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PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

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Birmingham Times
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Jazz trumpeter Jose Carr. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

TODAY, APRIL 24…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**COMEDIAN CHRIS IVEY’S COMEDY JAM featuring BRENT REED, JAY FLAKE, SCOTT EASOEN, and hosted by SCOOT LAMAR

**PARROTFISH at The Nick.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**GRACE BOWERS & THE HODGE PODGE at Saturn.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m.  at 1821 2nd Avenue North

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY…APRIL 25 IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**MICHIGAN RATTLERS with SAM FILLATREUS at Saturn.

**JOMBI, THOMAS SARTOR AND SAM & THE BIG BOYS at the Nick.

**YACHT ROCK REVUE – YACHT ROCK FOREVER TOUR at Avondale Brewing Co.

**LATE NIGHT FRIDAYS with ZEN FORCE at The Nick Rocks.

**GOOD PEOPLE & GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

SATURDAY…APRIL 26

**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick.

**THE AIN’T SISTERS – LATE NIGHT at the Nick.

**LATE NIGHT at The Nick with R.1Y.T.

**GEORGE CLANTON with NEGGY GEMMY at Saturn.

**SOUTHERN SOUL RISING STARS FESTIVAL including: ARTHUR YOUNG, 803 FRESH, YOUNG GUY, JAY MORRIS GROUP, FAT DADDY and TONIO ARMANI at Avondale Brewing Co.

SUNDAY…APRIL 27

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**2ND SUNDAY FREE with ZACH AUSTIN, 5-7 p.m. at The Nick.

** SUNDAY NIGHT with KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

MONDAY…APRIL 28

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND (Open Mic) with Special Guest NEW AGE PHOTOGRAPH at the Nick.

**NAPALM DEATH & MELVINS with WEEDEATER, and DARK SKY BURIAL at Saturn.

TUESDAY…APRIL 29

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY TUESDAY, 7 p.m. at The Nick.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY, 10 p.m. at The Nick.

**MAT KEARNEY – HEADLIGHTS HOME TOUR at Iron City.

WEDNESDAY…APRIL 30

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**JULIE BAKER & TORRES at Iron City.

**EVERYTHING IS GREAT! A TOWN HALL FOR THE PEOPLE at Saturn.

NEXT THURSDAY…MAY 1

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**VALORIES at The Nick.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**CUPCAKKE at Saturn.

**HOUNDMOUTH at Iron City.

NEXT FRIDAY….MAY 2

**GLADYS IMPROV at Saturn.

**STUD FORD (Grandson of Legendary Delta-Blues artist- MODEL FORD & WILL COPPAGE at the Nick.

**WILCO with WAXAHATCHEE at Avondale Brewing Co.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

**ALABAMA’S STAR ID – The deadline for the STAR ID is MAY 7.  https://bhamnow.com/2025/04/21/alabamas-star-id-deadline-is-may-7-heres-what-to-know/ If you are traveling in America or abroad, get it now.

FOR BOOK LOVERS…

**STACKS & STORIES Story Fest and book sale is Thursday through Saturday the first weekend in May at The Historic Ballard House Project, 1429 7th Avenue North. Connect with other book lovers.

FOR PERFORMANCE LOVERS…

**PLAY – GOD YOU GOT IT WRONG – This play is about a frustrated woman thinking God is Wrong about her Mr. Right; so she takes Him to court to prove her case. It’s all poetry! The performances are Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Uptown Jazz Lounge, 2250-B 9th Avenue North. The play is said to be a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. It is set in the courtroom where plaintiffs and defense are pleading their case to God about Mr. Right. It is filled with thought provoking poetry to represent each phase of love, sadness and redemption. With a local cast including GENEISE FULLER, SHAWNTA OWENS, GABRIELLA MANZY, T-WON PRICE, RAJON PRICE, NIKKI JACKSON, DEBRA PRICE and BRANDI MCKETHERN. Playwright GENEISE “LADY GE” FULLER is also an author, poet, singer, and songwriter. She has been teaching and dancing for years.

For more, visit: www.ladyge.com.

FOR FILM LOVERS…

** Starting Friday at Sidewalk Cinema…THE FLORIDA PROJECT and RED ROCKET.

**TUESDAY – Science on Screen has a screening INTERSELLAR and a post-film discussion with UAB Professor of Anatomy Dr. Jason Heaton.

**WEDNESDAY – CHAOTIC GOOD IMPROV join for their PLAYER VS. PLAYER show 7 p.m.

**THURSDAY- GAZER, 4:35 p.m. also, WARFARE, 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. Then there is TANGERINE, 7 p.m.

**APRIL 25- MAY 8 is THE SHROUDS.

**APRIL 26 and 27 – Disney classic ROBIN HOOD.

**APRIL 27 – AN ARMY OF WOMEN for One Day ONLY! There is a panel discussion afterwards to raise awareness about the work of the Crisis Center and the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.

