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Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover Volume 2 | Issue 8 | May 2014

Sponsors ...........A2City .....................A4 Business ............A12 Community .......A16

Entertainment ...B1School House .....B8Sports ..................B11Calendar .............B13

INSIDE

Entertainment page B4

Community page A22

May events guide

Genuine kindness

From plant sales to races for a cause, there is plenty to do in Hoover this month.

Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous Hoover donor, one family’s life has been changed for the better.

By REBECCA WALDEN

One evening in spring 2010, Hoover residents Tom and Charon Rivers looked out their window to see two Marines approaching their doorway.

Their hearts sank as they were told their son, Thomas, had died while serv-ing in Afghanistan.

“After that, our lives were just dev-astated,” said Charon. “We didn’t know what to do.”

The Rivers chose to give back. In their grief, they assembled care packages for those who had been with Thomas. By February 2011, the Rivers created S.O.S., Support Our Soldiers, with the tagline, “Supporting those who are serving, who have served, and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

By JEFF THOMPSON

What began in 2012 as a resur-facing project on U.S. 31 in Hoover is now moving forward, albeit with a much larger scope.

Brian Davis, Division 3 engineer

with the Alabama Department of Transportation, said last month that construction on the widening and resurfacing of U.S. Highway 31 could begin as early as May 1. The project includes repaving the highway from Vestavia Hills city

limits at Columbiana Road down to the Shelby County line at the Cahaba River.

It will also, most exciting for holiday shoppers, add lanes around the Riverchase Galleria.

Davis said the project’s initial

scope was expanded in 2013 to include a full turn lane at the I-459 interchange for drivers intending to go west on the interstate toward Tuscaloosa.

Preserving memory, creating legacyHow a fallen soldier’s family turned its grief into healing

New lanes, lines and pavement

The Alabama Department of Transportation’s resurfacing project on U.S. 31 will run from Columbiana Road down to the Shelby County line. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

See SUPPORT | page A23Charon Rivers, pictured with her daughter, Rachel, holds a picture of her son, Thomas, who died while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

See U.S. 31 | page A23

U.S. 31 widening, resurfacing project to begin this month

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A2 • May 2014 Hoover Sun

This month, while fam-ilies are focused on the matriarchs in their lives in celebration of Mother’s Day, I will pay tribute to my Dad. On May 15, after delivering nearly 4,500 babies, spend-ing 962 weekends on call, and managing 37 years of practice, Dr. Richard S. Cybulsky, OB/Gyn, will close the doors of Brook-wood Hospital’s Premier Women’s Care and delve headfirst into retirement.

As anyone who has experienced child-birth can attest, those first few moments between mother and child are among the most precious we ever will experience in our worldly lives. For nearly four decades, this has been his life’s work.

When new daddies with shaking hands went to cut the umbilical cord, he was there. When seconds-old babies made their triumphant first cries of life, he was there. In that first visible moment when women became mothers, men became fathers, and couples became families, he was there.

In September 1977, Dad opened his first practice on 11 Avenue South, a stone’s throw from Southside. He was 28 years old. Three months later, he became a daddy for the first time himself when I arrived on December 22.

Balancing the demands of a new baby and a new practice, Dad began to per-fect the trademark quality I’ve heard attributed to him over the years more times than I can count. (My maiden

name ensured I could not walk down the halls of Pizitz Middle School, or to the Vestavia Hills Public Library, or frankly any-where any type of ID with surname was involved, with-out people putting two and two together):

“He is so patient.”Yes, he is. Unfailingly

so. Even to this day when I am at my wit’s end after a

trying day with my own children, I often envy him this quality.

I asked him recently about the secret mojo of his bottomless patience. His answer was astonishingly simple.

“You cannot learn anything if your hand is on the doorknob,” he said.

Of course. It’s as true in an examination room as

it is in a preschooler’s bedroom, during the bedtime tug of war that happens in my house more often than I’d like to admit.

“I bet I would spend no more time with my patients [than a doctor standing up], but I certainly learned a lot more by sit-ting down,” he said. “Your eyes can see what a person’s words don’t necessarily convey. Facial expression is so meaning-ful; without it, you cannot provide the best possible care.”

And he always did. As a doctor, and as a daddy.

Even now, at age 36, I swell with pride when a family stops us while we are out, only to introduce their teenage son or daughter to Dad, telling their child, “He

was there when you were born.” Occasionally we run into patients who

themselves were once upon a time babies he delivered, and are now having babies of their own - what Dad refers to as his first grandfather experience.

“That makes you very reflective,” he said. “To think you have been in this business long enough that enough time has passed for such a thing to occur, it’s surreal. It also carries a sense of accom-plishment because you have engendered enough faith and trust in your ability that these children would seek you out.”

Were it not for shows like Ben Casey or Dr. Kildare, they might not have had the chance.

Leading a successful career as a phy-sician in Birmingham was certainly an unlikely calling for a farm boy from Lockport, Manitoba. But he did it. Expo-sure to family members who married physicians, a bit of black-and-white TV medical drama, and an aptitude for math and science in grade school were all the indicators Dad needed to articulate and achieve his dream.

It’s an awesome lift-yourself-up by -the-bootstraps legacy, and one that always will influence my own choices.

We Cybulskys like to shake things up a bit. We thrive on rising above what others think we ought to do.

And I’m fiercely proud to be my father’s daughter.

About Us

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In the April Issue of the Hoover Sun, Lou Lou’s, winner of Best New Store, had an incorrect listing. The correct information is as follows:Correction:

160 Main Street, Suite 128981-5117shopatloulous.com

Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden

Walden

Members of Girl Scout Troop 532 sponsored the collection of items for the Sugar-belle Foundation at their recent Daddy Daughter Dance. Photo courtesy of Jana Maynard.


Over the past 16 years, the top baseball teams from the Western and Eastern Divi-sions have met in May at the Hoover Met to determine the champions of the Southeast-ern Conference. The games draw over 130,000 fans to Hoover during this weeklong competition. The 2014 SEC Baseball Tournament will be played the week of May 20- 25. For ticket information, visit secdigitalnetwork.com or call 978-2822.

With summer fast approaching, we hope you will take a little free time and go visit the beautiful Aldridge Gar-dens, which is located on Lorna Road. This is a gorgeous and serene place that is free to visit and a great place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon picnic. We have many other parks in the city. If you need directions or additional information about our parks, visit hooveralabama.gov or call 444-7500.

Finally, congratulations to all the upcoming high school graduates and college graduates in Hoover. May is a very exciting time in the lives of our students in Hoover as they embark on getting ready for their next step in life ,whether it is college or starting their careers.

Please remember that the city leaders and employees are here for you and will continue to try and exceed your expectations in every way with our quality of services in Hoover. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you.

Sincerely,

Gary Ivey Mayor

City

With the endorsement of Sheriff Chris Curry, the Shelby County district attorney, and a vote of con-fidence from the employees of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Deputy John Samaniego will seek the Republican nomination for Shelby County Sheriff on June 3.

With Curry’s retirement, Samaniego said he would like to continue the progress and success of the Sheriff’s Office by continuing to move forward with the goals and implementation of professional standards that he and Curry have strived for during the previous three terms.

After serving as the assistant chief of police for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, where he also served as the commander of the West Alabama Nar-cotics Task Force, Curry sought out Samaniego to serve as his chief deputy.

For the past 11 years, Samaniego has served with

Curry in developing new operating procedures for the Sheriff’s Office, centralizing 911 communica-tions, establishing new standards for community notifications of sex offenders and developing future leadership from within the Sheriff’s Office.

Samaniego has chartered, served and currently serves on many boards and committees, including: past president of the Alabama Chapter of the FBI National Academy; past commissioner of the Ala-bama Peace Officers Standards and Training Com-mission; and past state president of the Alabama Fraternal Order of Police.

Samaniego also holds a law degree, is a graduate of the 176th Session of the FBI National Academy, a graduate of The University of Alabama, Lead-ership Shelby County and the DEA’s Drug Unit Commander Academy among others.

Visit johnsamaniego.com.

Samaniego seeks Republican nomination for sheriff

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Samaniego.

Mayor’s Minute By Gary Ivey

Gary Ivey

Office Depot will sponsor the Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon and has invited Dr. John Stewart, the 15th president of the University of Montevallo, to be the speaker.

Since his arrival at UM in August 2010, Dr. Stewart has endeavored to raise awareness of the school through a variety of speaking engagements and a new branding and marketing campaign that saw its official launch in September 2011. On Founders’ Day in October 2011, the university celebrated the unveiling of the newly redesigned James R. Wilkinson Stu-dent Life Center.

He has held leadership roles in a number of community and arts orga-nizations, including the Small Busi-ness Development Committee, United Way, the Florida Ballet and the Bank-Trust Advisory Board.

To attend the luncheon at Hoover Country Club, please make your res-ervations no later than Monday, May 12, by calling 988-5672, or emailing Lisa Dunbar at [email protected]. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., with the meeting starting sharply at noon. The luncheon is $20 with advance reservations or $22 at the door.

University of Montevallo President Stewart to speak at Chamber luncheon

University of Montevallo President Dr. John Stewart

Make family time cool again!

View hundreds of additional photos of our past work on our website: www.OutdoorLivingAreas.net402-2110

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May 2014 • A5

2014 Commercial Beautification Awards The Hoover Beautification Board

announces the 2014 Commercial Beautifica-tion Awards. Any commercial property within the City of Hoover, including schools and col-leges, can participate in this event. Properties are judged in categories. The deadline for busi-nesses to enter is May 30. Judging Day is June 19. Winners in each category will get a black wrought iron sign to place near the entrance

of their property. The event culminates with an Award Lun-

cheon at Riverchase Country Club on Tuesday , August 12. Entry forms are available to be picked up at City Hall, or at hooveralabama.gov. The Hoover Beautification Board is a vol-unteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Hoover.

Brocks Gap Intermediate School in Hoover City Schools is a new school, but its building is all too familiar to many in the community. In an effort to alleviate overcrowding, the city system implemented a building realignment and “recyclabuilding” plan.

At the heart of the plan was a new interme-diate school that was recycled from the old R. F. Bumpus Middle School. The three-story building sits on 25 acres in the middle of the Lake Cyrus neighborhood and houses over 800 fifth- and six-grade students. Daylighting is an important component of the school’s design. The lunchroom is designed to use natural light to illuminate its space as a way to reduce reli-ance on electric lighting during daylight hours.

In February, the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) announced Brock’s Gap as one of the state’s 2014 Green Ribbon Schools. The schools are honored for their approach to creating “green” environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and out-door education.

This month, Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Mike Boots joined U.S. Secretary of Education (USDE) Arne Duncan to announce that Brock’s Gap is also among the 2014 U.S. Department of Edu-cation Green Ribbon Schools District Sustain-ability Awardees.

At Brock’s Gap, administrators and stake-holders realize that simple efficiency measures in the use of technology are needed to save energy, resources and the environment. As exist-ing hardware wears out, the school is planning to replace its desktop computers with hand-held personal devices, which function without hard drives with processing done by servers. They use less energy and consequently emit less heat, which, in a room of 30 or more machines, has the effect of lessening air-conditioning costs from kick-on systems.

Despite changing budgets, Brock’s Gap has been improving school meals and working to teach students to make healthy choices in school and at home. The school is making kid favorites using leaner meats, whole grain ingredients and less sodium or added sugar. All food in Hoover City schools is baked or steamed, never fried.

Students are encouraged to try more fresh produce through fruit and vegetable taste tests, Farm-to-School programs, salad bars, school gardens and kids cooking competitions. All stu-dents and grade levels participate in a minimum of 120 minutes of scheduled physical education a week.

Brock’s Gap will receive State Board of Edu-cation recognition at the May 14 meeting. The national recognition events begin on July 22.

– From hoovercityschools.net

Brock’s Gap named U.S. Green Ribbon School

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

A new system that would charge Hoover City Schools students to ride school buses in the 2014-2015 academic year is currently under discussion.

Superintendent Andy Craig revealed his proposal for a fee-based system for riders in an April 17 memorandum to the Board of Educa-tion. The system is intended to “eliminate or minimize the unfunded cost burden of providing student transportation.”

The Hoover City Schools Board of Educa-tion approved the fee structure during its April 17 regular meeting, but its implementation still requires approval from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. District Court.

The following day, State Superintendent Tommy Bice issued a statement questioning the legality of the decision against Section 16-11-26 of the Alabama Code, which states that no fee can be collected from children in the first six grades whose school is supported by public taxation. The next week, Bice met with Hoover Superintendent Andy Craig to discuss the situation.

After this meeting, Bice released a statement addressing concerns about statewide implica-tions about the fee-for-service proposal. He did not rule out the system as an option but required that it “be vetted fully through all legal ave-nues.” The system, he said in the statement, would imply funding for transportation is a local responsibility versus one to be funded by the state and could create costly long-term legal issues for the system.

Hoover City Schools’ financial challenges have been at the forefront of local discussions since 2013, when the Board revealed its fiscal year 2014 budget. The budget projected $150 million in revenue and $167 in expenditures.

One of the board’s first proposals to reduce deficit operation was to remove the bus system entirely. This received strong opposition from parents. In response, the Board of Education has worked with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Civil Rights Division and the Birmingham office of the U.S. Attorney General to find a solution that will ease the city’s financial restric-tions without placing an excessive burden on parents or leaving the city open to lawsuits.

Craig announced in his memorandum that the Department of Justice “would not likely oppose implementation” of the fee-based system. The system would alter rates depending on fami-lies’ economic situation and number of students needing transportation.

