Army basic training, awaits assignment
PAGE 10
Mayor gives his take on city’s present, future PAGE 20
Local mom sells bread, baked goods, eggs, and more at roadside stand
PAGE 14
Farmstand on Fieldstown Road offers locally-made and grown items State
the City: Mayor updates progress of city
Cover: Jackson Boone talks entering the Army In Pictures: Bill Noble Spring Fling
Shortcut Recipe: Pan Fried Crab Cakes
Employee Profile: Irma LaBorde, Library Assistant Director
Gardendale Magazine is published monthly by JBMC Media, a Birmingham-based publishing company. The magazine is available at more than 100 locations throughout Gardendale, free of charge, and is supported by the advertisers within the pages of this magazine. Subscriptions by mail area also available for $40 per year. Visit jbmcmedia.com/magazinesubscriptions to start your subscription.
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Jackson Boone recently returned from training after enlisting in the U.S. Army. The Gardendale native is looking forward to serving his country and enrolling in college to further serve his community.
For our cover story this month, we talked to Jackson Boone. He recently graduated from training for the Army, and you have never met a more courteous young man or one who is more passionate about his country.
While we talked, Jackson kept telling me he didn’t really need a profile, because he didn’t have anything special to say. That is something I hear from people all the time, but I’ve learned over the years that it is rarely true. All too often, when I talk to people, they tell me that they are nothing special or nothing has ever happened to them.
Honestly, I have never found that to be true–everyone has a story to tell and many of them are just a matter of getting them to open up. Some of my favorite stories began with that exact phrase. Maybe it’s someone who moved to the area for a unique reason, maybe it’s a unique hobby or pastime or maybe it’s just a story of how they grew
up and how things have changed. So, if someone came to mind while you were reading that, go ahead and send me an email and let us get to know your family member, friend or neighbor too.
In other parts of the magazine, we talked to a new friend who has set up a farm stand to distribute fresh bread, produce and flowers. Her husband’s family has lived and farmed on the land for generations, but the farm stand brings a modern twist to the property.
We also heard from Mayor Hogeland at the State of the City about the continued growth of the city and what he sees for the future. The speech is always a highlight of the year and this year he announced the city had surpassed $10 million in revenue for the first time ever.
We’re looking forward to a great summer and hope you are too as we continue to tell the stories of Gardendale and the people who live here.
Rachel Davis Karr, Content Director
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR
Growing up in Gardendale, Jackson Boone learned patriotism and love of his country and he always knew he wanted to serve his community. He enlisted in the U.S. Army a couple of months before his high school graduation in 2025. Then, on October 1, he shipped out to begin his training. His training was more than just basic training, as the Army trained him for a specialized job.
“It’s called OSUT–one station unit training,” Boone explained. “It’s specially designed for infantry, combat engineers and military police officers. It’s a more strict version of basic training in AIT, because you don’t get new sergeants, you don’t get new barracks. Because usually you do basic, and then you move into a dorm room with only two people. You get your phone back. You get your own sleep schedule. Instead, I stayed in the barracks the whole time.”
But the physical and mental part of the training wasn’t the hardest part for Boone–it was being out of contact with his friend and family while training stretched on over five months.
“I’ve gone places before without them, but not for long periods of time, and nothing where I haven’t been in contact with them or not knowing what’s going on at home,” Boone said. “They’d always tell me ‘nothing’s changed here. It’s boring.’ That was probably the most mentally difficult part of it–being away from all the people. Because there would be some weeks where we got our phones for only 30 minutes and some of my friends wouldn’t pick up the phone because they were doing something, and I had no idea what they were doing and what was going on.”
Boone is now officially a 31 Bravo Military Officer,
“So it means that for instance, if I was to be deployed or activated right now, in the states, I’d be conducting either patrols on the streets, helping local law enforcement, within that area, activated by the governor or the president. “I would also be conducting, traffic safety, roadblocks. I could be sent to the border, making sure that things stay orderly or protecting the border, or in a combat zone, I would be holding enemy prisoners of war.”
Boone is currently serving a six-year enlistment and plans to reenlist for one more commitment. Then he hopes to be able to get a job with one of the federal investigative agencies–FBI, ATF, etc. Just anything where I’m actively helping people and serving the community in my country.”
The story of how Boone ended up enlisting
“I had college options, but not the kind of scholarship money where I’d be able to afford college out of high school, so, I thought about it, and I thought I’ve always been good at helping people,” Boone explained. ”I love helping people. What’s better than becoming a law enforcement officer of that nature and learning how to properly do it and use my abilities to help other people.”
