October 2026 | Volume 14 | Issue 6
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Unlit light poles at the U.S. 31 exit off I-65. Photo by David Leong.
Vestavia officials aim to fix interstate lighting woes By JON ANDERSON
get, as he puts it, “the peace of life” before it disappears for the day. An optional team devotion follows at 7:30 a.m., led that morning by Buddy Anderson, the legendary former Vestavia Hills coach who retired in 2020 and still shows up on gamedays. Breakfast is Chick-fil-A biscuits from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. By 8:15, players are on the field for a 30-minute walkthrough. At 9:15, players head to the school’s pep rally, and Evans speaks for a few minutes, then heads back to the weight room for a morning lift.
If you’re driving on Interstate 459 or Interstate 65 in or around Vestavia Hills at night, there’s a good chance you’ll be driving in the dark. The vast majority of the interstate streetlights are not working. Vestavia Hills officials are trying to do something about it, but it’s a tall task fraught with challenges, officials said. On I-459, between U.S. 280 and the Liberty Park exit, there were 96 light poles without working lights in early September. There were some lights working at the intersection of I-459 and U.S. 280, but only two light poles between U.S. 280 and Liberty Parkway had working lights. Between U.S. 280 and I-65, there were at least eight lights out on I-459. On I-65, there were 10 lights out between I-459 and U.S. 31 and 44 lights out between U.S. 31 and Alford Avenue. “I’ve heard from a lot of constituents who are upset that it’s so dark,” Vestavia Hills Councilwoman Kimberly Cook said.
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From the sunrise to beyond the final whistle What is gameday like for Rebels coach Robert Evans? By KYLE PARMLEY
R
obert Evans sits in his office, filling out a notecard not much bigger than the ones legendary Texas Tech and Mississippi State coach Mike Leach used to carry into games. A few reminders, points of emphasis, etc. It is closing in on 7 p.m., and after nearly 13 hours at Vestavia Hills High School, this is the only remaining stretch of quiet Evans will get before his team takes the field for the season opener against Parker on Thursday, Aug. 20. There is unease and uncertainty leading up to kickoff. Are the Rebels as prepared as they
can possibly be entering a season in which many people expect them to be a top five team in Class 6A? After a few more moments, Evans folds up the notecard and rises from his chair. “We’ll see what happens,” he said. The quiet rarely comes easy on a day planned out to the minute, each one accounted for since sunrise. Evans is now in his fifth season at his alma mater, following stops as a defensive coordinator at Hoover and Mountain Brook, and the schedule he keeps on a Thursday like this one has become as familiar to him as any playbook. Evans arrives at the school at 6:15 or 6:30 a.m., about an hour before anyone else, just to
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Live-fire training facility Vestavia Hills firefighters now have a new place to train.
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Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans congratulates his players after their win over Oak Mountain on Sept. 11. Photo by David Leong.
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ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley Did you know that this newspaper is just one of the six monthly publications we produce at Starnes Media each month? The Cahaba Sun covers Trussville, Village Living covers Mountain Brook and we also put together the Hoover Sun, Vestavia Voice, Homewood Star and 280 Living papers on a monthly basis. One of my favorite things about overseeing the production of each of these publications is the unique identity each community possesses. Different things are important to different towns and residents are far more interested in certain topics than others. But one thing that is not unique to any of these places is how much the people
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care about the place they live, the amount of interesting people all around them. Know of an event we need to highlight? How about that man or woman in town that has such a cool story? We’d love to hear from you! Send me an email at kparmley@ starnesmedia.com with any thoughts and ideas. Thanks for reading!
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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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Vestavia Voice
CITY
Vestavia goes on offense against stormwater flooding By JON ANDERSON Battling Mother Nature can be draining. With 54 to 57 inches of rain falling in the Birmingham metro area in the average year, that’s a lot of rainwater to handle. The national average is 30 to 38 inches, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But Lori Beath Kearley, Vestavia Hills’ director of public services, isn’t giving up the fight. Kearly, who was named Department Head of the Year by the Alabama City/County Management Association this year, is working to make Vestavia Hills more proactive in its battle with stormwater flooding. “In recent years, we’ve really moved from a more reactive approach to a more proactive, systematic and comprehensive management of our infrastructure assets,” Kearley said. There is a lot of intentionality behind planning, and her department’s processes are very data-driven, she said. “We’re looking at condition assessments. We’re looking at system needs. We’re looking at risks and other factors In determining prioritization of projects and other maintenance activities, and ultimately protecting and preserving our assets,” Kearley said. “We’re wanting to extend their service life. We want to make sure we are spending public dollars where we need to spend them when we need to spend them and how we need to spend them.” For fiscal 2026, her department set a goal to do 4,000 linear feet of drainage projects, including stormwater pipe replacements, pipe rehabilitation projects, curb and gutter replacements, and ditches and culverts cleaned out,
she said. They ended up with more than 5,500 linear feet of drainage projects completed, she said. Examples of projects completed by city crews in the past couple of years include: ► Replacing a stormwater pipe on Blue Lake Drive to make the road shoulder more stable ► Pouring a new base for a corroded corrugated metal pipe and installing a new gutter section on River Terrace Drive ► Constructing a new concrete box with an inlet top and flume to relieve surface flooding caused by clogged or collapsed pipes on Glendmere Place ► Removing a crushed pipe from underneath Markcliff Circle and adding a valley gutter to better control drainage Kearley soon hopes to begin a pipe lining project in which the city utilizes new technology to reduce the cost and negative impacts on property when addressing failing stormwater infrastructure. That project was out for bid in early September and is expected to cost more than $100,000 but should increase the speed and efficiency of stormwater pipe rehabilitation, she said. In her 2027 budget request, Kearley asked the City Council to fund the purchase of a combo jetter vacuum truck, which is a specialized vehicle that combines high-pressure water jetting and heavy-duty industrial vacuum suction into a single unit to clean and maintain underground infrastructure. Her plan is to hire a dedicated equipment operator to run that truck. “What that’s going to allow us to do is to have a public works crew solely dedicated to that effort,” Kearley said. “This will be a
A city of Vestavia Hills crew replace a section of pipe on Blue Lake Drive that had separated and settled and extend the pipe to allow for a more stable road shoulder. Photos courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.
systematic weekly (job), not just responding to problems as they occur and as we’re made aware of pipes that are blocked under the road. We’re systemically and regularly on a weekly basis moving throughout our storm drainage system cleaning out pipes, which we have historically contracted out, cleaning out inlets regularly. … This is much more efficient and effective — being proactive rather than waiting
for issues to come to us. Our plan is to use this in conjunction with our pipe camera that we have to do inspections, to find issues before they become problems and significant expenses and disruptive projects.” She also hopes to move forward with several projects to reduce stormwater flooding in places such as Canyon Drive and Vesthaven Way, she said.
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October 2026 • 7
CITY
Mayor’s Minute By Ashley Curry On Sept. 22, the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Viva Vestavia” event at the Civic Center. I hope you were able to partake of the food and wine tastings from area restaurants along with the silent auction. Proceeds from this event and other events provide a college scholarship for a Vestavia Hills High School senior each year. Please join our Vestavia Hills police and fire departments as we celebrate Community Night Out on Oct. 1. This is an opportunity for first responders to network with local businesses, civic groups, churches, schools and community volunteers in a symbolic stance against crime and the promotion of public safety. Also, during the month of October, we will host our 2026 “ARTStober” event in City Hall. Join local artists during business hours to see the exhibit. I will be presenting our state-of-the-city address to the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Oct. 13. I can give you a very short and concise preview of what I will be saying. The city is doing great! We are blessed to have professional leadership from our city manager and all of our department heads. Our financial stability, our quality-of-life amenities and an excellent school system make Vestavia Hills a desired place to live. I constantly receive favorable comments
about the services provided by our police and fire personnel. We have great leadership in both departments. Our facilities, our ongoing professional development, our updated equipment and constant training make both departments a desired career destination for others. We are very close to completion of two state projects that have taken much too long to complete. The first one is the pedestrian bridge connecting Wald Park with the Library in the Forest. What began as a vision by former Mayor Scotty McCallum is about to be completed. I am hopeful that I can announce that completion at this year’s stateof-the-city address. It will be nice to have walkability between the two “most visited” places in our city (Wald Park and the library). The second one is Massey Road. I will be thrilled when I see the paving begin and I can look forward to that vital connection between Columbiana Road and U.S. 31. There is a possibility that it, too, will be completed. I love the fall of the year. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Maybe he was talking about football. Whatever your pleasure or interest, may you have a happy fall season.
