subdivision of 607 residents has grown into one of metro Birmingham’s most coveted ZIP codes — a city defined by strong schools, rising property values and suburban polish. But it was two annexations — one bold, one tactical — that shaped the last quarter-century of that rise. Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights didn’t just change the map. They broke it — and redrew the future of Vestavia Hills in the process.
Former local prep stars like Vestavia Hills’ Mason Maners have navigated the new, professionalized world of college sports in real time
By KYLE PARMLEY
For Mason Maners, college baseball was never just about stats, rankings or facilities — though he experienced all at a high level. It was about becoming the kind of man who could walk
away from the game with peace, perspective and purpose.
The former Vestavia Hills High School standout began his career at Jacksonville State and ended it at Auburn, fulfilling a lifelong dream by donning the orange and blue. Now, he remains around the program in a new capacity, serving as an assistant chaplain for the Tigers — guiding others through the same pressures, expectations and growth he once faced.
“Trying to describe my college baseball experience in just a few words is honestly impossible because it was simultaneously one of the greatest and most challenging seasons of my life,” Maners said. “It shaped me into the person I am today.”
See THE NEW PLAYBOOK | page 20
Auburn outfielder Mason Maners (21) during a game at Plainsman Park in Auburn. Photo by Grayson Belanger, courtesy of Auburn Athletics.
Body Logic Wellness Center welcomes Dr. James Frey
Expanding premier medical and esthetic services in Birmingham
At Body Logic Wellness Center – Birmingham’s finest medical and esthetic wellness facility – we have experts in health, nutrition, cellular skin renewal, athletic performance and lifestyle enhancement who can make you feel happier, healthier and more confident.
Body Logic now has even more to offer, thanks to an important new hire. Dr. James Frey, a Vestavia Hills native and respected primary care physician in Birmingham for nearly 40 years, recently joined Body Logic as its full-time Medical Director.
With Dr. Frey’s arrival, Body Logic now offers the full spectrum of personalized esthetic services, including Botox and fillers, medical-grade skin solutions and –very soon – laser treatments. Dr. Frey will leverage his immense medical experience to ensure that patients get great care.
Dr. Frey says he’s “very excited” about his new role. “After 38 years as an internist, it was time for something different.”
Body Logic owner Renee Hughes, who’s worked in esthetics for 30 years and is widely known for her paramedical and cosmetic procedures, is “elated” that Dr. Frey has joined the center.
Dr. Frey works closely with Renee in treating patients. “I’m in charge of the medical procedures in the office, including laser treatments and chemical peels,” Dr. Frey says. “That allows Renee to provide a higher level of treatment. She and I work together to create
• Where: 5511 U.S. 280, Suite 201, Birmingham
• Call: 205-991-8083
• Web: bodylogicwellness.net
For a free consultation about Botox or fillers, call 205-960-3664.
plans for the patients.”
Dana Taylor is Dr. Frey's Clinical Assistant. She’s certified in microneedling and Endermologie and is apprenticing to become a licensed esthetician. “I enjoy our Body Logic clients and love helping people be their best,” Dana says.
“Dana and I work together almost seamlessly,” Dr. Frey says “She knows what I want and need for a patient almost before I say it.”
Renee says that she, Dana and Dr. Frey “make a great team.” Body Logic takes advantage of Dr. Frey’s medical background and Renee’s long experience in esthetics. “We’re able to combine our knowledge to provide the latest advancements In skincare and wellness services,” Renee says.
Body Logic offers free consultations for patients interested in using Botox or fillers. “We enjoy talking to first-time Botox or filler patients,” Dr. Frey says. “We always start with conservative procedures and love to see fabulous results develop.”
Botox allows young men and women to help pre-
Dr. James Frey
vent the development of wrinkles caused by aging. “This is a long-term benefit even after the effects of the injections have dissipated,” Dr. Frey says.
Botox creates a more youthful appearance for middle-aged men and women, and this “impactful but subtle change can impact confidence and well-being,” Dr. Frey says. “It’s self-care at its best.”
“I love seeing a client return to us after having Botox or a filler, and they’re happy and confident,” Dana says.
Body Logic offers a wide range of services, including permanent makeup; lash and brow treatments; skincare and body services; hair removal, including laser, electrolysis and waxing; and Endermologie, a non-invasive technique to reduce cellulite, create better skin tone and improve the shape and circulation of the body.
Body Logic Wellness Center is located at 5511 U.S. 280, Suite 201. For more information, call 205-991-8083 or go to bodylogicwellness.net. For a free consultation about Botox or fillers, call 205-960-3664.
Vestavia Hills has changed a lot in its 75 years of existence as a municipality, but one of the most impactful changes that has occurred was the annexation of Liberty Park in 1992.
In one of our cover stories this month, Taylor Bright and Tim Stephens examine the contentious history behind the annexation that brought another 3,500 acres to Vestavia Hills. The subsequent annexation of Cahaba Heights 10 years later helped fill in the gap between Liberty Park and “old Vestavia.”
Bright and Stephens look at how city officials have worked to make the newer parts of the city feel like and truly be a part of Vestavia Hills. City officials say the addition of those two areas, while
requiring expanded services, actually have been a lifeline for the older part of the city, providing a higher percentage of tax revenue per resident than “old Vestavia.”
Also on our cover this month, Sports Editor Kyle Parmley continues to take a look at the changing face of college sports, this time examining how college athletes from our area are navigating endorsement deals, transfers and a system shifting beneath their feet. Both stories are illuminating reads.
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Moe the pig is moving around to different Vestavia Hills businesses as part of a Snout and About summer campaign by
Time to get ‘Snout and About’ in Vestavia Hills
By JON ANDERSON
The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a summer contest to find Moe the pig at a new location each week between June 1 and July 18.
Each week, Moe will be hidden in a different Vestavia Hills business. “It’s up to you to find out where he is using clues on social media,” said Tracy Thornton, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing.
Clues will be posted on the chamber’s social media channels. Once participants think they’ve found Moe, they can visit the business,
scan a QR code and be entered into a drawing held there each Friday at noon, Thornton said. Extra entries are awarded for tagging the chamber on social media or uploading a receipt from a purchase at the business. Winners are announced on social media and can return to the business to claim their prize, she said. Thornton said the chamber owns 21 pig statues from a marketing campaign launched nearly a decade ago. Moe is one of four unsold pigs that now rotate between locations, she said. This summer’s contest is called “Snout and About.” Weekly clues are posted on the chamber’s social media pages.
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Scan the QR code with your phone to get your FREE Introduction to
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Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Stewart takes on president role for school board
By JON ANDERSON
Jay Stewart has spent four years on the Vestavia Hills Board of Education and said he’s excited to move into the role of president for the coming year.
Stewart, a partner in the Heninger, Garrison, Davis law firm, said he’s proud to serve with what he feels like is the best board of education in the state and Superintendent Todd Freeman, who was just named Alabama Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama.
Stewart said that, for him, the priority of the school board is to not accept the status quo and continue to look for ways to improve.
That starts with recruiting and retaining the best teachers in the state and giving them the tools they need to do what they do, he said.
“That's inspiring kids to reach beyond their dreams and light a flame in them that they will go and just achieve more than they can imagine,” Stewart said.
He loves going to Awards Day each year and listening to all the accomplishments of Vestavia Hills students, the scholarships they have received and the colleges and jobs to which they are going. “They’re just so gifted,” he said.
Whether those students are going to college, the military or a civilian job, he wants to make sure the Vestavia Hills school system is providing them the foundation they need to go share those gifts with others and impact the world, he said.
“It’s very exciting, and I’m just glad to be a part of it,” he said.
During Stewart’s tenure, the school board in May 2023 tried to get voters to approve a 9.8mill property tax increase, which would have generated an estimated $8.42 million in additional money to fund improvements in both
facilities and educational programs. The tax increase would have boosted Vestavia Hills’ total property taxes from 92.6 mills to 102.4 mills, but voters rejected that tax increase.
