Village Living July 2026

July 2026 | Volume 17 | Issue 4

MOUNTAIN BROOK’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE VILLAGELIVINGONLINE.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM

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Mind your manners Amy Rainer helps kids with modern civility

By KELLI S. HEWETT

B

y the time the spaghetti hit the trays, Amy Rainer thought she’d seen it all.

It was spaghetti day in the Crestline Elementary lunchroom, and a table of girls was chattering over their food when one suddenly sneezed across her own tray and the trays around her.

See ETIQUETTE | page 22 Amy Rainer of Etiquette with Amy. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.

Renovations at O’Neal Library under way

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. Sometimes wishes are granted.

Take Lindsy Gardner’s wish to repurpose space at the O’Neal Library. Mountain Brook’s librarian wanted more “maker space.”

“When the foundation retained an architect three years ago, we said, ‘Hey, here’s what we want the space to do,’” Gardner said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that we would get everything on our list. But that’s what architects do; they figure

out how to make the most efficient use of the space so that we could add new spaces for the services that our patrons have been asking for, for years.

“And we’ll still have plenty of room for books,” she said. “We’re not really reducing our collection at all. We’re having plenty of spaces for people to study, and lots of all the things that people love about the library will still be there.”

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Regan Branch of the Cherokee Bend community reads to her sons, 8-year-old Harvey and 6-year-old Wilson, in a temporary library book display at Mountain Brook City Hall in June while the O’Neal Library is being renovated. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

See LIBRARY | page 23 Sponsors.................. 4 City............................ 6

Business...................8 Schoolhouse...........10

Sports......................14 Events......................18

Life..........................20

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All-South Metro

Fourth of July

Mountain Brook baseball and softball players recognized on All-South Metro teams.

Fireworks, live music and family activities are on tap across the Birmingham area this Independence Day.

See pages 14 and 16

See page 18

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Village Living

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4 • July 2026

Village Living

ABOUT US

Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley Summer is here, and particularly in July, we celebrate our country.

This July, our nation marks 250 years since a group of brave men signed their names to a document that changed the world forever. The Declaration of Independence is a piece that has stood the test of time. Plus, this will be the only time we have an excuse to master the word semiquincentennial in our lives.

Sure, we’re not a perfect country. No nation is. But the freedoms we enjoy — the ability to speak our minds, worship as we choose and build a life on our

own terms — are worth celebrating.

So this Fourth of July, fire up the grill, find a good spot for fireworks (check the events section of this paper for some options) and, if you’re like me, tune in to watch Joey Chestnut inhale an inordinate amount of hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Thanks for reading! Please send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com with any story ideas.

Please Support Our Community Partners Amy Smith Gardner, State Farm (23) Aqua Systems of Birmingham (21) Bates, Roberts, Fowlkes & Jackson Insurance (5) Bromberg’s (8) Budget Blinds (5) CommerceOne Bank (24) Crestline Pet Care (18) Crestline Pharmacy (11) Cummings Jewelry Design (1) Dupree Mutual Funds (12) ENT Associates of Alabama (19) Gardner Landscaping (3) Guin Service (1) Gunn Dermatology (6) Harbin Pharmacy (8) Ingram and Associates (15) Issis & Sons (4)

Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Kyle Parmley News Editor: Jon Anderson Staff Writer: Kelli S. Hewett Production Assistant: Jenn Moon Published by:

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dan@starnesmedia.com Please submit all articles, information and photos to:

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department (15) Katie Crommelin, Ray & Poynor (18) Kay McKinnon (20) Larson & McGowin (7) Leavell Investment Management (7) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (13) One Man & A Toolbox (20) Piggly Wiggly (17) Ritch’s Pharmacy (12) Russell Lands (9) Senior Placement Services (11) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (19) The Cook Store (23) TherapySouth (2) TrustMark Bank (17)

Contributing Writers: April Coffey Karim Shamsi-Basha Lauren H. Dowdle Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Client Success Specialist: Warren Caldwell Business Development Exec: Don Harris Operations Specialist: Sarah Villar

Find Us Scan the QR code (or go to qrco.de/ villageliving) to read the latest news on our website, find where to pick up the latest print issue, follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter.

kparmley@starnesmedia.com

Legals: Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/ photos submitted become the property of Village Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted.

Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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6 • July 2026

Village Living

CITY

City seeks federal grant to add firefighters

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. The Mountain Brook City Council in June decided to apply for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that would allow the city to hire six additional firefighters.

Fire Department Battalion Chiefs Adam Bomar and Jonathan King successfully made the case that the city should pursue the SAFER grant, which is an acronym for Staffing Adequately for Fire and Emergency Response.

“We have gotten to a point where the staffing model that Chief Ezekiel created is no longer working for us,” Bomar said, referring to former Mountain Brook Fire Chief Robert “Zeke” Ezekiel, who served for more than 22 years before retiring on March 1, 2016. “When we drop below our minimum risk-level staffing, we are at risk, you all are at risk and our firefighters are at risk.”

Bomar said they are seeking six people.

Those six people will allow the fire department to staff both of its rescue ambulances.

“Fiscal year ‘25 was the first time we’ve asked for people since 1995, and we asked for three people,” he said. “What that did was it let us put the second ambulance in service right here at Station No. 1 and staff it with one person.

“What the six people is going to do is allow us to staff both of those ambulances,” Bomar continued. “In turn, that makes those ambulances their own stand-alone entity. Instead of having to rob somebody off of an engine company and bring them to the ambulance, those ambulances will have a paramedic or two paramedics on it already. We don’t have to drop below our minimum level staffing on the engines, and the ambulance can function as its own stand-alone unit.”

With a SAFER grant, the federal government covers 75% of the cost of salaries and

Mountain Brook Fire Department Battalion Chief Adam Bomar talks to the Mountain Brook City Council on June 8 about applying for a federal grant to hire six more firefighters. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

benefits for two years and then 35% the third year. Mountain Brook would be responsible for 25% of salaries and benefits each of the first two years and 65% in the third year. Beyond the third year, the city would be responsible for paying for all salaries and benefits.

King explained that the fire department typically tries to hire a firefighter paramedic, who can be put in play immediately.

“We base these numbers off what we’ve typically brought in somebody without experience, so that’s a Grade 21 Step 3,” he said. “For year one, the total cost would be $550,536, and Mountain Brook’s portion would be $137,634.

Year two, the total cost would be $578,142 and Mountain Brook’s portion would be $144,536.

Year 3 is the flip where we would owe the 65%, and that number is $394,532. The final year we

projected, the city would pick up; the total cost is $637,374.”

City Manager Steve Boone said applying for the grant does not obligate the city, so there is still more time to study the option. “I’ve asked for additional information, but we’re OK to go ahead and authorize them to make the application,” Boone said. “We should know in September whether or not it’s awarded.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 7

CITY

Mayor’s Minute

By Graham Smith For generations, the O’Neal Library has been one of the true hearts of Mountain Brook; it’s a place where children discover the joy of reading, neighbors gather, students study and lifelong learning flourishes. Today, I am thrilled to share that an exciting new chapter is beginning for this beloved institution.

Work has officially begun on an extraordinary $8 million renovation of the O’Neal Library. This transformational project represents a remarkable public-private partnership between the city of Mountain Brook, the Mountain Brook Library Foundation and generous private donors who believe deeply in the future of our community.

