By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—From exciting sporting events to school successes, 2015 has been a busy year in Hoover. Mayor Gary Ivey summed up the highlights of the year during his annual State of the City speech at a Dec. 17 Hoover Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Hoover held a number of city-sponsored events this year, including Celebrate Hoover Day, Freedom Fest, the Hoover Hayride and Family Night and the annual Christmas tree lighting.

“We’ve had great events all year long,” Ivey said, noting many of the city’s events saw their highest attendance numbers yet.

The city also played host to several large sporting events at the Hoover Met. The stadium served as the home field for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team. It also hosted the SEC baseball tournament and National Pro Fastpitch softball championship.

The Regions Tradition golf tournament will move to Greystone in 2016, adding to the city’s schedule of sports events.

This year also saw the opening of two freestanding emergency departments in the city, the Brookwood FED on U.S. 280 and the UAB FED on Alabama 150.

“The Fire Department will probably never be able to put numbers to it… they truly will save lives,” Ivey said of the health care facilities. “I think they compliment the city.”

Ivey discussed the city’s police and fire departments, noting their charitable giving this year. The Hoover Police Department raised $25,100 for the Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation during their first No Shave November, and the Hoover Fire Department donated toys for more than 400 children, Ivey said.

“You don’t hear about those kind of things,” Ivey said.

The city’s school system and Hoover students continued to achieve during 2015, Ivey said.

“Just a lot of good things happen in our schools,” Ivey said. “What goes on in the city of Hoover and the school system is incredible… All this is thanks to the quality of life we experience because we have the opportunity to live in this great city.”

Ivey said the city continued to attract new residents and businesses throughout the year.

“Everywhere we look, people are wanting to come to the city,” Ivey said. “It’s a great place to live, to work and raise your family. It’s a big part of my life and I enjoy being able to serve you guys.”