Stewart said the needs that were identified by school officials at that time were real, but because voters didn’t want to increase taxes to achieve those goals, school officials have been trying to find alternative ways to get those programs and facility improvements funded.
“We couldn't do them in one big swoop like we wanted to,” he said. But “we're still striving to do those things … and obviously a lot slower process. All those things we put out there, wanting to do — they're still on the list, and we hope to knock them out one by one.”
Stewart said he has some huge shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of other school board presidents such as Scott Brown.
“They’ve all done a fantastic job, and I'm just
hoping that I can continue the leadership,” Stewart said. “I think the key to them all is they’ve all been excellent listeners.”
He wants to continue that trait, listening to what the community and educators are saying and trying to apply that and keep Vestavia Hills the best school system in the state, he said. Read more about what Stewart, other board members, Freeman and city officials had to say about Brown at hooversun.com.
The Vestavia Hills Board of Education listens to Superintendent Todd Freeman, fourth from left, discuss the fiscal 2025 budget in September 2024. From left, board members Jonathan Handey, Jay Stewart and Scott Brown and Kyle Whittington.
Photo by Jon Anderson.
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Schedule a Free Consultation Today (205) 255-4024 cahabaconcierge.com 8011 Liberty Parkway, Suite 101, Vestavia Hills, AL 35242
In the Classroom
GET TO KNOW
By JON ANDERSON
Amber Boylan is the bookkeeper at Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge.
Q: How long have you worked here?
A: I started in January of 2021.
Q: Have you been in the school system longer than that?
A: No, I started my career as a CPA [certified public accountant]. We had two young boys, and then my husband went to medical school, and we had to move to Tuscaloosa for his residency, so I stayed home with our boys at that time. … and then we moved back to Vestavia. I was the first PTO treasurer for Dolly Ridge when Dolly Ridge opened. … I helped [former Principal] Dr. [Ty] Arendall and [then Assistant Principal] Mrs. [Lorie] Belski get everything organized — assigning the carpool numbers and all the things. And then when [former bookkeeper] Ginger [Golden] was retiring, I applied for the job, and it worked out.
Q: When you have free time, what do you like to do?
ACCOLADES
Vestavia personal finance team makes top 16 at national tournament
By JON ANDERSON
Vestavia Hills High School’s personal finance team placed among the top 16 teams in the country at the Council for Economic Education’s National Personal Finance Challenge in Atlanta in June.
Students Andy Sheng, Ben Cusmariu, Anjie Deng and Ethan Melevensky won first place in the Alabama state competition in April, qualifying them for nationals. Sheng and Deng were out of the country for nationals, so Jeffrey Zhao and Jack Huginine served as substitutes.
Nationally, more than 200 teams competed in state competitions affiliated with the National Personal Finance Challenge, and only 34 of those qualified for nationals, said Steven Johnson, a Vestavia Hills High School economics teacher who coaches the Vestavia team.
Q: What’s your favorite kind of music?
A: Worship music.
Q: Do you have a particular band or singer you like?
A: I like to spend time with my family. I have three boys that play baseball, so right now I am at Wald Park almost every night. In the fall, I’m the grade rep for the juniors and the seniors for the varsity football team, so I help with that. Wherever my boys are involved, I try to help … And we go to Briarwood Presbyterian Church, so I like to help there. In the summer, I try to do some of their drop-in Bible studies.
A: Chris Tomlin.
At nationals, those 34 teams were presented with a fictitious family scenario as a case study for which they had to develop a financial plan. The top 16 teams then were divided into four groups to compete in a Quiz Bowl format.
The team from Vestavia Hills finished second in their four-team group with a score of 13 out of 15, missing first place in their group by just one point, Johnson said. That prevented them from moving on to the Final Four.
However, it’s worth noting the team from Vestavia Hills had a higher score than two of the other teams that made it into the Final Four with a score of 12, Johnson said. Had the Vestavia team been in a different bracket, they would have made the Final Four, he said.
Alabama Council on Economic Education, said she was proud of the team from Vestavia Hills. “They worked so hard and they represented Alabama well.”
Vestavia Hills High School placed in the top 16 teams at the National Personal Finance Challenge in Atlanta in June 2025. From left are Jack Huginine, Ben Cusmariu, Ethan Melenevsky and Jeffrey Zhao. Photo courtesy of Steven Johnson.
Boylan
Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman has been selected as the Alabama Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama. He has led the school system since 2018. Photo by David Leong.
Freeman named Alabama Superintendent of the Year
By JON ANDERSON
Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman was named Alabama Superintendent of the Year in June by the School Superintendents of Alabama.
The announcement was made at the organization’s summer conference at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.
Freeman has served as superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools since 2018. He previously led Sylacauga City Schools for five years and worked in the Auburn school system for 20 years, totaling more than 30 years in public education.
He began his career as a social studies teacher at Auburn High School from 1999 to 2003. He later became executive director of operations and administrative services for Auburn City Schools and returned to Auburn High School as principal in 2010.
Freeman was named superintendent of Sylacauga City Schools in 2013. While there, he led the development of a strategic plan and secured a property tax extension that funded numerous capital improvement projects. During his tenure, Sylacauga expanded its fine arts, career and technical education and pre-kindergarten programs.
In Vestavia Hills, Freeman led the creation of new strategic plan goals and the district’s successful accreditation renewal in 2019. He and his team also oversaw a major restructuring and rezoning plan that included closing and selling Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, relocating Pizitz Middle School and creating the Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus.
Freeman holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Valdosta State University, a master’s degree in secondary social science from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in secondary social science from Jacksonville State University.
BUSINESS
Business Buzz
BUSINESS HAPPENINGS
NOW OPEN
Bangkok Street Foods recently opened a new Thai restaurant at 3735 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 113, in Liberty Park. 205-706-2563, bangkokstreet foodsbhm.com
COMING SOON
A new pet supply and grooming facility is coming to the Patchwork Farms development in Vestavia Hills. The shop, to be called Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, will be located in the former Papa Murphy’s pizza restaurant at 3056 Healthy Way, Suite 140, between the Smoothie King and Kumon Math and Reading Center, near Publix and Lifetime Fitness. It will offer grooming services for pets as well as a gourmet bakery stocked with gourmet, all-natural treats and premium pet food options.
GET TO KNOW
Elizabeth Sheaffer, owner Edelweiss Heirlooms
By JON ANDERSON
Elizabeth Sheaffer opened Edelweiss Heirlooms in the Park South Plaza on U.S. 31 at the end of November.
Q: Is this a brand new business, or did you relocate?
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
Knit Happenz has relocated from 2126 Columbiana Road to 2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 112, in The Shops at Oak Park shopping center, in the space formerly occupied by Rocky Ridge Chiropractic. The owner is Holly Tenison. The business is celebrating its 40th anniversary and offers yarn and accessories for knitting and crocheting, as well as help with knitting and crocheting projects. Hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and also 4-7 p.m. Thursday. 205-822-7875, knithappenz.com
PERSONNEL MOVES
Daniel Wisniewski has joined the Massey, Stotser & Nichols law firm, which has offices in Vestavia Hills and Trussville. Wisniewski joins the firm as a partner in the governmental representation and business law areas. He has more than a decade of in-house experience in municipal law, administrative matters and
SPOTLIGHT
Sheaffer
A: Brand new business. I'm also a professor full time, so this is secondary. I’m a professor at the Samford University School of Pharmacy. I’m the associate dean for assessment and accreditation. I can't be at the store during the week, unfortunately. I've got a couple part-time people that work with me, but I'm always there weekends and some nights.
Q: Why did you want to start it?
A: Kind of in memory of my parents. My dad was in the military, so we lived in Europe when I was little, and both my parents loved collecting, and I kind of caught on. I love collecting, and it just kind of reminds me of Europe. I have a European and American theme … I think a lot of young people now don’t appreciate things from their family. They just want to get rid of everything, and I'm hoping to change that a little bit.
Q: What kinds of things will people find in your store?
