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Celebrating our over the mountain communities.

OTMJ

INSIDE

| OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL • OTMJ.COM | Thursday, October 15, 2026

Alice Jordan Pulliam and Mary Glenn McElveen Photo by Jordan Wald

MAHJONG BUILDS FRIENDSHIPS PAGE 14

LEARNING TO HEAR PAGE 16

HOMEWOOD ART EXHIBITION PAGE 18

TWO LOCAL FASHIONISTAS make their mark on Birmingham. STORY PAGE 20 »

AL #12175

OPINION

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IN THIS

ISSUE

Fall is Full Swing

SOCIAL

GIVING TREE 16 | The Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education helps children learn to listen and to speak.

ARTS 18 | Artists Ted Metz and Scott Vaughn Owen bring their work and friendship to Homewood for a special exhibit.

on the surface of the sun, it’s nice to feel a tinge of fall in the air. And with fall comes football and Friday Night Lights. Congratulations are in order for Homewood Head Football Coach Ben Berguson, who with

son Thomas played for Berg while he was at HHS, and I couldn’t be happier for him PHOTO BY BRIT HUCKABAY

11 | Heart Gallery Heroes

14 | The Guild of the Birmingham Music Club proudly presents their annual Tablescapes luncheon “Where Art Meets Music.”

Fallish (if that’s a real word!). After a September that felt like living

helm. Berg has been at Homewood for 13 years and has a 100-49 overall record. My

10 | Haute Pink Fashion Show

14 | Crack, Bam, Dot: Birmingham Falls for Mahjong

INALLY! As I sit here in early October, it’s starting to feel a bit more

his team’s defeat of Helena on September 18, notched his 100th win at Homewood’s

9 | The Ballerina Club

COMMUNITY

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

to have hit this milestone. See Loyd McIntosh’s story on page 24. Another great story in this issue is Lee Hurley’s on the Wooley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE) and their Sips for Sound event happening on October 25 (page 16). Honestly, I didn’t know much about WISE until I served on the Homewood City Council with my friend Jennifer Andress, now Homewood’s mayor. Jennifer’s son Will was in the inaugural class at WISE in 2009 when it was called Alabama School for Hearing, operating out of two tiny classrooms at Canterbury UMC, and she has served on the board for seven years. A passionate advocate for the programs that WISE offers, Jennifer educated me and plenty of others on the great work that WISE does in the Birmingham area and beyond to empower families with skills, strategies and resources so that every child with hearing differences or developmental delays can learn to listen, speak, read and integrate fully into their communities. Now that’s work worth supporting! No matter how you’re spending your fall—in the bleachers, on the porch or out at one of the amazing fall events happening all around town—enjoy it! Happy Fall Y’all! –BARRY WISE SMITH

FASHION 20 | Two fashionistas make their mark on Birmingham.

| OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS |

ABOUT TOWN 22 | Things to do, people to see, music to hear

SPORTS 23 | Goodbye to The Picklr. 24 | Ben Berguson celebrates 100th win as Homewood head coach.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL Thursday, October 15, 2026

Publisher & Executive Editor: Lee Hurley Editor: Barry Wise Smith Design Director: Claire Cormany Photography: Jordan Wald Contributors: Stephanie Byrne, Cathy Delozier, Loyd McIntosh, Karim Shamsi-Basha Account Executives: Julie Trammell Edwards We would love to hear from you on any subject: lhurley@otmj.com

Vol. 35, No. 25

Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper celebrating the communities of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at lhurley@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2024 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Picklr staff was one of the most enjoyable things about playing pickleball there. It was like the bar Cheers where everyone knows your name. Goodbye great group of people. from left to right: Austin Yelton, Samuel Mack, Johnny Johnson, Suzanne Norris, Robert Roebuck, Andre Odom, Ross English, Blake Lowe, Will Davidson, Jake Wilson, Andrew Cortez, Reenee Gotta, Mary Clugston, Xavier Glaze and Lee Miller.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 3

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Night of a Thousand Wings Benefit Dinner Teal Wings of Hope—a Birmingham-based nonprofit—hosted their Night of a Thousand Wings Benefit Dinner on September 25, at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum to raise awareness and funds to support critical ovarian cancer research, early detection and patient care in partnership with the UAB Medicine Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Guests enjoyed a lively cocktail hour, live auction, exclusive raffle packages and elegant seated dinner. The premier gala event kicked off race weekend for the UAB Medicine GT World Alabama—three days of world-class sports car racing, family entertainment and charitable impact. OTMJ

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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TULIP GALA The Parkinson Association of Alabama hosted its annual Tulip Gala on September 24, to raise awareness and support for those living with Parkinson’s disease throughout the state. The elegant black-tie event kicked off with a lively cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner. The night honored Alabama philanthropist, entrepreneur and advocate Jane Stephens Comer and featured keynote speaker Tim Tebow. Guests also enjoyed live and silent auctions, a wine pull and a raffle. OTMJ

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 7

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High Rollers Casino Night

The Homewood City Schools Foundation hosted its annual High Rollers Casino Night on September 26, at Rosewood Hall to raise money for local teachers and students. Guests enjoyed casino games, food, drinks and prizes to support Homewood City Schools Foundation classroom grants and educational programs. OTMJ

Chad and Jennifer Crowson

Ginger and Jack Gray and Tiffany deGruy

James and Elizabeth Eastman

Kacy Reid, Susan Gordon and Lauren Calagac

Megan Jones, Erica Halston and Candice McKibbin

Megan Poston, Allie Burkett, Tiffany Vukovich, Paige King and Tyler Poston

Tawana Toles, Kacy Reid, Susan Gordon, Lauren Calagac, Megan Jones, Erica Halston and Candice McKibbin

Trey Bedsole, Shannon Dudney and Becky Bedsole

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

| SOCIAL |

Samford Legacy League Scholarship Luncheon The Samford Legacy League kicked off a new century of leadership and philanthropy at their fall luncheon on September 24. After guests enjoyed a lovely lunch and heard inspiring student stories, featured speaker Kelley Brown—a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Bible teacher and Beeson Divinity School master’s graduate—gave a motivational keynote speech. The Samford Legacy League provides life-changing scholarships to students with significant financial need and challenging circumstances. OTMJ

