07.30.2015

Otmj Thursday, July 30, 2015

over the mountain journal ❖ otmj.com

social

sports

Kulture

change KultureCity Works to Create a World Accepting of Autism

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Photo special to the Journal

One out of every 68 children in

the United States will be diagnosed with autism. That’s 3.5 million people living in the United States who fall somewhere on the autism spectrum, a number that has more than doubled since 2000.

These are the statistics behind the mission of KultureCity, an international nonprofit based in Vestavia Hills.

KultureCity is the brain child of Dr. Julian Maha and his wife, Dr. Michele Kong.

“The idea came about the day they left Vanderbilt with their son’s autism diagnosis,” Diane Zaragoza, community outreach and education specialist for KultureCity, said. “They started thinking about what a life-changing situation that would be for their family, but also about other families who didn’t have the same opportunities and means they did. They didn’t want to just focus on the research, but also on the here and now kind of needs.”

Asher Goudie of Cahaba Heights reacts to receiving a new iPad from KultureCity.

KultureCity, founded in 2013, aims to change not just the daily lives of autistic children, but the way autistic people are perceived and treated in society long-term.

See KultureCity, page 8

inside

full circle Spain Park’s new principal is a familiar face. schools Page 22

blessing in disguise The Literacy Council rises from the ashes and resumes classes. about town Page 4 ‘praying for a miracle’ OTM community supports Molly Remmert Rossell’s battle with cancer. people Page 9

KultureBall Birmingham

August 14, 6:30-11 p.m.

Sheraton Birmingham Grand Ballroom KultureBall by KultureCity is an annual star-studded event where celebrity and philanthropy walk hand in hand to promote acceptance, foster awareness and raise funds for programs benefiting Tiki Barber children and families with autism.

For more information, visit www. kultureball.com

2 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

Opinion/Contents

Mountain Brook Parks and Rec Requests Community Input The Parks and Recreation Department of Mountain Brook has issued a survey to garner opinions from the public in order to plan future goals for the city’s parks and recreation facilities.

“We are trying to get feedback on what the public thinks the city should offer for recreation,” Parks and Recreation Superintendent Shanda Williams said.

The survey is five pages long and takes anywhere from 10-15 minutes to complete. The questions range from topics regarding the addition of various community activities and classes to complete renovations of running and biking trails.

Questions are asked regarding obtaining more park space, incorporating more tennis facilities, renovating existing structures and parks and improving school sports fields.

In addition, the survey mentions certain projects that have been suggested and entertained in the past. Additional facilities that are under consideration include a multi-purpose community center, an aquatic facility, festival space, a farmers market structure and more playgrounds with restrooms.

Finally, participants are asked to give their opinion on how the department should fund these potential projects and how much Mountain Brook residents would be willing to spend to aid in the completion of these projects, wether that be through a raise in taxes or a monthly fee.

“A dog park is something that has come up in previous meetings,” Williams said.

Williams said that the results of the survey will factor in the development of the city’s goals for the next five to ten years.

So far, over 400 members of the community have participated, but Williams said that the city lacks responses from the 25-34 age group and community members who are 24 and under. The survey will be available online until Aug. 5.

To access the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/ MountainBrook. ❖

in this issue About Town 4 people 9 news 12 social 14

weddings 20 schools 21 business 24 sports 28

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

murphy’s law

You Never Stop Learning...Sigh

if he couldn’t shake it off? What if he I saw him in the aisle at Wal-Mart, (horrors) cried? He’d never be able to standing beside his mother as she go back to school again, not ever. perused the school supply lists. He Oh sure, at some point, no matter was seven, maybe eight, and the tips what happened, the bell would ring of his ears were a little sunburned. He and the school day would be over, but stood there dutifully holding his new when school started, so did afterschool three-ring binder, but his thoughts activities. He’d be handed a granola were clearly elsewhere. bar and a juice box in the backseat All summer, he’d been swimming while his mom drove across town to and playing and riding his bike, but karate lessons where kids lined up to now his mom said that soon, very do spinning round kicks. The older soon, he’d have to get up early, eat kids broke boards with their bare a healthy breakfast and get on the hands. He’d tried chopping through bus. She smiled as she said it, but the his cereal box that very morning. He boy wasn’t ready. Not at all. couldn’t do it.

It was time to start learning Sue Murphy His mom had even begun talkagain. He’d heard rumors, threats ing about piano lessons, and not really, that this year he’d be faced the kind where you got to play with things like state capitals and ‘He’d heard rumors, around and pick out the theme from adverbs and (shudder) fractions.

There would be weekly book threats really, that this “Spiderman.” This teacher wanted to read music. Read it! There reports and for homework he’d be year he’d be faced with you weren’t even any letters, just little asked to do all the even-numbered things like state capitals dots drawn on a bunch of lines and problems on page 27 and show his work. It wasn’t enough to just know and adverbs and (shud- somehow they told you which piano key to push. Was this even possible? the answer. He’d have to write der) fractions.’

By the time he got home, he’d down how he got there. What if he only have time to eat supper, do didn’t know? homework and take a bath before He’d have to read chapters and answer the questions in the blue box, and they wouldn’t it was time for bed. Then the sun would come up, the alarm would go off, and he’d be expected to start all be multiple choice, either. He’d have to write out the over again. actual answer – and spell it correctly.

It was going to be too much. He couldn’t do it, even It had been whispered that in gym there would be if his mom did buy him the Pokemon lunch box. a flickerball, which is not a real game but something I felt for the little guy. I went through the same made up by gym teachers to keep kids from just runthing every year until … well, I ning around on the playground like still have dreams where I’m standthey wanted to. And he’d be moving in front of a class and I am ing up to the big kid gym teacher, not prepared. It’s scary, it is. But I the one with the whistle and the am living proof that if you simply clipboard who wore a stopwatch put one foot in front of the other, on her belt. When a kid fell down, things work out. she didn’t say, “Poor baby! Go Hang in there, little guy. You to the office and put some ice on can do it. ❖ it.” She said, “Shake it off.” What

On otmj.com

There’s so much happening in the Over the Mountain area, we can’t fit it all in the paper! Visit www.otmj.com for more stories and photos.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

July 30, 2015 JOU RNAL Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Kaitlin Candelaria, Emily Williams Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch, Liz Ellaby Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Intern: Tyler Waldrep Vol. 25, No. 14

Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com.

Copyright 2015 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

over the Mountain Views

How have you been beating the heat this summer?

“I have been wearing a lot of dresses and shorts.

Also, I’m sticking with things that are mostly made of cotton.”

Amy Strickland Birmingham

“I’m mostly sitting in the air conditioning and staying inside until that sun moves!”

June Tolson Vestavia Hills

“I stay cool by drinking a cold beer.”

Sammy Graphos Homewood

“I wear lots of flowy tops that are breathable and stay in the shade.”

Morgan Barnes Hoover

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

About Town

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 3

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4 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

Journal photo by Emily Williams

About Town

Executive Director Beth Wilder of Mountain Brook said that what seemed to be a tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With a $500,000 capital campaign, Literacy Council staff and board members were able to rebuild their offices and, in effect, expand the programs they offer.

Blessing In Disguise

The Literacy Council Rises From the Ashes and Resumes Classes

By Emily Williams The Literacy Council of Central Alabama is basking in the glow of a new year and a successful summer as they enjoy their newly renovated space on 1st Avenue North and gear up for the Junior Board’s annual Brews for Books fundraiser on Aug. 14.

The non-profit organization, a United Way agency, was displaced from its offices in May 2014 by a fire that destroyed the interior of the building.

Executive Director Beth Wilder of Mountain Brook said that what seemed to be a tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With a $500,000 capital campaign, Literacy Council staff and board members were able to rebuild their offices and, in effect, expand the programs they offer.

The Literacy Council has called its 1st Avenue North building home since 2002. While the building’s name is still up for discussion, Alabama Power was granted naming rights in return for their donation to the rebuilding campaign.

The building used to be the Liberty Overalls plant before being converted into a radio station and offices in the 1970s. Wilder described the space as “funky and chopped up” with large slanted windows providing views into each of the staff members’ offices.

“It was not designed to be an adult learning center.

It was designed to be a radio station,” Wilder said. “In the last 3 years – when we opened an in-house program – we weren’t ever really set up to be a school. It was just office space and a board room.”

To accommodate the addition of in-house programs, the council began converting closet space into tutoring carrels for students.

Instead of seeking out a new space after the fire, the Literacy Council chose to stay put on 1st Avenue North because of the location.

“It’s convenient to our learners,” Wilder said.

“They can ride the bus. The guys from Jimmie Hale and First Light, they are able to walk here. So, it’s a really convenient location for our learners.”

Since re-opening in January, Wilder said the council has seen an increase in learners due to the increased visibility in the new space and the programs.

“We’ve been able to add some new programs that we had not been able to add before,” Wilder said.

“We have a free GED class that is Monday through Thursday, adult basic computer skills, some ESL tutoring and financial literacy classes.”

The council recently removed a commercial about their GED classes because of the immense interest in the course and the increased attendance.

While Brasfield and Gorrie was renovating the interior of the building - with the help of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. - the council used the Junior League of Birmingham’s space in English Village to continue tutoring. In addition, the League donated the GED classroom that is being used to provide free classes taught by an instructor from Jefferson State Community College.

Learners can participate in self-study and oneon-one tutoring in the Liz Huntley Word Lab and Reading Workshop, named by donors Kathryn and Raymond Harbert in honor of their close friend.

Birmingham

Avondale Brewery Fri., Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m.

A line-up of bands including The Schmohawks, Andy Spain and Lost Astronaut and Heath Green and The Makeshifters will provide music. The cover charge for the event is $5 and proceeds will benefit the Council’s adult literacy and ESOL programs.

The new building also houses a TCL classroom donated by the Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation which houses laptops donated by Mountain Brook High School. Students are able to check out laptops for self-study during the day.

The council also has a strong outreach program in Central Alabama, covering Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker and Shelby counties. All of the courses they provide are free and all of their tutors are volunteers, the only cost is the purchase of the workbooks, which runs at about $25.

“Most of our classes in Shelby County are (English as a Second Language), because of the population,” Wilder said. “Most of Walker County is basic adult literacy. Blount County is kind of a mix. We try to meet the needs of each specific county.”

In addition to adult courses, the council incorporates early learning initiatives for children to promote reading at an early age. Their Pre-K program is so successful that it has become a model for similar pro-

grams in other states.

“The Literacy Council has been instrumental in bringing the campaign for grade-level reading to Birmingham, which we are going to kick-off early next year with the support of the United Way and the Bold Golds initiative,” Wilder said.

The daughter of an English professor, Wilder said that reading was mandated in their household and has always been a part of her life.

“I think it is something that you take for granted if you grew up with it,” she said. “I can’t imagine not having that skill. When you think about it, literacy is the foundation on which everything else is built and you can’t go forward in life with anything if you don’t have that very basic skill.”

Wilder fostered her passion for reading with the council by working as a literacy volunteer with Better Basics before joining the council’s board of directors.

In November, she will celebrate five years as executive director.

Over the years, Wilder said she has seen first-hand what illiteracy looks like in comparison to the assumptions of the general public.

“You have a myth of what an illiterate person looks like,” she said. “I think a lot of people picture a homeless person who lives under the bridge. Well, yes we have some homeless people in our program, but most of our learners are hard-working people that have jobs, they want to do better, they want to be able to read to their kids, they want to be able to help their kids.”

Both she and her staff have borne witness to a multitude of success stories through their work. One such story was provided by the council’s director of communications and development, Missy Burchart.

One of the council’s regular students is a man named Robert from the Jimmie Hale Mission.

Burchart said he usually is the first student to arrive in the morning and often performs helpful tasks such as plugging in the coffee maker and pushing a cart of books onto the street for passersby to peruse.

“A lot of our learners are that way,” Burchart said.

“They feel like doing stuff for us is their way of giving back. It means the world to us because they want to be part of it and they feel like they are home here.”

Burchart said that Robert came into her office one morning and asked for her card so that he could continue his GED classes after he moved to Tuscaloosa.

“He looked at me with the most serious look on his face and he said, ‘You know, when you learn stuff, that’s powerful,’” Burchart said. “He said, ‘Yeah, they can’t take that away from me. Every time I want to turn back to that mess I’m going to think, look how far you came, how much smarter you are and don’t you do it.’”

Burchart said she sees many of the students who first entered the facility shy and embarrassed become powerful as their literacy skills become stronger.

“These are people whose first experience with education was a bad one,” Wilder said. “Somebody told them they couldn’t and, at some point, they started to believe it.”

Both Wilder and Burchart said that tutors enter their office daily, eyes brimming with tears, ready to recount yet another breakthrough that a learner has shared with them.

Not only tutors, Wilder said, but also a group of board members and a strong junior board work tirelessly to raise funds that the Literacy Council needs to continue to change lives.

“Our junior board is really fired up,” Wilder said.

“We have a great team with a lot of great people.”

The junior board’s Brews for Books fundraiser will take place at Avondale Brewery Aug. 14th at 6:30 p.m.

A line-up of bands including The Schmohawks, Andy Spain and Lost Astronaut, and Heath Green and The Makeshifters will provide music. The cover charge for the event is $5 and proceeds will benefit the Council’s adult literacy and ESOL programs.

Wilder said, “I think one thing that we really try to do here – we’ve assembled a team that is very invested in what we do – but we try to make it a very welcoming place, because they are here because their first go-around at education didn’t go so well.”

For more information about The Literacy Council or Brews for Books, visit www.alliteracycouncil.wordpress.com. ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

July 30 - Aug. 14 Thurs., July 30 HOMEWOOD

Taste of Birmingham The Club This annual fundraiser for the Birmingham Boy’s Choir will begin at 6 p.m. Guests can taste dishes provided by local restaurants and purveyors and vote for their favorite as the choir performs their “Pops” repertoire. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased via the Eventbrite link on the event website.

For more information, visit www. thetasteofbirmingham.com or call 7679219.

BIRMINGHAM

“New Year, New You” Reveal Party Iron City L.I.F.E Fitness and Children’s of Alabama will reveal the 2015 “New Year, New You” winner, Liz Aldridge after six months of fitness and hard work. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes music, food from Happy Catering and a silent auction with proceeds benefitting the Children’s Center for Weight Management. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at www. ironcitybham.com. For more information, visit www.lifefitnessbham.com/newyou/.

HOMEWOOD

Pre-Code Film Festival Homewood Library Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the film “A Free Soul” will be shown in the Large Auditorium. The film surrounds the murder trial of mobster Ace Wilfong Clark Gable in his breakout role. This event is free. For more information, visit www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org or call Leslie West at 332-6620.

BIRMINGHAM

Make Some Noise Gameday Fashion Show Cahaba Grand The Delta Zeta Birmingham Alumnae will host a game-day themed fashion show, silent auction and luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $40. Proceeds benefit the Alabama Ear Institute and the Alabama School for Hearing’s pre-school.

For more information, visit www. dzbirminghamalumnae.org.

July 30-Aug. 2 BIRMINGHAM

Mary Poppins Alabama School of Fine Arts The Red Mountain Theatre Company is performing Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s musical in the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater. Evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $30 for ages 13 and up and $29 for children 12 and under.

For more information, visit www. redmountaintheatre.org or call 3242424.

July 30-Aug. 9 BIRMINGHAM

Shrek the Musical Virginia Samford Theatre Carl Dean will direct the members

of the STARS student-arts program in a performance of the musical based on Dreamwork’s Shrek. Tickets are $15 for students 18 and under or $25 for adults. For more information and a schedule of performances, visit www. virginiasamfordtheatre.org or call 2511206.

July 31-Aug. 1 NORTH SHELBY

Summer Lovin’ Romance Conference North Shelby Library New York Times bestselling author Dianna Love will be the keynote speaker at the romance writers’ dinner Friday evening. Authors in attendance include Nancee Cain, Carla Swafford, Gayle Wilson, Lexi George, Ingrid

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 5

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Seymour, Kimberly Lang, Peggy Webb, Larynn Ford and more. Tickets are $10 for Saturday and $15 for both days. For more information and a schedule, visit www.northshelbylibrary.org or call 4395510.

July 31-Aug. 2 BIRMINGHAM

Secret Stages Downtown Loft District This two-day walking music festival will include music from 60 bands performing on the stages of a variety of neighborhood establishments. Weekend passes are $25 in advance and VIP passes are $50. For more information and ticket purchasing, visit www. secretstages.net.

