Hanceville emergency personnel give demonstrations at the Library’s Summer Reading Program
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The Hanceville Fire and Police Department’s with the Cullman Air Evac team visited the Hanceville Library on Wednesday during their Summer Reading Program to tell them about some of the services they provide and show them their equipment and emergency vehicles.
Firefighter...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: ‘The Winners Circle Birthday Party’
Brooke Astor was known as “The Queen of New York.” Her beloved country house, “Holly Hill,” in Briarcliff, New York is the regal setting for “The Winners Circle Birthday Party.” The Westchester County estate has more than 10,000 square feet, including 24 rooms, 13...
52 ODES TO JOY: S.U.N.S. SUMMER
ODE TO SUMMER
My longtime favorite season is summer.
Though fall, spring nor winter is a bummer.
At 70, this thought’s not a newcomer;
It came decades ago with my first frozen rummer.
“Summer afternoon” according to American-born British writer, Henry James, are the...
Looking to their ‘Futures’
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Wallace State Community College’s Allegro Dance Theatre returned to the stage Wednesday evening with the student-produced and choreographed show “Futures” on campus in the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre, presenting a variety of styles from classical ballet to jazz and hip-hop.
After the...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Stars and Stripes Forever Birthday Party
Royal Princess Grace Kelly grew up in a charming two-and-half-story American Colonial-style house at 3901 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. This is our destination for “The Stars and Stripes Forever Birthday Party.”
The house was built in 1928 by Grace Kelly’s dad, John B. Kelly, a...
52 ODES TO JOY: YOU & JOY BIRDS
ODE TO JOY BIRDS
The singing kind are such joy birds,
One rarely hears a whiner.
Chirping, tweeting, hummingbirds
Make a fine day even finer.
My family’s Alabama farm was a certified Audubon Sanctuary. We didn’t just love birds and protect their habitats; birding...
365 JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Yankee Doodle Birthday Party
This week, we are in Manhattan’s famed Duffy Square between Broadway and Seventh Avenue for “The Yankee Doodle Birthday Party.” The décor centerpiece is the bronze statue of George M. Cohan dancing with top hat and cane created by sculptor, Georg John Lober, and...
An in-depth guide to local fall fun
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Fall is finally here and with it are many fun seasonal events! From craft shows to fall festivals, there are a range of things going on around town, for families and friends of all ages.
Nightmare in Vinemont - Oct. 22...
365 JOY-GIVING AMERICANS for 2021: The Playin’ With Fire Birthday Party
When fire-hot lightning strikes sandy beaches, naturally occurring glass sculptures are often created below the melted sand. Sandy beaches surround all sides of Seattle, so it is a perfect place to locate the most comprehensive collection of works by northwest glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly.
“The...
East Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church to celebrate 100 years
Photo with cars is the current church building, one without cars is the original before the renovations over the years.CULLMAN, Ala. - On Sunday, May 23, East Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church (EPC) will be celebrating 100 years of "worshipping, serving and loving the Lord."...
Leldon’s ‘Art in the Warehouse District’ event to take place February 4
CULLMAN, Ala. - Local home décor retail shop Leldon’s will be hosting “Art in the Warehouse District” on February 4 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The event will feature tastings from Holly Pond’s Alabama Mudd Coffee and artwork displays from five different artists...
Oktoberfest announces the 2021 Burgermeister: Casey Harbin
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman High School teacher and coach Casey Harbin has been passed the baton as Burgermeister for the 2021 Cullman Oktoberfest. With Cullman’s German heritage and history, Oktoberfest is an annual event that brings members together from all across the community with...
52 ODES TO JOY: The Fun S.U.N.S. Longevity Diet
ODE TO A FUN, HEALTHY DIET
Try as I might,
A fun, healthy diet
Seems an oxymoron in daylight
And a darker mystery at night.
What if eating well could be all fun and games? Play with your food? Eat a seriously, good-for-you, healthy...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The I Love Saturday Night Birthday Party
We are in Bedford, New York about an hour north of Manhattan for “The I Love Saturday Night Birthday Party.” Set amid 250 acres of rolling lawn and woods, this is the home of Ricky and Ralph Lauren. The popular, “RL” branded towels in...
