WestJeff Magazine - February 2026 by JBMC Media

FEBRUARY 2026

A COZY WINTER

CHARTING HER OWN PATH

Tips for staying warm at home

Oak Grove native first in her family to go to college, attains PhD from UAB

PAGE 12

PAGE 14

A lifetime of love 64 years

later, the Hayes still have eyes PAGE 20

for each other

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February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 3

Table of Contents

12 Home Improvement

20 Cover Story

Community Feature

School News

Business News

Events Calendar

Keep your house cozy and warm

David and Jessica Hayes help us celebrate Valentine's Day

Oak Grove native earns doctorate at UAB

Moore Coal puts its patriotism on display

Keeping up with good things going on in our local schools

February events in West Jefferson County and surrounding areas

COLUMNS

8 The West Beat Jesse Chambers’ monthly column

4 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

10 Sean of the South Read about Be my Valentine

11 In the Kitchen

Kathleen Phillips’ recipe for Heart-Shaped Caprese Skewers

HOUSEHOLD DROP-OFF

2026 Events

(Inclement weather backup, Feb 7)

May 9

9-11:30 AM

June 13

9-11:30 AM

September 12

9-11:30 AM

October 17

8-11:30 AM

January 31

9-11:30 AM

March 14

Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding Jefferson County Village Water Reclamation Facility 1440 Pleasant Hill Rd, Birmingham, 35224

9-11:30 AM

Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding Jefferson County Valley Water Reclamation Facility 3923 Clear Water Dr, Bessemer, 35023

April 25

8-11:30 AM

Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding Birmingham Zoo 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, 35223

Household Hazardous Waste/ Electronics/TVs/Paper Shredding Site 1: City of Bessemer Laydown Yard 1205 15th Ave N, Bessemer, 35020 Site 2: First Baptist Church of GardendaleSouth Location 940 Main St, Gardendale 35071 Site 3: Classic Car Motoring 3900 Grants Mill Rd, Irondale 35210

Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding Jefferson County Center Point Satellite Courthouse 2651 Center Point Pkwy, Birmingham, 35215

Electronics/TVs /Paper Shredding Birmingham City Hall / Linn Park 710 20th St N, Birmingham, 35203

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

For more information call 205-325-8741 or scan QR code Your digital data is secure and will be destroyed during recycling at no additional cost.

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February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 5

About Us On the Cover

Staff

Matthew Allen Publisher (205) 883-1877

Jesse Chambers Content Director jesse@jbmcmedia.com

matthew@jbmcmedia.com

Michelle Salem Haynes Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 michelle@jbmcmedia.com

PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS

David and Jessica Hayes of Hueytown have been married for 64 years strong! Read their story starting on page 20.

Who We Are WestJeff Magazine serves the communities and people of West Jefferson County. Published every month, the magazine is available for free at more than 100 locations in Bessemer, Hueytown, McCalla, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Oak Grove, Sylvan Springs, and other areas. Subscriptions are available for $40 per year. Email subscribe@jbmcmedia.com for details on how to subscribe or send a gift subscription. Does your business want to connect with West Jefferson County residents? Contact us: (205) 883-1877, advertise@jbmcmedia.com, and let’s talk! All content in this magazine remains the property of JBMC Media, LLC. Any requests to reprint or republish should be directed to matthew@jbmcmedia.com. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. 6 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

Emily VanderMey Listo Operations & Traffic Manager, Graphic Designer emily@emilylisto.com

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The West Beat by JESSE CHAMBERS

On February 14, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, one of our most popular secular holidays. Granted, Valentine’s Day can be seen mainly as a time to sell flowers, chocolate and greeting cards, and it certainly has a huge commercial impact. In 2024, the National Retail Federation estimated that American consumers would spend $26 billion on the holiday. However, Valentine’s Day is also a time when our thoughts turn to love, and the holiday forces us to stop and think about how much we need and cherish our friends and family. Of course, the tough thing is to define the meaning of love. It’s a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personalties,” says the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. That’s accurate, I guess, but it doesn’t fully describe this mystical, magnetic, eternal force that literally holds our world together. I suppose the best we can do is to see how love works in the world. This is almost like the concept of God. Even the most faithful believers probably don’t claim to literally see God, but they can certainly see and celebrate God’s handiwork, his movement in the world. And nothing demonstrates the way love moves in the world like long relationships, including the marriages that transcend

illness, heartbreak and financial setbacks, the marriages that get stronger, not weaker, over time. One of those marriages is celebrated in our Valentine’s Day cover story this month. David and Jessica Hayes of Hueytown, who met during college in Montevallo in the early 1960s, have been married for more than 60 years. Like many couples, they’ve had challenging, even heartbreaking times, and they’ve also experienced lots of joy, including the births of children and grandchildren. In a wide-ranging conversation, David and Jessica tell us about the things that have sustained them, including their faith and church life. They talk about the simple, dayto-day pleasures they enjoy. They also offer advice to young couples just starting out. Check it out beginning on page 20.

Bessemer native, coaching star Born in Bessemer and educated at the old Jess Lanier High School, DeMeco Ryans is now the head coach of the Houston Texans in the National Football League and one of the hottest young coaches in the sport. An All-American linebacker for The University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 200205, Ryans was also an excellent student who won the Lott Trophy his senior year

THE

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for combining athletic excellence and offthe-field achievements. Ryans played in the NFL for the Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, and later became a coach. He served as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers before taking over the Texans in 2023. At press time, the Texans had clinched a playoff spot for the third year under Ryans and had one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. As a University of Alabama graduate, I’d love to see Ryans win a Super Bowl as a head coach. He seems to be on the way. He’s certainly deserving of honor and recognition in Bessemer and West Jefferson County.

