Village Living May 2011 by Starnes Media

Village Living

| May 2011 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

New track record - pg 10

Springalingadingdong -pg 12

road rally returns Legends of Motorsports cars to descend on Mountain Brook Village May 20

Terry Oden said. What exactly makes it so unique? “For people who love beautiful cars, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy them in familyfriendly atmosphere,” Shanaman said. “You can talk with car owners in an up-

See roAd rALLY | page 10

See MotHErWALK | page 4

May Features

Vintage cars process into Mountain Brook Village for last year’s Legends of Motorsports Rally. Photo courtesy Legends of Motorsports.

looked perfect,” she said. “It’s probably the most enthused I’ve seen Mountain Brook,” Sperry Snow said of last year’s event. “We’re hoping for good weather, minimal disruption to the village, and that people will appreciate the unique experience the rally is for our city,” Mayor

Leadership Mountain Brook: not just a class

• Editor’s Note

By maDOLine marKHam

• City Council

• Graduation Speakers

• Decorators’ ShowHouse

Leadership Mountain Brook isn’t just another leadership class. In its inaugural year, the program not only teaches high school students about leadership but also gives them a hands-on opportunity to be city leaders. This year’s students have created projects for the city that have been approved by both City Council and Parks and Recreation. “They might not realize until 10 years from now how big this experience is,” said Hannon Davidson, project manager at the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. “I learned a lot, and I grew up in Mountain Brook.” The chamber sponsors the class, and Davidson has worked closely with the students all year. In the fall, 16 juniors and seniors from Mountain Brook High School were selected for the yearlong program for which they received class credit. Few knew one another when they started, but over tours of city departments and group project proposals, they learned life skills and made friends. “I learned to make sure everyone is involved and work together on one idea,” Tommy Bruhn said. The students all note how much they learned about the behind-the-scenes operations of the city and proposing reallife city projects. “It’s more complicated

• Village Sports

• Kari Kampakis

• Alison Lewis

• School House

• Restaurant Showcase

• Business Spotlight

• Calendar of Events

• Around the Villages

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Honoring mothers at Motherwalk Teal is to ovarian cancer what pink is to breast cancer, and it will be the color that survivors don in Crestline Village for the 8th Annual Motherwalk and carnival festivities on May 7. “It’s a celebration of life,” said Susan Greene, Executive Director of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. “There’s just something special about walking with people whose lives have been touched by ovarian cancer. Through walking, we make a difference.” All money raised from the walk will benefit the foundation in its efforts to fund research and increase awareness about the risks, symptoms and treatments of this disease. Signs with information about ovarian cancer symptoms and statistics will be posted along the race route. Cheerleaders will also line the course. The event is always held the Saturday before Mother’s Day. “It’s a great way to honor all our mothers,” Greene said. Mistress of ceremonies Fox 6 Evening News Anchor Beth Shelburne is the emcee of the event. Shelburne lost a friend to

By maDOLine marKHam Vintage race cars and all manners of a street festival will once again roll into Mountain Book Village on the evening of Friday, May 20. The interactive celebration of historic and contemporary racing will offer an opportunity to see the cars and drivers up close, as well as music and festivities in shops and restaurants. The event serves as the opener of the Legends of Motorsports races at Barber Motorsports Park, May 20-22. “We had such a positive response last year that we couldn’t imagine not coming back,” said Rena Shanaman, president of Legends of Motorsports. “Race participants told other drivers they needed to come to Barber and come to Birmingham and experience it.” Road rallies have long been a tradition for Legends events, so when plans were first made to come to Birmingham in 2010, Shanaman discussed the idea of a road rally with Barber and, upon visiting, decided Mountain Brook was an ideal location. “The scenic highway 78 route [from Barber]

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | May 2011

Kendal Jaffe, James Cooper, Robert Byrne, Caroline Bell and Kathleen McKee presented their proposal for a brick engraving fundraiser at the April City Council meeting. Photo by Hannon Davidson.

than I thought,” Bruhn said of the city processes. Junior Hailey McManus agreed. “I learned about all the systems you have to go through and all the people you have to talk to for a project,” she said. The first part of the year the group learned about how the city works and completed a series of projects including making video about their favorite stores in Mountain Brook and writing stories about Christmas decorations for Village Living. Armed with this experience, they then identified needs in the community and

Escape

developed project proposals to address them. Finally, they rehearsed presentations and received feedback from the city, g8four sensory research and Bill Thorton, who writes for The Birmingham News and attends Mountain Brook City meetings. The groups worked closely with City Manager Sam Gaston, City Planner Dana Hazen and other city officials on their project proposals. “The City has been really helpful and accessible to the kids,”

See LEAdErSHiP | page 16

Mother’s Day Special

Day Spa

20% OFF Gift Cards with this ad, expires 5-7-11

Therapeutic Massages • Facials & Skin Care Services • Yoga • Hair Removal & Waxing Permanent Makeup Services • Eyelash Extensions • Spray Tan • Botox • Foot Relaxation

17 Dexter Avenue • 414-6062 • Theplacetoescape.com

| May 2011 |

Village Living

Architectural Heritage says Congrats to Mtn. Brook Seniors 200 28th Street South Birmingham, Alabama 35233 USA Ph: (205)322-3538 Fax: (205)323-0084 www.architecturalheritage.com

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

| May 2011 |

LEGENDS OF MOTORSPORTS ROAD RALLY Mountain Brook Village Friday, May 20, 4-8:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m. Parade of Exotic Sports Cars 5:30 p.m. Parade of Legends Race Cars Talk To Drivers Take Pictures with Race Cars Music Merchant Specials

www.welcometomountainbrook.com

Longworth Collection

Fine New Furniture & Authentic Antiques Drexel Heritage • Hancock & Moore • Lexington • Harden John Richard • American Drew • Hammary • Pulaski Lighting • Linens • Candles • Florals • Accessories • Rugs Bridal Registry Hours Tue-Sat 10-4

2408 Canterbury Rd. Mountain Brook Village

803.4040

| May 2011 |

Welcome Friends

Village Living

Enjoying the Crestline Beech Babies neighborhood Easter egg hunt are Haston Simmons, Sawyer Simmons, Erin McElroy holding new Beech baby Morgan McElroy, Eliza Rice, Caroline Gray, and Elizabeth Thomas. Photo by Jennifer Gray

School House Contributors Alison Gault -Cherokee Bend Lauren Fowler - Crestline Bama Hager -Brookwood Forest Sherrie Futch- Mountain Brook High School Hilary Ross - Mountain Brook Elem. & Mountain Brook Jr High

Contributing Photographers Image Arts | Alison Gault | Kari Kampakis

Publisher

Creative Director

Dan Starnes

Keith McCoy

Editor

Published by

Jennifer Gray

Village Living LLC

Contributing Editor

Sales and Distribution

Madoline Markham

Dan Starnes | Angela Morris

Contact Information: Village Living #4 Office Park Circle, Suite 206 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@VillageLivingOnline.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Jennifer@VillageLivingOnline.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 Legals: Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, faith, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. 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) 370-0732 or by email. Please recycle this paper

Editor’s Note May always seems to be such a fun month. There’s lots going on, school gets out, summer is on the way. This May is no exception. If you are looking for something fun for the family to enjoy, you won’t be disappointed. Whether it’s fast cars, carnivals and fun or a celebration of Mom, you’ll find it happening in Mountain Brook. The Legends of Motorsports is returning to Mountain Brook Village. If you missed it last May, you won’t want to this year. Come see all the club cars and racing cars. All the details can be found in our story. If it is a carnival atmosphere you are looking for, you won’t want to miss Springalingadingdong. This zany street festival in English Village is something everyone in our city should experience at least once. There is nothing else like this celebration anywhere in Birmingham. We have all the details. Also this month, the Emmet O’Neal Library’s Women’s Committee of 100 is hosting their annual kickoff to summer reading. You and your family will want to

participate in all of the fun and sign up for the library’s summer reading program, too. With the end of another school year, graduation is upon us. Mary Nobles Hancock, a junior at the high school, has written a profile of the three graduating seniors who will speak on behalf of their class at graduation. Congratulations, Class of 2011, and best of luck! If you haven’t heard the name Charlie Forbes, you might want to remember it. Forbes is breaking track records this year that have been held for decades. You will want to learn all about this amazing athlete in Will Hightower’s piece in the sports section. Finally, May is also a time we remember our mothers. Mothers are truly remarkable women. They demonstrate unconditional love, they serve even when it goes unnoticed and unappreciated, and they listen and give us their wise counsel. What better way to honor your mother than to walk in her honor or memory in this year’s Motherwalk for ovarian cancer? Please consider participating in this worthwhile and fun family event. You will find all the details and registration information in this issue.

MotHErWALK

ContinuEd from page 1 ovarian cancer and is a strong advocate fighting it. Crestline will also be filled with family-friendly carnival festivities that morning. There will be inflatables, music, face painting, massages, balloons and food. Fitness instructors from the Levite Jewish Community Center will lead a preevent stretch at 8:15 a.m. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the American Cancer Society. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s mission is to raise funds for ovarian cancer

research and to increase awareness about the disease. In addition to cancer information at the race, the Emmet O’Neal Library will serve as a resource center on ovarian cancer in the weeks before and after the race. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the run and walk at 9 a.m. in Crestline Village, across from the Emmet O’Neal Library, 50 Oak Street. The cost to participate in the Motherwalk and 5K is $25 for an individual and $10 for children 10 and under. The cost for a corporate squad of five is $100. For more information on the race or to register, visit www.motherwalk.com.

Meet our staff Madoline Markham

One of Madoline Markham’s favorite things about moving back to her hometown last year was discovering Birmingham’s restaurant gems, many of which she has found in Mountain Brook’s villages. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from Rhodes College in Memphis and then a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Thanks to working for Southern Living and Cooking with Paula Deen, her first love is food writing, but she also enjoys telling non-foodrelated stories about and for the community. She chronicles her cooking adventures at maplemacaroni.blogspot.com and can be reached at madolinemarkham@gmail.com.

please support Our sponsors Architectural Heritage (2) A’mano (12) Backyard Adventures (11) Bradford Health Services (15) Brookwood Hospital (2) Canterbury Gardens (23) Constance Longworth Collection (3) Clark Antiques (5) Dan Gilleland (7) Escape (1) Excel MD (8) Dyron’s Lowcountry (14) Frontera (5) Four Corners (9) Humana (16) Isbell Jewelers (16) Isis and Sons (13) Leaf and Petal (17)

Oak Street (7) LJCC Mountain Brook Chamber (3) Mudtown (20) Otey’s (12) Renasant Bank RealtySouth (24) Sew Sheri (8) Snoozy’s Kids (19) Sweet As Honey (20) St Luke’s (9) Thomas Kinkade (6) The Cook Store (11) The King’s House (17) Trinity Medical Center (23) Tutoring Club (19) Vulcan (21)

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

| May 2011 |

City Council and Board of Education recaps By BarBara BreWsTer

March City Council Meeting On March 28, Mountain Brook’s City Council meeting was held in the auditorium of the Mountain Brook Board of Education. Council President Virginia Smith announced that Mountain Brook Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel and Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook would introduce the 2010 Firefighter and Policeman of the Year. Chief Ezekiel presented Patrick Weeks, an apparatus operator and paramedic. Firefighter Weeks was credited with rescuing an infant trapped in a crashed vehicle. Mr. Weeks was off-duty at the time. Chief Cook introduced Officer Rozetha Burrow. Officer Burrow was recognized for her commitment to going “the extra mile” in her service for the community. She consistently “goes beyond what is normally expected.” Among resolutions given approval were recommendations to the ABC Board for two liquor licenses for restaurants Vino

(1930 Cahaba Road, Suite B) and Pianeta 3 (2713 Culver Road). A sidewalk café permit was approved for Beach Burgers (63 Church Street). A conditional use application was authorized to Dr. Donald Kahn for adding a second floor office space above the retail area that was the former Briarcliff Shop. Approval was given for repairs to Fire Station No. 2. When attempting to repair a collapsed drain pipe, asbestos was found. Following removal of the asbestos, the plumbing and flooring will be repaired. The cost for these repairs is not to exceed $15,000. At the close of the meeting, President Smith reminded attendees that the purpose of the Council holding meetings throughout the community during construction of City Hall is to encourage citizens to attend meetings close to their homes. For additional information about the Council, visit the City’s web site (www.mtnbrook. org) and Charter Cable Channel 10.

April City Council Meeting On April 11, Mountain Brook’s City Council meeting was held in the auditorium of Cherokee Bend Elementary School. Following a survey conducted by Police Chief Cook and the Mountain Brook Police Department, several traffic ordinances were passed for lowering speed limits on certain streets and adding stop signs to a number of unmarked intersections. The following streets and portions of these street, have had the speed limit reduced or set at 25 mph: East Briarcliff Road, Guilford Road, Pinehaven Drive, Sandhurst Road, Sherwood Road, and Southwood Road. Intersections receiving stop signs include: Canoe Brook Lane at Knollwood Lane, Old Leeds Ridge at Old Leeds Lane, Sandhurst Road at Marlboro Drive, Delmar Terrace at Crestview Drive, Old Leeds Terrace at Old Leeds Court, Weatherton Circle at Weatherton Drive, Hillock Drive at Old Leeds Lane and Royal Oak Drive at Canoe Brook Circle.

