Madison Living - June 2019

Safe swimming this summer • Blue Pants Brewery • Dale Palmer • Chamber Connections

MADISON Living June 2019 | $4.95 madisonlivingmagazine.com

A family

MATTER Sisters put family first and business second

Building

dreams Discovery’s new theatre production program shows plenty of promise

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From the editor

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My favorite part of putting together this magazine every month is the opportunity to share the stories of Madison people and their most deeply-held passions. Whatever the topic, I find myself drawn in by their commitment to their craft – their unending interest in the pursuits into which they are pouring their hearts.

For many of the people who are featured in Madison Living, their passion is a sport; for others, it’s their business or their home. No matter what drives them, the common thread seems to be a love for respective interest and a desire to share that love with others.

Turn to page 33 for a feature story on our friends at Discovery Middle School who are working hard to start up the theatre program – they’re a fun group that is radiating the joy of performance art to anyone who sees their productions.

Safe Swimming thiS Summer • Blue PantS Brewery • Dale Palmer • ChamBer ConneCtionS

MADISON LIvINg June 2019 | $4.95 madisonlivingmagazine.com

In this issue, we also feature the folks brewin’ up a storm at Blue Pants; Sparkman Coach Dale Palmer, who recently won his 1,000th game; and twins Renee Tripp Wolde and Christina Tripp Wolde. I might not be a brewer, a superior softball coach or a twin in the real estate business – and you probably aren’t either – but we can still enjoy their stories of the things that drive them.

If you know of any interesting stories we should tell, please let us know. My email “door” is always open.

A fAmily

mATTER SiSterS put family firSt and buSineSS Second

Building

dREAms diScovery’S new theatre production program ShowS plenty of promiSe

ON THE COVER Renee Tripp Wolde and Christina Tripp Wolde are twin sisters who own and operate Twins Realty in Madison.

The pair married brothers and to the Woldes: family comes first.

Photo by Joshua Berry

4 Madison Living

rebekah.martin@madisonlivingmagazine.com

MADISON Living Editorial Rebekah Martin Alison James Contributors Kendyl Hollingsworth Gregg Parker Bob Labbe Robby Parker John Few Joshua Berry Lee Marshall Mayor Paul Finley Marketing Tori Waits Donna Counts Administrative Sierra Jackson

••• CONTACT US Madison Publications, LLC 14 Main St., Suite C P.O. Box 859 Madison, AL 35758 Phone: 256-772-6677 Fax: 256-772-6655 madisonlivingmagazine.com Madison Living is published monthly

by Madison Publications, LLC. A one-year subscription to Madison Living is $24.99 for 12 issues per year.

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

To advertise or to get more copies, call 256-772-6677.

Copyright 2019

by Madison Publications, LLC

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Madison Living 5

23

28 HOME & STYLE 11 A family matter Sisters put family first

and business second

11

FOOD & DRINK

23 A place to wet your whistle Blue Pants Brewery offers

tap room experience

SCHOOL & SPORTS 28 Softball success

Sparkman High coach boasts 1,000 wins

ARTS & CULTURE 33 Building dreams

Discovery’s new theatre production program shows plenty of promise

6 Madison Living

IN EVERY ISSUE: 7 The Guide 10 #MadisonLife 38 Chamber Connections 40 Out & About

the guide

June 15 Water Lantern Festival Big Spring International Park 5-9:30 p.m.

Witness the magic of laterns lighting up the water at this event held all across the country.

Madison Living 7

the guide

Weekly events in Madison

Free GED classes Asbury Farmhouse

Mondays and Wednesdays 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Classes include free childcare and a meal before each class.

Trivia Night

Rocket Republic Brewing Company

Breastfeeding Support Group Madison Hospital

Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

6-8 p.m.

In cooperation with the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Rocket Republic Brewing Company hosts a weekly family-friendly trivia night. Food and drinks are available to purchase, but it’s free to play trivia, and all ages are welcome.

New moms dedicated to breastfeeding can join this weekly support group meeting that offers ongoing support from certified lactation consultants, solutions to common problems, weight checks with infant scales and more.

Madison City Chess League Madison Public Library

Mondays from 6:15-7:45 p.m.

Children in kindergarten through 12th grade who know how to play chess are welcome.

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Madison Farmers Market Trinity Baptist Church

Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon Every Saturday local farmers and artisans bring their fresh produce, meats, cheeses, coffee, flowers, herbs, eggs and handmade items to sell.

the guide

June 3-7

June 17

Baseball Clinic

Tennis Clinic

9 a.m. until noon

Mustang Summer Tennis Clinic is designed to provide fundamental instruction on every aspect of the game.

Instructors will match each child’s ability with similar players to provide an opportunity to focus and improve skills at all experience levels.

Madison Academy

Mustang varsity head coach David Pressley and his staff will lead drills and games, emphasizing offensive and defensive fundamentals of the game. Cost is $150.

Madison Academy

June 8

Bike MS: Rocket City 2019 James Clemens High School 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 8

Family Fun Festival & Expo Von Braun Center 9 a.m. until noon The Family Fun Festival & Expo is filled with free activities, door prizes, giveaways, music, dancing and more. Some of the free activities included are inflatables, face painting, train rides, bumper cars and crafting classes.

June 22

Folk School Workshop June 15

Water Lantern Festival Big Spring International Park 5-9:30 p.m.

Burritt Folk School

Come learn how to make a fun and unique gift. Bring a friend or make new ones while learning new skills from talented instructors. Class size is limited to ensure students receive individualized attention, so sign up early. Cost ranges from $7-100.

Madison Living 9

#MadisonLife Use #madisonlife or tag @Madison_living_mag in your posts on Instagram, and our staff will select four favorites to regram and publish on this page.

