Jon Michael Ogletree may be one of present day’s most accomplished pianists, but his testimony is proof that true success stems from identity in Christ Jesus.
See just who Mountain Brook’s favorites are in the winners’ section of our annual vote. MOUNTAIN
The Grand Canyon, known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, stands at 277 miles long and a mile deep, all contained in the state of Arizona. Carved over many years by the Colorado River, its rich layers reveal a stunning glimpse at history. UNTO THE GREAT DEPTHS
PHOTO BY BLAIR RAMSEY
HIT THE ROAD
PHOTO BY KELSEA SCHAFER
MOUNTAIN BROOK
EDITORIAL
Michaela Bankston
Anna Grace Breedlove
Dave Domescik
Daniel Locke
Tyler Raley
Andrew Simonson
Noah Wortham
CONTRIBUTORS
Callie Culver
James Culver
Rachel Owens
Blair Ramsey
Kelsea Schafer
Kate Seaver
DESIGN
Sydney Allen
Jamie Dawkins
Morgan Lockhart
Lavens Maginnis
MARKETING
Noah Brakefield
Evann Campbell
Octavia Campbell
Rachel Henderson
Rhett McCreight
Lauren Morris
Tori Smith
ADMINISTRATION
Anna Marie Cleckler
Mary Jo Eskridge
Alec Etheredge
Stacey Meadows
Kayla Reeves
Leslie Reeves
Brittany Schofield
contributors
James Culver, Photographer
James lives in the Birmingham area with his wife, Rachel, a native of Homewood, and their three children, Callie, James III and John Michael. James is a graduate of Auburn University and spent years in Atlanta working as a graphic designer, creative director and photographer. He specializes in event, real estate and portrait photography, and he can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @jculvercreative and at jculver.com.
Blair Ramsey, Photographer
Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair has two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography.com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.
Kelsea Schafer, Photographer
Kelsea is a student at the University of Alabama, pursuing a news media degree in the College of Communications and Information Sciences. Her passion lies in capturing moments, telling the story and preserving memories. When not in class, she can be found photographing Alabama athletics, spending time with her family and friends or at the lake with her dog, Riley. Kelsea’s work can be found at kelseaschaferphotos.com and on social media @kelseaschaferphotos.
Kate Seaver, Writer
Pursuing her degree in journalism and mass communications, Kate Seaver is a Samford University student, who loves writing and photography and hopes to continue sharing her community’s stories for years to come. She is always captured by stories about people, and she challenges herself to seek out the interesting bits in even mundane topics. When not writing or taking photos, she enjoys spending time outside, taking in the beauty of creation.
Mountain Brook Magazine is published quarterly by Shelby County Newsmedia Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Mountain Brook Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.
Mountain Brook Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Mountain Brook, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit MountainBookMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting MountainBrookMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.
Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@mountainbrookmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
A Call to Design
Hamilton Charlson’s interior design business, Charlson & Co., is the fruit of her years-long labors chasing her dream.
Photo by Blair Ramsey Design by Lavens Maginnis
CCreativity is the birth of new ideas—the most beautiful come straight from the love in one’s heart. This issue is full of innovative thinkers, dreamers, dare I say, that defied the odds in pursuit of building something greater than themselves.
On the cover, Hamilton Charlson—a descendant of the Shook family (Shook Hill Parkway, Shook Hill Estates)—is a Mountain Brook native, who at 15 years old decided she would attend boarding school at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School—for fun. After graduating, she ventured another 100-some-odd miles to attend Brenau University for fashion design and later came home to Birmingham to work for a local boutique designing nurseries for growing families.
Through years of bouncing around different jobs—and an extensive, unexpected stint in healthcare administration—she launched her own interior design business, Charlson & Co. Read her story on page 43.
Funnily enough, another Mountain Brook resident, Norman Jetmundsen, also has ties to the University of the South. One day, he was having lunch with a friend who happened to have produced a documentary on Mississippi Gov. William Winter.
That tiny spark of interest soon snowballed into a nearly-seven-yearlong journey researching the 1899 Sewanee Tigers football team, arguably the best college football team in history. Readers, this was a thrilling story to write—check it out on page 23.
Another dreamer started out as a busboy, quietly building the foundation for what would become his dream career. John Rolen, cofounder of Slim’s Pizzeria, will celebrate his business’ fifth anniversary this August in Crestline Village (page 33).
Similarly, another iconic institution is celebrating a milestone anniversary—its 45th to be exact. Founded in 1981, the Mountain Brook Art Association is firm in its belief that art is for everyone—anyone can learn and all are welcome. Read more about this event and its founding on page 13.
One of my favorite interviews I’ve ever done was actually with Mountain Brook Community Church’s pianist, an accomplished musician in his own right, Jon Michael Ogletree. Standing at 3 foot 8 inches tall, he holds the title of the world’s shortest living pianist, but his testimony is proof that God creates each person on purpose, with purpose. Read Jon Michael’s story on page 51.
What do an interior designer, a filmmaker and author, a pizzeria owner, an art association and a pianist all have in common? They each encountered obstacles, but not one gave up on his dreams. Because of their courage, their creativity, our community is thriving—and we have them to thank.
Sincerely,
“THE QUESTION
”
What is your favorite “binge-worthy” movie or TV series?
Back to the Future, Princess Diaries and Friday Night Lights!
-Kelsea Schafer
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit
-Mackenzie Bass
The Office, Gilmore Girls and Friends
-Emma Haynes
You with Penn Badgley
-Katie Grubbs
Gilmore Girls!
-Anna Katherine Hess
HBO’s Chernobyl
-John Corley
Once Upon A Time or Criminal Minds
-Basia Guerrero
The Righteous Gemstones
-Neil Zalewski
@mountainbrookmag
Tag us in your Mountain Brook photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
@scottterrystudio
Prom and formal season is here!
@mckwurst.designs A moment for the monogram…
@occasionsweddingsal
Our couples in print! Featured inside Alabama Weddings and on the cover of Mountain Brook Magazine. We love our amazing couples and getting to share their celebrations never gets old! So thankful!
