Volume 3 | Issue 7 | November 2015
Chasing the checkered flag
School spirit
Little Rebels cheerleaders showed off their talents at one Friday night football game.
See page B8
Picture perfect
Andrew Pinkerton and Evan Maynard work on the race car in a local garage. Photo by Frank Couch.
By EMILY FEATHERSTON
Meet the winners of the ‘A Life Above’ photo contest.
See page A17
INSIDE City.........................A6 Business ..............A12 Chamber ..............A16 Community........A28
or Vestavia Hills resident Andrew Pinkerton, life moves really fast. Pinkerton, a sophomore communications and broadcasting student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, competed in September at the Chumpcar World Series “Slightly More Than 12 Hours of Sebring” race at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.
School House ........B7 S p o r ts. . . . . . . . . . . . B 1 1 Real Estate..........B25 Calendar ......B26
facebook.com/vestaviavoice
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #830
F
The 14-hour endurance road race was the debut event for Pinkerton’s three-driver Slysdexic Racing team, who drove a Volkswagen Golf No. 247 that they rebuilt themselves through sponsorships from Waffle House, Parts 4 VWs and Advanced Clutch. The full-time team consists of Pinkerton and Evan Maynard, a sophomore mechanical engineering student at Auburn University. The two met when they were both freshmen at Auburn
who shared an interest in motorsports. Maynard had already rebuilt the engine of the VW 247, and after spending time driving on racing simulators, decided to compete. The two formed Slysdexic, and Pinkerton and Maynard now do the work of an entire race team. Maynard, who is the team owner, handles
See PINKERTON | page A30
Recreating Sicard Hollow By SYDNEY CROMWELL
Road Improvement study
Potential new public works facility
Potential new road connection
O
Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex Future pedestrian tunnel
Future community park
Several projects are planned for the Sicard Hollow Road area, including a park, pedestrian tunnel and road paving.
Google Maps
n four wheels or two feet, Sicard Hollow Road is not an easy road to travel. School traffic and the lack of sidewalks make it a challenge for the city. “You have existing traffic and transportation issues in a recreation center of Vestavia Hills. That’s on our minds as we look at the future,” City Manager Jeff Downes said. The groundwork is being laid for improvements at Sicard Hollow Road, with old projects taking the next step and new projects about to begin.
Planning a new park The proposed community park next to Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex has been planned for a long time. At one point, the Parks and Recreation Foundation had hoped to finish development on the 40 acres of former mining land by the end of 2015. So far, clearing and prepping the land has been the only progress. Foundation Executive Director Leigh Belcher said the design and fundraising process is ongoing, and details about what will be included at the park will be finalized by the beginning of 2016.
See HOLLOW | page A31
DISCOVER THE MANY REASONS HOMEOWNERS ARE GIVING THANKS THIS holiday season.
Proudly keeping homes cleaner and healthier since 1987
871-9338 www.MAIDS.com
AV
Referred for a reason.
A2 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
faster
• Custom run plans • Weekly speedwork • Goal race training • Boston Marathon qualification training • Team race events
“I have had huge PRs & shaved off my times: 7 minutes off 5k 8 minutes off 10k 3 minutes off half 6 minutes off marathon”
~Shilonqua, marathoner
APSA-1006_2.pdf
1
8/18/15
11:29 AM
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A3
A PUBLIC NOTICE FROM ALABAMA POWER
TREE CREWS WORKING IN VESTAVIA THROUGH EARLY 2016 Alabama Power crews are working in several Vestavia neighborhoods, removing trees and other vegetation that threaten the safety and reliability of our electrical system. As part of this process, Alabama Power goes to great lengths to talk with individual property owners. Company representatives are going door to door, leaving notices at locations where work is needed. If you have any questions before crews come by your home, please call Alabama Power at 205-257-2155 and ask for someone in the Vegetation Management Group to contact you. Or you can email us at apcvm@southernco.com. Work in Vestavia and nearby areas is expected to continue through early 2016. Also, you can go online to alpwr.co/vm for more information about these safety and reliability measures, as well as resources for property owners who would like recommendations about planting the right tree in the right place.
Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate your business. Vegetation Management Group 205-257-2155 | apcvm@southernco.com
Š 2015 Alabama Power Company.
A4 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
About Us Photo of the Month
Support our sponsors 30 A Realty (B27) Achieve Clinical Research (B26) Alabama Acura Dealers/Birmingham (R.P.A)/King Acura (B4) Alabama Goods (A28) Alabama Outdoors (B1) Alabama Power (B2) Alan’s Express Jewelry Repair (A18) Anytime Fitness – Vestavia (A11) ARC Realty (B5) Ashway Press (A11) Barganier & LeCroy Dentistry (B12) Batts’ Chimney Services (A12) Becky Hicks -Remax Southern Homes (A19) Bedzzz Express (A32) Birmingham Bake & Cook Co. (B18) Birmingham Ballet (B7) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A10) Bistro V (A30) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A5, A26) Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (B16) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Pharmacy (B24) Cahaba Valley Plumbing (A13) Case Remodeling (A15)
Several school musical groups performed at the new city hall, including the Pizitz jazz band. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Chickadee (B18) Christmas Village (B10) Clark Holmes (A30) Cummings Jewelry Design (B19) Dawson Music Academy (A24) Dermatology & Skin Care Center of Birmingham (B6)
Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell
Dirty Hippie (B14) Doorstep Delivery (A27) ERA King Real Estate Homewood (A31)
Normally, I write this note each month focused on the content inside the pages you’re about to read. However, this month I’m preoccupied with thoughts of my own family. I have a wonderful grandfather. Aside from sharing a name – Sidney and Sydney – some of the best memories of my childhood include him. He was always encouraging me to be adventurous and inquisitive, while also being someone I could look up to. He served in the Air Force, traveled the world, bicycled across states and always looked cool on his motorcycle. Now in his 80s, my grandfather’s health
recently took a downward turn, so I returned to Tennessee to visit him and my grandmother for a weekend. His face lit up the way it does every time he sees me. We could have talked about how he was feeling or the things he’s now unable to do, but we didn’t. We sat out in the driveway with my father and talked about the places he’s gone and the marathons he’s run. He offered to train me if I wanted to run one, too. When he got tired, we went inside and watched TV together. I know that when my grandfather is gone, that’s going to be one of the memories I come back
to – sitting in the sun, just enjoying each other’s company. Everyone’s been told before to treasure time with their loved ones and hold on to the memories. You and I already know that. But I could have chosen to let my busy life take precedence and stayed here in Birmingham – I almost gave into the thought ‘There’s always another weekend.’ If I had, I would have missed out on that visit with my grandfather. I’m so glad I didn’t.
Eye Do (A8) Fancy Goods Variety (A15) Gardner Landscaping (A8) Grandview Medical Center (B3) Greenhalgh Insurance Agency (B19) Homewood Toy & Hobby (B7) Interiors by Kathy Harris (B21) IronTrust Insurance (A9) Issis & Sons / O Advertising (A17) Jimmie Hale Mission (A18) JJ Eyes (A29) Junior League of Birmingham (A25) Klinglers Cafe & Catering (B12) Korduroy Krocodile (B10) Levy’s Fine Jewelry (A16) Manda Luccasen, Re/MAX Southern Homes (A23) Meld Financial (B20) Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware (A14) Moss Rock Festival/Magic City Art Connection (B25) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (A28)
Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Sports Editor: Page Designer: Community Reporters: Staff Writer: Associate Editor: Copy Editor: Graphic Design: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution:
Contributing Writers:
Contributing Photographer: Intern:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams David Knox Cameron Tipton Ana Good Erica Techo Jon Anderson Emily Featherston Lucy Ridolphi Louisa Jeffries Andrew Anderson Matthew Allen Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Kari Kampakis Rick Watson Leah Ingram Eagle Marienne Thomas Ogle Steve Irvine Rachel Burchfield Chris Megginson Jesse Chambers Grace Thornton Frank Couch Sam Chandler
Murphree’s Market & Garden Center (B21) Pappas’ Grill (B16) Phoenix Builders (B14) Planet Fitness (B15) Red Pearl Restaurant (A24) Rehaba (A7) Resolute Running Training Center (A2) Rosalie Pribbenow, ARC Realty (A6)
Contact Information: Vestavia Voice #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@vestaviavoice.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by : Starnes Publishing LLC
For advertising contact: dan@vestaviavoice.com
Royal Automotive (B28) Sarver Orthodontics (A9) Spink Dentistry (B22) State Farm Ronald M. Jones (B23) Studio A (B23) The Blue Willow (B20) The Cook Store (B16) The Dog House (B24) The Maids (A1) The Ridge Eat & Drink (B10) The UPS Store - Cahaba Heights (B17)
Legals: Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic
content without prior permission is prohibited. The Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in the Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of the Vestavia Voice. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
Please recycle this paper
Tom Williams BMW (B13) UAB Comprehensive Stroke Center (A3) United Car Care Center (B17) Uptown Nail Spa (A10) Urban Home Market (A21) Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce (B9) Vestavia Sunoco and Tire Express (B11) Viva Health Care (A26) Water Drainage Solutions (A12)
VestaviaVoice.com
John Hardy and Dot Collection are Registered Trademarks.
November 2015 • A5
Artisan-Crafted Dot Artisan-Crafted DotCollection Collection
Fall 2015 Trunk Show Wednesday, November 18 th 10am–5pm The Summit Thursday, November 19 th 10am–5pm Mountain Brook 20151007_Bromberg_Newspaper_DotImage1.indd 1
Account Name
BROMBERG
10/9/15 9:52 AM
A6 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Mayor’s Minute
By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza I would like to thank the participants who came out to the open house for our new city hall on Oct. 13. I’d also like to thank the volunteers, businesses, chamber of commerce and the school system for helping to make the event possible, as well as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for their performance. If you were unable to attend the open house, I would encourage you to visit our new facilities. We would be glad to show you around. On the economic development side, the Sprouts and Patchwork Farms projects are moving forward. We are able to announce that Publix will be the anchor grocery store in the Patchwork retail development. We are continuing to move forward with our city rebranding efforts. We recently launched our new website, vhal.org, and I encourage you to visit it. The website is designed to include what residents said they wanted to see, to make
it as user-friendly as possible. Our new business district signs should begin appearing in the next two to three months as we highlight those areas of our city. I want to remind citizens about our new financial portal online, which allows residents to view the city’s revenues and expenditures. We believe this will bring more transparency into the finances of our city. I would also ask that you watch for more information in the Voice and the city newsletter about the upcoming Holiday in the Hills events. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza
Your Pie headed to Liberty Park By SYDNEY CROMWELL
A
new pizza restaurant is set to be open for business in Liberty Park by fall 2016. Your Pie is a fast casual restaurant chain based out of Georgia offering $8 pizzas with customizable toppings. Lloyd Peeples, the Birmingham-area franchisee, said the Liberty Park Your Pie will be the second of three in the area. Peeples said the pizza chain will occupy 2,500 square feet inside a new building to be built near 8000 Liberty Parkway. He will take possession of his space by July 1, 2016, and anticipates opening for business in late summer or early fall. Part of the appeal of Liberty Park, Peeples said,
Vestavia-based Life Labs receives award
is that there aren’t other pizza restaurants in the Liberty Park area. He thinks Your Pie will also be popular with youth teams playing at the nearby Liberty Park and Sicard Hollow athletic complexes.“There seems to be a void for pizza,” Peeples said. He is currently getting ready to open a store in Homewood in December, and is looking for a downtown spot to open in 2016 as well. Since he lives nearby, Peeples said a Liberty Park store makes a lot of sense, but he will divide his time equally between the three locations. “I obviously like the food and like the concept, so I want one close to me,” Peeples said. Visit yourpie.com to learn more about the chain.
Zach White, founder of Wish2Enrich, stands with Life Labs founder Noelle Ward. Photo courtesy of Noelle Ward.
Life Labs received the Alabama Enrichment Provider of the Year award this weekend. The award was presented by Wish2Enrich, a nonprofit that partners with community organizations and schools to enrich the lives of children with hardships, at a fundraising event on Saturday, Oct. 17. Life Labs was started by Vestavia Hills resident Noelle Ward as a way to improve the work pool in Vestavia, Homewood and Hoover. Life Labs aims to teach etiquette, conversation skills and respect. Life Labs was one of 12 organizations nominated for the award, and community votes helped determine the winner.
“Life Labs won based on the support we had in the community,” Ward said. Winning as an organization that is less than a year old was “huge,” Ward said, and she thanked the community for support. Life Labs mainly partners with schools, but growing interest at schools Life Labs does not work with has led to a few community sessions. “They want to be able to participate, but we don’t have it in their school yet, so we’re having a few that are open to the public,” Ward said. For more information about Life Labs workshops, visit thelifelabs.net.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A7
Council OKs Rocky Ridge entertainment district T
he Vestavia Hills City Council voted unanimously to establish the Rocky Ridge entertainment district at their Oct. 12 meeting. Mayor Butch Zaragoza re-opened the public hearing from the Sept. 28 meeting, but the public offered no further comments. The district takes advantage of a new state law that allows the city to create entertainment districts where patrons can consume alcohol from open containers if they are outside a licensed restaurant or bar in the district. Zaragoza said he thinks the districts will be primarily used for special events such as concerts and art shows. The council’s approval came with an amendment, proposed at the Sept. 28 meeting, to limit the hours the district is in effect to noon-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from noon-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. However, the city manager has the right to issue a waiver if an approved event needs extra time. After the vote, Zaragoza said he wanted to make a point that the ordinance has provisions to prevent much of the problems residents were concerned about, and that the council would be monitoring the situation. “I think what we’re trying to do here is encourage people to continue to stay in Vestavia Hills and work with our merchants in that area,” Zaragoza said. The city is considering other locations for future entertainment districts, but none have been named so far.
Other Council Business The parks and recreation board will be taking a new member on Jan. 1, 2016. Applications are available online or by contacting the City Clerk’s office, and interviews will be held in November. The library board is also accepting applications within the same time frame, with the new member also being taken on Jan. 1, 2016. The council took a five-minute break to inspect a new fire engine that was commissioned on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The council voted to approve a resolution
Council members view their newly commissioned fire engine. Photo by Emily Featherston.
authorizing the city manager to execute and deliver an agreement on an APPLE project study on Acton Road. The project will look at solutions to traffic congestion. The council voted to approve the rezoning of 513 Montgomery Highway, the current location of the Vestavia Hills Municipal Center, in order for a Chick-fil-A to be built. The council hopes to close on the property by Nov. 30, and Chickfil-A representatives hope to begin construction on the same date, with a projected opening of April 2016.
The council voted 4-1 to approve a conditional use for home occupation for 3794 Poe Drive, with Mayor Zaragoza voting against. The council voted to approve a conditional use for home occupation at 4191 Vestview Drive. The council voted to rezone 3127 Blue Lake Drive and 4565 Pine Tree Circle for mix-use development, with an office and retail mix. The council voted to rezone 4209 Autumn Lane to a neighborhood business district, with uses limited to professional office use. The council voted to rezone 3117 and 3121
Blue Lake Drive to an office district. The council voted to approve a beer and wine license for UAT, Inc. for a Cahaba Heights Texaco. The council voted to approve a resolution to deliver an agreement to ALDOT for an ATRIP grant to re-pave Rocky Ridge Road from US 280 to Lorna Road. The multi-jurisdiction agreement will cost the city $190,000, with the funds coming from either the capital improvement fund or the gas tax.