Clockwise from right: Judy Abroms, Joe Perez, Tommie Cummings and Everett Holle are four of the 50 nominees who will be recognized at this year’s 50 Over 50 awards ceremony.

Sat., Aug. 1 BIRMINGHAM

A Night of Big Stars The Florentine This fundraiser, benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, will begin at 6 p.m.

The evening will include a cocktail hour, seated dinner and a production performed by BBBS along with ArtPlay.

For more information, visit www. anightofbigstars.com.

Sun., Aug. 2 HOOVER

OUR 118 YEAR TH

Global Cuisine at the Plaza Hoover Public Library From 2:30-3:30 p.m. the Coffeeol-ogy Cafe will offer a free program on food and coffee from Polynesia.

Complimentary samples will be provided at The Plaza. For more information, visit www.hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7821.

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BIRMINGHAM

Top 50 Over 50 Cahaba Grand Conference Center Thurs., July 30 Positive Maturity, a non-profit organization that provides social services to keep seniors active, will host the second annual awards ceremony from 6-8:30 p.m. The program will celebrate members of the community who exemplify what it means to stay young while growing up. Individual tickets cost $125.

The reception includes a seated dinner. For more information, visit www. top50over50.com or call Jacob Nance at 803-3211.

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6 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

About Town

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Thurs., Aug. 6 Fenders and Fireflies Old Car Heaven The Easter Seals of Birmingham will host their fourth annual event featuring music, catering by Cocina Superior, live and silent auctions and craft beer and liquor tastings by Cahaba Brewing and HIVE Beverages. Event proceeds benefit the Easter Seals’ efforts to improve the lifestyle of children and adults with special needs in Central Alabama. For more information, visit www.eastersealsbham.org or call 3142187.

Sat., Aug. 8 BIRMINGHAM

Sun., Aug. 9

Something New

Jewels By Rose has successfully completed the transfer of ownership from mother, Rose Goldner, to daughter, Donna Jowers. Other changes have taken place inside the store as well.

“Our longtime jeweler, Alan Thompson, has moved his bench from the back of the store into the showroom,” Donna said. “He will now be operating his own repair shop inside of Jewels By Rose - Alan’s Express Jewelry Repair. This is a new concept and a few of our customers have been confused by the change. Don’t worry, we are the same group of smiling faces that you have come to know and trust over the last 39 years and we will continue to provide you with the quality jewelry and excellent customer service that Jewels By Rose is known for.”

“Jewels By Rose continues to specialize in fine diamond, gold and estate jewelry. New merchandise is arriving daily, so please come in and see what is new! We will also continue to carry designer fashion jewelry and provide jewelry appraisals.

We have recently expanded our jewelry lines to include designers Dallas Prince, Lauren G. Adams and Robert Manse among others. We are also proud to now offer 12 months interest free financing.”

“Unique to our area, Alan’s Express Jewelry Repair will offer three tiers of service. Same day or next day service will be offered on most ring sizing and chain repairs. Has another store told you 10-14 days turn around on your piece? Our standard service will have most repairs completed in four to five business days.

Come in and take advantage of our express service to have your jewelry ready to wear for your big event. We are able to offer these services because your jewelry will never leave our store.”

Alan’s Express Jewelry Repair offers repairs on fine jewelry including platinum restoration on estate jewelry, fashion jewelry, sizing adjustments on rings, bracelets and necklaces, eyeglass frame repairs, repairs on silver serving pieces, etcetera.

“In other words, if it is made of metal, we can usually repair it!” Alan said.

Jewels By Rose - 979-5611 Alan’s Express Jewelry Repair - 769-6930 619 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills

The event will feature workshops taught by regional professionals in both Carolina shag and West Coast swing for all levels of dancers.

BIRMINGHAM

CAT Cabaret The Clubhouse On Highland The Central Alabama Theater presents Broadway veteran Catherine Fries Vaughn in a cabaret performances of “Judy Called” featuring the songs and humor of Judy Garland. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $25. For more information, visit www. centralalabamatheater.org.

Jewels By Rose owner Donna Jowers with Alan Thompson of Alan's Express Jewelry Repair. Which is now located inside Jewels By Rose in Vestavia Hills.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

HOOVER Roberto Verdi Hoover Library Flamenco guitarist Roberto Verdi will perform the traditional music of Spain in The Plaza from 2:30-3:30 p.m. This event is free. For more information, visit www.hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7821.

Tues., Aug. 11 BIRMINGHAM

An Evening for Woodlawn Foundation Iron City The Friends of Woodlawn Foundation host an event from 5:30-7 p.m. dedicated to the Woodlawn community, featuring best-selling author and philanthropist John Hope Bryant. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

For more information, call 599-6963 or visit the Woodlawn United Facebook page.

‘S.E.C. of Swing’

Professional Dance Event Set for Aug. 7-9 TJ and Wendy Zito will be hosting “Southern Traveler Shag and Swing,” the first professional shag and swing event in Birmingham Aug. 7-9.

The event, set to take place at the Hilton Hotel in Perimeter Park off of U.S. 280, will feature workshops taught by regional professionals in both Carolina shag and West Coast swing for all levels of dancers.

The Zitos have danced competitively for the past 11 years. Carolina shag and West Coast swing are both social six-count swing dances. Carolina shag features fast footwork, beachy blues and sleek movements, whereas West Coast swing incorporates more hip hop, jazz, spins and tricks.

“It is the only dance style in the world where you will see every generation enjoying the same steps and the same music,” TJ said. “The shaggers really get how to pass the dance on to the next generation and how to preserve their music, dance, clubs and culture. We plan to capture some of that special feeling and bring it home to the Magic City with our events.”

Saturday night at the event will feature the “S.E.C. of Swing,” a collegefootball themed tailgate party in the ballroom of the hotel. Participants are encouraged to wear school colors and compete in the table decorating contest. The Sunday portion of the event will include a “Best of Bama” competition, in which dancers from across the south will compete for the 2015 title.

For more information on this event or to purchase tickets, visit www. bamadance.com. ❖

Fri., Aug. 14 BIRMINGHAM

Art On The Rocks Birmingham Museum of Art The final installment of the Museum’s summer series will feature music by the Clear Plastic Masks. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for non-members.

For more information, visit www. artsbma.org or call 254-2565.

VESTAVIA HILLS

Adult Outdoor Concert Series Library in the Forest

Fri., Aug. 7 VESTAVIA HILLS

First Friday Reception Artists Incorporated Gallery This month, Artists Incorporated’s featured artists include Anne Reiser, Tora Johnson, Cary Baker, Dottie West and Ethel Owen.

A reception with hors d’oeuvres will be held from 4:30-8:30 p.m.

This event is free. For more information, call 979-8990 or visit www. artistsincorporated.com.

Gourd art by Ethel Owen

The final installment of the library’s concert series will feature Sean Michael Ray from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The concert will take place in the amphitheater overlooking Boulder Canyon Trail. This event is free. For more information, visit www.vestavialibrary.org or call 9780155.

HOMEWOOD

The Soul of Therapy Homewood Library Dr. Andrea Mathews will lead a workshop designed for LPCs, ALC’s, social workers, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, addiction counselors, therapists and other clinicians to develop core competencies to address spiritual or religious problems. There is a registration fee of $75 paid online at www.andreamathews.com or $90 at the door. For more information, visit the website or call 328-0780.

Aug. 14-16 BIRMINGHAM

Festival of Hope UAB Bartow Arena This concert will feature Kirk Franklin, the Newsboys, Lace from Flyleaf, Michael W. Smith, Tasha Cobbs and many others. Franklin Graham will deliver a message following the concert.

The concert will take place from 7-9:30 p.m on Friday, 6-9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 5-7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, visit www. greaterbirminghamfestival.org or call 957-6580.

Save The date Aug. 15

Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest Returns to Railroad Park The Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest will return to Railroad Park Aug. 1 providing a free music festival for the public.

This year the lineup will include Grammy Award-winning hip hop band The Roots, hip hop artist Common, Hoover native Taylor Hicks and others.

While general entry to the festival is free, VIP tickets can be purchased for $150. Proceeds from the festival will benefit Camp SmileA-Mile and this year’s Marissa Feigelson Award will be presented to a Camp SAM camper in honor of his or her battle against cancer.

Parking for the festival will be available either on the street or in one of several parking lots in the surrounding area.

In conjunction with the festival, local craft beer distributor AlaBev will provide a beer garden featuring domestic and imported beer, cider, wine and alcohol free beverages as well as specially foods.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 7

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

BIRMINGHAM

Picasso Pets The Harbert Center Hand in Paw’s 15th annual fundraiser will showcase a silent and live auction including one-of-a-kind pet paintings from 6-9 p.m. The event will include hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks and a seated dinner. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased at www.picassopets.com.

Aug. 16 BIRMINGHAM

Aug. 20

Sweet Home Brews Railroad Park The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama’s junior board presents a beer tasting from 1-5 p.m.

Music will be provided by the Simone Durand Trio and The Fish Market will serve a shrimp boil plate for $14 per person. Tickets to the event are $30 in advance. To purchase tickets, visit www. rmhca.org or call 521-9933.

HOOVER

The Glass Jars Hoover Library The four-piece band The Glass Jars, featuring a viola, guitar, bass and percussion will perform at The Plaza from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit www. hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7821.❖ Send About Town information to: editorial@otmj.com

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MOUNTAIN BROOK

Boiling N’ Bragging Otey’s Tavern For the seventh year, Rotary District 6860 is hosting a football kick-off party and low country boil from 6-9 p.m. to benefit the Critical Care Transport program at Children’s of Alabama.

Guests are encouraged to wear their team colors. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Children ages 10 and younger get in for free. To register, visit www.boilingnbragging.org.

BIRMINGHAM

Taylor Hicks

Beerfest, all children’s activities and local artist booths will be present on location from 3-7 p.m. Food trucks will remain available until 10 p.m. and drink concessions will shut down at 10:30 p.m.

For the complete lineup and updated information, follow the event on Twitter, visit the event Facebook page or visit www.shaeffercityfest.com. ❖

BBQ at the Zoo Birmingham Zoo Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School will host their 2015 barbecue event from 12-7 p.m. Patrons can sample a variety of barbecue dishes, music, children’s activities and a beer garden. Admission is $10 and proceeds benefit Holy Family and their work-study program. Food and beverages are an additional cost. For more information, visit www.hfcristorey.org.

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Sozo Children Dinner Cahaba Grand The Sozo Children - a non-profit evangelical ministry and home for children in Uganda - will host their 5th annual fundraiser featuring a silent and live auction with food and speakers from 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person and the dress is business casual. For more information and ticket purchasing, visit www.sozochildren.org/dinner.

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8 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

cover story

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

kulturecity, From page 1

Isolation

Danielle Goudie of Cahaba Heights was struggling with acceptance herself when she discovered KultureCity. Her son, Asher, received an autism diagnosis in December 2013.

“You become isolated,” she said.

“You have to plan your outings because of behavior and sensory issues and things like that. I started seeking out extra support that we weren’t getting with the more traditional research-based organizations.

BIRMINGHAM

Ignite Conference August 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Alys Stephens Center Ignite will serve as a think tank conference to promote conversation about equal rights for children with special needs. Speakers will include M.L. Carr, Dustin Chandler and many others. Tickets are $40. For more information, visit www.ignitecon.com.

‘You become isolated. You have to plan your outings because of behavior and sensory issues and things like that. I started seeking out extra support that we weren’t getting with the more traditional researchbased organizations. KultureCity was actually doing things in the community.’ Danielle Goudie (above) with Asher

Journal photos by Kaitlin Candelaria

And so they did. The Mahas set out to shake up the typical nonprofit model; their team consists of volunteers from all over the country and their focus is fulfilling the tangible everyday needs of children with autism while promoting acceptance.

KultureCity, founded in 2013, aims to change not just the daily lives of autistic children, but the way autistic people are perceived and treated in society long-term.

“Now, we’re introducing ourselves to companies and talking to them about how they could help with this growing population and be a part of them becoming self-supporting,” Zaragoza said. “We like to think we can help these children by being an incubator of sorts where businesses can see how they can help employ autistic individuals.”

Local special needs activist Dustin Chandler recently teamed up with the organization to create Ignite, the first special needs advocacy and think tank conference in the world. The conference will take place Aug. 13 in Birmingham and feature autism advocates and celebrities from all over the country.

Chandler, whose daughter, Carly, has special needs, said he shared a vision with Julian Maha from the beginning.

“We want to empower the special needs community,” Chandler said.

“In my personal opinion, we think of society as being really inclusive but truthfully, we have a long way to go. It’s going to be great to see how people are thinking outside of the box when it comes to healthcare, education and employment and I think we’re going to bring those issues to the surface at Ignite.”

Julian Maha describes the difference as moving from awareness to acceptance. In the mission statement for KultureCity, he explains the day he realized that acceptance had to take precedence. His son, Abram, was having a meltdown during a haircut when another patron of the barbershop asked him, “Do you not know how to take care of your child?”

“It was at that moment when I realized, that what we as a community needed was not awareness, but acceptance,” Maha wrote on the KultureCity website. “You see, there is a fundamental difference between awareness and acceptance. Awareness always gives you an out. Acceptance does not. That was the birth of KultureCity. Little by little, we are changing the kulture (sic) and pushing boundaries.”

KultureCity was actually doing things in the community.”

According to Zaragoza, isolation is a common feeling among the parents of children with whom KultureCity works.

“A lot of the families stay at home because they’ve just gotten tired of being looked at when they’re out,” she said. “If their child starts going through one of their behavior patterns, people say things and whisper. We want people in the community and people in society as a whole to recognize that the future of our country is in our children’s hands, and at the rate autism is growing, a lot of the future will be made up of autistic children.”

Goudie said she fell in love with the organization after attending several sensory-friendly activities with Asher, including outings at

the Birmingham Zoo and with the Birmingham Barons. KultureCity also has provided Asher with an iPad and sensory hearing devices as well as assisting Goudie with paying for continued therapy at Mitchell’s Place, which she says is very effective but also expensive.

“I’ve always loved fundraising and working with charities but I’ve never been involved with an organization that is so involved and hands on,” she said. “You can feel the difference they’re making in the community.

Asher’s life is probably going to be a lot less challenging because of the difference they’ve made in our lives.”

Gouide says that’s all she’s ever wanted for her son.

“My biggest fear when I found out he was on the spectrum wasn’t, ‘Oh God, what’s going to happen?’” she

said. “It was, ‘Oh God, life is already challenging enough.’ When you have someone who has issues expressing themselves, how do you make situations easier for them? I can’t give back to KultureCity what they’ve given me and especially Asher.”

M.L. Carr

Contributing to society

Creating a world where children with special needs don’t have to fight such an uphill battle is one of the goals of the Ignite Conference.

“We want parents to know that no matter what their child’s diagnosis is, they can be a huge contribution to society,” Chandler said. “We want our children to be integrated and for society to be more inclusive. The idea for Ignite started with a phone call between Julian and I about how to get to people. We can’t keep waiting on people to create it, we’ve got to create it ourselves.”

One speaker at Ignite will be Steve Andrews, CEO and founder of Platinum Bay Technologies.

Andrews was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2010 and in turn designed his company around employing people on the autism spectrum.

“I don’t think we stop at hiring someone to be a bag boy or letting them do a remedial task,” Chandler said. “The Ignite Conference is saying our kids have value in society so companies, why don’t you look at hiring more of them? We’re everywhere and our families are just as important and so is our money.”

Ignite will come on the eve of KultureBall, the nonprofit’s annual black-tie fundraiser. Attendees will be treated to a star-studded evening that will include dinner, live and silent auctions and entertainment.

Celebrities such as Tiki Barber and M.L. Carr also will be in attendance.

Tickets are $99 each and can be purchased at www.kultureball.com.

Zaragoza and Chandler both agree the difference that KultureCity is

Dustin Chandler

Jacqueline Laurita

making is just getting started.

“The people in our community want to help,” Chandler said. “But many of them just don’t know the issues or how to begin to help. We really want to push this and make the general public aware and lead by example. Other people and businesses will hopefully follow.” ❖

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 9

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

‘Praying for A Miracle’ OTM Community is Hanging Green Bows for A Cure

By Emily Williams The friends and family of Molly Remmert Rossell – Homewood resident, former Hall Kent Elementary teacher and mother of three daughters – are hanging green ribbons on their mailboxes to remind the community to pray and support Rossell as she battles Stage 4 melanoma.