When he isn’t working, Boone likes to be with his loved ones or outside.
“What I like to do is fish. I like to spend time with my family and the couple of friends that I have.”
“
What’s better than becoming a law enforcement officer of that nature and learning how to properly do it and use my abilities to help other people.
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR
Roadside farm stands are all the rage on social media these days, and now Gardendale has one of its own with the Farmstand on Fieldstown. The farm stand was the brain child of Caitlyn Sorenson, who fills the stand each week with freshbaked bread, rolls, cookies, eggs, fresh vegetables and more (depending on what is in season).
“I’ve had several people come up to me and say, ‘I’ve seen these farm stands on TikTok, and I’m so excited to see one here,’ Sorenson said. “They’re getting to be popular, but I think we have the only one in Gardendale.”
Sorenson met her husband while she was in nursing school and they got married and returned to his hometown of Gardendale. Then, 17 months ago, she had her son and needed more flexibility in her schedule. So she became a stay-at-home mom for a while before deciding that she needed a creative outlook for herself. She also loves to bake, so she thought that might be something she could do to keep busy and bring in a little money.
“My dad and my mom–they both are phenomenal cooks, and I’m a total foodie anyway, Sorenson said. “I grew up eating great food. And so, like, I guess that was just something kind of instilled in me,I’ve
always been the type to try to make sure I have dinner on the table, most nights. I had heard about the sourdough thing, and it became super popular online and stuff. And so I thought, you know what? I’m going to do this. And so, I was baking, and then I taught myself how to make sourdough. And it just kind of went from there. I would make it for my family, and then I started dabbling into other things like cinnamon rolls.”
With the menu underway, Sorenson needed the stand. The property where her in-laws live on Fieldstown Road has been in the family since the early 1900s and the younger couple plans to build a house as well. The family has a garden every year that includes fresh vegetables and flowers, which will also be included in the farmstand offerings.
“My husband got down in my in-law’s basement and got some wood together, and we built it and we’re like, ‘let’s just see how it does’,” Sorenson said.
The first two weeks the stand was open, it did very well and it’s still early for many of the vegetables and flowers, so it has just been baked goods and eggs.
“Everything’s pretty much sold out so far, but I’ve had my brown butter chocolate chip cookies–people said they really like those–and my cinnamon rolls, of course,” Sorenson said. “And then, I just have my original sourdough bread. I would say those are probably the most popular.”
Sorenson said that baking in large batches has been a challenge for her, but she’s adjusted.
The offerings change weekly and may include other baked goods like focaccia and different types of cookies.
“We’ll try some different stuff in the summer,” Sorenson said. “We’ll have the veggies, and I might put some jam out there–strawberry jam or something like that. Or some of our other canned stuff we may do as well.”
“I just hope the stand is a blessing to people in the community,” Sorenson said. “I love seeing other people smile and one of my favorite things about it, honestly, is just getting to hear people say how much they enjoy their food. My dad passed away about 5 years ago, but his favorite thing in the whole world was to cook a meal. He would sit down and wait for everybody else to get a plate, and he would wait for them to take
a bite and he just wanted to see everybody’s reaction. He was so excited for people to eat his food. And I kind of feel that same way too. I just really want people to enjoy it and get that joy from seeing people stop in and say, ‘oh, this is so cool. It’s so cute.’ It just makes my day. I also love that it’s rooted within our family. We’ll be here for the rest of our lives. And so we definitely love our community. We love Gardendale. We’re going to live here forever. We’re going to raise our kids here and it is important for us to feel like a part of the community. We love our community and serving our people, and it means a lot to us.
The weekly menu is posted on the Facebook page for Farmstand on Fieldstown, along with a preorder form to ensure the item you want is there.
The Filling Station 2, located at 250 City Street, hosted a ribbon cutting recently. This is the second location for the restaurant owners and a brand new menu for Gardendale residents to enjoy.
Recently, Tate’s Barbershop, located at 1124 Main Street hosted a ribbon cutting.
World Class Motors announced they will be closing after 20 years due to the owners retiring. The building has reportedly been sold and new businesses are scheduled to move in
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
RACHEL DAVIS KARR
Mayor Stan Hogeland’s annual State of the City Address gives residents and business owners the opportunity to recap the previous year’s changes and get a peek at the future growth of the city. The theme this year was “Built by Good People.”
