Village Living September 2026

September 2026 | Volume 17 | Issue 6

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Mountain Brook musicians share history

By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA

I

t started the way most things start at 70: with coffee, a guitar and no particular plan.

Lifelong Mountain Brook resident Pete Nice had been playing music around Birmingham for the better part of five decades. So had Andrew Keitt, on guitar and mandolin. So had Shea Rives, who handles guitar, bass and kick drum. The three had

crossed paths in other bands for years. About two years ago they started meeting up to write, with Kelly Simpson eventually filling out the drums.

“It was a songwriting project,” Nice said. “Coffee with a guitar. And then one day we looked up and we had all these songs.”

See MUSICIANS | page A16

The Figments run through a few songs. From left are Andrew Keitt, Pete Nice and Shea Rives. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

Hollywood Boulevard project underway

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.

This rendering shows the finished product for the widening of the Hollywood Boulevard bridge over U.S. 280 and new pedestrian path. Rendering courtesy of Jefferson County.

Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith and Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress both said they’re excited to see improvements to Hollywood Boulevard finally underway.

Construction workers in early August began work on the first phase of a project to widen the road where it crosses U.S. 280 and add a sidewalk connecting Mountain Brook

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and Homewood and going across the bridge over U.S. 280.

“What they’re doing is what we consider phase one, which is not the actual bridge section of Hollywood,” said Chris Nicholson, the director of Jefferson County’s Roads and Transportation Department. “It is on both [ends] of the bridge, the Mountain Brook side and the Homewood side.”

Phase one includes the installation of a

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sidewalk along the northern side of Hollywood Boulevard. On the Mountain Brook side, it will go from the Brookhill neighborhood to the U.S. 280 westbound exit ramp.

On the Homewood side, it will go from Union Hill Drive near the Union Hill Cemetery to Malaga Avenue.

Life........................ B16

See HOLLYWOOD | page A20 Scan the QR code to follow us online!

Southern roots

Building the future

How two lawyers built the Tom Beckbe outdoor clothing brand from their basement.

Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation’s $20 million endowment keeps giving back to local schools.

See page A12

See page B2

A2 • September 2026

Village Living

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A4 • September 2026

Village Living

ABOUT US

Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley There is something particularly serene about both the before and after of a football game.

Now that football season has arrived, it takes me back to that place of anticipation, walking up to a football stadium before the big game. The band is playing, the players warming up, the energy building. No one knows what is about to unfold on that field.

The game itself is great — it’s what we all truly came to see and witness ourselves. But I also find such peace in the aftermath. The bleachers cleared, the dust settled, the quiet of

night descending upon the gridiron.

I call it a happy place.

And it’s that time of year.

I hope you were able to find this year’s Under the Lights magazine around town. If not, and you would like one, send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com. Enjoy this month’s edition of the paper as well!

Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness (B14) Ambrose Kitchen & Bath (A4) Amy Smith Gardner, State Farm (B8) Aqua Systems of Birmingham (B16) Barlow Wealth Advisory Group (A7) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (A18-19) Bromberg’s (A15) Budget Blinds (A13) Children’s of Alabama (B9) Crestline Pharmacy (A10) Cummings Jewelry Design (A1) Dupree Mutual Funds (A11) ENT Associates of Alabama (B14) Gardner Landscaping (A3) Grit Land Company (B9) Guin Service (A1) Gunn Dermatology (B15) Harbin Pharmacy (A15) Highlands School (B4) Indian Springs School (B5)

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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Issis & Sons (A20) Jefferson County Commission (A15) Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department (A17) Katie Crommelin, Ray & Poynor (A10) Leavell Investment Management (A17) One Man & A Toolbox (B1) Piggly Wiggly (B10) Red Mountain Theatre (B5) Renew Dermatology (A2) Ritch’s Pharmacy (B11) Russell Lands (A6) Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School (A5) Senior Placement Services (A9) Southbound Food Fest (A5) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (A11) State Farm - Vivian Mora (A9) The Dance Foundation (B1) TherapySouth (B12-13) Total Fitness Consultants (A11) Trustmark Bank (A8)

Contributing Writers: April Coffey Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Lauren H. Dowdle Emily Reed Kristi Sellers Karim Shamsi-Basha Drew Taylor

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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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September 2026 • A5

A6 • September 2026

Village Living

CITY

Mountain Brook searches for next fire chief

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. Mountain Brook City Manager Steve Boone doesn’t foresee upheaval from the upcoming retirement of fire Chief Chris Mullins.

“We have an excellent command staff,” Boone said of the Fire Department. “We have an excellent department. You know, our firemen go above and beyond every day, so you know it’s important. … Don’t take this wrong — the city will not miss a beat. We will have excellent coverage. The men will step up and you will not notice [a difference].

“That’s a testament to Chris,” Boone said, “the fact that we won’t miss a beat.”

Boone said Mullins has done a lot for the department after taking the reins from Robert “Zeke” Ezekiel.

“He has elevated it, and he would fully expect that his successor will pick up where he has left off and will elevate it even further,” Boone said.

“That’s my expectation, and I’m sure he would expect the same.”

The process of securing the next fire chief involves the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, in which Mountain Brook is required to participate. The first step is getting a list of candidates from the Personnel Board.

“They will begin the process of developing the qualifications,” the city manager said. “They will send out an advertisement [that we’re] now accepting applications for Fire Chief 3. They’ll probably advertise for several weeks, maybe a month, and then they will begin receiving resumes. There’s not a test, it’s a resume — experience, education.

“Then they will comb through the list,” he said. “I don’t know if they’ll get 20 applicants

Outgoing fire Chief Chris Mullins

or 100 applicants, but they will go through that list. Then they will score them. The ones that meet the minimum qualifications, they will be put together on a list that will be presented to us.

We may get that list once we make the request.”

The initial process could last six to eight weeks or longer before a pared list of candidates is reached.

“At that point, we will then start the interview process,” Boone said. “If it works anything like the

City Manager Steve Boone. Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

[search for the Mountain Brook] chief of police, which we just finished earlier this year, we’ll have a subcommittee on the City Council — two or three council members, probably two council members, myself and the mayor.”

The subcommittee could interview four, five or six candidates. Mullins’ replacement could again rise from the ranks of the Mountain Brook department.

“We have a quality group of men in the

Fire Department,” Boone said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t have multiple qualified candidates. I know when we hired our police chief, we had three or four in our department that were on the list. I would expect we would have at least multiple candidates. We’ll interview all the ones that we think are worthy of an interview, and then we’ll make a decision.”

The city could start interviewing potentially as soon as October, he said.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • A7

CITY

Mayor’s Minute

By Graham Smith One of my favorite opportunities as mayor is speaking with neighborhood groups, civic organizations and community clubs throughout Mountain Brook. During nearly every presentation, there is one slide that consistently generates the most questions (and the most surprised looks). It’s the slide highlighting the many free (and low-cost) services our city offers that many residents simply don’t know exist.

Your city government provides much more than roads, parks and public safety. We also offer resources designed to make life easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few hidden gems worth taking advantage of: ● Free compost – Give your garden a boost with nutrient-rich compost available to Mountain Brook residents. It’s an environmentally friendly way to recycle and improve your landscaping. Bring a bucket or your pickup truck to the Rathmell Sports Complex where we keep our nutrient rich compost. We’ll direct you to the dirt! ● Car seat inspections and blood pressure checks – Our fire department offers free child car seat inspections to ensure proper installation, along with complimentary blood pressure screenings to help residents monitor their health. ● Free digital news access – Through the O’Neal Library (currently housed in City Hall), residents can enjoy complimentary digital subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Just go in and ask for the code! ● Secure Facebook Marketplace exchange zone – Buying or selling online? Complete your transactions in a designated, well-lit area outside of our police station under the watchful eye of 24-hour security cameras for added peace of mind.

● Free notary services – Need an important document notarized?

The city provides notary services for residents at no charge. ● Microtransit service – For just $1.50 per ride, residents can enjoy convenient, affordable, safe transportation throughout our community. Download the Birmingham MAX On-Demand app and check it out. It works just like Uber. ● Community crisis line – Help is available 24 hours a day by calling 20592-SAVES. This confidential resource connects individuals and families with immediate support when they need it most. ● Traffic island partnership program – Residents, neighborhoods and organizations can receive financial support for the beautification and maintenance of Mountain Brook’s signature traffic islands. If you have an island in need of beautification, contact Shanda Williams at Parks and Recreation for further information. ● Community Night Out and Citizen Appreciation Day – Join your neighbors for these free annual events celebrating our community while connecting residents with city departments and local organizations. ● Silver Spartans (ALL IN) – This outstanding program provides seniors with opportunities to stay active, engaged and connected through a variety of activities and educational programs. For a list of upcoming events, go to: allinmountainbrook.org/silverspartans.

Mountain Brook has always been known for exceptional service, and these offerings are just another example of your tax dollars at work. I encourage you to explore these resources, share them with your neighbors and take advantage of everything our city has to offer. Chances are you’ll discover something you never knew was available — and that’s exactly why this continues to be the most requested slide in every presentation I give.

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A8 • September 2026

Village Living

CITY

Residents ask city to cut off Irondale connection

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. Residents of Round Forest Drive have asked the Mountain Brook City Council to consider closing their street where it runs into neighboring Irondale and installing a cul-de-sac.

They said being on the edge of the city makes them feel forgotten and vulnerable.

“We feel very isolated back there in a bad way,” Rachel Morrison said. “We just feel …”

Her neighbor, David Dutton, completed her thought. “We feel forgotten,” he said. “I kind of feel like we’re forgotten.”

Several residents in the area spoke to the council in late July, expressing concerns about activity on their street that has bled over from Irondale. Katie Terry said she and her neighbors are exhausted from the criminal activity and the safety concerns that continue to occur just down the street from their homes.