52 ODES TO JOY: SIMPLICITY POSITIVITY
When I get the urge to purge,
I first put on some music.
A little more punk and a little less dirge,
Then I’m trashin’, smashin’, thrashin’ like a lunatic.
“STUFF OWNS YOU…Wash it, dry it, fold it, iron it, have it cleaned, repair...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Greatest Birthday Party on Earth
“Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages…welcome to “The Greatest Birthday Party on Earth!” The circus is about to begin!
Let our joy-givers lead you to the three-rings of clowning and amazing feats of wizardry in Downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut and the Barnum Museum. This is...
Hanceville Music Fest features popular country band Confederate Railroad as headliner for Saturday event
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - A small but lively crowd came out to Hanceville’s Veterans Park Saturday night to enjoy the Hanceville Music Fest featuring country rock band Confederate Railroad. Many of those in attendance travelled from neighboring states to see the show despite threatening skies....
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Ringy-Dingy Birthday Party
It’s late-August and we are cooling off with the joy-giving, cool kids on a giant ice ring at “The Ringy-Dingy Birthday Party.”
The United States has hosted the modern Olympic games, which started in 1896, in six locations: Atlanta (Summer, 1996), Lake Placid, New York...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE 1-HOUR S.U.N.S. JOY LIFT
NEVER TRUST A GERONTOLOGIST UNDER 70! Please hear me saying that playfully. However, I’ve done my 70 years and spent much of it studying and practicing “joyful aging,” so you can totally trust me on this next thing which could seem an absurd assertion.
Can...
Día de Muertos: La Tradición Cuando la Noche Cobra Vida
Read the English version here.
La celebración del Día de Muertos es una costumbre que empezó en el siglo 16 en México y que comparte la historia de tradiciones que se formaron debido a la integración de dos culturas.
Estudios históricos y antropológicos han permitido constatar...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE FUN, S.U.N.S. USA PLANTRY
ODE TO A PLANTRY
Old Mother Gantry went to her pantry,
Looked angry, then trashed it all, blankly.
She restocked as a fun, healthy plantry.
“I declare, my dears,” said Mom Gantry, “I’m not acting grandly,
But, I give a damn about goodness,...
Smith Lake Park celebrates 50 years with Memorial Day Festival
Saturday marked a very special day at Smith Lake Park as crowds poured in to help honor the countless men and women that have sacrificed for our country and celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary with this year’s Memorial Day Festival. There were arts and...
Editorial: Summer recommended reading list
Something magical happens when you first reach for a book. The possibilities become endless and worlds you knew nothing about become visible- fallen cities, lost loves, thrilling challenges around every corner. This summer, allow yourself to explore a book or two--whether it be to...
Hanceville Antique Tractor and Engine Show returns to Wallace State June 12
HANCEVILLE, Ala. – On Saturday, June 12, the City of Hanceville will celebrate the history and heritage of big wheels, horsepower and torque at the 23rd annual Hanceville Antique Tractor and Engine Show at Wallace State Community College.
Charles Allen who, along with Bonnie Hamrick...
Rescheduled Second Friday celebration tonight in Cullman
CULLMAN, Ala. – It’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1st Avenue Southeast will host the city’s popular 2nd Fridays celebration on the third Friday of June. That’s tonight!
Downtown Cullman’s 2nd Friday celebration, put on COVID hiatus in 2020 and postponed last week due to the...
‘American Pickers’ to film in Alabama
NEW YORK, NY. – “The American Pickers” are excited to announce their return to Alabama! The History Channel’s hit television series is making plans to film episodes throughout the state in February 2022.
“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of...
Cullman County Public Library to hold a Strawberry Festival book Sale May 7
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Public Library is holding a Strawberry Festival Book Sale on Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The sale will take place inside the library and books will be 50 cents each. Most of the books...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Holiday Island Birthday Party
“Let’s get away from sleigh bells. Let’s get away from snow.
Let’s make a break this holiday, dear, I know the place to go.
How’d ya like to spend the holidays on Holiday Island?
How’d ya like to spend the holidays away across the sea?
