Volume 4 | Issue 3 | July 2016
Voter Guide: 2016
New brand, same traditions VHHS preparing to roll out new logo, spirit gear ahead of ‘16-’17 school year
Local elections are approaching fast, so be sure you’re up to speed on who’s in the race (and who’s bowing out), issues and voting do’s and don’ts.
See page A8
Work Wrapping Up
With construction at the new Chickfil-A ‘flying,’ the store’s operator is anticipating a July 14 opening.
See page B1
INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 City ................... A6 Business .........A14 Chamber ........A16 Events .............. B6
School House . B12 Sports .............. B13 Faith .................B16 Real Estate...... B17 Calendar ..........B18
Vestavia Hills head football coach Buddy Anderson’s well-known saying was used to inspire the 1Rebel logo. He said at the heart of any new mark or logo, it is important to remember that VHHS is a family. Photo by Erica Techo.
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By ERICA TECHO hen the new school year starts, Vestavia Hills High School spirit gear might look a little different. Following the school board’s approval of new branding for Vestavia Hills High School, new marks and logos will gradually make their way into the school and
onto the market. Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Sheila Phillips said how and when the new marks will be implemented depends on the item in question. “We’re not going through and just changing everything,” she said. “We won’t be ordering anything new with the old logo, so anything new will have the new marks on it. However, if it’s something that we already had that doesn’t make sense to change, then we are going to be very
thoughtful as we do that.” For example, the championship banners in the gymnasium, which bear old logos, will not be changed. Phillips said those are historical markers for the school and will not be affected by the new brand. Something like a tent used at a track meet or the basketball scoring table, however, are easy changes and will be changed to have the new logo.
See BRANDING | page A22
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #830
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Friends honor Belcher’s legacy of making a difference By SYDNEY CROMWELL Dave Belcher was one of those people that others could easily look up to. “You look up ‘good, quality citizen,’ and his picture should be the depiction,” said Buddy Lockhart, Belcher’s friend of about 40 years. A longtime Vestavia Hills resident and the
See BELCHER | page A23
Members of the Sunday school group that Dave Belcher attended at Shades Valley Baptist are now raising funds for a scholarship in his memory. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
A2 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A3
A4 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Will you be voting? I don’t mean in the national elections in November. I’m talking about the elections taking place in your city next month. I’ve covered my fair share of city council meetings, budget hearings and planning commissions over the last couple of years. Those meetings have left me convinced that no vote will affect your daily life more than the vote you place in your local city council and mayoral elections. The people you choose to represent you are critical on small-scale projects — streetlights in your neighborhood or sidewalks to your school, for example — as well as larger ones such as attracting new businesses and funding
all the information on how to register to vote, what seats are up for election and where and when to vote. If you’re feeling stirred to civic duty, we also have information on how to qualify as a candidate. Next month, be on the lookout for our complete election guide with candidate profiles and everything you need to know before you go to the polls. We at the Vestavia Voice want to make it as easy as possible for you to vote and get the best possible representation in your city for the next four years. police and fire services. Despite this importance, the majority of people do not vote in their city elections. Inside this month’s issue, you’ll find
MEET OUR INTERNS
Maryellen Newton Junior, Samford University Hometown: Birmingham What do you want to learn while you’re here? “I’m really interested in print journalism, so I’m excited to learn not only how the print side operates, but also behind the scenes of how it comes to be.”
Alyx Chandler Senior, University of Alabama Hometown: Madison, AL What do you want to learn while you’re here? “I’m most interested in long-form, in-depth community features, also investigative reports and stories on women-focused issues. While I’m here, I hope to expand my knowledge of how to market and best capture an audience for a new paper through social media, as well as writing hyper-local features that tell the stories community members might not know otherwise.”
Ali Renckens Junior, Union University Hometown: Tampa, FL What do you want to learn while you’re here? “I really enjoy writing creative nonfiction feature pieces. I’m not much of a sports reporter, but I do read a lot of sports writing, so I would defini ely be interested in improving that!”
Katherine Polcari Junior, BirminghamSouthern College Hometown: Chattanooga What do you want to learn while you’re here? “I want to be able to center my future career around writing, and preferably I will end up working for a magazine. I am hoping that this internship with Starnes Publishing will reassure myself in my future career path and allow me to improve upon my abilities as a journalist.”
Contributing Writers: Kari Kampakis Cherie Olivier Grace Thornton
Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Director of Digital Media: Sports Editor: Page Designers:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Frank Couch Heather VacLav Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Ana Good Erica Techo Jon Anderson Staff Writer: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries
Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison
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Contact Information: Vestavia Voice PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney @starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: Starnes Publishing LLC Legals: The Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Vestavia Voice. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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July 2016 • A5
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A6 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
City
Donald Harwell appointed to transit board By EMILY FEATHERSTON
Donald Harwell speaks to the council during its June 13 meeting. Photo by Emily Featherston.
The Vestavia Hills City Council voted June 13 to appoint Vestavia resident Donald Harwell to the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority board. Harwell will fill the unexpired term of Andrew Edwards, and will serve until May 2018 when the next regular appointment takes place. Edwards, Mayor Butch Zaragoza said, is unable to complete his term on the board due to business obligations. Harwell originally applied for the board seat when Vestavia was granted a place after the 2010 census, and has attended meetings in the past as a proxy for Edwards. “I really feel like he would do a good job,” Zaragoza told the council, citing Harwell’s background in transportation and outspoken nature at city council meetings as merit for his appointment. Vestavia has one place on the nine-member board, with Hoover, Jefferson County and Birmingham making up the remaining eight seats. “It’s a tough board,” Harwell told the council and audience, and said he would work hard to serve Vestavia’s interest in the transit system. Other council business included: ► The council approved a resolution authorizing City Manager Jeff Downes to execute design and construction specification agreements, with amendments by City Attorney Patrick Boone, for the proposed western entrance to the former Altadena Valley Country Club. ► The council voted to approve an alcohol license for Ironstone Pizzaworks, which will be located in the City Center retail area and is scheduled to open in early August. ► The council voted to approve a remediation agreement between the city and the owner and mortgage broker of 2216 Brookdale Lane. Owners have until Oct. 15 to complete the incomplete construction on the property. ► A public hearing for the adoption of national and international building codes was set for Monday, July 11, at 5 p.m.
Chill out while you grill out
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A7
Mayor’s Minute
By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza With summer in swing, I’d like to remind Vestavia Hills residents about our parks. One thing we have attempted to do over the last couple of years is improve and add to our city’s parks. At McCallum Park, we have worked with the Freshwater Land Trust and local Boy Scouts to add trails and put a bridge over the creek, making 14 additional acres accessible to walkers and picnickers. At Altadena, our goal is to create athletic fields and a community park on the 70 acres donated to the city, with walking trails and other amenities. The work on that project is ongoing. At Patchwork Farms, eight acres along the creek have been made into a park. Work on creating trails is underway now, with more amenities to be added later. This new park will allow people who live and work near Patchwork Farms to have a place to enjoy a nice walk. In Cahaba Heights, the city has purchased four houses and removed them to make way for a one-acre park. This future park will include a wetlands area, trails and picnic tables.
At the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex, 70 acres are under development for a new community park with trails, an amphitheater, disc golf, a splash pad and other amenities to enjoy. In the last four months, we have annexed 74 acres into the city, with the help of the Freshwater Land Trust, near the Carraway Davie House. We plan to work with the Trust and Boy Scouts to build trails and a possible boat launch there. The city will continue working with the Parks and Recreation Foundation to raise money and continue improving our existing and future parks. I hope residents will take advantage of our current parks as part of their summer fun, and enjoy our future parks in months to come.
Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza presides over the city council meeting on Monday, May 23. Photo by Sam Chandler.
Council discusses feral cats, sidewalk projects By SAM CHANDLER Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes gave updates on two key items at the City Council meeting Monday, May 23. First, Downes announced that work on the first of three sidewalk pilot projects would begin Tuesday, May 31. He said the initial 60-day project on Merryvale Road, along with future projects on Green Valley Road and Willoughby Road, will allow the city to gauge the cost and effectiveness of local sidewalk construction. “What we’re trying to do in this pilot project is pick up where the previous contractor stopped, see what our costs are, see what our issues are and then we’ll plan to move from there implementing further sidewalks that support our masterplan,” Downes said. In addition, Downes announced 79 feral cats in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood have been impounded to date as part of the Trap-Neuter-Release program. The early success of the initiative has been in the city’s ability to gather feral cats in known locations while ensuring TNR advocates that the cats are being treated humanely, Downes said. “From that perspective, the humane treatment of feral cats and ridding our community of areas that were creating nuisances has been a success,” he said.
In other business, the council: ► Approved ordinances to annex and rezone 2425 Kenvil Circle from Jefferson County E-2 to Vestavia Hills R-1. ► Approved ordinances to annex and rezone 3425 Jones Drive from Jefferson County E-2 to Vestavia Hills R-1. ► Approved ordinances to annex and rezone 2510 and 2512 Dolly Ridge Road from Jefferson County E-2 to Vestavia Hills R-1. ► Approved ordinances to annex and rezone 2611 Alta Vista Circle from Shelby County E-1 to Vestavia Hills E-2. ► Approved ordinances to annex and rezone 4705 Caldwell Mill Road from Jefferson County E-2 to Vestavia Hills R-1. ► Approved a resolution to declare weeds and other vegetation a nuisance at 1524 Blind Brook Lane. The resident was given three weeks to abate the issue. ► Approved a resolution to declare weeds and other vegetation a nuisance at 4421 Dolly Ridge Road. The resident was given three weeks to abate the issue. ► Approved a resolution to declare a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice and one ambulance stretcher as surplus property. The items will be sold in an auction format to the highest bidder. ► Approved a resolution to grant a special events license to Jacquelins Inc. for the sale of alcohol at an upcoming crawfish boil.
A8 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
a i v a t s Ve lls i H
By EMILY FEATHERSTON
This August, Vestavia Hills residents will head to the polls to vote for a mayor and four city council members. Here are a few things you need to know before election day.
t a Wh
The issues City Hall made its move to its new home on a hill off of Montgomery Highway late in 2015. Just as the city itself has grown, so has involvement by residents in the municipal process. There are several Facebook forums for community discussion, and residents have even formed formal community action groups. As the August election approaches, some residents have suggested issues they hope to see candidates address.
► DEVELOPMENT: Development, both economic and residential, has been a hot topic over the last few years. Between growth in the U.S. 31 corridor, groundbreaking at Patchwork Farms and the opening of Grandview Medical Center, the city has added a significant number of businesses and commercial developments. City Manager Jeff Downes has reported increases of tax revenue that he and financial advisors attribute to this growth. However, some residents are concerned about the impact this increase in development will have on infrastructure and public safety, and how an increase in residential development will impact local schools. ► COUNCIL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS:
The city recently added features at the new City Hall that will allow council meetings to be video and audio
n e h W JULY 5
recorded. The city also contracted with a communications firm to increase its social media presence, using Twitter and Facebook as a means to disseminate announcements such as road closings, public events and construction projects. Some residents feel this social media presence could be used to make the mayor and council members more accessible to residents’ concerns, and used as a means of dialogue. Others think the council has more work to do in keeping the government process open, including moving meeting times — which are regularly scheduled on the second and fourth Mondays at 5 p.m. — to a time when professionals with traditional working hours can attend.
