March 6, 2014

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

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

inside

JOU RNAL otmj.com

th

ursd ay, March 6, 2014

V ol . 23 #5

Prom is special night for Exceptional Foundation

about town page 4

Raising the Bard: Kim West uses Shakespeare to teach her law students

Photo by Hank Spencer

life page 12

Mardi Gras Merrymaking Gorrie, Millhouse Reign at Annual Krewe Ball

M

ardi Gras season was in full swing the weekend of Feb. 28 as

the Beaux Arts Krewe hosted the 47th annual Beaux Arts Krewe Ball at Boutwell Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham.

The annual event supports the Birmingham Museum of Art. This year’s ball had a Mardi Gras theme.

Reigning over the ball were king David McCoy Millhouse and queen Alison Bradford Gorrie, (above).

Close to Home: Renovation lets Thompsons remain in neighborhood they love Plus our annual look at residential real estate market trends

home page 22

See Krewe Ball, page 14

above: Bob Bentley with his granddaughter, Lady in Waiting Elizabeth Corey. Left: From left, Jane Elizabeth Nechtman, Leacy Bromberg, Ann Anthony, Elizabeth Hargrove, Katharine Patton and Caroline Donald. Photos special to the Journal

Piece of the Pie: Davenport’s Pizza celebrates 50th birthday

business page 28

homewood rec center update p. 10 • pig plans in crestline p. 10 • presidential scholar candidates p. 30 • spartans repeat as state champs p. 36

2 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

Opinion/Contents

Chili Saturday The 10th annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cookoff will be March 8 from10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

See story page 4

CorrectionS: A photo caption in our Feb. 6 story on the Amulet Dance Club’s Christmas dinner and dance was incorrect. Those pictured were Liz Judd, Nell Larson and Sue Patrick. In our Feb. 20 spring fashions issue, we listed the wrong price for Harbor shirt in Permit Plaid from Vineyard Vines. The shirt costs $125. We regret the errors.

On otmj.com Browse more photos from the best parties in town and check our online event calendar for the latest on what’s coming up in the Over the Mountain area.

Coming March 20

We’ll talk to Bart and Cherry Starr about their long and happy marriage and their commitment to helping others.

Plus, it’s almost time for Spring Break--have you made your plans yet? We’ll offer a few last minute ideas.

in this issue About Town 3 People 6 News 10 Life 12

Social 14 Business 28 Schools 32 Sports 30

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL

March 6, 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 Intern: Taylor Burgess Vol. 23, No. 5

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

murphy’s law

N

Blowing Hot and Cold

ot long ago, our heating/ place. Chalk up one for progress. air conditioner began to Then the crew brought out the new wheeze–not a deep bronthermostat. I wish you could have seen chial rumble, just a little airway Harold’s face as the technician regaled asthma. It was still heating/condius with all of the wonderful things the tioning, but you could tell that it Airstream 2000 Thermo Power Station required a lot more effort. could do. It had a touchscreen and a Not being one who likes to wait for menu and timers that you could prodisaster to strike, I called a repairpergram to heat/cool in a timely fashion. son.

Harold had been hinting about getThe heating/air conditioning profesting one of those thermostats you can sional knelt beside our unit, gave it a sync to your smartphone that enable few cursory taps with an Allen wrench you to control the temperature of your and sighed. The news wasn’t good. house from afar, but I deftly steered The machinery could be repaired, but him in the lower tech touchscreen direcit would only be a temporary fix. It tion, reminding him of the many times Sue Murphy would be more expedient to replace it. he had inadvertently pocket-called Then Harold and I sighed. Such me. Imagine the consequences if change is challenging, especially Not that it didn’t heat/ he pocket-upped/downed the therwhen it comes with a challenging cool when called upon, mostat. We could return home to an price tag, but what else could we or a sauna depending on the do? I had never been a big fan of it always burst forth icebox way Harold was sitting. the old unit. Not that it didn’t heat/ Also, it seems to me that if peowith such vigor that cool when called upon, but it always ple can hack into your email account, burst forth with such vigor that it it rattled the intake there’s nothing to stop them from rattled the intake register and flung register and flung the having a few cyber-giggles with your the bathroom door open at the most thermostat. Freeze people inopportune times. It had to go. bathroom door open at wireless out for fun.

Roast them by remote. I A week later, a truck pulled into the most inopportune could wake up in the middle of the the driveway carrying the biggest night thinking my hot flashes had heater/air conditioner I had ever times. It had to go. gone viral just because some pimpleseen. Mammoth. The Airstream 2000 faced teen in Thailand got bored. No, or something like that. It was three thank you. times the size of our old unit. When they placed them I like our new Airstream 2000. It’s quiet. side-by-side outside our bedroom window, I realized that Unobtrusive. I didn’t even know it had switched over it must have taken everything the little guy had just to to heat this fall until I smelled that initial burn-off scent keep us hot/cool all those many years. And there he was, (perfectly normal–Airstream 2000 Owners Manual page being unceremoniously hurled into the back of a truck 23). I’m sure the cooling feature will work just fine, too, headed for…well, I didn’t want to think about it. when the calendar rolls around to May/June.

Yet one must move on. The crew had to shave back Change is a necessity of life. But, heating or cooling, the rhododendrons to wedge our new Airstream 2000 Airstream or no Airstream, one thing, will remain the into place, but when the installation was complete, it same: As soon as the girls come through the front door, immediately began heating/cooling like a champ. The registers did not rumble. The bathroom door remained in Harold will yell, “Don’t touch the thermostat!” ❖

over the Mountain Views

What are you doing with the extra hour of daylight March 9?

“With that extra hour, I’m going to let my kids ride their bikes in the neighborhood after I get home from work.”

Jessica Thuston Mountain Brook

“I’ll probably just take a nap in the afternoon since I’ll get the extra hour of daylight.”

Jill Fister Homewood

“I’m going to spend extra time out on my patio and enjoy the sunset from the patio instead of from my office window.”

“I’m going to find out what patio (my husband) Jay Skinner is sitting on, grab some fun friends and join him.”

Jay Skinner Mountain Brook

Kathy Skinner Mountain Brook

Save the Date Birmingham

Lenten Lunches March 6-April 17 Cathedral Church of the Advent The Cathedral Church of the Advent has offered a Lenten Preaching series every weekday during Lent for more than 100 years and will continue the tradition March 6-April 17. This year’s sermon series will feature preachers from around the country and the world.

Lunches will also be served. For more information or to volunteer for the event, call Anne-Marie Brown at 879-8715 or Carla Reich at 601-5002. For tickets, visit www.adventbirmingham.org.

Birmingham

Spencer Lecture March 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host noted botanist David Price for the annual Spencer Lecture on March 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The free event will include Price’s talk on “A Sense of Place: Bok Tower Gardens.”

David Price Reservations are required. For more information, visit wwwbbgardens.org or call 414-3950.

Homewood

Joy Gallery Exhibit March 6-31

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 3

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church The Joy Gallery at Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church will present work by Amy Collins, Dee Falls, Judy Kirk and Sandy Tilt through March 31. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment. The gallery is at Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 513 Columbiana Road. For more information, call 942-3051.

vocalist Halie Loren at 7 p.m. at Brock Recital Hall. Loren’s debut album won a national independent music award for best vocal jazz album, and she has been nominated for a Grammy Award for best jazz album. Tickets are $20; student tickets are $10. Samford students, faculty and staff receive one complimentary ticket. For tickets, call the Samford Arts box office at 726-2853 or visit tickets.samford.edu.

Ready to Rock

Vestavia Hills

Vestavia Hills

The Passions of Delacroix March 6, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will present The Passions of Delacroix from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on March 6 at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. Judith Hand, a docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art, will speak about the museum’s current exhibit of works by Delacroix. A tour of the exhibition for OLLI members will be offered after the program. For more information, call 978-4678.

Birmingham

“Hansel & Gretel” March 7-9 BJCC The Birmingham Ballet will present “Hansel & Gretel” March 7-9 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex.

Choreographed by Cindy Free, “Hansel & Gretel” brings together eccentric characters, colorful images, dancing, humor and a happy ending. The ballet is set to the music of Humperdinck’s masterpiece, which features rich

Birmingham

Junior board members are making plans for the ninth annual Schoolhouse Rock fundraiser to benefit Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.

Front, from left: Sarah Glover, Vivi Tucker and Sarah Pikal. Back: Hayden Patton, Tommy Mayfield, Hannah Slamen, Brooks Corr and India Bailey. Photo special to the Journal

Schoolhouse Rock March 7, 7-11 p.m.

Iron City Birmingham Barber Companies, Maynard Cooper & Gale, Scott Stone & Company and Strickland Trading Inc. will present the ninth annual Schoolhouse Rock fundraiser to benefit Cornerstone Schools of Alabama on March 7. Hosted

by Cornerstone’s Junior Board, the event will be from 7-11 p.m. at Iron City Birmingham. The event will include music from Teenage Daddy, live and silent auctions, beverages, hors d’oeuvres and giveaways. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.csalabama.org. Tickets will be $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, a nonprofit Christian school dedicated to serving Birmingham’s inner-city students. ❖

orchestrations and memorable melodies. Tickets are $32.75-$54.50 and are available through Ticketmaster and at the BJCC Central Ticket Office, which is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www. birminghamballet.com.

Homewood

Halie Loren Performance March 7, 7 p.m.

Brock Recital Hall Samford University’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center continues its Signature Series on March 7 with jazz

Meet the Artists Reception March 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Artists Incorporated Gallery Meet the featured artists at the Artists Incorporated Gallery at a reception on March 7 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The gallery is at 3365 Morgan Drive in Vestavia Hills. The featured artists at the reception will include Mary White Sowell, Phyllis Gibson, Lynne McCain, Cary Baker, Pat Palmer and Larry Allen.

The gallery is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.5 p.m. For more information, visit www. artistsincorporated.com or call 9798990.

Vestavia Hills

An Evening with Bobby Horton March 8, 7 p.m.

Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest The Friends of the Library will present An Evening with Bobby Horton at 7 p.m. on March 8 at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway. The evening will begin with heavy appetizers and wine followed by a performance by Horton. Horton has composed and performed music scores for Ken Burns, the A&E Network and the

4 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

About Town

Hot Stuff

Chili Cook-off Has Turned into Major Fundraiser for Exceptional Foundation

By Keysha Drexel

W

Journal editor

hen the members of the Exceptional Foundation’s Junior Board approached her 10 years ago with a new fundraising idea, executive director Tricia Kirk admits she was less than impressed with the plan.

But a decade later, the annual Chili Cook-off has become one of the signature fundraisers for the nonprofit group that helps mentally challenged men and women engage in social and recreational activities after they reach the age of 21.

“I thought it was the worst idea I had ever heard,” Kirk said. “But the first year, the cook-off raised $45,000. I have never been so impressed with a group of people pulling off such a successful project.”

Billy McGruder, a board member at the Exceptional Foundation and one of the Chili Cook-off founders, said the event has become something folks in the Over the Mountain area look forward to each year.

“This annual event has developed a loyal following across a diverse audience base because it is a fun, come-as-you-are outdoor party offering good food, live music and friendly competition,” McGruder said.

10th Annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off

When: March 8, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Where: Brookwood Village parking lot What: Live music, all the chili you can eat, beverages and a kidzone make this an event for the entire family. For more information: mklocke@ exceptionalfoundation.org or 870-0776.

This year’s friendly competition will be March 8 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Colonial Brookwood Village parking lot. The Red Hot Chili Mutuals from Northwestern Mutual, the title sponsor of the event, will be back to defend their 2013 title. Regions is the presenting sponsor of the 2014 Chili Cook-off.

Kirk said the cook-off has come a long way in the 10 years since the junior board first proposed the fundraising idea.

“They had heard about a chili cook-off fundraiser in Mobile and sort of based our fundraiser on that idea,” Kirk said. “It was amazing to watch a bunch of young people, professionals, getting excited about it and to see everybody doing their jobs to make sure it turned out well.”

The event was originally held in the Exceptional Foundation parking lot at the corner of Oxmoor Road but moved to Colonial Brookwood Village last year.

“It just keeps growing every year, and the support we get from the community has been amazing,” Kirk said.

The cook-off is important to the Exceptional Foundation not just because it puts a spotlight on what the organization does, Kirk said.

“We don’t receive state or federal funds, and our participant fee makes up only about 4 percent of our budget,” she said. “The funding from the cook-off is very important to our mission here.”

That mission started in 1993 when the Exceptional Foundation was formed. Initially, a small group of mentally challenged individuals were meeting every day at the Homewood Park and Recreation building.

“The city of Homewood was our number one

Regions will be the presenting sponsor of the 10th annual Chili Cook-off on March 8. The Regions team is pictured at last year’s event. Photo special to the Journal

supporter then, and the city, the police, the fire, the paramedics, they still support us,” Kirk said.

“The whole community is just amazing.”

A capital campaign in 1999 allowed the Exceptional Foundation to build its own 12,000-square-foot recreational and administrative facility adjacent to Homewood Park.

The Exceptional Foundation provides yearround services to individuals with special needs who have reached the age of 21 and no longer receive services from school systems.

“The people we serve run the risk of kind of getting lost after they graduate from high school,” Kirk said. “What we’re trying to do here is to teach people that our participants are just like all children. They want to be with people who are like them and they want to do all the things that young people want to do. They want to play Wii, they want to go to prom, they want to go to concerts with their friends.”

Daily programs at the Exceptional Foundation include field trips, competitive sports teams and social events, she said.

The overall daily goals of the Exceptional Foundation, Kirk said, are to enhance the lives of its participants through a variety of activities and provide a community for the mentally challenged population.

“Inclusion, being a part of something, is very important to everyone, and it’s important to our kids here, too,” she said.

The Exceptional Foundation also seeks to serve its participants’ families, Kirk said.

“It’s also about taking care of the caregivers, or offering services to the whole family,” she said. “All of our participants are wonderful, unique people, but still, having a mentally challenged child can put a lot of stress on the entire family.”

Kirk said the reception to the Exceptional Foundation in the early years showed her just how much its services were needed.

“People didn’t know where to turn back then, and when we first got started, the parents were just so thankful to have a resource in the community,” she said.

The organization quickly outgrew the facility that was built in 1999, and in 2006, a capital campaign began to fund a 12,000-square-foot addition in order to meet rising enrollment numbers. Brasfield & Gorrie built the addition to the original facility, Kirk said.

But the Exceptional Foundation is still growing, she said.

“We’re in the process of trying to purchase the two lots adjacent to us, and we’re working with the city with that,” Kirk said.

And it is not just in the Over the Mountain area where participants and their families are benefiting from the programs offered by the Exceptional Foundation.

In 2009, the organization was contacted by a group in Memphis, Tenn., looking for help in modeling programs for the mentally challenged in its community.

A second location of the Exceptional Foundation was established in Memphis and immediately sparked interest from other cities such as Fairhope and Indianapolis, among others.

‘I thought it was the worst idea I had ever heard. But the first year, the cook-off raised $45,000. I have never been so impressed with a group of people pulling off such a successful project.’

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Prom Is A Special Night for Foundation’s Young People When the young men and women at The Exceptional Foundation attended a prom last month, they were participating in a rite of passage that all young people want to be a part of, said Tricia Kirk, the organization’s executive director.

About 100 people attended the “Welcome to Hollywood” themed event at The Club in Homewood on Feb. 9, despite the wintry weather.

“Even though they are not teenagers, they are young people who still want to do all the things that young people want to do, like get dressed up and go to the prom,” Kirk said.

The annual prom is one of the programs made possible through money raised at The Exceptional Foundation’s annual Chili Cook-off. The 10th annual event is this weekend at Colonial Brookwood Village.

“When you see them all excited, out there dancing at the prom, you really realize how important The Exceptional Foundation is to our participants and it makes you want to work even harder to do all you can for them,” Kirk said.

The prom was hosted by the Junior League of Birmingham. The organization also hosted a Pretty at the Prom event prior to the prom for the young women of The Exceptional Foundation. The promgoers enjoyed an afternoon of pampering with their friends prior to the dance at The Club’s ballroom.

The eighth annual prom featured live music by Peanut, a lead out and a photo booth.

--Keysha Drexel

Tricia Kirk, Exceptional Foundation

With the hope of expanding its services across the country, the National Exceptional Foundation was established in 2011 to assist with the development of additional locations.

Fundraisers like the group’s annual art show and chili cook-off will help the Exceptional Foundation serve even more people in the years to come, Kirk said.

“We have fun events like the chili cook-off, but really, there’s something very meaningful behind them,” she said. “This cook-off helps to maintain the quality of the programs that our participants, that the people who work here, demand. We don’t accept anything less than an ‘A’ effort for our young men and women.”

Kirk said she knows all of the cook teams at this year’s chili cook-off will be bringing their “A” game to the event.

“The teams really get into the competition, and the crowd just gets bigger and bigger every year,” she said. “We are so blessed to be a part of a community that supports us and believes in what we do.”

The 2014 chili cook-off will start at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of Colonial Brookwood Village and will also feature food, drinks and live music. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate. Children ages 12 and younger get in free.

For more information, visit www.exceptionalfoundation.org, email mklocke@exceptionalfoundation.org or call 870-0776. ❖

Josh Gregg and Ceila Fanning take a spin on the dance floor together at the Exceptional Foundation’s prom in February. The prom is just one of the programs the annual Chili Cook-off fundraiser helps make possible. Photo special to the Journal

National Parks Service. Tickets are $35 and are available at the main desk at the library or through PayPal. For more information, send an email to tleslie@ bham.lib.al.us or call 978-4678.

Birmingham. The event will feature laughs, food, fun and door prizes.

Tickets are $35. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the gala begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 565-5688.

Birmingham

Hoover

Comedy Fundraiser Gala March 8, 7 p.m.

Vulcan Park and Museum The second annual Comedy Fundraiser Gala presented by ALLA, Inc. will be March 8 at Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive,

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 5

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Arbor Day Ceremony March 8, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Aldridge Gardens The Hoover Beautification Board will present an Arbor Day ceremony at Aldridge Gardens on March 8 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The event will include

tree giveaways and the announcement of the winners of the Arbor Day essay contest. For more information, visit aldridgegardens.com or call 682-8019.

Homewood

Spirit of Sochi March 8, 11 a.m.-noon Lakeshore Foundation The Lakeshore Foundation will present a free family festival, Spirit of Sochi, on March 8 from 11 a.m.-noon.

Those attending can watch the opening ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic

Games from Sochi, Russia, on large screen TVs, try interactive games and sample food from Birmingham food trucks. There will also be an exhibition of wheelchair sports and the chance to meet and get autographs from Alabama Olympians and Paralympians.

The Lakeshore Foundation is at 4000

Ridgeway Drive in Homewood. The opening ceremony broadcast starts at noon. For more information, visit www. lakeshore.org or call 313-7436.

North Shelby

Day Hike March 9, 1 p.m.

A Gala For a Good Cause Organizers are getting ready for the 26th annual Service Guild Gala benefiting the Bell Center on March 8.

Front, from left: Jessica Parris, Daley King, Nancy Ferren, Amy Benson and Shauna Burrows. Back: Tara Williams, Mona Ponder, Jennifer Stripling, Blair Crabtree, Shannon Speakman, Shelley Brockwell, Abigail Corcoran, Amy Bailey, Michelle Harbison, Stacey Morales and Robyn Nichols.

309 farley Way

Spacious & Updated Home in the heart of Bluff Park!

4 Bed Rooms & 3 Full Baths, Huge Fenced in yard

For more information go to JamesHarwell.com

James Harwell

Photo special to the Journal

Homewood

Service Guild Gala March 8, 6 p.m.

The Club The 26th annual Service Guild Gala benefiting the Bell Center of Birmingham will be on March 8 at 6 p.m. at The Club in Homewood. The event will

2011 Sales Associate of the Year

feature silent and live auctions, a seated dinner and a band party. For more information or to purchase tickets, email Tara Williams at serviceguildgala@ gmail.com. The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to 3 years old at risk of developmental delay. ❖

Over the Mountain Office 1220 Alford Avenue • 205.281.4731

Dedicated to women’s unique healthcare needs.

To: From: Date:

James Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Feb.

This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the march 6, 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.

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

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.

We can help you get the most out of your health insurance.

Thank you VIRGINIA N. WINSTON, M.D. OB/GYN

for your prompt attention.

Member of the Medical Staff at Trinity Medical Center

Trinity Medical Center welcomes Virginia (Ginny) Winston, M.D., to our growing group of OB/GYN care providers. Whether you’re starting a family or preparing for a healthy menopause, you need a doctor you can trust. Offering comprehensive care for women of all ages, Dr. Virginia Winston is here to help. She offers compassionate care for all your obstetrical and gynecological needs. Dr. Winston is now accepting new patients. We accept most insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Ask about services your plan may cover at no cost to you. Call 205-592-5499 today for your appointment.

