Feb 20 2014 full issue

Page 1

The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL otmj.com

th

ursd ay, Febr uar y 20, 2014

V ol . 23 #4

Trunk Show

For 20th Year, Mountain Brook Earns Tree City USA Award

inside

Community Champion: McCallum looks back on career, civic service

about town page 4

Brownie Points: Odom’s work, volunteerism earn Girl Scout Award

people page 12

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

A couple strolls along the tree-lined Jemison Trail on Mountain Brook Parkway last weekend. There’s no shortage of shade in the city, which just won its 20th Tree City USA award. The Mountain Brook Tree Commission will distribute some 2,000 free tree seedlings March 8. Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

The Arbor Day Foundation says the residents of Mountain Brook “ought to be proud to live in a community that makes the planting and care of trees a priority.” And for making trees a priority, the city has earned recognition as a 2013 Tree City USA. This is the 20th consecutive year Mountain Brook has earned the designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. The city achieved the designation by meeting the Tree City USA program’s four requirements, which include having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance on the books, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Walking the Walk Arbor Day observance and Homewood Again Wins ‘Most proclamation. Walkable’ Title news page 11 Mountain Brook has a city tree commission and a full-time city forester, Don Cafaro. The city also hosts an Arbor Day tree giveaway each year. Cafaro, who has been on the job in Mountain Brook for about nine years, said the award shows the

Golden anniversary event: Friends of Botanical Gardens honors members

social page 15

summer camp guide page 21

See Tree city, page 10

On Pointe

Black-tie Ball Celebrates Alabama Ballet Wyatt Haskell, honorary Pointe Ball chairman along with wife Susan, receives a standing ovation for his service and dedication to the Alabama Ballet. social page 15

Plans for New City Hall Unveiled

Vestavia Hills Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza and City Manager Jeff Downes unveiled the first artist’s renderings of the new city hall at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week, which was sold out despite the threat of a winter storm. See story page 10.

spring Fashion page 30

sue murphy on snow storm p. 2 • purple stride p. 6 • local lions p. 9 • guild gala p. 18 • Career compass p. 32 • track champs p. 36


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.