10.08.2015

Otmj Thursday, October 8, 2015

social

over the mountain journal ❖ otmj.com

sports

world Class Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Myers Helped Bring 2021 World Games To Birmingham

Even before Scott Myers, above, became involved in the World Games, the Homewood resident had a full plate. He became Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame following the retirement of Bill Legg in 2009, and looks forward to celebrating the Museum’s 50th anniversary in 2019. He also wants to update the museum itself.

By Lee Davis

f

or Scott Myers, the idea of bringing the

International World Games to Birmingham was an accident.

Myers, executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and David Benck, a prominent local attorney, were invited to attend the 2013 World Games in Cali, Columbia. Their host was

Ron Froelich, the honorary lifetime president of the International World Games Association.

As far as Myers was concerned, it was strictly a pleasure trip.

“I love sports of all types so I just wanted to go,” he recalled. “I didn’t know much about some of the sports they featured – like korfball, for example, but from the opening ceremonies to the games themselves, I was

See world games, page 38

Vestavia Hills

The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon Vestavia Hills Country Club Scott Myers of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame will serve as the featured speaker and will discuss Birmingham’s selection to host the World Games. Oct. 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information, visit www.vestaviahills.org.

inside

fall fun Searching for the great pumpkin? How about a wild ride through Homewood or a frightfully fun fundrasier? about town Page 8

Good Eats on the Go Friends team up to provide healthy food for busy folks food Page 34

Mother’s Milk Homewood mother uses personal tragedy to enrich the community life Page 16

2 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

Hoover Gives Oil Spill Money to Schools Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said the school system will likely use a donation of nearly $346,000 to keep class sizes down and offset transportation costs.

The Hoover city government recently awarded the school system a check for $345,881 as part of the city’s portion of a lawsuit settlement in the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP agreed to pay nearly $1 billion to five states and many municipalities affected by the oil spill.

Mayor Gary Ivey said city officials gave the city’s portion to the school system because it needed it most. “Our budget was balanced, and they were having some budget problems,” the mayor said.

The school board recently passed a 2016 fiscal budget that reflected about a $10.4 million deficit. Murphy said the contribution will be used to help keep Mayor Gary Ivey Hoover’s student-teacher ratio down. “One of said city officials the things we believe in in Hoover is that we gave the city’s portion to the should have smaller class sizes,” she said. “So school system certainly some of this money could be used because it needed to offset additional teacher units we have that it most. “Our budallow us to keep a 14-1 students-to-teacher get was balanced, ratio.” and they were Murphy also said that, although the school having some budget problems,” the officials have nixed plans to move to a feemayor said. based transportation system, the cost of running buses is still a reality. The check could provide temporary relief for this situation also, although she added that long-term funding is still a concern of school officials.

“It could be set aside to help offset some of the transportation,” she said. “We’re just grateful to Mayor Ivey and the city council for this donation.”

—William C. Singleton III

in this issue About Town 4 people 10 news 12 life 16 social 20

home 26 schools 32 food 34 weddings 37 Sports 40

Opinion/Contents

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

murphy’s law

T

Stop, Drop and Do

he sun was just peeking up over and I descended into a state of perpetthe horizon and the sky was a ual warfare after they converged on a soft pinky-blue and I was all set cream cheese coffeecake last Christmas. to go for a walk.

Down the stairs again to retrieve the Well, not all set. I still had to lace bug spray. I turned on the overhead up my shoes, pocket my Chapstick light and the light bulb popped. Future (Don’t leave home without it.), and Susan hates to pull into a dark garage, grab my trusty phone. so I dragged out the ladder and changed Oh, and my step counter. I have the bulb before I lugged my trusty taken to tallying my daily steps, which, sprayer back up the stairs and sprayed depending on the day, range from a the house, the sidewalk and the curb leisurely stroll to wearing through an perimeter, stopping only when I reached entire layer of shoe leather. Also, my my neighbor’s driveway, where I figdaughters and I are step buddies, meanured I did not have permission to attack. ing that we’re in fierce competition While I was redepositing the spraySue Murphy for step dominance. Let’s see, so far er, the phone rang, not the cellphone today, I had…nothing. The battery in my pocket, but our dinosaur had died. There was no way I was landline. I raced back up the stairs, walking for free, so I ran down to grabbed the receiver, and whispered, I have taken to the garage for a battery back-up and “Hello,” in case it was not an actual tallying my daily spent the next several minutes getperson but one of those scam things steps, which, ting back on track. Now all I needed where the IRS is giving me my depending on the was a tissue, but it turned out to be final notice or my unnamed credit the last one in the box, so I went card company needs to talk to me day, range from a back to the Mom closet to get a immediately. These jackals have outleisurely stroll to replacement. (Always take care of smarted caller ID and now run their wearing through Future Susan.) fake calls through my real area code. an entire layer of I was almost to the front door Well, two can play at that game. I when Harold yelled up from the man discovered that if you say “hello” shoe leather. cave. Would I stick the power bill in very softly, it does not trip the mesthe mailbox on my way out? Sure. sage censor. If it’s a real person Back to the kitchen, where I noticed on the line, they will say, “Hello? a small spider walking nervously Hello?” If it’s a robo-call, there will around the sink. I took a glass from the upper cabinet, be silence and you can hang up, which I did. chased him around until I caught him, then went through By now, the pinky blue was gone and clouds were the recycling basket until I found one of those pull-out gathering for rain. Rats. subscription cards to use as counterbalance. I opened So what have I learned? First, I need to live in a onethe front door and deposited the spider on the front level house. More importantly, when my feet hit the floor step, where a multi-tiered formation of ants was moving in the morning, I need to lace up and run out the door steadily up the side of the house. because pinky-blue waits for no woman. Do you hear Now, I will stop to relocate a spider, but the ants that, Future Susan? ❖

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

J O U R N A L September 24, 2015

over the Mountain Views

We asked women: “What are you doing to stay healthy?”

Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Features Writer & Copy Editor 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 Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Vol. 25, No. 19

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.

“We try to keep only healthy food in the house and we’re all active.”

“I graduated with a major in nutrition so I try to cook healthy.”

Sarah Simmons Hoover

Kristina Haechi Homewood

“I have been walking a lot.”

Aoife Dowd Birmingham

“I walk and I eat really well. I’ve walked 377 miles this year.”

Andrea Sumners Birmingham

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

About Town

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 3

Located on Hwy 280, east of I-459 GrandviewHealth.com

4 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

About Town

Father Goose And His Carnival Of Cats

Oct. 8-Oct. 21 Fri., Oct. 9 BIRMINGHAM

An Evening With Britten Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum The museum will celebrate the life of John Britten and Britten motorcycles at 6:15 p.m. on the Barber Pedestrian Bridge. Tickets are $150 per person and proceeds benefit the Barber Museum.

For more information, visit www. barbermotorsports.com or call 7028707.

VESTAVIA HILLS

Local Author Launches New Children’s Series

Upcycle City Library in the Forest The library will host a “Pinterest party” with crafts, wine, hors d’oeuvres and music from 7-9 p.m. This event is free and all craft materials will be supplied. As adult beverages will be served, guests must be 21 years of age and older. For more information, email tleslie@bham.lib.al.us or call 978-4674.

Charles Ghigna will be reading an excerpt from his new book and signing copies afterward at the Homewood Public Library on Oct. 10.

Photo special to the Journal

Local author Charles Ghigna will be celebrating the launch of his latest book series at the Homewood Public Library on Oct. 10.

Ghigna’s newest publication, “A Carnival of Cats,” is one of several books in his latest Tiny Tales series, which he said was inspired by his 5-year-old granddaughter, Charlotte Rose. Charlotte will be attending the party as Ghigna’s guest of honor along with her father, Chip, who will be displaying his new artwork in the library’s gallery through the end of October.

Ghigna will be reading an excerpt from the book and signing copies afterward. The Little Professor Book Store will be on hand for those who want to buy copies.

Ghinga, known affectionately as Father Goose, is a Homewood

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Oct. 9-10 BIRMINGHAM

resident known for working in his “tree house,” or the attic of his home, where he makes his office. He has been writing and publishing poetry and children’s books since the ‘80s and has been published hundreds of times. He also frequently travels

A local organization helping local families be a part of

Walking to Remember Saturday, November 7 inside the Riverchase Galleria, 8 a.m.

Walk in honor or memory of someone with Alzheimer’s For information and support:

(205) 871-7970 or visit www.alzca.org

• Support groups, telephone helpline, education and advocacy • Scholarships to attend adult day care • Scholarships for continence products • 22 research grants to Alabama Colleges and Universities Marketing Sponsor: St. Martin’s

Support. Research. Hope.

to schools to share his books with children and has shared his poetry all over the globe.

“I’ve been traveling and doing reading and signings, but there’s nothing better than sharing the fun with neighbors and friends,” Ghigna said.

“The Homewood Library event is turning out to be a real family affair.

I’ve been blessed to do book parties over the years for some of my other books, but this one’s turning out to be the most memorable of all.”

This event is free to the public and will include snacks.

For more information on this event, visit www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org or call 332-6619. For more information on Charles Ghigna or any of his publications, visit www.charlesghigna.com. ❖

Barber Vintage Festival Barber Motorsports Park Triumph Dealers of North America will present one of the world’s largest motorcycle collections. Admission begins at $25. Activities include road racing, stunt shows, a swap meet and more. For more information, visit www. barbermotorsports.com or call 2989040.

Sat., Oct. 10

HOOVER

Golden Dragon Acrobats Hoover Library The Library Theatre will host the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25.

For more information, visit www. hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7888.

BIRMINGHAM

Sports Cars at the Summit The Summit

The Birmingham Motoring Club will host a Euro/Brit sports and classic car event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the judging starts at noon followed by awards at 2 p.m.

A minimum registration fee of $10 per car will benefit Camp Smile-aMile. For more information, visit www. birminghambmc.org.

HOOVER

Master of the Brew Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge AlaBev, along with Hop City and Avondale Brewing Company, will host a home brewers showcase and brewing competition from 12-5 p.m. The event will include an outdoor tasting, music, local artists and children’s activities.

For more information, visit www. uncorkedonthegreen.com or call 5163122.

HOMEWOOD

Star Wars Reads Day Homewood Library Little Professor Book Center will present an international event that celebrates reading and Star Wars. The event is free and will be held in the Round Auditorium, accessible through the Children’s Department, from 1-4 p.m. For more information, visit www. homewoodpubliclibrary.org or call 3326619.

Sun., Oct. 11

BIRMINGHAM

The Reluctant Dragon Birmingham Children’s Theatre A brave knight will fight an evil dragon in order to save a damsel in distress during this 3 p.m. performance. Tickets are $9 per child or $11 per adult. For more information, visit www.bct123.org or call 458-8181.

Wed., Oct. 14 BIRMINGHAM

Linly Heflin Scholarship Luncheon The Sheraton Gus Mayer will host the 57th annual

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

About Town

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 5

F all P lant S ale Saturday, October 17 | 9-5 p.m.

Sunday, October 18 | Noon-4 p.m.

Pe r f e c t Ti m e to P l a n t Tr e e s & S h r u b s • R a i n o r S h i n e • Fr e e A d m i ss i o n

Trees & Shrubs•Herbs•Perennials•Camellias•Fall Lettuces•Ferns•Biennials •Natives•Winter Annuals•Irises•Bedding Plants•Daylilies

205.414.3950

bbgardens.org/fallplantsale

6 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

About Town

Sat., Oct. 17 NORTH SHELBY

Denim and Diamonds Harley Davidson The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles will host its 12th annual fall auction at 5:30 p.m. The event will include both silent and live auctions, food stations and a buffet. Tickets are $30 per person or $225 for a table of eight. For more information, visit www. holyapostleshoover.org or call 988-8000.

BIRMINGHAM

Crestwood Crawl Crestwood North Neighborhood The seventh annual poker run benefiting Birmingham AIDS Outreach will send players to seven checkpoints where they will draw one card. Each checkpoint will include a themed party

and guests will meet at an after party with all of their cards to compete for door prizes. Registration opens at 2 p.m. at Urban Suburban and is $35.

For more information, visit www. birminghamaidsoutreach.org or call 3224197.

BIRMINGHAM

Race for the Cure Linn Park The Komen North Central Alabama 5K walk and race will raise funds for local breast health services, programs and research. Race Day registration begins at 7 a.m. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. Admission is $35 per adult and $20 for children ages 14 and under.

For more information, visit www. komenncalabama.org or call 263-1700.

HOOVER

Hoover High School Band Festival Hoover Met Hoover High School’s Band will host an invitational marching festival all day.

Bands will compete for trophies based on rating branded by a panel of judges and one band will be named “best in class”. Admission for guests is $8 for adults and $5 for students and tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.hooverband.com.

Photo special to the Journal

luncheon and fashion show at 11:30 a.m. This year’s runway will feature clothing by designer Smith Sinrod from her line SMITH. All proceeds will benefit The Linly Heflin Unit which provides scholarships for women from Alabama.

For more information, visit www. linlyheflin.org or call 871-8171.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

From Left: The Shop, Save and Share Committee includes: Alice Jackson, Ashley Mason, Bevin Tomlin, SSS Chair Emily Cotney, Cindy Bryan, Jennifer Dowdle, Melissa Galbraith, Tiffany Hill and Mary Susan Coder.

BIRMINGHAM

Shop, Save and Share Various Local Businesses Oct. 21-Nov. 1 The Junior League of Birmingham will hold the 10th annual Shop, Save and Share - a card that offers 20-percent

discounts at over 500 local retailers and restaurants benefitting the more than 30 JLB community projects.

Each card is $40 and can be purchased online at www. shopsaveshare.net or from a list of local self-selected retail partners. For more information, visit the website or call 8799861. ❖

will headline the concert. Tickets are $30 in advance. For more information, visit www.caskanddrum.com.

BIRMINGHAM

Sun., Oct. 18

Cask + Drum Avondale Brewing Company This music festival will begin at 11 HOOVER a.m. and benefits Magic Moments, Alabama NF Walk a wish-granting service exclusive to Replace youR pRongS, Veterans Park let Same day Ring Sizing! Alabama. claSp The eventiSSueS? will include wineuS help! not The second annual walk is youR StoneS! and craft beer tents and a kid’s zone.

205-769-6930 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 presented by the Alabama chapter 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery Warren Haynes and Perpetual Groove of the Children’s Tumor Foundation, hwy, vestavia hills an organization which strives to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by neurofibromatoses. Registration begins BIRMINGHAM at 12 p.m. and tickets are $20 for adults Fall Plant Sale and $10 for children ages 4-12. For Birmingham Botanical Gardens more information, visit www.ctf.org or Oct. 17-18 call (212) 344-6633 ext. 6691.

The gardens will host its annual fall sale in Blount Plaza from 9 HOMEWOOD jewelRy needS diamondS may be foReveR a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. and noon-4 maintenance too! but pRongS aRe not!

Parrots in the Park p.m. on Sun. Proceeds from the Patriot Park 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 sale benefit the gardens’ programs, 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery hwy,Parrot vestavia hills will The Alabama Rescue such as field trips and the on-site host an event for bird enthusiasts public library. For more information, and owners. Guests will learn more visit www.bbgardens.org or call about owning and caring for a parrot.

414-3950. ❖ This event is free and will begin at 12 p.m. For more information, visit www. alabamaparrotrescue.org. the students of the Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. in the banquet hall. The event will be held in honor of board-member Craig Beatty and includes a silent auction, HOOVER food and music. For more information, The Hoover Cup visit www.csalabama.org or call 769Inverness Country Club 0034.

The Hoover Parks and Recreation Foundation will hold its annual golf Mountain Brook tournament benefitting the foundation’s Keeping the Faith in Hollywood mission to advance the quality of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church recreational programs and facilities Saint Stephen’s Lecture Series in the City of Hoover. Registration is presents star of “The Middle” and $125 per individual or $500 for a team “Everybody Loves of four. The tournament will begin with Raymond” Emmy a shotgun start at 8 a.m. For more Award-winning actress information, visit www.hooveral.org or To: Alan Patricia Heaton, at 6 call 444-7765.

From: Over The Mountain Journal p.m. Admission is $10.

Date: August 2015 Heaton is a bestselling author whose book This is your AD prOOF for Over The MOunTAin JOurnAl for the “Motherhood and August 13, 2015 issue. please approve, initial and fax to 824-1246 or contact Hollywood -- How to Get A Job Like BIRMINGHAM your sales representative as soon as possible to make changes.

Mine” appeared on The New York Times Harvest of Hope best-sellers list. For more information Regions Field please initial and fax to 824-1246 within 24 hours.

The 12th annual fundraiser, benefiting visit www.ssechurch.org.

Mon., Oct. 19

Tues., Oct. 20

if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before the press date, your ad must run as is.

Thurs., Oct. 22 BIRMINGHAM

Wild and Scenic Film Festival Avon Theater The Alabama Rivers Alliance and the Alabama Environmental Council present the eighth annual film festival from 6-9 p.m. Guests in attendance will view a selection of films regarding environmental topics. Tickets are $25 and include refreshments. For more information, visit www.alabamarivers.org or call 322-6395.

BIRMINGHAM

Journey Into Dyslexia The Literacy Council Honoring the Alabama Dyslexia Advisory Council, the Literacy Council will host an informative presentation, reception and resource fair dedicated to dyslexia. The event will be held from 4:30-7 p.m. Guests are asked to RSVP to Steve Hannum at shannum@ literacy-council.org prior to attending the event. For more information, visit www. alliteracycouncil.wordpress.com or call 326-1925.

Save The date Sun., Oct. 25 BIRMINGHAM

Vulcan AfterTunes Vulcan Park and Museum For the third concert in the series presented by Vulcan Park and Saturn Birmingham, Dom Flemons will perform traditional folk music. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the concert begins at 3 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-12. For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com or call 933-1409.

Thurs., Oct. 29 MOUNTAIN BROOK

Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Gala Grand Bohemian Hotel The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund,

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 7

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

which has awarded over $1 million in college scholarships to veterans and children, will host a gala from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Alabama head football coach Nick Saban will serve as keynote speaker.

The evening will include cocktails, dinner and a live auction. Tickets are $250 each. For more information, visit www.johnnymac.org.

Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin will visit Bromberg’s in Mountain Brook Oct. 21, providing customers with an opportunity to meet the designer as he previews his newest collections.

will begin at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Brook teachers, students, administrators and parents will model clothing provided by local stores and boutiques. Individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.mtnbrookschoolsfoundation. com or call 414-0042. ❖

For More About Town visit:

otmj.com

HOMEWOOD

Photo special to the Journal

Memory and Values Samford University Wright Center Samford’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences will host MacArthur Foundation “Genius” award-winner Joan Breton Connelly for a free lecture on the Parthenon for the 2015 J. Roderick Davis Lecture. The event will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www. samford.edu/arts-and-sciences/ or call 982-0222.

Italian Designer Roberto Coin to Visit Bromberg’s

The Mountain Brook location of Bromberg’s will welcome Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin on Oct. 21. Coin’s special appearance will give customers the opportunity to meet the designer and peruse his latest jewelry collections.

According to a press release, Coin has been a member of the jewelry industry for more than 60 years. His repertoire covers multiple collections, including his signature Appassionata, Roberto Coin Cento Diamond and the newer Pois Moi, which can be

found in more than 400 stores nationwide. At the Bromberg’s event, Coin will present his latest collections: Tanaquilla, Pois Moi, Black Jade and New Barocca.