Amy Stacy, Olivia Griffith and Candace Rodgers

Andrea Wells, Betsy Holloway and Julie Cundiff

Cindy Bembry and Kaye Pace

Debbie Denton and Susan Brown

Eliza Hudson and Malija Goggins

Jenilee Hunt, Kelli Wright and Amy Pattillo

Jennifer Wilson and Sharon Stuart

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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OLD ELYTON CHAPTER DAR On September 15, the Old Elyton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met to elect officers for the 2026-2027 year and heard from speaker Jason Hodges, the Development Director for the DAR School in Grant, Alabama. Hodges discussed how Kate Duncan Smith (KDS)—a member of the Old Elyton DAR Chapter—founded the school in 1924 for the children of Gunter Mountain to provide educational opportunities, while emphasizing patriotism and responsible citizenship. The school has grown significantly since 1924 from the original stone building to now include 40 buildings serving 1,300 students in primary, elementary, middle and high schools. More information about the Non-Profit KDS School can be found at kdsdar.org. The elected officers are: Regent: Carmine Jordan; Vice Regent: Margaret Smith; Chaplain: Ellen Rhett; Recording Secretary: Leslie Davidson; Corresponding Secretary: Beth Hobbs; Treasurer: Katherine Allen; Parliamentarian: Stephanie Byrne; Registrar: Nellah McGough; Historian: Mary Margaret Smith; Librarian: Honey Taylor; National Defense: Evelyn Poole Tipton; Good Citizen Committee Chair: Sue Ellen Lucas; KDS DAR School: Patti Badham; Yearbook: Trent Hull and Programs: Margaret Smith. Newly installed Regent, Carmine Jordan, thanked outgoing Regent, Stephanie Byrne, for her four years of excellent leadership of the Old Elyton Chapter. OTMJ

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 9

The Ballerina Club On September 16, The Ballerina Club held their Fall meeting and luncheon to elect new members and make plans for several upcoming events. The Club’s officers are First Vice President, Ball Chairman: Anise Friedman; Second Vice President: Michele Smith; Secretary: Amanda Sharp; Treasurer: Mary Owen; Assistant Treasurer: Cece Hartley; Parliamentarian: Stephanie Byrne; Hospitality Co-Chairs: Joy McRae and Tracey Boyd; Membership: Leigh Anne Philips; Publicity: Michele Smith; Directory: Leigh Collins; Historian: Pat Grant and Nominating Co-Chairs: Catherine Meehan and Edith Lyon.

Glynis Jones, Amanda Sharp, Michele Smith and Stephanie Byrne

Carmen Morrow, Kay West, Susan Yarbro, Martha Smith and Mary Beth Wood Janna Harper, Rose Harper Snell, Jason Hodges, Caroline Brown and Leslie Huckaby

Mary Margaret Smith, Nellah McGough, Ellen Rhett, Leslie Davidson, Margaret Smith, Carmine Jordan and Stephanie Byrne

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

| SOCIAL |

Haute Pink Fashion Show Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center held their sixth annual Haute Pink Fashion Show—presented by AmFirst—at the Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus on October 2. Ten breast cancer survivors took the runway in original, custom looks created by 10 local fashion designers for a one-of-a-kind night of celebration, confidence and community. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, delicious bites and fabulous raffle prizes, all while supporting Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center’s year-round support services for breast cancer patients, survivors and co-survivors. OTMJ

Christy Pickett, Leandra Burks and Shae Harris

Crystal Nelson and Bernice Jenkins

Heather Jones, Danielle Devours and Diana Bailey

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

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HEART GALLERY HEROES Heart Gallery Alabama hosted its annual Heart Gallery Heroes fundraiser on September 24 at the Park Crest Event Facility. Presented by Waverly Advisors, the evening brought together supporters, volunteers, community leaders and friends of Heart Gallery to celebrate 21 years of connecting youth in foster care with supportive adults. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner, music, inspiring stories and a live auction throughout the evening. Proceeds from Heart Gallery Heroes support Heart Gallery Alabama’s programs and services for youth in foster care across Alabama. This includes sharing their stories through professional photography and videography; the traveling Heart Gallery exhibit and programs that provide mentorship, birthday celebrations, special experiences and opportunities for youth to feel seen, valued and supported. Funds raised also help Heart Gallery continue building awareness and connections that can lead to lasting relationships for youth in foster care. The evening also recognized this year’s Heart Gallery Heroes: Melanie and Jay Nichols of Waverly Advisors received the Michelle Bearman-Wolnek Exceptional Heart Award; Jim Whisenhunt received the Karen E. Nomberg Volunteer Inspiration Award and Stephanie Fisher Photography was named Photographer of the Year. OTMJ

Anna Withers Wellingham, Miles and Peyton Gunn, Bennett Shaw and Carson Eddy

Hannah Fisher, Stephanie Fisher and Chad Stegall

Jim and Gloria Whisenhunt and Jessica and Blake Thomas

Joshua and Rebecca Taylor

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 11

Sloan’s—A Gathering Place

By Felecia Johnson A great night out can begin with a bourbon you’ve been curious to try, a cocktail made just the way you like it or a glass of wine with friends. At Sloan’s in downtown Birmingham, the best part is having a place to settle in and enjoy the company. Locally owned and operated by Chef Tom Saab and wife Chris Saab, owners of Bistro 218 and BOCCA Ristorante, Sloan’s brings a love of hospitality to the neighborhood bar experience. With more than 200 bourbons, including rare and allocated, there’s always something new to discover. Flights and guided tastings invite you to sample at your own pace. You don’t have to be a whiskey expert to feel at home, and you don’t have to order whiskey. The menu offers cocktails made with other spirits, wine and food. Sloan’s is a place to meet after work, catch up on the patio or make an evening with friends.

Tastings and special events offer new reasons to return, while the bar is always ready for a night out. Located upstairs at Sloan’s, The Copper Room is an approximately 2,200-square-foot event space for corporate receptions, client gatherings, nonprofit events, holiday parties or birthdays. Plan an evening centered on cocktails and conversation, or make a curated bourbon tasting part of the experience. With bourbon, other cocktails and wine available, there’s something for every guest. The Copper Room gives people a reason to come together and helps make them feel welcome! Whether you’re planning an event for colleagues, celebrating with family and friends or simply deciding where to meet tonight, there’s a place for you at Sloan’s. To learn more about Sloan’s or inquire about hosting an event in The Copper Room, visit sloansbham.com.

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12 • Thursday, October 15, 2026

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Choose to see Medicare more clearly. Medicare can have you seeing red when costs, coverage and plan details are confusing. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is here to help you make sense of your choices. For generations, Alabamians have turned to Blue Cross for dependable coverage and local support. Even if your health has stayed the same over the last year, your Medicare coverage and costs may have changed. That’s why it’s important to review your prescriptions, doctors, pharmacies and plan benefits during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7). With Blue Cross by your side, you’ll be better prepared to make a confident decision.

How Will Prescription Drug Costs Change in 2027? Medicare has made several changes to help make Part D prescription drug costs easier to understand and manage. For 2027, the annual out-of-pocket limit for covered Part D prescriptions is $2,400. Once you reach that limit, you will pay $0 for covered Part D prescriptions for the rest of the year. This limit may provide greater financial predictability for people who take specialty medications, manage chronic conditions or regularly fill higher cost prescriptions. It may also help caregivers plan for a loved one’s healthcare expenses.

