The music department held the holiday season tradition,a concert at American Village, on Wednesday Dec. 1. This year marks the fifth anniversary for the concert and a lot of preparation went into getting the night performance ready.
Dr. Melinda Doyle, professor and choral director, said the concert is always a lot of fun, but has to happen in a short amount of time.
The choir prepares for the concert in LeBaron Recital Hall
"We
have about five rehearsals to put this together," Doyle said. "But they're always up for the
challenge. So the minute that we finish our fall concert we’re starting on the
Christmas music." The concert consists of both sacred and secular music and the choir is joined by a brass quintet composed of music faculty and members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
Doyle said although the choir sings a lot of A Capella, there are instrumental pieces along with spoken word narrated by Scott Gilbert. She said ever since she got to Montevallo five years ago, she wanted to cultivate a relationship with American Village.
The choir preforms in the chapel at American Village
"It’s
been sort of a marriage made in heaven ever since," Doyle said. "They love us being there and
we love being there, since it’s a wonderful facility to sing in.” The concert is always a highlight of the choir's season and senior Matthew Wall says his family loves coming every year.
“My
family is always so excited to come to the Christmas concert," he said. "That’s the one
they always make sure to come to.” For more information on the concert or the music department click here.
Christmas morning is suppose to be a joyous time for children and their parents, but in some homes that is not the case.Due to job loss, medical problems, and other unforeseen issues some parents are not able to provide their children with Christmas presents.
Here in Montevallo Shelby Emergency Assistance have stepped up to help to these families in need through Project Christmas.
The Project Christmas program partners with individuals and businesses in the community who sponsor children. The sponsors donate toys, clothes, and other necessities.
Project Christmas Coordinator Cindy Pope says the community has be very helpful in donating to the program. To qualify for assistance parents can bring financial information to Shelby Emergency Assistance where a worker will create a budget for the entire household and determine their need. Last year through Project Christmas they were able to give over 200 children gifts.
Director Karen Pendleton said this program really shows what Christmas is all about. In one instance Pendleton says a young woman called in wanting to donate ,and during the conversation she found out that the young woman was once a child in need who received gifts through a similar
program.
For more information you can call Shelby Emergency Assistance at 205-665-1942 or click here
The campus air was filled with melodic voices as the department of music hosted the Great Opera Sampler.
The event took place in the Davis music building, inside Lebaron Recital Hall on both Friday and Saturday night. After paying a $10 admission fee, students and faculty packed up the area to attend the program.
La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
The production consisted of an all student cast portraying selected scenes from a variety of operas such as The Consul, Carmen, and Susannah, with Dr. Laurie Middaugh as the piano accompanist.
It being the last performance of the semester, senior students like Xavier Johnson, were pleased with the results of the event. " I think it went pretty well," said Xavier. "Everybody got together and put on a spectacular show."
The last scene of the sampler, Cosi fan tutte, a piece by Mozart, was used as a sneak peek into the opera's full production, which will take place next semester. Director of the program, Dr. Charles Wood, touches on what we can expect from the show. "There will be an orchestra, full costumes, and we'll do it in English." said Dr. Wood. " We'll have four performances of it with two different cast." The opera is set to open in April and many are looking forward to it.
For more information regarding any upcoming school events, click here.
With the indoor track season starting soon Montevallo's track team has been training hard this semester to better themselves as a team and preparing to compete. Throughout this semester they had many different types of speed strength and technical training. Te overall goal is to push the team and make them stronger and faster in their events.
The sprinters have done a lot of different speed and acceleration training with weight lifting in the SAC. The team has been striving hard to be the best they can and have been preparing their minds and bodies to compete. Both sprinters/ jumpers/ throwers have been pushing each other to become stronger.
(Morgan setting up on the blocks)
Montevallo's first meet is Friday December 4 at the Birmingham crossplex. Head track Coach Tommy Barksdale said he's happy at how the team is progressing and believes things will go well if the teams works hard and gives 100 percent effort. They head into the season with 3 more indoor track meets and 5 to 6 outdoor meets.
(Walter Price doing speed drills)
Many of the runners say they are preparing for the season by running/ doing what the coach says but also they said they eat healthy and get a lot of sleep. This combination of hard work and healthy eat is exactly what a team needs to grow stronger. To learn more about what the track team will be doing click here.
Montevallo art students are hard at work bringing to life three unique public sculpture designs for the community: a gate for the Anagama kiln, a bike rack for the university lake, and a new gate for the JWS Observatory.
A committee of faculty, students, and members of the Montevallo community was assembled to choose the designs for each project and the designs themselves were created by the public sculpture class at the university.
Senior Cherish Roodhouse and Robby Wise have been tasked with creating the gate for the observatory. The design will feature the twelve phases of the zodiac corresponding with the four seasons.
Professor Ted Metz helped the students find usable materials and companies to aid in the process of bringing the computer generated design into hard steeled existence.
The Anagama kiln gate will feature a network of metal sculptures resembling the many pots the kiln takes in, each sculpture created by a different student in the class.
There's no word yet on when the projects will be completed, but it seems the sculptures won't be finished and installed until sometime next semester.