Thanks for the recipe As I mentioned in The West Beat in December, I love cornbread dressing and really miss the version my late mom used to make. I asked readers to send me any great – and easy-to-make – cornbread dressing recipes they have. Loyal reader Ione Lowrey emailed me a recipe. “I love old fashioned cornbread dressing also,” Ione said. “I hope you get enough responses to give you a good idea on how to make your dressing everything you want it to be.” I tried Ione's recipe, and it tastes great! Thanks so much, Ione!

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Sean of the South

Be My Valentine The original holiday was called Lupercalia. the politics game meant you were unpatriotic. An ancient Roman festival. A real scream. And this is why they started killing Picture this. The Roman town square was Christians. They had all kinds of ways to kill crowded. Everyone was buck naked. Even you. the old people, whose bodies were ravaged by They would wrap you in the carcass of an gravity. animal and let dogs attack you. They’d put you SEAN DIETRICH Young women would line up, men would swat into barrels with protruding spikes and roll them with the hides of sacrificed animals. This you down hills. They dipped you in tar and lit supposedly made them fertile. It goes without saying that beer you on fire as a human torch. They crucified you upside down. was involved. And worse, they forced you to watch Live with Kelly and Mark. Women then put their names into a big jar. Whereupon each Meantime, Rome was involved in a lot of war campaigns. guy would select a name. Then, everyone would go off together Their military was running thin, so the emperor banned and, um, read the Bible. marriages. He couldn’t have young men choosing to stay home No. Wait. The Bible hadn’t been invented yet. So, I’m sure with their families when they needed to be in the army. they were all doing something else. Maybe playing Twister. Which leads us to Saint Valentine. Fast-forward about 300 years after the death of Jesus. Rome An underground Christian priest named Valentine was was a cesspool. If you were a Christian, you were—how do I marrying young lovers illegally. He conducted a lot of weddings. put it?—screwed. Christians were mass hated. Why were they Even after they imprisoned him, he kept officiating mass hated? weddings, right there in the jail. Politics, baby. Nothing arouses hate like politics. This was EXTREMELY unpatriotic, converting soldiers into So, you basically had two different groups enemies of the state. So, they dragged Reverend in Rome. You had those who thought the Valentine before the prefect of Rome. Publicly, emperor was a spiritual genius, sent by they beat Valentine to death with wooden God—actually, they thought HE WAS A bats. They cut off his head and held it GOD. And you had the other crowd who up for the crowd. Rome cheered. listened to talk radio. But before he died, the priest Christians didn’t fit into either wrote a letter to a young Christian. group. They simply wouldn’t play It was the correspondence of an the game. They met underground. old man. A dying man. He signed They refused to worship Caesar. Not his final letter, “Your Valentine.” only because he was a tyrant, but So anyway, I just wanted you to because he made a crappy salad. know that today isn’t only about Why was this such a big deal? chocolate. Because to Romans, religion was a Your Valentine, social and public thing. Refusing to Sean Dietrich sacrifice a goat to a Roman god was like disrespecting the flag. The role of a priest was a public office. Not playing

ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN DIETRICH

10 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

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.

Heart Shaped Caprese Skewers I’m a sucker for any party food that’s heart-shaped and when I only need two ingredients to make it happen, BONUS! Grape tomatoes, cut on the diagonal and turned, make the perfect heart shapes. Who knew! Food Geometry: If you try to use round cherry tomatoes, well…, when you put them back together… well… they’re still circles. Make someone feel special by sending them off to work with these colorful snacks in their lunchbox (toothpicks are not for kiddos), serve them as appetizers at a Galentines party, or share one or

TIP I found marinated mozzarella balls at Aldi, but you can always marinate your own in a little Italian salad dressing.

two alongside that romantic takeout steak dinner. They’re a fun way to add a little love to any meal.

Ingredients 12 grape or mini Marzano tomatoes (about 1 cup) 1 (12-ounce) container marinated mozzarella balls (bocconcini) Fresh basil sprigs, optional

Instructions • Cut each grape tomato in half diagonally. • Pat the tomatoes dry. Use a paper towel to soak up excess juice, helping the two halves stay together. • Flip one half upside down and press it together with the other half to form a heart shape. • Drain the mozzarella balls. Don’t discard the marinade—it makes a flavorful salad dressing! 5. Thread a marinated mozzarella ball onto a skewer, followed by a heartshaped tomato, then another mozzarella ball. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. • Place the skewers on a platter and add fresh basil.

February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 11

Home Improvement Matt Weber is editor of Home Improvement & Repairs magazine based in Birmingham. Find more at homeimprovementandrepairs.com.