A More Predictable Way to Pay The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan allows you to spread eligible out-of-pocket Part D prescription costs across monthly payments during the plan year. The program does not reduce the total cost of your prescriptions. It changes when you pay, with no interest or additional fees.

Blue Advantage is a PPO and BlueRxSM is a PDP with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Advantage (PPO) and BlueRx (PDP) depends on contract renewal. Blue Advantage (PPO) and BlueRx (PDP) are provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. This is a solicitation of insurance. Contact may be made by an issuer or insurance producer. C PlusSM is a Medicare Select Plan and is a private insurance plan regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance. It is not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. 1 BCBSALMedicare.com/WhyBCBSAL 2 We are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST. From October 1 to March 31, the hours of operation are Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST. You may be required to leave a message for calls made after hours, weekends and holidays. Calls will be returned the next business day.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 13

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

How to Choose the Right Plan for You It’s important to consider several factors to ensure the best fit for your medical needs and well-being. As you compare plans, consider: Are my doctor and pharmacy in network? What will my prescription costs be? Am I covered when I travel? Are there extra benefits like dental, vision and hearing? Do I need referrals to see specialists?

Simplified Plan Options Understanding that every individual has unique healthcare needs, Blue Cross offers a range of plan options to help you find the right fit for you.

Part C Medicare Advantage plan All-in-one coverage Includes valuable extras like dental, vision and hearing

Local Support You Can Trust For 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has helped generations of Alabamians feel confident about their healthcare. We offer Medicare plans for different needs, budgets and stages of life. Our local team of experts can help you understand your choices and find coverage that works for you. Whether you’re considering a Medicare Supplement plan, prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll have dependable coverage backed by people who live and work right here in Alabama. If a Medicare Advantage plan is right for you, Blue Advantage® (PPO) has the highest number of individual Medicare Advantage enrollments in Alabama.¹

Choose to see Blue. A Medicare Select plan or type of Medigap/ Medicare supplemental plan Fewer out-of-pocket costs for Medicarecovered services

Medicare-approved Part D plan Pairs with C PlusSM or Original Medicare Helps pay for prescription drugs

To get more information or talk to a local advisor, call 1-855-978-5184 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST2 or visit BCBSALMedicare.com/Blue13

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14 • Thursday, October 15, 2026

COMMUNITY | SOCIAL |

left: Carol Davis, Debbie Dailey and Susan Cercone are regulars at the weekly mahjong game. below: Mahjong has surged in popularity across the United States in recent years.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

The Guild of the Birmingham Music Club proudly presents their annual Tablescapes luncheon “Where Art Meets Music.”

CRACK, BAM, DOT: BIRMINGHAM FALLS FOR MAHJONG

At Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, an ancient Chinese game is building new friendships, one tile at a time.

BY KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA

tep into room 300 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood on a Thursday, and the first thing you notice is how little you hear. Cloths cover the tables, and the tiles glide across them almost silently, smooth and cool under the fingertips, painted with bamboo, characters and circles. Hands build, sort and slide, as friends settle in to see what the tiles will bring. The game has caught Hollywood’s eye, too. When Julia Roberts sat down with Stephen Colbert, she tried to explain the pastime that had quietly taken over her Tuesday nights. Mahjong, she said, is about creating order out of chaos, based on the random drawing of tiles. It is, she added, a little like life, which asks the same of us every day, with whatever wisdom and kindness we can muster. Anyone who has held a tile in hand knows what she meant. A player draws, studies, hopes and discards, trying to shape something beautiful out of whatever luck handed them. Across the country, more people are pulling up chairs to try. And in Birmingham, the game has exploded. At Trinity, you will find Susan Cercone, Debbie Dailey and Carol Davis bent over their racks, along with a rotating cast of friends. “I joined in 2020, right after Covid,” Cercone says. “There are about 50 people in the group, and it fluctuates by the week.” The game they play has traveled a long way to reach a church in Homewood. Mahjong was born in China in the 19th century and then spread across the world. It reached the United States in the early 1920s and became one of the great fads of the decade, played everywhere from society parlors to suburban living rooms. When the craze faded, Jewish women kept the game alive, and in 1937 a group of them in New York City founded the National Mah Jongg League, which still publishes the card of winning hands American players follow. Today, the game is enjoying a revival that few saw coming. In recent years, mahjong has outpaced Uno, gin rummy and blackjack in Google searches. “When I started, it wasn’t popular,” Cercone says. “Then came the movie Crazy Rich Asians, and the Hollywood crowd started playing, people like Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker. Now the younger ones are into the game.” For Dailey, the tiles are almost secondary. What keeps her coming back is the people across the table. “It’s a great community builder,” she says. “It keeps me in contact with people, and I’ve met so many new friends I would have never met otherwise. After the pandemic, we were all looking for human contact.” That hunger for connection has turned the Trinity players into

teachers. “Last winter we taught a class to 27 people, and there were lots of young folks,” Cercone says. Learning the game takes patience. American mahjong is played with 152 tiles: three suits known as bams, cracks and dots, along with winds, dragons, flowers and jokers. Four players build a wall of tiles, and each is dealt 13, with the dealer taking a 14th. Then comes the Charleston, a choreographed exchange in which players pass tiles to the right, across and to the left, dancing them around the table in search of a better hand. After that, players take turns drawing and discarding, racing to match one of the hands printed on that year’s league card. The first to complete a hand calls out “Mahjong!” It sounds simple. It is not. Because the league changes the card annually, even players with decades of experience must learn new hands, which keeps the game fresh and keeps everyone, veterans included, a little humble. “It takes both skill and luck. The rules are constant, but the game is not. It’s never the same twice. It makes you think, problem-solve and deal with change,” Davis says. Then she adds, “At my age, it keeps my memory healthy, and it brings me joy.” Davis knows something about staying power. “I’ve been playing 20 years,” she says. “I don’t see it slowing down. It keeps me young!” Around Birmingham, the tables keep multiplying. Players gather at bookstores like Barnes & Noble, at The Club and at the Jewish Community Center, where the game’s American roots run deepest. Many newcomers are drawn by the same mix of strategy and sociability that hooked the veterans. Still, nobody at Trinity pretends the game comes easily. “It’s a hard game, and it takes a while to master,” Cercone says. “The best way to learn is to have someone sit by you while you play. There are days I win and days I lose. Half of it is luck, but the other half takes skill.” The veterans are patient with beginners, at least at first. Once beginners learn to play on their own, the patience changes into something else. “We play with grace. When beginners make a mistake, we help them. But once you have experience and know what to do, the grace goes away!” Dailey says with a laugh. Long after the last hand is called, the cloths are folded and the tiles are tucked back into their cases, still warm from all those hands. Next Thursday, they will spread across the tables again, and old friends and new ones will draw, discard and try to make a little order out of the chaos. Some days the tiles cooperate. Some days they do not. Either way, there is always another seat at the table. OTMJ