IF YOU LOVE SPORTS, then here you go SPORTS LOVERS. Read on…

FOR LOVERS OF SWIMMING…

**HIRING LIFE GUARDS – A recruitment efforts for LIFEGUARDS with immediate opening for Certified Lifeguards and Non-Certified Lifeguards (will certify). Contact 205-254-2189 or 205-254-2391.

FOR FISHING LOVERS…

**FISHING RODEO, Saturday JUNE 1 at the East Lake Park, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. with fishing for all ages, tons of giveaways, food trucks and vendors and family friendly fun.

FOR LOVERS OF FLAG FOOTBALL…

**YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE for boys and girls ages 5 – 12 at Legion Field Stadium on MAY 16, 6 p.m. This is a 6-week season. Games are played on Fridays for regular season and play/off games.  For more info, call 205-254-2391.

INTERESTED IN GOLF…

**FIRST TEE BIRMINGHAM – Programming for ages 7 – 18 with no golf experience needed, at any age.  Highland Park Golf Course on Monday – Wednesday, Roebuck Golf Course: Monday – Thursday and PGA Tour Superstore on Saturday.

For more info about program and registration, contact: firstteebirmingham.org.

FOR BASEBALL LOVERS…

**YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE registration is Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Legion Field Gate 17, 400 Graymont Avenue. Fee is $20 per child. T-Ball – ages 4, 5, 6; Coach Pitch 7- 8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14. For more info, contact paul-campbell@birminghamal.gov or Dwight.thomas@birminghamal.gov.

FOR MOTORSPORTS LOVERS…

**This is the weekend that anyone in loves with cars has been waiting on for the joy of fast cars. The weekend action kicks off on Saturday with a doubleheader.  The ARCA MENARDS SERIES at 12:30 p.m. ET followed by the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AG-PRO 300 at 4 p.m. ET.  Then, on Sunday the racing stars will battle for the finish during the JACK LINKS 500 at 3 p.m.  Get your friends and head to the track at Talladega Superspeedway! Don’t Miss BUBBA WALLACE, KYLE LARSON or CHASE ELLIOTT and some History in the Making!!! This is more than a race!  This is Talladega Superspeedway!!  For more, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com

FOR EARNING AND LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT…

**MAGIC CITY YOUTHBUILD is accepting applications. Earn while you learn, train in construction and healthcare careers. INFO: Must be 16-24 years old, 6 to 9 month program, earn your GED, and get paid a biweekly stipend. Contact 205-983-7550 or youthbuild@habd.net.

**HABD SUMMER YOUTH EMPLYMENT PROGRAM for Birmingham residents ages 16-24 to work as a camp counselor or intern. INTERN – May 1 – August 31, work hours are flexible up to 40 hrs. a week. CAMP COUNSELOR – June 1 – August 10, work hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Get more info and apply at any Housing Authority of the Birmingham District Community Center or Management Office.

**PA ETIQUETTE WORKSHOP is May 6, 5- 7 p.m. for Production Assistant Etiquette led by AD Maggie Ballard. Contact Create Birmingham for more.

**SO FRESH & SO CLEAN Haircuts for Youth Tour “BARBER SHOP TALK” dates are May 1 at Princeton Alternative Elementary School, May 16 at Su Valley Elementary 16, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., May 21 at Hayes K-8 School and May 30 at Hemphill Elementary, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. If interested in more info, call 850-371-4832.

**YOUTH SERVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES are CARDBOARD CONNECT on Saturday, 3- 7 p.m. at Avondale Samaritan Place, 3829 5th Avenue S and CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE through April 28 to donate books. Books can be dropped off at YouthServe Office, 2717- 7th Avenue So, #105, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more email: ajay@youthservebham.org.

**CRISIS CENTER TEEN BOARD APPLICATIONS for 7 – 12th graders. Applications close on April 30 for the 25-26 school year. Contact Crisis Center.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com. 

“The change in public speakers policy was ill-advised. Obviously, the BWWB was clueless about how much scrutiny they are under.”

By
Birmingham Times
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0

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL O’QUINN ON THE BACKLASH BWWB RECEIVED FOR A POLICY RESTRICTING SPEAKERS AT ITS MEETINGS. BOARD CHAIR TERESHIA HUFFMAN SAID THE POLICY WOULD BE RESCINDED; AL.COM, APRIL 21.

Alabama Lawmakers Take Major Step to Overhaul the Birmingham Water Works Board

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Birmingham Times
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Streamline Plumbing and Drain said a few simple steps like dripping a faucet can help save thousands of dollars when it gets cold out. (Adobe Stock)

By Joseph D. Bryant | jbryant@al.com

Some Alabama legislators Tuesday endorsed a plan to transform the Birmingham Water Works Board into a regional system, despite opposition from city officials.

Birmingham city leaders say proposed legislation will dilute local control; supporters of the legislation, including its sponsor, say change is needed to keep the utility accountable and affordable.

“Failure in the management of water systems will lead to unreasonably high rates that oppress residents and are barriers to economic development,” Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, told the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee.

The bill, SB330, advanced out of committee on a party line vote of 6-3. Co-sponsors are Republicans Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Sen. Shay Shelnutt.

What Would The Bill Do?

