Full issue october 17 by Over the Mountain Journal

The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

inside

JOU RNAL otmj.com

ursd ay, Oct ober 17, 2013

V ol . 23 #20

Junior League rings in festive fundraiser

about town Page 3

ZooGala glams up with ‘Old Hollywood’ theme

news page 20

John and Ottavia Krontiras bought their Lakeshore Drive home in 1975. The couple met at a wedding in New Jersey. John was the best man, and Ottavia was the maid of honor. Journal photos by Lee walls Jr.

A Tale of Two Cultures

New taste in town: McMillan’s FoodBar opens

business page 36

John and Ottavia Krontiras Combine Traditions at Their Lakeshore Drive Home

Homewood

Homewood Historical Society Meeting Oct. 19, 10 a.m. Homewood Public Library The Homewood Historical Society will host John Krontiras at its meeting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the Homewood Public Library. Krontiras, the owner of Nabeel’s Cafe and Market, will introduce his book, “Beloved Family Recipes: Family Recipes and Experiences from Travels Around the World,” at the meeting in the library’s main auditorium. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The public is invited to attend this free event. Homemade refreshments will be served.

By Donna Cornelius

Journal features writer

John and Ottavia Krontiras know a good thing when they see it. They still live in the Lakeshore Drive house they bought in 1975. In 1993, they bought Nabeel’s and expanded the Homewood specialty market by adding a thriving restaurant. But it’s likely both would say they made their smartest decision in 1965. The year before, John, a native of southern Greece, and Ottavia, whose roots are in northern Italy, met at a wedding in New Jersey. “A friend asked me to be his best man,” John said. “Everybody was saying how beautiful the maid of honor was. A year later, I married her.” The couple came south in 1972 when Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries bought the publishing company where John worked. He became vice president of marketing and information technology at EBSCO, a job he held until 1991. Ottavia said she and her husband were living in an apartment when she noticed that a ranch-style house on Lakeshore Drive was for sale.

Please turn to page 28

cool styles for cold weather page 39

hoover paves way for ER P. 14 • Halloween fun p. 16 • fashion buzz about busy bees p. 38 • Vestavia schools help Dyslexic students p. 42

2 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

Opinion/Contents

Holiday in the Hills

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

murphy’s law

Wash (and Iron and Dry Clean) and Wear

The city of Vestavia Hills and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will help usher in the holiday season by presenting the third annual Holiday in the Hills Festival starting next month. Several events will take place in November and December celebrating the holiday season as a community and encouraging shoppers to support local businesses. For all the details and a list of participating retailers, see page 30. Correction: In a story about the upcoming LJCC CultureFest in our last issue, some dates were listed incorrectly. The annual mahjongg tournament at the LJCC is Oct. 23. The food festival is Oct. 27 and the Nov. 3 cookbook demo by Tina Wasserman starts at 4 p.m.

On otmj.com Browse more photos from fall’s finest festivities and check out more events happening in our area online.

Coming Oct. 31

We’ll take a look at a new volunteer program for military veterans and talk to two Homewood students about recording their first original single.

in this issue About Town 3 People 10 news 14 life 16 social 20

Weddings 27 Special Section 30 Business 36 Schools 42 Sports 48

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL

October 17, 2013

Publisher: Maury Wald Editor: Keysha Drexel Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Office Manager: Christy Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Interns: Jessica Jones, Ginny Cooper Vol. 23, No. 20

Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2013 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

myself with the notion that the imporhe fashion community is all tant thing is to look like I made the abuzz about what women effort and move–gingerly--on. will be wearing this year. There are divas in my closet, sweatWell, not this year, exactly. ers and scarves that must be hand Today’s big hemline/neckline washed (HW) and laid on the upstairs headlines talk about what will be bathroom floor to dry over several covering women next spring or days, and then of course, there are ones next summer or this time next year. that don’t trust me at all and threaten If you want to buy something hip to have a meltdown if I don’t drive for a party this weekend, forget it. them to and from the dry cleaner (DC), The fashion world has moved on. where they can return all refreshed and Haute couture hoopla never really spend their subsequent days under a bothers me because I know exactly veil of plastic, safe from the riffraff of what I’ll be wearing today, tomorrow wash and wear. and the next day: the outfit that requires Fashion designers don’t do their the least amount of closet reentry care. Sue Murphy own laundry. They have minions for Don’t get me wrong. I always strive that. Their minions have minions, to be dressed appropriately, respectI always strive to be I’m guessing. Me? I’m a minion of fully. I won’t show up in Day-Glo one, so when I go into my closet orange prison coveralls at the Heart dressed approprieach morning, I look at my fall colBall, even though I’m guessing ately, respectfully. lection (same as spring and summer) they must be ultra-easy to care for. think, “What is the least amount Think about it. A thousand permaI won’t show up in and of laundry care I can get away with pressed polycotton jumpsuits whirltoday?” ing around in a washing machine Day-Glo orange A day at home with the vacuum the size of an airplane hangar and prison coveralls at cleaner is a WD event. Shopping nobody, not even one of those white collar, good behavior inmates gets to the Heart Ball, even attire depends on the location and of the trip. In and out of say, “Really, I’d prefer that you hand though I’m guessing duration Walmart? Still WD, but with no jelly wash mine and lay it flat to dry.” Laundry, like housework, is they must be ultra- stains or frayed collars. Extended mall shopping? Possibly a WH. I tedious and repetitive, so I strive to easy to care for. don’t reach for WHI attire unless do as little of it as possible. I have the shopping will involve lunch with clothes that can go in the washer and the girls or the chance that I’ll run dryer (WD), but I also have more into someone who has seen me on an even more upscale finicky apparel, things that will tolerate the washer but day, like an HW outing or a DC event. Occasionally, I must be hung to dry (WH). As I get older, I find that have been known to go all out and step out in a DC dress more of my wardrobe fits into this category as there is and heels and pantyhose and earrings, but it must be a less margin for shrinkage on a body that is widening its very special occasion of very short nature and I must be horizons. assured of having a very good time. More neurotic members of the crowd insist on being Writing? It’s WD. Sometimes even PJ. And that’s ironed as well (WHI), even though the minute I turn around–literally--they get wrinkled again. Here, I console what I call fabulous. ❖

over the Mountain Views

What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

“I am going to be Little Orphan Annie because I love the movie, and I like to sing all of the songs.” Grace McGehee Vestavia Hills

“We are both going to be Storm Troopers, because nothing else is as cool!”

“Superman, because he’s strong, fast and has a cool cape.”

Jamie Sulch and Davis Witt Vestavia Hills

Austin Rudolph Vestavia Hills

“I’m going to be Izzy (from “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”) because she’s my favorite character.” Alex Rudolph Vestavia Hills

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 3

Festive Fundraiser Shop Save & Share Starts This Month

n annual fundraiser will kick off on Oct. 23 that will give shoppers a chance to get a head start on their holiday wish lists and raise money for community projects. The Junior League of Birmingham’s 2013 Shop Save & Share event will take place Oct. 23-Nov. 23 with more than 100 new stores and restaurants offering discounts this year. Shoppers can purchase a Shop Save & Share Card for $40 online at www. shopsaveshare.net, from a fundraiser volunteer or at select retail partners during the event. “The card gives users a 20 percent discount at more than 500 retailers in the Birmingham area, including shops in Trussville, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, the Highway 280 corridor and many other local communities,” said Kara Myers, president of the Junior League of Birmingham. “We have over 100 new stores and restaurants participating this year.”

Shop Save & Share

When: Oct. 23-Nov. 23 Where: Over the Mountain and Birmingham area retailers Details: Shop Save & Share cards offer shoppers discounts at more than 500 stores. Proceeds support community projects. More info: www. shopsaveshare.net. A retail shopping guide, including the retailers’ names, locations, descriptions and exclusions come with each Shop Save & Share Card. All proceeds from the sale of the cards directly support the work of the Junior League of Birmingham and the 34 community projects supported by the organization. Beneficiaries of those efforts include the Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Girls, Inc. and many others. The annual event gives many Over the Mountain residents a chance to save money as they head into the holiday season. “I’ve saved hundreds, maybe thousands, over the years,” said Luna Hollett of Brook Highland. “I’ve bought my sons suits that they wear often. I plan on really saving this year on a rug from 18th Street Orientals or Issis and Sons.” Since its inception seven years ago,

25% OFF

From left: Alanna Rose of Alanna Rose Photography, Meredith White of Monograms Plus, Mary Holland Novkov and Olivia Blackmon of Little Lavender and Stephanie Vander Noot of the Junior League of Birmingham prepare for the JLB’s Shop Save & Share Fundraiser, set for Oct. 23-Nov. 3.

selections throughout the store

20% Off Jewelry*

Photo special to the Journal

the Shop Save & Share program has generated more than $305,000 in funding for local causes. Beyond supporting the local community and giving shoppers access to a 20 percent discount, business owners say the card helps them by accelerating sales. Tealla Stewart, owner of Monograms Plus in Vestavia Hills, said the timing of the card’s discount helps to accelerate sales at her store. “Our customers have really started to catch on to the fact that shopping during the Shop Save & Share fundraiser helps them with budgeting of expenses during the holiday season,” Stewart said. “People like to start their holiday shopping early.” Little Lavender, an online consignment clothing boutique for women and children, is a first-time participant in the fundraiser. “This is a great way to promote our business and at the same time support the great work of the Junior League

of Birmingham,” said owner Faith Gardner. “We are thrilled to be included this year.” Restaurants and specialized businesses are also among those supporting this unique fundraising effort. One participant is Hoover studio Alanna Rose Photography, which will be giving a discount on photo packages. “We rarely offer discounts on our services, but because this supports a charity, we are honored to be participating,” said owner Alanna Rose. “We are providing the perfect opportunity for families to get their holiday pictures done early, as well as their senior high school casual photos at great rates.” Celebrating its 92nd year of operation, Birmingham’s Junior League is the fourth largest in the country, with more than 2,500 members. To purchase a Shop Save & Share card, visit www.shopsaveshare.net. For more information on the Junior League of Birmingham, visit www. jlbonline.com. ❖

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4 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

Tired of The WeighT? aAre you or is someone you

knoW overWeighT And inTeresTed in losing WeighT?

About Town

A Voice for Domestic Violence Victims Run Away Race Spotlights Plight of Abused Women

By Keysha Drexel

Fall and Holiday Collections Now in Stock

Organizers are getting ready for the seventh annual Run Away Race to benefit Hannah Home Shelby on Oct. 19. From left: Mandy Cox, Angela Dunn and Amy Reese.

Journal editor

ike a lot of other women, Amy Reese had heard the statistics that indicate domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women--more than car accidents, muggings and Are you AT leAsT 21 yeArs old? rapes combined. But it wasn’t until she got involved with the women at Hannah Home Shelby who are trying to Are you in overAll good rebuild their lives that the Greystone mother realized that she couldn’t even heAlTh? imagine what it was like to walk a day in their shoes. “In our ‘280’ lives, sometimes we Are you AvAilAble for sTudydon’t realize that not too far away, there are women and children in great relATed visiTs over The nexT need,” she said. “That’s the mindset we’re hoping to change with the 16 monThs? race.” The race is the annual King’s If yes, you might qualify to participate Home Run Away 8K on Oct. 19. The event will benefit Hannah Home in a weight loss research study. Shelby, a ministry of King’s Home that serves abused women and their children. Reese started the event seven Please contact us for years ago after becoming involved in more information the Hannah Home Shelby Auxiliary email: in 2006. “I was trying to find a way to give imWel@uabmc.edu back and get involved in the commuor nity,” she said. the university of call: 205.975.7108 King’s Home spent several years alabama birmingham raising the $1.4 million needed to build the 13,000-square-foot, Christcentered home that provides longterm care, spiritual healing and a loving environment for domestic abuse victims and their children. The home was built in 2007. “They had this wonderful home built, but there were still operating expenses to cover, and so the women in the auxiliary started brainstorming Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., on ways to raise money,” Reese said. 246, fax Reese has been an active runner for years and said she uses the time think and pray. It was on one of This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnal for to the her daily runs that she came up with Oct. 17, 2013 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. an idea on how to raise money for Home Shelby. please make sure all information is correct, Hannah “I was running and I started thinkincluding address and phone number! ing about that verse in Hebrews that says ‘And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ and please initial and fax back within 24 hours. that’s really how I got the whole idea if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, for the race,” she said. your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. Reese took her fundraising idea to the auxiliary group and enlisted Thank you for your prompt attention. her friend, Angela Dunn of Brook Highland, to help her organize the first event in 2007. Dunn, who worked as a prosecuting attorney in the Shelby County district attorney’s office for 11 years, said she immediately jumped at the chance to help women who were victims of domestic violence. “I saw a lot of domestic violence cases during those 11 years, and I saw firsthand how this affects women and children across the board. Domestic violence happens across every socioeconomic group and it even happens 74 Church Street • Crestline Village to the very affluent,” she said. “The Mon.-Fri. 10-5 & Sat. 10-4 871-7909 race gave me a way to continue to do www.townandcountryclothes.com something to help these women and

a a

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photo special to the Journal

children who have been so devastated by domestic violence.” As they planned that first event, Reese found new supporters at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, where she often went to exercise. Reese and Dunn partnered with Mandy Cox, the fitness general manager at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, to get the first event off the ground. “The first year we had about 75-100 participants, and then we started giving donations to the home

Run Away Race

When: Oct. 19, 8 a.m. Where: St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Details: The seventh annual 8K and fun run/walk benefits Hannah Home Shelby. More info: www.runawayrace. com. at Christmastime and have partnered with Amy and Angela ever since to do what we can to raise awareness about domestic violence,” Cox said. The first year, the event was just a walk but by the second year was listed on fundraising race websites. Since then, the race has been held every October in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “We’ve really tried to expand it into a community event to get as many people involved as possible,” Cox said. Now, St. Vincent’s One Nineteen gives Christmas presents to the children and women at Hannah Home Shelby each year and helps women trying to rebuild their lives in other ways, Reese said. “They’ve just been an incredible partner. They will treat women from Hannah Home Shelby to makeovers at the spa and really do anything they can to help,” Reese said. This year’s 8K event will start at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen at 8 a.m. It will include a one-mile fun run and walk for runners and walker of all ages, starting at 9 a.m., Reese said. “This is something the whole family can participate in each year,” she said. Reese’s own family, including her husband, Joseph, and sons Joseph III, 12, and Davis, 9, will be participating again this year, she said. Dunn said she’ll also be participating in the event with her husband, Chris, and their two sons. Both women said their work with

the auxiliary inspires them to try and grow the race each year and to get more and more people involved with the efforts to help domestic violence victims. “When women come to the home, some of them just have the clothes on their back, and their lives have been completely devastated,” Reese said. “When you see that, it changes you. It changes how you live your life knowing that there are women who have nothing and have been through so much.” During her work with the auxiliary, Reese said, she’s formed close relationships with domestic violence victims and said she learned that beyond the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter, the women also need encouragement. “We all need encouragement, and we all need people to walk along beside us,” she said. “And while everyone has struggles in their lives, the difference is that these women don’t have anyone to turn to, and you want to be the person they can turn to in their time of need. Everyone who walks in the door at the Hannah Home Shelby needs to know that there is hope, and that’s what we want to do--give them hope.” Most women stay silent about domestic violence, Dunn said, because even in our modern world, the subject is a bit taboo. “It’s one of those dirty little secrets in our society, and no one wants to admit it if they’ve been touched by domestic violence in one way or another,” Dunn said. “I think that’s why cancer runs and things like that have more participating because there’s not this stigma attached to it, but everyone has been touched by it in one way or another.” But Dunn, Reese and Cox said they are determined to keep growing the Run Away Race and their efforts to get more people talking about domestic violence and working to combat it. “People may not want to talk about it, but it’s there. Domestic violence destroys the lives of so many women and children every day, and anything we can do to get more people to consider what it might be like to walk in the shoes of someone who has experienced domestic violence, the better,” Reese said. Race day registration for the 2013 Run Away Race begins at 7 a.m. The first 300 participants to register get a race T-shirt. For more information, visit www.runawayrace.com. ❖

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

From left: Jerry Hartley of The J.Clyde, artist Susan Shoemaker and Codie Gibbons of Steel City Pops are getting ready for the 2013 Moss Rock Festival. Photo special to the Journal by Alex Kunzman

Natural Attraction

Moss Rock Festival in Hoover is Outdoors and Eco-Friendly Those attending this year’s Moss Rock Festival in Hoover will have a chance to taste local craft beers while they enjoy nature and art and learn about eco-friendly innovations. The eighth annual festival will be Nov. 2-3 at The Preserve in Hoover. The event will feature the 2013 Beer Garden, where beer aficionados will have a chance to taste more than 20 local craft brews while enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the festival. Organizers said they are expecting about 15,000 visitors to this year’s festival in the neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s 350-acre Moss Rock Preserve. The festival will include unique

artwork inspired by nature from 100 exhibiting artists. The artwork will be featured in the festival’s Eco and +Design District booths, which will offer ideas on green living innovations and designs. At the festival’s Eco:Drive, those attending can see and learn about the latest fuel efficient cars. The Nature of Cakes expo and tasting is a crowd favorite each year. Visitors will gather in The Preserve’s Town Hall for a sweet display of show cakes based on the 2013 design theme challenge of “Fleas & Antiques.” For other hungry festival-goers, Cafe by the Woods will corral popular local food trucks and other festival

favorites to serve fresh, local food and treats. After grabbing a bite to eat, children might want to check out the WonderKid Studios for engaging, educational and creative projects influenced by nature. All ages can participate in art activities at the WonderKid Studios area. Live music staged throughout the weekend will feature local performers. Visitors can also take advantage of the miles of nature trails at Moss Rock Preserve by going on a hike, exploring and participating in geocache events. Admission to the 2013 Moss Rock Festival is free. Tickets for the Beer Garden can be purchased online in advance for $12.50. The festival will run from 10 a.m.5 p.m. on Nov. 2 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 3. Parking, shuttles and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For more information, visit MossRockFestival.com or call 5956306. ❖

Oct. 17th - Nov. 3rd

To: From: Date:

Lee Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 October This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnaL for the Oct. 17, 2013 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 5

6 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

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About Town

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Preparing for the Oct. 28 balloon release to culminate the 2013 Hope Floats Celebration in honor of breast cancer awareness are from left: Blair Decoux, Megan Johnson, Brook Thompson and Anna Parker.

Hope Floats Celebration Oct. 17-31 Photo special to the Journal Wrapsody of Hoover Through the end of the month, Wrapsody of Hoover is holding its annual Hope Floats Celebration in honor of breast cancer awareness. The store will include a wall in its “hope floats” window with photos of breast cancer survivors, patients and those who have lost their lives to the disease. Photos can be sent to hoover@wrapsodyonline.com. Wrapsody will raise money for the Angel Squad of the UAB Cancer Center, a group of volunteers whose mission is to provide comfort, support and compassionate care to breast cancer patients and their caregivers. The store will sell balloons and tags for $2 and T-shirts for $15 to help the Angel Squad. The celebration will culminate with a balloon release at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. Birmingham

Key to the Cure Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Saks Fifth Avenue To help raise money and awareness for women’s cancer, Saks Fifth Avenue, Birmingham is partnering with the St. Vincent’s Birmingham Bruno Cancer Center for the Key to the Cure at 6 p.m. on Oct. 17. The benefit will feature a fashion presentation, live entertainment and food and drinks. The event kicks off with a shopping weekend Oct. 17-20 at Saks where 2 percent of participating vendor sales will be donated to the Bruno Cancer Center. Tickets are available at stvhs.com/keytothecure.

General admission tickets are $12 and $15, student tickets are $6 and UAB employee and senior citizen tickets are $10. For more information, visit www. uab.edu/theatre. For tickets, call 9752787.

Birmingham

The Taste of the Magic City Oct. 17, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Red Cat Coffee House The third event in the third annual The Taste of the Magic City will be at Red Cat Coffeehouse from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Oct. 17. M-POWER Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit that aims to help break the cycle of poverty through education and health services, is hosting the event. Those participating can enjoy locally roasted, fair trade coffee, pastries and lunch at the coffeehouse, which will give 20 percent of the sales from the event to M-POWER Ministries. Red Cat Coffeehouse is at 2901 Second Ave. South, Birmingham. For more information, visit www. tasteofthemagiccity.com or call 5955959. Hoover

Jazz Band Performance Oct. 17. 6:30 p.m. Hoover Public Library The Hoover High School Jazz Band will perform an evening of jazz standards at the Hoover Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Admission is free. The library is at 200 Municipal Drive. For more information, visit www. hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7821. Birmingham

“Relics” by Amy Swartz Oct. 18, 5-9 p.m. Naked Art Gallery Naked Art Gallery in Birmingham will host an opening reception from 5-9 p.m. on Oct. 18 for an exhibit of new works called “Relics” by Amy Swartz. The event will include guest bartenders, and 100 percent of the tips will be

finish the fight

Vestavia Hills

Make ‘em Laugh OLLI Social Oct. 17, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will host the Seasoned Performers during a program at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Oct. 17. The Seasoned Performers will present a Vaudeville performance from 1:303:30 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit www.vestavialibrary.org or call the adult services department at 978-4678.

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Birmingham

“Big Love” by Charles Mee Oct. 17-20 Alys Stephens Center Theatre UAB will present “Big Love” by Charles Mee Oct. 17-20 at the Alys Stephens Center. The radical reconstruction of Aeschylus’ “The Supplicants” boasts the wild premise of 50 brides escaping arranged marriages to 50 grooms. “Big Love,” to be directed by Karla Koskinen, contains adult language and themes. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17-19 and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 in the Sirote Theatre, 1200 10th Ave. South.

Birmingham

Organizers are finalizing plans for the second annual Finish the Fight Beer, BBQ & Bingo Party on Oct. 17. Standing, from left: Callen Blair, Lauren Silverstein, Hayes Arendall, Nellie Butler and Liza Holman. Mignon Lunsford is seated.

Beer, BBQ & Bingo Party Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. Photo special to the Journal Avondale Brewery Organizers are finalizing plans for the second annual Finish the Fight Beer, BBQ & Bingo Party on Oct. 17. The Junior Board of the Robert E. Reed Foundation will present the fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. at Avondale Brewery. The event will include barbecue from Golden Rule BBQ, micro brews, bingo prizes and live music by Two Studs with Guitars. Tickets are $25 per person or $45 per couple at the door or online at www.reedgifoundation.com/events. All proceeds will support GI cancer research at UAB under the direction of Dr. Martin J. Heslin.

donated to WBHM to benefit programs at the radio station. From 1-6 p.m. on Oct. 19, there will be a Sugar High and Caffeine reception at the gallery. The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 2. Naked Art Gallery is at 3831 Clairmont Ave. For more information, visit www. nakedartusa.com. Birmingham

New Light Event Oct. 18, 5-7:30 p.m. UAB Comprehensive Care Center The New Light Support Group at the UAB Comprehensive Care Center will unveil the Sisterhood Quilt in celebration of breast cancer and triplenegative breast cancer survivors and their caregivers on Oct. 18. The event is from 5-7:30 p.m. at the center, 1824 Sixth Ave. South, Birmingham. For more information, contact Kimberly Robinson at krobinson@uabmc.edu or at 9757912. Birmingham

Freedom Night Oct. 18, 6 p.m. Railroad Park Freedom Night: Abolishing Exploitation and Modern Day Slavery will be held at Railroad Park in Birmingham on Oct. 18. The event will include musical performances from Sister Hazel, Steve Moakler and Nicole McLean. Tickets are $30 in advance or $25 at the door. The festival-type event will raise money and awareness in an effort to end exploitation and slavery around the world. Gates open at 6 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www. freedomnightbirmingham.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 7

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal Homewood

Sunset 5K for Scholarships Oct. 19, 5 p.m. Samford Track and Soccer Stadium The second annual Sunset 5K for Scholarships is set for Oct. 19 at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. The Legacy League, an auxiliary of Samford University, will host the event. The 5K begins at 5 p.m. and will proceed along the Lakeshore Trail. The one-mile fun run will take place on the Samford track starting at 5:45 p.m. Proceeds will help provide scholarships for deserving students with financial need at Samford. The entry fee for the 5K is $25 through Oct. 11 and goes up to $35 on Oct. 12. The entry fee for the fun run is $10. T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 400 registrants. An afterrace dinner will be provided for all 5K participants. Register online at active. com through 5 p.m. on Oct. 17. After that, participants may register in person starting at 4 p.m. on the day of the race. Those who wish to register by mail can pick up a form at the Trak Shak in downtown Homewood or download one from the Legacy League website at www.samford.edu/legacyleague. The deadline for mail-in registration is Oct. 11. A detailed schedule and map are also available on the Legacy League website.

11-16 who have just gotten their first camera and want to learn to capture great images. The class is $50 for members and $60 for non-members. For more information, visit www. bbgardens.org. North Shelby

Antiques 101 Fundraiser Oct. 19, 5:30-9 p.m. Indian Springs School Indian Springs School will host an event on Oct. 19 that is both a continuing education experience and a fundraiser. Antiques 1010 will feature the antiqueappraising talents of Indian Spring School alumnus Stuart Stuart Whitehurst Whitehurst, who has worked with Sotheby’s New York and Skinner Auctioneers in Boston and as a longtime appraiser on PBS’

COLLIER’S Nursery

autumn t h e

p e r f e c t

s e a s o n

f o r

planting

Birmingham

Family Photography Class Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-noon Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host a family photography class called “What’s This Button Do” from 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 19. The class is designed for a parent and a child age

e n j o y 11/ 2 w e l l - o r g a n i z e d a c r e s o f s h r u b s , trees, groundcovers, vines & perennials as well as a knowledgeable, helpful staff. Oct. 17th - Nov. 3rd

822 . 3133 M ON – S AT 9 - 5:30 . S UN 1 - 5 . 2904 O LD R OCKY R IDGE R D .

To: From: Date:

please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

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8 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Alabama’s Buddy Walk at the Hoover Met on Oct. 20. The event will kick off with a line dance party with Scott from 1:30-2 p.m. Walk-up registration begins at 1:45 p.m. The walk will begin at 2 p.m. and will be followed by an awards ceremony and celebration concert by Scott. There will also be craft activities, a jump zone for kids and more. For more information, visit www. downsyndromealabama.org.

BBG Fall plant sale returns

ALZHEIMER’S OF CENTRAL ALABAMA

Homewood

A local organization helping local families Birmingham

be a part of

Walking to Remember A Fun, Family-Friendly Event Held

Saturday, November 2 inside the Riverchase Galleria, 8 a.m.

