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Turning the page
How a small-town bookworm became Mountain Brook’s library director
By KELLI S. HEWETT
Lindsy Gardner reads the way other people breathe.
This year alone, she’s aiming for 35 to 40 books — some in print, some in audio, often starting one way and finishing the other — while coaxing hundreds of Mountain Brook kids to turn their own pages, too.
As director of the O’Neal Library since 2017, she believes a library should feel like both a playground and a refuge.
“We want people to feel welcome, whatever that means for them,” she said. “If they need a lot of help, we’re happy to give that. If people come here just to have quiet time, we hope we can give that experience, as well. We’re feeding their curiosity — helping them discover new books, new experiences, new people.”
Even this year, with a major interior renovation that began May 11 and a temporary move to City Hall, Gardner is determined the heart of the season won’t change.
“We’ll definitely make sure that there are incentives for the kids to read all summer,” she said. “We won’t have as many programs as we normally do, but we’re still going to have our weekly story times. Things will look a little different this year.”
See GARDNER | page 28
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
hris Mullins didn’t write the book on being a firefighter, but the Mountain Brook fire chief is in the book.
The 30-year veteran of the Mountain Brook Fire Department was a lieutenant when publisher Dorling Kindersley came to town to produce a children’s book, “A Day in the Life of a Firefighter.”
“I’m in the book,” Mullins recalled. “My name is Luis in the book, and it’s all about a day in the life of a firefighter. I think there’s four of us [from the Mountain Brook department] in the book. I’ve got a hard copy, a hardbound signed copy from all the guys that were in it. They’re all retired now, but me.” Come Nov. 1, the ranks of retired Mountain Brook firefighters in that book will increase by one. Mullins, whose 33 years as a firefighter include three decades in Mountain Brook, has announced that he will retire at the beginning of November.
The timing couldn’t be better, Mullins said. The month that features Thanksgiving is when he will conclude an employment stint for which he is very thankful.
Mountain Brook Fire Chief Chris Mullins. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Fire Department.
Lindsy Gardner, director of the O’Neal Library, is looking forward to what’s ahead with major renovations now in progress. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley
August feels like a beginning.
The calendar says January is the new year, but for families in our community, the real reset comes when backpacks get loaded and school hallways fill back up. For some students, that means the comfort of familiar faces. For others, it means a brand-new school and all the nerves and excitement that come with it.
And then there is football. The sound of shoulder pads on a practice field means summer is winding down and those special Friday nights are almost here.
August has a way of pulling a community back together. Parents are at pickup lines and open houses. Stadiums
will start filling up soon. The rhythms that define our towns from September through May are cranking back to life. Let us know what’s going on in your part of town. Story ideas, events, new businesses — we want to hear from you. Feel free to shoot me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
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Mayor’s Minute By Graham Smith
One of the greatest privileges of serving as your mayor is working alongside five dedicated City Council members who care deeply about Mountain Brook. While many of the issues we consider are straightforward, others require months, or even years, of thoughtful discussion, research and public input before a decision can responsibly be made.
Our recently adopted Home Occupation Ordinance is one of those issues. For simplicity, “home occupation” refers to running or operating a business out of one’s home.
For more than two years, the City Council, Planning Commission, city staff and residents have devoted hundreds of hours to studying how best to modernize an ordinance that affects both homeowners and neighborhoods. This was not a simple “yes” or “no” decision. It required countless public meetings, ad hoc work sessions, one-on-one conversations with residents, public hearings, legal review and careful consideration of competing viewpoints.
On one side were residents who wished to operate small businesses from their homes with reasonable flexibility. On the other were neighbors concerned about preserving the quiet residential character that has made Mountain Brook such a special place to live. Both perspectives were genuine, thoughtful and deserving of consideration.
The ordinance that emerged reflects our best effort to strike that balance.
Among the key changes are:
● Protecting neighborhood character by reaffirming that homes must remain primarily
residential, with businesses remaining clearly incidental to residential use
● Allowing some limited instruction-based businesses such as music, academic, technical or athletic lessons, with no more than two students present at one time by right
● Creating a conditional use process for certain businesses seeking to serve additional clients from a residence, requiring a public hearing before the planning commission
● Requiring neighborhood notification and providing nearby property owners an opportunity to be heard before larger home occupations are approved
● Establishing annual reviews and enforcement provisions so approved businesses continue operating in accordance with the conditions under which they were approved
● Maintaining safeguards that limit noise, traffic, parking impacts, outdoor activity, signage, deliveries and other commercial characteristics that could negatively affect surrounding homes
No ordinance is perfect, and no decision of this complexity satisfies everyone completely. That is simply the reality of governing a community where reasonable people often have different opinions about the best path forward.
What I hope every resident can appreciate is the process. Good government isn’t measured only by the final vote; rather, it is measured by the care, transparency and diligence that lead to that vote.
I want to sincerely thank every member of the City Council for the extraordinary amount
of time they invested in this ordinance. These are unpaid public servants who spent hundreds of hours studying the issue, listening to residents, asking difficult questions and working toward a solution they believe will best serve our community.
These decisions are never easy, but they are made with one goal in mind: preserving the exceptional quality of life that makes Moun
tain Brook home.
For complete ordinance language, please visit our city website: mtnbrook.org.
Bus: 205-870-8820
amy@amysmithgardner.com www.amysmithgardner.com
New city finance director always a numbers person
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Jennifer Cornett might call herself the favorite niece of her uncle, Steve Larson, who before retiring was a very successful banker in New York City.
“I always had an affinity for numbers,” Mountain Brook’s assistant city manager and finance director said. “Because of my interest in numbers, I asked him, ‘Uncle Steve, what do you think I should be when I grow up?’”
Larson suggested that his niece needed to be a certified public accountant. If he had to do it over again, he said he would do the same.
Cornett took that advice to heart.
“Uncle Steve, who I think is the greatest of all time, is telling me I really ought to do that,” she said. “In fact, I saw him last week, and he said, ‘You were the only niece of mine that listened to my advice,’ and it’s true. I’m the only numbers person in the group of 12 nieces and nephews.”
Steve Boone vetted the candidates who would succeed him when he was promoted to city manager with the retirement of Sam Gaston. He was part of the four-member panel with Mayor Graham Smith, Councilman Lloyd Shelton and a member of the finance committee to pick the hire.
Cornett started with Mountain Brook this past fall. Boone said Cornett’s candidacy was helped by her technical experience.
“She carried herself in a very professional manner,” he said. “I guess it was her background, education and experience ultimately.”
Living in Mountain Brook was a bonus.
“There’s not a requirement that that position be a resident of Mountain Brook,” Boone
said. “It just happened to work out that way. Living here is not a prerequisite, but I can tell you that when you work in your home community, it just means more. That’s not to say that someone that lives outside of the community would not do an outstanding job as well.”
Cornett said Boone was part of her reason for seeking the Mountain Brook job.
“Steve Boone is widely recognized as probably the best finance person, city finance person in the state,” she said. “He wouldn’t tell you that, but other people would, so the idea that I could come work alongside him and learn from him and then also be able to serve the city where I live made this really appealing.”
Cornett came to Mountain Brook after just shy of two years as finance director in Hoover. She admitted she was somewhat surprised by the difference in going from big-city Hoover to small-city Mountain Brook. The same tasks must be done, but there are fewer people to do them.
