The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
inside
JOU RNAL otmj.com
th
ursd ay, June 13, 2013
V ol . 22 #12
father’s day
Chefs show their skills for Komen Foundation benefit
about town Page 4
Deserving Dad Homewood Man Wins Father of the Year Award
By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
T
Mark and Matthew Midyette share a father-son moment before the Father of the Year banquet. Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.
here may be a lot of ways to tell if a man is a good father, but perhaps one of the most telling illustrations is when a teenager cancels his plans with his friends so that he can hang out with his dad. That’s what happened to Mark Midyette of Homewood on May 29 when he was honored as the Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association. “This is such a big deal for my dad that I cancelled all my plans with my friends so that I could be there at the awards ceremony ‘...even my friends ask me with him. It was important for me to be there to show my sup- if they can call my dad for port for him,” said Matthew advice. He’s easy to talk to Midyette, Mark’s 17-year-old and he’s been in all these son. Mark received the award at a situations before, so he ceremony at The Club presented always knows how to help.’ by the National Father’s Day Council. Matthew Midyette Since 1999, the American Diabetes Association has partnered with the National Father’s Day Council to host the Father of the Year Awards dinner. Each year, men from across the nation are recognized for their outstanding strength and the commitment and love they exhibit as fathers. The Father of the Year events held annually in cities across the country have raised more than $25 million to help the American
Music to His Ears
J. Willoughby Loves Hearing His Daughter Sing By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
In a feat of musicianship and a testament to his status as the ultimate fan, J. Willoughby and the Black Jacket Symphony will recreate, note by note, every song on the Rolling Stones’ 1978 “Some Girls” album on June 14-15 at Workplay in Birmingham. And while he’ll be singing about “some girls” during the performance with the group of Birmingham music all-stars he cofounded, the Mountain Brook resident said these days, his mind is more focused on
just one girl--his daughter, Sammie Jean. “I know every parent thinks this, but I really do have the best kid,” he said. “I love being a dad, and Sammie Jean is so cool.” And some would argue, like father, like daughter. Like her father did at her age, 9-yearold Sammie Jean is writing songs, has her own favorite singers and is working to form a band. And when Sammie Jean takes the stage with her father and Black Jacket Symphony for special performances, she becomes the
Food pantry founded by Susan Dowdey grows
people page 8
Back to the awesome 80s for RMTC gala
social page 18
See Dad, page 14
A Date to Remember First Dance
Weddings & Engagements page 24
gift guide Great ideas to please the most discriminating Dad Page 14
See Music, page 16
sue murphy remembers her dad p. 2 • vestavia hills hires city manager p. 12 • otm schools named among best in the nation p. 32