Hoover's Magazine, April/May 2020

EXPLORING CAREERS AT RC3 • THE LASTING IMPACT OF VAPOR MINISTRIES • THE ART OF DON RANKIN

A LOOK AT HOOVER

THEN AND NOW

WHAT DREAMCAKES ARE MADE OF

APRIL/MAY 2020 HooversMagazine.com Vol. 9 | Issue 2 $4.95

SIMPLY TIMELESS A FARMHOUSE DESIGN STORY HooversMagazine.com 1

IN AN EMERGENCY,

A COMMUNITY BUILT ON RESPONSIVENESS In an emergency, you have the power to choose where to receive expert care. Insist on going to Brookwood Baptist Medical Center. As your community of care, take comfort in knowing we’ll always be here when you need it the most.

For more information, visit BrookwoodBaptistMedicalCenter.com For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1

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“ TAKE ME TO BROOKWOOD BAPTIST.”

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BROOKWOOD BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER: EMERGENCY ROOM

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Brookwood Baptist Medical Center 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209 PENDENCE CT INDE

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HooversMagazine.com 3

FEATURES

49

BUILDERS & BUYERS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

With spring comes spring cleaning and more. Here’s your guide to home décor, organizing and other resources.

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THEN & NOW How has Hoover changed in the last few decades? Comparing old and new photos of wellknown places throughout the city will give you an idea.

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Micah McElveen’s remarkable story of survival led to Vapor Ministries’ work in Africa and Haiti.

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A DIVINE BLUEPRINT

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15

PHOTO BY LAUREN WINTER

arts & culture

15 Capturing Memories: Don Rankin’s Acclaimed Paintings 21 Read This Book: Selections from BPES Librarian Allison Dolan 24 Book Nook: Hoover Library Foundation

food

& drink

25 Dreamcakes Café: Cakes and Coffee in Ross Bridge 31 Featured Drink: Dreamcakes’ Strawberry Lemonade Milkshake 32 Five Questions For: MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

schools & sports

in every issue 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 9 The Guide 22 Aldridge Gardens 66 Hoover Area Chamber 70 Out & About 78 Marketplace 80 Why I Love Hoover

33 RC3: Riverchase Career Connection Center’s First Year

home

& style

39 Farmhouse Feeling: The Moujoodi Family’s Timeless Retreat

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contributors EDITORIAL

Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Scott Mims Emily Sparacino Briana H. Wilson

CONTRIBUTORS Allison Dolan Lauren Dowdle Sarah Finnegan Dawn Harrison Melanie Peeples Heather Skaggs Lauren Winter

DESIGN

Dawn Harrison, Photographer Dawn Harrison is a freelance photographer out of Birmingham. She grew up and put down roots off of 280, where she lives with her wonderful husband, five kids, one son-in-law, two grandkids, three dogs, two cats, eight cows and two ducks. When she isn’t taking pictures, you can find her burning up 280 getting to various school and sporting events, or hanging out in carpool lines. She feels extremely blessed to be a part of the publication and to continue to meet such inspiring members of our community.

Melanie Peeples, Writer Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Melanie covered the South for National Public Radio, writing about everything from the trial of the

Angela Caver Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green Connor Martin-Lively

country’s first school shooter to the 85th anniversary of the MoonPie. She

MARKETING

Heather is an author, freelance writer and native of Hoover, where she

Kristy Brown Darniqua Bowen Kari George Caroline Hairston Nick Heady Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Viridiana Romero Briana Sanders Lisa Shapiro Jessica Steelman Kerrie Thompson

loves travelling to new places (and old places, too) and also coming home.

Heather Jones Skaggs, Writer lives with her husband, Greg; daughter, Charlotte; and fur-baby, Carrie.

National publisher Arcadia Publishing and The History Press found Heather in 2012, and together they have published three books covering Hoover’s history. When she is not researching her latest book, Heather digs for the untold stories in Hoover and brings them to the pages of magazines and newspapers – including this publication.

Lauren Winter, Photographer Southern to the core, Lauren Winter grew up in Birmingham and now lives in Bluff Park. She is mama to two little girls, and owner of Fresh Grace Photography, which specializes in lifestyle family photography and

ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince

weddings. In addition to her girls, Lauren’s favorites include sweet tea, camping, football, bluebirds, thunderstorms and puppy breath.

Hoover’s Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.

Hoover’s Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Hoover’s Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.

Hoover’s Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Hoover, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit HooversMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting HooversMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@hooversmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext.

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6 April/May 2020

from the editor

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ON THE COVER

JeriKay Moujoodi

A self-taught design buff and style influencer, JeriKay has shared many elements of her family’s gorgeous home with her followers of @jk_farmhouselove.

Photo by Lauren Winter Design by Jamie Dawkins

My note for this issue looked a bit different when I first wrote it. In the days since, our community, along with the rest of the world, has been grappling with the coronavirus pandemic and trying to come to terms with the impact it is having on our lives. The words “quarantine” and “social distancing” have become common in our everyday vocabulary, just as frequent hand-washing and disinfecting have taken higher priority in our daily regimens. But as we face the uncertainty of the future related to this sickness, I think it’s even more paramount that we turn to each other for support—and remember the positive stories that still surround us in these worrisome times.

On that note, I hope the stories in the following pages lift your spirits and remind you how wonderful it is to be a part of this special community, a vibrant area that’s seen its share of changes since the city’s incorporation in 1967. A steadily growing population, now hovering near 88,000 people, has earned Hoover the sixth spot on Alabama’s list of largest cities and spurred continuous development over the last 52 years. Signs of progress are all around, from growing neighborhoods to varied businesses to advanced infrastructure. Our eyes adjust to these outward changes over time, reconciling what was with what is and preparing for what’s to come. And those of us who are newer to the city lean on its archives—photographs, written history and stories of those who played a role in Hoover’s incorporation—to know more about the city’s foundation on which it still functions today.

I was excited when Heather Skaggs pitched me the idea of putting together a pictorial feature highlighting Hoover’s rich history and growth. Heather teamed up with photographer Dawn Harrison to pair old photos with new ones showing well-known areas and landmarks, including the Riverchase Galleria that opened in 1986. Heather dug into local and personal archives to retrieve the old snapshots and accompanying information for the historic part of this feature, while Dawn took on the risky task of photographing these now-bustling areas. She deserves an extra pat on the back for venturing into a turn lane to take a picture on Highway 31!

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to join us on our visual stroll down Memory Lane. Maybe one or more of the images will bring to mind other Hoover memories for you, too. And, while you’re here, I hope you’ll also spend time getting to know Don Rankin and his beautiful paintings; Jan and Dwight Potter and the treats their team is crafting at the new Dreamcakes Café in Ross Bridge; and Micah McElveen, the visionary behind what’s now known as Vapor Ministries. If you have feedback or story ideas you’d like to share, especially ones about people you see helping each other in the days ahead, I’d love to hear from you.

emily.sparacino@hooversmagazine.com HooversMagazine.com 7

8 April/May 2020

THE GUIDE

KHSA TABLESCAPES POSTPONED FROM APRIL 22 King’s Home Shelby Auxiliary’s 2020 Tablescapes luncheon, “Beauty for Ashes,” has been postponed in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Check the King’s Home Shelby Auxiliary Facebook page for updates on rescheduling the event. In the meantime, current needs at the home include: toilet paper, disposable gloves, disinfectant wipes, paper towels and hand sanitizer.

To donate any of these items, contact Renita Harrigan at Renita@kingshome. com.

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THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN HOOVER

APRIL 25

APRIL 7 Full STEAM Ahead – Dinosaur Daze Hoover Public Library 4 p.m.

APRIL 11 Purl on the Plaza Hoover Public Library 1 p.m.

APRIL 16 Sensory Storytime – Blue!

Hoover Public Library 4 p.m.

APRIL 13 Together with Twos – Bunnies Hoover Public Library 9:30 a.m.

Celebrate Hoover Day 11 A.M. Veterans Park

The city’s annual celebration for families will feature live entertainment, carnival rides, a car show, children’s activities and—of course—a giant apple pie that will be cut into individual portions and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

APRIL 25 Storytime Allstars Hoover Public Library 10:30 a.m.

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast The Hoover Beautification Board will host the 38th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast,

featuring retired NFL player and current Hoover resident Reggie Torbor as guest speaker. The breakfast brings together city and elected officials, religious leaders, business leaders and residents for a faith-based event.

NOTE: Some events listed in this issue may have been postponed or canceled after press time due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Check the event’s website or social media page for the latest updates and information.

10 April/May 2020

APRIL 20 Leadership Shelby County Golf Tournament Riverchase Country Club 11 a.m.

APRIL 21+22 The Kingdom Choir in Concert The Library Theatre 7:30 p.m.

MAY 8

7:30 A.M. Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel

APRIL 19 Diabetes Walk for Camp Seale Harris Veterans Park 1 p.m.

APRIL 26 National Library Week Reception Hoover Public Library 3 p.m.

APRIL 28 New Horizons Luncheon Hoover Senior Center 11 a.m.

THE GUIDE APRIL 30 Jammin’ on the Plaza Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.

MINISTRY

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY

MAY 1+2 Annual Spring Plant Sale Aldridge Gardens MAY 1+2 Friends Spring Book Sale Hoover Public Library MAY 7+8 Live from Laurel Canyon Hoover Public Library 7:30 p.m.

MAY 14 Second Thursday Fiction Book Group – The Editor Hoover Public Library 10 a.m.

MAY 17 Blaine Goodwin in Concert Hoover Public Library 1:30 p.m.

MAY 19-24 SEC Baseball Tournament and Fan Fest Hoover Met Complex MAY 22 After Hours on the Plaza – Game Nite Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.

MAY 26 New Horizons Dinner Hoover Senior Center 6 p.m.

MAY 28 Trivia Night – Fairy Tales Hoover Public Library 7 p.m.

MAY 30 Aubie 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run Veterans Park 8 a.m.

MAY 31 Pen & Paper RPG Society Hoover Public Library 1:30 p.m.

APRIL 4

Paws for the Cause 8 A.M. Veterans Park

Bring your furry friend to Shelby Humane Society’s Paws for the Cause 5K and 1-Mile Tail Waggin’ Trek to raise money for the shelter, the only open-admission animal shelter in Shelby County. The 5K is an off-road cross-country race through the scenic park, and the Tail Waggin’ Trek is a 1-mile obstacle course run for individuals and teams. More details and registration information are available on Shelby Humane’s Paws for the Cause 5K & 1 Mile Tail Waggin’ Trek page on Facebook.

Kelly Harden Greene was in the pews at Prince of Peace Catholic Church one Sunday when Fr. John Fallon spoke about food insecurity and POP’s weekender backpack ministry that serves hungry students. The idea of starting a food truck to serve the homeless just popped into her head. Kelly decided to partner with local restaurants and caterers to accept their unserved meals, which otherwise would be thrown out, and deliver them the homeless.

Kelly and her long-time friend Christine Golab operate the food truck (named “Food for our Journey,” a phrase often heard from Fr. Fallon) together as a nonprofit ministry. Those who want to volunteer or help can contact kelly@ foodforourjourney. More information is available at Foodforourjourney.org.

APRIL 3

Denim and Dining 6:30 P.M. Comedy Club Stardome

The fifth-annual Denim and Dining event benefitting the Hoover City Schools

Foundation will feature live entertainment, drinks and food from Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ. Visit Hoovercsf.org to purchase tickets or for more information about the organization.

HooversMagazine.com 11

THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN

PHILANTHROPY

PITCHING IN FOR CHILDREN Several Hoover Belles wrapped gifts for children in need through the Hoover Helps organization. Pictured, from left, are Loren

Pate, Chloe Bishop, Kinsey Dambrino, Ann Michael Evans, Emma Evans, Chloe Annakin and Abby Batchelor.

CITY

MORE FIRE COVERAGE The City of Hoover and the Hoover Fire Department hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hoover Fire Station No. 11 in December. Signature Homes is donating the land and building the station, a nearly 8,800-square-foot structure that will be located near the Lake Wilborn community off Stadium Trace Parkway.

