July 2013 Alabaster Connection

cityofalabaster.com 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...Local Author Book SigningSmall Business CouncilAwesome Author’s Day

JUNE 2013

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF ALABASTER

BRIGHT

FUTUREAHEADINTRODUCINGSUPERINTENDENTDR. WAYNE VICKERS

2 cityofalabaster.com

Dear Noah’s Park Family, !! ! ! ! ! ! !

May 10, 2013

! “...It feels like yesterday when Patrick and I, two new and nervous parents, put our little

three-and-a-half-month old baby, Charlotte, into “The Baby Whisperer’s” arms. Miss Tara and

Miss Marie soon became like second moms to her. I will never forget CharlotteÕs Þrst trip in the

ÒBye Bye BuggyÓÉ or the number of bibs and outÞts that had to be washed from her constant

spitting up! Each room change was a milestone as Patrick and I quickly became impressed with

her growth and progress as a toddler. Even though I was not ready for Charlotte to leave

“Infant Row”, who can resist Miss Jessica’s sweet charm?! She made moving up to the

Toddler rooms an easy transition. And then came Miss Sam…who doesn’t love Miss Sam?

(Especially when she helps potty train your child!) Charlotte learned so much…and had a blast doing it! We will remember Miss

Shea for many, special reasons. She turned into more than a teacher while Charlotte was in her class…she is one of

CharlotteÕs best friends! We never knew how inßuential Miss Dana could be until just recently. Charlotte grew tremendously

during the 3’s and we appreciate Miss Dana more than she knows! Graduating to the 4K building was the hardest of all (for

me). Thank goodness for Miss Page! She took in Charlotte as her own and captivated her with fun experiments, crafts and

activities. Charlotte’s love for school GREW! And now, with just a couple of weeks left in school, Miss Kim has turned our now

5 year old, into a Kindergarten-ready, letter writing, book reading, word spelling GRADUATE! I’m not sure I can accurately

express the gratitude we have for Miss Kim and ALL she has done for Charlotte this year. We cannot ignore poor Mr. Drew,

Charlotte’s doll head for experimenting with hair-do’s! Charlotte is so attached to this sweet man, she became his 3rd leg!

During Charlotte’s transition into 4K, our second daughter began her path through Noah’s Park. Although she was not

quite as young when she started, Audrey made her presence known. Miss Yo Yo, Miss Amy, Miss Susan and Miss Gabby

understand what I mean! I know our little “Dragon Girl” will forever hold a special place in her heart for these sweet and patient

teachers, as will we! I am grateful for the fact that we were able to laugh through most of Audrey’s trials and tribulations! Patrick

and I consider ourselves lucky to have such kind, generous and dedicated teachers take care of our girls. They even got the

blessing of having some of the same teachers TWICE, Miss Jessica and Miss Sam being two! Miss Sam turned into “the

teacher who lets me feed the ÞshÓ with Audrey. And what a great distraction this has become so I can sneak (RUN) out the door

in the mornings! Miss Gabby, Miss Jackie and Miss Candace helped (as best as they could) Audrey develop her picky

palate. She still loves her “squeezes” but at least she will eat a few other things as well. This is also due in large part to Miss

Jan’s good cooking! Thank you “Eat, Eat”! Currently, Audrey is in Miss Kaysha’s room and what a blast she is having! She has

learned so much these past few months and has quickly grown into a toddler. She will miss sweet cuddles and kisses from

Miss Olivia! All of these lovely ladies have shown large amounts of patience and love to our “sweet” Audrey and we appreciate

every bit of it!

No one has expressed more professionalism, understanding and generosity than Miss M! Patrick and I were

impressed with her leadership from the beginning. She has been nothing but loving to our family. We cannot say thank you

enough to everyone at Noah’s Park and everything they have done for our family over the past 5 years! We are sad to leave,

but conÞdent knowing our girls have been in the BEST hands and ready for what the future holds. Thank you NoahÕs Park!Ó,

Patrick and Katie Kellogg

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Welcome to the long awaited summer sun and fun! As we kick-off summer break, I want to extend a well-deserved and earned congratulations to the graduating classes of 2013. I hope those now beginning a new chapter in life will continue to settle for noth-ing but excellence in their academic, professional and personal pursuits. My son is a member of the 2013 Thompson High School graduating class, and let me just say I have learned anew how quickly time goes by. We are blessed to have raised him in such a caring, warm and friendly community. He, like so many other graduating seniors in our area, has received scholarships to attend school at the university level. (Last reported total was over $5 mil-lion in scholarships offered for THS.)

I am sure you all join me in thanking our educators and admin-istrators for preparing them for this next chapter! I look forward to the success stories we will hear as our young adults explore oppor-

tunities God presents them. Best wishes to all of you!On another educational note, the new Superintendent of Alabaster City School System officially

begins on July 1. I know you join me in welcoming Dr. Wayne Vickers and his family to Alabaster! We look forward to working with Dr. Vickers and the Board in any way we can to make Alabaster schools the best all around.

As you may recall, our second Small Business Meeting was held in May. I want to thank Police Chief Rigney and Fire Chief Golden for their participation, and for the useful information shared with our business leaders to improve security and safety issues. They are sincere in their invitation for you to call them for more information or ideas on how to improve. If you haven’t already done so, please maximize your business exposure by utilizing the City’s Buy Alabaster First interactive website and the smart phone application. If you experience any difficulties using these, please call us so we can help you get the most from them. As we continue these quarterly meetings, I want to ensure the time spent is beneficial to those in attendance because I know everyone’s time is valuable. If you have ideas you would like to see added to the agendas or ways to make the meetings more beneficial, please submit them via an on-line reporting form, or call me at City Hall. Hopefully, our next meeting will be held at the new City Hall.

The following is an update for Infrastructure Projects set to begin in the coming months:• ALDOT has begun the process of resurfacing from SR119 from US31 south thru the City.

This does not replace our efforts at widening SR119 south of CR26. Stay tuned in for exciting news on this front in the coming weeks.

• Thompson Road will undergo upgrades in the upcoming 18-24 months as we partner with Shelby County Highway Department to replace and widen the bridge, improve and align the intersection at Warrior Drive with Warrior Park, add sidewalks from Warrior Drive to Stadium Drive and get a right-bound east turn lane onto Warrior Drive from Thompson Drive.

• We continue to work with our state delegation and commissioners of the Public Service Com-mission regarding railroad track crossings. We finally found the where and who with the ability to help us with safety concerns regarding railroad crossings. Submitting your concerns via the online form located on the city website is very helpful in creating a case for the railroad company to take seriously the concerns we have. I remain hopeful for a good working relationship with the railroad officials.

