SEPTEMBER 2026
THE
FIGHT OF THEIR
Lives
student-athletes battle rare bone cancer diagnoses
PAGE 8
OUR
5 FIRST
YEARS
A look back at the early days of
Gardendale Magazine
PAGE 26
SESQUICENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION GFBC celebrates 150 years PAGE 18
Gardendale Municipal Court Growing with Our Community. Committed to Serving You. Gardendale is a community that continues to grow, evolve, and thrive—and the Gardendale Municipal Court is proud to serve as a steady and trusted part of that progress. As our city expands, we remain committed to supporting our citizens with professionalism, respect, and fairness for all. We understand that coming to court can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment where every individual is treated with dignity and care. Our court has jurisdiction over traffic and parking violations, municipal ordinance violations, and misdemeanor offenses. Behind every case is a team dedicated to helping citizens navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
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/ Table of Contents /
8/
26/
14/
34/
18/
36/
22/
38/
Cover: Two Gardendale students battle bone cancer
Feature: McKenlie Boley discusses her path forward after cancer
Faith: Gardendale First Baptist celebrates 150 year
Feature: Gardendale Cheer and Dance teams look forward to new year
[ 4 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
Feature: Looking back on 5 years of Gardendale Magazine
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/ About Us / On The Cover Who We Are
About the Cover Audrey Howard and Skylar Ingram are battling bone cancer, while still navigating the confusing world of becoming a teenager. Fortunately, they both have families, friends and a whole community backing them up.
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.
PHOTO BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Gardendale Magazine is 100% local; the stories and photos are all about the city of Gardendale, its residents, its businesses, its schools, and its cultural institutions. It’s our promise to you that we will always keep it this way, so that the content and stories are relevant to everyone who calls Gardendale home.
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/ Editor’s Note / Five years. Honestly, that doesn’t seem possible. When the first issue of Gardendale Magazine landed in mailboxes, I don’t think any of us knew exactly what it would become. We just knew this community deserved a publication that celebrated the people who make Gardendale special. Five years later, we’ve shared hundreds of stories, thousands of photographs and more memories than I could ever count. This issue gave me the chance to look back. Inside, you’ll find a retrospective featuring some of our favorite stories from the past five years. It isn’t meant to be a “best of” list—there are far too many incredible people to narrow it down that way. Instead, it’s a reminder of how much has happened in our community and how grateful I am that we’ve been trusted to tell those stories.
are different, but they share something remarkable: courage that far exceeds their years. I hope you’ll take the time to read about their journeys, their families and the strength they’ve shown through unimaginable circumstances. We also celebrate 150 years of Gardendale First Baptist Church, an anniversary that tells the story of more than one congregation. It’s a reminder of how institutions like churches, schools and local businesses become part of the fabric of a community, connecting generations through faith, service and shared history. One of the greatest privileges of this job is that I get to preserve moments. Some are joyful. Some are difficult. Some are celebrations, and some are stories that challenge us to appreciate what really matters. Together, they tell the story of Gardendale. Thank you for reading, for sharing your stories with me and for allowing me to spend the last five years documenting this community. I truly can’t wait to see what stories the next five years hold. Rachel Davis Karr, Content Director
Of course, this issue isn’t just about looking backward. Our cover story introduces you to three incredible young women whose lives have been forever changed by bone cancer. Their stories
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September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 7 ]
/ Cover /
A lifesaving
FRIENDSHIP Two Gardendale girls. Two rare cancer diagnoses. One friendship that may have changed everything. STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR When 12-year-old Audrey Howard’s shoulder began hurting after softball, no one thought cancer. Not Audrey. Not her parents. Not her doctors. Like countless young athletes, she assumed she’d strained a muscle. Physical therapy was discussed. A rotator cuff injury seemed far more likely than a tumor hidden on her first rib. It took nine months to learn the truth: Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Just as Audrey’s family began navigating chemotherapy, radiation and the uncertainty that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis, another Gardendale family found themselves facing PHOTO BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
[ 8 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
eerily familiar circumstances. This time, it was 12-year-old Skylar Ingram. Skylar, an active volleyball player for school and club teams, had developed persistent pain in her leg. Like Audrey, she tried to ignore it. Like Audrey, she assumed it was sports-related. But Audrey’s story changed everything. “I started crying in the car,” Skylar recalled. “I told Mom, ‘What if I have cancer like Audrey?’” Her mother, longtime Gardendale High School volleyball coach and current Gardendale Elementary School teacher, Kelly Ingram, immediately tried to reassure her. “I told her, ‘No, baby,” Kelly remembers. “There’s no way.’”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY INGRAM AND ALLISON HOWARD
Yet Audrey’s mother, Allison Howard, had already lived through months of unanswered questions. She made one phone call that may have altered Skylar’s future. “I told Kelly, ‘Don’t do what I did,’” Allison said. “‘Don’t let them talk you into physical therapy first. Go get an X-ray.’” Kelly listened. Within days, imaging revealed a tumor. Scans and biopsies followed before doctors confirmed osteosarcoma, another rare bone cancer. Today, Audrey has completed frontline treatment for Ewing sarcoma. After eight months of chemotherapy, 31 rounds of radiation and additional treatment for lung nodules, her scans are now clear and stable. She has entered a clinical trial maintenance program designed to reduce the risk of recurrence.