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NEW VENUE! Vestavia Hills Civic Center 1090 Montgomery Highway Facebook @alcraftguild // Instagram @alcraftguild
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CITY
Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills fire departments raise joint live-fire training building By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA Firefighters from Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills spent a recent week watching a training building go up like a Lego set — steel sections lifted, turned and bolted, four stories of it, on the training ground on East Street. Now that it’s finished, they will set it on fire and walk in. Somebody must practice the worst day of your life before you live it. Ordered from Lonestar Tactical Buildings of Magnolia, Texas, the live-fire structure is the centerpiece of the Over the Mountain Regional Training Center, which the two cities share. Built from repurposed shipping containers, it covers roughly 5,000 square feet. Five rooms are rated for live fire, with burn boxes that vent to the outside. Inside is a purpose-built obstacle course: forcible-entry doors, standard and commercial stairwells, a balcony, a roof prop, a hotel-style corridor, rope rescue anchors and mannequins staged on beds and couches. The layout can simulate a single-family house, a multifamily building or a commercial structure, including the large homes that fill both cities. “Ten years ago, we started training together with Vestavia Hills, and it morphed into auto aid when both fire departments are dispatched automatically to the same fire,” Mountain Brook Battalion Chief Justin Baker said. “We dispatch together. It makes sense to train together.” The departments train together quarterly. “This new facility gives us company training, officer training, live-fire, hazmat, rope rescue and much more,” Baker said. Mountain Brook carries a Class 2 Insurance Services Office rating, and Vestavia Hills a
The Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills fire departments came together to make the new training building a reality. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Class 1 — both near the top of the state — and training hours help earn them. The site holds another burn building that opened in 2017. Before that, the departments relied on the Alabama Fire College’s mobile live-fire unit rolling into town. “It’s a huge improvement,” said Vestavia Hills training officer Christian Elliott, who designed the building alongside Lonestar. “We
knew what we needed: different scenarios, different levels of expertise, all in one building.” The center has been an Alabama Fire College training site for four years, and the departments teach the 400-hour recruit school together. “Four hundred hours covers everything: forcible entry, fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation,” Mountain Brook Fire Chief Chris Mullins said. “Now we can simulate all of it for
recruits and for veterans.” Paying for it took both city councils. Vestavia Hills approved slightly more than $1 million toward construction, and Mountain Brook contributed the site and the new classroom. “Our city manager and mayor met with every fireman, and the need for a training building came out of that,” Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Marvin Green said. “Mayor Curry heard the firefighters and secured the funding. This is a great example of what happens when two cities come together for their citizens.” “It will help with recruitment,” Mullins said. “Young guys want to be in a burn building. It’s a draw.” They need one. Mullins said the applicant pool has thinned over his career. “In 1992, you had thousands of people in Jefferson County sitting for the test,” he said. “Now it’s a fraction of that.” The danger is part of it. “A hundred firefighters die nationally every year,” Mullins said. “You do this to serve the community, to be part of the brotherhood, part of something bigger than yourself.” Brent Cooper, Mountain Brook’s deputy chief for operations and training, put it this way: “The calling to be a firefighter is almost religious. You’re called to do this, to serve your city and your community. But you must have the passion to do it.” A ribbon cutting for the facility was held Sept. 17. Crews have started running the structure — mannequins on beds and couches, smoke rolling down a hallway toward a door that opens only for a shoulder. Two cities’ crews learning the way in the dark, so on the night it’s real, they already know it.
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October 2026 • 9
CITY
Liberty Park fire station construction to begin soon By JON ANDERSON After years of planning, the Vestavia Hills City Council on Sept. 9 approved a $5.3 million contract for the expansion and renovation of Vestavia Hills Fire Station No. 4 in Liberty Park. CT General Contractors was the lowest of nine bidders for the job at $5,288,248. The other bids ranged from $5,342,725 from Maxus Construction Co. to $7,046,111 from Blackstone Construction. City officials had budgeted $5.7 million for the project. The plan is to add about 2,300 square feet to the existing 9,400 square feet. Work will include demolition of the existing living quarters and construction of new foundations and slab-on-grade systems to support the renovated and expanded portions of the building, according to a letter from Doster Construction Co., which is serving as the construction manager. The four bays for vehicles will remain largely the same, but the rest of the interior of the building will be completely gutted and renovated to expand the kitchen, living quarters and restrooms, Fire Chief Marvin Green said. Structural improvements will include new metal stud framing, masonry construction, and wood truss roof framing with a new asphalt shingle roofing system. The exterior building envelope will include brick veneer systems, cast stone masonry, new thermal/weather resistant systems, metal wall panels, sheet metal flashing and trim, and installation of all new doors, windows, glazing, and storefront systems. The project also includes complete replacement and upgrade of plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, including new heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and distribution systems, plumbing infrastructure and fixtures, electrical distribution, new lighting, a
Exterior views of the planned expansion and renovation of Vestavia Hills Fire Station No. 4 in Liberty Park. Sketches courtesy of Doster Construction.
new fire alarm, new communication tools and associated controls. Site improvements will consist of new asphalt and concrete paving, sidewalks, utility infrastructure, a new grease trap, oil and water separator, grading, irrigation systems and new landscaping.
The job is expected to take about a year to complete. The Fire Department this year added 12 new people at Station No. 4 over three shifts, for a total of 33 firefighters stationed there. In other business in September, the City Council accepted $153,507 from Jefferson
County to repave the unincorporated Jefferson County parts of River Run Drive, River Run Lane and River Run Trail as part of the city’s repaving contract with Dunn Construction Co. The council also approved a new policy regulating the use of Police Department equipment for extra jobs and off-duty employment.
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BUSINESS
From weeknight wraps to game day glory: The Kitchen by Market serves Vestavia Hills By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA The Kitchen by Market, founded by Chris Moses, opened with a straightforward premise: grocery shopping takes time, and most people don’t want to spend it. With two locations, including one in Mountain Brook Village, the market offers pre-made meals and customizable options for customers seeking an alternative to traditional grocery stores. Moses said the concept grew from observing how people actually shop. “Grocery shopping is a chore these days,” he said. “Food shopping has become mechanical and time-consuming. It should be simple, convenient, fast.” The idea addresses a genuine pain point for many shoppers, particularly those managing busy schedules who view grocery trips as another item on an already full to-do list. The market’s main appeal is its combination of self-serve options and prepared foods. Customers can choose from pre-made wraps, chicken salad, Tre Luna items and Break-up cookies, or build their own meals from available ingredients. The market also stocks a range of protein-focused options and ready-to-eat meals designed for quick consumption. Rather than browsing multiple aisles for ingredients, customers can grab prepared options or assemble simple meals in minutes. A particular challenge the business identifies is shopping for smaller households. “One to two people serving is hard to shop for,” Moses said. “You end up buying too much and throwing some away. Here, you get what you need. We offer single-serve to family options, ensuring customers purchase exactly what they’ll use.” This model aims to address food waste
You can grab wraps and ready meals at Kitchen by Market.
Kitchen by Market owner Chris Moses, left, helps two customers at Kitchen by Market. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
— a common complaint among people living alone or in two-person households who struggle with portion sizes designed for families. The approach appeals to a specific demographic: working professionals, single individuals, and small families prioritizing convenience and speed. These customers typically view grocery shopping as transactional rather than recreational, seeking efficiency over selection. Beyond weekday meal options, The Kitchen by Market has become particularly busy during football season. The market stocks party supplies, dips, snacks and pies — items that see increased demand when games begin. “Party supplies, dips, snacks and pies are
a huge hit. We are football central during the season,” Moses said. This seasonal surge reflects a broader shopping pattern where convenience-focused retailers often see traffic spikes during major sporting events and gatherings. The Kitchen by Market operates in a growing segment of convenience-focused retail, competing against meal-kit services, fast-casual restaurants and traditional grocers expanding their prepared foods sections. Larger grocery chains have taken note of this trend, with many now offering expanded grab-and-go sections and pre-made meals. Whether the model successfully addresses the broader frustration with grocery
The steaks are popular at Kitchen by Market in Vestavia Hills.
shopping remains to be seen. The core proposition — faster, simpler shopping for convenience-minded customers — is straightforward enough. For now, The Kitchen by Market is one option among several for Vestavia Hills shoppers looking for quick, ready-to-eat meals without the traditional grocery store experience.
