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By JEFF THOMPSON

On Sept. 18, Alabama’s Certifi cate of Need Review Board approved requests to build two free-standing emergency facilities in west Hoover.

The approvals, granted to UAB Medical West and Princeton Baptist Medical Center, come at the peak of a territorial dispute between the two

organizations. Both UAB and Baptist have fi led oppositions to each other’s request to open near the intersection of Interstate 459 and Alabama Highway 150.

According to Clark Bruner, health planner with the State Health Planning and Develop-ment Agency, the CON Board heard testimony from both sides during last month’s meeting, and an administrative law judge in Montgomery

had previously considered extensive documen-tation. Following more than an hour on the sub-ject, the board decided to approve Certifi cates of Need for both facilities.

He added that appeals were likely coming.Neal Morrison, chairman of the CON Re-

view Board, said he felt the board’s decision to

Sun Hoover

Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover Volume 1 | Issue 1 | October 2012

Community page 10

Sports page 20

Sponsors .................. 4City ............................ 5Community .............. 6Business ................... 14Food .......................... 16

Opinion ..................... 18School House .......... 19Sports ....................... 20Celebrations ............ 21Calendar ................... 22

INSIDE

Bluff Park Art Show Oct. 6

Mall makeover

Top right: A rendering of the Galleria as it is slated to appear following more than $60 million in renova-tion. Above: Included in the planned changes are the re-location of the mall’s central elevators and the introduc-tion of Von Maur into the old Macy’s location. Rendering courtesy GGP.

By REBECCA WALDEN

Renovations costing more than $60 million are currently underway at the Riverchase Galleria as owners seek to entice new customers for the 2012 holiday shopping season.

Offi cials at Birmingham-based Hoar Construction, the company responsible for the project, said the top priority is to complete substantive parking deck renovations and interior remodeling projects before the day after Thanksgiving – or Black Friday as it’s known in the retail world.

“The schedule and phasing for the project was developed with the shopper in mind in order to minimize disruption to the overall shopping experience,” said Mark Hendricks, vice president of Hoar Construction’s Alabama division.

During the initial phase, which began in September, construction teams are remodeling the center court public restrooms and the mall’s parking deck. And this month, construction began on a major aspect of the remodel—new elevators in the mall’s center court. Hendricks said the existing elevators would remain operational until the new elevators are completely installed, and then demolition and

Artist Mary Sowell displays her work during the 2011 Bluff Park Art Show. This year, the show, always held on the fi rst Saturday in October, is celebrating 49 years. Find out more inside.

Hoover quarterback Connor Short led the Bucaneers to the top of the state rankings through the fi rst four games of the 2012 season. Find more on Hoover High, plus photos from Hoover’s Homecoming and a report on Spain Park’s impressive start inside. Photo courtesy of Marvin Gentry / Belmont Studios.

By Black Friday, Galleria shoppers could see massively different mall

See GALLERIA | page 21

See EMERGENCY | page 21

Footballfever

Certifi cates of Need approved for both contesting hospitals

facebook.com/thehooversun

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October 2012 Hoover Sun2

October 2012 3HooverSun.com

Legals: The Hoover Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Hoover Sun is designed to inform the Hoover community of area school, family and community events. Information in the Hoover Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of the Hoover Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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Alabama Allergy (9)Altamont School (11)Aqua Chem / 4 Seasons (9)Ashford Advisors (6)Baptist Health Center (12)Brookwood Medical Center (14)City of Hoover Hayride (24)Classic Events (18)Creekside Tavern (13)Davis Likis Financial (15)Four Corners (7)Full Moon Barbecue (15)Geico (6)Gloria Bahakel (11)Golden Rule, G Dawgs, La Paz (2)Junior League of Birmingham (8)Moss Rock Festival (3)Outdoor Living Areas (5)Realty South (23)Rittenhouse Senior Living (10)St. Vincent’s Hospital (17)Sumo Japanese Steakhouse (16)Suzette Clark-Walker Realty (19)The Whole Scoop (19)Thimbles (10)Virginia Vinson (7)

About Us

Can’t wait to hear from youEditor’s Note By Rebecca Walden

Welcome to the debut issue of your new source for Hoover happenings – the Hoover Sun! Covering all aspects of com-munity news, Hoover Sun will showcase the many highlights and hometown heroes of our city, along with other area news of interest. Got a star student? Know of a new business that your neighbors ought to know about, too? Trying to keep up with the many events around town and finding it a near impos-sible task? It’s all here in your brand-new, hyper-local community-centric newspa-per – and it’s all about you.

Early in the month, lace up your sneak-ers and strut your stuff in Linn Park for the 21st annual North Central Alabama Race for the Cure. In this issue, meet Carol Robertson Cauthen, a local woman who turned her breast cancer diagnosis into a call to action that includes opening up her own business and even bringing the Race for the Cure right here to Birmingham.

If you are like me, and you only run when somebody’s chasing you, you can still stave off the weekend doldrums with a trip or three to the Hoover Public Li-

brary, an arts and culture gem in our collective back-yard. One of the highlights of my spring happened here when, book nerd that I am, I found myself stand-ing face-to-face with Scott Turow, keynote speaker of the Library’s popular Southern Voices Festival and author of Presumed Innocent (Harrison Ford, anyone?). As I gathered my awestruck wits off the

Library Plaza floor, my husband, merci-fully, entertained Mr. Turow with small talk of Chicago Cubs baseball so that I could regroup and secure a lovely per-sonalized note and autograph from one of my literary heroes. Without question, the library’s revolving door of local, regional and national talent, not to mention its wealth of print and e-resources, make this

facility one of Hoover’s most fascinating resources. Check. It. Out. Pun intended.

Later in the month, if you can tear yourself away from the siren call of college football Saturdays, October in our fair city offers enough festivals and family-friendly events to keep you ven-ue hopping, morning, noon and night. From well-known events, like the Bluff Park Art Show – always the first Satur-day in October – to WOOFstock, for the four-legged friends in your life, to Uncorked! on the Green and Arts and Music on the Green and more, there are countless reasons to get up, get outdoors and enjoy these laid back last days of our Indian summer.

Let me hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, photos and story ideas to [email protected].

Cheers,

Rebecca Walden

Walden

Photo of the Month Please Support our Sponsors

Hoover High School cheerleaders, spurred on by the fight song, lead the Bucaneers onto the field before the team’s first game of the sea-son against Missis-sippi’s South Panola High School. Hoover won 35-10. Photo courtesy of Bill Shultz.

Contact Information:Hoover Sun

#3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316Birmingham, AL 35223

[email protected]

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: [email protected]. Box 530341Birmingham, AL 35253

Dan StarnesKeith McCoyRebecca WaldenMadoline MarkhamJeff ThompsonRhonda SmithWarren CaldwellMatthew AllenJackie WalburnErica T. HopperJason GastonKaitlin BitzHoover Sun LLC

Publisher : Creative Director :

Editor : Managing Editor :

Contributing Editor :Sales and Distribution :

Contributing Writers :

Intern : Published by :

Meet our staff

Account Executive Matthew Allen has lived in the Birmingham area since moving here in 2004 to marry his fiancée. He worked for Shelby County Newspapers, Inc., for the past eight years in various capacities. Prior to mov-ing to Birmingham, he attended and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, and grew up in Thomaston, Ga., where his family still resides. Among his hobbies are watching and attending UGA athletic events, golfing, gardening, DIY home projects and spending as much time as he can with his two-year-old son, Brady, and wife Abby. He is active in several area Chambers of Commerce, the Hoover Rotary Club, the Hoover Beautification Board and St. Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills. He and his family reside in Hoover.

When not making pretend lemon honey tea with her imaginative three-year-old Ella or chasing around her plotting and playful redheaded toddler Connor, aka “the Flying Tomato,” Editor Rebecca Walden can usually be found hunched over her laptop, writing. A career marketing communications professional, Rebecca writes for numerous corporate and non-profit clients and various consumer publications. Since 2003, she has lived in Green Valley with her husband Rett, their two children and two grumpy lab mix rescues. Rebecca enjoys herb gardening, reading anything by Jennifer Weiner, and scouring the racks of Ross for herself so she can spend the rest of her clothing budget with Miss Alice of Sew Precious Patton Creek, outfitting those two precocious kiddoodles.

Contributing Editor Jeff Thompson is a journalism graduate of Auburn University who moved to Birmingham with his wife, Ashley, in 2012. For the past four years he served as managing editor of The Tuskegee News, where he focused on bringing public awareness to causes including education, historical preservation, local arts and dedicated non-profit organizations. He has been awarded eight Alabama Press Association awards for coverage, photography and design. He has a dog and a cat, is bad at cooking, is worse at guitar, and still can’t navigate his home neighborhood of Bluff Park.


Government

Welcome to Hoover!Mayor’s Minute By Gary Ivey

As Mayor of Hoover, I would like to welcome The Hoover Sun to our city! We are excited to have another media outlet and look forward to all the new partner-ships this opportunity brings. I am hon-ored to serve as your mayor for another four years and work with the City Council to keep Hoover moving in a positive direction.

Founded in 1967, our city has quickly grown to be the sixth largest city in Ala-bama. Our fast growth rate can be attributed to many factors, including the city’s ability to offer residents an exceptional quality of life that is safe, secure and af-fordable.

Whether you are new to Hoover or a lifelong resident, I hope you will take some time to explore all that Hoover has to offer. From cultural experiences provided by the Hoover Library Theater, to outdoor hiking and rock climbing at Moss Rock Preserve’s 350 natural acres, or a leisurely stroll through Aldridge Gardens, there’s something for everyone and every age. We have state-of-the-art police and fi re departments that boast cutting edge tech-nology, equipment and training to protect and save lives.

We have many recreational ball fi elds for our youth and a thriving senior center full of daily activities. Our school system offers an innovative curriculum, excellent teaching standards and outstanding fa-cilities. All of these factors are what make

Hoover the premier city in Alabama and one of the main reasons people move to Hoover.

We are home to many world-class shop-ping venues and great restaurants. Tour buses and out-of-town shoppers frequent Hoover and have made our city known as a

shopping destination. Hoover is also home to Regions Park, and we are excited about hosting many new events at that venue in the coming year.

Hoover is fortunate to have a high level of citizen involvement and a govern-ment determined to offer its people the very best in ad-ministration and services. If you would like to get more involved, check into serving on one of our many boards,

volunteer opportunities or service clubs. With the endless opportunities, events

and amenities Hoover has to offer, one can easily see why we take so much pride in our city.

If you need any information about Hoover, please visit our website, hooveral.org, and fi nd out why we will continue to exceed your expectations!

Sincerely,

Gary IveyMayor

Gary Ivey

City budget approval postponedDuring its regular meeting Sept. 17, the Hoover

City Council decided to postpone approval of its 2013 general fund budget until newly elected coun-cil member John Lyda reviews it.

Lyda, who unseated Mari Morrison in the Au-gust general election, will be sworn in on Nov. 5 alongside Mayor Gary Ivey and fi ve other council members who won re-election bids.

