Decades of devotion to the community from David and Anita Dobbs leaves lasting impact for family and former students.
ARTS & CULTURE
13 Shelf Control: M. K. Weber Debuts “The Book Monster”
20 Read this Book: Jacob Sartain’s Top Back-To-School Reads
SCHOOLS & SPORTS
21 Championship Dreams: Stuart Floyd’s Journey from Ball Boy to Championship-Winning Coach
32 Five Questions For: Mary Kate Dimler, Hewitt-Trussville High School Class of 2026 Valedictorian
FOOD & DRINK
33 Around the Table: Convenient, Homemade Meals from Meals by Misty
40 Five Questions For: Madeline Curd, Cashier and Cook at Meals by Misty
HOME & STYLE
41 A Storied Place: TJ and Anna Page Davis’ Carefully Crafted Home
PHOTO BY KATHLEEN IVY
EDITORIAL
Michaela Bankston
Anna Grace Breedlove
Dave Domescik
Daniel Locke
Tyler Raley
Andrew Simonson
Noah Wortham
CONTRIBUTORS
Tracy Riggs Frontz
Travis Frontz
Kathleen Ivy
Blair Ramsey
Angie Ruiz
Amanda E.H. Pritchard
Madison Smith
Ashley Tiedt
DESIGN
Sydney Allen
Jamie Dawkins
Morgan Lockhart
Lavens Maginnis
Miles Maginnis
MARKETING
Evann Campbell
Octavia Campbell
Rachel Henderson
Rhett McCreight
Lauren Morris
Tori Smith
ADMINISTRATION
Amanda Boothe
Carlee Chappell
Mary Jo Eskridge
Alec Etheredge
Stacey Meadows
Kayla Reeves
Leslie Reeves
Brittany Schofield
CONTRIBUTORS
Blair Ramsey, Photographer
Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair has two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography.com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.
Angie Ruiz, Photographer
Unitl graduation this past May, Angie Ruiz was the head photographer for the Hewitt-Trussville High School yearbook staff with a focus on candids and sports, but she recently branched out to portrait photography. Outside of photography, she loves to go to concerts and movie theaters and play video games. In fall 2026, she plans to attend the University of Alabama as a creative media major. Her work can be found on Instagram at @angierphoto.
Madison Smith, Writer
Madison Smith is a journalist with a strong passion for storytelling and media production. She previously served as the Managing Editor of “The Alabamian,” the student newspaper at the University of Montevallo, where she oversaw editorial content and guided the paper’s journalistic voice. Madison’s journalistic interests often focus on the arts and pop culture, where she aims to highlight creative expression and cultural conversations within the community. Madison also received a degree in music to help her better understand and write about the arts world.
Ashley Tiedt, Writer
Over the last 15 years, Ashley Tiedt has contributed more than 100 articles to various publications in Alabama. From debutants to tattoos, and addiction recovery to local artists, Ashley specializes in telling unique stories that engage and inform audiences. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Ashley started her career in broadcast journalism. She resides in Mountain Brook, Alabama, with her family.
Trussville Living Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newsmedia Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Trussville Living Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Trussville Living Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.
Trussville Living Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Trussville, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit TrussvilleLivingMag.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting TrussvilleLivingMag.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.
Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@shelbycountyreporter.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
ON THE COVER
Back to Books
Author and illustrator M. K. Weber releases her debut children’s book, “The Book Monster.”
AAs we turn another page in our calendars and August appears at the top of it, a new year is set to begin. This one doesn’t call for midnight celebrations, but rather bedtimes and earlier alarms. Classroom appearances, fall sports and other activities are ramping up. Even for those removed from the world of education, your daily commute is about to get more crowded.
While the start of the school year is a welcomed return to routine for many, schedules seem to fill up quicker, and life simply feels busy. As someone driven by productivity, busy is one of the easiest feelings to be consumed by. The idea of all the things I need to do often overshadows the things that are most important, and I hear I’m not alone in that.
For Misty Westover (page 33), one of the things she values is the time spent together around the table for dinner. I tend to agree that just a short amount of time gathered at the end of the day is a valuable way to connect with those closest to you. However, the time it takes to go to the store and prepare a meal tends to cut into time that isn’t available. Meals by Misty strives to give back some of that time by preparing homemade meals for you to take home.
Beyond the times we choose who we’re around, students and teachers will be seeing a whole lot of each other in the coming weeks. As I reminisce on my time in school, there’s a list of teachers who still stand out as ones that had an impact on my life academically and otherwise. Though I’m not originally from here, it seems for many of you, David and Anita Dobbs (page 51) are on that list, and the impact they have had lives on through you all.
Whether headed back to school or another day at the office, think about what matters most to you. Is your to-do list more important than the connections you make and the impact you have on others? For most of us, the answer is an easy no, but at least for me, actions often say otherwise.
Lately, I’ve been trying to change that, pausing in the moments I feel overwhelmed by things I need to do and considering what I actually need in life. We never know who we won’t be able to see tomorrow, but the to-do list will certainly still be there.
Best,
michaela@trussvillelivingmag.com
Photo by Blair Ramsey Design by Jamie Dawkins
@trussvilleliving
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THE GUIDE
VARSITY FLAG FOOTBALL TIMES VARY
Flag football returns next month with the girls taking on Bob Jones at home. To stay up to date, follow the team on Instagram (@hewittflagfootball), and see their schedule below.
SEPT. 1: vs. Bob Jones
SEPT. 8: vs. Tuscaloosa County
SEPT. 9: at Oxford
SEPT. 15: at Oak Mountain
SEPT.17: at Anniston
SEPT. 22: vs. Vestavia
SEPT. 29: at Spain Park
OCT. 6: vs. Thompson
OCT. 13: at Hoover
OCT. 20: vs. Prattville
OCT. 22: Tri-Match at Springville
OCT. 27: vs. Oxford
by
Photo
Amy Blount
Varsity Football
Football returns with the boys taking on Auburn on the road on Aug. 21, and their first home game is the following week against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. All games kick off at 7 p.m. To stay up to date, follow the team on Instagram (@huskyfastfb), and see their schedule below.
AUG. 21: at Auburn
AUG. 28: vs. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
SEPT. 4: vs. Hoover
SEPT.11: at Tuscaloosa County
SEPT. 18: vs. Prattville
SEPT. 25: OPEN
OCT. 2: at Oak Mountain
OCT. 9: vs. Thompson
OCT. 16: at Vestavia
OCT. 23: vs. Spain Park
OCT. 29: at Pike Road
AUG. 14
Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
6:30-8 A.M.
Trussville Civic Center
Hosted by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, this year’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will feature Lulu Gribbon as the speaker. Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m., and the program begins at 7 a.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit trussvillechamber.com.