@aliciayorkauthor
I had the exciting surprise today of receiving a copy of the spring 2026 issue of Mountain Brook Magazine-with a full page of book reviews written by me! I am so thankful to Mountain Brook Magazine @mountainbrookmag and the O’Neal Library @oneallibrary for this opportunity! If you’re looking for clean romance with snappy dialogue, twisty plots, and strong heroines AND strong heroes, look no further! I reviewed “Sidelined by Love” by Liz Johnson @lizjohnsonbooks, “Of Gold and Shadows” by Michelle Griep @michellegriep (read by Sarah Zimmerman), “Tacos for Two” by Betsy St. Amant @betsystamanthaddox, “To Con a Gentleman” by Sarah Adams @authorsarahadams, and “The Serendipity” by Emma St. Clair @kikimojo. All are available in bookstores or (of course) at your local library!
THE GUIDE
GYMNASTICS CAMP TIMES VARY
Mountain Brook Gymnastics
Calling all future olympians! Mountain Brook Gymnastics is hosting day camps for boys and girls ages 3 and older (all campers must be potty trained). Campers will get to participate in gymnastics lessons, pit and trampoline time, crafts and fun games each week. For more details or to register, visit mountainbrookgymnastics.com.
JUNE 22-26
Hip Hop Camp
9 A.M. TO NOON
Linda Dobbins Dance
Pock, lock and drop it at Linda Dobbins Dance’s summer camps! Children ages 5-11 will get to learn hip hop combos, play daily, educational games, and on the final day,
they will get to perform in the family and friends show-off! Camp cost is $225 per registrant. Learn more at lindadobbinsdance.com/hip-hop-summercamp.
AROUND TOWN
MAY 2
The 25th Annual Art in the Village Mountain Brook City Hall
Mason Music Camp for Beginners Mason Music—Mountain Brook
JUNE 13
Movies on the Mountain: Space Jam Vulcan Park & Museum
JUNE 25
I Love America Night Wald Park
JULY 13-17
Vocal Performance Camp Mason Music—Mountain Brook
JULY 27-31
Mason Music Camp for Beginners Mason Music–Mountain Brook
JULY 18
Mountain Brook Market Day
ALL DAY
Mountain Brook Village
Looking for the perfect summer outing? Be sure to visit Mountain Brook Village on this day for Mountain Brook Market Day! Businesses will be offering one-day-only discounts and special sales on all things summer: clothes, shoes, jewelry–you name it. To learn more, visit business. mtnbrookchamber.org.
JULY 25
2026 Otey’s Fest
TBD
Otey’s Tavern
Don’t miss this annual summer concert! Panic Stricken, T.U.B., TBA and Gri Cashio will perform live. Otey’s Tavern’s signature cocktails will make a return, as well as Chef Rodney Davis’ famous burgers. Follow @oteystavern on Instagram as more details become available.
ARTS CULTURE&
ART IS FOR EVERYONE
The Mountain Brook Art Association is celebrating its 45th year—a milestone anniversary thanks to its members.
BY
ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY, KESLEA SCHAFER & CONTRIBUTED
SSpanning more than four decades, the Mountain Brook Art Association has fostered a love for the arts and nurtured the talent of rising generations in Mountain Brook and all over Birmingham with one goal in mind: artistic fellowship. Janet Sanders, past show chair, attributes the association’s origins to one local Birmingham artist.
“Ron Lewis, a graduate of art at Montevallo, taught popular painting classes for years,” she says. “He taught in oil, watercolor and acrylic paints and is a multiple, award-winning artist and signature member of the prestigious American Watercolor Society. His students were so pleased with their work that they decided it was time to see if they could sell.”
One Saturday in springtime, Ron’s students gathered in front of Crestline Elementary School on Church Street, setting up their paintings against trees and chairs along the sidewalk. Just as they had
hoped, the show was a success.
The brainchild of those aspiring students, the Mountain Brook Art Association officially formed in 1981. Its annual spring show—Art in the Village— would be held on Crestline Field for the next 40 years.
“We added jazz bands, ice cream trucks and food trucks to help feed the crowds that topped 4,000 visitors as there weren’t as many food outlets as there are now,” Janet says. “It all added to the excitement.”
Show organizers eventually created a hospitality tent that evolved into more than a mere information center. It became the hub of the show, connecting several tents that housed the annual floral competition and an innovation for its time—the credit machine.
“Elderly members could still display a few paintings there, without the rigors of setting up a
tent, and still enjoy being part of the event they had originated,” Janet adds. “They attracted their longterm customers and collectors to the show, so we all benefited.”
Over time, the show grew to feature more than 100 artists’ work, drawing thousands of visitors every year.
“The entire neighborhood came out with their dogs and children,” Janet says. “You could see them all visiting friends they hadn’t seen in a while and just enjoying the day, while the children played in the center field doing cartwheels and playing tag.”
Mountain Brook Art Association President Martha Fulghum first joined the association in 2012 and credits members’ strong ties with each other and the community for the show’s longevity.
“I have participated in the spring and holiday shows in the past and have enjoyed it, but now, I prefer to work along with the many volunteers who are needed for the show,” she says. “This allows me to be able to help out with booth sitting, running
errands and taking photographs of the show and visiting artists in their booths.”
The show’s selection process is a long evaluation and is limited to members only. While the association has grown in size and popularity, membership is limited to patrons who live within a 25-mile radius of Mountain Brook City Hall.
Participants must have also attended at least two different meetings the year prior, reinforcing the community commitment of the group.
“Our meetings are all about improving our skills, learning about techniques and new products with lots of sharing and mentoring,” Janet says. “We have everything from fairly-new artists on up to professional artists.”
In its earlier days, one of the association’s past presidents, Gayle Hurley, developed the association’s first email system, helping to digitize its newsletters. One of her friends, Rebecca Moody—who is married to renowned watercolorist Bob Moody—created the association’s first website.
“Our meetings are all about improving our skills, learning about techniques and new products with lots of sharing and mentoring.”
-Janet Sanders
“Gayle decided we should try to have a holiday show and have a charity receive a portion of the sales as a way to give back to the community,” Janet says.