In the meantime, since the city’s 2013 fi scal year begins Oct. 1, the council voted to continue operating under 2012’s $88.5 million general fund budget.

Grant funding going out The Hoover City Council agreed to spend more

than $270,000 in grant money this fi scal year to resur-face roads and fund programs that provide services in the community.

Approved in September, the money comes from federal community development block grants, and the majority – $180,000 – will go toward matching funds required for a $2.2 million grant from the state of Alabama. The city intends to use the state grant to resurface Lorna Road and parts of Patton Chapel Road.

Over the course of fi ve years, Hoover will use ap-proximately $475,000 in grant funding to pay match-ing costs on the state grant.

The additional $90,000 of block grant funding will be used to supplement programs for after-school tutoring, emergency home repair and homeless ser-vices, with $20,000 being put aside to pay adminis-tration costs.

From other sources, $60,000 will be used to begin funding designs for a sidewalk along State Highway 150. The sidewalk will run from U.S. Highway 31 to Cahaba River Estates Drive and the council estimates total cost of the design at $300,000.

New city website coming Before the close of 2013, the City of Hoover

plans to have a revamped website that allows for more effi cient two-way communication between administration and residents.

In September, Mayor Gary Ivey was authorized to pursue a contract with CivicPlus, a Kansas-based company that provides web management to more than 1,000 government associations. The cur-rent proposal being considered by the mayor agrees to pay CivicPLus more than $53,000 over a four-year period.

Government offi cials believe the process of implementing the changeover will take about six months, but the end result will be a more effi cient means of communicating with residents.

Veterans Week CelebrationThe Hoover Public Library, in conjunction with the

City of Hoover, will hold a week-long salute to those serving our country from Nov. 4-11.

The celebration begins Nov. 4 with a reception at the library. Monday, Nov. 5, there will be two showings of a movie based on the Vietnam War.

Nov. 8, there will be a World War II program based on Laura Hillenbrand’s best-selling book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.

Each day from Nov. 5-9, Hoover scout troops will honor veterans at 4:45 p.m. with a fl ag folding cer-emony in front of the library. Nov. 5-8 and Nov. 10, children can receive a fl ag during story time programs and make crafts for veterans at the VA medical cen-ter. Children may also participate in a “Thank-A-Vet” poster contest.

Also, patrons may visit the patriotic art show presented by artists of the Exceptional Foundation and submit a photograph of a veteran to be placed on the memorial Wall of Honor in the library’s main corridor.

City News

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Community

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Eighty-three years ago, a two-room schoolhouse was built in Bluff Park. The building would grow as a school and later serve as a community education build-ing. But a year and half ago, Bluff Park Community School on Park Avenue was in disrepair. Its roof was sagging, and many classrooms were filled with junk. The building, beloved by the community, almost closed.

But now new life has come. Linda Wil-liams, a recently retired community edu-cation director for Hoover City Schools, turned the facility into a community of artists with teaching spaces. Artists on the Bluff will hold its grand opening event this month.

Williams, a 40-year Bluff Park resident, knew firsthand how the area loved the building and valued the arts. The fit for an arts center was natural.

“We have an edge,” Williams said. “We have a community that is family. There is really nothing like this in the city.”

Rik Lazenby, another retired educator and longtime friend of Williams, moved his decorative arts studio to the Bluff Park building in the summer of 2011 and soon stepped in as its director. Both of them told

artists they knew about the space, and the word spread fast. There wasn’t an artist who looked at the space who didn’t take a studio.

Currently, there is a waiting list for the 20 studio spaces. The entire building is budding with artistry: photography, theatre, ceramics, painting, jewelry mak-ing, woodworking, landscaping, even the Hoover Historical Society—and teaching of these art forms.

Artists pay a modest rate for rent that includes utilities but have access to the fa-cility at any hour. The space is their own, as splattered paint on floors and inspira-tion boards on walls attest.

From the beginning, the committee be-hind Artists on the Bluff, which includes Williams, Lazenby, Dr. Ron Jones, Linda Chastain and Belle Jordan, worked closely with the city and then mayor Tony Petelos. Artists on the Bluff currently works in col-laboration with Hoover City Schools and the City of Hoover, which has helped fund the project. The city has allocated them $50,000 a year for their first three years.

“They believe in us,” Williams said.

In addition to the studios, the Artists on the Bluff building features are sev-eral teaching spaces and other community

spaces. An ongoing gallery featuring the work of in-house artists and others runs along the hardwood hallway at the front of the building. All art showcased there is for sale.

A second gallery, the Soon-Bok Lee Sellers Art Gallery, is currently hosting a national show of Alabama Plaster Soci-ety. The gallery was first created when the building was used for community educa-tion.

The new Park Avenue Coffee Shop, open to both artists and the community, will serve coffee, pastries, cappucci-nos, lattes, salads and sandwiches. The former cafeteria space will host special events and dinner theatres. Hoover Arts Alliance, City Council and Board of Education have already held meetings there.

Williams’ enthusiasm about Artists on the Bluff is contagious. She is always in-viting in walkers and joggers, including firemen on a run, to tour the building.

“The excitement of the community has empowered us,” she said.

For more information on Artists on the Bluff, their classes and their opening event, visit artistsonthebluff.com or call 439-2860.

Artists on the Bluffrenewing Hoover’s creative spirit

Rik Lazenby and Linda Williams stand in front of some of Lazenby’s art on display in the new gal-lery in the Artists on the Bluff building. Photos by Madoline Markham.

New home to Hoover artists planning grand opening for October

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Moss Rock FestivalBy JACKIE WALBURN

Moss Rock Festival — held in the shadow of one of the area’s most treasured nature preserves — will celebrate its seventh year as Alabama’s premier eco-creative event Nov. 3-4 at The Preserve.

With Hoover’s 350-acre Moss Rock Preserve as its cornerstone, Moss Rock Festival features 100 nature-inspired artists, an eco-district with green-living ideas, products and services, live music, children’s activities and local foods. More than 15,000 visitors are expected during the free two-day event.

The festival is “an explosion of sights, sounds and smells,” producer-director Eileen Kunzman said. “Everyone at Moss Rock Festival is wearing a smile. There’s something magical about it.”

“I guarantee anyone who comes will not leave untouched,” said Kunzman, an artist and teacher who, after relocating to Birmingham, started Bir-mingham’s downtown art festival, the Magic City Art Connection.

Kunzman and her company, Fine Art Services, have been part of Moss Rock Festival from its begin-ning as an event co-hosted by the city of Hoover, The Preserve and founding corporate sponsors including USS Real Estate, developer of The Preserve commu-nity. She credits the festival’s continued growth and success to corporate sponsorships — this year including Fox 6, Magic 96.5, Baptist Health Centers, Long Lewis Ford Lincoln, RealtySouth and Technical Knockout — plus an ac-tive board of directors, other volunteers, non-profi t supporters including The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Moss Rock Preserve, and MyGreenBirmingham.com. She also credits growing support among artists, craftspeople and eco-conscious organizations and businesses.

Festival hours run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. Shuttle buses from parking at Regions Park begin at 9:30 a.m. each day and continue an hour after each day’s festivities.

For details on events, parking, recycling and to sign up for special events and competitions, visit MossRockFestival.com.

expects more than 15,000

said. “Everyone at Moss Rock Festival is wearing

“I guarantee anyone who comes will not leave

mingham’s downtown art festival, the Magic City

Kunzman and her company, Fine Art Services, have been part of Moss Rock Festival from its begin-ning as an event co-hosted by the city of Hoover, The Preserve and founding corporate sponsors including USS Real Estate, developer of The Preserve commu-nity. She credits the festival’s continued growth and success to corporate sponsorships — this year including Fox 6, Magic 96.5, Baptist Health Centers, Long Lewis Ford

Join the fun!Artist Row - Displays of art inspired by nature

Eco-District - Displays focus on conservation and “green living”

Design Challenges - Cake expo andtasting and design competitions

WonderKids - Fun for children of all ages

Moss Rock Preserve - Hikes each day and Geocache events

The Big Ride - Bike the Preserve on a two-mile loop

Recycling - Bring old electronics, confi dential papers for secure shredding, paper, plastic and aluminum

More than 100 artists sell works inspired by nature during the 2011 Moss Rock Festival. Photos courtesy Andrew Glass.

Explore YourCreative Potential


The Junior League of Birmingham has partnered with local retailers and restaurants to bring back the annual Shop Save & Share (SSS) card fundraiser. Cardholders receive a 20 percent discount at more than 500 retailers and restaurants throughout the Birmingham area, including the best retailers lo-cated in Hoover. The $40 purchase of a SSS card is a donation to the Junior League of Birmingham that offers cardholders smart savings from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4 while supporting their community. Funds raised support the JLB’s community projects that address some of Birmingham’s most critical issues, including literacy, domestic violence prevention, health education and life skills for families in tran-sition.

Participating retailers include Books-A-Million, Calico Corners/Calico Home, Dancers Image, John John’s Jewelers, Kicks Shoes for Kids, Party City, Sew Precious, Thimbles and Thompson’s Frame Factory. The Junior League credits its sponsors, including The Outlet Shops of Grand River and LOFT, for contributing to the success for the event.

Visit jlbonline.com or shopsaveshare.net to pur-chase your Shop Save & Share card and to review a complete listing of participating merchants and sponsors.

Art, music, beer and wine, oh my!

By REBECCA WALDEN

On October 13, the commu-nity of Ross Bridge will host Un-corked! on the Green, a free craft beer and wine tasting event ben-efi ting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Featuring more than 50 microbrews and a dozen wines, Uncorked! has be-come a popular Hoover tradition that hosted more than 6,000 at-tendees last year.

Held in conjunction with the seventh annual Arts and Music on the Green, a juried art festival, Uncorked! offers live music on two stages, a sampling of featured menu items from local restaurants and a kid’s activities area.

“Uncorked! On The Green was originally developed to boost at-tendance and enhance the atmo-sphere of Arts & Music on the

Green,” said Audrey Alverson-Stowe, events director for Classic Events, which manages the show. “We had no idea how well received this great tasting event would be. There are several other ‘tasting’ events that have high prices for participation. The popularity of this event has helped solidify the fact that event goers are looking for great events that are free.”

To help connect local patrons with all that Hoover has to offer, Classic Events collaborates with the Hoover Arts Alliance and the City of Hoover to bring in locally sourced bands to the live music stages and also to recruit local restaurants, Hoover City School art program participants and local business owners.

True to the spirit of the event, Alverson-Stowe recalled the memory of one patron from the

inaugural Uncorked! event.“At the very fi rst Uncorked! on

The Green, the ground was satu-rated from rain the day before. With the huge crowd that came out, the lawn area became quite muddy. We thought we would lose that crowd for sure. But, the crowd grew even larger as people just went and grabbed their rain boots and stayed the entire day. I heard many people on their cells calling their friends to encourage them to come. One year

later, I had a guest tell me that his family still had their muddy boots in their carport as a true testament to how much fun they had at Un-corked! Fortunately, we haven’t had to have quite that much fun again.”