A: A little bit of everything. I have furniture. I have a lot of dishes and glassware, porcelain figurines, music boxes … I've got a few things from Japan and a few Chinese vases. Other than that, it's all European, American.
Q: What's the most treasured heirloom that you have from your family?
A: I have a desk that my mom bought, I think before she met my dad. That's German. It's big, and it has bubble glass in the front that I really like. Reminds me of her.
Do you have news to share about a business in Vestavia Hills or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings
Vestavia Voice is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight
litigation in state and federal courts. He primarily represents municipalities and individuals involved in civil litigation. Before joining Massey, Stotser and Nichols, he most recently served in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, where his duties included authoring published opinions on legal questions submitted by municipalities, regulatory boards, state agencies, legislative committees and other public officials. Massey, Stotser and Nichols’ office in Vestavia Hills is at 3109 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 215. 205-838-9000, msnattorneys.com
Dr. Sarah Flanagan is the new dentist at Vestavia Dental at 2496 Rocky Ridge Road, replacing Dr. Edgar Luna in April. Flanagan is a member of the American Dental Association, the Alabama Dental Association, the Birmingham District Dental Association and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. She and her husband have two young sons. They are members of Canterbury United Methodist Church. Luna had been with Vestavia Dental since 2023. 205-822-6669, lifedentalgroup.com/vestavia-dental
Ashley Vercher has joined the RealtySouth team at RealtySouth’s Over-the-Mountain office at 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137. 205-218-1967, ashleyvercher.realtysouth.com
Slow healing, deep change: Inside Birmingham Therapy Services
By CHRISTIANNA HORNIGOLD
Founded in 2018 by licensed professional counselor Pamela Quekemeyer, Birmingham Therapy Services is a private mental health practice committed to mind-body healing through experiential therapy.
The practice, located in the Century Park South office complex off Tyler Road, offers an approach that moves beyond traditional talk therapy. The team there tries to engage the nervous system directly through somatic practices, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, brainspotting and other experiential techniques.
The idea is to use experiences such as movement, breathwork, expressive arts, outdoor activities, role playing, grounding and mindful awareness to help clients process emotions and release trauma stored in the body and brain.
“We live in an urgency culture,” Quekemeyer said. “But healing is a slow process. Sometimes, 1% at a time is enough.”
Each clinician at the practice brings specialized training, offering diverse modalities that integrate body awareness, emotion, sensation and memory. This diversity ensures that clients receive care tailored to their unique needs. Birmingham Therapy Services also recently launched somatic workshops and intensives for health care professionals. Plans for the rest of 2025 include drop-in somatic workshops aligned with lunar phases — a creative approach to grounding clients in natural rhythms of release and renewal.
With more than a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Quekemeyer’s path to therapy is deeply personal.
“My passion for this work is deeply rooted in my own health challenges,” she shared. “Addressing the stress in my body brought a profound release — something I knew I had to help others find.”
For more information, visit bhamtherapyservices.com.
Flanagan
Wisniewski
Clockwise from top left: Pamela Quekemeyer, Katie Pietri, Candace Headland, Laetzia Bojara, Nicole Jenkins. Photos courtesy of Birmingham Therapy Services.
Sips and Bites
SPOTLIGHT GET TO KNOW
Maria Gray, Crumbl team leader
By JON ANDERSON
Maria Gray is a team leader at the Crumbl cookie store in the Vestavia Hills City Center. She just graduated from Ramsay High School in Birmingham and soon will be an 18-yearold freshman at the University of Alabama.
Q: How long have you worked here?
A: It will be two years in August.
Q: Have you had other jobs prior to this?
A: No, this is my first job actually.
Q: Do you eat much of the cookies yourself?
A: I do. Employees — we get 50% on the four-pack, so I get those sometimes. And while we’re here, we get a free sample.
Q: What’s your favorite?
A: Anything like Cookies & Cream or Oreo.
Q: What is your bestseller?
A: Probably the pink sugar.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: I like to hang out with my friends. Go to the movies. I like to go to the beach, too.
Q: What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen?
A: “Cars.” I love the original movie. The second and third — they don’t compare to the first one.
Q: Where would you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Definitely graduated from college. I would have my degree, and I would be working. I’m majoring in nursing. And I want to go back to school to get my doctorate in nursing … I think I’m going to go into pediatrics. I really don’t like older people. Kids are easier to deal with. Gray
Mugshots Grill &
By JON ANDERSON
Mugshots Grill & Bar has had a presence in the Vestavia Hills City Center since 2012, but customers may have noticed some changes in their menu recently.
The restaurant chain removed all their Caesar salads and guacamole from the menu, changed their dessert menu, added a new pasta dish and some new entrée bowls and renamed some burgers, said Brianna Young, general manager of the Vestavia Hills location.
Customers were furious about guacamole being removed from the turkey club sandwich and replaced with mayonnaise, but several new items have been well received, Young said.
A new pasta dish called Philly Pasta-La-Vista comes with bell peppers and onions and a cheese sauce that’s different from the usual alfredo sauce, and new entrée bowls include Elise’s Wok & Roll Teriyaki Bowl (with fried chicken tenders) and Lloyd’s Loaded Cheeseburger Bowl.
On the dessert menu, Mugshots dropped the chocolate chip cookie with ice cream but added Yam Good Nachos, which are sweet potato fries cooked to order and topped with ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauce, Young said.
The signature items on the menu continue to be the burgers, Young said. One of the most
popular is Cliff’s Comeback Burger, which is named after the owner of the Vestavia Hills location, Derrick Rayburn, whose middle name is Cliff, she said. It’s known for its sauce, which includes ketchup, lemon juice, horseradish, sugar, salt and pepper, she said.
Other popular burgers include the Mac Daddy Burger (a macaroni and cheese burger) and Liz’s Parm-A-Geddon (a parmesan bacon burger). Then there’s the Mugshot Challenge (a bacon cheeseburger combined with two cheeseburgers, topped with three fried pickles and onion rings and complemented with 14 ounces of fries). It costs $25, but any customer who eats it all in 12 minutes gets it for free.
The Philly Pasta-La-Vista is a new dish at Mugshots. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Recently sold homes in Vestavia Hills
► ADDRESS: 2208 Jacobs Road ► BED/BATH: 5/4.5
► ADDRESS: 2426 Monte Vista Drive
► BED/BATH: 4/3
► ADDRESS: 3636 Miller Hill Way ► BED/BATH: 4/3.5
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Miller Hill Park
► LIST PRICE: $800,000
► SALE PRICE: $750,000
► ADDRESS: 1136 Mayland Lane
► BED/BATH: 3/2.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,314 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Mayland Square
► LIST PRICE: $499,900
► SALE PRICE: $525,000
► ADDRESS: 2621 Plantation Cove Circle
► BED/BATH: 4/3 and 2 half baths
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,889 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Plantation Point
► LIST PRICE: $674,900
► SALE PRICE: $665,000
► ADDRESS: 5004 Bent River Trace
► BED/BATH: 5/3.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,059 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Bent River
► LIST PRICE: $519,900
► SALE PRICE: $519,900
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
Save the Date
VESTAVIA HILLS FARMERS MARKET
► Where: Scout Square, 741 Montgomery Highway
► When: Wednesdays through Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
► Details: Shop local each Wednesday at the Vestavia Hills Farmers Market, held at Scout Square near Vestavia Hills Methodist Church. A variety of vendors offer fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty items. Proceeds support the church’s food pantry, helping provide fresh fruits and vegetables to local families in need. The market runs weekly through early September and is open to the public.
► Details: Join Barry Mitchell and Sam the Turtle for a laughter-filled show that promises fun for children ages 3 and up. Two performances are scheduled: one at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Vestavia Hills Library, and another at 3:30 p.m. at Cahaba Heights Elementary School. This free family-friendly program blends comedy, puppets, and audience interaction for a silly, engaging hour of entertainment. No registration required.
► For more events news, connect with the Vestavia Voice online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Jon Anderson at janderson@starnesmedia.com.