The battle came on suddenly for the 32-year-old.

During a routine visit to the dermatologist four years ago, Rossell had a mole removed from her scalp. The mole was found to be a cancerous melanoma, but the doctor was confident that there was no danger and Rossell was perfectly healthy.

Rossell, who spent six years teaching pre-schoolers with special needs at Hall Kent Elementary School before she married Rich Rossell and set out to create her own family, went on to have her three daughters. Her oldest, Rayne, is three years old; Brooks is one; and the youngest, Bess, is nine weeks old.

“After the birth of Bess, (Rossell)

Journal photo by Maury Wald

Photo special to the Journal

Homewood resident Molly Rossell, center, has hope for recovery from a Stage 4 melanoma on her liver with the support of her family.

Also pictured, from left: Bess Remmert Osucha, sister; Patti Remmert, mother; Lucy Remmert Strozier, sister; and Adrienne Remmert, sister-in-law.

was not feeling well,” Rossell’s close friend Besty Goldstein said. “She was experiencing pain in her abdomen.”

Just before July 4th – six weeks after the birth of her third daughter and days before Rayne’s third birthday – Rossell’s doctors discovered a melanoma on her liver. Now, she is battling a Stage 4 cancer.

According to Goldstein, Rossell has met with doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and is responding positively to treatment with inhibitors to diminish the size of the tumors in her liver.

“Her doctors are trying to find the best treatment plan for her long-term recovery,” Goldstein said.

Though she is responding to inhibitors, doctors have found that cancer cells can find a way to resist this form of treatment in about 10 months, so much of their work is focused on the next form of therapy.

Goldstein said Rossell’s friends and family chose to display green bows in support of Rossell, signifying liver cancer, because the official color for melanoma is black.

“I could tell you a million stories of Molly’s kindness, grace and generosity,” Goldstein said. “Everyone who knows her just loves her. Everyone who knows her is praying for a miracle. I’m just so proud to be her friend.”

Goldstein said that the bows are just a small way to show love, support and hope.

Green bows can be picked up at Smith’s Variety in Mountain Brook and Homewood Antiques.

For more information and updates, visit the Facebook page Praying for Molly Remmert Rossell. ❖

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Byrne of Troop 320 Receives Eagle Scout Rank Thomas Byrne, of Mountain Brook, received his Eagle Scout rank July 13.

Troop 320 meets at the Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church and Byrne’s father, Russell Byrne, is Scout Master emeritus.

Byrne has been active in Troop 320 since crossing over and receiving his Arrow of Light from Cub Scouts.

He held leadership roles as a patrol leader and chaplain. Most recently, he served as troop representative to Pack 320 as a den assistant and helped with New Scout backpacking, the Pinewood Derby, the Blue and Gold banquet and weekly pack meetings.

Thomas Byrne Byrne plans to stay active in scouting with the Venture Crew and is hopeful that his sister will be joining him.

Byrne’s Eagle project was to build a bridge over a tributary near the Jemison trail with the help of 13 Scouts from Troop 320. As a result of the fundraising efforts for his Eagle project, Byrne will be presenting a $1,000 donation to Red Mountain Park.

Byrne said that his most memorable trip was going to Northern Tier and watching his dad get stuck in the muck of the portages. The person in Scouts who influenced him the most was SPL Payne Griffin, whom Byrne looked up to when he first joined Troop 320.

Byrne is a rising senior at Mountain Brook High School. He is a member of the varsity lacrosse team, where he has been the starting goalie for the past two years. Byrne was on the varsity football team, where he was a starter on special teams and played defensive end. He is also a member of the varsity wrestling team, where he made it to State last year in the 170-pound class.

After high school he plans to attend Millsaps College and major in business or science and play lacrosse.

Byrne is the son of Russell and Stephanie Byrne of Mountain Brook.

His uncle, Kelly Byrne, is a current adult leader at Troop 320 and the adult leader for Troop 2010 Venture Crew.

Another uncle, the late Matt Byrne, was an adult leader at Troop 320, organized many trips and was buried in his Scout uniform. Byrne also has three cousins who received their Eagles from Troop 320 – Paul Byrne, son of Matt Byrne; and Robert and Will Byrne, sons of Kelly Byrne.

Hoover Resident Wins National Writing Awards

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Nancy Dorman-Hickson, of Hoover, won five writing awards in the 2015 National Federation of Press Women’s communications contest.

After spending almost 19 years with Southern Living and Progressive Farmer magazines, Dorman-Hickson freelances as a writer, editor and speaker. She is co-author of Joanne King Herring’s bestselling memoir “Diplomacy and Diamonds: My Wars from the Ballroom to the Battlefield, The Real-Life Texas

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Socialite Behind Charlie Wilson’s War.” Dorman-Hickson’s writing placed first in every category she entered in this year’s Alabama Media Professionals competition. At the national level, her entries received awards at the second and third-place levels, as well as two honorable mentions.

Among her winning entries was a magazine for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, created in partnership with local writers Jennifer WalkerJourney and Jane Ehrhardt.

DormanNancy DormanHickson’s Hickson. stories on a strawberry farmer and a peach farmer, as well as articles on barn restoration and new ways for farmers to acquire land access also placed nationally.

Dorman-Hickson won for her business articles on a specialty food enterprise, published in Out Here magazine, and on farmers’ inviting hunters to use their property, published in Tennessee Home and Farm. An article Dorman-Hickson wrote about 19th Century Birmingham madam Lou Wooster and her role in saving the Magic City from cholera also scored in the national feature category.

Birmingham-Southern College Board of Trustees Elects New Members Birmingham-Southern elected new members to its board of trustees during its spring meeting. Walter B. Evans Jr., of Mountain Brook, and John J. McMahon III, of Mountain Brook, will join the board.

Evans is president of Cahaba Media Group, a company he founded in 2002 after serving for several years as vice president and general manager of EBSCO Industries.

Throughout more than two decades in business leadership, he has managed companies that Walter B. Evans Jr. range from entrepreneurial start-ups to an operating division of a large corporation.

Evans has also served on the boards of several privately held companies and nonprofit John J. McMahon III. organizations.

He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Sewanee: The University of the South and earned an MBA from UAB. McMahon, a 1999 BSC psychology graduate, held leadership positions with various companies in the printing and manufacturing industries before assuming his current position in 2008 as president and CEO of Jorden Industries.

He has been active in the Birmingham community and is a past chair of First Look/YouthServe, where he also served on the board of directors.

The new board members join 30 other members of the BSC board, chaired by Bruce Rogers, a 1980 graduate of BSC and a partner and attorney with Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith LLP in Birmingham.

Cahaba Riverkeeper Hires Butler as First Full-Time Riverkeeper The Cahaba Riverkeeper recently announced the hiring of David Butler as their new riverkeeper. Butler assumed his new position effective immediately.

He has served CRK as a board member and active member of the Water Quality Sampling Committee. For the past two summers, he volunteered for weekly bacteriological testing on the river in an effort to provide the river community with timely information about water quality.

In spring 2015, Butler led the successful Renew Our Rivers cleanup in Helena. He also has been a David Butler strong advocate

for cooperation among parties interested in the health of the Cahaba River.

Butler replaces Dr. Myra Crawford as riverkeeper.

“I am humbled by my appointment as riverkeeper for an organization that is becoming known for its systematic, scientific testing of high-use swimming and boating sites,” said Butler.

In the summer months, Cahaba Riverkeeper tests from Trussville to Helena for pathogens that could be harmful to humans and wildlife.

Butler’s responsibilities as riverkeeper include coordinating efforts to monitor water quality in the river and updates to the Waterkeeper Alliance Swim Guide.

The riverkeeper lobbies for passage and enforcement of river-friendly legislation and works with staff to develop outreach and restoration programs.

Butler, owner of Canoe the Cahaba recreational outfitter, holds a journalism degree from the University of Alabama and is currently enrolled in the Birmingham School of Law. He previously worked in the financial research community after studying finance at the University of Kentucky.

Butler is a board member of the Friends of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County. He also serves on the advisory board for the Cahaba Environmental Center at Living River, and he has taken an active role in improving recreational access to the Cahaba River.

“Dave has consistently demonstrated his ability to connect the people to the river,” Peggy Gargis, board president, said. “Naming him as the Cahaba Riverkeeper is a natural and appropriate step for our organization and an acknowledgement of how much of himself he devotes to the well-being of the Cahaba and its watershed.”

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Hoover Seniors Recognized by Prince of Peace

Michael Thorin, decorated veteran and retired Hoover firefighter, was presented with the 2015 Freedom Award by the Hoover Chamber of Commerce.

Thorin Receives Freedom Award The Hoover Chamber of Commerce recognized retired firefighter and paramedic Michael Thorin with the Freedom Award at the July 16 meeting.

According to officials, the Freedom Award is presented each year to “Hoover’s most outstanding public servants who have dedicated themselves to the ideals of freedom.”

Thorin, a decorated veteran and the 13th recipient of this award, served in both the Army and National Guard for close to 20 years, including tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, before retiring in 2009. His list of credentials and honors from that time are exhaustive. In 2008, he joined the Hoover Fire Department. He was recognized as the department’s firefighter of the year in 2014.

In August 2014, Thorin retired from the fire department after being diagnosed with Gulf War Illness.

At the luncheon, Thorin was presented with a plaque from Mayor Gary Ivey before thanking the chamber for the honor and discussing the importance of not taking freedom for granted.

“Everything I’ve always done is to do the best I can to improve the situation I’ve been in,” Thorin said. “If you ask me if it’s worth it, the answer is a resounding yes. I have served with some of the bravest and most heroic people in the world, both in the war and here in Hoover, Alabama.”

McCulloh Receives H. Moren Fuller Award J. Calvin McCulloh, DMD was recognized by UAB Dentistry Alumni Association as the 2015 H. Moren Fuller Award recipient.

McCulloh practiced dentistry in Vestavia Hills J. Calvin McCulloh, for 42 years DMD before retiring in 2010. A 1956 graduate of the UAB School of Dentistry, McCulloh also

taught at the school from 2000-2010.

In 2000, McCulloh became the first recipient of the Birmingham Dentist of the Year award. He has also served as the past president of the Alabama Dental Association, the Birmingham District Dental Society and Academy of General Dentistry.

From 2002-2006, he was the first dentist to serve as the Southeast regent for the American College of Dentists.

McCulloh describes the award as an honor.

“I am flattered and honored to have been considered for the Fuller Award,” McCulloh said. “There are so many deserving people who have been honored with this award and I’m extremely proud to have received it.”

For Information on Packs & Troops in the Over the Mountain Area Contact Will McIntyre District Director Call: 205-969-4290 or Email: william.mcintyre@scouting.org

Greater Alabama Council

Prince of Peace Catholic Church recently presented graduating high school senior and parishioner Kyra Moyer with the 2015 Caitlin Sweeney-McDaniel Award for Faith in Action. This award honors a graduating high school senior in the parish who exemplifies Catholic faith in action, serves their community and is a well-rounded student.

Moyer received $500 and her name was added to the list of previous winners on the award plaque that hangs outside the Prince of Peace School library. The Hoover High School graduate will attend Auburn University in the fall, majoring in communication disorders with a goal of a master’s degree in speech pathology.

Runners-up were Zach Kilgro and Diego Sialer, who each received $250. Both also graduated from Hoover High School. Kilgro will attend Auburn University to major in nursing and Sialer will attend Yale University to major in chemistry.

This award was established 11 years ago in memory of Prince of Peace School student Caitlin Sweeney by her parents, Joe and Cindy Sweeney.

“The students being recognized are very deserving every year and it is always difficult to select a top recipient,” Joe Sweeney said. “(Moyer, Kilgro and Sialer) all have outstanding moral character, are active in the church and in spreading their faith through word and actions. They have been a joy to talk to and I believe they will go on to do great things.”

From left: Zach Kilgro, Kyra Moyer, Diego Sialer and Joe Sweeney.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 11

Rehab Reality

by Julie Martin

Relapse Reality.

Many people, including the addict, may be surprised to hear that relapse is a hallmark to recovery. And further, a relapse is a process, not a single act.

When you were a child, how many times did you fall off your bike before finally successfully peddling on the roads ahead? Most kids, if not all, fall at least once with a large majority falling many times more. Even though they are told a hundred times by their parents the right way to ride, the falls enable the child to recognize his or her previous mistakes and correct them to avoid falling again.

The same rings true for the recovery process. Unfortunately, very few recovering addicts get it right the first time. Perhaps, like the child and the bike, an addict should not view a relapse as a failure, but a needed step to get him or her one pedal closer to a lifetime of sobriety.

There’s no “one way is the right way” to recovery at Bayshore Retreat. It’s understood that each person needs his or her own treatment program therefore clients and staff design a customized plan that will work, which in turn creates a greater chance of success. Ownership is an important key. Ownership of of a realistic plan to overcome the addiction. The small home-like environment and limit of only 6 clients at a time has proven to be the best answer for a successful recovery.

850-687-6831

www.bayshoreretreat.com Destin, FL Healing water front setting Licensed & court approved

News

12 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

less anesthetic and dry and making it feel more like a space within a home. We want to create a comfortable atmosphere.”

The renovation plans include adding pieces of furniture including stocked bookshelves in gathering areas throughout the mall.

u Over the Mountain

Retail Mix

OTM Shopping Centers Seek Out Local, Unique Tenants

‘It’s our duty to our customers and our community to help cultivate the next round of successful businesses.’

By Kaitlin Candelaria

u over the mountain

Back-to-School Tax Break Set for Aug. 7-9 The state of Alabama will hold the 10th annual Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 7 until midnight Aug. 9. The purpose of the tax holiday is to give shoppers the opportunity to save some cash while purchasing clothing and supplies for school.

The cities of Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills will all recognize the sales tax holiday. Jefferson County will not be participating, but shoppers in Shelby County will see results at the register.

Some of the tax-exempt items include school uniforms, belts, shoes and general clothing items $100 or under per item.

Computers along with software and supplies such as laptops, printers and paper will be exempt if they are priced $750 or less.

All school supplies and certain instructional materials will be exempt if they are $50 or less per item and books will be exempt if they are priced at or

Sam Heide, vice president of Bayer Properties Journal photos by Kaitlin Candelaria

Shopping in the Over the Mountain area is changing.

“I really think the trend within the shopping center business is to engage more local retailers and restaurants and bring those businesses to places like The Summit,” Sam Heide, vice president of Bayer Properties, said. “It’s like putting together a puzzle. We’re always looking to bring in best-in-class retailers and we want to provide our customers with a unique experience they can’t find anywhere else in the area.”

Sprout and Pour co-owner Amanda Blake said she and her husband weren’t looking to expand beyond their Edgewood Shop when they were approached by Bayer Properties several months ago. Now, they are planning to open their second store, at The Summit on U.S. 280, in early August.

“We had just gotten our doors open so we originally told them we were just a small business and we weren’t interested,” Blake said.

“They contacted us a few more times and after several months, we decided it was OK to have this conversation. It was surprising to us because we don’t fit their ‘profile.’ We’re a small familyrun business. But it was definitely an opportunity we wanted to hold onto if we could.”

With the growing trend to shop local and unique, shopping areas Over the Mountain are evolving to stay competitive. Lane Parke, a new development in Mountain Brook, will bring in new-to-Birmingham tenants such as a boutique coffee shop and an upscale “fast-casual eatery committed to using natural and organic ingredients.” John Evans of Evson Inc., the developer behind Lane Parke, describes their choices for tenants as catering to a more “sophisticated market.”

Sprout and Pour will join other local busi-

Andrew and Amanda Blake Turner are preparing to open their second location of Sprout and Pour at The Summit in August. They opened their first location in Edgewood last summer.

Trader Joe’s will be opening its first Alabama location at The Summit in October.

nesses such as Steel City Pops and Gus Mayer at The Summit. The Summit still is known for its offering of national brands not otherwise found in the state – Trader Joe’s will be opening its first Alabama location there in October – but management also is increasing efforts to add more local tenants to the mix.

Heide said The Summit always has embraced local retailers and points to restaurants such

below $30.

Non-exempt items include furniture, sports equipment, jewelry or cellular devices.