COMMUNITY

KHSA MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party hosted by Kings Home Shelby Auxiliary at The Barn at Shady Lane in October raised more than $20,000 to benefit the women of Kings Home Shelby. Former First Lady of Alabama Patsy Riley inspired the theme of, and attended, the event. Money raised will go toward operating expenses of Kings Home Shelby, a safe shelter for women and children fleeing abuse, homelessness and domestic violence.

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APRIL 9-14 Birmingham Barons vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas Regions Field

APRIL 10-19 You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre

APRIL 16-26 Love, Linda Virginia Samford Theatre

APRIL 18 Sozo Children Run for a Reason Sozo Trading Co., Avondale

APRIL 18 & 19 Alabama Symphony Orchestra Presents Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert Samford University Wright Center

APRIL 19 BHM26.2 Marathon, Half-Marathon, Team Relay and Fun Run Railroad Park

APRIL 20-24 Birmingham Barons vs. Tennessee Smokies Regions Field

APRIL 17-18 Lebanese Food and Culture Festival St. Elias Maronite Church

APRIL 24-26 Magic City Art Connection Linn Park

MAY 1-3 Alabama Ballet Presents: Ovation BJCC Theater

MAY 1-4 Birmingham Barons vs.

Mississippi Braves Regions Field MAY 11-15 Birmingham Barons vs. Rocket

THE GUIDE City Trash Pandas Regions Field

MAY 16 Do Dah Day Caldwell and Rhodes Parks

MAY 16 Alabama Symphony Orchestra Presents the Music of John Williams Samford University Wright Center

MAY 8-24 Bright Star Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre

MAY 15-16 Great Southern Gun & Knife Show BJCC

MAY 27-31 Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals Regions Field

SCHOOLS

TOP OF THE CLASS Congratulations to Hoover City Schools teachers Kaitlin McPeake (left) and Rebecca Besch (right) for being named Teachers of the Year. McPeake, a fourth-grade teacher at Rocky Ridge Elementary School, was named the 2019-2020 Elementary Teacher of the

Year, and Besch, a seventh-grade teacher at Berry Middle School, was named the 2019-2020 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

McPeake and Besch were chosen for top honors from a larger group of Teacher of the Year candidates from each school campus in the district.

HooversMagazine.com 13

THE GUIDE BUSINESS

ATHLETICS

PERFECT GAME VENUE Amateur baseball event provider Perfect Game has chosen the Hoover Met Complex as its Deep South Regional Hub. HMC will host more than 20 events, including tournaments and showcases, through October. “We are excited to bring a full slate of tournament play annually from February through October to the Deep South using a top-notch facility like the Hoover Met Complex,” Perfect Game President Jerry Ford says. “A great facility is mandatory to uphold the same brand and quality that teams have come to expect when they participate in a PG tournament. The Hoover Met Complex provides just that.”

CELEBRATING PARTNERSHIPS Local businesses’ roles in educating the next generation of workers were recognized at the annual Industry Appreciation Reception, facilitated by 58 INC. and The Shelby County Chamber, in February at Inverness Country Club. Chamber Board of Directors President Kathy Copeland called the event a “celebration of collaboration,” and many elected officials were on hand for the occasion. Industries were recognized in three different areas: registered apprenticeships, Ready to Work partners and Connect 2 Careers.

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14 April/May 2020

&CULTURE

ARTS

FAMILIAR SCENES Don Rankin’s art reveals the beauty of his surroundings—and places he remembers.

BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS BY LAUREN WINTER HooversMagazine.com 15

A

An up-close view of Hoover’s Paradise Creek greeted Don Rankin every day in his largest art studio. He and his wife would open the windows of their home off Patton Chapel Road in warm weather, admiring the placid water of the creek just 200 feet away. It was a scene so familiar to Don that he could have painted it from its imprint on his mind, transferring the shiny surface of the water from memory to paper with stroke after stroke of his brush. The excuse to gaze at it again, though, was always hard to resist.

Don takes the same approach with the subjects of his paintings now, although much has changed in the years since his Paradise Creek musings. The loss of his wife, Geneal, to illness more than a year ago and a move across town have, understandably, ushered in a different phase of life for the Minor, Alabama native. Through it all, art remains his creative outlet—and his motivation for exploring the natural landscape, near and far away. “There’s

16 April/May 2020

so much in this state that’s never been touched, never been recorded,” he says. “I find places out here that are not touched, places I know.” And with that, he’s out the door.

Much of what ends up in Don’s paintings nowadays comes from daily walks with Marley, his 14-year-old dog. And when he’s not collecting ideas from a walk, he’s simply looking at natural elements around him, like the waterfall in his backyard. He paints what he sees and what he has seen, sometimes many years ago, from family trips to Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey and Nova Scotia. “I don’t paint anything I’m not involved with somehow,” he says. “I paint a lot of memories now.”

When he and Geneal were young newlyweds living in Homewood, they often took their dog Domino to West Homewood Park, and Don sometimes sketched. Even then, his eyes were trained to find special elements in nature. “It was a

“All during that time, I was painting what I wanted to paint, and people were buying it. Now I’m retired and do nothing but paint. I really don’t worry about all of the other stuff.”

-Don Rankin

HooversMagazine.com 17

cold winter day, and I found this beautiful wasp nest caught up in the vines of a tree,” he recalls. “It was gorgeous.” Don freed it from the vines, brought it home and put it in the windowsill in his studio next to his drawing board.

As he was working the next day, he heard what he describes as a crunching sound. “All of a sudden, tons of wasps were coming out of nest,” he says.

“They were all over my hands and all over my board. They never stung me. I opened the window and placed the nest outside on the roof, and they all flew away.” While somewhat frightening in the moment, the incident left Don no less fascinated by the intricacy of the nest—and no less willing to recreate it in his art. “God’s creations are far beyond ours,” he says. “I just try to mimic.”

Art has long been a part of Don’s life. As a child, he remembers his mother giving him a stack of paper and pencil to keep him occupied in church.

“They used to say I was drawing before I could write my name,” he says.

His artistic skills continued to develop, and he became one of the youngest students of the Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut. As an adult, Don worked at what is now Southern Living

18 April/May 2020

magazine. He went back to school and earned his Bachelor of Arts, and after several years working at the Birmingham News, he became an art director for retail accounts at Martin White & Mickwee Advertising Inc. From there, he went to Steiner Bressler Advertising, and in the late 1980s, he opened his own studio. Later, in the early ’90s, he began a 23-year stint at Samford University, where he taught basic design, drawing, painting and color theory. “All during that time, I was painting what I wanted to paint, and people were buying it,” he says. “Now I’m retired, and do nothing but paint. I really don’t worry about all of the other stuff.”

Certain people and places have influenced Don’s work over the years, including Bill Yeager, a Brandywine Artist who was owner and director of The Drawing Board School of Art. His expectations of Don sometimes exceeded Don’s confidence in himself. Don recalls a class in which he grew frustrated with his watercolor painting and began ripping it up. “I said, ‘It’s hopelessly lost,’ and he (Yeager) barked, ‘You finish it! You fight it out till the bloody end!’ I said, ‘Yes, sir,’ and I did. And it turned out better than I thought it would.”

If experience is the best teacher, Don’s exposure to the arts scene in Italy in 1968 must be noted. He and Geneal, who was a French teacher at Berry High School, went with a group of students to Italy

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE Don calls himself a purist when it comes to making his egg tempera paint. He mixes egg yolk and dry pigments ordered from several sources along with gathering some local minerals. The mixture will last up to three days under refrigeration.

Restaurants & Chefs, Wine, Craft Beer, Cocktails, Seminars & Special Tastings 23rd annual April 25 & 26 12-3pm Linn Park @ the 37th annual Magic City Art Connection

HOOVER’S VESTAVIA HILLS MOUNTAIN BROOK

HOMEWOOD LIFE HooversMagazine.com

SHELBY LIVING

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Don holds his book, Back Roads & Memories: The Art of Don Rankin, which features more than 200 of his favorite works and narratives about certain pieces.

for six weeks that year. Fresh out of art school, Don was ready to “drink in the Italian Renaissance” and see original pieces in places like the Uffizi Gallery in Florence with his own eyes. It was in Italy, with his sketchbook in hand, that a well-known man named Pietro Annigoni encouraged Don to try painting with egg tempera paint. Homemade egg tempera is now Don’s paint of choice. “I started painting with egg tempera in the ’70s, and it’s still so much to learn,” he says. “That’s one of the beauties of it; you just keep figuring out new things. The best way to do it is just to get in there and do it.”

More than 200 of his favorite works, along with narratives about specific pieces, are compiled in a 20 April/May 2020

coffee table book, Back Roads & Memories: The Art of Don Rankin, which was released in October 2019. In her foreword for the book, Barbara Moore of Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, describes Don as “an early entry into my book of talents to explore.”

Don admits, albeit humbly, the book has been received well. It’s clear he’s more focused on time spent in his studio, and—of course—on those daily walks with Marley. “My needs are met,” he says. “I paint, and I’m happy with that.”

For more information about Don and his work, visit Donrankinfineart.com/about.

READ THIS BOOK

Diverse Reads for Elementary Aged Students Recommendations from

Allison Dolan

Library Media Specialist Bluff Park Elementary School

This is a heartwarming book list full of diverse characters that will introduce your children to a world they might not otherwise get to see. Reading these books encourages empathy and respect for all kinds of people.

This Is How We Do It

Written and Illustrated by Matt Lamothe This nonfiction text is great for all children and won the 2017 Amazon Best Book of the Year as well as a Parents’ Choice Award. The story takes place over one day in the lives of seven different children from all over the globe. The reader learns what other children do every day, like what they eat and what they wear. The book beautifully illustrates the cultural differences between the children. It is informative and engaging, and students can relate to other children of similar ages.

Under My Hijab

Written by Hena Khan | Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel In this story, a young girl introduces us to the women in her life who wear head scarves and hijabs. Throughout the book, the Muslim women are completing everyday tasks that are captivating and relatable. This award-winning book is a delightful depiction of the lives of Muslim women and a good introduction to wearing a hijab for all readers.

Sulwe

Written by Lupita Nyong’o | Illustrated by Vashti Harrison Sulwe is a young African American child who does not look like the rest of her family. While her mother and sister are fair skinned, she has a much darker skin pigmentation. In the days when she attempts to try and make her skin lighter, she dreams of a fable of two sisters named Night and Day. Together they teach Sulwe that she is beautiful just the way she is on the inside and the outside. This stunning book has won many awards, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work.

Bilal Cooks Daal

Written by Aisha Saeed | Illustrated by Anoosha Syed Bilal’s father, Abu, invites all the children inside to cook daal together. Daal is a lentil dish that can be cooked quickly or take all day to stew. Bilal is very excited to share this yummy dish with his friends. Since their dish is going to take all day to cook, the friends entertain themselves outside with activities like hopscotch, swimming and hiking. Finally, Abu calls for them when the daal is ready. Read this book to find out if in the end the other children enjoy eating this meal together!

My Papi Has a Motorcycle

Written by Isabella Quintero | Illustrated by Zeke Peña The love between father and daughter is illustrated in this tale of an immigrant family and the neighborhood they live in. Daisy’s father, Papi, takes her for a ride on his motorcycle and shows her the landscapes and landmarks from their community. The story blends Spanish and English vocabulary to help the reader really get a feel for the culture in the book. One can’t help but fall in love with Daisy and her father as they experience all the sights and sounds of their city.

HooversMagazine.com 21

News from our Chief Executive Officer Tynette Lynch

Welcome to Spring!

2020 SPRING PLANT SALE

With the warmer weather comes spring flowers. With the flowers comes that old familiar urge to DIG-IN-THEDIRT!!! And what better reason to DIG-IN-THE-DIRT than to plant the plants you purchase at the Aldridge Gardens Spring Plant Sale!

Always a source for hydrangeas, including SNOWFLAKE, our sale is also known for azalea selections, native wildflowers, and ground covers and herbs. There are always pass-alongs, as well as some familiar shrub “friends”. New this year: bonsai, bird houses, food trucks and always a great assortment of gifts from Roots, the Aldridge Gardens and Gift Shop.

