5.20.21

OTMJ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL u OTMJ.COM

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

SOCIAL

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

SPORTS

Unless U founder Lindy Cleveland welcomes community members, Unless U students and families during a celebration of the organization’s new facility in Vestavia Hill on May 14.

See story, page 6.

Getting Better

Unless U Celebrates the Final Stages of Construction on its First Freestanding Facility

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

OPINION/CONTENTS

Inside

Murphy’s Law

I PUPPY LOVE Hand in Paw celebrates 25 years of service and announces plans to return to in-person visits PAGE 8

‘NOW IS THE TIME’ Local mountain biker embarking on the adventure of her life PAGE 10

YARD TO TABLE Local master gardener Karen Mitchell discusses how to start your own vegetable garden PAGE 10

TOP TEACHER Shades Cahaba Elementary’s Alli Phelps is state teacher of the year finalist PAGE 18

ABOUT TOWN 4 NEWS 6 LIFE 10 SOCIAL 16

was up particularly early one I started with basic cable and got a morning (thank you, Dave) and decent list of channels, but when I walked outside into a raucous chowanted to watch nonstop movies, I had rus of birdsong. There were several to add more. The British Baking Show different melodies going on simultanebumped me up to the Uber Platinum ously, so I figured the choristers were Level. It wasn’t long before I had more birds of many different feathers, but I TV channels than I had minutes in the couldn’t tell you for sure because I day (year?) to watch them. couldn’t see them. I stood on the sideBut then, as the Cat in the Hat said, walk for several minutes trying to that was not all, oh no, that was not identify all the players, but they were all. In order to watch one of my favorwisely tucked up in the tree branches. ite British mysteries, I added a super In the larger scheme of things, it didn’t programming group. I was carried hapSue Murphy really matter whether I knew the birds’ pily along through seasons 1-5, then names or not, but I thought it would hit a wall. Seasons 6-8 were owned by be fun to find out, so I downloaded a different TV concern. More chana bird song identification app, kind nels, more money.

On the video side of a Shazam for the birding world.

The annoying part is that I don’t Later that day, I heard a bird of things, it appears watch 80% of the channels in any singing, pushed the app button, and group. I have an aversion to watchthat if you buy a TV ing people lose (except in baking), hit Identify. The app made all the motions of listening, then stopped so most of the reality shows are out. set and simply plug and told me that, in order to prothe Emmys roll around, I find it into the wall, your When ceed, I would have to either give I have never seen the majority of them some money or listen to an ad. the shows, not because I don’t have programming yield I considered this poor timing, first the channels, but because I do not would be bupkis. of all, and secondly, it felt like want to spend my evenings being extortion, which made me angry, so assaulted with … well, assault by I deleted the app entirely. I don’t the kind of “uncensored programimagine the creators cared in the least, but it made me ming” that you can only do on cable TV. Really, who feel less victimized. Of course, from now on, I’ll just can sleep after all that? be referring to birds as “the chiree-chiree guy” and “the What I would dearly love is if the TV people would one who sounds like ‘cheater-cheater-cheater,’” but it’s allow you to make up a personalized channel playlist. If a small price to pay … and not to them. you wanted 10 channels, no matter which ones they I shouldn’t have been surprised. This pay-for-play were, you’d pay one price. If you wanted 20, you’d pay business is pretty widespread. I signed on for a farmore, etc. That seems fair. Or hey, how much would it reaching music subscription but found out there are still cost to just get everything? Give me a number. Just some Nashville holdouts. More money. On the video don’t hit me with additional fees mid-birdsong. side of things, it appears that if you buy a TV set and I’m sorry I went off on a tangent. I’m just a little simply plug it into the wall, your programming yield miffed about this bird app thing. “Cheater-cheaterwould be bupkis. cheater.”

WEDDINGS 23 SCHOOLS 24 SPORTS 28

otmj.com With everything that’s happening “Over the Mountain,” it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we have launched the OTMJ newsletter.

Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - we’ll give you a quick recap of the latest news, sports and social events as well as a heads up on upcoming events so you won’t miss any of the interesting and fun happenings in the Greater Birmingham metro area.

To sign up for our newsletter, visit otmj.com.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @overthemountainjournal, for daily updates on what’s going on around town, too.

Over the Mountain Views

Winning Season

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

May 20, 2021 JOU RNAL Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Emily Williams-Robertshaw, Sam Prickett Photographer: Jordan Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls, Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald, Gail Kidd Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Vol. 30, No. 20

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

Copyright 2021 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

It’s Gonna Cost Ya

Spring is a busy time for Over the Mountain high school sports programs. From baseball and softball to soccer, golf, tennis, and more, OTM students have a lot they can get involved with.

Area schools have enjoyed great success over the years including this year with Homewood, Indian Springs, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park and Vestavia all claiming at least one team title this spring. (Hoover is still in title hunt with baseball and softball teams headed to state this week). In our sports section we cover some recent title winners, including Oak Mountain 7A girls’ soccer state championship team. Celebrating the schools fourth girls’ soccer championship and first since 2015 are, from left, Raylie Neeley, Kaitlin Maynard and Hayley Wells.

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Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 3

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Alabama Ballet to Host Newly Reimagined Spring Soiree Gala

Each year, the Alabama Ballet and its supporters celebrate and raise funds through the Pointe Ball.

With health and safety in mind, this year’s annual fundraising event has been reimagined. The Alabama Ballet’s Spring Soiree will be hosted May 21, outdoors and under the stars.

The event will take place at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance and will include dinner, dancing and

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a performance by the ballet’s company members.

According to ballet officials, the event is an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s company of professional dancers as well as the patrons. Funds raised will benefit the Alabama Ballet’s school and company as well as its educational and outreach programs.

The Spring Soiree will begin with cocktails outdoors, followed by

the dance performance. Guests will then be treated to a gourmet dinner by chef Chris Hastings as well as a program.

Decor, dinner and dancing has been coordinated by Gala Committee chairwomen Candice McKinney, Marion Marx and Elizabeth Miles.

Corporate chairwomen are Melinda Sellers and Alexia Borden.

For more information, contact Director of Development Mary Goodrich at mary.goodrich@alabamaballet.org or visit alabamaballet.org/soiree.

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Red Mountain Theatre will host a series of soft opening events at its new Arts Campus, featuring familiar faces and first time performances on the Red Mountain Theatre’s MainStage and Discovery Theatre.

When: Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: Red Mountain Theatre Website: redmountaintheatre.org

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Fri., May 21 Zoo Brews: Drafts at a Distance

The Zoo’s beer-centric event series will continue, featuring a selection fo beverages from the finest specialty beer and wine makers. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: The Birmingham Zoo Website: Birminghamzoo.com

Sat., May 22 Vestavia Library Summer Reading Kick-off The Library will host a series of Summer Reading events, beginning with a kick-off for the Children’s Department, featuring Dynamic Educational Adventures. A 30-minute outdoor program will be held every hour. Registration is required. When: 10a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Website: vestavialibrary.com

Sun., May 23 Darter Fest

The Southern Environmental Center will host its eighth annual festival featuring music, beer, food and socially-distanced family fun to benefit educational programs at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. When: Noon Where: Avondale Brewing Company Website: “Southern Environmental Center” Facebook page

Tues., May 25 O’Neal Library Drive-thru Popsicle Summer Reading Kick-off

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In lieu of the annual summer reading carnival, the library is offering a drivethru celebration with Steel City Pops popsicles and summer reading prize bags. When: 5-6:30 p.m. Where: O’Neal Library Website: onealllibrary. org

Wed., May 26

Golfing for Good

The Arc of Central Alabama will host a golf tournament to raise funds for its mission to support independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Where: Greystone Golf and Country Club Website: e.givesmart.com/events/ kCu/

MEMORIAL DAY | MON., MAY 31

U.S. federal holiday to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the military.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Tues., June 1 Birmingham Boys Choir’s 43rd Annual Spring Concert

The Birmingham Boys Choir will host its annual spring concert in a virtual format this year, featuring performances by all of the choir’s ensembles and special recognition of promoting 8th graders and graduating seniors. When: 7 p.m. Website: birminghamboyschoir.com

SAVE THE DATE June 4-6 Ovation

Tiny Dances at Pizitz

The Dance Foundation Presents Live Outdoor Performance and Video Display The Dance Foundation is introducing a new event, Tiny Dances, a live outdoor performance at Pizitz Food Hall.

The June 12 performance features a variety of dance genres, from contemporary ballet to hip hop and classical Indian dance to dance theater. It will be performed at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. outside on a tiny stage at the food hall and is free to attend.

Tiny Dances also includes a multimedia installation in two windows at

The Alabama Ballet will host its annual mixed repertory performance, featuring George Blanchine’s “Serenade” and Agnes de Mille’s “Rodeo.” When: June 4, 7:30 p.m.; June 5, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; June 6, 2:30 p.m. Where: Dorothy Jemison Day Theater Website: alabamaballet. org/ovation

the Pizitz featuring a 20-minute film of dances by choreographers whose work also is on the live program: Alessia Lovreglio, Anna Foshee, Grace Kurasaka and Bria Tyner.

Dance Foundation Artistic Director Rachael Inman’s vision for the event

was to support local artists and promote the creation of new choreographic works and collaboration, in line with the foundation’s mission to inspire creativity, curiosity and confidence.

Inman put a call out to dance artists in January to submit choreography to be considered for the event. Twelve choreographers were selected by a panel of adjudicators.

“I conceptualized the idea for the windows inspired by such strong video dance submissions from the Tiny

Dances choreographers,” Inman said.

“The windows are usually used for installs of seasonal art, etc. I asked if I could use the windows for the performance because I loved the idea of installing dance in a glass ‘case’ … like a microcosm of a stage setting. Mindy Rohr at Bayer Properties encouraged my vision.”

Tiny Dances is sponsored by Liza Delzell and is made possible, in part, by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.

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This socially distanced concert series will be hosted on Father’s Day weekend, featuring a lineup of local and international including headliners Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Moon Taxi and Tonic. When: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Where: The Birmingham Zoo Website: euphonious.ai

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Photo courtesy ASO

Getting Better

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Unless U Celebrates the Final Stages of Construction on its First Free-Standing Facility

Celebrating the almost completely finished new home of Unless U last Friday were, from left, Lindy Cleveland, Mo Oliver and Lisa McAlpin Williams.

By Emily Williams-Robertshaw

O

ver six years ago, Vestavia Hills resident Lindy Cleveland was volunteering with a summer camp at United Ability and was asked to go on a field trip with some of the students to see the movie “The Lorax.”