AROUND TOWN
TUESDAYS
Pokémon Club
Scarlet Raven Gaming
SATURDAYS
Trussville Fresh Farmers Market
101 Beech St.
JULY 31-AUG. 2
Home & Garden Show Trussville Civic Center
AUG. 1
Trussville Dog Daze East Mall
AUG. 1
Rockin’ for Restoration Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 1
Petting Zoo
Trussville Public Library
AUG. 1
Second Anniversary Celebration Hattie’s Toyland
AUG. 1
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Grace Community Church at Deerfoot
AUG. 2
Cahaba City Church’s YTH Back to School Event Meet at The PHNX
AUG. 2
1st Grade Bible Presentation First Baptist Church Trussville
AUG. 6
First Day of School for Students with Last Names N-Z and Grades 11 & 12
Trussville City Schools
AUG. 7
First Day of School for Students with Last Names A-M and Grades 9 & 10
Trussville City Schools
Photo by Kristal Kizer
Photo by Kelsea Schafer
AUG. 7-12
Magic the Gathering:
The Hobbit Prerelease
Scarlet Raven Gaming
AUG. 7
New Favorite: Celebrating the Music of Allison Krauss & Union Station
Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 8
Crop Drop
First Baptist Church Trussville
AUG. 10
Books & Brews: “The Tainted Cup” by Robert Jackson Bennett
Presented by Trussville Public Library
Ferus Artisan Ales
AUG. 14
Hippies & Cowboys
Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 15
Paws for a Cause
Hosted by Trussville City Schools Athletic Foundation
Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 15
Chess Tournament
Trussville Public Library
AUG. 16
First Baptist Church Trussville’s Back to School Bash 8616 Will Keith Rd
AUG. 20
Trussville Chamber Luncheon
Trussville Civic Center
AUG. 21
Gimme Hendrix: The Ultimate Jimi Hendrix Tribute
Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 23
Cahaba City Church’s YTH Night 206 Linn Drive
AUG. 24
Breakfast with James Spann
Trussville Public Library
Varsity Volleyball
Volleyball season begins later this month with the girls taking on Auburn at home. To stay up to date, follow the team on Instagram (@hewitt.volleyball), and see their schedule below.
AUG. 20: vs. Auburn
AUG. 21-22: Juanita Boddie Tournament
AUG. 25: at Oak Mountain
AUG. 27: Tri-Match at Guntersville
SEPT. 1: at Mortimer Jordan
SEPT.3: vs. Mountain Brook
SEPT. 8: vs. Thompson
SEPT. 11-12: Rocky Top Classic
SEPT.15: vs. Tuscaloosa County
SEPT. 22: vs. Hoover
OCT. 1: at Vestavia
OCT. 2-3: Blalock Tournament
OCT. 6: at Spain Park
OCT. 8: vs. Briarwood
AUG. 8
Back-to-School Bash
4-6 P.M.
Trussville Entertainment District
Local businesses at Trussville’s Entertainment District are once again teaming up to celebrate the new school year with discounts, cool treats, back-toschool shopping and hands-on activities for kids of all ages. It’s a day of community, perfect for families looking to celebrate after the first day of school.
Photo by Shawn Bowles
SEPT. 13
Trussville Kids Market
1:30-4:30 P.M.
Trussville Entertainment District
Trussville Kids Market returns giving young entrepreneurs the chance to enhance their skills and earn a profit. For
those without young entrepreneurs, there will be plenty of handmade goodies to peruse. To register an entrepreneur, visit kidsmarkets.com/ markets/trussville. No food or drink sales are allowed.
AUG. 25
Deep Roots and Hidden Stories: History Event with Gary Lloyd Ferus Artisan Ales
AUG. 28
A Murder of Crowes: A Tribute to the Black Crowes Trussville Entertainment District
AUG. 29
Rest in Riches: A Murder Mystery Social The Reserve by Ferus
AUG. 30-SEPT. 3
SAM Joyful Hearts Choir Tour with First Baptist Church Trussville Alabama and Georgia
SEPT. 4
Homeschool Hangout with James Spann Trussville Public Library
SEPT. 4
The Wildflowers: A Tom Petty Tribute
Trussville Entertainment District
SEPT. 5
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Grace Community Church @ Deerfoot
SEPT. 8
Snack Around the World Trussville Public Library
Husky Night
4:30 P.M.
Hewitt-Trussville Stadium
The annual Hewitt-Trussville athletics kickoff, Husky Night, returns this year. Once again the event will feature previews, performances and scrimmages. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., and tickets are available on GoFan. AUG. 14
Share your news and events! Email submissions to Michaela@TrussvilleLivingMag.com to be considered for our next issue.
SEPT. 8
American Red Cross Blood Drive Ferus Artisan Ales
SEPT. 10-13
Ride for a Cure Indian Mountain ATV Park
SEPT. 11
Take Back the Day Concert Trussville Entertainment District
SEPT. 13
Paint your Pet Artsy Studio
SEPT. 13
Cahaba City Church’s Worship Night
114 S. Chalkville Road
SEPT. 14
Books & Brews: “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio Presented by Trussville Public Library Ferus Artisan Ales
SEPT. 16
Pokémon 30th Anniversary Release Scarlet Raven Gaming
SEPT. 17
Trussville Chamber Luncheon
Trussville Civic Center
SEPT. 17
Plant Swap
Trussville Public Library
SEPT. 18
Face Value: Tribute Phil Collins and Genesis
Trussville Entertainment District
SEPT. 19
Used Book Sale Bookmarked
SEPT. 20-22
SAM Men’s Golf Retreat with First Baptist Church Trussville Villa Rica, Georgia
SEPT. 25-30
Magic the Gathering Reality Fracture Prerelease Scarlet Raven Gaming
SEPT. 25
Lady Legends of Country with Rose Colored Glasses
Trussville Entertainment District
SEPT. 27
Superhero Cereal Brunch Ferus Artisan Ales
OCT. 1
Fantasy Writing Workshop
Trussville Public Library
WEDDINGS
2027 WEDDING EDITION
The application to be featured in the 2027 Wedding Edition of Trussville Living is live. You qualify if you married on or after Oct. 1, 2025 and live in, are from or got married in Trussville. Find the
application in our featured posts on Facebook (Trussville Living Magazine) or in our Instagram (@trussvilleliving) bio.
AUG. 23
A
“Grown Up” Book Fair
3-6 P.M. Ferus Artisan Ales
Join Trussville Public Library and other vendors at Ferus Artisan Ales as they reimagine the magic of book fairs for
adults. Whether looking for another great read, to create a bookmark or network with other book lovers, this “Grown Up” Book Fair is the place for it. For more information, visit ferusales. com/events.
Photo by Anna Kizer
ARTS CULTURE&
SHELF CONTROL
Author and illustrator M. K. Weber delights in her debut children’s book, “The Book Monster.”
BY ASHLEY TIEDT
PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY
FFor some people, a love of reading starts with a single book. For Mariah “M. K.” Weber, it started with a library card, a station wagon full of books and a mother who refused to tolerate anything boring.
Weber’s debut children’s book, “The Book Monster,” and the story behind it is almost as charming as the book itself. The book traces back to her own childhood, though Weber joked it’s the most inaccurate autobiography ever written, since she was actually a fairly well-behaved kid. What began as a tender tribute to her mother evolved into something else entirely: a tale about a sly, lying little monster named Sybil, who hoards library books and doesn’t always tell the truth about it.
Weber grew up making weekly trips to the Oshkosh Public Library in Wisconsin with her
parents, maxing out every library card in the family.
“We would come home with 150 library books,” she said, a number so outlandish she scaled it back to 50 in the book, thinking no one would believe a single family could really haul that many home at once.
The book began as something completely different from what it ended up being.
“It started out as a really sweet, very lyrical story about a mom and her daughter going to the library,” Weber said.