For a full list of exempt items or a list of participating areas, visit www. revenue.alabama.gov.

—Emily Williams

u North Shelby

Lemak Health Plans Move to New Clinic on U.S. 280 Lemak Health is expanding and moving from their clinic on Montclair Road to the intersection of U.S. 280 and Cahaba River Road.

The change will allow Lemak to offer more services while serving more patients.

“We are excited to relocate our Montclair location and make it more convenient and accessible to our patients,” Dr. Lawrence Lemak said in a press release.

Lemak Health, along with Drayer Physical Therapy Institute and Sonos Imaging, will move to a 20,000-squarefoot medical facility on land Harbert Realty Services purchased for the

as Urban Cookhouse and Zoe’s, both of which have been successful staples of The Summit’s scene for many years.

“It’s our duty to our customers and our community to help cultivate the next round of successful businesses,” Heide said.

Brookwood Village is also chasing the trend. The mall was purchased in mid-2014 by Cypress Equities, which recently began a yearlong renovation project. The goal, according to officials, is to create an upscale but comforting environment.

Todd Minnis, managing partner and chief investment officer for Cypress Equities, said that, despite the popularity of online shopping, consumers are still looking for something unique.

“When it was previously owned, Brookwood was more of a traditional mall,” Minnis said.

“But there was no reason for people to drive Over the Mountain to go somewhere that has the same tenants everybody else has. Now, we instead want to focus on an overall shopping experience. We’re focusing on making it feel

development.

The new facility will be a part of the Grandview Medical Center, which will include Trinity Hospital, expected to open its doors in October.

The new Lemak Health facility will add 25 new jobs and offer more space for tenants to lease.

Brasfield & Gorrie and Goodwyn Mills & Cawood are partnering with Harbert Realty Services on the project.

u homewood

Time Inc. Building Stateof-the-Art Food Studio Time Inc. has apprently heard the news that Birmingham may be the next big food city.

The company announced in July that it will be expanding its Homewood location to include a state-of-the-art food studio. The 40,000-square-foot facility will include 28 test kitchens, 12 photo studios, a showcase kitchen, a video studio, a private dining room and an outdoor grilling area.

The new studio, which is projected to open in January, will serve as the company’s central resource for “the

“We want to create unique offerings with smaller and local businesses spread throughout the center next to national brands,” Minnis said.

“It creates a really unique place for people to go.

We’re able to create a variety of reasons to steal away three or four hours of a family’s time.”

Angela Jacks, marketing manager at the Riverchase Galleria, agrees that it’s important now to have a good mix of tenants.

“Our shoppers definitely still want national brands and want to shop at department stores, but there are a segment of shoppers who want to buy locally and we’re catering to that as well,” she said. “We try to have a good mix of tenants. We have a fresh new look now that’s more apparent to who we are and we have several new stores coming in.”

Local stores such as Molly Green already have gained momentum at the Galleria, and they now will be joined by retailers such as Lily Magnolia, which specializes in items made in Alabama.

Ultimately, the shopping center managers all agree that, whether they’re bringing in national or local businesses, they’re basing their decisions off of what their consumers are looking for.

“We’re going to continue to seek out national brands that are needed here in Birmingham,” Heide said. “We want Birmingham consumers to come to The Summit and get what they would expect to get in any large city in America.

But we also want to give a flavor of what Birmingham has to offer locally.” ❖

creation of world-class recipes and food photography,” a press release from the company said. The space will house 45 Time Inc. employees, including photographers, stylists, testkitchen professionals, editors and videographers.

“Together, they will create dynamic food content for a range of diverse tastes and aesthetics across the Time Inc. portfolio of print and digital brands including Southern Living, Cooking Light, Food & Wine, Real Simple, People, InStyle, Health, Essence, Coastal Living, All You, MyRecipes.com, Sunset and Time Inc. books,” the press release stated. “In addition, the Food Studios will host cooking demos and interviews with guest chefs and food personalities as well as private dinners, cooking classes and other branded events.”

The company will be naming a new director for the facility and working to fill the other 44 open positions within the company.

“This major investment in our Birmingham offices gives us the opportunity to develop and shoot the high-quality recipes that our consumers

love in state-of-the-art test kitchens with some of the most talented chefs, stylists and photographers working today,” Evelyn Webster, executive vice president of Time Inc., said.

Time Inc. is the largest distributor of magazines in the country. With more than 29 domestic publications, the company has a dozen locations across the globe. The new food studio will be housed in one of the three facilities the company sold to neighboring Samford University in 2014. Time Inc. will be leasing the space, along with the Southern Living, Cooking Light and Coastal Living magazine offices, from the university.

Birmingham-based companies KPS Group and Rives Construction Company will be working closely with Time Inc. to develop the studio.

—Kaitlin Candelaria

u homewood

Alex Wyatt Joins Homewood City Council Alex Wyatt was appointed as the new Ward 4 Place 2 councilman for the city of Homewood during the June 22

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

0

u Hoover

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 13

news

Hotel Officials’ Opposition Delays Lodging Tax Vote

By William C. Singleton III

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Members of the hotel industry have come forward to oppose a proposed lodging tax increase in Hoover.

The Hoover City Council was expected to vote to double the city’s portion of the lodging tax to 6 percent during its July 20 meeting, but the issue was tabled because council members wanted to discuss how increased revenue would be used,” Jack Wright, council president, said. City officials have said that the funds would be dedicated for capital improvement projects.

“Other questions have been raised about the specific uses for the money,” Wright said. “So there are some things to contemplate.”

The council is scheduled to consider the lodging tax hike at its Aug. 3 meeting.

Raising the city’s portion of the hotel tax from 3 percent to 6 percent would generate about $1.5 million, Hoover officials have said. The increase would bring the total lodging tax in Hoover to 17 percent. The state of Alabama receives 4 percent from the lodging tax and Jefferson and Shelby counties 7 percent.

Dominic Buompastore, general manager of the Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel, said the increase would hurt the hotel industry in Hoover. He said if Hoover increases its lodging tax, it would have the 10th-highest tax in the nation.

“It would put us at a competitive disadvantage with other cities, with neighboring cities, and with other markets that we generally get convention business from,” Buompastore said.

In the challenging market of attracting conventions, Hoover has an advantage because of its low hotel tax rate, he added. With a higher tax, “our advantage goes completely away,” Buompastore said. He also said an increased lodging tax would impact weddings and other

Tuesday, August 1 Thursday, August 4 Tuesday, August 11 Thursday, August 13 Tuesday, August 18 Thursday, August 20

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catered events that involve renting hotel space.

Buompastore has sent to city officials a letter with the signatures of 15 other hotel representatives in Hoover opposing the lodging tax increase.

Paul Sharp, director of sales and marketing at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort, said the city’s proposed tax is higher than similar lodging taxes in Atlanta, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Nashville, Tennessee.

“Between the Hyatt Regency team and Ross Bridge, we have over $60 million worth of proposals which will change based on this resolution going through,” Sharp said. “If that happens, that’s going to be very detrimental, and there’s no guarantee we’re going to be able to bring that business back to Hoover.”

Hoover resident Dan Fulton called on the hotel industry in Hoover to be a “good citizen” and support the tax increase. “I think this additional amount represents the lodging community being a good citizen,” he said. “The city of Hoover needs that revenue. We need parks, we need sidewalks, we need

additional revenue for the Hoover public schools. Supporting all of those is being a good citizen.” and bulges.

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Imagine yourself without belly fat! ing tax. Irondale’s is even higher, at 7 Call or email Limited Seating Available Limited Seating Available Limited Seating Available percent. Homewood has a 6 percent 205.732.4020 or Limited Seating Available Call oror email Call or email Call email lodging tax, while Vestavia Hills and rsvp@vitalogywellness.com Call or email 205.

732.4020 or 205.

732.4020 or 205.

732.4020 or Mountain Brook still have 3 percent 2704 20th St. South 205.

732.4020 or rsvp@vitalogywellness.com rsvp@vitalogywellness.com rsvp@vitalogywellness.com lodging taxes.

Homewood, AL 35209 rsvp@vitalogywellness.com 2704 20th St. South 2704 20th St. South 2704 20th St. South Hoover resident Singer WELLNESS CENTERSt. South FarahArnold Sultan, MD said www.VitalogyWellness.com 2704 20th Homewood, AL 35209 Homewood, AL 35209 Homewood, AL 35209 that Birmingham increased its lodging Homewood, AL 35209 www.VitalogyWellness.com www.VitalogyWellness.com www.VitalogyWellness.com WELLNESS CENTER WELLNESS CENTER Farah Sultan, MD Farah Sultan, MD tax to support the construction of the WELLNESS CENTER Farah Sultan, MD www.VitalogyWellness.com WELLNESS CENTER Farah Sultan, MD Region Field baseball stadium, which has become an attraction that brings people to the city of Birmingham.

Hoover does not have such a project, he added.

Wright said he had not received any To: Vitalogy formal opposition the lodging From: Over ThetoMountain Journal,tax PHONE: 205-823-9646 proposal until 30 minutes before the FAX: 205-824-1246 council meeting.

Date: July 2015 “Most people when you raise any kind of tax, there’s opposition,” he said.

This is your AD PrOOF from the OVEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the Wright said the council would consider the hotel industry’s concerns. ❖ July 30, 2015 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

the Bluff Park Art Show. The grant is awarded to organizations that attract tourists and generate revenue by promoting attendance at communitywide special events, art association officials said.

“The Bluff Park Art Show has been an integral part of the community and draws people from around the state to Bluff Park and Hoover to enjoy great

a reception to honor DeMarco for if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. his efforts and to recognize its 2015 Thank you for your prompt attention. scholarship winner.

Jeremy Martin, a Hoover High School senior, was chosen from 15 applicants to win the scholarship based on an art collection he submitted for review. ❖

Water Works WATER BOY

Keeping you Hydrated On address and Offand thephone Field number! art,” DeMarco said. Please make sure all information is correct, including On May 18, the organization hosted Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

u hoover

#bhamwaterboy

Photo special to the Journal

The Bluff Park Art Association recently teamed up with former State Rep. Paul DeMarco to secure a grant from the Alabama Tourism Department.

The $1,000 grant will be used for

Thursday, August 27 Thursday, 27 August 25 Tuesday, Thursday, August 27 Saturday, August 29 Saturday, August 29 Thursday, August 27 Saturday, August 29 Saturday, August 29

midsection into belly and prevent weight loss even with into aalarge belly and prevent weight loss even with midsection into alarge large belly and prevent weight loss even with Representatives for the Hyatt Regency - The Wynfrey Hotel•and the • midsection Learn hormone imbalances-man or woman-can distort your Learn how hormone imbalances can affect your how sleep cycles, diet and exercise. and exercise. diet and exercise. midsection into a large belly and prevent weight loss even with Renaissance Ross Bridge Ross (pictured above) oppose efforts to raise cravings and fat burning. diet carbohydrate diet and exercise.

Learn how hormone imbalances can affect your sleep cycles, how hormone imbalances can affect your sleep cycles, Hoover’s lodging tax by 3 percent.

•Learn Learn how hormone imbalances can affect your sleep cycles, • Learn why "counting calories" doesn't• •always work for belly fat.

meeting.

Wyatt will be replacing Heather Reid, who resigned from her position in May. Wyatt and his wife, Megan, are longtime residents of Homewood and have a 19-year-old daughter at BirminghamSouthern College as well as a 12-yearold son in Homewood Middle School.

“When the seat became available, I was interested in putting my name in in hopes of giving something back to Homewood,” Wyatt said. “I want to help not only with the little things the council has to deal with, but also with some bigger issues Homewood has coming up. We’ve got a wonderful growing community, which means we need to address their needs and make whatever changes necessary to accommodate that growing population.”

Bluff Park Art Association Gets Tourism Grant

0 0 0 0

Facebook.com/birminghamwaterworks @BhamWaterWorks

From left: Karen Dixon, James Phillips, Anna Sullivan, Paul DeMarco and Robin Horner Shelton.

To schedule a visit or learn more, contact PR Spokesman Rick Jackson, rick.jackson@bwwb.org. water works Water boy

14 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Monochromatic Magic

Photos special to the Journal

ACS Junior Board Hosts 7th Annual Black-Out Cancer Party

Sarah Johnson, Tara Milano and Kelcie Hicks.

From left: Jenny Tucker, Lisa Sharp, Jimmy Taylor and Julia Meyers

T

he American Cancer Society junior executive board of Birmingham hosted the 7th annual BlackOut Cancer Party June 12 at Iron City in downtown Birmingham.

The event featured complimentary wine and beer, donated by United Johnson Brothers of Alabama, Alabama Crown Distributing Co. and Innisfree Irish Pub. With the signature theme “Dress Up… Dress Down… Just Wear All Black,” the annual fundraiser, conceived by the Birmingham chapter, has become a trademark American Cancer Society event, with chapters from around the country creating complementary fundraisers.

The venue decor was simple yet elegant, with black tablecloths and flower arrangements created by Norton’s Florist.

As attendees arrived in their all-black attire, they were greeted with music from The Rusty Busters.

Local DJ and radio personality Mark Lindsey took to the stage and livened things up with a mix of dance and pop beats for the late-night crowd.

In addition to the money raised from ticket sales, patrons had the opportunity to continue fundraising by bidding on some 60 different silent auction packages, as well as to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a VIP giveaway.

The evening brought hundreds of young professionals and prominent individuals from around the Birmingham area together for one common purpose: to black-out cancer.

Guests included Dr. Robert and Julie Kim, Meaghan Tee, Seth Austin, Melanie Yuill, Lauren Walsh, Jim and Yasmin Cavale and Butch Dill. ❖

Katherine Dillard, Hannah Amberson, Jess Phillips, Amanda Tolar, Lauren Shumaker and Sarah Keith.

Leslie and Charlie Fortson.

Dnika Joseph and Anetra Coleman.

Alexandra Stone, Andrea Hicks and Laura Bento.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 15

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Otmj Thursday, July 30, 2015

over the mountain journal ❖ otmj.com

social

sports

Kulture

change KultureCity Works to Create a World Accepting of Autism

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Photo special to the Journal

August 2, 1990 Volume 1, Number 1

One Out Of every 68 children in

the United States will be diagnosed with autism. That’s 3.5 million people living in the United States who fall somewhere on the autism spectrum, a number that has more than doubled since 2000.

These are the statistics behind the mission of KultureCity, an international nonprofit based in Vestavia Hills.

KultureCity is the brain child of Dr. Julian Maha and his wife, Dr. Michele Kong.

“The idea came about the day they left Vanderbilt with their son’s autism diagnosis,” Diane Zaragoza, community outreach and education specialist for KultureCity, said. “They started thinking about what a life-changing situation that would be for their family, but also about other families who didn’t have the same opportunities and means they did. They didn’t want to just focus on the research, but also on the here and now kind of needs.”

asher goudie of cahaba heights reacts to receiving a new ipad from kulturecity. kulturecity, founded in 2013, aims to change not just the daily lives of autistic children, but the way autistic people are perceived and treated in society long-term.

KultureBall Birmingham

august 14, 6:30-11 p.m.

Sheraton Birmingham grand Ballroom KultureBall by KultureCity is an annual star-studded event where celebrity and philanthropy walk hand in hand to promote acceptance, foster awareness and raise funds for programs benefiting Tiki barber children and families with autism.

For more information, visit www. kultureball.com

see Kulturecity, page 8

inside

full circle Spain Park’s new principal is a familiar face.

SchoolS page 22

blessing in disguise The literacy council rises from the ashes and resumes classes. abouT Town page 4 ‘praying for a miracle’ OTM community supports Molly Remmert Rossell’s battle with cancer. people page 9

Serving the over the mountain community Since 1990

25th Anniversary

Thank you! to our loyal readerS, thank you for Spending your valuable time with uS. to our wonderful advertiSerS, thank you for making it all poSSible. here'S to the next 25 yearS!

16 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

Tracey Alvey, Artistic Director

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2015 2016

AT HOME

Alabama Ballet Center for Dance September 25 - October 4, 2015

AMERICAN HORROR STORIES SNOW WHITE

Alabama School of Fine Arts October 30, 2015

GEORGE BALANCHINE’S

THE NUTCRACKERTM

Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center at Samford University December 11 - December 20, 2015

DON QUIXOTE

Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center at Samford University February 19 - February 21, 2016

COPPÉLIA AND THE TOYMAKER

Alabama School of Fine Arts April 8 - April 10, 2016

Tickets can be purchased by calling 205-202-8142 or visiting alabamaballet.org.