One simple quote packing a whole lot of meaning stuck with her and lit a fire in her heart: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

The words are at the heart of the nonprofit she founded days later in her parent’s house with her brother Jordan, who has Down Syndrome, and his close friends.

The nonprofit, Unless U, seeks to provide faith-based continuing education and teach development and life skills to adults with disabilities. It now has its own facility where students like her brother can achieve a collegestyle experience.

“My story and my connection started in 2003 with some special Hoover Bucs behind me,” said board President Ammie Akin.

A clinical professor for the University of Alabama’s Center for the Study of Ethical Development, Akin’s career in education began at Hoover High School, where she served as an exceptional education teacher.

“It really is a remarkable story, but the most important storyline today is

Above, Jamie Brown with Susan, Pete and Jody Peddy. Right, Peter and Leah Guarisco.

the story of a brother with a disability, a sister with a vision and a God with a plan,” Akin said.

Though the facility isn’t completely finished, community members, Unless U students and families gathered for a celebration May 14, entering the building to be greeted by the inspirational Dr. Seuss quote.

When Unless U first outgrew Cleveland’s parents’ house, she reached out to her church, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and the Rev. Danny Wood, who leased her space for Unless U in 2014.

“I told Danny, we’re only going to

be here for a year or two,” Cleveland said to the crowd.

After finding the space at 737 Chestnut Street in Vestavia Hills,

donated by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and Karen and Jerry Duncan, considerable work had to be done to create a campus.

The organization broke ground on the site on its fourth anniversary, in 2018, not knowing that the work to be done would be met with obstacles as great as a pandemic.

When she hired her contractor, Cleveland said she told him, “You need to armor up, because Satan is going to attack us in every way possible.

“He recently said, I’ve seen Satan attack before, but I’ve never seen him pitch a tent.”

Despite the struggles, visitors who toured the facility were greeted by high-tech classrooms, a library, a teaching kitchen, space for fine arts practices and other offerings.

After another few weeks of work, the facility’s ice cream shop, Unless U Scoops, will be complete. The shop will be a vocational opportunity for students as they sell ice cream provided by Big Spoon Creamery to the public.

Within the walls, Cleveland and her staff will be able to double the amount of students they serve and will continue to offer continuing education in academics, intramural sports and other areas.

Cleveland’s father, Doug Williamson, applauded the day and his daughter and thanked the many people who helped make the building a reality.

“Standing in this building today is a testament to our heart and our community as hundreds of you have financially supported this program,” said Williamson, who added that there is no debt on the facility.

“The funding for this building began with our students and families and it quickly became a communitywide effort. To all of you, we express our gratitude.”

Through teary eyes, he addressed his daughter, stating that words could not express his pride or her mother’s pride.

“We have watched your love for Jordan and his friends grow in your heart from the time you were a very little girl,” Williamson said. “It brings to mind Esther 4:14, ‘For perhaps you were born for such a time as this.’”

As Unless U looks forward to the future, leaders there have scheduled the 2021 Unless U Got Talent for Aug. 20 at The Lyric Theatre.

Funds raised at the event will support the completion of any remaining projects on the new campus building.

For more information, visit unlessu.org.

Mark Patrick

ASO Taps New Executive Director The Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s interim executive director, Mark Patrick, has been formally named to take over as the next executive director of the ASO. Patrick began his tenure with the organization in 2004 as stage manager and since has served in several roles, from director of operations to general manager and now executive director.

During that time, he has cultivated relationships with members of the orchestra, staff and community and corporate partners.

Patrick’s experience in artistic leadership, budgetary management and arts advocacy have prepared him to lead the institution, ASO leaders said in a statement.

“Over the years, we have been proud to have Mark Patrick as a member of the ASO administration. It has been a pleasure to work with him on various ASO programs and initiatives, especially as the orchestra expanded its online programing this year,” the outgoing chairman of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Dixon Brooke, said in the statement.

Danny McKinney, incoming chairman of the association added, “I welcome Mark Patrick in his new role as executive director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He has brought fresh ideas to our organization and has guided us throughout this time of transition. I look forward to our partnership in the coming years as we work to expand access to orchestral music across Alabama.”

The ASO also formally named Kimberly King director of development. King has 20 years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising, membership development and community awareness generation.

Before joining the ASO in 2019 as corporate development and events manager, she spent time as the development officer for the Birmingham Museum of Art and then member of the museum’s board. Her ability to organize a volunteer workforce, execute large-scale special events and grow an organization’s membership base were cited as reasons for naming her to her new position.

Other officers in the association are Carol Phillips, treasurer, and Karen Piassick, secretary.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 7

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Hand in Paw volunteer Suzanne Wood with Charlie, far left, have been a Therapy Team since 2014. This photo taken at The Burkett Center in 2018 is an example of a Hand In Paw Heals visit with a goal of improving fine motor skills and joint movement while providing furry motivation.

Puppy Love

Hand in Paw Celebrates 25 Years of Service and Announces Plans to Return to In-Person Visits Hand in Paw is returning to in-person animal-assisted therapy visits after having to provide virtual visits during the pandemic.

Citing the availability of COVID19 vaccines, Hand in Paw officials said they would begin slowly by hosting small, socially distanced therapy team refresher courses to introduce new health and safety visit protocols. The group is working with its partners to ensure volunteer, staff and client safety.

“Our therapy teams shifted to virtual visits during COVID-19 and are preparing for a return to in-person visits,” Hand in Paw founder Beth Franklin said in a statement. “There is a huge need for these teams to help those who have suffered so many losses, and we are eager to be part of their healing.”

During the pandemic, Hand in Paw created TeleHIP therapy teams to keep in touch with program partners online by using video conferencing tools.

“Understanding the isolation and loneliness of our community, therapy teams embraced technology and learned to serve in creative and interesting ways,” Executive Director Margaret Stinnett said. “Program Partners like Children’s Hospital, UAB, the Exceptional Foundation, Glenwood and Girls Inc. collaborated with Hand in Paw to develop new ways of providing therapeutic support and educational experiences. Many schools welcomed therapy teams to work with struggling readers and life skill-oriented classrooms. It has been a time of ‘coming together’ for teachers, health care workers and volunteers.”

Hand in Paw announced its return to in-person therapy on the occasion of its 25th anniversary of providing animal-assisted therapy to north central Alabama and Tuscaloosa.

Franklin in 1996 struck out on a mission to create an organization that would improve people’s lives through animal-assisted therapy, at a time

when such therapy had not been much in the spotlight. She and her rescued peke-a-poo, Jessica, had their first visit at UAB’s Comprehensive Care Center and, along with other volunteer handler and animal therapy teams, quickly became a familiar sight in area hospitals, schools, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.

Today, the group has more than 70 program partners and 100 therapy teams. The teams are trained in a state-of-the-art facility that was renovated and expanded in 2019, after a $2 million capital campaign. The expanded campus enables the organization to train more potential teams and serve more of the community.

The campus also can be used for service projects, educational events and volunteer orientations.

Hand in Paw in its early years focused on visits to children. But now it provides animal-assisted therapy to people of all ages. Its program areas are HIP Heals, which focuses on mental health, wellness and compassion; HIP Reads, which focuses on education, literacy and special education; and HIP Cares, which focuses on life skills, mentoring and animal advocacy.

Hand in Paw relies on donors to fund its work. To donate, go to handinpaw.org/donate. —Virginia Martin

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Alabama Theatre Announces Summer Series, Continues to Raise Funds to Cover COVID Losses This summer, the Alabama Theatre will be back in action, hosting its annual summer film series with some adjustments to meet health concerns.

The series was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the theater’s winter movie series had to be canceled after just a few showings.

In addition to adhering to social distancing guidelines, the 2021 summer season has been shortened from its traditional 14-film run to eight classic movies, instead.

Kicking off the series of film screenings will be a sing-along showing of the 1978 film “Grease” on July 9 at 7 p.m.

Additional showings will be “Singing’ in the Rain” on July 11 at 2 p.m.; “9 to 5” on July 16 at 7 p.m.; “The Princess Bride” on July 18 at. 2 p.m.; “The Color Purple” on July 23 at 7 p.m.; “The Wizard of Oz” on July 25 at 2 p.m.; and “Steel Magnolias” on July 30 at 7 p.m.

Closing out the seasonal series will be a showing of “The Sound of Music,” on Aug. 1 at 2 p.m.

Guests may notice that the traditional showing of the film “Gone with the Wind” is not included.

According to theater officials, “Gone With the Wind” was not available for licensing.

The venue will be selling tickets to the series at 50% capacity, coming in at about 1,100 guests.

In addition, sing-alongs with the theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will kick off the movie viewings.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at alabamatheatre.com.

While the return of the summer series is a sign that things are returning to some form of normalcy, the Alabama and Lyric Theatres are in the red.

The historic buildings that have survived downtown for more than a century, dipping in and out of disrepair over the years, has lost an estimated $2 million in revenue.

The facilities are owned and operated by Birmingham Landmarks Inc. and are not publicly funded. Both buildings are pieces of history, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and, therefore, require constant maintenance.

While ticket sales will help pay for current costs to maintain the facilities, it cannot cover the losses.

To support the Alabama and Lyric theaters and ensure their survival, donate to their GoFundMe Charity page, “Save the Alabama and Lyric Theatres,” or go to the individual theater’s home pages.

—Emily Williams-Robertshaw

While the return of the summer series is a sign that things are returning to some form of normalcy, the Alabama and Lyric Theatres are in the red. The historic buildings that have survived downtown for more than a century, dipping in and out of disrepair over the years, has lost an estimated $2 million in revenue.

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

8 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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10 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

‘Now is the Time’

LIFE

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Local Mountain Biker Embarking on the Adventure of Her Life

By Rubin E. Grant

A

few years ago, Audrey Tangye received an invitation from her good friend Grace Ragland to join her on the world’s longest mountain bike race, the 2,750mile Tour Divide.

But Tangye wasn’t in a position to go, so she didn’t join Ragland for the summer 2018 race that stretched from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide.

Between work and being the single mother of two daughters in the Homewood school system, Tangye couldn’t afford to be away for the four or five weeks it would have taken to complete the race.

“I just couldn’t fit it in,” Tangye said.

Since then, Ragland, an ultraendurance athlete who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while in college at the age of 18, died in 2020 at the age of 58 after a nearly two-year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Her story has been chronicled in the acclaimed book, “Divide by One.” Now, in honor of her late friend, Tangye finally will embark on what

she calls the adventure of a lifetime, taking part in the original Great Divide Mountain Bike Race. She will fly to Montana on June 8 and begin the race June 11.

