July 2024 | Volume 17 | Issue 9
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Rev Your Engines
Magic City Octane seeks to unite Birmingham’s car community.
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All-South Metro
See this year’s All-South Metro baseball and softball teams.
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INSIDE Sponsors............. 4 City....................... 6 Schoolhouse....... 8 Business.............10 Real Estate........ 16
Events.................18 Sports................ 22 Community....... 26 Opinion.............. 28
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Continuing to serve 97-year-old spends time volunteering at Chelsea library By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
I
f you visit the Chelsea Public Library on Monday afternoons, you may catch a glimpse of Inez Smith working on a special project. The 97-year-old volunteer spends several hours each week at the library because she enjoys being around people and likes to help. She recently stuffed all the bags for summer reading and on the day of her interview with 280 Living, she was cutting out decorations for crafts for the Tot Spot program. Other days, she prepares books to go into the book sale closet or helps check the deliveries. Librarian Dana Polk said that Smith was one of the library's first volunteers, starting back in 2003 and continuing until she had to take a break so she could care for her husband, Charles, around 2006. The couple was married for 58 years and had four children. Smith has moved with the library throughout its various locations, beginning at the original location (in the upstairs portion of the current library building, when the downstairs was a bank), to Chelsea City Hall, to the gray house and now at its current location. After Charles passed away, Polk said she convinced Smith to return a few years later, and Smith picked up where she left off — volunteering and taking part in the Bring Your Own Craft group each week — until the pandemic brought on another multi-year pause.
See SMITH | page 29
Inez Smith, 97, cuts out campfire shapes for a children’s activity as she volunteers at the Chelsea Public Library on June 3. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Shelby County reports updates on park projects By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
facebook.com/280living
There are many park updates taking place along the U.S. 280 corridor. 280 Living spoke to county officials about the projects and what residents and visitors can expect.
VETERANS PARK ON VALLEYDALE ROAD
Groups of people play pickleball at the new courts at Veterans Park in Hoover on June 13. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
► Project: New pickleball courts ► Status: Complete Trey Gauntt, the chief facilities management officer for Shelby County, said the county identified a huge demand for more
pickleball court availability at Heardmont, and the city of Hoover approached them to partner on a project at Veterans Park. The total cost was originally around $1.3 million, but some change orders were added that were covered by the city of Hoover. Shelby County’s portion of the cost was $400,000. The project included eight pickleball courts and an addition of 45 to 50 parking spaces. The county partnered with the city of Hoover several years ago on a pavilion and restroom
See PARKS | page 30