However, a writing course pushed her to ask a different question: What would have happened if her childhood self had simply decided not to share the books? That pivot transformed a sentimental remembrance into a comedy with real bite.
Sybil went through plenty of changes on her way
to the pages as well. As both author and illustrator, Weber works on words and pictures simultaneously.
“The book monster (Sybil) has been like five different colors,” she said. “She’s had five different variations of glasses. She had no horns; she had horns. She had long, spindly fingers.”
Still, the character that emerged is unmistakably Sybil.
Weber didn’t just want a sweet story; she wanted one that could hold up across dozens of read-alouds.
As the mother of five-year-old and four-year-old daughters and an early childhood educator by training, she had a clear goal: “Writing a book that could be reread multiple times without grown-ups wanting to pull their hair out.”
She took her cue from animated films.
“I always love those adult jokes that are kind of
built into the stories, the layered humor that rewards the parents stuck on the couch for the fortieth reading,” she said.
Weber packed the illustrations with stacks of background books bearing invented, alliterative monster titles including “Phoof for Phoenixes” and “A Ghoulish Goulash.”
She even slipped in nerdy nods to fantasy authors like Brandon Sanderson with “Dungeon Crawl Carl,” keeping it just shy of anything copyrightprotected.
The book’s cleverest device is structural. The narration runs in a plain typewriter font while Sybil takes her orange crayon to certain words, rewriting her own story. Crossing out “never” in “bad weather never keeps Sybil from going to the library” creates a much more honest picture of who Sybil really is.
Kids love catching her in the act.
“They’re like, ‘Wait, she doesn’t love waiting in line; she’s miserable,” Weber said. “And I’m like, ‘Yeah, she’s lying.’”
Writing books has been Weber’s dream since childhood, but the path there was long. She holds a Ph.D. in early childhood education and describes herself as being in school “pretty much since I was 3 until about 28,” with two children arriving during her doctoral program.
The turning point came as a birthday gift.
“My husband was like, ‘Hey, I got you this course for your birthday. Maybe you can spend some time writing because I know it brings you a lot of joy,’” she recalled.
That nudge finally got the book off the ground. Weber looked back on it as the moment she first truly bet on herself.
“They’ve always been very calculated and safe choices,” she said of her career decisions up to that
point, “and this was me betting on myself.”
Her daughters became part of the process in a way Weber hadn’t fully planned. Both girls did all the illustrations for the book’s end-sheet gallery, a spread showing Sybil seated and drawing, surrounded by a wall of monster artwork, with each of them contributing around 20 crayon monster drawings that Weber wove directly into the pages.
“My oldest will tell you, and my youngest too, ‘I am an illustrator,’” Weber said with a laugh.
It was her way of honoring the patience her daughters showed through long stretches of “Mommy’s drawing” sessions that can run anywhere from eight to forty-eight hours per illustration.
“The Book Monster” found its publisher through an unexpected path. Weber had taken to spending her Saturdays at a local coffee shop before settling in at Bookmarked, a mother-daughter-owned bookstore in Trussville, to work on her illustrations. A conversation with one of the owners led to a
“ ” I tell people in my 30s, my major accomplishment is that my coffee shop knows my order on a first-name basis, and that I am on a texting basis with my bookstore owners. For me, that is peak living.
- Mariah “M. K.” Weber
business card for an editor at Village Editorial.
“I went in to pitch my book, and here we are,” Weber said.
She’s made a deliberate commitment to small and local businesses over the past two years, and it shows in every corner of this book’s creation. She’s part of multiple book clubs at Bookmarked, has built friendships with fellow authors and illustrators through Village Editorial’s quarterly meetups and measures her personal milestones in warmly specific terms.
“I tell people in my 30s, my major accomplishment is that my coffee shop knows my order on a firstname basis, and that I am on a texting basis with my bookstore owners,” Weber said, “For me, that is peak living.”
Weber has also donated a copy of “The Book Monster” to every public library that played a meaningful role in her life, starting with the Oshkosh Public Library and extending to libraries in Auburn, Clay, Irondale and Trussville. The gesture is intentional.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of the public library system,” she said. She’s also headed back to Wisconsin this summer to read at the Oshkosh library and visit local bookstores there, returning to the community where her love of reading first took root.
Weber is refreshingly direct about what her book is not.
“There are no lessons learned,” she said. “I feel like I always tell people, ‘This is not for learning
morals. This probably will make your child worse.’”
Sybil eats a little boy who just got his first library card, reluctantly spits him back out and grudgingly returns the book she took from him, not because she wants to, but only because she knows she’s supposed to.
What Weber does hope readers walk away with is simpler and more lasting: joy.
“I feel like I was trying to feel something for myself,” she said. “Books bring so much to us, and sometimes we have that inner book monster that just wants to read all the books.”
Weber wrote the book as much for the bookloving parents as for the children in their laps, and it shows on every page.
“The most rewarding thing is the kids not only giggling, but genuine laughs from the adults,” she said.
For a debut author who grew up maxing out library cards in Wisconsin and never stopped believing books could change a life, a room full of laughter must feel like coming home.
Check out “The Book Monster” at most public libraries in the area, or purchase a copy at Bookmarked. To keep up with M. K. Weber, follow her on Instagram (@m.k.makesthings).
THIS BOOK
Back to School
Recommendations from Jacob Sartain
Teen Librarian at Trussville Public Library
New Kid
By Jerry Craft | Teen Graphic Novel
Jacob Sartain is a librarian who has worked in the Circulation, Children’s, and now Teen Departments at the Trussville Public Library. He enjoys biking, tabletop role-playing games and video games. As the Teen Librarian, he enjoys graphic novels, science fiction, fantasy and historical nonfiction books. Here, he recommends some juvenile and teen reads to send with your child as they head back to school.
Jordan Banks is an artistic middle schooler with a love for drawing and graphic novels. However, when he is sent from his regular school to the prestigious Riverdale Academy on the outskirts of New York City, his whole world is turned upside down. Now, Jordan must face middle school, entirely new classmates, puppets, prejudice and strange new sports if he plans to survive. This is the perfect read for kids heading to a new school or just for heading back to school after summer.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
By Ryan T. Higgins | Juvenile Picture Book
Penelope Rex is headed to her first day of kindergarten. It’s a big day for everyone, but Penelope Rex has a problem: She’s a baby T. rex and her classmates look delicious. Will Penelope learn not to eat her classmates and instead just make friends with them? Pick up this hilarious picture book to find out! This story is perfect for learning what to expect at school even if not a dinosaur.
Ender’s Game
By Orson Scott Card | Young Adult Fiction
After a devastating attack by alien “buggers” that nearly wiped-out humanity, Earth plans a counterattack for survival. Ender Wiggins—a genius, bred to be the best humans can offer— is humanity’s best and last hope for survival. Can a young Ender survive the trials ahead of him and save humanity? This actionpacked, classic young adult novel will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. This book also has a movie adaptation to help motivate young readers.