• For those of you who travel South on SR119, there will be a signal installed at CR80 and SR119 by the Chevron over the coming months. Plans are finalized and bids will be awarded soon. This is a partnership of the City, AL-DOT and the Shelby County Highway Department.

Join me in thanking the Alabaster Arts Council. These volunteer members, along with numerous City of Alabaster employees and funds budgeted by the Alabaster City Council, have provided the community with another excellent family-friendly CityFest for 2013. We are fortunate to have many people in our community who exemplify the spirit of community service.

Please be safe in your summer travels, and don’t forget to show Dad how much he is appreciated for his leadership, love, Godly wisdom, and/or unspeakable financial support selflessly provided. Happy Father’s Day to all of you blessed with this special title!

Let us all be a blessing to someone every day,Marty

Marty HandlonMayor, City of Alabaster

From the Mayor’s Desk... Official Publication of the

City of Alabaster

Alabaster Connection is published monthly and it is delivered to citizens

of the City of Alabaster

Editorial BoardThe Public Relations

Committee of theAlabaster City Council

Committee ChairCouncilwoman Sophie Martin

Councilman Rick WaltersCouncilman Bob Hicks

EditorLuke Camara,

me2graphics, LLC

ContributorsShana Camara

Becky Beall

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City Council PresidentI want to start off this

month’s comments by say-ing a HUGE thanks to the Alabaster Arts Council! Alabaster CityFest contin-ues to grow and continues to improve with each year. At a recent meeting the Council approved bids for new basketball courts to be built at Municipal Park. This is a project that is long overdue. Although it was

not the size or scope that I would have liked to have seen, it is a step in the right direction. It will offer a place for our children to play. At the same meeting, the Council voted to reject bids for 11th Avenue improvements. This is the road that leads you to the new City Hall and the Senior Center. Siluria is very important part of our his-tory and I am excited that we have invested in revital-izing this part of our City. I hope that we will continue to see improvements made in this area of town. The Buck Creek Trail, the Senior Center and the new City Hall, which will also house the Alabaster Board of Education, are all steps in the right direction to improve this area. Lastly, I would like to welcome Dr. Wayne Vickers to the Alabaster community. The ACSBOE has chosen him to lead us through our infancy as a new School System. He has experience in this area as he led the Saraland School System as it started up. I look forward to the great things that our schools will provide for our students under Dr. Vickers leadership. I hope each of you has a wonderful summer and Shop Alabaster First!

Sophie Martin, Ward 1Progress continues in

Ward 1 as the Hwy 11 Bridge nears completion. This road improvement project has significantly increased the safety for the thousands of drivers who utilize this road on a daily basis.

Significant steps have been made to get the railroad track crossings repaired in Alabaster. To

help get this resolved in a more timely manner, resi-dents are being asked to go to the city’s website and

“report a concern” regarding this issue. All comments will be communicated to the appropriate authorities. Thank you to Mayor Handlon, Cam Ward, April Weaver and Mike Hill for their commitment to help resolve this safety issue.

The city recognizes the ongoing aesthetic issues with Ala-baster Boulevard. Long-term and more cost-effective solu-tions continue to be researched to resolve the issue. Until then, safety officials ask that motorists continue to observe the speed limit.

For your convenience, the new Alabaster newsletter is available online at www.cityofalabaster.com. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Ward 1 or our city, please contact me at 358-8742 or [email protected].

Bob Hicks, Ward 2Another school year has come to

a close, and there will be the nor-mal increase of activity as students resume vacation schedules. Please drive a little more carefully since little ones will be playing full speed ahead. The school buses will not be on the road, but bicycles, big wheels and scooters will replace them, and are MUCH harder to spot.

Football and cheerleader sign ups are taking place as we speak

for youth fall sports. Please be sure to get your family signed up early to avoid any last minute panic. Our youth programs continue to grow each year, and the awesome job our Park and Recreation folks do each season is getting bigger and bigger. Many thanks to Tim Hamm and his team for what they do every day for our city. Be sure to spend some time at one of our city parks with your family to see the many wonderful improve-ments that have been made to upgrade your experience.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to our fire and rescue folks. When one of our fire stations was closed down for nearly eleven weeks for needed repairs, response times did not suffer and there were no issues in covering the entire city out of two stations. The main issue was having twice as many firefighters piled on top of each other in the active stations, and they handled it like the true professionals they are. Jim Golden faced a HUGE challenge shortly after being appointed chief, but all went well due to his insightful guidance and the top-quality individuals on his team. Thanks to each and every one of you for walking the walk. We are a fortunate city to have such folks on guard...

Good things are coming down the road, and thanks to our city employees for working diligently and patiently through hard times. I hope our economy is finally turning around so we can get back to building the best city around.

Grace and peace, Bob


Stacy Rakestraw, Ward 3Summer – Always a welcome

site with the Rakestraw family! This is a HUGE reminder to be extra CAUTIOUS and SLOW in neighborhoods. Many children will be playing outside this time of year, so please be very careful.

We have several residents inter-ested in participating on the new Beautification Board. If you are interested in filling one of the six-12 places, email myself or your council member soon.

The new Alabaster City School System is at an exciting point! July 1st, our city and residents can proudly say we are our own school system that will thrive financially and can only be a positive as we invest in current and future genera-tions. Please come to school board meetings, check out the ACSBOE website, meet with the current board members, superintendent and school employees and ask questions. They are excited and want to get to know people in the community. Be an involved citizen.

Thanks to all of the city employees who work so hard to keep our city running smoothly.

Have a blessed and safe summer!

Rick Walters, Ward 4As summer approaches, the

need for more water is eminent and the Alabaster Water Board is ready to serve your needs. We have more than an ample supply and a new Manager that will start work later this month. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Laura Koon, who was most recently the Water Resource Management Director for the City of Auburn. We look forward to her arrival and exper-tise as we plan for the future.

Progress continues on our City Administration Building and it should be completed in time for the Alabaster City School Board of Education to move in before school resumes this fall. They will occupy the second floor and have full use of the facilities. Our new Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers really likes the location and said it is another example of the City’s support for our system and students.

Finally I would like to congratulate our THS seniors. I wish you all the best life has to offer. Keep in touch!

Russell Bedsole, Ward 5Graduation ceremonies have

been conducted, another year of CityFest, and countless physical activities are being played in all of our parks. This can only mean one thing—summertime has arrived. It is that time of the year that all our children count down the days of summer in anticipation. I want to encourage everyone to get out, enjoy our city and all it has to offer.

Speaking of what our city has to offer in outdoor activities, the

council recently passed a resolution to award the bid for the construction of new basketball courts. This is another one of those recreational facilities that our city was desperately in need of. Thanks to Tim Hamm and those at the Parks and Recreation Department for working hard on this project.