“We held it at the new Park Lane by Kathy G—now the home of Little Hardware. It was a four-hour evening show with a cocktail-like atmosphere, wine and hors d’oeuvres. Once the event place closed, we all missed the party. Then president, I decided that if this was for charity, then we need to grow the show.”
At the time, Brookwood Mall had a vacancy from one of its top retailers. Janet negotiated a deal for the show to occupy the space for a period of time.
“Our reputation as a group with good community relationships drew new customers to the mall,” she explains. “We had a wonderful show there for several years until they closed, and we moved to The Summit. The shows were almost a month long, and it scared me to see what scheduling would be like. Three
artists at the desk from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and three from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. would be a nightmare! However, three or more weeks were filled within days!”
Yet, the biggest logistical challenges lay ahead.
“For the spring show, when the Piggly Wiggly moved across the street from the field, the dynamics somehow affected the attendance,” Janet says.
“Before the parking lot went in, you could see the field from Church Street, the main street of busy Crestline Village. Then disaster struck with COVID shutting everything down. Once we could regroup, I knew we needed to make a drastic change.”
She initially considered moving Art in the Village to The Summit, but after talking with Suzan Doidge— then-president of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce—she realized the solution was less than 500 feet away.
“She said, ‘Why not here at City Hall?’” Janet says.
“I was very skeptical, but we walked around and saw that we could have both inside and outside displays. That would make everyone happy. Younger artists without tents could try their sales inside without the investment of tents, and older artists who didn’t have the stamina to be outside would be pleased. There was room outside for tents all around. It was our first City Hall show and a great success, especially for being in the very heart of Crestline Village.”
Today, Art in the Village draws thousands of visitors from all over the nation. Beloved favorites return each season and exhibit alongside young, new artists, providing an inviting-yet-laid-back environment for all to enjoy. Aside from this one event, the Mountain Brook Art Association also hosts
ART IN THE VILLAGE
Don’t miss the Mountain Brook Art Association’s biggest event of the year!
DATE: Saturday, May 2
TIME: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Mountain Brook City Hall
COST: Free
Thank you for voting us as Best Pharmacy in Mountain Brook! We are honored to serve this community!
even be applied when finished. Art is my therapy when I need to escape the cares of the world for a little while.”
She credits several members for helping ignite passion in newer, younger generations through these classes as well.
“Many of our members teach classes from their studios—Ron Lewis, Amy Collins—or at the Shelby County Arts Council—Chris Cruz,” she says. “Others teach at the local art stores, such as Forstall Art—Madison Faile, Terry Strickland, Pam Benoit, Caleb Clark and Marcia Hodges—and Alabama Art Supply. Member Lynita Motes has a farm in Shelby County and is hosting nationallyknown artists at her studio there.”
But no matter one’s talent, Martha says the Mountain Brook Art Association welcomes everyone with open arms. Its abiding mantra—art is for everyone—has lasted 45 years and remains as true today as the day the association was founded.
To learn more information about the Mountain Brook Art Association, how to join or its upcoming events, visit mountainbrookartassociation.com.
Voted Mountain Brook’s Best in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025!
Storytime with Tots
Recommendations from Rachel Owens
Children’s Librarian at the O’Neal Library
Fireworks
Rachel Owens has been with the O’Neal Library Children’s Department for 17 years. She does weekly storytimes for babies and lower elementary students, as well as a monthly book club for emerging readers and their parents. When not playing outside or making music, Rachel and her husband also conduct hours and hours of library book quality control with their own two little readers. Here, she recommends five summer reading books that preschoolers will love to read with their loved ones.
By Matthew Burgess | Fiction
Spend a hot summer day in the city with this year’s Caldecott Medal winner. Steamy sidewalks, flowing fire hydrants, adventures in the park and juicy watermelon are all part of a jubilant day for two siblings. After some dancing and some dinner, their escapades culminate in a rooftop viewing of a dazzling fireworks show. The spectacle, which includes a beguiling and joyful fold-out illustration for the grand finale, lives on in the two children’s dreams at the end of the day.
Jabari Jumps
By Gaia Cornwall | Fiction
Jabari can hardly wait. He and his little sister are headed to the pool with their dad, and today, Jabari is going to jump off the diving board. On arriving, he generously lets everyone go ahead of him, then needs a little rest, then realizes he forgot to stretch. Through patient, tender encouragement from his dad, Jabari eventually finds the courage to take the plunge. Relatable and sweet, this is a modern classic your child will request over and over.
Mr. Complain Takes the Train
By Wade Bradford | Fiction
Traveling by train this summer? Look out for Mr. Complain, who is never satisfied. Despite a chipper and accommodating flamingo conductor, the grouchy protagonist finds the train too happy, too lumpy, too high up, too fast, just too everything. After journeying through progressively more silly locales like a diamond mine, a volcano and a loop-de-loop (turn the book upside down), Mr. Complain starts to rethink his vacation destination of Dullsville.
Out Into the Big Wide Lake
By Paul Harbridge| Fiction
Kate is spending the summer with her grandparents on the lake for the first time. Every morning, she and Grandpa deliver groceries by boat to their neighbors—all sweet except grouchy Walter. In the evenings, Grandma teaches her how to drive the boat. When Grandma has to rush Grandpa to the hospital one morning, Kate’s courage and compassion compel her to make the grocery deliveries by herself—even to intimidating Walter.
Room for Everyone
By Naaz Khan | Fiction
In this rhyming counting book, Musa and his sister are taking the crowded daladala—the local bus—to the Zanzibar seashore. As the driver keeps stopping to pick up more passengers with their growing number of items (one bicycle, two goats and three fruit baskets), Musa becomes annoyed. There isn’t enough space! However, his big sister gently and repeatedly assures him that there’s plenty of room for everyone. By the time they reach the beach and the number 10, Musa has embraced the chaotic exuberance of the daladala and is eager to enjoy his day at the shore with the other beachgoers.
SCHOOL SPORTS &
THE IRON MEN
Mountain Brook resident Norman Jetmundsen’s documentary and novel revitalizes the tale of the 1899 Sewanee Tigers.
