OUTDOOR FITNESS COURT OPENS AT VETERANS PARK

Box jumps. Luges. Pull ups. Bends. You can do it all and more at the City of Hoover's new outdoor fitness court. The 40 foot by 40 foot court is located at Veterans Park and allows participants to accomplish a full body workout. A QR code located on the grounds will help guide through the course as well as give instructions on how the stations work.

"Quality of life is very important to us and we want to continue to offer the best amenities and opportunities to our residents and visitors," Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said.

"The Fitness Court will be a wonderful addition to this park for people to come and enjoy a workout free of charge

The court is an example of the private sector and public entities working together. Hoover and Shelby County each paid roughly 60-thouand dollars towards the project. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama provided a $50-thousand grant. This is the ninth outdoor fitness court Blue Cross has helped build in Alabama.

"At Blue Cross, we want to provide communities with an innovative and fun platform where families can come out, they can exercise, get outside, and get healthy," said Sophie Martin, Director of Corporate Communication and Community Relations for Blue Cross.  

"We know if we can get people healthy now, that's going to result in a healthier community and a healthier Alabama, which is something we all want."

Shelby County Commissioner Lindsey Allison recalled when Veterans Park was a swath of vacant land years ago and then Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos asked her, "Do you want to build a park?"  Allison's response, "Sure!" The next day, work began to bring the park to fruition.

"We keep going forward with partnerships. Hoover is a wonderful partner for Shelby County and vice versa," Allison said.

"But this time, we've added the private sector and that's what it's all about for our residents--about taxpayers, our fiduciary responsibilities. We develop these partnerships to get the best for our residents. Thank you, Blue Cross Blue Shield. This is incredible for those of us who like to exercise."

After officials gave remarks and officially cut the ribbon, Jamie Foster and Robert House with the City's Parks and Recreation Department then demonstrated and explained how each of the seven stations work.  

Afterwards, members of the Hoover Fire and Police Department squared off in a brief competition, giving attendees a real life look at how the equipment can be used.

HOOVER KINDNESS SUMMIT TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK

Many of us love to volunteer. But what opportunities are out there? How can you find an activity you're really passionate about? How do you make those connections?

Answering those questions is one of the goals of the 2023 Hoover Kindness Summit which will be held at the Hoover Public Library on the Theatre Level. The event will be held on Friday, February 17th from 1:00 pm to 5:00.

"I just want to connect people," says Shannon Haddock who serves as Program Specialist for the Library's adult department and event organizer.

"This fair allows potential volunteers to learn about local organizations and nonprofits in a low-pressure, casual environment. It also provides organizations with the opportunity to increase public awareness about their missions and find much-needed volunteers."

This is the second year for the Summit. Haddock says she chose to call it a "kindness" summit partly because it coincides with National Random Acts of Kindness Week which runs from February 14th to the 20th.

"Volunteering is the kind of thing you would do to connect with others--to give of yourself. We're not asking for money, but something maybe more valuable and that is their time, Haddock says.

This year, nearly 30 nonprofits will participate in the event. (You can find a list of participating organizations by clicking the QR code on the flyer below.) There will also be door prizes. Haddock is hoping for a large turnout, reflecting on last year's event, which was attended by nearly 100 people. While last year's Summit included an online component, this year's event will all be in person. Haddock says the goal is to make not just connections in people's lives, but meaningful connections.

"For example, some teens have to have volunteer hours, but they don't know how to connect with things that would be meaningful in their lives. But here, they'll find opportunities to help people with food needs, reading needs or more," Haddock says.

She is also working to get even more unique organizations involved next year, such as those that serve animals or underprivileged children. Haddock says a lot of people just don't what organizations are out there and it's her goal to change that. She also hopes to make the Kindness Summit an annual event.

BEST OF LUCK, KARRINGTON!

She's loved dancing since she was a little girl. Her grandmother did, too. When she was seven, Karrington Channell's grandmother was suffering with pancreatic cancer. One thing that kept her going through chemotherapy was watching her grandchildren dance.  Karrington still remembers that and ten years later, she's turned the lessons she learned from that experience into a social impact mission she's titled, "Dancers Against Cancer".

Karrington will share the details of her platform when she competes in the Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen competition, which will be held on March 11th and 12th. It will be held at Thompson High School in Alabaster, which, ironically, is where Karrington is a member of the 2023 senior class.

Monday, the City held a send-off reception for Karrington. Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and the Hoover City Council also presented her with a proclamation as a show of support.

For more information about the pageant, you can go to:https://www.missalabama.com/