280 Living March 2010 by Starnes Media

280 Living

www.280living.com

Volume 3, Issue 7

March2010

Longworth F i n e F u r n i t u re

Chandeliers, Accessories & Gifts,

Fine Furniture, Carpet & Rugs, Custom Bedding & Window Treatments Personal Design Service ◆ 5426 Highway 280, Suite 6• The Terrace @ Greystone

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neighborly news & entertainment

New beginnings in Meadow Brook

March Features

by Kathryn Denton Acree

Snowman Contest | pg 15 • Pet of The Month

• Facebook Fan Giveaway

• Restaurant Review

• Business SpotlightI

• Sid’s Shoe Drive

• Irma Palmer

• Young at Heart

• Tragic City Rollers

• Greystone symphony

• Wedding Dresses for Charity 19 • Paul Johnson

• Rick Watson

• Beyond Wellness

• Spring Allergies

• Calendar of Events

• Live Music

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Many times change erupts in our lives, but odds are usually in our favor that it won’t be from a natural disaster. The VanGeffen family experienced being uprooted by such a disaster - Hurricane Katrina - but found a new home and new life in Meadow Brook and say they still have so much to be thankful for. David and Michele VanGeffen and their three sons, Jacob, Caleb and Seth were life-long residents of Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. They owned Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning, a successful business with 8 employees. Hurricane evacuations were a part of life for families in The Crescent City, and as Katrina approached in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2005, this evacuation seemed like others they’d been through before. Michele’s sister, Allison, lives in Birmingham and the VanGeffen’s and other family members made their way north to Allison’s home on the interstate’s contra-ﬂow lanes out of the hurricane’s path. David and Michele found a hotel on Highway 31 in Vestavia and watched CNN and other news coverage as Katrina began her destruction. They had packed

clothes for just a few days thinking they’d be back home in no time. Katrina proved otherwise. Like many other families that evacuated to Birmingham, the VanGeffen’s found accurate details hard to come by after the hurricane. Families scanned satellite photos of their neighborhoods back home on websites such as GoogleEarth, trying to determine if their homes were ﬂooded or not. Unaware of FEMA’s plan for evacuees, the VanGeffen’s made the decision to purchase a camper from a local dealer to setup at their home in Metairie to begin repairs. David would ﬁrst travel back to Louisiana with some of the men in the family while Michele and the boys would stay in the camper at Oak Mountain State Park which opened its campground to evacuees. “The welcome we received at the campground was unbelievable,” Michele says. “FEMA was there almost immediately

Working on a goal

It’s a sunny, brisk February day as I watch Natalie Smith make smoothies at the Jungle Smoothie in Chelsea. Chances are that smoothies aren’t what on her mind though. Her goal is. In early January Natalie went to her mailbox and found a post card that would challenge her to change her life and to help others. It was from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training. They were looking for volunteers to compete in marathons, half-marathons, and triathlons to raise money to fight these blood cancers. Natalie thought it seemed like a great idea. It would be life changing way to help others and herself. “I’ve been accused of never finishing anything I start,” said Natalie. “This would be a good way to finish something.” She called the number on the card and got in touch with Catherine Crockett of LLS. Catherine is a former participant in Team in Training who now works for LLS full time. LLS lined Natalie up with a trainer as well as others working toward the same goal to help her train. Natalie chose to compete in the Capital of Texas Triathlon May 31st in Austin Texas. It is an Olympic distance triathlon where competitors swim 1.5Km, bike 40 km, and run 10 Km.

Natalie Smith making smoothies “I’ve always been active,” said Natalie. “But I’ve never trained for anything specifically.” Now Natalie is running, swimming or biking six days per week in order to prepare for the event. Two days per week she swims at 6 a.m. with her trainer and four others from the Birmingham area who are preparing at the Mountain Brook YMCA. Two days per week she bikes, and two days per week she runs. Mondays is the off day. The training is going well. Her biggest challenge is the fund raising. The participants must raise $4500 to participate in the event. Seventy-five percent of the money raised goes to LLS while twentyfive percent goes to the travel expenses to the event. See GOAL | pg 23

David VanGeffen and began compiling a list of the families staying there and offering help. We had meals provided everyday by local churches and civic groups. We were given gifts of clothing, Wal-Mart cards, and all sorts of supplies. The outpouring of care from the people in this area was amazing.” Meanwhile, David made his ﬁrst trip home. Miraculously, their house had been spared any ﬂooding. “I didn’t know what to expect, but this was like coming back to a whole different world,” he says. “The National Guard was See VanGeffen | pg 22

Sam Cissell’s Rapid Rise to Top of Alabama Junior Tennis

Sam Cissell with the Bryan brothers

photo courtesy Katrina Trotter Photography

See Athlete

of the Month | pg 12

March 2010

Chiropractic Today Total Natural Health

I Want To Be Your Next Speaker! Alabama is #1 in football yet, 48th in an overall national health ranking. Dropping four slots, our state and community needs more help than ever before.

Dr. Irma Palmer is a 1992 graduate of Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, Georgia, and completed her residency in Miami, Florida. Established in practice since 1993, she is a bilingual educator on the topics of health & wellness to both the American & Hispanic community. Dr. Palmer has extensive public speaking experience and has created a powerful lecture series entitled Every Body For Life.

Our society is over drugged and under informed about exciting opportunities to enhance our lives and promote our health. I want to share my strategy, passion, and expertise of how to live a healthy, energetic, and purposeful life filled with hope, endless possibilities and abundant health, from a natural point of view. Total Natural Health is about removing limitations and developing specific gradual, sustainable, life enhancing habits that are easy to implement and lead to a healthier and vibrant you! By targeting the influencers “MFTP’s”, (Mothers, Fathers, Teachers, and Preachers) we can change the attitudes awareness, behavior and overall direction of health in the State of Alabama.

“Unless we look at our health from a different point of view, we will continue to repeat the past in our future. It is TIME to move forward.” Now is the time to book Dr. Palmer for your 2010 speaking engagements. Contact her office at 205-991-3511 to schedule her to speak at your next group function.

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March 2010

Welcome Friends

March 2010

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Chow/Shepherd Mix Meet Samson! Samson and his sister were found abandoned on a highway. Samson is now in a foster home and ready for adoption. He is healthy and up to date on shots. He will reach medium size. He loves to play and he gets along with other dogs. Samson will make a great family pet. Please contact Carol at Alabama Animal Rescue at (205) 586-7497 to inquire.

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Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to our Best Southern Snowman Contest. We were so impressed with all the entries we had a hard time ﬁnding a winner. They were all so cute and creative! But who’s ready for the sunshine now?! I think we just experienced our annual spring “tease” this past weekend with temperatures close to 70 degrees. The lawnmowers were buzzing across the neighborhood, the basketballs were bouncing on the driveways, even the birds were chirping in celebration. Well, be not fooled. I think there’s more winter to come. If you lived here in 1993, remember the “Storm of the Century” happened the weekend of March 13th! Thank goodness we have Spring Break just around the corner. For that, contributing writer Angela Frisinger of Greystone Travel shares the

reasons why clients choose the sand or the snow for their get away. Other than that, March is pretty laid back. We look forward to daylight savings time starting on March 14th, the Barons cranking up next month, St. Patrick’s Day, yard sales popping up, Palm Sunday, and a few other subtle signs of new life and Springtime. This issue is packed full of local stories – so many of you are getting the hang of using this paper to share your news. That’s what we’re here for! And like a family that plays together stays together – I say, “A Community That Reads Their Local Newspaper Together, Stays Together!” Happy Reading!

I really enjoy reading my 280 Living each month. It keeps me up to date with all the local businesses and Oak Mountain School system. Wow what a blessing to have this publication to keep me in the loop. Thank you 280 Living!

Thanks again for giving us a fun way to enjoy the snow together! We had a blast doing this together as a family (grandparents, kids, and grandkids all participated!)

Patti Henderson Editor

Reader Comments

Stephanie Peterson Marshall

Susan Pockstaller

(On the best Southern Snowman contest- see page 15)

280 Living Staff & Friends

Contact Information: 280 Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205)-370-0732 dan@280living.com

Contributing Writers

Facebook Fan Giveaway Remember only Fans of our Facebook page are eligible for the monthly giveaway. The winner for this month will be chosen March 18th. This month’s winner will recieve,

$25 to Chucks Fish

Thanks for reading and being fans of 280 Living. Alabama Allergy Backyard Adventures Baker Lamps and Linens Bellinis Beyond Wellness Birmingham duplicate Bridge Birmingham Medical Alliance Brentwood Properties Chelsea Orthodontics Chic Boutique Chili’s Chiropractic Today Chunky Monkey Clean Technique

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280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the communities along Highway 280 of area school, faith, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/ photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/ photos as deemed necessary. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 370-0732 or by email. Submission instructions:

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Published by Starnes Publishing LLC

Sales and Distribution Dan Starnes Angela Morris

Please submit all articles, information and photos to:

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Seniors Helping Seniors Shelby Fence Stray Art Gallery Swimming Pool Services The Haven The Highlands School The Maids The UPS Store Toluca Pottery Trinity Medical Center Tutoring Club Varsity Sports Wild Birds Your Good Neighbor

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March 2010

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Foods & Flavors

March 2010

To r t u g a s C a f e |

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by staff writer

3000 Meadowlake Dr. Restaurant Showcase Ste 113 www.tortugascafe280.com

Tue-Sat 11am - 9 pm Sun 11- 4 Facility available Sun. & Mon. for private parties or meetings.

ortugas Café is now in its 5th year of operation. It’s tucked away in the shopping center just behind Perrin’s & Son on Highway 280, so if you’re not looking for it, you’ll miss it. But once you ﬁnd it, just “come on in and take a seat wherever you’d like.” Perhaps the most unpretentious little pizza joint in the area, owner Dawn Gagliano and her staff will greet you with a friendly smile, and see to it that your dining experience is personal, comfortable, delicious and relaxed. In four short years of service, the list of awards earned for their authentic Chicago style pizza is extensive: voted winner of the Birmingham News Primo Pizza Contest; Voted Birmingham’s Best Pizza by CityScene; voted Best Pizza in the South by Turner South’s “Blue Ribbon Show”; and voted Top 100 Places to Eat in Alabama Before You Die. On our recent dining experience, we decided to invite a guest—a teenager. Who knows pizza better than a teenager? And guess, what—Tortugas got two thumbs up. She had never had a true, deep dish, Chicago- style pizza, and she was extremely excited about the experience when we left. We started our night with the sampler appetizer, which included chicken ﬁngers, mozzarella cheese sticks, and chicken wings. In addition, we ordered the garlic cheese bread, which had tons of cheese

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and was excellent. I was very pleased with the appetizer choices. After an afternoon of shopping, they made for a wonderful beginning to a great meal. For our main course, we had the deep dish carne pizza. I loved how the sauce covered the top and the cheese was baked in the middle. All of the meat toppings were great. The pizza had sausage, bacon, Canadian bacon, and pepperoni. Two pieces each, and we were all full. If you haven’t been by lately, now’s the time to go. The menu has recently been revised, and although it is still centered around their claim to fame, you can now enjoy a custom designed calzone, or an order of lasagna. They now offer a wider selection of salads including the new Caesar Salad or Turtle Salad, and you can start the evening with one of ﬁve new delicious appetizers like Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Cheese Garlic Bread, Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, Café Sausage or a little bit of each on the Sampler Platter. The also offer one (and ONLY one) sandwich ~ “The Tuga” ~ “the only sandwich worthy of making the menu cut.” For $6.95 you can get a 6” Hogie Roll piled high with salami, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, topped with a mozzarella/ cheddar cheese combination, plus lettuce, tomato, 1000 island dressing and their homemade vinaigrette, then toasted to perfection. Try ﬁnding that at your local sub shop! Keep in mind their pizza dough and sauce are made fresh everyday in the Tortugas kitchen. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Closed on Mondays. Be sure to visit their website at www. tortugascafe280.com to check out their catering menu as well.

