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Isabella Shimko-Lofano, a medical student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, takes time to study at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest in October. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Members of the Vestavia Hills Police Department honor guard at the 2025 Salute to Veterans in Vestavia Hills. Photo courtesy of the city of Vestavia Hills.
Never forget
By JON ANDERSON
with light refreshments, entertainment and patriotic programming. This year’s keynote speaker is retired Army Maj. Gen. David Burford. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the upstairs ballroom holds the Veterans Benefits and Resource Event, organized with the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative. Lunch is free. VA and Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs benefits service officers will be on hand, along with VA health care enrollment officers, resource providers and employers.
Residents in Liberty Park have been pushing for a library in the eastern part of the city for many years, but it has remained a dream that stayed just outside their grasp. A proposal surfaced in 2025 to build a library facility next to the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex for an estimated $9.2 million, including $7 million of public money, and Liberty Park residents and library officials were energized. But as the City Council analyzed all city needs and debated priorities, the new library came out on the short end of the stick once again. The City Council in September instead approved spending $9 million to put artificial turf on the baseball and softball fields at Liberty Park and renovate that complex.
See VETERANS | page 26
See LIBRARY | page 24
Vestavia Hills hosts its Salute to Veterans program and a benefits fair Nov. 9 at the Civic Center By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA
Y
ou have stood behind them in line at the grocery store. You have sat two pews over from them on Sunday, handed them your keys at the car wash. There is nothing to see. That is the point and always has been — the ones who went and came back and then went quiet about it, who folded the year or the three years or the 20 into a drawer somewhere and got on with the business of being a neighbor. Most will never tell you. On Monday, Nov. 9, the city of Vestavia Hills will spend a day trying to thank them.
Mayor Ashley Curry and the city are hosting the annual Salute to Veterans at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1090 Montgomery Highway, honoring veterans from all branches of service. The city has been doing some version of this for a decade. “We have always had veterans’ events,” Curry said. “Since 2016, we’ve done this Salute to Veterans around Veterans Day, honoring them for their service and sacrifice. The turnout was modest at first. We had 25, 30 veterans.” Last year, the Salute and the resource event together drew more than 400. The Salute to Veterans program runs from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Magnolia Room,
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East side library gets short end of the stick again
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Thirty years in
Holiday in the Hills
Fire Chief Marvin Green reflects on three decades of service.
Vestavia Hills’ holiday lineup includes a later parade this year.
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2 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
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November 2026 • 3 SPONSORED CONTENT
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4 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley When I think of November, two things come to mind: Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl. For most of the country, Thanksgiving is the holiday, and everything else is just noise around it. Not here. The turkey still matters and the family time still matters, but that Saturday afternoon doesn’t take a back seat to anything. People build their whole weekend around both, and nobody thinks twice about it. It makes sense, really. Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl both bring people together. Each year, family and friends rekindle the same old arguments. Around here, we don’t really get two holidays that week. We get one,
stretched across four days, with better food and worse arguments. Thanks for reading, and drop me an email with any story ideas at kparmley@ starnesmedia.com.
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Legals: Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Vestavia Voice. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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6 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
CITY
Thirty years in and no plans to stop Chief Marvin Green has built a fire department fewer than 1% of the country can match By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA A firefighter spends his 20s running toward the thing everyone else is running from, and then one day the running stops and the paperwork starts, and nobody warns him how much he will miss the heat on his face. Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Marvin Green misses it. He will tell you so. After being named Alabama Fire Chief of the Year in 2024, Green walked into his first city department head meeting and dropped the award on the table. It was a belt — an oversized championship belt, the kind a wrestler holds up over his head. “I bet none of you have a belt like that,” he said. Everyone laughed. Nine years into the job and 30 into the fire service, that is about as close as Green gets to bragging. He has not held a hose since a condo fire in 2016. “Our guys don’t like to see me work in the field,” Green said, then added with a grin, “I have to sneak in.” What he does instead is run a department of 120 people — nine in administration, 111 on shift — across five stations in a city that keeps expanding at the edges. In 2022, Vestavia Hills earned an ISO Class 1 rating, the top grade the Insurance Services Office gives, based on staffing, training, water supply and response capability. The department had been Class 2, held back mostly by manpower. Fewer than 1% of departments in the country hold a Class 1. “People want to come work here,” Green said. “The support of the city and administration is terrific. We want to hire good people and give them what they need.” The reach goes well past the city line. Vestavia’s heavy rescue team trains in swift
water, confined space, rope and trench rescue, and has deployed to Florida, North Carolina and Texas through FEMA requests and the Alabama Mutual Aid System. Green helped build a statewide consortium that lets Alabama fire chiefs move people and equipment across county lines during a disaster. Deputy Chief Ryan Farrell grew up in Vestavia Hills and has 22 years with the department. He wanted to be a firefighter since he was a kid. “Our firefighters have our full support,” Farrell said. “Collectively, administration supports what happens in the field. It also gives us the time to focus on what our stations need.” The department has replaced its entire fleet in three years: four engines, a ladder truck and five medic trucks. Station 4 in Liberty Park is expanding to meet growth on the city’s east side, with a ladder truck, an engine and a rescue unit being added there. Recently, Green cut the ribbon on a new training facility containing a burn building, which will let crews train while on duty instead of waiting for a scheduled class somewhere else. “We are partnering with the Mountain Brook Fire Department on this huge project. It will give our firefighters the training they need,” Green said. “Having a burn building close by gives us the ability to serve and protect our citizens better.” His next goal is a sixth station. He describes the problem as patchwork growth — developments spreading unevenly, stretching response times toward the edges of the city. Some night this winter a call will come in from one of those edges, and a truck will roll out of a Vestavia Hills fire station. He will hear about it the next morning in an office with a wrestling belt in it. Thirty years in, and retirement is still not part of the plan.
Chief Marvin Green keeps busy with running the Vestavia Hills Fire Department. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
The Fire Chief of the Year belt.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 7
CITY
Mayor’s Minute By Ashley Curry Well, we finally got a reprieve from the oppressive heat earlier this fall. Our upcoming Salute to Veterans will be Monday, Nov. 9, at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. This year’s event promises to be the largest veterans’ event we have ever had. We are partnering with several veterans’ organizations including the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative, the outreach office and the Birmingham Veterans Administration, State of Alabama Veterans Administration, and several charitable veterans’ organizations. This will be an all-day event starting at 9 a.m. with the city’s Salute to Veterans featuring guest speaker retired Maj. Gen. David Burford. Starting at 10 a.m. and for the remainder of the day, veterans and families of veterans will have the opportunity to visit with veterans’ agencies, register for veterans’ benefits and receive information from a myriad of veterans’ resource agencies. As we approach Thanksgiving, we should think about the less fortunate throughout the world and take a minute to remember all the things for which we are thankful. I am thankful for our nation, the freedoms we enjoy and the veterans who have served our country.