How’d ya like...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Bon, Bon, Bon Appetit Birthday Party
We are inspired to greater heights by each of the 365 American joy-givers celebrated in this series, but for “The Bon, Bon, Bon Appetit Birthday Party” we’re taking the tram 630 feet to the top of the tallest monument in the United States.
Gaze into...
Hank’s Sport Bar and Rumors Deli hosts nationwide talent Jermaine ‘Funnymaine’ Johnson
CULLMAN, Ala. - Saturday night saw two best of the bests putting on a show for Cullman that was full of one-of-a-kind entertainment, specialty drinks and cathartic laughter.
Hank’s Sports Bar and Rumors Deli presented comedian and Alabama football aficionado Jermaine “Funnymaine” Johnson and Rod...
Fantastic weather brings optimistic crowd to Hanceville’s 4th annual Irish Festival
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The city of Hanceville celebrated its Irish heritage Saturday with the fourth annual Hanceville Irish Festival, enjoying perfect weather and a noticeable increase in attendance from past years. It was a stark contrast from 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic loomed large....
Sips ‘n Strokes takes class to Ave Maria Grotto on Saturday evening
CULLMAN, Ala. - Sips ‘n Strokes of Cullman is packing up their paints and canvases for an on-site class at Ave Maria Grotto on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. The class, for budding artists, accomplished artists and everyone in between, will be taught by...
52 ODES TO JOY: BOOK JOY
ODE TO BOOK JOY
Books are magic transportable.
Free libraries make them quite affordable.
It is well-known but still reportable,
Libraries need us to stay supportable.
John Grisham hoped he could make a living as a writer. I wasn’t so sure of his career...
COVID-19 Halloween safety tips for 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - Recently, the Columbus Department of Health released a list of tips on how to make trick-or-treating and other Halloween festivities safer for participants of all ages. As the second holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic approaches for everyone, there are always...
St. Bernard’s 2021 Bloomin’ Festival considered a huge success
CULLMAN, Ala. - After a year of COVID shutdowns, St. Bernard Prep’s annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair returned April 17-18, more than making up for last year’s disappointment. Coordinators’ estimates after the event closed Sunday afternoon indicated that this year’s show may...
Arab’s 2nd Annual Sugarfest sees great weather and huge turnout
ARAB, Ala. - The 2nd Annual Sugarfest was held Saturday, Sept. 4 at Arab City Park. The festival kicked off at 8 a.m. and lasted until 10 p.m., with many events including the Sugar Rush 5K, Cornhole Tournament, Sugar High Rides and Amusements, Sweetie...
52 ODES TO JOY: LAUGHTER
LAFF EVRY DAY!
Laff, laff for your brain and your heart.
Laffing makes you strong.
Laffing makes you smart.
Laffter is good for us in evry way.
Laff evry nite and laff evry day!
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”—Lord Byron
“He...
Pet adoptions during the holidays—the pros and cons
CULLMAN, Ala. – Gifting adopted pets for Christmas can often be a wonderful and creative idea for the holidays. However, though some people would be excited to receive a pet for Christmas, others may be unprepared. Some adoption shelters are of the opinion that...
2nd Friday downtown celebrations return June 11
CULLMAN, Ala. - After the 2020 hiatus, people are ready to head back out, and the City of Cullman is eager to accommodate. On Friday, June 11, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism, Cullman Downtown Merchants Association and...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Giant Steps Birthday Party
“Destination Moon” is our destination for “The Giant Steps Birthday Party.” We are being given a preview of this exhibition which promises to be a major blockbuster coming to the National Air and Space Museum in 2022.
Building on the Washington, D.C. museum’s unrivaled collection...
52 ODES TO JOY: ZEST FOR ZZZ
ODE TO ZZZ
ZZZ are A-okay methinks,
Each regarded with great esteem.
A long sleep or just 40 winks,
To doze, perchance to dream.
There is some irony in the fact I started a luxury brand which sold many thousands of silver-topped casters of...
Wallace State celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with events at both the main campus in Hanceville and at the Oneonta campus centers.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 each year to recognize the countless contributions of...