Photo Credit: Arik Sokol Alabama Ballet is a 501(c)(3) organization

Night at the Museum

Photos special to the Journal

Alabama School of Fine Arts October 29 - November 1, 2015

BMA Hosts July Installment of Art On the Rocks

Nearly 1,800 art enthusiasts flocked to the Birmingham Museum of Art for another night of music, art, food, and fun at Art On The Rocks July 10.

A celebration of culture, the event featured live sculptures by Atlanta-based artists Erin Michelle Vaiskauckus and Mike Stasny, modern dance by the Birmingham Contemporary Dance Company DANCEe and powerful poetry performances at Acts of Rebellion powered

by Wordspeak.

Visitors enjoyed some of Alabama’s best cuisine at the Cantina on Wheels, Shindigs Catering, Earth and Stone Woodfired Pizza, Cottage Crepes and Heavenly Donut Co. food trucks and enjoyed meat and sides at the MEAT & GREET Pig Roast, presented by Jones Valley Teaching Farm and local butcher Will Drake.

Later in the evening, after dancing to the mixes of DJ Sex Panther and capturing the fun at the photo booth, guests gathered on the Upper Terrace to hear the Shadowboxers, whose harmonies kept the audience energized.

Though the Museum closed its doors at 11 p.m., the celebration continued with drink specials at Carrigan’s Public House, The Collins Bar, and Paramount as a part of #AfterRocks, sponsored by H2 Real Estate. ❖

Clockwise from above left: From left: Abigail McKay and Whitney Brown.

Daphne Tripp and Victor Sambade Varela. Caroline Taylor, Sara Oliver, Gina Yu and Catherine Taylor.

Savannah Trammell, Erin Moss and Racquel Israela Deleon Williams.

Museum-quality selfie portrait. Nearly 1,800 guests attended the Art on The Rocks summer series July 10.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 17

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Powell, Jennifer Wynn Regan, Michelle Lyons Rushing, Amy Snyder, Tracy Bresler Stephens, Kendall Lee Stephenson, Lissa

Handley Tyson, Elizabeth Barnett Wall, Jeanne Rogers Wamack, Ann Morris Watson, Gail Smith Westhoven and Holly Woodson. ❖

Photo special to the Journal

New Fall Clothing & Accessories Arriving Daily From left: Kim Rains Hardwick, Beth Crain Hinson, Amy Traylor Corcoran and Jennifer Wynn Regan.

Bring this in for 20% off any single item!

Panhellenic Prep

Birmingham Alpha Gams Host Summer Meeting The Vestavia home of Emily Putnam Fulton was the gathering place for the summer meeting of the Greater Birmingham Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta.

Members heard National Panhellenic Recruitment plans for the eight collegiate chapters in Alabama.

Chapter president Elizabeth Estess Wilson presided. Other officers presented were Kim Rains Hardwick, secretary, and Amy Nichols McCain, treasurer.

Nancy Runyan Gaston gave the report for the Psi Chapter at

the University of Alabama. Julie Vascocu Stewart and Hayley Hammack Young briefed members about plans for August recruitment at Gamma Delta Chapter at Auburn University.

Judith Hayes Hand detailed the dates for chapters at UAB, University of Montevallo, University of North Alabama, University of South Alabama, Troy University and AUM. Other alumnae in attendance were Marie Ellzey Baynes, Cheryl Wynn Brakefield, Elizabeth Crow

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18 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

social

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Gathering in the Garden

Aldridge Gardens Holds 13th Annual Hydrangeas Under the Stars

From left: John Lyda Sr., Jimmie Stephens and John Lyda Jr.

Photo special to the Journal

Gene Smith, Tynette Lynch and Frank Skinner.

From left: Tracey Alvey, Roger Van Fleteren, Melanie Mooney and Melissa Lassiter.

Photo special to the Journal

Raquel Lilly

Aldridge Gardens’ 13th Annual Hydrangeas Under the Stars was held June 6. The evening’s activities included a wine reception and silent auction followed by a steak dinner, prepared by the Culinary and Hospitality Institute at Jefferson State Community College, and live auction. The event is the Gardens’ largest fundraiser of the year and is designed to help cover operational costs and educational programming for the year.

Wonderful weather provided a warm, rain-free event for everyone while guests enjoyed musical entertainment by Raquel Lilly during the reception and silent auction.

The honorary host and hostess for the evening were Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey and his wife Carolyn. ABC 33/40’s Brenda Ladun (above) was the emcee for the night while long-time Hoover resident Ken Jackson served as the auctioneer.

Presenting sponsors for the event were Don and Sandy Logan, Hoover city councilman Gene Smith and his wife Pam and International Expeditions.

Guests in attendance included state senator Jabo Waggoner, former Hoover mayor Frank Skinner, Hoover city councilman John Lyda and nearly 200 others who love and support Aldridge Gardens. ❖

Dancing Into A New Year

The Ballet Women’s Committee Checks Off A Successful Season The Ballet Women’s Committee met in May at the home of Sharon Maddox of Vestavia Hills for the last meeting of the season. The Committee wrapped up their year with the introduction of new officers, new members and a presentation of a check to the Alabama Ballet. The funds were raised through the Committee’s Poinsettia Debutante Ball and their Fall Extravaganza.

“We were so excited to present the Alabama Ballet with a check for $50,000,” newly-elected President Frances McAleer said. “Our committee worked hard this past season. We have several new things planned for the 2015/2016 year, and we look forward to a great year.”

As women mingled, new committee members were announced and presented with flowers.

The new members of the Ballet Women’s Committee

are: Donna Bagwell, Tracey Jasper Barker, Lisa Henderson Bice, Sela J. Bischoff, Carole C. Brightbill, Vicki Cato, Audrey Colson, Kristi Dennis, Lynne Dobbins, Cathy Donze, Lori Ermert, Haley Robbins Cupp, Emily Joy Gresham, Robyn Lee Henderson, Emily Huntley, Jan Kirkpatrick, Jan Roberts Leonard, Dawn Manakides, Melissa Marsh, Kim Milling, Ashley Moran, Christy Culpepper Nelson, Catherine Pugh, Caroline Tinsley Quick, Lisa Roberts, Carol Saville, Phyllis Tinsley, Martha Thompson, Virginia Waters and Sherry Masters Wininger.

The Ballet Women’s Committee will kick off their new year in September as they get ready for their annual fundraising event for the Alabama Ballet. This year it will be a dinner auction on Oct. 1. ❖

social

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Celebrating America OLS Patriotic Fun Fest Marks 66th Year

Birmingham’s oldest Independence Day festival will live in the memories of the several hundred guests that turned out for community fellowship and tons of barbecue ribs, chicken, pork butt, and side dishes.

The 66th annual Independence Day Festival at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church July 4 in Homewood featured tasty goodies, fun games, and the popular Trash ‘n’ Treasure rummage sale.

The musical backdrop was provided by festival favorite disc jockey Bobby “T” Tanory. The grand marshal was OLS pastor Rev. Msgr. Martin Muller.

The Knights of Columbus Council 4304 coordinated the festival. Proceeds benefit several charitable endeavors. ❖

CLOCKWISE FROM above: Floyd Hosmer helps prepare the 6,000 pounds of BBQ served. The Blackstone family. OLS youth group members with Rev. Wilfred Emeh. Sammy Lorino, Sandra Schifano and Brenda Matherne.

Linked In

The Vestavia Country Club Ladies Golf Association hosted its 65th annual member-guest golf tournament May 11-12.

A cocktail supper was held Monday at the home of Steve and Leslie Kincaid. The golf tournament was held Tuesday at the club.

The tournament followed a Texas Scramble format with four players making up each team.

After the tournament, lunch was served, prizes were handed out and guests enjoyed a Nike trunk show with members of the Ladies Golf Association as models.

First-place winners included Jan Akin, Joy Clark, Mandi

Photo special to the Journal

Vestavia Ladies’ Golf Group Hosts MemberGuest Tourney

From left: Jill Kimbrough, Angela Nash, Anne Long and Lynn Joyce

Cooper, Charlotte Crawford, Anne McCullough, Heather Norris, Deborah Rouse and Jamelle Shaw.

Second-place winners were

Jenny Gaston, Lynn Joyce, Jill Kimbrough, Leslie Kincaid, Anne Long, Gale Melton, Angela Nash and Bess Owen. ❖

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 19

20 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

Powell-Andrews

Lindsay Cox Powell and Benjamin Samuel Andrews were married March 14 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood. The 5:30 p.m. double­ring ceremony was officiated by the Rev. David Thompson. A reception followed at The Wine Loft in Birmingham.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Ray Powell of Homewood. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.

Headley-Hooks

Ms. Sally Blake Headley and Mr. Richard Lewis Headley, both of Birmingham, announce the engagement of their daughter, Hayden Blake Headley, to George Bardin Hooks Jr.,

Thomas-Weathers

Melissa Dawn Thomas and William Watson Weathers were married June 20 at the residence of the Weathers at Oak Hole in Bowman, South Carolina. The 6:30 p.m. ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Marshall Blalock of First Baptist Church of Charleston. A reception

Weddings & Engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Robert Samuel Cox Jr. of Tunica, Mississippi, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Carl Powell of Homewood.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Walton Andrews of Sylacauga. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Samuel Yancey of Gadsden and the late Mr. and Mrs. Warren Cruise Andrews Sr. of Sylacauga.

Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore an ivory fit and flare tulle over satin gown from the Kenneth Winston Private Label Premiere Collection.

The lace on tulle sweetheart bodice was accented with pearls and sequins and had lace-appliqued tulle straps that flowed into a low back silhouette. She wore a chapel-length wedding veil that was handmade and first worn by her mother. The bride’s bouquet was hand­tied with satin from her grandmother’s wedding gown and adorned with her grandmother’s brooch.

Rebecca Anne Paul of Birmingham served as maid of honor.

Bridesmaids were Angel Champion Butler of Sylacauga; Lauren Elizabeth Janzen of Alexander City; Lauren

Michelle Roy of Huntsville; Abigail Grace Bell of Flowery Branch, Georgia; Rachel Ann Brown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; and Maria Underwood Davis and Michelle Danielle Everson of Washington, D.C. The brother of the groom, Matthew Joseph Andrews of Sylacauga, served as best man.

Groomsmen were David Austin Powell and Ray Garrett Powell, twin brothers of the bride, of Homewood; Zachary Adam Brooks, Payton Morrell Roberts and Hasin Gandhakwala of Birmingham; Timothy Cason Farr of Sylacauga; and Matthew Douglass Hardegree of Auburn.

Lauren Elizabeth Nowak of Homewood served as scripture reader, and Mary Gray DeMetz of Homewood and Courtney Leigh Crew of Nashville, Tennessee, were program attendants. Music was provided

by Trinity String Quartet and Trey Hill as guitarist and soloist.

Following a honeymoon trip to San Francisco and Big Sur, the couple lives in Inverness.

sweetheart neckline, strapless dress covered with hand-sewn lace designed by Jenny Lee. She was attended by her sisters, Ginny and Laura Keel, as maids of honor.

Bridesmaids were Kinsey Martin, sister of the groom, and Mallory Bennett, Julia Blackerby, Grace Ann Davis, Anne Carlton Head, Leah Juliano, Mary Kathryn Marsh, Kelsey Rape, Holly Tracy and Christian Yoder.

Flower girls were Evelyn Marelle Estess, cousin of the groom, and Bradford Elizabeth Williams.

The father of the groom was best man. Groomsmen included Joe Martin, brother of the groom, Andrew Hackney, Gray Hall, David Leavitt, John McCrory, Bo Morgan, Hays Ragsdale, Wes Simpson and Bryce Yen. Ushers were John Houston Blount, Todd Boozer, Lee King, Wilson King and Peter Saab.

The ringbearer was David Grantham Estess, cousin of the groom.

After a wedding trip to Cancun, Mexico, the couple will live in Birmingham.

son of the Honorable George Bardin Hooks of Americus, Georgia, and the late Mrs. Gail Ann Goen Hooks.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Bruce Davis Blake of Auburn and the late Dr. George Henry Blake Jr. and Mr. Erskine Lee Headley of Birmingham and the late Mrs. Vivian Lewis Headley.

Miss Headley is a 2007 summa cum laude graduate of Auburn University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with minors in political science and history. She was selected for membership to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies and was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Miss Headley is a 2010 cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. After practicing law in Atlanta for several years, she joined Perry & Walters LLP in Albany, Georgia, as an associate attorney in May 2015.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bardin Hooks III of Americus and the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy Emsley Goen of Atlanta.

Mr. Hooks is a 2003 graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and the Red Ribbon Society. He was a graduate of Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 2007 and was chosen for membership in the William A. Bootle American Inn of Court. Mr. Hooks is a partner in the law firm of Arnold & Hooks, LLC in Americus, Georgia. He is a board member of the Americus-Sumter County Hospital Authority and the Americus Housing Authority.

The wedding is set for Sept. 12 in Atlanta.

followed pond side at the residence.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Randall Thomas II of Birmingham. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Walters and the late Mr. and Mrs. James O. “Moe” Thomas, all of Birmingham.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Watson Weathers Jr. of Bowman, South Carolina. He is the grandson of Mrs. W. Watson Weathers Sr. and the late Mr. W. Watson Weathers Sr., also of Bowman, as well as the late Dr. and Mrs. F. Rouse Huff of St. Matthews, South Carolina.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a Monique Lhullier gown made of ivory french Alencon lace featuring a key hole back with eyelash-fringed edges and a sweeping train. She carried a bouquet of wildflowers hand tied with a handmade handkerchief given by her late maternal grandmother and pinned with her late paternal grandfather’s WWII Army Air Corps pin.

Cayci Banks of Newberry, South

Carolina served as matron of honor.

Bridesmaids were Hannah Aizenman, cousin of the bride, of Brooklyn, New York; Lisa Williams of Atlanta; Lofton Dubose of Chapin, South Carolina; and Molly Weathers, sisterin-law of the groom, of Advance, North Carolina. Zoey Kathleen Weathers and Kate Noelle Weathers, nieces of the groom, of Advance and McLane Elizabeth Banks of Newberry, South Carolina, were the flower girls.

John Weathers, brother of the groom, of Advance served as best man. Groomsmen were Josh Johnson of Cameron, South Carolina; Kevin Ott of St. Matthews; and Seth Squires of Aynor, South Carolina. Ushers were Grant Thomas, brother of the bride, of Birmingham; and Tyler Thomas, brother of the bride, of Sarasota, Florida. Lucas Chadwick Banks of Newberry was the ring bearer.

After a honeymoon trip to Anguilla, the couple live in Charleston, South Carolina.

Keel-Martin

Kathleen Akard Keel and Spencer Estess Martin were married July 11 at Cathedral Church of the Advent. A reception followed at Iron City.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Keel of Mountain Brook. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Martin of Mountain Brook.

The bride wore a candlelight,

Carpenter-Heilman

Kelty Carpenter and Christopher Henry Heilman were married May 30 at The Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Carpenter of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Heilman of

Marsh-Whitson

Mr. and Mrs. Marion Dale Marsh of Enterprise announce the engagement of their daughter, Katherine Camille Marsh, to David Markham Whitson, son of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Whitson and the late Mr. Douglas

Dallas and Sanibel, Florida.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride was attended by Breanne Bologna as matron of honor.

Bridesmaids were Rebecca Carpenter, sister-in-law of the bride, and Mary Claire York. Caroline Boyer, niece of the groom, was the flower girl.

Groomsmen were Christopher Davezac, Justin Grant, Jon Lord and Adam Sutch. Henry Boyer and Jack Carpenter, nephews of the bride and groom, were the ring bearers. Andrew Bologna and Elby Godwin Jr. served as ushers.

The bride holds a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. She works for FOX Sports. The groom holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and works for Van Kirk & Sons.

After a honeymoon trip to Mexico, the couple will live in Lighthouse Point, Florida.

MacArthur Whitson of Trussville.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Roger Warren of Enterprise and the late Mr. and Mrs. Dalbert Marsh of Enterprise.

