Oxford Access Magazine Vol 6:4

Oxford

ACCESS

2022

BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AND JOB GROWTH IN OXFORD Page 22

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4 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR 6 FREEDOM FESTIVAL 14 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD POLICE CHIEF 19 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT 20 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY 22 BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS 26 CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS AT CHOCCOLOCCO PARK 32 USA SOFTBALL EXHIBITION GAMES 44 CELEBRATION: ROY WILSON 46 OXFORD HEALTH PARAMEDICS 48 WELCOME TO OXFORD - NEW BUSINESS OPENINGS 54 CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK WATERSHED 56 HISTORIC MAIN STREET UPDATE 58 RUBATO INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 66 MESSAGE FROM OPAC 82 AMERICA’S ECCENTRIC & INTRIGUING HOBOS 86 A DECADE OF PRESERVATION & PARTNERSHIP 90 STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD TEAM 98 WHY I TEACH: MICHAL TAYLOR-PHILLIPS 102 GREENPOWER USA 104 BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS 106 WORLD CHANGERS 2022 110 EMA UPDATE: DO 1 THING 112 HISTORY: MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

2022 VOL 6. ISSUE 4

CONTENTS

Community conversations are important, and we encourage residents to engage directly with city staff—this is your city and your mayor and council are here for you.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help. Big or small, we’re happy and honored to listen.

City of Oxford Mayor Alton Craft Oxford City Council Phil Gardner Mike Henderson Charlotte Hubbard Chris Spurlin Steven Waits If you are a citizen living within the Oxford city limits and are not receiving an Oxford Access magazine and would like to receive them, let us know! We want all of our citizens to be able to have access to the Access.

You can pick up a free copy at the Oxford Public Library, Oxford Civic Center, Bynum Community Center, Friendship Community Center, and Oxford City Hall.

OXFORD ACCESS P. O. BOX 3383 OXFORD, AL 36203 WWW.OXFORDAL.GOV

118 HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST 120 FALL HOLIDAY CONCERT

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for highlights of community news, city events, and special moments as they happen in our beautiful city.

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Message from the

Oxford Mayor Dear citizens: What a great time it is to live in Oxford! We have so much to be proud of, and you, the citizen, are doing your part to allow us to continue to be a tourist destination for visitors from around the globe. We are becoming the recreation and arts capital of the Southeast, and I am always thankful to be able to work for you as we blaze new trails across the region.

To begin, I would like to thank Oxford Parks and Recreation staff for a successful tournament season during April, May, and June. We hosted over 100 collegiate and high school softball and baseball teams over six weeks, and I heard nothing but compliments from the visitors. Our workers at Choccolocco Park and the workers at area restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers continue to show genuine southern hospitality to our patrons. This is one of the main reasons these conferences and athletic organizations come back each year. Along with the tournaments, we held exhibition softball games with teams from the United States, Australia, and Japan. I could not be prouder of our staff for renovating the entire signature softball field in the short time we had to do it.

Not only are we succeeding with parks and recreation, but the Oxford Performing Arts Center is continuing to serve as a major arts and cultural destination for our region and state. We hosted the inaugural Rubato International Piano Competition, which featured musical prodigies from all over the world who were judged by artists in the Steinway Hall of Fame. This was a learning experience for all who attended. I hope you will support our arts and entertainment programs as we continue to break ground on new ways to engage visitors and residents in the years to come.

I would like to thank all our departments and citizens for working hard to make Oxford better as we become a global destination. In the past few years, we have had guests from six continents, over 70 countries, and all 50 states, including

most US territories. Since May alone, we have had visitors from at least three continents. All of this is because of your wonderful “southern hospitality,” and I encourage you to keep up the good work when we have visitors in town.

This letter would be incomplete unless I mention the other things happening in Oxford. The Oxford Public Library just completed its summer reading program. They are always finding new ways to have fun and interactive experiences for kids of all ages, so I encourage you to stop by and see for yourself how learning never stops. Our police, fire, and health services continue to set the bar in our area for emergency services, and I am glad that we have one of the safest cities in the South. Oxford’s public works department is doing a great job at keeping our roads paved. Don’t forget that with fall approaching, we offer curbside pickup for leaves and yard trimmings. The Leon Smith Parkway lane addition and paving project is coming along nicely, but be aware of roadwork in that area and around the Oxford Exchange and Choccolocco Park. Don’t forget to call our 311 non-emergency helpline if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.

I would also like to express the city of Oxford’s sympathy as we lost an adopted son of Oxford, John Childs, in July. As publisher of our hometown paper, The Oxford Independent, he shined a light on Oxford and covered the good news in our area for over 20 years. He was good man, and I am sure that many us were proud to call him “friend.”

In closing, it is an honor to be the mayor of the city of Oxford. With autumn just around the corner, I would like to wish all of the faculty, administrators, and students at Oxford City Schools good luck as they begin the year, and I hope to see you on a Friday night supporting our football team.

Kindest regards,

Mayor Alton Craft

O X F O R D C I T Y H A L L • 14 5 H A M R I C D R I V E , E A ST O X F O R D , A L A B A M A 3 620 3 6

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Alton Craft Mayor

Phil Gardner Council

Mike Henderson Council

Charlotte Hubbard Council

Chris Spurlin Council

Steven Waits Council

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FREEDOM FESTIVAL

On July 4th, Oxford residents and visitors were able to enjoy the many activities at the 2022 Freedom Festival at Oxford Lake. The event kicked off with a parade featuring patriotically dressed participants, vintage cars, area boy and girl scout troops, dogs in red, white, and, blue, and even a miniature Lady Liberty.

The Oxford Arts Council’s ceremony in Liberty Park featured award ribbons for the parade entry winners. The day continued with vast activities for the families to enjoy, including a petting zoo, bicycle/tricycle races, a carnival, and swim races. The civic center was covered with games, food vendors, and other activities. It even featured K98 radio broadcasting live from the civic center.

The Freedom Festival’s grand finale was the evening fireworks show over Oxford Lake.

Ending the festival with a bang, the 30 minute fireworks show featured a wonderful assortment of colors for everyone to enjoy. The park was packed full of not only residents but visitors as well; everyone came out to show their pride for our country.

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Photographer Bradley Bates OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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Oxford Police Department 600 Stanley Merrill Drive, Oxford, AL 36203

Message from the Oxford Police Chief It’s great to be writing you in another edition of Oxford Access. In each edition, I use the opportunity to provide updates about our agency. As with any successful organization, we understand the importance of proactive change. Having the fluidity to implement new ideas has been a beneficial element for us. We are, therefore, consistently evaluating ways to improve. From recruiting strategies to general policies and technology, we are determined to leave a well-balanced and professional police department for the future.

Our department often places a great deal of attention on the public’s perception of our agency, and rightfully so. Without the public’s support, our department could never provide effective services. Gladly though, the support of our community is overwhelmingly positive. Still, if we are insistent on maintaining an effective image, we must further continue to develop. The public’s perception is critical to us, and that aspect of our agency will not change.

For current and future employees, we must consistently review and implement ideas that will provide them the tools to enhance our professional image. Behind the scenes, we are continuously planning for the future of our department; through these strategies, we essentially strengthen each member of our team. We have always practiced this concept, but as we grow, the correlation between individual strengths and the public’s perception is increasingly apparent.

I believe our agency is the most professional in the state, and I have no doubt we will continue to be an integral segment of our great city. We will remain loyal, serve with integrity, and always provide first-class protection and service.

Respectfully, Bill Partridge Chief of Police Director of Public Safety

INVESTIGATIONS 256-835-6136 • ANIMAL CONTROL 256-591-4103 • GENERAL (NON-EMERGENCY) 256-831-3121 16

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OXFORD BASEBALL FOR YOUTH

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MILLER FUNERAL HOME 50 Hamric Drive East, Oxford, AL 36203

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OXFORD CITY HELPLINE 256-241-4311

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CITY OF OXFORD | FIRE DEPARTMENT

Message from the

Oxford Fire Department The spring and summer brought national and international events to our great city. It was OFD’s honor to be a part of the team of city departments that worked together to make our city shine and provide a great experience for our visitors.