Sweet Tater Festival caps off summer at Smith Lake Park
CULLMAN, Ala. - For most people, Labor Day Weekend is the official send off to summer, but in Cullman County, it is also a time to show appreciation for the sweet tater! As the state’s top producer of the sweet potato, this is the...
Arley Senior Center Christmas party taking place Dec. 6
ARLEY, Ala. - The Arley Senior Center will be holding a bingo, potluck and silent auction Christmas party at the Arley Fire Department on Dec. 6 from 5-8:30 p.m. There will be prizes for bingo, as well as desserts provided by the center. This...
Upcoming Memorial Day weekend events
CULLMAN, Ala. - There are several events happening around Cullman County this Memorial Day weekend. While Memorial Day has become a time that many choose to hit the lake or host a fun barbeque or party, let’s not forget the reason for the holiday....
ATF promotes fireworks safety
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wants the public to be safe during the Fourth of July. Understanding the dangers associated with illegal or improperly used/manufactured fireworks can prevent severe injuries, disfigurement or even death.
Illegal devices are not fireworks,...
Cullman’s Oktoberfest starts Thursday
CULLMAN, Ala. - This Thursday evening, Cullman will kick off its 40th Oktoberfest at the Festhalle, tapping the kegs, striking up the band and kicking off the city’s biggest celebration. But what is Oktoberfest, and why does Cullman observe it?
On Oct. 12, 1510, the...
Chambers Fall Festival to take place this weekend
CULLMAN, Ala. – This week, Chambers Farm & Garden Supply will be hosting their First Annual Fall Festival for the community Saturday, Sept 25. The event will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the lot behind Chambers, at 404 McNabb Dr...
Preparations underway for 2022 2nd Fridays
CULLMAN, Ala. - Marking its 2022 return, 2nd Fridays in Cullman will hold its June celebration on Friday, June 10 from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. along 1st Avenue in the Warehouse District.
The event, hosted by the Cullman Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center...
Celebrating our history: Colony will hold Black History Month celebration Feb. 27
COLONY, Ala. - The Town of Colony will celebrate Black History Month Saturday, Feb. 27 by creating a temporary community history museum at the town’s Educational Complex to “reflect the many milestones and accomplishments of our ancestors,” according to a notice from Colony’s Black...
Time-honored tradition Decoration Day observed across Cullman County
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Decoration Day, an annual observance still common throughout Cullman and North Alabama, has a history steeped in tradition, honor and homecoming.
With many family traditions falling to the wayside in the busy 21st century, Cullman is fortunate to have a stronghold...
Friends of the Library to host Author’s Night on April 21
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Friends of the Public Libraries of Cullman County are hosting an Author’s Night on April 21 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Traditions Bank Processing Building at 107 3rd Ave NW. 15 different local authors will have tables...
Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nelly, Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, Ingrid Andress, Flatland Cavalry, Laine Hardy, Drew Parker, DeeJay Silver, Trey Lewis and Alex Hall among artists announced...
CULLMAN, AL. - What’s billed as the “The South’s biggest party”, Rock the South announced Monday morning what the concert promoters are calling “an incredible lineup of musicians for Pepsi Rock the South in Cullman, Alabama on August 13-14, 2021.”
This year’s lineup is packed...
Chambers 1st Annual Fall Festival has strong first-time turnout
CULLMAN, Ala. - Chambers Farm & Garden Supply held their 1st Annual Fall Festival Saturday with over 50 total vendors present. The event saw a steady stream of attendees from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
First-time vendor Adeline Dinehart featured her business, Hart Designs, which...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021—The April Shower of Stars Birthday Party
The lush, verdant setting for our “April Shower of Stars Birthday Party” is in Kentucky. Loretta Lynn proudly hails from this state, but instead of her old stomping grounds in Butcher Holler, we are picnicking on a beautiful, finely laid, closely mown stretch of...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Starry Starry Night Birthday Party
“Starry Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most joy-giving paintings in the history of art, is a major crowd-pleaser at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art, NYC). Hold on, mama, MOMA is our destination for “The Starry Starry Night Birthday Party.”
Mr. van...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Creating Joy Birthday Party
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” These words, spoken by U.S. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, inspire all to create joy and cultivate optimism across America. It is the triumphant, joy-creating message of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas where we...