A8 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Publix sign appears at Patchwork Farms By EMILY FEATHERSTON Work on the Patchwork Farms development project is “moving along extremely well” according to Doug Neil, vice president of development at Daniel Corporation. “Everything to date is going as planned,” Neil said. For most, the biggest development in the project is the recent sign that appeared at Patchwork Farms along Cahaba River Road in early October indicating that Publix was the intended major tenant. The sign has caused speculation, but Blackwater Resources, the site’s leasing agency, would not comment on the matter. Aside from Publix, Neil said the retail area will also house several restaurants and boutique stores, and have the “village feel” he said the city was looking for. Neil said infrastructure improvements to the water, sewer, gas and electricity connections should be finalized by early to mid November. Construction on the retail portion of the project is slated to begin around the same time, with a completion date of Fall 2016. Neil said that many of the other portions of the development are well underway, with construction having already begun on Aspire Healthcare and the health-related facilities, the luxury apartments and the senior living facilities. Aspire and the Vestavia Reserve development are set to be complete in summer 2016, with the senior living wrapping up in winter of 2016 or spring 2017. City Manager Jeff Downes said the city is excited to move from the “intense planning” stage to the construction stages of the project. “We have every portion of Patchwork Farms engaged in some type of redevelopment or development,” Downes said. “To see all of this come to a reality and those real estate transactions to materialize is something that is gratifying. As you look over the
A sign has appeared at Patchwork Farms announcing Publix as its anchor retailer, but Blackwater Resources has declined to comment, citing ongoing lease negotiations. Photo by Emily Featherston.
horizon of Patchwork Farms and see the projects going vertical, again it’s a gratifying feeling to see that happen.” Both Neil and Downes said they think now that Grandview Medical Center is officially open, the need and desire for a pedestrian-friendly retail space will become more apparent. “Grandview is a tremendous asset for this area, bringing not only much-needed healthcare, but will bring a significant employment component to the 280 corridor,” Neil said. “I think the Patchwork Farms project will
have great synergy and is really designed to complement the economic activity that’s being driven by the opening of Grandview.” Downes echoed Neil’s thoughts, adding that he thinks residents are going to see “a dramatically different corridor” thanks to Grandview, as he thinks the hospital is an “economic engine” for the area. As construction begins on the retail-portion of the Patchwork Farms project and continues on the other areas, Downes said the city is working to minimize nuisances, especially with traffic. “With any progress, there is some
inconvenience,” Downes said. “We recognize that with growth and new businesses, offices and otherwise, there does become and issue with traffic. We have numerous road projects that are in the works to try to mitigate some of that.” Downes said the city is working with multiple jurisdictions and private parties to improve Cahaba River Road and improve signal timing to keep traffic flowing. Overall, he said the high quality of the construction should reduce the level of inconvenient residence experience.
Our Services
EYE
WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR EYE CARE.
Full Service Landscaping Installation & Design Irrigation Systems Outdoor Living Areas Landscape Lighting Walkways, Walls, Patios, Stonework Fences, Decks, Gazebos Mulch, Pine Straw Lawn Maintenance Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Sod Lawn Aeration Landscape Clean-Up Drainage Systems Fertilization & Weed Control
Providi n High Q g uality Service an Custom d e r Satisfa ction!
Make Your Dreams A Reality CALL
205-823-3168 205-401-3347
www.GardnerLandscapingLLC.com
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A9
Cahaba Heights protests apartment proposal By SYDNEY CROMWELL
W
hen the planning commission recommended a new Cahaba Heights mixedused development proposal in September, residents packed city hall and overflowed into the parking lot. As they prepared for the city council vote on Oct. 26, Abby Brady said she was expecting an even bigger crowd. Brady has been one of the organizers of the Cahaba Heights community’s opposition to the development, which consists of retail and luxury apartments across from Cahaba Heights Elementary. The community group has come together around the slogan “Not in Our Schoolyard.” The proposal, presented by Steven Hydinger of BREC Development, involves an 81-unit, four-story apartment complex with retail and restaurant areas on the first floor and in a second building. It also includes on and off-street parking and a new road to connect Dolly Ridge Road and Oakview Lane in front of the school. Residents and students held signs with the slogan outside city hall at the September meeting. Brady said on National Walk to School Day in October, she and other organizers gave stickers and signs to parents as they walked children to school. One of the primary concerns about the proposed development is its impact on the walkability of the neighborhood and safety of children walking to school. Their other concerns include the density of apartments, the height of the building, additional students at the school and the amount of available parking. Plus, most residents feel the plan does not match their vision for the community or its master plan. Brady said the group hired lawyer Ken Thompson to provide research and advice for Cahaba Heights residents in advance of the final vote. With a petition with 1,800 signatures on it, Brady feels confident that she’s representing the feelings of most of the neighborhood. On Oct. 12, the Cahaba Heights Community
Students of Cahaba Heights Elementary protest a proposed mixed use development near their school at the September planning commission meeting. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Foundation filed for its 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Brady said the nonprofit’s goal will be to preserve the Cahaba Heights community master plan, protect its students, collaborate with the city to enhance residents’ lives and educate the neighborhood on community matters. The Foundation will continue in these goals after the Oct. 26 vote. Brady said several members of the nonprofit’s board of directors are in the Cahaba Heights Elementary PTO. If the Foundation decides to dissolve in the future, all of its assets will go to the PTO. The council discussion and vote on the Cahaba Heights mixed-use development was on Oct. 26, after the Vestavia Voice’s press deadline. For updates on the vote outcome, visit vestaviavoice.com.
A10 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Vestavia Hills school system, police recognized for public safety efforts Health advocates propose placing bleeding control kits in public places By JON ANDERSON
Rusty Lowe, executive officer for the Hoover Fire Department, demonstrates how to use a bleeding control kit to save lives. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Vestavia Hills City Schools and the Vestavia Hills Police Department are on the cutting edge of national public safety efforts to stop people from bleeding to death, the executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers said in late September. The Vestavia Hills school system became among the first in the country to buy bleeding control kits to install in all its schools, said Mo Canady, who leads the national organization based in Hoover. The school system purchased 30 of the kits and this summer put 21 of them next to every automated external defibrillator (AED) that is used to treat cardiac arrest, said David Howard, director of administrative services for Vestavia Hills schools. Nine more were bought for each school nurse to have one, Howard said. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department trained the school nurses how to use them, and the nurses in turn will train other school personnel, Howard said. Canady also recognized the Vestavia Hills Police Department, which bought 82 mass casualty bags so each of its police officers could have bleeding control tools, too. Across the nation, surgeons, first responders and public safety officials are pushing for more schools and public buildings to install the bleeding control kits because too many people are bleeding to death when
their deaths could be prevented by simple actions. Common tools in the kits include combat gauze used to pack wounds, gloves, shears and a tourniquet to stop the flow of blood through veins or arteries. The push for these tools was spurred by the increase in intentional mass-casualty events such as the Boston Marathon bombing and mass shootings in schools, theaters and shopping malls, said Rusty Lowe, executive officer for the Hoover Fire Department. It’s becoming more common to have many people wounded in situations where it takes time to get professional medical personnel on the scene. Some simple actions to stop bleeding can make a world of difference in saving someone’s life. The American College of Surgeons a couple of years ago formed a committee to find ways to increase survival rates from mass-casualty events. They met twice in 2013 and again in April of this year and developed recommendations for action, including equipping law enforcement officers with bleeding control kits and putting them in public places so bystanders can use them, too. Canady said it’s important for police and school officials to get on board with this effort. “It’s critical we make sure we’re equipping our folks with the right tools and right materials to deal with that,” Canady said.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A11
Council approves Altadena rezoning and annexation
Development plans for a new city park include four fields to be used for soccer, lacrosse and football, two fields for youth softball or baseball and about 25 acres of land to be used as a passive park. Photo courtesy of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood.
By JON ANDERSON The Vestavia Hills City Council has approved the annexation and rezoning of the 100-plus-acre Altadena Valley Country Club property off Acton Road. The action paves the way for a new 70-acre city park, new 22-acre subdivision with 66 houses and about 10 acres of commercial land along Acton Road, said Chris Eckroate, an engineer with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood who is working on behalf of the city. The rezoning also includes a strip of agricultural land along the Cahaba River and an additional single lot for one house. Plans for the city park include four fields to be used for soccer, lacrosse and football, two fields for youth softball or baseball and about 25 acres of land to be used as a passive park, Eckroate said. The 66-house subdivision would include lots that are mostly 60 feet wide by 120 feet deep and houses with 3,500 to 4,500 square feet and priced between $500,000 to $800,000, said David Stovall, an engineer representing Keith Development Co. No one spoke against the development plans outright during the Sept. 28 council meeting, but several residents expressed strong concern about the amount of additional traffic that will be generated on Acton Road by the development. The park parking lot would be built to hold 400 to 500 cars, Eckroate said. The current master plan for the city park shows traffic emptying only onto Lakeland Trail, a residential street off Acton Road. Eckroate said the development plans should increase traffic in the area by 8 percent each of the first two years and 4 percent each in the third and fourth year. However, the additional traffic should be manageable if left turns are not allowed off of Lakeland Trail onto Acton during peak morning and afternoon traffic periods on weekdays, he said. Additionally, Keith Development has a tentative agreement to purchase additional property along Acton Road next to the BeKare Child Development Center that could potentially allow for an entrance to
the park from the western end of the property. Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood will work on planning for an entrance on that side of the park, including the potential for a traffic light. Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza said city officials would much prefer to have the park entrance on the western side, away from the residential area. City leaders also plan to work with Jefferson County to study ways to realign and improve Acton Road between Interstate 459 and Camp Horner Road, Zaragoza said. The goal is to straighten out the sharp curves and study whether widening the road will help alleviate traffic congestion, he said. Current plans call for the park to be developed in phases, with a couple of football fields and the passive park being in the first phase, two soccer fields, a play structure and canoe launch in the second phase, and two baseball/softball fields in the third phase, Eckroate said. The order of that development is subject to change, he said. The city also hopes to leave as many trees as possible on the edges of the park property that border other homes and may be able to add more landscaping in some places to strengthen buffers, Eckroate said. Several residents in adjacent unincorporated land said they’re concerned about having a good law enforcement presence in the area once the park is added and more people are coming there. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is understaffed and can’t properly serve their neighborhood, they said. Vestavia Hills police Chief Dan Rary said his department routinely backs up Jefferson County in that area and will have patrol cars going through the park regularly once it is built. The Vestavia Hills City Council also on Sept. 28 voted to annex and rezone land at the corner of Rocky Ridge Road and Wisteria Drive to make way for a 45-house subdivision to be called Sound Bend, priced from the mid-$500,000s to upper $600,000s.
A12 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Ov er
to n
Rd
Vestavia Hills 18 Street S.
Business Happenings Rosedale Dr
280
28 Ave S th
31
r Rd
oo Oxm
e Av ey
er Ov epe
nd
enc eD
r
Overton Rd
149
sH ng pri
nS ee Gr
ore
esh Lak
Dr
459 Rd
d
9
id
ge
wy
10
de Sha
Bl
ue
L
e Av rd
31
11
4 459
1 Rd
5
Ridge
d
m
er y
Hw
aR bian
65
7
yS
m Colu
12
Rocky
fo Al
on tg o
W
d
3
y
Cahaba Heights Rd
La ke R
w Pk re
ho
es ak
280
ck
Rd
Ro
est s Cr
yR
149
65
M
or R
o Oxm
Rd
Liberty Pkwy
Ind
ll Va
n to
2
6
8
“When it rains, we drain!”
244-1114 Heavy Runoff ? Standing Water? Erosion Problems? Storm Drainage Clogged? WaterDrainageSolutions.com
VestaviaVoice.com
Now Open Natural Nail Spa, 2500 Rocky Ridge Road, is now open. Boutique hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm; Saturday, 9am6pm; and Sunday by appointment only. They offer manicures and pedicures, specializing in mani-pedis. 637-0914, natural-nail-spa.com
1
Over Easy has opened its second area location in Dolly Ridge Station, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 153. 518-5722, overeasybham.com
2
Relocations and Renovations Zeekee Interactive is relocating to the Vestavia City Center in the former Calypso Joe’s space. In addition to website design, development and digital marketing, Zeekee now offers full media related services including public relations, video production and photography. 977-2296, zeekeeinteractive.com
3
News and Accomplishments Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware, 3354 Morgan Drive, is now an authorized ECHO Dealer. They are also now carrying Amy Howard Paint 979-5444
4
Iz Cafe, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, is launching a new menu including handcrafted sandwiches, craft beers and a selection of wines. They will have extended hours and special events in the future. 979-7570, everythingiz.com
5
November 2015 • A13
Hirings and Promotions Valerie Kemp has joined RE/MAX Over the Mountain, 2870 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 100, as a sales associate specializing in residential sales. 970-1080, remaov14.remax-alabama.com
6
Malinda Henderson, LSP has joined The Chad Watts Allstate Agency, 2534 Rocky Ridge Road. 641-3043
7
RealtySouth’s Over the Mountain Acton Road Office, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137, welcomed Katie Catanzano, Kevin Fehr and Kaylee Holmes as new agents. 978-9000, realtysouth.com
8
Greenhalgh Insurance Agency, 3144 Cahaba Heights Road, has hired James Brown as a commercial lines insurance producer. 967-8800, greenhalghinsurance.com
9
Anniversaries Jewels by Rose, 619 Montgomery Highway, celebrated its 39th anniversary on September 30. The store, owned by Donna Jowers, specializes in diamonds, estate jewelry and jewelry repair. 979-5611, jewelsbyrose.net
10
Monogram’s Plus, 1360 Montgomery Hwy. Ste 122, celebrated its 25th anniversary. The store offers monogramming, gifts, clothing and more. 822-3353, shopmonogramsplus.com
11
Closings 12
Philly Connection, 1360 Montgomery Highway, has closed.
Business news
to share? Now Open Coming Soon
Relocation Expansion Anniversary
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Vestavia Hills and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
Email dan@vestaviavoice.com
15% off
The Entire Labor Portion of the Bill
A14 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Kicking the suit goodbye
By SAM CHANDLER
E
ven as a kid who practiced martial arts, Daryl Lewis never imagined he would one day open his own kickboxing studio. “This is something that was totally unexpected,” Lewis said. After spending the first 12 years of his professional career at Wells Fargo, first in sales and then in home preservation, Lewis was content with the direction of his future. “I hate to say it, but working in corporate America, you start rising up the food chain and stuff like that, you start getting a little comfortable. I just kind of envisioned myself working in corporate America for the rest of my life,” he said. But all of that changed in August 2014, when Lewis and a slew of other workers at the Birmingham Wells Fargo branch were laid off. “I guess we worked ourselves out of a job. As the economy started to get better, there were fewer and fewer reasons to have huge sites full of home preservation activities,” Lewis said. And so the journey to find a new career began. Open to a variety of ideas, Lewis considered an extensive array of options, ranging from franchising a McDonald’s to opening a gas station. Regardless of the path he chose, one thing was certain: he would be his own boss. “When we wind up getting laid off, it just kind of puts you in a situation where you just never want to find yourself in that situation again,” he said. Determined to take control of his own destiny, Lewis quickly identified a key element to guide his business search. “What really helped me narrow down my selection was just that fun factor,” Lewis said. “I was like, ‘what do you want do for the rest of your life?’ It really came down to I want to have fun. I want to cut loose and just have a good time.” And that’s when he discovered iLoveKickboxing.
iLoveKickboxing.com 790 Montgomery Hwy, Suite #124 ilovekickboxing.com 379-8815
Partner drills are just one way that iLoveKickboxing.com keeps their 60-minute workouts fresh. “We try to be a little bit different. We’re a little bit edgy. We just like to have fun,” owner Daryl Lewis said. Photo by Sam Chandler.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A15 Left: The iLoveKickboxing.com staff from left to right: Shireen Zandi, Lashawnda Walker, Miyoka Berry, Daryl Lewis, Sireana Ferns, Brandi Yaghmai, Kennan Henderson. Photo by Sam Chandler. Below: Chandrel Wright-Richardson, left, and instructor Miyoka Berry, right, pose for a post-workout picture at the completion of a kickboxing class. Since attending her first class on Aug. 17, iLoveKickboxing.com has put a spark in Wright-Richardson’s workout routine. “This is where you want to be,” she said. Photo by Sam Chandler.
com, a chain of kickboxing fitness studios with 102 locations in the United States, Canada and worldwide. But, as Lewis quickly found out, there was not a single location in Alabama. Finding a business that not only met his personal search criteria but also filled a market need, Lewis was sold. And, as fate would have it, he opened the state’s first iLoveKickboxing.com franchise in the Vestavia Hills City Center on Aug. 17, nearly a year to the date after he lost his job at Wells Fargo. “I tried to find something that was unique, something that I was personally interested in and just something that there was really no bad aspect of it. You come in, you have fun, you lose weight and you feel great,” Lewis said.