Coin’s Pois Moi collection is primarily gold and features modern patterns inspired by the shape of a 1950s television. As with each of his collections, each piece in Pois Moi contains a ruby hidden on the inside of the piece. According to Bromberg’s website, the hidden ruby is Coin’s secret gift to the women who wear his jewelry, granting them good wishes.

Coin will be present at Bromberg’s from 1-4 p.m. for the free event. For more information, visit www.brombergs.com or call 871-3276. ❖

Mon., Nov. 9 MOUNTAIN BROOK

Fashions for the Foundation Grand Bohemian Hotel The Shaeffer Eye Center Fashions for the Foundation, benefitting the Mountain Brook Schools Foundation,

2253 Chapel road

Completely Refinished From Top to Bottom!

All brand new and ready for you to move in.

Very Spacious home with gorgeous hardwood floors.

Move in Ready - Heart of Bluff Park!

For more information go to JamesHarwell.com

James Harwell

President, Bham Assoc. of Realtors

Insurance appraIsals for Jewelry 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills

Over the Mountain Office 1220 Alford Avenue • 205.281.4731

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an exciting new approach to memory care.

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James Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax speedy Jewelry Date: October appraIsals

The Garden AT DANBERRY MEMORY CARE. This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills october 8, 2015 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

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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.

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if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before the press date, your ad must run as is.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

8 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

about town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

By Kaitlin Candelaria

PediaTrick or Treat Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Mountain Brook residents should add some change to the candy bowl this year on All Hallow’s Eve. What started out as a school project has turned into a full-blown Halloween fundraiser for pediatric cancer awareness.

Last year, Sean Fridella and his Mountain Brook Junior High classmates were given an hour each week in English class to work on personal projects. The program, called Genius Hour, encourages students to think outside the box.

Fridella said many of his classmates focused on things like interior design, building model houses and designing guitars. But Fridella, who is a four-time pediatric cancer survivor, picked something a little closer to home.

“Pediatric cancer only gets 4 percent (of federal funding), which is a lot, but it’s not enough,” Fridella said. “Compared to breast cancer and other types of cancer who get so much more, it’s not enough. We want to raise awareness for this.”

The idea Fridella came up with is Pedia-Trick or Treat. He launched his Halloween campaign with a kick-off party on Sept. 27 in front of Snoozy’s Kids in Mountain Brook.

The party included a band, food provided by Urban Cookhouse and more information about the fundraising campaign, which will take

Mountain Brook Teen Cancer Survivor to Raise Money on Halloween

Brett Lewis and Sean Fridella are working with many other students at Mountain Brook Junior High to coordinate Pedia-Trick or Treat, a fundraising campaign in which children solicit donations while trick-or-treating.

Fall Fun The Over the Mountain area is buzzing, preparing for falling leaves, cooler air and the spookiest holiday of the year! Whether it’s a fall festival that tickles your fancy or an afternoon picking the perfect pumpkin, there’s no shortage of events ushering in the fall season. Visit www.otmj.com for more events.

place Oct. 31.

“We had donations and T-shirt sales (at the kick-off party) but now we have to keep it going within the community,” said Nell Fridella, Sean’s mother. “We want all the kids to get their T-shirts and all the money we raise will go to pediatric cancer research at

Children’s of Alabama.”

Children who want to participate can begin by going to Mountain Brook Sporting Goods, buying a $15 T-shirt and picking up boxes, which the Fridellas are designing. Then on Halloween while trick-or-treating, they simply ask people to contribute loose change they may have laying

around.

Sean says several of the larger Mountain Brook Halloween parties also will have boxes where people can contribute to the cause. On Nov. 1, everyone can bring their donation to Emmet O’Neal Library at 2 p.m.

Sean said he was inspired by Relay for Life when planning the

Participants will have the opportunity to enter their designs into a pumpkinpainting contest. Entries will be accepted until Oct. 30. For more information, visit www. hooverlibrary.org or call 444-7830.

benefitting Grace House will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event will include pumpkins, games, music, food and more. Tickets are $10 and include one pumpkin. For more information, visit www.ghpumpkinfest.com or call 786-4663.

celebration will include a farmer’s market, craft fair, petting zoo, hay rides, music, inflatables and more. Jim ‘N Nick’s and various food trucks will provide food. For more information, visit www.mtlaurel.com or call 408-8696.

Sat., Oct. 17

NORTH SHELBY

HOMEWOOD

Pumpkin Festival Homewood Central Park A pumpkin patch and fall festival

Oct. 9-31

BIRMINGHAM

Boo at the Zoo The Birmingham Zoo Wells Fargo will present this year’s Boo at the Zoo from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 9-11, 16-18 and 23-31. This year, the event will feature a new Skeleton Skate ice rink. Guests can bring their own skates or rent a pair for $1.50. Attendance will be $5 for the first weekend. Unlimited ride bands can be purchased for $15. For more information, visit www. birminghamzoo.com or call 879-0409.

Sun., Oct. 18

VESTAVIA HILLS

Vestavia Hills Pumpkin Patch Alston Meadows Park The Vestavia Hills Civitan Club will host their annual pumpkin patch from 1-4 p.m. in Liberty Park. The event will include food, games and trick-ortreating. For more information, contact Bob Elliott at 296-6741.

See fall fun, page 10

Homewood Witches Set to Ride Again

VESTAVIA HILLS

Photo special to the Journal

Scary Movie Night Library in the Forest The library will screen scary movies for teens from 4-6 p.m. Guests will get to choose the movies and snacks will be provided. For more information, visit www.vestavialibrary.org or call 9780155.

Pumpkin Painting Event Hoover Library Guests are invited to bring pumpkins to the Library at 6:30 p.m. to decorate in the Children’s Programming room.

Fall Fun Fest Oak Mountain Elementary The OES Parent-Teacher organization will host a festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will include inflatables, hay rides, a pumpkin patch and more. College football games will be played on large screen TVs. Admission to the festival is $13 and

benefit education improvements at Oak Mountain Elementary School. For more information, visit www.omespto. wordpress.com.

Witch Way

Tues., Oct. 13

HOOVER

Fall Festival Mt Laurel The town of Mt Laurel will host a fall festival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The

OAK MOUNTAIN

fundraiser.

“It’s a great fundraiser and it’s so much fun and it’s a great thing for the community, but it’s in the spring,” Sean said. “That money goes to a national organization, but this money stays local. This money goes straight to the hospital.”

Sean has a board of his peers helping him plan the fundraiser, including Brett Lewis, who is working to promote the event through social media using the hashtag #morethanfour, which is often used in conjunction with childhood cancer awareness and refers to the lack of federal funding.

Sean also is honoring a fellow classmate who is battling childhood cancer. The purple and yellow ribbons that went up around the city of Mountain Brook earlier this year to support Sid Ortis in his battle with cancer are reminiscent of the royal blue ribbons that decorated the mailboxes around the city years ago when Sean was battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

As a part of the campaign, the T-shirts the children will be wearing will have yellow childhood cancer ribbons on them – one that says “Sean Strong” and one that says “Sid Strong.”

“I think the most important thing is the awareness and the fact that pediatric cancer gets such little funding,” Sean said. “That’s what we’re trying to change.” ❖

Daphne Dickinson and Janie Ford Mayer at last year’s ride.

On Oct. 30, the witches of Homewood will take “flight.” But instead of barring your gates and locking your doors, you’re invited to take your children to watch their annual bike ride through the city.

This year’s Homewood Witches Ride will start at a new location. The ride will begin at Homewood Central Park at 5:45 p.m. Homewood Police officers will be along the route to make sure both the witches and watchers are safe.

This year, children can catch candy in designated zones, which can be seen at www.homewoodwitchesride.org. Children and their parents also can enjoy food trucks and a silent auction.

The Homewood Witches Ride started three years ago after Homewood resident Janie Mayer lost her mother, Paula Stringfellow Ford, to lung cancer. She started the ride with her friends as a fun way to honor her mother’s outgoing spirit and courageous battle. After a massive turnout, Mayer began partnering with the American Cancer Society, and now all money raised is donated to lung cancer research.

Women from all over are invited to decorate their bikes, dress up like a witch and join the ride. The participation fee is $20 and witches must register online. Awards will be given for best “broom,” best witch and best pre-party.

For more information, visit the website or the event’s Facebook page. ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 9

10 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

about town/people

fall fun,

Oliver Named Chair of USLAW Board of Directors

From page 8

Wed., Oct. 21

Sat., Oct. 24

Nightmare on Oak Street Emmet O’Neal Library This year, the library’s annual 18-andup horror double-feature will begin at 5

A pumpkin patch and fall festival benefitting Grace House will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Homewood Central Park on Oct. 17. p.m. Dinner will be served and there will be a ten-minute intermission between films. This event is free, but RSVP is required. For more information, email hwesley@bham.lib.al.us or call 4451117.

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Puppaween Dog Days of Birmingham Bama Bully Rescue and Dog Days will honor National Pit Bull Awareness Day from 1-4 p.m. with a Halloweenthemed carnival. Guests can purchase $1 tickets to spend on attractions including a moon walk, bean-bag toss, raffles and more. For more information, visit the Puppaween Facebook event page.

Wed., Oct. 28 HOOVER

One Big Party Christian Life Church Christian Life Church will host its second annual fall festival from 5:308:30 p.m. The event will include food, inflatables, a performance by seven-time world champion jump rope master Peter Nestler and more. This event is free to the public. For more information, visit

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Thurs., Oct. 29 HOOVER

Hoover Hayride Veterans Park The city of Hoover will host a free family night from 5-8 p.m. The event will include hayrides around the park, free candy and giveaways from Hoover Chamber members, balloon artists, face painting and more. Complimentary shuttle rides will transport guests from Spain Park High School to the park. For more information, visit www. hooveralabama.gov or call 444-7500.

Fri., Oct. 30 BIRMINGHAM

Howls and Growls Iron City The Greater Birmingham Humane Society Auxiliary will host an event featuring The Black Jacket Symphony performing Michael Jackson’s Thriller album at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 and include an open bar with beer and wine all night. VIP tickets are available and grant access to a VIP Lounge and special entrance with a fully stocked open bar. For more information, visit www.ironcitybham.com or call 202-5483.

Hereford Joins Prefect Board at Woodberry Forest School L. McCracken “Mac” Hereford of Mountain Brook is serving in one of the highest leadership positions at Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry Forest, Virginia. Hereford, a senior, is a member of the Prefect Board, which is responsible for administering the student-run honor system. According to school officials, this is “one of Woodberry’s most important traditions.”

In addition to introducing new students to the honor system, through which all Woodberry students pledge not to lie, cheat or steal, Hereford will serve as a mentor to younger students and L. McCracken (Mac) assists with Hereford dormitory supervision. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Hereford of Mountain Brook.

Now in its 127th year, Woodberry Forest School is a boarding community for boys in grades 9-12.

BIRMINGHAM

BOO Halloween Party B&A Warehouse This annual Halloween party will begin at 8 p.m. and benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Alabama. Entertainment includes music from the M-80’s in the Brick Room, DJ Mark AD in the Disco Clown Circus Wine Cellar, a Scaryoke Chamber of Karaoke and a new Horror Movie Lounge. A midnight costume contest will include more than $1,000 in cash prizes. There will be an entrance fee of $25. For more information, visit www. boohalloweenparty.com.

Sat., Oct. 31

MOUNTAIN BROOK

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Thomas L. Oliver II of Vestavia Hills has been named chairman of the 201516 USLAW Network board of directors.

The announcement was made at the network’s annual membership meeting, held in Boston.

USLAW is an international organization composed of nearly 100 independent, full-practice firms with roots in civil litigation, including more than 6,000 Thomas L. Oliver II attorneys covering the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Oliver, a founding shareholder at Carr Allison, served as vice chairman for 2014-15 and has held several leadership roles within the network, including serving as chair of USLAW’s transportation and professional liability committees.

Oliver is a trial attorney specializing in complex matters involving transportation, employment and professional litigation. He developed the firm’s “go team” and coordinates catastrophic accident investigations for various transportation clients. Oliver also assists in the national coordinating counsel program for transportation claims for one of the nation’s largest

insurers.

Additionally, Oliver is designated as regional and statewide counsel for numerous companies and their insurers.

Mystics of Mountain Brook Crestline Village The annual Mystics of Mountain Brook parade will roll out at 4 p.m.

Spectators will have the opportunity to catch some goodies such as koozies, stuffed animals, T-shirts and more. This event is free and open to the public.

Those who are interested in participating in the parade can contact the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce at 8713779. For more information, visit the Mystics of Mountain Brook Facebook page. ❖

Photo special to the Journal

Studio 1221 Library in the Forest During this session of Studio 1221, guests will meet in the treehouse to learn how to make their own Halloween decorations, creating crystal ball candlesticks.This event is free and snacks will be served. For more information, visit www.vestavialibrary.org or call 978-0155.

Photo special to the Journal

VESTAVIA HILLS

MOUNTAIN BROOK

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Hoover Student Granted Scholarship to Study Ballet, Language in Russia Katherine Free, a student at Hoover High School, was chosen for a merit-based scholarship from the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the American Councils for International Education.

Free trained for three weeks in Manhattan under instructors from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and worked to master the Russian language. She spent six weeks in Russia studying ballet and taking four hours of Russian languages each day.

Evenings were reserved for cultural activities and weekends were spent enjoying time with her host family.

Free competed for and won the NSLI-Y scholarship, which allows students to learn less commonly taught languages in overseas immersion programs, according to a NSLI press release. She then applied for a program in which the NSLI-Y works in conjunction with the Russian American Foundation and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Free is the first student from Hoover to be selected since the ballet program’s creation in 2006. She dances at the Birmingham Ballet and is one of only three students from Alabama who have been chosen for the program. ❖

Fountain of Memories Altamont Student Raises Money for Fountain to Honor Uncle

Arjun Lakhanpal was inspired by his uncle’s death, but more importantly by the way he lived his life, to raise funds for a fountain on Jemison Trail.

Sundeep Caplash, a Mountain Brook resident, was struck and killed by an off-duty Mountain Brook police officer in 2011 while running along Montevallo Road. He was busy training for his first Mercedes Marathon, a goal he had set for himself recently, after taking up jogging.

When grieving his death, Lakhanpal and his family decided to complete the Mercedes Marathon in memory of Caplash. More than 120 people ran the marathon in his memory in 2011.

Lakhanpal, a junior at The Altamont School, and many members of his family continued running even after completing the marathon.

Lakhanpal came up with the idea for his “fountain of memories” one afternoon while running on the Jemison Trail.

“I had just finished my run and realized that I had forgotten my water bottle at home,” he said. “How I wished there was a fountain there and not half a mile away! That’s when the idea came to my head.”

Lakhanpal approached the Mountain Brook Parks and Recreation Board in July with his idea. The board

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Arjun Lakhanpal raised more than $6,000 in memory of his uncle to install another fountain like the one pictured above on Jemison Trail in Mountain Brook.

approved the fountain of memories and Lakhanpal set to work creating a GoFundMe page where people could donate in memory of Caplash.

The $6,000 needed to install a new fountain was raised in only four hours.

“This was once again a testament to the impact my uncle had

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 11

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

on people’s lives,” Lakhanpal said.

“Running was only one part of my uncle’s life. His kind, thoughtful nature and his willingness to always help others was another important part of his life. So, I thought by having this water fountain installed, I would continue his legacy of helping people, whether it be runners like us or anyone else wanting to quench their thirst.”

The fountain has been ordered and will be installed upon arrival.

Lakhanpal is thankful and amazed at the support he has received from the community. He also credits the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Program at Altamont for instilling him with valuable leadership experience. It was through working in the program, he said, that he was able to discover his personal passion for having the fountain installed.

Insurance appraIsals “My uncle’s loving nature and his for life motto of ‘I Jewelry never met a stranger’ is what compelled people to donate 619 Montgomery hwy, hills so much so quickly,” hevestavia said. “There were 750 people at his funeral – even the Starbucks staff that served him coffee after his morning runs came to his funeral. He made an impact on so many people in his short life span.” ❖

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Faye Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax September 24th

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Maury please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

Over The Mountain Journal If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, Oct. 2015 your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

This is your aD prOOF for Over The MOunTain JOurnal for the Oct. 8, 2015 issue. please approve, initial and fax to 824-1246 or contact your sales representative as soon as possible to make changes.

please initial and fax to 824-1246 within 24 hours. if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before the press date, your ad must run as is.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Moving Forward u vestavia hills

By Ana Good Three years after it was first imagined, the new Vestavia Hills City Hall will open its doors Oct. 13 at 4 p.m.

The grand opening celebration at 1032 Montgomery Highway will feature an inaugural “High Notes” concert presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, performances by groups from Vestavia Hills City Schools, an activities area for children and a cookout. The five-hour event also will serve as a Community Night Out by the Vestavia Hills Police Department.

ABC 33/40’s James Spann will provide a live weather forecast from the building’s balcony.

The event will be open to the public, said City Manager Jeff Downes.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the night’s festivities. Tours of the 57,000-squarefoot City Hall Complex will be hosted by the Vestavia Belles. City staff representatives also will be on hand in each department to welcome visitors.

The winning works of the “A Life Above” photo contest will be on display on the second floor of the building. According to a city of Vestavia Hills news release, more than 70 participants submitted photo entries to showcase the “beauty of Vestavia Hills.”

The upcoming reception is the first in what the city hopes to be an ongoing tradition at the complex, described in

the news release as a “cultural center for the community beyond functionality as facilities for municipal government.”

This inaugural High Notes concert also will be ASO Music Director Carlos Izcaray’s first community performance in the city. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. with an ASO rendition of the national anthem accompanied by a student soloist from Vestavia Hills High School. A local Boy Scout group will raise the flags above the green of City Hall for the first time.

The building, designed by Birmingham-based Williams Blackstock Architects, was planned to service both city employees and residents equally.

A new city hall, said Mayor Butch Zaragoza, is a necessary step in helping the city move forward. The current City Hall, just down the road from the new one, has been around since 1953.

The new complex includes two buildings. One, approximately 29,000 square feet, serves as the main City Hall building and houses administration offices, fire, public safety, city clerk, finance, IT, City Council chambers and a work session room. The other, approximately 28,000 square feet, houses the city’s police and courts.

Tomlin Excavating worked to prepare the site of the former Food World and Joe’s Ranch House for the complex’s construction. B.L. Harbert

Journal photo by Ana Good

Vestavia Hills to Open City Hall, Host High Notes Concert Oct. 13

Vestavia Hills Mayor Alberto Zaragoza (left) and City Manager Jeff Downes tour the new City Hall Complex as it nears completion.

served as the project’s construction manager.

The grand opening celebration will be held from 4-9 p.m. The area’s surrounding business have partnered with the city to help ease parking concerns.

Sections of the road servicing City Hall and the Vestavia Plaza shopping center will be closed to accommodate the anticipated crowd. Four shuttles will run continuously between City Hall and the designated parking areas.

The parking map, event schedule, sponsor information and more can be found at www.vhal.org/high-notes. ❖

‘A Life Above’ Contest Photos to be Displayed A selection of the more than 70 photos submitted to the “A Life Above” photo contest will be displayed in the new Vestavia Hills City Hall when it opens.

