The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL otmj.com
th
ursd ay, June 26, 2014
V ol . 23 #13
inside
Mission Possible: Vestavia Rotary member helps build school in Africa
about town page 4
Bang-up Events: OTM area has variety of Independence Day celebrations
about town page 6
Walk to Remember Cathy Connor, center, with her children, Kelli Connor Cohen, left, and Tyler Connor at the Walk to Remember event on June 14 at Heardmont Park. Journal photo by Emil Wald
Enchanted Evening: BCT fundraiser has surprise performance
social page 18
Strength to Face Each Day
After Losing Her Husband, Cathy Connor Finds Comfort through Grief Support Group By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
When Cathy Connor released a white balloon into the air on June 14 at Community Grief Support Services’ first Walk to Remember event, the Hoover woman said she knew it was
a big step in coming to terms with the death of her husband. Connor said since her husband of 26 years, Scott, passed away in October, she’s struggled to face each day without the love of her life. “I have my good moments and my bad moments, but I think there will always be a part
of me that says that this must be a nightmare and that I will wake up someday,” she said. And just being able to say that–to acknowledge her feelings and to talk about her husband–is something Connor said she couldn’t have done without the support she has received
See strength, page 10
Space Jam: Dorm Cubby offers storage options for cramped quarters
business page 24
public people private places Opening Their Hearts—and Their Homes
Volunteer work is often as demanding as a full-time job, especially for those involved with large civic organizations and with special fundraising projects. Three women who share their skills to help their community also shared their homes with us. Margaret Shuttlesworth, this year’s chairman of the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour, said she likes to reinvent rooms in her Salisbury Road home. Junior League President Alison Scott, who lives with her family on Rockhill Road, said Mountain Brook is a good place to put down roots. Lisbeth Cease, the Legacy League’s vice president for fundraising, loves welcoming and cooking for guests at her Shoal Creek house. Stories begin on page 29.
Designing Woman: Dana Wolter makes Traditional Home’s Top 10 list
home page 33
crestline pig plans unveiled p. 8 • Distinguished young women p. 12 • service guild salutes members p. 19 • hoover belles honored p. 22
2 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
Opinion/Contents
What Are You Doing This Weekend?
murphy’s law
I
A Hoover resident will compete in the Summer Death Race June 27 in Pittsfield, Vt. Bradley Wells, right, will be one of 300 athletes from around the world to test his strength in the endurance event hosted by Peak Races. The obstacle and challengedriven race will require Wells to complete grueling mental and physical challenges throughout a more than 40-mile course that runs through treacherous trails in the Vermont woods. See story page 34.
Correction: Due to incorrect information provided to the Journal, a person in a photo that appeared in our May 29 issue was misidentified. In the photo, which accompanied a story on the Moonlight Ball, the caption should have read “From left: Graham LeJeune, Kathryn Dodson, Sam Hirsberg, Julia Jane Duggan, Jackson Dewine, Emma Goolsby, Anderson Smith, Helen Camp, Francis Conner and Marshall Smith.” The Journal is happy to set the record straight.
On otmj.com Browse through more photos from the area’s biggest and best social events and keep up with the latest news by liking OTMJ on Facebook.
Coming July 24
After we return from our annual summer break, we’ll publish our next issue on July 24.
in this issue About Town 3 news 8 Life 10 people 12 Social 18
business 24 schools 26 weddings 27 Home 29 Sports 36
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL
June 26, 2014
Publisher: Maury Wald Editor: Keysha Drexel Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Office Manager: Christy Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Vol. 23, No. 13
Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2014 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.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
If I Should Die...
t didn’t seem possible, and yet, commercial has a few people meanderthere he was–Michael Jackson ing around in the store aisles. A director performing at the Billboard might decide that it would be cheaper to Music Awards. It was a flashy sign on a few dozen dead people than number, too, with glitter and lights to hire the real live thing. Dead people and backup dancers. The kicker is don’t need coffee breaks. They don’t that the pop star was…well, dead. have car trouble. They don’t step on The word “dead” seems so harsh, anyone else’s lines. He could command doesn’t it? Passed away? No longer a cast of thousands who had no more with us? Maybe. All I know is that a issues than a zip drive. lot of passed away/no-longer-with-us So, it just seems prudent at this celebrities have been making appearpoint to set forth how I would like my ances lately. Audrey Hepburn, James future/former image to be used: Dean, Marilyn Monroe–they’ve all Please (please) do not feature me been called upon to be glamorous for in a remake of “Titanic” and don’t put retail causes from beyond the grave. me on a doomed space station hurtling Sue Murphy I wonder whether the celebrities toward earth. I don’t want to be a zomwould have approved. If they were bie, either, or one of those people I don’t want to be a who are blindly following some cult still passing by/with-us and were able to wield a pen, would they zombie, either, or one leader in the wilderness of Montana. have signed up to enrich the cofI would rather not appear as of those people who are a murder victim on a slab in the fers of a car manufacturer? A candy company? A soft drink empire? And blindly following some morgue, unless it’s on “NCIS”– not now that they’re pen-challenged, Los Angeles, the original. If you cult leader in the wil- have to be dead you might as well how is the appearance choice made exactly? By a preordained legal repderness of Montana. be dead with Mark Harmon gazing resentative? Wouldn’t that present a down at you. Given the choice, I’d like to be conflict of interest seeing as how the part of a virtual crowd at Disney World. Put mouse ears representative would personally stand to gain from the on my head and an ice cream bar in my hand and I’d be transaction? According to the news, Michael Jackson’s happy from wherever I was sitting. assets have become part of a third party estate, and there I’d be OK being cast as a backup dancer for just are a lot of parties out there trying to get their hands on about anybody. There’s not a lot of video footage of me that magic pen. dancing right now, but I’ll upload some clips of my best If a person’s holographic disembodied image is moves and the director can sort them out later. If you included in an estate manager’s holdings, we all have can’t use me on stage, put me in the concert audience. something to worry about. Some more than others, I Ideally, I’d like to holographically see the Beatles play, if realize, I mean, no one cares what car I’m driving now. Nobody is choosing their soft drink based on what I keep their holograms are in town. So, legal representative, let’s recap: death and in my fridge. destruction – no, music and laughter – yes. Unless Mark Still, there is a remote possibility that my future/ former self could show up on a screen somewhere. Think Harmon is involved. I’d holographically follow him anywhere.❖ about it. Every movie and TV show needs extras. Every
over the Mountain Views
What are your plans for Independence Day?
“I’m going to Lake Martin with my family. It’s becoming a family tradition. We celebrate the Fourth of July and several family members’ birthdays.” Liz Elkan Homewood
“I’m retired, so we don’t do much for the holidays. We’ll just enjoy hanging around with the family.” Rick Melanson Hoover
“I have no plans at all other than studying for the bar. I was a student at Stetson Law and now I have a job in the (Jefferson County) DA’s office.” Natalie Vann Vestavia Hills
“I’ll spend it with my family. We all congregate at my daughter’s house for barbecue and that kind of thing. It’s always a fun day.” Charles Beck Vestavia Hills
Save the Date Hoover
Birmingham’s Biggest Blood Drive June 26-28, noon-6 p.m. Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel The American Red Cross will host Birmingham’s Biggest Blood Drive from noon-6 p.m. June 26-28 in the Wyndsor Room at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel. Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health and feeling well at the time of the donation. With a parent’s permission, 16-year-olds can also donate blood. To learn more about the donation process or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “biggest” or call 800-RED-CROSS.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 3
About Town
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
will present Common Threads: Quilting Heritage Program and Workshop June 27 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the museum. Gail Andrews, the museum’s executive director, will give the opening lecture, and local artist Lillis Taylor will discuss 21st century quilting. At 1 p.m., Joyce H. Cauthen, Alabama Folklife Association executive director emeritus, will present the works of artist Bettye Kimbrell. Kimbrell’s quilts will be on display, and she will be on hand to answer questions. This is a free event. To register, visit www. eventbrite.com. For more information, email alabamafolklife@att.net or call 956-9888.
Birmingham
Opening Night Gala Fundraiser June 27, 7-11 p.m. Alabama Theatre The Alabama Theatre Junior Board will host the second annual Opening Night Gala at the theater from 7-11 p.m. June 27. The event will include a silent auction, live auction, live music, dancing and food catered by some of Birmingham’s hottest restaurants. Single general admission is $40, which includes two drink tickets. Admission is $37.50 for two or more. VIP tickets are $100 and include early admission to the gala at 6 p.m., five drink tickets, a tour of the Alabama Theatre and the chance to pre-bid on silent auction
items. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. For more information, visit alabamatheatre.com or call 252-2262. Birmingham
Lethal Beauty Opening June 27, 6-10 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art Andreas Marks, head of the Japanese and Korean Art Department and director of the Clark Center at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, will give the opening lecture on the Lethal Beauty exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art at 6 p.m. June 27. Following the
lecture, there will be an opening reception and viewing of the exhibit, which will include Japanese armor and weapons. The event includes food, drinks, music and a festive celebration of Japanese culture from 7-10 p.m. All seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information, visit www.artsbma.org or call 254-2565.
See Save the Date, page 5
Hoover
Summer Concert Series June 26, 7-10 p.m. Aldridge Gardens The 2014 Summer Concert Series at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover will kick off June 26 with a performance by Earl “Guitar” Williams and the Juke Band with Gip Gipson from 7-10 p.m. Those attending are invited to bring picnic dinners, refreshments, blankets and chairs to experience the Alabama blues legends live under the stars. Tickets, $10 for members and $20 for non-members, are available at aldridgegardens.com.
We’re focused on one kind of cancer. Yours.
Birmingham
S’mores and Pours June 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company S’mores and Pours, a fundraiser benefiting Camp Fire Alabama, will be from 5:30-9:30 p.m. June 26 at Avondale Brewing Company, 201 41st St. South, Birmingham. The event will feature samples of brews from Avondale Brewing Company, a unique spin on s’mores, a silent auction and live music. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Guests must be at least 21 to attend. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/CampFire.AL. Birmingham
Firehouse Shelter Fundraiser June 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Harbert Center Sylvester Croom, former University of Alabama All-American football player and current Tennessee Titans running backs coach, will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon benefiting the Firehouse Shelter June 27. The event will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Harbert Center in Birmingham. Proceeds will go directly to the Firehouse Shelter’s housing programs, which provide stability to the 219 men staying at one of the organization’s shelters each night. Tickets are $100. Corporate sponsorships are $1,000-$5,000. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. firehouseshelter.com, contact Doug Kovash at dkovash@firehouseshelter. com or call 908-9304.
When your world is changed by cancer, it’s good to know that the team who is changing how the whole world fights cancer is ready to focus everything we have on your cancer.
Learn more at uabmedicine.org/cancer
Birmingham
Common Threads Program June 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art The Alabama Folklife Association and the Birmingham Museum of Art 000360-5-cancer ad_8.25x10.indd 1
5/16/14 11:58 AM
4 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
About Town
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
When Greg Jeane was a young boy growing up in Texas, he read Richard Halliburton’s “Book of Marvels” and became fascinated with the idea of traveling to Africa. And while he daydreamed of traveling to the exotic locale pictured in the iconic tome, Jeane said he could have never predicted he would get to help build a school in Africa. “I read Halliburton’s book until I practically had it memorized and I thought Africa was the most intriguing place in the world, but I never really thought I’d make it there,” he said. “I just didn’t think it was in the cards for me.” But on July 19, Jeane will embark on his 16th mission trip to Africa, where he planned and coordinated the construction of a school in the village of Sikuzu, Zambia. Jeane first traveled to Africa in 2003 on a mission trip with members of Independent Presbyterian Church, which he attends. “The first time I stood on African soil, all those memories of reading about Africa as a child came flooding back, and it was incredible to think that I was really there,” he said. And while he was happy to be able to see Africa with his own eyes, that first mission trip left him with mixed emotions, Jeane said. Jeane, who retired in 2007 as a professor of geography at Samford University, said he thought he knew what to expect when he got to Africa. “I taught classes about Africa for 18 years at Samford and for 15 years before that at Auburn University, so I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but I was wrong,” he said. Jeane said he wept over the poverty he saw during his first trip to Africa. “You can’t know until you’re there and it hits you in the heart and you realize how blessed you are to live in the United States,” he said. “That trip changed my life.” Jeane, who is a member of the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club, said his heart broke to see children living in mud huts with no access to clean water. “They get their drinking water from the Zambezi River, which is very polluted, and they have to watch for crocodiles and hippos and it can be very dangerous,” he said. “I was in Africa for about five minutes when I realized there were enough Rotary projects there to last for a quarter of a century.” With a grant from the Rotarians, Jeane coordinated the construction of a water well in the African village of Mwandi in 2006. “That well is still pumping out thousands of gallons of sweet water for those children,” he said. “No one has to walk down to the river for water now. It seems like such a simple thing to us, but it has made a huge impact in the lives of
Hunger Games:
Iron City Chef Is July 26 An annual culinary event to raise money to help those in the community and abroad is set for July 26 this year. A continuation of the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club’s Toast Series, the 2014 Iron City Chef competition fundraiser will start at 6 p.m. at the Culinary and Hospitality Institute at the Jefferson State Community College ShelbyHoover campus on Valleydale Road. Haller Magee, Jeremy Downey from Bistro V, James Pruitt from Todd English P.U.B. and Sean Butler of Studio B will face off in this year’s culinary competition for charity. This is the sixth year for Iron City Chef, said Kent Howard, event chairman. For about 24 years, Vestavia Rotary
Greg Jeane, center, looks on as a student is handed the scissors for the ribbon cutting of the new Sikuzu School in Zambia. The school, below opened in January 2012. More photos at otmj.com Photos special to the Journal
Mission Possible
Vestavia Rotary Member Helps Build School in Africa
the villagers.” But while Jeane said he always left Africa feeling like he had made a difference, he felt he could do more to help the children there. “There was a school in Mwandi, but the children who lived away from the village out in the bush had to walk five miles each way to get to school. That’s a very dangerous trip for a 6-year-old to make, and just like mothers here, the mothers in Africa didn’t want to send their children on a dangerous journey by themselves,” he said. “I knew it was a problem, but I didn’t know how to address it until what I call Greg Jeane’s Personal Wedding Miracle happened.” It was August 2010 and Jeane was attending the wedding of a family friend’s son in Atlanta on the day before he was scheduled to leave on a mission trip to Africa. “I was grousing about it and saying what horrible timing it was when in reality, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect,” he said. While his wife was hosting a bridesmaids luncheon, Jeane struck up a conversation about
put together a “Rotary Roast,” Howard said. The roast featured well-known people like sports radio host Paul Finebaum and Bobby Bowden, then Florida State University’s head football coach, Howard said. “It was extremely successful, but we decided we needed to make the transition from roasts, which were becoming more plentiful in the fundraising arena, to something different,” he said. “Scott Huner, who was our president then, had the idea for Iron City Chef.” Howard said Huner contacted Joseph Mitchell, program director for Jefferson State’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute, about the idea. The club and college have partnered to host the event ever since. Howard said the Rotary competition uses the “Iron Chef America” format but doesn’t exactly duplicate it.
his mission work in Africa with the relative of a friend. “I had never met him before but knew he was a very successful commercial developer in Baltimore,” Jeane said. “He asked me why I kept going to Africa and if I thought I was doing any good there, and that turned into a two-hour conversation over lunch.” Later that evening at the rehearsal dinner, the businessman, Matthias DeVito, approached Jeane and told him he would like to give him a sizable donation to continue his mission work in Africa. “He asked me to bring back some ideas to him about the most pressing needs in Zambia, so while I was there, I asked everyone in the village, including the principal chief of the Lozi tribe,” Jeane said. “Apparently, that was a pretty rare thing–for someone to actually ask the people living there about what they needed the most.” The tribal chief told Jeane that access to education was what his people needed most of all.
Joseph Mitchell and Kent Howard. Journal photo by Maury Wald
The event begins in the college’s Health Science building’s large multipurpose room, and each chef does a savory course and a dessert course. Guests then get to vote on their favorite chef table. The two contestants with the highest number of votes face off in the institute’s pastry kitchen, where they
“He told me that people have been coming to Mwandi for years on mission trips and that he was thankful for everything that had been done but that he had people living out in the bush and that those children needed a school. He told me that education is the key to everything there,” Jeane said. Jeane reported back to DeVito and told him that it would cost about $40,000 to build a school in Sikuzu. Within a few weeks, DeVito and his wife, Rosetta, their DeVito Family Trust and their nephew Frank Timlin and his wife, Neenah, had donated the entire cost of the project. “That’s one of those moments when you realize that it isn’t about you,” he said. “I realized that I had been tapped by the Holy Spirit to make sure this project gets done.” The new school in Sikuzu was dedicated on Jan. 9, 2012. With the help of the Rotary Club and Vestavia Hills High School, Jeane raised money to buy furniture for the school and to install latrines, a water system and solar panels to provide power to the school and the village of Sikuzu. “Part of the proceeds of the (Vestavia Hills Rotary) club’s Iron City Chef competition helps the water project, and we got a grant from the Birmingham Rotary to help build the latrines,” he said. “And I just reported to the Vestavia club that the national ministry of education has provided a second teacher to the school, so that shows me that enough children are coming there from the bush settlements.” Jeane said he is always excited to return to Zambia to see the people he has come to regard as close friends. “I know that we are making a difference there and sometimes that difference isn’t about bringing money or doing something, but it’s about being there and continuing those relationships we’ve built,” he said. “There’s great joy when we arrive in the village, and it’s bittersweet when we leave because life is so fragile there and you don’t know who’s still going to be there the next time you visit.” Jeane said while he knows God is doing good works through him and the others who do mission work in Zambia, he always feels he has gained more than he has given. “In the U.S., we are quite good about quoting snippets of Bible verses, like ‘This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it,’ but the difference is that in Africa, they don’t just say it, they live it,” Jeane said. “I’ve learned so much about true faith from the friends I have met in Africa.” Jeane said he will continue to make mission trips to Africa for as long as he possibly can. “It’s been a remarkable experience, and it isn’t over yet,” he said. ❖
are presented with a basket of mystery ingredients. Judges then critique the final plates and pick the top chef. While the cooking competition is the main event, Iron City Chef has other activities for guests. There’s a silent auction, music and a wine tasting sponsored by Western Supermarkets. Tickets are $55 each, and corporate sponsorships for the event are available at two levels. For $400, table sponsors get four tickets, reserved seating and four raffle tickets. The $800 table sponsorship includes eight tickets, reserved seating and eight raffle tickets. Howard said Vestavia Rotary has two groups. The Noon Club meets on Fridays at the Vestavia Hills Board of Education, and the Sunrise Club meets at 6:45 a.m. at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. Iron City Chef has raised more than $700,000 since it started, Howard said.
Proceeds support Vestavia Hills High School’s math and debate programs, a scholarship for a Jefferson State culinary student, the local Rotary district’s disaster relief fund and Rotary International charities like End Polio Now and Clean Water for the World, he said. The event’s sold-out status over the past few years is largely due to community support, he said. Howard said the event is a success due to the corporate sponsorship and partnership Western Supermarkets and WVTM 13. “Without their support, this event would not be possible,” Howard said. “They help create a night out that the whole community looks forward to every year.” For tickets and more information, visit www.rotarytoast.org. Call Howard at 913-1941 for information. ❖
Birmingham Heart Walk June 28, 7:30 a.m. Uptown Entertainment District The American Heart Association will present the Birmingham Heart Walk June 28 in the Uptown Entertainment District in Birmingham. The festivities begin at 7:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk route will be a 5K with a one-mile option. This is a free event. A celebration will immediately follow the walk. Walkers are eligible for a Heart Walk T-shirt once they have raised at least $100. For more information, visit birminghamheartwalk. kintera.org or call 510-1500. Homewood
Charity Walk and Fitness Fun Day June 28, 9-11:30 a.m. Vulcan Park and Museum MTV’s Joey Dillon will launch his “Project Get in Shape” Charity Walk and Fitness Fun Day at the Vulcan Park and Museum in Homewood June 28. The event will be one of Dillon’s seven stops across the nation to promote fitness and health. The event aims to raise $10,000 for the Vulcan Park and Museum. The event runs from 9-11:30 a.m. at 1701 Valley View Drive with a 1K charity walk along the Vulcan trail. For tickets, visit projectgetingshapebhm.eventbrite.com. Homewood
Faces of Lupus Gala June 28, 6:30 p.m. Aloft Hotel Platinum Design & Eventz will hold its second annual fundraising gala for lupus, “Faces of Lupus Unveiled,” June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Aloft Hotel in SoHo Square in Homewood. The event will be hosted by radio personality Sly King of Hot 107.7. Tracey Green Young will be the mistress of ceremonies. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance. The goal of the event is to raise $50,000
Kayan Danley, left, of Trim Tab Brewing Co. and Amanda Melnikoff of A Silver Lining are making plans for the Red, White and Brew 5K fundraiser on July 5 in Birmingham. Photo special to the Journal
Shelby County
Bark and Wine June 28, 5:30 p.m. Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena The Shelby County Humane Society’s board of directors will host the fifth annual Bark and Wine fundraiser June 28 at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena. The dressy-casual event will feature drinks and a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by a program and a live auction by Ken Jackson at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Shelby Humane Society. Individual tickets are $100. A reserved table of eight is $1,000. For more information, email bestfriendsofshelbyhumane@gmail.com or call 334-315-9368.
shelter to orphans in Haiti is hosting the Red, White and Brew 5K at 10 a.m. on
Annual
Birmingham
to help raise awareness and fund research for lupus. The event will have a Mardi Gras theme and will include a cocktail reception, Cajun hors d’oeuvres, a dessert buffet, an hourly raffle and music. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com or call 256-346-8252.