The July 4th celebration was wonderful, with the biggest fireworks show we have ever had. PyroShows of LaFollette, Tennessee, did an excellent job, and we appreciate their long relationship with the city of Oxford.

It’s football season, and I encourage you to get out and support our Oxford Yellow Jackets. The football team, band, and cheerleaders have been working hard, and we look forward to another great season.

September 11, 2022, will be the 21st anniversary of the deadly and cowardly attacks on our country. I invite each of you to join us for a 9/11 Memorial Service at Liberty Park (Behind the civic center) at 4:00pm to remember the lives that were lost. We must NEVER FORGET that our FREEDOM isn’t free.

October is Fire Prevention Month, and October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week. I encourage each of you to have working smoke detectors in your home. If your smoke detector has a battery, you should change it twice a year, and a good time to do this is every time the clocks change.

If you don’t have a smoke detector and can’t afford to buy them, please call us at Fire Station #1 at 256-831-3208, and we will give you smoke detectors for free and even install them for you.

Oxfordfest is October 1, 2022, in downtown Oxford. The Oxfordfest Committee always puts on a great festival. Don’t forget to stop by the OFD booth and visit with us.

As always, be safe, and don’t hesitate to call if you need our assistance.

Chief Gary Sparks

FIRE CHIEF • ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF • FIRE MARSHAL • 256-278-3290

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UPDATE OXFORD LIBRARY Fall at the library brings fun to readers of all ages!

Join us at the library, in-house and online, for programs, events, videos, and activities that will engage the reader in all of us.

For our preschool families, we focus on early literacy. Early literacy is very important and has a lifelong effect on our community’s children.

The library is participating in the Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit, which allows library staff to guide parents to prepare children from ages 0-8 for success in school and life. This program focuses on key aspects of development: quality adult-child interactions, social skills, math and science learning, executive functions, and growth mindset. Our StoryTime regulars have seen this program in action, and now we are expanding the availability of the toolkit! Families can now check out materials from the toolkit to use at home. This will allow young children to have a strong start!

Elementary and middle schoolers have unique literacy goals, and the library is here to help those students reach those goals! OPL has a wide collection of age-appropriate books that appeal to a variety of interests, and we encourage you to check out books from the library’s collection.

OPL loves our teens, too! Don’t forget about our Teen Corner in the library; this is a comfortable space to hang out, study, and read. There is also a lot of online programming for our teens. Check out new Get Crafty episodes and more videos on OPL Academy, available right from the library’s homepage at www.oxfordpl.org. Beyond our online offerings for teens, OPL will start a new program in the library. It will go beyond your traditional reading alone or in a book club; this will be a Literary Experience! Stay tuned for

more information, but this will be an experience like no other, which prompts a connection to a book and each other.

Adults are always a big part of our library’s community, too. Check out materials in-house or online. For patron convenience, curbside service is still available. Several weekly classes meet at OPL, including quilting on Wednesdays and handcrafting on Thursdays. Come learn to make something beautiful! The Book Club also meets on the third Monday of each month; find out which book is next at www.oxfordpl. org/book-club, then join us for a discussion of thoughts inspired by the book.

Traditional paper books are still the preference for most of our readers, but if e-materials are your preference, don’t forget that we have a large selection at www.oxfordpl.org/ebooks.

This website points you to several options in regards to availability of e-materials, including e-books and e-audiobooks. The e-materials can be accessed on most devices and can be downloaded for offline use. Library staff will be happy to help with any questions regarding the e-collections. You can even book an appointment with a library staff member to walk you through installing/using/checking out materials on your device at www.oxfordpl.org/byod.

There are many more services in store at the library; check us out at www.oxfordpl.org, or please stop by our beautiful facility! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Amy E. Henderson Library Director

Oxford Public Library

MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 TO 5 • SATURDAY 9 TO 1 • SUNDAY 1 TO 5 • (256) 831-1750 • 110 East 6th Street, Oxford

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Plant Manager for Oxford’s Bridgewater Interiors, Mr. Kelvin Wright

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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS, WHICH MANUFACTURES THE COMPLETE SEAT SYSTEMS FOR THE HONDA PILOT AND HONDA PASSPORT PRODUCED NEARBY IN LINCOLN, OPENED IN 2003 AND CURRENTLY EMPLOYS MORE THAN 380 PEOPLE. THE COMPANY, IN TOTAL, EMPLOYS 2,600 PEOPLE IN FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CONTINUES TO BE RANKED NUMBER THREE BY BLACK ENTERPRISE’S TOP 100 AMONG THE NATION’S LARGEST BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

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A groundbreaking ceremony for a $12.5 million industrial expansion that will create 35 new jobs was in August at Oxford’s Bridgewater Interiors (BWI). The venue was full of local leaders, elected officials, and members of the Bridgewater team who collectively celebrated the ceremonial start of the 40,000-square-foot expansion.

Don Hopper, executive director of the Calhoun County EDC, explains the importance of teamwork to make a project work. “We could not have done this project without Mayor Alton Craft and Oxford’s city council. They continue to support the EDC and local manufacturing industries, which allows us to bring new jobs into the region,” said Hopper.

The project includes investment in machinery and equipment, an increase in headcount, and a building expansion to support additional warehousing needs. “This expansion allows Bridgewater to continue growing while establishing an infrastructure to meet customer demand,” says Kelvin Wright, plant manager at BWI’s Oxford facility.

Also proud of the expansion is Oxford Mayor Alton Craft. “Industry plays a vital role in the city of Oxford. Seeing this project now underway for Bridgewater Interiors brings our city great joy. Oxford will continue to grow and give families opportunities for a financial breakthrough, and that is celebrated by all of us,” says Craft.

Work began on the site in July, and the project is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

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BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS

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Head Coach Heinz Mueller of the back-to-back NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship winning team, the Phoenix College Bears, has had a storied career as a softball coach. He has won 10 national championships at Phoenix in his 30+ years at the helm, has amassed over 1,500 wins, and is an inductee into several sports halls of fame around the country. After winning the 2022 NJCAA softball title, Oxford Access staff got to talk to him about what this win means for him and his team.

How was Oxford and Choccolocco Park?

Choccolocco Park is the best park I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to 19 national tournaments.

It was awesome. It has been incredible for the two years we’ve been here. The people there are very friendly and give it a hometown feel. Wherever we went, it was like coming back home.

What were some memorable moments?

We had two close games against LSU-Eunice and Murray State [Oklahoma]. Just the way we won those games was memorable; the crowd, the environment, and both teams were excited.

Those are games that our fans and the team will remember.

What does it mean to you and your team to win back-to-back national championships at Choccolocco Park?

When you set goals as a team, it’s good that the girls can have something they can attach to. I’ve gone back-to-back before [he won five national championships in a row from 2004-2008] – but it’s about getting the players to feel they can win. Not to sound cocky, but these girls wanted to prove that last year, with all the COVID-19 issues, wasn’t a fluke. We had eight girls that returned, so they knew how to prepare and were able to get the girls that had never experienced something this great prepared for it. Bottom line, the girls had no doubt they would win the

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tournament this year, and when you have that confidence, good athletes will always find a way to win.

Plus, when you have the best pitcher in the country [Brianna “Breezy” Hardy], that always helps. We probably had a more talented team last year, but this team was just more because they were ready for it.

Experience goes a long way.

Any final thoughts?

Oh yeah! Oxford will always be near and dear to us.

We won two championships in a row, and Oxford will always be part of Phoenix College’s history. Our college is now doing things for softball that they have never done because of how we won and how we were treated in Oxford. Also, kudos to the grounds crew for putting their heart and soul into the fields and the field preparations. We got delayed a little because of the rain – and my wife and I love the rain because we are from Phoenix, where it never rains [he says with a hearty laugh], but we would never have known it was wet because of the ground crew’s dedication.

On top of that, Oxford is a wonderful city, and Choccolocco Park is a great place to play, so I hope they will continue to host these quality events on the best fields anyone can play.

Congratulations to Phoenix College and the rest of the teams that represented their schools at the 2022 NJCAA Division II Softball Championships!