Dungeon Club: Roll Call
By Molly Knox Ostertag | Children’s Graphic Novel
Olivia and Jess have been friends since third grade. They have also been playing “Dungeons and Dragons” for years, just the two of them, the way Jess likes it. However, as eighth grade starts, Olivia creates a Dungeons and Dragons Club to recruit more people for their game. Will Jess, a socially awkward girl, be able to deal with new people in their club as well as the pressures of eighth grade? Young readers—especially those who love the nerdier things in life—can see themselves and their worries in the main character. This read is great for inspiring readers to try new things even if they are scared.
Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to make Middle School Awesome
By Chris Balme | Nonfiction
Middle school is one of the most exciting times of life, but it is also one that is full of change. “Challenge Accepted” is a nonfiction book that outlines 50 different activities for middle schoolers to help them grow creatively, socially, educationally and economically. Starting your own business, going on a scientific adventure, learning to bake, building a book safe and learning about money are just a few of the adventures found in this book. Seize the imitative and make middle school great!
SCHOOL SPORTS&
CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS
Trussville resident and Clay-Chalkville head football coach Stuart Floyd reflects on championship journey.
BY AMANDA BOOTHE
PHOTOS BY TYLER RALEY, JAKE MCCUNE & CONTRIBUTED
CClay-Chalkville High School won the state championship this past December, and for head coach Stuart Floyd, this was a major accomplishment for his team.
The Trussville resident has been involved with the Clay-Chalkville football team since he was in 10th grade as the starting quarterback. His passion for football stems from an early age, dreaming of having a championship ring just like his father, but he never thought he would be receiving one as a coach.
“My dad was a coach, and he had a state championship ring in his drawer, and all I wanted to do was win one,” Floyd said.
As a child, he spent many days with his dad helping with practices and learning behind the scenes work that keeps the football program running. Whether tending to the field, helping with uniforms or simply being around the team, Floyd was immersed in football culture most of his life.
“I basically spent every day with my dad, just going to practice, going to cut grass, going to paint
lines, paint helmets,” he said, “I just grew up on the field.”
Before his Clay-Chalkville days, Floyd attended school in Tarrant, where both his parents taught. There he found love for the tradition within football and the community spirit that surrounds high school football in Alabama.
“The bonfires every week, the pep rallies in the streets downtown, it was a lot like a “Friday Night Lights” type movie, and that’s what I grew up in,” Floyd said.
His senior year, Floyd and the Cougars won the 6A state championship, which at the time was the
“The one thing this school’s never done is gone back to back. I think that puts you in different class when you’re able to do that. –Stuart Floyd
”
highest classification. Looking back, Floyd remembered a talented team that found its rhythm at exactly the right moment.
“It was a dream,” he said. “We didn’t know what we were doing. We just knew that we were pretty good on both sides of the ball, and we had really, really good coaching staff of a lot of former and future head coaches. We just got hot at the right time.”
That championship planted a seed that would eventually lead him toward coaching.
Floyd began teaching and coaching middle school football in 2007 and did so for two years. In 2009,
Jerry Hood became the head coach for the Cougars and offered Floyd a spot coaching at the high-school level.
“Him (Hood) giving me the opportunity definitely kick-started where I’m at today,” Floyd said. He initially served as the wide receivers’ coach before becoming the offensive coordinator. In that role, he was responsible for developing game plans and helping direct offenses.
Perhaps most importantly, he learned what it takes to run a championship program. While under Hood’s guidance, Floyd learned many things beyond game plans. He learned how to manage assistants, communicate with parents, organize fundraising and build up a team.
“Everything I really learned about coaching was through him,” Floyd said.
The guidance Floyd received from Hood paid off.
As an assistant coach, Floyd helped ClayChalkville win state championships in 2014 and in 2023. Those experiences provided him with a unique perspective on winning from the sidelines.
“When you’re a player, it’s more of the physical accomplishment because you’re actually out there battling,” Floyd said. “As a coach, it’s more of a mental battle going on against another coaching staff.”
While both roles carry their own rewards, Floyd said the challenges are vastly different. Players focus on countless hours preparing, strategizing and making decisions that impact every aspect of the game.
In 2024, Floyd accepted perhaps the biggest challenge of his career when he was named head coach of the Clay-Chalkville football program.
Taking over the program was not an easy task, but Floyd embraced it nonetheless. Just two seasons into his position as head coach, he guided ClayChalkville to an undefeated season rounded out with another state championship.
The foundation for that championship run was established long before the season’s opening kickoff.
During spring practice, Floyd recognized something special about the roster. Experienced leaders returned at key positions, including quarterback, running back and offensive line.
“You got the ingredients that make you a total team,” he said.
The team upheld this belief throughout the season with many victories over strong opponents. A three-game stretch against Brandon, Thompson and Mountain Brook convinced Floyd that his team possessed championship potential.
“That told us right there, we’ve got the people. We can win this,” Floyd said.
As Clay-Chalkville advanced through the playoffs and prepared for the state championship game, Floyd kept his message simple and direct.
“Finish the deal,” he said.
The message reflected his mindset that had guided the program throughout the year. For Floyd, championships are won during preparation long before the game begins.
“The game is won between Monday and Thursday,” he said, “The game is won long before you actually get on the field.”
When the team built a commanding lead in the championship game, Floyd remained focused. Even
CLAY CHALKVILLE’S 2026 SCHEDULE
AUG. 21: at Creekside (Georgia)
AUG. 28: at Thompson
SEPT. 4: at Springville
SEPT. 11: at Southside-Gadsden
SEPT. 18: vs. Oxford
SEPT. 25: OPEN
OCT. 2: vs. Pell City
OCT. 9: vs. Pinson Valley
OCT. 16: at St. Clair County
OCT. 23: OPEN
OCT. 30: vs. Central Phenix City
as players anticipated celebrating, he insisted they stay focused until the final outcome was secured.
The defining moment arrived when player, Aaron Frye, broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run late in the game. For the first time all night, Floyd allowed himself to believe the championship was secured.
“That was definitely the moment,” Floyd said.
Despite this accomplishment, Floyd remains focused on the future rather than reflecting on the past. The team has never won back-to-back state championship titles, and the goal now serves as the program’s next mountain to climb.
“The one thing this school’s never done is gone back to back,” Floyd said. “I think that puts you in different class when you’re able to do that.”
For a coach whose journey began as a young ball boy dreaming about a championship ring in his father’s drawer, the journey of excellence continues. The rings, trophies and records have earned Stuart Floyd a place in Alabama high school football history, but for him, the work is far from finished.
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We are here in your neighborhood at Pediatrics East. To schedule an appointment at either the Trussville or Deerfoot locations visit www.pediatricseast.org
STATE CHAMPS
On the morning of May 22, the Hewitt-Trussville softball team secured one final out after a weather delay ended the game the night before. The 2-1 victory over Thompson secured the state championship for the Huskies.
PHOTOS BY SHAWN BOWLES & ANDREW SIMONSON
STATE CHAMPS
Later that day, the Hewitt-Trussville baseball team defeated Auburn 8-0 to win the series in 2 games, earning them a state title as well and marking the first time in class 7A history the same school claimed both the softball and baseball championships in the same year.
PHOTOS BY KRISTAL KIZER
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Mary Kate Dimler
Hewitt-Trussville High School
Class
of 2026 Valedictorian
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Having attended Trussville City Schools since kindergarten, Mary Kate Dimler has been in this school system her entire academic life. She has loved being part of these schools because they give students so many outlets to do what they love. As for her, she has been a part of theatre at Hewitt since middle school and the HTHS Color Guard, both of which helped her come out of her shell and develop strong leadership skills. She loved her time at Hewitt and feels it prepared her for her next steps. This fall, she will start classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she will study nutritional sciences and join the Marching Tar Heel Color Guard.