Miss Marsh is graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She received her juris doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law and is a physician recruiter with American Family Care in Birmingham.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dave Vines of Montgomery and the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis Whitson of Bardstown, Kentucky.

Mr. Whitson also attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He is director of editing at Strong Automotive in Birmingham.

The wedding will be Sept. 12 in Enterprise.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 21

schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Dad Takeover Dads and Kids Plan Rally to Improve Hoover School Campuses

By Kaitlin Candelaria About 50 people pack the small auditorium at the Vestavia Hills Board of Education office to hear the school board’s ruling on changing the Rebel mascot.

VH Schools Will Retire “Colonel Reb”

By William C. Singleton III The “Rebel” name will stay but the mascot will go.

The five-member Vestavia Hills school board decided unanimously in a recent meeting to retain the “Rebel” name but gradually phase out the “Colonel Reb” Confederate soldier mascot, which many believe is a symbol of racial divisiveness.

Superintendent Sheila Phillips said she made her decision to recommend that action after extensive consultation with students, parents, teachers, city officials, former school leaders and residents on all sides of the issue.

Although to many in the community, being a Vestavia Hills Rebel “represents a spirit of community, philanthropy and the highest standards,” to others it means something different, Phillips said.

“I believe we have a moral imperative to have empathy for others no matter our personal views and beliefs,” Phillips said. “We are to make certain every student feels welcome.” She cited the school system’s new strategic plan that identifies “diversity, inclusivity and respect” as key traits the system wishes to embrace.

Phillips said the board will invite an outside firm to help rebrand the

new mascot. Students and other stakeholders in the community will be involved in the process of selecting a new mascot, she said.

“We will study other schools, colleges, universities, and businesses that have successfully been through this process,” she added.

Phillips said the mascot will be in place at the start of the school year, but, “We will begin phasing out the mascot over the course of the year as we develop our plan of implementation and installation of the new mascot,” she said.

Phillips said the school system will no longer endorse the purchase of items with the Rebel mascot, but they don’t expect for uniforms and other items with the Rebel logo to disappear immediately. She said such items will be phased out over time.

Confederate symbols have come under intense scrutiny following the June 17 fatal shooting of nine black church members attending a Wednesday night service in Charleston, South Carolina. The suspected assailant, Dylann Roof, had been pictured with a Confederate battle flag and is said to have targeted black people. Since the shooting, Alabama and South Carolina have agreed to remove the Confederate flag from state property, and major retail-

Journal photos by William C. Singleton III

Vestavia Hills School Superintendent Sheila Phillips explains why she recommends changing the Colonel Reb mascot but maintaining the Rebel name.

ers have stopped selling Rebel flags in their stores as a way to show their disdain for the symbolism connected to Roof’s motives and to promote racial healing.

Vestavia Hills was drawn into the controversy as one of the few area school systems that still embrace a Confederate mascot.

Vestavia residents on both sides of the issue attended a July 8 work session at the city school board’s central office to voice their support or opposition to the Rebel mascot. A petition containing more than 1,000 signatures urged the school board to keep the name and the symbol.

Phillips said she read more than 200 emails on the topic. Residents in favor of the Rebel mascot and name said it was more tied to tradition and community spirit than hate. But those against the mascot said it conjures images of racial discrimination and divisiveness because of its connection to the Old South.

The July 15 school board meeting during which the vote was taken was held in a smaller room than the July 8 work session, which accommodated nearly 175 people. The much smaller room could seat only about 50 people and was filled to capacity as those who couldn’t get in waited outside the building.

Dean Paugh, a Vestavia resident, said he was disappointed the school system decided to change the mascot but glad it kept the Rebel name. “I think it would have worked if we had considered sending a message out … that we’re not ashamed of the Vestavia Rebels and the Rebel mascot and not ashamed of who we are because we didn’t have anything to be ashamed of,” he said.

Stephen Craft, dean and professor of the University of Montevallo’s college of business, said the community can now look forward to a future inclusive of all students and residents.

“I think it’s a very positive step forward,” he said. “I think it’s a wonderful teachable moment about the importance of symbols. We’re very committed to working with this entire community and this board and the school to find a symbol and a brand that reflects the wonderful school system we have.” ❖

On Aug. 1, Hoover schools will be overrun with daddies of all kinds.

The Hoover City Dad Brigade, the brainchild of Board of Education President Derrick Murphy, encourages fathers and other male role models to come out with their children to help improve the campuses of Hoover’s city schools.

Murphy, himself a father of three, worked with other Hoover fathers to come up with the idea, which he hopes to make an annual event.

“The Hoover City Dad Brigade is designed to energize our fathers throughout the city of Hoover with the importance of getting involved in schools,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the mission for the event is to show children the importance of parental involvement while supporting school personnel and giving high school boys opportunities for community service hours. Beyond that, he also hopes to make a difference in children’s lives through positive role modeling. He hopes to see at least 400 Hoover fathers and father figures participating.

“When fathers are engaged in school, students perform better academically, socially, behavioral issues are down, and it provides a healthier opportunity for kids to make educated decisions that benefit students long term,” Murphy said.

According to Murphy, his civic attitude is a by-product of his

Vestavia Chamber Hosts Back to School Event The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Back 2 School in the Hills event August 14 to help ring in a new school year.

Back 2 School in the Hills will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be located at Oliver Square in Cahaba Heights. According to Chamber officials, the event was made possible with help from the Vestavia Hills Police, Fire and Parks and Recreation Departments, as well as numerous local businesses. Deborah’s Party Rentals will set up inflatables for children and teens to enjoy while DJs from JAMM Entertainment provide music.

A photo booth will be provided by ARC Realty and a variety of local businesses will set up tents where guests can help themselves to free gifts and enter to win door prizes.

“I’m looking forward to the Vestavia Hills Chamber embracing another great event that continues to bring our community together,” said Brian Burns, owner of Cahaba Fitness Inc. Cahaba Fitness will have a presence at the event and Burst said that he expects a

The Hoover City Dad Brigade, the brainchild of Board of Education President Derrick Murphy

upbringing, which was heavily influenced by his grandfather, Arthur Robert Murphy, a World War II veteran.

“He was a very structured man,” Murphy said. “The one thing I loved about him is that he was very patient.”

The event will kick off at the Riverchase Galleria Home Depot at 6:45 a.m. Fathers should arrive prepared to load supplies into their vehicles before heading out to different elementary schools in the area to perform tasks such as power washing, landscaping, painting, building flower planters, building outdoor picnic tables, moving furniture, assembling shelves and more. Home Depot has generously donated some of the supplies.

Each elementary school will be assigned a project leader, and fathers and their children will work until 1 p.m.

“When they see their parents helping at school in any magnitude, whether that’s reading in the library, going on field trips or something else, that’s a good thing,” Murphy said.

“Being there as a dad can make all the difference for a student.” ❖ great turnout this year.

“I am always blown away by the incredible support from our community,” he said.

To better accommodate the crowds, parking will be available at Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church and a shuttle will run continuously run from the church to the United Car Care Center located next to Oliver Square.

Restrooms will be available at Cahaba Heights Jazzercise.

The Back 2 School in the Hills event is free to the public and guests are invited to bring a picnic dinner. The celebration will finish with the viewing of a family-friendly movie.

The rain date for this event is scheduled for August 15.

For more information and the title of the film, visit www.vestaviahills.org. ❖

22 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Hoover Picks Familiar Faces for Principal Positions

By Kaitlin Candelaria Two Hoover City Schools will have new principals at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, but neither of them are strangers to the Hoover community.

Larry Giangrosso, who recently accepted the principal position at Spain Park High School, is a Birmingham-native who began his career as an intern for Hoover legend Bob Finley before being hired on at Berry High School to teach English and coach basketball, football and baseball.

“I wouldn’t give anything for those years and the mentorship,” Giangrosso said. “I’ve come full circle because (Hoover) is where I started and Hoover has always given me an opportunity. I’m very thankful.”

Giangrosso, who served in various teaching, coaching and administrative roles at different high schools as well as Central Alabama Community College, is excited about the new opportunities that lay ahead at Spain Park High School he said.

“Spain Park is such a wonderful place to work,” Giangrosso said. “We have a big spectrum of students which makes it fun and exciting. The challenge is to go forward and improve no matter how good or wonderful you think a place is. We try to have as many things as we can here so that the students feel important and challenged.”

When he isn’t at work, Giangrosso enjoys spending time his wife and two children, all of whom are in the education field, and working on his golf

Larry Giangrosso, who recently accepted the principal position at Spain Park High School, is a Birmingham-native who began his career as an intern for Hoover legend Bob Finley before being hired on at Berry High School to teach English and coach basketball, football and baseball.

game. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and reading autobiographies of historical people.

It probably comes as no surprise to most Hoover resident that the best advice he ever received was from

‘I’ve come full circle because (Hoover) is where I started and Hoover has always given me an opportunity.

I’m very thankful.’ Larry Giangrosso Coach Bob Finley.

“He told me ‘Your job is to teach and coach them all -- every student, no matter what their level of experience is in the sport or academically,’” Giangrosso said. “Our challenge at Spain Park is to make sure every student gets what they need and if we

Mountain Brook Board of Education Names Sklar as President The City of Mountain Brook Board of Education named Brad Sklar president during its meeting on June 16. Sklar has served on the Mountain Brook school board for the past four years. He is a board member and shareholder at Sirote & Permutt law firm.

“We are privileged to have Dicky Barlow as a great superintendent in addition to energetic board members,” Sklar said. “We are excited to

can do that, we’re going to have some pretty good years.”

Giangrosso said students can also look forward to some changes in the fall including new virtual classes, a finance and IT academy, dual enroll-

ment courses with nearby Jefferson State Community College and each student will receive a new touch screen chrome book.

“It’s very exciting with everything coming together,” Giangrosso said.

“Sometimes there’s a lot going on but that’s what a high school should look Brad Sklar, a Mountain Brook High School graduate, is an active member of the community, serving in leadership roles for many organizations and boards.

continue to work hard to provide the resources necessary for our administrators, teachers and principals to meet the needs of our students. The mission of Mountain Brook schools

is to provide an effective, challenging and engaging education for each one of our students. This has been our mission and our focus in the past and will continue to be so in the future.”

Sklar, a Mountain Brook High School graduate, is an active member of the community, serving in leadership roles for many organizations and boards. He serves as a chair of the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Birmingham Business Alliance and is a past participant in Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama. He and his wife, Stephanie, have one child in the Mountain Brook School system. ❖

Terry Lamar has worked in almost every region of Hoover in the past including the Berry zone, the Bumpus zone and the Simmons zone.

like. I don’t ever worry about being too busy especially when you’re dealing with teenagers.”

Terry Lamar plans to spend his first year as principal of Bluff Park Elementary School -- and as a principal in general -- trying to find out what the community needs from him he said.

A Mobile native, Lamar has worked in almost every region of Hoover in the past including what he refers to as the Berry zone, the Bumpus zone and the Simmons zone.

“I’m most excited about meeting the students,” Lamar said. “Anyone in Hoover can tell you that my singular focus is the kids. I light up when I see these kids come in for registration. On the first day of school, I get the kids

to quiz me to see if I can remember their names.”

He should pass at least two name quizzes not he first day of school -- his 7-year-old and 9-year-old sons will be attending Bluff Park this year.

Lamar knows his transition will be challenging.

“I think the demands are higher,” he said. “Being assistant principal before, I could always say the principal will take care of it, but now I’m that person. I’ve got to make sure I take my time and think each decision through. I’ve also got to learn the climate and culture of this school.”

In his first step to doing that, Lamar recently sent out a survey to his teachers. He plans to follow suite with his parents and then his students once the school year begins.

“I want to know what we’re doing right here at Bluff Park,” Lamar said.

“Because the survey is anonymous, it’s really raw feedback. I want to make sure we all have a shared vision and I don’t want to come in making changes if there’s nothing that needs to be changed.” He also asked each teacher for three goals they had for the school.

Lamar said he will use survey results to guide his future plans. In the meantime, he’s focused on getting the school clean and ready to kick off the school year.

“One thing we’re going to push a lot this year is Panther pride,” Lamar said. Panthers are the Bluff Park Elementary School mascot. “We’re going to be talking a lot about what that means and I think the parents, students and teachers will all be talking about Panther pride.” ❖

Homewood Welcomes New Assistant Principals Homewood City Schools will be adding two new assistant principals come August.

Laura Tate will be taking over as assistant principal at Edgewood Elementary school while Wendy Story assumes the assistant principal role at Shades Cahaba Elementary School.

Tate, who has been in the education field for the past 13 years, has served as the special education teacher at Hall-Kent Elementary for the past two years. Before becoming a part of the Homewood school system, she has also served as an administrator for Shelby County schools.

Story has spent the past six years in the Vestavia Hills City school system as a instructional technology specialist, but is a Homewood High School alum.

According to school officials, Homewood City Schools is proud to have both Tate and Story on board as administrators this year. ❖

Laura Tate

Wendy Story

Back To School: Important Dates to Remember Homewood City Schools

First Day for Students: Aug. 12 Labor Day: Sept. 7 Parent Teacher Conference Day/No Students: Oct. 23 Veterans Day: Nov. 11 Professional Development/No Students: Nov. 23-24 Thanksgiving: Nov. 25-27 Winter Holidays: Dec. 21 - Jan. 1 Students Return: Jan. 5 MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 18 Spring Break: March 28-April 1 Last Day for Students: May 25

Website: www.homewood.k12.al.us

Hoover City Schools

First Day for Students: Aug. 13 Labor Day: Sept. 7 Parent Teacher Conference Day/No Students: Oct. 12 Veterans Day: Nov. 11 Thanksgiving: Nov. 23-27 Winter Holidays: Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Students Return: Jan. 4 MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 18 President’s Day Holiday: Feb. 15-16 Spring Break: March 28-April 1

Last Day for Students: May 26 Website: www.hoovercityschools.net

Mountain Brook City Schools

First Day for Students: Aug. 19 Labor Day: Sept. 7 Professional Development/eSchool Day: Oct. 16 Veterans Day: Nov. 11 Thanksgiving: Nov. 25-27 Winter Holidays: Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Students Return: Jan. 5 MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 18

Professional Development/eSchool Day: Feb. 12 President’s Day Holiday: Feb. 15 Spring Break: March 28-April 1 Last Day for Students: May 27 Website: www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us

Vestavia Hills City Schools

First Day for Students: Aug. 13 Labor Day: Sept. 7 Columbus Day Holiday: Oct 12 Professional Development/No Students: Oct. 13

Veterans Day: Nov. 11 Thanksgiving: Nov. 25-27 Winter Holidays: Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Students Return: Jan. 5 MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 18 Technology Conference/No Students: Feb. 12 President’s Day Holiday: Feb. 15 Spring Break: March 28-April 1 Last Day for Students: May 26 Website: www.vestavia.k12.al.us

Shelby County Schools First Day for Students: Aug. 12

Labor Day: Sept. 7 Professional Development/No Students: Oct. 12 Veterans Day: Nov. 11 Thanksgiving: Nov. 23-27 Winter Holidays: Dec. 21-Jan. 4 Students Return: Jan. 5 MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 18 President’s Day Holiday: Feb. 15 Teacher Work Day/No Students: Mar. 11 Spring Break: March 28-April 1 Last Day for Students: May 26 Website: www.shelbyed.k12.al.us

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Crestline Wins First Place at Destination Imagination Tournament Crestline fourth grade PAGE program members participated in the Alabama Destination Imagination tournament, a project-based program that teaches the creative process from imagination to innovation.

In the fall, three teams chose one of seven challenges. Two teams chose a structure challenge and had to build a structure that would support weight as pieces of the structure were removed.

The Smashing Stunning Structure Superstars team placed first with a story about robots transforming Moe’s restaurant into “Moe’s Robotics” in 2075.

Members included Margaret Krawczyk, Libby Clegg, Matthew Walton, Quinn Denson and Will Decker.

The Candymakers placed second in the competition. Their team members are Virginia Averyt, Ella Hicks, Claudia Carson-Keane, Landon Friedman and Noah Warren.

The third team chose an improvisation challenge where they were given a random setting, situation, improv game and a street performance with one minute to create a skit that integrated all four items. This was repeated three times with different scenarios. Their team, the Imaginative, Invincible Imps, won first place in their challenge. Team members are Connor Jenkins, Richard Monk, Lilly Odom, Caley Record and Emily Straughn.