While the building itself has been carefully maintained over the past 25 years, much of the interior remains largely unchanged since the day it opened. Meanwhile, the way our residents use libraries has evolved dramatically. This renovation is designed to meet those changing needs while preserving the character and spirit that generations have loved. Importantly, we are not expanding the footprint of the building — instead, we are making smarter and more effective use of the existing space.

When completed, the renovated library will feature an expanded children’s area with a larger play space, a bigger storytelling room and a dedicated tween area. Teens will enjoy a vibrant new space designed for learning, creativity and collaboration. The Innovation Center will become larger and more visible, providing opportunities for hands-on activities such as 3D printing, sewing and other creative pursuits. In

addition, patrons will benefit from more quiet study spaces, improved gathering areas, and welcoming places to connect with friends or simply browse for a good book.

The library building at 50 Oak Street is now closed, and library services will temporarily relocate to city hall. Temporary library hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to court operations. Families will still be able to participate in the Summer Reading Program, patrons can pick up holds and residents will continue seeing the familiar faces of their favorite librarians.

The library is also partnering with local churches and community organizations to host many popular programs during construction.

Weekly summer storytimes will take place at Crestline Elementary, with additional program locations to be announced soon. For updates and additional information, please visit the O’Neal Library website.

We anticipate the renovation process will take approximately 12 months, with plans to reopen the newly transformed O’Neal Library set for Summer 2027. Get ready for a big celebration!

This is far more than a construction project.

It is an investment in education, creativity, connection and the future of Mountain Brook. In the months ahead, residents will have opportunities to support this important effort, and I hope our community will rally around this once-in-a-generation project. Read on, Mountain Brook!

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Village Living

BUSINESS

Business Happenings NOW OPEN

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Cala Coffee, located at 2409 Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook Village, opened its third location in the Birmingham metro area. Cala Coffee offers espresso drinks, drip coffee, matcha, tacos, wine and more. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

866-345-0726, calacoffeeco.com

Planet Fitness, located at 4500 Montevallo Road in Crestline, kicked off its annual high school summer pass program, which allows teens ages 14 to 19 to work out for free at its locations until Aug. 31. Teens can register online and get access to strength equipment, cardio machines, stretching areas and free fitness training from certified trainers. The program allows teens to focus on their mental and physical wellness during the summer.

Participants are also given access to the Planet Fitness mobile app, which provides digital workout content.

205-703-0571, planetfitness.com/summerpass

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings

location. The office serves as a brick-and-mortar hub for the real estate firm. Locally owned and operated, the firm has been serving the Birmingham metro area since 2010 and sells homes in Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Pelham, Helena, Chelsea and beyond.

205-879-3036, raypoynor.com Real & Rosemary, located at 75 Church St., is celebrating four years in its Crestline location. The upscale, fast-casual restaurant serves fresh, healthy, homecooked meals. It is now only open for events for parties from 30 to 75 people at the Crestline location. Real & Rosemary also has a location in Homewood, which is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

205-757-4096, realandrosemary.com Vaughan and Company is celebrating six years in its Mountain Brook storefront. Located at 73 Church St., this Crestline Village eatery offers casual comfort food via delivery, curbside pickup and catering. It occupies the space formerly occupied by Dinner and is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

205-999-9097, vaughantogo.com

The O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook has temporarily closed for major interior renovations that will expand and modernize the facility. Limited library services are available inside Mountain Brook City Hall, located at 56 Church St. Temporary hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on weekends. During the relocation, several services will be paused, including printing, scanning, copying, computer access, laptop checkout, meeting room reservations, study spaces, maker space access and curbside pickup. The O’Neal Library is set to reopen in the summer of 2027.

205-879-0459, oneallibrary.org

ANNIVERSARIES Luna, located at 2721 Cahaba Road, Unit 120, in Mountain Brook Village, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. The boutique offers women’s clothing and accessories in store and online. It is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

205-568-4177, lunabhm.com Ray & Poynor, located at 600 Olde English Lane, Suite 124, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary at the

Crestline Pharmacy owners Amanda and Matt Leach are celebrating their sixth year with the pharmacy, which is located at 60 Church St. The pharmacy offers prescription pickup and delivery, provides traditional over-thecounter medicine, and sells other gifts and goods.

205-871-0317, facebook.com/crestlinepharmacy LAH Real Estate, located at 2850 Cahaba Road, Suite 200, is celebrating 34 years in business. A boutique luxury real estate brokerage, LAH represents the buyers and sellers of extraordinary homes throughout the state.

It has more than 150 real estate agents, with offices in Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover and Crestline.

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BUSINESS Kerper Bowron, an actuarial consulting firm founded by Hoover native John Kerper and Mountain Brook native Lee Bowron, has its headquarters at 600 University Park Place in Homewood.

Photos courtesy of Kerper Bowron.

Lee Bowron

John Kerper

Homewood firm Kerper Bowron develops new financial model for global service-contract industry

By APRIL COFFEY A Birmingham-based consulting firm is drawing attention for a new accounting and financial model designed to modernize how companies manage service contracts and extended warranties.

Kerper Bowron, an actuarial and insurance consulting firm currently operating in Homewood, recently published its patent-pending Kerper Bowron Method in the peer-reviewed journal Risks. The methodology was also featured in the April 2026 issue of Business Alabama.

Founded by John Kerper, a Hoover native and John Carroll Catholic High School graduate, and Lee Bowron, a Mountain Brook High School graduate, the firm has spent more than two decades developing the system, which is intended to help businesses more accurately estimate costs and revenue tied to service contracts, including vehicle extended warranties, appliance protection plans and

electronics coverage.

Rather than grouping large numbers of contracts into broad averages, the method evaluates each contract individually using customized calculations and statistical analysis.

“At its heart, the method uses concepts most students learn in high school algebra and statistics but applies them in a new way,” Bowron said. “Instead of averaging thousands of contracts together into one rough curve, it builds a separate, customized equation for each individual contract.”

According to Kerper and Bowron, the approach is designed to improve financial forecasting, strengthen risk management and align with modern accounting standards used throughout the insurance and financial industries.

Bowron said the project also reflects a longstanding Birmingham business legacy.

“My great-grandfather James Bowron was renowned for his financial acumen in stabilizing and growing Birmingham’s early industrial

giants through superior accounting practices,” Bowron said. “The Kerper Bowron Method carries that legacy forward by transforming service contract accounting with data-driven, probabilistic precision — moving beyond outdated aggregates to individual contract-level estimates for better decision-making and risk management.”

Kerper and Bowron say the methodology aligns with accounting standards including Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 for revenue recognition and International Financial Reporting Standard 17, a comprehensive international accounting standard for insurance contracts. Company leaders also believe the model could eventually create new opportunities involving lending and financial products tied to service-contract portfolios.

While the concept has potential applications across national and international markets, the founders say maintaining roots in the Birmingham area has remained important. The business has operated in several Birmingham-area

locations over the years, including Mountain Brook, before establishing its current operations in Homewood.

Bowron, a longtime Mountain Brook resident and 1985 graduate of MBHS, credited his education for helping shape the mathematical foundation behind the project.