The photos were judged by a team of professional photographers, city officials and a representative of the interior designer on the city hall project.

David Leong was awarded 1st Place in the professional category for his “Pizitz Cheerleaders on Golf Course,” and Ken Gables took 2nd Place for “Reese Field.”

Larry Durham took 1st Place in the adult category for “Sibyl Temple in a Cloud of Hydrangeas,” and Alan Bates took 2nd Place for “View from the Sky.” Arjun Lakhanpal took 1st Place in the student category for “Future of Vestavia Hills,” and Elizabeth Nance took second place for “Color Me Relay.”

First place winners received $300 for the professional category, $150 for the adult category and $50 for the student category. ❖

u homewood

Trinity and Oakmont Churches to Merge One church, two campuses. That is the motto two United Methodist Churches in Homewood recently adopted to lead them through an upcoming transitional phase.

This month, Trinity and Oakmont United Methodist churches will begin merging the congregations.

In September, the church councils of both Trinity and Oakmont voted in favor of the merger, one that would leave both the campuses intact under the formal leadership of Trinity.

Oakmont’s campus pastor, the Rev. Jack Hinnen, said the merger will allow the churches to accomplish more in the name of God together than they would have been able to accomplish separately. As churches nationwide see declining memberships, Hinnen said the belief is that joining the two churches will create a stronger tie to the community. Hinnen said the Oakmont campus recently has seen a decline in church memberships, despite the church’s 60-year history in

Journal photo by Emily Williams

By Ana Good

“We are all in this together. This isn’t just about ‘saving Oakmont.’ The merge will benefit Trinity as well.”

Rev. Brian Erickson, Trinity United Methodist Church

Homewood.

“We hope to be able to grow and serve West Homewood,” said Hinnen.

“We want to be a healthier congrega-

tion, one that is thriving instead of just trying to survive.”

Trinity’s Rev. Brian Erickson said the merge will be mutually beneficial,

representative of the Methodist mentality.

“Methodists are a very connected people,” he said. “We are all in this together. This isn’t just about ‘saving Oakmont.’ The merge will benefit Trinity as well.”

Erickson, who has been at Trinity’s helm since 2014, grew up as a child in the church. Through the years, he said, he also has seen Trinity have its ups and downs.

“With our resources and reach added together, we will work and operate as one church, with two expressions,” Erickson said.

Eventually, Erickson said he’d like to see Oakmont’s traditionally older population mingle with Trinity’s younger congregation.

“We will still continue to provide excellent Sunday school classes, student ministry and, of course, excellent worship services,” he said. “We’d also like to expand service-oriented ministry on both campuses.”

For Hinnen, it’s about continuing to connect with current members and expanding beyond that. Oakmont’s successes, he said, are directly attributable to the “incredible leadership” that has helped the church maintain its presence in Homewood. In the future,

he’d like to see that continue.

“We’ve been here for 60 years now,” Hinnen said. “We want to make sure we are here for another 60 years and we believe partnering with Trinity is the way to accomplish that.”

In the coming months, the Oakmont campus will undergo some renovations. Hinnen said that come January, the church will be ready to welcome a new year and a new beginning. ❖

u hoover

Hillary Clinton to Speak to ADC Convention Oct. 17

The Hyatt Regency Birmingham -The Wynfrey Hotel will play host to 2016 presidential candidate and Democratic Party front-runner Hillary Clinton on Oct. 17.

Clinton will serve as the keynote speaker for the Alabama Democratic Conference’s convention, which begins Oct. 16.

Conference Chairman Joe Reed said Clinton most likely will be speaking to issues such as the controversy over minimum wage and immigration, along with other issues from her campaign platform. ❖

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 13

news

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u mountain brook

Smith’s Variety Will Move to Crestline Before the Holidays

By Ana Good Smith’s Variety aficionados will be able to shop at the toy and gift shop’s new Crestline Village location months before originally expected.

Owner Jim Glazner said he expects the move to take place before the holidays, at the end of October, instead of in January. Glazner said he received final approval for the new space from Mountain Brook’s building inspector this week.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” Glazner said.

At its new location, Smith’s Variety will be neighbors with the new Piggly Wiggly in Crestline. Smith’s will move into the space previously occupied by CVS/pharmacy at 49 Church St. CVS vacated that space to move into what was once the Crestline Piggly Wiggly. u mountain brook

Aware Mountain Brook Meets to Discuss Suicide

The grass-roots group Aware Mountain Brook will host a fall meeting Oct. 13 featuring guest speaker and self-proclaimed “survivor of suicide” Mary Turner of Tuscaloosa.

At age 16, Turner came in contact with suicide on a personal level through the loss of her father. Unable to answer why her father ended his life, Turner said she turned to alcohol to deal with the frustration and sadness she felt.

“I began to drink and tried to numb the pain that his death caused,” Turner said.

At age 27, she entered recovery, worked through her issues and went on to marry and have two children. Soon afterward her mother took her own life.

Her brother did the same years later.

With the support of her husband, Turner began attending a “survivors of suicide” support group in Birmingham and began a group in Tuscaloosa.

u hoover

School Rezoning at Issue in Upcoming Meetings Hoover City School Superintendent Kathy Murphy began a series of community meetings on school rezoning this week.

The purpose of the meetings is to share the need for zoning in certain areas and get the community’s opinions.

“Rezoning is one of those conversations no one really wants to have,” Murphy said. “It is, however, something we’re going to have to look at. It is something that has to happen.

We have a number of our schools that are overutilized or at least near capacity while other schools are much less utilized. So we need to make sure we have a fair distribution of our students.”

Two of those schools are Deer Valley Elementary, which is overutilized, and Trace Crossing Elementary, which is underutilized, school officials say.

Former School Superintendent Andy Craig last year proposed a rezoning plan that would have affected several single-family residential neighborhoods.

Smith’s move will coincide with the much anticipated return of the Crestline Pig, which closed in November 2013. Piggly Wiggly owner Andy Virciglio said he expects the Crestline store to open in mid-to-late March 2016, with a worst-case opening in April. “(Smith’s) will be right next to the Pig,” said Glazner. “It’s the perfect location.”

Smith’s Variety has been serving the Mountain Brook community and beyond for more than 65 years. It has occupied its current space in Mountain Brook Village since 1963. The store features aisles of gifts, candy by the pound, stationary, ribbon by the yard, housewares and monogrammed items.

The Mountain Brook Village location will remain open through midDecember, offering overflow Christmas “I knew of many people in my town that had similar experiences like me,” Turner said. “I felt if I could start a group in Tuscaloosa we could reach some smaller surrounding counties as well.”

Turner said that she found solace in the ability to talk openly about her feelings.

“We have to let people know they are not alone,” Turner said. This is the reason Turner supports the work of the Aware group and its push for open discussion.

“We need to remove the stigma in regards to mental illness so people will not be ashamed to talk about their depression and seek help,” Turner said. “We must educate people to look for warning signs, what to do if you know someone is depressed and give possible resources.”

Aware’s fall meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Crestline Elementary School Field. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.

—Emily Williams But after Craig left in December for a job with the State Department of Education, the rezoning proposal was put on the backburner. When Murphy took over as superintendent in June, she said she would revisit the issue but seek community comments.

The first rezoning meeting was held recently at Brock’s Gap Intermediate.

The other meetings are: • Oct. 8, 6:45 p.m., at Hunter Street Baptist Church for parents with children at Trace Crossing and South Shades Crest Elementary, Bumpus Middle and Hoover High schools.

• Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m., at Deer Valley Elementary School for parents with children at Deer Valley Elementary.

• Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m., at Green Valley Baptist Church for parents with children at Bluff Park, Green Valley, Gwin, Shades Mountain Elementary and Simmons Middle schools.

• Nov. 12, 7 p.m., at Metropolitan Church of God for parents with children at Greystone, Riverchase, Rocky Ridge Elementary schools, Berry Middle and Spain Park High School. ­—William C. Singleton III

merchandise, sale and clearance items that will not be sold at the new store.

Glazner said he hopes to complete the move in such a way that the store will have to be closed for only one day.

“People depend on us,” he said. “We will do everything we can to be up and running immediately.”

Glazner said he will make sure the

public has plenty of advance notice before the store closes for the move.

When news of the move was announced in a news release in March, the decision was attributed to the upcoming changes in Mountain Brook Village and the development of Lane Parke.

“We have been looking and praying

for a place to move within close proximity to our current home,” the release stated. “When Austin Blair of LAH Commercial Realtors presented us with the opportunity to stay in Mountain Brook and be right next to a much loved new local grocery store, we jumped at the chance. He, along with Tim Blair of Shannon Waltchack, who represents the landlord, worked together to make this happen.”

Smith’s Variety is currently located at 2715 Culver Rd in Mountain Brook.

It can be reached at 871-0841. ❖

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14 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u vestavia Hills

By Ana Good

which is in the floodplain of the Cahaba River, to build a public park complete with athletic fields and exercise trails. Current park plans show the city intends to build a canoe launch into the Cahaba, a kid’s play structure, soccer fields, lacrosse and football fields and fields for youth softball or baseball. Because the proposed park sits in the Cahaba floodplain, structures must be limited to flood-resistant bathrooms.

Keith Development Company would develop some of the remaining acres into a gated community of 66 single-family homes, with separate parcels designated for possible commercial development. Any commercial development would be subject to further approvals.

Plans for the property ramped up

when the country club closed its doors in May. The city then moved forward The former Altadena Country Club with a series of traffic studies, floodproperty is now in the city of Vestavia plain surveys and site designs.

Hills.

As the studies and plans for The City Council voted Sept. 28 the area’s redevelopment became to rezone and annex the former counmore detailed, said City Manager try club, though some work continJeff Downes, residents of the area ues behind the scenes to finish plan expressed some resistance. details.

“If you were to look at the various Plans for developing the 122-acre concerns that are being expressed by property involve a public/private partour residents,” he said in a previous nership between Keith Development, interview, “traffic issues are concern Vestavia Hills and the property ownnumber one.” ers.

Downes said residents in the As part of the deal, the city will Altadena area worry that, because receive approximately 65 acres as a of where the development’s proposed donation. The city will use its land, access point is, on Lakeland Trail, Front, from left: Jack Chapman, Jack Thomas, Davis Echols, William Carlton traffic congestion and accidents will and Hinson Estes. Back: Grace Stewart, Davis Condra, Stephen Springfield, worsen.

Ann Elise Leonard, James Morano and Ella Kate Wright.

Since the planning commission meeting in August, Downes said, the u Mountain Brook OUR 118 YEAR city has been working around-theBIRMINGHAM TRUNK clock to find a better solution.

“We are actively negotiating a Luggage western entrance to the property,” he Business Cases said, “which we now know is the preLeather goods ferred option.”

Crestline Elementary School was named one of 335 National Blue Ribbon Keith Development has pRongS, a tentaReplace youR gifts claSp iSSueS? let uS help!

Schools for 2015 by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Same day Ring Sizing! not youR StoneS! tive agreement to purchase property Mon.-Sat. 10-5 “It’s an honor that the U.S. Department of Education recognized us for our 2712 19th Street South, hoMewood 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 along Acton Road205-769-6930 that could make 870-0971 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619aMontgomery hwy, vestavia room for western entrance, con- hillsvision and commitment to excellence in providing an effective, challenging and engaging education for firmed Downes. Goodwyn, Mills & every one of our students,” said CES Principal Laurie ‘It’s an honor that Cawood will design the alternatively the U.S. Department King. of Education recproposed site entrance on the west The award is given to public and private elemenognized us for our side of the park. tary, middle and high schools each year based on vision and commitAn entrance on the west side of the their overall academic excellence or their progress ment to excellence in property would be closer to Interstate in closing achievement gaps among the subgroups in providing an effec459 and would keep drivers away students. Crestline Elementary was first awarded the tive, challenging and engaging education from the hairpin turn on Acton Road National Blue Ribbon during the 2000-2001 school for every one of our that isbe prone to accidents. jewelRy needS diamondS may foReveR year. Although National Blue Ribbon School status students.’ maintenance too! but pRongS aRe not!

Downes said solving the entryway never expires, schools are eligible for nomination 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 issues will help resolve almost all of every 10 years.

619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills King and Assistant Principal Josh Watkins will attend the Blue Ribbon recthe public’s concerns.

Timelines for the plan, expected to ognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November, where they will receive an award plaque and a flag. ❖ take place in phases, remain fluid. ❖ TH

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Crestline Elementary Named Blue Ribbon School

Photo special to the Journal

City Council Agrees to Annex, Rezone Altadena Country Club

u homewood

Youth Drug Prevention Coalition Receives Grant

By Kaitlin Candelaria

The Safe and Healthy Homewood Coalition recently received a grant for more than $600,000 to prevent youth substance abuse in the community.

The coalition was jump started by Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland and Leigh Cohen Long, the behavior and intervention specialist for Homewood High School, three years ago.

“This is (Cohen Long’s) passion,” said Carissa Anthony, staff partner and prevention/coalition coordinator. She said Cohen Long was able to see the need for such a program in her day-to-day work, and Cleveland, being passionate about the Homewood community, agreed.

“I got to enter the scene with this great group of volunteers assembled and we’ve done quite a bit over the past two and a half years, but we’ve had to do it without funding,” Anthony said. “Now, this grant gives us the ability to really take it to the next level and do prevention like we haven’t been able to do before.”

Now, the Homewood City School district takes the lead on the program along with about 50 volunteers representing all 12 sectors of Homewood.

The grant is one of almost 700 provided by the office of national drug control policy totaling more than $86 million. According to a press release, the grants “will provide local community coalitions funding to prevent youth substance use, including prescription drugs, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol.”

The Safe and Healthy Homewood Coalition will receive the money over the next five years. The group currently focuses on three media campaigns combating marijuana, alcohol and prescription drugs.

“Those are the areas where we see the most concerning data,” Anthony said. “We also focus on tobacco as well. We don’t have any local assessment data on e-cigarette usage for our community, but certainly nationwide, that’s also becoming a huge problem.”

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 15

news

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The new funding will be used to support current programs, such as peer helpers, in the middle school and high school while also filling in the gaps in the prevention curriculum.

“The Homewood City Schools’ plan has a prevention curriculum for grades K-12 and we’ve been about to make a lot of that happen without funding, so now we’re going to focus on filling in the gaps,” Anthony said.

“We can now purchase a curriculum that’s evidence-based and also provide training on that curriculum.”

She said the coalition also still will host safe and positive events for teens while continuing to do more community outreach and more parent education activities.

One such event will be the upcoming Pills to Needles: A Pathway to Addiction program at the Homewood Board of Education building Oct. 9.

The event, which starts at 8 a.m., focuses on the link between teen abuse of pain pills and abuse of heroin down the line. The program will be moderated by Paul DeMarco and will include a panel featuring Brandon Falls, district attorney, Susan Brawley, a local mother who lost a son to a heroin overdose, and Angela Camp from Bradford Health Services.

“This is actually a repeat of a program we did two years ago and we want to continue to bring awareness to the issue of prescription drug abuse and how that can in some cases lead to heroin abuse,” Anthony said.

“Oftentimes, when we see someone’s addiction go down the path of heroin

use, there’s a high overdose and death rate. However, for the youth, the issue remains prescription drugs.”

Anthony said parents frequently ask her if community kids are abusing heroin.

“Our data doesn’t indicate that, but nationwide there is a problem with kids abusing prescription drugs, and that can be deadly, too,” she said.

“There’s this misnomer that heroin is so deadly and if you take that step you could die, but the truth is we have adults and children who overdose on prescriptions and that is the number one killer. Taking a medicine that isn’t prescribed to you is a serious risk and that’s what led us to host this

program. Obviously we need kids to know the risks, but we also have to make parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and anyone who might have prescription drugs in their home aware.”

Anthony said that if you have prescription drugs in your home, it’s always important to make sure you keep them in a secure location, monitor their levels and discard them when you’re done with them.

Since its inception, the coalition has been tracking data across the community on drug, alcohol and tobacco use among teens.

“We focus a lot on parents and parenting awareness because parents

still to this day have more influence than any other person,” Anthony said.

“Kids might act like they don’t want to talk about it and they don’t want rules and boundaries, but they really do. It makes them feel safer and creates a sense of security when you communicate clear expectations to them. Parents don’t need to forget how important they are.”

The Safe and Healthy Homewood Coalition meets each month at the Board of Education building and is open to anyone who’s interested in volunteering. For more information, visit www.homewood.k12.al.us. or email canthony@homewood.k12. al.us. ❖

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life

16 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Health focus

By Kaitlin Candelaria

‘It’s been challenging.

But I think it’s been the most rewarding thing that I could have done to channel the most difficult thing in my life. It will make a difference in this community and for moms and babies all over the place.’

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Homewood resident Mary Michael Kelley never knew about the need for a milk bank in Alabama until her own personal tragedy brought the issue to the forefront.

After losing one child shortly after birth and almost losing another, Kelley was more than aware not only that there were infants who needed milk, but also that there were mothers who needed or wanted to donate it.

Kelley, executive director of the Community Food Bank in Homewood, set out to establish the state’s first milk bank to collect, pasteurize and distribute breast milk.

Mother’s Milk will be distributing its first batch of milk to hospitals in the Birmingham area at the end of this month, and it already has established two other outlets in the state.

“Critically ill infants have much better health outcomes when they receive breast milk,” said Katherine Wood, program coordinator for Mother’s Milk. “I’m a nurse and I have a master’s in public health as well, so this is a nice intersection of nursing and looking at how do you affect the health of a population.”

Just a few years ago, Kelley had no idea that donated breast milk was even an issue.

After a normal and healthy pregnancy, she gave birth to her first son in 2009. Soon after his birth, she and her husband were surprised but excited to find out they were expecting again – this time, a little girl. They named her Kathryn and began waiting patiently to take home their bundle of joy.

Unfortunately, Kathryn never made it home. At about 27 weeks, Kelley started noticing she was much larger than normal. Although doctors originally brushed it off, by the time she went in for her 32-week appointment, they immediately called for an ultrasound due to her alarming size.

“They discovered Kathryn had non-immune fetal hydrops,” Kelley said. “It’s a complication of pregnancy that basically indicates that the baby is in heart failure and can’t manage his or her fluid.”

The cause of the baby’s condition was unknown, but Kelley and her husband were told to prepare for the worst. At 36 weeks, Kelley was the size of someone carrying quadruplets, and doctors decided to deliver. Doctors at UAB Hospital worked vigilantly and Kathryn fought hard, but the Kelley’s lost their baby girl 12 days after she was born.

“At that point, I had pumped my breast milk religiously every two to four hours when she was in the NICU,” Kelley said. “After Kathryn passed away, the bereavement nurse called me and asked what I wanted to do with it. She said that normally she would have told me to donate it to a nonprofit milk bank, but, unfortunately, we didn’t have one of those here.”

Although Kelley said she could have opted to mail the milk to an outof-state milk bank, the process is dif-

“With my first baby, we had a hard time starting off breast feeding, so I ended up having an oversupply with her,” Hillyer said. “This is my second baby. I found out about (Mother’s Milk) through a really great support group through the East Alabama Medical Center and I started pumping

Mary Michael Kelley

Program Coordinator Katherine Wood and Executive Director Mary Michael Kelley in front of their “donor wall” which has pictures of mothers in the area they’ve worked with.