It would shrink the nine-member board to five and reduce Birmingham’s members to just one. Sponsors call the bill a move to reform the utility after years of complaints about customer service, excessive spending and missing representation from customers outside Birmingham and Jefferson County.

However, those against it call it a hostile takeover of an asset that belongs to the people of Birmingham.

“Today is a day in history where you will be able to reflect back where there was governmental taking of the assets of the citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson County,” said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham.

The legislation would transform the water works board into a regional authority with new members, and give new appointment powers to the president of the Jefferson County Commission and the Alabama Lt. Governor.

The nine-member board currently has six seats from Birmingham, one from the Jefferson County Mayors Association and one each from Blount and Shelby Counties.

Reactions From Lawmakers, Councilors

Smitherman said the bill has racist undertones where Birmingham, with a 70% Black population, would cede control of the utility to people who would be appointed from outside the city and county in predominantly white communities.

“What you’re doing is, ready to strangle. Birmingham you’re ready to try to bring her to her knees. You’re ready to try to put her in a situation where she can’t support her own self,” Smitherman said. “It’s a public lynching,” “You have to call it for what it is.”

Darrell O’Quinn

Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn also called the bill an unfair ceasing of the city’s asset.

“This bill is fundamentally about control and represents a taking from the city of Birmingham,” he said. “We want all the reforms to happen at the water works board and we think we are moving in that direction. But what’s being proposed is fundamentally opposed to the interests of the city of Birmingham.”

Sen. Merika Coleman, who sits on the committee, chided Roberts for what she called a lack of transparency in the process.

Coleman said Roberts shirked the normal process and submitted the bill without talking to her colleagues in the Jefferson County delegation – the Democrats from Birmingham.

“It has been ushered through the process, so there has been a lack of fairness when it comes to fair hearing,” Coleman told Roberts. “You came to see us after the fact, not prior to.”

Coleman said the latest bill and the way it was presented has damaged the progress to unify Jefferson County’s legislative delegation.

Still, Waggoner, who sponsored the last major reform of the utility in 2015, said he has returned to support Roberts because some reforms have gone unmet. He said improvements ushered in with his earlier legislation have lapsed.

“I’m receiving the same complaints today that I received 10 years ago. If I had received no complaints I would not be standing here today,” Waggoner said. “They are calling again.”

Responses from Birmingham Water Works

Water Works leaders touted recent improvements at the utility.

General Manager Mac Underwood, who returned to lead the utility in February, said the board took action to address customer service issues and changed management in 2024.

In recent months, he said 10,000 monthly billing errors have been reduced to less than 500 a month.

“We made a tremendous effort in improving the operation of the system.”

Underwood also contradicted the sponsor’s figures on the population serviced by the utility. He said 41 percent of the customer base comes from Birmingham and 92 percent percent comes from Jefferson County.

The utility’s other customers come from Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker counties.

Board member Butch Burbage, who lives in Shelby County, came on the board after the last reorganization was mandated by the legislature and also spoke against the bill.

Burbage said improvements have been made at the utility since the earlier reforms were mandated.

“It was a real mess, everybody knows that,” said Burbage, who is vice chairman of the board. “We are doing everything we possibly can to get this in the right place.”

Burbage said current leadership continues to make improvements.

“We have the best board in there. We work together and we understand the problems,” he said. “We put our confidence in the management group, they understand what we need and they are working toward that.”

He said momentum would be stifled if the system changed now.

The committee now moves closer to the floor for a vote. Waggoner is chairman of the rule committee.

Magic City Art Connection Kicks Off 42nd Year of Culture, Food and Creativity This Weekend

By
Birmingham Times
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Garland Farwell was the featured artist at the 38th Magic City Art Connection (MCAC) at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. (File)

By Holly Swafford | SoulGrown

The Magic City Art Connection (MCAC), Birmingham’s long-running spring arts festival, returns for its 42nd year April 25-27. Set against the striking backdrop of Sloss Furnaces, this three-day event brings together more than 150 juried fine artists from across the region and country. Visitors can expect a weekend filled with art, culture, food and community — all in celebration of creativity in its many forms.

Founded on the mission to create, inspire, educate and collect, MCAC has become a major cultural tradition in Birmingham. With thousands of works on display in a wide variety of styles, mediums and price points, the festival is designed for both seasoned collectors and those just beginning their art journey.

Local painter Vicki Denaburg, who has taken part in MCAC for more than 15 years, describes the event’s lasting impact.

“I look forward to MCAC every year,” Denaburg said. “I’m local and love interacting with the supportive patrons year after year. It’s amazing how many new people I continue to meet.”

Designed for both seasoned collectors and those just beginning their art journey, the Magic City Art Connection is a major cultural tradition in Birmingham. (Magic City Art Connection / Facebook)

The festival is a celebration of exploration through a variety of art forms and mediums, as Dan Bynum, a 2-D mixed media artist from Birmingham, said. “My favorite experience at Magic City Art Connection is discovering fresh, interesting art — the work made by artists who dare to never do what’s come before,” Bynum said. “At MCAC, there is always art that feels authentic and for the right reasons.”