Uncorked! on the GreenArts & Music on the Green• October 13• Ross Bridge Community• Noon-5 p.m.• uncorkedonthegreen.com

Uncorked! on the Green,Arts and Music on the Green

gear up for 2012 event

Local retailers offer discounts for a cause

Work by artist Emily Neel on display during last year’s Arts on the Green Festival hosted by the community of Ross Bridge. This year’s event is scheduled for October 13.

Hoover High Library to host book saleThe Hoover High School Library is hosting

a book sale that will help make way for new furniture, work and charging stations in conjunc-tion with Hoover City Schools’ Engaged Learn-ing Initiative. The sale is open to the public and will last until all books are sold. Book inventory

includes thousands of titles deselected from the library’s catalog as they move to a more digital collection. Shoppers may stop by anytime be-tween 7:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on school days.

Hardbacks are $1 and paperbacks are 25 cents. All proceeds will be reinvested in the li-

brary’s program budget. Hoover High School is located at 1000 Buc-

caneer Drive, 35244 and can be reached at 439-1242. For more information on the sale, contact School Librarian Sonya Jordan, [email protected].

Wrappettes at Wrapsody in Patton Creek prepare for Shop Save & Share. They are: manager Anna Parker; Anna Kierce; Barbara Fullenwider; Meagan Ollie; and assistant manager Blair DeCoux.

shopsaveshare.net


Visit uncorkedonthegreen.com

By REBECCA WALDEN

If you are a dog lover, owner or enthusiast, Veteran’s Park on Valleydale Road is where to be on October 13 for WOOFstock 2012.

What started out in 1999 as a day at the park for people and pets has become a full-scale family affair, complete with contests, agility demonstrations, entertainment and a Kid Zone to occupy even the most persnick-ety kiddos.

Dee Nance with Hoover Parks and Rec-reation said this year’s agility competitions include going over a ladder and weaving be-tween posts, going through tunnels and more. Though the agility demonstrations will be limited to trained professionals, pet owners interested can learn more about them from the hosting. Also, Gary Shockley of Odenville and the Bama Air Dogs will perform.

“The Bama Air Dogs are demonstration Frisbee dogs,” Nance said, describing the popular repeat performers from previous WOOFstock events. “We have an area we rope off and they will do a 15 minute show set to music about four times during the event.”

Another popular aspect of the event is the dachsund Hallo“weenie” race, organized and hosted by Edgewood Elementary teacher Pa-mela Yau Smith.

“We set up a course, and for a $10 entry fee, people can register their dog,” Nance said. “Registrants receive a T-shirt, and the race winner receives a trophy.”

In addition, the judging contest is a main WOOFstock highlight, where categories range from “Cutest” and “Smallest” to “Ugli-est” and “Looks Most Like Owner.”

Event proceeds feed the Hoover Parks and Recreation Foundation, which divides WOOFstock funds raised among qualifying

local rescue agencies in the form of grants. “We have a lot of rescues that come,”

Nance said. “They showcase their dogs, and we have a lot of adoptions. We always need volunteers to help out with the event, and that is where this grant idea was hatched. What’s required in the grant is 501c3 status, you have to be a pet rescue and you have to volunteer on the day of the event. These rescues earn any grant money they receive from us.”

For the kids, WOOFstock offers inflatables, face painting, caricatures by Tim Rocks and much more. Highlights from the Kid Zone also include the Young Rembrandts and the opportunity to assemble a kit project such as birdhouses or toolboxes, courtesy of Lowe’s and The Home Depot. A $5 fee grants children all-day access to the Kid Zone.

And of course, no festival is complete with an array of tempting food. From Roly Poly sandwiches to Blue Bell ice cream, this year’s event will be replete with dining options.

If you are coming out, please consider bringing new pet supplies for donation. Jana Maynard, science teacher at Brock’s Gap Intermediate, runs Paws and Claws, an an-cillary program to the WOOFstock event. It is essentially a partnership where any local rescue groups can send in a wish list of do-nation items, and then Maynard matches up interested Hoover City Schools with a rescue agency in need.

For more information about WOOFstock or Paws and Claws, contact Dee Nance at [email protected].

WOOFstock• October 13• Veteran’s Park, Valleydale Road• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.• hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=788

WOOFstockwelcomes dog lovers from all walks of life

Fourth annual Hayrideand Family Night

Tractor-pulled hayrides around Veteran’s Park lake are just one of many attractions at the city’s fourth annual Hayride and Family Night.

By REBECCA WALDEN

The city’s fourth annual Hayride and Family Night at Veteran’s Park off of Valleydale Road is a pre-Halloween, free family event that has drawn in 6,000 people in years past.

“The Hoover Hayride and Family Night event was created four years ago to offer a safe environment for families with younger chil-dren to enjoy a night out at the park,” said Erin Colbaugh, events coordinator for the city of Hoover. “Everyone is encouraged to dress in a family-friendly costume and come and ride the decorated trailers and collect some treats.”

Featuring tractor-pulled trailer beds piled high with bales of hay, the hayride route extends around the lake on the gravel pathway. Children are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Face painting, magicians and balloon

artists will all be a part of the fun.“During this economy, families are look-

ing for events and entertainment opportuni-ties that are affordable,” Colbaugh said. “The Hoover Hayride and Family Night is the per-fect night out! There is no charge for park-ing, admittance or the hayrides. Many Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce members will be participating in this event and set-up to give away lots of candy and treats to all the chil-dren in attendance.”

Parking is free at Spain Park High School with shuttles running directly to the park.

Hayride and Family Night• October 27• Veteran’s Park, Valleydale Road• 5-8 p.m.• hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=1361


By REBECCA WALDEN

For many area residents, the Bluff Park Art Show – “Always the first Saturday in October” – as it is branded, is a cherished autumn tradi-tion.

An amalgamation of more than 140 artists, with artistic media representing 13 different categories, local high school jazz bands, Deep South comfort food (barbecue and brownies, anyone?) and the bright yellow school buses zipping up and down Tyler Road, it’s easy to see why the show remains a popular draw.

“The park is small (we prefer to call it cozy) for a show of our size, but the venue is what makes it special,” said Jeff Pierson, show chair of the Bluff Park Art Association (BPAA). “The venue and the people. The trees, the rocks, the fall weather, riding the buses, the barbecue, eating the Methodist Women’s Group’s home-made baked goods, seeing old friends, meeting new artists and finding the artists whose work you’ve collected for years – that is Bluff Park.”

Sculptor Nada Boner, a Bluff Park resident and Art Show exhibitor, agreed. She empha-sized the show’s scope of influence on the next generation of artists and art collectors alike.

“The location of the show brings families and folks that otherwise would not attend,” she said. “The mild weather brings out crowds young and old. Parents don’t shy away from includ-ing their children in the appreciation of art due to both the playground and kids art activities.”

According to Pierson, BPAA has already seen the impact of this multi-generational pas-sion come full circle.

“We have members who were brought to the show in diapers, and every year afterwards, and now have taken their parents’ place on the board,” he said. “We have one founding mem-ber, Cary Moore, who is still active on the board and another, Sally Johnson who is an advisory member. Their continued influence guides the future of Bluff Park with an eye to our storied

past, traditions and reputation. Cary’s son got his start exhibiting at Bluff Park. You may rec-ognize his name – Daniel Moore.”

Longtime BPAA board member Billy Pen-nington spoke of the shared familial loyalty not only for art, but for this show in particular.

“When I joined 33 years ago, Lois Albright was on the board,” he said. “At that time, her daughter Beth was just a little girl running around, scooting all over the park, and today she’s president. I think that says something about the show that now second generation people are involved.”

For Marla Kenney, Hoover High School art

teacher and BPAA board member, the event also provides an outlet for voluntarism on the part of her students, all within an environment focused on art appreciation.

“The Bluff Park Art Show is like our vil-lage fair,” Kenney said. “As a teacher, I have always encouraged and organized student par-ticipation. It is part of the community service program and allows art students and others to participate in a community event. They realize also that monies earned from the show support the community and the schools as a result.”

Invitations to participate as an exhibiting art-ist only come after a rigorous jury process.

“We require an artist to submit three repre-sentative works and a booth photo showing their work displayed,” Pierson said. “A jury consist-ing of randomly selected members of the BPAA view these submissions in a blind process, meaning that, for fairness, no artist names are attached to the works. We accept applications in 13 categories of artistic medium. The members of the jury vote independently after viewing the artists submissions, grouped by medium. Based on the total number of artists we can invite that year, again constrained by the size of our venue, we have a cutoff score. Those above that score are invited, and those below are not.”

What this means for the event-goer is a vast and diverse collection of artistry to enjoy.

“Only original art is allowed to be exhibited at the Bluff Park Art Show,” Pierson said. “No commercial reproductions or work composed from commercial molds or the like can be ex-hibited. As the focus of the show, original fine art is available to the patrons directly from the artist.”

And thanks to the BPAA’s use of proceeds, art purchasers are supporting a cultural win-win.

“Their stated mission is to promote art in the community,” Pennington said. “Toward that, they put on the show, but they also have a per-manent collection which is composed of prize-winning pieces. Every year, one or two pieces from the show are selected and purchased to go into the permanent collection, now up to over 100 pieces, and they are hanging all over Hoover – in the schools, in the libraries, in the municipal buildings.”

Show proceeds have also been used to com-mission artwork.

Bluff Park Art Show• October 6• Bluff Park Community Center• 9 a.m.-5 p.m.• bluffparkartshow.com

Bluff Park Art Show turns 49 October 6, Bluff Park Community Center

Above: Bluff Park resident, sculptor and show exhibitor Nada Boner. Left, from top: artists Amy Crews, Charles Gatewood and Melanie Morris. Photos contributed.

A Tasteof Hoovercomingthis monthAldridge Gardens and the Hoover Sun are

hosting the inaugural A Taste of Hoover on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event, held at Aldridge Gardens, will cel-ebrate the variety of culinary styles found throughout the city of Hoover.The public is invited to come and taste

samples from some of the city’s best res-taurants, bakeries and other food establish-ments.Admission is free this year. Future events

will be held in June and serve as a fundrais-er for Aldridge Gardens.Participating restaurants include Beef

O’Brady’s, Creekside Tavern, Earth Fare, Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill, Fresh Art Café, G-Dogs & Gyros, Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ, Jubilee Joe’s, La Paz, Mikey’s Grill, Organic Harvest, Riff Burgers, Sumo Japa-nese Steakhouse, The Whole Scoop, Bistro Provare at Jefferson State and The Privi-leged Bride.Aldridge Gardens is located at 3530 Lorna

Road, Hoover, 35216.

A Taste of Hoover• October 18• Aldridge Gardens• 5:30-8:30 p.m.• facebook.com/tasteofhoover

Free event, open to public


By REBECCA WALDEN

On Sunday, Oct. 7, Aldridge Gardens will host its third annual Whispers from the Past event.

“‘Whispers from the Past: a Native American Festival’ came about after having a discussion with Moundville Archaeological Park about the lack of awareness in Jefferson County of the area’s rich Native American history,” said Rip Weaver, executive director of Aldridge Gardens. “Based on that conversation, we decided to do an authentic, honest festival, celebrating the everyday life and events of those who lived in this area. No plastic tomahawks here!”