I am thankful to live in Vestavia Hills, where people care about each other and their city. I am grateful for our citizens’ investment in making our city even better. I am thankful for Vestavia Hills’ police, fire and public safety employees who keep us safe and so often are the first to respond when tragedy strikes. I am grateful for our many city employees who are dedicated to serving Vestavia Hills and do so to the best of their abilities. I am thankful for our many faith-based organizations that provide hope, build community and provide opportunities for outreach. I am thankful for our excellent schools and for the teachers and administrators who improve the lives of our children every day. I am grateful for this community and for all the people in it. I wish each of you a very happy Thanksgiving.
VESTAVIA HILLS
E XPERTISE FOR EV E RY S E A S O N.
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8 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
CITY
City Council OKs record $146 million budget for 2027 By JON ANDERSON An expanding economy increased the city of Vestavia Hills’ general fund reserves by 78% from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2025, putting the city in a good position for some major spending in fiscal 2027, City Manager Jeff Downes said. The City Council approved a record $146 million budget for fiscal 2027, up 18.5% from the 2026 budget. Downes said the increased spending is nothing to be alarmed about because the increase is largely due to planned one-time spending of $34 million for capital projects the city has long planned. “We have built a nest egg, if you will, that will help not just get beyond any economic challenges, but will also help us accomplish some things that this council desires to do,” Downes said. This fiscal year, city officials plan to borrow $46 million for a variety of projects, including construction of a police operations and training center in Liberty Park (estimated to cost $14.7 million), $9 million for replacing natural turf with artificial turf at the Liberty Park baseball and softball fields, $5.3 million for a Liberty Park fire station renovation and expansion, construction of a new public works and park and recreation maintenance facility next to the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex (estimated to cost $1.75 million), and realignment of the entrance to the Liberty Park baseball/softball and soccer complexes (estimated to cost $1.17 million).
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Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes, left, speaks with the Vestavia Hills City Council about the fiscal 2027 budget. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Some people may question spending that much money, but the city has been saving money and following its conservative financial policies that are designed to make sure the city is keeping enough money to weather potential economic downturns, Downes said. “There’s a careful balance between being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and hoarding money and letting the reserves keep
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getting higher and higher,” he said. City officials have determined there are real needs to address, and good planning has put the city in a position to do so, Downes said. The general fund budget for fiscal 2027 calls for spending $83.5 million, a 3.2% increase from the 2026 budget. That includes money for:
● A 2% cost-of-living increase for city employees (costing about $600,000) ● 5% merit raises for all eligible employees ● A full year of paying for 12 new firefighters ● Hiring an extra maintenance technician and an after-hours/weekend information technology technician ● Completing the veterans memorial at Altadena Valley Park ● Repaving 9 miles of city streets ● Stormwater drainage improvements ● At least two sidewalk projects The city’s sales tax revenues have skyrocketed in recent years, growing by 45% from $21.8 million in fiscal 2020 to $31.6 million in fiscal 2025. City officials were expecting to end fiscal 2026 with a 3% increase in sales tax revenues and projected a 2% increase for 2027 (for a total of $33 million). Grocery stores play a big part in the city’s sales tax revenues, and losing the Winn-Dixie in Cahaba Heights cut into city revenues as many of those dollars shifted into grocery stores outside the city limits. Construction of a new Walmart Neighborhood Market at the old Winn-Dixie site is expected to begin in January and eventually will boost city revenues, but the new store won’t open in time to affect 2027 revenues, Downes said. Property tax revenues for Vestavia Hills are projected to rise 6% in 2027 to $26.4 million, and business license revenues are projected to increase 16% to $7.8 million. Details of the city’s 2027 budget can be seen at vhal.org under the Government tab.
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November 2026 • 9
BUSINESS
How Clotheshorse has thrived in Vestavia Hills for 34 years By KELLI S. HEWETT Before Clotheshorse upscale consignment was a Vestavia Hills staple, it was a habit passed down in Becky Sager’s family. Her grandmother took her everywhere to thrift, sparking a bargain-hunter instinct that would reshape life with her husband, Tim. “It was in my blood,” Becky said. “I knew I loved a good bargain, and that I would love to provide that for somebody else.” Clotheshorse, which sells women’s, men’s and children’s clothes, shoes and accessories, has been in business for 34 years in shopping centers off Rocky Ridge Road near Morgan Drive. The store started less as a grand plan and more as a family favor for Tim’s younger sister, who was looking for a career path in the 1990s. “She decided working for her big brother was not going to be her career path, which was a good choice,” Tim said. “She was a clotheshorse, but I wasn’t. I had the same shirt for three years in school pictures.” Back then, the upscale consignment concept was barely a blip on anyone’s shopping radar, making the Sagers retail pioneers when Gap and Old Navy were among the hottest brands. Becky brought instincts for PR and fashion. CPA Tim brought structure, numbers and computer savvy, writing the earliest programs in a mostly pre-internet world. That husband-and-wife teamwork has weathered economic shifts, the rise and fall of brands, and a pandemic. What hasn’t changed is customers’ love of high-quality bargains.
Gen X couple Becky and Tim Sager of Dolly Ridge Road opened their Clotheshorse upscale consignment 34 years ago, building a local favorite on their personal faith, bargains, careful numbers and a people-over-profits philosophy. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
“You buy quality, take care of it, and you retain some of the value,” Tim said. “It’s a lifestyle. It’s just pretty simple.” The Sagers have raised their own children to consign and now see original customers’ children and grandchildren coming through the doors. “We think of this like a community. We think of it like a ministry,” Becky said. “We think of it like this is what we’re supposed to be doing.” The result is a consignment store with a fiercely loyal base. “The Clotheshorse is one of my go-to places
to shop in Vestavia Hills,” said Tracy Thornton, director of membership and marketing for the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. “My daughter Chambers has been so fortunate to get to know every employee there. She absolutely loves visiting, and who knows — maybe one day, when she’s old enough, she’ll become the next Clotheshorse employee. They aren’t just a business in Vestavia Hills; they are part of the fabric of our community.” The racks have evolved along with Birmingham’s tastes. For women, the top sellers include Golden Goose sneakers, Louis Vuitton bags, Lululemon activewear, Alemais,
Zimmermann, Tuckernuck, Gucci and Chanel. For men, it’s Johnnie-O and Vuori golf shirts. Unsold clothing is donated to local and international charities, often faith-based. For Tim, the business shifted his career and his priorities. “I was all about profits, but it’s more about people,” Tim said. “When you put people over profits, it just flips. Every time somebody hands me money for something, I’m so grateful. They can spend that any way. I want them to just be glad they came.” For more, visit shoptheclotheshorsebham. com.
