September 2026 | Volume 19 | Issue 11
THE 280 CORRIDOR’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE 280LIVING.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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Unbroken drive Orthopedist balances risk, recovery and a four-sport life
A sign welcomes people to Trinity Presbyterian Church off Alabama 119, across from Tattersall Park. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By KELLI S. HEWETT
D
r. Mary Elizabeth “Meg” Gilmer spends her days repairing other people’s broken bones and her nights and weekends testing the limits of her own. So far, she has broken 22. She charts her expertise and adventures on growing Instagram, TikTok and Facebook accounts. “If my heart rate’s about 150, and I’m in the woods, that’s the same feeling for me as people get looking at the ocean,” said Gilmer, who lives in Chelsea. The orthopedic surgeon, a foot and ankle specialist at OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports in Trussville and Hoover and at Grandview Medical Center, has treated the fractures and tendon tears that sideline runners and end seasons. She also has logged miles around the globe in elite competitions on mountain trails, hammered her way through national ultimate Frisbee tournaments, and ground through top long-distance bike races and downhill ski days. She likes to see what her body can do, but it’s also about seeing through her decisions. “I will die before I will not accomplish something,” Gilmer said. “It’s not even really testing myself. Once the decision is made, it’s going to happen. It’s the actual effort of doing it. It’s very zen for me to be just walking, hiking, running or just zen being in that moment.”
See GILMER | page A18
New Christian school hits zoning roadblock By JON ANDERSON The plan was to open a new Christian school with preschool to eighth grade classes on Aug. 11 on the campus of Trinity Presbyterian Church off Alabama 119, just across from Tattersall Park. The vision was cast for Trinity Classical Academy, a school based on the ideas that shaped western civilization and taught in an unapologetically Christian manner. More than 40 students from 22 families were enrolled. Teachers were hired. School choice money from the state was accepted. But there was one big problem — the church never got permission from the city of Hoover to operate a school on the property. Dr. Mary “Meg” Gilmer, an orthopedic surgeon who lives in Chelsea, is active in four sports and has gained a following on social media for her healthy living exploits. Photo courtesy of Dr. Meg Gilmer. Inset: Dr. Gilmer holding event medals. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
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INSIDE
Sponsors............... A4 City......................... A6
Business...............A10 Schoolhouse..........B2
Sports.................... B9 Events................... B12
Life........................ B15
See TRINITY | page A20 Scan the QR code to follow us online!
Volleyball begins
Education Guide
Local high school volleyball teams have lofty goals in 2026.
Check out educational offerings in the area in our annual guide.
See page B9
See pages B6-8
A2 • September 2026
280 Living
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280Living.com
September 2026 • A3
A4 • September 2026
280 Living
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley There is something particularly serene about both the before and after of a football game. Now that football season has arrived, it takes me back to that place of anticipation, walking up to a football stadium before the big game. The band is playing, the players warming up, the energy building. No one knows what is about to unfold on that field. The game itself is great — it’s what we all truly came to see and witness ourselves. But I also find such peace in the aftermath. The bleachers cleared, the dust settled, the quiet of night descending upon the gridiron.
I call it a happy place. And it’s that time of year. I hope you were able to find this year’s Under the Lights magazine around town. If not, and you would like one, send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com. Enjoy this month’s edition of the paper as well!
Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness (A7) Alabama Foot Care at Home (A15) Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation (B6) Aqua Systems of Birmingham (A19) Bellini’s Ristorante (A7) Birmingham Grill Company (A6) Birmingham Orthodontics (B11) Bromberg’s (B1) Budget Blinds (B3) Children’s of Alabama (B10) City of Chelsea (A4) Closets by Design (A1) Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (A19) Compact (B5) Cummings Jewelry Design (A1)
Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Kyle Parmley News Editor: Jon Anderson Staff Writer: Kelli S. Hewett Production Assistant: Jenn Moon Published by:
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Starnes Publishing LLC P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 280living.com
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Client Success Specialist: Warren Caldwell Business Development Exec: Don Harris Operations Specialist: Sarah Villar
D-BAT Oak Mountain (B10) Fancy Fur - Paws and Claws (B3) Flipsies Furniture (A6) Gardner Landscaping (A2) Grandview Medical (A3) Hearing Solutions (B14) Highlands School (B8) Hilltop Montessori School (B8) HomeRN Hoover Vestavia (A14) Indian Springs School (B7) Julie Kim, RealtySouth (A12) Magic City Investigations (B5) Monark Grove at Greystone (B15) Oak Highland Design Decorating Den (A10) One Man & A Toolbox (B13) Piggly Wiggly (A11) Practice Works (A10) Proscape (A14) Renew Dermatology (A13)
Contributing Writers: April Coffey Lauren H. Dowdle Caroline Miller Amasico Rainer Emily Reed Kristi Sellers Drew Taylor
kparmley@starnesmedia.com
Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to
inform the community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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Royal Automotive (B16) Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School (A9) Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (A20) Shelby County Schools (B7) Sleep Lux (B1) Southeastern Jewelers and Engraving (B3) Southern Exterior Cleaning Solutions (A12) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (A20) The Neighborhood Plumber (B5) TherapySouth (A16-A17) Trustmark Bank (A8) United Way of Central Alabama (B13) Vicki’s Amish Furniture (A4) We’ll Do It (A5)
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280Living.com
September 2026 • A5
A6 • September 2026
280 Living
CITY
City clamps down on Hoover food truck operators By JON ANDERSON If you’ve noticed a dramatic reduction in the number of food trucks lining the roads or set up in parking lots in Hoover, there’s a reason for that. The Hoover City Council recently revamped the city’s food truck regulations after the city started getting complaints about food trucks operating illegally. Previously, people were allowed to set up food trucks in nonresidential districts as long as they met certain criteria, City Planner Mac Martin said. They had to have permission from the property owner. They could stay there no more than three consecutive days. They could not have seating, signage or tents, and they could not be within 200 feet of a restaurant, Martin said. But as city code enforcers began checking out complaints, “every location we came across was violating at least one of those provisions, if not multiple provisions,” he said. Essentially, the food trucks in many cases were setting up as permanent additions to the property, he said. Some of them may have taken the food trucks away at night, but they were back the next day in the same spot, over and over again, he said. Many of them also had seating, signs and tents. “We were to the point where those operations were setting up all over town,” Martin said. There was concern from some food truck operators who expressed an interest in following city regulations but found their competitors were not being made to follow the same rules, and there also was concern with having food trucks set up in close proximity to restaurants that had made a more significant capital investment to be in the city, Martin said. There also were some food trucks that were setting up in locations that were not good for
Taqueria Juarez at the 2025 Bluff Park Art Show. The food truck was regularly in the 3400 block of Lorna Road until mid-August when the owner, Jorge Juarez, stopped operating there after the city revised its food truck regulations and began enforcing them. Photo by Jon Anderson.
public safety, such as being in a public right of way or another location that was interfering with traffic visibility. Food trucks and their customers also were taking up parking that was designated for other businesses in shopping centers, and in some cases customers were parking on public right of way, he said. Additionally, there was some concern about the aesthetics of having so many food trucks popping up all over town in a haphazard manner, Martin said. “It may not have been giving off the best impression of Hoover along our highway corridors,” he said. Instead of issuing a lot of violations and tying
up Municipal Court, city leaders decided to rework their food truck regulations and create a new food truck court zoning designation that would allow developers to create a spot for food trucks in commercial districts with some better planning for them. The new regulations still allow for food trucks at special events with designated time frames and allow for them in planned office and planned industrial districts, but only with certain conditions. The trucks can only be set up during the time of operation of the businesses on the property and be designed for employees and patrons of those businesses. They also must
be set up in accordance with the fire code and have a place on the property for customers to use the bathroom. Finally, the new food court truck zoning would require developers of such courts to have utility access for the trucks and to meet minimum standards for parking, landscaping, bathroom access and covered seating. “It would actually function more like a permanent business,” Martin said. “[But] the roadside setup that some of our food trucks have been operating as — that is no longer permitted.” The new regulations took effect June 22.
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280Living.com
September 2026 • A7
CITY
Chelsea welcomes new IT Director Matthew Griffin By CAROLINE MILLER Chelsea is welcoming a new member to the city staff with the arrival of information technology director Matthew Griffin. Griffin grew up in Homewood and has worked in IT for about 10 years, including as a system administrator for the University of Alabama and teaching roles with the public libraries in Gardendale and Pelham. For the past four years, he has worked as an IT system administrator for Pelham. Griffin said his interest in pursuing IT as a career came from problem solving. “With IT, it’s more logic, but it’s turned, in recent years, more into almost like a psychology where you’re a people person and you help people with the computer instead of always dealing with the computer problems,” Griffin said. “It’s a good mix of problem solving on the human side and problem solving on the computer side.” He first developed IT experience in the medical field, as a teenager. “When I was 13, I was helping my dad’s medical office when they first got computers, so I’ve been doing IT for a lot longer than just 10 years,” he said. He later was in a doctoral program at the University of Alabama but decided that teaching at that level wasn’t really matching up with his interests, so he pivoted. “It was a little painful, but sometimes you have to pivot to get where you’re really needed,” he said.
When asked why he was interested in pursuing a role with Chelsea, Griffin cited the growth of the city. “Chelsea is growing, and I am really interested in helping,” he said. “I got a servant’s heart, if you will, and saw a need, and my skills matched up with what they were asking for.” Griffin lives in Alabaster with his wife, Krysten. The two have been married for 14 years and have an 8-year-old daughter, Abby, who is going into the third grade and two cats named Aang and Panda. Griffin said he and his family have fun playing video games and board games, and he also enjoys woodworking as a hobby. “I try to get into model making,” he said. “We play a DND game where I like to use miniatures to do the scenery, but painting at that detail and that scale is sometimes difficult for me, but I do try. I carve, I wood turn, and I’m pretty good at making tables. My hobby is collecting hobbies, almost.” Griffin said one of his family’s favorite local restaurants is Salvatore’s Pizza & Pasta, which has a location in Chelsea. “We love Salvatore’s Pizza, and we do love a good home pizzeria atmosphere.” Griffin said his family also looks forward to exploring archery in Chelsea. “My daughter really loves archery, so we drove past and saw that the city had an archery range. So we were really fascinated to take a look at that and see what the process would be
Matthew Griffin is the new information technology director for the city of Chelsea. Photo courtesy of Matthew Griffin.
to use that and how to get better at archery.” When asked about what he hopes to accomplish with Chelsea, Griffin said he hopes to help build out the infrastructure and help make it easier for residents and employees of the
city to do their jobs. “If they’re struggling with any tech-related thing, I’ll be able to help them solve it, and then they can continue on with more work or however they see fit.”