Although Hogeland has sometimes used the address to reveal exciting new businesses coming to the city, this year he did not announce anything new, but talked about the announcements made just after last year’s address—namely the addition of large sporting goods retailer, Academy Sports and Outdoors. The store is projected to open near the
interstate in early 2027, but Hogeland said they are striving to be open in time to capitalize on the 2026 holiday season.
Other new businesses that opened this year include the lunch provider for the event, The Filling Station 2.
Hogeland also announced that Gardendale just had its first-ever $18 million-plus year. Other accomplishments he touted were the $7 million the city has poured into education over the last six years, including more than $250,000 in the first three months of 2026. This is part of the city’s decision to go “all in” on children and recreation, which also included the building of the new Bill Noble Park, which
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Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding
Jefferson County Center Point Satellite Courthouse 2651 Center Point Pkwy, Birmingham, 35215
June 13 9-11:30 AM
Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding
Jefferson County Valley Water
Reclamation Facility 3923 Clear Water Dr, Bessemer, 35023
September 12 9-11:30 AM
Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding
Birmingham City Hall / Linn Park 710 20th St N, Birmingham, 35203
October 17 8-11:30 AM
Household Hazardous Waste/ Electronics/TVs/Paper Shredding
Site 1: Camp Bessemer 3295 King St, Bessemer, 35023
Site 2: Camp Ketona 121 County Shop Rd, Birmingham, 35217
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Hogeland said has served more than 170,000 people.
The mayor also praised the city employees, department heads and particularly first responders. According to Hogeland, Gardendale’s population has increased more than 17% (showing population growth 75 percent faster than similar cities), but during the same time, it showed a crime decrease of percent. He credited the city’s police department and Chief Scott Banks with keeping citizens safe.
“The number one thing, as a mayor, that you got to do, is above all you got to keep the community safe,” Hogeland said.
The Fire Department is also part of that safety, and Hogeland said the department just received two new fire trucks.
A growing and sustaining force in the city, The Medical Mile, now includes more than 150 medical practitioners. More growth is likely, as UAB announced plans to expand offerings in Gardendale with an addition to its facility.
Hogeland also praised the council members for their hard work and dedication to the city. He said the council members are committed to working together to grow the city, but also be good stewards of the money the city does receive.
As always, Hogeland reminded the crowd, “Greater things are yet to be done in this city.”
The annual Spring Fling at Bill Noble Park attracted people of all ages to sample the food offerings, gather Easter eggs and enjoy all the other activities.
Kathleen Phillips is a food blogger, food stylist, cookbook author, and former Oxmoor House test kitchen director (Southern Living cookbooks). On her food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, she creates Southern shortcut recipes. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Food Blogger, GritsAndGouda.com
Mother’s Day brunch is the perfect excuse to make something a little special, but not complicated. My Pan-Fried Crab Cakes do just that. They’re crispy on the outside, tender and full of flavor on the inside. Top them with a little remoulade sauce or make breakfast sandwiches between English muffins. If you’re planning the whole brunch spread for your family, you can find more easy breakfast and brunch recipes at GritsAndGouda.com.
8 ounces jumbo lump or lump crabmeat
1 medium or large egg
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or ½ teaspoon zest
½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
11 saltine crackers, crushed (about ⅓ cup)
3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
Carefully look through crabmeat to remove any pieces of shell.
Whisk the egg in a medium bowl until lightly beaten. Add mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and Old Bay seasoning and stir well.
Add crabmeat and cracker crumbs. Very gently, fold the crab and crackers into the egg mixture, keeping the lumps of crab intact.
Cover and chill at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours. This helps hold the patties together when cooking.
Gently shape crab mixture into 4 patties.
Melt butter in a large skillet. Cook the patties in butter over medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden. Turn the patties and cook 4 minutes on the other side or until golden.
How to cook Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Crab Cakes: To cook crab cakes in the air fryer, follow the directions for Pan Fried Crab Cakes through shaping the crab patties. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees. Coat both the air fryer rack and both side of the crab cakes with an oil sprayer. I don’t recommend an aerosol cooking spray. Air fry for 7 minutes or until both sides are golden brown.
IRMA LABORDE
DIRECTOR, GARDENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Seven years ago, Irma LaBorde started working at the Gardendale Library at the reception desk–helping visitors find books or other resources they needed. Over the years, Irma’s duties have changed and now, as the assistant director, she mostly finds her days filled with keeping the building in working order, getting bills paid and submitting requested items to the library. She also looks for grant availability to grow and enhance patrons experience. That means making sure they purchase new books and maintain programs at the library within the allotted budget.