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USA SOFTBALL EXHIBITION GAMES

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For the first time ever, the USA Softball Exhibition Games were held at Choccolocco Park on July 5th and 6th, 2022. The games showcased talents from not only the #1 softball team in America, Team USA, but also Team Japan, Team Australia, and USSSA Pride.

The USA Softball of Alabama Commissioner, Tracy Morgan, shared her thoughts on the event and how it makes positive strides for the future of softball. “We are thrilled to have Team USA, Japan, USSSA Pride, and Australia all right here at Choccolocco Park,” she stated. “When we got the opportunity to bring the exhibition games here, we knew Oxford would be the perfect host. We are grateful and thankful to USA nationals for giving us this opportunity.” A week later, the teams would go on to compete in the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, where the USA Softball team would take home the gold medal.

Oxford’s first international softball event took place on Choccolocco Park’s signature softball field. The two-day event was well-received amongst the residents of Oxford and citizens from around the globe. Day One featured four games and sold over 1,500 tickets. The next day featured two games and sold over 1,000 tickets. After the final game each day, fans of all ages were able to meet the Team USA players for photos and signatures.

Oxford Mayor Alton Craft and Parks and Recreation Director Don Hudson both agreed that the exhibition softball games placed Oxford on the global stage for softball and all sports. “We are proud that we were able to welcome the national and international teams to Choccolocco Park, and we are looking forward to what the future holds for Oxford and our residents,” they said in a joint statement.

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TEAM USA

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TEAM AUSTRALIA

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TEAM JAPAN

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USSSA PRIDE

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“It is great for our young kids and all athletes around the surrounding area of Alabama to see softball played at this level.”

Tracy Morgan, State Commissioner,

USA Softball of Alabama

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2021 Oxford Community Chorus Photographer: CJ Foster 46

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CELEBRATION

ROY WILSON On behalf of Mayor Alton Craft and the city of Oxford, we would like to congratulate Roy Wilson, who celebrated his 93rd birthday in July.

Mayor Craft and his sisters, Valrie and Bridgette, spent much of their childhood at their grandmother’s house, which was next door to Roy and Joan Wilson, so they called them “Uncle Roy” and “Aunt Joan,” which is a tradition that has been passed on to the next generation. The Wilsons have been married for 70 years and have called Oxford home since moving from Georgia in 1950. Roy served in the United States Navy on the USS Hamner during the Korean Conflict.

Roy worked as a salesman in hardware and plumbing, and according to their only daughter, Debbie, he could fix anything. “He is the smartest person I know,” she said, “and if he didn’t know the answer to a problem, he researched it and figured it out.” Joan was a legal secretary for a local attorney and then became a secretary for a judge in Calhoun County. Debbie and her husband, George Massey, live in Georgia and have one daughter, Shannon, who has three children: Katelyn (15), Hayden (13), and Hendricks (10). Pictures of Debbie, Shannon, and their great-grandchildren line the walls of the Wilsons’ house.

During his life, Roy has been known for his woodworking skills, and he is especially proud of the clocks he has made. “I just see one in a magazine I like and make it,” he said. Grandfather and grandmother clocks are featured throughout their home, along with several pendulum clocks and mantle/desk clocks.

If you are driving through Oxford, you can probably find Uncle Roy and Aunt Joan sitting on their front porch swing on Highway Drive, so stop by and visit with them for a few minutes.

Your life will be much better for it.

The City of Oxford encourages our readers to send in noteworthy birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations to Access.

We love to feature our residents and the milestones of our residents. Send information to marketing@oxfordal.gov.

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UPDATE OXFORD HEALTH PARAMEDICS Hello Oxford!

Oxford Health Paramedics are proud to serve the Oxford community. Many medical emergencies that we see are related to illnesses that can be prevented. In this edition of Oxford Access, we would like to highlight a few health promotion strategies and tips that could come in handy this fall. The cooler temperatures will be a welcome transition as the weather changes and football season rolls forward. At the same time, many of our families will have just sent the kiddos back to school. And as we transition from summer into fall and winter, let’s remember to focus on our personal and family health. Here are a few health tips…

COVID-19 VACCINES AND FLU SHOTS: While COVID-19 vaccinations may not prevent you or your family from contracting COVID-19, they can help to protect you and your family from developing severe illnesses. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and most all family physicians recommend an annual flu shot. COVID-19 vaccinations and flu shots are available at the local pharmacies in Oxford and are often covered by insurance at no cost to you. Anyone that is uninsured or needs assistance with locating a COVID-19 vaccination or flu shot may contact the local Alabama Department of Public Health clinic (health department) or call one of our community paramedics at 256-474-7900.

REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS: Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of germs and stay healthy. Almost all the “bugs” that we worry about that could make us sick, from COVID-19 to the flu, the common cold, and everything in between can be fought off by regular handwashing. If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand wash of at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.

GET A HEALTH SCREENING: A quick wellness screening at the doctor’s office for yourself and your family will ensure everyone is in tip-top shape! An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but catching an illness early can undoubtedly make for a much better outcome! Remember not only to schedule a health and wellness screening with your primary care physician but also vision screenings and dental check-ups are essential to staying healthy. If you or your family see a specialist, like a heart doctor, check that you made your annual appointment.

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO STRIVE TO LIVE WELL: Little changes make for big rewards. It cannot be overemphasized that being sure that you get adequate sleep, drink plenty of water, slap on the sunscreen before going out to play, move a little more and sit less, eat a bit healthier, and take time to unwind and destress, will improve health.

The little things add up. If we all commit to a few extra steps around the waking track each week, removing one “not so healthy” item from our diet and substituting water in place of a soda, these little things will pay off!

FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCY MATTERS, PLEASE CALL 256-474-7900 48

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TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER: Remember to check in on family and neighbors as the nights get cooler. You may find that family and friends may not have the resources to stay warm and healthy and may need assistance during the winter.

Oh, and don’t forget the furry family member either; cooler nights mean that our pets may need an extra blanket to snuggle with or be moved to a warm area.

NO MATTER THE DAY OR THE TIME, IF YOU NEED US CALL: Since our establishment in August of 2020 as a municipal health care authority, we have sought to provide needed health care services to the community. From paramedic response and ambulance transport to COVID-19 vaccines and antibody infusions to health and wellness clinics, we have worked to be very creative in providing the proper care needed and strive to improve continually.

The Health Care Authority of the city of Oxford, Alabama, is responsible for and provides Emergency Medical Services, Paramedic response, and ambulance transport. The authority offers health care services as Oxford Health Systems. Last year in the city of Oxford, Oxford Health Systems Paramedics answered over 6,000 calls for medical assistance and provided over 4,000 transports by ambulance. Still, it is how we provide that service that we hope makes the most difference for the community. Operationally, our paramedics aim to offer the best care available worldwide. In simple terms, we have a true passion for caring for people. We are very sincere in that we desire to provide care to every person we encounter, as we would want to be provided for our own families. It is to the credit of the health care authority board, Mayor Alton Craft, and the city council that we can deliver world-class emergency medical care here in Oxford, Alabama. We want you to know that you can call on us 24/7, emergency or not; we are here for you and your loved ones. In addition to providing emergency services, we have two community paramedics that are available to assist with helping to bridge the health care gap for members of our community.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1.

For all non-emergency matters, please call 256-474-7900.

Non-Emergency correspondence may also be sent to info@ohsparamedics.org.

We look forward to seeing you at Oxford Public Safety Night Out, enjoying fall with you at Oxfordfest, or perhaps helping you cheer on a touchdown at an Oxford high school Football Game! Remember, 24/7, any day, any time, we mean it; if there is anything we can do for you and your family, please call!

Tom Dixon Director tdixon@oxfordhealthsystems.org

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WELCOME TO OXFORD Our leadership is eager to continue growing our business community and treats each project as a unique opportunity.

With a supportive local government, a skilled workforce, excellent municipal services, and great location, it is easy to understand why businesses choose Oxford. As one of the most popular retail hubs of northeast Alabama, we continue to grow with I-20 Exit 188 and Exit 185 rapidly becoming a vital aspect of the city of Oxford.

If you are interested in bringing your business to Oxford, contact city officials to arrange a site visit.

See firsthand why everyone is talking about Oxford, Alabama.