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10 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
BUSINESS
Business Happenings NOW OPEN
Bumble Roofing of Birmingham opened at 200 Century Park South, Suite 113. The roofing company offers services including roof replacements, roof repair, storm damage assessment, 24/7 emergency roofing and warranties on its work. The company services the greater Birmingham area and also has Bumble Roofing branches across the country. 205-963-7663, bumbleroofing.com/birmingham
Studio 314 Dance opened this dance season at 720 Old Towne Road in Vestavia Hills. Founded by Morgan Maddox Cunningham, the dance studio offers classes like ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, acro, contemporary and lyrical, and competition dance for ages 2 through high school. The name for the studio was inspired by Jeremiah 31:4, “Again you will dance with the joyful,” and the team said they hope the studio is a place where dancers are challenged, inspired and deeply valued both in and out of the classroom. It offers classes during the school year, along with summer camps. 205-840-3558, studio314dance.com
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interactive financial well-being program. The program helps connect financial education with how young people learn, communicate and experience the world. It’s designed to help at-risk youth explore budgeting, saving, banking, credit and financial goals in ways that feel engaging and relevant. The grant period runs through Sept. 30, 2027. AmFirst has locations at 1112 Montgomery Highway and 3312 Old Columbiana Road in Vestavia Hills. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 205-582-5295 (U.S. 31), 205-823-3985 (Columbiana), amfirst.org The Local Bourbon House and Eatery, at 633 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills, recently expanded its patio to be five times larger and include a second stage outdoors, more outdoor eating and entertainment space, turf and an outdoor bar. The patio was designed for guests to enjoy live music, outdoor dining, events, watching the game on the big-screen projector with surround sound and private gatherings. The restaurant is known for its smash burgers, refreshing drinks and meat-and-three meals. 205-747-0286, localbourbonhouse.com
ANNIVERSARIES NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AmFirst named longtime Birmingham construction and capital projects leader Alan Walker as vice president, head of construction and facilities management. Walker brings more than 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors, and he previously served as director of the city of Birmingham’s De-
Innovative Fertility Specialists, at 1 Inverness Center Parkway, is celebrating its fifth anniversary. The practice offers a range of fertility treatments and provides evaluation and treatment plans that are individualized based on each patient’s situation. 205-509-0700, ifsinvo.health
CLOSINGS The Picklr Birmingham, an indoor pickleball hub, closed its Vestavia Hills location at 1031 Montgomery Highway, Suite 101, in September. The former Sprouts building that housed it was sold. The Picklr’s Huntsville location will remain open. The Vestavia Picklr had 10 courts, outdoor surfacing, a ball machine, a private event area and more. 205-558-6565, thepicklr.com
Little Bridges, which offers behavioral and academic support for children ages 3 to 8, opened at 1289 Montgomery Highway at the Hub in the Hills. It strives to help children with social, emotional or academic needs have a better experience with friendships and in the classroom. It hosts behavior learning sessions, academic support groups and drop-and-play days for children who learn typically or differently. 205-910-0007, littlebridgeskids.com
partment of Capital Projects. He will lead AmFirst’s capital improvement strategy, which includes construction, renovations and facilities management. One of 24 credit unions chosen nationwide, AmFirst was also selected to receive funding through the National Credit Union Foundation’s At-Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant. AmFirst will use the grant to support its partnership with Vox Academy and to expand Music, Movement and Money, which is an
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 11
BUSINESS
Recently sold homes in Vestavia Hills
► ADDRESS: 2529 Altadena Forest Circle ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,952 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Altadena Forest ► LIST PRICE: $725,000 ► SALE PRICE: $725,000
► ADDRESS: 3107 Renfro Road ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,502 sq. ft. ► LIST PRICE: $629,900 ► SALE PRICE: $671,000
► ADDRESS: 1287 Daventry Court ► BED/BATH: 3/2 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,804 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Wellington Park ► LIST PRICE: $629,000 ► SALE PRICE: $630,000
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► ADDRESS: 1525 Ashley Wood Circle ► BED/BATH: 3/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,404 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Ashley Wood ► LIST PRICE: $579,900 ► SALE PRICE: $574,900
► ADDRESS: 3924 Knollwood Trace ► BED/BATH: 2/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,789 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Cahaba Heights ► LIST PRICE: $349,900 ► SALE PRICE: $327,600 SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
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12 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
SCHOOLHOUSE
Vestavia Hills High students rally behind Prescott House for fall charity By APRIL COFFEY For Vestavia Hills High School students, fall is a season filled with familiar traditions — homecoming floats, powder puff games, football, costumes, trunk-or-treat and school spirit. But this year, those traditions also have an important purpose: helping local children and families through Prescott House Child Advocacy Center. The VHHS Student Government Association selected Prescott House as its 2026 fall charity and is spending the semester raising money and awareness for the Jefferson County organization through a variety of school and community events. The campaign officially kicked off Sept. 12 with a dance competition, but the effort began when SGA members were given the opportunity to nominate charities they felt the student body could support. “Everybody on SGA had the opportunity to nominate a charity, and one of our SGA members, Audrey Ingram, nominated Prescott House, and we were all able to vote on it and learn more about it,” said Lillie Hill, VHHS SGA director of student involvement. “We thought that this would be a good charity that the whole school could rally around.” Bailey Harper, development manager for Prescott House, spoke at the charity kickoff event and explained to students that the organization provides forensic interviews for children when there are allegations of abuse. “We’re honored. This is such a big deal for Prescott House,” Harper said. “We are so excited to share with new friends about what
the Prescott House does, and we are excited for the funding because we are going to expand our counseling services and our family advocacy programs.” For SGA, the fall charity campaign is about more than writing checks. It gives students opportunities to have fun, build school spirit and invite the broader Vestavia Hills community to participate. One of those opportunities is the annual Trunk-or-Treat, a favorite SGA fundraiser that brings high school students together with local families for an evening of Halloween fun. The event is a showcase of creativity from VHHS students, who transform their cars into festive Halloween displays while welcoming children in costume. “Vestavia Hills High School students go all out decorating their own cars as a way to serve the community and support our fall charity,” said SGA President Harper Wolfe. This year’s Trunk-or-Treat was held Oct. 28 and is only one part of the charity season. “We are so excited for this fall charity season,” said Eva Coppock, SGA director of publicity. “We’re looking forward to homecoming, homecoming floats, powder puff, talent show and just everything, every way to get involved.” Hill said she was especially looking forward to the many activities that combine school traditions with the fall charity effort. “And I’m looking forward to all the fun things, fall charity kickoff, of course, and then homecoming, the student/faculty basketball game, powder puff. There’s all these fun events that go with supporting this fall charity,” Hill
Vestavia Hills High School students visit the Prescott House Child Advocacy Center, the Student Government Association’s 2026 fall charity, to learn more about the organization and its work in the community. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills High School.