BY ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
FFar and few between are the legends whose feats go unparalleled. In college sports, only one football team has truly earned the name, unrivaled; its record remains unbroken even 127 years later.
The University of the South, colloquially coined as “Sewanee,” in 1899 was only just rebuilding, expanding post-Civil War on the Cumberland Plateau. Football had not been introduced to the South until the 1890s because travel was expensive, so many Southern universities only played three or four games a year, especially a remote school like Sewanee.
That all changed in 1899. That year, Sewanee’s football team, “The Iron Men” as they were later known, pioneered the trajectory for college football in the South, accomplishing in one season what no other had ever done or will ever attempt to do again.
They achieved five shut-out victories in six days— trekking 2,500 miles cross-country via steam locomotive—four years before aviators Orville and
Wilbur Wright invented the first plane in 1903. The Sewanee Tigers later finished a perfect 12-0 season, amassing a whopping 322 points to their opponents’ 10.
Notably, the fearsome Auburn University Tigers— then led by coach John Heisman—faced Sewanee in the playoffs; whoever won that game would advance to play in the national championship that year. Though a hard-fought match, the game ended with a Sewanee victory, 11-10, and remains the only game where Sewanee gave up points that season.
This incredible tale might have faded into obscurity if not for the efforts of two Sewanee graduates: Norman Jetmundsen and David Crews.
A Mountain Brook resident and attorney, Jetmundsen first pitched the idea of a documentary to Crews after watching his 2014 film, “The Toughest Job: William Winter’s Mississippi.”
“When David and I started the film (in 2017), we sat down one day and mapped it out,” Jetmundsen
DID YOU KNOW?
Many of the 1899 Sewanee Tigers went on to fight in World War I after graduating from college. Team manager Luke Lea served in the U.S. Army, and according to his daughter Laura Lea Knox, he led a small band of soldiers—unbeknownst to his commanding officers—to capture Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was hiding out in a castle nearby. They came close to his capture before they were thwarted. Allegedly, U.S. Army General John Pershing heard the tale and said, “I’m not a rich man, but I would have given a year’s salary to be with Lea and the boys that night.” Lea survived the war and died in 1945 at age 66 after having served in the U.S. Senate and founded the newspaper, The Tennessean.
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says. “We said, ‘Well, there are no photographs. There’s not much about it. We’ll just explore the lore because we won’t have many facts.’ What we started realizing is that the facts were better than the lore.”
There are only two, very grainy photographs of the 1899 team in existence. While Jetmundsen and Crews were able to obtain those and the first moving picture of a college football game (1902), they did not have footage of Sewanee.
Enter stage right—Birmingham-based artist Ernie Eldredge.
Eldredge created 14 different paintings for the film, each one extraordinarily detailed to resemble the period, weather and expressions of the players at various points during the season. The last game of the 1899 season took place in early December in Atlanta, Georgia, in the afternoon, so Eldredge spent considerable time researching what the weather would have been like just so he could paint the clouds accurately.
“He really brought the film alive in a way we could not have done with only photographs,” Jetmundsen says.
While Eldredge was reanimating the team on canvas, Jetmundsen and Crews were resuscitating the lore through interviews all across the country. Their first interview was with Dr. Woody Register, a Sewanee professor and historian who had already researched the team extensively.
They interviewed him for four straight hours.
“He gave us the backbone that we needed to do our research,” Jetmundsen says, acknowledging their several thousand hours spent delving into the team’s history for the film.
Jetmundsen says he learned just how brutal the game was back then. In one season, there was a recorded 18 deaths from the sport. There was no forward passing, and teams had three downs to gain five yards.
With such little protective gear, many players left the field bloody, beaten and bruised every single game, but leaving the game—or getting cut from playing—was seen as cowardly as the sport itself was a chance to prove one’s masculinity.
Truly, football in 1899 was a game of “kill or be killed.”
In total, Jetmundsen and Crews interviewed more than 40 different people, including several icons such as Nick Saban, Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley, Johnny Majors, Kirk Herbstreit and Jon Meacham, a fellow Sewanee graduate and historian.
They even located some extended relatives of the players. Team captain Henry “Ditty” Seibels’ two grandsons, Henry Seibels III and Kelly Seibels, who are cousins, were interviewed, as well as team manager Luke Lea’s daughter, Laura Lea Knox.
Through their conversations they learned that at the turn of the century, Sewanee’s athletic teams were entirely student run. So, 20-year-old Lea was responsible for recruiting all of the players, scheduling games and managing the team’s finances.
When a dispute over how the annual Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt game’s gate receipts would be divided, Lea decided Sewanee would not play Vanderbilt that year.
Since that one game’s proceeds funded the rest of the team’s season, Lea knew he couldn’t use up all the team had raised on one or two travel games. Instead, he decided Sewanee would play five teams in six days—on one trip—a feat many thought impossible.
On sewanee1899.org under “Legacy,” Jetmundsen
describes it best: “This astounding achievement invigorated this small university and helped ensure that Sewanee would survive and thrive as an institution of higher learning. It gave inspiration and hope to the Sewanee faithful.”
One of Jetmundsen’s favorite aspects of creating the documentary was uncovering the story of team trainer Cal Burrows. He not only acted as a trainer, but he also tended to players’ injuries, washed uniforms and kept up morale.
His contributions went largely unseen for more than 100 years. Jetmundsen nominated Burrows for the Sewanee Athletics Hall of Fame even though he was not a student at the university, and in September 2024, he was inducted posthumously.
“What our film brought forth is his major contribution,” Jetmundsen says. “We call him the ‘unsung hero’ of the team.”
Henry Seibels III, Knox, Bowden, Dooley and Majors have all passed away since their interviews, but not before they helped revive one of the greatest tales in the “annals of college football history.”
“To me, the most gratifying thing about doing this is we realized that if we had not done the film when we did, the story would have been lost forever,” Jetmundsen says.
After five years of preparation, “Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899” premiered in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2022 with a second showing later in Birmingham. The Rev. Gates Shaw, retired episcopal priest, narrated the documentary.