Oxford Business League 50

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• 256-241-6667 • P.O. Box 3383 • Oxford, AL 36203

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WYNIKA HENDRIX COUNTRY FINANCIAL 1709 Hillyer Robinson Industrial Pkwy, Suite D, Oxford, AL 36203

TWISTED SNOW 149 Plaza Lane, Oxford, AL 36203 52

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THOMAS SHELTON ALFA INSURANCE 501 Main Street, Oxford, AL 36203

PHOENIX HAIR SALON 1330 Barry Street, Oxford, AL 36203 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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JIM 'N NICKS 500 Oxford Exchange Blvd, Oxford, AL 36203

QS PROFESSIONALS 1612 Hamric Drive East, Suite 101, Oxford, AL 36203 • Staffing & Recruiting 54

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EXPRESSIONS SALON & STUDIO 5156 U.S. Highway 78 West, Oxford, AL 36203

SHAPING FUTURES 1716 Hamric Drive East, Suite 4, Oxford, AL • Sensory-friendly children’s play area OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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UPDATE HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD Historic Downtown Oxford offers a unique experience for everyone, including but not limited to a firstclass performing arts center that accommodates 1,130 guests, a local coffee shop, an ice cream shop, a variety of interior design and specialty shops, a southern home-cooking restaurant, and two art galleries.

All of this is within walking distance of three historic churches and homes listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage and the National Register of Historic Places.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Oxford Performing Arts Center Oxford Senior Citizens Center The Terrortorium The Wren’s Nest at OPAC RETAIL & FOOD Above & Beyond Ace Hardware- Oxford Lumber Cotton Antiques & Collectibles Epiphany’s First Class Ice Cream Fresh Value (formerly Dorsey’s) Go Pink Studio Hubbard’s Off Main Onyx & Opal Rent-A-Center Sarah Cavender Metalworks Southern Girl Coffee Co. The Main Olive The Tackle Box PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Alfa Insurance- Thomas Shelton Ballard Dental Caring Medical Equipment & Supplies Choccolocco Creek Watershed Cleghorn HVAC Dempsey’s Barber & Styles Dynamic Staffing

Enzor & Maniscalco Attorneys at Law Farmer’s Insurance Grizzard Land Surveying H&H Home Team Realty Hartwell Masonic Lodge No. 101 HOUSE Counseling Licensed Massage Therapy Associates Littleton Electric Mark Lee Insurance Agency Medmark Treatment Centers New Adventures Learning Center Oxford City Schools Board of Education Oxford Cleaners Oxford Dental Care Oxford Eye Clinic Oxford Primary & Weight Loss Center Oxford Water Department Parnell Insurance Agency Posche Salon PT Orthodontics R&R Travel Revitalize Chiropractic & Sport Rice, Rice, & Yates PC Spa Bleu State Farm Insurance Stepping Stones to Success Counseling The Vine Chiropractic Tracy Bonner Salon Wells Fargo Bank WVOK- Woodward Broadcasting

The mission of Historic Main Street Oxford is to bring prosperity and vitality back to our historic downtown, to celebrate our past while keeping an eye on our future.

Historic Main Street Oxford (HMSO) is a department within the city of Oxford and a member of Main Street Alabama and Main Street America. HMSO is an economic and community development organization focusing on a Four Point Approach strategy of Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Vitality. HMSO was established in 2014 to become a Main Street Designated Community. Since then, we have welcomed over fifteen new businesses, successfully implemented a facade improvement grant program, commissioned two murals, received ten Awards of Excellence from Main Street Alabama, and completed a $3 million streetscape renovation. We truly believe that investing in downtown supports local entrepreneurs, creates jobs, preserves one-of-a-kind buildings, promotes local assets, and provides unique choices for shopping and entertainment.

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OCTOBER 8, 2022

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RUBATO INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION On August 12th and 13th, the Oxford Performing Arts Center played host to the Rubato Semi-Finals and Finals competitions, during which the audience had the opportunity to vote for their favorite. Finally, the esteemed and highly credentialed adjudicators selected a gold and silver winner in each category. The inaugural event was a success, and planning is already underway for next year’s Rubato International Piano Competition!

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Julio Barreto has created an amazing legacy for Oxford, Calhoun County, and Alabama.There are other piano competitions, with many in far-flung exotic places.What has been created here is nothing short of magic.

It turns out Oxford, plus the world, plus the arts, plus youth has an extra special chemistry.

It works and works brilliantly.

OPAC Executive Director John Longshore said when he was asked if Oxford could host such an event, he replied, “Why not?”

After this very special week, the more appropriate response would be, “Why haven’t we done this before?”

The even better response would be, “Just wait until you see next year.”

It just proves “Jackets” are even more special when coated with ebony and ivory.

- Brian Graves

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The inaugural Rubato International Piano Competition brought twenty-one incredible performers to Oxford for a week of master classes, networking, and intense competition in the categories of Jazz and Classical music. These competitors are among the most talented young pianists globally and were proud to share their abilities and skills with the Oxford community and region.

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Your Oxford Performing Arts Center is continuing to grow, and thanks to your continued support, we recently announced our amazing Fall 2022 Season!

OPAC is constantly working to better serve our guests and members. In response to an ever-changing environment in the arts and entertainment, we have transitioned to a new, split-season model. Rather than one reveal celebration in the summer, we will be hosting two awesome reveal nights going forward each year. This split-season model allows OPAC to negotiate much more effectively with artists and agents while allowing patrons to better budget and plan their family’s entertainment. This Fall 2022 Season, we will bring names like Patti LaBelle, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, David Lee Murphy, Crystal Gayle, and Bret Michaels to Oxford. Visit oxfordpac.org to view our complete lineup and more information about OPAC. We just completed our inaugural Rubato International Piano Competition. This international competition was an amazing event that brought piano students from eight countries around the globe, ages twelve to twenty-six, to compete for top prizes in either classical or jazz genres. The week of August 8-13 was filled with incredible masterclasses, rehearsals, and friendly competition, ending with exhilarating semi-finals and finals performances. Moving forward, Rubato will be a platform that will expand our community’s appreciation for the arts enriching the lives of all who participate. All information from this past year’s and next year’s competitions can be found at rubatopiano.org.

During our 2019-2020 Season Reveal, we announced a mammoth new project, the Alabama Children’s Museum. Since that time, our team has been working hard behind the scenes to advance the project. Thanks to the generosity of early supporters of the project, during the Fall 2022 Season Reveal, we were proud to announce the location of the Alabama Children’s Museum. Over a dozen parcels of property in Historic Downtown Oxford have been acquired with the support of the Oxford City Council. With the property acquisition completed, we are kicking the project into overdrive, and we need your help to make this dream come true.

Visit alchildrensmuseum.org to learn more.

Thank you for believing in what OPAC means to this community and region! Your support is crucial as we strive to serve our guests and present great performances. We look forward to serving you soon at YOUR Oxford Performing Arts Center!

Thank you,

John Longshore

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • 100 CHOCCOLOCCO STREET, OXFORD, AL 36203

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1 0 0 C H O C C O LO C C O S T R E E T, OX F O R D , A L A B A M A

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322 Purchase at the OPAC Box Office in advance: Tuesday– Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Purchase at the door beginning 90 minutes prior to most ticketed events.