33rd
Save the Date cont.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 5
About Town
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Birmingham
“Les Misérables” July 8-Aug. 3 Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
See Save the Date, page 7
I Love America
Summer Celebration Wednesday, July 2 at Wald Park
Birmingham
Seasoned Performers Concert Reading June 29, 2:30 p.m. ArtPlay The Seasoned Performers will hold a concert reading of “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde June 29 at ArtPlay in Birmingham. The cast includes Birmingham actors Ron Dauphinee, Ward Haarbauer, Laura Wells, Sandra Lawler, Jim Ellington, Martha Haarbauer, Jim Anderson and Bob Penney. The show starts at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. For details, visit www.seasonedperformers.org or call 978-5095.
July 5 at Trim Tab Brewing Company in downtown Birmingham. The run will begin and end at Trim Tab Brewing Co. Runners can cool down with a complimentary beer and live music after crossing the finish line. There will also be volleyball, live music and a silent auction. Packet pick-up is at
Homewood Park from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 3. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers and there will also be a prize for the most patriotic outfit. Race day registration at Trim Tab Brewing Co. will run from 8-9:30 a.m. For more information or to register, visit active. com.
Presented by: Bring your or lawn chair t e blank
Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Vestavia Hills Public Services
Rain D July ate: 10*
Birmingham
Red, White and Brew 5K July 5, 10 a.m. Trim Tab Brewing Co. A Silver Lining, Inc., a local nonprofit working to provide medication and
317 Vesclub VesTAVIA HIlls
ABSOLUTELY one of the prettiest and most admired houses in Vestavia! BIG FLAT backyard, SUPER CONVENIENT location. Beautifully maintained, large rooms, tall ceilings. Four bedrooms on main level. Large living room, sep dining and GORGEOUS family room with vaulted ceiling. Wonderful kitchen with LOADS of cabinets and storage space, pantry, updated appliances, island. In addition there is an office/hobby room on the main level. HUGE downstairs with big windows overlooking back yard. The space includes a big family room with bar area, plus another area with doors to backyard (perfect for exercise room- it has a raised floor previously used for dance practice) BIG closets and bath also on lower level. Upstairs is real bonus- getaway with walk in closet, lots of bookcases. Two car main level garage, circle drive, walk to VCC and more.
Shelley WatkinS 205-222-1817 CRS, ABR Associate Broker
lah Real estate inc
*In case of rain, Pops in the Park will take place on July 2 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church at 7:00 pm.
Many Thanks To All Our Sponsors Gold Sponsors AARP * ADT * Advanced Mower * America’s First Federal Credit Union * BB&T BancorpSouth * Brookwood Medical Center * Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry * Champion Cleaners * Charter Business * Charter Media Cooking with Cancer * Digital Trends * Donatos * e3 Medical Partners Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers * First Partners Bank Gaynell Hendricks for Jefferson Co. Tax Assessor * Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs Jimmie Hale Mission * KultureCity * Learning Rx * Liberty Park Joint Venture The Lili Pad McDonald’s * MedHelp Clinics * Newk’s Eatery * OnTime Electric Gary Palmer for Congress * Parc at Grandview & Parc at Cahaba River Promotional Creations Regions Bank * Sam’s Club * Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Generators Shades Mountain Baptist Church * Sonology Hearing Aid Clinic Southminster Presbyterian Church * Standard Heating & Air Conditioning State Farm Insurance~John Henley Agency * Summit Express Urgent Care TWO MEN AND A TRUCK * Verizon Wireless Cellular Sales * Vestavia Hills Living Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation Foundation * Vestavia Voice Williams Blackstock Architects * Wood & Spooner Cosmetic & General Dentistry Xceligent Silver Sponsors American Pest Control * Bariatrics of Alabama * B. L. Harbert International * Cahaba Data Representative Jim Carns * Carr Allison * Contri Bros. Gift Basket Dermatology & Skin Care Center of Birmingham * iStand Falls Prevention * Karen’s Hallmark Kidz Closet & More * Kwik Kopy Printing-Vestavia * Mugshots Grill & Bar Oliver Square-In Loving Memory of Greg Oliver * Pinnacle Bank * Richter Landscape Company Roofing & Painting Contractor-Oswaldo Sialer * Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church
6 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
about town Organizers are getting ready to kick off the Over the Mountain area’s first Independence Day event, the “I Love America” Day in Vestavia Hills on July 2. From left: Martine Craven, John Henley, Lisa Christopher, Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza, Karen Odle, Steve Odle and Ann Hamiter. Photo special to the Journal
Bang-up Events OTM Area Has Variety of Independence Day Celebrations The Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Department and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will kick off Independence Day celebrations in the Over the Mountain and surrounding areas, which this year will include fireworks shows, historical reenactments, free concerts and more. The 33rd annual “I Love America” Summer Celebration in Vestavia Hills is July 2 from 6-9 p.m. There will free swimming at Wald Park on U.S. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. and children’s activities from 6-8 p.m. There will also be a business expo from 6-8 p.m. on July 2. The Shades Mountain Baptist Church Orchestra will present “Pops in the Park,” a concert of patriotic and pop favorites, beginning at 7 p.m. In case of rain, the concert will take place at the church on Columbiana Road in Vestavia Hills. A movie showing of the familyfriendly film “Frozen” begins at dusk at about 8:15 p.m. For more information, visit www. vestaviahills.org or call 823-5011.
Additional Fourth of July celebration events in the area include: Montevallo
Celebrate Independence Day 1776 July 4, 11 a.m. American Village Take a trip back in time this Fourth of July by celebrating Independence Day at American Village in Montevallo. The Celebrate Independence Day 1776 event runs from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 4. Gates open at 11 a.m., and events begin at noon. Throughout the day, costumed historical interpreters will tell the story of the nation’s founding. There will also be Revolutionary Army drills and 18th-century games. The event will wrap up with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Admission is $5 but free for ages 4 and younger, active military personnel and veterans. For more information, visit www.americanvillage.org or call 6653565, extension 1301. Homewood
Fourth of July Festival July 4, 5:30-9 p.m. Downtown Homewood The city of Homewood and the Homewood Parks and Recreation Board will celebrate the Fourth of July from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Homewood. Two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Avenue South in
the downtown area will be closed to vehicles to make way for pedestrian traffic. The event will include inflatables and rides for children, DJ music and other activities. Admission is free, but unlimited rides wristbands must be purchased for rides and attractions. For more information, contact Rusty Holley at rusty.holley@homewoodal.org. Hoover
Freedom Fest July 4, 5-10 p.m. Hoover Met The city of Hoover will present a free Fourth of July celebration for the whole family with Freedom Fest at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The event will run from 6-10 p.m. July 4. There will be a car show in the stadium parking lot, and gates will open at 5 p.m. Music by several performers, including The Onlys, the Rhett Walker Band and Ryan Kinder will start at 6 p.m. Kinder, a Hoover native who is touring nationwide to promote his debut single “Kiss Me When I’m Down,” will perform at 8 p.m. A fireworks show at 9 p.m. will close out the night. Concession stands will be open for food purchases. For more information, visit www.hooveral.org or call 739-7361 or 739-7362.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Red, White and ‘Cue OLS Cooks up Plans for Annual July 4 Festival
Volunteers at a Homewood church are busy putting their plans together for the Birmingham metro area’s oldest Independence Day festival. The 65th annual Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Independence Day Festival will kick off at 10 a.m. and run through 3 p.m. July 4. Since 1949, OLS has provided church parishioners and the community with a variety The Knights plan of entertainment and great food to celebrate to cook about Independence Day, said Bill Lang, one of the organizers. 5,000 pounds of “The annual festivities include something for meat for guests everyone,” Lang said. to enjoy under a The celebration, coordinated by the Knights of Columbus Council #4304, will include plenty huge tent, in the of barbecue, a raffle, entertainment from Bobby Parish Hall or at “T” Tanory, a cake walk, doll walk, games and home. activities for all ages and the popular Trash ’n’ Treasure rummage sale. “The Knights of Columbus at OLS are excited to be celebrating 65 years of honoring our nation’s birthday, and we hope that our parish, diocese and our community will come join in the celebration,” said Adam Morel, Grand Knight of the OLS Knights of Columbus #4304 and festival co-chairman. Festival proceeds will help the OLS building fund, OLS school, special charities and the charitable endeavors of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights plan to cook about 5,000 pounds of meat for guests to enjoy
See ols, next page
Birmingham
Thunder on the Mountain July 4, 9 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum Thunder on the Mountain will once again illuminate the skies above Vulcan. Free to the public, this year’s show will last about 20 minutes and will be choreographed to a musical soundtrack featuring a mix of patriotic favorites and popular musical performances. Prime viewing locations include Five Points South, Homewood, Vestavia, Mountain Brook and the UAB campus. For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com.❖
The Knights of Columbus at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood are preparing for the 65th annual Independence Day Festival on July 4. Among the leaders of the group are, from left: Bacy Wilson of Homewood, Floyd Hosmer of Vestavia Hills, Adam Morel of Homewood and Greg Pierre of Vestavia Hills. Photo special to the Journal
Let the fireworks begin!
for more information please Call mike wedgworth: 205.365.4344
Park South Plaza • 1425 Montgomery Hwy., Suite 111 Mon.-Fri. 9 - 6 • Sat. 10-3 • (205) 822-9173
ols,
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under a huge tent, in the Parish Hall or at home, according to Joe Falconer. Bulk meat sales will be available in the school cafeteria during the festival. On July 3, bulk meat sales will run from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The menu for the festival includes plates of pork, beef, ribs or chicken along with beans, slaw and bread. Those attending the festival can also get hotdogs, smoked sausage and pork sandwiches. Festival guests will have a chance to win $11,000 in cash being given away during a raffle. Those who want to get a bargain while they celebrate Independence Day can check out the annual Trash ’n’ Treasure rummage sale. The OLS gym will be chock-full of household items, clothing, collectibles and more, according to Melanie Falconer, rummage sale chairman. The rummage sale’s furniture offerings were expanded this year, Falconer said, and shoppers will once again be able to hunt for furniture bargains in a 4,800-square-foot tent. Falconer said the tent will hold hundreds of furniture items, rugs, decorative pillows, lamps and floral arrangements. As part of the annual festival, Falconer said organizers have also been working for months on a shoe drive. She said hundreds of pairs of shoes have already been repaired and rejuvenated at the Homewood Shoe Hospital. The gym will open at 8 a.m. for the first 400 people who donate $5 for early bird admission tickets. Otherwise, shoppers can enter the gym at 9 a.m., Falconer said. The festival will be on the church grounds at 1728 Oxmoor Road, Homewood. For more information on the rummage sale, visit www.facebook.com/ OLSTrashAndTreasure. For details on the July 4 festival, call the church at 871-8121.❖
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 7
about town
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Save the Date cont. The Red Mountain Theatre Company will present “Les Misérables” July 8-Aug. 3 at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, 800 19th Street North, Birmingham. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The show is rated PG-13 and contains adult themes that may not be suitable for young audiences. Parental discretion is strongly advised. The 7:30 p.m. shows on July 15, 16, 22 and 23 are sold out. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit
Homewood
www.redmountaintheatre.org or call 324-2424. Vestavia Hills
Wounded Warrior Project Benefit July 11-12 Artist Incorporated Gallery Artists Incorporated Gallery in Vestavia Hills will host a sanctioned benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project July 11-12. A portion of all sales will be donated to Wounded Warriors. On July 11, there will be a reception from 4:308:30 p.m. with wine, food, live music and art. This is a free event. The gallery is at 1215 Morgan Drive. For more information, call 979-8990.
Red, White and Brews July 12, 5 p.m. Rosewood Hall The Bell Center, Mitchell’s Place and Triumph Services are teaming up for the first Red, White and Brews fundraiser at 5 p.m. July 5 at Rosewood Hall in Homewood. The event is a celebration of a lifetime of independence for children and young adults with disabilities. Those attending can sample beers from Good People, Avondale, Trimtab and Cahaba breweries. Food trucks will be at the event. Music will be provided by Live Wire, Little Memphis and Friends and members of the Taylor
Hicks Band. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.eventbrite.com. Vestavia Hills
Sorority Recruitment Shopping Showcase July 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Serendipity Boutique The Birmingham Alumnae Panhellenic will host its second annual Sorority Recruitment Shopping Showcase from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 19. This year, Serendipity Boutique in Cahaba Heights and Jade Boutique in Trussville will be the hosts. The event is open to all women in the Birmingham area. For more information, visit birminghampanhellenic.yolosite.com.❖
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Great Big House on Cul de Sac in the heart of Bluff Park! 4 BR, 3 BA, Large fenced yard. Move-in condition!
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“Annie” July 10-27 Virginia Samford Theatre
2011 Sales Associate of the Year
Virginia Samford Theatre will present one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals, “Annie,” July 10-27. The show will feature classic songs like “Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and “Tomorrow” and is directed by Roy Hudson with choreography by Carl Dean. Tickets are $15-$35. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Packages for birthday parties and special occasions are also available for $400, which includes 20 performance tickets and a free party room.Virginia Samford Theatre is at 1116 26th Street South, Birmingham. For more information, visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org or call 251-1228. ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
u Over the Mountain
DeMarco, Palmer Face Off at Forum By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor
Alabama Sixth Congressional District candidates Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer took their messages to a group of Republicans at a recent political forum, hoping to convince voters to vote for them in the July 15 primary runoff election to replace U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, who is retiring. The political forum sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans at Regions Field June 19 drew about 300 people. Both candidates touched on a range of topics such as immigration, term limits and impeachment of President Obama. DeMarco, an attorney and current state representative, spoke of his newly-born son, Jack, and securing a future for him unsaddled with an
astronomical national debt. “I worry about what’s going on in Washington, D.C., and whether Jack and other children around this country will have the same opportunities that we have,” he said. Palmer, founder of the conservative think-tank Alabama Policy Institute, said low voter turnout reflects how disillusioned Americans are with the future of the United States, including conservatives as part of the problem. “As conservatives and Republicans, we’ve become experts at depressing people,” Palmer said. “What we need to focus on is solutions, how we’re going to get the country back on the right track.” DeMarco and Palmer alternated answering questions from a threemember panel and from moderator Matt Murphy, a conservative talk
Sixth Congressional District
Paul DeMarco
Gary Palmer
radio host. On the issue of impeachment, both candidates said they would impeach President Obama if the issue came up for a vote. Palmer added Attorney General Eric Holder should be impeached, too. Term limits represented the first divide between the candidates. DeMarco said he would support a
bill to establish term limits, saying he backed such a bill in the Alabama Legislature. But DeMarco added he wouldn’t place term limits on himself sans legislation. Palmer said he would not serve more than 10 years and would commute to D.C. instead of living there. Both candidates were asked if they would pass an unbalanced budget and approve a tax increase to balance the budget. Palmer said it would depend on the situation. He said he wouldn’t support a tax increase to balance the budget. DeMarco said he would support a constitutional amendment to balance the budget and would never vote for a tax increase. The two are expected to make other appearances before the Republican runoff July 15. The win-
ner will face Democrat Avery Vise and Libertarian Aimee Love in the November general election. Other candidates for state office attended the Young Republican forum even if they weren’t scheduled to participate in a debate. Republicans Arnold Mooney and Amie Beth Shaver, who are vying for the District 43 seat, attended the meeting. Mooney, a commercial real estate broker and the top vote getter in the primary, said he’s spent the time since the runoff contacting voters and running advertisements trying to get his message to the people in his district. Shaver, a conservative commentator, said her approach has been to reach out to her supporters and identify new ones. Republicans David Faulkner and Steve French were headed for a runoff for the District 46 seat, but French announced he was withdrawing from the race. Faulkner will face Libertarian Steve Tucker in the November general election. ❖
u Vestavia Hills
u Mountain Brook
Crestline Pig Plans Still in the Works Fire Department Adding New Thermal Cameras By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
By William C. Singleton III
Despite rumors being circulated on social media sites, officials say the plans to return a Piggly Wiggly grocery store to Crestline Village in Mountain Brook are still in the works. However, the new Piggly Wiggly’s location in the village has changed. Robert Jolly, president of Retail Specialists, said he planned to pres-
Journal contributor
‘The site (for the new Crestline Piggly Wiggly) is behind the current CVS across the alley to Vine Street.’ Robert Jolly, Retail Specialists
ent an update on the return of the Crestline Pig to the Mountain Brook City Council June 23. Jolly is working with the Virciglio family, who owned the Crestline store, and the Naseem Ajlouny family, who are partners in the River Run Piggly Wiggly store. “The site (for the new Crestline Piggly Wiggly) is behind the current CVS across the alley to Vine Street,” Jolly said. “The storefront is planned to face southeast and complement the recently finished Board of Education and City Hall buildings in style.” In February, Jolly presented preliminary plans for bringing a Piggly Wiggly back to Crestline in the space CVS/Pharmacy said in January it was going to vacate at 49 Church Street. CVS/Pharmacy officials at the time said the plan was to move the store to the former Piggly Wiggly site at the corner of Oak Street and Euclid
The Piggly Wiggly in Crestline Village at the corner of Oak Street in Euclid Avenue in Mountain Brook closed in November after 30 years. Plans are in the works to bring the Pig back to the village at a site behind the current CVS/Pharmacy. Journal file photo by William C. Singleton III
Avenue. “When the original location we discussed was removed from consideration, the owners felt that this site actually was much better,” Jolly said. “It fits the city planning better, provides for better access and will be a more pleasing physical addition to the community.” Jolly said the new Crestline Piggly Wiggly will be similar to the River Run Piggly Wiggly and will be a full-service grocery store with “an outstanding selection of wines, craft beers, home-cooked foods from the deli, a broad selection of produce and top quality butchers and meat selections.” The size of the new grocery store is still being finalized, Jolly said, but is expected to be a bit larger than
the former Crestline Piggly Wiggly, which closed in November. Last summer, news broke that the Crestline Piggly Wiggly might close due to stalled lease negotiations between the store owners and the property owners. The owner of the property the Piggly Wiggly leased decided to go in a different direction even though Piggly Wiggly’s owners wanted to remain as a tenant. Residents launched a “Save the Pig” campaign on social media, but the store closed just before the holiday season after more than 30 years in Crestline. Residents held an appreciation celebration for the store’s employees and reminisced about the store’s long history in the community.❖
The Vestavia Hills Fire Department will be getting new thermal imaging cameras to help fight fires and assist in rescue missions. The city’s fire department recently received a $45,538 grant through the American Fire Act to buy eight thermal imaging cameras. Vestavia Hills must put up $5,059 to satisfy the grant’s matching-funds requirement. Along with the cameras, the grant will also cover the purchase of extra charging bases for reserve vehicles. Thermal imagining cameras help firefighters locate hotspots in structure fires, identify and detect by reading body heat victims ejected in car accidents or lost in the woods and distinguish liquid chemicals during hazardous material spills. “The use of these cameras is really endless,” said Lt. Ryan Farrell, spokesman for the Vestavia Hills Fire Department. Fire Chief Jim St. John said the department uses the cameras hundreds of times throughout the year. Fire officials said the department currently has five older model thermal imaging cameras which are bulkier and less technologically advanced than the new cameras. “The previous cameras weighed about 10 pounds, which is a lot when you’re trying to carry that and everything else you need to fight a fire,” St. John said. The battery life is shorter in the older model cameras, and because the cameras use older technology, it becomes harder to find parts for
Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Jim St. John displays both the old, right, and the new thermal imaging cameras. The department recently received a federal grant to buy eight thermal imaging cameras to help fight fires and assist in rescue missions. The new cameras will replace five older models. Photo special to the Journal
repairs, the fire chief said. The older models also cost $13,000 each, St. John added. The new cameras are lighter, more durable, have a longer battery life and cost about $4,000 each, St. John said. Not only will the price allow the fire department to buy more cameras but it will allow the department to equip each of its front-line vehicles with a thermal imagining camera, he said. “We’ll be able to get one for the battalion chief’s car and each of the three rescue transport vehicles we have,” St. John said. Farrell said the department is currently writing specs and standards for the bid process. If the process flows smoothly, Farrell said he expects the department will receive the cameras in the next few months.❖