March Cooking Classes at Birmingham Bake and Cook Company Sharpen your knife skills Taught by Susan Green, the owner of Birmingham Bake and Cook Company March 9, 6:30pm-8:30pm, $25.00 This class will sharpen your knowledge of knives and their various uses. Information is covered through discussion, demonstration and hand-on training. The Chef Series continues with: Chef Austin Davis of The Bright Star Restaurant March 4, 6:30-8:30pm, $25.00 The Bright Star is the oldest continuously family owned restaurant in the state, located in Bessemer since 1907. This is a great opportunity to experience Alabama’s culinary history up close and personalTheir signature Greek Style Snapper, Fried Green Tomatoes and Shrimp. Beginning Cake Decorating Class Taught by Chef Meredith Nielson, who is a pastry chef and Pastry Department Lead at Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort. March 6, 1:00pm-3:30pm, $40.00 This class is perfect to learn the basics of cake decorating. During this hands on class you will learn foundational decorating techniques including how to make a perfect

buttercream icing, how to ice a perfectly smooth cake, the making of roses and rosebuds, classic borders, and much more. The Bobby Flay Hamburger of the Month Club March 10, 6:30pm-8:30pm, $30.00 March 11, 6:30pm-8:30pm, $30.00 You will be preparing and munching down on a Four Cheese Burger, Bistro French Fries and a Double Chocolate Milkshake! Falafel-Middle Eastern Street Food at its best! March 23, 6:30pm-8:30pm, $30.00 You will make and eat everything for this classic Middle Eastern sandwich including the falafel with traditional accompaniments including hummus, baba ghanouj, zhoug and more! Reservations Required Birmingham Bake and Cook Company 5291 Valleydale Road Suite 125 Birmingham, Alabama 35242 205-980-3661 www.bakeandcookco.com

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March 2010

Toluca Pottery & Things |

by staff writer

Business Spotlight

OME

E MA I

198

Charles Rich location for a long time and knew it was available,” said Charles. He says they see a lot of traffic go by daily and people pay attention to their sign. “The day before it snowed in February, I put on the sign that chimineas would be 50% off if it snowed. The next day it snowed and a lot of people took me up on my offer,” Charles said. Their chimineas were originally a big seller. A chiminea is a clay outdoor chimney type fire pit. They also had a lot of other types of pottery in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Many people use them as planters. Charles said the animal planters, especially the pig planters, have been the most popular items. “People just love the pigs,” Charles said. On their recent second trip to Mexico, they brought back many of the original items while also diversifying their inventory. The new inventory includes Talavera pottery. The Talavera pottery is ornately painted designs on the pottery. It is glazed with a bright colorful finish. They got plenty of pigs and also added some rabbit planters for Easter. Charles even added a few sets of Chinese pottery. In addition to the different types of pottery, they also have added wrought iron furniture. They offer tables, chairs, gazebos, and benches. “We’re ready for spring,” said Charles. “I hope that people will get the urge to get out and use our stuff to spruce up their yards and homes.” With spring just around the corner, and the large selection and low prices being offered at Toluca, we’re sure that they will.

R V I CE S

Charles Rich and David Garcia have been in business together for years. Though lately they’ve gone into a whole new arena - the pottery business. Charles, a twenty-five year veteran of the home remodeling business and David, his partner for a large portion of that time, were recently inspired. “Over the last few years, the slowdown in the economy has really had an effect on the remodeling business,” said Rich. “I’m used to staying busy. I needed something else to do.” So last year they started looking around for some sort of new business to go into. “I thought I might like retail,” said Charles. I liked the idea of having a good product already made and having people come to me and walk out with it.” So they started to look around at different types of businesses to open. Charles knew of some successful Mexican pottery businesses, but none in the Chelsea area. “I thought it would be something different, something new to the area,” Charles said. “I thought it would be something people would like.” Their imaginations were fired and the idea for Toluca Pottery & Things was hatched. Late last summer they made several trips to Mexico. They went to many different locations. David, who is originally from Mexico, had some knowledge of places they could go. They drove around asking questions, making phone calls, and deciding what to buy, and where. They had to figure out how to ship their merchandise back to the states and where to get retail space. They found their building at 11728 Chelsea Rd. in Chelsea. They opened up shop the second week of November when their first shipment arrived. “I liked this

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School House

March 2010

Geoffrey Cook awarded Eagle Scout Rank The Boy Scouts of America organization is proud to announce Geoffrey Cook was awarded his Eagle Scout rank in July 2009, after completing 22 merit badges and serving as Patrol Leader, Troop Guide and Den Chief with Troop 97, chartered by Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, Alabama. One of the requirements for Eagle Scout rank is the completion of a leadership service project. Geoffrey built a pedestrian bridge for the Homewood Forest Preserve, raising more than $500 in funds and serving as project leader. The bridge is located near Homewood High School on the Homewood Forest Preserve nature trail, and provides handicapped access and a secure crossing so that hikers can enjoy the beauty of nature. Geoffrey is the child of Greg and Kimberly Cook of Liberty Park, and is a senior at Vestavia Hills High School.

Geoffrey Cook

Grace O’Malley wins Highlands School Geography Bee

Rosegate Design, Inc. 6801 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 102 (Cadence Place Shopping Center) Birmingham, AL 35242 • (205) 980-5014

Students in 4th – 8th grade at Highlands School, under the direction of Mr. Bo Garrett, participated in the 21st annual National Geography Bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The Bee is a valuable classroom activity that encourages the teaching and learning of geography. Following the classroom-level bees last week, 27 students qualiﬁed for the school level bee. Fourth grader Grace O’Malley is this year’s Geography Bee winner. She will take the qualifying exam in hopes of competing with 99 other students from Alabama in the State Geography Bee in May at Samford University. Barton Perkins, a seventh grader, was ﬁrst runner-up. “The competitors performed well under pressure and everyone did a splendid job.

Grace O’Malley and Mr. Bo Garrett Congratulations to Grace O’Malley, our Highlands School 2009 Geography Bee Champion,” said Judy McDonald, Director of Admissions, Highlands School. Grace is the daughter of Dr. Sean and Dr. Janis O’Malley.

Chelsea student wins regional art award

Give him a break. Give us a chance. SUMMER CAMPS Now enrolling.

Chelsea High School senior Courtnie Davis recently won a Merit Award at the Southeastern Regional Art Competition held at Birmingham Southern. According to Chelsea High School art teacher Max Newton over 400 art pieces were entered from local Southeastern states. From those entries, the faculty jury selected 60-70 pieces to compete. Ms. Davis’ piece was one of 10 Merit Award winners, which is the highest award given. There were also 10 Honorable Mentions awarded. She received a Certiﬁcate of Merit and a cash award. Her piece was a charcoal drawing entitled The Raven, which also won ﬁrst place honors in the Drawing and Painting category at the state Superintendent’s Art show last year. The piece was inspired by the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

Oak Mountain Starlettes reach the stars

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The Raven by Courtnie Davis

The 2009-2010 award-winning Oak Mountain High School Starlettes recently competed in the Universal Dance Team National Competition held in Orlando, Florida. The team placed 15th in the nation in the kick division. They also earned a

“superior rating” for jazz. During the month of January, the girls competed in the UDA (Universal Dance Association) state championship and were state champions in kick, and placed 3rd in jazz. In addition, they were named the state champions in both kick and jazz in the State Allstar Championship held at Samford University. Team members include Shelby Bassett, Mallory Herring, Kaitlyn Zeek, Summer Wales, Sylvie Lauzon, Emma Brooks, Sydney Dale, Natalie Few, Maddy Perry, Mary Allison Thrasher, Caitlin Owens, Jordan Laxson, Claire Turner, Katie Jennings and Anna Claire Vawter. Sponsors are Pam Pugh and Julie Hart.

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March 2010

Student from Chelsea Intermediate School leads shoe drive for Haiti

School House

SPRING BREAK SKI TIME!!

by Patti Henderson No doubt everyone has been impacted by the images from Haiti. The news certainly prompted Sid Ridgway of Chelsea Intermediate to take action. Sid is the SGA President at his school. While watching an ABC 33/40 news report about the horrible earthquake, he learned of the Soles4Souls shoe drive taking place to help the victims. Immediately he had an idea. The next day, Sid presented his idea to Mrs. Cindy Smith, the Student Council Sponsor. “Soon after news of the need for help in Haiti came to us, Sid Ridgway came to me with a desire for our school to help in some way. He came to me with the idea of doing a shoe drive. He had already contacted Flip Flops and What Nots in Cahaba Heights and knew that this business was serving as a collection site for the organization Soles4Souls.” With the help of his mother, Sid found out the shoes could be any size, new or used, but the entire foot must be covered. Sid thought, “Most people have shoes at their house they have outgrown so people could help without spending any money. I think since you did not have to go out and buy anything helped the shoe drive be so successful.” The only catch: they had only two days to collect shoes. Sid tells us, “After our principal approved the idea she had an email sent to everyone on the Chelsea Intermediate School’s list serve. The same day a letter was sent home with each student in our school telling about the shoe drive for Haiti. The next morning the shoes started coming in.” In just two short days, Sid and his friends collected 62 large trash bags of shoes, approximately 1,500 pairs! The shoes were taken to Flip Flops and What Nots in time to be ﬂown to Haiti. When asked what he learned from his experience, Sid answered, “I have learned that Chelsea is a great community that helps others in need. I also learned that it really makes you feel good when you help others and I know that others in my school feel the same way.” Sid’s desire to lead, help and organize won’t stop with the shoe drive. Sid explains,

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OMIS “Team 212” enters the race!

For the first time, Oak Mountain Intermediate School sported a relay team, Team 212, to run in the Mercedes Marathon. The five-member team included Beth Scharding who started the relay with a 6.2 mile leg, then school Principal Dr. Linda Maxwell ran a 3.1 mile leg, Rachel Ivey ran 6.2 miles, Kristi Turner ran 3.1 miles, and Tammi Carr finished the race with 7.6 miles. All but Dr. Maxwell are veteran runners, but no member of the team had ever run the Mercedes. Their final time was 4:57:10. Great showing!

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(L-R) Chelsea Intermediate students Aaron Walton, Sid Ridgway, Lee Rickard, and Matthew Valentine prepare to deliver bags of shoes to Flip Flops and What Nots in Cahaba Heights as part of the Soles4Souls shoe drive for Haiti. “The SGA is looking into other fund raisers. We are supposed to help Mayor Niven, Mayor of Chelsea, relocate the library to a new location in the spring, and I am planning a kickball tournament in the spring for all of the 4th and 5th grade classes to ﬁnd out who has the championship class of the school.” In addition to serving on the SGA, Sid is also involved with First Priority, a member of the school’s Archery Team, a member at Asbury United Methodist where he is involved with the puppet team, the children’s choir and children’s ministries. He also plays basketball for Chelsea Youth Club and soccer for the 99 Gold soccer team at Briarwood Soccer Club. Mrs. Smith adds, “Sid leads the student body in his words as well as his actions. It is very obvious that Sid’s heart is to help others. The generosity of this community is astounding. We owe Sid with the leadership to get this service project going!”” Sid has a few people he would like to thank as well. “I would like to thank everyone at my school, the community of Chelsea, the SGA, and my family for making this shoe drive happen and for making it so successful.”

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PreK - 8th Grade Prospective Parents

Open House

Thursday, April 15, 2010 • Program begins at 9:00 am Please join us! • Providing an academically challenging program • Creating a love of learning in every student • Instilling the habits of success in every student • Preparing each student to be a responsible and productive member of the community For more information or to schedule a visit, contact: Judy McDonald, Director of Admissions

(205)956-9731 jmcdonald@highlandsschool.org Accredited by SAIS and SACS. Bus service available. 4901 Old Leeds Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35213

Reservations Recommended 205.981.5380 www.ourbellinis.com

Lunch Served M-F 11am-2pm Bar opens at 4 pm daily

Monday - Thursday 4 to 9 Friday & Saturday 4 to 10

6801 CAHABA VALLEY ROAD, SUITE 106 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242

March 2010

Shhhh... Something new is coming to 280!

Between Baker Lamps & Linens and Southeastern Jewelers Check HERE in April to get the scoop!

North Shelby Children’s/Teen Department March Happenings 2010 Special Programming Mondays, March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th – 3:15-4:15pm: “Sit, Stay, Read!” A nonprofit organization through Hand-in-Paw dedicated to providing volunteer services to children. Sit, Stay, Read! brings children together with specially trained dogs to help them gain more confidence in their reading abilities in an individual setting at the North Shelby library that is supportive, relaxed, and furry! All Ages. Registration Required. Spring Break Activities: Monday, March 15th at 2:00 p.m. Movie: Lady and the Tramp - Embark on a thrilling adventure with the most unforgettable characters: Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel; Tramp, a mutt from across the tracks with a heart of gold; Jock and Trusty, Lady’s best friends; and Si and Am, two of the most devious cats to prowl across the screen. All Ages. Snacks served. Tuesday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m. Craft: Handprint Leprechaun – Get in the St. Patty’s Day spirit by making this super cute leprechaun with your own handprint. All Ages. Registration Required. Registration begins March 2nd. Wednesday, March 17th at 2:00 p.m. Movie: The Wizard of Oz – Join Dorothy and Toto as they go on an exciting adventure into the land of Oz – a mythical land full of witches and flying monkeys. All Ages. Snacks served. Thursday, March 18th at 2:00 p.m. Craft – Hop On In Door Hanger – Come make this charming craft that is sure to make everyone who sees it feel welcome. All Ages. Registration Required. Registration begins March 2nd. Friday, March 19th at 2:00 p.m. Movie – Inkheart - A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook’s hero. All Ages. Snacks served. Wednesday, March 24th – 1 p.m.: “Homeschool Hangout: Artistic Exploration” Explore the work of three masters and create one of your own. Ages 8-12. Registration Required. Story-Time Programming Toddler Tales Mondays, March 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd 10:30 & 11:30 a.m.: Stories, songs, fingerplays and crafts make up a lively 30 minute program designed especially for short attention spans. Registration will begin one week prior to each storytime. Ages 19-36 months. Registration Required.

Baby Tales Story Time Tuesdays, March 9th and 23rd – 10:30-11:00 a.m. A story time designed especially for babies and their caregivers. Stories and music provide interaction for the babies and time for caregivers to talk and share with each other. No siblings please. Ages: Birth to 18 months. Registration Required. Registration begins two weeks prior to program date.