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860 Montclair Road, Suite 251 Birmingham

2/7/14 4:40 PM

6 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Hooray for Pancake Day

Members of the Kiwanis Club of HomewoodMountain Brook are gearing up for the 30th annual Kiwanis Pancake Day on March 15. From left: Jack Carney, Shannon Dye, Patrick Reed, Mary Browning, Cale Smith, Vivian Terry and Sherrill Howland.

Photo special to the Journal

Homewood

Kiwanis Pancake Day March 15, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Exceptional Foundation The Kiwanis Club of Homewood-Mountain Brook will host the 30th annual Kiwanis Pancake Day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on March 15 at the Exceptional Foundation in Homewood. The annual event helps support the Exceptional Foundation, Children’s of Alabama, Reading Oak Mountain State Park Southeastern Outings will host a day hike at Oak Mountain State Park beginning at 1 p.m. on March 9. The moderate 4-5-mile hike in the woodlands near Birmingham will be partially off the color-coded trails. The hiking group will depart from the park office parking lot on Terrace Drive between the boat dock parking lot and the beach parking lot. Park admission is $3 per person or $1 for seniors and children. For more information, contact Dan Frederick at 531-4680.

Mountain Brook

Holocaust Film Series March 9, 2 p.m.

Emmet O’Neal Library The Holocaust Film Series sponsored by the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and the Emmet O’Neal Library will continue on March 9 with the screening of “The Trial of Adolf Eichmann” and a discussion led

by Dr. Andre Millard of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The free event will start at 2 p.m. at the library, 50 Oak Street in Mountain Brook. The 2013 documentary is not rated and is 90 minutes long. For more information, call 445-1211.

Hoover

Celtic Fiddler Performance March 9, 2:30 p.m.

Hoover Public Library Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early when the Hoover Public Library presents an afternoon of Celtic fiddler music with Russell Hopper on March 9. Hopper will perform the free concert beginning at 2:30 p.m. Hopper has a master’s degree in traditional Irish music performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland. The library is at 200 Municipal Drive. For more information, call 444-7820.

Vestavia Hills

World Friendship Day Celebration March 9, 2-4 p.m.

Vestavia Hills Civic Center The Friendship Force of Birmingham will host a World Friendship Day celebration from 2-4 p.m. on March 9 in the Vestavia Room at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Joyce DiBenedetto,

Is Fundamental and Builders, Key and Action clubs in local high schools. A pancake plate with sausage and a beverage costs $5. The Homewood High School Star Spangled Dancers will perform at 10 a.m. There will be a bounce house for children, entertainment by Big Top Clowns, face painting, a silent auction, a celebrity chef appearance by John Krontiras and live music. For more information, call 902-6339 or send an email to kcohmb@ alkiwanis.org. ❖

president and chief executive officer of Friendship Force International, will be a special guest at the annual event.

The Friendship Force of Birmingham is part of Friendship Force International, a global network of citizen ambassadors who travel the world in the name of friendship and goodwill. For more information, send an email to marlygil@ aol.com or eherron6727@gmail.com.

Hoover

Second Annual Hoover Has Talent March 11, 6:30-8 p.m.

Hoover Public Library The Hoover Public Library will host the second annual Hoover Has Talent show from 6:30-8 p.m. on March 11.

Singers, dancers, jugglers and other entertainers can showcase their talents on the Library Theatre stage. To reserve a spot in the show, call 444-7830.

Homewood

Legacy League Meeting March 13, 10 a.m.

Samford President’s Home The Legacy League, an auxiliary of Samford University, will welcome Kimberly and Brock Beiersdoerfer at its March 13 meeting. The owners of the Heavenly Donut Company on Cahaba River Road will be the featured guests at the meeting at the Samford President’s Home, 1994 Shades Crest Road. Kimberly, a 2002 Samford graduate, and her husband, Brock, will talk about how they started the business. The public is invited to the free meeting. Refreshments, including the Beiersdoerfers’ doughnuts, will be served at 10 a.m. The program starts at 10:30 a.m. Guests should park next door at Crossroads Community Church.

For more information, visit www. samford.edu/legacyleague.

Hoover

Easter Basket Preparation March 13, 11 a.m.

Hoover Country Club Join Hoover Service Club members as they prepare Easter baskets for children served by the United Way Food Bank at Green Valley Baptist Church.

The event is March 13 at 11 a.m. Lunch is available for $18. For reservations or additional information, send an email to

hscinformation-HSC@yahoo.com.

Birmingham

Hear Me Roar March 14, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Iron City The Charity League of Birmingham will present the Hear Me Roar fundraiser from 6:30-10:30 p.m. on March 14 at Iron City in downtown Birmingham.

The event will raise money to support children with hearing and speech impairments through funding to the Charity League’s Hearing and Speech Center at Children’s of Alabama, Mitchell’s Place and EPIC School.

The event will feature live music from Jackson’s NLA, wine, spirits, food and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $50. For more information, visit www. thecharityleague.org.

Birmingham

Rumpshaker 5K Run/Walk March 15, 8 a.m.

Sloss Furnaces The Rumpshaker 5K Run/Walk will be March 15 at Sloss Furnaces.

The event to raise awareness about colorectal cancer will kick off at 8 a.m. and will include food, music, kids’ activities and more. The race starts at Sloss Furnaces, 20 32nd St. North, and goes through downtown Birmingham.

Participants can register as individuals or teams. The 5K individual registration $30 from March 6-14 and $35 on race day. Chip timing is an additional $3.50. For more information, visit www. rumpshaker5k.com, send an email to jacky.turner@rumpshaker5k.com or call 346-5014.

Birmingham

Young Cancer Survivors Conference March 15, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Wallace Tumor Institute The UAB Comprehensive Care Center will hold its first Young Survivors Conference for ages 15-39 on March 15. The event will run from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Wallace Tumor Institute, 1824 Sixth Ave. South, Birmingham.

Those attending can network with other survivors, interact with healthcare professionals and take part in free, fun activities. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Leonard Sender, medical director

of the Hyundai Cancer Institute at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Topics and workshops at the conference will include coping with treatment effects, preserving fertility, honest talk about social relationships and a young survivors panel discussion. For more information, visit http://www3.ccc.uab. edu.

Birmingham

St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 15, 1:30 p.m.

Five Points South The 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade presented by REV Birmingham and Five Points South will be at 1:30 p.m. on March 15. Participating Five Points South merchants will offer food and drink specials March 15-17. The parade lineup starts at 11 a.m. between 10th and 11th avenues near the Alys Stephens Center. For more information on the parade, live music, bagpipers, Irish dancers’ schedule and food and

drink specials, visit www.fivepointsbham. com.

Birmingham

Red Mountain Park History Hike March 16, 2 p.m.

Red Mountain Park Friends of Red Mountain Park will present a History Hike at 2 p.m. on March 16 at Red Mountain Park’s Ridge Walk. The newest trail features a winding path along the mountain’s ridge and across the highest point in the park. Hikers can see the wall of the 1890s open-cut ore workings and the foundations of old mining structures on the three-mile hike. Red Mountain Park is at 2011 Frankfurt Drive in Birmingham. This is a free event. For more information, call 202-6043.

Hoover

Neuroscience Café March 17, 6:30 p.m.

Hoover Public Library

Weim And Cheese, Please Birmingham

Weim and Cheese 2014 March 15, 6:30-10 p.m.

Workplay Weim and Cheese 2014, the major fundraiser for Weimaraner Rescue of the South, will be held from 6:30-10 p.m. on March 15 at Workplay in Birmingham. The fun, casual event will feature music from the Hurlers. Live and silent auctions will include vacation packages, a guitar signed by the members of Coldplay and several pet items. A private band party at Moonlight on the Mountain in Bluff Park will also be auctioned off during the event. Proceeds will help the nonprofit organization place abused and abandoned dogs in loving, forever homes.

Emcees will be Scott Register of Reg’s Coffee House and Katie McDowell of Weimaraner Rescue of the South. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. For more information, call 616-8820. ❖

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 7

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Organizers are making plans for the Weim and Cheese 2014 event to benefit Weimaraner Rescue of the South. From left: Bug Greer with Tigerlil, Katie McDowell with Mousse and Tabby Schlemmer with Dylan.

Photo special to the Journal

MARCH 28 - 30 & APRIL 5-6

HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM 1919 9th Street, Calera, AL

The UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center will present Neuroscience Cafe at the Hoover Public Library on March 17. Dr. Peter King, chief of neurology at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, will present “An Odyssey into the Mysterious World of Lou Gehrig’s Disease” at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event. For more information, call 4447840.

Hoover

Historical Society Meeting

March 18, 2:30 p.m.

Artists on the Bluff Ruth Cook of Sylacauga will discuss “The Legacy and Magic of Marble” at the March meeting of the Hoover Historical Society. The meeting will be at 2:30 p.m. on March 18 at Artists on the Bluff, 569 Park Ave. in Hoover.

Mountain Brook

Mixology: Homemade Bitters March 21, 7-8:30 p.m.

Emmet O’Neal Library Standing Room Only will present

Mixology: Homemade Bitters from 7-8:30 p.m. on March 21 at the Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook.

Participants can learn the basics of making their own unique bitters infusions in a lecture and class led by mixology enthusiast David Hornbuckle.

The program is for those 21 and older.

The event is sponsored by the Young Friends Group of the Emmet O’Neal Library. The event is free, but space is limited. To register, send an email to amandaw@bham.lib.al.us, visit www. eolib.org or call 445-1121. ❖

8 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

Snowy Ceremony Samford Honors Hoover Residents

By Keysha Drexel

T

Journal editor

wo Over the Mountain residents were recently honored for their service at Samford University.

Longtime Samford University professors Gretchen S. McDaniel and Lowell C. Vann, both of Hoover, received top university awards Jan. 28 during an especially memorable opening convocation for the 2014 spring semester.

Snow flurried outside Samford’s Wright Center as J. Bradley Creed, Samford provost and executive vice president, welcomed students and predicted that the 10 a.m. convocation would be memorable “if only because of the weather.”

Within an hour, however, the rapidly deteriorating--and unexpected-weather situation would cause the university to close at 11 a.m. and remain closed through Jan. 31.

But before the university closed, McDaniel and Vann were honored by their colleagues, and each received a $1,000 cash prize.

McDaniel, a 17-year veteran of Samford’s Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing faculty, received the George Macon Memorial award for outstanding performance as a teacher and counselor.

Vann, whose teaching tenure at

Samford began in 1970 and includes 36 years as art department chair, received the Jennings B. Marshall Service award for significant and sustained service contriGretchen S. butions to the McDaniel university.

During the awards presentation, Creed noted that McDaniel is highly regarded as a “consistent source of knowledge, guidance and encouragement for students as Lowell C. Vann they learn the intricacies of the research process and related statistical measures.”

Many of her students go on to present and publish research done under her guidance, he said.

“Her willingness to give of herself both personally and professionally epitomizes what it means to be called to teach,” said Creed, adding that McDaniel often works late into the evening to accommodate the schedules of students at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

McDaniel holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Birmingham native is des-

People

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

ignated as a National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator.

During Vann’s Samford tenure, Creed said, the art educator established new programs in graphic design and interior design that continue today and has taught in virtually every art discipline offered at the university.

“His international courses in art laid the foundation for the present study-abroad program and piloted the possibilities for general education courses at the Daniel House,” said Creed, referring to Samford’s residence program in London. Vann guided 18 alumni and friends’ trips to England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France.

Vann, a Samford graduate, holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Alabama and a doctorate degree from Florida State University. The Cullman native, who also is pastor of Rocky Ridge Baptist Church, is known widely for his chalk art presentations in churches and other venues.

The two honorees were among several hundred Samford employees and commuter students who were stranded on campus on Jan. 28 due to hazardous road conditions throughout the Birmingham metro area.

“We were well taken care of with the cafe food,” said McDaniel, who slept in the nursing skills lab and was joined by several family members also caught in the snowy predicament.

Vann and his wife, Mira, who had attended the convocation, were also stranded until the afternoon of Jan. 30.

They were grateful, he said, for the food and campus camaraderie as well as the makeshift foam mattresses that were unearthed in the theater department.

“It was a memorable week,” Vann said. “Really, it was kind of fun.” ❖

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People Notes BBG Announces 2014 Junior Board Members The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens recently announced that Robert MacArthur of Birmingham is the new president of the Junior Board.

MacArthur and other members of the 2014 Junior Board will host several fundraising events throughout the year to benefit The Gardens, including the annual Dirt Dash 5K, fun run and family walk in November.

MacArthur is serving his first term as president. Katy Eldridge was the previous Junior Board Robert MacArthur president.

Katie Terry is the new vice president, and Sarah Glover is the new secretary.

Education chairman is Laura McCraney, special events chairman is Amanda Foshee and Madeline Reeves is the public relations chairman.

The eight new members of the Junior Board are Stephanie Hill, Logan Shoaf, Caroline Couch, Isabelle Fagan, Casey Lucas, Katie Hicks, Jacob Dorsett and Jimmy Laughlin.

Other board members are Angie Hartman, Diana Isbell, Jennifer Pennington, Carlee Robertson, Katie Kimbrell, Emily Crawford, Grace Humber and Michael Rediker.

Zoo Board Introduces New Members The Birmingham Zoo recently introduced new members and welcomed back former members to its board of directors for 2014.

The board is composed of 20 Birmingham metro area professionals who share the zoo’s belief in “inspiring passion for the natural world,” according to a news release.

The board’s three new members are Jack Darnall, Nancy Goedecke and Thomas E. Sisson.

Jesse Vogtle Jr. The 2014 board officers are Jesse Vogtle Jr., chairman; Wally Nall, III, vice chairman; Thomas E. Sisson, treasurer; Cissy Jackson, secretary; and Robin Sparks Davis, immediate past chairman.

Others on the zoo’s board of directors are Robert Aland, Minda Riley Campbell, Leigh Collier, Gaynell H. Hendricks, Anna B. James, Randall Jordan, Sandy Logan, David Loper, Laura Pitts, James Priester, Oliver L. Robinson Jr., Dalton Smith and Steven R. Spencer.

“All of these individuals are dedicated to the success of the zoo and inspiring passion for the natural world. I am grateful for their continued support and enthusiasm for the livelihood of one of Alabama’s must-see attractions,” said William R. Foster, president and chief

executive officer of the Birmingham Zoo. Members of the zoo’s new Junior Board have backgrounds ranging from banking and finance to photography and real estate.

The Junior Board officers are Julie Herring, president; Erin Donohoo, president elect; Bryan Coleman, secretary; Stephen Armstrong, treasurer; and Stacey Morales, past president and adviser.

Junior Board members are Ambre Amari, Jay Anderson, Kris Anderson, Bettina Boateng, Austin Davis, Lauren DeMoss, Joey DuMontier, Raymond Harbert Jr., Amanda Hawkins, Matt Hottle, Bobbi Jones, Emily Jordan, Madison Merrill, Laura Montgomery, Amy O’Brien, Javan Patton, Joseph Welden and Whitney Wright.

OTM Residents Named to Children’s Committee Several Over the Mountain residents are among the three dozen community leaders from the Birmingham metro area named to the Children’s of Alabama Committee for the Future Class of 2014.

The new members of the Class of 2014 from the Over the Mountain area are Katy Ottensmeyer, Sarah Paulk, Trent Scofield, Wesley Britt, Margaret Brooke, Ragan Cain, Ed Christian, Margaret Coffman, Glenn Drennen, Emily Holmes, Will Thuston, Clayton Trotter, Sarah Warburton and Bo Hartsfield of Mountain Brook; Reynolds Anderson and Patty Cobb of Vestavia Hills; Katie Gaston, Ashley Jackson and Emily Levine of Homewood, and Wendi Boyen and Mark Jones of Hoover.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Names Board Officers A Mountain Brook resident has been named the board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham.

Harlan Sand, vice provost for administration and quality improvement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Harlan Sand was appointed board president after finishing his term as vice president.

The board’s new vice president is Robert Buchalter. Buchalter, the chief real estate officer for Capital Growth, has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for many years and has served as cochairman of the nonprofit organization’s annual A Night of Big Stars fundraiser.

Ryan Austin and Pam Blalock will continue as the board’s treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Austin is vice president of accounting for Hoar Construction. Blalock is a senior managing attorney for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

The newly-appointed officers bring an extensive amount of community knowledge and experience to help Big Brothers Big Sisters further its mission of providing mentors for children in the Birmingham area, said Jessica Whately, BBBS director of public relations.

Liberty Park Brownie Troop 546 has been exploring several well-known sites in Birmingham. From left: Taylor Butts, Zoe Harris, Sarah Carson Hill, Lana Coomes, Hannah Valley, Reese Rasmussen, Campbell Brown, Ivy Morin, Camden Preskitt, Lindsey Holland, Georgie Fields and Abigail Loftin.

Photo special to the Journal

Liberty Park Brownie Troop Explores City Members of Liberty Park Brownie Troop 546 have been on a journey through Birmingham.

Each month, the troop has been visiting some of the city’s well-known sites to explore and learn about places like Vulcan Park and Museum, Sloss Furnaces, the Birmingham Museum of Art, Jones Valley Urban Farm, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Birmingham Zoo. Troop leaders April Morin, Heather Harris and Carol Hill said they designed the itinerary as a way to expose the girls to some of the institutions and offerings in their backyard.

The troop leaders take photos of the girls at each destination. The troop will have a scrapbooking party to create special mementos highlighting their journey through the city.

Cullinan Earns Gold Award for Project

contributions of their adult leaders at the annual adult volunteer awards dinner.

Among those recognized at the event were Dean Snow of Homewood, who won the Vulcan Award, and Katy Anderson of Homewood and Kimberly Cook of Vestavia Hills, who both won the District Award of Merit.

Others recognized at the “Race to Excellence”-themed event included Mike Anderton, District Award of Merit; Shawn Wright, Hunter Picket and Edward Simms Jr., Cub Scout Leader and Scouter’s Training Award; David Weaver, Thomas LaVine, Thomas Latrell, James Williams, J.M. Hart, Linda Griggs, Alan Davis and W. Odom Jr., Scouter’s Training Award; and Kelly Burns and

David Dowd, Venturing Training Award.

Edward Simms Jr. also won the Cubmaster’s Key award and the Unit Leader Award of Merit. Allen Powell won the Scoutmaster’s Key award.

David Dowd won the Venturing Advisor Award of Merit.

Don Russell and Joe Swaika were recognized with the District Committee Training Award. Hunter Pickett received the District Committee Key Award.

Leadership Vestavia Hills Accepting Applications A program designed to develop leadership potential in Vestavia Hills is looking for residents for its next class.

Leadership Vestavia Hills is accepting applications through March 31 for the 2014-2015 class.

Leadership Vestavia Hills focuses on training leaders to serve on city boards and committees and to volunteer on nonprofit boards that support the city and its residents.

Each Leadership Vestavia Hills class organizes, sponsors and implements an annual leadership project.

For an application or more information, visit www. leadershipvestaviahills.com. ❖

Send people news to: kdrexel@otmj.com

Sheila Smith, chief financial officer and interim chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, said by earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, Cullinan has become a community leader.

“Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart,” Smith said.

Brinkley Earns Eagle Rank A Mountain Brook resident was recently recognized in a Court of Honor ceremony for achieving the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

Sam Brinkley, a member of Boy Scout Troop 53, earned the Eagle Scout rank in December and was recognized at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in February.

For his Eagle Scout project, Brinkley built a new picnic area at St. Francis Xavier School in Mountain Brook. With the help of others in Troop 53, Brinkley used railroad ties and pea gravel to construct the new picnic area and also repaired two benches and built new picnic tables.

The new features will be used by students and parishioners at St. Francis Xavier, where Brinkley is involved with the youth group.

After joining Troop 53 as a fifth-grader, Brinkley earned Sam Brinkley the Order of the Arrow in 2011. He attended Philmont Scout Rank in New Mexico and numerous summer camps and sailed in Abaco, Bahamas with members of his troop. Brinkley earned 23 merit badges on his way to the Eagle Scout rank.

Brinkley is a junior at the Altamont School, where he plays varsity basketball and lacrosse and serves as a school ambassador and peer mentor.

He is the son of Katherine and Tom Brinkley of Mountain Brook.

OTM Residents Honored

by Boy Scouts District

© 2014 Alabama Power Company

A Mountain Brook resident has earned the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

Riva Cullinan, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Cullinan earned the award for her project, Reading to Recovery.

For the project, she created a library for patients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s psychiatric hospital.

Through book drives and donations, patients at the hospital can now use puzzle Riva Cullinan books and read new materials on several subjects.

The hospital’s nurses and other Girl Scout troops will help to sustain the project so there will be a steady supply of books in the library at all times.

Cullinan said she hopes her project will help combat stereotypes of people with disabilities.

“Mental health is a huge community issue that many who don’t feel affected by it overlook. I want to bring to light more problems in the community because I now know that there are people who are willing and eager to help others,” she said. “I want to do more to raise awareness, and now I feel like I really can.”