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 9 ]
/ Cover / Skylar is still in the middle of her fight. She is undergoing chemotherapy before a complex limb-salvage surgery in which surgeons will remove part of her femur and replace it with bone from her fibula, allowing doctors to save her leg. Months of rehabilitation still lie ahead. For both girls, the physical journey has been unimaginably difficult. But neither spends much time talking about bravery. Instead, they joke about bald heads. They compare treatment stories. They laugh about Audrey trying to recreate Eminem’s look. And they talk about shopping. The moms agree that retail therapy is something both girls–and the moms–use to take their minds off of treatments. The hardest moments, they agreed, were often the ones they feared beforehand. Losing their hair wasn’t easy, but once it happened, it became one less thing to worry about. “I felt so much better,” Audrey said. “It was like a weight off my shoulders.” Skylar felt much the same after shaving hers. “Now everyone knows,” she remembered thinking. But once it was done, the anxiety disappeared. Their mothers say the girls have taught them far more than they expected. Neither child complained much before diagnosis. They adapted to constant pain because they didn’t realize that pain wasn’t normal. That’s why they hope other parents hear one message above all else. If your child has persistent pain, don’t ignore it. Advocate.
[ 10 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY INGRAM AND ALLISON HOWARD
Push for answers. “The worst thing that can happen is they tell you it’s nothing,” Allison said. “Okay. Great. I’ve never been happier to be wrong.” Kelly agrees. “When your gut tells you something isn’t right, you’ve got to listen.” The two families have also discovered something else along this journey: they were never fighting alone. From Children’s of Alabama nurses—many of whom are cancer survivors themselves—to classmates, teammates, coaches and complete strangers, support has poured in from every direction. “The Gardendale community has taken such good care of us,” Kelly said. “It’s been unbelievable.” The families say that support often comes in unexpected ways. While people naturally want to buy toys or activity books, restaurant cards or DoorDash for those long days at the hospital or when they get home late and exhausted or gift cards that let teenagers pick out something they truly want often make the biggest difference.
PHOTO BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 11 ]
/ Cover /
Sometimes, though, the greatest gift is simply showing up. Perhaps the most remarkable symbol of that support hangs on a poster.
Yet together, they’ve become something neither expected: living reminders that awareness matters, early diagnosis matters and community matters. Audrey believes her experience helped save her
Months before Skylar was diagnosed, she painted a celebration sign for Audrey’s final chemotherapy treatment. Nurses throughout Children’s Hospital signed it as Audrey finished treatment.
friend’s leg—and perhaps much more.
Later, after Skylar received her own diagnosis, those same nurses recognized the name.
clearest purpose.
The girl who had made Audrey’s celebration poster had become one of their patients.
simple: if sharing their stories helps even one family
It’s a heartbreaking connection neither family ever wanted to share.
Skylar believes it, too. Sometimes, the hardest journeys leave behind the
For these two Gardendale girls, that purpose is recognize the signs sooner, then something good will have come from the fight neither of them ever chose.
PHOTO BY HEATHER WARDEN, WARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
[ 12 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
/ Cover /
Still Marching Forward
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRISTEN BOLEY
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR There are moments that divide life into “before” and “after.” For McKenlie Boley, one of those moments came after months of unexplained pain in her ankle during middle school volleyball. What began as an injury that refused to heal became appointment after appointment, test after test and doctor after doctor. By the time physicians finally identified the problem as Ewing sarcoma, the tumor had grown to 10 centimeters. “It just kept getting bigger,” McKenlie said. “I couldn’t wear shoes.” The diagnosis came just after she finished eighth grade, only weeks before she was [ 14 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
supposed to begin high school. Instead of spending the summer preparing for freshman year, she began a grueling journey through chemotherapy, 42 radiation treatments and countless trips to Children’s of Alabama. But while cancer changed her schedule, it never changed who she was. “I really had a good attitude about it,” she said. “It didn’t really affect the way I wanted to live.” That determination became her trademark. McKenlie continued attending school whenever she could. She stayed involved with the Gardendale High School band and color guard, participated in performances and refused to let cancer define her high school experience. There were days she simply
couldn’t do everything. Radiation left painful blisters that made walking difficult, while chemotherapy brought exhaustion. Even so, she kept showing up. “I don’t like people treating me like I’m fragile,” she said. Her family made sure they didn’t. The only activity McKenlie stepped away from temporarily was color guard competition, a decision she made because she didn’t want to hold her team back while she recovered. Instead, she cheered from the sidelines, determined to return when she was ready. By the end of that season, she accomplished the goal she had set for herself. “I ran the entire show on the field,” she said. “That was my goal.” There were plenty of tears that day—but they were tears of victory. Today, McKenlie has completed treatment
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/ Cover / and now returns every three months for scans. While every new ache can still bring a moment of worry, cancer no longer occupies her daily thoughts. “I feel good,” she said. “I just live my life.” That life is as busy as ever. As she prepares for her junior year, McKenlie balances Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes with Student Council, marching band, color guard and her church youth group at Gardendale First Baptist Church. She’s especially looking forward to another marching season and winter guard. Cancer also gave her something unexpected: a purpose. When she was first diagnosed, one of the medical staff introduced her to a nurse who had survived Ewing sarcoma as a child. “She came in and said, ‘You’re going to be fine. Look at me,’” McKenlie recalled. Today, that same survivor is a nurse practitioner. Before cancer, McKenlie wasn’t sure what career she wanted to pursue. Now, she hopes to become a nurse practitioner working with pediatric oncology patients, helping children facing the same battle she once fought. She also participated in a clinical research study during her treatment. Although the medication initially made her very sick, she knows those difficult experiences are already helping improve treatment for future patients. “I’m glad,” she said. “I do not want somebody else to go through that.” McKenlie doesn’t see herself as someone who overcame cancer. She sees herself as someone who kept living through it. And that’s exactly what she’s doing today— marching onto the field, planning for the future and embracing every ordinary teenage moment that once seemed anything but guaranteed.