Before I wrap up, I wanted to thank those who took the time to provide me with the feedback I asked for in last month’s news-letter. I don’t want your feedback to stop there. Please continue to provide me with any questions, tips, or concerns. I take my elected position as a public servant very seriously, and I desire to listen to anyone who wishes to share their needs with me. Have a great summer!

Tommy Ryals, Ward 7In March, we made some

changes to Alabaster’s city gov-ernment. We created a City Manager’s position in accordance with an option offered in the state code. Now, rather than having a City Administrator who serves at the pleasure of only the Mayor, we have a City Manager who can only be removed by a vote of seven Council members. All city em-ployees report to the Manager. A City Manager form of government

should offer more stability and consistency between adminis-trations in how the City is run as well as for the city employees whose boss was subject to change every four years with the election. Mountain Brook is set up in a similar manner. Also, Alabaster has traditionally combined the City Clerk and Trea-surer’s position. Marsha Massey has done a phenomenal job filling that dual role. Since our city has grown so much recently, we separated these positions. Marsha accepted the Treasurer’s spot. We made George Henry, the City Manager, the “acting” city clerk on a trial basis. It’s all good, in my opinion.


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Dr. Wayne Vickers, the newly appointed and first permanent superintendent of the Alabaster City School District, is looking forward to his new task ahead. “I’m excited to see what we can get done,” he exclaimed. Dr. Vickers has reason to be excited. In his previous role as the second superintendent of the newly-formed Saraland City School District, replacing the first after he died suddenly after only one month in office, he saw the district go from between 70 and 80 to 11th in the state out of 132 districts. “We saw this dramatic move over four years in a district that had over 55% of the population in poverty,” said Dr. Vickers.

Dr. Vickers has over 23 years experience in public education. His past involvement includes teaching; coaching; central office staff; principal in a elemen-tary school;,middle school and high school; and six years as a superintendent. He adds, “So I’ve kind of been around.” He is the father of two boys, a rising 7th grader and rising junior, both of whom will attend the city schools. He is the husband of Pam for the past 22 years, who he “loves dearly.”

Ty Quarles, one of the school board members, is proud of the hiring of Dr. Vickers. “I think, no I’m

certain, we have gone out as a system and hired the absolute best person to move us forward in the direction we want to go. We could not be more excited to have him on board.”

As he comes from a similar situation into the Alabaster City Schools, Dr. Vickers knows that there will be some con-cerns and fears. “The same fears and concerns and questions we went through in Saraland, we will and are facing here. As we look back at the past four years, we have been very fortunate that all of those fears and concerns have been put to rest,” he said.

Anyone who speaks with Dr. Vickers quickly sees that he is a man who wants to bring about change. “I am not going to rest on the status quo. I want the best and our students to be the best in the state,” he says. As Dr. Vickers and the school board moves forward, many people might be concerned that the transition from the county system to the city system will result in missteps. “Let me assure you,” said Dr. Vickers, “our lunch codes will work. Buses will run on time.” He goes on to add, “We will not have a lot of change for change sake. We are going to make sure this is a smooth transition.” His priority is to first make a smooth transition and then to make the adjust-ments and change necessary to become great.

Dr. Vickers believes that there are three areas that if the system focuses on improving, the objective of becoming one

Introducing Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers

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Richard Mills installing bird houses around the lake at Limestone Park.

of the top districts in the state will become a reality. “People will be asking themselves, ‘How are we going to be any better?’ I see the chance that we have to concentrate all our efforts on our schools,” shared Dr. Vickers. “We will take what was very good and make it better.”

The first area grabbing his attention will be academics. “Aca-demically our goal is to be the best in the state in all areas,” he said. Dr. Vickers along with the board will be evaluating what is working and what need improvement. When he did this in the past with the Saraland system, it was not a top down approach. “We did this by involving our stakeholders in this process,” he said.

The second area of concentration will be extra curricular activities such as clubs, the arts, associations and non-athletic groups. The goal here is to make a place and space for every student. “We want every child,” he said, “to have something they enjoy doing outside the classroom.” He goes on to say, “We also want these groups to be competitive and excel across the state.”

The third area of focus will be athletics. “I believe,” states Dr. Vickers, “athletics are a key component of a successful school system.” His goal is to build upon what is already a strong foundation of success across the system and have every pro-gram compete at a high level. “We will strive to be competitive in everything we do,” he said. He added that he wants to make sure that the athletics are being prepared for success at the next level as well.

In all three areas he wants to see the system excel and push forward. He sees a great chance to do just that. “We have a wonderful opportunity, as a city school system, with addition-al resources, to make this the most outstanding system in the state,” said Dr. Vickers.

For more information visit www.alabasterschools.org.

Bird Watching at Limestone Park

The Birmingham Audubon Society is a nonprofit organiza-tion whose membership promotes conservation and a greater knowledge of birds including their habitat and the nature realm. One of the group’s great natural resources is Alabaster’s own Limestone Park.

The Birmingham Audubon Society offers field trips open to the public, as well as educational programs for children and adults, and membership meetings. They sponsor differ-ent projects like the Observation Platform at Limestone Park, which serves as a refuge keeper for the Watercress Darter National Refuge near Bessemer. The Birmingham Audubon Society worked with the City of Alabaster to establish the observation platform at the park so that all birders, not just members, could enjoy the unique nature of this location. Bird-ers traveling through Alabama often stop at Limestone Park, which is one of 36 spots located on the Appalachian Highland

Birding Trail (see www.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/lime-stone-park/). Travelers stopping here to view certain species contribute to the local economy in many ways, so this is a vital project between the Audubon Society and the City.

Aside from that, the Birmingham Audubon Society en-joys bird watching at Limestone Park because of its support of wetlands and grassland birds that are found in few other places around the urban community. The organization leads field trips to Limestone Park several times a year to see specific birds such as: anhinga, great egret, meadowlark, and logger-head shrike.

If you are interested in getting involved, the organization hosts work days at Limestone Park from time to time to im-prove the bird habitat by removing exotic plants and installing bird houses. For dates and times, visit the web site below.

The Birmingham Audubon Society has around 1200 members with administrative offices located in the McWane Science Center in downtown Birmingham. If you are by there, stop in and say hello. This group serves seven counties including Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, Bibb, Chilton, St. Clair and Walker. Member interests include not only birds and bird watching, but also wild flowers and native plants, habitat, wildlife, butterflies and other outdoor aspects of nature.

For more information and to learn more about membership, please visit www.birminghamaudubon.org. You can also follow their activities on Facebook at Birmingham Audubon Society.