This year’s featured artist is Dori DeCamillis, a Birmingham-based painter and co-owner of Red Dot Gallery in Edgewood. Originally from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, DeCamillis became a regular at MCAC in the 1990s, earning multiple awards and building a strong following. Her exhibition near the Festival Information Center will showcase her return to the festival and celebrate her artistic evolution.

Ray Wetzel, director and curator of the Gadsden Museum of Art, will serve as this year’s juror, awarding a selection of exhibiting artists for excellence. Visitors can spot these award-winning pieces marked with ribbons throughout the festival.

After browsing the artist booths, bring the kids over to Imagination Festival’s interactive workshops, which focus on art making and art education. These inspiring, educational, small- and large-scale art-making workshops are led by Birmingham artists and instructors.

Whether you come for the art, the chef tastings or the vibrant atmosphere, Magic City Art Connection offers an unforgettable way to experience Birmingham’s creative spirit. (Magic City Art Connection / Facebook)

Looking for something to sip and savor? A key highlight of the weekend is Corks & Chefs, MCAC’s signature tasting experience and one of the festival’s most beloved traditions. Now in its 28th year, the event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. Guests can enjoy tastings from local chefs, caterers and beverage makers, including wine, cocktails, craft beer, nonalcoholic options and seated tasting seminars. Held inside the Sloss Casting Shed, the experience allows attendees to sample a wide range of flavors while continuing to explore the festival’s art offerings. All Corks & Chefs tickets include a three-day pass to the MCAC.

Whether you come for the art, the chef tastings or the vibrant atmosphere, Magic City Art Connection offers an unforgettable way to experience Birmingham’s creative spirit.

For more information and advance ticket purchases, including entry to Corks & Chefs, visit magiccityart.com.

This story originally was published on the SoulGrown website.

‘He Told Me How Serious He Was About Me and He Prayed for Me to Come Back into His Life …’

By
Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

CHRISTINE & ALLEN LAW

Live: Trussville

Married: July 7, 2022

Met: Summer 2020, at Ground Up Customs at its former location in Birmingham.

Christine was looking for someone to perform some body work on her vehicle. “The bumper on my car fell off and someone referred me to his body shop. I thought he was fine, but I had to keep my cool because I didn’t have no bumper,” she laughed. “I was a little embarrassed, but he was a gentleman about it and he did a great job on the car, but waited until [the business had concluded and] I paid in full before he asked if he could take me out some time,” Christine recalled.

“I had to keep it business at first,” Allen said. He became interested “as we talked while her vehicle was being worked on, and at the end I asked her if she was available. She said ‘yes’ and we ended up going to a place of her choosing.”

That place? “We went hiking at Red Mountain,” Christine said.

First date: Summer 2020, at Red Mountain Park off Lakeshore. Allen said Christine joked on him about his athletic clothes. “…she thought I was [being conceited], Allen laughed.

“He did not come out there in no hiking clothes, he came out there looking good and smelling good with a VOSS water bottle,” Christine laughed.

“I was wearing athletic clothes, they were just nice,” Allen said, “and I had never been hiking before so it was fun, but she wouldn’t go in the little cave [they found while on the hike and she didn’t want to go explore it with him.]

Christine said hiking was the perfect first date as it “bypassed the usual stuff on the first date when you’re trying to be cute… we were out there getting sweaty and getting to know each other,” she said. “We spent hours out there having great conversation. And yes, when he saw the cave and he said, ‘let’s go check it out I said ‘no, sir, I don’t know you like that’” she laughed. “It was great because we were really able to be ourselves with no filter.”

A second date soon followed. “After that, we went on a date to a Mexican restaurant and then I didn’t see her again for a year,” said Allen.

Despite enjoying one another’s company, “Neither one of us followed up, it was just life and timing. We had that great connection, but I was right in the middle of studying for my personal training certification, and I had tunnel vision on getting that accomplished because I was leaving my job to pursue that full time,” Christine explained.

The turn: A year later, Christine’s car would bring them back together again. In January 2022, Christine’s radiator went out and she circled back around to Allen to fix her car.

“Since he was so great and professional when he fixed my car the first time, I reached back out to him, and he did the same thing again — after I paid, he said he would love to reconnect again,” Christine laughed.

The pair re-established their connection but would keep it over the phone for a month. “… it was all text messages and phone calls,” Christine said. “That second time, I had already prayed for her to come back to me so when she pulled up, I started thanking God right then and there, and it went pretty fast,” Allen said.

By February “we did an indoor picnic at Allen’s place [on Birmingham’s west side],” Christine said. “He laid down a blanket, we had food, and everything. And by March, we celebrated my birthday in Vegas, and by Mother’s Day, he proposed.

“I wasn’t gonna let her get away again,” Allen said.

The proposal: At Christine’s place in Trussville, on Mother’s Day. “I came over with flowers and a candle as her Mother’s Day gift, and I showed Serene [Christine’s daughter, then 19] the ring first and she hollered, and Christine came out and said ‘what?’. And that’s when I turned around, got down on one knee and asked her to marry me,” Allen said.