“I’m deeply grateful for the strong foundation I received through my education in the Mountain Brook school system, especially the rigorous algebra instruction that stayed with me,” Bowron said. “That early grounding proved invaluable as we completed this project more than 40 years after graduation in 1985.”

Kerper, Bowron and their affiliated company, Irish Trinity, jointly hold the intellectual property connected to the methodology.

Although the model is still in the early stages of broader industry adoption, the company says interest has increased following publication in Risks and growing visibility through online academic and artificial intelligence research platforms.

10 • July 2026

Village Living

SCHOOLHOUSE

Ready for the world

Mountain Brook High School honored its Class of 2026 on May 21 at Samford University’s Pete Hanna Center. A total of 329 students were awarded diplomas during the commencement ceremony. Photos courtesy

of Hattie Crawford.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 11

SCHOOLHOUSE

Four familiar faces, four new missions

By APRIL COFFEY Mountain Brook Schools is turning to familiar faces as it fills several key leadership positions across the district, promoting four longtime educators into new administrative roles following a series of retirements and transitions.

The Mountain Brook Board of Education recently approved appointments for Lars Porter, Shannon Marks, Nathan Pitner and Ashley Crossno, continuing a districtwide emphasis on developing leadership from within. The moves impact both Mountain Brook High School and Brookwood Forest Elementary School and come during a period of significant leadership transition.

At Mountain Brook High School, Lars Porter has been named principal following the retirement of Carrie Busby. Porter has served as assistant principal since December 2022 and has spent eight years in Mountain Brook Schools as a teacher, technology coordinator and administrator.

Before joining the district, Porter spent six years in Homewood as a teacher and head track coach.

Superintendent Dicky Barlow said Porter’s experience and relationships within the school community made him well suited for the position.

“These experiences have helped equip him to become the principal of the high school,” Barlow said. “Lars’ understanding of instruction and school culture paired with strong relationships within that community makes him the best candidate for this position.”

Porter said he is eager to continue building on the school’s success.

“We all know MBHS is a special place, and I look forward to shepherding our school community into the future,” he said.

The board also approved Shannon Marks as assistant principal at Mountain Brook High School, filling the vacancy created by Porter’s promotion.

Marks has taught English at the school since 2014 and brings more than two decades of educational experience. A National Board Certified Teacher, she holds advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction and in secondary education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“I am so excited to step into this role,” Marks said. “I love this school community, our students and my colleagues, and I couldn’t think of a better way to serve and support those relationships than to be an assistant principal here.”

Another major transition is taking place at Brookwood Forest Elementary School. Longtime principal Nathan Pitner has been appointed director of personnel, replacing Susan Cole, who retired at the end of June after a 50-year career in education.

Pitner has spent more than 20 years in Mountain Brook Schools, serving as a teacher, assistant principal and, since 2011, principal of Brookwood Forest.

“For the last 15 years, Nathan has worked to make Brookwood Forest the special place that it is today,” Barlow said. “Through his vision, culture building and personal relationships, I have seen Brookwood Forest thrive as a school under his leadership.”

Pitner said leaving the school is bittersweet.

“It has been one of the great blessings of my life to spend the last 15 years as part of our

Clockwise from top left: Ashley Crossno, Lars Porter, Shannon Marks, and Nathan Pitner.

Photos courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.

Family in the Forest,” he said.

Stepping into the principal’s role at Brookwood Forest is Ashley Crossno, who has spent 15 years in Mountain Brook Schools as a classroom teacher, literacy coach and assistant principal. She previously taught at Oak Mountain

Intermediate School before joining the district.

“I am honored to step into the role of principal at Brookwood Forest,” Crossno said. “It will be a privilege to continue building on the strong foundation established by Mr. Nathan Pitner.”

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12 • July 2026

Village Living

SCHOOLHOUSE

#GeorgeStrong: How the Mountain Brook community wrapped an 8-year-old cancer patient in hope

By APRIL COFFEY On Tuesday mornings in Mountain Brook, flashes of emerald green appear everywhere: on T-shirts in elementary school hallways, bows tied to mailboxes and bracelets worn by neighbors and classmates. The color has become a symbol of solidarity for 8-year-old George Millar, a Brookwood Forest Elementary third grader whose leukemia diagnosis in January transformed not only his family’s life, but an entire community determined to make sure he never fights alone.

George was diagnosed on January 16, 2026, after what initially seemed like a routine illness.

“We were first diagnosed after two days of fevers and bilateral leg pain,” said his mother, Justyn Millar. “Before that, he was perfectly healthy to our knowledge.”

Within hours of a pediatrician visit, the family found themselves in the emergency room being met by the hematology-oncology team.

“They pretty much told us, ‘Your son has leukemia,’” she said. “From there, it really felt like drinking from a fire hose.”

The diagnosis upended life for the Millars — George; his siblings Charlie, Poppy and Bodie; and parents Craig and Justyn, both healthcare professionals themselves. Craig is a pediatric radiologist at Children’s of Alabama, while Justyn, who holds a doctorate as a pediatric certified nurse practitioner, stepped away from clinical work to reduce infection risks for George during treatment.

“It is hard when your attention has to be totally focused on one child,” she said.

George’s younger siblings have struggled to understand the reality of cancer in their own ways.

“Charlie understands George is sick but

thought George would be better tomorrow,” Justyn said. “Poppy and Bodie are really too young to understand.”

For George, one of the hardest adjustments has been losing the normal rhythm of childhood.

A self-described lover of math, sports and social time with friends, he now completes homeschool instruction four days a week for one hour each day while also participating virtually in robotics, art and classroom group learning.

“My teacher is Ms. Leffert, and she’s really funny and kind,” George said.

Brookwood Forest Elementary has worked tirelessly to keep him connected. Students make “Cards for George” every week, and George joins his classmates online for read-aloud sessions and group activities twice daily. He also occasionally attends school in person in carefully controlled settings, including completing ACAP testing in a private room decorated with a green support banner.

Asked what he misses most about school, George answered simply: “Seeing all my friends and stuff.”

The support from classmates and neighbors has been relentless since the diagnosis. Families wear green every Tuesday because it marks George’s clinic day. Green bows from Smith’s Variety decorate mailboxes throughout Mountain Brook under the rallying cry “#GeorgeStrong.”

Community meal trains, fundraisers and online support pages continue months into treatment.

“From families wearing green on Tuesdays for his clinic days at Brookwood Forest to the Mountain Brook baseball community rallying around him — from the green bows on mailboxes to the bracelets and yellow ribbon on his baseball jersey — it has all been truly extraordinary,” Justyn said. “It is an honor to feel so

Photos courtesy of Justyn Millar.

deeply supported — even by people we’ve never met.”

Baseball, especially, has become a source of joy and resilience for George.

Initially, doctors warned he likely would not be able to play because of the dangers posed by the port placed in his chest during treatment.

But coaches and league officials across Mountain Brook Recreation found creative ways to adapt the game for him.

George now bats using coach pitch instead of player pitch, uses a courtesy runner after reaching base and safely plays in the outfield.

“It was just an amazing way for them to meet us halfway,” Justyn said.

Then came a moment she says she will never forget.