Bobby Horton, who created the musical score, invited two representatives of Alabama Public Television to the local premiere. They pitched it to the state network and later, the national network.
Today, “Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899” has been shown in nearly all 50 states and on Delta Airlines in 2025 for four months. It was also nominated for a Southeast Regional Emmy for Best Historical Documentary.
Yet, what would come would yield even more success for the filmmakers.
“We had these beautiful, original paintings, but in the film, you only see them for a few seconds,”
Jetmundsen says. “We wanted people to be able to really study them and appreciate them, so that led us to talking about doing the book.”
Jetmundsen partnered with graphic designer Karin Fecteau to create a coffee table-style book to further showcase the film’s artwork and even music, as they created a QR code for readers to scan to listen along to Horton’s score while reading.
Published in September 2024, the book has won 25 different awards in just two short years, including Literary Global Book Awards’ NonFiction Book of the Year in 2024. Although no honor, Jetmundsen says, rivals the smiles of fans learning the lore of “The Iron Men” for the first time.
“I hope that people who see the film or read the book will be inspired to see what happens when you put the team first instead of the individual and you’re willing to make sacrifices for the greater good and you do something because you love it, not because you’re making money,” he says.
More than a century has passed since the 1899 Sewanee Tigers first set out to attempt the impossible. Now thanks to “Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899,” remnants of their legacy will echo throughout future generations—a reminder that greatness is measured not by one’s success, but by his courage to try and his will to follow through for a dream.
“Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899” was published by Robbey Stanford, and copies can be purchased online at sewanee1899.org or in person at Seibels Cottage, Tom Beckbe or Snoozy’s.
ONE WEEK TO WIN ‘EM ALL
The 1899 Sewanee Tigers defeated Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, LSU and Ole Miss in their six-day sweep across the South.
NOV. 9: VS. TEXAS | 12-0
NOV. 10: VS. TEXAS A&M | 10-0
NOV. 11: VS. TULANE | 23-0
NOV. 13: VS. LSU | 34-0
NOV. 14: VS. OLE MISS | 12-0
Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Anne Rector
Ninth Grade World History Teacher at Mountain Brook Junior High School
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Anne Rector’s passion for teaching began early in life, where she first taught her younger brothers in a makeshift classroom at home. Over time, she fell in love with learning history, partly in thanks to her fellow educators in the history department at Mountain Brook High School. After graduating from Furman University, she began teaching at Homewood Middle School and eventually transferred to Mountain Brook Junior High School, where she currently teaches ninth grade world history. Here, she discusses her love for her students and profession.
Where did your passion for teaching originate?
I have always wanted to be a teacher. I remember playing school with my little brothers as a child. In college, I grew in my love of history and decided to pursue secondary social studies.
Looking back on all of the educators you had, who do you think had the greatest impact on you?
Furman had some wonderful professors that helped me grow in my love of history, but I think my high school years were the most formative for me. I had Glenn Lamar for two different AP history classes. He taught in such a way that captivated me, and I truly enjoyed being in class each day. I formed lasting relationships with multiple teachers at the high school; former teachers like Wendy Gray and Lisa Lewis have been helpful mentors beyond the classroom, helping me navigate my teaching career.
What is the greatest gift an educator can pass on to his or her student?
I try to teach skills that will be helpful across various subjects and eventually in their careers. To that end, we work a lot of writing, defending an argument with evidence and working well with others. I like to tell them at the beginning of the year that I won’t waste their time with easy work. Rather, I will give them the support they need to do hard work. Above all the skills listed above, my greatest hope for my students is that they would walk away from class learning that hard work, done with integrity, can be very fruitful.
What classroom memory has inspired you the most during your career?
My first year as a teacher I was teaching seventh grade at Homewood Middle School. We did a little class competition for bonus points, and the way that it was settled ended up being unfair for certain students in the class. Swept up in the excitement of the game I created, I failed to recognize this. That night I received a parent email from
the father of a student who did not get the bonus points she rightfully deserved. Initially, I admittedly felt annoyed, but I have thought back to the incident frequently. I was clearly in the wrong, and he laid out the information for me in such a respectful way. United in the pursuit of a child’s education, we—the teacher, parent and child—do well to give each other the benefit of the doubt that we care and are doing what we can for the student.
Which lessons do you love teaching the most, and how do your students fall more in love with the material during this time, too?
The whole second semester of content is exciting for me to teach. We start in January with World War I, then get as close to modern day as we can. There is something powerful about the more modern history that seems to resonate with students. When we read and watch survivors’ testimonies in the Holocaust, it makes them start to think. They begin to piece together the political issues today with their underlying complex histories of the previous century.
FOOD DRINK&
A SLICE OF SLIM’S
John Rolen thanks customers for their support as Slim’s Pizzeria approaches its fifth anniversary.
BY
ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE
PHOTOS BY KELSEA SCHAFER
YYears before Slim’s Pizzeria became a neighborhood icon, its co-founder John Rolen was a college student working as a busboy while dreaming of being an artist, unknowingly building the foundation for his dream career.
A Birmingham native, John bounced from city to city in his youth, having lived in Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. and Chicago, before returning to his hometown. After graduating from John Carroll Catholic High School, he attended UAB, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, a mentee of prolific painter Gary Chapman.
While he experienced a mass exodus of friends his freshman year, John says he wanted to stay in Birmingham because he finally felt at home. He started working at a local restaurant before transitioning to work at Bottega in 1997.
“I really kind of fell in love with the kitchen, the atmosphere and the culinary environment that Frank Stitt and the team there had created,” he says.
In 2001, he was promoted to chef de cuisine and says he “really sunk his teeth into the culinary world here in Birmingham.” Working under Frank’s dutiful tutelage, John grew to love the industry because of the way Frank loved his people—from
his staff to his customers to his partners.
“One of the greatest things that I learned working with Frank was being in close connection with the farmers in Alabama and in the Southeast,” John says.
He quickly learned that creating good food required two ingredients: a thriving environment with lasting relationships. While at Bottega, he worked with farmers from a chef’s perspective, advising them to plant and procure competitive ingredients that restaurant owners sought after to make their menus stand out.