Mr. Mac (Storyteller Extraordinaire!) Wednesdays, March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st at 10:45 a.m. Stories, puppets, and lots of music for every member of the family. All Ages. No Registration Required. P. J. Story Time Thursdays, March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th at 7 p.m. Come in your PJs, have milk and cookies, and hear some wonderful bedtime tales. All Ages. No Registration Required. Call or email the Children’s Department at 439-5504 or NorthShelbyYouth@gmail. com for more information. Teen Scene @ NSL Monday, March 8th @6:00 p.m. Join us as we discuss Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Discussion guide will be available in the Teen Departmen or on the website. Snacks served. Monday, March 15th @6:00 p.m. Spring Break Movie Night!!! Join us to watch Star Trek and have some “out of this world” snacks! Thursday, March 18th @6:00 p.m. Spring Break Teen Craft Night!!! Join us for some “crafty” fun! We will working with altered book art to create your own journal or scrapbook. Bring in any photos that you may want to use in your art project and get ready to be creative! Monday, March 29th @ 6:00 p.m. Teen Writer’s Club/Teen Advisory Group This group is for aspiring writers and people who want to improve their writing skills. Bring what you are working on to share with fellow members and offer suggestions for other works. Also, you can earn community service credit by participating with our Teen Advisory Group. Pizza and drinks served. Call or email Katie or Lori at 4395512 or nsyouth@shelbycountyal.org for more information. Teen Book Pick of the Month - Truancy by Isamu Fukui The Month of March – Online Book Club Want to ﬁnd another teen book to read? Join our Online Book Club and receive portions of a teen book each week through your email! Sign up at www.northshelbylibrary. org to get started.

Education Support Personnel of the Year to be honored The Shelby County school district will honor all of the individuals who were named Education Support Personnel of the Year at their local schools or district departments at the March 11 Board of Education meeting. The Board of Education will also honor the overall winners from seven job classiﬁcation categories and will name one overall district-wide winner for Education Support Personnel of the Year. The winners were nominated and elected by their co-workers from their local schools or departments. Congratulations to Charlotte Brown, bookkeeper at Oak Mountain Middle School for being named the winner of the Accounting Category.

Charlotte Brown

www.280living.com

March 2010

420 Inverness Corners Birmingham, AL 35242

Chiropractic Today

(205) 991-3511

Total Natural Health

www.chiropractictoday.com

Real Experiences from Real People Did you know that back pain affects 60 to 80 percent of U.S. adults at some time during their lives, and up to 50 percent have back pain within a given year? 26 to 52% of all golfers have lower Dr. Irma Palmer back pain, 30% play with lower back pain at any given time. Lastly, 49% of all work absences are due to back, shoulder and neck pain. And, we thought it was the common cold. Musculoskeletal disorders rank as the No.1 cause of work absences lasting three days or longer, according to a study last year by the Work Foundation in London. These conditions include pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and arms, topping stress and anxiety in the No.2 spot and minor illnesses like headaches and upset stomach at No.3. The survey included all types of workers, so it wasn’t just heavy-lifting factory hands spending their sick days. Researchers recommended ‘prevention and intervention’…. No kidding!!! Effective treatments for musculoskeletal problems involve treatment in a chiropractor’s ofﬁce, bottom line. The unfortunate fact is that too many individuals wait for major negative health signals to occur before moving proper spinal health up on their priority list. Read the stories of these two individuals whose common musculoskeletal issues created enough urgency to take action. Meet Jacob May, son of Curtis and Sue May, an Oak Mountain High School student and football player. He’s a young developing athlete and power house. Playing football has been part of his entire life, as has been the injuries. For most, no blood, guts or broken bones… you’re ﬁne get back in it. For those knowing Jacob, playing the game was the ‘it’. However, Curtis began noticing Jacob

being off his game. “He has always had great motor skills but he would appear off balance. You would see him be explosive on one play and the next play he would be hesitant and slower. It was obvious he was struggling with his back.” Curtis knew that college and pro level players utilize Chiropractic Services to maintain their physical ability sharp and ensure their focus is clear for every game. For his son, “Chiropractic was the logical route for us to go”. During the consultation it was revealed that Jacob also suffered from severe headaches among other health issues. His mom Sue being a nurse at ﬁrst was skeptical about the correlation of his spinal structural compromises coinciding with Jacob’s symptoms. However, if this could help their son, she was all for it!

Jacob May As expected, with proper corrective Chiropractic care Jacob regained his strength, agility and powerful lower body force to not only have a great competitive senior season but nail the ﬁnal play of the last game. If you ask Curtis or Jacob their thoughts about Chiropractic care for teenage athletes there comments are “I think everyone should consider Chiropractic care to resolve problems but more importantly to give your kid the chance to play at their best.” Next, there is Sylvia Drummond

Hoehn, a vibrant and active 70 year old. She’s a mother of four and grandmother of several more. She could have spent her last 30 years in a wheel chair due to severe lower back pain and arthritis if it weren’t for a recommendation by a physical therapist to pursue Chiropractic care. It is amazing to hear. “Chiropractic saved my life” Sylvia will be quick to tell you. In her mid 30’s after having her kids, she started losing the feeling of her left side and having severe lower back pain. According to Sylvia, the pain became intense and debilitating. After multiple doctor appointments, variety of tests and several second opinions, she was recommended surgery by three different doctors. She was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis. At this time, Ms. Sylvia couldn’t afford the necessary recovery time due to the rising of her young children. Therefore, she refused the surgery recommendations and proceeded to Mayo clinic for more acceptable answers to her health issues. Once there, “every test known to man was done” Sylvia recalls, “it was very unpleasant but I thought I will have an answer and be ﬁxed”. After four days of test including two psychological evaluations, she was told there was nothing wrong. “I couldn’t believe it” she said. “I told them ‘You mean I am loosing the use of my left side and there is nothing wrong’”. The reason she was given was that due to so many babies in a short period of time her stomach muscles had weakened and physical therapy would help strengthen those muscle regions. This answer was better than surgery however she was still not satisﬁed. Once back in Birmingham at a physical therapist session, the therapist mentioned she should consider visiting a chiropractor for help with her osteoarthritis. Sylvia was skeptical. In those days, Sylvia had not heard anything positive about Chiropractic

Sand, or Snow...What’s Your Latitude?

by Angela Frisinger Amazing isn’t it…all the choices we have when it comes to travel? I would say that most of my clients prefer a European adventure or a relaxing Caribbean get-away, but here a few reasons why people choose sand over snow or vice versa. In Alabama we all love the snow and long for a snowy winter. Well, this year I think we got a little taste of the winter wonderland. I know my children and I took to the yard to whip up a snowball or snowman…didn’t matter which …as long as it was made with the white stuff! Since this is the year of the Census, I thought I’d do my own Travel Census, if

you will. Apparently, your own personal LATTITUDE can deﬁne your ATTITUDE! When asked WHY a client would pay a few thousand dollars to journey to the Caribbean beaches instead of staying home poolside, I quite often get these responses: Beach Bunny #1 exclaims: “It’s been a cold winter, I’ve got cabin fever! But, it isn’t about why I choose the Caribbean, it’s more about just needing to get away from home for awhile. And, it might as well be somewhere I know I will have a good time!” Beach Bunny #1 sits on the beach for 2 days straight sipping a cool drink, taking naps under her hat on a hammock. The next day, she’ll take her girls out on a sailboat excursion where they’ll snorkel and then sail through the islands having a gourmet lunch ﬁt for a Princess! They’ll marvel at how clear the water is… you can see for over 100’! The next day, they’ll get in a little island shopping, and enjoy a beachfront Lobster Bar-B-Q along with some steel pan drum music and a little dancing. They come home rested, refreshed, and a new perspective on their lives back here in

Chiropractic Today Total Natural Health

Birmingham. Beach Bunny #2 states: “We used to go to the beach in Destin every year and spend thousands and thousands. I never felt like I truly relaxed, and being so close to home gives my husband the excuse to check his messages every 5 minutes!” She says that when her husband is far enough away that his cell phone does not (easily) work, she has his attention and all that stress disappears from his face. They love to deep sea ﬁsh, snorkel, visit the rainforest, do a little island shopping, and he actually takes her dancing EVERY night! Then there are my Snow Bunnies. Why are they headed north when it has been so bitterly cold here I ask. ‘Snowman Jake’ says: “Heck, we used to go to the beach too, but you can’t bank on the weather to be warm anymore. Half the time it rains! At least if it rains in the mountains, it turns to snow! My boys’ hero is Shaun White and this is the only chance they get to take snowboard lessons. They love it and look forward to it now every year!”

however, “I was desperate, frustrated and decided it beats my alternative’. She has never looked back since. “It was a long journey to get back to where I was”. Sylvia remembers Sylvia Hoehn that within two months, she was beginning to feel her left side again. After a short while longer, she was back to doing things with her kids that she was unable to do for a long time. Throughout the years, Sylvia continued her Chiropractic care as a lifestyle habit. “I played golf, tennis, raised my kids and traveled, which I thought would never happen again”. “Most of our society does not understand chiropractic, but I can assure you it works. When I think I could have been in a wheel chair for the past 30 years it is frightening.” Sylvia is right. Many in our community need to consider prevention and intervention from a natural proactive non invasive approach like chiropractic. The Chiropractic approach and lifestyle is congruent with the message of prevention of health issues and intervention when present. Like these two stories, millions have chosen Chiropractic care as a vehicle to maximize their health and live lives of signiﬁcance. Take time to ask yourself, what are your intentions for your life? How do you expect your health to play out in the years ahead? Decide this year to step through a wellness oriented chiropractor for a break through with your health. And as with any major health decision, if you would like to learn more about Chiropractic or how Chiropractic can help you please visit our website at www.ChiropracticToday.com or call my ofﬁce at 205-991-3511.

Here are a few more Bunnymen comments after an awesomely planned trip to the mountains, if I do say so myself: “Unlike the beach, you are on a mission every day… you never get bored.” “The beach gets so crowded at times but it doesn’t matter how many people are on the slopes, we never feel like it is crowded… maybe because we walk everywhere. With the suburbs of Birmingham not being conducive to walking everywhere…it is nice to breathe in fresh cold air and walk to everything! By the end of each day, you are so tired from playing on the mountain all day, but there is something about that air that invigorates you! I couldn’t bear to sit on a beach all day ever again.” The outcome to my census? Well, regardless of whether your travels take you to the salty sands of the Caribbean or the refreshingly clean air of the slopes, all my clients seem to ﬁnd a new attitude with just a little adjustment to their latitude.

About the author: Angela Frisinger of Greystone Travel.com LOVES to hear your travel stories! Email them to her at angela@greystonetravel.com.

420 Inverness Corners Birmingham, AL 35242

(205) 991-3511

www.chiropractictoday.com

| Sports |

March 2010

157 Resource Center Parkway, Suite 102 Spring Clearence

SALE

10 - 60% OFF

Behind Logan’s Roadhouse on 280 Your source for teams sports

205-981-0291

Oak Mountain Middle School wrestling team wins metro title

(cover story) by Joe Samuel Starnes The ﬁrst time Sam Cissell hit a tennis ball, he was 12 years old. “I liked it and my dad said I was good at it,” he said. Soon after he took a few lessons, and then he won a junior tournament at Hoover Country Club, the ﬁrst tournament he ever played. Four years later, he continues to shine on court. Sam ranked as the number one 16-and-under player in the state for 2009 and recently won Alabama’s 2010 Male Junior Player of the Year Award from the United States Tennis Association. A sophomore who lives in the Spain Park High School district, he is homeschooled to allow him more time to practice and to travel tournaments. Coached by Dane Clegg, director of tennis at Greystone Golf & Country Club, he practices twice daily, for a total of four hours, and then works on his conditioning for about an hour. “Tennis is on my mind most of the day,” he said. After winning the Alabama State Junior Open in August and securing the number one state year-end ranking, Sam, who turns 17 in June and moves up this year into the 18-and-under division, is working to break through on the national stage. He recently played tournaments in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Tucson and Scottsdale, Ariz. In the Copper Bowl Tournament in Tucson, a major event that draws top juniors

Big Serve by Sam Cissell

Sam Cissell volleys from all over the country, he lost in the first round to the number one seed in three sets, but rebounded to win seven consecutive matches in the consolation draw, a promising showing against a very competitive nationwide field. “We had to keep changing our flights to stay longer,” he said. Sam also has been across the net from some of the best American pros. He and Andrew Crumm, a friend from Montgomery, last year won a doubles tournament that gave them the opportunity to play an exhibition match in November in Pelham against Bob and Mike Bryan. The Bryans, identical twins from California who are the numberone ranked men’s doubles team in the world, beat the Alabama teens 10-3 in a super tiebreaker. “They didn’t miss any volleys,” Sam said. “The ball never gets past them.” Sam, who spent his freshman year in high school living at the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy in Tampa, Fla., has practiced with John Isner, the 6-foot, 9-inch tall player from North Carolina who was a star at the University of Georgia and continues to rise in the pros. Isner, who won his first ATP tournament in January and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, now ranks 25th in the world. “He’s huge,” Sam said, adding that Isner’s serve is almost impossible to return because it rises so fast. “I had to jump up to just get to the ball.” Sam lives in Hoover with his parents, Dr. Darin Cissell, an endodontist, his mother Melissa, and younger sister, Olivia. His long-range goal is to play for a top-tier college team, noting that the list of universities he would like to play for include Mississippi State, San Diego, Alabama and Auburn. Does he hope to play one day at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open? Yes, of course, but he is realistic about the long odds of making it to the top in an individual sport with worldwide popularity. But he is not ruling it out. “If I have a really good college career, I would love to play in the pros,” he said. The Bryan brothers and Isner, in fact, had some advice for him on how to get there. “They said work hard, keep playing tournaments and stay out of trouble.” Joe Samuel Starnes is a novelist and journalist born in Alabama but now lives in Philadelphia. He writes about tennis at www.topspinblog.com.