What has your experience been like at Hewitt-Trussville High School and with Trussville City Schools?
Hewitt has given me and so many other students such great opportunities. From career readiness classes to various arts programs and the many challenging courses they offer, the students really are set up for success. I’ve also always appreciated how safe the school environment feels. I truly feel like Trussville City Schools deeply cares about the well-being of its students and shows that through its actions to support student mental and physical health.
How do you feel Hewitt-Trussville High School has prepared you for the next stage of your life?
HTHS offers a variety of AP courses, and the staff truly pours into their classes. The teachers at HTHS spend countless hours after school preparing lessons and grading assignments so their students can get feedback and excel at a subject. I have been
able to learn so much college content from teachers who make their classes challenging and engaging for every student. I feel extremely prepared for the rigor of college classes, and I am so grateful for Hewitt preparing me for the future.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
I have to say my favorite teacher was my AP physics teacher. Not only is she my mom, but I truly loved the course content. The classroom environment was always fun because she had so many discovery labs, and the students all got to collaborate with each other. Her teaching methods really made a challenging subject like physics accessible and easy to understand. I took all four of the classes she oversees because the classes were really that fun!
What is your favorite memory of the last four years at Hewitt-Trussville High School?
One of my most cherished memories from HTHS was graduation. I felt a surreal sense of accomplishment for myself and all the students around me. It was beautiful to see kids I knew from kindergarten walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. I felt so proud of everyone there for their perseverance and dedication to learning. I was really moved by that night, and I know that our HTHS class of 2026 is set up to do some truly amazing things.
What advice would you give to those entering high school this month?
I was really challenged to achieve my best, but embracing that discomfort and letting it help me grow was the most beneficial thing I did for myself. High school is hard, but building the stamina to not just get through hard things but conquer them will set you up for a brighter future. So as you enter high school, work your hardest, and don’t forget to have fun while doing it!
FOOD DRINK&
AROUND THE TABLE
Misty Westover hopes Meals by Misty helps families find time to gather around the dinner table.
BY MADISON SMITH
PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY
FFor many families, the back-to-school season brings a familiar rush of early mornings, packed schedules and evenings that seem to disappear before dinner ever makes it to the table. Between homework, practices, music lessons and work, finding time to prepare a homemade meal can quickly become another item on an already overwhelming to-do list.
For Misty Westover, owner of Meals by Misty, helping families through those hectic seasons has become more than a business; it has become her calling.
Long before Meals by Misty became a staple for busy families across the Birmingham area, Westover spent her days in a fifth-grade classroom at Chalkville Elementary School. While teaching, she began preparing meals for fellow teachers who, like many working parents, struggled to find enough hours in the day to cook after school.
What started as a simple way to help coworkers soon grew into something much bigger.
“It’s getting the family together at night, sitting down, talking about your day and having that eye-to-eye contact,” Westover said. “Even if it’s only for an hour, just to have that time together as a family.”
That desire to help families reclaim a little more time together has become the heart of Meals by Misty.
After becoming pregnant with her third child, Westover made the decision to stay home with her family. Rather than returning to the classroom, she followed an unexpected opportunity that combined her love for cooking with her desire to serve others.
“My heart kind of led me in a different career path,” she said.
She began sharing homemade meals through Facebook, starting with a recipe that has remained a customer favorite ever since: Chicken Poppy. Nearly nine years later, that same recipe continues to top the menu.
“No matter what menu item I put out, no matter how creative I think I’ve gotten, Chicken Poppy is the top seller every day, every year and every month,” Westover said.
Today, Meals by Misty has expanded to three locations, with its Trussville storefront serving as the flagship location. Customers can stop in and browse refrigerators stocked daily with fresh meals, order online for pick up or even take advantage of curbside service during busy afternoons.
“We make everything fresh every day,” Westover said. “People can come in and shop just like a grocery store, or they can order online and have everything bagged and ready when they arrive.”
For Westover, however, convenience is only part of the story. She believes one of the biggest challenges facing families today isn’t simply cooking dinner, it’s finding the time to make dinner together happen at all.
“People don’t always think about how much time goes into having dinner at the table,” she said. “You’ve got the planning of the meals, going to the grocery store, buying all the ingredients, unloading everything, and then you’ve got kids with golf and soccer and dance and gymnastics and all the things.”
In many households, that busy schedule often leads to drive-thru restaurants, delivery apps or whatever happens to be quickest after practice.
“You have to kind of fight with your mind to force the routine of having family time,” Westover said. “I’m not saying every family should sit down Monday through Sunday at 6 every night. The world isn’t like that anymore, but if we can help families get together even two or three nights a week, that’s
a win.”
That philosophy has shaped nearly every aspect of the business.
Meals by Misty offers portion sizes ranging from individual servings to family-style meals that feed up to ten people, making it easy for families to mix and match meals based on everyone’s preferences.
While casseroles may have built the business’s reputation, Westover hopes customers discover the variety available beyond the cooler.
Among those offerings are grilled chicken by the pound for meal prep, fresh salads made daily with homemade dressings, homemade chocolate chip cookies, triple chocolate brownies and the stores increasingly popular peanut butter balls. Available
in flavors ranging from classic peanut butter to Heath Bar, Butterfinger Oreo and cranberry white chocolate, the snack has developed something of a following among regular customers.
“People come in on Monday and buy six or seven packs to get them through the week,” Westover said of the community-favorite snack.
The focus on fresh ingredients also remains a priority. Whenever possible, Westover incorporates organic ingredients, prepares dressings from scratch and continually looks for ways to simplify recipes without sacrificing quality.
As the school year transitions into football season, Meals by Misty also begins preparing for one of its busiest times of the year.
While many customers know the business for prepared meals, it also continues to grow its catering services. Corporate lunches have become one of the company’s specialties, particularly through its Homewood location, which regularly serves hospitals, law firms and businesses throughout the Birmingham area.
“I would really love for my corporate catering to boom a little bit more,” Westover said. “I’ve got the capabilities now with three commercial kitchens to do a lot.”
Rather than strictly offering preset catering menus, Westover enjoys working directly with
customers to build meals that fit their events.
“I love brainstorming with customers and coming up with the perfect menu,” she said. “Sometimes we’ll create something that’s not even on our catering packet.”
From office lunches and lunch-and-learn events to football parties featuring dips, sliders and grazing tables, Westover said every event receives the same level of care. Presentation, she believes, matters just as much as the food itself.
“We tie bows on things,” she said. “I always write thank-you notes. Those little touches matter to me.”
Unlike many catering services, Meals by Misty also relies on its own delivery team rather than third-party services.
“We’re a small company, but we’re very professional,” Westover said. “The people delivering your food are representing our business, and that’s important to me.”
That same personal approach extends throughout each of the company’s three locations.
Whether customers are stopping in for dinner after soccer practice, ordering lunch for the office or picking up food for a neighbor going through a difficult time, Westover hopes every interaction reflects the values she built the business upon.