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RMC Health System Concert Series

THE RMC HEALTH SYSTEM CONCERT SERIES BRINGS THE STARS OF THE CLASSIC ROCK AND POP GENRES TO THE STAGE OF OPAC. GET READY TO ROCK OUT WITH GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP AND CLAP ALONG TO POP BALLADS WITH PATTI LABELLE. 70

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GARY PUCKETT AND UNION GAP

September 9 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $64 - $74 - $84 - $99 - $114

PATTI LABELLE

October 9 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $64 - $74 - $84 - $99 - $114

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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Webb Concrete & Building Materials Classic Country Series

THE WEBB CONCRETE & BUILDING MATERIALS SERIES IS BACK WITH AN ALL-NEW NAME AND IS NOW CENTERED ON PRESENTING YOU WITH THE BEST OF CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC. ENJOY CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC TUNES ALONG WITH THE STARS WHO BROUGHT THEM TO LIFE. 72

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AN EVENING WITH CRYSTAL GAYLE

October 2 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $59 - $79 - $89 - $99 - $119

CHRISTMAS WITH PHIL VASSAR & DEANA CARTER

December 18 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $59 - $79 - $89 - $99 - $119

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

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NobleBank & Trust Broadway Series

THE NOBLEBANK & TRUST BROADWAY SERIES FEATURES OUTSTANDING NATIONAL TOURS OF BOTH CLASSIC AND MODERN MUSICALS. GET READY TO TAP YOUR FEET AND SING ALONG TO THESE INCREDIBLE BROADWAY SHOWS. 74

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LEGALLY BLONDE

October 21 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $69 - $79 - $89 - $99 - $109

MY FAIR LADY

December 11 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $69 - $79 - $89 - $99 - $109

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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Bernardi Pops Series

THE BERNARDI POPS SERIES BRINGS THE FABULOUS ATLANTA POPS ORCHESTRA TO THE STAGE FOR FIVE INCREDIBLE CONCERTS EACH YEAR. WITH A RICH HISTORY SPANNING SEVEN DECADES, THE ATLANTA POPS ORCHESTRA HAS CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WITH A DIVERSE REPERTOIRE OF POPULAR MUSIC. 76

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SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT WITH THE ATLANTA POPS

October 30 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $49 - $59 - $69 - $79 - $89

A SWINGIN’ CHRISTMAS TIME WITH THE POPS WITH JOE GRANSDEN

December 15 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $49 - $59 - $69 - $79 - $89

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

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POTTS ARTS DISCOVERY SERIES

Ar t s Discovery

THE POTTS ARTS DISCOVERY SERIES FEATURES ENGAGING FAMILY PROGRAMMING WITH OVER-THE-TOP SPECTACLES AND EXCITING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES. WITH A FOCUS ON ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, THE POTTS SERIES PRESENTS SHOWS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES! 78

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LIGHTWIRE’S THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

October 7 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $19 - $29 - $39 - $49 - $59

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

NOVEMBER 21 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $19 - $29 - $39 - $49 - $59

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

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Legends Series

THE LEGENDS SERIES FEATURES SOME OF THE BEST TOURING TRIBUTE SHOWS AND COVER BANDS IN THE COUNTRY. THESE EXCELLENT CONCERTS BRING TO LIFE THE MUSIC OF THE LEGENDS OF ROCK AND POP IN AN EXCITING, REIMAGINED WAY. 80

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WINTER DANCE PARTY

SEPTEMBER 16 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $29 - $39 - $49 - $59 - $69

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

NOVEMBER 18 TICKETS ON SALE NOW $29 - $39 - $49 - $59 - $69

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2022

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Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama Chamber Music Series

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS VIRTUOSOS OF THE CLASSICAL MUSIC GENRE RANGING FROM SOLO PIANISTS UP TO EIGHT-PIECE ENSEMBLES. EXPERIENCE TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC ALONG WITH THE MUSIC OF MORE MODERN COMPOSERS. 82

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GABRIEL MARTINS

NOVEMBER 1 TICKETS ON SALE NOW STUDIO SEATING - $69

CHRISTMAS WITH FRISSON

DECEMBER 1 TICKETS ON SALE NOW STUDIO SEATING - $69

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STEAMTRAIN MAURY

© LKM2022, All text and images are protected by copyright.

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America’s Eccentric & Intriguing Hobos

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BY LARRY K. MARTIN

I didn’t have to look out the window of the Boeing 727, and I didn’t especially want to. The lightning was close and constant, surrounding us on all sides. The passengers were silent except for gasps or a muted whimper following each sinuous trail of brilliant orange light. Turbulence was abrupt and unrelenting. The pilots were attempting, without much success, to skirt the worst fast-approaching cumulonimbus clouds that towered around the plane, even at 20,000 feet. The constant storms had begun halfway through the Atlanta-Detroit flight and continued until the landing. I asked myself and even jotted it down, “What the h*ll am I doing here?” (I tend to use only mild cursing when flying in a thunderstorm.) All of this, just to have another chat with an old hobo and, maybe, get him to co-sign a package of prints. Everything seemed eerily still and silent as we eventually did land and taxied through the darkness onto the gate. No other planes landed or took off in this, one of the busiest airports in the country. At baggage check, I saw a guard and spoke, “I don’t remember ever seeing so little activity at this airport.” He replied, “I’ve been on duty since noon, and if your plane landed, it’s the only one.”

STEAMTRAIN MAURY The following day, when I met with a grinning, effervescent Steamtrain Maury, I knew it was worth the trip. He met me in the hotel restaurant, and we talked for hours and signed prints. Even his signature had a flair, with smoke coming from his “t” in Steamtrain. He was dressed to the nines in his signature style – blue jeans and plaid sport coat, with its badges and sewn-on patches, plus a red bandana, slouch hat, and walking boots. His right shoulder sported a golden loop, lifted from some military color-guard uniform.

Steamtrain was a sport, and his charismatic personality was punctuated with a full-around white beard and matching gray topknot. He carried with him his hobo walking stick with the curls or twists. It was no surprise that he had been elected “King of the Hobos” for five consecutive years by popular vote at the annual Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Each year of competition, he charmed the crowds of hobos and spectators with animated tales from his decade-plus years of tramping and boxcar riding.

Before he was Steamtrain, Maury worked and raised a family with his wife, Wanda. His career as a cement finisher ended when he developed hip dysplasia and bad knees after years of kneeling and stooping. His daughters were grown and gone, and the house seemed smaller, especially during the harsh winters. He joked that Wanda began to comment about his “just sitting around the house,” and that she kinda smiled when he suggested that he might “go out and hop a freight.” So, he did just that. He told Wanda only that he was taking the next train, not in any specific direction.

Certainly wasn’t “taking the westbound,” a term used to announce a hobo’s death. He left with just a few “necessaries” and traveled for ten years.

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When he returned home, he charmed Wanda and won her back after taking her to dinner. She paid the tab. With her teacher’s retirement and financial security, Wanda and Steamtrain found a comfortable arrangement. They left the modest two-story home in Ohio, and bought a used but comfortable, Winnebago van, and set out for a modified nomad lifestyle.

By now, the name “Steamtrain Maury-Five-Time King of the Hobos” had become synonymous with certifiable hobo royalty. He made the rounds to the top talk shows, always an ambassador for the Annual Hobo Convention in Iowa. Maury was a famous celebrity guest, with appearances on the classic quiz and reality shows of those days (What’s My Line, I’ve Got a Secret, and Real People). Being an outstanding ad libber, he was a shoo-in as a guest on the evening talk shows. “I liked all of those guys except David Letterman.

I almost got into a tussle with him.”

Steamtrain Maury Photo by LKM

Those appearances, his well-received book “Tales of the Iron Road,” and Wanda’s retirement benefits seemed more than enough security. I had become friends with Steamtrain and Wanda during those years, and met with them at a railroad event in Indiana for an interview and photos for a painting. I asked him about his experiences on TV shows. Rather than explaining how scary it was to face a national audience, he admitted that he relished those events almost as much as his days on the “iron road.”

MR. VICTOR CHADWICK, AMERICAN HOBO My first encounter with a real-life hobo who claimed to be one and looked the part was by pure happenstance. I met Mr. Victor Chadwick near my studio in Jacksonville, Alabama. I drove past the elderly figure who stood on the edge of the highway, seemingly doing nothing other than enjoying the scenery. He was dressed in a sports coat, slacks, and tennis shoes. The curl of his walking cane seemed to be draped by a white sock. I couldn’t escape the feeling that I’d stepped back in time and place—smack into a Dickens novel.

After a quick U-turn, I pulled over and talked with him for a while.