► When: Saturday, July 13. Two shifts available: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
► Details: Volunteers are invited to join the Birmingham Rise Against Hunger team to help package meals for children and families facing hunger worldwide. Each box of meals provides nutrition for students in need and supports global food aid efforts. Community members of all ages are welcome to participate. Donations are also encouraged — one box of meals feeds a student for an entire school year. For more information or to register, visit riseagainsthunger.org/ VestaviaHillsCommunityEvent
MOONLIGHT MOVIES: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS
► Where: Vestavia City Center, 700 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills
► When: Thursday, July 17, 6:15 p.m.
► Details: Vestavia City Center’s free summer movie series returns with an outdoor screening of “The Secret Life of Pets.” Bring a blanket or chairs and enjoy complimentary popcorn, Cokes, and snow cones. Mr. Bill the Balloon Man will be back with balloon creations, and representatives from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society will be on hand to share more about their mission. The movie begins at 6:15 p.m., but early arrival is encouraged to grab a good seat. All ages welcome.
SPORTS
All-South Metro Baseball
3 Rebels named 1st team
By KYLE PARMLEY
The quality of high school baseball in the Birmingham area is elite, and the 2025 season was no different. The annual Under the Lights All-South Metro Team is packed full of talent and could almost pass as an all-state team.
This year’s Player of the Year is Hewitt-Trussville shortstop Steele Hall, who has potential to be a high pick in this summer’s Major League Baseball Draft. Hoover’s Will Adams is Hitter of the Year, although he is another great twoway player for the Bucs.
Aiden Hughes of Chelsea and Jack Ross of Homewood share the Pitcher of the Year honors. Hughes led the Hornets to the state championship series, while Ross notched 10 wins to cap off a terrific career at Homewood.
Michael Stallings is the Coach of the Year, taking Chelsea to the state finals for the second time.
► Player of the Year: Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Will Adams, Hoover
► Pitchers of the Year: Aiden Hughes, Chelsea, and Jack Ross, Homewood
► Coach of the Year: Michael Stallings, Chelsea
1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Aiden Hughes, Chelsea; went 9-0 with a 0.94 earned run average, while racking up 59 hits at the plate.
► Pitcher: Jack Ross, Homewood; won 10 games, while hitting .402 with nine homers and 49 RBIs.
► Pitcher: Bryant Diddell, Mountain Brook; one of the top strikeout pitchers in the area, punching out 85 hitters.
► Pitcher: Jackson Price, Chelsea; went 8-1 with a 1.74 ERA for the state runner-up.
► Catcher: Parker Daniels, Briarwood; led all catchers with 39 hits and finished with a .482 OBP.
► First base: Will Dobbins, Homewood; knocked in 34 RBIs and stole 16 bases.
► Second base: Cam Simpson, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with an impressive .514 OBP, knocking in 30 RBIs and swiping 20 bases.
► Third base: Gavin Smith, Vestavia Hills; hit .422 with five homers and 40 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville; an upcoming high draft pick, capping off his high school career with a .484 average, 60 hits, eight homers, 35 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
► Infield: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; hit .369 with five home runs.
► Infield: Noah Eady, Oak Mountain; picked up 36 hits and drove in 28 RBIs.
► Outfield: Will Adams, Hoover; got on base at a .608 clip and hit eight home runs as the top hitter in the area.
► Outfield: Jack Bland, Homewood; stole 39 bases and finished with 39 hits.
► Outfield: Cross Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; got on base at a .526 clip, scoring 34 runs and stealing 21 bases.
► Designated hitter: Jaxson Wood, Hoover; one of the top players in the area, hitting eight homers with 43 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Seth Staggs, Briarwood; racked up 50 hits.
► Utility: Christian Helmers, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the top all-around players in the area, going 9-1 on the mound, while hitting .322.
► Utility: Caleb Barnett, Mountain Brook; last year’s Hitter of the Year put forth another strong year, posting a 1.61 ERA and getting on base at a .521 clip.
2ND TEAM
► Pitcher: Hudson Mitchell,
Hewitt-Trussville; led the area with 11 wins, posting a 1.11 ERA.
► Pitcher: Jude Davidson, Mountain Brook; went a perfect 7-0 with a 1.48 ERA.
► Pitcher: Ivan Hand, Briarwood; posted eight wins without taking a loss, with a 1.46 ERA.
► Pitcher: Chase Rafferty, Vestavia Hills; went 6-2 for the Rebels.
► Catcher: Drew Ollis, Hewitt-Trussville; reached base in nearly half of his at-bats and hit .387.
► First base: Sam Estes, Mountain Brook;
knocked in 25 RBIs and got on base at a .418 clip.
► Second base: Finn Hecklinski, John Carroll; finished with a .476 OBP.
► Third base: Parker Johnson, Hoover; finished a strong year with a .491 OBP.
► Shortstop: Paul Barnett, Mountain Brook; finished with 35 hits and had a .453 OBP.
► Infield: Chase Lackey, Chelsea; knocked in 20 RBIs and stole 20 bases.
► Infield: Rhys Jones, Spain Park; put forth another solid season, finishing with
a .472 OBP.
► Outfield: William Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; got on base in half his at-bats, drawing 24 walks and swiping 18 bases.
► Outfield: Joe Cross, Spain Park; finished with 35 hits and 26 RBIs.
► Outfield: Will Weaver, Mountain Brook; knocked in 32 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Cooper Huffman, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with a .351 average and 32 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Will Langston, Vestavia Hills; hit .365 and drove in 31 RBIs.
► Utility: Houston Hartsfield, Briarwood; hit .327 and won four games as an all-around player.
► Utility: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; saved four games with a 0.98 ERA, while playing shortstop for the Patriots.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Cooper Anderson, Vestavia Hills; Wilson Szymela, Vestavia Hills; Will Daniel, Vestavia Hills; Colin Jones, Vestavia Hills; Patrick McQueeney, Spain Park; Charlie Kramer, Spain Park; Max Vinson, Spain Park; Baker Williams, Oak Mountain; Brady Sheppard, Hoover; Gavin Letcher, John Carroll; Jacob Francis, Hewitt-Trussville; Rylan Clark, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Catcher: Cooper Mullins, Homewood; Cade Mims, Chelsea.
► First base: Jacob Harris, Vestavia Hills; James Au, Hoover; Luke Neill, Chelsea.
► Third base: Blake Bales, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Shortstop: Cale McIntosh, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Outfield: Aiden Craven, Chelsea; Owen Edwards, Oak Mountain; Baylor Hardy, Hoover; Atticus Barton, Hoover; Cooper Dunn, John Carroll; Cam Graham, John Carroll; Will Clark, Briarwood; Koal Duckett, Hewitt-Trussville; Mack Breazeale, Chelsea; Noah Crosby, Mountain Brook; Carson Mann, Vestavia Hills.
► Designated hitter: William Yoder, Oak Mountain; Colby Durden, Hewitt-Trussville; Ben Roberts, Homewood.
► Utility: Garrett Barnes, John Carroll; Braxton Williams, John Carroll; Gabe Jones, Oak Mountain; Ben Heath, Oak Mountain; Paxton Stallings, Chelsea.
The spring sports postseason award teams this year feature plenty of Vestavia Hills High School athletes.
Vestavia Hills had four players earn Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state baseball honors. Junior outfielder Cross Tonsmeire and senior designated hitter Will Langston were named to the 7A first team. Junior infielder Gavin Smith made the second team and senior William Tonsmeire received honorable mention in the outfield.
Cross Tonsmeire got on base at a .526 clip and stole 21 bases. Langston hit four homers and drove in 31 runs. Smith knocked in 40 runs and had a .544 OBP. William Tonsmeire had a .500 OBP as well.
The ASWA released its annual all-state softball team, recognizing the top players from the 2025 high school season.
Vestavia Hills senior outfielder Evelyn Splawn found her name on the list, as a Class 7A honorable mention.