The event, which runs from noon-7:30 p.m., features something for everyone, including.

• The Sylestine Legacy: See authentic pow wow dancing at 3 p.m. A second “black light” performance will be held at 6:30 p.m.

• Flintknapping: Watch experts form arrowheads using primitive tools.

• Cooking like the Indians: Hosted by independent scholar Chip Wente.

• Josselyn Archaeological Collection from UAB: Hosted by Sharyn Jones, Ph.D., scholar led tours. See stone tools, pottery, ornaments and arrowheads excavated from 100 sites from across all Alabama.

• Three Sisters Garden: Learn how Native Americans planted and cultivated their food.

• Hands-on activities: Native American tattoos; grinding corn; loom beading; medicinal plant study; and scavenger hunt and throwing with an atlatl – an ancient weapon that is essentially a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or “dart” on the other.

Also at the event, food vendors will serve roasted corn, fry bread and Indian tacos. A $3 activity card will grant children access to leaf pounding, clay coil pots and gourd crafts.

Offsite parking and continuous shuttle service will be available.

“Judging from the crowds we have had the last two years, there are many, many people that are

interested in the Indian history of this area,” Weaver said. “Whispers has something for all ages — it is not just an event for kids!”

Aldridge Gardens is located at 3530 Lorna Road and can be reached at 682-8019.

Whispers from the Past• October 7• Aldridge Gardens• Noon-7:30 p.m.• Call 682-8019

Right: Children enjoy the festival’s Native American themed arts and

crafts. Above: The Sylestine Legacy will perform at this year’s Whispers

event. Photos contributed.

Whispers from the PastAldridge Gardens presents a Native American experience

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Je�erson County District Judge, Place 6/RepublicanCounty-wide Election- November 6 / Back of the Ballot

www.GloriaBahakel.com Paid for by the Gloria Bahakel Judicial Campaign, 2131-12th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35234


By REBECCA WALDEN

Lauren Banks, executive director of Youth-Serve, received a makeover from Belk before jetting off to serve as a delegate at the Demo-cratic National Convention.

For the 2002 Hoover High School graduate, who has a long history of championing chari-table causes, youth empowerment is more than a job – it is her life’s work. She said she loves to positively influence teens with respect to com-munity voluntarism.

“YouthServe is a great, local non-profit for teenagers in the greater Birmingham area,” Banks said. “There are no requirements to be a part of YouthServe, other than being 13-18 years old. At our camps this past summer, 46 area schools were represented. We bring together a diverse cross-section of young people to learn from each other, while serving in the community.”

The company selected her for a lavish, pre-convention makeover in observance of her leadership and community impact and because YouthServe is headquartered in Charlotte, which hosted the convention this fall.

“Lauren’s work with local at-risk youth through YouthServe and her commitment to education align well with Belk’s long-standing commitment to benefit youth in our commu-nity,” said Ken Crow, general manager at Belk Riverchase.

Banks said the experience was incredible.

“Everyone was so personable and helpful,” she said. “My favorite aspect was getting to keep all the wonderful clothes, bags and jew-elry. Belk really spoiled me. I am so apprecia-tive!”

Arlene Goldstein, VP of Fashion at Belk, flew in to be Banks’ personal fashion assistant for the day. They picked out her clothes selec-tion (one casual outfit, one business and one dressy) first. They went to Richard Joseph Sa-lon for hair, then Mac for makeup before she got dressed for a photo shoot.

Freshly styled and coiffed, Banks then flew to Charlotte for the Democratic National Con-vention where she served as an at-large delegate for the state of Alabama’s Democratic party. She attended caucus meetings, panel discus-sions, receptions and helped nominate President Barack Obama for a second term as the Demo-cratic Presidential Candidate.

Following the convention, as far as Banks was concerned, it was back to business. And she’s already looking forward to YouthServe’s next series of camps.

“We’ve seen success in our program deliv-ery,” she said. “More people are a part of our programs, especially our camps. For our last session of summer camp, we had a waiting list. It is a joy to watch young people grow up in our programs. Watching our teens mature and become leaders in their community is the cool-est thing of all.”

Delight of the DNC

YouthServe Director Banks receives makeover before representing Birmingham at a national convention

Lauren Banks, left, and Belk VP of Fashion Arlene Goldstein pose after Banks’ fashion, makeup and hairstyling sessions.


By REBECCA WALDEN

When more than 15,000 registrants lace up their sneakers and descend on Linn Park for Birmingham’s 21st an-nual Race for the Cure on October 20, most won’t know they’ve got quiet and unassuming Carol Robertson Cauthen to thank for the event.

Cauthen began her battle with breast cancer in 1982 when the medical com-munity knew little about the disease. Af-ter her diagnosis, she underwent a modi-fied radical mastectomy and began the long healing process.

“My diagnosis was prior to Betty Ford, prior to Nancy Reagan,” Cauthen said. “And at that time, women just didn’t talk about it. [Likewise], the doc-tor didn’t know what to tell me [about breast forms]. Basically, they just did the surgery and you went on your merry way.

Without any guidance or support, I had to do all the research on my own.”

Research proved to be an effective step in her recovery, and Cauthen said she was educating doctors before her treatment was complete.

Her research into the disease eventu-ally led her beyond local medicine and into outreach. During a support group meeting at Brookwood Medical Center, Cauthen met with Nancy Brinker, sis-ter of Susan G. Komen and founder of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Soon after, the idea of hosting a Bir-mingham race began to grow. With the backing of Brinker, a partnership with the American Cancer Society and the involvement of 10 Birmingham-area hospitals, plans for the inaugural race were set into swift motion.

Now entering its third decade, the city’s Race for the Cure continues to

break its own fundraising records, with 75 percent of proceeds reinvested locally. The organization is also a recipient of grant funding, which she uses to further

outreach and education campaigns. “The first grant that we did was

(used to screen) medically underserved women,” Cauthen said. “We paid for the x-rays, but our network of area hos-pitals donated the time to take and read the x-rays.”

Cauthen added that one of the biggest grants the organization has been awarded devoted $6 million to study triple-nega-tive breast cancer, a form of the disease diagnosed in up to 20 percent of patients and does not respond to hormone treat-ments.

After her mastectomy, Cauthen said she found it difficult to keep a positive outlook while undergoing the extensive healing process. Soon after, she opened Touching You, a Hoover retail store de-voted exclusively to the garment and per-sonal care needs of cancer patients

“Throughout this experience, I real-ized that a positive attitude and personal appearance would be very important in my recovery,” Cauthen wrote on the store’s website, touchingyou.com. “However, the experience of purchasing wigs, breast forms and other necessary items to meet my needs, proved exhaust-

ing and frustrating.”Cauthen’s obvious compassion and

can-do spirit make for contagious enthu-siasm, which she brings out in full force each year at the race. With the same vigor and no-holds-barred advice she dispenses in her store, Cauthen hosts an annual sur-vivors’ breakfast on the morning of the race. It is a time when she can empower and educate both newly diagnosed wom-en and longtime survivors.

“We want the survivors to get involved with the race,” Cauthen said. “This is a positive way for them to educate people about breast cancer and find a cure for it so that our daughters and our grand-daughters won’t have to go through the same thing.”

This year’s Race for the Cure will be held on October 20. For more informa-tion or to register, visit komenncalabama.org.

The power of one

“My diagnosis was prior to Betty Ford, prior to Nancy Reagan.”

- Carol Cauthen

The origins of Birmingham’s Race for the Cure can be traced to a passionate survivor

Far right: Birmingham Race

for the Cure Founder Carol

Cauthen, center, with Thelma Brown

and Rebecca DiPiazio. Right:

Race participants pose following the

2011 event.


Business HappeningsRestaurants and more opening in HooverRiverchase GalleriaMichael’s closes, La Paz coming

Recently, Michael’s Steak and Seafood at Riverchase Galleria closed to make way for a Mexican eatery, La Paz, which will serve up a festive atmosphere and flavorful dishes many in the area will find familiar.

Charles Matsos, partner in the Michael’s at the Galleria, said owners of the steak-house knew they wanted to duplicate La Paz, a successful eatery Matsos currently co-owns in Mountain Brook, and thought the Galleria space would be ideal.

“There’s not a lot of Mexican out there, and none on that circle,” Matsos said of Hoover and the access road around the mall.

Matsos said the new La Paz would fea-ture a menu identical to La Paz in Moun-tain Brook that includes fish tacos, tradi-tional tacos, fajitas, chips and salsa, plus margaritas and other drinks. Its highlights will include live music every Friday or Saturday night and extensive outdoor seat-ing.

Matsos said the Michael’s location in Homewood has seen a 20 percent increase in sales since the other restaurant shut its doors. He said it would remain open for area steak lovers, and fans of Mexican fla-vor can watch for La Paz to open the sec-ond week of October.

Tech troubles? iFix now open

iFix and Repair, which offers repairs to damaged smart phones, tablets and gam-ing systems, is now open on the second

floor of the Riverchase Galleria in Suite 202. Owners Kirk and Cindy Edmunds of-fer many other services related to cellular phones, tablets, gaming systems and com-puters. For more information, visit iFix and Repair online at ifixandrepair.com, or call them at 988-9555.

Trace CrossingsWork out with Fitness4U

Fitness4U, a new health hub in Hoover located in the Trace Crossings Shopping Center, held its grand opening in August. To learn more, drop by 2539 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 113, call 403-3305 or email [email protected].

Patton CreekCheeburger Cheeburgerto open in October

Cheeburger Cheeburger, an invent-your-own Taste family-fun restaurant, is expect-ed to open mid-October at 160 Main Street in the Patton Creek Shopping Center.

The location will be part of the popular brand that offers 100 percent all-natural Angus beef burgers in five sizes, including a “Famous Pounder” challenge to custom-ers. If completed, customers will have their picture hung on the Wall of Fame.

The location will offer over 30 free top-pings for the burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads, serving hand cut fries and more than 1,285,000 shake flavor combinations. Cheeburger Cheeburger is located in 20 states and Canada and its owners said they are looking forward to “bringing the Big-is-Better concept, as a quality family din-ing option, to the community.”

This is the owners’ second location, with the other in Huntsville. Visit chee-burger.com for more information.

Chace LandingIzzo’s Hoover location opens

Izzo’s Illegal Burrito, a Mexican restau-rant that specializes in hand rolled burritos, tacos, salads, bowls, quesadillas and na-chos from a made-from-scratch kitchen, is now open in Chace Landing Circle. Fran-chise owners, Mason Jambon, Paul Prime-aux, MD and Deborah Sulzer-Primeaux opened the first Izzo’s in the Summit on year ago and are celebrating its anniversa-ry with the new location, which is next to Five Guys Burgers at 4730 Chace Circle, Suite 116.

Highways 31, 150McDonald’s upgrades

The McDonald’s in Hoover on High-way 31 near I-65 was recently demol-ished to make way for a newer building. Its owners have reopened, and they cel-ebrated a ribbon cutting on September 11 hosted by the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce.