► EDUCATION: Though not up for election in August, residents are interested in how the next council will be involved with the board of education. Some argue the board should be elected, and that the council should seek a path to making that possible. Others think the council, since it appoints board members, should be more accountable for board actions. In the last year, the board has been responsible for several highly discussed actions, such as the rebranding of Vestavia Hills High School and the purchase of the lot across from Vestavia Hills Elementary School Cahaba Heights.
Candidates begin qualifying to run. While many candidates often announce their intention to run for election before this date, this is the day when the formal process of submitting qualifying forms begins.
City elections in Vestavia Hills are held every four years on the fourth Tuesday of August for terms beginning Nov. 1, unless there is a special election like there was in 2010. There are four city council “places” — 1, 2, 3, 4 — and the mayor, but everyone is elected “at large” rather than to represent a specific geographic area. Vestavia Hills is set up to include a council-manager form of government: four council members and a mayor, who serves as the CEO for the city. Members of the council interview, select and hire the city manager. One council member serves as mayor pro-tem. “Voter registrations maybe obtained from alabamavotes.gov or by Googling the Alabama secretary of state’s office,” said City Clerk Rebecca Leavings. “You can visit any local library for the paperwork or straight from the Jefferson and/or Shelby County Board of Registrars. The voter should complete the paperwork and send to the registrar of the county in which they reside. The addresses are obtained when the registration application is printed. 17-3-50(a) of the Code of Alabama states that a voter must have submitted registration to the Board of Registrars a minimum of 15 days prior to the election in order to vote in that election; in this case, registration must be received prior to or on Aug. 8, 2016.” For those seeking to run for a council place, Leavings explained the necessary steps. “Qualification begins July 5, 2016, at 8 a.m. Central time here in the office of the city clerk,” she said. “Qualification ends at 5 p.m., Central time, July 19, 2016. The qualifier must present an executed form declaring the position to which he/she is running, a $50 qualification fee and an executed Alabama Statement of Economic Interest form.” Per the city of Vestavia Hills, registered and qualified electors of the state, who reside within the corporate limits of the city of Vestavia Hills, and have resided in the city for 30 days or more immediately preceding the date of the election, and who are qualified to vote in the county precinct which embraces and covers that part of the corporate limits of the city in which the elector resides, will be authorized to participate in the election.
JULY 19
The last day to qualify to run. All qualifying forms must be filed with the city clerk by 5 p.m.
AUG. 18
AUG. 10
Last day to register to vote for the municipal election.
AUG. 23
Last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot, available from the city clerk.
Election day
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A9
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A10 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
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► REGISTERING TO RUN: Qualifying forms will be made available through the city clerk. Those wishing to apply as candidates will have until July 19 to turn in a statement of candidacy and the $50 qualifying fee to the city clerk no later than 5 p.m. Anyone wishing to run for
MAYOR BUTCH ZARAGOZA
COUNCILOR GEORGE PIERCE
Running for re-election
Running for re-election
office must file a Statement of Economic Interests directly with Ethics Commission before qualifying. Candidates must reside in the municipality and the district for a period of 90 days before the election and must be at least 18 years old.
COUNCILOR JIM SHARP Retiring
MAYOR PRO-TEM STEVE AMMONS
COUNCILOR JOHN HENLEY
Running for re-election
Running for re-election
Expires 8/1/2016
According to information available on the city’s candidate for elected office information page, candidates must familiarize themselves with the various reporting and other requirements of the Alabama Ethics Commission and Fair Campaign Practices Act.
VestaviaVoice.com
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► Absentee balloting, Vestavia Hills Municipal Center, 513 Montgomery Highway
July 2016 • A11
► Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Ave.
► Liberty Park Baptist Church, 12001 Liberty Parkway
Birmingham’s Premiere Design/Build Custom Home Builder
► Horizon Church, 2345 Columbiana Road
► Mountaintop Community Church, 225 Centerview Drive
► Town Village Vestavia Hills, 2385 Dolly Ridge Road
w o H REGISTERING TO VOTE ► FIRST TIME: Applicants who are registering to vote for the first time must complete a State of Alabama Voter Registration Form and submit it to the county where they live. The applicant must provide a physical address — not a P.O. box — as well as their date of birth and an original signature. A State of Alabama Voter Registration Card will be mailed to the voter, and that will show the voter’s polling location. ► FINDING FORMS: Voter registration forms can be found at the office of the Board of Registrars, satellite licensing offices and public libraries. ► VERIFYING INFORMATION: Voters who are already registered to vote should
check Aug ust’s Vestavia V oice f comple te list of candida tes
► Cahaba Heights Community and Senior Citizens Center, 4401 Dolly Ridge Road
make sure their information, including name and address if there has been a recent change, is up to date. Voter registration does not transfer between counties even within the same state, and any voters who have moved into Jefferson County will have to complete a new registration. Name changes and changes of address within the county must be made in writing and forwarded to the board of registrars. Voters can check that they are registered to vote by entering their last name, county and date of birth at alabamavotes.gov. ► QUALIFICATIONS: To vote in this municipal election, a voter must live in the city for 30 days before registering to vote and be registered to vote in your county precinct. Applications sent by mail should be postmarked before Aug. 10 and sent directly to the board of registrars.
M˜ e
Stay up to date with municipal election coverage at vestaviavoice.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter
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A12 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Purple traps set to study emerald ash borer beetle By ANA GOOD Peculiar purple traps are hanging high atop Vestavia Hills ash trees. But the “thing-a-ma-jigs,” as they have been called, are no cause for alarm, said Jeff Head, the USDA state plant health director in Alabama. The purple contraptions are traps, he said, aimed at helping the U.S. Department of Agriculture in surveying for an invasive pest in the community — the emerald ash borer beetle. The beetle has killed millions of ash trees in 25 states across the nation, but thankfully, it has not been detected in Alabama, he said. The beetles, however, can be found in several of Alabama’s neighboring states. The exotic beetle, which originated in Asia, was discovered in southeastern Michigan in the summer of 2002, according to the Emerald Ash Borer Information Network. Studies have found that adult beetles only nibble on the ash foliage and cause little damage. It’s the larvae, feeding on the inner bark of ash trees, that causes the major damage to the tree. The larvae’s feeding disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually leading to its death. It is believed the beetles probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes. There are three purple traps in the Vestavia Hills area and 75 in Jefferson County, Head said. The three-sided purple traps, about 3 feet tall, are made of a cardboard-like material. This year, the trap installation has been contracted out to Delta-21 Resources Inc. out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Local USDA officers will perform routine inspections and gather periodic
Federal quarantine boundaries involving the emerald ash borer beetle are outlined in red in the map above. Right: Vestavia Hills residents might have seen some peculiar purple traps hanging high atop ash trees throughout the community. Photos courtesy of Sharon Lucik.
reports on the traps to ensure they are being used correctly, Head said. This isn’t the first time the purple traps have been deployed in Alabama, he said. It’s common practice to survey areas to determine if the harmful beetles are present in an area. In Alabama, the surveys have been conducted for years. If ever the beetle’s presence is determined, Head said a number of regulatory procedures would have to take place. “Thankfully, I haven’t had to become an expert in that,” he said. “Of course we don’t want them here. But if they are here, we want our traps to let us know.” Sharon Lucik, public affairs specialist with
the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said areas where the beetle is found are placed under a federal quarantine. Because of the seriousness of the matter, Lucik said once a trap is believed to have captured one of the pests, it must first be positively identified by a number of different entomologists. “The suspect beetle is sent to the USDA for identification by an entomologist and then for confirmation in another laboratory,” she said. “It has to go through a vetting process, because there are lookalike beetles out there.” The purple traps, though they appear out of the norm, pose no risk to people or pets. But they are covered with nontoxic glue and are very sticky,
so it’s best not to touch them, Head said. The traps will be in area ash trees through August. Residents are asked not to disturb them. For more information about the emerald ash borer beetle survey or to report a fallen trap, call 866-322-4512.
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A13
Rocky Ridge Road resurfacing causes lane closures, congestion By EMILY FEATHERSTON
Traffic along Rocky Ridge Road will be reduced to one lane as the road is resurfaced. Photo by Emily Featherston.
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Residents who frequent Rocky Ridge Road may want to find an alternate route as the major resurfacing project along the Rocky Ridge Road from Shades Crest Road to Lorna Road continues. Crews began working on the section of the road closest to Highway 280 on June 7, and the city expects the majority of the resurfacing to be completed by mid-July. While each lane is resurfaced, traffic will be cut to one lane, with a pilot truck and crewmembers directing drivers when to wait and when to proceed. Lane closures can only take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., but residents are already seeing congestion in the area. “This is the heart of the project,” City Engineer Christopher Brady said. Brady said the city recommends residents seek out alternate routes to avoid the lane closures, if possible. After seeing the impact on traffic, Brady said representatives from Mid South Paving contacted the city and ALDOT to see if adding construction on Saturdays would be possible in order to ease some of the congestion. The project, which is funded in part by an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program grant, is a joint effort between the city of Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Mountain Brook. Earlier this year, guardrail and shoulder improvements were made to the same stretch of road. Brady said after the resurfacing is complete, there will be some restriping and additional guardrail work that might cause intermittent lane closures, but that work would not be on the scale residents will experience during the resurfacing stage. Brady also said he thinks as the project moves farther away from Highway 280, traffic headaches will decrease somewhat. “I would think traffic congestion will lighten up a little from here on out,” he said.
A14 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
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VestaviaVoice.com
News and Accomplishments Panera Bread, 700 Montgomery Highway, has new hours. They are open Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 978-8910, panerabread.com
1
Hirings and Promotions ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, has hired Brenda Weaver, Bob Kuykendall and Ticia Payne as new Realtors. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com
2
GLAM Beauty Boutique, 1078 Montgomery Highway, welcomes Thomas Brown to its team of stylists. 873-1953, glambham.com
3
July 2016 • A15 Re/MAX Over the Mountain, 2870 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 100, has hired Leigh Morgan and David Walters as sales associates. 970-1080, otmrealestate.com
4
Anniversaries Weigh to Wellness, 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1, is celebrating its second anniversary in July. 994-2393, aplanforme.com
5
MD VIP, 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1, is celebrating its second anniversary in July. 313-6894, mdvip.com/timothyrealmd
6
Closings 7
O’Carr’s, 3150 Cahaba Heights Road, has closed.
Business news
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Relocation Expansion Anniversary
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Vestavia Hills and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
Email dan@vestaviavoice.com
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VestaviaVoice.com
News and Accomplishments Panera Bread, 700 Montgomery Highway, has new hours. They are open Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 978-8910, panerabread.com
1
Hirings and Promotions ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, has hired Brenda Weaver, Bob Kuykendall and Ticia Payne as new Realtors. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com
2
GLAM Beauty Boutique, 1078 Montgomery Highway, welcomes Thomas Brown to its team of stylists. 873-1953, glambham.com
3
July 2016 • A15 Re/MAX Over the Mountain, 2870 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 100, has hired Leigh Morgan and David Walters as sales associates. 970-1080, otmrealestate.com
4
Anniversaries Weigh to Wellness, 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1, is celebrating its second anniversary in July. 994-2393, aplanforme.com
5
MD VIP, 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1, is celebrating its second anniversary in July. 313-6894, mdvip.com/timothyrealmd
6
Closings 7
O’Carr’s, 3150 Cahaba Heights Road, has closed.