The basic monthly rate would be $40.75 for a single rider, $28.53 per student for two riders and $21.40 per student for three or more riders. Students who qualify for the National School Lunch Program will pay lower monthly rates.

In the statement released April 23, Bice said he doesn’t consider Hoover City Schools’ financial challenges to be the result of finan-cial mismanagement but rather an increase in student population coupled with a decrease in state budget allocation and local revenue sources. He encouraged community unity in seeking a long-term solution.

“We have committed to work collabora-tively with Mr. Craig and the Hoover City Board of Education in assessing multiple, viable solutions to its financial challenge, and our working relationship is solid,” Bice said in the statement.

The U.S. District Court would have to approve the fee system before it goes into effect as well. If it is approved, the Board of Education and the Department of Justice will be monitoring the effects of the fee-based system and could make further adjustments.

Bus fee system approved, currently under discussion

StopBloodCancer.com


By JOHN LYDA

What do you get when you mix an equal number of Democrats and Republicans under the age of 40 who represent varying political inter-ests from all across the United States? The ideal group to serve internationally on an American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) delegation.

The ACYPL was founded in 1966 in an effort to promote international understanding and cooperation with young political leaders throughout the world. Since then, with the finan-cial support of the U.S. State Department and private contributions, ACYPL has sponsored several delegations each year and has made a tremendous, positive impact on countless young political leaders and the constituencies they serve. In January, I was honored to receive a call from ACYPL informing me I had been selected to participate in an exchange to Brazil in April of this year.

Prior to our departure for Brazil, our delega-tion met for the first time in Washington, D.C., where we were briefed by the State Department, the Brazilian Embassy, and staff from ACYPL. It was a brief introduction to the eight days that would follow and change each of our lives for-ever. The agenda for each day while in Brazil was packed with meetings that would broaden our horizons on Brazilian government, business and culture. Our delegation would spend two to three days each in the country’s tourism center of Rio de Janeiro, the federal capital of Brasilia, and the economic epicenter of Sao Paulo.

Brazil’s democracy, still in its early stages at 29 years old, is patterned largely after the U.S. with three branches of government. One distinct difference is that Brazil has 32 political parties, and most interesting is that they are not easily distinguishable based on ideology. Rather, the political parties are moderate in nature, identified more by geography and culture.

The sports attention of the world will be focused on Brazil for the next two years as they

Councilman John Lyda recounts trip to Brazil

Councilman John Lyda recently traveled to Brazil to serve internationally on an American Council of Young Political Leaders delegation. Photo courtesy of John Lyda.

play host to the three largest sporting events in the world: FIFA World Cup, 2016 Summer Olympic Games, and 2016 Paralympic Games.

Socially, Brazilian people are warm, welcom-ing, and have no inherent fear of others. They greatly admire America and welcomed our del-egation with open arms. Like any society, they are not immune to social issues and challenges,

the greatest of which are the favelas. Favelas, dating back 100 years in Brazil, are large clus-ters of slums often located in the city center that have been inhabited by the poor and handed down for generations. By 2020 the city hopes to have stopped the growth of these communities and decrease the area of the favelas by 5 percent.

I’ll forever look back on our exchange with

fondness and gratitude to ACYPL for the oppor-tunity to learn from other leaders both domes-tically and abroad. Most importantly, I have a renewed sense of honor to serve the citizens of the great city of Hoover and to live in the great-est country in the world, the United States of America.

May 2014 • A7

District 46 RepresentativeJune 3 Republican Primary Candidate Guide

David Faulkner1. What is your background?I am an attorney, and I have represented and defended individuals, small businesses and corporations in various civil matters for the past 20 years. I have been married to my wife, Nancy, for 16 years, and we have been blessed with three children. I am actively involved in my church and community, teaching Sunday

school, coaching kids, and being active and a leader in the Chamber of Commerce.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state?While I believe Gov. [Robert] Bentley has done a good job in turning Alabama’s economy in the right direction, we must get it running on all cylinders again. Because Jefferson County is the economic center of Alabama, when the state’s economy performs well,

we do well, and when the state’s economy performs poorly, it affects us directly. I believe that targeted tax incentives, an emphasis on education and workforce development, and creating an overall pro-business atmosphere are the cure to the economic ills we face.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?We have great schools within this district, and we must ensure their continued success. Everyone who

lives in Birmingham is affected at some point by massive traffic congestion, so we must address the transportation problems that exist throughout House District 46 and Jefferson County. We must demand that the people who are elected or appointed to represent us in government are ethical and are serving for the right reasons. We can start with Water Works Board reform legislation being passed.

Steve French1. What is your background?My wife, Betsy, and I have been married for 25 years and have raised all four of our daughters, Alex, 23, Sally, 20, Lizzie, 17, and Virginia, 12, in District 46, where they all attended public school. We are also very active members of Canterbury United Methodist Church. In addition to my family and church,

I have dedicated myself to my business pursuits and to serving the people of Alabama. I have been an active Republican all of my adult life and served part of Shelby and Jefferson County as state senator from 1998-2010.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?I think the greatest issue facing our state will be ongoing and stronger

intrusion by the federal government into our lives, our businesses and our state. I have always believed that our problems can be solved here at home, and I will stand strong in my opposition to “one size fits all” solutions, like Obamacare, that Washington tries to force on us.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?The biggest issue facing Hoover and

Bluff Park is the deficit in the local school system budget. With my professional financial background, I can effectively help the area leaders reduce costs for educational needs and find the funding necessary to boost the school system to its highest potential, keeping the area desirable for current and future residents, as well as current and future businesses that provide jobs and influence the area.

Justin Barkley 1. What is your background? My wife, Melissa, and I both grew up in Hoover, where we met in high school. We now live in Homewood, raising our four children, who attend elementary school at Shades Cahaba and preschool at Canterbury United Methodist. We’ve been married 11 years and attend Riverchase United

Methodist. My parents didn’t go to college, but I earned scholarships to Harvard and Alabama Law School. I am a practicing attorney representing employers and small businesses.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Recently, corrupt politicians of both parties have made headlines. Public service should be a noble calling,

not a career path. I have never run for office before. I will support term limits and a lifetime ban on lobbying by former legislators. I will be guided by my values and principles, rooted in my faith, and always do what’s best for our community, not for special interests.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?

Hoover is our hometown. We attend the same Hoover church where we were married and our four children were baptized. Hoover is Alabama’s sixth largest city, but has no representative in the legislature. As a Hoover native and Hoover High graduate, I will provide strong, active leadership to ensure that Hoover remains a vibrant, growing community with first-rate schools.

Pamela Blackmore-Jenkins - Requests to this candidate for question responses were not received by deadline.

StopBloodCancer.com


*Requests to Scott Beason and Robert Shattuck for question responses were not received by deadline.

June 3 Republican Primary Candidate GuideU.S. House of Representatives Alabama District 6

1. What is your background?My wife, Jacqueline, and I live in Homewood. I am a two-term state representative of House District 46, which includes portions of Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. I was born and raised in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. Jacqueline and I work here. We will raise our family here.

1. What is your background?I’m a doctor and small business owner here in Birmingham. I’m typically asked on the campaign trail, “Why would a surgeon want to run for Congress?”, and I tell them it’s because I’m worried we are losing the American dream. I was the first in my family to graduate college and worked in the same

factory as my father to pay for that education. Hard work and sacrifice enabled me to earn my version of the American dream, but that dream is no longer attainable for many Alabamians.

2/3. What is the biggest issue facing our state/ Hoover in the upcoming year?

For the first time in a long time, the biggest issue facing our nation is the biggest issue we face here in Alabama and Hoover. The ill effects of Obamacare are no longer reserved to an evening newscast or the headlines of a newspaper, but in fact are something affecting our families, friends and neighbors on a daily basis. That’s why I have

developed a 12-point plan to repeal and replace Obamacare with patient-centered, market-driven reforms. I hope you will join me in this fight to give healthcare back to the patient, opportunity back to small business, and help keep that American dream alive for hardworking Alabamians.

1. What is your background? I’ve worked for small business, two major engineering companies and, for the last 24 years, led the Alabama Policy Institute, a public policy think tank ranked as Alabama’s most influential conservative group.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?

1. What is your background?I come from a background of service. My father was Dr. Richard (Dick) Vigneulle. He was the executive vice president of City Federal Savings & Loan and president of Service Corporation. He later answered the call to the ministry, becoming the founding pastor of Shades Mountain

Independent Church in Hoover.

I also learned from him the value of hard work and commitment. Two years after marrying my wife Ginger, we started our own business in Pelham, Royal Bedding Manufacturing, Inc., in August of 1987. Since that time, I have mastered the bedding industry and

learned the challenges of owning a small business. For 26 years, I have had to balance a budget and make hard decisions on spending priorities. I also know what it’s like to face federal regulations on a daily basis. As a small business owner, it hasn’t always been easy, but the values my father instilled me have allowed us to persevere and live out

the American dream. And it’s that dream that I feel is under attack and is the reason I am running.

My wife and I also own a family cattle farm in Wilsonville and are members of the Cattlemen’s Association of Alabama.

Paul DeMarco2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Washington is broken. Washington’s problems threaten the future of each person in Alabama and the Sixth District. Out-of-control deficit spending, the damage done to families and employers by Obamacare and federal regulations that threaten small and big business alike must all be addressed. As your

state representative, I have always worked to support our schools. I have worked with city leaders to improve infrastructure needs. That will continue when I go to Washington.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?I have been proud to represent the people of Hoover in the state

legislature. The people of Hoover, like every other community, want to continue to prosper. As your congressman, I will fight to protect small businesses from overreaching regulations that threaten jobs. I will support a balanced budget amendment. I will work to repeal Obamacare. We must focus on a limited government that helps rather than hinders the people.

Chad Mathis

Gary PalmerThere are two huge issues: the impact of Obamacare on businesses and continued high unemployment. Congress must repeal Obamacare and replace it with a patient-centered, market-based plan that puts people in charge of their health care decisions, establishes a national insurance pool for people who can’t get insurance or can’t afford it, and that eliminates the economic uncertainties faced by businesses.

With 1 of 6 men age 25-54 unemployed, Congress should utilize our vast God-given energy resources to create jobs and stimulate the economy. In one shale formation out West alone there are 3 trillion barrels of recoverable oil — three times what the entire world has used in 100 years — and the federal government owns almost 80 percent of it. The abundance of natural gas has resulted in cheaper energy that

is driving a manufacturing boom that is benefiting Alabama.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?In the context of federal issues, the impact of Obamacare on Hoover-based medical practices and businesses and the stagnant economy. Repeal and replace Obamacare and open up federal energy resources.

Tom Vigneulle

1. What is your background? I grew up here and attended The University of Alabama where I received degrees in business and law. I have spent my entire career in Birmingham and am a businessman. I have worked at Harbert Management Corporation for nearly 25 years and am chairman of our real estate services group and managing partner of our

venture capital funds. I like solving problems and have created hundreds of jobs in the Sixth District. My wife, Maggie, and I have been married for 34 years and have three adult children. We love our state and have been active in our church and other charitable and civic activities, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way and McWane Center.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Why aren’t there any construction cranes on Birmingham’s skyline? Economic development is essential to creating jobs and building a strong future for our city and state. That’s where I would focus.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?

This community is part of a special area, and has much in common with the other communities around us. We should work together to reduce costs, improve services and connectivity, and solve shared problems. I would work with our mayors and councils to find solutions and resources and move the ball forward.

Will Brooke

David Wheeler 1. What is your background? I’m a retired businessman, having worked for a large corporation and a family-owned business. I have been active in the Republican Party as chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party as well as serving on the State Committee. My wife, Diane, and I live in Vestavia Hills and attend All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?I believe the biggest problem facing the state is responsible budgeting and eliminating corruption in the state House. When the Republicans took the majority in 2010, we expected them to be different than the Democrats and stop promoting special interests and lining their own pockets. We have seen little difference. That is why I support term limits for elected officials.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in

the upcoming year?The biggest issue facing Hoover is education budgeting. Our schools need the scarce resources budgeted to actually reach our children’s classrooms. Too much education money is wasted on bloated bureaucracy and is not focused on our teachers and children. Teachers should not be forced to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. That is why I support a unified state budget so that there is more flexibility to fund our education programs properly.

*Requests to candidate Jack Williams and Salvatore Bambinelli for question responses were not received by deadline.

District 47 Representative


Amie Beth Shaver 1. What is your background?I am a conservative commentator, speaker and author. I’ve worked with the Alabama Policy Institute, served as spokeswoman for the grassroots organization Allied Women and been a radio personality on the “Leland Live” talk show. My husband and I are small business owners. However, my biggest achievement is my family. They’re the reason I am running for office.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?The economy continues to be our biggest challenge. Alabama has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, but it needs to be even lower. Gov. Bentley has done an amazing job at bringing companies like Remington and Airbus to the state. I look forward to working with his team on opportunities for our region. Additionally, we need to give our small businesses the support they need to grow. Lastly, I will work with the Alabama Tourism Department to promote our great state.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?Hoover has been one of the fastest growing areas of the state, so much so that the U.S. Census Bureau now identifies the region as the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area. But growth at this rate can put a strain on the city services, especially the school system. I plan on working with city and school officials to make sure those needs continue to be met at their current high levels, whether through grants or partnerships with area corporations.