Mother’s Milk

Homewood Mother Uses Personal Tragedy to Enrich the Community ficult and complicated.

“When you’re burying your child and going through all that entails and going through each day as numb as you can, it’s not on the forefront of your mind to go through this entire in-depth process,” Kelley said. “I finally told them to throw it away and that was hard. It wasn’t hard because of how hard I had worked for it, but because of what it represented. It was a piece of her.”

Revisiting the NICU

About a year later, Kelley and her husband decided to try again for another baby. But halfway through the pregnancy, the baby began showing the exact same symptoms.

“It was like reliving your worst nightmare,” Kelley said. Her son also was diagnosed with non-immune fetal hydrops. Kelley and her baby boy, Micah, underwent risky procedures to alleviate the fluid on his lungs while in utero before a placental abruption caused an emergency C-section. Micah was born on the night of Thanksgiving in 2012 at only 27 weeks.

“He didn’t let out a single cry,” Kelley said. “They told us to prepare for him not to survive the day. But he did. We had a number of close, close calls, but Micah was extremely stubborn.”

During Micah’s eight-month stay in the NICU, the need for a local milk bank once again made itself evident in Kelley’s life.

“I started having more of this conversation with doctors and nurses about the need for a donor breast milk bank in the area,” Kelley said. “It was overwhelming to me that everyone was in agreement that we needed one, but we didn’t have one.”

Mother’s Milk is Born

At that time, Kelley was the emerging executive director of the Community Food Bank in Homewood.

She approached the board with her vision of creating a milk bank within the food bank.

“When it gets down to it, a food bank specializes in soliciting, receiving and distributing a product, which is exactly what a milk bank does,” Kelley said. “I was lucky enough to have a board that supported the relationship between the two.”

The Community Food Bank then began pursuing community partners.

Opening a milk bank can be a costly operation and involves proper equipment and space.

“We started having conversations with the Birmingham Community Foundation and the Junior League and after that, everything just clicked,” Kelley said. Mother’s Milk was officially born.

While raising funding this past year, Mother’s Milk began collecting donor breast milk for another milk bank.

When mothers donate milk, it’s stored in a freezer before being pas-

teurized in-house, which ensures all bacteria and viruses in the milk are eliminated, and then stored for distribution.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Wood said. “In our first year, we’ve collected over 25,000 ounces of milk. Since we’ve started screening, we’ve had over 30 moms sign up to donate and drop off milk. Since we’ve started the process of building a milk bank, every Level 3 NICU in Birmingham has started to use donor milk or has a plan in place for when they want to use it.”

This past summer, Mother’s Milk began collecting milk to pasteurize and distribute locally. It will begin sending out the first batches to hospitals around the city at the end of this month.

Wood said that, although there is always an inherent risk of accepting milk from someone else, the mothers who donate to Mother’s Milk are triple screened.

“They have to go through an oral screening, they have to fill out a packet and go through a verbal interview and have to have forms filled out by their OB and their pediatrician,” Wood said.

She also said that long term, they would love to see depots all across the state. They’ve already managed to set up posts in Auburn/Opelika as well as Madison.

The Auburn/Opelika depot inspired Auburn resident Sarah Hillyer to begin donating.

an extra time a day.”

Hillyer said she enjoys donating not only because it uses up her extra milk, but because it helps those in need.

“I feel so blessed that I’ve never had a baby in the NICU, but I’ve had friends who have,” Hillyer said.

“Being a mom is hard and we have to take care of each other.”

That care is another crucial part of the process for Kelley.

“An important piece of this is having an outlet for bereaved mothers like myself to be able to donate to,” Kelley said. “Since collecting, we’ve had a number of them reach out to us who have decided to donate their breast milk and many of whom have decided to pump their breast milk after the death of their child as a way to grieve.”

Kelley said she also hopes that having a local milk bank will encourage breast feeding among low-income and minority women in the area. She said that, although the bank is in its infancy, she’s already starting to see the effects in the community. She relayed speaking with a representative at the local AT&T store last week.

“He yawned and apologized and said he had a newborn at home,” Kelley said. “He said at first it was really stressful because (his wife’s) milk wasn’t coming in but it was great because the hospital was able to let them use donor milk. Then, he asked if I had heard of the new milk bank in town and I was giddy.”

Although officially having the milk bank up and running will be a huge accomplishment for Kelley, she has an even bigger one to celebrate next month. Micah, who she once was told wouldn’t make it through the night, will be turning three years old.

“It’s been challenging,” Kelley said. “But I think it’s been the most rewarding thing that I could have done to channel the most difficult thing in my life. It will make a difference in this community and for moms and babies all over the place.” ❖

health

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 17

Fight Like a Girl

Ginny Bourland Spreads the Word About Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Ginny Bourland wasn’t sure about sharing her cancer battle with a support group at first.

Shortly after the Vestavia Hills resident was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2011, at the age of 37, a member of the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation emailed her and invited her to attend a support group for women in similar conditions.

“I still wasn’t ready to embrace the fact that I had cancer,” she said. It was about a month later – after she’d had a hysterectomy and was awaiting her first chemo session – before she finally decided to attend her first meeting.

“I had a bit of trepidation about it,” Bourland said. “I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but it was exactly what I needed.”

The group gave Bourland a sense of community as she battled a disease threatening her own body.

“You know that you are not alone,” she said. “You know that in your head – but when you actually go to the support group you see it, you feel it and you believe it. You realize you are not the only one going through this.”

After overcoming her early misgivings, Bourland became an advocate for the foundation and is passionate about educating women on the symptoms of ovarian cancer, which often are so mild that they go unnoticed or untreated.

She is being honored for her involvement with the foundation during the Get Busy Fighting golf tournament in November.

Bourland, who has suffered three recurrences since her initial diagnosis and treatment, admits her illness has slowed her down a bit, but she said her health hasn’t kept her from staying busy. She is a mother to two children, Will and Bella, a wife to her husband, Shea, and an actuary for VIVA Health.

She said that once she accepted her illness, with the help of her peers, she was able to accept the lifestyle change that came with it. Her advice to women with similar physical struggles is to “cut yourself some slack.”

“My house is rarely clean,” she said.

“Frequently, my kids don’t wear clean clothes. We go out to eat a lot, because I can’t cook as much anymore.”

Bourland said she wants to be the “super mom” who does it all, but it simply is not a possibility, so she chooses to accept the help that her friends and family offer so she has more time to devote to loving her children.

“Let people help you,” Bourland advised. “Be willing to say, OK. They can’t love on your kids for you, but they can cook and they can clean. Let them do the things they can do, because they want to.”

Once she accepted her illness and help, Bourland said, she found a sense of calm. “I think that helped the kids, too,” she said. “They could read the anxiety and frustration until I was ready to let go of it. They don’t think I’m a slacker-mom. This is just the life they have learned to live.”

Though she has found a balance

Photo special to the Journal

By Emily Williams

Ginny Borland of Vestavia Hills is currently battling ovarian cancer with the support of her husband Shea and two children Will and Bella. She will be the honoree for the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s annual Get Busy Fighting golf tournament Nov. 2.

in the chaos, Bourland also has added a third job to the mix as an advocate for the foundation. She said her work with the organization is important to her because it strives to educate women about the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Bourland said she looks forward to being honored during the Get Busy Fighting golf tournament because it gives her an opportunity to share her experiences and general ovarian cancer information with the crowd.

“It gives them the opportunity to learn more about the disease and tell their spouses and daughters,” she said.

“The more they know, the more everyone will know.”

According to the website of the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation, a woman is diagnosed with gynecologic cancer every six seconds, more than 90,000 women every year.

Yet the only gynecological cancer with a reliable test for early detection is cervical cancer. Symptoms for many GYN cancers go unnoticed, especially ovarian cancer, with symptoms so mild it is called “the disease that whispers.”

When she was diagnosed, Bourland

said, she wished she had known more about the symptoms – enough to push her doctors to take a closer look.

Instead, she trivialized her only symptom of bloating for months before seeking medical attention.

“In our support group, we use the acronym B-E-A-T,” Bourland said. The letters stand for the symptoms of ovarian cancer: bloating, eating changes, abdominal discomfort and trouble urinating.

“Ovarian cancer is not silent,” she said. “It does have symptoms. I wish more physicians recognized that and I believe more are starting to.”

The Get Busy Fighting Golf Tournament, being held Nov. 2 at Oxmoor Valley Golf Course, benefits the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation’s mission to promote research and awareness of ovarian cancer as well as a support community for patients.

The tournament cost is $125 per player or $500 per team. The format of the tournament will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www. thinkoflaura.org/getbusyfighting. ❖

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18 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

Laser Pioneer

Health

Passion Has Driven Michelson’s Career in Eye Surgery

Skin Care Specialist

Dr. Monheit Has Seen Shifts in Women’s Skin Concerns

By Kaitlin Candelaria

By Emily Williams

Dr. Marc Michelson became an ophthalmologist almost by chance.

Michelson was making his way through medical school when he decided to take a few extra classes on subjects that interested him. One of those was ophthalmology.

“I took ophthalmology because I thought I would never get to learn any more about it when I finished – we don’t teach a lot of eye-specific diseases in med school,” he said. “I left the class feeling like I’d learned a lot.”

A month later, Michelson was able to make what he called a “rather fascinating diagnosis” on a patient. The case ended up being presented to the ophthalmology residents and Michelson found himself receiving a call from the head of the department offering him a place as a resident in the program.

“When I started doing eye surgery, I found that God had a plan for me,” the doctor said. “I really enjoyed doing microsurgery and it became my passion and my profession and led me to who I am today.”

The Mountain Brook resident, who works from Michelson Laser Vision, is now considered a pioneer and innovator in the world of optic laser surgery. He’s done surgery all over the world and has worked on eyeballs belonging to celebrities such as Paul Finebaum and Dollar Bill Lawson locally as well as baseball players, airline pilots and CEOs. “I meet a lot of fascinating and interesting people who come to me,” Michelson said. “I learn a lot about people. I like to find out a little about who I’m operating on. It’s not cut and dry – we like to get personal with our patients.”

There are special considerations when considering whether women, for instance, will make good candidates for laser eye procedures.

“One thing that’s important for women, especially as they go through hormonal changes as they age, is dry eye issues,” Michelson said. “We have to pay special attention to females because laser surgery has the risk of making a dry eye situation worse. In our evaluation, we are very tuned in to recommend a procedure that’s the best fit.”

Women also can experience changing eyesight during pregnancy, Michelson said.

“We don’t recommend doing LASIK during pregnancy because hormonal changes can make your eyes more nearsighted and we only want to treat you when you’re on a baseline level.”

Since the birth of Total Skin & Beauty Dermatology Center in 1977, Dr. Gary Monheit of Mountain Brook has seen many changes in skincare issues for women, some for the good and some not so much.

“It’s a very exciting place to be now and there are all sorts of new things that are going on now in the research areas of rejuvenating skin, changing skin, helping skin scars and growing new skin – which is being done in test tubes,” Monheit said. “It is a very exciting field as we learn more about skin molecules. I’m really proud, in dermatology, that we are really in the forefront of that.”

Monheit’s Total Skin & Beauty evolved from the original medical dermatological center to now house seven centers covering a wide range of skincare needs, from surgeries to cosmetic enhancements. The facility also houses a research center devoted to clinical studies and trials.

The research center’s most recent success story is the new injectable Kybella, which is used to dissolve fat pockets that cause the double chin or “bull neck.” Released in June, Kybella is the most recent addition to Monheit’s “tool belt” of skin injections. It joins the ranks of others before it such as Botox.

At a certain age, a face-lift is an appropriate option, but Monheit said that, when used in the right manner by an appropriate physician, injectables can stave off the need for surgical procedures.

“I think the highest target age group is 35-55 or maybe 35-60, but it depends on what you are really treating,” Monheit said. He has used injections on a younger crowd for specific purposes, such as acne scar treatments.

Cosmetically, Monheit’s excitement cannot be tamed, but there is also a darker side to dermatology.

“We are really having an epidemic of skin cancer,” Monheit said. “What is the main concern is that we have really had a rise in women more than men.”

In the earlier years of his career, Monheit said, skin cancer was more frequently found in men who worked outdoors. It was a time before sunscreen was a household staple. Monheit said the popularity of tanning began in the 1960s, when darker skin was a sign of social status. As the perception of beauty changed, the tan became more socially important for women.

“Then came the advent of tanning parlors, which is one of the worst things to ever come about,” Monheit said.

As a result, he said there has been a 250 percent rise in melanoma – the steepest climb between the ages of 40 and 50. Monheit said he is even seeing melanoma in women who are in their 20s and 30s.

“The female population has had the highest rise in melanoma rates,” he said. “More than 65 percent of melanomas diagnosed in younger people are in women.”

Monheit blames tanning beds for the bulk of the issue.

“They’ve been going to tanning beds because they want to look good for the prom and they get kind of addicted to it,” he said.

Monheit said he is pleased to see paler models gracing the pages of magazines these days.

If detected and treated early, melanoma has as high as a 98 percent recovery rate, but women who do not regularly examine their skin can overlook deadly aggressive melanomas.

“One of the most important things we are talking to women about is annual skin checks,” Monheit said. “First: Learn how to examine your skin yourself. Know what good moles are and bad moles are and have this caught up with an

A Celebrated Career

Michelson has had quite the career considering most of the technology that Michelson Laser Vision is renowned for wasn’t invented when he started practicing in the 1980’s. Since then, he’s been at the forefront of clinical trials first for photorefractive keratoplasty – which he was the first in Alabama to perform in surgery – and then for LASIK in the late 1990s, which he also was the first surgeon in Alabama to use in surgery. Now, he runs a practice that specializes in both procedures as well as cares for a wide variety of optic conditions including glaucoma, corneal disease, cataracts and more.

“I enjoy taking care of people,” he said. “I enjoy taking care of complex problems that other people don’t want to deal with or don’t know how to deal with.”

Michelson Laser Vision originally was opened at The Summit in the late ‘90s but has since moved to UAB Highlands in downtown Birmingham. Not to ever be behind on technology, Michelson is now using the WaveLight ex500 laser, which is the fastest laser approved for use in the United States.

“The easy part is learning the technology but the hardest part is bearing the costs of all these changes,” Michelson said. “You want to stay up with the best and you have to pay for it, but we feel that the patients always come first and we don’t want to use inferior technology – we want to be top of the line.”

Although people all over the world have gone under Michelson’s skillful laser, he said he never considered having a practice anywhere but in Birmingham.

“My roots are in Birmingham and I don’t want to move to a different city,” he said. “I’m very much tied to the community. Over the Mountain is our home and our family’s home. We’re here for the people around us and we’ll always be here for them.” ❖

Dr. Marc Michelson with the WaveLight ex500 laser, which is the fastest laser approved for use in the United States.

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

annual skin check by a skin doctor.”

Monheit said a great tool is a cell phone.

Women can take pictures of areas of concern and follow up with their doctors when they have the time to schedule a visit.

Second, Monheit emphasizes the use of sunscreen and the knowledge of which products are best.

“Get a sunscreen that is called a broad spectrum, meaning it covers not just burning rays, UVB, but covers UVA, too,” he said. “Tanning parlors are UVA. Enough In Total Skin & Beauty’s 38th year, of it can cause a melaDr. Gary Monheit noma.” has seen shifts in Another concern in skin concerns for regard to sunscreen is get- women, including ting the right SPF. SPF is new cosmetic injectthe measurement of sun ables to combat the appearance of protection that the sunaging and a rise in screen provides. Monheit melanoma cases. recommends an SPF between 30 and 50.

“More than 50 doesn’t really matter and it starts to irritate,” he said. “It needs to be reapplied after two hours and the average person needs about two ounces of it to cover their bodies.”

Sunscreen also must be water resistant.

Monheit said that, when wet, such sunscreens will provide up to 80 minutes of protection.

“There was a scare for a while in women that were not getting enough sun to make Vitamin D synthesis,” Monheit said. “I think most of those studies were not correct. There are other ways to get Vitamin D and even with a sunscreen protecting you, you’re still going to plenty of Vitamin D synthesis.”

For women who are concerned that they already have developed a melanoma, good protection and early detection make all of the difference in the world, he said.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

For women who would like to keep their skin bright and healthy at home, Monheit suggests the regular use of cosmeceuticals, which have medicinal properties and aid in anti-aging.

There are four major categories of ingredients, and Monheit uses the acronym G.R.A.S. as an easy reminder. The G is for growth factor, which stimulates the growth of collagen. R is for retinoids, which activate skin growth and commonly come in the form of a night cream. A is for antioxidants, which combat free radicals that tend to break down skin cells. Finally, S is for sunscreen. Monheit recommends a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 15 to 20.

“Even if you are working in an office, you go outside to your car and, in the South, that’s a lot of sun,” he said.

All together, Monheit believes the G.R.A.S. system is a great regimen for middle-aged to older women.

For the younger crowd, a good moisturizer, a sunscreen and a buffing agent during face washing is a great way to combat early aging.

Through his practice, Monheit covers the spectrum of skin research, surgery and treatment to form a one-stop-shop for dermatological needs.

“We want to cover the health of your skin, the cure of your skin – in the way of skin cancer and malignancies – as well as the appearance of your skin – through our cosmetic and laser spa,” he said. “All of these work together in our whole practice unit.” ❖

Health

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Grandview Medical Center Aims to Be At the Forefront of Women’s Health

Premature babies and others needing extra care will be cared for in one of Grandview Medical Center’s 12 private neonatal intensive care unit rooms that will help keep mom and baby together. The Level III NICU will be capable of caring for the smallest and sickest babies from across the area.

caring for the smallest and sickest babies from across the area, she said.

From a technological standpoint, Grandview will be the first in Alabama to incorporate the ACESO patient and clinician communication systems within private postpartum rooms. The digital screens will take the place of traditional whiteboards,

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

When it opens its doors to the public Saturday, Oct. 10, Grandview Medical Center hopes to establish itself as the premier choice for women’s health services in the Birmingham area.

Grandview COO Drew Mason said the hospital’s location, along U.S. 280 just off of I-459, positions the hospital amid a “huge amount” of growing households in need of convenient care. Its location, said Mason, will allow the new hospital to better serve patients who already had been familiar with what Mason called a once-robust women’s services department at Trinity Medical Center.

Dr. Virginia Winston, an OB/ GYN at Trinity, is among the doctors making the move to Grandview.

Winston said that, when it comes to having a baby at Grandview, mothers can rest assured that their delivery will be as individualized as possible.

“I believe that there are many right ways to have a baby,” said Winston. “At Grandview, we will be committed to make you feel grand, very royal, to feel that you can have your baby in a way that is comfortable to you and safe. The term ‘birth plan’ is a positive term for us.”

Grandview will be equipped with eight labor, delivery and recovery rooms, 22 postpartum suites and a well-baby nursery to help give new mothers time to rest.

“I’m very pleased that Grandview will offer postpartum suites,” said Winston. “There are a lot of different things that go on in a delivery room that don’t need to be part of a postpartum area. A postpartum suite setup allows for a more welcoming area where family and friends can celebrate a baby’s birth together with the parents.”

Two surgical suites for Cesarean section procedures also are adjacent to the maternity wing.