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October 2026 • 11
BUSINESS
Recently sold homes in Vestavia Hills
► ADDRESS: 918 Chestnut St. ► BED/BATH: 4/3.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,540 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Vestavia ► LIST PRICE: $749,900 ► SALE PRICE: $780,000
► ADDRESS: 2804 Crosswood Circle ► BED/BATH: 4/3.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,214 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Crossgate ► LIST PRICE: $649,900 ► SALE PRICE: $625,000
► ADDRESS: 1121 Graylynn Drive ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,414 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Vestavia ► LIST PRICE: $639,900 ► SALE PRICE: $620,000
► ADDRESS: 1828 Jacobs Lane ► BED/BATH: 3/2 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,546 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Mountain Wood Estates ► LIST PRICE: $449,000 ► SALE PRICE: $449,000
► ADDRESS: 3220 Valley Park Drive ► BED/BATH: 3/2 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,540 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Cahaba Heights ► LIST PRICE: $495,000 ► SALE PRICE: $430,000
► ADDRESS: 3848 River View Drive ► BED/BATH: 4/3.5 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,073 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: River Run ► LIST PRICE: $435,000 ► SALE PRICE: $400,000 SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
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12 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
BUSINESS
Business Happenings
Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
ads, grilled vegetable lasagna, shrimp scampi, chicken parmigiana, gnocchi, and a variety of desserts. Pazzo Italian is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-9:30 p.m. 205-326-7478 Fifth Third Bank recently opened a retail branch at 3010 Healthy Way in Vestavia in the Patchwork Farms development. They will also have a ribbon cutting for another branch at 3178 Rush St. in Vestavia at the end of September. The 168-year-old company is based out of Cincinnati and entered the Alabama market in 2024, and there are also locations in Liberty Park and Tattersall Park. The bank offers financial services for individuals, families, businesses and communities. The branch is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. 205-986-0449, 53.com
Pazzo Italian
COMING SOON
NOW OPEN One House of Derm, a boutique dermatology practice, opened this summer at 790 Montgomery Highway, Suite 108, Studio 125, in Vestavia Hills. Founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marilyn Zabielinski, One House of Derm specializes in cosmetic dermatology and personalized skin care. The practice offers Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, collagen-stimulating treatments, microneedling and medical dermatology. They are open Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. 205-882-3348, onehouseofderm.com Located at 2516 Rocky Ridge Road in Vestavia Hills, Pazzo Italian opened in August and offers authentic Italian cuisine, wine and cocktails at this sit-down restaurant. They serve dishes including handcrafted pastas, Italian meats and cheeses, crispy calamari, sal-
Scenthound, which provides routine hygiene and basic grooming services for dogs, will be opening in winter of this year at 3169 Green Valley Road in Cahaba Heights near Brick and Tin. They offer services for dogs including basic hygiene, blow-outs and barber packages, as well as plaque reduction, conditioning, shedding, problem skin, nail and facial scrub treatments. The dog grooming franchise also has locations in Hoover, the Village at Lee Branch, Trussville and Mountain Brook. 615-909-3649, scenthound.com Antique store Harper Hills Collective opened at 2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 101, in Vestavia Hills on Sept. 10. From furniture and home décor to china sets and other vintage pieces, Harper Hills Collective offers a wide variety of unique items. Customers can also view the store’s items on their Instagram account and claim an item they want to purchase. Owned by Wendy Killing-
Harper Hills Collective
sworth, the store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., staying open until 6 p.m. on Thursday. They also have a location in Moody. 205-667-1267, harperhillscollective.com
ANNIVERSARIES El ZunZún is celebrating eight years of serving authentic Mexican dishes to Vestavia Hills at 4105 Crosshaven Drive. Owner and pastry chef Becky Satterfield opened the restaurant in the heart of Cahaba Heights to offer a friendly, casual dining experience. They serve dishes like chicken tortilla soup, enchiladas, nachos, salads, tacos, quesadillas, tamales, street corn and freshly squeezed margaritas. Starting Aug. 31, they are open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 205-791-7711, el-zunzun.com
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Bluff Park Community Park 517 Cloudland Drive, Hoover, AL 35226
Shades Mountain Plaza, Bluff Park United Methodist Church, Shades Crest Baptist Church, Shades Mountain Community Church
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 13
BUSINESS
Hair stylist opens luxury coworking salon in Cahaba Heights By LAUREN H. DOWDLE A father’s support and years of experience led Krystal Millender to open Aspen and Ash Collective, a coworking space for independent salon professionals like she wished she’d had when she first started out. Millender has been a stylist for 26 years, and she most recently worked in a salon suite across from Life Time in Vestavia. A wife and mother of two, Millender grew up fixing her hair and styling others in the community and went straight into cosmetology school after high school. She also earned a degree from Montevallo and had a job in social work, but Millender continued to find ways to work in the beauty industry before coming back to it full time in 2012. Three years later, she was faced with the decision to continue working as a stylist for someone else or set out on her own. After talking with her family, she decided to follow her father’s advice. “He told me, ‘Follow your dream, and bet on yourself. You have your entire life to work for someone else if this doesn’t work out. But I think it will,’” Millender recalled. “He believed in me so much that it gave me the extra push to not be scared to go out on my own.” She’s now been an independent stylist for the past decade and said she wants to help others do the same, which is why she opened Aspen and Ash. The salon has space for eight stylists, and there are currently four working full time and one part time. “It’s a really good opportunity for independent stylists who want luxury, to use their own products and be their own bosses,” she said. “I’m creating the space I wish I had when I first became an independent stylist.”
Aspen and Ash offers a coworking space for independent stylists.
Krystal Millender opened Aspen and Ash this summer in Vestavia. Photos courtesy of Aspen and Ash.
Customers and stylists can enjoy the panoramic views, amenities and relaxing environment at the luxury salon.
The stylists pay weekly rent and operate as their own bosses, but they also get the perks of being a part of the coworking space. That includes amenities like towel service, someone who greets customers, an online booking system, website and a station with coffee, beverages and snacks. She’s been looking for the right commercial building for the past five years, and she finally found it right behind The Summit. The
space previously was a conference room for ARC Realty, but Millender transformed it into a luxury salon with a warm, welcoming aesthetic. The salon has panoramic views of Cahaba Heights, and the location offers ample parking outside and a peaceful, relaxed vibe when people come in, Millender said. When thinking about a name for the business, Millender said she wanted something that was catchy and brandable, and she came
up with Aspen and Ash. Aspen trees represent strength and resilience, and ash means to be made new as in rising from the ashes. That theme of rebuilding especially hit home for Millender after her father passed away last year. Though her father wasn’t there to see her business open, he was still a part of the big day. Millender held the official grand opening on his birthday, Aug. 14. Looking ahead, Millender said she hopes the business continues to expand and that it’s a place stylists can call home and grow their own businesses. Aspen and Ash Collective is located at 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 225, in Vestavia Hills. For more information, visit aspenandashcollective.com.