Walk in honor or memory of someone with Alzheimer’s or to support families in central Alabama living with this disease

For information and to support ACA please call (205) 871-7970 or visit www.alzca.org For 22 years ACA has served our community with: • Scholarships for more than 600 patients to attend adult day care • Scholarships for more than 900 patients to receive continence products • 18 research grants to Alabama Colleges and Universities

BBG Fall Plant Sale Oct. 19-20 Photo special to the Journal Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host its annual Fall Plant Sale Oct. 19-20 in Blount Plaza, with opportunities to purchase herbs, sustainable trees, fall annuals, shrubs, natives, perennials and more. Proceeds from the sale support programs like Discovery Field Trips, Plant Adventures and more. On Saturday, the sale will be open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. On Sunday, hours are noon-4 p.m. Trees available for purchase have been especially selected for Birmingham’s climate and conditions. Shoppers can choose between long-lived native trees and non-invasive exotics. The event will also offer a carefully selected and diverse collection of native and non-native plants that are good host plants for butterflies. For a partial list of plants available for purchase, visit www.bbgardens.org/fallplantsale. Not all plants that will be available are listed on the website. “Antiques Roadshow.” Those attending are invited to bring a favorite antique item or painting or print to put on stage for Whitehurst to discuss. The event also will include antique-related classes by Indian Springs School faculty and alumni, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a wine grab, raffle drawings and live music. Proceeds will benefit the Indian Springs School Annual Fund. Tickets are $75. The school is at 190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs Village. For more information, visit www. indiansprings.org or call 332-0593. Vestavia Hills

“Fannie Lou Hamer: This Little Light” Oct. 20, 5-6 p.m. Vestavia Hills Baptist Church

Birmingham

Billie Jean Young, Judson College associate professor and artist-inresidence, will present the one-woman show “Fannie Lou Hamer: This Little Light” on Oct. 20 from 5-6 p.m. at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. The show will tell the story of Hamer’s brave journey from field worker to champion of civil rights. Admission is free. For more information, call 979-5920 or visit www. vhbc.com. Hoover

Buddy Walk Oct. 20, 1:30 p.m. Hoover Met Newly-signed country music artist Dylan Scott will be the guest of honor at the 14th annual Down Syndrome

“The Drunken Botanist” Oct. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart will share stories from her travels and recipes from her book, “The Drunken Botanist,” on Oct. 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Linn-Henley Lecture Hall at Birmingham Botanical Amy Stewart Gardens. Stewart will be available for book signings. General admission tickets are $20 and include a cocktail hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission also includes sampling

cancer in the crosshairs Alpine

• Support groups, telephone helpline, education and advocacy

L VE is the best medicine education • research services • advocacy

Special thanks to our 2013 marketing sponsor

Drug Safety Program Oct. 22, noon-1 p.m. Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, and the Safe and Healthy Homewood Coalition will present a forum on prescription drug safety Oct. 22 from noon-1 p.m. at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in The Loft Room. Learn how to keep your family safe by attending this educational workshop about prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse. Dr. Don Williamson, state health officer, and Dr. Ellen Ovson, medical director of Bradford Health Services, will be the guest speakers.

Volunteers are potting plants for the annual Fall Plant Sale at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. From left: Gloria Clemmensen, Lisa Ennis, Sally Price, Karen Kendall and Cindy Pinger.

Organizers are getting fired up for the 2013 Alabama Charity Clays fundraising event at Selwood Farms Oct. 23-25. Seated, from left: Renee Fenn and Laura Sink. Standing: Amy Belcher and Gail Braswell. Photo special to the Journal

2013 Alabama Charity Clays Oct. 23-25 Selwood Farms The Baptist Health Foundation will present the 2013 Alabama Charity Clays fundraising event at Selwood Farms Oct. 23-25. Selwood Farms is in Alpine, between Talladega and Sylacauga. The event will help raise money for the Women’s Breast Health Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The Annie Oakley women’s clay shoot will be Oct. 23, starting with registration at 9 a.m. and safety assignments at 9:30 a.m. Course shooting will end at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by lunch. Door prizes will be awarded. The Sportsman’s Social, which includes dinner and a raffle, will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Park Lane in Mountain Brook. For the morning shoot on Oct. 25, registration will be at 10 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. and shooting at 12:30 p.m. Registration is required for all events. For more information or to register, call Marcia Twitty at 243-2983. For more information on the Breast Cancer Survivorship Network, visit http://princetonbreastcareresources.org.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 9

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

fall extravaganza

be accepted. For more information, visit www.operabirmingham.org. Homewood

Sweet Peas Art in Our Gardens Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sweet Peas Garden Shop Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood will present Sweet Peas Art in Our Gardens on Oct. 26. The event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. will feature more than 25 local artists who will gather in the gardens to share their talents. The shop is at 2829 Linden Ave. For more information, visit www. sweetpeasgardenshop.com or call 8793839.

Vulcan members and free for children 12 and younger. The event begins at 3 p.m., rain or shine. For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com or call 933-1409. Birmingham

Cahaba Brewing Shrimp Boil Nov. 2, 3-7 p.m. Cahaba Brewing Company Cahaba Brewing Company will host

a shrimp boil from 3-7 p.m. on Nov. 2 to help raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Cahaba Brewing Company is at 2616 Third Ave. South. For more information, visit www.BCRFA. org or call 996-5463. ❖

Send About Town information to: kdrexel@otmj.com

Introducing Bravo Ceramic Egg ~Just in time for the Holidays~

Birmingham

Vestavia Hills

Planning the Ballet Women’s Committee’s annual Fall Extravaganza on Oct. 24 are, from left: Liz Phillips, Julia Meyers, Sarah Bryan and Nancy Kennedy.

BWC Fall Extravaganza Photo special to the Journal Oct. 24, 10 a.m. Vestavia Country Club The Ballet Women’s Committee will host its annual Fall Extravaganza at Vestavia Country Club in Vestavia hills beginning at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24. The event will include a silent auction and luncheon. Guests will have a chance to bid on auction items, purchase gifts and goodies from the BWC Gift Shoppe and win a raffle drawing for estate diamond earrings from Levy’s Fine Jewelry. During the luncheon, guests will see a fashion show with clothes provided by Stella Blu, Betsy Prince and Carriage House Weddings as well as featured costumes from Alabama Ballet productions. Tickets are $25. For reservations, call Amy Miller at 823-5368 or Frances Knox at 936-8062. For $1 raffle tickets, call Kelly Troiano or Stephanie Whisenhunt at 967-9943 or 970-8895. recipes from Stewart’s book and the lecture. Tickets can be reserved online at www.bbgardens.org/classes. To learn more about Stewart, visit www. drunkenbotanist.com. BIrmingham

Black Jacket Symphony Performance Oct. 25, 8 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art Mountain Brook native J. Willoughby and the Black Jacket Symphony will present Elton John’s “Madman Across the Water” at 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The concert will be held in the museum’s upper terrace. General admission is standing room only. A cash bar will be available. Local food trucks Slice and Off the Hook will be serving food in the museum parking lot before the concert. Museum doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for members and $40 for the general public. For more information, visit www. artsbma.org. Birmingham

Birmingham Boys Choir Concert Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m. Cathedral Church of the Advent The Birmingham Boys Choir, under the direction of Ken and Susan Berg, will perform a 30-minute concert at Cathedral Church of the Advent at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 25. The church is at 2017 Sixth Ave. North, Birmingham. For more information about the choir, visit www. birminghamboyschoir.org. Birmingham

Great Opera Attic Sale Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-noon Hill Opera Center Opera Birmingham will hold its fourth annual Great Opera Attic Sale from 8 a.m.-noon on Oct. 26. The event will be held at the Hill Opera Center, 3601 Sixth Ave. South, Birmingham. Donated

Vulcan AfterTunes Concert Oct. 27, 3 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum Cool tunes, fresh brews and street views return to Sunday afternoons this fall with Vulcan Park and Museum’s AfterTunes Concerts. The Oct. 27 concert will feature Leon Redbone with Dead Fingers. Children can enjoy the Kid Zone, featuring face painting, coloring pages and other activities. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for

lImItEd tImE offEr $

items may be dropped off MondayFriday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. until Oct. 24. No clothing will be accepted. Donations of gently-used furniture, jewelry, books, art, kitchen supplies, appliances, electronics and musical items will gladly

695

Alabama Gaslight & Grill

Oct. 17th - Nov. 3rd

2828 Linden Ave. Homewood • 870-4060

To: From: Date:

Lee Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 October This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnaL for the To: Mike Oct. 17, 2013 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 please make sureFrom: all information is correct, FAX: 205-824-1246 including address and phone number! Date: Oct., 203 please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for

Thank you for your prompt attention. Oct. 17, 2013 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

10 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

A Worthy Goal

People

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Lovelady Center Project Is Tribute to Volunteer Steve Wald

By Keysha Drexel

Journal editor

project started by an Over the Mountain resident to help children living at the Lovelady Center in Birmingham came to fruition last month when a new basketball goal was dedicated in his honor. Before he passed away unexpectedly in March, Steve Wald, a former teacher and coach, was raising money for new basketball goals for the children at the Lovelady Center. In lieu of flowers at Wald’s funeral, his wife, Cathy, asked that donations be made

Steve Wald

to the Lovelady Center Kidzone in his memory. The Lovelady Center, located on Second Avenue South in Birmingham in the former East End Memorial Hospital, is a faith-based nondenominational residential and recovery facility for women who have recently been released from prison and their chil-

dren. Most of the moms at the center are recovering from addictions, and Lovelady is one of the few recovery centers in the state that allows residents to bring their children with them as they go through the program. About 350 women and children currently live at the center. The Lovelady Center was founded in 2003 by Brenda Lovelady Spahn as Freedom Rain Ministries, which operated out of her home and ministered to women at Julia Tutwiler Prison during and after their incarceration. She later renamed the center in honor of her father, James Lovelady. Wald and his wife volunteered at the Lovelady Center and worked with the kids there. “Steve would play basketball with the kids, and the time he spent with them meant a lot because many of the children don’t have father figures in their lives,” said Jeannie Carreker, the center’s director of development. “We need more volunteers like Steve.” After Wald’s untimely death, Dan McGettigan, a former teacher and coach at Pinson Valley High School who had worked with Wald when he taught at Pinson, sprang into action. McGettigan said he was determined to see Wald’s project to give the kids at the center a new place to play become a reality. McGettigan recruited a group of friends he calls “The Legends” to put together the money to buy the basketball goal so that the donations sent in Wald’s honor could be used for other programs at the Lovelady Center Kidzone. “Steve desperately wanted a new

Cathy Wald and Brenda Lovelady Spahn, above, at the dedication ceremony to honor volunteer Steve Wald. Mike Vest, right, executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness, speaks at the dedication ceremony at the Lovelady Center. Journal photos by Maury Wald

goal and basketballs for the kids at the center, and so I contacted a few people so that we could make that happen to honor all that Steve did to help the kids,” McGettigan said. McGettigan contacted Henry Williford, a professor at Auburn University at Montgomery and member of the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness who used to coach and teach with Wald at Pinson Valley High. “Steve had a lot of influence on me, whether he knew it or not. He did good all his life and was just a great guy. I know he would have been thrilled that the kids at the center now have a new basketball goal,” Williford said. Next, Shelby County Commissioner Mike Vest of Inverness, who is also the executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness, got on board with the project, along with Scott Myers, executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and Alex

Sokol and Chris Nix, co-founders of Alabama Forever. Alabama Forever was founded in response to the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that ravaged the state. The group’s goal, according to its website, is to help Alabama communities in need by offering viable solutions to maintain the best possible life for the state’s residents for generations to come. The group paid for a basketball goal to be erected on the Kidzone playground along with a plaque dedicating the new space to Wald. Since the dedication ceremony in September, McGettigan said others have joined together to expand the basketball area at the Lovelady Center. Wald’s longtime friend Terry Brasseale has arranged for a concrete pad to be poured at the memorial playground. Billy Vann, another friend of Wald’s, is paying for the concrete, and Brasseale is paying for it to be installed,

McGettigan said. Vest, who grew up in poverty in Birmingham, spoke at the dedication ceremony and said it is people like Wald who made a difference in his own life. Vest said one year, his mother went to Toys for Tots because she couldn’t afford to buy her children Christmas presents. One of the presents Vest received that year from Toys for Tots was a small, plastic football. “That one little bitty football--I still have no idea who gave it to me through Toys for Tots--it changed my life forever,” the former quarterback at Samford University said. “I know these basketballs and the goal Steve wanted so badly for the children here will change lives, too.” Spahn thanked Wald’s wife for sharing him with the children at the Lovelady Center and said Wald had a tremendously positive influence on the kids there. “We are so honored for the time Steve spent here. We don’t take anything anyone does to help lightly, and we appreciate everything that Steve did here,” Spahn said. For more information on how to volunteer at the Lovelady Center, visit www.loveladycenter.org. ❖

People Notes Hoover Resident Awarded Mountain Brook Resident by Civil Rights Institute Studying Abroad A Hoover resident has been recognized for mentoring children in Alabama’s Black Belt. Kasey Rumbarger, a recent graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School, was recognized at a symposium at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Rumbarger received an honorable Kasey Rumbarger mention award for traveling to the Vrendenburgh community for two summers to help cheerleaders there. Realizing the girls in the community had limited resources, Rumbarger shared her love of cheerleading with them by putting on cheerleading clinics. She was nominated for the honor by Mike Bouton, a teacher at John Carroll. Rumbarger is attendiing Auburn University to study in the Department of Kinesiology. She is the daughter of Beth and Daniel (Toby) Rumbarger.

A Mountain Brook resident is studying in Italy this fall. Lelia Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of John and Catherine Smith of Mountain Brook, is studying in Rome for the fall semester. Smith is a junior at Wofford College, an independent liberal arts college of 1,600 students in Spartanburg, N.C.

Furr Honored for 20 Years of Service to Church The pastor at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church was recently honored for his 20 years of service. The congregation honored Dr. Gary A. Furr during the Aug. 25 morning worship service. The church also hosted a reception the same day in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Leaders, family members and friends gathered to celebrate Furr’s milestone. The speaker for the event was Dr. Fisher Humphreys, professor of divinity, emeritus, of Samford University and a friend of the Furr family. Humphreys delivered a sermon at Furr’s installation at the church in 1993. Since his installation, Furr has seen a member increase of almost 1,000, an

11 percent increase in resident member families, a 188 percent increase in budgeted missions giving and a 130 percent increase in budgeted receipts. He has overseen the establishment of the church website and Facebook page and started WVSU-FM, an on-air ministry. Furr also has organized volunteer efforts in 25 foreign countries and made extensive additions to the church for educational Gary A. Furr and ministerial purposes. Before he moved to Birmingham, Furr was the pastor of churches in Texas and Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. He also received a master’s degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and a doctorate in religion from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In addition to pastoring the Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Furr is on the Coordinating Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 11

People

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

in conjunction with services for Birmingham’s homeless population. YWCA Central Alabama has 30 AmeriCorps members serving in areas supporting the homeless population, social justice initiatives, childcare and after-school enrichment, girls’ and women’s leadership, domestic violence services, persons with disabilities, housing and economic development. Each YWCA AmeriCorps member devotes 1,720 hours a year to serving these programs and volunteering with agencies benefiting the metro area.

Vestavia Hills Students Earn Silver Award Vestavia Hills residents Giana Driskel and McKinley Owens were recently recognized for their efforts to help homeless animals. Driskel and Owens, members of Girl Scout Troop 30136, earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for their project that helped homeless cats and dogs at Grace Animal Foundation. The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout a Cadet can earn. It marks her accomplishments in improving her life as well as the lives of those around her. Girl Scout Cadets are in grades 6-8. During the project, the girls held a supply drive for the foundation. They also learned how to properly care for the animals and had the opportunity to polish their team-building and public speaking skills.

Vice Named Top Lawyer Attorney Kimberly Byram Vice of Birmingham has been certified as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the country. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won $1 million or multimilliondollar verdicts, awards and settlements. The Kim Byram Vice organization was founded in 1993 and has about 4,000 members throughout the U.S. Fewer than 1 percent of all lawyers are members. Vice is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law and specializes in medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, tractor trailer accidents, automobile accidents, products liability and divorce.

OTM Student Honored for Good Deeds Project Bella Doll, a fifth-grader at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Hoover, was this year’s winner of the Good Deeds Project, sponsored by Dr. Dominique Backus. Backus created the project to promote community service, youth leadership and goodwill to others. She asked her patients to submit a

From left: McKinley Owens and Giana Driskel, members of Girl Scout Troop 30136, earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for their project to help the Grace Animal Foundation. Photo special to the Journal video diary or written essay on their project, beneficiary, community impact and overall experience. The essays were scored by an outside panel of community leaders based on creativity, execution and community impact. Doll received a laptop as a reward for her community service work. She raised $931 to purchase books for the Vrendenburgh community by organizing, promoting and staffing a school bake sale. The runner-up award went to Reagan Handley of Gardendale. She was awarded an iPad mini for her volunteer work with the Junior League’s Little Leaguers Program, the Exceptional Foundation, the McWane Science Center and the Miracle League of Gardendale.

Hoover Resident Helps New College Students A Hoover resident spent the days leading up to the start her freshman year at the University of Evansville helping others. Julia Wickersham, a student at the Indiana university, took part in the Freshman Service Project on Aug. 26 as part Welcome Week. Welcome Week was designed to help new students make a smooth transition into university life before classes begin. The service project sent new university students to 20 locations throughout the Evansville region—parks, community centers and other nonprofit organizations—to paint, clean and landscape. “The goal of the Freshman Service Project is to help new students get acquainted with the community they’ll call home during their college years,” said Geoff Edwards, director of UE’s Center for Student Engagement and coordinator of the Freshman Service Project. “Last year, UE students contributed more than 19,000 hours of community service, and we hope the Freshman Service Project inspires students to continue making an impact on the Evansville community.” The University of Evansville is a private, liberal arts-based university with a full-time undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,400.

Vestavia Residents Honored as Best Lawyers From left: Dr. Dominique Backus and Bella Doll. Photo special to the Journal

Two Vestavia Hills residents were recently honored by a peer-review publication for legal professionals. Attorney Stephen D. Christie of Miller

Oct. 17th - Nov. 3rd

To: From: Date:

Christie & Kinney and Lawrence T. King of King Simmons were nominated for “Best Lawyers,” one of the oldest and most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. They were evaluated by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and completed an authentication review to make sure they are in current practice and good standing. A listing in the publication is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor. The listings are now published in almost 70 countries around the world.

Lee Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205 October This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOun Oct. 17, 2013 issue. please fax approval or cha

please make sure all informatio including address and phone

please initial and fax back within 2

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday be your ad will run as is. We print the paper M

Thank you for your prompt at

AmeriCorps Honors Vestavia Volunteer A Vestavia Hills resident was recently honored for helping the homeless. Stacy Oliver was named a Member of the Year by YWCA Central Alabama’s “Building Communities Bettering Lives” AmeriCorps program. Oliver is finishing her second of two terms with One Roof, an organization that works Stacy Oliver

To: From: Date:

Contact: Heath Haggard

205-871-9661

hhaggard@alabamaallergy.com

Clinical Research Center of Alabama 504 Brookwood Boulevard • Birmingham, AL 35209 www.alabamaallergy.com

Helen Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Oct., 2013

This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the Oct. 17, 2013 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

VISIT OUR GREEN MODEL HOMES EACHThank SUNDAYyou FROM - 5 P.M. for2your prompt FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL MIKE WEDGWORTH: 205.365.4344

attention.

12 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

People

A Positve Experience

Hoover ENT Welcomes Dr. Marcus Moody Marcus W. Moody, M.D.. below, recently returned to the Birmingham area to join Dr. Edwyn L. Boyd at Hoover Ear, Nose & Throat Associates, P.C. Dr. Moody lived in Birmingham during his middle school and high school years and attended Vestavia Hills High School. He also did a Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Birmingham. Dr. Moody returns to Birmingam from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock where he served as Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and as the Director of the Nasal and Sinus Disorders Division. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia and attended medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. He completed his surgical internship and ENT residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. “I was fortunate to train with Dr. Rodney L. Schlosser in Charleston, who is an internationally recognized expert in sinus disorders and endoscopic surgery.” Dr. Moody has also been very active in community service and medical mission trips. Since graduating medical school, he has served as part of multiple surgical mission trips to developing areas such as Honduras, Nepal, Moldova, China, and Kenya. “The practice of medicine for me was truly a calling. God opened a lot doors for me to enter this field, and I had a strong desire to help people with nose and sinus health issues. I had similar sinus problems of my own growing up, and I feel like I’m able to empathize with my patients.” Dr. Moody is excited to be at Hoover ENT because his and Dr. Boyd’s specialties compliment each other so well. “Dr. Boyd is a nationally recognized expert in the treatment of allergies, and with my background in nasal and sinus surgery, we feel strongly that we offer a very well-rounded approach to complete nose and sinus care.” Hoover ENT is located at 2116 Data Park in Hoover 733-9595

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Vestavia Junior Is Miss New Mexico High School

By Jessica Jones

That was really the only kind of preparation I had,” Blaudeau said. Under her coach’s direction, Blaudeau learned tips and rules that would help her win, including walking, ianna Blaudeau of Vestavia Hills said she smiling, poise and how to be relatable. never expected to be crowned Miss New While training with a coach can give a contestant Mexico High School but that’s exactly a slight advantage over another competitor without what happened when she entered the Miss High School America Pageant on a whim this summer. professional direction, the benefits go only so far, Blaudeau said. The title came as a surprise to the Vestavia Hills “I felt as prepared as I could,” she said. “Your High School junior, a longtime competitive dancer coach can only do so much.. Then it’s up to you. I who had never before entered or competed in a pagcould never prepare myself for the pressure that you eant. have on you when you’re on stage, but also the rush, “I’ve been a competitive dancer for 15 years,” the pure excitement takes over all your nerves, and Blaudeau said. “I was planning on doing Miss Dance, Gianna Blaudeau of Vestavia Hills was awarded you just shine.” which is a dance competition in Montgomery, which the at-large title of Miss New Mexico High School Part of her preparation was preparing for an interis really about dancing.” after winning first runner-up in the Miss High view. no easy task since the contestants don’t That’s Blaudeau needed headshots taken for the competiSchool American Pageant. Photo special to the Journal know the questions beforehand, Blaudeau said. tion and made an appointment with a local photogra“When asked on how I would change the commupageant, the state selects a pageant participant who pher, Frank Carnaggio. nity, I said that I would reach out to those who aren’t didn’t win her state to represent that state at Nationals, A makeup artist, Mellisa Bogardus who works for involved and help them become a part of the comBlaudeau said. Carnaggio first suggested Blaudeau compete in the munity,” Blaudeau said. “I got asked a lot of different Of the competitors who were also approached Miss High School America pageant, she said. questions about how I would change my community for at-large titles, Blaudeau had the highest interview “I didn’t know anything about it, and I kind of just and what I’d do to help enforce Crown C.A.R.E.S., score. After having her name submitted as a posjumped in,” Blaudeau said. which is an anti-bullying program that we support.” sible representative for the state, New Mexico chose Despite the makeup artist’s certainty that she Blaudeau said the Crown C.A.R.E.S. program Blaudeau, awarding her the title of Miss New Mexico would be pageant material, Blaudeau said that given began as a way to curb bullying among school-aged High School. her inexperience, she wasn’t as confident that she students by reaching out to students and suggesting As first runner-up in the Miss High School should compete. nonviolent ways to handle confrontation. The proAmerica Pageant, Blaudeau advances to the national “I was very hesitant about entering the pageant competition, which will be held in the summer of because most of the girls had competed in this compe- gram is focused not only on bullies and victims but on bystanders, helping them understand their roles in 2014 in Alabama. tition three or four times, and it was my first one,” she reporting and interfering with confrontation, she said. In addition to the Crown C.A.R.E.S. outreach, said. “I found out about the pageant about two days Blaudeau’s inexperience with pageants made the Blaudeau is also involved in several other school and before the deadline to enter, so I didn’t have much To: Janis community activities. announcement of her first runner-up title all the more time to contemplate.” From: The Mountainsurprising. Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 She dances at the Jackie O’Neal School of Dance Because she didn’t know the ins Over and outs of the FAX: with 205-824-1246 and is a Vestavia Belle. She is a member of Youth “All the other girls were saying, ‘I thought you pageant world , Blaudeau met and worked a Date: Oct. Leadership at Vestavia Hills High School, a member won,’” she said. to her by her2013 photogracoach, Terri Bowlen referred of Interact Club and a member of the Dance National The day after she was named first runner-up for pher. The coach prepared her for what she would face This is your AD PrOOF the OvEr THEAmerica, MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for theSociety. Honor Alabama High School Blaudeau was Missfrom onstage. Oct. did 17,my 2013 otmj approached issue. Please fax approval or changes 824-1246.Blaudeau said she also enjoys hunting and attendby pageant officials about an at-largetotitle. “She got me ready for my interview, ing “as many Alabama football games as possible.” ❖ When a state doesn’t have enough girls to host a walkthrough and helped me learn the dos and don’ts.

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From left: Zoe Nichols, Lydia Estes and Maya Leonard of Girl Scout Troop 350.

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Girl Scouts Honored for Reading Project

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Thank you for your promptThree attention. sixth-graders from Altamont

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School have been recognized for their efforts to help other students learn to love reading. They were honored with the Girl Scout Bronze Award. Maya Leonard, Lydia Estes and Zoe Nichols of Girl Scout Troop 350 were recognized with the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn for Read All About It!, a reading project they initiated. The girls threw a party for secondgrade students in the Start the Adventure in Reading program. The STAIR program tutors Birmingham second-graders who need extra help in reading. At the party, the girls gave the children book bags they had decorated and books to read.