BY STEPHANIE BYRNE

he Guild of the Birmingham Music Club’s fifth annual Tablescapes luncheon is a showcase of artistry where elegant table settings become works of art, music fills the room and generosity helps shape the future of young musicians from across the great state of Alabama. Each table tells its own unique story through china, crystal, linens and florals, offering guests inspiration and ideas for entertaining. Guests stroll through beautifully decorated tables while enjoying music by pianist Eyleen Widjanarko. Guests also have the opportunity to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award, selecting their favorite tablescape before lunch is served. Entertainment includes exceptional musical performances featuring acclaimed Birmingham violinist Haleigh Black who will be joined by the Geni Skendo Quartet. Their program, Jazz from Around the Globe, blends the expressive beauty of the violin with the rhythms and improvisation of jazz. Their performance will explore musical traditions inspired by cultures from around the world. Together, this ensemble will provide a vibrant musical finale to an afternoon devoted to creativity and inspiration. While Tablescapes delights guests with beautiful decor and outstanding entertainment, the event’s true purpose is its commitment to supporting young musicians. The Guild is a 501(c)3 organization, and proceeds from the luncheon benefit The Guild’s scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to gifted Alabama students pursuing collegiate musical studies. OTMJ Tablescapes ticket information and membership opportunities for The Guild of The Birmingham Music Club maybe found at: BirminghamMusicClubGuild.org.

Tablescapes chairs Linda Cooper, Terri Archer, Fran Howard and Victoria Hallman pictured with President Stephanie Byrne.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

A PUBLIC MESSAGE FROM NEBIUS

We’re listening. And we’re answering. The questions about what we’re building, where construction stands, and what it means for the neighborhood deserve clear, public answers. Visit NebiusBHM.com to ask yours. We’ll answer what we know, be transparent about what we don’t, and keep the conversation going.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 15

NO. 003 - 10.15.26

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GIVING TREE | SOCIAL |

left: The McBride family: Bart, Collier, Vivi, Bitsy and Mary Lauren. below: WISE Director Nancy Gregg, WISE Ambassador Cora Clayton and WISE co-founder Dr. Audie Woolley.

Building a WISE Foundation

For Vivi McBride, who was diagnosed with severe-to-profound hearing loss as an infant, the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE) provided a place to learn to listen and speak. For her family, it offered guidance, connection and a way forward. LEE HURLEY PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD AND COURTESY WISE AND THE MCBRIDE FAMILY

t 13, Vivi McBride plays golf and basketball and attends Mountain Brook Junior High alongside her twin sister, Collier. She has a busy school life with lots of friends and happy memories of her school journey including her preschool. For her mother, Mary Lauren, preschool holds particular significance: That is where Vivi began building her spoken language. Vivi received cochlear implants at age two and a half. The implants gave her access to sound, but learning to listen and make sense of what she heard took time, therapy and patient instruction.

That is where the program now known as the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education, or WISE, became an important part of the McBride’s lives. “They gave her such a great foundation,” Mary Lauren says. For Mary Lauren and her husband, Bart, the Birmingham-based nonprofit offered something equally valuable: people who understood what their family was facing and could help them find their way.

FINDING ANSWERS

Vivi was born prematurely and did not pass her newborn hearing screening. At first, Mary Lauren recalled, there was hope that fluid in her ears might explain the results. But additional testing and appointments at Children’s confirmed hearing loss. Vivi received hearing aids as an infant and began therapy. Mary Lauren still has a video of that first hearing-aid fitting. As the months passed, however, she worried that her daughter was not getting access to sound she needed. left: Vivi and her preschool WISE classmates in 2018 with sisters Bitsy and Collier.

Watching Vivi develop alongside Collier, who does not have hearing loss, made the differences in their language milestones especially apparent. Even with hearing aids and therapy, Vivi was not making the progress her mother hoped to see. Susan Farrell, a therapist at Children’s who also taught at WISE, listened to those concerns. She helped the family pursue an evaluation for cochlear implants and navigate the documentation and insurance requirements. “She really helped me advocate,” Mary Lauren says. At two and a half, Vivi received cochlear implants in both ears. Dr. Audie Woolley performed the surgery at Children’s, and Mary Lauren remembers it going well. The operation marked a turning point. It also connected the family to a physician whose work had helped make that opportunity possible for children throughout Alabama.

BEYOND THE OPERATING ROOM

Woolley, a pediatric otolaryngologist, established the Children’s Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program in 1995. His commitment to hearing loss extended beyond surgery: He also co-founded the school that became WISE, recognizing the importance of education and therapy in helping children use their access to sound to develop spoken language. For Mary Lauren, his impact is deeply personal. “He’s a hero forever to me,” she says. But implant surgery was not the end of Vivi’s journey. She still needed help learning to recognize sounds, understand words and communicate through spoken language. WISE centers on that process. The nonprofit helps children develop listening, spoken language

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

and literacy skills through early intervention, preschool education and therapy. Its family focused approach also equips parents to support their children’s development in everyday life. For the McBride’s, that support turned out to be surprisingly close to home.

LEARNING, ONE WORD AT A TIME

When Mary Lauren learned about WISE, the program operated from classrooms at Canterbury Methodist. Other families drove an hour or more to bring their children there. The McBride’s lived just around the corner. Mary Lauren could hardly believe that a resource her family needed so much had been in their neighborhood all along. Vivi began attending at about age three and spent roughly two years in the preschool program. In addition to classroom instruction, she received a weekly one-on-one session for additional therapy. Her progress came gradually. Mary Lauren remembers Farrell explaining how a small vocabulary could grow as Vivi began making connections between sounds, words and meaning. “Slowly but surely, she learned to listen,” Mary Lauren says. Words accumulated, and conversations followed. By the time Vivi finished preschool, her mother felt she was ready for kindergarten. The change was meaningful for the whole family. Mary Lauren and Bart had chosen to pursue listening and spoken language for their daughter, but at the beginning, they had little idea what that path would involve. “I didn’t know where to start, where to turn,” Mary Lauren recalls. “I didn’t know anyone who had been through this.”