“I have been doing ultra-mountain bike racing since I was 23 and now I’m 50,” Tangye said.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten slower and I know I can’t ride forever so if I was going to do it, now is the time.

“I am doing it in remembrance of Grace and to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis. She had raced all over the world despite her MS.” Tangye received encouragement from her brother to go for it after Ragland’s memorial service last year.

“After her funeral, my brother said to me, ‘Ride the Divide,’” Tangye said. “He also said ride her bike to finish it.”

Tangye told her brother she would do it, but with one exception.

By Emily Williams-Robertshaw

S

pring is typically an exciting time for Karen Mitchell, a longtime Birmingham Botanical Garden and Aldridge Gardens volunteer and local master gardener.

This year, she was glad that the BBG’s Spring Plant Sale persevered, but going virtual isn’t the same as meeting in person.

Mitchell’s duties for the annual sale are to pick out the varieties of vegetable plants that will be sold at the event. Her preparations begin when she orders all of the seed in January each year.

Selling a vegetable plant online just isn’t the same for Mitchell. She prefers meeting people and having a discussion. People want to know how to treat their new plant so it not only thrives, but it also yields food.

“I miss these events because I just love talking to people about plants and gardening,” Mitchell said.

She has been able to tide herself over by providing gardening information to the community through virtual events.

Recently she worked with Trinity United Methodist Church to provide advice on starting your own vegetable garden. On June 4 at noon, she’ll present her “Hydrangeas 101” program for the Homewood Public Library.

One of Mitchell’s best pieces of advice for new gardeners is not to put too much pressure on yourself.

“I’m a master gardener,” she said. “You know what that means? I’ve killed many more plants than you have.”

The distinction is set out by the American Horticulture Society after someone completes

Audrey Tangye, above, is set to embark on what she calls the adventure of a lifetime, taking part in the original Great Divide Mountain Bike Race, in honor of her late friend, Grace Ragland, left.

“I won’t be riding her bike,” Tangye said. “Her bike is too small for me.”

Ragland completed what is considered one of the world’s most difficult bike packing off-road races in 43 days.

The remote route went from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, on the border of Mexico.

After Ragland completed the race, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

“She was amazingly positive and tough,” Tangye said. “She always said,

Yard to Table

Local Master Gardener Karen Mitchell Discusses How to Start Your Own Vegetable Garden Mitchell’s paternal grandparents gardened as well.

When she was growing up, her family had only an acre, but Mitchell remembers her parents plowed up some of it to plant a garden.

“I remember mother telling me, ‘Go up to the garden and get me a pepper,’ or, ‘Go up to the garden and get me a green tomato,” Mitchell said.

As a mother raising her own children, there didn’t seem to be a need to till a big space in her and maybe a jalapeño.

Tanglewood yard in Vestavia Hills.

Passionate About Vegetables In fact, she’s only been a Mitchell found that one of her master gardener for about a passions is growing vegetadecade. There just wasn’t bles. Perhaps it was in her enough time before that.

DNA, having come from a “Especially for young long line of people who families, don’t beat yourtilled their own soil. self up about this,” “My mother’s parents she said. “I didn’t were coal miners in East have time until my Tennessee and they had a kids got older, and I big garden plot,” Mitchell didn’t become a master garsaid. “They fed their 10 kids out of dener until I retired. And I started small.” it. They had a lot of their own crops, corn, beans According to Mitchell, when she was raising and a hog that they would butcher.” her children, the idea of growing your own vegintensive training in horticulture.

Those who obtain the distinction then volunteer their time in their community as lecturers and garden creators, they conduct research and meet other guidelines.

“When you go through master gardener training, you come out an inch deep and a mile wide,” Mitchell said. “It’s a survey course and then you get Karen Mitchell said her ideas of places that you like to favorite plants to start out focus on. Some people pick Japanese maples or hydrangeas.” with are tomatoes, peppers

‘To finish is to win.’”

Tangye’s border-to-border ride will be minus the 260-mile section from Banff to the border of Montana because of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. Going into Canada would mean a mandatory quarantine before the race started.

One of the stipulations of the race is the biker has to be self-supported, meaning Tangye has to pack everything she needs on her bike, such as

See TANGYE, page 12

etables wasn’t as accessible as it is today.

Creating raised beds to avoid tilling the yard and treating existing soil weren’t popular ideas.

It wasn’t until the ‘80s and ‘90s, when retired engineer and American gardener Mel Bartholomew introduced his commercial-gardening-turned-accessible method “Square Foot Gardening,” that the idea of raised beds became widely popular.

“With a raised bed, you don’t have to worry about changing the soil, you can just start fresh,” Mitchell said.

Folks with enough yard space and good light could consider starting their own garden.

One of Mitchell’s great resources is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services site, a cooperative of Auburn University and the University of Alabama A&M. The program provides an enormous amount of information on lawn and gardening that anyone can access.

It recently started a video series under its Grow More, Give More initiative that breaks down everything you need to know to get your garden started.

“They have short videos on everything: gardening in containers, raised bed gardening, building a raised bed, heirloom vegetables, freezing your vegetables. It’s a ton of resources for people who want to get started,” Mitchell said.

The Gardening Trinity

Mitchell’s advice for folks starting out is to consider the three necessities of gardening: sunshine, soil and water.

“You can control the soil with a raised bed or a pot,” she said. “You can control the water. The See MITCHELL, page 12

Celebrate_OTMJ_10.375x12.68_v1_printmarked.pdf

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 11

LIFE

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12 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

MITCHELL From page 10

sunshine is hard to control.”

When Mitchell first started working as a master gardener, she was working with the Hand in Hand Learning Center at United Ability to create a teaching garden with a good friend, the late Dr. Gary Edwards.

“I planted the same transplants out there in full sun in a raised bed that I had in Vestavia, but I’m on a sloping lot and I kept my original trees,”

Mitchell said. “I don’t get the full 6 to 8 hours of sun. I maybe get 4 to 5.

“The difference in the gardens was amazing,” Mitchell said. “The sun makes the biggest difference.”

This is why Mitchell suggests folks start small with some container gardening. It also is a space saver for people who are downsizing or living in apartments because you can easily move the plant around to control the amount of sunlight it gets.

Some great plants to start with, Mitchell said, are transplants.

Growing from seed is very time con-

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“I’ve grown squash from seed and I’ve grown cucumbers from seed, but the tomatoes especially I like the transplants. I don’t want to have to grow my own,” she said.

The best place to purchase transplants is at a local nursery, she added.

Her favorite plants to start out with are tomatoes, peppers and maybe a jalapeño.

“We usually talk to kids about making a salsa garden,” she said.

“You’ll plant a jalapeño, maybe some Roma tomatoes, which are less juicy and can be cut up into salsa.”

She said to be mindful about delving into cilantro. She tried for a while thinking that it was a hot weather plant. Former Birmingham Botanical Gardens CEO Fred Spicer kindly let her know that cilantro does grow in Central America, but in the cool mountain areas.

Mitchell pointed out that summer is the perfect time to plant species that love the warmth.

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“A lot of times you will see tomato transplants in March,” she said.

“Well, they’re just going to sit there in that cold ground because they like warmth.”

It’s tomato time. Other great hot weather plants include okra, eggplant and other squashes.

“Steer clear of lettuces,” Mitchell said. That’s a spring or fall endeavor.

Mitchell noted that she has found herself delving more into companion planting, which lends itself to container gardening.

“Basil likes to be planted with tomatoes, just like it likes to be eaten with tomatoes,” she said.

“Eggplant will get what you call a flea beetle, which is just these little tiny beetles that eat holes in the leaves and hop like fleas,” she said.

“Mint repels it. So, now I plant my eggplant on either side of a big pot of mint.

Serenity

For Mitchell, choosing to garden vegetables isn’t about saving money.

It’s about the experience.

“It’s the freshness and the fun of watching it grow,” she said.

She loves to grow bush beans and green beans for her table.

“I enjoy having the fresh green beans,” she said.

According to Mitchell, it takes about $25 to grow one tomato, so it isn’t about the money.

“Part of having a garden is that you want to go out there and scout it and see what’s going on because you can

often catch trouble before it’s too far along,” she said. “You always have to be sure you have some good water supply.”

Gardening has given her a great outlet to get outdoors and spend time in a serene endeavor.

“On Mother’s Day, my daughter took the kids to her house for the day and I spent a lovely afternoon planting my window boxes with red, white and blue ornamentals,” she said.

She’s been a part of a study on how gardening enhances physical wellbeing.

“I’m a two-time cancer survivor as well,” she said. “I participated in the pilot program, Harvest for Health, where they paired a master gardener with a cancer survivor.”

The study was conducted at UAB, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services. The at-home gardening intervention program not only looked at how the activity enhanced food intake for cancer survivors, but how gardening enhanced physical activity, quality of life and physical function.

TANGYE From page 10

food, water, clothes, toiletries and camping gear.

To: “You cannot have someone waiting From: for you to help you,” Tangye said, “and you can’t ask for anything. If Date: something happens to your bike, you have to be able to fix it.

“You also have to be aware of any wildlife, such as grizzly bears and mountain lions. We’ve got 800 miles Please make sure all information is correct, in Montana, which is high grizzly including address and phone number! country.”

To: Mary Charles Robbins Tangye, a clinical educator for the From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., biotechnology company Genentech, Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

205-824-1246, has been training for weeks, taking if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, fax your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Date: May 2010 long rides in some difficult terrains.

She also will be raising money for Thank you for your prompt attention. the Tanner Foundation for MS. To: Mary Charles This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Tangye’s friend and Genentech co- 4:30pm From: Over the Mountain JuneJournal 3, 2010 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. worker Jamie M. Laney said Tangye’s 823-9646 ph, 824-1246 fax decision to ride the Divide speaks of Date: Nov 2018 Please make sure all information is correct, her character.

“She’sasa caring person and including address and phone number!

This is your ad proof for the OTMJ for the November 15, 2018issue.

Please contact your sales representative as soon possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246. thoughtful of others,” Laney said. very determined and she likes initial and fax backincluding within 24address hours. and phone number!“She’s Please make sure all Please information is correct, challenges.

She’s done some other athIf we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, letic feats.