@hi__im_amanda

@rodneysmithjr

Beautiful Sabbath with my little munchkins. Definitely needed a rest day from work and all the stress of the week.

Met up with my friend Charlie Boy today.

We had a great time! A lot of bubbles!

@em_n_chlo

@catherinemlanter

I’d tell you what I wished for but then it wouldn’t come true! (hint: it may or may not be about getting more treats)

Had a much-needed break from the weekly routine with my beautiful parents. It was good for my soul!

10 Madison Living

home& style

A family MATTER Sisters put family first and business second Written BY GREGG L. PARKER photographS BY JOSHUA BERRY Madison Living 11

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Renee Tripp Wolde and Christina Tripp Wolde have always considered being a twin as a blessing – a blessing they carried into their careers. “We have always done everything together – so why not form a business together doing what we both love?” Renee said. Renee and Christina founded Twins Realty, which has a new home for sale at 101 Scenic Drive.

12 Madison Living

“Amidst all of Madison’s progress runs the thread of small-town rural America.

Madison feels new but isn’t exclusively new, and 101 Scenic Drive is very much the same way,” Renee said. Directly off Eastview Drive, the property “is poised in a well-established neighborhood atop the hill, offering views of mature hardwood trees as far as the eye can see and even a city view in winter months.”

What’s old is new

The house’s modern farmhouse architectural style easily adapts with the neighborhood. “It looks as ¬¬if it has been there for years,” Renee said. “The home is constructed of solid, poured concrete foundation walls and features cement siding painted in Sherwin-Williams Pearly White and Wilborne brick.”

The large, covered front porch’s stamped concrete resembles old wooden timbers.

Sodded with Bermuda grass, the lawn abounds with evergreen trees and shrubs, azaleas, loropetalum and tree-formed hydrangeas.

With a total of 3,600 square feet, the house has four or five bedrooms and five bathrooms. An oversized four-car garage will please car enthusiasts or families with multiple teenage drivers.

Layout emphasizes versatility

“This home is very family-friendly. The master bedroom is on the main level, and other bedrooms are upstairs. An additional bedroom is downstairs, great for young children,” Renee said. This configuration also fits “a professional couple. While a

larger home, it lives easy due to the rooms’ size and layout.”

The kitchen, Renee said, is exquisite. It might be the favorite room for a chef or an aspiring chef. The kitchen features an abundance of deep drawers and cabinet space with butler’s pantry, high-end Soapstone by Silestone and an entire slab of Calcutta quartz, measuring 2.5 inches thick, for the countertop.

The kitchen and family room have antique solid-pine beams as window headers. Some beams originated in old Huntsville structures.

Madison Living 13

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Stunning all-season views

The two-story fireplace in the family room stands as the bottom floor’s centerpiece, with beautiful hand-stacked stone and vintage mantle. “The view from the two-story wall of windows is magnificent because the home sits on a crest,” Renee said. “The view looks down over the countryside and houses that slope behind.”

A deck extends from the great room, giving a venue to enjoy views of city lights by winter and dense green foliage of mature trees in summer.

The house has 6-inch-wide-plank hardwood floors, except in secondary bedrooms. Timeless and distinctive lighting uses all natural materials for a modern but classic flair. “The wood, stone, tile and marble are stunning,” Renee said.

The master bathroom features hex concrete flooring, which ties in with the shower’s hex tiles. Contrasting with the tile are dark, floating vanities and a claw-foot tub in black cast-iron. The shower has an awning window and wall-mounted Brizo vanity faucets.

Madison Living 15

Family ties

Twins Renee and Christina’s life story is special because they married brothers Nathan Wolde and Danny Wolde. “We married brothers who were also in business together,” Renee said.

“Christina actually met Danny in 2006 because Wolde Flooring was searching

16 Madison Living

for land to build a new building.” Wolde Flooring provided materials for 101 Scenic Drive.

“We pour our hearts and souls into our business and believe in doing everything ‘heartily as unto the Lord,’ (Colossians 3:23),” Renee said. “We all work together right out of the same building and fulfill

our passion of helping sellers achieve their goals and finding buyers the ideal homes for them.”

Christina and Danny are the parents of Ellie Kate and Levi, and they’re currently expecting a baby.”My husband and I consider our babies to be our work, sales and projects,” Renee said.

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Madison Living 17

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Michael Rosenblum: Associate Broker, CRS, MRS, ABR, SFR, CHME

Carey Rosenblum: Broker/Owner, GRI CRS, ABR, MRS, SRES

Rollin’ Down The Tracks

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Rosenblum Realty is a family-owned, fourth-generation business that has served Huntsville, Madison and the north Alabama region for more than 60 years. The Rosenblum family has seen many changes over the years and has had success in “rollin’ down the tracks.”

The “family tracks” started in the 1940s when Tom and Elizabeth Rosenblum both worked in the Lincoln Cotton Mill.

Through this work, the Rosenblums came to know many people in the area and, when the mill closed, Tom decided to venture into the real estate business.

The first builder Tom represented later said having Tom as an agent to sell their homes was a great move and that “everybody liked and trusted Tom.” Tom valued and followed an ethical and proper way of doing business, and he felt committed to serving his clients’ interests.

In a few years his son, Tommy, joined him in the business, and they had many successful real estate transactions together. In the late 60s, Tom passed away, and Tommy, with his wife Barbara, carried on down the family tracks of real estate.

In 1976 Tommy’s son, Carey, joined the business. Tommy had continued his father’s commitment to a high standard of professional ethics, plus he stressed to Carey how important it was to continue professional education. In 1989 when Tommy retired, Carey became the broker for Rosenblum Realty. Carey worked hard to preserve the exemplary reputation of real estate services his father and grandfather had built in the community, and he also expanded the property management track to assist owners seeking professional support and families looking for homes to rent.