After discussion, the Council approved contributing $10,000 to the ReThink 280 plan on condition that both Homewood and Vestavia contribute equal amounts. This joint effort of cooperation by these over the mountain communities would provide a stronger voice at future ALDOT meetings regarding plans for 280. Mayor Oden read a resolution thanking Wayne Hester for his service on the Village Design Review board from 2004-2011. Also celebrated was the 10th anniversary of the Emmet O’Neal Library. This beloved library was built with a combination of public and private contributions. The library serves over 800 people a day and annually checks out over 363,000 items. Council meetings are regularly scheduled for 7 p.m. There is usually a pre-meeting that is open to the public. For exact time of the pre-meeting or additional information about the Council, you can visit the city’s web site (www.mtnbrook. org) or contact the City Manager’s Office at 802-380.

April Board of Education Meeting On Monday, April 11, the Mountain Brook Board of Education met at 3:30 p.m. in the District’s Professional Learning Center (PLC). Superintendent Dicky Barlow began the meeting by congratulating Belinda Treadwell, Mountain Brook Elementary Principal, for MBE’s acceptance into the Learning School Alliance sponsored by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. MBE was one of nine schools in the US to receive this opportunity which will advance professional learning for student success. Mr. Barlow continued student recognitions: Mountain Brook High School’s (MBHS) Speech and Debate Team won the state championship; the MBHS’s wrestling team had eight members qualify for the state tournament with one student awarded Outstanding Wrestler for the state; the Mountain Brook Junior High (MBJH) Youth Legislature won Most Outstanding Delegation; and winners of the National Society of Arts & Letters’ 7th Grade Poetry Contest received 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and three Honorable Mentions. BOE The Board voted approval for the adoption of the Elementary Math Materials presented at the March meeting following recommendation by Mr. Barlow and after receiving positive input from the community. Mr. Barlow updated the Board on the

eSchool Pilot proposal. Students will make up the two days missed for bad weather by completing instruction electronically. Teachers will post lessons on April 23 (Day 1) and May 7 (Day 2). Students will have 10 days to complete each lesson. Day 1 will be due on May 2; Day 2 will be due on May 17. For students needing computer and/ or internet access, the Emmet O’Neal Library will open its Computer Lab to students, and there are 8 locations in the community offering free internet. Mr. Barlow reported that teachers have responded with enthusiasm that “exceeded his expectations.” The eSchool Pilot allows instruction to reach beyond the classroom, offers meaningful work to meet required instructional days, and accommodates the community by ending school before Memorial Day. Mr. London commended Superintendent Barlow for developing the proposal and executing the plan to make this exciting idea a reality. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the Central Office Professional Learning Center (PLC) located at 3 Vine Street. Board of Education meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month. More information can be found at www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us

Clark Antiques Gallery

3205 2nd Ave. So. (Three blocks east of Pepper Place) 325-1999 • Monday-Saturday 10-5 www.clarkantiquesgallery.com

DREAM DESIGN CREATE

Birmingham’s Personal Blacksmith

FRONTERA

Birmingham Store 3022 3rd Avenue South 320-1900

Hoover Store 3988 Lorna Road 987-2633

Open Mon-Sat 10-5:30 • www.fronterairon.com

| May 2011 |

Village Living

MBHS graduation to feature three speakers By Mary noBles Hancock Mountain Brook High School’s graduation for the class of 2011 will feature three seniors giving the valedictorian speeches. Chosen out of the top 5 percent of the graduating class, Nicky Bolus, Neil Griffin and Wilson Fisher are each rising to the daunting challenge of sharing their final thoughts with classmates, friends and family as they prepare to matriculate to the next chapter of their lives. Nicky Bolus Steve Jobs once said, “I want to put a ding in the universe,” and senior Nicky Bolus is certainly working to make his own ding. “I want to become an inventor of some sort when I grow up,” he said, “and I would love most of all to develop and improve alternative energy pathways and to make transportation more efficient and environmentally sound.” Bolus will attend the University of Alabama next fall with the University Fellows program and has plans of majoring in engineering, probably in chemical or aerospace. But that’s not to say that this senior is all work and no play. “I do not consider myself a school-obsessed student,” Bolus said. “I try my best to be a well-rounded individual, and I will continue to pursue this goal for the rest of my life. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not the sort of person who looks to bury his head in his schoolbooks every night. I probably love to learn more than most people, but I also love enjoying life as much as anybody else.” Outside of school, Bolus enjoys playing guitar, spending time with friends and family, taking pictures, watching TV, playing soccer and tennis, listening to music and singing with the Mountain Brook High School a cappella group, A

MBHS graduation speakers Wilson Fisher, Neil Griffin and Nicky Bolus. Photo by Mary Nobles Hancock.

Bunch of Guys. This year Bolus has also enjoyed the opportunity to sing in the Chamber Choir and serve as SGA president. Bolus attributes much of his success to

his dad. “He is by far the most brilliant man I have ever known,” he said, “and I have grown to respect him more and more over the years due to his immense knowledge of basically every subject one can think of. Whenever I am curious or confused, I always have my dad to fall back on. He is the reason I have succeeded even a little bit academically over the years.” Bolus also credits his Latin teacher, Mrs. Diana Plosser, with influencing his life. “I have only had her for two years, but I feel as if she is my family, which is not a sentiment unique to me,” he said. “Most, if not all, of her students feel the same way. She has been like a mother to me and to all of her students at school. She has taught me so much more than just Latin. She has given me advice on how to succeed both academically and in life in general, and I will never forget the lessons she has taught me.” Bolus’ favorite classes are tied between Latin and calculus. “When you think about it,” he said, “calculus and Latin are not very different: they both deal with the interpretation and implementation of symbols, which is something that I really love to do.” Bolus said that he will miss his friends and the camaraderie of his fellow students. He says his final thoughts to the class of 2011 are: “Don’t focus on what you have done. Be proud, for sure, but dwell not on your accomplishments. It is not what you have done but what you will do that will define you. We all have the ability to change the world, but it is up to us to decide how to accomplish this.” Neil Griffin From chairing this year’s Relay for Life to installing a 200-foot zip line in his back yard, senior Neil Griffin definitely is not your typical high school student. Self-described as “inquisitive, energetic and creative,” Griffin has known since he was little what he wanted to do with his life. “My love for building and design started with a set of Lincoln Logs and Legos,” he said. “I do things like putting a 200-foot zip line in my backyard now. I am fascinated by the integration of the structural engineering of buildings and modern/environmental design.”

Griffin said he is interested in starting an architectural engineering consulting firm or working for a structural engineering consulting firm. For this reason, Griffin will be attending the University of Texas at Austin next fall, with plans to enroll in the Architectural Engineering program at UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering. His love of architecture aside, Griffin also enjoys history class. “Although I have always considered myself a math/science kind of guy,” he said, “my classes with Dr. Glenn Lamar in both US history last year and European history this year have made history my most enjoyable class of the day. I believe it is paramount that we know where we came from so that we know best how to move forward. History is the ultimate guide.” Outside of school, Griffin enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts and playing music with his friends. “I like do random at-home projects like build a zip line, hang speakers and a hammock from the ceiling, or suddenly switch around all of the furniture and electronics in the basement where my mom gives me creative control,” he said. Griffin also recognizes his mom for having a big influence on his life. “The ideology by which she lives—work hard, treat others as you would like to be treated, and strive for your dreams—has had a resounding impact upon my life,” he said. Griffin has served as the chair of Mountain Brook High School’s Relay for Life this year, raising $141,611.21, which exceeded the goal of $140,000. His favorite memory, he said, happened earlier this year. “A couple of buddies and I choreographed a boy band dance, came out of the stands at Ms. Olympian and surprised everyone in the audience because we were not in the program,” he said. “I love to dance, so it was a bunch of fun.” In the future, Griffin hopes to be a licensed engineer and living in Birmingham, Austin or Chicago. Wilson Fisher Juggling two soccer teams, AP classes and serving as vice president of the SGA

See GrAduAtion | page 9

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

| May 2011 |

Sun safety: An important part of enjoying the outdoors By Jennifer Gray Spring is in full swing, and all of us tend to spend more time outdoors enjoying the weather. Everyone knows that sun safety is important, but we don’t always take care of ourselves like we should. We sat down with board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Jenny Sobera of Village Dermatology and discussed all things related to our skin and the sun. What precautions should people take with the sun these days? The most important thing is avoiding sun. This is even more important than sunscreen because sunscreen is not perfect. SPF is measured based on a thick application of the product. It is a much thicker application of sunscreen than what people actually use. A full shot glass of sunscreen should be used for your body and you should reapply every 90 minutes if you are sweating or in the water. This is really hard with kids because they are in the water so much. What times of day are the most dangerous? The worst times are from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. If you like to get out and run or walk then try to do it before or after this time. Could you tell us a little more about SPF and its importance? SPF only measures UVB protection or coverage, but UVA is also extremely important because that contributes to aging and skin cancers. You really need both UVA and UVB protection. There is nothing FDA approved yet to measure UVA coverage. So when your sunscreen says UVA and UVB coverage, that UVA component could be minimal. What you want to look for is a product with zinc or titanium because they are physical blockers instead of just chemical blockers so they offer broadspectrum coverage against UVA and UVB. Products with the chemical blocker, Mexoryl are also a good UVA protector. If you have sensitive or allergic skin and prefer a chemical-free sunscreen, you will want to use products that have zinc and titanium for their protection. Another benefit of these products is that they can be safely used on the delicate skin of newborns. Blue Lizard Sensitive is an example of this type of product available in drugstores. We also carry several effective medical-grade physical sun-blocks in our boutique that have been very popular: TIZO SPF 40, Skinceuticals New Sheer Physical 50 and Solar Protection SPF 58. How great are the risks of the sun? The risks are there every day from just being outdoors but especially in summer months when you are out all day. But sitting by a window, driving your car, you are still getting sun. For people who don’t burn easily the damage is done over time. So they don’t realize that it is happening. Fair-skinned people see the effects immediately. Some people aren’t as careful because they don’t burn easily but you will

Dr. Jenny Sobera of Village Dermatology

see skin cancer and aging over time. Kids can have enough sun damage by age seven or eight to get a skin cancer. Using a body lotion with an SPF everyday along with a facial moisturizer containing sunscreen are important. Should young children’s skin be treated differently than adults? You need to be more careful with irritations and allergies from sunscreens. Children are really active and need more frequent application. Everyone needs at least an SPF of 30, even playing baseball and softball in the backyard or on the playground at school. Infants less than 6 months of age need to avoid chemical sunscreens, but there are safe products available if little ones must be out there. Everybody should use sunglasses, even children! Anyone can get sun damage from the sun. One great product for children is the Colorsecience brushes that contain mineral powder that you can brush all over their eyes and faces. It doesn’t sting or burn and is waterproof. We carry it at our office. It is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. When examining your own skin, what should you look for that would be a red flag? New or changing brown or black moles and non-healing sores. However, everyone really needs professional screening. Insurance companies for the most part cover a dermatology visit less

HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDES WITH “MR. DAN” Ride the scenic forests of Shelby and St. Clair counties

the copay. Many of the skin cancers I have found were not noticeable to the patient. If you are ever in doubt you should come in. Besides skin cancer, what other negative effects does the sun have on your skin? Aging is the main one. Sun damage causes the skin to thin; it develops unwanted red and brown pigmentation, wrinkling and decreases the elasticity of the skin. What treatments are available today to reverse sun damage? Start with good skincare products such as tretinoin. If you can only have one product this is it. It helps reverse and prevent sun damage and skin cancers, and is available under many different brand names. Cosmetically, it helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. Medically, it reduces your chance of developing skin cancers. Glycolic acid products are also great at reducing the signs of aging. Antioxidants such as vitamin C are a good secondary defense with sunscreen because they help the body fight against DNA damage caused by UV rays and other environmental factors. As for procedures, light and laser treatments are effective with very little down time. There is maintenance involved to maintain these results, but that is true with any cosmetic procedure. Light treatments such as IPL (intense pulse light) or photo facials remove unwanted red and brown spots. It cleans up sun damage and even outs skin

tones. Most patients require two to four treatments to get desired results. What concerns should people over 60 have about the sun or should do differently? Everyone 30 and older should have a skin screening each year. The older you get, the more likely you are to have a skin cancer. A lot of older people think it is too late for them to wear sunscreen, but it is not. Vitamin D deficiency is a common to serious health issue. I offer a simple blood test to determine if that is an issue for the patient. There are much healthier ways to get vitamin D than the sun, but I do want to make sure no one is deficient. What about teenagers and young adults? Any advice for them? Do not ever get in a tanning bed for any reason. So dangerous! Once people start they love it, but it is so bad for your body. If you want that tan look without lying out, spray tans are great! Sunless tanning creams or sunless towelettes are great too. We carry tan towels that are like a wipe so they prevent streaking like the lotions. You just wipe it on and throw away. They don’t have a strong smell either. Dr. Jenny Sobera grew up in Mountain Brook. After completing her residency in dermatology and practicing in Fairhope, Ala., for 2 years, she and her family returned here where she practices in Mountain Brook Village. You can visit her website at www.villagedermatology.com.

FRESHPICKED O AK S TREET L OCAL M ARKET N OW O PEN . Come in and sample the best in fresh local produce, honey, jams, and relishes. Custom gift baskets available. NOTE: Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th. Check out the beautiful plants in the garden shop as well.