“People don’t think about libraries having to buy books, but we do,” LaBorde said.
Another big part of her job is keeping track of all the statistics of the library—how many books, patrons and programs. This make grant reporting or new application possible.
But even now, her favorite task is still getting to chat with visitors and help them find out what they are looking for.
“I still like just talking to people, seeing what’s going on and telling them all the stuff that they can do with the library,” LaBorde said. “They’re amazed that in the Jefferson County system, we all share all of our things, all of our libraries
share their materials, not all the library systems do that. And so they still find that amazing out in our county.”
When she isn’t working, LaBorde is often helping out as a member of the high school’s band boosters because her son plays or serving her church’s youth group.
“I volunteer with the big kids too at the church and they’re kindergarten through fifth grade,” LaBorde said. They’re really more fun. I’m so short, so their goal is to be taller than me before they leave and move into the sixth grade, so they want to be taller than me before they go to youth. One of them actually says to me, ‘Ms. Irma, you’re looking short today.’ He’s convinced that he’s taller that day, because I’m looking short. So that’s fun. I like them. They don’t really. I don’t know. It’s like they don’t lie. They just tell you what they’re thinking. They’re not being mean. They’re just telling you what you’re thinking.”
Laborde also serves on Kingdom Kids Consignment at church.
“We do that twice a year,” she explained. “And it’s like having a part time job. I’m there two weeks out of the year for that. And then the rest of the year trying to get everything together for it.”
Matt Weber is editor of Home Improvement & Repairs magazine based in Birmingham, Alabama. Find more at www.homeimprovementandrepairs.com.
How much advice about clearing sink clogs can I cram into a brief article? Let’s find out.
To fix a clogged bathroom sink, start by using a cup-shaped plunger with a large enough suction cup to completely cover the drain and create an airtight seal against the surrounding sink. Seal off any other outlets, such as the overflow drain in sinks, with a wet rag to create a vacuum, then fill the sink with enough water to cover the suction area. Push out any trapped air beneath the cup, then give the plunger 10 to 15 up-anddown pumping strokes to jolt loose the clog. You might need to repeat this a few times.
If that doesn’t work, you can remove the drain cover which closes the drain. The drain cover operates using a ball-and-socket lever at the back of the sink’s drainpipe.
To remove the drain cover, first place a bucket beneath the sink’s drainpipe to catch water. Most drain covers have a metal “lever-rod” that raises and lowers the cap. Unscrew and remove the retaining nut on the back of the drainpipe that holds the “ball” of the lever-rod to the socket. Then, slide the lever-rod out of the pipe (and the keyhole at the bottom of the drain cover). You should then be able to pull the drain cover freely out of the sink drain, which is often what traps hair, objects and other debris in the drain. Use a plumbing auger (or a wire coat hanger) and hot water to clear out the pipe. Wash the drain cover before replacement.
If that still doesn’t work, use a pipe wrench to remove the P-trap (the U-shaped pipe) beneath the sink, in which a foreign object may have gotten trapped in the turn of the pipe. Run a plumbing auger or plumbing snake into the drainpipe past the P-trap to rout out clogs farther down the line.
An inexpensive plastic plumbing auger is one of the best $4 purchases a DIY homeowner can make. Available at most hardware stores, the augers are hooked to grab hair and gunk, stiff enough to shove through a pipe, but flexible enough to follow the turns in a P-trap or S-trap.
Kitchen sinks are less susceptible to hair clogs and more susceptible to built-up fat and grease from food. For this reason, you might want to pour boiling water into a clogged sink drain to see if that melts the problem away.
Kitchen sinks are generally built like bathroom sinks and have a P-trap, but they may also be connected to a dishwasher’s drain line or to a garbage disposal, which might complicate effective use of a plunger and plumbing auger. If the clog remains, it might help to remove the P-trap and insert the auger directly into the drainpipe. Snake out the pipe until you hit the obstruction and break it up, then flush the pipe with water.
If this doesn’t fix or locate the problem, check the other household drains to make sure the clog is only in one fixture. (If more than one drain is clogged, then there is a clog in the main drainpipe, so call a plumber.)