“For the past two years, our neighborhood has endured repeated trespassing, drug-related arrests and activity, thefts and other criminal behavior,” she said. “Most recently, the illegal activity culminated in a tragic double homicide. That event pushed many of us to our limit. We cannot continue to accept the level of risk that families here have been expected to live with.

“There are roughly 70 children who call these streets home,” Terry continued. “They want to ride their bikes, walk to and from Cherokee Bend [Elementary] and enjoy the same freedoms that children in neighborhoods should have. They should be able to do those things safely. Instead, the roads connecting our

A truck makes its way along Round Forest Drive in Mountain Brook. Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

David Dutton speaks to the Mountain Brook City Council during a July council meeting.

neighborhood to Irondale have become a busy cut-through route for commuters, work crews and other non-residents. Vehicles frequently speed around a blind curve, barreling down a blind hill, creating dangerous conditions for children, pedestrians, cyclists and families that are trying to enjoy the place we call home.”

Dutton cited other challenges, including prostitution and motorcycle gangs.

“My daughters have watched people getting taken down by the police, SWAT,” he said, noting that their street has become a means of escape for perpetrators. “You’ve got a way in which people could flee. This is a labyrinth of streets that you can easily hide. I’ve got helicopters coming over my house. It’s just not

them.

Terry said the road ended with a cul-de-sac decades ago.

“Reinstating the cul-de-sac would dramatically reduce the unnecessary cut-through traffic, discourage non-local traffic from using our neighborhood as a shortcut and help restore the sense of security that families in our communities deserve,” she said. “We are not asking for a special favor. We are asking you to put the safety of our residents first. The families who live here should not have to sacrifice their peace of mind.”

The council agreed to continue talks about the residents’ request, adding that City Manager Steve Boone can provide them with updates.

acceptable.”

Council President Billy Pritchard told the Round Forest Drive residents that they are not forgotten.

“The situation is we can only deal with what we can deal with and try to find a solution that’s best, that works, that we can do,” he said.

“We’ve got to look at that.”

Council members said closing a street is not a simple task.

“That’s a very tough thing to do,” Pritchard said. “To close the road and then [install a] cul-de-sac would have to be part one and two.

They’d be complementary of each other.”

Councilman Gerald Garner said closing the road is not going to prevent the crime behind

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • A9

CITY

Residents voice concern for Mountain Brook tries out proposed trail at veterans’ park on-demand transit

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.

By STAFF Mountain Brook residents have a new way to get around town through MAX On-Demand, a transit service now being tested in the community.

The service operates similarly to a rideshare app, allowing users to request rides within the designated Mountain Brook service area and track their assigned vehicle and driver.

Vehicles available for MAX-On Demand service. Photos courtesy of As part of the test program, a driver is Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. dedicated to serving the Mountain Brook area. passengers, a vehicle also may occasionally Rides cost $1.50 and are available Monday stop to pick up another rider along the way. through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riders MAX On-Demand vehicles are tracked can enter a credit card into the app for payment, by satellite, and drivers undergo background with no cash or tip required. checks. Vehicles also have cameras that record Anyone traveling within the service area can audio and video. Accessible transportation use MAX On-Demand, including residents, options are available for riders with mobility students, seniors, commuters and visitors. The needs, who can indicate their requirements minimum age to ride without an accompanying when booking. adult is 13.

The current test service does not cover all Wait times between booking and pickup of Mountain Brook, so riders should check the are expected to average 15 minutes or less. service map before scheduling a trip.

Depending on the requested trip, riders may City officials are encouraging residents to need to walk a block or two to meet their driver. try MAX On-Demand as the program is tested Because the service can accommodate multiple and refined.

said his former landscaping firm designed the trail.

“The whole idea was to invite people to use the park because … the more activity you get in, it’s safer,” Long said. “Right now, this park is not

The Friends of Jemison Park nonprofit has raised money to build a 1-mile trail around the perimeter of Alabama Veterans Memorial Park off Interstate 459, but the proposal has drawn concern from some nearby residents.

The proposed trail would be 7 feet wide and made of finely crushed stone, city records show.

It would start and end at the park’s existing asphalt parking lot.

The Alabama Veterans Memorial Board already has seen the plans and approves of the trail work, but some residents on Rock Hill Road objected to the idea when it came before the Mountain Brook City Council on Aug. 10.

Trail map of Alabama Veterans Memorial Park. Map courtesy of Some residents said city of Mountain Brook. parts of the trail are too close to their homes and would rob them of privacy. used a lot. That makes security more difficult “Right now, it’s a jungle,” Parker Griffin said. instead of less difficult.”

“It’s summer, but in fall, winter, early spring, Alabama Veterans Memorial Park is not in when the foliage is gone, this whole ridge is the city limits of Mountain Brook, but the city viewable to our neighborhood. I will be able to owns the property because it was donated as see all of this clear as day. And this distance is a gift. Several residents who voiced concern not nearly as far as you think it is.” scheduled a meeting with Long to discuss the Nimrod Long, a member of the Friends group, matter further.

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A10 • September 2026

Village Living

BUSINESS

Business Happenings COMING SOON

Beckbe is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

205-286-8203, tombeckbe.com

The owners of the Ace Hardware store in Crestline Park will start construction on Compton Ace Hardware in The Bray at Liberty Park off Collier Drive by the end of the year and open for business in about 12 months. The Compton family has owned Compton Ace Hardware at 4500 Montevallo Road for four years and been in the convenience store business for 47 years. The Vestavia Hills store will have between 12,000 to 15,000 square feet, making it larger than the Crestline Park store. The Bray is a 700-acre mixed-use development conceived by the Liberty Park Joint Venture. acehardware.com

CLOSINGS After opening in 2023 at 360 Rele St. in Lane Parke, the Mountain Brook Crumbl Cookies location closed in July. Jason and Rebecca Dickey were the owners of the Birmingham-area locations of the franchise. Crumbl has a signature menu of cookie flavors that rotates weekly with flavors like chocolate chip, pink sugar, carrot cake, cinnamon swirl bun, peanut butter bar and rainbow shake cookies. There are other Crumbl locations in areas including Vestavia Hills, Alabaster and Greystone. crumblcookies.com

ANNIVERSARIES Located at 800 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 875, Borland Benefield is celebrating its 104th anniversary.

Howard Borland Sr. founded the firm in the City Federal Building (formerly the Comer Building) in 1922 and partnered with Joseph Benefield in 1971. They serve industries including affordable and low-income housing, family businesses, construction, financial institutions, estates, manufacturing, medical/dental practices, municipalities, nonprofits, real estate, restaurants and more. Borland Benefield is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

205-802-7212, borlandbenefield.com Sporting apparel brand Tom Beckbe, located at 2423 Canterbury Road in Mountain Brook, is celebrating its fifth anniversary at that location. Tom Beckbe’s 1,300-square-foot flagship retail store carries a full assortment of premium sporting apparel and accessories, including traditional waxed cotton jackets, layering vests, pullovers, insulated quilted jackets, canvas bags, shirting and more. The brand was founded in 2015 by Birmingham residents Radcliff and Mary Menge. Tom

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A12 • September 2026

Village Living

BUSINESS

Good taste, great risk: The rise of the Tom Beckbe brand

By KELLI S. HEWETT Radcliff and Mary Menge didn’t set out to build a heritage-inspired outdoor brand with five stores and nearly 200 retail partners.

“The original thing was to be a lawyer,” said Radcliff, who created Tom Beckbe with his wife, Mary.

Both were on solid, conventional tracks: He handled corporate mergers and acquisitions work at Bradley Arant; she did securities litigation at other firms.

They met at Washington and Lee University’s law school in Virginia, dated, clerked for federal judges in Alabama, married and moved to New York.

By any standard, it was a well-crafted success story. But the couple behind Tom Beckbe never quite fit the predictable mold.

“I would say that we’re relentless,” Radcliff said. “I think other people would say that I’m exhausting.”

That relentless streak, paired with Mary’s steady editing presence, is at the heart of how they built the Mountain Brook-based brand that has become a fixture for customers who love the outdoors, craftsmanship and a certain Southern sense of place.

The seed of Tom Beckbe was a single problem Radcliff couldn’t shake. He couldn’t find the field jacket he wanted: one with highquality cotton and room to lift and shoot a rifle, but with design details that made it suitable for corporate or fine dining settings too.

“You could find a lot of traditional wax cotton jackets,” he said. “The one that existed between my ears was not in the market, and that was American in manufacturing, American in design, American in color, with a nod to the Southeast.”

Radcliff grew up hunting and fishing with his grandfather near the Tombigbee River and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. As they considered names, they found that in old colonial maps, the French spelled the river’s name as Tombecbé or Tom Beckbe.

They turned the historical river name into a fictional person to honor their Southern sporting roots. For a few years Radcliff ran the business in the evenings while still practicing law.

When they saw that the demand for what they were doing was greater than the single product they offered at the time, he left the firm to focus on Tom Beckbe. For the Menges, leaving law wasn’t a cinematic leap. It was slower, more deliberate and very much shaped by their personalities.

Mary stayed in practice two more years to support the family.

“Our original warehouse is the bonus room in our basement,” Radcliff said.

For those two years, they made one product, the signature Tensaw jacket, in two colors and five sizes. The weatherproof waxed shelter cloth field coat features an Alabama red clay-inspired lining.

Even then, one thing was clear.

“Demand has never been the challenge for our business,” Radcliff said. “It’s been trying to balance meeting the demand without overextending ourselves and really trying to stay focused on what our customer wants.”

Mary had watched the business and seen how customers responded.

“It felt like a bigger risk not to try it and see where it went than to stay,” she said.

The safety net mattered, too.

“If things did go terribly wrong, you still have a law degree and can go back to it,” Mary said.

But it wasn’t just the numbers. It was her trust in Radcliff.

“He is really good at everything he does,” Mary said. “It’s a very unusual package of being detail-oriented and extremely creative.

He has a very good business mind. He has good taste.”

“Great taste,” Radcliff clarified with a chuckle.