Splawn had a terrific senior campaign, hitting for a .426 batting average with a .507 on-base percentage. She racked up 52 hits, knocked in 26 runs and stole 23 bases.
It marks the fifth straight year a Vestavia Hills player has appeared on the all-state list.
The 2025 postseason awards have recognized several standout soccer players from Vestavia Hills for their exceptional performances this season.
Leading the way for the girls’ team, senior forward Betsy Whitson, senior midfielder Addison Mizerany and junior defender Katie Llewellyn were each named to the first team overall all-state, first team Class 7A all-state and first team A Division all-metro. Junior
goalkeeper Brianna Tortorici also earned first team overall and 7A all-state honors, along with a second team A Division all-metro nod.
Emma Listi, a senior midfielder, was named to the second team 7A all-state and received honorable mention A Division all-metro, while sophomore defender Cameron Dickerson
earned honorable mention overall all-state. Brigid Meadow was recognized as the Large School (6A-7A) Coach of the Year for her leadership and impact.
On the boys’ side, senior forward Harrison Crotwell was selected to the second team all-metro. Junior midfielders Parker Tarorick
and Will Davis, along with senior defenders Carter Willis and Griffin Latham and sophomore defender Robert Feely, each received honorable mention all-metro recognition. Junior defender Blair Marron also picked up honorable mention honors in the A Division all-metro category.
Vestavia Hills’ Cross Tonsmeire (2) bats in the game against the Hoover Bucs at Vestavia Hills High School on April 8,. Photo by Lindsay Handey.
SPORTS
All-South Metro Softball
Splawn named 1st team
By KYLE PARMLEY
The 2025 Under the Lights All-South Metro Softball Team, published by Starnes Media, aims to recognize the top individuals from across the area.
The Player of the Year honors go to Hewitt-Trussville’s Corey Goguts, who tied for the state lead with an eye-popping 31 home runs on the year. Katie Hopson from Chelsea, a true utility player, takes Hitter of the Year honors after sparking the Hornets offense.
Hoover senior Haley Westhoven is the Pitcher of the Year, finishing her career by leading the area with 13 wins for the Bucs. Her coach, Trey Matlock, takes Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bucs to winning Area 6, arguably the toughest in the state.
► Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Katie Hopson, Chelsea
► Pitcher of the Year: Haley Westhoven, Hoover
► Coach of the Year: Trey Matlock, Hoover
1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Haley Westhoven, Hoover; tied for the area lead with 13 wins, posting a 2.85 earned run average.
► Pitcher: Kelsey Crain, Oak Mountain; posted the lowest ERA in the area with a 2.24 mark, winning eight games.
► Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; led the area with 110 strikeouts, winning nine games.
► Catcher: Lindsey Westhoven, Hoover; one of the leaders for the Bucs, finishing with a .404 on-base percentage and 33 runs batted in.
► Infield: Claire Robinett, Mountain Brook; hit .417 in her senior season, finishing with 40 hits.
► Infield: Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook; hit eight homers and finished with a .458 OBP.
► Infield: Sheridan Andrews, Oak Mountain; put together another strong year, hitting .421 with 10 doubles.
► Infield: Mollie Hanson, Hoover; one of the top hitters in the middle of the order for the Bucs, driving in 32 runs.
► Infield: Charlee Bennett, Spain Park;
capped off her career with a .411 OBP.
► Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; put together a great sophomore year, hitting .576 and driving in 27 runs.
► Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; caused havoc for opponents, hitting .600 and stealing 41 bases.
► Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; got on base at a .483 clip and stole 30 bases.
► Outfield: Evelyn Splawn, Vestavia Hills; hit .426, racking up 52 hits and stealing 23 bases for the Rebels.
► Designated hitter: Emily Williams, John Carroll; hit 14 homers with 52 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; hit .521 with 31 homers and 78 RBIs, drawing 32 walks.
► Designated hitter: Sydney Carroll, Chelsea; hit seven homers and drew 20 walks as one of the area’s most feared hitters.
► Utility: Katie Hopson, Chelsea; hit .461 with 16 home runs, racking up 70 hits.
► Utility: Zaylen Tucker, Hewitt-Trussville; worked her way back from injury, hitting .448 with six homers and throwing critical innings in the circle.
► Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; hit .402 and won nine games in the circle.
2ND TEAM
► Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; had a brilliant eighth-grade season, going 10-6 with a 2.98 ERA.
► Pitcher: Larsen Cummings, Briarwood; posted a 2.48 ERA and struck out 102 batters.
► Pitcher: Alaysha Crews, Chelsea; the top pitcher for a strong Hornets team, winning nine games.
► Catcher: Anna DuBose, Oak Mountain; capped off her career with a solid year and only made three errors in the field.
► Infield: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; hit six homers and stole 20 bases without being caught.
► Infield: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 38 runs and was a solid pitcher for the Hornets as well.
► Utility: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; Darcy Hill, Hewitt-Trussville.
Vestavia Hills’ EJ Bragan (22). Photos by Kyle Parmley.
Kate Flanagan (19)
Evelyn Splawn (1)
Brookwood Hospital seeks
“It was the atmosphere … it’s that feeling you get when you walk in this hospital that people care … it’s not just the volunteers, it’s everybody … they want you to know they care about you as a person,” she said.
By SARAH OWENS
As Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital begins a new chapter under Orlando Health, the changes aren’t just behind the scenes — the hospital is calling for more volunteers to bring fresh energy to its halls.
Brookwood already has a strong volunteer team made up of adults and college students, but leaders say they’re looking to expand the adult roster to ensure full support across departments.
Volunteers assist patients, staff and visitors throughout the hospital — greeting guests at the information desk, giving directions, delivering mail, managing the gift shop and more.
One of those welcoming faces is Frances Gilroy of Vestavia Hills, who volunteers both at the hospital’s main information desk and in the gift shop.
“I worked the main information desk on Mondays and on Fridays. I helped Shelby out in the gift shop. And I think the best part of working both sites is working with all these people that come in, especially the information desk. People are anxious. They’re nervous. They don’t know where they’re going. They don’t know how to get there and see us. We’re the first face they see when they come in,” Gilroy said.
Gilroy, a retired registered nurse who moved to Vestavia Hills from Dothan 14 years ago, said she was drawn to Brookwood because of its people and atmosphere.
Volunteers like Gilroy often go beyond their assigned roles, responding to calls to deliver clothing to patients being discharged or stepping in for special hospital events. She also serves as an officer in the hospital’s volunteer auxiliary, which helps coordinate fundraising and special events such as Operation Christmas Morning and Hospital Week.
The auxiliary is a key part of the Volunteer Program, supporting fundraising and hospital morale efforts.
But for Gilroy, it’s not just about giving back — it’s about finding joy and meaning in the small interactions.
“For me, a sense of self-worth, that I’m helping people. I’m doing something good for somebody I don’t know, and I just like to think that I’d like them to pay it forward. If I’m nice to them, and I try to take time for them, I hope they do that to somebody else,” she said.
“I think one of the best things is when a visitor comes back down and he says, ‘Thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate it.’ I mean, how many people come and tell you they appreciate you. It feels good that you’ve done something good,” Gilroy said.
While volunteers like Gilroy bring their own heart and history to the hospital, support is needed across many areas. Whether it’s holding a baby in the NICU, guiding a patient to an appointment, or assisting guests in the gift shop, Brookwood volunteers offer compassion in every corner.
To learn more about volunteering at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital , visit baptisthealthal.com/about-us/volunteer.
Above: Vestavia Hills resident Frances Gilroy has volunteered at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital for several years.
Left: The hospital offers volunteer opportunities to college students and adults form around the Birmingham metro area. Photos by Sarah Owens.
COMMUNITY
Tracy Bennett Smith grants wishes for state’s children
By STAFF
There is something in the nature of Tracy Bennett Smith that has always been drawn to helping people. Maybe it was innate or perhaps it was seeing her parents show generosity with limited means as she was growing up. Whatever it is, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Alabama has made a career of helping others while serving with nonprofits in Birmingham.