Premature babies and others needing extra attention will be cared for in one of the 12 private neonatal intensive care unit rooms that will help keep mom and baby together.

Using private rooms, a more inclusive approach than traditional wardstyle NICUs, is a growing trend in the medical community, said Mason.

“It’s the new name in the game,” said Mason. “Across the country, private NICU rooms are becoming standard practice.”

The private NICU rooms will be equipped with sleeper-sofas, said Mason, an added convenience for parents who wish to remain with their babies. Within the women’s services unit, parents spending nights at the hospital also will have access to suite bathrooms for freshening up.

Along with offerings for the parents’ comfort, the hospital will be top-notch in the care of its tiniest patients, Winston said. Grandview’s Level III NICU will be capable of

Journal photo by Ana Good

By Ana Good

‘I’m very pleased that Grandview will offer postpartum suites. There are a lot of different things that go on in a delivery room that don’t need to be part of a postpartum area. A postpartum suite setup allows for a more welcoming area where family and friends can celebrate a baby’s birth together with the parents.’

Dr. Virginia Winston, an OB/GYN at Trinity, is among the doctors making the move to Grandview.

said Mason, better streamlining patient-doctor communication. Once fully-operational, the program will run through a patient’s television screen and provide information including patient feedback, condition-specific content and on-demand movie selections. Eventually,

Grandview hopes to expand the program to offer patients personalized meal-ordering options as well.

Women in need of other specialized care services also will benefit from the hospital’s forward-thinking vision, said Winston.

“The whole operation is focused on patient care,” said Winston.

“Women needing outpatient services, such as mammograms, ultrasounds and annual exams, among others, will be able to easily navigate to the hospital’s outpatient services floor.

The hospital’s layout takes away a lot of the confusion that is often attributed with quick visits.”

The hospital also will offer the latest in robotic surgeries, said Mason, many specific to women’s health.

Doctors from Trinity and other area hospitals are joining the women’s health team and the hospital as a whole.

“Our excellent Trinity physicians will be joined by established practitioners who have been successful on other campuses,” Mason said.

“Many (of) which will be now more proximal to the areas their patients are coming from.”

From a professional standpoint, Winston said the Trinity doctors welcome the growth.

“It’s all very exciting,” said Winston. “Women’s health is obviously very important and we look forward to what is coming our way to better serve our patients.”

Trinity Medical Center patients will all be moved the nine miles from the old hospital to Grandview beginning at 6 a.m. Oct. 10 in a multi-level planned approach. A total of 35 ambulances will help transport approximately four patients every 15 minutes. Hospital services will be offered at both Trinity and Grandview until the move is complete, which should be by the end of the day.

The new hospital is at 3690 Grandview Parkway. For more, visit www.grandviewhealth.com. ❖

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 19

20 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

A Toast To Life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

BHEC Holds 2015 L’Chaim Fundraiser

he Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s L’Chaim, “to life,” fundraising event honoring Holocaust educators was held Aug. 23 in the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

Special L’Chaim honorees were Brenda and Fred Friedman, who fund scholarships for Alabama teachers to attend advanced national and international training seminars on the Holocaust. Jeffrey Bayer and Gen. Charles Krulak served as L’Chaim 2015 Co-chairs.

More than 400 people enjoyed a varied program including “What We Saw,” a dramatic reading by Deborah Layman presented by Sam Chalker and Ward Haarbauer of The Seasoned Performers. Music was provided by Gabriel Tajeu, Alan Goldspiel, Cantor Jessica Roskin and the Birmingham Community Mass Choir.

A video featured a special project by Shades Valley High School students about the lives of eight local Holocaust survivors. Gen. Krulak closed the program with a keynote message, followed by a dessert reception. ❖

Photos special to the Journal

T

social

From left: Hal and Judy Abroms, Gen. Charles Krulak and Jeffrey Bayer.

Alan Davis, Jessica Roskin and Betty Steinmetz.

Michael Sznajderman and Elaine Witt.

Brenda Friedman, Leah Cohen, Fred Friedman and Rosalyn Bloomston.

Ceil and Max Herzel.

Lenora Pate, Joel Rotenstreich and Steven Brickman.

Cathy Friedman and Melissa Zivitz.

Mary Boehm, Deborah Layman and Hilary Gewant.

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Partitura in the Park Symphony 30 Breaks Records at Annual Picnic

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 21

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Above: From left: Ensley Darnall, Joy Myers and Dr. Brooke Schaeffer Kaplan. below: Richard Cassarino and Daniel Carson.

No strings were harmed at the annual Symphony 30 picnic Sept. 27 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The evening began at 4 p.m. with a presymphony party with dinner served up by Jim N’ Nick’s.

The event was a success, raising more than $50,000 for education outreach programs of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The sum will be the largest gift in Symphony 30 history. Picnic chair Ensley Darnall and co-chair Colin Mitchell were responsible for organization of the event and the presenting sponsor was Schaeffer Eye Center.

The event welcomed the largest crowd in its history with more than 700 attendees gathering to hear a performance by the ASO, conducted by the new Symphony Director Carlos Izcaray.

Darnall said that the best part of the evening was watching guests enjoy the Symphony’s performance with friends on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Social Safari

Birmingham Zoo Hosts Gala in the Trails of Africa

Photos special to the Journal

22 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

From left: Dr. William Foster and Jean Cecil, Bill and Emily Bowron, Anna and Don James.

The Birmingham Zoo hosted its largest fundraising event of the year, ZooGala 2015, at its Trails of Africa exhibit Sept. 18.

The event was sponsored by Iberiabank, a partner of the Birmingham Zoo for 11 years. Net proceeds will benefit the Birmingham Zoo’s mission of “Inspiring Passion for the Natural World” and its operational efforts, educational programs and conservation research in the field.

Honorary chairs of this year’s event were Emily and Bill Bowron. Chairs were Lynn Cassady, Lucy Daniel and Kathryn Eckert.

More than 500 guests arrived for the 60th anniversary event, making it one of the highest-attended and largestgrossing ZooGalas in zoo history. The event showcased an elaborate display of colorful tents and lanterns as music by the Matthew DeVine Band created the perfect ambiance for the VIP party, which was followed by music by Compozitionz for the main event.

To kick off the evening, guests were greeted by zoo animals such as a coatimundi, a kookaburra, a Virginia opossum and more. ZooGala also featured a jewelry showcase from Empire Diamond Corporation. At 6 p.m., guests mingled and enjoyed drinks throughout the event area and dinner prepared by Kathy G. and Company. The menu included juniper-rubbed quail breast over creamy white cheddar grits with a port wine and blackberry reduction, rosemary encrusted beef tenderloin over caramelized onion mashed potatoes with asparagus tips and zinfandel demiglace, pecan-encrusted fried gulf oysters, pan-sautéed crab cakes with tri-colored slaw and creole remoulade sauce and spicy boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Guests enjoyed an array of desserts, including gourmet ice creams served in mini-waffle cone bowls with Godiva chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, macerated seasonal berries, candied pecans and maraschino cherries.

This year’s silent auction displayed more than 45 items and included exciting packages, original artwork, in-home

Erin Donohoo and Whitney Wright.

parties, relaxing getaways, fine wine and more.

As a new feature, the Zoo added a trivia contest this year to raise funds and awareness of the Zoo’s conservation programs.

Guests spotted at the event included: Charles and Cheryl Mayer, Donnie and Lynne Dobbins, Tom and Caroline Yeilding, John and Monica Drake, Bill and Emily Bowron, Ed and Lynn Cassady, Chris and Lucy Daniel, Doug and Kathryn Eckert, Dr. Bill Foster and Jean Cecil, Valerie Abbott, Steven and Daphne Hoyt, Kim Rafferty and Brad Hobbs, Mayor Terry and Sandra Oden, Rep. Gary and Ann Palmer, Senator Jabo and Marilyn Waggoner, Frank and Mary Bradley

Trey and Megan Miller, Hannah Ray, Connor McCabe, Alex and Katie Bues and Katherine and Blake Jones.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

social

Left: Sen. J.T. Waggoner, Marilyn Waggoner, Senator Linda Coleman and Carl Madison. Below: Wally Nall, Lynn Cassady, Katherine Eckert and Lucy Daniel.

Anderson, Stephen and Missy Armstrong, Turner and Jenny Burton, David and Robin Davis, Austin and Amanda Davis, Jordan and Lauren DeMoss, Pete and Erin Donohoo, Joseph and Carla DuMontier, Joe and Ann Blair Gribbin Jr., Glenn and Nancy Goedecke, Raymond and Cole Harbert, Sam and Fontaine Haskell, Amanda Hawkins, Arthur and Betsy Henley, Elias and Gaynell Hendricks, Matt and Caroline Hottle, Stephen and Cissy Jackson, Don and Anna James, Randy and Lauri Jordan, David Loper and Tom Barnett, Wally Nall III, Trey and Madison Merrill, B.T. and Elizabeth Tynes, and William and Whitney Wright. â?–

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 23

24 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

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Tailgate Challenge

Football Season Kicked Off With Show of Tailgating Finesse The sixth annual Tailgate Challenge, presented by MetLife Premier Client Group, was held Aug. 29 at The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs in Homewood.

Drummond Company, Vulcan Materials Company, Ram Tool and Supply Co., Vulcan Value Partners, Surgical Care Affiliates and Renasant Bank were among the many supporters of the event.

More than 1,000 attendees enjoyed the family friendly-event featuring tailgating, food and drinks from 38 different team tents.

While adults sampled food, children found entertainment in the kids zone sponsored by Covenant Classical Day School and watched a performance by the Thompson Drumline, Vestavia Hills Rockets and Mountain Brook cheerleaders. The mascots Big AL, Aubie, Spike and Blaze also were spotted at the event.

Special guest judges Bob Carter, Alec Harvey, Will Lochamy and Reed Lochamy of WJOX Roundtable chose the winners for the best tailgate fare. Winners included: One Stop Promotions for best-tasting food, Mississippi State for most team spirit and Missouri for best all-around. LSU won the people’s choice award. ❖

Photos special to the Journal

Pride and responsibility drive us to be the best in everything we do.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Left: Ella Swenson, Cal Powell and Arianna Owen. Spike with Trent Watkins.

Drew Brignac and son with Big Al.

From left: Lisa Flake, Melissa Kenan, Nancy Meadows, Katie Patrick, Cynthia Shearer and Adelaide Vandevelde.

Spring Fling Nets September Check Kappa Delta Alumnae Raise Money for Camp Fire Alabama

A check in the amount of $8,027.10 was presented to Nancy Meadows, chief executive officer of Camp Fire Alabama by members of the Mountain Brook Kappa Delta Alumnae Association in early September.

The group held its spring party and fundraiser on March 20 to raise the money included in the donation. The event was chaired by Lisa Flake and Adelaide Vandevelde. Melissa Kenan and Cynthia Shearer served as the raffle and auction chairs. The funds raised through donations, raffle tickets and auction items were donated to Birmingham’s local Camp Fire Alabama agency.

Camp Fire Alabama is a United Way agency that has been operating for more than 50 years. It is committed to offering life-enhancing opportunities for Alabama youth. ❖

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 25

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

AMERICAN

HORROR STORIES

Photo special to the Journal

October 29 7:30 p.m.

October 31 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.

November 1 2:30 p.m.

Featuring the Alabama premiere of Agnes DeMille's Fall River Legend.

From left: Joy Wilkes, Redonda Broom, Cindy Edmonds, Linda Gooldrup, Carolyn Delk, Shelley Watkins and Nancy Becker.

Fall Meeting

Coronets Luncheon at Vestavia Country Club Vestavia Country Club was the setting of the Coronets fall luncheon on Sept. 18. Intricate mixed-basket centerpieces decorated each table at the event, planned and coordinated

by Redonda Broom and Shirley Evans.

Coronets is led this year by the President Carolyn Delk assisted by Linda Gooldrup, Nancy Becker, Cindy Edmons, Shelley Watkins,

Jean Hendrickson, Shirley Evans, Redonda Broom, Marti Buck, Rusty Kirkpatrick, Joy Wilkes and Jackie Webb.

Among the other ladies attending were Edna Alderman, Nancy Boone, Sue Belcher, Jean Burnette, Linda Bachus, Bettie Davenport, Carolyn Edge, Pat Garlikov, Virginia Golightly, Corrine Greer, Fay Hart, Carolyn Hogan,

Margaret Howell, Gloria Hudson, Patti Echols, Glenda Etheridge, Marsha Hire, Betty Longshore, Joanne McConnell, Betty Miller, Shirley Palmes, Evelyn Ringler, Dot Renneker, Liz Slive, Ming South, Mary Jean Sanspree, Karen Tucker, Linda Wood and Cindy Tilghman.

To finish the event, dance chairmen Mary Jean Sanspree, Una Ray Barnett, Evelyn Ringler, Dot Renneker and Karen Tucker invited everyone to attend the ‘50s-themed dance party, which will take place Oct. 16. ❖

Honoring French Ancestors

Huguenot Society Installs New Officers The Huguenot Society of Alabama met Sept. 24 at the Country Club of Birmingham and installed new officers for 2015-2017.

The new officers include: Ann Cheney, secretary; Emily Hornak, president; Kathryn Porter, registrar; Steve Saxon, chaplain; Bonnie Shanks, historian; Jerry Thompson, treasurer; and Betty Weir, vice president.

The program included the video “Huguenot France,” followed by a luncheon buffet.

The Huguenot Society honors ancestors who fled religious persecution from France beginning in 1553.

Over the course of several hundred years, more than 200,000 French Protestants fled their country, seeking religious freedom in other countries such as England, Holland, Germany, South Africa and the American Colonies.

For information on membership in the Society, call Kathryn Porter at 871-5616. ❖

From left: Steve Saxon, Registrar Kathryn Porter, Betty Weir, Bonnie Shanks and Jerry Thompson.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photo special to the Journal

26 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

The kitchen at 451 Renaissance Drive features quality amenities including a Wolf range and oven, a subzero refrigerator with a paneled door and a walk-in pantry with built-in shelves and drawers. In the middle of the space sits a “massive” island with a quartz countertop. RealtySouth’s Merry Leach of Homewood, below, works exclusively with The Preserve.

Back to Tomorrow Old-World Hoover Community Boasts High-Tech Home

Driving down the streets of The Preserve is like taking a step back to a time filled with white picket fences and pastel painted homes, but a step inside 451 Renaissance Drive is more like a step into the future.

The home will be featured in the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders’ Fall Community Showcase, but it’s not the home’s first appearance on the show circuit.

The house was the 2015 Birmingham Ideal Home in the association’s Parade of Homes this past spring.

RealtySouth’s Merry Leach of Homewood works exclusively with The Preserve and is currently the go-to guru for everything “ideal.”

Her favorite feature of the home is the porch.

“Porches in The Preserve are hugely important,” Leach said. “As you drive through, you will see that most everyone has porches and that’s by design.”

Leach said “it’s all about outdoor entertaining” in the Hoover community, and many of the front porches turn into entertaining spaces where neighbors gather for a glass of wine and conversation.

“This home has an oversized porch where you can liter-

Journal photo by Emily Williams

By Emily Williams

ally put furniture out there and turn it into an outdoor living space,” she said. “It also has an outdoor living space in the back with a fireplace.”

The back porch also houses a state-of-the-art outdoor

kitchen, complete with a green egg grill.

On the inside, the 4,400-square-foot single-family home has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The main level has an open floor plan while the second story has bedrooms, two bathrooms and a media room.

The kitchen features quality amenities including a Wolf range and oven, inside a subzero refrigerator with a paneled Grey Oaks door and a walk-in pantry with built-in Showcase Home shelves and drawers. In the middle of Stays in Tune the space sits a “massive” island with a With Nature quartz countertop.

Page 30 A hallway off of the kitchen leads to the three-car finished garage, and on the way there is a small office and a laundry room with a builtin sink and counter as well as closet space.

Back in the main living space, there is a large den, a dining room and a transitional room at the front of the house.

“It can be a full bedroom for aging parents or guests, or it can even be a nursery,” Leach said. “We have it set up here as an office.”

The main floor master bedroom gives way to a designer See The preserve, page 28

‘Porches in The Preserve are hugely important. As you drive through, you will see that most everyone has porches and that’s by design.’

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 27

home

Fall Community Showcase Visitors Can Tour Houses in Best New Home Communities

By Emily Williams The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders will hold its second annual Fall Community Showcase featuring some of the best new home communities the greater Birmingham area has to offer.

The event will take place over the course of two weekends, Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18, and will stretch across the Birmingham area, taking visitors to communities from Trussville to Helena to tour newly built homes in communities that offer amenities such as parks, pools and neighborly events.

The builders who will be featured among the showcased homes include Donovan Builders, Byrom Building Corp., D.R. Horton, Eddleman Residential, Emerald Homes, Harris Doyle Homes, Newcastle Homes Inc., RidgeCrest Properties, Scotch Homes and Land Development Group, Tower Homes and Mt Laurel’s Town Builders Inc. “The Fall Community Showcase gives people the opportunity to tour some of Birmingham’s most elegant and beautiful new home communities,” said Association Home Tour Chairman Clint Lovette. “With new homes in every price range and city, people often discover exactly where and what they’d like to see in their next home.”

The home tour’s central location will be the Showcase Home in Pelham’s Grey Oaks Community, which was built by Jack Donovan of Donovan Builders. As will be the standard for all homes in the showcase, the Grey Oaks home will feature the latest design trends, decor and technology on the market today.

The association has awarded winners in a variety of categories for the showcase: • “Best First-Time Homebuyer Community,” Chelsea Park.

• “Best 50-Plus Housing Community,” The Preserve.

• “Best Community Entrance and Overall Landscape,” Mt Laurel won the gold and Grey Oaks took silver.

• “Best Luxury Amenities Community,” Ross Bridge won gold and Carrington Lakes took silver.

• “Most Conveniently Located Community,” The Preserve, followed

by Hillsboro and Magnolia Woods.

• “Best Multi-Generational Community,” Ross Bridge, with Mt Laurel taking the silver award.

• “Best Use of Natural Space,” Trussville Springs, followed by Carrington Lakes.

• “Best Move-Up Community,” The Preserve, with Ross Bridge coming in second.

• “Best Marketing or Promotional Campaign,” Mt Laurel, followed by

The Preserve.

• “Best Recreation and Leisure Community,” Ross Bridge and Carrington Lakes tied.

“The Showcase provides people with an intimate opportunity to tour some of Birmingham’s most charming and fully featured communities that offer move-up and first-time homebuyer options,” said Association President Kyle Murphy. “With new homes in every size and price range situated in these inviting communities, people will discover exactly the type of community where they would like to live.”

Tour homes will be open on both weekends from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturdays and 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.

Maps, home and community previews and Showcase Home information can be found at www.birminghambuilder. com.

Pelham: 308 Grey Oaks Drive, in the Grey Oaks community. This is the Showcase Home.

Alabaster: 220 Lacey Ave. Chelsea: 221 Chesser Park Drive, 101 Chelsea Station Drive and 1040 Evans Circle, in Chelsea Parks.

Helena: 100 Hillsboro Parkway.

Gardendale: 317 Rock Drive, which is in Turnberry Heights.