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 9

People

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Every day thousands of men and women come together to bring you the wonder that is electricity, affordably and reliably, and with a belief that, in the right hands, this energy can do a whole lot more than make the lights come on. It can make an entire state shine.

Several Over the Mountain residents were among those honored recently by the Vulcan District of the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America.

About 100 people from the Vulcan District gathered Jan. 23 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church to celebrate the leadership and POWI-3466 PowerToAlabama_5.75.indd 1

2/18/14 10:38 AM

News

10 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u over the mountain

Sidewalks, Bridge Would Link Homewood and Mountain Brook

By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor

This aerial photo shows the progress of construction on the new $16.2 million Homewood Community Center. The new 51,830-square-foot recreation center at 1632 Oxmoor Road and Central Avenue is in the heart of downtown Homewood. Photos courtesy of Homewood Parks and Recreation

u Homewood

New Rec Center May Open By Memorial Day

By William C. Singleton III Journal contributor

The new $16.2 million Homewood Community Center should be ready to open by Memorial Day weekend, the city’s parks and recreation director said recently.

“We haven’t set a hard date yet on the official opening,” Berkley Squires said. “But we’re on target, and we’re still eyeing being open for the Memorial Day weekend.”

The city of Homewood has spent the past year building a new 51,830-square-foot recreation center at 1632 Oxmoor Road and Central Avenue in the heart of downtown Homewood. The new building will replace a much smaller and older recreation center which was torn down to make way for the facility now under construction.

The new center will include two gyms, additional fitness rooms, a banquet hall, a meeting room, a bigger main entrance and lobby, a larger

indoor running track and a pool with competition lanes.

Squires said construction on the pool has been slowed by the weather, but he doesn’t foresee it prohibiting the pool from opening this summer.

The parks and recreation department has relocated its operation to the former Homewood courthouse satellite office off Green Springs Highway.

The parks department will move to the new center once it opens.

In anticipation of increased attendance at the new center, parks officials have begun early registration for membership.

“We noticed that people were registering for membership, and we decided to go ahead and get started so we won’t be bombarded when we move into the new building,” Squires said.

The parks department is offering different membership packages based on when patrons register.

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

Homewood and Mountain Brook are a step and stride closer to their goal to build sidewalks that will link the two cities together and make crossing the Hollywood Boulevard bridge safer for runners and pedestrians.

Both cities have asked Birmingham for permission to use property it owns at the Hollywood Boulevard overpass to build sidewalks to a proposed pedestrian bridge. The Alabama Department of Transportation has given preliminary go-ahead on a project to build a pedestrian bridge parallel to the Hollywood Boulevard overpass that spans U.S. 280.

Homewood has sidewalks on the west side of the overpass and Mountain Brook on the east side. But the project’s survival depends on whether Homewood and Mountain Brook can build sidewalks on their ends to link to the proposed bridge, said Jim Wyatt, who heads Homewood’s building, inspection and zoning department.

“ALDOT said the sidewalks being completed was absolutely mandatory for the bridge to open,” he said.

“You couldn’t do one without the other.”

Birmingham is reviewing the request to use its right-ofway to build the sidewalks, Wyatt said. Birmingham will not be required to fund the project.

However, Homewood’s part of the project will be about $146,000 and Mountain Brook’s will be about $100,000, their city officials said. The overall project, including ALDOT’s portion, is expected to cost about $750,000.

Wyatt said no timetable has been set for when the sidewalk project or the bridge will start. Once the cities clear all of their hurdles, they’ll have a better idea of the timetable, he added.

When completed, the pedestrian bridge will allow walkers and runners to cross Hollywood Boulevard safely.

“It’s very dangerous for people to try to walk or run across that bridge,” Wyatt said.

Homewood would run about 1,050 feet of sidewalk from the pedestrian bridge to Malaga Avenue, where sidewalks already exist. Mountain Brook would run sidewalk from the bridge to Montevallo Road, City Manager Sam Gaston said.

The owner of a grocery store that closed in November said he “heard loud and clear that Crestline wants its Piggly Wiggly back” and said plans are in the works to make it happen.

Andy Virciglio, who also owns Piggly Wiggly stores in Homewood and River Run, said last week he is excited about announcing the full plan to open a new store in Crestline Village in Mountain Brook.

“For 30 years, our family has been a part of the Crestline community and along with our other Mountain Brook store in River Run, we know this is a great fit,” Virciglio said in a statement.

The preliminary plans for the new

Crestline store were unveiled Feb. 24 at the Mountain Brook City Council meeting by Robert Jolly of Retail Specialists, the group working with Virciglio and Naseem Ajlouny and his brother, who are store operators and will partner with the Virciglio family.

“My brother Basim and I join the Virciglio family in the continued commitment to Mountain Brook and know that the Crestline store will be even better than before,” Ajlouny said in a statement.

Jolly told those gathered at the city council meeting last week that the new Piggly Wiggly would be designed like a boutique grocery store and would be larger than the 11,400-square-foot former Crestline store. Jolly said the new store would be similar to the Piggly

Wiggly in River Run. When Jolly presented the preliminary plans to build a new store in the space of the existing CVS/Pharmacy, he reminded those gathered at the meeting that the plans are contingent on the pharmacy moving.

In January, CVS/Pharmacy announced it would vacate its current space at 49 Church Street and move to the former Piggly Wiggly site at the corner of Oak Street and Euclid Avenue.

Last summer, news broke that the Crestline Piggly Wiggly might close due to stalled lease negotiations between store owners and the property owners.

The owner of the property the Piggly Wiggly leased decided to go

Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

Plan Would Put Piggly Wiggly Back in Crestline Journal editor

Journal photo by Maury Wald

Ultimately, the bridge will allow Mountain Brook residents to travel by foot deep into Mountain Brook and to Homewood.

“It would take you all the way to Mountain Brook Village,” Gaston said. “Eventually, you could walk all the way to Crestline Village and to English Village. It’s going to link into our existing sidewalk system. And then once that zoo loop is put in, you’ll be able to walk all the way to the zoo on sidewalks.”

Gaston is referring to a plan to build a 1.3 mile trail around the Birmingham Zoo and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Both facilities lie on property adjacent to Mountain Brook’s city limits. Ultimately the sidewalk improvements, pedestrian bridge and zoo loop would connect to the Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System, a plan to connect cities in Jefferson County through a massive network of sidewalks, greenways, trails and bike lanes.

Mountain Brook officials are discussing whether to build the sidewalk on the north or south side of Hollywood Boulevard. The north side is closer to the Birmingham side, Gaston said.

“We decided to get some more information about trying to keep the sidewalk on the north side of the road instead of extending it on the south side and building a pedestrian crossing signal somewhere on Montevallo Road,” Gaston said.

He said some are concerned that the south side might not be the safest place to run the sidewalks.

Gaston said the City Council will meet March 10 to discuss the matter and hopefully move forward with design plans for the sidewalk, provided it determines on which side to build. Gresham Smith and Partners is designing the pedestrian bridge and the sidewalk extensions, Gaston said. ❖

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 began in November. Residents held an appreciation celebration for the store’s employees and reminisced

u mountain brook

By Keysha Drexel

When completed, the pedestrian bridge will allow walkers and runners to cross Hollywood Boulevard safely.

about the store’s long history in the community.

Soon after the preliminary plans for the new Crestline store were unveiled on Feb. 24, the “Save the Pig” Facebook page lit up with messages from happy residents.

“We applaud how the property owners, community leaders, city officials, visionary real estate people and everyone else worked together in a ‘community first’ approach to put a plan like this is place,” Ajlouny said. “This is a true win-win for everyone involved, and it will be wonderful to have the Piggly Wiggly return to Crestline.” ❖

u Hoover

Public Safety Employees Honored at Luncheon

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

Four Hoover public safety employees were recently honored for their roles in putting suspects tied to home invasions, robberies, rape and sexual torture behind bars.

The four employees were among those honored on Feb. 20 at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Public Safety Awards ceremony at the Hoover Country Club.

Hoover dispatch supervisors Amy Appleton and Allison Rector were named the 2013 Hoover Communications Officers of the Year.

Sgt. Jim Thornton and Officer John Massey were named the 2013 Hoover Police Officers of the Year for their roles in putting three people suspected in cases of armed robbery, rape and sexual torture behind bars.

“They did not hesitant to make the decisions that led to the arrests,” Police Chief Nick Derzis said. “They did a hell of a job.”

On July 25 at around 10 p.m., Appleton took a 911 call from a screaming woman whom she heard say, “I’ve given up everything I’ve got. Please don’t take the baby,” Derzis said.

A few minutes later, another 911 call came in from the same woman on a different phone. She reported that she and her husband had been robbed at gunpoint during a home invasion.

The robbers took the woman’s truck and her cellphone. And unbeknownst to the robber who had the woman’s cellphone, it was still on and Appleton was still on the line.

Appleton continued to monitor the u Vestavia Hills

City Approves Tax Incentives

The Vestavia Hills City Council recently approved two economic incentive deals that paved the way for a new business and will allow an existing one to expand.

The council agreed to extend incentive deals to Issis and Sons Furniture Gallery, which in December opened a new store in Vestavia Hills, and Royal Automotive Inc., which is expanding its Vestavia Hills dealership.

According to the agreement, the city will rebate sales taxes to Issis and Sons Furniture Gallery Inc. up to $750,000 over five years. Issis and Sons Furniture has remodeled the former Greenbrier Furniture store at 1493 Montgomery Highway to house its new business.

“We hope to do very well there,” said Steve Issis, owner. “We added on to the back, which used to be a warehouse.

Hopefully, we’ll get the people of Vestavia to support us.”

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 11

News

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis, third from left, is pictured here with the five finalists for 2013 Hoover Police Officer of the Year. They were, from left, Officer Mike Tomlin, Sgt. Jeff Sauceda, Sgt. Jim Thornton, Officer John Massey and Sgt. Brian Foreman. Thornton and Massey were named the winners. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

call and, working with fellow dispatch supervisor Allison Rector, contacted Sprint. The stolen cellphone’s location and the robbers’ location were tracked down, and patrol officers were sent to the Bluff Park community, Derzis said.

Thornton and Massey were able to track down and apprehend one of the armed suspects within 30 minutes, the police chief said.

“The suspect had the stolen cellphone in his pocket,” he said.

The suspect gave police information that led to the arrest of the second suspect. Birmingham police arrested a third suspect believed to be involved in a home invasion, rape and sexual abuse case with the other two suspects that happened 10 days before the incident in July, Derzis said.

“We often take for granted what our officers do every day. If they hadn’t have stopped these suspects, there’s no telling how many more people could have been hurt,” Derzis said.

Derzis also recognized the finalists for the 2013 Police Officer of the Year award.

Sgt. Jeff Sauceda and Officer Mike Tomlin were named finalists for quickly solving a burglary case from 2013. They captured a suspect who smashed the windows and grabbed the cash register from Tortugas on John Hawkins Parkway.

Sgt. Brian Foreman was named a finalist for his efforts of community

policing using social media. Foreman launched a new Hoover Police Department app for smartphones and expanded the department’s use of social media for crime prevention efforts, Derzis said.

Cpl. Matt Reese was named the 2013 Detention Officer of the Year for his efforts to save the life of an inmate at the city jail, Derzis said.

In August, Reese was alerted that an inmate brought in for public intoxication was having problems breathing. Reese quickly determined the man was suffocating and took charge of medical efforts until the Hoover paramedics arrived and transported the inmate to the hospital.

Hoover Fire Marshal Frank Brocato also honored the Hoover Fire Department’s employees of the year at the Feb. 20 chamber luncheon.

Lt. Larry Florence was named the 2013 Hoover Firefighter of the Year.

Last year, Florence and his crew were about to leave to respond to a call on Pavillon Drive when their fire truck, which was parked near the top of a hill facing downhill, began to roll.

Florence jumped into the cab of the moving engine, screamed to his men who standing in front of the truck and was able to apply the brakes and stop the engine after it had rolled about 20 feet.

“His quick and heroic actions prevented a disaster,” Brocato said.

Brocato said not only could the fire engine have hit the firefighters,

Issis said the business sponsored a grand opening event for the community Feb. 6 from 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Issis also owns stores on Pelham Parkway, Greystone Boulevard and Cahaba Valley Road.

The city also will rebate sales taxes up to $900,000 over five years to Royal Automotive.

David Belcher, a representative of Royal Automotive at 3010 Columbiana Road, said the dealership in December purchased Buick Motor Division from a North Carolina company and has moved its vehicles to the Vestavia dealership.

“It’s pretty tight. We’ve got a lot of cars,” Belcher said. “It was a large investment. And we have more (vehicles) coming.”

Belcher said the dealership will have to display GMC and Buick models more prominently which means “we’re going to have to move some buildings around.”

City Manager Jeff Downes said the dealership adding a new vehicle line could mean $10 million more a year in

gross sales.

“The impact to us in sales tax dollars could be in the neighborhood of $200,000 a year when you take into consideration new car sales and maintenance of existing Buicks people seek maintenance for,” he said. “We have offered incentives over a period of time based on a sharing of success and growth of business.”

Of Issis’ move to Vestavia, Downes said, “We’re excited to see them open up in an empty storefront and continue the sale of furniture within our city.”

The council was able to offer the incentives based on a policy it adopted this past summer that grants special economic development incentives to potential and existing businesses looking to locate or expand within the city limits. The businesses have to meet certain criteria which includes investing a certain amount of money into their facility.

“It’s all designed to encourage businesses to open up and operate in Vestavia Hills,” Downes said.

—William C. Singleton III

it could have also careened into the patient and the patient’s family, who were just in front of the fire engine in a car.

Hoover Fire Capt. John Dennis was named the 2013 Hoover Paramedic of the Year. Dennis responded to a call with his crew in March of last year at Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort and Conference Center. The call came in as a person who was vomiting and going in and out of consciousness.

When he arrived on the scene, Dennis found a man on his knees holding his unresponsive 7-year-old son. The man’s wife was unresponsive on the bathroom floor, and his

9-year-old daughter was complaining of nausea.

After ruling out food poisoning, Dennis immediately questioned the hotel staff about the heating system because he suspected something toxic might have leaked into the room.

Dennis was told the room heating system was electric, but he was still suspicious, Brocato said. Dennis ordered a carbon monoxide reading, which showed very high levels of the poisonous gas in the room.

Dennis and his crew searched other rooms and found more victims.

At least 15 people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at local hospitals, Brocato said. ❖

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life

Raising the Bard Kim West Uses Shakespeare to Teach Her Law Students

By Donna Cornelius

T

Journal feature writer

hose who have only a nodding acquaintance with Shakespeare might think history’s most well-known playwright had scant respect for lawyers.

And it’s all because of a line that’s often misinterpreted: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” from Henry VI, Part 2.

Birmingham attorney Kim West is happy to set the record straight.

When Dick the Butcher says the line to Jack Cade, West said, “It would usually draw a laugh if it’s taken out of context. But what it means is, if you want to take a society down, you start by getting rid of the people who stand for law and order.”

Shakespeare, in fact, “wrote for lawyers and ate and drank with them,” said West, a Crestline resident and an attorney with Birmingham’s Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt law firm. “He was very familiar with many aspects of the law.”

As a member of Cumberland School of Law’s adjunct faculty, West teaches a course called Shakespeare and Trial Advocacy. Her goal is to help her students become more persuasive advocates by studying Shakespearean texts and acting them out in class, she said. And as far as she knows, it’s the only course of its kind for law students and is taught only at Cumberland.

“I use the texts to teach lawyers how to be persuasive by using courtroom scenes in Shakespeare’s plays,” she said. “But I don’t let the students read the texts until we watch the plays, usually on DVDs.” West has her students watch from seven to eight Shakespearean plays such as “The Merchant of Venice, “Measure for Measure” and “The Winter’s Tale.”

“Students stage the scenes as a trial, using the text of the trial scene,” West said.

The students can modernize the language and change characters’ names—but their reenactments have to follow the scene’s general plot, she said.

“All trials are drama, and there’s storytelling involved,” she said.

Her students, she said, might study a cir-

From left: Amanda Graham Kisor, a second year law student at Cumberland who has taken Kim’s course and feels it’s been very valuable to her, Rick Blunt, who is in costume as Sir John Falstaff, the role he played in Sunday’s performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor and Kim West, an attorney at Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt and an adjunct professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law.

cumstantial case “such as Iago presented about Desdemona (in “Othello”) and see how it builds to a totally false conclusion,” she said.

West said her students usually don’t mind getting into the spirit of the exercises.

“Most law students are real hams,” she said.

West’s students and other guests got to see two of Shakespeare’s plays on the stage last month. The American Shakespeare Center, based in Staunton, Va., brought its touring company to the Samford University campus Feb. 15 and 16 to present “Othello” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”

West, who serves on the ASC board, said the performances were staged much as they would have been in Elizabethan England.

“In Shakespeare’s day, the plays were presented by candlelight or daylight,” she said.

“For these ASC productions, the lights are on.

It creates an intimacy because the actors are closer to the audience. When Othello strangles Desdemona, it was like you were in the bedroom with them. People were weeping.”

West used the performances as teaching tools.

On Feb. 15, she and some of the ASC actors taught a special workshop for lawyers that included Continuing Education Unit credits.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

From left, Fernando Lamberty, who played Othello; Bridget Rue, who played Emilia (Iago’s wife); Patrick Midgley, who played Roderigo (in love with Desdemona); Patrick Earl, who played Cassio (Othello’s lieutenant); Kim West, an attorney at Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, which sponsored the performance at the Cumberland School of Law; and Stephanie Holladay Earl, who played Desdemona (Othello’s wife).

Kim West, who serves on ASC’s board, teaches a law course at Cumberland on “Shakespeare and Trial Advocacy” to help law students become more persuasive advocates. She and her firm helped bring the ASC Tour to Birmingham, one of only two stops in Alabama this year.

Mentoring Month

Big Brothers, Sisters Salutes Supporters Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham celebrated National Mentoring Month in January by honoring its supporters, including volunteers, donors and staff members who work together to support children who face adversity.

The nonprofit organization’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook.

The event included the recognition of the 2014 Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year. The dinner also celebrated the Little Brothers and Sisters who will graduate from high school

Photos courtesy Samford University

The performances also celebrated the 25th anniversaries of West’s law firm and of the ASC’s “World Mine Oyster” tour.

West, a Huntsville native, started in a different career. She graduated from the University of Alabama Huntsville with a bachelor’s degree in English and taught for a year.

“My seventh-graders convinced me I wanted to go to law school,” she said, smiling.

She earned a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and has been with Wallace Jordan Ratliff and Brandt since 1997, she said.

She went back to school in 2007 to earn a Master of Arts degree through the School of Letters at Sewanee: The University of the South, she said.

“I’d always enjoyed Shakespeare,” she said.

“I’d even tried teaching ‘King Lear’ to seventhgraders.”

Her interest in Shakespeare was intensified by Ann Cook, her mentor at Sewanee and a retired professor emerita from Vanderbilt University.

“She’s the world’s foremost authority on Elizabethan matrimonial law and was the president of the Shakespeare Association of America,” West said. “She introduced me to her method of teaching based on performance. We became good friends. She directed my thesis.”

The ASC productions in Birmingham were given in Cumberland’s Great Hall.

“I have an engraving I bought in London last summer of Gray’s Inn,” one of London’s four Inns of Court, West said. “It really looks like Cumberland’s Great Hall.”

Although the Great Hall was an apt setting for the ASC plays, West is hoping that the touring company can return to Birmingham to perform in larger arenas.

“There is limited seating in the Great Hall, so these performances had to be by invitation only. I hope others may be interested in hosting a performance,” she said. “I really hope this will be the start of more interaction between the law school and the company—and on a broader level, the Birmingham community.”

For more information about the American Shakespeare Center, visit www.americanshakespearecenter.com. ❖

The 2014 Little Brother of the Year, Marvin, left, and 2014 Big Brother of the Year, Ky Sevier. Photo special to the Journal

this year.

Ky Sevier of Birmingham was named Big Brother of the Year.

Barbara Bowlby of Hoover was named Big Sister of the Year.

Sue Johnson, BBBS chief executive officer, said Sevier and Bowlby were selected for the honor because of their commitment and dedication to their Littles and for being excellent mentors and role models.

Sevier was matched with his Little Brother, Marvin, in November 2011.

Both said they motivate each other in all areas of their lives.

Since he was matched with Sevier, Marvin has gained more confidence, Johnson said. Marvin is involved in many afterschool activities, including the wrestling team. Sevier said he has encouraged Marvin to work hard and that both of them have enjoyed seeing the benefits of that hard work.

Bowlby was matched with her Little Sister, Dalijah, in February 2011. Bowlby said she decided to become a Big Sister when her children were grown. Dalijah, who lives with her great-grandmother, has been encouraged by Bowlby to get

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 13

Life

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social

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Libby Hobbs, Faulkner Hereford, Madelyn Hereford, Billy Hereford, Patricia Stutts, Mallie Drew, Tillman Drew and Mark Drew.

