Gristmill added to festival

Tim Hobbs of Bon Aqua, Tennessee will make his first debut at Bloomin’ Festival this weekend. Hobbs started his Bristol Branch Mill Works in the mid 70’s as a hobby while he spent thirty-two years teaching auto mechanics in Tennessee public schools. Since his retirement he has taken his art of auto mechanics in the classroom live and on tour, but in a historical way.

“It’s a hands-on living history show,” Hobbs said. “We take several hand items to the shows to let children shell and grind corn on a small mill. However, meeting people is the neat thing about doing this. It is fun to listen about early days when they went to the mill to get their corn ground,” continued Hobbs.

“I have always had a fascination with grist mills. So I found a mill in bad shape and rebuilt it for myself to take on the road and participate in craft shows,” Hobbs said.

The grist mill is a 1914 meadows mill built in North Carolina, pulled by a 1954 International U2 engine.

Hobbs and his wife, Frances will demonstrate how to make corn meal and grits, as well as prepare hoe cakes on site for visitors to sample.

While visiting the Hobb’s grist mill, make sure to say hello to St. Bernard’s track and field standout Ayleana Mami. Mami currently holds the 1A title for the 1600 meter run as well as the 3200 meter run. She is an outstanding athlete who has captured the eyes of several coaches from the State of Alabama who think she will be the perfect addition to the Alabama and USA International Team to participate in the Down Under Sports Competition in Sydney, Australia in July.

Mami is delighted and grateful to work with the Hobb’s family on this project. Mami smiled when asked about working a grist mill. “Having grown up in Fort Drum, New York, I’m not sure I know what a hoe cake is, and am quite new to the pinto bean craze. However, I have never travelled out of the country either, so this is going to be an interesting learning experience for me too.”

Mami’s parent’s Anthony and Dorothea Hunter Mami are very thankful for the generosity of the Hobb’s family and the kind people associated with St. Bernard who have helped Ayleana in their efforts to raise $3,500 or the $5,000 needed to participate.

The gristmill we be up and running at 9 a.m. on April 21-22. For more information on Bloomin’ Festival visit www.bloominfestival.com.

Bloomin' Festival set for April 21-22, 2012

Cullman, Alabama is more than just a rural small town in North Alabama. Imagine visiting the Coliseum, Great Wall of China or Leaning Tower of Pisa all in one day. Every day of the year with the exception of Christmas, visitors are welcomed to Ave Maria Grotto at St. Bernard Abbey in North Alabama’s beautiful Mountain Lakes Region.

April 21-22, 2012 the small Benedictine community of monks at St. Bernard welcomes more than 140 artist and craftsmen from across the United States to demonstrate and display their handiworks. Aside from the backdrop of the stone-cut buildings to the beautiful flowering dogwoods and azaleas, St. Bernard is proud to host one of the South’s top festivals – The 28^th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair.

Little did anyone know a small school community like St. Bernard Prep could become a destination stop for thousands of visitors? Festival Director, Joyce Nix, said Bloomin’ Festival has been a tradition in Cullman for the past 27 years, and the 28^th one is taking shape nicely too.

“I remember when we started the show 27 years ago, and it was just an idea for a quick fundraiser. We blazed a trail through Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi looking for quality artist and quickly became a favorite in the Southeast,” Nix said.

“We are very selective about the quality and the quantity of each booth,” continued Nix. “We take only the finest artist and craftspeople, and bring them together for one premier showcase of talent.”

Bloomin’ Festival features a demonstrating blacksmith, glassblower, potter, as well as personalized gift items or items for the home and garden such as handmade quilts, birdhouses, clothing for ladies and children, toys, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, and monks raisin bread baked by real monks. An added attraction for 2012 is a corn gristmill which will be operating. Children will be allowed to shuck corn and turn it into grits or cornmeal.

On Saturday, April 21 there will be a 5K/10K Race through St. Bernard Abbey’s Treasure Forest. To register visit www.bloominfestival.com.

At the conclusion of the festival a drawing for a 2012 Jeep Patriot, 2 nights at Zoder’s Inn in Gatlinburg, TN, and many other valuable prizes will be held.

Adjacent to the grounds, one can visit Ave Maria Grotto, a four acre garden park created by Benedictine Monk- Br. Joseph Zoettl.

“Many people refer to Ave Maria Grotto as ‘Little Jerusalem,” Nix said. The Grotto includes many years of intense labor by a monk who devoted his time to building miniature replicas of buildings from Jerusalem and the Holy Lands.

A very simple man, Br. Joseph used photographs as his model diagrams.

Br. Joseph was very meticulous with his work. His 125 miniatures were constructed of cement, and decorated with cold cream jars, colored glass, marbles, costume jewelry, and anything else he found striking and useful. He was grateful for whatever the community offered his garden.

Bloomin’ Festival is April 21-22, 2012. An admission donation of $5 is requested at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are free. Admission to Ave Maria Grotto is only $3 the entire weekend.