Team coaches are Susan Dulin and Julia Peterson.

EXCITING SUMMER MATH CAMP Experience a week of challenging half-day Spirit of Math classes designed to inspire and elevate high performing students

Grades 2 - 6 July 27 - 31 Vestavia Spirit of Math Campus

Inside the Birmingham International Church 1380 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia, AL 35216 Contact us at: Phone: 205-460-3907 E-mail: vestavia@spiritofmath.com

Invincible team The Imaginative Invincible Imps, from left: Connor Jenkins, Emily Straughn, Lilly Odom, Richard Monk and Caley Record.

Register at: spiritofmath.com/vestavia

Open their world to the Arts!

Chess Champs From left: Harrison Walley, Hartwell Forstman, Wyatt Long and Trammell Shell with team founder and coach Dr. David Brooks.

Enroll them in Birmingham-Southern College’s Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts Lessons are available in piano, voice, violin, guitar, band and much more. Preschool Music Classes are available for 15-month to 5-year-olds.

www.bsc.edu | 205/226-4960

BSC

Birmingham-Southern College

VHEE Chess Team Wins State Title

2011 tenth-page BSC ad_OTMJ.indd 1

7/18/2011 1:26:22 PM

We love back to school!

The Vestavia Hills Elementary East Chess Team is again the Alabama Chess Federation state champion.

After competing at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile, the team won the 2015 Alabama Primary (K-3) Scholastic Chess Team Championship.

Team members include captain Hartwell Forstman, Wyatt Long, Trammell Shell and Harrison Walley.

The team studies chess with The Knight School, founded and coached by Dr. David Brooks.

Crestline’s Future Problem Solvers Win State Bowl The fifth grade PAGE students at Crestline Elementary recently attended the Future Problem Solvers State Bowl in Phenix City and won the title of first place in the junior booklet division as well as first place in the presentation of action plan. In addition, all Crestline teams placed first or second in the state.

Students learned and practiced the problem solving methods and practiced creating booklets all year on various topics. The students studied “the impact of social media,” “processed foods” and “propaganda”. The State Bowl topic was Enhancing Human Potential.

Students successfully completed their booklet in two hours. The first place booklet winners include: Laurence Barringer, Patch Lyman, Dive Rowe and Tompkins Richardson. The second place booklet winners include: Woody Fipps, Esme Huh, Ann Winston

Morning Programs: Spirit of Math Afternoon Add-on Option: Bricks 4 Kidz® For more information visit www.bricks4kidz.com

problem solved Front: Caroline Hellums, Lilly Odom, Alden Johnson, Kate Ryan, Elise Andrews and Ann Winston Morano. Middle: Woody Fipps, Laurence Barringer and Dive Rowe. Back: Patch Lyman, Coach Julia Peterson and Tompkins Richardson. Not pictured are Miller Simon, Ben Tierney, Caroline Bates and Ann Derby Welden.

Morano and Kate Ryan. The first place presentation of action plan winners are Elise Andrews, Caroline Bates, Ben Tierney and Ann Derby Welden. The second place presentation of action plan

winners are Caroline Hellums, Alden Johnson, Lilly Odom and Miller Simon.

The teams were led by coach Julia Peterson. ❖

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business

24 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

business briefs

Photos special to the Journal

Rogoff Leads Sales at ARC Realty

David M. Dahl of Oak Mountain is an outfielder in the Colorado Rockies organization. He’s pictured using the Dynavision light board at Sports Vision South in Hoover. Sports Vision South’s state-of-the-art technology will pinpoint the deficiencies in the eyes and increase their effectiveness.

Eye on the Ball New Business Helps Athletes See Better

By Lee Davis Good eyesight has played a major role in careers of famous athletes.

Baseball legend Babe Ruth’s vision allegedly was so good that he could read the label of a 78 RPM record while it was revolving on a phonograph player. Ted Williams, the last major leaguer to complete a regular season with a batting average higher than .400, claimed that he could follow the ball until it was practically in the catcher’s mitt and still whip his bat around in time to connect. In contrast, Ronald Reagan never played college baseball because his vision was poor.

As essential as vision and hand-eye coordination are to success in sports, many assumed for decades that they were essentially God-given traits and comparatively little could be done to improve them.

That attitude has greatly changed. A new business, Sports Vision South, located on Lorna Road in Hoover, is a high-performance vision and cognitive training center that helps elite athletes train their eyes for peak proficiency.

“Sports Vision is based on the simple but powerful premise that vision is a learned skill and, like any other skill, it can be improved with practice,” said Dr. Dorri Goldschimdt of Sports Vision South. “Elite performers in any endeavor require both finely-honed visual and motor skills, and an essential part of their competitive edge depends on how well they are able to integrate these skills in dynamic situations.”

Goldschmidt said the average person uses only 30 percent to 40 percent of their visual potential and, although elite athletes use much more, there is room for improvement.

“Research has shown that up to 80 percent of common athletic mistakes can be accounted for by vision errors, but despite this very few coaches or athletes are aware of the benefits of Sports Vision’s training techniques,” said Goldschmidt.

The techniques involve a sophisticated program of electronic perception/reaction exercises that can produce dramatic results in eye-hand coordination, peripheral awareness, concentration under stress conditions, speed

and span of recognition, depth perception and anticipation timing.

“The objective is to get eyesight to the highest capacity,” Goldschmidt said. “And you can take that vision awareness and make it an asset in virtually any sport.”

Goldschmidt said that the earlier a young athlete develops those vision skills, the more quickly he or she will be ready for competition at a higher level.

“If kids start at 12 or 13, they will be ahead of others who have not had the training,” she said. “They will have an advantage when they get to more elite competition.

“Whether it’s soccer or football, the training can give the athlete better vision of the field of play,” she continued. “It can help a basketball player improve their free throw shooting. In ice hockey, Wayne Gretsky’s best asset was his awareness of everything going on around him.”

The optometry center of Sports Vision doesn’t conduct traditional eye exams, instead emphasizing an athlete’s dynamic visual skills. These skills include accommodation, convergence and divergence, anticipation timing, concentration, depth perception, reaction time, peripheral awareness, speed and span of recognition and stress effect.

This set of skills is identified through a high definition screening process that measures visual acuity, contrast visual acuity, refractive error and visual edge evaluation. Sports Vision South’s state-of-the-art technology will pinpoint the deficiencies in the eyes and increase their effectiveness.

Goldschmidt, a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Optometry, entered sports vision training by seeking out the top professionals in the field with proven track records of training pro athletes and even police tactical units and military special forces.

“My goal is to help athletes and individuals perform at their peak with the most effective services and technology available,” she said.

As technology related to sports medicine grows, the old saying, “Keep your eye on the ball,” is now a measurable skill. Sports Vision South hopes to make that essential part of success in sports better than ever. ❖

Birmingham native Cathy Rogoff, who has been a realtor for 20 years, is leading in sales with the ARC Realty Company.

“Cathy’s dedication to customer service earns her one of the best referral rates in our industry,” ARC President Beau Bevis said. “That’s how she was able to close nearly 30 transactions and more than $13 million last year.”

The company, with 160 agents, closed $224 million in sales in 2014.

Rogoff is a lifetime member of the Club of Excellence and a certified relocation expert.

“I don’t see how it could get much better than to show people around a city I have called home for so many years,” Rogoff said.

Before beginning her career as a real estate agent, Cathy worked as an interior decorator for 15 years. A love for decorating houses translated easily into a desire to help find the “perfect” home for clients.

“Cathy’s enthusiasm for her work is obvious,” Tommy Brigham, founder of ARC Realty, said.

“She is a true professional, but her success is built on her commitment to helping others. That’s what makes her a great realtor.”

ARC is the fastest-growing real estate company in central Alabama, with corporate headquarters in Cahaba Heights and branch offices in Inverness, downtown Birmingham and at Smith Lake. ARC agents specialize in residential, commercial, corporate relocation and rental properties.

Ranked fifth in sales volume in the Greater Alabama MLS in 2014, the company recently was asked to join Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the world’s largest network of marketleading real estate brands, and Luxury Real Estate, a global source for premiere properties.

Bryant Named Assistant CEO at Trinity Medical Center

‘Sports Vision is based on the simple but powerful premise that vision is a learned skill and, like any other skill, it can be improved with practice.’

Dr. Dorri Goldschimdt, Sports Vision South

Justin Bryant, RN, has been named assistant chief executive officer at Trinity Medical Center.

Before this appointment, Bryant served as an administrative specialist at Flowers Hospital in Dothan and five years in a clinical setting as a staff nurse in the cardiovascular unit.

A Birmingham native, Bryant graduated from Hoover High School. He continued his education at Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2005.

He completed a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing at UAB in 2008, followed by a master’s of business administration degree at UAB in 2013 and a master’s of science in health administration at UAB in 2014.

Bryant is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Jewelry Designer Opens New Store in Mountain Brook Village Nashville jewelry designer Judith Bright will open a new store in Mountain Brook Village in September.

According to Bright, with her flagship store located in the 12 South neighborhood of Nashville, a location in Atlanta’s Virginia Highlands neighborhood and her online shop, Birmingham

was the ideal next step.

“We have so many loyal Birmingham customers shopping with us online that a store here just made sense,” Bright said. “Birmingham is a city on the move with an entrepreneurial spirit much like that of Nashville.”

With its blend of curated shops and neighborhood feel, Bright said that the Mountain Brook Village location is a perfect fit.

Bright is known for her nest-wrapping style, cocktail rings, lightweight earrings, hand-hammered necklaces and bracelets and her sandalwood collection. The jewelry is made with 14k gold-filled and sterling silver, mixed with semi-precious gemstones in a variety of sizes and colors.

“Every piece of our jewelry is made in our Nashville store by hand,” Bright said. “We use the finest materials available and we hand-pick each stone used in our designs. My passion is making quality jewelry available to women that they will love and enjoy wearing every day. “ Bright may be new to the Birmingham area, but her jewelry has been worn by Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christina Applegate, Carla Guigino and others. Bright’s pieces have been featured on television shows, including “Gossip Girl,” “Samantha Who?” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

A grand opening event is planned for Sept. 17 from 5-7 p.m. For more information and a preview of the

collection, visit www.judithbright.com.

Andrews Inducted into AOSSM Hall of Fame

Dr. James R. Andrews was inducted into the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Hall of Fame during the society’s annual meeting in Orlando July 10.

AOSSM Hall of Famers are individuals in the sports medicine community who have contributed immensely and set themselves apart from others in the field.

Andrews is one of the founding members of Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham.

He is founder, chairman and medical director of the American Sports Medicine Institute, a non-profit institute dedicated to injury prevention, education and research in orthopaedic and sports medicine. In addition, he is a founding partner and medical director of the Andrews Institute and the Andrews Research and Education Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He aided in the development of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to help prevent athletic overuse and trauma injuries in kids.

Andrews is internationally recognized for his skills as an orthopaedic surgeon as well as his scientific and clinic research contributions in knee, shoulder and elbow injury prevention and treatment. In addition, he has made numerous presentations around the

world and has authored hundreds of scientific articles and books. His most recent work, “Any Given Monday,” is based on his life in sports medicine.

He has received numerous awards, including the 2014 NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award and induction as a member of the “Louisiana Legends.”

He was named by the state of Louisiana as one of 200 most influential people in Louisiana history since statehood.

Andrews is a member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is a past president of AOSSM and served as its treasurer and secretary. He served on the board of directors of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Knee Society.

Currently, Dr. Andrews serves as medical director for Auburn University Intercollegiate Athletics and team orthopaedic surgeon, as well as senior orthopaedic consultant at the University of Alabama. He serves on the Medical and Safety Advisory Committee of USA Baseball and on the board of Little League Baseball Inc. In the professional sports arena, Dr. Andrews is senior consultant for the Washington Redskins and medical director for the Tampa Bay Rays. He is also the medical director of the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

Dr. Andrews has called Birmingham home since 1986. He also resides in Pensacola Beach, Florida. He and his wife, Jenelle, have six children and six grandchildren.

Send Business News to: editorial@otmj.com

Get Connected: OTM Area Chambers of Commerce Hold August Luncheons Homewood The Homewood Chamber of Commerce will gather at The Club for their monthly luncheon August 18. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will start at noon. Hatton Smith of Royal Cup

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 25

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Coffee will serve as the speaker.

Hoover Hoover’s Chamber of Commerce is currently getting ready for the 20th annual Chamber Golf Tournament at Riverchase Country Club August 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. They will also host their monthly luncheon at the Hoover Country Club August 20 beginning at 11:15 a.m.

Vestavia Hills The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will hold their August luncheon on the 11th from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Vestavia Country Club. The featured speaker will be Dr. Tommy Bice who will discuss the state of education in Alabama.

For more information, visit www. vestaviahills.org.

for more information please Call mike wedgworth: 205.365.4344

䘀爀漀洀 漀椀氀 挀栀愀渀最攀猀Ⰰ 愀氀椀最渀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䄀氀愀戀愀洀愀 椀渀猀瀀攀挀琀椀漀渀猀 琀漀 洀愀樀漀爀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀猀 漀渀 礀漀甀爀 攀渀最椀渀攀 愀渀搀 搀爀椀瘀攀 琀爀愀椀渀Ⰰ 漀甀爀 琀攀挀栀渀椀挀椀愀渀猀 眀椀氀氀 琀愀欀攀 挀愀爀攀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀 挀愀爀Ⰰ 琀爀甀挀欀 漀爀 匀唀嘀 氀椀欀攀 椀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀椀爀 漀眀渀⸀

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䠀伀䴀䔀 伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 ㌀ 䴀䤀一唀吀䔀 伀䤀䰀 䌀䠀䄀一䜀䔀 倀䰀䔀䐀䜀䔀 匀䔀刀嘀䤀䌀䔀 䠀伀唀刀匀㨀 䴀伀一䐀䄀夀ⴀ䘀刀䤀䐀䄀夀 㜀䄀䴀ⴀ㘀倀䴀 匀䄀吀唀刀䐀䄀夀 㠀䄀䴀ⴀ㔀倀䴀 ⠀㠀㔀㔀⤀ 㠀㜀㠀ⴀ㈀㘀㐀㤀

26 • Thursday, July 30, 2015

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

smylie,

Photos special to the Journal

From page 28

Team members include: Zoe Couch, Camille Etheridge, Kayla Mardis, Ella Walker, Katherine Howell, Susanna Sheehan, Eva White, Isabella Antonio, Hunter Dunn, Emily Dunn and Livy Dunn. Also pictured are: head coach, Glenn Couch and assistant coaches, Derek Etheridge and Paul Dunn.

Homewood All-stars Win 10U Softball State Championship The Homewood 10U All-stars’ last game ended the same way most of their games ended -- with a victory.

Homewood won the (10U softball) state championship tournament June 27. Homewood’s team defeated the Hoover Black Widows 3-2 to claim the tournament title.

Homewood Park Senior Recreation Leader, Alissa Brock, said the girls put in a lot of time practicing and competing to get to the tournament. She said the girls won two of three tournaments that preceded the state championship tournament.

“The girls had to commit every weekend in June to play,” Brock said.

The girls started the last week of the season with an overall record of 14-4. Despite that success, the

Homewood All-stars had one glaring problem -- beating the Hoover Black Widows.

The Black Widows were responsible for handing Homewood all four of its losses. When the state championship tournament began, the Widows, and not Homewood, were the number one seed.

The two teams met again for the first time in the semifinal, where Homewood won 6-2. The ensuing rematch was much closer.

Brock said Homewood managed to score all three runs early. Then the team just needed to hold on.

“The girls did an amazing job,” she said. “These girls have put in countless hours, tears and sweat to make this goal a reality.”

—Tyler Waldrep

Joy League Baseball Crowns 2015 Champions

by a team composed of players from the Bucs and Cards on one side and a team composed of players from the Sox and Yanks on the other.

Following those games, the players, coaches and their families enjoyed a traditional watermelon picnic.

Each year, Joy League games are played Saturday mornings on the two diamonds at Edgewood Elementary School. A total of 174 boys and girls played in League games this year.

Established in 1958 by the late John J. Smith Sr., the Joy League provides its third generation of players a fun place to learn how to play baseball. Those players, boys and girls ages four to 12, do not have evaluations or tryouts. Every player plays in every game. There are no bench warmers in the Joy League.

The Joy League in Homewood recently completed its 58th consecutive season of daytime baseball.