The 2010 Metro South Conference Championship was recently held at Hoover’s freshmen center. Oak Mountain Middle School wrestling team, coached by Jay McGaughy, Brent Buckner, and Justin Cole, finished up a great season with a dual’s record of 38-2 and topping it off with a victory. Oak Mountain’s team placed first in the tournament with Hewitt coming in second and Vestavia third. John David Peden, Jared Godfrey and Blake Miller won individual conference championships in their respective weight classes with Peden and Godfrey going undefeated in their class. Josh Gaines, Angus McBee, Ben Jordan, Carlos Gomez, and Chase Keel finished 2nd, David Jordan finished 3rd, Jaden Hunter, Pearce McGee and Michael LaRiviere placed 4th, Trigg Langer & Andrew Schaper placed 6th.

Oak Mountain Middle School 7th grade girls basketball team ﬁnishes strong Congratulations to the 7th grade girl’s basketball team at Oak Mountain Middle School! The team ﬁnished the year with a record of 20-4. They also earned the Metro South Division Championship title, and just missed winning the Metro Tournament in a three-point loss to Mt. Brook (the Metro North Division Champs) in overtime. OMMS players Christian McGowan and Madison Pierce were named to the All Metro Tournament team. Other team members include: Sara Garrard, Callie Leopard, Destiny Cannon, Emily Harrington, Madeline Porter, Lauren NeSmith, Jemaiya Lee, Amber Pugh, Katie Maisonville, Aaliyah Tindall, and Chandler Gayle. OMMS Coach Allen McGowan was named Metro Coach of the Year.

Just another day of tennis in the south! 4.0 USTA Winter Tennis (L-R) Mary Jane Mathias, Pamela Ochsenhirt, League - Inverness Marsha Falkner, Nancy Miller, Pro Jerry Nixon, Leesa Sanford, Julie Rinks, Cathy Country Club Lindberg, Lisa Roberts, Miriam Stone

www.280living.com

March 2010

And they showed up in force! SEC and

March Madness by Brent Watson

Over 130 students from Oak Mountain Elementary ran in the Mercedes Marathon last month. Plus, four OMES teachers ran the full marathon and 13 others formed relay teams. In addition, and for the first time, Oak Mountain Intermediate School ran a relay team of 5 members of the staff including the principal! I think it’s safe to say, the 280 corridor is home to a bunch of athletes! Congratulations to all of them for completing the race!

Lee Taylor,Katie Thomas,Sallie Youngblood, Jennifer Richard (all ran full marathon)

There’s good news and bad news if you’re an SEC basketball fan this year. The month of March is here and the Southeastern conference has an unlikely chance of placing six teams in the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, for the conference another unlikely scenario could be worse than last season with conceivably only two making the field of 64 national teams. Last year, only three SEC teams made the 64 team tournament, the lowest output by the conference in over two decades. There was some logic to last season’s drought as there were only a small handful of teams with experience. LSU had a lot of seniors and won the SEC outright on their way to “The dance.” Mississippi State and Tennessee were the other representatives in the 2008 tourney. As of this writing the only “locks” out of the SEC are Kentucky and Vanderbilt. John Calipari, after leaving Memphis has a new stable of freshman who are very skilled and will probably be experiencing their only tournament as they look to enter the NBA draft at season’s end. Now will “St. John” get his third program on probation in as many jobs? Don’t bet against it, but that’s another story on another day. Vandy has a nationally ranked team that plays very well and has built a convincing resume for their

bid to the tournament. That’s what could potentially happen. Again, it’s unlikely and it’s more likely they’ll be four or five teams to get in, but the seedings will still be low. That’s not up to SEC standards that was placing five teams a year in the national bracket, several of which went deep in the tournament. Since 1990 eight teams out of the conference have reached the final 16 or higher. It looks as if the above mentioned along with Tennessee will get in. Florida has a shot to get in depending on how they finish. Ole Miss probably busted their bubble chances with back-to-back home losses to Vandy and the Gators. Mississippi State is another team that has a slim chance and, in my opinion would be a good representative for the conference. Let’s take a look at why the drop in the conference’s showing may be happening. I think the biggest problem this season is leadership. There are a lot of talented teams in the conference, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of vocal leaders like there was in the past. Another problem is that kids are so much into their own game these days and get away from playing team ball. The SEC tournament, which will be played in Nashville this season, should be a good one as always and another team could gain enough victories to join the Madness. We shall see what unfolds. Enjoy the budding spring and the fun March brings— and here’s to warm weather coming to the Deep South. Besides being an avid sports enthusiast, Brent Watson dedicates much of his time to running his business at the Narrows: Comfort Keepers – a non-medical – in home care company. You can reach him at (205) 981-1800 or by e-mail at centralalabama@comfortkeepers. com.

Jaguars walk for Juvenile Diabetes

Savannah Waldon

James Lancaster

Talli and Evan Dubose

The Spain Park Cheerleaders are working together to make a difference in the lives of those who have Juvenile Diabetes. Recently, the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman squads raised over $4,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The squads also participated in the JDRF Walk to Find a Cure at the Summit. Brooke Smith, Head Cheerleading/Varsity Coach of the Spain Park Cheer Program, Amber Leslie, JV Coach, and Stephanie Hawkins, Freshman Coach, participated along with the cheerleaders. This is the Jaguar cheerleaders 2nd year to participate in this event.

Front row: Maggie Timbrook, Alexandra Renfroe, Kaitlyn Schweer, Danielle Palladino, Lauren Gurley, Erica Dobnikar, Jordan Lorino, Katherine Schmidt, and Alexandria Drakos. Back row: Head Coach Brooke Smith, Lauren Young, Meagan Murphy, Alex Ledbetter, Danielle DuBose, Mallory Burks, Kathleen Hinds, Rachael Wheeler, Mallory Murphy, Mackenzie Frazier, Victoria Parker, and Brittany Smith

Dizzy Dean champs hang World Series banner Claire Pate

Here come the Barons! by Meghan Rodriguez

The Birmingham Barons are gearing up for another exciting season as they celebrate their 25th year as a White Sox affiliate. The first game of the season will be Thursday, April 8 at Regions Park. After coming off a franchise best 92-47 season last year, the 2010 season looks to be promising with the entire coaching staff returning. Barons games are fun-filled events that the whole family can enjoy. Weekly promotions include Belly Buster Monday, Thirsty Thursday, Friday Night Fireworks and Kids Eat Free Sunday. Saturday nights will either feature post-game fireworks, a national performing act or a giveaway, and new this year is Good Neighbor Tuesday, which will feature $1 menu items. Pajama Party Night, Big Lebowski Night and Star Wars Night are just some of the many theme nights featured throughout the season. Giveaways also add to the excitement of Barons games. This season, items such as Gordon Beckham bobbleheads, kids’ jerseys, White Sox 25th

anniversary caps and a plasma television will all be featured giveaways. The Rickwood Classic will be held Wednesday, June 2 against the Tennessee Smokies at the legendary Rickwood Field in Birmingham. Turning 100-years old this summer, Rickwood Field is America’s oldest ballpark and is located right here in Birmingham. Game time is set for 12:30 and Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew, will be the special guest. July 31 will be Dale Murphy Night featuring the former Atlanta Braves outfielder and Alabama National Championship Night will occur on April 10. National Championship Night will feature former Crimson Tide football players Bobby Humphrey, Siran Stacy, Major Ogilvie and former Crimson Tide basketball coach Wimp Sanderson. This is sure to be an unforgettable night for all fans. For more information on the upcoming season, tickets, and schedule, visit Barons.com.

Members of the Championship team (not in order): Carter Burleson, Reid Burleson, Jake Dyson, Carson Eddy, Hogan Edwards, Josh Hall, Davis Hardin, Hudson Hartsfield, Parker Mixon, Andrew Sherrod, Sam Towery, and PT Vercher Coaches: Chris Dyson, Chuck Hartsfield, David Sherrod, Head Coach: Lee Hall World Series Championships are rare. Even more rare to win one by beating your cross-town nemesis. That’s exactly what the Oak Mountain nine-year-old all-stars did when they beat Trussville for the Dizzy Dean championship last summer in Southhaven, MS. After losing five games in all-star play to Trussville, Oak Mountain got the last laugh with a victory in the final game of the World Series July 30th. “We were 25-7 in all-star play, and five of the losses were to Trussville,” head

coach Lee Hall said. There were 46 teams at the world series, and Oak Mountain managed to end up victorious. The path to the championship led through Montevallo for the district tournament and Jasper for the state tournament. The process was culminated with the hanging of the world series banner at Heardmont Park on February, 7th. Now it’s time to crank up baseball season all over again.

March 2010

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Calendar of Events Commerce MARCH for around the 280 Area Wednesday, March 10th, New Member Orientation -- Chamber ofﬁce – 8:30am to 10am – contact april@shelbychamber.org for more information (no cost). Register online at www.shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542. Thursday, March 11th – Grow & Go workshop – “Marketing on a Shoe String” – presented by Concept Inc. – Chamber ofﬁce – 11am to 1pm – contact april@ shelbychamber.org for information ($10 for Chamber members; $15 for non-members – includes lunch). Register online at www. shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542.

Wednesday, March 31st – “Shelby County Mayors” – Chamber luncheon – 11am to 1pm – Pelham Civic Complex – contact info@shelbychamber.org for information ($17 for Greater Shelby County Chamber members / $20 for non-members). Spotlight on non-proﬁt organizations. Register online at www.shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542. For information about Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce events, go online to www.shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542.

Come share the Lenten Season with us! First Christian Church will celebrate Lent with activities for the entire family from February 17 – April 4. Weekly 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship services will include special music as well as sermons focusing on Jesus’ miracles and ways he transformed lives from darkness into light and wholeness. In addition, there will be weekly Wednesday night fellowship suppers followed by brief worship services focused on the passion of Jesus as experienced through our 5 senses. Beginning at 5:45 p.m., a snack supper will be available at a cost of $5 per person ($3 for children ages 3-10, children under age 3 are free) with a family maximum of $20. A 30-minute worship will follow dinner at 6:30. A professionally staffed nursery is always available. Please call 991-5000 to make meal reservations.

Conveniently Located at Benson Plaza in Chelsea

Wednesday, March 3: Lenten Supper at 5:45 and Worship Service on “Hearing – Sounds Heard on the way to the Cross” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 7: Third Sunday of Lent 10:00 a.m. worship “A Woman with an Issue of Blood” Wednesday, March 10: Lenten Supper at 5:45 and Worship Service on “Smells – Smelling the Apporach of Death” at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 14: Fourth Sunday of Lent 10:00 a.m. worship “Healing of Blind Bartimaeous” Wednesday, March 17: Lenten Supper at 5:45 and Worship Service on “Touch – The Feel of the Cross” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday March 21: Fifth Sunday of Lent 10:00 a.m. worship “Raising of Lazarus” Wednesday, March 24: Lenten Supper at 5:45 and Worship Service on “Taste – Jesus Tastes the Approach of Death” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 28: Palm Sunday Choir Cantata, children’s procession of the palms and special Easter offering Thursday, April 1: Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7:00 p.m. Thursday April 1 - Friday April 2: 9:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Twenty-Four Hour Prayer Vigil in our Sanctuary (security provided) Sunday, April 4: Easter Sunrise Worship and Breakfast 6:30 a.m. at YMCA Hargis; Easter Worship and Holy Baptism 10:00 a.m. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is an inclusive, family-focused congregation. We believe in open communion, encourage individual study and interpretation of the Word, and focus on opportunities for ministry by lay Christians of all ages, sexes, races and abilities. We are truly a congregation “where everyone knows your name” and “where the Grace of God awaits you”. Come share the Holy season with us! For Information: www.fcc-bhm.org Contact: Mary Pat Spencer Phone: 205.991.5000

Meet Gin Phillips

Author of The Well and the Mine Birmingham author Gin Phillips will be at North Shelby Library to discuss her debut novel, The Well and the Mine. The winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, The Well and the Mine is an assured and inspiring literary debut that explores the value of community, charity, family, and hope during times of hardship. Phillips will share the inspiration for the novel and sign books. Light refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase the day of the event at the library. For more information call (205) 439-5500 or email nsyouth@shelbycounty-al.org.

“I ﬁnd it impossible to believe that The Well and the Mine is a debut novel. It’s absolutely ﬂawless: a beautiful Depressionera story told without irony. I reveled in its shades of Harper Lee and Faulkner. Timeless, captivating, hones, brave, and not one false move.” -- Suzanne Finnamore, Barnes & Noble Discover Award judge and author of Otherwise Engaged and Split. The event will take place Saturday, March 13th, 2:00 pm, at North Shelby Library, 5521 Cahaba Valley Road. Free Admission.