District 43 RepresentativeJohn Bahakel 1. What is your background?I have been a licensed attorney for 32 years. Currently, I practice law in a small office handling the types of problems that face individuals and businesses. I am also an arbitrator and trained in mediation. My legal experience includes five years in the equity courts handling matters that required extraordinary remedies, time as corporate counsel for a large communications company and appointment as a special judge. I am also

a member of USA Track & Field’s law and legislation committee.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?The main issue facing the state is funding. Alabama citizens deserve adequate funding for infrastructure, education, Medicaid, business development, prisons and the courts. I will work to cut wasteful spending, cut pork projects, and redirect and adequately fund all the items above, as well as search for incentives for businesses to

locate and grow in the state.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?District 43 and Hoover have top tier schools, businesses and attractions. Keeping them great requires adequate funding. I will work with city officials to attract more businesses to locate in Hoover, which, in turn, will generate sales tax revenues that can be used to fund schools, attract top students and teachers, create additional jobs, and pay for amenities like libraries and parks.

1. What is your background?I am a speech language pathologist with a master’s degree in communication disorders and am the small businessowner of Ciamarra Communication Consulting.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Alabamians face oppressive federal government intrusion into our lives, eroding

our privacy and individual freedoms. The Obama White House stands by Obamacare, which has robbed our people of jobs and the opportunity for affordable, choice-driven healthcare. It forces Common Core down our throats usurping the rights of parents and localities to make education choices, and it continuously invades our homes, phones and computers. Mandates from Washington are robbing Alabamians of our freedom and hard-earned money, while liberal politicians

attack our values. I will fight against such abuses of power!

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?Hoover has a long reputation for stellar schools. However, if we fail to rid our state of Common Core, it will be a grave disservice. I will work to defeat Obama’s Common Core.

Doug Clark 1. What is your background?I am an optometrist and the founder and owner of Pelham Eye Care, a company I started in 1983. Since that time, the company has grown to employ three dozen people at three locations in our community. As a health care provider, I believe I am uniquely qualified to tackle the healthcare and Medicaid problems in our state. I have been married to my wife, Connie, for over 30 years, and we have two beautiful daughters, Dru and Skylar. My family and I have attended

Riverchase Baptist Church for 23 years.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?It is critical that we continue to pursue economic growth in Alabama. We need conservative Republicans who will fight to reduce burdensome government regulation and government spending so the private sector can do what it does best — create jobs. As a small business owner, I understand what it takes to create jobs and grow our economy. I am also committed to fighting for our conservative values.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?Hoover has prospered because it is a city that supports education. The city must continue to provide proper funding for our school system without raising taxes. We must also hold our School Board and City Council accountable and be creative with the resources we have to ensure our children receive the best education possible. I will work to support our education system by promoting high standards and passing balanced education budgets every year.

1. What is your background?I am an attorney and small business owner and have operated a law firm in Shelby County for 10 years.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Economic development and job creation are the biggest issues facing our state. We need to find ways to incentivize business

development with the least government restrictions. I have seen hundreds of small to mid size local business fail in the last 10 years due to increased federal and state regulation. Our state can create jobs and economic development by maintaining low tax rates on businesses and families, focusing on returning the education of our children into the hands of their parents, continuing to encourage trade school

education and making sound investments of our tax dollars designed to attract prospective businesses.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?The major issue facing Hoover is maintaining economic development and job creation. Hoover needs to continue to incentivize businesses to come to the area.

Arnold Mooney1. What is your background?I have been married for 32 years and have raised three children. I am a family values, pro-life, committed conservative businessman who has lived and worked in Alabama House District 43 for more than 28 years. As a commercial real estate broker, I have been a part of growing it from a group of sleepy neighborhoods to a major economic engine. I am endorsed by Rick Burgess of the Rick and

Bubba Show, former Fox 6 news anchor Bill Bolen and Gun Owners of America.

2. What is the biggest issue facing the state in the upcoming year?Washington, D.C. is the biggest issue. D.C. is the greatest barrier to job growth and raising our standard of living. Talk to any business owners throughout the state, and they will list a large number of laws and regulations that make job creation more difficult. Obamacare is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s time for Alabama to push back forcefully against federal

interference and provide bold, conservative Alabama ideas and solutions.

3. What is the biggest issue facing Hoover in the upcoming year?Obamacare, Common Core and jobs. Obamacare means fewer jobs because of excessive expenses added to businesses. Common Core is untested; our children are too precious for experiments. Parents must have the right to choose the school that best meets their child’s needs.

Cheryl Ciamarra

Gina McDonald

June 3 Republican Primary Candidate Guide


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By SYDNEY CROMWELL

In the early 1970s, not long before the John Travolta film “Urban Cowboy” popularized Stet-sons and cowboy boots, Larry and Sheila Chain bought a small Western wear store in Hoover. While the film’s popularity has long since died out, Stampede Western Wear still provides boots, belt buckles and everything else its customers need to be an urban cowboy or cowgirl.

The rich smell of leather and soft strains of coun-try music fill Stampede Western Wear, located in the Hoover Commons shopping center. The store has a wide array of boot choices lining the walls, along with hats, jewelry, clothing, figurines and other Western-themed items. The variety of choices can be daunting for new customers.

“We don’t want you to go shopping there and just get lost,” said the owners’ son Danny Chain, who handles Stampede’s marketing. “It’s so overwhelming once you come into our store and start looking at boots and you don’t know anything about them.”

Stampede helps buyers who see boot fitting as a challenge. Chain, who has worked in his parents’ store since he was 10 years old, has seen many customers come in with ill-fitting boots that they purchased at other Western stores.

“It’s not like tennis shoes, where you can go buy a pair of shoes and if you go a little bit longer or wider, it doesn’t make much difference,” Chain said. “It’s a whole different ball game. Whatever you knew about how shoes should fit, throw it out the window.”

The recession caused Stampede’s sales to take

Business Spotlight Read past Business Spotlights at HooverSun.com

Stampede Western Wear

1615 Montgomery Hwy979-2770

Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.

a hit, but the Chains used this as a chance to over-haul the store’s business model. They expanded “buy one get one” offers and introduced a loyalty program to reward repeat customers. Stampede also recently began carrying electronic ciga-rettes, which Chain said has led to increased sales and is healthier for customers who smoke.

“I know how hard it is to actually wean off of the toxins and all the other stuff, whereas the e-cigarette is actually a safer, better way to

smoke than your regular cigarette,” said Chain, a former smoker.

The store’s profits have also been helped by country music’s mainstream success. The popu-larity of Taylor Swift and the country rock genre has brought entirely new demographics to Stam-pede, especially among teenage girls. Chain said the store’s biggest market is currently the 13- to 30-year-old age group.

Western wear stores face the challenge of

keeping their inventory fresh. However, Chain said customers keep coming back because boots have a timeless ability to boost the confidence of their owners.

“Your whole personality changes when you’re actually wearing a boot,” Chain said. “It’s inter-esting when you start seeing [customers] walking in their first pair of boots. They’ve got a different walk and a different attitude, and they’ve got more attitude in their stride.”

Stampede Western Wear, located in Hoover Commons, sells hats, boots, belt buckles and other accessories. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

May 2014 • A13

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By SYDNEY CROMWELL

At the top of a cliff in Bluff Park, a tiny restau-rant is serving burgers, hot dogs and one of the best views in Hoover. Despite its limited space, the Tip Top Grill has become a local favorite during its 10 years in business.

The Tip Top Grill is housed in a former full-service gas station built quite literally on the edge of a cliff. The restaurant serves breakfast and classic grill foods such as burgers, sand-wiches and chili cheese fries, but it’s the view that steals the show. As they eat, customers can see miles of Shades Valley and the distant Red Mountain.

“You can’t just recreate this. Anybody can cook a hot dog or a hamburger or chicken fin-gers, but given what we have to work with, we feel like it attracts a lot of people,” said owner John Morris. “Unique is the best word I can come up with.”

The grill attracts a regular crowd, especially in the morning. Morris sees the same group of garbage collectors each day at 6:30 a.m., fol-lowed by businessmen who get a bite to eat on their way to work around 9 a.m. Around a dozen retired men from the area have also made the Tip Top Grill their regular breakfast spot.

“They might just get coffee or they might eat breakfast, but they’re here every morning,” Morris said.

Morris himself was a regular customer before he bought the restaurant in March 2013.

Restaurant Showcase Read past Restaurant Showcases at VestaviaVoice.com

588 Shades Crest Road, 978-8677

Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Summer hours: Monday-Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Tip Top Grill

Customers at the Tip Top Grill can enjoy classic grill food and a great view. Pictured (L to R): a chili slaw dog, a cheeseburger, fries and a glass-bottle Coca-Cola.

The Tip Top Grill’s outdoor seating is especially popular in the summer, when customers can enjoy warm weather, live bands and a view of Shades Valley and Red Mountain. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

He owned his own business, AGF, Inc., which installs and refinishes gym flooring in schools across Jefferson and Shelby counties, but decided he wanted to try his hand at running a restaurant as well.

“I’ve been coming up here for years as a customer and just loved what it was and knew that with a little TLC, it could be a lot more,” Morris said.

Though he has “zero restaurant experience,” Morris has made several changes to draw more business to the restaurant. The Tip Top Grill now has an active Facebook page with more

than 1,000 followers. During the busy summer months, Morris brings in local bands on Fridays and lengthens the restaurant’s hours to 7:30 p.m. so customers can enjoy the sunset with their dinners.

However, there are challenges that come with the Tip Top Grill. The grill relies on outdoor seat-ing, which means business drops on cold or rainy days. The small kitchen space also limits menu options, since large items like walk-in freezers cannot fit and there is no room for expansion. Morris has many ideas he would like to imple-ment, like serving milkshakes or alcohol, but the

costs are too high to make those a reality.“I have crazy ideas, but will they ever come to

fruition? I doubt it,” Morris said. “So, we have to be creative and not try to be everything to every-body, but just do what we do better than most.”

Instead of trying to make impossible changes, Morris focuses on customer feedback to improve everything the Tip Top Grill can already offer.

“I love talking to people. I love getting to know them,” Morris said. “They tell you what you’re doing good, and sometimes they tell you what you’re not doing good. And we try to adhere to as many of those as we can.”

StopBloodCancer.com


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May 2014 • A15

Now OpenNorth Shelby Dental Studio, 2000 Southlake Park, Suite 250, is

now open. Dr. David Cowan has opened the practice after selling his practice in Trussville, and he has more than 20 years experience in the dental fi eld. He is now accepting new patients.278-3316. davidcowandmd.com.

Rocket Cycle Studio, a boutique cycle and fi tness studio located at

5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 121, is now open.490-8205. rocketcyclestudio.com.

Chick N Out, 1550-P Montgomery Highway, is now open. The

restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by The Purple Onion.822-1980.

Excel Auto Detailing, 1170 Alford Avenue, is now open.

979-3191.

Coming SoonRiverchase Urgent Care is now open at 1926 Highway 31, in the

Publix shopping center near the intersection with Valleydale Road.988-3715.

Relocations and Renovations

Spartan Fitness - MMA Training, formerly located on Lorna Lane, has

relocated to 430 Green Springs Highway in Homewood.824-8361. spartanfi tnessmma.com.

New OwnershipHendrick Automotive Group, the parent company of Hendrick

Hoover Auto Mall, has purchased Ivan Leonard Chevrolet, 1620 Montgomery Highway South.588-4411. hooverautomall.com.

News and Accomplishments

The Retirement Center, 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 955, is

holding a new Retirement Forum series of speakers at The Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey to teach Baby Boomers how to invest for retirement. Future events will feature speakers such as Jeff Nizzardo, CIMA with Allianz Global Investors; John Kronour with Pacifi c Investment Management Co. (PIMCO); and Dr. Paul Cleveland of Birmingham-Southern College.201-1401. retirementcenter.us.

Pazzo! Calzone Bakery, 1678 Montgomery Highway South, Suite

101A, has announced plans to expand into regional markets through franchising. The restaurant opened in early 2013.383-3303. pazzocalzonebakery.com.

Ponder Properties has been named the leasing agent of record for the

Terrace at Greystone shopping center, 5426 U.S. 280. The shopping center is home to Chuck’s Fish, Grey Bar, Gallery No.

9, GeGe’s Salon, Pure Barre and Mughal Indian Cuisine.408-9911. ponderproperties.com.

Green Valley Baptist Church, 1815 Patton Chapel Road, has a

new app available for iPhones and Android devices. The app includes an interactive Bible, podcasts, videos, a Bible reading plan and more.822-2173. gvbc.org.

English Ivy, 250 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 100, is now carrying home

décor and accent pieces by Southern Voice Creations. All items are made from salvaged materials from around Alabama.437-9080. englishivygifts.com.

The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce, 1694 Montgomery

Highway, Suite 108, recognized Verona Petite for fi ve years’ service as account executive for the Chamber. During her tenure, she has recruited more than 600 new members to the Chamber.988-5672. hooverchamber.org.

Fi-Plan Partners, 5825 Feldspar Way, recently completed a

renovation of the lower level of its offi ce, including a brand new conference room. It celebrated the renovation on March 20 with a presentation by Paul Heathwood, CFA, for its clients and advisors.989-3498. fi planpartners.com.

Kim McClendon, offi ce manager for Alabama Allergy & Asthma

Center, 2100 Data Park Drive, passed her exam to become a Certifi ed Professional Coder (CPC). This certifi cation is considered to be a top achievement for medical coding in physician offi ces.871-9661. alabamaallergy.com.

Hirings and Promotions

Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics, 2949 John Hawkins

Parkway, welcomes Dr. Robert Flannery to its staff. Dr. Flannery specializes in primary care sports medicine.444-2025. lemaksports.com.