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/ Community /
FAITHFUL
THROUGH THE GENERATIONS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARDENDALE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Gardendale First Baptist Church prepares to celebrate 150 years of ministry, memories and God’s faithfulness STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR There are few institutions that remain a steady presence in a community for 150 years. Gardendale First Baptist Church has weathered world wars, economic downturns, changing neighborhoods, technological revolutions and the rapid growth of Gardendale itself. Through it all, the church has continued to do what its leaders say has always mattered most: preach the Gospel, love people and point others to Christ. On Sept. 27, the congregation will celebrate its sesquicentennial with a day honoring the past while looking expectantly toward the future. The celebration marks 150 years since the church was established on
[ 18 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
Sept. 30, 1876, originally as Clebit (or Collybeate) Springs Baptist Church near present-day Fultondale before eventually becoming Gardendale First Baptist Church. “This is really a celebration of God’s faithfulness,” Pastor Kevin Hamm said. “We’re standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us.” That theme runs throughout every part of the anniversary. A new 250-page commemorative history book builds on Maurene Guffin’s centennial history, A Church Triumphant, by chronicling the church’s last 50 years through the ministries of pastors Lewis Marler, David Dykes, Steve Gaines and Kevin Hamm. Filled with photographs and personal stories, the book captures
not only milestones, but the people who shaped them. “It’s always been, always is, and always will be about Jesus,” reads the introduction to the book, a phrase that has become the guiding theme of the anniversary celebration. Throughout September, church members will also experience a historical timeline, displays of artifacts from previous anniversaries, video testimonies from members spanning multiple generations, and opportunities to record their own memories for future generations. For longtime members Walt and Dr. Sandy Thomas, researching the church’s history revealed more than dates and buildings. “It reinforced the character of this church,” Walt Thomas said. “You see God’s providence all through the decisions that were made.” Thomas points to one recurring theme over the past century and a half: each generation embraced new leadership while remaining focused on the church’s mission. “Every pastor brought different gifts for the time God called him here,” he said. “The people trusted that leadership, and together they kept the main thing the main thing.” Hamm believes that willingness to adapt without compromising biblical truth has helped the church remain healthy across generations. “The church has had a unique ability to stay focused on what it’s really all about,” he said. “Preaching the Bible, sharing the Gospel, loving people and doing missions. It’s easy to get sidetracked by smaller issues, but this church has consistently stayed focused on those bigger things.”
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 19 ]
/ Community /
That balance can be seen in everything from worship styles to technology. Long before online worship became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, church leaders had invested in television and broadcast ministries, allowing services to continue seamlessly when gathering in person wasn’t possible. The same philosophy guides the church’s leadership today. Alongside longtime staff members who have served for decades are younger pastors and ministry leaders who connect with the next generation while honoring the church’s heritage. “We’ve tried to be intentional about investing in younger leaders,” Hamm said. “If you lose the next generation, you’ve lost the church.” Beginning Sept. 2, Wednesday evening “Core Value Nights” will highlight the church’s four guiding [ 20 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
principles—Worship God, Make Disciples, Love People and Share Jesus—through special worship services, discipleship opportunities, community service projects and neighborhood outreach. The celebration culminates Sept. 27 with anniversary worship services followed by three nights of revival featuring Shane Pruitt, Fred Luter and Thomas Hammonds. As members prepare to celebrate a century and a half of ministry, the focus isn’t simply on looking back. Instead, they hope the anniversary serves as a reminder that the same faithfulness that carried the church through its first 150 years will guide whatever comes next. “It’s not a perfect church,” Hamm said. “But it’s a very healthy church. To God be the glory.” For more information about the celebration and a list of events, visit GFBC.com/150.
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Community Profile
ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL Gardendale cheer builds on national success while bringing the energy back to Friday nights STORY AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR After making history with a third-place finish at nationals in a brand-new competition division last season, the Gardendale High School cheerleaders aren’t looking at 2025-26 as a rebuilding year. They’re looking at it as the next step. The Rockets return the majority of last year’s squad after graduating eight seniors, with just two new members joining the program. That experience gives firstyear varsity head coach Olivia Smith plenty to build on as the team balances the demands of Friday night football with a busy competition schedule. Smith’s title may be different this season, but much of her role isn’t. After working alongside the varsity program last year, attending practices and games while coaching the junior varsity squad, the transition to leading the varsity team has been a natural one. “I’m just stepping in to be considered the head coach of that position,” Smith said. “Things really won’t look much different because I was already doing all of that.” One thing the Rockets definitely plan to
[ 22 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
continue is the partnership between the cheerleaders and dance team that debuted last season. Competing as one unified group of 40 athletes and a mascot, Gardendale entered a brand-new national division with little idea of what to expect. The result was a third-place finish in the nation. “It was truly one routine, one team,” Smith said. “You could really see the connection between the dance team and the cheerleaders.” Now that the program knows what the judges are looking for, expectations have grown. “We’re excited to get this going and hopefully we have even higher than third place this year,” she said. The road back to nationals begins long before January. The Rockets will compete throughout the fall, with
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events scheduled in October and November before another January competition ahead of the national championship in Orlando.
spirit team on the sideline and not just a competition team.”