Carey and wife, Pamela, have two sons they never assumed would be interested in the real estate business … but sometimes you don’t know where the tracks are going to go. In 2007 their son Michael joined the company and now serves as associate broker and director of the property management division.

“Few people could have predicted the phenomenal growth that would come to our area or what was in store for Madison down the tracks.” Carey reflects on his early career and remembers the very first house he sold was in the city of Madison – a sleepy little town of modest size, just a suburb of Huntsville.

Oh, you never really know what is ahead down the tracks. But if you stay true to your purpose, ethics, training and vision, along with God’s blessing, the tracks can be a pretty smooth ride into the future.

Madison Living 19

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ask the experts

Do you need help making Madison your home?

These leaders in the community, business, finance and real estate have answers to all your questions.

Rosenblum Realty

CUSTOM DESIGN IMPECCABLE QUALITY SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP

Together We

Rosenblum Realty is a fourth-generation, family-owned, professional full-service Real Estate Company that has served Huntsville and the north Alabama region for more than 62 years. We have a proven performance record in assisting individuals, families and investors who want to purchase or sell their homes. We are also very active in the community as a property management and leasing company specializing in the rental of single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums.

The Rosenblum Realty agents have more than 300 years of collective service in the real estate industry! The REALTORS are Mike Archard, Bob Beardsley, Steve Cagle, Leann Cole, Steven Davidson, George Harden, Judy Hardin, Anita Jones, Paula Lindsey, Granville and Karen Logan, Carolyn Love-Rice, Gary Ricketts, Diane Rovere, Carey Rosenblum, Michael Rosenblum, Patti Weaver, Philip and Christina Winburn and Nate Woodall.

Contact us at 256-539-9501 or at www.rosenblumrealty.com.

Let us assist you in finding the home of your dreams!

Latreuo Homes Heather Vader Phone: 256-348-1030 email: Heather@LatreuoHomes.com

Live Beautifully 256.975.5800

www.LatreuoHomes.com

Meet your builder: with decades of experience, Latreuo Homes is dedicated to providing excellent service to our homeowners.

Our specialty is making the build process as easy as possible.

Our comprehensive services include everything from selecting your land, to utilizing our in-house drafting services to design your dream home. We even help you select all your home finishes alongside a professional interior design team. Building your new home is one of the greatest investments you will make in a lifetime. You can now build confidently knowing you are select­ing the team of experts chosen by professionals all over North Alabama to be trusted with the exclusive construction of their homes.

Jan Wells Realtor 12181 County Line Road, Suite 180, Madison, AL 35758 Phone: 256-337-2400; email: jan.wells@knology.net A Madison resident since 1986, Jan has been active in the business and real estate communities as well as city government. Whether chairing committees for the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS, serving as the first President of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, or leading the city as Madison’s Mayor from 2000-2004, Janhas enjoyed meeting the many diverse residents who call Madison home. The experience gained through that service has given her a unique insight into life in Madison. A licensed REALTOR since 1989, Jan now enjoys representing former clients as well as their sons and daughters. That continuity of service is especially gratifying.

Jan says that the trust implied by these referrals is her greatest compliment and the many new friends she continues to meet are the greatest reward.

20 Madison Living

THE SUITE LIFE

Where did I go wrong?

How to avoid losing your way in a decor project

Jenny Mitschelen Full-service interior designer jenny@jennymitschelen.com

256.617.4741

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An all-too-familiar scenario: You visit an impeccably furnished model home, spend hours enticed by Pinterestperfect designs, find inspiration in your latest decor catalog or HGTV, and all the eye candy has you fueled up to transform your tired rooms – but you quickly get lost and end up frustrated.

Here are a few pitfalls to watch out for before you begin.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES When considering copying a design from an image or showroom, keep in mind there is a reason those rooms are so eye-catching. It goes far beyond good coordination of color, great fabrics and furniture. Before the first purchase was made, every detail of that space was planned. Tried-andtrue design principles of scale, balance, harmony and rhythm were incorporated, tape measures were out, sketches were done and natural light was considered for that space – not your space. One design does not fit all.

RANDOM PURCHASES Avoid costly mistakes by avoiding unplanned purchases.

Shopping around town without knowing exactly the size, shape, color and function of a piece is a recipe for frustration. Also, not having a clear idea of how all of those items look and harmonize together will end up costing you more time and money.

FOLLOWING TRENDS Trends are fun, but they don’t last. Proceed with caution and incorporate them in small doses.

Go for style mileage by purchasing classic pieces you will enjoy forever. Additionally, purchase only quality items you really love, and you are likely to have them much longer. Most importantly, your furnishings will have more meaning for you.

LOSING INTEREST A common misconception is that design is easy and getting the rooms you desire requires minimal effort. You begin with excitement and quickly lose interest when you realize how

many details there are to consider. Good design rarely occurs with instant gratification. Be committed to the process.

NOT CLEANING UP FIRST No room will ever make you happy if you allow it to become cluttered and neglect to tidy it up every day. Caring for your home is a form of self-care. Before you decide you are dissatisfied with your interiors, do a deep cleaning. You will not regret the effort, and you will have more clarity in your design decisions.

NOT HIRING A FACE-TO-FACE PRO A good designer will already know all of the above and arrive prepared to manage your project. Covering all the details with efficiency, a designer can help you plan the appropriate investment for your project, educate you on your purchase and plan, plan, plan! You will end up with finished rooms in a timely manner and furnishings that fit your lifestyle and personal taste for many years. Pay for it once; love it forever!