RealtySouth, 1220 Alford Avenue, has hired Vicki Fowler as a Realtor.

822-2364. realtysouth.com.

ARC Realty, 5291 Valleydale Road, has hired Katherine Abraham as an

associate broker.969-8910. arcrealtyco.com.

Avast Realty, 4518 Valleydale Road, has hired Tony Colbaugh as a

Realtor.908-7701. fi ndmyhomesinalabama.com.

AnniversariesEllis Piano, 1550 Montgomery Highway, is celebrating its 31st

anniversary in May.979-4463. ellispiano.com.

ClosingsSmartphones and Gadgets, 2786 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 100,

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Email [email protected]

to share?

Sun

Coming Soon

ExpansionIf you are in a brick and mortar business

in Hoover and want to share your event with the community,

let us know.

Business news

Email [email protected]

to share?

Sun

Coming Soon

ExpansionIf you are in a brick and mortar business

in Hoover and want to share your event with the community,

let us know.

6

StopBloodCancer.com


Community

Victoria Pinkerton, a graduate of Hoover High School and a freshman at Mississippi State University, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. She earned her Gold Award for her project, Hymns for the Heart. Her project focused on providing music therapy for the residents at South Haven Nursing Home. She recorded a CD of several hymns, which she played on the piano, and she gave each resident a copy of the CD. She hopes that when residents are lonely or bored, their minds will stay active by listening to the CDs. Through her project she discovered a stronger sense of self, and she is now considering music therapy as a possible career path.

“I think my leadership skills will grow drastically from this project. I learned how to assess the problem, plan accordingly, and take initiative to complete nec-essary steps,” said Pinkerton.

Victoria Pinkerton earns Gold Award

Hoover High alumna Victoria Pinkerton recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Photo courtesy of Robyn Tucker.

An artists’ reception for Soon-Bok Lee Sell-ers was recently held at Aldridge Gardens. Daniel Moore, noted sports artist, planned the event and the exhibit, which ran through the middle of March at Aldridge Gardens and includes the works of Sellers and her students from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The event celebrated her 35 years teaching at W.A. Berry and Hoover High Schools and later as Director of Art Edu-cation for Hoover City Schools.

More than 150 guests enjoyed the lovely setting and renewing old friendships while they viewed paintings and sculpture by Daniel Moore, Terry Beckham, Chris Knopf and others. Sellers’ family was on hand to help Sellers record the event with pictures of her students, fellow teachers and art community patrons who enjoyed sharing memories of Sell-er’s years teaching and mentoring her students. Tynette Lynch, Rip Weaver and the Aldridge

Gardens staff provided refreshments.Sara Swindle, Jane Wilson and Anne Bishop,

all of whom had taught with Sellers at Berry High School were there as well as Lori Salt-er-Schommer and Councilman Gene Smith. Hoover Arts Alliance board members Pat Ben-dall, Winnie and Charles Cooper, Linda and Richard Chastain, Carolyn and Robert Kolar, and Rip Weaver presented Sellers with a canvas signed by many of the attendees.

Kathy Wheeler Tate, David Tate and Cary Moore, representing the Bluff Park Art Asso-ciation, and Belle Jordan and Linda Williams, representing Artists on the Bluff, congratulated Sellers on the years of dedicated service to her students and the community.

As a teacher, Sellers has enriched the lives of her students, and as an artist, she has brought recognition to her community.

-Submitted by Linda Chastain

Celebrating an icon

Event organizer Daniel Moore and artist Ray Kersh at the artists’ reception for Soon-Bok Lee Sellers. Photo courtesy of Linda Chastain.

Avery DeBerry, Allie Stafford, Lydia Burn, Mimi Batten, Morgan Harris, McKinney Shea, Taylor King, Jensen King, Katie Rauworth and Laura Jane Johnson learned all about history on their Dauphin Island trip. The Hoover Valley Service Unit third grade Girl Scouts learned about the history of Dauphin Island as well as the Indian burial mounds. They took a tour of historic Fort Gaines, a pre-Civil War fort that has guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay for more than 150 years and was the key site in the Battle of Mobile Bay. The tour included a

cannon firing by guides in period clothing, a visit to the blacksmith’s shop for a demonstra-tion, and a viewing of the original cannons and tunnels throughout the fort.

At the sea lab, the girls enjoyed a “touch lab” with a wide variety of marine life. They took part in interactive teaching stations about the coastal plants and animals that thrive in and around Dauphin Island. Finally, the girls searched for crabs, oyster shells and anything unusual that might wash up on the shore during a beach scavenger hunt.

Hoover Girl Scouts learn about science and history

Third grade Girl Scouts of the Hoover Valley Service Unit recently enjoyed a trip to Dauphin Island. Photo courtesy of Caroline DeBerry.

May 2014 • A17

Award-winning actress and storyteller Dolores Hydock was recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution in March as part of Women’s History Month.

The Lily of the Cahaba Chapter, NSDAR, hon-ored Hydock for her contributions to the com-munity through the age-old art of storytelling. Based on diaries, letters, newspaper clippings and interviews, her original stories transport today’s audiences to different places and different times.

Hydock’s work has been featured nationally at festivals, performing arts series and regional arts council events. She performs at theaters, con-ference centers, churches, corporate groups and universities. She is an artist fellowship winner with the Alabama State Council on the Arts and a member of the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau with the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

The Lily of the Cahaba Chapter meets the second Saturday of the month, September through May. The Chapter is based in Hoover and serves surrounding communities. Any woman is eligible for membership who is 18 years of age and can prove lineal, blood descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence.

For information about membership, email [email protected].

Actress and storyteller Dolores Hydock. Photo by Donna Underwood.

Birmingham Actress honored By DAR

Have an engagement, wedding or anniversary announcement? Email [email protected]

to have it included in an upcoming issue! Celebrations

Kelly Hoyle and Robert Parker were united in marriage on July 13, 2013 at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. The cou-ple’s friend and Hoover graduate, April Phillips, officiated the ceremony.

Kelly is the daughter of Kenneth and Janet Hoyle of Hoover. Kelly is also a graduate of Hoover High School. Robert is the son of Chester Allen Parker and Mary Parker of Orlando. Kelly wore a strapless ivory lace and taffeta gown with an overlay of dotted Swiss lace with a sweetheart neckline and a chapel train. She was given in marriage by her father, Kenneth Hoyle.

Erica Au (Los Angeles), Nerissa Wetherell (Los Angeles), Rosenda Someza (Los Angeles) and Courtney Burke (San Francisco) were bridesmaids. Edward Springer (Orlando), Tony Nevada (Los Angeles), Tom Riordan (Los Angeles) and Ian Wetherell (Los Angeles) were groomsmen.

The bride and groom honeymooned in Italy. Mr. and Mrs. Parker reside in Los Angeles.

Rick and Beth Busbey of Pinson are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Erin Busbey to Tyler Kent Deagon, son of Arthur and Jan Deagon of Hoover. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Tom and Lib Stalnaker of Pinson and Howard and Patsy Busbey of Decatur. Miss Busbey graduated from The Uni-versity of Alabama with a degree in early childhood development and is currently a teacher at St. Peter’s Child Development Center. The prospective groom is the grandson of Louise Burton and the late Dan T. Burton of Hoover and Larry and Jane Deagon of Hoover. Mr Deagon graduated cum laude with a degree in mechanical engineer-ing from The University of Alabama and is currently a Mechanical Engineer at Honda Manufacturing, Inc. in Lincoln, Ala. The wedding will be held on May 10 at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church.

Hoyle-ParkerBusbey-Deagon

StopBloodCancer.com


Celebrating moms

Students in Nikki Barnett’s third grade class at Green Valley Elementary School share the reasons they love their mothers.

“This is a picture of my mother, Mary Evelyn Rogers, and I at a University of Alabama home game in 2008. It was the last football game she was able to attend. I will always remember her tapping her knees along with the Bama fight song. Mom passed away that following January.”-Minette Wiggins

“This is a picture of me and my mother, Sonja Lyda, from election night 2012. Thank-fully, it was a festive occasion!”-John Lyda

“This picture was taken in New York on my mother’s first and only trip there. We had a wonderful time. She died several years ago after living with us in Birmingham for seven years. Her name was Julia Brown. Wishing all the mothers out there a blessed day.”-Liz Crotwell

May 2014 • A19

“Getting old is not for sissies. Your health is your true wealth. This picture was taken at the 2013 Chief’s Challenge 5K where my mother and I both won our age groups.” -Laura Kimble and Lori Kimble-McCombs

“This is me, my two nieces, Mary Glynn Patton and Katelyn Ben-nett, and my mother, Betty Kirkland. My mother died suddenly of an aneurysm at my Hoover home this past November. Hug your mother extra tight this Mother’s Day and cherish every moment, for one day those moments will be your sweet memories.”-Karen Miles

“Barrett Baker was born on December 6, 2013. This picture was taken when Barrett was one day old at UAB Hospital. I knew I would love this child. What I didn’t realize was that I would fall in love with him. My own sweet mom died of cancer in 2007, and I know she is looking down on us.”-Amy Scruggs Baker

“This photo was taken of my mother and me on her eightieth birthday. She lives in Altadena Woods. Her name is Mary Cranston.”-Hoover High School teacher Beth Nowell

“My mom, Brenda Niblett, taught me how to love no matter who, to cry no matter why, and to live no matter what.” -Hoover football head coach Josh Niblett

StopBloodCancer.com


By JEFF THOMPSON

The nose of a silver car peeked around the corner of the parking deck, and Barry Koss said, “There’s a Ferrari.”

“That’s a four-five-eight (458). It’s a Spider,” his son, Colby, added.

Colby, a Shades Mountain Christian student has joined his dad at Birmingham Cars and Coffee almost every Saturday

morning for more than a year. The Koss family lives in Regent Forest, and unless Barry is working he and Colby cross town to come to the event in Homewood as part of their routine.

Barry calls himself an enthusiast when it comes to cars. He has a 1990s Nissan 350-Z he’s been modifying for years. He mangled the engine on a track day last year, so until it’s fixed he and Colby bring the family truck.

Just because the duo isn’t showing off, doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time.

“The people,” Barry said. “That’s why we come out. There are so few places to meet and spend time with other enthu-siasts. We try and have lunch with a different group every week.”

Cars and Coffee is a national brand brought to Birmingham

by a pair of Volkswagon owners in 2012. Andrew Bowers, a McCalla resident, and Dave McKee, who lived in Califor-nia at the time, met in an online forum. McKee said their first meeting brought in 11 cars. In February, they had more than 125.

The public is welcome at the gatherings, which are held every Saturday at the parking deck at Colonial Brookwood Village in Homewood from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

The meet has specific rules including no revving, speed-ing, burnouts, loud music, policing passersby or littering.

“For everyone that rolls up, we ask them to have respect for the property,” McKee said. “And I mean actual respect because we want this to continue.”

For more, visit facebook.com/BhmCarsCoffee.

Cars and Coffee Weekly meet attracting hundreds of enthusiasts

Birmingham Cars and Coffee

Saturdays • 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Brookwood Village Parking Deck

facebook.com/BhmCarsCoffee

Hoover resident Barry Koss and his son, Colby, stand on top of the parking deck at Colonial Brookwood Village during a Cars and Coffee meet. Photos by Jeff Thompson.

May 2014 • A21

By KATIE TURPEN

Surrounding Robin Schultz, computer towers are stacked like bricks. They climb the walls of his office in the Artists on the Bluff building.

Schultz, a Bluff Park resident and owner of the company PC Medics, has amassed most of them through donation. Local residents give him their unwanted computer hardware, and using his expertise he prepares the equipment for a second life serving students.

In 2011, Schultz started a project he called Learning to Be the Light. Its mission is to refurbish computers and install them in the homes of Hoover City School students who need them for schoolwork but don’t currently have home access.

“We get names of students from the princi-pals at the schools and then we take over from there,” Schultz said.

While serving as Simmons Middle School Principal, Carol Barber said she shared names of students with parents’ permission to assist Schultz with the project. As long as the stu-dent’s home has Internet access, Schultz said he is willing to install a Windows PC, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

The project began years ago when Schultz installed a computer in the home of one of his Sunday school students, Olivia Lenamond. At the time, Lenamond was living with her grandmother and studying information tech-nology at Hoover High, but she didn’t have a computer to work from at home.

Lenamond later worked with Schultz in an internship, and during that time Schultz

learned Lenamond was in need of a differ-ent home environment. In 2011, he gained guardianship of Lenamond and his family welcomed her into their lives permanently.

Lenamond is now a sophomore studying information technology at the University of South Alabama. On weekends when she is home from school, they spend several hours working on the computers, Schultz said.

“We decided we had this talent of being able to fix computers. So why not use it to give back?” Schultz said. “I honestly don’t believe there is a computer out there that we can’t fix.”

Learning to Be the Light is not currently a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, but Schultz hopes that with fundraising efforts they will be able to reach that status in the near future. Schultz and Lenamond set a goal of collecting $3,500 over the next few months to help cover the costs of the project.

“Every little bit counts,” Schultz said. “We are doing this because we just feel it’s the right thing to do.”

Schultz, who is also the creator of the Bluff Park website, said the name Learning to Be the Light comes from a song of the same name by a Christian music group called Newworld-son. The song is based on a Bible verse, and Schultz feels it displays the motivation behind the project.

“It pretty much spoke about what we wanted to accomplish,” Schultz said. “We want to provide a positive experience for these kids. We just have a passion for it.”