Christine was caught off guard because “I was about to break up with Allen,” she laughed. “We had had a misunderstanding, and I was going through the motions and thinking this wasn’t going to work … So when he proposed, I was a crying mess because here I was thinking it wasn’t going to work and was planning to break up with him, and here he was planning to propose,” said Christine. When we reconnected, “he told me how serious he was about me and that he prayed for me to come back into his life and that he wasn’t going to let me get away from him again, so, ‘I said, ‘yes’.”

Christine and Allen Law met in 2020 at Allen’s business, Ground Up Customs in Birmingham. The couple married two years later. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At the Birmingham courthouse. They were dressed casually because both were on the way to the World Games kick-off ceremony at Protective Life Stadium, and Christine was determined to seal the deal on that day.

“I battled with myself about the best timing to get married, and when I heard from God that the time was now, I was ready. And we were determined to get married on 7/7 because of the significance of the meaning of the numbers. The number seven represents divine perfection, spiritual wholeness and completion, and I was determined for that to be our day.”

“I was with it because I had wanted to do it a week earlier but [she hesitated] so when she called me and said, ‘I’m ready’, I said, ‘let’s go,’” Allen said.

The couple share their most memorable moment. They felt like they were starring in their own rom-com movie as they worked together to overcome obstacles in way of the marriage.

“It was funny because we had to run back and forth between the courthouse and the FedEx downtown trying to get the papers notarized [correctly] because FedEx kept messing up the paperwork. And we were on foot, not in cars because the streets were all blocked off for the games, so we were sprinting back and forth like a movie trying to get the papers right and get them in before the courthouse closed. And they were closing early that day,” Christine said.

It took three trips to FedEx to get the paperwork right. “The guy at the courthouse who had to [process] our marriage certificate was rooting for us, he was our little cheerleader and kept us [aware of the timing], and each time we got on that elevator we were out of breath. And the police officer working the courthouse was the second cheerleader rooting us on,” Allen said.

“By the time we were done, we were tired, sweaty and musty,” Christine laughed.

“But we were married,” said Allen. “And we were so tired that we didn’t even make the kick-off, so we went and celebrated over dinner at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, on 280.”

They went on a weekend honeymoon trip to Panama City Beach Florida. “We got married around the same time we were opening my gym, Inside Out, so we just did a quick getaway,” Christine said. “We were so happy to reconnect and reflect on our journey getting back to one another and just being present in the moment amongst all the chaos we were experiencing with getting my gym opened.”

Words of wisdom: “If you get a second chance with the one that you prayed for, seize the moment,” Allen said.

“Marriage is worth it, even though you have obstacles, you’re overcoming them with the one you love. Marriage really requires humility because it’s not just about you, it’s about your partner, who is your teammate. Every day you have to choose each other. There’s a world out here telling us that we don’t need each other but I beg to differ. I don’t subscribe to that mentality. I value having a partner, Christine said.”

“There is a part of you that has to die daily to selfishness when you do get married and are trying to please each other in order for your marriage to work,” Allen added.

Happily ever after: The Laws attend Faith Chapel Christian Center, in Wylam, and are a blended family with nine children between them, ranging in ages 31-10. They also have six grandchildren.

Christine, 42, is a Poughkeepsie, New York native, and relocated to Birmingham in 2006. She attended Jefferson State Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree in early childhood development, and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from UAB. Christine served for three years in the US Army at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in the 530th Battalion. She owns Inside Out Gym in Midfield where she also offers personal training.

Allen, 52, is a Miami, Florida native, and relocated to Birmingham in 1997, when he relocated for his truck driving career. He owns an automotive repair and collision restoration business called Ground Up Customs, located in Midfield.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Water Works Walks Back ‘Ill-Advised’ Plan to Limit Public Comment

By
Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Water Works Board. (File photo)

By Roy S. Johnson | rjohnson@al.com

Anyone wishing to speak at the Birmingham Water Works board meeting on Wednesday will be able to do so even if they did not sign up online ahead of time.

Tereshia Huffman, chair of the Birmingham Water Works Board. (Provided)

Tereshia Huffman, chair of the water works board, said they are turning the spigot off on a new policy to limit how long someone could speak and requiring them to sign up within 24 hours of the meeting’s agenda being published.

The contentious latter requirement doused the utility in hot water after the new policy was unanimously approved at the previous board meeting.

“We had the best of intentions,” Huffman told AL.com on Monday. “But I don’t want the public to think we’re removing any access to us, so we’re pausing on making any changes implementing a new speaker policy.”

Previously, anyone wishing to address the board only had to sign up when they arrived at the meeting and were limited to three minutes.

The new policy limited speaking time to two minutes.

On Monday, Huffman said she will recommend that the board not launch the new speaker policy.

It came at a time when the water works is in the crosshairs of another takeover effort by Republican state lawmakers.

A bill sponsored by Republican Sens. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, and Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would call for the current nine-member board to be wiped clean. It would be reconfigured into a regional five-member board with Birmingham, which now appoints six seats, controlling just one.