Trussville area: 6420 Spring St., in Trussville Springs, 5659 Carrington Lake Parkway, in Carrington Lakes, and 3291 Chase Court. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Home Tours

These homes will be open for tours during the Fall Community Showcase: The Preserve: 616 Preserve Parkway.

Ross Bridge: 2101 Grand Ave. Vestavia Hills: 2955 Green Valley Road and 1530 Oak Leaf Trail, in Magnolia Woods.

Mt Laurel: 6034 English Village Lane and 5 Mt Laurel Ave. Highland Lakes: 401 South Ledge Drive.

Visit us online or in our showroom to arrange for your complimentary design consultation.

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28 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

bathroom with a free-standing soaker tub and an oversized shower with a regular shower head on one wall and a rainshower shower head from the ceiling.

“The walls are quartz, so they are maintenance-free,” Leach said.

“You have to wipe them down, but you don’t have that grout that gets all cruddy.”

Off of the master bath there is a wrap-around walk-in closet with built-in shelving.

One of the futuristic features of the house is a small panel on the wall in the den space. “This pretty much controls the workings of the home.

You can set it up on your cell phone or smart phone,” Leach said. “Then you can control the lights, the temperature, the TV, sound system and anything else from your phone or the device on the wall.”

Leach said that she’s seen a rise in buyers who want a more tech-friendly

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consider this home main-level living, because you have the main-level garage, you are able to walk out onto your patio – you could even put a pool out back if you wanted to. Then you have the upstairs specifically for the kids.”

The Preserve has space already allotted for 680 homes, more than 400 of which have been finished.

The community offers buyers oversized sidewalks on every street, five parks, a town hall that serves as a residents’ facility and a junior Olympic-sized pool.

In 2009, the community added a small city center, which is home to Leach’s RealtySouth office, two restaurants, a salon and various shops.

Leach said The Preserve goes to

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From page 26

home, or “a smart home.”

“Everyone is asking for certain levels of audio-video – anywhere from surround sound for a few rooms to the outdoors,” she said. “Some even have security cameras that you can access from your cell phone. That is a huge element of what the public is looking for today.”

According to Leach, smart homes are the latest trend for The Preserve, and as the community enters its 13th phase of building, she expects more advancement. This may be the reason many of her homes are being purchased by current community members.

“Strangely enough, in our last phase, we had 25 percent of the people … (who) were residents who already lived in the Preserve,” Leach said.

She said many of her buyers now have moved from one house in the community to another, for a variety of reasons, and are now looking at or already have purchased a new lot.

“Some of them are buying new for main-level living,” she said. “I

Journal photo by Emily Williams

the preserve,

home

Clockwise from above left: In 2009, the community added a small city center, two restaurants, a salon and various shops. The main floor master bedroom gives way to a designer bathroom with a freestanding soaker tub and an oversized shower with a regular shower head on one wall and a rainshower shower head from the ceiling.

great lengths to maintain its charm.

“We have fairly strict architectural guidelines,” Leach said. “We have an architectural review committee that meets about once every month. Every home has to pass an architectural review based on the outside appearance of their home.”

The aesthetic idea is to replicate the look of homes built in the old South.

“We have a historical architect by the name of Steve Mouzon,” Leach said. “He has written many books on historical architecture and

he approves the plans. It’s quite detailed.” She said there is strict scrutiny over such things as depth of moldings and window placement.

Another big draw to the area, according to Leach, is the 350-acre Moss Rock Preserve, which borders the back portion of the neighborhood.

“There are 10 miles of hiking trails and boulder fields and waterfalls,” Leach said.

In November, The Preserve will host the annual Moss Rock Art Festival for the tenth year.

While the community grows and smart houses gain popularity, Leach said that a few things will always stay true to the old ways.

“Many homes have picket fences,” she said. “Porches and picket fences are what The Preserve is all about.” ❖

A home is greater than the sum of its parts.

But we believe the parts should be great as well.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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Journal photo by Kaitline Candelaria

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

With more than 70 years of expertise in the paint business in Central Alabama, Rozarʼs now carries the Pittsburgh line of interior and exterior paints and stains at our new architectural location in the heart of Lakeview.

Builder Jack Donovan of Donovan Homes and decorator Judy Dickinson said they were flattered to be highlighted by the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, and they chose 404 Grey Oaks Drive to showcase the spirit of the neighborhood and the skill of their team.

3003 6th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 320-2696

Grey Oaks Showcase Home Stays in Tune With Nature

‘Everything is Together’

By Kaitlin Candelaria Many people are drawn to the Over the Mountain area because they enjoy being close to the city, but they want an element of nature and seclusion in their neighborhood.

For those people, the Grey Oaks subdivision in North Shelby County is a perfect fit.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from U.S. 280, the neighborhood is home to this year’s Fall Community Showcase Home.

Builder Jack Donovan of Donovan Homes and decorator Judy Dickinson said they were flattered to be highlighted by the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, and they chose 404 Grey Oaks Drive to showcase the spirit of the neighborhood and the skill of

Call Today for Fall Special

their team.

“We chose this house because this is a plan that was specifically designed for us,” Dickinson said. “It isn’t a stock plan and it includes a very open and spacious main level with a study and a master bedroom.”

The floor plan, named after Donovan’s wife, Michelle, is one that is appealing to families of all different sorts.

“When you walk in the door, everything is together,” Donovan said. “That’s what families want today. Everybody is more together than we were back then. If everyone is doing different things in the house, at least in a house like this you’re doing them together because everything is here.”

Dickinson said that Donovan is known for his special touches in

homes, and this one is no exception. From an oven with a built-in baker’s drawer to elegant light fixtures throughout the house, it stands out even among others in the neighborhood, which Donovan and Dickinson say is the goal.

“I try to put something different in every house,” Dickinson said.

“It’s a very transitional style – not too modern and not too traditional.”

Donovan agrees.

“I don’t find that anybody out there puts the amount of finishes into a home in the price range we put it in,” Donovan said. Some other unusual touches include wood ceilings on the second floor and a tile backsplash designed to look like unfinished wood in the kitchen.

“We wanted this house to have a rustic feel and we like textures,”

for more information please Call mike wedgworth: 205.365.4344

Calton Hill House Named Birmingham Home and Garden Inspiration Home Located at Calton Hill, a new home community in Mountain Brook, the 2015 Birmingham Home and Garden Inspiration Home will display the newest trends in home design.

“We are excited to show just how effective a smaller place can be,” said editor Cathy Still McGowin. “I think visitors will be surprised to see how large 3,500 square feet can live.”

The home was built by Kadco Homes and the architectural design team included Jim Kelly Custom Home Design, Alan Wisdom of Wisdom and Associates and Chris Reebals of Christopher and Associates. Sherri Ellis of Ellis Interiors served as the design liaison for the space.

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 31

home

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

According to a press release, the two-story home offers an open floor plan complete with kitchen, dining area and breakfast area. The outdoor space includes a covered porch and a dipping pool.

The upper level of the house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an elevator bank.

The Calton Hill community comes with its own set of amenities. The neighborhood has a gated entry, gas lanterns, smart-home features and close proximity to the villages of Mountain Brook.

The Inspiration Home is located at 102 Calton Lane in Mountain Brook and will be open for tours Nov. 12 to Dec. 6. Tour times are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, visit www. birminghamhomeandgarden.com. ❖

Donovan says that although they Dickinson said. “It’s going to be hope to sell the home during the warm and homey. We want our showcase, he also aims to accomhomes to be inviting and livable.

We put the elegance in there, but we modate those who visit to get ideas for their own homes. also make it for an everyday fam“There’s always more you can ily.” do to a home,” Donovan said. “You The home’s first floor features a have to make it affordable for the formal dining room, a living room, homeowner or the person getting the kitchen and a master bedroom ideas for their own home. I tell and bath and study. However, the team throughout that we have Dickinson said they will have the to make it nice and elegant for the study staged as a nursery during homeowners but you can’t jump the showcase tour to illustrate the (out of their price range).” home’s versatility.

He says that Donovan Builder’s Upstairs, visitors can find more bedrooms and bathrooms along with personal touch with customers is also something that sets it apart. beautiful views looking back into “We still want to be involved the forest behind the house. with the homeowners while the “The natural beauty of the house is being built,” he said. “We neighborhood makes it unique,” don’t throw our people to the superDickinson said. “The rolling hills intendent. We want to make them and the trees …we only cut down of our trees that have to be cut to build fbcaloverthemt.pdf 1 the 9/24/15part12:30 PM building process.”

This home, like all of the homes house.”

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Donovan Builders builds, is handicap accessible. All of the doorways are wider than what is standard because Donovan himself is wheelchair-bound. This is also a useful To: feature because a lot of blended From: families have found a home in the subdivision, he said.

“I’m finding more and moreDate: today that people have mixed families and are trying to find a home plan that fits their parents’ needs.” ❖

LocaLLy owned and operated

Jim Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 May 2015 This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl fo Nov. 4 2010 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!

Kathy’s Designer Kitchens, Inc.within 24 hours.

Please initial and fax back Same day Ring Sizing!

205-769-6930 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills

have not heard 1831 29th Ave.ifS.we • Homewood, AL from 35209you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

205-871-9880 • Kathy Owens, CKD, President Replace youR pRongS, claSp iSSueS? let you uS help!

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Alan Over The Mountain Journal August 2015 This is your AD prOOF for Over The MOunTAin JOurnAl for the August 13, 2015 issue. please approve, initial and fax to 824-1246 or contact your sales representative as soon as possible to make changes.

please initial and fax to 824-1246 within 24 hours. if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before the press date, your ad must run as is.

32 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Spain Park Robotics Aiming to Be BEST

Robotics is no longer reserved for big laboratories and men in white coats. In fact, robotics clubs are popping up at local high schools all over the state.

Spain Park High School is no stranger to a robotics club. Its BEST Robotics program has taken the best overall award at the local level for the past several years. The local Blazer BEST Robotics competition includes more than two dozen schools from the central Alabama area. The winner of that competition advances to the BEST South Regional Championships, hosted in Auburn each year.

For those who think this is a bunch of kids tinkering with toys, think again. BEST – which stands for boosting engineering, science and technology – Robotics Inc. is a national nonprofit that pushes students to pursue careers in related fields such as science and engineering.

According to the official website, there are two aspects to any BEST competition – designing, building and programming a functional robot as well as demonstrating the concept of boosting engineering, science and technology.

Each year, the students are given a theme to build their robot around.

To compete for the BEST Award, they must create an oral presentation, an educational display and a project engineering notebook, all while demonstrating spirit and sportsmanship.

Seniors who participate in the Engineering Academy at Spain Park High School are required to compete in the BEST Robotics program.

However, the students say the club is open to anyone who would like to join.

“I’m the youngest of five and three of my older siblings participated in the robotics program,” said

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Front, from left: Taylor Brent, Chris Breaux, Katharine Turnbull, William Zhao, Spencer Batten and Zachary El Fallah.

Back: Winter Scott, Charlie Teague, Peyton Spencer, Monsha Sims, Ben Pienhardt, Crawford Nakyama, Patrick Kimes, Luke Boyett and Will Morris.

Crawford Nakayama, a senior. “I’ve always been a math and science person and engineering has always been interesting to me.”

Nakayama is one of 50 students who participate in Spain Park’s robotics club. Having that many people work together on a project of this magnitude isn’t without its challenges.

“The biggest challenge is time,” said Katharine Turnbull, a sophomore.

She and several other students are in charge of compiling the project engineering notebook for the BEST competition. “Some things you can’t get done until the last minute and so you’re up the last night trying to get everything printed out.”

Working on a deadline isn’t the only skill set the students pick up.

Students such as Peyton Spencer, a senior, are in charge of the 3D modeling and have to use programs such as SolidWorks, whereas other students such as Winter Scott are in charge of doing outreach and coordinating public relations around the project.

“The communication has been the hardest part, for me at least,” said senior Chris Breaux. “I’m the BEST CEO and I’ve worked with our table display for the past three years, and this year I had this great vision for what we’re going to do, and it’s so hard to explain everything and what I’m thinking to everyone else.”

This year’s theme is “Pay Dirt,” or

mining. The students are charged with designing a robot and essentially trying to market it to companies as the best tool for their needs. The theme was announced six weeks ahead of the Blazer BEST competition.

Although creating the intricate robot as well as the materials required for the BEST presentation takes a lot of work on the students’ part – they meet three times a week after school – they enjoy the process.

“My favorite part is seeing everything come together,” said Luke Boyett, a senior and robot CEO. “We’ve been stressed out for weeks and now we have a robot that can do everything that we wanted.”

The participants say they’ve

learned a lot while working together on this year’s competition.

“Communicating your ideas on paper is one of the best things I’ve taken away from this,” said senior Patrick Himes, who is overall CEO. “You can think all you want in your mind but if you can’t communicate that to your peers who are going to be working and helping you make that a reality, it’s impossible to get it done.”

Charlie Teague, a senior, agrees.

“You have to entertain ideas other than your own,” he said. “In the engineering program itself, you learn so many life skills. We even focused on public speaking at one point.”

Because their program is so established, Spain Park students visit other area schools with new programs and help them troubleshoot different aspects. One of their members, Spencer Batten, is known for helping other schools and teams with emergency programming issues.

“I end up getting handed a phone with someone who needs help so I end up talking to different people (from other schools) every day about different problems they may be having,” he said. Last year, Batten had a hotline on the day of the competition for students who were having last-minute problems. This year, he’s taken it a step further and set up www.sphsrobotics.com, where students can live chat with him about programming issues.

The Spain Park BEST Robotics team will head to UAB on Oct. 10 to face off against dozens of other schools, including The Altamont School, Berry Middle, Briarwood Christian, Homewood High and Middle, John Carroll, Mountain Brook Junior High and High, Oak Mountain Middle and High, Prince of Peace Catholic, Riverchase Middle, Simmons Middle and the Westminster School at Oak Mountain. The winner will go on to Auburn to compete in early December. ❖

VHEC Competes in HEAL Competition

Homewood Student Named International Key Club President Homewood High School senior Rip Livingston has been named the international Key Club president for the 2015-2016 school year.

Key Club is one of the oldest and largest service programs for high school students. Each year, the club hosts an international convention attended by students representing clubs and schools from around the world. At this year’s convention, which took place over the summer, representatives from more than 600 clubs elected Livingston as the international president.

Livingston is the second Homewood High School student to be elected to this honor. Alum Rebecca Riley served as the international president during the 2012-2013 school year.

VHEC’s Coach John Brown with member’s of the school’s HEAL competition team.

Students from Vestavia Hills Elementary Central are participating in the HEAL Alabama Recipe Challenge.

HEAL stands for Healthy Eating Active Living and is a non-profit organization dedicated to measurably improving children’s health in Alabama through a fitness and nutrition education program delivered in schools statewide.

VHEC’s Coach John Brown, Coach Jill Jacobik Blankenship and PE Assistant Cathy Heald help guide this program.

The goal of the competition is for students to find recipes that they enjoy that are also nutritious, containing seasonal, locally grown produce while also incorporating lean protein, lean dairy and complex carbohydrates.

The grand prize is a $500 grocery gift card and a guest appearance on the HEAL at Home TV show airing regularly on Alabama Public Television. Finalists receive recognition on HEAL educational materials and website.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 33

schools

Photos special to the Journal

By Emily Williams

MBJH Spartan Council Raises Funds for MS Research Mountain Brook Junior High School’s Spartan Council is unveiling a new fundraiser this year. The fall focus for this group is normally the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Food Drive, but this year, the council’s event will be a Kick MS Kickball Tournament.

In 2012, former Spartan Council member Hamp Sisson and a few fellow baseball players became aware that teammates Liam Powell and Ford Clegg both had mothers fighting multiple sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and body. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.1 million worldwide.

Sisson started a fundraiser to help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society find a cure for MS. Since its inception, the kickball tournament has raised more than $47,000. On Aug. 16, Sisson passed the torch to Spartan Council member Paul Tyson, and in the most recent tournament, 14 teams of ninth-graders participated, raising more than $17,000. The teams generated this money through letter writing campaigns, movie nights, raffles, bake sales, a barbecue dinner and parking receipts from the annual Peggy Faircloth Spartan Day. Tyson and the ninth-grade members of the Spartan Council plan to lead the seventh-grade students, and eighth-grade council members and students in conducting their own tournament Nov. 1. The tournament will take place on the MBJH recreational field, and the council plans to raise at least $20,000 to fight MS. The Spartan Council is selected each year by teacher recommendations and is led by faculty members Larry McCain, Helen Pruet, Derek Dearman, John Phillips and Mary Riley Ogilvie. The purpose of the Spartan Council is to develop leadership from the student body at Mountain Brook Junior High.

Every time Greystone Elementary School’s physical education teachers go to the Summer Physical Education and Health Conference, they attend each of the three days of the program in the hopes of winning the equipment needed to participate in the Wee Can Fight Obesity program.

Coach Rand Payton said he put Greystone Elementary in the drawing four times before luck struck and he won.

“I’m still in shock,” Payton said. “I never win anything.”

The annual conference was held July 27-29 by the Alabama Department of Education’s Health and Physical Education Division and sponsored by the state’s Department of Health as well as the Alabama Sports Festival Foundation’s Wee Can Fight Obesity program.

The foundation supports positive lifestyle choices, and its program promotes the use of motion-based gaming consoles in physical education classes to promote physical activity as well as to pique students’ interest in movement-related activity.

Greystone Elementary hosted a Wee Can Fight Obesity presentation Sept. 18, showcasing how the program is integrated into its physical education

course.

Students began with a five-minute warm-up to get their hearts racing before gathering behind a projector connected to a Nintendo Wii Console.

Payton then fired up the gaming system and the students began dancing along with a character in the Just Dance 2 game.

“The kids get super excited when it’s time to dance,” said physical education coach Leta Hoit. “Before we updated the system, they were dancing to ‘80s music. Now we have some more current music to choose from.

Their favorite right now is probably ‘What Does the Fox Say?’” The students follow the movement of a virtual dancer while the coach holds the console controller and dances along with them.

“The students love to move and they love to dance,” Hoit said. “There are a few that are going to be shy in everything we do, but this is just another way to show them that it’s OK to be silly.”

The set of equipment that Greystone won includes the gaming console, Wii Fit U software, an HD projector, a sound bar, batteries and a rolling cart to haul the lot.

“Mrs. Hoit and I have been so excited about integrating the Wii into our physical education program,” Payton

Journal photo by Emily Williams

Greystone Elementary Joins Wee Can Fight Obesity

Greystone Elementary students have a new addition to the physical education program with the school’s new Wee Can Fight Obesity equipment, awarded during the Summer Physical Education and Health Conference.

said. “This gives us the opportunity to provide new activities throughout the school year.”

The coaches said the school’s curriculum will remain intact, but the Wii and the Wee Can Fight Obesity Program will enhance the students’ experience. ❖

Homewood High School Celebrates Homecoming Homewood High School’s Homecoming Week took place Sept.14-18 and culminated with a game against John Carroll High School at Waldrop Stadium.

Homecoming court members were freshmen attendant Caroline Bearden, sophomore attendant Evie Morton, junior attendant Milli Grace Malek and senior attendants Helen Hall, Mikaela Harris and Kristin Hawthorne.

Helen Hall was crowned Homecoming Queen during Friday night’s game by the 2014 Homecoming Queen, Rachel Dantzler. Hall was escorted by her father, Bo Hall.