u Homewood
Rosedale Rezoning Approved By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor
The Homewood City Council recently voted 7-2 in favor of a controversial rezoning in the Rosedale community. The council agreed to rezone two duplex homes at 2756 B.M. Montgomery St. from Neighborhood Preservation District to a mixed-use district to pave the way for a residen-
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 9
NEWS
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
tial-studio development. Terry Slaughter of the Slaughter Group operates a ministry called Simon Cyrene Foundation from the duplex homes. He wants to renovate them for his ministry but also plans to build studio space in the homes, which isn’t allowed under Neighborhood Preservation District zoning. The duplex homes were under the Neighborhood Preservation District, but the south portion of the property
required a mixed-use zoning for the studio addition. Slaughter also plans to build an office on adjoining property currently zoned commercial. Tim Coker of Coker Holdings owns the properties and is assisting Slaughter in the renovation. The council approved Slaughter’s development plan before it approved the rezoning, a necessary step in procedures, city officials said. The rezoning vote was taken without discussion from the audience. However, some neighbors oppose the rezoning, saying they don’t want Rosedale further commercialized. “Once you start changing from
residential and moving properties to mixed use, you start getting rid of the residential aspects of the community,” Rosedale resident Sterling Huntley said at the May 12 council meeting. Rosedale residents also complained that Slaughter never discussed his plans with them. The issue was originally up for a vote at the council’s May 12 meeting where Slaughter spoke on behalf of his project, and neighbors spoke against it. The council delayed a vote on the rezoning at that meeting to give Slaughter time to meet with residents. Slaughter met with Rosedale residents
at a subsequent meeting sponsored by Councilman Britt Thames. Both he and Councilman Michael Hallman voted against the rezoning. Councilman Walter Jones said that the mixed-use district zoning gives residents more protection than the Neighborhood Preservation District because commercial zoning is already a part of Rosedale. Mixed-use zoning would place further restrictions on what could be built on the property in question, he added. “To me, mixed use doesn’t really lend to the transition over to commercial,” Jones said. “It actually protects it (the neighborhood).” ❖
u Hoover
Tag Services Coming to Met
Hoover residents won’t be the only ones who can renew car tags at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The City Council recently approved a “Memorandum of Understanding” with Jefferson County and the city’s parks and recreation board to establish a temporary car tag renewal office at the stadium and offer the service to all Jefferson County residents. Starting Aug. 1 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Jefferson County employees will staff ticket windows at the Met and use the facility until the county and city can establish a more permanent location. In May, Hoover officials voted to join Vestavia Hills in providing car renewal services for their residents. A bill that passed the Alabama Legislature earlier this year allowed Jefferson County municipalities to renew car tags for their own residents and offer an alternative to the long lines and wait for the same service at county courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer. Vestavia Hills began issuing car
renewal tags to its citizens in April. But even as Hoover’s council voted to do the same, Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey was already discussing with local lawmakers the possibility of his city offering expanded services and starting its own county annex. With an annex, Hoover would be able to not only offer car tag renewal services but issue tags for new cars, boats and motorcycles. City officials said the Met is an appropriate location for a temporary office and would divert some of the traffic going to the county courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer. “Any time you can bring the courthouse closer to the citizens, you’re accomplishing the right thing,” Hoover Council President Jack Wright said. “If I was going to stand in line, I’d rather be standing on Highway 31 than downtown with my car parked at a meter.” The Met has about 3,400 parking spaces, which would be free to customers seeking to renew tags, Wright added. ❖ –William C. Singleton III
u VESTAVIA HILLS
New Superintendent Will Start Job on Aug. 1 lead the school system through its new strategic plan. “It makes more sense for the new superintendent to head up that longrange planning instead of the person who’s about to go out,” Blair said. The board also named Tyler Burgess as the new principal for Pizitz Middle School. Burgess previously served as assistant principal for instruction at Homewood Middle School. He takes over for David Miles, who retired as Pizitz’s principal at the end of the school year. ❖ –William C. Singleton III
© 2014 Alabama Power Company
Vestavia Hills’ next superintendent will start her job Aug. 1. The school board recently approved the contract of Sheila Phillips, whom it named its next superintendent last month to replace Jamie Blair. Phillips’ contract covers three years at a salary of $167,500 annually. She will also receive $9,888 a year for vehicle allowance. “I recognize how important this role is in the Vestavia Hills community, where everyone is so invested in our youth and in the educational process here, and being allowed to lead those processes makes me so grateful,” Phillips said. To make way for Phillips, Blair will move into an advisory position and serve out his contract with the school system until he retires Oct. 1, 2015. Blair said it would be better for Phillips to come onboard earlier to
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Board of Education Special Meeting The Vestavia Hills Board of Education will hold a special board meeting at 8:30 a.m. July 7 in the board room. The agenda topic will be personnel. For more information, visit www.vestavia. k12.al.us or call 402-5100. ❖ POWI-3466 PowerToAlabama_5.75.indd 1
2/18/14 10:38 AM
10 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
strength, From page 1
at Community Grief Support Services in Homewood. “At first, I didn’t think I could make it through the grief support group meetings, but now I really see the value in being around other people who really know what you’re going through because they’re going through the same thing,” Connor said. Having that sense of community in the midst of their grief is just one way survivors benefit from bereavement support groups, said Steve Sweatt, co-director at Community Grief Support Services. “One thing that is essential is being able to access a community so that survivors secure validation for their experiences by talking to other people in the same situation,” Sweatt said. CGSS started as a volunteer service of Ridout’s Funeral Home in the early 1990s to help bereaved families struggling with their loss, said Lisa Harrison, administrative director. “We incorporated as a nonprofit in 1996 and have been providing free services to help bereaved adults in the greater Birmingham area since then,” Harrison said. The services offered at CGSS include individual, couples and family grief counseling, community education programs, lunch-and-learn workplace seminars and loss-specific grief support groups led by licensed professional therapists, Harrison said. “We have different support groups for different kinds of survivors,” Harrison said. “We have groups for those who have lost an adult child, for those who have lost parents, grandparents and siblings and for those who have lost their spouses.” It was the loss-specific programs that first made Connor go to CGSS, she said. “I have lost both my parents and that was very, very difficult, but there’s no way to compare it to losing your spouse, your best friend, your better half,” Connor said. “I had heard that term, ‘better half,’ my whole life, but I don’t think I really understood it until Scott died.” Scott Connor was an executive vice president of bank operations for Regions Bank for 32 years and was healthy up until he was diagnosed with brain tumors in February of last year. “It all happened so fast. He got the diagnosis on Feb. 5, 2013. He did chemo, radiation and the doctors tried a new drug for brain tumors, but by August of last year, he couldn’t walk, talk or swallow,” she said. “It was so hard to see this happen to this wonderful, funny, caring man that I loved.” Connor said while she has a great network of friends and family who have supported her, she knew she needed help dealing with the hole in her heart left when Scott passed away. “Typically, I’m a very together person, but I was so emotional all the time right after Scott died that I knew I had to learn to let go,” Connor said. “My church, Riverchase United Methodist, recommended Community Grief Support Services, so I did some research and I liked the way they have their programs set up there.” Before attending her first meeting, Connor met with Sweatt to talk about what she could expect. “What we try to do is bring people for a pregroup orientation session to make sure they get a good introduction and see what the group will be like and if they think it will be a good fit for them,” Sweatt said. On Jan. 11, Connor went to her first grief support meeting, albeit with some reservations. “I remember getting ready to go to the meeting that first night and thinking that I didn’t know if I could do it for 11 weeks,” she said. “It’s hard enough to tell your own story, and I just didn’t know if I could go through weeks
cover story and weeks of hearing about how others were hurting, too.” But Connor said the group meetings were eye-openers for her and gave her a new perspective on her situation. “It wasn’t just a bunch of people sitting around crying and sobbing,” she said. “We had people who had gone through the program come in and talk to us and it was like seeing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is hope that I won’t always hurt this much.” Hearing the stories of others also helped
and going and doing. We offer that state of suspension where you can allow yourself to have those feelings.” Each person has his or her own way of grieving, Sweatt said, and that’s why one-size-fits-all bereavement services are not very effective. “There’s a fallacy among the public and even many mental health professionals that there are stages of grieving, something you can check off a list and say, ‘Well, now I need to be feeling this because I’ve moved to the next stage,’ but that’s not how it works.”
Participants in the Walk to Remember released white balloons in remembrance of the loved ones they have lost. Journal photo by Emil Wald
Connor realize how lucky she is in many ways, she said. “I’ve heard of people having to sell their homes and other horror stories, and I realized that I was very blessed that my husband was proactive and had everything in order. He was a planner, and we got wills and life insurance and all that the moment we got married,” she said. While she had misgivings about support groups in the beginning, Connor said by the eighth week of the CGSS program, she knew she had made the right choice–and some new friends. “We got to know each other individually. We had dinner together, and then by the eighth week, it all started clicking and we were able to laugh together. After Scott died, I didn’t know if I would ever laugh again,” she said. Sweatt said the grief support program is designed to be a transitional social bridge for survivors. “People think that they just go to the meetings and talk about their grief, but it is more than that,” he said. “The grief support group allows for those occasions when they want to talk about their pain and for those occasions when they want to talk about other things.” The ultimate goal, Sweatt said, is to help survivors get back into life at their own pace. “One of my teachers, Alan Wolfelt, talks about how we live in a grief-avoidance culture. Our programs give people a place to slow down, to experience the profundity of what they’re going through,” he said. “Real healing demands that you allow yourself to experience the loss, and you can’t do that if you just keep running
Sweatt said everyone has an organic, natural way of coping with loss and that professionals like those at CGSS can help survivors find the right avenues to experience emotional release. Connor said she still experiences a range of grieving emotions and sometimes she feels them all in the same day. “I still go through denial, I still deal with anger. You go in and out of the emotions, and sometimes everything just hits you like a wave,” she said. “Seeing that other people are on that same emotional rollercoaster ride has helped.” When she found out about the Walk to Remember event, Connor knew that it would be important for her to participate in it with her children, Kelli Connor Cohen and Tyler Connor. “I had so much respect for my husband, and I wanted to honor him in some way, to pay tribute to his memory and his life and to just remember him,” she said. Sweatt said events like the Walk to Remember are connecting rituals that allow survivors to still feel bonded to the loved ones they have lost. “Finding ways to connect with the joyful memories is important, and it gives the survivors the chance to honor those memories,” he said. Now that she has completed the 11-week program at CGSS, Connor has signed up to be a volunteer with the organization. “No one really understands unless they’ve had to walk this path, and I hope that by my sharing my experience, I can help someone else feel the comfort that comes from knowing that someone really gets it,” Connor said. ❖
Groups Offer Grief Counseling, Support Along with the programs and grief support groups offered at Community Grief Support Services in Homewood, there are several other resources for those struggling with grief over the loss of a loved one. Alabama Grief Support Services at One Office Park Circle offers several different grief support groups in the Over the Mountain area. Day groups meet year-round at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church at 2305 Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook and at Hunter Street Baptist Church at 2600 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover. An 11-week program for those who have lost a parent and for young widows and widowers is also offered at those locations. Additionally, Alabama Grief Support Services will start offering general grief support group meetings at South Highland Presbyterian Church at 2305 Highland Ave. in Birmingham on Sept. 11. For more information about Alabama Grief Support Services programs, visit alabamagrief. org or call 870-0161. The Amelia Center at 1513 Fourth Ave. South in Birmingham offers counseling and support to parents and families grieving the death of a child and to children, teenagers and young adults up to 21 years old and their caregivers grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information on the programs of the Amelia Center, visit www.ameliacenter.org or call 638-7481. Alacare Home Health and Hospice offers the Breakfast Club, a conversational grief group for adults on the second Friday of each month. The meetings start at 9 a.m. at the Alacare Hoover office at 2970 Lorna Road. Alacare also offers a seasonal support program with a grief and the holidays workshop during November and December each year. Plans are also in the works to offer regular grief education seminars to adult grievers in the community, said Paul Moon, Alacare’s bereavement coordinator. For more information, email Moon at paul. moon@alacare.com or call 981-8437. At Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, the Beginning Experience program offers a series of support groups and weekend events designed to help the widowed. Participants in the program meet once a week for 10 weeks. Children’s groups are also available periodically. For more information, visit birminghambeginningexperience.org or call 969-8509. In Mountain Brook, Crestline GriefShare offers weekly grief support meetings at Crestline Church, 601 Hagood Street. For more information, call 879-6001. The Crisis Center at 3600 Eighth Ave. South in Birmingham offers a survivors of suicide bereavement group program for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Facilitated by professionals, the SOS group provides an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere of support without the stigma often associated with suicide. Group members share their stories as well as various coping skills they have found to be helpful in the healing process. The Survivors of Suicide group meets the first and third Thursday of each month at Riverchase United Methodist Church in Hoover. The address is 1953 Old Montgomery Highway. For more information, contact Andrea Nelson at nelson.andrea@hotmail.com. ❖
Alvis Named to Trial Lawyers Academy Board A partner with Christian & Small LLP was appointed to serve on the International Academy of Trial Lawyers board of directors at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. LaBella S. Alvis was the only woman chosen as a new board LaBella S. Alvis member this year. She will serve a three-year term. As a partner at Christian & Small LLP, Alvis handles litigation matters statewide, including professional liability and medical malpractice defense, EEOC and employment liability claims, insurance defense and coverage cases. Alvis also defends liquor liability cases and is a certified ABC Board vendor trainer. She is also listed in the Best Lawyers in America and Alabama Super Lawyers. Alvis is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Alabama Law Foundation. She is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Additionally, Alvis was co-founder and is a past director of the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Association.
OTM Residents Elected Alumni Group Officers Several Over the Mountain residents were recently named officers for a county-wide university alumni group. The University of Alabama Jefferson County Alumni Association has elected its officers for the 2014-2015 year. The new president is Susan Norton of Vestavia Hills. The president-elect is
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 11
people
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
James Ezell of Cahaba Heights. Jennifer Brewer of Bluff Park is secretary, and Nick Grabowski of Mountain Brook and John Mark Fain of Homewood are the treasurers. The other officers are Alan Hall of Highland Lakes, membership recruitment; Tabitha Leech of Vestavia Hills, membership enrollment; Mark Burr of Hoover, scholarship; and Adrienne Thompson of Vestavia Hills, newsletter.
Patton Honored with Community Award A Birmingham Allstate agency owner has been honored for her commitment to helping others and for her community service. Jalona Patterson Patton received the Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award for volunteering at The Horizons School. The Allstate Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to the school Jalona Patterson to recognize Patton Patton’s community service efforts there. “The Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award celebrates the spirit of service and commitment to communities where we live, work and do business.” said Bob Holden, field senior vice president for Allstate’s Southeast region. “With support from the Allstate Foundation, Jalona makes our hometown a better place.”
Cantley Achieves Eagle Scout Rank with Troop 28 A member of Boy Scout Troop 28 recently received the highest rank in Boy Scouts. Craig Cantley, the son of Cyndy and Keith Cantley, was honored as an Eagle Scout at Independent Presbyterian Church. Cantley, a student at the Altamont School, is a member of the varsity golf team, the Young Republicans Club and
the Kaiser Miree Leadership Center. He also is an active member of the IPC youth group and the Westminster Choir. Cantley became a scout in the first grade when he joined his troop as a Tiger Cub. He received the Order of the Arrow in 2008. Cantley has held numerous leadership positions within his troop, including chaplain’s aide. His awards include more than 21 merit badges and the God and Country Award. For his Eagle Scout project, Cantley raised money and built cabinetry for the STAIR program at IPC.
w w w.18thstre e torie nta ls.com
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no exceptions!
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The perfect time to buy bed, bath and table linens— fragrances, frames and home furnishings! *See store for details
christine's + bagatelle 2415 Montevallo Road . Mountain Brook Village . 871.8297
12 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
people
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Distinguished Young Women Program Set for July 18-19
For over 90 years, Levy’s has been Birmingham's Specialist in Antique and Estate Jewelry as well as Fine Diamonds, Art and Antiques.
Over the Mountain schools are well-represented among the 30 high school seniors representing 14 high schools from across Jefferson County who will compete for cash tuition and college-granted scholarships in what was formerly known as the Junior Miss program. The Distinguished Young Women Program will be July 18 and 19 at the Wright Center Concert Hall on the campus of Samford University.
Chelsea Aaron, daughter of Tommy and Cathy Aaron, Oak Grove High.
2116 2nd Avenue North • (205) 251-3381
www.levysfinejewelry.com
With a theme of “A Winter Wonderland,” participants will compete on stage in the talent, fitness and selfexpression categories. On the final night of the competition, finalists will be selected along with overall category winners. The Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County 2015 will then be crowned, along with a first alternate winner and second alternate winner. The winner of the competition
Caroline Bearden, daughter of Jeremy and Kelley Bearden, Hoover High.
Jordan English, daughter of Brad and Nancy English, Hoover High.
will have the opportunity to represent Jefferson County in the Distinguished Young Women Program of Alabama in Montgomery in January. Tickets for the preliminaries at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on July 18 are $15. Tickets for the finals on July 19 are $25. Tickets can be purchased from any of the program’s participants or at the Samford University Wright Center box office each evening one hour prior to the event, or by calling 907-0210.❖
Elexia Coleman, Haley Dellaccio, daughdaughter of James ter of Charles and Evans III and Merika Elizabeth Dellaccio, Coleman-Evans, JCIB. Vestavia Hills High.
Abbey Donze, daughter of Cathy Donze and the late Frank Donze, Vestavia Hills High.
Mikailah Good, Brooklyn Hornbuckle, Sydney James, daughter of Sean daughter of Steven and daughter of Jeff and Rebecca Good, Candace Hornbuckle, and Jo Ellen James, Oak Grove High. Vestavia Hills. Hoover High.
Shades Mountain Christian School To: From:
Date:
Jennifer Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 June 2014
This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAlEmilee for the Jones, daughter of Wayne and June 26,, 2014 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. Cecelia Jones, ClayChalkville High.
Caroline Karson, daughter of Kyle Karson and Bryan Karson, Homewood High.
Mary Kash, daughter of Mike and Julie Kash, Vestavia Hills High.
Margo King, daughter of Clay and Leslie King, Vestavia Hills High.
Alex Larson, daughter of Lyle and Sarah Larson, Vestavia Hills High.
Mary Beth McClung, daughter of Bill and Lisa McClung, Hoover High.
Whitney McWilliams, daughter of Shaun and Wynette McWilliams, ASFA.
Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! th Grades ▪K3 - 12 Please initial and fax back within 24 hours. if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.
Thank you for your prompt attention. ▪Student/Teacher Ratio 12:1
▪AHSAA Sports ▪Band, Theatre, Choir & Art
Lucy Kornegay, daughter of Tim and Carey Kornegay, Hueytown High.
smcs.org Call to arrange a tour
205-978-6001
McClain Miles, Mary Kathryn Parrott, Marisa Pickard, daughter of Jonathan daughter of Keith and daughter of Billy and and Beth Miles, Kristy Parrott, Mountain Gigi Pickard, Spain Shades Valley High. Brook High. Park High.