“What you’ve got is people in roles who are touching a lot of different things,” Cornett said of coming to Mountain Brook. “At Hoover, if we had a highway project or a sidewalk project that was happening, we had an engineering department that was managing all of that. My role in that was just accounting for all of that, the financial reporting side of that.
“Here, we don’t have engineers that are employed by the city; we have engineers that we hire as consultants,” she said. “But I’m involved in every piece of that. It’s exciting. I’m learning a lot of new things that I would not have had an opportunity to work on at Hoover.”
Jennifer Cornett started as Mountain Brook’s assistant city manager and finance director this past fall. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
CITY
Parking enforcement in Mountain Brook goes high-tech
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Lloyd Shelton was having coffee with fellow council member Maretta Ashford in Mountain Brook Village when a police officer came by, marking tires.
Three women took notice, wondering if they needed to move their car to avoid a ticket for overtime parking.
“‘No, we can park here for three hours,’” Shelton recalled one of the three saying. “Maretta and I got tickled. I don’t know that you could milk three hours out of a cup of coffee. But just to see the enforcement arm come by, they all got anxious.”
Mountain Brook could soon have a new tool to address parking violations in its villages. The City Council this summer approved a software subscriber agreement with Park Loyalty for its Enforce Pro enforcement system for parking tickets.
“Implementation will take some time, and we will update the public via our social media and app when we roll it out,” Police Communications Officer Megan Thomas said. “My understanding is that the public will not see a noticeable difference in how the department enforces parking ordinances.”
But it should improve efficiency, officials said.
“We look forward to this new technology as a solution to our complex parking needs,” Thomas said. “Our villages draw many visitors to our community, and we want to provide everyone with a convenient and enjoyable experience while they are here shopping and dining.”
Previously, the city dispatched a parking enforcement officer to drive around the villages, marking tires with chalk along the way. The officer returned and issued a ticket if the vehicle had been in that parking space longer
than permitted.
This new system features a license plate recognition system that is mounted on the officer’s vehicle. When the officer drives by, the device reads the license plate and alerts the officer how long a vehicle has stayed in a parking space.
“They’ll be notified through the software, through the system, that that vehicle is over the time limit,” Police Chief Thomas Boulware said. “They’ll be able to issue a ticket at that point. It’ll also have a picture of the vehicle of
when it was first seen in that spot and when it’s seen for the second time.”
The Park Loyalty system was initially approved for Lane Parke and other areas in Mountain Brook Village, but it will be used elsewhere too.
“When looking at Lane Parke, we tried to look at it holistically to see how we could improve parking around the whole city,” Boulware said. “One of the ways was to make parking enforcement more efficient and effective.
We’re trying to upgrade our processes and our procedures to try to streamline that process and make our parking attendant more effective and more efficient with her time, so that she can get around to all the villages in a more timely manner and hopefully get that higher turnover rate of parking spaces.”
Shelton said the first-year cost for the Park Loyalty software for monitoring parking is $34,390. For years two through five, the cost is $12,600 per year.
Mountain Brook parking enforcement officer Ellie Hallmark makes her rounds around the city in July Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
BUSINESS
Business Happenings
NOW OPEN
The Sugar Shoppe recently opened at 69 Church St. in Crestline Village. The sweets store offers items like colorful candy, dozens of flavors of shaved ice treats, candy grams, party supplies and custom candy bags. The Sugar Shoppe also hosts events like birthday parties. Owners Rett and Amy Montiel stepped in after Sugar Inc. closed. The store is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. 205-637-8463, thesugarshoppecrestline.com
Medical House Calls, a Nashville-based mobile health care company, has expanded to provide service to patients in Mountain Brook. The company offers services like IV therapy, concierge primary care, urgent care and medical weight loss. All of the services are offered by a licensed medical provider at the patient’s home, office or other preferred location. They also service areas like Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Hoover. Medical House Calls is available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 205-793-6544, medicalhousecalls.com/birmingham
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
Dukes Clothier, a women’s clothing and accessories store, recently moved to a new, larger location at 251 Rele St. in Lane Parke from their previous location on Church Street. The first store they opened was in Tuscaloosa, and they now have locations in Fairhope and Athens as well. From game day attire to outfits for special occasions, the boutique offers a variety of women’s tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, purses and more. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205-593-5588, dukesclothier.com
ANNIVERSARIES
Church Street Coffee and Books, at 81 Church St., recently turned 15 years old. They’re best known for their breakup cookie, which features chocolate chunks and a dash of salt. From specialty drinks and coffee to cookies and treats, the shop also offers gifts, books and
T-shirts. Owned by Cal and Heather Morris, the shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 205-870-1117, churchstreetshop.com
Golden Age Wine celebrated seven years as a neighborhood wine shop at 2828 Culver Road with a fish fry, music and live portraits. They offer a selection of more than 850 low-intervention wines in their outdoor and indoor seating, which also includes a bar and champagne room. Golden Age Wine offers food like charcuterie boards, stuffed piquillo peppers, grilled cheese, olives, almonds and more. People can rent spaces for events and private parties. Golden Age also has a wine garden downtown, which has indoor and outdoor space to enjoy wine and food. The Mountain Brook shop is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 205-848-8877, goldenagewine.com
Gunn Dermatology, at 32 Church St., celebrated its sixth anniversary. Led by Dr. Holly Gunn, a boardcertified dermatologist, the practice offers comprehensive dermatology care for patients of all ages. She specializes in medical, cosmetic, surgical and laser dermatology services. Gunn Dermatology now has two
Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
locations in Mountain Brook, and their doctors also include Dr. James Libecco and Dr. Amy Albert. They also sell products including cleansers, toners, sunscreens, eye creams and hydrators. The Crestline location is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 205-415-7536, gunndermatology.com
Levite Jewish Community Center, at 3960 Montclair Road, celebrated its 120th anniversary. They are a family-oriented recreational and educational facility that is open to the entire community. In 1906, a group of young men from Knesseth Israel Synagogue began renting the upstairs of a house to meet, later purchasing a lot in downtown Birmingham for a new building to become part of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association. Later, they became affiliated with the National Jewish Welfare Board. Today, the center strives to create a bridge between Jewish and non-Jewish communities by welcoming people of all ages, faiths, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds. They are open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. (5 p.m. during standard time) and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 205-879-0411, bhamjcc.org
TherapySouth is celebrating 20 years of serving communities across the South with physical therapy care. What started as a single clinic in 2006 has grown to serve communities throughout Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. TherapySouth provides services including orthopedic physical therapy, hand therapy, pelvic health and wellness services. The Crestline location at 205 Country Club Park is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 205-871-0777, therapysouth.com
A’mano Gifts is celebrating 10 years at its current location at 281 Rele St. and 28 years of business overall in Mountain Brook. Owned and operated by Lynn Ritchi, the boutique specializes in gifts, home décor, accessories, handmade pottery, glassware, candles, table books, jewelry and other unique items. A’mano is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 205-871-9093, amanogifts.com
The Sugar Shoppe.
Golden Age Wine.
A’mano Gifts.
Church Street Coffee & Books.
Little Hardware: Still in the family
By AMASICO RAINER
There’s a certain kind of place that doesn’t exist much anymore: the neighborhood hardware store where somebody actually knows what you need, probably knows your name and might have known your parents too. In Mountain Brook, that place is Little Hardware, and it has been for a very long time.