Born and raised in Anniston, Smith, a Vestavia Hills resident, entered the nonprofit world in 1991 after a public relations internship at the Eye Foundation Hospital changed her career path.
“I ended up accidentally backing into a PR internship at the Eye Foundation Hospital years ago, and discovered the world of nonprofit,” she said.
Smith joined the organization, headquartered on U.S. 280 in Birmingham, in 2019 after being recruited from her previous role at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“I thought I worked for the best nonprofit, but I totally forgot about Make-A-Wish,” she said.
As CEO, she leads a team of 18 with offices across the state and a $5 million annual budget.
“The majority of my job is basically leading the senior leadership team, to empower them, to empower their team,” she said. “I always say, lead with kindness and empowerment.”
Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish grants life-changing experiences to children diagnosed with critical illnesses. Though many people associate it with terminal conditions, Smith said 80 to 85 percent of wish recipients survive their illnesses.
“We don’t use the word terminal illness anymore. We use the word critical illness,”
she said. “A wish is not just a nice thing, but it absolutely can impact the child’s medical journey.”
The Alabama chapter became an official affiliate in 2012. Today, the nonprofit serves about 200 children annually but estimates there are more than 400 children newly diagnosed with critical illnesses each year across the state.
“So in terms of serving Alabama, we’re at between 50% and 60% capacity,” Smith said. “We probably are going to need to at least, at most, double that to truly serve this entire state.”
Smith has focused on team building, board development and outreach since taking the helm. When she started, the board had just four members; now it has 18. The organization is also supported by major fundraising efforts like the Trailblaze Challenge and an ongoing partnership with America’s Thrift Stores, which generates $1 million a year through donated goods.
One of the most powerful wishes Smith recalls came from a 15-year-old named Melody, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Rather than wish for something for herself, she asked for new uniforms for her high school marching band. The chapter rushed to fulfill the request before her passing.
“All she could think about was her community,” Smith said. “It was just, it affected all of us here at the chapter.”
Despite the sometimes emotional toll, Smith says she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
“It is absolutely such a blessing and a joy to wake up every day and be able to call this a job,” she said. “We are able to bring hope and joy and strength to these children that are seeing their darkest days.”
Vestavia Hills resident Tracy Bennett Smith is CEO of Make-A-Wish Alabama.
Photo courtesy of Tracy Bennett Smith.
56 for 56: We’re in the home stretch
By TIM STEPHENS
Time’s almost up. When you read this, the weigh-in will be just days away — and I’ll be staring down the final miles of a goal I’ve been chasing since January.
The public goal was clear: lose 56 pounds by my 56th birthday.
But that wasn’t the full story. Privately, the number I was chasing was 76. I had already dropped the first 20 before I ever went public.
Scan the QR code to watch episode 5 of 56-for-56: A Transformation Project.
This wasn’t just about optics or vanity — it was about proving I could still summon the kind of focus and discipline that had once come easily.
But more is in play now than in my 30s or 40s. Back then, I could drop 50 — even 100 — pounds with pure willpower. The truth is, this is the hardest it’s ever been.
Part of that is physical. At 55, the metabolism doesn’t bend as easily. Recovery takes longer. The tools that used to work like magic now need coaxing.
There’s also something new: For the first time, I’m doing one of these sprints knowing I have ADHD. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 53 — which, looking back, explains a lot. There’s still a lot to unpack, but just understanding that has changed how I approach challenge and recovery.
A full-on ADHD burnout hit in the spring. I kept pushing — running six newspapers, navigating personal turbulence and refusing to slow down. I crashed hard. When I finally came up for air, there were just six weeks left — and I was still 30 pounds away from the public goal.
I could’ve written it off. Said it was too much. Blamed the schedule, the stress, the
age. But instead of walking away, I reset. In May, I got honest with myself. I built a plan — not just to push through the final stretch, but to do it smarter.
Here’s what the final sprint looks like:
► Nutrition: A high-protein, low-calorie liquid protocol — just 800 to 1,200 calories a day, with 240 to 260 grams of protein. It’s built around two large blended shakes a day (split into four servings), a combination of whey isolate and collagen.
► Training: Target: burn more than 1,600 active calories daily, on top of a 2,400 basal metabolic rate (BMR). That’s a 4,000-calorie burn target, driven by Hotworx sessions, kettlebell work, walking miles, and HIIT. The approach isn’t flashy, but it’s relentless.
► Tracking and recovery: I’m logging everything through MyFitnessPal. Whoop helps guide recovery. IV therapy at Prime IV helps support hydration and fat loss, while Hotworx saunas assist in both calorie burn and recovery.
Whether I cross the 56-pound finish line exactly or fall a few steps short, the real success has already taken shape. I’ve learned how to adapt — not just to age or to stress, but to the realities of neurodivergence. For the first time, I’m trying to win not with raw intensity, but with systems.
And maybe that’s the true milestone — not just what I lose, but what I learn to let go.
Join the Mission: Have you made a remarkable personal transformation of some kind or know someone who has? Nominate their story by emailing tstephens@starnesmedia.com.
Starnes Media General Manager Tim Stephens takes a progress selfie after a workout at Hotworx in Vestavia Hills. Stephens is in the final days of his effort to lose 56 pounds by his 56th birthday.
Photo by Tim Stephens.
Through injury, mental exhaustion and the pressures of performing on big stages, Maners never lost sight of what anchored him. Even as college sports changed rapidly around him — through NIL, transfer chaos and heightened financial expectations — he remained focused on growth.
“Every year came with different challenges and hardships, but they also brought my greatest achievements both on the field and in my personal and spiritual life,” Maners said. “Those four years gave me my best friends and teammates, and I developed bonds that simply couldn't have been possible without baseball."
Baseball is a game of failure by nature, but that doesn’t mean expectations from fans, friends and even family aren’t “crippling” at times.
“These extremes can break someone who has their identity wrapped up in the sport, but thankfully my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ and being a child of God,” he said. “Still, even with that foundation, it was a daily struggle.”
Through it all, though, the highs outweighed the lows for Maners. One of those highs was entering the transfer portal and heading to Auburn for his senior season.
“It was incredible,” he said.
“I know a lot of people aren't fans of the current system, but I'm honestly grateful for it because coming out of high school, I wasn't good enough to play at Auburn. After three years of development with an incredible school and coaching staff at Jacksonville State, I was finally able to achieve my lifelong dream of playing for the Tigers,” Maners said.
THE GAME JUST CHANGED
If you played Division I college sports in the last decade — or your kid did — this summer, money’s coming.
Not from boosters. Not from collectives. From the university itself.
On June 14, a federal judge finalized House v. NCAA, a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that shatters the 119-year model of amateurism. For the first time, schools can pay their athletes directly — not for appearances, not through shell groups — but straight from university revenue.
If you are a fan of college sports, the games are now unlike anything you’ve known. And it starts now.
WHO GETS PAID — AND HOW
The House settlement triggers two historic changes:
Backpay: Any Division I athlete who competed between 2016 and 2024 can file for compensation. Payouts will depend on sport, tenure and school revenue — with football and men’s basketball expected to receive the largest shares.
Revenue sharing: Starting this fall, schools can pay current athletes up to $20.5 million annually. The cap will rise each year over the 10-year agreement. Most schools are expected to split it like this:
► 75% to football
► 15% to men’s basketball
► 5% to women’s basketball
► 5% to all other sports
This is not NIL 2.0. This is something else entirely.
NIL was always about outside money — sponsors, side hustles, booster funds. The House settlement puts the money on campus. Schools will now pay athletes from the same pool used for coach salaries, facilities and scholarships.
That makes it bigger. And messier.
Only the Power 4 conferences — SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 — were named in the suit. But all Division I schools must contribute to the backpay fund, even if they’ve never had a single NIL deal. Many smaller schools are already trimming rosters, adjusting scholarships and revisiting budgets. Some athletes will get paid. Others may get cut.