“Instead of getting these real big horse carrots, we were getting them to make baby carrots for us and radishes and different types of greens that they hadn’t experimented with,” he says. “It was really kind of cool to see the farmers grow and expand and younger people get involved.”
As John grew in his repertoire, so did Birmingham as a hot commodity among wine connoisseurs and pizza aficionados alike, a shift he takes pride in helping create.
“I’m so happy that I did stick around because I got to see a lot of the change that I’m proud of and really excited about here in Birmingham,” he says. “Everything just kind of blossomed over the last 20
years. It’s been super fun to be a part of it.”
After learning the ropes, in 2019, John partnered with his friend and renowned photographer Miller Mobley in creating a restaurant of their own.
“We had the idea for just a really unique neighborhood restaurant that was something that would be casual but still make you feel like you were in a different place, being able to break away from your work stress, your family stress, anything,” John says. “We have a nice respite here with great food and good cocktails and good wine to just relax and have that family feel but also fun for late nights.”
In August 2021, Slim’s Pizzeria officially opened in the former Vogue Cleaners space in Crestline Village.
“Miller had the idea of making it look like it had been here for a while—a little beat up, a little rough around the edges, not shiny and pressed but a nice, casual place where you can dress up or you can come in your shorts and still have a good time,” John says.
Designed to be upscale yet unpretentious, the pizzeria offers guests a place to unwind, be themselves and still enjoy five-star-quality meals. The core of the menu is none other than its pizzas.
“We make our own sauces, grind our own meats,” John says. “Everything we put on the plate, I think that all the chefs here are proud to be using. It makes it fun for us to make a good pizza.”
When creating the menu, John prioritized using local ingredients from Alabama farmers and retailers. All of the restaurant’s flour is milled here locally in Ensley by Corey Hinkel, who delivers fresh batches each week. The pizza dough resembles more of a sourdough as it is composed of flour, yeast, Spanish olive oil, sea salt and honey—a concoction created through a three-day fermentation process that yields a rich flavor profile without the side effects of processed, bleached flour.
“It makes me proud to be able to use something that’s from around Birmingham that is taken care of,” John says.
The ingredients follow suit. The Honey Honey Pizza—one of John’s favorites—features sauce made from Bianco de Napoli tomatoes topped with pepperoni, mozzarella, parmesan and jalapeños sourced from Boyd Harvest Farm in Cullman. It is drizzled with the restaurant’s own hot honey recipe whose honey is supplied by Eastaboga Bee Company.
Another signature item, the Sausage Pizza, consists of a sausage and marinara base with pecorino,
“I think we’ve had such good success with Slim’s here with the neighborhood being so loving and caring and supportive.”
-John Rolen
parsley and fennel pollen—arguably one of the world’s most expensive spices that is derived from wild fennel, which is native to Italy and is harvested by hand.
“I think that it’s kind of cool that we do some things that are out of the vein of a pizzeria,” John says. “We’ll do a tuna crudo, which is something I love to do with very fresh, impeccable tuna sliced very thin and gently pounded so that it’s just all uniform and then brushing it with a calamansi vinegar and a little bit of fennel bulb and fresh herbs and sea salt. It’s just super fresh and light and a great way to start a meal and get your taste buds going.”
Another appetizer John loves is Baked Gulf Shrimp, which is procured from Bayou La Batre and is roasted head on, basted with hot honey butter, calabrian chiles and parsley and is served in a cast
crust into during their meals.
One would be remiss not to try any of the cocktails. Feizal Valli, owner of The House of Found Objects, not only uses Slim’s’ hot honey in some of his bar’s cocktails, but he also helped develop some of the pizzeria’s most beloved drinks, including the St. Slim—a sunset orange cocktail composed of St. Germain, aperol, lime juice and hot honey.
All of these relationships, John says, has helped Slim’s become a neighborhood favorite because each meal is crafted with the finest ingredients, and they all are sourced from local partners.
Week after week, he sits outside on the patio, watching regulars pass by with their dogs, saying, “See you tonight for dinner!” At just past 3 o’clock, children scamper in from school, eager to sit up at
Proudly serving our intentional neighbors in Mountain Brook!
CHEF’S PICKS
APPETIZER:
GARLIC KNOTS: Roast garlic, parsley, marinara
BAKED GULF SHRIMP: Hot honey butter, calabrian chilies, parsley
PIZZA:
HOT HONEY: Pepperoni, mozzarella, chili, honey, jalapeño
CAPOCOLLO: Green olives, onions, tomato, mozzarella, rosemary
AFFOGATO: Fior di latte ice cream drowned in June espresso
Bambino, a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sundae with fior di latte, caramel, fudge, whipped cream and sprinkles.
Now open on Sundays, Slim’s sees a new influx of customers—often other local chefs or restaurant workers on their day off—which adds a unique energy to the air. Yet, no matter the day, John says his most rewarding moments come not in praises but in the interactions with community members who have embraced his dream.
“I think we’ve had such good success with Slim’s here with the neighborhood being so loving and caring and supportive,” he says.
Those tiny moments help build relationships that matter, ones that last, contributing to the warm, community feeling that Slim’s is all about.
For John Rolen, his business is not just a pizzeria.
It is a culmination of his years spent learning and evolving, helping build a space where folks of all walks of life are welcome and share at least one thing in common: a love for good food.
Slim’s Pizzeria is located at 65 Church Street in Mountain Brook. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from 4-9 p.m. For more information, visit slimspizzeria.com.
Mountain Brook's Best Real Estate Team
THE FRED SMITH GROUP
We are excited to share that we have been chosen as the area’s Best Real Estate Team... AGAIN! We are truly grateful to our clients who continue to support us and to refer us to colleagues, friends and family.
Since 1995, our team has proudly represented buyers and sellers across the area, closing on well over 5000 properties. What sets us apart is simple: Teamwork. Experienced agents, marketing experts, and dedicated listing and closing coordinators uniquely position The Fred Smith Group to deliver the highest quality service in the Birmingham area. Our team has the Magic City covered!