Oak Street Local Market

a n d G a rd e n S h o p OakST.SpringMktOpen4.19.11.VilRe1 1

115 OAK STREET CRESTLINE VILLAGE 870-7542 MON-SAT 9 – 5:30 4/19/11 8:35:50 PM

| May 2011 |

Village Living

decorators’ ShowHouse at Jernigan residence By laura canterBury We have all heard about the fabulous house at 2965 Briarcliff Road on the choice lot with more than five acres and, yes, a three-hole golf course. The Thomas E. Jernigan home is for sale and is currently available for tours for the Decorators’ ShowHouse April 30-May 15. I think it would be worth the visit just to see the amazing views from up there. Every house has a beginning, and the fabulous house on Briarcliff is no exception. The home was built in 1966, the sock hop days where the average income per year was $7,000. You could buy a new house for $14,000, and the price at the pump was 32 cents. It was the year of the Beatles and, as all Alabama fans remember, the year of the uncrowned champions where the march to the title ended at the Sugar Bowl game. George M. Rust designed and built the Briarcliff house that year and lived there with his wife, Helen, until 1978. Rust, a mechanical engineer who graduated from

The Thomas E. Jernigan home on Briarcliff Road. Photo courtesy Alabama Symphony Orchestra Decorators’ ShowHouse.

Lehigh University in Bethlehem, spent many afternoons surveying the property with his son, Hank, who remembers the chigger bites more than the surveying. Rust spent the 12 years prior designing

Issis and Sons decorated the ShowHouse’s living room. Photo by Madoline Markham.

and working on the layout of this house. Brice Construction began the building on the house, which took one year of construction. The cost of building the home was approximately $1.6 million in 1966. There was always heavy security during the construction process around the perimeter of the property, especially at night. When the house was completed, it was the largest in the state of Alabama at the time. It was Six Flags over Briarcliff, as cars and buses paraded by to get a glimpse from the road. The house was more visible back then than it is today. It hosted many dignitaries, such as governors, senators and even then California governor Ronald Regan. With so much history, you don’t want to miss it on the Showhouse Tour. The house was fully renovated eight years ago. It now includes five bedrooms, six full baths, four half baths, three-hole golf course (Bent Grass Greens), a brick driveway, fountain, spa with steam shower, pool with rock waterfall, playground, exercise room, media room, game room,

music room, security system with cameras, custom marble and hardwood flooring, five Italian marble fireplaces, recessed dome ceiling with lighting in dining room and a covered porch overlooking golf course. The fully renovated kitchen boosts top-ofthe-line appliances, granite, custom builtins and an extra large pantry. The master bedroom and two-car garage are both on the main level. The 25 decorated areas of the 2011 Decorators’ ShowHouse are open daily April 30-May 15. Tickets are $15 or $20 for groups of 20 or more. Proceeds benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Shuttle transportation is available from Mountain Brook Community Church on Highway 280, and tickets are available at select Birmingham retail stores. For more information on visiting the ShowHouse, visit www.showhouse-al.com. For more information on purchasing the house, contact Stephanie Robinson at RealtySouth at 870-5420.

Need a

Personal

Your Graduation Gift Headquarters Custom Dorm Décor, Bedding & Accessories Create The Room of Your Dreams Come in & Register Today Monogramming

2832 Culver Rd • 879.8278 Mon. - Sat

Doctor?

Excel MD, Inc. is accepting new patients patient include: • 24/7 access to your physician via cell phone, text, and email • issues • immediately • Telephone consultations when necessary • Unique health needs with our full time nutritionist and health coach

If you or a loved one have chronic health conditions or just want an unprecedented level of medical care and access, please make the call. information and schedule your inital physician visit, please visit our website at www.myexcelmd.com and click on the Patient Section to Get Started. You can also call us directly at 205-588-8831 and ask for Julie Robinson. Let us introduce you to a new level of physician care.

The annual fee is compatible with most medical savings accounts.

www.myexcelmd.com 205-588-8831

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Faith & friendship: Pass them on By Kari KampaKis You never know when inspiration will hit a creative type. For Mountain Brook artist Jane Timberlake Cooper, it came while reading a story in February’s Village Living. Titled “Cupcakes, Chemo, and Courage,” the article chronicled Brooke Wilkerson’s journey through cancer with daughter Rollins, who was diagnosed at her two-yearold check-up with childhood leukemia. For more than two years, the Wilkersons visited Children’s Hospital Clinic 8, the hematology/oncology unit. The experience was an emotional roller-coaster that tested and strengthened the family’s faith. In her story, Brooke recalled a turning point in her journey. She was wandering around Children’s, crying her eyes out and consumed with fear, when suddenly a red wagon caught her attention. Beautifully decorated, it had a verse written on it: “Don’t tell God how big your storms are, tell your storms how big your God is.” Brooke realized then she had to give Rollins to God. She had to entrust her to Him Front row: Lucy Hollman (age 11), Rollins Wilkerson (age 4). knowing He “had mighty Back Row: Ann Holman, Charlotte Langley and Jane Cooper. Bumper stickers are available at local stores including SNAP plans for her future.” Touched by Brooke’s Kids. Photo by Madoline Markham. story and the storm quote, Jane decided to keep the message going. Hospital. And just like that, a plan was The idea of a bumper sticker came to mind. hatched. It happened quickly, a testament She sketched some designs and called to the power of faith and old friends her longtime friend Charlotte Langley, a coming together for good. volunteer at Clinic 8, to get her thoughts. If you’d like to support this initiative, Charlotte loved the idea, and together visit Snap Kids, Snoozy’s, Gilchrist, they collaborated ways to use the bumper Laura Kathryn, or Stella Blue. Bumper sticker to raise money for Clinic 8. stickers are available for free at the At this point, another old friend of counter, but donations may be made in Jane and Charlotte’s, Ann Holman, came the accompanying container. To mail a in the picture. Ann’s daughter Lucy loves donation, please make your check out raising money, and she’d been looking for to “Children’s Hospital” and send it to a cause to take on as part of the Miss Heart Charlotte Langley, 614 Dexter Avenue, of America state pageant she’s qualified Birmingham, AL 35213. All proceeds will for next fall. Both of Lucy’s grandmothers go to Clinic 8 and used to fulfill their “wish battled breast cancer, so the disease is close list,” as well as red wagons. to her heart. For more information, contact With Ann and Lucy’s input, Jane Charlotte at redwagonbumpersticker@ designed the bumper sticker. Charlotte gmail.com coordinated the effort with Children’s

GrAduAtion

ContinuEd from page 6 and president of the National Honor Society might make your head spin, but for senior Wilson Fisher it’s just another day. Born during the “Blizzard of ’93,” Fisher has lived in Mountain Brook his entire life. “When I was younger, I was a very rambunctious child,” Fisher said. “I often got into trouble one way or another. For example, when I was a toddler, I managed to destroy two antique miniature rocking chairs that my mom had bought. I had punched holes straight through the wicker backing.” Since then, Fisher has used that energy in soccer. He played on the Birmingham United U18 Academy team and was one of four captains of the Mountain Brook High School Varsity soccer team that lead the Spartans to the state finals for the first time in MBHS history. When he is not playing soccer or practicing piano, Fisher enjoys hanging out with friends, watching television, playing video games and pickup basketball games with friends. Fisher also said, “I am pretty good at impersonating a British accent;

most people don’t know that about me.” Fisher will be attending Duke University next year and is planning to major in classics, pre-med or business, with hopes to either be a neurosurgeon like his dad or a business executive. “I like working on projects and seeing them come to fruition,” he said. Like Bolus, Fisher cites Latin with Mrs. Diana Plosser and calculus with Mrs. Wanda Burns as his favorite classes. “Mrs. Plosser has had the biggest impact on me,” he said. “She has changed my outlook on the true purpose of education and helped me through difficult times throughout my entire high school career.” Fisher also credits his parents for having a huge influence on his life. “They have given me every opportunity to succeed and taught me the importance of character and integrity,” he said. Fisher said that he knows that he will miss everything about the Mountain Brook community but is excited about the next chapter in his life.

| May 2011 |

Mother’s Day?

Wedding? Graduation? Gift certificates available.

Make it easy on yourself and call or email in your order.

F our C orners G allery Conveniently located next to The Fresh Market and Starbucks on 280 East. 205 980 2600 • info@tfourcornersgalleryonline.com www.fourcornersgalleryonline.com

| May 2011 | Village Sports

Village Sports Forbes breaks Mountain Brook track records

By Will HigHtoWer Some people are meant to break records. Charlie Forbes is one of them. Forbes, who is a sophomore at Mountain Brook, recently broke the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles school records. Both records had stood for over 34 years. The funny thing is, Forbes appears to be just another goof-off on the track team at practice. You can see the lanky runner pulling pranks and halfheartedly performing the warm-up stretches at practice. But when he steps foot on the track, he runs faster than anyone can imagine. For example, at the beginning of the school year last August, every member of the track team performed their events in practice to set a standard that they were supposed to improve on throughout the year. Forbes was supposed to be running the 100-meter dash that day but had forgotten to bring running shoes or shorts. But his coaches demanded he run to get a time. Forbes proceeded to take off his shoes and run barefoot the fastest 100 of the day. “It’s just something that comes naturally,” Forbes said. His coach agreed. “He has a lot of God- given talent,” Coach Greg Echols said of Forbes. “He can definitely run in college if he wants to; he could be big time.”

But Forbes isn’t just thriving on talent alone. “Charlie’s work ethic has improved,” Echols said. “He has started to become more technical, making minor angle changes which is really all you can do once you’re at his level. He also has something inside him that pushes him to beat the guy in front of him in a race. If he sees someone in front of him in a race, he will go after him and win it.” When the prestigious Mobile Challenge of Champions meet came along last month, Forbes used those natural talents and his competitive nature to excel. Although he astoundingly did not win the event, Forbes broke the 300-meter hurdles school record with a time of 38.24 seconds. The record had stood for 34 years. He went on to break his one-week old record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.41 seconds, a record that had previously stood for 37 years. This time was good enough for second place in Mobile, showing the high quality of the elite athletes competing. Mountain Brook had strong showings besides Forbes, with the girls winning both the 4x800 and 4x400 relays. As the season comes to a close, sectionals and state championships are on their way, with Forbes and a Spartan track team ready to compete.

roAd rALLY

ContinuEd from page 1 close and personal way, an atmosphere more casual than the track during the race. It’s a wonderful preview of the Barber weekend.” There will also be a private reception in the village for the drivers that will draw them to the public event. “I like to see the cars running and cranked up,” Mayor Oden said. Anyone who comes has the opportunity to talk with drivers and take pictures with their cars. Visitors can also meet Bobby Rahal, retired driver and founding partner of Legends of Motorsports. Adding to the local festival atmosphere, Mountain Brook Village shops and restaurants will be open all day, and many will offer open houses and other festivities. There will also be music and giveaways in the village. “It’s sort of like a summer street party,” Shanaman said. “The community comes out and sees neighbors with the backdrop of gorgeous cars.” Hannon Davidson of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce recommends visitors arrive around 4 p.m. The first road rally of 50-60 club cars will process in down Montevallo Road with police escort around 4:30 p.m. These more contemporary cars include Porsches, Ferraris, Lotuses, Mustangs and Corvettes and are owned by members of local car clubs. They will circle around the middle of the village before parking in a Club Car Village in the Western parking lot. Other parts of the lot will remain open for public

parking. Twenty-five historic Legends race cars will roll in arrive around 5:45 p.m. and park in the inside circle of the village. Each of these cars will compete in the Legends of Motorsports at Barber later in the weekend. In addition to the cars that drive in, Legends hopes to bring in some race cars on trailers like historic Formula One Grand Prix cars. “We are hoping people will come line the streets event and welcome the drivers,” Shanaman said. Legends of Motorsports’ car categories include the Historic Grand Prix, Thunder and Lightning Production Cars, 2.0 Liter Sports Racers, IMSA/FIA GT, Can/ Am, Formula Libre, GT 2000 and Classic Monoposto. The event will conclude around 7:45 p.m. when the cars without headlights will proceed back to Barber for their races the following day. From 4 to 8:30 p.m all roads that run through the village will be closed, but the outer loops around the village including Culver Road and Petticoat Lane will be open. For up-to-date information on parking, merchants’ specials and other event details, visit the Chamber of Commerce website, www.welcometomountainbrook. com. For more information about Legends of Motorsports at Barber Motorsports Park, visit www.legendsofmotorsports.com or www.barbermotorsports.com/legends.

Mountain Brook Village merchants and city officials participating the Legends festivities include Jay Conner of Mountain Brook Creamery, Tom Sheffer of Avo & Dram, Meredith Lavender of KiKi Risa, Scott Pyburn of Harrison Limited, Lauren Stewart of Lulie’s on Cahaba, Chief of Police Ted Cook, and Emily Arnold and Halle Ray with Stella Blu. Photo by Dan Starnes.

Sports Corporation Golf tournament to support school athletics By Madoline MarkHaM

On Wednesday, May 18, golfers can come out for a scramble format tournament to support athletic programs at Mountain Brook Junior High and Senior High Schools. The Thirteenth Annual Mountain Brook Sports Corporation (MBSC) Golf Tournament will be held at Highland Park Golf Course, with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Last year the tournament attracted about 200 people and raised more than $55,000. The tournament fees are taxdeductable and can be designated toward any of the programs at junior high or senior high school. The cost is $250 per player or

$1000 for a foursome. The price includes lunch and range balls. There will be prizes for the winning groups. Wade Cowen of the MBSC encourages people to participate to support the school athletic programs. MBSC is a nonprofit organization that funds requests not covered in the general athletics budget. In the past they have funded concessions, mats for wrestling, a weight room for the basketball team, a dugout and scoreboard for the baseball team, among other things. “Our budget through the athletic program meets our basic operational needs,” said MBHS head football coach

The community filled Mountain Brook Village last year to see the vintage Legends of Motorsports cars and meet their drivers. Photo courtesy Legends of Motorsports.