Business news
to share? Now Open Coming Soon
Relocation Expansion Anniversary
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Vestavia Hills and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
Email dan@vestaviavoice.com
Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.
A16 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Chamber
UAB football coach shares his message: Do it better than before By EMILY FEATHERSTON Confidence, trust and focus: Those are the words UAB head football coach Bill Clark said he hopes to instill in his players and thinks everyone should take to heart. Clark spoke at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce June luncheon June 14 explaining to members and guests what he tells his players, what he expects of them and where the Blazer football team is headed next. Each time he meets with a new team, whether he is coming off a record breaking season or beginning practice after bringing back a program, Clark said he has the same message. “Do it better than it’s ever been done before,” he said. That is done in three primary ways, he said, both on the football field in and in life. “Protect the team,” “be ready” and “no whining, no complaining and no excuses,” were his three rules for success. “Every minute detail counts,” he said, adding that whether it is in practice, academics or interacting with other people, he urges his players to get everything right, down to the smallest action. As the team comes back, Clark thanked those who pushed and backed the return of the football program. He also said he encourages the entire greater Birmingham community to attend Blazer football practices, watch the scrimmages and support the team when it begins regularly playing. “You can all pull for UAB,” he said. “Go Blazers.”
UAB football coach Bill Clark describs how he expects his players to behave both on and off the field. Photo by Emily Featherston.
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VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A17
Community Chad and Janet Richey. Chad, of Title Sponsor Merrill Lynch spoke on behalf of Merrill Lynch and St. Jude. Photo courtesy of Steve Higginbotham/ StyleBlueprint.
St. Jude Field of Dreams raises $142K for hospital
, s d n a h e k e sha w e r o f e B . s d n a h d l we ho
By ANA GOOD The second St. Jude Field of Dreams event surpassed last year’s fundraising total by more than $40,000. This year, the May 7 event at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook raised $142,120 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said event co-chair Molly Fielding. Guests of St. Jude Field of Dreams enjoyed cuisine, cocktails and entertainment by Razz Ma Tazz, all while raising money for the Tennessee-based children’s hospital through silent and live auctions. Mountain Brook resident Slade Anderson, along with two other local St. Jude patients, Sophia Schefano of Vestavia Hills and Cole Tanner, were honored at the fundraising event in the ballroom of the Grand Bohemian. Together, friends and members of the three families did their part to help raise money for the research hospital that saved their loved ones’ lives. This year, Anderson helped auction off a Mo’s Bows bow tie to winning bidder Jen Reese for $1,500. The bow ties, designed by 14-year-old Moziah “Mo” Bridges, are handmade. After nearly three years of battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia — a form of blood cancer — Anderson completed his last chemotherapy treatment June 9, 2015, according to his mother, Emily. On May 15, Anderson celebrated his ninth birthday. Sophia Schefano and her father, Michael, attended the St. Jude Field of Dreams event to celebrate her 11th birthday and the hospital that helped her live to enjoy it. The celebration came nearly 10 years after Sophia’s father heard the news no parent wants to hear: At just 2 months old, doctors diagnosed Sophia with retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer. Today, thanks to the treatment she received at St. Jude, Sophia remains cancer-free. The fundraising event began as an idea that Michael Schefano, the owner of Hollywood Imports in Vestavia Hills, had just more than two years ago on one of the regular trips Sophia Schefano makes to St. Jude for checkups. His girlfriend, Molly Fielding, who has been part of Sophia’s life since she was 3, reached out to St. Jude for ideas on how they could give back. Fielding said this year, the plan was to make the event even bigger. Former University of Alabama, NFL and NFL Europe star Siran Stacy headlined the event. Following a successful football career, Stacy transitioned into a career in mortgage banking. Along with his corporate banking jobs, Stacy worked with Bill Glass Prison Ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and spoke to many small churches. In November 2007, according to his online
At RealtySouth, real estate doesn’t simply equate to hard negotiation and paperwork. Slade Anderson helped auction off a Mo’s Bows bow tie to winning bidder Jen Reese for $1,500. Courtesy of Molly Fielding.
biography, Stacy’s life changed forever. He, his wife, Ellen, his son, Bronson, and his daughters Lequisa, Sydney, Shelly and Ellie Ann-Marie were traveling in the family’s van, when their van was struck by a drunk driver. Only Siran and Shelly, age 4 at the time, survived. Following the tragedy, Stacy started his ministry and now speaks to a variety of groups including churches, high schools, corporate groups, military branches and prisons. The inaugural St. Jude Field of Dreams event helped raise $101,094 to benefit the Memphis children’s research hospital through a silent auction and donations. More than 300 people attended the event at Regions Field. This year’s event was sponsored by Merrill Lynch and featured auction items including event tickets, travel packages, gift certificates and autographed memorabilia. According to a news release about the event, St. Jude patients and families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. Field of Dreams aims to help ensure this practice continues. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Treatments discovered at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago.
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A18 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Get festive this Fourth of July with this simple All-American Parfait
WHAT’S COOKING
By CHERIE OLIVIER With summer now in full swing, we asked Bruster’s Real Ice Cream for the best ice cream dish. Kirk Parker suggested the All-American Parfait, which he described as visually interesting and a great way to celebrate July 4.
RECIPE:
► 1 pint Bruster’s Blue Pop Ice ► 1 pint Bruster’s Strawberry Sorbet ► 1 quart Bruster’s Vanilla Blast ► 6 parfait cups ► 1 can whipped cream ► 6 maraschino cherries
STEPS:
1. Place 1 ounce scoop of Bruster’s Blue Pop Ice in the bottom of a parfait cup and tap until level. 2. Add 1 ounce scoop of Bruster’s Vanilla Blast and tap until level. 3. Add 3 ounce scoop of Bruster’s Strawberry Sorbet. 4. Add 3 ounce scoop of Vanilla Blast. 5. Add 3 ounce scoop of Blue Pop. 6. Top with three inches of whipped cream and a cherry. 7. Serve with a soda spoon and enjoy!
Want to have a festive sweet treat for the Fourth? Try this quick dish, the All-American Parfait, shown off by Bruster’s Real Ice Cream’s Kirk Parker. Photo by Cherie Olivier.
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A19
Vestavia Hills’ Fire Station No. 2 gets a facelift By ANA GOOD Interior design or general contracting don’t immediately spring to mind at the mention of firefighters. But the work recently completed by the men of Fire Station No. 2 in Vestavia Hills shows that putting out fires isn’t the only impressive item on their resumes. Back in August 2014, the crew decided it was time for a change in the station Capt. Scott Whitworth described as “very cramped and dilapidated.” Built in 1971, Station No. 2 was designed to house three to four men at a time. But when Vestavia Hills created an ambulance service in 2000, the station’s on-duty staff grew to seven — both an engine crew and a transport crew. An already-cramped crew in an outdated space welcomed the change Whitworth promised to bring when he was promoted to captain in June 2014. “Almost as soon as I stepped foot inside, the men told me it was time for a change,” he said. Just a few months later, Whitworth said he was busy quoting everything from new countertops to shower fixtures and durable floors. “Firemen aren’t always easy on things,” he said. “So we knew that whatever materials we brought in here needed to stand up to our wear and tear.” Whitworth, along with the help of the station’s crew, picked out new granite countertops, hardwood shaker-style cabinets, complementary backsplashes and bright, yet durable shower tiles. Several of the wives of other Vestavia Hills firefighters helped keep prices competitive due to connections in the interior design and building supplies business. The funding for the project came from money the station’s previous captain had already budgeted for, he said. Whitworth said his predecessor knew change was needed, but “there just wasn’t a plan in place for it yet.” Whitworth said the crew picked the floor first
The office at Fire Station No. 2 is now open to the kitchen and eating space. Capt. Scott Whitworth said the crew picked the floor of Fire Station No. 2 first — durable, commercialgrade laminate planks often used in hospitals. Photo by Ana Good.
— durable, commercial-grade laminate planks often used in hospitals — and went from there to select complementary colors and fixtures for the remainder of the space. Not only did the crew act as interior designers in the remodel, Whitworth said they worked as the job’s contractors. “We did about 90 percent of the work ourselves,” he said. “It saved us, and in turn the city, a lot of money.” Whitworth said the crew worked during their shifts, sometimes having to drop a sledgehammer in the middle of demolition to respond to a call or head off to training. Several of the firefighters and paramedics have a second job, many in construction, so completing the remodel came
as second nature. Whitworth, for example, is also a master plumber and gas fitter, so he was able to help reroute plumbing and install the new, commercial-grade gas range in the kitchen. In all, the jobs — remodeling the station’s kitchen, living room, officer’s quarters, office and the crew baths — took about three months. Whitworth said besides demolishing walls that compartmentalized the space, the men also laid tile, installed the floor and outfitted the bathrooms. In May, the Vestavia Hills City Council recognized the quality of station’s work, congratulating the crew for their recent Alabama Remodeling Excellence Award win. “They made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,”
Fire Chief Jim St. John said at the council meeting. Mayor Butch Zaragoza, who started his fire department career at station No. 2, said he was happy to see the remodel and thankful of the firefighters’ hard work. Today, the entire crew fits much more comfortably in the space, said Whitworth. “It’s like a home away from home,” he said, especially because of the 24-hour shifts the crew works. “Now it finally feels that way.” Whitworth said it was important to him that the community understands that the work done at the station was truly a group effort. “It wasn’t just me,” he said. “Every person contributed as much as everyone else.”
A20 • July 2016
FIRST FRIDAY
Vestavia Voice
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG By SYDNEY CROMWELL With vendors, acrobats, music, drinks and more, the inaugural First Friday entertained a large crowd June 3 in Rocky Ridge. First Fridays are planned to be an ongoing monthly event to take advantage of Rocky Ridge’s designation as an entertainment district. Within the district’s borders, patrons can take alcoholic beverages outside of the restaurants where they were purchased, as long as they use specially marked cups.
The district rules are in effect from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. First Fridays last from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with parking in the Vestavia Hills High School parking lot and a shuttle provided until 8 p.m. Upcoming First Fridays: ► July 1 ► Aug. 5 ► Sept. 2 ► Nov. 4 Find out more information on the Rocky Ridge First Fridays Facebook page.
