Shelby Living, March/April 2019

CALERA’S PAINTER + BLACKSMITH PAIR • FAMILIAR FACES AT SCHOOL • SENIOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

MR. BOB’S BLESSINGS

A SCHOOL’S CHIEF ENCOURAGER

SIMPLE SERENITY

TOUR A DESIGNER’S HOME RENOVATION

A QUICK POUR AT

MARCH/APRIL 2019 ShelbyLiving.com Volume 10 | Issue 2 $4.95

BULLET COFFEE

The Best

Just Got Bigger!

Covenant Classical School of Pelham is now Heritage Preschool of Pelham. With our new name comes a new addition—an EXPANDED Infant Center that’s NOW OPEN! With 5 new Infant classrooms and a dedicated infant staff, there is now more space to Experience the Best!

Call us todayto schedule a tour or learn more at heritagepreschool.com.

450 Huntley Parkway • Pelham, Alabama 35124 • 205-620-2626

The Town of Mt Laurel Spring Festival 2019 Saturday, April 6th 10 am - 3 pm MORE THAN 200 VENDORS C R A F T FA I R | FA R M E R S M A R K E T | L I V E M U S I C | I N F L ATA B L E S | K I D S Z O N E | F O O D T R U C K S

For more information on The Town of Mt Laurel, visit arcrealtyco.com or call Sarah Eddy at (205) 365-6859 or Tiffany Bittner at (205) 253-3155

It’s a great place to live.

Whatever your species may be.

The renowned biologist E.O. Wilson has called it “an aquatic treasure house.” The World Wildlife Fund and Nature Conservancy included it as one of just eight “Hotspots of Diversity” in the entire world.

But, to us, it’s an unparalleled place to reconnect with nature by canoeing, kayaking, hiking, birding, botanizing, or merely floating in its waters.

In the clean water we return to the river, and through our efforts with Adopt-A-Stream, It’s the Cahaba—the longest free-flowing river SouthWest Water Company is doing our part to in Alabama, with more fish species per kilometer ensure the Cahaba is there for future generations than any other river in North America, including to enjoy—whatever their species may be. Join 18 species that exist nowhere else. with us by visiting bit.ly/AdoptCahaba.

To learn more, visit CleanerCahaba.info

4 March/April 2019

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FEATURES 46

FIRMLY PLANTED Shelby Church Communities pastor Luke Camara shares his vision for this new Montevallo church.

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A HEART FOR SERVING Senior Citizens Hall of Fame inductee Bonnie Atchison has made serving others her lifelong mission.

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MR. BOB’S BLESSINGS Meet the Montevallo Elementary School custodian who writes devotionals for teachers.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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

6 March/April 2019

PHOTO BY SARAH FINNEGAN

BUILDERS & BUYERS

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35 ARTS & CULTURE

17 Creative Couple: A Painter and a Blacksmith 22 Blues Bash: Shelby County Arts Council’s Mardi Gras Event

SCHOOLS & SPORTS

23 Teachers’ Takes: Working at Their Alma Maters

FOOD & DRINK

29 Sipping By: Bullet Coffee’s Drive-Through Shop

HOME & STYLE

35 Beauty and Balance: A Greystone Home’s Renovation Story

PHOTO BY DAWN HARRISON

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 8 ShelbyLiving.com 9 The Simple Life 10 #ShelbyLivingMagazine 11 The Guide 67 Business Connections

SL 75 Out & About 86 Marketplace

88 Why I Love Shelby County

SShelbyLiving.com helbyLiving.com

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CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL

Graham Brooks Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Harris Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino Neal Wagner

CONTRIBUTORS Cathlene Cowart Lauren Dowdle Lindsay Dyess Sarah Finnegan Dawn Harrison Lisa Phillips Jeremy Raines

DESIGN

Connor Bucy Jamie Dawkins Kate Green

MARKETING

Kristy Brown Ali Congdon Kari George Rachel Henderson Daniel Holmes Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Viridiana Romero Kerrie Thompson

ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Katie McDowell Stacey Meadows Tim Prince

Cathlene Cowart, Writer Cathlene is a December 2018 graduate in journalism from Auburn University. While at Auburn, she was a writer, president and editor-inchief for Her Campus Auburn, an online magazine publication. Her favorite part of writing is meeting new people and telling their stories.

When she’s not writing, she can be found reading or baking a dessert for family and friends.

Lindsay Dyess, Writer Originally from south Alabama, Lindsay moved to Shelby County in 2008 to finish her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Montevallo. She began volunteering at the Shelby County Arts Council shortly after college and joined the staff in 2016. She also works part-time as a reading tutor and freelance writer and artist. In her spare time, she enjoys making and selling art, photography and playing the ukulele.

Dawn Harrison, Photographer Dawn is a freelance photographer out of Birmingham. She grew up and put down roots off 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.

Jeremy Raines, Photographer Jeremy grew up in the small community of Cottonwood, just south of Dothan. He lived in the Wiregrass region his entire life before moving to Shelby County in December 2017. He lives with his fiancée, Madison, and their spoiled Maltipoo puppy, Zoey, in Helena. Jeremy freelances as a photographer with Shelby Living and a photographer and sports writer for the Shelby County Reporter. Jeremy is a multi-program coordinator for the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging in Alabaster.

Shelby Living Magazine is published bi-monthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Shelby Living 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, Shelby Living Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.

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

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@ShelbyLiving.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.

8 March/April 2019

FROM THE EDITOR

I ON THE COVER

Bullet Coffee Co.

Brantley Visser and his crew serve classic and specialty coffee drinks at this new drive-through location off U.S. 280 in Shelby County.

Photo by Sarah Finnegan Design by Kate Green

I could have listened to Bonnie Atchison talk about her life for much longer than the two hours I spent at her house interviewing her. The longtime Shelby County resident hails from the generation of American children who remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when their parents told them U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor had been attacked by Japanese forces in December 1941. She remembers when her family picked up every stray tree limb on their farmland to have something to burn to keep warm when coal was scarce, and when her mother gave milk from her cows to neighbors in need.

Times were hard, but they also brought out the good in people, she says. Everybody took care of everybody.

At Shelby Living, we have the privilege of highlighting the good in Shelby County — the people like Bonnie who make it an even better place to live because of their generosity, their compassion and their contributions to the community. If you know Bonnie, you know she has a servant’s heart. She’s not going to tell you how many volunteer hours she’s logged because she doesn’t keep track of them and doesn’t serve others for personal recognition. But we’re going to tell you how many hours of her time she has dedicated to service projects, and the latest of many awards she has received for her efforts. Does the phrase “hall of fame” get your attention? Read on to find out the exciting news Bonnie shared with us.

I hope you’ll also read about the local teachers who are molding the next generation of young people at the same schools that molded them years ago. Plus, we have the scoop on Bullet Coffee Co., the new drive-through coffee shop on U.S. 280, a feature about a stunning home renovation in Greystone and a look inside a Calera couple’s home that’s now filled with their blacksmithing and painting masterpieces. I would love to know what you think about these stories and what you’d like to see in future issues. You know where to find me!

emily.sparacino@shelbyliving.com

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ShelbyLiving.com Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest on Shelby County events and happenings—plus our favorite pieces of local inspiration—delivered to your inbox biweekly. Sign up at ShelbyLiving.com.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

PHOTO BY DAWN HARRISON

Want to see more home feature photos?

Go to Shelbyliving.com for even more photos of the stunning home of Ann Marie and Brian James featured in this issue. facebook.com/shelbylivingmagazine

10 March/April 2019

@shelbylivingmagazine

@shelbylivingmag

Beautiful post, thank you so much for sharing their wedding! It was a dream to work with Evan + Garrett.

- The Sonnet House on Shelby Living’s Facebook page

THE SIMPLE LIFE

Use Time Wisely There’s something about having sunshine longer each day that gives us an edge toward having more time to get everything done. It’s beginning to stay lighter longer, so we trick ourselves to think we have more time to accomplish everything we want—yet in reality, it’s all a perception we create in our minds. The following simple tweaks can boost your productivity: • Daily action plan. Before going to bed, make your priority list for the next day. A simple action plan allows you to focus your attention on the three to five things you need to accomplish that day. Make a separate list for work, family and personal.

• Set deadlines. To be more productive and effective, discipline yourself to work with a schedule.

Owner of SimpleWorks, Deadlines are needed; otherwise, Simpleworks.guru procrastination takes over. Develop lisa@simpleworks.guru the habit of starting and finishing 205.981.7733 projects within a reasonable time frame.

• Give yourself time. A great rule of thumb is never “hard schedule” more than half your day. When you have things scheduled back to back and your day starts off rough due to traffic, sick kids or your 9 a.m. appointment is running way behind, your 10 a.m. meeting is now pushed and your whole day is thrown off. When you can, control the cushion between scheduled appointments. Think through what you could do if you had 30 minutes between appointments.

• Limit distractions. You’re not as effective if your mind and attention are scattered. Multitasking is not your friend.

Turn off notifications on your phone because the minute you hear a bing, curiosity takes over. “It’s easier to avoid the temptation than to resist temptation.” Give yourself designated times throughout the day to check in with social media, the office and spouse.

• Listen. Open your ears, rather than your mouth. By listening with more intent, you’ll be able to identify the opportunities and challenges that exist in front of you, thus making your day more streamlined and smoother.

• Focus on what you can do now. Focus on what you can do right now with the information you have at hand. Make informed decisions and find a way to move forward.

Sunshine or darkness, it’s the same 24 hours in March as we had in December. What’s different is how you think about time.

Choose to implement one or two of these tips. It’s that simple.

Lisa Phillips

Adult Basketball Registration – Starts Monday, April 15th and ends Friday, May 24th – Registration is by team only If you have any questions, please email Christian Holler at choller@pelhamalabama.gov.

Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 20th Pelham City Park Youth Football Field starts at 9:00AM

Pelham Youth Football & Cheer Registration - starts Monday, April 22nd and ends Friday, May 31st – Check website for days and times to be fitted for uniforms If you have any questions. please email Scott Verner at sverner@pelhamalabama.gov

Free Refit® experience in the Pelham Recreation Center Gym on Friday, May 3rd from 6:00PM-7:30PM

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#ShelbyLivingMagazine

Tag us in your Shelby County photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.

@pepperplacemarket @cru.photo Joy ride before the honeymoon

@simplyinfused.oliveoil.shop WE MADE IT! (to page 30 of @shelbylivingmagazine that is!).

We are so excited and honored to be featured in their 2019 Bridal edition “Hostess Gift Guide.” Great layout, beautiful magazine and a must-keep edition. Drop by @greystonemarketplace280 to pick up your copy today!

12 March/April 2019

Bham’s SALSA GUY in recent @shelbylivingmagazine. Grab a pint or 2 & say hey to @aftermidnightsalsaco while you’re at the Indoor Winter Farmers Market today!

@sweetsouthernoaks “The time is always right to do what is right.”

— Martin Luther King Jr.

THE GUIDE

MT LAUREL SPRING FESTIVAL APRIL 6 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mt Laurel Town Center Green grass and blooming flowers are signs of spring’s return. What’s another sign for Shelby County residents? Mt Laurel’s annual spring festival. It’s an opportunity to shop a vibrant street fair, savor dishes from the best local food trucks, listen to live music and enjoy a day strolling the idyllic streets of one of Birmingham’s best neighborhoods.

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THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN SHELBY COUNTY MARCH 1 Mt Laurel Storytime Mt Laurel Library MARCH 2 Teatime in Paris Harpersville Library 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

MARCH 2 Teen Volunteer Day North Shelby Library MARCH 4 Paint Program – Delicate Dandelions North Shelby Library 10 a.m.

MARCH 2

A Night for the Angels 6-10 P.M. Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel The Angel Warriors Foundation’s third annual gala event will be an evening for all to dine, laugh, dance, take part in a silent auction and listen to special guests while supporting the organization’s mission to help individuals with special needs and multiple disabilities.

Profits from the event will support activities, events, education, the AWF Special Needs Summer Camp and more.