A8 • September 2026
280 Living
CITY
‘Beacon of pride’: Tunnel to Towers veterans’ village takes shape near 280 By KELLI S. HEWETT Demolition and rebuilding are underway at a former Colonnade-area hotel that will become long-term housing for military veterans in early 2027. The former Spark by Hilton Hotel property, at 4300 Colonnade Parkway, is now part of a growing national network of “Veterans’ Villages,” spearheaded by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation of New York. “We’re gutting the property,” said Gavin Naples, executive vice president of Tunnel to Towers. “We’re building back a beautiful home for our men and women heroes, approximately 110 long-term supportive housing units.” Public donations, not tax dollars, pay for projects. The city of Birmingham approved a $9.2 million remodeling permit in July. New studio apartments are slated for the upper floors. Downstairs will include a collection of support spaces, including libraries, gyms, multi-purpose rooms, dining rooms, screening rooms, game rooms, workforce development areas and case management suites. The Birmingham project is part of a broader national push. Tunnel to Towers already operates similar properties in cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Charleston and Memphis, with new sites progressing in Denver, Harrisburg and Detroit. “We have about 20 projects currently under development, and we’ll build over 100 veterans’ villages in the next decade for over 12,000 units of permanent supportive housing,” Naples said. State Sen. Andrew Jones of Centre, who is chairman of the state Senate Military Veterans and Public Safety Committee, said support runs
throughout Alabama for the innovative concept. “It’s something that’s needed, and I think it’s going to have a tremendous impact,” Jones said. In addition to housing, the foundation runs a national case management network that helps veterans and their families secure housing and services wherever they live. “Any veteran in the United States, all 50 states or U.S. territories, calls our foundation and we’re able to provide them direct financial assistance to get them housed in their area,” Naples said. Applications for the Birmingham village will be accepted starting this fall. By the end of 2026, the program will have provided housing assistance and access to support services to over 27,500 veterans across the nation — and over 15,000 of their children, Naples said. The foundation emphasizes both quality and security at its sites, noting that the Birmingham building was chosen in part for its interiorcorridor design and proximity to the downtown Birmingham Veterans Affairs office. There is no time limit on how long veterans can stay. Program fees are intentionally kept low, including utilities, transportation to and from the VA, and on-site services. All applicants are carefully screened.” This is not a handout, it’s a hand up,” Naples said. The foundation members see each village as a long-term community asset. “This is always going to be a beacon of pride for Birmingham,” Naples said. “We want the community to come out, get involved and participate in any way they want to.” For more on Tunnel to Towers veterans’ services, call 718-987-1931 or visit t2t.org.
The former Spark by Hilton Hotel is now under major renovations. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
Rendering of the future Tunnel to Towers veterans’ village near U.S. 280. Rendering courtesy of Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
280Living.com
September 2026 • A9
CITY
Chelsea council approves 2027 transportation plan By CAROLINE MILLER The Chelsea City Council in August approved a 2027 transportation plan with $34 million worth of projects in it, but funding has been identified for only about three projects totaling $3.5 million, city officials said. Two of them include a 5,500-foot pedestrian path on Chesser Drive and a repaving of that road. The total cost is estimated to be close to $3 million, and the city has grants totaling $2.4 million to complete them, Mayor Cody Sumners said. “That’s going to be up in front of Station 31,” the mayor said. “We’re going to be putting in sidewalks that will connect basically from AIM Academy all the way down to where the sidewalks are at Tractor Supply and adding curves and gutters and repaving that road.” The road needs to be repaved anyway, but the project also will help address some drainage issues that have caused problems for the road, he said. A third project expected to be completed within 18 months is extending Stanley Drive to tie into U.S. 280. “That is the little access road that goes in front of McDonald’s and in front of AutoZone, and it just dead ends right now,” Sumners said. “That road will be extending out and merging onto U.S. 280 and will be a right in, right out. So it just kind of will help ease some of the congestion at that intersection really coming out of McDonald’s at that red light.” The estimated cost in the transportation plan
Chesser Drive in Chelsea is slated to be repaved in 2027. Photo by Caroline Miller.
is $500,000. The city plans to apply for a grant to help with that project as well but is uncertain if a grant will come through, Sumners said. Most of the other projects in the transportation plan are more of a wish list than projects that are likely to happen anytime soon, if at
all, Sumners said. The largest is a proposed bridge over railroad tracks near Chelsea City Hall. The transportation plan estimated that project would cost $30 million, but Sumners said it likely would cost more in the range of $50 million
and said the likelihood the bridge will actually be constructed is “zero to none.” But there is a need for the bridge, Sumners said. “The real issue is that people are inconvenienced by the train coming through that comes here pretty regularly on Chelsea Road at City Hall,” he said. “So especially during high traffic time, during the morning for school traffic and in the afternoon school traffic and in the evenings when people are coming home from work, they may have to wait an additional three to five minutes or so while the train comes through, and so it’s just an inconvenience.” Other potential projects on the “wish list” include: ► Replacing a bridge on Whisenhunt Lane ($950,000) ► Repaving and widening 1,300 feet of Liberty Road ($500,000) ► Realigning the intersection of Liberty Road and Shelby County 47 ($270,000) The repaving and widening of part of Liberty Road is tentatively scheduled for 2028, and the cost likely will be much greater than $500,000, Sumners said. That estimate will be updated later in the 2028 transportation plan, he said. The transportation plan is only a plan and is not binding, Sumners said. It’s “basically a wish list of projects that we would fund if we had all the money in the world, and you have to have something on your transportation plan in order to get Rebuild Alabama money, grant money,” Sumners said.
A10 • September 2026
280 Living
BUSINESS
Business Happenings NOW OPEN PopUp Bagels, at 329 Summit Blvd., opened in July at The Summit. It’s the first location for the company in the state. Founded in Westport, Connecticut, PopUp Bagels serves bagels fresh out of the oven hot and whole. Customers can choose from bagel flavors like plain, everything, poppy seed, salt and sesame with a variety of butter and cream cheese flavors. PopUp Bagels is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 855-747-6347, popupbagels.com
hats, tops, bottoms and more. Brandy Melville is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. 205-538-5082, us.brandymelville.com
COMING SOON
Brandy Melville opened in August at 209 Summit Blvd., Suite 100, at The Summit. With a California-inspired aesthetic, they offer youth apparel and accessories for girls including pajamas, cardigans, clothing, jewelry, bags,
British clothing brand Boden is planning to open its third U.S. location at the Summit this fall. The 35-yearold company first brought its bold prints and bright colors to the United States in 2002 and currently has locations in Alpharetta, Georgia, and and Nashville. The brand offers a variety of women’s, children’s and baby apparel and will be at 200 Summit Blvd. us.boden.com Saw’s BBQ is bringing its signature barbecue, sandwiches and sides to Valley Post in Chelsea at 1004 Dunnavant Valley Road. The new location is scheduled to open this fall. Founded in 2009 in Homewood, the restaurant has now expanded and become one of the state’s best-known barbecue brands. Saw’s also has locations in Avondale, Crestline, Hoover, Leeds and Southside, along with its food truck. The restaurant posted that customers can enjoy all of the smoke, charm and southern flair that they have come to expect from the brand at the new location. sawsbbq.com
Brandy Melville
PopUp Bagels
Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
Aritzia, a fashion design house, will open its first Alabama location at the Summit near The Cheesecake Factory. Originally started in a department store in Vancouver, Canada, the boutique now offers a variety of women’s clothes and accessories including dresses, activewear, sweatfleece, shoes, hats, belts and more. Aritzia said it will open this summer, but no official date has been announced for the opening of the 7,670-squarefoot store. aritzia.com
Dogtopia is planning to open a location at 5361 U.S. 280 in the Bazaar 280 shopping center. The dog daycare, boarding and spa franchise will be operated by Henson and Carlton Millsap. They also own Dogtopia locations in Birmingham and Homewood. The indoor facility will offer overnight boarding, spa services and daycare. Dogtopia has more than 285 locations across the country. An opening date has not been set yet. dogtopia.com Target will be coming to Chelsea as the anchor store in The Shoppes at Chelsea, which is a new 20-acre retail development at the corner of Chelsea Corners Way and Shelby County Road 47 off U.S. 280. GBT Realty Corp. acquired the 20.46-acre site for the planned develop-
280Living.com
September 2026 • A11
BUSINESS ment and sold 11.23 acres to Target. The Shoppes at Chelsea will feature 34,300 square feet of retail space, two outparcels and the 128,667-square-foot Target store. The development is set to open in either late 2027 or early 2028, but no groundbreaking date has been announced. target.com Waldo’s Chicken and Beer will be opening a new location at Valley Post in Chelsea this fall to serve up their made-from-scratch dishes, sauces and chicken served either Southern fried or rotisserie. They hand-cut and brine their chicken overnight, and they don’t have a freezer in the restaurant because everything is made from scratch each day. With Alabama locations in Cahaba Heights, Dothan, Auburn, Vestavia Hills and Pelham, the restaurant is in 10 states. waldoschicken.com
Waldo’s Chicken and Beer
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Capstone Building Corp., a general contractor headquartered at 1200 Corporate Drive, Suite 350, has
projects in both Orlando and Atlanta. They recently began construction on The Gateway, a luxury multifamily apartment development minutes from Orlando International Airport. The Gateway will encompass more than 417,000 square feet and feature 270 luxury apartment homes. The anticipated completion is in late 2027. Capstone also recently completed Herndon Square Phase II, a $57 million multifamily housing development in Atlanta. The project spans 335,348 square feet and includes a six-story residential building with 201 apartment homes. The project represents the second phase of the transformative Herndon Square redevelopment on Atlanta’s Westside. 205-803-5226, capstonebuilding.com
ANNIVERSARIES
appointment on Saturday. 659-599-7426, sonobello.com Village Drug Co. is celebrating its seventh anniversary at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 116. Founders Matthew and Lauren Zauchin created the pharmacy to provide personalized patient health care with an upscale smalltown feel, focused on a modern approach to health and wellness. Village Drug Co. offers brand and generic prescription drugs and immunizations, as well as overthe-counter medications, first-aid care, natural-based and organic vitamins and supplements. They also have a drive-thru service. Village Drug Co. is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 205-713-8393, villagedrugco.com
Woodhouse Spa is celebrating its seventh anniversary at 125 Summit Blvd. at The Summit. The luxury day spa offers massages, facials, HydraFacial, couple’s massages and body treatments designed to help customers relax, restore and rejuvenate their bodies and minds. Woodhouse Spa is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 205-905-7676, birmingham.woodhousespas.com Bella Couture, at 104 Croft St. in Mt Laurel, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of providing personal and unforgettable dress shopping experiences. Owner Colleen Hopwood has a background in wedding gown designs and alterations. Bella Couture offers a thoughtfully curated selection of bridal gowns and styles for mothers of the bride and groom. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome when availability allows. 205-995-3444, bellacouturellc.com Sono Bello, at 240 Summit Blvd., Suite 200, is celebrating its fourth anniversary at The Summit. Their team of physicians offers laser liposuction and body contouring, including tummy tuck alternatives, laser fat removal, chin fat removal, mommy makeovers, excess skin removal and men’s liposuction. Sono Bello is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by
Bella Couture
A12 • September 2026
280 Living
BUSINESS
D-BAT Oak Mountain opens along Cahaba Valley Road By AMASICO RAINER For families who have spent years driving across town to find quality baseball and softball training, help has arrived a lot closer to home. D-BAT Oak Mountain officially opened its doors at 5308 Cahaba Valley Road near Heardmont Park, bringing a 16,500-squarefoot indoor training facility to the heart of the U.S. 280 corridor. The climate-controlled space offers batting cage rentals, private lessons, camps, clinics and monthly memberships for players of all ages and skill levels. Planning for the facility began in early 2022, when owner Chris Hillman identified a gap in what Shelby County had to offer its young athletes. The Homewood D-BAT location had already demonstrated what a high-end training facility could look like while remaining accessible and affordable, but the U.S. 280 and Alabama 119 corridor had nothing comparable. After searching for the right property from Alabaster to Inverness, Hillman settled on the current site near Heardmont Park for its central location and accessibility to families across the area. The Oak Mountain location is part of a national network that has grown to more than 145 facilities since D-BAT was founded in 1998 in Addison, Texas. Several locations already operate across Alabama, including facilities in Gardendale, Montgomery and southwest Birmingham. What sets this location apart from a standard
Batting aids are for sale inside the facility. Photos courtesy of D-BAT Oak Mountain.