Tucked between Mountain Brook and English Villages on Cahaba Road, Little Hardware has been quietly solving problems and stocking shelves since 1960. Tools, paint, plumbing supplies, pet food, grill accessories, lawn and garden — if you need it around the house, there’s a reasonable chance it’s already on a shelf inside. If it’s not, they’ll find it.
Frank Wesley Davies III has been part of the store his entire life. His father purchased it in 1965, and Frank spent his childhood doing what kids who grow up in family businesses do: stocking shelves, making deliveries, learning the rhythm of the place. He joined full time in 1982 — not because it was a grand plan but because the opportunity was right in front of him.
“After I started, I realized it would be my life’s work,” Davies said. “It was a great opportunity to make a career — rewarding work with great clientele.”
That clientele is the backbone of everything. Mountain Brook residents aren’t just customers at Little Hardware. Many of them are secondand third-generation shoppers, families who have been walking through the same door for 50 years or more. Davies knows them. In some cases, he’s watched them grow up, get married, buy houses and come back with kids of their own in tow.
“The majority of our customers are Mountain Brook residents,” he said. “Some are
second- and third-generation customers, shopping with us for 50 or more years.”
It’s that kind of loyalty that big-box retailers simply can’t manufacture. You can build a store with 100,000 square feet and stock every brand imaginable, but you can’t replicate the experience of walking in somewhere and being known. Little Hardware has built that over six decades, one customer at a time.
Now, Davies isn’t doing it alone. His son Patrick has stepped into the business alongside
him, making Little Hardware a three-generation story. Frank III watched his own father build it, carried it forward himself and now gets to watch the next chapter take shape.
“It’s rewarding to see Patrick’s interest and his help in managing and making decisions for the future,” Davies said.
That continuity from grandfather to father to son says something about what Little Hardware actually is. It’s not just a place to buy a box of screws or rent a pressure washer. It’s a thread
running through the life of a community, one that Davies hopes customers feel every time they walk in.
After all these years, the message is simple: Mountain Brook has been good to Little Hardware, and Little Hardware intends to return the favor.
Little Hardware is located at 2117 Cahaba Road. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 205-871-4616 or visit little-hardware.com for more information.
Little Hardware has anchored 2117 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook since 1960, now run by third-generation owner Frank Wesley Davies III alongside his son, Patrick. Photo courtesy of Little Hardware/David Robertson Photography.
After 28 years, Kelly Seibels believes in relationships over transactions
By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA
At Seibels Cottage in downtown Homewood, the scent of cedar, leather and handcrafted wood greets visitors at the door. Sunlight spills across custom dining tables and rustic furnishings, while wildlife art and natural textures create the feeling of a well-loved cabin tucked deep in the woods.
That sense of warmth and authenticity is intentional.
“We’re not Restoration Hardware,” Seibels said with a laugh. “We want our customers to feel comfortable. A home ought to tell a story. It ought to feel lived in, not staged. When people walk in here, I want them to feel at home.”
Seibels opened his store in English Village in 1998 before relocating to downtown Homewood. Today, his business has become one of the region’s most distinctive furniture and home decor destinations.
But Seibels’ path into retail was anything but conventional.
Raised in Mountain Brook, Seibels developed a passion for the outdoors at an early age. He attended college while hunting and fishing in his spare time, eventually becoming a nationally recognized waterfowl taxidermist. In 1986, he won a world championship in waterfowl taxidermy, a career he pursued for 15 years.
His interest in wildlife naturally led to carving and painting and eventually to wildlife art shows across the country. Those experiences inspired him to launch a mail-order business called Sportsman’s Den, which sold outdoorthemed artwork and accessories.
“The outdoors was my happy place,” Seibels said. “Everything I’ve done, from the catalog
business to the furniture store, has grown out of my love for nature.”
Over time, the business expanded beyond art into home furnishings.
Today, Seibels Cottage specializes in upscale rustic and contemporary furniture, featuring handcrafted pieces, wildlife and landscape art, accessories and exclusive product lines unavailable elsewhere in Alabama.
Among its offerings is furniture from Old Hickory Furniture, which has been producing handcrafted pieces since 1898. The store also works with craftsmen who build custom bunk beds, dining tables, hutches, consoles and other specialty items.
“We’ve always tried to offer something
different,” Seibels said.
While the market has evolved over the years, Seibels has adapted. More shoppers are purchasing furniture for primary residences, seeking a casual but refined aesthetic that blends natural materials with modern design.
Interior designer Kathy Jones said the store’s focus is understanding customers rather than simply selling them furniture.
“We listen to what our customers like and help create a palette that fits their home,” Jones said.
That relationship-driven approach has earned Seibels recognition from the Alabama Retail Association, which nominated him for retailer of the year twice.
“I never went to business school,” Seibels
said. “Selling is secondary. Relationships with our customers come first.”
Longtime customer Sharon Ainsworth of Guntersville agrees.
“There is not another store like it,” Ainsworth said. “Whether you’re furnishing a lake house, a ranch home or your primary residence, you’re going to find something unique and perfect. I always have.”
After 28 years in business, Seibels has no plans to retire.
Instead, he continues doing what he has done since opening his doors in 1998: helping customers create homes with warmth, character and a connection to the outdoors he has loved his entire life.
Kelly Seibels, raised in Mountain Brook, owns and operates Seibels Cottage in downtown Homewood.
Seibels Cottage is known for its warm and authentic furnishings. Photos by Karim ShamsiBasha.
Recently sold homes in Mountain Brook
SCHOOLHOUSE
Familiar faces, new roles: Mountain Brook Schools names two homegrown principals
By APRIL COFFEY
When a school community welcomes a new principal, it is about far more than filling an office. It is an opportunity to preserve what makes a school special while charting a course for what comes next.
This year, that opportunity arrives at both ends of a student’s educational journey — from the halls of Brookwood Forest Elementary to the campus of Mountain Brook High School.
Ashley Crossno has been named principal of Brookwood Forest Elementary School, while Lars Porter will assume leadership of Mountain Brook High School. Their appointments, unanimously approved by the Mountain Brook Board of Education, represent more than a changing of the guard. Together, they reflect a district-wide investment in leaders who know the community, understand its traditions and have spent years building relationships within its schools.
Neither Crossno nor Porter is new to Mountain Brook. In fact, both have spent much of their professional lives preparing for these moments.
For Crossno, becoming principal of Brookwood Forest feels less like arriving somewhere new and more like continuing a story she has been helping write for years. During her 15 years in Mountain Brook Schools, she has served as a classroom teacher at Crestline Elementary, as a literacy coach at Cherokee Bend Elementary and, most recently, as assistant principal at Brookwood Forest. Before joining the district, she spent three years teaching at Oak Mountain Intermediate School.
Now she succeeds longtime principal Nathan Pitner, inheriting a school community known not only for academic excellence but also for its uniquely close-knit culture.
“I am honored to step into the role of principal at Brookwood Forest,” Crossno said. “Our faculty and staff, families and most especially our Rangers make BWF the best place to come to work each day. It will be a privilege to continue building on the strong foundation established by Mr. Nathan Pitner and lead our ‘Family in the Forest’ in the years to come.”
That phrase, “Family in the Forest,” is one Crossno returns to often when describing the school she now leads.
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the Brookwood Forest community,” she said. “There truly is no other place like the Forest.”