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As summer approaches, please remember to take steps to ensure your property is not an easy target for theft. With an increase in foot traffic around neighborhoods comes an increase in the potential for criminals to find easy targets. As you prepare for an enjoyable summer, also be prepared by securing your home and cars when you are away.

One easy method to protect yourself is by lock-ing your car doors. Thefts from vehicles can occur at any time during the day or night, so make sure you remove any valuables left in your car or at least hide them from plain view. The majority of thefts from ve-hicles occur from unlocked cars in residential neigh-borhoods. By taking a few seconds to secure your valuables, you can protect yourself from being an easy target for criminals.

Remember:• Make sure you roll up all windows and lock

your doors.• Even if your car is parked at your residence, it

can still be a target.• Remove valuables from inside the car or secure

them in the trunk.Remember, your personal safety is more important

than your property, so do not confront anyone. If you witness any suspicious activity, please contact us as soon as possible. Be alert and aware!

Chief Curtis RigneyAlabaster Police Department

City Council Meeting Minutes (Abridged)(Unabridged version of minutes and resoultions/ordinances can be found on city webpage at www.cityofalabaster.com)A regular meeting of the Alabaster City Council was held in the Municipal Annex on Monday, May 6, 2013, at 7:00 p.m.Absent: None

1. Ordinance 13-007 Sidewalk maintenance Council member Ryals made a motion to con-tinue this item until the June 3rd, 2013 regularly scheduled council meeting. Council member Walters seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously

2. Resolution 050613 Creek View Elementary Young Authors GrantCouncil Member Martin made a motion to approve Resolution 050613. Council member

Rakestraw seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously

3. Resolution 050613-A Economic Development agree-ment with 31/11 II LLCCouncil President Brakefield opened up the floor for com-ments during the public hearing. No one spoke against said proposal. Senator Cam Ward and Bill Leitner spoke in favor of approving this resolution. No further com-ments. Public hearing closed.Council member Rakestraw made a motion to approve Resolution 050613-A. Council member Hicks seconded. No further discussion. Motion Passed Unanimously

4. Resolution 050613-B Affirm abatement expenses for 332 Pebble LaneCouncil President Brakefield opened up the floor for com-ments during the public hearing. No one spoke against said proposal. City Engineer Brett Tucker spoke in favor of said resolution. No further comments. Public hearing closed.Council member Walters made a motion to approve Reso-lution 041513-B. Council member Bedsole seconded. Motion Passed Unanimously

5. Resolution 050613-C Affirm Agreement with auction-eer for professional servicesCouncil member Hicks made a motion to approve Resolu-tion 050613-C. Council member Ryals seconded.Motion Passed Unanimously

6. Resolution 050613-D Agreement with AAA Solutions for port-a-lets at CityFest 2013Council member Bedsole made a motion to approve Resolution 050613-D. Council member Walters second-ed. No further discussion.Abstain – Sophie MartinMotion Passed

7. Resolution 050613-E Resolution appointing Place 4 replacementCouncil president Brakefield opened up the floor to re-ceive nominations for Place 4.Council member Ryals nominated Jim McClain. Council mem-ber Rakestraw nominated Derek Henderson. Council member Hicks nominated Eric Starling. No further nominations. Mr. Derek Henderson was the first nominee to receive four votes and receive nomination via Resolution 050613-E.Council member Martin made a motion to approve Reso-lution 050613-E. Council member Bedsole seconded. No further discussion. Vote: Ayes - Scott Brakefield, Bob Hicks, Stacy Rakestraw, Sophie Martin, Russell Bedsole; Nays – Tommy Ryals, Rick WaltersMotion Passed.

8. Resolution 050613-F Resolution appointing Place 2 to Alabaster BOECouncil member Hicks made a motion to approve Reso-lution 050613-F. Council member Martin seconded. No further discussion.

Ayes - Scott Brakefield, Bob Hicks, Rick Walters, Stacy Rakestraw, Sophie Martin, Russell Bedsole; Nays – Tom-my RyalsMotion Passed.

9. Resolution 050613-G Resolution regarding persons authorized to administer oathsCouncil member Bedsole made a motion to approve Resolution 050613-G. Council member Hicks seconded. No further discussion.Motion Passed Unanimously

10. Resolution 050613-H Resolution receiving Fiscal Year 2012 financial auditCouncil member Walters made a motion to approve Reso-lution 050613-H. Council member Rakestraw seconded. No further discussion.Motion Passed Unanimously

11. Resolution 050613-I Resolution authorizing Mayor Handlon to settle SDA LawsuitCouncil member Hicks made a motion to approve Resolu-tion 041513-H. Council member Walters seconded. No further discussion.Motion Passed Unanimously

Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.

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Awesome Author’s Day at Creek View Elementary School

Creek View Elementary School is wild about reading! So much so that they have an annual event to celebrate and encourage the art of reading and learning more about the different components of books. This year’s event was held on May 15 throughout the school via the library, gymnasium and other classroom space.

Third grade teacher Kelly Preveaux spearheads this event which is seven years running. Her lineup of par-ticipants this year included: Roger Day, Jo Kittinger, Kimberly Norman and others. The children enjoyed

the opportunity to interact with authors, illustrators and performers on an up close and personal level.

Librarian Jackie Killingsworth said, “This event is a cel-ebration of reading and writing, and the children love it!”

Participants like Roger Day and Josh Castle enter-tained the children with musical performances. Day is a native of Birmingham currently living in Franklin, Ten-nessee with his wife and three children. He is an Eagle Scout and former camp counselor who studied German and spent much time playing college coffeehouses. His wit and wordplay coupled with his love of music create

an atmosphere of delight for children of all ages.

Jo Kittinger, a children’s author, was on hand to share her new book The House on Dirty-Third Street – a book that was recently honored with a 2013 Christopher Award. The Christopher awards celebrate media that “affirms the high-est values of the human spirit.” Kittinger is a graduate of the University of Montevallo and enjoys sharing her love of books with children.

Author, illustrator, poet and performer Kim Norman was another interactive presenter for the event, exciting the kids with her readings. A passionate performer from Hampton Roads, Virginia, Norman has books like Crocodaddy and Ten on the Sled to her credit.

Also at the event were two young illustrators who participat-ed in the book Awesome Like a Possum – Will Rankeillor and Carly Strickland. This children’s book proved to be a hit on Awesome Author’s Day with a positive message of self image suggesting that it’s always better to be your magnificent self!

Many thanks to the authors, illustrators and performers who helped make this event a huge success and one more way to encourage literacy in the Alabaster community.

Josh Castle, Jo Kittinger, and Roger Day

Will Rankeillor and Carly Strickland

Kimberly Norman

New School Board MemberHumbled is the word Derek Henderson used to describe his

newest venture as an Alabaster School Board member during a swearing in ceremony May 13.