Sitarz Completes West Point Cadet Basic Training A recent graduate of Vestavia Hills High School has successfully completed cadet basic training at the United State Military Academy at West Point. Hans Christian Sitarz, the son of Gloria and Hans W. Sitarz Jr. of Vestavia Hills, entered West Point on July 1 and successfully completed

six weeks of cadet basic training. Cadet basic training is one of the most challenging events cadets will encounter over the course of their four years at the academy, according to academy officials. The initial military training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological and chemical training. Sitarz began classes Aug. 19. The West Point curriculum offers 37 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a bachelor of science degree. Sitarz is a 2013 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. He plans to graduate from Hans Christian West Point in Sitarz 2017 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 13

People

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Over the Mountain residents participated in the YMCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina this summer. Front, from left: Read Mills, Ben Jackson, Hayden Daniel, Hannah Mouyal, Jacob Kimes, Zijie Yin and Noah Crawford. Back: Natalie Jones, Amelia Putnam, Lewis Fitzpatrick, Kelley Jiang, Allison Hanby and Rachel Knowles. Photo special to the Journal

OTM Residents Chosen for Youth Conference

Several Over the Mountain residents were selected to attend the YMCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Conference on National Affairs at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, N.C.Â Among those attending the weeklong event were recent graduates of and current students at Mountain Brook, Spain Park and Oak Mountain high schools. The Over the Mountain students joined almost 600 delegates from more than 30 states to debate national and international issues. Before the conference, each student researches, writes and prepares a proposal to present to the other delegates. Delegates rank the proposals to advance the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ideas through three committees before a proposal can make it to the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Assembly or Plenary sessions for a pass or fail vote. Those selected to attend the conference included Zijie Yin, a 2013 Mountain Brook High graduate and the son of Dingmin and Li Li. Due to his successful performance in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

conference, Yin will return to the conference in 2014. He was one of the six officers selected for the 2014 YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs, and his proposal to create a drug consumption facility advanced to the Third Committee.Â Reed Mills, a 2013 graduate of Spain Park High School, was selected as fourth alternate presiding officer for the 2014 conference after attending this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference. Mills attends the University of Alabama and is studying political science and economics. He is the son of Lynn and Hunter Mills. Yin and Ben Jackson were chosen as two of 35 Outstanding Statesmen among the 574 delegates at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference. Jackson, a senior of Mountain Brook High School, was recognized for having one of the best proposals, although the proposal, abolishment of the U.S. Board of Education, failed to pass the body.Â Lewis Fitzpatrick, also a senior at Mountain Brook High School, was

mum sentencing. She is the daughter recognized for his proposal encouragof Mike and Leigh Putnam. ing federal investment in port deepenAllison Hanby, a senior at Spain ing projects. The project advanced to Park High, proposed caffeine limits for the Third Committee. He is the son of children. She is the daughter of Shari Kelley and C.T. Fitzpatrick. and Todd Hanby. Noah Crawford, a senior at Spain Mountain Brook High senior Park High School, was among the Natalie Jones proposed federal funding delegates who advanced to the Third for the research of infectious diseases Committee. Crawford proposed a ban living in coral reefs. She is the daughon prescription drug advertisements. ter of Angie and Martin Jones. He is the son of John and Sherrie Hayden McDaniel, a senior at Oak Crawford. Mountain High, served as the Alabama Other Over the Mountain residents delegationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flag bearer for the conferparticipating in the conference had enceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening and closing ceremotheir proposals make it to the Second nies. She is the daughter of Gage and Committee. David McDaniel. Those students included Mountain Other Over the Mountain residents Brook High School senior Hannah Mouyal. Mouyal, who will be the 2014 attending the conference included Kelley Jiang, a senior at Mountain Alabama Youth Lt. Governor, proBrook High and the daughter of posed a limit of appeals for death row Zhiyong Liu and Wei Jiang; Jacob inmates. She is the daughter of Helen Kimes, a senior at Spain Park High Moore and Gil Mouyal. and the son of Laura Kimes; and Amelia Putnam, a senior at Rachel Knowles, a senior at Oak Mountain Brook High and the 2014 Mountain High and the daughter of Alabama Youth Speaker of the House, To: hooverantiques@bellsouth.net Amy and Keith Knowles. â?&#x2013; proposed eliminating mandatory mini-

A local legislator has been honored by the state Department of Senior Services. Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, was recently presented with the Statesman Award for the House of Representatives at the annual Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Ceremony. DeMarco sponsored the House version of the 2013 elder justice legislation, which has been signed into law as the Protecting Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elders Act. The legislation is aimed at protecting the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior citizens from

elder abuse and financial exploitation. In 2005, DeMarco was elected in a special election of the Alabama House of Representatives, where he represents portions of Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. He serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Oversight Committee for the Alabama Homeland Security Agency and cochairman of the Jefferson County Delegation. Since his election, he has sponsored bills in the areas of ethics, constitutional reform and public safety.

DeMarco sponsored one of the seven ethics bills passed during the historic and phone number! special session on ethics reform. please initial and fax back within 24 hours. DeMarco graduated if we havecum not laude heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper from Auburn University with a bachMonday. elorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in journalism in 1990. Oct. 17th for - Nov. 3rd prompt attention. Thank you your He received a law degree from the University of Alabama in 1993. While a law student, he served as editor-inchief of the Alabama Law Review. â?&#x2013;

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Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, left, accepts the Statesman Award for the House of Representatives from Neal Morrison, commissioner of the state Department of Senior Services.

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14 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u vestavia hills

City Has New Economic Development Strategy By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor

The Vestavia Hills City Council recently made two moves to strengthen its economic development efforts after letting its former economic development director go in late September. The City Council agreed to allow the mayor and city manager to execute a contract with Retail Strategies for economic development consulting. The council also voted to allow the mayor and city manager to enter into an agreement with the city’s Chamber of Commerce for economic development services. The moves solidify the shift in philosophy regarding economic development that led the city to part ways with its former economic development director Fred Baughman last month. Baughman was hired in September 2012 and was

the new approach. on a one-year probationary period “Jeff is really a collaborator,’’ he to help former City Manager Randy said. “He’s pulling folks in from the Robertson with economic developchamber and the council and the city ment. staff to really take a look at this and However, Robertson left the city for us to all work together, which has in March, and the city hired Jeff worked well for him in Montgomery, Downes, former Montgomery deputy and hopefully it will work well for mayor, as its new city manager in us here.” June. The city’s proposed contract Downes’ philosophy was different with Retail Strategies calls for the than Robertson’s and Baughman’s. company to help recruit new retail, Downes said he prefers a team Jeff Downes restaurant, entertainment and hospiapproach to economic developtality concepts to the U.S. 31 corridor, Rocky ment, an approach he cultivated when he was in Ridge Road near Morgan Drive, Cahaba Heights, Montgomery. Liberty Park and Patchwork Farms. Downes said he wants to include the city’s The consulting firm’s contract with the city is chamber of commerce in economic development for three years at $40,000 per year. recruiting along with an economic development The city’s contract with the chamber of comconsultant. Council President Steve Ammons said he likes merce is for $30,000.

u homewood

The chamber will serve as “marketing lead for the City’s economic development plan and coordinator of brand development for the City,” according to a city document. The chamber’s duties also include developing activities to enhance business in targeted corridors. “Retail Strategies is going to be the arm that goes out and works with different retailers and brings them in from the outside,” Ammons said. “The chamber is going to be the marketing arm, and we’re going to be working with an advertising firm seeing how we can promote the city best.” City officials said the change in approach shouldn’t reflect negatively on Baughman. “Fred did a very good job,” said Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza. “Jeff’s philosophy is just different than what we had with Randy, and we just decided to move in a different direction.” ❖

u Hoover

Council Approves New Budget, City Paves Way for New Stand-Alone Emergency Room III Nixes Edgewood Park, Garden B W C. S y

By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor

The Homewood City Council recently unanimously approved a 2013-2014 fiscal year budget that includes a 2.5 percent cost of living raise for full- and part-time employees, longevity pay and/or annual bonuses and absorbs increases in health insurance normally passed on to city employees. The budget totals about $40 million. The 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise amounts to about a $560,000 expense to the city. The city will also absorb a state mandated 5 percent increase in health insurance premiums to the tune of $112,000 over 12 months. The budget also includes longevity pay for city employees with six years or more service with Homewood.

Edgewood residents gathered about 450 signatures on a petition to get the city to purchase the property for a neighborhood park. Longevity pay was not included in the budget Mayor Scott McBrayer presented to the 11-member city council. However, McBrayer asked the council to find a way to include it in the budget if possible. Employees who don’t receive longevity pay will receive a bonus of at least $125. The budget also includes a new position for a public service director. That director will oversee both the parks and recreation department and streets and sanitation department.

illiam

ingleton

Journal contributor

That will save the city about $89,000 in the first year, the mayor said. The new position must be approved by the Jefferson County Personnel Board. McBrayer said current Parks and Recreation Director Berkley Squires is slated for the position. The mayor said he was pleased with the budget and the council’s input and recommendations. “The council worked hard, and I’m proud of them,” he said. “We’ve got a great team, and we have a budget we can be proud of.” In other city news, the Homewood City Council recently voted down efforts to build a park and community garden in the city’s Edgewood community. Edgewood residents have been trying to get a park and community garden on vacant property between Broadway and Carr Avenues. They said not only would the property remove a potential eyesore, but it would provide a place for green space, community gardens and recreational space. The Edgewood residents gathered about 450 signatures on a petition to get the city to purchase the property for a neighborhood park. However, the council voted 7-4 against the idea and its price tag of about $220,000 to purchase the property and develop the land. The city of Homewood is currently investing $16.2 million to build a new parks and recreation center. The new center will replace the older, smaller facility and allow the parks and recreation department to expand its programs and offerings to the community. The new center is slated to open in the spring of 2014. ❖

The city of Hoover has paved the way for a stand-alone emergency room near Interstate 459. The City Council recently agreed to spend $875,000 for 2.4 acres of property near Interstate 459 and John Hawkins Parkway across from The Grove shopping center that could be used for a new emergency room facility. Medical West, an affiliate of UAB Health Systems, wants to build the state’s first free-standing emergency room across from the shopping center. The facility would measure about 18,350 square feet and have two trauma rooms and about 10 rooms for patients. The stand-alone emergency room would serve between 40 and 50 patients daily and about 15,000 annually, said Keith Pennington, Medical West chief executive officer. The city is purchasing the property from Hoover Investment Partners, which has plans for a retail development on additional land it owns in the area. Hoover council members said the investment is well worth the city’s

attention because an emergency room is a need for the community. With the heavy traffic in Hoover, an emergency room close to the I-459 intersection would be easily accessible, Councilman Jack Wright said. In other road-related news out of Hoover, city officials said they plan to add another left turn lane at Alabama 150 and Interstate 459 and upgrade traffic lights at major roads in the city. The additional turn lane will come at the expense of developers of The Grove shopping center. The city had agreed to rebate 50 percent of sales tax revenue for six years to The Grove’s developers. That money was to be used for road improvements near the shopping center. But The Grove developers never finished road improvements, city officials said. “It’s rebate money that has been held in escrow that the developer was entitled to if he built the roads,” Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said. “He hasn’t built them, so we’re going to build them using the escrow.” About $2.8 million is in that escrow account, Ivey said. The Alabama Department of Transportation is in charge of improv-

ing the roads, although Hoover will fund the project. The project includes adding another left turn lane on Alabama 150, also called John Hawkins Parkway, and widening the entrance ramp onto I-459 North. When the project is finished, Alabama 150 will have two left turn lanes funneling traffic onto the interstate. The Grove sits off Alabama 150. The project is expected to cost about $4 million. Ivey said the city expects additional rebate funds to make up the difference. Tim Westhoven, assistant executive director for Hoover, said groundbreaking should begin the first of the year. No completion date has been set, he added. The city also plans to upgrade 62 traffic lights on U.S. 31, Alabama 150 and Lorna Road. “The signal lights are obsolete, and parts are hard to get for them,” the mayor said. The design work for the signals is expected to cost $62,500, Ivey said. The city will pay $12,500 with federal funds paying for the rest. City officials say the total cost to install the lights is about $750,000. ❖

u Mountain Brook

Mountain Brook Has New Wi-Fi Spots The city of Mountain Brook has started implementing its citywide Wi-Fi initiative with service now available in two outdoor areas. In July, the city activated its first public Wi-Fi service in Overton Park and this month extended that service to outdoor areas in Crestline Village, the Tot Lot, the Crestline Elementary School playground and the playing field adjacent to the school. The city has plans to expand the Wi-Fi service to English Village, Mountain Brook Village, Overton Village and Cahaba River Park, according to a release

from the city. The one-time installation costs and equipment for the Crestline Village service was $2,300, city officials said. The city estimates it will cost about $1,200 a year to provide the Internet connection, firewall and content filtering service to the Crestline Village outdoor areas. Over the last six months, City Councilman Jesse Vogtle worked with a committee including Bill Whitaker and members of the Mountain Brook Board of Education, police department and public works department to develop the city’s Wi-Fi plan. ❖

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 15

news

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

already approved the first phase of projects the library plans to fund, Tucker said. The library plans to purchase hardware and software that will allow patrons to print wirelessly from their electronic devices, according to a city memorandum of the purchase items. It also plans to purchase more laptop computers, upgrade its wireless network and its children’s media room’s audio and video systems, as well as install more security cameras and equipment, officials said. “This will enable us to complete projects we put on the backburner,” Tucker said.

u Vestavia Hills

Grant To Fund Library Upgrade By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor

The Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest will be getting a technology upgrade and improvements to its sidewalks. The Vestavia Hills City Council recently authorized the city manager to purchase $121,000 in technology for the library and to build handi-

capped accessible sidewalks and a cut-through opening at the bottom of an outdoor retaining wall. The library received a $300,000 grant from the Public School and College Authority for technology upgrades and capital improvements. The Vestavia Hills Library Foundation, the library’s private fundraising group, applied for the grant in 2008. However, library officials weren’t notified until last year when

someone at the PSCA was clearing out the organization’s books, noticed Vestavia Hills had not claimed its grant money and contacted officials to determine if they were going to use the money. “We were surprised,” said Taneisha Tucker, library director. The PSCA and the Alabama Building Commission must approve library projects to be funded by the grant money. Both entities have

“Security is of utmost importance because we want to make sure our buildings are secure. These items we’ve needed but waited to get because we didn’t have the money in our initial technology budget.” Because the purchases involve the ABC and PSCA, Tucker said she didn’t have a timetable as to when the library will receive the equipment, when it will be installed and when construction will begin on improving sidewalks and building a walkthrough. Library officials will meet to determine how to use the remaining grant money, Tucker said. ❖

u Mountain Brook

Old Leeds Road Work to be Completed by Oct. 17 A portion of Old Leeds Road in Mountain Brook should reopen to through traffic on Oct. 17. Old Leeds Road was closed between Beechwood Road and Old Leeds Lane on Oct. 14, according to a release from city officials. The roadway was closed to allow crews to complete sewer work over the bridge at Shades Creek. The sewer work is part of the city’s Phase 6 sidewalk project, which is included in Mountain Brook’s Village Walkaway System. The master plan aims to link the

Mountain Brook is completing and making plans for each phase of the master plan as it receives funding, according to city officials. city’s neighborhoods to villages, schools, shops and parks. Mountain Brook is completing and making plans for each phase of the master plan as it receives funding, according to city officials. Outside of the master plan, Mountain Brook also has plans to link its sidewalks to sidewalks in Homewood through a project to link Jemison Trail to the Lakeshore Greenway on Lakeshore Drive and Mountain Brook Village to the Hollywood neighborhood on Hollywood Boulevard. ❖

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16 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

life

By Ginny Cooper

Journal intern

arry Perkins may be a nurse during the day, but at night his life takes a very different turn. The Hoover resident, who is also known as “Monster Maker,” transforms people into monsters for Atrox Factory, a 50,000-square-foot indoor haunted attraction in Leeds that has been scaring guests for a good cause since 2002. Perkins grew up in the Moody area and graduated from Moody High School in 2003. His interest in makeup, however, started much earlier. “When I was a kid I saw something on ‘Reading Rainbow’ with LeVar Burton. They were doing the musical ‘Cats’ and Terrence Mann, the guy who played Rum Tum Tugger, went on this big spiel about the show and then they did a time-lapse of him doing his makeup that really blew me away.” Perkins credits this early exposure to the art of makeup--he estimates that he was about 5 years old when he saw the episode--with igniting his current passion. “It got me interested because I was like, so you can do more with this stuff than what my sister is doing in the morning. Okay. I get that.” Perkins began as one of Atrox Factory’s few paid actors--most of the monsters are volunteers--in 2004 after he completed the online application on a whim. He started working in the makeup room when it was unexpectedly short-staffed one night. The stage supervisor at the time knew that Perkins had an interest in makeup and asked him to help out. Two years later, he became the head makeup artist and has been pursuing his passion ever since. Makeup is not Perkins’ only area of expertise. The monster-creator is a registered nurse. A graduate of Wallace State Community College, Perkins spends his weekdays working in the geriatric clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham medical center, which specializes in helping older adults deal with heart failure and improve their quality of life through symptom control. “I wish this (makeup) was my career, but I’m a nurse by trade. I enjoy taking care of my patients. I like being a nurse, but makeup is my passion. It’s cool being creative, and I have a great appreciation for the arts,” he said. The work Perkins does at Atrox Factory is a combination of makeup and art. Classic characters such as Frankenstein or Dracula inspire some of the monsters, but most are original creations. Chunky Money, a chubby bunny that feeds on the dead, is one of Perkins’ favorites. Atrox Factory also features a frightening fish and a red-eyed vampire with blood splattered across his jaw. Each character requires prosthetics, layers of stage makeup and intricate shading. Some wear colored contacts and masks as well, and all of the characters take a lot of time and practice to create, Perkins said. However, Atrox Factory is not just a house of horrors. It’s the only charity haunt in Alabama that donates 100 percent of its profits, Perkins said. Children’s Charity, Inc. is the charity under which the haunted house operates, but proceeds are also donated to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Shepherd’s Supply, Special Olympics and other nonprofits. The cast and crew do their part for charity, too, Perkins said. “We did a drive last year for jackets and blankets you aren’t using anymore, for the homeless. This shirt that I’m wearing is a breast cancer shirt for UAB. We helped the Women’s Center raise some money for breast cancer (awareness),” he said.

Barry Perkins blends the prosthetic pieces into the actor’s skin with thin washes of color and uses an airbrush technique to add shadows and contours into his face. Below: An actor gets into character as he waits for his turn in the makeup chair. Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Atrox Factory is not just a house of horrors. It’s the only charity haunt in Alabama that donates 100 percent of its profits, according to Perkins. Children’s Charity, Inc. is the charity under which the haunted house operates, but proceeds are also donated to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Shepherd’s Supply, Special Olympics and other nonprofits. Atrox Factory

The Man Behind the

Mask Atrox Factory’s Perkins Reveals the Makeup Behind the Monster Maker

The Atrox crew, made up primarily of volunteer workers and a few paid actors, is extremely closeknit, Perkins said, describing them as a “second family” to him. To get ready for the Halloween season, the crew spends nearly a month preparing the sets and running the haunt, which creates a real sense of community, Perkins said. “When it starts getting towards the end of the summer, everybody’s like, I’m ready for some Atrox. I’m ready for the Atrox family,” he said. The dedicated volunteers who make Atrox Factory possible are not usually in it just for one night or a single season, Perkins said. “Once they’re here, they’re staying,” he said. Though he never attended formal classes for theatrical makeup, Perkins gathered a lot of expertise in the decade he has worked for Atrox Factory, he said. He has also spent many hours perfecting his technique at home, long before landing his position at the haunted house. Perkins said he particularly remembers one botched attempt at recreating the

makeup of Freddy Krueger from the horror classic “Nightmare on Elm Street” that went “horribly wrong.” To help Over the Mountain Journal readers look perfectly frightening this Halloween, Perkins offered a few tips for home makeup that he learned through trial and error over the years. He suggests layering color to add dimension. “The key to making it look more realistic is doing washes of color. You don’t just want to slap it on the face,” he said. For those who don’t have the movie-quality makeup Atrox uses readily available, Perkins has a very simple substitute. He suggests getting the same effect with diluted paints from arts and crafts stores. “It may not last as long, but it’s totally safe and great for Halloween night,” he said. Perkins creates the monsters that make Atrox Factory terrifying, but in the end the haunt is about something much bigger than just fun and screams, he said. “After the season, after everything is done, the best result is going to be the kids you’ve helped,” Perkins said. ❖

Oct. 17-Nov. 2 Leeds

Atrox Factory is open Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 p.m.-midnight and Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-10 p.m. The haunted house, located at 8404 Parkway Drive in Leeds, is not suggested for children younger than 12. The haunt also features guest celebrities. Actor Daniel Yeager from “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” will be at Atrox Factory from 6:30 p.m. until midnight on Oct. 18 and 19. Actor William Forsythe of “Devil’s Rejects” will make an appearance from 6:30 p.m. until midnight on Oct. 25 and 26. Ses Carney of “Freakshow Madness” will be at Atrox Factory from 6:30 p.m. until midnight on Nov. 1 and 2. Admission is $18 through Oct. 27, plus a $5 cover charge at the gate on the dates of celebrity appearances. Admission is $20 on Oct. 30 and 31. Expect long lines on Halloween night at Atrox, which has an indoor waiting area. For more information, go to www.atroxfactory.com.

halloween happenings here’s no reason to be afraid about not having plans this Halloween. We’ve gathered a list of some of the happenings in the Birmingham metro area to help with your Halloween planning.

Birmingham

Boo at the Zoo Oct. 17-31 Birmingham Zoo The Birmingham Zoo is inviting guests to wear their favorite familyfriendly costumes and watch as the zoo transforms into a destination of spook attractions, trick-or-treating, themed rides and games for 15 nights at the Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. Guests can see their favorite Marvel characters for a special meet and greet, autography signing and personal photo opportunity. The event will also feature the Creepy Carnival Tent with a candy village and more. Animal exhibits will be closed during the event and will close each day at 4 p.m. The Junior League of Alabama Children’s Zoo Barn will remain open in the evening for up-close and personal animal encounters. Tickets are $8 for non-members and $6 for members. Some attractions require ride tickets, which cost $3.50 each. An unlimited attraction wristband costs $12. For more information, visit www. birminghamzoo.com. Birmingham

Oak Hill Cemetery Grand Tour Oct. 17-27, noon-4 p.m. Oak Hill Cemetery Guided tours at Oak Hill Cemetery will be offered through Oct. 27. The tours include a look at the resting places of Birmingham’s most famous, infamous and ordinary early pioneers. Tickets are $10; children 5 and younger get in free. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit www. oakhillbirmingham.com. Vestavia Hills

Preschool Party/Costume Ball Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Dress in your favorite costume and come to the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest for the annual Fairy Costume Ball. There will be dancing, games and fairy frivolity. Fairy princesses and super heroes are equally welcome. The event

is for ages 5 and younger. Admission is free. Call 978-0158 or visit www. vestavialibrary.org to register. Homewood

American Girl Costume Party Oct. 17, 6:15-7:15 p.m. Homewood Public Library Bring your favorite American Girl doll to the Homewood Public Library for Halloween fun and treats. Costumes are optional. The event is for ages 5-12. Admission is free, but registration is required. For more information, visit www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org.

Monday-Thursday from 4-7 p.m., Friday from 1-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday. The church’s pumpkin patch is at 2901 Columbiana Road. For more information, visit www.saintmarkumc.org or call 822-5980. Harpersville

Old Baker Farm Harvest Tours Oct. 17-31 Old Baker Farm Old Baker Farm Harvest Tours return through Oct. 31. Those visiting the farm in Harpersville can take a hayride through Dead Hollow Swamp, pick pumpkins and cotton and explore the corn and hay maze. Visitors also can pet the farm animals and visit the barn, which was built in 1919. The cost is $10 per person and includes a pumpkin and all events except for arts and crafts activities, horseback rides and food. Old Baker Farm is at 1041 Farmingdale Road. For more information, visit www. oldbakerfarm.com or call 672-7209. Hoover

Bippity Bobbity BOO! Oct. 18, 7-9 p.m. Hoover Public Library The Hoover Public Campbell Crowe learns superhero skills Library will present an from Captain American at the annual Boo at the Zoo. Photo special to the Journal evening of Halloween fun from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 18. Bippity Bobbity Hoover BOO! will feature everything from a Glue Gun Gang: Halloween Wreath haunted mansion and princess’s castle Oct. 17, 2:30-4:30 p.m. to Caribbean pirates. Costumes are Hoover Public Library encouraged. All ages are welcome. Crafters are invited to the Hoover Admission is free. For more information, Public Library on Oct. 17 to create visit www.hooverlibrary.org or call 444a Halloween wreath. The library will 7830. supply everything you need to make a spooky decoration using old books Birmingham and yarn. The event is for adults only. Shoot the Moon Admission is free, but reservations Oct. 18, 6-9 p.m. are required. To make reservations Oak Hill Cemetery or for more information, visit www. Head out to Oak Hill Cemetery Oct. hooverlibrary.org” www.hooverlibrary. 18 from 6-9 p.m. to get the best view of org. the annual harvest moonrise from the Vestavia Hills

Pumpkins for Missions Oct. 17-30 Saint Mark United Methodist Church Saint Mark United Methodist Church is hosting its annual Pumpkins for Missions fundraiser through Oct. 30. All proceeds benefit the Mexico Mission Team’s efforts to build houses and teach Bible study in Rio Bravo, Mexico. Pumpkins are available for purchase

eastern slopes of the cemetery. Picnic items, photographic equipment, musical instruments and well-behaved pets are welcome. The event is for all ages. Admission is free. Moonrise is at 6:09 p.m., so photographers should arrive earlier to choose the best location. The cemetery is at 1120 North 19th St., Birmingham. Parking is available on 18th Street. For more information, visit oakhillcemetery.ticketleap.com.