Former lawyers Radcliff and Mary Menge at their flagship Tom Beckbe clothing store in Mountain Brook Village. Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.

Their personalities, they said, are complementary.

“Our relationship has a great yin and yang,” Radcliff said. “My temperature runs hot and cold, and Mary’s is more stable. Mary is a great grounding force in the brand. That helps us keep an even keel and center and focus.”

She described her role as “definitely not the creative engine, but more of an editor, like this is one too many things to take on right now, or let’s wait a few days before we make a decision on this.”

That dynamic shapes how they think about product, growth and risk.

“Ultimately, we’re the customers, we live here,” Radcliff said. “This is an authentic representation of things that we think fit in everyone’s daily lives: ours, our neighbors’, the community’s.”

Lamar Jester, a financial consultant, is proud to own one of the first jackets, which he learned about from a local friend.

The business was so new that Radcliff himself delivered it to Jester’s home. Jester plans to hand it down to his grandchildren.

“My favorite piece is the original Tensaw jacket I cherish,” Jester said. “I’ve used it for over 10 hunting seasons in the harshest conditions, and at the same time it still looks — and does belong — in almost any formal restaurant in town, as well as on the many European hunting adventures it has accompanied me.”

Over roughly 11 years, the brand has expanded from a bonus-room “warehouse” in the family’s basement to additional stores, ecommerce and hundreds of retail partners.

The Mountain Brook Village store opened in 2021 in the former Christine’s children’s shop, a space Mary spotted in a local moms’ Facebook group.

That corner location, in the community where they live, became their flagship and a template for future stores: welcoming “third places” that feel like they’ve “been here forever,” complete with bourbon lockers that function as a kind of clubhouse for loyal customers. Behind that “lovely little shop” is a Birminghambased brand with design and warehousing in Irondale and a customer-first focus that carried it through the pandemic, inflation and steady growth.

“From a cultural standpoint the South has its own rich cultural history, particularly as it ties to the sporting life, and we thought that it was underrepresented,” Radcliff said.

That authenticity has guided every step of their growth — from new products to each of the four additional retail stores.

“We always joke that we don’t make anything that anybody needs,” Radcliff said.

“We want each store to feel like it’s been here

The concept began with Radcliff’s search for a high-quality waxed cotton hunting jacket that would take him from hunting fields to fine dining. It has grown to include a range of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, as well as four other storefronts in Tuscaloosa, Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia.

forever.”

The local store has become a showroom, a respite and a laboratory.

Customers walk in asking, “Where are your pants?” and, “Do you make shirts?” That feedback has driven expansions into vests, hats, bags and more.

“You’re never going to bat 1000, but we’re batting above average, and I think that that’s good enough,” Radcliff said.

Behind that inviting storefront is a larger operation than many locals realize.

“Some people don’t realize, we’re a brand located in Birmingham, not one retail store,” Mary said.

And this isn’t an operation where products

are mass-produced overseas and shipped to the stores.

“We’re designing it, I’m the creative director, we’re coming up with it, whole cloth, working with manufacturing partners to have it produced, brought to Birmingham, warehoused in Irondale, distributed,” Radcliff said.

The Menges have weathered the pandemic, inflation and the constant complexity of global manufacturing. There are plans for more, but the details haven’t been released.

“If you’re focused on the customer and it resonates,” Radcliff said, “then the business will find a way.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • A13

BUSINESS

Recently sold homes in Mountain Brook

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► ADDRESS: 4301 Corinth Drive ► BED/BATH: 6/6 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,551 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Cherokee Bend ► LIST PRICE: $1,680,000 ► SALE PRICE: $1,680,000

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A14 • September 2026

Village Living

BUSINESS

Happy dogs, full calendar: Three-week wait at busy Crestline dog grooming salon

By KELLI S. HEWETT In Mountain Brook, waiting weeks for a good salon appointment is just part of the routine — and local dogs are no exception, lining up for a spot at Happy Dog Baths & Grooming.

Three groomers are booked out about three weeks, seeing 20 to 25 dogs a day, five days a week, on a steady six- to eight-week rotation.

“There’s so many amazing dogs, and the parents just truly care about their animals,” said Kristine Harrison, who has been a groomer at Happy Dog in Crestline for six years.

Happy Dog Baths and Grooming didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It grew out of a business that was already well known to local pet owners.

“We knew that there was a need,” owner Mike Mahaffey said.

Before the grooming shop, Mahaffey and his wife, Dr. Kris Mahaffey, ran Pet Vet Express, a veterinary clinic in Mountain Brook.

About six years ago, they sold that clinic, which now operates as Crestline Pet Care under a different veterinarian. In 2021, they opened Dr. Kris’s Mobile Vet Clinic in Vestavia Hills, serving Over the Mountain pet clients at their homes.

They kept the Crestline grooming portion of the business and turned it into its own venture, Happy Dog, with a signature feature being that dogs are all groomed in the front of the shop — always in full view.

“We had at the time one groomer, and we had such a demand, we had the opportunity to get a second storefront, which is the one we’re in now,” Mahaffey said. “So we took the leap.”

They also run a Vestavia Hills location of Happy Dog Baths & Grooming.

Dr. Kris and Mike Mahaffey, owners of Happy Dog Baths & Grooming and Dr. Kris’s Mobile Vet Clinic. Photo courtesy of Happy Dog Baths & Grooming.

The mix of breeds tells its own story about Mountain Brook.

“We see a lot of doodles — Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, Labradoodles,” Mahaffey said.

“We see a lot of doodles, but we see a lot of small dogs too.”

Mahaffey said there is no complicated formula behind their success. To him, it feels as straightforward as a trip to the barber.

“It’s just like getting a bad haircut,” Mahaffey said. “You get a bad haircut, you’re probably not going to go back to that person, but if you like the way it looks, you just keep coming back and back and back.”

The rest, he said, comes down to the people who live here.

Happy Dog Baths & Grooming client Rocky shows off a fresh new haircut. The salon sees about 25 dogs a day, five days a week. Photo courtesy of Happy Dog Baths & Grooming.

Orbe Sanchez trims the fur behind Olive’s ears during her grooming appointment.

Mike Mahafey, owner of the dog salon, also expanded operations to a location in Vestavia Hills. Photo by Erin Nelson.

“Mountain Brook people like to support Mountain Brook businesses, and that’s part of what has made us as successful as we are, along with having good service and great groomers,”

Mahaffey said. “We’re proud to be a Mountain Brook business.”

Happy Dog has been an active part of the business community since it first opened.

“Happy Dog Baths & Grooming has long been a beloved part of Crestline Village and the Mountain Brook community,” said Lizzie Maymon, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. “They are the kind of business that reminds us what local truly means: building relationships, caring for our four-legged family members and creating connections that extend far beyond the front door.”

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September 2026 • A15

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A16 • September 2026

Village Living

MUSICIANS

CONTINUED from page A1 The rule, from the beginning, was that everything would be original. No covers, no filler.

“I take great pride in doing original stuff,” Nice said. He writes the chord progressions and usually starts from a phrase rather than a melody. “Voodoo Honeymoon” was one. It turned into a song about being bewitched by love. Others in the catalog — “Break Bone Fever,” “Looking Away from the City,” “Oh No” — arrived the same way. One came from a newspaper item he read about something that had happened fifty years earlier to the day.

The band figures out the instrumentation afterward. A song might sit for weeks as nothing but a chord chart and a title before anyone decides whether it wants a mandolin on it or a kick drum. All of them sing, which means most songs end up with harmony lines stacked on top of each other.

“That’s the part I love,” Nice said. “Making up harmony lines and building things.”

Keitt’s mandolin is often what separates a Figments song from the rock records the three of them made in their younger years. It sits high and thin over the guitars, and it tends to show up on the saddest material.

“Something happens when the three of us start playing together, “Keitt said. “Some of our best lines came up with all of us just batting things around. We always know when we hit one. It can be humbling.”

They are not, they’ll tell you, in the business of cheering anyone up. The twelve songs they’ve assembled are about sweet love, loss, and tragedy. “I’m not making people happy,” Nice said, and he means it as a description, not an apology.

THE HISTORY

Some of that comes from where he’s been.

Nice goes back to high school in the early ‘70s with Anthony Crawford, the Alabama musician who would go on to play alongside Neil Young and Dwight Yoakam. Nice’s own stretch of years included opening for Yoakam, playing City Stages and sharing bills with Bruce Cockburn. He calls it a big, joyful time.

He also calls the period around it the hungry years, when audiences came to listen rather than to be entertained at — when a band could count on a room full of people who wanted the songs more than the spectacle.

That’s part of what living room concerts get back. Thirty people on couches, no stage, no monitors, nobody talking over the quiet parts.

Nice is a builder by trade — he framed and hung the addition on his own house — and a musician the rest of the time. The two occupations have run in parallel his whole adult life, and he doesn’t describe them as competing. A song and an addition both start as a rough idea and get finished one measurable piece at a time, and both are the kind of work where you can stand back at the end and see whether you did it right.

Nice lives with his wife of 42 years, Lisa, who also grew up in Mountain Brook. When

Pete Nice practices a few songs. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

asked what their secret is to a long-lasting marriage, her answer sums up their story in an endearing way.

“We’re two peas in a pod,” Lisa said. “I have always enjoyed Pete’s music back when he did covers and now even more with his original music.”

The Nices have two grown children, Cayman, 30, and Alice, 26. Lisa is currently taking care of their elderly parents, who also live in Mountain Brook. She appreciates her community but says it’s missing one important thing.

“I love living in Mountain Brook. It’s cozy and convenient,” Lisa said. “But we do need more diversity in this community. That’s very important for Pete and me.”

Those sentiments would end up in a song.

Then Rives, along with Nice and Keitt, ended up writing twelve other songs.

“Shea’s mom loved music, and the pain he experienced at losing her just opened the floodgates,” Nice said. “Deep pain is a powerful thing.”

What The Figments want now is modest and specific. They want to record — Spotify eventually, though nobody’s in a rush. They want to keep playing living room concerts, the format that suits the material best.