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I didn’t have my camera, so I asked whether he would be willing to stay overnight in the area if I paid for his meals and a room in the local boarding house in nearby Piedmont. He seemed more than eager to take me up on the offer. We went to one of my favorite restaurants, The Village Inn, where we talked at length about his hobo lifestyle. He was a hobo by choice after following an irresistible urge to wander, walk, and follow a somewhat lonesome path. His “possibles” bag held a meager assortment of toiletries, a change of clothing, and a blanket. I commented on how clean and fresh his clothing seemed to be. “It’s not always like this. Sometimes I look really crumpled and not too clean,” he said. “It’s a rough lifestyle, not knowing where you’ll sleep or what you’ll eat, but there’s nothing to compare to the freedom. The best feeling in the world is to walk off into the woods when you’re tired, throw down your blanket, and go to sleep. One of my best mornings was in the middle of winter, waking up just at dawn, covered with several inches of snow. I’d been sound asleep under my blanket. All I had

to do was shake all that snow off. The air was bitter cold. I felt great, like a wild animal,” he said. “I let out a long howl just like a wolf! I was so far from anybody that I didn’t worry about anyone hearing me. That was the best moment in all of my hobo years.”

I took some photos and said that if I could do a drawing of him and had prints made, he would get a nice royalty if we co-sign some of them. He did return the following year. We signed prints, and I suggested we go by the Anniston Museum of Natural History, where they exhibited a number of my paintings. I had already ensured that the print “Mr. Victor Chadwick, American Hobo” was displayed in the main lobby. I photographed him viewing his own image and sent it, with a description, to the magazine Art Business News in New York.

To my surprise, they featured it on the front page of the next edition. ............................................

Gas Can Paddy

From 1980 to 1990, I met a fair number of bona fide hobos. There was a particular pride evidenced by men, and an occasional lady, who had lived immersed in the vagabond lifestyle. Each had a hobo name or moniker. I traveled to various events in search of new subjects and there was no shortage of good prospects.

As always, I gathered plenty of photo references and did a lot of interviewing.

But after a couple of years, it became evident that there wasn’t enough time to draw or paint all my best would-be characters. It gradually became impossible to complete my wish list of hobo renderings. I’d loved to have added several more from the Hobo Bucket List: Gypsy Moon, Hobo Queen (the only female subject that I met), or the clever hobo called “Gas Can Paddy.” He always carried the same empty gasoline can when hitchhiking so that passersby would think he needed a ride to the next service station. He said that it was remarkably effective.

The Alabama hobo and his hobo son, “Knot Man,” who tied cords into articulate designs, were both very pleasant and lived near Gadsden, Alabama. Also, the man who called himself “Reefer Charlie.” He’d been given that name, not because of any drug habit but because he always found a way to get inside the refrigerated rail cars or “reefers.” Hobos know that the name is part of the game. As with Reefer, that is the part of the moniker everyone remembered.

Steamtrain (left) with Ches McCartney, America’s Goat Man and photographer Ken Elkins (center), at The Wren’s Nest Gallery, 1990.

© LKM2022, All text and images are protected by copyright.

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A DECADE OF PRESERVATION AND PARTNERSHIP AT CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK IN OXFORD, ALABAMA

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The Choccolocco Creek watershed is one of the largest tributaries in the Coosa River drainage system and crosses four counties (Cleburne, Calhoun, Talladega, and Clay) in Alabama. This region has been the home of indigenous people for more than 12,000 years. In fact, the first Alabamians were Muskogean-speaking people who are still alive and thrive within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation today. Although the Muscogee Nation was forcibly removed from the Choccolocco Valley over 186 years ago, we are still connected to our homelands and take an active role in protecting the cultural remains left behind.

Federal preservation laws like the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require federal agencies to consider the effects of undertakings they carry out, license, approve, or fund on cultural and environmental resources. These two laws also require federal agencies to consult with federally recognized tribes and the State Historic Preservation Office. In 2010, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was notified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District, about the commercial development of a new sports complex located on Leon Smith Parkway near Choccolocco Creek in Oxford. After cultural remains were inadvertently discovered in the area, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation worked with the city of Oxford, the Alabama Historical Commission, USACE, and local archaeologists to document and protect the Boiling Springs archaeological site, which included the remnants of a large earthen platform mound and surrounding village. We entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with all the stakeholders and developed a plan to protect the cultural resources and promote the Muscogee history associated with the site.

Muscogee oral histories and place names in the Muscogee (Mvskoke) language still exist and remind us of our legacy on the landscape. Places like Choccolocco Creek still hold cultural significance to our tribe today. I have heard elders talk about this region, specifically the Coosa River, which was named after the Coosa people.

BY RAELYNN A. BUTLER, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION MANAGER, MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION

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The Coosa were strong Muscogee people who encountered the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1539. The Coosa River and its tributaries also supported and sustained hundreds of Muscogee Tribal Towns for hundreds of generations. We still have descendants within the Muscogee Nation that are Coosa, and it has been so meaningful for us to see and step foot in the places we have only heard stories about.

Choccolocco Creek in Oxford is connected to Arbeka Ceremonial Ground which is from the Tribal Town called Apehkv Tvlvteke. Historically, the Arbeka were known as the gatekeepers of the Creek Confederacy because they protected the northern and western frontiers of the Muscogee Nation.

During removal on what our people call the Road of Misery (Nene Estemerkv), the Arbeka people carried the sacred fires from this region to our new lands in present-day Oklahoma. This fire continues to burn, and Arbeka continues to carry on the Muscogee traditional way of life and religion. In the Mvskoke language, Choccolocco is known as “cuko-rakko”, which refers to “ceremonial ground” and literally translates to “Big House.” The signature baseball field at Choccolocco Park is called the

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“Big House” in honor of this connection, and there is a plaque dedicated to the Muscogee Nation at the stadium.

Over the last ten years, the Muscogee Nation has built a successful partnership with the city of Oxford that has allowed us to have a voice in the management of our cultural resources. The city of Oxford also helped the Muscogee (Creek) Nation host the “Reyicepes” (We have come back) Festival this past April and we thank the community for coming out to meet us and support the homecoming event.

This partnership with Oxford is unique and unparalleled since we currently do not have this opportunity with any other cities in Alabama. We thank the city of Oxford and surrounding communities for showing us kindness and respect. We are humbled to be welcomed back home, and we are grateful to have Muscogee leaders and citizens reconnect to the lands we fought so hard to keep.

We look forward to the next ten years of partnership with the city of Oxford.

The Choccolocco Park features an interpretive history trail and an earthen mound that was reconstructed in the footprint of the original mound that once stood here over 2,000 years ago.

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD TEAM

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They have been together only four years, but these Oxford athletes already have multiple wins and medals to prove they are a champion team!

Lara Hurst is the coach for the Alabama Special Olympics stand-up paddleboard team. “I got into it about five years ago when stand-up paddleboard was a new exhibition sport for Special Olympics. I was asked to get some athletes together, and they participated in the first games for stand-up paddleboard in Seattle in 2018,” Lara shared.

“This last year, as we were preparing to go to the games in Orlando, they asked me to be the head coach for the state Special Olympic team,” Lara said.

In June, Lara took her team, consisting of three athletes from Oxford, four from Dothan, and three from Huntsville, to the Special Olympics USA in Orlando, FL. She expressed her appreciation to The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties for supporting the trip.

“We couldn’t do this without them. They made it possible for the team to go to Orlando,” Lara shared. In total, the Arc helped to send eight local athletes and hosted a reception for them when they returned home.

The stand-up paddleboard club practices once a week in the summer and travel to other cities across the southeast. Currently, seven athletes from the area participate, and they recently competed in Montgomery. Kade completed the one mile course, and Serena and Garret completed the three mile course.

Lara says, “Next year, we will do state Special Olympics, which will be three to four races against typical peers. We are looking forward to going to Minnesota in four years for the 2026 Special Olympics USA.” Congratulations to Garret, Serena, and Kade. All of Oxford will be cheering you on in 2026!

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GARRET SIMMONS Graduate from Oxford High School Bronze, level 3, 1600 meters 2022 Special Olympics USA When the race started, he paddled so hard that he broke his paddle. A race official tossed him another paddle, and it only cost him about a minute. He was able to finish – placing third and winning the bronze medal.

“It didn’t faze him when he broke a paddle,” said Lara Hurst.

KADE MORGAN Homeschool, 10th grader Gold, level 4, 800 meters 2022 Special Olympics USA He joined the stand-up paddleboard team in 2018 He has a great attitude. “When I was doing my race, I felt sick to my stomach, but I still did it anyway.”