For more information about the project, visit learningtobethelight.org.

Making connections

happen

Robin Schultz and Olivia Lenamond refurbish computers in their lab at Artists on the Bluff and distribute them to students in the Hoover City Schools system. Photo by Katie Turpen.

StopBloodCancer.com


By SYDNEY CROMWELLand JEFF THOMPSON

Thanks to the generosity of an unnamed donor from Hoover, Chel-sea residents Michael and Susanne Napp now have a wheelchair-acces-sible van for their 3-year-old son, Bryce.

The van was presented to the Napp family through the Hoover Public Safety Charity Foundation during a ceremony at the Hoover Public Safety Center in April. During the ceremony, Hoover Police

Chief Nick Derzis credited an article in the April issue of 280 Living with bringing the Napp’s situation to the donor’s attention.

“[The donor] said, ‘If I can donate the money to purchase the van, can you guys give it to them through your foundation?’” Derzis said. “We said, ‘Absolutely. Not a problem.’”

Derzis then called the Napps to share the good news.

“It didn’t seem real,” Susanne Napp said.

Bryce has semi-lobar holoprosen-cephaly, a brain condition that will

keep him wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. The article in 280 Living featured the Napp family and their attempts to win a wheel-chair-accessible van in a contest sponsored by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.

The Napps got to choose the van that best suited their needs. At MobilityWorks, a Bessemer dealer-ship that sells handicap-accessible vehicles, they found a 2012 Honda Odyssey with plenty of room for Bryce’s wheelchair and his siblings.

“It’s going to be so much easier

when I’m by myself. I don’t have to lift anything,” Napp said. “It’s going to be just amazing.”

Derzis said the van is valued at $58,000. The Foundation also pre-sented the Napp family with a check for $2,300.

“This is absolutely the biggest moment we’ve had,” Derzis said of the Foundation, “and absolutely our proudest moment.”

Though they did not get to meet their benefactor, the Napps are thankful for his kindness.

“We are feeling extremely blessed,

humbled and grateful,” Napp said. “We are full of sincere appreciation at how much he helped our family.”

The original contest that the Napps had entered will continue until May 9. With their own need fulfilled, the Napps are encouraging people to vote instead for Cayden Atchison, a four-year-old boy in Calera who suffers from significant brain damage, cerebral palsy, blind-ness and seizures.

To help Cayden win a wheel-chair-accessible van, visit vote-forcayden.com.

Anonymous Hoover resident gives family wheelchair-accessible van

Chelsea’s Napp family was presented with the keys to a $58,000 van and a check for $2,300 from an anonymous donor, who sought to help them in caring for their son, Bryce, who will be wheelchair-bound his entire life. Susanne and Michael Napp and their family are pictured with Hoover Public Safety Foundation Board members Gene Smith, Lori Salter-Schommer, Erin Colbaugh, Allen Pate and Nick Derzis, Hoover chief of police. Photos by Jeff Thompson.

‘It didn’t seem real’


SUPPORTfrom page A1

U.S. 31from page A1

Rachel and Charon Rivers assemble care packages in their home to send to soldiers. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

To date, the Rivers have sent out more than 1,500 boxes to soldiers. They are getting ready to host their annual Memorial Banquet on May 22 at 7 p.m. at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and are expecting a large crowd.

Great promiseThomas Rivers gave high school football his

all. The same went for his academics. Despite his dyslexia and the fact that what came easily to many did not for Thomas, he tried his best. It was just his way.

Later in his high school career, Thomas began laying groundwork to fulfill a dream he’d held since he was 10 years old.

“He wanted to be a Marine,” said Charon. “He really wanted to excel, and knew they were known to be the best of the best.”

In 2007, when her son returned from boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina, Charon Rivers said the boy who’d left that summer came home a young man.

While stationed out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Thomas befriended a fellow soldier named Matthew Proctor. The two quickly bonded over their common backgrounds. Both were from the South, both from families of faith, and both in the military out of earnest desire rather than a lack of options.

In August 2008, Thomas took his first deploy-ment, an uneventful tour in Iraq.

“I wasn’t too worried about it,” said Charon. “Things were settling down in Iraq at that time.” Indeed, that following March, her son returned stateside, where he remained at Camp Lejeune until March 8, 2010.

At that time both Thomas and Proctor left for

Afghanistan, where a very different environment awaited them.

Prior to their deployment, Proctor had invited their entire company to participate in a Bible study. Thomas was the only one who showed up. Even in combat, the friends maintained their two-man Bible study. On the morning of April 28, both young men went out on patrol, with Thomas as first team leader, and Proctor as second.

Thomas Rivers and his team went to stand watch over a shelled out building. When they arrived, Thomas assigned a young Marine to go stand watch for the Taliban at a particular spot. After the young man complained, saying he was tired, Thomas told him to rest and said he would go instead. As he approached the spot, Thomas stepped on an improvised explosive device.

After hearing the explosion, Proctor told them he secured the area and then rushed to Thomas’ aid. Though Proctor had never before taken his pocket Bible out on patrol, he’d done so that morning.

Looking his friend in the eyes and realizing Thomas would not survive, Proctor asked him if he’d like to have the Bible read to him.

His friend perked up a bit by the question, prompting Proctor to read what Thomas had described as his “life verse,” Psalm 91:1: “Who-ever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will

rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Giving backThe Rivers began to assemble care packages

for those who had been with Thomas on his deployment. Recipients of the boxes, which included basic toiletries, baby wipes, socks and snack foods, expressed their gratitude, leading the Rivers to send more.

“They loved getting stuff from home,” she said, noting the soldiers were in a rural area with no stores. “When that original group came home in September 2010, we just decided to keep sending them.”

They were sending about 10 or 15 per month when their daughter, Rachel, began participating in Miss Alabama pageants.

“She needed a platform, so we thought what better platform is there than for her to take what we were already doing and turn it into a non-profit,” said Charon.

By February 2011, the Rivers created S.O.S. Each box includes a booklet about the story of Lance Cpl. Thomas E. Rivers, Jr.

“This little endeavor has turned into something so much bigger,” said Charon, a former nurse who has transitioned to work with the charity full time. “Particularly while I was in those early stages of grieving, it helped me focus on doing something that would help somebody else, not just myself.”

In addition to the boxes, S.O.S. works regularly with veterans group Three Hots and a Cot, with locations in Birmingham and Center Point. They also work with other local civic groups, including the City Salesman’s Club.

In a joint effort between the club and S.O.S., a local, deserving veteran will be selected to receive an all-terrain Action TrackChair. The chair is being ordered in May with the recipient to be announced by the end of summer.

This time of year is especially bittersweet for them, as they reflect on the anniversary of their son’s death, and as the rest of the country moves toward Memorial Day.

“It’s not just a holiday about the pool opening up,” said Charon, who will begin her day with a memorial service at the Alabama National Cem-etery in Montevallo. Her son was the first person buried there who was killed in the line of duty. “For us, it is a time of focus and reflection.”

For more, visit supportoursoldiersalabama.org.

“Hoover came in and said it would like to make some improve-ments in front of the Galleria,” Davis said. “There are a lot of short, right-turn lanes through that area, and they suggested we can hook them all together and create an aux-iliary lane.”

Mayor Gary Ivey said the new lane would reduce the bottleneck that sometimes spills onto the high-way and impedes traffic flow.

Davis said the City dove into developing the project, which it hoped would alleviate congestion where it is the worst. Hoover agreed to increase its funding, and ALDOT chose to combine the projects and complete them simultaneously.

“It made sense for us to do it together,” Davis said. “Rather than have us out there disrupting traffic twice, why not do it all at once? So, we delayed our resurfacing about a year and let the plans get done to connect those turn lanes.”

Hoover’s portion of the bill for the widening project will be capped at $500,000, Ivey said — reflecting a 50 percent match with the state of Alabama up to $1 million. Any excess will be covered by the state.

The resurfacing will connect to another ALDOT resurfacing project on U.S. 31 through Vestavia Hills. Davis said the project extends down U.S. 31 from the intersection of Columbiana Road to the Homewood city limits near the intersection of Shades Crest Road, near the Sybil Temple on top of the hill.

Davis said the projected timeline is to open bids for the Vestavia Hills portion in June and begin construc-tion in late summer or early fall. He said ALDOT intends to complete both projects before Thanksgiving.

Support Our Soldiers Memorial BanquetMay 22 • 7 p.m.Briarwood Presbyteriansupportoursoldiersalabama.org

May 2014 • B1StopBloodCancer.com

Sun BSECTIONEntertainment B1

School House B18Sports B11

Calendar B13

By KATIE TURPEN

Artist Nelson Grice seeks his off-the-wall ideas from the younger generation. He has been a teacher at Hoover High School for 17 years and enjoys helping his students tap into their creativity.

“Teenagers keep me young and inspired,” Grice said. “I seek to break every social chain that holds back my imagination and teach my students to do the same.”

Grice’s art crosses various forms of media. Much of his work is influenced by the Legos and Lincoln Logs he played with as a child. The process of creation and assembling parts fasci-nates him.

“Sculpture is primarily what you might see in the mainstream, but I paint, print and make jew-elry, among other things,” Grice said.

Grice graduated from Berry High School and went on to attend the University of Montevallo with a concentration in ceramics. He later enrolled in the College of Education at Montevallo.

Art is just something that he was born making, he said.

“I have built and created since the day I could lift my hands,” Grice said.

Grice has been married for 24 years and has five children. He believes his family has a pow-erful impact on his work.

“My inspiration comes from people around me,” Grice said. “My wife has taken care of the basic needs of our family while I may be working late in my studio and has always been by my side

through the successes and failures. My kids as children retaught me what a child’s imagination is capable of.”

He describes the process of forming art as exhilarating.

“My favorite part is imagining and then seeing that imagination through the journey of idea to pencil, and ultimately completed and experienced by those around me,” Grice said.

Grice’s work has received widespread recog-nition. One of his special works includes a clay sculpture of Robert F. Bumpus, which is dis-played in the Bumpus Middle School lobby.

Another sculpture honors the four girls killed inside Sixteenth Street Baptist Church during the historic civil rights struggle in Birmingham. Nelson won second place with this piece, titled “Hope Born Through Despair,” in the Alabama Power Corporate Archives’ 2013 exhibition, “From Black & White to a World of Color. The Power to Transform Through Art.”

Nelson’s hope is that viewers will be inter-ested in the animated characters he creates. He describes the greatest compliment he ever received about his work, which signaled to him he was doing what he was born to do.

“Recently one of the board members of the High Museum in Atlanta, Lucinda W. Bunnen, said that in these days with art it is hard to create something new,” Grice said. “She went on to say that I had created something new. I will cherish those words for sure.”

For more about Grice and his work, visit nel-songriceart.com.

Sculptor Nelson Grice stands with his piece, titled “Hope Born Through Despair.” This sculpture won second place in the Alabama Power Corporate Archives’ 2013 exhibition, “From Black & White to a World of Color. The Power to Transform Through Art.” Photo courtesy of Nelson Grice.

Unleashing imaginationHHS teacher and artist recognized for unique creations

B2 • May 2014 Hoover Sun

By KATIE TURPEN

Bluff Park resident Corey Nolen harbors two passions in life: photog-raphy and songwriting. The self-de-scribed family man has spent years performing, writing and recording music, hoping to tell the stories that live inside of all of us.

The Hoover Sun recently caught up with Corey, who has been in New York City wrapping up his latest album, “Drive Down South.” Corey will be playing a live show on May 20 at Moonlight on the Mountain to cel-ebrate the release of the album. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about Corey, visit reverbnation.com/coreynolenmu-sic. For a full list of Moonlight on the Mountain events, visit moonlighton-themtn.com.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m a simple, family man. I have

a great wife and family and have been fortunate to be able to pursue my passions. By day, I’m a photog-rapher and by night, I moonlight as a singer-songwriter.

Over the past 15 years I’ve written, recorded and performed music in var-ious fashions. Last spring, I released my first solo project, “The Art of Waiting.” That fall I was fortunate to have a successful Kickstarter cam-paign. That had me recording again in March 2014, which was done here in Birmingham. I just returned from New York City where we finished mixing and mastering the tracks.

What type of music do you write and perform?It’s so hard to classify any music these days. Most people say what I’m doing is alternative country. I grew up on country and I love classic country. The new album is a pretty great mixture of classic country sounds with some modern spins. Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration for writing comes from pretty much everywhere. Most songs are written from my own per-spective, specifically my experiences in relationships. If I recognize a good story going on in someone else’s life, though, then there’s a good chance I’m going to try and write about it. What’s the greatest compliment you’ve ever received about your music?

“That song made me cry.” I mean that’s not what I’m aiming for, but when folks have a real emotional expe-rience with your words and music then I think that’s pretty much the pinna-cle. Making people smile is nice, too.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?

To other aspiring artists or writers I’d say put yourself in positions to learn something about yourself. There can be lots of insecurity among art-ists. Finding your voice, even if it’s a small one, is invaluable. When you find that, then you can pursue art with more satisfaction. Always, always be willing to fail. It’s the best way to learn who you are.

Musician Spotlight: Corey Nolen

Bluff Park resident Cory Nolen describes his music as a mixture of classic country sounds with modern spins.


Bruce Ayers started the Comedy Club in 1983 in a rented hotel banquet room. Today, the Comedy Club Stardome is one of the best-known comedy clubs in the Southeast. When the great names in stand-up comedy come to Birmingham, there’s one place they all go. Below is a list of the club’s May shows.