Editorial: Has Generation X been lost in the shuffle?
Over the past several years, there’s been plenty of chatter about generational differences between the boomers, millenials and Generation Z. It's been mostly insults and finger pointing as those involved in the ongoing conversation duke it out over who is to blame for everything...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Whatcha’ Got Cookin’ Birthday Party
We cruise through acres and acres of red dirt, northern Alabama cottonfields to our destination for “The Whatcha’ Got Cookin’ Birthday Party.” In the 1936 Olympic games hosted by Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany, a single man gave great joy to Americans, winning four...
Cullman County Museum April Walking Tours preparing for five weekends (UPDATED)
CULLMAN, Ala. – This spring will mark the 10th anniversary of the Cullman April Walking Tours and with five weekends this year, the Cullman County Museum has much in store for visitors.
Museum Director Drew Green helped kick start the program locally when he joined...
Mythology comes alive at East Elementary School’s ‘Gallery Walk’
CULLMAN, Ala. - A recent art project reached across history — and grade levels — at East Elementary School, as sixth graders brought their study of The Odyssey to life with a “Gallery Walk” which fourth graders were able to explore.
Sixth grade teacher Laura...
Do you believe in the Metal Man?
FALKVILLE Ala. – Alabama certainly has its fair share of urban legends and strange occurrences. Recently, on an adventure through the backroads of Cullman and Morgan counties, I heard mention of the “Falkville Metal Man.” Though I had never heard of him before, I...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Trick or Treat Birthday Party
The invitation for “The Trick or Treat Birthday Party” this Halloween weekend suggested fun costumes inspired by the American West—“YEEHAW, y’all come as your favorite singing cowboy or cowgirl.” This was “come as you are” for Roy Rogers, Will Rogers and Kinky Friedman but...
COLUMN: Celebrating in the Wundergarten – Quilted pan-roasted vegetables
CULLMAN QUILTS inspired the art style I used to illustrate the folktale, “WUNDERGARTEN” (see the Cullman Quilts poster, available at Leldon’s in the Warehouse District). My very earliest memory is being a 3-year-old playing under a quilt frame in the Cullman County community of...
83rd Annual Cullman Strawberry Festival has record number of attendees
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Strawberry Festival on Saturday, May 7 was packed with people looking to buy farm fresh strawberries and enjoy the many festivities. Farmers began selling produce at 7:00 a.m. and most were sold out by the middle of the day,...
Picked fresh: Cullman in preparation for 83rd Annual Strawberry Fest
CULLMAN, Ala. - Celebrating its 83rd year, The Cullman Strawberry Festival has organizers excited to return to full strength for this year’s event to Downtown Cullman and Depot Park. The festival will be held May 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
“This year's Strawberry...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The I Can Do Anything Better Birthday Party
“Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you…No, you can’t…Yes, I can. No, you can’t. Yes, I can. No, you can’t! YES, I CAN! YES, I CAN!”
“Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)” is a show...
Summertime fun hits Hanceville
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The City of Hanceville is getting ready for summer with a calendar full of events for everyone’s enjoyment.
Kicking off the entertainment was a bluegrass concert featuring Cotton Pickin’ Kids and Bama Blu-Grace this past Saturday night at the Hanceville Civic Center....
2nd Annual Doggy Pawgeant taking place at Strawberry Festival May 7
CULLMAN, Ala. - The 2nd Annual Doggy Pawgeant is one of the many events to take place the day of the Strawberry Festival, with a start time of 1:00 p.m. It will be right after the baking competition on the mini-stage located right in...
For the mystery lovers: Who put a star medallion outside the Cullman Library?
CULLMAN, Ala. - For over 10 years, staffers at the Cullman County Public Library main branch in Cullman have wondered about a small brass medallion affixed to a sidewalk on the east side of the building. No one knows who placed it or its...
Welti’s Preston Cook receives $500 scholarship in NASP National Virtual Archery Tournament
WELTI, Ala. - Welti Elementary School’s Preston Cook was selected to receive a $500 scholarship this week following his participation in the National Archery in Schools Program National Virtual Archery Tournament.