If water is slowly draining, but the pipe is not completely clogged, then a liquid cleaner may solve the issue. However, thin liquid drain cleaners often run right down the pipe and straight past the clog, leaving the problem stuck in the drain. For this reason, you should choose a thicker foam or gel product that sticks to the inside of the pipe for better coverage and longer contact with the blockage. Allow the product to sit as directed—usually about 30 minutes—and follow with running water to test the drain.
Always use chemical drain cleaners in a well-ventilated area and wear rubber gloves. Don’t use a plunger if a liquid cleaner is in the drain, or you risk splashing caustic chemicals on your skin. And don’t use a liquid cleaner if the drain is completely blocked, because if it doesn’t work, you’ll be stuck with a sink full of caustic water.
Homeowners with septic tanks should note that the active ingredient in chemical cleaners is often chlorine bleach, which can harm the beneficial bacteria of a septic system.
Dissolving a clog with vinegar and baking soda, however, will not damage septic systems. First, pour hot (but not boiling) water into the drain to loosen the clog. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda into the open drain. Then, pour 1⁄2 cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain. You will hear the mixture fizzle as it begins to foam. Allow the mixture to act on the clog for 15 minutes to an hour, then try to rinse the obstruction away with hot water.
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In World History II, Tabernacle Christian freshmen studied 1800s European society and its changing outlooks, specifically in art. Then they picked up paint brushes to recreate favorite artwork from either Impressionism or Post-Impressionism.
Tabernacle Christian School’s kindergarten and elementary classes celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday to kick off Read Across America Week. Today K3-K5 sported pajamas and Grades 1-5 donned all things green, with everyone excited for these special days focused on reading and fun, coordinated outfits.
During a recent elementary school chapel, Tabernacle Christian Elementary recognized the students from Grades 3-5 who participated and placed in the ACEA State Academic Online Testing Competition. Out of 28 testers, 12 earned placements, including three first place winners, six second place winners and three third place winners.
In a middle and high school chapel, the school recognized students who participated and placed in the ACEA State Academic Online Testing Competition. Those students brought home two second place wins in middle school English and history and a third place in high school chemistry.
One Wednesday every month, Tabernacle Christian School seniors choose a restaurant for lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Read. Each meal has been an opportunity to introduce The Reads to the Birmingham area, while they have a great time getting to know the soon-to-be graduates.
“A child who reads for pleasure will outlearn a child who reads for grades every single time. Curiosity beats compliance.” - Connor Boyack
Mrs. Osborne’s book club meets after school in her quiet classroom at Tabernacle Christian School where students sprawl out, shoeless and relaxed, using flashlights to read their selections, while happily munching on sweet-n-salty snacks. Punch cards and specialty bookmarks included.
Freshman Aliyah Campbell and Junior Allie Crull were honored during a chapel at Tabernacle Christian School for being State Association Winners in their respective ACEA Fine Arts categories. Due to their placements, they are eligible to compete in the AACS National Competition at Bob Jones University in April.
Aliyah won First Place with a Superior rating in Still Life/Macro Photography.
Allie won First Place with a Superior rating in Digital Media.
Congratulations to Bragg Middle School’s April Students of the Month. These students were chosen by their teachers for their hard work, a great display of character and their willingness to go above and beyond. Students of the Month are treated to lunch, courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings in Gardendale, and gift cards provided by Gardendale’s Sonic.
Students of the Month
6th Grade - Jaxson Cochran & Rian Purdom
7th Grade - Brayden Roberts & Catherine Pribyl
8th Grade - Gage Armstrong & Coraleigh Trapp
The new Fultondale Chick-fil-A location officially opened at 1709 Fulton Road.
The North Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting at Connection Point Church on March 14. Be sure to check them out and learn more about Connection Point Church:
The North Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Women in Business luncheon in April. The event, which featured Heidi Elnora as the keynote speaker, also featured games, activities and chances for local businesswomen to network and make connections.
During a recent Warrior City Council, they congratulated a team for their undefeated season and league championship. Players: Ryder Billitz, Brently Bridges, Jakari Brown, Davion Jones, Gregory Leverette, Chaz McElrath, De’Mari Richmond, Jackson Salyers, Blake Stone, Gaije Turner, Khariq Tyler and Kobe Watts. Assistant coach: Wayne Brown. Head coach: Darnell Blankenship.