The James Wiley Shepherd Observatory is located three miles away from campus, equipped with a state-of-the-art 20-inch telescope. For more on contact information, maps, and a calendar of events check out the observatory's website here.
Stereotypically, student athletes are notorious for slacking off in the classroom. With a busy season, demanding practices and workouts, and days on the road, it can be hard for a student athlete to be academically successful...even with required study hall hours.
Signing in to the study hall log
But the volleyball team is one of the many sports teams at the University of Montevallo proving those assumptions wrong.
For seven consecutive years, the volleyball team has been awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association team academic award, which requires an overall team GPA of a 3.3 or higher.
Following the end of the 2015 season, seven Montevallo volleyball players were named to the P-B-C All Academic Team. Four of those players hold a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Senior Rebekah Phelps, who was also named to the prestigious PBC Elite 15 team for the third consecutive year, is one of those four players. Phelps says she has always been very competitive with grades and to motivate herself, she compared her grades with a fellow volleyball player in her major to see who did better.
“She’d be like oh I got a 97 and I’d be like oh I only got a
95 so the next time I had to beat her out. It kinda started with that and from
then on I happened to get a 4.0 my freshman year and from then on that’s kind
of the standard I set for myself," says Phelps, who is also a two time PBC All Conference player.
The volleyball team has a minimum GPA goal of a 3.0 but this year, the girls are striving for a 3.5 team GPA overall. In order to reach that goal, the team has found ways to set themselves up for academic success.
"Going to class is the most important thing. Once your
professors know you and know you’re working hard then they can help you," says sophomore Kristy Bohan who holds a 4.0 GPA.
Student athletes in the Study Room
“You have to be ahead of everything. If you know you are
gonna be missing that Friday then Monday you need to e-mail your professor and
see what you can get done in advance," says Phelps.
“I think time management is the biggest thing and knowing
when to ask for help from your teachers, your classmates and even your other
teammates," says sophomore Nicolette Fiessinger who also maintains a perfect GPA.
After last semester, the volleyball team had the second highest team GPA on campus.
For more information on the Montevallo players who got selected to the PBC All Academic Team click here.
To visit the volleyball team's homepage, click here.
The University of Montevallo is home to the most unique homecoming tradition in America. Starting in 1919, students divide into Purple and Gold Sides and go head-to-head in athletics, business and finally, a student written, directed, acted, and produced musical.
2016 College Night Leaders
Both Purple and Gold Side have a male and female leader. The leaders are in charge of putting together the side's cabinet positions, greeting new members to the side, and organizing every aspect of the College Night season. This year, both male side leaders are Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha.
James Powers and Michael Cleary have been friends since they both joined Lambda Chi Alpha in 2012. "I think we were very happy for the opportunity to lead both sides," Michael Cleary says.
Members of Lambda Chi Alpha say there is no rivalry between the two brothers. "They are really professional about it," Vibhass Basukula says. "They don't even mock each other. I was hoping they would mock so we could have some fun but they are really professional about it."
Brothers participate in both Purple and Gold Sides
Both Michael and James attribute the growth in their leadership to their experiences in Lambda Chi Alpha. "It's very hard to look at Lambda Chi and not see the leadership that is growing in all its members," James says.
The 97th College Night will be held next February. Whether it's a Purple Victory or a Gold Victory, the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha will have a reason to celebrate.
Click here to find out more about Montevallo's homecoming tradition.
As it gets colder outside pet owners are starting to bring their pets inside, limit outside time and building dog and cathouses. These things are vital to keeping pets warm.
According to Casey Krause, the adoption counselor at Shelby Humane Society, adoptions raise during the winter months. Families show up every day to look at and adopt pets from the shelter.
Surrendered puppy at Shelby Humane Society
With all of the animals going to new loving homes, it is crucial for new pet parents to understand the importance of keeping their fur babies warm.
Easy ways to keep warm for the winter can include building a dog or cathouse. You can also get a tupperware bin and cut a hole in it and fill it with hay. This will insulate the bin and keep your smaller animals warm. If building a house or using a tupperware bin is not an option, you can simply bring your pets inside.
When left outside animals can experience physical and psychological pain. Physical damages can range from shivering to frostbite and even death. If you are not careful and bring your pet inside when it gets too cold, your pet could die from being exposed to the cold elements for too long.
Psychological damages can be done to animals such as dogs. According to Krause, dogs are pack animals and when they are left outside while their family is inside it can damage them emotionally. They can become un-trusting and depressed.
Corgi puppy enjoying the nice weather
Remember, leaving your pet out in the cold can be detrimental to their health physically and emotionally. There are many ways to keep your pet warm during the winter.
Click here to read more about the Shelby Humane Society and what they do for their animals in the winter time. Currently they are accepting donated blankets to keep their kennels warm for the winter. Click here to donate a blanket and learn more about what you can do to help the Humane Society.
by: Matt Haskins
The City of Alabaster is rapidly becoming one of the biggest cities in the Birmingham Metro.
In the past ten years the city of Alabaster has experienced its population grow from 15, 000 to nearly 30,000 residents.