14 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
SCHOOLHOUSE
Foundation invests in Vestavia Hills schools, builds for the future By APRIL COFFEY Great schools don’t happen by chance. They happen because a community chooses to invest in them. That was the message Landon Nast, president of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, shared during the Aug. 11 Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon as she outlined the foundation’s work and its vision for supporting Vestavia Hills students for generations to come. Established in 1996, the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization governed by community leaders, parents, alumni and supporters. Its mission is to provide perpetual financial support to Vestavia Hills City Schools while helping protect the academic excellence for which the school system is known. Today, the foundation manages an endowment of more than $4 million. Rather than simply raising money to spend, the foundation invests those funds so they can continue generating support for the schools year after year. Each year, approximately 2% to 5% of the endowment’s earnings are distributed through grants, while the principal is preserved. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants to the school system. Those grants are designed to have a direct impact in classrooms, providing innovative resources, enhanced learning opportunities, new technology and support for educators. Nast said the foundation’s current focus is growing that endowment even further through its new “Generations: Investing in Vestavia Education” campaign. The goal is simple:
The larger the endowment becomes, the more the foundation can provide to the schools each year. Unlike a one-time donation, an endowment gift continues working into the future. That means a contribution made today can help support students and teachers not only this year, but for generations of Vestavia students still to come. There are also opportunities for the community to get involved through the foundation’s annual fundraising events. “Pitch-In” is the foundation’s schoolwide giving campaign, held during the last week of January. Families participate through donations and fun school activities, including themed dress-up days. The foundation’s signature event, “Dinner & Diamonds,” is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, at Vestavia Country Club. The evening brings the community together for dinner, fellowship, sponsorship opportunities and auctions. The foundation is currently seeking volunteers, sponsors and businesses interested in partnering with the event. Community involvement, however, extends beyond writing a check. Parents, alumni, businesses, grandparents, residents and other supporters can contribute to the foundation’s mission through donations, sponsorships, volunteering or simply helping spread the word about its work. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to create a permanent source of funding that strengthens Vestavia’s schools without losing sight of the future. “Great schools don’t happen by chance,” Nast told the chamber audience. “They happen
Landon Nast speaks to the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce during its August luncheon. Photo by April Coffey.
because the community chooses to invest in them.” For those who want to help shape that future,
the foundation offers an opportunity to do exactly that — one gift, one volunteer hour and one partnership at a time.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 15
SCHOOLHOUSE
After 19 years, Pizitz choir teacher still finds joy in the music By APRIL COFFEY Melissa Bonds is in her 19th year teaching choir at Pizitz Middle School, where she has spent her entire career. A Pizitz and Vestavia Hills High School alum, Bonds also serves as the vocal music associate at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, where she sings and leads worship. She is married to Austin, who works for Homewood City Schools, and the couple has three children: A.J., a ninth grader; Addie, a seventh grader; and William, a kindergartner. Q: After your years in the classroom, what’s something your students have taught you along the way? A: Music can be very technical (as a math person, I love that about it), as well as expressive and artistic. But, CHOIR is about more than the music. The students remind me daily that we are in this together. Yes, we learn about the theory and the ear training and how to be expressive. But we are building relationships through this process, and those relationships are what make the music-making so special. We cannot be successful as a choir without each other. Every person in the room is important to our success and to our experience. Q: Is there a particular performance, student or moment from your career that you find yourself remembering most often? A: There isn’t one particular moment that I go back to, but a unique part of my job that I reflect on often is that I have the privilege of spending three years with many of my students. I get to watch them grow and change as human beings but also as musicians. I watch them learn to work with other students from across our
Pizitz Middle School choir teacher Melissa Bonds conducts her choir. Photos courtesy of Melissa Bonds.
school and develop friendships they might not otherwise have formed, and I watch them learn about their important and unique role on our team. I have a first-row seat as they learn to love music and singing as part of a choir and as they realize their talent and see their hard work pay off. I’m so thankful I get to be a part of that journey with them. Q: What do you hope your students remember most about being in your choir? A: I truly hope that the students who have been a part of the choir program at Pizitz know that they are loved and valued, they are smart and creative and we are their biggest cheerleaders. I also hope they remember to see the value in others — we all have unique gifts and abilities to bring to the table. I hope they remember special moments of music-making and fun with friends but also the challenges they faced and overcame together. They can do anything.
Bonds, pictured with husband Austin, sons A.J. and William and daughter Addie.
Bonds directs the choir at its holiday concert.
Q: When you’re not teaching or making music, what does a perfect day look like for you? A: A perfect day for me would include sleeping late (I am not a morning person), eating out as a family at some of our favorite restaurants (cooking is stressful!) and no agenda. My kids are in three very different phases of childhood (high school, middle school and just beginning elementary school), and I love for them to have time together when they are relaxed and not pulled in other directions. Seeing them enjoy one another and time together as a family brings me the most joy. See the full Q&A with Melissa Bonds at vestaviavoice.com.
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16 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
SCHOOLHOUSE
Vestavia Hills High School ranks among Alabama’s best, national rankings show By STAFF Vestavia Hills High School has earned a spot among the top high schools in the country, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for the 2026-27 school year. The school placed No. 533 nationally and No. 4 in Alabama, part of a national list that evaluates nearly 18,000 public high schools on state test performance, graduation rates and college preparation. Vestavia Hills also ranked No. 3 among high schools in the Birmingham metro area. The rankings reflect strong performance across multiple measures. Vestavia Hills posted an overall score of 97.03 out of 100. The school’s Advanced Placement participation rate stands at 56%, with 46% of students passing at least one AP exam. Students also performed well on state-required testing, with proficiency rates of 72% in mathematics, 56% in reading and 77% in science, each well above the statewide averages of 20%, 20% and 30%, respectively, in those subjects. Vestavia Hills’ college readiness index, a measure U.S. News uses to gauge how well a school’s coursework and testing results translate into college preparedness, came in at 48.7 out of 100. Among Alabama’s 293 ranked schools, Vestavia Hills placed No. 2 in State Assessment Proficiency, No. 5 in both the College Readiness Index and College Curriculum Breadth Index, and No. 21 in State Assessment Performance. Nationally, out of 17,945 ranked schools, the school ranked No. 94 in State Assessment Proficiency, No. 1,181 in College Curriculum Breadth Index, No. 1,252 in State Assessment Performance and No. 1,408 in College Readiness Index.
Vestavia Hills High School is one of the top high schools in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. Staff photo.
The school serves grades 10-12, with a total enrollment of 1,625 students and a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. Enrollment includes 534 sophomores, 573 juniors and 518 seniors. Vestavia Hills is the only high school in Vestavia Hills City Schools, and the district’s 117 full-time equivalent teachers serve a student body that is 52% male and 48% female. The school’s student population is 81.7% white, 6.9% Asian, 4.4% Black, 4.3% Hispanic,
2.4% two or more races, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native. Ten percent of Vestavia Hills’ students are classified as economically disadvantaged, with 9% participating in the free lunch program and 1% in the reduced-price lunch program. The rankings are calculated using data from the 2024-25, 2023-24 and 2022-23 academic years and are part of U.S. News’ broader Best High Schools project, which this year evaluated
more than 17,900 nationally ranked schools. The methodology weighs factors including state assessment performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation outcomes. Vestavia Hills’ ranking places it in strong company locally. Homewood High School ranked No. 1 among metro-area schools, followed by Mountain Brook at No. 2 and Vestavia Hills at No. 3, giving the Birmingham area three of the state’s top four high schools.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 17 SPONSORED CONTENT
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Cahaba Heights Hardware offers great service, selection and tradition In an era of online shopping and big-box stores, it’s a relief to find a local, family-owned business like Cahaba Heights Hardware — in operation since 1948 — that gives its customers quality, personal service. “We treat everyone like family because we’re a part of the community, not just a retail store,” says long-time store manager Nate Dowell. Cahaba Heights Hardware offers a huge selection of tools, hardware and materials, as well as a wide range of plumbing, electrical and landscaping supplies. Even the big-box stores can’t match their selection. “We stock materials according to our customers’ needs, not an algorithm, and we often stock hard-to-find items,” Nate said. The dedicated staff takes pride in providing customers oldfashioned know-how for their home repairs and DIYs. “We try to understand our customers’ projects and offer the best advice or assistance we can,” Nate said. Long-time co-owner Murry Williamson and his son, Thom, bought the store in 1988 and “absolutely take pride” in its long history, Murry said. “We have a lot of customers
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who’ve shopped with us since they were kids,” Murry said. “Multiple generations of family shop here, some of them for over 70 years,” Nate said. The sales staff got a boost recently with the addition of Judge King, former manager of the now-closed Rocky Ridge Hardware. “Judge is very knowledgeable and has been the go-to guy for many years to customers in the Rocky Ridge area,” Nate said. For more information, call 205-967-0710 or go to cahabaheightshardware.com.
18 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
SPORTS
Rebels turn to back half of region schedule in October By KYLE PARMLEY Vestavia Hills High School’s football team opened Class 6A, Region 3 play in September against Thompson, Oak Mountain and Spain Park. The Rebels now turn to the second half of the region schedule in October, with four games to wrap up the region and regular season schedule.