batting cage facility is the range of what it offers under one roof: automated pitching machines, pitching mounds, a pro shop stocked with gear and apparel, and a party and event room. Membership is not required for entry, and walk-ins are welcome. Hillman is direct about who the facility is built for. “We want to serve the younger athlete and their family,” he said. “We want to be a safe, approachable, comfortable place for parents to bring their kids.” The training model covers every level of the sport. Beginners transitioning from T-ball to coach pitch can get quality repetitions alongside a parent or instructor, while high school pitchers can work with staff using Rapsodo technology to fine-tune the spin on breaking balls. More than 20 camps are planned throughout the year, with two summer sessions still remaining — July 13-17 and July 27-31
D-Bat Oak Mountain has 13 batting/pitching lanes, four of which have pitching machines.
— along with a back-to-school camp before the fall semester begins. The name itself points to something larger than batting averages. D-BAT stands for Developing Beliefs, Attitudes and Traditions, and Hillman said that philosophy shapes everything the facility does. “We strive not only to develop better players but also better people,” he said. “The work ethic and mental toughness it takes to improve in our facility translates not only to the field but at home, in the classroom and in every endeavor in life.” All staff and instructors live in the
surrounding area, with many having grown up along the U.S. 280 corridor. The team currently consists of around 15 part-time and full-time employees. For those ready to get started, Hillman’s advice is simple: come in and ask. “Don’t feel intimidated to come in and see what we have to offer,” he said. “I’d personally love to see players from every league in our area represented in our cages.” Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Phone: 205-825-3228
280Living.com
September 2026 • A13
A14 • September 2026
280 Living
BUSINESS
Recently sold homes along US 280 corridor
► ADDRESS: 1252 Highway 336 ► BED/BATH: 4/4 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,289 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea ► LIST PRICE: $749,777 ► SALE PRICE: $749,777
► ADDRESS: 581 White Tail Run ► BED/BATH: 5/4.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,210 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea ► LIST PRICE: $569,000 ► SALE PRICE: $571,567
► ADDRESS: 1330 Willow Oaks Drive ► BED/BATH: 4/3.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,892 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Willow Oaks ► LIST PRICE: $529,000 ► SALE PRICE: $529,500
► ADDRESS: 351 Lake Chelsea Court ► BED/BATH: 4/2.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,203 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea Park ► LIST PRICE: $367,500 ► SALE PRICE: $367,500
► ADDRESS: 107 Ashton Woods Drive ► BED/BATH: 3/2.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,197 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea ► LIST PRICE: $355,000 ► SALE PRICE: $350,000
► ADDRESS: 1085 Crawford Court ► BED/BATH: 3/2 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,525 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea Park ► LIST PRICE: $280,000 ► SALE PRICE: $280,000
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
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2026 FALL
MEDICAL GUIDE Alabama Foot Care at Home offers top-quality care to seniors, the homebound It’s easy to take your feet for granted, but healthy feet are essential in maintaining your independence and quality of life as you age. Routine foot care is critical for seniors. Even minor issues like wounds and ingrown toenails can lead to serious complications, including infections, if left untreated. Alabama Foot Care at Home provides quality, in-home foot care for seniors and the homebound. Jason Patterson, who founded the company in 2023, is an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Certified Foot Care Specialist. Alabama Foot Care at Home is staffed by licensed nurses with extensive training in routine foot care. Patterson has four nurses seeing patients at home in Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Helena. Alabama Foot Care at Home Jason Patterson, MSN, CRNP, CFCS, CRC offers skin and nail assessments; Founder of Alabama Foot Care at Home nail trimming; treatment of fungal nails, corns and calluses; neurological and diabetic foot Alabama Foot Care at Home examinations; and massage for the feet ► 205-739-4581 and lower legs to stimulate blood flow ► alabamafootcareathome.com and prevent swelling. “It’s preventive care to save limbs,” Patterson says. all visits are private pay. By avoiding The work he does with patients is insurance red tape, Patterson can give “incredibly gratifying,” Patterson says. his patients “more immediate access to care,” he says. “We provide the best quality routine For information, call or text foot care.” 205-739-4581 or go online to Alabama Foot Care at Home doesn’t alabamafootcareathome.com. accept insurance and Medicare, and
September 2026 • A15
A16 • September 2026
FALL MEDICAL GUIDE
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BO DAWSON, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR – GREYSTONE
ROBBY HEAD, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR – CHELSEA
RYAN HUNT, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR – PATCHWORK FARMS
Two decades of hands-on care, one founding idea Steve Foster had practiced physical therapy for 26 years when he decided the profession was drifting from what made it work. Care was consolidating into larger operations with busier schedules, and the therapist who evaluated a patient was not always the one who treated them. So in the summer of 2006, Foster opened a clinic of his own and built it around a single promise: hands-on care, close to a patient’s home or work. Twenty years later, TherapySouth operates more than 50 clinics across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, with a clinical staff numbering in the hundreds and a footprint that runs from the Shoals to the Gulf Coast. It has grown into one of the largest physical therapy practices in the region while remaining what it was on day one, a private practice owned by the therapists who work in it. Foster, a 1980 graduate of UAB’s physical therapy program, continues to lead the company as chairman and chief executive, alongside Doug Cole, president and chief operating officer; Nathan Click, chief clinical officer; and board partners Josh Steed, Allison Fowlkes, and Alan Spooner. The company that now spans three states began as a single clinic and a conviction. Foster’s model asked therapists to build careers in the communities where they practiced, treating the same neighbors through injuries, surgeries and the long project of staying active. Twenty years is long enough that some patients have come back with their parents or their kids in tow. The growth strategy reads like a contradiction. TherapySouth got big by staying small, multiplying modest neighborhood clinics instead of building regional hubs. The reasoning is clinical rather than commercial. Physical therapy typically requires two or three visits a week, and outcomes depend on patients showing up. A clinic five minutes from home tends to see completed treatment plans. A clinic 40 minutes away sees cancellations. In this model, convenience is a medical outcome, and location is part of the prescription. Patients tend to notice the difference before they can explain it. The clinics are deliberately informal, closer in feel to a neighborhood gym
than a medical office, and new patients are welcome to walk in and look around before booking an appointment. The front desk greets returning patients by name. The therapist who performs the initial evaluation stays with the case, pairing skilled manual treatment with a home exercise program and coordinating with physicians along the way. No referral is required to schedule a first visit. And the specialty menu runs deeper than many expect, from dry needling and sports rehabilitation to certified hand therapy, pelvic health, balance training and post-surgical recovery. Every clinic hangs the same sign, listing eight core values with faith at the top, followed by family, integrity, service, compassion, fitness, perseverance and giving. The company backs the words with TherapySouth Gives Back, a nonprofit that provides therapy equipment to people who cannot otherwise obtain it and lends support after natural disasters, and with mission work that has reached Guatemala, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Honduras and China. Closer to home, it funds scholarships at UAB and Samford and partners with groups like the Birmingham Track Club. The anniversary story in these pages promises 20 years of getting you back to what you love, and the company can point to two decades of first steps after surgery, finish lines and everyday victories behind the claim. The founding test remains the simpler one. TherapySouth enters its third decade the way it entered its first, with a therapist at the top of the organization and a standard anyone can check at the front door: when a patient walks in, somebody knows their name. Three of these doors sit along the U.S. 280 corridor. The Patchwork Farms clinic operates at 3056 Healthy Way, a street name the company could hardly have written better. The Greystone clinic at 2823 Greystone Commercial Boulevard serves the corridor’s established neighborhoods, while the Chelsea clinic at 100 Chelsea Corners Way grew up alongside one of the area’s fastest-growing cities. Chelsea’s clinic director, Robby Head, is also a partner in the practice, the ownership model working exactly as designed. Appointments are available at 205-408-1713 for Greystone, 205678-7272 for Chelsea. and 205-783-5270 for Patchwork Farms.
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FALL MEDICAL GUIDE
September 2026 • A17
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
For 20 years, TherapySouth has helped our neighbors move better, feel stronger, and live without limits. From first steps after surgery to finishing lines and everyday victories, we’ve been there. Therapist-owned. Locally operated. Focused on you. Two decades of results. Start your recovery with us.
therapysouth.com
CHELSEA (205) 678-7272
100 Chelsea Corners Way Ste. 100 Chelsea, AL 35043
GREYSTONE (205) 408-1713
2823 Greystone Commercial Blvd. Birmingham, AL 35242
PATCHWORK FARMS (205) 783-5270 3056 Healthy Way Ste. 116 Vestavia Hills, AL 35243
A18 • September 2026
GILMER
CONTINUED from page A1 Gilmer’s ties to her ortho practice trace back to age 6, playing King of the Slide with some older boys. The experience would guide the rest of her life, where she would become a surgeon, practice partner and president of the practice’s board of directors. “I like to win, so I was holding on for dear life to the top of the slide, and they were trying to push me down,” Gilmer said. “I wasn’t letting go, so I ended up being ejected from the top of the old metal slide and broke my arm, and it was hilarious.” She got up and held her bent, dangling arm, calmly following her screaming little sister to their mother. Pam Gilmer first thought the screaming sister was hurt — until she saw Meg. “My mom’s like, ‘Oh, that’s crooked. That did not come that way,’” Gilmer said. Dr. Perry Savage at the Trussville office set the fracture and would one day become her medical mentor. Years later, Savage’s office manager recruited Gilmer as a high school work-study student, and she stayed through college and into medical school at UAB. She became part of the practice as a surgeon and is now a partner. Pam works as Gilmer’s medical assistant. Gilmer didn’t grow up in sports and was an unlikely social media sensation. She describes herself as “the most introverted human known to humanity.” She loaded up on Scholars Bowl, Academic Bowl, Science Olympiad and French competitions instead of teams. “My classmates from high school do not recognize me,” Gilmer said. “They think that I have undergone a transplant because I can now talk to anyone, which is what you have to do as a doctor. It was a deliberate choice along the way to learn how to be better at communicating.” The idea of medical school didn’t arrive gradually. It came in one sentence. At 12, she was deep into Egyptology, hieroglyphics and carefully plotted plans for graduate work. One day she sat on the living room floor reading a book on Egypt. “I looked up at my mom and said, ‘I’m going to be a doctor.’ And she was like,
280 Living
‘Uh-huh.’ At that point, everything pivoted.” And that’s pretty much how Gilmer has made life decisions ever since. “If you think of me as a computer, my operating system is never turned off,” Gilmer said. “Once my brain has processed all the way through, it then presents me with the solution to the problem that you didn’t know you had yet.” That’s how medicine arrived and later how orthopedics and foot-and-ankle specialization did too. “It wasn’t this deep, like soul searching,” Gilmer said. “It’s just like, this is the right thing. Here you go.” And yes, Gilmer realizes this sounds odd and is well aware, she said, that she both intimidates and drives people crazy with her life energy. “In many ways she is like a grandmaster chess player, she sees many moves ahead and takes all possibilities into account,” Pam Gilmer said. “Patients benefit greatly from her vision and planning.” Meanwhile, the ortho practice she’d grown up in was already planning and evolving — from Alabama Orthopedic Spine Center to Alabama Orthopedic Spine and Sports Medicine Association to its current, streamlined OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports. Along the way, the athlete side of Gilmer’s story would only emerge late in college. OrthoAlabama orthopedist Brad Goodman needed women for his Ultimate Frisbee team. “He says, ‘I will pay for your entrance fee, knowing that you’re broke, if you will show up,’” Gilmer said. “I immediately fell in love.” The appeal wasn’t just competition. It was the chance to start from zero and explore a new identity in sports. “What I found was I’m even more able to sort my brain out when I’m running around,” Gilmer said. From Frisbee, the list of sports expanded. Her father’s effort to get in shape pulled her into mountain biking. A move to Houston for residency steered her away from team sports that depended on assembling a full roster and toward disciplines she could train for on her own. On her first wedding anniversary, she and her husband, whom she met on that Ultimate Frisbee team, decided to start mountain bike racing.