Helen Hall was named the 2015 Homecoming Queen and was crowned by the 2014 queen, Rachel Dantzler.

Fourth-grade summer reading award winners Lauren Kirkemier and Barrett Grant show off their certificates.

Briarwood Christian Recognizes Top Readers Briarwood Christian School awarded elementary students for their summerreading skills during a ceremony Sept.

24.

At the Summer Reading awards ceremony, students were presented with medals in two divisions: most pages read and most Bible pages read. The school had 361 students participate from first through sixth grade, for a total of 937,262 pages read.

Winners for most pages read include first-grader Grant Skinner, secondgrader Sarah Thomas, third-grader Ian Robertson, fourth-grader Lauren Kirkemier, fifth-grader Abigail Hinson and sixth-grader Lucy Gardner.

Most Bible pages read winners are Linlee Kirkemier, Julianna Frederiksen, Bella Henderson, Barrett Grant, Canaan Bradley and Maddie Henderson.

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food

34 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Good Eats on the Go Friends Team up to Provide Healthy Food for Busy Folks

York.

“She toured it and fell in love with it. My mom’s a doer,” Drennen said, laughing. “A lot of culinary schools are four years, like college.

This one had a six-month program, which I liked. I just wanted to get things going.”

Davis, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

“I worked in public relations in Los Angeles

Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

‘A lot are moms with children to shuffle about. Others are singles trying to eat healthy. It can be hard to buy healthy food in small quantities. Most people don’t want to buy 16 ounces of kale -and eat on it and eat on it.’

Mary Drennen and Tiffany Vickers Davis, from left, started their food delivery company last November. Both are busy moms – and both are into nutritious eats.

By Donna Cornelius

E

ven for those with the best of intentions, eating healthy isn’t always easy.

The two women who own Nourish want to make it that way.

Tiffany Vickers Davis and Mary Drennen started their food delivery company last November. Both are busy moms – and both are into nutritious eats.

“Mary eats more ‘clean’ – vegetables, healthy grains,” Davis said. “I’m more paleo.”

The paleo diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods.

Nourish offers meals from both eating styles at its websites, www.nourishpurepaleo.com and www.nourish-foods.com. Customers can visit the sites, see photos of the food and select the meals they want and the delivery date.

Couriers will deliver orders in almost all of the Over the Mountain area.

“We also ship all over the United States at no charge,” Davis said. “We’ve shipped to California, New York, New Jersey and Chicago.”

Drennen grew up in Birmingham. She went to Washington and Lee University and then to New York’s French Culinary Institute, now the International Culinary Institute.

“I had always loved cooking and had cooked in a couple of restaurants,” she said. “My first boss was Mike Dragon at Azalea when I was 17. The second summer of college, I worked at Daniel George. I was the only female and the youngest person there. But all the guys were so nice to me.”

Drennen said her mother discovered the French Culinary Institute during a trip to New

piggly wiggly

®

ak e t S r te t e B a Grill

and New York, and in New York I remembered that I liked to cook,” she said.

Davis attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina.

She worked at Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill and at Magnolia’s Uptown Down South in Charleston.

The two women met and became friends when both were working in Cooking Light magazine’s test kitchen in Birmingham. Davis started working there in 2001, and Drennen came on board in 2004.

“I sat in front of Mary, and we talked over our cubicles,” Davis said.

In 2007, the pair started a catering company called In Good Taste.

“We mostly did private parties in homes,” Davis said. “That was our favorite thing – small, high-end dinner parties.”

Drennen said the idea for a new business came about through another venture.

“We had been doing a private label meal plan for Iron Tribe Fitness,” she said “We saw a need in the community for high-quality, healthy meals, so we launched Nourish.”

About 95 percent of their customers live in

Outdoor Eating: Jewish Food Festival Set for Oct. 11

On an episode of “Seinfeld,” Jerry didn’t have the best of encounters with babka and black-andwhite cookies.

But those who turn out for Culinary the Levite Jewish Community Community Center’s annual food festival News and Events should have a yummier experience.

Those two treats are on the menu at this year’s Friedman Family Foundation Jewish Food Festival. Those who attend also can get plates featuring brisket and kugel, corned beef sandwiches, pastrami sandwiches and cabbage rolls. Falafel pita pockets, matzah ball soup, potato burkas and hummus with pita also will be sold.

The festival, which focuses on Jewish heritage, is set for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 11 at the LJCC, 3960 Montclair Road in Birmingham.

The family-friendly outdoor event includes a marketplace for Birmingham-area vendors and craftsmen, live music and children’s games and activities.

Admission is free.

For more information, visit www.bhamjcc.org.

Crazy for Catfish: Cahaba River FryDown Is at Railroad Park

Top catfish cooks will battle it out for prizes at the Cahaba River Fry-Down on Oct. 11 at Birmingham’s Railroad Park.

The Cahaba River Society’s competition and festival will be from noon to 4 p.m. It’s the organization’s main fundraiser.

Admission is $20, but there’s no charge for children 12 and younger.

For tickets and more information, visit www. frydown.com.

Good Food in the Gardens: Taste of Hoover Spotlights City’s Food

An Oct. 22 event at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover will show off the city’s culinary styles.

The Taste of Hoover lets those who attend sample dishes from restaurants and caterers as well as wines and local beers.

The event is from 5-8 p.m. and includes entertainment.

Tickets are $25 for Aldridge Gardens members and $35 for nonmembers.

For more information, including a list of participating Hoover restaurants, visit www. aldridgegardens.com.

See nourish, page 36

www.pigbham.com The Certified Angus Beef® brand is a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select.

Ten quality standards set the brand apart.

It’s abundantly flavorful, incredible tender, naturally juicy. Piggly Wiggly is the only grocery store in the area with Certified Angus Beef. Taste the Difference!

See foodie news, page 36

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 35

food

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

A Halloween Treat Viva Vestavia XIII Presents Food, Drinks in a Frightfully Fun Setting You can be a real food freak at Viva Vestavia XIII. The annual Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce event always gives those who attend the opportunity to sample the city’s food, wine and beer. This year, there’s a twist: guests are encouraged to come not only hungry, but in costume.

The owners of Hollywood Pools, where the event will be held, suggested a scary slant since Viva Vestavia is set for Oct. 29, just before Halloween.

“Our theme is ‘Eat, Drink and Be Scary,’” said Karen Odle, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. Odle said Viva Vestavia limits restaurant participants to 24.

“Restaurants have to be located in the city of Vestavia or be Vestavia chamber members,” she said.

Journal file photos by Emil Wald

By Donna Cornelius

Enjoying last year’s Viva Vestavia event which showcases the the wide variety of eateries in Vestavia were, above, from left: Amanda Gilmore, Megan Reese and Mary Holland Novkov. Below, Michelle Thomas and Mike Todd.

‘Our theme is ‘Eat, Drink and Be Scary.’

Karen Odle, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.

Odle said the event’s original purpose was to showcase the wide variety of eateries in Vestavia – and just how many there are.

“We have 83 restaurants in Vestavia,” she said. “This includes fast-food places, but we have everything from high-end restaurants like Satterfield’s, Bistro V and FoodBar to casual dining. There’s really something for everybody.”

Chefs might bring their signature dishes to Viva Vestavia or choose to introduce a new menu item, Odle said.

Wine will come from Contri Brothers Gift Basket and from Western Supermarkets and Publix wine vendors. Blackwell’s Pub will have tastings of high gravity beers.

The event also includes a silent auction. Valet parking will be available.

Odle said she plans to get in the Halloween spirit by wearing a costume that night.

“I’ll be keeping it simple, because I expect to be pretty busy that night,” she said, laughing. “We want everyone to enjoy themselves.”

Proceeds will go to the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s scholarship, capital and economic development funds.

Viva Vestavia XIII is 6:30-9 p.m. at Hollywood Pools, 1441 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills.

Tickets are $40 and include food, wine and beer samples plus a commemorative wine glass.

Guests must be 21 or older.

Only 300 tickets to the event will be sold.

“This has become the social event of the fall in Vestavia,” Odle said.

For more information, visit www. vestaviahills.org or call 823-5011. ❖

‘This has become the social event of the fall in Vestavia.’ Karen Odle

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36 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

A Heartfelt Cause

food

Families, Friends Support Piggly Wiggly Wine and Craft Beer Showcase Sponsoring a wine and craft beer event is a natural tie-in for the owners of some Birmingham-area Piggly Wiggly stores.

The Virciglio and Ajlouny families, which own multiple Piggly Wigglys, take pride in their stores’ weekly wine tastings and extensive selections of the two beverages.

But the second annual Piggly Wiggly Wine and Craft Beer Showcase isn’t a business promotion. For Andy Virciglio, who owns the Homewood Piggly Wiggly and is partners with the Ajlounys in the River Run and soon-toopen Crestline stores, the event has a much more important purpose.

“This is for a cause that’s close to our hearts – literally,” Virciglio said.

The showcase, set for Oct. 22, benefits The Daniel Project, created last year to raise awareness about a heart condition that can have sudden and tragic results. The project was started by the parents and brother of Daniel Ajlouny, who unexpectedly passed away eight years ago from undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart.

Virciglio said he and his family and the Ajlounys – Daniel’s parents, Basim and Pamela, and his brother, Chase – are close friends and part of the Piggly Wiggly “family.” The Ajlounys own nine Piggly Wigglys, including the stores in Bluff Park and on Clairmont Avenue.

The Daniel Project also is part of another organization with a similar mission. The Paul Meyers Foundation was started when two Meyers family members, father Greg and son Paul, died from the same condition that took Daniel Ajlouny’s life.

“The Paul Meyers Foundation helped us get off the ground,” Virciglio said. “The Daniel Project is under its umbrella.”

When Virciglio first talked with

Photo special to the Journal

By Donna Cornelius

The Ajlouny family with a photo of of Daniel Ajlouny, who unexpectedly passed away eight years ago from undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart.

members of the Meyers family, “I felt like I was talking to Pam and Basim,” he said. “These are two families that have come together with the same mission, the same goal – to help test to detect enlarged hearts in people when they’re at an early age.”

The goal for this year’s showcase is to raise money to buy at least one portable echocardiogram machine to help detect the condition. Early detection of HCM is crucial, since the most common symptom, unfortunately, is sudden death. HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in those under age 40 and the leading cause of cardiac death among athletes.

Once a machine is purchased, the next step is to find a school that will allow the machine to be used to test students.

The Wine and Craft Beer Showcase is a way for people to support this cause and learn more about HCM – and it’s an evening of good food and drinks, too, Virciglio said.

Guests can taste more than 150 wines and get special pricing on their favorites through Nov. 21. A craft beer garden will include about 20 breweries not only from the Birmingham area, but

from all over the Southeast.

There will be plenty to eat, too.

Alabama Gulf Seafood will have raw oysters, shrimp wrapped in Conecuh bacon, gumbo with shrimp, and Conecuh sausage. Certified Angus Beef is bringing its New York strip steaks and sliders.

Other foods include smoked turkey breast from Bates House of Turkey, locally made D’Agostino sausage, Full Moon Bar-B-Que’s pork and chicken with Full Moon sauces and chow-chow plus chicken wings, and Fire Truck BBQ’s beef brisket, pork and ribs.

Also on the menu are assorted casseroles from Dirt Road Gourmet, a variety of raviolis from Bare Naked Noodles, Belle Chevre goat cheese, G Momma’s Cookies, desserts from Christina Duval at Bake My Day, and Merry Cheese Crisps and Merry Mac Shortbread.

“We try to focus on local and regional products,” Virciglio said.

The Piggly Wiggly Wine and Craft Beer Showcase will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. at a private club in Vestavia Hills. For more information, visit www.paulmeyersfoundation.com or the organization’s Facebook page. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

foodie news, From page 34

Visiting St. Nicholas: Brookside Church Hosts Russian Food Festival

It takes about 25 minutes to get from downtown Birmingham to Brookside, a little former mining town. But if you like to try foods rich in cultural tradition, you may want to mark your calendar for Nov. 7-8.

Those are the dates for St. Nicholas Orthodox Church’s 32nd annual Russian/Slavic Food Festival. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.

St. Nicholas Church was founded in Brookside in 1894. Women of the church’s Sisterhood of St. Olga will prepare food from recipes handed down by relatives and friends who immigrated from western Ukraine and what is now known as Slovakia, and by the parish’s Russian members.

The Russian Beriozka Store will have imported gifts and souvenirs. Tours of the historic temple will be available.

Members of the Atlanta Balalaika Orchestra will perform at 2 p.m.

Saturday.

For more information and a menu of festival food, visit www. stnicholasbrookside.org.

A Move for Taco Mama: Mexican Eatery Plans New Store in Edgewood

Taco Mama plans to open a new store in Homewood in January, according to news reports.

An article in the Birmingham

nourish, From page 34

the Over the Mountain area, Davis said.

“A lot are moms with children to shuffle about,” Davis said.

“Others are singles trying to eat healthy. It can be hard to buy healthy food in small quantities.

Most people don’t want to buy 16 ounces of kale – and eat on it and eat on it.”

Customer favorites include Low Country shrimp on cauliflower “grits,” scrambled or poached eggs on sweet potato hash, and a spinach salad with grilled chicken, berries and almonds.

“One of my favorite dishes is our zucchini noodles with pork Bolognese,” Davis said. “I’d call off my vegetarianism for that anytime.”

Some food delivery companies provide the ingredients; customers have to make the meals themselves.

Nourish’s food comes almost ready to eat in containers that can safely go from the fridge to the microwave or oven. Right now, each meal is individually packaged – but that’s about to change.

“We’re about to start offering a family meal plan to feed a family of four,” Drennen said.

Nourish operates in an expansive space on the top floor of a 29th Street South building in Birmingham’s Lakeview neighbor-

Business Journal said the Mexican restaurant, which has stores in Crestline, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, will occupy the former space of Hart and Soul Café, at 1014 Oxmoor Road in Homewood’s Edgewood neighborhood.

Taco Mama and Otey’s Tavern are owned by Mountain Brook resident Will Haver’s Wilco Hospitality LLC. For more information, visit www. tacomamaonline.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Chef’s New Gig: Clif Holt Will Head Grand Bohemian Cooking School

One of Birmingham’s most wellknown chefs is changing kitchens.

AL.com reported that Clif Holt, who with wife Maureen has run Little Savannah Restaurant and Bar in Forest Park for 12 years, will be the cooking school chef at the Grand Bohemian Clif Holt Hotel Mountain

Brook.

The luxury hotel in Mountain Brook’s new Lane Parke development is scheduled to open later this month.

According to information on the hotel’s website, the cooking school is geared for both seasoned and novice cooks and can accommodate individuals or groups of up to 15 people.

The news report said Maureen Holt will continue to run Little Savannah. ❖

hood.

“It has plenty of room and still gives us room to grow,” Drennen said.

Nourish likely will need that extra space as the company continues to expand. In addition to adding larger-sized meals, Davis and Drennen are partnering with Take Them a Meal. The website registers users who need help with meals due to sickness or other situations.

Then others can sign up to provide food.

“You can go to the website and send our food to somebody instead of making and delivering it yourself,” Drennen said.

The women said they usually arrive at work at 7:30 or 8 a.m. and can leave in time to take their children to after-school activities. That schedule is a plus for their staff, too, they said.

Drennen, who lives in Mountain Brook, is married to Bob Jacobus.

“I inherited three fantastic stepchildren who go to Vestavia schools,” she said.

She also has a 6-year-old daughter, Betsy, a first-grader at Mountain Brook Elementary. The family expanded May 29 with the birth of her twin sons, Robert and Felix.

Davis and her 3-year-old son, Garrett, live in Homewood. He’s a student at Creative Montessori School in Homewood.

“He is neither clean-eating or paleo,” Davis said. “He likes carbs and cheese.” ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Deierhoi-Falin

Dr. and Mrs. Mark Deierhoi of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Anne Deierhoi, to Stephen Michael Falin, son of Mr. Barry Falin and Ms. Sherri Falin of Charleston, South Carolina.

Roebuck-Cullen

Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Owens Roebuck Jr. of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Powell Roebuck, to Steven Glen Cullen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Lamar Cullen of Carthage, Mississippi.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Irby Clifford Powell of Mountain Brook and the late Mr. Sidney Owens Roebuck Sr. and Mrs. Margaret Roebuck of Bessemer.

Miss Roebuck is an honors

Weddings & Engagements

The bride-elect is the granddaughMemphis, Tennessee. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Whittemore ter of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Friestad Stokes Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. Charles of Leeds and Mr. and Mrs. William Adolphus Montague Jr., both of Deierhoi of Cleveland, Ohio.

Memphis.

Miss Deierhoi is a graduate of Given in marriage by her parents the College of Charleston and the and escorted by her father, the bride University of Alabama at Birmingham Replace youR pRongS, claSp let uS help!gown by Same day Ring Sizing! woreiSSueS? a strapless lace couture not youR StoneS! School of Education. She is employed Anna Maier with a cathedral-length 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 in Charleston. veil trimmedhwy, in matching 619 Montgomery vestavia lace. hills 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills The prospective groom is the619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills The bride was attended by grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Hill Elizabeth Page Fix and Catherine of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and the Brandon O’Brien as maids of honor. late Mrs. Marjorie Carol Hill as well Bridesmaids were Caroline Sheffield as the late Mr. and Mrs. Earl Falin Brady, Margaret Ellen Gaby, Ann of Wise, Virginia. He is the great Marie Gieger, Madaline Harris grandson of Mrs. Virginia Jane Hill of Hargrove, Cameron Stokes Knight, Johnson City, Tennessee.

Madeline Francis Morgan, Lucy Mr. Falin is a graduate of The Darnall-Stokes Owen Newton, Linley Prosterman Citadel Military College of South Elizabeth Grier Darnall and needS Stokes and Mary Kathleen jewelRy diamondS Zeigler. may be foReveR Carolina in civil and environmenWilliam Hall Stokes were married too! The groom’s father served maintenance but as pRongS aRe not!

June 6 at Saint Luke’s Episcopal tal engineering. He is employed by 205-769-6930 205-769-6930 best man. Groomsmen were Graham Church in Mountain Brook. The Rev. Thompson Construction.

619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills 619 Montgomery hwy, vestavia hills Michael Ballbach, Cabell Winchester Richmond Webster officiated the 6 The wedding is planned for Nov. Stokes Brown, John Palmer Darnall p.m. ceremony. A reception followed 21 in Charleston.

V, Lowell Graham Hays IV, Trevor at the Country Club of Birmingham.

Morgan Knight, Wade Alexander The bride is the daughter of Mr. Longmire, Robert Milton Montague, and Mrs. Dan Hughes Bundy and graduate of Mountain Brook High Conrad Paul Michael Quiros and John Mr. and Mrs. John Palmer Darnall School and a cum laude graduWhittemore Stokes IV. IV of Birmingham. She is the grandate of Vanderbilt University, where Scriptures were read by Adeline daughter of Mr. Rex Lysinger and the she received a bachelor’s degree Latimer Stokes Brown. Program late Mrs. Jodene Lysinger of Destin, in English. She received a masattendants were Thomas Steele Florida, and Mr. and Mrs. John ter’s degree in early childhood Palmer Darnall III of Birmingham.