Amica Rapadas, daughter of Freddie and Aileen Rapadas, Homewood High.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 13
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
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14 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
market day
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Market Day Returns
Village’s European-style Outdoor Sale Set for July 19 The 13th edition of Mountain Brook’s Market Day is just around the corner, and merchants are slashing prices and shoppers are making their wish lists. Market Day, set for July 19, is a Europeanstyle outdoor sidewalk and tent sale for merchants in Mountain Brook Village. Stores will be participating from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with some stores offering discounts of up to 75 percent off during the annual event. Many of the participating merchants often have music and other special events for the sale, and many have preview sales leading up to the one-day event. Mountain Brook Village shops, restaurants and boutiques spend weeks getting ready for Market Day, but it is the shoppers who ask about it earlier and earlier each year, said Wesley Lassen, owner of The Cook Store. “People start asking me about it in May,”
Lassen said. “It’s a long-running event and something that people really look forward to all year.” Lassen, who has owned The Cook Store for 15 years, said she’s been participating in Market Day since the very beginning. Lassen said Market Day started several years ago with a Bastille Day sale at Christine’s. “It all started with Jean Clayton with Christine’s having a Bastille Day sale,” she said. “We would all have big sales on that day but decided to change the name to Market Day several years ago.” When the event first became an annual tradition, lots of merchants would have outdoor activities for children and other things to lure shoppers to Market Day, Lassen said. “But we’ve gotten away from that now because really, it’s about the shopping. It’s not about the
The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and Mountain Brook Village merchants are making plans for the 2014 edition of Market Day. From left: Anne Raines Doidge, Brenda Matthews, Amanda Thames and Sheri Corey. Journal photo by Suzanne Wald activities,” she said. Like other merchants, Lassen sets up a tent on the sidewalk outside her shop, she said. Suzan Doidge, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, said Market Day gives the city’s business community a chance to come together and for people from all around the area to come and see what Mountain Brook merchants have to offer. New stores participating in Market Day this year include The White Room, Brick & Tin, ExVoto Vintage, Swoop, Oli.O and Mason Music. For more information, visit www. welcometomountainbrook.com.
Stores will be participating from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with some stores offering discounts of up to 75 percent off during the annual event.
Market day
Mountain Brook Village Saturday, July 19th Join participating Mountain Brook Village Merchants for a european-style sidewalk and tent sale ... a giant one-day only 8aM to 5pM flea Market with discounts up to 75% off!
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 15
market day
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Market Day Sale!
Some of B'ham'S hippeSt giftS will Be up to 75% off! Saturday, July 19thBrook • Everything Instore! One Day Only! Mountain Culver 871.9093 8 - 9 2707 a.m. 25% offRoad • 9 - •10 a.m. 20% off • 10-11a.m. 15% off; 10% off rest of the day • No gift wrap or returns on Market Day
20% - 50% OFF StOrewide
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thurSday, July 17 - Saturday, July 19 This is our only sale of the year. Don't miss it!
Mountain Brook 2707 Culver Road • 871.9093
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Closed for Vacation June 30th-July 12th & Reopen for a Week of Market Day Sales!
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50% Off in stock Raymond Weil Watches all sales final
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2417 Canterbury Road • Mountain Brook Village • Mon. - Sat.
To: Leigh From: Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, 205-824-1246 2701 Cahaba Road • Mountain bRook fax Village • 871-7060 Date: June 2013
www.beverlyruff.com
To: From: This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnaL for the Date: June 27, 2013 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!
Antiquities Over the Mountain Journal June 2014
All dAy MArket dAy speciAls!
please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!
please initial and fax back within 24 hours.
please initial and fax back within 24 hours.
If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday before the press date, your ad will run as is.
Thank you for the your prompt tent attention. under
Thank you for your prompt attention.
Open At 8AM - July 19th
To: From: Date:
Date:
follow us on
This is your AD prOOF FOr OTMJ June 26, 2014 issue. please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.
To: From:
871-7872
Beverly Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax June +
christine's bagatelle
This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnal for the Ryan 2415 Montevallo Road . Mountain Brook Village . 871.8297 June 26, 2014 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone March 2014 This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the number! april 3, 2014 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. please initial and fax back within 24 hours.
if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.
please make sure all information is correct, July 18th July 26thnumber! including address and- phone
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Saturday, July 19th
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T H E L I NG E R I E S H O P P E www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com
For Special Things - Shop Mountain Brook Village! 2 4 0 3 M O N T E V A L L O R O A D , M O U N T A I N B R O O K V I L L A G E , ( 2 0 5 ) 8 71 . 8 9 9 4
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16 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
market day
Back By Popular Demand!
July 19th
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Market Day Sale
Select pillows & accessories 1/2 price. ALL IN STOCK Dash and Albert 1/2 price. (several large sizes available) ALL IN STOCK CAPEL 1/2 price (including faux Moroccans!) OPEN EARLY! 8 until...
DON’T MISS THIS ONCE A YEAR EVENT!
2406 Canterbury road • 879.2730
Summer Linen Sale! 20-75% off all Bed Linens!!! July 1st - 29th
2814 Petticoat Lane, Mountain Brook Village www.paigealbrightorientals.com • 877-3232
CeleBrating 64 Years in Mountain Brook... looking Forward to 64 More!!
Market Day Sale In-Stock FabrIcS and trImS on Sale
All items on the sidewAlk 50% off All dAy 2832 Culver road • 879-8278 To: From: Date:
Marguerite Over the Mountain Journal June 2014
July 19th
July 19th
Saturday, July 19th
9am - 10am 50% off • 10am - 11 am 40% off 11am - 4 pm 30% off
siDewalk sale!
Market Day!
up to 75% off!
Monday thru Friday 9:30 -4:00 or by Appointment Don't miss this opportunity to save2814 Big!!! July 19th Petticoat Lane Mountain Brook Village Mountain Brook Village • 2715 CulVer rd. • 8aM - 5pM • 871-0841 877-3232
To: From:
Paige Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 This is your aD prOOF FOr OTMJ June 26, 2014 issue. please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to FAX: 205-824-1246 approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246. Date: June please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the Sew Sheri June 26, Tuesday, 2014 issue. fax approval or changes to 824-1246. July Please 15 - Saturday, July 19 Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646
please initial and fax back within 24 hours.
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Market day Mountain Brook Village
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To: Patricia From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Date: June 2014
Saturday, July 19th
This is your aD PrOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnal for th June 26, 2014 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
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Jan and Paul Bizjak recently retired after teaching Sunday School at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood for 40 years. Photo special to the Journal
Homewood Couple Retires After 40 Years Last month a Homewood couple retired after teaching Sunday School for 40 years at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Jan and Paul Bizjak’s last Sunday School students took their First Holy Communion May 4 as the husband and wife team wrapped up four decades of service. The Bizjaks taught several hundred students, primarily second-graders, on Sunday mornings as a way to keep active in the parish community. “Our faith is such a great blessing, but it is meant to be shared,” Jan said. “We wanted to share our love of the faith, and we felt that teaching children was one of the best ways to do that.” The Bizjaks said they also wanted to set good examples for their two daughters. “Once our children were grown, we found that we loved each class so much we just could not stop,” Paul said. The Bizjaks said they have been fortunate to teach two generations of Sunday School students at the Homewood church. “We have also taught entire families as each successive child moves to the second grade,” Paul said. “We really never thought about the number of years. We just knew that we were enjoying what we were doing and we felt like we were making a difference, and we also knew that teaching was making a difference in us. It was really a very special blessing.” The couple said while they are retiring from their posts as Sunday School teachers, they plan to serve the parish in other ways in the future.
Marcrum Achieves Eagle Scout Rank with Troop 76 Dylan Marcrum, the son of Don and Linda Marcrum of Vestavia Hills, has earned the Boy Scouts Eagle Scout Award. Marcrum, 17, was recognized at a ceremony April 26 at the Charles T. Clayton Scout Service Center. A member of Troop 76, sponsored by Liberty Crossings Dylan Marcrum United Methodist Church, Marcrum is one of approximately four percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the rank of Eagle.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 17
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Scoutmaster of Troop 76 is Chris Morhard. Marcrum’s Eagle Scout project benefited the Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Center, which offers services for children, adolescents, adults and families with mental health needs. He built a freestanding arbor swing and two picnic tables at the center. Marcrum has served in a variety of leadership roles in the troop, including assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, scribe and historian. His peers elected him a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. He also has participated in three high adventure camps at Sea Base, Philmont
and the Northern Tier. Marcrum is active in the Music Performance Club and plays the tenor sax in the Vestavia Hills High School Marching Band. A certified scuba diver, he accumulated more than 75 dives before reaching the age of 17. Marcrum said he enjoys underwater photography and taking pictures for his troop.
Nowakowski Honored by Lions of Alabama A Hoover resident recently received the Lions of Alabama’s highest honor. Rod W. Nowakowski, former dean of optometry at the University of Alabama
at Birmingham, was awarded the Aubrey D. Green Humanitarian Award by the Lions of Alabama during its annual Multiple District Convention. The award Rod Nowakowski is presented to a non-member Alabama citizen or native who has made a significant contribution to society beyond the obligations of occupation or profession. Such contributions may include, but
are not limited to, the promotion of human welfare, the alleviation of human suffering and the advancement of social reforms. The recipient is selected by a committee from nominees submitted within the past five years. “Aubrey D. Green, the namesake for the award, was a decorated WWII combat veteran, an Alabama state senator and a business entrepreneur who also served as International Lions Club president,” Nowakowski said. “He set a very high standard for service, and the prior recipients of this award are icons of service and achievement. I am truly honored and humbled to be counted among them.” ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Above: Camille Butrus and Louise Abroms. left: Jeff Ingrum and Christy Swaid.
Enchanted Evening BCT Fundraiser Has Surprise Performance From left: Leah Luker as Dorothy, Glenda Nagrodzki and Michael Tallon as the Scarecrow. Photos special to the Journal
Chef Chris Hastings and Paul Nagrodzki.
Mary and David Kimerling.
more photos at
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ducation, entertainment and enrichment are keystones of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre mission, and its latest fundraiser embodied them all. Through an evening of food, wine and performances, the event introduced nearly 70 guests to the BCT and raised more than $15,000 for the organization. The event was held May 2 at the Crestline home of BCT board member Glenda Nagrodzki and her husband Paul. The couple worked with award-winning chef Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club to create the menu, pairing a series of small bites with wine from Paul’s extensive cellar of prized vintages. “We wanted to have a superstar chef to go with superstar wines,” Glenda Nagrodzki said. Guests also were treated to a surprise performance by two BCT actors. Playing the roles of Dorothy and the Scarecrow, Leah Luker and Michael Tallon delighted the audience with songs and then stayed to talk with guests. “The actors really provided the event something extra and introduced our guests to the quality of talent at BCT,” Nagrodzki said. “There was a real sense of interaction and excitement, and the menu of miniature courses kept everyone up and mingling. Several attendees told me they reconnected with old friends and engaged in conversations with many new people, all with a common interest in what BCT has to offer.” As one of the nation’s oldest and largest professional theater companies for young audiences, BCT is dedicated to producing high-quality, professional theatrical entertainment and arts education experiences relevant to school curriculums. Over its 66-year history, the organization has reached more than 12 million children, and between its in-house productions and touring programs, it will play
to nearly 175,000 students, teachers and families during the 2013-2014 season. “From productions that teach nutrition to important history lessons to bringing classic children’s novels to life, BCT provides an important way to teach children,” said Jack R. Lemmon, executive director. “By combining its productions with extensive curriculum guides and community education programs, BCT instills a love of theater while imparting important life lessons and addressing issues facing our children.” Research has shown that children who are involved in the arts as audience members and/or participants excel in their academic learning. The arts inspire innovation in children by teaching them to open their minds and think in new ways, he said. “Birmingham Children’s Theatre empowers children with a positive self-image,” Lemmon said. “And when that happens, the entire community benefits.” Those enjoying the evening included Abe Schuster, Andy and Bob Bernstein, Andy Sokol, Angie and Tim Denton, Ann and Hayes Whiteside, Bruce Denson, Camille Butrus, Annie and Greg Butrus, Christy and Swaid Swaid, D’Ann and Bill Sommerall, David Abroms and Lois Weinblatt, Dianna and Jeff Ingrum, Emily and Paul Elliott, Frances and Wade Lamberth, Gloria and Jim Whisenhunt, Ivy and John Graham, Jean and Buddy Smith, Kimberly and Mike Reynolds, Laura and Terry Kellogg, Louise and James Abroms, Lynell and Joe Bolen, Marilyn and Jabo Waggoner, Martine Sebbag and Vincenzo Guarcello, Mary and David Kimerling, Mary Williamson, Michele and Neil Thomas, Millie and Craig Christopher, Missy and John Morgan, Paul DeMarco, Adam Robinett, Rebecca Sibley, Sarah and Abe Kunin, Susan and Tom Curtin and Wimberly Miree. ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Front, from left: Courtney Passarella, Nancy Ferren, Stacey Morales, Deana Hughes and Daley King. Back: Meg Webb, Bevin Tomlin, Robin Peterson, Carrie Hawkins, Holly Daughtery, Tara Williams and Abigail Corcoran.
The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to 3 years of age at risk for development delay. The Service Guild founded and supports the Bell Center through volunteer work and fundrais-
ing. More than 4,000 hours have been completed in the classroom this year, with members working one-on-one with the children of the Bell Center. To learn more, visit www.theserviceguild. org. ❖
Photo special to the Journal
Luncheon Presentation Service Guild Salutes Members, Installs Officers
The Service Guild of Birmingham held its annual May Luncheon in honor of both the Class of 2007 and the Class of 2009 at The Club in Homewood May 12. The luncheon also was the venue for award presentations for outstanding service as well as installation of the incoming board. Among those honored were Brandi Yaghmai, recipient of the Dedication
mid Summer to The Bell Center Classroom Programs Award; Meg Webb, Outstanding New Member; and Daley King, Outstanding Service Guild Member. The Betty Bell Service Award was also presented at the luncheon. The award is given to a member who goes above and beyond what is expected in their work with the children. This year’s recipient was Caroline Sirkin. The Garnett Deramus Award, given to an exceptional member going past active, was awarded to Amy Williams. Nancy Ferren, president of the Service Guild, presented the awards and thanked all of the members for their dedicated service this year. The 2014-2015 officers were installed by past president Pauline Scott. Stacey Morales is president, Deana Hughes is president-elect
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and Nancy Ferren is the president’s adviser. Courtney Passarella is vice president of membership, Robin Peterson is vice president of classrooms and Meg Webb is vice president of communications. Tara Williams is secretary, Bevin Tomlin is treasurer, Daley King is gala chairman, Kim Ydel is Mercedes expo chairman, Tricia McCain is Mercedes race chairman and Abigail Corcoran is member-at-large. Holly Daughtery is parliamentarian, Carrie Hawkins is nominating chairman and Brandi Lowery is social and arrangements chairman. Special guests from the Bell Center included Betty Bell, Jeannie Colquitt, Andi Gillen, Kelly Peoples, Mary Ashley Canevaro and Janie McKinney.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Smile-worthy Event
From left: Jerod and Allison Sinclair, Billy and Marcia Strickland, Mivvi and John Rust and Rosemary and Steve Johnson.
Dentist’s Open House Includes Art Show Dr. Kevin Alexander of Alexander Dentistry in Crestline Village hosted a wine and cheese open house event that was also an art show and fundraiser. The event was held May 8 at 48 Church Street in Mountain Brook. Those attending had a chance to check out the company’s fresh new look created by Sarah Jernigan, interior designer, and take in an art show featuring the works of Dr. Ruth Penton Polson. A portion of the proceeds of the art sales will be donated to St. Jude’s Research.
In support of the nonprofit Smiles For Life, Alexander offered teeth whitening certificates in exchange for donations. The event also included door prizes, complimentary head and neck massages and a spread from Stone Hollow Farms’ cheese artisans and The Pantry. Those attending included Lucy Bonds, Brian Kelleher, Shawnie and Todd Green, Joe Daniel, Jim and Lois Caldwell, Marian and Dr. Al Oberman, Dr. Brett Maddux, Dr. Pat King, Hannon Davidson and Suzan Doidge. ❖
Photo special to the Journal
Magical Evening Legacy League Has Scholarship Gala
Dr. Kevin Alexander and Dr. Ruth Penton Polson.
Photo special to the Journal
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The Wright Center on Samford University’s campus was the site of Legacy League’s sixth annual Scholarship Gala Celebration May 8. Nearly 200 were in attendance for the evening of food, fellowship and entertainment that closed out another year of raising scholarship funds. Those in attendance included Legacy League members and their guests, sponsors, scholarship recipients, alumni, parents and friends of Samford and others interested in the program. Greeted by Samford Ambassadors, guests enjoyed a heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet catered by Executive Chef Chris Vizzina. The buffet included shrimp and grits, grilled beef tenderloin, sautéed chicken bites with shallots and honey-Dijon mustard aioli, Yukon gold and sweet potato gratin with parmesan Reggiano and salads. The signature drink was green tea with Alabama peach and honey punch. A special treat was the chocolate fountain with fruits, brownie bites and crispy rice treats. Guests dined at tables in the lobby area and on the front plaza. Those with deluxe reservations enjoyed reserved table seating in the lower lobby area,
which was decorated with lights strung across the ceiling. These guests also had a chance to interact with special guest Curt Anderson, a Christian illusionist from Tuscaloosa, while they ate. After dinner, everyone moved into the Wright Center auditorium, transformed by more than 400 red, white and black helium-filled balloons. Gala Chairman Diane Dill welcomed everyone to the program and gave the invocation. Vice President for Student Scholarship and Support Paula Gossett introduced the student speaker, John Michael Blackmon. Blackmon, a current scholarship recipient, shared his story and thanked Legacy League members for providing necessary financial support. President Karen Bergquist introduced Anderson, who gave an entertaining program filled with stunning and occasionally humorous tricks and illusions. To the delight of the audience, several tricks required assistance from randomly selected audience members. The highlight of the evening was Anderson’s attempt to set a world
record for the fastest car vanish. This illusion was made possible by Billy and Marcia Strickland, who provided the Ferrari for the attempt. In accordance with guidance from Guinness World Records, the illusion was officially witnessed by three judges, one of whom was Samford President Andy Westmoreland. The world record attempt was also captured on video, which will provide official evidence for Guinness to determine whether the record was broken. Audience members just know that the car disappeared quickly, without any evidence as to where it had gone. Event supporters included gold sponsors Hoar Construction, John Pittman and Rite Way Service and silver sponsors Baptist Health System, Campus Dining Inc., fi-Plan Partners and John 3:16. Bronze sponsors were BBVA Compass, Bhate Geosciences Corporation, Brasfield & Gorrie, Collegiate Bed Loft Company, Judge and Mrs. Robert G. Faircloth, John and Marsha Floyd, Greg Hansen and Sandra Bailey, Mrs. A. Gerow Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lamberth, Marvin Mann, Mr. and Mrs. Rory L. McKean, the Rev. Dr. Carolyn M. McKinstry and Jerome McKinstry, Motion Industries, Inc., Randy and Daina Pittman, Bill and Kimeran Stevens, Vulcan Materials Company Foundation, Neal and Mary Ann Wade and Andy and Jeanna Westmoreland. ❖
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Honors and Inspiration DAR Meetings Include Special Speaker, Award Winners
The Princess Sehoy DAR chapter welcomed retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. N. Lee S. Price as the special guest speaker at the group’s last meeting of the 2013-2014 club year. The meeting was held May 8 at the Country Club of Birmingham. Price served in the United States Army from 1975 until her retirement in 2013. She was the first female program executive officer for the Army and received many prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. Price spoke about “Women in Service” at the meeting. In April, the chapter held its annual awards and recognition program at the Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook. The program honored students in the Mountain Brook and surrounding communities. The students recognized included Patrick Stewart, a Junior American Citizen winner at South Shades Crest Elementary in Hoover; Amanda Riley, a Junior American Citizen winner at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills; Ms. Stewart’s Stars, the sixth through eighth-grade Junior American Citizen group winners from Homewood Middle; and Elizabeth Trammell, the fifth-grade American History essay contest winner from Southminster
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 21
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Sehoy Good Citizen Award winner. The chapter also presented the Bronze Medal of Honor to Drienna Wallace of Vincent High School and the Gold Medal of Honor to Dylan Lempp from Samford University. The chapter presented a Member Lifetime Achievement Award to Sue
Steel-Mahaffey for her service in increasing DAR membership. The Princess Sehoy chapter meets throughout the year at either Emmet O’Neal Library or at the Country Club of Birmingham. For more information, contact Beth Stewart at stewartelizabeth@gmail.com. ❖
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School. Mountain Brook High School students Lane Allen, Christina Harmon and Ben Jackson were recognized for their outstanding photographic essays in the high school division of the Junior American Citizen program. Jackson won first place at the Alabama State DAR conference in Auburn and first place at the national level. Seth Perlman of Indian Springs School was recognized as the Princess
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Spotlight on Seniors
Hoover Belles Honored for Service
From left: Caroline Steele, Audrey Powell, Maddy Powell, Bailey Pereira and Frances Clarke. Photos special to the Journal
High school seniors who served as Hoover Belles were honored recently at the Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. The departing Belles, their mothers and guests attended the Hoover Belles Senior Luncheon May 3. Each senior received a certificate and an engraved keepsake jewelry box in recognition of their community service hours. As they received the gifts, the students shared their favorite Hoover Belles memory and their plans after graduation. Katie Hatch was presented with an engraved silver tray for having the most
community service hours. more photos at She will attend Emory University. Hoover Belles heading to the University of Alabama are Jamie Burleson, Caroline Conrad, Elizabeth Pate, Bailey Pereira, Maddy Powell, Caroline Steele and Peyton White. Those planning to attend Auburn University are Meredith Barker, Maggie Beans, Lauren Burks, Bailey Gray, Sarah Hill, Shannon Hurst, Catherine Milling, Sarah Patrick,
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Sarah Hill, Peyton White, Caroline Conrad and Hannah Schultz.