SIPS FOR SOUND The Sips for Sound fundraiser will take place on October 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Back Forty Beer Company with games and activities, live music, food and drink, and a silent auction. The family-friendly event helps WISE provide critical early intervention, audiology, and education services to children and their families. Tickets are available at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ sipsforsound2026/event/wise/. For more information on WISE visit wise4al.org.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 17

| GIVING TREE |

“WISE remains committed to our mission of ensuring every child who is deaf or hard of hearing has the opportunity to learn to listen, speak, and thrive in their neighborhood communities.”

Birmingham Chamber Music Society 2026 – 2027 Concert Season Co-presented with the Davis Architects Series at Samford University’s School of the Arts

Brock Recital Hall • Samford University Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.

–WISE DIRECTOR NANCY GREGG At WISE, she found teachers and therapists who could answer questions, along with parents navigating similar experiences. The school helped the McBride’s understand how to support Vivi while giving them a community in which they did not have to explain every uncertainty. That connection mattered as much as the practical guidance.

GIVING BACK AND REACHING MORE FAMILIES

Years after leaving preschool, Vivi still remembers classmates and experiences at WISE and has returned for visits. Mary Lauren has remained involved through board service, and Bart previously served on the board as well. Mary Lauren has also had the opportunity to offer others the kind of help she once needed. When her cousin’s child developed hearing loss, Mary Lauren helped her navigate services and encouraged an early connection with WISE.

Having already been through the process, Mary Lauren could offer both practical advice and the reassurance of someone who understood. Her family’s experience has also made WISE’s growth especially meaningful. She remembers a small program in borrowed church classrooms and has watched it expand into its own building, adding a Huntsville campus and broadening its services beyond preschool to summer camps, mobile hearing screenings and earlier intervention. “That broader reach is central to the organization’s mission,” WISE Director Nancy Gregg says. “As the need for our services continues to grow throughout Alabama, WISE remains committed to our mission of ensuring every child who is deaf or hard of hearing has the opportunity to learn to listen, speak, and thrive in their neighborhood communities.” For Mary Lauren, the value of that mission is visible in Vivi’s daily life as a perfectly normal teenager. OTMJ

Tommy Mesa, cello

Olga Kern, piano

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18 • Thursday, October 15, 2026 Owen’s paintings in the gallery.

ARTS | SOCIAL |

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Two Artists, Two Visions

Artists Ted Metz and Scott Vaughn Owen bring their work and friendship to Homewood for a special exhibit. Scott Vaughn Owen

he Homewood Arts Council is currently presenting Two Men, Two Friends, Two Visions: Works by Ted Metz and Scott Vaughn Owen, an exhibition bringing together two accomplished Alabama artists and friends whose distinctly different bodies of work share a deep connection to craftsmanship, materials, construction and the process of making. The exhibition is on view in the lobby of Homewood City Hall through November 13. Ted Metz is a sculptor and educator whose career has spanned more than five decades. Born in Ohio, Metz earned his BFA from Old Dominion University and MFA in sculpture from the University of South Carolina. He joined the University of Montevallo faculty in 1973 and retired as Professor Emeritus in 2016. During his distinguished teaching career, Metz received numerous honors, including Alabama Professor of the Year. Metz’s sculptures have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Italy and at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Gallery in Washington, D.C. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and two Visual Arts Fellowships from the State of Alabama. His recent work

BY BARRY WISE SMITH explores abstract mixed-media assemblage using cast aluminum, bronze, glass and iron, structural steel, vintage tools and other found materials. Drawn to 19th-century industrial design and craftsmanship, Metz allows the history of his materials to remain visible, preserving rust, welds, grinding marks and naturally distressed surfaces as integral parts of the finished work. His use of vintage tools also pays tribute to the craftsmen and trades those objects represent. Included in this exhibition are sculptures from two of Metz’s ongoing series. The Consequences of Extraction explores the harvesting of materials from the earth and our complicity in that process as users and consumers. The Master/Apprentice series honors the traditional educational model through which generations of men and women learned skilled trades, reflecting Metz’s longstanding interest in craftsmanship, tools and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. “I am grateful to the Homewood Arts Council for inviting Scott Owen and me to exhibit our work. The venue is perfect,” Metz says. “I have produced a lot of sculpture over the past 50 years. This exhibition includes recent sculptures that

are being shown for the first time in the Birmingham area. Scott and I are pleased to introduce this work to a new audience.” Scott Vaughn Owen grew up in Columbiana, Alabama, and studied fine art at the University of Montevallo. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he mastered typography, painting, carving, gilding and dimensional design. First developed through his awardwinning work as a sign maker, those disciplines now form the foundation of his distinctive fine-art practice.

above: “Depleted, Destroyed and All Shorn Up,” from the Quarry Series by Metz. left: Ted Metz Photo by Ian Logue

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 19

| ARTS | “Plumb House” by Ted Metz.

In his constructed works, Owen builds outward from the painted image. Graphic patterns, symbolic figures and artist-designed frames come together as one complete composition. The surrounding structure does not simply contain the artwork; it carries its color, rhythm and narrative beyond the image itself. Within these layered environments, familiar figures and objects suggest moments of humor, tension, vulnerability and personal reflection. Owen’s work has been exhibited throughout the southeastern United States, including at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur and Huntsville International Airport. His paintings have also appeared in galleries in Dallas, Texas, and London, England. Though Metz and Owen create distinctly different work, both approach art as makers as much as image-makers. Materials, tools and craftsmanship are central to each artist’s practice. Metz brings together industrial and found materials whose surfaces reveal evidence of their histories, while Owen extends his paintings into dimensional, constructed works in which image, frame and structure become a unified composition. “Bringing Ted and Scott together gives our community a chance to experience two very different artistic voices while also discovering the common ground between them,” says Shannon Schneider, Chair of the Homewood Arts Council. “Both artists have spent decades developing their craft, but neither has stopped exploring and experimenting.” OTMJ

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20 • Thursday, October 15, 2026

FASHION | SOCIAL |

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

TWO LOCAL FASHIONISTAS MAKE THEIR MARK ON BIRMINGHAM BY CATHY DELOZIER

lice Jordan Pulliam and Mary Glenn McElveen are expanding Birmingham’s profile in the fashion industry, providing local (and online) women with new and creative options and access. Pulliam owns Soiree, the area’s first curated rental and resale boutique, featuring elevated pieces in an approachable setting. McElveen owns Styled by MG, a personal stylist and wardrobe consulting business, which has an Instagram following of 187,000. Although each has forged her own path to small-business ownership, their similar backgrounds and educational experiences led them to their dream careers. Both are Mountain Brook graduates (different classes) who began expressing their creativity while dressing for elementary school. “I’ve been obsessed with clothes since I was about six and wanted to plan my outfits to look all put together for school,” says Pulliam. “I took my first trip to New York at 16 and knew I wanted to live there and work in fashion although I didn’t know what that would look like.” McElveen chimes in, “Playing dress up was my favorite game as a child, and then I started expressing my creativity with clothes for school. My mom says she would check on me upstairs when I was supposed to be doing homework, and I’d be styling my outfit for the next day. I’ve always had a passion for it but