APRIL 14

Student Juried Art Exhibition 2-4 P.M. Shelby County Arts Council Young artists’ works will be on display once again at the 2019 Alabama Statewide High School Juried Art Exhibit in Columbiana. The opening reception and awards presentation will be held April 14. The annual art competition is a partnership between the SCAC, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Art and Art History, and the University of Montevallo Department of Art. 14 March/April 2019

MARCH 5 Kenna’s Warriors Fundraiser Night Cajun Boys and Our Po Boys in Chelsea 5-9 p.m.

MARCH 7 Mt Laurel Book Club Mt Laurel Library 7 p.m.

MARCH 9 Mt Laurel Crafty Saturday Mt Laurel Library 10 a.m.

MARCH 9 National Mario Day Pelham Public Library 6 p.m.

MARCH 10 Bicentennial Forgotten Alabama North Shelby Library 2 p.m.

MARCH 11 Talk Books with Dee North Shelby Library 6 p.m.

MARCH 14 Mt Laurel Modern Brush Calligraphy Workshop for Beginners Mt Laurel Library 6 p.m.

THE GUIDE MARCH 16 ACT Prep Course The University of Montevallo 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

MARCH 17 Cake & Culture: 200 Years of Forgotten Alabama Albert L. Scott Public Library 2 p.m.

MARCH 18 Beginner Belly Dance Class North Shelby Library 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 20 Homeschool Art Club North Shelby Library 2:30 p.m.

MARCH 21 NSL Book Club North Shelby Library 10:30 a.m.

MARCH 26 Backyard Vegetable Gardening Workshop Pelham Public Library 5:45 p.m.

MARCH 30 Teen Council: Dodgeball North Shelby Library 6 p.m.

APRIL 5+6+11+13 South City Theatre presents Harvey 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 7+14 South City Theatre presents Harvey 2 p.m.

APRIL 17 Chess Meetup North Shelby Library 4 p.m.

APRIL 18 NSL Book Club North Shelby Library 10:30 a.m.

APRIL 24 Teen Tech: Oculus Rift North Shelby Library 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 2

Mardi Gras Bash with 2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs 7:30-9:30 P.M. Shelby County Arts Council Step inside the Arts Council’s Black Box Theater in Columbiana, and you’ll feel like you’re walking into a New Orleans club as local blues group 2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs play their toe-tapping tunes. Keep your energy up with a generous helping of gumbo, and your sweet tooth happy with a piece of delicious king cake. No Mardi Gras gathering is complete without masks and beads, so don’t forget to bring yours! Go to Shelbycountyartscouncil.com for tickets.

MARCH 9

Paws for the Cause 8-11 A.M. Veterans Park in Hoover Bring your pup to the park to support the Shelby Humane Society at the Paws for the Cause 5K and 1-Mile Tail Waggin’ Trek. The 5K off-road cross-country race will wind around the park and its lake.

The Tail Waggin-Trek is a 1-mile “obstacle” course run for individuals or teams and will be fun for adults, kids and dogs. All obstacles will be challenges suitable for all ages. Find more information at AdventureSignup. com (search for “Paws for the Cause”).

MARCH 1

Trivia For TM 5:30 P.M. Corbin Farms Winery Test your trivia knowledge with friends at Trivia For TM supporting the Mike L. Jezdimir Transverse Myelitis Foundation. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and trivia starts at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature eight rounds of trivia, appetizers and drinks for purchase, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Pre-registration is $15 per person, $75 for a table for six, or $20 per person. For more information, visit Tackletm.com.

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THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN MARCH 1-3 Birmingham Ballet Presents Swan Lake Samford University Wright Center MARCH 1+2 A.R.C.A.’s 38th Annual Record & CD Show Gardendale Civic Center MARCH 7 Live at the Lyric: Marc Broussard Lyric Theatre

CITIES

Showing Unity Dozens of residents participated in the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March in Montevallo. Leading the group as this year’s grand marshal was Korey Cunningham, an offensive tackle with the Arizona Cardinals. Korey was honored with a framed jersey bearing his name that will be displayed in Montevallo High School—a small piece to commemorate a big accomplishment for Montevallo’s first NFL player.

SCHOOLS

A New Place to Play

FITNESS

Climb to the Top The Southern Grit competition once again drew the top climbers from across the country to Shelby County, and this year also featured the most competitors ever in the event’s Citizens division. Seventy-two people participated in the Citizens competition, which took place at High Point Climbing and Fitness Birmingham in January. In the Open competition, meanwhile, elite climbers competed for a total of $10,000 in prize money.

16 March/April 2019

Wilsonville Elementary School was one of 107 schools in Alabama selected for the First-Class Pre-K program in 2018-19.

Although the state grant for the program didn’t include $10,000 needed for the required playground equipment suitable for 4-year-olds, Gaston Steam Plant donated $5,000, and its Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) chapter threw in $1,000 and was instrumental in getting Landscapes company to donate $2,000 in mulch. Combined with a donation from the town of Wilsonville, the playground equipment is up and teeming with children.

MARCH 8-10 Alabama Ballet Presents: The Sleeping Beauty BJCC Concert Hall MARCH 14 P!nk: Beautiful Trauma Tour BJCC Legacy Arena MARCH 15 Amos Lee My New Moon Tour 2019 Alabama Theatre MARCH 15+18 Alabama Story Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre MARCH 22 For King and Country presents Burn the Ships Samford University Wright Center MARCH 23 AirWave Benefit Festival Good People Brewing Co. MARCH 23 + 24 Spring Walking Tour: Vulcan Trail Vulcan Park & Museum MARCH 28-APRIL 7 Man of La Mancha Virginia Samford Theatre THROUGH APRIL 21 Embodying Faith: Imagining Jesus Through the Ages Exhibit Birmingham Museum of Art

THE GUIDE

APRIL 5 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Barber Motorsports Park

EVENTS

Finding Common Threads

APRIL 7 Rosanne Cash and Band UAB’s Alys Stephens Center APRIL 10 Joan Baez UAB’s Alys Stephens Center APRIL 12-28 Disney’s High School Musical Red Mountain Theatre Company APRIL 17-21 SEC Women’s Golf Championship Greystone Golf & Country Club APRIL 26+27 Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival Saint Elias Maronite Catholic Church APRIL 26-28 Magic City Art Connection Linn Park

BUSINESS

In Good Company

Those who attended the inaugural Common Threads storytelling event in Columbiana in January had a chance to get “framed” at the Busy Hands Selfie Station that evening. And sources tell us the turnout was great. Follow @CommonThreadStories on Facebook for updates and future event details.

Chelsea’s Cat-n-Bird Winery was recently included on a list on MSN. com titled “The Best Winery in Every State.” Owners Matt and Robyn Lyons opened the boutique micro-winery two years ago, brewing and bottling non-standard international varietals.

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18 March/April 2019

&CULTURE

ARTS

A PAINTER AND A BLACKSMITH

Linda and Jerry Green have filled their home—and their time in retirement—with their works.

BY CATHLENE COWART PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY ShelbyLiving.com

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20 March/April 2019

G

Linda Green, left, works with oils, acrylics, watercolors and pastels in her paintings. Her husband, Jerry, is a skilled blacksmith.

Georgia natives Jerry and Linda Green aren’t where they thought they would be in retirement. They weren’t planning on moving to Alabama until their daughter decided to stay after studying at the UAB. But to look around the Calera couple’s home and surrounding property, you would think they had lived here for many years.

Paintings of their daughter, family and nature line as much of the walls of Linda’s upstairs studio as possible, and on an easel by the largest window sits Linda’s current project, a portrait of her daughter. A large bulletin board is crammed with pictures, comics and bits of inspiration, things that “you know that you would never see again if you put it in a box,” Linda says. She works with all kinds of paint mediums, from oils and acrylics to watercolors and pastels, as well as making brooms on the side.

While Linda works in delicate paint strokes, Jerry works with fire and pounding hammers as a blacksmith.

“Everybody’s first question is, ‘Oh, do you shoe horses?’”

Linda says. “And I say, ‘Only if they get in my yard. Shoo, shoo,’” Jerry adds.

Jerry became interested in blacksmithing after taking a college course on non-ferrous metals and after one of Linda’s co-workers became a blacksmith. He went to John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, where he took an intensive course for two weeks that got him started. Their daughter was learning about blacksmiths in sixth grade when the teacher said all blacksmiths were “dead.” “Susan asked if she could please go home, and the teacher asked what was wrong. Susan said her daddy has died since breakfast,” Linda says of her daughter’s literal interpretation of the teacher’s comment. After that, both Linda and Jerry would talk and demonstrate his blacksmith work at her school.

Jerry built his workshop in the backyard in 2007, a place full of his projects, machines, tools and fire. While he has a regular anvil to use, he also has a machine that he says is like hitting the iron with a 50-pound hammer. The walls are extra thick to mask the loud hammers and avoid bothering the neighbors, but he says, “If they do hear it, they think it’s the rifle range.”

As a permanent volunteer with Shelby Iron Works, he meets with the blacksmith group on the first Saturday of each month. Non-members are welcome to stop by and learn, and many do. “We invite anyone who wants to come down and we’ve gotten some new people. It’s the same day they have the pancake breakfast, so people come over after that,” Jerry says.

Like his blacksmithing and her painting, Jerry’s and Linda’s relationship started with interest and grew into a lifelong commitment. He grew up in southern Georgia in the same community as Linda’s mother and grandmother.

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She visited one weekend and met Jerry at the local skating rink. They began dating, and soon they were engaged when Linda was 15 and Jerry was 18. With World War II happening, Jerry knew he would be drafted and most likely sent overseas, so he asked Linda to marry him before he left.

While she had mixed opinions from her parents, Linda agreed and dropped out of high school to marry him. He was sent to France, and soon Linda joined him there for a year. “My mama was like, ‘You are 16 years old, you are not about to be going to France,’ and my daddy said, ‘Honey, she is married, she can do anything she wants to do,’” Linda recalls.

22 March/April 2019

After Jerry’s time in the war, the couple settled in Milledgeville, Georgia. Linda decided she wanted to go back to school, and she went to college as an art major and then as an elementary education major. During her senior year, Jerry went to college and later received a Master of Business Administration. They moved to Atlanta for jobs, and 19 years later their daughter, Susan, was born.

When Linda turned 15, she was gifted an oil paint set from her daddy. “He had a crack in the sheet rock one day and he was all worried about it. She got up there and matched the paint and painted over it; that paid for the paint set right there,” Jerry says. The first portrait Linda did was when she was in her 20s; it is displayed in a

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hallway among other portraits. “I had no idea how to do a portrait. I put her pupil right in the middle of the canvas, which is totally not where it goes, but it was an amazing likeness of my niece,” Linda says. Her favorite painting hangs nearby, a painting of her daughter she completed in an hour.

Linda is humble about her work and says it never occurred to her that anyone would want to see her work, but Jerry is quick to tell her she’s better than she thinks. Jerry only displays his work at the monthly Shelby Iron Works meetings and various shows and exhibits through the year. They’ve had a life full of creating beautiful things, and they aren’t ready to stop anytime soon. “We’ve had a good run, and hopefully we’re going to have a lot more,” Jerry says.

Visit us at www.rehabselect.net

Time for a New Nest?

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ARTS COUNCIL CORNER

BLUES BASH

Celebrate Mardi Gras with all the New Orleans staples – tunes, gumbo and king cake.

Alabama submit artwork in the hopes of being accepted to the exhibit in the categories of Calling all Mardi Gras lovers! The annual Mardi photography, drawing, painting, 3-D design and Gras Bash is returning to the Shelby County Arts mixed-media. Out of nearly 300 entries submitted Council for another night of music, food and friends in 2018, only 50 were accepted to the exhibit to be on Saturday, March 2. Each year the Black Box judged for the best in each category and overall Theater is transformed into a New Orleans-style best in show.

Awards are then presented in the awards club complete with regional blues musicians 2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs and their toe-tapping blues ceremony at the exhibit opening. Students get firsthand experience in applying for art competitions tunes, plus a few crowd favorites.