Of 15,683 archers who participated in the virtual shoot, 100 were randomly...
‘A Badge for Brooksie’
CULLMAN, Ala. – In 2019, Cullman County Courthouse welcomed its newest court officer: Brooksie, a then two year old “goldendoodle” facility dog to help victims – especially children – navigate the often intimidating experience of court cases. She was trained to sense increasing heart...
Dreher’s plays host to Chamber event ‘Burgers and Brews’
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Chamber of Commerce held its Burgers and Brews event at local Dreher’s Cocktail Bar & Restaurant Monday evening. While the $30 tickets were exclusive to Chamber members, this event was built around the idea of bringing people together for...
The people behind the Hay People
CULLMAN, Ala. - Each fall, Cullmanites mark the times with colorful mums around downtown, and the annual appearance of the hay people is a public reminder that Oktoberfest is almost here. The two practices share a common origin.
In 1999, Cullman residents Pat and Philip...
Bloomin’ Festival returns April 17-18
CULLMAN, Ala. - After a year of COVID shutdowns, St. Bernard Prep’s annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair is returning April 17-18, 2021.
The school describes its festival as “a two-day juried arts festival attracting more than 25,000 visitors to the beautiful campus of...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE FOUR GARDENS to GROW JOY
AN ODE TO GARDEN JOY
A book and a glass of wine in a garden is all I need;
A sip, the sunshine, some slumber and a read.
All the planting and watering was hard work, indeed.
Now a relaxing reward—WAIT! Is that...
Cullman live music venues welcome new and diverse bands
CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman is truly a town that embraces the arts, and the music scene here is vast, consisting of a well-connected group of artists and assisting music venues that need support from the community to continue to create spaces for creative and...
Día de Muertos: Tradition when the night comes alive
CULLMAN, Ala. - As many in Cullman prepare for the now largely social celebration of Halloween, and the area’s large Catholic population prepares for All Saints Day (preceded by All Hallows Eve or Halloween) and All Souls Day, the county’s growing Hispanic community brings...
Local heritage group decorates Confederate graves
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Members of Cullman County’s Sons of Confederate Veterans Organization, Thomas Jefferson Denney Camp #1442, got together Saturday, Dec. 11 to decorate the graves of over 35 Confederate Soldiers. The group visited seven cemeteries in the area, placing wreaths and grave...
2022 Miss Southerner and Fair Queen Representative pageants held at CHS Saturday evening
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman High School hosted the 2022 Miss Southerner and Fair Queen Representative Pageant Saturday evening in the Cullman High School Gym. The Fair Queen contestants were Kathryn Dueland, Ashton Henderson and Carrie Betts. The Fair Queen Representative contestants completed interviews with...
The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament holds Christmas Open House event
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, home to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, held its Christmas open house all day Saturday, Dec. 18. The grounds were decorated with Christmas lights, and a huge Christmas tree was fully decorated in...
October 2021 events you won’t want to miss
CULLMAN, Ala. - This October, there are loads of activities for friends and family of all ages throughout Cullman. As most know, October ushers in the series of months that contain the most holidays for the year. From October 1st – January 1st, there...
52 ODES TO JOY: SPELLBINDING
ODE TO SPELLBINDING
Hocus pocus, fully focus.
Cast off the spell of the phone,
And fully succumb to the joy zone.
Presto, change-o, feel the glow.
Find your mojo in the flow.
A dictionary definition for SPELLBINDING is “holding one’s attention completely, rapturously, as though...
Strawberry Festival returns tomorrow! Miss Strawberry Festival Pageant tonight
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Strawberry Festival, one of the city’s oldest celebrations, returns tomorrow after a year of COVID shutdowns, with a promise of crafts, entertainment and, of course, strawberries! The Festhalle Farmers Market will open at 7 a.m. Saturday and, since selling...
One man’s passion
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Ave Maria Grotto has, since 1934, been home to the artistry of Benedictine monk Bro. Joseph Zoettl, OSB, who built miniature sculptures at St. Bernard Abbey from 1912-1958. After his death in 1961, his workshop on the edge of the...