The club is located at 1818 Data Drive in Hoover. For more information, call 444-0008 or visit stardome.com.

May 1: Adam DoddTickets: $9.75

Comedian Adam Dodd has pleased audiences all over the country, performing his original songs and bringing his musical comedy act to wherever it is needed. He has been seen on MTV, VH1, ABC and UPN’s “On Air with Ryan Seacrest.”

May 2-4: SinbadTickets: $35

Sinbad never tells jokes but rather stalks the stage by telling real-life stories. His comedy is large, physical and impetuous.

Psychologically, he jams us, poking holes in our lifestyles. His stories mirror our foibles. He doesn’t write his material. He relives it as he remembers it.

May 6-8: David ArnoldTickets: $9.75

Comedian David Arnold has performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival, on Comedy Central’s “Laffapalooza” with Jamie Foxx and Cedric the Entertainer, “The Tom Joyner Show,” “Baisden After Dark,” “Comics Unleashed” with Byron Allen and BET’s “Comicview.”

May 9,10, 16, 17: James GregoryTickets: $21.50

For over 20 years, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comic James Gregory has stood grinning with his un-tucked blue shirt and his arms outstretched. He offers a down-home, hilarious storytelling experience. The trademark caricature is the essence of James Gregory´s comedy, which is whimsical reflections on life from the front porch.

May 11, 13-15: Paul LyonsPaul loves life, laughter, Lyle Lovett and

alliteration. His more than two dozen TV appearances includie “Everybody loves Raymond” and Showtime’s “Love at Stake.” Paul has headlined in every state and overseas in London, England and Australia.

May 20-22: Mario ToryTickets: $9.75

Funny, witty, and down-to-earth, this ambitious comedian has involved himself in many outrageous open mic nights. Since his discovery, this young gentleman has hosted and performed at various comedy clubs throughout Atlanta and across the country.

May 23: Ronnie JordanTickets: $15

No stranger to television, Ronnie has been featured on BET’s “Comic View,” “Martin Lawrence Presents the 1st Amendment Stand-Up,” “P. Diddy Presents Bad Boys of Comedy” and host of “Oomp Camp Live.” Behind the scenes, Ronnie is a gifted writer

who has collaborated with many of his fellow comedians.

May 24-25: Eddie GriffinTickets: $33

After headlining 2001’s “Double Take” alongside Orlando Jones, Griffin earned his leading-man status. With his role as Anton Jackson in 2002’s “Undercover Brother,” it seemed as if Griffin had conquered not only the stage, but the silver screen. In addition to his comedic skills, Griffin is also a dancer and choreographer.

May 27-June 1: Jen KoberTickets: $9.75, Tuesday-Sunday, $16.50, Friday-Saturday

Originally from Louisiana, Kober recently relocated to Los Angeles where she has quickly become a nationally known headliner. Playing colleges, casinos and comedy clubs all over the country, she brings crowds to their feet with her original blend of stand-up, storytelling and improvised rock-n-roll comedy.

Comedian Jen Kober is coming to Hoover this month with her blend of stand-up, storytelling

and improvised rock-n-roll comedy. Photo courtesy of

jenkober.com.

Stardome May performers include Gregory, Kober

Comedian James Gregory will be coming to the Comedy Club Stardome in May. Photo courtesy of funniestman.com.


MAY EVENTS GUIDE

Shoppers take home a variety of plants at the Aldridge Gardens Spring Plant Sale. Photo courtesy of Mariesa Stokes.

Participants will study different birds at the Aldridge Gardens Bird Walk. Photo courtesy of Mariesa Stokes.

12th annual Spring Plant SaleMay 1-3, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Aldridge Gardens

Shoppers will find many varieties and sizes of hydrangeas at the 12th annual Spring Plant Sale. Choose from Snowflake, All Summer Beauty and much more. Also find natives, bulbs and companion plants. Members receive 10 percent off purchases.

Hoover Band 5KSaturday, May 3, 8 a.m.

Hoover High School

Proceeds go to Hoover Band to help with the upcoming purchase of new marching uniforms.

Bee FriendlySaturday, May 3, 9:30-11 a.m.

Aldridge Gardens

Make friends with bees by inviting them to your yard. Bees pollinate our food crops - we can’t live without them. But many bees and hives are in trouble and need our help. In this family nature program, learn to greet bees, be hospitable to them and other pollinators by providing a place to eat, drink and rest, and keep them coming back for more. Fees range from $5 to $26. Space is limited, pre-registration suggested.

For details, visit aldridgegardens.com

Mayor’s Prayer BreakfastTuesday, May 6, 7:30 a.m.

Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel

This year’s speaker will be Dick Burleson.

Members-only Guided Bird WalkSaturday, May 17, 8-10 a.m.

Aldridge Gardens

Led by Dr. Richard and Patricia Ryel, see the Gardens like you never

have before. Enjoy a two-hour guided walk and discover the birds of Aldridge Gardens as they migrate through our area. Bring binoculars so you don’t miss a thing.

This walk is for members only and is limited to 15 participants. Pre-registration is required. Free.

Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides WalkSaturday, May 17, 9 a.m.

Veterans Park

On May 17, Veterans Park will be filled with children’s crafts, music, food and a 5K as a part of the annual Great Strides Walk, sponsored by the Alabama chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis


MAY EVENTS GUIDE

Team Gagnon children having fun at the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk at Veterans Park. Photo courtesy of Kristi Metz.

Families gather at Friday Night Flicks at Veterans Park. The series begins May 30.

Foundation.The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is

a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for cystic fibrosis and supporting development of new drugs to fight the disease.

SEC Baseball TournamentMay 20-25

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium

The SEC Baseball Tournament features the top 12 collegiate baseball teams from the Southeastern Conference and will be held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium for the 17th consecutive year. Seeds 5-12 will meet in a single elimination format on the opening day of the tournament,

followed by traditional double-elimination play Wednesday-Friday. The tournament will return to single elimination play on Saturday. Seventeen total games will be played throughout the tournament.

Several Spain Park High School graduates will be playing in this year’s tournament. They are Colton Freeman and Mikey White of the University of Alabama and Chris Ellis of the University of Mississippi.

For more, visit secdigitalnetwork.com.

Friday Night FlicksBegins May 30

Veterans Park

Grab a blanket, family and friends and enjoy a free family-friendly movie every Friday night this summer at Veterans Park

next to Spain Park High School. Movies will be shown every Friday night from May to the end of July.Films start at dusk. Come early to visit vendors, get food and enjoy fun activities. All movies shown are rated PG. “Planes” will be the first film, shown on May 30.

Giving Hands 5K Starfish Strut/1-Mile Fundraiser RunMay 31

Veterans Park

Giving Hands, Inc. is a nonprofit organization formed with the intention of raising awareness, educating the public and raising money to conduct and support

research for children with congenital or acquired limb differences. It is their objective to provide those in need with a solution to their hand or limb difference. Their goal through research, diligence, imagination and compassion is to solve the mystery of limb regeneration. Event is open to all ages and all runners.

Ross Bridge Spring MarketMay 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Ross Bridge Welcome Center

Come out to the Ross Bridge Village Green and enjoy the day shopping with crafts, art, produce, retail items, pet vendors, live music and children’s activities. Pets are welcome.


Hoover Public Library May events

The Hoover Public Library houses more than just reading materials. The facility offers cultural programs and experiences for all ages. This month, the library will feature the history of Birmingham jazz, a taste of Mexico, a four-piece percussion ensemble and other events.

For more information, visit hooverlibrary.org. For a complete list of library events, see Hoover Sun’s calendar.

Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: MexicoMay 4, 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza

Teresa White of Coffee-ol-ogy Café explores Mexico’s culture and native foods in a pro-gram on the Library Plaza. Menu items include Baja Soup, Cheese & Spinach Quesadillas, Chicken Enchilada Verdes and a Dessert Burrito. Coffee-ol-ogy Café travels the world with their monthly Global Cuisine programs, visiting a different country each month.

Doc: The Story of a Birmingham Jazz Man

May 18, 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Free event

Local jazz legend Frank “Doc” Adams has been a sideman to many jazz luminar-ies, from the legendary bands of Duke Ellington to the free jazz explorations of Sun Ra. His contributions to the jazz world at large as a performer and locally as an educa-tor led to him becoming a member of the inaugural class of Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame inductees in 1978.

Adams’ biography, Doc: The Story of a Birmingham Jazz Man, chronicles his time touring as well as his time as a musician, educator and as a member of a prominent and vocal family during Birmingham’s civil rights struggles. Adams and his co-author, Burgin Mathews, will discuss Birmingham’s jazz history, and Adams will also play a few musical selections.

Iron Giant is a four-piece percussion ensemble that uses traditional drums as well as found objects like soda bottles, brake drums and propane tanks to make music. Photo courtesy of Patricia Guarino.

Neuroscience Café: Targeting Genes to Improve Memory

May 19, 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms

Neuroscientist David Sweatt works every day with real things he cannot see. Dr. Sweatt received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of South Ala-bama and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. He did a post-doc-toral fellowship at the Columbia University Center for Neurobiology and Behavior.

As an artist, Dave uses abstract forms to communicate the complexities of the molecules and neural circuits in the human brain. The event is presented by the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center.

Iron Giant Percussion May 28, 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Free event

Iron Giant is a four-piece percussion ensemble that uses traditional drums as well as found objects like soda bottles, brake drums and propane tanks to make music. Iron Giant is a concert performance ensemble of modern percussion music by composers such as Steve Reich, Terry Riley, John Cage and Paul Lansky, who recently served as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s composer-in-residence.


Friday, May 2, 8 p.m.Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m.The Library Theatre Tickets-$25Librarytheatre.com

By REBECCA WALDEN

With prior Library Theatre seasons includ-ing artists like Kathy Mattea and Lorrie Morgan, Hoover Public Library’s Fine Arts Coordinator Matina Johnson faces the same challenge year in, year out – how to top the last show of the season talent she recruited the year before.

Children of the 1980s received a special treat in January when Molly Ringwald, favor-ite film heroine of the late John Hughes, per-formed an evening of infectious jazz. This in a season already replete with bluegrass, pianists and a cappella performances.

On May 2 and 3, Grammy Award win-ning country artist Suzy Bogguss will per-form. Among other awards, she won the Country Music Association’s Album of the Year in 1994 and a Grammy in 2005 for Best Traditional Folk Album, Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster. She has also appeared on PBS in a command performance at the White House, Austin City Limits and is a frequent guest on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Don’t have tickets? Not to worry.“Often the artists will have their own ticket

releases leading up to the show,” said John-son, adding that members occasionally donate

their unused tickets back to the Library at the last minute due to change of plans. “The best bet is to walk up to the box office. Usually we are able to accommodate a fair number of walk ups.”

While Johnson admits it’s no small feat to keep topping their prior events, she’s cul-tivated industry relationships that put the Library at a distinct advantage.

“Given our space and the prices we charge for these tickets, we bring events here that normally a theater of our size simply could not do,” she said. “But I’ve been doing this for 20 years in June, and I’ve gotten to know the people at these talent agencies. When something new comes up, I know about it, I know who represents it and I tend to get a heads up pretty quickly, so that helps.”

She added that she makes a lot of connec-tions at the Performing Arts Exchange, one of many industry trade shows where agents and managers from all over the U.S. come and bring their talent rosters.

Two decades of booking talent has also taught Johnson a thing or two about what plays well with the Library’s patrons.

“The Mattea, Morgan, Bogguss genre of music is very popular with our season ticket holders,” she said. “But these artists also have a huge fan base in their own right. Our single tickets are snapped up fast as well.”

Loyal fans will be pleased to know the evening usually includes reception time with the artist.

“Usually I don’t know if this is a possi-bility until they arrive,” said Johnson. “But if they are comfortable with our venue, they often will come out to meet with fans and do signings.”

For more about Bogguss, visit suzybog-guss.com

Grammy-winning artist Suzy Bogguss coming to Library Theatre

Artist Suzy Bogguss will perform at the Hoover Public Library in May. Photo by Amy Dickerson.


National Association for Music Education (NAfME) members have elected Dr. Sara Womack as presi-dent-elect of the Southern Division. Womack, music teacher at Greystone Ele-mentary School since 2006, will assume the office in July. As a representative of nearly 20,000 active, retired and pre-service music teach-ers and 10,000 honor stu-dents and supporters from 11 southern states, she will serve on the National Executive Board from 2014-2020.

“I am excited about the opportunity to continue learning and sharing my passion

Greystone Elementary School music teacher assumes new office

Dr. Sara Womack has been named president-elect of the Southern Division of the National Association for Music Education. Photo courtesy of Jason Gaston.

Prince of Peace Catholic School eighth-grader Ransom Redman won the school’s annual National Geographic Bee. He will compete in the Alabama State Geography Bee at Samford University on April 4.

The National Geographic Bee is an annual contest sponsored by the National

Geographic Society. It’s open to students in fourth through eighth grade in participat-ing schools. Prince of Peace students look forward to this fun and challenging event every year. Gregory Hughes, middle school social studies teacher, coordinates the Geo Bee for Prince of Peace.

Prince of Peace Catholic School student wins Geo Bee

Prince of Peace Geography Bee finalists are from left: Sydney Wix, Andrea Thompson, Lucy Spero, Caroline Anthony, Conor Flannelly, Logan Bradley, Victoria O’Neal, Brandon Woodard, Michael Grondin and Ransom Redman. Photo courtesy of Jill Taylor Spero.

for music education with others,” Womack said. “My father introduced me to a multitude of opportunities through music. As a teacher

and leader, I believe it is my mission to introduce a wide range of experiences to inspire students’ and teachers’ passions and develop their life purpose.”