The sale starts Wednesday, April 29, from noon ‘til 5pm for Members. The general public sale is Thursday and Friday April 30 and May 1 from 9-5 and Saturday from 9 ‘til noon.

Members get 10% off purchase!

We love a good Springtime shower at Aldridge Gardens and this year we certainly have had plenty. The lake is at full-pool and I am sure we will need it as our hydrangeas and other native plants get ready to burst into bloom.

Our garden and grounds specialists, Michael and Alex, have been hard at work getting the grounds ready for spring weddings and events, as well as for our daily visitors. They continue to work on making our paths more accessible so everyone can enjoy their visits to Aldridge Gardens. And don’t forget we are a Sensory Inclusive Garden.

Ms. Mac, our Director of Education has been getting her “Field Trip Garden” prepped and ready for Summer Camps. I refer to this area as our hidden garden, because if you are not invited you would never find it. Also, did you know she is one of our resident beekeepers? We love our bees and especially the honey we get from them.

Aldridge Gardens’ honey is some of the best around!

If you are planning an event, check out the talented list of caterers we call our “Preferred” partners. They prepare and serve some of the best food you can find in Alabama at beautiful Aldridge Gardens.

Bruno Hospitality Full Moon Bar-B-Q and Catering Gourmet Pantry Catering The Happy Catering Co. Iz Catering Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and Catering Kathy G’s Savoie Catering R&S Catering Tre Luna Catering Co Yellow Bicycle Catering Company Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter and visit our website www. aldridgegardens.com for additional information.

3530 Lorna Road • Hoover, Alabama 35216 • 205-682-8019 • www.aldridgegardens.com • info@aldridgegardens.com

Summer Camps Our Summer Season begins with four weeks of summer camps beginning the first week in June. Children from kindergarten through 5th grade can enjoy themed camps like American Girl and MythBusters. There are also art, science and ‘building”camps too. Sessions are one week long. Registration is open now!

Huts

UPCOMING EVENTS

Few gatherings are anticipated as much as Aldridge Gardens’ HYDRANGEAS UNDER THE STARS! HUTS is Aldridge Gardens’ signature fundraiser, and has become THE event of the Spring in Hoover.

Strategically placed on the calendar in early June to showcase our incredible hydrangeas, the festivities start with a Silent Auction under the Pavilion followed by a seated, gourmet dinner lakeside in a huge tent, complete with an evening frog chorus.

Chef/Professor Joseph Mitchell’s students from the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Jefferson State Community College students prepare an incredible meal for for our guests. The evening ends with the Live Auction, where the guests bid on travel packages, unique items and gourmet group dinners.

This event always sells out early, so contact Tynette Lynch and reserve your table now!

ANNUAL PLANT SALE Wednesday, April 29 noon-5pm

Community Orchard Beginning this summer, Aldridge Gardens will open our new Community Orchard.

Located outside the gates, in the Lorna Road lawn area, the Orchard have various fruit trees and shrubs, and berry producing plants available for community harvesting: the orchard produce is free to the public without obligation! We ask only that you be respectful of the orchard and harvest only what you need.

We will list what is ready for harvest on our website, so check it often!

Members’ Sale Thursday, April 30 9am-5pm Friday, May 1 9am-5pm Saturday, May 2 9am-noon HYDRANGEA PROPAGATION CLASS Saturday, May 12 8:30-10:30am SUMMER CAMPS Session 1: June 1-5 9am-noon Session 2: June 8-12 9am-noon Session 3: June 15-19 9am-noon Session 4: June 22-26 9am-noon HYDRANGEAS UNDER THE STARS ANNUAL DINNER & AUCTION Saturday, June 9 6-9pm SMASHING WHISKEY CLASS WITH CLAIR MCLAFFERTY Thursday, July 26 6-7:30pm

BOOK NOOK

The research we’re doing is making it possible for kids like Allie to survive, grow up and make things happen.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H B I R M I N G H A M , A L 35233 (205) 638-9100

24 April/May 2020

ChildrensAL.org

Hoover Library Foundation Your library has exciting news! Three years ago, we completed a comprehensive strategic plan where we learned that the Hoover Library was still not easily accessible in different areas of our community. Many have limited opportunities to utilize our services and programs because of unintentional barriers such as distance from the library, lack of transportation or awareness of library services.

To help alleviate some of this burden, the Hoover Library would like to invest in a state-of-the-art mobile library to travel all over our community taking remote services, resources and programs to every person in our city. As this project Library Director requires financial assistance beyond the library’s established budget, we asked for the creation of an independent foundation.

Under the leadership of Library Board member Ruth Cole, we have officially established the Hoover Library Foundation. Its mission is to benefit, promote and enhance the vision of the Hoover Public Library by raising private funds to supplement the library’s budget and to encourage the development of meaningful community projects and services. Working with Ruth as founding board members are Mark Vines, Sara Rast, Peggy Darby, Ray Fitzpatrick and Derrick Murphy.

The Foundation, having received non-profit status, has agreed to make raising funds for this project its first goal. The cost of creating the mobile library is approximately $250,000. This includes the truck, equipment and supplies.

We realize this is just one way in which we can help reach our community. Future projects might include a remote locker system, book vending machines, Makerspaces, new technology and renovation of existing space. We have so many possibilities.

We hope you are as delighted as we are to have this new foundation working to help us achieve our mission of being more than a library to everyone in our community.

To contribute to the Hoover Library Foundation or learn more about it, email us at give@hooverlibraryfoundation.org. Our website and online giving will be live soon; in the meantime, be sure to like and follow us on Facebook @hooverlibraryfoundation.

I thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the library again soon!

Amanda Borden

&DRINK

FOOD

ICING ON THE CAKE For Jan and Dwight Potter, Dreamcakes Café is a sweet addition to their already thriving bakery business.

BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS BY SARAH FINNEGAN HooversMagazine.com 25

26 April/May 2020

Jan and Dwight Potter wanted Dreamcakes Cafe to be a cozy spot for people in the community to enjoy, whether they are dropping in for a quick cup of coffee or spending an afternoon there with the kids, eating ice cream.

I

In the confines of a tiny 400-square-foot kitchen in Cahaba Heights 11 years ago, Jan Potter realized she had quite the following. She was renting the kitchen for the equipment and space she needed to make wedding cakes by special order. But for every hour she was spending on the cakes, she was fielding that many or more questions from people about what they could buy from her. “It was just going to be a commercial kitchen, but people kept coming in and asking if we were selling anything,” Jan says.

Not that she needed the reassurance. Jan had worked as a food stylist and recipe developer in Southern Living magazine’s test kitchen—“the most wonderful place to work, she says—for nearly 15 years, savoring the opportunity to be creative with food on a daily basis.

She took cake decorating classes in 1990 and admits to becoming obsessed with it, enough to start teaching such classes herself three years later.

Jan was making cakes mostly for friends and family, but anyone with a fork and a general sense of what

constitutes a good-tasting cake could have endorsed her creations. With the excitement of a new challenge, Jan decided to close her chapter at Southern Living and focus on her wedding cakes. In November 2009, Dreamcakes was born. Little did she know she would be opening a second location a decade later.

Jan’s success with her cakes came as quickly as a sugar rush, reinforcing her decision to go all in on her own baking business. By October 2010, her operation had already outgrown that tiny commercial kitchen, so off to Homewood she went.

And for the last 10 years, that’s where Dreamcakes Bakery has grown and thrived.

But with the growth and increasing demand came the realization that Jan needed more hands on deck to oversee the business side of Dreamcakes. Enter Dwight Potter, a man with an extensive background in commercial real estate. “We loosely joked that if it looks good and tastes good, it’s her accomplishment,” Dwight says. “Anything boring HooversMagazine.com 27

Dreamcakes Cafe owners Dwight and Jan Potter

like bills or contracts comes to my desk.”

Dwight’s arrival came at an opportune time.

Along with its brick-and-mortar store, Dreamcakes then was operating one of just a few food trucks in the Birmingham area, and Jan was desperate to hire someone to run the truck for her. Dwight was a recruiter at the time and reached out to Jan to offer his assistance in finding someone. He and Jan could see the benefits of further expanding the bakery, so Dwight bought in and became an investor, officially making them co-owners of Dreamcakes.

Not too long into their working relationship, they realized they had developed more than a friendship, too. “In 2014, we decided it was more than just a business relationship, and we got married,” Jan says. Dwight’s summation is a bit more … romantic.

“Sparks flew,” he says, and adds, “It’s been good for everyone.”

The next big project was opening a second location last year, a venture many people had asked them about before they made any official 28 April/May 2020

announcements. “We wanted to keep it relatively close to the original location,” Jan says. “We really love Ross Bridge. We live here, we love our community and we decided this is where we wanted to be.”

They wanted to create a neighborhood gathering place—a spot where friends could meet for a cup of coffee and a quick sandwich at breakfast or lunch, where families could sit on the patio on a pretty day and let their children roam the green space next to the building, where a student could stop by after school and try a milkshake.

The café concept at the new location, which opened right down the road from the Ross Bridge clubhouse in October 2019, gives them the flexibility to offer more than just desserts. They have more than 20 flavors of scooped ice cream from an Atlanta dairy, and their automatic espresso machine from Switzerland brews top-of-the-line espresso.

They also sell locally roasted premium coffee, and nitro brew, or cold brew coffee, could be added soon

They also sell an assortment of small gift items in the cafe.

to the menu, which will feature different food items throughout the year.

Those wanting to order a one-of-a-kind Dreamcakes cake at the café in Ross Bridge will find that Jan and her team are just as focused on the cakes as Jan was when she started her cake business nearly 12 years ago. “That’s the part I love,” she says.

“That’s how I started, and I never get tired of that.”

Ever the innovator, Jan spends much of her time on recipe development, food styling for the bakery’s social media pages and simply interacting with customers to figure out how she can make the cake they’re envisioning, right down to the last dollop of frosting. “We’re in the business of life celebrations, like weddings, wedding showers and baby showers,” Jan says. “We do a ton of gender reveal cakes. Those are really fun.”

Dreamcakes supplies small cakes, called “birth cakes,” for parents of all babies born at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, as well as treats for the Birmingham Barons. Dreamcakes also partners with school and community groups on fundraisers.

Despite the awards and accolades Dreamcakes has racked up over the years, the focus remains on giving customers exactly what they want every day, no exceptions. “You’re as good as HooversMagazine.com 29

ABOUT THE BUILDING Jan and Dwight Potter give much credit to several people on the appearance of the new Dreamcakes store: • Architect Adam Kent with Barrett Architecture Studio helped with the overall layout and design.

• Nancy Brock of NJ Brock Design handled what you serve today,” Dwight says.

“We make sure we put out quality things that look good and taste good every day. We really try to earn the success we’ve had.”

Dreamcakes Café is located at 3601 Market Street in Hoover. The café is open Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-8 p.m. Visit @ dreamcakescafe on Facebook for more information and updates.

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a big part of which is the “Breakfast Under the Big Birch” mural she chose for the back wall.

National Day of Prayer Breakfast at e American Village T H U R S D A Y, M A Y 7 T H , 8 : 0 0 A M is year’s speaker will be

Phyllis Hoffman DePiano

A leading figure in the publishing industry, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano is the founder and chairman of the board of Hoffman Media, publishers of Southern Lady, Tea Time, Cooking with Paula Deen, Victoria, Taste of the South, Louisiana Cookin’, Celebrate, Bake From Scratch, Classic Sewing, Southern Home, Southern Cast Iron and Cottage Journal magazines. She is a renowned speaker on a variety of topics, and will be speaking on her strong Christian faith. “Our company has some of the most talented people who bring happiness to millions of readers through the pages they create every day. I thank God for the successes that He has bestowed on our company. We inspire our readers to try new things, celebrate each day to the fullest, and put their personal touch on everything in their lives.”

Tickets are $25 per person, and are now on sale.