“When we picked up his baseball jersey for the first game, the entire Mountain Brook baseball league had yellow ribbons on their jerseys with his initials on them,” she said. “It was so

touching I had to take a moment in the dugout.”

Other teams soon joined in, adding helmet stickers and ribbons in support. The Mountain Brook High School girls softball team invited George to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at one of its games. Since then, he has also thrown first pitches for the Birmingham Barons and the Mountain Brook Little League World Series. On May 14, he threw the first pitch for Auburn’s game against Georgia.

Asked whether he feels nervous before walking onto the field in front of thousands of fans, George shrugged confidently.

George said, “I just feel excited!”

The sports world has embraced him in other ways, too. Auburn basketball players decorated and wore white shoes in George’s honor during a game, later auctioning them to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer.

Organizations including Children’s Harbor and Camp Smile-A-Mile have also helped the family navigate the emotional toll of pediatric cancer. Even when George was too sick to attend a Cosmic Baseball event arranged by Smile-AMile, the Cosmic Chili Peppers team signed a jersey for him to ensure he still felt included.

“Moments like these have meant everything to our family,” Justyn said.

Despite the challenges, George remains remarkably grounded. He still loves kickball, dodgeball, football and tag, though he understands treatment has changed what he can safely do.

“I know I can’t play fully now because my port could become cracked or I could get hurt,” he said matter-of-factly.

Still, the community surrounding him continues to prove that childhood cancer is not a battle the Millars have to face alone.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 13

SCHOOLHOUSE GET TO KNOW

MBHS grad takes her music to the next level

By APRIL COFFEY Ada Dapkus is finishing her senior year at Mountain Brook High School with a full musical résumé. She plays bassoon in the MBHS Symphonic Band and the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra, sings in the MBHS Chamber Choir and the women’s a cappella group Una Voce, and served as drum major for the marching band this past fall. This fall, she will head to Florida State University College of Music to study music education.

Q: What is your favorite memory of high school thus far? Why was it significant?

A: It’s very difficult to pick one memory to be my favorite from all of high school, but one that stands out in a special way is the Germany trip that the band and choir took this year. It was so exciting and rewarding to be able to travel Europe with my friends and family, and my favorite thing that we did was singing in the Melk Abbey with the MBHS choir. I have never experienced beauty, both visually and audibly, in a higher form than in that space, and I’m so grateful that our directors were able to put together a trip like that for us.

Q: Who is your role model and why?

A: I have a lot of people that I would want to be like one day. My parents are both incredibly caring people, and my friends help me learn to be a better person every day. I would say that my real role models are my band and choir directors because of their commitment to creating welcoming and rewarding musical environments and inspiring me to become a music educator.

Ada Dapkus, Clarke Gillespy, Olivia Mahoney, Will Eagan and Sloan Stephens backstage for the MBHS Choir Winter Show 2026. Photo courtesy of Ada Dapkus.

Mountain Brook High School graduate Ada Dapkus will attend Florida State University to study music education. Photo courtesy of Ada Dapkus.

Q: Is there a particular class or teacher that has had an impact on you at MBHS? Why was that class or teacher significant to you?

A: My band and choir directors have been important to me throughout my high school

career, especially in my final year. Being in Mr. [James] Rogers’ class has taught me a lot about the principles of servant leadership and how to create connection within a community, and my choir director Mr. Mandt has been a very important person to me this year since he has done the most to teach us about life.

Every week or so we take time out of class to go over our “Life Rules” where Mandt gives us a piece of life advice that we can carry with us from high school into our real lives. Being able to talk with him and unpack the difficult and messy aspects of high school has made me a better person, and I couldn’t be more grateful for him.

Q: What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

A: Probably that I was a founding member

of my Scouts troop, and I made it to the rank of Eagle this year. My eagle project was creating a theater classroom in collaboration with the Virginia Samford Theatre for the kids at Avondale Elementary School in Birmingham.

Q: What advice would you offer incoming freshmen or students new to MBHS? A: Make it count. Don’t spend your high school career doing only things that people want you to do or things that everyone else is doing. Trying new things is the only way to figure out what you love and who you are, and despite what people say, that is possible in high school. Find your people and find what you love, and everything else will fall into place.

The complete Q&A can be found online at villagelivingonline.com.

14 • July 2026

Village Living

SPORTS

All-South Metro Softball Reagan Rape named first team

By KYLE PARMLEY The Birmingham area continues to produce some of the best high school softball anywhere in Alabama, and the 2026 season was no exception. The All-South Metro Team aims to recognize the best players in the area for the season.

Corey Goguts capped off an exceptional career at Hewitt-Trussville, winning Player of the Year honors after another extraordinary year. Vestavia Hills eighth grader Kate Flanagan has burst onto the scene with a great season, while Harper Looney carried Hewitt to another state title, as the duo shares Pitcher of the Year honors.

Homewood’s Madison Letson broke a state record with 16 consecutive at-bats with a hit earlier in the season. She finished the year with an eye-popping .636 average and .688 on-base percentage.

Hewitt-Trussville coach Taylor Burt is Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to yet another state championship. ► Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville ► Hitter of the Year: Madison Letson, Homewood ► Pitchers of the Year: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills, and Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville ► Coach of the Year: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville

Mountain Brook’s Molly Shea. Photo courtesy of William Galloway.

FIRST TEAM

► Pitcher: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; the eighth grader dominated area hitters, posting a 21-4 record with a 1.04 earned run average and 174 strikeouts in 141 innings. ► Pitcher: Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville; led the Huskies back to a state title, finishing 21-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 141 2/3 innings. She was a dominant 6-0 in the state tournament. ► Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; went 11-5 with 109 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA for the Jaguars. ► Catcher: Chloe Wade, Spain Park; batted .396 with 42 runs batted in and eight home runs for the Jaguars. ► Infield: Erin Coleman, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the most productive hitters in the area, batting .407 with 72 RBIs and 72 hits for the Huskies. ► Infield: Addison Ferrell, Vestavia Hills; put together a strong sophomore year, batting .393 with 57 hits and 29 RBIs. ► Infield: Avery Chaney, Hoover; a steady presence at shortstop for the Bucs, batting .394 with 56 hits and 40 RBIs. ► Infield: Julia Willingham, Chelsea; drove in 32 runs and hit .363 with 18 doubles for the Hornets. ► Infield: Reagan Roberts, Spain Park; batted .338 with 52 hits, 29 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. ► Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; put together one of the area’s best offensive seasons, batting .576 with 57 hits, 39 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. ► Outfield: Presley Hull, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the area’s top hitters, batting .475 with 85 hits and 56 RBIs in 59 games. ► Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; the area’s Hitter of the Year batted .636 with 77 hits and 65 runs scored. ► Outfield: Emily Williams, John Carroll; finished with a .465 average, 42 RBIs and 11 doubles for the Cavaliers. ► Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; the Player of the Year batted .618 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs and 94 runs scored. ► Designated hitter: Mollie Hanson,

Mountain Brook’s Reagan Rape. Photo courtesy of Hattie Crawford.

Hoover; drove in 45 runs and hit .346 with five home runs for the Bucs. ► Designated hitter: Abby King, Spain Park; batted .389 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Jaguars. ► Utility: Claire Carver, Hoover; batted .423 with 47 hits, 26 RBIs and 27 stolen bases for the Bucs. ► Utility: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 49 runs and hit .374 with eight home runs and 15 doubles for the Hornets. ► Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; went 12-7 in the circle with a 2.02 ERA while batting .427 with 32 RBIs at the plate.