Prince of Peace Catholic parish was honored to have Bishop David Foley at its Hoover campus on Ash Wednesday to offer Mass, give ashes, and speak to the eighth grade class about their upcom-ing confirmation.

Bishop Foley said Lent is a time of positive change, not just 40 days of sacrifice. He urged everyone to increase their almsgiving, be friendly, helpful and reach out to others as well as increase their prayer life with at least a simple morning and evening prayer.

The eighth-graders spent an hour with Bishop

Foley discussing the meaning of confirmation, the historical significance of his Bishop’s clothing and unique ring, and eternal life. He related his jour-ney from an eighth grade confirmation candidate to seminarian, priest, auxiliary bishop, bishop and now, retired bishop.

“You don’t choose to become a bishop, you are chosen,” said Bishop Foley.

Everyone had a chance to examine his unique bishop’s ring and learned that by putting the symbols together, the wearer’s name and diocese could be identified.

Bishop Foley visits Prince of Peace

Bishop David Foley and the Prince of Peace Catholic School’s eighth grade confirmation candidates in the church’s chapel after Ash Wednesday service and Mass. Photo courtesy of Jill Taylor Spero.

School House


By REBECCA WALDEN

Q What led to your decision to retire, and why at the end of March?

A I entered Alabama’s DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program) five years

ago; the State determined the drop date. This retirement is the culmination of 30 years work-ing as a professional in education. (Prior to her role as principal of Rocky Ridge Elemen-tary, a position she held for the past 12 years, Carrington worked at Greystone Elementary in Hoover, as well as Pizitz Middle School, Vestavia Hills Elementary Central and Vestavia Hills Elementary West.)

Q Now that your retirement is here, how do you feel about it?

A I have mixed emotions. When you have been preparing for something and actu-

ally being in the midst of this profession since you were 18 years old, it should be bittersweet — and for me, it is that indeed. This was a profession and career I have loved. I still love it and I will always love it. It has given me opportunities to impact student lives and to make a difference. My main goal has been to show our faculty and staff and children that I care about them and love them.

A secondary goal has been to impact cur-riculum and instruction. As a teacher, I had a different role than what I’ve focused on as prin-cipal. When you are in your classroom, your responsibility is to implement strategies that will positively influence a student’s academic performance. In the role of principal, you have to determine and understand approaches. You have to know how adults learn. I hope the lead-ership I’ve provided has positively influenced our curriculum, our instruction and the caliber of our teachers here.

QWhat leadership legacy do you think you are leaving at Rocky Ridge

Elementary?

A Everyone can grow as a leader, whether it is in the classroom or outside the

classroom. Everyone needs to voice his or her opinions. Everyone needs to have input.

And everyone, once a decision has been made, needs to support that decision. That is the cul-ture now at Rocky Ridge Elementary.

It was that way when I came, but in a way, it has grown, and teacher leadership has become one of this faculty’s mainstays. It has been very powerful for us from a professional develop-ment standpoint, and that has resulted in a very positive element for the entire culture of our school.

QWhat will you miss the most?

A The day-to-day interaction with students and faculty and staff — that’s what I will

miss most of all. I have loved the fast pace of it all, the multi-tasking and the decision-making. How do you fill those voids in retirement?

I am not the type to stay down very long. I know I am ready for a new adventure, and this new adventure will include exercising — seri-ously! I’m looking forward to getting up and exercising with my husband. I am interested in taking a morning Bible study. I want to take golf lessons. I would like to go to culinary school! I would like to teach a college course. I would like to travel even more than I already do, and we travel a lot. In fact, we’ve already made plans with our good friends Donald and Ronne Hess to visit Israel as part of the Friend-ship Tour.

Q How have you liked Hoover City Schools? What sets our system apart?

A The Hoover School System has been extremely encouraging and supportive

of everything that has been attempted as far as instructional strategies, fundraising events, and in particular, encouraging the administra-tion, faculty and staff to help our kids reach above and beyond their potential. Over the years, we have seen students all across the board, from middle schoolers all the way up to high schoolers, who have come back to visit us. These kids have gone on to win awards and enjoy very bright academic futures. They spent their elementary years here, and for that, they are proud.

Sonia Carrington

Recently retired Rocky Ridge Elementary School Principal

Q&A with


Hoover City Schools’ Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year have both been named among the “Sweet 16” Finalists for Alabama Teacher of the Year.

Ellen Anson, the teacher for Rocky Ridge Elementary School’s self-contained multi-handicapped room, has been with Hoover City Schools six years as part of her 39-year teaching career. She holds degrees from the University of West Florida and Alabama A&M University.

Craig Thompson teaches 10th grade AP U.S. History and 9th grade Career Prep: Law. Ten of his 13 years in education have been with Hoover City Schools. Thomp-son holds degrees from Tulane University and the Uni-versity of Montevallo. Both Anson and Thompson were named Hoover City Schools Teachers of the Year in December 2013.

The state’s “Sweet 16” have emerged from a pool of more than 150 outstanding educators from across the state who submitted applications for the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious awards programs for teachers. The field will

soon be narrowed down to the “Final Four,” and the 2014-2015 Teacher of Year will be announced at a cer-emony hosted by the Alabama State Board of Educa-tion and the Alabama State Department of Education on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at 6 p.m. at the RSA Plaza Terrace.

“Alabama continues to be represented with some of the most outstanding educators in the nation,” State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice said. “Their dedication to education, commitment to learning and compassion are reflected in the accomplishments of their students. We are proud to have teachers of this caliber working in our schools.”

Alabama’s Teacher of the Year spends the majority of the school year serving as a full-time ambassador for edu-cation and the teaching profession as well as presenting workshops to various groups. Additionally, Alabama’s representative is a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year.

– Submitted by Jason Gaston / Hoover City Schools

Ellen Anson of Rocky Ridge Elementary and Craig Thompson of Spain Park High School have both been named among the “Sweet 16” Finalists for Alabama Teacher of the Year. Photos courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

Two Hoover teachers named ‘Sweet 16’ Teacher of Year Finalists

By JEFF THOMPSON

Craig Kelley made his position clear in responding to his first inter-view question.

“Something has got to be done,” Kelley told the Hoover City Council on April 3. “You’ve got to cut costs.”

Kelley was the Council’s first of seven interview subjects in its search for the next member of the Hoover City Schools Board of Education. During his time before the Council, he responded definitively to questions about the Board’s financial state.

“There’s a simple fix,” he said.

“The school system cannot continue with deficit spending.”

Council member John Lyda said after the interviews that the Council desired for its appointment to make an impact immediately — especially regarding the Board’s financial deci-sions. On Monday, April 7, its mem-bers unanimously appointed Kelley to the role.

Kelley will begin his five-year term in June, filling a vacancy that will be left by current member Paulette Pear-son, who announced last month she would not seek reappointment.

Kelley is vice-president of

Dunkin-Lewis, Inc., a national sales and marketing company based on Rocky Ridge Road. He is a resi-dent of Lake Crest Circle and cur-rently serves as a board member with Hoover Parks and Recreation Board. Council President Jack Wright said Kelley “shined in his interview and shined in his last 10 years on the Parks and Recreation Board.”

“I think he’s a good fit for the Board of Education,” Wright said. “He’ll bring leadership and a strong voice.”

During his interview, Kelley

said he sought the appointment to the Board of Education because he enjoyed understanding and learn-ing. He said he felt his expertise was suited to the role.

“There’s a lot of challenges, and this will be a lot of work,” he said during his interview.

Kelley appointed to Hoover Board of Education

The Hoover City Council unanimously appointed Craig

Kelley to the Hoover City Schools Board of Education on April 7. His five-year term

begins in June 2014.


Sports

Hoover Blue Thunder Swim Team (HBT) wrapped up their short course season with favorable results at the Southeastern Championship Meet in Nashville. Twenty one HBT swimmers made 126 short course Southeastern Championship qualifying times this season. Coach Rick Moulton and assis-tant coach Michael Bottchen were very proud of all of their swimmers.

Sam Steele became the first male swimmer from HBT to garner two Junior National Summer qual-ifying times and swam to second place finishes in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle. Sam also qualified for two Junior National Winter qualifying times in the 1000 Freestyle and the 200 Fly.

Luke Huffstutler broke team records in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke, 400 IM and the 50 Free-style. Jakob Icimsoy ranked top three in the 500,

1000,1650 Freestyle and 400 IM. Erin Finn won the “B” final of the senior girl 100

Fly and obtained four best times at this meet. Caitlin Bullard scored in the 1000 and 1650 Freestyle. E.J. Moses scored in the 1000 and 1650 Freestyle. Molly Steele scored in the 500, 1000, and 1650 Freestyle. Ross Tolbert scored in the 50 and 100 Backstroke.

The boys’ relay team scored an eighth place finish. Kathryn Chambers came home with improved times in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke events. Drake Amick had a remarkable improve-ment in six of his events. Micah Fineburg and Arlan Fan both improved in their 200 Breaststroke. Erica Han and Samantha Davis swam to three best times. Maddie Ellis and Brooks Sauders, the young-est HBT swimmers, had fun at their first Southeast-ern Championship Meet.

Hoover Blue Thunder shines at regional championship

Hoover Blue Thunder Swim Team wrapped up their Short Course season with favorable results at the Southeastern Championship Meet in Nashville. Photo courtesy of Karen Moses.

In March, the Spain Park Jaguars varsity baseball team went all the way to the championship game of the Buccaneer Classic Spring Break Tournament but suffered a 10-4 loss to Cullman in the finals.

This month, the Alabama High School Athletic Association 2014 Playoffs will be drawing to a close. The third round of the tournament is scheduled for May 2-3. The semifinals will be played May 9-10, and the state finals are scheduled for May 14-17.

The Jaguars are coached by Will Smith.

Photos courtesy of Ted Melton / actionsportspix.

smugmug.com

Jaguars play in title game of Buccaneer Classic


By REBECCA WALDEN

Devon Hind never set out to write a book. Still, quite by accident, that’s exactly what he’s been working toward for the last 20 years.

Ever since taking the helm at Hoover High School in 1993 as the head coach of track and cross country, Hind has found common ground with his runners through the simple act of sharing meet results – and a few words of motivation.

“I just took our fall meet results and put them on paper so the kids could have them,” said Hind. “These notes were really just cover letters for the results. I didn’t have any intention of making the cover let-ters a regular practice, but the next week, the kids were asking, ‘Hey, when are we getting our letter?’”

Seeing he’d struck a chord with his run-ners, Hind kept it up. Now, nearly 21 years later, he’s amassed more than 200 letters, the contents of his 2014 book, Run For Your Life: Twenty-One Years of Inspira-tional Letters from a Coach to His Athletes.

Published by fellow Hoover resident and former managing editor of The Bir-mingham News Tom Bailey, Hind’s book has found appeal with a growing word of mouth audience that includes athletes and non-athletes alike.

“As you read these letters, they really cover all spectrums,” said Hind. “It’s not about running or for runners only. It can be for anybody.”

The book even includes a few poems penned by Hind. Not the kind of fodder you’d expect from a guy who majored in biology, but then again, Devon Hind is not your average person.

“I just wrote as the Spirit led me,” he said.

That sincerity has resonated with a growing cadre of readers, many of whom return to Hind to purchase multiple copies

The book he never intended to write

Coach Devon Hind has amassed more than 200 letters that form the contents of his 2014 book, Run For Your Life: Twenty-One Years of Inspirational Letters from a Coach to His Athletes.

after their first read-through.“The mother of one of my current athletes

bought three the other day to give away as gifts, and today, she bought two more,” said Hind. Track coaches from various universities around the state, including UAB, Samford and The University of Alabama, all have purchased the book; it’s even reached beyond state bor-ders to an audience in Atlanta.

The Hoover Public Library will host a recep-tion for Hind later this fall. He also plans to host

a few book signings, but such will have to wait while Hind chases his first passion – helping Hoover’s track team be the best it can be.

“I’m in the middle of track season right now, and we’re still trying to win a couple of state championships,” he said.

Indeed, some of the rising seniors who run for Hoover High have already been all over Hind about what their big training event challenge will be (last year, students ran from Tuscaloosa to Hoover).

“Sometimes I get crazy ideas like that Tus-caloosa run and I throw it by my runners and if they are excited, we go for it,” said Hind. “They already want to know what we are doing this year. I keep hearing, ‘It’s our senior year! We have to do something!’ It’s like life, right? Life is ever changing and so is the coaching. You try not to make it too dull.”

To learn more about Hind’s book, visit devon-hindpublications.com. To order the book, email [email protected].

Coach Hind compiles his letters to former athletes into book


Community CalendarHoover Events

Drawing and Painting – Rollina Oglesbay. Small class size and all skill levels welcome. Drawing class or charcoal, pastel, oil and acrylic with model or photo. $120 (4 sessions) + supplies. Contact Rollina at [email protected] or 733-8939 for registration and supply list.

Mixed Media Classes – Rik Lazen-by. Classes are available monthly on Tuesday mornings 9 a.m.-noon or Tuesday evenings 5:30-8:30 p.m. $120 (4 sessions) + student provides supplies. Contact Rik at [email protected] or 281-5273 to register.

Maison Blanche Vintage Furniture Paint. Learn to update your furniture or cabin-etry with Rik Lazenby. Basic Class/Advanced. All supplies will be provided for the class. Students should bring a small piece of furniture to finish. Class space is limited. Contact Rik at [email protected] or 281-5273 to enroll.