Kade said. “I had a lot of fun while we were in Orlando.”

SERENA MARABLE Graduate from Oxford High School Gold, 1600 meters 2022 Special Olympics USA Gold in Seattle 2018 Special Olympics USA “She’s fast – one of the fastest on the team.”

Serena graduated from Oxford High School in May and is doing Project SEARCH. This one-year skill-building experience combines classroom instruction, career exploration, and on-site training to empower young adults to succeed in work and life.

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Alabama Special Olympics Stand-up Paddleboard team competing in the national games held in Orlando, FL. June 4-12, 2022

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BYNUM COMMUNITY CENTER 200 Victory Dr, Eastaboga, AL 36260 (256) 241-2716 CHEAHA CLUBHOUSE 910 Boozer Drive, Oxford, AL 36203 256-831-2660 CHOCCOLOCCO PARK 954 Leon Smith Parkway, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 342-0174 OXFORD CIVIC CENTER AND OXFORD LAKE 401 McCullars Lane, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2660 FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER 2930 Friendship Rd, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2679 SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER 424 Main Street, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-5900

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O X F O R D

L A K E

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WHY I TEACH OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: MICHAL TAYLOR-PHILLIPS

THE CITY OF OXFORD IS PROUD TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATORS

AND HIGHEST-RATED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE. RECENTLY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW MICHAL TAYLOR-PHILLIPS.

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Born in Newnan, Georgia, Michal Taylor-Phillips studied illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia. Michal is the Visual Arts Teacher at Oxford High School and covers Visual Arts 1-4 and AP Art classes. This school year will be her fifth year with the Oxford City School System.

She and her husband, Shelby, have a daughter. Together they love going to museums, being outdoors, camping, and hiking. Michal is currently working on a series of large paintings in soft pastels about the animals in the ecosystems of Alabama rivers.

We hope you enjoy getting to know her better in the Q&A that follows:

What grades do you teach, and have you taught other grades?

I teach 9-12. I have taught every grade level. When I started teaching 14 years ago, I taught elementary school art classes, K-5. I later worked as an arts integration specialist at a K-8 charter school outside Atlanta.

What made you want to become a teacher?

I never intended to be a teacher. My high school teacher approached me several years after graduating from college about teaching in the local school system. She felt that professional artists needed to teach art, even at the elementary level, to build a meaningful program there.

She made me feel like I could make a difference, so I decided to give it a try. I never thought I would still be teaching 14 years later.

What is the most satisfying thing about teaching?

The most satisfying thing about teaching is the students. Every day I know that I’ve made a difference to at least one of my students, even if all I did was make them feel welcome and at home in my classroom. I feel incredibly humbled when one of them tells me that I am important to them or that they’ve learned something from me.

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Teacher Spotlight

What do you look forward to most at the beginning of each year?

Because I teach several levels of art, many students take my classes for three or maybe even all four years of their high school experience. I look forward to seeing those students again. I get very excited about working with the ones that have taken my class every year. I’ve gotten to see them grow as artists and as people.

What’s the most challenging part of being a teacher?

There are so many hats a teacher has to wear and many parts of the job that don’t feel like they have anything to do with teaching kids. The most challenging part of being a teacher is being what your students need you to be on the days when you have a million other obligations.

How do you want former students to remember you?

I hope they remember me as kind. I hope that they remember that I cared about them and wanted them to be their best selves, whatever that turned out to be.

What methods do you use each day to bring out the best in students?

I use a method called Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). It is essentially a choice–based system of creating in the classroom setting. I ask students to choose what kind of art they will make and what materials and techniques they will use. I provide rubrics, deadlines, and weekly teacher or peer feedback to give them a structure to work within that mimics the structure that a professional artist might use. These choices allow students of all different levels and interests to find an access point for the arts or develop the skills they already have to a higher level. In my Visual Arts 1 classes, I might see students who have never touched a paint brush alongside students who are already creating at a professional level. I want to ensure that all students can create art in a way that will make them successful, recognizing that success will mean something different for each student.

When you see former students who are now older, what’s one thing they typically say they remember about your classroom?

My former students most often remember that my class was fun. I like to think that my class time represented a break in their day where they could be themselves and use their abilities in a different way. And I hope that was fun for them.

Do you have anything else you would like to add?

As a teacher and an artist, I’m very interested in new and innovative practices. While working in Georgia, I was part of a school that integrated nature, agriculture, and the arts into the core curriculum and standards. It was a fun and truly invigorating experience. I was able to work with phenomenal teachers. Their ideas and creative energy were essential to building a new way of engaging students in learning. After the turmoil of the last few years, namely the effects of the covid pandemic on all aspects of our lives, I’m hoping education can rely on the creative energy of its teachers to direct an innovative path forward.

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CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY 888 — Noah Matheny 99 — Aiden Peterson 777 — Ramsey Pippin

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GREENPOWER USA

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

This past May, on the infield of the Talladega Superspeedway, middle and high school teams from across the country participated in the Greenpower USA National Championship. Teams competed in two 90-minute race heats to see who could go the farthest in electric race cars that they built themselves.

There were over 600 students present; some traveled from as far as Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Texas. The teams battled hard against themselves, against each other, and against the heat as asphalt temps rose above 136°F. Local teams from Oxford High School and Oxford Middle School were also in attendance.

Oxford High School teams came into the event Ranked #1 in both the Kit and Modified Divisions, and were ranked 2nd in the Custom Division. After the racing was over and the miles accumulated, Oxford Middle School ranked #2 in the nation in Kit Division. While Oxford High School placed 2nd in both the Custom and Modified divisions, they were named National Champions in the Kit Division.

This is the second National Championship OHS has won in as many seasons. Their first was in the Modified Division in 2020.

Congratulations to the participating teams and our local schools for their accolades.

FRONT ROW - Lucas Carron; Ashley Paulson; Bryant McCarney; Jacob Hammock; Madison Wiley; Aiden Peterson; Duvall Moore; Connor Heaton SECOND ROW - Will Smith; Noah Matheny; Logan Ford; Sarah Edwards; Xavier Gortney; Ramsey Pippin; Laney Gaither; Lilly Kizziah; John Herndon; Diya Patel; Anna Jones; Payton Ratliff

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BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS Judy Muncher • Oxford City Schools Education Foundation, Executive Director

The Oxford City Schools Education Foundation was thrilled to host its annual “Breakfast of Champions” for the employees of Oxford City Schools. This event is always filled with so much excitement! Smiling faces, laughter, and enthusiasm filled the room as we were all preparing to begin a great school year! The city of Oxford is filled with amazing businesses that support our great school system, teachers, and students!

Thank you, McDonald’s, for supplying biscuits and drinks. Thank you, Dunkin’ Donuts; you are always happy to help and provide delicious donuts! Thank you, Southern Girl Coffee, which is a local favorite. We all enjoyed the coffee provided!

We look forward to seeing the great things our schools will do this year! Go BIG O!

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WORLD CHANGERS 2022 • A team of volunteers worked at nine sites in Calhoun County, three of those in Oxford.

• There were 100 participants from six states – as far away as south Texas.

• Home improvement projects included: roofing, handicap ramps, painting, siding repair, windows replaced, and overgrown yards cleared and cleaned.

“We are World Changers. As part of the Baptist Association Mission Board, our mission is to get into neighborhoods and help people with things they can’t get done on their own. I’m the director of the construction project because I have some experience, and I just enjoy teaching these kids how to do this kind of stuff. And using it to reach the community for Christ. So that’s our mission; that’s all of our missions.”

“Everybody that helps, from the volunteers who feed us, to the guys working on this crew, to the people that put all this together, they do a fantastic job. I hope I can do it for many more years. It’s just amazing.”

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David Montgomery, Crew Chief & Director of the Construction Project

“

Thank you again, city of Oxford, for all you did to ensure that World Changers helped families in Oxford this year. The homeowners expressed their happiness with the help they received, and the volunteers said they enjoyed serving in Oxford. Family members came to a site and expressed how much it meant that someone would help their sister and brother-in-law.

