Command Sergeant Major Mary Kyser (ret) Photos by Brit Huckabay and courtesy the Kyser family Retired Command Sergeant Major Mary Kyser grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, graduated from Greenville High School, and promptly joined the Army. Why? “I knew that most military persons were better educated, better paid, and better off than in the civilian sector … Read More
Author: Alabaster Connection
Meet Councilor Zach Zahariadis
Alabaster Connection: You have been appointed to fill the Ward 6 City Council seat. What made you want to serve on the City Council, and what was the appointment process? Zach Zahariadis: The opportunity to serve on Alabaster’s City Council fell into my lap, as Seth Gandy is an incredible friend of mine. He shared … Read More
Meet Alabaster Senior Center Manager Stacy Payton
Photo by Neal Wagner It doesn’t take long to realize that Stacy Payton would rather talk about the Senior Center than herself. She clearly loves what she does and who she does it with. Stacy grew up in Scottsboro, Alabama, graduating from high school and furthering her education at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga where … Read More
Welcome New Teen Council Members!
In May, the Alabaster Teen Council welcomed their new members for for 2022-2023. The new Council includes: Jasmine Jones, Christopher Snow, Fred Casillas, Blair N’Dungu, Abigail Bess, Phillip Martin, Mary Dee Simmons, Jade Williams, Kylie Martin, George Walker, Luke Reid, Karrington Channell, Kendall Channell, Nora Ellis, Brittnee Robinson, Ella Southern, Kinley Callahan, Savannah Young, Avery … Read More
June and July’s Beautification Board Winners
The June 2022 Beautification Board winner is the Ward 5 home of John and Alma Gaertner at 137 Lake Forest Way. The Gaertners have lived in their home for 20 years, with Mr. Gaertner doing all the work himself until his late 70s.When told they had won the award, Mr. Gaertner said with a smile, … Read More
Meet Butch Oglesby
Pastor, pilot, media consultant, missionary, husband, father, woodworker, photographer, bus driver. Photography by Brit Huckabay, Butch Oglesby and courtesy the Oglesbys Alabaster resident Butch Oglesby grew up in Mobile until the ripe age of 15 when his family uprooted and moved to Atlanta. Butch graduated from Forest Park Sr. High a few years later and … Read More
The Story of a Family Farm
Ahna and Cam Frye continue the family tradition of farming in Alabaster at Alleluia Acres Heritage Farm. By Barry Wise Smith Photos by Brit Huckabay Ahna Frye is the sixth generation of her family to live and work on the Alabaster property on County Road 26 purchased by her third great grandfather in 1850. Following … Read More
Summer Garden Tips + Beautification Board Winners
As the weather warms, here are some tips to keep that midsummer gardening going full tilt! Don’t Let Weeds Take Over Weeding and thinning should be at the top of the to-do list. Plants can’t grow well if they are being crowded out, and weeds are especially tough competitors. Take a half hour early each morning while … Read More
Alabaster For Tomorrow: Dealing with the Dots
By Brandon Matthews It’s an early Sunday morning, and two U.S. soldiers sit on a small radar station in the Pacific monitoring a radar screen. Most days this is an uneventful responsibility, but today, things will be different. Around 7 a.m. small dots begin to appear on the radar screen, until one by one the … Read More
Alabaster CityFest Returns
Strike Up the Band! Alabaster CityFest returns for its 20th year celebration. After a two-year hiatus, CityFest 2022 roars back for its 20th anniversary on June 4th with live music, hot food, and good clean fun! The highly anticipated musical lineup includes headliner Lauren Alaina and a host of other musicians who will entertain us throughout … Read More