said. “I am so excited for this season, for this whole charity season.” SGA members and 2026 homecoming king nominees also recently visited Prescott House to learn more about the organization and its work in the community.
As the fall charity campaign continues, VHHS students hope their efforts will do more than raise money. They hope to introduce their classmates and neighbors to the work of Prescott House — and show how a little school spirit can make a meaningful difference close to home.
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 13
SCHOOLHOUSE
15 Vestavia Hills High School students named National Merit semifinalists By APRIL COFFEY Fifteen Vestavia Hills High School students have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the nation’s highest-achieving high school students. The students earned the distinction based on their performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or PSAT/NMSQT. More than 16,000 students nationwide were named semifinalists from a pool of more than 1.2 million entrants. Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. The 2027 National Merit semifinalists at Vestavia Hills High School are Isabel Carlo, Abigail Wang, Grace Ding, Kaylee Zhao, Libby Soong, Veronica Zhang, Katie Dong, Kelly Chen, Sophia Li, Connor Moorhouse, Alan Sheng, Dev Patel, John Largent, Jason Murong and Ethan Estess. National Merit semifinalists are selected based on their PSAT/NMSQT performance, with students representing the highest-scoring participants in each state. The distinction recognizes not only strong test performance but years of academic preparation and achievement. For these 15 Vestavia Hills students, however, the recognition is only the beginning. Semifinalists must complete additional requirements to advance to finalist standing. Students submit a detailed application that includes information about their academic record, extracurricular activities and leadership, along with an essay and a recommendation from a school official. They also must earn a confirming SAT
Fifteen Vestavia Hills High School students were named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists. Front row, from left to right: Isabel Carlo, Abigail Wang, Grace Ding, Kaylee Zhao, Libby Soong, Veronica Zhang, Katie Dong, Kelly Chen and Sophia Li. Back row, from left to right: Connor Moorhouse, Alan Sheng, Dev Patel, John Largent, Jason Murong and Ethan Estess. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
or ACT score that demonstrates continued academic performance. Approximately 95% of semifinalists are expected to become finalists. From that group, about 6,700 National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected in the spring through a combination of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s own awards and scholarships provided by colleges, universities and corporate sponsors. About $24 million in scholarships will be awarded to the 2027 National Merit Scholars. Vestavia Hills High School Principal Blair
Inabinet said the school is proud of the students not simply for the recognition itself, but for the work that made the achievement possible. “Being named a National Merit semifinalist is an extraordinary achievement, but what we celebrate most is the pursuit of excellence — the curiosity, discipline, and sustained effort that brought each of these students to this remarkable academic milestone,” Inabinet said. The National Merit Scholarship Program was established in 1955 and has grown into one of the country’s most recognized academic
scholarship competitions. Each year, more than 1 million students enter the program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT, with only a small percentage advancing to the semifinalist level. The 15 Vestavia Hills students will continue through the selection process this school year, with National Merit Finalists expected to be announced in the spring of 2027. For their families, teachers and classmates, the semifinalist announcement is an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments that reflect years of dedication inside and outside the classroom — and to look ahead to what comes next.
14 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 15
ADVERTORIAL
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16 • November 2026
SCHOOLHOUSE
Setting the tone By KYLE PARMLEY Friday nights under the lights are about more than just the game on the field. Long before kickoff, the Vestavia Hills High School band sets the tone, with drum majors perched high and proud, batons raised, commanding a level of precision that rivals anything happening between the hashes. Its pregame performance fills the stadium with energy, and by halftime, the show only grows bigger, with intricate formations, blaring horns and rolling drumlines turning the field into a stage. For the home crowd, it’s a source of pride. Photos by David Leong.
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 17
SPORTS
Rebels aiming for playoff success under new 6A format By KYLE PARMLEY The playoffs look a little different this fall for the Vestavia Hills High School football team, and the changes could work in the Rebels’ favor. The Alabama High School Athletic Association eliminated Class 7A as part of its latest reclassification, moving public schools back into six classes and placing private schools in their own divisions. Vestavia Hills now plays in Class 6A, Region 3, which looks much like the old 7A Region 3. Thompson, Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Oak Mountain, Tuscaloosa County and Prattville are still there, and Spain Park is back after two seasons in the old 6A. The postseason changed along with it. For the first time, 24 of the 32 teams in the state’s largest class qualify for the playoffs. The top six teams in each of the four regions advance, two more than under the old format. The top two seeds in each region earn a firstround bye, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds host the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds from another region on Nov. 6. The bye teams enter the bracket Nov. 13, and the five-round tournament concludes Saturday, Dec. 5, at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the University of South Alabama campus, as the Super 7 heads to Mobile for the first time. Under the old system, four teams from Region 3 made the field, and the margin for error was slim. In 2024, the Rebels went 5-5 and still claimed the fourth seed. Now only a bottom-two finish in region play keeps a team out, and a top-four finish would deliver something the program has not had in 13 years: a home playoff game. Before the season, Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans said one of the goals for this year’s team was to host a home playoff game.
Vestavia Hills celebrates a Bruce Littleton (22) touchdown during a Class 7A second round playoff game between Vestavia Hills and CentralPhenix City on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City. Photo courtesy of Miley Gallman.