Alabama Home Tips for

a Cozy Winter Seal all the gaps. Warm air leaking out around poorly sealed window frames, power outlets, recessed lights and other gaps can be a big source of heat loss. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal up unwanted holes in your home. These adhesive products work well around non-moving areas such as pipe intrusions and window frames. For the parts that move, such as doors and windowpanes, seal gaps at the edges with weatherstripping, such as foam tape for windows or aluminum strips which include a linear bulb that compresses against a closed door. Here’s a DIY tip: Move a lit candle around the edges of closed doors and windows, and if you see the flame flicker, this might indicate that a draft needs to be sealed. Consider adding insulation. The U.S. Department of Continue Energy recommends that homes in central Alabama have exercising in an insulation R-value of R-30 to R-60, based on the climate the winter, even if you have to and type of HVAC system installed. R-value refers to the take it inside. insulation's ability to prevent heat from escaping. Different types of insulation have different R-values. The higher the PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WEBER, HOME IMPROVEMENT & REPAIRS MAGAZINE R-value, the greater the insulation power. For example, 1 inch of fiberglass batt has an R-value of approximately R-3, Winter can get chilly in Alabama, but a few simple DIY solutions can whereas 1 inch of spray foam may have an R-value of 5.5. Measure your help keep your home cozy and your power bills reasonable. insulation, calculate it by type, and you may find that you need more. Program your thermostat. Upgrading your HVAC (heating-ventilationYou can hire a contractor or add extra layers yourself. Home centers air-conditioning) thermostat to a programmable model is good advice, sometimes rent blowing machines, which homeowners can use to add yet many homeowners forget to set the thermostat’s schedule. Life can loose-fill insulation to attics. If you add extra layers of rolls or batts over get busy during the holidays, and it can be easy to forget to make manual existing attic insulation, be sure to use “unfaced” rolls or batts. You can adjustments. A thermostat programmed to adjust the temperature install an additional layer of unfaced insulation over the ceiling joists to when you’re at home, when you’re away, and when you’re sleeping will reduce heat loss through the wood. increase the system’s efficiency and lower energy bills. A few more simple tips: Thick curtains help to insulate windows at Replacing your HVAC filter is common advice, but do you understand night, and the sun’s energy can heat your home during the day. Open why it’s so important? When a dirty filter gets blanketed with dust and your curtains at sunrise to make best use of passive solar gain. This debris, the accumulation restricts airflow through the system. Have you works particularly well if your home has stone or concrete floors that ever tried to breathe through a blanket? Just as your lungs must work have a large thermal mass, meaning they soak up heat and release it harder to get adequate air, a dirty filter causes your HVAC system to slowly. Close your curtains at dusk to trap the heat. You can also force work harder to warm the house to the temperature you have set. When heat downward with a ceiling fan. Cooler air stays closer to the ground, the system works harder, it puts extra wear on the components and uses and warmer air rises, so reverse your ceiling fan's setting to send the more energy, which raises your energy bill. warm air downward into the room, raising the ambient temperature. 12 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

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February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 13

Oak Grove native and first-generation college student Nicole Stewart, Ph.D., wearing her regalia after finishing her degree at UAB and sitting on the stairs at UAB’s University Hall.

An academic star by TEHREEM KHAN, UAB News

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF HUEYTOWN STUDY CLUB

Brittany Nicole Stewart became Brittany Nicole Stewart, Ph.D., when she walked across the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s commencement stage on Dec. 10 at the Alys Stephens Center on campus. At graduation, Stewart carried an inspirational journey and legacy along with her doctoral degree in medical sociology from the College of Arts and Sciences. A first-generation college student from Oak Grove, Alabama, Stewart grew up without a roadmap for higher education. “I didn’t have anyone in my immediate family who had graduated from college,” said Stewart, who graduated from Oak Grove High School. “I 14 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

relied on teachers and mentors who believed in me and pushed me to reach for more. My mother was a constant source of encouragement, always telling me I was smart and capable. Even when neither of us really understood what something in the application was, we sat down together and figured it out.” As a child, Stewart did not know which career she wanted, but growing up a devout person, she knew community service was her calling. Wanting to help others, Stewart stepped into her college career pursuing a degree in human environmental sciences with a concentration in early childhood development and a minor in social welfare. She was on a

Community Feature

Pell Grant and worked at least 20 hours a week throughout her degree. Stewart graduated early, thanks to dual enrollment credits, and moved to New Orleans. In New Orleans, Stewart pursued a master’s degree in Christian education at a seminary before relocating to Mississippi. There she worked in child protection services and as a school social worker, while pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. Her experience earning a social work degree ignited her interest in pursuing a doctorate and teaching with real-world insights. “When I was getting a social work degree, I had a professor who had a Ph.D. but little to no field experience,” Stewart said. “She was teaching a room full of child-protection social workers who may have been up until 1 a.m. finding placements for kids. It made me think, ‘If I ever teach, I want to know what it’s really like in the trenches.’ That moment changed everything for me.” When she relocated to Alabama, Stewart joined UAB Hospital as a social worker in the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a role that exposed her to a new, complex world of medical social work. She saw being a UAB employee as the perfect opportunity to pursue her dream of earning a Ph.D., thanks to the employee educational assistance benefit that fully covers tuition and is designed to encourage advancement and excellence among employees. Stewart enrolled in the medical sociology doctoral program and earned her third master’s degree in sociology through this path. Medical sociology is the study of how social factors, such as class, race, gender and culture, shape health, illness, healthcare access and medical practices. It examines health disparities, patient-provider relationships,

the social construction of diseases and the impact of social policies on population health. Working in the RNICU shaped Stewart’s dissertation research, which explores provider perspectives and terminology in neonatal care. “I wanted to explore beyond these provider beliefs of ‘wimpy white boy syndrome’ and ‘strong black girl,’” Stewart said. “I explored questions, such as Where did these beliefs come from? Is it perpetuated across the United States? Does it influence care? While my research only provided a beginning glimpse into these beliefs, I hope my work opens the door for further research in the RNICU regarding these beliefs and their possible impact on care.” Stewart stood out to Mieke Beth Thomeer, professor in the Department of Sociology and Stewart’s thesis chair, for how her social work background motivated her unique research interests. “She didn’t just follow a typical graduate student path — she created one, finding an important topic related to NICU outcomes and building our understanding of this topic from the ground up with original data, all while working full time at UAB,” Thomeer said. “That kind of innovation is rare, and I’m thrilled to see her take that same energy into her new role after graduation.” Balancing a full-time job, an in-person Ph.D. program and family life was no small feat. Stewart credits her husband and young daughter for their unwavering support. “My husband picked up the slack at home, and I protected evenings for my daughter,” she said. “It took intentionality and a lot of grace.” Stewart’s academic journey has been marked by faith and determination. That faith will guide her next chapter as an assistant professor of social work at Houston Christian University, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of social workers. Formerly Houston Baptist University, Houston Christian is a private Baptist university in Houston, Texas. Students in the social work program there learn to make a positive difference in people’s lives and communities while sharing Christian values and their healing power, according to the school’s website. For Stewart, education is also a legacy. “I want my Stewart in her daughter to know she can regalia joined by her husband and do anything,” she said. “I daughter, who want to be the example that served as her she can conquer the world. support system.