To make a reservation, please email jwasyluka@americanvillage.org or call (205) 665-3535 x 1045

www.southlakeorthopaedics.com

4517 Southlake Pkwy Hoover, Alabama 35244

e National Day of Prayer Breakfast is sponsored by the Lucille Ryals ompson Colonial Chapel Foundation and cosponsored by the American Village Citizenship Trust.

www.americanvillage.org 30 April/May 2020

MONTEVALLO, ALABAMA

Strawberry Lemonade

SHAKE DREAMCAKES CAFÉ PHOTO BY SARAH FINNEGAN

Nothing says springtime like a cold drink—and you might as well make it sweet! This fruity shake is as much a treat as it is a work of art, from the marbled color of the shake itself to the strawberry macaron near the top. It’s also perfectly shareable.

Candy Strawberry macaron

Chopped fresh strawberries

Whipped cream

Sugar cookie cream pie

Frozen lemonade milkshake Strawberry ice cream

HooversMagazine.com 31

FOOD & DRINK

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Jordan and Carrie Barrow Owners of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

BY HEATHER JONES SKAGGS PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

One of Hoover’s newest locally owned restaurants, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, opened in February at Stadium Trace Village off Alabama 150. Owners Jordan and Carrie Barrow brought their burgers and shakes to Hoover after success with their two other locations in Jefferson County. The comfortable atmosphere of the new eatery lends itself to long lunch breaks, big family dinners and casual date nights.

How did you get into the restaurant business?

We came from a family construction business and looked into franchising opportunities to make a move to the restaurant business. We came across the “better burger” concept and found MOOYAH. So, we are the franchisees for the state of Alabama. Our first two locations opened in the Colonnade and downtown Birmingham eight years ago.

This is our first location in Hoover.

What drew you to bring the MOOYAH brand to Hoover?

We are a family brand, family business.

That is perfect for Hoover. Hoover is also the first location to have an enclosed kitchen; the others are open kitchen concepts. The enclosed kitchen is a 32 April/May 2020

complete departure from the original look. The style of the new Hoover location is very current and gives a relaxed feeling with an up-to-date look.

For people who do not know you, what is one thing you want them to know?

We have four kids, and my faith drives everything we do.

What do you serve at MOOYAH? We have certified Angus beef, never frozen, and always on one of our freshly baked buns. We also have gluten-free buns. Our fries are punched (cut) fresh in-house. We have sweet potato fries or russet potato fries. We also have salad options. From little kids to grandparents, there is something for everyone here at MOOYAH. Our milkshakes are the best!

We have a variety of flavors, and again we serve with the highest quality ingredients.

How do you see MOOYAH impacting the city of Hoover?

Bringing our family brand and our family restaurant to Hoover connects us to the community and the community to us. We want them to know that MOOYAH is not a nameless chain. Family franchises are the new “small business,” and we are family here at MOOYAH. MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Visit Facebook.com/ MOOYAHHooverAL.

SCHOOL

&SPORTS

NEW WAY OF LEARNING High schoolers can get a head start with careers at the new Riverchase Career Connection Center.

BY LAUREN DOWDLE PHOTOS BY LAUREN WINTER HooversMagazine.com 33

The Riverchase Career Connection Center, or RC3, opened in what was formerly Riverchase and Pelham middle schools.

34 April/May 2020

N

No two students learn the same way or have the same career goals. Thanks to a new center in Hoover, there are more options to help them all be successful.

The Riverchase Career Connection Center, also known as RC3, is located in what was formerly Riverchase and Pelham middle schools. It’s open to 10th through 12th graders from Hoover, Spain Park and Homewood high schools, says Dr. Ron Dodson, RC3 director.

The former Hoover City Schools assistant superintendent, Dodson helped conceptualize and launch the center, which opened in August 2019.

The goal for creating the center was to not only prepare students for college, but also give them the skills they need to thrive in the workforce — something that was much needed.

Though 90 percent of students from Hoover and Spain Park are accepted into college, only about 60 percent of those who enroll actually earn degrees, Dodson says. And the number of those who end up in a job that requires a degree is even lower.

“There are a lot of kids that need Plan B. We built this center to give them that focus on college and career readiness,” Dodson says. “The center gives them the ability to prove themselves and demonstrate they can do the job. They’re career ready — not just the technical parts of the job, but they also know how to get and keep a job.”

HooversMagazine.com 35

“The center gives them the ability to prove themselves and demonstrate they can do the job. They’re career ready – not just the technical parts of the job, but they also know how to get and keep a job.”

-Dr. Ron Dodson

In its first year, the center has more than met expectations. Their original goal was to have 400 students enrolled, but they ended up with 735.

Students can choose from five anchor programs at the center: the culinary arts and hospitality, cyber innovation, fire and emergency services, health science and skilled trades academy. “You’ll see a kid in construction attire walk past a kid in scrubs and talk about their days together,” Dodson says. “It’s a good community.”

One of the students who attends the center is Skylar Todd, a junior at Hoover High School. Todd 36 April/May 2020

is in the fire and emergency services academy and plans to become a firefighter after college. He learns skills like how to tie knots and work with ladders, as well as about the types of building construction. A typical day for him includes his fire academy courses, academic classes and an elective, which is personal finance. “I wanted to get a head start into fire service and becoming a firefighter: I want to help people,” Todd says. “It’s a great way to get ahead and start on your career path. Or, if you don’t know what you want to do after high school, the center gives you the chance to try

something new.”

Students are treated like employees in this simulated workspace environment, so they clock in, use ID cars, wear personal protective equipment (PPE), notify the center when they will be out sick and also enjoy a common area where they can do schoolwork or take breaks. “We’re trying to be real about what the job settings are so they can find out if this is something they can do every day,” Dodson says.

That structure carries over to the faculty members and their titles, like Helena Young, human resources at RC3. “Since we are a simulated workplace, we are introducing students to the role that human resources play at a place of employment,” says Young, who also serves as social worker and guidance counselor.

Through the programs and structure, students are gaining invaluable skills to help them succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce, Young says. They’re also able to graduate high school with high-demand industry credentials, HooversMagazine.com 37

she adds. “For example, students who want to pursue a profession in the medical field have the opportunity to graduate with the patient care technician credential,” Young says. “This credential will allow students the option to work in their chosen field as they attend college or provide evidence to admission officials of their ability to work hard and achieve a goal.”

One of the best parts of her job, Young says, is seeing the students’ transformations.

“We have students who are finding real connections at RC3. They are the kids that really had not found their passion before coming to RC3,” Young says. “Parents are telling us that their students are excited about coming to school. They are performing better in their academic courses. We are changing lives at RC3.”

Though they don’t plan to make major changes to the available courses this next school year, Dodson says they hope to offer programs like automotive technology, biotechnology, heavy

38 April/May 2020

Helena Young oversees human resources at RC3, and serves as a social worker and counselor.

equipment, landscaping and advanced manufacturing in the future.

They will, however, adjust the schedule to allow students the opportunity to earn two CTE credits during the school year. “Students have expressed the desire to have more time in their academy classes,” Young says. “In the end, they will gain more knowledges and experiences to help guide their career pathways.”

&STYLE

HOME

FARMHOUSE LOVE JeriKay Moujoodi’s preferred style is centered on timelessness and simplicity.

BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS BY LAUREN WINTER HooversMagazine.com 39

40 April/May 2020

A

As JeriKay and Justin Moujoodi welcomed their son into the world in 2016, they were already making plans for their next home. They had been thinking about what that house would look like, how it would be laid out and how it would be situated on a lot. It wasn’t that they didn’t like the house they were in—a split-level home in Bluff Park they flipped themselves. It was that, after six years, they knew what more they wanted from their next home, and they were ready to make a move. “We knew we wanted to eventually build our forever home,” JeriKay says. “Something with a better layout. We knew we wanted something that functioned a little better for our family.”

They wanted to be in a neighborhood but still have privacy. They wanted a brick house with a timeless look they would love just as much years from now. “I wanted something that, 20 years from now, would still be in style, and I wouldn’t want to change it,” JeriKay says. “We wanted something that we were proud of, and something big enough that we could be here forever.”

That’s exactly what they got. In 2017, the Moujoodis started building their custom home on nearly two acres of land in Hoover. In the meantime,

JeriKay was building a following on social media as a style influencer, sharing her home DIY projects and self-taught design tips with friends and fans of @jk_farmhouselove. “I started my Instagram about four years ago, when we were flipping our last house,” she says. “It was more for DIY projects, showing people how you can decorate your house on a budget. When we were moving, I got more styled photos so people could see how to stage and style an area.”

The whole social-media-influencer gig was essentially a byproduct of what JeriKay was already doing for the pure enjoyment of it. If an eye for style can be an inherited trait, then she inherited it from her mother. “My mom has always been creative. We were always changing things up in our apartment, always moving things and painting things. I love decorating.”

The house gave JeriKay a new project to work on, if you can call it “work.” In keeping with the farmhouse style, she chose a color palette laden with neutrals—gray, greige and white—and incorporated distressed, repurposed and heirloom pieces to create a cozy yet rustic ambience. “I love the clean, fresh, cozy vibe,” she says.

HooversMagazine.com 41

Kitchen A big, open kitchen was a must for JeriKay, and she wanted it to be a fluid space with the family’s den. Granite countertops provide a contrast to the white cabinets and subway tile backsplash.

She created a coffee bar/ appetizer area on the opposite wall.

42 April/May 2020

HooversMagazine.com 43

Den With nearly 20-foot ceilings and enough windows to negate the use of indoor lamps on sunny days, the den is a bright and airy space, with a few small pops of color to add interest to the neutrals. “This is where we stay 90 percent of the time,” she says.

“I wanted to keep everything pretty simple.”

44 April/May 2020

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Dining Room Another space the Moujoodis frequently use for entertaining is the dining room, conveniently located right across from the sitting room and a short walk from the kitchen. It also comes in handy for when JeriKay hosts nearly 30 people for Thanksgiving.

HooversMagazine.com 45

Master Bedroom JeriKay used mostly gray and white, with warm touches of color in accent pieces like the wooden tray on the bed, to create a serene atmosphere in this room.

Justin’s Office JeriKay partnered with a company called Sauder on a makeover of Justin’s office. On this wall, tower shelves flank a leather chair. “It’s very masculine,” she says. “I wanted something for him.

He loves it.”

BEHIND THE SCENES Sitting Room Floor:

“Boca Raton,” Shaw Flooring

Dining Room Curtains: Painter’s Drop Cloth,

The Home Depot

Hallway Light Fixture: Leana Lighting

Paint: “Amazing Gray”

by Sherwin-Williams

Justin’s Office Makeover: Sauder 46 April/May 2020

Guest Room JeriKay partnered with The Home Depot to refresh the guest room, which doubles as her office. She repurposed an old mantle she found discarded on the side of the road into a headboard. Another special piece is the 120-year-old green chair her aunt gave to her.

HooversMagazine.com 47

Study JeriKay describes this cozy space as boho-meetsfarmhouse, complete with personal touches like the family photo gallery wall. Just inside the front door, this room provides the Moujoodis with extra seating for guests.

Powder Room The herringbone tile backsplash is undoubtedly the focal point of this space.

Laundry Room Justin made a built-in hall tree for the family’s jackets and shoes. He also built shelves between the washer and dryer for extra storage.

48 April/May 2020

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HooversMagazine.com 49

BUILDERS AND BUYERS

Vulcan Pest Control 115 Commerce Drive • Pelham Alabama 35124 205.663.4200 • www.vulcantermite.com Protect your most valuable assets! Don’t let termites cause destruction on your property – get them gone quickly with professional termite pest control.

If you’re looking for the best termite company in Central Alabama you’ve found it. Vulcan’s Termite Division has over 120 years of combined experience providing commercial and home termite treatment.

Our staff works diligently to provide inspections and necessary reports in a timely manner so the stress of buying or selling your home is minimized.

Schedule your FREE termite inspection today!

One of our termite exterminators can evaluate the situation and suggest the best treatment method.

Homewood Carpet & Flooring 813 Green Springs Hwy • Birmingham 35209 205-518-6423 • www.homewoodcarpet.com “Our slogan is “Foo and You!” because it’s all about you getting the floor and service you want at a fair price,” says Fuad “Foo” Shunnarah. Homewood Carpet & Flooring offers the best selection of carpet, hardwood, and tile in Birmingham for your home or business without costing you a fortune. Foo and his team specialize in consulting with clients in their home or business to find the perfect floor for any application.