Vestavia had played 12 consecutive road playoff games entering the season. The last one at home came Nov. 15, 2013, a 31-28 second-round win over Bessemer City. That team went on to win 19-12 at Bob Jones in the quarterfinals before falling to Hoover 31-28 in the semifinals, the Rebels’ deepest run since the 1998 state championship season. The program’s recent postseason history followed a pattern until last season: a first-round road win, then a second-round exit against one of the state’s elite. Evans took over as head coach in 2022 after the Rebels had qualified for the playoffs just twice in the previous eight
years, in 2015 and 2019. Vestavia reached the postseason in each of his first four seasons. As of press time, Vestavia Hills was still in the midst of region play, and the standings had not been settled yet. Stay tuned to vestaviavoice.com for coverage of the remainder of the season. 2022: The Rebels won 52-10 at Austin in the first round, then fell to eventual state champion Thompson 21-12 in the second round. 2023: Vestavia won at Austin again, 38-17, and again ran into Thompson in the second round, falling 34-14.
2024: A 5-5 regular season sent the Rebels to 9-1 Mary Montgomery, where they won 42-21. Central-Phenix City ended the run a week later, 41-21. 2025: Vestavia entered the playoffs 8-2 on a five-game winning streak and jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead at Auburn, but the Tigers rallied for a 52-41 win in the first round. Vestavia Hills owns a 51-34 all-time playoff record over 36 appearances, with state championships in 1980 and 1998. The Rebels have not played in a third-round game since 2013, and the expanded bracket gives them a clearer path to change that.
18 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
SPORTS
Under the Lights By KYLE PARMLEY As the calendar turns to November, high school football’s regular season has come to an end. For some teams, it means the beginning of a playoff pursuit. For others, it signifies the end of a journey. Fortunately for Vestavia Hills, the Rebels are still alive heading into the playoffs and will look to make their mark as the weather cools and the holidays loom. It is the fifth straight season Vestavia Hills has qualified for the postseason. Stay tuned to vestaviavoice. com throughout the postseason for coverage of the playoffs. Photos by David Leong.
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 19
SPORTS
Vestavia Hills graduate Head ranked No. 55 draft prospect by Baseball America By KYLE PARMLEY John Paul Head is the No. 55 overall prospect for the 2027 MLB Draft, according to Baseball America. The former Vestavia Hills High School standout and UAB outfielder earned the ranking following a breakout sophomore season. The publication also tabbed Head as the No. 27 college prospect, the No. 7 outfielder overall and the No. 4 college outfielder in the class. Head became one of the most productive hitters in the American Conference in 2026. He started 55 games, hit a league-best 22 home runs and led the conference with a 1.167 OPS and .710 slugging percentage. He batted .329 with a .457 on-base percentage, 56 RBIs and 147 total bases, the seventh-most in a single season in program history. His 22 home runs rank second in UAB history, one shy of Shayne Carnes’ school record of 23 set in 1998. Head also became the first
Blazer to hit 20 home runs and steal 10 bases in the same season, and one of four players in American Conference history to reach 20 homers. The highlight came March 6-7 against Middle Tennessee, when Head went 9-for-14 with six home runs, three doubles, 10 runs and 10 RBIs across the series. Baseball America named him to its national team of the week. Head earned first-team all-conference honors and was named to the ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region first team, becoming the first player in UAB history named to an all-region first team. He spent the summer with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, hitting three home runs in 14 games. At Vestavia Hills, Head was a two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state selection in both football and baseball and a member of the Rebels’ 2023 Class 7A state championship team.
John Paul Head was ranked as the No. 55 overall prospect for the 2027 MLB Draft by Baseball America. Photo courtesy of UAB Athletics.
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20 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
SPORTS
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Vestavia Hills celebrates new flag football locker room By STAFF The Vestavia Hills High School girls flag football team has a new locker room to call its own this season. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held to celebrate the opening, which is believed to be the first dedicated flag football locker room in Alabama. The addition comes as the program has grown into one of the state’s top teams. Vestavia Hills reached back-to-back Class 6A-7A state championship games in 2024 and 2025, falling both times to Central-Phenix City, which has won three straight state
titles since the Alabama High School Athletic Association sanctioned flag football. The Rebels carried a 27-game winning streak into last season’s title game and have lost only a handful of games total over the past three seasons. The new space is meant to give players a place to build relationships with teammates as the program continues to grow. The Rebels’ varsity roster will occupy the locker room this fall as the team looks to return to the state championship game for a third straight year. Shelley Gardner contributed to this report.
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 21
EVENTS
City prepares for Holiday in the Hills festivities By EMILY REED The city of Vestavia Hills is gearing up for a holiday-filled season of activities, kicking off with the Deck the Heights on Nov. 14 from 2-7 p.m. Additional events include: • Monday, Nov. 16: Holiday photo booth opens at Library in the Forest. • Thursday, Nov. 19: The annual Christmas tree lighting at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center beginning at 6 p.m. • Tuesday, Dec. 1: Light Up Vestavia Hills begins across the city. • Sunday, Dec. 6: Parade and Party in the Park on the Great Lawn/The Bray beginning at 4 p.m. A rain date has been scheduled for Dec. 13 beginning at 4 p.m. if needed. • Thursday, Dec. 10: A menorah lighting at City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center from 7:3010 a.m. Assistant City Manager Cinnamon McCulley, who is in charge of Holiday in the Hills festivities, said one notable change to this year’s lineup is a later start time for the parade. “The change was proposed to allow parade participants to incorporate lights into their floats and create an even more festive experience for attendees,” McCulley said. Another addition this year is a large outdoor Christmas tree, purchased by Liberty Park Joint Venture, that will be displayed on the Great Lawn. At the conclusion of the parade, a tree lighting ceremony will be held as part of the Party in the Park celebration. The city’s official Christmas tree lighting will continue to be held on Nov. 19 at the
The 2025 Vestavia Hills Christmas parade was filled with festivities for the whole family. A full detailed lineup of this year’s events can be found in the article. Photo courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.
Vestavia Hills Civic Center. “The tree lighting at Liberty Park is a separate, secondary celebration taking place during the Party in the Park, following the parade,” McCulley said. Those interested in participating in this year’s parade, entering a float or becoming a sponsor for the Party in the Park can register online by completing the “Holiday Parade and Party in the Park” form through the city’s online portal by visiting vestaviahillsal.portal.opengov.com/categories/1086. A list of full event details, including a parade map, will also be available at vhal.org/community/city-events.