A moment from a 50k run along the Colorado River. Photos courtesy of Dr. Meg Gilmer.
Gilmer’s own injuries became part of the story she now shares with patients as proof that she understands what it means to weigh risk, reward and the urge to keep moving. Gilmer once developed a stress fracture in her femur playing Frisbee and kept going for weeks. She played a tournament, walked and hiked at a conference in Boulder, then stood through an entire surgical day before the bone finally gave way. “I was like, ‘My hip just broke,’” she said to her team. Despite the best medical advice, she kept a planned trip to France two weeks later. She logged 30,000 steps a day through Roman ruins and mountain towns.
Dr. Gilmer charts her activities online, such as this night skiing adventure.
Dr. Gilmer first fell in love with Ultimate Frisbee in her 20s and still competes.
“It cost me three months” in recovery, Gilmer said. “I am the single worst patient possibly on planet Earth.” Her travels now look like multiday logistics plans. “My vacations look like most people’s worst nightmare,” Gilmer said. Long-distance hiking, trail running, mountain biking and skiing “very poorly” have become part of the public persona that plays out on social media. Patients and strangers see their orthopedic surgeon walking the same tightrope they do between staying active and staying intact — she’s often wearing scrubs in the woods or on a trail, delivering a bite-sized nugget of ortho-related knowledge. “I think the most important thing is reaching people where they are,” Gilmer said, “to help demystify the body and medicine.” Knowing what can happen to the human body — and as someone who has paid in time and pain for her own choices — she spends a lot of time talking patients out of an all-ornothing mindset. The goal isn’t to get everyone running ultramarathons. It’s to keep them from walking away from movement altogether as they age or suffer injuries. “Find something new that you love,” Gilmer said. “Exercise is not static. We have to change as our body needs us to change. It doesn’t mean stop.” Follow Dr. Gilmer on Instagram and TikTok @adventureorthopodmd or on Facebook at Mary E. Gilmer, MD.
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September 2026 • A19
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TRINITY
CONTINUED from page A1 The 7-acre property is zoned as a C-2 commercial district in Hoover, but the church is allowed to operate there with “conditional use” approval. But there was no approval for a school, and opening a school there requires a new application with the city and approval by the Hoover City Council. Church officials said they didn’t know they needed additional approval until they came to the city with questions about potentially altering a traffic light on Alabama 119. By the time they learned about the zoning requirement, there was not enough time to go through the zoning process to get the required approval before the planned start of school on Aug. 11. Hoover City Planner Mac Martin said that, because of all the required legal notifications for surrounding property owners, it usually takes about three months to go through the zoning process. As an alternative and at a city official’s suggestion, the church decided to ask the Hoover City Council to deannex the property from the Hoover city limits so Hoover’s zoning rules wouldn’t apply. The church still would need “conditional use” approval from the Shelby County Planning Commission to operate a school there, but Shelby County officials said they would allow the school to operate on a temporary basis as long as the church filed a zoning application with the county. That put the deannexation question to the Hoover City Council, and the City Council — the day before the scheduled start of school — said no. The vote was 5-1 not to allow the deannexation. Councilman Robin Schultz said he received more input on this issue than anything else since he was elected last year and said residents were adamantly opposed to allowing the
Church members at Trinity Presbyterian Church off Alabama 119 load up furniture and school supplies to move to a temporary school location until the church can get zoning approval for a new private school. Photo by Jon Anderson.
church to deannex from the city. Most people were not really opposed to the school, but they were concerned that if the property were deannexed, the city of Hoover would lose control over what could go there, and that could lead to something with a less desirable use, Schultz said. Rich Lusk, the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, said the church had no intention of using the property for anything else but a church and school and had no plans to sell the land to anyone else. In fact, the church already has plans to build a new $13 million sanctuary there and already has raised $5 million to $6 million for that purpose, Lusk said. “We are committed to that location,” he said.
Hoover City Attorney Charlie Waldrep offered the council the option of deannexing the property with a restrictive covenant that said the property could be used only for a church or school and that gave the city of Hoover the first option to buy the property if the church ever decided to sell the land. But the council opted not to go that route. Because the deannexation effort failed, Lusk said the church is proceeding with a “conditional use” application in Hoover. But the procedural delay forced the church to figure out another course of action to begin school. Jonathan Griffith, a church member, told the City Council on Aug. 10 that church officials had reached out to seven or eight
local churches about hosting their school temporarily and as of that time had been told no. By the following weekend, the church had found another educational institution about a mile away in Shelby County zoned for school use. The start of school was delayed about a week. Church members packed up school supplies and furniture and moved them to the temporary location until the church can get “conditional use” approval for the school. “We’re confident everything will work out, and we look forward to working with the city of Hoover,” Lusk said. “It was not about leaving Hoover. We just ran into this issue.” With such a small school, he does not foresee any negative impact on the community — traffic or otherwise, he said.
How My Chamber Investment Works for Me Investing in the Shelby County Chamber has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for both my business and my personal growth. More than the visibility and referrals, I’ve gained meaningful relationships, support and connections with people who genuinely want to see local businesses succeed. The Chamber has given me opportunities to share my passion for helping cancer survivors, veterans, post-surgical clients and others seeking specialized care. I am grateful to be an investor and proud to be part of an organization that truly invests in businesses and the community. Brittany Hamilton, LMT, Owner / Operator Something EveryBODY Kneads Kneadsmet.vip | 205-260-5122 For more information on how your business can benefit by investing in The Shelby County Chamber, email or call info@shelbychamber.org | 205-663-4542
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Leading the place she calls home Kasey Hollington takes the helm at Oak Mountain High School By APRIL COFFEY For Kasey Hollington, becoming principal of Oak Mountain High School isn’t the beginning of a new relationship with the school — it’s the next chapter in one she’s been writing for years. After serving as a teacher, administrator and familiar face on campus, Hollington has been named the next principal of Oak Mountain High School. Her appointment marks more than a leadership transition; it reflects a commitment to continuity at one of Shelby County’s most recognized high schools, where she has spent the past several years helping shape the school’s culture and supporting students behind the scenes. Hollington succeeds Andrew Gunn, who was elected superintendent of Shelby County Schools in May, creating an opportunity for the district to promote a leader already invested in the Oak Mountain community. Hollington has spent 23 years in education, with the first 18 years of her career as a classroom teacher prior to moving into administration. Since 2018, she has served as assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School. That
New Oak Mountain High School Principal Kasey Hollington. Photo from Oak Mountain High School website.
combination of classroom and administrative experience gives her a unique perspective on supporting both teachers and students. Hollington earned a bachelor’s degree in social science education and a master’s degree
in educational leadership from Florida State University and is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Speaking after the Shelby County Board of Education approved her appointment,
Hollington expressed both gratitude and excitement for the opportunity. “Being appointed the principal of Oak Mountain High School is truly a dream job, and I’m not going to take this opportunity for granted,” Hollington said during the June 25 Board of Education meeting, as reported by the Shelby County Reporter. “I am grateful and honored to be here. Thank you for trusting me to take on this role.” She also emphasized that Oak Mountain’s success has always been a community effort. “Oak Mountain has a long history of excellence, and it’s because of the students, the administrators, teachers, families and community members that make it such a wonderful place,” Hollington said. “I’m excited to continue my journey there and continue that growth.” Those comments offer a glimpse into the leadership philosophy she brings to the position — one rooted in collaboration and appreciation for the community that surrounds the school. For students returning this school year, many familiar traditions and faces will remain. The difference is that one of those familiar faces will now be leading the school from the principal’s office. As Oak Mountain High continues its tradition of academic achievement, competitive athletics, award-winning arts programs and active student involvement, Hollington steps into the role with the advantage of already knowing the people and programs that make the school successful. Rather than learning the culture, she has helped build it. For the Oak Mountain community, that’s a reassuring place to begin a new era.