They’ve played the Seibels Cottage in Homewood, where Kelly Seibels hosts intimate gatherings for singer-songwriters, and there’s

a November open house on the calendar.

They’ve played the courtyard at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Mostly, though, Nice describes the goal in terms that have nothing to do with a career.

“We just want to continue to be happy,” he said. “Invent songs. We love that. Make up harmony lines and build things. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

For a man who spent his working life framing walls and hanging additions, it’s a familiar verb. He’s just using different material now: three friends, four decades of shared history and 12 songs about what it costs to love people you don’t get to keep.

THE SONGS

For Nice and his band, much of the writing comes from pain. A recent song came from Shea Rives losing his mother. She died in April 2024 after about six months of decline.

He was holding her hand at the time.

“I told her I loved her,” Rives said. “I’m not sure if she heard me.”

Pete Nice uses a slide guitar among other instruments.

The Figments include, from left, Shea Rives, Pete Nice and Andrew Keitt.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • A17

A18 • September 2026

Village Living

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • A19

A20 • September 2026

Village Living

HOLLYWOOD

CONTINUED from page A1 The eastern (Homewood) portion of the road also is being widened to three lanes and restriped. The project includes some curbs and gutters and other improvements for pedestrians.

Southeastern Sealcoating is the contractor doing the job for $680,990. The initial cost of phase one was $1.2 million, but that was reduced when intersection work was shifted to phase two.

The sidewalk project probably should be completed in the next five months, Nicholson said.

“As soon as that’s done, we’ll bid out the bridge,” he said. “That’ll take another year or so to complete. … We just had to leave the bridge part out because we’re doing that with federal dollars.”

Smith said phase one won’t require any detours, but it could involve some lane closures.

“Just unfortunate temporary holdups as they have to shut down and make it one lane at a time,” she said. “They have traffic control out there.”

The holdups are just part of the growing pains of progress, Smith said.

“The benefit will come down the road as with all construction projects,” she said. “Yes, there will be a slight headache. But we’re trying to do our best. I asked the construction manager if there would be any night work done, and they said that was definitely in the cards. Hopefully a little bit will be done during the night.”

Phase one is being funded by the cities of Mountain Brook and Homewood, Jefferson County and money that was raised by the Hollywood Cooperative Group, including some money from the Alabama Department of Transportation, Nicholson said.

Jefferson County’s portion of the money originally was allocated out of former County Commissioner Steve Ammons’ discretionary

Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith and Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress do a public service announcement video about the Hollywood Boulevard improvement project. Still shot from city of Homewood video.

money, but his successor in District 5, Mike Bolin, held the money in place for the Hollywood project.

Some of the money also came from federal allocations arranged by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, Andress said.

“I got to tell her directly that we were breaking ground,” Andress said. “It would not have happened without the funding that she sent us through her appropriations. … Every level of government has supported this project. We’re just so grateful to be there.”

Phase two construction could begin in the summer of 2027 and will include widening the bridge over U.S. 280 to three lanes and adding a pedestrian lane that ties the Mountain Brook and Homewood sidewalks together.

Once complete, Hollywood Boulevard will be three lanes from Union Hill Drive to the point where it becomes Montevallo Road, and the new sidewalks in Mountain Brook and Homewood will be tied together.

The estimated construction cost for phase two is $4.4 million, but that job still has to be bid out. Funding for phase two is coming from ALDOT, the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Jefferson County.

Andress said that when this sidewalk is complete, “we’re already going to have new massive safety improvements,” but she’s also eager to see the expanded bridge get put in place. “I’m so happy this day is here.”

A rendering shows what the Hollywood Boulevard overpass over U.S. 280 will look like upon completion, complete with a new pedestrian path on the bridge. Rendering courtesy of Jefferson County.

Construction workers walk on a sidewalk being built along Hollywood Boulevard. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

SECTION

B SEPTEMBER 2026

Schoolhouse B2 Sports B6 Events B8 Life B16

Mountain Brook Schools had more than $2 million in summer renovation projects

By DREW TAYLOR For Tommy Prewitt and his staff at Mountain Brook Schools, summer is always the busiest time of the year.

This summer was no exception, with a little more than $2 million worth of facilities improvements being done across five schools within the system. Prewitt, director of facilities at Mountain Brook Schools, said he and his staff typically start planning what projects need to be done the preceding fall, followed by bids being sent out during the spring with enough time for work to begin during the summer.

“Most every school has something going on,” Prewitt said.

At Mountain Brook High School, for example, the 500 wing of the building underwent massive upgrades, from new lighting and luxury vinyl tile flooring being installed to six bathrooms being remodeled. In addition, Spartan Arena and the Fine Arts Center received new roofs.

The work on the 500 wing, which is the main hub for the school’s technology department, cost an estimated $500,000, while the roofing projects at the Spartan Arena and Fine Arts Center cost approximately $260,000 and $240,000, respectively.

“It was at the end of life for both of those,” Prewitt said about the roofing projects. “The Spartan Arena roof is 20 years old, and the Fine Arts Center is a little bit older.”

Elsewhere, the school system spent an estimated $1.1 million to do work at four elementary schools, including Brookwood

The 500 wing of Mountain Brook High School being remodeled. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.

Forest, Cherokee Bend, Crestline and Mountain Brook Elementary.

AAt Cherokee Bend, new ceilings and lighting were installed throughout the school, while at Brookwood Forest, 36 classrooms have been repainted.

“There was just a need there,” Prewitt said about Brookwood Forest. “We haven’t done that out there in about five years.”

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were remodeled to be more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Sometimes, this involves relocating some fixtures,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Mountain Brook Elementary, crews put in luxury vinyl flooring in the cafeteria, gymnasium and rear hall. Specifically, Prewitt said this project was part of an ongoing effort to eventually phase out vinyl composite flooring in the schools, which can

often take a lot of work to maintain.

“With the VCT flooring, you have to strip and wax those every summer, which is pretty labor intensive,” he said. “With LVT flooring, you don’t need to do that, so that frees up our custodial staff to do other things over the summer.”

Prewitt said the school system would likely switch to all LVT flooring within the next couple of years.

B2 • September 2026

Village Living

SCHOOLHOUSE

Foundation continues long-running investment

By APRIL COFFEY For more than three decades, the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation has quietly been doing something that can be easy to overlook: helping ensure that the community’s investment in its public schools continues long after a child walks across the graduation stage.

Founded in 1992, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit was created with a simple idea: that strong public schools benefit the entire community and that community support can help schools do more.

Today, that idea has grown into an endowment of more than $20 million and a network of fundraising efforts that bring parents, grandparents, students, teachers and other community members together in support of Mountain Brook City Schools.

For the 2026-2027 school year, the foundation’s board of directors approved a grant of $723,198.08 to the school system. The money will support professional development, academic assistance and other programs designed to give teachers and students resources beyond what traditional public school funding can provide.

For Rachel Weingartner, executive director of the foundation, the organization’s role is not to replace public funding but to provide the extras that can make a good school system even stronger.

“The foundation likes to step in and say, ‘We are the extras that help with innovation or some needs that are not being met on a schoolsystem-wide basis,’” Weingartner said.

That distinction is important. Foundation dollars can help provide opportunities that might otherwise have to wait, compete with other priorities or go unfunded altogether.

This year, $227,140 of the foundation’s grant will support professional development. Among those opportunities is the annual Engage Learning Conference at Mountain Brook High School, which in June drew 506 educators, including 216 Mountain Brook teachers.

Because of the foundation’s support, educators can attend the conference free of charge and receive continuing education credit. 61 Mountain Brook teachers also led learning sessions, sharing their innovation and creativity with their peers.

The foundation also provides stipends for teachers participating in summer learning. Last year, its funding provided more than 8,700 hours of professional development for Mountain Brook teachers at no personal cost to them.

“We really feel like that’s a way that we can retain the best teachers and also recruit the best,” Weingartner said.

The foundation’s support reaches students directly. Another $230,000 of this year’s grant will support academic assistance, including the Math Lab at Mountain Brook High School.

Last year, teachers recorded more than 4,000 student interactions in the Math Lab, where students could receive additional help and tutoring during the school day.

The foundation also funds a math coach for each elementary school. Those coaches work alongside teachers to strengthen instruction while helping identify strategies to meet students at different learning levels.

For Weingartner, those kinds of investments are part of the foundation’s larger mission: responding to needs as they arise while building a financial foundation that can support schools for years to come.

That long-term commitment is where the foundation’s fundraising efforts become especially important.

Throughout the year, community members have numerous opportunities to support the foundation’s fundraising efforts. Give180, a campaign that encourages families to contribute a dollar for each day their child attends school, raised $214,339 last year. The Grandparents Club campaign raised another $326,563, reflecting the involvement of a generation whose connection to Mountain Brook schools often stretches well beyond the years their own children attended.

Then there is the elementary school track meet, which brings together students from all of the Mountain Brook elementary schools and

Jennifer Mueller, a third grade teacher at Crestline Elementary, wears an audio enhancement microphone device with safety features funded by the foundation. Photos courtesy of Rachel Weingartner.

has become both a fundraiser and a community celebration. More than 840 elementary students participated in April, helping raise $107,000 for the foundation.

“It’s really a community-wide event,” Weingartner said. “All four elementary schools participate, and they’re able to compete and also fundraise for our schools at the same time.”

Those annual efforts provide immediate support, but the foundation is also thinking decades ahead.

In 2024, it launched Fund Our Future: Endowing Student Success, a major campaign designed specifically to grow the endowment. More than 230 donors have contributed $5.85 million so far, putting the campaign just $150,000 shy of its $6 million goal.

The impact of building that endowment is perhaps less visible than funding a Math Lab or a teacher’s summer professional development, but it may ultimately prove just as important.

The foundation’s spending formula is designed to protect the endowment’s principal while allowing the organization to make an annual grant to the school system. With the endowment now above $20 million, the foundation hopes to reach the point where it can provide $1 million annually to Mountain Brook Schools.