Currently, Lewis’ studio offers two hour-long group classes per day Monday-Saturday, with future plans of expanding the daily schedule to six classes. Each 60-minute session is broken down into three parts – warm-up, bag drills and partner drills – and incorporates a fresh mix of cardio, resistance and circuit training that changes on a daily basis. What sets iLoveKickboxing.com apart, however, is the personalized attention each participant receives. Each class is led by two to five trained and energetic instructors who provide technical guidance along with shouts of motivation and encouragement. The studio’s staff, which currently consists of six part-time employees excluding Lewis, is engaging and bubbling with enthusiasm, dedicated
to helping participants reach their fitness goals. “We’re not like a typical gym that just kind of takes your money and could care less if you’re there,” Lewis said. “We want you here.” The people have taken notice. Over 100 members have already joined, registering for either a six-month payment plan (eight-month membership with two months free) or 11-month payment plan (13-month membership with two months free), and hundreds more are pre-registered for a trial class. “We’ve gotten an overwhelming positive response,” Lewis said. For those wanting to experience what the new business has to offer, three-class and five-class trial memberships are available for $19.99 and $29.99, respectively, and include a free pair of
boxing gloves. Vestavia Hills resident Lindy McCullers attended her first ever kickboxing class on Aug. 31 and was immediately sold. She signed up for a membership at the class’ conclusion. “I was looking for a niche that I could find and get myself into with working out,” McCullers said. McCalla resident Chandrel Wright-Richardson echoed McCullers’ sentiment. After working out for a year both on her own and with a personal trainer, Wright-Richardson was getting bored with the same old routine. And then she heard about iLoveKickboxing.com. “I love it. I come three to four days a week, every week now,” she said. “This was the amp that I needed to get me reenergized and into the workout routine. I won’t miss a class.”
A16 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Myers discusses World Games with Chamber By ERICA TECHO
T
he World Games are coming to Birmingham in six years. At the October Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Scott Myers discussed how the city made it to this point. As the executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Myers said he recognized the potential Birmingham had as a host city. The 2013 World Games were held in Cali, Columbia, and the 2017 World Games are set for Wroclaw, Poland. “I started thinking, we’ve got all the venues in the greater Birmingham area that we saw in Cali, Columbia,” Myers said. “…I started thinking, they’re in Wroclaw, Poland in 2017 – Why not Birmingham?” From there, they started the process toward getting an endorsement from the U.S. Olympic Committee and formulating a bid. The U.S. Olympic Committee’s endorsement also excluded any other city in the country from bidding on the games, Myers said. They then compiled a bid document after speaking with community leaders in the Birmingham area. “We called upon the leaders of industry, whether it was security, or transportation, or ceremonies,” Myers said. “We called upon the leaders in the city to be involved in this process and help build this bid. It was a daunting task.” Birmingham was selected as a final city in September 2014 and hosted the International World Games Association (IWGA) Site Selection Committee that October. The venues and preexisting infrastructure were a draw, Myers said. He noted that Samford University’s housing capabilities impressed some of the selection committee members. Myers also said they took the committee to Tuscaloosa for an Alabama football game to show them the crowd. “We assured them that was also the type of crowd they would have for korfball and net ball and fist ball,” Myers said. “They didn’t
Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Scott Myers speaks at the Oct. 13 Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Photo by Erica Techo.
believe it. I also told them it was 72 with a slight breeze in July in Birmingham – they knew the answer to that question as well.” The city signed the agreement in April 2015. One difference between Birmingham’s bid and the bid from the two other finalist cities was Lima, Peru, and Ufa, Russia, proposed mainly publicly funded bids, Myers said. Birmingham’s $75 million budget, Myers said, is less than 6 percent public funding. One advantage for Birmingham, Myers said, is the existing facilities. “This is not about building any new facilities,” he said. “In fact, we need no new facilities. Not
$1 of our budget is set aside toward any kind of building fund. …We’ve got everything in place today, with a little upkeep, that can house these games.” The games could bring an economic impact of around $256 million, Myers said, and will bring in around 4,500 athletes from more than 100 countries. Myers also discussed the potential for further opportunity in the community. He said the greater Birmingham area should take full advantage of the games, providing the example of using it as an educational opportunity. They are working with Birmingham City
Schools to have the city’s 18 middle schools each adopt a city. From now until the games in 2021, those students will study the culture, customs and even languages of the cities participating in the World Games. “When the games come in 2021, we will have built a group of attachés that are essentially knowledgeable about their customs or cultures,” Myers said. “… It gets our kids in the middle school thinking globally, in the global economy.” For more information about the 2021 World Games, including volunteer opportunities, visit theworldgames2021.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2015 • A17
Showing off ‘A Life Above’ By RACHEL BURCHFIELD The City of Vestavia Hills has a new city hall – and some award-winning photographs of the city to go on its walls. Photographer George Ritchey approached
city manager Jeff Downes about organizing a photography contest, and “A Life Above” photo contest was born. Taking its name from the city’s motto, the contest drew over 70 submissions in three categories – professional, adult amateur, and student. Participants were
tasked with capturing the beauty of Vestavia Hills from behind the lens, and a panel of judges – many of whom are professional photographers, including Ritchey – chose winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in each category.
WINNER
Professional Winner – David Leong, “Pizitz Cheerleaders on Golf Course”
Pizitz cheerleaders on golf course. Photo by David Leong.
The winners received cash prizes and their photographs were on display when city hall opened its doors. Read below to meet the winner of each category and see their winning photograph.
David Leong doesn’t normally enter photo contests. After hearing about the “A Life Above” photo contest, he had no plans to change this habit until he learned what the competition was really about – promoting Vestavia Hills, a city he has lived in for 20 years and a community he said he very much enjoys being a part of. “I was just hoping for an honorable mention and was quite surprised to discover the photo won first place,” Leong said. “Any artist would be proud to have their work featured and appreciated, so I feel honored to have my photo displayed on the walls of our new City Hall.” Leong emerged victorious in the professional category. A freelance photographer that has been shooting digital since 1998, he is studio-less – “unless you count my garage sans our minivan,” he said – but has been offered money to take photographs. After oscillating between entering the professional category or the adult amateur category, this fact, and advice from a colleague, pushed him to enter the former category. “While I consider myself a freelance photographer, I enjoy other venues of photography, not excluding volunteering as the all-important class photographer for my kids,” Leong said. One of Leong’s three kids – eighthgrader Rachel – appears on the far right
of his photograph, entitled “Pizitz Cheerleaders on Golf Course.” The image – taken on June 15 of this year – captures four cheerleaders exuberantly jumping on the golf course of the Vestavia Hills Country Club. The four girls are all teammates on the eighth grade Louis Pizitz Middle School football/basketball cheerleading squad and were on the golf course taking photographs to use in their cheer sponsor posters. “That particular image was quite spontaneous since all the girls love being silly,” Leong said. The cheerleader on the far left, Emma, has her hair covering most of her face. “I apologized to Emma about submitting a photo with her hair in her face, but she was thrilled,” he said. The contest, Leong said, asked photographers to snap anything that the photographer felt captured the beauty of Vestavia Hills. “Not diminishing the many beautiful scenic landscapes of Vestavia, I elected to feature our city’s best asset – its people, in particular, its youth,” he said. “The photo had vibrant colors, blue skies, green grass, and cheerleaders jumping for joy. How can you not feel good about Vestavia Hills?”
Continued ON A18
A18 • October 2015
WINNER
Adult Amateur Winner – Larry Durham, “Sibyl Temple in a Cloud of Hydrangeas”
Sibyl Temple in a cloud of Hydrangeas. Photo by Larry Durham.
Vestavia Voice
Larry Durham knows the exact date his winning photograph, “Sibyl Temple in a Cloud of Hydrangeas,” was taken – May 15, 2012. “Aday.org asked people around the world to pick up their cameras to photograph daily life,” Durham said. “More than 100,000 images were submitted from 165 countries by both professional and amateur photographers.” It came from an idea by a Swedish nonprofit called Expressions of Humankind, who then published a coffee table book filled with images from those 24 hours. Durham’s photograph didn’t make the cut. He brought it out again for the “A Life Above” photo contest – and emerged the adult amateur winner. This isn’t the first time one of Durham’s photographs has been lauded, though. Durham said that five years ago he developed an interest in competitive rose photography. “Since then, I have won 34 juried awards and have had 11 images of roses and gardens included in annual calendars of the American Rose Society,” he said. Durham has been interested in photography since he was a boy and still has, with the exception of one, all of the cameras he has ever owned, dating back to when he was a child. He is now 74 years old. He and his wife of 50 years, Anne, enjoy traveling and taking photographs together, “individually and collaboratively,” he said. “Frequently, Anne will see the potential for a good photograph, point it out to me, and I’ll actually take the picture,” Durham said. Though he said Anne is a better
photographer than he is, it was only Durham shooting when his winning photograph was taken atop Shades Mountain along Highway 31. The photograph captures hydrangeas in the foreground and the Sybil Temple as the centerpiece. On his entry form, Durham explained the history of the temple. “The Sybil Temple is a replica of the Temple of Sybil in Tivoli, Italy,” he wrote. “Built in 1929 as a garden gazebo at Vestavia, the Shades Mountain estate of former Birmingham mayor George Ward, it was moved to its current location in the mid-1970s by the Vestavia Hills Garden Club, which still maintains it with the help of the City of Vestavia Hills.” Durham is a resident of Vestavia Hills and is a member of the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The Durhams have two grown children, both of whom also reside in Vestavia Hills with their spouses and children. All four of Durham’s grandchildren attend public schools in Vestavia Hills, he said. A Navy veteran, Durham’s career was split between higher education, the nuclear power industry, and consulting. Photography has always been an interest – over the last 10 years, he said, he has benefited from photography classes at UAB, Samford, and the Botanical Gardens. He is also a member of the Shades Valley Camera Club, where he found out about the “A Life Above” photo contest. “Had I not belonged to that group, I probably wouldn’t have even known about the contest,” he said.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2015 • A19
Arjun Lakhanpal said it was just said. a coincidence that his winning phoHe was right – two of the three tograph, “Future of Vestavia Hills,” winning photographs feature the included six girls – and no boys. temple. Even his sister, who also “I did not intend to just have entered the competition, used the girls in the picture, but they were temple as her muse. the first children that came to my “My sister had already taken a mind when I decided to do this pic- photograph of the temple at night for the competition,” he said. ture,” he said. Four of the girls are LakhanLakhanpal enjoys photography pal’s cousand takes ins, and pictures the other regularly, two are a By having the girls cross he said. He entered f r i e n d ’s their arms together, I has many comdaughters, wanted to show the unity p e t i t i o n s he said. “I chose amongst this diverse through his to capture school. group of kids. the diverse “ F o r population one comof Vestavia petition I with these children,” Lakhanpal got to go to Carnegie Hall in New said. “By having the girls cross York,” Lakhanpal said. “It was a their arms together, I wanted great experience being in such a to show the unity amongst this magnificent place.” diverse group of kids.” He credits his photography Lakhanpal, 16 and a junior at teacher at The Altamont School, The Altamont School, has been Mrs. Hunter, for helping him taking photography lessons at develop his love for photography. school since fifth grade. “I have seen so much through a “When I saw this competition camera lens that I probably would advertised at the beginning of the not have seen otherwise,” he said. summer, I thought it would be the Lakhanpal has been to India perfect opportunity to participate twice – the first time, he said, he since school was out,” he said. was not taking photography and The photograph, taken at the had no interest in visiting the sites. Sybil Temple over the summer, The next time he visited, it was a shows six girls looking forward, different story. metaphorically to the future. “At that time I was enrolled in “I thought the Sybil Temple was photography at Altamont and I the perfect place to take a picture, wanted to go see every possible but I wanted to do something dif- ruin, palace, statue and monument ferent because I knew there would not only during the day, but also at be a lot of photographs of the night just so I could take one more temple, as it is an important part photograph,” he said. of the City of Vestavia,” Lakhanpal In addition to photography,
“
WINNER
Student Winner – Arjun Lakhampal, “Future of Vestavia Hills”
”
Future of Vestavia Hills. Photo by Arjun Lakhanpal.
Lakhanpal is a sports lover – he both plays and coaches tennis, loves Auburn football and San Antonio Spurs basketball, and will watch any kind of sports,
he said. He was thrilled to learn that one of his photographs had netted him a victory. “I was so excited to hear that I had
won this Vestavia competition,” Lakhanpal said. “I think it will be really neat to have one of my photographs hung in the new City Hall.”
A20 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
City Hall gets a musical grand opening Photos by Sydney Cromwell
Members of the Pizitz jazz band perform outside City Hall.
A family enjoys dinner at the new City Hall.
Face painting was one of the popular kids’ activities.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra capped the High Notes event with a concert on the City Hall lawn.
City hal
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO
VV PHOTO The new City Hall held an evening celebration of its grand opening on Oct. 13.
Vestavia Belles were at High Notes to greet guests and hand out programs.
VV PHOTO
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A21
A22 • September 2015
Vestavia Voice
Patrolling with Vestavia Hills Police By ERICA TECHO Officer Corey Sarvaunt grew up in Vestavia Hills. He joined the police department around three years ago and is currently on the evening shift, patrolling from 3-11 p.m. Sarvaunt said he wanted a career in law enforcement for a long time. “Really all my life,” he said. “It’s something I always wanted to do.” The Vestavia Voice joined Sarvaunt to observe an evening of a VHPD officer.
2:30 p.m. Officers from day shift and evening shift meet at the police station to exchange information. At this time, they will discuss any cases that carry over between shifts, such as suspect vehicles or missing persons.
3:03 p.m. Sarvaunt begins patrolling neighborhoods in his beat area. Some have seen robberies in recent weeks, and even though the robberies have occurred during night shift, he keeps an eye out for open windows and doors or other signs of a potential break-in. “Even though it didn’t happen in our patrol, they [residents] like seeing us out here,” Sarvaunt said.
4:10 p.m. After talking with the juvenile’s grandmother for about an hour, Sarvaunt and one of his superiors decide the next step is to file an official missing juvenile report. The report means if the teen is picked up by an officer, even in a different jurisdiction, VHPD will be notified and he will be returned to his grandmother. Sarvaunt leaves a case number with the grandmother, informs her that a detective will be assigned to the case and returns to the police station to file the report.
5:09 p.m. Sarvaunt walks up to a man sitting in a car. The man is placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and put in the back of the police vehicle. As Sarvaunt searches the suspect’s car, the suspect kicks one of the back windows of the police vehicle. Another officer arrives on scene to wait for a tow truck for the suspect’s car.
7:46 p.m. Sarvaunt conducts a traffic stop for a vehicle that swerved onto the shoulder a few times. The driver’s information came back with no warrants, and Sarvaunt let him go with no charges.
8:51 p.m.
2:47 p.m. Sarvaunt leaves the station to start his patrol. Even with donuts and other sweets at the station, Sarvaunt said he doesn’t like to linger there for too long. “When I get there, I’m ready to work,” he said.
3:07 p.m. A missing juvenile report comes in. Sarvaunt has spoken with the family before and goes to talk with the 15-year-old’s grandmother. He said the teen is likely staying at a friend’s house.
4:48 p.m. Sarvaunt drives through Wald Park to check for the missing juvenile. He does not see the teen and continues on to patrol neighborhoods in the area. “Usually you start having burglary reports coming in around 5-o’clock,” Sarvaunt said.
5:48 p.m. After returning to the police station, Sarvaunt books the suspect, files paperwork and processes evidence.
7:20 p.m. Sarvaunt helps book and fingerprint a female prisoner. She had outstanding warrants at other departments, and Homewood PD was called to pick her up from the jail. While she was fingerprinted, she said she was a regular heroin user. The suspect began seizing while being processed, and medics were called to tend to her. Sgt. Richardson told the suspect the medics were coming and would take her to a hospital if she needed medical attention. He also said that an officer would go with her and an officer from Homewood PD would then pick her up.
7:56 p.m. Sarvaunt begins patrolling businesses in the area. “After it gets dark, it’s good to check these businesses because they keep a lot of expensive equipment back here,” he said.
9:20 p.m. Sarvaunt patrols around Vestavia Hills Elementary Central and surrounding areas for criminal activity. He stops to check a drainage culvert behind a school, where teenagers will paint graffiti and sometimes do drugs. No one is seen in the area.
9:49 p.m. Sarvaunt fills up his vehicle. Call volume and crimes vary by night, he said, but the goal is always to end the night safely. “If you go home safe, that’s a good day no matter what happened,” Sarvaunt said.
A call about a woman in a bathrobe walking along U.S. 31 comes in. Sarvaunt goes to meet the Homewood police officers on scene. Sarvaunt gives the woman a courtesy ride back to her residence.
10:27 p.m. Sarvaunt returns to the police station for shift change. He gets his equipment out of the vehicle and goes to talk with night shift officers, passing along information about the missing juvenile.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A23
S o ld!
1258 Buckhead Circle
S o ld!
1416 Buckhead Road
S o ld!
1729 Mountain Woods Circle
S o ld!
1905 Lincoya Court
S o ld!
2308 Fox Glen Circle
S o ld!
3018 South Cove Drive
S o ld!
3407 Buckhead Lane
S o ld!
4612 Old Looney Mill Road
A24 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Tuohy urges others to ‘turn around’ By SYDNEY CROMWELL
L
eigh Anne Tuohy’s life changed when she told her husband to turn the car around so she could talk to a young boy walking alone down the sidewalk. The boy, Michael Oher, became part of the Tuohy family and eventually an NFL football player, inspiring a book and movie titled “The Blind Side.”