She points first to the teachers, describing a culture where educators challenge one another to grow professionally while working collaboratively to create meaningful learning experiences for students.
“Our teachers are exceptional,” Crossno said. “They push each other to grow, and they work together to create learning experiences that are engaging and meaningful for every Ranger.”
She is equally quick to credit the families and PTO, whose support extends well beyond the classroom.
“Our parents give so generously of their time and talents to support our teachers and help us create memorable experiences for our Rangers throughout the year,” she said.
For Crossno, the future of Brookwood Forest is not about reinvention but, rather, stewardship — honoring traditions while ensuring the school continues to evolve in ways that serve students well.
“I feel honored to work alongside such dedicated teachers, families and staff as we continue building on the traditions and excellence of Brookwood Forest,” Crossno said. “Many Trees, One Forest!”
Across town, another familiar educator is preparing to take on a new challenge.
Lars Porter will become principal of Mountain Brook High School on July 1, succeeding Carrie Busby, who is retiring after nearly a decade as an administrator at MBHS and a distinguished career in education.
Porter brings a similarly varied background to his new role. During eight years in Mountain
Brook Schools, he has served as a classroom teacher, technology coordinator and assistant principal. Prior to arriving in Mountain Brook, he spent six years in Homewood as a teacher and head track coach.
Those experiences, Superintendent Dicky Barlow said, have uniquely prepared Porter for the job.
“Lars’s understanding of instruction and school culture, paired with strong relationships within that community, makes him the best candidate for this position,” Barlow said.
Since becoming assistant principal in 2022, Porter has worked closely with students, teachers and families while gaining an intimate understanding of a school that consistently ranks among Alabama’s best.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with our school community in the role of principal and look forward to continuing to support students, faculty and the entire community,” Porter said.
He also credits Busby for helping shape his approach to leadership.
“I have learned a great deal from Carrie over the past few years and wish her the best in her retirement,” he said. “We all know MBHS is a special place, and I look forward to shepherding our school community into the future.”
Like Crossno, Porter sees his new role through the lens of service.
“I am both excited and humbled to be named the next principal of Mountain Brook High School,” he said. “I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me by such an outstanding school system and community.”
He believes the strength of Mountain Brook Schools has always been its people — from dedicated students and passionate teachers to supportive staff and engaged families. The challenge, he says, is not simply maintaining excellence but continually redefining it.
“How do we continue to make an excellent school even better?” Porter asked.
For him, the answer begins with listening, learning and creating an environment where every member of the school community feels appreciated.
“My goal is to continuously enhance our professional practices and ensure that every voice within our community feels both heard and valued,” he said.
The appointments of Crossno and Porter
arrive at a moment when leadership transitions are occurring across schools nationwide. Yet in Mountain Brook, the story is less about change than continuity. Both educators have spent years learning the culture, building trust and investing in the communities they now lead.
In an era when educational leadership can
feel increasingly transient, Mountain Brook’s newest principals already know the names, faces, traditions and expectations that define their schools. They have been part of the work for years. Now they have the opportunity to shape what comes next.
Ashley Crossno, Brookwood Forest Elementary School’s new principal. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.
Lars Porter, Mountain Brook High School’s new principal. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.
Reunited at 86: Crestline’s long game of friendship
By KELLI S. HEWETT
They met as kids in the post-World War II glow of the 1940s, walking to the two-story wooden building with the pot-bellied stove that was Crestline Heights Elementary School, grades one through eight.
More than 70 years later, members of that graduating class of 1953-54 are meeting again. Now 86 years old, they gather over lunch at Magnolia Point in Southside. They reminisce to understand why this place never quite let go of them.
They are working to organize a bigger reunion in the fall to reconnect with even more schoolmates.
“Memories at the age of 85 or 86 are precious,” said Sarah Creveling, who went on to become Crestline’s first kindergarten teacher.
Creveling organized the first lunch earlier this year to hear about the life of a fellow classmate, Billy Hood, who had returned to Birmingham after 52 years.
Hood spent much of his life focused on the Italian Renaissance and Barwoque art, studying and living in Rome and New York.
“Crestline was not only the name of the school, it was the name of the area of Mountain Brook we lived in,” Hood said. “It felt — even when I was too young to realize it — cozy and safe, the way one feels when everybody knows everybody else.”
But Crestline and Mountain Brook were never just one experience, the schoolmates said.
Their paths and political views were different, their families delineated by religion or economic stratification. And childhood experiences weren’t always as easy as their zip code may have implied.
“It’s easy now to forget about judging our
classmates; we are simply curious about them and interested in their lives and so pleased to be with them again,” said Ellen Erdreich, the first curator at the Birmingham Museum of Art, a UAB art history instructor and wife of former U.S. Rep. Ben Erdreich. “It’s a gift to reunite.”
There were 70 graduates in 1954. The building stood through renovations and expansions until 1986, when it was demolished to make way for the new Crestline Elementary.
But Crestline, while not as close-knit as it once was, still fosters the kinds of relationships that not a lot of other communities share today.
“Our parents thought about it,” Creveling said. “They wanted us to have those
has helped reunite classmates from the former Crestline Heights School Class of 1953-54, when the group graduated eighth grade. The school was later replaced by what is now Crestline Elementary. Friends have been meeting to share memories and find other students for a reunion they are planning for this fall. Other alumni include, from left, Lucy Allison, Billy Hood and Ellen Erdreich.
relationships; they wanted us to have those friendships.”
Some of the schoolmates kept in touch over the decades. Others are reconnecting.
“I just think it’s really interesting that we’re all still alive,” Hood said. “And it’s interesting to see how life plays out in people’s lives who have this same core, who started together.”
Will today’s Mountain Brook children gather like this 50, 60 or 70 years from now?
“I think there’ll be some,” said Lucy Allison, who was voted Most Athletic and still golfs. “But it will be the hardcore Mountain Brookers.”
The former classmates share photos and other memorabilia from their time at Crestline Heights School.
Billy Hood and Sarah Creveling recreate a favorite moment from their school days.
Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.
Sarah Creveling, right,
Mountain Brook Schools names two veteran educators as assistant principals
By APRIL COFFEY
Two longtime educators with deep ties to Mountain Brook Schools are stepping into new leadership roles after unanimous approval from the Mountain Brook Board of Education.
Sammye Davis will serve as assistant principal at Brookwood Forest Elementary, while Kristi Moncrief has been named assistant principal at Mountain Brook Junior High, bringing a combined 41 years of experience in education to their new positions.
The board approved both appointments during its June 10 called meeting, filling key leadership positions with educators already well known throughout the district.
Davis is entering her 20th year at Brookwood Forest, where she has spent the past four years as the school’s literacy coach after teaching kindergarten and first grade for 16 years. She has also served as an adjunct instructor at UAB.
“As I enter my 20th year as a member of the Forest family, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our school community in this new role,” Davis said. “I believe that supporting teachers, staff and families requires recognizing and honoring their individual needs, perceptions and growth trajectories. I’m honored to work alongside Ashley Crossno as we continue building on the strong legacy of our past administration, and I look forward to strengthening the connections that make our school so special.”
Brookwood Forest Principal Ashley Crossno said Davis has already established herself as a trusted leader on campus.
“We are so excited to have Sammye move into the role of assistant principal at BWF,” Crossno said. “She has been an important part of our Family in the Forest for many years, and
we can’t wait to see all of the ways she will continue to lead our faculty and support our Rangers in her new role.”