23-9646 ph., your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

“I think what she’s doing is pheThank you for your prompt If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before theattention. press date, your ad will run as is. nomenal because of what it does to the e Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 05-824-1246 body and mind. I think it’s very cool Thank you for your prompt attention. that she’s also doing it as a fundraiser, m the AD OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL the bringing recognition to the disease.” your PROOF from the OVER THE for MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the ease fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Those interested can track Tangye’s ay 20, 2021 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. journey at trackleaders.com. She will be wearing a GPS system called a ure all information is correct, is correct, including make sure all information Spot tracker that tracks her location dress and phone and number! address phone number! and is updated at regular intervals. On June 11, the day of her departure, go and fax back within 24and hours. to the site, click on the list of races Please initial fax back within 24 hours. m you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, and click the Border-to-Border Great If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Divide Mountain Bike Race, then look your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. for Tangye’s bubble with the initials for yourThank prompt attention. you for your prompt attention.

“AT!”

les’ se

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To donate as part of the fundraiser, visit Tangye’s Swell Donation page with Tanner Foundation at divideandconquer.swell.gives/Ride.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

UAB Doctor Receives International Rotary Honor for Cervical Cancer Work

Dr. Isabel Scarinci, senior adviser for globalization and cancer at UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, was named one of six Rotary People of Action: Champions of Health for her effort to address cervical cancer in Sri Lanka.

With less than half of the global population receiving essential health services, Rotary members are taking

By developing a replicable training model for midwives, the project strengthens Sri Lanka’s health care system and can serve as a pilot plan that can be used in other countries. action to connect those in need to life-saving treatment and disease prevention while helping to strengthen community health systems.

Scarinci’s project aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Sri Lanka by vaccinating girls against the human papilloma virus at age 10 and screening women for cervical cancer at ages 35 and 45 with HPV DNA testing.

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 13

LIFE

Rotarian Dr. Isabel Scarinci is senior adviser for globalization and cancer at UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The project aims to improve the capacity of local health care professionals, promote disease prevention and treatment programs that limit the spread of communicable diseases and reduce the incidence and effect of non-communicable diseases. By developing a replicable training model for midwives, the project strengthens Sri Lanka’s health care system and can serve as a pilot plan that can be used in other countries.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by Rotary for my work to help eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem,” Scarinci, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, said. “But what’s most

important is that this award helps bring attention to a disease that should not be as prevalent as it is.

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, yet it is the second most common cancer in women worldwide.

Raising awareness of this fact will save lives by helping to inform women everywhere that there is screening to protect themselves and a vaccine to protect their daughters from this devastating disease.”

Rotary International President Holger Knaack said COVID-19 had demonstrated the importance of having strong health care systems.

“Treating and preventing disease is one of Rotary’s top causes. I am inspired by our members who are helping millions of our most vulnerable receive essential health services,” Knaack said. “With local knowledge, skills and innovative thinking, our six Champions of Health are strengthening health care systems and helping more people gain access to care in the long term.”

The Cervical Cancer Elimination Project is a partnership between the Rotary Club of Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Rotary Club of Colombo (Sri Lanka), Ashok Leyland Company and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health.

—Virginia Martin

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14 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

LIFE

Rehab Reality...

by Judy Butler

May Isn’t My Favorite Month Any More

There was a time when I looked forward to May, but no longer. Mother’s Day has come and gone. There is another day that reminds me of losing my son Jeff. His birthday is the 22nd just another day I dread.

The only positive I have out of these dates is I had him for 46 years, a whole collection of cards and memories he gave me. Finally, I live with the knowledge that I could have lost him many years before.

Enough of the pity poor me. Jeff impacted a lot of lives before we started Bayshore Retreat and now even after his passing. His idea to create Bayshore Retreat was born out of his experiences with addiction himself. He brought together a wonderful staff that embraces his philosophy and the knowledge that “no one plans on becoming an addict”.

Some clients who have gone to a “big box” rehab say that their philosophy is “they have to break them to remake them”.

Seriously?

One of the advantages of Bayshore Retreat is we only have 6 client at a time – one of the disadvantages of Bayshore Retreat is we only have 6 cli-

ents at a time. By that I mean that someone is going to have to share a room while 2 people have a room by themselves.

Compare that to the “big box” rehab and you’re looking a dorm settings. Clients walk into my foyer, not a lobby perhaps with a uniformed guard.

It’s about mental and physical health. Clients at Bayshore Retreat receive about 30 hours of counseling in the form of individual at least twice a week, group everyday except Saturdays. Saturday is a day for fun, for instance they go sailing or fishing or some fun activity.

They also work with a coach on Life Skills, which covers topics such as Irrational Thinking, Relationships, Anger and other real life issues. It’s about a re-start in life without alcohol or substance that can lead to addiction. It’s about physical health with chef prepared meals, vitamins, exercise, sauna and massage therapy.

Finally, the location is healing itself with its beautiful water front location on the Choctahatchee Bay. When searching for help with addiction compare everything. When I say Bayshore Retreat is different and can make a difference I mean it. To quote Jeff, “Mom can we do this and do it right?” rings in my heart everyday.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 15

LIFE

Celebrating Those Who Serve Vestavia Sunrise Rotary Salutes First Responders

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

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It was a beautiful day May 1 as the Vestavia Sunrise Rotary Club hosted its annual First Responders Celebration on the lawn in front of Vestavia Hills City Hall.

The day was filled with live music as well as a shrimp boil with all the fixings.

Not only does the annual event celebrate local firefighters, police officers and emergency medical per-

sonnel, but their families, as well. In addition, funds raised at the celebration are used to help the city’s first responders buy needed equipment that isn’t covered by the city’s budget.

Guests were greeted at the event

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16 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

POINSETTIA IN SPRING

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

T

he Ballet Women’s Committee and Poinsettia Men’s Club hosted the 53rd Annual Poinsettia Ball on May 7 at Vestavia Country Club.

Revenue generated from the ball supports the Alabama Ballet.

Twenty-four debutantes were dressed in white gowns and carried bouquets of red roses. They were presented in the ballroom to a crowd of family and friends. These young ladies were nominated in the spring of their sophomore years in college and presented in their junior years.

The debutantes were Harper Elizabeth Anderson, Emily Anne Beauchaine, Caroline Parrish Branche, Caroline Dawson Christiansen, Ellen Louise Farris, Sarah Hamilton Gladney, Katherine Alison Glenn, Caroline Elizabeth Green, Frederica Elizabeth Hecker, Lily Grace Henley, Rachel Aileen Lebo, Taylor Morgan McGill, Georgia Patricia Morros, Catherine Shelby Patterson, Nicole Marie Plaia, Caroline Marie Rice, Anna Jane Roberson, Mary Catherine Saville, Emily Lynn Taylor, Caitlyn Calloway Tyus, Anna Wynne Watts, Mary Evelyn Welch, Courtney Anne Westhoven and Sarah Michael Whisenhunt.

Eighteen junior debutantes were presented in red gowns and carried bouquets of white roses. The junior debutantes are seniors in high school.

The junior debutantes were Hallie Elizabeth Azar, Anna Catherine Bochnak, Greer Elizabeth Boland, Caitlyn Ann Burris, Adeline Elizabeth Carroll, Caroline Grace Cox, Kendall Nicole Dillon, Maria Kathleen Elliott, Anne Lauren Ermert, Catherine Anne Gray, Margaret Ann Green, Abigail Kathryn Mason, Madison Miller McGill, Addie Simms Roberson, Abigail Neville Stockard, Diane Claire Westhoven, Wesley Kellam Williamson and Gracie Katherine Yates.

The evening began with a private presentation of the Poinsettia Debutantes at the Benefactor’s Dinner sponsored by the Men’s Club. The dinner was coordinated by Lynn and Donnie Dobbins.

Don Mosley, of Sounds of Birmingham, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. Each debutante was presented to ball guests on the arm of her father or escort.

After a father-daughter waltz following the presentation, dance music was provided by Az Izz. The evening festivities were coordinated by Poinsettia Ball board

Ballet Women’s Committee Hosts 53rd Annual Poinsettia Ball

Courtney Westhoven, Caroline Rice, Anna Roberson and Mary Cate Saville.

Caroline Green, Sarah Michael Whisenhunt, Georgia Morros and Shelby Patterson.

Nicole Plaia, Harper Anderson, Rica Hecker and Katie Glenn.

Rachel Lebo, Emily Taylor, Caitlyn Tyus and Sarah Gladney.

Emily Anne Beauchaine, Caroline Christiansen, Caroline Branche, Winne Watts and Ellen Farris.

President Liz Guest with the support of Poinsettia Ball Chairman Jayna Southerland and Cindy Tyus, the debutante social chairman.

Other board members helping with the event were Sharon Maddox, Lianne Hand, Stephanie Whisenhunt, Tammy Towns, Kelly

Lily Henley, Mary Evelyn Welch and Tayor McGill.

Triano, Ashley Moran, Cindy Tyus, Jayna Southerland, Melissa Mcmurray, Allison Herr and Sarah Bryan.

The Ballet Women’s Committee was founded in 1960 to foster and promote the fine arts in the greater Birmingham area. In 1968, the

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 17

SOCIAL

Emily Anne Beauchaine and Caroline Wilson.

Poinsettia Debutante Ball was created at the proposal of Mrs. John W. Gustafson. The Poinsettia Men’s Club was formed in 1969 to support and promote the goals and activities of the Ballet Women’s Committee. The Men’s Club president is Mike Gregory. The Ballet Women’s Committee president is Ashley Stockard. ❖

Above, Abigail Kathryn Mason with parents Dave and Mary Mason. Below left, Brooke Westhoven, Diane Westhoven and Caroline Lytle. Below rigth, Brad and Victoria Stockard.

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Dual Presentation

Because the Ball of Roses was canceled in 2020, two balls on two consecutive nights will be held this year.

The 2020 Ball of Roses will be held June 4, and the 2021 Ball of Roses will be held June 5, both in the East Room of the Country Club of Birmingham. They will celebrate the Ball of Roses’ 60th and 61st anniversaries.

The presentations begin at 9 p.m.

The balls are fundraisers for the Alabama Ballet. The 2020 ball is sponsored by Amber Andrews Sones, and the 2021 ball is sponsored by Anna Catherine Roberson, both serving as presidents of the Ballet Guild of Birmingham. The 2021 ball’s executive vice president is Ann Evans Andrews Nix.

The 2020 ball chairman, Madison Whatley Merrill Greer, and ball cochairman, Mary Elizabeth Roberson, have collaborated with Carole Sullivan to create a night filled with glamour and beauty using white roses and gold and silver accents. They hope to create an elegant backdrop of white to showcase the debutantes in their pops of pastels.