You’re Invited to R.O.C.K. Storytime! Exfoliate and Restore Hair Treatment

Expires 4-01-10

Join R.O.C.K, a Vestavia Hills Public Library Outreach, on Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the Liberty Park Sports complex for stories, music, snacks and a craft with Mrs. Eve. Free Event Bring your library card to check out books and DVD’s from the library following storytimes. For more information go to www. rockinlibertypark.org

thehavensalon.net

March 3: Silly Snakes Snakes are slimy and slithery, but do they make good pets? During today’s storytime you’ll hear about the most famous pet

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snake of all! Craft: Necktie snake March 10: Happy Saint Patrick’s Day We’ll be looking for rainbows and pots of gold as we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Craft: Rainbow hat March 17: CLOSED - Spring Break, No Storytime March 24: The Magic of Threes Come prepared to stomp and tromp your way through my favorite folk tales! Craft: Troll mask March 31: Happy Easter No egg-aggeration, today’s storytime is egg-stra special! Craft: Chick in egg

www.280living.com

Snowman Contest

March 2010

And the WINNER is.... Chef Cupid

with the Angel who inspired it’s creation: Melvene Lynch

Tanner Davis, four years old, gives his snowman a hug

Stephen Mitchell, Jacob Megerdigian, Jacob Ritchey with “The Bear”

Weston and Heath Padgett with “Mr. Once in my Lifetime”

Caleb and Morgan Lee ages five and two Gates and Abby Strohmeier, ages four and eight

Brooke Howard’s snowman overlooks Chelsea Park

Alli Jones of Inverness with her first snowman

Alex Ivanovic, four years old, with “Grandma Snow”

The Pockstallers with Bear Valentino

| Young At Heart

March 2010

Condi Rice reminds Birmingham of need for senior care by Frank Holden

Optometrists Anticipate “Boom” in Eye Disease as Baby Boomers Turn 60 In a year where an estimated 2.8 million baby boomers will celebrate their 60th birthday, age-related eye diseases are becoming increasingly important health issues, according to the American Optometric Association. As part of national Save Your Vision Month in March, the AOA is reminding Americans 60 and older that early detection through a comprehensive eye exam can prevent or slow vision due to cataracts and other age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. “Today’s 60-year-olds are more health conscious than 60-year-olds 20 years ago,” said Richard C. Edlow, O.D., American Optometric Association Information and Data Committee chair. “But being better informed about health risks, improved technology and treatment options has not necessarily translated into including regular eye examinations into their health care routines.” Are You: • Someone with diabetes, hypertension, or any other systemic or chronic disease? •At risk for certain systemic or eye diseases because of family history or other factors? •Having more difﬁculty reading smaller type, such as books and newspapers? • Experiencing frequent headaches after working on a computer? • Doing a great deal of reading and other close work? • Rubbing your eyes frequently or having tired or burning eyes? • Losing track of a person or objects in your peripheral (side) vision?

• Avoiding close work? • Having difficulty driving at night? • Experiencing frequent near misses, accidents, or difficulty parking with driving? • Handling or using chemicals, power tools or lawn and garden equipment? • Playing eye-hazardous sports like racquetball, softball, or tennis? • Experiencing difficulty with eye-handbody-coordination? • Playing sports and having trouble judging distances between you, the ball, or other objects? If you checked yes to any question on the checklist, or you have not seen your doctor of optometry in over a year, be sure to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye examination. Your eyesight and eye health deserve to be protected and monitored. Even if you didn’t check yes, keep in mind that symptoms of vision problems aren’t aren’t always apparent. “Many people don’t understand that even though their vision may be clear, exams can uncover changes in the eye caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, retinal disorders and glaucoma,” said Dr. Edlow. “Since there are more treatment and rehabilitation options than ever before, early detection is all the more critical.” Source: The American Optometric Association For more information, visit www.aoa.org. (Reprinted with permission from Steve Van Gilder’s Lifestyles Newsletter. For questions regarding long term care insurance, contact Steve at 205-243-4417.)

Birmingham native and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Birmingham Thursday night, February 10th, to speak at Birmingham Southern College. After serving in the administrations of three presidents, Dr. Rice has returned to Stanford University to teach and write two books; the ﬁrst a personal memoir due out in October, and the second a history of her tenure as Secretary of State. She made two memorable points in her talk. “William Seward bought Alaska. And when William Seward bought Alaska it was Seward’s ice box and it was Seward’s folly. And he was raked over the coals for spending $7 million to buy Alaska from Russia. “I think we are all very glad William Seward bought Alaska,” she said. “Today’s headlines and history’s judgment are rarely the same and if you keep that in mind then you will lead in a way and make policy in a way that assures a better judgment in history.” In an age of instant news through the internet and 24-hour cable news outlets, this is good advice. The second was a “thank you” and nod to her parents who despite modest means made every educational opportunity possible for Rice. She recalled taking piano lessons on the Birmingham Southern campus when she was a very young girl. The mobility of Americans puts pressure on families who ﬁnd themselves spread from one end of the country to another. Rice, for example, was born in Birmingham and moved with her family to Colorado, went to graduate school in Indiana, and settled in California after traveling the world as the nation’s top diplomat. Today, many children wind up moving away to pursue education or career and eventually settle in cities far from where they were born.

MARCH 2010

HEARDMONT PARK SENIOR CENTER CALENDAR SPECIAL MARCH EVENTS: E 9J ¡ , ¡ ¡ < j &¡> j ] f [ ` ¡ ¡ @ go ¡ Lg¡ K lYq ¡ Qgmf _ ¡ Qgmj ¡ > aj k l¡ )( ( ¡ Q] Yj k E 9J ¡ 1¡ ¡ F ] o ¡ : ] Y[ gf ¡ : dgg\ ¡ Hj ] k k mj ] ¡ ' ¡ : dgg\ ¡ K m_ Yj ¡ ; daf a[ E 9J ¡ )) ¡ ¡ I mYj l] j dq ¡ ; Yj j q ¡ Af ¡ Dmf [ ` ] gf ¡ o al` ¡ : mk af ] k k ¡ E ] ] laf _ ¡ Yl¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ )) 2( ( ¡ Ye &¡: j af _ ¡ Y¡ [ gn] j ] \ ¡ \ ak ` ¡ lg¡ k ` Yj ] &¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ = f l] j lYaf e ] f l¡ hj gna\ ] \ ¡ Z q ¡ @ Yj j ak gf ¡ J ] _ agf Yd¡ DaZ j Yj q E 9J ¡ )*¡ ¡ 9K G¡ ; g^ ^ ] ] ¡ ; gf [ ] j l E 9J ¡ )*¡ ¡ /2( ( ¡ ¡ 12( ( ¡ K hj af _ ¡ < Yf [ ] ¡ ¡ E mk a[ ¡ Z q ¡ Ogd^ _ Yf _ $¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ K hgf k gj ] \ ¡ Z q ¡ Lgo f ¡ NaddY_ ] MAR 15 – 10:00 – 3:00 Budʼs Best Cookies Tour with lunch at Tazikiʼs MAR 17 – Lunch includes St. Patrickʼs Day Trivia Contest E 9J ¡ )0¡ ¡ ) 2( ( ¡ ¡ *2( ( ¡ % ¡ ; gmhgf ¡ ; dYk k ¡ )() E 9J ¡ *+ ¡ ¡ )( 2+ ( ¡ ¡ L` ] ¡ = _ _ ¡ ¡ A¡ Gmlaf _ MAR 24 – 11:00 – Computer Class – Basic Skills F GL= 2¡" Al] e k ¡ af \ a[ Yl] ¡ Y¡ f ge af Yd¡ ^ ] ] &¡ *¡ h] j ¡ h] j k gf ¡ k m_ _ ] k l] \ ¡ e ] Yd¡ \ gf Ylagf ¡ ¡ hd] Yk ] ¡ j ] k ] j n] ¡ e ] Ydk ¡ af ¡ Y\ nYf [ ] &¡Gmlaf _ k ¡ Yj ] ¡ dae al] \ ¡ lg¡ )*¡ h] ghd] $¡k g¡ k a_ f ¡ mh¡ ] Yj dq & ; ] f l] j ¡ E Yf Y_ ] j 2¡L` ] j ] k Y¡ ? j ] ] f @ gmj k 2¡E gf % > j a$¡1Ye % + he H` gf ] ¡ *( - ! ¡ 11) % - /, * > Yp¡ *( - ! ¡ 11) % - . - / Email: heardmontpark@hotmail.com

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Past generations experienced the support of “extended family” when the parents became elderly. Today, when parents begin to experience the inﬁrmities of aging there is often no extended family support nearby. Partly due to this phenomenon, health services have expanded to include home nursing care, in-home hospice, adult day care services and other home delivered health and social services for seniors. While these vital services are important to the well-being of our parents, nothing can substitute for the support of their adult children. Frequently, we hear this referred to as the “sandwich generation” ~ adult children caring for their own families as well as their parents. We live much longer than in years past. Increasingly, retirees or near-retirees have aging parents who require costly care. At the same time, many of these caregivers are still responsible for their own children who may be still in school or building families of their own. Thus, the sandwich generation was named. Often the advice of a family law expert or physician or clergy is helpful in making plans jointly between the parents and care-giving children. Living wills and powers of attorney are two of many tools that can be vitally important to families. But in order to use them effectively adult children and parents need to discuss the parents’ wishes beforehand. It is useful to develop a plan for emergency as well as chronic care plans. Seek the help of geriatric care managers or the advice of geriatric physicians to ﬁnd the right solutions for your family. Information and referral is available through the Alabama Department of Senior Services or AARP. Or contact the Assisted Living Association of Alabama for assistance. In most cases the advice is free.

About the Author: Frank Holden is President of Assisted Living Association of Alabama, Inc. For more information visit www.alaaweb.org.

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March 2010

Roller Derby a Fun Night Out As evening arrives and most people in the 280 area are settling down for a little television or homework with the kids, the gals of Tragic City Rollers are meeting for practices at Skates 280. The Tragic City Rollers, Birmingham’s all women’s flat track roller derby team and is now in its fifth season, starting March 14. A lot has changed in roller derby since the 1980’s, but not everything. You will still see women adorned with fishnets, skirts, and with jerseys bearing playful names and quirky numbers, but it has evolved into a fast-paced, quad roller skating, women’s athletic sport. This action-packed, contact sport has eight blockers trying to keep two jammers from scoring as they lap the track for a maximum of two minutes at a time which is called a jam. The game is played with two 30-minute periods with a short half-time. It’s a sport that is intense, fast moving, loud, up-close and personal, and you will find yourself drawn into the action, and loving every minute of it. Tragic City Rollers’ motto is “by the skaters, for the skaters.” They are a very unique and diverse group of women. Eighty percent of the players have college degrees. The players work as nurses, managers, law enforcement, computer programmers, sales, web designers, engineers, librarians, and teachers, just to name a few. And it’s a good thing too because they also handle the marketing, sales, recruiting, training, volunteers, community outreach, and fundraising for the league. The season runs most of the year with an average of one bout a month with a few weeks off during the winter holidays. “Roller derby gives today’s woman an alternative to standard extracurricular activities,” said coach and founder Dixie

Schotty is blocking the opposing jammer in an attempt to make lead jammer.

Psycho B holds off the “Big Easy” jammer who is trying to pass her to score points.

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The Tragic City Rollers Thrash. “It allows a woman to set positive goals for herself, to perform outside her comfort zone, and to grow her leadership skills and confidence by being involved in a successful business.” At practice, the girls skate many laps in a variety of drills to challenge their fitness level. Another necessary skill is the ability to fall and to recover. It is important to “fall small” and to “spring back to standing” quickly to avoid injury from other players as they skate by, and to avoid tripping others. Falling and recovering are practiced and this skill must be mastered to be “bout” ready, or eligible to play. The team starts their 2010 season with a full roster of seasoned players, and a lot of green talent being groomed. Their first bout is March 14th and is themed, “Kiss Me, I’m Derby.” Discounted tickets are available online (use “280Living” as your coupon code) along with their full 2010 schedule at www.tragiccityrollers.com. You don’t have to travel far to find the action as TCR holds their bouts at Zamora Temple, just off the Grants Mill Road exit on Hwy 459. The doors open an hour before the bout for fans who want to watch the gals warm-up. So what is the future of roller derby? Well, Hollywood noticed, and that is why you have the recently released roller derby movie, “Whip It.” While Hollywood is great at glamorizing the action, and over playing the hits, they were right on the mark by noticing the sport’s comeback. The best indicator I think is that you have women who are interested in playing the sport. Not just anybody, but women who are athletic enough to play, and smart enough to run the league. But ultimately it will be the fans who determine its longevity. I encourage you to make it out to see the Tragic City Rollers and join in on the fun. I promise you will not be disappointed. You will, however, be impressed and inspired, as I was. So much so, I joined the team! I’m Belle Pepper, #Jn 1:1.

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Voodoo Lily is giving some derby love to teammates, Acute Pain, Belle Pepper and Electra Block Therapy.