5th Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ sees another successful year
CULLMAN, Ala. – The 5th Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ took place Sat-Sun, Oct. 30-31. Friends of Saint Bernard, along with faculty, staff and students, braved the cold rain on Saturday to support the works of talented artist and craftsmen from across the Southeastern...
Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist at Wallace State’s Burrow Museum
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College welcomes EXQUISITE MINIATURES, an exhibition of miniature paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrest, to campus this spring from February - April. Admission is free.
EXQUISITE MINIATURES consists of 50 signature paintings including landscapes, portraits,...
Miss Alabama to compete in Miss USA pageant Nov. 29
TULSA, OK - Miss Alabama, Alexandria Flanigan of Cullman, will be competing in the 70th annual Miss USA pageant to be held on Nov. 29 at the Paradise Cove Theatre of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will be broadcast at...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Wonders of America Birthday Party
America has many natural wonders: our national parks and forests, majestic mountains, giant Redwoods and Sequoias, Louisiana bayous and the Florida Everglades. And, thanks to American ingenuity, we have many man-made wonders like: the Statue of Liberty (okay, that was French ingenuity), the Washington...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Elements of Style Birthday Party
The most famous “kettle hole” in America is the setting for “The Elements of Style Birthday Party.” It was formed by retreating glaciers 10,000-12,000 years ago near present-day Concord, Massachusetts. This “kettle hole” is Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived in an intentionally...
Cullman Strawberry Festival a big success
CULLMAN, Ala. - For 82 years, the city of Cullman has celebrated the area’s prolific strawberry crops and, after facing the COVID shutdown of 2020, folks were ready to celebrate once again last Saturday. Even without the popular Senior Shindig usually held on Friday,...
The Town of Arley prepares for 49th Annual Arley Day festival taking place May 21
ARLEY, Ala. - The Town of Arley’s 49th Annual Arley Day community festival will be Saturday, May 21. The all-day event will last from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Hamner Park kicking off with a parade line up in the Dollar General parking...
Cullman County Master Gardeners share 2022 initiative for feeding birds during the winter
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Alabama Master Gardeners are educators trained by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. During their last meeting, they discussed taking an initiative to feed birds in the winter to help them stay healthy during their migration. On December 9, the group...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The O Happy Day Birthday Party
“Oh Mickey, you so fine.” At “The O Happy Day Birthday Party,” we’ll see ya round like a doughnut with Mickey Mouse, Georgia O’Keeffe, P.J. O’Rourke and Whoopi Goldberg as Sister Deloris sings, ‘O Happy Day.’”
Our party destination is the “Concrete Donut.” That’s what...
Jacobs proclaims Constitution Week in Cullman
“…it is fitting that every American should reflect upon the vision and fortitude of our forebears in creating a charter designed ‘to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the...
Country music community mourns the loss of Naomi Judd
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The country music community was rocked today with the tragic news of the sudden passing of country music giant Naomi Judd.
Hailing from the Appalachian foothills of Ashland, Ky., mother and daughter duo, The Judds, were first discovered by RCA label head...
Dance returns to Cullman County stages starting this week
ULLMAN and HANCEVILLE, Ala. - As the world reopens from a year of disappointing COVID shutdowns, Cullman County is seeing live arts and entertainment events return to local stages. Dance productions will open this Wednesday, April 7, with a show by Wallace State Community...
Alcoholics Anonymous celebrates 87th birthday
AKRON, OH. - “Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life. There’s no question about that. It’s the best thing that ever happened in my life. I was one of those that everybody that knew me thought I’d always be drinking. It was just the way it...
52 ODES TO JOY: BLOOMIN’ JOY
ODE TO BLOOMING
Stealthily, they commanded the hill,
Though no cannons nor bombs were booming.
No movement detected, all seemed deadly still.
Then, victorious as any army, all the flowers were blooming.
The earth is blooming with the joyous laughter of flowers. In my...
Launching the Alabama Arts Recovery Program
MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Alabama State Council on the Arts announces a special grant application opening on Thursday, July 1. The Alabama Arts Recovery Program is supported by recent American Rescue Plan stimulus funding for arts organizations.
$814,100 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts...