Janie Williams, Hannah Nall, Jane Elizabeth Nechtman and Will Poynor. Photo by Hank Spencer

Photo special to the Journal

Krewe Ball, From Page One

A lifelong resident of Birmingham, Millhouse is a graduate of Auburn University and is a senior estimator with Robins & Morton.

He is a life member of the Auburn University Alumni Association and a member of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce and the Country Club of Birmingham. He became an Eagle Scout in 1967 and has been scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 86 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church since 1995.

Millhouse is married to the former Katherine Meadow McTyeire, who was a princess of the Krewe in 1977. They have three children.

Gorrie first joined the Krewe Ball in 2001 as a page and also served in that capacity in 2002. She served as a train bearer for her grandfather, Miller Gorrie, who was king in 2003.

She is a 2011 graduate of Mountain Brook High School, where she served as an ambassador, Student Government Association representative and Key Club member. She was named Miss Olympian in 2009. Gorrie was also a member of the Chamber Choir and Thespian Troupe at Mountain Brook High School.

She trained with Red Mountain Theatre Company and was a member of the company’s performing ensemble.

Serving the community has always been a big part of Gorrie’s life. In 2008, she founded Songs for Sight, a nonprofit organization that supports the UAB Center for Low Vision and Rehabilitation. Two concerts in 2009 and 2011 raised money for low vision aids, support groups and training for children and teens with vision impairment.

In 2010, Gorrie was recognized as a state

Sarah Coleman Hornsby and Emily Browning Amason. Photo by Hank Spencer

Queen’s Guards: Billy Bates, Keith Hazelrig, Chip Grizzle and Stan Starnes.

Photo special to the Journal

Meade Whitaker with his granddaughter, Kara Leigh Whitaker. Photo by Hank Spencer

and national winner of the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award.

She is a junior at Belmont University,

where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in musical theater. She is a member of Phi Mu sorority and served as the Towering Traditions orientation leader. Gorrie has performed in numerous theatrical productions each semester, including “Les Miserables,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Christmas at Belmont,” which aired on PBS. Gorrie said she plans to move to New York City after college to pursue her artistic endeavors.

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Magnus James Gorrie. Her grandparents are the Rev. and Mrs. Forrest Causey Mobley and Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Miller Gorrie.

She has an older brother, Magnus Miller Gorrie II, and two dogs, Holly and Penny.

The queen’s royal escort was Michael Alston Callahan Jr. of Birmingham.

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Joe Brady, Kathryn McCollum and Angela Brady.

Photos special to the Journal

Bowen Winifred Hughes and Harris Hodges Anthony, Lucile Cabaniss Hutchinson and Cody Mitchel Jinnette, Evelyn Jennings Lewis and John Alexander Klinner, Virginia Evans Luckie and Thomas Hatch Benners Marbury Jr. , Kathryn Cook McCollum and James Vincent Hastings, Jane Elizabeth Leatherbury Nechtman and Mark Nicholas Luyster, Margaret Ruffner White Page and Walter Simmons Hall, Kathleen Mims Patrick and Jack Dixon Durkee, Katharine Forrester Patton and James Curtiss Telfer, Lillian Sloss Ratliff and Thomas Luther Hays II, Shelby Marie Scott and Richard Cole Thornton, Virginia Addison Sewell and Corey Raymond Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Sellers Shook and Gardner DeCoursey Beach II, Anne Franklin Smith and Cody Lee Farrill, Lelia Elizabeth Leftwich Smith and William Schley Hereford Jr., Lucy Josephine Sprain and Michael Ivan Flynn, Patricia Lawrence Stutts and Samuel Michael Tortorici Jr., Dorothy Ann Suggs and Lewis Jasper Callaway and Helen Lea Walker and Nicholas Smith Saab.

The king’s dukes were Francis Minor Shepard Ager, William Alfred Bowron Jr., Guerry Moore Denson, Richard Hagood Drennen, Richard Lee Jackson Jr., Jeffrey Ira Stone, Edward Franklin Thomas Jr. and Meade Whitaker Jr. The queen’s guards were Walter William Bates, William Anthony Davis III, Charles Louie Grizzle Jr., John Keith Hazelrig, Robert Donald Plosser, William Stancil Starnes, Michael DeWitt Thompson and Marc Bryant Tyson.

The king’s trainbearers were Jack Stewart Allison II, Anna Catherine Carr, Samuel Bryan Carr, Sarah Welles Edwards and Kara Leigh Whitaker.

The queen’s trainbearers were Anna Caroline Bates, Ginger Callan Cheka, Carole Elizabeth Clegg, Mary Jackson Darnall, Thomas Steele Darnall III, Stephen Stratford Phelan III, Mildred Carlisle Phelan and Joseph Edward Welden IV. The ball’s pages were Julia Fletcher Abele, Eugenie Joyce Allen, Emily Browning Amason, Eloise Katherine Berte, Sara Frances Berte, Katherine Elizabeth Brennan, Alice Caldwell Byars,

Kate and David Millhouse.

Lula Clayton Byars, Rosemary Casey Cabaniss, Ann Oliver Coleman, Mary Evelyn Coleman, Payton Elizabeth Flynn, Caroline Jeffers Fowlkes, Mary Katherine Fowlkes, Caroline Bishop Hornsby, Sarah Coleman Hornsby, Sarah

McCarty Huddle, Gray Margaret Katherine Powell, Elizabeth Everett Sandner, Jane Morgan Knight Sauls, Marguerite Alice Sprain, Madeline Fay Stephens and Ann Derby Welden.

In 1966, Mrs. James Mallory Kidd Jr. was in charge of the 11th Beaux Arts Jewel Ball for the Birmingham Museum of Art. Kidd noticed the decorations were discarded after the ball and saw a need for a support group with permanent costumes and decorations.

From there, the idea grew. More than 125 men joined the group as charter members, and the Beaux Arts Krewe was founded.

Westminster Abbey was the inspiration for the idea that each member would dress as a king, have a banner with a coat of arms and be attended by a page.

Many volunteers helped with preparations for the first ball. They cut, sewed, painted and glued. They created shields, banners and velvet capes. Those capes and banners are still being used today.

The Krewe makes a substantial contribution to the Birmingham Museum of Art each year. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Tidy Spaces

Tidy Spaces

Organization for:

Organization for:

Kitchens • Closets • Garages • Home Office Retail Spaces • Space Planning & Staging Barbi Brown Organizer 908-0267

Kitchens • Closets • Garages • Home Office Retail Spaces • Space Planning & Staging

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designforTidySpaces@gmail.com • Facebook: Tidy Spaces

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Lin and Jim Musgrove.

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Dinner with the Director Organization for:

Kitchens • Closets • Garages • Home Office Metropolitan Hears from ASFA’s Meeks Retail Spaces • Space Club Planning & Staging

dinner. Kathy Turrentine The Metropolitan Dinner Club Barbi Brown The JRobinson Trio Plus proof Greater Birmingham recently Organizer Organizer vided dance music at the event. heard from the executive director 243-0677 Those attending dined on iceof the Alabama908-0267 School of Fine berg wedge salad, boneless angus Arts. designforTidySpaces@gmail.com • Facebook: Tidy Spaces short ribs, buttermilk mashed potaDr. Michael Meeks presented toes and baby carrots with dinner “Alabama’s Best Kept Secret: rolls and orange rolls. Dessert was ASFA” at the group’s Jan. 14 dincheesecake and strawberries. ner at The Club in Homewood.

Jim Conrad is president of Meeks brought with him some the Metropolitan Dinner Club of of the school’s most talented Greater Birmingham. Don Estes students, who performed at the

is vice president of programs, and Lowell Womack is vice president of membership. Gail Wood is executive secretary/treasurer.

The directors are Walt Barnes, Bob Black, Anna Keith, Jerry Stofel, Joe Stone, Bob Brown, Beverly Jackson, Malcolm Miller, Allen Montgomery, Janet Seaman, Carlos Ballard, Harriet Cloud, Tom Davis, Jim Musgrove and Louise Tommie. ❖

Symphony High Note

Tidy Spaces Grand Over TheRe-Opening Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Refreshments, Great Prizes, Ballons Volunteer Council Date: January 27 • facebook.com/myenchantedforest 2814 18th Street South, Homewood Honors Conductor This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the Childrens Clothing6,(sizes February 2014 0-14) issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

The Symphony Volunteer Council recently hosted a party for guest conductor Danail Rachev with several Over the Mountain residents attending.

The party was held at the Hoover home of Ed and Barbara Randall. They welcomed Rachev and more than 61 guests.

Please initial and fax back within 24 ofhours.

Members the Alabama Symphony e Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of theOrchestra Friday before the press also attended thedate, party where Rachev your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. shared stories from his conducting career. Jeff Solomon, a French horn player, and flutist Lisa Thank you for your prompt attention.

Reinhold also attended.

OF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnaL for the Hoover residents at the afternoon event were . please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Robert Grossman, Linda and Mike Griggs, Jody Weston, Mimi Jackson, Roberta and please make sure all information is correct, Jim Atkinson, Robert Raiford, Zane Rhodes, Virginia and “Shine” Gutherie, Lin and Jim including address and phone number!

Musgrove, Cecille Perkins, Veltra and Lucille Dawson, Merrily and Ray Newton and Diane please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

Ray. if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, Vestavia Hills residents spotted at the party your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. included Martha and Bob Black, Jonnie and Thank you for your prompt attention.

Rich Venglik, Jane Williams, Janis Zeanah, Charlotte and Steve Clarkson, Cheree and Eric Carlton, and Chandler and Jane Paris Smith.

Guests from Mountain Brook included Margie and Robert Denton, Nancy and Bart Morrow, Tallulah Hargrove and Emily Omura.

Others at the event included Shirley and Bob Brown of Meadowbrook, Diane and Herb Rossmeili and Martha Noble of Inverness and Dixie and Bill Ayers of Brook Highland.

Also enjoying the party were Lu and Charles Moss, Gerda Carmichael, Sandra Annonio and Bill Aroosian. ❖

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

From left: Phyllis Davis, Cheree Carlton and Lu Moss.

Photos special to the Journal

ABOVE: Herb Rossmeisl, Jody Weston and Danail Rachev.

LEFT: Chandler and Jane Paris Smith.

more photos at

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Front, from left: Katie Seeger, Holly Struthers, Mary Glenn Waldrop, Herron Taylor, Mary Martha Grizzle, Annie Bloomston, Francie Kenan and Abbie Rodgers.

Middle: Adelaide Cochran, Frances Carson and Turner Hull. Back: Virginia Wilson, Mims Bruhn, Walker Sewell, Hallie West, Elizabeth Letzer, Murray Manley, Mimi Fullan, Adelaide Dunn, Margy Troiano and Everette Dawkins.

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Winter Wonderland Midnight Ball Honors 127 Young Women

Hornsby, Olivia Patterson Howe, Turner Nicholson Hull, Elizabeth Hope Hymer, Sherry Alexander Jackson, Tyler Harrison Jaffe, Sophia Jean Johnston, Virginia Gaskell Jordan, Dana Nicole Kahn, Beatrice Baker Kalish, Frances Elizabeth Kenan, Hannah Marie Kendrick, Catherine Alexandra Kinney, Anita Danielle Klasing, Demetra Alexis Leara, Alexandra Suzanne LeJeune, Elizabeth Anderson Letzer, Mary Nelson Little, Catherine Elizabeth Luke, Allison Murray Manley, Rachel Cele Marcus, Madeline Claire Marx, Shelton Allison McCollough, Carlisle Suttle McCullough, Argie Neil McDonald, Annie Stewart Miles, Piper Margaret Miles, Margaret Morgan Miller, Caroline O’Neill Milligan, Amanda Grace Morrissette, Hannah Shalom Mouyal, Mary Chapman Nabors, Rhea Fonde Nathan, Lucy Elizabeth Neal, Elise Faircloth Nesbitt,

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As darkness fell on Jan. 25, time drew near for the 2014 Midnight Ball to begin.

The event was held at the Vestavia Hills Country Club, where guests entered the elaborate foyer decorated with white orchids intertwined with twinkling lights and snow-covered twigs.

Robert Logan of Backstage Florist created a Midnight Winter Wonderland in the club’s Grand Ballroom. White Japanese lanterns hung from the ceiling, while branches adorned with votives illuminated by blue lighting transformed the room.

The 127 young women and their escorts were presented to family members and other guests.

The Midnight Ball was chaired by Angie Letzer, Margie Seeger and Kay West. The ball committee consisted of 21 mothers.

The young women presented were Mary Virginia Adams, Helen Lane Allen, Catherine McMasters Armstrong, Anne Peyton Baker, Molly Bernice Barstein, Mary Stewart Beasley, Madelyn Haynes Beatty, Emily Clifton Bedell, Megan Eileen Bemowski, Rebecca Rae Blitz, Anna Gregory Bloomston, Laurie Caroline Bramlett, Alice Adelaide Bromberg, Maddison Grace Bassett Bromberg, Caraway Mims Bruhn, Savanna Morgan Elois Bryant, Olivia Hansen Burton, Natalie Marie Buzzard, Sarah Elizabeth Cain, Dera Carr, Frances Elizabeth Carson, Ella Carson Carter, Caroline Frances Clark, Elizabeth Danielle Clutton, Adelaide Clara Cochran, Mary Maude Crenshaw, Isabel McCormick Creveling, Elizabeth Everette Dawkins, Danielle Savannah Diehl, Elizabeth Harris Forsyth Donald, Frances Adelaide Dunn, Elizabeth Drake Faulconer, Virginia Anne Fleming, Katherine Elizabeth Francis, Sara Alan Friday, Margaret Sanford Fullan, Sarah Challis Gamble, Katherine Lupton Godwin, Makenzie Elizabeth Grant, Magadalene Mitchell Greene, Mary Martha Grizzle, Elizabeth Lee Haberstroh, Anne Merrick Hamilton, Christina Elizabeth Harmon, Kathryn Heather Harrison, Graham Hammond Harsh, Peggy Elizabeth Haynes, Martha Jane Hollis, Mary Shelton

[expires 07/01/14]

Collier Morris Ogilvie, Sarah Sims Parker, Carlee McKena Petro, Eva Louise Pewitt, Mary Katherine Pinson, Margaret Fischer Pitman, Caroline Elizabeth Powell, Rachael Nicole Reddy, Sarah McKinnon Riley, Abbie Porter Rodgers, Jenna Lainey Routman, Alexa McKenzie Ruttenberg, Bailey Sharp Sanderson, Lara Kathleen Screven, Katherine Marie Seeger, Margaret Lillian Lurcott Selesky, Monday - Saturday Virginia Walker Delony Sewell, Amelie Cotton Shallcross, Courtney Elizabeth Shea, Anna Claire Sheffield, Madeline Lynne Sheffield, Lynda Chamblee Shufflebarger, Annabelle Austin Sims, Adele Oliver Smith, Anna Redding Smith, Camille Elise Smith, Laura Eustis Stagno, Holly Mayfield Struthers, Sara Augusta Tannehill, Herron Elizabeth Taylor, Lottice Howell Taylor, Mary Helen Poole Terry, Laura Marie Tovar, Margaret Meador Troiano, Samantha Anderson Turner, Mae Rose Tyson, Mary Glenn Waldrop, Hallie Elizabeth West, Mary Parker Wetzler, Hannah O’Byrne Williams, Virginia Lee Wilson, AnneTo: Baxley Grady From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., Winn, Selah Melissa Wood and 205-824-1246, fax Marion Francis Wright. ❖

smcs.org Call to arrange a tour

205-978-6001

18 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

left: Celebrity judges were, from left: Tony Kurre, Alyce Head, Sara Powell, Bob Carlton, Bettina Boateng and Paul DeMarco. below: Board members and planning committee members Katie Weinert, left, and Wakisha Hazzard.

Mayfair Medical group welcomes

Dr. Christina Fettig

and Dr. Gretel Russell

Photos special to the Journal

Top Tastes

VSA Junior Patrons Host Acoustic Soup The Junior Patrons of VSA Alabama hosted the eighth annual Acoustic Soup fundraiser at WorkPlay on Feb. 9.

The event was originally scheduled to take place on Jan. 30 but had to be postponed due to the winter storm that hit the Birmingham metro area on Jan. 28.

The event featured soups and sweets from Ashley Mac’s, B&A Warehouse, Dish’n It Out, Dixie Fish Company, Icing on the Cookie, Iron City Birmingham, Primeaux Cheese and Vino, Rogue Tavern and The Pantry.

Planning committee members included Jaclynn Maxwell, Katie Weinert, Wakisha Hazzard, Kelly Lansden, Shannon Taylor, Hannah Norton, Ellen Porter, Margaret Wendorf, Mary Jane Coker, Suzanne Respess and Jennifer Lyles Dowdle.

Tony Kurre and VSA Alabama Board Member Bettina Boateng emceed the event and made sure the crowd enjoyed the tunes from the Soulstirs band.

Boateng and Kurre were also celebrity judges along with Alyce Head, Bob Carlton, Paul DeMarco

and Sara Powell.

The judges named Iron City Birmingham’s entry as the best soup.

The award for best decorations went to B&A Warehouse. The crowd favorite, voted on by Acoustic Soup guests, was Rogue Tavern.

VSA Alabama is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children and adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities through the arts. Programs offered by VSA Alabama include visual arts, music therapy, therapeutic drumming and rhythm, art therapy, drama, creative movement and creative writing. ❖

Artistic Affair

Riverchase Women’s Club Show Salutes Artists

Now offering information sessions for parents the 1st Thursday of each month

· Meet the doctors · Tour the practice · Ask questions about important child health issues

Call (205) 870-1273 to reserve your place

Artist Susan Baird with her husband, Dave.

Photos special to the Journal

Those attending this year’s Riverchase Loves Artists art show were able to check out both new and returning favorite artists while raising money to support local charities.

The eighth annual show was held at the Riverchase Country Club on Feb. 8.

Proceeds will benefit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, the Exceptional Foundation and the Amelia Center. The event is sponsored each year by the Riverchase Women’s Club.

The show featured oil and watercolor paintings, jewelry, wood, pottery, glass, photography and fiber art by more than 50 Alabama artists.

Rep. Paul more photos at DeMarco, R-Homewood, was on hand for the event. Lynne Cooper was the chairman of the 2014 show.

Also attending were Tricia Kirk, director of the Exceptional Foundation; Pat Morgan, co-president of the Riverchase Women’s Club, and Collette Scott, board member of the Riverchase Women’s Club.

Others spotted at the event were artists Susan Baird with husband Dave, Kay Moates, Mindy Estep and Pat Morgan.

Artists participating included Sondi Barton, Laura Cunningham and Becky Criswell. ❖

OTMJ.COM

(205) 870-1273

3401 Independence Dr. Homewood, AL 35209

From left: Kay Moates, Mindy Estep and Pat Morgan.

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 19

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Porter, Dr. and Mrs. Bill Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Prescott, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Price III, Susan Price and Mr. and Mrs. David Rader.

Guests at the fundraiser also included Susan Ramsay, Becki Reardon, Mr. and Mrs. Preston Reid, Callie Robinson, Greg Robinson, Michelle Scholtz, Gene Townley, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Seeds, Sue Selby, Rev. Gates Shaw, Barbara Shepherd, Joseph John, Mr. and Mrs. Slats Slaton, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Stephanie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Spahn, Mr. and Mrs. David Splawn, Steve

Springfield, Janice Stricklin, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sumerford, Tank Tankersley, Terry Tesoriero, Eric Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Thuston, Dean Triantos, Dispena Triantos, Gwen Triantos, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Triantos, Sam Triantos, Taylor Triantos, Jane Van Eaton, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vann, Sheila Versiglio, Dr. and Mrs. Bill Viar, Jerome Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Lex Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Williamson, Nancy Womble, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Yeilding, Mr. and Mrs. Rene Zimmermann and Irene Zutell. ❖

The host committee included, from left: Shannon and Bill Blount, Beverly and John McNeil, Frances Blount, Judy and Jim Carns, Bonnie and Bill Powell, Ann and Greg Giles and Betts and Felix Drennen. Photos special to the Journal

‘First Love’ Fundraiser February Event Launches Book about Lovelady Center The Lovelady Center hosted an elegant Valentine’s Day themed fundraiser in February.

The First Love event was held Feb. 8 at The Club in Homewood.

The host committee included Shannon and Bill Blount, Beverly and John McNeil, Frances Blount, Judy and Jim Carns, Bonnie and Bill Powell, Ann and Greg Giles and Betts and Felix Drennen.

Guests had the opportunity to meet authors Brenda Lovelady Spahn and Irene Zutell at the book launch of “Miss Brenda and the Loveladies.”

The Lovelady Center honored Spahn, the founder of the center, along with Shay Curry Bell, Tiffany Gulledge, Annette Hansen and Stephanie Smith, who are featured in the book.

Following the book launch, guest were entertained by Granger, Thagard & Associates Auctioneers during a live auction featuring trips to Costa Rica and Ireland and exclusive dining packages to Flemings, Bottega, Chez Fon Fon and other local favorites.