“Food is supposed to be fun,” Westover said. “I want there to be a smiling face, regardless of what season of life someone is in.”
For her, that’s why Meals by Misty has never simply been about casseroles or convenience. Rather, it’s about giving families a little more time around the dinner table and making life’s busiest seasons just a little easier.
Meals by Misty is located at 108 Watterson Pkwy. in Trussville, and it is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. To view full menus or place an order, visit mealsbymisty. com.
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Madeline Curd Cashier and Cook at Meals by Misty
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Madeline Curd has worked at Meals by Misty since August 2019. She was part of the culinary academy at Hewitt-Trussville High School and loved being in the kitchen. A friend of hers worked at Meals by Misty and encouraged her to apply when she was looking for an afterschool job. She had never worked in a commercial kitchen before, so she was excited for the experience and eager to learn more about the dishes featured on Misty’s monthly menus.
How did you get your start in the food industry?
Cooking has always been my passion. I’ve loved being in the kitchen since I was a little girl, and getting to be creative and make new dishes for my family and the community is something I truly enjoy. I learned my foundational culinary skills from Chef Anna Hallman, who runs the culinary academy at the high school. That program introduced me to a wide range of techniques and also taught me the importance of hospitality.
What’s been your favorite part of working at Meals by Misty?
My favorite part is the combination of creativity and community. I love getting
to help create different dishes each month, but I also really value the relationships I’ve built with our customers. It’s a joy to serve people who are so kind and supportive of this business, and I absolutely love my coworkers. We have a great team, and I genuinely enjoy coming to work with people I consider family.
How have you enjoyed crafting food for the community of Trussville and beyond?
It’s been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of helping with catering for weddings, baby showers, graduations, birthdays and more. One of my favorite moments is when a customer tells me a dish tastes “just like their mother made
it.” As a cook, that’s one of the best compliments you can receive.
What’s the best item on the menu?
My favorite item is the chicken poppy casserole. It’s a creamy chicken and rice dish topped with buttery Ritz crackers. It’s a staple that stays on the menu every month because customers love it—and so do I.
What’s your go-to meal or snack for busy, on-the-go days?
For a quick meal, I usually go for pasta salad or chicken salad since both are easy to throw together. For a snack, I love the peanut butter protein balls from Meals by Misty. They’re perfect for busy days and feel like a sweet treat.
HOME STYLE&
A STORIED PLACE
TJ and Anna Page Davis craft a home that tells of stories old and new.
BY MICHAELA BANKSTON
PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN IVY
FFor TJ and Anna Page Davis, the story of how they met takes place in Auburn, where he played football at the university and she worked in the athletic recruiting department. However, the story of how they ended up in Trussville began years before.
Anna Page grew up in the historic Cahaba Project not far from where the pair have crafted their “forever home.”
“We decided that this would be our forever home,” Anna Page said. “We found a little community that we really love.”
After marrying in 2019, they lived a couple other places before moving to Trussville in 2022 to help take care of her mother, who had brain cancer, until she passed away in 2023. Since then, her father has moved from her childhood home but remains in the historic district as does her sister and many of the family’s childhood neighbors and high school friends.
“It wasn’t hard to get plugged in with her roots being here,” said TJ, who is originally from Tallahassee, Florida. “Once you’re in it, it’s like ‘This is awesome.’ We wouldn’t give this up for anything.”
When they moved in 2019, they had much of the inside of the house redone, but they wanted to keep the original look and feel of the home.
“I really enjoy the historic homes, keeping things original to the way they were,” Anna Page said. “I grew up in the neighborhood, so I think that’s probably why I really enjoy it.”
After welcoming their three children, Tripp, 5, Rosie, 2, and Eliza, 1, the family quickly outgrew their space and decided to add on to the original home last year. Once again, they chose to maintain the historical feel throughout.
“We’ve worked on literally every inch of this home and picked out everything and really tried to work to make it feel like it’s a space that we can unwind at the end of the day and be there,” Anna Page said.
TJ and Anna Page enjoy antique hunting, and according to him, “She has a great eye.” They worked together to select each piece in their home with the intention of not only keeping with the historical nature, but also having pieces in each room that tell “a story from somewhere.”
Kitchen
This is the original kitchen, but the Davises gutted it when they first moved in to ensure they had a place to make family memories for years to come. Just outside the kitchen is a photo of the original house.
Living Room
Their new living room was designed with enough space for two couches to ensure everyone has a place to sit. The antique piece of furniture in the corner was gifted by a former neighbor as she prepared to move.
Dining/Sitting Area
Just inside the entryway, this area was the original den. With the addition, the Davises converted it to a dining space that doubles as a sitting area because of the location of the fireplace. Anna Page’s father built the wooden table for the children. It is their space for eating, creating and anything else they want to do. The built-ins display some of their dinnerware, which is handmade by their family friends’ company Provvista.
Rosie and Eliza’s Bathroom
While the girls are not quite old enough, their bathroom is ready when they are. Anna Page’s mother gave them the wall hangings for Tripp’s nursery, and they have since migrated into this room, which is complete with original tile floors.
Rosie and Eliza’s Nursery
Anna Page painted the nursery’s striped walls that give the room a fun feel while its pastel coloring maintains a young elegance alongside the metal cribs. Her dad built the frame that houses a baby blanket and hangs above the floating bookshelves as a primary decorative piece.
Master Bedroom
Anna Page knew she wanted a warm, velvet headboard to soften the room, and the bedding was a wedding present from her mother. Drawing inspiration from that, she designed the rest of the room around the bed.
Master Bathroom
The couple had a distinct idea of what they wanted in their bathroom, including honed-marble floors, antique double doors and unlacquered brass fixtures that would patinate over time. Next to her sink, Anna Page keeps her mother’s favorite perfume and lotion.
Mudroom
This mudroom is now a convenient extra space, but it was the laundry area in the original house.
Laundry Room
With the new addition, Anna Page knew she wanted a full laundry room with a sink. She saw the paint color on Instagram and mated it with the terracotta pots and French gold faucet that all contrast nicely.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Acorn Building, LLC completed the addition to the Davis home last year.
For quotes, questions or other examples of Acorn’s work, see below.
Decades of devotion to the community from David and Anita Dobbs leaves lasting impact for family and former students.
By Ashley Tiedt | Photos Contributed
OOn April 15, 2026, Catie Seale and Amanda Dobbs received alerts from the Apple Watches of their parents, beloved Hewitt-Trussville coaches David and Anita Dobbs, indicating they were involved in a severe car accident. David passed away at the scene, and Anita suffered catastrophic injuries. Upon receiving the alerts, Amanda left work in Tennessee and had a friend drive her to Birmingham while Catie went straight to the crash site.
What followed was nearly 40 days of Anita being in the hospital, first in intensive care and then in inpatient rehabilitation, with Catie and Amanda alternating days at her side. Through the hardest of it, both daughters pointed to Anita’s humor as something that never fully left her.
“She is the most hilarious woman, and her sense of humor got her through her recovery,” Amanda said.
Anita has continued outpatient therapy since
coming home, but long before that day, the Dobbses spent decades shaping Hewitt-Trussville’s students and the community as a whole.
FAMILY BUSINESS
What started as 13 kids on a cross-country roster grew into a track-and-field complex bearing the Dobbs’ name, four state championships, a Hall of Fame induction and a network of former runners scattered across the country.
