BROUGHT TO YOU BY
April 2023 | Volume 11 | Issue 7
Sun HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE HOOVERSUN.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
Home & Garden
Find tips and tricks from area businesses to jump-start any project in our Spring Home & Garden guide.
See page B1
Finley Awards
Burts, Law and Smith named 2023 Finley Award winners.
See page B6
INSIDE Sponsors........... A4 City......................A6 Business............ A8 Events............... A12
Home & Garden Guide............... B1 Schoolhouse......B5 Sports.................B9
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VISIONS COMING TRUE
City borrows $85 million for 3 big projects
By JON ANDERSON
S
oon after Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato was elected in 2016, one of the first things he did was revive plans for a new Interstate 459 interchange just west of South Shades Crest Road.
Another item on his to-do list was building a new arts center for the city. He and the Hoover City Council ever since have been taking steps toward both of those goals — buying land and conducting studies. But the City Council in March took a big step forward by agreeing to borrow $85 million through a warrant issue to help pay for those
projects, plus $20 million worth of improvements to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Brocato said all three projects are very important and collectively should help shape the future of the city for the next 100 years.
See PROJECTS | page A18
Top: Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, right, looks over plans for a new Interstate 459 interchange just west of South Shades Crest Road. Middle: Hoover Parks and Recreation Director Erin Colbaugh stands in the aluminum bleachers at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, which could be replaced with stadium seating as part of a $20 million upgrade. Bottom: Students participate in a class at the Alabama Dance Academy, which hopes to take advantage of a new planned arts center to be run by the city of Hoover. Photos by Erin Nelson. Donna Francavilla, a longtime journalist and Ms. Senior Hoover 2023, stands in her backyard on March 3. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Daring to dream Greystone woman named Ms. Senior Hoover 2023 By JON ANDERSON In 2018, Greystone resident Donna Francavilla, an award-winning radio and TV broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience, was called to New York City to work as a fill-in nighttime news anchor at the WCBS radio station.
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It was a great opportunity, and Francavilla was enjoying her stint, but while there, something happened that changed her life forever. And now Francavilla, Ms. Senior Hoover 2023, hopes to use that
See DREAM | page A16