Clockwise, from above: A stilt-walker and ballerina interact with the First Friday crowds. Amy Peterson paints in front of the Artists Incorporated Gallery. Leisha Knight performs on aerial silks. A child tries out a Hula Hoop in the kids’ zone. A musician sings and plays ukulele for First Friday vendors and shoppers. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A21
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A22 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
BRANDING
CONTINUED from page A1 “It just depends on what it is,” Phillips said. “If it is time to replace a uniform, or if there’s something prominent with the old logo that it makes sense to replace it with the new one, then we’ll make those decisions individually.” Knight Eady has held meetings with faculty and coaches regarding the new marks, said Katie Jernigan, public relations and digital media coordinator for Knight Eady, and will continue to help coaches order new apparel for fall, winter and spring sports. “Obviously this is a school, and you can’t make overnight changes with jerseys,” Jernigan said. “It’s going to be as the cycle comes through that it’s time to re-up and get a new jersey that new [marks] start getting integrated.” Spirit wear will also change in the upcoming school year. Phillips said the school and school board are working with Knight Eady, the marketing team that developed the new brand, to nail down a process for entering licensing agreements and trademarking the new brand. “We feel a bit of a sense of urgency in getting these requirements down on paper so that we can distribute,” Phillips said. “We have so many people who are already asking, ‘How can I get it? How can I use it?’ We have relationships with vendors in our community and some outside who very much value and want to get those rights to them as quickly as possible for the fall.” The fine-tuning of those details, however, will not affect the school’s ability to use the new logos. Because the new brand is property of VHHS, the school is able to freely use the new marks for spirit wear, staff attire, uniforms or other spirit items or apparel. “While merchandisers would have to purchase licensing rights, booster clubs and school teams, anything officially associated with the school doesn’t,” Jernigan said. Trademarking the VHHS marks helps protect the school’s brand by ensuring all of those symbols are used properly and consistently, Jernigan said. “There will be specific rules on how they can be [used],” she said. “You couldn’t overlay
something over the marks we’ve created, and that’s really the point. It’s not to take away and say you can’t do this, but Vestavia has invested in making their brand and uncovering what is special with their brand, and they should want to protect that.” This trademark will be stronger than ones previously used by the school, Phillips said, which she said will benefit the school and the school system. “We learned the hard way that people not even in our state were using our logos to produce any amount of athletic wear, T-shirts, things of that sort,” she said. “This is going to help us provide the protection that we want to for the branding even more succinctly and efficiently than we’ve had previously.”
BUILDING A BRAND
Knight Eady first entered an agreement with the school board in summer 2015 after the decision was made to step away from the Rebel Man mascot. That decision, Jernigan said, opened an opportunity to rebrand the school. “From the state, when we talked to them, we said we’re not here just to come up with a new mascot for you,” she said. “We don’t just sit around and come up with some new character or image, we really want to take time to spend, focus on the research and get to know all of the different stakeholders that make up the Vestavia Hills High School brand.” Students, faculty and other community members were asked questions about what represents the VHHS brand, and Knight Eady researched the school system’s history before developing new marks. Jernigan said the final product worked to emphasize some of the qualities they
heard echoed — school spirit, excellence in education and athletics, and tradition. “With that, we kind of took all of those different characteristics and shaped them into different brand messages,” Jernigan said. The branding style guide released by Knight Eady in May includes several new marks for the school, each with a specific tie and use in the school. The institutional mark, a red and blue VH that utilizes the modern technique of negative space, is a way to represent a modern take on the VHHS brand. “They’re rooted in tradition and not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, and that kind of embodies that rebel edge and rebel spirit,” Jernigan said. The brand also utilizes a quote from VHHS football coach Buddy Anderson, which was used to inspire the 1Rebel mark. “They’ve changed the wording some,” Anderson said. “It originally said, ‘When you play one Rebel, you play all of us.’ Somehow the wording got changed. I like the original version, but that’s what they chose.” Using a quote from Anderson was a way to incorporate Vestavia’s tradition into the new brand, Jernigan said. Anderson is a well-known and well-respected member of the community, and his quote captures an iconic part of Vestavia, Phillips said. “To have that as a secondary mark, 1Rebel, means a great deal to us because of how important he and his leadership are to this school,” Phillips said. Anderson is entering his 45th year at VHHS and said working to establish a tradition at the school and in the community was one of the best parts of his involvement at the school. While Knight Eady has worked to learn about that tradition and the history of the school, Anderson said it was a difficult task. “Knight Eady has done a good job as far as trying to go back and research and trying to talk to people, but they weren’t here at the beginning,” he said. “They haven’t seen it evolve, and they tried to sum something up in less than a year’s worth of work of what’s happened over 46 years, and that’s almost impossible to do.” The decision to get rid of the Rebel Man mascot was one Anderson did not agree with,
as he was the one who introduced it in 1978. He said while some people saw the mascot as an evil or bad thing, he and many others never saw it that way. When Knight Eady considered the possibility of a mascot during their rebranding, Jernigan said the decision to go forward without one stemmed from a focus on positive qualities rather than divisive issues. “You want to focus on what they do best, so for us, the decision to move forward without one was so that we could focus on what they do best and promote their brand,” Jernigan said. “Not just as some divisive mascot issue, but all the great things they embody.” Going forward without the Rebel Man as the mascot meant going forward without a mascot to Anderson. He said his support of simply not using a mascot came from a belief that what is inside of Vestavia Hills as a school and as a community is more important than what is portrayed on the outside. “It goes back to being a family,” he said. “We don’t always agree, but when it comes down to it, we’re a family.”
‘CAPTURING EXCELLENCE’
The style guide also includes a formal logo, an Olde English V inspired by baseball and softball logos, specific script work marks and notes on typography. The variety of marks and representation, Phillips said, was an important addition to the Vestavia Hills brand. “To capture how important it is as a community to have those marks that not only can be used or seen or perceived as athletic, but to capture the excellence that happens in our classrooms and in our academic teams and competitions, that’s unique to Vestavia Hills,” she said. No matter the logos or marks used, and no matter the difference in opinions that come with the VHHS brand, Anderson said it is important to remember what it truly means to be a Rebel. “It is as it is. We are still the Vestavia Hills Rebels, and we are a family,” he said. “And there’s a lot more to this high school family than any kind of marks or logos or anything. The heart and effort of the students and the teachers and people here in this school and here in this community.”
“
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • A23
Dave loved children; he loved the Big Oak; he loved our Sunday school class. This is really the reason we’re doing this, because of our love for Dave. I’d like to put his picture on Mount Rushmore, but I can’t. I feel that strong about it.
”
BUDDY LOCKHART
The Shades Valley Baptist Sunday school group in 1985, a few years after it was formed. Photo courtesy of Buddy Lockhart.
BELCHER
CONTINUED from page A1 founder of Royal Automotive, Belcher was involved in his community through city council, charity work and his church, Shades Valley Baptist. The church is where Lockhart and fellow friend Henry Long met Belcher, through their Sunday school class that continues to meet. “He’s been involved in virtually everything that church has done,” Lockhart said. “There’s not much in the city, the business or the church end of it that he didn’t have a really heavy hand in,” Long said. Not only was Belcher generous with both time and money, Long said, he didn’t need to let others know about it. Long recalled one occasion
when two young women from Big Oak Ranch children’s home came to talk to their Sunday school class. He said Belcher was inspired by their story and decided to give them each a car to use for two years. “A few of us knew that, but not many knew that,” Belcher said. When Belcher died Jan. 31, his friends were looking for a way to pay tribute to him. They considered renaming their Sunday school group in his memory, but Long said they wanted something more long-lasting. “We’re not young men anymore. So, we needed to look at something that, whatever we did, was going to last more than three or four years after we got it started,” Long said. Big Oak Ranch was one of Belcher’s favorite
causes because of the work they do with children whose pasts are filled with abuse, neglect or abandonment. So his friends set up the David R. Belcher Memorial Scholarship to help children at Big Oak Ranch afford a college or trade school education. Since they came up with the idea, Belcher’s Shades Valley Baptist friends have raised more than $30,000, with pledges totaling about $14,000 over the next two years. “Both of us and everybody in our class is astounded at the response that we got,” Long said. “We got it off to a right good start.” Lockhart and Long said any donation made to Big Oak Ranch can be designated for the Belcher Memorial Scholarship. They want to grow the endowed fund to $100,000 and award scholarships funded by
the accrued interest. “If we raise that kind of money, the earnings off this could pay for maybe two, maybe three scholarships [per year],” Lockhart said. Big Oak Ranch will choose the scholarship recipient each year. Lockhart said they will present their first scholarship later this month, but in future years will give it during the school year to help the recipients plan for their futures. Long said he hopes the scholarship will help people remember Belcher as a generous person even if they never met him. “Dave loved children; he loved the Big Oak; he loved our Sunday school class. This is really the reason we’re doing this, because of our love for Dave,” Lockhart said. “I’d like to put his picture on Mount Rushmore, but I can’t. I feel that strong about it.” While there are plenty of good causes out there, Lockhart said the scholarship — and Big Oak Ranch as a whole — is “as good of a ministry” as possible to help. “He’s made a difference in my life. I’m looking at you straight on and because of what he is, the man that he was, the friend that he was — even though my best [hasn’t] come out yet, I’m still working on it — he brings the best in me,” Lockhart said.
Events................B6 School House...B12 Sports...........B13 Faith............B16 Real Estate.....B17 Calendar..........B18
SECTION
B JULY 2016
Chick-fil A construction ‘flying Store operator: Company aims for July 14 opening By SYDNEY CROMWELL Everybody wants to tell Rodney Jackson how excited they are for the Vestavia Hills Chickfil-A to open. As the operator of the store and a second location in Homewood, Jackson is excited, too. “We have wanted to be in Vestavia for so many years, and this is just a mature community as far as development is concerned,” he said. “People come in, and they don’t want to leave, therefore spaces don’t come available very often.” Chick-fil-A is under construction at the former City Hall site, 513 Montgomery Highway. After months of site preparation — including leveling out the property’s former incline — Jackson said construction is “flying.” He said the company is targeting a July 14 opening. Vestavia’s Chick-fil-A will be fairly large, seating 136 people inside and 28 outside in addition to the children’s play area. There will be two drive-through ordering lanes, similar to Jackson’s other location in the Wildwood shopping center, feeding into a single pickup lane. Jackson said the kitchen is also sizable, with two sets of hot and cold prep areas. Chick-fil-A is working with the city to make entering and exiting the property from
Operator Rodney Jackson stands inside the Chick-fil-A under construction in Vestavia Hills. Jackson said the company is targeting a July 14 opening. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Montgomery Highway as smooth as possible, including extending a southbound turning lane and having two exit points. Jackson said this location will be able to handle more catering requests due to the size of its kitchen. The interior of the restaurant will have what Jackson described as a “retro” feel, with decorations reminiscent of the early
years of Chick-fil-A. One of the centerpieces of the restaurant will be a rustic family table provided by A Better Way Ministries, an addiction treatment organization. The ministry partners to provide these tables in many Chick-fil-A locations. “It’s going to be a beautiful store,” Jackson said.
Chick-fil-A is known for its grand opening events. Marketing director Lyndsey Jackson, who is also Rodney Jackson’s daughter-in-law, said the Vestavia location will invite customers to camp out prior to the opening, as the first 100 people through the door get a free Chick-fil-A meal each week for a year. However, Vestavia Hills will have a week of festivities, some of which will be brand new. Lyndsey Jackson said she couldn’t release all the details yet, but one of the activities will be similar to a scavenger hunt around the city, and there’s the possibility of a lemon-squeezing contest. “It’ll be fun for families, especially since it’ll be in the summertime,” Lyndsey Jackson said. Lyndsey Jackson encouraged residents to follow the Vestavia Chick-fil-A on Facebook to keep up with opening week plans. Rodney Jackson has a long history with Chick-fil-A. He and his father opened the first Alabama Chick-fil-A in 1974 in Homewood’s Brookwood Village, and he said his father still operates the Hoover location. Rodney Jackson has been a franchisee himself for 32 years, and opening a Vestavia location has been on his wish list for years. “This is just an opportunity that I’ve wanted for a long time in Vestavia, and when the decision was made to build this store, it was the right decision to come over here,” Rodney Jackson said. Once the store is open, he said Chick-fil-A will be involved in the community, especially the local schools, and participate in Family Nights and Spirit Nights. “This is a perfect community to have those kinds of events,” Rodney Jackson said.