Madison Living 21

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

Redevelopment brings new life to historic downtown

Paul Finley Mayor City of Madison

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As economic development projects boom all around Madison, I would like to highlight our historic downtown district. Our quaint downtown is attracting more foot traffic than ever before with boutique shopping, fitness studios and local eateries such as Old Black Bear offering craft brews fresh from their tap room and Main Street Cafe now open for dinner customers.

Infrastructure improvements to Martin Street, along with additional parking, support the crowds flocking to our city center, especially during Friday night football games at our City Stadium.

22 Madison Living

Now we are thrilled to see The Avenues of Madison project adding to our downtown redevelopment. Once completed, The Avenues of Madison will offer upscale mixed-used development with luxury living, dining and retail options in the heart of the city. Retail space will be surrounded by more than 170 residential apartment units. The project will connect Kyser Road with Shorter Street, creating easy access to Sullivan Street as well. The proposed new road will also include retail parking spaces.

Adjacent to The Avenues development, Homeplace Park will also see major improvements. Updated landscaping,

seating, a performance stage and walking paths neighboring the City Schools Stadium will be useful for events such as Concerts in the Park, as well as the Madison Street Festival. The combination of shopping, living and recreational space will keep more tax dollars and family activities in Madison.

As our downtown center celebrates Madison’s history, residents and visitors can also appreciate modern amenities and growth. While you enjoy your summer activities, we invite you to our historic downtown to support local vendors and witness the prosperity of Madison’s heart and soul.

food&drink

A place to wet your whistle Blue Pants Brewery offers tap room experience Written BY JOHN FEW PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY Madison Living 23

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Nearly 10 years ago, Michael and Allison Spratley took what had previously been a hobby and embarked on a journey that would bring their passion to many others.

Blue Pants Brewery was the first brewery to open in Madison in 2010 after a change in state law allowed Michael to take his hobby and turn it into a business. Today, his many creations are being sold across four states.

“It all got started when Michael liked to be creative at home,” said Michael’s wife Allison. “To start you have to think that whatever you make, is going to be good enough that someone is going to want to buy it. He definitely thought, ‘I can make something that is just as good as what I buy at the store, so let’s go ahead and do it.’ It’s been a labor of love ever since.”

The Spratleys started their business in February 2010 with a small 400-square-foot building Michael dubbed, “Alabama’s smallest brewery.” “We had purchased some refurbished equipment and tried to spend as little as possible,” Allison said. “It was more of a test case.” Nine months later they sold their first beer publicly at The Nook, and from there they kept chugging along.

24 Madison Living

In 2011 Blue Pants Brewery relocated to a 10,000-square-foot converted cotton warehouse on Lanier Drive behind Walmart. The Spratleys added a 15-barrel brew house, two 30-barrel fermenters and a 30-barrel brite tank and began brewing from their new brewery in March 2012.

Guests to the brewery can try the freshest beers straight from the brewery and sample new concoctions at the Blue Pants Taproom, where there are always 13 different beers on tap. “Typically, we will have our year-rounds and our seasonals, and then we will also have small batches of things our brewers are coming up with or trying,” Allison said. Some familiar beers like the Chocolate Oatmeal Porter may be served on a nitro tap to provide a different experience. “They are going to get the freshest beer when they come here. It doesn’t have to sit in a warehouse or travel on a truck or anything like that.”

The favorite? “Our bestseller for the yearround beer is almost a tie between Amber Ale and Chocolate Oatmeal Porter,” Allison said. “With our seasonals, it would be our Pilsner in the spring and our Oktoberfest in the fall. Those have their own devoted fans, just like the various Pinstripes.”

Allison said Blue Pants is constantly focused on bringing in new creative recipes.

“We do a lot of test cases in the tap room,” she said. “We work hard to make sure the beers we distribute to the public, through the stores, restaurants, grocery stores and other places are not just being stagnant.

There are constantly those conversations going on about what beers we are going to make and what is really popular, what are people getting tired of – do people still love IPAs or do they like sours now, or do they want a dark beer? We put all kinds of flavors out there, but at the end of the day, we have to make sure it still tastes good.”

Eighty percent of Blue Pants Brewery’s business is outside distribution, throughout the entire state of Alabama, middle and East Tennessee and the greater Atlanta area. “Our goal has always been to distribute throughout the Southeast,” Allison said.

Blue Pants distributes five “yearrounders”: an amber, an IPA, a double IPA, a sour and a chocolate oatmeal porter, which was a winter seasonal but was so popular the Spratleys added it to their yearround offering. They have four seasonal brews and a variety of specialty brews, like their Pinstripe Stout series.

Madison Living 25

“There is a special place in a lot of people’s hearts for our Pinstripe series,” Allison said. “The Pinstripe Stout is something that has been around since the early days of the brewery. Over time certain flavors have developed avid followings.”

These popular flavors include the Peanut Butter Pinstripe, the Candy Bar Pinstripe (with chocolate and caramel flavors meant to evoke a Snickers bar), as well as a Double-Stuff Pinstripe (made to taste like an Oreo), and a Double Chocolate Pinstripe. “We have just taken what people have let us know they love and we make them quarterly throughout the year.”

Blue Pants was the first Alabama brewery to become an in-house distillery in addition to a brewery. They distill their own whiskey, gin, rum, and vodka, with multiple flavor variations, and offer straight pours or a variety of handcrafted house cocktails.

Different nights of the week, the tap room will have different specials. For instance, on Tuesdays, all beer is half off.

Fridays bring $5 cocktails all night long and, often, live music.

26 Madison Living

People who really want to take their fandom of Blue Pants creations to the next level can join the “mug club.” “Some of them have been around since the mug club started in 2013,” said Allison. “They get invited to a special monthly private release events just for the members.”

They also get special perks like advance releases or discounts – their own 20-ounce mug, of course, that they can use every time they visit the tap room. “It

makes them feel a little more connected to the experience.”