“
My challenge to you is to do something today you didn’t do yesterday. Nothing exciting happens in your comfort zone.
”
At the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation luncheon on Oct. 8, Tuohy told the audience to look for ways to turn around and do good things for those who need it. “My challenge to you is to do something today you didn’t do yesterday,” Tuohy said. “Nothing exciting happens in your comfort zone.” Since the book and movie thrust her family into the spotlight, Tuohy said she has been all over the country speaking to groups large and small. She said she chooses organizations that are active in bettering the community, which is why she chose to come to the Foundation’s luncheon. In a world of givers and takers, Tuohy said, the VHCSF was a giver. Her speech at the luncheon included the story of meeting Oher and bringing him into her family, which she called an “absolute Goddriven miracle.” She recalled the struggle to help him graduate with honors and the first time coach Nick
Saban, then at LSU, saw Oher practice and walked out ready to offer him a full football scholarship. She also talked about the experience of having a book, then a movie based on their lives. The Tuohy family frequently gets asked about the film’s authenticity. Though they all agree the film was pretty close to reality, her son SJ likes to joke that “Miss Sandy” [Sandra Bullock] portrayed a nicer version of his mother than reality. In the movie and real life, Tuohy said that the chance to meet and raise Oher was “a love story.”
Above: Prior to the foundation luncheon, Leigh Anne Tuohy participated in a Meet and Greet and signed copies of her book, Turn Around. Left: Leigh Anne Tuohy speaks at the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation luncheon Oct. 8. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
Newly Expanded
Lunch specials $5.99-$7.99 Tuesday-Friday 10 am - 3:30 pm Full dinner menu available all day Live Lobster, Crabs, Bullfrogs, Tilapia, and Eels Large Selection of Fresh Oriental Veggies
Market & Red Pearl Restaurant 243 W Valley Ave, Homewood • 205.945.9558 • superorientalmkt.com
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A25
Leigh Anne Tuohy shares stories about fame and her life with Michael Oher at the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation luncheon Oct. 8. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
“Family doesn’t have to match,” she said. Tuohy feels her family benefited even more than Oher from the lessons of unconditional giving they learned. When her children were in high school, she gave them money to keep in their cars to give to people they saw begging.
Tuohy encouraged the audience to pay attention and respond to the need they see around them, even for people very different from them. “We are so guilty of valuing people incorrectly,” Tuohy said. “You need to learn to love someone who doesn’t look like you. And if you
don’t have someone in your social circle that doesn’t look like you, shame on you.” Tuohy answered questions after her speech and held a meet-and-greet to sign books for audience members. Throughout, her message was to get involved in organizations like the VHCSF to
make their community better. Even if adopting and raising a child is too much, Tuohy said there are always ways to help. “All we did was turn our car around and we offered him hope,” Tuohy said. “Everyone was born with the ability to change a life.”
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BIRMINGHAM
NOVEMBER 19-21,. 2015
cahaba grand conference center marketnoel.net
SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 19 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.*
Friday, November 20 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 21 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. *Stroller Free: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
TICKETS
$12 General Admission $48 Preview Noel* * $36 Market Bliss $24 Rock the Runway $10 Group Ticket** $24 Three Day Must-Have Pass * Valet available for $6 ** Groups of 10 or more
SPONSORS
EVENTS
Preview Noel & Man Cave Wednesday, November 18 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Market Bliss Friday, November 20 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Rock the Runway Saturday, November 21 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
The Lochamy Brothers Sean Heninger Bromberg’s Tonya Jones Salon Rare Transportation City Paper Cathead Vodka Avo & Dram The Fresh Market Lilly Pulitzer Sister Schubert Evans Meat United-Johnson Brothers Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies Royal Cup Good People Brewing Co.
A26 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Will Bright Foundation gives one more chance to fight addiction By GRACE THORNTON Lisa Bright’s story hasn’t gone like she thought it would. “Our story is that our son, Will, died of a heroin overdose at 25,” she said. “He battled addiction on and off for about eight years. He would always do well at places like the Foundry. But then when he got out, there was never a situation that was a good next step.” And her desire is for others to never find themselves in that same spot. So these days her story and Will’s legacy — the Will Bright Foundation — are working to provide a home where those completing rehab can find purpose and a fresh start at normal life. “Our foundation is trying to provide that next step — a house that will be safe but a little more freedom than the bubble that presents itself when you’re in a rehab situation,” Bright said. “Since we started the foundation, we have been able to provide scholarships for more than 75 people to get into the Foundry. But we want to keep growing and create a place for people who need somewhere to go next.” Nothing about the Will Bright House will be a “halfway house” but rather a place where people can hone life skills and get a fresh start. “It will give them one more little extra chance to get it right when they start again,” she said. “We just want to give back, because this is something near and dear to our hearts.” Right now the foundation is working on securing the right house in the Birmingham area, one that can house three people and a mentor. “We are starting with that — starting small — but our plan is to be even bigger than that
Breaking All Barriers breakfast benefiting the Will Bright Foundation
Nov. 3, 7-9 a.m. Vestavia Country Club willbrightfoundation.com/breaking-all-barriers-breakfast
Lisa Bright started the Will Bright Foundation in honor of her son, who died of a drug overdose at 25. The foundation is working to create a home for addicts to learn job skills and break their addictions. Photo courtesy of Lisa Bright.
with time,” Bright said. And in order to raise funds for the Will Bright House, the foundation is holding the
Breaking All Barriers breakfast Nov. 3, 7-9 a.m. at Vestavia Country Club with featured speaker Mike Royer, a longtime local Emmy
Award-winning broadcaster. Addiction is “such an epidemic around the whole town,” said Amy Royer, who serves on the foundation’s board of directors and whose husband, Mike is the featured speaker at the benefit breakfast. “It’s all walks of life from every part of town. It’s not just over the mountain — it’s everywhere. It’s horrible,” Amy Royer said. Many people are touched by addiction, but many are also embarrassed to talk about it, she said. “But talking about it is the only way people are going to get help.” The Will Bright Foundation wants to help inform the conversation and help people get back on their feet. All are welcome at the benefit breakfast for the Will Bright House, but reservations are requested. For more information or to make reservations, visit willbrightfoundation.com/ breaking-all-barriers-breakfast.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A27
Heights Village merchants to hold open house By SAM CHANDLER
I
n replacement of the Cahaba Crawl shopping event, the Heights Village will be hosting a holiday open house on Nov. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Compared to the Cahaba Crawl, which featured participating businesses throughout Cahaba Heights, this year’s event will only include merchants located in the Heights Village. Participating stores include Serendipity Boutique, Manhattan South, The Swanky Stork, A Little Something Gift Boutique, Birmingham Bake and Cook Company, the Lili Pad and Fleet Feet Sports. Raymond Gotlieb, president of Metropolitan Properties, Inc., the company that owns the Heights Village, said the event has a two-fold purpose. “It’s to get people here, and it’s also to be hospitable and show our appreciation for the customer base that shops at the Heights Village,”
he said. The event will give customers the chance to preview each store’s holiday inventory while enjoying special promotions, although each store’s participation will vary. Carole Cain, owner of A Little Something Gift Boutique, said her store will be having a drawing for a $100 gift certificate, door prizes, appetizers and drinks. Customers will also have the opportunity to receive between 10 and 40 percent off their purchase via a drawing at checkout. “I do think this event is a good way to bring new people in to acquaint them with the shop and with the merchandise that we carry, but also it’s great to get our loyal customers in,” Cain said. As in the Cahaba Crawl’s previous two years, Gotlieb said he expects another popular turnout. “We have had very good success in the past, and we are looking forward to having a successful evening,” he said.
The shops of the Height Village center will hold an open house this month to show off holiday merchandise and offer discounts to shoppers. Photo by Sam Chandler.
Vestavia Hills churches offer November holiday marketplaces By SYDNEY CROMWELL
W
hether your Christmas shopping is almost done or hasn’t begun, local marketplaces are a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for others and for yourself. Two Vestavia Hills churches will be hosting holiday markets this month Magical Marketplace Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church The Magical Marketplace will include everything from art, crafts and jewelry to handmade clothes, toys and home décor, organizer Judy
Childress said. Two rooms of the church will be filled with vendors selling a variety of items. Childress said there will be several new sellers, including some from the Briarwood market that has been cancelled. “I hate to even begin to list the new vendors because I would probably leave someone out,” Childress said. One unique aspect of the marketplace is that shoppers don’t pay until they check out at the end, making the process simpler for them. Customers can pay with checks, cash, debit or credit card (for purchases over $50). The church’s missions and children’s ministries receive 20 percent of the proceeds, and the vendors receive
80 percent. “We hope that people will come and find unique items for themselves and others! It’s a great time to find unusual Christmas gifts,” Childress said. Find the Magical Marketplace on Facebook for more information. Saint Mark Holiday Market Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saint Mark United Methodist Church This is the ninth year of the Saint Mark market, which is sponsored by the Saint Mark United Methodist Women and benefits church outreach projects.
Organizer Sandra Adair said the market has taken six months of planning. Instead of a large number of different vendors, the market will have booths with specific types of items for sale. The list includes two handmade booths, one for general decorations and gifts and one for Christmas items, as well as two food booths, one with sweets and baked goods and the other with homemade mixes for gift-giving. The Attic Treasures and Attic Christmas booths will have used and new items, as well as collectibles. Claire’s Cafe, recently renamed in honor of a church member who passed away, will offer lunch and snacks. Cash, Visa and Mastercard will be accepted. Visit saintmarkumc.org for more information.
Vestavia Voice
A28 • November 2015
Community Southminster VBS creates gift for heart transplant patient
Glass artist Sheri Van Pelt works with VBS students Anna Jordan and Anna Johnson to place glass hearts. Courtesy of Heather Benoit.
Children attending Vacation Bible School in July at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Vestavia worked with glass artist Sherri Van Pelt to design and create a beautiful glass art bowl for 19-year-old Sadie Chapman. After spending several months in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant, Sadie received her new heart on July 8. On July 29, each child attending VBS selected and placed a glass heart of their choice on the glass base that would be fired and become a gift for Sadie. The date is significant because that morning the church learned that Sadie would ring a special bell at Children’s of Alabama that afternoon to let everyone know she had received her new heart and was going home. Church members heard stories the next day from parents and grandparents saying their children were watching the clock that afternoon and were counting down for Sadie’s bell ringing ceremony. VBS children placed 90 hearts on the piece — sending their love to Sadie. The glass heart bowl was delivered to Sadie before she returned to college in New York. — Submitted by Heather Benoit
Coronets host fall luncheon
From left to right is Joy Wilkes, Redonda Broom, Cindy Edmonds, Linda Gooldrup, Carolyn Delk, Shelley Watkins and Nancy Becker. Photo courtesy of Marti Buck.
Vestavia Country Club was the setting of the Coronets fall luncheon on Sept. 18. The sunny day, large windows and intricate mixed basket centerpieces helped make it a joyful and memorable time of friendship and fellowship. The luncheon was planned and coordinated by Redonda Broom and Shirley Evans. Coronets is led this year by President Carolyn Delk, assisted by Linda Gooldrup, Nancy Becker, Cindy Edmons, Shelley Watkins, Jean Hendrickson, Shirley Evans, Redonda Broom, Marti Buck, Rusty Kirkpatrick, Joy Wilkes and Jackie Webb. Among the other ladies attending were Edna Alderman, Nancy Boone, Sue Belcher, Jean Burnette, Linda Bachus, Bettie Davenport, Carolyn Edge, Pat Garlikov, Virginia Golightly, Corrine Greer, Fay Hart, Carolyn Hogan, Margaret Howell, Gloria Hudson, Patti Echols, Glenda Etheridge, Marsha Hire, Betty Longshore, Joanne McConnell, Betty Miller, Shirley Palmes, Evelyn Ringler, Dot Renneker, Liz Slive, Ming South, Mary Jean Sanspree, Karen Tucker, Linda Wood and Cindy Tilghman. — Submitted by Marti Buck
Women of VESTAVIA HILLS Find us on facebook
Coming January 2016
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A29
First graders raise funds for diabetes
Back Row: Caden James Mitchell, Benjermin Wigginton, Micah-Joel Washington, Derick Sisson, Copeland Styles, Aydan Ross-Woody, Daniel Richardson, Miller Crumpton, Griffin Smith Front Row: Benjamin Camp, James Pace, Tucker Bowden, Andrew Fox, Sam Avery, Collins Fuller, Harris Jeffers, Steele King Head Coach: Tate Bowden, Assistant Coaches: Dan Richardson, Brenden Fuller, James Pace, Stephen Washington, Jay McGowan Photo courtesy of Holly Lollar.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL Members of the Lil Rebels first grade football team were at Starbucks on Highway 31 on Saturday, Oct. 17 fundraising for Type 1 diabetes research. The team sold $1 paper sneakers to
customers at the drive-thru from 8 to 10 a.m., with proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The cause is especially important to the Lil Rebels because their quarterback, Caden Mitchell, has Type 1 diabetes. Visit jdrf.org to learn more about the disease.
First UAB Deans Reception held in Vestavia Hills
A reception for UAB School of Dentistry Dean Michael S. Reddy, left, was held at the home of Dr. G. Robin Pruitt Jr., right, on Oct. 8.
T
he first UAB Deans Reception meet and greet was held with Dr. Michael S. Reddy of the UAB School of Dentistry. For the event, held Oct. 8, Dr. G. Robin Pruitt Jr. and his wife welcomed attendees in to their home on Altadena Road. Guests included faculty, members of the school of dentistry and donors. Pruitt said the event shows the passion of Reddy, the school of dentistry’s faculty and
alumni. Such events help empower the school and students, he said. “As an alumni of the school of dentistry and as a private practicing dentist in Birmingham, I feel very humbled, honored and blessed to be able to support and give back to this great educational institute,” Pruitt said. “The deans reception was well received and was a great success.” — Submitted by Robin Pruitt
A30 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
PINKERTON
CONTINUED from page A1 budgeting, sponsor relations and engineering while Pinkerton handles the day-to-day social media, graphics work, photography and videography. Both were heavily involved in the building of the car, and are responsible for much of the work on race days. “We’re the tire-guy, the fueler, the driver, the crew-chief, the strategist, and luckily my parents were there [at Sebring] so we didn’t have to worry about catering,” he said. Because the team is so small, Pinkerton said they were lucky to have a few volunteers at Sebring that helped them with refueling and maintaining fire safety. Preston Rains, who is a sophomore architecture student at Auburn, also helped the duo as a third driver. Pinkerton said planning and getting ready for the first race took around seven months from start to finish. The process of turning the Golf 247 from a road car into a racecar took almost three months of nearly constant work. Pinkerton estimates that in the last few weeks of the build, the team worked more than 60 hours a week in the garage. “It was a long build, but it didn’t really feel quite like it with the two of us working, we work really well together,” Pinkerton said. He said normally, a team would have a few months to test the car and “work out all the gremlins” before taking it to a race, but that they were not so lucky. Slysdexic finished the car and almost immediately loaded it for the 650-mile drive to Florida. When they arrived, they had a mechanical setback in getting safety approval that took up a majority of their pre-race planning period, and Pinkerton said they worked late into the night getting everything ready. On race day, the team faced an even greater hurdle. Around two hours into the 14-hour race, Pinkerton said the bolts connecting the axle to the transmission loosened, causing the axle to
Andrew Pinkerton and Evan Maynard work on the engine of his racecar, which recently made its debut in the Chump Car Series in Sebring, Florida. Photo by Frank Couch.
come apart and throwing the bolts into the shift system. The malfunction cost the team two hours and 15 minutes. For the rest of the race, Pinkerton said it was the weather conditions that were the biggest challenge. Roughly 85 degrees and humid, as well as a brief period of rain, caused problems for all drivers. The race was halted after a driver
collapsed from heat exhaustion, and officials required all drivers to exit their cars. Slysdexic finished eighth in their class and 44th overall. Pinkerton had the final driving stint of the race. He said that the team did the math, and had the mechanical issue not occurred, he thinks the team was on pace with the lead lap. “It was pretty incredible looking back on it, to
show up and have that sort of finish,” Pinkerton said. He said the team is looking forward to their next race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia in February. “We showed a promising pace at Sebring, and we‘ve got four months to prepare the car for Road Atlanta, and we built it in three,” he said.
Now taking reservations for holiday parties!