Janice Scheitlin, Site Coordinator World Changers Oxford/Anniston Project

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“We are very appreciative of the city of Oxford and the local churches that support us. – We could not do this without them.

The city provides the funding to do the work, and the churches provide housing, meals, and snacks during the week.

We come to town to bless others, and we end up being the ones blessed each year. It’s a long week sleeping on air mattresses and showering in trailers, but it’s all worth it in the end.

We share the love of Jesus by showing the love of Jesus.”

Anthony Rhodes, Project Leader World Changers Oxford/Anniston Project

“I heard the city of Oxford was taking applications for World Changers. So, I filled out an application and was approved to get help. It’s been a gift from God. It’s so nice to be around a bunch of kids so enthusiastic about what they’re doing.

They’re a blessing, and the leaders are just as nice as they can be.

I don’t know that I would have been able to move back into this house if this organization had not been able to do the repairs and things I needed. The house has been in my family since 1981. I’ve raised my three boys here.”

Pam, homeowner in Bynum, AL

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EXCERPT FROM IMAGES OF AMERICA: OXFORD

BY HUNTER C. GENTRY & AMY E. HENDERSON

HISTORY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

On June 10, 1953, Governor Gordon Persons, alongside a group of Oxford residents headed by Mayor Hemphill G. Whiteside, signed a bill to annex the Lakeview community into the city limits of Oxford. The annexed area included a one-half square mile and more than 450 residents.

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Oxford was established by an act of Alabama Legislation on February 7, 1852; the bill was proposed by Representative Matthew Allen of Benton County. The limits of the town included one square mile from the center at the male academy on Second Street. Elisha S. Simmons, Edmund P. Gains, John A. Turnipseed, Stephen C. Williams, and Woodson Seay were authorized to run on a ballot for the election of three council members and an intendant (mayor).

It was decided that on the first Saturday of each March annually, municipal elections would be held for offices of council and mayor.

On February 21, 1860, Oxford was chartered for the second time due to the earlier redrawing of boundary lines and the changing of the name of Benton County to Calhoun County. The limits of the town included a half-mile in each direction from the railroad culvert at Spring Street. Elections were to be held on the first Monday of each March annually. In this incorporation, the law called for the election of seven council members and an intendant. The council members and intendant were given the power to elect a marshal, clerk, and treasurer. Those who have served as mayor of Oxford, respectively, include Elisha S. Simmons, Dr. Stephen C. Williams, Samuel C. Kelly, James S. Kelly, Edgar H. Hanna, Charles T. Hilton, William J. Borden, John B. McCain, Dr. Thomas C. Hill, Robert P. Thomason, William H. Griffin, John N. Gunnels, Thomas A. Howle, Maj. William A. Orr, George W. Eichelberger, William C. Gray, Dreadzil P. Haynes, Asa C. Allen, William R. Norton, Davis C. Cooper, Robert R. Pope, Dr. Thomas B. Howle, Carl D. Pace, Hemphill G. Whiteside, Alvis A. Hamric, Bester A. Adams, Earl R. Martin, Therman E. Whitmore, Leon Smith, and Alton Craft.

The Oxford Police Department was established at the time of the first incorporation.

However, the earliest police force only included one town marshal. The first recorded marshal for Oxford was Francis M. Gardner, who served in the early 1880s.

Alvis A. Hamric served as mayor from 1960 to 1970. Hamric was the son of Jared and Hester Upton Hamric, born in January, 1905, in DeKalb County, Alabama. He received his formal education from Jacksonville State University and Auburn University. Before moving to Oxford in 1943, Hamric and his wife, Rubye Hyatt Hamric, taught school at White Plains. In 1946, Hamric became a public accountant at Hamric & Hudson Accountants.

During his time in office as mayor, Oxford saw many changes, including the construction of Interstate 20 and the Quintard Mall, along with the extension of Blue Pond Shopping Plaza. During his time in office, the mayor’s position became full-time, Oxford Lake was purchased, and land was annexed. Before his death, Mayor Hamric worked tirelessly to ensure the creation of an independent school system for the city.

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The Oxford Fire Department was organized as a volunteer department on May 18, 1884.

Major William A. Orr served as the first chief.

In 1904, the citizens of Oxford were convinced that the town needed a permanent city hall for the purposes of conducting municipal business. In September of that year, it was decided that city hall would be located in a building on Main Street and that the fire department would share the building. An armory was established adjacent to the building for the Calhoun Rifles.

The calaboose was located several yards south on Spring Street.

In 1953, the city of Oxford purchased water lines from the pipeworks firm of King and Hamilton of Anniston for residences from Monger and Choccolocco Streets east along Highway 78 to McCullars Lane and south to Oxford Lake.

Left to right: J.J. Billie (Foreman of Water Department), Boyd Cobb, Gerald Cobb, and former mayor, Carl D. Pace.

The photo shows Oxford’s early mobile fire apparatus, the “hook and ladder” truck used by the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department.

The Hot Blast, the predecessor to The Anniston Star, recorded on March 14, 1885, that the Oxford Fire Department purchased a fire alarm bell. The bell was used to alarm the town citizens during times of distress, especially on the occasion of a fire. Today, the bell sits in the cupola atop the Oxford Performing Arts Center. On at least four occasions, the Oxford Fire Department saved the town from burning to the ground from a fire within the Oxford Hotel. In 1883, 1885, 1888, and 1890, the Oxford Hotel caught on fire. On December 8, 1885, Major William A. Orr fell from the roof of the hotel and broke his hip while trying to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings and residences.

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T H E OX F O R D A RTS C O U N C I L P R E S E N TS

2022 CITY OF OXFORD HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST The annual City of Oxford Christmas Decorating Contest has been sponsored for many years by the Oxford Arts Council. Awards will be presented by the Mayor of Oxford, Alton Craft, and will include certificates and yard signs. The awards presentation for the announcement of winners will be at the Oxford City Council meeting on December 13, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. A reception for the winners will be at 6:00 p.m. prior to the awards presentation.

The 2022 Contest begins on November 26 and ends on December 10. Nominations are encouraged and will be accepted at The Oxford Performing Arts Center at 100 Choccolocco Street in Oxford or with any Arts Council member.

The Categories are: BUSINESS BEST LIGHTING MAIN STREET MOST BEAUTIFUL MOST CHRISTMAS SPIRIT MOST CREATIVE MOST TRADITIONAL REASON FOR THE SEASON WINTER WONDERLAND In addition, Lifetime Honor Achievement Awards will be presented to past winners who have consistently contributed to the holiday beautification of the city each year.

Thanks to all participants in the annual Christmas Decorating Contest, which creates a beautiful holiday spirit in Oxford.

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2021 DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS

Business—BR Williams Trucking, Inc

Best Lighting—Tyler

Most Beautiful—Hollingsworth

Most Christmas Spirit—Comer

Most Creative—Williams

Most Traditional—Abernathy

Reason for the Season—LaPlante

Lifetime Honor—McKleroy

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THE OXFORD ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS OXFORD COMMUNITY CHORUS

FALL HOLIDAY CONCERT NOVEMBER 15, 2022 The city of Oxford, the Oxford Performing Arts Center, and the Oxford Arts Council are pleased to announce that preparations are underway for the Oxford Community Chorus Fall Holiday Concert scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at OPAC. This performance contains holiday favorites designed to usher in the many exciting activities planned for the city during the holiday season. The program will include “Carol of the Bells,” “Jingle Bells,” “Star of Bethlehem,” “Grown Up Christmas List,” “Let It Snow,’” and other holiday standards.

A concert highlight will be the choral rendition of the famous poem by Clement Clark Moore, Twas the Night Before Christmas, first published on December 23, 1823. This poem gave Santa eight named reindeer and described a magical Santa who could sneak in and out of homes via chimneys and created the chubby, cheerful well-dressed icon ever-present during Christmas and easily recognized by all children and the young at heart everywhere.

A jolly surprise guest will be present at the concert to greet those attending because activities in his workshop are well ahead of schedule for the year.

Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. beginning on September 6, 2022, at OPAC. All current and former chorus members and other vocalists who would like to participate are encouraged to attend. The director of the chorus is Don Gober.

Accompanying the chorus is a small orchestra.

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