The 2021 ball chairman, Mary Elizabeth Roberson, and co-chairman, Dorsey Cox Higginbotham, will be adding feminine touches of blush pink and rouge roses surrounding the guests in a garden-like scene.

The Men’s Committee Dinner chairs, Lacey Whatley Alford and Handley Breaux McCrory, have planned a formal seated dinner for

donors before the presentation. This year, the Ball of Roses will be presenting 57 girls Friday evening and 66 Saturday evening.

In the first Ball of Roses, in August 1961, 11 young women from Birmingham were presented.

Each year, the ball is sponsored by the Ballet Guild of Birmingham, which is an invitational organization of young woman dedicated to supporting the ballet in Birmingham through fundraising and volunteer work. Founded in 1959, the Ballet Guild was organized to promote and foster development of ballet in Birmingham in addition to raising funds for its support. Since its inception, the Ballet Guild has raised more than $1 million for the Alabama Ballet. ❖

Photos courtesy Ball of Roses Committee

Ball of Roses Split Over Two Nights to Showcase 2020 and 2021 Debutantes

Ball Committee members are, front, from left, Mary Elizabeth Roberson, 2021 ball chair, and Madison Greer, 2020 ball chair. Back, Handley McCrory, 2021 men’s committee dinner chair; Dorsey Higginbotham, 2021 ball cochair; and Lacey Alford, 2020 men’s committee dinner chair.

2020 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES

Edith King Amason, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert Amason III

Virginia Bowron Beasley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Martin Beasley Jr.

Mary Frances Bloodworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Ferris Bloodworth Jr.

Emily Lynne Bolvig, daughter of Mr. Axel Bolvig III and Dr. Lori Davis

Anne Coleman Bradford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Wade Bradford

Mary Johnson Bradford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Wade Bradford

Jane Elisabeth Branch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Charles Branch III

Caroline Davis Briggs, daughter of Drs. Elizabeth and Dick Dowling Briggs III

Kate McCarroll Bumgarner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen James Bumgarner

Katherine Manon Burris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew David Burris Sr.

Mary Margaret Bromberg Byrne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Russell Byrne

Virginia Grace Carmichael, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Troy Carmichael

Margaret Anne Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Michael Clark

Sarah Brasfield Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Lawrence Cooper Jr.

Jane Anne Creighton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Langley Creighton

Gunter Moren Crommelin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Claiborne Crommelin

Hunter Caroline Davies, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Davies Jr.

Carlee Amanda Dawkins, daughter of Mr. George Wilbur Dawkins III

Mary Margaret de la Torre, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jorge de la Torre

Elise Louis Doss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Coates Doss

Hannah Marie Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Atwood Elliott III

Charlotte McCammon Farrar, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Harwell Farrar

Virginia Foster Farrar, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Richard Farrar Jr.

Alden Jackson Gibbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Alva Gibbs III

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 19

SOCIAL 2020 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES CONTINUED

Elizabeth Rose Gillespy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Palfery Gillespy

Ansley Caldwell Gross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Arenz Gross III

Lucille Graves Harris daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Shamblin Harris

Elizabeth Sperling Harvey, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jimmie Huling Harvey Jr.

Brooke Campbell Holloway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas Holloway

Margaret Jean Holloway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wilkinson Holloway

Cynthia Claire Jones, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Dewey H. Jones IV

Caroline Elizabeth Keller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter L. Keller III

Mary Jordan Kilgore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Allen Kilgore Jr.

Charlotte Roberts Kinney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Lee Kinney

Mary Margaret Kirkland, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ira Kirkland

Ruth Evelyne Wynne Kirkland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Burnham Kirkland

Nina Elizabeth Law daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. George Herschel Law Jr.

Virginia Merritt Leak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lawayne Leak

Nancy Kathryne Letzer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph William Letzer

Grace Anne Logan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Scott Logan

Madeline Elizabeth McDavid, daughter of Hallie Von Hagen McDavid and Lee Allen McDavid Jr.

Elaine Wright McDonald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William White McDonald Jr.

Frances Kendrick McFadden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hampton McFadden Jr.

Elizabeth Renneker McMillan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Murphy McMillan III

Sarah Scott McPherson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hood McPherson IV

Anne Frances Norris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Byrd Norris V

Anne Kendall Outland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Outland

Carol Ann Sandner Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hardy Phillips

Mary Walker Poe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hoke Poe

Susan Alexandra Preston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Nelson Preston Jr.

Alice Jordan Pulliam, daughter of The Honorable Teresa and Mr. Maxwell H. Pulliam

Anne Helen Ritter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Dowd Ritter

Helen Katherine Schanbacher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orville William Schanbacher III

Lealis Grace Schilleci, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Michael Schilleci

Anne Lewis Simmons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Wilson Simmons

Caroline Carlisle Sims, daughter of Mr. George William Sims II and Mrs. Caroline Coleman Edwards

Katherine Hollon Skinner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Julian Skinner IV

Jane Perry Starling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Jefferson Starling III

Emma Bolling Hall Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Malcolm Taylor III

Mary Adelaide Vandevelde, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Harrison Vandevelde IV

Carolyn Dickinson Wahlheim, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Bernhart Wahlheim Jr.

Catherine Elizabeth Walthall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kennon Made Walthall

Nicole Broach Waudby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Waudby

Marion Hanlin Webb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Earl Webb

2020 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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2020 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES CONTINUED

2021 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES

Ann McQueen Whatley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forest W. Whatley Jr.

Virginia Thomas Winn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Frank Winn III

Mary Eleanor Wolter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Serenus Wolter

Mary Allison Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Gradan Anderson

Sara Kate Anderson, daughter of Mr. Scott David Anderson and the late Mrs. Chappell White Anderson

Kathleen Mckenney Beall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Scott Beall

Caroline Hodge Berte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Liles Berte

Adele Tydings Bloodworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay Renneker Bloodworth

Margaret Diane Bryant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hall Blake Bryant III

Adelaide Cassell Burton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hudson Burton Jr.

Lelia Sykes Carlson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth James Carlson

Victoria Jean Carmichael, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Donald Carmichael Jr.

Francess Eleanor Cheatham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ward Cheatham

Ann Clayton Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John William Cole

Catherine Anne Conner, daughter of Mrs. Lauren Conner and the late John Edward Conner

Abigail Garner Cooney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kevin Cooney

Grace Mason Cope, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Derrick Cope

Naomi Ann Cunningham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Kirkland Cunningham

Eleanor Frances Curtis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Michael Curtis

Anna Cristina de la Torre, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jorge Ignacio de la Torre

Margaret Jean Dodson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Cecil Calvert Dodson III

Laura Elizabeth Doody, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Doody Jr.

Mary Stewart Drummond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Lee Drummond

Madeline Ennis Everette, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith Everette III

Mary Tynes Flake, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jared Grey Flake

Lillian Ashley Fowler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Samuel Fowler

Caroline Henderson Goings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Eugene Goings

Genevieve Grace Griffin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Blount Griffin

Mary Carrington Gullage, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Benjamin Gullage Jr.

Mary Inzer Hagan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Cobb Hagan III

Martha Wright Haley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Peyton Haley

Emily Hughes Hamn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas Hamn III

Ann Lucy Harrison, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Rudolph Preston Harrison

Joy Louise Holman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jamie MacKinnon Holman

Sarah Kate Horsley, daughter of Ms. Elizabeth Newman Horsley

Mary Anastasia Hufham, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Carl Hufham

Mary Kathleen Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dennis Hughes

Sarah Randall Hydinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Thornton Hydinger Jr.

Elizabeth Lacey Jeffcoat, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Jeffcoat

Mary Steele Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Steele Johnson Jr.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 21

SOCIAL 2021 BALL OF ROSES DEBUTANTES CONTINUED

D R Y

CENTER &

Della Berre Jones, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Dewey Hobson Jones IV

Olivia Grace Keating, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Terence Keating

Margaret Elizabeth Kennedy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heflin Kennedy Jr.

Elizabeth Moore Kinsaul, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hood Kinsaul

Caroline Judith Knight, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James “Bailey” Knight III

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Elizabeth Lunden Leitner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Aull Leitner III

Ann Douglas Lott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Douglas Lott

Kathryn Chapple Lummis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Kessler Lummis

Mary Hannah Mackin, daughter of Mrs. Roxane Ash Mackin

Farley Southland Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John N. Morris II

Nancy Katharine Nicrosi, daughter of Dr. Carol Ann and Mr. William Kelly Nicrosi II

Elizabeth Christian Parker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Stanley Parker

Caroline Lee Pope, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee McWhorter Pope

Emma Gaines Reaves, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick Wayne Reaves

Molly Ann Regan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson Regan Jr.

Mary Frances Robertson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy William Robertson Jr.

Leigh Taylor Russell, daughter of Mrs. Jennifer Haver Ard and Mr. Scott Richard Russell

Anne Heaton Dearborn Sanders, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Columbus Sanders Jr.

Katherine Lee Seibels, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kelly Seibels Jr.

Hayden Aubree Sledge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Simmons Sledge IV

Lucy Jordan Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henley Jordan Smith III

Mary McLaurine Trammell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Monroe Trammell III

Mary Allison Turner, daughter of Ms. Cathy Turner and the late Mr. Jon M. Turner Jr.

Dr. Allison Mckelvey specializes in routine eye care for pediatric patients and special needs children. She diagnoses and manages strabismus, amblyopia and other binocular vision disorders with optical correction, patching and other non-surgical techniques including vision therapy. Dr. Mckelvey also fits soft contact lenses, including multifocal and monovision lenses, as well as scleral lenses and aphakic contact lenses.

Dr. Sarah C Gordon has focused on patient eye care for 35 years. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive ocular examinations, contact lens care, and management of glaucoma, cataracts, and other ocular disease.

She is skilled with integrating ocular manifestations of systemic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer to coordinate early health intervention and treatment.

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Elizabeth Church Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Emmett Walker IV

Rebecca Fairbanks Hart White, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Trygre Hoff and Mr. and Mrs. David Hart White Jr.

Kathleen Connolly Wilson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Alexander Symington Wilson Jr.

Natalie Dalton Womack, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Asher Womack Jr.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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In the Key of Service

The Legacy League at Samford University hosted its 2021 Scholarship Celebration on April 29 at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Culminating the organization’s program year, the event featured a four-course meal presented by Samford Dining by Sodexo and a concert presented by Vulcan Materials Co. Headlining the concert-style event was The Annie Moses Band, made up of six brothers and sisters who are known for their harmony on stringed instruments. Wanting to do more to influence families and future generations, they founded the nonprofit Annie Moses Foundation in 2010.