Davis earned her bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College before completing a Master of Education at Lesley University. She also holds National Board Certification and an Instructional Leadership degree from Samford University. She and her husband, Doug, have one daughter and live in the Trussville community.
At Mountain Brook Junior High, Moncrief returns to the district after spending the past year as special education program specialist for Homewood City Schools. Before that, she spent 11 years as Brookwood Forest’s lead special education teacher, making the move to MBJH a homecoming of sorts.
“I am excited to serve alongside the dedicated team at MBJH,” Moncrief said. “Eleven years at Brookwood Forest and opportunities to serve across the district have allowed me to experience the heart of Mountain Brook Schools. Because of those experiences, this move feels like coming home. The opportunity to support students as they come together from all of our elementary schools for the first time as Spartans makes this next chapter especially meaningful.”
Moncrief joins Principal Derek Kennedy and assistant principals Brook Gibbons and Preston Sanford on the junior high’s administrative team. In addition to her work in public education, she owns Dyslexia Therapy Solutions LLC, where she provides educator training, and has 21 years of experience in education.
“Kristi is a veteran educator whose extensive experience and dedication to student success make her a valuable addition to our building,”
Kennedy said. “Her genuine love for students and commitment to their growth shine through in everything she does.”
A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, Moncrief earned her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and later
completed National Board Certification and an Instructional Leadership degree from Samford University. She is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist Qualified Instructor. She and her husband, Bradley, live in Cahaba Heights with their two sons, Doss and Van.
Kristi Moncrief, left, is the new assistant principal at Mountain Brook Junior High School, while Sammye Davis is the new assistant principal at Brookwood Forest Elementary School. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.
SPORTS
UNDER THE LIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Spartans lean on experienced defense while offense rebuilds around new faces
By KYLE PARMLEY
Mountain Brook High School enters Chris Yeager’s 21st season as head coach with a roster that’s short on returning starters but long on players who’ve grown up in the program together.
“There’s not a day that’s gone by that I haven’t walked away thinking we got some things done today,” Yeager said of coaching a young team. “You can see improvement from day to day to day.”
The Spartans also shift into a new region as part of the state’s latest classification cycle, one that puts Mountain Brook with a mix of familiar and new opponents.
“You get to see new teams, new coaches, different coaching philosophies, different schemes,” Yeager said. “We’ll be traveling to some places we haven’t traveled to before.”
Mountain Brook opens the season on the road against Hueytown on Aug. 21, then travels to Mobile to face UMS-Wright the following week. Region play begins Sept. 4 at Homewood, a familiar opponent from the previous area. The Spartans host Helena and Ramsay and travel to Chilton County and Calera within the region, with Chelsea and Pelham both visiting later in the year. Mountain Brook also hosts Oxford in a non-region game Sept. 25 and closes the regular season with an open date Oct. 30.
OFFENSE
Offensive coordinator Brad Easley, entering his fifth year at Mountain Brook, said this year’s offense is inexperienced across the board but eager to learn. A quarterback battle between senior Pruet James and junior Caden Bryant will continue into fall camp.
“They both have physical ability, they can throw the ball, they can both run,” Yeager said. “But that position is supposed to elevate the people around them.”
The offensive line returns the fewest experienced pieces of any group, but Easley praised its effort and selflessness. Senior John Bradford returns at center, with seniors Henry Slaughter, Bradley Bales and Robert Moore, junior Bain Thorstad, junior D.Y. Menendez and sophomore Mac Russell rounding out a line still finding its identity.
At tight end, seniors Bennett Jordan and Wallace Hunter give the Spartans size and experience, both capable of blocking and catching while helping mentor the newer faces around them.
Mountain Brook’s receiving corps is led by seniors John Colvin and Archie Andrews, both entering their third year as starters, a rarity at the position in this program. Colvin will also
see snaps at running back. Junior Brock Wilkinson and junior Robinson Peer provide depth behind them.
At running back, sophomore Beau Payne has emerged as the primary ball carrier, with Easley praising his effort on every snap over any single skill.
“He knows no other gear but full speed,” Easley said.
DEFENSE
Mountain Brook’s defense returns just one full-season starter from a year ago in senior Will Ellis, but defensive coordinator Shane Stearns, entering his fifth year running the defense, said the group has already built the kind of depth on the defensive line that was missing a few seasons ago.
“It’s not what we do, it’s how we do it,” Stearns said of the program’s defensive identity. “The amount of precision and depth we can get into our fronts is what makes us different.”
Up front, senior Henry Walton has played all three line spots and takes pride in his versatility. He’s joined by Ellis, senior Mason Baynes and
senior Payne Pennebaker, who moved down from linebacker to add speed to the front.
Senior Skip Stuermann and junior Alex Long, a converted safety, man the Rover position, a hybrid end spot in Mountain Brook’s scheme.
At linebacker, senior Graham Smith returns as a full-time starter, with junior Josh Holloway, who started the final four or five games of last season due to injury, also back. Junior Gray Anderson and junior Miller Teague both saw varsity reps a year ago and are pushing for time, with senior Rowland Nichols also in the mix. Stearns said the staff is still looking for another linebacker to step forward.
The secondary is anchored by senior Pearson Trammell at safety, alongside junior Wyatt Sleeper, a converted receiver. Junior Luke Carroll returns at cornerback, and sophomore Sam Young has emerged as the other starting corner after a strong summer, with senior Jack Bright providing depth on the back end.
Stearns said the staff has shifted its evaluation of the defense away from raw yardage totals and toward what he calls havoc points, a metric that tracks tackles for loss, forced
fumbles, recoveries and interceptions. He said the correlation has been clear on tape.
“Every drive where we got some kind of havoc point, we got off the field. Every drive when we didn’t, we did not get off the field,” Stearns said.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Patrick Crye returns as long snapper, a role he said he fell into by accident before falling in love with it. Senior William Russ handles placekicking duties.
“I love it. I don’t want to be noticed, I want to be perfect every time,” Crye said.
Looking for more Under the Lights? Scan the QR code (or go to qrco. de/under-the-lights) to follow us on social media, subscribe to the newsletter and listen to the podcast.
Bennett Jordan (81). Photo by Michael Jackson.
John Colvin (20). Photo by Richard Force.
Graham Smith (43). Photo by Alex Millender.
Pearson Trammell (36). Photo by James Nicholas.
Over the Mountain Residents Embrace In-Home
Aging is inevitable for all of us, but losing our strength, balance and mobility doesn’t have to be. However, traditional personal training is often not enough for maturing adults to reach their health goals and to live independently. That’s where Graceful Aging can help.
Founder Sarah Brumfield and her staff of skilled trainers at Graceful Aging help many adults stay active and independent using in-home functional fitness training.
“Our training goes beyond traditional fitness programs that focus on gym workouts using machines for strength training only through isolated muscle movements,” says Sarah, a Certified Functional Aging Specialist and Certified
Personal Trainer.
“We focus on strategic functional movement training that improves the way your body performs during real-life activities. Imagine climbing stairs without holding the railing, carrying groceries with confidence, getting up from the floor without assistance, and continuing to enjoy the activities you love. We train your body to move efficiently and safely through these activities, reducing the risk of injuries and falls.”