Anita and David met at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the mid-1970s waiting in line to register for classes with punch cards. They married in 1980 and went into teaching. David was hired at Hewitt-Trussville High School in 1990 and started his coaching career as an assistant football coach.
However, David’s real love was running, so he spent years angling with the administration to bring back cross-country and track. When they finally agreed, he coached both track and football until he finally told the football coach he couldn’t do both. Once he committed to running full time, Anita came with him, not officially at first, but out of necessity.
“He needed a female,” Anita said.
She oversaw the middle school team while David coached the varsity one with practices split between two locations. For the couple, practice didn’t end after the final whistle. There was no locker room and no coach’s office.
“The coach’s office was our car,” Anita said.
Catie ran track and cross-country throughout high school before switching to soccer her senior year, a decision that wasn’t easy to share with her father.
Amanda competed in javelin and remembers her father as demanding but never harsh.
“I was struggling during a workout one season; he got level with me to encourage me,” Amanda said. “He told me he knew I could do it and to not give up. He was pushing me to live up to what he knew I could do.”
Anita coached track until 2017 and cross-country until 2018. David continued coaching, staying on even after his official retirement from the classroom
in 2019. His final season was 2022.
David was named the AHSAA’s Making a Difference Award winner in 2020, and in 2022 he was inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame. That same year, the couple had a section of the school’s track-and-field complex named in their honor.
Fatherhood eventually became grandfatherhood, and David made it clear early on what he wanted to be called, but Anita was not initially on board.
“I told him, ‘No, you’ve had thousands of kids that have called you Coach. Let’s make it special,’” Anita said.
He was unmoved. Catie’s daughter, Anderson, tried to say it as a toddler and landed on “Toach” before she could manage the real word. He was at all of Anderson’s soccer games and track meets.
“Last year Dad drew Anderson a diagram of the track beforehand, telling her exactly where on the course he’d be standing so she could hear him yell
‘go.’ When she heard him, she picked up speed and won every event she ran,” Catie said. “It was such a special day and even more special now.”
BEYOND THE FINISH LINE
David’s influence didn’t stop at the finish line. As a science teacher who moved up a grade level every few years, he ended up teaching some students, including Patrick Raney, in four separate school years.
“The thing I remember about Coach (David) was that his science classes were so engaging,” Raney said. “I recall he had everyone’s attention, telling some real-life stories about the day’s lesson in a highly entertaining way.”
Raney went on to a career in conservation and credits David directly.
“I think I had a real leg up in my career having had a mentor in my science classes who was so passionate
“
” Coach Dobbs was with me through some of the most significant highs and lows of my life, long after my days as one of his athletes. He was a steady presence in my life whose guidance, kindness and belief in me made a lasting impact.
- Veronica Poole
about making learning so accessible and relatable,” he said. “What really set Coach apart was instilling follow-through. If you’re going to do something, do it well and finish it. That’s what I took away from Coach. Those lessons have served me well in my career.”
Summers belonged to the road. The Dobbses spent three to four weeks at a time crossing the country in a pop-up camper, later an RV, visiting national parks and hiking trails. Amanda estimated she’s now visited 42 states because of those summers. Along the way, they tracked down former students and athletes in whatever city they passed through, taking them to dinner and often showing up with a taste of home, such as Milo’s Tea and Conecuh Sausage, in tow.
“I stayed in touch with Coach, and he and his wife visited us in New York on their road trips on multiple occasions,” Raney said.
Former athlete Veronica Poole has similar memories.
“Coach Dobbs was with me through some of the most significant highs and lows of my life, long after my days as one of his athletes,” Poole said. “He was a steady presence in my life whose guidance, kindness and belief in me made a lasting impact.”
After the Dobbses stepped back from coaching, their community work didn’t slow down. Anita and David began cooking a monthly breakfast at a men’s shelter in downtown Birmingham. Anita later tutored residents for their GED exams. They also collected surplus food from Trussville school cafeterias at the end of each year and distributed it to shelters across Birmingham.
REMEMBERING DAVID
David’s Celebration of Life drew mourners from as far as Iowa and Washington, D.C., and included a former student who flew in from a vacation in France.
The celebration itself was deliberately informal, closer to the casual meals David loved sharing with former runners. Catie and Amanda played a song David had chosen himself, titled “Keg on My Coffin.”
“We were honored by the number of people who showed up and shared stories about my dad. It’s exactly what he would have wanted, former students and athletes gathering together, reconnecting and raising a glass to his memory,” Catie said with Amanda adding, “What more can you ask for in a life well lived than people being impacted by you and your light?”
For Jihan Trone, who ran under David as an athlete before later coaching alongside him. The relationship spanned both sides of the clipboard.
“Everyone was important to him,” Trone said. “He encouraged everyone to be their best. He didn’t shy away from tough conversations.”
Trone was part of all four state championship teams under David—as an athlete in 1999 and as an assistant coach in 2021.
“He was a part of my life until he passed,” she said.
For nearly three decades, students passed through the Dobbses’ program, and what stayed with them wasn’t a personal record or a state title. It was coaches who noticed when something was wrong, a couple who fed them before big meets and a family that kept showing up for them years after graduation.
Members of Leadership HewittTrussville, a leadership program for juniors and seniors at HewittTrussville High School, recently recognized outstanding businesses and organizations whose dedication and service continue to strengthen the Trussville community.
The class presented the Emerging Business Award to 1971 Clothing, honoring its rapid growth and commitment to serving the community since opening in 2023. Nona Ruth’s received the Growing Business Award for its years of excellence and continued support of local schools and organizations. The Legacy Award was presented to Trussville Gas and Water, recognizing more than 80 years of service and its longstanding investment in the city and future leaders. The Champion of Change Award was awarded to the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce for its decades of fostering connections, supporting local
businesses, and enriching community life.
Through the Community Impact Awards, Leadership HT celebrates the businesses and organizations whose leadership, generosity and commitment help make Trussville a thriving place to live, work and grow. These awards are presented annually, with nominations opening each spring. Leadership HT looks forward to continuing this tradition of recognizing those who make a lasting difference in the community.
1971 Clothing Trussville Gas and Water Nona Ruth’s
Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce
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Past Events
Restaurant Week Bingo Brings Fun and Flavor to Trussville
Each year, Taste of Trussville kicks off the popular Trussville Restaurant Week Bingo. Presented by Trussville To Go and organized by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual event continues to be a favorite among families and individuals looking to support local businesses while enjoying some friendly competition. Although known as Restaurant Week, the event actually lasts two weeks, giving everyone plenty of time to visit participating restaurants and enjoy all the delicious offerings. Bingo cards are filled with participating restaurants and eateries throughout the community. Participants simply make a purchase at the featured locations and receive a stamp. Once they complete a bingo, they turn in their card for a chance to win prizes generously donated by local businesses. The back of each bingo card also features special deals and promotions offered by participating businesses, giving diners even more reasons to explore the community. Restaurant Week Bingo has become a fun tradition that encourages residents to explore new dining spots and revisit longtime favorites. This year’s event was another great success, highlighting the strong support Trussville residents have for their local restaurants. Be sure to make plans to join in the fun next year and experience all the great flavors Trussville has to offer.