This article was edited by WestJeff Magazine to add some additional information about medical sociology and Houston Christian University. February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 15

Business News At WestJeff Magazine, we seek to provide comprehensive coverage of business activity of all kinds in West Jefferson County – and not just the big projects. We want to hear news and updates about all of the businesses in the area, both large and small. We also report on real estate, construction and infrastructure projects. Please contact us with any tips, information or photos you have at jesse@jbmcmedia.com. The employees at Moore Coal Co. in Bessemer pose with the next flagpole the company installed recently to show its patriotism.

Marva Douglas PHOTO COURTESY OF MARVA DOUGLAS

Moore Coal proudly flies the flag

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOORE COAL CO

by WESTJEFF MAGAZINE STAFF Moore Coal Co., based in Bessemer, is a locally owned family business established in 1929 that offers waste removal and recycling. The company showed its pride in America by putting up a new flagpole on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, and taking a picture with its 36 employees “The guiding principles of Moore Coal Company are God, family and country,” Brian Burrows, the company’s vice-president for administration, told WestJeff Magazine. “We wanted to honor our country by putting the flagpole up.” President and CEO Judy Moore Mathis is part of the third generation of the Moore family working in the business. There’s a fourth generation in the business, including Burrows, who is Judy’s nephew, and Woody Mathis, Judy’s son, who is vice president for operations. 16 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

In putting up the new flagpole, the company “wanted to honor Judy’s parents who served in WWII as well as all other employees past and present that served our country in the military,” Burrows said. “It is also America’s 250th anniversary.” Moore Coal Company also wants to pass on its legacy of patriotism. “To us it is very important, because we live in the greatest country in the world that provides our freedoms and the opportunity for us to have and grow a company like Moore Coal,” Burrows said. “For these things to continue, we as a nation need to show our appreciation for living in a country such as ours. This is best done by showing patriotism and working to pass the importance of this to our children and grandchildren." For more about the company, go to moorecoal.com.

Fighting for transit Good public transit is a boost to economic development, experts say. Among other benefits, transit connects people to jobs, expands customer bases for businesses, increases a region’s productivity and makes life easier for transit riders. Midfield resident Marva Douglas is a big believer in improving transit in the Birmingham area and has spent decades spreading that message. “I’ve been speaking and writing about the need for robust public transportation since 1996,” she said. Douglas describes robust public transportation as “bus or train service available throughout communities every 10-15 minutes, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.” Such service provides access to work, church, school, shopping and medical appointments, and senior citizens can “live more independently,” she said. Douglas is 86 years old but hasn’t slowed down. She took part in public transit events at UAB and the Downtown Transit Station in the fall, had a speaking engagement in January and is active with the Action Coalition for Transit at alabamaact.org. She learned about the lack of local public transportation beginning in 1996 after she and some partners opened a tutoring center in Fairfield. “I wanted to hire retired teachers for our business,” Douglas said. “But the retired teachers I interviewed told me they’d sold their cars and wouldn’t be able to get to our location in a timely manner.” “I suggested they use the buses I saw that ran locally,” she said, before riding the bus herself and seeing its shortcomings. “I started writing about the poor service in columns published in local newspapers and speaking to any organization that would have me after my first bus trip. I still do that today.” One problem – according to transit advocates – is that the Alabama legislature allocates all gasoline tax dollars for bridges and highways. In 2018, the state legislature passed the Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund Bill but hasn’t put any money into the fund, according to media reports. The lack of state funds means that Alabama cannot apply for matching federal funds.

February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 17

Health & Wellness Welcome to our Health & Wellness page at WestJeff Magazine. Each month, we share tips from a variety of sources showing you how to improve the quality of your life in simple, practical ways. Let us know if there’s a particular health or wellness topic you’d like to see us cover. Write to us at jesse@jbmcmedia.com. by JESSE CHAMBERS

Enjoy Valentine’s Day in good health PHOTO BY SCARLETH WHITE

It’s time for Valentine’s Day and, as always, we’ll see lots of hearts everywhere. But are we doing enough to take care of our hearts? Many of us are not, especially since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in America. That’s why UCLA Health supplied the following 10 tips for better heart health in an online story, “Take Valentine's Day to heart,” at uclahealth.org. Stay active: Try to get your heart rate up with at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week. Limit your consumption of red meat, sugar and unhealthy fats: Also add fruits and vegetables to your diet to get more fiber. Eat less salt: You can train your taste buds 18 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

to become accustomed to a lower-sodium diet. Stop smoking: Smoking not only damages your lungs but negatively affects your heart health. Watch your weight: Obesity increases the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and diabetes, so keep your weight under control. Know your cholesterol levels: High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Check your blood pressure: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Watch your blood sugar levels: Elevated blood sugar levels can gradually lead to diabetes. Reduce stress: Stress is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Try meditation,

yoga or simply being silent and still for 10 minutes a day. See your doctor: Regular medical followup is one of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Be my (healthy) Valentine Have you wondered how you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone in a healthy way without overindulging in rich food and sweets? The American Health Association (AHA) is here to help. Even a healthy lifestyle has room for occasional treats. However, "you want to try to space out whatever sweets and treats that you do receive so that they're consumed in moderation,” said Rayven Nairn, a registered dietitian with Johns Hopkins University, in a story at heart.org on Feb. 10. Couples also have a big influence on one another's health, according to Dr. Stephanie J. Wilson, an assistant professor of psychology at UAB. In fact, making healthy choices together can be a "pro-relationship move,” Wilson said in the AHA story. In that spirit, here are some tips from the AHA to celebrate a healthier Valentine’s Day: Be a good influence: "We tend to be drawn to do what our partner is doing, whether or not we're aware of it," Wilson said. If your partner exercises every day, you may be inspired to do the same. Use portion control: You can make some changes to the traditional Valentine’s Day dinner date, Nairn suggests. For example, you and your partner could order one big meal and a couple of appetizers and share them. Eat at home: You can skip the crowds and serve dinner at home. "I think that is more romantic, personally," Nairn said. She also suggests preparing a healthy meal that is grilled, baked, stir-fried or sauteed. Eat this, not that: If you go to a movie, Nairn recommends popcorn as the healthiest snack at the theatre, because it's whole grain and high in fiber. She also suggests skipping the butter or getting it on the side. You can also downsize your soda. Get active: Your Valentine’s Day date doesn’t have to center on food. You and your loved one can do something active, like a dance class.