“This is one of our favorite performances of the and being exhibited in a fine art gallery. This year’s year,” 2Blu frontman Bruce Andrews says. “This High School Juried Art Exhibit will open on show will get you out of your seat and dancing in Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. This exhibit—free and the aisles.” A ticket entitles you to a complimentary open to the public—would not be possible without support from the University of Montevallo Art reception with gumbo and king cake.

The Mardi Gras Bash will start at 7:30 p.m. The Department and the UAB Department of Art and doors open at 7 p.m. for a complimentary pre-show Art History.

Check the Shelby County Arts Council event reception. Tickets are $25 each and available at Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Everyone is also calendar for the full list of upcoming Black Box encouraged to wear their favorite Mardi Gras Theater performances and art workshops and classes. masks and beads.

For information on upcoming events, visit If you’re looking for some visual art to enjoy, check out some of the brightest up-and-coming Shelbycountyartscouncil.com or call (205) 669artists at the annual High School Juried Art Exhibit 0044. The Shelby County Arts Council is located at opening. High school students from all over 104 Mildred St., Columbiana, 35051.

STORY AND PHOTO BY LINDSAY DYESS

24 March/April 2019

SCHOOL

&SPORTS

BACK TO HOMEROOM Local teachers reflect on how it feels to work at the schools they once attended as students.

BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED ShelbyLiving.com

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Is there a greater testament to a school’s signiďŹ cance than when a former student returns to work there as an adult? We talked to local teachers who ďŹ t in this category about how it feels to mold the next generation of children in the schools that molded them.

26 March/April 2019

ASHLEE ELLIOTT Creek View Elementary School Third Grade Teacher 2007 THS Graduate Years Teaching: 7 FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: Marching under the Friday night lights as a majorette, being on yearbook as a junior and senior with Mrs. Lamar, attending Thompson soccer games to cheer on my high school sweetheart.

F A V O R I T E MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: Oh wow, there are so many of those. Honestly, all the relationships I have created with students and parents have given my life so much fulfillment. Those “ahha” moments when students finally master a math skill or fall in love with the story they’re writing- their excitement is so authentic and contagious.

Your Invitation To Party!

May 8, 9 & 10

Clanton Performing Arts Center Clanton, Alabama

2019

AMGA Spring Conference The public is invited Pre-registration is required www.alabamamg.org

Local: Where we Know Your Name and Treat you like Family

Spring into the new year with the in

Cuevas Crew Cu

BEST PART OF BEING BACK: Rekindling relationships with former teachers and administrators as an adult myself. I also love giving back to the community that gave me so much. The feeling of that is so irreplaceable.

SUBSCRIBE NOW! Back

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BY LIVIN

EVERYTHING SHELBY COUNTY. ALL YEAR LONG. SHELBY

WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL: I could share so many amazing things about Creek View, but the most important thing is that we function as a family in all that we do. There is just something about being at CVES that makes my students and I feel so at home. Our school’s focus is truly on loving our students and helping them reach success in all they do. It’s always a great day to be a Warrior!

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WHAT HAS CHANGED OR NOT CHANGED: Changed – Creek View only goes through third grade now. When I attended it went through fifth. And, of course, the new “college” in town, Thompson High School, where my husband teaches. We are so incredibly grateful as graduates to see the ongoing success with the city school system.

Alicia Cuevas

R 2018 CEMBE BER/DE NOVEM iving.com ShelbyL 11 9 | Issue Volume $4.95

ShelbyLiving.com

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DANLEIGH JENKINS

WHAT HAS CHANGED OR Thompson High School Geometry and Pre-AP Geometry NOT CHANGED: Teacher, Color Guard Coach, Prom Coordinator, ACT Prep Students these days Cohort Teacher will never understand the pain we 2011 THS Graduate went through each Years Teaching: 3 day trying to make FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: My favorite sure we were in full memories as a student were being involved in the Marching dress code so we didn’t get in trouble.

Southern Sounds as a member of the Dance Team.

Also, I will never FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: I teach mostly forget the day I had ninth and 10th graders, so I get to know them in the first couple my cell phone taken years of high school and then get to see them year after year in the up in class because I hallway. Watching my students walk through the hallway with didn’t succeed in their head high during the parade of graduates is definitely one of texting with it in my purse. Now students my favorite memories. use their cell phones BEST PART OF BEING BACK: The best part about being back in the classroom on a daily basis. at Thompson High School is the relationship with the teachers and employees. It is so neat to now be friends with the same teachers WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT and employees that had such a huge impact on my educational YOUR SCHOOL: Thompson is paving the career. I am forever grateful for their mentorship in my time as a way for other high schools in our state. The College and Career Academy program Thompson has is incredible. student and now in my time as their colleague.

ELLIE LITTLETON Shelby County High School Academic Interventionist, History Department Chair 1993 SCHS Graduate Years Teaching: 14 FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: Friendships, cheerleading (pep rallies and football games), and our coaches formed a band called the Swingin’ Medallions for the school talent show.

FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: Funny mishaps of saying the wrong thing while teaching that students nor I ever forget, hearing students say how much they learned in my class, 2014-2015 AP students planning a birthday party for me, notes/ letters from students through the years, being selected as “Most Like Mom” in Teacher Who’s Who. BEST PART OF BEING BACK: It’s home, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of my teachers – Coach D and Coach McCoy (two of the coaches in the Swingin’ Medallions back in the ’90s).

WHAT HAS CHANGED OR NOT CHANGED: The building itself has changed – new wings have been added (English wing and math wing, the library has been completely renovated and the gym 28 March/April 2019

has expanded with an upper set of bleachers).

The school pride, familylike atmosphere, sense of community and traditions that made it a great place to go to high school are still alive and thriving, making it a great place still to go to high school.

WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL: SCHS has long-standing traditions, such as our Homecoming Week activities and parade, and it functions as a family. It is a place where teachers know students, and their families and teachers know each other too. We work together to serve our students and create a conducive learning environment where we, as faculty and staff, and our students feel welcomed, wanted and loved. While SCHS is the oldest high school building (the original parts) in our county, it is most likely the cleanest school facility.

TENA NIVEN Montevallo High School U.S. History 10 and Physical Education Teacher, JV Girls Volleyball Coach, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach, Varsity/JV Boys Soccer Coach, Announcer for Varsity Football Games, Social Studies Department Head 1987 MHS Graduate Years Teaching: 24 FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: I made the varsity basketball team as a ninth grader, and from there, my shyness began to disappear. I was also involved in marching band, where I played the trumpet. I stopped marching to play volleyball beginning in the 11th grade. I continued to be in symphonic band, where I switched to playing the French horn. I had two very influential, godly men that coached me in basketball: Richard Gilliam, who served as a role model for how I wanted to coach and be known; and Johnye Horton, whose passion and desire to help me and my teammates become great was contagious and exciting.

He passed the girls basketball program down to me, and I hope to one day pass it to one of my former players.

FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: I enjoy when my current students come to my room in the morning just to tell me “good morning” and get a hug. Because I have no children of my own, I feel like the students in the school are my children and I care about them and their future.

BEST PART OF BEING BACK: I want the children of Montevallo to receive the best education they can, just like I did at Montevallo High School.

WHAT HAS CHANGED OR NOT CHANGED: There have been a couple of wings added to the school. The student population has definitely changed. Today, we have a large Hispanic population.

There were no Hispanic students or students from a different culture when I was in high school unless they were an exchange student. I love the diversity of our school.

WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL: We are a family. I remind my students that they can be anything they want to be with a degree from Montevallo High School.

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ShelbyLiving.com

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CONNIE NOLEN

area and eventually, one of my brothers moved back to Pelham High School Communication and Media Arts Pelham with his family. My Academy Director, Literary Magazine Adviser, Quill and older brother resides with Scroll Honor Society Sponsor, Write Night Coordinator, his family in Chelsea.

Working with former Writing Electives and Junior English Teacher students who became 1981 PHS Graduate teachers and returned to Years Teaching: More than 30 PHS through the years has FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: My teachers were also been a great joy. My amazing! Charlotte Rowland, Linda Walker Cotten, Fran Taylor, husband, Jerry, still helps Margaret Bishop, Mary Francis Sims, Terry Bresler, Pam Campbell, me out at school when I’m B.J. Gilmore, Sallye Rigsby, and so many more. They believed in me. setting up a classroom and They set the bar high, accepted no excuses and insisted that I could managing Write Night. accomplish difficult goals.

WHAT HAS CHANGED OR NOT FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: When students CHANGED: Amazing additions include a succeed, I love bearing witness to that success. I also have lovely bio-med lab, an engineering suite, an memories of the generosity of my teachers when I returned to teach auditorium, art rooms including a dark room alongside them. Write Night, the winter fundraiser that my very first and a kiln. literary magazine staff created in 2004, is an annual favorite memory. The supportive spirit of the audience is magical and encouraging.

BEST PART OF BEING BACK: The best part of returning to PHS was being part of the community. My parents were still in the

WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL: We have the most amazing, fearless and talented students. They produce stunning work to enter competitions. PHS students have many talents, and Pelham has a long-standing tradition of exceptional writers and scholars.

SHANNON REILLY Chelsea High School Honors and AP Chemistry Teacher, Stingettes (Dance/Majorettes) Sponsor 2013 CHHS Graduate Years Teaching: 1 FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A STUDENT: I loved my time at Chelsea High School as a student. Some of my favorite memories included playing on the tennis team and attending pep rallies.

FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A TEACHER: My favorite memories as a teacher are my students. I love seeing students that I have taught/encountered throughout my short time as a teacher in the hallways and catching up with them.

BEST PART OF BEING BACK: The best part of being back is getting to work with teachers that I looked up to as a student; they are so helpful and encouraging. Also, I never had to worry about getting lost and that was a definite plus.

WHAT HAS CHANGED OR NOT CHANGED: The school has definitely become much larger since I graduated, both in population and hallways.

WHAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL: I 30 March/April 2019

love that Chelsea High School never stopped feeling like a home to me, both as a student and a teacher. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to teach here!

&DRINK

FOOD

INSTANT BREW

At Bullet Coffee Co., the only thing faster than the coffee’s effect is the drive-through service.

BY LAUREN DOWDLE PHOTOS BY SARAH FINNEGAN ShelbyLiving.com

31

32 March/April 2019

T

There’s nothing like a warm cup of coffee to get the day started, especially if that beverage is just a quick drive-through away. Now, 280 drivers have a new place to enjoy their beverages and snacks on the go at Bullet Coffee Co. Located on Highway 280 next to Lowe’s, the coffee shop opened on Jan. 9 and had its grand opening Jan. 18. While Bullet Coffee is new, owner Brantley Visser’s love for this industry isn’t. A Birmingham native, Visser got his start in the food and beverage business back when he was just 15 years old and says he’s always liked that atmosphere. After high school, he attended Auburn University for two years, but decided to come back home and go in a different direction.

Visser went to culinary school at Jefferson State Community College and began working for Starbucks on Alabama 119. He stayed there for four years and decided it was time to leave and pursue a culinary career. However, before he could go in that direction, he heard from his friend Chris Zarzaur about working at his new

coffee shop, Red Mountain Expresso in Homewood, with partner Sam Plaia.

“I managed Red Mountain for two years until I bought into the business in 2014,” Visser explains.

“After running the business with Sam Plaia for the last four years, we decided to broaden our footprint and open up a new location.”

That sparked the idea for Bullet Coffee, and it wasn’t difficult for them to decide where to open their newest shop. “It only made sense that 280 — where I lived and worked for so long — would be the destination,” Visser says. “We started Bullet Coffee Co. as a similar business to Red Mountain Expresso but changed a few things in the process. We have some different food options and a new, sleeker look but carry most of the same items.”

Like Red Mountain Expresso, Bullet Coffee is a drive-through-only concept, and Visser says it allows them to deliver a fast, face-to-face experience to fellow locals. “I love the coffee scene, but unfortunately, not everyone has the ShelbyLiving.com

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WHAT’S BREWING AT BULLET Never been to Bullet Coffee? Here’s a guide to their selection of specialty and classic coffee drinks.