This location is one of more than 40 Birmingham-area McDonald’s owned by Max Cooper, who opened his first Mc-Donald’s in the Birmingham in 1966. Cooper was also the first ad manager for McDonald’s in 1964, and is responsible for the famous “two-all-beef-patties-special-sauce-lettuce-cheese-pickles-on-ions-on-a-sesame-seed-bun” jingle that McDonald’s used for many years in the 1970s and 80s.

Oct. 4 - Economic Development Committee at Cham-ber Office, 8:30 a.m. Visitors welcome! Oct. 10 - Vendor Day at Hoover Police Department on Lorna Road. Contact Lt. Kenneth Fountain at 739-7230 or [email protected]. Oct. 11 - Coffee & Contacts at University of Phoenix, 100 Corporate Parkway, Suite 250. Event from 7:30-9 a.m. Call 421-1202 or contact [email protected] or phoenix.edu Oct. 17 - Ambassador Meeting at Chamber Office, 4:30 p.m. Visitors welcome! Oct. 18 - Hoover Chamber Luncheon at Hoover Country Club. Networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon at noon. Make reservations by Monday, October 15. $17 or $20 without reservations. Oct. 23 - Minority Business Council meeting in Cham-ber Office, noon. Brown bag lunch. Visitors welcome! Oct. 25 - Business after Hours at BumperNets, Inc., 2000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 179, from 5:30-7 p.m. Call 987-2222, or bumpernets.com

Chamber of Commerce events

Animal clinic opens off Hwy. 150Lake Crest Animal Clinic is now open at 551 Lake Crest Drive,

adjacent to Highway 150. In-house veterinarians Jeremy Hodges, Shane West, Frank McClure, Brent Chandler and Vaughn Tray-wick offer preventive care, emergency and urgent care, and other services for dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles and birds. Their clinic is also an “open hospital,” meaning pet owners are welcome to be present with their animals during many medical procedures. For more, visit lakecrestanimalclinic.com.


Business SpotlightFREEK on a LEESH Pet BaZaar

1960 Braddock Drive, #100freekonaleesh.com

978-8670FREEK on a LEESH

By REBECCA WALDEN

With her dry wit, clear devotion to dogs and a rare kind of customer ser-vice, FREEK on a LEESH co-owner Samantha Higginbotham is poised to redefine the pet merchandising market.

“FREEK on a LEESH is deliber-ately different from other pet specialty shops in the area,” she said. “We are not a prissy, polished boutique. We are rougher around the edges, more func-tional and practical, with a flare of hip

and funky.” Indeed. Owner shirts emblazoned

with sayings such as, “It’s all fun and games until someone ends up in a col-lar,” and “I like big mutts and I cannot lie” are the norm here.

“As a pet owner, I sought out places to shop, places that had fun, unique items that the big chain stores didn’t have,” Higginbotham said. “There aren’t many in the Birmingham area, so I knew people who are passionate about their furbabies like I am would

welcome a fresh alternative.” She said the community has re-

sponded well to the business, which she co-owns with Michael Thomas. Higginbotham has nearly 500 address-es on her newsletter list, more than 1,000 likes on Facebook and positive relationships with local rescue groups.

So what’s with the name?Higginbotham said a female boxer

named Lulu was the original “freak on a leash.” She was a stray – little more than skin and bones – who wandered

into her neighborhood wearing a collar without ID.

Lulu was extremely wary of people and, unsurprisingly, had a bigger prob-lem with leashes. Initially, her behavior on a leash would either include bucking and wiggling to free herself, or refus-ing to move as long as the leash was attached. Hence, her nickname.

“Over time, she began to trust us, and her transition was truly remark-able,” Higginbotham said. “With love, direction and patience, she went from a skinny, scared and untrusting soul to a healthy, loving lap dog.”

Rescue work is a priority for Hig-ginbotham, whose store has supported local rescue groups with everything from fundraisers to professional photo shoots to micro-chipping events. She and Thomas also distinguish them-selves from other pet-catering retailers by offering services that most are un-willing to do, like sedation-free groom-ing for cats.

“Most grooming shops won’t groom cats,” she said. “They refer the pet par-ent to a vet clinic where they are typi-cally put under.”

Higginbotham’s sense of humor is

a trait that serves her well in this busi-ness, citing it’s not the pets, but their humans, who can sometimes leave her scratching her head in awe. Things like:

• “I’m a nudist.” • “My ex-wife ran over me with

the car and left me on the side of the road.”

• “My dog passed away a few weeks ago and I had her cremated. She’s in the car, goes everywhere with me.”

Higginbotham said a couple months ago she received a phone call from a man asking if the store rented snakes. He said he needed one for a demonstration.

“Umm, no,” she replied.Although she can’t help you with

your reptile rental needs, Higginbo-tham’s store does provide both profes-sional and self-serve grooming, a pro-fessional photography studio complete with props and backdrops, organic food and treats, travel and safety prod-ucts and a wide variety of toys, collars, leashes, harnesses and clothing.

The store is located off Highway 31 the side of the Publix Shopping Center next to Nail Image.

FREEK on a LEESH owners and their pups: Michael Thomas, Ellie Mae, Teeta, Samantha Higginbotham and Zeke. Photo courtesy of Samantha Higginbotham.


By ERICA T. HOPPER

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, it’s not Christmas already – it’s football time in the SEC! Every year it feels like the season comes and goes. We wait with baited breath for the first kick-off of our favorite team, all the while planning the menu for next weekend’s tailgate. And here in Alabama, the topic of conversa-tion almost always circles back to food, no matter what time of year.

So, whether you sing “Rammer Jammer” or “Rocky Top,” shout “War Eagle” or “Woo Pig Sooie,” this easy and light potato salad is sure to please. It will be gobbled up so quickly at your next tailgate party you’ll have requests for it well into the holiday season.

Share your recipes with Hoover neighbors! If you have a recipe to share with your local commu-nity, contact us with your idea at [email protected].

Ingredients

2 pound red potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 small shallots, finely chopped

1/4 cup celery, finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons honey mustard

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 4-ounce log herbed goat cheese, crumbled

Sage and goat cheese potato salad with honey mustard vinaigrette

Place potatoes in a large saucepan. Cover with water,

add about 1/4 cup salt and bring to a boil. Let boil 10-15 minutes, or until it is tender

when touched with a fork. Place potatoes in a large bowl and chill.

Meanwhile, combine white wine vinegar, honey mus-tard, pepper and Kosher salt. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Whisk un-til well combined.

Add shallots, celery and sage to potatoes. Pour vin-aigrette over potato mixture and lightly toss together. Serve immediately, or chill until ready to serve.

Food

Erica T. Hopper is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where she earned a degree in Bak-ing and Pastry. She is a freelance food stylist and recipe tester, who, when not in the Test Kitchens of Southern Living, can likely be found in the kitchen of close friends and Ross Bridge residents Joseph and Miko Kulovitz. Hoover resi-dents may also recognize her as the face behind Simple Bites Gourmet (simplebitesgourmet.com), which provides all-natural, gluten-free, dairy-free protein bars.

Lightened up tailgate Sooie! Pig Iron BBQ challengebrings out big grills, big bills

By REBECCA WALDEN

Since 1996, they’ve come out with their cleverly-themed booths, their cos-tume and their ‘cue. Corporate citizens from throughout Birmingham have ral-lied behind Jim Ray’s Children’s Harbor, and support for the annual fundraising event continues to flourish.

Recognized as a family friendly eve-ning out, the Pig Iron BBQ Challenge attracts nearly 10,000 guests annually. Participating corporate teams buy into the event at a fee of $1,500, with the major-ity being tax deductible. Event proceeds support the Children’s Harbor Family Center, located at Children’s of Alabama, which provides free services to families with seriously ill children.

“The initial idea was to create a cor-porate tailgate where companies could invite their friends and customers,” said Jim Ray, CEO of Children’s Harbor. “But people really took it to the next step. Many participating companies view this as something of a team-building exercise. Before we knew it, we’d outgrown the event space we were using at Sloss Fur-naces, and we moved the event to Chil-dren’s Hospital where it stayed for the next seven years.”

Around that time, the late Julia Mc-Clure, a former Children’s Harbor board member, began encouraging Ray to move his increasingly popular event to the city of Hoover.

“The city has been a wonderful part-ner to the event, putting all its resources behind it,” Ray said. “We now have un-limited growth potential in the Regions parking lot.”

The event boasts live musical enter-tainment, children’s activities and the spectacle of how creative many partici-pants can be with their event booths.

“Last year we stepped up our game and used a Disney theme for our venue,” said S.S. Nesbitt and Company’s Gordon Walden, who sported his Dopey costume from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs last year. “We had a wonderful experi-ence being part of a fundraiser for such a worthy organization. Oh, and our barbe-cue won another trophy.”

This was Nesbitt’s third barbecue trophy earned in only two years of competition.

“It’s an event for everyone from age 2 to 92 to have fun, eat plenty of barbecue, help raise funds for Children’s Harbor and spend an inexpensive evening with friends and family on a beautiful fall night.”

16th Annual Pig Iron BBQ Challenge Benefitting Children’s Harbor

Friday, October 19, 5-8 p.m.Hoover Recreational Vehicle Park,

Adjacent to Region’s Park (Hoover Met)


Restaurant Showcase

Creekside Tavern

By JACKIE WALBURN

Creekside Tavern opened in August in the former Carino’s Ital-ian space across from DSW in the Patton Creek shopping center. The business is a dream venture for owners Blake and Margee Sly and Keith and Jill Dischler.

“We’ve always wanted to open our own restaurant,” said Blake Sly, who has worked in the restau-rant business for years. “This loca-tion draws from all communities.”

The seven-day-a-week, 212-seat restaurant boasts a full bar and a varied menu including entrees of seafood, steak and chicken, sand-wiches, salads, soup, pastas, appe-tizers, brick oven pizzas and signa-ture desserts.

The restaurant employs about 80 with full service dining and an open kitchen where patrons can see their brick oven pizza being cooked or one of the seafood en-trees being grilled.

“We already have a lot of regu-lars, and we’re proud of that. They tell us they feel immediately at home,” Sly said. “My wife and

Jill were in charge of making that atmosphere happen, each taking different rooms in the restaurant to decorate and make ours. We think it’s worked, based on what we hear from our customers.”

Creekside Tavern got its name from Patton Creek and its homey atmosphere from the combined efforts of its female owners and local artists, including a teenager who creates evolving, painting-like scenes on giant chalkboards.

Chalkboards play a part in the atmosphere. Every table has its own small chalkboard (and piece of chalk), and hanging in the main rooms are custom-chalk-drawn giant blackboards, created by Annabelle Decamillis, a Spain Park High School senior who has already garnered a national art award.

Creekside Tavern’s party room, a private dining area where pen-and-ink caricatures of local sports and media figures line light-ed shelves, is booked for groups. A buffet of favorite dishes can be ar-ranged. Early party room bookings included business meetings, where

the large television is used for Powerpoint presentations, bridal parties and all kinds of reunions, Sly said. A wi-fi room, locat-ed to the left of the entrance, is a cozy room and popular social hour gather-ing with cushioned chairs and a table for eight.