More than 1,500 students from more than 30 states and other countries have attended the annual music festival — many with assistance from the foundation’s scholarship fund.

According to Legacy League officials, the mission of the band’s foundation is in line with the league’s work to provide scholarships to students in great financial need. Proceeds from the event will support the newly established Jeanna King Westmoreland Legacy League Scholarship, named in honor of retiring Executive Director Jeanna Westmoreland.

Members of the league who served

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Legacy League Hosts Annual Scholarship Celebration

Bill and Kimeran Stevens, Bill and Jeane Wear, and Charolotte and Tommy Hamby.

Allen Hoskins and Sarah Tomei.

on the planning committee for the celebration were chair Kathy Finch, Westmoreland, B.J. McKay-Kossow, Eugenia Burch, Inga Clum, P.A. Carmichael, Kathryn Woodruff, Paula Gossett, Chizuru Elliott, Sharon Smith, Cindy Anderson, Kristen Comer, Kathy Clay, Aimee Dykes, Pam Matthews and Rhonda Orr. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Republican Women of North Shelby County Hosts Prayer Breakfast The Republican Women of North Shelby County held its first Prayer Breakfast on April 17 at Inverness Country Club.

The Rev. Harry Reeder, senior pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, delivered the keynote address, telling the group, “God didn’t create us to be politicians, but he created us (in Christ) to be salt and light – carriers.” He said America is in a “death spiral” because it moved away from a religious-based society to a more secular one. The remedy, he said, is to elect more Godly people to office.

Chairwoman Janice White welcomed people to the breakfast. Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, delivered the opening prayer and invocation. Also part of the program were the Rev. David Cobbin, pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, and the Church at Brook Hills Worship Team.

The group was formed in early 2017 and Rev. Harry Reeder meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, look for Republican Women of North Shelby County on Facebook.

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 23

SOCIAL/WEDDINGS

Collins-Corry

Kathleen “Kaki” Markham Collins and Harris Jackson Corry were married Jan. 16, 2021, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Officiating the ceremony was the Rev. Richmond Webster.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Eugene Collins of Mountain Brook and the late Claire Markham Collins.

The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Lee Carson Carter of Mountain Brook and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Renner Corry Sr. of Atlanta.

The bride was given in marriage by her father.

Matrons of Honor were the bride’s sisters Caroline Collins Muse and Charlotte Collins Huff.

Bridesmaids were Anne Caroline Austin; Eleanor Harris Bailey; Marina Claire Bartoletti; Frances

Boston Blount; Laura Catherine Carlton; Abbey Mary Conlon; Carolyn Morgan Cooper; Keller Ann Donnell; Bradley Ann Henderson; Mary Ashton Jones; Madeline Kate Lindsey; Mallory Rich Mackin; Margaret Mills Petty, cousin of the bride; Mary Talbot Skinner; Madalyn Rose Temple; and Mary Stewart Thompson.

Peter Renner Corry Sr., father of the groom, was best man.

Groomsmen were William Clay Collins, brother of the bride; John Fairbanks Corry and Peter Renner Corry Jr., brothers of the groom; Charles B. H. Forbes; Blake Gerald Goldstein; Robert Carson Huff and Seth Ian Muse, brothers-in-law of the bride; and Christopher Ryan White.

The bride’s nephew, Thomas Harlan Muse, served as ring bearer.

After a honeymoon trip to Mayakoba, Mexico, the couple reside in Atlanta.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

SCHOOLS

Shades Cahaba Elementary’s Alli Phelps Is State Teacher of the Year Finalist

By Emily Williams-Robertshaw

One of Shades Cahaba Elementary School teacher Alli Phelps’ favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou and reads, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

For more than a year, teachers dealing with classes during a pandemic have had to focus even more on meeting students where they are physically and emotionally.

“I think it has really enabled us as teachers to focus in on what is truly important,” Phelps said. “There is so much division in this country, and I feel like that was something we could all unite around – kids, helping teachers, helping teachers teach the kids who needed help.”

Phelps has been Shades Cahaba’s English learner teacher for the past 12 years, previously teaching at Homewood High School as an advanced placement teacher in addition to working with EL students.

She recently was named one of the State of Alabama Department of Education’s 16 finalists for Alabama Teacher of the Year.

She likes to keep the focus on the students she teaches.

“One of my favorite parts about my job is the family and community engagement work that I have done,” she said.

Before the pandemic, Phelps was working on a goal she set for herself.

With the support of the Homewood City Schools system, she set out to make home visits with her students and meet their families.

“That was the most incredible thing I’ve probably ever done professionally,” Phelps said. “It turned personal. I got to really know my students and what their needs were.”

Phelps noted that she’s worked with some of these students’ siblings in the past and thought she knew them well; yet getting that glimpse into their life outside of school made her both a better teacher to her kids and a better person in her life.

“During the pandemic, I really felt fortunate to have that in my background because the families were also more comfortable with me and knew me better as well,” Phelps said.

“Everybody was so isolated and miserable and struggling and our more marginalized communities, like the families I work with who are linguistic and cultural minorities – they had different challenges than maybe some other communities.

Those connections she made also were essential when it came to providing educational support and making sure the students and their families were OK. “I love that my school supported me pre-pandemic in the home visits and I love that they also continued to enable me to do my work reaching out to families,” she said. “I know it’s

Phelps has been Shades Cahaba’s English learner teacher for the past 12 years.

not that way everywhere. … Our smaller Over the Mountain communities lend themselves to really reaching out, and there are so many great people out there who are reaching out.”

Invest in Reading

Phelps’ teaching philosophy rests on two main pillars: treat students how she would treat her own children and invest in reading.

“I always ask my parents what their dreams are for their kids and what their goals are,” Phelps said.

“The answers are always so interesting, but many times they are the same as mine for my own children.”

When the pandemic hit, one of Phelps’ first actions was to start doling out books from her library to her students.

“The listening, speaking, reading and writing that goes around a book, those are our domains of English that we teach as English teachers,” Phelps said. “I’m talking with them about the book. They are writing about the book. We’re speaking about the book in book chats. Then, of course, they are reading the book.”

Most of her students and their families don’t have internet access in their homes, so she wanted to make sure they had reading materials on hand so they could keep up with their skills and continue to improve.

“Reading makes such a big difference in a kid’s life,” Phelps said. “It’s about the volume of reading. It doesn’t matter if they’re reading graphic novels or anything else, it’s just that they are reading.”

She is working to restock her library through a partnership with Little Professor in Homewood. Her vision is a dreamy, soft space in the classroom where her kids can pick out a book, plop down and escape for a little while.

“I’m building a classroom library that is multicultural (with) high-interest books,” Phelps said, works that her students can connect with.

Ever a champion for reading and literacy in general, Phelps has made sure her work with students carries through summer.

For the past eight years or so, Phelps, along with Shades Cahaba reading specialist Ellen Helf, has gotten a grant through the Homewood City Schools Foundation for the school’s Summer Reading Project.

The project focuses on providing summer reading materials and incentives for English language learners.

Students are provided 10 new books that are a mix of genres and writing styles.

“We pass out those books and try to really make sure those books are on their level and they are really interested in them,” Phelps said. “We meet with the kids over the summer and then we have a pizza party and a book swap in the middle of the summer. They come and bring their families, and it is just a blast.”

It’s a way that Phelps and Helf can assure students are not falling victim to the “summer slide,” a decline in reading abilities and academics that can occur over the summer when school isn’t in session.

Though the data wasn’t gathered for the summer of COVID-19, Phelps’ data from previous years showed that not only did her students avoid the slide, some of the students’ test scores improved.

“We are actually really proud of our data on that,” Phelps said. “In particular, the kids that I work with, many of their homes are poverty level or below. We also have a large segment of our school’s population who are going to McWane Science Camps and traveling or going to Europe over the summer. … To maintain that consistency of learning and reading with books has been incredible.”

As a finalist in the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program, Phelps is one of 16 who have emerged from a pool of 138 skilled educators.

Shades Cahaba Elementary

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Principal John Lowry said Phelps is a student-centered teacher who advocates for her current and past students and their families.

“Ms. Phelps’ life work is making a difference in the lives of her students, their families and her community, and I see the impact she makes each day through her compassion, love and kindness for others,” Lowry said.

Homewood City Schools Superintendent Justin Hefner noted that he is proud to see Phelps represent the school system and district.

“She serves as a literacy leader within the school community, and she creates a warm classroom environment where her students feel special and important as they learn the English language and develop confidence in themselves as students,” he said.

If you ask Phelps, she will say she’s honored.

“I didn’t think this would ever be me,” she said, adding she’s honored that an English learner teacher was recognized. She doesn’t plan to take anything for granted.

“I love the students and families I work with,” she said. “I’m so fortunate. When I say they have made me a better person, they truly, truly have, just by me getting to know them. I’m really grateful to advocate for them and to have this platform moving forward to hopefully continue to do so.”

The 2021-22 Alabama Teacher of the Year will be announced in August.

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 25

SCHOOLS

National Merit Scholar Winners Recognized in OTM Area In April and May, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced both its corporate-sponsored scholarship winners and its $2,500 scholarship winners.

More than 1.5 million students applied for the scholarship program, with 16,000 students selected as finalists. Candidates are judged on their academic skills, extracurricular accomplishments and potential for success in their college studies.

According to a release, 7,500 students will win a total of $30 million in scholarships in 2021.

Winners from Over the Mountain area are: • The Altamont School: Hannah M. Ashraf • Briarwood Christian School: Mason D. Mathias

• Homewood High School: Robert O. Merchant and Michael J. Moorman • Hoover High School: Ria R. Shah, corporate scholarship; and Srija Vem • Indian Springs School: Hooper R. Markert • Mountain Brook High School: Ethan S. Shunnarah, corporate scholarship; Theodore J. Feig and Ellis G. Hamilton • Spain Park High School: Wyatt W. Williams, corporate scholarship; Kruthika Dheeravath, Zane A. Peacock and Amy Yang • Oak Mountain High School: Roshni Datta • Vestavia Hills High School: Jason Han and Raleigh Robinson • Homeschool: Emily M. Rabbideau of Hoover

Homewood High School’s Clayton Sweeney to Serve on National Teacher Advisory Council

advises the center on programs and resources that would best support classroom instruction on constitutional fundamentals.

Teachers on the advisory council, who teach fifth grade to college level students, participate in monthly online meetings and virtual student programs, advise the center’s education team on resources and advocate on behalf of the center through regional professional networks and professional development workshops.