ORAL FACIAL SURGERY
C LAR KHOLM E S .C OM
MARK CLARK DMD, MD JON D. HOLMES DMD, MD, FACS GEORGE W. MATTHEWS, JR., DMD VICTOR F. SZYMELA DMD, MD WISDOM TEETH · DENTAL IMPLANTS CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY PATHOLOGY & RECONSTRUCTION SOUTHSIDE OFFICE 1500 19TH STREET SOUTH SUITE 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35205 205-933-2773 TRUSSVILLE OFFICE 151 NORTH CHALKVILLE RD TRUSSVILLE, AL 35173 205-655-9002 INVERNESS OFFICE 2206 CAHABA VALLEY DRIVE BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242 205-933-2710
521 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia Hills 205-823-1505 • bistro-v.com HOURS: Mon-Sat, 11-2 and 5-9 • Closed Sun
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • A31
HOLLOW
CONTINUED from page A1 Belcher said amenities for the Sicard Hollow Park will likely include walking trails, picnic pavilions, amphitheater, playground and splash pad. A dog park has also been discussed. The Foundation is currently working with vendors to finalize the construction costs of the project. “Green space is always a plus any way you look at it,” Belcher said. “[It’s] just a spot where people can get away from everyday life here,” Public Services Director Brian Davis said. In addition to a community space, Belcher said the Foundation has talked with Vestavia Hills High School and Liberty Park Middle School’s cross country-coaches about using the park’s trails. The park could be a location to host competitions with area schools as well as regular practice. “They’re very excited about this trail system,” Belcher said. “I think it’s going to help our school system’s cross-country program have a place to call their own.” If planning is completed on schedule in January, Belcher said she tentatively expects to start Phase I of park construction in spring 2016. The first phase would include trails, the pavilions and the playground. Other phases would follow as the Foundation raises the funds they need. Better walking and driving With athletic fields on each side of Sicard Hollow Road and the community park on the way, the next challenge is making these amenities accessible. The first project to address that, Downes said, is the pedestrian tunnel under Sicard Hollow Road. In October 2014, Vestavia Hills received a Transportation Alternatives Program grant for up to $379,000 from ALDOT for this project, with the city paying 20 percent of the project costs. In January, Volkert Engineers was contracted to design the tunnel. Downes said Volkert is about 90 percent done with the planning of the tunnel, which is most likely going to be placed next to an existing city maintenance facility where Sicard Hollow Road
Sicard Hollow and Liberty Park athletic complexes are already host to a number of children’s teams in soccer, baseball, football and other sports. The addition of a park and pedestrian tunnel are expected to make the area even better for recreation. Photo by Ron Burkett.
and Lake Colony meet. Davis said they are still working through some challenges, most notably the placement of a water main directly under Sicard Hollow Road. The tunnel will either have to go deeper to avoid the water main, or the pipe will have to be moved. The engineers are also still determining how far the sidewalk will extend on either side of the tunnel to connect it with the park and athletic complexes. With ALDOT approval, construction on the tunnel could begin by mid-2016. The city is also getting started on a traffic flow study of Sicard Hollow Road through a multi-jurisdictional agreement with Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham. On Oct. 22, the cities and county selected CDG Engineering to prepare resurfacing plans for the road. Downes said road conditions on Sicard Hollow are a “source of continual complaint.” Sidewalks will not be part of this project. Downes anticipates the study finishing by
the end of 2015. If the study shows that road construction is needed, he said the city will attempt to have that start at the same time as construction on the pedestrian tunnel. “Our goal and objective is to tie in any road reconfiguration and efforts to improve this section right here as soon as we can,” Downes said. A new home for public works In conjunction with the other projects, Volkert was contracted in September to consider a new design for the city maintenance facility at the corner of Lake Colony and Sicard Hollow Road. The current building, Downes said, is not laid out well and has a road running through the property. With a pedestrian tunnel about to be constructed right next door, it was the ideal time for Volkert to look at the functions of the public works building and the possibilities to improve it. Analysis of the property is just beginning. However, Downes said one possible solution is
www.ERAKing.com 2700 Rogers Dr Ste 300 Homewood, AL 35209 205-979-2335
having Lake Colony connect straight to Sicard Hollow Road, instead of the sharp left turn it currently makes to go through the maintenance property. With that road gone, Downes said the city could tear down the existing building and build a new one to better suit its purposes, with a privacy fence to screen it from the road. “Our desire is to improve the flow of traffic between Liberty Park and the SHAC. Realignment of that road and reconfiguration of the maintenance facility to clean it up is paramount,” Downes said. Davis said that before any changes are decided, the city will have to make sure a new building or road won’t impede public works employees in doing their jobs. The maintenance facility study was prompted by developments on the other side of the city. The main public works building sits on a property facing Highway 31 and houses much of the department’s vehicle fleet and materials. Downes said the building is too big for the city’s needs, but more importantly it is sitting on prime real estate. The mayor and city council have voted to put the property up for sale, and Downes said they’ve already received four offers from different retailers. “We see property facing Highway 31 as very lucrative property when you’re pushing 40,000 cars every day going up and down Highway 31,” he said. “Activity and awareness in that central Highway 31 region is very high and interest is very high, and the offers on the table that are being considered are very good offers. So we’re just hoping that we can work through the details.” This means the vehicles, storage and employees currently at the location must be redistributed between the Sicard Hollow Road facility and other city buildings near the Wald Park tennis courts. Assuming the study shows a feasible way to do so, Downes said the city could transition those facilities in about six months. There are a lot of unknowns still to be resolved, but Downes is hoping to see these multiple projects work in concert to improve quality of life for residents and commuters along Sicard Hollow Road. “We could solve many different problems in one particular project,” he said.
3
1
SECTION
B
School House B6 Sports B11 Cahaba Heights Business Spotlight B16 Calendar B26
NOVEMBER 2015
Group gives students a way to give
Pizitz Middle School students started the Pirate C.R.E.W.S. community service club and had their first project at Helping Hands in the Hills in September. Photo courtesy of Kellie Wigley.
By GRACE THORNTON
W
hen Kellie Wigley became the seventh-grade counselor at Pizitz Middle School this year, she had a dream in mind. She wanted to start something that everyone
could be a part of. “Middle school can be a tough time to find your place,” said Wigley. “I wanted everyone to be able to have their thing that they are involved in.” Add in the fact that many people in Vestavia Hills have needs to meet, and the Pizitz Pirate
C.R.E.W.S. service club was born. Wigley had already seen a similar idea work well during her three years as assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, so she
See PIRATES | page A30
back
2015-2016 Pirate C.R.E.W.S. Officers President: Miller Payne Vice President: Jared Bryant
Secretary: Manaal Saeed Treasurer: Tess Cochran
B2 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B3
Located on Hwy 280, east of I-459
GrandviewHealth.com
B4 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Documenting religious peace By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE
W
ith so much faith- and culture-based unrest in today’s world, it’s difficult to believe there’s a little slice of India that has a 2,000-yearold history of harmony between several of the world’s religions. Located along the southern west coast of India, Kerala measures only 360 miles in length. But from the first century A.D., Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism have had a happy home in a small region there, joined by Islam in the seventh century. Dr. N. S. Xavier, a Birmingham psychiatrist and Vestavia Hills resident, said he has always been taken with the tale of Kerala and decided to tell the story in a film, “The World’s Most Enlightening Region.” “I decided to make the documentary to enlighten people about the area’s unique 2,000 years of ongoing interfaith harmony and instances of peaceful resolution of extremism,” Xavier said. “The lessons from these examples can promote peace and happiness at various levels from individual to global.” Xavier is personally familiar with Kerala, having been born and raised in St. Thomas Christians, a community of the region. He attended high school there before pursuing his medical education, receiving his psychiatric training at the University of Virginia. He has practiced psychiatry in Birmingham since 1979. “I am from one of the oldest Christian communities in the world,” Xavier said. “Christianity in India was started by Jesus’ disciple, St. Thomas, in 52 A.D.” According to Xavier, the idea of documenting the story of Kerala has been a dream of his for a very long time, and he began developing the project over three years ago. With a film crew, he traveled throughout the ancient region, chatting spontaneously with experts and people on the street around locations such as the St. Thomas Shrine, the Cheraman Mosque and the Cochin Synagogue, as well as the editor of the
A shrine in memory of Jesus’ disciple, St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to Kerala in 52 A.D., is one of the many locations featured and discussed in “The World’s Most Enlightening Region.” Photo courtesy of N.S. Xavier. Dr. N. S. Xavier, a Birmingham psychiatrist, spent more than three years creating his documentary that tells the history of more than 2,000 years of religious and cultural harmony in Kerala, India. Photo courtesy of N.S. Xavier.
Encyclopedia of St. Thomas Christians of India. “For thousands of years, this area has welcomed merchants, fisherman and settlers along with their attitudes from around the world,” he said. “People can learn from this how religion
and culture promote peace and happiness when they nurture conscience which, in turn, can be extremely useful in helping people to lead fulfilling lives promoting love and peace.” In mid-October, “The World’s Most Enlightening Region” was shown at a workshop of the Parliament of the World’s Religions 2015 conference in Salt Lake City. First held in 1893, the parliament is the oldest and largest gathering of people of all faith traditions, drawing crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 from 80 countries to cultivate religious harmony and worldwide engagement. But Xavier, who has also authored The Two Faces of Religion and Fulfillment Using Real Conscience, books acclaimed by Nobel laureates, said he wants to make sure the film is available to anyone who wishes to view it. It was
recently screened at the Vestavia Hills Public Library and a combined Sunday school gathering at Canterbury United Methodist Church. Xavier said he plans to eventually put “The World’s Most Enlightening Region” on YouTube, but anyone wishing to arranging a showing of the documentary can contact him at nsxaviermd@ gmail.com. There is no charge, but donations to cover expenses and further promotion of the film are welcome, he said. Understanding and sharing the documentary with others about “the method in the madness and goodness of religion and culture” continue to inspire him, he said. “In one hour people can learn a great deal about religions, history, culture, psychology, philosophy and the mystical world view of several spiritual masters and many great scientists,” Xavier said. “It’s in sharp contrast to the conflicts among religions and with science, extremism, violence and superficiality of different groups in the ongoing story of the world.”
$
229
$
per month for 36 months
lease the 2016 ILX 8-speed $2,799 Total Due At Signing Includes down payment with no security deposit. Excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees. For well-qualified lessees.
27,900 MSRP*
King Acura Alabama Acura Dealers
1687 montgomery hwy hoover, al 35216 l (205) 979-8888
Closed-end lease for 2016 ILX 8-Speed Dual-Clutch vehicles subject to availability through 11/2/15 on approved credit through American Honda Finance Corp., DBA Acura Financial Services for well-qualified lessees. MSRP $27,900 (excludes $920 destination & handling, tax, license, title fees, registration, documentation fees, options, insurance and the like). Actual net capitalized cost $24,455.69. Total monthly payments $8,244.00. Option to purchase at lease end $16,715.60. Lessee responsible for maintenance, excessive wear/tear and 15 ¢/mile over 10,000 miles/year. *Prices shown are Acura suggested retail prices only and do not include taxes, license or a $920 destination and handling charge. Acura vehicle accessory costs, labor and installation vary. Dealers set actual price price. See dealer for details.
B5 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Foundation grant funds science modules at Cahaba Heights By ROY L. WILLIAMS
I
nez Shunnarah has taught science at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights for over two decades. Now, thanks to a $2,312 grant Shunnarah received from the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, every classroom in the school from kindergarten through fifth grade will receive science module kits allowing the students to do hands-on science projects. The science modules include features that will make learning fun for the students: microscopes and slides allowing them to view cells of animals, plants and blood. “It allows us to be actively engaged with the students,” Shunnarah said. “They design, build and test projects or look at live vinegar eels under the microscope.” In researching the grant, Shunnarah said they looked at the next generation of science standards and chose science module kits that best met the needs of students today. The science kits are already in use. She said getting exposed to science at a young age will benefit the Cahaba Heights students for a lifetime. “For them to be actively engaged and excited about their learning makes them want to do science because it’s fun,” Shunnarah said. “It’s inquiry-based so they can grow and ask questions. We’re hopefully preparing them for when they graduate from high school.” Brooke Brown, director of curriculum and instruction for Vestavia Hills City Schools, said the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation has been a great partner with the school system. In addition to providing grants to help teachers in the classroom, the foundation dollars help offset cuts in state funding for teacher
training, she said. “The grants support different projects in our schools that teachers would not be able to do otherwise,” Brown said. “The state has not provided teacher development funding for the past several years. That’s one thing the grants have continued to do for our system, so that we are able to keep the level of professional development for our teachers that we had previously.” The board of directors of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $61,000 to the eight schools in the Vestavia Hills system and to the Vestavia Hills Board of Education for the 2014-15 school year. Shunnarah was thrilled when she received word that the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation approved her grant application. She thanked the foundation for investing in young lives. “I am so excited that the entire school will have access to these science modules,” Shunnarah said. “Now when the students get to me in fifth grade, they will have even more knowledge about science. They’re going to love it. We want scientists in this school.” For a complete list of the grants awarded this year, visit vestaviafoundation.org.
Cahaba Heights teacher Inez Shunnarah holds a microscope and other parts of the science module she uses to teach her students. She said she rarely gives tests because she can see her students learning through hands-on activities. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
B6 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
School House Foreign language students recognized
Several Pizitz Middle School students were recognized for their scores on a national German exam. Photo by Erica Techo.
By ERICA TECHO
S
everal foreign language students were recognized at the Sept. 30 Board of Education meeting. The students from Pizitz Middle School were commended for their high performance on national language tests. Kathy Rogers, a German teacher at Pizitz, commended her students for taking the first national level one exam for German. The test is recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German and is a high school-level exam. “I’m here because of my students. I’m here because they deserve this moment to
shine,” Rogers said. Out of more than 4,000 students nationwide, two Pizitz students received grades in the 90th percentile and were honored with gold medals. Several other students received medals or certificates for their scores on the exam. “My babies are all grown up and look so spiffy, and I’m just so proud of them,” Rogers said. “And I thank you all for your willingness to come out this evening and just give them that recognition, that moment in the sun.” Josh Wade, a French teacher at Pizitz, also had a few students to brag on. Last year, Wade encouraged his students to take a national level one exam for French as a
way to show off their hard work. “I knew that I had a group of kids who would compete very well,” Wade said. Several of the students excelled on the test, Wade said, and two students placed in the top 10 of students nationally. Superintendent Sheila Phillips congratulated the students on their success and thanked their teachers for so much hard work. “This is why we do what we do. The level of work that the teachers and the students and parents supporting that – this is the incredible work that is going on every single day,” Phillips said. “Our students aren’t just placing in the state, but nationally.”
Virtual Field Trip Sixth-grade students at Liberty Park Middle School participated in a virtual field trip sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education. The students Skyped with Mike Myers from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Skype session allowed students to examine multiple artifacts in the hall of fame and exposed them to the hundreds of careers available in and around the National Football League. A special thanks goes out to Chris Davis, Vestavia Hills City Schools Information Technology Specialist, who arrived at Liberty Park Middle school at 7 a.m. to set up the session. — Submitted by Amy Woodard.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B7
Central’s CNP staff lauded Members of the CNP staff at Central go over and beyond to meet the needs of the children at VHEC. These unsung heroes not only provide a healthy menu, but also are willing to go the extra mile. Vestavia Hills School Superintendent Sheila Phillips and Vestavia Hills CNP Director Amanda Carlson stopped by to personally thank the VHEC CNP staff. Pictured here are VHEC Principal Marian Humphries, VHEC CNP Manager Yvonne Stephenson, VHCS CNP Director Amanda Carlson, VHCS Superintendent Sheila Phillips, Barbara Shepherd, Nedra Motley, Steven Thomas and Andrea McNeal.
— Submitted by Renee Lamar.
VHEC ‘Gears Up!’ to help
S
tudents at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central raised over $65,000 in their recent school wide fundraiser. Gear Up! is a program designed to “sponsor gear for a great school” during a weeklong cash donation drive. During the weeklong event, VHEC Fundraising Chairs Shannon Black and Deborah Newsome, along with parent volunteers, concentrated on four key principles: planning, teamwork, spending and giving. Ninety percent of the money will go toward items such as a 3D printer, a computer charging station, picnic tables, a robotics lab and Chromebooks. The event kicked off with a school wide pep rally and featured prizes such as pizza and ice cream parties, cash awards and visits to the Gametruck. A check for $1,000 was presented to the Bell Center for Early Intervention as a special donation from VHEC students. — Submitted by Renee Lamar
Right: Bell Center Executive Director Jeannie Colquette, left, — shown here with Captain Gear Up! and VHES Principal Marian Humphries — accepts a $1,000 donation from Vestavia Hills Elementary School students for Early Intervention. Courtesy of Renee Lamar.