“We are also aware that part of our role is being a sustainability support for public school systems,” Weingartner said. “We do say that we’re a protection and kind of a long-term insurance policy for them as well.”

That phrase — long-term insurance policy — captures something fundamental about the foundation’s work. Its impact is not simply measured by what $723,198.08 can accomplish in one school year. It is also measured by the community’s willingness to keep building a resource that can support Mountain Brook students and teachers through changing times and future challenges.

And that is where the numbers tell a much warmer story.

Behind the $20 million endowment are generations of families who have chosen to give.

Behind the $5.85 million campaign are more than 230 donors who believe in the future of the schools. Behind the $107,000 raised at a track meet are hundreds of elementary students and their families participating together. Behind the professional-development dollars are teachers given opportunities to keep learning and growing. And behind the Math Lab are thousands of individual moments when a student receives a little extra help.

“We really had a lot of different people that

Last year’s sixth graders Emma Tomlinson, Mary Mead Smitherman, Carlisle White and Beatty Maxwell show school spirit at their last foundation track meet in 2026.

Crestline students Elizabeth Clinton and Molly Drummond participated in the 2026 elementary school track meet, a fundraiser for the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation.

were willing to step up and make a multiyear pledge to help us increase the endowment and ensure that our school system has the funding that it needs,” Weingartner said.

That may be the foundation’s greatest strength: It turns community pride in Mountain

Brook’s schools into something tangible — opportunities for teachers, support for students and a financial commitment that can continue serving the schools long after today’s students have become tomorrow’s graduates, parents and community leaders.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • B3

SCHOOLHOUSE

Before the first bell: Mountain Brook teachers get ready to rock

By APRIL COFFEY There’s a familiar rhythm to the end of summer in Mountain Brook. School supplies are gathered, summer reading lists are checked off, schedules are studied and families begin making the mental shift from lazy mornings to alarm clocks.

But while students are squeezing every last drop out of summer, something important has already been happening in the halls of Mountain Brook Schools.

The teachers are back. And they’re getting ready to rock.

For more than 50 new teachers, the 2026-27 school year began with the New Teacher Institute, a five-day welcome designed to be much more than a tour of the building and a stack of paperwork.

According to William Galloway, communications director for Mountain Brook City Schools, the institute is meant to introduce new faculty members to the heart of the school system — and to make sure they feel part of it from the start.

“The New Member Institute is more than

Above and left: Teachers on stage at the Mountain Brook Schools School of Rock Institute Day. Below: Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow speaks to teachers at School of Rock Institute Day. Photos courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.

an orientation — it’s a warm welcome into a community that sees, hears and values every one of its members,” Galloway said.

That sense of belonging is intentional.

New teachers spent the week exploring the district’s purpose: providing “an effective, challenging and engaging education for every student.” They talked about what those words actually mean in a classroom, with the second day focusing on what it means to be effective and challenging.

They toured all six schools. They completed team-building activities on every campus.

There were learning sessions, questions and answers, games and plenty of opportunities to meet the people who will become their colleagues — and, in many cases, their friends.

“Our goal is to ensure that every new member fully grasps the vision and heart behind this purpose,” Galloway said. “But it’s not just about understanding our mission; it’s about feeling a deep connection to it.”

That may be one of the most important lessons of all.

Because before a teacher can help a student feel known, challenged and encouraged, it helps to feel those same things yourself.

And the learning wasn’t reserved for the newcomers.

Mountain Brook educators logged more than 10,000 combined hours of professional development this summer, sharpening their skills as teachers, leaders and innovators. More than 500 educators from across the country also gathered for the district’s annual Engage Learning Conference, funded by the Mountain Brook Schools Foundation for both Mountain Brook’s teachers and any other educators who wanted to attend,

according to the foundation president, Rachel Weingartner. During the conference, keynote speakers, panel discussions and teacher-led sessions focused on a question that never really goes away in education: How can we do this even better for our students?

The answer, apparently, involves a lot of learning — and a little fun.

“Everyone left invigorated and excited to put their new knowledge to work this fall,” Galloway said.

Then came Institute Day 2026, with a theme that sounded less like professional development and more like a Friday night concert: the Mountain Brook School of Rock.

Faculty members took the stage for live performances. Staff performed skits and dance numbers, and the district recognized its 202526 award winners.

Somewhere between the learning sessions and the celebrations, there was even a guitar solo.

It’s a fitting way to begin a new year in a school system that clearly understands that professional growth and community spirit don’t have to be separate things.

Superintendent Dicky Barlow also addressed stakeholders as the district looks ahead.

In his back-to-school message to Mountain Brook families, Barlow celebrated a remarkable 2025-26 school year while acknowledging the work already underway for the next one.

“We are just days away from starting up our 2026-2027 school year,” Barlow said, “and while the students are immersed in their summer reading, our teachers and staff are working diligently to prepare for the upcoming year.”

There is plenty worth celebrating.

All six Mountain Brook schools received a 99 or 100 on their school report cards, with the district earning the top scores among public schools in Alabama. Academic growth and academic achievement both received scores of 100.

The graduation rate was 98.8, and college and career readiness was 97.8.

The Class of 2026 sent 329 graduates to 63 colleges and universities in 24 states. Nine students were named U.S. National Merit Finalists. Mountain Brook student-athletes won seven state championships, 19 seniors signed to compete at the collegiate level and the Mountain Brook High School Dorians dance team captured their third consecutive national championship.

Those accomplishments are impressive. But the numbers that may say the most about the year ahead are the ones that happen before students ever walk through the doors: 10,000 hours of professional learning, more than 500 educators gathered to share ideas and more than 50 new teachers finding their place in the Mountain Brook family.

Because a school year doesn’t really begin when the first bell rings.

It begins with teachers who keep learning.

It begins with colleagues who welcome one another.

It begins with a community willing to invest in the people who will spend the year championing its children.

Barlow understands that partnership.

“We could not do what we do without your great support,” he wrote, encouraging families to become involved with the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation, ALL IN Mountain

Brook and the PTO. Now, the halls have filled. Backpacks have returned to students’ shoulders. Classroom doors have opened. Teachers have greeted students, and the familiar rhythm of another school year has begun.

But before the first bell, there was already a lot happening.

Mountain Brook’s teachers were learning.

They were connecting. They were preparing.

And as Institute Day indicated, they did it with a little music, a lot of heart — and one very rockin’ soundtrack.

B4 • September 2026

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Education Guide

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September 2026 • B5

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Our 350-acre campus near Pelham provides a natural sanctuary that inspires both our nationally ranked STEM program and world-class arts program.

Guided by our motto, Learning through Living, students experience a unique educational approach centered around experiential learning in an inclusive environment that fosters growth and discovery. Approximately 90% of our faculty hold advanced degrees and deliver exceptional instruction in our state-of-the-art classrooms.

We encourage students to pursue their passions both inside and outside the classroom. Our diverse student life offerings include special interest clubs, community service opportunities, and a strong athletics program with participation in more than 20 varsity sports for boys and girls. We also believe the arts are a vital component of a balanced education. Our robust theater, choir, visual arts, and contemporary music programs allow students to explore and express their creativity.

Alumnus and renowned author John Green ‘95 once described Indian Springs as a place where “all at once I became

INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL ► Grades: 8-12 ► Where: 190 Woodward Drive, Pelham ► Call: 205-332-0568 ► Email: admission@indiansprings.org ► Web: indiansprings.org

a learner because I found myself in a community of learners.” Our impact extends far beyond campus, uniting a global community of alumni, parents, and friends across generations.

We invite you to visit during our upcoming Preview Days on Sept. 20 and Dec. 6 to see what makes Indian Springs School so unique.

For more information on admission and need-based financial aid, visit indiansprings.org or contact our admission office at admission@ indiansprings.org or 205-332-0568.

Applications for the 2027-2028 school year open on Sept. 1.

PREVIEW DAYS SEPTEMBER 20

DECEMBER 6

Enjoy yourself at any age with Red Mountain Theatre classes. Studies show that arts education enhances children’s development and academic success — and it’s not just singing or dancing. The arts teach teamwork, focus, discipline and collaboration.

At RMT, our after-school classes allow kids to try out a new skill or pursue their love of theatre. Beginning Sept. 15, RMT will offer acting and dance classes for grades 2-12.

Most classes are just $10 per hour when purchased as a bundle, and financial aid is available for any child who qualifies.

“In this past year, we’ve had over 1,000 students in our theatre camps and classes,” says Anna Lynn Starr, RMT Academy Manager. “From our little ones conquering their stage fright, to our teens developing their craft, to our adults rediscovering their passions, we’re giving students the tools to take ownership of their art. Our returning students are growing in their talent, confidence and skillset with every class.”

This year, RMT is also launching the YAP Tech Crew program, enabling students in grades 8-12 to get hands-on experience in props, scenic, lighting, sound and costuming. The students will join the professional crew for the run of “Chicago: Teen Edition,” Oct. 23-25.

Adults can join the fun, too, with fall classes beginning Sept. 14. These classes are also $10 per hour when bundled, and drop-ins are welcome for those who can’t commit to the full session.

RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE ► Grades: All ages ► Where: 1600 3rd Ave. S., Birmingham ► Call: 205-324-2424 ► Web: redmountaintheatre.org/ education

B6 • September 2026

Village Living

SPORTS

Spartans return bulk of roster, eye state title

By KYLE PARMLEY The Mountain Brook High School volleyball team returns nearly its entire roster from a season ago, and head coach Mattie Gardner isn’t shy about what that continuity is aimed at.

“Our goal is to win a state championship this year, and that is very much in our reach,” Gardner said.

Two seniors graduated off last year’s varsity group, leaving Gardner with players who already know the standard. Three seniors, in particular, are asked to set the tone: Sullivan Lell in the back row, Sullivan Todd running the offense at setter and Adele Moffatt as a pin hitter.