Chris Yeager, “but funding from the fundraisers like the MBSC golf tournament provides the things that set us apart from other programs. You’d see a significant difference in our program without the funding.” MBSC has provided field equipment and data analysis software for the football program in the past. Yeager said their next project will be expanding the field house, which the team has outgrown. Yeager noted that MBSC is not just

made up of people with children in school athletic programs but also people who simply respect the program and what it means to the community. The only requirement to be involved in the organization is that you want to see athletic programs excel. For more information on the tournament, contact Wade Cowden at 807-0335 or evergreenre@msn.com or visit https://www.welcometomountainbrook. com/events.

Village Sports

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

third Grade ArPA regional and State Basketball Champions On March 13, the third grade Mountain Brook Jets defeated Talladega to win the ARPA State Basketball Tournament. The

| May 2011 |

We now carry rubber mulch

Jets defeated Enterprise, Anniston and Mobile before meeting Talladega in the final game.

PLAY HOUSE • PLAY SETS • BASKETBALL GOALS • TRAMPOLINES

Eight and under Mountain Brook Jets are Patrick Neil, Edward Reed, Clark Griffin, Porter Phelan, Coach Jay Nelson, William O’Leary, Richman Priestley, Mac Scott and Coach Steven Griffin. Photo by Roger Brewster.

MBJH softball team finishes season

7023 Meadowlark Dr (Turn Between Lloyds and Dairy Queen) 408-4FUN (4386) • wwwbackyardal.com

Bring in this ad for

Backyard Adventures

$100 OFF installation

HWY 280

excluding Expedition Series

Earthborn Studios Pottery by Tena Payne (Birmingham, Al) microwave, dishwasher and oven safe.

By Brook giBBons The 2011 MBJH girls’ softball team went into this year’s Metro South Championship Tournament with a Metro League record of 9-2, placing them as second seed of 11 teams. The tournament was played at Shea Fields in Irondale. First up was Simmons, who had been victorious over the Spartans in the regular season game but proved to be no match for the Lady Spartans with the superb pitching of Brooke Tucker, who served up 5 strikeouts in the 8 to 3 win. The Lady Spartans were successful at the plate as well, with Suzie Sarcone, Caroline Boone, Ally Lott, and Brooke Tucker. Next, the girls faced the Thompson Lady Warriors seeded third in the Metro Tournament. This game was a nail bitter with the game being tied in regulation. The game went into extra innings with Thompson scoring first to take the one run lead in the top of the inning. The Lady Spartans were victorious by scoring two runs in the last inning with Madelyn Rosenthal and Sarah Winston Nathan having the game winning RBI. This win set up the team to play Hewitt Trussville. The next game was equally as thrilling with the game being tied in the last inning. The Spartans were victorious due to the superior pitching of Brooke Tucker who had fourteen strikeouts and scored three runs in the last inning to win 5-2. Anne

Marie Bonds, Neely Francis and Sarah Winston Nathan’s hits helped the team score in the last inning to take the win. This win advanced the Lady Spartans to the championship game. The Lady Spartans lost to Hewitt Trussville in the championship game to claim the second place trophy for the 2011 Metro Tournament. Caroline Boone and Brooke Tucker were named to the All Metro Tournament team. The team was lead by seven eighth graders and five seventh graders. The eighth graders included Anne Marie Bonds, Caroline Boone, Neely Francis, Katie Littleton, Madelyn Rosenthal, Suzie Sarcone and Brooke Tucker. The seventh graders were Adele Bird, Elizabeth DeAtkine, Allie Lott, Caroline Moore and Sarah Winston Nathan. Other season highlights include a first place finish in the Thompson Tournament and third place finish in the Hillcrest Tournament. The team had several players named to all-tournament teams during the season: Bumpus Invitational was Suzie Sarcone; Mountain Brook Invitational was Anne Marie Bonds, Caroline Boone and Brooke Tucker. The Lady Spartans named to the All Metro Team are Caroline Boone, Suzie Sarcone and Brooke Tucker. The Spartans finished their season with a 28-10 record. Way to go, girls!

Great for Mom for Mother’s Day or a new Bride 2841 Cahaba Road • 879-5277

Mon-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-4, www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com

renovated MBHS ball ﬁelds rededicated Mountain Brook Athletics, Inc. held a rededication of the newly renovated baseball and softball athletic complex at Mountain Brook High School on April 16. MBA, a non-profit that supports Mountain

Brook athletic programs, said the fields renovations were made possible by support from the community and its leaders, private funds, and financial support from the City of Mountain Brook and state legislators.

State Representative Greg Canfield, Mountain Brook City Council members Jesse Vogtle and Billy Pritchard, State Representative Paul DeMarco, MBA Baseball Commissioner Greg Ritchey, MBA President Paul Sparks and MBA Vice President Ed Bethea, along with ball players Hayden Bruno, Mac Abele and Leo Bruno, were part of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo courtesy Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

sic ri. ight @

| May 2011 |

Village Living

Springalingadingdong returns By maDOLine marKHam

Making People Happy For 22 Years, It’s An Institution!

224 Country Club Park 871-8435

Live music every Fri. and Sat. night starting @ 9pm.

On May 7 English Village will transform into a whimsical celebration of springtime reminiscent of those in European villages. Quirky and colorful, Springalingadingdong features parades, bread tosses, a beheading of Marie Antoinette and more. The local village festival is the creative expression of ringleader Carole Griffin and her team at Chez Lulu and Continental Bakery as a way to show appreciation for customers. This year the Third Annual Springalingadingdong will be divided into kid-friendly daytime and more adult nighttime festivities like those at the original spring celebration for Continental Bakery’s 25th anniversary in 1999. Both parts of the festival will start with a parade through English Village complete with Chad Fisher’s marching band and the event’s signature giant 12-foot puppets. The parades begin at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. “My favorite thing in the whole world is a parade on a human scale where everyone participates,” Griffin said. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the parade, and children are encouraged to come in spring costumes such as butterflies and flowers. From there, the parade participants dance around the Maypole and then witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, a Chez Lulu tradition that is symbolic of the new life of springtime. Marie Antoinette enters behind with a mask cold and icy beir. After the beheading, she is covered in a blanket and then emerges as a spring queen with long flowing hair and no mask. “It’s clever, fun and funny,” Griffin said. Other daytime festivities include a pie toss, mini bread toss, bread juggling, jump rope contest and hula hoop contest. “There’s nothing cuter than watching

Continental Bakery owner Carole Griffin parades through English Village with Cameron Allen at last year’s Springalingadingding. Photo courtesy Shay Allen.

children hula hoop,” Griffin said. “It’s a joy to give them a stage to shine.” Instead of a contest based on volume, a pie eating contest will require contests to pick out the Chez Lulu pie from an assortment of other pies based on taste. There will also be free “let them eat cake” cake for everyone. Activities after dark are geared for silly adults, Griffin emphasized. The staff are brainstorming drink specials like Lulala, CucuLulu, Dingtini and Dongtini. Anyone can enter the campy Madame Lulu Pageant, which will be based on beauty and talent; call the bakery at 870-5584 if you are interested in participating.

LJCC triathlon, theatre events set for spring From those who have always wanted to “tri” a triathlon up to seasoned triathletes looking for a challenging event, everyone is invited to participate in the second annual Sterne Agee LJCC Triathlon Memorial Day Monday, May 30, at the Levite Jewish Community Center. Proceeds raised in the LJCC Triathlon benefits programs and operations of the non-profit community center serving the Birmingham area. LJCC Group Fitness Director Tara Robertson said that several of the group fitness classes the center offered free to members (from the beginner to the experienced) can help them to get ready for the Triathlon. “RPM and RPM Plus are ideal for the cycling portion of the event,” Robertson said. I recommend BodyAttack and BodyStep to prepare for the running portion of the Triathlon. And we have several experienced instructors offering private swim lessons throughout the year.” The second-annual Sterne Agee LJCC Triathlon consists of a 200-yard swim, an eight-mile on-road biking stage and a two-mile run. It is considered a “sprint triathlon” and thus is something that the whole family can participate in (ages eight and up recommended). “This is family friendly, and participants can also enter as teams,” said Sports and Fitness Director Dan Tourtellotte. “This is ideal for first-timers who want to have fun, but it’s also a challenging event for those who are more experienced triathletes.” Participants can sign up triathlon at www.team-magic.com or by linking to that site from www.bhamjcc.org. The J also seeks volunteers to work the event May 30. Those who are interested are encouraged to sign-up as well on the Team Magic race event page.

After the big race on May 30, members and non-members are welcome to stay for the special pool party that afternoon. The outdoor pool opens up May 21 for the season. Theatre LJCC upcoming performances In May and June, Theatre LJCC will be all about yellow-brick roads along with good-as-gold talented performers from across the area competing for prizes. On May 7 at 8 p.m., the Theatre will present LJCC’s Got Talent. In April, talented performers of all ages (youth and adult) auditioned for the one-night only event/ competition that will serve also as Theatre LJCC’s annual fundraiser. These singers, dancers, musicians, actors, jugglers and other performers chosen from the auditions will showcase their talents, and judges will pick winners in different categories. Those winners will take home special prizes. Tickets for LJCC’s Got Talent are $15 each and can be purchased by calling 879-0411 or visiting www.bhamjcc.org. Then The Wizard of Oz musical clicks its heels June 2-12 (Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m., Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m.). The musical based on the classic motion picture features Dorothy Gale of Kansas, who dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her over the rainbow to another world. Theatre LJCC Artistic Director Kim Hutchens leads a talented cast of adult and youth performers playing Dorothy, the Wicked Witch, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Wizard, munchkins and all of the favorites from the movie. Tickets to The Wizard of Oz musical are $15 for adults and $12 for students.

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

LifeActually By Kari Kampakis

The Watch

I have a watch, and even though it no longer tells time, it means the world to me. This watch, you see, was given to me one Christmas by my mother. I was in high school at the time, and I spotted it while shopping with her one day. Made by Gucci, it came with colorful rings that screwed on and off the face, allowing me to colorcoordinate with every wardrobe change. I remember standing at Parisian’s jewelry counter, coveting the watch with my teenage hands but never expecting to get it. One, it was pricey. Two, I understood that my mom had four other children with needs and desires. Although Christmas was coming up—and Mom always went overboard—this watch seemed too extravagant to request. So I walked away from the counter trying to forget about the coolest watch I’d ever seen. And imagine my surprise Christmas morning when I opened a package and recognized the Gucci box. I stared at Mom in astonishment. She blushed—and then smiled meekly. The look on her face clearly conveyed her love for me. “You better appreciate that, Kari,” she said with a small, nervous laugh, “because I wrote ten résumés to pay for it.” As it turned out, Mom had begun writing résumés for students at Shelton State Community College—her workplace—to pay for this one gift. I felt so special being singled out. When you come from a large family, you spend half your life being clumped together, defined as a unit. Discovering that Mom had devoted herself to something just for me left no doubt of my importance. Now every time I see the watch, I remember that. I should clarify that I’m not advocating the purchase of fancy possessions to win your children over. Truth be told,

I would have chunked that watch long ago if it weren’t for the story behind it. I’m constantly de-cluttering, and unless something has a use in my life, it gets discarded or donated. The fact that this watch has made the “cut” and remained in my memory box for several decades is simple: I don’t want to forget it. Like many daughters, I often give my mom a hard time, jokingly pointing out her slip-ups and imperfections. What I forget to acknowledge is her commitment to our family, the selfless acts of love I once took for granted. Mom drove carpool for 25 years, clocked thousands of hours as a short-order cook and laundered clothes for seven people. My siblings and I used to throw dirty garments down the basement stairs and laugh at the smelly avalanche. Days later these garments would reappear in our rooms, fresh and neatly stacked. Yet again, the laundry fairy had come. My mom is also a writer, and thanks to her I developed an early love for words and poems. I’m forever grateful that she helped me find my passion. She is kind, creative and generous beyond measure. She’d do anything for her kids, hand us the shirt off her back before we even thought to ask. This Mother’s Day, I wish to celebrate my mother, my mother-in-law, and all the other amazing women who helped raise today’s moms. As my Gucci watch attests, your sacrifices didn’t go unnoticed. You may have said “I love you” daily, but it was your actions that convinced us. Thank you for teaching us the transcending power and beauty of a mother’s love and intuition. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain. Brook mom of four girls with a background in PR, writing and photography. Visit her Ponytail Mom blog online at www.karikampakis.com or ﬁnd her on Facebook and Twitter. Email her at kari@karikampakis.com.