They provide samples to match your decor, as well as offer professional advice about the type of flooring that will work best for you. They bring many years of experience to your project and will make sure that you get a great installation of a quality product from some of the biggest names in the industry. If your hardwood floor is starting to show its age, we will transform your hardwood into something that will make you proud.

They also offer specialty floors including rubber flooring, which is a great option for gyms, recreational facilities and basements.

50 April/May 2020

A name you can trust!

BUILDERS AND BUYERS

A Better Closet 1031 14th Street • Calera, 35040 205-621-1638 • Abettercloset.net • Sales@abettercloset.net A professional design and installation service, A Better Closet delivers custom storage solutions to help organize every room of your home.

A Better Closet is a locally owned, family-operated business, and we have been building custom storage for over 30 years. Our designers and craftsmen will transform every area of your home (floor to ceiling) to the custom storage of your dreams – with beautiful, lasting results that are guaranteed over the life of your home. At A Better Closet, exceptional service is built in to the equation. When you schedule a free in-home consultation, we focus on finding the plan that is best for you, because we know your home, family, preferences and needs are unique. A Better Closet wants to maximize every inch of space to increase your home’s storage potential and value. Whether you want to make the most of a walk in closet, custom storage, kitchen pantry or home office, A Better Closet can help.

Vinyl Designs, LLC 243 Victoria Station • Alabaster, AL 35114 205.222.2230 • Shapiro8@bellsouth.net The widespread popularity of vinyl siding continues to surprise virtually everyone involved in residential construction including Builders, Contractors, Architects, and Homeowners.

Once considered a cheaper option to wood siding, vinyl has made tremendous strides in the past decade with improved quality, better installation systems and advances in color retention offering new vibrant colors.

Redesign of overhang systems has allowed vents to be concealed, while quadrupling airflow. These Soffit systems are perfect for stylishly completing the maintenance free goal of brick or stone home exteriors.

Styling Innovations have added popular Board and Batten or Cedar options. These are designed so it’s unlikely you recognize them as vinyl in passing. Fiber cement is gaining in popularity, and we also carry this product.

However, when comparing with the new generation of vinyl products, there are few occasions when it’s the best solution. Consultations and estimates are free and assist you in making the most informed decision. We would be proud to show you some of the new options available for your next project.

Vinyl Designs, LLC opened in 1992 and continues a family tradition that spans over 50 years.

HooversMagazine.com 51

BUILDERS AND BUYERS

Desjoyaux Pools by DSLD Land Management 5485 US-280 • Birmingham, AL 35242 205-437-1012 • www.dsldland.com • dsldsocialmedia@gmail.com DSLD Land Management has been building custom swimming pools since 1983. We recently became a certified Desjoyaux Pools dealer with exclusive building rights in the Birmingham area to the world’s largest swimming pool company. Desjoyaux Pools provides custom pools for our clients. You choose the shape, size and design of your pool.

Our pools are built using recycled materials and a pipeless filtration system that uses less than half the energy of traditional pools. DSLD Land Management provides turnkey installation of your swimming pool, requisite construction and all landscape elements.

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The Painting Company of Birmingham 5151 Cahaba Valley Rd • Birmingham, AL 35242 205-995-5559 • birminghampaintingco.com Why choose the Painting Company of Birmingham?

You have many choices of companies offering painting services, so why should you choose us over the rest?

First and foremost, it is our commitment to quality and workmanship. We are a professional painting company, not a home improvement company which offers painting as one of their many services. Our professional painters are experts in their field and adhere to our mission to provide only the highest level of quality and service for every project we undertake.

At The Painting Company of Birmingham, we are never satisfied with a mediocre job for our customers and it shows. Read our reviews and testimonials from our happy customers. We know that every job we do, big or small, contributes to our reputation and success.

By putting our customers first, we have become the premier painting company in the greater Birmingham area.

52 April/May 2020

BUILDERS AND BUYERS

Cahaba Glass 160 Chandalar Place Drive • Pelham, 35124 205-621-7355 • Cahabaglassco.com • Cahabaglass@hotmail.com Cahaba Glass is your ultimate resource for any automotive, residential and small commercial glass needs.

For the home, we specialize in the installation of custom shower enclosures, mirrors, glass shelving, furniture top glass, cabinet door glass and specialty glass. Our glazier will replace unsightly window units and patio door glass to give your home that “like new” look. If your small commercial building needs updating, we offer a full range of glass and architectural products to meet your needs.

Our experienced staff will assist you with your automobile insurance claims to make the necessary repairs or replacements due to breakage.

When you choose Cahaba Glass Company, you are choosing a proven leader in the glass business.

Let us help you make your project shine!

Ray & Poynor 2629 Cahaba Rd • Birmingham, AL 35223 205-879-3036 • www.raypoynor.com Ray & Poynor Properties is a trusted real estate firm serving the Birmingham metro area for more than a decade. With an average of 17 years in the industry, our residential real estate experts are equipped with the knowledge to 205-879-3036 guide you through the buying, selling and relocation process. As your neighbors in Birmingham, we know the market and are invested in our clients and in our community.

We work in the best interest of our buyers and sellers.

Our clients rely on us to be responsive and communicate with them openly and honestly. We recognize that a home is often our clients’ largest investment, and we serve as a real estate resource beyond a single transaction.

Call us today— we’ll guide you home.

HooversMagazine.com 53

&Now Then

Then Photos Curated by Heather Jones Skaggs | Now Photos by Dawn Harrison

Insurance man William Henry Hoover Sr. began buying land on Highway 31 under the name South Jefferson Company in the 1950s after learning of the state’s plan to start widening the 31 corridor. He realized the movement south would bring opportunity to the area, even moving his own company to the area. The groundbreaking for Employers Insurance Company of Alabama’s new home office building took place in December 1957, and construction finished September 1958. It was from this building that the rest of the city’s businesses began to spring up. Hoover Sr. was quoted in the Hoover Sun in November 1974: “I hope Hoover will continue to grow as a good, clean city, one that emphasizes quality not size.”

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1977 McDonald Furniture Gallery opened with special pricing to celebrate their new location at 1676 Montgomery Highway (Highway 31) in February 1977. The prices all ended in .76 to reflect when construction started (1976) and the physical address (1676). This building was later leased to Calder Furniture, and when it closed, the building was divided into individual smaller spaces for rent. The building on the left was added in 1983, and the center remodeled in 2004. It’s now known as Patton Chapel Plaza.

Then photo courtesy of Allison McDonald Arnett

1972 The Hoover Mall opened in 1972 with Zayre and Winn-Dixie as the anchors. It was originally an indoor mall, but following renovations, it became a strip mall, known today as Hoover Commons.

Then photo courtesy of Hoover police Department HooversMagazine.com 55

1971 Hoover’s first free-standing city hall opened in 1971 with space for police officers and two jail cells.

Then photo courtesy of Images of America Hoover, Arcadia Publishing, Hoover Historical Society

1980s A Hoover PD Chevrolet Impala is pictured here pulling in to the Hoover Village Shopping Center on Highway 31. Back in the day, locals could buy ice cream at Swenson’s, the building to the left of Hoover Village. Long’s Electronics was the anchor store in this center for many years.

Then photo courtesy of Hoover Police Department, Hoover Historical Society Anniversary Scrapbook

INCORPORATION In the late 1960s, there were many reasons to vote “yes” or “no” to incorporate. Some people were concerned about tax

burdens on the residential area, and there were disagreements on what to name the town; still, others saw potential. After two votes (in 1964 and 1967), the area officially became the town of Hoover in 1967. It gained city status in 1973.

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1987

FIND ART.

Hoover celebrated its 20th birthday on May 23, 1987. A celebration held at City Hall featured a large cake displayed on the front lawn.

Then photo courtesy of Hoover Public Library

April 24-26, 2020 Linn Park, downtown Birmingham 200 Artists • Corks & Chefs • Live Performances Imagination Festival for Kids • Cafe & Lounges Special Exhibitions SPONSORS: PLATINUM City of Birmingham • Starnes Media • This is Alabama GOLD Birmingham Magazine Birmingham Mountain Radio 107.3fm • Hoover’s Magazine • Joe Piper SILVER Alabama Power Bell Media • Kinetic Communications BRONZE Bham Now • BlueCross and BlueShield of Alabama Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau • Over the Mountain Journal STEEL Alabama State Council on the Arts & the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Babypalooza • Bancography • Birmingham Business Journal • B-Metro • Event Rentals Unlimited EXCURSIONSgo.com • Jefferson County • Publix Super Markets Charities • Royal Cup Coffee Shipt • State Farm • StyleBlueprint • Unclaimed Baggage • WBHM Public Radio 90.3fm Yarbrough Festival Food Service

Image: Ellie Ali

www.magiccityart.com

HooversMagazine.com 57

1957 Highway 31 at Braddock Drive was considered to be the central area from which the city sprang up. The building to the right is Employers Insurance. Today, this is where Steel City Emergency Vet, the Jefferson County satellite office, Green Valley Drugs and Publix are located.

Then photo courtesy of Hoover Police Department

1986 The much-anticipated Riverchase Galleria opened in February 1986

by Developer Jim Wilson and Associates with four anchor stores: Parisian, Pizitz, Rich’s and J.C. Penney. Before opening, a fire caused by hot tar roofing kettle broke out on the roof of the mall’s office tower, causing extensive damage to the roof and the top floors.

Then photo courtesy of Images of Modern America Riverchase, Arcadia Publishing, Gerald Smith

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1990s Remember going to the latest flick at Hoover Square 6? Cobb Theatres opened Hoover Square 6 in 1983. The theatre closed in 1999. The complex then went under major renovations. Today, Hoover Square shopping center is anchored by TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.

Then photo courtesy of City of Hoover

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1561 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35216 HooversMagazine.com 59

a divine blueprint Micah McElveen’s remarkable story of survival led to Vapor Ministries’ work in Africa and Haiti.

BY MELANIE PEEPLES | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

This isn’t the life Micah McElveen was supposed to have. It’s not the one he dreamed of as a 14-year-old multi-sport jock surfer, diving into a wave to paddle out and hang 10.

There was a storm coming, and Micah, having grown up on the west coast surfing in San Diego, knew better than to miss an opportunity to surf in the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water so lacking in dependable waves that it often looks more like a lake. But on this day in October of 1995, Hurricane Opal was skirting past the Florida peninsula, making big waves for the beaches near his home in Englewood.

His parents dropped him and his brother off and went back to park the car. Micah grabbed his board, and running into the water, dove headfirst into the base of a wave. That’s how you do it — the duck dive. Otherwise, the wave knocks you down. You duck dive through the bottom of the wave and pop up on the other side and start paddling out to the better 60 April/May 2020

Vapor has a child sponsorship program to provide quality education, medical care and supplemental food to those in need in the communities they serve.

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waves. Only this time, something went wrong. Micah slammed headfirst into a sandbar.

He knew immediately that something was wrong. A shock hit his spine. He remembers being groggy and confused. The next wave rolled him over onto his back, and he could see the surface. But when he tried to get up, his body wouldn’t work.

“Panic raced through my veins. I’m underwater and try. (But) there’s nothing I could do. I can’t get up. In a last-ditch effort—you know my lungs are crying out for breath—I put my lips together and I try to get air,” he says, reliving that terrible moment. But his lips remained underwater. They couldn’t reach up to the air. “I sucked in water and I passed out.”

To make matters worse, his brother didn’t see it.

He’d gone back to get a football, and when he came back to the shore and couldn’t find Micah, he assumed Micah was playing a joke on him and hiding in some bushes. By the time his parents arrived, Micah’s brother was frantic. They estimate 5 to 7 minutes 62 April/May 2020

passed before a stranger 150 yards down the beach found him in a slack pool of water, floating face down.

His parents saw the stranger pick up his hand and watched as it fell, seemingly lifeless, back into the water.

They started CPR immediately and then the ambulance arrived, used a defibrillator and airlifted him to Tampa. He doesn’t remember much about that first week, but when he woke up, choking on the tubes in his nose and throat and saw his father sitting in the corner, Micah asked, “How did I do in the game?” But there had been no big football game, not for Micah. And there never would be.