B2 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B3
THERE’S A FIRE
BURNING IN THE
HEART OF BIRMINGHAM. UAB Honors College provides opportunities and fresh ways of thinking to enrich the minds, hearts, and potential of promising young people. Supporting the UAB Honors College — through donations or through your own student’s unique spark — provides experiences, scholarships, and limitless possibilities, so students can set their world on re. Learn how your contribution can fan the ame at uab.edu/honorscollege.
B4 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Matthew Kenny, center, pictured with previous Vestavia CBYX Scholarship winners Stephen Norris, left, and Brandy Nix. Photo courtesy of Kathy Rogers/VHCS.
DESTINATION SUMMER VHHS students, graduates share vacation plans By ANA GOOD
Along with working with the children at the farm, Stewart said the group also would travel Three Vestavia Hills High School teens are into the heart of the city for a type of “rice and using the summer months to immerse themselves beans” ministry, where they would hand out food in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities far from the and toys to Hondurans as a way to also share the comforts of their suburban home. word of God. Rather than drift away poolside, graduates Stewart said she hoped the trip would open her Elson Stewart and Haley Harmon, as well as eyes to the kinds of needs other children in the student Matthew Kenny, will be boarding planes, world have, as well as the differences of everyriding trains and diving headfirst into cultures day life in a distant country. miles from their own. “The perspective that I will gain on life will From the heart of Germany to the bustling be priceless,” she said. “There are as many as capital of Honduras, and from the Greek islands 20,000 street kids in Honduras.” to South Africa, they said they hope to soak in Though she had never been on a mission trip worldwide cultures and, at the same time, share outside the country, Stewart said she jumped on a little Southern hospitality. the opportunity to travel to Honduras when her Bible study leader, Jen Brister, encouraged her SHARING THE GOSPEL to come along. Brister, who is from Honduras, Elson Stewart, who walked across the stage always spoke so lovingly of the country and its with her classmates in the VHHS graduation people, Stewart said, so she knew she didn’t ceremony in May, didn’t waste much time want to miss out. tackling her next “The ministry is so adventure. Just days close to her heart,” later, she boarded a said Stewart. The perspective that plane headed for the In August, Stewart Honduran capital of will take yet another I will gain on life will Tegucigalpa as part big step when she be priceless ... of a mission trip with moves in to her new Forgotten Children ELSON STEWART home on the campus Ministries. of the University of During her weekMississippi in Oxford. long trip, Stewart Despite being back lived and worked on the ministry’s land, known stateside, Stewart said her love for faraway as Grace Farm, in the mountains just outside adventure won’t leave her anytime soon. Tegucigalpa. Grace Farm, according to FCM’s “I plan to be an international-studies major, website, is a 40-acre farm where the ministry’s and minor in Spanish,” she said. rescued boys are given a new lease on life. There, FCM’s members teach, train, nurture JUST A ‘REGULAR’ STUDENT and share the Gospel with formerly homeless Matthew Kenny, a rising junior at VHHS, children who now have the opportunity to reside recently learned he was one of 50 students from there. The boys who live on the farm, many who the Southeastern United States awarded the Conhave already experienced drugs, alcohol, phys- gress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship ical, emotional and sexual abuse, are separated for the 2016-17 school year. As the sole recipient into three houses based on their age and maturity from the state of Alabama, Kenny said he was level. Mission groups, like those Stewart was thrilled. part of, are in charge of educating and ministerAs a CBYX scholar, Kenny will spend the ing to the children. upcoming school year living in Germany with “I’m looking forward to loving on the kids, a host family, attending a German high school getting to know them,” Stewart said. and participating in a three-week language and Stewart has been taking Spanish classes since cultural immersion camp to gain a better undershe was in middle school, and she said she was standing of German culture. looking forward to testing her speaking skills. “Everything, except one English class, will “I’ll be completely immersed in the language be taught in full German,” he said. “It will be as for a week,” she said. if I were just a regular German kid in his junior
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VHHS graduate Elson Stewart (center) with, from left, sister, Bradford Stewart, 16; dad, Carter Stewart; sister, Frances Stewart, 13; and mom Monica Stewart. Photo courtesy of Elson Stewart.
year of high school.” This summer, in preparation for his move to Germany on Aug. 13, Kenny said he expects to have his nose buried deep within German language books. Kenny said he took German classes in middle school and at VHHS, and he said his German is at about a “medium” level now. “I’ll be studying over the summer,” he said. “I know the basic things and could get along pretty well, but it would probably take lots of gesturing and charades to get my message across if I traveled over there right now.” Kenny is the fifth Vestavia Hills student since the 1990s to apply for and win the CBYX Scholarship. Previous winners include Amy Miller Tanner, Katie Ecklund, Brandy Nix and Stephen Norris. Kenny said he’s been looking forward to applying for the scholarship since he noticed a poster about the CBYX program while sitting in his German class in middle school. “I knew I was too young to apply then,” he said. “So I made a note on my calendar to revisit the scholarship information a few years later.” It was a combination of his time in German classrooms in Vestavia Hills as well as his ancestral ties back to the country that inspired him to apply, Kenny said.
“Matthew exemplifies the personal qualities that are essential for an exchange student,” German teacher Kathy Rogers said. “Matthew’s curiosity, open-mindedness and his academic achievements made him an excellent candidate for this program. I’m confident he will represent our school, state and nation with distinction.” Though he was not yet sure of where in Germany he will be placed, Kenny said his top choice was Kiel, the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, because of its reputation as an international sailing destination. But he said the temporary uncertainty does not bother him. “I’ll go wherever the wind takes me,” Kenny said. “I know I have no say or control over where I am placed in Germany, and I’m comfortable with that.” Despite his youth, Kenny said he is also comfortable with being so far from home. As part of the program’s rules, he said he will not be allowed to travel back home or have visitors for the first five months except for cases of extreme emergency. “But compared to former applicants from the 1980s and 1990s, I’ll at least be able to text my parents,” he said. “If I do get homesick, my
VestaviaVoice.com plan is to ignore it and go out and do something. Instead of thinking about life in America, I have to learn to think about what life in Germany could be.” Kenny said he is a history buff, he said he is looking forward to traveling throughout Europe and exploring the places he’s only read about. “I hope to bring back a lot of German culture and memories,” he said. Along with taking in the German culture, Kenny said he hopes to share some Southern hospitality as well. “I feel like there is a big misunderstanding when it comes to America, to the South,” he said. “I hope to break down barriers and show people what it’s actually like in the South.” As part of the trip, Kenny will also have the chance to visit the German Bundestag (Parliament), as well as meet with American and German government officials. Getting his parent’s approval for the trip did take a lot of convincing, but he knows they are on board, he said. “Compared to spending another year here in high school, this trip will open more doors and provide me with more opportunities,” Kenny said. The CBYX Program is funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag in an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries. More than 24,000 students have participated in the program since its inception in 1983.
WORLD TRAVELER
VHHS graduate Haley Harmon said she had plans to travel to several different countries via a number of organized trips this summer. In June, the tennis player and class secretary said she, along with her mother, Sandy, and sister, Mary Elizabeth, traveled with Texas-based Watermark Church members on a “Journeys of Paul” sailing tour. From June 2-12, the family, along with about 100 others, sailed on the Star Clipper, a fourmasted clipper ship, from Istanbul to Athens while exploring other places in between. During the 10 days, Senior Pastor Todd Wagner served as host and teacher, according to the church’s website. Family friend and fellow Watermark member Tom Doyle invited the
July 2016 • B5
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Haley Harmon, a recent VHHS graduate, traveled along with her mother, Sandy, and sister, Mary Elizabeth, with Texas-based Watermark Church members on a “Journeys of Paul” sailing tour. Photo courtesy of Haley Harmon.
To be able to help others will have an impact on their lives, but mine as well...
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HALEY HARMON
Harmon family onboard. “I’ve always wanted to go to Greece, and all the many different locations associated with the trip,” Harmon said. “Being able to stand where Paul would have stood so many years ago is
really a cool experience.” Almost as soon as she returned from her trip to Greece, Harmon again boarded a plane, but for South Africa instead. Traveling with Brookwood Baptist on the Inter-Generational Mission to Cape Town, Harmon said the trip was more mission-centered. The group visited Living Hope ministries, where they worked with underprivileged kids, reading Bible stories, acting out skits and “bringing new light to an area very high in drugs and AIDS,” she said. Before heading on the trip, Harmon said she expected the trip to be “very rewarding.” “To be able to help others will have an impact
on their lives, but mine as well,” she said. “I’ll be able to return to the States and not take everything for granted, be happy that I have a roof over my head and access to clean water.” Harmon said she will then travel to California with her dad to take part in a parent/child relationship building camp. Her dad is who inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Since she was a child, she said she has accompanied her father, who is a doctor, on countless medical mission trips around the world. When Harmon wraps up her summer vacation, she will head to Auburn in the fall, where she plans on enrolling as a pre-med major. “We’ll see what happens from there,” she said.
B6 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Events
Get ready for battle of barbecue at this year’s Iron City Chef This year’s Iron City Chef will challenge teams to create the best barbecue. The cook-off, beginning at 6 p.m. July 23, is hosted by the Vestavia Hills Sunrise Rotary Club at Jefferson State Community College’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute. Photo by Jordan Hays.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL After the success of last year’s Iron City Chef, which pitted four local firefighters against each other in the kitchen, this year’s competition has a different theme: barbecue. Iron City Chef is hosted by the Vestavia Hills Sunrise Rotary Club at Jefferson State Community College’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute. This year’s event will be July 23 at 6 p.m., and the competing teams are from Moe’s BBQ, Jim ‘n Nick’s, the Hospitality Institute and one more team to be named, event chair Kent Howard said. Each team can cook its choice of main dish — such as chicken, ribs or pork — as well as sides and a dessert. Guests at Iron City Chef will taste all four competitors’ dishes and vote for their favorites. Howard said a competition for Best Dessert has been added this year. The roughly 300 guests can also enjoy music, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and wine tastings by Western Supermarket beginning at 5:30. “So the guests get a wonderful meal. They get to sample from four different chefs,” he said. After guests vote, the top two chefs will “compete head to head” in a 30-minute cooking competition with a mystery ingredient. A panel of three judges will decide the winner from the final competition. “I’m looking forward to the different barbecue sauces … and the desserts,” Howard said. The winner will receive $1,000; the runner-up will receive $100, and best dessert receives $500, Howard said. Each chef also has a sous chef who is a student at the Culinary Institute, and the
student working with the winning chef receives a $1,000 scholarship as well. Now in its eighth year, Iron City Chef has sold out every year, Howard said. Tickets went on sale June 1, with individual tickets at $55 and corporate tables at $400 or $800. Howard said the funds raised during Iron City Chef are given back to the community in a variety of ways. Besides the scholarship for a Jefferson
State student, the Rotary Club also has given money to the Vestavia Hills High School math team and speech and debate team for 25 years. Other beneficiaries this year include End Polio Now and Clean Water for the World. Howard said the Rotary has supported a school in Africa for several years, and some of the proceeds from the chef competition will support classroom expenses and help the school re-dig a well.