Specialties:

•So Good – Caramel, Hazelnut and Cinnamon •Vulcan – White Chocolate with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon •Classic – White Chocolate Macadamia Nut •Rush Hour – White Chocolate and Caramel •Turtle – Chocolate and Caramel with Butter Pecan •Six Shooter – Six Shot Large Americano (Hot and Black Only) Classics:

•Brewed Coffee – House Blend, Bold French Roast and Flavor of the Day •Americano •Mocha •Cafe Latte •Cappuccino •Espresso (Two Shot) •Cafe Au Lait

34 March/April 2019

chance to go to a coffee shop every day to sit down,” he says. “We strive to deliver that experience of your local barista with high-end beverages at their speed.”

They offer a variety of drinks that are sure to help people start — or get through — the day. Visser’s personal favorites from their menu are the Turtle, which has chocolate, caramel and butter pecan, and the Vulcan, which has white chocolate, brown sugar and cinnamon.

They also have other specialty drinks like the Rush Hour, with white chocolate and caramel, and the So Good, which has caramel, hazelnut and cinnamon. For anyone looking for a more classic drink, they also serve brewed coffee, café latte, Americano, cappuccino, café au lait, mocha and a two-shot espresso. Their brewed coffee is available in a house blend, bold French roast or in the flavor of the day.

“We strive to have the best lattes and specialty beverages out there,” Visser says.

But there’s more to Bullet Coffee than just its enticing coffee and drinks.

Customers can also pick up a sweet treat or

In addition to its multitude of coffee drinks, Bullet Coffee Co. offers on-the-go breakfast and snack items.

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healthier option when they stop by. Their breakfast menu includes banana nut bread, chocolate and blueberry muffins, iced lemon bread, cinnamon rolls and yogurt parfaits with homemade gluten-free granola.

For lunch, they serve Asian chicken salad, strawberry fields salad with balsamic dressing, chicken wraps with chips and broccoli salad and different pax. They have deli (chicken, cheese and grapes), fruit (strawberry, grapes, orange and yogurt) and protein (almond butter, crackers, grapes and boiled egg) pax, which are quick lunch or snack options.

Customers can enjoy their breakfast and lunch menu items throughout the day, giving them the option to get all of their meals and drinks at one time. “We serve all of our

food items all day long,” he says. “This is something we really love because you can bring lunch to the office while getting your morning coffee for the day or have an afternoon snack with a pastry or pax.”

Visser’s passion for the coffee shop and its customers is evident and something anyone who stops by Bullet Coffee will surely appreciate. “We have the highest quality coffee served all face-toface,” he says. “We are a local, one-store-only company that strives on personal connection and customer service.”

Bullet Coffee is located at 5299 U.S. 280 in Birmingham and is open Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit Bulletcoffeeco.com.

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2016

&STYLE

HOME

BEAUTIFUL BALANCE Simplicity and elegance pair seamlessly in this redesigned home in Greystone.

BY EMILY SPARACINO PHOTOS BY DAWN HARRISON ShelbyLiving.com

37

B

“Beauty” and “peace” are two words Ann Marie James uses more than any others when she talks about her approach to interior design. They surface with every detail about paint colors and bed linens, light fixtures and wall art. They’re essential terms in her vocabulary—in design and in life. They have guided her choices inside the Greystone home she and her husband, Brian, have revamped over the last several months, and they guide her choices in all of the homes she infuses with her design ideas.

“I like peaceful, serene décor,” she says. “I don’t need any color in a room to get excited about it. I just need architectural interest, textures and metallics. It’s simple and elegant.”

Ann Marie owns The White House Interiors, a home furnishings store off U. S. 280 that ties into the other multi-state residential companies she and Brian manage: Crown Properties and Silver Real Estate, for which Brian is the broker.

The couple started a residential flipping company in 2008, before house flipping had become a widespread activity showcased on reality TV shows.

“We have 11 years and 200 projects under our belts,” Brian says. “It’s fun to take something old and transform it into something fresh, and give it a new life. Her design and decorating talent ties it all together. We’re a wonderful team.”

Prior to meeting Brian and starting their houseflipping venture, Ann Marie worked for nearly 20 years as a labor and delivery nurse, dabbling in design and specialty painting on the side. “I just fell in love with making spaces beautiful. I got into real estate in 2005, and by then, I was working full-time doing faux finishes.”

She and Brian met in 2006, and combining their

38 March/April 2019

Ann Marie and Brian James have spent the last few months infusing their Greystone home with a soothing blend of design elements.

backgrounds—hers in interior design, his in banking—to run their residential flipping company felt as natural as combining their families when they married. For Ann Marie, her work at The White House Interiors doubles as a route through which she shares her Christian faith with her clients. “I think beauty ministers to people,” she says. “A clean, orderly, balanced home brings peace. I’m a strong believer you should share the gifts you have with people in your life. My thing is peace.”

Ann Marie calls her personal design style a cross between Restoration Hardware and Aidan Gray, one of her favorite designers, but she says this latest home project with Brian has been a “team effort,” another chance to prove that “the little details are what make the magic happen.”

Great Room Updates in this spacious room consisted of painting the “butterscotch pudding� colored walls a lighter shade and changing out the marble on the two-way fireplace.

Dining Room The grid pattern of the mirrors on the wall is Ann Marie’s favorite element in this room.

She saw the grid idea somewhere else and knew she wanted to try it when she found one of the mirrors. “There is something so enchanting about them,” she says.

Keeping Room It’s Ann Marie’s favorite room and one of the rooms that underwent the most changes after she and Brian purchased the home in October 2018. They painted the mahogany-stained wall paneling a soft gray, added wooden ceiling beams and large chandelier, and installed hardwood floors. “We lightened everything up,” she says. “It feels like a library to me. It feels timeless, like it’s been there for long time.”

40 March/April 2019

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Foyer The couple added sconces and kept furniture and décor to a minimum in the foyer, creating a simple, clean atmosphere that sets the tone for the rest of the home.

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ShelbyLiving.com

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Kitchen The most significant change the couple made in the kitchen was to replace the existing island with a much larger, rectangular white granite island, making the room more conducive to cooking prep and entertaining.

42 March/April 2019

Guest Rooms The spare bedrooms upstairs feature what Ann Marie calls her signature look: “all tone on tone,” with luxurious linens and an array of textures giving the rooms interest while maintaining the calming effect that a neutral palette has on a space.

Pelham Racquet Club

100 Racquet Club Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 (205) 621 – 3380 | Tennis@pelhamalabama.gov

April 8-14 Legacy Women’s Pro Tennis Classic - This year will be the 16th year to host this event. Profes-

sional players come here from all over the world to compete. We will have prizes, free clinics, food trucks and professional level matches all week long! To name a few, we will have Legacy Kids Night (Free clinic, Free Pizza/Coke/Prize for all kids), Athleta Night, Rick & Bubba Night. Inverness Dermatology, Athleta, Advocare will be on site with a booth. Please call for more details and the daily schedule.

May 2-5 USTA 55 & Over State Championships May 31-June 2 Senior Cup - 2019-20 Southern Senior Cup Team Championships.

The championship continues to be USTA Southern’s crown jewel of adult competition in the South. The players in the field include former collegiate All-Americans, NCAA champions and professional players.

Lessons available, please call 205-621-3380 for more information Socials and events throughout the year for the whole family.

Please call 205-621-3380 ShelbyLiving.com

43

Master Bathroom A remodeled shower with marble inlaid accent tile and dual showerheads, plus new countertops and light fixtures, brought the serene ambience of the master bedroom into the spacious bathroom.

Master Bedroom With neutral linens from Lili Alessandra and Orchids Lux, a soft shag rug and an accent mirror by Aidan Gray, Ann Marie created the peaceful atmosphere she was aiming for in the master bedroom.

44 March/April 2019

Girl’s Room Ann Marie is quick to point to the pink and gold painting— from the Caress series—as the most interesting and stunning item in the room. “When I saw that at market, it stopped me in my tracks,” the self-proclaimed art lover says. “I couldn’t stop looking at it, which is a sign of good art.”

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Luke Camara and his wife, Shana, started the Shelby Church Communities church plant in Montevallo.

48 March/April 2019

FIRMLY PLANTED SHELBY CHURCH COMMUNITIES PASTOR LUKE CAMARA SHARES HIS VISION FOR THIS NEW MONTEVALLO CHURCH.

L

BY EMILY SPARACINO | PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES

Luke Camara and his wife, Shana, had been in the Christian ministry together for nearly a decade when they felt the need to re-evaluate their focus. In 12 years, they had served at a Birmingham church and tried to start a new church that, in Luke’s words, taught them many lessons, but “utterly failed.”

“We took a step back and said we can’t just focus on growing a church; we need to focus on making disciples,” Luke says. “That’s what Jesus commanded us to do in Matthew 28.”

Luke, the son of a retired pastor, grew up going to church and was saved at an early age. High school is when he says he became bolder in his faith—and when his family moved to Talladega, Alabama, from upstate New York. “It was one of the best years of my life,” he says. “I met my wife there. The Lord did amazing things through that community.”

He earned a degree in pastoral ministry from Nyack College in New York, and on June 2, 2002, one day before his and Shana’s first anniversary, they moved to Shelby County. What had started as a spiritual nudge for them to reassess their path in ministry several years ago became a project to plant a church, Shelby Church Communities, as part of a larger family of Christians called The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Pouring their time into people’s lives – family, friends, neighbors and strangers – and shepherding them on their personal faith walks rather than fixating on church growth strictly in terms of membership numbers became the couple’s new mission.

“Through that, we started to build a foundation for our ministry, our church,” Luke says. “We started with Missional Communities – those larger, extended spiritual families – and started doing discipleship groups.”

As lead pastor of SCC, Luke also was tasked with

finding other leaders who would connect with his and Shana’s vision and join the church planting project.

He didn’t know two of those people would share his New York roots. He met Levi and Megan Owens at an Alliance conference in Atlanta in spring 2016, and talked to them about the plans for SCC. “He shared his vision for discipleship with us, and it was exactly what we were looking for,” Levi says.

When he realized they were genuinely interested, Luke made his move. “I boldly said, ‘Why don’t you guys move down here? I promise I’ll disciple you and show you how to make disciples,’” Luke says. “The emphasis of discipleship struck a nerve with them.” A week later, Levi and Megan accepted Luke’s offer during a FaceTime conversation, and moved from upstate New York to Shelby County in August 2016.

“Since then, we’ve been learning and doing discipleship in groups that meet in our homes,” Levi says. “We’ve also been working with Luke toward the public launch of the church.”

Luke describes the structure of SCC as a threelegged stool: One leg is Missional Communities, one leg is discipleship groups and one leg is public worship. The launch of SCC’s public w o r s h i p services – the final part of the original church planting plan – took place on Feb. 3 in the Montevallo Elementary School lunchroom. “It’s pretty common for churches to use schools,” Luke says.

“We reached out to Montevallo

ShelbyLiving.com

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Levi and Megan Owens, pictured with their daughter, Selah, moved from New York to Alabama in 2016 to help plant Shelby Church Communities.

Elementary, and they had the availability on Sundays.

They’ve been amazing to work with, and I hope we’re a blessing to them.”

In the process of praying for direction, Luke says Shana was overcome with what he calls “holy tears” in the car one morning. “The Lord just spoke to her and said Montevallo, The Lord wants us to reach Montevallo. That set in motion us going into the community and asking the question of what are the needs here, what is the spiritual climate, is this where the Lord wants us? It took us a while to make good connections and not rush anything, but the Lord has been really good and faithful in getting us into the community in a way we never would have imagined,” he says. “As we spoke to people in the community, they encouraged us to be involved and start the church there, which reinforced the Lord’s calling.”

He describes the SCC church services as “accessible, not 50 March/April 2019

necessarily attractional.” While adults worship within black curtain partitions near the stage in the lunchroom on Sunday mornings, children in 4K through second grade can go to their own class. Nursery is also available throughout the whole service for newborns and toddlers up to 3 years old.

The launch of public services rounds out the threelegged stool concept Luke says is at the core of SCC’s efforts to disciple people in home and public settings. “We don’t want to overemphasize either end of it. This is us rebalancing our ministry, which is being accessible to people that need that public space,” he says. “We recognize that if we’re going to have an impact, the church is always operated in homes, but also in a public space.”