The Perfect Gift. Make it personal... a custom portrait or painting by Judy Butler Jack Allen chose just the right sized pumpkin from the Pumpkins for Missions pumpkin patch at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

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Hand drawn and/or painted from photographs in your choice of media,charcoal, pencil, pastels, watercolor or oil/acrylic.

www.jbutlerart.com or call 205-907-0700 e-mail butlers101@aol.com

Homewood

Say Boo in Spanish! Oct. 19, 10:30-11 a.m. Homewood Public Library The Homewood Public Library will offer a program that celebrates the Halloween season and strengthens language learning. Say Boo in Spanish! will be presented at the library on Oct. 19 from 10:30-11 a.m. Kids will learn Spanish words while also enjoying a special Halloween story. Admission is free. For more information, call 332-6619 or visit www. homewoodpubliclibrary.org. Birmingham

Bart’s Spooktacular Party Oct. 19, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art Bart the Art Bat will celebrate his favorite holiday at his “spooktacular” party on Oct. 19 at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Kids can look for details in a scavenger hunt, channel their inner artist with arts and crafts activities, hear spooky tales during story time, create traditional Mexican sugar skulls in honor of the Day of the Dead or decorate pumpkins for the front step. All ages are welcome. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.artsbma.org or call 254-2565. North Shelby

Hilltop Hustle Oct. 20, 2-4 p.m. Hilltop Montessori School The Hilltop Hustle event will be held Oct. 20 from 2-4 p.m. at Hilltop Montessori School in North Shelby. The Halloween-themed fundraiser will include a 5K around Mt Laurel with

prizes for adults and older children and a treasure hunt with goodie bags (while supplies last) for younger children. There will also be a costume contest, face painting, animal balloons, a trackless train, henna and temporary tattoos, bubbles stations, an art corner and many other games and activities for children. Pizza, sweets, cotton candy, popcorn and other goodies will also be provided. Tickets are $20 for one adult and one child and $5 for each additional child with a maximum of $50 per family. Tickets include all activities and food. For more information, call 437-9343 or visit www.hilltopmontessori.com. Homewood

Halloween Monday Movie Oct. 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Homewood Public Library The Homewood Public Library’s biweekly Monday movie series will have a Halloween theme Oct. 21. The event is from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Hot popcorn will be provided. Admission is free. For more, visit www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org or call 332-6619. Hoover

Manga Club Halloween Party Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. Hoover Public Library The Hoover Public Library’s Manga Club will host a Halloween party at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. Make creepy candy sushi and perform karaoke while dressed as your favorite Manga character. Participate in a costume contest to win prizes. The event is for children in grades 7-12. Admission is free. For more information, visit www. hooverlibrary.org.

18 • Thursday, October 17, 2013 Homewood

Camp Fire Ghost Stories Oct. 24, 6:15-7:15 p.m. Homewood Public Library For a good scare and Halloween treats, visit the Homewood Public Library on Oct. 24 for Camp Fire Ghost Stories. Terrifying tales and tasty treats will be offered from 6:157:15 p.m. The event is suggested for ages 7-12, with those attending accompanied by a parent. Admission is free. For more information, visit www. homewoodpubliclibrary.org or call 3326619. Vestavia Hills

Spooky Tales on the Spooky Trail Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Join the library staff for a night of fearsome folktales from around the world at the second annual Spooky Tales on the Spooky Trail at Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Oct. 25. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. The trail will begin in the Community Room with tame tales geared to ages 5 and younger and continues in the Amphitheater with spookier and scarier stories. The night will culminate on a “spookified” trail for those brave enough to walk it. Admission is free. The event is open to all ages. For more information, visit www.vestavialibrary.org or call 978-0158.

Life karaoke. There will also be a midnight costume contest with more than $1,000 in cash and prizes and a photo booth with free pictures for guests. The event is open to ages 21 and older. Tickets are $20 at the door or $75 for an R.I.P. package. For more information, call 516-8445.

Photo special to the Journal

Hoover

Hayride and Family Night Oct. 25, 5-8 p.m. Veterans Park The city of Hoover will host its fifth annual Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature hayrides around the park. City officials invite children to come dressed in costumes. Kids can pick up candy and treats from a variety of businesses and organizations associated with the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce. All ages are welcome. Admission is free. For more information, call Erin Colbaugh at 444-7732.

Howl’oween Spooktacular at Avondale Brewery. There will be a full selection of Avondale’s locally brewed craft beer and live music by Todd & Greg. The Shindigs food truck will be on hand, with a portion of all food and drink sales donated to GBHSA. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside where pets are not allowed. Ticket prices include admission to the event and a free Avondale beer of your choice. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.gbhs.org.

Birmingham

Magic City Zombie Fest Oct. 25, 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre The Alabama Theatre will host its first Magic City Zombie Fest at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25. The night will begin at the historic theater with George A. Romero’s Halloween classic “Night of the Living Dead.” After the movie, guests will head to McWane Science Center’s plaza for a “spooktacular” party with music, food, drinks and a costume contest. Costumes are encouraged but not required. The event is open to ages 18 and older. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit alabamatheatre.org. Homewood

Mystery Dinner Theatre Oct. 25-26, 6:30 p.m. Homewood Public Library Patrons can get dinner and a show at South City Theatre’s production of “Angel Street” Oct. 25-26 at the Homewood Public Library. In the psychological murder mystery, a young woman and her new husband move back into a house with a dark past. A buffet starts at 6:30 p.m. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $25 for the buffet and show. To make a reservation, visit the Adult Services Desk at the Homewood Public Library or call 332-6625. For more information, visit www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org. Mountain Brook

Allie Pair dressed as a duck for last year’s Hoover Hayride and Family Night. She’s pictured here with her mother, Leslie Pair. This year’s event will be on Oct. 25 at Veterans Park.

Pumpkin Carving Contest Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oak Street Garden Shop Oak Street Garden Shop in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village will host the Make a Face Pumpkin Carving Contest from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Oct. 26. The contest is open to children ages 5-11 and awards will be given in four age groups. The event will include a space walk and Delmar Hill grilled corn. Entry forms can picked up at the garden shop at 115 Oak Street and must be returned by Oct. 21. Pumpkins for carving and painting will be sold at a discount and materials for painting and carving will be provided. For more information, call 870-7542.

Mountain Brook

Jace Chandler, Tony Truitt and Mike Walton are ready to reprise their roles as the Soggy Bottom Boys at this year’s BOO Halloween Party benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Alabama. Photo special to the Journal

Birmingham

The Rocky Horror Masquerade Ball Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m. Alabama Theatre Head out to the Alabama Theatre Oct. 26 for a play that encourages audience interaction. The Rocky Horror Masquerade Ball begins at 5:30 p.m. with DJ Stevo spinning the Ghoulish Groove and with registration for the costume contest. The costume contest begins at 8 p.m. The feature will begin immediately after that. Don’t forget to bring toilet paper, playing cards, newspapers, noisemakers, party hats, rubber gloves, toast, small bags of rice, a flashlight and bells. Tickets are $19 in advance and $23 at the door. For more information, visit alabamatheatre.com or call 252-2262. McCalla

Tannehill Halloween Fairyland Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tannehill State Park Explore Tannehill State Park’s Halloween Fairyland for a day full of non-scary family fun from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Oct. 26. The 22nd annual event will feature moonwalks, face painting, balloon animals, a bungee jump, train rides and more. In the evening, the park will have trick-or-treat stops at more than 200 campsites, which all feature creative Halloween lights and decorations. The event is open to all ages. Park admission is $3 for ages 12 and older, $2 for ages 62 and older

Birmingham

BOO Halloween Party Oct. 25, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. B & A Warehouse B&A Warehouse will be the site for the 2013 BOO Halloween party benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Alabama. Dance to a DJ working the Disco Hell Clown Circus Wine Cellar room or make your own music in the “scary”-oke chamber of

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

and $1 for ages 6-11. Admission is free for children 5 and younger. For more information, visit www.tannehill.org or call 477-5711. Birmingham

Puppaween Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m. Dog Days of Birmingham Dogs of all breeds, kids and adults are all invited to Bama Bully Rescue’s Halloween-themed carnival in honor of National Pit Bull Awareness Day on Oct. 27. The event runs from 1-4 p.m. at Dog Days of Birmingham, 112 18th St. North, Birmingham. Costumes are encouraged for everyone. Entertainment will include a caricature artist, dunk tank, beanbag toss, bobbing for dog toys, raffles, snow cones, a bone mountain and more. Dozens of booths with information, sales and giveaways from rescue organizations, pet-related companies and local businesses will also be present. The event is open to all ages. Admission is free. Activity tickets are $1. For more information, call 5682660 or visit the Puppaween: Hosted by Bama Bully Rescue & Dog Days event page on Facebook. Vestavia Hills

Vestavia Hills Pumpkin Patch Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m. Alston Meadow The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will present the third annual Vestavia Hills Pumpkin Patch from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 27 in Alston Meadow on Alston Park Drive in Liberty Park. The event will include free activities such as a water balloon toss, potato sack race, cake walk and costume relay. There will also be live music. Tickets for other activities such as face painting, pumpkin carving and inflatables will cost $1 each. The Vestavia Hills Pumpkin Patch is a Halloween Safe Zone, and everyone is invited to wear family-friendly costumes. Proceeds will benefit the Vestavia Hills YMCA’s annual Campaign for a Healthy Community. For more information, visit www.vestaviahills.org. Birmingham

Organizers are breaking out their costumes in preparation for this year’s Howl’oween Spooktacular hosted by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. From left: Eleanor Parker, Sara Ann Polhemus, Jennifer Aiden, Missy Ellis and Donna O’Brien. Photo special to the Journal

Howl’oween Spooktacular Oct. 29, 6-10 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company Pets are invited to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society Auxiliary’s

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade Oct. 31, 4 p.m. Crestline Village The annual Mystics of Mountain Brook Parade, where Mardi Gras meets Halloween, will start at 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 in Crestline Village. Parade participants will throw Mystics of Mountain Brook T-shirts, beads, stuffed animals and footballs to the crowd. The parade will feature more than 23 floats, Mountain Brook High School cheerleaders, a roller derby and Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden in his antique fire truck. The parade route begins beside Emmet O’Neal Library and ends on Vine Street. For more information, visit www. welcometomountainbrook.com. Birmingham

BSC Halloween Organ Spooktacular Oct. 31, 9-10 p.m. Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham-Southern College will host the annual Halloween Organ Spooktacular from 9-10 p.m. on Oct. 31. The annual Halloween tradition of singalong pumpkin carols and “organists behaving badly” is at Hill Recital Hall, 900 Arkadelphia Road. For more information, visit www.bsc.edu or call 226-4968. Birmingham

Alabama Ballet’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Nov. 1–3 Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre To celebrate Halloween, the Alabama Ballet will present the horror classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” choreographed by Roger Van Fleteren with an original score by Thomas Helms, Nov. 1-3. Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the story explores the duality of good and evil in human nature. All tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.alabamaballet.org or call 975-2787. North Shelby

Cash for Candy Nov. 4 Indian Springs Village Dr. Lisa Wilson, a dentist in Indian Springs Village, is redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is” this Halloween season. For the fifth year, Wilson will give trick-or-treaters $1 for every pound of candy they bring to the office. The anti-cavity program on Nov. 4 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. will also include giveaways of money, light-up toothbrushes and other prizes. All candy must be unopened. Wilson’s office is at 5470 Caldwell Mill Road near Oak Mountain High School. For more information, email info@drlisawilson. com or call 995-8084.❖

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ker

November 2 3, 2013

nature. eco ideas. art + design Generous Sponsors: LAKE - Birmingham Magazine, H Life - Hoover’s Magazine, Joe Piper Inc., Shelby Living RIVER - Alabama Baby & Child Magazine, Alabama Environmental Council, Birmingham Coca Cola Bottling Company, B-Metro, Hoover Toyota, Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln, CityVision-The Visitor’s Channel, MyGreenBirmingham.com, NatureScape Inc., Saiia Construction Company, Public Radio WBHM 90.3 fm, Weld for Birmingham VILLAGE GREEN - Alabama Geocachers Association, eco three, Huckstraps, McWane Science Center, Sentry Heating Air Conditioning Plumbing & Generators, Royal Cup, Stewart Perry, The Hoover Sun, The Scout Guide Birmingham, Vertical Solutions Media, We’re Green Clean.

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Tzena Gauldin, David and Robin Sparks Davis, Cissy and Steve Jackson, Laura Clark, Jean Cecil and Dr. William R. Foster.

Wild Times

ZooGala Glams Up with ‘Old Hollywood’ Theme

he Birmingham Zoo was roaring with old Hollywood glamour for the 2013 edition of ZooGala. The zoo hosted its largest fundraising event of the year on Sept. 21 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. The event was sponsored by IberiaBank. All funds raised at ZooGala directly benefit the Birmingham Zoo’s operational efforts and help the zoo continue its mission of “inspiring passion for the natural world.” Chairmen of this year’s event were Tzena Gauldin and Laura Clark. To kick off the evening, guests were greeted by Hollywood feather dancers and zoo animals such as a fennec fox, an American alligator, an African serval, a great horned owl and a barn owl. ZooGala also featured a jewelry showcase from Empire Diamonds. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., guests at the black tie-optional affair mingled in the ballroom beneath canopy tents and old Hollywood-themed décor before a seated dinner by Iz Catering at 8 p.m. The menu consisted of a melon soup shooter, mixed green salad, beef tenderloin medallions, Yukon Gold potatoes, a kale and corn gratin and a dessert theater featuring selections like strawberry shortcake, key lime pie, chocolate mousse and lemon bars. After dinner, guests danced to music by The American Flyers Show Band. Those at the event got an up-close animal encounter by having their photos made with Sarabi, a serval cat. Those attending included Jesse Vogtle, Wally Nall III, Jean Cecil and Dr. William R. Foster. Others spotted at the glamorous fundraiser were Katrina Cade, Phyllis Lyons, Paul and Jacqueline DeMarco, Valerie Abbott, Martha Epsy and Jonathan Austin. Also coming out to support the zoo were Ed and Bea Robinson, Kaylea and Hunter Hill and Phil and Karen Carroll. Other guests at ZooGala 2013 were David Davis, Robin Sparks Davis, Cissy Jackson and Steve Jackson. ❖

Jesse Vogtle, Tzena Gauldin, Wally Nall III, Jean Cecil and Dr. William R. Foster.

Chairmen of ZooGala Laura Clark, and Tzena Gauldin, from left with Dr. William R. Foster, president and CEO of The Birmingham Zoo, and Sarabi, the serval. Photos special to the Journal

Phil and Karen Carroll, Dr. William R. Foster and Kaylea and Hunter Hill.

Paul and Jacqueline DeMarco, Valerie Abbott, Jonathan Austin and Martha Epsy.

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Fall Colors

For over 90 years, Levy’s has been Birmingham's Specialist in Antique and Estate Jewelry as well as Fine Diamonds, Art and Antiques.

From left: Kathleen Bowers of Vestavia Hills and Ashley Heldger and Brittany Tedford, both of Homewood. Photos special to the Journal

Wine from Around the World Western’s Annual Festival Has Global Flavor

Lori Sours of Mountain Brook at her “Salsa Señorita” booth.

2116 2nd Avenue North • (205) 251-3381

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Darwin Metcalf, president and COO of Western Supermarkets, with Sue DeBrecht, director of the Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook.

Food lovers and wine enthusiasts gathered recently to support an annual fundraiser for the Emmet O’Neal Library. The 2013 Western Wine and Food Festival was held Sept. 27 at the Birmingham Zoo. More than 700 guests from around the Southeast enjoyed tasting more than 500 wines delivered to the event from as far away as Australia, California, Italy and the south of France. The best of Alabama was also available from family-owned vineyard Morgan Creek Winery in Harpersville. Winemakers from around the world were on hand to answer questions and offer advice concerning the origin of their wines, including how to consider the weight—or body or richness—of both the food and the wine. Tasters got tips on pairing wine with food. Culinary delights made in Alabama and complementing the wines on hand included Bryant’s Seafood Famous Hushpuppies, Sweet Melissa’s Sauce, Millie Ray’s Rolls and Southern Fried Pies. Representatives from the Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute also dished up Zeigler’s Plantation Sausage with

rice, providing the secrets behind many classic wine-and-food matches. Palm fronds, orchids, Birds of Paradise, pittosporum and bromeliads were arranged in glass cubes by Western’s Floral Department. All proceeds from the event, totaling more than $20,000, will benefit the Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook. Those attending included Kay

Reed, Janet Kingsley, Ellen Doherty, Larry Patterson, Aaron Horton, Kathleen Bowers, Ashley Heldger, Brittany Tedford, Darwin Metcalf, Sue DeBrecht, Teresa Pulliam, Max Pulliam, Joseph Gomez, Tara Johns, Michael Johns, Lori Sours, Beth Thomas, Randy Thomas, Millie Ray, William Hamilton, Wendy Daley and Maygan Hamilton. ❖

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This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JO Occt. 17, 2013 issue. Please fax approval or changes

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Festive Fry-down

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Cahaba River Society Marks 25th Anniversary

Children play and participate in educational activities in the Cahaba River during the fourth annual Cahaba River Fry-Down. Top right, Angus Black with his catch. Photos special to the Journal

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1829 29th Ave. So. • Homewood • 870-8110

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A September event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Cahaba River Society and raised money to help the organization’s efforts to preserve the river. More than 1,000 people turned out for the anniversary celebration and fourth annual Cahaba River FryDown, presented by Amerex. The event included a day on the river full of fun, water-smart learning activities for the whole family. Children and their parents filled the Cahaba, exploring the relationship between water quality, habitat, drinking water and the health of aquatic life, humans and wildlife. During the fry-down event, 11 fry teams vied for seven awards. A panel of judges, headed up by George Sarris of the Fish Market on Southside, chose the winners. Other judges were Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight; Mark Kelly, publisher of Weld for Birmingham; Alec Harvey, a Birmingham journalist; L.K. Whitney, project manager for REV Birmingham, and Beth Kitchin, assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Nutritional Sciences. A Crowd Favorite award was also presented based on the votes of festival-goers who got to sample the teams’ culinary creations. The overall winning team was Jason Wallis and his friends of Team Knife Party. The event also included a cooking demonstration by Sarris, a Beer Garden featuring a wide selection of beers from Cahaba Brewing Company, Beer Engineers, Avondale Brewing Company and Good People, and music by the Cahaba River Rats and Festival Expressions. An outdoor game area sponsored by the CRS Tributary Board included horseshoes, bocce ball and disc putting competitions. A popular attraction at the event was the rock climbing wall provided by Idlewild Adventure Company. The Birmingham Canoe Club was on hand to offer kayaking and flat water stand-up paddle board instructions. Children attending the event participated in a rubber duck race. Rick Journey, a veteran Alabama journalist, was the event’s emcee. CRS board members attending included Richard Pigford, James Barton, Dan Monroe, Bob Shepard, Lea Ann Macknally, Michael Fleenor, John English,

The board and staff of the Cahaba River Society celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary at the Cahaba River Fry-Down. From left: John English, Betsy Dobbins, Beth Stewart, Troy Wallwork, Michelle Blackwood and Bob Shepard.

The judges get ready to choose the winners of the Cahaba River Fry-Down. Front, from left: LK Whitney, George Sarris and Beth Kitchin. Back: Mark Kelly, Alec Harvey and Joe Knight.

Tom Spencer, Betsy Dobbins, Troy Wallwork, Michelle Blackwood, Chris Williams, Frazier Christy, Angela Pewitt, Elizabeth Turnipseed, Robert Angus and Matt Leavell. Members of the CRS Tributary Board at the event included Alan Mathis, Johnathan Effinger, Courtney Kelly, Alison Pierce and Oliver Preus. Other fry teams competing were from Amerex, Bresco, Vulcan Materials Company, Walter Schoel Engineering Company, Cayenne Creative, Hatch Mott Macdonald, Living River, Maynard Cooper and Gale, Revenue Discovery Systems and Dyas Human Resources. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Wine and Cheese Social Charades Gather for Autumn Meeting

The Charades Dance Club welcomed the arrival of autumn with a fall wine and cheese party on Sept. 17. The event was held at the home of Carolyn Featheringill. Carolyn LaGroue, party chairman, and committee members Katie Dunn, Dorothy Hodges, Dale Holditch, Leigh Hood, Jan Hughey, Mary Ann Jones and Ann Lamkin provided a variety of dishes. The menu included party sandwiches, cheese straws, hot cheese dip, a cold chicken spread, fruit, pound cake and an assortment of candies. An antique urn with fresh gold mums was the dining table’s centerpiece. Among members socializing at the party were Enid Dean, Lynn Smith, Rita Spencer, Caroline Clayton, Carole Ann Moorer, Margaret Balch, Helen Robin, Susan Bowman and Susan Strickland. Also attending were Becky Rollins, Martha Cobb, Cindy Bibb, Camille Butrus, Lana Thompson, Ellen Cunningham, Judy Daniel, Annie Green, Betsy Dumas and Pam Morad. Admiring the fine art throughout the Featheringill home were Laurie Haworth, Kathleen Watkins, Mary Putman, Karen Sanders, Carol Corvin, Lyndra Daniel, Barclay Darden, Anne Finch, Sallie Aman, Susan Pitts, Karen Watkins, Emily Scarbrough, Milner Phillips, Toni Hartley, Janie Trammell and Becky Powell. Mingling after a short meeting conducted by Diane Weatherford, Charades president, were Barbara

From left: Mary Ann Jones, Jan Hughey, Katie Dunn, Anne Lamkin, Dale Holditch and Carolyn LaGroue. Photos special to the Journal

Diane Weatherford, Sallie Aman, Carolyn Featheringill and Anne Terrell.

Chapman, Carolyn Hill, Sara Lynn DeFuniak, Marsha Terrell, Nell Henderson, Anne Dawson, Carolyn Satterfield, Jeannie Bradford, Katy Sexton, Claire Goodhew and Nancy Stetler. New members attending the party were Loretta Hood, Anne Carey, Judy Carns and Patsy Burns. ❖

THURSDAY oct 17

thru THURSDAY oct 31

FALL A Psychological Thriller from local author Kristina StreetmanDiGiovanni

House Plans

Alpha Chis Gather for Groundbreaking Ceremony

Several Alpha Chi Omega alumni from the Over the Mountain area attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the sorority’s new house at the University of Alabama. The Alpha Chi Omega sorority house, built in 1958 on the UA campus, was razed by workers over the summer. Construction on a new, larger house for the sorority at the same site on Colonial Drive is expected to

From left: Jewel Patterson, Jean Williford Haygood, Halcyann Jones Badham and Dena Fortenberry Bowden. Photo special to the Journal

be complete by fall 2014. The University of Alabama plans to expand or relocate all the houses on Sorority Row. Attending the groundbreaking ceremony across the street from the site and a reception at the sorority’s temporary house on Magnolia Drive were Alpha Chi Omega alumni Jean Williford Haygood, Halcyann Jones Badham and Dena Fortenberry Bowden, all of Birmingham. ❖

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24 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

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From left: Zack and Diana Blackwell, Daniel Boone and Susan Shields. Photos special to the Journal

FINE PHOTOGRAPHS Opening Reception

24 OCTOBER, 6 - 8PM

Not all Rehabs

870-3589 are alike. Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Bayshore Retreat FAX: 205-824-1246 is Different Oct.

Reading Rally

Literacy Council Party Kicks Off Football Season

The Junior Board of the Literacy Council recently hosted its third annual Rally for Reading. A kickoff to the college football season, the event raised funds to support the Literacy Council’s Small.from the over the mountain Journal for This is your ad proof thebasic literacy and ESOL programs in Central adult oct. 17, 2013 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.Alabama. Private. Held at B&A Warehouse, the event featured food, Personal. drink and a silent auction. please make sure all information is correct, Junior Board member and auctioneer Blake Ells Our home-like environment means true individualized treatment. including address and phone number! added excitement with a live auction for Alabama and with alcohol and drug addiction. It just makes sense, small is Auburn football tickets and a green Regions bike. better. Our holistic approach includes dry sauna to cleanse the The Chad Fisher Group entertained party-goers body, massage therapy, yoga, master counseling, 24/7 care. please initial and faxlevel back within 24 hours. with a mix of blues and jazz. StateIf licensed andheard courtfrom approved. location, we have not you by 5Waterfront pm of the Friday beforejust the press date, The University of Alabama was proclaimed minutes from Crab andasonis.Choctawhatchee in Destin. your Island ad will run We print the paperBay Monday. Change Bowl Champion at the end of the evening, Call 850-687-6831 www.bayshoreretreat.com Thank you for your prompt attention. beating rivals Auburn University, Samford University Call anytime... All contact and consultations are confidential. and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Fans of the competing teams dropped change in buckets throughout the evening with the heaviest bucket declared the winner. Members of the Literacy Council Junior Board include Muhammad Abdullah, Rachel Anderson, Andrew Austin, Virginia Beale, Alicia Clavell, Chandler Combest, Mallory Combest, Leslie Dobbs, Blake Ells, Matt Geller, Jonathan Handey, Lindsay Handey, Amber Long, John McElrath, Stacey McElrath, Melissa Musgrove, Laura Prewitt, Stephanie Rector, Greg Rhodes, Amanda Shepherd, Susan Shields, Kristin Swindle, Mary Duncan Waters, Whitney Williams and Gail Yeilding. The Junior Board is already planning for 2014. Next year’s Rally for Reading is tentatively set for Aug. 14. ❖

Emma’s Circle Event

‘Three Little Words’ Author Speaks at CASA Luncheon Emma’s Circle, with sponsorship from Protective Life, hosted its second annual luncheon Sept. 12 to help raise funds for Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates and to recruit new members. Guest speaker Ashley RhodesCourter, author of “Three Little Words,” spoke about her life in foster care and the saving impact of her volunteer advocate. Her book, which gives a more detailed account of her trials in

Stephani and Russell Byrne and Jake and Madeline Reiss.

The Junior Board of the Literacy Council recently hosted the third annual Rally for Reading.

foster care, is now being made into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon. The luncheon raised money to assist CASA with implementing more county programs and strengthening those in existence. It also sparked the growth of Emma’s Circle membership and increased awareness of the need to help Alabama’s foster children.