Just a week prior, Henderson was appointed to the board by a City Council vote of 4-3 making him the most recent addi-tion to the School Board. Judge Clyde Jones was on hand to administer the oath to an excited Henderson.

Henderson, who was accompanied by his wife Gloria, thanked close friends and family for coming out to support him. Additionally, Henderson remarked, “I am humbled

and appreciative for the opportunity to serve.” The Alabaster School Board governs and sets policy for the new city school system.

Henderson was also elected by his board peers to serve in the capacity of vice president of the School Board in a meeting that followed the ceremony.

Henderson is a retired State Farm underwriting and opera-tions manager whose solid promise of putting kids first and being a team player have propelled him to his newest position. Congratulations Mr. Henderson…welcome aboard!

Derek Henderson with his wife Gloria and Judge Clyde Jones.

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9200 Hwy 119, Suite 600, Alabaster, AL 35007 | www.alabastereyecare.com | 205-624-3088


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JUNE3 City Council Meeting, 7 p.m. (A)4 Water Board, 7 p.m. (A)10 Alabaster City BOE Meeting, 6-8 p.m. (SC)11 Housing and Abatement Board, 5 p.m. (A)12 Municipal Court, 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. (A)17 City Council Meeting, 7 p.m. (A)24 Board of Zoning Adjustments 6:30 p.m. (A)24 Planning and Zoning Board 7 p.m. (A) 26 Municipal Court, 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. (A)

KEY: (A)=Annex; (SC)=Senior CenterView full calendar, agendas and resolutions at www.cityofalabaster.com

RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULERed - June 2nd-8th, 16th-22nd and 30thBlue - June 1st, 9th-15th and 23rd-29th

SENIOR CENTER The Alabaster Senior Center is located at 1097 7th Street S.W., Alabaster. If you would like more information concerning senior programs, please contact Alabaster Senior Center at 663-1307 or awalters@ cityofalabaster.com.

DAY TRIP TO IKEA IN ATLANTATuesday, September 17. 2013 Join us as we travel to Atlanta, GA to visit the IKEA store. Two floors of furniture and accessories await you. This icon of Scandinavian décor features a full floor of decorations accessories such as mirrors, baskets, candles, kitchenware, toys and lines. Fully furnished vignettes offer ideas about how to organize and furnish any home and make it more livable. IKEA is an excursion you won’t want to miss. Cost is $35 for the first 30 Alabaster senior residents and $45 for all other Shelby County Seniors. Sign up today!

NEW ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAMEvery Wednesday at 10 a.m. Space is limited. Encouraged donation of $2/class.

NEW INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM “MAKING MEMOIRES” June 11 from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. We are inviting our seniors and their grandchildren or great grandchildren (ages 3-12) to join in a fun day together. We will create a craft and a concrete garden stone together. We will have a few other special surprises for you both! We will also have pizza and a dessert for everyone. Space is limited. Cost is $5/senior and child.

LINE DANCING Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.Intermediate class begins at 9:30 a.m. and beginner class at 10:30 a.m. Encouraged donation of $2 per class.

ZUMBA GOLDEvery Wednesday at 1 p.m.This explosive exercise program is designed so that everyone can do it. You will see a variety of styles: Meringue, Salsa, Cha Cha, Cumbia, Belly Dance, Flamenco, Tango and Rock and Roll rhythms. Zumba Gold guarantees you will have fun while you are getting a great workout. Encouraged donation of $2/class.

WII BOWLINGEvery Tuesday at 12 p.m. All levels are welcome – just come and have some fun.

SHUFFLEBOARDEvery Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.No experience required!

HORSESHOESEvery Tuesday at 9 a.m.No experience required!

BASIC KNITTING Every Thursday at 10 a.m. Join us for instruction in the basics of knitting. No charge but you must provide your own supplies. Space is limited.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS Tuesday, June 11 at 9:30 a.m. Provided by Comfort Care Hospice.

CROCHET CLASSEvery Wednesday at 9 a.m. Learn how to crochet; or, if you are experienced, stop by and fellowship with friends.

GARDENING WITH BETTYEvery 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $5 per class and includes all supplies. Must register.

PRESERVING FAMILY MEMORIES THROUGH SCRAPBOOKING Monday, June 10 from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Ever wonder what to do with all of those shoeboxes full of pic-tures and “stuff ” you saved? Join us for a scrapbooking crop and learn how to turn those treasured memories into beautiful scrapbooks that tell your family’s story. In each class, you will learn a new technique to help you create beautiful family al-bums. Bring $5 cash to each class. You will need to bring your own pictures and supplies. Some supplies will be available to purchase. Class taught by taught by C.D. McKinnon.

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS ALL THE OTHERACTIVITIES AT THE SENIOR CENTER...Men’s Social Group, 1st Monday of each month 9 a.m.Timeless Treasures (singing),–Monday, 10 a.m.Rook, Wednesdays, 9 a.m.Rummikub, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.Bridge, Thursday, 12-3 p.m.Tempo exercise, Fridays, 10 a.m.Zumba Gold Toning, Fridays 1-2 p.m.

LIBRARYThe Albert L. Scott Library is located at 100 9th Street N.W., Alabaster. Hours of operation are:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 9 a.m.-7:50 p.m. Wednesday - 10 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Friday - 9 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m.-4:50 p.m. Sunday - 1-4:50 p.m.

If you would like more information concerning programs, please contact the Library at 664-6822.

ADULT EVENTSLIBRARY BOOK GROUPThursday, June 20, 2013 at 7 p.m.Join us in our discussion of The Ice Princess by Camilla Lack-berg. After she returns to her hometown to learn that her friend, Alex, was found in an ice-cold bath with her wrists slashed, biographer Erica Falck researches her friend’s past in hopes of writing a book and joins forces with Detective Patrik Hedstrom, who has his own suspicions about the case. Pro-gram takes place in the meeting room.

YOUTH EVENTSSummer Reading Challenge registration available online now through July.

SUMMER CHALLENGE STORY TIME Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.

Story, Snack ‘n’ Craft for all ages in the meeting roomWednesdays at 3:30 p.m.

Tunes & Tales for all ages in the meeting roomFridays at 3:30 p.m.

Toddler Tales in the meeting room

SPECIAL SUMMER CHALLENGE PROGRAMS Monday, June 3, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Summer Challenge Kids Magic KickoffTuesday, June 4, 6:15-7:30 p.m.

Summer Challenge Kickoff There’s No Place Like Gnome Party. Young Adult only, ages 11 and up. Come to register for the Challenge, craft, make a dessert, and more!