That schedule leaves little downtime.
Varsity captains Maddie Claire Hitler and Berkeley Fuller,
After wrapping up the school year with a sweep of honors at UCA camp at Auburn in May, the team had only a few weeks off before beginning choreography and preparing for another competition season.
Livers, were selected by their teammates and have already
Still, Smith wants fans to remember that Gardendale is more than a competition team. One of the program’s biggest goals this fall is bringing even more excitement to the sidelines. “We’re trying to really get the crowd engagement back,” she said. “We’re focusing on getting our stunts better. We want to be more energized on the sideline. We want to look like a
[ 24 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
Leadership will play a key role in making that happen.
along with JV captains Landry Grace Barber and Isabella embraced the responsibility. “They work together, they communicate with the team, and they’re always really good about coming to me with their ideas,” Smith said. “They’re not afraid to try something.” With experienced returners, ambitious goals and another trip to nationals on the horizon, Gardendale’s cheerleaders are aiming to prove last year’s finish was only the beginning. Whether they’re firing up the crowd under the Friday night lights or competing on the national stage, the Rockets are determined to keep building momentum—together.
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 25 ]
/ Then and Now /
Five Years of Gardendale Magazine
PHOTOS FROM THE GARDENDALE MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR Five years ago, we set out to tell the stories of Gardendale. At the time, we couldn’t have known exactly what those stories would look like—or how much the city itself would change along the way. Over the last five years, the pages of Gardendale Magazine have been filled with the people, places and events that make this community such a wonderful place to live, work and play. We’ve celebrated milestones and championships, watched new traditions begin and old ones continue and introduced readers to people doing extraordinary things. Looking back through those stories now is a little like opening a time capsule. Our very first issue featured Gardendale native and Zac Brown Band drummer Chris Fryar on the cover. Fryar grew up here and originally dreamed of playing baseball. A broken leg and a long summer spent [ 26 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
practicing drums helped send his life in another direction. Eventually, years of playing small gigs led to an audition with Zac Brown Band and a career performing on some of the biggest stages in the country. But when we talked to Fryar for that first issue, one thing hadn’t changed. “Gardendale is home for me,” he said. “It’s always fun to go visit New York or LA or Nashville, but Gardendale is home.” In many ways, that was a fitting place for this magazine to begin. Over the next five years, we would tell that same story in countless different ways: people who chose Gardendale, stayed here, returned here or devoted themselves to making it better. In that first year, we also introduced readers to the Outdoor Ability Foundation. When we wrote about the organization in 2021, it had just given away its 13th all-terrain Track Chair, designed to give children with disabilities access to terrain a traditional wheelchair cannot navigate.
Today, that number is 47. Those chairs mean hunting and fishing trips, days at the lake, beach vacations and experiences with family that might otherwise have been impossible. We’ve also watched some of the biggest changes in Gardendale happen right in front of us. Early on, we wrote about plans for a dramatically renovated Bill Noble Park, complete with renderings of what the finished project would eventually become.
APRIL 2024
Behind the Scenes
Today, it’s difficult to imagine Gardendale without it.
Streets, parks and rec crews make Magnolia Festival happen PAGE 27
The park reopened in early 2023 with nine baseball fields, a football field, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, a playground, event center, putting green, beach volleyball pit and more.
A GARDENDALE
But it also became more than a sports complex. Bill Noble Park has hosted farmers markets, seasonal celebrations, food trucks, children’s classes and other community activities. Five years after we first showed readers what it could become, it has become the backdrop for so many Gardendale traditions that it’s hard to remember when much of it existed only in a rendering. Of course, buildings and parks don’t make a city.