1100 Inverness Corners, Ste. 310 Birmingham, AL 35242
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B2 • September 2026
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SCHOOLHOUSE
What could be more caring than engineering? By APRIL COFFEY The assignment wasn’t in a textbook. The test wasn’t traditional, completed on paper and with a pencil. And the person waiting for the finished project wasn’t the teacher standing at the front of the classroom. She was a member of the community — a local woman named Emily who needed a lightweight prosthetic hand. Senior students in the Spain Park Engineering Academy had designed and 3D-printed the device, and then had the opportunity to meet the person who would use it. For Elizabeth Browne, an engineering teacher and the academy’s director, that connection is exactly what engineering education should be about. “What could be more caring than engineering?” Browne said. Browne came to education by an unconventional route. An engineer by training, she spent years working as a consultant for small and midsize manufacturers, helping companies manage environmental and safety programs. After getting remarried and becoming a mother and stepmother to five children, Browne decided to take a break from her engineering career. It wasn’t long before she began looking for something new. She found her way to Spain Park High School, where she was hired as an engineering teacher just days before the start of the school year. She had engineering experience. She had experience teaching and training adults. But she had never been a traditional classroom teacher. “I didn’t even know what PowerSchool was,” Browne said. “I thought they would just give me the textbooks, and I’d be on my way.” Instead, she found herself building a program — and eventually an approach to teaching — around a simple idea: If students can use what they learn to solve a real problem for a real person, the lesson becomes much more meaningful. Browne said she wants students to have the kind of hands-on experiences she wishes she had been exposed to when she was in high school. “I want to be the teacher I feel like I needed when I was in high school,” she said. That philosophy has shaped the Engineering Academy’s capstone projects, which allow seniors to pursue projects that interest them while applying the skills they have learned. The prosthetics project began when one of Browne’s students, Fiona Selle, told her about E-Nable, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers with people who need prosthetic devices. Browne had inherited 3D printers and other technology when she began teaching and was looking for meaningful ways for students to use them. The process of becoming an approved E-Nable club was extensive. Students had
Emily Maish receives a prosthetic device from Nipun Mittal and Eisuke Adachi. Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Browne.
to demonstrate that they could produce and assemble the prosthetic devices properly, including submitting detailed photographs and videos demonstrating the function and quality of their work. Spain Park became the first approved E-Nable club in Alabama and one of the only high school clubs in America. The students then learned that engineering a prosthetic device isn’t simply a matter of printing a piece of plastic. The design depends on the type and amount of limb a person has and what the device needs to accomplish. For Emily, the need was especially practical. She and her mother, who is dependent upon a wheelchair, were preparing for a trip to Europe. Emily had a prosthetic arm provided through
Eisuke Adachi, left, and Nipun Mittal completed a prosthetic hand for Emily Maish.
insurance, but it was expensive, heavy and cumbersome to travel with. The lighter device created by the Spain Park students gave her another option. The students were able to meet with Emily and hear firsthand how the device could affect her trip. “That really took it to another level,” Browne said. The project also changed the way the students approached their work. The two seniors began coming into Browne’s classroom during lunch and study periods to work on the project. One student even took the project home over spring break so they could continue working and make sure Emily received the device in time for her trip.
Browne said that kind of commitment is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. “I think it’s really cool to see at the end of their senior year being passionate about something when they normally have senioritis,” she said. The prosthetics project is just one example of Browne’s approach to engineering education. Her students have built adaptive cars through the Go Baby Go program and delivered them to children through United Ability. Other students have pursued projects ranging from robotics to biomedical engineering. One student created a robotic dog designed to help people with diabetes monitor their blood sugar. The student developed a website and app to control the dog and created an algorithm designed to predict blood sugar levels over 30 minutes. The dog also included a compartment for carrying snacks or juice. Another student became fascinated with aviation after designing a wearable aircraft. Browne encouraged the idea as far as she safely could before drawing a line when the student’s plan involved launching the device from the back of a moving truck. “I really try to say yes,” Browne laughed, “but safety has to be considered as well.” That willingness to let students explore their ideas is central to the academy. Browne wants students to understand that engineering is not simply about math and machines. It can be creative. It can be useful. And it can be deeply connected to other people. She also hopes those experiences will help broaden the students who see themselves as engineers. “I am a huge advocate for diversity in the field of engineering,” Browne said. She is particularly interested in encouraging more girls to consider engineering as a career path, noting that many students still associate careers for women with teaching, nursing and other traditional helping professions. Browne believes engineering belongs in that conversation, too. “I’m really trying to overcome this idea that the career of engineering isn’t one that’s creative,” she said. “And it isn’t one that’s caring.” For Browne, those ideas are not theoretical. They are playing out in her classroom. Students aren’t simply completing an assignment and receiving a grade. They are designing, testing, revising, communicating with community partners and, in some cases, meeting the people who will ultimately benefit from their work. The result is an Engineering Academy where the projects don’t necessarily end when the school bell rings — and where the most important measure of success may be what happens after the project leaves the classroom. Browne’s students are learning to look at a problem, ask questions and figure out what they can build to help. And sometimes, they get to hand the finished product directly to the person who needed it.
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SCHOOLHOUSE
More than a badge: Brock Hardy builds trust one student at a time By APRIL COFFEY For many students, encounters with police officers in the school, like a visit to the principal’s office, often signaled trouble and negativity. Sgt. Brock Hardy has made it his mission to change that in Hoover City Schools. “What we don’t want is the movie version where if you see us, it’s not a good day,” said Hardy, the newly promoted sergeant over the Hoover Police Department’s school resource officer unit. “We’re there every day, good or bad. We’re there to help.” Hardy believes that philosophy has the power to change how an entire generation views law enforcement. Hardy isn’t trying to create a culture where students fear police officers. He’s working to build one where they trust them — where a student who is struggling, scared or simply has a question knows exactly which adult to approach. “We’re there as a resource for each student that comes through those doors,” Hardy said. “To make sure they’re safe, that they Brock Hardy with his father, Mac Hardy, the former head of SROs for Hoover City Schools. Photo courtesy have a quality learning environof Brock Hardy. ment and that they can go home mentally and physically the same as they arrived.” For Hardy, safety begins with relationships. attending athletic competitions, and partnering “It’s being that constant presence with a with counselors and administrators — not just smile on your face,” he said. “Whether it’s a responding when something goes wrong. fist bump or giving them a piece of candy or For Hardy, those everyday interactions are just giving them an open space that they can just as important as any emergency response come and vent. Maybe that’s all they need.” plan. That perspective has become increasingly His own path to that philosophy began long important as school resource officers con- before he pinned on a badge. tinue to redefine their role in education. While Hardy grew up in Hoover City Schools emergency preparedness and campus security before earning a degree in public administraremain critical responsibilities, Hardy sees the tion from Auburn University. He began his greatest opportunity in the conversations that law enforcement career with the Auburn Police happen between drills, classroom visits and Department before returning home to Hoover, lunch periods. where he later transferred into the school “We’re a constant presence,” Hardy said, and resource officer unit. that approach shapes everything from greeting Law enforcement always seemed like a posstudents during morning arrival to teaching les- sibility. His father, Mac Hardy, served with the sons on digital citizenship, constitutional rights Hoover Police Department and retired in 2016 and conflict resolution. At the elementary level, as sergeant over the SRO unit. His grandfaHoover’s SROs also teach Rocket Rules, help- ther was one of the founding members of the ing kindergarten and first grade students learn Hoover City Schools Board of Education. about bullying prevention, bicycle safety and Still, Hardy said becoming an officer wasn’t when to call 911. simply about continuing a family tradition. “We start building that foundation at a very “I had a lot of time and prayer,” he said. young age,” Hardy said. “God showed me that I needed to be outside The lessons are practical, but the larger pur- and use my gift of talking with people. That’s pose is relational. kind of where it led me to this route, and I’m Every classroom visit, every conversation very thankful for that.” and every familiar face in the hallway reinToday, that gift is evident as much in converforces a message Hardy hopes students carry sation as in command. long after graduation: that law enforcement is Hardy describes school resource officers as not something to fear, but a resource they can mentors, informal counselors, educators and trust. problem-solvers. Much of their work happens “If you have a question, just come ask us,” he quietly alongside school counselors and adminsaid. “We’re never going to think your question istrators, helping students navigate conflict isn’t important. If we don’t know the answer, before situations escalate. we can get to somebody who does.” “Our hands are in a lot,” Hardy said. “ConThat trust becomes especially important flict resolution ... being an informal counselor, when students are faced with difficult decisions. mentor, somebody that the students can come Hardy acknowledges that many young to. Somebody they can trust. A positive role people still wrestle with the idea that reporting model.” concerning behavior somehow makes them a While students often see the relationship“snitch.” Changing that mindset, he believes, building side of the job, Hardy and his team are starts long before a crisis. equally involved behind the scenes. “There are certain things that they can’t keep SROs regularly inspect campus security, to themselves,” Hardy said. “’See something, check exterior doors and gates, coordinate say something.’ Getting to know their SRO and lockdown drills, assist with tornado and fire having that trust is so big. They can trust that preparedness and work alongside local emerthey can come to us with anything. They’re gency management officials to ensure schools not just going to get in trouble. We’re going to are prepared for a wide range of situations. solve that problem.” When asked to identify his primary goal, Creating that environment requires Hardy did not hesitate. “The main one is consistency. safety,” he said. Students need to see officers helping with But even those responsibilities point back to school events, greeting families at open houses, the same mission.
Brock with his wife, Emily, and sons, Rhett and Hayes. Photo by Kate Zills, courtesy of Brock Hardy.
“We’re here to help your student have that safe learning environment,” he said. “But we’re also here as a community resource for you.” That philosophy extends beyond students. Hardy and Hoover’s SROs frequently speak with parents during back-to-school events, PTO meetings and community gatherings, offering guidance on issues ranging from social media trends to online safety and emerging concerns affecting students. For Hardy, building trust with families strengthens trust with children. It’s one reason he believes Hoover remains such a unique place to serve. “You get all walks of life,” he said. “We all can come together and find some common thing that brings us together. Even though it’s a bigger city, we still have a small-town-type feel, especially in the schools.” He credits Hoover City Schools with creating opportunities that allow students to find where they belong, whether through career academies, extracurricular activities, peer-helping programs or the International Baccalaureate program. “There’s always somewhere that they feel special,” Hardy said. “You can kind of fit in and find a place — a home.” Now, as sergeant, Hardy is helping shape the next generation of school resource officers while also serving as an instructor with the National Association of School Resource Officers. Hoover’s SROs have been leading Camp Legacy, introducing rising sixth graders to leadership while giving them an opportunity to build relationships with officers before
middle school begins. Additionally, this summer, Captain Lowe, Hoover Police Department’s patrol captain and public information officer, has watched Hardy grow into that leadership role. “I was one of Mac Hardy’s students when he was an SRO at Hoover High School,” Lowe said. “I got to know Brock and just see him grow in his career here and do the same thing. It’s just an amazing thing to watch him grow in his career.” Lowe said Hoover has long been committed to placing officers in every school within the district and fostering a strong partnership between the police department and Hoover City Schools. “We’re very fortunate to have somebody like Brock who gets to lead that unit,” he said. Hardy is quick to redirect the praise to the partnership itself, crediting Superintendent Kevin Maddox, Hoover City Schools administrators and Hoover Police Chief Clay Morris with sharing the same commitment. “We’re in this together,” Hardy said. “We want our community to be the best, and to be the best, us working together is the way to strengthen it. We want everybody to come to school safe and leave safe.” For Hardy, that work will never be measured solely by emergency plans, safety drills or locked doors. It will be measured in something less visible but far more lasting: whether the next generation grows up seeing a police officer not as someone to avoid, but as someone they already know by name.
280Living.com
September 2026 • B5
B6 • September 2026
Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
2026 Education Guide special advertising section
ASFA is public school offering worldclass academic and arts education The Alabama School of Fine Arts, located in downtown Birmingham, inspires students in grades 7-12 to develop their creative abilities to the utmost. ASFA also provides them with both a solid academic foundation and a deep-dive specialty education in the arts and sciences. ASFA is a state-funded, tuition-free public specialty school that offers a world-class academic and specialty education to talented students from across Alabama regardless of their financial background. Prospective students go through an application and audition process. Students choose from one of six specialties to focus on: creative writing, dance, music, theater arts, visual arts or math-science. ASFA offers a rigorous curriculum, including AP and honors classes, and distinguished faculty who are accomplished practitioners in their fields. ASFA is “a next-level school,” and more than 90% of its graduates receive merit scholarships annually, said Tim Mitchell, school president. ASFA will host its annual Open House for prospective students on Sat., Oct. 17, with sessions at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. or 11 a.m.
ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS ► Grades: 7-12 ► Where: 1800 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. ► Call: 205-252-9241 ► Web: asfaschool.org
Families can tour the campus at 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., learn about the admission and application process and meet department chairs, administrators and current students. For information, call 205-252-9241 or go to asfaschool.org.
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Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
September 2026 • B7
Shelby County Schools expands career Indian Springs School blends pathways, community engagement academic excellence, creativity and community for lasting impact Welcome to Indian Springs School, one of the top 100 private high schools in America and the number one private high school in Alabama for the past 10 years. Indian Springs is a coeducational day and boarding school serving students in grades 8-12. Our commitment to academic excellence attracts some of the brightest students from the Birmingham area, across the United States, and around the world. Our 350-acre campus near Pelham provides a natural sanctuary that inspires both our nationally ranked STEM program and world-class arts program. Guided by our motto, Learning through Living, students experience a unique educational approach centered around experiential learning in an inclusive environment that fosters growth and discovery. Approximately 90% of our faculty hold advanced degrees and deliver exceptional instruction in our state-of-the-art classrooms. We encourage students to pursue their passions both inside and outside the classroom. Our diverse student life offerings include special interest clubs, community service opportunities, and a strong athletics program with participation in more than 20 varsity sports for boys and girls. We also believe the arts are a vital component of a balanced education. Our robust theater, choir, visual arts, and contemporary music programs allow students to explore and express their creativity. Alumnus and renowned author John Green ‘95 once described Indian Springs as a place where “all at once I became
INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL ► Grades: 8-12 ► Where: 190 Woodward Drive, Pelham ► Call: 205-332-0568 ► Email: admission@indiansprings.org ► Web: indiansprings.org
a learner because I found myself in a community of learners.” Our impact extends far beyond campus, uniting a global community of alumni, parents, and friends across generations. We invite you to visit during our upcoming Preview Days on Sept. 20 and Dec. 6 to see what makes Indian Springs School so unique. For more information on admission and need-based financial aid, visit indiansprings.org or contact our admission office at admission@ indiansprings.org or 205-332-0568. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year open on Sept. 1.
PREVIEW DAYS SEPTEMBER 20
DECEMBER 6
With almost 20,000 students and 2,800 employees, Shelby County Schools is the largest school district and one of the largest employers in Shelby County. The district comprises 31 schools from seven school zones: Calera, Chelsea, Columbiana, Helena, Montevallo, Oak Mountain, and Vincent. Shelby County Schools also offers Virtual Shelby for high school students who maintain at least a C average and wish to attend school using a virtual learning option. Shelby County Schools is partnering with Jefferson State Community College to provide students with an online opportunity through WKO 101: Workplace Skills Development. This course helps students build essential career readiness skills for a successful transition into the workforce. Through a career interest assessment, students explore employment paths aligned with their strengths. Key components include lessons on effective communication, résumé writing, and job application strategies. Students who earn a grade of C or higher in WKO 101 will meet the requirement for a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Indicator, which is now necessary for graduation. Shelby County Schools also has a partnership with the University of Montevallo for a dual-enrollment Health Concepts course. This semester-long course is worth one hour of college credit and satisfies the state’s Health and College and Career Readiness Indicator requirement for high school graduation. Oak Mountain High School is offering a new Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science Course through the Shelby County Schools Career Technical
SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS ► Where: 410 East College St., Columbiana ► Call: 205-682-7000 ► Web: shelbyed.k12.al.us
pathway. Two additional Career Technical courses, Drone Technology and Cybersecurity, are also available to all Shelby County students districtwide. Shelby County Schools will bring back Shelby 101 for a second year. This new community outreach initiative is designed to engage community members who are passionate about public education and want a deeper understanding of the school district, its schools, and its programs. Shelby 101 gives community members an opportunity to learn more about Shelby County Schools and its operations, including instructional and administrative services. Participants will meet six times during the 25-26 school year. Sessions will be held at various Shelby County Schools’ facilities across the county. The sessions will focus on various aspects of the school district and will be facilitated by Shelby County Schools leaders who work in each area.
B8 • September 2026
Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
Highlands School: Where learning, leadership and community come together Welcome to Highlands School, an independent school in Birmingham serving students from infancy through eighth grade. Since 1958, Highlands has been committed to creating a challenging and caring environment where students develop a lifelong love of learning, build character, and discover their potential. Located at the intersection of Birmingham, Irondale, and Mountain Brook, Highlands’ beautiful 12-acre wooded campus provides a unique setting for students to learn, explore, and grow. Seven buildings, four playgrounds, a soccer field, outdoor gardens, and a walking trail create space for learning both inside and outside the classroom. At Highlands, academic excellence goes hand in hand with whole-child development. Through project-based learning, STEM and STEAM, global education and hands-on experiences, students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, solve problems and approach learning with curiosity. Guiding the student experience is the Highlands Compass — a framework that helps students navigate their educational journey while developing
HIGHLANDS SCHOOL ► Grades: PK-8 ► Where: 4901 Old Leeds Rd., Birmingham ► Call: 205-956-9731 ► Web: highlandsschool.org
the skills, character and confidence to become lifelong learners and leaders. It reflects Highlands’ commitment to preparing students not simply for what comes next, but for the world beyond the classroom. With a close-knit community, Highlands creates an environment where students are known, supported, and challenged to grow. Come experience Highlands for yourself. Schedule a tour, explore our campus, meet our educators, and discover what makes Highlands a special place to learn, lead, and grow. For more information on admission and need-based financial aid, visit www. highlandsschool.org or contact our Director of Enrollment, Tanya Hyatt, at thyatt@highlandsschool.org or 205.956.9731.
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Hilltop Montessori School marks 30 years of inspiring curiosity, independence and community Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Hilltop Montessori School is centered around nurturing the whole child — their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. It fosters a deep love of learning in a carefully curated setting where students advance at their own pace which supports independence, exploration, and discovery within an environment that is designed to invite curiosity and engagement. Hilltop’s school climate is one that is inviting, inclusive, and supportive where students are not only responsible for their own learning but value it. This aspect of their educational journey is vital to the development of excellent analytical and reasoning skills, as students take responsibility through their choices and self-reflection thereafter. Multi-age classrooms create a close-knit community that allows students to teach and learn, lead and follow, and cooperate and collaborate.
HILLTOP MONTESSORI SCHOOL ► Grades: 18 mo-8th ► Call: 205-437-9343 ► Web: hilltopmontessori.com ► Instagram: @hilltopmontessori
While striving to make a positive impact in the world as global citizens, Hilltop students actively participate in the cultivation and harvest of the school’s edible garden, which is featured in the school’s hot lunch program. Hilltop students serve in community outreach such as the Mt Laurel Farmer’s Market, Pathways Early Learning Center, Lovelight Farm, Bundles of Hope, Friends of Dunnavant Valley Greenway, and GET INvolved Lake Mitchell (Coosa River). Learn more about Hilltop Montessori School by taking a tour of the beautiful seven-acre campus located in the Town of Mt Laurel in North Shelby County.
280Living.com
September 2026 • B9
SPORTS
New season, new tests as teams enter 2026 season By KYLE PARMLEY With the high school volleyball season getting underway, many local teams participated in a preseason OTM Media Day at Hoover High School in August. Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park are among the teams looking for big 2026 seasons.
LIONS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN NEW CLASS
The Briarwood volleyball team enters head coach Chris Camper’s third year with a simple, if lofty, goal. “I want them to be the best team ever put on the court at Briarwood,” Camper said. “We just want to make sure that when we get to October, we’re playing the best volleyball that we’ve ever played.” Two seniors, Peyton Gibbons (middle blocker) and Julie Roberts (pin), lead a group Camper said is the deepest he has had at Briarwood. The Lions also return first-team All-South Metro setter Noelle Suellentrop, welcome Hazel Green transfer Lily Nelson and expect contributions from sixth-rotation outside hitter Helen Morrison and middle blocker Coley Barnes, even after losing last year’s libero to a torn ACL. Briarwood moves into a new classification this fall, but Camper said the schedule hasn’t softened, with matches against Vestavia Hills, Hewitt-Trussville, Homewood and Mountain Brook, along with the Juanita Boddie Tournament against a full slate of public schools. Jordan Camper, Stella Woods, Scarlett Freeman, Carsyn O’Quinn, Taylor Sanders, Leighton Hendley and Delaney Whitehead round out the varsity roster.
Briarwood’s Leighton Hendley (10) reacts after a successful play during a Class 5A volleyball state championship semifinal match vs. Guntersville. Photos by David Leong.
HORNETS EAGER TO BUILD
Three seniors were voted team captains by Chelsea this preseason: outside hitter Lexi Rudolph, right side Braylee Allen and defensive specialist Ashley Fritz. Head coach Jamie Gill said the trio brings a consistent standard. “It’s just good work ethic and leading by example,” Gill said. Rudolph said the team has rallied around a single word this preseason. “We’ve had a team word this year, and our team word is grit,” Rudolph said. Rudolph, a fourth-year varsity player who recently committed to New Orleans, led the offense last season, but Gill said balance matters more. “We need a balanced offense in order for her to be effective, too,” Gill said. “Contribution from everywhere and not necessarily just being outside heavy is going to be a key for us to have success.” Returning middle Chloe Owens and setters Anna Burnett and Sienna Arceneaux give Gill more pieces to work with. Senior Lillian Chapman, who tore her ACL throwing javelin in the spring, won’t play but remains a fixture at every practice. “She is the one that hypes us up, and she’s been at every practice,” Gill said. “And I think the girls have really embraced her role.” Fritz said the team’s tight bond makes accountability easier. “Pushing each other as well and keeping all of us accountable through hard moments too,” Fritz said. Sophie Garrard, Emerson Britt, Jordan Knight, Abbigail Price, Makenzie Moon, Layne Moller and Juliana Morrow round out the varsity roster.
EAGLES SETTLED AND READY TO COMPETE
Five seniors anchor Oak Mountain this fall under head coach Anna Claire Harris: Molly O’Dell (right side), Vivian Harris (libero),
Briarwood’s Julie Roberts (5) spikes the ball.
Alexis Heard (right side), Caroline Ohlson (outside) and Ally Ross (middle). “This is the group that I’ve had the longest,” Anna Claire Harris said. “I think that going into this last year for them is going to be really big on team growth with community. We have a lot of 10th graders and ninth graders this season, and so bridging that gap is going to be very big for them.” Coach Harris said the senior group’s belief in each other stands out. “Not one of them cares about themselves,” she said. “That’s what’s been so enjoyable so far to see is that they genuinely just want to win.” “Common, well-known fact, volleyball is a game of errors,” Harris said. “At the end of the day, who makes the least, that’s who wins. If you’re fulfilling your role, holding others accountable, then you have a solid base in
which adversity comes and you can go back to that.” Team bonding at the annual Shrimp Fest tournament in Gulf Shores remains a highlight for the group. Sophomores Makayla Bailey, Elizabeth Tillery, Brayden Bentley, Aubrey Williams, Hallie Kelly, Ella Tipton and Kaitlynn Turman; freshmen Ashley Fey, Maddie Ball and Ann Carlton Oxford; and junior Bailey Lawyer round out a young roster.