The exquisite decorations were

by Backstage Productions. The event was a production of Steel Magnolias Events. Photography by Bill Segrest.

Guests attending the event included Mr. and Mrs. Richard Abernethy, Robert Ajam and Angela Brothers, Honorable and Mrs. John Amari, Carleton Ambrose, Jane Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Arnold, Julia Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Josh Barnard, Patsy Bayliss, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Bell, Katherine Berdy, Cathleen Blackwell, Mollie Blackwood, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Blount Jr., David Blount, Frances Blount, Kay Blount, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Borders, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown,

Joseph John and Barbara Shepherd.

Dona Bullock, Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Bush, Rebecca Cammack and William Roy Campbell.

Also attending were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Carns, Jeanne Carreker, Mr. and Mrs. William Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cleage, Beth Conwell, Merilyn Crouch, Steve Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Day, Michele Dickey, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. Lestley Drake, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Drennen III, Jeana Durst, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Echols, Robin Ennis, Mr. and Mrs. David Eyrich, Anthony Fleischman, Michael Forston, Dr. and Mrs. James Frey, Brantley Fry, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gage, Sharon and Mark Gallivan, Deane Giles, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Giles, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Goddard, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gregory, Tiffany Gulledge, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hale, Sheriff and Mrs. Mike Hale, Mr. and Mrs. Terry Hale, Mr. and Mrs.

more photos at

OTMJ.COM

Scott Hannah, Annette Hansen, Ginger Hanson, Karen Hardy, Mr. and Mrs. John Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Horne, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ingram, Jodie James, Joseph John and Chaplain Debra Jones.

Others spotted at the fundraiser were Ann Kaucheck, Julie Kim, Carol Knight, Jess Bullock, Pam Lacey, Leslie Lackey, Mr. and Mrs. James Lee, Bob Lochamy, Linda Lott, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Marks, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Martin, Melissa Martin, Debbie McCune, Mr. and Mrs. John McNeil Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Michael McNeil, Dr. and Mrs. Finley McRae, Melinda MeGahee, Dr. and Mrs. R. Les Miles, Honey Miller, Sarah Moseley, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Mullen, Mr. and Mrs. David Nichols, Steve Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Nuby, Miranda Oestenstad, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Pattillo, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pigford, Mr. and Mrs. David Pittman, Yvonne Pope, Tammy

Please join us for the Cordani Spring 2014 Trunk Show Thursday, March 13th and Friday, March 14th featuring shoes for immediate purchase.

Register to win a free pair of Cordani shoes.

Registration begins Wednesday, March 12th (Rules apply) only at...

20 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

social

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Hearts and Harmony Gala Supports Hoover Charities, Students

For over 90 years, Levy’s has been Birmingham's Specialist in Antique and Estate Jewelry as well as Fine Diamonds, Art and Antiques.

The Hoover Service Club held its second Hearts and Harmony Gala on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Embassy Suites in Hoover.

The ballroom was aglow with flickering candles and centerpieces of tulips and roses as guests arrived for the event that helps community charities and provides scholarships for students in Hoover City Schools.

The event started with a “meet and greet” time and a chance to see the silent auction items.

Guests were welcomed by Hoover Service Club President Jennifer Caton. The invocation was given by Frances Wheeler, club chaplain.

Guests enjoyed a steak and shrimp dinner with all the trimmings.

Many of the guests took advantage of the opportunity to play the game “Heads or Tails.” more photos at Winners were Judy Holcombe, who took home a Mary Frances purse containing a special treasure, and Sandra Barnett, who won a $500 shopping spree at Hoover’s new department store, Von Maur.

Auctioneer Will Pearson along with Treva Medbery presented the live auction items. Highlights from the live auction included a Caribbean holiday from AAA Alabama, a shrimp boil

OTMJ.COM

2116 2nd Avenue North • (205) 251-3381 www.levysfinejewelry.com

Alabama History

From left: Treva Medbery, Tony and Tammie Bassenghi. Photo special to the Journal

for 50 from Shane Hill and a black onyx and diamond ring from Steeds Jewelers.

Guests danced to the music of Ain’t Misbehaving.

Gala chairman Martha Veazey was assisted by Carla Kanafani. Other committee members included Judy Thompson, Lynda Wasden, Nance Kohnen, Pat Campbell, Susan Ivey, Pam Crider, Betty Daigle, LaVerne Martin, Ann Taylor, JoAnn Powell, Elaine Thompson, Treva Medbery, Mary Sue Ludwig, Susanne Wright, Sue Knopf, Louise Mimbs, Kathryn Michael, Carole Freeze, Kay Franklin, Kim Southerland and Donna Bagwell.

Enjoying the evening along with

Faberge at the January business meeting and luncheon at the Mountain Brook Club.

To: Jennifer Other members present at the From: Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 February meeting were Amanda Adams, Barbara Baird, Martha FAX: 205-824-1246 Bartlett, Ellen Broome, Kirke Date: Feb 2014 Cater, Elaine Clark, Patricia Clark, Florence Cole, Sahra Coxe, Martha This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the The Antiquarian Society of Birmingham Lee Culp, Caroline Daniel, Susan March 6, 2014 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 12 824-1246.

Dasher, Margie Denton, Carolyn met Feb. at the Vestavia Country Drennen, Marsha Duell, Jane Ellis, Club to hear about plans for an April Please make sure all information is correct, including and phone Marjorie Forney, Joann Fox, Diane tour to Perryaddress County.

Gay, Anne Gibbons, Betty Noe Dr. Paul Reitzer, curator of the number!

Gonder and Claire Goodhue.

Museum of Marion, and Judy Martin Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.Judson College were Also attending were Kay Grayson, of Marion’s if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your adintroduced will run asasis.featured We print the paper Annie Green, Charmion Hain, Judy speakers

by Monday.

Haise, Judith Hand, Tobie Hand, Nan Teninbaum, first vice president Dawn Higgenbotham, Bernice Hill, and program chairman, for “A Journey Sandra Holley, Margaret Howell, through the Past–Historic Marion, Joan Hull, Rosemary Ippolito, Sara Alabama.”

President Rebekah Taylor presided.

Judy Long and Harriet Maloof greeted members and guests.

Valentine’s Day red roses arranged

by Pauline Fugazzotto and Nancy Jones centered each luncheon table.

Shirley Evans gave the invocation.

Members said they were saddened to learn of the recent death of their November meeting speaker, Lord Piers Wedgwood, Fourth Baron Wedgwood, who spoke to the club on “The Visions of Josiah Wedgwood.”

Andrew Hart discussed American Federal furniture at the October meeting, Miss Alabama 2012 Anna Laura Bryan entertained at the December luncheon at Birmingham Country Club, and Jacksonville State University Professor George W. Terrell Jr. gave a history of the Russian Court Jeweler

Antiquarians Plan Trip to Perry County

many Hoover Service Club members were Mayor Gary and Carolyn Ivey, Councilman Gene and Pam Smith, Councilman John and Beth Lyda, Rep. Paul DeMarco and Tony and Teresa Petelos.

Also enjoying the 2014 Hearts and Harmony Gala were Richard and Jenny Griffith, Andrew and Beth Fort, Matthew and Abby Allen, LeRoy and Carol Clark, Douglas and Connie Clark, Mark and Ann Davis and Hal and Ginger Ferrell.

Also spotted at the event were Carence and Amelia Fore, Boyce and Virginia Gutherie, Jackie and Max McClain, Peggy and Bob Miller, Dwight and Beverly Meadors, Stephen and Julie Oldenburg, David and Pam Roberts, Harold and Jean Shepherd, Mike and Betty Walton, Danny and Teresa Wilson, Eugene and Olivia Weingarten and Jim and Lori Schommer.

Funds raised at the gala will be used for scholarships and charitable donations in the coming year. ❖ Jackson, Rosemary Jager, Mary Ann Jones, Grace Key, Rusty Kirkpatrick, Lena Knight, Rose Loftin, Bitty Mason, Nancy Mason, Rebecca Mason and Nancy Morrow.

Other members at the event were Patricia Natter, Betty Northen, Margaret Northrup, Nelda Osment, Shasta Parker, Sue Patrick, Sylvia Patrick, Meredith Peeples, Barbara Petzold, Louise Pinkerton, Helen Pittman, Kathryn Porter, Margie Preston, Gail Pugh, Lucianne Pugh, Peggy Ragland, Kathie Ramsey, Laura Ramsey, Natasha Randolph and Carolyn Reich.

Also attending were Julia Alice Rice, Lucy Richardson, Lynda Robertson, Aubrey Ross, Carolyn Satterfield, Pat Scofield, Lee Scott, Janeal Shannon, Babs Simpson, Nan Skier, Jane Paris Smith, Mary Carol Smith, Linda Stewart, Rhetta Tatum, Nancy Terrell, Carole Thomas, Lois Turnipseed, Barbara Wall, Celeste Waller, Liz Warren, Doris Wayman, Leila Welch, Elouise Williams, Paulette Yelverton and Janis Zeanah. ❖ From left: Judith Hayes Hand, George W. Terrell Jr. and Nan Teninbaum.

Photo special to the Journal

Feist-Bellamy

Dr. and Mrs. William Feist of Greystone, formerly of Overland Park, Kan., announce the engagement

Lee-Pritchard

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Forrest Lee of Greenville announce the engagement of their daughter, Mallory Watts Lee, to James Arthur Pritchard III, son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pritchard Jr. of Mountain Brook.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Danolyn Cavanaugh Poole of Greenville and the late Mr. Walter Francis Cavanaugh as well as Mrs. Rexine Johnston Lee of Dothan and

Murray-Marquez

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Whittlesey Murray Jr. of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Kelly Murray, to Webster Granger Marquez, son of Mr. James

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 21

Weddings & Engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

of their daughter, Deborah Rosanne Feist, to Gordon Anderson Bellamy, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Everett Bellamy of Florence.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harold M. Forrer and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Feist, all of Topeka, Kan. Miss Feist is a graduate of Chattanooga State Community College. She is employed with God’s House Kindergarten.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Allen Bellamy of Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. Bellamy is a graduate of Alabama Aviation and Technology College. He is employed with Southern Company Services.

The wedding will be March 15.

the late Mr. Claude Gene Lee. Miss Lee is a 2006 graduate of Fort Dale Academy in Greenville and a 2010 cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She received a master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Miss Lee is employed with Puzzle Piece LLC in Vestavia Hills as an occupational therapist.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William Clifford Dickinson of Trussville and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Arthur Pritchard Sr. of Trussville.

Mr. Pritchard is a 2006 graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Business and Finance. He was a member and officer of Sigma Nu fraternity. Mr. Pritchard is employed with BLW Roofing-Alabama LLC, where he serves as manager and sales representative for the company.

The wedding is planned for March 29 in Greenville.

Granger Marquez of Greenwich, Conn., and Ms. Sandra Erben Marquez of San Antonio.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Whittlesey Murray and the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thornton Comer Jr. Miss Murray is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School, the University of Virginia and New York University School of Law. She is an attorney in Sonoma County, Calif.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vernon Marquez and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Erben.

Mr. Marquez is a graduate of Milton Academy and the University of Virginia. He is a winemaker in San Francisco and Sonoma County, Calif.

The wedding is planned for March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

To have our wedding, engagement or anniversary forms sent to you, call 823-9646.

Dean-Still

Anna Schuessler Dean and

Charles Perry Still were married Feb. 22 at Highlands United Methodist Church. The 5 p.m. ceremony was officiated by Rev. Mikah Hudson.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wood Dean Jr. of Birmingham. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter W. Dean Sr. of Tuscaloosa as well as the late Mr. and Mrs. William H. Jenkins of Decatur.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Wright Still of Birmingham. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Furman Still Jr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles DeBardeleben Perry, all of Birmingham.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a flowing, A-line silk

chiffon dress with a cathedral-length silk tulle veil.

She was attended by her sister, Amelia Dean Bobo, as matron of honor. The bridesmaids were Mary Chollet O’Neal, sister of the groom, and Katherine Lee Still, sister-inlaw of the groom. Carolyn Elizabeth Perry was the flower girl.

The father of the groom was best man. Groomsmen were Jonathan Paul Bobo, brother-in-law of the bride; Edwin Camper O’Neal, brotherin-law of the groom, and Stephen Wright Still Jr., brother of the groom.

Music was provided by Richard Phillips.

After a honeymoon trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico, the couple will live in Birmingham.

Lauren Ann Holmes, niece of the bride, was bridesmaid.

Robert Chief Fulkerson was best man.

After a honeymoon trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the couple live in Birmingham.

Nortick-Goldstucker

Dr. Mariel H. Nortick and Mr. Richard W. Goldstucker were married April 20 at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta. The Rev. Annette Mize officiated the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Adam Nortick of Vestavia Hills. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goldstucker of Atlanta.

Given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a strapless gown of raw silk encircled with lace bands.

She was attended by her sister, Chelsea Nortick, as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Rachel Goldstucker, sister of the groom; Raina Nortick-Berkow, sister of the bride, and Tara Kaufman.

The father of the groom was the best man. Groomsmen were Patrick Arndt, Jeff Bilsky, Tim Carlton, Brent Dorfman, Matthew Evans, John Pope and Mike Pope.

A lovely rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents at the Peachtree Club the evening before the wedding.

After a honeymoon trip to South Africa, the couple live in Atlanta.

Celebrating an anniversary?

Send your announcements and photos to editorial@otmj.com.

Holmes-Landen

Lela Kathryn Holmes and Steven Michael Landen were married Oct. 26 at Muriell’s in New Orleans. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Joe Pitzer.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Holmes of Vestavia Hills. The groom is the son of Ms. Doris Landen of Davison, Mich.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a Vera Wang Georgette mermaid gown with a dramatic organza skirt. The gown featured draped Chantilly straps and lace appliqués at the bodice. A vintage rhinestone sash accented the waist.

The dramatic skirt with basket weave organza blossoms and petal embroidery finished the train.

The bride was attended by Lauren Elizabeth Chandler as maid of honor.

The Beginning Experience Ministry A peer ministry for separated, divorced, and widowed persons

Weekly Support Group Held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood.

Tuesdays 6pm-8:30pm Cost: $30 for a 10 week session.

New 10 week sessions begin the second Tuesday of each quarter.

For more information please call 969-8509 or visit: www.birminghambeginningexperience.org

22 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

HOme

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Good News for Buyers, Sellers: Home Sales Are Up in OTM Area

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

Close to Home Renovation Lets Thompsons Remain in the Neighborhood They Love Story by keysha drexel • Photos by Lee Walls Jr.

When the living room of Kate and Ryan Thompson’s home on Woodfern Drive in Homewood started looking like a giant toy box a few years ago, the couple knew it was time to move out of the 1,250-square-foot home to a bigger house that would better accommodate their growing family.

But there was just one problem--they didn’t want to move.

“We bought that first house on Woodfern Drive in November of 2006 when we were newlyweds and it was perfect for us--for a while. When we found out we were expecting our second son, we knew we needed more space, but we loved being in Homewood,” Kate said.

So the couple embarked on a home search that was more about community than closet space.

“We really had to weigh our priorities when it was time to move out of our starter home,” Ryan said. “It came down to the fact that we were willing to sacrifice square footage because we knew we didn’t want to move very far.”

And they didn’t. In June, the family moved less than a mile away to a home on Roseland Drive in the heart of city they couldn’t bear to leave.

The Craftsman style house, which was built in the 1940s, gave the Thompsons the extra room they needed to enjoy with their sons, 2-year-old Phipps and 5-month-old Oliver.

“It had everything we wanted--a playroom, an additional den, a nice master suite and a large, fenced-in backyard sitting on a great corner lot,” Kate said.

But remember that sacrifice Ryan talked about earlier?

“Yeah, that came in the form of the kitchen in the new house.

While everything else in the house was exactly what we were looking for, the kitchen was just the opposite,” Kate said. “It was small, dark

and closed off from the heart of the house.”

But the Thompsons had a vision.

“We were inspired to think outside the ‘small Homewood house’ box and think about a way to transform the space into something that would work for our family,” Kate said.

The couple’s main objective when planning the renovation was to open up the kitchen so that it flowed better with the rest of the house.

“We wanted to be able to see the kids if we’re working in the kitchen and they’re playing in the living room,” Ryan said. “Our main objective was to make it more open and more modern.”

Kate said it was important to lighten the mood of the dark, boxy kitchen.

“Both of our families live out of town, and so when everyone’s visiting, we need a big See thompsons, page 24

The Thompson family recently renovated the kitchen of the second house they’ve owned in Homewood. From left: Kate, Oliver, Ryan and Phipps Thompson. The kitchen renovation included installing new cabinetry, a stainless steel farmhouse sink and a stainless steel gas range. The ceiling was also redone and new lighting was added. The couple chose to keep the kitchen’s original hardwood flooring and refinished it.

They chose the 1940s Craftsman style house on Roseland Drive because of its proximity to Homewood schools, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The Over the Mountain real estate market is getting a boost from the statistics as the busy spring home buying and selling season approaches.

The Birmingham Association of Realtors recently reported that the fourcounty Birmingham metro area maintained a steady double digit increase in home sales in 2013 compared to the previous year.

The association said home sales in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Blount counties ended 10 percent ahead of 2012.

The association said 11,857 homes were sold in 2013 compared to 10,770 in 2012.

Those numbers, coupled with a 9 percent increase in the average sales price, add up to good news for the real estate market in the Birmingham metro area, said Chip Watts, president of BAR. “This overall increase in housing activity is a very strong and true indicator that the market is back in Birmingham,” Watts said. “I am pleased to report that now is the time to buy.”

The BAR and the Greater Alabama Multiple Listings Service also report that the median sales price--or the mid-point price of all homes sold--was up 9 percent from 2012 at $163,970 for 2013.

The association said that foreclosures remained a significant number of sales in 2013.

About 200 of the 887 homes, or 23 percent, sold in the four-county Chip Watts area in December were foreclosures. The average price on the foreclosed homes was $79,280, compared to the $239,280 average of the non-foreclosure sales.

In the Over the Mountain area, once again the Hoover area showed the strongest residential sales.

In the Hoover/Riverchase/Bluff Park (Jefferson County) area, 1,123 homes were sold in 2013 with an average price of $266,943.

The North Shelby/Hoover area in Shelby County posted the next highest number of residential sales in the Over the Mountain area in 2013 with 908 homes sold with an average price of $$335,500.

Liberty Park/Vestavia came in third with 763 homes sold in 2013 with an average price of $326,928.

In Homewood, 492 homes were sold in 2013 with an average price of $274,399.

Mountain Brook residential sales for 2013 See home sales, page 26

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

HOme

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 23

Best Picture Of The Year goes to Liberty Park!

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by March 31, 2014 and cannot be combined with any other incentives or offers. The information contained herein should be deemed accurate but not warranted.

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The Logan Show Home

(205) 945-6401

libertypark.com

24 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the best employer of them all?

home

thompsons, From page 22

space to entertain and for everyone to get together,” she said.

The couple asked some friends in Homewood who had recently renovated their house to recommend a contractor for their kitchen project.

“Our friends used Willow Homes for their addition and renovation project, and we were very impressed with their results,” Ryan said. “Having that recommendation from our friends gave Happy 70th Birthday from your store family at us a lot of comfort during the process.”

After talking to the crew at Willow Homes, the couple decided the best course of action would be to tear down Antiques and Accessories a wall that separated the kitchen and 2700 19th Place South • Homewood • 871-9779 the dining room.

Tue.-Fri. 10:30-5:30 • Sat. 11:00-4:30 “Then the grand gutting began,” Kate said. “The demolition started on the Fourth of July weekend. All of the cabinetry was removed, and the ceilings had that popcorn finish and that had to be removed.”

A builder who came in to remove the cabinetry struck up a conversation with the couple and suggested they reconfigure the kitchen, Kate said.

“He was really helpful and suggested moving things around to get more bang for our buck,” she said. “We couldn’t make the kitchen a whole lot bigger than it was, but we could improve its functionality.”

Before the renovation, the kitchen sink faced out to the street, but the Thompsons decided to move the sink so that the window above it provides a view to the large backyard.

“That way I can keep an eye on the kids if they’re in the backyard and I’m at the sink,” Kate said.

The couple said they knew they wanted a bright, timeless feeling for cia their knew kitchen.

Kathy’sJournal, Designerphone Kitchens, Inc. er The Mountain 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 “We didn’t want something that 1831 29th Ave. S. • Homewood, AL 35209 27 was going to look really dated in five 205-871-9880 • Kathy Owens, President This is your aD prOOF from theCKD, Over The MOunTain JOurnal for theyears,” Ryan said. “But other than that, March 6, 2014 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. we didn’t really have a style direction we were following.”

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

then we both just fell in love with this beautiful white marble that comes from right here in Alabama,” Kate said. “We were hesitant about going with the white marble, though, because we were concerned about taking care of it.”

But in the end, the marble became the key piece in the couple’s redesign plan.

“We decided to go with the marble and just be careful with it,” Ryan said.