Favorite dishes in-clude a Monte Cristo sandwich, a triple-club battered and deep fried and served with a sprin-kling of powdered sugar and a side of raspberry preserves. Other pop-ular entrees are Tequila Lime Mahi Mahi and the Blackened Tilapia. Favorites among the custom des-serts are Limoncello Cream Cake and the Ultimate Cookie Sundae.

In addition to the standard lunch and dinner menus, Creekside fea-tures an already-popular Sunday brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Order takeout or book the Party Room by calling 402-7281.

Creekside Tavern4330 Creekside Avenue, Patton Creek

Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight

Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 402-7281

Creekside Tavern, pictured above, is a new restaurant offer-ing in the Patton Creek shopping area. Its Monte Cristo sandwich, left, is already a customer fa-vorite. Photos by Jackie Walburn.

Patrons of Patton Creek’s newest restaurant already feel at home


Opinion

Recently I watched a bridal reality show in which a full-fi gured bride shopped for wedding gowns with her sister, who looked like a supermodel, and her mom.

Early on, the bride confessed her insecurities. Naturally, she wanted to look beautiful on her big day, but she worried she’d never fi nd a dress to hide her fl aws. She also worried about feeling like an ugly duckling next to her sister because that had been their ongoing dynamic.

All her life, she said it would happen like this: After spending hours getting ready, she’d think she looked great. But once she saw her sister, her feelings defl ated because her sister looked better. The sadness on this bride’s face was heartbreaking, and I eventually got so depressed I had to switch channels.

This show reminded me of how easily comparison leads to self-sabotage. Physically speaking, this bride was no match for her sister, even on her best day. But what the camera failed to capture were the qualities that made this bride sparkle. Surely she outshone her sister in other ways, ways that were less obvious to the naked eye but still very important.

All of us struggle with feelings of inferiority. All of us know what it’s like to feel on top of the world one minute and crummy the next because someone has it better. With our status jeopardized, the claws come out. We get competitive, envious, fi xated on ways to keep our opponent down. We start down a road of negative thinking, and the farther we walk, the harder it is to turn around.

When Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” he hit the nail on the head. It is the thief of joy, and a murderer at that. It kills our spirit, our drive and our love for our fellow man. And like a home intruder, it catches us off-guard. It can bind us up when we least expect it and hold us captive in our own residence.

But notice the operative word here is “can.” Happiness is a choice, and so are the thoughts we entertain. Proverbs

4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do fl ows from it.” To me this means making conscious efforts to keep negative thoughts out. It means treating my heart like I do my home so I can sleep in peace at night.

If I leave the door wide-open, or even unlocked, intruders have access. But if I lock it and set the alarm, I have a warning system. I have time to react. Intruders may still come, but they won’t stay long, because there’ll be sirens going off and cops

hurrying over to cart them off my property in handcuffs.

Keeping intrusive thoughts out is easier said than done, but I believe we can train our minds. One way to cure an inferiority complex is to remember no one has to fail for us to succeed. We’re all designed to be winners, all members of the same team. People peak and valley at different points in life, and just because someone’s hitting home runs while we’re striking out doesn’t mean our day in the sun won’t come.

If someone in particular has a stronghold over you, try pushing through your feelings with prayer. Ask God to soften your heart so you can admire their gifts, not envy them. It takes time, but it works, especially if your prayer is sincere.

When it comes to blessings, God spreads the wealth. No one gets it all. While I wish I could sing like Adele, write like Rick Bragg and look like Elle Macpherson, I must focus on being me. I must excel in my areas of expertise and nip any pity party in the bud.

Comparison sucks the joy out of life and turns happiness into stone. By treating it like an intruder, and arming our hearts against it, we free ourselves to enjoy life with a healthier, happier, and more productive attitude.

Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. Visit her website at www.karikampakis.com, fi nd her on Facebook and Twitter or contact her at [email protected].

Comparison is the thief of joy California Dreamin’Life Actually By Kari Kampakis My South By Rick Watson

Have you ever had a song get stuck in your mind like an audible tattoo?

The other morn-ing when I stepped out to feed the chick-ens, the grass was so thick with dew that my shoes looked as if I’d been wading in a creek. After fi ll-ing the feeders with cracked corn and lay-ing mash, I walked over to the fence to survey the morning sky. I had stood there a long time lost in thought when I realized I was humming the tune to “California Dreaming.” I hummed or whistled it all day long.

Just thinking about that song is like stepping into a time machine with the dial set to August 1967.

I was 16 the fi rst time I heard the Mamas and Papas do that song. We didn’t have a record player then, but my sister had a Sylvania transistor ra-dio the size of a brick and the color of the setting sun. It had a tan leather case with a long strap so you could carry it over your shoulder.

She let me listen to it one night in the summer of 1967. I laid down that night with the radio on my pillow. It was turned down low so not to disturb the family, but “California Dream-ing” came pouring through that tiny speaker loud and clear.

I was not a re-bellious kid, but hearing that song made me want to pack my belong-ings into a bag and hit the road for San Francisco.

My wife, Jilda, said she was 15 when she bought her fi rst copy of that record. She played it so much the needle of her phonograph prac-

tically wore grooves through the vi-nyl. By the time we married in 1974, it had been played so many times, I think I could have seen through it had I held it up to a decent light.

Fast forward to this past week – our yoga buddy Janie bought an old CD by the Mamas and Papas at a yard sale. She brought it to class on Mon-day night and gave it to Jilda as a gift.

On the way home, my spouse put the CD in her player and jacked up the volume so loud my nose bled.

All the leaves are brown, leaves are brown, And the sky is gray, the sky is gray According to Rolling Stone maga-

zine, “California Dreaming” is one of the most popular songs of all time. So it would seem a lot of people had

WatsonKampakis

See WATSON | page 19

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School House

By JASON GASTON

This fall, Hoover City School’s Engaged Learning Initiative will bring new digital learning devices to students.

“The Engaged Learning Initiative will allow my teachers to serve more as facilitators of personalized learning for students,” said Dr. Tamala Maddox, principal of Bumpus Middle School. “Because of this initiative, instruction and assignments can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each student.”

The project is an expansion of a small pilot project that took place during the 2011-2012 school year at Gwin and Green Valley elementary schools. In September, Nook tablets made

by Barnes & Noble were distributed to students in select elementary and middle school classrooms, while seniors attending both Hoover and Spain Park high schools received Apple iPads. Apple and Barnes & Noble have both provided training and support for the digital devices.

The devices remain the property of Hoover City Schools and are assigned to students. If all goes well, plans call for the initiative to eventually provide each student in grades 3-12 a Nook or iPad by the 2013-2014 school year.

Overall, the initiative is designed to enrich the learning experience for students by allowing them to use web-based research and applications to problem solve, do homework and

carry out general study in and out of the classroom. The devices will further individualize and differentiate instruction, allowing students to learn at their own paces and in different ways. In many respects, the devices will begin to take a lead role in terms of tasks traditionally accomplished through workbooks and textbooks.

“We are going to use technology to help us reach each learner and personalize his or her instruction to maximize each child’s potential,” said Brian Cain, principal of Simmons Middle School. “Technology is the 21st century version of the pencil, textbook and notebook all in one case that allies students the chance to study the world in a moment of time.”

Select elementary and middle school students, as well as all Hoover and Spain Park high school seniors, received iPads to use this school year. Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

New tech comes

to Hoover students

the same reaction to it as I did.

It’s a mystery to me why some music reso-nates and other music is forgotten quicker than the junk mail that comes in the mornings.

“California Dream-ing” happened to come along during a time in my young life when I was full of expectation and angst about what I wanted to do with my fu-ture. I knew I wanted to go places and do things that were well beyond the vision of the future my mom and dad shared for me.

They wanted me to go to school, fi nd a job, get married and buy a house nearby. A yard full of grandkids would have been icing on the cake. But at 16, I wanted to do something remarkable.

The song became a part of my life story, and that’s why I still carry it with me after all these years.

Rick Watson can be reached at [email protected]

WatsonCONTINUED from page 18

The third annual Simmons Mid-dle School Band Costume Concert and “Trunk or Treat” will be held Monday, October 29 at 7 p.m. in the SMS Lower Gym.

The Beginning Band, Concert Band, Honor Band and Jazz bands will perform “spooky” music in costume. The evening will culmi-nate in a trunk or treat for children in costume in the SMS front park-ing lot. All events are open to the community. Prizes will be awarded for costumes and trunks.

On Friday nights, 20 eighth grade students at Simmons Middle School won’t be found at a football game, but rather in a lab designing, building and promoting a robot for the UAB BEST Robotics competition.

At the Warp XX competition, Oc-tober 6 at Bartow Arena, the students’ robot will climb a 10-foot pole, simu-lating the use of a space tether con-nected from Earth to a satellite.

About 30 teams of students in-terested in engineering from high schools and middle schools around the area will compete. Last year, Simmons’ robot placed seventh in the BEST competition.

Simmons Bandconcert and trunk or treat

Students prepare for robotics competition

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Sports

2012 Homecoming QueenHoover High Homecoming CourtFrom left are: Tess Davis, freshman, daughter of Russell Davis; Erin Nation, Sophomore, daughter of Melissa Nation; HHS Queen Kathryn Dins-more, senior, daughter of Kellett and David Dinsmore; HHS King Sam Wunderly, senior, son of Melissa King; Katherine Tracy, senior, daughter of Kathy and Robert Tracy; and Caroline Conrad, junior, daughter of Karen Conrad. Photos courtesy of Hoover High School.

Bucs to commemorate 50 years of football

Jaguars to tackle tough schedule in October

By JEFF THOMPSON

After stumbling out of the gate, Spain Park Head Football Coach Chip Lindsey said the goal for the rest of the season is to take things one game at a time. And while staring down a chal-lenging road through October, he’s making sure his Jaguars follow his lead.

“We have a really mature team, and our seniors are fantastic leaders,” Lindsey said. “But don’t think for one minute that I’m thinking about any-thing but the next opponent.”

On August 31, the Jaguars lost 37-24 to Aus-tin to open the 2012 season. The Alabama Sports Writers’ Association now has Austin ranked in the state’s top 10.

Over the next three games though, the Jaguars rose to the top of 6A Region 4 with three straight region wins. The team’s maturity led them past last year’s state champions, the Prattville Lions, nearby Chelsea, which came boasting big wins in against John Carroll Catholic School and Thomp-son, and Wetumpka.

Wetumpka lost to Prattville by 30 points ear-lier in the season, and going into that game, the Jags were averaging 29 points a game and allow-ing 26. Although final scores had been mostly in the Jags’ favor, their opponents were averaging 417 yards per game to Spain Park’s 401.

However, after the Jags’ defense turned it up against Wetumpka, allowing a manageable 290 yards and holding Wetumpka quarterback De

Hutchinson to five completitions on 15 attempts.Jaguar quarterback Nick Mullins was inter-

cepted twice in the Wetumpka game though, with the first leading to a touch down and the second being returned for a score.