“They play different roles positionally, which I think is always really fun,” Gardner said. “We got a libero, setter and a pin hitter, so that’s nice that they each have their tangible role on the court, but they bring vocal leadership, and they buy in. It trickles down top to bottom.”

Gardner said the strength of this year’s team starts with the fundamentals.

She added the Spartans won’t lean on one go-to hitter this fall.

“We don’t have a standout gun that’s going to terminate the ball every single time for us.

We have multiple options,” she said.

Moffatt remembers what it felt like on the other side of that leadership as a first-year varsity player.

“I remember being a sophomore coming up on varsity, and it was really terrifying,” Moffatt said. “I was the only one, but those three seniors were really good examples. And the competitive side of all of them made me want to be competitive.”

Lell said building that same environment for this year’s underclassmen has meant changing how the team talks about mistakes.

“We just are trying to take out the word sorry,” Lell said. “So, when they make a mistake, just no apologizing. We don’t put any pressure on ourselves to perform perfectly, and we don’t expect them to perform perfectly.”

Mountain Brook’s Sullivan Lell (2) celebrates a point during the Class 6A North Super Regional Tournament. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

Todd said staying positive has been just as important as the on-court work.

“Just making sure that anytime negativity gets brought in, then it kind of brings on everybody else with it, and so just making sure everyone is uplifting,” Todd said.

Gardner pointed to four other key returners: Mae Mae King in the middle, Lucy Comer on the outside, Grace Anne Lloyd and setter Darby Rhodes.

“I think this year the standards are different, and the tone has been different, and I think they’ve picked up on that,” Gardner said. “It’s a process to get there, and we’ve talked a lot about the process.”

Juniors Naomi Borland, Emma Polson and Mary Knox Walker and sophomores Lily Henderson and Mae Jackson round out the varsity roster.

The Spartans opened the season Aug. 20

against Spanish Fort before a slate including the Boddie Tournament and matches against Chelsea, Vestavia Hills and Jasper. Mountain Brook is also set for an outdoor match against Spain Park and an in-school showdown with Homewood on Sept. 22.

The state tournament returns to the Birmingham CrossPlex on Oct. 27-29, and the Spartans have their eyes set on being part of that once again.

Sullivan Todd represents USA in China

By KYLE PARMLEY

Mountain Brook High School senior Sullivan Todd represented the United States at the ISF World Volleyball Championship in China in July. Photo courtesy of Sullivan Todd.

Mountain Brook High School senior Sullivan Todd spent part of her summer representing the United States as a member of the USA U18 National Team through ISF Sports at the ISF World Volleyball Championship in Shangluo, China, held July 1-10.

Todd was one of 14 athletes selected nationwide for the roster, and every player on the team is committed to continue playing volleyball at the collegiate level. Todd is committed to Mississippi State.

Team USA faced Bulgaria, Brazil, Romania, China (Taiwan), India and China (Hong Kong) over the course of the tournament, finishing fifth overall. The team’s run ended with a quarterfinal loss to China (Taiwan).

Todd said the international competition gave her a look at a different style of play than what she sees domestically.

“One of the best parts of the experience was getting to learn the international style of volleyball while playing against some of the top U18 talent from around the world,” she said.

Away from the court, Todd said the trip left just as strong an impression.

“Beyond the volleyball, it was an unforgettable experience representing the U.S., building friendships with teammates from across the country, making friends with athletes from other countries, and learning about other cultures. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and had an amazing time!” she said.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • B7

SPORTS

Winding path leads Annie Gregory home

By KYLE PARMLEY Annie Gregory’s path may seem straightforward on the surface, but it has been far from that.

The Mountain Brook High School graduate has committed to play softball at Samford University, capping a two-year detour that took her away from the sport and back again.

Gregory spent her senior season weighing a path other than softball. Her dad graduated from the Naval Academy and her mom spent 20 years as a Navy Judge Advocate General officer, and she decided she wanted to follow in their footsteps. She was not accepted.

Rather than return to the softball field despite offers to keep playing, Gregory enrolled at Marion Military Institute for the 2024-25 school year to pursue a second application to the Naval Academy. The year bore little resemblance to a normal seniorturned-freshman experience.

Her days began with a 6 a.m. wake-up call, followed by runs of 1 to 3 miles and workouts that included push-ups, sprints, sit-ups and pull-ups. Her barracks room had to stay inspection-ready at all times, bed made and nothing out of place. Classes in physics, precalculus, chemistry and English filled the middle of the day, bookended by formations in uniform before lunch and again before lights out. On weekends, she drove three hours round trip back to Birmingham to work with a chemistry tutor and a physics tutor.

Gregory earned four nominations to the Naval Academy, from the president, her senators and her congressman. She still did not

gain admission.

“I know God’s plans were and are always in place,” Gregory said.

With the Naval Academy chapter closed, Gregory returned to the game she grew up playing. She signed on for the 2026 season at Southern Union State Community College, a junior college in Wadley.

“I got an offer to play JUCO at Southern Union, and it was great to be back at it,” Gregory said. “I am so thankful for my year at Southern Union, especially because I learned a lot, and it showed me that I can play at the highest levels.”

Because of the year she spent away from the sport, Gregory said she expects to have four years of eligibility remaining under current NCAA rules, the equivalent of a gap year restored to her college softball career.

That eligibility will now be used at Samford, a decision Gregory credits to more than just the softball program.

“Samford is a world-class academic school with the best professors. It is also faith-based, which my belief and walk as a Christian is incredibly important to me,” Gregory said. “It is also 20 minutes from home, which I used to want to go far away, but the more I leave Birmingham, the more I miss it.”

Looking back on the path that led her from Annapolis dreams to Wadley to Birmingham, Gregory said the last three years taught her more than any recruiting timeline could have.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned over these past years is that you are going to fail a lot more times than you succeed, but it is what you do with the failure,” Gregory said.

“Rejection just means redirection.”

Mountain Brook High School graduate Annie Gregory has committed to play softball at Samford University after a two-year detour following her high school days. Photo courtesy of Annie Gregory.

Spartans open new-look region in September

By KYLE PARMLEY Mountain Brook High School’s football team opened the season on the road at Hueytown and at UMS-Wright, and the Spartans now turn to region play in September. Mountain Brook will compete in Class 5A, Region 4 this fall.

SEPT. 4 AT HOMEWOOD

Mountain Brook travels to Homewood for a rematch of last year’s classic, when the Spartans escaped with a 25-24 overtime win on Bennett Jordan’s two-point conversion. Homewood finished 11-2 last season and reached the Class 6A quarterfinals. The Patriots enter their

13th season under head coach Ben Berguson, who has led Homewood to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons, and the program is currently on a streak of 14 straight postseason trips.

Mountain Brook holds a 22-15 edge in the series and has won the last six meetings.

SEPT. 10 VS. HELENA

Mountain Brook hosts Helena, which went 5-6 a year ago and finished third in its region under ninth-year coach Richie Busby, who has gone 55-32 (2-6 in the playoffs) at the school since 2018, including second-round playoff runs in 2020 and 2023. Helena rallied to win its final four regular-season games last fall to reach the postseason for a third straight year

Archie Andrews carries the ball in a game against Huffman last season. Photo by Todd Lester.

before falling 24-7 at Bessemer City in the first round.

The two teams last met in 2017, and Mountain Brook has won the previous two meetings.

SEPT. 18 AT CHILTON COUNTY

Mountain Brook travels to Chilton County, which went 1-9 overall and 0-6 in region play a year ago under coach Merritt Bowden, who took over the program last season. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

SEPT. 25 VS. OXFORD

Mountain Brook closes out the month at home against Oxford in a non-region game.

The Spartans won last year’s meeting 42-14

when the two teams were still region foes. The teams have split four all-time meetings.

LOOKING AHEAD

Mountain Brook finished 9-4 last season and reached the Class 6A quarterfinals, extending the program’s playoff streak to 10 straight years under head coach Chris Yeager, who has gone 170-73 at the school entering the year.

That streak has included a state runner-up finish in 2022 and back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2020 and 2021. Mountain Brook hosts Ramsay on Oct. 2, travels to Calera on Oct. 9, hosts Chelsea on Oct. 16, hosts Pelham on Oct. 22 in a region game and closes the regular season with an open date on Oct. 30.

John Colvin celebrates a touchdown in a game last season. Photo by James Nicholas.

B8 • September 2026

Village Living

EVENTS

Save the Date

GIRL DINNER AT HABITAT FEED & SOCIAL ► Where: Habitat Feed & Social at Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook, 2655 Lane Park Road ► When: Thursdays in September, 5–9 p.m. ► Cost: $60 Girl Dinner special ► Details: Gather your friends for a Thursday night out during Girl Dinner at Habitat Feed & Social. The weekly rooftop event pairs a special $60 Girl Dinner offering with live music from rotating local musicians, creating a relaxed evening of food, drinks and conversation overlooking Mountain Brook. September dates include Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 24. ► More Info: grandbohemianmountainbrook.com

GOOD SOIL: THE EDUCATION OF AN ACCIDENTAL FARMHAND ► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road ► When: Sept. 1, 4–5 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Join the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ monthly Thyme to Read book club for a discussion of Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand by Jeff Chu. Hosted by the Gardens’ Library, the gathering brings together readers interested in nature, gardening, and the connections between people and the land for an engaging afternoon conversation in a beautiful 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.

GREAT SHORT STORIES: WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER BOARD MEETING

► Where: Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church, Reception Room, 3405 Brookwood Road ► When: Sept. 14, 6:30–7:30 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Join fellow readers for O’Neal Library’s Great Short Stories reading and discussion group. This year, the group is exploring short stories that have been adapted for film and television. September’s selection is Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, with Bob leading the discussion. ► More Info: oneallibrary.org

► Where: Mountain Brook City Hall, Pre-Council Chambers, 56 Church St. ► When: Sept. 17, 7:30–8:30 a.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Board will meet for its September session to discuss Chamber business, community initiatives and issues affecting local businesses. The meeting provides Chamber leadership an opportunity to review ongoing programs and priorities while continuing its work to support economic growth and collaboration throughout Mountain Brook. ► More Info: mtnbrookchamber.org

O’NEAL LIBRARY Events are at various locations while the library is under renovation.