“Ultimately, it’s what we built everything around in the rest of the kitchen.”

The couple added a stainless steel farmhouse sink to coordinate with the stainless steel refrigerator and dishwasher already in the kitchen. They

during the five weeks it took to complete the kitchen renovation.

“I think we used our toaster oven so much during that time that I didn’t want to see it for a while once the new kitchen was complete,” Kate said.

Ryan said the family put its grill to good use during the kitchen renovation and were reminded of one of the many reasons they decided to stay in Homewood.

“We’re two blocks away from Oxmoor Road where you have so many great restaurants,” he said. “We definitely took advantage of being close to Saw’s (BBQ) and New York Pizza.”

Having the contractor living about

To open up the kitchen of their 1940s home, the Thompsons removed a wall that separated the dining room from the kitchen. The Thompsons said they took a lot of time choosing the right surface materials for their revamped kitchen. They said they designed the kitchen around the white Alabama marble they chose for the countertops and backsplash.

Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

also added a new stainless steel gas range, much to Kate’s delight.

“I grew up with an electric range and never really enjoyed cooking until I got married and we had a gas range,” Kate said. “It’s completely different than cooking on an electric range, and it was definitely a must-have in the new kitchen.”

Kate said she was definitely dreaming of cooking on that new gas range

five minutes from their home also helped make the renovation project go faster, Kate said.

“Jason Hale was the contractor, and he lives here in Homewood and would pop in to make sure everything was going well,” she said. “It was like having a neighbor helping you with your kitchen renovation, and that’s another example of why we love Homewood so much.”

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.

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Neither Kate nor Ryan is a Birmingham area native. Both came to the Over the Mountain area to attend college at Samford University.

Ryan grew up in Collierville, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis, and Kate grew up in Social Circle, Ga., a small rural town about 45 miles east of Atlanta.

The couple met the second week of their freshman year at Samford and will celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary in April.

Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in history from Samford and a juris doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law. He’s an attorney at Burr and Foreman LLP. Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Samford, worked for six years at Southern Living and is now a stay-at-home mom.

“After graduation, we both got jobs here and were really glad we got to stay here,” Ryan said. “We loved the convenience of Homewood, of being so close to downtown Birmingham but living in this very welcoming community where you can pretty much walk anywhere you need to go.”

Kate said growing up in a small town in Georgia makes her appreciate Homewood’s walkability, which recently earned the city the state’s Most Walkable City title.

“When you live in a rural place, you have to drive everywhere, and you couldn’t get the stroller out and walk with the kids just anywhere,” she said. “Homewood offers the kind of lifestyle I always wanted.”

Ryan said he likes that he and his neighbors know each other and that

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 25

Home

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

he doesn’t have to go far to get good food or see a good show.

“Homewood offers all the amenities of a bigger city without the traffic and the noise, yet you still have great restaurants and so many options when it comes to art, music and other cultural events,” he said.

And now that they have two sons, the couple says one of their favorite things about their Roseland Drive home is its proximity to the elementary school Phipps and Oliver will attend in a few years.

“We’re within two blocks of Edgewood Elementary School, and we envision the boys being able to walk to school every day,” Kate said.

“When I was a kid, I never saw anyone walk to school unless it was on TV. I’m glad we’re raising our children in this community.”

And while they updated and renovated the Roseland Drive home’s kitchen to make it better fit their lifestyle, the Thompsons said they were careful to preserve the house’s original character.

“This house holds the stories of families before us, and we realize that is part of the charm of this house, so we didn’t want to come in and completely take away that charm,” Kate said.

The couple refinished the original hardwood pine floors in the kitchen as a nod to the home’s past.

“We also kept the original doors and the glass doorknobs because there are some things that you can’t just run to the home store and buy,” Kate said.

“It’s good to keep a little of the old mixed in with the new.” ❖

Connecting Home Buyers & Sellers

Jeff Ireland (left) celebrating with agent Michael Harden

When Jeff Ireland and his wife Shanisty Myers decided to move to Kentucky for career opportunities, it meant selling two homes in Ross Bridge.

“We had a home to sell and so did my in-laws. A friend recommended Michael Harden with ARC Realty, and he was able to sell both homes in under 60 days. We’d gladly recommend Michael and ARC Realty to anyone needing to buy or sell a home.”

– Jeff Ireland 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200 Michael Harden • cell (205) 739-9175

•

A Relationship Company

Birmingham, AL 35243

•

205.969.8910

arcrealtyco.com

26 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

home

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

home sales,

Father and Son Real Estate Team

From page 22

Real estate agent Mike Wald says the Over the Mountain market rebounded in a big way in 2013.

“For the first time in years, we had listings receiving multiple offers and selling for more than the asking price,” Wald said.

Wald said this year, demand is still strong for homes in the Over the Mountain area.

“Rates have increased over the last year but are still attractive on a historical basis,” he said.

“We’re hoping more homeowners will decide this year is the year to put their houses on the market.”

The key concern in the Over the Mountain real estate market is inventory, Wald said.

“Currently, it’s a seller’s market because we have more buyers than available homes,” he said.

While the Over the Mountain market is much better than it was during the recession, Wald said it is still important for sellers to be sure they are listing their homes at appropriate prices.

“It’s also important to ensure that the house is in the best possible condition prior to listing,” he said. “Homes that are priced right and are in good condition tend to sell faster, and in our opinion, they tend to sell at higher prices.”

Wald also has some advice for home buyers this year.

“Buyers in this market need to be ready to be

4

decisive,” he said. “When they see the house they want, they have to realize that there will be others who feel the same way.”

Home buyers should also have their financing in order as they begin their search for a new home, Wald said.

“We also recommend that buyers take what we call an ‘outside-in’ approach. In other words, give strong consideration to the neighborhood and street when you are trying to find the perfect house,” he said.

So much of what makes a house a great place to live actually happens on the outside of the home, Wald said.

“You can paint or remodel to make the interior of the house suitable but if you don’t enjoy the neighborhood, there’s not much that can be done,” he said.

Wald said he’s been in the real estate business since before he could drive.

“My mom had to drive me to my first summer job when I was a framer’s helper,” he said. “It was a great experience and I learned a lot about how houses are built. That’s handy info to have now.”

Mike Wald can be reached at 541-0940.

Hayden Wald can be reached at 919-5535.

Excellent Communication

Spring is the perfect time to begin your 4search. There’s a great selection home of beautiful Over-the-Mountain homes and rates are still very attractive!

Visit FindThePerfectHouse.com or call Mike or Hayden to start your search today!

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4

Exceptional Service

Mike Wald 541-0940 Hayden Wald 919-5535

Robin Owings, Realtor

Buying or selling a home is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Having a real estate professional who focuses on your needs and understands the market can go a long way. Robin Owings is your go-to Realtor in the Over the Mountain market. Experienced and knowledgeable, Robin has been delivering results for buyers and sellers for over 8 years and continues to be a top producer in her company.

Let Robin take care of your real estate needs so you can focus on what truly matters. Contact her today for your free, needs-based assessment.

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“My approach to real estate is simple. Work hard and treat people the way you want to be treated.” ~ Robin

came in at 425 with an average price of $579,378.

In the Crestline Gardens/Crestline Park/ Irondale area, 301 homes were sold in 2013 with an average price of $165,724. In the Bluff Park/Hoover/Riverchase area in Jefferson County, 231 homes were sold at an average price of $266,943 in 2013.

In the Altadena/Cahaba Heights area, 82 homes were sold in 2013 with an average price of $183,443. The North Shelby/Hoover area in Jefferson County saw 17 residential sales in 2013 with an average price of $290,106.

All those numbers point to good news for the Birmingham metro real estate market, especially the Over the Mountain area, real estate professionals say.

James Harwell, the multiple listings service president for the BAR, said the real estate market is finally returning to what it should be.

“We are far more balanced and in a far healthier place than we have been a long time,” Harwell said.

Harwell said he is most encouraged by the numbers showing what homes are listing and selling for in the Over the Mountain area in 2013.

“Those are the best numbers, the ones that encourage me the most,” he said. “Most of those are hovering around 90 percent.

What that means is that if you list a house for $100,000, chances are you’re going to sell it for about $90,000.”

That indicates sellers are being more reasonable in the listing prices for their homes and that buyers are paying closer to those listing prices.

“When the frenzy happened, you’d have people listing a $100,000 home for $300,000, and those were not real numbers.

We have to keep an eye on those numbers and make sure it doesn’t get so out of whack again,” Harwell said.

Harwell said the slow and steady increase in home values is also a good sign for the Over the Mountain real estate market.

“Another good thing is the average price is climbing back up because values are increasing,” he said. “I’m not keen on values going down so people can make money.

Values go up and down just like in any market, but you never want them to go straight up or straight down.”

Inventory is also at a more balanced state than it has been in years, Harwell said.

“For a while it was way, way too high and then it got a little bit low, but right now it’s healthier than it has been in a long time,” he said.

Harwell said the real estate market is still correcting itself after the frenzy of the early 2000s.

“If you look at the numbers from 2013, everything happened quickly in the first six or eight months of the year and then it kind of got quiet. That’s a normal market,” he said. “We got spoiled by that year-round buying and selling frenzy before the bust, but now we’re getting back to a seasonal market, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Historically, Harwell said, the hottest time for the real estate industry is a fivemonth window between April and August.

Watts said the current market presents a balanced atmosphere for both homebuyers and those looking to sell their homes this spring and summer.

“It’s the time to buy and the time to sell because we have a very balanced market

right now,” Watts said.

It’s a good time to sell a home in the Over the Mountain area, Watts said, because many homeowners have been able to regain some of the equity they lost after the recession and the housing bust.

“Especially in the Over the Mountain area, you have homeowners who have not only regained that equity but built new equity,” he said.

Watts said he’s seeing a lot of young families who bought starter homes right before the recession and are now ready to move to larger houses.

“In a lot of cases, you have young families who bought a house in 2010 or 2011 and since then have added another child to the family. They’ve been restricted on what they could buy because of the recession,” Watts said.

“But now that they’ve regained that equity, they are ready to sell and move to a house that better fits their needs.”

And while young homeowners are putting their houses on the market so they can better accommodate their expanding families, Watts said older Over the Mountain residents are also on the move.

“We’re starting to see more of the Baby Boomers selling their homes and downsizing,” he said. “For example, they are downsizing from a larger home in Mountain Brook or Vestavia or Hoover and moving to smaller homes like the neighborhood across from Samford University. They want to stay in the Over the Mountain area, but they don’t want to have to worry about home maintenance and those kinds of issues.”

But the uptick in young families and Baby Boomers putting their houses on the market doesn’t mean that homebuyers are inundated with endless choices of homes for sale in the Over the Mountain area, Watts said.

“Inventory is still down from what it used to be in the darkest days of the recession,” he said. “What you’re seeing now is some of these homes in the Over the Mountain area are literally

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 27

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

staying on the market for less than 10 days.”

And that’s not a bad thing, Watts said.

“Young families and others are taking the risk of buying another home while their current homes are on the market, and they are finding out that taking that gamble is paying off and they’re able to sell their homes quickly and get into their new homes quickly,” he said.

Last year, real estate professionals said homebuyers were looking for houses that were move-in ready, but this year, Harwell said he’s seeing more homebuyers willing to put in a little work to make a space work for them.

“People are willing to do the renovations or updates themselves if the price is right,” Harwell said. “That’s a very good sign for the market because people aren’t willing to do that work if the values are tanking and have no hope of ever recovering. That shows that people have confidence in the Over the Mountain real estate market.”

Watts said the Over the Mountain area continues to be popular with homebuyers across the board because of the quality of its schools, jobs and amenities.

“I think the number one thing that attracts people to this area is the schools. A school system can have a tremendous impact on where people are willing to buy a house,” he said.

Watts said real estate professionals in the Over the Mountain area saw direct evidence of that over the summer when the Hoover school system was considering eliminating school bus service.

“With the Hoover bus issues over the past year, there were several families who decided not to buy in Hoover, and that’s because a lot of them were two-parent working families and they relied on school buses to get their children to and from school,” Watts said.

“It was too much of a risk for them to buy in Hoover if there they couldn’t count on the buses, so they had to find

something comparable to Hoover.”

For many of those potential Hoover residents, that meant moving east and south, Watts said.

“You saw an influx of purchases in the Oak Mountain area that happened very quickly over the summer and were directly impacted by the Hoover bus situation,” he said.

Watts said the increased activity in the real estate market in Liberty Park and Vestavia Hills was probably due to new subdivisions built in the area and the quality of life amenities offered.

“They have great schools, great shopping, great youth sports programs, and you have those subdivisions that generate a spirit of family and camaraderie in the neighborhood,” he said. “That holds true for Mountain Brook, for Homewood, for all of the Over the Mountain areas.”

That quality of life is what continues to make the Over the Mountain real estate market a healthy one, Watts said.

Harwell said he thinks the market will continue to improve as long as buyers and sellers change their mindset and get back to thinking of homes the way they did before the bubble of the 2000s.

“I just encourage people to look at real estate as a good, sound investment instead of a money-making venture,” he said. “Get away from the mindset that it’s going to be your retirement, because it’s not. It’s not about using and abusing the real estate market to make some quick money.

It’s about making a long-term investment.” ❖

BLUFF PARK WINDOW WORKS

• Wood window restoration and repair • Sash replacement, rot repair • Replace broken and fogged glass • Wood insulated, putty glazed, and composite vinyl replacement sashes • Locally owned and operated

Liberty Park Model Home Will Be Open March 15 Liberty Park Properties is rolling out the red carpet this month to give visitors a look at the new floor plans in its collection of homes.

The Logan premiere event will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 15 at 4751 Liberty Park Lane in Vestavia Hills.

Guests will get a look at the Logan model home, including its fullyfurnished interiors and the finished basement with an “imagination room” of design ideas.

The event will include face painting for children, giveaways and light hors d’oeuvres.

For more information, visit www.libertypark.com or call the Liberty Park sales office at 945-6401. ❖

For Your Shopping Pleasure Antiques and Accessories

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To: Tricia From: Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 Date: March This is your aD prOOF from the Over The MOunTain JOurnal for the March 6, 2014 issue. please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Call 205-542-6094

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

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28 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

business

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Piece of the Pie Davenport’s Pizza Celebrates 50th Birthday

By Keysha Drexel

admired him for that tenacity,” she said.

Norris said she admired her mother tremendously for eather Norris does not working the 90-hour weeks it mind talking about the required to get the business off recipe for success that the ground. has made Jim Davenport’s “They lived just across the Pizza Palace an institution street on Brook Manor Drive. in Mountain Brook for half They would work these crazy a century--an entrepreneurial shifts, go home to sleep for a spirit, hard work and dedicafew hours and come right back tion to quality and service. to work,” Norris said. “My But the pizzeria owner gets a father was the one who had the little tight-lipped if the conversagreat idea to start the business, tion turns to the other secrets but once it got going, it was of the restaurant’s success--the my mother who did the work recipes handed down to Norris to make it happen.” by her mother, Ardyce Hollis.

Norris grew up waiting “Some secrets will never tables and working at the cash leave that kitchen,” Norris said. register at the Pizza Palace.

“That’s the way it should be.”

Rep. Paul DeMarco, left, presents a resolution She also worked closely with The pizzeria is celebrating to Amanda Thames honoring Davenport’s her mother in the kitchen and its 50th year in business this Pizza Palace’s 50th year in business in learned her recipes.

May, and Norris and her niece, Mountain Brook. Photo courtesy Mary Margaret Chambliss When her mother passed Amanda Thames, are continuing away in 2000, Norris and her the family tradition of serving up sister, Dianne McDanal, ran the business with their scratch-made pizza seven days a week on Cahaba Road father. He died in 2009, and then McDanal passed in Mountain Brook Village. away suddenly the following year.

The Pizza Palace was the brainchild of Norris’ father, Norris said after her sister’s death, she knew she Rex Hollis, who tasted pizza during his business travels needed help but wanted to keep the Pizza Palace a in the 1950s and 1960s, Norris said. family-run business. So she asked McDanal’s daughter, “Back then, there weren’t a lot of Amanda Thames, to take over the accounting duties at ‘He would go places that served pizza, especially in door to door the South. My dad always said that there the restaurant.

“I had grown up coming here with my mom and seeonly one place in the whole state at giving people was ing my grandmother here, and when Heather talked to that time--Shakey’s--where you could samples. me about doing the accounting, I was really proud to be get pizza,” Norris said. “So, he said, a part of the family business,” Thames said.

‘What the heck?’ and decided to give it I admired Thames said she thinks that by working in the family a try here.” him for that business, she is honoring the legacy of her grandmother, Norris said her father always had an tenacity.’

Ardyce Hollis, and her mother, Diane McDanal. entrepreneurial spirit and was a bit of a “Their spirits definitely live on in what we continue risk-taker. to do at the restaurant every day,” Thames said.

“As a kid, he had a hotdog stand, and he’d sell hotHilda Tant said she was one of the first people to dogs in the Siluria neighborhood near Alabaster where taste Hollis’ pizza. Tant’s late husband, John Tant, ran he grew up,” Norris said. “That’s where he met Jim Burch & Tant Formalwear, now Mr. Burch Formal Wear, Davenport.” next door to Davenport’s Pizza Palace.

Jim “Peanut” Davenport, a Shelby County native, “I think we had the first pizza they ever made here,” was a baseball and football standout at the University of Southern Mississippi and entered Major League Baseball Tant said. “I guess we were kind of the guinea pigs for in 1958 to play with the San Francisco Giants. Davenport Rex and Ardyce, especially when they were figuring out their sauce in the beginning.” was with the Giants his entire career and retired in 1970.

Tant said Davenport’s Pizza Palace is still one of her When Hollis decided to open the pizzeria in Mountain favorite places to eat, 50 years after she tasted that first Brook, he knew he would need a well-known name to pizza pie. attract customers to the new restaurant, Norris said.

Tant was joined last week at the pizzeria for lunch by “No one knew my dad at that time, but everyone her daughter, Robin Wood, and granddaughter, Morgan knew Jim Davenport. He was a big name, and my dad Painter, both of Hoover. grew up with him and thought having his name associ“This place is a part of so many family memories for ated with the restaurant was a good idea,” Norris said. me,” Painter said. “I came here with my grandmother Norris said Davenport was happy to lend his name to his childhood friend’s start-up and is still a regular visitor and mother growing up, and now I bring my son here and it’s his favorite.” to the restaurant.

Wood said she thinks the pizzeria is “probably But despite her father’s vision of an untapped resBirmingham’s best restaurant” and that she can hardly taurant market in pizzerias, Norris said Jim Davenport’s bring herself to eat pizza from any other restaurant.

Pizza Palace came very close to just being a dream.

“I like that they’ve never really expanded their menu.

“I remember my dad telling me that it took a lot of They didn’t try out all the trends. They just made somework to even get a bank to back them up on opening the thing that was really good and stayed with it,” Wood business,” Norris said. “No one at that time could have said. dreamed that pizza would become so much a part of our Norris said she thinks that tradition of sticking with culture.” what works is one of the reasons behind the restaurant’s But Norris said her father believed that once people longevity. gave pizza a try, they would love it.

“For something that seemed way out there in 1964, “He would go door to door giving people samples. I Journal editor

H

Davenport’s Pizza Palace founder Rex Hollis tosses the pizzeria’s signature crust while customers look on during the restaurant’s early days.

Ardyce Hollis gets ready to ring up an order at Davenport’s Pizza Palace shortly after it opened in 1964.

Photo special to the Journal

pizza really has become a comfort food,” Norris said.

“And our place is comfortable, too. It’s something that’s familiar and a place where you know you’re going to get the great food you love.”

But while the fresh ingredients and made-fromscratch menu items have remained the same over the last half century, Thames said Davenport’s Pizza Palace does embrace change, just very slowly.

“In October 2012, we added a second oven and did some slight renovations to the kitchen area to accommodate the new oven,” she said. “It really helps meet the increased demand and get our customers their pizzas faster.”

But even that change Tant Taste Tester Generations of pizza lovers have been gathering was something Norris and Thames said they made after at Davenport’s Pizza Palace in much deliberation and careful Mountain Brook for half a century.

Robin Wood, standing, joined consideration. her mother, Hilda Tant, left, and “We don’t really rush daughter, Morgan Painter, for into changing things around lunch at the pizzeria last week.

Journal photo by Keysha Drexel here,” Norris said. “It’s just like with our menu--we find what works and we stick with that.”

But Norris doesn’t rule out the possibility of big changes for the family business in its next 50 years.

“I think it would be neat if we had another location that was also run by members of the family,” Norris said.

“The main thing would be to make sure that no matter how many restaurants we had, we wouldn’t get away from what makes us good.”

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

Olive Oil Store Opens in Mountain Brook Village

products and where to purchase them, visit www.asherriley.com.

A little drizzle of Italy is now available for Over the Mountain area foodies.

OLI.O, a retail store specializing in the sale of premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars, opened recently in Mountain Hutton Fant, owner Brook of OLI.O in Mountain Village.