PARALYZED Micah had shattered four vertebrae in his neck and was a total quadriplegic, fighting for his life. He couldn’t even breathe on his own. He could move his mouth and eyes, and that was it. At 14, in the prime of

Vapor Ministries Haiti center staff sing praises together.

All of their centers are run solely by indigenous staff and leaders.

his athletic abilities, he was beyond devastated. It wasn’t JUST the loss of sports, but he was in pain. A LOT of pain. His damaged nerves felt like they were on fire. “I was like, ‘I am in intense pain. I am literally trapped in this prison of a body.’ I thought, ‘If this is life I don’t want to live it.’”

In the weeks to come Micah had dreams. Dreams where he would actually die. Not like those dreams where you’re falling and before you hit the ground you wake up. Micah dreamed he was shot, electrocuted, in a plane crash, and every time he dreamed it all the way through, felt himself floating above, seeing his body below him. He remembers feeling euphoric. “I kept saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus, thank you God.” And then he would wake up, still alive, and cry, “Dear God, no! No, no, no, no!” Being alive had become his nightmare.

That’s when he says his relationship with God came into play. He was under such emotional and physical

pain he would cry and call out to God. It was at those times he says he felt God’s presence and the sense that although things weren’t fixed, he wasn’t alone. It pushed him into a deeper pursuit of his faith.

He says he realized, like the Bible says, a person’s life is like a vapor that appears for a brief time and then is gone. And he started to realize he wanted to leave something behind.

Micah spent the rest of his high school years in hospitals and physical rehabilitation, and eventually he regained partial use of his arms and legs. He enrolled in a Christian college in Missouri and even managed to make the soccer team.

Along the way, the team and the church he was attending became involved in outreach in the impoverished and drug-ridden neighborhoods near campus. He started connecting with kids, lavishing them with attention and talking about making good choices. The kids loved soccer, so they listened to him and his teammates.

HooversMagazine.com 63

SHOP AT VAPOR Proceeds from the Vapor Thrift Store, 5443 U.S. 280, fund the operating costs for Vapor Ministries for expenses from clean water for the community to educational scholarships, medical care, soccer leagues and food. You can shop or donate gently used items including accessories, books, clothing, cookware, decorative items, dishes, electronics, furniture, housewares, jewelry, linens, movies, music, shoes, suitcase and toys any time during operating hours.

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MOTIVATED “And that’s when the lights came on for me,” Micah says. “Ministry isn’t necessarily trying to get people to go to a church, which they may never want to do. It’s entering peoples’ lives where they’re at.”

After witnessing poverty in Missouri, he began to think about global poverty. He arranged to stay with a missionary family in Nairobi, Kenya, and spent his Christmas break there. He visited the slums and got to know people, sometimes spending the night with those he’d grown close to.

When Christmas break was over, poverty had Micah, his wife become personal to him.

Audrey “It got under my skin,” he and their two says. “I knew I was going children to spend the rest of my life trying to forget what I saw, or spend the rest of my life trying to do something about it.”

He dropped out of graduate school, moved into his car for eight months, came up with a plan, assembled a board, raised some funds and then moved back to Africa.

“It was like a dream,” he says, like a divine blueprint entrusted to him. He stayed for a year, and in that time Vapor Ministries built a center that offered a multitude of services. There was a soccer program for kids, a well with clean water for residents, an education sponsorship program, disease prevention, and a program to get those who need medical intervention to a clinic. And, of course, a church to partner with.

When he left Kenya, Micah came back to the U.S., got married, and they lived in his wife’s car for another year, working to expand the program. All their earthly

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possessions were in their trunk, back seat or a storage container on top of the car.

Today, his Vapor Ministries has five operating centers: two in Kenya, one in Togo (West Africa) and two in Haiti. The operating costs are funded in part by the three thrift stores Vapor Ministries operates: one in Greystone, one in Vestavia Hills on Highway 31 and a wholesale center in Westover. The capital campaign—the funding arm for NEW centers—come from grants and major donors. And Micah wants to open many more centers. Right now, he says their programs serve hundreds of thousands, but he has plans to serve millions.

THE VIEW FROM HERE Had Micah not broken his neck 23 years ago, he thinks he would probably have become a professional athlete. “I would have been worldly successful by the world’s measures. And very miserable right now.”

For a long time that day on the beach was the worst day of his life. “It was something I mentally tried to, like (figure out) ‘How do we undo that? Can I go back?’”

Now, he says it’s one of the five best things to ever happen to him. “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody and I DEFINITELY don’t want to go through it again,” he says.

“As much good as it’s brought, I also (am) acutely aware of the pain and trial. It wasn’t easy, and I wouldn’t make light of it. At the same time, now that it’s happened, I would not change it. I would not undo it.”

The Heart Knows There Is Only One Right Choice

Paid for by John & Melody Greene

HooversMagazine.com 65

Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce C O N N E C T I O N S

April/May Events Thursday, April 9, 2020 Coffee and Contacts 7:30 am -9:00 am Newk’s at Riverchase 3780 Riverchase Village Hoover, AL 35244

Thursday, April 9, 2020

7:30 am-9:00 am Eggs and Issues Breakfast featuring a “Washington Update” with the Honorable Gary Palmer (U.S. Representative-6th Congressional District, Alabama) Birmingham Marriott Hotel 3590 Grandview Parkway Birmingham 35243 Tickets are $25 per person Register through The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, www. shelbychamber.org Co-hosted by: The following Chambers: Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Montevallo, Mountain Brook, The Shelby County Chamber and Vestavia Hills

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Monthly Membership Luncheon 11:00 am-1:00 pm Speaker: Dr. Kathy Murphy, Superintendent of Hoover City Schools Sponsor: Avadian Credit Union Hoover Country Club 3140 Club Drive Hoover 35226 $20.00 Per Person; RSVP is Required; go to www.hooverchamber.org and reserve your seat today!

Upcoming Membership Luncheons!

In April and May, we focus on the State of Hoover City Schools and then we have our first Small Business Awards Luncheon. In April, we hear an update from Hoover Murphy City Schools Superintedent Dr. Kathy Murphy; we award the Hoover City Schools Educator’s of the Year and we will award our 2020 Scholarships!

It will be a great day to honor and recognize this incredible school system and how they are preparing OUR future workforce!

And, in May we will focus on Small Business with our first Small Business Awards Luncheon. After asking members for nominations; we will award two small business awards as well as the 2020 Non Profit of the Year.

Then, we will hear from Larry Thornton, member of the Board for Coca Cola as well as the owner of several metro area McDonald’s.

Both of these fantastic luncheons will

be held at the Hoover Country Club, Both of these luncheons require an RSVP; please visit www. hooverchamber. org and reserve your seat for both of these fantastic luncheons!

Thornton please make your reservations by calling 988-5672, or emailing lisa@ hooverchamber.org.

Networking begins at 11:15 a.m.

The Luncheon is $20.00 per person.

We also take Cash, Checks and all Credit Cards!

The State of the School System Luncheon is sponsored by:

And, The May Small Business Awards Luncheon is sponsored by:

Thursday, April 23, 2020 Business After Hours 5:30 pm-7:00 pm PGA Superstore 165 Inverness Plaza A, Birmingham, AL 35242

Rocky Ridge Hardware Rocky Ridge Hardware Owner Dan Moran was joined by family, friends and fellow Vestavia Hill and Hoover Chamber members as they celebrated the Grand Opening of their new location!

3000 RIVERCHASE GALLERIA 66 April/May 2020

CPR Cellphone Repair-Bessemer Kelly McMahan was joined by Bessemer Chamber and Ambassadors as well as The Hoover Chamber for the opening of the new Bessemer CPR Cell phone Repair, located at 1827 13th Avenue N., Suite B, Bessemer 35020. Call them for all your cell phone, computers, tablets, etc. repair needs at 205-434-4449.

HOOVER, AL 35244

Recent Ribbon Cuttings Thursday, May 7, 2020 Business After Hours 5:30 pm-7:00 pm Medical West Hospital 995 9th Avenue SW Bessemer, AL 35022 P: (205) 481-8505

Thursday, May 14, 2020 Off the Beaten Path Off the Beaten Path Antiques Owner Cindy Berry was joined by family, friends, fellow vendors and Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as she celebrated the Grand Opening of her new Antique shop in McCalla!

Pinspiration Pinspiration owners Eleny and Evan Christen were joined by family, friends, fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members and Erin Colbaugh from the City of Hoover as they celebrated the Grand Opening of their new craft store, Pinspiration

UAB Medical Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and UAB Administration officials were joined by medical personnel, patients and fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as they celebrated the Grand Opening of the Hoover Primary & Specialty Care facility at the new Stadium Trace Shopping Center

Enterprise Holdings The Enterprise Holdings Group held its Grand Opening of their brand new building with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce along with the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce joined professionals from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Fleet Management, CommuteSmart and Enterprise Truck Rental as they celebrated the new building and the work that Enterprise Holdings does in the area.

Finance of American Mortgage Trey Horton of Finance of America Mortgage was joined by family, friends, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as they celebrated their business!

Alabama Insurance Agency-Rocky Ridge Alabama Insurance Agency Owner John Koch was joined by his wife Denise, family, friends and fellow Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members as he celebrated the Grand Opening of his new insurance agency.

205 - 988 - 5672

7:30 am - 9:00 am Coffee & Contacts Susan’s Hallmark 100 Inverness Cors Ste 740, Birmingham, AL 35242

Friday, May 15, 2020

11:00 am -1:00 pm Hoover Area Chamber Public Safety Awards Luncheon Hoover Country Club 3140 Club Drive Hoover, AL 35226 Sponsors: Hendrick Automotive and TurnerBatson Architects $20.00 Per Person; RSVP is Required; go to www.hooverchamber.org and reserve your seat today!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

11:00 am-1:00 pm Small Business Awards Monthly Membership LUncheon Speaker: Small Business Awards Presentation and Larry Thornton with Coca Cola Sponsors: Synovus Bank and Spectrum Hoover Country Club 3140 Club Drive Hoover 35226 $20.00 Per Person; RSVP is Required; go to www.hooverchamber.org and reserve your seat today!

WWW.HOOVERCHAMBER.ORG HooversMagazine.com 67

New Members AS OF MARCH 4, 2020

uMH Custom Clothiers 1/8/2020 uDoozer Software 1/9/2020 uDesigned Income Advisory LLC 1/10/2020 u Eastern Tree Service Tree Service, Inc. 1/13/2020 u Valleydale Dental Associates 1/13/2020 uBig Whiskeys 1/13/2020 u Backus Orthodontics 1/17/2020 u Bedzzz Express 1/20/2020 u The Purple Onion 1/21/2020 u Courage to Lead 1/22/2020 u Liberty Mutual Insurance 1/22/2020 u Vecchia Pizza & Mercato 1/24/2020 u Moss Rock Tacos & Tequila 1/24/2020 u iFIX and Repair 1/28/2020 uO’Henry’s Coffee 1/29/2020 u Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2/3/2020 u Comprehensive Pediatrics and Internal Medicine 2/6/2020 uWorkSmart Staffing 2/6/2020 uFederated Insurance 2/7/2020 uBob Apol LLC 2/10/2020 uCruise Planners Paul Armstrong and Associates 2/10/2020 uLucas & Associates 2/12/2020 uThe Daniel Agency LLC 2/14/20 uJudge Kechia Davis 2/14/2020 uInvisible Fence of Central Alabama 2/17/2020 uNail Boutique & Spa at Stadium Trace 2/19/2020 uAprio, LLP 2/19/2020 uNail Boutique at Southlake Parkway 2/21/2020 uDown Syndrome Alabama 2/25/2020 uPayroc 2/25/2020 uAlabama Credit Union - Hoover 2/26/2020 uRed Mountain Benefits Group LLC 2/28/2020