Last year’s Iron City Chef was the first with a theme, with firefighters from Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills going head to head. Hoover firefighter Edward Pegues walked away with the top prize and Jefferson State student Ian Triggs won a scholarship for his assistance. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rotarytoast.org.
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VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B7
This American flag piece was painted by Karen Libecap of Artists Incorporated for a past fundraising event. Many of the Vestavia organization’s artists will be producing pieces especially for the upcoming Fallen Patriots event. Photo courtesy of Paula Reynolds.
Artists to raise funds for children of fallen soldiers By GRACE THORNTON In the past 35 years, nearly 20,000 children have lost a parent in active duty service. Xavier and Aleah Taylor are two of them. “Their father was killed in action just before his 26th birthday,” said Jerome Vason, a local artist who served almost 20 years in the military. It’s stories like the Taylors’ that tugged at the heartstrings of Vason and other members of Artists Incorporated Gallery in Vestavia Hills. Their story sparked a fundraiser art show last year to fund the siblings’ education through Children of Fallen Patriots. And Artists Incorporated is going to do it again for another recipient July 8. “It’s a cause that is close to our hearts. We want to give back,” said gallery director Mary Jean Henke. The gallery’s “America the Beautiful” show will feature the work of Artists Incorporated’s 54 potters, sculptors, painters, jewelers and other artists. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the free event, and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of art pieces will go toward higher education for this year’s Children of Fallen Patriots recipient. “Our events are fun,” Henke said. “There is something for everybody, and we have a lot of really good artists.” Two of the artists are veterans — Vason being one of those. An Alabama native, Vason was the unit artist everywhere he was stationed before retiring and returning to the Birmingham area. “I’m a painter,” he said. “I started off as a more traditional artist, but now I’m more abstract
with a traditional flair. A lot of what I do comes from things that I read, from Scripture or from things people say.” Vason said he plans to do a piece especially for the “America the Beautiful” show. “Some artists will do patriotic pieces. Last year, some did flags; others did landscapes,” he said. Everyone gets involved in some way to benefit the cause, Vason said. “The reason why we kind of went head-overheels for Children of Fallen Patriots is because every penny that we give goes toward scholarships for the child of someone who was killed in action,” Vason said. “The money goes for their education and to help pay for college.” So far, more than $12 million has been granted in scholarships nationwide through the work of Children of Fallen Patriots. The foundation was started in 2002 by David Kim, who wanted to find a way to help the daughter of William Delaney Gibbs, a sergeant killed in active duty in Panama. Gibbs died before his daughter was born while serving alongside Kim. Henke said it was easy to want to get behind the efforts of Children of Fallen Patriots, noting that the organization has done a “splendid job” caring for the families of veterans. “They really impressed us,” she said. The event is July 8 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Artists Incorporated Gallery at 3365 Morgan Drive in Vestavia Hills. For more information, visit artistsincorporated.com. To learn more about Children of Fallen Patriots, visit fallenpatriots.org.
Vestavia Hills’ ‘I Love America Summer Celebration’ on June 30 By ANA GOOD Vestavia Hills residents can celebrate America’s birthday a few days early at the 35th annual “I Love America Summer Celebration” June 30 at Wald Park. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and will include something for everyone. The celebration will be hosted by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Vestavia Hills Public Services Department. Entertainment this year will be provided, in part, by the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, which will run the children’s area from 6-8 p.m. Children’s activities will feature inflatables and games, including a moonwalk and a big slide. The Shades Mountain Baptist Church Orchestra will perform a Pops in the Park concert at 7 p.m. featuring patriotic music as well as a tribute to the military. Attendees can also cool off in the Wald Park Pool during the free swimming period from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Only regular pool members will be able to swim before 6 p.m. This year, the chamber asked for the public’s input on which free movie they wanted to watch on the large projector screen set up on the baseball fields at Wald Park. Residents voted on a choice of movies including “Kung Fu Panda 3,” “Minions,” “The Peanuts Movie” or “Hotel
I Love America Summer Celebration • WHEN: June 30, 6 p.m. • WHERE: Wald Park, 1973 Merryvale Road • WEB: facebook.com/ILoveAmerica SummerCelebrationSeries/ Transylvania 2.” On June 30, attendees will be able to settle in for the family movie selected via online voting at 8:15 p.m. A business expo is also scheduled, allowing attendees to get to know the people behind many of the area’s businesses. Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce’s corporate sponsors will have tents set up with games and giveaways. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Admission is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, but attendees can bring their own picnics as well. No pets are allowed on the fields. Children younger than 10 must be accompanied by an adult at the Wald Park Pool. For more information, visit the I Love America Summer Celebration page on Facebook.
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B8 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
I SPY: CAN YOU FIND THESE SPOTS AROUND TOWN?
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ake part in our photo scavenger hunt to see if you can identify some or all of these locations. It’s a great way to spend time getting out into your community and taking note of some of the details that make our area unique. Take a look at these detailed shots and try to identify their locations. Some you might pass every day, and others might take a bit of investigation. Clues will be posted on our Facebook page throughout the month of July. We will reveal the locations of all of the photos in our August publication. Good luck!
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VestaviaVoice.com
Patio dining weather is here! 521 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia Hills 205-823-1505 • bistro-v.com HOURS: Mon-Sat, 11-2 and 5-9 • Closed Sun
July 2016 • B9
B10 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Getting to know the guards at Wald Park Pool By EMILY FEATHERSTON
Michael O’Neal is one of the head lifeguards at Wald Park Pool this summer. Photo by Emily Featherston.
A slew of friendly faces await families at the Wald Park pool this summer, as the pool’s lifeguards prepare for a summer full of fun, but safe, swimming. Senior Pool Supervisor Candia Cole said she generally tries to draw her group of guards from the many local students returning home from college for the summer. Michael O’Neal, one of this summer’s head lifeguards, is a recent graduate of Samford University, and is continuing his education at Samford by pursuing a master’s degree in education to become an English teacher. O’Neal, who has been a lifeguard since 2013, said he is excited for another summer of getting to know parents and children in the community as well as his fellow guards. “My favorite thing about being a lifeguard is the opportunity to
invest in the vitality of the community,” he said. Caroline Adams and Carley Bivin, both rising sophomores at Auburn University, said they are also excited to spend another summer getting to know the other lifeguards and helping out the community. “I cannot wait to meet the new lifeguards and see how much the kids who came to the pool every day last summer have grown up,” Bivin said. O’Neal said he is also excited for residents to see the results of the pool’s recent resurfacing project. “I am looking forward to patrons enjoying the renovations,” he said. In addition to enjoying the renovations, O’Neal said he hopes he and the other guards can make visitors’ time at the pool as enjoyable as possible, whether that is through regular guarding or by
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B11
Pool Schedule ► Regular pool hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.–6:50 p.m.; Sunday: 2–6:50 p.m.; Thursday: family swim 7–8:50 p.m.
► Home swim meets (pool closed at 3:50 p.m.): June 28, July 19, July 26
► I Love America Day Free Swim: June 30, 6–7:30 p.m. (rain date July 7)
► July Fourth: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. ► Aug. 15 – Labor Day, revised hours: Wednesday–Friday: 3–6:50 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m.–6:50 p.m. Sunday: 2–6:50 p.m.
► Pool offi e hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Call 978-0172 for more information.
2016 Pool and Lifeguard Staff ► Candia Cole
Senior Pool Supervisor and CPO
► Cathy Tanner
Assistant Pool Supervisor
► Michael O’Neal
Head Guard, Samford University Master’s Student
► Daniel Heslin
Head Guard, Auburn University
keeping the bathrooms clean. “Our staff’s goal is to make patrons’ experience at Wald Park Pool the best part of their day,” he said. “We want parents to feel confident in our commitment to keeping their
Guards: ► Caleb Hullett Samford University Graduate
► Wes Brice
► Carley Bivin
► Sarah Hyde
► Kelsi Olcott
► Scott Phillips
Auburn University
University of Alabama
Birmingham-Southern College
► Caroline Adams
► Tatum Hinkle
Auburn University
children safe, and we want children to feel welcome and loved by our staff.” O’Neal said he hopes residents will particularly take advantage of the family night swims on Thursday nights, as well as the “Wald Park Ninja
Bevill State
Warrior” competitions in June and July. O’Neal said an obstacle course will be set up in the pool, and participants will be divided into groups to compete. Winners will receive a prize, which in past years have consisted of complimentary pool
Mississippi State
VHHS Graduating Senior
► John Shields Graduating Senior, Homeschool
passes and free pool parties. He also encouraged patrons to follow the pool on social media at @WaldParkPool on both Twitter and Instagram for updates about weather and special events.
B12 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
School House LPMS teacher travels with Teachers for Global Classrooms Linda Rummell, the sixth-grade gifted teacher at Liberty Park Middle School, was selected as a United States Department of State’s Teachers for Global Classrooms fellow. Teachers for Rummell Global Classrooms is a professional development fellowship that includes an eightweek online global education course, a global education symposium in Washington, D.C., and a two-week international field experience. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by IREX. In March, Rummell traveled to Tbilisi and Gurjaani, which are two regions in the Republic of Georgia. She traveled with 11 other teachers from across the United States to Tbilisi and with one other teacher to Gurjaani. While in Tbilisi, she met with representatives of the United States Embassy as well as the head of the National Curriculum Department and the head of Higher Education and Science Development of the Ministry of Education and Science in Georgia. She also visited several schools. When she returned, she was asked to be an alumni representative for the program as well as TGC reader for the 2016-17 applications. – Submitted by Linda Rummell.
Troop 76 honors 3 Eagle Scouts Three members of Boy Scout Troop 76 were recognized for receiving Scouting’s highest rank in March. The troop, chartered by Liberty Crossing United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills, recognized the three Eagle Scouts on March 6. William Morhard, son of Allison and Chris Morhard of Vestavia Hills, joined Troop 76 in 2009. He served in several leadership roles during his career including patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He participated in High Adventure treks at Philmont Scout Ranch twice, Sea Base and Northern Tier earning the “triple crown” of Scouting. Morhard, a senior at Vestavia Hills High School, earned 28 merit badges and an Eagle Bronze Palm and completed his Eagle rank in September 2015. His leadership project involved constructing a “run-in” shed for The Red Barn, a Leeds-based nonprofit established to promote and provide equine assisted activities to individuals of all abilities and circumstances, especially children. He led teams of Scouts and adults from the troop to build the foundation, frame the shelter and roof, and side the shelter over several weekends last summer. Michael Comas, son of Tracy and Scott Comas of Vestavia Hills, joined Troop 76 in 2008 after
Three members of Boy Scout Troop 76 were recognized for receiving their Eagle Scout rank. Photo courtesy of Chris Morhard.
crossing over from Cub Scout Pack 776 where he earned his Arrow of Light. Comas served in several leadership roles during his career including patrol leader, troop quartermaster and senior patrol leader. He participated in a High Adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. Comas, a senior at Vestavia Hills High School, earned 21 merit badges and completed his Eagle rank in December 2015. Comas’ leadership project involved building canoe racks and paddles and life jackets storage
and restoring the lakefront beach at Glenwood, a center for behavioral health care and educational services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and severe emotional disturbances. Michael led a team of Scouts and adults from the troop to construct the racks, extend the roof and fencing of an existing storage facility and clear and refurbish the sand along the lakefront. Will Newton, son of Kathy and Terry Newton, joined Troop 76 in 2008 after crossing over from Cub Scout Pack 776 where he earned his Arrow of Light. Newton served in several positions of responsibility during his career including patrol leader twice and troop scribe. Newton, a senior at Vestavia Hills High School, earned 25 merit badges and completed his Eagle rank in October 2015. Newton’s Eagle project was to build and market a community garden on property provided by Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church. He designed the garden, built a marketing program to lease the plots and led a crew of Scouts and adults over several weekends to construct the beds and build a deer fence around the garden. – Submitted by Chris Morhard.