JAGS CHASING WHAT GOT AWAY
Spain Park is chasing something it came within one match of reaching a year ago: an appearance in the state championship. The Jaguars finished as South Regional runner-up, beat Hartselle in the first round of the state tournament, then fell to Hazel Green in the semifinals at the CrossPlex. That near miss still fuels this year’s group, according to sophomore libero Camdyn Kyes. “I feel like that gives us more motivation because we didn’t make it to where we wanted to make it,” Kyes said. “But also, we are such a young team with so many great, amazing girls, and our team chemistry is unmatched.” Madden Scott is the lone senior among four players who lived through that postseason run. “It’s kind of crazy because I started with so many girls my freshman year, and now it’s just me,” Scott said. Junior Chloe Shumate said the group is chasing the same goal this year. Spain Park also moves up in classification this fall, a change head coach Justin Kisor welcomed. “I just want to play the best, wherever, whenever,” Kisor said. “It doesn’t matter if I was a 1A, I’d want to play a 6A. I don’t care.” Peyton Harrington, Abbi Jones, Anna Kate Sheffield, Emilie Taylor, Peyton Bohan, Maggie Cline, Mary Alice Dunn, Bailey Hubbard, Kenley Earls, Lynlee Franks, Sarah Latham and Kendall Hyde round out the varsity roster.
Spain Park’s Chloe Shumate (7) goes up for the block during a Class 6A volleyball state championship semifinal match vs. Hazel Green.
B10 • September 2026
280 Living
SPORTS
Football teams open region play in September By KYLE PARMLEY Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park high schools all opened the season in non-region play and now turn to region action in September. Briarwood is in Private-AA, Region 2; Chelsea is in Class 5A, Region 4; and Oak Mountain and Spain Park are both in Class 6A, Region 3.
SEPT. 4
Briarwood hosts Westminster Christian in the first meeting between the two. Chelsea travels to Calera, which holds a 22-15-1 edge dating to 1966, though Chelsea has won three straight, including a 42-25 win last season. Oak Mountain and Spain Park meet each other, with Spain Park holding a 15-7 edge. The two have not met since 2023, when Spain Park won 42-17.
SEPT. 11
Briarwood travels to Lee-Scott Academy in the first meeting between the two. Chelsea hosts Ramsay, also a first meeting. Oak Mountain travels to Vestavia Hills, which holds a 17-5 edge and has won the last four, including a 41-0 win last season. Spain Park hosts Thompson, tied 9-9 all-time. Thompson has won the last seven, including a 55-14 win in 2023, the last time they played.
SEPT. 17-18
Briarwood hosts Madison Academy on Sept. 17, a series it leads 3-2. The teams have not met since 2021, when Briarwood won 41-17. Chelsea hosts Pelham on Sept. 18, a series Pelham leads 12-6, including a 19-7 Panthers win last season. Oak Mountain hosts Hoover, which has swept the series 24-0, including a 48-21 win last season. Spain Park travels to Vestavia Hills, which holds a 15-6
Spain Park’s offensive line and Chelsea’s defensive line wait for the snap during a game last fall. Photo by Richard Force.
edge and has won the last six, including a 26-8 win in 2023, the last time they played.
SEPT. 25
Briarwood hosts Montgomery Catholic, a non-region game in the first meeting between the programs. Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park are all open.
LOOKING AHEAD
Briarwood finished 7-6 last season, reaching the Class 5A quarterfinals under coach Matthew Forester (51-31 entering the year). Briarwood travels to St. John Paul II on Oct. 1,
hosts John Carroll on Oct. 9, hosts Randolph on Oct. 16, travels to American Christian on Oct. 23 and closes with an open date on Oct. 30. Chelsea finished 5-5 last season and missed the playoffs, with new coach Tad Niblett looking to change that. Chelsea hosts Helena on Oct. 2, travels to Homewood on Oct. 8, travels to Mountain Brook on Oct. 16, hosts Chilton County on Oct. 23 and closes at Bessemer City on Oct. 30. Oak Mountain finished 4-6 last season. Jason Kervin, previously strength and conditioning coordinator at Pelham and offensive
coordinator at Hoover, has taken over the program this season. Oak Mountain hosts Hewitt-Trussville on Oct. 2, travels to Prattville on Oct. 9, travels to Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 16, hosts Thompson on Oct. 23 and closes at Homewood on Oct. 30. Spain Park finished 9-3 last season, reaching the second round of the Class 6A playoffs under coach Tim Vakakes (31-14 at the school). Spain Park travels to Prattville on Oct. 2, hosts Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 8, travels to Hoover on Oct. 16, travels to HewittTrussville on Oct. 23 and closes at home against James Clemens on Oct. 29.
280Living.com
September 2026 • B11
SPORTS
Stallings has big plans with new athletic director job at Shelby County Schools Michael Stallings, who was the athletic director and head baseball coach at Chelsea High School until being named athletic director for the entire Shelby County school system, changes pitchers during Game 3 of the AHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship. Photo by David Leong.
By DREW TAYLOR If it wasn’t for a torn muscle in his shoulder, it’s very possible that Michael Stallings wouldn’t be where he is today with the top sports job in Shelby County. Stallings, who was named athletic director for Shelby County Schools earlier this month, was a pitcher at UAB when he tore his labrum muscle connecting his arm to his shoulder. With a redshirt senior year and his playing career on hiatus, then-coaches Larry Giangrosso and Lee Hall decided to give the Benjamin Russell standout a chance to continue contributing to the team. “I was basically given the opportunity to be a coach with them, traveling with them and the team, and putting me in the situation to work with our pitchers,” Stallings said. “They said, ‘We want to find ways you can be a benefit.’” Whether or not Giangrosso and Hall meant to, this changed everything for Stallings, who switched from a business major to education, looking for opportunities to lead the next generation of student-athletes as a coach. It’s a philosophy he hopes to pass on as the newest athletic director at Shelby County, one of the largest school systems in Alabama with over 20,000 students. “At the end of the day, that’s what we want from all of our coaches,” he said. “You want them to be role models, but you also want them to have an impact on the students they have the privilege to coach.” Stallings has served as head baseball coach at Chelsea High School since 2009, where he also served as athletic director. Despite coming from a high school with a little over 1,200 students, Stallings said his own philosophy will
not change in his new role at Shelby County. “Ultimately, I think that in order to have success, you have to have a good foundation, and that foundation is built on great relationships,” he said. “I’ve had some good time to build relationships at Chelsea.” As he and his staff get ready for the upcoming school year, Stallings hopes to build and improve upon the relationships between the different high school programs, as well as bridge
the gap between high school and middle school athletic programs. “Part of my vision is having meetings and other opportunities, whether it be through professional development or spending time building stronger relationships with all these schools,” he said. “To me, it’s about creating one program that has the same vision, is speaking the same language and is moving in the same direction.”
But more than just overseeing coaches and teams, Stallings wants to make sure that, with as many distractions as exist for young people today, sports continue to be a great path to success for student-athletes across Shelby County. “It’s another level of accountability for them when they are on a team because they are held to a certain standard,” he said. “When they buy into that vision, they don’t want to mess up, they want to please and they want to be great.”
B12 • September 2026
280 Living
EVENTS
Save the Date
CHELSEA GOVERNMENT ACADEMY LAUNCHES ► Where: Various city of Chelsea facilities ► When: Beginning September; twice monthly ► Details: Go behind the scenes of local government with the new Chelsea Government Academy. Launching in September, the interactive program gives residents an inside look at the people, departments and services that keep the city running. Participants will meet city leaders and staff, tour facilities and learn about areas including public safety, infrastructure, parks and recreation, planning and community development. The academy meets twice monthly over several months and is designed to help residents better understand — and become more involved in — their local government. ► More Info: cityofchelsea.com
BIRD NERD BASICS: BEGINNER’S BIRDING CLASS & GUIDED BIRD WATCHING ► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, 200 Terrace Drive ► When: Sept. 12, 10 a.m. ► Cost: Registration required; see event website for details. ► Details: Grab your binoculars and discover the world of birding during Bird Nerd Basics at Oak Mountain State Park. Designed with beginners in mind, the program introduces participants to the basics of identifying and observing birds before heading outdoors for a guided bird-watching walk. Led by park interpretive staff, the experience offers a fun and approachable way to sharpen your observation skills while discovering some of the feathered residents and visitors found throughout the park. ► More Info: alapark.com
► For more events news, connect with 280 Living online by scanning the QR code. ► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
SDEA GOLF CLASSIC ► Where: Greystone Golf & Country Club, Founders Course, 4100 Greystone Drive ► When: Sept. 15 ► Cost: Registration required; see event website for team and sponsorship information. ► Details: Hit the links for a good cause during the 2026 SDEA Golf Classic benefiting the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association. Golfers will enjoy an afternoon of competition at Greystone’s Founders Course, along with special contests, prizes and drawings. Lunch will be served following registration and practice time, with dinner and an awards gathering after the round. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will help provide scholarships for students attending the STS Institute, SDEA’s ministry training school. ► More Info: sdeagolf.com
OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK Sept. 5: Junior Ranger Guided Program: Respecting Wildlife, 11 a.m. Sept. 5: Monarchs & Milkweed, 1 p.m. Sept. 7: Scales & Tails, 1 p.m.
JOHO MISSIONS 5K AND FUN RUN
MIGRATION & MOONLIGHT
► Where: Chelsea ► When: Sept. 26, 5K at 8 a.m.; Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. ► Cost: $35 for the 5K; $20 for the 1-mile Fun Run ► Details: Lace up your running shoes for the JOHO Missions 5K and Fun Run in Chelsea. Open to runners of all ages and experience levels, the event offers both a 5K and a 1-mile Fun Run for those looking for a shorter distance. Gather family and friends for an active morning while supporting JOHO Missions and its work. Race-day registration for the 5K begins at 7 a.m., with advance registration also available online. ► More Info: runsignup.com/Race/AL/ Chelsea/JOHOMissions5K
► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Drive ► When: Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. ► Cost: See event website for registration and park admission information. ► Details: Spend an early fall evening outdoors during Migration & Moonlight at Oak Mountain State Park. This seasonal nature program explores the fascinating movement of wildlife during migration while taking advantage of the sights and sounds of the park after daylight begins to fade. Guests can learn more about the animals that travel through Alabama each year and discover how changing seasons shape their journeys. ► More Info: alapark.com
BACKYARD APOTHECARY: PLANTAIN ► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Drive ► When: Sept. 19, 1 p.m. ► Cost: See event website for registration and park admission information. ► Details: Take a closer look at one of the useful plants growing right underfoot during Backyard Apothecary: Plantain at Oak Mountain State Park. This educational nature program focuses on the plaintain, a common plant with a long history of traditional uses. Participants will learn how to identify the plantain, explore its place in the natural world and discover why this often-overlooked plant has earned a spot in the backyard apothecary. ► More Info: alapark.com
MT. LAUREL LIBRARY Sept. 8: MahJong Open Play, 1–4 p.m., Ann Price Activity Room. Sept. 14: Mt. Laurel Needle Arts Group, 2–4 p.m., Ann Price Activity Room. Sept. 22: MahJong Open Play, 1–4 p.m., Ann Price Activity Room.