“One World: Many Stories” Summer Reading Program Step into a world of excitement at Emmet O’Neal Library’s Summer Reading Kickoff Carnival on Sunday, May 22. Start the afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with the Thomas Hughes Brinkley Memorial Fun Run, a one-mile course that is open to bikers, runners, walkers and strollers. From 2 to 4 p.m., let your feet take you to our outdoor carnival, complete with games, concessions and a train ride. Emmet O’Neal travel agents will be available during the entire carnival to help young travelers register for the summer reading program. Tickets and registration for kickoff events are available beginning May 5. All other summer reading programs and activities begin Tuesday, May 31. The festivities are planned and manned by members of The Junior Women’s Committee of 100, who support the library’s Children’s Department. Carnival Chair Beaty Coleman and Carnival CoChairs Anna Emblom and Kacy Carroll, along with a team of other volunteers, make the kickoff event possible. Every age can participate in summer reading. Teens in grades 7 through 12 may sign up and get the details on the Summer of Awesome that Matt has planned for them. Adults who sign up on the May 22 get a prize. So, seasonal readers, unite! Spend your summer here at Emmet O’Neal Library. For more information on summer reading or any of the library’s other regularly scheduled programs, call 8790459; visit, www.eolib.org; or find the library on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and

YouTube. Reading recommendations from Holley Wesley I am very much a seasonal reader. I have a few favorite seasonal titles that I drag out every year at times to either read again or simply browse through so I can revisit my old friends within the pages. Sarah Addison Allen’s debut novel, Garden Spells, takes readers to the tiny town of Bascom, N.C., to meet the members of the peculiar Waverley family. Claire is a talented caterer, using the special properties of the flowers in the Waverley garden to influence the actions of those who consume her delectable dishes. She looks to discourage the attentions of her handsome new neighbor while her wild younger sister, Sydney, flees back to her hometown to outrun her dangerous secrets. Cousin Evanelle visits both women in turn with peculiar presents. You won’t want to miss the most interesting Waverley in the bunch, the feisty apple tree in the back yard! In Joanne Harris’s Blackberry Wine, down-on-his-luck writer Jay Mackintosh remembers three summers spent listening to the adventurous tales and of “Jackapple Joe” until one day, without warning, Joe disappears. In a desperate attempt to regain that youthful love of story, and perhaps revive his flagging imagination, Jay purchases an old farmhouse in the French countryside, sight unseen. Jay packs his bags, and the few bottles of Joe’s special blackberry wine he has left, and heads out to see what stories he can find and to live his own adventurous tale.

| May 2011 |

| May 2011 | Village Living

alison Lewis: Sandwich Queen By CHrisTiana rOUsseL

Cherokee Bend mom Alison Lewis is what you’d call an overnight sensation. If by “overnight” you mean more than 15 years in the making. You see, Alison is one of those local people whom lots of people might already know but is really starting to pop on the national scene. As founder of the food-centric homebased business Ingredients, Inc. (www. IngredientsInc.net), Alison has been feeding blog subscribers and followers healthy, family friendly menu ideas and inspiration for years. To paraphrase the Atlanta-based cable magnate Ted Turner, she was a food blogger before food blogging was cool. And now she can add writing her own cookbook to her list of accomplishments. Starting her career as an editorial assistant at Oxmoor House in 1994, she worked on various “light” publications and contributed with recipe development. Alison has a natural sense of what flavors and foods work well together, but she augmented her skill set by obtaining a nutrition degree from the University of Montevallo while she was still at Southern Progress. This advanced degree helped her understand the science behind creating lightened recipes. Some home cooks may know that Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream in a dish but Alison can tell you why it works. She can also rattle off five or six other dishes that use Greek yogurt and are delicious. Alison’s talents got her promoted to Southern Living Assistant Food Editor in 1996, a position she held until 2001 when fate inspired a career-shift. She had long known she was merely exchanging paychecks with the nanny for her three

young children. But when that caregiver had to quit, Alison and her family seized the opportunity to take stock of the situation. In the summer of 2001, Alison left the publishing Camelot that was Southern Progress and established Ingredients, Inc. The foundation of the business was recipe development for large and small food-based organizations. Her client roster is a wish list for any recipe developer: Nestle, Kraft, Carnation, Bisquick and POM, to name a few. Have you ever flipped through a magazine to see an advertisement from a food company that included an enticing recipe? Chances are, it was probably one of Alison Lewis’ creations. Friends and family loved hearing what she was whipping up in the kitchen so writing about it on line just came naturally. In October 2008, Alison started her Ingredients, Inc. blog. A lot has happened since that first post, but one thing is for sure: her list of followers has grown by leaps and bounds. Five times a week, you can receive her email updates that can include anything from a fantastic glutenfree chocolate torte recipe that’s perfect for Passover, why coconut water is so hot right now, or 10 ways to avoid cravings. Over the course of her career, Alison has taken classes at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campuses in New York and California, as well as at The Institute of Culinary Education in New York. This kind of epicurean exposure can be seen in a wide range of her classics such as Orange-Ricotta Pancakes, Flaxseed Crusted Salmon, or Sausage & Fresh Spinach Lasagna. But the best part about Alison’s recipes? They

Mountain Brook recipe developer Alison Lewis released her first cookbook this year.

work! Anyone who has ever worked remotely close to a Southern Progress test kitchen will tell you that every one of those recipes is religiously and painstakingly tested and re-tested and tested again. That same rigorous adherence to testing standards was applied to all of the recipes in her new cookbook, 400 Best Sandwich Recipes: From Classics and Burgers to Wraps and Condiments. Alison always knew she had a cookbook in her. But, it was not until she was on a car-confined conference call, spit-balling ideas (again!) with her publisher, that the topic for this cookbook

was born. Driving to the beach, with her kids in the backseat, they bandied about various topics. Alison confesses to feeling defeated when idea-after-idea was shot down. And then 9-year-old Zachary piped up, “What about sandwiches?” The Alabamahalf of the conference call grew silent and waited eagerly as Bob Dees conducted a few deft keystrokes. Moments later, he announced that there was not a full-scale cookbook devoted solely to the subject of the sandwich on the market. It was

See ALiSon LEWiS | page 16

DYRON’S LOWCOUNTRY ANNOUNCES OUR NEW SUMMER HOURS it’s summer time in the lowcountry and to celebrate, we are changing our restaurant hours and adding a happy hour. happy hour at dyron’s is the perfect way to wind down a day and get into that lowcountry state of mind. dyron’s will now open daily at 4:30PM, tuesday through Saturday and 11:00AM until 2:00PM on sundays for our champagne brunch. our summer happy hour is 4:30 to 6:30, tuesday through friday. happy hour features all glasses of wine for $6, $2.50 for domestic beers, and $5 cocktail specials, plus a new bar menu with unique appitizers and fresh daily dishes.

join us and celebrate summer in the lowcountry. 121 oak street

mountain brook

205.834.8257

dyronslowcountry.com

Village Living | May 2011 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Not just a prescription Independent pharmacists still focus on relationships over volume By rick Watson Even with national trends toward mega-malls, chain stores and bigger is better, our independent pharmacies have maintained their role in the community. Ritch’s, Crestline and Harbin have all been in business for decades. We explored their unique relationship in our villages amidst changing times. Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook Village. What stands out most about a local Photo by Rick Watson. independent pharmacy is its relationship to the customer. “The stability of having the seeing third generation children that are same people here from day to day enables still my patients. That gives you a feeling us to know the customers by name,” said you just can’t describe.” Scooter Hammers, pharmacist and coAll three pharmacists feel the owner of Crestline Pharmacy, “and we therapeutic outcome for patients is know them from generation to generation.” improved by the relationships they have That theme rang true with the other with their patients and their knowledge of two pharmacists as well. “We think family history. communication is the key,” said Ralph These pharmacies provide services Sorrell, pharmacist and co-owner of Ritch’s that were common practice back 50 years Pharmacy. “We know our patients, we ago but have mostly disappeared these know our prescribers, and we communicate days—except in Mountain Brook. All three from start to finish. I know almost everyone of the independent pharmacies do home who walks through that door. I know their deliveries and have a human that answers mamas, their children—I know a lot about the phones instead of a computerized call them. Our main emphasis is to take care of routing system. people when they are sick.” Years ago when people fell ill in the Jerry Newman has owned Harbin middle of the night, they would phone Pharmacy for more than 40 years. “We care the doctor to meet them in the emergency about our patients,” he said. “They are not room, said Elisabeth Lyman, part-time only our patients but also are our friends.” pharmacist at Harbin Pharmacy. Afterward, He feels patients should be more than if they needed medications, they would a number. “I was lucky enough to be the call their pharmacist to meet them at the pharmacist of my patients’ grandparents, pharmacy to fill their prescription. Lyman Bradford 280 Living 3/25/11 12:09a PM Page 1 still perform for and their parents,” he Ad:Layout said. “Now1 I’m said that’s service they

Harbin

Scooter Hammers, pharmacist and co-owner of Crestline Pharmacy. Photo by Rick Watson.

their customers in emergency situations. But according to the pharmacists, the picture is not all rosy. Corporate America is making things tougher. “It becomes more and more difficult (to compete),” Newman said, “because in this country today, the patient doesn’t have freedom of choice of where he gets his healthcare.” Newman is referring to the practice of forcing patients to use mail order pharmacies instead of local pharmacies. One of the teacher retirement systems recently negotiated a contract with one of the chains for drug coverage, and in turn, they farmed the claims processing out to a firm in California. “Statistics point out that 13 percent of every dollar spent at Walmart, Walgreens or CVS goes out of state,” Newman said. “Forty-seven percent of the money spent in Harbin’s or other independent pharmacies stays in the state. This just demonstrates how skewed this system is.” “We focus on service and quality,” Sorrell said, “and we don’t try to out do

Walmart with volume.” Elisabeth Lyman agreed. “Chain pharmacies focus more on volume,” she said, “and independents still focus on relationships with their customers. That’s the number one priority.” She went on to note that some people feel that independent pharmacies are more expensive but that it is not the case. Some have voiced concerns in dealing with mail order pharmacies because they don’t really know who is filling those prescriptions. Also it’s time consuming to reach a mail order pharmacist if you have questions. “Mail order companies are not the ones supporting the community,” said Lyman. According to the independent pharmacists, many of the people in Mountain Brook, when given a choice, prefer dealing with pharmacists they know and trust just as they have done for years in the past.

Pharmacist Elisabeth Lyman of Pharmacy. Photo by Rick Watson.

DON’T LET A DRINKING Or DRUG PROBLEM T E A R Y O U R L I F E A PA RT. If you or someone you love has a drinking or drug problem, don’t wait for tragedy before doing something about it. Get help now by contacting the caring professionals at Bradford about our proven treatment program. More than 30 years experience with adults and adolescents, available 24/7.

942.3200 l bradfordhealth.com

| May 2011 | Village Living LEAdErSHiP

44% of Baby Boomers are not sure they have enough money to retire.

ContinuEd from page 1

Source - 2011 Associated Press–LifeGoesStrong.com poll

Do you have a safety net to protect your savings? Today, many do not. An unexpected expense such as a serious illness could wipe out what you may have already saved. What if you became seriously ill today? How would you pay for: • Mortgage, rent, and other household expenses? • Health insurance deductible and copayments? • Travel costs for out-of-town treatment? • School tuition? Learn how to protect your savings from the unexpected. Join us at an upcoming free workshop where you’ll learn how to build your safety net. Protecting your income, savings and health is not as hard as you think. Attend a free no-obligation workshop at one of the following locations: Birmingham Golden Corral 1185 Center Point Parkway May 3 & 17 at 11:30 a.m. May 10 & 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Hoover Golden Corral 3117 Lorna Road May 5 & 19 at 11:30 a.m. May 12 & 26 at 6:00 p.m.

}

Complimentary meal provided

Seats are limited, reserve your space today!

Call 1-866-824-5819

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday

GHHHI192HH

04/11

Davidson said. “They’ve gone above and beyond in this partnership.” City Council approved one group’s proposal for a Leadership Mountain Brook Brick Campaign. The group plans to sell 1,000 engraved bricks to put in front of City Hall and use the proceeds to fund future Leadership Mountain Brook projects that will enhance the city. They have met with a landscape architect to match their bricks to existing brick and plan to sell the bricks through the summer. Kendal Jaffe, James Cooper, Kathleen McKee, Robert Byrne and Caroline Bell are working on this project. “I don’t think any of us thought that we would have come up with a project this big that is actually going to happen,” James Cooper said. Hailey McManus, Caroline Bowness, Victoria Karagas, Alex Sherman and Will Fullington proposed a dog park in Mountain Brook City Limits to the Parks and Recreation Board. The group had researched and visited other dog parks to get ideas and learn common objections to the parks to address. Parks and Recreation welcomed the proposal and is working with the group on potential property locations. The group budgeted expenses

for an acre and a half park and is currently looking for partners and sponsors for the project. L.C. Carmichael, Grace Friday, Betsy Webster, Emily Meisler and Tommy Bruhn proposed posting street signs to find Mountain Brook High School under existing signs that look the same. Recognizing the difficulty that even Mountain Brook residents have finding the school, they planned three potential routes from Crestline, Highway 280 and Overton. The city has agreed to pay for the signs, and the group is proceeding to get them printed and hung. Also part of the group’s plan is a painted logo on the road on the hill as you enter the high school campus similar to the UAB logo at Five Points South. When the group met with Principal Vic Wilson, he suggested the group involve the student body by allowing art students to paint the logo. The group is proceeding with this project as well. Bricks, a dog park and street signs will leave a physical mark of this year’s Leadership Mountain Brook class, but no doubt the greater impact of the program will be how these 16 students lead their communities in the future.