Levi says he is excited to see the vision of the church taking shape in Montevallo. “As a church, we want to be a blessing to the community and a place where everyone is

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welcome. Our worship services are a great place to meet people, and we hope that through those connections people will see the value of a deeper discipleship journey.”

For Luke, Shana, their four children and the rest of the SCC team, the launch is the culmination of years of prayer, work and faith that they are being obedient to what they say God has called them to do.

“It feels like a celebration, but it also feels like the beginning of something more,” Luke says. “We just invite people into (our) family. I would encourage everyone that does not have a church family to find one, to be a part of it, because that’s when you really grow as a follower of Jesus.”

Shelby Church Communities meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at Montevallo Elementary School. For more information, visit Myshelbychurch.com or @myshelbychurch on Facebook.

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52 March/April 2019

A HEART FOR SERVING SENIOR CITIZENS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE BONNIE ATCHISON HAS MADE SERVING OTHERS HER LIFELONG MISSION.

BY EMILY SPARACINO | PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY

ShelbyLiving.com

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Bonnie Atchison was surprised to learn she had been nominated to be inducted into the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame last year.

B

Bonnie Atchison was 10 years old when her friend’s mother came outside with tears running down her cheeks and an announcement they would never forget on Dec. 7, 1941.

“I remember that Sunday so vividly,” Bonnie says, her clasped hands resting on the dining room table of her Columbiana home. “We were all out in the neighbors’ yard playing after church. Cold chills run all over me when I think about it. She came out and she said, ‘Children, you must go home to your parents, for we are now at war. The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor.”

The following night, all of the children’s fathers gathered in one of their families’ kitchens to discuss who was leaving for war and who was staying at home. Bonnie’s brother was among those who left.

Although her father didn’t have to go with the armed services, his job in the steel industry kept him away from home for much of the war. Bonnie, her mother and her siblings stayed back on their 68-acre farm in Remlap. They weren’t in financial trouble, but

54 March/April 2019

without bus transportation to and from town, they were somewhat isolated in their valley.

“Momma couldn’t drive, and she had three children at home,” Bonnie says. “There were no men to dig coal so that we could have coal to burn; therefore, Momma and three little kids had to make out the best we could. Of all Daddy’s 68 acres, there wasn’t a limb or anything lying on the ground in the woods we didn’t pick up to burn to keep us warm.”

But Bonnie also describes it as a good time—a time when everybody took care of everybody. With two cows, her mother often gave free pints of milk and pounds of butter to families whose cows weren’t producing enough milk at any time. “She was a gentle soul,” Bonnie says. “We’d wake up with Momma going to milk, and she was singing at the top of her lungs, ‘Amazing Grace.’ She was a wonderful lady.”

Those who know Bonnie would say the same about her. Compassion didn’t skip a generation in her family. At 87 years old, Bonnie still plans many of her days around service-oriented meetings and events.

She is a long-time member of the Novella Club of Columbiana; is a member of First Baptist Church of Columbiana’s senior choir; is a member of the David Lindsay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and works with a local ministry called GriefShare for people who have lost their spouses. She has logged more than 2,000 hours of volunteer work with the Shelby County Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, or RSVP. (She says she’s not sure how her hours were calculated—she doesn’t keep track of them herself.)

As surprised as she might have been about her volunteer hours, Bonnie couldn’t believe her eyes when she received a letter from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office last summer, notifying her she had been named to the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. “I thought it was a joke,” she says, laughing. “I thought somebody was pulling my leg.” She called her son, Mike, to tell him about the letter. “He said, ‘Momma, make a copy and send it to me,’” she says. “He said, ‘That’s legitimate.’ I was just overwhelmed and so humbled.”

Shelby County RSVP Coordinator Marvin Copes nominated Bonnie, who was one of 10 Hall of Fame inductees from 10 Alabama counties last year. Inductees attended a ceremony at First Baptist Church of Montgomery in early August 2018. “I think the whole community should have seen that,” Bonnie says.

“It was very moving.”

Six years ago, Bonnie was also placed in the spotlight unexpectedly when Mayor Stancil Handley proclaimed April 2,

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ShelbyLiving.com SHELBY LIVING 55

2013, as Bonnie Atchison Day in Columbiana. Four years after that, she was named grand marshal of the 2017 Columbiana Christmas Parade. She is a past recipient of the Columbiana Vignette Club’s Quality of Life Award for her work with the Miss Shelby County Pageant. Last year, she also received the Shelby County RSVP Presidential Award and Spirit Award. All of these honors have been the culmination of her many years of service.

HER EARLY YEARS Bonnie attended Blount County High School, where she met her first husband, Lewis Mason. They had two sons, and he answered a call to ministry, preaching at Locust Fork Baptist Church for three-and-a-half years. But he died at age 35, leaving Bonnie to provide for their children by herself. She moved the family to the Birmingham area, earned a degree in English and biology from Samford University in fewer than four years, and started working in education. Nine years later, she met and married a man named Harry Atchison (now deceased). “He brought me to Columbiana, and I fell in love with it,” she says. “I just thought this was the grandest little town I had ever seen.”

She got a teaching job at Shelby County High School, and stayed there for 20 years. “I just loved the high school. I did English, speech and drama most of time I was there. We did the first Broadway shows, like ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘South Pacific,’ ‘Music Man’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.’ Oh, it was a fun thing.”

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CONTINUING SERVICE Teaching was only one of Bonnie’s job titles. She served as director of the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce from 19932003, president of the then-active Rotary Club, and curator for the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington for 10 years.

She received a DAR Women in American History Award for her service in 2013. In addition, she served as president of the Novella Club, which is part of the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs, a non-profit organization dedicated to community improvement.

“I retired at 83,” she says, although “retired” might be too strong a word. “It’s been fun. I’ve done a lot of interesting things.”

Now, she spends much time doting on her seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She loves to paint, sing and share passages of the Bible she has memorized over the years. And she’s known for her delicious, made-from-scratch cakes.

But people know she’s only a phone call away from delivering a blanket to a nursing home, answering a widow’s question about health insurance, baking a cake for a fundraiser, helping to organize her club’s Cancer Survivor Dinner or serving in other, often unmentioned, ways. Serving is a lifelong calling for Bonnie.

“I grew up like that,” she says. “The Lord called me to serve, and I guess that’s the whole thing. He left me here for a reason, and I have to be about his business. And what’s his business? To serve and to minister to those who come across my path, whether it’s my students, church, my community, my neighbors.”

Bonnie visits with Don Relyea at the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington, where she served as curator for a decade.

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Introducing Precision Sports Medicine & Orthopedics

Julian Carlo, M.D.

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Michael Patterson, M.D.

John Young, M.D.

David M. Hardin, M.D.

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Committed to providing accessible quality care for our 22

community, Brookwood Baptist Health Specialty Care Network

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With 70 years of combined experience treating patients on 280

and off the field, our collaborative team of sports medicine

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Whether you have an injury, a chronic condition that’s causing discomfort, or need surgery, Precision’s experienced team is dedicated to offering you personalized care worthy of the pros.

Let our experts get you back on the field — and back to your life.

Visit PrecisionSportsOrtho.com to book an appointment.

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7 Convenient Locations: ALABASTER | CLANTON | FULTONDALE | HOOVER | THE NARROWS | PRINCETON | VESTAVIA

Mr. Bob’s Blessings Meet the Montevallo Elementary School custodian who writes devotionals for teachers.

By Emily Sparacino | Photos by Keith McCoy

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60 March/April 2019

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When Montevallo Elementary School reading interventionist Rachael Ruis sees a piece of paper covered with familiar handwriting on her table, she knows her morning is off to a proper start. She looks forward to the handwritten devotionals from Bob Stricklin like some people look forward to their morning coffee. “I love walking in my room and finding one on my table,” she says. “I enjoy reading them and refocusing before my day gets started.”

The 68-year-old custodian, better known among MES students and teachers as “Mr. Bob,” writes devotionals for faculty members who ask him to, and leaves them on their desks before school starts. He gives out about 25 devotionals every Friday morning, saying, “I hope they get a blessing out of it.”

Mr. Bob says he started writing devotionals at church about nine years ago. Now, he spends several days writing a different devotional for the MES faculty members on his request list every week. “I’m truly not a writer,” he says. “I sort of put on paper what God puts on my heart. I just hope they get a blessing from it as much as I do writing them.”

Mr. Bob started working in the school system shortly after he retired from a trucking career in 2015. He spent a year working at Montevallo High School before being transferred to the elementary school. “I enjoyed working at the high school. I really didn’t know what was in store for me over here, but I tell you what—don’t ever doubt God’s plan for you,” he says. “If you don’t leave here with a blessing every day, there’s just something wrong.”

He calls the school his “mission field,” a place where he is quick to jump into action when a need arises. “I have the privilege of being able to pray in our school,” he says. “When a child comes up to me and says, ‘Mr. Bob, would you pray for my mom or my dad,’ it’s just a blessing. I’m able to share my faith with these kids.”

MES Principal Dr. Allison Campbell says Mr. Bob is constantly looking for ways to help students and staff.

She calls him the “go-to” person when someone is going through a trial and needs encouragement. “We call him our angel at Montevallo Elementary,” she says. “He’s just the ideal employee. It’s an absolute privilege to work with him.”

Rachael cried the first time she read one of Mr. Bob’s devotionals. “They are always so powerful and have an amazing message,” she says. And fifth-grade teacher Christina Chapman describes him as an “amazing asset” and a “positive spirit” at the school. “If there is ever a need for prayer, you can always, without a doubt, contact Mr. Bob and know that he will be fervently praying for you or the situation,” Christina says. “He is

Spring into a ! e l i m S w Ne

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Clockwise from top left: Bob Stricklin, also known as “Mr. Bob,” with MES Principal Dr. Allison Campbell, writing one of his devotionals, with MES Reading Interventionist Rachael Ruis and talking to a student in the hallway.

a true man of God, and we were so blessed to have him come into our school.” Rachael says he pulls a small journal out of his pocket and writes down prayer requests given to him. “It is very comforting to know that Mr. Bob is praying for you.”

It’s hard to determine whether students and staff are more thankful for Mr. Bob or if he is more thankful for them. “He doesn’t just write weekly devotionals for the faculty and staff,” fifth-grade teacher Teresa Burden says. “He prays aloud on a different hall during the moment of silence each 62 March/April 2019

morning, and he prays with our lunchroom staff.

He’s truly a man of God who doesn’t hide the light that shines within him.”

For Mr. Bob, his job is much less about the labor than it is about the relationships he has formed with the teachers and students—people he says have blessed him more than anyone ever has in other places he’s worked. “I’m so happy to be here.

God has a plan for everybody, and I believe with all my heart that he sent me here to Montevallo Elementary. Hopefully, I’ll be here for a while.”

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2019 BUILDERS AND BUYERS GUIDE

Real Estate • Interior Design • Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Outdoor Living • Organization ShelbyLiving.com

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BUILDERS AND BUYERS

Russell Building Supply 110 Wheat Street • Harpersville, 35078 205-672-2224 • RussellDoitCenter.com At Russell Do it Center and Russell Building Supply stores, you’ll find a complete assortment of lumber, building materials, hardware, electrical and plumbing supplies, paint, tools, and lawn and garden merchandise.

Russell Do it Center stores deliver first-class service, top-rate products and competitive Do-it-Best pricing. Russell Do it Center has a proud history of service to customers across Central Alabama.

They currently have nine convenient locations to serve you, comprised of six Russell Do it Centers and three Russell Building Supply locations. All locations carry a complete assortment of lumber, building materials, doors, windows, specialty millwork, hardware, tools, plumbing, electrical, paint, lawn and garden, and more for contractors and homeowners.

Regardless of which location you may utilize, all of our locations are deeply embedded into the communities that we serve. No matter the job size, Russell Building Supply has you covered.