2 Vestavia Hills students take part in Alabama Girls State Greta Chen and Lana Chen were chosen to represent the Rebels at the Alabama Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, held June 5-10 at the University of Alabama. The young women learned practical self-government tasks through becoming citizens of an imaginary state. They were involved in the self-governing politics of their respective community by campaigning for and electing city, county and state offices.
Greta and Lana learned more about the government by participating in party caucuses and the election process. Greta, daughter of May and Ching-Yi Chen, was chosen because of her outstanding leadership. She actively participates in math team, art, writing, piano and debate. Some of her accomplishments include being three-time Sonata Competition winner, a three-time AMTA state winner and a state
winner and Nationals qualifier for debate. Lana was also chosen because of her outstanding leadership. In her high school and community, she volunteers with Jefferson County Teen Court, McWane Science Center, Birmingham Museum of Art and GirlSpring. She is the daughter of Xiaodong Chen and the granddaughter of Bingwu Chen. – Submitted by Alabama Girls State.
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VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B13
Sports
Harris learns on a ‘daily basis’ as 1st-year coach By KYLE PARMLEY In the moment, it is easy to judge the merit of a team’s season based on playoff performance. Coaches everywhere deal with that reality, positively and negatively. Win a few games in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and a coach is likely fielding job offers. Lose in the first round of the playoffs after a record-breaking regular season, and fans are sometimes disappointed. Jamie Harris said he hopes fans do not fall into that trap after his first year as the head baseball coach at Vestavia Hills High School. “We had a good year. That goes without saying,” he said. The Rebels cracked the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings after ripping off a 15-1 start. They spent two weeks ranked No. 1 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. “28-4 in the regular season is obviously great,” Harris said. “I don’t
know if I would’ve guessed we would’ve been that successful.” The Rebels ran through Class 7A, Area 6 and earned the top spot via tiebreaker with Hewitt-Trussville. However, a hot Oak Mountain team knocked off Vestavia Hills in the first round of the state playoffs. “7A baseball, the difference between winning and losing is razor thin. I feel like we were just as good as the two teams in the finals,” he said. Off the field was where Harris had more to learn, and put to use the old saying, “You learn something new every day.” “Every final decision comes down to you,” he said. “This year, I had to do something that I’ve never seen before almost on a daily basis. Part of that’s fun, part of it is not fun.” He called coaching the baseball games the “reward” of the job. “It’s all been great, but it’s a learning experience, your first year,” Harris said. As far as expectations go, blame the late Sammy Dunn, the architect behind Vestavia baseball’s “decade of
Jamie Harris led the Vestavia Hills baseball program to great heights in his first season at the helm. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
dominance,” in which the Rebels won nine of 10 state championships from 1991 to 2000. “At Vestavia Hills, we’ve created a culture where we did win championships in the past. Will we get it back to the level coach Dunn had it in the past? That would be tough to do,” Harris said. The more time separates the present
from the playoff losses, it becomes easier to view seasons as a whole, and not let them be defined by one or two moments, he said. “The further you get away from it, you have a more level head about it. You’re less emotional about it. To go 29-6 (overall) is special, but with that being said, these kids want to win championships,” Harris said.
He said he is not going to define success within his program on wins and losses, but by how the infrastructure of the team is helping kids in the present and the future. “Running a program is a big job,” Harris said. “We try to do everything right, and we try to set up players for success. That takes a lot of help, a lot of planning, a lot of preparation.”
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B14 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Getting hot at the right time By KYLE PARMLEY From a numbers perspective, Vestavia Hills may not have belonged. The Class 7A state softball tournament included three teams with more than 40 wins on the season. Several others had more than 30. Vestavia had 25 entering the tournament, with a record that flirted around the .500 mark for much of the year. The problem is, the numbers don’t accurately describe the 2016 edition of the Lady Rebels, who fought and earned everything they got, en route to a third-place finish at the state tournament, behind Sparkman and Spain Park, the two teams that beat Vestavia in the tournament. The first day of the state tournament was perfect, as the Lady Rebels notched a pair of wins and knocked defending champion Baker and No. 1 James Clemens to the loser’s bracket in back-to-back games. “That’s huge, especially for a young team who is inexperienced at the state tournament,” head coach Lissa Walker said. Things went the opposite direction on Day 2, as the Lady Rebels lost both contests, but that did nothing to diminish the feeling of their coach. Walker came away impressed by what she saw from her team. Despite its overall record, the team got hot at the right time. A win over Spain Park on Senior Night did wonders for the team’s confidence, as RaeAnn King’s two-run blast to left field was the difference. A dramatic, back-and-forth, 12-11
The team celebrates following a win at regionals to clinch its state tournament berth. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
win over Hewitt-Trussville in the Area 6 Tournament qualified them for the North Central Regional, as Mary Sanders James scored on a ground ball to deliver the winning run. At regionals, the Lady Rebels
endured a challenge, but pulled through. After starting over two hours later than scheduled, they defeated Oak Mountain before beginning a game against Spain Park about 10:45 p.m. and had to stop the game a few
minutes after midnight. They were then forced to drive home from Tuscaloosa, then turn around and be back for the rest of the game at 9 a.m. Despite being sleep-deprived, Vestavia came out swinging
the bats, erasing a 2-0 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning of the game, the first inning that day. Spain Park would come back to win the game, but the Lady Rebels rebounded with a shutout win over
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B15
Left: Lissa Walker greets Jessica Perley at third base in an area tournament game. Right: Mary Sanders James slides into home to plate the winning run at the Area 6 Tournament.
Oak Mountain to seal its spot at state. So how were they able to put it all together toward the end? “Because they fight,” Walker said. That tough spirit made the team’s record for the majority of the season irrelevant. “It’s how you develop. It’s how you keep going and then how the end plays out. With this group, you couldn’t focus on the record because the record meant nothing to us,” she said. Ask any player on the team, and the unit’s
biggest strength was the team’s chemistry. “It says a lot about the girls,” Walker said. “Our girls came together as a team this year. When you go through what we’ve been through, kind of up and down through the whole season, turn it around at the right time, it says a lot about your girls and their character.” Taylor Coe and Jordan Reising are the only two seniors departing, leaving a strong core for the next edition of the Lady Rebels. But neither
will be easy to replace. “Definitely going to miss the combination of what they brought to the team,” Walker said. Jessica Perley and Kate Nash combined to give Vestavia a strong season in the pitching circle. Perley finished with a 15-10 record with a 2.14 ERA. Nash started 20 games and picked up eight wins. Coe led the team with a .425 on base percentage. Ashley Dieguez paced the Lady Rebels with her .341 average, followed by James’ .324
Heart care in Birmingham has a new home. (And multiple locations for your convenience.)
mark. Merritt Cahoon and Audrey Meloun each hit .322. The power was supplied mainly from King and Perley, who finished with six and four homers, respectively. It has been said that a team has to get there and lose before it can win. Hopefully the Lady Rebels can turn lessons learned from the state tournament into a trophy next year. “They had a taste of what this is like, and they had a taste of why we work the way we work and why we do what we do,” Walker said.
Looking for heart specialists in Birmingham? Like many of the area’s notable physicians, the Alabama Cardiovascular Group has settled into their new offices in the Grandview Physicians Plaza. But you can count on us at any of our six locations. Birmingham: 2151 Highland Avenue South, Suite 320 Fultondale: 339 Walker Chapel Road Gardendale: 2217 Decatur Highway, Suite 123 Grandview Health Campus: 3686 Grandview Parkway, Suite 720 Pell City: 2048 Martin Street Trussville: 5890 Valley Road, Suite 200
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5/11/16 5:47 PM
B16 • July 2016
Vestavia Voice
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Is there hope for quiet kids? Through my writing and my life as a mom, I often hear from mothers who share the struggles their kids face. One concern I hear is for those children who are shy or quiet. “My child is so kind, loving and compassionate,” they’ll say, “but socially, she falls through the cracks. She rarely gets invited to parties, and she doesn’t have any good friends.” These moms don’t care about their kids being popular or belonging to a particular circle. They don’t want to change their kids because they understand how important it is to be kind, loving, and compassionate. But when they see their child sit home every weekend with nothing to do and notice how it impacts their self-esteem, it hurts them. All they want is for someone to notice what their child has to offer and for their child to take some initiative in making friends. I have several thoughts on this because I was once a shy and quiet girl. (Case in point: At summer camp at age 10, I clung to the counselors all week instead of making
friends, and they loved me so much they created an award for me at the final ceremony: Quietest Camper. I was mortified, to say the least.) While several things helped draw me out of my shell, one key factor was understanding that when it comes to friendship, quality matters more than quantity. Because it’s better to have one true friend than 10 half-friends, right? It’s better to find one true friend who lets you be yourself than 10 half-friends who force you into a mold. Once you have a true friend, you’re likely to attract other friends who see you two having fun and want to join in. Over time, you can grow a small village this way. I also believe it’s helpful for shy and quiet kids to use their God-given talents. When you’re introverted by nature, connecting with people can be hard. You may go unnoticed or get overshadowed by those extroverted personalities who fit into our extroverted world. By pursuing those passions that bring you alive, however, you forget to be shy. You
draw people into your world by touching their heart, mind and soul and making connections that foster an automatic sense of belonging. Just think about the shy boy who sits down at a piano and stuns the audience with an amazing performance. Or the poet who crafts the most beautiful prose that no one ever knew she had in her. Or the dancer who shines on stage, the artist who creates masterpieces and the scientist with a fierce determination to solve the latest mystery. As shy and quiet kids reveal their talents, they get seen in a new light. They build relationships based on who they are inside and the strengths that grow more obvious with time. So if you’re raising a shy or quiet child, my advice is to keep the faith. Love your child the way they are and encourage them to use their gifts to connect and build bridges with others. It may take time and extra courage, but shy and quiet kids can live as bravely and boldly as extroverts. They can learn to strike
a healthy balance between recharging in their shell and putting themselves out there to take risks. What an introvert needs most from their parents is unconditional love. By having confidence in them and never doubting how incredible they are, you slowly build them up. You instill a sense of security that may eventually help them step out of their comfort zone, take a chance, and start to show the world the beautiful gifts they have to offer. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham area mom of four girls, columnist and blogger for The Huffington Post. Her newest book, “Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?” will be released Nov. 15 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Her first book, “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,” is available everywhere books are sold. Join Kari’s Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@ karikampakis.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
July 2016 • B17
Vestavia Hills Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
752459
35216
1961 Hickory Road
New
$359,900
753186
35216
2109 Longleaf Circle
New
$545,000
752856
35216
4229 Ashwood Cove
New
$159,900
752723
35216
1820 Post Oak Road
New
$425,000
752664
35216
3850 Bent River Road
New
$389,900
752559
35216
1856 Rockwood Road #1856
New
$155,000
752422
35216
1410 Branchwater Circle
New
$579,000
752380
35216
1701 Cedarwood Road
New
$729,000
752326
35216
3329 Brookview Trace
New
$225,000
752109
35216
1749 Vestwood Hills Drive
New
$1,849,000
752097
35216
2212 Shady Dell Lane
New
$319,900
752091
35216
1001 Chestnut Street
New
$375,000
752191
35216
234 Monterey Place
New
$1,999,000
752063
35216
436 Longview Drive
New
$549,900
751971
35216
3228 Tyrol Road
New
$265,000
751883
35216
1724 Vestaview Lane
New
$339,000
751292
35216
2723 Smyer Road
New
$475,000
751605
35216
1825 Jacobs Lane
New
$285,000
751482
35216
1621 Sunnywood Circle
New
$349,900
751397
35216
2971 Wisteria Drive
New
$475,000
1961 Hickory Road
234 Monterey Place
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on June 13. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
ONE DAY ONLY!