‘TRANSFORMATIVE LEGISLATION’ Birmingham entrepreneur and athlete advocate Jim Cavale has been tracking this shift from the beginning.
“In just the first year — from July 2021 to July 2022 — we tracked $350 million in NIL activity,” Cavale said. “And 90% of that was donordriven funds funneled through collectives to pay athletes to play.”
Now, he says, things are even murkier.
“The biggest issue athletes face is confusing and misleading contracts,” Cavale said. “These so-called NIL deals are often performance-based
House vs. NCAA Settlement Explained
WHAT IS IT?
The House v. NCAA antitrust settlement marks the official end of amateurism in college sports. Starting July 1, schools can pay athletes directly for the first time in NCAA history. The new model applies to current and future Division I athletes — not just those already on campus.
KEY TERMS
► $2.8 billion in back payments (2016-2024) to former D-I athletes
► The annual cap grows by at least 4% per year
► 10-year agreement: runs through 2035
► Roster limits: schools must reduce rosters to meet compensation caps
► Revenue sharing begins: schools can share up to $20.5M per year with athletes
WHY IT MATTERS
This formalizes athlete compensation, bringing college sports closer than ever to a pro model — and away from the 119-year “student-athlete” model.
agreements in disguise.”
ESPN national analyst Tom Luginbill sees the same storm building.
“This is the most transformative legislation in college sports in the last 15 years, and it dropped with no guardrails,” he said. “(Resource-rich) programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia can do whatever they want. Most others can’t.”
And he’s worried.
“What’s coming is this: players getting paid big money, surrounded by bad actors. Agents want 20–30%. A kid enters the portal, takes bad advice, spends the money — and doesn’t go pro. That’s the reality.”
NEXT: CONGRESS AND COURTS
Just days after the House ruling, a bipartisan group in Congress introduced the SCORE Act — a bill that would:
► Cap revenue-sharing and standardize disclosures
► Pre-empt state NIL laws
► Create a federal enforcement commission
► Affirm that college athletes are not employees
That last point might be the whole game.
The NCAA’s biggest fear isn’t payment; it’s employment. If athletes are ruled to be employees, everything changes: benefits, unions, workers’ comp, labor law. The House deal opened the door to paychecks. Congress is now trying to close it before anyone says the E-word.
But Cavale says the conversation still leaves out the people it claims to protect.
WHO PAYS? Third parties (boosters, brands, collectives) The school itself
STARTED July 1, 2021 Starts July 1, 2025
REGULATED BY?
State laws, schools and soon the College Sports Commission
NCAA settlement structure, new federal-style oversight
GUARANTEED? No. Athletes must negotiate their own NIL deals Yes. Schools can directly allocate a set pool of money
WHO BENEFITS MOST? High-profile athletes, especially QBs, skill players
All scholarship athletes, potentially across all sports
STILL ALLOWED? Yes, but will face more scrutiny from a new enforcement body Yes. Can be used alongside NIL
“These are being structured as NIL, not employment — and there’s still no agent regulation, no contract standards,” he said. “The athlete’s voice is missing. What’s really needed is collective bargaining.”
Meanwhile, legal uncertainty continues. The House settlement is not the final word — and may not withstand future challenges.
In June, eight current and former female athletes filed a Title IX lawsuit challenging the revenue-sharing model, arguing that its disproportionate distribution to men’s sports violates federal gender equity laws. More suits are likely. Title IX, employment law and due process could all play a role in shaping — or unraveling — the current plan.
NCAA leaders say that’s why congressional intervention is critical. The proposed SCORE Act would codify House into law, protect it from further litigation and preempt conflicting state-level NIL rules. But despite years of lobbying, no federal college sports law has ever passed. For now, the policy landscape remains a moving target.
WELCOME TO NIL GO
On June 17, a new layer of regulation arrived: NIL Go — a clearinghouse overseen by the Collegiate Sports Commission and run by Deloitte. Athletes must now report any deal over $600. Each gets reviewed for “fair market value.” If Deloitte flags it as inflated, it can be denied or sent to arbitration. There is no legal standard for
that value. No consistent appeal process. Just a new filter between athletes and the opportunities they chase.
And that’s happening as university-issued paychecks are set to hit.
The result? Confusion, whiplash — and change.
Athletes like Maners have already weathered NIL, the transfer portal and scholarship uncertainty. Now they face something even stranger: a paycheck from the school they play for.
What that means — and how long it lasts — is still in question.
The checks start July 1.
The system? Still up for grabs.
“I’ve definitely seen the negative aspects of the portal system,” Maners said. “Because of NIL, these players are essentially free agents… This has created a more selfish culture and less heart for the school that gave you a chance.”
Maners is among those athletes who could be eligible for back pay through the terms of the House settlement. But he believes the athletes who follow him into this new era should look beyond the dollars and use some sense. Maners’ advice?
“I would strongly advise against chasing the biggest paycheck and instead go where you feel your playing style is the best fit, along with coaches who want to invest in their players as people,” he said.
Mason Maners had a stellar high school career at Vestavia Hills, and went from there to Jacksonville State to begin his college baseball career.
Photo by James Nicholas.
Mason Maners now serves as the assistant chaplain with the Auburn baseball program. Photo courtesy of Auburn Athletics.
ROAD TO PROSPERITY
CONTINUED from page 1
By the late 1980s, Birmingham and Hoover were locked in a land race along the booming U.S. 280 corridor. Birmingham leveraged control of water and sewer lines to secure annexation deals. Hoover leapfrogged east from Inverness, connecting a patchwork of subdivisions and undeveloped land.
While Birmingham and Hoover carved up U.S. 280, Vestavia Hills did something different: it crossed the corridor — and in doing so, reshaped its own future.
Landlocked and boxed in, the city watched from the sidelines — until Liberty Park came along.
The 2,500-acre master-planned community was being developed by a joint venture led by Drummond Co. It needed a city. Mountain Brook passed. Vestavia Hills didn’t.
The catch? Liberty Park was several miles away from Vestavia Hills — and legally out of reach.
“They were not contiguous,” City Attorney Pat Boone said. “But the Legislature passed a special act that allowed us to annex them. Birmingham challenged the constitutionality of it. We tried the case. The Supreme Court upheld it.”
The Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling set a statewide precedent: cities could annex non-contiguous property if authorized by the Legislature.
“When that case happened, man, things took off,” Boone said.
Liberty Park officially joined Vestavia Hills in 1992 — expanding the city’s footprint almost overnight.
The result was a city unlike any other in the region — stretching 19 miles from end to end, yet rarely more than a mile wide.
“We’re a very linear city,” City Manager Jeff Downes said.
“But that annexation gave us an avenue for growth. If those moves hadn’t happened, we’d be struggling today to provide the quality of life and city services people expect.”
The developers pledged $15 million for public infrastructure and donated 35 acres for city use — 25 for schools and 10 for municipal services. Liberty Park Elementary opened in 1999. A middle school followed in the 2000s.
The development has since grown to more than 3,500 acres, including The Bray, a 50-acre town center rising at the heart of its final development phase. The mixed-use hub includes residential space, retail, offices, green space and a future hotel site. It’s already drawing investment and new residents.
“We’re getting police coverage out there. We’re enlarging the fire station.
We’re going to have a branch library out there,” Mayor Ashley Curry said. “There are so many great things coming to Liberty Park. They’re going to be very pleased with what they see.”
CLOSING THE GAP
A decade after the Liberty Park annexation cleared its final legal hurdle, Vestavia Hills made its next move — not to expand, but to connect.
Cahaba Heights was the missing piece. Just across U.S. 280 from Liberty Park, the neighborhood was wedged between Birmingham, Mountain Brook and Vestavia’s original city center. It had its own fire district, its own school and a fiercely independent identity.
But for a city boxed in by ridges and jurisdictions, it was the only way to stitch the city
Above: A 2004 map marks the annexations of Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights that expanded the city of Vestavia Hills across the U.S. 280 corridor. Map courtesy of City of Vestavia Hills.