It would be appointed by the mayor.

The president of the Jefferson County Commission and the Alabama lieutenant governor would each make an appointment, as would the two counties with the largest customer bases behind Birmingham.

“The change in public speakers policy was ill-advised,” said City Council president Darrell O’Quinn. “Obviously, the BWWB was clueless about how much scrutiny they are under.”

The bill would also require board members to have backgrounds in engineering or business. Board terms would be extended to five years from four, and board stipends would be raised to $2,000 from $1,000.

Huffman said she will travel to Montgomery on Tuesday to address a public hearing before members of the Senate’s County and Municipal Government committee at the statehouse.

Target CEO Meets With Rev. Sharpton as Pastor Jamal Bryant Plans Next Phase of Boycott

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Birmingham Times
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A community member holds a sign calling for a national boycott of Target stores during a news conference outside Target Corporation’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 30, 2025. (Ellen Schmidt, AP)

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO | Associated Press

NEW YORK — Target’s chief executive officer met last week with the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization has encouraged consumers to avoid U.S. retailers that scaled backed their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The Rev. Al Sharpton

Sharpton called the meeting with Target CEO Brian Cornell “very constructive and candid,” according to an update from his National Action Network. Two other NAN representatives, National Board Chair Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and Senior Advisor Carra Wallace, also attended the meeting at the organization’s New York headquarters.

“I am going to inform our allies, including Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, of our discussion, what my feelings are, and we will go from there,” Sharpton said in a statement.

Bryant, an Atlanta area pastor, organized a website called targetfast.org to recruit Christians for a 40-day Target boycott. Other faith leaders endorsed the protest, which started with the beginning of Lent on March 5.

Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant

Bryant, who leads the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, shared in a Facebook post Wednesday that phase two of the boycott, which started on March 5 and ended last week, will be revealed on Sunday.

“Almost 200k have joined the movement and the momentum is still growing! They’ve lost billions, stock has dropped, foot traffic is silent and @target still hasn’t budged,” Bryant said in his post. “This weekend 100 vendors are coming to @newbirthmbc to set up the Bullseye Black market. We need you to pull up. Sunday I announce next steps!”

A National Action Network spokesperson confirmed earlier last week that Sharpton, the group’s founder and president, planned to meet Cornell in New York. The news was first reported by CNBC.

A Target spokesperson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Target is among a slew of companies, including Walmart, Amazon and PepsiCo, that have eliminated policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity among their employees and reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.

After returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump moved to end DEI programs within the federal government. He has warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal money.

The National Action Network said Sharpton met last week with PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta and Steven Williams, the CEO of PepsiCo North America, to “get clarity on its stance on DEI, whether they were shutting down their commitments due to pressure from Trump and right-wing activists, and the path moving forward.”

Earlier this month, Sharpton gave PepsiCo three weeks to meet with him — or suffer a boycott — to discuss reversing the company’s recent move to do away with its DEI initiatives.

The National Action Network said last week that Sharpton planned to consult the organization’s board members over the Easter holiday “to determine any next steps with Target, PepsiCo, and other companies that have scaled back their DEI programs or pledges.”

Target announced on Jan. 24 that it would conclude the DEI goals it had set to increase Black employees’ representation and advancement, improve Black shoppers’ experiences and promote Black-owned businesses. The company also said it planned to stop submitting reports for external diversity surveys.

It is also “further evaluating our corporate partnerships to ensure they are directly connected to our roadmap for growth,” according to a memo posted on its website.

A number of other boycotts were launched of retailers that have pulled back on DEI.

 

200 with Misdemeanor, Felony Records Get ‘Second Chance’ at Jefferson County Job Fair

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Birmingham Times
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Employing people who have been part of the justice system can help lower recidivism rates by giving people a purpose, said Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr. (Alaina Bookman/AL.com)

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

This is another installment in AL.com’s series “Beyond the Violence,” which explores solutions that could make Birmingham safer, healthier and happier. Sign up for the newsletter here.

With a handful of job opportunities, Tyshon Smith, 30, said the Jefferson County Second Chance Hiring Fair made him feel hopeful.

Last week, job seekers with criminal backgrounds were given a second chance to have gainful employment at an event aimed at breaking employment barriers. While anyone was welcomed to attend, organizers said the hiring fair was an opportunity for people with misdemeanor or felony records to confront their pasts without shame.

A line of people with resumes in hand formed outside of the Boutwell Auditorium as more than 600 people attended this year’s Second Chance Hiring Fair. The event led to at least 200 people leaving the hiring fair with a new job and new hope for the future.

“I spoke to about 10 different tables. Everybody was very helpful. The experience was great. There’s a lot of great opportunities here,” Smith told AL.com.

“A second chance is always great for everybody. It changes people’s mindsets. A lot of people do things in life that might set them back, so this opportunity gives people a better outlook on life.”

The job fair was a collaboration between the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, WorkFaith Birmingham, Alabama Career Center System, 60 local employers and 10 resource providers.

