Here’s a look at what we’re working on for the Wednesday, June 3, 2009, edition of The North Jefferson News. For complete stories, please see Wednesday’s paper or visit www.njeffersonews.com throughout the day on Wednesday. Also, don’t forget to check out a new episode of NJNtv on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.



Thrift store opens in Gardendale



Shoppers in search of a good bargain now have a new store to patronize in Gardendale.

An America’s Thrift Store opened on May 29 at 1315 Decatur Highway and has seen a packed parking lot and steady business in its first week of operation. The Gardendale store represents the eighth Alabama location and the 14th store in the southeast.



Veterans groups mourn losses



Members of veterans groups in Fultondale are mourning the loss of two women who faithfully served during every patriotic holiday for the past several years.

Pearl McPherson always sang the National Anthem and Kathy Hallmark faithfully sang “God Bless America” during every Veterans Day and Memorial Day service in Fultondale



Weekend garden tour to profile G’dale beautification efforts



Bill and Linda Brock are more than just prolific gardeners: They also have a tremendous sense of civic responsibility.

It is for their planting and landscaping, however, that their home is one of seven stops on the fourth annual Gardendale Garden Tour.

The tour is Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. A $5 ticket is good for both days, with children 6 and younger free.

Tickets are available at Wilson’s Florist and at the individual homes.

Sponsored by the Gardendale Beautification Commission and the Blue Star, Garden Dale and Twin Oaks Garden Clubs, all seven gardens were chosen for various unique aspects.



Late-year garden project fuels enthusiasm for teacher, students



School may be out at Bragg Middle School, but a student project will continue to grow all summer long.

This spring, students in Joan Marks’ seventh-grade science class planted a small garden on school ground, containing a handful of tomato and pepper plants.

Marks, who has taught at Bragg for more than 20 years, said she was surprised by the response and enthusiasm her students had for the garden project. However, the genesis of the garden was even more surprising.

As part of a class experiment, Marks brought in a sweet potato plant and placed it in a jar of water. Within weeks, the potato had sprouted several chutes.

“We were studying plants and I explained to them that you can take a sweet potato, put toothpicks in it and place it in water and it will grow,” she said. “That led to the discussion.”