Sept. 11: Camp and Jam, noon. Sept. 12: Girl Scouts Love State Parks: Leave No Trace, 2 p.m. For additional dates, registration information and park admission fees, visit alapark.com.
NORTH SHELBY LIBRARY Sept. 9: Mommy & Me Music Group, 10:30–11 a.m., Meeting Room. Sept. 14: Middle School Monday Meetup, 4–6 p.m., Children’s Department Activity Room. Sept. 14: Novel Horizons Book Club, 6–7 p.m., Mueller Annex Classroom. Sept. 17: Knotty Yarn Club, 5–6:45 p.m., Mueller Annex Classroom. Sept. 22: Tiny Hands Craft Time, 10:30–11 a.m., Children’s Department Activity Room. Sept. 28: Makers Club Monday, 3:15–4:15 p.m., Children’s Department Activity Room. For a complete list of September events, visit northshelby.library calendar.com/events/month.
For a complete list of September events, visit northshelby.library calendar.com/events/month.
CHELSEA PUBLIC LIBRARY Weekly (Wednesdays): Tot Time – Preschool Story Time, 10:30–11 a.m. Weekly (Thursdays): Musical Munchkins, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Weekly (Fridays): BYOC – Bring Your Own Craft, 1–2 p.m. Sept. 8 & 22: Paws for Reading, 3–4 p.m., Chelsea Public Library. Young readers can practice reading aloud to specially trained Hand in Paw therapy dogs. Sept. 15: Read.Play.Create. Teen Program – Author James Nelson, 5 p.m. Celebrate the launch of local young author James Nelson’s debut book, Infinite Squad. Sept. 21: Beyond Books – Disney Trivia, 6 p.m. Family-friendly trivia; registration available online or at the circulation desk. For a complete list of September events, visit cityofchelsea.com/ calendar.aspx.
280Living.com
September 2026 • B13
EVENTS
Fall events, activities for teens at Chelsea Library By LAUREN H. DOWDLE
a new one each month with different themes, like an enchanted From crafts and video game tournalibrary. When they finish the 10 ments to escape room puzzles, Chelpuzzles, they will discover a foursea Public Library offers much more digit code that they can then bring than books. to the library to see if it opens the They host a variety of events for all treasure chest to win a prize. ages throughout the year, and there are “If I can get them in the door several coming up for teens 12 to 18 to take that home, maybe it will years old, said Melissa Strunk, who is pique their interest,” Strunk said. on the library staff. “We have a lot of fun things going One event she’s especially excited on at the library.” for is a book signing with 11-yearThe city of Chelsea will also old James Nelson, who recently be hosting a scarecrow decoratpublished the book “Infinite Squad: ing contest this fall where busiTrouble in River City.” The chapter nesses can decorate a scarecrow, book follows a group of friends in a and the community can vote on fast-paced, funny story with plenty of their favorites. The library will wild escapes. have an event for teens to come Nelson and his family have been decorate a scarecrow to include patrons at the library for several in the contest. years, and he thanks the librarians Those are only a few of the at the Chelsea Public Library in his upcoming activities visitors can book dedication. The book signing Kids participate in a Super Smash Bros. video game tournament put on by the Chelsea Public Library. Photo look forward to at the library. will be Sept. 15 at 5 p.m., and there “Libraries have evolved, so courtesy of Chelsea Public Library. will be copies of the book available come check it out and give us for purchase. a chance,” Strunk said. “Our “We’re all really excited about the teens can practice on themselves. activities they will enjoy. patrons are just wonderful, and I event,” Strunk said. “We just put the book in Other fun fall events for teens will include “We want to provide a safe and fun environ- love everything we have to offer them.” our library too, so patrons can check it out.” a video game tournament, bingo, trivia and a ment for them,” she said. “We’re trying to offer At 16623 U.S. 280, the Chelsea Public Chris Screws, an instructor at the Special FX jigsaw puzzle tournament where teams com- a lot of different things every month to show Library is open Monday through Thursday Academy at Pinson Valley High School, will pete to see who can assemble the puzzle the them we’re more than just books.” from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. also be coming to the library patio on Oct. 3 fastest to win prizes. There will also be an arts Something else they’ve started offering for and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more from 1-3 p.m. He will demonstrate different and crafts event where they can create a min- teens is a take-home escape room where stu- about upcoming events, follow the library on Halloween makeup special effect techniques, iature bookshelf to take home. Strunk said she dents can pick up a packet with different puz- social media or visit cityofchelsea.com and and there will be a hands-on activity where takes the feedback from the teenagers to create zles to solve. Strunk said she hopes to have click “Library.”
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EVENTS
Taste of Shelby County slated for Sept. 10 By EMILY REED Taste of Shelby County is returning for its 18th year on Sept. 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Inverness Country Club. “This event is a favorite because of its relaxed casual atmosphere,” said Executive Director of the Shelby County Schools Education and Taste of Shelby County organizer Bethany Ivey. “It is a more casual event where everyone mixes and mingles and comes and goes. With so many choices of restaurants, people casually make their way around the room and enjoy all the delicious food from our vendors.” In 2025, there were roughly 300 guests who attended the event. The annual celebration connects the school district and the community together as attendees enjoy tastings from area restaurants and vendors while supporting the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation. There are roughly 20 restaurants, beverage vendors and bakeries that bring samples for attendees to try as samples from menus. Many of the vendors at the event have been to the event for at least the last three years. Some of the vendors committed to attending so far include: ► Charcuterie Pieces ► East 59 Cafe ► Inverness Country Club ► Good People Brewing Company ► Hey Bebe ► Board in Birmingham ► La Paz ► Bistro Provare ► Freddy’s ► Joe’s Kitchen Bar and Bakery
► Chick-fil-A ► Oak Mountain High School Career and Technical Education ► Texas Roadhouse ► Dread River ► Half Shell Oyster House ► Trampled by Tacos ► Taziki’s ► Cookie Fix ► RnR Sushi ► Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille ► Panther Bites There is an early bird discount available for anyone interested in purchasing their tickets online before the event. Tickets are available for $50, while tickets purchased at the door and VIP tickets are $60 and $75. To purchase a ticket or become a sponsor, contact Taste of Shelby County by visiting tasteofshelbycounty.com. Inverness Country Club is at 1 Country Club Drive in Birmingham.
Taste of Shelby County ► When: Sept. 10, 6 p.m. ► Where: Inverness Country Club, 1 Country Club Drive, ► Details: Advance tickets $50; $60 tickets at the door; $75 VIP tickets ► Web: tasteofshelbycounty.com
People sample food and wine at a previous Taste of Shelby County. This year’s Taste of Shelby County will take place Sept. 10 at the Inverness Country Club. Staff photo.
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Monark Grove Greystone Senior Living will be hosting the Dixie Vintage Auto Club Sept 17. At Monark Grove Greystone, seniors enjoy beautifully designed living spaces, luxurious amenities and a choice of assisted living, independent living or memory care. “Monark Grove is a vibrant, engaging community where seniors can truly thrive,” said Tara Bailey, director of sales and marketing. The community also offers lots of fun activities, events and special programming, including a classic car show by Dixie Vintage Auto Club on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The car show is free and open to the public and is a great opportunity to check out what Monark Grove has to offer. One Monark Grove resident who’s excited about the event is GT Cartledge, a retired school counselor who loves football and classic cars. GT will enter his own vehicle in the show, a restored
LIFE The reluctant librarian who stayed: Michelyn Reid’s 20-plus years at North Shelby
1966 Mustang. “I love my car,” he said. “It reflects a time when I was younger.” GT looks forward to talking to other car owners about their vehicles and the modifications they’ve made. “It will be great to see other vintage cars,” he said. Living at Monark Grove is very enjoyable, according to GT. “It’s an excellent place to spend your retirement years, and there are always new people to meet and get acquainted with,” he said.
Monark Grove ► Where: 6328 Farley Lane, Birmingham, AL 35242 ► Call: 205-882-8700 ► Web: atlasseniorliving.com/ monark-grove-greystone Director of Library Services Michelyn Reid at the North Shelby Library. Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.
By KELLI S. HEWETT On paper, director of library services sounds pretty formal. For Michelyn Reid, it can actually mean anything from planning watercolor classes and toddler storytimes to climbing onto the rooftop to move PVC pipe so the drains don’t back up. Reid oversees both the North Shelby Library and the Mt Laurel Library, but she certainly didn’t plan on it. “I never thought I would be in a public library,” Reid said. Fresh out of library school in North Carolina, the Florida girl followed her husband to Alabama and started job hunting. She had come from the academic world, working at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business library, where the work was brisk and buttoned up. “It was more serious; it wasn’t as relaxed,” Reid said. “It took me a minute to slow down.” In 2004, she landed a reference librarian role at the North Shelby Library, and that’s where things clicked. “I realized that building relationships with the people in your community was really what it was about,” she said. There’s plenty to keep the 10 full-time and 15 part-time employees busy. Children’s storytime attendance is up 30% in one year as young families have joined the area neighborhoods. Adults pack the art programs, especially watercolor, and book clubs have grown so much in Mt Laurel that they’ve split into two groups. Meanwhile, the $1.4 million budget (for both libraries) has to cover everything from digital books to leaky roofs. That’s how Reid occasionally finds herself on top of the building.
Gusty storm winds sometimes blow some connecting PVC drain pipe loose, causing leaks in the building. At upwards of $400 a service call, Reid — usually with back-up from other employees but occasionally by herself — has been known to scale the submarine-style ladder to the roof hatch. “Going on the roof to adjust the drain saves money instead of calling the repair guy every time,” she said with a shrug. Team members appreciate her approach. “She has trust in her employees that they do their job, and we do our job well,” said North Shelby Library Circulation Manager Dee Green, a co-worker of more than 20 years. “And she’s really fun.” Away from the stacks, Reid’s life is anchored by her three children and husband Gary, an industrial sales rep she met in Minneapolis at an Elvis impersonation night at a polka bar. They married in 2001. Her love of books began with a teacher mom who took her to the library, a grandmother’s “love story” books, her dad’s westerns and, eventually, Jane Austen. When she isn’t working, she’s with her family, paddle boarding at Oak Mountain, squeezing in nonfiction or fantasy reading, or unwinding with a crochet project. Reid said she stayed in North Shelby more than two decades because of the people — from patrons who return to say thanks after months of studying to pass the bar or graduate from nursing school to co-workers who are now the “cool” team she leads. “We’re just independent thinkers, typically very open minded,” she said. “We love information. That was what drew me to being a librarian. Period. I love information, finding it and helping people find it. “It has been a sweet place to work,” Reid continued. “That’s what has kept me here. It’s been good to me.”
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