Check your skin The experts at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Surgery say we should conduct routine skin checks for possible skin cancers year-round – even during the winter months. “Skin cancer can impact anyone,” said Dr. Sarah Bateni, assistant professor in the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, in an article at UAB.edu/news on Dec. 9. “The best form of care is always prevention, through measures like sunscreen, sun protection clothing with built-in SPF, and self-checks and regular dermatology appointments. If you see something unusual, say something.” By doing routine skin checks, we can make sure that our skin maintains its typical appearance, and we can take note of anything unusual. This is especially important because some discolorations may not appear immediately after sun exposure. The UAB experts supply the following skin examination checklist: Asymmetry: Lesions that are not symmetrical may pose a greater risk than those that are similar on both sides. Borders: Irregular borders on a mole may warrant further assessment by a medical professional. Color: Moles that display multiple colors are often more concerning than moles with a uniform color tone. Diameter: Lesions larger than 6 mm should be evaluated by a health care professional, as larger melanomas have a greater risk of dissemination. Evolution: Lesions that show rapid growth or exhibit changes in color, bleeding or itching may be concerning. Regardless of the season, sunscreen should be used daily and reapplied every two hours for optimal protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation. To reduce the risk of melanoma or other forms of skin cancer, avoid sun exposure, especially during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anders found his match

Anders was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that was affecting his immune health and significantly impacting his overall development. His doctors determined his best treatment option was a bone marrow transplant, and luckily Anders found his match and received his transplant. Now Anders is reaching new developmental milestones and is starting to get back to being a normal kid.

Learn more at ChildrensAL.org

We are here in your neighborhood at Pediatrics West. To schedule an appointment at either the Hueytown or McAdory locations visit www.childrensal.org/pediatrics-west PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA BY BILL BRANSON FOR THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. ID 2525

February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 19

Cover Story

Complementary souls celebrate Valentine’s Day by JESSE CHAMBERS

David and Jessica Hayes are long-time Hueytown residents who have been happily married since 1961. PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY FIELDS

Love is one of the most overused words in the English language, and it’s very difficult to define. However, we can at least see love at work in the world. One of the most powerful ways that love shows itself is through the mutual devotion of long-term couples who remain happily married for decades. David and Jessica Hayes are a great example. Married in 1961, they’ve lived in Hueytown for 56 years. They’ve lived in their present home for 50 years and have belonged to Pleasant 20 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

Ridge Baptist Church for 46 years. They have two children, Stephen, 60, and Jennifer, 55, as well as four grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. After more than 60 years, the two still take pleasure in being together. “We enjoy each other's company, and we feed off each other,” Jessica said. After 64 years with the love of his life, David cherishes what he calls “the sweetness of relationships – the kindness, the tenderness, the

David and Jessica Hayes at their wedding in December 1961. They met in February of that year while attending Alabama College, now called The University of Montevallo.

patience, the way you understand each other and finish each other's sentences.” The couple talked to WestJeff Magazine about their relationship, including how they met, why they’ve stayed together, the challenges they’ve faced and the power of faith. They even tackle that thorny question of the meaning of love and offer advice for young couples. A Hueytown native, David graduated from Hueytown High School in 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Alabama College – now The University of Montevallo – and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University. He served in the U.S. Air Force and started or co-owned Hueytown Veterinary Clinic, Pleasant Grove Veterinary Clinic and McAdory Veterinary Clinic. He retired in 2004. A Mobile native, Jessica graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, Florida in 1960. She attended Alabama College, Gulf Coast Junior College and Auburn University and worked as a small business accountant. She retired in 2004. The couple met at Alabama College in February 1961 when David was a junior and Jessica was a freshman. They were taking part in the Purple and Gold student competitions held annually during the school’s homecoming celebration. David was acting in one of the stage plays presented by the Purple and Gold teams on the final night of the competition, and Jessica was on the stage crew building props. “She didn’t pay any attention to me,” David said, but he definitely noticed her. “I finally got the courage to ask her for a date.” On their first date, David and Jessica went to a showing of “Gone With the Wind” at the Alabama Theatre. “On the way back, we stopped at the Alabaster Dairy Queen for an ice-cream cone,” David said. “We had a great time, and I guess we tried to do something each weekend from that point on,” Jessica said. “We had our first date on April 8 and got married in December. The spark was there pretty quickly.”

The couple discussed some of the factors that have helped sustain their marriage. “It was an effort from two hearts that wanted to make things work,” Jessica said. David and Jessica had something important in common, with both coming from difficult home environments. “I came from a broken home,” said Jessica, whose parents divorced when she was twoyears-old. “David's dad died when he was 18-monthsold, and he and his stepdad didn't get along.” Jessica also had a tough time coping with her stepfather, who was very demanding. In their marriage, David and Jessica “wanted something better and something different,” David said. “I was never happy as a child, but I saw people who had happy homes, and they were happy people, and most of them were well-adjusted people,” David said. “I knew that if I ever became a parent I wanted to have a home environment that produced happy children.” Jessica and David also really cared about each other. “We had a lot of respect for each other,” Jessica said. “We leaned on each other. We came to each other for advice.” Married people must also adapt to their partners and be understanding. “If you want to be happy with each other, you have to compromise and have patience,” Jessica said. “Jessica and I are both compromisers,” David said. “If something is important to me, she compromises, and if it’s important to her, I compromise. It's unusual for us to have a disagreement about

We had a lot of respect for each other. We leaned on each other. We came to each other for advice.”