Thank you to our 2020 Board of Trustees

The Presidents Circle of the Board of Trustees Antonio D. Sankey, Antonio D. Sankey & Assoc., LLC John Lyda, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Tim Puthoff,Brookwood Baptist Medical Center Bill Inabinet,Synovus Bank Mark Garnett, HealthSpring of Alabama, Inc. Joel Smith, Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall Paul Dangel, Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel Henry King, King Acura Karen Waldrop, Regions Financial Charlie Conklin, Charlie Conklin, Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Daniel Holmes, Hooverís Magazine, Shelby County Reporter Sam Hess, Jet’s Pizza Sam Hess, Tropical Smoothie David Custred, McLeod Software Past Presidents of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Kathleen Spencer, Spencer Consulting Group* Dan Ellis, TASC* Lori D. Moler, Childrenís of Alabama* Chris Schmidt, J.D., Daniel Corporation* Joe Thomas, Chairman, Capstone Financial Group* Terri Q. Williams, AT&T Alabama* Jason Cobb, Americaís First Federal Credit Union* Dan Mikos, Mikos-Kampakis Insurance* Jerry Cross, Jefferson County EIDA* Jerome Morgan, Jr., Oncort Professional Services Richard Head, RE/MAX Advantage* Bill Powell, Honorary Presidents Circle *Designates a Past President of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce The Board of Trustees Eric Land, ABC 33/40 Television Steve Swofford, Alabama Credit Union Timothy C. Lee, M.D., MPH, Alabama Heart & Vascular, P.C. Alison Howell, Alabama Power Company Jabo Waggoner, Alabama Senate, District Sixteen John Santamour, Aprio Linda Cencula, Avadian Credit Union Veronica Ritchey, BB&T Bank Robert P. (Rob) Fowler, Balch & Bingham LLP Heather McInnish, BancorpSouth Deborah Stephens, Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. Ken Crow, Belk Ashfaq Taufique, Birmingham Islamic Society Leanne Messer, Brookdale Place University Park Jamie White, Brown Heating & Cooling Bud Cason, Budís Best Cookies Paul Huckeba, C B & S Bank

3000 RIVERCHASE GALLERIA 68 April/May 2020

Garland Stansell, Childrenís of Alabama Bobby Haynes, Costco Wholesale Randolph Pickell, Diversicare of Riverchase Mike Hawthorne, Edge Realty Group Fred Johnston, Express Oil/Tire Engineers Cody Burns, FOX 6 WBRC Debbie Hultquist, Fresenius Medical Care Keegan Jett, Galleria Woods Retirement Community Leisha Harris, Grandview Medical Center Len Luther, P.E., Gresham, Smith and Partners Neil Thakor, Holiday Inn ñ Hoover Kerry Bradley, Hoover Tactical Firearms Charlie Faulkner, Jefferson Credit Union Tony Cooper, Jimmie Hale Mission Joe McGee, Legacy Community Federal Credit Union Dwight Burrell, Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln Bridget Baughan, McDonaldís Keith Pennington,UAB Medical Center West Todd Beegle, On Tap Sports CafÈ Chuck Herndon, Peoples Bank of Alabama Dr. John R. Phillips, III, PT Orthodontics Hugh Morrow, Broker, RE/MAX Preferred Lyndsey Yim, Retail Specialists Rick Smith, Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa Mike White, Riverchase Galleria Andy Davis, St. Vincentís Health System Kyle Hogan, Samís Club Sam Dillender, Santek Waste Services Kent O’Rear, ServPro of Birmingham Dr. Jack Schaeffer, Schaeffer Eye Centers Sarah Turner, Signature Homes Alain Gallet, Terracon Monique Holiness, The Home Depot-Inverness Elena Horn, The Home Depot-Riverchase Bethany Bell, The Trails at Cahaba River Tara J. Elliott, Troy University Phillip Corley, Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC Darin Boykin, Walmart SuperCenter, Highway 150 Richard Edwards, WalMart of 280 Sherry Webb, Webb Payroll Service, Inc. Tanja Bell, Birmingham Airport Authority Daniel Heldreth, Jason’s Deli Ira Levine, Levine & Associates Hayley DeShazo, American Family Care Purvi Shaj, Ross Bridge Medical Center Zeke Ethridge, Alabama Vein & Restoration MedSpa David Wanniger, Comfort Care Home Health & Hospice Benjamin Yim, L.A. Wax Club Bob Mitchell, Oddessy Early Schools Loyd Staffing, Cale McWatters Bedzzz Express, David Riddle

HOOVER, AL 35244

F i n d U s O n l i ne

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Access our member directory

Hoover Chamber Officers and Board of Directors

Chamber Officers Paul Dangel 2020 Board President

Paul Dangel The HyattRegency Wynfrey Hotel 2020 Board President

Alison Howell Steineker, Alabama Power Company 1st Vice President

David Custred McLeod Software 2nd Vice President

Kathleen Spencer, Spencer Consulting Secretary

Adam West Warren Averett CPAs Treasurer

Alison Howell Steineker 1st Vice President

David Custred 2nd Vice President

Kathleen Spencer Secretary

Adam West Treasurer

Greg Knighton Terry D. Turner Jr. Gentle, Turner & Sexton Attorneys Immediate Past President

Greg Knighton City of Hoover Liaison

April DeLuca Magic City Law Legal Advisor

Jeff McDowell McDowell Security Services, LLC

City of Hoover Liaison

April DeLuca Legal Advisor

Board of Directors Matthew Allen, JBMC Media Inc.

Sandy Syx, Doozer Construction

Lynn Ray Business Telephones, Inc.

James Robinson, Spire

Emilio Cerice.

Regions Bank

Tyler Williams, BlueCross BlueShield

Ben Yim, LA Wax Club

Mike White Riverchase Galleria

205 - 988 - 5672

uMatthew Allen uJeff McDowell uLynn Ray uMike White uDavid Custred uBen Yim uSandy Syx uJames Robinson uEmilio Cerice uTyler Williams

WWW.HOOVERCHAMBER.ORG HooversMagazine.com 69

OUT & ABOUT

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RIVERCHASE LOVES ART

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PHOTOS BY EMILY SPARACINO

The 14th annual Riverchase Loves Art show was held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Riverchase Country Club and featured more than 40 exhibiting artists.

1. Bev Mabry and Sylvia Traynham 2. Terri Crump and Kirsten Roberts 3. Elizabeth Seidel 4. Maddie Harper, Shanna Harper and Jess Smyly 5. Jamie Wilson 6. Lisa Mergen 7. Jerry and Martha Otts 8. Walt Costilow 9. David Byland 10. Julie and Harry Hearne 11. Joy Maples 12. Joan Brooks and Leigh Ann Hurst 13. Robin Metz 14. Dawn Manakides 15. Alicia Guyton

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OUT & ABOUT

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BLUFF PARK WITCHES RIDE

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PHOTOS BY HEATHER JONES SKAGGS

Witches took flight in Bluff Park for a good cause on Oct. 20. Around 100 ladies biked around Shades Cliff Pool and Park, tossing candy to children lining the path. The second-annual event raised $2,366 for United Ability of Alabama.

1. Lynn Roebuck and Meredith Hankins with United Ability 2. The Salty Witches: Mindy Tatum, Becky Stately, Jessica Davidston, Angie Taylor, Amanda Bihum, Rickki Tanner and Anna Price 3. Amanda Pantazis 4. Witch Please: Summer Martinez and Andrea Sledge 5. Witch Ride coordinators Laura Powell and Katie Dixon 6. Lauren Wade and Robbin Riddle 7. Jennifer Ault, Wesli Turner, Anna Chatterton, Ambry Dillon and Angela Vandrell

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HOOVER-RANDLE HOME OPEN HOUSE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Hoover Belles greeted guests at the Hoover-Randle Home Christmas Open House in December.

1. Anna Kate Lyda and Emmie Latham 2. Chloe Bishop

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3. Lauren Halcomb and Ainsley Graber

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HooversMagazine.com 73

OUT & ABOUT

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FRIENDS OF HOOVER LIBRARY: HOOVER’S HISTORY

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PHOTOS BY EMILY SPARACINO

The Friends of Hoover Library listened to author Heather Jones Skaggs speak about the city’s history and other facets she incorporates into her writing on Monday, March 2.

1. Arnold Singer, Debbie Fick and Peggy Sawaya

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2. Mike Reed and Peggy Sawaya 3. Carolyn Kolar and Donna Patane 4. Eloise Martens and Nancy Natter 5. Debbie Fick, Roberta Atkinson and Theresa Reed 6. Debbie Burtnett, Kathleen Ryan, Marilyn Haver and Nancy Natter 7. Susan Sallin and Winnie Cooper

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GREYSTONE LADIES CLUB HOLIDAY BRUNCH CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

The Greystone Ladies Club ended 2019 with a holiday brunch in December hosted by Jenice and Reggie Kinsey.

1. Julie Kim and Jenice Kinsey 2. Sierra Earle and Johnnetta Jarrett

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3. Vicki Cawthorne and Gloria Newton 4. Sherry Best 5. Laura Casey and Kristy Mosolino 6. Barbara Brickner and Carole Marks 7. Danella Johnson, Kem Marks Bryant, Jenice Kinsey and Carole Marks 8. Michelle Varnell 9. Jenice and Reggie Kinsey

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OUT & ABOUT

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ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION

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The sun came out just in time for Hoover’s Arbor Day Celebration on Feb. 7, at Aldridge Gardens. In addition to a tree giveaway and ceremonial planting, winners of this year’s fourth-grade Arbor Day Essay Contest were recognized.

1. Brenda and Brittany Toole 2. Richard, Austin and Alison Nelson with the Chick-fil-A cow

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3. Janet Abernathy and Ellison Hendrixson 4. Jason and Pam Welch 5. Claire Larkin 6. Katie Wiswall, Mariana Brewer, Marie Vizzina and Josh Howard 7. Ann Lusco, Pat Lawley, Rebecca Hassee and Nora Grace Hassee 8. Evan, Yvonne, Vivienne and Gabriel Koch 9. Bill and Jenny Carpenter 10. Mike and Jackie Kennedy 11. Kaki and Shilo Groover 12. Dana Junkin, Brooklyn Jackson and Dr. Alice Turney 13. Ethan James, Joey Hamm and Shon Walters 14. Melanie Styers and Katie Dixon 15. Donna Spencer and Diane Ray 16. Louise Billings 17. Bella Doll, Ansley Graber and Kate Willenbrock 18. Candace and Harp Reed 76 April/May 2020

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MARKETPLACE

Marketplace Hoover's Magazine • 205.669.3131

Need appliance or air conditioner parts? How about a water filter for your refrigerator? We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A1Appliance.com

Mechanic needed. Must have own tools and five years experience. Apply in person: 1105 7th St N, Clanton. Or call for appointment 205-755-4570 INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $18.38+/hour + production & safety $$$ incentives.

Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets.

Apply online at AGSOUTH. COM or call Charlie Seagle at (205) 808-4833 Pre-employment drug test required.

Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walk-in applications accepted.

Clanton (205)280-0002.

Pelham (205)444-9774.

Avanti Polar Lipids is looking for full and part time employees.

Submit resume to jobs@ avantilipids.com •Highly proficient math skills required. •High school diploma required.

Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience.

CDL Preferred. Competitive

78 April/May 2020

Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 Bent Creek Apartments.

Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager.

On-site Maintenance. 3001 7th Street. North Clanton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800-5482547(V) 800-548-2546(T/A) bentcreek@morrowapts. com Office Hours: MonFri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer Immediate need for LPN’s. Full time LPN Position with sign on bonus. BMC Nursing Home. Responsible for patient care and supervision of CNA staff.

Will also provide treatment and meds for residents.

Apply online or call Human Resources at 205-926-3363 bibbmedicalcenter.com Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions.

Starting pay $13.66/hour.

Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com Core Focus Personnel 205-826-3088 • Now Hiring Production Mill Worker, Jemison. 12hrs (days/ nights), ability to pass drug test, background check, physical. Positions working in outside temperature conditions. Previous manufacturing experience required. $11.75/hr to start.

ETS RESTORATIONS •Retaining Walls •Concrete Work •Demolition •Landscaping •Construction •Tree

HooversMagazine.com

Removal •Tree Trimming •Bobcat Work •Hardscapes •Hauling Residential & Commercial FREE ESTIMATES!!! CALL NOW (205)209-7787 $2000 SIGN ON BONUS NEW PAY SCALE TO QUALIFYING DRIVERS EVERGREEN TRANSPORT, is accepting applications for local drivers in the Calera and Leeds, AL, area.