Vestavia Voice
B8 • November 2015
Little Rebels take the sidelines Photos by John Perry
Cheerleaders cheer on the Rebels at the Sept. 25 VHHSOxford football game. The Rebels won 17-10.
On Sept. 25, the cheerleaders of Vestavia Hills High School were joined by pint-sized cheerleaders who had participated in the Little Rebels cheer clinic.
A VHHS Rebels cheerleader hugs one of the participants in the Little Rebels cheer clinic.
Vestavia Hills cheerleaders show off their moves for some of the Little Rebels.
Cheerleaders cheer on the Rebels at the Sept. 25 VHHS-Oxford football game. The Rebels won 17-10.
Elementary school girls show off the skills they learned at the Little Rebels cheer clinic during the Vestavia Hills-Oxford game.
After learning about cheerleading and tumbling at the Little Rebels cheer clinic, the Little Rebels joined their high school counterparts on the sidelines Sept. 25.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B9
Calendar of Events Small Business Saturday November 21
Tree Lighting Festival December 1
Kick-off your holiday shopping with great deals from our local merchants! The Chamber of Commerce will be stationed at different locations throughout the city to give out merchant lists so you can plan where to visit. Goody bags filled with coupons and promotional items from our merchants will be given to the first 50 people at each location. Visit www.vestaviahills.org for more information.
Vestavia Hills City Hall, 6:00 pm 1032 Montgomery Highway Enjoy entertainment, merchant give-aways and the lighting of the tree. Visit with Santa and play in the snow!
Breakfast with Santa December 12 Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 7:30-10:00 am 1975 Merryvale Road Enjoy a pancake breakfast and visit with Santa. $1 Suggested Donation
Visit www.vestaviahills.org for an extended list of events Presented by the City of Vestavia Hills & the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce
Alabama Real Estate Investors Association Alliance Publishing Group-Vestavia Hills Living America’s First Federal Credit Union Annabelle’s/Vestavia Apothecary Artists Incorporated Gallery Ascend Web Development BB&T Birmingham School of Music Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Butler Snow Cahaba Fitness Cellular Sales of Verizon Wireless Collage Designer Consignment CORE, A Pilates & Cycling Studio First Partners Bank Gold’s Gym Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs
Jimmie Hale Mission John Henley State Farm Insurance Liberty Park Joint Venture Mary Kay Cosmetics-Susie Serio Oliver Square OnTime Service Regions Bank Snapper Grabbers Spectrum Reach Stein Mart Summit Express Urgent Care Vestavia Voice Xceligent
B10 • November 2015
PRIMROSE PRESENTS:
CULTURE PARADE
Above: Sophie Bosarge, Mary Nolan Terrell and David Woods standing in line before they sing. Below: Primrose School students wear costumes from around the world for the Celebrating Cultures parade. Photos by Frank Couch.
Vestavia Voice
Left: Primrose School at Liberty Park held a Celebrating Cultures Day with children dressing in costumes and carrying cultural signs. Below: Costumed children participate in the Celebrating Cultures parade on Sept. 25.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B11
1456 Montgomery Hwy 31 Vestavia Hills
823-1213 823-1261
Basketball enthusiasts listen to the coaches’ discussion at last year’s College Basketball Tip Off Party. Photos courtesy Knight Eady Sports Group.
FIRED UP Vestavia Hills’ Taylor ready for Birmingham Tip-Off Club season By DAVID KNOX Brett Taylor’s enthusiasm for basketball comes naturally. The Vestavia Hills resident and incoming president of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club is the son of former South Alabama basketball coach Jimmy Taylor Sr. He also served as a graduate assistant to Sonny Smith at Virginia Commonwealth. His passion for the sport comes through as he talks about the upcoming season, and especially the Birmingham Tip-Off Club’s second annual College Basketball Tip Off Party, which will be Wednesday, Nov. 4, at WorkPlay. Joe Dean Jr., Birmingham-Southern athletics director and college basketball TV analyst, will moderate the discussion between Alabama coach Avery Johnson, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, UAB coach Jerod Haase and Samford coach Scott Padgett. Doors open at 5 p. m. and the program begins at 6:30. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and there will be a cash bar and giveaways. Sponsored by Alabama Power, the event is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of the Tip-Off Club to attend. The Birmingham Tip-Off Club was organized in 1973. It has seen a resurgence of interest, growing to 200 members last year. “Our goal and our mission is to grow and promote the game of basketball in the city of Birmingham and also around the state of Alabama,” Taylor said. To that end, besides the regular luncheons on Mondays at the Harbert Center with a stellar lineup of guest speakers, the club is heavily involved with the Alabama State High School Basketball Championships, hosting teams, manning the hospitality rooms and volunteering however needed. The club also volunteered with last year’s Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and will do so again this year as the C-USA tourney returns for a second straight year to Legacy Arena at the BJCC and Bartow Arena.
“We’re still looking to grow membership with a great lineup of speakers this year,” Taylor said. Confirmed speakers this year include Tim Brando of Fox Sports, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and ex-basketball coaches Wimp Sanderson and Sonny Smith will speak together in what should prove to be a fun time. Other guest speakers were yet to be confirmed as of this publication. Also, the club recognizes a high school player of the week, with the player, his or her family and coach attending. Taylor said that aspect of the meeting is very popular and the players’ speeches are well received and often touching. Joe Dean Jr., another great ambassador of basketball in the Birmingham and the Southeast, is the permanent master of ceremonies at the meetings. Taylor said interest in basketball is starting to boom given UAB’s recent success, the hiring of Pearl and Johnson and increased interest as former Kentucky player Padgett has taken over at Samford. “UAB making the NCAA Tournament last year had a lot to do with it, just the excitement of that, and the excitement of Bruce Pearl, with the way he markets basketball … I think that’s been a problem in the past, basketball has just not been marketed in a large way,” Taylor said. Keeping the club vital, growing and promoting basketball is important to Taylor. “You know, when my father coached at South Alabama, the Birmingham Tip-Off Club was just getting started, and he used to come to speak to the club and used to host the yearly banquet. And my brother is a past president of the club, and now I’m president. So I literally can remember how coaches networked back in those days, and my dad’s friends are my friends now. So I remember hearing about the Birmingham Tip-Off Club from an early age, and I’m just really passionate about it,” Taylor said. Visit tipoffclub.com for more information on individual, junior and corporate memberships in the Tip-Off Club.
Lowest Gas Prices in Town
!
Huge Parking Lot Tire Sale
30-50% off
50% off All Goodyear Tires in Stock
Example
Retail
Sale Price
Goodyear Eagle LS 205-55-16
$179.95
$89.95
Goodyear Fortera 245-65-17
$179.95
$89.95
Goodyear Wrangler HP 265-70-17
$259.95
$129.95
Goodyear Wrangler SRA 275-55-20 $259.95
$129.95
Balance and Wheel Alignment Extra Free mounting on all Tires Sold
Also on Sale
Goodrich, Nitto, General, Michelin, Nexen, Firestone, Goodride, Kumho
We do All type of Auto Repairs
B12 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Sports
Vestavia Hills football recap By DAVID KNOX
Game 5, 9/18
VESTAVIA HILLS 37, MOUNTAIN BROOK 7 When the opportunity presented itself, the Vestavia Hills football team took it and ran… and also threw. The Rebels converted three second-half fumble recoveries into three touchdowns and rolled to a 37-7 win over host Mountain Brook in a Class 7A, Region 3 game. “Our defense played great,” Rebels coach Buddy Anderson said. “We played physical, we played great. We didn’t have a good game (against Hewitt-Trussville) and they just came out and worked their hands off in practice this week to get better.” Levi Wiggins returned one of the fumbles 41 yards for a score and Reid Adams had a 48-yard fumble return for a score for Vestavia Hills (3-1, 2-1). The defense, which forced four turnovers, was a perfect complement for Rebels quarterback Brett Jones, who this season has been a perfect complement for the usual rush-first Vestavia Hills offense. The senior used the short game to complete 10 of 11 passes for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “That was our game plan tonight,” Jones said. “We watched film and we saw that we could do it and we did it.”
Game 6, 9/25
VESTAVIA HILLS 17, OXFORD 10 Vestavia Hills scored 14 points in the game’s first 27 seconds and then held on to defeat the
visiting Oxford Yellow Jackets 17-10 on Buddy Anderson Field at Thompson Reynolds Stadium. On the game’s first offensive snap, Rebels running back Walker Minor burst up the middle and went 75 yards for a touchdown. Curry Howard’s extra-point made it 7-0, Rebels, with 18 seconds gone. “Nobody touched me,” Minor said. “So it was all my offensive line. It was pretty exciting, it’s really my first long run like that.” While most of the Rebels’ faithful, and probably some of the Rebels themselves, thought it was going to be a Rebel rout, it didn’t turn out that way. “I knew it was going to be a long ballgame,” Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson said. “They didn’t play well last week, but they’ve got some players and they came ready to play.” Minor, who rushed for 115 yards on 12 carries, felt like the team relaxed and figured it would be a cakewalk. “We had that mentality but we shouldn’t have,” Minor said, “because it ended up coming back and almost getting us.” The non-region win left Vestavia Hills at 4-1 overall. Oxford fell to 2-4.
Game 7, 10/1
VESTAVIA HILLS 23, THOMPSON 13 Buddy Anderson knew what it would take for his team to escape Larry Simmons Stadium with a victory. “We’ve got to play hard-nosed, physical football,” Anderson told his team. “It’s the only thing we’ve got to play. It’s the only way we can survive.” The Rebels did much more than survive in the 7A, Region 3 road matchup against Thompson.
Running back Walker Minor (34) earns some hard yards against Spain Park. Photo by Ted Melton.
Propelled by a ball-hawking defense, Vestavia Hills (5-1, 3-1) forced seven Thompson (3-3, 1-3) turnovers en route to a critical 23-13 victory. The Rebels jumped out to a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter, taking advantage of excellent starting field position resulting from three consecutive Thompson turnovers. The Rebels’ first three scoring drives started at the opposing 42, 38 and 46-yard lines. In the second half, Howard added a 40-yard field goal that bumped the Rebels lead to 16-0
with 4:24 to play in the third quarter. After a Thompson touchdown, Rebels defensive back Ray Murphy stripped the quarterback of the football and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown, padding the Rebels’ lead to 23-6, essentially sealing the game.
Game 7, 10/9
SPAIN PARK 21, VESTAVIA HILLS 0 For the first six minutes of the Vestavia Hills
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B13
Vestavia Hills volleyball team tunes up for area tourney
Anna Dutton (14) blocks a St. Paul’s shot. Photo by John Perry.
By DAVID KNOX The Rebel band and dance team take the halftime field during Vestavia’s successful run against Hoover. Photo by John Perry.
Rebels’ game against Spain Park on Friday night, the Rebels performed their game plan to perfection. The Rebels mixed the hard running of Walker Minor and the play-action passing of quarterback Brett Jones to march 72 yards in 10 plays and ate up half the quarter against the second-ranked Jaguars. But the drive stalled on the Spain Park 8, and it looked like the Rebels would settle for an early lead on a field goal. But Spain Park’s Perry Young blocked the Curry Howard 25-yard field goal, Jags teammate Chase Young picked it up in stride and
hauled it 85 yards for a touchdown. The Jaguars built on the sudden, stunning play to roll away to a 21-0 first half lead and made it stand up in a crucial Class 7A, Region 3 game at Jaguar Stadium. Spain Park, coming off a win over Hoover last week, improved to 6-1, 5-0 in the region. The Rebels dropped to 5-2 and 3-2 in the region, but still are in good position to return to the playoffs after missing out a year ago. But Rebels fans are left wondering what could have been after the Rebels’ strong start. “It was a big play,” said coach Buddy Anderson. “It changed the momentum.”
The Vestavia Hills Lady Rebels volleyball team participated in the prestigious Margaret Blalock Memorial Volleyball Tournament at Homewood. The Lady Rebels saw their run end in the tournament, losing 25-12, 25-12 to Grissom and 25-12, 25-6 to tournament champion Mountain Brook. They knocked off Pleasant Valley 2-0, Ramsay 2-1 and St. Paul’s 2-1. Manon Burris, Katie Larson and Kendall Gause played well for Vestavia. The 20-team Blalock field included top ranked 7A schools Mountain Brook, McGillToolen, Hoover, Grissom, Huntsville, topranked 6A school John Carroll, and 5A No. 4 Arab, which came into the tournament 31-0. Mountain Brook stayed undefeated in the
tournament and took the championship for the second year in a row by defeating Arab 2-0. The tournament donates part of the gate proceeds to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Alabama, and participants and fans wear pink in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The Lady Rebels were 14-15 overall as they prepared for the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament Oct. 19-20, which was after the Vestavia Voice press date. Mountain Brook faced Hewitt-Trussville and Vestavia Hills squared off with Spain Park. The winners were to meet for the area title, and both the champion and runner-up advance to Super Regional play in Huntsville on Oct. 22-24. The state championship is at Birmingham’s CrossPlex Oct. 28-29.
B14 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice John Shaw was inducted into the Ole Miss M-Club Sports Hall of Fame. Shaw, a Vestavia Hills resident for more than 20 years, was a baseball standout at Ole Miss. Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics.
Vestavia resident inducted into hall of fame By DAVID KNOX
J
ohn Shaw had a rather famous keystone partner back in the day at Ole Miss. Shaw was the sure-handed second sacker and his double-play partner was OK, too. Name of Archie Manning. But on a recent fall weekend, Archie had to take a back seat to his Ole Miss baseball teammate as Shaw was inducted into the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame. “Talked to Archie yesterday,” Shaw said before he made the trip over to Oxford. “He’s coming and it’ll be great to talk over old times.” Shaw, who was a three-year letterman for Rebels legendary coach Tom Swayze from 196870, is both the all-time stolen base leader and fielding leader. “All of my success goes to the head groundskeeper,” Shaw said modestly. “He kept
a fast track and a pristine, smooth surface.” The truth is, Shaw swiped 73 bases in 90 games and made just three errors in his career, none in his senior season. He led the SEC in stolen bases for three straight years, a career-high 28 as a senior. Shaw points out that times were different then. “We played with wooden bats, not the aluminum ones they use now, so the offensive strategy has changed. But we also played just 30 games a year and now they play 66. I would’ve loved to have played 66 games.” Freshmen also weren’t eligible in those days, either. As a sophomore, he stepped right in and batted .344 and stole 23 bases. He was twice an All-SEC pick and led the Rebels to an SEC title in 1969 and to the College World Series. “I always went on the philosophy that you couldn’t steal second if you didn’t take your foot
off first. You had to take some risks.” His coach trusted him. At least after Shaw delivered on a challenge. “He said, ‘John, you didn’t get on base the last two games against LSU. Are you in a slump? You get on first base, if you get a hit against LSU, you get the green light,’” Shaw said. “So I got the green light.” After college, he played in the New York Yankees system for three years, leading the entire Yankees organization in stolen bases in 1971. A native of Baltimore, where he was a standout on an amateur summer team that included Reggie Jackson, Shaw moved his family from Louisville to Vestavia Hills for academics and athletics. His son, Tebe, played for Sammy Dunn. Tebe, a left-handed pitcher, posted a 19-2 record from 1994-96 and went on to pitch at UAB. The Rebels won state titles all three seasons.
One of Tebe’s teammates, Jamie Harris, is the new Vestavia Hills baseball coach, and Shaw said he’s excited about the direction of the Rebels’ baseball program. The Shaws have lived in Vestavia Hills for more than 20 years. Shaw is a medical account sales manager for CMS Imaging Inc. But he took a break from that and revisited some past glory. There was a reception and dinner on Friday. On Saturday, Shaw was honored at halftime of the Ole Miss-Vandy game along with the other inductees: Patrick Willis (football), John Neumann (basketball), Dawson Pruett (football), Dori Carter (golf) and Andy Kilpatrick (service award). “It’s a big honor,” Shaw said. “The family’s making a big deal out of it. I call it a family honor, and one that I share with my teammates.”