From pricing and marketing, to negotiations, we’ve got you covered and with Realty South’s trusted brand backing us, we serve you throughout your buying or selling journey. Our clients know they can rely on us for expert advice, quick results, and a seamless experience. Our reputation is built on results, trust, and a commitment to excellence.
You can count on The Fred Smith Group - for every move you make!
Left to Right: Leigh Anne Lambert, Amy Lee, Wesley Parker, Jen Stinson, Liza Roitman, Cindy Hodges, Ashley Lewis, Fred Smith, Langston Hereford, Amanda Dabbs, Donna Savage, Emily Williams, Cole Rudder and David Crane. Not Prictured: Katie McKibbin
Harris Saunders III Founder of Vitola Fine Cigars
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Harris Saunders’ journey into the cigar business started with a deep appreciation for the ritual and community that surrounds cigars. He and his father, Harris Saunders II, and his brother, Jim Saunders, opened Cigars & More and later, Vitola Fine Cigars. Now consisting of five locations, the family business was built around the idea that a cigar lounge should feel welcoming whether someone is a longtime aficionado or lighting his very first cigar. Here, Harris elaborates on this belief.
Which cigar do you recommend to newcomers?
For someone new to cigars, I usually recommend starting with a Connecticut wrapper cigar. These are generally smoother and milder. New cigar smokers often notice flavor notes such as cream, toasted nuts, light cedar and a little sweetness. A great pairing for a beginner cigar is coffee, light bourbon or even a craft root beer. The biggest advice I give new smokers is simple: Take your time. Cigars aren’t meant to be rushed.
Which cigar should experienced smokers not overlook?
Experienced smokers sometimes chase only the strongest cigars, but some of the most complex cigars are actually medium-bodied. A well-made, aged Nicaraguan or Dominican cigar can have incredible balance—pepper, cocoa, leather and subtle sweetness that evolve throughout the smoke. These cigars pair especially well with single-malt Scotch, barrel-proof bourbon or espresso.
Think of your favorite cigars. What snack or beverage would you pair with each?
Pairing cigars is similar to pairing wine with food—the goal is to complement the flavor profile. For example, a Diamond Crown no. 5 Mild cigar pairs well with dark coffee and shortbread cookies or biscotti. However, the Davidoff Nicaragua Medium cigar is best complemented by bourbon with dark chocolate or roasted almonds. The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Maduro Full-bodied cigar is smoked nicely alongside Peaty Scotch and aged cheddar or a big meal such as steak earlier in the evening. These combinations highlight different flavor notes and create a more enjoyable experience.
How important is the humidor environment to the quality and longevity of a cigar?
Cigars are natural products made entirely from tobacco leaves. They are very sensitive to humidity and temperature. A properly maintained humidor is typically around 65-70 percent humidity and about 68–70 degrees. This
keeps cigars fresh and allows the oils in the tobacco to remain balanced. If cigars dry out, they burn hot and lose flavor. If they’re too humid, they won’t burn properly. Maintaining the right environment ensures every cigar smokes the way the blender intended.
Why do you think cigars create such a strong sense of community?
When someone lights a cigar, they’re committing to about an hour of conversation. Phones get set down. People talk about business, family, sports and life. It’s one of the few places where people from completely different backgrounds will sit together and connect over a shared appreciation for craftsmanship and relaxation. The cigars may bring people through the door, but the community is what keeps them coming back.
Vitola Fine Cigars is located at 2911 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook. It is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit vitolafinecigars.com.
HOME STYLE&
A CALL TO DESIGN
Hamilton Charlson’s interior design service is creating meaningful spaces that feel as good as they look.
BY ANNA GRACE
BREEDLOVE PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY
Entryway
Hamilton believes that a home’s entryway is its “first impression.” She has always loved blue and green and felt the shade “dusted olive” was just different—it stood out on its own—and paid tribute to her own design sense: a twist on tradition.
IIncreasingly rare are the people whose keen eye for design can translate into a meaningful impact within their community. Mountain Brook native Hamilton Charlson is one of those precious few gems. After completing the ninth grade at Mountain Brook Junior High, she took a chance and moved nearly 200 miles away to St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, an experience defined by her boldness and dare to take risks.
She later studied fashion design at Brenau University and cut her teeth in the industry at Once Upon A Time, designing the business’ clothing line and managing its trunk show program. There, she
Normandy Stripe
Hamilton fell in love with this wallpaper, “Normandy Stripe,” which is made by Carlton V, years ago and had always wanted to include it in one of her designs. Yet, she never quite found the perfect place for it. When she and Jake purchased this house, the entryway sported bright yellow walls with maroon shag carpet. While it was bold for sure, Hamilton decided to incorporate a bit of her own palette without taking away the “wow” factor of this space. Thus, “Normandy Stripe” finally found a home in her own house.
also began creating custom nursery designs. These early projects ignited a call within her—a call to serve others.
However, she soon realized opportunities in the fashion industry required a move cross country, one she was not willing to make. Instead, she pivoted to working for Grayson & Associates in Homewood, where she worked her way up to becoming the practice’s administrator.
Although a complete 180 from her major, Hamilton says she enjoyed being in a client-facing position, learning valuable skills that she further developed in her relationships with design clients on the side.
Botanicals
The botanicals are original etchings that belonged to Hamilton’s grandmother, who was affectionately known as “II Mama” (pronounced as “Too Mama”). When Hamilton inherited them from her, she couldn’t wait to display them.
Living Room
Incorporating things that have meaning and history into a home is very important to Hamilton. She believes these sentimental pieces are what gives a house its character. Throughout her living room, she has included personal mementos from family members to make this space feel intentionally “collected.”
Today, she has years-long friends who started out as clients and whose children, though infants at the time, are now in college.
After getting engaged to her husband, Jake, she moved to Nashville for his career and was later recruited to work for HCA Healthcare: Sarah Cannon Research Institute. She says being a part of the patient experience and influencing positive outcomes was life-changing—a feeling she chased all the way back to her hometown.