OCT. 2 AT TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
Vestavia Hills holds a 16-6 edge in the series and has won the last nine meetings, including a 56-10 win last season. The series dates back to 1971, but the foes have been region opponents since 2014. Tuscaloosa County is a program that has fallen on hard times in recent years, having not posted a winning season since 2013 and not making the playoffs since 2014. The Wildcats are in their second season under head coach Cris Bell, who had success in a tenure at Oak Mountain from 2012 to 2020.
OCT. 9 VS. HOOVER
This game was originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8, but the AHSAA Central Board ruled it would be played Friday instead after a scheduling dispute between the two schools. Hoover holds a 39-22 edge in the alltime series, but Vestavia Hills won last year’s meeting 39-30. Hoover had won eight straight matchups before the Rebels have won two of the last three. Hoover is led by head coach Chip English.
OCT. 16 VS. HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE
Vestavia Hills holds a 13-8 edge in the series, but Hewitt-Trussville has won six straight meetings, including a 28-14 win last season.
Vestavia Hills cornerback Clayton Cox (21) celebrates with teammate safety Luke Harper during a game with A.H. Parker on Aug. 20. Photos by David Leong.
Both teams have been consistent playoff qualifiers in the region and have met every season since 2018. The series dates back to 1971 and the Rebels won the first 12 meetings between the two schools.
OCT. 23 AT PRATTVILLE
Vestavia Hills has won the first two meetings in this series, with the two programs lumped into the same region for the first time in 2024. Vestavia Hills has won both meetings in convincing fashion, but Prattville is a program on the rise now under second-year head coach Bobby Carr. Prattville last made the playoffs in 2021.
OCT. 30: OPEN
The Rebels close the regular season with an open date. Vestavia Hills only has nine games
Vestavia players take the game before a game with A.H. Parker on Aug. 20.
on the schedule this season, so it will have two open dates, the first in late September.
LOOKING AHEAD
Vestavia Hills finished 8-3 last season and reached the first round of the Class 7A playoffs,
the fourth straight postseason trip under head coach Robert Evans. October’s four region games will shape the Rebels’ playoff seeding as Class 6A, Region 3 sorts itself out under an amended playoff format that sends the top six of eight teams to the postseason.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 19
SPORTS
Taking it outdoors By KYLE PARMLEY Vestavia Hills High School volleyball made history Aug. 29 at Wald Park, hosting what’s believed to be the first outdoor high school volleyball event in the area, if not the state. The Rebels’ varsity, JV and ninth grade teams took on Thompson on a portable court set up on the park’s turf baseball fields, part of a full day of matches that also brought together Mountain Brook and Spain Park. Vestavia Hills head coach Ashley Hardee, who worked with Athletics Director Laura Casey to organize the inaugural event, pointed to outdoor showcases in other sports and at the college level as inspiration for bringing the game outside. Hardee said he hopes to grow the event in future years, with other area programs potentially joining. Photos by David Leong.
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20 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
EVENTS
Haunt the Hills returns for annual community Halloween celebration By KELLI S. HEWETT Vestavia Hills families can kick off Halloween at the annual Haunt the Hills on Friday, Oct. 23 at Wald Park, with a free evening full of trick-or-treating, games, contests and a family-friendly movie under the stars. The community event, hosted by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, brings together local businesses, children and families for a night on the Grand Lawn. From 4:30-6 p.m., children can trick-or-treat at tables set up by participating Chamber-member businesses, play games and enjoy inflatables and bounce houses. “It’s a great way for the community to get into the spooky season,” said Katie Woodruff, communication manager with the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Last year we had nearly 3,500 people attend. We’re looking forward to another fun event highlighting our member businesses and celebrating Halloween as a community.” The evening also features two contests designed to get families involved and encourage them to show off their Halloween creativity. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best family-friendly costumes for the costume contest, scheduled for 6 p.m. While details are still being finalized, it will be held in person with a panel of judges, Woodruff said. Families can bring a carved or decorated pumpkin to enter in the pumpkin contest, which has two categories: carved and decorated. Pumpkins will be displayed during the event so attendees can see the designs up close. Visitors can vote for their favorites through an online survey. Voting runs from 4:30-5:45 p.m., with winners announced at 6 p.m. when the costume
Katelyn Colvert of Sarver Streeter Orthodontics lets a child pick a toothbrush at the 2025 Haunt the Hills trick-or-treat event at Wald Park in Vestavia Hills. Photos by Jon Anderson.
contest begins. After trick-or-treating, games and contests, the evening will continue with a family-friendly Halloween movie beginning at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to watch the movie outdoors and settle in on the lawn for the rest of the night. The only cost is purchasing food and drinks from food trucks parked in the Wald Park lots and nearby grassy areas. Pets are welcome at the event. Parking will be available at Wald Park, as well as at Vestavia Hills Elementary West and the Vestavia Hills Board of Education. The Chamber will post any changes or a rain date announcement on its website and social media. Sponsors include Buffalo Rock; Pepsi;
Thousands of people came out for the 2025 Haunt the Hills trick-ortreat event at Wald Park.
Hundreds of people stayed for the “Hotel Transylvania” movie at the 2025 Haunt the Hills trick-or-treat event.
McDonald’s; Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing; Top Hat Chimney Sweeps; The Retreat Day Spa and state Rep. Mike Shaw. Only Chamber sponsors will be allowed to hand out candy, promotional items or materials, and businesses must be active Chamber members to host a vendor booth.
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“Buffalo Rock is proud to be part of Haunt the Hills,” said Kevin Nelson, regional business development coordinator at Buffalo Rock. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with the community and share our products with the families who attend, while supporting a safe, fun event that brings Vestavia Hills together.”
HAUN � HILLS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 4:30 PM NALD PARK
TRICK-OR-TREAT ON THE LANN NITH LOCAL BUSINESSES & ENJOY GAMES & INFLATABLES FROM 4:30-6:00 PM! DRESS IN YOUR BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY COSTUME FOR R COSTUME CONTEST RT &:oo PM. BRING YOUR CARVED OR PRINTED PUMPKIN TO ENTER IN THE PUMPKIN CONTEST. DON'T FORGET R CHAIR OR BLANKET TO NATCH R FAMILY HRLLONEEN MOVIE RT 6:30 PM.
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VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 21
EVENTS
Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk slated for Oct. 4 By EMILY REED The 27th Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk will be held Oct. 4 at Wald Park Grand Lawn beginning at 12:30 p.m. The event is open to anyone who wants to attend. Missy Haughery, executive director of Down Syndrome Alabama (DSA), said this year’s theme is “You’ve Got a Friend in DSA,” a play on “Toy Story.” “Our Step Up walk is everything,” Haughery said. “Step Up for Down Syndrome strengthens our community by bringing individuals with Down Syndrome, families, businesses, volunteers and community members together for a day centered on connection, celebration, advocacy and inclusion. The event creates a greater understanding of Down Syndrome while giving individuals with Down Syndrome an opportunity to be seen, celebrated and valued as active members of their community.” Funds raised at the event go to support Down Syndrome Alabama’s year-round programs and services, extending the event’s impact beyond the single day. The event, which ends at 3:30 p.m., is $12 to attend and includes chips and a hot dog grilled by River Bank & Trust’s grill team. Admission is free for individuals with Down syndrome. There will be a DJ, face paint, balloon twisting and plenty of dancing. A Little Something Extra Ice Cream Truck and South Fizz Soda will be there with items available for purchase. The Autism Parent will also be on site with
The annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk will be held Oct. 4. Photos courtesy of Down Syndrome Alabama.
its Sensory Activation Vehicle. Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to enjoy the day together. Tailgate tents are welcome. The event typically draws 300 to 400 participants each year. “Step Up is unique because it truly feels like a big family reunion with all of the extended cousins invited too,” Haughery said. “It is a family-friendly tradition that brings together people from communities across Alabama to
celebrate, connect and simply enjoy being together. Longtime DSA families reconnect with friends they may only see a few times a year, while new families have an opportunity to come out, meet others and bring their own circle of family and friends into the DSA community. There is something special about seeing so many different people come together in one place, all celebrating the individuals with Down Syndrome who connect us.” For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit downsyndromealabama.org.