Sarah relates a story about a Graceful Aging client who told her during their initial consultation that she had gone to a personal trainer twice weekly for years. The client demonstrated “great isolated
muscle strength,” Sarah says. “However, during our first session, our functional training style exposed many weakness-es she didn’t realize she had.”
“I’ve been doing it all wrong,” the client told Sarah. “I should’ve been doing functional fitness training rather than personal training.”
“I reassured her that she had not been doing anything wrong,” Sarah says. “But as we age, it’s imperative to train through functional movements that improve our strength and stability and prepare our bodies for safe, functional movements in everyday life.”
Functional fitness also boosts your flexibility and coordination, enhances your posture and gives you greater confidence in daily life.
Graceful Aging makes it easy to get started with flexible training options, including private in-home and smallgroup sessions and even virtual or Zoom sessions. “Every year we wait, strength and balance naturally decline. So, be proactive and invest in your health now,” Sarah says.
At Graceful Aging, growing older isn’t just about adding years to life—it’s about adding life to your years.
• Call: 601-597-2442
• Web: gracefulagingbirmingham.com
• Instagram: @gracefullagingbham
• Facebook: @gracefulaging
Dr. Upton trained in emergency veterinary medicine, handling everything from late-night scares to critical cases. Whatever’s worrying you tonight, he’s seen it, treated it, and knows how to put you at ease.
Save the Date
BIG MACHINE PETTING ZOO
► Where: Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road
► When: Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to noon
► Cost: Free with zoo admission.
► Details: Get up close to some of the biggest machines on the road during the Birmingham Zoo’s Big Machine Petting Zoo. Families can explore construction equipment, fire trucks and other heavy machinery from community partners including Thompson Tractor, the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County. It’s a hands-on opportunity for children to climb aboard, meet the people who operate these impressive vehicles and enjoy one final summer adventure before heading back to school.
► More Info: birminghamzoo.com
2026 SUMMER LUNCHEON: STATE OF THE CITY
► Where: Mountain Brook
► When: Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
► Cost: Registration required
► Details: Join the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce for its annual Summer Luncheon featuring the 2026 State of the City address. Mayor Graham Smith will share updates on city accomplishments, current initiatives and future priorities while attendees enjoy lunch and networking with local business leaders, community partners and elected officials. The luncheon offers an opportunity to stay informed about the city’s continued growth and connect with others who help shape the Mountain Brook community.
► More Info: mtnbrookchamber.org
O’NEAL LIBRARY
THE GARDENER’S PLOT BOOK CLUB
► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road
► When: Aug. 4, 4-5 p.m.
► Cost: Free
► Details: Join fellow gardening enthusiasts for The Gardener’s Plot, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ monthly book club. Hosted by the Gardens’ Library, each discussion explores books inspired by gardening, plants and the natural world while offering participants an opportunity to connect with other readers in a beautiful garden setting.
► More Info: bbgardens.org
► For more events news, connect with the Village Living online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
GIRL DINNER AT HABITAT FEED & SOCIAL
► Where: Habitat Feed & Social, Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, 2655 Lane Park Road
► When: Aug. 6, 5-9 p.m.
► Cost: $60 Girl Dinner special; additional food and beverages available for purchase.
► Details: Grab your favorite people and head to Habitat Feed & Social for Girl Dinner, a rooftop evening featuring live music, handcrafted cocktails and a specially curated $60 Girl Dinner experience. Designed for sharing, the special includes a selection of signature dishes and small plates that make it easy to gather around the table while enjoying panoramic views of Mountain Brook. It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with friends over great food, music and one of the city’s most scenic rooftop settings.
► More Info: grandbohemian mountainbrook.com
LANDSCAPE FOUNDATIONS: SELECTING AND SITING TREES & SHRUBS
► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road
► When: Aug. 25, 11 a.m. to noon
► Cost: $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers.
► Details: Discover how to choose the right trees and shrubs for your landscape during this educational program led by longtime gardening expert Bob Koons. Learn practical tips for plant selection, placement and long-term care while gaining a better understanding of how woody plants contribute to healthy, beautiful landscapes.
► More Info: bbgardens.org
NATURE TRIVIA NIGHT
► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road
► When: Aug. 27, 7–9 p.m.
► Cost: $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers.
► Details: Put your knowledge of nature and pop culture to the test during Nature Trivia Night in Rushton Garden. Gather a team of friends for an evening of friendly competition, complimentary snacks and garden-themed trivia in one of the Gardens’ most scenic outdoor spaces.
► More Info: bbgardens.org
Events are at various locations while the library is under renovation.
Aug. 3: Mah Jongg Meet Up, 10 a.m. Mountain Brook Baptist Church
Aug. 4: Beginner American Sign Language (ASL) Classes, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 4: Writing Workshop with Miriam Calleja, 5:30 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center
Aug. 7: Book It to City Hall – Mini Adult Summer Reading, 9 a.m.
Aug. 8: Medicare Made Clear: What You Need to Know, 10:30 a.m.
DESIGN & CREATE: CONCRETE PLANTERS
► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road
► When: Aug. 12 and 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
► Cost: $50 for members, $55 for nonmembers.
► Details: Create a one-of-a-kind concrete planter while learning basic design techniques during this handson workshop at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Participants will leave with a handcrafted planter and inspiration for adding unique style to their home or garden. Registration required.
► More Info: bbgardens.org
DINO SAFARI
► Where: Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road
► When: Daily through Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (during zoo operating hours)
► Cost: Included with regular zoo admission; the optional Dinosaur: Evolution VR experience is available for an additional fee.
► Details: A larger-than-life prehistoric adventure featuring 23 life-sized robotic dinosaurs throughout the Birmingham Zoo. Guests can encounter a towering 35-foot Brachiosaurus, a 40-foot Tyrannosaurus rex and other scientifically accurate dinosaurs that move, breathe and roar. The experience also includes dinosaur nests, a fossil dig pit, interactive photo opportunities and an optional virtual reality journey to the age of dinosaurs.
► More Info: birminghamzoo.com
Aug. 10: Great Short Stories – Reading & Discussion Group, 6:30 p.m. Mountain Brook Presbyterian
Aug. 11: The Bookies Book Club discusses “Vigil” by George Saunders, 10 a.m. Levite Jewish Community Center
Aug. 25: Books & Beyond – Reading & Viewing Discussion Group, 6:30 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center
Aug. 31: Mah Jongg Meet Up, 10 a.m. Mountain Brook Baptist Church For a complete listing, visit oneallibrary.org.
Crestline Village to hold annual tent sale
By EMILY REED
Businesses throughout Crestline will be abuzz with activity Aug. 15 for the annual Tent Sale.
Sponsored by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, the Tent Sale will be held throughout Crestline Village with local businesses being invited to participate. The sale is an all-day event with many businesses setting up special activities and promotions under white tents in front of their storefronts.
A representative with the Chamber said most of the businesses throughout Crestline Village participate in the sale each year, which coincides with the back-to-school shopping season.
The event has been held for many years and drew several thousand shoppers in 2025, a representative with the Chamber said.
The event features merchants offering special promotions, discounted merchandise, sidewalk sales and outdoor tent displays.
“The Tent Sale has become a favorite community tradition, providing shoppers with an opportunity to discover unique finds while supporting Crestline’s locally owned businesses,” according to the Chamber.
“Mountain Brook has a vibrant retail community that makes the area a premier shopping destination. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to spend the day exploring the villages, taking advantage of exclusive promotions and shopping local.”