Mondays: Mahjong Meetup. Open play for all skill levels; no registration required. For information on future lessons, contact Katie Moellering at kmoellering@oneallibrary.org. Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3631 Montevallo Road. 10 a.m. to noon.

Sept. 5-7: Library closed in observance of Labor Day.

ZOO GALA 2026: AXOLOTL ADVENTURES ► Where: Birmingham Zoo, Trails of Africa, 2630 Cahaba Road ► When: Sept. 18, 6–10 p.m. ► Cost: Individual seats $750; sponsorship packages available ► Details: Dress up for an elegant evening at the Birmingham Zoo during the Zoo’s largest annual fundraiser.

Guests will enjoy cocktails and animal encounters beginning at 6 p.m., followed by dinner catered by Hot and Hot Fish Club, a live auction and dancing. The black-tie-optional event is for guests 21 and older. ► More Info: birminghamzoo.com

AVANI RUPA 10TH ANNIVERSARY RIBBON CUTTING ► Where: Avani Rupa, 2408 Canterbury Road ► When: Sept. 24, 4:30–5 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Celebrate a decade in business with Avani Rupa during a special 10th anniversary ribbon cutting hosted with the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

Community members are invited to stop by, recognize the milestone and help commemorate 10 years of Avani Rupa in Mountain Brook. ► More Info: mtnbrookchamber.org

Sept. 8: The Bookies Bookgroup. Discussing “Audition” by Katie Kitamura. Levite Jewish Community Center Senior Lounge. 10 a.m.

Sept. 8: TAB Meeting. Picnic-style. Teens. In front of Mountain Brook City Hall. 4:30-6 p.m.

Sept. 12: Medicare Made Clear. Presented by Michael Wimberly of United Healthcare. Free; registration required. Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church Reception Room, 3405 Brookwood Road. 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Sept. 14: Great Short Stories Discussion Group. Discussing “Witness for the Prosecution” by Agatha Christie. Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church Reception Room. 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 15: O’Neal Library Board of Trustees Meeting. Mountain Brook City Hall. 8:45 a.m.

Sept. 15: Writing Workshop with Miriam Calleja. This month’s topic is form: the haibun. Levite Jewish Community Center Senior Lounge. 5:30-7 p.m.

Sept. 18: Game On: Tournament Edition. Teens. Mountain Brook Baptist Church. 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 24: Neurodivergent Community Group. Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church Reception Room. 6 p.m.

Sept. 28: Mountain Brook Library Foundation Meeting. Mountain Brook City Hall. 3-6 p.m.

Sept. 29: Books & Beyond Discussion Group. Discussing hunting and fishing. Levite Jewish Community Center Berkowitz Boardroom. 6:30 p.m.

The Children’s Department calendar updates frequently. Visit oneallibrary.org or download the O’Neal Library app for the most current event information.

For a complete listing, visit oneallibrary.org.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • B9

EVENTS

Tri-city 9/11 ceremony to honor victims, first responders at SoHo Plaza

By KELLI S. HEWETT The tri-city 9/11 Day of Remembrance & Patriot Day Ceremony is set for Friday, Sept.

11 from 9-10 a.m. at SoHo Plaza in Homewood.

The public is invited.

The annual event is jointly sponsored by the cities of Mountain Brook, Homewood and Vestavia Hills and rotates each year. It honors the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and pays tribute to first responders and military personnel.

The program will include remarks from community leaders, a presentation of the colors, patriotic music and a time of remembrance.

This year’s keynote speaker has not yet been announced.

Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith said the gathering is a statement of shared values.

“We are honored to join our fellow overthe-mountain communities in remembrance,” Smith said. “While 9/11 showed us that evil exists in this world, it also revealed something far more powerful: We are stronger as a people when united in purpose and compassion. Our annual gathering reaffirms that our communities, our shared values and our commitment to one another will always be stronger than those who seek to divide us.”

Vestavia Hills Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Farrell said that for first responders, it is a rare chance to gather across agencies and jurisdictions.

“It gives us all a chance to be in the same place with our brothers and sisters,” Farrell said.

The event also plays a key role in shaping the next generation of firefighters.

9/11 Day of Remembrance & Patriot Day Ceremony ► Where: SoHo Plaza ► Date: Friday, Sept. 11 ► Hours: 9-10 a.m. ► Details: Free

Hundreds of participants gathered at the annual Patriot Day 9/11 Remembrance at Vestavia Hills Civic Center in 2025. This annual event is hosted by the cities of Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook on a rotating basis to pay tribute to first responders and commemorate what happened that day in 2001. Photo by David Leong.

New firefighters in Vestavia’s recruit school are intentionally brought to the observance so they can better grasp the weight of the day and the legacy they are joining.

“I think it’s important that we instill the importance and the reverence of this occasion

to our newer firefighters,” Farrell said.

He said they are often taken aback by how well attended and well organized the ceremony is.

“It’s a good opportunity to introduce them into the brother and sisterhood that the fire

service is,” Farrell said.

Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress said the occasion remains meaningful.

“It is the most solemn of ceremonies, one that highlights the danger every time our first responders answer the call,” Andress said. “We all remember where we were on that fateful day.”

Shay Gartman, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, said the day is also about unity across city lines.

“This annual ceremony brings our three communities together to honor and remember the lives lost, while paying tribute to the courageous first responders, military members and all who continue to serve our country and communities,” Gartman said.

Homewood Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead agreed.

“It is much more than a ceremony,” Broadhead said. “It is a moving experience. For a little while, everything else stops, and we come together as one community to remember, to honor, and to show appreciation for service and sacrifice. That sense of community is what makes the Homewood ceremony so special.”

B10 • September 2026

Village Living

EVENTS

Birmingham Botanical Gardens to host fall plant sale Sept. 18-19

By EMILY REED The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is gearing up for its annual fall plant sale Sept. 18-19.

The event is hosted by the nonprofit Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Hundreds of plants — many of which have been nurtured at the Gardens by the Friends’ dedicated volunteer growing groups — will be available for purchase, according to information provided by the Gardens.

Proceeds from the sale help support the Friends’ mission that is to protect, nurture and share the wonders of the Gardens.

New to this year’s fall sale is a members-only shopping experience on Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, with the public sale happening on Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Items available for purchase at the sale include natives, perennials, herbs, houseplants, tropicals, ferns, camellias, trees and shrubs.

Attendees of the sale also have the opportunity to learn advice from seasoned gardeners, many of whom have trained through the Jefferson County Master Gardeners program, according to information provided by the Gardens.

The program started in 1993, and with appeal to everyone from plant enthusiasts to aspiring gardeners, the sale is free and open to the public.

The sale is held outside in the “formal lawn and hill garden.”

Members will receive their annual member plant gift that is a Japanese water iris, grown at the Gardens.

“Fall is one of the best times of year to plant in Alabama, and our annual Fall Plant Sale

Fall Plant Sale ► Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road ► Hours: Fri. Sept. 18, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. Sept. 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ► Details: Members only 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 18 ► Web: bbgardens.org

Customers attending the sale have the opportunity to purchase various plants.

Photos by Graham Yelton.

gives the community a chance to bring home natives, perennials and other plants nurtured right here at the Gardens,” said Tom Underwood, executive director of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “Your purchases and membership help protect a safe space to connect with nature and fund vibrant plant, gardening and environment education for adults and families.”

Those planning to attend the sale are encouraged to bring a portable wagon or cart. Payment by check or credit card only.

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is at 2612 Lane Park Road in Birmingham. For more information about the sale, visit bbgardens.org.

Attendees of the sale have the opportunity to learn advice from seasoned gardeners, many of whom have trained through the Jefferson County Master Gardeners program.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • B11

2026 FALL

MEDICAL GUIDE Ritch’s Pharmacy offers community care with a family-centered approach For more than 75 years, Ritch’s Pharmacy has served the communities of Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook with personalized care and a family-centered approach.

Ritch’s Pharmacy is an independent community pharmacy offering over-the-counter products and prescription medications located in Mountain Brook Village. They provide services and products ranging from immunizations, synchronized prescriptions, compliance packaging and home delivery. The four pharmacists on the team at Ritch’s Pharmacy — Ralph Sorrell, Becky Sorrell, Dr. Laura Scoggins and Pam Reeve — collectively have over 100 years of experience.

Becky Sorrell — co-owner of Ritch’s Pharmacy, alongside her husband Ralph — said that being able to interact with patients and be a part of their health care team is invaluable.

“We really focus on listening to our patients — we want you to be able to tell us your needs and work together

Stay ahead of germs: Immunizations available at Ritch’s

RITCH’S PHARMACY ► 2714 Cahaba Road ► 205-871-1141 ► ritchspharmacy.com

to meet those goals,” she said.

Ritch’s Pharmacy also carries unique products that may be more difficult to find elsewhere, and they implement comprehensive health and wellness screenings. Ritch’s Pharmacy offers a convenient packaging system: a blister card that organizes all necessary medicines by specific days and times. This is a great tool to improve medication adherence and reduce medication errors for the patient and the caregiver.

Stay well with Ritch’s

Prescriptions | Wellness | Gifts | & More Prescription Delivery Available 2714 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook | (205) 871-1141

B12 • September 2026

Village Living

Two decades of hands-on care, one founding idea

ZACH EDWARDS, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR, CRESTLINE

JASON GRAMMER, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR, LIBERTY PARK

Steve Foster had practiced physical therapy for 26 years when he decided the profession was drifting from what made it work. Care was consolidating into larger operations with busier schedules, and the therapist who evaluated a patient was not always the one who treated them. So in the summer of 2006, Foster opened a clinic of his own and built it around a single promise: hands-on care, close to a patient’s home or work.