Fixtures & Finishes 2500 2nd Ave S • Birmingham, AL 35233 205.323.5616 • halley@fixturesandfinishes.com • www.fixturesandfinishes.com Established in 2015, Fixtures & Finishes offers an exclusive collection of well edited plumbing, tile and lighting products for the kitchen and bath. Fixtures & Finishes is locally owned by Mary Louise Choate. It is Alabama’s only Waterworks boutique with a two-story showroom on 2nd Avenue South. Homeowners and designers alike, are able to explore the many vignettes displaying a wide array of plumbing, tile, decorative lighting and hardware. The trained and experienced consultants help clients uncover their style and create a design to match their vision and specifications.

Fixtures & Finishes can easily help you with any project large or small. Whether you are remodeling or building a new home we have everything for the kitchen and bath.

We welcome you to come browse our inspirational showroom and consider making an appointment to receive individual assistance in your selections. We are open Monday through Friday from 8-5.

PHOTO BY JEAN ALLSOPP

64 March/April 2019

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.

SouthFirst Mortgage Making Dreams Come True…

6930 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 202 • Hoover, AL 35242 205-991-5911 • www.southfirst.com SouthFirst Mortgage was established in 1994 as a residential construction lending office as a division of SouthFirst Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SouthFirst Bank with offices in Sylacauga, Talladega, Clanton, Birmingham and our newest office, Alexander City. SouthFirst Mortgage offers a wide range of loan products to the needs of various buyers. We have the flexibility of a portfolio lender for a “common sense” loan file to fit your unique needs. We offer a variety of product options and excellent rates to our borrowers through our in-house products and the many investors we have correspondent relationships with.

ShelbyLiving.com

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BUILDERS AND BUYERS

Urban Home Market 1001 Doug Baker Blvd #101 • Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 980-4663 • urbanhomemarket.com At Urban Home Market, we offer unique home furnishings that will inspire you to express your personality within your home. Our range of styles include everything from rustic flare to classic elegance.

While shopping, check out our Market Place where you can find specialty boutique items such as clothing and accessories.

Our degreed interior designers are accomplished and dedicated; each having over twenty years of experience in residential and commercial design. The designers work with clients to achieve a shared vision that fosters creativity and delivers results that exceed our client’s expectations. We are a locally family owned business that takes pride in offering programs that support new home owners as well as other local designers and realtors.

Shop Urban Home Market and let us help you make your house a home!

MCJ Company Interiors 2717 2nd Ave S • Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 458-2700 Margaret Jones’ upscale design shop, MCJ Company Interiors, on 2nd Ave S provides both clients and designers with a place to explore unique products that are not available just anywhere. Her industry relationships provide the total experience. Her relationship with TCS Furniture makes it possible for people to sit on the actual furniture rather than ordering from a picture. Loyal designers like Mark Kennamer Designs have contributed to the success of MCJ Company Interiors.

Margaret has worked as a buyer and as a designer so she can see and understand the needs of the designer and client as she has insight into both. She still works as a designer and loves being able to communicate with people that do and do not have a designer, helping to design a space the clients will truly love.

66 March/April 2019

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!

DSLD Land Management Design Build Landscape 1178 Dunnavant Valley Rd • Birmingham, AL 35242 205-437-1012 • www.dsldland.com • dsldsocialmedia@gmail.com DSLD Land Management is a family owned and operated full service design/build landscape contractor serving the Birmingham area for over 30 years. DSLD welcomes projects of any scope and size, and stands ready to serve our clients with one of Alabama’s most credentialed professional staffs. We also employ a dedicated and experienced field service team with all requisite trades on board.

Full Service Landscaping: We take care of everything – landscape design, installation and construction. We strive to exceed your expectations. We achieve that through careful planning, setting clear expectations, and providing excellent all-inclusive service.

We Always Listen to You: We listen to you from initial consultation through build out. We understand that every customer has a unique area and ideas for creating an amazing outdoor space.

ShelbyLiving.com

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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.

Holcombe Doors and Windows 120 Atchison Dr • Chelsea, AL 35043 205-509-4547 In 1993, Holcombe Doors and Windows opened our showroom to respond to the need for efficient and effective doors and windows. We offer assistance with the selection and proper installation of our products for residential and commercial renovations, additions and new construction projects. We install our products so we can take care of your project from start to finish.

Our main window and door lines are Sierra Pacific, Loewen and Kolbe. Windows are available in a wide variety of colors, configurations and materials. We also sell a high-end Poplar interior door and moulding line manufactured by Koetter Woodworking. Interior and exterior doors are available in a multitude of styles, sizes and finishes. Whether you are seeking products that are historically accurate, conventional, or contemporary, Holcombe is proud to be a part of your projects and to help you add to the value, comfort and security of your new or renovated home or business.

68 March/April 2019

New Showroom now Open

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

MARCH 2019 BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

“Coffee with the Mayor” of Chelsea Presenting Sponsor

Co-Sponsor

Newsletter

Be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 19 and plan to join us at the Chelsea Community Center from 8:30AM until 9:30AM for coffee with Tony Picklesimer, Mayor of Chelsea.

The morning meeting, presented by Knowles Realty and co-sponsored by Shelby County Reporter, is designed for the community to enjoy networking, coffee and a city update -- all before heading to the office.

There is no cost to attend however reservations are requested by noon on Monday, March 18 to assist in preparation.

Please contact the Chamber by phone at 663-4542 or register online at www. shelbychamber.org.

March 5 Business After Hours at Corbin Farms Winery

Shelby County’s premier business networking event — sponsored by Graham and Associates, CPAs — will be held at Corbin Farms Winery.

Bring plenty of business cards and ready to make some serious business contacts. Plus,

Sponsor

if you meet enough people you’ll earn a chance to win

some prizes on March 5th from 5:30PM until 7:00PM at Corbin Farms Winery, 800 Highway 87, Calera, AL 35040.

The investment — which includes hors d’oeuvres and two beverage coupons -- for any Chamber investor is $10

per person and $20 for “Future” investors.

Reservations are required, so please register via email at info@shelbychamber.org, by phone at 663-4542 or online at www.shelbychamber.org by noon on Monday, March 4.

ShelbyLiving.com 69 Shelbychamber.org

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

CELEBRATING GROWTH IN SHELBY COUNTY

Byars/Wright Insurance - Alabaster, AL

Newsletter

Golden Rule BBQ - Pelham, AL

Alabama Psychiatry - Pelham, AL

Chelsea Park Elementary School - Chelsea, AL

Alabama Wildlife Center - Pelham, AL

SAS Tax and Accounting - Pelham, AL Therachem Research Medilab - Chelsea, AL

70 March/April 2019 Shelbychamber.org

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

HEALTH FOCUS:

I have dentures, why do I need to see the dentist?

Sponsored in 2019 by:

medications to help kick the habit. I always ask patients that use chewing tobacco to try to quit. For those that are not ready, I tell them to try to at

least move it to different locations in their mouth so it is not constantly sitting on the same tissue. Alcohol use is another risk factor for developing oral cancer.

As with all cancers, the sooner it is found, the better the outcome will be. If it is caught too late, the cancer may have already spread or metastasized. Being pro-active

with your dental health and being aware of the significance of oral caner is key. Make sure you schedule your yearly dental exam today.

Anne Lindsey Cates, D.D.S. Pelham Parkway Dentistry 205-620-9220 2685 Pelham Parkway Dentistry Suite B Pelham, Alabama 35124

Pari Barzegari Joins Chamber Staff As Manager of Community & Career Development Pari Barzegari has joined the Chamber staff team as its new Manager of Community & Career Development. In her role, Ms. Barzegari will coordinate the Chamber’s career readiness / workforce development and healthy lifestyles programming with

the Career Readiness and Health Services Work Groups.

Pari is a 2008 graduate from the University of North Alabama with a BA in Communications Arts. Her previous professional experience includes Executive Director of the Appling

County (Georgia) Arts Council, Chemical Sales with Arcadian Services in Florence and Human Resources Administrator/ Recruiter with Rehab Resources in Oswego, NY.

ShelbyLiving.com 71 Shelbychamber.org

Newsletter

Whether you still have your teeth or not, everyone needs at least a yearly check-up exam with their dentist. You still have gums, lips, cheeks, a tongue, the floor under your tongue, and a palate (roof of mouth) These areas are the most common places to find oral cancer and need to be checked by a dental professional.

Just like all cancers, oral cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors can put you at a higher risk. First, cancer is twice as common in men than women. Secondly, your risk increases with age as most cases are diagnosed in those over fifty years of age. In addition, those that work outside or spend time in tanning beds are at a higher risk of lip cancers.

Your lifestyle choices can increase your risk. Tobacco use whether it is in the form of cigarettes or chewing tobacco dramatically increases your chances. If you are interested in smoking cessation, your dentist can prescribe

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

Newsletter

Ambassador of the Month AND 2018 GSCC Ambassador of the Year A huge congratulations to Charmaine Dye for earning Ambassador of the Month and 2018 GSCC Ambassador of the Year. Charmaine is a 24 year veteran in the trade exchange industry with certification as a Certified Trade Broker (CTB) by the National Association of Trade Exchanges. She brings a wealth of experience and hard-earned “know how” to our trade exchange. “I am passionate about helping business owners get what they need/want through trade. I love getting to know our partners and serving as a resource to broker trades.” I couldn’t ask for a more perfect job or company to work for, Moxey.

Moxey has become the the number one, member-owned barter exchange in the greater Birmingham area.

With over 265+ members, and growing, they are building a community of business owners who buy, sell and serve one another without spending cash in their

TSCC Board of Directors (as of 1/16/19)

OFFICERS Chamber Chair Mr. Bill Connor America’s First Federal Credit Union Chair-Elect Ms. Kathy Copeland White Rock Quarries–Vincent Hills Vice Chair, Business Development & Support Dr. Jay Crisman 280 Animal Medical Center Vice Chair, Communications & Marketing Ms. Katie McDowell Shelby County Newspapers, Inc.

Presenting Sponsors

Vice Chair, Community & Career Development Ms. Carol Bruser University of Montevallo Vice Chair, Finance & Administration Mr. Chris Grace Barge Design Solutions, Inc. Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs Mr. Brian Massey St. Vincent’s Health System Vice Chair, Investor Relations Ms. Alison Howell Steineker Alabama Power Company Vice Chair, Tourism & Recreation Mr. Alex Dudchock Shelby County

managed bartering organization.

Contact Charmaine to discuss the ways your company could take advantage of the benefits for barter exchange by calling her cell at 529-1786 or email cdyetrade@ charter.net.

Immediate Past Chairs Ms. Jacqueline Gardner St. Vincent’s One Nineteen & Mr. Joe Meads Sain Associates DIRECTORS Mr. Shane Armstrong (2019) Premier Healthcare Mr. Cris Cano (2019) Alabama Power Company Mr. Stephen Dawkins (2019) Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. Jay Dennis (2019) Regions Bank Mr. Lee Dorrill (2019) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Ms. Kelly Thrasher Fox (2019) Hand Arendall, Harrison, Sale LLC Mr. Charles Hall (2019) Grandview Medical Center Ms. Leisha Harris (2019) Grandview Medical Center Mr. Bill Keller (2019) Renasant Bank

72 March/April 2019 Shelbychamber.org

Mr. Bruce King (2019) Lhoist North America Mr. Daniel Listi (2019) Shelby Baptist Medical Center Mr. Kevin Morris (2019) America’s First Federal Credit Union Mr. Carl Orso (2019) Renasant Bank Mr. Mitt Schroeder (2019) Central State Bank Mr. Tim Benefield (2020) Buffalo Rock Company Ms. April Harry (2020) Warren, Averett, LLC Mr. Jeff McDowell (2020) McDowell Security Services, LLC Mr. Keith Richards (2020) Taziki’s Mediterranean Café’ Mike Swinson (2020) Spire Alabama, Inc. Ms. Mechelle Wilder (2020) ARC Realty Mr. Paul Barber (2021) S. S. Nesbitt and Company Mr. Matthew Hogan (2021) Bama Budweiser of Shelby County Ms. Brittani Morris (2021) State Farm Insurance - Brittani Morris Agency Mr. Casey Morris (2021) Ground Up Coffee & Smoothies in Snider’s Pharmacy Mr. Fred Smith (2021) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Dr. Scott Coefield (*) Superintendent Pelham City Schools Ms. Bridgette Jordan Smith (*) Council Member, District 2 City of Vincent Ms. Debbie Parrott (*) Vice President / Branch Manager iBERIA Bank Mr. Jeff Purvis (*) Director of Operations A. C. Legg, Inc. Ms. Diane Thomas (*) Owner / Operator PostNet of Chelsea

(*) Serving a one-year term in 2019

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

“Eggs & Issues” Breakfast with Congressman Gary Palmer On Wednesday April 16, U.S. Congressman Gary Palmer will join us for an “Eggs & Issues” Breakfast event from 7:30AM9:00AM at Birmingham Marriott Hotel, 3590 Grandview Parkway.