For a detailed list of the businesses participating and specific details of activities held throughout the day, visit the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce website at mtnbrookchamber.org or by contacting the Chamber at chamber@mtnbrookchamber.org.
Vendors set up with tents for the Crestline Tent Sale with many items offered at a discounted price. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
Mountain Brook’s Eleanor Thomas realizes a dream at Carnegie Hall
By APRIL COFFEY
At just 10 years old, Eleanor Thomas has already accomplished what countless musicians spend a lifetime hoping to achieve.
The rising fifth grader at Mountain Brook Elementary School recently performed on one of the world’s most celebrated stages — Carnegie Hall in New York City — after earning first place in the Upper Elementary Division of the Gulf Coast Steinway Society Music Competition.
For Eleanor, the opportunity represented much more than a prestigious performance. It marked the realization of a dream she had been working toward for years.
“Playing at Carnegie Hall has been my goal for almost two years,” Eleanor said. “Playing at Carnegie Hall was a dream come true. I’m only 10 years old, and I hope this is the first of many appearances there.”
Her journey to Carnegie Hall began long before she stepped onto its famed stage on June 10. Eleanor has studied piano for five years under Joyce Terry of Music Excursions and has also spent six years studying violin with Layla Humphries. In addition to music, she enjoys gymnastics, cheerleading and reading, but music remains at the center of her life.
The Gulf Coast Steinway Society Music Competition attracts talented pianists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, with competitors ranging from elementary school students to college piano majors. Winning first place in her division required months of disciplined preparation.
“My first reaction upon hearing that I won first place was a feeling of excitement,” Eleanor said. “I had worked on my three piano pieces for months and months. You never know how the judges will react to your performance. It felt like all of my months of hard work had paid off.”
That hard work was guided by Terry, whom Eleanor credits for challenging her while helping her grow as a musician.
“We begin working on competition pieces sometimes nine months in advance,” Eleanor said. “At first, they seem too difficult, but we keep working on the pieces each week during my lesson, and eventually it all comes together.”
Equally valuable, she said, are Terry’s monthly recital classes, which give students frequent opportunities to perform in front of audiences.
“I have had so many opportunities to stand on a stage and perform in front of a lot of people,” Eleanor said. “I don’t have the nerves that some people experience.”
That confidence was evident when she walked onto the Carnegie Hall stage.
“When I walked on stage, I wasn’t nervous,” she said. “I was just so happy to be there. The feeling was indescribable. I’ve performed in a lot of performances and recitals, but I’ll remember my performance at Carnegie Hall forever.”
For her Carnegie Hall recital, Eleanor performed “Goldfish” by William Gillock and “Le Petit Nègre” by Claude Debussy, two pieces that showcase both musical expression and technical precision.
“‘Goldfish’ is an impressionistic piece, and it is fun to play,” she said. “‘Le Petit Nègre’ is upbeat, and I like to play it fast. Playing fast is my favorite.”
While piano has brought Eleanor national recognition, she is equally passionate about the violin. She is a member of the Central Alabama Youth Orchestra and believes studying multiple instruments has made her a stronger musician overall.
“I think the more music you play, the better you will be at all instruments,” she said. “Playing violin helps with my musicality and how I approach my piano pieces. Playing the piano has made me a better violinist by improving my sight-reading skills.”
Her love of music began with family.
Inspired by her older sister, who also played piano, Eleanor was encouraged by her parents to begin lessons at a young age. Today, she credits music with helping her develop confidence, discipline and poise.
“I’ve learned how to perform in front of hundreds of people — how to put in the hard work every day to get better — and I’ve gained so much confidence through playing the piano,” she said.
Despite balancing school, music lessons and extracurricular activities, Eleanor has developed a daily practice routine. Her parents have always emphasized that academics come first while encouraging her musical pursuits.
“When it comes to practicing music, you cannot become good at anything without putting in the work,” she said. “It has become my routine to practice both instruments every day.”
As she stood on one of the world’s most famous stages, Eleanor knew she wasn’t representing only herself.
“I hope I made my family, teachers and friends proud of me,” she said. “I am very fortunate to have so many people who encourage and believe in me.”
Among those in attendance were her parents, siblings and grandmother, as well as Terry and Humphries, who both traveled to New York to witness the milestone. Eleanor also credits Keith McLeod, music minister at Brookwood Baptist Church, for encouraging her to perform during church services over the years.
Although Carnegie Hall represents an extraordinary achievement, Eleanor sees it as another step in a lifelong musical journey. Her advice to other young musicians reflects the perspective of someone who understands that success comes from passion as much as talent.
“It is important to remember why you love music,” she said. “I don’t play music to win
competitions. I play music because I love it, and it has become part of me.”
She added, “If you have a love of music and
you work hard, you can do anything. It also helps to have a teacher who believes in you and a family that supports you.”
Eleanor Thomas performs at Carnegie Hall. Photos courtesy of Ashley Thomas.
Eleanor Thomas with her piano teacher, Joyce Terry, at Carnegie Hall.
Slow and steady: Coconut the sloth joins Birmingham Zoo
By KELLI S. HEWETT
Coconut the two-toed sloth is officially on Birmingham time, and she’s in no hurry to do anything about it.
The Birmingham Zoo’s newest resident, nicknamed Coco, arrived in April from the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey. She has already settled into her custom-built sloth habitat in the Predator Building.
Animal care professional Angelina Bruno calls her “smart, a little sassy and an afternoon girl.”
“I think the cutest thing she does — and it’s because I like a little sass in my animals — when she takes her food from us, as soon as she finishes, she’ll look directly at us and she’ll follow us” with her gaze, Bruno said. “She’s like, ‘I’m ready, where’s my next food?’ It’s the very direct eye contact that comes after the treat.”
Coconut is currently the zoo’s only sloth and is expected to stay that way.
Sloths are naturally solitary animals, Bruno said, coming together only to mate. Because Coconut wasn’t born in a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, there are no plans to breed her.
“She’s going to live her best single lady life,” Bruno said.
Coconut, who weighs just over 19 pounds, is especially food-motivated — and not shy about asking for seconds at meal time. She moves in slow, deliberate motion, almost as if she were underwater. She sports surprisingly soft shaggy fur and a nose that feels like a wet puppy’s.
Her menu is sophisticated: a specially formulated sloth gel frozen into popsicle-style pieces. It’s packed with nutrients for her famously
delicate tummy. She also loves squash, carrots, sweet potato, lettuce and a carefully curated “Coconut-approved browse list” of leafy greens collected around the zoo.
Coconut is pretty low maintenance, zoo staff members said. She only poops once a week, and for sloths, that ends up being about one-third of their body weight.
Coconut’s road to Birmingham wasn’t exactly a straight shot.
She was confiscated from a non-accredited facility and went to the accredited Turtle Back Zoo for temporary care.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham Zoo already had a sloth-ready habitat, having lost its male sloth in October 2025.
Sloths live an average of about 15 years.
When word went out in professional circles that Coconut needed a long-term home, Birmingham reached out.
Transported in her own crate with food, water, a calming blanket and two animal care professionals as her personal escorts, Coconut took to her new surroundings right away.
“She hand fed from us the next day,” Bruno said. “There was never any behavior that
indicated she was stressed.”