Thursday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. Be-at Your Best Drums

Monday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. Underground Animals from the 4-H Club

Monday, June 17, 10:30 a.m. Downtown Underground Animal Stories

Wednesday, June 19, 6:15-8 p.m.Mini Lock-In. Young Adult only. Kids 11 years old and up must sign up to attend this program that includes refresh-ments, crafts, and more!

Thursday, June 20, 10:30 a.m.Jugglewell Juggling Show and Workshop

Monday, June 24, 10:30 a.m.Maynard, Magic & Music

Wednesday, June 26, 3:30 p.m.Mermaids & Pirates, Tea Time, Tunes & Tales. Ages 6 and up must sign up to attend this special tea party.

Thursday, June 27, 10:30 a.m.Garden of Stories

YOUNG ADULT CRAFTERNOON (Ages 11 and up)Thursdays at 4 p.m.

June 6: Pillows & Potato ChipsJune 13: Face PaintingJune 20: Snakes & ShakesJune 27: Chalk & Chocolate


AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 2Mondays, June 10-July 1

Ages 8 and up (and their families) who have taken the basic class can sign up for this 4-week series.

LEGO LEAGUETuesdays at 4 p.m.

Kids of all ages can play with Legos of all sizes.

DRAMA WORKSHOPTuesdays at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Ages 8-11 at 6 p.m. and ages 12-15 at 7 p.m.

PARKS AND RECThe Parks and Recreation Office is located inside the Depot at 100 Depot Street, Alabaster. Office hours are Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. If you would like more information, call 205-664-6840 or visit www.alabasterparks.org.

Celebrate America Saturday June 29, 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.The City of Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department is teaming up with Kingwood Church and local vendors to host the 4th Annual Citywide Independence Day celebration on at Veterans Park. “Celebrate America” will feature family-friendly activities beginning at 6 p.m. including music stages with local talent, age-appropriate games, inflatables, a variety of food from local restau-rants, and an unforgettable, full-length choreographed fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. The general public is in-vited to come enjoy this free, fun and patriotic evening.

Baseball and Softball All-Star Tournaments will begin in early to mid-June for those involved. We would like to thank all the parents and volunteer coaches for their time and dedication to our teams this season.

Football and Cheerleading RegistrationThrough June 8thRegistration for the 2013 season is under way and will conclude on Saturday, June 8. Registration will be online at www.alabasterparks.org and at the Depot office Mon-day through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration fee is $160 plus 10% for non-residents. Accepting cash, credit or debit (Visa or Mastercard) payments. No checks accepted.

Movies in the Park All movies are at Veterans Park and they start around 8:15 p.m. Please bring your chairs and blankets for a full evening of fun.June 7th The Lorax | June 21st Madagascar

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We are proud to announce

the new Senior Pastor of

Westwood Baptist Church,

Matt Brooks.

Pastor Brooks’ first Sunday

is June 23. Join us each week

at 9:30 and 11:00am.

Matt and Bren Brooks, Major (son), MJ (daughter)

WESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH 1155 Alabaster Boulevard • 205.664.0122 • ewestwood.org


Kids Can ‘Dig into Reading’ this Summer

A summer of digging and reading is in store for Ala-baster’s children of all ages at the Albert L. Scott Public Library where they can become reading champions. Dig into Reading! kicks off on Monday, June 3. The day will feature two shows by comic magician Russell Davis: one at 10:30 a.m. and another at 3:30 p.m. Adults can register

children, newborn to 10 years old, for the challenge before or after either show. They’ll receive a large goody bag as well as a summer activity calendar, a small gift, and more. Children can be registered any day between June 3 and July 12. Kids pick a reading goal, check out and read our library books, and get prizes along the way to their goal. When they reach their goal, ending their challenge, they receive a certificate and can enter prize drawings for a bicycle and other surprises.

Beneath the Surface is the theme of the Young Adults (YAs) Challenge for kids 11 years old to 18 years old. They will have a separate kick off party on Tuesday, June 4 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They can register, get a swag bag, their program details, and create a yummy dessert, make a craft and socialize.

During the Challenge there will be entertainers, crafts, drama and juggling workshops, and more. Youth services librarian Frances Smith says that, once again, everything is free: ‘F’ is for fun, ‘R’ is for rewarding, and the double ‘E’ stands for entertaining and educational.

The Summer Challenge ends with a big Finale on Wednesday, July 17 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a show by Cowboy Bruce Brannen and surprises.

LIB

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read for pleasure when they are not in school. Parents and other caregivers are invited to participate and help pre-literate chil-dren enjoy books and develop a love of reading. The 2013 Sum-mer Reading Program is supported in whole or in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Alabama Public Library Service.

We would also like to thank our sponsors to date: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, AmStar Stadium Movie Theater, Bike Link, Bud’s Best Cookies, Friends of the Albert L. Scott Library, Oak Mountain Lanes, Parent Teacher Store (Hoover), and UPS Store (Pelham), and Walmart.

To register for the Summer Reading Challenge, go online to www.cityofalabaster.com/departments/library/ or register in per-son at the Albert L. Scott Library.

Financial Literacy ProgramSmart investing@your library® is coming to the Albert L. Scott Library. There will be series of programs for all ages kick-ing off in the fall. Smart investing@your library® is partner-ship between the American Library Association and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Investor Education

Foundation. This grant project provides free, unbiased infor-mation to the community about financial literacy and per-sonal finance.

The Albert L. Scott Library is one of 15 select libraries in Shelby County and Jefferson County taking part in this grant this year. Our library’s resources include brand new books, for children and adults, DVDs, and more. The goal of the project is to empower library patrons to make smart financial deci-sions for long-term investing and day-to-day money matters.

DownloaD the app toDay!the Buy alabaster First app allows residents and visitors

to search nearby or specific businesses in alabaster, print store coupons, receive store alerts and much more!

Scan the code from your phone.

BuyAlabaster First!

First graders at Meadow View Elementary School are excited about the public library’s Summer Challenge after youth services librarian Frances Smith shows them how much fun it is to “Dig into Reading.”


Alabaster Authors’ Book SigningSanctuary Christian Books and Gifts in Alabaster

was brimming with admirers and eager readers wait-ing to meet local authors, Frances Amerson and Dena Bedsole. Frances Amerson, a teacher by day, was on hand to sign copies of her book, Nine Months and One Day: An Adoption Story—a story in memoir form about the adoption of her daughter. “I started writing this story for my daughter,” shared Amerson. “I know she will have questions as she gets older, and I didn’t want to have to rely on my memory to recount the mi-raculous events that brought her to us,” she said. From this personal reason she soon found a larger audience. “As I continued to write it,” she said, “I thought there may be a readership out there who could benefit from our story. Those who have struggled with infertility or are considering adoption, might find this book encouraging.” She also found that her story of adop-tion might lead others to choose life. “I thought this book would be a strong argument for life in the midst of this ‘death culture’ that espouses abortion. I hope that anyone who reads this will realize that there are no unwanted children, and we should strive to fight to preserve these innocent lives that are being taken daily.”