Brook. Photo special to the Journal The products available in the store are carefully selected, owner Hutton Fant said.

“Our balsamic vinegars are imported from a region of Italy called Modena.

Our olive oils are being imported based on the harvest,” she said. “The standard that we set can’t be rivaled.”

The store is not just a place for purchasing high-quality olive oils, Fant said. The shop also has a tasting bar where customers can walk in and sample any product in the building, she said.

“OLI.O was designed to be a place where customers could engage in what they’re purchasing,” Fant said. “We would love to see it be a place used for friends and family to gather for supper clubs, girls’ night out or private tastings.”

OLI.O is at 2411 Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook. For more information, call 802-5756 or visit www. oliooilsandbalsamics.com.

Couple Starts Hoover Music Studio, Academy

Needlepoint Creations Now Available in Stores A company started by a Hoover couple now has its wares in several Over the Mountain shops.

Asher Riley, a needlepoint company started by husband and wife team Virden and Elle Hargrove, now has its products available at Hollywood Pet Feed in Cahaba Heights and The Pants Store in Mountain Brook.

The company creates hand-stitched items ranging from men’s belts to dog collars that are designed by Virden.

Elle and Virden Hargrove of Hoover are the owners of Asher Riley.

Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

“It was just a hobby at first,” Elle said.

“But then as Virdin wore his belts in public, he began receiving requests for specialty designs.”

The couple said the best part of their jobs as business owners is being able to make items that are truly personalized for their customers.

“Putting patterns and pictures together to represent a particular personality is special,” Elle said. “The finished product is really like a piece of personalized art.”

For more information on Asher Riley

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 29

Business briefs

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

An Over the Mountain couple recently realized a lifelong dream by opening a music studio and academy in Hoover.

Shane and Shauna Nichols opened Stickandstrum Academy on David Green Road in Riverchase in January.

Stickandstrum Academy offers private and group music lessons in guitar, bass, drums, piano and ukulele.

“What sets us apart is that where most teachers end with lessons, we are only getting started,” Shauna said. “Our focus is on students playing in bands together or cultivating themselves as a live solo acoustic act.”

Shane has been teaching music lessons in the Birmingham metro area at studios, churches and music stores for about 10 years. He said he felt it was time he and Shauna opened their own studio.

As a music teacher, Shane said his aim is to do much Shauna and Shane more than Nicholas, owners of keep his Stickandstrum Academy in Hoover. Photo special to students the Journal busy.

“With no bigger goals to set their sights on, many students ultimately get bored with lessons and quit,” he said. “It would be like going to soccer practice every week for a year but never playing a game. What’s the point?”

For more information, visit www. stickandstrum.com

Brick & Tin Opening in Mountain Brook Pretty soon, fans of Brick & Tin restaurant won’t have to travel downtown to get a taste of what owner Mauricio Papapietro calls “slow food meets fast food.”

Papapietro is renovating a space at 2901 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Village with plans to open the restaurant’s first Over the Mountain location soon.

The casual restaurant downtown opened in July 2010 out of the belief that “there is a market Mauricio Papapietro, and strong owner of Brick & Tin in demand for Mountain Brook. high quality Journal photo by Keysha Drexel food that’s accessible” to everyone, Papapietro said.

“Everyone should be able to eat good food every day and not have to compromise their health and well-being by going to fast food chains and other outlets that are proven to cause health

problems,” he said.

The restaurant uses only all-natural, humanely raised meats and carefully sources as many ingredients as possible from local growers and farmers, he said.

“We strive to bring all the quality of the finest restaurants into a fast, casual and exciting new atmosphere in an effort to make wholesome, artfully crafted food an everyday option,” Papapietro said.

For more information, visit brickandtin.com.

Homewood Has New Hearing Loss Clinic A hearing loss clinic in the heart of Homewood recently held an open house.

Dr. Brian J. McCool and Dr. Tarika Bhuta hosted the event as the official opening of Sonology Hearing Clinic on Independence Drive.

McCool and Bhuta, who are married, started seeing patients in the clinic in July after practicing medicine in the Birmingham area for more than 10 years.

Both worked previously at St. Vincent’s, McCool said.

Sonology is not just a hearing aid store, McCool said.

“It is the only physician-directed hearing aid clinic in the Birmingham area devoted to hearing health,” he said.

McCool said he and Bhuta have seen many patients with hearing loss that has been inappropriately managed.

“We are board-certified physicians who have completed four years of medical school, five years of residency training and 10 years each of private practice,” he said.

For more information, visit www. sonologyhearing.com or call 313-0395.

1442 MontgoMery HigHway, Suite 2 BirMingHaM nathanmarcus@allstate.com

OTM Chambers Plan March Luncheons, Events Over the Mountain area chambers of commerce are offering several upcoming networking opportunities and special events.

David Proctor, a federal judge, will be the guest speaker at the March 11 Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Visit www.vestaviahills.org or call 823-5011 for more information.

Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business at Samford University, will be the guest speaker at the Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s March 18 membership meeting.To make reservations or for more information, visit www. homewoodchamber.org or call 8715631.

For information on the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce’s March 17 luncheon, visit visit www. hooverchamber.org or call 988-5672. ❖

To: From: Date:

Nathan Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Feb. 2104

This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the march 6 2014 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to appro your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

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

(205) 871-3878

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.

(205) 871-3878

30 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

Schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Academic Achievement OTM Students Are Presidential Scholar Candidates

By Taylor Burgess Journal intern

S

everal students in Over the Mountain area high schools have been named candidates for the 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The U.S. Department of Education each year distinguishes up to 141 students as Presidential Scholars, the highest national award high school students can achieve during their senior year.

This year, 73 candidates in Alabama schools were nominated for the award.

Of those, 35 come from Over the Mountain schools.

Beyond the 2014 nomination cycle, Over the Mountain schools have had many other students who have been successful in the program.

Throughout the program’s history, Mountain Brook High School has had more Presidential Scholar finalists than any other school in Alabama.

Indian Springs School has had 18 students selected as Presidential Scholar candidates in the last eight years and five students chosen as finalists since the program’s inception.

For the 2010 program, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate had one student selected as a finalist who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the honoree ceremony.

The Altamont School’s three candidates are the highest number of candidates the school has had to date.

The 12 candidates from Vestavia Hills High School are also the most students the school has had invited to the program in a given year.

Some candidates also excel in other programs. The Alabama School of Fine Arts’ Devin Sun is an AP Scholar

2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Candidates From Alabama School of Fine Arts: Devin Sun. From The Altamont School: Andrew Denard, Emily Polhill and Simon Tomlinson. From Homewood High School: Emily Harrison. From Hoover High School: Xianming Li and Sunny Thodupunuri. From Indian Springs School: Hill Balliet, Tara Markert, Seth Perlman and Patrick Scalise. From Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School: Brooke Bailey and Grace Wright. From Mountain Brook High School: John Blum, Olivia Burton, Mary Nix Roberson, Maggie Selesky and Ford Wood. From Spain Park High School: Erin Brown, Sean McComb, Matthew Schoeneman, Stefanie Schoeneman and Flannery Wynn. From Vestavia Hills High School: Mary Catherine Cook, Ruth Dismukes, Siyin Han, Emma Jackson, Silin Li, Andrea Lin, Jimmy Liu, Wendi Lu, Austin Owen, Anna Cathryn Parker, Ziqi Wang and Sophie Wu. with distinction, dual-enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and conducting research on robotics with University of Alabama professors.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to recognize the nation’s highest achieving students. The program was modified in 1979 to include students who excel in

the visual, creative and performing arts.

Students do not apply for the program but are invited. Students must graduate during the program year to be considered. The majority of candidates are nominated for their academic achievement, but some are also selected for achievement in the arts.

The program considers students for their academic success based on the top 20 males and females in SAT and ACT test records for each state. Students considered for their arts achievements must be participants in the national YoungArts program and submit tapes or manuscripts of their work.

Once students are nominated, they must apply further with essays, transcripts and self-assessments. The candidates are then narrowed based on analyses of their essays, leadership and public service to their community and school, personal traits and academic success.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a national committee of distinguished citizens and educators appointed by President Obama, then selects 500 semifinalists for the program.

In April, the Commission chooses 121 finalists for academic achievement and 20 finalists for achievement in the arts.

The finalists attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., where they each receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion. During the expenses-paid weekend, the students meet with officials, educators, authors and others while attending recitals and receptions and visiting museums and monuments.

For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, including eligibility status, visit www2. ed.gov/programs/psp. ❖ Vestavia Hills High School’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates are, top row, from left: Mary Catherine Cook, Ruth Dismukes, Siyin Han and Emma Jackson. Middle: Silin Li. Middle: Andrea Lin, Jimmy Liu and Wendy Lu. Bottom: Austin Owen, Anna Cathryn Parker, Ziqi Wang and Sophie Wu.

Mountain Brook High School’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates, from left: Olivia Burton, John Blum, Maggie Selesky and Ford Wood. Photo special to the Journal

The Altamont School’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates, from left: Andrew Denard, Emily Polhill and Simon Tomlinson.

Photo special to the Journal

Indian Springs School’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates, from left: Tara Markert, Hill Balliet, Patrick Scalise and Seth Perlman.

Photo special to the Journal

Spain Park’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates, From left: Stefanie Schoeneman, Matthew Schoeneman, Sean McComb and Flannery Wynn. Erin Brown (not pictured)

Photo special to the Journal by Belmont Studios

Homewood High 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidate Emily Harrison

Alabama school of fine arts 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidate Devin Sun

Hoover High School’s 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates, from left: Xianming Li and Sunny Thodupunuri. Photo special to the Journal

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 31

Schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

spelling bee and represented Highlands at the district competition.

He was congratulated on his achievement by Joy Miller, the middle school English teacher at Highlands.

Homewood Student Wins Oratorical Contest

The Mountain Brook Junior High School Choir won an award for excellence in ensemble work at the 2014 Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta in January.

From left: Composer and music director David Weinstein, students Josiah Sonich and Grayson Gamso and Cindy Ripley, an educational consultant for iTheatrics. Photo special to the Journal

Mountain Brook Choir Wins Festival Awards Mountain Brook Junior High School Choir students recently won national recognition when they performed at the 2014 Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta.

The students participated in the event at the Cobb Galleria Centre Jan. 17-19.

The group was awarded a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Ensemble Work. MBJH student Nicole Roberts won a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Female, and student Alex Perlman earned a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male.

Perlman and Tess Levine were named to the Junior Theater Festival All-stars, made up of two outstanding performers from each group attending the festival. The All-stars performed a song during the closing ceremony for all 4,500 festival attendees.

The Mountain Brook Junior High students presented selections from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Junior” during the festival. The group will perform the full musical at the school in April.

Those participating in the festival included Hampton Adams, Daniel Azrin, Anne Catherine Bonatz, Jessica Davidson, Kate Edmonds, Clare Friday, Grayson Gamso, Remy Garrison, Gabe Ivker, Anita Klasing, Tess Levine, Ann Douglas Lott, Marilyn Oestrike, Sarah Oestrike, Alex Perlman, Ainsley Platt, Lucy Reich, Nicole Roberts, Rachel Rysedorph, Simona Shirley, Catherine Skinner and Josiah Sonich.

Oak Mountain Middle Honors Students Oak Mountain Middle School honored students for their good character during a school-wide assembly Jan. 15.

The students named Characters with Character included eighth-graders Caroline Touliatos, Josh Pierce, Gracie King, Griffin Walker, Caroline Perkins and Barrett Blakely.

The seventh-graders honored at the event were Emily Paz, Cole Thomas, Maryam Choucha, Jalen Thomas, Caroline Bueche and Boston Smith.

Sixth-graders named Characters with Character were Elizabeth Camp, Colin Herring, Evie Bell, Luke Love, Jasmin Hernandez Alamillo and Ryan Hall.

The students were selected for the honor by their teachers because they exemplified the character traits discussed during the second nine

weeks of school. These traits included having a positive attitude, facing challenges positively, making good choices, self-determination and striving for excellence.

Amerson Wins DAR Award at Hoover High Caroline Amerson has been selected as the Good Citizen award winner at Hoover High School.

The award, presented by the Cahawba Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, honors students who show dependability, service, leadership and Caroline Amerson patriotism.

In a letter nominating Amerson for the award, her teachers wrote that they admired her curiosity to search and to learn.

Amerson is involved in the peer helpers group at Hoover High School and is also a Girl Scout. She is president of the Habitat for Humanity club and is enrolled in Hoover High School’s Finance Academy.

Highlands Student Competes at District Bee A seventh-grader from Highlands School was the runner-up in the District Spelling Bee held at the Mountain Brook Board of Education in January.

Donald Wilson won the school’s

Joy Miller, left, an English teacher at Highlands School, congratulates seventh-grader Donald Wilson on being the runner-up in the District Spelling Bee. Photo special to the Journal

A Homewood High School student has won first place for the second year in a district level oratorical contest.

Jessica Tolbert, a junior at Homewood High, won first place at the American Jessica Tolbert Legion District High School Oratorical Contest on Feb. 8.

She competed in the division level competition on March 1.

Tolbert also is a member of the Homewood High School track and field team and a captain on the Homewood High School debate team. She is a member and chaplain of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 267, Youth Leadership Development Program member and council senator and Teen Court attorney.

Womack Named Southern Division President-Elect A music teacher at Greystone Elementary School in Hoover has been chosen as president-elect of the Southern Division of the National Association of Music Education.

Womack, who has been at Greystone Elementary Sara Womack since 2006, will assume the office of president-elect on July 1 and become Southern Division president on July 1, 2016.

As a representative of nearly 20,000 active, retired and pre-service music teachers and 10,000 honor students and supporters from 11 Southern states, she will serve on the National Executive Board from 2014-2020.

“Music education is in a unique position to help resolve big issues in education in an innovative, engaging and sustainable way,” Womack said.

“The creative process of music making can inspire problem solving and prepare students for the fast-changing world.”

Womack was president of the Alabama Music Educators Association from 2012-2014 and was named Hoover

City Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2013. She achieved National Board Certification in early and middle childhood music, has presented at numerous workshops and conferences, has been published in local and national journals and has been awarded multiple grants for her work with students and for her research.

“I am excited about the opportunity to continue learning and sharing my passion for music education with others,” Womack said. “My father introduced me to a multitude of opportunities through music. As a teacher and leader, I believe it is my mission to introduce a wide range of experiences to inspire students’ and teachers’ passions and develop their life purpose.”

The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association addressing all aspects of music education.

Homewood Students Perform at Disney Resort Students from Homewood High School recently became stars of their own Disney show as part of the Disney Performing Arts Program.

The Homewood High School Patriot Band traveled to Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort on Dec. 29 to take part in the Show-Stop March program.

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Harriet Adams Gabe Adkins Jamarius Agee Jalin Agee Mani Aguilar Alexis Anderson Ella Claire Andrews Olivia Andrews Anna Bentley Aycock Boone Aycock Banks Aycock Clayton Bagby Eleanor Bagby Mckinnon Baker John Waylon Baker Jacob Ballard Eli Bare Henderson Bare Roscoe Bare Tye Barton Kathleen Beall Autumn Bell Mary Sofia Bernard Layla Berry Bryce Berry Ellie Kate Berte Sara Frances Berte Carolanne Berte Will Bochnak Anna Bochnak Julia Bochnak Meredith Bochnak Shekoria Bodley Jaliyah Bodley Jazmyn Bodley Janiyah Bodley Caitlin Bowles Richard Rhoads Bowron Bickley Bowron Wheeler Bowron Ben Brindley Grace Brindley Will Briscoe Aerin Briscoe Desmond Brown Davon Brown Will Brown Thomas Brown Hannah Brown Mims Bruhn Abbie Bullock Nathan Bullock Tom Bundy Laney Burdette Savannah Burrell Alice Byars Lula Byars Gigi Byars Jacob Campbell Joshua Cantone Van Carlisle Danielle Carr Adrian Cartagena Christian Cartagena Deondra Cherry Alana Clifton Ahren Clifton Turner Cole Smith Cole Anne Clayton Cole Grant Cole

Jackson Cole Emma Cook Charlie Cope Reese Copeland Cameron Copeland Lindsey Crocker Fuller Crocker David Crommelin Chandler Crowell Richard Culp Sanders Cummings Caleb Davis Gabrielle Dawson Erin Dawson Candice Dawson Ellie Scott Dean Madeline DeBuys Forrester DeBuys Anna Leigh Derieux Margaret Dodson Katherine Dodson Vanson Dong Ricky Dong Suki Dong Allison Dunlap Sarah Dunlap Drayke Dunn Jack Dyer Smith Hayes Dyer Smith Anna Early John David Early William Earnest Matthew Earnest Noah Egan Menet Elbahrawi Shurooq Elbahrawi RoRo Elbahrawi Nooraan Elbahrawi Ren Elder Patsy Elder Mary Morgan Elder Olivia Estes Sophia Estes Lucas Fancher Cameron Faulkner Mackenzie Faulkner Hannah Faulkner Nils Fielding Reeves Gachet Tyler Garner Mitchell Garner Hannah Gibson Andrew Gill Jackson Glover Brooks Glover Caroline Goings Creagh Goings Alexis Green Lauren Green Luke Green Ashleigh Green Lindsay Green Ella Green Ethan Green Trent Griffin Heath Griffin Clark Griffin Grant Griffin Laura Beth Hamff Christian Hamff Jackson Hanes

Luke Hanes Tay Hanes Kathryn Hardin Reid Hardin Rilee Hardin Lucas Harper Evan Harper Addison Harper Patrick Harris Alex Harris Chandler Harris Adolphus Harris Gaines Hartley Butler Hartley Bailey Hatchett Kristin Hawthorne Maggie Hayes Mary Allison Hayes Clymer Hendrickson Claire Hendrickson CJ Hennecy Abby Hester Jay Hester Emily Hester Daniel Holmes Ella Claire Holtzclaw Christina Hosmer Jayla Houser Jordan Houser Sam Housman Davis Housman Henry Housman James Hufham Henry Hufham Anna Hufham Grace Hull Turner Hull Carson Hull Ava Grace Hulsey Anaya Hunter Vann Inscoe James Inscoe Kennedy Jackson Taylor Jackson Dontez Jackson Devin Jackson Dorien Jackson Walker Jackson Carden Jacobs AnnaGrace Johnson Austin Johnson Celie Johnson Qualan Johnson Caroline Johnson Alden Johnson Langley Johnson William Johnson Caleb Johnson Josh Johnson Nathan Johnston Amelia Johnston Stephen Jones Duncan Jones Fisher Jones Colin Jones Alexis Kamau John Keith Morgan Kelly Mariyah Kelly Jaila Kelly Sidney Knight

Lee Knight Louise Knight Cole Knight Mack Koopman Sara Frances Koopman Betsy Lambert Campbell Lamberth Aiden Latham Sailor Latham TJ Latham Laura Leavitt Caitlin Leavitt Noah Leavitt Ian Ledbetter Mary Cecilia Ledbetter Hannia Ledezma Bryant Ledezma Windham Lee Victoria Lee Emma Leggett Tess Leggett Chase Levine Madison Lickwala Ireen Lin Will Lisenby Brawner Little Alice Loveman Sloan Lowery Shelby Lowery Steele Lowery Manly Luttrell Davis Luttrell Malcolm Luttrell Tyler Lynn Drew Majewski Alexander Major Damien Maqouyrk Mae Martin Elle Martin Kennedy Martin George Martin Abigail Mashburn Joshua Maxwell Sean Maxwell Caylee Mayo Jack McCormack Anna Elizabeth McCormack William McIlvaine Sam McIlvaine Adair McNeil Jake McNeil Helen McPherson Marin McWilliams Sylvie McWilliams Sophia Meacham Summer Meadows Mary Robins Miller William Miller Ellison Miller Caydee Grace Miller Cannon Miller Cade Mills Cody Mills Kamdi Minor Trip Morgan Sam Morrow Jack Morrow Jada Moss Jadan Moss Doninique Moss Maliha Mukherjee

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32 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

time while working alongside community volunteer Emily Farmer.

The 13 third-graders met twice a week. Each meeting included a lesson, strengthening and stretching exercises and a running workout.

Each semester-long session culminates in a celebratory 5K run.

For their Wacky Hair Day fundraiser, team members invited students at the school to donate $1 to the typhoon relief efforts in exchange for being able to wear their wildest hairstyles to school.

The team raised more than $1,100 through the event.

Members of VHEW’s Girls on the Run fall team, along with their volunteer leaders, participate in Wacky Hair Day, a fundraiser benefitting the victims of super typhoon Haiyan. Photo special to the Journal

Girls Are on the Run at Vestavia Elementary West Members of the Girls on the Run fall team at Vestavia Hills Elementary West recently presented a check to the American Red Cross after holding a fundraiser at the school to help victims of super typhoon Haiyan.

Girls on the Run is an international nonprofit program founded in North

Carolina in 1996. It teaches life skills through interactive lessons and running games.