Now, whenever Mary Claire Vaughan needs a guaranteed hit on the Birmingham Zoo’s social feeds, she knows exactly who to feature.
“I post a picture of Coco and it’s guaranteed to get a few thousand likes,” Vaughan said. “I think seeing [her] up close and personal is really interesting for people.”
For the best chance to see the normally sleepy Coconut at her most active, Bruno recommends visiting when the zoo first opens or in the last few hours before closing.
Coconut swings in her custom habitat in the Predator Building at the Birmingham Zoo.
Photo courtesy of the Birmingham Zoo.
Coconut has quickly become a social media favorite. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
GARDNER
CONTINUED from page 1
Gardner is no stranger to hard work, adapting and thriving through challenges.
“Lindsy is an exceptional asset to the city of Mountain Brook,” said Mayor Graham Smith. ”She is a talented leader who has navigated our library through significant challenges, including the pandemic and the library flooding last year. Lindsy is full of cutting-edge ideas and possesses a genuine love for our community. She is widely recognized as one of the top library executives both in Alabama and across the country. We are lucky to have her.”
In 2024, Gardner was nominated by her peers and then awarded Mountain Brook’s employee of the year. In 2025, she was honored with the Distinguished Librarian Award and the Intellectual Freedom Award by the Alabama Library Association.
Gardner knows how a library can mark a childhood. She grew up in Linden, a small west Alabama town where her mother taught history and her grandmother read constantly.
Weekly trips to the library were simply part of life.
“I was highly encouraged to read by my extended family and have always loved to read,” Gardner said. “I really liked biographies when I was young. I loved any biography — anything about history.”
These days, she’ll start with audio while walking or getting ready in the morning, letting a narrator tackle tricky names and foreign places. Then, once she’s hooked, she changes gears.
“I’m very spoiled,” she said. “I like to listen to the first half of the book and then read the second half of the book. I get to a point in the book where I want to go faster and I can read much faster than I can listen. I try to get the print book and finish it out.”
For someone who spends her days surrounded by stacks, her own shelves are surprisingly lean.
“I subscribe to a philosophy that I encourage others, which is, buy the best and borrow the rest,” she said. “I have a small collection at home of my very favorites. I’m not a collector, necessarily.”
There are a few sentimental exceptions: thrillers by her friend, author Brad Parks, who dedicated one of his books to her, and historical romances from the ’80s and ’90s that take her straight back to her grandmother.
“There is some comfort in those books,” she said.
Her curiosity doesn’t stop at the end of a chapter. In the past few years, Gardner has carried that same hunger for stories across the world to Morocco, Mongolia and beyond,
often by herself.
“What I love about travel is it makes me feel like I’m part of this big, wonderful world where we’re all connected,” she said. “I get to that through connecting with the local people and learning about what it’s like to live in that country. I really love interacting with local people. Sometimes I’ve done cooking classes, hikes, visits to homes.”
She has even gone skydiving a few times. Those home visits abroad aren’t that different from what she chases at home: the feeling
of being woven into a larger community.
In Mountain Brook, she sees it in the way people use the building she leads — young professionals and graduate students camped out with laptops and coffee, families cycling through the children’s department, kids who have to be coaxed out the door.
Young patrons are obsessed with a newer, screen-free offering: Tonies, small figurines embedded with audio stories and songs that kids can check out along with a special speaker.
“It has been wildly successful,” Gardner
said. “We’ve heard from lots of parents that that is the carrot they use to get kids to leave. We have less crying kids because they have to be bribed to leave.”
For all the technology and travel, Gardner’s belief about libraries is simple.
“Because librarians and library staff try to be so responsive to community needs, we’ll always be relevant,” Gardner said. “People are looking for help with things. They’re looking for ways to learn. They’re looking for community. And libraries provide that.”
Gardner, an avid traveler and lifelong learner, said she loves how patrons have embraced the O’Neal Library as a place of their own. Among the most popular items children can check out are Tonies, small figurines embedded with audio stories and songs. Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.
MULLINS
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“When people ask about my job, I tell them I get to go to the Magic Kingdom every day, and I mean that,” he said. “People call it the Tiny Kingdom, but I’ve always come with the Magic Kingdom because that’s how it feels to me.”
Mullins said he loves his job and he loves the city.
“If everybody was as happy in what they do as I am, the world would be a happier place,” the chief said. “This place has treated me so good over the years. It’s more than I ever could have imagined or dreamed of. I’ve had a Cinderella career. I can’t say enough about how I’ve been treated and respected.
“I don’t even have enough words to tell you about my career here,” he continued. “I work with the best people…I work with the best people. The joy of my job is the people — people that I work for, the people I work on and the people I work with. That’s what’s made it worthwhile for me.”
City Manager Steve Boone is another 30-year veteran with Mountain Brook, much of that as assistant city manager and finance director. He said the city is thankful to have had Mullins the past three decades, the past 10 as chief.
“Chris has been a great leader for the city, been a great ambassador for the city,” Boone said. “You won’t find another department head that has more love for this city and does a better job, takes in more passion than Chris Mullins. He’s a great asset to the community, and he will be sorely missed.”
Mullins said he’s seen a lot in 30 years, some good and some bad.
“In my career, I’ve delivered 10 babies, so I’ve seen the first breath of 10 people come into this world,” he said. “But I’ve seen countless more than that leave the world. You get both ends of the spectrum. You see good stuff, you have the good days, the good stories. But then you see the bad stuff, all the bad stuff that stays with you forever.”
Mullins began his career with the Birmingham Fire Department. He was there from 1993 until 1996, when he came over to Mountain Brook.
“I got a lot of experience over the hill [in Birmingham] and then came over here, to the promised land,” he said. “I have nothing bad to say about my time at Birmingham. I learned a lot — gained a lot of experience,
and I got to help a lot of people.
“That’s why I got into [firefighting] to begin with, to help people,” the chief said. “That’s my heart, and so that’s what I love to do.”
Mullins acknowledged that he doesn’t get to help people directly as much as he formerly did because he’s the chief. He works in the office now, dealing with a lot of human resource matters and budgets. But he gleans joy and pride from the efforts of the men and women under his charge.
“Just to see what we do and how our guys do and their attitudes and their love for the city and how they serve people — it’s just fulfilling,” he said. “If God calls you to do that, I don’t think there’s any better calling in the whole world — following His footsteps to be a servant.”
Mullins has served in fire department administration for 20 years, 10 of those years as chief. He admitted that the weight of the job is heavy.
“I carry 66 people with me everywhere I go, and so I’m never off,” he said. “It’s just — it’s heavy. There comes that time where I’ve got to shift the load. I tell the council it’s like the marathoner or the sprinter. The sprinter, right? He’s got the baton and he’s
running as fast as he can run. He’s trying to get that baton to the next guy. But he won’t quit. When he quits is when he’s at his peak, and that’s where I want to be.”
The chief said the time is nearing for him to pass the baton.
“When I step away, it’ll be the right thing because we’ve done the right thing in succession planning in our department to set up for the future,” he said. “We have people in place. We’ve got a depth chart. That’s been intentional, very intentional.”
Mullins hold a copy of Dorley Kindersley’s children’s book on firefighting, which features a photo of him (on the right page).
Mountain Brook fire Chief Chris Mullins stands in front of a mural of Fire Station No. 1 in the Fire Department’s administrative offices. Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Mullins said the department will be in good hands after his retirement because a succession plan is in place.