INSTITUTION
Peggy Tumlin and her devotion to this city PAGE 17
VOICE ON THE RISE GHS sophomore featured singer at Magnolia Festival PAGE 8
People do. Over these five years, we’ve had the privilege of sitting down with some of the people who helped build Gardendale into the community it is today—sometimes quite literally. Peggy Tumlin has lived in Gardendale all her life and spent much of that life finding ways to make her hometown better. A former city councilor and longtime Magnolia Festival volunteer, her service extended far beyond Gardendale, including years volunteering in UAB’s trauma unit. Service was a family tradition. Her husband, Charles, joined other local residents in giving up Saturdays and evenings to help build the Gardendale High School press box, field and stadium and spent years coaching Little League baseball. For Peggy, giving back was an honor. “When you’ve lived in a place like Gardendale all your life, as I have, you want to help make your good community even better,” she told us. Kermit Dooley devoted himself to making sure the stories of the people who came before him weren’t forgotten. The historical museum bears his name because of his decadeslong commitment to preserving Gardendale’s history. His memories stretched from an era of coal mines and local moonshiners to postwar shortages, early schools and even
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September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 27 ]
/ Then and Now / Gardendale’s unlikely connection to the space race. After retirement, Dooley helped the city create a historical society to preserve and record those stories for generations to come. That feels particularly meaningful as we look back now, because some of the people who shared their stories with us over the past five years are no longer here to tell them. We sat down with Dooley. We talked with Jeff Holliyan. We talked with Joe Stahlkuppe. Their voices remain in these pages. Holliyan spent four decades serving Gardendale, beginning as a general laborer in the public works department in 1982 and eventually becoming its director. His career offered a window into just how dramatically the city had changed. But when he prepared to retire, it wasn’t the projects or equipment he talked about most. It was service. “I am so happy that God chose me to be a public servant, to serve people,” he told us. Stahlkuppe offered another explanation for what makes Gardendale special. “The people here are different,” he said. “They are giving.” He talked about walking into local businesses and being greeted by name and about the generosity he saw throughout the community. “The people who are here are interesting and care about each other,” Stahlkuppe said. “That’s not something you can get in every city.”
There are also faces missing from the community that we dearly wish were still here. But there are still people showing up. They show up at football games and festivals. They line the streets for parades. They volunteer, coach, teach, serve, build, donate and find ways to take care of one another. Five years ago, we started Gardendale Magazine because we believed those stories deserved to be told.
Those words could just as easily describe the stories that have filled this magazine for five years.
After five years, we believe that even more.
We’ve covered the Magnolia Festival and Christmas parades, community celebrations and annual traditions. We’ve filled pages with football, cheerleading, dance team, Rockettes, wrestling, baseball, softball, volleyball and more.
We’ve also learned that sometimes the story we publish becomes something more with time. It becomes a record of what a place looked like before construction began. A snapshot of a teenager before the rest of his life unfolded. A conversation with someone whose voice we will someday miss.
We’ve celebrated businesses, employees, volunteers, teachers, coaches, students and neighbors.
It becomes history.
And we’ve watched people grow up. Students we photographed as underclassmen have become seniors. Seniors have graduated and begun lives of their own. Coaches have retired and others have stepped into their places. Businesses have opened and closed. Projects that existed only on paper have become landmarks.
There are hundreds of stories in the magazines we’ve published over these last five years, and together they tell a much larger one—the story of a community growing, changing, celebrating, grieving and moving forward. We could never fit all of them into one retrospective. Fortunately, we don’t have to.
Through all of it, Gardendale has kept changing.
They’re already here, preserved in five years of pages.
There are new buildings and businesses, new parks and traditions.
And we’re not finished yet.
[ 28 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
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/ Business News /
Ribbon Cutting at Around the World Martial Arts The Gardendale Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Around the World Martial Arts, located at 1013 Main Street.
Gardendale Chamber Board and Ambassadors Attend Workshop The Gardendale Chamber of Commerce Board and Ambassadors stepped away from the office and into the beauty of Oak Mountain State Park to hear from Mayor Gordon Stone about opportunity, balance and truth. “We talked about leadership,” the Chamber posted on Facebook. “We talked about community. We talked about what it actually takes to build a culture from the ground up, not on paper, but in real life, with real people, through real commitment. Mayor Stone did not just talk about these things in theory. He has lived them. Watching a man who has literally built a town from scratch walk you through his philosophy of mission and purpose is the kind of experience that recalibrates how you think about everything you are doing.” “The question at the heart of everything we discussed was simple and profound: who are you, and where do you want to go?” [ 30 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
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City Employee Spotlight JAIDA PENA LA BORER, GARDENDALE MUNICIPAL COURT When Jaida Pena started working for the City of Gardendale a little more than a year ago, the municipal court world was entirely new territory. Before joining Gardendale Municipal Court as a laborer, Pena’s work experience had been very typical of a teenager— retail and restaurants. Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by court files, defendants, judges and cases that could be far more complicated than anything she had encountered before. “It was a very big change,” she said. But it has also turned out to be one she enjoys. Originally from Kimberly, Pena attends Gardendale First Baptist Church and had spent plenty of time in Gardendale and Fultondale before coming to work for the city. Her days at the court can include everything from answering phones and helping people at the window to handling paperwork and cleaning out files. When someone has a question she can answer, she tries to help. When the situation is beyond what she can handle, she turns to more experienced coworkers.
the people around her navigate unusual situations has become part of that education. Away from the court, though, her life is considerably quieter. “I’m very much a homebody,” Pena said. A good evening might mean reading, listening to music, spending time with her family or drawing. She also enjoys spending time with her best friend. She shares her home with two dogs and a crested gecko. Her mother and brother have bearded dragons, making reptiles just another part of life in what Pena describes as an animal-loving family. But it is drawing that reveals a side of Pena many people may not immediately expect. She prefers the simplicity of pencil and paper, often creating pieces with the bold lines and imagery associated with tattoo art. She is modest about her talent and admits she can be nervous about showing her work to other people. At least one person, however, was confident enough in it to make the commitment permanent.
Court days give her an entirely different perspective on the job. Pena sits in the courtroom, listens to the cases and fills out reminder sheets for defendants as they come through.