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Archadeck of Birmingham is a family-owned custom design and build remodeling business started in 1993. “We specialize in custom designed decks and screened porches creatively designed to look original to the home,” says John Crews, owner, pictured on the far right with Derek and Carissa Crews. “Quality construction standards and commitment to customer service ensures a functional outdoor living space that adds value to your home.” Archadeck of Birmingham is a licensed residential builder and
general contractor with Workman’s Compensation and general liability insurance coverage. The companys’ goal is to always concentrate on the needs of customers and to design around their vision of the project, John said. “We invite you to call for a free design consultation and/or a free deck safety inspection if you happen to own an existing deck. At your consultation we will show you past projects, discuss your needs and tastes, explain your construction material options, including the lowmaintenance wood alternatives, talk about costs, and measure and photograph your home/lot.” Archadeck of Birmingham 970-0121.
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Catherine Milling, McKenzie Lawry, Anna Shepherd and Elizabeth Pate.
Ladies First
From left: Yvonne Sellers, Joy Lazar, Gaile Blackwell, Martha Turner, Pat Pate and Joan Crocker.
Women Honored at Bluff Park UMC
The women of Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover recently gathered for the 14th annual Ladies’ Day event at the church. For the last 14 years, the event has taken place on the first Saturday in May to celebrate the women of the church. The theme of this year’s event was “Loving God, Loving Each Other.” Frances Bellows served as mistress of ceremonies. In the chapel, the women and guests heard a devotional by Yvonne Sellers of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood. Julie Adams gave a memory candle tribute to the women of the church who passed away in the last year. Special music featured performances by Alice Marie and Randy
Anna Shepherd, Emily Taylor and Reed Williams. Hoover Belles who will attend Mississippi State University are Emily Abernathy, Taylor Korson and McKenzie Lawry. Laura Blake and Olivia Odom will attend Samford University, and Frances Clarke is headed to the University of South Alabama. Haley Haggard will attend Lipscomb University, Jenna Huerkamp is headed to Mississippi College and Madison Minyard is going to Jefferson State Community College. Audrey Powell will attend Texas Christian University, Morgan Rogers will study at Birmingham-Southern College and Hannah Shultz will attend Mercer University. ❖
Photo special to the Journal
Roberson. Becky Walker, lay leader, gave the morning’s Bible message from the Book of Luke. Delores Hydock and Bobby Horton provided special entertainment for the event with “Love Story” and “Songs of Love.” Those attending enjoyed refreshments prepared by hostesses Opal Humphrey and Sally Frederickson. Ellen Finley decorated the stage in the Reid Crotty Dining Room with pots
of hydrangeas and other appointments for the occasion. Lunch included raspberry walnut salad, chicken cordon bleu, cheese gravy on angel hair pasta, steamed and buttered broccoli, hot yeast rolls and an assortment of cheesecakes. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Beth Chapman, former Alabama Secretary of State. Chapman talked about her experiences as an elected official and said she enjoys writing, public speaking and sharing her sense of humor at motivational, leadership or church conferences. The church members created tablescapes for the event. First-place winners were Carol and Elsie Medders with Zebra Girls. Second place went to Pat Reese with her Stairway to Heaventhemed tablescape. Third place went to the team from the Shepherd Center with its Flamingo Girls creation. Door prizes were also given away at the event, which was coordinated by Betty Hottenstein, director of senior ministries at Bluff Park United Methodist. Hottenstein received help from Sara Perry, who was in charge of publicity, and Doris Smith, Anita Smith and Chad Smith. The Rev. Mike Holly is the senior minister at Bluff Park UMC, and the Rev. Von Herman is associate minister. ❖
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
NSAL’s New Leaders
Chapter Installs Officers at Annual Picnic
Pauline and David Fugazzotto. Photo special to the Journal
Officers elected to two-year terms by the Birmingham Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters were installed during the group’s annual picnic at Birmingham Botanical Gardens June 1. Jane Hinds performed the installation ceremony and gave each new officer a bouquet of roses from her garden. Mildred Allen-Taub will serve her second term as president. Edie Barnes is vice president, and
Nancy Whitt is recording secretary. Catherine Rogers is corresponding secretary, and Ruth Jensen is treasurer. The historian is Nancy Jones. Jeannine McElroy is chaplain. Members and guests gathered for barbecue with all the trimmings at round picnic tables overlaid with red and white checked cloths. Tables were centered with blue mason jars holding daisies and votive candles. The centerpiece décor was by Catherine Rogers, who planned the party with Ruth Jensen and Mildred Allen-Taub. At the business meeting, Allen-Taub reported on the NSAL national conference held in May in Charleston, W. Va. Mel Robinson, recent recipient of the chapter’s Rosamon Henderson Service Award, presented longtime member Helen Hudgens,
social now 102 years young, with a Certificate of Appreciation for her many years of dedication and contributions to the chapter. Hudgens was named an honorary chapter member. Also at the business meeting, Peggy Carlisle, chairman of the chapter’s Career Awards Competition in drama, gave highlights of her plans to recruit participants. Among members and guests attending were Mildred Allen and Ed Taub, Ruth and Virgil Jensen, Catherine and Brown Rogers, Jane and Bob Hinds, Peggy and Michael Carlisle, Nancy Whitt, Margie and Robert Denton, Edith and Robert Bauman, Mel Robinson, Helen Hudgens, Janet Huffman, Pauline and David Fugazzatto, Jane Paris and Chandler Smith, Sara Vaughn, Sue Watkins, Janis Zeanah, Nancy and Ed Jones, Mary Frances Reed and Pat and Kermit Southern. ❖
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24 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
Party Central
Moms’ Online Business Offers Entertaining Options By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
Two moms have joined forces to bring a one-stop entertaining source to the Over the Mountain and Birmingham metro areas. Emily Joy Gresham and Kelley Brown, both of Vestavia Hills, met while teaching at Covenant Day School. They recently launched Merry Company LLC, an online business that provides information on the area’s finest venues, caterers, entertainers and more. “A unique feature of our site is that you can use an advanced search option to see which vendors fit the criteria for your party,” Gresham said. “If you want to know which venues will host a Sweet 16 party, where you can have a corporate event with inhouse catering, or which venues can accommodate 300 guests, you can fill out the search questions and receive a list of Birmingham businesses and services that match your party planning goals.” Brown and Gresham said they came up with the idea for the company after seeing a need in the community to share info on local vendors and businesses. “The idea was born in January 2014, and we’ve
Emily Joy Gresham and Kelley Brown. Photo special to the Journal
been making it a reality ever since then,” Brown said. The duo said they had firsthand knowledge about how time-consuming and stressful planning a party or an event can be. “Even with the benefit of web searching, it’s not always easy to find the best vendors that fit your party planning goals,” Gresham said. “We saw a
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
need for a comprehensive website which would feature and celebrate our community’s entertainment market. We help readers simplify the planning process by bringing inspiration and local vendors into one place.” Merry Company also presents fresh and unique ideas in editorial features on its blog and has a master calendar so clients can view a vendor’s availability. The new company has a philanthropic component, the pair said. “Community service has always been a priority in our lives,” Brown said. “It’s been a longtime dream to start a business which could benefit local philanthropies.” To that end, the company’s owners are combining their love of celebrations with a passion for serving the community with the Merry Moments Project. Each quarter, the company will provide funds to make special parties possible for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity, the owners said. “Whether it’s throwing a baby shower for mothers-to-be at Sav-A-Life, providing birthday gifts and cake for the girls at Grace House, or providing special entertainment for patients at Children’s (of Alabama), we’re committed to making merry moments for men, women and children in need in the greater Birmingham area,” Brown said. Gresham taught elementary school until after her first son was born and then discovered photography as a creative outlet. That hobby led to a business, Emily Joy Designs. After college, Brown worked in marketing and public relations for the Alabama Ballet and then for Cooking Light magazine. She served on several nonprofit boards and fulfilled her dream of attending See Party, next page
Space Jam
Journal editor
Just like the hundreds of 2014 Over the Mountain high school graduates who will head off to college this fall, 2010 Mountain Brook High School graduates James Cox and Robert Phillips discovered the first challenge in their university careers would have nothing to do with tests. Cox, who earlier this month earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Alabama and Phillips, who is a senior at Ole Miss, said their first collegiate conundrum was figuring out how to increase storage space in their tiny dorm rooms in an aesthetically pleasing and walletfriendly way. The solution to that problem led them to start their own business—Dorm Cubby, Inc., a company that offers shelving units to go behind dorm beds and on top of dorm room desks. The bed and desk cubbies come with multiple options for features, including lights, mirrors, corkboards and headboards. But before they could take advantage of the benefits of Dorm Cubby products—and being business owners—Phillips said he and his family learned the hard way that college students need affordable and stylish ways to spruce up their dorms. “My mom had the plans for this and had to take the plans to a carpenter and have it built for an outrageous price, then pick up the large furniture and take it to a painter who also charged a fortune, then move it into the dorms,” Phillips said. Phillips said seeing the expense and hassle associated with getting his mother’s plans realized gave him an idea. “I immediately realized that I could build the
same thing for much less money and save people the hassle of having to go through the steps my mother did,” he said. Phillips launched Dorm Cubby, Inc. about two years ago, and the fledging business expanded quickly. “Soon business grew and I had more on my plate than I could handle, and James entered the picture and has been vital to the success of the company,” Phillips said. Cox graduated from Mountain Brook High School with Phillips and was glad to help his former classmate with his business. Cox said the quality of Dorm Cubby products is what sets them apart from other dorm room furniture. “Made by hand in the USA from cabinet-grade plywood, (our products) are made with the highest level of craftsmanship and will not fall apart like other cheaply-made furniture you may find at large retailers,” he said. Cox said the commitment to giving their customers the best extends to all aspects of the business. “We don’t believe in automated customer service, and I believe true business (success) lies at the core of the personalities of the people who run it,” he said. “We do everything to ensure that our customers feel like they are completely taken care of and treated with the utmost respect.” Cox said the best part of his job at Dorm Cubby, Inc. is meeting students who are about to embark on their own college adventures. “(I am) constantly meeting new people that are excited and pumped up about going to college,” Cox said. “It is such a fun time of life and always reminds me of when I first left (home) to pursue my
Betsy Prince Designer Sale Benefits Charity The ninth Betsy Prince Charity Bazaar raised nearly $13,000 for breast cancer research in Alabama from the sale of new and gently-used designer clothing. A special shopping preview night was held May 2 at the Brookwood Village boutique for those who had donated designer clothing, made a $25 contribution or had contributed to the charity fundraising event. The bazaar continued May 3 for shoppers who wanted to take part in the upscale clothing sale. Many designers supported the charity bazaar by donating new clothing, shoes and accessories to benefit the cause. Some of the designers who participated were Johnny Was, Fly London and Hinaya. The select clothing and accessories were $5-85. Proceeds from both days benefited the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and its mission to fund breast cancer research at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Ex Voto Vintage Opens in Mountain Brook
Dorm Cubby Offers Storage Options for Cramped Quarters By Keysha Drexel
Betsy Prince and Bezshan Dolatabadi.
James Cox and Robert Phillips launched Dorm Cubby, Inc. to help college students keep their living spaces clean and organized. Photo special to the Journal
degree.” Cox and Phillips said they are looking forward to growing the company with the help of Phillips’ St. Bernard, Cleo, Dorm Cubby, Inc.’s official mascot, and the support of Berkley Petersen, Cox’s girlfriend and “motivation for all things in life.” Cox said he and Phillips are setting their sights on taking Dorm Cubby products to college students worldwide in the next five years with the goal of “putting Ikea out of business and becoming a business where college students can have all their service and product needs fulfilled.” Dorm Cubby products are available at a.ka. Girl Stuff in Homewood and at Five Gold Monkeys in Mobile. For more information on the company, visit dormcubby.com. ❖
Shoppers looking for limited edition jewelry pieces created from antique elements have a new place to shop in Mountain Brook. Ex Voto Vintage opened a store at 2402 Canterbury Road to showcase the company’s handmade pieces. Owner Elizabeth Adams, above, said Ex Voto Vintage’s Montgomery showroom has been open for more than three years. “Every piece is created from antique or vintage elements which are combined with other materials such as freshwater pearls, semiprecious stones or leather to be given a new life through a more modern design,” Adams said. Adams started creating jewelry after her youngest child died of an inoperable brain tumor. “Making something with my hands provided a creative outlet and was therapeutic as well,” she said. A portion of each sale at Ex Voto goes to The Cure Starts Now Foundation for pediatric brain cancer research, Adams said. For more information on Ex Voto Vintage, visit exvotovintage.com or call 538-7301.
Hendrick Chevrolet Opens Hendrick Automotive Group purchased Ivan Leonard Chevrolet from owner Ivan J. Leonard Jr. and in April re-opened as Hendrick Chevrolet of Hoover. The dealership, which remains at 1620 Montgomery Highway, is the most recent addition to the Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall. Based in Charlotte, Hendrick Automotive Group now operates 89 dealerships throughout the country, including two in the Birmingham area. The Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall adds Hendrick Chevrolet to the Hendrick Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM operation, which opened in April 2011. The dealerships are adjacent to one another on Montgomery Highway. “We couldn’t be more excited about expanding the Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall,” said Ryan Regnier, Hendrick Automotive Group market area vice president. “The Birmingham area is such a terrific market, especially for trucks, and Hendrick Chevrolet of Hoover features a brand new showroom to spotlight Chevy’s full lineup of attractively designed and innovative new vehicles.”
South in Homewood to 1811 29th Ave. South. Foy said the move was all about increasing the business’s visibility and the parking available to its customers. “Even though we were located in the heart of Homewood, our visibility was limited, as was parking,” Foy said. The new space is on a busy main street in downtown Homewood with private parking, Foy said. Add those perks to the fact that the move doubled the shop’s square footage, and Foy said the decision to make the move was a “no-brainer.” Staying in Homewood was important, said Foy, who lives in Homewood and often walks to work. At the new location, the owners are working to expand their collection to include unique, one-of-a-kind items such as handcrafted wooden boxes from an artisan in Queens, N.Y., art glass from Rhode Island and handmade knives from Oklahoma, Foy said. “You’re just not going to find a more diverse choice of wonderful and thoughtful gifts anywhere else,” Foy said. Foy is a former vice president of NW Ayer Advertising in New York City and national director of the De Beers Diamond Promotion Service. Hezlep is a former vice president of Bromberg’s. Wallace-Burke Fine Jewelry & Collectibles opened in 2007. For more information, visit wallaceburke.com or call 874-1044.
Samford Professor To Chair Marketing Group Preston W. Foy, Shannon Neil and David B. Hezlep. Photo special to the Journal
Wallace-Burke Moves to New, Larger Location Wallace-Burke Fine Jewelry & Collectibles has just moved into a new location where the owners said they plan to expand their collection by this fall. Owners David Burke Hezlep and Preston Wallace Foy recently moved their business from 1830 29th Ave.
PARTY,
From previous page
seminary when she earned a master of theological studies degree from Beeson Divinity School. She writes freelance articles for Christian publications, teaches in-depth Bible studies and speaks to women’s ministry groups. Prior to adopting her second daughter from China, Brown worked as executive coordinator for (un)adopted, a ministry of Lifeline Children’s Services. Brown and her husband, Scott, met on a blind date in 2003 and almost two years later, she planned the most significant celebration of her life--becoming Mrs. Kelley Brown Brown. “Yes, Brown was my maiden name, too,” she said. The Browns are the parents of four children, two of whom they adopted from China. Brown and her husband serve as co-chairmen on the board of directors for Community Ministry for Girls, Inc. and are also involved mem-
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 25
business
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Darin White, a faculty member at Samford University’s Brock School of Business, was recently appointed the chair of the national American Marketing Association’s Sports Marketing Special Interest Group. The group is an international academic body charged with expanding the knowledge base of the field of sports marketing as well as further developing the sports marketing academic community through activities which involve research, teaching and the practice of sports marketing. “I am looking forward to putting Samford
bers of Mountain Brook Community Church. Gresham has been married to her husband, Miles Gresham Jr., since 2004. The couple has three children--Miles, Martha Ann and Leila. Gresham is an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and teaches part time at Covenant Day School. The women said they are already looking down the road at how Merry Company could grow in the future. “Our goal for Merry Company is for it to be a full representation of the party vendors in Birmingham. We hope that as the website gains awareness and popularity, more local businesses will jump on board and become involved on the site,” Gresham said. For more information on the company’s Merry Moments Project, email moments@merrycompany.co. The company’s website is now up and running, the owners said. For more information on Merry Company, visit www.merrycompany.co. ❖
University on the map in the area of sports marketing in my role with the American Marketing Association. I am honored to have this opportunity to serve in this capacity,” White said.
Jezebels Opens on 18th Street in Homewood A new shop in Homewood is bringing a bit of vintage Hollywood glamour to the area. Owner Gloria White, right, a
Homewood native, opened Jezebels at 2827 18th St. South earlier this month. “We offer a curated collection of vintage, one-ofa-kind costume jewelry, special occasion hats, handbags, fashion accessories and vintage fragrance bottles,” White said. The shop also carries Bakelite jewelry
and pieces by old Hollywood glamour designers like Miriam Haskell, White said. “These are pieces collected from my travels all over the world–from Paris, India, Istanbul and Hong Kong to Santa Fe, New York City and New Orleans,” she said. White said the new Homewood shop’s sister store has been a destination spot on Magazine Street in New Orleans for 15 years. Jezebels is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. ❖
26 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
Schools
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Briarwood Christian Raises Money for ACS
Students at Vestavia Hills High School raised more than $235,000 for the American Cancer Society with the 13th annual Relay for Life event at the school. Photo special to the Journal
VHHS Raises Funds for ACS at Relay for Life Event Vestavia Hills High School raised more than $235,000 for the American Cancer Society with the 13th annual Relay for Life event at the school. More than 110 teams of students and teachers and hundreds of community members participated in the April 5 event. More than 50 cancer survivors were honored at the Survivor Dinner and Celebration, and more than 150 sky lanterns and 1,000 luminary bags lit up the Luminaria Ceremony to honor cancer survivors. The event was led by Chandler Cahoon, Joe Peterson, Brooke Westhoven and John David Walker. Other committee chairmen included Kaoria Amarilla, Elizabeth Bennett, Brehany Brown, Patrick Cronin, Jake Dennis, Jack Freese, Thomas Foster, Nicole Fowler, Joanna Gaylard, Annie Hamm, Lily Hardwick, Cailyn Levant, Lauren Livingston, Kelly McCollum, Sarah Mince, Rebecca Nesbitt, Mary Patterson, Addie Prewitt, Stacey Reimann, Haley Roth, J.P. Sandoval, Jane Thornton, Anna Watts and Candler Yeilding. The event was sponsored by Vestavia Hills Youth Leadership with faculty support from Angie Richardson, Emily Brown and Claire Rhyne. Kristin Berney was the staff partner from the American Cancer Society.