Kiln Formed Glass – Fusing & Slump-ing – Deborah Ballog. All glass, kiln firings and instruction are included in class fees. Contact Deborah at [email protected] or 999-3194.

Calligraphy – Deb Warnat. Beginning

Copperplate Class. Online class. Visit deb-warnat.com or call 243-0576 for class schedule.

Acrylic Painting – Jayne Morgan. Painting classes for children and adults. Visit JayneMorgan.com or call 902-5226.

Photography – Blue Moon Studios. Contact BlueMoonStudios.net or 995-3791 or check Facebook for class schedule.

Woodworking – David Traylor. Wood-working taught by David Traylor. Offering workshops in furniture making. All skill

levels welcome. Visit woodshopstudio.com or call 531-4751.

Trumeau Mirror Workshop – David Traylor and Rik Lazenby. David Traylor and Rik Lazenby will offer a five-day workshop where students will build and finish a Trumeau mirror with distressing. Cost is $895 with all sup-plies furnished. Contact Rik Lazenby at 281-5273 or [email protected] to register.

Zentangle – Darla Williamson. Fun and relaxing class using patterns to create pen and ink drawings. Check website for class times and to register. Tangledstones.com or 305-2082.

May 2 & 3: Annual Spring Plant Sale. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Aldridge Gardens. Choose from more than 100 different plants. Visit aldridgegardens.com.

May 3: Bee Friendly. 9:30-11 a.m. Aldridge Gardens. Visit aldridgegardens.com.

May 3: 17th annual Crawfish & Shrimp Boil. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Church of the Holy Apostles. Music, moonwalk and face painting. Food tickets available at the event.

May 3: Hoover Band 5K. 8 a.m. Hoover High School. Proceeds go to Hoover Band to help with the upcoming purchase of new marching uniforms.

May 8: Hoover Civitan Club. 11:30 a.m. The Egg & I. The club meets the second Thursday of each month and supports the UAB Civitan Interna-tional Research Center.

May 8: The Alabama Family Rights Association. 6 p.m. Hoover Public Library. For more info, contact Kenneth Paschal at 626-9458 or visit alfra.org.

May 13: Retirement Forum Event. 7 p.m. The Galleria Tower, Suite 955. John Kronour of PIMCO will teach citizens how to make sense of the retirement market. Call 201-1401 or visit retirementcenter.us.

May 16: New Member Social. 1 p.m. Hoover Senior Center. For more, contact

Tracy Vinzant at [email protected] or call 739-6700.

May 17: Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk. 9 a.m. Veterans Park. Sponsored by the Alabama chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Visit cff.org.

May 20: Hoover Historical Society meeting. 2:30 p.m. Artists on the Bluff, 569 Park Avenue. Niki Sepsas will speak on Greek immi-grants in Birmingham.

May 20-25: SEC Baseball Tourna-ment. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Visit secdigitalnetwork.com.

May 25: Food Pantry. 3-4:30 p.m. Hoover Church of Christ. Please call 822-5610 or visit hooverchurchofchrist.org.

May 27: Horizons Luncheon. 11 a.m. Hoover Senior Center. For more, contact Dana Stew-art, [email protected] or call 739-6700.

May 30: Friday Night Flicks. Veterans Park. Film starts at dusk. The first flick shown will be Planes.

May 30-31: Shelby County Show & Go. Visit shelbyshowandgo.eventbrite.com.

May 31: Giving Hands 5K Starfish Strut/1-Mile Fundraiser Run. Veterans Park.

Artists on the Bluff


Hoover Library Events For more, visit hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7800

May 1: Storytime Live. 10:30 a.m.

May 1: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m.

May 1: First Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The Son by Philipp Meyer. Call 444-7820.

May 2 & 3: Suzy Bogguss. 8 p.m. The Library Theatre. Tickets are $25. Visit Librarytheatre.com or call 444-7888.

May 4: Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: Mexico. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Coffee-ol-ogy Café explores Mexico’s culture and native foods. Call 444-7821.

May 4: The College Conundrum. 3-4:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Certified Financial Planner™ Scott Cole examines the expense, the debt and value of higher education. Reservations required. Call 444-7816.

May 8: Second Thursday Fiction Book Group. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. Call 444-7820.

May 12: Read Your Own Adventure Book Group. 7-8 p.m. Plaza Reading Room. Share your favorite science fiction book. Call 444-7820.

May 13: Daytime Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Call 444-7840.

May 13: Glue Gun Gang: Wordy Wall Art. 6:30 p.m. Adult Programming Room. Paint and collage to create Pinterest-worthy art. Adults only. Reserva-tions required. Free event. Call 444-7840.

May 13: Spanish Conversation Club. 7-8 p.m. Library Plaza. All Spanish fluency levels welcome to practice and learn. Call 444-7820.

May 15: Author Time @ Hoover Library: Margaret Dilloway. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Skype with the author of The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns. Reservations at hooverlibrary.org/authortime or call 444-7820.

May 15: Glue Gun Gang: Wordy Wall Art. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. Paint and collage to create Pinterest-worthy art. Adults only. Reservations required. Free event. Call 444-7840.

May 16: Fizz Boom Bash. 7 p.m. It’s time to geek out Mad Scientist style at the Hoover Library lab-oratories. Be the first to sign up for summer reading, learn about the science of robots, and visit Legoland.

May 18: Doc: The Story of a Birming-ham Jazz Man. 2:30 p.m. Library Plaza. Local jazz legend Frank “Doc”Adams and Burgin Mathews trace Birmingham’s jazz history through storytelling and musical performance. Book signing to follow. Call 444-7821.

May 19: Monday @ the Movies. 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Plus-sized teen Tracy Turnblad aims to win the heart of teen dream Link Larkin and to stand up for what she believes in. (PG,

117 minutes.) Free admission and refreshments. Call 444-7820.

May 19: Neuroscience Café: Targeting Genes to Improve Memory. 6:30 p.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Presented by the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. Call 444-7840.

May 20: MakingCents presents Frugalis-tics: Basics of Food Preservation. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Monthly coupon swap will follow the program. Call 444-7840.

May 21: No Jacket Required Nonfiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. Adult Programming Room. This month’s genre: Living in the South. Call 444-7840.

May 22: Nighttime Nonfiction Book Group. 7:00 p.m. Allen Board Room. Who Stole the American Dream? by Hedrick Smith. Call 444-7816.

May 23: After Hours @ the Plaza: Game Nite. 7-10 p.m. Library Plaza. Put your game face on and meet up with your fellow gamers. Call 444-7821.

May 29: Iron Giant Percussion. 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre. Four-piece percussion ensemble plays traditional drums and found objects. Rated five stars by The Birmingham News. Free event. Call 444-7820.

May 31: Write Club. 10:30 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms. Share your literary works and network with other amateur writers. Call 444-7820.

Community CalendarMoonlight on the Mountainmoonlightonthemtn.com

May 2: Gabriel Tajeu.

May 3: Delnora Reed.

May 4: Uneven Ground with

opener Samuel Caleb Walker. $10.

May 5: Open Mic Night.

May 16: Willie Sugarcapps. $30.

May 17: Mark Stuart.

May 19: Open Mic Night.

May 20: Corey Nolen. $10.

May 22: Dayna Kurtz with Robert

Mache.

May 23: The Rough and Tumble,

and Adrienne Lenker and Buck

Meek.

May 24: Bobby Horton. $20.

May 30: Michelle Malone. $15.

May 31: Delta Reign.

All shows are at 7:30 p.m. and cost $12 unless otherwise noted. Open Mic Night is $5.

Summer Fun Photo ContestComing next month


May 1: ArtPlay Parlor Series: Ji on Pi-ano. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Ticket price includes beverages, hors d’oeuvres and performance by Ji. Visit alysstephens.org or call 975-2787.

May 1: Salsa de Mayo presented by the Gardens’ Junior Board. 6-8 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Ticket price includes beverages and chips while you learn to make your own gourmet salsa. Visit bbgardens.org or call 414-3950.

May 1: First Thursdays/After Hours. 5-9 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art. Admission is free, tapas at Oscar’s are $12, and there will be a cash bar. Visit artsbma.org or call 254-2565.

May 2: Bards and Brews. 6:30-9 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Presented by the Bir-mingham Public Library, Bards and Brews is a poetry performance and beer-tasting series held on the fi rst Friday of every month. Call 226-3670.

May 2: Tails in the Trails. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Birmingham Zoo. This event, presented by the Birmingham Zoo’s Junior Board, is a day of cocktails, live music and entertainment. $20 at the door, ages 21 and up. Visit birminghamzoo.com or call 879-0409.

May 2: Eric Clapton. 7:30 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Visit amphitheatrepelham.com.

May 2-3: ASO Regions Masterworks Series: Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Visit alysstephens.org or call 975-2787.

May 3: Elements. 7:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. Dances performed by Children’s Dance Foundation’s Upper School students. Free. Visit childrensdancefoundation.org.

May 3: Mid Alabama Corvette Club Vette Spectacular. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Zamora

Shrine Temple. This annual event benefi ts Magic Moments of Alabama. $5 per car load. Visit midalcor-vette.com or call 541-8681.

May 6: Sidewalk Film Festival Event. 6 p.m. Rojo. Networking event for fi lmmakers and fi lm fans. Complimentary salsa and queso from Rojo. Admission is free. Call 324-0888.

May 6: Brit Floyd. 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Music from all 14 Pink Floyd studio albums with a laser and light show. Visit britfl oyd.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

May 8: 6th Annual Hands Up Together. 7 p.m. Alabama School of Fine Arts Day Theater. Mary Fisher, an activist, author and survivor, will speak. Visit cjfsbham.org.

May 9-11: The Beatles 50th Anniversary Celebration. 7 p.m. Workplay. Visit workplay.com or call 879-4773.

May 9-10: Jason Aldean: Burn It Down Tour. 7:30 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Visit ampitheatrepelham.com.

May 9-10: Mamma Mia! May 9 at 8 p.m., May 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Musical of a young woman’s quest to discover the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding. Visit bjcc.org or call 1-800-745-3000.

May 10: Girls on the Run 5K. 8 a.m. Marconi Park. Annual fundraiser and culmination of 10-week running program for girls. Open to the public. Visit girlsontherunbham.org.

May 10: Birmingham NF Walk. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Railroad Park. Alabama’s chapter of the Children’s Tumor Foundation presents a walk to end neurofi bromatosis. Visit ctf.org or call 936-9447.

May 10: ASO Red Diamond SuperPops!

Series: Disney in Concert. 8 p.m. Sam-ford University’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center. Multimedia performance of Disney’s new and classic songs. Visit alabamasymphony.org or call 975-2787.

May 10: Margaritaham. 12-6 p.m. Iron Horse. In conjunction with Iron Horse’s BBQ lunch benefi ting Children’s Hospital. Music, silent auction and raffl es are included with a $5 donation. Visit mcphc.org or call 914-7953.

May 11: SuperJazz Concert. 3-4:35 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. Visit super-jazzbirmingham.wordpress.com or call 335-2961.

May 15: Bite Presented by CM Food-service. 6-8 p.m. Rosewood Hall, SoHo Square. Live music and samplings from restaurants. Visit cmfoodservicellc.biz or call 322-6119.

May 16-17: ASO Regions Masterworks Series: Mozart’s Requiem. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Visit alabamasym-phony.org or call 975-2787.

May 16: Back Forty Beer Company Presents Beer on the Back Porch Music Series. 6-10 p.m. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center. Music, dinner and three drink tokens are included with the purchase of a $25 ticket. Visit ruffnermoun-tain.org or call 833-8264.

May 17: Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss. 7 p.m. BJCC Arena and Exhibition Halls. Visit bjcc.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

May 17: Do Dah Day. 11 a.m. Caldwell and Rhodes Parks. Parade and day at the park with friends, pets, crafts, food, beverages and music. Visit dodahday.org.

May 17: Zoo Run. 9 a.m. Birmingham Zoo. Run through the zoo to raise money for African Painted Dogs. Visit birminghamzoo.com or call 879-0409.

May 18: Birmingham Boys Choir 36th Annual Spring Concert. 4 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 65 Old Montgomery Highway. Visit birminghamboyschoir.com.

May 20: ASO Concertmaster and Friends: Baroque Trumpet. 7 p.m. Brock Re-cital Hall, Samford University. Visit alabamasymphony.org or call 975-2787.

May 20-25: SEC Baseball Tournament. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Visit secdig-italnetwork.com or call 1-800-732-4849.

May 22: Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Visit bjcc.org.

May 23: Dave Matthews Band. 7 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Visit amphitheatrepelham.com.

May 24: Happenin Fest. 3 p.m. Good People Brewery. Daylong celebration designed to feature local and touring artists from across the southeast. Ages 21 and up. Visit happeninrecords.com.

May 25: 8th Annual Preserve Jazz Festival. 2 p.m. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Call 390-3800.

May 27: Journey and Steve Miller Band. 6:45 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Visit amphi-theatrepelham.com or call 985-0703.

May 30: ASO Coffee Concert: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. 11 a.m. Alys Stephens Center. Visit alabamasymphony.org or call 975-2787.

May 31: 5th Annual Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival. 12 to 9 p.m. DeBardeleben Park. Live blues music and Bob Sykes BBQ. Visit bobsykes-blues.com or call 426-1400.

Area Events

Community Calendar

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Hoover sun vol 2 iss 8 may 2014

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Transcript of Hoover sun vol 2 iss 8 may 2014