A Gardendale police officer asked Pena about one of her drawings featuring three crosses and told her he planned to have it tattooed.
For someone who admits she has long been interested in true-crime documentaries, it can be fascinating.
He came back with the tattoo, and has commissioned her to create another, larger piece. It is an unexpected creative outlet for someone who describes herself simply: she likes to read, she likes to draw, she likes her animals and she is perfectly content with a quiet life.
Pena said seeing the interesting cases come through is her favorite part of the job. She also enjoys watching how her coworkers respond when those cases become complicated. “Some of them are crazy, and it’s like, ‘I have no idea what to do,’” she said. “Then I’ll watch Kim or Marcy handle it. I think it’s interesting.” At just 20 years old, Pena knows there is still plenty to learn. Watching
“I was like, ‘You’re not,’” she recalled.
And that makes her job at municipal court an interesting balance. Pena may be reserved by nature, but each day at work gives her a frontrow seat to people, situations and problems she might never encounter otherwise.
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/ Sports /
Wrestling Team Turns Summer into Season of Service
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCOTT SMITH
STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR The Gardendale High School wrestling team spent its offseason giving back to the community while raising money for the upcoming season. Instead of relying on traditional fundraisers, Coach Scott Smith and his wrestlers offered to tackle projects such as mowing lawns, moving furniture, assembling shelves and completing other odd jobs in exchange for donations. What began as a simple idea quickly gained momentum through word of mouth, with the team completing more than 25 projects and raising nearly $5,000 to help cover wrestling camp, spirit packs and other team expenses. Along the way, the wrestlers gained much more than financial support. Smith said many of the athletes learned practical skills they had never used before, while also building relationships with community members and seeing firsthand the value of serving others. “The money is wonderful and it helps,” Smith said.
[ 34 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
“But I think just teaching the kids to help people out and being able to learn some skills that they’ll have for the rest of their lives is the biggest thing to get out of it.” The response from the community has encouraged the program to continue the fundraiser each summer, giving wrestlers another opportunity to represent Gardendale both on and off the mat while strengthening the connection between the team and the community it represents.
/ Community /
Passing the torch Magnolia Festival leadership will change after more than 2 decades STORY BY RACHEL DAVIS KARR After 21 years of coordinating the Gardendale Magnolia Festival, Kathleen Phillips has passed the torch. Cindie Davis has officially taken over leadership of the longtime community event and will be in charge when the festival returns April 16-17, 2027. Phillips will remain involved in an advisory and assisting role as Davis prepares for her first year at the helm. “The festival will always be a part of me after pouring so much of myself into it for so long,” Phillips said. “This is a new season of life for me.” With her husband semi-retired and their children grown, Phillips said she is looking forward to having more time to travel with Outdoor Ability Foundation and visit grandchildren who live four hours away. Her growing food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, also needs more of her attention. Phillips said she has complete confidence in Davis, who served as the festival’s food vendor coordinator this year and has been Phillips’ right hand for the past two years. Davis’ husband, Rhodes, will also help with the event. “I couldn’t be more confident handing this off to Cindie,” Phillips said. “They both have experience operating a large event, and more than that, they love this community and they love this festival.” Phillips said she has watched Davis work with vendors, manage details and interact with festivalgoers with the same care that has long defined the event. And while the person in charge is changing, one thing won’t. “The Total Family Experience isn’t going anywhere,” Phillips said.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GARDENDALE MAGNOLIA FESTIVAL
Kathleen Phillips is passing the Magnolia Festival torch to Cindie Davis.
Phillips will spend the coming months helping Davis and her team prepare for 2027, but eventually she hopes to enjoy the festival from the other side.
employees, coordinators, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, entertainers and generations of visitors who helped build the festival over the years.
“After that, you’ll find me in a lawn chair with my own grandkids, there as a guest, cheering it on,” she said.
The Gardendale Magnolia Festival recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Phillips also thanked the mayor, city council, city
“I can’t wait to spend many more as a visitor,” Phillips said. September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 35 ]
Home Improvement with Matt Weber Matt Weber is editor of Home Improvement & Repairs magazine based in Birmingham, Alabama. Find more at www.homeimprovementandrepairs.com.
Prepare Like a Pro for Exterior Painting
Working on outdoor home projects is more enjoyable in mild weather, and fall is a prime time in Alabama to apply a new coat of paint where needed around the home. Fresh paint can be among the most striking improvements you can make to your home’s curb appeal. However, the various materials of a home’s construction often require different preparation techniques to ensure a new longlasting topcoat.
Prep for Wood Surfaces From trim, casings and handrails to staircases, decks and fences, wood is one of the most common materials to require repainting. If the existing house paint has no lead content, remove any loose paint from the wood surface by scraping or by wire-brushing, working in the same direction as the grain of the wood. (Note: When using a steel brush on cedar, remove all bits of steel wire to avoid discoloration.) Feather[ 36 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
sand the rough edges of the remaining paint. Refresh the surface of any exposed wood by sanding with medium-grit (#120) paper. If gloss or semigloss paint will be used, follow by sanding with fine-grit (#220). Dull any existing glossy paint by sanding with a fine abrasive sanding pad. Use detergent and water to remove any loose dirt or sand. Treat any mildew with 3:1 water-bleach mixture and then rinse thoroughly. Prime all areas where the old paint has come off. For best results, prime the entire job using quality exterior stainblocking latex or oil-based wood primer before painting.