left: Alice Jordan Pulliam and Mary Glenn McElveen

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

| FASHION |

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 21

“I want women to feel celebrated and have a good time while they shop for a special occasion or event.” –alice jordan pulliam never thought of it as a career. Now I know there are ways to work in the industry other than being a designer or buyer.” Pulliam worked at local retail clothing stores as a teenager, modeled in two Linly Heflin Fashion Shows and worked—after an internship and receiving her business marketing degree from Birmingham Southern—for a New York marketing and communications firm representing various clothing brands. McElveen continued to style clothing for her friends and family as she grew up but was paid for her first styling job right out of high school by a local mother whose daughter was starting at the high school and was unsure what her daughter should wear or how to coordinate her clothes. “Every Christmas and summer break, I would come home and style for her for the next season. I never thought this would be something I could turn into a career. They both are still some of my best clients.” After working at a second PR firm representing different fashion houses, Pulliam went to work for Chopard, a luxury watch and jewelry brand, on the PR and Celebrity Dressings team. “I worked the Met Gala, traveled to California for the Oscars and all the awards shows, as well as Cannes for the Film Festival.” It was during Pulliam’s five years in New York that the idea for Soiree began. “I had to wear a certain style of clothing for meeting stylists, celebrity fittings and all my work events, so I started renting clothing, up to three to four times a week, and renting out my clothing as well. All my friends were renting, too, but we all had issues with only online options and renting peer-to-peer. There was no consistency or dependability; items might be stained or wrinkled or not look like the photo

“This is what I’m meant to do.” –mary glenn mcelveen

online or fit well. The worst was when an item didn’t arrive on time. It was all on an app and was frustrating. I noticed a lot more women were renting for various reasons, and there was no brick-and-mortar option out there where you could see and feel the fabric in person and try it on.” About a year before she moved home, Pulliam started working on her business plan to provide an elevated shopping experience that is fun and accessible and launched Soiree in December 2025. She moved into her current space in the Studios Building at Pepper Place in August. Clients can rent or buy clothes and bags, and a few accessories, that Pulliam has personally chosen from sample sales and vintage shops in New York and Atlanta. Some of her clothing brands include Ulla Johnson, LoveShackFancy, Alexander Wang, Elliatt, Amur, Retrofete and Leo Lin. She carries bags by Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Tory Burch, Stuart Weitzman and Louis Vuitton. While she carries a full range of sizes from extra small to extra large, she does not carry every size in every item. Renters sign an agreement of responsibility for the full retail value of an item if it is lost, damaged or stolen, and Soiree handles all the cleaning and left: McElveen with her son Harlan.

maintenance. “I want women to feel celebrated and have a good time while they shop for a special occasion or event and leave with something they love,” she says. McElveen also graduated with a marketing degree, with a minor in fashion merchandising, from Alabama, where she spent four years loaning clothes to her friends and continuing to style their outfits. She worked in interior design for a local high-end furniture company, starting in sales and working her way into the PR department where she learned how the influencing world works. After getting married in 2019, she moved to a smaller interior design environment, while telling her husband she wanted to ultimately work in fashion, but wasn’t sure what that would be. Her first client was now in college, and McElveen was still planning her wardrobe for her when a lightbulb went off. “Could I just do this for people in Birmingham? I’m already doing this, and I help my friends all the time— this is what I’m meant to do.” McElveen launched her business in April 2020 but was undeterred by the pandemic. “I was still working in interior design, but business was slow, so I had time to invest. People were eager to get dressed again and were cleaning out their closets and looking at their wardrobes because they had time.” She started doing closet edits and styling

consulting via Zoom. She also blogged about fashion and posted what she wore on Instagram. “The most successful part of my business was the styling, and the Instagram posts were just in the background for my selling services and getting my name out there, making some money from linking and working with smaller brands. I was super passionate about being successful, and after working two jobs for a year, I was ready to focus all my time on my business.” McElveen had a banner year in 2024 in which she collaborated as the designer for Dillard’s exclusive private label Antonio Melani, “Curated high-end collections that evoke sophistication through tailoring, yet stay current through styling and attitude,” according to their website. She designed 16 articles of clothing, eight pairs of shoes and some swimwear for the Spring collection, with most selling out within 24 hours—approximately five million dollars in sales. It was so successful, she collaborated again for Spring 2025, and work is in progress for Spring 2027. After 2024, McElveen’s business and Instagram followers grew exponentially; brands invite her to wear their clothes and pay her to own and wear them, whether she posts or not, as well as a percentage of the purchases made through her links. She gets invited to shows for New York Fashion Week and to Paris for parties and networking events during their fashion week. “I have my business and family here in Birmingham, and I go to these events in these cities and think, ‘How am I here?’ Definitely pinch me moments,” says McElveen. OTMJ For more information visit soireebham.com and styledbymg.com.

ABOUT TOWN

22 • Thursday, October 15, 2026

Thurs., Oct. 15

HOMEWOOD CENTENNIAL GALA Celebrate Homewood’s centennial with a 1926-inspired evening featuring a red carpet welcome, live music, local history, memorabilia and a live auction benefiting Sims Garden. WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Rosewood Hall and City Hall Plaza

Fri., Oct. 16-Sun., Oct. 18 JURASSIC QUEST

Life-size dinosaurs take over the BJCC during this family-friendly touring experience featuring prehistoric creatures and interactive attractions. WHEN: Various Times WHERE: BJCC North Exhibition Hall

Sat., October 17

HOMEWOOD FIRST RESPONDERS 5K & FUN RUN

Thurs., Oct. 15

BÉLA FLECK: MY BLUEGRASS HEART Béla Fleck and an ensemble of acclaimed musicians celebrate the roots of bluegrass while pushing the genre in new directions. WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall

Law enforcement officers and firefighters are heroes every day. Not it’s Homewood’s turn to be theirs. The Homewood First Responders 5K raised funds to support the Homewood Police Foundation and the Homewood Fire Foundation. Beginning and ending in front of the Trak Shak on 18th Street, the Homewood First Responders 5K winds through downtown Homewood and the surrounding neighborhoods. Officers and firefighters will be on site with police vehicles and fire trucks, and McGruff the Crime Dog will make an appearance. Join in for a morning of herioc fun! WHEN: 8 a.m. 5K/9 a.m. Fun Run WHERE: The Trak Shak, 2839 18th St. S.