For more information visit www.bloominfestival.com or www.facebook.com/bloominfestival

Brown joins Clairvaux Society

Michayla Brown, a junior at St. Bernard Preparatory School, recently became the youngest member to be received into the Clairvaux Society, an estate and planned giving program of St. Bernard Abbey and School. Michayla’s gift of a life insurance policy with St. Bernard Abbey as the beneficiary qualifies her for membership in the society.

The Clairvaux Society was founded in 2011 and honors those who have included St. Bernard Abbey and School in their estate planning. More information can be found at www.stbernardprepschool.com. Click on “Development” on the home page and then “Estate and Planned Giving.” Michayla is shown presenting her gift to Abbot Cletus Meagher, OSB.

Brown is the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. James Brown of Arab, AL.

St. Bernard’s Ayleana Mami to compete in Australia

St. Bernard Prep’s Ayleana Mami is $1,650 away from blazing a trail to Austraila this June to participate in the Down Under Sports Competion - Track and Field Division. Mami was selected to represent Alabama and the United States for her outstanding state performance in the 1600 meter as well as the 3200 meter race.

“I am so thankful for the many friends, family members and alumni of St. Bernard who have helped me raise $3,400 to date,” Mami said. “Without their support, this trip would be impossible for me.”

Mami’s Coach William Calvert said, “ Ayleana strives for excellence in every endeavor she undertakes –whether it be athletics, academics, or service to others. She certainly exemplifies the St. Bernard Mission of Corpus Mens and Spiritus. She is truly a champion in every sense of the word.”

To support Ayleana, visit www.stbernardprep.com and click on Ayleana – Alabama to Australia or contact the school at (256)739-6682.

Open House yields large crowd

St. Bernard Prep School hosted a very informative Open House this past Sunday afternoon as dozens of families visited the campus to see for themselves the quality of education provided at the Catholic school.

From areas as close as Cullman, Eva, Good Hope and Hayden to Decatur, Hamilton , Florence, and Atlanta Georgia, families filled the Brahma Room searching for a new place of educational studies for their children. There were even guests investigating the school on behalf of relatives in Vietnam.

Guests were treated to a campus presentation by sophomore student, Bryce Allen. Bryce is completing his Eagle Scout program. As part of his Eagle Scout project, he designed and gave a historical presentation of all buildings on campus and presented each guest a printed brochure complete with photos and an aerial map.

Fr. Joel Martin, President of the school, greeted visitors and welcomed them to ask any questions they may have to any of the staff or students.

During the campus tour, visitors were treated to an outstanding performance by the St. Bernard Band. They visited the athletic facilities, dorms and classroom building where teachers were very welcoming.

Fr. Joel was thrilled to see so much interest in the Middle School. Many families were visiting in hopes of enrolling their children in the Middle School at St. Bernard Prep.

“We are very pleased with the interest in our Middle School program, it speaks well of what is taking place in the classroom,” Fr. Joel said. “Our parents do an excellent job of recruiting for us.”

Dr. Donna Bryant, Admissions Director, said the number one reason most students look at St. Bernard is for the quality education, Christian, values-based environment.

“Families were very impressed with our students. They found them to be very friendly and helpful,” Bryant said. “Plus the fact that we are a small school environment is very appealing to students who have 25-30 in a classroom.”

Refreshments were provided by the St. Bernard Prep Parent’s League.

St. Bernard is a boarding and day school for grades 7-12. Bryant said she would welcome anyone interested in the school to take part in a “Shadow Day,” an opportunity to walk through a day in the life of St. Bernard Prep with a current student. For more information contact the school at (256)739-6682; www.stbernardprep.com or like us on www.facebook.com/stbernardprep.

Swim team has successful season

The Saint Bernard Prep Swim Team had a very successful season this year. The Saints were represented by Bennett Glasscock, Sean Moriarty, John Paul Stolz and Morgan Matz. Some of the highlights from our season were: A first for SBP was Bennett Glasscock making All-State in the 100 Backstroke by finishing 8th at the AHSAA State Swim Meet held at Auburn University.

In swimming there are no classifications so 1A schools and 6A compete against each other making for some super tough competition. Bennett and Sean Moriarty represented SBP at the meet by making the state qualifying times.

SBP students and Swim Coach, Carson Glasscock did some goal setting for the year and accomplished a major feat.

"We made a pact as a team to compete and make our presence known in prep school swimming by participating in several regional prep school meets," Glasscock said.

SBP participated in the McCallie School Invitational in Chattanooga, TN. Glasscock said his team was part of a 40 team meet comprised of prep schools from Georgia, Tennessee and Virgina. The meet was held in the prelim/finals format.

The Saints were led by Bennett Glasscock who made the "A" final in Backstroke (5th place) and Butterfly (7th place) and Sean Moriarty making the "B" final in freestyle (12th place). Freshman JP Stolz had a great meet and gained valuable experience for next season.

At the local level, Middle School student, Morgan Matz represented the school well competing at the Cullman Invitational. Glasscock said, "the future looks bright for Saints Swimming"!