The Blue Pants tap room also hosts private events, such as meetings, rehearsal dinners, weddings, birthday parties and wedding showers. “We love doing that,” Allison said. “And we can cater to whatever they want. They can host it on the patio, in the tap room or in the warehouse. We work with them to make their event special.”

“We are also big into supporting local charities,” Allison added. “They can host their event here at no charge; we will donate a dollar per beverage. I feel like if I don’t use my business to give back to the community, I am wasting an opportunity.”

The Blue Pants Tap Room is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3-10 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. For more information, go to www.bluepantsbrew.com.

Madison Living 27

school& sports

Softball success Sparkman High coach boasts 1,000 wins Written BY BOB LABBE PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY 28 Madison Living

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As a teenager growing up in northwest Alabama in the area known as “The Shoals,” Dale Palmer joined five of his friends and began singing in an a capella group called Concord. Palmer was lead tenor, and he even cut a demo song, called “Louisiana Rain,” handling harmonies for onetime country music star Darryl Worley.

Today, at age 48, Palmer still uses those talents to sing as a member of the Madison church of Christ and, on occasions, belt out a tune or two for his softball team as the head softball coach at Sparkman High School. Palmer just completed his 23rd season in his role at the state’s fourth largest school, located in the Harvest community, and posted his 1,000th victory – all of which wins came at the Class 7A program. On top of all this excitement, he has just welcomed his first grandchild by his daughter Hannah, and he said becoming a grandfather may be the highlight of his life.

“Everything I’ve heard about being a grandfather is an understatement,” said Palmer.

Once a biology teacher, Palmer now teaches ninth grade boys physical education at Sparkman.

He first came to Sparkman hoping to be a football coach but was presented the idea of taking over the softball program. He would go on to make his program one of the most feared in Alabama, as his squads have won six state championships and have three runner-up finishes.

Madison Living 29

Palmer said the success of the program has not been by accident but rather through continuous hard work and dedication plus proper execution of he has coached. Palmer said winning is a by-product of hard work.

His philosophy is simple: Show his players confidence, face his players and tell them the truth.

As a 1988 senior at Deshler High, Palmer was a three-sport athlete playing basketball, baseball and football, with the football team winning a state championship. Palmer was also a member of the boys choir and mixed choir and was a sports editor for the school newspaper.

At age 15 he was diagnosed diabetic and since then has worn an insulin pump.

His port for the insulin is located in his abdomen, and he is required to change the local port every two days.

30 Madison Living

He and his wife of 26 years, Stacy Michelle Ford, grew up together and have two children, son Brandon and daughter Hannah. Palmer said one of his highlights as a coach and father is that Hannah won two state championships playing for him at Sparkman. He cherishes those memories – and the fact that Stacy has been solidly behind his coaching career.

“She’s our biggest fan, and much of my success has been due to her,” said Palmer of his wife, who has worked in the Sparkman attendance office for 20 years.

“I couldn’t do this without her.”

Palmer said if he is blessed with good health, he looks to remain in his position and keep churning out good athletes – and, more importantly, good young women.

“I tell my players through the years to make where you’re at, where you want to be,” added Palmer. “When all is over, I just hope those players know they were special.” He said he tells his players to take chances, do their best and learn from their mistakes. “I tell them I’ll love them no matter what happens,” added Palmer.

Palmer said he never wears his championship rings he’s gathered at Sparkman; to him, wearing the ring would mark the end of something.

“I had someone tell me years ago I would never be a successful coach because I was too nice,” said Palmer.

“One secret about me is I’m tender-hearted and a very emotional person who can be brought to tears. The Lord saw fit to bless me. I wasn’t put here at Sparkman by accident.”

Madison Living 31

EDUCATION

Record growth fuels challenges for Madison City Schools

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Robby Parker Superintendent Madison City Schools

Summer is a time of rest and relaxation for students, but it is a very busy time for me, the Board and district employees. We’ve been hit with a record enrollment increase, on top of all the other preparations that must be done.

Enrollment grew by almost 600 students this year alone. More than 1,600 students have been added to our rolls in the past four years. We are running out of space. We have to build new schools – and get started yesterday. Bus routes are strained, and our resources are being stretched to capacity.

Being a relatively young school district means we have a lot of schools we are still paying for on top of the increasing costs for utilities, staffing, security, transportation and so forth – so building schools isn’t possible unless we have a new revenue source to pay for it.

The Legislature approved the funding mechanisms needed to build new schools.

This 12-mil property tax increase for both Madison and Triana will provide the revenue to finance construction of a new middle school and elementary school, expansion of the two high schools and renovation of West Madison Elementary into a standalone Pre-K Center. Funds will also be used to hire more SROs and for instructional support for schools. Voters will have the chance to decide

those property taxes hopefully in September.

I encourage everyone to study the facts. We have lots of information on our website, including the Strategic Plan and an FAQ section. I want you to think about what quality schools mean for this community in terms of quality of life, property values and adequate preparedness of students for global success.

Growth has always been part of Madison City Schools. We started with about 5,000 students when we first became a school district in 1998 and are now at 11,450. The latest growth trend imposes a real challenge for us. When lunches have to begin at 10 and storage closets must be used as meeting space, something has to give soon.

We will get through this, I promise you. Madison City Schools is what it is today because courageous citizens and community leaders took a leap of faith 21 years ago to form a better school system for the people of Madison. They passed the necessary funding increases on themselves to build schools, hire great teachers and do all the other things that set Madison City Schools apart from other districts. Now it’s our turn to be courageous and protect the investments that have been made by so many before us.

It’s in our hands to be caretakers of what Madison City Schools has become and will be.