“We’ve got a lot of improving to do, but I re-ally like the program,” Lindsey said.

Through the win over Wetumpka, Mullins had completed 100 passes for 1,182 yards and 13 scores and Jags rushers Otis Harris and Kevron McMillin combined for 273 total yards on 118 carries.

Mullins top target, receiver Ben Olinger, pulled in 24 of 28 passes thrown his way, racking up 304 total yards. Receivers highlighting the game against Wetumpka were Drake Grisham, who had five catches for 63 yards, and Phillip Brown, who had three catches for 81 yards.

On defense, Jacob Wolkow led the team with 37 total tackles and a pair of sacks.

Lindsey said the team was inexperienced at the offensive line and secondary positions, but they were working daily to find the right combinations of players in those positions.

The biggest challenge facing Spain Park this month, Lindsey said, will be its regional match up against rival Oak Mountain High School (3-1, region 2-1) on October 12, but games against Stanhope-Elmore (3-1, region 2-1) and rival Pel-ham (3-1, region 2-1) the two weeks after will make it easy for the Jaguars to stay focused on what’s around the bend rather than what’s on the horizon.

Spain Park quarterback Nick Mullins takes down a ball carrier from Chelsea High School on Sept. 14. Through four games in 2012, Mullins had completed 100 passes for 1,182 yards and nine scores with only three interceptions. The Jaguars went into their game Sept. 28 against Lee in Montgomery on top of 6A Region 4 with a 3-1 record and three straight wins in region play. Photo courtesy Cari Dean.

Hoover season notesThe Hoover High Bucaneers

head into October off a tough matchup with cross-town rival Vestavia Hills. Before the schools met, both were ranked in the Ala-bama Sports Writers’ Association top 10 for 2012, with Hoover at

the top spot. The Bucs are also listed in the top 25 in multiple na-tional polls.

Bucs Head Coach Josh Niblett said he hopes to see the team iron out any kinks and peak on its way into a matchup with Opelika on

Nov. 1, but through four games in 2012 Hoover has scored 211 points while only allowing 30 from oppo-nents. Behind quarterback Connor Short, the team looks poised to maintain a high ranking heading into the state playoffs.

Oct. 5 Bessemer City Home 7 p.m.Oct. 12 Hillcrest Away 7 p.m.Oct. 19 Minor Home 7 p.m.Oct. 26 Tuscaloosa Co. Away 7 p.m.Nov. 1 Opelika Home 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Thompson Away 7 p.m.Oct. 12 Oak Mountain Home 7 p.m.Oct. 19 Stanhope Elmore Away 7 p.m.Oct. 26 Pelham Home 7 p.m.Nov. 2 Oxford Home 7 p.m.

Upcoming Schedule

Upcoming Schedule

Although Hoover High School cel-ebrated its Homecoming with a 50-0 win over Jackson-Olin last month, the Bucs are preparing for an event of similar size when it hosts Minor on October 19.

That night, Hoover will commemorate 50 years of football at both Berry and Hoover High Schools and the storied suc-cess the programs have achieved. Over those 50 years, Hoover celebrates 39 win-ning seasons, eight state championships

and an overall record of 412-158-7.Hoover Athletic Director Myra Miles

said the school wants to recognize any-one involved with the program over the last half century – from former players and coaches to cheerleaders and band members.

She encouraged anyone interested in participating to email JeNorri Armstead in the Hoover athletics department office at [email protected].

Hoovercrowns

Dinsmore

Spain Park hosting discussion on NCAA eligibility guidelines

On October 16, Spain Park High School will host a program titled NCAA Eligibil-ity: What Parents and Students need to know.

The event will be held in the Spain Park High Theater from 6-7 p.m. and will focus on athletic eligibility guidelines for high school players planning to continue in their

sports at the collegiate level. The program will be presented by Tracy

Prater, Spain Park High School College and Career Specialist, and Patrick Kellogg, Spain Park High School Athletic Director. Corey Bray, UAB Associate Athletic Di-rector for NCAA Compliance, will present the program’s keynote speech.

HHS Queen Kathryn Dinsmore


By REBECCA WALDEN

The Hoover Public Library welcomed nearly 700,000 patrons through its gates in the past year. As a cultural mainstay of the community, it offers free access to arts and enrichment programs, comprehensive technology services, an inventory of books and multimedia to rival almost any public library throughout the Southeast.

“Our library is not your grandmother’s library,” said Assistant Library Director Amanda Bonner. “Forget dusty books and stodgy librarians. We are the ‘it’ place to be, and have all types of materials for your informational and entertainment needs – a café, theatre programs, tons of relevant children’s programs, movies, books, computers, ebooks and even musical performances. It’s more than a library – it’s the hub of the community, a notable arts center, a children’s wonderland. It’s a ‘you can’t believe it ‘til you see it’ library.”

According to Library Director Linda Andrews, the library’s reputation as a destination in its own right is an image she and her staff have worked deliberately to build.

“Many people have found our library to be the ‘Third Place’ in their lives,” she said. “First is home, second is work, and for many people, the library can serve as the third place where they can come to escape and fi nd a magical world with so much to offer.”

The Hoover Sun will publish an ongoing article series about the Library’s special events and programs. For immediate information about Library events, visit hooverlibrary.org.

For a list of Hoover Public Library’s October programs and events, please see the Events Calendar on page 23 of this issue.

How well do you know your public library?

A new online service called “Universal Class” offers wide variety of subjects including computer training, language, mathematics, medical billing and recreational and hobby classes. In addition, computer classes are free and are offered each month, though registration is required. These classes are also available in Spanish taught by area businessman Juan Lopez. Fr

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The library’s past success seems to be an incubator for future successes as well, substantiated by the talent track record of The Library Theatre, now in its 21st season.

According to Matina Johnson, the library’s fi ne arts coordinator, memorable acts include Los Lonely Boys, Marc Cohn, Jim Brickman, Loudon Wainwright III, Pam Tillis, Colin Hay, Nickel Creek, Leon Redbone and many others. This year the Theatre will welcome performers Lorrie Morgan and Edwin McCain, as well as the National Tour of Pride & Prejudice.

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The library offers 24/7 access to many databases.

“Through these databases, patrons can access popular magazines, medical and business information and career guidance that they cannot fi nd by just surfi ng the web,” Thornton said.

The Library also offers more than 70 public access computers from which patrons can access the Internet, email, Microsoft Offi ce products and online databases. Through the facility’s laptop lending program, patrons can check out laptops for use anywhere on the Library’s 85,000 square foot campus.C

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“The nonfi ction section is the history, discovery and National Geographic channels of the Hoover Public Library rolled into one,” said Bryce Thornton, business librarian. “A patron can come to our department and travel anywhere in the world, consult with any expert or gather as much information as they need, on any given subject, with one click or turn of the page.”W

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Celebrations

Rebecca Powell Singleton and Andrew (Drew) Den-nis Phillips married June 30 at Bluff Park United Methodist Church. Pastor Rob Willis of Brook Highland Community Church offi ciated the ceremony. The re-ception was held at the Avon Theatre.

The bride is the daughter of George and Alice Sin-gleton of Hoover and a 2002 graduate of Hoover High School. The groom is the son of Dennis and Debra Phillips of Snellville, Ga.

She was given in marriage by her father, George Singleton. The maids of honor were Sara and Susanna Singleton, the bride’s sisters. The best man was Dennis Phillips, the father of the groom.

The couple honeymooned in Kiawah Island, S.C. and now reside in Birmingham.

Tom and Vicky Crozier of Hoover announce the en-gagement of their daughter, Ashley Crozier, to Steven Niven, son of Steve and Gail Niven of Hoover.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Sylvia and Paul Garbe of Mt. Clemens, Mich., and Marge and Keith Crozier of Marietta, Ga. Miss Crozier is a 2007 graduate of Hoover High School and a 2011 summa cum laude graduate of University of Alabama. She is currently employed as a third grade teacher at Engle-wood Elementary in Tuscaloosa County.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Marie and Bob Hartley of Columbiana and Jolane and Wil-lard Short of Bessemer. He is a 2004 graduate of Hoover High School and is currently employed as a commercial lender at Cadence Bank in Tuscaloosa.

The wedding will be held June 8, 2013 at the South-ern House and Garden in Tuscaloosa.

Singleton-Phillips Crozier-Niven

removal of the old elevators will take place. “The public will always have operational elevators through the entire

renovation process,” Hendricks said. “There will be no interruption of public use.”

With public restroom renovations on schedule for completion prior to the holiday shopping season, Hendricks said upgrades and touch-ups to the mall entrances would be completed in 2013 to minimize interruption during upcoming peak shopping months. As much work as possible will be completed at night, but for daytime construction, project crews have created effi cient detour routes for mall patrons.

“These renovations are critical to the success of the Riverchase Galleria,” said area resident Kari Parker, who lives off South Shades Crest Road. “There are so many other options in the Birmingham area, but I would still prefer to shop 10 minutes from my home.”

That attitude is the driving force behind the remodel. Riverchase Galleria co-owners General Growth Properties, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust, and Jim Wilson & Associates of Montgomery, intend for the renovations to bring the mall to a state of excitement it hasn’t seen since it was built in 1986.

Christopher White, marketing manager of Riverchase Galleria, said executives expect the redevelopment could have an approximate $100 million impact on the local economy – more than any current mall redevelopment he knows of in the entire country. However, new stores scheduled to open this fall are another reason the mall will attract more customers.

“Anytime you have a redevelopment of this magnitude,” he said, “higher-end retailers are usually very interested in looking at your property.”

In the near term, White said new stores including Von Maur, Jared’s – The Galleria of Jewelry, Pandora and Destination Maternity will be added to the shopping lineup.

Von Maur, scheduled to open next year in the former Macy’s location, is an Iowa-based upscale specialty department store. Currently operating 27 locations across 11 states, Von Maur’s Riverchase Galleria store will be its fi rst in Alabama. Hallmarks of Von Maur stores include interest-free credit, free gift wrapping and shipping and live piano music during shopping hours.

Riverchase Galleria is co-owned by General Growth Properties, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust, and Jim Wilson & Associates of Montgomery.

“Hoar Construction is very excited about being a part of the renovation of the Riverchase Galleria and about undertaking another project with General Growth Properties, one of our best clients,” Hendricks said. “It’s exciting to be able to take part in a project that is of interest to the community and also at a location where our families actually shop and spend time.”

GALLERIACONTINUED from page 1

EMERGENCYCONTINUED from page 1approve requests for both parties came because the area has a need for a facility of this type and the board sought to do what was best for the people. He said he suggested during the meeting that UAB West and Princeton to consider working together.

“The board felt like both parties in this case had the expertise to open a free-standing emergency room,” Morrison said. “I still hope they can work on a joint venture, but there is a need in that part of the world, and at the end of the day, all we care about is getting people the services they need.”

UAB Medical West proposed to build its facility in Hoover in October 2011, and Baptist Medical announced its plans the follow-ing month. Both fi led for Certifi cates of Need in December 2011.

Have an engagement, wedding or anniversary announcement? Email [email protected] to have it included in an upcoming issue!