Vestavia Hills Elementary West is the first Vestavia school to start its own Girls on the Run team.

Girls on the Run is focused on girls in the third through eighth grades. VHEW’s fall team was under the direction of third-grade teachers Lisa Kearney and Emmy White, who volunteered their

OMTV Staff Honored The broadcast journalism team at Oak Mountain High School was recently recognized by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association.

Members of the OMTV staff received an All Alabama rating for the second year in a row at the association’s state convention on Feb. 14. The rating is the highest awarded by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association.

Special recognition went to Molly Vines, who won first place in the news anchor division and third place in the news anchor broadcast on-site competition. Olen Humphries won first place in editing, and Lucas Panzica won first place in the sports anchor division and second place in the sports anchor broadcast on-site competition.

Stonecreek Robotics Teams Win Awards Three new trophies are on display at Stonecreek Montessori Academy thanks

• Specialized Instruction for Dyslexia, ADD and other Learning Disabilities.

• Small Class Sizes with a 9:1 Student Ratio.

• Lower School Through 12th Grade Carlton Smith, Ed. D. Executive Director 205-423-8660

The OMTV staff at Oak Mountain High School was recently recognized at the 2014 Alabama Scholastic Press Association’s state convention.

Photo special to the Journal

to the school’s high-performing robotics teams.

The school’s three teams are the Robostangs team, made up of students in grades 8-11; the E.G.G.O. My LEGO team, which includes students in grades 4-7; and the Super Montessori Builders, composed of students in grades 1-3.

Each team won awards at tournaments in January.

The Robostangs participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge State Qualifying Tournament on Jan. 18 in McDonough, Ga. The team won the Parametric Technology Corporation Design Award for building and operating a robot that combines unique aesthetics and high functionality.

On Jan. 25, the E.G.G.O. My LEGO and Super Montessori Builders traveled to Huntsville to take part in the state FIRST LEGO tournament.

The E.G.G.O. My LEGO team won first place in the Teamwork category for its ability to problem-solve, stay on task, ensure wide participation and work effectively as a team even under pressure and time limits. The team’s challenge included controlling its robot to react to natural disaster scenarios in fast-paced drills.

The team also won first place in November in research and robot competition in the regional qualifier in Birmingham.

The Super Montessori Builders came home from the state tournament with the Solid as a Rock Model Design Award. The team presented research on tsunamis to the tournament judges and demonstrated its LEGO model of a tsunami wave near a mountain. The model was equipped with an operational rescue elevator.

Brookwood Forest Elementary School students Ryan Kampakis, left, and Jack Cole found the books they wanted at the school’s recent Scholastic Book Fair. Photo special to the Journal

Brookwood Forest Earns Free Books with Fair Students, parents and teachers got to do some shopping for a good cause recently at Brookwood Forest Elementary School in Mountain Brook.

The school’s annual Scholastic Book Fair earned enough money to net some free books for the classrooms.

Rachel Barton and her Book Fair committee hosted a teacher preview luncheon before the fair and a family night event during the book fair.

Students and their parents could shop the book fair during school hours as well.

Send your classroom news and photos to: kdrexel@otmj.com

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 33

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

OPEN MON-SAT 7AM-6PM • (888) 693-9020 Spain Park Athletes Sign Scholarships

These Spain Park High School students recently signed athletic scholarships. From left, front: Ireland Shea, University of Alabama, track and field; Christen Craig, Tusculum College, lacrosse; Brittany Anderson, Central Alabama Community College, softball; Denise Newton, Gadsden State Community College, basketball; Marisa Osga, Central Alabama Community College, softball; Maddie Wohlfarth, College of Charleston, swimming; Haleigh Sisson, UAB, softball; and Alison Halperin, Anderson University, cross country and track and field. Back: Devin Pughsley, Kennesaw State, football; Phillip Brown, Tuskegee University, football; Conner Smith, Middle Tennessee State, golf; Vasili Kartos, University of Southern Mississippi, golf; Josh Rich, Meridian Community College, baseball; Matt Berler, Meridian Community College, baseball; Dalton Brown, Newberry College, football; Tristan Widra, Samford University, baseball; Jervontius Stallings, University of Kentucky, football; and Will Freeman, University of Alabama, swimming. Photo special to the Journal

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Bucs Ink Scholarships

Hoover High School students who recently signed college athletic scholarships include, from left, front: Billy Reed, Wallace Community College, baseball; Stephen Dobbs, Wallace Community College, baseball; J.T. Watkins, Alabama Community College, golf; Anna-Claire Johnson, University of Alabama Huntsville, volleyball; Chloe Ballard, Birmingham-Southern College, volleyball; Jaterrius Gulley, Brigham Young University, football; Hagan Scott, University of North Alabama, football; Marlon Humphrey, University of Alabama, football;, Dylan Ackerson, Sacred Heart University, football; Gabby Gilmer, Emory University, soccer; Carly Sewell, University of Montevallo, softball; Kalee Sparks, Shelton State Community College, softball; Emily Turner, Birmingham-Southern College, softball; Shaina Cadet, University of Montevallo, track; Errin Perry, University of Alabama Huntsville, track; Sarah Sanford, Samford University, track; and Chloe White, Coastal Carolina University, track. Hoover coaches and administrators include, back row: Coach Rick Davis, baseball; Coach Wes Cable, golf; Coach Chris Camper, volleyball; Principal Don Hulin; Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Andy Urban; Coach Josh Niblett, football; Coach and Athletic Director Myra Miles; Coach Will Partridge, soccer; Assistant Principal Holly Sutherland; Coach Erin Wright, softball; and Coach Devon Hinds, track. Photo special to the Journal

Hoover Blue Thunder Swimmer Makes USA Swimming’s Top 10

Jakob Icimsoy (below) of Homewood recently was recognized on USA Swimming’s Top 10 list for the 2012-13 Short Course Season.

Splash magazine published the list in its most recent issue.

Icimsoy ranked eighth in the nation for 12-year-old boys in the 1,000-yard freestyle event.

He began swimming at age 9 at a local YMCA. He said he immediately

developed a passion for the sport and knew he wanted to pursue it at a higher level.

He joined the Hoover Blue Thunder competitive swim team in 2010. Under the direction of assistant coach Michael Bottchen, Icimsoy discovered his love of distance events, he said.

Icimsoy was named the Hoover Blue Thunder Male Swimmer of the Year for 2012-13.

He is now training under head coach Rick Moulton and said his goal is to make the Top 10 list again. He also hopes to swim on a collegiate level and to swim nationally and internationally, he said.

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34 • Thursday, March 6, 2014

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Senior point guard Patrick Keim nailed two pressure-packed free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Spartans.

From page 36

when it’s most needed struggled from beyond the three-point arc–connecting at a below-par 24 percent clip.

The Spartan inside game, which repeatedly pulled down key rebounds in the semifinal against Carver of Montgomery, was outrebounded by the Leopards by 19 boards.

But somehow, someway–again– Mountain Brook found a way to get it done. In a title game that lived up to its billing, the Spartans closed fast to narrowly defeat the Leopards 60-57 and earn their second consecutive state championship before a large, vocal and neon yellow-tinged crowd at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

And appropriately enough, the verdict was sealed after senior point

Senior center Alex Peters scored eight points and just as importantly vexed Blount’s offensive effort with seven blocked shots.

‘This is what Mountain Brook basketball is all about. We find a way to get it done. There is a lot of heart in our players.’

Mountain Brook coach Bucky McMillan

guard Patrick Keim, a virtual coach on the floor for the Spartans, nailed two pressure-packed free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining.

Mountain Brook earned its second consecutive state championship despite trailing 32-28 at halftime and 42-41 after the third quarter–but in the final frame the Spartans did what they had to do to come out ahead.

“It all goes back to our saying– we find a way,” said Spartan coach Bucky McMillan. “This is what Mountain Brook basketball is all about. We find a way to get it done.

There is a lot of heart in our players.”

The Spartans’ heart showed over and over, when it appeared early that the Leopards were a worthy opponent, fully capable of stopping Mountain Brook’s bid for a second consecutive title. McMillan’s team trailed 32-31 at halftime and 42-41 at the end of the third quarter before climbing to the summit in the final eight minutes.

If winning another Class 6A championship wasn’t enough, the victory also gave Mountain Brook its 23rd consecutive win and a final worksheet of 34-3.

“For us to go all the way and win it this year is the biggest accomplishment in Class 6A basketball since I’ve been alive,” said McMillan, who at age 30 may well have his best years as a coach still ahead of him. “First and maybe most importantly, the character of these players is off the charts.”

And the Spartans never showed more character than when they trailed 51-46 with only 2:46 remaining in the game. Mountain Brook picked up consecutive baskets from Jack Kline and TaWarren Grant to cut the margin to 51-50 with 1:55 to play. The Spartans got a break soon afterward when Blount stalwarts Demetrius

TaWarren Grant, a junior, scored 22 points and was named Final Four MVP. More photos at otmj.com Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Mountain Brook’s Hunter Lucas, Ben Shearer and Will Hartley react to a play in the closing seconds of the championship game.

Caldwell and Reginald Harbin both fouled out.

Grant tied the game at 51-51 by connecting on a free throw. On Mountain Brook’s next possession, Keim bagged a three-point shot–his only long-range attempt of the game– to give his team a 54-51 lead, an advantage it would never surrender.

“We worked so hard to get here,”

Keim said. “There was no way I was going to let our team down. When I got the ball and had the open shot, I wasn’t afraid to take it because I knew these guys were behind me all the way.”

The Spartans were in command 58-54 before Blount made one last run at pulling the upset. Divine Miles sank two free throws for the Leopards

to cut the lead to 58-56 with only 13.2 seconds remaining on the clock.

Blount stole a Mountain Brook inbounds pass to set up another scoring opportunity, and Tranealius Abrams’ free throw cut the margin to 58-57 with 8.6 seconds left.

The Spartans missed a pair of free throws but got the ball back after the second shot rebound went off a Leopard player. Keim calmly bagged two free throws to put Mountain Brook in the record books.

Grant, a junior who was named Final Four MVP, scored 22 points.

Keim followed with nine. Senior center Alex Peters scored eight points and just as importantly vexed Blount’s offensive effort with seven blocked shots.

“I think the luckiest people here are the fans,” McMillan said. “What a great basketball game. Before the game, we said this would be basketball war. My hat is off to Blount.

They played hard and brought their A-plus game.”

McMillan was being gracious to his vanquished opponent and at the same time giving a compliment to his own players. With its problems with shooting and rebounding, Mountain Brook clearly didn’t have its A-game against Blount–and still found a way to win.

Winning state championships has become a rite of passage for Grant, who led Midfield to the state Class 5A championship his freshman season before transferring to Mountain Brook. He has been a part of three state championships in three years and hinted he wasn’t satisfied just yet.

“We just do what we do,” said Grant. “Wait till next year.”

If Grant gets his way, the Spartans may need an even more appropriate color to replace their now-iconic neon yellow. In basketball, it is called Celtic Green.

Sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Signing updates from OTM schools. Page 33 Hoover Blue Thunder Swimmer Makes USA Swimming’s Top 10. Page 33

Heroes in Neon Lee Davis

Dunk Dynasty

Spartan Title Run Not as Incredible as You Think

T

Champions walk Members of the Mountain Brook High School basketball team en route to accepting their Class 6A Championship trophy at the BJCC last Friday night. More photos at otmj.com Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

Spartans Find a Way, Edge Blount for Second Crown

By Lee Davis

Journal Sports Writer

From just looking at the final statistics, the Mountain Brook boys’ basketball team had no business winning the Class 6A championship game against Blount on Friday night. Let us count the ways:

Tenacity, The Spartans, who make Defense Take their living through fundaSpartans to mentals and execution, connected on only 13 free throws Title Game. in 24 attempts.

Page 35 The Mountain Brook team that always seemed to make the big shot See spartans, page 34

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he Mountain Brook Spartans boys’ basketball team won its second consecutive Class 6A state championship Friday night.

It was a terrific accomplishment.

The road to the back-to-back titles is a tale that the Spartan players will tell their grandchildren one day.

Mountain Brook’s championship run was many great things, but there’s one thing it wasn’t: a miracle.

During the Spartans’ current twoseason reign as state champions, many in the media have been almost cliché in referring to it as some sort of freakish aberration of Alabama high school sports normalcy. Comparisons to the 1969 New York Mets or the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team are common.

Spartan partisans couldn’t be blamed for having chips on their respective shoulders about their team and its achievements.

But the chips aren’t necessary.

There was nothing about these titles that justified words such as freakish or lucky. Mountain Brook earned its championships the old fashioned way– by working harder and smarter than everyone else. The teams that do that always seem to get their share of good luck in the process.

After the Spartans’ 60-57 win over Blount in the Class 6A final on Friday

See dunk dynasty, page 35

Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 35

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Neon Signs

Tenacity, Defense Take Spartans to Title Game

By Lee Davis

Journal Sports Writer

With all due respect to the other schools represented at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex’s Alabama High School Athletic Association basketball championships last Wednesday, it was pretty obvious by early afternoon that this would be Mountain Brook’s day.

The lower levels and even the upper decks of the BJCC were filled with a small sea of neon yellow, the official auxiliary color of the Spartans.

Mountain Brook students were bussed in from the high school and the junior high school to join with some the town’s most prominent citizens in rooting for a team that found itself in the unlikely position of seeking its second consecutive Class 6A boys’ basketball title.

Mountain Brook’s story in 20122013 was compelling enough, but the prospect of Mountain Brook winning back-to-back blue trophies seemed a little much for all but the truest of true neon believers to fathom.

But if the doubters and skeptics saw the Spartans’ semifinal game against a talented Carver of Montgomery team that afternoon, they understood why Coach Bucky McMillan’s Mountain Brook team is so special.

The Spartans handled the Wolverines 49-38–claiming a spot in Friday’s final–in a game that looked more like “Rollerball” than “Swan Lake.” Despite any unfair stereotypes the name “Mountain Brook” might muster, the Spartans are much more blue collar than business casual.

Against a team loaded with potential major college prospects, Mountain Brook just grinded and grinded,

Mountain Brook’s Will Hartley plays defense in the Spartan’s 49-38 semi-final win over CarverMontgomery last week.

More photos at otmj.com Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Mountain Brook forced 10 turnovers in the final 16 minutes. Above, Ben Shearer pressures a Wolverine.

fought and fought, and ultimately found a way to earn its 22nd consecutive victory and its way into the Class 6A final against Blount the following Friday night.

“I’ve been coming to these tournaments since I was 5 years old,” McMillan said after the game. “It seems like year after year the teams that are here and advance are the ones that play great defense. This wasn’t a pretty game by any means, but it came down to the fact that our guys were able to stop them time after time in the fourth quarter.”

In the first half, it looked as if the Spartans’ bid for a second consecutive title was in deep trouble. Mountain Brook enjoyed a narrow 24-21 lead, but with Carver shooting 52 percent from the field in the opening quarters, the Wolverines looked fully capable of taking command of the contest.

Those fears were realized early in the third quarter, as Carver went on

dunk dynasty, From page 36

night, Mountain Brook Coach Bucky McMillan seemed to immediately understand the magnitude of the hill his team had climbed.

“Let’s be real, everybody,” he said. “When teams repeat, they bring back their star players.

We lost nine seniors from last year’s team. That’s nine seniors.”

True enough, but there was still plenty of talent returning and a strong junior varsity from which to draw replacements. Senior Patrick Keim, whose key three-point shot and free throws down the stretch ended any chance of a Blount comeback, was superb for Mountain Brook in both championship seasons.

Fellow seniors Ben Shearer, Will Brewster, Alex Peters, Spencer Einhorn and Matthew Weissman all contributed with leadership on and off the court. Shearer–despite a relatively quiet performance against Blount–was the Spartans’ most dangerous threat from the three-point line.

Peters established himself as a standout post player, as evidenced by his seven blocked shots against the Leopards.

a 9-0 run to take a 30-24 lead before a fortunate media timeout intervened with 3:32 remaining in the period.

“We didn’t panic. We didn’t even worry about the score,” said senior point guard Patrick Keim, who is often an extension of McMillan as a coach on the floor for the Spartans. “We just kept playing our game–grinding, hustling and playing defense. If we kept doing that, we knew we’d be okay.”

Keim was a prophet. Carver would not sink another field goal until 39 seconds remained in the game. The Wolverines’ only points prior to that basket came on free throws as the Spartans moved to an insurmountable 45-33 advantage.

Meanwhile, Mountain Brook took advantage of its defensive muscle to turn the Wolverines’ struggles into points. TaWarren Grant’s three-point

TaWarren Grant, a junior, was named Final Four MVP after scoring 22 points in the final game. Jack Kline earned a starting position at forward as a sophomore, and forward Will Hartley and guard Hunter Lucas earned significant playing time as juniors. Don’t expect Mountain Brook to fall back to the pack next season.

The Spartans didn’t catch any breaks in the post-season tournament brackets either. In the Northeast Regionals at Jacksonville State, Mountain Brook defeated sixth-ranked Robert E. Lee of Huntsville and 10th-ranked Grissom of Huntsville just to make it to the BirminghamJefferson Convention Complex.

Then the Spartans decisively overcame thirdranked Carver of Montgomery before edging fourth-ranked Blount in a fiercely-contested final.

“Those were the four toughest teams we played all season,” McMillan said. “We went through all four of those teams to win the championship.”

The coach could have added that those four wins were the last leg of a long parade of victories. Mountain Brook will open next season rid-

basket at the buzzer gave the Spartans a 34-31 lead as the third quarter concluded.

“Not only did we make the stops, we allowed them to have only one shot by getting the big rebounds,” McMillan said. “It was all about getting stops and rebounds and playing off intensity instead of emotion.”

“It’s all about our philosophy of offense and defense,” said senior center Alex Peters. “No single player is the star. We just try to work and outhustle the other team.”

Peters finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

Mountain Brook’s defensive numbers spoke for themselves.

Carver shot a mere 25 percent from the field in the second half and only 14 percent from the three-point arc.

The Wolverines were forced into 10

ing a 23-game winning streak.

How did Mountain Brook win 23 in a row on the inevitable nights when the shots weren’t falling and the rebounding wasn’t consistent? It played defense. Case in point: In the semifinal, Carver went on a 9-0 run early in the third quarter to take a six-point lead over the Spartans. The

Mountain Brook basketball coach Bucky McMillan and his Spartans will open next season riding a 23-game winning streak.

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

turnovers in the final 16 minutes. To be fair, Mountain Brook wasn’t tantalizing offensively, shooting only 40 percent from the field for the game, but it was more than enough to get the victory.

“I thought our half-court defense in the second half was the best we’ve had all year,” said sophomore forward Jack Kline. “It was a talent for us to play a team with Carver’s size and be able to lock them up and keep them from rebounding.”

McMillan said Mountain Brook’s game plan was brilliant in its simplicity.

“If they can’t score, they can’t win,” he said. “That’s what the fourth quarter was all about. We played our half-court defense well, and that was the difference.”

Grant equaled Peters with 11 points while grabbing four rebounds.

Keim scored 10 points, and Kline added nine. Spencer Einhorn connected on a pair of three-point buckets in the first half to finish with six points.

But Mountain Brook’s mystique isn’t about individual scoring. Nobody understands that fact better than Grant, a junior who led Midfield to a state Class 5A title as a ninth-grader before coming to Mountain Brook prior to his sophomore year.

“Some people say I’m a lucky charm because this could be my third straight state championship team,” said Grant, a sheepish grin reflecting his embarrassment about the thought of being the basketball equivalent of a rabbit’s foot. “That doesn’t have anything to do with it. It’s about work.

This year’s team is the hardest-working team I’ve ever seen. Nobody cares who scores. It’s all about working hard, playing defense and winning.

That’s all.”

As the crowd filed out of the BJCC after the game, a message over the public address system blared: “Will all Mountain Brook Junior High students please report to their buses now.”

The bad news for Mountain Brook is that some of the kids were probably late for the bus trip back to school.

The good news is they had a reason to come back on Friday night.

Wolverines managed only one field goal for the remainder of the contest and shot only 25 percent from the floor in the second half.

“We just kept playing our game–hustling, grinding and playing defense,” Keim said. “If we kept doing that, we knew we’d be okay.”

That statement may have summed up the philosophy of the 2013-14 Mountain Brook basketball team better than 100 newspaper articles.

When will it end? Many assume that a Mountain Brook three-peat is impossible. Prior to the season, of course, few if any observers beyond the walls of the school’s Bethune Drive campus would have predicted a two-peat. Grant, who also led Midfield to a Class 5A title in his freshman season, seemed ready for the 2014-15 championship chase to begin even as he celebrated the win over Blount.

“I don’t think of myself as a lucky charm,” he said. “We win because we work hard. This team was the hardest-working one I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see what we’ll do next year.”

Next year will come soon enough. For now, all of Mountain Brook can savor its team’s second consecutive basketball title. And know that there was nothing lucky about it.