ALiSon LEWiS

ContinuEd from page 14 decided. Now, came the hard part. Alison had only six months to create, develop, test and retest 400 sandwich recipes. For those not privy to the publishing milieu, that’s a nanosecond. Alison Lewis will be the first to admit that, were it not for a strong cadre of faithful tasters and testers, this book would not have come together on time. She has a stack of first editions to dole out to the folks who helped make her dream a reality. Copies of 400 Best Sandwich Recipes can be purchased at national retailers like Amazon and Costco, as well as from her website. Upcoming appearances include a demo at the Saturday Pepper Place Market (www. PepperPlaceMarket.com) on April 30th and a cooking class at Birmingham Bake and Cook Company (www.BakeAndCookCo. com) June 9th. Can’t wait until then? Here are two of her favorites from the new book:

Classic Club Sandwich

Serves 4 My favorite club sandwich is at the Pine Tree Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama, where I live. They have been making it the same way since I was a child. 12 slices white bread (1⁄2-inch thick slices), toasted 1⁄2 cup Homemade Mayonnaise or storebought 8 oz sliced turkey 2 small tomatoes, sliced 8 slices Swiss cheese 8 slices bacon, cooked 4 lettuce leaves Tip: Deli or roasted turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Place bread slices on a work surface. Spread mayonnaise on one side of 8 bread slices. Arrange turkey, tomato and Swiss cheese over mayonnaise on each slice. Stack 2 slices together, keeping toppings up, then place 2 slices of bacon and the lettuce on top of cheese. Cover with remaining top halves and press together gently. Slice into quarters. Secure with toothpicks to hold the stacks together. Variation Updated Club Sandwich: Use 1⁄2 cup aïoli instead of mayonnaise. Substitute 4 watercress leaves for each lettuce leaf, 8 slices applewood smoked bacon for bacon, 8 oz peppered turkey for turkey and 8 slices pepper Jack cheese for Swiss.

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich

Serves 4 Sometimes it’s the little things in life that are so wonderful. These are easy to make, adorable and taste delicious. 2 cups vanilla ice cream 16 chocolate chip cookies (see Tip) Toppings, optional: Sprinkles Chopped nuts Mini chocolate chips Let ice cream stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften. Place 1⁄4 cup of the ice cream on 8 cookies. Place remaining cookies on top of ice cream, pressing gently to seal. Roll edges in desired toppings. Serve immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 days. Tip: Use your favorite chocolate chip recipe for these cookies or store-bought cookies. Excerpted from 400 Best Sandwich Recipes by Alison Lewis © 2011 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Christiana Roussel lives in Crestline and is a lover of all things food-related. You can follow her culinary musings on-line at ChristianasKitchen.com or on Facebook (ChristianasKitchen) or Twitter (Christiana40).

Village Living

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

| May 2011 |

MBHS amazes audiences with Joseph musical By Hilary ross

The Mountain Brook High School Drama Department recently performed its spring musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which featured music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Under the direction of Carl Dean, the ensemble cast delivered five amazing performances to family, friends, classmates and the community. The songs in the musical were varied in tempo and theme and artfully delivered the story to the audience. Student Director Catherine Pitman also oversaw the performances. The story told by narrators Ali Bloomston, Julia Gannon and Maddie Phillips was a musical rendition of the Biblical story of Joseph, convincingly played by Spiro Gerontakis, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, portrayed by Joey Weed. Joseph is given the coat of many colors by his adoring father causing his jealous brothers to scheme to sell him out of Canaan into slavery in Egypt. The brothers pretend Joseph is dead, and Levi, energetically played by Skipper Stradtman, delivers the sad news to the father. Once in Egypt, Joseph is bought by a wealthy landowner, who initially finds favor with him promoting him to head house slave. However, once the owner discovers his wife adores Joseph, he has Joseph thrown in jail. There Joseph interprets dreams for other prisoners, one of which is the butler to Pharaoh, “the King of Egypt,” hilariously played by Ben Flax, complete with Elvis costume and resplendent hair. When Pharaoh has a dream he does not understand, the butler engages Joseph to analyze the dream and in doing so, Joseph earns respect and a position as the “Number Two” man in Egypt. Meanwhile, the brothers are remorseful for their actions and lament the

Joseph Ensemble

The Children’s Choir

loss of Joseph through Reuben wishing for “Those Canaan Days,” wonderfully sung by Mark Hammontree. Their hunger and desperation causes them to travel to Egypt to seek help. The brothers do not recognize Joseph when they come to Egypt. Joseph tests their integrity to see if the brothers have changed by framing Benjamin, played by Drew Willoughby. When the brothers insist that their brother is innocent through a charming Calypso number sung by Sterling Street, as brother Judah, Joseph believes the brothers have changed and the family is reunited. Perhaps the highlight of the production was the integration of 29 local elementary children into the chorus of the show. Each child was assigned one of the colors of the coat and helped illustrate the story by adding sweet, harmonious voices and peppy choreographed steps to the play. The children’s choir included children from all four Mountain Brook elementary schools: Eugenie Allen, Margaret Elise Allen, Lena Bluestein, Blake Fields, Virginia Finney, Mary Katherine

Mother’s Day Gifts at the Botanical Gardens

Fowlkes, Virginia French, Hap Gannon, Dayton Hankins, Emeline Hankins, Amelia Jane Joehl, Kameron Kotraba, Tess Levine, Macey Miller, Fletcher Nunnelley, Anna Grace Owens, Grace Reeder, Hannah Reeder, Anna Belle Rooney, Maddie Ross, Eleanor Roth, Kyndall Scott, Lacy Caroline Smith, Anna Catherine Sorrells, Kimsey Stewart, Mary Christine Watts, Will Welsh, Viriginia Williams and Lillie Young. The strong male cast absolutely made the play memorable. Other brothers were Issacer, played by Jay Johnstone; Simeon, played by Matthew Powell; Napthali, played by John Canada; Asher, played by David Mandt; Dan, played by Nicholas Barnette; Zebulun, played by Steven Benton; and Gad, played by Reid Fravert. The female ensemble was amazing, adding to the energy of the play and included Lilly Lanter (Dance Captain), Shelby Scott, Sara Anne Stringfellow, Taylor Pope, Dee Dee Joehl, Allie Cannon, Bailey Edmonds, Emmy Egli and Brooke Harwell. The running crew, led by stage

manager Emily Siegal, flawlessly managed the stage and sets. Sets included elaborate construction of sphinx, chariots, jails and pyramids. Bryce Martinez, Will Adkinson, Andrew Bennett, Sloan Geiss and Meryem Tunagar, were Deck. Followspots were managed by Courtney Morgan and Sarah Tompkins, who was also costume assistant. Trey Lockett headed up sound, while Michael Molay supervised Lights. Music Director Michael King was joined in the orchestra by Pearce Cowart on keyboard, Eric McGinty on guitar, Lissa LeGrand on Bass and Joseph Cooley, on percussion. Gary Weatherly kept the technical direction, lighting and sound running smoothly. Pat Yates served as production manager and casting assistant, while Diane Faulkner supervised costume design. If you missed the opportunity to see this musical, MBHS performs a spring musical annually. It is a wonderful community event, and you will not be disappointed with the level of talent and showmanship of the students.

Join us for lunch every month...

THIRD THURSDAYS "tips from the trade"

May 19th Guest Speaker, Lisa Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors

The first 25 reservations enter to win a FREE Dash and Albert rug of their choice! Visit our other locations for Flower Arrangements, Hanging Baskets and Centerpieces

Mountain Brook Village 871-3832

Summit

967-3232

Botanical Gardens Gift Store 877-3030

Bring a friend, 11:30 May 19th

call or email for your complimentary reservation

The King's House Oriental Rugs and Antiques 2807 2nd Ave S, The Pepper Place 205.244.1933 or kingshouseorientals@gmail.com

| May 2011 |

School House

Mountain Brook schools host Writers’ Festival

Authors Tim Green and Mike Artell discuss their books with MBE sixth grade students Spence Hutchinson, Jackson Lightfoot, Butler Wilbanks and Henry Barze.

By BaMa Hager, alison gault and Hilary ross Mountain Brook elementary schools hosted four diverse children’s authors during the Writers’ Festival held annually. Schools participating in the festival included Brookwood Forest, Cherokee Bend and Mountain Brook Elementary. “The goal of the Writers’ Festival is to teach our children that we are all readers and storytellers,” said Cilie Cowin, MBE chairwoman of the 2011 Writers’ Festival. “I chose each author with the hope of tapping into a different type of kid, i.e., the athlete/sports enthusiast, the mad scientist, the silly comic book lover, the naturalist, the fact lover, the artist and the poet. The artwork that our authors use to tell their stories also appeals to different tastes and hobbies, and includes photography, computer graphics, and cartooning. Another goal was to appeal to our kids’ obsession with technology, so one of our writers even has an iPhone “app”! The visiting authors included Tim Green, who is a former NFL player named top defensive player of the Atlanta Falcons for eight years. He is a former TV broadcaster for FOX NFL Sunday, Good Morning America, Court TV and A Current Affair and is the best-selling author of adult mysteries and kids’ novels about sports. His seventh kids’ novel, Best of the Best, debuted this spring and is already on the top 10 New York Times list for children’s literature. His novels are based on his own experiences as an athlete and a coach. He lives with his wife and 5 kids in upstate New York where he continues to write as well as coach kids in football, baseball, soccer and wrestling. Timothy Weeks grew up mullet fishing and working on shrimp boats with his father along the Gulf Coast. He graduated from Baylor University. After residing in New Orleans for several years, Weeks worked for Teach for America in New York City then lived in Amsterdam, Brussels, Bangkok and Frankfurt over the next decade as a journalist covering investment to G7 Summits to restaurant reviews. He resides part of the year in Europe as a freelance journalist and returns to the states every spring to visit schools and fish. His wife, Lala Rascic, is an artist from Croatia. She creates montages in Weeks’ books that feature his photography and his mother’s illustrations. His stories follow the life of a mullet fish that survives Hurricane Katrina and other challenges. His three illustrated books

are Goldie’s Search for Silver, Ol’ Middler Saves the Day and The Wise Mullet of Cook Bayou. Irene Latham is a well known poet and mother of three from Birmingham that has written Leaving Gee’s Bend, her first novel about a quilt-loving girl growing up in Gee’s Bend, Ala., during the Great Depression. Irene was inspired to write the novel after seeing The Quilts of Gees Bend exhibit at the Whitney Museum in New York City in 2003. She was named Alabama Poet of the Year in 2007, and she wanted to write a novel for little girls “just like me — the quiet ones who are secretly aching for adventure.” Mike Artell is an award-winning author, illustrator, TV cartoonist, musician, storyteller and humorist from Covington, LA. He loves to share cool and creepy science facts about weather, space, bugs and smells. In his school presentations, he teaches kids about Cajun culture and reads from his Cajun parodies of classic folk tales. He also gives step-by-step instructions for creating their own original cartoons and will shares music from his original music CD. His books include: 2009 Read-Aloud Book of Year by Nat’l. Assoc. of Elem. School Principals PetiteRouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood, Three Little Cajun Pigs, Starry Skies, Weather Whys, and Backyard Bloodsuckers. He has two new books coming out this summer: Bios of Saints Quarterback Drew Brees and Colts QB Peyton Manning.

Author Timothy Weeks and his wife, illustrator Lala Rascic, talk mullets and book magic with Max and Harry Evans of Brookwood Forest Elementary at the 2011 Mountain Brook Writer’s Festival.

His LEGS book is now available as an “app” on the iPhone. Shaun Gray co-chaired the event with Cilie Cowin for MBE and MBE Library Media Center (LMC) instructors, Margaret Hudson and Nonnie Roby, ensured the event ran smoothly. Finley Evans chaired the Writers’ Festival for Brookwood Forest Elementary, while Cleo Lackey of BWF LMC was instrumental in coordinating the event. Susan Huffman and Lisa Bowling co-chaired the Writers’ Festival for Cherokee Bend Elementary School, and Beth Shea of the CBS LMC assisted with the festival at their school. All chairwomen and librarians concluded that a goal of the festival is to encourage kids to use more of their free time to explore different worlds through reading and to express themselves through creative outlets. There is a major challenge breaking them away from video games, smart phones and other technological gadgets. While they are “cool”, they do not teach the communication skills that this young generation needs to be successful in life.

Author Irene Latham shares her book at Cherokee Bend Elementary School with students Tanner Echols, Dunn Collins, James Roberts, Charley Bragg and Ben Fuller.

Celebrate Writing comes to Crestline

Crestline partners with Monty Stabler Gallery

By LaUren fOWLer

Students in Mrs. Heather Phillips’ fourth grade class designed doorways into imaginary worlds based on Frances O’Roark’s book, Falling In. The finished artworks will be exhibited in Monty Stabler Gallery in Homewood in May.

Crestline Elementary’s annual Celebrate Writing Event encompassed the whole school being exposed to a variety of creative presenters throughout an entire school day. Students this year were given the opportunity to hear the colorful and humorous story telling of Carmen Agra Deedy, learn drawing techniques and fact finding tips from the illustrator/writer Mike Artell, interact with the author Charles Ghigna, meet a local writer Rick Shelton and hear the music of the band Act of Congress. As an introduction to this whole event, the art teachers: Vista Nelson and

Lauren Fowler develop and teach specific curriculum to every student within the school, to inspire them to create an artistic expression correlating with each of the guests work before they present during the day’s events. This gives the students exposure to our guests work and also serves as a visual reference for students of all grade levels to learn more about the writings and works of the artists before they arrive. Culminating with a dynamic showcase of nearly 800 art projects, each displayed creatively grouped by the writer/artist studied, were admired by the guests as they were here visiting the school.

Hannah Doss, Wade Robinson, William Hereford, and Lucy Windle work on their images for the May exhibit at Monty Stabler Gallery.