Emma’s Circle is a network of women committed to supporting the Alabama CASA Network and local children in need. The mission of Alabama CASA is to ensure that every abused, neglected or abandoned child in Alabama has a competent, caring volunteer appointed to advocate for the child’s best interests in court. ❖

From left: Patty B. Driscoll, Ashley McMahan, Ashley Rhodes-Courter and Lisa Stone.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 25

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Rat Pack Party

Jonathan W. Gathings & Associates, LLC

Chirps and Chips Benefits Alabama Wildlife Center Those attending a recent fundraiser for the Alabama Wildlife Center got to place their bets on helping animals. Raptor Force, the Alabama Wildlife Center’s junior board, hosted its second annual fundraising event, Chirps and Chips--an Evening with the Rat Pack, Aug. 24 at the Historic Cahaba Pumping Station. Chirps and Chips was a fun-filled, casino-themed night that included casino-style games, a silent auction and live entertainment from Birmingham’s own Rat Pack, featuring Carl Dean as Frank Sinatra, Brandon Leighton Barranco as Dean Martin and John Mark McGaha as Sammy Davis Jr. The Birmingham Bombshells also welcomed and entertained guests. Kaitlin McCulley of CBS 42 emceed the event, and Ireland, a redtailed hawk, made a special appearance. GoodFellas Gaming provided the casino games. All proceeds benefited the Alabama Wildlife Center, the state’s oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation and education center. The center rescues and rehabilitates almost 2,000 native wild birds each year. Headquartered at Oak Mountain State Park, the center is also dedicated to educating people of all ages to create awareness and concern for preserving and protecting native Alabama wildlife. Avo, Bellinis Ristorante, Dram, Jackson’s Bar and Bistro, The Olive Branch, The Pita Hut, Tony’s Spaghetti House and Webster’s Cake Design provided hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Good People Brewing Company provided beer. Anna Morris and Stephanie Thompson coordinated the fundraiser with assistance from committee chairmen Gina Hinson, Russell Hinson, Katherine Klyce and Jason Stephens. Sean Palmer created graphic art designs for the event, and the Gingerbread Lady, Ellen Morris, was responsible for all decorations. Attendees included Alabama Wildlife Center Board President Michael Player and board members Keith Feinman, Linda Miller, Bill Ballard, Scott Mauldin, Steven Stastny and Anna Morris. Raptor Force members attending included Gina and Russell Hinson, Stephanie Thompson, Tom Sheffer, Jason Stephens, Stephanie Hill, Helen and Devin Dolive, Joe Amari, Ashley Cox Honnoll, Kaitlin McCulley, Katherine Klyce, Jason Lybrand, Jason Whisenant, Chris Triplett and Sean Palmer. Also attending were Laura Player, Tine Hoffmeister, Carl Miller, Lauren Stastny, Morgan Ballard, Ellen and John Morris, Lori Allen Siegelman, Pam and David Allen, Barbara and Robert Klyce, Ken Jackson, Lynn and

Attorneys at Law

Experience • Passion • Results

From left: Anna Morris, Tom Sheffe and Stephanie Thompson.

Jorge Castro, Leslie Cox, Suzanne and Andrew Hart, Diana Browning and Kelli and Daniel Holmes. Others at the event were Kelli Kelly, Marilyn and Mitchell DeLoach, Jennifer Shunnarah, Zona and Steve Merchant, Carol Argo, Laura and Sammy Howell,

Doug Adair, Pam and Mark Bourgoin, Kit Law, Kevin Lakins, Jug Twitty, Angela Brothers, Tammy and Greg Cook, Nicole Webb, Katie and Wayne Gerhardt, Allison Sheffer, Jason Honnoll, Jen Palmer, Tracy Graham and Marcie and Mike Talley. ❖

Lending a Hand JWC Makes Donation to Emmet O’Neal Library

Diana Browning, president of the Junior Women’s Committee of 100, presented the Emmet O’Neal Library board with a donation at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting. Browning presented the $48,000 check on behalf of the JWC. Over the next year, the money will support projects such as the development of the children’s DVD collection, updates and maintenance to educational computers and listening stations, and a continued subscription to the Tumblebooks online collection of animated storybooks and audio chapter books. Along with their monetary contribution, JWC members also volunteer their time in the library’s Children’s Department during the school year to assist with day-to-day functions and help prepare for special programs. ❖

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Jonathan and Kim Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Oct. 2013

Diane Browning, president of the Junior Women’s Committee of 100, presents a check for $48,000 to Max Pulliam, Emmet O’Neal Library board chairman.

This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the October 17, 2013 issue. Please email or fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone numb Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Ready or not Fall is here! 19th Century Plaster Ceiling Rose

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Give what you love... Love what you give! Earthborn Studios Pottery by Tena Payne of Birmingham 2841 Cahaba Road Mtn. Brook Village â&#x20AC;˘ 879-5277 M-F 10-5 â&#x20AC;˘ Sat 10-4 www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com

From left: Rebecca Mason, Janis Zeanah, Nan Teninbaum, Rebekah Taylor, Shirley Evans, Joan Hull, Elouise Williams and Rhetta Tatum. Kirke Cater is not pictured. Photo special to the Journal

Antiquarian Society Sets Agenda, Welcomes New Officers

The Antiquarian Society of Birmingham met recently to plan for the coming year and to welcome its new officers. The executive board of directors met on Aug. 28 at the Birmingham To: thecookstore@msn.com Museum of art to set the agenda for 2013-14, with President Rebekah From: Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Taylor presiding. Members of the FAX: 205-824-1246 executive board presented their plans Date: Oct. 2013 for the year. program vice Do is youyour have MULTIPLE PETS? from the OvEr Like QUIET and This AD PrOOF THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAlNan forTeninbaum, the president, announced that the orgaBUSy SchEDULE? ATTENTION? 10-17-13., 2013 issue. Please faxPERSONAL approval or changes to 824-1246. nizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s year began on Oct. 9 with Want LESS STRESS for your PET? Rather be hOME vs. WAITING ROOM? a program about American furniture Please make sure all information is correct, from the Federal period. Teninbaum

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is also the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art museum representative. Those attending the planning meeting included Shirley Evans, second vice president/yearbook; Rhetta Tatum, corresponding secretary/newsletter; Kirke Cater, recording secretary; Joan Hull, treasurer; Janis Zeanah, historian; Rebecca Mason, past-president, and Elouise Williams, recording secretary. Also attending the meeting were Anne Gibbons, bylaws; Nancy Jones, decorations; Carolyn Drennen, membership; Jane Ellis, Arlington representative; Judith

Hand, public relations; Tobie Hand, reservations; Dawn Higginbotham, reservations; Sara Jackson, equipment; Elaine Clark, invocations, and Sandra Holley, special spring tour. Executive board members not present were Judy Haise, courtesy; Barbara Wall, hospitality; Diane Gay and Kathryn Porter, luncheon, and Louise Pinkerton, Margie Preston and Lela Welch, telephone. The mission of the Antiquarian Society of Birmingham, founded in 1944, is to create more interest in antiques and heirlooms through study and display. â?&#x2013;

Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

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Dr. Washington Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Jan. 2013

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Lovell-Messenger

Mr. and Mrs. W. Taylor Lovell of Hoover announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Nicole Lovell, to Mark Andrew Messenger, son of Mr. Larry Messenger and Mrs. Donna Messenger of Sarasota, Fla. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. Carl Van Hoozier Sr. and the late Mrs. Phyllis B. Van Hoozier and of Mrs. Emma S. Lovell and the late Mr. John T. Lovell, all of Knoxville, Tenn. Miss Lovell is a 2011 graduate of

Holland-Issis

Mr. and Mrs. E. Len Holland of Vestavia Hills announce the engagement of their daughter, Katherine

Cunningham-Gray

Mr. and Mrs. W. Kirkland Cunningham Sr. of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Anna Cook Cunningham, to Richard Benjamin Gray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gray of Brandon, Miss. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alex Monroe Bentley of Delbarton, W.Va., and the late Mr. and Mrs.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 27

Weddings & Engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Birmingham-Southern College with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in business administration. She lettered all four years in golf, was named an All-American and earned the title of Birmingham-Southern College Female Athlete of the Year. She is employed with Lincare Holdings, Inc. as a national marketing representative. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Elizabeth Messenger and the late Mr. R. Jack Messenger and of Mr. Paul “Poppy” Salvatori and Mrs. Elma Salvatori, all of Sarasota. Mr. Messenger is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He lettered four years in basketball and helped lead his team to a conference championship. He also lettered two years in track and field, excelling with multiple first-place finishes and a field event record at Jackson State University in discus and javelin. Mr. Messenger is employed with Kerkering, Barberio & Co. as an audit staff accountant. The wedding will be Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham with a reception to follow at The Club. Cecile Holland, to Odeh John Issis, son of Dr. and Mrs. John O. Issis of Vestavia Hills. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Louis Griffin Jr. and the late Mr. Louis Griffin Jr. of Vestavia Hills and Mrs. E. L. Holland Jr. and the late Mr. E. L. Holland Jr. of Birmingham. Miss Holland is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. She is employed with Odyssey Early School. Mr. Issis is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He is a recent graduate of Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and is a member of the Alabama Bar Association. The couple will be married in Birmingham in November. Russell McWhorter Cunningham Jr. of Mountain Brook. Miss Cunningham is a graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., and a cum laude graduate of Birmingham-Southern College with a bachelor’s degree in collaborative education and a minor in religion. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and teaches fourth grade at St. Joseph/St. Elizabeth School in Ft. Wayne. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Dorothy Marler Tillman and the late Mr. Alfred Britian Tillman of Brandon and Mrs. Dolores Huffman Gray and the late Mr. Durward Eugene Gray of Pelehatchie, Miss. Mr. Gray is a graduate of Northwest Rankin High School in Brandon and a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and communications. He is soon to graduate from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is employed as web master at Insul-Coustic Corp. in Ft. Wayne. The wedding will be in New Orleans on Nov. 9.

Mooney-Collie

Elizabeth Saylor Arrington Mooney and Clayton Benjamin Collie were married Sept.15 at Meadow Brook Baptist Church. The Rev. Rusty Hutson and Pastor Jason Ellerbee officiated the 5 p.m. ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Gaston Mooney II of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mrs. Sally Campbell and Mrs. Phillip Collie of Guntersville and Albertville. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless, fitted ivory Alencon lace over a café silk underlay gown from The White Room paired

Birdwell-Qualls

Jodi Elizabeth Birdwell and Kevin Scott Qualls were married April 6 at Trinity United Methodist Church. The 2 p.m. ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Nathan Carden. The bride is the daughter of Ms.

Montgomery-McCain

Sarah Margaret Montgomery and Kaylor Allen McCain were married

with her mother’s silk illusion veil. She placed in her shoe a silver sixpence coin given to her by her father, who acquired it years ago while he was in school in England. Her bouquet from Susan Huff of The King’s Creation was wrapped in her maternal grandmother’s handkerchief, monogrammed in Carolina blue with Psalm 34:3. Diamond and pearl drop earrings, worn previously by four of the bridesmaids in their own weddings, was the borrowed piece. In true Southern form, the wedding party consisted of 15 bridesmaids and 15 groomsmen. The bride chose Holly Bradford Nichols as her matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Ashley Page Mooney and Leigh Garner Mooney, sisters-in-law of the bride; Austin Elizabeth Collie, sister of the groom; Mallory Lynn Anderson; Emily Dianne Brock; Elizabeth Pouncey Fraser; Jill Dickhaus Hofsommer; Rachel Walton Knowlton; Laura Martino Morison; Christine Parker Pursell; Amanda Marian Sanders; Jordan Johnson Soyars; Sarah Jane Brock Thorn; and Mary Grace Edwards Walters. The bridesmaids wore latté colored silk taffeta floorlength dresses. The groom chose his brother, Paul Cavin Collie, as his best man.

Groomsmen were Arnold Gaston Mooney III and John Hartwell Houston Mooney, brothers of the bride; Gary Douglas Abernathy Jr.; Brook Drennen Acton; Justin Michael Burns; Wade Embril Edwards; David James Elmer; William Rexford Hart; Walter Lee Kearns,; Jesse Harris Mann; William Marshall Parker; Jeffrey Russell Parker; Bradley Kenneth Smith and Phillip John Wehrman. The groomsmen wore traditional black tuxedos and bowties. To celebrate the Mooney family’s Scottish heritage, the bride was escorted down the aisle by her father while bagpiper Ryan Morrison piped “Come Thou Fount.” A dinner and dancing reception followed at the American Village in Montevallo. The bride is a graduate of Furman University, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education and was member of Kappa Delta sorority. She teaches and coaches soccer at Briarwood Christian School. The groom is a graduate of Auburn University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history and was a member of Farm House fraternity. He is employed by Booster. After a honeymoon trip to the Rivera Maya area of Mexico, the couple live in Birmingham.

Janet Bartee May of Hoover and Mr. Kenneth Birdwell of Anniston. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Oma Bartee and the late Mr. Joseph Bartee and Ms. Sarah Johnson and the late Mr. Hollis Birdwell. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Qualls of Hoover. He is the grandson of Mrs. Mae Cooley and the late Dr. Harold Niles Cooley and Mrs. Betty Qualls and the late Mr. Charles Henry Qualls. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a white satin ball gown with a heart-shaped neckline with beaded lace and a cathedral train from the David’s Bridal Collection. She was attended by Jessica Madaris, sister of the bride, as matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Karen Atchison, Jenny Qualls and Laura Qualls, sisters of the groom; Rebecca Gallant; Kaitlyn Frawley; Katie McDaniel; Cortney Burns; Adrienne

Beatty; Lauren Collins; Nicole Bailey; Kylee Williams and Jordan Barnwell. The flower girl was Kylee Madaris, niece of the bride. The father of the groom was his son’s best man. Groomsmen were Caleb Qualls, brother of the groom; Harold Cooley III, cousin of the groom; Stephen Atchison, brotherin-law of the groom; Joe Birdwell, brother of the bride; Tyler Thompson; Tyler Shivers; Colby Weitman; Dustin Day; Dallas Smith; Robert Godwin and Randall Martin Jr. Jack Madaris, nephew of the bride, and Cayden Atchison, nephew of the groom, were ring bearers. The musicians were Patricia Thompson, pianist; Niamh Clarke, violinist, and Laura Qualls, soloist. Jason Qualls, brother of the groom, was the photographer. After a honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean islands, the couple live in Hoover.

Aug. 3 at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery. A reception followed at Wynfield Estates. The Rev. Rusty Taylor and John Carl Hastings, close friend and recent seminary graduate of Durham, N.C., officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey David Montgomery of Montgomery. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Haynes McCain of Homewood. Given in marriage by her father, the bride was attended by her sister, Anne Elizabeth Montgomery, as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Jennifer Leslie Mixson, Caroline Yow Parker, Anna Frederick Hartzog, Anne Autry Bell, Brittany Tucker Bethea, Lauren Thomas Elliott and Lauren Woods

Honeycutt, all of Birmingham; Katelin Meredith Lisenby of Tuscaloosa; Rachel Beers Fisher of Montgomery; Victoria Bray Hastings of Durham; Leslie Ann Sims of Atlanta; and Meredith Gaston Stuart of the Sichuan Province, East Asia. Sophia Zarkadis, cousin of the bride, of Birmingham was the flower girl. The groom’s father was his son’s best man. Groomsmen were Porter Michael McCain and Matthew Montgomery of Auburn; Glenn Elliott, Mark Elliott, Jonathan Blocker and Jonathon Lunceford, all of Birmingham; Scott Rose of Cantonment, Fla.; Peyton Nesmith of Boston; Ross Bietzel of Athens, Ga.; Levi Rogers and Jerel Ely of Atlanta; and David Cortez of Houston.

To have our wedding & engagement forms sent to you, call 823-9646.

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28 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

A Tale of Two Cultures Continued from page 1

“I thought it was beautiful,” she said. “I fell in love with it the first time I walked in.” When they bought the house, the family included two children, son Anthony and daughter Helen. Anthony and his wife, Monica, now own Nabeel’s Café and Market and have two daughters, Mary and Katherine. Dr. Helen Krontiras is a surgeon at UAB Hospital and is co-director of the UAB Breast Health Center. She and her husband, Dr. Toren Anderson, a pediatrician, have a son, Ian, and daughter, Alina. John and Ottavia’s younger daughter, Madeline Krontiras Bader, and her husband, Noah, live in Atlanta. Both are attorneys

‘My wife shopped at Nabeel’s. She was there one day, and the owner said he had heard that her husband had lost his job. He said, ‘I’ve got this place for sale,’ half-kidding. She came home, and we talked about it. We went from outside the counter to inside it.’ John Krontiras

who graduated from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. Anthony, Helen and Madeline all attended Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School and John Carroll High School, their parents said.

Although the Krontiras children are now grown with homes of their own, the Lakeshore Drive house has welcomed other family members. Ottavia’s mother, Maddalena Mastropasqua, came to live with her daughter and son-in-law three years ago. “She makes dinner for us every night,” Ottavia said about her 91-yearold mom. Another valued member of the household is Koko, a 13-year-old Boykin spaniel. When John and Ottavia bought their Lakeshore Drive house, they made changes to accommodate their growing clan. They added a bedroom and sunroom, enlarged the patio and put in a pool, which they said is a favorite spot for their grandchildren during the summer. “The only thing we didn’t do that we meant to do is put in a circular driveway,” John said. Their house, which was built in 1950, is a real family home, filled with items accumulated over the years and ranging from the old to the new. Ottavia prizes a china cup, displayed on a fireplace mantel, which belonged to one of her ancestors, while John likes showing off a football signed by members of the University of Alabama’s 2009 national championship football team. Photos and paintings show the couple’s strong family ties. In the living room is a portrait of John’s mother, Helen, who died in 1944. The picture shows a lovely young woman dressed in a pale yellow suit. “She’s standing in back of our family home in Patras,” John said. “The fort in the background is real. It was built in the 1600s, and you

Greek and Italian Good Eats John Krontiras said one reason he wrote his new cookbook, “Beloved Family Recipes: Family Recipes and Experiences from Travels around the World,” was because people asked him to share his recipes. He was happy to share a few with Over the Mountain Journal readers, too.

Chicken Wings and Potatoes Ale di Polo con Patate

Serves 4 John says this is a “special, very easy and inexpensive Italian favorite.”

1 onion, half sliced in rounds and the other half coarsely chopped 2 large potatoes cut in rounds 4 lbs. chicken wings and thighs 2 pinches of oregano 4 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped ¼ cup water ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil Grated Parmesan cheese

Lightly oil the bottom of a pan. Place line of potatoes, then place all of the chicken wings and legs on top of the potatoes. Place the onions over the potatoes and the wings. Sprinkle the parsley over the wings and potatoes. Place another line of potatoes and chopped onions. Add the oil and water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and cook at 375 degrees for about 1 ½ hours. Remove the foil at about 1 hour of cooking and continue cooking for another ½ hour and check that potatoes are done. Serve with crusty bread.

This portrait of John’s mother, Helen Krontiras, at the family’s home in Greece hangs in the living room. Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

could see it from the back of our house.” A companion portrait of John’s father, Anthony, also hangs in the living room. John said his father would come to Birmingham and visit his son’s family for several months at a time before his death in 1993. A third portrait, which hangs in the foyer, is of John’s great-great-grandfather, a colorful fellow who in the picture wears a traditional foustanela, or pleated skirt. Artist Barbara Moon did all three paintings, John said. A watercolor picture in the dining room dated 8-8-48 was painted by a different—and very young--artist. “I painted this when I was 11 of a scene I copied from a postcard,” John said.

Avgolemono Soup

Serves 6-8 John says in his cookbook that his mother made this famous Greek soup for “all the holidays with no exception.” 1 whole chicken, about 3 ½ lbs. with excess fat trimmed and breast skin removed 12 cups water 2 carrots, cut in half 2 celery stalks, cut in half 1 large onion, peeled and cut in half 2 bay leaves 5 whole black peppercorns 2 teaspoons salt ½ cup orzo pasta, or rice 3 eggs at room temperature 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest Juice of two lemons, strained Salt and freshly-ground black pepper

Add first 8 ingredients to a large stockpot. Bring the water to a rapid boil, lower heat to medium low and simmer partially covered for approximately an hour to an

Sugar (or Wedding) Cookies recipe At Otmj.com

His interest in art didn’t resurface until recently. “About four years ago, it clicked again,” he said. “I work in oils now.” John set up an easel in the house’s cheerful sunroom and is now painting a landscape of a scene in Myconos, Greece. A photo mural that covers one wall of the kitchen has sentimental significance. “My father put it up,” Ottavia said. Outside in the back garden is a Carrera marble-topped table that the couple had sent from Italy in 1985. It arrived on the same shipment as the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. that’s now in downtown Birmingham, John said. Ottavia said John is the gardener in the family. “I planted some Italian cypress trees to give a little Greek-Italian flair,” John said. The living room is brightened by warm golden walls—daughter Helen’s idea, her parents said—and natural light from a large picture window. “This is the room where we open presents at Christmas,” Ottavia said. “The tree goes in the window.” The couple said holidays are festive occasions at their house. “We incorporate Italian and Greek dishes into our menu,” John said. “We have pasta and lamb with potatoes.” For Sunday meals, Ottavia said, her mother prepares her special meatballs and pasta—and there’s a Greek salad, too.

hour and a half. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a bowl and carefully strain the broth through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Return the strained broth to the stockpot and bring to a boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook, uncovered, for approximately 10-12 minutes until tender. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the egg-lemon mixture. Using a whisk, beat the eggs until nice and frothy. Add the lemon zest and the lemon juice in a steady stream while continuing to whisk. When the pasta has finished cooking, turn off the heat. Ladle about two cups of broth into a bowl or large measuring cup. Slowly add the hot broth to the egg-lemon mixture while continuing to whisk. This will temper the eggs and prevent them from curdling once they are added to the hot broth. Stir the egg-lemon mixture into the pot and heat over very low heat for approximately 5-10 minutes until heated through. Be careful not to boil the soup once the eggs have been added. Adjust your seasoning for salt and pepper and add more as desired.

John’s cookbook includes several tempting sweet treats, such as baklava, custard pie with phyllo and honey cookies and doughnuts. These sugar cookies are “a Greek celebration cookie,” he writes. “While they’re most popular at Christmas, you also see them at weddings, Easter and other holidays as well.” When the cookies are served at Christmas, it’s traditional to stick a whole clove in the top of each to represent the Wise Men’s gift of spices, he says.

“There’s not an Italian family who doesn’t have spaghetti and meatballs for lunch on Sunday,” John said. While food is an important part of Krontiras family celebrations, it became central to their professional lives, too, when they bought Nabeel’s. John had parted ways with EBSCO when the opportunity for a new venture arose. “My wife shopped at Nabeel’s,” John said. “She was there one day, and the owner said he had heard that her husband had lost his job. He said, ‘I’ve got this place for sale,’ half-kidding. She came home, and we talked about it. “We went from outside the counter to inside it.” Although neither had formal experience in the food service industry, John said he was able to put the business skills he’d learned over the years to work. “Actually, my son and I worked,” Ottavia said, laughing. “John supervised.” They kept the existing market and added a café. “We served dishes that we knew about,” Ottavia said. “Both my husband and son are good cooks.” When they bought the business, Nabeel’s was a one-room enterprise that sold sandwiches and salads in addition to the goods available at the market, Ottavia said. They eventually bought a neighboring business that had been a beauty salon. While their restaurant and market thrived, another undertaking didn’t go quite so well. “Butler’s Flower Shop, which opened in the 1940s, was next door,”

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 29

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

John said. “They didn’t want to move, but we made an offer and bought it. We lost our rear ends for a couple of years.” Then one day, he said, a stranger came in and asked about buying the shop. “I asked, ‘Did God send you?’” John said with a smile. “They moved the business to another location, and we moved our market to that area.” Anthony Krontiras bought the restaurant from his parents 12 years ago, but both John and Ottavia are still involved in the business, they said. John’s newest project is hot off the press. He’s written a cookbook called “Beloved Family Recipes: Family Recipes and Experiences from Travels around the World.” It’s filled with

Greek and Italian recipes and with tips, such as the kind of feta cheese he prefers and how to tell when the oil is hot enough to cook fresh smelts or anchovies. Among the recipes are memories, too. There’s the story of how John’s father, while visiting in Birmingham, would roam the Lakeshore Drive neighborhood in search of wild dandelions to serve with grilled trout. Readers will also learn that a recipe for chicken wings and potatoes is popular in Molfetta, Italy, where his motherin-law moved after her family’s house in Trieste was damaged during World War II. The book is a “plethora of things, including family history,” John said. He’ll be a special guest at this

month’s Homewood Historical Society meeting set for 10 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Homewood Public Library. Krontiras

will talk about his book, and copies will be available for purchase and signing. The event is free.❖

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• Wood window restoration and repair • Sash replacement, rot repair • Replace broken and fogged glass • Wood insulated, putty glazed, and composite vinyl replacement sashes • Locally owned and operated

Call 205-542-6094

No Tricks... Just Treats At To: From: Date:

Jim Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Oct. 2010 This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for t Nov. 4 2010 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! Antiques and Accessories

2700 19th Place South • Homewood • 871-9779 Tue.-Fri. 10:30-5:30 • Sat. 11:00-4:30

To: Tricia From: Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 Date: Oct 2013 This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnal for the Oct. 17, 2013 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Please initial andInc. fax back within 24 hours. Kathy’s Designer Kitchens,

we•have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, 1831 29th Ave.If S. Homewood, AL 35209 your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. 205-871-9880 • Kathy Owens, CKD, President

Thank you for your prompt attention.

30 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

Holiday in the hills

A Little Something AAA Alabama AC Financial Partners Alfano Computer Solutions Alliance Publishing Group Annabelle’s/Vestavia Hills Apothecary ARC Realty Artists Incorporated Best Nails Birmingham School of Music The Blue Willow The Bridge Bruster's Real Ice Cream Cahaba Fitness Cameras Brookwood Chickadee Collage Designer Consignment Contri Bros. Gift Basket Crabtree Computer/Sunshine Internet Marketing Cross Construction Fancy Goods Variety First Partners Bank Focus MD, Birmingham Golden Living-Riverchase The Heavenly Donut Company Hilton Garden Inn-Liberty Park Houliang Massage In the Zone Publications Interiors and Antiques Market Jewels by Rose

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The Jimmie Hale Mission Kidz Closet Klingler’s European Bakery & Café La Catrina Mexican Cantina Mary Kay Cosmetics-Susie Serio Mia Moda MiBella Wellness Center Milestones Behavior Consulting Monograms Plus The New York Butcher Shoppe Newk's Eatery-Vestavia Hills Old Oak Advisors Primrose School at Liberty Park Promotional Creations RealtySouth-Liz Phillips Guest Renasant Bank Mortgage Lending Sarver Orthodontics Seniors Helping Seniors Siham’s Grill and Sweets Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Co. State Farm Insurance-John Henley Agency Subway-Liberty Park Tucker Family Dentistry Tutoring Club TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Vestavia Bowl Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation Foundation Webster Electric The Wine Cellar

Stop by the Business Expo at the Tree Lighting Festival on December 3! Visit www.vestaviahills.org for the most current list.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 31

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Vestavia Plans Kickoffs for Holiday in the Hills Festival The city of Vestavia Hills and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will help usher in the holiday season by presenting the third annual Holiday in the Hills Festival starting next month. Several events will take place in November and December celebrating the holiday season as a community and encouraging shoppers to support local businesses, Chamber officials said. The Chamber will host two kickoff parties for the 2013 Holiday in the Hills festivities. The first will be on Nov. 14 in the Dogwood Room of the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, and the second will be on Nov. 21 at the New Merkle House in Cahaba Heights. Both events will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The first 100 people to arrive at each party will receive an insulated shopping bag filled with coupons, special event flyers and promotions from participating merchants. Those attending the kickoff parties can also pick up prize passports, booklets that shoppers take to participating merchants during the Holiday in the Hills Festival to have them stamped. When shoppers get stamps from three different business districts on their passport, they turn it in to the Chamber office for a chance to win an iPad and other prizes at the drawing that will be held at the Dec. 7 Breakfast with Santa event. Shoppers can look for door decorations at individual businesses to see if those merchants are participating in the Holiday in the Hills event. Participating merchants include A Little Something, AAA Alabama, AC Financial Partners, Alfano Computer Solutions, Alliance Publishing Group, Annabelle’s/Vestavia Hills

The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for the annual Holidays in the Hills. From left: Karen Odle, Scott Perry, Katie Woodruff, Darrell Crimm, Cory Shoultz, Susan Norton, Jeff Downes and Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

Apothecary, ARC Realty, Artists Incorporated, Best Nails, Birmingham School of Music, The Blue Willow, The Bridge, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Cahaba Fitness, Cameras Brookwood, Chickadee, Collage Designer Consignment, Contri Bros. Gift Basket, Cross Construction, Fancy Goods Variety, First Partners Bank, Focus MD, Birmingham, Golden Living-Riverchase, The Heavenly Donut Company, Hilton Garden Inn-Liberty Park, Houliang Massage, In the Zone

Publications, Interiors and Antiques Market, Jewels by Rose, the Jimmie Hale Mission, Kidz Closet, Klingler’s European Bakery & Café , Mary Kay Cosmetics-Susie Serio, Mia Moda, MiBella Wellness Center, Milestones Behavior Consulting, Monograms Plus, the New York Butcher Shoppe, Newk’s Eatery-Vestavia Hills, Old Oak Advisors, Primrose School at Liberty Park, Promotional Creations, RealtySouthLiz Phillips Guest, Renasant Bank Mortgage

Lending, Sarver Orthodontics, Seniors Helping Seniors, Siham’s Grill and Sweets, Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Co., State Farm Insurance-John Henley Agency, Subway-Liberty Park, Tucker Family Dentistry, Tutoring Club, Two Men and a Truck, Vestavia Bowl, Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Foundation, Webster Electric and The Wine Cellar. For more information, visit www.vestaviahills.org or call 823-5011.