John Carroll Grads Earn MS Society Scholarships Two 2014 John Carroll Catholic High School graduates were recently honored by the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National MS Society. Allie David and Anna Lily have been announced as this year’s recipients of the chapter’s annual scholarship program. The scholarship program helps students affected by multiple sclerosis pursue a college or technical school education. It is open to high school
seniors who live with MS or have a parent who does or to anyone living with MS who has not yet been to a postsecondary school. In addition to the emotional toll, MS can have a substantial financial impact on a family. The direct and indirect costs of MS, including lost wages– even for those with health insurance-are estimated at more than $70,000 annually per household. This makes funding a college education that much harder. “Having a mother with multiple sclerosis has affected both big and small parts of my life,” David wrote in her scholarship essay. “Multiple sclerosis is an often overlooked disease. Most people do not understand what those diagnosed with MS and their families deal with. It has truly made me a stronger person. I can only hope that through this scholarship, I can lessen the burden on both my family and myself. I am grateful to be considered for this opportunity to receive such a financial blessing.” The Society established its scholarship program 11 years ago. This year, more than $1.1 million in awards was presented to more than 700 new and renewal recipients nationwide. Applications are evaluated on financial need, academic record, leadership and volunteer activities, a statement of educational and career goals and letters of recommendation. Applicants are also asked to provide personal statements describing the impact MS has had on their lives. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000 and typically cover one year, although a limited number of awards may exceed this amount. “For the hundreds of thousands diagnosed with MS across the country, there are very few known sources of scholarship assistance specially targeted for these families,” said Chapter President Jan Bell. “MS shouldn’t stand in the way of an education, and we are hopeful this program will give families some relief.”
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Briarwood Christian School students, teachers and parents raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society with the school’s inaugural Relay for Life event this spring. The school had 240 participants on 19 teams take part in the event, which raised about $51,448 for the ACS. The Relay for Life kicked off at noon with an opening ceremony and a lap around the track. Team members then gathered in their tents for lunch as others attending played dodge ball, basketball and carnival games and listened to live music. The event also included the Survivor Lap and a luminary ceremony at 8:30 p.m. During the ceremony, the lights around the track were turned off, and luminaries, torches and sky lanterns were lit in remembrance of those who lost their fight with cancer. The event continued until about 10 p.m. when the total amount raised was announced.
Briarwood Christian School raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society during the school’s first Relay for Life event. From left: Jake Lamb, Sam Campbell, Madi Bussell, Max Michel, Connor King and Maggie Benner. Photo special to the Journal fifth place, and seventh-grader Sharif Sakawi won fourth place. Sixth-grader Abbe Couler won ninth place, and sixth-grader Liza Ashe took eighth place.
scholarship award from the Alabama High School and College Young Democrats. “Through their outstanding accomplishments, these students have
Youth Alliance Wraps up Successful Year of Service The Bell Center Youth Alliance recently celebrated the end of a successful school year. The group includes young men and women from Birmingham metro area schools who work to help the Bell Center throughout the school year. The alliance is made up of intellectual, innovative and energetic sophomore, junior and senior high school students, officials said. During the 2013-2014 school year, the alliance worked to help the Bell Center during the Mercedes Marathon weekend, the Tailgate Challenge fundraiser and the center’s annual poinsettia sale. The group wrapped up its year with We Love Homewood Day and a trip to Steel City Pops. Alliance members during the 20132014 school year included Garrett McGuffie, Spain Park High School; Nick Dutton, Homewood High School; Houston Wingo, Homewood High School; McKinley Hamilton, Mountain Brook High School; and Helen Catherine Darby, Mountain Brook High School.
HMS Debaters Take Honors at Tournament The Homewood Middle School Debate Team won first-place trophies at the 19th annual Birmingham Debate League tournament. The team won first place for both total wins and win percentage and also won seven of the top 10 individual debate awards. The annual debate tournament included 70 teams from more than 25 schools. The teams had more than 200 debates over the course of four tournaments. The Homewood Middle School team won 33 of its 40 debates. At the individual level, seventh-grader Max Breeden was rated the top debater of the league. Eighth-grader Stanford Massie won sixth place, and eighth-grader Joshua Ndegwa won second place. Seventh-grader Sam Janas won
The Bell Center Youth Alliance celebrates a successful school year. From left: Garrett McGuffie, Spain Park High School; Nick Dutton, Homewood High School; Houston Wingo, Homewood High School; McKinley Hamilton, Mountain Brook High School; and Helen Catherine Darby, Mountain Brook High School. Photo special to the Journal The Birmingham Area Debate League is sponsored by Samford University, which hosts all of the tournaments over the course of the year. The Homewood Middle School Debate team is sponsored by Austin Bonds and Mary Binkley. Coaches are Mike Janas, Ben Coulter and John Curtis.
Noone Awarded Inaugural Scholarship A 2014 graduate of Indian Springs School was among three Alabama students to be awarded in the first year of a scholarship program for civically engaged high school students. Foster Noone received a $500
established themselves as shining examples of the bright future of the Democratic party and our country,” said Jordan Cozby, Alabama High School Democrats chairman. The Alabama High School Democrats is an organization aimed at empowering high school students to take part in the political process. The group was named the 2013 High School Democrats of America State Chapter of the Year. Noone plans to attend Tulane University and is the founder of the Youth Voice Project. He is the Southern representative of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network’s National Youth Council and is a steering committee member for the Magic City Acceptance Project.
The Homewood Middle School Debate Team won first-place trophies at the Birmingham Debate League tournament. Front, from left: Sam Janas, Sharif Sakawi, Jackson Wallace and Zack Marcum. Middle: Annie Ann, Stanford Massie, Liza Ashe, Abby Coulter, Sara Bateman, Joshua Ndegwa, Max Breeden, Charlie Williams and Mac Wooley. Back: Mike Janas, Skip Coulter, Keefer Boone, Collins Keith and Austin Bonds. Photo special to the Journal
Hurley-Mize
Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Gray Hurley of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Hurley, to Hunter Headden Mize, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Alan Mize of Brentwood, Tenn. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Gray Richardson
Barrow-Hendrickson
Mr. and Mrs. John Joseph Barrow of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Emilee Graham Barrow, to Claude Francis Hendrickson IV, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Tillman-Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Halford Arthur Tillman Jr. of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Grace Dupree, to Harris Bushnell Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Turner Butler Williams of Birmingham. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. George K. Moore of Charlotte, N.C., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Halford Arthur Tillman (Tobie and Hal) of Birmingham. Miss Tillman is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 27
Weddings & Engagements
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
of Birmingham, the Hon. and Mrs. Winfield Dunn of Nashville, Tenn., and the late Mr. Joseph Burnam Hurley. Miss Hurley is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Vanderbilt University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in French and a master’s degree in nursing. She is employed as a nurse practitioner in Nashville. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jerry Mize of Brownsville, Tenn., Mrs. Dot Headden White of Nashville and the late Mr. Harmon Clay Headden. Mr. Mize is a graduate of Brentwood Academy and the University of Tennessee, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is employed as a graphic and web designer in Nashville. The wedding will be July 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Claude Francis Hendrickson III of Birmingham The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kenneth Graham of Roswell, Ga., and Mr. William Joseph Barrow of Mobile and Ms. Mary Jane Barrow, also of Mobile. Miss Barrow is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the University Honors Program and was a Windgate Fellow. She is employed at AOS Alabama. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Francis Hendrickson Jr. of Tuscaloosa and Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon Russell Kirkland of Clanton. Mr. Hendrickson is a graduate of the University of Alabama and is an Eagle Scout. He is employed with Mustang Munitions. The wedding will be July 19. she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was named to Phi Eta Sigma and Gamma Beta Phi honor fraternities. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, where she served as academic development chairman and was presented at the 2011 Ball of Roses. Miss Tillman will receive her master’s degree in speech and language pathology from Florida State University in August. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. James Joseph Bushnell and the late Dr. James Joseph Bushnell of Birmingham and the late Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Going Williams of Tuscaloosa. He is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 2012 graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. He was named to Phi Eta Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi and Sigma Alpha Lambda honor fraternities and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He is currently employed in the engineering department of Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Following an August wedding and honeymoon trip, the couple will live in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Thomason-Hardekopf
Nicole Alexandra Thomason and Bradley Paul Hardekopf were married June 8, 2013 at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church. The Rev. David M. Devane officiated the ceremony, with a blessing given by the Rev. Father Paul Costopoulos. Following the 6 p.m. ceremony, a reception was held at Avon Theater, where guests participated in Greek dancing, ate traditional Greek food catered by Yellow Bicycle and danced to Motown music by The Connection Band. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alexander Thomason Sr. of Vestavia Hills. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Virginia Gravitt Thomason and the late Mr. David Mortimer Thomason Sr. and the late Mr. Alexander and Fotini
Anderson, all of Vestavia Hills. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gary Hardekopf of Hoover. He is the grandson of Mrs. Gaitha Davis Trimm and the late Mr. Robert Huberty Trimm of Fayette and the late Mr. and Mrs. Irving Paul Hardekopf of Studio City, Calif. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a custom gown designed by Project Runway alumni Heidi Elnora. The fit-to-flare gown was embellished using the bride’s mother’s original wedding gown that was worn on June 8, 1980, 33 years ago to the day she was married. The bodice was hand-appliquéd with the bride’s mother’s pearl and lace details. The gown’s skirt was a custom organza flounce train finished with Italian Alencon lace trimming. The bride wore a cathedral-length tulle veil with scalloped lace trim. Her bouquet was filled with white peonies, antique roses, white ranunculus, lysianthus and white stock. The stems were wrapped in ivory satin ribbon with her “something blue” handkerchief that was given to her by the groom and adorned with her grandmother’s antique pin. Tatum M’Lea Henley of Birmingham attended the bride as maid of honor, and Erika Strother Moncrief of Troy was the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Lauren Northcutt Thomason, sister-in-law of the bride; Jessica Thomason Davis, cousin of the bride; Sarah Hardekopf Hefner, sister of the groom; Kathryn
Elizabeth Hardekopf, sister of the groom; Blaire Wheelis Thrift, Elisabeth Pears Kindred, Kathryn Ann Parrish, Paige Phelps Osborne, Rachel Coffey Reeder, Jessica Lea Scott, Mary Elizabeth Angelo, Kinzey Elizabeth Walden and Caley Walden Miller, all of Birmingham; Whitney Michele Chambers of Montgomery; Kendall Joy Lettow of Nashville; and Elizabeth Leavitt Watterson of Jacksonville, Fla. Addison Katherine and Avery Elizabeth Gwin, cousins of the bride, of Birmingham were flower girls. The father of the groom was the best man. Groomsmen were Stetson Lee Adkisson of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Daniel Justin Brown of Auburn; John Burke Buster of Cullman; Brandon Corey Hamburg and Peyton Kyle Hughes of Houston; James Brown Moseley Jr. of Bainbridge, Ga.; Hunter Ryan Sexton, cousin of the groom, of Fayette; David Ryan Hickel Jr., Lawrence Brown Sheffield IV, Justin Michael Hefner, brother-in-law of the groom, and Michael Alexander Thomason Jr., brother of the bride, all of Birmingham. John Michael Hefner, nephew of the groom, of Birmingham and Evan Carter Sexton, cousin of the groom, of Fayette were ring bearers. Ken Watson was the organist, and Lynne Jebeles and Stetson and Cia Adkisson were the vocalists. The flowers were provided by The Pink Pear Florists. After a honeymoon trip to St. Lucia, the couple live in Vestavia.
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Graham-Hart
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Lane Graham of Hoover announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Laine Graham, to Nathan Daniel Hart, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gregory Hart of Birmingham. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Almon Mullins of Hoover and the late Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Worthington Graham Sr. of Birmingham. Miss Graham is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She is employed with Jefferson County Schools. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Dan York Boring and the late Mr. Boring of Knoxville, Tenn. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Norris Beal Hart of Lexington, Tenn. Mr. Hart is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He is employed with American Health Imaging. The wedding will be July 12.
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28 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
Weddings & Engagements
Sprague-Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Winston Sprague of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Grace Sprague, to Tyler Durham Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Harl Thomas of Austin, Texas. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Milton Roberts of Sheffield and the
Pendleton-Piercy
Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Susan) Pendleton of Monticello, Ky., formerly of Hoover, announce the engagement of their daughter, Allison Paige Pendleton, to John Matthew Piercy, son of Mr. and Mrs. John David (Pamela) Piercy of Monticello. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. (Mary Lou) Bell of Scottsboro and the late
late Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Scott Sprague of Birmingham. Miss Sprague is a graduate of the Indian Springs School and a cum laude graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in advertising, served as president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Miss Sprague is employed with Publicis Hawkeye in Dallas. The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rudolph Durham of Hammond, La., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Lawhorn Thomas of Midland, Texas. Mr. Thomas is a graduate of Austin High School and the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from McCombs School of Business and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity as well as many other organizations. Mr. Thomas is an owner of SmartShield Sunscreen. The wedding will be July 19. Mr. Robert J. Pendleton of Monticello and the late Mr. and Mrs. Obie (Maud) Walker of Monticello. Miss Pendleton is a 2008 graduate of Hoover High School, a 2012 cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a prospective 2014 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky with a master’s degree in school counseling. Miss Pendleton is a member of Kappa Delta Pi honor society. She is employed in Bowling Green, Ky. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. John R. (Suzanne) Piercy and the late Mr. Piercy of Monticello and Mrs. Stanley James (Clora) Gregory and the late Mr. Gregory of Monticello. Mr. Piercy is a 2009 graduate of Wayne County High School in Monticello and a prospective 2015 graduate of Western University in Bowling Green with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is employed in Bowling Green. The wedding will be July 19 in Monticello.
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Lewallyn-Rhyne
Claire Augusta Lewallyn and Robert Rhett Rhyne were married July 13, 2013 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The 6 p.m. ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Dr. Kipp McClurg. A reception followed at The Club. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Stanley Lewallyn of Vestavia Hills. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy J. Browder of Columbus, Ga., and Mrs. Hugh Jefferson Lewallyn of Anniston and the late Mr. Hugh Jefferson Lewallyn. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Hoffman Rhyne Jr. of Benton. He is the grandson of Mrs. Carroll Hoffman Rhyne Sr. of Benton
Morris-Naylor
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Allen Morris of Homewood announce the engagement of their daughter, Mollie Beth Morris, to Adam Clayton Naylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Clayton Naylor of Millbrook.
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Yeates-Brosnan
Mrs. Alice Dawes Yeates of Birmingham announces the engage-
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
and the late Mr. Carroll Hoffman Rhyne Sr. and Mr. James Francis Gallagher of Tyler and the late Mrs. James Francis Gallagher. The bride was given in marriage by her father. Her wedding gown and cathedral-length veil were designed and created by the bride’s late maternal grandmother. She was the sixth bride in her family to wear the gown and veil. The initials and date of each bride was sewn into the lining of the gown. Her bouquet of white roses, peonies and ranunculus was wrapped in her mother’s handkerchief from her wedding, monogrammed in blue with both initials. The bride was attended by maids of honor Abigail Suzanne Basinger and Leigh Ellen Black of Vestavia Hills. Bridesmaids were Katherine Anne Baker, Emily Brooke Brown and Sara Lewis Ebersold, all of Vestavia Hills; Kelsey Lynn Myrick of Gulf Port, Miss.; Ann Myers Page of Opelika; Megan Foscue Riggins of Toney; Savannah Grace Roberts of San Francisco; Shelby Adams Thorpe of Montgomery; Lauren Turk Breilding of Los Angeles; Kennedy Rhyne Walker, sister of the groom, of Mountain Brook and Ashley Rhyne Williams, sister of the groom, of Selma. Flower girl was Hannah Mae Rhyne, niece of the groom, of Auburn.
The groom’s father and Carroll Hoffman Rhyne III, brother of the groom, of Auburn were best men. Groomsmen were James Thornton Edward Jr. of Memphis, Tenn.; Tyler Andrew Forshee of Louisville, Ky.; Clifton Luke Hallmark of Mountain Brook; Pitt Newton Hughes and Allen McCrory Singley of Selma; Daniel Logan Jennings Jr. of Valley Grande; Mark Harrison Lewallyn, brother of the bride, of New York City; Nicholas David Parsons of Houston; Lauritz Fraser Perrett of Atlanta; Michael Andrew Smith of Birmingham and Andrew Marcus Stokley of Raleigh, N.C. Ring bearers were John Edward Walker IV and Charles Stratford Walker, nephews of the groom, of Mountain Brook. The crucifer was Rickman Edgar Williams IV, and the acolyte was Rhyne Russell Williams, nephews of the groom, of Selma. Program attendants were Anna Katherine Bruton, Rebekah Hunt Cowart and Lauren Elizabeth Wyatt, all of Vestavia Hills, and Anna Kacey Walraven of Decatur. Scripture reader was the brother of the groom. Soloist was Rebecca Claire Barganier of Vestavia Hills. Music was by Karen Krekelberg, pianist, and the Futuro String Quartet. The couple honeymooned in Antigua and now live in Homewood.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Jean Cobb Smith and the late Mr. Fred L.B. Smith of Odenville and Mrs. Carolyn Morris and the late Mr. Danny E. Morris of Tarrant. Miss Morris is a 2006 graduate of Homewood High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Alabama where she received her bachelor’s degree in secondary English education. While in Tuscaloosa, she enjoyed leading life groups with the college ministry of Calvary Baptist Church. In 2011 she moved to Memphis, Tenn. to be a part of the Memphis Teacher Residency. She received her master’s degree in urban education in May 2012 from Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Miss Morris teaches sixth grade English at the Collegiate School of Memphis in Memphis. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dixon of Millbrook, Mr. and Mrs. Elvis
Naylor, also of Millbrook, and Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Bruner of Coosada. Mr. Naylor is a 2006 graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School and a 2011 graduate of the University of Alabama where he received his bachelor’s degree in communication and creative writing. He was an active member of the Navigators, leading worship and working on staff at the University of Alabama, Belmont University and Vanderbilt University. He will begin graduate school for school counseling this fall at the University of Memphis. Mr. Naylor works in administration at Memphis Athletic Ministries in Memphis. Both the bride and groom live in Memphis, where they enjoy spending time with friends, trying new local restaurants and supporting the Memphis Grizzlies. The wedding is planned for July 19 in Tuscaloosa.
ment of her daughter, Whitley Seymour, to Daniel John Brosnan, son of Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Lee Brosnan of Madison. Miss Yeates is the daughter of the late Mr. Rutherford N. Yeates Jr. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. Rutherford N. Yeates Sr. and the late Mrs. Rutherford N. Yeates Sr. of Birmingham and the late Mr. John D. Dawes and the late Mrs. Lucille Dawes, formerly of Rocky Mount, N.C. Miss Yeates is a 2010 graduate of Mountain Brook High school and was presented at the Redstone Ball. She is currently student teaching at the University of North Alabama in elementary education and remains on the dean’s list. She is a member of the National Leadership and Success
Honor Society. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brosnan of Freedom, Ind. and Mrs. Joanne Temple of Scottsdale, Ariz. and the late Mr. John Temple. Mr. Brosnan is a 2007 graduate of Colonial Christian High School in Indiana and a 2011 graduate of Faulkner University where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is currently employed by the U. S. Air Force and stationed in Pensacola, Fla. In September, he will be a Weapon Systems Officer in the F-15 Strike Eagles Fighter Jet at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. The couple will marry on Aug. 2 at St. Mary on-the-Highlands and move to North Carolina in the future.