AUG. 1 Trussville Dog Daze 10 a.m.-4 p.m. East Mall
August Chamber Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Trussville Civic Center
SEPT. 17
September Chamber Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Trussville Civic Center
Minuteman Press
Trussville City Schools
Member of the Month-May
Member of the Month-June
TASTE OF TRUSSVILLE
On the evening of May 12, at the Trussville Civic Center, the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Taste of Trussville, the annual kick off to Trussville’s Restaurant Week.
1. Seth, Saxton, Samuel, Samiyah and Angel Jones
2. Richard and Sheila Searson
3. Rodell and Tan Alexander
4. Ashleigh, Ross and Ryder Silas
5. Karen Black and Tiah Skrzycki
6. Emily and Addie Kirby
7. Remy, Candis and Rileigh Aldridge
8. Samantha Floyd and Lorene Billups
9. Rita McMillan, Heather Gray and Steve and Karen Holloman
10. Rachel and Chloe Tidwell
11. William Bozeman and Jacob Harper
12. Rosalyn S. and Chelsea and Marlene Brown
13. Melanie Turner, Morgan and Reece Williams and Terry Turner
14. Bill and Lisa Bright
15. Joshua Brasseale and Jennifer Boykin-Bryan
16. Alex, Corelei, Atticus and Michelle Floyd
PHOTOS BY TRACY RIGGS FRONTZ AND TRAVIS FRONTZ
CASHBACK
On the evening of Friday, June 26, at the Trussville Entertainment District, Cashback, a Birmingham-based, Johnny Cash tribute band, performed.
1. Ginger Hollingsworth, Susan Simpson, Celya Caston and Chloe and Lainey White
2. Nancy and Doug Massey
3. Jacob Crowe, Laura Dewberry and Kadin Baker
4. Heather and Dale Logan with Sadie and Chris and Sandy Mills
5. Holly and Clint Lovette
6. Marisol Leyva and Pedro Ruiz
7. Sherry Gravett and Mike Petkovich
8. David and Terry Staff
9. Charla Ferguson, Marie White, Arlene Milarch and Teresa Lee
10. Sarah and Doug McCollough
11. Kim and Mike Staggs
12. Cherry Jones and Frank Pugh
13. Brenda Thompson and Judy Sharpe
PHOTOS BY AMANDA E.H. PRITCHARD
WAGGING TAILS
COMMUNITY MARKET
On Saturday, June 27, The Dog Stop hosted a community market featuring local vendors, many of which catered to four-legged friends.
1.Danielle Avery
2.Ashley Tate with Theo
3.Lisa Moon
4.Ryan, Karlee, Travis and Emma Carr
5.Figgie Fitzgerald and Nicole Clay
6.Nikki Gadeaw
7.Sarah Tinley
8.Bethany and Kenny Tyree
9.Alyssa and Jonathan Standridge
10.Tammi Tavares
11.Robin and Joseph Minor
12.Joshua Brazeel
13.Tracy Brixey and Emily Moody
14.Pamela Kennedy
PHOTOS BY ANGIE RUIZ
TRUSSVILLE FREEDOM CELEBRATION
On Saturday, July 4, First Baptist Church presented Trussville Freedom Celebration. Many gathered to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with food, live music and of course, fireworks.
1. Ben and Whitney Jackson, Farley and Sloane Rother and Luke Jackson
2. Reese Wolfe and Clarissa Davidson
3. Chelsea and Viviana Calderon
4. Takeia Hullaby and Jaysie Sheppard
5. Sharie Millsap and Shalisha Curry 6. Anna Jenkins
7. Katie Smith
8. Gabe Turner and Rachel Purnell
9. Myra Dawkins with Rosie
10. London Ford and Alexa Matthews
11. Erica Schulz and Griffin Riner
12. Jack Yates
13. Addi Windsor, Lily Jayne Liston, Lily Isom and Elle Burke
14. Iman Sharp, Amelia Stewart and Kyler Carreker
15. Kathryn Ann Waller and Kamron Potts
16. Cody Hutchens
17. Wesley Powell and Megan Dudley
18. George and Debra Blake
PHOTOS BY ANGIE RUIZ
TRUSSVILLE FREEDOM CELEBRATION CONT.
On Saturday, July 4, First Baptist Church presented Trussville Freedom Celebration. Many gathered to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with food, live music and of course, fireworks.
19. Pam and Baker Windle and Tammy Watkins
20. Max Grguric and Lynlee Black
21. Noelani Beltran and Rico Ramos
22. Kariba Bush, Alex Peters and Justin Duke
23. Pierce Graydon, Izzy Nero and Michaela Phillips
24. Emily Swinford and Jackson Rutledge
25. Harmony Hawkins and Miles Darnell
26. David and Debbie Wooten
27. Becky Grimmett and Nina Orr
28. Savanah Kennedy and Julia Morris
29. Aaron Thomas and Ari Gober
30. Braxton Reaves and Rylee Millard
31. Faith D’Amico and DJ Stovall
32. Grayson Rodgers
33. Kyle Jiang, Sawyer Henderson and Trevor Boyda
34. Brody Howell and Lyla Bradberry
35. MaKhaiya Cherry
36. Debbie and Billy Legg
PHOTOS BY ANGIE RUIZ
MY TRUSSVILLE MELISSA WALKER
Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce Director
Outdoor Sites
Trussville Greenway
I love spending time at the Trussville Greenway and the Grassy Mall in Trussville because both are beautiful places to walk and enjoy the outdoors. They’re great spots to relax, unwind and take in the community atmosphere.
Local Eats
Culinary Variety
My favorite dish in Trussville is hard to choose because there are so many great restaurants in the area. I really enjoy the variety we have in Trussville, and I appreciate being able to support so many local spots.
Making Memories
First Baptist Church Trussville
Lots of great memories have been made in Trussville, but watching both of my daughters get married at First Baptist Church Trussville is at the top of the list. Those were two of the most meaningful and joyful days of my life. Having our family and friends there to celebrate made those moments even more special, and those memories will always hold a special place in my heart.
Community Fellowship
Dog Daze and Tree Lighting
My favorite local events are Trussville Dog Daze and the Community Caroling and Tree Lighting. I love all of the events we host through the chamber, but these two are especially meaningful because they truly bring our community together. It’s always special to see families, friends and neighbors gathering to celebrate what makes Trussville such a wonderful place to call home.
Sentimental Spots
Trussville City Schools
All of the schools in the Trussville City Schools system are very special to me. My daughters started kindergarten at Paine Elementary School, attended Hewitt-Trussville Middle School and graduated from Hewitt-Trussville High School, so many of our family’s sweetest memories were made throughout those years. As a recent member of Leadership Trussville Class 4, I had the opportunity to tour the schools again, and it brought back so many wonderful memories.
Football
8/21 - @Auburn
8/28 - Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
9/04 - Hoover*
9/11 - @Tuscaloosa County*
9/18 - Prattville*
10/02 - @Oak Mountain*
10/09 - Thompson*
10/16 - @Vestavia*
10/23 - Spain Park*
10/29 - @Pike Road
*6A Region 3
Girls Volleyball
8/20 - Auburn
8/21-22 - Juanita Boddie Tourn. Finley Center - Hoover