Staff members with WorkFaith Birmingham, a career development nonprofit, talked with hundreds of attendees about free workshops and certification programs they offer. One hiring fair attendee was a WorkFaith program graduate who got a job offer.

Lena Kappen, social services director with WorkFaith, said her inbox was filled with people who signed up for the workshop program by the end of the hiring fair.

“We want to help individuals see that they do have talent, they do have gifts, that they are worthy and that they are valuable to employers,” Crystal Parker, program director with WorkFaith, said. “We are co-sponsors of this event, so we believe in it and we know that it is successful.”

Roosevelt Morgan, vice president of workforce readiness with the Birmingham Society of Human Resource Management, gave tips to hiring fair attendees on how to make an impression during an interview and improve their resumes.

“Giving people an opportunity, a second chance, could change the trajectory of our citizens’ lives…These are just respectable people who are looking for opportunity,” Morgan said. “It feels meaningful and purpose-driven to know that we’re able to help. I love being able to give hope. And that’s what it felt like today: people walking out with a different mindset, a weight lifted off of them.”

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said employing people who are justice-impacted can help lower recidivism rates by giving people a purpose.

“I think today’s event was important because we understand that there are a lot of people that need opportunities. We know that good people do dumb things sometimes, but should they follow them forever? I don’t think so. Should they be granted another opportunity and have a space where they can have that opportunity? Yes,” Carr told AL.com.

“Giving people a second chance makes Birmingham better…I think if you want to fight crime, you change the trajectory of people’s lives. And this job fair does just that.”

Alabama Power, Better Basics Educate Students on Safety During Storm Season

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Birmingham Times
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Shane Seeley, a lead lineman at Alabama Power, reads a children's book and gives students at Glen Oaks Intermediate School in Fairfield, Alabama, a close-up look at a bucket truck. (Sym Posey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Israel Jones, a fifth-grader at Glen Oaks Intermediate in Fairfield, said he always wanted to be an engineer when he got older. Now he wants to also be a lineman for a big utility.

That’s because the 11-year-old got a chance last week to hear Shane Seeley, a Lead Lineman for Alabama Power, read the children’s book “Joe the Lineman” by Mario Dealba to students.

Fifth grader Israel Jones learns from Alabama Power at Glen Oaks Intermediate School in Fairfield, Alabama. (Sym Posey, For The Birmingham Times)

Alabama Power is partnering with Better Basics, the education nonprofit, to educate kids and the community about safety around electricity during storm season.

The student said he learned three things after hearing Seeley read.

“… What a lineman’s job requires; being a lineman means you can help people in their daily lives; and a lineman’s most important job is to be helpful when others are in danger,” said Jones, who added, “When I grow up, I want to be an engineer but after today, I want to be a lineman as well.”

As a lineman, Seeley said part of his job means always working out in the community, “and we welcome the opportunity to interact with our customers.”

At Glen Oaks, Seeley also answered questions about his career at Alabama Power and provided an up-close look at a bucket truck, also known as a boom truck. This specialized utility vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic arm (boom), and a man-carrying bucket at the end used to raise workers to elevated areas for electrical line maintenance, tree trimming, or signage installation.

“It’s never too early to start learning about safety around electricity, so we’re thankful for the chance to be here today and spend some time with these students, having fun while sharing information that could help keep them safe,” Seeley said.

Kris Talley, Fairfield 21st CCLC program director with Better Basics, said visitors like Seeley not only help children read but also, “provide enrichment. I am sure that if not all, most of our children have never been to exposed to a lineman … from Alabama Power. It might even provide them with career aspirations.”

Updated at 3:18 p.m. on 4/22/2025 to correct title for the book and for Kris Talley. 

Birmingham Could Lose Majority Votes on Water Works Board Under Proposal in Legislature

By
Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Water Works Customer Service Center is shown in Birmingham. (File)

By Joseph D. Bryant | jbryant@al.com

The Birmingham Water Works Board would be dramatically reshaped under proposed legislation that takes the reins of power from Birmingham and hands more of it to surrounding areas.

Birmingham under the proposal would lose its board majority and shrink to just one vote. The bill has reawakened old tensions and political fires over the water works, its assets and who lays claim to it.

State Senator Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, introduced the bill this week, which was co-sponsored by fellow Republicans Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Sen. Shay Shelnutt.

The goal of the legislation is to transform the board into a regional authority with new members, and give new appointment powers to the president of the Jefferson County Commission and the Alabama Lt. Governor.

Roberts in an interview with AL.com said his bill was not punitive or any attempt to take anything away. Instead, he said it was an attempt to resolve longstanding problems at the utility.

For example, he called the water works’ rates an impediment to economic development in the region. He also said he was concerned about needed pipe maintenance and replacement while at the same time the utility spends ratepayer money on lawyers, lobbyists and marketing firms.

“So goes Birmingham, so goes the state,” Roberts said. “We don’t want to become a California. We don’t want to become a Detroit, Michigan. We don’t want to become a Jackson, Mississippi. We don’t want to become a Richmond, Virginia. I have grave concerns with the way things are going.”

The number of board members would be cut to five from the current nine. Also, the legislation would require board members to have backgrounds in engineering or business.