Holiday in the Hills Deck the Heights ► When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2-7 p.m. Holiday photo booth opens ► When: Monday, Nov. 16 ► Where: Library in the Forest Christmas tree lighting ► When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. ► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center Light up Vestavia Hills begins ► When: Tuesday, Dec. 1 ► Where: Across the city
Parade and Party in the Park ► When: Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. (rain date Sunday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m.) ► Where: Great Lawn/The Bray ► Highlights: Tree lighting after the parade Menorah Lighting ► When: Thursday, Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. ► Where: City Hall Breakfast with Santa ► When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30-10 a.m. ► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center
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22 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
EVENTS
Save the Date
► For more events news, connect with the Vestavia Voice online by scanning the QR code. ► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
53RD ANNUAL FINE CRAFT SHOW
CHAOS IN THE HEIGHTS
SALUTE TO VETERANS CELEBRATION
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► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center ► When: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 ► Cost: Free admission and parking; $5 suggested donation per adult ► Details: Discover exceptional handmade work during the Alabama Craft Guild’s 53rd Annual Fine Craft Show, held for the first time at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. The juried show brings together skilled artisans working in pottery, jewelry, glass, wood, fiber, metal, basketry, printmaking and other traditional and contemporary craft forms. Visitors can meet the artists, browse one-of-a-kind pieces and support Alabama’s rich tradition of fine craftsmanship while getting an early start on holiday shopping. ► More Info: alabamacraftguild.org
► Where: Cala Coffee Cahaba Heights ► When: Nov. 7, 7-8:30 p.m. ► Cost: Tickets required ► Details: Spend an evening laughing with Chaotic Good Improv during Chaos in the Heights at Cala Coffee. The live comedy show is completely unscripted, with performers creating fast-paced scenes and characters on the spot. Guests can arrive early to grab coffee, wine, beer or nonalcoholic drinks before settling in for a night of unpredictable comedy in the heart of Cahaba Heights. Shows often sell out, so advance tickets are recommended. ► More Info: chaoticgoodimprov.com/ shows
► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center ► When: Nov. 9, 2-4 p.m.; patriotic program 2-3 p.m. ► Details: Join Mayor Ashley Curry and the city of Vestavia Hills for the annual Salute to Veterans Celebration honoring veterans from all branches of military service. The family-friendly afternoon will feature patriotic programming, entertainment and opportunities to recognize the service and sacrifice of local veterans. A veterans-focused health and resources fair will also be held from 1 to 5 p.m., with organizations offering information and services for veterans and their families. ► More Info: vhal.org
► Where: Vestavia Hills Methodist Church, Tyson Hall and Fellowship Hall ► When: Nov. 12, 5-7 p.m.; Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ► Cost: $5 for VIP shopping Nov. 12; free admission Nov. 13 ► Details: Get a jump on holiday shopping during Vestavia Hills Methodist Church’s annual Magical Marketplace. The two-day craft fair features vendors offering unique gifts, handmade items, treats and other finds for friends, family, teachers and everyone on your Christmas list. Shoppers can attend the Thursday evening VIP preview for early access, with proceeds from the $5 pass benefiting Unless U. The market opens free to the public Friday. ► More Info: vhmc.org
VESTAVIA HILLS LIBRARY IN THE FOREST
DECK THE HEIGHTS ► Where: Heights Village and the Cahaba Heights business district ► When: Nov. 14; pop-up shops begin at 10 a.m.; Heights Express trolley runs 2-8 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Begin the holiday season during Deck the Heights, a festive community celebration throughout Cahaba Heights. Families can enjoy holiday shopping, arts and crafts, strolling musicians, face painting, inflatables, train rides, food and drinks, live music, and visits with Santa and the Grinch. The free Heights Express trolley will proceed in a continuous loop between participating stops, making it easy to explore the neighborhood and support local businesses. ► More Info: vhal.org
ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL ► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center ► When: Nov. 19, 6-8 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Kick off the holiday season at Vestavia Hills’ annual Tree Lighting Festival, part of the community’s Holiday in the Hills celebration. Families can gather for the ceremonial lighting of the holiday tree along with seasonal music, festive treats and holiday activities. The longtime community tradition brings neighbors together for an evening of family-friendly fun and a festive start to the Christmas season. ► More Info: vhal.org
Living well happens
AMARA FORBIDDEN REVELATION — THE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH ► Where: AMC Dine-In Vestavia Hills 10 ► When: Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m. ► Cost: $20 general admission ► Details: See a special screening of “AMARA Forbidden Revelation — The Story of David and Goliath,” a faithbased film that combines modern technology with biblical history. The story centers on an advanced artificial intelligence whose discoveries surrounding David and Goliath challenge long-held assumptions and set off a global search for answers.
► Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30: Breakfast Club. 9:30 a.m. Downstairs Program Room. Children ages 2-5 can ease into Monday with slow-paced cartoons, open play, songs, fingerplays and read-alongs; coffee and cereal are provided. Siblings are welcome. ► Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24: Toddler A-GoGo. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. Toddlers ages 1836 months can enjoy singing, dancing, movement and stories. ► Nov. 3: After School Adventures — Artist of the Month. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Downstairs Program Room. Children in kindergarten through second grade can explore an artist and create their own inspired work. ► Nov. 4, 11 and 18: Silly Goose Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m. Downstairs Program Room. Preschoolers ages 3-5 can enjoy stories, music, movement and plenty of silly fun. ► Nov. 10: After School Adventures — Bread in a Bag! 3:30-4:30 p.m. Downstairs Program Room. Kids in kindergarten through second grade can explore a hands-on activity while making bread in a bag. For a complete list of November events, visit vestavialibrary.org.