22 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
EVENTS
Save the Date
COMMUNITY NIGHT OUT
TEEN ADVISORY BOARD
► Where: Vestavia Hills City Hall, 1032 Montgomery Highway ► When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 5 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Spend an evening connecting with local first responders, businesses, civic groups and community organizations during Vestavia Hills’ Community Night Out. This free family event will feature jump houses, free food, local vendors and a family-friendly DJ, giving residents a fun opportunity to meet members of the police and fire departments while enjoying an evening together at City Hall. The rain date is Oct. 22. ► Contact: City of Vestavia Hills, 205978-0100 ► More Info: vhal.org
► Where: Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway ► When: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m. ► Details: Sixth through 12th graders can get involved with the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest through its Teen Advisory Board. Members help shape teen programming, support library and community events, earn volunteer hours and gain experience that can help build a résumé. The group meets monthly, and dinner or snacks are provided during meetings. Applications are available through the library. ► Contact: Teen Services, 205-9783683, Lexie.Rueve@vestavialibrary. org ► More Info: vestavialibrary.org
► 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.
LUNCH & LEARN: GROWTH DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN ► Where: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Office, 1090 Montgomery Highway ► When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Join the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce for a Lunch & Learn with Dr. Bill Brunson, a John C. Maxwell Certified Speaker, Trainer and Coach. Brunson will present “Growth Doesn’t Just Happen,” a program focused on intentional personal growth, setting meaningful goals and making development a regular part of everyday life. Registration is required. ► Contact: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, 205-823-5011 ► More Info: vestaviahills.org
SILLY GOOSE STORYTIME ► Where: Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, Downstairs Program Room, 1221 Montgomery Highway ► When: Wednesdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10:30-11 a.m. ► Details: Get silly with Ms. Lauren during this weekly preschool storytime filled with stories, music, movement and fun. Silly Goose Storytime is designed for children ages 3-5, and siblings are welcome to join in. ► Contact: Children’s Department, 205-978-0158 ► More Info: vestavialibrary.org
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 23
EVENTS
VESTAVIA HILLS CHAMBER MONTHLY LUNCHEON ► Where: Mountaintop Church, 225 Centerview Drive ► When: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; program begins at noon ► Cost: $25 with reservation; $30 for late reservations ► Details: Connect with members of the Vestavia Hills business community during the chamber’s October monthly luncheon. This month’s featured speaker is Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon program at noon. Due to renovations at Vestavia Country Club, the chamber’s 2026 luncheons are being held at different locations throughout the year. ► Contact: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, 205-823-5011 ► More Info: vestaviahills.org
14TH ANNUAL TACOS FOR TRINITY
DOLORES HYDOCK: ‘CASTLES IN THE AIR’
► Where: Cahaba Brewing Company, 4500 Fifth Ave. S., Building C ► When: Thursday, Oct. 15, 6-8:30 p.m. ► Cost: $50 per ticket ► Details: Enjoy tacos, live music, and live and silent auctions during the 14th annual Tacos for Trinity fundraiser benefiting Trinity Counseling. The evening raises funds and awareness for mental health needs across Greater Birmingham while giving guests a chance to gather for food, entertainment and a good cause. ► More Info: Search Tacos for Trinity on eventbrite.com
► Where: Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway ► When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m. ► Cost: $20; advance sales only ► Details: Acclaimed actress and storyteller Dolores Hydock presents “Castles in the Air,” a lively story of ragtime dancers, social revolutionaries and unexpected heroes in public libraries. The program follows famed early-20th-century dancers Vernon and Irene Castle and explores the cultural changes, music and personalities surrounding their remarkable story. The event is a Friends fundraiser benefiting the Vestavia Hills Library. ► More Info: vhlibraryfoundation.org/ dolores
HALLOWEEN IN THE HEIGHTS & WITCHES RIDE ► Where: Cahaba Heights businesses and Heights Village ► When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; afterparty 4-7 p.m. ► Details: Celebrate Halloween throughout Cahaba Heights with a full day of family-friendly fun. Participating businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the popular Witches Ride adds plenty of costumed excitement to the festivities. The celebration continues with an afterparty at Heights Village from 4-7 p.m., featuring live music on the patio and more opportunities to enjoy the Halloween atmosphere. ► Contact: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, 205-823-5011 ► More Info: vestaviahills.org
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24 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
LIFE
Liberty Tree celebration honors history and Vestavia Hills By APRIL COFFEY For Shelia Bruce, preserving history has always been about more than old photographs, documents and stories. It is about loving a community enough to make sure its story is remembered. Bruce has lived in Vestavia Hills for 50 years. She and her husband, Jack, raised their two children here, and for decades she has served her community through the Vestavia Hills Historical Society, the Beautification Board, the PTA and her church, Shades Mountain Baptist. After 25 years as an officer and 15 as president of the Vestavia Hills Historical Society, Bruce is excited about its upcoming Liberty Tree celebration. The celebration will take place Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Vestavia Hills City Hall. The tree was awarded to the Vestavia Hills Historical Society to represent Jefferson County as part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Historical Society Vice President Karen Shallenberg applied for the tree, with the support of Mayor Ashley Curry and Bruce. “With the competition from other historical societies and interest in the county we could only hope,” Bruce said. “Guess what! The Vestavia Hills Historical Society received the Liberty Tree for Jefferson County to celebrate our country’s 250 years.” The celebration will feature a Revolutionary-era Color Guard from the Sons of the American Revolution, patriotic music from Shades Mountain Baptist Church and Patriotic Pete from Montevallo, speaking in period dialect. For Bruce, the Liberty Tree is another way
Shelia Bruce, with new Historical Society President Frank Buck. Photos courtesy of Shelia Bruce.
to connect Vestavia Hills residents with the history they are part of. Bruce became involved with the Historical Society more than 25 years ago through Pat and Jack Barr, Preston Pannell, Mary Bird, Pat Linton and Frances Poor. She later served as secretary before becoming president. “I was inspired by them to see this work continued,” she said. During her years with the Society, Bruce points to several accomplishments, including the discovery of a statue from George Ward’s home long thought destroyed — later identified as the Goddess Diana and preserved in the Library in the Forest’s Historical Room. The Society also found National Archives documentation, including hundreds of letters
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Alan Coshatt, Shelia Bruce and Mayor Ashley Curry.
Shelia Bruce with Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Marvin Green.