Left: A tornado ripped through Cahaba Heights on April 27, 2011, creating extensive damage and injuring more than 20 people. The cleanup helped bring unity within Vestavia Hills, resident Katherine McRee said. Photo courtesy of Katherine McRee.
Below: The May 15, 2022 cover of the now-defunct Birmingham Post-Herald reflects the results of the referendum that brought Cahaba Heights into Vestavia Hills. Retrieved via Newspapers.com.
map together.
Mountain Brook made the first move — but a selective one. It attempted to annex only Cahaba Heights’ commercial corridor, bypassing the residential areas. A Jefferson County probate judge rejected the plan, ruling the city couldn’t claim the tax base while leaving the people behind.
“Mountain Brook wanted all the businesses,” Mayor Ashley Curry said. “They didn’t want the houses.”
Vestavia Hills took a different approach — and a different tone.
“So, in comes Vestavia, and we are welcoming,” Curry said.
In a referendum, more than 1,600 Cahaba Heights residents cast ballots. The result: a 2-to-1 vote in favor of annexation. The decision added more than 5,000 people to Vestavia’s population — making it, at the time, the third-largest city in metro Birmingham, behind only Birmingham and Hoover.
Downes said the move not only closed the physical gap between city districts — it created new avenues for growth.
“During Mayor Scotty McCallum’s term, the ability to connect the land masses of Liberty Park and the legacy Vestavia Hills area with this unincorporated section known as Cahaba Heights then allowed for a continuous city geography,” Downes said. “Cahaba Heights had a village-style concept the city needed to embrace.”
Katherine McRee, a longtime Cahaba Heights resident and business owner, remembered the tension — and the choice.
“So here y’all are going to take all the sales tax revenue.
Y’all aren’t going to do anything for the people that live here,” she recalled of Mountain Brook’s proposal.
McRee was among the local leaders who rallied behind Vestavia Hills’ promise to integrate both the people and the businesses. In 2004, she opened her children’s clothing store, The Lili Pad — in the same space that had once served as headquarters for the pro-annexation campaign.
TIES THAT BIND
In the decades since annexation, city leaders have worked to ensure that Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights aren’t just connected on paper — but by purpose.
“We actually have six different business districts,” said Michelle Hawkins, president of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
“Cahaba Heights has a merchant association. Katherine McRee is the president there — she’s on
The Impact of Annexation
As Vestavia Hills celebrates 75 years, City Manager Jeff Downes offered a glimpse of where the next 25 could lead — and how the two annexations that redefined the city will continue to shape it.
“You’ll have a larger city — probably pushing 50,000,” Downes said. “And I think you’ll still have a community based on families, safety and good people.”
► Vestavia Hills population (2023 U.S. Census): 38,195 residents
► Liberty Park population: 6,700
► Cahaba Heights population: 5,700
► Population added through annexation of Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights: 12,400 (Annexed communities now represent more than 32% of the city’s population)
► Daytime population in Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights: Nearly 20,000
► Vestavia Hills total land area: 19 square miles (19 miles long, roughly 1 mile wide)
What’s Ahead by 2049:
► Population nearing 50,000 Growth in retail, recreation and residential development
► Increased walkability and business district integration
► Sustained demand for schools, safety and quality of life
► A more unified identity across all corners of the city
“When the tornado hit, I think that was the most pivotal moment. That’s when the people who lived here, the businesses and the city really started recognizing each other. That’s when we all grew up.
McREE
KATHERINE
our board, and we work very closely with her.” Liberty Park, meanwhile, is coming into its own. The chamber sees The Bray — a rising town center with retail, housing and parks — as a chance to cement deeper ties.
“We’ve got new relationships with the people moving into the apartments,” Hawkins said. “They’re involved in events, on our committees. We’re looking for someone who can become a leader out there — someone to knit that district into the whole city.”
James Parsons, president of Liberty Park Joint Venture, said the city’s ongoing investment has made a tangible difference.
“The ball fields, the police coverage, the expanded fire station — all of that makes it feel like a true part of Vestavia,” Parsons said. Downes said the integration has taken many forms — physical, fiscal and cultural. He credits recreation and education with bridging the gaps.
“Most people have families and children that have made their way through the school system,” Downes said. “So just following and matriculating through the school system places you in all parts of the city.”
Even sports programs, he said, helped unify the map.
“My son practiced football at Wald Park. We played games at Liberty Park and the SHAC fields. We were all across the city,”
Pat Boone
Jeff Downes
Ashley Curry
Katherine McRee
Michelle Hawkins
Vestavia Hills (incorporated 1950)
Cahaba Heights (annexed 2002)
Liberty Park (annexed 1992)
Downes said. “And that exposure allows you to take part in the uniqueness of every district.”
But for some, belonging took longer.
“In the beginning, it was very, very rocky,” said McRee, who moved to Cahaba Heights in 1996. “I’d be at the ballpark with my children, and people would talk about Cahaba Heights like we didn’t have very much money.”
Some shoppers at her store would specify they lived “in Vestavia proper.”
Then came April 27, 2011.
“When the tornado hit, I think that was the most pivotal moment,” McRee said. “That’s when the people who lived here, the businesses, and the city really started recognizing each other. That’s when we all grew up.”
The recovery that followed forged trust, accelerated reinvestment — and laid the foundation for a city stitched together by more than just boundary lines.
FROM FRINGE TO FUTURE
Today, Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights are not just annexed — they’re essential. Together, they power much of Vestavia Hills’ tax base, school enrollment and
“
If
we were the little hamlet along Highway 31 and that’s all we were, we would be reducing services and opportunities — not upgrading facilities like we are these days.
JEFF DOWNES
”population growth — and their influence is still growing.
“It was a great thing,” Mayor Curry said. “Brand new schools in Liberty Park. Revitalization in Cahaba Heights. Athletic facilities. And people move here for those schools.”
City Manager Jeff Downes put the impact in numbers.
“Between all revenue sources, [Cahaba Heights and Liberty Park] represent somewhere between 20 and 25% of the city’s budget,” Downes said. “And yet their population doesn’t reflect that share. So they bring great current and future financial resources that allow us to provide city services and
quality of life initiatives.”
He noted that 15 to 20% of the city’s sales tax revenue comes from Cahaba Heights, while Liberty Park contributes more in property taxes — thanks to high-value assets like the Urban Center. “Over the next 10 to 15 years, we anticipate over $850 million of investment in the Liberty Park area,” Downes said.
He also made it clear what would have been lost without the two moves.
“If we were the little hamlet along Highway 31 and that’s all we were, we would be reducing services and opportunities — not upgrading facilities like we are these days.”
Downes said.
Not long ago, Vestavia Hills was a landlocked city with no path forward.
Liberty Park changed that. Cahaba Heights sealed it.
Now, as the city marks its 75th anniversary, the map tells more than a geographic story. It tells one of vision — of risks taken, trust built and two communities becoming part of something bigger.
Downes, who has lived in Liberty Park and worked along U.S. 31, said the full city is now interwoven — functionally and culturally.
“It’s all part of one,” he said. “The natural beauty, the eclectic nature of the people who live in all these different areas — that’s what makes Vestavia Hills special.”
And the next 25 years will show how fully Vestavia Hills becomes part of them.
“Each district, each part of the city, has its own identity,” McRee said. “But now it’s all Vestavia Hills.”
Vestavia Voice is highlighting key moments, people and places in the city’s history throughout 2025. See more stories at VestaviaVoice.com.
Left: City leaders say Cahaba Heights businesses have made significant impact on the financial base for Vestavia Hills while the neighborhood’s residents add cultural and history personality to the city. Right: Liberty Park drives major property-tax revenue for Vestavia Hills, with much growth and investment expected as the community completes new residential, mixed-use and corporate developments. City Manager Jeff Downes said the continued growth of the two communities, combined with growth along the “city proper” areas of U.S. 31, likely will eventually push Vestavia Hills’ population above 50,000 residents. Staff photos.
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