Prep for Brick If a white powdery substance (called “efflorescence”) is present on the brick surface, scrub it off with a wire brush. To remove heavy staining, mix a heavily diluted solution of
water and muriatic acid (while wearing goggles and gloves), mop it onto the wall, and scrub thoroughly with a stiff-bristled brush. Rinse with plenty of clean water. Pro tip: Eliminate or seal off any source of water from behind the brick, because moisture contributes to efflorescence. Treat any mildew with a household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries. Scrub away dirt with detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly. Scrape out and widen any cracks, brush out the dust, then seal with 100-percent acrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk. Check the mortar joints carefully and repair or re-point them as needed before painting. Priming brick is not essential but will maximize sheen uniformity and minimize efflorescence and mildew.
Prep for Aluminum Surfaces Treat any mildew with bleach then remove dirt, chalk, treated mildew, etc. by scrubbing with detergent and water, and rinse thoroughly. Chalking on weathered aluminum siding can be a problem with paint adhesion and may even linger on the surface after pressure-washing. Priming is generally not necessary if chalk can be removed. For areas
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where chalk is stubborn and cannot all be removed, apply a solventbased exterior primer recommended for aluminum siding. Pro tip: For excessively chalky surfaces, consider using a paint additive such as EmulsaBond. This is a stir-in acrylic bonding additive which improves adhesion of water-based paints and stains to chalky, dusty, or hard-to-coat surfaces like masonry, wood, and aluminum siding.
Prep for Vinyl Surfaces For vinyl siding or PVC trim, treat any mildew with a bleach solution. Clean off any dirt or chalk with detergent and water, or power-wash, then rinse thoroughly. Priming generally is not necessary if mildew, dirt and chalk are all removed. Choose a top-of-the-line exterior 100-percent acrylic latex house paint in a flat or satin finish. Important note: For vinyl siding, apply only very light color paint, such as white, off-white or a light pastel. A good rule of thumb is to not paint the vinyl siding any darker than its original color. A darker color may cause irreversible warping of the vinyl siding due to heat retention from the sunlight. Remember to always wear gloves and eye protection when prepping the surface for any paint job.
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CALL OR TEXT FOR YOUR QUOTE 205-542-7866 September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 37 ]
In The Kitchen with Kathleen Phillips Food Blogger, GritsAndGouda.com
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.
Baked Apple Fritters No fryer, no messy cleanup. These shortcut fritters bake up with crisp edges and moist in the center, loaded with all the fall warm spices filling your kitchen. Lots of chopped apple (no need to peel!) and applesauce (hello snack pack) helps keep them tender on the inside. A simple powdered sugar glaze slathered over top really gilds the lily! It’s a small batch recipe, making only 10 fritters, making these sweet treats perfect for a quick breakfast or an after-school snack. For more easy apple recipes visit GritsAndGouda.com and follow me on FB, IG, Pinterest and Youtube. INGREDIENTS 1 large egg ¼ cup applesauce, sweetened or unsweetened ⅓ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 medium apple (peeling is optional) I used Gala (about 1 cup chopped) 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons salted cold butter cut into 6 pieces GLAZE: 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk (any milk will work)
[ 38 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or grease the pan.
Add the dry ingredients into the bowl on top of the applesauce and apple mixture, without stirring yet.
Beat the egg in a large bowl with a fork or spoon. Stir in the applesauce, sugar, and vanilla.
Before stirring together, add the apple to the flour mixture on top. Toss the apple with the flour mixture to coat the apple.
Chop the apple. No need to peel!
NOW, you can stir the dry ingredients into the applesauce mixture just until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not overmix. The batter will be lumpy and you will still see a little bit of flour, like a muffin batter.
Pro Tip: This is a trick to avoid having to use an apple corer. Make 4 slices, close to the core, from top to bottom. Now, chop enough of the apple to get 1 cup. Set aside, for now. In a food processor, add the flour, baking powder, apple pie spice and salt. Pulse until combined. Add the cold butter pieces. Pulse just until the butter is cut into tiny pieces and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Don’t overmix. No food processor? Two ways to incorporate the butter if you don’t have a food processor. Use a pastry blender in a bowl. Or, use your fingertips pressing and mashing the butter into the flour until it is the size of little peas.
Drop the dough/batter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet with a large spoon, 2 inches apart, to get 10 fritters. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown on the edges and done in the middle. Remove to wire racks. GLAZE: Combine powdered sugar and milk in a bowl right before glazing them. You can either dip the tops in the glaze. Or, I found it easier to spoon or drizzle the glaze over the fritters while on the rack. You can wait until they cool or slightly warm… although I always sneak one while still warm!
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ON YOUR
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 39 ]
/ News from our Neighbors / Fultondale Senior Center hosts Luau Fultondale Senior Center hosted luau as its monthly dance for July.
Fultondale High School SRO trains others Over the summer, Fultondale High School’s SRO, Jefferson County Deputy Will Johnson, was busy helping train other School Resource Officers in Active Shooter Training. Fultondale Elementary School’s SRO, Lisa Turner, participated in the training.