SECOND TEAM

► Pitcher: Anne Hope Howell, Homewood; went 16-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 110 innings for the Patriots. ► Pitcher: Aaliyah Hayes, Hoover; the

eighth grader went 10-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings. ► Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; went 14-5 with a 2.44 ERA for the Jaguars as a freshman. ► Catcher: AT Goldman, Mountain Brook; batted .333 with 20 RBIs and seven doubles for the Spartans. ► Infield: Rylie Redden, Oak Mountain; batted .427 with 41 hits and 19 RBIs for the Eagles. ► Infield: Cate Bruce, Hewitt-Trussville; contributed as a freshman, batting .364 with 43 hits for the Huskies. ► Infield: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; batted .374 with 40 hits and 27 RBIs for the Spartans. ► Infield: Allie Stuman, Homewood; batted .366 with 34 hits and 22 RBIs for the Patriots.

► Infield: Kloeanne Smith, Homewood; batted .356 with 36 hits and 20 RBIs for the Patriots. ► Outfield: Ryanne Head, Vestavia Hills; batted .372 with 42 hits and 28 RBIs as a freshman for the Rebels. ► Outfield: Hannah Claire Miller, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .325 with 50 hits for the Huskies, including several clutch hits in the postseason. ► Outfield: Emily Stuman, Homewood; went 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in the circle and batted .449 at the plate as an eighth grader. ► Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; batted .348 with 47 hits and 23 stolen bases for the Bucs. ► Designated hitter: Chloe Krackenberger, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .359 with 60 hits and 37 RBIs for the Huskies. ► Designated hitter: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; had 20 stolen bases and six home runs for the Jaguars. ► Designated hitter: Kindal Whistle, John Carroll; batted .477 with 31 hits, 28 RBIs and seven home runs for the Cavaliers. ► Utility: Morgan Minich, Mountain Brook; batted .400 with 30 hits and 32 RBIs for the Spartans. ► Utility: Caroline Brown, Chelsea; batted .384 with 28 hits and four home runs for the Hornets. ► Utility: Lilly Ferguson, Vestavia Hills; pitched and played second base for the Rebels, racking up 53 hits and 41 RBIs.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Pitcher: Caroline Chaney, Hoover; Rachel Reed, Hewitt-Trussville; Maggie Bell, Hewitt-Trussville; Maddie Prevallet, Oak Mountain; Mackenzie Wedell, Mountain Brook; Charlotte Kearse, Mountain Brook. ► Catcher: Ashley Heinemann, Briarwood; Taylor McLaughlin, Hewitt-Trussville. ► Infield: Emily Renda, Hewitt-Trussville; Lucy Robinett, Homewood; Peighton Letson, Homewood; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Addison Green, Oak Mountain; Hallie Kelly, Oak Mountain. ► Outfield: Sadie Wilson, Chelsea; Jordan Weiner, Spain Park; Cheyenne Conner, Hoover; Jakayla Byrd, Homewood. ► Designated hitter: Allie Whitaker, Spain Park; Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook. ► Utility: Sadie Sutton, Chelsea; Anna Kate Shea, Mountain Brook; Larsen Cummings, Briarwood.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 15

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16 • July 2026

Village Living

SPORTS

All-South Metro Baseball Houser, Barnett named first team

By KYLE PARMLEY Another season of high school baseball in the books, and like always, many new players rose to the top and are recognized on the All-South Metro Team. In 2026, Hewitt-Trussville captured its second state championship. Spain Park was one of the best teams in the state over the second half of the season and rode that momentum all the way to a Class 6A runner-up finish.

As for individuals, Hoover’s Will Adams earns Player of the Year honors after a dominant year both on the mound and at the plate for the Bucs.

Homewood’s Levi Nickoli capped off a brilliant two-way career with an incredible season with the bat and on the bases to win Hitter of the Year.

Hewitt-Trussville’s Jace Riggan takes Pitcher of the Year honors, although he certainly had huge two-way impacts for the state champs.

Jeff Mauldin of Hewitt-Trussville is Coach of the Year after leading his program to the state title. After 11 great years leading the Vestavia Hills program, Jamie Harris recently announced his retirement as well. ► Player of the Year: Will Adams, Hoover ► Hitter of the Year: Levi Nickoli, Homewood ► Pitcher of the Year: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville ► Coach of the Year: Jeff Mauldin, Hewitt-Trussville ► Career Achievement Award: Jamie Harris, Vestavia Hills

Above: Mountain Brook’s Sam Estes plays first base against HewittTrussville on March 19. Photos by David Leong.

FIRST TEAM

► Pitcher: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-3 with a 1.05 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 60 innings, while hitting for a .422 average with a .530 on-base percentage. ► Pitcher: Cale McIntosh, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-0 with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 61 2/3 innings while hitting .328 with 24 runs batted in. ► Pitcher: Ben Roberts, Homewood; led the area with 10 wins, posting a 1.77 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. ► Pitcher: Houston Hartsfield, Briarwood; went 8-1 with a 1.81 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 73 2/3 innings. ► Catcher: Evan Taylor, Spain Park; hit .356 with four home runs and 45 RBIs in 40 games for the Jags. ► First base: Gavin Smith, Vestavia Hills; hit .473 with a .652 OBP, five home runs and 29 RBIs. ► Second base: Hudson Mitchell, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with a .386 average, .491 OBP and 40 RBIs. ► Third base: Connor Greb, Spain Park; hit .393 with a .500 OBP, five home runs and 39 RBIs. ► Shortstop: Jaxson Wood, Hoover; hit .417 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. ► Infield: Luke Houser, Mountain Brook; hit .360 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs. ► Infield: Rhys Jones, Spain Park; hit .415 with a .517 OBP, finishing with 22 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. ► Outfield: Will Adams, Hoover; the Player of the Year got on base at a .643 clip, slugging 13 home runs with 52 RBIs. ► Outfield: Cohen Walker, Vestavia Hills; hit .429 with 18 stolen bases for the Rebels. ► Outfield: Joe Cross, Spain Park; hit .382 with 36 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. ► Designated hitter: Paul Barnett, Mountain Brook; hit .368 with a .553 OBP, seven home runs and 35 stolen bases. ► Designated hitter: Jamison Barnes, Briarwood; hit .308 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. ► Utility: George Brockwell, Homewood; hit .390 with six home runs and 41 RBIs for the Patriots.

Left: Mountain Brook catcher Luke Houser (2) celebrates his home run with teammates.

► Utility: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; the Hitter of the Year batted .398 with a .660 OBP and 63 stolen bases while also excelling on the mound.