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VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 23
LIFE
Four clubs, one voice: Vestavia is a Toastmasters hub By KELLI S. HEWETT Vestavia Hills might be best known for its schools, neighborhoods and sweeping views, but it also boasts something unusual for a suburban city: four Toastmasters International public speaking clubs. In a metro area with nearly 30 clubs spread across Birmingham, Vestavia is a hub for people learning to stand up and speak with confidence. Whether it’s improving work performance, making a wedding toast or simply conquering nerves, the clubs draw a diverse mix of members from college students to retirees — 102 years after the organization began in a California YMCA. “The four clubs are all vibrant and doing well, they each satisfy a specific need for the community, and that’s what makes a club worthwhile and vital,” said Judith Kidd, vice president of public relations and secretary for Round Table Advance Toastmasters Club and administration manager for the multistate District 77 Toastmasters. Vestavia’s four include a corporate club through Vulcan Materials, an advanced group and two community groups. Antoinette Wade first found Toastmasters in college and joined the Vestavia Toastmasters Club to improve her speaking as a budding entrepreneur. “I hope to use my voice more often and not shy away, because I do think I have an interesting story to tell and an effective way to do it,” Wade said. The Vulcan Voices Toastmasters is the oldest Toastmasters International group in Alabama,
Distinguished Toastmaster and club officer Steven Arnold, left, addresses the Vestavia Toastmasters group, which meets twice a month at the Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
chartered in 1947, said Kent Slemmons, vice president of education for the weekly community club. “Members come from just every walk of life,” Slemmons said. “You’ll meet people that you would have never met before, and we all have fun.” Members sign up to deliver five- to seven-minute speeches that are evaluated, and other members answer impromptu questions in one to two minutes, all to build experience. The Vulcan Materials Club, a corporate group, was formed in 2015 for company employees. “It’s a really good thing if employees can do presentations very clearly, distinctly, get the point across and be engaging,” said CPA Elaine Arnold, a charter member of the corporate
group and a member of the Vestavia and Round Table Advance clubs. Elaine Arnold’s husband, Steven Arnold, said the friendly, supportive, welcoming nature is part of the appeal. “Toastmasters overall is a big, big family of people,” said Steven Arnold, vice president of membership and public relations for the Advance and Vestavia clubs. “I wish I’d known about it 30 years ago because it’s such a good program.” The worldwide organization has adapted to online and in-person formats for younger members and to a culture where more conversations happen through screens. “You can’t be great at something you don’t do all the time,” said Vestavia Toastmasters
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Club attendee Garett Warren. “When I looked to be able to communicate my ideas more effectively as I’m looking to apply to grad school, that’s when I was like, you know what? Maybe Toastmasters might be the route.” Slemmons believes the mix of old-fashioned fellowship, warm encouragement and modern tools is exactly why the program remains relevant to people interested in real human engagement. “That’s what Toastmasters is still good at,” Slemmons said, “and the reason being is, it’s a safe learning environment.” For more, visit toastmasters.org.
24 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
LIBRARY
CONTINUED from page 1
OTHER PRIORITIES Some city officials at one point said they thought there might be enough money to do both projects, but then Vestavia Hills school officials came forward with a request for a $6 million upfront contribution to help build and renovate arts and athletic facilities at Vestavia Hills High School. The council voted to make the school project a top priority in its strategic planning session in February. Councilwoman Kimberly Cook, who lives in Liberty Park and has been a staunch advocate for a library in the Liberty Park area for a long time, said the $6 million request from the school system definitely played a role in getting the library project bumped. “We regret that we have to give up our city capital money for the schools, but we don’t regret the good that it’s going to do for the students because we know it’s needed,” Cook said. If the school system had been successful in its effort to get a 9.8-mill property tax increase passed in 2023, that likely would have provided the money for these projects, but the failure of the tax increase has put school officials in a bind, Cook said. “They’re really scrounging because they have some serious needs,” she said. But as the city steps in to aid the schools, “it does place us at a disadvantage from all of our city projects,” Cook said. The city plans to borrow up to $46 million in short-term and long-term debt in fiscal 2027 to address capital needs, but all of that money already has been allocated, and there is no money left for construction of a library facility, City Manager Jeff Downes said. The City Council did, however, vote in early October to commission a study to help determine what types of spaces are desired in a library or community center in eastern Vestavia. That same study, to be conducted by Williams Blackstock Architects at a cost of about $63,500, also will develop conceptual designs, floor plans and cost estimates. The plan is to use the community survey conducted by the city every two years to home in on what exactly residents want to see in an east side library or community center and how big of a priority that is. That survey is being done this fall, and the council should have results in January, Downes said. Following completion of the survey, Williams Blackstock Architects should have a report ready for council review in time for 2027 strategic planning meetings in February, Downes said.
NEEDED SPACES?
So the question remains: What kinds of spaces would be desired in a library or community center? Taneisha Tucker, director of the Vestavia
A dad and his daughter pose for a photo at the Father-Daughter Tea at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest in July 2026. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest.
Hills Library in the Forest along U.S. 31, said past surveys have indicated that people on the eastern side of town wanted children’s spaces, meeting spaces and technology offerings, which could be anything from technology classes to makerspace activities. Her immediate thoughts have been to offer a robust collection of materials for children 11 and younger, a space for teens and tweens to study and play games, and a smaller collection of popular materials for adults and teens, she said. She also would like to offer a variety of programs for all segments of the communities of Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights. Thus far, the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest has been offering family outreach programs in Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights such as an annual Easter egg hunt and back-to-school rally, she said. But all of those have had to be outdoor activities because there is no public building or meeting space, Tucker said. Offering a place for people to hold Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings also would be a good idea, she said. Tucker said she has some ideas of types of programs an east side library could offer, but each community is different in terms of what it wants in a library, and sometimes those desires change over time, she said. The Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest recently started offering Monday morning programs for moms of young children because that’s what they requested, but the people in Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights might want something different, she said.
Women pose for a photo at the Nashville Party with line dancing at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest in July 2026. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest.
“Things will grow organically once you become acquainted with the community,” she said. The survey to be done this fall should help identify some of the current desires, Tucker said. Jimmy Bartlett, a board member emeritus for the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest who served 10 years officially from 2012 to 2022, said people in the eastern part of the city would like to see offerings that are similar to those offered at the main library, including books and programs for children, Halloween and Easter parties for kids, storytimes for toddlers, and a summer reading program. “It takes my daughter-in-law 25 or 30 minutes to drive from their home in Liberty Park to the main library, and it’s very much an inconvenience,” Bartlett said. “My [7-year-old] grandson isn’t able to participate in the programs that my own children grew up doing at our local library.” Susan Swagler, vice chairwoman of the library’s board of trustees, said library staff do an incredible job of offering special events and programs for people in Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights. “It’s joyful. It’s intentional. There are so many people out there, and they are just so happy to have it,” Swagler said. “It would just be a lot easier and quite frankly more intentional if we had [an indoor] space to do it.” Swagler said modern libraries are more than just a repository for books. “It is a community space. It is a place for learning,” she said. “It is a place where people go for Canva classes or Excel classes.” Also, a library needs to serve people of all ages and stages of life, Swagler said. She would love to see the library offer flexible meeting spaces that could be used for a variety of things, from mahjong gatherings to teen art shows and study spaces. But there needs to be a focus on children, Swagler said. “This all starts so young — this love of books and love of learning, and it can be a lifelong thing,” she said.