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Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 29
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French Twist
European Style Appeals to Legacy League’s Lisbeth Cease Story by Donna Cornelius • Photos by Lee Walls Jr. Building a new house in Shoal Creek
wasn’t a tough decision for Lisbeth Cease and her husband, Larry. Making sure their new home would turn out just the way they wanted it was a little harder. “We decided several years ago that we wanted to live in Shoal Creek, so we looked and looked at houses and lots,” Lisbeth Cease said. “My husband wanted a different look—nothing cookie-cutter. I drove all over Atlanta, the Southeast, Red Mountain and English Village to look at architecture.” Cease didn’t limit her research to houses. “I looked at churches, too,” she said. “I love Gothic architecture.” As well as taking field trips, Cease spent hours poring over books by Betty Lou Phillips, the award-winning author of more than a dozen books on French and Italian design. “I’d dog-ear pages showing things I liked and put together big notebooks of elements that I loved,” Cease said. “We sent pictures to our architect, Durham Crout of Atlanta, and he put everything together.” Although the house took about three and a half years to complete, the Ceases’ careful planning gave them just the house they wanted. The French Normandy-style exterior has stone walls with limestone accents, steep roof pitches and a mix of window shapes, from dormers to Gothic pointed arches. As is traditional in this type of architecture, the house looks as if the family who lives there added onto their home over many years rather than constructed it all at one time. The result is a mellow, welcoming façade that captures the charm of a wellloved family home. Soaring ceilings and light-filled rooms make
Lisbeth Cease, the Legacy League’s vice president for fundraising, and her dog, Millie Grace, left love welcoming guests to their Shoal Creek house. The Ceases have plenty of room to gather for holidays and special occasions in the dining room, brightened by twin chandeliers and pointed arch Gothic-style windows. For more photos of Public People Private Places go to otmj.com.
the interior equally inviting. “I want people to feel this is a place where they can come in, sit down and relax,” Cease said. The couple paid as much attention to details as they did to larger elements. The rose motifs on the tall, wooden front doors are repeated on the walls above the doors and outside in the limestone accents. Ornate wrought iron railings that line a floating staircase and the third-floor walkways overlooking the library have an intricate design that includes fleur de lis motifs, medallions and
crests. “The railings were made by Weldon Welding in Sterrett. I told them what I wanted, and they did a wonderful job,” Cease said. In the Fairway Room, one of the family’s favorite gathering spots, flying buttresses draw the eye up to the lofty ceiling. Some of the other rooms have French farmhouse-style beams. Cease said she was particularly pleased with the woodwork in an upstairs bedroom. Roughsawn pine boards line the walls and continue onto the ceiling. The lowest level of the three-story structure includes a workout room and theater room. Also there are some of Cease’s most prized possessions: her father’s rocking chair and slippers. As another tribute to her dad, she framed and hung ration stamps from the World War II era. More formal spaces—the living room and dining room– are on the house’s main level on
either side of the foyer. The house also includes nine fireplaces, which are all wood-burning except for those in the living and dining rooms, Cease said. Larry Cease had very definite ideas about the design of the wood-paneled library, a large room in the center of the house’s main level, his wife said. “He wanted a room like this, with bookcases—and gun cases. The guns here are just a smidge of his gun collection. I told him he could display some of them—but only the pretty ones,” she said with a smile. While her husband loves the library, one of Cease’s favorite rooms is the kitchen. A six-burner Viking stove with a griddle, double ovens and a rustic travertine sink made in Mexico give her all the tools she needs to feed a crowd as well as her family.
See cease, page 32
Work in Progress IPC Chairman’s House Is Still Evolving Story by Keysha Drexel • Photos by Lee Walls Jr.
The IPC Holiday House Tour scrapbook sits on a table in Shuttlesworth’s living room. The owl sculpture was created by Frank Fleming.
Margaret Shuttlesworth Although Margaret Shuttlesworth and
her family moved into their house almost 12 years ago, the Mountain Brook woman said the decor of the Salisbury Road home is still not set in stone. Instead of quickly filling her house with
furniture and art and objects just to have it look “done,” Shuttlesworth has spent years discovering just the right look to reflect the developing story of her family. “I’m not a decorate-in-a-day kind of person. I’ve never been interested in having my home look like something out of a generic catalog,” she said. “To me, it’s more important that every room evolve with our family.” Shuttlesworth lives in the two-story brick Colonial Revival-style home with her husband of 15 years, Perry, and their daughters–14-yearold Tate and 13-year-old Maggie. A lifelong member of Independent Presbyterian Church, Shuttlesworth is the chairman of the 65th IPC Holiday House Tour, which will take place this December. The Shuttlesworths’ house was built by the Jemison Companies in 1929–the same year
See shuttlesworth, page 31
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“This house sits on four acres with plenty of trees, and it has the high ceilings and everything we were looking for,” she said. Built in 1982, the house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and three levels of living space. “My favorite room is the living room. It has 12-foot ceilings and huge windows that overlook the backyard,” Scott said. When it came to decorating her new home, Scott said she didn’t rush to get everything done all at once. “We wanted to take our time and really be purposeful in what we put in the house,” she said. Scott said she thought it was best not to distract from the wonderful views afforded by the huge windows throughout the house. “The way the house is built really lends itself to focusing on the outside, on the view,” she said. Hardwood floors throughout the first level tie the rooms together, with soothing hues of greens and blues throughout. “I have always been attracted to the water, to the colors of water, so I guess I naturally gravitated towards those colors for the house,” she said. Scott’s love of all things aquatic also shows up in little details throughout the house, including the collections of oyster plates hanging throughout the
main level. “And the sculpture of the school of fish that was carved out of a Louisiana oil drum lid is one of my favorite things,” she said. But perhaps her favorite piece in her living room, Scott said, is something she says proves she was meant to call Alabama home. Hanging beside the marble fireplace in the living room is a canvas covered with overlapping maps of Alabama. “And on it is written the text from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ And of all places, I found it in a little gallery in the middle of the Warehouse District in New Orleans when we moved there, and I had to have it,” she said. “At that time, I had no idea we would end up here, so I think it’s pretty neat.” Large French doors lead from the living room to a huge, multi-level deck overlooking the backyard’s magnolia trees and rosebushes. An arbor of wisteria frames the seating area on the first level of the deck. “It’s my favorite spot to hang out in the summer, especially in the evenings,” Scott said. “You go out there at night, and you would never imagine that you are just minutes away from the city.” Scott said the next big project for the family will be renovating the kitchen. “It’s not bad, it just needs to be updated,” she said. “The plan is to lighten it up and to modernize it a bit.” A photo of the iconic Cafe Du Monde hangs in the kitchen as a nod to the time the family lived in New Orleans. “I lived in New Orleans longer than I had lived anywhere, so it will always have a special place in my heart,” she said. “But I really feel like Alabama was always supposed to be my home.” ❖
community placements focus on four areas--education, financial stability, health, and safety and crisis intervention--and address one or more of the critical issues identified within each of these impact areas. Each Junior League member must be active in one of the placements for 10 years before she reaches the “sustainer” designation. The JLB strives, through issuebased volunteerism, to build better partnerships between the agencies it serves, better train JLB members to become experts on the critical issues and provide more meaningful experiences for JLB volunteers. The JLB’s goal is to eradicate pressing issues within the community, create advocates and community trustees (trained League members) who are passionate about issues, and make a positive impact on the community through systemic change. All volunteers are required to complete an intensive provisional course and thereafter choose from a wide range of training programs each year. Through these programs, volunteers acquire the skills, knowledge and empowerment to effectively serve the community. Community projects are staffed with JLB volunteers who work in partnership with nonprofit, public and
community-based organizations. Scott said JLB will have 37 community projects in the 2014-2015 year alone. “One of those is Project Yummy, our mobile teaching kitchen that we use to promote healthy eating with children,” she said. “We are also proud of our summer gardening project with the Norwood Community Gardens and the teaching we offer at the (Birmingham) Zoo’s Eco Garden as part of the Zoo School.” The organization is also expanding its Backpack Buddies program with Vineyard Family Services by adding a mobile food pantry with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Scott said. JLB teaches employment readiness to homeless women at Pathways and Every Moment Matters at Children’s of Alabama. “We also have our JLB Roundtables, which seek to bring awareness to topics as diverse as human trafficking, heroin addiction and teen suicide,” she said. The JLB Choral Group, which has performed for the community for 50 years, is among the longest-running Junior League-affiliated choral groups in the nation. For more information on the Junior League of Birmingham, visit www. jlbonline.com.
Alison Scott, right decorated the family’s living room in soothing neutrals so as not to distract from the views of the wooded backyard seen through the large windows in the spacious room. Scott said the 12-foot ceilings in the room are what sold her on the house. More photos at otmj.com.
Sweet Home Alabama JLB President Finds Sense of Place in Mountain Brook Story by Keysha Drexel • Photos by Lee Walls Jr. When Alison Scott and heR family moved to Alabama in 2009, the Mountain Brook woman said she finally felt like she had found her home. Scott’s father was in the Navy, and she spent most of her life moving from one Naval base to another, with no place to really call her hometown. “But when we found this house and moved here, I finally felt like it was a place to put down our roots, a place we could call home for a very long time,” the president of the Junior League of Birmingham said. Scott, her husband of 15 years, Stephen, and the couple’s three chil-
dren–12-year-old Brennan, 11-year-old Grayson and 10-year-old Georgia Kate, live in a three-story brick house on Rockhill Road. The family moved to Mountain Brook from New Orleans, where they lived for 10 years. “I loved the sense of history in New Orleans,” Scott said. “There’s something special about living in a place that’s older than this country.” Scott’s husband is an attorney with offices in New Orleans and Birmingham, and the family would often travel between the two cities together.
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When Hurricane Katrina hit, Scott’s husband stayed in Birmingham, and she and the kids stayed with her parents in Memphis for four months. “We evacuated when the hurricane hit and then came back to New Orleans to rebuild, but it just wasn’t the same,” she said. Four years after Hurricane Katrina, Scott said, she and her husband were ready to make a change. That’s when they found their house on Rockhill Road.
Junior League Is One of Nation’s Largest The Junior League of Birmingham is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. As one of the largest volunteer service organizations in Alabama, the JLB has more than 2,400 members who contribute more than 50,000 hours of service annually. “I think people would be really surprised to learn that we have one of the largest membership numbers of any Junior League group and we’re right behind Dallas and Houston when it comes to the number of members,” said Alison Scott, president. Its purpose is improving the lives of women and children by working with community agencies to deliver services and assistance to those in need. “When you walk around Birmingham, you will see that there are not many things in this community that have not been touched by the work of the Junior League in one way or another,” Scott said. To ensure consistency and a concentrated level of service, JLB
shuttlesworth, From page 29
Robert Jemison developed Mountain Brook as an extensive residential subdivision. In the living room, Shuttlesworth keeps a copy of a book published by the Birmingham Historical Society which includes a reprint of an article from the April 1929 issue of The Jemison Magazine. In the article, it says that “the house contains a large living room with Colonial mantels, a delightful sunroom, dining room, breakfast room, with two Colonial corner china cabinets, tile wainscoted kitchen, an enclosed rear service-porch, two closets, and a tile wainscoted lavatory. There is a main entrance hall from which a Colonial stairway leads to the second floor where we find four nice bedrooms, and a sleeping porch.” And while much of the house has changed since that article was written 85 years ago, Shuttlesworth said it was the home’s integrity that first attracted her to it. “I used to live on Diaper Row, and I would stroll my babies past this house,” she said. “I loved the bones of this old house. I loved that the materials they used back then were solid.” And while Shuttlesworth said she loves the convenience of living on Salisbury Road, what really sold her on the house was its balance of public and private areas. “It has this wonderful, private backyard that allows you to just relax and unwind,” she said.
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The Independent Presbyterian Church’s Holiday House Tour is always a fun way to get Christmas decorating ideas, said Margaret Shuttlesworth, chairman for the 2014 event. But the tour, now in its 65th year, has a purpose other than showcasing striking houses and providing holiday inspiration. The tour supports the church’s Children’s Fresh Air Farm Summer Learning Program. The six-week summer program is for rising third, fourth and fifth-graders from disadvantaged backgrounds. Certified teachers give the campers
academic instruction and supervise enrichment activities. The children are served breakfast, lunch and snacks and go on field trips, too. The Children’s Fresh Air Farm has been a church mission for more than 90 years, Shuttlesworth said. In 1922, the congregation established the Children’s Fresh Air Farm on Shades Mountain in the Bluff Park area. In 1949, a group of women at the church approached the church leaders with the idea of raising money for the programs at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm. “The women came up with the idea of holding a home tour during the holidays as a way to raise funds for the program,” said Jennifer Cope,
While Shuttlesworth said she has loved learning about the house’s history, she said she has tried to make sure her family’s story is also told there. “There’s a story behind pretty much every single thing in this house, and when you take all those stories and put them together, it’s the story of our lives,” she said. In the living room, which is bathed in natural light from an abundance of large windows, there are stories aplenty. A pair of wingback chairs sitting around a small table near the front window reminds Shuttlesworth of the thrill of finding something for a good price, she said. “I got the chairs at an antique shop near the airport for $100 and recovered them. I love those funky chairs,”
Shuttlesworth said. An owl sculpture on the table is a Frank Fleming piece her husband gave her. A bronze wreath hanging above the fireplace is also a Frank Fleming creation. “I bought these little chairs that sit at the coffee table at a Junior League sale years ago, and I’ve used them in a lot of different ways,” she said. Using things in different ways is something of a trend with Shuttlesworth. An antique leather floor screen has been repurposed as an accent piece above the sofa in the living room. “I’m always moving things around as we use the rooms of the house in different ways.” The room that has evolved the most in how it is used is probably the library on the main level just off the living
IPC Holiday Tour Benefits Children’s Program
publicity chairman for the tour this year. “I read something in the (Holiday House Tour) scrapbook that said in the beginning, some thought it was a farfetched idea. They didn’t think people would pay to go on a tour of other people’s homes.” But now, more than half a century later, the IPC Holiday House Tour is still going strong and still helping provide disadvantaged children with new opportunities. “It’s a big effort from so many people each year,” Cope said. “But I think it’s something the community looks forward to every year, and it’s a wonderful way to help support the missions of our church.” This year’s IPC Holiday House Tour is set for Dec. 13-14. For details, visit www.ipc-usa.org.
room, Shuttlesworth said. “The library area has changed dramatically over the years. It used to be a TV room when the kids were younger, but now it’s been claimed for a new purpose,” Shuttlesworth said. “It’s a great place to read or watch the birds out the window.” A black and white cowhide rug and a fireplace give the spacious room a cozy feel. Along with a unique statuette depicting the Mistral wind that Shuttlesworth picked up while living in France as a college student, guests can’t help but notice several geodes and rocks artfully arranged around the library. “I love rocks and their different shapes and textures,” Shuttlesworth said. “It’s about bringing nature inside, and you will see them all over the
house.” A large chunk of amethyst– Shuttlesworth’s birthstone–sits on an antique sideboard in the formal dining room. “I found that a few years ago at an outdoor rock show in North Carolina, and I never get tired of looking at it,” she said. The gourmet kitchen, which features professional-grade appliances, is her husband’s realm, she said. “My husband is a fabulous cook, and he whips up some incredible dishes in here,” she said. Just off the kitchen is a study that has been used as a dining area, homework room and now is used by Shuttlesworth as her home office. Shuttlesworth said she’s sure her home and how her family uses it will continue to change in the future–and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I don’t want everything to be perfect,” Shuttlesworth said. “I like that there’s always the chance to reinvent a space by adding some new treasure I find.” ❖
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From page 29
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“I like to cook, and I like to cook for a lot of people,” she said. “”We entertain not just for the sake of entertaining. We’ll have our church Bible study group, which includes about 60 people, and our Shoal Creek Bible study group, which has about 35.” Among events the Ceases have hosted was a “surprise wedding” for their daughter Meghan Cease’s friend. Guests thought they were coming to an engagement party, Cease said. “We had the engagement party set up out front, with Shindigs food, strings of light and a band,” she said. “It started at 6 o’clock. Then at 7, we 2720 19th Place S • Homewood 868-2832 invited everyone to go to the backNext to The Nest and Tricia's Treasures yard. We had chairs set up, rose petals on the ground and a string quartet.” Cease’s creativity and gift for hospitality have served her well in her role as vice president for fundraising for the Legacy League, a Samford University auxiliary group. The Legacy League has become a cause Sandra that’s close to her heart—even though Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 only one of her family members is a FAX: 205-824-1246 Samford graduate, she said. June 2014 Both Lisbeth and Larry are University of Tennessee alumni. Their This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the children attended Auburn University, June 26 2014 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. Ole Miss and Wake Forest. Daughterin-law Allison, who is married to their son Alan, is the lone Samford grad. Alan and Allison now live in Jackson, Miss., where Alan is an ER/ trauma physician in his third year of please initial and fax back within 24 hours. residency. The couple’s wedding was at Samford’s Reid Chapel. If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date,
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Daughter Meghan evidently inherited her mother’s gift for event planning; she’s the owner of M. Elizabeth Events in Birmingham. Son Jeff Cease, the lead guitarist for Eric Church, lives in Nashville, Tenn., as does daughter Christy Perkins. Cease first learned about the work of the Legacy League about six years ago, she said. “Our Sunday School class at Shades Mountain Baptist had some members who had traveled to Iran and the Holy Land,” she said. “They told us about meeting an Iranian girl named Bita Farrakhroo, who was their tour guide. She wanted to be a doctor, and as a female, she couldn’t do that in Iran.” Dr. Thomas Corts, Samford’s president from 1983-2006, was on the trip and was determined to find a way to get Bita to the United States, Cease said. “It took two and a half years to work it out, but she came to Samford,” she said. “I wanted to help this girl. When she came to Samford, I decorated her room. She had to spend a lot of time there reading calculus books and trying to prepare for exams. She ended up graduating from pharmacy school near the top of her class.” The Legacy League, Cease said, extends the opportunity to attend Samford to young people who couldn’t do so otherwise. “Becky Seay, a friend of mine, said, ‘You need to come and be a part of this group,’” she said. “It just struck a chord in my heart.” ❖
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Legacy League Opens Doors for Students While Lisbeth Cease was deeply affected by Bita Farrakhroo, the young Iranian woman who came to Samford, she realized she couldn’t “give everybody a scholarship,” she said. But through the Legacy League, a volunteer organization which works to provide scholarships to Samford University for deserving students with financial need, she and other members can make a difference. “Our goal is to endow a new scholarship every year,” Cease said. “These students are much like Bita. They have no financial means to go to Samford.” Scholarship recipients have included homeless young people, those who have spent years in foster care or who have a parent in prison and some who are struggling to shoulder the burden of caring for siblings, Cease said. “Their heart’s desire is to go to Samford,” she said. While Samford had had an auxiliary support group for many years, the Legacy League has taken the organization’s efforts to new levels. “At the time I got involved, we had a scholarship luncheon in January and a dinner and gala in the spring for corporate donors,” Cease said. “We needed more events to attract a broader section of the community.” Changing the organization’s name in 2011 from the Samford University Auxiliary to the Legacy League also represented the group’s desire to involve more members of the Birmingham community, Cease said. One of the Legacy League events aimed to attract more supporters is the Sunset 5K, set this year for Oct. 25. The group’s fall luncheon on Oct. 9 will feature guests speaker Sophie Hudson, the author of “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet.” Samford parent Darla Hall, author of “Angels Yell Roll Tide,” will headline the Legacy League’s Nov. 13 meeting. And one of the group’s most successful ventures is its annual Christmas home tour, which will be Dec. 11 this year. “It’s always a one-day event,” Cease said. “It’s the same week as the Independent Presbyterian Church holiday home tour, but we have our tour on Thursday so we don’t conflict with the IPC tour. “The Legacy League now has 300350 active members,” Cease said. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting the work of the Legacy League. Dues are $25 a year. “We have about six meetings a year,” Cease said. “They’re at the President’s Home, and it’s a delight to come to the meetings.” Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland, wife of Samford President Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, is the Legacy League’s executive director. For more information about the group or about membership, call Sharon Smith, administrative director, at 726-2247, or visit www.samford. edu/legacyleague.
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By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
A Mountain Brook interior designer has been named one of the nation’s 10 up-and-coming designers by Traditional Home magazine. Dana Wolter of Dana Wolter Interiors was named by the editors of the magazine as one of this year’s “New Traditionalists.” Each year, 10 designers are chosen nationwide as rising stars, with a focus on one design project from each. Selected partly for their expert skills and distinct styles, each finalist brings a renewed point of view and approach to interior design. Among other characteristics describing the “New Traditionalists,” the magazine’s May print issue points to the belief of gracious living yet with attitude, and the theory that traditional design should not be stodgy. Wolter is no exception. “When I think of TRADhome and Traditional Home, I think of classic designs with a fresh, present-day approach,” Wolter said. “I am honored the editors believe my design aesthetic fits well with their philosophy.” Wolter said her method of design stems from a desire to bring a sense of purpose to each room, omitting clutter and creating a place for every item. She said she believes transforming a chaotic space into a cohesive retreat can have a positive effect on quality of life. Whether she’s designing for career-oriented couples or empty nesters, Wolter said she hones in on her clients’ lifestyles to ensure their interiors are aligned with their personalities. The design project that secured Wolter’s inclusion as a “New Traditionalist” was installed with a layered approach, combining family mementos collected over time with wood, metal and linen accents that reshaped the home’s cottage-style charm. Wolter’s clients, a family in Mountain Brook, enlisted her expertise to enrich the home’s interior. “I had great fun working with the family to
‘I am honored the editors believe my design aesthetic fits well with their philosophy.’ Dana Wolter
Designing Woman
Dana Wolter Makes Traditional Home’s Top 10 List redesign their home,” Wolter said. “My clients stepped out of their comfort zone, and it resulted in a kinetic synergy of old and new.” With Wolter guiding the process from start to finish, the redesign included the foyer, living room, family room, dining room, breakfast area, downstairs hallway, study and master bedroom suite. Functional yet stylish, the home is a true reflection of new traditionalism. Beginning with a color palette of linen white in the kitchen, Wolter continued with similar neutral hues throughout the house. This action alone eliminated the home’s original discordant use of color, bringing a more cohesive feel.