Twenty years later, TherapySouth operates more than 50 clinics across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, with a clinical staff numbering in the hundreds and a footprint that runs from the Shoals to the Gulf Coast. It has grown into one of the largest physical therapy practices in the region while remaining what it was on day one: a private practice owned by the therapists who work in it. Foster, a 1980 graduate of UAB’s physical therapy program, continues to lead the company as chairman and chief executive, alongside Doug Cole, president and chief operating officer; Nathan Click, chief clinical officer; and board partners Josh Steed, Allison Fowlkes and Alan Spooner.

The company that now spans three states began as a single clinic and a conviction. Foster’s model asked therapists to build careers in the communities where they practiced, treating the same neighbors through injuries, surgeries and the long project of staying active. Twenty years is long enough that some patients have come back with their parents or their kids in tow.

The growth strategy reads like a contradiction. TherapySouth got big by staying small, multiplying modest neighborhood clinics instead of building regional hubs. The reasoning is clinical rather than commercial. Physical therapy typically requires two or three visits a week, and outcomes depend on patients showing up. A clinic five minutes from home tends to see completed treatment plans. A clinic 40 minutes away sees cancellations. In this model, convenience is a medical outcome, and location is part of the prescription.

Patients tend to notice the difference before they can explain it. The clinics are deliberately informal, closer in feel to a neighborhood gym than a medical office, and new patients are welcome to walk in and look around before booking an appointment. The front desk greets returning patients by name.

The therapist who performs the initial evaluation stays with the case, pairing skilled manual treatment with a home exercise program and coordinating with physicians along the way. No referral is required to schedule a first visit. And the specialty menu runs deeper than many expect, from dry needling and sports rehabilitation to certified hand therapy, pelvic health, balance training and post-surgical recovery.

Every clinic hangs the same sign, listing eight core values with faith at the top, followed by family, integrity, service, compassion, fitness, perseverance and giving. The company backs the words with TherapySouth Gives Back, a nonprofit that provides therapy equipment to people who cannot otherwise obtain it and lends support after natural disasters, and with mission work that has reached Guatemala, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Honduras and China.

Closer to home, it funds scholarships at UAB and Samford and partners with groups like the Birmingham Track Club.

The anniversary story in these pages promises 20 years of getting you back to what you love, and the company can point to two decades of first steps after surgery, finish lines and everyday victories behind the claim. The founding test remains the simpler one. TherapySouth enters its third decade the way it entered its first, with a therapist at the top of the organization and a standard anyone can check at the front door: when a patient walks in, somebody knows their name.

Mountain Brook’s door is in Crestline Village, at 205 Country Club Park, and in Liberty Park at 3800 River Run Drive.

Appointments are available at 205-871-0777 for Crestline and 205-970-2350 for Liberty Park.

VillageLivingOnline.com

September 2026 • B13

LIBERTY PARK (205) 970-2350 3800 River Run Dr. Ste. 102 Birmingham, AL 35243 CRESTLINE (205) 871-0777 205 Country Club Park Birmingham, AL 35213

B14 • September 2026

Village Living SPONSORED CONTENT

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Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness also treats snoring and bruxism, which can sometimes be a sleep apnea symptom. Snoring can be disruptive to your spouse or bed partner and Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness can help with that.

Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness welcomes medical insurance, such as Medicare, most commercial plans and supplemental plans.

Dr. Ardovino has over 200 hours of sleep dentistry education and completed a TMJ fellowship at the Dawson Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. She’s a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH

Experience Matters

The team at ENT Associates includes 15 board-certified physicians, 6 licensed PAs, and 17 clinical audiologists across 11 locations, including a new satellite office in Clanton, all dedicated to your care. We prioritize your health, treating every patient with personal attention and compassion.

We offer same-day, early morning, evening, and Saturday appointments. Call 1-888-ENT-5020 (1-888-368-5020), visit entalabama.com, or scan the QR code to connect with us online.

Are you actually reaching new patients?

Be the voice of your industry in the Medical Guide.

Email dan@starnesmedia.com for your Medical Guide Strategy Session

Birmingham • Grandview • Valleydale • Trussville • Gardendale Alabaster • Jasper • Pell City • Bessemer • Cullman • Clanton

entalabama.com | 888-368-5020

VillageLivingOnline.com

FALL MEDICAL GUIDE

September 2026 • B15

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Gunn Dermatology offers expert, patientfirst care, both cosmetic and medical At Gunn Dermatology, Dr. Holly Gunn and her staff offer full-body dermatological and cosmetic care at two locations in Crestline Village and Lane Parke. They provide any service, treatment or technology a patient could ever need, and they customize treatments to each patient.

“We’re a full-spectrum, one-stop dermatology practice,” says Clinical Director Rachel Stroupe.

Gunn Dermatology is also known as the preeminent place in Birmingham for cosmetic care.

However, Dr. Gunn says her practice is just as strong on the medical side, especially since the arrival in 2025 of Dr. James Libecco, a dermatologist and researcher with more than 20 years of experience who worked previously at the Cleveland Clinic.

“We’re both board-certified dermatologists, and we’re the best at medical treatment, too,” Dr. Gunn says.

She’s been very impressed by Dr. Libecco’s abilities.

“When I first heard him speak on hair loss and autoimmune diseases, it was apparent he’s smarter than most dermatologists, and he’s so passionate,” she says. “He also goes beyond passion and has a mind to see and understand the skin.”

She enjoys watching Dr. Libecco in the clinic, where he’s seeing more and more patients.

“Even though he has a high-level mindset, he’s able to educate and explain things to patients really well,” Dr. Gunn says.

Gunn Dermatology also has great technology and takes pride in staying on

the cutting edge. “We have everything that a good, innovative dermatology practice needs,” Dr. Gunn says.

They were one of the first practices to perfect the use of Ellacor, a non-surgical, micro-coring technology that does body treatments. “We’re getting amazing, surgical-like results,” Dr. Gunn says.

Gunn Dermatology also uses the advanced Tetra PRO CO2 ablative laser for skin resurfacing, the Vivace Ultra device to tighten, tone or contour any area of the body and the EMSCULPT body device.

On the medical side, Dr. Gunn offers an exciting new ultrasound-guided radiation treatment to remove some skin cancers without the use of Mohs surgery.

“We were one of the first practices in Birmingham to use it,” Dr. Gunn says.

However, Gunn Dermatology remains focused on the patient, not just technology.

“We focus on maximizing great care and getting results,” Dr. Gunn says. “We focus on our expertise and not trends, and we’re the real deal.”

Some other practices in Birmingham have mimicked Gunn Dermatology’s marketing and approach in recent years, but they can’t beat the original, she says.

“They can copy our technology or our social media, but our expertise, judgement and patient relationships can’t be copied.”

Gunn Dermatology ► Where: 391 Rele St., Mountain Brook, and 32 Church St., Crestline ► Call: 205-415-7536 ► Web: gunndermatology.com ► Instagram: Scan QR code

B16 • September 2026

Village Living

LIFE

Habitat Feed & Social sorts its menu by terrain, not tradition

By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA Most restaurant menus are sorted by course.

Habitat Feed & Social sorts its by terrain.

The signature restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Hotel on Lane Park Road builds its menu around the habitats that produce Alabama’s food: grassland, wetland and the rest of the state’s improbable ecological range. It is the rare restaurant concept where the name is doing actual work rather than decoration.

“Each habitat represents something unique,” said Lauren Turner, who has managed the restaurant for the past year. “That’s the whole idea behind the menu: regional flavor, fresh ingredients and letting the ingredient tell you where it came from.”

Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, a fact that tends to get more attention from biologists than from chefs. Habitat’s kitchen takes it as an organizing principle: grassland for the beef and grazing country, wetland for the Gulf and the river systems and so on down the menu. The through line is regional sourcing and seasonal cooking rather than any single culinary tradition.

THE ROOFTOP

The other half of the operation is upstairs.

Habitat’s rooftop terrace looks out over Mountain Brook, and it does a great deal of work for a single space: cocktails at sunset, anniversary dinners, birthday parties, a table of friends who came for happy hour and stayed for dinner.

“We have something for everyone,” Turner said. “You can celebrate a birthday or an

of them involves sitting at a table.

The first is wine blending. Guests work through a set of varietals, build a blend to their own taste, and leave with four bottles of it — corked, labeled and theirs. It has become a fixture for bachelorette parties, corporate outings and couples looking for something to do that isn’t dinner and a movie, and it makes use of one of the more unusual amenities the Grand Bohemian brand carries from property to property.

The second is the cooking school. Chef Josh Towey runs a rotating slate of six or seven classes, hands-on and small enough that people actually cook rather than watch. The perennial favorite is the pasta class — the one Turner says fills first and the one people come back for.

“People want to learn to make perfect pasta,” she said. “That class sells out every time.”

Between the two programs, the restaurant has quietly become a place people visit for an evening’s activity as well as a meal.

GETTING THERE

Lauren Turner is the manager at Habitat Feed & Social. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

anniversary here, you can have a fine dining experience, or you can come up for happy hour and just enjoy the view. It’s the same space, and it works for all of it.”

That range is deliberate. A hotel restaurant has to serve guests coming down for breakfast at 7 a.m. and a table booked three weeks out for a 40th birthday, and Habitat’s answer has been to lean into the setting rather than pick a lane.

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday,

3 to 6 p.m., with small bites and specials on beer, wine and cocktails. On Thursdays, live music plays on the patio — a standing weekly draw that has become one of the restaurant’s better-known offerings among people who have never eaten a full dinner there.

BLEND YOUR OWN, THEN CORK IT

Two programs set Habitat apart from the rest of Mountain Brook’s dining scene, and neither

Habitat serves breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m., brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dinner nightly beginning at 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The bar opens at 10 a.m. daily and runs to 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends.

Habitat Feed & Social Grand Bohemian Hotel, 2655 Lane Park Road. Call 205-4140505 or visit habitatfeedandsocial.com for more information.

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