and original drawings, confirming the Olmsted Brothers designed Vestavia Hills. Perhaps one of Bruce’s greatest concerns, however, is making sure today’s history is not lost tomorrow. With help from volunteers and students, the Society has worked to digitize its hard-copy archives and preserve them in the cloud. “This protects our history from possibly being destroyed through fire, storms or possibly any other accidental causes,” Bruce said. Bruce believes preserving Vestavia’s history will require the entire community as the city continues to grow. “I encourage this community to get involved with your historical society,” she said. “They have great meetings with excellent historical speakers about your community’s history,
snacks and you see people you haven’t seen in a long time. It’s fun.” For Bruce, that passion for history began long before Vestavia Hills. Growing up on a farm near Guntersville Lake, she learned from her grandparents the importance of passing down knowledge and traditions — lessons she now shares with her own grandchildren. Her hope for the Historical Society is simple. “I hope my legacy is that I loved our city of Vestavia Hills and had a passion to learn to preserve our history,” Bruce said. “I encourage the future leaders to embrace and enjoy the same passion.” On Oct. 20, the Liberty Tree will give Vestavia Hills another chance to do just that — celebrate the past and plant a living reminder for generations to come.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 25
LIFE
Miss Vestavia Hills winners to share music, health initiatives with children By LAUREN H. DOWDLE After a night in the spotlight, the 2027 Miss Vestavia Hills and Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen winners will now put the focus on bringing the arts and healthy habits to students throughout the city. Shannon Boutwell took home the title of Miss Vestavia Hills, and Kate Hendon was named Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen on Aug. 30 at Vestavia Hills High School. Both young women plan to use their talents and passions to leave a lasting mark on the city and the next generation. From opening for Andrea Bocelli to performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Boutwell has already achieved a great deal in her 22 years. She graduated from Samford University as valedictorian in May and currently plays violin in the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, where she is also an associate concertmaster. While she’s always loved performing, Boutwell said she didn’t start competing in pageants until her junior year of college. She’s since been named Miss Iron City and Miss Jubilee, and now she will serve the community as Miss Vestavia Hills. Boutwell said one of her favorite parts of winning Miss Vestavia Hills was seeing all the people who were in the audience to support her, including her family, friends, church members and the Miss Alabama’s Rising Stars she mentors. However, picking a single talent for the 90-second performance portion of the pageant was difficult considering Boutwell is a dancer, pianist and violinist. She said she wanted to find a way to showcase her love for music, which is what led her to perform “Granuaile’s Dance,” a Celtic piece originally performed by Máiréad Nesbitt. Boutwell grew up listening to Celtic Woman with her mother, so dancing while playing
the piece on her 1916 Carl Becker Sr. violin seemed like the perfect homage to those memories. Samford professor of music theory and composition Mark Lackey also helped her create the backing track for the performance. “One of my favorite things about being in the Miss America Opportunity is the opportunity to take every part of who I am and put it together — like being a musician, children’s ministry leader, music educator, dancer and someone who is really passionate about academics,” Boutwell said. “I knew my calling and how I felt led to pursue my passions and not let one part of myself go.” As Miss Vestavia Hills, Boutwell has several appearances booked across the city and said she’s looking forward to engaging with a variety of people. She also wants to talk with city leaders about putting a pilot orchestra program in schools. “Eventually, Vestavia can become a model throughout the state to put strings in all of the schools,” Boutwell said. “Alabama is such a great state, and I would love to see more strength in the strings.” Boutwell said she also hopes to host talent shows and pageants to provide fun spaces where children can build confidence, as well as raise funds for her community service initiative, Hearts for the Arts, though she said it’s more of a passion than simply an initiative. Boutwell strives to change lives through education, performance and artistic service with Hearts for the Arts. That includes performing at more than 250 venues, organizing arts festivals, offering scholarships and working to provide strings programs in schools across the state. She also performs weekly at Children’s of Alabama and said it’s been special to see the impact music has on people. Boutwell continues to be active in her church, where she’s served as the children’s worship director and a teacher. Her church roles also led to a partnership that inspired the founding of the Candy Handley High School senior Kate Hendon was crowned Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen on Aug. 30 at Vestavia Hills High School. Photo courtesy of Willie Moore.
Great rates Greater service.
Shannon Boutwell was crowned Miss Vestavia Hills on Aug. 30 at Vestavia Hills High School. Photo courtesy of Willie Moore.
Crush String Quartet. In addition to local appearances, the community can also see her perform with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra at the Thompson High School Performing Arts Center Oct. 7 at 9:30 and 11 a.m. The concert is designed for young audiences and school groups and will include music by Beethoven and Mozart, as well as favorites from movies like “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and “Indiana Jones.” Whether she’s performing or meeting with community members, Boutwell said she’s looking forward to her time as Miss Vestavia Hills. “I’ve been poured into by the people in Vestavia Hills for as long as I’ve lived in the area,” Boutwell said. “I just love Vestavia so much and am excited to get out in the community.” A senior at Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama, Hendon was named Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen and will represent Vestavia in Miss Alabama’s Teen 2027 at Thompson High School March 5-7. Previously, she took home the crown for Miss Oak Mountain’s Teen 2026 and was fourth runner-up in Miss Alabama’s Teen 2026. Another one of her accomplishments this year was being elected governor of the 84th American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State. She also competed on the Fox show “MasterChef Junior” when she was 8 years old. But pageants have been a constant in her life for years. Hendon has been in pageants since she was about 6 years old. Three years ago, she found her way to the Miss America Opportunity, which is the country’s leading provider of scholarships for young women. One of her favorite parts about competing in pageants is meeting other girls who share her values, morals, ambitions and experiences, she said.
“I feel most like myself whenever I’m in the pageant world,” Hendon said. “Pageants are about staying in a positive mindset and being the best version of Kate I can be.” For her talent in Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen, she performed a dance to “Heart of Stone” from “Six: The Musical,” which she saw live on Broadway. She said the song is about resilience and represents her story well, and she plans to dance to it again at Miss Alabama’s Teen. As Miss Vestavia Hills’ Teen, Hendon said she hopes to help children build body confidence through her community service initiative, Choose Children: Breaking Down the Mirror, and will visit elementary schools in Vestavia to share her story. Having struggled with disordered eating as a child, Hendon wants to share ways others can create healthy eating habits, incorporate fun exercises at home, and learn affirmations to feel beautiful and avoid similar struggles. When she’s not in the dance studio, school or preparing for her next competition, Hendon said she likes to spend time with her family and at their cattle farm. She plans to attend the University of Alabama to major in news media and minor in political science, and the scholarship money she’s won through the Miss America Opportunity will help her do that. She’s also published a children’s book, “Katie and the Girl in the Mirror,” which follows a young girl on a journey of self-discovery and reminds children they are wonderfully made. Hendon said she hopes to have book signings in Vestavia and is eager to serve the community. “Vestavia Hills is a very prestigious area in Alabama,” Hendon said. “I’m excited to be a part of this community that’s so passionate about each other and keeping it a great place to live.”
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26 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice
FOOTBALL
CONTINUED from page 1 The stretch between the pep rally and kickoff is, in Evans’ own words, the hardest part of the day. There’s nervous energy. There’s also the never-ending chorus of “Hey coach!” that emanates from anyone and everyone that has a question or a need. “This is the worst part by far,” Evans said of the hours of waiting that stand between him and the opening whistle. “I’m just waiting around. That’s why I try to kill time.” At 10 a.m., Evans meets with defensive coordinator Chad Merrill for 20 to 30 minutes, then offensive coordinator Josh Franklin at 10:30. These aren’t sessions for installing anything new. They’re about making sure the staff is thinking the same way once the game moves fast. “I just want to know, what are your first few calls?” Evans said of his talk with Franklin. “What are you thinking on fourth down? Are we on the same page?” Lunch and a conversation with his wife follow, then a run at the baseball field around 2:30 p.m. “After a good sweat, you just kind of think better,” Evans said. It’s his last chance to settle his thoughts before finalizing a short list for the officials and the one or two points he’ll leave with his team before kickoff. Evans doesn’t lean on a big pregame speech. “And I’m not some big rah-rah guy on here,” Evans said. “There’s been a handful of times, but I’m not normally.” By 6:25 p.m., Evans’ wife and two young daughters are in the team room with the other coaches’ families for a pregame meal. “That’ll be the only time I see my girls [all day],” Evans said, calling that his favorite time of the day. Ten minutes later, he’s back in his office wrapping up last-minute business. By then, the locker room already has its own rhythm. Music plays loud while players get dressed and mill around, until one particular song comes on, a cue everybody recognizes: players filter into their locker stalls and start clapping to the beat. That’s the signal, and Evans walks in, the team gathers around and he delivers his message. “It is tough, it is hard and it’s life,” Evans said. “This game right here ... it’s what you guys are going to experience when you’re an adult. All the ups and the downs, it’s going to happen tonight.” He asked his players to keep their composure and stay locked in on the sideline, then led the team in a prayer for protection and the wisdom to perform to the best of their ability. At 7 p.m., the coin toss and kickoff turn three months of preparation loose. What started as a track meet, with Vestavia Hills and Parker trading early touchdowns, settled into a convincing win.
Vestavia Hills offensive lineman Cord Pigg (55) lifts Vestavia Hills quarterback Charlie Taaffe (11) after his touchdown during a game with A.H. Parker on Aug. 20 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium. Photos by David Leong.
Quarterback Charlie Taaffe scored all four Rebels touchdowns, running for 178 yards on 18 carries and Vestavia closed the game with 17 unanswered points for a 32-14 win. Noah Boylan added 58 yards on 14 carries, and Luke Stubbs led all receivers with six catches for 39 yards. On defense, linebacker Daniel Richardson and Jack Cowan, who had multiple sacks and forced fumbles, helped Vestavia hold on. Evans spends the game pacing the sideline, often barking at officials to point out calls he believes should or should not be made. He interacts often with Franklin and Merrill, making sure everyone is on the same page. Evans cut his teeth coaching defense, but now as a head coach, he is glad to have someone he trusts like Merrill. He said there is no way he could adequately manage a game if he was trying to call defensive plays. Even in the game against Parker, there are a couple of calls he’d like to have back. After the game, Evans gathers his team on the field one more time, telling them to rest and recover with a trip to Benjamin Russell awaiting next week. Then he meets with the media, crediting his staff for adjusting after the Rebels lost two or three key defensive contributors to injury in the first quarter. “Our staff was outstanding tonight,” Evans said. “Really was.”
Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans speaks with officials before a game with A.H. Parker on Aug. 20 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.
He also praised Taaffe, who was 16 of 20 passing for 107 yards to go with his four rushing touchdowns. “If he stays healthy, we’re a tough out,”
Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans watches film alone late at night following games. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Evans said. “We really are.” Taaffe, for his part, credited the offensive line and Parker’s disciplined defense for limiting him mostly to checkdowns through the air. “Our running game, our O-line in general, was outstanding,” Taaffe said. “[Parker’s] a really disciplined team. All the schemes we had drawn up, they covered for the most part.” That’s where the night exhales. Coaches drift in and out of the office, trading updates on injuries and how other teams fared across the state. One by one, they say their goodbyes and head home, until only Merrill is left, cutting up game film clips at his desk. Evans is the last one out. He watches the film alone, reacting aloud to the good plays and bad ones, jotting notes for the next day’s breakdown with his staff and team. He was headed home around 11:45 p.m., earlier than the roughly 12:30 a.m. departure that’s typical for him on a Friday night. The turnaround is tighter than usual this week. With a middle school jamboree scheduled for Friday night, Evans planned to be back at his desk reviewing tape by 6 or 6:30 the next morning. The best teams peak in the month of October, as teams make their push to the playoffs. Vestavia Hills plays Tuscaloosa County, Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville and Prattville, all region foes in October. Evans will look to make the most of those quiet moments in his office to have his team ready when the playoffs roll around.
VestaviaVoice.com
October 2026 • 27
DARK
CONTINUED from page 1 Of course, public safety is the primary concern, Cook said. “There’s no doubt that if you have better lighting on interstates, especially in areas where there are lots of accidents, like for instance the Liberty Park exit, that having lighting is going to help that,” she said. But there’s also the broken windows concept, she said. “Anytime you have things that don’t work in public places, it creates a bad impression and invites crime.” Cook raised the issue during a City Council strategic planning session, and city staff began working to find a solution. But what they found is that the issue is much more complicated than many people realize. “It’s not just a matter of bulbs being out,” said Lori Beth Kearley, the public services director for Vestavia Hills. Sometimes, poles get knocked down. Other times, it’s a problem with the wiring, a fuse, a ballast or other electrical equipment, or it could be a problem with the power source sending electricity to the light pole. The age of the lighting infrastructure along the interstates is a big factor, Kearley said. But perhaps the biggest challenge is how maintaining the interstate lights is not the responsibility of a single entity, said Jeff Downes, Vestavia Hills’ city manager. Years ago, the Alabama Department of Transportation turned over maintenance of interstate lights to the various jurisdictions where the lights are, Downes said. And that can get complicated quickly with the way municipal boundaries weave around one another and along the interstates. On I-459, between Liberty Park and I-65, the jurisdictions include Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Hoover and unincorporated Jefferson County. On I-65, between I-459 and Alford Avenue, it’s mostly Vestavia Hills or Hoover. Jon Paepcke, ALDOT’s communications coordinator for the east-central region of the state, which includes the Birmingham area, shared a statement from the agency that interstate lighting in the Birmingham metro area is a patchwork system. “Much of it was added decades after the original system was built, often at the request of local governments,” the ALDOT statement said. “In fact, cities accepted long-term maintenance responsibilities when they asked for these improvements — a common, deliberate practice nationwide.” “Today, while ALDOT is solely responsible for maintaining some of the interstate lighting, primarily in the unincorporated areas, most of the lights were installed inside city limits,” ALDOT said. “We prioritize repairs to stateowned fixtures when we are made aware of issues in those locations. The system overall faces serious challenges: aging infrastructure, vandalism and copper theft.” One of the big challenges that cities face is figuring out and keeping up with who is responsible for which light poles and how to cooperate to tackle problems that involve multiple jurisdictions, Downes and Kearley said. “Without having information about who is responsible for what poles, as poles got knocked down or various things have happened to the infrastructure, no one’s put them back up. No one has gone out and done these repairs, and over time, it’s just become more and more of an issue because of not knowing who is responsible,” Kearley said. “I think clearing that up is obviously the first step.” Vestavia Hills city employees have done their own inventory of the light poles along I-459 and I-65 and determined that fewer than 10 are the responsibility of Vestavia Hills, Downes said. But Alabama Power Co., which has much more expertise with light poles, has agreed to do an independent inventory that can serve as a resource for all the jurisdictions to help each of them identify what poles are their responsibility and collaborate to solve problems, Downes said. Sometimes, poles in one jurisdiction are connected to poles in another jurisdiction, and a break in the wiring or a problem with a power source can kill the entire network, Kearley said. “What happens at a Vestavia pole could
Traffic flows along I-459 in an unlit section of road near Liberty Parkway. Photos by David Leong.
On Sept. 7, there were 44 streetlights out on Interstate 65 between Alford Avenue and U.S. 31, counting both sides of the interstate.
An unlit light pole at the Alford Ave exit off I-65.
impact what happens in Hoover or Birmingham or vice versa,” Kearley said. “There is overlap in the municipal limits regarding the service centers that are servicing these light poles. One side of the interstate is Hoover, and the other side is Vestavia. You may have two in a row that are Hoover and then Vestavia and then Hoover again. If those are all coming off the same service, that’s where it gets complex. If somebody hits a pole in Vestavia, it can affect the lights in Hoover, too, or vice versa.” Because Vestavia has the fewest number of interstate lights compared to others, it’s going to require collaboration sometimes to get the lights working again, Downes said. Figuring out what the problem is, what the solution should be and who all should pay to fix it can be complex, especially when different jurisdictions have varying financial resources and different priorities, Downes said. “That’s what we’re trying to work through.” Alabama Power in mid-September was still in the process of developing its inventory of the interstate light poles and the problems affecting each one, Kearley said. John Anthony, Hoover’s traffic engineer, and Eddie Pickett, Hoover’s senior traffic signal technician who also keeps an eye on interstate lights, said they had not heard from Alabama Power yet about the multi-jurisdictional effort but would be happy to work with the power company on that. Pickett said it’s his understanding that Hoover is responsible for lights on I-459 between I-65 and Galleria Boulevard and on I-65 between Valleydale Road and U.S. 31, as well as some at the intersection of I-65 and Alford Avenue. But he didn’t think Hoover was responsible for any between Alford and U.S. 31
An unlit section of I-459 near Liberty Parkway.
on either side of the interstate. He and Anthony said they try to keep track of lights that aren’t working and fix problems as they become aware of them. The city hires an electrical contractor to do the work. Vestavia Hills, working with Alabama Power, in the past six months has been able to make much more progress on other streetlight projects, officials said. All the streetlights in the Buckhead community have been upgraded to LED lights, and the city in mid-September was close to finishing a project to upgrade pedestrian lights in the public rights of way adjacent to the Vestavia Hills City Center shopping center along U.S. 31, Downes said. The problems with interstate lighting extend far beyond the borders of Vestavia Hills. There were at least 34 interstate lights out on I-65 between Alford Avenue and downtown Birmingham in early September and 38 more lights out between Interstate 59/20 and
Fultondale. ALDOT has consistently offered to partner 50-50 with cities to replace outdated systems, with locally controlled federal funds available for local shares, the statement from ALDOT said. “That’s a strong and generous commitment of state resources,” the statement said. “Some surrounding states do not follow this practice.” Currently, ALDOT is partnering with Birmingham to replace all the lighting along I-59 from 66th Street North to I-459. The agency expects to approve a contract for the work by the end of the year and begin the project early in 2027. “This is a shared responsibility, and ALDOT remains committed to being a proactive partner,” the statement said. “We’re optimistic about the new momentum and ongoing conversations with local governments to improve lighting in the region.”
28 • October 2026
Vestavia Voice