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B15
Members of the Pizitz Pirate C.R.E.W. take care of yardwork for a Vestavia resident during Helping Hands in the Hills. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
PIRATES
CONTINUED from page B1 wanted to bring it to Pizitz starting with one big kickoff event. “It gives students a way to give up their time and think of other people,” Wigley said of the C.R.E.W.S. club, which stands for Community Recruits Engaged and Willing to Serve. “We’re hoping it will really take off.” So far, it has. More than 60 students showed up ready to work at the club’s first event, Helping Hands in the Hills, on Sept. 12. They did projects ranging from painting to yard work. “It was such a big success,” Wigley said. “Not
only did they have an opportunity to go out and serve in the community, but it also gave many students an opportunity to develop new friendships. It was a chance to be with their peers and serve other people with their peers. It made a lot of connections across the board.” Riley Giardina, a seventh-grader, said it was great to “come together as friends and as a school community to help people who need help.” What did she like most about the project itself? “I enjoyed meeting the lady whose yard we helped with and to see how grateful she was for what we did. It made me feel good,” Giardina said. And students weren’t the only ones who thought the event was a hit. After Helping Hands in the Hills, the emails starting rolling
in from parents saying they’d like to help lead the C.R.E.W.S. “I think we could have this group of parents continue this [the projects from Helping Hands in the Hills] as an ‘adopt a senior citizen’ effort — to take a meal, clean a house and help them in other ways on a continued basis,” Wigley said. She’s also planning for the club to have one large organized event every nine weeks, and all Pizitz students are encouraged to participate. “We have 1,100 students. What if they all jump on board with this? Once every nine weeks is doable, and everyone can be a part of it,” she said. The club won’t have a membership roster — it will welcome any and all students to each
planned event, Wigley said. But the club does have officers that will meet every Monday during eighth period to help with planning and advertising events. The next event will likely be at local nursing homes and include making ornaments, playing bingo and visiting with residents at the homes. The club will also do a big spring cleanup event for local schools, designating teams to work at each school. “The kids have really embraced the idea of the club and its projects, and parents have been really excited about it too,” she said. “It’s really growing and evolving. We’re thrilled about that.” For more information about the club or to learn how to participate in its projects, email Wigley at wigleykn@vestavia.k12.al.us.
B16 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights
C
ahaba Heights is more than just a collection of shops. Ask the retailers who work there, and they’ll all say they love not just their customers, but the community of businesses in the area. There’s something about Cahaba Heights that makes it a great place to work. In this special business spotlight, learn more about the variety of retailers that call Cahaba Heights home and meet the men and women behind the storefronts.
INDEX
Special Advertising Section
Birmingham Bake... B18 Cahaba Pharmacy... B24 Chickadee................. B19 Cummings Jewelry.. B20 Greenhalgh Ins........ B21
Interiors by Kathy.... B21 Meld Financial........ B20 Murphree’s Market... B21 Spink Dentistry...... B22 State Farm................B23
Studio A....................B23 The Blue Willow...... B20 The Dog House....... B24 The UPS Store......... B16 United Car Care.......B17
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B17
United Car Care Center
The UPS Store is at 3179 Green Valley Road. Photo by Frank Couch.
The UPS Store The UPS store in Vestavia-Cahaba Heights fills a unique niche as a supplement to small business owners who are seeking support in a variety of services. “We provide small businesses and consumers with services that save them time, so they can be more productive,” said Scott Pylant, a franchise owner since 2013. “Some small businesses might not have an administrative assistant. We can offer help with invoicing, printing, even storage for goods. We also offer mail boxes for those who would like a place where packages can be signed for.” In addition, UPS Vestavia offers full service printing and graphic design that meets customers’ needs from small to large-scale projects. “Because we’re a small shop, we can be much more nimble,” Pylant said. “The customer
can come in and sit down and work with the designer to create the piece they want. We can handle last minute projects and can make a quick turn around for the customer.” Projects run the gamut and include bulk mailings, promotional items, signs and even tickets. “We recently handled a mailing from beginning to end for a customer,” Plyant said. “We designed it, set it up for bulk mail and mailed it. This frees the small business owner up to focus on what they need to do to build up their company.” The UPS Store, located at 3179 Green Valley Road, is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 pm. For information, call 969-3099 or visit vestavia-al-2432.theupsstorelocal.com.
United Car Care Center is at 3266 Cahaba Heights Road. Photo by Frank Couch.
United Car Care Center on Cahaba Heights Road was originally founded as Carl’s Car Clinic in the mid 1980s. United CCC acquired the business in the spring of 2014. United CCC started as a branch of United Towing and Transport, which is one of AAA’s largest tow service providers. United Towing and Transport has received numerous awards for their exceptional service and customer satisfaction ratings. United has now brought that same business model to the automotive repair industry. The shop is a full-service auto repair and preventative maintenance facility. United CCC is also AAA approved. United CCC’s ASE-certified technicians use the latest technology available to assess the situation and offer customers solutions. United is also a member of the NAPA Autocare Center family, which offers a 24-month, 24,000-mile
nationwide warranty on parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services. The philosophy of United CCC is ultimately focused on exceptional customer service, which carries on the tradition of the shops origins. When United CCC was still Carl’s Car Clinic, the name was recognizable to nearly everyone in the community, and the name still appears on the front door. “Acquiring an established business such as Carl’s was a key asset to United’s quick success,” said regional manager Jody Franklin. “Carrying on the Carl’s tradition of friendly and quality service at a fair price has helped us to be accepted into a great, close-knit community.” United Car Care Center, 3266 Cahaba Heights Road, is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 967-8192 or visit unitedccc.net.
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
B18 • November 2015
Birmingham Bake & Cook Company
Vestavia Voice
Susan Green. Photo by Frank Couch.
With more than 40 years of experience in the food service industry, Birmingham Bake & Cook Company owner Susan Green has plenty of hands-on experience with her products. Green, a graduate of Tufts University and the Culinary Institute of America, has worked in San Francisco, New York City and Boston. Both she and her staff also bring a passion for “all things kitchen” to the shop. Birmingham Bake & Cook Company initially opened in September 2008 on Valleydale Road. In August 2014, the store relocated to the Heights Village Shopping Center in Cahaba Heights. “As an independent business owner, we feel a kinship with our Cahaba Heights community – one that embraces small business ownership,” Green said. “We were immediately welcomed by both the neighborhood and the city of Vestavia.” In October, the store is moving within Heights Village to suite #3160, where Green is excited to being flanked by Sexton’s Seafood
and New York Butcher Shoppe. Customers can find everything from cutlery to cookware, from bakeware to barware and everything in between. “We’re very proud that so much of our product line is unique, particularly our hand held tools and our gadgets,” Green said. “They’re functional, fun and make life easier in the kitchen.” The Red Bag Customer Rewards Program, Cookin’ Parties, in-home cooking and product demonstrations, free Saturday cooking demonstrations, book signings and kitchen bridal showers round out a well-balanced culinary program. “I love teaching,” Green said. “The classes are a match made in heaven for me.” Birmingham Bake & Cook Co., 3160 Heights Village, is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 980-3661 or visit bakeandcookco.com.
Charlotte Wells, Blakely Oberneder, Kate Hartman and Sarah McGough. Photo by Frank Couch.
Chickadee Chickadee offers something for everyone. This eclectic shop in the heart of Cahaba Heights Village sells everything from jewelry, handbags, baby and bridal gifts to home furnishings. Kate Hartman and her mother-in-law, Carolyn Hartman, own the store. “Chickadee is unique in that it blends generations, so we have something for everyone in every age group and price point,” Kate said. “We offer a nice mix of items from vintage to modern.” The store offers a wide array of items, from multiple price-point “grab and go” gifts that come pre-wrapped for the shopper on the go all the way up to high-end antiques.
Chickadee’s third annual Made in the South event on Nov. 13 will feature all of the locally made, hand crafted products sold in the store. “The event is a great way for customers to meet the artists who create their favorite items,” Kate said. “We like to have Made in the South before the holidays so our customers have the opportunity to shop well in advance.” Chickadee, located at 3138 Cahaba Heights Road, is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 205-969-3138 or visit ChickadeeBirmingham on Instagram, Facebook or chickadeebirmingham.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
November 2015 • B19
Cummings Jewelry Design
Adam Greenhalgh, Robert Reich, Josh Beck, James Brown and Russell Greenhalgh. Photo by Greenhalgh Insurance.
Andy Jackson, Tim Price, Jennifer Cummings and Jim Cummings. Photo by Frank Couch.
When he was 12 years old, James Cummings Jr. spent his allowance on rough opals to experiment with and cut. With his parents’ support, Cummings Jewelry Design was founded in their basement in the early 1970s. “We still have customers we lovingly call ‘basement people’ because they’ve been here since the teenage jeweler times,” Jennifer Cummings, James’ wife, said. At Cummings Jewelry they are proud to be “your neighborhood jeweler,” though their commitment to customer service has taken them outside Cahaba Heights. Jim recently travelled to New York to meet with one of his favorite customers and design an engagement ring. In Cahaba Heights, customers will find this same level of customer service through jewelry repair, appraisals and custom work done
by jewelers with more than 100 years of collective experience. The staff goes the extra mile to make sure clients are adequately insured and encourage clients to bring in their jewelry to be cleaned and inspected which can prevent lost stones. Even though Cummings Jewelry Design has come a long way from its beginnings, a portrait of James’ parents hangs in the store. With such deep familial roots, the business has a perfect home in Cahaba Heights. “We are firm believers in small businesses,” Jennifer said. “With family-owned businesses comes a higher level of customer service.” Cummings Jewelry Design, 3166 Village Circle, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 298-9144 or visit cummingsjewelrydesign.com.
Greenhalgh Insurance Founded in 1937, Greenhalgh Insurance Agency’s staff of qualified agents — with the best customers and companies in the insurance industry as clients — focus on getting the job done while maintaining a friendly family atmosphere. When customers’ needs are exceeded, stability and growth follows. Mottos like “What gets measured gets done” and “Execute flawlessly” are commonly expressed and are kept in mind as we perform insurance services for our clients. April 27, 2016 will mark the fifth anniversary of deadly tornadoes that struck thousands of Alabamians and caused catastrophic destruction. On that day, 320 of our customers suffered 460 losses, totaling over 7 million in paid customer claims. While our neighborhood and office building were being repaired, we worked
from our homes and our vehicles to help our customers secure insurance claim payments and put their lives back in order. The storms caused interruption and destruction, but they did not damage our spirits and we are stronger today than ever. We are a third generation insurance agency licensed in 17 states and providing financial protection for homes and businesses throughout Alabama and America. From our family and all of our employees, thank you for allowing Greenhalgh Insurance Agency the privilege of handling your valued insurance business. Greenhalgh Insurance is located at 3144 Cahaba Heights Road. For more information, call 967-8800 or visit greenhalghinsurance. com.
B20 • November 2015
The Blue Willow
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
Vestavia Voice
Meld Financial is at 3008 Pump House Road. Photo by Frank Couch.
Meld Financial, Inc. The Blue Willow is at 3930 Crosshaven Drive. Photo by Frank Couch.
The Blue Willow is the perfect place for those who want to add a touch of Southern charm to their lives and home, according to owner Anna Barnes. “The store offers some of the area’s most fabulous finds and well known products and is the perfect place to find a heartfelt gift for any wedding, birthday, baby shower or hostess gift,” she said. The Blue Willow also offers monogramming, etching, engraving and personalization to transform gifts into something truly special. The store showcases products from more than 20 Alabama-based business as well as vendors from other Southern states such as Mississippi. The store will be holding several events for the holiday season. Its annual Elf Magic Event will take place on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11 from
10 a.m.-noon. Barnes said the event is always a big hit with the kids. Special guests Santa and Jingle & Jangle elves will be in attendance along with games, prizes and special discounts on all Elf Magic products. On Thursday, Nov. 19, The Blue Willow will host its annual Christmas Open House. Complimentary gift wrap will be provided for eligible purchases, and the festive event will feature prizes, specials and giveaways. Come December, a Special Sunday Sale will take place Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m. This us the only Sunday during the year the store is open and creates a good opportunity to get last minute gifts wrapped. The Blue Willow is located at 3930 Crosshaven Drive. For more information, call 9680909 or visit thebluewillow.com.
Mark McGarvey does for his clients what he would do for himself. It’s this concept that the Meld Financial CEO founded his company based on in 1984. This philosophy resulted in an approach best explained by the phrase “situational investing,” which was first coined by McGarvey years ago as the company was evolving. Situational investing is the company’s approach to working with clients who are seeking advice in today’s rapidly changing marketplace. Meld Financial operates from a simple philosophy based on providing its clients with independent objective services melded with customer driven financial goals. This approach is combined with the firm’s solid expertise in all realms of the financial world, whether it’s financial planning, estate planning, investment management or tax planning. According to McGarvey, it is this approach
that sets Meld apart from a rapidly expanding market of investment firms and financial advisors. “It’s hard for the customer to differentiate,” he said. “With Meld Financial you get a team that’s goal oriented toward what the customer needs.” This is where Meld Financial’s personal yet objective approach clarifies for the customer how to best accomplish their financial goals. “We want to know who you are, what your needs are, your goals and then we just want to find the best way to get you where you need to be,” McGarvey said. Meld Financial, located at 3008 Pump House Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 967-4200 or visit meldfinancial.com. Securities Offered by Triad Advisors. Member FINRA / SIPC.
VestaviaVoice.com
Interiors by Kathy Harris
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
November 2015 • B21
Gene, Kathy and Brad Murphree. Photo by Frank Couch.
Murphree’s Market Interiors by Kathy Harris is at 3949 Cypress Drive . Photo by Frank Couch.
The charming aqua clapboard structure that’s home to Interiors by Kathy Harris is a treasure trove of lush interior furnishings, rich fabrics and more. Since 2012, Harris has called this location her own, and it’s here that she offers her design expertise to clients. “We work with any budget from the small job to the large,” Harris said. “Each is special, and we just want to make the client happy.” Thanks to Harris’s innate sense of style, which blends comfort and elegance, shoppers are likely to find anything they need — from gifts to decor, including art by local artisans — at all price points. It also offers reupholstery work and custom drapery.
“I love mixing old and new,” Harris said. “I love antiques, taking them and then mixing them with newer pieces.” Having an eye for design and a love for entertaining, Harris has filled her store with an inviting ambiance, which beckons shoppers inside to browse through lush textiles and aromatic candles, soaps and more. Now is a wonderful time to stop in and browse a selection of holiday ornaments and gifts — just in time for the upcoming festive season. Interiors by Kathy Harris is located at 3949 Cypress Drive, Cahaba Heights, AL 35243. For more information, call (205) 970-4161 or visit the store’s Facebook page.
As the second oldest business in Cahaba Heights under original ownership, Murphree’s market has provided an open-air produce market with a “hometown feel” for nearly four decades. 2016 will be its 38th year in business. “We try to be real personal to people and remember them when they come in and ask them how their product was,” Brad Murphree said. Brad’s dad, Gene Murphree, started the market in 1978, and today both of them and Brad’s mom Kathy can be found working there. Brad said their main “bread and butter” is produce, but they also sell seasonal spring and fall flowers as well as Christmas trees, wreaths and garland fresh out of North Carolina for the holidays. In the fall, they offer 10 varieties of ornamental pumpkins through Thanksgiving. When possible, they stock local produce. In the summer you can find corn, squash okra,
seasonal fresh shelled peas, watermelon, tomatoes, peaches and more supplied by Alabama farmers. “Our specialty is supplying people with freshest produce at best possible prices,” Brad said. In the winter, much of their produce comes from Florida, Texas and California. In addition to produce and greenery, Murphree’s has an expanding selection of other grocery goods. Their most popular non-produce items are a line of Amish products including canned goods, fresh butter and cheese, bacon and a few meats. They also sell gluten-free baked goods from The Funky Muffin, located on U.S. 280, and cinnamon and orange rolls from Birmingham-based Millie Ray’s. Murphree’s, 4212 Dolly Ridge Road, is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 967-8590 or visit murphreesmarket.com.
B22 • November 2015
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
Vestavia Voice
Spink Dentistry and Sleep Birmingham
Shannon Cayse, Tracy McCaleb, Tanya Stratas, Dr. Barbie Anderson, Dr. Bruce Spink, Susie Boulware, Meredith Spink, Valeria Hannah. Photo by Frank Couch.
Spink Dentistry is committed to thoughtful care in all areas of dental health. With more than 30 years of experience, Bruce T. Spink, a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, brings a level of expertise to all aspects of his practice, which encompasses general dentistry, cosmetic dental care and the treatment of sleep apnea. “Compassionate listening combined with thoughtful diagnosis leads to proper treatment and healthy results,” Dr. Spink said. “We want to discover what the patient wants and deliver their desires in a friendly, pain-free way.” Dr. Spink’s experience, his passion for continuing education and staying on the cutting edge of dental technology is what makes a difference in how he is able to care for his patients. Spink Dentistry emphasizes cosmetic dentistry, such
as cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers and Invisalign. For patients with other significant issues, Dr. Spink may use implants or crowns to restore worn or lost teeth. In addition, Spink Dentistry can provide same-day crowns through technology that allows them to eliminate impressions, temporary crowns and a second appointment. “Our same-day crowns are very beneficial to our patients,” said Meredith Spink, an assistant who is certified in Digital Dentistry. “Instead of taking impressions, we are able to scan in the mouth, design and deliver a permanent crown to our patients in less than 2 hours.” “Our goal is to obtain optimal oral health for the patient, so their overall general health is maximized,” Dr. Spink said.