In that span, the city has also experienced its budget grow from 9 million dollars to almost 25 million dollars
That's enormous growth.
With expansion like that the city of Alabaster needed the right infrastructure and Financial oversight to service the people that live there.
Mayor Handlon in her office
Mayor Handlon moved to Alabaster from Montgomery in 2006 and began her career in the city's government as an Internal Auditor for former Mayor David Frings, this experience helped her get an inside view of how things were being accounted for and felt like there needed to be more Financial oversight over the city.
With over 20 years of experience in Accounting and Financial Management she knew what she had to do, but when her position of Internal Auditor was terminated she felt like there was one needed along with other positions to ensure the financial growth of the city.
Handlon wanted to use her experience to guide the city in the right direction, so figured that if Mayor Frings wasn't leading the city in the right direction. She would.
And that's exactly what she did, winning the election with over 55 percent of the votes.
She immediately began with infrastructure by making sure the Police and Fire Departments, along with Parks and Recreation were fit to service the community.
Accounting, Finance, and Revenue Departments
In addition, Mayor Handlon hired a Financial Director and City Planner and filled vacant city government positions with highly qualified people to help guide growth. A
few projects happening now for the city include widening highway-119 to a four
lane road. And current construction of a brand new 90-million dollar high
school of 380-thousand square feet academic facility.
When construction of the new Thompson High School is complete in 2017, it will be the second biggest high school in Alabama.
Mayor Handlon will run for re-election in next August in hopes to continue the progress and growth she has made for the city in her first term.
For more information about the city as well as upcoming events and projects visit the city's website here .
On December 5th, many people gathered on Highway 31 for the City of Alabaster's Annual Christmas Parade.
The parade started with the entrance of the Grand Marshall followed by several of the City's elected officials. There were over 100 participants in the parade.
2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs
2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs performed a rendition of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, that had many bobbing their heads.
There were other performers such as Joy's Dance Company, The Shelby Starlets, Jazzercise, and many more.
Other floats included different churches, organizations, restautants, etc.
The streets were covered with attendees awaiting to see the parade. Among the attendees was a parent, Connie Derryberry who was anxiously waiting to see her son.
Duke School of Music.
"I'm excited because my son is playing the drums on the Duke School of Music float. So we're pumped and excited that he get to be in it", she said.
In the parade the performers stopped by the judges table to showcase their talents. The were judged in the categories of best holiday spirit, best use of theme, best walking entry, most creative and most entertaining.
For more information on the Christmas Parade, please click here.
The city of Columbiana held its annual Christmas parade Thursday, December 3, 2015. The members of the community gathered around the neighboring businesses and stood alongside on the sidewalk to see the show up close.
Main Street Columbiana
The event kicked off with a musical performance of classical Christmas songs performed near the center of main street.
Then a arrangement of dance performances performed by many young adults and some of the areas elementary kids.
After the great showing of dances the parade itself slowly made its way down the street. There was a wide variety of floats and vehicles that were in the parade.
Many of the participants in the parade traditionally handed out candy and waved and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Ty Nugent: SCHS Marching Band
The Shelby County High School Marching band put on a show with the playing of some of their songs.
Ty Nugent, who plays the snare in the band, but played the tinners in the parade. Playing in the parade is an amazing feeling that is blessing to have,
" I loved it, it's fantastic to be able to show off what you can do musically, its one of my favorite things to do, said Nugent.
Kids Enjoying the bubbles
The annual Christmas Parade did not disappoint anyone that attended, the only complaint was it was a little to cold.
But when the show began all those thoughts of being cold went away and the smiles and cheers began. And those smiles held strong all the way through the end of the show.
To find out more of the events going on in the city of Columbiana click here
Montevallo Residents are excited about the newest addition to Main Street. Happy Dollar, a discount bargain store, has officially opened its doors this month.
Happy Dollar filled with bargains
Mayor Hollie Cost says that the town is happy to have a new business that will help Montevallo in multiple ways "We’re thrilled about it," she said, "Of course it always
impacts the tax base that it adds to the city. But also just bringing life
downtown. We have a great vibrant downtown and it can only get richer." The store owners, Joseph and Hariette Panchoo, credit God with inspiring them to open Happy Dollar. “When we prayed and asked God to send us here we
found out that there’s a university right there," said Joseph, "They’re students, they’re on a
budget.” The couple also says that they see the store not just as a business, but a way to get back to the community. “We found this business that could benefit both
of us," said Joseph, "We’re not looking to do a lot of markup on any items, we want to keep it
as a dollar store.”
The cosmetics section
The name even has a special meaning behind it and was inspired by Hariette's personality “The owner’s nickname it happy so that just
tells a great story.” said Cost. Joseph said he's always wanted to name a business after his wife, but had no idea it would end up being a dollar store. The Panchoos say they're here to stay in Montevallo and they will be keeping any business transactions possible within the city itself. "I would encourage people to come in and do more
business in the city of Montevallo," said Joseph, "Because it’s such a good place to do
business I think because of the people themselves." To visit Happy Dollar's Facebook page click here.