Mayor Jim Lowery and the Fultondale City Council are incredibly proud of the accomplishments at Fultondale Elementary School. Under the excellent leadership of Principal Nicole Donnell, the school continues to shine. A special congratulations goes to gifted teacher Mrs. Mo (Shelia Mostavi) and her students, who are frequently recognized for their hard work. Mayor Lowery had the honor of being present as Jefferson County Schools Curriculum Specialist Traci Ingleright presented Mrs. Mo with a plaque for “Best School Project.”
The North Jefferson Chamber of Commerce named Gardendale resident, Roz Jackson, as its new Creative Director.
The City of Kimberly was honored to recognize a remarkable 100th birthday milestone.Mayor Richard Dixon had the privilege of presenting a proclamation to Mabel Myrick to celebrate this extraordinary achievement. Reaching a century of life reflects a lifetime of experiences, resilience and history.
Corner Middle School’s softball team won the 2026 JEFCOED Middle School Championship. Corner secured the title with a 13–0 victory over McAdory Middle School in the final game.
• The Town of Morris will once again host Food Truck Fridays in 2026. These events will be May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14 and September 11. Each of these days, the hours will be 5 to 8:30 p.m. and entertainment will be provided, so chairs are encouraged, The events will be in the park across the street from town hall. Contact Clerk@MorrisAL.US for more information.
• Fultondale Founders Day will be August 15 at Black Creek Park. Applications for vendors are available at northjeffersonchamber.com/foundersday
At a recent City Council meeting, the administration, teachers and students from Gardendale Elementary School discussed the funding that the Citizens of Gardendale have provided to their school this year. The total amount given to their school this year is $112,903.90. These are the programs funded:
• Positive Behavior Intervention Celebration for Students: $10,138
• Books for Reading Teachers: $882.00
• Tractor Supply for Chicken Needs: $150
• STEAM Class Ozobots Programmable Robots: $3,016.26
• DigiMaster 5000 Speaker System for Teachers in Kindergarten to Communicate with Students: $5,081.51
• 3rd Grade – Birmingham Zoo and McWane Center: $2,712
• 4th Grade Trip to Montgomery: $5,775
• Camp Cosby 5th Grade Field Trip: $7,500
• DigiMaster 5000 Speaker System for Art Teacher: $1,304.13
• Camp McDowell Farm School Field trip: $1,480
• Library Renovations and Equipment: $18,365
• K-2 Handwriting Books, Parking Lot Striping, Floor Waxing: $18,500
• Studies Weekly 3rd-5th: $3,000
• Cintas Services: $7,000
• Student Incentives for ACAP: $1,000
• EXED Field trips: $2,000
• Field Trip Shirts for Students PreK-5th: $10,000
• Painting: $2,500 - $25,500
• Teacher Stipends for Supplies in Classroom: $12,500
At a recent City Council meeting, the administration, teachers and students from Bragg Middle School discussed the funding that the Citizens of Gardendale have provided to their school this year. The total amount given to their school this year is $187,007. These are the programs funded:
• Bragg Middle School Choir - Music$1,509.92, Bluetooth Speaker System: $229 - $1,738.92
• Bragg Choir Teacher Supplement: $5,350
• Math Team support: $1,200
• Tier 3 Intervention Curriculum Materials for Math Classes: $5,004.50
• 30 Texas Instrument Calculators for Math Class: $284.40
• Cheerleading Practice Mats: $4,312.92
• Gross Out Field Trip for 7th Grade to Bill Noble Park for 255 students: $5,355
• Wrestling Singlets (two sets of 50) and 50 Headgears: $8,851
• Bragg Football - Reconditioning of Helmets: $10,000, Repainting Facemasks and Helmet Decals: $2,500, Misc.: $1,500
• Bragg Tennis Team Pro Supplement: $3,000
• ACAP Celebration for Students and IReady Incentives-Real Deal Gaming: $14,818.98
• Bragg Middle UDA Camp: $2,662
• Bragg Middle Cheer Camp: $3,513
• EdPuzzle Platform for Bragg Middle School Teachers: $3,250
• 8th Grade Model Rocket Launch: $3,463.98
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival Field Trip: $3,510.80
• Backdrops for Plays for the Drama Club: $995.29
• Viewsonic for Bragg Middle at $2,326.39 x 8: $18,611.12
• Digital E Posters to Display Student Work, Character Education, Highlight achievement, and motivate positive behavior: $2,163.42 x 5 = $10,817.10
• Basketball Scoreboard in Gym: $6,045.00
• Ariens Edge 52 Inch Zero Turn Mower: $3,599.00
• Kyocera Copy Machine for A+ College Ready Program for All subjects: $9,999.00
Michael Brannon was recently hired as a part-time laborer in the Inspections Department. He is pictured with department head, Blake Castleberry.