Calendar of Events Open House Kick Off Party November 14 Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 3:30-5:30 pm

& November 21 New Merkle House, 3:30-5:30 pm Join us for children’s crafts and light refreshments! The first 100 people who attend will receive an insulated tote bag filled with coupons and flyers from participating merchants. Please only attend one party.

Merchant Open Houses November 14-16 North 31, South 31, & Columbiana Road

& November 21-23 Rocky Ridge, Liberty Park, & Cahaba Heights Participating merchants will be hosting open houses in their businesses and offering discounts and refreshments for shoppers. Be sure to pick up a Prize Passport and collect the merchant stamps to be entered in a drawing for an iPad and other prizes!

Tree Lighting Festival December 3 Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 6:00 pm Enjoy live entertainment, a business expo, the lighting of the tree and a visit with Santa!

Breakfast with Santa December 7 Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 7:30-10:00 am Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa. $1 Suggested Donation

Liberty Park Christmas Parade & Celebration December 8 Liberty Park Sports Complex to Alston Meadows, 2:00-4:00 pm Enjoy the city’s official parade followed by the Liberty Park Christmas Celebration with children’s activities, refreshments, live entertainment, pictures with Santa and more!

Visit www.vestaviahills.org for an extended list of events Presented by the City of Vestavia Hills & the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce

32 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Blue Willow

The Blue Willow, the ultimate one-stop shop for customers in Vestavia Hills for almost 14 years, is ready to deck the halls for the holiday season. The store has eight themed trees to choose from, an abundance of decor, all the decorations you need for your tree, plus unique gift ideas, ranging from jewelry to baby items, said Anna Barnes, who has owned the store since 2011. The Blue Willow will kick off the holiday season with a Silhouette event on Oct. 24, which is the perfect time to get a gift for any mother or grandmother. On Nov. 11, the store will host a special visit from Santa and his elves at its annual Elf Magic Party. The event will offer a fun and memorable time for young shoppers and the young at heart, Barnes said. The Blue Willow will be full of holiday cheer as it celebrates its Christmas Open House from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Nov. 21. To help those last-minute shoppers choose just the right gift, the store will host a Special Sunday Sale on Dec. 15 to help customers finish checking off their wish lists. And don’t worry about wrapping all those great finds from The Blue Willow--the staff will

Holiday in the hills

wrap your gifts and have them ready to go under the tree when you walk out the door. The Blue Willow, Barnes said, is for those who want to add a touch of Southern charm to their lives and homes. “The store offers some of the area’s most fabulous finds and well-known products and is the perfect place to find a heartfelt gift for any wedding, birthday, baby shower or hostesses gift,” she said. To add an even more personal touch, The Blue Willow offers monogramming, etching, engraving and personalization to transform your gift into something extraordinary, Barnes said. “Part of its Southern charm is that The Blue Willow showcases products from over 20 Alabama-based businesses,” Barnes said. “It is the heart of The Blue Willow to support the Heart of Dixie while promoting economic growth for the community and investing in its growth.” The Blue Willow is located at 3930 Crosshaven Drive, one and a half miles behind The Summit. The store is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.thebluewillow.com or call 968-0909.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The Heavenly Donut The Heavenly Donut Company is a different kind of donut shop, combining great tasting donuts that are made fresh every day with a large eat-in area designed to host birthday parties, small groups, or study or business groups who benefit from the free WiFi provided. The Heavenly Donut Company has been open since Jan. 23. Before opening the store, Kimberly and Brock Beiersdoerfer, owners, began to search for a mentor who could guide them through the process of starting a business. A friend suggested they contact Dave Upton, a local Vestavia Hills businessman who has been involved in many successful businesses throughout his life and is currently the president of Ambucs – a nonprofit organization. Mr. Upton’s first suggestion was for Kimberly and Brock to find an extremely successful donut shop somewhere in the country, contact them and ask if that shop would be willing to mentor them as well.

Their search led them to Gibson’s Donuts in Memphis, Tenn. The owner not only agreed to help, but allowed Kimberly and Brock to train in his kitchen. He even sent one of his cooks to Birmingham to train the cooks at The Heavenly Donut Company. “To have a business located in the community we live has been very rewarding,” says Kimberly. “We love meeting and getting to know our customers and hope we are a bright spot in their day. Like with any business, it has been challenging at times, but we have been blessed with a great team of employees and terrific feedback from our customers. We cannot thank everyone enough for supporting us! “For Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are planning not only themed donuts but events as well, including staying open overnight for Black Friday. As we have done in the past, our events will include games, prizes, photo ops, and live music! We hope everyone will come out to see us! Heavenly Donut Company is located at 4911 Cahaba River Road, Suite 105, 536-7200.

gifts • monogramming • Home • baby 3930 Crosshaven Dr. - 1/2 mile behind the Summit • 968-0909 www.thebluewillow.com • follow us on:

4911 Cahaba River Road • Suite 105 • 536.7200 www.TheHeavenlyDonutCo.com • Find us on Facebook!

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Interiors & Antiques Market Interiors & Antiques Market consists of a diverse group of dealers with great merchandise including fine antiques, trending new market finds, repurposed, unique and one of a kind items, all under one roof. It was established in 2009 to fill a void in the marketplace, to create a place where the retail customer could find a blend of the old and the new, as well as a unique shopping experience. It’s a place where one could spend a few minutes or a few hours searching for that one must have item. “Owning our own business has been a lot of fun,” say owners, Jack and Joann May, “After spending 30-plus years in the corporate world, Joann and I were looking for a business where we could benefit from our business experience. Being in this type of business has allowed us to enjoy things we were passionate about such as

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 33

Holiday in the hills

decorating and antiques. It has been a wonderful experience, and one that we would like to share with everyone. “We plan a holiday open house for Dec. 8,

Interiors & Antiques Market is a place where one could spend a few minutes or a few hours searching for that one must have item. and encourage everyone to visit the store during the holiday season. Our dealers and staff decorate the store during the season with many must have holiday decorations, and you may find that one of a kind gift for someone special.” Pictured above are Liz Bunton and Joy Palmer. Interiors & Antiques Market is located at 1069 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, 8229922.

Snapper Grabbers Variety and freshness is the name of the game at Snapper Grabbers Seafood Market. On any given day you’ll find up to 18 different kinds of seafood in the case. “It comes straight off the docks and straight to our store,” says Kent Scott, owner of the neighborhood market. If it’s not fresh it doesn’t go into my case. Prices are high, but it costs a lot to keep top quality. Our customers understand that and don’t mind paying to get the best.” Scott is quick to talk about the loyal customer base and how the Vestavia neighborhood supports his specialty shop. Few know seafood like Scott. He grew up in his dad’s seafood market, River Fish Market in North Birmingham, and ran it until he sold it in 2005. In 2012, he decided to get back in the industry he knew and loved for so many years. He was thrilled to learn that Snapper Grabbers

was for sale and purchased the business from Sandra Tidmore last November. “I’ve really gotten to know our customers over the past year and want to thank them for allowing me to do what I do best,” he said. “With football season here we’re proud to provide delicious seafood for all the tailgate parties. Whether it’s steamed shrimp, oysters, or our yummy house-made crab cakes it’s all fresh and ready for your next football function. There’s no telling how many pounds of shrimp we steam on Friday and Saturday,” he said. “If you want a crowd pleaser be sure to try Snapper Grabbers Seafood Gumbo or Seafood Chowder. I make it fresh myself everyday.” Snapper Grabbers will be gearing up for all of the holiday parties soon and looks forward to providing customers with the largest variety and freshest seafood in the area. Snapper Grabbers is located at 512 Montgomery Highway, 824-9799. Open at 10 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Fresh GulF seaFood For Fall Football!

royal reds are here!! 521 MontgoMery Hwy • VestaVia Hills • 205-824-9799

34 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

Holiday in the hills

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Liberty Park brings back the true meaning of Home for The Holidays. of exciting booths filled with holiday treats and an array of gift ideas.

With more than 1,200 families who have already chosen Liberty Park as the very best place to live, Vestavia Hills’ most desirable hometown comes beautifully alive with the full magic of the holidays.

If you love the holidays, you won’t want to miss this once-a-year event. But not to worry – after the holidays, the fun continues at Liberty Park. From the parties at the playground to the big Summer Bash with its near mountain-size waterslide and face-painting, to the Vestavia Hills Pumpkin Patch Event (known around town as the Halloween Safe Zone) with live music, food, candy, clowns, a cake walk and, of course, costumes – Liberty Park knows the true meaning of bringing fun home, too.

Encompassing one of the Birmingham area’s most magnificent settings, shaped by forested hills and sun-glistened lakes, Liberty Park presents incomparable surroundings for the holiday’s pageantry of lights and decorations. From the garlands and red ribbons that welcome you at each neighborhood to the showcase holiday decorations at each family’s homes, this is where the true meaning of the holidays comes alive. One drive through and you instantly know you’ve arrived at a joyous community where families and friends share in the enduring spirit of the season. But the real heart of Liberty Park is in the gathering of friends and the sharing of the holiday spirit.

During the Christmas season, Liberty Park is filled with the sounds of children playing, the excitement of holiday events at Vestavia Hills elementary and middle Schools at Liberty Park, neighborhood special gatherings and, of course, the big arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at Liberty Park in the spectacular Christmas parade. Where else would Santa and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce choose for the big 2013 Annual

Vestavia Hills Christmas Parade and Celebration? Here is the perfect setting of quiet, winding streets and long vistas to view the parade floats, marching band and sheer fun! Held on Sunday, Dec. 8, the Christmas Parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the Liberty Park Sports Complex and will wind its fun-filled parade route to the Alston Meadow Park. Here, even more holiday fun will be waiting, with free food, games, lots

The magic of fun just seems to be at the natural spirit of this community. And it comes from every family and every friend who lives here. If you’ve ever been to the playgrounds, the pool complex, the lakes, the tennis courts or the walking trails – well, you’ll understand. At Liberty Park, places to play build lifelong friendships and friendships build the heart of this much loved community.

magically designed for the one thing kids like to play with most. other kids.

Yes, of course you’ll find an awe-inspiring community brilliantly planned with lakes, a community pool, parks and walking trails, tennis courts, ball fields and playgrounds. Everything big kids and little kids could want. But when over 1,200 families chose Liberty Park as their new home, suddenly magic happened. And new kids found new friends, and new friends became best friends. And who is more fun to play with than your very best friends? Come discover the charms of Liberty Park today. After all, a little enchantment makes every day better. New homes, new models and beautiful new neighborhoods now open. Welcome Center open daily. Prices from the high $300s to over $2 million. Home to the highly-rated Vestavia Hills Elementary and Middle Schools at Liberty Park. All information contained herein deemed accurate but not warranted. Neither Liberty Park Properties nor its builders and agents are responsible for errors or omissions. Plan information subject to change without notice.

liberty park JOINT VENTURE LLP

205 945 6401 www.libertypark.com

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 35

Holiday in the hills

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Jewels by Rose

Father and Son Real Estate Team

Mike Wald is a real estate agent who specializes in helping families purchase and sell homes in Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Homewood, and Hoover. He consistently ranks as one of the top over the mountain Realtors. “I’ve been helping over the mountain families with their real estate needs for about 20 years,” says Mike. “What I love the most about this business is the strong relationships with the all the families I’ve had the opportunity to help. Now, I’m getting to help the kids of previous clients find their first homes. That’s pretty fun and it really makes you feel good to be trusted by generations of the same families. I hope someday I’ll get to help the grandkids, too! “It’s great having your own business because you get to decide how you’re going to take care of your clients. Fortunately, my dad taught me when I was growing up that if you take care of your clients, you won’t have to worry about how successful you are. Of course, he was right. We always put the interests of our clients before

our own. And it’s a wonderful feeling when we get calls from people who want us to help them, and they say one of their friends recommended us,” says Mike. “Another advantage is that you get to set your own hours. When my kids were growing up, I had the flexibility to be able to coach them in youth sports and attend their events at school.” “About four years ago one of our sons, Hayden, joined me in the business. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern in business. He is doing an awesome job with our buyers. I’m so proud to be on the same team with him.” “I believe the over the mountain real estate market has turned the corner. Homes that are priced appropriately are selling. With rates inching closer to 3 percent, this fall and even the holiday season, could very well be the perfect time to put a house on the market. It’s certainly a great time to be buying! There are also some excellent opportunities to buy new construction in Vestavia and Mountain Brook. In fact, it’s possible to buy a new home and move in before Thanksgiving!” You can reach Mike Wald at 541-0940 and Hayden Wald at 919-5535.

Jewels By Rose is a second generation family owned and operated jewelry store that specializes in estate jewelry, unique fine jewelry, and designer fashion jewelry. “We have been in business in Vestavia Hills for 38 years,” says owner Donna Jowers, right. “We have a beautiful selection of diamond engagement rings and mountings, colored stone jewelry, and diamond and colored gemstone stackable rings. “When making a purchase with us we can usually set your stone and size your ring on the day of purchase. Our customers love being able to wear their jewelry out the door. “We have a master jeweler on site for creating one of a kind pieces, fine and fashion jewelry repair, and we can even repair your eyeglasses. Whether you are shopping for a $20 holiday gift or a $20,000 gift, our knowledgeable and friendly staff is always eager to help you with your gift needs, answer any questions you may have, solve jewelry problems and design new

pieces from something you may already own. “We are really excited about our upcoming Trunk Show with THE MAZZA COMPANY. Bill Mazza will be with us Thursday, Oct. 24 from 1-4:30 p.m. His collection is unlike any I have ever seen. I own many of his pieces and his craftsmanship is just exquisite. You can visit our website at www.jewelsbyrose.net or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.” Jewels By Rose is located at 619 Montgomery Highway South in Vestavia Hills, 979-5611.

Handy holiday app

It’s not too late to find the perfect house in time for the holidays. There’s a good selection of beautiful Over-the-Mountain homes and rates are still very attractive! Visit FindThePerfectHouse.com or call Mike or Hayden to start your search today!

Mike Wald 541-0940 Hayden Wald 919-5535

36 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

business

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

OTM Businesses Win State Retail Association Awards Several Over the Mountain retailers won awards presented by the Alabama Retail Association last week. Western Supermarket, Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market and Leaf & Petal all won awards at the Oct. 8 event at The Club. The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business also presented the awards, which were chosen from nearly 50 nominations, at the ceremony.

Back with a Bang-up Menu With FoodBar, Chef George McMillan III Returns to the Restaurant Business

Clockwise from above: Chef George McMillan III took a break from the restaurant business to teach at Culinard. Now, he said, several former students work for him at FoodBar. Crispy Kale Salad, which Chef George McMillan III tops with sherry buttermilk dressing, has pickled onion and a farm egg. Grilled Hangar Steak, thinly sliced, comes with sweet potato hash, watercress and chimichurri. FoodBar’s Individual Lemon Meringue Pie has a citrus shortbread crust and toasted meringue—and it’s served with homemade lemon drops. Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

By Donna Cornelius

Journal features writer

A new Cahaba Heights restaurant owes its existence to a well-known Birmingham chef— and, in a way, to his two grandmothers. George McMillan III, who just last month opened FoodBar in the Heights Village, said his passion for food is rooted in his childhood. “Both my grandmothers were accomplished cooks,” he said. “My grandmother Louise Dial was a gourmet cook, and my grandmother Jean McMillan was a quintessential, classical Southern cook.” The 39-year-old chef also credited his “extended family members” Clara Frisco and David Apperson as big influences. “When I was a child, they’d let me sit in a chair by the stove and stir the pot,” McMillan said. “Later on, I started cooking breakfast for the family on the weekends.” At FoodBar, McMillan is combining his culinary heritage and his own creativity to produce dishes that are foodie-friendly yet approachable. “Not pretentious, just delicious” is the way he describes his new eatery. “We emphasize flavor, seasonality and presentation,” he said. “This is a fine dining, white-tablecloth restaurant—without the white tablecloths. You can come as you.” While customers can arrive in clothes that are ordinary, the food is anything but. The menu will change to take advantage of seasonal fare, but diners are likely to be offered concoctions like McMillan’s Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras for a starter, Rabbit Two Ways as a main course and Lavender Pound Cake for dessert. “This is a restaurant with a seasonal, farmfresh focus,” McMillan said. After graduating from Mountain Brook

High School, McMillan enrolled at Auburn University, where he intended to study wildlife sciences. The self-described avid outdoorsman soon switched gears, returning to Birmingham to attend Culinard, Virginia College’s culinary school. “I did an apprenticeship program—about 6,000 hours of work and school,” he said. “I worked at Arman’s at Park Lane, the old Cobb Lane restaurant and at Hot and Hot Fish Club.” At Hot and Hot, Chef Chris Hastings’ award-winning restaurant, “I learned my craft. I learned what it takes to run a kitchen,” McMillan said. He also worked as a private chef for a couple of years, he said. “That’s a really cool gig, but there aren’t many of those positions, so the chefs who get them are fortunate,” he said. McMillan’s ultimate goal was to own a restaurant, he said. And in 2000, McMillan and partner Daniel Briggs opened Daniel George, a popular Mountain Brook restaurant. “I sold out to my partner after 11 years,” McMillan said. After that, the chef got out of the commercial kitchen and into the classroom, teaching at Culinard for about a year and a half. McMillan said that during his stint in education, he always knew he’d open another restaurant. He found capable staff members among his former students. “We have seven cooks in the kitchen, and six of the seven are Culinard graduates,” he said. The other is a graduate of Jefferson State Community College’s culinary arts program, he added. “I’ve been pleased with my cooks,” he said. “They’re doing what they want to be

Mark Thompson, Jamie Pursell and Deanna Hawkins, from left of Leaf & Petal in Mountain Brook won the bronze award in the category of annual sales of less than $1 million.

doing.” One of the dishes McMillan said he’s most excited to be serving is his Lacquered Pork Roast, with house kimchee, sticky rice and Butter Bibb lettuce. “It’s different than anything around town,” he said. “It’s a lettuce wrap that you build yourself.” The dish is a variation of one McMillan had at a New York restaurant owned by David Chang, founder of the trendy Momofuku restaurant group and winner of three James Beard awards, McMillan said. His Crispy Kale Salad, with pickled onion, a farm egg and sherry buttermilk dressing, was inspired by a recipe that a former employee came up with, he said. “He’s now head chef and owner of his own restaurant in New York City,” McMillan said. “I had this and fell in love with it.” While chefs typically use others’ recipes as springboards for their own creations, the most talented put something of themselves on a plate, too. McMillan is no exception. His Breakfast for Dinner starter “is something we’d have at home on Sunday nights,” he said. The FoodBar version consists of stoneground grits, pork belly and a quail egg in the hole (served in a slice of bread). As one might imagine given the restaurant’s name, drinks aren’t run of the mill. Bar manager Zak Kittle “is as passionate about the cocktail ingredients as I am about my food ingredients,” McMillan said. You can get a bourbon and Coke and other standards at FoodBar. But for the more adventurous, the drinks menu includes specialty cocktails like the Johnny Cab with brandy, pineapple balsamic shrub, basil and brown sugar as well as the Fish House Punch, with light and dark rum, peach brandy, cognac, lemon and sugar. Carefully-chosen wines and crafts beers are also offered. When he started looking for a location for See, McMillan, facing page

Dorothy McDaniel of Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market in Homewood took home the silver award in the category of annual sales between $1 million and $5 million. Ken Hubbard, accepts the Silver award in the category of annual sales between $5 and $20 million on behalf of the managers and associates of the Western Supermaket in Mountain Brook. The ceremony honored 12 retail businesses with operations in 72 Alabama cities and 31 states. In the category of annual sales between $5 and $20 million, the silver award went to Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook. The silver award in annual sales between $1 million and $5 million was presented to Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market in Homewood. In annual sales of less than $1 million, Leaf & Petal in Mountain Brook won the bronze award. The Gee Emerging Retailer of the Year Award went to Freshfully, a market that sells locally-grown produce in Avondale. The award is named after the late Mickey Gee, longtime owner of The Pants Store and a UAB professor.

Home Brewer’s Beer Is Tops in Contest A 46-year-old computer consultant and home brewer from Vestavia Hills saw his decades-long hobby pay off when his winning beer appeared commercially earlier this month. Stott Noble’s Best of Show Cream Ale,

See, Noble, facing page

noble,

From previous page brewed by Cahaba Brewing Co. and distributed by Birmingham Budweiser, won the Alabama Brew-off home brew competition in July. Noble’s cream ale won Best of Show and first place in the Light Hybrids category. “Competitions are always a great way to get objective feedback on your beer,”

Noble said. “Your friends will always tell you the beer is good, even if it’s not.” Noble received a cash prize and the chance to brew his cream ale commercially for a limited release. He went to Cahaba Brewing Co. in August for the “brew day” to assist in making a full commercial batch. “Every home brewer dreams of going pro one day,” Noble said. “I have had success in competitions outside the state, but to win my first Best of Show at home in Birmingham and have it distributed here makes me very pleased.” Alabama Brew-off, sponsored by Birmingham Bud, was the state’s first legal home brew competition. It celebrated the passage of Alabama’s Right to Brew law this year and toasted the talent that can be found among local home brewers, organizers said. “We always say the many fine craft beers distributed by Birmingham Bud have their roots in home brewing,” Birmingham Bud President Jay Dobbs said. “Who knows? The winners from Alabama Brew-off may be the next big thing to come from our growing craft beer market.” Noble’s Best of Show Cream Ale is available on tap where Cahaba Brewing Co. beers are served. It is not available for retail.

Chamber Luncheons Networking Events Stott Noble saw his decades-long hobby pay off when his winning beer appeared commercially earlier this month.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 37

Business

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Over the Mountain area chambers of commerce are offering several networking opportunities and special events. Here are some of the upcoming events.

HOOVER

William R. Foster, chief executive officer and director of the Birmingham Zoo since 2004, will be the featured speaker at the Oct. 17 Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Meeting. Foster, a leading zoo management authority on the national scene, is past president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the former president and executive director of the Louisville Zoo. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., and the program begins at noon. Tickets are $22. Cancellations are accepted until the morning of the luncheon. The event will be held at the Hoover Country Club, 3140 Country Club Drive. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.hooverchamber. org, email admin@hooverchamber.org or call 988-5672. NORTH SHELBY

The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Safety Awards luncheon to honor public safety officials in Shelby County on Oct. 30. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena at 500 Amphitheater Road in Pelham. The program begins at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Tickets are $17 for members and $25 for non-members. For more information, visit www. shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542. ❖ Send Business news to: kdrexel@otmj.com

McMillan,

From previous page

his new restaurant, McMillan said, he wanted “something relatively turnkey.” He found what he was looking for in the former home of Suburban Grill. He also liked the proximity of Heights Village to U.S. 280, The Summit and nearby suburban areas, he said. While he found the building’s established kitchen readily usable, McMillan did make some changes to the dining area. “My brother-in-law, Will Sims, was deconstructing an old bar on his property in Selma,” McMillan said. “He had used some of the old wood and tin from the barn in his home, and I loved what he’d done. So we used wood from the barn for walls and tabletops and tin on

the bar.” Ellis Hopson covered the concrete floors with coffee-colored epoxy, McMillan said. Ivy Schuster and Rebecca Hatcher of Hatcher Designs handled the decorating, giving the place a cool, minimalist vibe. While FoodBar has been open only for a short while, it’s already attracting a variety of diners, McMillan said. “Foodies always have their ears to the ground when a new restaurant opens, and we have neighbors coming in, too,” he said. “We’re being challenged, and I think we’re passing the test.” FoodBar is open Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10 p.m. It’s at 3156 Heights Village in Vestavia Hills. Reservations are not required. For more information, check out the restaurant’s Facebook page or visit www.foodbarbham.com. ❖

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38 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

fashion

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Making a Case for Accessorizing Attorney’s Meme & Co. Sells Handcrafted Jewelry By Keysha Drexel

Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

Journal editor

Shannon Spotswood

Photo courtesy Busy Bees

Most recently, Busy Bees has captured the attention of actress and style icon Gwyneth Paltrow. Paltrow, the mother of two, discovered Busy Bees online and wrote about the company in her popular lifestyle blog, GOOP, describing the line “as the kind of clothes my kids love to wear-clothes that are super comfortable and look good, too.”