School House

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

BWF Fling fundraiser meets classroom needs

Fifth graders Jack Sawyer, Jonathan Jones and Michael Creel at Forest Fling

By Lisa BeBeneK Brookwood Forest held its annual Forest Fling celebration on April 15. Forest Fling is one of BWF’s biggest fundraisers, with all proceeds going back to the school to directly impact the children. Another year of proration in Alabama has put pressure on all schools to provide classroom and school supplies. Brookwood Forest’s Ranger PTO has replaced the funds the state did not provide for the classroom teachers with money raised by fundraisers. Recent examples of items Forest Fling funds have helped purchase include two ActivBoards, books for the school library and individual classrooms, auditorium lighting and sound equipment upgrades. Forest Fling is also one of the students’ favorite events, an outdoor carnival of sorts, with inflatables, rides, games, food and much more. All current students, plus any incoming kindergarteners for next year, were invited to participate in the fun

filled day. Brookwood Forest would like to thank its sponsors for making the event such a financial success. At the Super Hero ($1000) level were Advanced Internal Medicine, P.C. (Dr. Sharon Chaney); Alabama and Atlanta Vascular and Vein (Drs. John R. Kingsley, James H. Isobe, C. Austen Hunt & Melanie L. Petro); Cory, Watson, Crowder and DeGaris, Attorneys at Law; Liberty Park Piggly Wiggly; and Renasant Bank. At the Ranger ($500) level were Arnold-Brown Metals and Supply Company; Classic Flooring, Inc, Denning E-Solutions; Dr. David C. Hufham, D.M.D.; Dr. Sherri Weissman , D.M.D; Dreamland Bar-B-Que; Land O’Frost ; Ocean/26; Orthopedic Group of Birmingham, P.C. (Dr. Mark Elkus); The Rodriguez Family; The Strickland Family; Synovus Mortgage Corporation; Today’s Harvest; Wells Fargo Advisors (H. Brantley Sanders, III).

| May 2011 |

Great gifts for mom?

You Bet! Crestline

BWF families support Autism Society’s fundraising walk

871-2662

Smart Parents.

Smart Kid.

Carolyn Smith, Kat Smith, Lyndy Smith, Michelle Hale, Stephanie Cook, Abby Davis, Kathleen Davis, Flynn Davis, Ryan Davis, Dan Gilliland, Henley Hager, Robert Dillard, Louise Griffin, Jerry the Frog, Remy Cron, Bama Hager, Randy Cron, Susan Foster, Claire Tynes, Tracy Cron, John Morgan Rowlen and Kim Rowlen.

By Bama HaGer Some Brookwood Forest Elementary families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder formed a team in preparation for the Autism Society of Alabama’s fundraising walk on April 30 at the Hoover Region’s Park. The Brookwood Forest students will walk and participate in the event to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders

which now affect about one in every 100 children. BWF families participating included the Smith, Davis, Hager, Dillard, Cron, and Rowlen families. BWF Special Education staff members supporting the walk are Michelle Hale, Stephanie Cook, Dan Gilliland, Louise Griffin, Melisa Suttle, Susan Foster, Claire Tynes, Martee Hewitt, Andrea Chapura and Becky Hendrick.

Call now for Summer Programs! Reading • Math • Writing • Chemistry • Study Skills SAT/ACT Prep • Algebra I&II • Geometry • Calculus

Cahaba Heights

3118 Cahaba Hts Plaza

968-5151 (near Starbucks)

Inverness

5291 Valleydale Road

981-7155

TutoringClub.com (1/2 mile from 280)

Re SA

529

(

| May 2011 |

Village Flavor

Chez Lulu & Continental Bakery

By Christiana Roussel

Restaurant Showcase

1909 Cahaba Road Mountain Brook, AL 35223 870-5584 Bohemian. Eclectic. Free-thinking. Spirited. These are the words that come to mind when you meet Carole Griffin, owner of Chez Lulu Restaurant and Continental Bakery in English Village. The same words could also define a gypsysoul, an individual filled with wanderlust, someone who’s very idea of happiness is globetrotting, finding home wherever she lays her head. But firmlygrounded roots are the foundation to Carole’s success. She possesses a certain je ne sais quoi. In everything she does, she goes against type. Instead of flitting from continent to continent, she has instead become the magnet, the force which attracts all kinds of activity to her eateries on Cahaba Road. Carole grew up in Birmingham but left to see the world. She lived all over and satisfied much of that wanderlust, seeing city after city and experiencing all kinds of new things. But, on a visit home in the early 1980s, she attended the Southside Festival and says that it “sparked an idea.” She saw the community differently, not as a small Southern city but one that was experiencing life as she was. She connected with the creativity that was all around her. In 1984, Carole opened Continental Bakery and found an instant connection with a local clientele that “got what we were trying to do.” She had conceived of the idea to create a local gathering spot where neighbors could share ideas and stories, all while enjoying artisnal bread and pastries of a quality not found elsewhere in Birmingham. The English Village location was a natural fit for her creation: close enough to the buzz of downtown and Five Points while still being accessible to a sophisticated demographic that adored her phenomenal baked delights. The initial space was small, with just enough room to bake and showcase product and sport two small tables. But Carole’s dream was bigger, and it would take time to grow. “Marrying the flavors of France and the South, we soon added chicken salad and tuna salad to the menu as well as a variety of spreads,” she said. “Then we started selling wine and beer and staked out some sidewalk space. The neighborhood really responded to a full-scale restaurant and bakery.” The operation required more kitchen space than was available so she had a satellite kitchen in Bluff Park. There was a lot of activity between the two spots; Carole and her staff opened the Lover’s Leap Café in Bluff Park in 1998, but the reception there was less hospitable than what she had anticipated. While that kitchen space was perfect for producing the foodstuffs needed in English Village, the Bluff Park neighbors were not welcoming of this new incarnation. Lover’s Leap Café was short-lived, closing

Carole Griffin of Chez Lulu and Continental Bakery. Photo by Shay Allen

in early 1999. But fate has a way of making things right. About this time, some adjacent space was being occupied by Jane Comer’s Elegant Earth, and Jane was delighted to share part of it with Carole Griffin. So, the restaurant side of the equation, Chez Lulu, could expand to accommodate more tables while she could sell more breads and goods-to-go from the shop next door. Eventually, Elegant Earth moved, and Carole was able to take over the whole space and a transformation was closer to becoming complete. The kitchen is situated firmly between Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu. Passersby might not even know that it is there. But Carole let me in on a secret. When local artist Art Price painted the murals on the glass of the kitchen windows, he left several peepholes. So, if you can spy just where they are, you can see into that glorious space and all the activity that goes on there. And when the sun shines on that scene from outside, the kitchen is filled

mudtown eat & drink 205.967.3300

3144 Green Valley Road

Cahaba Heights

www.mudtownalabama.com for Daily Specials & Find us on Weekly Events

with a golden glow that is nothing less than inspiring. As Carole puts it, “People don’t realize that there are two faces to the same kitchen.” During our conversation on the evolution of Chez Lulu and Continental Bakery, Carole always used the pronoun “we,” which I quietly found confusing. I had always thought of these two establishments as the personification of their singular owner. So I asked her about who completed the we in her thoughts. Her high cheekbones rose even more as she smiled at the idea before us. “I have always been a collaborative worker,” she said. “ There are so many people who work to make these places what they are. We just comes naturally to the way I think and work. Local artist Tracy Martin created many of the tables, painted murals and designed mosaics. We have weekly manager meetings where we taste things our employees and staff might have created. We have a healthy work culture rounded out by people who are dedicated,

creative and engaged.” Shirley Williams is the general manager and oversees daily operations. Chris Richardson is the head baker who ensures that the highest quality raw ingredients—fresh butter, flour, salt, eggs, water—go into each item they produce. Many of these raw ingredients come from local sources. Their commitment to local and seasonal goes beyond being a passing fad or dining trend—from the beginning, provenance mattered. The staff regularly shops Finley Avenue for the freshest seasonal produce. And in the early days, customers could score a free baguette by sharing a bouquet of their homegrown basil. Honey comes from Tena Holcomb’s apiary at Red Mountain Honey. McEwen & Sons supply the ethereal-blue-hued farmfresh eggs, which can also be purchased by the dozen from the refrigerated case. Sublimely creamy-fresh chevre comes straight from Tasia Malakasis’ Belle Chevre in Elkmont, Ala. It was this open dedication to using local products that led to one of their most recent successes. A few years ago, Jason Malone of Good People Brewing Company approached Carole about repurposing the spent grains from his beer production operation. Samples were distributed at one of their weekly managers meeting, and staff were encouraged to be creative. Chris Robinson developed a pizza dough with the grains that has been a huge hit with Chez Lulu diners. The Spent Grain crackers are big sellers at the bakery; they have an earthy, smoky flavor and a rich texture that is ideal with cheese, hummus or chicken salad. Another customer favorite, the autumnal chestnut soup, was derived in much the same way. A teacher at her son’s school asked Carole if she’d be interested in the harvested chestnuts from her backyard tree. Not expecting such largesse, she was overwhelmed when several dozen pounds arrived a few days later. And now it has become a tradition, as has the chestnut soup that comes each fall. Taking in the daily specials board, complete with Buttermilk Pie and Bread Puddings du Jour, I brushed up against a vintage rosemary bush and caught a whiff of Southern France, via Red Mountain. I asked if Carole has plans to expand her culinary empire and she smiled once again. “I want to keep things in scale,” she said. “The way things are right now just works. Something gets lost when you try to reproduce something special. There is not that connection between people and food.” And how can you argue with an idea like that? Christiana Roussel lives in Crestline and is a lover of all things food-related. You can follow her culinary musings on-line at ChristianasKitchen.com or on Facebook (ChristianasKitchen) or Twitter (Christiana40).

60 different scriptures personalized to speak directly to you Perfect for Mother’s Day and Graduation Gifts. Order now! May you have power, Catherine, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for you! Ephesians 3:18

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103

Jennifer Kline • 222-9485 sweetashoneycards@gmail.com

Village Spotlight | May 2011 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Sew Sheri Designs

Sew Sheri owner Sheri Corey with a selection of fabrics her store features. Photo by Madoline Markham.

commit herself to her in-home design project. However, a burgeoning design business, complete with high powered sewing machines, fabrics and staff would soon become a bit much for a household supporting a growing family. As the years went by, Corey soon realized that she desperately needed to relocate her operations from her home to a retail location. “Despite being scary, moving to my present location was certainly a much needed next step, and the actual process turned out to be less difficult than I had

By Gates Porter

Business Spotlight

2832 Culver Rd Birmingham, AL 35223 879-8278 Located in the corner shops of Mountain Brook Village right next to Olexa’s, SewSheri Designs appears to quietly blend in among the neighboring businesses. Walk inside, however, and one will witness the affairs of a bustling design store, with sewing machines operating noticeably in the background and attendants rushing to meet the needs of a plethora of customers. “Unlike many local businesses, Sew Sheri Designs thrived during the recent economic recession,” said owner and founder Sheri Corey. Indeed, the design business of Corey has not only thrivedbut grown dramatically during the recent economic recession. In 2008, Corey expanded her in-home design business in order to both establish her present retail location in Mountain Brook Villageand launch an online dorm room design service, Dorm Suite Dorm. Before founding her design business, Sheri Corey worked for years as a fulltime nurse while simultaneously harboring her lifelong passion for sewing. It was not until 1991 when she had her first child that her dream finally became conveniently compatible with both her career options and her lifelong aspirations. “When my first child was born, I decided that I wanted to be a stay-athome mom,” she said. “I have a lifelong passion for sewing and design, so setting up my own business at home seemed the natural next step.” Fortunately, this bold maneuver soon garnered a large consumer base. Due to the obligations of her nursing career, it took two years for Corey to fully

anticipated,” said Corey. With a growth in business size and a change in location, Sew Sheri Designs has accrued a somewhat varied customer base. While mostly catering to residential needs, the design firm has also accommodated the design projects of many businesses. Corey’s main residential clientele continues to be based in Mountain Brook. But the relocation of Sheri’s business to a retail location and her launch of Dorm Suite Dorm has brought in business from across the state and in some cases nation-wide. Corey also attributes this to the fact that

her business resides in Mountain Brook. “When people come in from out of town, they are told to visit Mountain Brook, and these visitations help to bring in an intrigued patronage,” she said. Despite being one of many design firms around the city, Sew Sheri Designs has managed to set itself apart in several regards. At first glance, the business appears to serve the purposes of the usual design firms, by providing a multitude of design options, namely, window treatments, shower curtains, bed linens, pillows, shades, curtains, valances, slip covers and monograms. However, unlike many businesses of its kind, Sew Sheri Designs manages to consolidate the many requirements of a design project by selling a vast amount of the materials necessary to conduct such a production in the store. “My business allows for, and encourages, customization in any project,” said Corey. “But unlike many design stores, we also have right here in the store, the materials and personal assistance necessary to help someone tackle such a project.” Indeed, the staff of Sew Sheri Designs, who along with Corey produce most of the wares inside the store, will aid a customer on all phases of the project. If, for example, a customer wishes to embark on an interior design project, the staff will not only assist the customer in picking out specific colors or fabrics, but will also travel to the person’s home to appropriate the particular style that best suits their design needs. Additionally, if a customer wishes to pursue a big project, such as window treatments, staff members will give the customer names of reputable installers. For more information on Sew Sheri Designs, visit www.sewsheri.com.

presented By

th 7 10

clowns

Kids 4 and under and Vulcan members

Free!

sundAy, June 5 12-4 pm

face painting

at Vulcan park and museum

kids activities

balloons ice cream live music And more!

Admission

speciAl thAnKs to

For more pArty detAils:

visitvulcan.com

1701 Valley View drive | Birmingham, Alabama 35209

| May 2011 |

Music & Arts

Village Living Calendar

5/2- 7:30 p.m.. Hilltop Singers. The Hilltop Singers end a busy season of performances with a varied program ranging from the Renaissance to Vocal Jazz, plus the always popular senior solos! Hill Recital Hall-Birmingham Southern College.