Blake Dobbs was recently hired as a full-time laborer in the Parks and Recreation Department. He is pictured with department head, Dale Hyche,
David Marsh was recently hired as a full-time laborer in the Public Works Department. He is pictured with department head, Paul Tidwell.
The Blue Star Garden Club recently took the lead in a project to improve the city’s Veterans Park. The group hosted a ribbon cutting for the updated area of the park called “Blue Star Serenity Prayer Garden.” The city assisted with the project and installed sprinkler system addition, a beautiful new concrete pad around the Alabama flag, installed the benches and planted the shrubs and trees. Blue Star planted the flowers in all the planters and in the raised beds. The Plant America grant of $1670.00 was used to pay for pots, plants and 2 trees. The total project cost around $2,300.00. Blue Star and donations from the Gardendale Historical Society helped pay the difference. Mordecai Sports donated one of the benches.
Drew Hogeland was recently hired as a police officer in the Gardendale Police Department. He is pictured with Lt. Bill Sharbono.
Brodie Hale was recently hired as a parttime laborer in the Parks and Recreation Department. He is pictured with department head, Dale Hyche.
The City of Gardendale proclaimed the month of April as National Donate Life Month with representatives from Legacy of Hope.This is part of an effort to encourage citizens to register as organ and tissue donors at the Driver’s License Office or go online to organdonor.gov and to share their decision with their families.
Registration for upcoming kindergartners - sixth graders is being held until May 31. Visit Rocket Youth Football & Cheer on Facebook or billnoblepark.recdesk.com for more information.
Registration is being held online at billnoblepark.recdesk.com and will close one week before the start of camp. There are six weeks of camp fun beginning May 25. Pick just one week or attend multiple. Campers experience nature walks, arts & crafts, and sports.
Homeschool Connect & Create is a drop-off creative hangout where kids get to: create through art, music, and drama; connect with other homeschoolers; build confidence in a relaxed, encouraging space; explore creativity without pressure or performance. This isn’t school. It’s not a class. It’s a monthly creative reset your kids will actually look forward to. Kids are encouraged to bring their own creative thing to share! May 1 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 116 Bell Street, Gardendale.
Calling all adventurers ages 11–18! Join us for an epic journey into the world of Dungeons & Dragons — where imagination, teamwork, and storytelling come to life. Ready to roll the dice and start your quest? Text 205-764-7766 with any questions! May 1, 15, and 29 from 6-10 p.m. at 116 Bell Street, Gardendale.
Craft Club is a free creative hangout for ages 10–18 who love cosplay, crafting, and imaginative expression. Students will create, connect, and let their creativity run wild in an encouraging space. May 1, 15, and 29 from 6-10 p.m. at 116 Bell Street, Gardendale.
The North Jefferson Republican Patriots will meet May 21 6:30-8 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center.
A new program for kids grades 3-5 at the Gardendale Public Library will teach the magic of theatre through a variety of engaging activities, performing arts, educational games and creative exercises. This club is designed to build confidence,
improve teamwork, and develop self-expression in a fun and supportive environment. It is $40 per month, with a discount for more than one child and if all paid in advance. May 7 4:305:30 p.m.
The Gardendale Golden Eagles meet on the second Friday of the month at the Gardendale Senior Center beginning at 12:15 pm and ending at 1:30 pm. The group is open to anyone 55 or older and features lunch speakers and fun day trips.
Our library food pantry always need the following items: hearty soups/stews/chili, varieties of canned chicken/tuna/ ham, single-sized and normal cereal, granola type bars, fruit cups, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal/grits packets, pasta and Alfredo and other sauces and any toiletries. We take food only if it is not outdated and not opened.
Help us stock our Little Free Library! We are in need of children’s and young adult books in good to perfect condition to stock our Little Free Library (LFL) located by the soccer fields off of Fieldstown Road.
Donations can be placed directly in the LFL or you can bring them to the front desk at the library.
The Kermit E. Dooley Gardendale Historical Museum (170 Bell Street) will be open to the public every Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is maintained and operated by the Gardendale Historical Society.
For a complete list of events and happenings, visit MyGardendale.com to see an interactive calendar.
To have an item added to our calendar, please send information to rachel@jbmcmedia.com.