A Mountain Brook attorney has turned a relaxing hobby into a burgeoning cottage industry that is giving fashionistas in the Over the Mountain area the unique accessories they crave. By day, Mary Abbott Harkins is an attorney and vice president of McGriff, Seibels and Williams, Inc. in Birmingham. But after hours, the mother of three creates one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets and necklaces for her Meme & Co. Handcrafted Jewelry business. Harkins’ jewelry is sold at a.k.a. Girl Stuff in downtown Homewood, the Advent Episcopal Church gift shop in Birmingham, PharmSouth in Mt Laurel and online at Etsy.com, a website where people can sell and buy handmade crafts and jewelry. Harkins uses everything from foreign coins to estate and vintage pieces to create jewelry for Meme & Co.

Fashion Buzz Busy Bees Kids’ Clothes Come to Over the Mountain Shops

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

t’s only fitting that a working mother of three is behind bringing a children’s clothing line called Busy Bees to Over the Mountain shoppers. The classic-inspired collection for boys, girls and tweens has found a new home in several local clothing boutiques thanks to its chief financial officer, Shannon Spotswood, who recently moved to Mountain Brook from San Francisco with her husband, son and two daughters. Defined by preppy-chic styling and clean lines, the clothing line can now be found at Mountain Brook’s Christine’s Across the Street, Swaddle in Homewood, Snap Kids in Crestline and also online. Headquartered in Ross, Calif., a suburb of San Francisco, Busy Bees was founded in 2009 by Maryam Barrett, whose oldest daughter went to preschool with Spotswood’s oldest daughter. At that time, Spotswood was working in finance, her first love. “I was the kid who asked for a subscription to the Wall Street Journal when I was 14,” Spotswood said. Yet “I was always interested in fashion and clothing and style and my mother was something of a fashionista, but I never dreamt of a career in this industry.” From 1994 until June 2011, Spotswood held various positions

in the investment and hedge fund industries and was working with a San Francisco-based hedge fund called Symphony Asset Management. That’s where she experienced success investing in the retail sector and became enthralled with the idea of creating and building a brand. “I became fascinated with building brands. Retail is one of the most dynamic industries because all of the peaks and troughs,” she said. Spotswood said she began thinking about Barrett’s children’s clothing line during this time. “That’s when Busy Bees was just getting off the ground, and Maryam had defined this desire for preppy-chic, classic clothing with a modern twist that resonated with me,” she said. Spotswood partnered with Barrett to become the company’s CFO and dove into an industry she calls “intensely competitive, highly creative, offering immediate gratification (and) demanding detail to the most mundane and repetitive tasks.” The retail fashion industry, Spotswood said, is one that straddles both the present and the future as she and Barrett are constantly looking two or three seasons ahead. “We are designing Fall 2014 and already thinking about brand extensions for Spring 2015,” she said. Most recently, Busy Bees has captured the attention of actress and style icon Gwyneth Paltrow. Paltrow, the mother of two, discovered Busy Bees online and

See, busy bees, page 41

“I love to take things and use them in a new way to give them a new life,” she said. “People will often ask me to make a piece just like another piece, and I have to tell them that every piece comes together in a different way so it’s almost impossible for any of them to be exactly alike.” Harkins said she never intended on having her own company when she first started looking for a creative outlet about five years ago. “I was really looking for something creative to do, some ‘mommy’ entertainment to look forward to at the end of the day,” Harkins said.

See, Harkins, page 41

fashion

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 39

cool styles for cold weather Journal photos by lee walls jr.

2. 1. Jan Denaburg looks elegant and ready for any holiday affair in this ensemble from Sympli. She’s wearing the floral Barely floral slant over, $134, sleeveless mimic top, $98 and long narrow pant, $116. She’s set off her look with a Laurel Bassett chain and tassel necklace, $118, and gold-fill earrings, $48. Town and Country Clothes, 871-7909 2. Vivi and Georgia Spotswood are precious in pink and ready for holiday fun. Georgia looks so sweet and will stay warm and toasty in her Busy Bees Gigi dress coat in pink tweed, $171. Vivi is party perfect in this Miss b Blythe ruffle sleeve dress in pink satin, $108. Christine’s Across the Street, 871-6611 3. Ready to ring in the holiday season, Deidra Sanderson is wearing a Les Copains double-breasted paillettes mohair jacket, $1195, Les Copains sleeveless top with Lurex, $445, and Les Copains pant with crystal tuxedo trim, $645. Her Manolo Blahnik Campy Mary Jane patent leather heel, $745, Diane von Furstenberg Lytton small metallic raffia clutch, $295, and Adriana Orsini jewelry add the perfect finishing touches. Saks Fifth Avenue, 298-8550 4. Ready to hit the town in these stylish picks from Monkees of Mountain Brook are Anne Raines Doidge and Margaret Davidson. Anne Raines is wearing an Ali Ro anorak rain jacket, $275, and Melie Bianco handbag, $110. Margaret is looking smart in this 525 fur, $225, Lilly Pulitzer blouse, $148, 7 For All Mankind jeans, $198, and Frye Boots, $418. She has completed her look with a vintage Chanel handbag, $2,500, Tom Ford sunglasses, $395, and Sheila Fajl hoop earrings, $85. Monkees of Mountain Brook, 783-1240

5. Cold weather is on the way and Rebecca Skates and Cady Nelson of Birmingham are ready in these flirty outfits from The Pink Tulip. Rebecca is wearing a rust orange top with crochet detailing on the sides, $35, paired with olive skinny jeans, $59, and a twotoned beige faux leather jacket, $69. Her ensemble is accented with a ruffle scarf in a mustard color, $24, ivory boot socks with lace trim, $15, and tan riding boots, $82. Cady is wearing a chevron print dress with ¾-sleeves, $59, accented by a honeycomb scarf in teal/rust, $34. Her ensemble is set off by black boot socks with ruffle detailing, $26, and taupe booties with beaded detailing, $135. The Pink Tulip, Homewood, 870-7258, Mountain Brook, 637-5390

40 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

fashion

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

4. 1. Sarah Fiveash looks holiday smart in this Vince wool and cashmere chevron-ribbed sweater, $345, Vince silk blouse, $295, and Vince suede ankle zip leggings, $995. She has paired them with Vince Paige leather ankle boots, $495, a Loeffler Randall Rider top handle bag, $495, Alexander McQueen silk leopard skull shawl, $555 and Stephanie Kantis jewelry. Saks Fifth Avenue, 298-8550 2. Looking great as they gear up for holiday fun are Kali Piersall and Jackson Pruitt. Kali looks smart wearing the Old Port puffer vest in Aviator Blue, $148, Harbor Fairisle crewneck sweater in Vineyard Navy, $165, and five-pocket sun-washed cords in Powder, $98.50. Jackson is in his holiday best in this Shetland Cable crewneck sweater in Starboard Green, $98.50, Sedgwick Check Murray shirt in Baltic Blue, $98.50, Pheasant tie in Dark Red, $75.00, and Club pants in Blue Blazer, $79.50. Vineyard Vines, 970-9758 3. Tracy Gory is ready with a stylish look for the holiday season. She is wearing a Worth yellow suede jacket, $45, Lyn Devon print blouse, $30.50, and J Brand skinny jeans, $45. She has completed her ensemble with American Eagle yellow strappy platforms, $22, and an Innuendo purse with pony fur, $58. Second Hand Rose, Cahaba Heights, 970-7997, Valleydale Road, 987-7027

6. 5. 4. This Moyna chevron clutch, $129, from Betsy Prince is the perfect piece to accompany any holiday outfit and when paired with these Robert Clergerie woven wedges, $587, you’ll have the perfect holiday look! Betsy Prince, 871-1965 5. There’s nothing like tennis on a cool crisp day and Madison Standifer and Debbie are ready to play! Debbie is wearing a Lija tank, $75, Lija skort, $75. She and has finished her look with a Glove It visor, $24, Nike Vapor 9 tour shoes, $130, and Glove it tote, $100. Madison will look great on the court in this Lucky in Love tank, $40, Lucky in Love tennis skirt, $46, Adidas Barricade shoes, $70, and All For Color tennis bag, $54. Player’s Choice Tennis, 985-4989

6. New fall styles from Yellowbox are at Flip Flops & What Nots. Boots are always a must in the winter and these Prnny boots are the perfect accent for that favorite fall outfit. Available in cognac and black, $69.99. The always popular Winnie clogs, available in black and brown, $59.99, are a must-have this winter. Gerusha, available in brown and black, $52.99, have a precious braided strap. Zia, available in brown in black, $52.99, are perfect for everyday wear. Flip Flops & What Nots, 967-7429

Harkins, From page 38

“I started out taking painting classes with Jennifer Harwell but soon discovered that I am not a painter.” And while she was less than thrilled with her first foray into the arts, Harkins did discover a part of the creative process that she particularly enjoyed. “I loved working with the different colors, and I was always trying to create texture when I painted,” she said. “I have a house full of colorful paintings from that time, but I knew that there was something else out there for me.” One day in 2011, Harkins was walking around a craft store and wandered into the bead aisle. “My eyes got as wide as saucers when I saw all the Mary Abbott Harkins different colors and sizes and shapes of beads they had. I was really like a kid in a candy store at that moment,” she said. Later that night after getting her children to bed, Harkins sat down with her beading tools and turned on the television. “I know it’s really weird, but I like to watch reruns of ‘Criminal Minds’ while I make jewelry,” she said, laughing. So the attorney watched crime dramas late at night and soon discovered she was quite prolific at her new hobby. “I just kept making things and having more ideas for more pieces and eventually, I looked around and realized that I’d never wear all this jewelry,” she said. “So I started taking a few things to church shows and events like that.” What happened next took Harkins by surprise, she said. “It was the most interesting thing,” she said. “People were actually paying money for jewelry that I made. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I liked it, but I had no idea other people would like it and be willing to spend money on it.” Not long after she took her jewelry public for the first time, Harkins was

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 41

fashion

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

introduced to Dee Tipps, owner of a.k.a. Girl Stuff in Homewood, by a mutual friend. “I brought some pieces in for Dee and she loved them, and so we struck up a partnership,” Harkins said. “She has been so encouraging. She’s been my business adviser and supporter every step of the way.” Tipps said her customers can’t get enough of Harkins’ jewelry, which she has carried at her Homewood boutique for about two and half years now. “I sell more of her jewelry than any other jewelry,” Tipps said. “Now, we truly collaborate, and I’ll take photos of the clothes we’ve got coming for the store and Mary will design pieces to go with the clothes.” Harkins said once demand for her jewelry started taking off, she decided to name her company after the pet name her nieces and nephews have for her. “My sister’s kids call me Meme and my kids call her Meme, and that just seemed like a great name for the business,” she said. Harkins also called on her family to help her when business started taking off and orders had to be filled. “I have a wonderful staff. Patrick, my husband, is very supportive, and I bounce ideas off of him all the time. My son, Clay, who’s 14, is the best advertising and marketing guy you could want because he loves to talk to all the girls and teachers at schools about the jewelry. My daughter, Lilli, is my model,” she said. Lilli, 18, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. She loves to hang out with her mom in the evenings while she is making jewelry for Meme & Co. Lilli graduated from Mountain Brook High School in May. “Lilli is definitely a girl who loves jewelry, and she rocks it. She will model the bracelets and necklaces I’m working on, and she will let me know if she doesn’t like it, just like the typical teenage girl,” Harkins said. Harkins said she’s made pieces to auction off at fundraisers for cerebral palsy research and likes the idea that the pieces she and Lilli work on together are helping other families. “It’s not easy all the time when you have a loved one with cerebral palsy. Every family has its challenges, but you learn to just go on with life and be thankful for all your blessings,” she said. ❖

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busy bees, From page 38

wrote about the company in her popular lifestyle blog, GOOP, describing the line “as the kind of clothes my kids love to wear--clothes that are super comfortable and look good, too.” That unsolicited celebrity endorsement opened the door for Busy Bees to be carried at Neiman Marcus and more than 150 high-end children’s boutiques around the world, Spotswood said. It also led to Busy Bees launching an exclusive collaboration with Paltrow’s lifestyle blog, which is only available at www.goop.com. “Paltrow was very involved and very hands-on. She approved every detail from the fabrics to the colors to the buttons. We sent her samples and her team photographed the collection, and it was very interesting to see our brand interpreted through another mother’s lenses,” Spotswood said. When Busy Bees offered to send VIP goodie bags to Paltrow’s friends, they were star-struck when they read the list of Hollywood moms who would be receiving Busy Bees merchandise, Spotswood said. “It read like a who’s who of Hollywood with names like Kate Hudson, Beyonce and Reese Witherspoon,” she said. “It was all a little bit surreal and just amazing.” Busy Bees has also designed exclusive collections for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Alys Beach Shoppe, Spotswood said. The company last year launched a clothing line for girls ages 7-16 after recognizing a void in children’s fashion for sophisticated yet youthful and appropriate clothing for tween girls, she said. “Going against the mini-me styles of adult clothing, Miss b has brought distinctive styles to the market that today’s girls want to wear,” she said. Spotswood said she leaves the design aspect of the business up to Barrett. “But I do love to weigh in at the 11th hour,” she said. “My role is more in the business and strategy side of things, and that’s what we’ve been doing for two years now--really refining our brand.”

Last year Busy Bees launched a clothing line for girls ages 7-16. Photo courtesy Busy Bees

And part of that refinement is expanding the company’s presence in places like the Over the Mountain area, Spotswood said. “It has always been a part of our long-term strategy to establish a Busy Bees corporate presence in the South as this is our biggest market and where many of our most loyal and passionate customers live,” she said. “I will commute back to California as needed but will work full time in Birmingham.” When she’s not working to grow Busy Bees, Spotswood said she’s settling into her new Mountain Brook home with her husband, Matt, and their children, Vivi, 8, Eastin, 6, and Georgia, 5 who are sure to be dressed in the latest from Busy Bees. “I think fashion is real-time history,” she said. “One of our greatest joys at Busy Bees is creating a collection that dresses the entire family in a coordinated but not identical look. The kids will wear these clothes for the Christmas or Easter celebration, and the picture from that event becomes part of their family history. It is a great honor, and we take pride in the small part we play in making that moment memorable.” To view the Fall 2013 collection, visit www.busybees-kids.com and www.missbtween.com. ❖

42 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

SChools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

A Specialized School Program Vestavia Teachers Focus on Helping Dyslexic Students

By Keysha Drexel

Journal editor

hen Stacie Pegouske’s students start correcting her during their daily lessons, she knows she’s doing something right. Pegouske, a special education teacher and a Certified Academic Language Therapist at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, is one of several teachers in the Vestavia Hills school system who have been working to identify and help children with dyslexia over the past four years. “When they correct me, I know they’re getting it and I know the program is working, and that’s a great feeling,” she said. In 2009, several Vestavia Hills parents expressed concern that the school system wasn’t doing enough to identify and address the needs of children with dyslexia, a disorder that most often affects a person’s ability to read. Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities, according to the definition adopted by the National Institutes of Health and the International Dyslexia Association. People with dyslexia may have problems with reading comprehension and reduced reading experiences that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge. The school system held roundtable meetings with educators, parents and learning disability experts, and school officials devised a plan to raise awareness of dyslexia and to train teachers to recognize the disorder. “For Vestavia Hills (schools) to not only decide that we are going to train teachers to recognize dyslexia, but that we’re also going to provide appropriate intervention for all kids speaks volumes about our system’s commitment to educating all children,” said Susan McCarthy, a reading specialists and Certified Academic Language Therapist at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central. Many public school systems can’t offer the same services, McCarthy said, because training teachers to be dyslexia specialists can be pretty expensive.

“We’re lucky that we have the support of the school district and our administrators. It takes everybody to make it work,” she said. McCarthy and Pegouske work with the teachers at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central to identify students who might be dyslexic. Ideally, children with dyslexia are identified by the end of their firstgrade year or the beginning of the second-grade year, McCarthy said. “The earlier we can start with the intervention program, the better,” McCarthy said. “If we can have them in the program for two years, they will

even getting extra help and are still struggling to decode words and just aren’t getting more fluent in reading, that’s a big red flag,” she said. Other common signs of dyslexia include difficulty reading single words, such as words on flash cards, and difficulty learning the connection between letters and sounds. But specific language problems vary widely among children, according to the International Dyslexia Association. And while the teachers at the school are trained to spot the differences between a struggling reader and a child who might have dyslexia,

Indentifying Dyslexia In observance of Dyslexia Awareness Month, the International Dyslexia Association offers the following common signs of dyslexia in elementaryaged children: Does your first, second or third-grader:

aRemember simple sequences such as counting to 20, naming the days of the week or reciting the alphabet? aHave an understanding of rhyming words, such as knowing that “fat” rhymes with “cat”? aRecognize words that begin with the same sound (for example, that “bird,” “baby” and “big” all start with b)? aEasily clap hands to the rhythm of a song? aFrequently use specific words to name objects rather than using words like “stuff” and “that thing”? aEasily remember spoken directions? aRemember names of places and people? aShow understanding of right-left, up-down, front-back? aSit still for a reasonable period of time? aMake and keep friends easily? Answering “no” to some or most of these questions may indicate a learning disability. Not all students who have difficulties with these skills are dyslexic. Formal testing is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of suspected dyslexia. For more information, visit www.interdys.org. Locally, a group called Decoding Dyslexia Alabama is working towards educational reform for dyslexia in Alabama schools. Made up of a group of parents with dyslexic children, the grassroots organization is hoping to require the state’s teachers to get training in identifying dyslexia in students and initiating the appropriate intervention strategies. For more information on Decoding Dyslexia Alabama, visit decodingdyslexiaala.com.

be prepared to move on to the next grade with their peers.” One of the first red flags classroom teachers watch out for in young students, McCarthy said, is lack of progress in reading skills. “If they are getting instruction and

McCarthy said she’s encountered more than one parent who has worried unnecessarily. “There are a lot of misconceptions about dyslexia. It’s not as simple as reversing letters. Almost every beginning reader will do that at some time

Susan McCarthy, left, and Stacie Pegouske are teachers at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

or another,” she said. Another common misconception is that children with dyslexia are somehow not as bright as their peers who don’t have the learning disability. “That’s just completely untrue,” Pegouske said. “If anything, I’ve noticed that in some ways, these children have to be smarter than other kids because they have to figure out how to process information, and other kids don’t have to go through that. It amazes me that some of my students will comprehend anything they read with the problems with decoding language that they have.” Decoding the English language is what Pegouske and McCarthy help their students do during the 45-60 minutes each day the students are pulled out of their regular classrooms for the dyslexia program. Both specialists said they try their best to keep students in their regular classrooms as much as possible. “We don’t want them to miss the things they need to be learning in their regular classroom, so we try to have classes before school for the children who can get here at that time. It changes from year to year, but the goal is always not to keep them away for too long,” Pegouske said. The dyslexia program begins with children learning what shapes their mouths make when they say certain sounds. Those shapes are illustrated drawn out on what Pegouske and McCarthy called “mouth pictures.” The students study the mouth pictures and their own reflections in a mirror as they make consonant and vowel sounds. Then they learn what letters are

associated with the sounds depicted on the mouth pictures and begin the process of decoding language, Pegouske said. “To you and me, it seems like an awfully complicated way to learn to read, but this helps their brains really break down language to its simplest form and builds on that,” she said. “After we went through the initial teacher’s training to learn these strategies, I thought that it would never work, but that’s because my brain wasn’t working the way the brains of my dyslexic students work.” Now, Pegouske said, she’s seen the power of the strategies and how it can help a child with dyslexia. “It’s so rewarding when you see their faces light up when they get a concept and they start putting it all together,” she said. Several of her students have successfully completed the program and go on to read on grade level. McCarthy said students’ attitudes and support systems have a lot to do with their success in the program. “One of my favorite success stories is of a little boy who was mildly dyslexic and had a great family support system. He had a lot of things going for him, but his biggest asset was his work ethic. He worked hard and he did everything he could so that he was prepared to take the ARMT+ test with his peers, and not only was he able to complete the test, he outperformed many of his peers without dyslexia. It was a great confidence booster for him,” she said. Boosting their students’ confidence is a major part of the program, the teachers said. ❖

Philadelphia Eagles’ DeMeco Ryans and more. Throughout the day, a bake sale will offer homemade brownies, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pies and breads. Local businesses are also welcome to sponsor games at the event. For information about sponsoring games or about the fall carnival, contact Jennifer Lynch at russjennlynch@gmail. com, Holly Chandash athchandas@ southernco.com or Ashley Spurling at ashspurl@gmail.com.

faculty members recently had a chance to hear from a nationally renowned educator, author, consultant and motivational speaker. Salome Thomas-EL, or Principal EL as he is known, talked to senior athletes at Hoover High School on Sept. 12 and also addressed faculty members. He talked about the “immorality of influence,” which also is the title of his newest book. “Principal EL is known for his work with educators around the country. His philosophy is relatively simple--’I have the belief that every child can and will learn as long as the adults in their worlds care enough not to give up,’” said Holly Sutherland, HHS

School Notes Hall-Kent To Host Fall Festival Fundraiser Hall-Kent Elementary School in Homewood will hosts its 79th annual Fall Festival from 3-7 p.m. on Oct. 26. The event will offer a wide variety of activities for all ages, including a cake walk, a gold fish walk, a book walk, a photo booth, inflatables and rides and a bake sale. Raffle tickets will also be on sale and the festival will include a costume contest. The Fall Festival is the school’s only fundraiser each year and proceeds go directly to the classrooms for the students.

The festival also includes a one-mile Fun Run on Oct. 19 beginning at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to preregister for the Fun Run. For more information on the Fall Festival or the Fun Run, call the school at 423-2430.

VHEW Brings County Fair to Town on Oct. 24 The Vestavia Hills Elementary West campus will be transformed into a county fair on Oct. 24 when the school presents its fall carnival. The West County Fair will kick off at 4 p.m. and run through 7 p.m. and will include lots of fun, fair-style games.

The event will raise money for the school. A $15 wristband, which must be purchased before the event, will give kids of all ages unlimited access to the games. Tickets at two for $1 can be used to buy cotton candy, popcorn and toys from the General Store, treats from Bruster’s Italian Ice and other goodies. Pre-purchased meals from Moe’s BBQ and Hungry Howie’s will cost $5 and will be served in the school lunchroom. The West County Fair will also feature prize giveaways through raffle tickets, which cost $1 each. Prizes include a Weber grill from Hollywood Pools, an autographed football from the

Hoover High Students Hear from Principal EL Hoover High School students and

assistant principal. “Hoover High School administrators are highly impressed with Principal EL and are honored that he agreed to visit our community.” Thomas-EL is a frequent guest on national media outlets including C-SPAN and CNN. He became acquainted with Hoover High School administrators through the school’s popular Twitter chats held on Monday nights.

Mountain Brook Debate Team Wins Awards The Mountain Brook High School debate team has had an exciting start to its 2013-2014 season. First, the team has elected a new group of National Forensic League Honor Society officers. Amelia Putnam is president, Jack Fitzpatrick is vice president, Casey Fan is treasurer, Caroline Milligan is

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 43

SChools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

events coordinator and Taylor Cox is information officer. These officers have played large roles in preparing the ninth-grade debaters for the Vestavia Hills Novice Debate tournament, school officials said. As a result, two of the Novice Lincoln Douglas debaters were finalists at the Vestavia tournament. Ethan Fooshee earned third place in overall speaker points, while fellow ninth-grader John Martin Weed went undefeated in all four rounds of competition. The following week, the MBHS debate team traveled to Johns Creek, Ga., to compete in the Chattahoochee Cougar Classic. In Lincoln Douglas, Ben Jones was a quarterfinalist and finished fourth overall in speaker points, while Angela Wu finished seventh in speaker points. In Public Forum, the team of Taylor Cox and Sophia Giovanelli finished ninth overall, while Giovanelli individually

Mountain Brook High School freshmen Ethan Fooshee, left, and John Martin Weed won awards at a recent debate tournament. Photo special to the Journal

placed seventh in overall speaker points.

Attorney General Honors Homewood High School Homewood High School was one of eight Alabama schools named winners of the Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative. State Attorney General Luther Strange announced in April that he was reinstituting the program with an emphasis on technological advances. “Ensuring safe schools for our students has never been more important,” Strange said in a news release. “Special emphasis is being placed on the use of technology to ensure that our schools are safe. Every school who submitted a nomination will receive feedback from our panel of judges on how to enhance their school safety plan.” Zack Barnes, Homewood High principal, said the honor from the attorney general was earned through a team effort. “Homewood High School is both pleased and honored to accept the Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative Award,” Barnes said. “Through the collaborative efforts of district administration, local law enforcement and school-based counseling and administration, a vision and a definitive plan of action for school safety are currently in place at Homewood High School.” Barnes praised Leigh Cohen-Long, Carissa Anthony, Dr. Joel Henneke, Eddie Cunningham and Dr. Kevin Maddox for their efforts in the program.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

School Notes Pizitz Students Lend a Hand at Birthday Party

Hall-Kent Elementary students try out the new track at their school. From left: Alexander Peraltra Tinoco, Cameron Seymour, Lauren Brown, Sherylynn Rivera, Asiah Hunter, Erianna Brown and Tya Ickes. Photo special to the Journal

Three Homewood Schools Get New Tracks

Students at Homewood elementary schools are breaking in the new running tracks installed at their schools over the summer. The Homewood Board of Education installed running tracks at all three of the system’s elementary schools, giving students another option to stay active. Students in kindergarten through the fifth grades at Edgewood, HallKent and Shades Cahaba Elementary have been using the new tracks to improve their running skills during their physical education classes. The community is also using the new running tracks, school officials said, as many parents have been spotted exercising with their children after school or on the weekends. Genie Christian, a P.E. teacher at Shades Cahaba Elementary, said the new tracks have helped students set fitness goals. Students have set goals, from running one complete lap without stopping to staying in motion the entire time they are on the track while saying positive things to their peers as they run, Christian said. “It has been so rewarding to watch the students create their goals, then exceed them,” she said. “It has boosted their self-esteem, made them feel stronger, created a sense of accomplishment and contributed to their overall happiness. It doesn’t get much better than that.” John Dorough, a P.E. teacher at Edgewood Elementary, said the new track has helped motivate his students to train for the Mercedes Kids’ Marathon. On most weeks, the students run one mile on Mondays, Dorough said, to work toward their goal of complet-

ing the kids’ marathon. “It is not always easy to get them fired up about running a mile,” he said. “Now that we have the new track, we have students that have not wanted to participate wanting to get out there and be more active.” The students who have always liked running are just as thrilled with the new addition to the school, Dorough said. “The students that have always enjoyed running are very excited about the new track,” he said. “Several have said it makes them feel like they are on a ‘real’ track team.” Jennifer Andress, a Homewood parent and president of the Birmingham Track Club, said she thinks the new tracks are great for the students and the community as a whole. “What I love seeing is that the track is being used not only by our students but also by our community,” she said. The new tracks are bringing friends and neighbors together in a healthy way, Andress said. “One summer evening, my sons and I were running on the track, and we saw our neighbors walking and another family enjoying it as well. As we were leaving, a man joined us with his dogs to go for a walk,” she said. “Another friend, who had not exercised in a long while, went up on a Sunday afternoon with her son to begin walking again because of the new track. It is a true asset for our community.” ❖

Send School News to:

kdrexel@otmj.com

Shades Mountain Christian School K3 - 12th Grade

www.smcs.org

A group of Pizitz Middle School students celebrated their birthdays by giving to others. The students held a birthday party over the summer at the Vestavia Lodge. They requested that friends make donations to Hands on Birmingham instead of bringing gifts. Hands on Birmingham is a nonprofit organization which connects people with organized, meaningful volunteer opportunities to improve their communities. Those participating in the special birthday party were Marina Shunnarah, Caroline Christiansen, Kennan Trowbridge, Rileigh Kurre, Mills Webb, Frances Smith, Lauren Holston, Rachel Mims and Kennedy Haynes. The girls said they were inspired by a Hands on Birmingham outreach program that provides backpacks of food and school supplies to children in need in the Birmingham metro area. The students decided to donate the money raised at the birthday party to help with that effort. The students presented a $500 check to Stephanie Willis, director of Hands on Birmingham. Hands on Birmingham is most appreciative of the generous donation from the Pizitz girls and their friends, Willis said. The students’ donation was used to supplement the Back to School Backpack Drive and the more than 800 backpacks of food and school supplies distributed to local children. For more information on Hands on Birmingham, visit handsonbirmingham. org.