5/3- 6 p.m.-8 p.m.. Sidewalk Salon. Scheduled the first Tuesday of the month,

Sidewalk Salons provide an opportunity for Birmingham’s filmmaking community to meet, greet, listen and discuss. Guest speakers and topics provide a focus to each meeting, while the social environment of Rojo gives friends and colleagues a reason to get together monthly to talk about upcoming projects. Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave South.

5/6- 12:30-1 p.m.. Mid-Day Musical Menu: A Cabaret - Piano Man! Lonnie Parsons

presents a free, thirty-minute show of Broadway favorites in Clingman Commons at the Cathedral Church of the Advent at 12:30 p.m. The show at 12:30 is free. Boxed lunches with table reservations are available at noon. To reserve a lunch, call 443-8553, or 226-3505, by no later than Wednesday, May 4. Cathedral Church of the Advent.

5/6-5/7- 8 p.m.. Pam Tillis - In Concert. The child of music royalty, Pam Tillis is a superstar in her own right. With two Grammy awards, three CMA awards and a shiny new IBMA award on her mantle, she has racked up 14 Top Five hits including six that hit #1, and has sold over six million records. The Library Theatre. For more information call 444-7888.

5/1- 1-5 p.m. Earth Day at the Gardens. Energy efficiency and clean air will fill

the Formal Garden, the lawn in front of the Conservatory, with fun-filled, family-focused activities. More than 1,300 attended last year’s festival, placing it among the region’s most-attended free Earth Day celebrations. Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

5/14- 10 a.m. Watching Wildlife. Nature program led by the Oak Mountain State Park naturalist. Oak Mountain State Park.

5/22- 1-4 p.m. Summer Reading Kickoff. The Summer Reading Kickoff for all ages

will begin at 1pm on Sunday, May 22nd! Children in 6th grade and under can get their bags and reading logs, teens in grades 7-12 can sign up and see the exciting programs planned, and adults who sign up today get a prize!For more information:...about the Children’s Summer Reading Program, call 879-0497... about the Teen Summer Reading Program, call 445-1141...about the Adult Summer Reading Program, call 445-1121

5/6-5/7- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Embrace Space Days. Join us for Planetarium presentations, space crafts, solar observations, learn how telescopes work, and learn how to become an amateur astronomer. McWane Center. Call 714-8414 for more information.

Special Events/Ministry

5/10- 4:30-5:30 p.m.. Art and Understanding: Ashley Bryan’s Work. Houston

Todd, a Birmingham artist and art specialist at Princeton Alternative School in Birmingham City Schools, will make a presentation of Ashley Bryan’s work that is on exhibit at the Birmingham Public Library. Bryan, who was a graduate of Cooper Union Art School in New York City, taught art at Dartmouth University for over 25 years and retired as Professor Emeritus of Art. Birmingham Public Library.

5/13- 8 p.m.. ASO Masterworks: Beethoven Festival Concert I. The Beethoven

Symphonies are at once the core and the pinnacle of symphonic music. During his first three years with the ASO, Music Director and Principal Conductor Justin Brown’s traversal of the nine symphonies provided uncounted musical highlights and brought the ASO national attention. Now you can hear all nine symphonic masterpieces plus the rarely heard Choral Fantasy (with Brown conducting from the piano) over the course of four concerts in two weeks. $75 / $50 / Students $25. Alys Stephens Center.

5/20- 5 p.m.-10 p.m.. Who Shot Rock & Roll sets the tone for this year’s Art on the

Rocks! Join us this summer for a fresh spin on the popular summer series. Participate in gallery tours, art activities and scavenger hunts and enjoy music in the beautiful setting of the Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden and Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden upper plaza. $20. Birmingham Museum of Art.

5/24- 8 p.m.. James Taylor and His Legendary Band. BJCC Concert Hall. Call 800745-3000 for more information.

5/19-5/24- Basic Digital Photography. You’ll learn the essentials of camera

handling, composition, and exposure. You’ll learn in a hands-on, personalized environment through lectures, demonstrations, and numerous field trips. $150. Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Gardening/Nature 5/14-5/15- Saturday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday 1 -4p.m. Alabama Bonsai Society Show at the Botanical Gardens Auditorium.

5/18- 6:30 p.m. Birmingham Fern Society’s Free Annual Lecture. Naud Burnett II,

ASLA, founder and CEO of Casa Flora, Inc., the largest fern producer in the US, will speak on “Growing Ferns from Tissue Cultures” and has also promised to show slides of some of his projects. Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

5/20-5/21- Friday, Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, 8a.m.-Noon. Spring Plant Sale. The Spring Plant Sale, or Hydrangea Sale, is annually held each year in May. Call 682-8019 for more information.

5/21- 8:30-4:30 PM. Introduction to the Study of Native Plants. Kaul Wildflower

Garden Curator John Manion will lead this intensive, day-long intro to native plant studies. The workshop will begin indoors and will move outdoors, bringing the classroom to life. $90. Call 414-3958 for more information. Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Theatre 5/5-5/15- Thursday-Sunday, 7:30 PM, Saturday-Sunday, 2:00 PM. Five Guys

Named Moe. With more than 50 top ten singles on the rhythm and blues charts, this great composer and saxophonist brought a popular new slant to jazz that paved the way for the rock-and-roll of the 1950s. $30. A Musical by Clarke Peters featuring Louis Jordan’s Greatest Hits. Red Mountain Theatre Company.

Save the date

5/7- 6th Annual Gumbo Gala. Gumbo lovers, do you have the best gumbo in

Birmingham? Gather a team and compete at the 6th Annual Gumbo Gala on at Caldwell Park. Benefitting the mission of Episcopal Place. For more information, please go to http://www.facebook.com/l/88d44/www. gumbogala.com or call 939-0085.

5/18- 13th Annual Mountain Brook Sports Corporation Golf Tournament. Shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Highland Golf Course. Proceeds benefit athletic programs at Mountain Brook High School and Mountain Brook Junior High School. Contact Wade Cowden at 807-0335 or evergreenre@msn.com.

Do you know of events in our community? We would love to include them. Please email Jennifer@villagelivingonline.com by the 15th of each month for the publication in the next month’s issue.

Family Fun

5/3- 4 p.m. Town Hall Meeting with Mike Huckabee. The Samford University Auxiliary will host former Arkansas governor and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He will speak and take questions from the audience during the one-hour event. Wright Center on the Samford campus.

5/3- 7:30 p.m. An Evening with Mike Huckabee. Samford University Auxiliary will

host former Arkansas governor and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at a private patron reception and scholarship gala dinner. He will speak at the dinner. Tickets are $100. Wynfrey Hotel.

5/4- Brown Bag Lunch Series presents Raising Literature Children: the Role of Children’s Literature in Good Parenting. This brief lecture will focus on the very important role parents play in the literacy development of their children and techniques they may use when reading and working with their children and books. The focus of the remarks will be the award winning literature of Ashley Bryan which will be on display in the Birmingham Public Library 4th floor gallery from April 11th till May 20th. 12-1 p.m.Birmingham Public Library at Birmingham Public Library - Central Branch. Call 226-3742 for more information.

5/5- 6-7 p.m. Birmingham Revealed - Too Many Questions: An Evening with Virginia

Durr. Born in Birmingham in 1903, Virginia Durr’s childhood was immersed in the conventions of the segregated South. But Durr broke with accepted tradition and went on to become one of the country’s most passionate voices for civil rights and labor reform. Join us for an intimate portrayal of Durr’s life, presented through a one-act, one woman play titled Too Many Questions: An Evening with Virginia Durr. Vulcan Park and Museum. Call 205- 933-1409 for more information.

5/7- 9

a.m. The eighth annual Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation Motherwalk. Crestline Village. 5K walk/run to promote awareness about ovarian cancer and raise funds for research. There will be entertainent, food, face painting, massage and so much more! The walk is in memory of Norma Livingston who died at the age of 65 from ovarian cancer. Visit www. motherwalk.com to register.

5/7- 8 p.m. LJCC’s Got Talent -- youth performer showcase and theatre fundraiser. Tickets are only $15 per person. Call 879-0411 or go to www.bhamjcc.org to reserve. Levite Jewish Community Center.

5/7-5/12- Internet and Email Basics. If you or someone you know is suffering from

computer fright, now is the time to combat it! This is THE computer class for the true novice. Sessions start every 6 weeks and meet Thursdays at 10 a.m. The cost is $30 for the 6 week course. For more information, contact Holley Wesley at 445-1117.

5/14. 2-3:30 p.m. Knit and Knibble. We’ll gather for a little knittin’ and knibblin’!

From beginner to advanced, everyone is welcome! The Library will provide beverages, snacks and a lot of craft books. You supply your tools, supplies, and the creativity! Emmet O’Neal Library. Call 205-445-1118 for more information.

5/14- 2-8p.m. Mudbugs and Music benefiting the Arthritis Foundation. Ore

in Crestline Park Shopping Center on Dunston Ave. Admission is $20 in advance/$25 day-of the event and includes all-you-can-eat crawfish, a souvenir cup, indoor silent auction featuring local vendors, live music by Lucero, FisherGreen, and T.U.B. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

5/15- 6:30 p.m. Documentaries After Dark. Light refreshments provided. Tonight’s

film follows Nobel Peace Prize-winning and acclaimed author Elie Wiesel as he returns to his childhood village as well as returning to the concentration camp from which he was liberated at the end of the war. For more information, contact Holley Wesley at 445-1117. Emmet O’Neal Library.

5/20- Legends of Motorsports Road Rally. Mountain Brook Village. 5/21- Parade Begins at 11:01 a.m.. Do Dah Day. Do Dah Day is Birmingham’s

oldest event. A music festival that in its infancy was enjoyed by 200 fun-loving Birmingham citizens, now sees more than 40,000 people from all over the United States converge on Birmingham’s Historic Highland Parks for a day of fun, food and music with their pets.

SPORTS 5/9-5/13- 7 p.m. Birmingham Barons vs Carolina Mudcats. With a history dating

back more than 125 years, the Birmingham Barons (a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) have a long tradition of providing Birmingham with a three-hour excursion into the national pastime. Regions Park Stadium. Call 988-3200 for more information.

Around the Villages | May 2011 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Around the Villages

Come home to ...

realtySouth recognizes Millenium Club members for 2010 In March, RealtySouth recognized its Millenium Club agents. An incomplete list of those agents appeared last month in Village Living. Other agents who were

also in the Millenium Club are: Scarlotte Kilgore, Rob Roebuck, Ardis Albany, Carole Ann Moorer, Lucie Haynes, Dana Norton, Carole Simpson, and Barbara Moore.

La Vie M.d. & Spa La Vie M.D. & Spa is Birmingham’s newest all inclusive health and beauty destination. We specialize in Medical aesthetics and products, natural Bioidentical hormone therapy, and weight loss programs. With the help of our Physician and well trained staff, La Vie M.D. & Spa will guide you through a health & wellness plan that can reverse the aging process,

help you look and feel your best, regain your “zest for life,” increase energy, and much more. Our staff would love to speak with you about any needs you may have. Please call 238-5646 or visit or website at www.laviemd.com. La Vie M.D. & Spa 2737 Hwy 280, Suite 151 Mountain Brook, AL 35223

Water Included Gas, self-cleaning oven Frost- free refrigerator Dishwasher & garbage disposal Washer & Dryer furnished Central, gas heat & air

Staying Chic this summer event at Laura Kathryn Join Megan LaRussa of Southern Femme, Ashley Rogers of Rodan & Fields Skincare and Leslie Pittman of Laura Kathryn boutique as they show us easy ways to ‘Stay Chic in the Summer Heat.’ LaRussa will discuss the latest summer fashion trends and give examples

with the variety of merchandise from Laura Kathryn. Rogers will showcase the popular skincare line and ways to keep your skin looking fresh in the summer heat and humidity. A light lunch will be provided. Wednesday, May 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Laura Kathryn, 61 Church Street.

Six wonderful OBs. One wonderful place to have your baby.

Just like you, we want the best for you and your baby. And the OBs at Trinity OB/GYN have devoted their lives to providing attentive, individualized care. They’re supported by leading-edge technology and dedicated professionals who care for new moms and babies in our beautiful Women’s Center. We even have a Level III NICU for babies who need a little extra help. For an appointment with an experienced OB, call 205-592-5499. We have satellite offices in Liberty Park, Pell City, Pinson, The Narrows and Trussville. For directions visit TrinityMedicalClinics.com

It’s Personal J.C. Brock, M.D.; Lindsay Killingsworth, M.D.; Mary B. Adams, M.D.; Andy Lemons, M.D.; Natalie Reddington, D.O.; Lewis Schulman, M.D.

55055_TRIN_OB_10x7_5c.indd 1

4/15/11 5:05 PM

| May 2011 |

Come on over. Sure, there are times when a small, cozy space makes sense. But, in today’s world, a larger pond is nice. There is stability in a company with a 55-year history and membership in the nation’s leading networks. There is calm in a company that is financially solid. There is excitement in a company that fully equips their associates to be the absolute best. Come on over to RealtySouth. It isn’t a leap of faith. It’s a leap of assurance.

For more information on how to become one of Alabama’s leading real estate associates, call Mountain Brook Village Office 205.870.5420

RealtySouth YOURE INVITED-VillageLiving.indd 1

4/18/11 3:19 PM