Jessica Hayes is shown holding son Steve in a family snapshot from the 1960s.

—JESSICA HAYES

February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 21

Cover Story

PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS

LEFT: An older picture of David and Jessica Hayes. ABOVE: David at one of the veterinary clinics he started or co-owned during his long career.

anything. We've always been that way. We've been complementary souls our whole married life.” Naturally, everything hasn’t been smooth for the couple. “Anytime you’ve lived this long, you’ll have some bumps in the road,” Jessica said. Perhaps “the greatest disappointment” the couple suffered came in 1964 when their first child, a daughter, died during childbirth, David said. “Those were tough days,” Jessica said. David was a freshman at veterinary college at Auburn University, and he and Jessica lived in a WWII-era apartment on campus. “We had no money,” David said. “We had a little VW. We managed to talk the mortuary into letting me have the baby and the coffin, and we took her to Birmingham and buried her in a cemetery lot my mom and dad had. I don't know how we got through that.” “God has a way of healing and mending things that are broken, so we went on,” Jessica said. “We were not people of faith at that time,” David said. “We were not going to church – except for funerals or weddings. God had to be watching out for us and taking care of us.” David even managed to pass the final exams that he had been studying for. Perhaps the couple’s “most challenging time” was the severe economic recession that lasted from 1981 until about 1983, David said. U.S. Steel, Pullman Standard in Bessemer and other facilities closed. “The Western area lost 50,000 or 60,000 jobs, and my practice almost went under,” David said. “I couldn't pay any salaries. My partner and I worked for next to nothing just to keep the doors open.” More recently, the couple struggled to take care of David’s mother, who lived with them from 1990 to 2012. “She had dementia the last three or four years of her life,” David said. “She was a wonderful lady,” Jessica said. “Her later years were difficult, and we cared for her the best we could. When she died, it was like a big hole.” As always, the couple relied on their faith. “Life deals you challenges and trials, as the Bible says,” Jessica said. “You lean on your faith, and you lean on each other, and you make it through.” 22 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

Both David and Jessica pondered the meaning of love, a word that’s “just thrown out a lot of times in different contexts,” Jessica said. “If you deeply love someone, you have the greatest respect for them,” Jessica said. “You respect and value their life and what they’ve contributed. It's something you’re willing to commit to with the other person for the rest of your life, wherever comes your way.” “How do you put words together to describe what love is?” David said. “I don’t know if I'm capable. “Love is one of those things that begins with a puppylove attachment and grows into a relationship that will sustain you through the most difficult storms that you encounter in life,” he said. David names some of the key elements of a longterm relationship: “Sweetness, Kindness. Gentleness. Patience. Forgiveness. Understanding. All of those things are wrapped into one.” The couple will enjoy Valentine’s Day, but they no longer worry about gifts or elaborate preparations for the

Celebrating a merry Christmas at the Hayes home in the 1960s.

David and Jessica Hayes rely on their faith and their church community. They've been members of Pleasant Ridge Baptist since the 1970s.

PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS

holiday. For years, the couple exchanged lots of gifts on Christmas and Valentine’s Day, including candy, flowers and jewelry, David said. “We are at the point now where we have everything,” he said. “We will enjoy Valentine’s Day,” David said. “We may not do anything big, but we may go to Outback [Steakhouse] and have a steak. It will be a day for kindness and tenderness. There’s a dimension to our relationship that says, ‘I don’t need anything. I have you. That’s enough.’” “We do a lot of things together,” ABOVE: The Hayes Jessica said. The couple enjoys travel, family dog Sassy snow skiing and spending time with their is shown with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. puppies. RIGHT: David and Jessica They remain active in their church where Hayes with some David teaches Sunday School. of their family David also enjoys photography, and members. They Jessica likes golf, reading – especially have two children, four grandchildren historical fiction – and going to the beach. and three greatShe has also served as chairman of the grandchildren. board of Hueytown Public Library for 26 years. A lifelong learner, David has earned two other degrees – a graduate degree in health care administration from Pacific Western University and a doctorate in theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary.

He and Jessica also offer advice to young couples. “Try to understand each other and be patient and kind,” Jessica said. “I would recommend listening closely to each other.” “Never carry anger to bed with you,” David suggests. “When you have a disagreement, try to get it fleshed out and get over it and move on and don’t harbor anger and resentment. Those things destroy love. And we emphasize the importance of patience and understanding and gentleness.” “We have cautioned the men we have talked to – our son and sonsin-law – that men are stronger than women and violence is never a solution to any kind of disagreement,” David said. David also mentions the old saying that love conquers all. “It truly does conquer the most difficult situations if it can be allowed to stay alive,” he said. It’s also helpful for couples to do nice things for each other. “My husband is the most thoughtful person,” Jessica said. “He has planned events that have totally surprised me, from a 25th anniversary party to a 60th anniversary party. The little things that we can do to enhance our relationship with our special love are always important things to do.” David stresses that there is “only one source of real love” and that it comes from “our spiritual life.” If a couple doesn’t have a relationship with God, then their “relationship is not built on something solid that will sustain them through the storms they encounter in life,” he said. “Life is full if we allow it to be, and love is such a number-one thing in life – to love and be loved by that special person,” Jessica said. “Life is good and it is what we make it, and if we make a good choice in our spouse, it will get us through everything that challenges us.”

February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 23

Schools

Boy’s Basketball

There are a few regular season games left to be played by schools in West Jefferson County before the start of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 2026 playoffs. The AHSAA Basketball State Finals for boys and girls teams will be held at Legacy Arena at the BJCC March 2-7, according to bjcc.org. For more information about the tournament, go to AHSAA.com.