Bluff Park Elementary Wins Fitness Grant Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover has been named one of 59 schools from 26 states to receive a grant of up $2,500 to help inspire students to be more active and adopt healthy choices to carry into adulthood. The school was awarded the grant by the ING Run for Something Better School Awards Program. In its fifth year, the program is presented through a partnership with ING U.S., a retirement, investment and insurance business, and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Bluff Park Elementary will receive $1,000 immediately and up to $2,500 based on participation to support a minimum eight-week running program that will conclude with a running event to celebrate the students’ achievements. Nationally, ING U.S. has committed more than $4 million in grants to schoolbased running programs through ING Run for Something Better.

Pizitz Middle School students celebrated their birthdays by helping others. Front, from left: Marina Shunnarah, Caroline Christiansen, Kennan Trowbridge and Rileigh Kurre. Back: Mills Webb, Frances Smith, Lauren Holston, Rachel Mims and Kennedy Haynes. Photo special to the Journal The fourth-graders traveled to Montgomery to visit the State House, Judicial Center, Governor’s Mansion, State Capitol and Rosa Parks Museum. Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, visited the school to talk to the students before the trip to Montgomery. DeMarco told the students about his job and how state government works.

line. Daniel Bolus was selected as outstanding drum major. The percussion section and the color guard unit also won best in class awards. The Dorians won the award for best dance line. The band was ranked in second

SMC Celebrates Grandparents Day Shades Mountain Christian School recently invited parents to the school to celebrate Grandparents Day. The Sept. 4 event began with a singing program and was followed by a reception. Students were able to visit with their grandparents and enjoy refreshments. This is the second year the school has hosted a Grandparents Day celebration. Grandparents in and outside of the Birmingham metro area were invited to attend.

Mountain Brook Band Gets High Marks The Mountain Brook High School Marching Band received superior ratings for its performance at the Sparks in the Park marching competition at Spain Park High School in September. The overall band performance received a superior rating that included a “I” for visual performance and visual general effect, a “II” for music performance and music general effect, a “I” for percussion, a “I” for drum major, a “I” for color guard, and a “I” for dance

Caden Cofield’s grandmother and great-grandmother visit with him at Shades Mountain Christian School during Grandparents Day. From left: Mary Morgan, Carol James and Caden Cofield. Photo special to the Journal place in class 2A and third place overall in the small band division. This is the second year Spain Park High School has hosted the Sparks in the Parks competition.

Crestline Fourth-graders Visit State Capitol Students from Crestline Elementary School in Mountain Brook recently took a field trip to delve deeper into their studies on the three branches of government and the history of Montgomery.

Fourth-graders from Crestline Elementary School in Mountain Brook recently visited Montgomery as part of their studies on government and history. Photo special to the Journal

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 45

SCHOOLS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Six weeks after she wrote the essay, the Columbine school shootings occurred. Scott had been eating lunch with her friend outside. Her brother Craig survived, but two friends who were with him were shot and killed. After hearing a presentation on Scott’s story, the Vestavia Hills students were encouraged to accept and fulfill challenges about getting rid of prejudice in their hearts, dreaming big, choosing positive life influences and speaking with kindness and not cruelty. The Vestavia Hills City Council provided financial support for the program. Greystone Elementary School students won awards in the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition. Front, from left: Ella Copenhaver, Peyton Thurmond and Cooper Kelley. Middle: Alison Hanna, Brooke Stroup, Jake Majors and Braden DiClemente. Back: Nick Dunlap, Kaleigh Rice, Josh Harrington and Kenna Burdett. Max Johnson is not pictured. Photo special to the Journal

Greystone Students Excel in NFL Contest Students at Greystone Elementary showcased their football skills by winning several awards in a recent competition. Four Greystone students advanced to the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick sectional competition after winning the event’s school round. The contest, which allows youngsters to showcase their talents in punting, passing and kicking with scores based on distance and accuracy, was hosted by the Greystone Elementary Physical Education Department Sept. 16-17 at the school. The first-place winner in the girls’ ages 8-9 division was Kenna Burdett. Kaleigh Rice won first place in the girls’ ages 10-11 category. First place in the boys’ ages 8-9 competition went to Josh Harrington. Nick Dunlap won first place in the boys’ ages 10-11 division. The four winners will move on to the sectional competition in Chattanooga, Tenn. The students have a chance to qualify for the Team Championships competition in Nashville based on their qualifying scores in Chattanooga.

the students designed and built small remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, out of PVC pipe, floats and motors.

Vestavia Students Take Rachel’s Challenge Students at Liberty Park Middle School, Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School recently participated in a program called Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is a series of student empowering programs and strategies that equip students and adults to combat bullying and allay feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion. The programs are based on the writings and life of 17 year-old Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. As part of a school assignment, Scott wrote an essay entitled “My Ethics, My Codes of Life” in which she talked about starting a chain reaction of kindness.

Cherokee Bend Honors Retired Teachers Cherokee Bend Elementary School recently honored four faculty members who have retired from Mountain Brook City Schools. The retirees are Diane Hilburn, Cathey May, Greg Odrezin and Donna Phillips. Hilburn worked for the school system for 28 years as a special education teacher. May was a sixth-grade teacher at Cherokee Bend Elementary and worked for Mountain Brook City Schools for 12 years. Odrezin was a sixth-grade math teacher at Cherokee Bend Elementary, where she worked for 14 years. Phillips was the receptionist and registrar for Cherokee Bend Elementary. Prior to that, she was the school’s bookkeeper. She worked at the school for 23 years.

OLS Students Take Office Officers for the new school year have been elected by the eighth-grade class at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Homewood.

Highlands Students Travel to Dauphin Island Sea Lab Eighth-graders from Highlands School recently took a trip to get some hands-on science lessons. The students spent Sept. 20-22 in Dauphin Island at the Sea Lab to study coastal ecology and oceanography. The students and their environmental science teacher, Sam Kindervater, journeyed out into the Gulf of Mexico and trawled for sea life. They caught a variety of sea creatures and were surprised to find a baby shark sucker, an animal that sticks to sharks and eats the sharks’ leftovers, and an Asian tiger prawn, an invasive species, that was almost 12 inches long. The students also explored the salt marsh with their fishing nets. They found blue, hermit and fiddler crabs and lots of baby fish, shrimp and moon jellies. The next day they visited the Estuarium, the Sea Lab’s public aquarium, and were able to touch stingrays, horseshoe crabs and a bonnethead shark. During their visit, they learned about coastal erosion and the ecology of different habitats. For their final activity,

Cherokee Bend Elementary School recently honored faculty members who retired from Mountain Brook City Schools in May. From left: Donna Phillips, Diane Hilburn, Cathey May and Greg Odrezin. Photo special to the Journal The new officers were chosen by their classmates to lead their class and support school-wide activities. Outside of the classroom, their responsibilities include bringing new and creative ideas to school leaders, helping with Catholic Schools Week and leading school prayer at special events. The new eighth-grade officers are Jessica Walker, Mary Grace Farr, Jake Miller, Natalie Vizzina, Caroline Smith and Anna Rumore.

Other officers are Sloan Zieverink, secretary; Ellen Simmons, treasurer; Merritt Cahoon, parliamentarian; Sophia Rosene, chaplain; Jordan Stevens, historian; and Ashleigh Patterson, sergeant-at-arms. ❖

Liberty Park Middle Elects New SGA Officers

kdrexel@otmj.com

Members of the Vestavia Hills High School Student Government Association visited Liberty Park Middle School recently to participate in the middle school’s Student Government Association officer induction ceremony. The new student officers were sworn into their positions by the high school students. Each new officer received the book “The Positive Dog” by Jon Gordon. Kate Strange is the Liberty Park Middle School SGA president, Harrison Wood is boys’ vice president and Carlee Beth Yarbrough is girls’ vice president.

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Please make sure all informat including address and phon Highlands School eighth-graders recently spent a weekend at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Front, from left: Logan McFadden, Ford McInnis and Grant Bend. Back: Tate Shuttlesworth, Alexandra Lohrke, Sarathi Shah, Cecilia Reisner, Megan Seidel, Anna Lisa Goodman, Livia Wilson and Carolyn Calvert-Grimes. Photo special to the Journal

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46 • Thursday, October 17, 2013

sports

beach,

From back cover

accomplishments. Beach recorded the 2,000th assist of her high school career as Oak Mountain–ranked ninth in Class 6A–defeated Vestavia Hills 25-22, 25-12, 25-13 for its 22nd victory of the season. She also recorded 12 kills, seven aces and 10 digs. The 2000th assist came on her 17th and final assist of the match. Hannah Bynum helped the cause for Oak Mountain with 14 assists and four kills, while Bailey Rueschenberg had eight kills and Shayla Williams added 14 digs. “I don’t know if it’s any kind of a school record, but it was a milestone for me,” said Beach when contacted a few days later. “But of course, I couldn’t have done anything without the help of my teammates.” Beach said reaching the 2,000 assist mark required two important elements. “You need to have hitters who can put the ball in the right place across the net,” she said. “You’ve also got to have passers who can get you the ball.” Beach didn’t rest on her laurels after reaching the 2,000-assist mark. In Oak Mountain’s next game, she turned in a typical performance. She had 19 kills, 11 aces, 10 digs and eight assists to help her team to a 19-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18 win over Northridge. As special as the milestone is, Beach has a far more ambitious goal for the season. She wants to lead the Lady Eagles to their first-ever state 6A volleyball championship. They came close last season,

Beach was named Birmingham Metro Player of the Year and Shelby County Player of the Year in 2012-13. Photo special to the Journal

reaching the Elite Eight, but Beach isn’t satisfied. “We have great coaching and a lot of talent,” she said. “The key is getting better every game and showing more toughness. If we’ve had a weakness in the past, it’s that we haven’t always been tough enough in big matches. If we can get tougher and come together as a group, I think we have a great shot.” For Oak Mountain to win, it would have to break

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

a six-year stranglehold that schools from North Alabama have held on the top prize. Huntsville has won six of the last seven Class 6A titles. Bob Jones, also from North Alabama, won the seventh. “So many people say that the best volleyball in the state is played in the north, but I think that’s changing,” Beach said. “I played for the South team in the All-Star game last year, and we won for the first time in about seven years. So the tide is turning in our direction.” Beach, whose favorite position to play is setter, got involved with volleyball at the age of 11 and instantly fell in love with the sport. “My sister played, so I had a little bit of a history there,” she said. “I had played other sports, but once I tried volleyball, I liked it from the very beginning.” Beach has played both outside hitter and setter for Oak Mountain but prefers the latter. “I like playing setter because you are involved with every single play,” she said. “You know that any one play you make can be the difference in the game.” Even if the Lady Eagles fall short of their goal of a state crown, Beach’s career won’t end in high school. She intends to play at the University of West Florida. “I’m really excited about going down there,” she said. “I’m leaning toward majoring in business, and it helps that I’ll be close to the beach, too.” First and foremost on Beach’s mind for the moment, however, is that dream of a state championship. And with her name and credentials, Hannah Beach may be just the one to help lead Oak Mountain to the promised land.

Cherokee Bend Students Participate in Special Olympics

Members of the Westminster School boy’s and girl’s cross country track teams celebrate their strong showing at the Jesse Owens Cross Country Invitational.

Jack Wood Stadium in Trussville was the site for the 2013 Special Olympics Track & Field Competition and Cherokee Bend Elementary was excited to have seven student athletes this year. The event was celebrated with a pep rally to send-off the students and their teachers. Boys and Girls lined the halls cheering for their peers who were to participate. Teachers and supporters wore light blue Special Olympics T-shirts to show their encouragement for the athletes from Cherokee Bend.

The Westminster School at Oak Mountain competed recenlty in the 15th annual Jesse Owens Cross Country Invitational, capping a successful Middle School season for the young Knights. In the Jr. High Small Schools Division 2.1 mile race, the boys’ team earned the title with 22 points. The Westminster Boys’ team took four of the top 10 spots in the victory. They were led by Scott Landers, who finished second with a time of 11:33, Price Leonard (fourth) 12:34, Pierce Moffett (sixth) 12:56, Cole Callahan

(seventh) 13:00, and Jonah Sellers (fiftheen) 13:31. Racing in the Junior High Large Schools Division, the Girls’ team finished a strong second with 82 points, edged by Mountain Brook, who took the title with 43 points. The Westminster girls took three of the top 15 spots, led by Maddie Hoaglund, who finished fifth with a time of 12:59, Camilla Lemons (11th) 13:26, Sarah Kate Lipperd (12th) 13:27, Lauren Hoaglund (24th) and Tori Deen (30th). One of the largest cross country meets in the South, the Jesse Owens Classic featured more than 5,000 runners representing over 150 teams from Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Vestavia Lacrosse Meeting Set

The Vestavia Lacrosse Organization will hold its annual Open Board Meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Vestavia Parks and Recreation Offices. All are welcome. Please see www.vestavia.lax for updates.

Homewood 50, Sylacauga 7 Homewood’s Walter Rutledge rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns as the Patriots routed Sylacauga 50-7 on Thursday night. Homewood is 6-1 overall and 5-0 in Class 5A Region 4 play. The Patriots entertain Shelby County Friday.

Vestavia 56, Carver 14 Jordan Johnson ran for three touchdowns–including an 82-yard kickoff return–to spark Vestavia Hills to a 56-14 domination of Carver of Birmingham. The Rebels moved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in Class 6A Region 6 competition. Vestavia’s triumph gave Coach Buddy Anderson his 303rd career win– the highest number in Alabama High School Athletic Association history. Vestavia welcomes a tough Shades Valley team this week.

Hoover 28, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 6 Top-ranked Hoover used a strong second half in defeating HillcrestTuscaloosa 28-6. Third string quarterback Christopher Vacarella stepped in after starter Jack Hutcheson and backup Jason Burton suffered injuries. Bradrick Shaw scored two touchdowns for the Bucs, who are 7-0 for the season. Hoover travels to Minor Friday.

Mountain Brook 34, Hewitt-Trussville 13 Quarterback Jacob Carroll ran for 165 yards and passed for 127 yards in leading Mountain Brook to a 34-13 win over Hewitt-Trussville. The Spartans raised their record to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Class 6A Region 6 play. The Spartans host Huffman Friday.

Briarwood 22, Chilton County 0 Get Fired Up! Cherokee Bend students hold a pep rally to send off seven student athletes who participated in the 2013 Special Olympics Track & Field Competition. Photo special to the Journal

Photo special to the Journal

Westminster XC Boys Take First, Girls Second at Jesse Owens Classic

Week 7 Results

Briarwood earned a 22-0 victory over Class 5A Region 4 rival Chilton County. Victor Jerald raced for 132 yards on 18 carries to lead the Lions. Ethan Simmons had nine tackles and a fumble recovery. Briarwood raised its record to 5-2 for the season and 4-1 in region play. The Lions take on Ramsay Thursday night at Lawson Field.

John Carroll Catholic 16, Ramsay 9 John Carroll Catholic took a 16-9 homecoming win over Ramsay. Matthew Byers returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Byers also caught a two-point pass from Riley Mara. The Cavaliers raised their record to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in Class 5A Region 4 competition. The Cavs go on the road to Chilton County this week.

Simmons Wins Thompson Tournament

The seventh grade Simmons volleyball team won first place in the Thompson Tournament. They went undefeated, beating Pizitz in the championship game. Team members are, from left, front: Reece Vaughan, Evalynn Ngamau, Olivia Rand, Gracie Alspach, Ashlee Frier, Brooke Hoven and Maggie Ethridge. Back: Audrey Colabrese, Mackenzie Martin, Savanna Akins, Hannah Sanders, Anne Stewart, Mattie Test and Mikhaila Hampton. Photo special to the Journal

Coosa Christian 26, Shades Mtn. Christian 24 The Eagle’s fall in a close one. Shades Mountain travels to Appalachian in a region matchup.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 47

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Spain Park’s Kourtney Moore attempts to break away from Oak Mountain’s Nathan Bowman. Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

Jaguars, From back cover

tooth and nail tonight,” said a happy Spain Park coach Shawn Raney. “We made some mistakes, but I can’t say anything bad about the way our guys played. We showed a lot of heart coming back.” There was plenty of heart on both sides. The Eagles seemed to be in control until late in the third period, when the Jaguars’ game-winning surge began. “Oak Mountain’s a good football team,” Raney said. “They try to wear you out by running the ball. We dodged a big one tonight.” The game started as if it might be a routine Spain Park victory. Jaguar quarterback Mickey Forrest, who transferred from Oak Mountain, passed six yards to Otis Harris for a touchdown with 5:04 remaining in

Homewood, From back cover

schedule with the power of a hurricane. In posting six consecutive victories, Homewood has averaged nearly 46 points per game. On the defensive side, the Patriots have given up an average of less than a touchdown per game over the same period. To put it bluntly, since losing to Vestavia, Homewood has been unstoppable. A typical performance came last Thursday, when Coach Doug Goodwin’s team visited region rival Sylacauga. The Patriots dumped the Aggies 50-7, aided by a 27-point explosion in the third quarter. Sylacauga’s only score came late in the contest, when the verdict had been long since decided. Running back Walter Rutledge led the Patriots with 191 yards in just eight carries with two touchdowns, including runs of 68 and 65 yards. Sophomore quarterback Carson Griffis was as steady as always, rushing for 74 yards and completing three of five passes for 78 yards and a score. For the night, Homewood pounded out 370 yards on the ground. Griffis, who replaced the outstand-

the first quarter. Thomas Taylor’s kick gave Spain Park a 7-0 lead. Oak Mountain responded with a strong second quarter. Talen Lloyd’s eight-yard touchdown run early in the period, followed by Blake Miller’s conversion, tied the score at 7-7. Miller booted a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Eagles a surprising 10-7 halftime advantage. The hosts increased their lead in the third period when Harold Shader crossed the goal line from eight yards away. Miller’s second conversion gave Oak Mountain a 17-7 cushion with 6:17 remaining to play in the third period. Spain Park coolly battled back. Harris’s three-yard touchdown run came with less than two minutes in the period. Taylor’s conversion cut the margin to 17-14. The Jaguars used a bit of razzledazzle to set up the winning score. ing Luke Porter at the signal-caller position, has filled those large shoes admirably. He has completed a whopping 65 percent of his passes for the season, throwing 13 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. His top receivers are Devonte Wallace and Lawton Dorough. Griffis also doubles as the Patriots’ punter. Rutledge has already rushed for 848 yards and has a 7.5 yards per carry average. Barring injury, he is almost certain to break the 1,000-yard mark. The strength of Homewood’s running game is reflected by the fact that five Patriot backs with at least 30 carries for the season are averaging more than six yards per attempt. Of course, one reason for the success is the play of the offensive line. The leader up front for Homewood is the highly-touted Jordan Sims, who earned all-state honors at guard last year. A giant at 6-4, 345 pounds, Sims is considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation. “We expect him to block people,” Goodwin said. “Jordan is a good player and great leader. He sets the tone for our offensive line.” Sims isn’t a one man line. Senior Ingram Easter is the other guard. Morris Scott and John Yarbrough are the tackles, and Justin Davis is the center.

Oak Mountain quarterback Warren Shader is brought down by Spain Park’s Devin Pughsley (79) and Jonah Tibbs (94).

Forrest pitched to receiver Roman Verciglio, who connected on a pass to Brannon Martens. Martens’ reception went for 28 yards to put Spain Park inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line. Moments later, Harris scored on a four-yard run with 5:41 left in the game. Oak Mountain couldn’t answer the score. Spain Park’s comeback win not only kept the Jaguars undefeated but also ran their Class 6A Region 4 record to 5-0. The Eagles fell to 3-4 overall

and 2-3 in league competition. Forrest was outstanding in the winning cause, completing 13 of 23 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Harris finished with 84 yards on 20 carries and caught five passes for 18 yards. Kourtney Moore caught five passes for 82 yards. Three solid running performances sparked the Eagles’ attack. Lloyd gained 77 yards on 26 carries, Harold Shader earned 62 yards on 14 carries and quarterback Warren Shader picked up 68 yards on 14 carries.

“This was one of those games you don’t forget,” Raney said. It was also one of those games a team wins if it wants to go undefeated. The Jaguars close with a home date against Stanhope Elmore before going on the road against Pelham and Oxford. All are capable opponents, but none of them are likely to provide more resistance than Oak Mountain. The 2013 season is looking to be a memorable one for Spain Park. If it is, the comeback at Oak Mountain might be the biggest moment of all.

Defensively, linebacker Robert Fittro, defensive back Derico Harris and nose guard Kaelan Henry are the top tacklers for the Patriots. In the secondary, Devonta Barnfield has three interceptions, and Maurice Mayo has two. Homewood will be heavily favored in region games against Shelby County and Talladega before closing the season with non-region opponent Benjamin Russell. The Patriots have not won the state Class 5A title since 2005. Barring injuries, Homewood’s dry spell could end in December.

Former Fayette County coach Waldon Tucker has 309 wins, but 25 of those came at Demopolis Academy, which is not a member of the AHSAA. Vestavia is 6-1 with three regular season games and the playoffs ahead, so theoretically Anderson could beat Tucker’s total in 2013. Anderson isn’t concerned with his 310th win. His thoughts are only on the next game. Considering that the Rebels’ upcoming game is against undefeated Shades Valley, that’s a

pretty good strategy. One good way to win 303 games in 36 years is to never look too far ahead. “This has never been about me,” said Anderson, when discussing his inevitable climb up the victory ladder. “It’s always been about the kids that played here and the coaches that have worked here. I’m just proud and honored to be a part of it.” It’s impossible to predict the exact date of Anderson’s pending 310th victory. But when it comes, nobody will deserve the record more. ❖

Another Milestone for Anderson

It seems as if every time Vestavia wins a football game, Buddy Anderson reaches a new milestone. He earned his 300th career victory with a 30-8 triumph over Huffman on Oct. 12. When Vestavia throttled Carver 56-14 last Thursday, Anderson quietly became the winningest coach in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Anderson now has 303 wins to his credit, placing him one ahead of longtime Luverne coach Glenn Daniel, who ended his storied career with 302 all-time victories.

Vestavia’s Buddy Anderson became the winningest coach in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association last Friday night. Journal file photo Lee Walls Jr.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, october 17, 2013

Eagles Test

Sports

Anderson sets AHSAA record with win over Carver P. 47

Spain Park Comeback Has Look of Destiny

Lee Davis

Homewood Wreck Center

By Lee Davis

Journal Sports Writer

When a football team is on the way to a special season, it almost always wins at least one game against all odds. That game may have happened for Spain Park Friday night. The undefeated Jaguars found themselves in a 17-7 third quarter hole against fired-up Oak Mountain at the Eagles’ Heardmont Park. But like all great teams, Spain Park found a way. The Jags rallied for two touchdowns to stage an epic 21-17 comeback victory and run their record to 7-0. “I knew Oak Mountain would fight us See jaguars, page 47

Patriots Dominate after Early Loss to Rebels

ometimes a loss can actually be good. If you don’t believe it, take a look at the Homewood Patriots. Homewood, the preseason favorite to win Class 5A’s Region 4, was whipped by Class 6A rival Vestavia Hills 34-14 in the season opener. Even some of the most devout Patriot

Spain Park’s Austin Haight (12) and Jonah Tibbs (94) stop Oak Mountain’s Gaylon Lloyd in the Jaguars 21-17 win over the Eagles Friday night. Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

Beach, Volleyball

Oak Mountain Star Sets Personal Milestone

By Lee Davis

Journal Sports Writer

Hannah Beach added a personal milestone to her already impressive list of accomplishments last week when she recorded the 2,000th assist of her high school career at Oak Mountain.

When the words “beach” and “volleyball” are used in the same sentence at Oak Mountain, the conversationalists probably aren’t talking about the rapidly-growing sport that has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1996. Instead, they are likely talking about Lady Eagle standout Hannah Beach. Let’s face it, how can a girl with that name not be a volleyball star? Entering her senior season, Beach had already earned her reputation as one of Alabama’s top high school players. She was named Birmingham Metro Player of the Year and Shelby County Player of the Year in 2012-13. Last week, she added a personal milestone to her already impressive list of See beach, page 46

Photo special to the Journal

For Oak Mountain to win, it would have to break a six-year stranglehold that schools from North Alabama have held on the top prize. Huntsville has won six of the last seven Class 6A titles. Bob Jones, also from North Alabama, won the seventh.

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Homewood running back Walter Rutledge has already rushed for 848 yards and has a 7.5 yards per carry average. Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry

boosters wondered if the expectation level for their football team might have been a little too high. Seven weeks later, it’s clear that any reports of Homewood’s impending decline were greatly exaggerated. Since the loss to the Rebels, the Patriots have swept through their See homewood, page 47