SECOND TEAM

► Pitcher: Houston Holmes, Spain Park; went 8-1 with a 1.88 ERA, striking out 47 batters in 52 innings. ► Pitcher: Wilson Szymela, Vestavia Hills; posted a 1.89 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 63 innings. ► Pitcher: Hudson Franks, Spain Park; went 6-2 with an 0.89 ERA, striking out 42 batters in 39 2/3 innings. ► Pitcher: Bryant Diddell, Mountain Brook; led the area in strikeouts with 85 punchouts in 60 1/3 innings. ► Catcher: Cooper Mullins, Homewood; hit .295 with 36 RBIs in 41 games for the Patriots. ► First base: Luke Neill, Chelsea; hit .271 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs for the Hornets. ► Second base: Grayson Payne, Hoover; hit .306 with a .425 OBP in 39 games for the Bucs. ► Third base: Ben Heath, Oak Mountain; hit .279 with a .456 OBP and 19 RBIs. ► Shortstop: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; hit .371 with a .551 OBP, two home runs and

30 RBIs. ► Infield: Sam Estes, Mountain Brook; hit .365 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. ► Infield: Bryant Wisdom, Chelsea; hit .347 with four home runs and 21 RBIs as a freshman. ► Outfield: Cross Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; hit .398 with a .511 OBP, four home runs and 39 RBIs. ► Outfield: Cooper Sain, Homewood; hit .361 with a .478 OBP, 33 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. ► Outfield: Glavine Tillman, John Carroll; hit .414 with two home runs and 21 RBIs in 35 games. ► Designated hitter: Drew Monte, Hoover; reached base at a .521 clip with 23 RBIs in 34 games. ► Designated hitter: Ivan Hand, Briarwood; hit .375 with six home runs and 39 RBIs while also going 7-3 on the mound. ► Utility: Garrett Barnes, John Carroll; hit .402 with 34 RBIs while also posting a 3-2 record on the mound. ► Utility: Charlie Williamon, Oak Mountain; hit .380 with three home runs and 23 RBIs while contributing on the mound.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Pitcher: Jude Davidson, Mountain Brook;

Michael Baguley, Homewood; Cooper Anderson, Vestavia Hills; John Gregory, Mountain Brook; Cooper Morgan, Chelsea; Braden Bentley, John Carroll; Brody Smith, Spain Park; Rylan Clark, Hewitt-Trussville; Grant Hill, Chelsea; Silas Osbourn, Chelsea; Branson Hogan, Oak Mountain; Jacob Towe, John Carroll; Robbie Paulsen, Briarwood. ► Catcher: Sam Prier, Oak Mountain; Jacob Harris, Vestavia Hills; Jackson Cramer, John Carroll; Wes Hardy, Hewitt-Trussville. ► Infield: Xander Hughes, Oak Mountain; James Eady, Homewood; Luke Channell, Oak Mountain; Dallas Huggins, John Carroll; Avery Floyd, Chelsea; Max Crowder, Hoover; Luke Snowden, Vestavia Hills; Michael Johnson, Spain Park; Blake Bales, Hewitt-Trussville. ► Outfield: Charles Dedmon, Briarwood; Koal Duckett, Hewitt-Trussville; Jack Bland, Homewood; Jack Crosby, Mountain Brook; Aiden Craven, Chelsea; Will Siegel, Homewood; Sawyer Jackson, Hewitt-Trussville; Cam Graham, John Carroll. ► Designated hitter: Slade Bounds, Spain Park; Andrew Walker, Hewitt-Trussville; Noah Crosby, Mountain Brook; Tyler Hohne, John Carroll; Taylor Alfano, Hewitt-Trussville; Haines Bridges, Vestavia Hills; Josh Vincent, Oak Mountain.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 17

18 • July 2026

Village Living

EVENTS

Local Fourth of July events, fireworks

By LAUREN H. DOWDLE

People watch the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display in 2024. File photo.

Whether residents are looking for dazzling fireworks, activities for children, historical reenactments, live music or time with friends and family this Independence Day, there are several great options around town. Check out some of the patriotic events happening this Fourth of July.

SWEET HOME 250 CELEBRATION AT AMERICAN VILLAGE MONTEVALLO

Enjoy a patriotic event for the whole family at the two-day Sweet Home 250 celebration at American Village in Montevallo. From live music to historical reenactments, Sweet Home 250 will bring the country’s past to life on July 3-4.

The event will feature 18 Alabama musical artists across both days, including Taylor Hicks, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chuck Leavell, Myles Morgan, Roman Street, Act of Congress and many more. A lineup of acclaimed authors, historians and storytellers will also share more than 100 stories that helped shape the nation, including presentations by James Spann (Saturday only), Theatre Huntsville, Rick Burgess, Jeff Speegle and more.

Inside the Portrait Gallery of Independence Hall, visitors will also be able to check out a special exhibition featuring the winners of the statewide Expressions of Freedom painting contest, works inspired by the 250th anniversary, a commemorative quilt, artwork on loan from museums and original pieces from the American Village collection.

There will be children’s activities such as a stunt dog show, up-close encounters with birds, a puppet show with patriotic storytelling, an

interactive reenactment of Paul Revere’s ride and colonial games. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy celebrity chef demos, enter food-eating contests, see historical interpretations and watch fireworks. For more information or to purchase tickets to this 250th celebration, visit Sweethome250.com.

THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN

As the state’s largest fireworks show, Thunder on the Mountain will light up the sky around Birmingham on July 4 starting at 9 p.m. The illuminating sights can be seen from multiple vantage points across Birmingham and

Homewood — or directly at Vulcan Park and Museum on Red Mountain.

Parking at Red Mountain will be available, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early or use a ride-share option. Some roads near Vulcan Park and Museum will close early to prepare for the show. Several local radio stations will be synced to the show’s playlist to pair the patriotic tunes to the visual celebration.

FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN HOMEWOOD

From rides to live music, there will be something for the whole family at the Fourth of July

festival in downtown Homewood. Hosted by the city of Homewood and the Homewood Parks and Recreation Board, the festival will have inflatables and rides in the streets, along with a DJ to spin some tunes. Activities will end at the beginning of the Thunder on the Mountain show at 9 p.m., but the location is the perfect viewing spot to stay and enjoy the fireworks.

The festival will open at 5 p.m. and is free to enter. To ride or play on the attractions, an unlimited wristband is $10, which will be available for purchase near the intersection of 18th Street South and 29th Avenue South.

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VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 19

EVENTS

Save the Date

► 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.

ENCHANTED FOREST

WRITING WORKSHOP

MAHJONG MEET UP

MARKET DAY

► Where: The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road ► When: July 6-10, 9 a.m. to noon ► Details: Through storytelling and imaginative play, participants can discover the hidden magic of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

There will be exploration of forest habitats and miniature worlds found beneath leaves and rocks where fairies and gnomes may roam. Each camper will also create and build a fairy or gnome house to take home.

This event is for children four years of age through rising third grade. ► Cost: $160 for Friends of Birmingham Botanical Garden Members; $200 for non-members ► More info: bbgardens.org

► Where: Levite Jewish Community Center, senior lounge, 3960 Montclair Road ► When: July 9, 5:30-7 p.m. ► Details: This event is sponsored by The Emmett O’Neal Public Library.