BESSEMER CITY HIGH SCHOOL TIGERS Feb. 2 @ Woodlawn 7:30 p.m.

MCADORY HIGH SCHOOL YELLOW JACKETS Feb. 5 @ Gardendale 7:30 p.m.

MIDFIELD HIGH SCHOOL PATRIOTS Feb. 3 vs Wenonah 7:30 p.m.

OAK GROVE HIGH SCHOOL TIGERS Feb. 3 @ Pell City 7 p.m.

RESTORATION ACADEMY, FAIRFIELD Feb. 2 @ Bessemer Academy 7:30 p.m.

Time to apply

The Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School in Pleasant Grove was recently named Alabama’s top middle school by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings include the highest performing elementary and middle schools in each state based in part on test results in math and reading. And students still have time to apply to attend the school for the 2026-2027 academic year. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14, and applications are open to students in grades 5-10. The vision of JCIB is to cultivate intellectually curious, internationally minded individuals who possess the skills, knowledge and creativity to positively impact lives through compassion and tolerance in an ever-changing world, according to a Dec. 1 news release from Jefferson County Schools. JCIB strives to develop inquiring, caring life-long learners who engage with others in solving problems. The facility is located at 805 Seventh Ave. in Pleasant Grove. To fill out the admissions form, go to jefcoed.com/o/jcibpc.

Spelling success

Concord Elementary School held its 2025-26 School-Wide Spelling Bee Competition on Dec. 16, with Sammie Handley taking first place, Adalynne Johnson taking second place and Emi Shipman earning third place, according to a post at the school’s Facebook page. The following students also moved on from their classroom spelling bees to compete in the School-Wide Spelling Bee: Addy Kemp, Abigail Handley, Braylon Pugh, Oliver Williams, Lily Seay, Ryatt Walton, Cristol Verrona, Eden Pryor, Marilyn Gamble, Paisley-Jo Wood, Aranza Sanchez, Tyler Grant, Peyton Scott and Waylon Bunn. 24 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

Schools Plaudits for OGHS Theatre

The Oak Grove High School Theatre competed successfully at the Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival at UAB. For the first time in nearly 15 years, OGHS earned a first-place state title and received four Superior ratings, according to a post at the Oak Grove Theatre Facebook page. Chloe Roberson earned first place in her category. Hayleigh Hadder, Shila Mills and Zoey Thompson each received superior ratings for their performances. Hadder, who is a senior, also auditioned for collegiate performance opportunities and received multiple callbacks. Lydia Sebert established the theater program 12 years ago and has directed about 25 shows.

Earning his doctorate

Courtney Davis, one of the assistant principals at Hueytown High School, graduated from Samford University in December with a doctoral degree in educational and organizational leadership, according to a post at the HHS Facebook page on Dec. 15.

High honor

Jeremie Marshal, the defensive line coach for the McAdory High School Yellow Jackets football squad, was recently named the Class 6A Assistant Coach of the Year for 2025 by the Alabama Football Coaches Association, according to an ALFCA news release. The winners in each classification were nominated by the members of the association and recommended by a Coach of the Year Committee. They were then voted on by the ALFCA Board of Directors. At press time, the awards were to be presented at the ALFCA Coach of the Year Banquet on Jan 31 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery. This season the Yellow Jackets varsity team finished with a record of 7-3. Marshall also serves as the assistant girls basketball coach at McAdory, according to his X.com page.

Superior performances

The drama students from the Pleasant Grove High School Theater competed at the statewide Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival at The University of Alabama at Birmingham in December. The Spartan Showstoppers earned 15 superior ratings – the highest rating awarded at the festival – and four excellent ratings, according to dream teacher Taylor Chatman. The competition included over 100 schools, 2,000 students and more than 40 performers and 20 designers in each category. February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 25

Events Calendar

The hit play “MJ The Musical” will be presented at the BJCC in February.

Feb. 3: McCalla Machines. Petro Bucksville Stopping Center, 22526 Highway 216, McCalla. Part of a monthly series of community car, truck and motorcycle shows and meets that highlight vehicles from McCalla and surrounding areas. The event is organized by Alabama Show n’ Shine. For information, contact 205-545-1131 or alabamashownshine@yahoo.com Feb. 3: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov Feb. 3: Bessemer City Council. 6 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/MJTHEMUSICAL

Western Area Events

Feb. 3: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-954

Feb 1: Sacred Harmony. 10:30 a.m. Cottage Hill Baptist, 1120 Pleasant Grove Road, Pleasant Grove. Sacred Harmony is a Christian and gospel musical group from Elizabethton, Tennessee. 205-744-8521. chbctogether.org

Feb. 5: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205-325-5300. jccal.org

Feb. 2: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com

Feb. 9: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. 205-923-7578. cityofmidfield.com

Feb. 2: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org

Feb. 10: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council holds a planning session on the second Tuesday of each month in the multi-purpose room on the first floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org

26 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

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February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 27

Events Calendar

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” fans in Ireland. Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema will present a live shadowcast of the film Feb. 13-15.

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA.ORG BY SEBASTIAN DOORIS, CC0. ORIGINALLY POSTED TO FLICKR.COM

Feb. 10: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov Feb. 10: Bessemer Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org Feb 12: ACRM Training Day. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 4215 Tove Blvd, Hueytown. The Association of Christian Recovery Ministries (ACRM) is a national network of recovery leaders who share resources and support each other through training, mentoring and collaboration. RSVP at aacrm.net/eventdetails/acrm-2026-q1-training-day 28 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

Feb. 16: Fairfield City Council. 6 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org Feb. 16: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com Feb. 17: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547. Feb. 17: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org

Feb. 19: Fairfield City School Board. 6 p.m. Fairfield Board of Education, Gladys T. Coleman Boardroom, 6405 Avenue D. Fairfield. The five-member school board meets on the third Thursday of each month. 205-783-6850. fairfieldschoolsystem.com Feb. 19: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205-325-5300. jccal.org Feb. 23: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. 205-923-7578. cityofmidfield.com

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/SHARKTANK

Kevin Leary has never heard pitches like those to be presented on Feb. 11 during “Dumb Shark Tank” at Saturn.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens will show you how to save money on gardening in a Feb. 18 class.