Congressman Palmer will provide a Washington Update.

Time permitting we will open the floor to questions from those attending.

This event is co-hosted by the Montevallo, Mountain Brook, Hoover Area, Shelby County and Vestavia Hills chambers of commerce.

The investment for a full

breakfast is $15 per person..

Registration is required, so please contact the Chamber via e-mail at info@shelbychamber. org, by phone at 663-4542 or register online at www. shelbychamber.org.

Congressman Gary Palmer

Volunteers Needed for “Keeping It Real” Program Co-Sponsors

for

all

See us for all your Business, Corporate, School Police and Fire Department attire needs.

By George Screen Printing, Embroidery and Promotional Products.

Look Good!

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www.bygeorgeusa.com ShelbyLiving.com 73 Shelbychamber.org

Newsletter

The Chamber is seeking Presenting Sponsor volunteers for Helena High School on March 1 and Chelsea High School on March 14. If you or your colleagues are interested in being a volunteer, please contact the Chamber at 663- org or register online at www. will be provided Lunch volunteers.

4542 or info@shelbychamber. shelbychamber.org.

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

Welcome New Investors (as of 1/28/19)

Member Name Joe Hudson Collision Center - Champion Blvd The Davis Insurance Agency OnTime Service Penn Mutual Alabama Agency Rittenhouse Village At Hoover Sunbelt Business Brokers Melissa Wise/RealtySouth Agency

Categories Automobile Repair Financial Coaching & Consulting Electrical Services, HVAC, Plumbing Services Financial Products & Services Senior Care Facility, Senior Services Brokerage Firm Real Estate

City Birmingham Birmingham Hoover Birmingham Hoover Vestavia Birmingham

For a complete listing of all current Chamber investors please visit our Online Business Directory at business.shelbychamber.org/list.

Newsletter

2019 Montgomery Drive-In Scheduled For April 2 The Chamber’s 2019 Montgomery Drive-In will be held on April 2 at various locations in our state capitol.

The program includes: transportation to and from

74 March/April 2019 Shelbychamber.org

Montgomery, a luncheon with our Shelby County Legislative Delegation, presentations from various Alabama state departmental heads and agency directors and a

legislative reception in conjunction with the Business Council of Alabama.

The cost for participants is $45 for Chamber investors and $75 for “Future”investors. For

additional information on this event, or to make a reservation, please contact Kirk Mancer at the Chamber via e-mail at kirk@shelbychamber.org or by phone at 419-3361.

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

Health Services Work Group Are you a healthcare professional or have a passion for healthy living? Join the Health Services Work Group to help promote the importance of good health, wellness and education for Shelby County business - also assist in coordinating the “Health Focus of the Month” in the Chamber newsletter, seminars on healthrelated topics, a “Healthy Lifestyles Expo” and more! The group Meets the 2nd Friday of each month at 8:30AM at the Chamber office.

The, scheduled for March 7 is hosted by the Chamber’s Health Services Work Group and will feature comments from Saint Vincent’s One Nineteen on Healthy Living.

Make plans to attend on March 7 from 11:30AM until 1:00PM at First Baptist Church of Columbiana.

RSVPs are requested by March 5 to assist in preparation.

“Chamber Community Luncheon” Developing Alabama’s Workforce with Ed Castile The Chamber’s March Community Luncheon will feature a presentation titled “Developing Alabama’s Workforce” featuring Ed Castile, Alabama Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Workforce Development Division on Wednesday March 20th. The meeting, presented

by Southwest Water Company and co-sponsored by Renasant Bank, will be held in the banquet hall at the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena.

Doors will open at 11:00AM

Presenting Sponsor

for business networking, hot buffet at 11:30AM and the program will begin promptly at noon. The program will conclude at 1:00PM. In addition to the great business networking, we’ll also hear from Ed Castile about the state of Alabama’s workforce

development initiatives. With record low unemployment and the changing skill needs, the importance of a cutting-edge workforce development system is more critical than ever.

The cost is $20 per person for Chamber investors and

Co-Sponsor

$30 per person for “Future” investors and includes a luncheon buffet. For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact the Chamber at info@ shelbychamber.org, by telephone at 663-4542 or use online registration.

ShelbyLiving.com 75 Shelbychamber.org

Newsletter

March “Chamber Connections” Luncheon

CHAMBER Events

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

Read more details or register for events online at www.shelbychamber.org or the Chamber office 663-4542. Unless otherwise noted events listed will be held at 1301 County Services Dr., Pelham 35124. CANCELLATION POLICY REMINDER: Cancellation for a paying event must be made TWO days prior to the event.

Newsletter

March 2019

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Keeping it Real at Helena High School Business After Hours 5:30PM - 7:00PM Corbin Farms Winery 800 Highway 87, Calera, AL 35040 Career Readiness Work Group 8:30AM - 9:30AM Locations Vary

Ambassadors Work Group 11:30AM - 1:00PM Small Business Work Group 4:00PM - 5:00PM The Shelby County Chamber 1301 County Services Drive, Pelham, AL 35124 Governmental Affairs Work Group 8:30AM - 9:30AM Sain Associates, Two Perimeter Park South, Ste 500 East, Birmingham “Chamber Connections Luncheon” 208 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 35051 Investment: Investors $15 and Future Investors $25.

Reservations appreciated to assist in preparation.

Health Services Work Group 8:30AM - 9:30AM

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Tourism & Recreation Work Group 9:00AM - 10:00AM Locations Vary.

Existing Business & Industry Work Group 8:30AM - 9:30AM iBERIABANK, 2695 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham

Keeping it Real at Chelsea High School

Entrepreneur Roundtable I 7:30AM - 8:30AM

Coffee with the Mayor of Chelsea Chelsea Community Center Montevallo Chamber Monthly Luncheon 11:30AM - 1:30PM Parnell Memorial Library, 377 Park Dr, Montevallo Investment: $12. No reservation required.

“Chamber Community” Luncheon Doors open at 11:00AM. Program 11:30AM - 1:00PM. Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena 500 Amphitheater Rd, Pelham Reservations requested by noon, Monday, February 25.

Investment: $20 investors, $30 “Future” investors.

YOUR CHAMBER AT WORK (January 1, 2019- January 28, 2019)

Facebook: 25 “new likes”, 242 “views’, 5,755 “post reaches’ and 3,349 “total likes”.

Twitter: 37 “tweets”, 5767 “tweet impressions”, 195 “profile visits”, 3 “mentions” 3,008 “followers”, Instagram: 1,184 “posts”, 953 “followers”.

Responded to 61 requests for business & community information.

Notarized 2 documents for Shelby County Companies 76 March/April 2019 Shelbychamber.org

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HELENA CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER PHOTOS BY GRAHAM BROOKS

Old Town Helena had a festive mood the night of Friday, Nov. 30, as thousands enjoyed holiday themed vendors, live music, food trucks and a Christmas tree lighting.

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Anna Baker and Christina Levio

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Maddie Gordinier and Aria Palladino

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Jane Ramsey and Glenda Miller

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Katlyn Lewis, Crystal and Drew Charcandy with Kayla Golden

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Anna Martin and Bradley Avery

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Skyler Stevens and Evan Mabrey

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Claire Gray and Madison Laney

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Emma Grace, Addie Weathers, Samantha Robinson and Lauren Lancaster

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OUT & ABOUT

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GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING

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PHOTOS BY BRIANA HARRIS

The Pelham Public Library hosted its annual gingerbread house making event on Dec. 6.

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Anthony, Autumn, Aubrey and Briana Burress

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Debbie Freeze and Jazmine Daniels

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Emmy Cook and Larah Maldonado

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Rex Gann and Micah Waller

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Nadia Windham

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Elisha Windham

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Lucas Kalba, Daniela DeLuca and Cruz Kalba

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Manuel Zaa and Antonio Gonzalez

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Joshua Stewart and Jacqueta Johnson

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10. Elliot Massey and Emanuel Hernandez 11. Elizabeth Norman

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GROWNUPS WERE STUNNED AS HE CHARMED THE SERVER INTO GIVING HIM ICE CREAM WITH SPRINKLES AND HOT FUDGE, ON THE HOUSE!

CHILDREN A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY

and at Children’s of Alabama, we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.

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 3 5 2 3 3 ( 2 0 5 ) 6 3 8 - 9 1 0 0

Ice Cream- Valor 7.25 x 4.75 -HomewoodMag 2019.indd 1

ChildrensAL.org

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OUT & ABOUT

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PRAYER BREAKFAST

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PHOTOS BY BRIANA HARRIS

The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 22nd Prayer Breakfast at the Pelham Civic Complex on Nov. 20.

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Maudrecus Humphrey, Michael Hembree and Bobby Humphrey

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Peggy and John Turner

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Kathy Copeland and Kevin Jones

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Cathy Wood and Kathleen Spencer

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Rhonda and Tye Johnson

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Gloria Tyson and Melissa Dixon

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Dave Davis, Bruce Andrews, Rux Bentley and Paul DeMarco

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Will Norwood, Casey Oliver and Lyn Duncan

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Dave Davis, Bruce Andrews and Rux Bentley

10. Casey Bentley, George Bentley and Timothy Ansley 11. Gina Cannady and Beth Hallel

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lumadentristry.com McCalla / Hoover / Centerville / Montevallo

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OUT & ABOUT

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COLUMBIANA CHRISTMAS PARADE

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PHOTOS BY EMILY SPARACINO

The 16th annual Columbiana Christmas Parade drew residents of all ages to Main Street on the night of Dec. 6.

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Stephanie and Amanda Kilgo

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Parker Childress, Payton Childress and Kaiden Carlton

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Teresa Larsen and Alton Vansant

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Dream Makers Dance performers

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Kynlee Gillam and Morgan Dupree

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Wendy and Megan Parish

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Skyeler Morrow, Jorden Morrow and Jaeda Nelms

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Abby Hall, Ashley Thames, Holly Hall, Chris Hall, CJ Burke and Christopher Pickens

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Lincoln and Lyla Joiner

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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS LUNCHEON PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAWKINS

The Shelby County Chamber Connections Luncheon was held on Jan. 10, at First Baptist Church in Columbiana.

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Jim Page, Lindsey Allison and Drew Harrell

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Karee Hughes and Charlene Tucker

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Carl Orso and Russell Scruggs

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John Andrews and Jonn Rock

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Alicia Bailey and Preston Huddleston

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Alison Howell and Virginia Amason

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Casey Morris and Chris Grace

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Kenneth Paschal and Bonnie Sult

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OUT & ABOUT

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CHELSEA CHRISTMAS PARADE

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PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAWKINS

The Chelsea Christmas parade was held on Dec. 15, beginning at Chelsea Middle School and ending at the Winn-Dixie shopping center.

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Mary Ann Livingston, Sydney Livingston, Patton Anding, Bailey Davis, Carson McNair and Micah Davis

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Haley and Paul David Houston

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Allie Lindsey and Haley Bridges

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Krystie Shirah and Jackson Shirah

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Gregg Rushton and Jeff Kyl

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Don Williamson and Tim Honeycutt

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Landon Jones and Sydney Webster

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Ethan and Emily Sims

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Jerry, Sydney, Charlene, Olivia and Alexis Robertson

10. Jackson Powers and Richard Powers 11. Vicki, Taylor and Dan Hines

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Shelby County's best kept secret...