Participants are invited to register and join Miriam Calleja for 90 minutes of writing prompts. The topic for this particular discussion is “Using Music in Writing.” This workshop is open to writers and poets of all levels. Registration is required. ► Cost: Free ► More info: oneallibrary.org

► Where: Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3160 Montevallo Road (use the Overbrook Road entrance) ► When: July 13, 10 a.m. to noon ► Details: While the Emmett O’Neal Public Library is undergoing renovations, the group will meet at Mountain Brook Baptist. This group does not play for money and does not play with blanks, but they do play with jokers. There is a first-come, first-served basis for seating. There is a beginner row for those who have never played to get practice time with other beginners. No registration is required. This event is geared for adults 18 and older. ► Cost: Free ► More info: oneallibrary.org

► Where: Mountain Brook Village and Lane Parke ► When: July 18, 9 a.m. ► Details: Sponsored by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, the 2026 Market Day is an opportunity for businesses to line the sidewalks in front of their stores with discounted merchandise. Many of the businesses will have items discounted up to 75% off. ► More info: mtnbrookchamber.org

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20 • July 2026

Village Living

LIFE

Beyond the burn: The heartbeat of MPower Pilates

By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA Inside MPower Pilates in English Village, the room hums with quiet yet intentional determination. A rhythmic glide fills the studio as clients hold slow lunges, trembling planks and controlled movements. Soft music pulses, and through the front windows, sunlight spills across focused faces and bodies shaking through the slow burn of the workout.

For many who walk through the doors of MPower, the physical benefits are only part of the experience. The deeper draw is the personal transformation.

“We want people to walk out of here feeling stronger than when they came in,” founder Emma Curtin said. “Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.”

Long before MPower became part of Birmingham’s fitness landscape, Curtin carried with her a deep love for Mountain Brook, the city she has always called home. In 2006, she moved to Los Angeles and spent 11 formative years immersed in a culture deeply centered on health and wellness.

There, she discovered the Lagree Method for pilates, a workout that would ultimately reshape her understanding of fitness. Combining strength, endurance, balance and cardio into one low-impact but highly intense workout, the method uses a machine called the Megaformer to keep muscles under constant tension through slow, controlled movements.

“The Lagree Method is unlike anything I have ever tried,” Curtin said. “It’s a full-body workout that meets you exactly where you are.

What I love most is watching what happens beyond the physical results.”

Curtin returned home to Mountain Brook in 2016 with experience in the fitness world.

Emma Curtin at MPower Pilates in English Village. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

There was also something in her own life philosophy that continues to define her work.

“We pour a lot of love into our clients,” Curtin said. “We want them to feel seen, welcomed and safe from the moment they walk through the door. We want them to feel supported and genuinely cared for. When they leave the studio feeling stronger physically and mentally, we know we’ve accomplished our mission.”

After the huge success of her first location in Mountain Brook Village, she followed with two others in Crestline Park and English Village.

Last year, Curtin licensed the MPower brand

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to former instructor Katie Evatt, who opened a studio in Nashville.

Curtin considers that sense of community a cornerstone to her story.

“Clients show up for themselves, and in doing that, they start showing up for each other,” she said. “That sense of community is something I never could have planned for, and it’s become the heartbeat of MPower.”

Also contributing is Curtin’s focus on helping clients aim for something beyond appearances or weight loss. She believes wellness should strengthen the mind, body and soul.

“That philosophy has helped me build a fiercely loyal following throughout Birmingham,” Curtin said. “Classes include everyone from college students and young professionals to mothers, runners and retirees. The slow, controlled nature of the workout makes it accessible while still delivering intense results.”

One of the instructors helping shape that culture is Sally Cramer, 58, who has been teaching at MPower since 2016. With a background in fitness instruction spanning more than a decade, Cramer loves teaching at MPower because of the impact it has on clients.

“It’s a full-body workout,” Cramer said.

“You build strength, endurance and balance all at the same time. It’s also low impact, which makes it great for people recovering from injuries or looking for something sustainable long term.”

Cramer said runners and athletes are often surprised by how much the workout complements their training.

“It changes body composition and makes people feel more confident,” Cramer said.

“People come in thinking it’s only about fitness, but they leave realizing it affects much more.”

One client who experienced those changes

firsthand is Brenda Knapp, 69.

“My DXA scan, which measures bone density, improved after six years of taking classes here at MPower,” Knapp said. “This workout is truly transformative.”

That transformation is visible during class.

Clients shake through slow squats and lunges as instructors encourage them to hold the movement just a few seconds longer. Some close their eyes in concentration. Others laugh at the challenge. By the end of class, the room feels less like a gym and more like a shared experience.

Curtin believes that emotional connection is what ultimately separates MPower from other fitness studios.

“It’s not about how your body looks. It’s about how your body feels,” she said. “When people feel stronger on all levels, they carry that confidence and energy into every part of their lives.”

For Curtin, watching clients grow stronger over time remains the most rewarding part of her journey. Some arrive intimidated or uncertain, only to discover confidence they did not know they possessed. Others come seeking physical change and find emotional resilience along the way.

“It’s a game changer for people,” Curtin said.

“Movement brings joy. When people feel stronger and healthier, they have more to give to the people they love.”

As the final class of the morning winds down, the hum of the Megaformers softens and the studio fills with the sound of laughter, deep breaths and quiet conversation. Clients wipe down machines, gather water bottles and step back into the light of English Village carrying flushed faces, energized muscles and, perhaps, a little more strength than when they arrived.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 21

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22 • July 2026

ETIQUETTE

CONTINUED from page 1 Watching knees on the table and feet hooked around the bench, Rainer, then a third grade teacher, felt something shift.

“They all laughed and said, ‘You’re so sick,’ and then they all started eating again,” Rainer said. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, something needs to be done,’ and that is where my idea was born.”

That mess of spaghetti and manners became the unlikely spark for a vocation that would carry Rainer from a third grade teacher at Crestline to her own multi-age etiquette program, from neighborhood playrooms to the iconic Daniel George restaurant, from Mountain Brook living rooms all the way to “The Bachelor” reality TV set and the governor’s mansion in Arkansas.

But at its core, her work has always come back to that image: children she loves, teetering on the edge between what they don’t know yet and what they could become with a little guidance.

For many parents, part of the appeal is a way to continue the manners they grew up with but find in shorter supply in today’s busy, techheavy and sometimes impersonal society.

Margaret Angelillo’s two daughters, Louise, 11, and Annie, 9, are veterans of Rainer’s classes.

She said her girls love their relationship with a local celebrity and their unique relationship with an adult who isn’t a teacher or a parent.

“Finding true etiquette, for what I deem as that, in today’s world seems more difficult than it should be — or maybe it’s a lost art,” Angelillo said. “I know what she has taught them has been fun for them, and they will use [it]life long.”

Rainer’s own etiquette journey also began early.

She grew up in Atlanta, where etiquette was woven into the life of her small private school.

Beginning in sixth grade, she took etiquette classes. The lessons weren’t about place cards or perfect posture so much as respect.

“It is seared in my mind that when someone walks into your home or walks into the room, you don’t stay seated and say hello,” Rainer said. “You stand up, shake their hand, give them a hug, greet them.”

As an unmarried teacher at Crestline in the early 2000s, Rainer was looking for a way to pair her love of teaching with something that felt meaningful and, like many educators, to earn a little “vacation money or supplemental income.”

Rainer started a small etiquette class for third grade girls, meeting four times after school.

It quickly became a Crestline tradition.

In the beginning, she taught wherever she could. Friends opened their playrooms and dining tables.

Eventually, Rainer moved to Crestline herself and began hosting the classes in her own home.