Amerson did not know how all of her work would turn out. “My book was only published about a month ago. It has always been something that was on my ‘bucket list,’ but I never really thought it was possible,” she said. What helped her accomplish such an enormous task was sticking to a process. “The most helpful thing I did was put myself on a writing schedule,” she said. She would write a quota of words every day. Regardless of their quality. “It didn’t matter whether what I wrote was good or not, I just had to get the words on paper. I knew I could always go back later and revise it,” she shared.

With this first effort behind her, she is not ready to put down her pen anytime soon. “This is my first book, however, my plan is for Nine Months and One Day to be the first of a three book series,” she said. “I am currently working on the sequel which is about our son, Isaac,” she added.

For Dena Bedsole, her book, A New View of an Old Horizon, is the story of her father’s sickness and death. “The book is a memoir of what I went through as my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, caring for him, juggling all my re-sponsibilities in my life, and watching him die,” she said. “It tells a story of my spiritual journey and my spiritual growth,” she adds. The name of the book came from her father. “In the book I mention that my dad emailed me each morning when I was away in college. As I was writing the book and reading

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Local authors Dena Bedsole, her son and Frances Amerson at their booth

at Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts.


through his emails, I printed and saved them all, one of the subjects of an email he sent me was ‘Today is a new view of an old horizon’,” she said. “I thought it was perfect,” Bedsole adds with a smile.

When asked if this was her first book she exclaimed, “Lord yes. I have been a nurse since 1998. I have no background at all in writing.” For Bedsole it was more than a dream. “This was me fulfilling what I believed to be a spiritual calling to help others in my position,” she said. “At first I wrote it be-cause I felt like there was nothing out there that told the ‘can-cer’ story from a caregiver’s role, or a daughter’s role,” she said. But it quickly morphed into a story bigger than herself.

“As I grew spiritually, I felt like God was tugging on my heart to use my tragedy to bring others closer to Him,” shared Bedsole. “I wanted to be brutally honest about what I was re-

ally feeling in that year, about how I felt like I handled things correctly, and how I handled things incorrectly. So that some-one who read it would realize that their inner struggles were okay to feel. That it was okay to feel like no one was noticing your efforts, and it was okay to fall apart when you needed to,” she said. Bedsole also wanted to make sure that others knew that through tragedy, good can come from it. “Most impor-tantly,” she said, “it’s okay to develop a relationship with Christ in the depth of a tragedy.”

For Amerson and Bedsole it was special to have the opportu-nity to meet their readers in person. Amerson sums up the senti-ment of both authors when she said, “It is wonderful to know that there are people out there who are reading my work and enjoy it.”

Both authors- who are also mothers, and wives- wished to thanked their husbands and family for their support over the many months of writing, editing and especially through the experience that led each to write such a personal and emo-tional memoir. Both books can be purchased at Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts. To read a review of each book by Darrel Holcombe, owner of Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts, pick up a May and June copy of Birmingham Christian Family Magazine.

Small Business CouncilMayor Marty Handlon kicked off the second quarterly Ala-

baster Small Business Council with a statement of hope. “I hope we can continue this network,” she said. She continued this thought by adding, “I hope it is beneficial as you network with other business owners and as you meet city officials.” On the agenda for the meeting were updates from city manager George Henry, Police Chief Rigney, Fire Chief Golden, and Rebecca Byrd, Chief Revenue Examiner MPA.

City Manager George Henry started off his time by speaking about the ongoing review of the current sign ordinance. “As a small business owner you may rely on signs to create aware-ness for your business. The city does have an ordinance which governs the use of signs, it is one that the city council is look-ing at, but we need to hear from you,” said Henry. He encour-ages everyone to visit the city’s website to share their thoughts with the city leadership. “Use the Report a Concern link on the homepage of the city’s website to let the council know what you think should be included in the sign ordinance,” he shared. Henry stated that he takes all the responses he receives and forwards them onto the council members.

Henry also encouraged everyone to download the city’s Buy Alabaster First smartphone app. “With this app you can reach consumers with special offers right on their phone,” he shared. To claim your business listing or to download the app go to the city’s website and click on the business tab.

Police Chief Rigney spoke about ways a business can control losses due to fraud and theft. “I understand that your goal is to be successful and to be successful is to make a profit,” said Chief Rigney. “What we can do to help our local small businesses is to

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“As I grew spiritually, I felt like God was tugging on my heart to use my tragedy to bring others closer to Him.”

-Dena Bedsole


cut down on your losses,” he added. He suggested that every business check photo ID before accepting checks, and credit cards. “Try to make this a company policy,” he encouraged the audience. If you are experiencing theft, either from an employee or shoplifter, he offered the help of his department. “Call or come by and speak with one of our officers,” he said.

Fire Chief Golden was introduced next by Mayor Handlon. Chief Golden reminded everyone that they need working smoke alarms. “Two-thirds of people who die in fires, die in a home or business without a working smoke alarm,” he shared. He encouraged everyone to check their smoke alarms. He also offered free CPR training to any business or resident. “We want everyone to know CPR. We want to help you by offering, free of charge, training,” he said. To schedule a free train-ing at your place of business contact the fire department or visit the fire department on the city’s website.

To close out the time Rebecca Byrd updated the council on the new paperless filing sales tax system. “We are now online with paperless filing,” she said. She explained that as a business files their state sales tax, they now have the option of paying their city sales tax at the same time, using the same system.

The next scheduled meeting for the Alabaster Small Business Council is for August.

RECon 2013Mayor Marty Handlon and Cam Ward, Executive

Director of the Alabaster Industrial Development Board, had the chance to represent the City of Alabas-ter at RECon 2013. RECon, according to their website, is the world’s largest gathering of retail real estate pro-fessionals and provides the opportunity to network, make deals and learn from industry experts. No other retail real estate convention attracts a worldwide audi-ence of 30,000 attendees. Ward believes it is important for the City of Alabaster to have a presence at this

annual event. “Cities from throughout the country attend this conference to attract retail to their cities. It has been a proven success for Alabaster in the past and it will continue to be so in the future,” shared Ward.

During this trip Mayor Handlon and Ward will be making those necessary connections in order to promote Alabaster. “We had several meetings with national retailers that we hope to attract to Alabaster,” shared Ward. For Mayor Handlon and Ward it is invaluable to meet these national retail representa-tives in person. “These retailers are all in one place at one time and Alabaster had a chance to have the presence that hundreds of other municipalities from throughout the country have,” he said.