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205.678.2411

Free delivery on $50 orders within 5 miles. secretgardenalabama.com ShelbyLiving.com

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BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

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PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s employees in Helena took the night off to enjoy a Christmas party on Dec. 17.

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Samantha Smith, George McCluney and Dee Dee Gates

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Austin Stockton and Fraser Putley

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George McCluney and Andrea Oleen

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Samantha Smith and Meagan Shook

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George McCluney and Jessica Adams

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George and Eileen McCluney

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Austin Stockton, Dee Dee Gates and Fraser Putley

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Dee Dee Gates and Hugo Rivas

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Austin Stockton, Dee Dee Gates and Fraser Putley with George and Eileen McCluney

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LEADERSHIP SHELBY COUNTY ALUMNI SOCIAL PHOTOS BY GRAHAM BROOKS

Leadership Shelby County held a “nacho average” alumni social Jan. 22 at Margarita Grill in Pelham.

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Dennis Hulsey and Jomo Johnson

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Kelli Holmes, Amy Bradley and Barbara Forrest

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Kendall Williams, Julie Godfrey and Rhett McCreight

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Leslie Greenwood, Jane Hampton and Emily Davis

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Amy Bradley, Tricia Corbett and Carol Bruser

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Ryan Matson and Jason Bookout

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Calvin Gunn and Lynn Ray

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Sara Beasley, Jason Beasley, Rhett McCreight and Alice Lobell

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MARKETPLACE

Marketplace Shelby Living • 205.669.3131

Acceptance Loan Company. Personal Loans! Let us pay off your title loan! 224 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham. 205663-5821

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.A-1Appliance.com INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $17.68 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 Preemployment 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.

Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 Bent Creek Apartments.

Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager. On-site

88 March/April 2019

Maintenance. 3001 7th Street. North Clanton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800548-2547(V) 800-5482546(T/A) bentcreek@ morrowapts.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/Employer Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions.

Starting pay $13.33/hour.

Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com Carroll Fulmer Now Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers. Over-the-road positions available. Dry vans. No hazmat. Must have one year over-theroad. Experience and a clean MVR. Competitive pay and bonus package.

Good home time. Call 800-633-9710 ext. 2 Church Transportation and Logistics, Inc Now Hiring Birmingham, AL based Transportation Company looking for Class-A CDL-Drivers •Average 22,500/mileswk •Must be at least 23yrs-old•Starting pay at .43/mile increase to .45 in 6-months•18-months driving exp. Call:205925-1977 Ext:2309 or Email: recruiting@ churchtransportation.net NOW HIRING!!!

•Director, Pharmacy Services •Director, Material Management •RN-ER RFT 7pm-7am •RN-ICU RFT 7pm-7am Email resume to: Blaine.Green@cvhealth. net or go to www. cvhealth.net EEO Employer M/F/D/VDrugfree-Workplace

ShelbyLiving.com

DCH Health System Caring. For Life. $5,000 *Sign-on Bonus for full time RNs *For More Info Contact Annie.

Miller@dchsystem.com.

Apply online at: www. dchsystem.com REPLACEMENT WINDOW SALE!!!

Any Size Double Hung Window up to 101 UI $238 Basic Installation EcoViewWindows.com Visit Our Showrooms 836 S.Hull St. Montgomery,AL 334-676-3001 40 E.Commerce Dr. Pelham,AL 205-564-8480 $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 205-668-3316.

MECHANICS NEEDED Evergreen Transport LLC has two immediate openings for Class B Mechanics at its terminal in Calera, AL. One for night shift and one for day shift. Call Jason at 205-668-3316. Job duties include repairing, maintaining and overhauling of heavy duty fleet truck/trailers and other tasks assigned by supervisor.

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 Franklin Iron Works Now Hiring. Grinders & Laborers. Must apply in person: 146 Tommie Drive, Thorsby. Mon-Fri. 10am-3pm.

DRIVERS Hanna Truck Lines is seeking Professional Flatbed Drivers. 53 cpm No surprises: Starting pay (all miles): 51 cpm, 52 cpm at 6 months, 53 cpm at 1 year. 100% Outbounds loads Pre-loaded & Tarped. 75% Inbound No Tarp. Late Model Peterbilt Trucks. Air Ride Trailers. Home weekends.

Low cost BCBS Health & Dental Ins. Matching 401K. Qualifications: 18 months Class A CDL driving experience with 6 months flatbed; Applicants must meet all D.O.T. requirements.

Contact recruiting at 1-800-634-7315 or come

by HTL office at 1700 Boone Blvd, Northport.

EOE Housing Authority of the Birmingham District Hiring: Homeownership Lease-Purchase Facilitator Resident Services Coordinator-ROSS Human Resources Specialist Compliance Data Analysis Application Data Entry Clerk Assistant Vice President of Housing Operations

Director of Public Safety Custodian View complete description and apply at www.habd.org or 1826 3rdAvenueSouth Birmingham, Al 35233 NOW AVAILABLE LPN’s, RN’s 12 HOUR SHIFTS CNA’s Full-time & part-time Apply in person: Hatley Health Care 300 Medical Center Drive Clanton, AL 35045 Health Services, Inc. Clanton Family Health 107 Medical Center Dr Clanton,AL 35045 Current Opening: •Patient Account Representative •Medical Assistant •LPN Unit Coordinator Helping Hands Estate Sales Serving clients over 7yrs Professional & Experienced We can help sell the contents of your home! Contact for information: 256-2835549 tbob56.wixsite.com/ helping-hands 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

MARKETPLACE Jefferson State Community College Intent to Employ PartTime Instructors -Daytime English Instructor -Nighttime Speech Instructor - Nighttime Biology Instructor. Please visit www.jeffersonstate. edu to view qualifications or to obtain application forms. Jefferson State Community College Human Resources, 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham AL 35215 Phone: 205856-7764 or 205-8567899 EOE Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com SHEETMETAL & MANUFACTURING HELP WANTED •Sheetmetal/ Layout •Manufacturing Helpers •Sheetmetal Machinery Operators Multiple positions Paid holidays, typical shifts are 6:00am-2:30pm Must be reliable & on-time Call RICK: 205-644-9633 Need FREE help with your Medicare? Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) today at (800)AGE-LINE (800)-243-5463.

M&M Trucking Company hiring experienced trailer and tractor trailer drivers.

Minimum three years verifiable experience required. Tanker and dump experience a plus.

Apply in person w/MVR at M&M Trucking Company.

980 Lee Road. Auburn, AL 36830.

Now Hiring!!

•Caregivers-ADL’s, assist with medications and some lifting 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7pm •Activity Director PartTime •Cooks-some 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) •800548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am4pm. 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. 205-7553430 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 205-3894530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205965-8657 MOUNT HOME BUILDERS, INC. Build on your lot custom homes!

Our plans or yours! Visit www.mounthomebuilder. com for price quotes and to see completed homes & homes under construction! 205-2990114 Production Jobs.

Willing to Train. AAM in Columbiana is HIRING for multiple shifts. Email resume to dcurtis@grede. com or apply in person: 130 Industrial Pkwy, Columbiana, AL 35051

NOW HIRING Class-A CDL Driver Must have clean driving record, two years experience Will train drivers on tank Drivers home nightly Contact Keith at: 205-438-4959 INDUSTRIAL CLEANING IN VANCE Requirements: •18 Years Old •HS Diploma/GED •Able to work variable shifts/ weekends/holidays •Able to lift up to 50lbs constantly, stand on your feet for 8hrs •Able to pass drug screen/background check Complete your application on line at www.naonsite.com Production / Manufacturing Vance, Alabama Starting pay: $12.00 – $14.50 / hr. • Have 2 years+ Production/Manufacturing experience. • Have Recently Lived in Alabama at least 2 years. • Have A High School Diploma or GED. • Are at least 18 years old. Complete your application on line at www.naonsite.com 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 inquires only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www.

Oxfordhealthcare.com Move in Special! 3/2 Garden Home w/garage.

Dishwasher, Fenced backyard, Great Room w/ vaulted Ceiling. Calera Schools. Rent $1150.

FLAT SCREEN TV!!

(205)433-9811

Southeastern Food Merchandisers NOW HIRING Class-A CDL Food Service Delivery Drivers with 1 year experience!!! Pay & Benefits •Home daily •Schedules allow you to depart and return to same terminal daily •Dispatches are single day routes, nothing runs overnight or multi-day!

•Paid by weight delivered, miles, and stops •Drivers running single driver routes are earning $75,000-$100,000 yearly!

•Team and Helper routes are earning $65,000+ yearly What we offer in addition to route pay!

•Attendance/Accuracy bonuses •Wkly-pay w/ direct deposit •401(k) w/ company match, eligible after 6-months with quarterly enrollment •Blue Cross of AL health & dental insurance, company subsidized •Two different medical plans for Blue Cross depending on your needs •Vision Insurance, company subsidized •Basic Life and AD&D 100% employer paid •Company paid Short-Term Disability •Voluntary Life & AD&D also provided on post-tax basis for you, and your family Email resume: ofrye@southeasternfood. com Call:205-685-4534 South Haven Health & Rehab, Hoover NOWHIRING!!! • LPN’s & RN’sAll Shifts-Shift Differential -$3000 Sign on Bonus!!!!

• Dietary Aide Apply in person or email: ken. holmes@nhsmgt.com

Stellar Staffing, LLC Customer Service Is Our Passion NOW HIRING!!!

Pelham • Calera • Alabaster • Clanton Starting pay: $10hr-$13hr • General Labor • Heavy Equipment Operator • Machine Operator • Crane Operator Please apply on-line: www. stellarstaffingllc.com Questions Call: 205-9162860 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.

TaylorMade Transportation Hiring CDL Drivers for Flatbed Regional Division! BCBS Insurance After 30 Days.

To apply call: (334)3662269 or email: s.smith@ taylormadeinc.com Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205)5618118 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

ShelbyLiving.com

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WHY I LOVE SHELBY COUNTY

Deseray Stone

Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Athletic, artistic and altruistic are just a few words that describe 15-year-old Deseray Stone, Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen. She attends Smiths Station High School and stays busy painting, playing volleyball and soccer, hanging out with her friends and staying up-to-date with her platform, S.A.L.T. (Save A Life Today Suicide Prevention).

Why did you decide to participate in the Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen Pageant?

I decided to compete in the Miss Shelby County’s Outstanding Teen pageant for the scholarship opportunities, as well as a way to further promote my platform.

awareness in Shelby County by going to schools and talking to teens about knowing the warning signs and risk factors for suicide and ways they can help prevent and seek help for others as well as themselves, if needed.

Surgeon General of the United States.

What’s something interesting people might not know about you?

Something interesting about myself that not many people know is that I am an AP high school student while being dual enrolled.

What are your plans after high school?

After high school, I would like to attend What have you done as Miss Shelby the University of Alabama at Birmingham What’s the first place you would take a County’s Outstanding Teen? and pursue a career in either neurosurgery visitor to in Shelby County?

This year, as Miss Shelby County’s The first place I would take a visitor to in or cardiology.

Outstanding Teen, I have had wonderful Shelby County would be Oak Mountain opportunities to get more involved with State Park. There are so many fun things to Who are a few of your role models, and the community and know more of the do and see including the beaches, golf why? people I am representing by participating course, fishing, hiking, horseback riding One role model of mine is Dr. Antonia in several annual parades they have in their town. However, I plan on creating Novello. She was not only the first woman, and so much more. but also the first Hispanic, to become 90 March/April 2019

A FEW OF THE MANY REASONS TO JOIN!

Yoga & Pilates

Power Pump

Silver Sneakers

Personal Training

• We're here to help you reach your goals • Childcare • Personal Training, Nutrition Counseling • Synergy 360, CardioKick, Power Pump, TRX, Pilates, Zumba, Spin Class, Yoga and Barre • Now 24/7 4766 Highway 52 W • Helena, AL 35080 205.621.7007 • www.helenahealthclub.com

Synergy 360 (Bootcamp)

Free Weights

Discount to all Military, Teachers and City of Helena Employees

Come visit our new facility, including the new Spa Cahaba

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Holly Gunn MD, FAAD