Mortimer Jordan FCCLA Nationals Mortimer Jordan had five studen. Kyleigh earned a Gold Medal and was a National Finalist (Top Ten) in Sports Nutrition Level 3. Gwyneth earned a Silver Medal in Job Interview Level 3. Lily & Laylyn earned a Bronze Medal in Chapter Service Project Portfolio Level 3. Caroline earned a Gold Medal in Career Investigation Level 2. [ 40 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
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Start your day the right way. Join us for breakfast! 6am-10:30am
G A R D E N D A L E F U L T O N D A L E September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 41 ]
/ News from our Neighbors /
North Jefferson students win big at FCCLA National Conference Ellison McGaughy (Focus on Children) and Emily Luna (Interior Design) represented North Jefferson Middle School received a gold and silver medal respectively at the National FCCLA Leadership Conference in Washington DC.
North Jefferson students represent at FBLA Nationals Jakob Meherg and Ladarious Dixon represented North Jefferson Middle School in San Antonio at the FBLA National Leadership Conference this summer. They competed on the national stage against some of the. best students in the country. In addition to showcasing their skills, they networked with peers and professionals, participated in engaging workshops and explored the vibrant city of San Antonio.
Huntingdon College Economic and Community Development Scholars Program Jonathan Cope from Mortimer Jordan High School and Bryanna Cornejo from Fultondale High School participated in the Huntingdon College Economic and Community Development Scholars Program. They had the opportunity to learn from experts about the importance of economic and community development at the state and local levels. Jonathan and Bryanna were two of 23 high schoolers representing 17 Alabama Chambers of Commerce during the program. [ 42 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
Warrior Library Foam The Warrior Library’s Summer Reading Program wrapped up with a Foam Zone Finale this morning full of fun and treats for the kids.
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 43 ]
/ Happenings /
Noble Classic highlights local players Some of the area’s top middle school feeder programs recently took the field to battle for the 3rd Annual Noble Classic Championship.
Rotary learns about efforts to combat slavery The Rotary Club of North Jefferson joined the Rotary Club of Birmingham to hear special speaker Dave McCleary of “Rotary Action Group Against Slavery” to hear about the organization’s efforts to reduce or eliminate human trafficking around the globe. [ 44 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
Piper Rogers brings home gold Piper Rogers won gold again this year for fashion construction at FCCLA Nationals.
Sno Shack helps Bragg Middle School cheerleaders bond The Bragg Middle School cheerleaders took a trip to Gardendale Sno Shack during its team bonding day. “Thank you for helping make our team bonding day so special,” the team wrote on social media. “We appreciate your generosity and support of our girls.”
Bensko retires Gardendale Elementary School’s Jennifer Bensko retired after 20 incredible years of teaching at GES (and 28 years in education total!) “From attending GES as a child, to sending her own three children here, to dedicating two decades to our classrooms, her legacy is woven into the very fabric of our school,” the school wrote in its tribute to her. “To say she will be missed is an understatement. She leaves behind a massive impact and some truly huge shoes to fill. We are endlessly grateful and honored for the time, love, and energy she poured into our students, staff and community.”
Hayden promoted to Dispatch Supervisor The City Council recently approved the promotion of Janet Hayden to the position of Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor in the Gardendale Police Department.
September 2026 Gardendale Magazine [ 45 ]
/ Calendar / Gardendale Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheons The Gardendale Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheons: September 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center. The theme is “Gardendale’s Economic Explosion” with Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight.
North Jefferson Republican Patriots
Halloween at the Park A night full of fall family fun, centered entirely around pumpkins. From pumpkin painting to seeing how far you can chunk a pumpkin, come out and enjoy this free family event. This year it will be Oct. 27 at Bill Noble Park.
Golden Eagles
The North Jefferson Republican Patriots will meet September 17, October 15, November 19 and December 17, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center.
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.
Movie in the Park
Library Food Pantry
Movie Night at Bill Noble Park will offer a fun-filled evening for the community, with dinner beginning at 6 p.m. and the movie starting at 8 p.m. The event will take place on Field 9 at Bill Noble Park, and Chick-fil-A will have food available for purchase. Families are encouraged to bring their chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening of outdoor entertainment.
Our library food pantry always need the following items: hearty soups/stews/chili, varieties of canned chicken/tuna/ham, singlesized 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.
Medical Mile Health Fair
Stock Little Free Library
The annual Medical Mile Health Fair will be held September 24, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center. The health fair will feature information from medical providers around the city, free screenings and demonstrations and there will be giveaways throughout the day.
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.
Medical Mile Fun Run
Historical Museum Hours
The Medical Mile Fun Run returns to Gardendale on September 24 at 8 a.m., bringing the community together for a celebration of health, wellness, and active living. Participants of all ages are invited to run, walk, and connect with local health and wellness organizations that contribute to the well-being of the community. The event will also feature support from local sponsors, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Lace up your running shoes and join fellow residents for a morning of fitness, fellowship, and Gardendale pride.
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.
Gardendale Farmers Market The Gardendale Farmer’s Market is every Thursday through September at Bill Noble Park. Enjoy fresh produce, local vendors, hometown favorites and community. The market will be open each Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
National Night Out A night to honor the first responders and our community heroes that serve and protect us each and everyday. This year it will be October 6, 6-8 p.m. at Bill Noble Park.
[ 46 ] September 2026 Gardendale Magazine
MyGardendale 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.
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