Classes/WorkshopsOct. 11 – “How Social Security Works, and How to Maximize Your Benefits.” 7-8:30 p.m. Scott Cole, financial analyst, Alabama’s 13. Hoover Public Library.

Oct. 16 – Lunch and Learn. Noon. Senior Center. Hoover Municipal Complex. Call 739-6700.

Oct. 17 – “How to Find Grants Using Library Resources.” 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Hoover Public Library. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Oct. 23 – Horizons Luncheon. 11 a.m. Senior Center. Hoover Municipal Center. Call 739-6700.

Oct. 27 – Write Club Meeting. 10:30 a.m. Hoover Public Library. Visit hooverlibrary.org.

Area EventsSept. 30 – Hot Strings Fest. Noon-6 p.m. The Preserve. Benefiting The Foundry Rescue Mission and Recovery Center. Visit thefoundryonline.org/hotstrings.

Oct. 6 – Bluff Park Art Show. Bluff Park Community Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit bluffparkartassociation.org.

Oct. 7 – Whispers from the Past: A Native American Festival. Noon-7:30 p.m. Aldridge Gardens. Call 682-8019 or email [email protected].

Oct. 12-13 – Fall Plant Sale. Aldridge Gardens. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Call 682-8019 or email [email protected].

Oct. 13 – WOOFstock. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Veteran’s Park. Contact Dee Nance at [email protected].

Oct. 13 – Uncorked! on the Green and Arts and Music on the Green. Noon-5 p.m. Ross Bridge Resort. Email [email protected] or call 951-0412.

Oct. 13-14 – Celebrate Schools! Noon-5 p.m. Riverchase Galleria. A weekend pep rally where area schools showcase their best, raise funds and awareness for their school and celebrate the school/community partnership. Call 985-3020.

Oct. 18 - A Taste of Hoover. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Aldridge Gardens. Celebrate the variety of culinary styles found throughout the city of Hoover. Visit hooversun.com.

Oct. 19 – Pig Iron BBQ Challenge.

Community Calendar

Moonlight on the Mountainmoonlightonthemtn.com

Oct. 1 – Open Mic Night. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 - The Brock McGuire BandOct. 4 – Hanna Thomas Band and Marshall ChapmanOct. 5 – Larry Mitchell Band, with Redemption Row Oct. 10 – Grace Pettis *Special CD Release Event*Oct. 11 – Keith Moody BandOct. 12 – Craig CarothersOct. 14 – Michelle Malone *A Benefit for the CHIPS Center*Oct. 15 – Open Mic NightOct. 18 – Claude Bourbon Oct. 19 – Elizabeth Cook, with Tim Carroll openingOct. 24 – Birds of Chicago, and Sean HayesOct. 25 – The Milk Carton Kids, with Leslie Stevens opening Oct. 26 – Phil Lee

Gabriel’s CafeOct. 1 – Matt and Sean, Oct. 2 – Erica and SoulshineOct. 3 – Indecent ExposureOct. 8 – Matt and SeanOct. 9 – Citizen JayneOct. 15 – Matt and SeanOct. 16 – Todd Simpson Oct. 17 – Tricky SixxOct. 22 – Matt and SeanOct. 23 – Dirt Road LizzardsOct. 24 – Jim Parks BandOct. 29 – Matt and SeanOct. 30 – Handshake Promise

Comedy Club Stardomestardome.com

Oct. 3 – Matt DavisOct. 5-7 – Gary OwenOct. 9-14, Oct. 16-21 – John Morgan Oct. 26-27 – Ricky Smiley

Iron Horse Cafeironhorsecafe.net

Oct. 2 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 3 – Acoustic NightOct. 4 – Violent StupidityOct. 5 – Mr. MayhemOct. 6 – Fly By RadioOct. 7 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 9 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 10 – Matt Hill BandOct. 10 – Acoustic NightOct. 11 – Violent StupidityOct. 12 – Deputy 5Oct. 13 – DownstrokeOct. 14 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 16 – Johnny D Karaoke Oct. 17 – Rex MurphyOct. 18 – Violent StupidityOct. 19 – Tragikly WhiteOct. 21 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 23 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 24 – Acoustic NightOct. 20 – Velcro PygmiesOct. 25 – Violent StupidityOct. 26 – Naked EskimosOct. 27 – Halloween Party w/ RecklessOct. 28 – Johnny D KaraokeOct. 30 – Johnny D Karaoke

Hoover Public Libraryhooverlibrary.org

Oct. 25 – The Chad Fisher Group and His Six Piece Band, 6:30 p.m. The Library Theatre, Plaza Stage

Arts & Entertainment

5-8 p.m. Regions Park RV Lot. Call 857-2133.

Oct. 20 – Hoover High School Band Festival. Regions Park. For more, visit www2.hoover.k12.al.us/schools/hhs/band or email [email protected]

Oct. 22 – Monday at the Movies: Vertigo. 2 p.m, 6:30 p.m. Library Theatre. Hoover Public Library. Visit hooverlibrary.org

Oct. 26-27 – Once on this Island, Jr. Simmons Middle School Theater. 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $3 for students $5 for adults. Children 4 and under are admitted free of charge. Contact Delle Kincaid [email protected].

Oct. 27 – Hayride and Family Night. 5-8 p.m. Veterans Park.

Oct. 29 - SMS Band Concert and “Trunk or Treat.” Simmons Middle School Lower Gym. 7 p.m.

Library EventsFor more, visit hooverlibrary.org

Oct. 1 – Together with Twos: Sleep Tight. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 2 – Mother Goose: Monkey Around. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 2 - Early Birds: The Name Game, KidZone.

Oct. 3 – Tiny Tot Tales: Pig, Pig, WOLF! 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 3 – After Lunch Bunch: Shhh! Quiet! 1:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 4 – First Thursday Book Discussion Group – Clara and Mr. Tiffany, by Susan Vreeland. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

Oct. 4 – Storytime Live: E is Excellent. 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 4 – PJ Storytime: Cinderella. 6:30 p.m. KidZone. Hoover Public Library.

Oct. 8 – Together with Twos. Duck Amuck! 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 9 – Mother Goose: Rub a Dub Dub. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 9 – Early Birds: Fun on the Farm. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 9 – Tween Scene: Goosebumps Gross Out. 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 10 – Tiny Tot Tales: Clean Up Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 10 – After Lunch Bunch: The Name Game. 1:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 11 – Second Thursday Book Discussion Group – State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett. 10 a.m. Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.

Oct. 11 – Storytime Live: F is Fantastic. 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 11 – PJ Storytime: Hansel & Gretel. 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 13 – Kidz Kitchen with Hansel and Gretel. 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 15 – Together with Twos: Oink, Oink! 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 15 – Book Buzz, It Came from Outerspace. 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 16 – Early Birds: Doggie Days. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 16 – Family Night Pumpkin Painting Workshop. 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 – Tiny Tot Tales: The Perfect Pet. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 17 – After Lunch Bunch: Dinosaur Daze. 1:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 18 – Storytime Live: G is Great. 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 18 – PJ Storytime: Sleeping Beauty. 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 21 – Ross Bridge Bagpiper Jim MacRae. 2:30 p.m. The Library Theatre, Plaza Stage, Hoover Public Library.

Oct. 22 – Together with Twos: Creepy Crawlies. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 22 – This Just In! 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 23 – Mother Goose: Animals at Night. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 23 – Early Birds: Leaves, Leaves. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 24 – Tiny Tot Tales: Alphabet Soup. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 24 – After Lunch Bunch: Give a Hoot! 1:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 25 – Storytime Live: H is Haunted. 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 25 – PJ Storytime: Beauty and the Beast. 6:30 p.m. KidZone.

Oct. 29 – Together with Twos: Monster Mash. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 29 – Full Moon Fright Fest (children). 6:30 p.m. Wear your costume to the library for an evening of haunted games, crafts and snacks. KidZone.

Oct. 29 – Zombie Survival Workshop (teens). 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 – Mother Goose: Boo! 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 30 – Early Birds: Monster Madness. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 31 – Tiny Tot Tales: Trick or Treat. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. KidZone.

Oct. 31 – After Lunch Bunch: Happy Halloween! 1:30 p.m. KidZone.

SportsSept. 29 – Lifeline Children’s Services R(un) for One 5K. Veteran’s Park. 7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. fun run, race immediately after fun run. Visit lifelinechild.org/run-for-one.

Oct. 6 – Southeast Cross Country Showdown. Veteran’s Park. Visit hoovertrack.com.

Oct. 8 – Hoover Fire Department Golf Tournament. 11:30 a.m. Inverness Country Club. Visit hooverfiredepartment.org.

Oct. 20 – Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships. Veteran’s Park. Visit gulfsouthconference.org and click “Championships.”

Oct. 21 – Race for Grace. 2 p.m., The Preserve Town Hall. Race and fun run to benefit Grace’s Kitchen. Visit graceskitchen.org.

Oct. 25 – Hoover High School Cross Country Invitational. Veteran’s Park.

Oct. 27 – Hannah Home Shelby Run Away from Domestic Violence 8K at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. 8 a.m. Visit runawayrace.com.

PAINTING AND MIXED MEDIARik LazenbyLimited to 12 students, $120 per monthAdult: Tuesday & Thursday. 9 a.m-noon, 5:30-8:30 p.m.Ages 13-18: Wednesday 3:30-6:30 p.m.Contact Rik Lazenby to register, 281-5273 or visit lazenbystudio.com

PASTELSCynthia Cox$100 for five classesCall 803-761-3358

PHOTOGRAPHYCorey Nolen

$60 for two classsesSept. 6, 13. 6:30-7:45 p.m.Email [email protected]

CALLIGRAPHYDeb WarnatVisit debwarnat.com or call 243.0576

CLAY Nada Boner$35 per classMonday 9 a.m.-noon, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday 6-9 p.m.Visit nadaboner.com or call 541-3949

WOODWORKINGDavid Traylor

Huntboard or Candlestand Table Class$650.00 (materials included)Visit woodshopstudio.com or call 531-4751

ZENTANGLE Darla Williamson$35 per classClasses throughout fallEmail [email protected], visit tangledstones.comor call Darla at 305-2082.

FURNITURE/CABINET PAINTING Rik LazenbyLa Craie Furniture Paint$125 per classCall 281-5273 to enroll

ARTISTS ON THE BLUFF CLASS SCHEDULES



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Hoover Hayride& Family Night

Saturday, October 27, 2012 • 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Veterans Park on ValleydaleParking at Spain Park High School with shuttles provided directly to the park.

Free to the publicHayrides around the parkExpansive exhibitor area with free candy and giveaways by Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce membersChildren are encouraged to dress in their favorite costume to gather “treats”NEW: magicians, balloon art ists & face paintingVariety of vendors on- si te for food & beverage purchases

their favorite costume to gather “treats”their favorite costume to gather “treats”their favorite costume to gather “treats”their favorite costume to gather “treats”their favorite costume to gather “treats”

Information – 444-7500 orwww.hooveralabama.gov

hoover sun october 2012

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