2 • Thursday, October 7, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OPINION/CONTENTS
Inside
Murphy’s Law
S ‘TREMENDOUS HONOR’ Ritch’s Pharmacy presented Retailer of the Year award PAGE 8
‘NEVER WALK ALONE’ Haute Pink Fashion Show will highlight breast cancer patients and survivors PAGE 10
‘THERE IS HOPE’ One Place Metro Family Justice Center is there for victims of domestic violence PAGE 11
A SWEET TREAT Birmingham Candy Company to offer pre-packaged treats at new holiday pop-up store PAGE 22
ABOUT TOWN 4 FOOD 22 NEWS 8 SCHOOLS 24 LIFE 10 SPORTS 28 SOCIAL 16
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Strong Women
trong women: May we know My next-door neighbors on both sides them, may we be them, may we weren’t home. My woodsman friend raise them.” said, “Just make some noise. It will go I’m reading “Take Good Care of away. It’s probably a good snake, anythe Garden and the Dogs,” by Heather way.” This was not what I wanted to Lende. She begins by chronicling her hear. And so, I phoned my neighbor recovery from literally being run over Vickie who, in a moment of supreme by a truck. She endured months of surkindness, had said, “If you ever need geries and rehab, with only a 50/50 anything …” Be careful what you say. chance of being able to walk again. Vickie’s husband is always outside But she did walk, returning home to working on their impeccable lawn, so I Haines, Alaska, to hunt and fish and figured he might have some experience write and be attuned to the joys in life. with snakes, but it was Vickie herself Sue Murphy A strong woman, indeed. who said, “I’ll be right over.” I come from a long line of strong Now, to fully appreciate the enorwomen. When my dad didn’t cut the mity of this gesture, you need to grass under the clothesline fast know that Vickie is not a burly gal. enough, my 90-year-old greatWhen my dad didn’t She is about my age and a few inchgrandmother cut it herself with a shorter than me, a woman cut the grass under the es scythe. My grandmother possessed supremely talented in all things clothesline fast enough, house and home, and yet she a quiet strength, dealing with one leg being significantly shorter than at my back gate a few my 90-year-old great- appeared the other her entire life. My mom minutes later, brandishing a sharp, grandmother cut it once killed a copperhead with a long-handled implement. She did hatchet at our Brownie day camp. herself with a scythe. not hesitate for a second but set Me? I think I am strong in my about locating and eliminating the own way, but I definitely did not snake. I will spare you the gory inherit the snake-killing gene. details, but I will tell you that the Thank goodness, one of my neighbors did. only help I gave was to move the birdseed chest and A few months ago, a 3-foot snake slithered through hold a bracing shovel … with my eyes closed. the backyard fence slats and ducked under the plastic I’d like to say that things will be different next time, chest that holds my birdseed. I’d like to say that I that I will man (woman) up and take care of the next sprang into action and deftly handled the situation, but snake by myself, but I know I won’t. Too many adverse when it comes to snakes, my deft is puny at best. Nope, snake memories in my psyche. I went as far as buying I froze … unfroze long enough to get Dave up on the my own long-handled cutting implement, but it will deck … and froze again. have to be used by someone else. The snake couldn’t stay. That was clear. With And so, I send out this column as a puny thank you. Dave’s penchant for sticking his nose where it does not There will be more. There will have to be more, but belong, he would end up in the doggie emergency room right now, I want to honor my friend, Vickie the Snake for sure. With that picture firmly in mind, I did the Slayer, a woman as strong as they come. I’m proud bravest thing I could muster: I started calling people. (and thankful) to know her.
Over the Mountain Views
October Tradition
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
October 7, 2021 JOU RNAL Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Emily Williams-Robertshaw Photographer: Jordan Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls, Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald, Gail Kidd Vol. 32, No. 5
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 mwald@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2021 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.
The Bluff Park Art Association hosted the 58th annual Bluff Park Art Show at The Park at Shades Cliff in Hoover on Saturday. Birmingham artist Katie Adams, above, was one of the many artists participating in the popular fall event which includes artists from across the country. This year’s Best in Show winner was Louisiana artist Craig McMillin.