205-437-8470

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open Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-4

| March 2010

Stray Art Salon Fine Art Gallery

March 12 ARTon280

Fine Art Appreciation Series-5-8 PM, Arthur Umlauf and Fran Nagy, Imagine Partners in Art March 18 & 19

Introductory Digital Photo Classes 6-9PM Call (205) 482-0056 for details, and to register. March 21

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Diana’s Salon

Common Sense Pest Management for the Home and Landscape by Fred Kapp, Educational Liaison Alabama Green Industry Training Center Spring is here and with it comes a resurgence of weeds, insects and other common pests of our homes and landscapes. At the Green Industry Training Center, we and our partners (the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and others) try to emphasize the use of Integrated Pest Management as a primary strategy. IPM, simply stated, is the use of a combination of techniques to reduce pest populations below a pre-determined level. For example, most homeowners might feel a few weeds in a lawn, here and there would not be a significant problem. Those same customers would not feel the same about a mouse in their home or a few roaches running around a favorite restaurant. If you are a “do-it-your-selfer,” and want to keep the pests below an acceptable level, how do you begin? Step One in IPM is to identify the pest. If you find a large yellow spot in your lawn it could be caused by a fungal disease, insect infestation or simply spilled fertilizer or gasoline. If you are unsure what is causing the problem, finding a treatment, if one is needed at all, is difficult at best. In our area we are fortunate to have the Cooperative Extension’s Diagnostic Lab at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens right up Highway 280. Take your weed, plant damage sample or evidence of whatever pest you have and the staff will identify the problem and recommend an IPM strategy. The diagnosis is impartial, inexpensive and helps save many hundreds of pesticide misapplications per year. In many cases, the best pest management strategy may be sanitation, cleaning up a garage, landscape or kitchen, to lessen the pest population. In the landscape, proper pruning, removing fallen leaves and the use of a dormant oil spray may keep some pests below the threshold level. Oil sprays are very low toxicity and are very effective on soft scales, whiteflies and aphids. On the perimeter of the home, caulking gaps around windows and doors, fixing door sweeps and replacing damaged soffit and eave vent screens will do a lot to keep out roaches, ants and spiders, along with squirrels and mice. There is value in

spraying the foundation several feet up and out with an insecticide, but make sure it is labeled for that use. Inside the home, the use of sanitation to keep food spills and drain stoppers from becoming a food source for pests is a good strategy, but often difficult to achieve. For example, studies show that a roach can live for many weeks off an oily thumbprint left on a countertop after grabbing a quick snack. Add to that the normal cooking spills, and the dog or cat food, and roaches will have plenty of places to feed. For that reason, we suggest the use of several baits and glue boards that will attract and keep pest populations low. Any retail supplier should have several bait options for your use, just be careful to keep all baits away from pets and children. Lawn pest management is often the most visible and the cause for greatest concern for area homeowners. Weeds in turf usually indicate that there are underlying factors that favor weed growth over the grass. For example, turf does not do well in wet or shade and weeds will fill-in any bare spots. To fix a problem like that, you must remove the shade and moisture, or plant a groundcover like mondo or pachysandra in the bare areas. Because we have very high expectations for our home lawns, preemergent herbicides will be needed at least twice and perhaps three times per year. These pesticides are engineered to disrupt the weeds emergence without damaging the desirable grass if the label is followed. Some homeowners and unlicensed applicators often apply the products incorrectly leading to damage to all or part of the lawn. If you are applying these products yourself, read the label and follow it as closely as possible. If you are hiring someone to apply it for you, make sure they are licensed by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. In Alabama, it is illegal for anyone to apply a pesticide for a fee without the proper license from the ADAI. If you have any questions about pest management, you may contact your local county extension agent, do some research at www.aces.edu , or e-mail me at fkapp@ bellsouth.net.

Celebrating our Greystone Residents 4 year Anniversary!! ards C r e stom u and C m d e e r D r r pula h ) Prefe o P y ck b h 5th - 19t a B e r a the t ( Marc e g , s ircut a h 5 r Pay fo REE

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Seek Sponsors There’s a citizen movement going on in North Shelby County - a symphonic citizen movement to be exact. A group of Greystone residents plans to bring the Alabama Symphony Orchestra to Greystone Golf & Country Club this summer to perform a free outdoor POPS concert. According to ASO Executive Director Curt Long, this is an unprecedented effort in Shelby County. This is the ﬁrst time, of which he’s aware, that residents have organized to raise funds to bring the full symphony to their neighborhood, and invite the community at-large. “We’re currently in the fund-raising stage to make Symphony on the Green a reality,” said Mindy Boggs, co-chair of the Greystone Symphony Committee. “If a business wants to attract and maintain customers from the greater Greystone/280 area, we hope they’ll consider the many beneﬁts of our Title Sponsorship. As a Title Sponsor, the business will have a

unique opportunity to set themselves apart from competitors, as well as support the community and our state’s symphony. Only 10 Title Sponsorships are available, at $5,000 each. Four Title Sponsor commitments h ave al ready b een m ade.” In addition to other promotions, Mrs. Boggs said each Title Sponsor will be featured in a 60 second TV commercial to run several times a day, every day, for 30 days prior to the event, as well as on a jumbotron the day of the event. Title Sponsor spots will also air daily (during normal hours of operation) in high trafﬁc areas of the Founders Clubhouse, the Legacy Clubhouse, and the Tennis Clubhouse. “Imagine all the foot trafﬁc we get at Greystone Golf & Country Club during peak golf, tennis, and wedding season. Everyone who comes through those doors will know who to thank, and will remember your business supported this

See GREYSTONE | pg 20

www.280living.com

March 2010

Unexpected Goodness |

by Pastor

In the summer of 1934, the famous theologian Reinhold Niebuhr was vacationing at his summer cottage near Heath, Massachusetts. He was invited to preach at a small church nearby. At the end of the service he offered this prayer – “O God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. After the service a man came up and said he had been inspired by the prayer and wondered if he could get a copy of it. Niebuhr reached into his Bible, took out a crumpled sheet of paper and said, “Here, take the prayer, I have no further need for it”. The next Christmas that man used the prayer on his Christmas cards and the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous saw it and adopted it as the official prayer for that group. The USO printed it up and reprinted millions of copies of the prayer for servicemen during World War II. Today it can be found on greeting cards and pictures everywhere. The prayer is probably one of the best-known prayers in the world today. But Niebuhr had no idea that prayer would be blessing to so many people. He did not realize that millions would one day find help through his spiritual prayer to God. He had no clue that his prayer would be an instrument that God would use to bring hope and peace to people around the world. I call this wonderful blessing of the unforeseen, the unexpected goodness of God. Since we are entering the season of Lent, may we look at the unexpected goodness in the life of a man named Simon during the crucifixion of Jesus. On a Friday Jesus is carrying His own cross. As He started toward the gate that led toward Calvary, He fell under the weight of the cross. A man named Simon was forced to carry the cross. He must have thought

Edd Spencer

at the time there could not have been anything more degrading. The eyes of a hostile crowd were upon him. They looked with scorn at him as he carried a criminal’s cross. Yet years later when the scriptures were written something happened in the life of Simon. Out of the humiliation of that moment of carrying a cross came an unexpected blessing. When Mark is listing great believers in the faith he says, “Simon of Cyrene, father of Rufus and Alexander.” Simon is remembered in scripture for unexpected goodness. He is remembered for something good he did years earlier for the Master. We also need to once again affirm that the glory of the Christian faith is the glory of the unforeseen - the glory of unexpected goodness. Anything can happen to us when God’s spirit takes hold of our lives. Just think about Jesus. Who would of thought that a boy, born of a peasant woman, with a father who worked in a carpenter‘s shop, and growing up in a small insignificant village would become the world’s central figure? Who would have thought that one who “never wrote a book, never held an office, never had a family, never owned a house, never went to college” would become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all humankind? It is the blessing of unexpected goodness. So may we also live our lives for God. Knowing that even in uncertain times and difficult situations the potential for goodness is inside us. The potential for God is in us. Rather than think in terms of unexpected tragedy, may we think in terms of unexpected goodness. This is the positive way. And it puts us in good company with Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. About the author: You can reach Pastor Edd Spencer at First Christian Church, 4954 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242. www.fcc-bhm.org, 205-9915000.

Wedding dresses unveiled for foster children

by Janie Dollar

Wedding dresses and non-profit organizations for foster children. Not a likely match…until now! Recently, Buddy Hooper, President of the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, found himself with over 100 designer wedding gowns filling up his living room. How did they get there? They were donated to him by a local wedding dress store that closed its doors. His challenge was to figure out a way to make good use of this unique donation ~ a way to “marry the two.” Due to tough economic conditions in our country right now, so many nonprofit organizations have been forced to find creative ways to raise funds. So Mr. Hooper contacted The Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children, and together they contacted Renaissance Consignment Store and formed a meaningful partnership. “Collaboration and partnering with others in the community is essential to the life of nonprofits,” says Janie Dollar of the Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children. “This partnership between Renaissance Consignment Store, the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, and the Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children is the ultimate example.” In turn, all proceeds from the sale of these specially marked dresses at Renaissance will be equally utilized by both of the 501(c)3’s to fulfill their missions of caring for the 6000+ foster children in the state of Alabama. The Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children is a newly formed statewide

501c3. Their goal is “to provide a birthday gift or celebration and card for each foster child in Alabama. All 6000 of them! We want each child to know they are special and we are glad they were born,” according to their website. This organization works closely with the Alabama Department of Human Resources to distribute its resources. Besides investing in one of the wedding dresses mentioned above, there are many other ways to support this agency. For more information about the ABWFFC, visit facebook or their website www.alabamabirthdaywish.com. The Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association is an advocate on behalf of foster and adoptive parents in Alabama. It works to provide quality training and education for these families, and actively participates in the recruitment and retention of foster families and adoptive parents. To see the full list of their goals, values and beliefs, visit their website at www.afapa.org. Renaissance Consignment Boutique is an upscale, trendy clothing consignment store located on Highway 119 in the Cadence Place Shopping Center. It offers one of the largest selections of consigned wedding gowns and bridal services in town. You can visit their website at www. renaissanceconsignment.com. Together these three parties have created a very unique opportunity for brides-to-be to not only look beautiful on the outside, but to glow on the inside as they know they have indirectly contributed to the safekeeping and wellbeing of Alabama’s foster children simply by buying one of these special bridal gowns.

A healthy smile should last a

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E F P T O Z

Can you read this? If not, perhaps you need to visit Dr. Jessica Palmer, founder of Narrows Family Eye Care. Services Offered Include:

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That’s Life|

Paul Johnson

Samaritan Counseling Center

Theæ Madnessæ ofæ March

It’s March. The marvelous month of March. It’s the time of year for… for… for what? What happens in March? Seriously. What’s March known for? I mean, most other months have something that is pretty universally observed (or at least recognized and promoted by the card publishing industry); January has New Year’s, February has Valentines; March has… what? Yes, St. Patrick’s Day is in March, and it is nationally observed, and a few here in Birmingham will wear green or toss back a green beverage or eat green eggs and ham (actually, I just threw that in for my kids), but it is not (and I hope I do not offend) a major holiday for southerners. Many very special people observe it, but it is not so much widely embraced or remembered (I’m always lucky if I remember to wear green, but I’m not widely pinched if I forget). So what’s in March? Sometimes Easter, but mostly in April. Sometimes Spring Break, but that depends on where you live. Yes, this year we all get to spring forward for Daylight Savings Time. Yes, there is Spring Training (for baseball, if you can afford a trip to Florida or Arizona); and there is March Madness (great fun for basketball fans; I particular enjoy the first weekend of the tourney, when there is usually an exceptional amount of madness). And yes, spring does officially begin in March (whether the groundhog saw his or her shadow or not—either way, it’s still six, actually seven, weeks from then until the first day of spring). But are any of these universally celebrated? Do we gear up for anything? Really? No? No. No we don’t. So let’s take advantage of that. March is when we have settled into our routine. Holidays are past, work and school and weekends have determined their pace; it is the in-between time. Take a moment to consider your routine. What is the rhythm of your week? And more importantly (yes, here comes the point of the article; I’m not just ranting about having nothing to do in March—it’s actually the point), do you incorporate rest, leisure, play, downtime, time of not-being-needed into your schedule? In my work with clients, I often use a version of a temperament assessment (not really a personality test, which sounds like you could fail: “sorry, ma’am/sir, you have no personality; therefore, you really need counseling”; no, none of that). The assessment I use the most indicates on one of its scales how a person needs to “recharge his or her batteries,” to obtain optimal rest and recovery. This scale shows if the

assessment taker is more of an extrovert or an introvert (oh, sure, you’ve heard those terms—we’re determining if the taker likes people or hates people—uh, not so fast). Being an introvert or an extrovert has to do with how a person re-energizes, how he or she rests or recovers in a social context. Extroverts need the energy of people, and depending on the degree of extroversion, sometimes the more the merrier. Introverts need solitude, or the presence of one or two people with whom they feel comfortable. These interactions are as necessary on a regular basis as eating, sleeping, and breathing. This is considered playtime: time with or without people where you are not needed, but you can simply be, able to enjoy a laugh or discussion with a group of friends, or to enjoy the peace and quiet of a book, or a fire, or a cup of coffee. Without these types of interactions, without them being a part of your routine, a person will get tired, angry, burned out, empty, exhausted. You are a social creature, which means that part of your recuperating system needs a particular type of interaction on a regular basis. You must make time for it. Put it into your schedule; make it a part of your routine. Know your rhythms and needs. Without rest, without downtime, you will shut down. A person can go for only so long without sleep or food; the same is true for social interaction. People with a faith tradition often call this need their Sabbath rest (not that they are any better at it than those without faith). But it is one day a week that is a part of the routine where a different set of activities occurs; yet maybe not so different. What is different, what is intended, is this level of social interaction. Not working, not being needed, but drinking deep from the well of relationship, depending on what your design requires—introverted or extraverted activity. So in this month of March, as you participate in your regular routine, make sure to schedule in this type of rest and recovery. Doing so is a step toward limiting March Madness to basketball, and not making it a characteristic of the rest of your life.

To talk further about your rhythms and rest or recovery patterns, please consider Samaritan Counseling Center for your counseling or consultant needs. You may reach us at 205-967-3660, or visit the website at www.samaritancc.org. Paul Johnson is the executive director as well as an associate licensed marriage and family therapist and associate licensed counselor at Samaritan. He is unsure as whom to pull for in March Madness, as UNC will probably not be in it (alas…).