Mayor Handlon, who attended her first RECon, was excited to be the face of Alabaster. “It was my goal to be that of an ambassador for our city,” she shared. Adding, “To allow retail developers to put a name and face with Alabaster’s leadership, and to let them know what a great city we have, and Alabaster is open for business and busi-ness-friendly.”

Ward agrees with Mayor Handlon’s assessment of her role. “The primary purpose of the meetings was to make sure that national retailers know that Alabaster is a friendly place to do business and we want to continue the growth we have enjoyed in the last few years,” he shared. He added, “Our Mayor and representatives made face-to-face contacts that many communities do not make. We want to go beyond emails and direct mail to face-to-face discussions that make a retailer more likely to open up a store in our community,” he said.

For more information on RECon visit reconlasvegas.icsc.org/2013RECON/.

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Attendants at the second quarterly Alabaster Small Business Council

RECon 2013

“The primary purpose of the meetings was to make sure that national retailers know that Alabaster is a friendly

place to do business ...” -Cam Ward


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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS RECOGNIZEDJoe Grice, a recent graduate of Thompson High School, his brother Seth Grice and friend Matt Moore were honored by Mayor Handlon with a proclamation at a recent city council meeting for their “outstanding achievements” in supporting Thompson High School and for their “spirit of an entre-preneurial” in forming their own apparel line, Everything Southern.

GIRL SCOUTSGirl Scout Troop 146 members Isabel Klinner and Katharine Mandy spoke before the City Council to give a report on their

e-cycling event they hosted on April 20th. Afterwards, Council Member Sophie Martin commented on how pleased she was with their efforts. “If what I see before is an indication of the

quality of young leadership we have in our city, we are in good hands,” she said.

RELAY FOR LIFETeam Alabaster battled a change in venue due to the rain and walked for Life at the annual South Shelby Relay for Life. The team was made up of Alabaster City employees and students from Thompson Middle

and High School. All funds raised help support the mission of the American Cancer Society.

REED JACKS SCHOLARSHIP SIGNINGReed Jacks, a recent graduate of Thompson High School, signed a scholarship letter with Kings College in Bristol TN to compete as part of their wrestling team. He will major in Criminal Justice. His parents Brad and Mollie Jacks are very proud of his hard work which led to him being awarded this scholarship. Reed had an overall record of 184-32 over the course of five years on the varsity team. Reed’s accomplish-ments as a member of the THS wrestling team include being ranked #5 and #15 overall in points, #6 and #9 in take downs, and #9 in pins.

Jonathan Justice

EAGLE SCOUT AWARDJonathan Justice, son of David and Katrina Justice of May-lene, AL was awarded Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. Jonathan is a member of Troop 72 chartered by Evangel Presbyterian Church. For his Eagle Service Project, Jonathan refurbished the outdoor chapel and constructed a new trail at Joe Tucker Park in Helena, AL. An Eagle Court of Honor cer-emony was held on April 21, 2103 and included Scoutmasters Kenny Tyler, Ralph Nelson and Tom Grimes. Chief Jim Golden of Alabaster Fire and Rescue Service was the keynote speaker. Jonathan was also honored by May-or Marty Handlon with a special proclamation recognizing his achieve-ments at the Alabaster city council meeting on May 6, 2013. Council Member Bob Hicks congratulated Jona-than during the meeting for living out the values necessary to achieve his goal as he earned his Eagle Scout and encouraged him to set an example. “And now take these goals and values and share them with those behind you,” he said.

Employee Spotlight

Emmitt StallworthBuilding Official for the City of Alabaster

Emmitt Stallworth is an old hand when it comes to his new job as the Building Official for the City of Alabaster. “I was a General Contractor for ten years,” he shares. It is this background that he believes will help him in his role as the Building Official. “Being a general contractor allows me to see construction from a contractor’s view, which will enable me to counteract potential problems that contractors may have,” he said. “Cooperating with contractors will help them get things right the first time, instead of wasting money and time if they are non-compliant,” added Stallworth

His start in building actually came about in a unique way. “Several years ago, as a math teacher, I decided to build my family a house. I put a ‘for sale’ sign on it just to see what would happen, and it sold before I could finish it. I kept that process going and the same outcome kept happening. Before long I was a contractor,” he shares with a smile.

Stallworth’s jobs as the Building Official is one of public trust. “My role is to inspect and make sure structures that are built are in compliance with the Zoning and Planning Regulations and the International Building/Residential Code,” he said. The purpose of these codes is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating safe construc-tion. Stallworth goes on to add, “My job assures the residents

and business owners within the city of Alabaster that construction is in compli-ance with the International Codes; thus, assuring that the construction is safe.”

During his first two months, he is loving his new job. “I get a high point all day long while working here in Alabaster,” he shares. “It happens when I get emails from complaints from residents or business owners as it relates to the Building Safety Department and I

facilitate in solving the problems,” he said. As someone who had his foot in both worlds, contractor and consumer, he can view problems from both sides. “I get to see construction from two points of views,” he said. “I can view it as a contrac-tor or I can view it as a business owner or resident.”

When he is not working he enjoys being with his wife, a high school science teacher and his two sons and daughter. He also wanted to make sure that he thanked the City of Ala-baster for this great opportunity to serve the community.

Emmitt Stallworth

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To contact Emmitt Stallworth,call 205-664-6823


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4 2 3 Th om p s o n Roa d | A l a b a s t e r , A L 3 5 0 0 7 | 2 0 5 - 2 1 6 - 0 1 4 9

Call to schedule your tour!

ECCS is an accredited K-12 school. Call 216.0149 for more info or visit www.EvangelClassical.org

There is a noticeable difference. Many children say, “I love school!” Still others say, “I love my teacher!” At Evangel

Classical Christian School we hear an additional comment which sets us apart, “I love learning!” Our educational model is derived from a passion to glorify God in all that we do; thus, we employ timeless principles that far outpace state and national standards. We invite you to come see the difference for yourself and join our parents in saying, “This is the education I wish I had!”

Shaping Tomorrow

Today!

205-216-0149

CITY OF ALABASTER201 First Street NorthAlabaster, AL 35007www.cityofalabaster.com

Marty Handlon, [email protected], 664-6800

City CouncilSophie Martin, Ward 1358-8742 | [email protected] Hicks, Ward 2663-1801 | [email protected] Rakestraw, Ward 3621-0168 | [email protected] Walters, Ward 4281-7394 | [email protected]

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT 48ALABASTER, AL

Russell Bedsole, Ward 5205-663-6212 | [email protected] Brakefield, President, Ward 6685-0302 | [email protected] Ryals, Ward 7664-1301 | [email protected]

POSTAL PATRON

Documents

July 2013 Alabaster Connection