Must have Class A CDL, good driving record, 1 yr verifiable tractor trailer experience. Good pay and benefits. Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Calera, AL, or call for info 205-6683316.

Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers Competitive pay and benefits. Pre-employment drug test required Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Call: 205-2986799 or email us at: jtate@ forestryenv.com Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is hiring experienced -Sandblasters -Industrial Painters - Helpers. Must be able to pass drug test and e-verify check.

Must be willing to travel.

Professional references required. Please send resume to: icgsecretary@ hotmail.com or call (205)688-9004 Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com

Lancaster Place Apartments. Location, community & quality living in Calera, AL. 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments available. Call today for specials!! 205-668-6871. Or visit hpilancasterplace.com Now Hiring!! •CaregiversADL’s, assist with medications and some lifting 7am-3pm, 3pm11pm, 11pm-7pm •Activity Director Part-Time •Cookssome 12/hr shifts Call Shay McNeal 205-620-2905 Marble Valley Manor.

Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga.

256-245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-5482546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer

Are you a motivated professional? Are you looking for a dynamic career? Are you ready to control your own level of success? See why McKinnons’ is an exciting place to work and grow.

Now accepting applications for Sales, Service, and Detail Shop. Apply with the receptionist. 205-755-3430 MedHelp Clinics Now Hiring •Front Desk Receptionists with billing experience •Certified Medical Assistants with at least 2yrs of experience We are looking to fill full-time & part-time positions at our Pelham and Birmingham locations. We’re always

looking to hire qualified personnel Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm MondayFriday 8am-6pm Saturdays 1pm-6pm Sunday Qualified Applicants should apply at: www.medhelpclinics.com Shake up your career!!!

Are you looking for something new and FUN? Milo’s is always looking for great managers to come join our growing and dynamic team. Apply online at miloshamburgers. com Montgomery Stockyard Drop Station at Gray & Son’s in Clanton. Call Lane at 205-389-4530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205-965-8657 Oxford Healthcare in Montgomery currently hiring certified CNA’s and/ or Home Health aides in the Clanton, Marbury and Maplesville areas. Must be able to pass complete background check, have reliable transportation and have a strong work ethic. Serious inquiries only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www.

Oxfordhealthcare.com Specializing in all your hair care needs SERENITY SALON Barber/Stylist Chairs Available for Rent 2 Convenient Locations •2005 Valleydale Rd. •Pelham •3000 Meadow Lake Dr. Suite 107 Call Nichole 205-240-5428 Nursing assistant to care for high functioning quadriplegic home health

MARKETPLACE patient in Jemison. Must have valid drivers license.

Part-time. Call Mr. Wilbanks 205-908-3333 CLOCK REPAIR SVS. * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can fix your Mother’s clock. Alabaster/ Pelham. Call Stephen (205)663-2822 Electrician - FT Supreme Electric, local-based company in Pelham.

Must be willing to learn & work hard. Go to: supremeelectric-al. com Print employment application under Contact Us. Mail to: Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327.

Wilton Water and Gas Board HIRING WATER TECHNICIAN •Full-time position available •We offer BCBS health insurance & state retirement •Starting pay $12/hr depending on exp. Duties include but not limited to: •Reading Meters •Repair Leaks •Installing Water Lines •Repair & Replace Flush Plugs •Replace Gas/Water Meters •General Maintenance of Gas System •Cutting Grass •Maintain Town Properties and Main Buildings •Generally Available to Respond Within 30/min to Emergency Call-Outs, at Anytime of Day/Night Year Round •Skilled Operation of Backhoe & Variety of Hand Tools Requirements: •Valid AL DL •HS Diploma/GED Apply In Person or Contact Melissa with questions: 205-6652021 Email resumes: melissa@wilton-al.org

Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!

White Oak Transportation is hiring CDL-A drivers in your area. Great Pay! Excellent Benefits!

Visit our website www. whiteoaktrans.com for more information EOEM/F/D/V KELLY Educational Staffing WE’RE HIRING! •Substitute Teahers •Aides •Cafeteria •Clerical •Custodial Positions Shelby County School District, Pelham City Schools & Alabaster City Schools.

Call 205-682-7082 for more information. -Equal Opportunity EmployerPopeyes Seeking friendly, motivated, dependable Crew Members. OPEN INTERVIEWS DAILY 2:00pm-5:00pm 3300 Pelham Parkway. Immediate Openings! Start work this week! Apply online: work4popeyeskitchen.com GENERAL LAWN CARE Specialist in large yards 2+ acres. Serving Chilton, Coosa & many more areas.

Bi-weekly, weekly or onetime services available.

SPRING CLEANUP SPECIALS FOR FEBRUARY! Call Alex today for details: 205-955-3439 ~Military & Senior Discounts~ 10-20 Acre Tracts Partially cleared. Ideal for pasture.

Isabella school district. $3000 per acre. Possible owner financing with 10% down. Call 334-524-7722 or 256-595-8425

Acceptance Loan Company, Inc. Personal loans! Let us pay off your title loans! 224 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham 205-6635821 NOW HIRING Part-Time Bookkeeper Position in Alabaster, AL 9am-1pm with flexibility Send Resume to: Human Resource Dept.

PO Box 947 Columbiana, AL 35051 Pharmaceutical Grade Pharmaceutical Grade CBD Oil, a unique concept for sublingual absorption.

Helps pain, anxiety, energy & more. Order from home 205-276-7778. www.CiliByDesign.com/ BrendaGlaze $Cash Paid For Used RV’s!$ Motor Homes, Travel/Enclosed trailers, consignment welcome, Cars and Trucks, Pick up available, Mccluskey Auto and RV Sales, LLC 205-8334575

Experience •On-Call Rotation Apply at: www. servicetechhvac.com Sitting Angels Home Care, LLC NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Doctor Appointments, Bathing/ Dressing Meal Preparation, Errands, Laundry,Light House Keeping and More.

Lenette Walls, Owner 205405-6991 Shelby County Openings: Loaders: •1st shift 7am4pm, Monday-Friday •2nd Shift- 4:30pm Finish, Sunday–Thursday $11.00/hr Packers-1st shift 7am-4pm, Monday-Friday $11.00/hr Replenisher-1st Shift 6am3:30pm $12.00/hr Standup Forklift Operators 1st Shift-6am-3:30pm $12.00/ hr Apply online: www. mystaffmark.com

Construction Workers Needed for Local Construction Company.

Must be experienced and dependable. Job is five days a week. Salary based on skills. Must have remodeling experience.

Call Adam 205-863-9059

The Harvest Place Christian Church Join us for worship every SUNDAY The Harvest Place Christian Church 14 Westside Ln, Columbiana, AL 35051 Bishop Wales Williams, Jr Chief Apostle •Morning Worship Sunday 11am •Life Enrichment Classes Sunday 10:15am •Join Us Every Tuesday Night at JOYFEST •Midweek WorshipBegins at 6:30pm www. getyourharvest.org

Pop & Sons Demolition & Junk Removal (205)9488494 junkguys2014@ gmail.com •Junk Removal Services •Demolition•More!! FREE QUOTES!! ALSO WITH THE MENTION OF THIS AD GET $20 OFF!!!

The Salvation Army Birmingham is hiring Part-time and Full-time •Housing Monitors •Kitchen Assistants •Cooks Apply in Person The Salvation Army Center of Hope 2015 26th Avenue Birmingham, AL 35234

Service Tech, Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning AL Cert# 89282 Now Hiring Full-Time Certified Technician •Minimum 5 years experience •Residential, Commercial and Refrigeration •Ipad

Land For Sale 51acres +/Helena located on South Shades Crest Rd. Great development/investment potential or private estate location $17,500/per acre Includes old farm house good frontage 205-587-

3090 revcoltom@gmail.com Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc Sign-On-Bonus! Hiring SOLO & TEAM CDL Drivers •2yrs Exp•Pass D.O.T Physical/Background Check •Hazmat Endorsement Apply Online: www. drive4western.com EOE Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in routeservice work and wants to learn new profession.

Work-vehicle/equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/ pass background/drug test. Training provided.

Insurance/401K offered.

M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr.

Send resume to facsmith@ charter.net Brian’s Tree Service Trees cut from the top down!

Safe tree removal in confined areas.

Stump grinding!

General liability and wokers comp.

205-281-2427 Roof Repairs Years of Experience with all types of roofs. Dependable.

I WILL fix your leak!

Call Don (205) 266-5178 “ Tru Acupressure Clinic LLC - You’re one massage away from a good mood!

Massage therapy is not a luxury, it is a necessity!

Licensed Therapist SERVICES AVAILABLE: •Deep Tissue •Swedish •Acupressure •Hot Stone •Foot Massage Same-Day Appointments • Weekend & Evening Hours • Walk-Ins Available • 844 US Highway 31 South, Alabaster AL. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 9:30am-9:30pm 205-6242211 AL License#E-3013

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WHY I LOVE HOOVER

John Huddleston

Jefferson County BOE Supervisor of Public Information

BY HEATHER JONES SKAGGS PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

John’s love for the media industry started back in middle school. By the time he reached Hoover High School, he knew it was the career path he would follow. For more than 20 years, John has covered local and national news. Recently, he transitioned from news reporter to Supervisor of Public Information at the Jefferson County Board of Education. We caught up with John about his time in television, his new career move and why he loves Hoover.

How did you get into the media business?

I really just fell in love with the business from an early age. I started doing the morning announcements in eighth grade at school, and we even had a sports show on BTV (Simmons’ closed circuit TV system). I continued with broadcasting classes through high school, where I met one of my all-time favorite teachers – Jeff Lloyd. He taught me so much about just being a good broadcaster, because he was one himself.

He helped me get my first job, which was working cameras after school at a college sports network.

What is the most interesting story you have covered?

At FOX6 WBRC we turned out a high volume of content, averaging 10-15 stories a week, so it’s hard for me to narrow it down.

I will tell you the one that has probably affected me the most recently is the tragedy involving Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney.

The day after they found her body, Mayor (Randall) Woodfin held a vigil in Linn Park.

That’s one of the few times I actually got emotional on a story. I found after I became a parent, stories involving kids really got to me. I’m not going to sit here and say I understand what her family is going 80 April/May 2020

through. I don’t. All I can tell you is that I still think about her often, and I still pray for her family every night.

Why the change in careers?

After almost 20 years in TV, this has been a huge change for me. I prayed about it a lot. Local TV news is going through a lot of changes. I have three small children, and I felt like I was missing out on many things with my schedule. Plus, my wife, Clare, is one of the anchors on Good Day Alabama.

She goes to bed super early. Because I’m getting home much earlier now, we actually get to have dinner together and spend a little time together in the evening.

My bosses were very supportive of this move. I worked with a lot of really good and really talented people, and I miss them dearly.

How will your time in media aid in your new career?

I have a good understanding of the news cycle and how it works, what stories are of interest to the media and a good understanding of communication strategies and how to make an impact. Also, I covered the education beat as a reporter, so I have a good grasp of the important issues in the school system. I can relate to reporters and

the jobs they have. I am on the other side of the table now, but even if it’s just to call them back and say we can’t do an interview on a certain subject, I do that in a timely manner. I do understand the pressure of deadlines, and I don’t want them waiting around for us all day.

What is your favorite place to eat in Hoover?

First off, Clare and I were totally psyched when they opened the Chick-fil-A at The Grove a few years back. We probably eat there once a week! I’m also a big Tortugas Pizza fan. I don’t get in there as often as I would like, but the owners are great folks, and they make a killer pie. Can’t go wrong with Golden Rule BBQ on Highway 31.

Plus, Costa’s on Lorna is another one of those places that you better bring your appetite.

What is your fondest memory in Hoover?

So many good ones. Probably the simple ones like Saturday morning baseball or soccer games. Fun with friends after school.

Friday night dinners with family and friends at our favorite restaurant. As a parent, I kind of feel like I am reliving some of that now, but only from a different perspective.

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Comfortable Medical Waiting

Dedicated Spa Check-in Area

82 April/May 2020

Private Spa Lounge

Birmingham’s Only Float Pool