“After more than 30 years of practicing dentistry, this is the first time Dr. Spink has ever advertised a service,” Meredith said. The death of a friend from the effects of sleep apnea lead Dr. Spink’s passionate search to learn about the cause and treatment for apnea. The use of a CPAP machine has been and is the standard course of treatment. However, with 50-75 percent of people unable to cope with this type of treatment, Dr. Spink saw a place for oral appliance therapy to help these patients. “Dr. Spink is eager to bring awareness to the fact that there is an alternative that works,” Meredith said. Dr. Spink is now one of Alabama’s leading authorities in the area of the treatment of sleep apnea. Many different oral appliances can be used as an alternative, and through extensive research,
he has narrowed it down to a select few that he finds most successful, including the DNA device. “The DNA is a valuable appliance gaining airway volume for the patien,” Dr. Spink said. He is the only dental sleep professional in Alabama certified to administer the DNA device. “Our appliances are patient compliant, durable, and they work,” he said. Dr. Spink will meet with the patient for a 30-minute free sleep consultation to assess their needs, ranging from snoring to mild/moderate/ severe sleep apnea. Spink Dentistry, located at 4005 Crosshaven Drive, is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 7a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Friday. For more information call 205-967-8555 or visit spinkdentistry.com or sleepbham.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
November 2015 • B23
Ron Jones, State Farm Insurance
Alexa Batey, Annette Hyche (sitting), Kristen Stitzel, Morgan Brannon, Courtney Ray (sitting) and Savanah Hrbek. Photo by Frank Couch.
Studio A
Ron Jones. Photo by Frank Couch.
Ron Jones has worked with State Farm Insurance more than 50 years. He became an agent 20 years ago when he retired from State Farm as vice president of operations. When he became an agent, Jones hired a staff of people who had experience working for other State Farm agents. “I have people who have been in the agency aspect longer than I have,” he said. “A lot of changes have taken place in our business over the years. We keep up with these to make sure we properly serve our policyholders.” Staff members Deb Bearden and Cari Dean have both worked on the agency side of insurance for more than 30 years. Jones said he’s grateful for their experience and people skills as well as their effort to stay current so we can provide our policyholders Good Neighbor Service.
“In today’s environment, I couldn’t operate without these two ladies,” he said. “Because we’re experienced, we can handle the problems which arise, perhaps, a little easier than we might otherwise.” Customers also benefit because Jones does not represent multiple companies like other agencies who must be familiar with the procedures and contracts of those different companies. “The fact that we represent only State Farm means all our attention is directed toward State Farm and their policyholders, our customers,” Jones said. Jones said he appreciates all of his policyholders and welcomes new customers. Ron Jones office is at 3122 Green Valley Road in Cahaba Heights. His office phone number is 967-2223.
Studio A wants clients to feel more like themselves. “It’s all about being comfortable in your own skin,” said Annette Hyche, founder and owner. To do so, Annette and her staff work to create a comfortable environment. “We are always evolving and adapting to what people want and need,” she said. Annette began her career as a make up artist before pursing a masters esthetician license. Her passion and creativity lends itself to all aspects of the salon’s services from skincare to beauty products. She’s chosen to carry her favorite lines including Moroccan Oil hair and body, as well as Julie Hewett and TIGI makeup lines. Studio A has become the go-to place for waxing and spray tanning, and its services don’t stop there. Studio A also offers hair care, skin
care, massage, makeup, brow shaping, waxing and organic spray tanning. One of the most popular new treatments is hydrodermabrasion, a new advancement in both preventative and regenerative skin care. Unlike microdermabrasion, it is a non-invasive treatment that exfoliates, lifts and deeply hydrates the skin. Annette’s sharp eye and beauty expertise allows her to bring out the best in each client. “My passion is creativity and my clients are my projects,” she said. “I love to see them walk out feeling more confident and beautiful both inside and out.” Studio A, located at 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 100, is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 969-8998 or visit studioaob.com.
B24 • November 2015
Cahaba Pharmacy
Cahaba Business Spotlight Heights Special Advertising Section
Vestavia Voice
Kathryn Lankford. Photo by Frank Couch. Nadia Nawaz, Drew Blackwell, Jim Parekh and Mandy Glenn. Photo by Frank Couch.
Jim Parekh’s career came full circle when he opened Cahaba Pharmacy on July 21, 2011. He began his career at an independent pharmacy in Guntersville, Alabama, that offered great customer service, a friendly and caring staff, free home delivery and a soda fountain. Opening his own independent pharmacy, he knew he wanted to incorporate some of the same aspects in his pharmacy. “We have everything but the soda fountain,” Jim said. Since graduating from pharmacy school at Samford in 2000, Jim has seen many aspects of pharmacy by working in large chain pharmacies, I.V. infusion setting and at a local hospital. He brought this knowledge into his own business. In the early days at Cahaba Pharmacy, Jim’s first and only customers were his parents. The Cahaba Heights community has since embraced the pharmacy. Now with three full-time
employees, Jim attributes their success to great customer service. “We know our customers by first name, and we look forward to them coming by. That relationship is what separates us from our competition,” Jim said. Cahaba Pharmacy accommodates customers’ needs with curbside drop-off, fast and friendly service and free home delivery. The staff also works with customers to find and use coupons on prescription drugs. The average wait time in the pharmacy is usually 5-10 minutes. “We’ve been fortunate to make wonderful friends in the community,” Parekh said. “The services we offer are those you’d get from a friend.” Cahaba Pharmacy, 3135 Cahaba Heights Road, is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 977-9299 or visit cahaba-pharmacy.com.
The Dog House Kathryn Lankford and the team at The Dog House were making final preparations to open their doors when the April 27, 2011 tornado tore through Cahaba Heights. The roof had to be replaced, along with other repairs, before The Dog House opened May 5. Since their opening, customers have been able to take their dogs in for haircuts, deshedding, toenail trimming, dental care and other services, all done by appointment. Lankford said they encourage people to get into a routine about their dogs’ hygiene as some grooming processes can prevent health issues. To reserve their preferred groomer, some customers book appointments for the rest of the year. Every staff member has a deep love of dogs, which lends to The Dog House’s personal,
one-on-one service. There are no cages, and Lankford has even picked up dogs from owners’ homes in cases of illness. Lankford’s experience in the grooming industry proved that dogs are often viewed more as parts of people’s families. With this knowledge and a deep love of her own dog, starting her own grooming salon was an obvious next step. Lankford said she loves doing business in Cahaba Heights because it is an area in a large city with a small-town feel. “We know our customers and see them around town,” Lankford said. “Even the businesses in the area are supportive of each other.” The Dog House, 4209 Dolly Ridge Road, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 977-9775 or visit its Facebook page.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B25
Vestavia Hills Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
731706
35216
2201 Laurel Brook Lane
New
$215,000
731790
35216
2131 Montreat Way
New
$132,000
731781
35216
1012 Southridge Drive
New
$237,500
731770
35216
2236 Great Rock Road
New
$214,900
731702
35216
33 The Falls Drive #33
New
$199,500
731626
35216
1815 Southwood Road
New
$749,900
731617
35216
2858 Georgetown Drive
New
$169,900
731567
35216
3454 Heather Lane
New
$205,000
731566
35216
2210 Wedgewood Road
New
$419,000
731473
35216
2004 Montreat Parkway #2004
New
$128,500
731465
35216
1752 Woodbine Drive
New
$299,900
731459
35216
421 Vesclub Lane
New
$674,900
731454
35216
3611 Courtyard Lane
New
$282,000
731412
35216
208 Woodbury Drive #8
New
$149,900
731373
35216
2422 Mallard Drive
New
$98,900
731318
35216
4136 River Walk Lane #33
New
$142,900
731302
35216
1332 Round Hill Road
New
$289,900
731251
35216
2124 Southwood Road
New
$529,000
731137
35216
2232 Tal Brook Road #23
New
$179,900
731132
35216
3825 Windhover Drive #3825
New
$54,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on October 19. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
2201 Laurel Brook Lane
3611 Courtyard Lane
B26 • November 2015
Vestavia Voice
Calendar Vestavia Hills Library Events Kids Mondays: Maker Monday. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Work with the electric circuits. Something for everyone, but adults must accompany children. Tuesdays: Together With Twos. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Join Miss Cristina for a rollicking toddler time of stories, songs, finger plays and movement. Ages 18 mos. to 35 mos.
Tuesdays: PJ Family Storytime with Ms. Courtney. 6:30 p.m. Wear your PJs. All ages welcome. Wednesdays: Story Friends with Mrs. Lisa. 10:30 a.m. Join Mrs. Lisa for great stories and songs plus a surprise visitor or two. Ages 3 and up.
Thursdays: L.I.F.T. (Library in the Forest Time). 9:30 a.m.-noon. Enjoy special play equipment in the program room for preschoolers and their caregivers.
Wednesdays & Fridays: W.H.Y? 3:30 p.m. Join Miss Alicia for a craft program on Wednesdays
Thursdays: Book Babies. 10 a.m. A new program just for babies, with small classes limited
Cahaba Heights Elementary Nov. 16-20: Book Fair. Nov. 17: First Grade Musical Program.
to 12 each, where we begin the journey toward a life-long love of books! You must register each week. Birth to 18 mos. Call 978-0158 to register.
Teens Fridays: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy video games on the Wii U and PS4. We will also have board games to play with fellow teens. Snacks served.
Vestavia Hills Elementary West
Nov. 18-19: Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for our families
Nov. 2-3: 1st graders visit American Village.
Nov. 5-6: 2nd grade Music Performances.
Dec. 16: Holiday Performance with 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, 6 p.m.
Nov. 2, 3, 9: 2nd graders visit Golden Flake.
Nov. 16-20: Canned Food Drive.
Vestavia Hills Elementary Central Week of Nov. 2: Book Fair.
and a movie and snack on Friday. We Hear Ya! Something for our school age kids.
Nov. 6: Veteran’s Day Program.
Vestavia Hills Elementary East Nov. 3-4: First Grade Veteran’s Day Music Program.
Nov. 16-20: Caring and Sharing Week.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B27
Children participate in activities at the Moss Rock Festival. Photo by Larry Gay.
Area Events Nov. 2: Chris Thile, mandolinist. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $33.50-$54.50. Visit http://www.alysstephens.org/chris-thile. Nov. 2: Hoover Community Blood Drive. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Hoover Recreation Center. All blood donated goes to Children’s of Alabama and UAB Hospital. Lunch, snacks and drinks provided. Nov. 3 Corporate Golf Day. 10:30 a.m. Greystone Country Club Founder’s Course. Golf clinic, golf shotgun, lunch and prizes. $195 per player, $695 per person. Register at greystonecc.com/corporategolfday. Nov. 4: Fred Gray, civil rights attorney. Highlands United Methodist Church, 1045 20th St. South. Free and open to the public. www.highlandsumc.net/faj. Nov. 6: South Highland Presbyterian Holiday Market. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Visit southhighland.org. Nov. 6: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Alys Stephens Center. 8 p.m. $35-$80. Call 975-2787. Nov. 6: Ben Rector with Judah & The Lion. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Call 252-2262. Nov. 6: The Greatest Holiday Lighting on Earth. Riverchase Galleria. 6 p.m. Visit www.riverchasegalleria.com/events. Nov. 6: Executive Leadership Series Event. Westin, Downtown. Registration $79 until October 23. Visit alabamaleadership. org. Nov. 7: Hope for the Holidays. Shelby Baptist Medical Center. 9 a.m.-noon. Free program for people who have experienced the death of a loved one and are dreading the upcoming holiday season. For reservations, call 870-8667. Nov. 9-11. Birmingham Zoo. Free admission for all active and retired military personnel and their dependents with military identification card. Birmingham Zoo. Visit http://www.birminghamzoo.com/. Nov. 11-21: “SFB.” Alys Stephens Center. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-14 and 18-21. Play. $15. Call 975-2787. Nov. 13: George Benson. 8 p.m. Alys
Nov. 7-8: Moss Rock Festival. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Preserve, Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco-ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 10th year. Free admission. Parking and shuttle will take place at the Hoover Met. Visit MossRockFestival.com. Stephens Center. $64.50-$89.50. Call 9752787. Nov. 13: A Salute to the Armed Forces. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $22.50-$57.50. Call 975-2787. Nov. 14: Hope for the Holidays. Trinity United Methodist Church. Free program for people who have experienced the death of a loved one and are dreading the upcoming holiday season. For reservations, call 8708667. Nov. 14: Remodeling Essentials Kitchen and Bath Seminar. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Showroom, 2800 2nd Ave. S. 9 a.m.-noon. Nov. 20: Coffee Concert: Handel’s Water Music. 11 a.m. Alys Stephens Center. $19-$34. Call 975-2787. Nov. 21-22: United Way Food Drive. Birmingham Zoo. Bring any canned or non-perishable food item and receive half-price admission. Visit http://www.birminghamzoo. com/.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2015 • B27
Children participate in activities at the Moss Rock Festival. Photo by Larry Gay.
Area Events Nov. 2: Chris Thile, mandolinist. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $33.50-$54.50. Visit http://www.alysstephens.org/chris-thile. Nov. 2: Hoover Community Blood Drive. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Hoover Recreation Center. All blood donated goes to Children’s of Alabama and UAB Hospital. Lunch, snacks and drinks provided. Nov. 3 Corporate Golf Day. 10:30 a.m. Greystone Country Club Founder’s Course. Golf clinic, golf shotgun, lunch and prizes. $195 per player, $695 per person. Register at greystonecc.com/corporategolfday. Nov. 4: Fred Gray, civil rights attorney. Highlands United Methodist Church, 1045 20th St. South. Free and open to the public. www.highlandsumc.net/faj. Nov. 6: South Highland Presbyterian Holiday Market. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Visit southhighland.org. Nov. 6: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Alys Stephens Center. 8 p.m. $35-$80. Call 975-2787. Nov. 6: Ben Rector with Judah & The Lion. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Call 252-2262. Nov. 6: The Greatest Holiday Lighting on Earth. Riverchase Galleria. 6 p.m. Visit www.riverchasegalleria.com/events. Nov. 6: Executive Leadership Series Event. Westin, Downtown. Registration $79 until October 23. Visit alabamaleadership. org. Nov. 7: Hope for the Holidays. Shelby Baptist Medical Center. 9 a.m.-noon. Free program for people who have experienced the death of a loved one and are dreading the upcoming holiday season. For reservations, call 870-8667. Nov. 9-11. Birmingham Zoo. Free admission for all active and retired military personnel and their dependents with military identification card. Birmingham Zoo. Visit http://www.birminghamzoo.com/. Nov. 11-21: “SFB.” Alys Stephens Center. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-14 and 18-21. Play. $15. Call 975-2787. Nov. 13: George Benson. 8 p.m. Alys
Nov. 7-8: Moss Rock Festival. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Preserve, Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco-ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 10th year. Free admission. Parking and shuttle will take place at the Hoover Met. Visit MossRockFestival.com. Stephens Center. $64.50-$89.50. Call 9752787. Nov. 13: A Salute to the Armed Forces. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $22.50-$57.50. Call 975-2787. Nov. 14: Hope for the Holidays. Trinity United Methodist Church. Free program for people who have experienced the death of a loved one and are dreading the upcoming holiday season. For reservations, call 8708667. Nov. 14: Remodeling Essentials Kitchen and Bath Seminar. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Showroom, 2800 2nd Ave. S. 9 a.m.-noon. Nov. 20: Coffee Concert: Handel’s Water Music. 11 a.m. Alys Stephens Center. $19-$34. Call 975-2787. Nov. 21-22: United Way Food Drive. Birmingham Zoo. Bring any canned or non-perishable food item and receive half-price admission. Visit http://www.birminghamzoo. com/.
BUICK GMC
CONGRATULATIONS, KEVIN! Kevin Browning with his new 2016 Yukon XL Denali that he special ordered for his wife in the newest color option, Crimson Red Tintcoat. This is the 2nd vehicle he has purchased from Royal Buick GMC in 2 months.
Thank you for being Loyal To Royal!
3010 Columbiana Rd · At the Corner of I-65 and Highway 31 in Vestavia
(205) 823-3100 · www.royalbuickgmc.net
Where you’re always treated like royalty!