REAL DEMAND? RIGHT PLACE?
Councilwoman Ali Pilcher said she loves the library and uses it regularly but questioned whether a second one is really in high demand. And, if it is, she questioned whether the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex, known as the SHAC, is the best site. From parts of Cahaba Heights, it takes longer to drive to the SHAC than to the Library in the Forest, she said. Swagler said driving to the SHAC is a lot less stressful than driving to the Library in the Forest. Also, there are so many parents who already take kids to the SHAC for athletic events. Being able to have a library there at the same location would be ideal for those children, their siblings and parents, she said. “If I could go to one place and have one child on the field and another at the library, that would be heaven,” Swagler said. Mayor Ashley Curry has noted several times how close the SHAC is to the elementary and middle schools in Liberty Park and how kids could walk from school to a library there after school. Elise Bodenheimer, president of the Friends of the Vestavia Hills Library and a resident of Cahaba Heights, said a library branch in Cahaba Heights would be fantastic, but she doesn’t think there are any good sites to put one in Cahaba Heights. Someone recommended the old New Merkle House that was formerly used for seniors, but Bodenheimer said parking there was abysmal. “I don’t see that as a viable option.” Bodenheimer said the study being done this fall will answer a lot of questions. “Then we will know what sort of facility, size, what it’s going to cost, not just to build it, but to run it,” Bodenheimer said. “That has to be in consideration with anything we do.” Swagler said the people who live in Liberty Park have been asking for a library and meeting spaces for years. “If this is what they want, they need to step up and say this is what they want,” she said. “I just remain hopeful that this city is going to do the right thing, and it’s going to take care of all its residents.”
Dads dance with their daughters at the Father-Daughter Tea at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest in July 2026. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 25
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26 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice
VETERANS
CONTINUED from page 1 The planned workshops are the part worth studying. The State Traumatic Head Injury Program will offer free screening, navigation, education, peer mentoring and care coordination through five new traumatic brain injury centers. BRAVO-Vets helps veterans in the justice system navigate traumatic brain injury and mental health disorders. There is a session on legal administrative remedies, including discharge upgrades, and legal assistance from C-Vets students at Cumberland School of Law and Legal Services of Alabama. Also: grant writing for nonprofits, a how-to for small business startups, the University of Alabama’s LIFT program offering one-on-one help with tech devices and women veterans health services provided by the Birmingham VA Health Care System. Much of that reach traces to the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative, which Burford co-founded in 2019 out of a military culture training workshop the Alabama Department of Rehabil-
Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry addresses the crowd at the 2025 Salute to Veterans in Vestavia Hills. Last year, the Salute and the city’s Veterans Benefits and Resource Event together drew more than 400 people. Photo courtesy of the city of Vestavia Hills.
itation Services held that January. It is now a volunteer group of more than 200 partners across more than 100 agencies, and its motto is that the ultimate purpose of life is to be of service. “We meet once a month and share ideas about where veterans need help,” Burford said. “Veterans do good work that is making a difference. They deserve what we do.” Burford is a Vestavia Hills native who spent 38 years in uniform — active Army, Reserve and the Alabama Army National Guard — and finished as a two-star major general, deputy commander for mobilization and reserve affairs at U.S. Special Operations Command and special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau. He is now vice president of the National Veterans Day Foundation, which puts on Birmingham’s Veterans Day parade, the oldest in the country. “My main goal with the National Veterans Day Foundation is to fix the injustice veterans face day in and day out,” Burford said. “Most of them don’t ask for help. We have to help them.” Brian Crawford joined the Naval Air Reserve in 1968, spent two years in the Philippines from 1969 to 1971, was named enlisted man of the month and served three years as an active reservist. Then the GI Bill, and 35 years in banking with AmSouth. “We have a motto: never forget,” Crawford said, his face going somber. “Our country has forgotten.” He thinks about the people who never wore the uniform at all. “When I see the spouses, my heart goes out to them,” he said. “They didn’t wear a uniform, but they’re as much a veteran as anyone. They never ask for help, and they need it. We come out of conflict and we’re lost — the veterans. There are a lot of challenges. Homelessness is one of them.” Ask Crawford why he keeps showing up and he does not reach for anything lofty. “It’s important to give back,” he said. “The personal satisfaction is immense when I see veterans doing better.” Curry said much the same, from a different door. He did not serve, but he spent 25 years in the FBI. His father was a World War II veteran who came home with post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury, and his son served in the Air Force. “On a personal level, I don’t like injustice,” Curry said. “My father survived, but he had PTSD. Part of what we can do is get information in front of the people who can actually do something about it.” He has one memory from the bureau that still explains why men like Burford, Crawford and him risk their lives for others. In August 1991, Cuban detainees at the federal prison in Talladega seized a cell block and held 10 federal employees hostage for 10 days. Curry was on the FBI’s Birmingham SWAT team that responded. “When it was all over, I had this unexplainable joy seeing those family members reunited,” Curry said. “It’s a calling.” Burford, asked why he serves, described a photograph he saw once and cannot put down. A soldier in Iraq with weapon raised toward an explosion, and hiding behind his leg, a small Iraqi boy. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “People should honor veterans. If I don’t make a difference, who will?” On Nov. 9, for one day, in one ballroom in Vestavia Hills, veterans will be honored. The rest of the year you will stand behind them in line at the grocery store and never know it.
Members of the Vestavia Hills Police Department honor guard at the 2025 Salute to Veterans in Vestavia Hills. Photo courtesy of the city of Vestavia Hills.
U.S. Army soldiers attend the 2025 Salute to Veterans in Vestavia Hills, which honors veterans from all branches of service. Photo courtesy of the city of Vestavia Hills.
Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry stands between Brian Crawford, left, a Naval Air Reserve veteran, and retired Army Maj. Gen. David Burford, keynote speaker for this year’s Salute to Veterans. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2026 • 27
28 • November 2026
Vestavia Voice