June Newsletter - City of Alabaster

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DESTINATION IMAGINATION TEAM WINS STATE A group of Thompson Middle School students recently won first place in a statewide creative competition in Huntsville known as Destination Imagination. Coordinated by TMS teacher Luci Tucker, the team scored the maximum number of points possible in their division. “They participated in the regional competition first, and they placed first in that,” said Tucker. “Then they went to the state competition, where they again placed first. They also received a special award called the Renaissance Award, which is given if the judges feel the team has exceptional talent in a certain area.” According to Tucker, Destination Imagination is a creative problem-solving competition that’s comprised of two separate components, a long-term component and an instant challenge. For the long-term component, teams are tasked with solving a challenge of their choosing and presenting their solution at a Destination Imagination tournament. “This year, my group chose the challenge where they had to create a movie and then they had to make a four-minute trailer they would present live,” said Tucker. “So they had to come up with an actual movie plot and then make the preview for it, and that’s the part they presented. Within that they had to have their own original music and they had to have some technical effects.” For the instant challenge, teams are given a problem to solve onsite, with no prior 36 SEE YOU AT CITYFEST JUNE 2 MUNICIPAL PARK! June, 2012 knowledge of what it might be. This is a challenge that rewards critical thinking and the ability to think on one’s feet. “The second component is called instant challenge, and that is where they’re brought into a room and there’s a scenario they’re given and they have to problem-solve instantaneously. They may have to build the strongest bridge out of 20 straws, 10 toothpicks and five pieces of tape, and they’ll have five minutes to do it or something like that,” said Tucker. Tucker, who is the team manager and school coordinator for the activity, was quick to praise the students themselves for their success. “This is a totally studentdriven activity,” said Tucker. According to Tucker, there were four different TMS teams at the start of the year. Only one of the four advanced to the state tournament. The students spent time both before and after school practicing for the competition and working on their project. “I’d set up 20-minute activities in the morning, and they’d come in before school and talk about what strategies to use and try to come up with better strategies. So that’s how we practiced, to get them thinking on their toes,” said Tucker. The members of this year’s state-winning team include Emma Fell, Amy Barber, Lydia Clarke, Iris Garcia, Makayla Williams, Sarah Jones, and Jarod Davis. The team qualified to advance to the global Destination Imagination competition in Knoxville, Tenn.
SOFTBALL TOURNEY A HIT The City of Alabaster hosted another successful softball tournament this year as the Alabama Community College Conference crowned its 2012 state champion at Veterans Park on May 6, 2012. The three-day fast-pitch tournament kicked off with a banquet on Thursday night, followed by three days of action-packed competition. “The banquet was excellent. All of our teams but one or two were there,” said Al Cox, the ACCC commissioner. “The crowd has been exceptional. The weather’s perfect. The fields are great. I just don’t know what I would change.” The tournament was comprised of 12 teams from the ACCC, including Alabama Southern, Calhoun, Central Alabama, Free Estimates Call Today for a Great Price! 368-3898 Chattahoochee Valley, Enterprise State, Faulkner State, Jefferson Davis, L.B. Wallace, Marion Military, Shelton State, Southern Union, and Wallace State- Hanceville. “It’s a great event,” said Cox. “There’s some really good softball being played. I think there have been four extra-inning games. Wallace-Hanceville lost in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off grand-slam homer, so that’s special for that young lady. She’ll remember that for the rest of her life.” As it turned out, Hanceville rebounded from the loss to take the eventual crown, after battling back from the loser’s bracket. They defeated Shelton State 5-2 in the final and deciding game on Sunday. Over the years, Hanceville has been one of Pine Straw just $6.50 a bale for a minimum of 25 bales. Includes both materials and labor. Landscaping, Lawn Maintenance, Irrigation, Lighting, Pressure Washing, Bobcat Work, Privacy Fences, Stone Work for Sidewalks, Patios, Retaining Walls and much more! We Pick Pick Up & Deliver Deliver Your Your Car New New Auto Auto Glass Glass Installation Installation Ins. Company Preferred List Lifetime Warranty BEFORE AFTER COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALISTS PHONE 664-2639 FAX 664-2601 CELL 296-2639 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am-5:30 pm www.propaintandbody.com the most outstanding softball teams not only in the ACCC but also in the country. In 2008, they went on to win the national championship, and this year, they advanced to play in the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah. Hanceville entered this year’s ACCC tournament as the No. 1 seed from the conference’s Northwestern League, having finished the regular season 49-9 and with a No. 17 national ranking. Following the tournament, the ACCC recognized the tournament’s most outstanding players. Shelton State honorees included Courtney Wilson, Kaci Blackwell, Reba Hawkins, and Maggie Meacham. Hanceville honorees included Whitney Brown, Paige Rowland, Victoria Frith, and Megan Christensen. Hanceville also claimed the tournament’s most valu- HAVE A GREAT TIME AT CITYFEST!!! able player in sophomore Heather Parker, who was previously named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-American. Hanceville Head Coach Jayne Clem received the Coach of the Year award. This year, the games were streamed live online at iHigh.com. Viewers can watch archived games at www.iHigh.com/accc. Cox said this was the first year of a three-year contract with the City of Alabaster, so the tournament will return to Veterans Park at least through 2014. For more information, visit the ACCC website at www.acccsports.org. Stephen R. Stricklin, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry CARE CREDIT 12 MONTH - NO INTEREST FINANCING (If Approved) Hrs: Mon & Wed 7-3 Tues & Thurs. 8-5 www.drstricklin.com 223 First Street North (Hwy 31) Alabaster, Alabama 35007 •New Patients Welcome •Caring, Friendly Staff •Professional Cleaning & Exams •Tooth Colored Fillings (Top row) Sherry, Carol, Dr. Stricklin, Mary, Mickey, (Bottom Row) Cindy, Hollie, & Jennifer By appointment only. New Patients Welcome! Call today! 663-6644 SEE YOU AT CITYFEST JUNE 2 MUNICIPAL PARK! June, 2012 37
Page 2 and 3: Title Sponsor Platinum Gold Silver
Page 4 and 5: WHAT TIME IS IT? It’s 0% time at
Page 6 and 7: CITY LEADERS... Sophie Martin Ward
Page 8 and 9: IN THE SPOTLIGHT... DETECTIVE RANDA
Page 10 and 11: Sue Walker 410-7380 suewalker.us 3B
Page 12 and 13: LONESTAR consists of Michael Britt
Page 14 and 15: A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT... Garden Tip: WE
Page 16 and 17: This year’s CityFest will once ag
Page 18 and 19: FROM THE FIELD... CELEBRATE AMERICA
Page 20 and 21: EVER- CLEAR In A Different Light Fo
Page 22 and 23: SENIOR HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO HELD
Page 24 and 25: The Alabaster Board of Education he
Page 26 and 27: LONESTAR TO HEADLINE CITYFEST JUNE
Page 28 and 29: This year, CityFest’s entertainme
Page 30 and 31: The Kids First Awareness 21st Centu
Page 32 and 33: TMS PHOTO CONTEST RAISES FUNDS The
Page 34 and 35: SKATEBOARD CONTEST ROLLS ON AT THE
Page 38 and 39: SENIOR ACTIVITIES New Crochet class
Page 40: SEE YOU AT CITYFEST JUNE 2 MUNICIPA

June Newsletter - City of Alabaster

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