Sat., Oct. 17

HOMEWOOD CENTENNIAL PICNIC

Thurs., Oct. 15

TOMMY MESA, CELLIST + OLGA KERN, PIANIST Acclaimed pianist Olga Kern joins rising-star cellist Tommy Mesa for an evening of classical music. WHEN:7:30-9:30 p.m. WHERE: Brock Recital Hall

Thurs., Oct. 15

34th ANNUAL AMFIRST CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Hit the links for the annual AmFirst Charity Golf Tournament benefiting local organizations through the AmFirst Community First Campaign. WHEN: 9:00 a.m. WHERE: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley

Thurs., Oct. 15

Celebrate 100 years of Homewood at the Homewood Centennial Picnic in Homewood Central Park. The winners of the inaugural Homewood cake decorating contest will be announced; great food and beverage vendors will be on site to provide delicious sips and bites; the Homewood Police Department, Homewood Fire Department and our amazing Homewood Public Library will be showcased and for the kids, Baptist Health Brookwood will have a teddy bear clinic and lawn games. But the star of the show will be performances by the HHS Patriot Marching Band and jazz band, Homewood Pops, The Network and Nexus show choirs, performers from Homewood Theatre and the headliner act—Three on a String, presented by Baptist Health Brookwood and the City of Homewood. And after the music, stick around for a fantastic fireworks display to end the night! WHEN: 2-7 p.m. WHERE: Homewood Central Park

Sun., Oct. 18

14th ANNUAL TACOS FOR TRINITY Enjoy tacos from Taco Mama, live music and live and silent auctions at this annual fundraiser supporting Trinity Counseling’s affordable mental health services. WHEN: 6-8:30 p.m. WHERE: Cahaba Brewing Company

GIRLS ROCK FEST Celebrate women in music with an afternoon of live performances, local vendors, food and family friendly activities. Admission is free. WHEN: 1-7 p.m. WHERE: Avondale Brewing Company

The way recovery becomes reality. That’s the United Way. Learn more at uwca.org

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Sun., Oct. 25

Sun., Oct. 18

BLACK VIOLIN Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin blends classical strings with hip-hop during its high-energy Be Free Tour. WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall

Sun., Oct. 18 REQUIEM

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs Mozart’s Requiem, along with works by Schubert and Brahms, under conductor Ming Luke. WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall

Thurs., Oct. 22

AN EVENING WITH JEFFREY DUNGAN + SEAN ANDERSON + CERAMICS BY BRANTLEY SANDERS

14th ANNUAL HOMEWOOD WITCHES RIDE For the 14th year, Homewood witches don their witchiest apparel, mount their brooms (bikes or golf carts) and fly through the Edgewood neighborhood tossing candy to kids while raising important funds for the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center to help advance life-saving research, patient care and support services for those impacted by cancer. The two-mile route features three candy zones and ends with a post-ride afterparty at The Edge. WHEN: 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Homewood Central Park

Sun., Oct. 25

SIPS FOR SOUND Enjoy live music by The Hams, food, drinks, children’s activities and a silent auction benefiting children who are deaf or hard of hearing. WHEN: 2-5 p.m. WHERE: Back Forty Beer Company

Celebrate the release of The Soulful House and Interior Narratives with book signings, additional works by local artists, live music and hors d’oeuvres. WHEN: 4:30-8 p.m. WHERE: Shaia’s, Homewood

Fri., Oct. 23

HAUNT THE HILLS Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, games, inflatables and a movie to end the evening. WHEN: 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Wald Park

Sat., Oct. 24-Sat., Nov. 7 FLORA MEETS A BEE

Follow a young girl whose unexpected friendship helps her discover that belonging can be found in the most surprising places. WHEN: Various show times WHERE: Birmingham Children’s Theatre

Sun., Oct. 25

HOMEWOOD PARKS FALL FESTIVAL Celebrate fall with inflatable attractions for kids, a costume contest, DJ and food trucks at Homewood Central Park. WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Homewood Central Park

Sun., Oct. 25

BLUEGRASS AT THE BARN Enjoy live bluegrass music, barbecue, drinks and a silent auction benefiting The Red Barn’s equine-assisted programs. WHEN: 4-7 p.m. WHERE: The Red Barn, Leeds

Sun., Oct. 25

MOONLIGHT PRINCESSES: A TRIBUTE TO DEMON HUNTERS Families can sing and dance along during this playful event featuring anime-inspired storytelling and K-pop energy. WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall

Thurs., Oct 29

2026 RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE GALA WITH JASON ROBERT BROWN Red Mountain Theatre is honored to present Jason Robert Brown, one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary musical theatre, as the featured guest artist of the 2026 Gala. Brown’s appearance is especially meaningful as RMT brings The Bridges of Madison County to the stage in its 2026-27 season. Celebrate the artistry of the composer behind one of the season’s most anticipated productions—all while supporting RMT. For more information or tickets: redmountaintheatre.org/gala-details/ WHEN: Various show times WHERE: Red Mountain Theatre

Fri., Oct. 30

AFTER DARK: A SYMPHONY OF SHIVERS The Alabama Symphony Orchestra celebrates Halloween with spooky favorites from Harry Potter, Wicked, Psycho, Ghostbusters and more. WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall OTMJ

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 23

| SPORTS |

GOODBYE TO THE PICKLR BY LOYD MCINTOSH PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD

ell, it was good while it lasted. After 18 months in business, Vestavia’s The Picklr pickleball franchise ceased operations on Sunday, September 27, after the development was sold three days earlier to Vestavia-based Naphcare, a company that provides comprehensive medical, dental, mental health and administrative services to correctional facilities and prisons. The pickleball complex on U.S. 31 in Vestavia Hills opened in early 2025 with fanfare and financial assistance from the city. Popular from the beginning with courts in constant use, news of the closing was a complete surprise to members and staff. “We thought the place was doing gangbusters,” one player said in a post. “This was not a decision we took lightly,” said Patrick Denney, a partner with Altera-AIP, LLC, the development company formed to bring The Picklr franchise to the Birmingham market and a Vestavia Hills resident. According to Denney, while the Vestavia Hills location was popular and successful, The Picklr’s corporate leadership rushed into a period of expansion leaving franchise owners in a precarious position as the company grappled with growth issues. One Reddit user in the know said that The Picklr franchise model for profitability was based on having over 500 members paying monthly dues making facilities overcrowded and playing time limited. Oversaturation of public and private pickleball courts has added additional pressure to large and expensive franchise models like The Picklr. However, Denney

says the local team operated one of the top franchises in the nation. Based in Uintah, Utah, The Picklr was founded in 2021 and expanded rapidly. By the end of 2023, the company had signed 154 locations across 23 states with plans to expand to 500 locations. The company recently experienced a round of corporate layoffs as other franchises struggle. Earlier in September, the Round Rock, Texas, location closed, and a location in Santa Barbara, California, pulled out of its franchise agreement and will operate as an independent pickleball facility. Vestavia Hills’ Picklr franchise was located at 1031 Montgomery Highway directly across the road from City Hall. Originally occupied by Sprouts Farmers Market, the 28,092-square-foot building had fallen into disrepair after sitting vacant from 2018 until late 2024, when work began transforming the space into a 10-court pickleball facility. Due to the complex financial ownership of the development and the improvements needed to bring the building up to code, the City of Vestavia Hills entered into an economic development plan with Altera-AIP, LLC. The plan included cash and tax incentives. Denney says Altera-AIP, LLC, spent almost two million dollars reconstructing the building and enhancing the entire development, which included several retail businesses, including The Kitchen By Market, a specialty foods store that opened in July 2026. At the time of this writing, Denney says The Kitchen By Market will remain in development as well as