GREYSTONE | from pg 18

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community effort.” According to Mrs. Boggs, Title Sponsors will also receive 10 passes for access to the VIP Tent and Clubhouse, plus complimentary buffet meals, and many other amenities before, during, and after the event. “It’s a great win- win opportunity,” said Roy Sewell, Symphony Committee Co-Chair and Legacy Homeowners Association Board Member. “We have an arrangement with ASO which allows most of the $5,000 to be tax-deductible, in accordance with the law. There is a $2,000 retail value assigned to the Sponsor benefits and for most businesses, that’s a tax-deductible marketing expense. We expect the Title Sponsor ‘story’ to be heard thousands of times, 30 days leading up to the event, and by hundreds of people the day of the concert. We believe the investment will pay for itself with a return in sales and new customers.” “The really exciting thing is we are trying to make this event free to the

public.” We encourage ANY business, any group, to invite others to join them at this event. The grounds will be open two hours before the concert to allow people to spread their blankets, set up camp chairs and enjoy food, fun and fellowship at this beautiful venue,” said Boggs. Individuals, as well as other community partners, such as the Greystone Residential Association, Greystone Golf & Country Club, and the Greystone Ladies’ Club support efforts to create a new signature event for the Greystone community. For years, Greystone hosted the Bruno’s Memorial Golf Classic, which brought nationwide attention to that area of Shelby County. If sufficient sponsorships and donations are achieved by March 30, 2010, the free outdoor concert event will be held Saturday, June 19, 2010, with a rain date of June 20. For Sponsorship information, contact Mindy Boggs at (205) 218-4303 or mboggswriter@bellsouth.net.

www.280living.com

March 2010

My South |

Call Clean Technique, Inc.

by Rick Watson

I know for a fact, that she thought about cutting my tongue out of my head this morning with a paring knife, and feeding it to the chickens out in the yard. “I’m not sure what happened officer, I hadn’t even had my first cup of coffee when he started yammering about budgets and iPhone apps and I just snapped!” “You hadn’t had your first cup of coffee?” The lawman would ask. “Well then, this looks like a clear-cut case of justifiable homicide. I’ll call the coroner, and tell him to bring a mop.” I’m not sure why, but early morning for me is a magical time. There is no time of day my thinking is clearer. I make connections, get inspiration, and feel like I can accomplish anything before ten. I love sitting on our screen porch in the springtime and watching the earth come alive before the sun peeks its head above the eastern horizon. The sights, the sounds, and the smells are like no other time of day. It’s like a new beginning; another chance to do something remarkable. If I want to continue to enjoy early mornings in the future, I gotta learn to allow my wife to wake up and embrace the new day at HER pace, or they will be walking slow and singing sad songs by my grave. The way Jilda sees it, the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. I don’t think she would have such a hard time with early mornings, if they started a little later!

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Linda Noel

Shoes, glorious shoes!! Okay, the song is really about food, but in my world, shoes reign supreme! Yes, I admit it. I have a huge love affair with shoes! As a young girl, I can remember loving shoes of all kinds. I can’t deny it, I was taught by the best: my mother, my grandmothers and my aunt. And I know I have passed this love on to my daughter. Believe me, there are worse traits she could have inherited! There are some women who love jewelry, and some who love purses, but for me, it stops and starts at my feet. I cannot go in any store without checking out the shoe department. I ﬁnd myself always noticing someone’s shoes, not the whole look necessarily, but always the shoes! I watch movies or TV, and shoes grab my attention before I notice anything else. Yes, it is true, Carrie Bradshaw is my heroine. When she opened the doors to her new closet in the Sex and the City movie, my heart skipped a beat! Don’t misunderstand me, I love clothes too, but only because I need something to wear with my shoes!! Now, there is a downside to this addiction to shoes. Well, there are more than one. Maybe several. My closet can’t hold all of them. In fact, I do not want to know how much money I have spent on shoes in my 51 years, (even though I always ﬁnd great deals!) And there are days my feet are not at their happiest by the end of a long day in high heels. But, that does not stop me on my quest for amazing shoes. It only slows me down, slightly. Luckily, there are some designers addressing the comfort issue and trying to make stylish heels that do not torture our feet all day long. But there will always be those shoes that are just “sitting shoes” ~ not “standing shoes.” But oh they look so good sitting! What is it about a great shoe that I

Spring Cleaning Made Easy!

Compatibilty Issues

My wife Jilda and I are two of the most compatible people on the planet. Our views on politics, religion, family, friends, hobbies, music, and food are almost interchangeable. Everything seems to be in sync except our circadian rhythms. I’m a morning person and she’s a, “DON’T EVEN LOOK MY WAY UNTIL I’VE HAD A POT OF COFFEE,” person. I wake up around 4:30 a.m. almost every morning and when my feet hit the ﬂoor, my mind is already in high gear. I’m ticking through the things I need to do, working out schedules, contingency plans, and what-if scenarios before the coffee pot stops gurgling. My lovely spouse rarely gets up until around 5:30 a.m. and she is the polar opposite. If you could do a cat scan of her brainwave activity at that time of morning, it would be just a tad slower than frozen molasses. We’ve been married for almost 36 years and you’d think by now I would have learned to let her wake up before peppering her with “thoughts of the day”, but NO. This morning after she got up, I poured us a cup of coffee, and started gibbering like a spider monkey cranked up on Jolt Cola energy drinks. She looked at me as if I were speaking in Mandarin Chinese. I tell you it’s only by the grace of God, and the fact that I never taught her how to crank the chainsaw that I’m still among the living this evening.

am drawn to? Is it the color, the style, the heel height? That has yet to be determined. Sometimes it is a need. I need a great pair of brown boots, and sometimes it is a want. I want a great pair of heels that will make everyone stop and stare. Of course, then it is fun to wrap a look around those great shoes. Usually, I have no trouble finding something to wear with the new member of my shoe collection. It does not always require a perfectly matched outfit. Sometimes a simple ensemble gets kicked up a notch by a great pair of shoes that have stepped outside of the norm. Now I am sure you are wondering what shoe am I on the hunt for this spring? Well, I have not zeroed in on exactly one, but there are several styles that have caught my fancy. I am intrigued by the nude heel. And no, that is not a heel for the bedroom. It is a look that is being touted as a great “go to” color for spring. And bonus! A nude colored shoe elongates the leg line. Who does not want to look longer and leaner? And I also have been studying the menswear look in the oxfords. This brings up mixed emotions for me as I had a great pair of men’s style oxfords many years ago. I know you should not hang on to things that long, but I wish I had kept those!! Now whether or not those shoes find their way into my shoe closet, who knows? But I do know that my love of shoes will never fade away. And on any given day, you will find me humming, ”Shoes, glorious shoes!” And if you see me wandering through a shoe department with a glazed look on my face, don’t worry. I am not ill, I am just in Nirvana.” About the Author: Linda Noel currently helps clients wrap their wardrobe around a great pair of shoes at Renaissance Consignment Boutique on Cahaba Valley Road where she works as Store Manager.

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March 2010

Local Business Supports Local Artist

It’s all over the papers.

by Pam Holton

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chance meeting at the CVS Pharmacy photo counter in Inverness set up the mutually beneﬁcial relationship between Ashley Curtis, owner of “Beyond Wellness” in Inverness Village, and Bruce Robertson, CVS Photo Lab Manager and local artist. A conversation or two about photos, pictures and paintings led Ashley to invite Bruce to display and offer for sale several acrylic paintings in her weight management and medical aesthetics business. Dubbed “Bruce’s Corner” by Ms. Curtis, the beach and marine landscapes bring a soothing atmosphere to her client evaluation space. Ms. Curtis also has abstract-style paintings on display by Kim Nix, another local artist. She says that the different genres of paintings lend originality, character, and uniqueness to the décor of her business. She encourages her wellness clients to focus on their own strengths and individuality and she advocates different styles of artwork in her shop as well. She is excited to support local artists and enjoys collaboration with other local business owners in the area. The businesses in Inverness Village often enjoy referrals from each other as a way to build relationships among themselves: Diana’s Salon, Michael’s Florist, Ginza Barbeque, the Dental Center of Inverness and even Daylight Donuts refer customers to each other for haircuts, ﬂowers, dinner, teeth whitening, and delicious coffee and doughnuts. Local artist Bruce Robertson got his start drawing and painting for enjoyment as a young man but put the hobby on hold

Ashley and Bruce

as marriage, family and work became his priority. Last year he decided to make his painting a healthy way to stay active and has since completed about 40 acrylic canvasses. The majority of his work is landscape paintings and he has also done a few Christian-themed crosses. He has given some pieces to family as gifts, and had a few commissioned by friends as part of his sales. The “paintings” for sale in “Beyond Wellness” are actually excellent high-quality canvas prints of his original work and therefore are available at very reasonable prices. Bruce is “very glad that Ashley has shown such hospitality” in her offer to show off his work. In such tough economic conditions, it certainly pays for local businesses to work together. Ashley invites everyone to come by and see the paintings on display at “Beyond Wellness,” located in Inverness Village on Valleydale Road, (205) 408-2889. You may decide to stay for a facial or complimentary wellness consultation! Contact Bruce Robertson at gbrucerobertson@aol.com for more information about his paintings and canvas prints.

VanGeffen | cover story there to ensure we were out of the area by 5:00 p.m. I hurried into my home and grabbed clothes and other items in the dark.” After rejoining Michele and the boys at Oak Mountain, the decision was made to put the boys in school here in Shelby County. They didn’t know how long it would be before they would be able to go back to Metairie and set up the camper there. The schools the boys had left back home were closed and it was uncertain when they’d reopen. Michele enrolled Seth and Caleb at Valley Elementary and Jacob at Valley Intermediate. “The schools were so helpful,” Michele says. “They gave the boys school supplies and told us money was already in their lunch accounts. The teachers and counselors were ready with whatever we needed and the boys immediately loved being here. We really began thinking we were being led to settle down here although we’d had every intention to go back.” In the next weeks, David would travel back and forth from Birmingham to Metairie to handle the overwhelming calls he was getting for water-cleanup and restoration work in the New Orleans area. Because power and water had not fully been restored, stores and gas stations were sporadic with supplies. “I waited in line every day for rationed bottled water and M.R.E.’s to eat,” David says. “Life was nothing like normal and stressful, but we were thankful to have income coming in. I missed being with Michele and the boys and a decision would have to be made soon as to whether we’d keep going like this.” One weekend on October, David and Michele sat at the camper’s kitchen table and simply held hands and prayed. They needed to know if Birmingham was to be their new home or what the next step would be. David then went outside to play frisbee with the boys when a knock came at the camper door. A lady named Debbie Jackson was there to tell them she had a home available in the Moody area that was

The VanGeffen family theirs to live in, free of charge. “I’d never had such a speciﬁc answer to prayer,” David said. “We said yes to the house and moved in the next day!” After moving to Moody, they drove the boys to Pelham each day for school. David and Michele began the process of reestablishing their carpet cleaning business here. On January 1, 2006, Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning was re-incorporated as an Alabama business and the VanGeffen’s were diligent in making it a success. “My sister and her family again were such a help to us. She told everyone at her church and their other business contacts we had relocated and were in business. It really got our company started up again,” Michele says. In February 2006 the family moved to Meadow Brook to be closer to Michele’s sister and be in the Oak Mountain schools. By the summer they’d found a new church, Oak Mountain Presbyterian, and were feeling even more at home. They were no longer “Katrina victims”, but a family establishing roots in Shelby County. “We truly feel we were led to be here,” David says. “Our business continues to grow and we know our boys are in great public schools. The outcome of this event in our lives was better than we could have hoped for.”

www.280living.com

March 2010

Franklin gets to run in Mercedes Marathonƒa gain!

Denise ObertLandscape Design

hat are the chances the same little book friend called “Franklin the turtle” would go home on the same weekend of the year with the same family and get to run in the same marathon three years apart?! Very slim. But that’s exactly what happened. Seen in the photo is kindergartner Evan DeBose holding “Franklin” standing next to his 3rd grade sister Talli DuBose. Both Evan and Talli took “Franklin” for a lap around the Mercedes kid’s marathon – Evan this year, and Talli in 2007. Evan DeBose and Talli DuBose

Have you heard “the BUZZ?” Chelsea Park Elementary school will be kicking off its annual spring fun run fundraiser on April 1st with what promises to be a memorable pep rally. With help from local businesses and some special guests, CPES hopes to excite the students for the inaugural running of “The BUZZ at Chelsea Park,” to be held on April 14th, 2010..This is a school-wide event in which each student will participate by running as many laps as possible around a 1/10th mile track within a set amount of time. Each student has the responsibility of ﬁnding sponsors willing to pledge a dollar amount per lap run. “The Buzz at Chelsea Park” is a unique opportunity for the school to raise funds that will be used for purchasing new technology. Principal of Chelsea Park, Dr. Jeannette Campisi-Snider believes the fun run also accomplishes several other key goals. It is a chance for the students to be active and healthy, learn school spirit and participation, and a character education message will be presented along with

the fun run activities. This year’s theme is “REACH Higher” which stands for Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Attitude, Character, and Honesty. CPES is venturing into uncharted territory as the PTO and faculty take on the task of coordinating the annual Fun Run fundraiser internally. The economic downturn has caused many of us to rethink how we spend our money, with the school system being no exception. Rather than contracting an outside party as in the past, this year CPES will rely on PTO, parents and faculty to organize and plan every aspect of the event. This means that 100% of the funds raised will remain at the school! There are big incentives for both the students and their families who raise the most funds. The student with the most donations will receive a 3 day/2 night stay at Seascape in Destin, FL! To ﬁnd out more information or get involved, visit www. chelseaparkbuzz.com.