Throughout each of the rooms, Wolter incorporated neutral-colored upholstery, featuring shades of gray, taupe and cream. She added bursts of color and pattern to unify the rooms through carefully chosen pillows, artwork, wallpaper and accessories. In addition, Wolter integrated prized possessions of the homeowners. Her juxtaposition of new home furnishings and treasured keepsakes resulted in a seamlessly blended design. “This project is a perfect example, when done correctly, of how home furnishings and accessories from a range of price points as well as modern and antique elements can easily meld in a space,” Wolter said.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 33
In the kitchen, the homeowners wanted a place for the family to casually dine together. With this goal at the forefront, Wolter reworked a wall of cabinetry to allow for a new banquette, which is one of her signature design concepts. She said her objective was to soften the room, offering plush seating around the table, while sleek, clear acrylic chairs provide a more modern feel. Wolter started anew with the living room, as the previous furniture afforded little comfort and limited functionality. Incorporating paintings and antiques from the homeowner’s collection, Wolter said she selected new furnishings that graciously granted relaxation and elegance. The room now has two seating vignettes. One includes two velvet chaise lounges, while the other features a sofa and two chairs. “Previously, the room was unused; now it caters to both leisure and entertaining,” Wolter said. With a busy work and social life, the homeowners asked Wolter for a redesigned master suite that exudes calmness and a sense of tranquility. She set to work by wrapping the walls in taupe linen drapes, providing a warm cocoon-like feel. Wolter designed a custom headboard for the bed and added fine Egyptian cotton linens to achieve a unified look and feel of serenity. The suite’s sitting room framed with custom artwork completes the peaceful atmosphere. “The overall design of the home’s interior now pairs well with the homeowners’ personal taste,” Wolter said. “In the end, the space offers a sophisticated and chic yet classic appeal.” Traditional Home is letting readers vote for the designer whose style they like the best. Visit traditionalhome.com/HunterDouglas to browse profiles of Wolter and the other designers and to vote. For more information about Dana Wolter Interiors, visit the company’s website and blog at www.danawolterinteriors.com and www.danawolterinteriors.com/blog. ❖
34 • Thursday, June 26, 2014
Cutting It Close
sports
Kaufman Misses Open Cut But Loves Experience By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
The official record will say that Smylie Kaufman of Vestavia Hills, Ala., shot a two-day total of 149 to miss the 36-hole cut in the 2014 United States Open Golf Championship. But the official record won’t say that Kaufman, a recent graduate of Louisiana State University, had the experience of a lifetime. “It was just awesome,” said Kaufman, also a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, when contacted early last week. “Getting to play at the Open was one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me. I learned so much that will make me a better player in the future.” Kaufman shot rounds of 73 and 76 to miss
the cut by four strokes but came away as a huge fan of the Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina, which hosted the Open. “It was a course set up for my game,” he said. “I drove the ball really well and hit it solidly off the tee. My short game is supposed to be my strength, and it sort of let me down. And I never really felt in control on the greens. That said, Pinehurst was a great test of golf, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing it.” As was the case with all Open competitors, Kaufman played several practice rounds on the course prior to the tournament’s beginning. The practice paid off, but not in a way he expected. “The running joke of the week was that the course was tougher in the practice rounds than in the actual tournament,” he said. “That gave me an appreciation of the things the USGA
Smylie Kaufman shot rounds of 73 and 76 to miss the cut by four strokes. Photo special to the Journal
(United States Golf Association, which runs the Open) can do to change a course. It was a good lesson in how to transition your game for what may be coming.” Kaufman said rookie jitters or so-called “butterflies” were rarely a factor. “I teed off on the 10th hole, so it wasn’t as crowded as it would have been at the first tee,” he said. “The only time I got a little nervous was, when I crossed the path to go to a new hole, it felt like there were a zillion people in the crowd. That was an adjustment. I had played
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
in front of crowds before, but nothing like the U.S. Open. But most of the time, I was thinking about what I needed to do for my next shot.” While naturally disappointed to miss the cut, Kaufman said coming so close was bittersweet. “It was frustrating to know that I was in a position to get to play Saturday and Sunday but fell short,” he said. “If I had it to do over, I would have made some different choices about shot selection. Choosing the right shot for the right situation can make a lot of difference. But it’s all part of the learning curve, and it was an honor just to be in contention for two days.” As June gives way to July, Kaufman isn’t taking any breaks from the sport he loves. He’ll spend most of his Mondays in qualifying rounds for tournaments. “The experience at Pinehurst makes me want to go back (to the Open),” he said. “And the bid to get there starts over every week.” And with one U.S. Open appearance already under his belt, expect Kaufman to be making a return engagement soon.
Alabama Shockerz Win Georgia State Basketball Tournament
Hoover Resident Competing in Summer Death Race
Hoover Soccer Club’s 02 Phantoms White Make History Winning Back-to-Back State Soccer Championships
The Hoover Soccer Club’s Phantoms 02 White team took first place in the 2014 State Cup U12 8v8 soccer tournament, silver division held in May. This team’s back-to-back state championship win is a Hoover Soccer Club first. Team members above are, from left: Lane Gilchrist, Daniel Fuller, Zach Bowen, Greyson Wilkins, Logan Bradley, Kevin Valentino, Owen Wenning, Andrich Raschke, Mason Berg, Bryant Segars, Constantine Hontzas, Matthew Gonzales, Blaine Crook and Coach Jeff Brannon. Photo special to the Journal
Attack Black Win State Soccer Title
The Vestavia girls U11 Attack Black 03 clinched the state championship at the State Cup held in Decatur in May. Team members above are, from left, front: Saniya Johnson, Anna Causey, Amanda Hall and Raleigh Robinson. Back: Miriam Abikhaled, Gracie Yates, Diane Westhoven, Virginia Hunt, Kate Poss, Lyndsay McLaughlin, Rachel Hall, Madeleine Ricks and Coach Amy Disko. Photo courtesy Adam Ricks
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The Alabama Shockerz, a girls basketball team made up of athletes from several Over the Mountain schools won the Peach State Basketball Classic title played in Georgia recently, competeing in the 11th-grade division. Team members below are, from left, front: Jessica Compton, Vestavia; Jada Smith, Hoover High School and Christian McGowan Oak Mountain. Back: Esther Gachungi, Hoover High School; Kaitlin Hogan, Vestavia, Elizabeth Philpot, Spain Park; Madison Pierce, Oak Mountain;Victoria Baldwin, Spain Park and Kendra Langham, Hoover. The team is coached by Mike Whitt. Photo special to the Journal
Freedom01G U13 Win State Division II Soccer Title
After finishing the regular season tied for first place in U14 girls Divison II play, the Homewood Soccer Club’s Freedom01G team traveled to Decatur to compete for state championship in May. The Freedom beat Lady Fushion 01 Black of Decatur to claim the title. Team members above are, from left, front: Amira Gilford, Blythe Danley, Dacey Goodwin, Bess Landgren, Molly Katherine Cooper, Audrey Nabors, Sara Powell, Grace Ann Thomas, Caroline Bald and Anna Stephens. Back: Coach Mason Cook, Bella Crim, Marge Middlemas, Elizabeth Oliver, Kate Sims, Isabel Reaves, Julia Rouleau, Eddie Smith and Coach Sean McBride. Photo special to the Journal
Send Sports News to mwald@otmj.com
A Hoover resident will compete in the Summer Death Race June 27 in Pittsfield, Vt. Bradley Wells, above, will be one of 300 athletes from around the world to test his strength in the endurance event hosted by Peak Races. The obstacle and challengedriven race will require Wells to complete grueling mental and physical challenges throughout a more than 40-mile course that runs through treacherous trails in the Vermont woods. Last year, just 10 percent of the registered participants officially completed the race, which can include a 30-mile hike with participants carrying rocks and weighted packs and being required to build a fire from scratch. To prepare for the Summer Death Race, Wells completed several GoRuck Challenges, a Spartan Sprint, a Gut Check Challenge, the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon, the Mercedes Half Marathon and other endurance events throughout the country. In addition to training for his own races, he coaches others as a trainer for Firm Body Bootcamps and is employed as a business analyst by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “I find it inspiring and very humbling to be able to compete alongside so many elite athletes from around the world and be able to represent not only Birmingham but Alabama,” Wells said.
holt,
From page 36
Upon reaching the Capstone, Holt quickly learned that the Bryant who coached at Alabama wasn’t much different than the Bryant who had developed a hard-nosed reputation at Texas A&M. “When I was at A&M, we always heard the Junction Boys (members of Bryant’s first team at Texas A&M) talk about how tough it was,” Holt recalled, chuckling. “Well, Coach Bryant may have changed locales, but he didn’t change his techniques when he got to Alabama. That first year, so many guys left that I had three different roommates.” Nobody could argue with Bryant’s results. The Crimson Tide, which had won only four games in the three years before Bryant arrived, went 5-4-1 in his first season. Alabama was picked to be even better in 1959. Holt was expected to a big part of the success, but a knee injury forced him to miss the season. “I had to wear a large knee cast for weeks,” Holt said. “But I went to all the games. I got to fly on the school plane with Dr. (Frank) Rose (the University president) to the away games.” Despite the loss of Holt, Alabama posted a 7-1-2 record before losing to Penn State in the Liberty Bowl. By 1960, the Crimson Tide had reentered the national discussion as one of the finest programs in college football. And Holt was ready to be a part of it—although he was still hardly a giant
karr,
From page 36
when contacted last week. “I still really enjoy playing. I know it’s a cliché, but baseball has been very good to me. I’ve gotten to see so much of America and played in Mexico and Canada. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.” Karr’s career in the minor leagues has seen him wear the uniforms of teams such as the Pensacola Pelicans, the El Paso Diablos and the Sioux City Explorers, finally arriving at Grand Prairie. In 10 years, he has earned a career batting average of .283. This season Karr got off to one of his best starts, with his average rocketing to .370 before settling down to .290. “That’s the way baseball is,” Karr said. “Sometimes you’re hitting everything in front of you, and then you get in a slump nobody can explain. You just have to work through it.” Life in the minor leagues can be nomadic. In 2013, Karr played for three teams in one season. And the method of travel for road games–both near and far–is the bus. “Actually those bus rides aren’t quite like people think they are,” Karr said. “Our bus with Grand Prairie is an 18-wheeler with 28 beds and satellite TV, so it’s really not a bad way to travel.” The longest bus ride Karr remembers is a 26-hour marathon to Winnipeg in Canada. “Believe or not, it was a lot of
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • 35
sports
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
at 5’7” and 167 pounds. “Coach Bryant always said he didn’t care how big I was,” Holt said. “He cared about quickness and toughness, and that was the kind of football I loved to play.” The practices were as tough as ever, but Holt remembers some fun times as well. “The old practice field was behind a large girls’ dorm, and if you were facing the dorm you could–let’s just say get a good view of the girls,” Holt said, laughing. “We rotated which day our coaches faced the dorm and which day the players did. Coach (Pat) James, our position coach, always wanted to face the dorm, but we’d have to tell him when it wasn’t his turn.” Holt quickly moved into a starting post at linebacker in the single platoon system. He became the signal-caller for the defense, calling the formations for nearly every play, on the way to becoming–quite literally–a coach on the field. “I spent hours studying the opponents and their tendencies,” Holt said. “I had to know their offenses as well as their quarterback did. I don’t see how anyone can think football players are dumb, because there is a lot to learn in order to be successful.” The season’s highlight may have come in Atlanta on Nov. 12, when a 5-1-1 Alabama team rolled into Grant Field to play old rival Georgia Tech. The first half belonged to the hosts as the Yellow Jackets roared to a 15-0 halftime lead. “I’ll never forget it,” Holt said.
“We all thought Coach Bryant would come in the dressing room and start throwing things. Instead, he clapped his hands and said ‘Okay, we have them right where we want them.’ Some of us wondered what game he was watching.” Bryant turned out to be right. Thanks to some adjustments Holt called for the defense, Georgia Tech was held scoreless in the second half, and Alabama staged a brilliant rally to win 16-15 on a last-second field goal. The Crimson Tide went on to finish the season with an 8-1-2 mark. As Alabama prepared for what looked to be a championship-type season in 1961, Holt suffered another knee injury during spring practice. As a result, he never practiced in pads for the rest of his career at Alabama. Holt and the Tide rolled through 1961 with a perfect slate, giving up only three touchdowns the entire season. Decades later, a national news organization would rank the 1961 Alabama defense as the greatest in college football history. Holt continued to call defensive signals, just as quarterback Trammell called the offense. “People tried to say our success on defense was due to teamwork, but it was really the opposite,” Holt said. “Our defense was more about individualism. Everybody wanted to be the one who made the tackle.” Some of the rival offenses that Holt prepared for had the look of the 21st century. “We had to prepare for every situation,” he said. “Everybody thinks the
fun,” he said. “It was a great way for the players to get to know each other. When you spend 26 hours on a bus with a bunch of guys, you’re going to know them pretty well.” Needless to say, the camaraderie developed on those long bus rides sometimes leads to hilarious locker room pranks. “When you get that many guys together, what else can you expect?” he said, laughing. “It’s everything you can imagine. I could tell you some crazy stuff, but they are all good guys and all the pranks are in good fun.” As one of the oldest players on the Grand Prairie roster, Karr takes his leadership responsibilities seriously.
three rules: “First, you should value other people’s time by being on time. Second, treat every at-bat as if it’s your last one–because it could be. And third, sometimes you have to swing for the fences. “I think those things relate a lot to life as well as baseball.” Karr apparently follows his own advice, particularly in the postseason. As something of a minor league version of former Oakland A’s and New York Yankees great Reggie Jackson, Karr seems to be at his best when his team is in the playoffs. One year, Karr hit .400 in the postseason. “I don’t really know why, but for some reason I always get a lot of big hits and play well if we’re in the playoffs,” he said. “Call it experience, maybe?” Karr has had opportunities to leave the game but turned them down. A few years ago Berry College in Georgia, his alma mater, called with a job offer. “They offered me a full-time position as a hitting coach,” he said. “It was tempting, but I said no. I just wasn’t ready to stop playing.” But after 10 years in the minor leagues and three surgeries, Karr knows his ride is nearing its end. And as always, he will put the needs of his wife, Jaime, and six-month-old daughter, Charlotte, first. “I know this can’t go on forever, but I just want to play the best I can for as long as I can,” Karr said. “After that, we’ll see.” In the meantime, Palmer Karr is still living his dream.
‘I’m living the dream. I still really enjoy playing. I know it’s a cliché, but baseball has been very good to me. I’ve gotten to see so much of America and played in Mexico and Canada. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.’ Palmer Karr “Being older means setting an example for the young fellows,” he said. “I have to remember that they are paying attention to anything I do or say. I’ve always tried to live by
spread offense is something new, but Auburn ran the spread against us in 1961, so there’s really nothing new out there.” Holt and his teammates had no trouble stopping the Tigers’ spread as Alabama romped to a 34-0 victory. The win over the Tigers also saw a memorable play, when Holt picked off an Auburn pass. “It was the last play of the first half, and I intercepted the ball,” he said, smiling. “I was running toward the goal as the horn went off ending the half. Coach Bryant and everyone started walking toward the dressing room while I was still running. I gained about 30 yards before an Auburn player finally tackled me. It was like Coach Bryant thought I wasn’t fast enough to score.” While Alabama’s 1961 season was golden, there was a downside for Holt in the ninth game. He was the target of vicious and unfair accusations of dirty play in a particularly hard-fought 10-0 win over Georgia Tech at Legion Field. Atlanta sportswriters with their own agenda fueled the controversy, but Bryant, the University–and the entire state of Alabama–stood firmly behind Holt. “Coach Bryant believed in tough, hard-hitting football but wouldn’t put up with a guy who played dirty for two seconds,” Holt said. “I wasn’t the kind of player who got penalties.” The brouhaha faded into the background weeks later, when Alabama was named national champion by both the Associated Press and United Press
International. Holt, an outstanding student who graduated in less than four years, played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and had a brief stint in coaching before entering private business. But he never stopped bleeding crimson and white. Holt still holds with great pride a newspaper clipping from early in the 1962 season where Bryant is asked to assess his team, which was led by All-American linebacker Lee Roy Jordan and quarterback Joe Namath. “We still don’t have a Darwin Holt,” Bryant is quoted as saying. Holt has shown his love for his university in more tangible ways. He founded the First and Ten Club, an organization that helps newlygraduated former Alabama players start careers. “I went to see Coach Bryant about the idea I had about starting the club,” he said. “He said that a lot of people come to him with great ideas and that I should just go and do it and then come back and tell him about it. That’s exactly what I did.” Now retired, Holt lives quietly with his wife and beams with pride about his two adult daughters, who are the lights of his life. He still keeps up with his former Crimson Tide teammates on a regular basis and loves to talk about those great days nearly six decades ago. “It’s been a great life,” Holt said. “I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” And getting to know Darwin Holt is a blessing, too.
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Thursday, June 26, 2014
Sports
Darwin’s Theory
Lee Davis
Vestavia Resident Was Leader of Legendary Tide Defense
Vintage Karr Ex-Homewood Star Still Loves to Play
By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
A
D
arwin Holt’s compact size, bright smile and friendly demeanor make it easy to forget that at one time he was perhaps the finest linebacker in college football. Holt was a member of the 1961 University of Alabama Crimson Tide, perhaps the most near-perfect team in the school’s illustrious football history. Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was in the fourth year of an extensive rebuilding program when everything came together to produce a juggernaut. The Crimson Tide was never seriously challenged that season, rolling through 10 games, yielding a mere 22 points. The perfect season was capped with a 10-3 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, as Alabama claimed its first of six national titles under Bryant. Even many pre-teens steeped in the Crimson Tide tradition can name members of that team; the legacies of quarterback Pat Trammell, tackle Billy Neighbors and end Bill Battle endure to this day. But the lesser-celebrated Holt may have been the best player on the country’s top defensive unit. “I’ve got no regrets,” said Holt, when visited at his home in Vestavia Hills last week. “I’ve had a great life. I’ve got a lot for which to be thankful.” Holt grew up as an athletic ‘Well, Coach Bryant may prodigy in Gainesville, Texas. He qualified for the ninth-grade have changed locales, varsity football team as a sixthbut he didn’t change his grader, with his toughness and techniques when he got tenacity making up for his lack of size. As a baseball player, Holt to Alabama. That first pitched a one hitter, striking out year, so many guys left 26 batters in a 1-0 loss that lasted that I had three different 13 innings. His older brother, Jack, was an outstanding athlete roommates.’ Darwin Holt as well and went on to play for Coach Bud Wilkinson at the University of Oklahoma. By the time Holt was a senior, he had earned All-State and AllAmerican honors. He was a top college prospect and committed to Texas A&M, which was coached by Bryant.
bout 15 years ago, Palmer Karr was getting crucial hits and making big plays in the outfield for the Homewood Patriots. Today, most of Karr’s high school teammates are working in a myriad of fields, few of which have anything to do with baseball. Karr, who turned 32 last week, is still playing the game he loves. He is a star outfielder for the Grand Prairie Air Hogs of the American Association, with no immediate plans to retire. “I’m living the dream,” said Karr
See Karr, page 35
Darwin Holt, 32, was a member of the 1961 University of Alabama Crimson Tide, perhaps the most near-perfect team in the school’s illustrious football history. Photo special to the Journal
Things changed, however, when Bryant left for Alabama following Holt’s freshman season. Jim Myers, the new Aggie coach, wanted Holt–who weighed less than 175 pounds–to gain weight, so the determined young linebacker decided to make a change. “I was recruited by Oklahoma, Texas Tech and a lot of other places,” Holt said. “If SMU had called, I would have gone there, because at the time I wanted to be a minister.” SMU didn’t call, but Paul Bryant did. Bryant wasn’t concerned about Holt’s size because the coach knew about Holt’s strength and toughness. So after sitting out the 1958 season, Holt headed to Tuscaloosa in 1959. See holt, page 35
Palmer Karr
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Cutting It Close: Kaufman Misses Open Cut But Loves Experience P. 34