Water works board terms would extend to five years rather than four, and monthly board stipends would increase to $2,000 from the current $1,000.

Action on the proposed changes is occurring quickly. The bill was introduced on Thursday. The first committee meeting and hearing is Tuesday April 22 at the Statehouse.

If approved, the legislation would be the most dramatic overhaul of the state’s largest water utility, since it was expanded to create new seats for members from Blount and Shelby Counties. That change passed in 2015 and took effect two years later in 2017.

The nine-member board currently has six seats from Birmingham, one from the Jefferson County Mayors Association and one each from Blount and Shelby Counties.

State Sen. Rodger Smitherman

State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said the bill came as a surprise because it was introduced as general legislation rather than a local proposal, which would have brought it to the delegation for discussion and compromise.

“We would have at that point begun to work with whatever the issue might have been,” Smitherman told AL.com. “When it hit, it just hit. I had no prior involvement in the drafting of that bill.”

Smitherman is among several who have previously warned about attempts to regionalize the board and dilute Birmingham’s position on the utility. That effort has again gained momentum, in spite of previous compromises that expanded the board to include non-Birmingham users.

Smitherman said he is concerned that a reconfigured board would show less sensitivity to the needs of Birmingham.

He urged the public to attend the senate committee meeting and public hearing on Tuesday. Another Democrat, State Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, underscored Smitherman’s objections and said her Republican counterparts sidestepped general rules.

“This is not only unfortunate, it is wrong,” she said. “This should’ve been a local issue, but they took the posture that they would do this statewide to bypass the Jefferson County delegation. It’s absolutely wrong. We’re mad about it and the public should be mad too.”

Roberts said he was not attempting to be crafty by filing his bill as general legislation rather than a local bill. Rather, he had to do it as a general bill because the proposal affects more than one county, he said.  The water works services a five-county area.

“This cannot be dealt with by local bill,” he said. “A local bill deals with one county.”

Water Works Board Chairwoman Terisha Huffman said there are several misconceptions about the utility that could be remedied by communicating with them rather than ushering in new legislation.

“Let us show you the work and the improvement we have made. That has taken a lot of commitment,” Huffman told AL.com. “I welcome conversations with anyone, elected, appointed or a customer. Let us show the work we’ve been doing.”

Roberts told AL.com that legislators have attempted to communicate with the water works but the utility has failed to provide the information requested.

“We have tried to work diligently. We had a meeting in the fall. We had meetings right before we went into session and expressed our concerns. We were promised a report and never received it.”

Huffman said the numbers indicate that billing issues have fallen, customer service has improved and significant infrastructure investments have been made to maintain and improve the system.

Huffman and the board were recently criticized for changing their communications policy to require advance notice to speak to the board during meetings and a two-minute limit.

Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Tyson (File)

“That’s the public’s water works. We pay them,” Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson told AL.com last week when the rules were approved. “So, who the hell do they think they are to change the policy where the public, who pays their bills, can’t complain?

Huffman said the policy was not designed to muzzle public input, but rather to ensure orderly meetings.

“There have been many times that a customer has come in and they’ve surpassed the three-minute mark, and I extended it,” Huffman said. “If they’re coming about real business that affects their bill or their business, they deserve to be heard. They will be allowed to be heard.”

AL.com efforts to reach Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office for comment were unsuccessful.

Birmingham Councilwoman Valerie Abbott said she was outraged by the legislation but is also outraged by the actions of the water works board that may have prompted the current takeover proposal. Those actions, she said, include the recent public comment changes.

“They already know there’s a big target on their back, so why would you do something so egregious that would put not only a target on your back but also on your front?” Abbott said. “They are always being picked on, but in this case, they brought in on themselves. I do not think the bill is a good bill, but I can see what is happening.”

Abbott said lawmakers nearly every year present proposals to take over the utility, and current actions from the water works board have emboldened the move this year.

While the Senate bill was presented without notice, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said the utility’s leadership itself is culpable in this current threat to its composition and autonomy.

Givan, who is also a candidate for Birmingham mayor, challenging Woodfin, said she had warned both city leaders and water works executives about disgruntled legislators and a looming threat.

“While I do not support it, we have got to get back to a sense of being diligent in our processing of customer issues, addressing high prices and communication with employees there is out the window,” Givan said.

She advised water works leadership to self-reform, but her advice was ignored, she said.

“You want to freeze the voice of the people to be able to speak, it tells the tale,” she said, referring to new restrictive water works public comment rules. “Then you also have to be mindful of who you put on these boards. While there are good people, they are not individuals who are administrators.”

Givan will hold a community meeting at Parker High School to discuss the issue at 6 p.m. April 22 — the same day legislators will hold the first committee meeting and hearing on the bill.

Givan said she believes the utility’s board has been complicit in its own potential demise – at least as it is currently configured.

“You have turned the water works over,” Givan said regarding local water works leadership. “It’s pitiful. It’s a shame before God as my grandmother would say. It’s a shame and a pity, because nobody listens.”

AL.com’s Roy S. Johnson contributed to this report.

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