League Commissioners Perry Akins and Ted Hagler awarded championship trophies to the teams that won the league’s three divisions. The 2015 champions are: A – The Yanks, coached by Jamal Johnson and Kameron Johnson AA – The Cards, coached by Nathan Carden, Richie Prilenski, Caroline Prilenski and several other helpful parents and family members AAA – The Yanks, (pictured below) coached by Tim Meehan, Mark Woods, Melvin Prim and Stephen McGhee.

To end the season, each division champion played a game against an All-Star team made up of 12 players from its division, according to a news release.

In addition, there was a t-ball rookie all-star game played

Team members are, from left, front: Matthew Thackerson, Wilder Evers, Evan Smith, Brady Dunn, Evan Shiflet and Clayton Marek. Back: Coach Kris Dunn, Jack Poole, Will Shaver, Cameron Atkinson, Caiden Howle, Ryan Giegel and Coach Troy Marek. Not pictured is Reese Gurner.

Shockers Win State Championship, Finish Third in National Tournament

Comprised of players from Oak Mountain, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook, the fifth grade Steel City Shockers basketball team recently won 39 games on their way to a Youth Baseball of America state championship and a third place finish in the Division 1 bracket of the YBOA national championship tournament held in Orlando, where they earned a 6-1 finish.

Meredith Wins USTA Title

Madeline Meredith of Vestavia Hills recently won the Southern Closed 16s tennis tournament in Little Rock, Arkansas. The tournament, sponsored by U.S. Tennis Association, drew 320 competitors from nine southern states. Meredith, who is home-schooled, is the daughter of John and Robin Meredith of Liberty Park. She is currently ranked 23rd nationally by Tennis Recruiting.

Colonel Irons Trophy Awarded at Mountain Brook Two of Mountain Brook High School’s long distance track athletes have won the 2015 Colonel George V. Irons Distance trophy awarded at a Mountain Brook High School assembly in April. This award is presented in memory of Dr. George V. Irons, Sr. Irons broke records throughout the south as captain of the University of Alabama distance team in the 1920s. The Colonel George V. Irons Distance Trophy is awarded to the top long distance track athlete who has excelled in scholarship, character and citizenship.

William L. Irons, Irons’ son, presented this year’s trophies to Frances Patrick and Marshall Smith at Mountain Brook High School awards day ceremonies April 29.

Frances Patrick and Marshall Smith, track standouts at Mountain Brook High School, recieve the Colonel George V. Irons Distance Trophy from William L. Irons.

life to play on the PGA tour,” he said.

“So obviously this was a big deal.”

Kaufman had previously played in two PGA events, missing the cut in the 2014 U.S. Open and at the 2015 Shell Houston Open, but proved last week he can be competitive at golf’s highest level.

Playing at the Barbasol Championship at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National Trail in Opelika, Kaufman put together opening rounds of 69-69 to easily make the cut. He faltered slightly with weekend totals of 73-72 to finish two-under par 282.

“It was great to make the cut at a PGA event, but I’m still disappointed overall,” Kaufman said. “The leaderboard showed me tied for second on the last hole on Friday and I made a careless double bogey. But that didn’t affect the way I played the last two days. I just didn’t bring my best game into the weekend.”

Kaufman said he took valuable lessons away from the experience in Opelika. “Playing at the PGA level is as much about your mind as anything,” he explained. “If a player doesn’t think he is good enough to be there, he probably isn’t. You need to have full confidence in what you can do.”

One highlight of the weekend was the great support Kaufman got from family and friends, who called themselves “Smylie’s Army.”

“The people I’m close to have always been very supportive of me and my dreams,” Kaufman said.

“They are always there for me.

Having them watch me wherever I’m playing is part of what makes it fun.”

Kaufman will continue the season on the Web.Com tour, hoping to continue to upgrade the level of his game.

“Golf is a game of cycles,” he said. “If you had asked me a month ago what my strong point is I would have said my driving. Now, I think I’m hitting my irons really well.

“I really don’t think I have a weak part of my game. It’s just a matter of improving every aspect of what I do, and getting better every time I play.”

Kaufman’s drive to succeed comes naturally. In addition to his father being a star golfer at LSU, his grandfather Alan Kaufman formerly coached the golf team at UAB. Kaufman lettered four years at LSU, producing six top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes in 28 appearances for the Tigers. He finished 19th in the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships in his senior season of 2014 and was an honors graduate with a degree in general business administration.

Interestingly, “Smylie” is Kaufman’s given name. His namesake is Smylie Gebhart, a distant cousin who was an All-American defensive end at Georgia Tech in the early 1970s.

Smylie Kaufman doesn’t look like a defensive end, but his heart and determination are probably big enough to take him to the top. ❖

Thursday, July 30, 2015 • 27

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Former Cav Returns to Give Back to Community

mcmillan, From page 28

Former Atlanta Hawk and current Toronto Raptor DeMarre Carroll has not forgotten where it all started.

“Without John Carroll, I don’t think I would have made the career I have because it gave me, it laid the foundation for me to be successful,” Carroll said. “Making that move (to John Carroll) was the best move I made in my life.”

Carroll spent his 29th birthday weekend giving back to the community that he said had given him so much. On July 25, he hosted a basketball camp for kids at his former high school, with proceeds going to his Carroll Family Foundation.

“It’s going to be amazing,” he said. “Just being able to come back and to give back to this city is going to mean a lot to me.”

Carroll said that he wants to give kids who attend his camps some individual time. When they leave he wants them to be able to relate to him. He was, once upon a time, just another local kid with a dream.

When that local-kid-turnedmillionaire walks into his old gym, he

Layton, From page 28

than Jesus Christ. The duo refused to play the Beatles’ songs on their station. Doug and Tommy received a lot of international attention for taking that stand. In truth, Doug didn’t like to talk about that phase of his career. I think he took his stand for reasons of faith, not fame or fortune. And even years later, he wasn’t interested in capitalizing on the event.

The beginning of Doug’s greatest impact may have come in 1969, when he joined John Forney to become the color analyst for University of Alabama football. In an era when televised games were few and far between, Doug’s vivid descriptions of the action and excitement on the field gave fans an invaluable link to Crimson Tide football at its peak under Coach Paul Bryant. His calls of exciting wins over Ole Miss, Southern California, Tennessee, Auburn and many others are still part of Alabama football lore.

Sometimes overlooked is that Doug also was the voice of Alabama basketball for many years. His dramatic radio call of the Crimson Tide’s upset of Minnesota in the 1973 National Invitation Tournament helped galvanize interest in basketball in the state.

Ever the entrepreneur, Doug – in a precursor to ESPN – created a regional television network to carry Southeastern Conference basketball games on a weekly basis, bringing the sport to an audience that rarely saw it on live TV.

Journal photo by Tyler Waldrep

By Tyler Waldrep

DeMarre Carroll visits Childrens’ of Alabama while in town on July 24.

said he will share a simple message with the kids. He said the message is a lifestyle that he still lives by today.

“I always, every time I go to my camp, I always tell the kids, ‘act right and play hard,’” Carroll said. “I think I learned those two things from my

coaches at John Carroll.”

That simple message of act right might have influenced Carroll’s decision to create his foundation. Carroll, who just signed a four-year deal for a total of $60 million to play for

Toronto, said he recognizes the financial struggles that some parents face when their child receives a serious liver diagnosis.

“I want to be able to help them with their bills their groceries, little things that might mean a lot to them, but might not mean a lot to me,” Carroll said. “I feel like a lot of NBA players don’t really recognize that. So that’s something I want to basically bring to light.”

Carroll, a survivor of liver disease, set up the foundation to provide resources to parents and youth dealing with liver disease; to provide educational programs to learn the signs and symptoms of pediatric liver disease and to learn about nutrition for healthy living; and to develop public campaigns to raise awareness of liver disease among youth. ❖

But while thousands knew Doug’s public persona, far fewer knew him away from the microphone. He was the ultimate family man. In addition to having a wife and two children, Doug was the oldest of six siblings – the ultimate big brother.

“Doug was my hero,” Delores Andrews, his sister, said. “From the very beginning to the very end, he was always looking out for us.”

Doug’s interest in performing came at an early age, according to Andrews.

“As little children, we were putting on plays all the time. Doug would be The Shadow or The Green Hornet and I would sing,” she recalled. “Like any brother and sister, we would fight, but it was always in good fun.”

Andrews said that Doug’s interest in sports also came at an early age.

“When Doug was young, he was in the backyard trying to throw the jump pass like (former Alabama star) Harry Gilmer and I would catch,” she said, laughing. “But then Doug decided that I was better at throwing the jump pass than he was.”

Doug may not have been the next Gilmer, but he was a football star at B.B. Comer High School in his hometown of Sylacauga.

By the time I came to work with Doug at a local sports radio station in the early 1990s, he was already a legendary figure in the local media scene. I was the rawest of rookies. By good fortune, my desk in the office was next to his, so we quickly became friends. One day, he invited me to sit in on his daily broadcast. “Who knows? I might even let you talk,”

Doug said with a wide grin. I was thrilled, but mainly I wanted to watch, listen and learn.

For three hours in the studio, I watched and listened as Doug told jokes, reported the sports news and interacted with his audience members – rational and otherwise – who called in to his program. His performance was seamless. He was never flustered or at a loss for words. During a commercial break, Doug whispered to me: “Remember Lee, regardless of what they say, always give them something to smile about. This is your chance to make their day.” I never forgot that advice.

More impressive was what Doug did after his program concluded. As usual in the days before cell phones, there were a slew of voice mail messages on his office phone. Some were from friends and relatives. Many more were from strangers who wanted to have a private chat with the man they had just been listening to on the radio.

Even though his working hours were flexible, Doug wouldn’t leave the office until he had returned every call.

And maybe that was Doug Layton’s real magic. He never forgot that even through all the contacts he made over the years – with coaches, athletes, celebrities and the media; it was the feelings of regular people that were the most important.

That make-believe studio from long-ago only exists in my memory now. But my memories of Doug Layton will last much longer – the legacy of a man who taught all around him that there is always a reason to smile. ❖

Carroll, a survivor of liver disease, set up the foundation to provide resources to parents and youth dealing with liver disease.

to be confident and play fearless basketball on all stages,” he said. “Players will come and go, but what we strive for won’t change.”

While Mountain Brook’s basketball program has benefited greatly from high profile move-ins in recent years, McMillan bristled at the suggestion that the school system actively recruits outstanding athletes. He said the attractiveness of Mountain Brook educationally and environmentally is a natural draw for anyone.

“It’s mind-boggling to me when I hear that stuff about recruiting,” he said. “Mountain Brook has the best public school system in the state and is the safest community in the state.

Any parent would want his kid – athlete or not – to come here. Plus, we’ve done really well in basketball the last six or seven years and won two state championships. So if you had a kid that could play and had the means, why wouldn’t you want him to go to Mountain Brook, where he would have a chance to excel both academically and athletically?”

McMillan pointed out that other athletic programs in affluent communities benefit from move-ins as well. “There are plenty of other fine basketball programs around here,” he said. “We aren’t the only one that attracts move-ins. But it seems ours draw the most attention. I think part of it is a misconception about our com-

munity. It’s a great place, but we’re not Beverly Hills. Not everyone who lives here is a millionaire.”

Mountain Brook’s team-first concept is actually a drawing card even for high profile players capable of piling up impressive individual statistics, according to McMillan.

“The first thing I tell all of our players is that coaches at every level – high school, college or NBA – want to be successful,” he explained. “That’s how they keep their jobs. And a team wins with good basketball players as opposed to just talented basketball players. Good players are the ones who have character and do the things to help their team be successful.

Talented players are the ones who have the ability but don’t necessarily use it to the team’s benefit. We want all our guys who go through our program to be good basketball players.”

McMillan is cautiously optimistic about his team’s prospects for 201516.

“We’ve only got three returning seniors on our roster so we’re not going to have a lot of experience at the start,” he said. “As the saying goes, the best thing about inexperienced players is that they eventually get experience. Regardless of our record there will be some growing pains, but I think by the time January rolls around we’ll be getting things together.”

If history is any indication, expect Mountain Brook to make another serious championship run. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Sports

Homewood All-stars Win Softball State Title Page 26 Former Cav Gives Back Page 27

McMillan and Life

lee davis

Voice Trek

Layton Always Gave Them a Reason to Smile

Spartan Coach Makes Big Splash Again

Leave it to Bucky McMillan to be in the center of a big high school basketball story in the normally slow month of July.

McMillan, the ultra-successful coach of the Mountain Brook boys basketball team, learned that a new weapon will be added to his arsenal when the season begins later this year. Trendon Watford, a 6-foot-7-inch forward who led Shades Valley to the Class 6A regional finals as an eighth-grader last spring, has transferred to Mountain Brook. Watford is the younger brother of former Mountie star Christian Watford, who had an outstanding career at Indiana University.

Trendon, who played for Shades Valley while attending Irondale Middle School, enrolled at Mountain Brook as a rising freshman earlier this summer.

He will almost certainly have an immediate impact, as the Spartans lose four starters

Smylie Face Photo special to the Journal

the third round, when he tied a course record with an eight-under par 64 total. The victory came in only his sixth career start on the Web.Com Tour Series, and he earned $108,000 for his efforts.

“I’m blown away,” Kaufman said.

“I still can’t comprehend it all but I’m so excited about getting the win.

I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes all week. I just stay composed and believed in what I was doing.”

His win catapulted him all the way to fourth on the Web.Com Tour, in the money list through the first eight events of the season. Perhaps more importantly, Kaufman’s season total of earnings likely qualified him for one of 25 PGA tour cards that will be handed out at the end of the regular season.

“It’s been a dream for my entire

Lots of young boys want to grow up to be policemen, firemen, cowboys or professional baseball players.

I wanted to be a radio broadcaster – or actually, one radio broadcaster in particular.

Every adult I knew listened to him in the morning as they were preparing for their day. I listened too and while some of the jokes went over my head, he was funny, entertaining and played some pretty cool music. He and his partner, Tommy Charles, had just started a new station named WAQY – they called it ‘wacky.’ Even a kid couldn’t forget call letters like that.

Before long, I wanted to be that funny man on the radio. My bedroom became a make-believe studio.

The backend of a flashlight was my microphone, and two old shower curtain holders tied together by a string made my headset.

My imagination took me many places in those times, but I never dreamed that 30 years later I would be working side-by-side with Doug Layton.

When Doug, a long-time resident of Vestavia Hills, passed away July 15, my thoughts immediately turned to how his life had touched so many – including people who never met him.

I was fortunate to have it both ways: I had the opportunity to work with Doug, but he also affected my life long before I met him. As a regular listener to Layton and Charles, I stopped liking the Beatles and their music because Doug and Tommy said one of the band’s members had boasted that they were more popular

See Smylie, page 26

See layton, page 27

See mcmillan, page 27

By Lee Davis

Ex-Rebel Golfer Makes Impression on Web, PGA Tours

Shooting a four-day total of 10-under par 278, Smylie Kaufman won the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana, by five shots.

from last year’s team, which produced a 27-8 record and lost to Hoover in the Class 7A finals.

Mountain Brook had claimed the Class 7A crown in the two previous seasons.

“We enrolled Trendon right after we withdrew him from middle school in Irondale,” Watford’s father, Ernest, said. “The reputation that Mountain Brook schools have with good teachers and a great community will prepare Trendon for the next level from an athletic and academic standpoint.”

Incredibly, Watford already has offers from Southeastern Conference schools, including Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida.

McMillan said that the addition of Watford to the Spartans’ lineup will not change his underlying philosophy.

“Our team goals every year are to be the hardest-working team, to be an unselfish team,

Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry

By Lee Davis

Smylie Kaufman is no stranger to the winner’s circle in athletics.

As a basketball point guard in 2009, Kaufman helped the Vestavia Hills Rebels win the Class 6A championship. By 2011, Kaufman had traded in his basketball, but he still was winning. While a varsity golfer at LSU, he won the 2011 Alabama Amateur as his father, Jeff – a former LSU golfer himself – caddied for him.

With such a record for success, maybe it wasn’t surprising when Kaufman won his first professional tournament in May. Shooting a fourday total of 10-under par 278, he won the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana, by five shots.

Kaufman’s five-stroke win was the largest victory margin in the tournament’s history. His best day came in

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