World-premiere exhibition

The world-premiere exhibition, ‘Apollo: When We Went To The Moon,’ chronicles the timeline from the beginning of the Space Race to the collaborative culture of the International Space Station program and beyond.

Experience the best of technology and exploration through the eyes of the engineers and in the boots of the astronauts who took us to the moon 50 years ago. Enjoy an Apollo 11 launch experience and explore artifacts and media memorabilia highlighting the turbulent nature of this pivotal era in our history.

This is the year to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center!

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RocketCenterUSA

arts&culture

Building dreams Discovery’s new theatre production program shows plenty of promise

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Written BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY

“All the world’s a stage,” according to William Shakespeare, and a few students at Discovery Middle School have taken that notion and run with it this school year.

The students in Terri Beth Goodman’s first two advanced drama classes might not have had much to work with to put on the school’s first productions, but through plenty of instruction, practice and creative thinking, they were able to put on a performance this year that brought down the house.

BUILDING THE PROGRAM

Discovery has offered a few drama classes for several years, but the 201819 school year added production to the

mix. While last month rounded out Goodman’s first year of teaching, her love for theatre has been budding since she and her college days.

The fact that Discovery already had drama classes, Goodman said, made establishing a production program even sweeter. “This was actually great for me because I was able to come in to a group of students that had taken drama as a course – and therefore understood the basics – and shape and mold the talent and knowledge that was already there into something more complex and complete,” she explained.

It was the first year for both Goodman and the school’s production program, but she and her students hit the ground

running from day one. “It’s really cool because we’re the first to do it,” said Noah Neveu, a student in the spring class.

“Eventually, it could be a really cool, big thing, and it has started with us.”

Of course, it helped that most of the students had theatre experience already, whether through school or community groups like Fantasy Playhouse. The main concern on everyone’s mind, though, was the budget. “We were starting with nothing,” Goodman said.

A decent theatrical production would cost at least a couple thousand dollars, she said, but the students’ class fees brought the total to less than half of that.

Goodman and her students had to get creative to close the deficit.

Madison Living 33

I hope the community will come out and see our future... It’s playing on our stage.

– Terri Beth Goodman

Goodman’s spring class found a little help from Bob Jones High School’s drama department. Bob Jones provided a few set pieces and, most importantly, a venue to perform the big show in April.

Something else Goodman and her students hope to see built at Discovery is a stage, or even an auditorium. Pushing aside the desks and rehearsing each day in the classroom was a far cry from a bonafide stage for the students, but they made the most of it. “I’m used to working on a stage, so it’s helped me adapt a lot … learn to just take what you have and just make it as good as you can,” said Sam Bignault, who some students called their unofficial student director.

The first time the students rehearsed on the Bob Jones stage was two days before their opening night April 12, so 34 Madison Living

students had to quickly adjust to a new environment. “Performing on a stage or set you have never been on can cause a huge variance in the quality of a performance, so I was anxious in the weeks leading up to the show,” Goodman said. “Everything turned out great, though. Bob Jones was awesome throughout the process.”

After two successful semesters, Goodman said she hopes Discovery’s production program can grow to become a jewel in the school’s crown. “I hope that the theatre program at Discovery grows so much that people in the district want their children to come here just so their kids can get involved in drama,” she said. “I feel like Bob Jones is that way, and we are their feeder school. It seems only right that we should make them proud with what we are turning out.”

WORKING TOWARD THE DREAM The fall class performed the one-hour “Unhappily Ever After,” and Goodman said she decided to test the waters in spring with an even longer play. Goodman’s spring class wasted no time creating their theatrical masterpiece, an updated and revised version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

The students said Goodman’s casting choices were on point. “We could try out for different parts, but mostly, she cast us into it, which was a phenomenal job of casting,” said Sofia Lazo. “In the beginning, I remember some people were like, ‘I want this part. I want that part.’ But eventually, everyone was like, ‘I love this part. I’m going to stick with it.’”

This was the case for Bailey Green, who played Peter Quince. Bailey and Sofia said some students were perfect matches for their characters, such as Sam as Thesia, Maggie Lawley as Puck and Ben Lessmann as Bottom. One student who rose above expectations and wowed everyone was Mikala Calhoun as Titania, the fairy queen. “I would have never thought I’d be Titania,” she said. “I was really shy, and that’s another reason why I took drama. I needed to boost my confidence.”

“My heart is overflowing with pride and gratitude,” Goodman said. “My kids got out there and performed as if they were in a college production. I cannot overemphasize these kids’ ability, nor the amount of work they put into this … In the end, what we were able to accomplish surprised even me. These are tough, hard-working kids.

They have earned every ounce of credit.”

GROWING THROUGH THEATRE Sofia and many other students praised Goodman as well, calling her an “awesome” and “magnificent” teacher. “At times she can be strict, but it’s a good thing for teachers to be strict because not only do

you want to be a good and fun teacher, but you want to teach your students all you can so that they can move on in life and get to a good spot,” Sofia said.

This was exactly Goodman’s intention.

She emphasized the most important lessons her students could take away were the ones they could carry with them for the rest of their lives, wherever they might go.

“Drama nurtures creativity and problemsolving skills – an attribute that develops the brain in ways that carries over into other disciplines,” Goodman explained.

“Through the study and performance of different plays, they learn to think about the world from multiple perspectives – an important skill on their journey to becoming grounded, well-rounded adults.”

A vast majority of the spring semester students said they would continue participating in drama next year. While many will take Goodman’s class again in the 2019-2020 school year, some will be moving onto high school drama. “I’m planning to take theatre both semesters,” Sam said. “I’m taking as much as I can to fit in my high school schedule.” Marcello has already earned a coveted spot in Bob

Jones’ advanced production class, which is audition-only.