Freedom Tour of Homes
Saturday, June 25th from 12 - 4 PM Maintenance-free living means freedom from exterior chores and so much more! Come learn about all of the new-found freedoms you can enjoy by owning a home at Cornerstones at Oxmoor Valley. Decorated model and various underconstruction lots will be open for tour. Plus, enjoy a poolside BBQ!
WilcoxCommunities.com
(205) 942-6619
Cornerstones at Oxmoor Valley | 101 Cornerstone Court | Birmingham, AL
Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.
B18 • July 2016
Join us for some Family Fun!
Vestavia Voice
Calendar Vestavia Events
SPECIAL
FREE NIGHTS AND
HOT DEALS Enjoy luxurious gulf side accommodations including fully equipped kitchens, private balconies & beach front pools. Efficiencies, 1,2,4, or 4 bedroom condominiums available by the night or week. BOOK ONLINE 24/7
July 7: Aaron Burr: Respected and Reviled. Vestavia Hills Senior Center. Presented by OLLI of Greater Birmingham. Course continues July 14, 21 and 28. Visit training.ua.edu/olli/chapters/olli-gba. July 8: History of Iran. 2:30 p.m. Vestavia Hills Senior Center. Presented by OLLI of Greater Birmingham. Course continues July 15, 22 and 29. Visit training.ua.edu/olli/chapters/olli-gba.
July 12: Vestavia Chamber Monthly Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Vestavia Country Club. $18 advance, $25 late reservations. Network with other chamber members and hear speakers on a wide variety of updates. Visit vestaviahills.org.
July 8: Artists Incorporated, First Friday Reception.
July 14: Speed Networking Event. 8:30 a.m.
Marriott, Highway 280. RSVP by July 11 by calling 823-5011 or email chamber@vestaviahills.org. July 14: Iron City Golf Marathon. Highland Park Golf Course. 8 a.m. Visit vestaviahills.org. July 20: New Legislation Affecting Alabama’s Teachers and Students. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Vestavia Hills Senior Center. Visit training.ua.edu/olli/chapters/ olli-gba.
Vestavia Hills Library
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Children
Something for our school age kids.
Mondays: Maker Mondays. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Work with the electric circuits. Something for everyone, but adults must accompany children.
Thursdays: L.I.F.T. (Library in the Forest Time). 9:30 a.m.-noon. Enjoy special play equipment in the program room for preschoolers and their caregivers.
Tuesdays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Join Miss Cristina for a rollicking toddler time of stories, songs, finger pl ys and movement. Ages 18 mos. to 35 mos.
Thursdays: Book Babies. (except May 12) 10 a.m. A new program just for babies, with small classes limited to 12 each, where we begin the journey toward a lifelong love of books! You must register each week. Birth to 18 mos. Call 978-0158 to register. (No class April 14.)
Tuesdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room. (Except the 3rd Tuesday, which is Family Night.) Wednesdays: Summer Story Friends. 10:30 a.m. Join Mrs. Lisa for great stories and songs plus a surprise visitor or two. Ages 5 and under. www.sugsands.com sugarsands@sugsands.com 251.974.1672 | 800.824.6462
5:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated, 3365 Morgan Drive. Wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music. Visit artistsincorporated.com.
Wednesdays & Fridays: W-H-Y! (crafts) 3:30 p.m. Join Miss Alicia for a craft program on Wednesdays and a movie and snack on Friday. We Hear Ya!
Thursdays: Ready, Set, Read! Performer. 10:30 a.m. July 7: Balloon Artist DeWayne Reynolds. July 14: Ventriloquist Cliff Patton and Friends. July 21: Magician Bill Packard. June 28: Farmer Jason. Fridays: Summer Movie Fridays. 10:30 a.m. Feature kid’s movie with popcorn and drinks. July 2 & 16: Fiddlesticks Music Program. 10:30
a.m. Preschoolers and parents make music together. Ages 2-6. July 5: Action Bingo! 2 p.m. Community room. For 2nd-6th graders. July 11: Maker Mondays. 6:30 p.m. Community room. July 12: Fencing. 2 p.m. Community room. For 2nd-6th graders. July 19: Sock Poi. 2 p.m. Community room. For 2nd-6th graders. July 26: Hula Hoops! 2 p.m. Community room. For 2nd-6th graders. Teens Fridays: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy video games on the Wii U, PS4, board games to play with
Newly Expanded
Lunch specials $5.99-$7.99 Tuesday-Friday 10 am - 3:30 pm Full dinner menu available all day Live Lobster, Crabs, Bullfrogs, Tilapia, and Eels Large Selection of Fresh Oriental Veggies
Market & Red Pearl Restaurant 243 W Valley Ave, Homewood • 205.945.9558 • superorientalmkt.com
VestaviaVoice.com fellow teens. Snacks served. July 5: Twiwizard Tournament. 5:30 p.m. Show off magical talents and compete against other teens. Pizza served. July 6: Teen Art Group. 4 p.m. Historical Room. Snacks served. July 9: Library Wars: Minecraft in the Forest. 1 p.m. July 19: Claim to Frame. 5:30 p.m. Turn picture frames into chalkboards. Treehouse. July 20: Otaku Time. 4:30 p.m. Historical room. July 26: 4th Annual Zombie Scavenger Hunt. 5:30 p.m. Community room. July 27: Teen Writing Group. 4 p.m. Historical room.
HOH_starnesad.pdf
July 29: Towerfall Ascension Tournament. 4 p.m. Community room. Adults July 1: First Fridays Fiber Arts. 10 a.m. Knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, crewel, embroidery ad smoking. All skill levels welcome. July 8: Bards & Brews. Spoken word poetry/craft beer event. July 15: Concerts in the Forest- Shades Mountain Air. 6:30 p.m. Library Amphitheater. Free. July 28: Adult Game Night. 6:30 p.m. July 29: Upcycle City: Makers in the Forest. Color me cool. Adult coloring and beverages. 21 and up. C
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Area Events Saturdays: Pepper Place Market.
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July 18-22: Critter Camp. Greater Birmingham Humane Society. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Ages 9 & 10. $185. Visit gbhs.org/critter-camp.
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July 1-3: “Wicked.” BJCC Concert Hall. Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Visit ticketmaster.com. July 1-3: “Damn Yankees.” Virginia Samford Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $33-$38. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. July 1-3: National Theatre on Ice Competition. Pelham Civic Complex. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $15-$45. Visit 2016nationaltoi.com. July 2: Southeastern Outings River Float, Picnic, Swim on the Locust Fork. Blount County near County Line and Trafford. 9 a.m. Bring picnic lunch, drink, towel, sunscreen and float. Depart 9 a.m. from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. For info, contact Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205-6314680. July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. Vulcan Park. 9 p.m. Fireworks show. Visit visitvulcan.com. July 7: Throwback Thursday Kids Club presents “Aladdin.” Alabama Theatre. 10 a.m. $5 adults, $3 kids 12 and under, 2 and under free. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 8: Summer Film Series presents “Grease.” Alabama Theatre. 7 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 8-31: “The Little Mermaid.” Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre, Alabama School of Fine Arts. Tickets start at $30. See website for times. Visit redmountaintheatre.org.
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July 18-22: Artists of Alabama Summer Camp. Shelby County Arts Council Gallery, Columbiana. Ages 5-8. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $130. Visit shelbycountyartscouncil.com. July 21: Throwback Thursday Kids Club presents “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Alabama Theatre. 10 a.m. $5 adults, $3 kids 12 and under, 2 and under free. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 22-24: Tiny House Roadshow. BJCC Exhibition Halls. Friday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-$12.50 admission. Visit tinyhouseroadshow.com. July 22: Art on the Rocks. Birmingham Museum of Art. 7 p.m. $15 members, $25 non-members. Visit artsbma.org. July 22: Summer Film Series presents “All About Eve.” Alabama Theatre. 7 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 23: Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival. Fourth Ave. Historic District. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. Visit 4thAvenueJazz.org. July 23: Alabama Music Awards. Carver Theatre. 6 p.m. $15 advance, $25 day of event. Visit alabamamusicawardsshow.com. July 23: Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa: The High Road Tour. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. 7 p.m. $28$70.50. Visit livenation.com.
July 10: Summer Film Series presents “Vertigo.” Alabama Theatre. 2 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre. com.
July 24: Summer Film Series presents “Mildred Pierce.” Alabama Theatre. 2 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.
July 11: BAO Bingo. Birmingham Aids Outreach. 7 p.m. $15 for 5 games. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach. org.
July 28: Throwback Thursday Kids Club presents “Pocahontas.” Alabama Theatre. 10 a.m. $5 adults, $3 kids 12 and under, 2 and under free. Visit alabamatheatre.com.
July 11-15: Critter Camp. Greater Birmingham Humane Society. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Ages 9 & 10. $185. Visit gbhs.org/critter-camp. July 15-17: James and the Giant Peach, Jr. Red Mountain Theater Company, Cabaret Theatre. Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. Tickets starting at $10. Visit redmountaintheatre. org. July 15: Summer Film Series presents “The Goonies.” Alabama Theatre. 2 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 16: Pup Crawl. Good People Brewing Company. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. $10 donation. Benefiting the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Visit goodpeoplebrewing.com. July 16-17: Sloss Music & Arts Festival. Sloss Furnaces. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Three stages of music. $115-$325. Saturday and Sunday. Visit slossfest. com. July 17: Summer Film Series presents “The Wizard of Oz.” Alabama Theatre. 2 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.
July 28- Aug 7: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $15 students, $25. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. July 29-30: DeMarre Carroll Next-Level Basketball Camp. John Carroll Catholic High School. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For boys and girls grades 1st-9th. $100. Visit abcsportscamps.com/nextlevel. July 29-31: “Legally Blonde, Jr.” Red Mountain Theatre Company, Cabaret Theatre. Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets start at $10. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. July 29-31: Magic City Ice Classic 2016. Pelham Civic Complex. Figure skating competition. Free. Friday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit bhamfsc.com. July 29: Summer Film Series presents “Mommie Dearest.” Alabama Theatre. 7 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com. July 30-31: NASA Mid-South. Barber Motorsports Park. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit nasamidsouth.com.
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