Over the next 15 years, she honed a style that was playful but purposeful, full of role play, “do this, not that” demonstrations and watercolor “content cards” that children took home to practice with their parents.

Then, in the middle of what felt like a wellestablished groove, everything changed.

“I was diagnosed with lupus,” Rainer said.

“That really put the brakes on a lot of what I was doing.”

When Rainer married — gaining three tween stepchildren, plus two shaggy dogs and three cats — her doctor told her what she didn’t want to hear: she had to step back.

“I stopped everything,” she said. “I stopped etiquette. I stopped teaching at Crestline. I took a break. I focused on getting better and healthy and lots of rest.”

Retirement in 2016, at 42, felt nothing like a victory lap.

“There are different feelings when you walk away from your profession because you’re ready to than having to walk away because someone’s telling you you have to,” she said.

“I was so sad because I missed children, and I just was not ready.”

It was a child’s question that pulled her back.

During one of her classes, Rainer had been talking to girls about how a gentleman might stand when a lady leaves the table or open a door at a restaurant. A small hand shot up.

“One of the little girls said, ‘Who’s telling the boys all these things?’” Rainer said. “And I

Mountain Brook etiquette teacher Amy Rainer with students at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. Photo courtesy of Amy Rainer.

Rainer’s multi-age etiquette program covers curricula for children from age 4 through eighth grade, with lessons built around eye contact, table manners, conversation and confidence rather than rigid formality. Older students practice dining etiquette at Daniel George restaurant, where students dress up, open doors and practice ordering their own meals. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.

“

I want to help children and adults be able to enter any situation and feel confident. When you feel confident, you’re able to focus more on other people because you’re not worrying, ‘Am I doing this right?’ I think that’s really the heart of all etiquette … how we treat other people. I think that kindness is always at the base of every strong etiquette lesson.

said, ‘That is a great question.’”

About eight years ago, Rainer wrote a boys’ curriculum to mirror her third grade girls’ class.

It was a hit.

From there, she expanded into multiple age groups, eventually creating etiquette curricula for children from 4 years old through eighth grade. Her offerings include a slate of in-person courses and a series of video lessons.

“I think the biggest misconception is that people hear the word ‘etiquette’ and they think ‘pretentious,’” she said.

Her definition is much more grounded.

“I want to help children and adults be able to enter any situation and feel confident,” Rainer said. “When you feel confident, you’re able to focus more on other people because you’re not worrying, ‘Am I doing this right?’ I think that’s really the heart of all etiquette … how we treat

”

AMY RAINER

other people. I think that kindness is always at the base of every strong etiquette lesson.”

That philosophy shows up in the small, specific behaviors she drills into even her youngest students: eye contact, patience, learning how not to interrupt, being a helper at home.

For older kids, it might look like orchestrating a full dining-out lesson at Daniel George, where fifth grade boys dress up, open the door for her and practice ordering their own meals with confidence and courtesy.

One of Rainer’s favorite universal tools is deceptively simple: at a dinner table, she tells them, make a point to talk to the person on your left and your right during each course.

“That ensures that nobody’s left out,” Rainer said.

Parents report that their children can now greet out-of-town guests, ask thoughtful

Rainer with Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who invited her to speak to students at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. Photo courtesy of Amy Rainer.

questions or thank a coach after practice without prompting.

“I hope that it gives them confidence,” Rainer said. “Confidence, friendliness, gratitude, kindness — those kinds of things.”

Looking back, Rainer doesn’t frame lupus as merely a detour.

“I believe God used lupus to move me out of what I thought was best for my life … to what He knows is best for my life,” she said. “While I had something that didn’t look like a blessing, it caused me to sit back, take a few years off, and then begin again and sort of reinvent myself.”

That reinvention has carried her far from the school lunchroom.

She has taught children of Young Presidents’ Organization members in Grand Cayman, led a public speaking lesson in the Arkansas governor’s mansion with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders using the state podium and even appeared on Colton Underwood’s season of reality TV’s “The Bachelor.”

She noted with a laugh that “reality is in air quotes.”

But for Rainer, the heart of her work is still local and deeply personal: the child who remembers which side is the bread plate, the teenage boy who takes off his hat and introduces himself at the golf course, the former student who circles back years later to say that something she taught “seared in their brain.”

“I just love to take something that most people think is a boring topic, and I make it super fun for kids,” she said. “That’s what I’m good at, and I love doing it.”

For more on Amy Rainer’s etiquette courses, visit etiquettewithamy.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

July 2026 • 23

A sign alerts visitors that the O’Neal Library is temporarily set up inside Mountain Brook City Hall during a library renovation project. Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Library books are displayed in the Sam S. Gaston Council Chamber at Mountain Brook City Hall while the O’Neal Library is being renovated.

LIBRARY

CONTINUED from page 1 The Mountain Brook City Council on May 18 awarded a $5.8 million contract to Rives Construction Company for renovations at the O’Neal Library. The City Council also approved a cost-sharing agreement with the Mountain Brook Library Foundation, with the foundation picking up $3.05 million of the cost and the city providing $2.75 million.

“We’re just making better use of the space inside,” Gardner said. “We’re adding spaces for a lot of the services that our patrons have asked for over the years, and then we’re also doing some necessary upgrades, like replacing our lighting with LED, and we’re replacing some very outdated flooring in the nonpublic areas. We’re going to completely renovate the bathrooms. But we’re most excited about making more room for the children’s area and for children’s programming, adding more study space, creating a space just for teens and having a bigger maker space.”

As the name suggests, the library’s maker space is where things are made. Currently, the maker space is not very spacious.

“It’s a teeny little dark room that’s hidden away where we offer 3D printing, sewing classes, technology assistance,” Gardner said.

“We do a lot. We help entrepreneurs and inventors with their projects. We’ve had rocketry — amateur rocket clubs print parts for their rockets. We’ve had the coroner’s office print probes to do autopsies. We’ve had students who printed models of the throat to study the human body. We’ve had all kinds of things come out of our 3D printer. The sewing classes have been really, really popular. We’re excited about being able to expand those services and add some new things.”

In a time when some think the internet has pushed libraries aside, patrons of the O’Neal Library know better.

“During normal times, we have about 450 people who walk through the doors every day,” Gardner said. “We, at any given time, have about 12,000 items checked out. Our collection is about 125,000 items. Our total circulation of

Eleven-year-old Ezra Francisco and his 9-year-old brother, Amos, play with toy dinosaurs related to their summer reading in a temporary library set up in the council chamber at Mountain Brook City Hall.

the print collection is somewhere around …

340,000 items a year. On top of that, we have digital checkouts that get us to almost half a million items checked out a year. On top of that, we have thousands of people who come to programs, children’s programs, mahjong, yoga.

“We are the heart of the community in a lot of ways,” she continued. “We’re doing this [renovation] to make sure that we can give our patrons the best experience — not just for next year but for the next 25 years. This is an investment for the next 25 years of library services.”

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library building anticipated to reopen in summer 2027. In the meantime, patrons will be served in the Sam Gaston Council Chambers of City Hall.

City Hall library hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday except for Wednesday.

The library will give way to municipal court at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Some library functions moved to other remote locations. Mountain Brook Baptist Church will host mahjong play, and Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church will host the Great Stories Discussion Group.

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