SUPPORT THE PROGRAM

Right now, Goodman said the best thing the community can do to support the program is come to the shows. Tickets are $5, and Goodman said she hopes to keep it that way. “Yes, budget is important and building the program is one of my highest priorities right now, but the greatest priority and the one that will always be at the top of the list in this community is the things we are giving our children through these experiences and teaching them through production,” Goodman said.

No matter what her students grow up to be, Goodman said she hopes they will continue to grow into the kind of hardworking, well-rounded adults that keep society thriving. In that sense, how students strive to perform their best on a theatrical stage will – quite literally – set the stage for the rest of their lives, and that can best be done with the support of a community that loves its schools.

“I hope the community will come out and see our future,” Goodman said. “It’s playing on our stage.”

Madison Living 35

Around Town

More than a Backpack

T (RE)INTRODUCING ALABAMA’S LEADING PRESCHOOL & DAYCARE

FORMERLY

covenant classical schools & daycare ®

While we transition to this new name, we guarantee that the heart of who we are will stay the same! We are excited to continue providing parents and their children with the same trusted and award-winning care that we are known for!

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

WWW.ARDENTPRESCHOOL.COM E X C H A N G E P L A C E | J O N E S VA L L E Y 36 Madison Living

The lazy days of summer vacation are setting in, but in a blink, backpacks will replace beach towels on store shelves. At the Kids to Love Center, our team is already preparing school supply packs foster children will take on their first day of school in August.

The More than a Backpack campaign is our largest annual outreach geographically, stretching across Alabama and Tennessee and touching parts of Mississippi and Georgia.

In 2018 we provided backpacks filled Lee Marshall with grade-appropriate school supFounder/CEO plies to nearly 6,000 foster children – Kids to Love Foundation but it’s “More than a Backpack.”

The school supplies you help us provide each year spell confidence for our kids. They can compete in a classroom with their peers when they are prepared. Your donations every year make it possible. It really is as simple as a new notebook and a pack of pencils.

Is your company looking for ways to give back to our community? Do you want to teach your children to appreciate the little things in life? More than a Backpack is an inexpensive, yet impactful, way to make a difference.

Our website, www.kidstolove.org, lists the supplies we need to equip foster children for the classroom. It’s easy to find, located under the PROGRAMS tab in the top menu bar.

You can print out instructions for collecting supplies within your company, civic organization or church.

I invite you to join us on the journey as we change the lives of our foster children every day.

It’s way more than a backpack.

ymca

Keep swimming safe this summer

K

Kids are drawn to water, well, like ducks! This is especially true during hot Southern summers when swimming pools and natural bodies of water become irresistible to children.

Although adults are often nearby when kids are playing in water, an adult presence is not a guarantee children will be safe from drowning.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4, according to the CDC, and older children are also at risk: 74 percent of drowning incidents for children younger than 15 occurred in residential settings in 2017.

These sobering statistics shouldn’t, however, discourage people from swimming. The best defense against drowning is preparation. “Swimming is not only a fun, healthy activity but an important life skill for all ages,” said Molly Frankenberg, Hogan Y aquatics director. “Swim lessons foster confidence in the water and instill important water safety skills that can save lives as well as provide enjoyment for a lifetime.”

The Hogan Family YMCA outdoor pool opens May 12. Check ymcahuntsville.org/schedules for both indoor and outdoor pool hours.

The Hogan Y is committed to reducing water-related injuries and drownings in the community and offers both swim lessons and water safety education. Every year, the Hogan Y provides water safety education through the SPLASH program as a free gift to all Madison City Schools third-graders. SPLASH focuses on safety at the pool, while boating and when visiting water parks. Swim instruction requires more individualized attention, so the Y offers both group and private swim lessons year-round starting at age 6 months. Adults can take swim lessons, too!

Did you know the Y provides fee assistance to low-income families to participate in swim lessons? The

Third-grade students in Madison City Schools enjoy the indoor water park at the Hogan Family YMCA during a water safety education lesson.

lessons teach valuable skills, including what to do if a child or adult finds themselves in the water unexpectedly – a situation every person should be equipped to handle. Children can also discover a skill that provides a lifetime of healthy exercise and enjoyment.

Parents and adults supervising young children around water should heed these precautions for safe swimming: • Never leave the child alone; take them with you if you must leave.

• Enroll children in age-appropriate swim lessons taught by certified professional instructors.

• Lifeguards aren’t babysitters; always watch your child.

• Don’t let children play around drains and suction fittings.

• Always have a first aid kit and emergency contacts handy.

• Get trained in CPR. • If a child is missing, check the water first.

• Never drink alcohol when operating a boat, and always wear life jackets.

Teen and adult swimmers should keep these safety precautions in mind as well: • Don’t go in the water unless you know how to swim.

• Never swim alone.

• Learn CPR and rescue techniques such as “reach, throw, don’t go.”

• Don’t push or jump on others.

• Don’t dive in unfamiliar areas.

• Make sure your swim skill level is an appropriate fit for the water you are entering. A river or ocean requires more strength to swim in currents.

To learn more about swim lessons, visit ymcahuntsville.org/SWIM or call 256-705-9622.

Madison Living 37

Madison Chamber of Commerce connections

Business Expo & Kids Day pulls into Madison Depot in July!

All aboard for a day of fun and celebration of Madison! Our theme this year for the Business Expo & Kids Day is Madison Depot 1869 in honor of our city’s sesquicentennial … that’s 150 years! This FREE, family-friendly event will take place Saturday, July 27, at the Hogan YMCA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will have more than 60 booths representing the varied businesses in our area at this Chamber signature event; visit each booth and learn more about the amazing goods and services our area offers! Food trucks will be on hand throughout the event, as well.