Homewood High School government teacher Clayton Sweeney was recently selected to serve on the National Constitution Center’s Teacher Advisory Council.

The council supports the center by sharing best practices for teaching constitutional and civic topics and

Vestavia Hills Rotary Club Names Top Teachers in City Schools The Vestavia Hills Rotary Club in a virtual meeting held March 16 honored the club’s Teachers of the Year. Awardees were nominated and voted on by their peers from Vestavia Hills schools to recognize their professional excellence.

Kristin Jones, Vestavia Hills Elementary West

Amy Cook, Liberty Park Middle School

Donna Hoagland, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights

Dedra Wade, Vestavia Hills Elementary East

Maddie Escue, Pizitz Middle School

Ben Osborne, Vestavia High School, freshman campus

Stacey Anderson, Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge

Nancy Reynolds, Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park

Jerell Horton, Vestavia Hills High School

INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

Day & Boarding | Grades 8–12 | IndianSprings.org

26 • Thursday, May 20, 2021

SPORTS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

By Rubin E. Grant

goal in that game midway through the second half after the Rebels couldn’t clear the ball following the Eagles’ corner kick attempt.

The victory over the Rebels avenged a 1-0 loss during the regular season and ended Vestavia Hills’ reign as Class 7A state champs. The Rebels won the title in 2018 and 2019 before last year’s AHSAA soccer championships were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blight said it wasn’t difficult for the Eagles to refocus for the championship game after the hard-earned victory over Vestavia Hills. Enterprise (9-10-1) had advanced with a 2-1 victory over Smiths Station in a shootout after two overtimes.

“I told them to keep doing what we have been doing all year by taking (it) one game at a time,” Blight said.

“There are no easy games in 7A. We were excited to get the win (over Vestavia), but I told them I hope we’re recovering and getting ready … (for) the next one. It’s tough to play two games in 15 hours, but our girls managed to play at a high level.”

Oak Mountain won its fourth girls’ soccer championship and first since 2015. The Eagles captured their other titles in 2012 and 2014.

“We’re ecstatic,” Blight said. “It’s been a long journey the past couple of years, and we were finally able to get to end it with a win. It’s incredible for the girls.

The Homewood girls were denied in their bid to win their second state championship.

After regulation and two overtimes, the Patriots fell 2-1 in a shootout (5-4) to the St. Paul’s Episcopal’s Lady Saints in the Class 6A championship game.

Homewood junior forward Rika Kellen scored the first goal at 18:38

ing the regular season. Taking this step is the validation of how hard we’ve worked as a staff and players, and it showed the competitive spirit and heart of this team.”

The Jags need every bit of that competitive spirit and heart to claim the crown. In the championship game, junior goalkeeper Chase Tilashalski was forced to leave the game after a collision with 27 minutes remaining. Reserve keeper Trey Elliot, a sophomore, replaced him and preserved the victory.

In the semifinals, Spain Park (19-23) played a man down for about 65 minutes after starting defender Alan

Melendez picked up a red card and earned a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over rival Hoover.

“That shows the character and intangibles of this team,” Hall said.

“The guys responded. When we went down a man, the guys played with extra effort until the final moment.”

In the championship game, Spain Park’s Seth Walter scored a first-half goal and Shea Tillette scored a secondhalf goal to build a 2-0 lead.

Davidson (21-5-1) scored its only goal in the second half when Kidomo Albert found the back of the net.

Davidson reached the championship game with a 5-3 victory over Daphne

in the semifinals.

In the Jags’ semifinal victory over the Bucs (20-3), Conner Warren’s penalty-kick goal early in the second half proved to be the game-winner.

Anderson Ivey started the Jaguars’ scoring in the first half when Hoover goalkeeper Alex Noles fell down trying to make a save, and Ivey kicked the bouncing ball in for a 1-0 lead.

Hoover’s Igor Rudolph answered with a penalty-kick goal just moments after the player ejection.

Warren’s goal early in the second half staked Spain Park to a 2-1 advantage and the Jags’ defense held the rest of the way.

Hall credited senior midfielder Bryce Burdette and entire backline for holding the Bucs when the Jags were a man down.

“We just tried to keep Hoover in front of us and hold the line,” Hall said. “The guys did a great job.”

Ivey was named tournament MVP. He was ecstatic about the Jags’ boys finally winning a title. Spain Park’s girls had won four state championships, in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“I’m so glad I could do it with this team my senior year,” Ivey said. “It’s the first one in school history, so people are going to remember it for a really long time.”

Jackson Nabors scored twice during an eight-minute stretch in the first half — the first on a header from a perfectly placed pass from teammate Nick Johnson — to lead Indian Springs (24-2-1) to a 2-0 victory over Russellville in the Class 4A-5A boys championship game.

Indian Springs handed Russellville (19-1-0) its only loss of the season, denying the Golden Tigers their first

state boys soccer championship.

Russellville reached the final with a 3-2 overtime victory over Crossville in the semifinals.

Nabors was named the tournament MVP. He had two assists in the 2-0 semifinal victory over Montgomery Academy before scoring both Indian Springs goals in the final. Junior Liam Falconer and Nathan Tozzi scored the goals against Montgomery

Academy.

Indian Springs now has won four AHSAA boys’ state soccer titles, but this is the first in 4A-5A. The previous three titles, in 2008, 2014 and 2017, were in the state’s smallest classification.

Indian Springs won its five 2021 playoff games by a combined score of 19-2.

Indian Springs coach Rik Tozzi

expressed appreciation for completing the season after the 2020 season ended early because of the pandemic.

“I’m just glad we’re back playing,” Tozzi said. “We were ranked sixth in the country when we lost it (the season) last year. We set eight state records and to come up here and have two clean sheets is fantastic. We played two quality opponents and I couldn’t be prouder of the guys.”

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Oak Mountain sophomore midfielder Kierson McDonald didn’t have a clue.

When the awards ceremony began after the girls Class 7A state soccer championship game, McDonald learned she had been named MVP. “I did not know about that award,” McDonald said. “I was excited. I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness. Thank you!’”

The award was well deserved, considering McDonald had just recorded a hat trick, scoring three goals in the Eagles’ 5-0 victory over the Enterprise Wildcats in the championship game on May 8 in the 30th AHSAA State Soccer Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

McDonald launched a free kick over the outstretched arms of the Enterprise goalkeeper midway through the first half for her first goal. She added two more goals in the second half to complete the hat trick.

Junior midfielder Kaitlin Maynard also scored twice in the second half for Oak Mountain (22-3-1).

“They’ve got such special talent,” Oak Mountain coach Chris Blight said. “They’re not just great soccer players, they’re great leaders and that shows with the way they play and the way they help the younger girls.”

Oak Mountain goalkeeper Kate Murray recorded the shutout after also shutting out Vestavia Hills 1-0 in the semifinals. McDonald scored the only

in the first half to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. St. Paul’s tied the score at 20:44 in the second half when Collen Luttrell found the back of the net.

Both defenses and both goalkeepers battled the final 22:22 of regulation to a stalemate and then went through two overtimes to set up the final drama in the shootout.

Homewood (20-3-0) missed its first kick, and St. Paul’s Kate Strickland made hers. The next eight players all scored, with Homewood’s Sunny Ferren, Mary Siena McBride, Maddie Massie and Emily Miles tying the Saints at 4-4 heading into the final free kick by St. Paul’s Leah Robinson.

Robinson’s teammates had already made their kicks to set up her final try. Robinson nestled the ball into the corner of the net, giving St. Paul’s the state crown.

Homewood reached the final with a 3-0 victory over SouthsideGadsden in the semifinals. Massie scored twice for the Patriots – early in the first half and again early in the second half — and Mary Ellen Petrella also scored with 11 seconds to go before halftime.

Before the final, Homewood had shut out each of its four playoff opponents – Jasper, Shades Valley, Chelsea and Southside – by a combined score of 26-0.

St. Paul’s advanced with a 3-2 victory over Northridge in the semifinals.

Oak Mountain Girls End State Soccer Championship Drought; Homewood Falls in a Shootout “It took hard work and dedication.

Since the start of the season, the girls gave everything they had, coming together as a team and fully committing to the goal of winning a state championship.”

Homewood Drops Heartbreaker

By Rubin E. Grant Finally!

The Spain Park Jaguars finally have captured a boys state soccer championship.

Spain Park edged Davidson 2-1 to win the Class 7A title May 8 in the 30th AHSAA State Soccer Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

“I feel like the championship is the program taking the next step,” Spain Park coach Matt Hall said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work. We have made the playoffs before and won tournaments around the state dur-

HOMEWOOD From page 28

Homewood school history. The Patriots’ other titles came in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2018.

Indian Springs Claims First 4A-5A Boys Title Indian Springs’ 6-foot-7 junior

Journal photo by Bryan Bunch

Competitive Spirit Carries Spain Park to School’s First State Title

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021 • 27

SPORTS

Photo courtesy Spain Park golf

As a freshman, he and Mountain Brook teammate William Wann tied for the low medalist honors with 36-hole totals of 11-under 133. Both tied the state tournament record for 36 holes while leading the Spartans to the 2018 Class 7A state title.

In the 2019 AHSAA state tournament, Sargent tied teammate Reynolds Lambert for second at 1-under 143, while leading the Spartans to the title.

With Sargent leading the way, the Spartans ran away with the Class 6A title. Their 284 total was well ahead of second-place Spanish Fort (303).

Homewood finished third (305).

Mountain Brook had the top three individual leaders; Evans Gross was right behind Sargent with a 69 and Will Feagin with a 71. Tom Fischer (73), Coe Murdock (76), Cole Imig (76) and Harrison Sims (76) also finished in the top 10. Imig (UAB) and Feagin (Rhodes) also will play in college.

Homewood’s Jack Craddock shot a 75 to finish seventh.

Lockett would have liked to complete the final round, even though the Spartans were well ahead when play was halted because of the weather.

“The last guy in our lineup had gotten through six holes when they called us in,” Lockett said. “We had a pretty commanding lead, but I am sure the other two behind us (Spanish Fort and Homewood) would have

Vestavia Hills boys golf team members, from left: Hal Hunton, Ben Mendheim, Andrew Szymela, Ward Harris, Coach Stephanie Meadows, Parker Moellinger, Jay Clemmer, Pierce Becker and Jake Norris.

liked to battle it out for the second spot.”