Chipotle and that the new owners are exploring additional retail options. Denney says he understands the disappointment throughout the local pickleball community but added that he believes the new development will be an asset to the community. “We made sure that we sold it to a strong, committed buyer who will bring more stability to that development.” The closing of The Picklr created a void for the area’s pickleball players, many of whom are exploring other options, including Pickleball Kingdom on Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood. One of The Picklr’s regular players, Walter Scott, a commercial real estate attorney says, “The Picklr ran a top-notch operation, but after several decades in commercial real estate, I understand that some business models are not sustainable. The atmosphere and culture were excellent, and the staff was incredible. People got along, worked together and many friendships were made. For a competitive sport, that’s as good as gets.” OTMJ

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SPORTS | OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL • OTMJ.COM | Thursday, October 15, 2026

BEN BERGUSON CELEBRATES 100 WIN AS HOMEWOOD HEAD COACH th

BY LOYD MCINTOSH PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD

BEN BERGUSON’S SIGNATURE HOMEWOOD WINS SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 Homewood 37, Pelham 30 Berguson’s first victory as Homewood’s head coach, coming after opening the season with losses to Decatur and Vestavia Hills. Homewood then went on a nine-game winning streak and won the region championship.

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 Homewood 25, Hartselle 21 Berguson’s first playoff victory, capping his first season. The Patriots finished 9-3 and were undefeated in region play.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 Homewood 6, Vestavia Hills 0 Homewood snapped a 10-year losing streak against its neighboring rival during a 10-2 season that included another undefeated region championship.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Homewood cheerleaders celebrating 100 wins with Coach Berguson.

n September 18, the Homewood Patriots traveled down I-65 and handily defeated the Helena Huskies by the score of 34-7. It was the team’s third consecutive win and, coincidentally, its third straight region win. The victory puts Homewood in an excellent position as the regular season gives way to the playoffs. However, this mid-season win mattered for another reason: it marked the 100th victory for Homewood Head Coach Ben Berguson. Berguson’s time at Homewood has been wildly successful, especially considering the average high school football coach tenure is less than four years in Alabama’s highest classification. Coaching football in this state isn’t for the squeamish; that’s for certain. Berguson’s strong leadership and demeanor have led to years of consistency and excellence at Homewood. The 100-win milestone places Berguson alongside legends Bob Newton and Gerald Gann, who earned 124 wins and 108 wins, respectively, and were both inducted in Homewood’s inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class in October. If the Patriots win their remaining regularseason games and make another deep playoff run, Berguson could overtake Gann this season, but he’ll almost certainly do so in 2027, a fact he finds hard to believe. “It’s a little

bit surreal, really,” says Berguson. “I guess if you’re somewhere long enough, things like that are going to happen. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been here that many years. A Louisiana native, Berguson spent two decades as an assistant coach, including eight years on the staff at Midfield High School and later at Spain Park. In 2010, he served as Spain Park’s interim head coach, leading the Jaguars to a 6-6 record, including a 36-35 over Homewood, and a playoff win over Tuscaloosa County. Joining Homewood’s staff in 2011, Berguson served as the offensive line coach for three seasons under Doug Goodwin and was promoted to head coach in 2014. Since then, Berguson has led Homewood to four region championships, four seasons with at least 10 wins and made the playoffs in every season at the helm. While the head coach is focal point of any football team, Berguson is quick to give his assistant coaches the praise. “The credit really should go to the assistant coaches. We work 80 plus hours a week, and I just happen to be the one with HC by my name,” Berguson says. “Everything they do makes me look good,”

FOOTBALL SCORES: Vestavia Hills 6, Hoover 3 Mountain Brook 21, Calera 7 Homewood 38, Chelsea 0

Berguson adds with his sense of humor and penchant for self-deprecation fully intact. “I’m just a team manager; they do all the coaching.” Many of those assistant coaches have been at Homewood for most or all of Berguson’s run, including offensive coordinator Heath Brunner and defensive coordinator Freddy Lawrence. Brunner joined the staff 12 years ago after four seasons as the head coach at Jasper High School (formerly Walker County High School). Lawrence has been the defensive coordinator since 2012, coaching alongside Berguson during his entire 16 years at Homewood. “That just creates stability in the program, keeping the staff together like that. I’ve made very few hires over the years,” Berguson says. Berguson also credits Homewood’s dynamics for creating an environment in which long-term success is possible. Berguson says he and the coaching staff are blessed with players who grow up together, know each other well and already have great chemistry before setting foot on campus at Homewood High School, which, as anyone who has ever coached kids at any level knows, is half the battle. “It’s such a close-knit community. Our kids grow up together and have been playing together for years, and they play for each other, so we’re able to get a lot out of them,” Berguson says. “Homewood is such a great place to work. Once you get here, you don’t want to leave.”

Homewood 24, Pike Road 21 The Patriots knocked off Pike Road in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs to advance to the quarterfinals. Homewood finished 10-3 after a wild 57-56 overtime loss to eventual state champion Saraland.

OCTOBER 17, 2025 Homewood 35, Parker 28 Homewood defeated the defending Class 6A state champion to clinch the Region 5 championship, part of an 11-2 season, Berguson’s winningest at Homewood.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 Homewood 33, Mountain Brook 13 The Patriots earned their first victory over Mountain Brook since 2009 and Berguson’s first against the Spartans as Homewood’s head coach.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 Homewood 34, Helena 7 Berguson earned his 100th victory as Homewood’s head coach, becoming only the third coach in program history to reach the century mark, joining Bob Newton and Gerald Gann.

Homewood City Schools Athletic Director Rick Baguley says Berguson’s steady leadership, love for the players and the community, and his willingness to let the coaching staff work without micromanaging have been a recipe for success in the last 13 years. “Coach Berguson is an incredible man to work with. He will do just about anything for anyone in our building,” said Baguley. “He loves his players and strikes a great balance between hard work and keeping things light when needed. OTMJ