Kids will enjoy FREE activities, including face painting, balloon animals, bounce house, dunk tank, games, prizes and more! There will be tours of the HEMSI ambulance and Madison fire truck, as well as Madison Fire and Rescue’s Virtual Reality Trailer. SARTEC will bring highly-trained rescue dogs to visit with attendees. LifeSouth’s Bloodmobile will be on hand, and the Madison Hospital Mobile Unit will offer free health screenings.

One-Year Anniversary for MCC Member Nesin Physical Therapy.

Ribbon Cutting Collaboration – Tellini’s and GrubSouth.

Business Expo & Kids Day draws thousands of area attendees each year! To participate as a vendor, please contact our office at 256-325-8317 for details. More information is available at www.madisonalchamber.com.

Life insurance is for those you leave behind September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. Let’s get together to

 sure you have a plan for today, and for tomorrow. make

20-Year Anniversary Ribbon Cutting at Madison Boulevard Walmart.

Mark Berryman LUTCF Mark Berryman LUTCF Financial Representative Financial Representative 1874 Slaughter Road Suite R 1874 Slaughter Madison, AL 35758 Road Suite R Madison, AL. 35758 www.countryfinancial.com/mark.berryman (256) 325-1242 mark.berryman@countryfinancial.com www.countryfinancial.com/mark.berryman (256)325-1242

surance is for those ave behind

Life insurance is for those you leave behind Let’s get together to make sure you have a plan for today, and for tomorrow.

Auto, home home and insurance policies issued

by COUNTRY Mutual Mutual Insurance Company Company, , COUNTRY COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company andCompany COUNTRYand Casualty Insurance Company . Life insurance Auto, andbusiness business insurance policies issued

by COUNTRY Insurance Preferred Insurance COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company. Life Insurance policies policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company, Bloomington, IL 0415-556HC-19170®

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0415-556HC-19170-

nsurance Awareness Month. Let’s get together to 103and Spenryn Dr., Madison, AL 35758 e a plan for today, for tomorrow.

38 Madison Living

k Berryman LUTCF

MADISON, ALABAMA 35758

Madison Chamber of Commerce connections

Business After Hours hosted at Ellis Wealth Advisors.

Great turnout at Madison Market at Insanity Complex.

Ribbon Cutting and Meet and Greet for MCC Member Redstone Dental.

Open House and Ribbon Cutting for MCC Member Compass Physical Therapy.

256-325-8317

Sierra Fuqua – April Ambassador of the Quarter.

Thank You to Presenting Sponsor, Mangia Italian Restaurant.

www.madisonalchamber.com

Madison Living 39

out & about Taste the Spirit of Madison

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Photos BY JOHN FEW 1. Aurora Esquivel, Zoey Esquivel and Payton Howel 2. Ebone Langford and Melissa Brezinski 3. Jonathon Fowler and Hunter Holland 4. Elise, Soren and Thomas Yarnell and Carlie, Michalle and Jackson Spiegel 5. Bonnie and Richard Alexander and Richard Alexander II

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6. Tommy and Debbie Overcash 7. Ed and Betsy Worley 8. Breana and Andre Mackey 9. Christy Golden 10. Pam Honeycutt 11. Lori Few 12. Nancy Harden

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out & about City of Madison Easter ‘Egg’stravaganza at Dublin Park

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Photos BY JOHN FEW 1. Heidi and Caroline Shirts

5. Chris Pate

2. Hunter, Rhet, Jennifer and Russell Shelton

6. Jaxson Young and Easter Bunny

3. Amelia Rose, Zara and Leon Demmis

7. Eric, Ryan and Amanda Haynes 8. Walter Drake

4. Gayle Milam and Easter Bunny

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Why I love Madison

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Allen Stroud

Allen Stroud has spent his entire life in Madison and has made a career of telling the stories of his friends and neighbors in the Tennessee Valley. The WAFF reporter is a 2006 graduate of Bob Jones High School and 2011 graduate of Auburn University.

What is your job title, and what does your work entail?

I am a reporter at WAFF 48 News. I will celebrate the start of my seventh year with the station June 24! I enjoy keeping the public informed and telling the stories of the special people of the Tennessee Valley.

1. Favorite hobby:

Fast Five

What do you enjoy about your job?

I have always been a very curious person. I enjoy meeting different people every single day of my job and the privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of our biggest moments in history. I always say working in news is like attending the world’s biggest classroom! No day is the same.

What is your favorite place to visit in Madison?

Without a doubt, downtown Madison. When I was a child, Madison was still a small, sleepy cotton town that was just about to explode with growth through the 1980s and 1990s.

What is your favorite Madison restaurant, and what do you like about it?

My favorite will always be Thomas Pit BBQ. It was a Madison staple for over 85 years. The Pit house barbecue, chicken with white sauce, potato salad – I loved all of it and the faces that stayed on staff for decades. We still have great barbecue left in Madison though! You can find me at the original Greenbriar BBQ off old Highway 20 most weekends.

Why do you love Madison?

Being a native of Madison, I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, but in many ways, we’ve kept our small-town feel.

Madison was a perfect place to grow up, and I’m so glad I decided to move back.

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Country music concerts.

2. Favorite food: Barbecue.

3. Goal or ambition: One day I hope to anchor the six o’clock news!

4. Church: Asbury United Methodist Church.

My family is on the charter.

5. Something people might not know about me is: Even though I spend most of my life in front of a TV camera, I am a fairly shy and reserved person.

Pat McAfee turned her love of travel into a career as a flight attendant, but that ended when an injury caused chronic pain.

She turned to the orthopedic team at Madison Hospital for minimallyinvasive hip replacement surgery.

With her mobility back and her pain gone, Pat is able to travel again — starting with Italy, Spain and Australia.

Read the rest of Pat’s story at

myreason.org.