time we went to Cabo and our family went with us.
We had several activities planned for having fun in
Cabo, but we also had two rental cars lined up - giving us access to other nearby towns and activities. When we arrived at the airport, the Los Cabos Family Rental Car Company had a team member waiting to pick us up. He took us to their office where our cars were parked, gassed up, and ready to go. We especially appreciated that the price was exactly as quoted via email when booking the car. They made what can sometimes be a time-consuming ordeal easy and had us ready to hit the road in no time.
Before exploring, we were anxious to discover what our all-inclusive, family resort had to offer.
We arrived at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas where we were greeted, given a map of the resort and escorted to our gorgeous Ocean Front Suites. Each room had a stocked bar and a small refrigerator filled with sodas and bottled water. On the table in the sitting area, was a welcome note, a bottle of wine, and a fruit and cheese tray.
On the other side of the room, through a wall of glass doors, was a view greater than anything I could have envisioned. While the white sandy beach and sparkling em-
erald waters were breathtaking, the view of an enormous rock formation that stood grandly looming over the waters took me by surprise.
Cabo’s famous “Arch,” also known as “El Arco,” is a distinctive granitic rock formation that towers three stories above the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes. Whether on a glass-bottom boat ride, water taxi, private yacht, or sunset sailing cruise, visiting the Arch is a must-do. Not only will you experience views of the Arch, but depending on the time of year, you’ll have a great chance of encountering sea lions, dolphins, and/or migrating whales.
Cabo is considered the fishing capital of the world. It is famous for its Striped Marlin and is known for various fishing tournaments. Deep-sea fishing charters can be booked at the marina and will take you to waters where you’re sure to catch more and bigger fish than you can imagine.
Several tour companies offer boat rides and other activities that leave from the Cabo San Lucas Marina. You can also book a kayak, snorkeling, paddle boarding, or scuba diving tour at the RIU tour desk or catch a ride right from the beach near the resort.
Before booking a tour, I convinced my family to sit and
enjoy the stunning view from our private balcony. As we stepped out the door, we noticed the aroma of grilled food wafting through the air which drew our attention to the barbecue being served below us. We had not eaten since our early morning airline pretzels and realized we were hungry. We probably could have followed our noses, but with the aid of our map, we found hot, sizzling food being grilled-up and served-up poolside.
Along with the daily poolside barbeque, the resort serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets. A trio of specialty restaurants serve Mexican, Indian, and Japanese cuisines. The resort caters to younger guests with an extensive selection of children’s fare.
My granddaughters had the resort’s layout figured out in record time and quickly discovered RIU’s Splash Water World and its exciting waterslides. My grandson didn’t meet the age limit for the waterpark but discovered the Kids Club and headed in that direction.
The guys were lounging by the pool and taking full advantage of being pampered. A wait staff member can always be found close by offering guests refreshing beverages. While the guys and grands were all having a great time, my daughters and I made our way to the Renovo Spa to check out the beauty treatments.
¬With all-you-can-eat buffets offering mounds of scrumptious food, we were happy to have access to a gym - if you know what I mean. We especially enjoyed the treadmills facing the ocean. For fun outdoor exercise, some of our group joined the RIU Fit program, and others played a few games of pickleball.
At night the excitement transitioned into a mixture of live music and themed dance shows. The nightly shows were very well done, and the grandchildren especially liked them since it meant staying up late with the grownups.
Our last night we visited Cabo’s historic downtown and marina – it’s a short, inexpensive taxi ride away where you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants. Since we had rental cars, we drove, but had a hard time finding parking, therefore I suggest taking a cab. After visiting a few stores in the downtown area, we made our way to the marina where we took our time strolling along the historic boardwalk past local fishermen’s pangas, impressive charter boats, and magnificent yachts. The grandchildren enjoyed shopping in the local souvenir shops where they found special treasures and keepsakes.
Before we knew it our time in Cabo had come to an end. We felt blessed to be able to visit such a beautiful country and all agreed that our trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was another fabulous family adventure for the books.