Vestavia Hills Boys

Vestavia Hills had finished the first day with a two-shot lead over Enterprise, 296 to 298 in the Class 7A boys field. Auburn (299) was three back and Hewitt-Trussville (300) four back.

But Rebels coach Stephanie Meadows said it didn’t detract from her team’s title that weather canceled the final round.

“They told us on Sunday before the tournament that the weather didn’t look good,” Meadows said. “They said instead of two 18-hole rounds, we would play four 9-hole rounds.

We had played two hours on Monday when it started pouring down rain.

But then it stopped, got hot and it was sunny when we finished.

“On Tuesday, we had all teed off and our last golfer was on hole No. 2

when they blew the horn to stop play.

I was looking at the radar and because of all the lightning I knew we wouldn’t be able to finish.

“I don’t think it takes anything away from the championship. We were really playing good when play was stopped. Our first kid who teed off, Pierce Becker, was at 1-under.

The next one was at even par and third kid was one over and our fourth kid was even par. So we were confident that we were going to win.”

The Rebels’ Wade Harris and Parker Moelinger both shot 73 to tie for fourth among the boys Class 7A individual leaders, and Jay Clemmer shot a 75 to tie for ninth. Auburn’s William Streit was the low medalist with a 68.

The state title was the third in Vestavia Hills’ school history but the first since 1994. It came in Meadows’ first full season as the head coach.

She had taken over during the pan-

Hoover Reaches Baseball Finals

demic-shortened 2020 season.

Meadows starred on the Rebels’ 1987 girls basketball state championship team and compared the experiences by saying, “It’s an awesome feeling, just on a different side.”

Spain Park Girls

Spain Park’s 223 total was one stroke better than Huntsville (224) and two better than Auburn (226) after the first day in Class 7A girls action and that stood up, giving the Jaguars their third state title. The others came in 2009 (6A) and 2017 (7A).

“We played our best golf of the season at the end,” Spain Park coach Kelly Holland said. “We won section, sub-state and state. We have never won all three in the same season before, so that’s a first.”

The Jags had two eighth graders, Polly McCrackin and Carmen Britt, among its top four players.

“We’re a very young team,”

Holland said, “but they’re awful good.”

Jags freshman Courtney Johnson shot a 70 to tie Hewitt’s Molly Davidson for second among the individual leaders. Auburn’s Kate Hu was the low medalist with a 69. Spain Park junior Taylor Tribble had 76 to finish tied for ninth.

“We didn’t count Courtney’s score at sub-state, so that shows how balanced we were as a team,” Holland said. “At state, she played with so much confidence and made great shots and putts. She birdied No. 17 and No. 18 on the first day, so that was the difference since we won by only one stroke.

“When we lost the second day because of weather and we were ahead by one after the first day, it makes you think how important each stroke is for everybody.”

ASHOF Recognizes Class of 2021 Inductees and Award Winners

The 53rd Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of inductees, a group of eight state and national sports stars, were honored over the weekend of May 8.

This year’s class includes Willie Anderson, offensive tackle on Auburn University’s football team and professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens; Former Auburn head baseball coach Hal Baird; Cliff Ellis, former head football coach at Clemson and Auburn; University of Alabama golfer Steve Hudson; Olympic gold medalist and Alabama track star Lillie Leatherwood; former Alabama star footballer George Teague of the Packers, Cowboys and Dolphins; NBA basketball champion Ben Wallace; and

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

The Hoover Bucs continued their remarkable run in the Class 7A state baseball playoffs by eliminating Florence in the three-game semifinals last week.

After splitting a doubleheader on Thursday with Florence winning 8-1 in game 1 and Hoover coming back to win 3-1 in game 2, the Bucs (26-20) rallied from a 2-0 deficit in game 3 to win the deciding contest 5-3 on Friday.

Hoover scored its five runs without benefit if a hit, scoring twice on wild pitches, a bases-loaded walk, a hit batter with the bases loaded and a groundout.

Hoover starting pitcher Colin Rengering held Florence to two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks while working into the fifth inning. Reliever Tyler Wilson came on in the fifth with one out and the bases loaded and recorded an inning-ending double play. He also induced a double play in the seventh to end the game.

Now, the unranked Bucs, who began the season with a 3-9 record, will get a chance to complete their postseason run when they face No. 4 Auburn (34-6) in the best-of-three Class 7A championship series this week in Montgomery.

Game 1 will be played at 4 p.m.

Wednesday at Paterson Field. Game 2 is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at Riverwalk Stadium, with a deciding

Spain Park girls golf team members, from left: Courtney Johnson, Emma Fortier, Taylor Trible, coach Kelly Holland, Polly McCrackin and Carmen Brit.

former Denver Bronco Super Bowl champ and Dallas Cowboy Demarcus Ware, who was a star defensive end at Troy University.

The 2021 Distinguished American Sportsmen also were recognized. They are Angus Cooper II and John McMahon Jr. Over the Mountain Journal sportswriter Rubin E. Grant was honored with the 2021 Mel Allen Media Award, annually presented to media members in the state who have made a lifetime contribution to sports.

The Frank “Pig” House award, annually given to someone who has performed outstanding service, was presented to Reeves Sims.

Hoover players celebrate their game 3 win over Florence last Friday sending them to the state championship series this weekend in Montgomery.

game 3 to follow if needed.

Hoover swept No. 6 Bob Jones (26-21) in the first round and No. 1 Hewitt-Trussville (28-6) in the quarterfinals before knocking off No. 3 Florence (29-11).

The Bucs will be seeking their first state title since 2017.

Meanwhile, at Choccolocco Park in

Oxford, Hoover and Vestavia Hills will be competing in the AHSAA State Softball Championships in Class 7A. Hoover (31-14) will play Sparkman (34-12) at 9 a.m. Thursday in the first round, while Vestavia Hills (26-20) will take on Fairhope (38-4) at the same time.

—Rubin E. Grant

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

From page 28

Photo courtesy Vestavia Hills Athletics

GOLF

From left: Scott Myers, executive director, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame; Rubin E. Grant, recipient of the 2021 Mel Allen Media Award; and Edgar Weldon, chairman of the board, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Hoover Reaches Baseball Finals; Hoover and Vestavia Girls in Softball Finals Page 27

SPORTS

ASHOF Recognizes Class of 2021 Inductees and Award Winners Page 27

Thursday, May 20, 2021 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

AHSAA STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

AHSAA STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills Boys, Spain Park Girls Claim State Golf Crowns

By Rubin E. Grant

Super Six

Homewood’s Kersh Now a State Champion as a Player and a Coach; Indian Springs Earns Another Boys Soccer Title

By Rubin E. Grant Julian Kersh had a hard time trying to compare what it’s like to win a state soccer championship as a player and as a coach.

Kersh was a player on Homewood’s 2005 and 2006 boys state championship teams. He took over as the Patriots’ head coach in 2020, but the season was cut short because of the COVD-19 pandemic and there was no postseason.

In his first full season at the helm this spring, he guided Homewood to the Class 6A state title in the 30th AHSAA State Soccer Championships on May 7-8 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

“It’s tough to put into words,” Kersh said. “It’s the ending we all dreamt up coming into the season. I remember well as a player all the joy of winning the state championship, but it’s a different pride winning as

Oak Mountain Girls End State Soccer Championship Drought; Homewood Falls in a Shootout PAGE 27 Competitive Spirit Carries Spain Park to School’s First Boys Soccer State Title PAGE 27

the coach at my alma mater. I wanted to give my players a platform to have a lifelong memory of doing it in a game they love and with their best friends.”

Homewood (18-3-3) captured the title with a 2-1 victory over McGillToolen (20-6-4) in the championship game.

Jacob Sitton scored the Patriots’ first goal on a header five minutes in and Yousef Nasser nailed the second goal shortly thereafter on an assist from Hardy Smith to give Homewood an early 2-0 lead.

“The key for us in the state tournament was the quick start in each game,” Kersh said. “We scored two minutes in against Fort Payne.”

The Patriots defeated Fort Payne 3-0 in the semifinals. Junior forward Bryan Sokell scored just 65 seconds into the game. The early goal was especially notable because Fort Payne (17-3-3) had allowed only one goal in three playoff wins en route to the semifinals.

Homewood’s Gage Estep added a goal midway through the first half, and Nasser scored midway through the second half on an assist from Adonijah Kaplelach. Homewood goalkeeper Luke Keown had three saves to earn the shutout.

In the final against McGill, Homewood didn’t allow a goal until the final minutes when the Yellow Jackets’ Jackson Ward scored with an assist from Henry Kilpatrick.

McGill had advanced to the final with a 3-1 win over Pelham in the semifinals.

Nasser was named the Class 6A boys MVP. “It feels great,” Nasser said about winning the state title. “I’ve been dreaming about this since last year.

It’s been an honor to play with this team.”

The championship was the sixth in See HOMEWOOD, page 26

See GOLF, page 27

Photo by Trudy Lockett

Homewood boys’ soccer championship was the sixth in school history. Homewood (18-3-3) captured the title with a 2-1 victory over McGill-Toolen (20-6-4) in the championship game.

Mountain Brook boys golf coach Alex Lockett has run out of superlatives to describe Spartans senior golfer Gordon Sargent.

“I don’t know if I can say anything about him that hasn’t been said,” Lockett said. “He’s as good as I’ve seen at this level. He will be missed around here, that’s for sure.”

Sargent capped his high school career by shooting a 3-under-par 68 to earn low medalist and lead Mountain Brook to the Class 6A state title in the 71st AHSAA State Golf Championships May 10-11 at the RTJ Magnolia Grove Golf club in Mobile.

Inclement weather shortened the final day of competition with only two classifications able to finish nine holes. The Class 4A boys and Class 6A girls teed off early and were able to finish nine holes – settling the state championships in those two classes covering 27 holes of play.

The tourney champions were crowned in the other classes based on first-day 18 holes of play after foregoing the final round on the par-71 course. Among those champions were the Mountain Brook boys in Class 6A (284), the Vestavia Hills boys in Class 7A (296) and the Spain Park girls in Class 7A (223).

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 AHSAA championships, Mountain Brook came back to extend its streak of consecutive state championships to four, with the other three coming in 7A. The Spartans dropped down to 6A this year.

“Our guys played great,” Lockett said. “They were determined and brought back the blue (championship) plaque.”

Sargent, who is headed to Vanderbilt to play in college, was the low medalist for the second time in the AHSAA tournament.

Mountain Brook boys golf team seniors with coach Alex Lockett, from left, Evans Gross, Gordon Sargent and Cole Imig.

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NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL Charity Partner