Darnall III and Mary Jackson Darnall. and elementary education from The groom is the son of Mr. and After a wedding trip to Greece, the the University of Alabama at Mrs. John Whittemore Stokes III of couple live in New York City.

Birmingham and is employed as a teacher by Homewood City Schools.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. Conrad daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Boleware of Carson, Robert A. Gordon Sr. of Atmore, the Mississippi, and Mrs. Mary Nell late Mrs. Ouida Parker Murphy of Broom of Columbia, Mississippi, as Atmore and Mr. Robert R. Jones Jr. well as the late Mr. and Mrs. Grady of Montgomery.

Miss Jones is a graduate of Lamar Cullen of Carthage.

Auburn University, where she Mr. Cullen was the salutatorian of To: Alan received a bachelor’s degree in busihis class in Carthage High School in ness administration in accounting.

From: Over The Mountain Journal Carthage. He received a bachelor’s She is employed with ServisFirst Date: August 2015 degree in computer engineering from Bank in Birmingham working in the Mississippi State University, where This is your AD prOOF for Over The MOunTAin JOurnAl for the correspondent banking division. he was a member of the Eta Kappa August 13, 2015 issue. please approve, and fax to 824-1246 Theinitial prospective groom is theor contact Nu academic honor society. He is a your sales representative as soon as possible to make changes. grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Vigil Honor member of the Order of Burbank of Columbiana and Mr. and the Arrow, the honor society of the please initial and fax to 824-1246 withinof 24 hours.

Mrs. Weaver Vansant Wilsonville.

National Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Vansant is a graduate of He is employed as a senior software if we have not heard Auburn from youUniversity, by 5 pm of where the friday he received engineer at DST Health Solutions in Jones-Vansant before the press date, your ad must runinasbusiness is. a bachelor’s degree Birmingham.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Jones of administration in finance. He is workThe wedding will be May 21, Atmore announce the engagement ing in prompt the accounting department 2016. of their daughter, Miriam Clare, Thank you for your attention. with Sterne Agee & Leach Inc. in to Adam Paul Vansant, son of Mr. Birmingham. and Mrs. Ronnie Burns Vansant of After an April wedding in Auburn, The bride-elect is the granddaughHoover. the couple will live in Vestavia Hills. ter of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Harris, and The bride-elect is the grandMrs. Ellen Stapleton and the late Mr. Frank Stapleton, all of Atlanta.

Miss Harris is a graduate of Marist School in Atlanta and the University of Alabama, where she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and was a member of Delta Delta The Alabama Press Association in Homewood is Delta sorority. looking for an organized individual to perform The prospective groom is the general office work, assist in advertising billing, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Robert and other office duties and errands as needed King of Varnville, South Carolina, and Mrs. Bibb Allen and the late Mr. for 20-30 hours per week. Computer skills and Send your Bibb Allen of Birmingham. ability to multi-task are a plus. announcement to Mr. King is a graduate of editorial@otmj.com Mountain Brook High School and the $10 per hour, plus potential opportunities to University of Alabama, where he or visit earn additional commissions. received a bachelor’s degree in www.otmj.com finance and economics and was a and fill out the form member of Phi Gamma Delta fraterIf you are interested in applying, under nity. please email your résumé or work history to “Forms, Issue and Info” The wedding will be Nov. 21 in leigh2@alabamapress.org.

Birmingham.

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Harris-King

Mr. and Mrs. James Donald Harris of Dunwoody, Georgia, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Ann Harris, to Mark Lee King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Christian King of Birmingham.

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 37

38 • Thursday, October 8, 2015

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Jaguars,

week 6 scores Briarwood Christian 15, Walker 7 Jackson-Olin 41, John Carroll Catholic 7 Hewitt-Trussville 38, Oak Mountain 31 Mountain Brook 17, Tuscaloosa County 16 right: Homewood’s Alec Marsch tries to get past Minor’s Cornell Richardson in the Patriots’ 20 -15 win over Minor last week.

The Patriots move to 5-1 on the season and 4-0 in region play. below: The Vestavia Hills defense grabbed four fumbles and three interceptions to beat Thompson 23-13. The Rebels improved 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Class 7A, Region 3.

Journal photo by Mark Almond

For more otm sports go to: otmjsports.com

Oct. 9 Games

Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

Briarwood at Pelham Homewood at Walker Hoover at Tuscaloosa County John Carroll at Minor Vestavia Hills at Spain Park

world games, From page 1

impressed with everything I saw.”

After returning, Myers noticed that most of the cities hosting the games were not major urban areas but more often mid-size markets – such as Birmingham.

“I started thinking that if Cali, Columbia could host the World Games, why not Birmingham,” he said. “So I called David (Benck), and he was thinking the same thing.”

So Myers met with city leaders from both the public and private sectors and they began to work on a plan to submit a bid for Birmingham to host the games in 2021.

Myers emphasized that the push to bring the games to Birmingham was a joint effort. “We had unanimous support across the board – from the business and political community to everyone else,” he said. “This was an opportunity for Birmingham to be a showcase for the world.”

The city submitted its bid to the IWGA in July 2014. Two months later, the IWGA announced that Birmingham, along with Lima, Peru,

and Ufa, Russia, were the three finalists to host the games.

“It was exciting,” Myers said.

“But we had to close the deal.”

The IWGA’s Site Selection Committee visited Birmingham in October and was treated to a trip to the Alabama-Texas A&M game at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“They were totally blown away by the experience,” Myers said. “We told the committee that these were the type of fans who would be attending the World Games in Birmingham.”

In January, a delegation from Birmingham – including Myers, Benck and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Board Chairman Edgar Welden – went to IWGA headquarters in Switzerland for the finalists’ presentation. United States Olympic Committee Chairman Larry Propst and former World Games Gold Medalist Kristen Allen also made the trip.

Myers said Welden’s involvement was a major positive. “Whenever you have Edgar involved in something, there’s always a greater chance you’ll be successful,” he added.

A short time later, Birmingham was chosen as the host for the 2021

World Games.

“We all felt great relief and excitement. There were so many people who put a lot of work into this,” Myers said. “But then the real work had to begin.”

Myers said the impact of the World Games in Birmingham will be incredible. “There will be more than 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries coming to town,” he said.

“Also there will be more than 900 credentialed media members to cover the games. We think the economic impact will be $250 million.”

And while the World Games are under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, Myers said it was important to understand the differences between the World Games and the Olympics.

“The World Games are not the Olympics, which means we will not need any new venues,” he explained.

“We can accommodate everything with the facilities that we already have in the Birmingham area.”

Those would include Legion Field, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Legacy Arena and Exhibit Halls, Barber Motorsports Park, Boutwell Auditorium, the

years ago.

After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Jaguars gained the momentum for good late in the second period. Spain Park running back Larry Wooden put together impressive runs of 15, nine and 10 yards to help bring his team to Hoover’s six yard line. From there, Wooden reached the goal line, to give the visitors a 10-0 halftime lead.

The Jaguars got an insurance touchdown early in the third quarter.

Quarterback Joey Beatty connected with William Greene for a 41-yard scoring strike to raise the advantage to 17-0.

After that, Spain Park dominated with its defense. Offensively, the Jags used running backs Wade Streeter and Wooden to run down the clock. “Our backs made good runs by finding the crease in the line,” said Spain Park center Grey Best.

“We went out there and fought hard,” Jag linebacker Perry Young added. “That’s all it took.”

When the game ended, waves of Spain Park students ran onto the field in celebration, and toppled but didn’t tear down, a goal post. Players and fans stayed on the field for nearly an hour to savor an important moment in their school’s athletic history.

“It was one of those nights that you won’t forget,” Raney said.

The symbolism of Spain Park’s victory almost overshadowed its practical meaning. The Jaguars moved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in Class 7A Region Three competition.

Hoover fell to 5-1 for the year and 3-1 in region play. If both teams continue their winning ways, a rematch in the post-season is a possibility.

It is far too early to know whether Spain Park’s victory was an isolated event or one that signals a sea-change in the direction of Birmingham Crossplex, Railroad Park, and facilities at UAB, Samford University and Birmingham-Southern College.

“The World Games will allow Birmingham to shine on the world stage like never before,” Myers said.

Just as importantly, Myers wants to get Birmingham metro area residents involved in the games, including some that involve local schools.

Myers will speak about the World Games at a luncheon at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 13.

Even before Myers became involved in the World Games, the Homewood resident had a full plate.

He became executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame following the retirement of Bill Legg in 2009, and he looks forward to celebrating the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2019. He also wants to update the museum itself.

“We’re looking to make it more interactive for the kids,” Myers said.

One of the most successful offshoots of the Hall of Fame is the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship program, which has given nearly $1 million in scholarship money since its inception

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

From page 40

The Jaguars got an insurance touchdown early in the third quarter.

Quarterback Joey Beatty connected with William Greene for a 41-yard scoring strike to raise the advantage to 17-0.

the rivalry. Hoover may not be the invincible machine of past seasons, but most would still have the Bucs on the short list of teams favored to win the Class 7A championship. But now the Jaguars belong on that list as well.

Spain Park has a tough road ahead, facing region rivals Vestavia Hills and Oak Mountain in the next two games. Raney’s challenge is to convince his players that defeating Hoover wasn’t just an end unto itself – it was a stepping stone on the way to even bigger things.

But all of that is about the future.

Whatever happens the rest of the way, the night of Oct. 1, 2015, will resonate with Jaguar fans forever. ❖ in 1986.

Another productive program has been the Birmingham Athletic Partnership – Welden’s brainchild – which has helped promote athletics in the Birmingham city school system.

Meyers played football at Samford University in the late 1980s, while graduating with a degree in business administration. “I’ve always had a passion for business and sports,” he said. “So I was always looking for a way to combine my love of both fields.”

His career in sports marketing began with the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American Football in 1991, and he later spent five years as general manager of the Birmingham Bulls hockey team. Meyers also worked with the Alabama Sports Foundation before coming to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

But now he is busier than ever, adding the World Games to his already full plate.

“We are determined to make the 2021 World Games the best that have ever been held,” Myers said.

And it all began with a pleasure trip to Columbia. ❖

Minor Issues Senior Tailback Helps Lead Rebel Revival

By Lee Davis Walker Minor and his Vestavia Hills teammates got right down to business against Oxford on Sept. 25.

On the first play from scrimmage, the senior tailback dashed untouched 75 yards for a touchdown. The early score proved to be the difference as the Rebels earned a hard-fought 17-10 win over the Yellow Jackets at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.

“Give all the credit to my offensive line,” The ever-modest Minor said. “All I had to do was run. I’m just glad we won the game.”

The Rebels have been doing a lot of winning lately, and Minor has been a big part of the success. Entering

casanova, From page 40

“Coach Hatcher is similar to Coach Sullivan in many ways,” he said. “They both have great football minds and really relate to their players.”

The new season has been good to Casanova. Through four games, he has been a defensive leader in Samford’s 2-2 start. Casanova had a quarterback sack in the Bulldogs’ 45-16 win over Central Arkansas and two tackles for losses in a 58-21 rout of Florida A&M. “The win over Central Arkansas is definitely a season highlight so far,” Casanova said. “They Jose Casanova have a really good team and I think that win proves that we can be a contender for the Southern Conference championship.”

Hatcher brought a fast-paced, hurry up-style offensive scheme to Samford, which influences how the defense practices, as well. “We face it every day in practice, but that’s a help because most of the teams we play against run that same type of offense,” Casanova said.

“So what we see on Saturday is a picnic compared to what we practice against Monday through Friday.”

The Bulldogs’ most recent outing was a 45-3 loss to Louisville of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.

Casanova said the basic difference between the top two divisions in college is simple.

“It’s all a matter of depth,” said Casanova, who played at the FBS level in his days at UAB. “There is great talent in our division. There are just more players at the larger schools.”

Whatever his division of play, a modern college football player’s life is highly regimented during the season.

Casanova’s typical weekday begins with breakfast at 7:15 a.m. and a workout in the weight room at eight. He attends classes from 9:15 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., followed by lunch, team meetings, prac-

Thursday, October 8, 2015 • 39

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

October, Vestavia had posted a 4-1 record, a far cry from last year’s final worksheet of 3-7.

Minor said the new season brought a new attitude to the Rebel program.

“Last year was one big disappointment,” he said. “Losing so many games wasn’t fun and we were determined not to let it happen again.”

The biggest tangible change is the improvement of the offensive unit, he said.

“Our defense is just as good as last year, but our offense has gotten a lot better,” Minor explained.

Vestavia’s best overall effort of the season may have come in the Rebels’ 37-7 rout of Class 7A Region Three rival Mountain Brook the previous week. The offense made few mistakes, while the defensive unit completely shut down the Spartans’ attack and returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

Minor also gained 64 yards rushing and scored a touchdown.

“It takes a lot of pressure off of the tice, dinner and study time. It’s virtually the same routine the next day.

“We definitely stay busy from August through the last game,” Casanova said. “There’s not a lot of down time.”

While individual honors are nice, Casanova said the main goal of his senior season is to win a championship.

“I think we’ve proven we can play with the best teams in our conference,” he said. “I would love to end my playing days here as Southern Conference champions.”

As is the case with most college players, Casanova would like a shot at professional football, but if that doesn’t come to fruition, he hopes to put his degree in sports administration to good use – preferably close to home.

“There is nothing I’d like better than to work in athletic administration right here at Samford,” he said. “This school will always be like home to me, and to work here after graduation would be a dream come true.”

Casanova isn’t the only Over the Mountain alumnus who has found a football home at Samford. Also on the Bulldogs’ roster are freshman tight end Parrish Nichols and red-shirt freshman Tyler Queen from Vestavia Hills, sophomore linebacker Austin Chapman and junior kicker Warren Hanrahan from Mountain Brook, and freshman kicker Jody Purnell from John Carroll Catholic.

offense when the defense scores two touchdowns,” Minor said.

Vestavia’s impressive early start is a vindication of Coach Buddy Anderson’s long-time philosophy that focusing on a strong running game and a stingy defense can be successful in this era of spread formations.

Minor’s efforts in 2015 have been a good example. Through five games, he has run for 431 yards on 78 carries for a 5.5 per carry average and seven touchdowns. Minor has also caught two passes for 67 yards and one score.

“It’s all about the team concept,” Minor said. “You can’t do anything in football if everybody isn’t on the same page. Any individual success I’ve had goes to the whole team.”

He got things off to a good start in Vestavia’s 41-7 opening night rout of Homewood by gaining 108 yards on 20 carries and scoring three touchdowns.

“That game set the tone,” Minor

said. “We’ve beaten Homewood in the past but it’s always been a competitive game. This time we dominated, and (it) gave us lots of momentum.”

As Minor says, he isn’t a one-man show. The development of the offensive line, led by Alex Robin and Clayton Harris, has been a key. And the Rebel defense – inconsistent at times last season – has been stellar in the first five outings. Nolan Turner is outstanding in the secondary.

While the good times seem to have come back to Vestavia football, the road ahead is long and difficult. The month of October is particularly daunting. After facing a vastly improved Thompson team last week, the Rebels play Spain Park and Hoover.

“One thing Coach Anderson always tells us is that there are no easy games – especially in our region,” Minor said.

“All we can do is work hard to get better every week. If we do that, we’ll

have a good season.”

Anderson – who became the state’s all-time winningest high school coach in 2014 – is an inspiration to his players, according to Minor.

“It’s difficult to imagine playing for any other high school coach in Alabama,” Minor said. “Coach Anderson has been so successful for so long that it’s a unique experience to play for him. He cares about all of us.

With a strong finish, Minor has a chance at reaching the exclusive 1,000yard rushing plateau, but that’s not a priority with him.

“I’ve never really thought much about it, but I guess it would be special to rush for 1,000 yards,” Minor said.

“But mainly I just want to help the team win. When it’s all over, the only numbers that matter are on the scoreboard.”

Those sound like words coming from a young man who believes in getting down to business. ❖

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Spartan Spirit of ’75

It’s incredible to believe that 40 years have passed since the 1975 Mountain Brook Spartans went 13-0 and won their first of two consecutive state championships. The players, coaches and managers of the team will have a tailgate and reunion Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Mountain Brook school cafeteria before the present-day Spartans play Oak Mountain.

Cavalier Volleys

In our recent profile of John Carroll Catholic volleyball standout Mary Catherine Hart, I unintentionally shortchanged the Lady Cavaliers’ impressive volleyball tradition. As I have been reminded, John Carroll took back-toback state volleyball crowns in 1996 and 1997, and it produced runner-up finishes in the next two seasons. I’m happy to set the record straight. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Sports

Minor Issues Senior tailback helps lead Rebel revival. Page 39

lee davis

Home Again Ex-Rebel Enjoying Role at Samford

Jose Casanova loves to play college football.

Or, more specifically, he loves playing football at Samford

Breakthrough Jags Finally End Hoover Domination

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

By Lee Davis

Bredt Stover (57), Will Mullins (50) and the Spain Park Jaguars celebrate after beating Hoover for the first time in school history last week. Inset: Head coach Shawn Raney gets a Gatorade shower following the Jags 17-0 shutout of top-ranked Hoover.

More photos at otmjsports.com

competition come to an end.

“They were able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the In the school’s 14-year hisGame of ball,” Niblett said. Hoover also hurt tory, Spain Park has had many great the week itself with two muffed punts and two moments in athletics, including state Spain Park 17 missed field goals, but the Bucs didn’t championships, Final Four appearHoover 0 hand Spain Park the win on a silver ances and rousing victories in virtuplatter. The Jags earned it. ally all sports.

Spain Park’s win came after 13 conBut there has never been a night secutive losses to Hoover. quite like Oct. 1, 2015. That date will “For this team to do something forever live in Jaguar glory, as Spain Park earned its first-ever football win over cross- that’s never been done before is unbelievable,” town rival Hoover, a team seeking its fourth con- Jag coach Shawn Raney said. “When you play a great team like Hoover, you have to believe secutive state championship. in yourself. Our guys believed.” Coincidentally, The Jags didn’t need luck or magic to earn Raney served as Hoover’s defensive coordinator the 17-0 upset, and nobody explained it better before becoming head coach at Spain Park three than Buccaneer coach Josh Niblett, who saw his See jaguars, page 38 team’s 43-game winning streak against in-state

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University.

After an outstanding career as a defensive lineman at Vestavia Hills, Casanova signed with UAB. After three years with the Blazers, he decided to make a change. And he found just the right place to go.

“I had a good experience at UAB and still keep up with a lot of the guys I played with there, but it wasn’t the right fit for me,” Casanova said last week. “I truly believe the Lord led me to be at Samford.”

The decision paid off as Casanova made an immediate impact with the Bulldogs in his junior season of 2014.

He started six games in the defensive front and played in all 11 games.

Casanova’s best performance may have come in a 52-0 rout of Stillman, as he recorded four tackles including a quarterback sack. His efforts helped Samford to a 7-4 record and runnerup finish in the Southern Conference, traditionally one of the toughest leagues in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

Soon after the season, Bulldog coach Pat Sullivan announced his retirement, so Casanova had to prepare for another transition.

“It’s always tough to follow a man like Coach Sullivan,” he said. “He was a great coach and even better person who loved our football team.”

Former Valdosta State quarterback Chris Hatcher – after a successful coaching tenure at Murray State – was hired to follow Sullivan, and Casanova adapted immediately.

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