Feb. 24: Bessemer Historic Preservation Commission. 5:30 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Historic Preservation Commission, established by city ordinance, helps identify, protect and preserve Bessemer’s historic properties and districts. The Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. bessemeral.org/bessemerhistoric-preservation-commission Feb. 24: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov Feb 28: House of Electa Gala. 7-11 p.m. Bessemer Civic Center, 1130 Ninth Ave. SW, Bessemer. An elegant evening to support charities presented by the House of Electa, Chapter 895, Order of Eastern Star. Get dressed up and mingle at this special event. Tickets from $60. Go to eventbrite.com and search “House of Electa Ch #895 Gala.”

PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA USER ELICARRERA, OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0

Feb. 17: Bessemer Planning and Zoning Commission. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org Feb. 17: Hueytown Planning & Zoning Commission. 5-6 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. The board meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov

Ongoing: Exercise classes. Legacy YMCA, 1501 Fourth Ave S.W., Bessemer. Legacy presents a wide variety of exercise classes for members year round, including swimming, aerobics, aquacise, yoga, cycling, Zumba and Power HITT. Legacy also offers lots of youth sports, camps and health and wellness programs. For details, call 205-426-1211 or go to legacyymca.org Ongoing: Classes and workshops. Bessemer Public Library, 400 19th St. N. Bessemer. The library presents a wide range of classes, workshops and other activities for children, teens and adults. Adult classes include nutrition, computers and self-publishing. Activities for children include a toddler playgroup and Pre-K storytimes. 205-428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 29

Events Calendar Other Area Events Feb. 6-March 1: The Wiz. Red Mountain Theatre, 1600 Third Ave. S. Dorothy, the Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Lion are on their way to the Emerald City, with a nonstop party of rock, gospel and soul music to carry them on their adventures. Tickets start at $40. 205-324-2424. redmountaintheatre.org Feb 11: Dumb Shark Tank. Saturn, 200 41st St. S., Birmingham. In a twist on long-running TV hit “Shark Tank,” this event will feature a business pitch competition for what are described as “seriously terrible ideas.” Local comedians will pitch their absurd, outlandish “business” ideas to a panel of actual Birmingham entrepreneurs. This event will benefit The Other Foundation, a collective of 100 individuals who each contribute $100 per month to support community initiatives in Birmingham. Tickets are $18.60. To purchase, go to saturnbirmingham.com. 205-703-9546 Feb 13-15: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, 1821 Second Ave. N. The Rocky Horror Hot Dogs comedy troupe will present a live shadowcast experience of the classic 1975 film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” They will act out your favorite scenes on stage and celebrate a night of debauchery. Adults only (ages 18 and up.) Outside prop bags are not allowed. Prop bags will be available at the cinema while supplies last. Showtimes Fri., 11:59 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. For tickets, go to sidewalkfest.com/events Feb 17-22: MJ: The Musical. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. This Tony Award-winning Broadway musical celebrates the life and work of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The play focuses on the star’s preparation for his “Dangerous” world tour in 1992. The show was created by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Lynn Nottage. For tickets, go to bjcc.org/events or americantheatreguild.com/ birmingham/shows/mj Feb 18: Growing an Affordable Garden. 11 a.m-noon. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road. This class will show you how to grow a beautiful, 30 | February 2026 WestJeff Magazine

thriving vegetable garden without spending too much money. Alabama Cooperative Extension Agent Bethany O’Rear will demonstrate simple, money-saving methods for growing vegetables at home. Perfect for gardeners of all levels. BBG members, $20; non-members, $25. 205-414-3950. Register at bbgardens.org/event/growingan-affordable-garden Feb. 25-March 1: Don’t Ask. UAB Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Theatre UAB presents the world premiere of “Don’t Ask,” a play written by UAB alumna Hayley Procacci based on true events. Co-directed by Procacci and Karla Koskinen, the drama tells the story of an ROTC graduate and former commissioned second lieutenant who is fighting a deeply personal battle. Theatre UAB is the performance company of the Department of Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 25-28, and 2 p.m. on March 1. Tickets $15; $10 for UAB students. To buy tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org Through May 11 Studio art classes. Space One Eleven, 2409 Second Ave. N. From Jan. 12 through May 11, Space One Eleven – a nonprofit visual arts organization – will offer an afterschool studio art program for students of all skill levels in grades 2 through 12. The classes are designed to build visual communication skills and foster creative thinking. For more information and registration, call 205-328-0553 or go to spaceoneeleven.org

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” fans in Ireland. Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema will present a live shadowcast of the film Feb. 13-15. PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/THEWIZBWAY

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February 2026 WestJeff Magazine | 31

Back pain holding you back? Our team of orthopedic specialists are here to help.

Welcoming Jay Fitts, MD Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon At UAB Medical West, our team of orthopedic specialists are dedicated to helping patients restore mobility and enhance their quality of life. We are committed to bringing quality, stateof-the-art orthopedic care to the residents of West Jefferson County, AL and are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jay Fitts to our team. Dr. Fitts specializes in spine surgery and is now accepting new patients at both our brand new main hospital location and our Hoover location. To schedule an appointment with a UAB Medical West Orthopedic surgeon, call us today at (205) 481-8570. For more information about UAB Medical West and all of our services, visit us online at medicalwesthospital.org.