Girl Scout Week Girl Scout Week begins on Sunday and concludes on the following Saturday. This arrangement allows our membership of diverse faiths to celebrate on their chosen day of worship. It also always includes the Girl Scout Birthday, March 13th. This years Girl Scout week is Sunday, March 7th through Saturday, March 13th. Each day of the week has a special focus:

GIRL SCOUT Sunday (or Sabbath): plan to demonstrate your understanding of the ﬁrst part of The Promise... duty to God. Monday: Homemaking Day; teach a homemaking skill to a younger girl. Tuesday: Citizenship Day Wednesday: Health and Safety Day Thursday: International Friendship Day Friday: The Arts Day Saturday: Out-of-Doors Day

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In photo featured from left to right: Denise Sanders, Cathy Gaylord, Stacy Garaca, Phyllis Hicks, Barbara Brickner, and Patty LaRock at the Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School Annual Fundraiser BALL held on February 13th.

GOAL | cover story “I hate asking people for money,” said Natalie. She had to get creative. Natalie has been coming up with events to raise money for her cause. February 27th, she hosted a Ladies Night out with a purpose at Jungle Smoothie in Chelsea. Where ladies enjoyed art lessons from Vanessa Stroud, wine and good times while helping Natalie raise money for her cause. Then Natalie came up with another idea. It would be a green fundraiser. People can donate old electronic items for recycling. Natalie sends them to recyclingfundraiser. com and they donate money to LLS to help Natalie’s cause. Items such as jewelry, cell phones, ink jet printer cartridges, laptops computers, mp3 players, digital cameras, digital video cameras, radar detectors, and any other recyclable materials.

“Everyone has a junk drawer with old cell phones, out dated mp3 players and old cameras reside,” said Natalie. “They can bring them to me at Jungle Smoothie and I’ll have them recycled for them. It cleans out their junk, helps the environment, and helps ﬁnd a cure for these diseases.” Natalie is taking monetary and recycling donations at Jungle Smoothie in Chelsea and at the Valleydale Village location. Those wishing to help Natalie can drop off donations in person at either Jungle Smoothie location. They can reach Natalie at gnatfay@gmail.com, or Catherine Crockett at LLS at 205-989-0098 ext 303, or e-mail: catherine.crockett@lls.org. Natalie’s progress can be monitored at the Team in Training website. Go to www.teamintraining.org/al. Go to ﬁnd a participant, and search Natalie Smith. There, you can make a donation or just follow her progress.

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24 |

March 2010

SPRING IS COMING!

(And Also the Sneezing, Wheezing, Runny Nose, and Itchy Eyes) By Dr. Weily Soong

Spring is the worst time of year for most Alabama allergy sufferers. Allergy sufferers are all too familiar with the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, or “hay fever.” They have sneezing, stuffy nose, a runny nose, watery eyes, itchiness in the nose, and itchiness in the roof of their mouth, throat, eyes or ears. Seasonal allergic rhinitis affects more than 35 million people in the United States. Allergies are inappropriate and harmful responses by the body’s immune system to substances that are normally harmless. These substances – such as pollen, animal dander, or molds – are known as “allergens,” and start a chain reaction within the immune system of allergy sufferers. The immune system controls how the body defends itself. Allergy sufferers’ immune systems identify allergens as invaders. The immune system overreacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells and cause an allergic reaction by releasing chemicals, such as histamine. This allergic reaction can happen in any part of the body that gets in contact with the outside environment – the nose and sinuses, eyes, lungs, skin, ears, and gut. When most people think about spring allergies, they only think about the nose and eye symptoms – sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, nasal congestion, sinus headaches, dark circles under eyes, and watery and red eyes. However, spring allergies can also affect other areas of the body and cause other symptoms, such as asthma (wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath) and eczema (an

itchy, red rash that is also called atopic dermatitis). Also, many people do not realize that many sinus infections (called by some Alabamians as simply “sinus”) and ear infections during the spring, summer, and fall are mainly due to allergies. The biggest cause of allergies is pollen. Pollen are tiny cells needed to fertilize plants. Pollen from plants with colorful flowers, like roses, usually do not cause allergies. These plants rely on insects to transport the pollen for fertilization. On the other hand, many plants have flowers which produce light, dry pollen that are easily spread by wind. These culprits cause allergy symptoms. Each plant has a period of pollination that does not vary much from year to year. However, the weather can affect the amount of pollen in the air at any time. The pollinating season in Alabama starts in early February and usually ends in late October. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often caused by tree pollen in the early spring. During the late spring and early summer, grasses often cause symptoms. Late summer and fall hay fever is caused by weeds. Pollen and mold counts measure the amount of allergens present in the air. The National Allergy Bureau is the nation’s only certified pollen and mold counting network. Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center and Birmingham-Southern College created a pollen counting station on the campus of Birmingham-Southern, and we provide free pollen counts to the Birmingham community. These levels can be found on these web pages: www. alabamaallergy.com, www.aaaai.org/nab,

or www.weather.com. Seasonal allergies have a large impact on not just quality of life, but the economy. Missed work days because of allergies cost U.S. companies more than $250 million a year. Fortunately, medical treatments are usually very effective. All allergy sufferers should consider seeing an allergist/immunologist. An allergist/immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, is a pediatrician or internist with at least two additional years of specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of problems such as allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases and the evaluation and treatment of patients with recurrent infections, such as immunodeﬁciency diseases. The right care can make the difference between suffering with an allergic disease and feeling better. Patient visiting an allergist can expect an accurate diagnosis, a treatment plan that works and educational information to help manage all the allergic diseases. Finding the right treatment is the best method for managing allergies. An allergist has the background and experience to test which pollen or molds are causing your symptoms and prescribe a treatment plan to help you feel better. This plan may include medications, such as steroid or antihistamine nasal sprays, oral antihistamines pills, oral antileukotriene, oral decongestants, or allergy eye drops. If allergic symptoms continue despite being on medications or persist for many months of the year, an allergy sufferer needs to consider allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy or allergy vaccine. This

is the closest cure for hay fever. It involves receiving regular injections, which helps the immune system become more and more resistant to the speciﬁc allergen and lessens symptoms as well as the need for medications over time. Here are some more simple steps to limit pollen or molds exposure which might cause allergy symptoms: Keep your windows closed at night and if possible, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools, dries, and ﬁlters the air. Postpone outdoor activities until later in the morning. Pollens are usually emitted between the hours from 5 am - 10 am Try to stay indoors when the pollen or mold levels are reported to be high. Wear a pollen mask if long periods of exposure are unavoidable. When traveling in a car have the windows up and the air conditioning on Stay indoors on hot, dry and windy days Don’t hang your laundry out to dry. Allergens will collect on them Shower and wash your hair every night before going to bed Wash pets and vacuum often because pollen clings to pets and carpet. Wash bedding at least once a week Monitor pollen and mold levels from the National Allergy Bureau at www. alabamaallergy.com or www.aaaai.org/ nab. Consider taking a vacation during the height of the pollen season to a more pollen-free area, such as the beach or sea. Most important, be sure to take any medications prescribed by your allergist regularly, in the recommended dosage.

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March 2010

Calendar of Events: MARCH 2010 8

Shawn Colvin Alys Stephens (205) 975-8858 www.alysstephens.uab.edu

First International Women’s Day Celebration Jefferson State Community College Shelby Campus Health Sciences Building 11:00-12:30

5-6

Nuclear Cowboyz BJCC (205) 458-8400 www.bjcc.org OMHS FCCLA Consignment Boutique sale Friday, March 5 3:00p.m. Until 7:00p.m. Sat. from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. OMHS Commons.

5-7

Cottontails Village Arts, Crafts and Gift Show BJCC (205) 458-8400 www.bjcc.org

Indigo Girls Work Play 9 p.m. (205) 380-4082 www.workplay.com Weim & Cheese 2010 Rosewood Hall www.weimrescur.com

2010 Spring Walking Tour Series Vulcan Park and Museum 9:30 am – noon www.visitvulcan.com (205) 933-1409 ksteele@visitvulcan.com

9-14

Wizard of Oz Broadway Across America BJCC (800) 214-7469 (800) 745-3000 www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

Arts and Garden Collide Gordon Hayward presents Fine Painting as Inspiration for Garden Design Birmingham Botanical Gardens Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, 6:30pm (205) 414-3965 bbgardens.org

Gin Phillips Book Signing North Shelby Library 2:00 pm (205) 439-5500 email: nsyouth@shelbycounty-al.org

Winterjam BJCC (205) 458-8400 www.bjcc.org Daylight Savings Time Begins

15-19

Spring Break

St. Patrick’s Day

19, 21

The Marriage of Figaro Friday, March 19, 2010, 7:30 PM Sunday, March 21, 2010, 2:30 PM Wright Center, Samford University Featuring the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Opera Birmingham Chorus Tickets $12-$85 205.322.6737 www.operabirmingham.org

Spring begins

27-28

Disney Live! Rockin’ Road Show BJCC (205) 458-8400 www.bjcc.org

APRIL 2010 3

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Birmingham Zoo 8:15am, 9:00am & 10:30am Reservation Required (205) 879-0409 www.birminghamzoo.com

Interested in Women’s Golf? Join the EWGA Birmingham Chapter. The Executive Women’s Golf Association, whose mission it is to bring women together to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun, is holding its local kickoff event at the Pelham Civic Center, Thursday, March 4, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. The cost is $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. The event will consist of a social and vendor showcase, then dinner and a program. The guest speaker is Jennifer Chandler, Olympic Gold Medalist for springboard diving in 1976. An Alabama native, Jennifer is currently the Championship Golf Tournament Development Director for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. For more information, contact Bettie Cook at (205) 492-6540, or visit ewgabirmingham.com.

International Women’s Day Celebration coming to Jeff State Celebrating the power of women to change the world!

Jefferson State Community College is hosting its First International Women’s Day Celebration on the Shelby Campus at 4600 Valleydale Road on Monday, March 8th from 11:00-12:30 in the Health Sciences Building multipurpose room. They will be showing excerpts from the documentary “A Powerful Noise” and there will also be poetry readings, music, refreshments, and door prizes. The event is open to both men and women, and there will also be an area of local non-profit organizations conducting a “volunteer fair.” For more information, contact Mary Martin at (205) 983-5252 or email marymartin@jeffstateonline.com.

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March 2010

280 Live Music Listings

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www.greybarbham.com 3/5 Phase 2 Band 3/6 Red Halo 3/9 Live Music with Cordy 3/10 Danny and Randy 3/11 (WLN) Kevin Harrison and Jace 3/12 Matt Hill Band 3/13 Pharmhand 3/16 Live Music with Cordy 3/17 J-Ko 3/18 (WLN) J-Ko and Kolby Mele 3/19 Altamont 3/20 Closed for A Private Party 3/23 Live Music with Cordy 3/24 Danny and Randy 3/25 (WLN) Kevin Harrison and Jace 3/26 Erica and The Soulshine Band 3/27 4 on The Floor 4/2 Live Music with Cordy 4/3 Danny and Randy

4/4 (WLN) J-Ko featuring Kolby Mele 4/5 Boomtown 4/6 Red Halo (WLN) = Wine Lover’s Night

CAFE FIRENZE 110 Inverness Plaza (205) 980-1315

3/4 - Under Ballast 3/5 – Unlabeled Usage 3/6 – Right Over Left/Zoo People 3/10 – Buck Wild 3/11 – Doug McCormick 3/12 – Livestock 3/13 – Buddy Love Band 3/17 – 17th Floor 3/18 – T.C. & Louie Bluez 3/20 – Gentleman Zero 3/24 – Under Ballast 3/26 – Ugli Stick 3/27 – Deputy 5

Classifieds HOGANS Irish Pub & Grill 507 Cahaba Park Circle (205) 995-0533

Every Wednesday / Thursday 8pm Live Music by Razz Ma Tazz Every Friday / Saturday 9pm - Until Live Music by Razz Ma Tazz

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3/4 – Meet the Next 3/5 – Ian Faith 3/6 – Ian Faith 3/11 – Live Wire 3/12 – MP4 3/13 – Shag 3/18 – Erica and the Soulshine Band 3/19 – Hunter 3/20 – On-live 3/25 – Soth Saturn Delta 3/26 – Crooked 3/27 – Live Wire

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ROGERS TRADING COMPANY HWY 280 BEHIND LOGANS ROADHOUSE part time retail sales associate. up to 30 hours avail. good hourly rate plus commission. employee discount. apply with shannon:

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Carpet Van For Sale $7,500 OBO Loaded with Truck Mount 1999 Dodge, 67,000 +/- Miles Call (205) 401-3322

Her medical training: family medicine. Her specialty: care with compassion, dignity and respect. Katherine “Katie” A. Moore, M.D. Dr. Moore is a family practitioner who believes in preventive medicine, not just treating symptoms. She strives to empower patients to be advocates for their own health. Dr. Moore offers school physicals, employee physicals, athletic physicals, child and adult vaccinations, and treatment for minor emergencies. Call 205-968-5988 today for your appointment. Adults, children and walk-ins welcomed.

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March 2010

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