Not long after moving back to Mountain Brook did the Charlsons welcome their two daughters, Betty, 5, and Palmer, 4, into the world. Now navigating life as
Demi Lunes
The demi lunes, which are mounted on the windows in the living room, are hand carved and originally from Sweden. These antique pieces date back to the 1800s.
a young mother, Hamilton decided to step back from corporate life and cherish her time with her little ones. She later joined a small group, where she met a friend who needed help picking paint colors. That one conversation snowballed into a whole renovation project and the start of Charlson & Co.
Founded in 2024, Charlson & Co. is a boutique interior design service offering everything from initial planning and drafting to complete renovations and decorating. After years spent trying to fulfill her calling, Hamilton says she is doing just that—creating spaces that feel as good as they look, enabling people to love the place they call home.
Baby Grand Piano
Resting in the corner of the living room, this gorgeous instrument was passed down from II Mama to Hamilton and is actually the very piano on which she first learned to play.
Learning the Keys
II Mama was both a concert pianist and a piano teacher. This instrument was the one she most played, and if one looks closely, he will see that the keys are still lettered for students new to reading music.
China Cabinet
The china cabinet is actually a “married” piece that Hamilton’s grandfather purchased for his wife, II Mama, as a wedding present while on their honeymoon in Europe. It is considered “married” as the top and bottom pieces were likely paired with others before the couple chose to purchase them together. Hamilton inherited II Mama’s beloved Wedgwood collection after her passing and took pictures of how II Mama styled it, ensuring that the placing and order remained the same when it was moved to her own home. Hamilton says this darling blue dinnerware set was always a focal point in her grandmother’s home, so it would be so in hers as well.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dining Room
This timeless space is anchored by the dining room table and chairs; its deep hues embody a rather timeless and traditional allure.
Hamilton is a descendant of the Shook family, who originated from around the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Her ancestors were heavily involved in the steel business, and during the late 1800s or early 1900s, they moved to Birmingham because the city’s soil was rich in the three ingredients needed to make steel: coal, iron ore and limestone. Over time, the family’s influence helped build Birmingham’s reputation as “Steel City,” and the land on which they settled became known as “Shook Hill Estates.”
PHOTOS BY KELSEA SCHAFER
Powder Room
While Hamilton and Jake wanted to wait on redesigning their kitchen and bathrooms, choosing to focus on the main living areas instead, they were forced into the powder room’s renovation. The floors were not in great condition, and the couple was initially just going to replace them. However, during the demolition, the floors fell all the way through the joists under the subfloor. Enter stage right: a full bathroom remodel.
CHARLSON & CO.
To learn more information about Hamilton Charlson’s design services or to see her portfolio, follow the business on Instagram (@charlson_and_company).
Betty’s Room
Hamilton describes her daughter Betty as reserved, creative and very intentional. When designing her room, Hamilton wanted it to be a reflection of her daughter’s personality. She says Betty is always picking flowers for her, so as an ode to her kind heart, the wallpaper features an understated floral design that feels feminine but not too girly.
Family Heirlooms
This beautiful armoire actually first belonged to Hamilton as a child.
PRELUDE PARADOX IN
Jon Michael Ogletree may be one of present day’s most accomplished pianists, but his testimony is proof that true success stems from identity in Christ Jesus.
By Anna Grace Breedlove | Photos by Blair Ramsey & Contributed
SSelf-discovery is seemingly a damned pursuit. For to find himself, one must first lose.
Being born again demands one first die unto himself, choosing to follow Christ Jesus. Understanding this paradox of death to life is a prelude to redemption.
Forty-one short years will teach one a thing or two, and in Jon Michael Ogletree’s case, his purpose is to point people to the Lord. At just 3 foot 8 inches tall, he holds the title of the world’s shortest living pianist, but his achievements stand far above his stature.
“It’s always a great feeling to be able to overtly share the good news of Jesus in tandem with my story,” he says.
On Sept. 3, 1984, Jon Michael made his earthly debut, surprising the doctors and his parents with a daunting diagnosis—Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia—one of the more than 400 different types of dwarfism. Blindness, deafness, inability to walk—those were but a few of the limitations
spoken over him that day, much less a life expectancy cut short.
The rarity of his condition is 1 out of 100,000 births. Of those diagnosed, 1 in 10 will not live past 1 years old, and close to 8 in 10 will survive but suffer severe health complications that will prevent them from living an independent life.
Jon Michael is part of that miniscule 1 in 10 who do live on independently, making him a 1 out of 1,000,000 miracle baby.
“When my parents heard this news of my diagnosis, my dad in particular was really distraught,” Jon Michael says. “He was struggling. He went to a nearby janitor closet in the hospital and started praying. He said, ‘Lord, why? All we wanted was a healthy baby.’ It is very natural for a parent to ask that honest question, but it’s extremely rare to get an answer.”
Jon Michael says his father felt the Lord impressing upon him to read John 9:3, which says, “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,”
Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”
It is no coincidence that Jon Michael shares the same name as the apostle and was born on the ninth month’s third day.
“My dad was just immediately filled with great joy and told my mom, and they just knew this wasn’t an accident. There’s a purpose behind this,” he says.
Fast forward three years, and an inquisitive Jon Michael found himself staring up at the ginormous piece of furniture resting in the corner of his living room. Even on his tippy toes, he could not see the keys above.
His brother gave him a boost. Within minutes, notes banged out into chords.
“My hands are not able to reach what a typical professional pianist reaches, and my feet don’t reach the pedals,” he says. “For the first 10 years that I played, the whole time I was studying classically, I didn’t use the pedals.”
He explains that the sustained pedal is a huge component in playing at a professional level, so his teacher taught him to play like a harpsichord, which doesn’t have pedals and requires leaving one’s fingers on the notes as long as possible to create a sustained sound. Once he was able to find a pedal adaptation, he was still sustaining the notes with his fingers because that was the only way he knew how to play.
Instead of growing frustrated, Jon Michael leaned into what he soon realized was a form of synesthesia—his version allows him to hear sounds and see numbers, helping him organize numerical sequences into beautiful melodies. This gift, he says, is God given but has taken years to fine tune.
“When people hear me play the piano, they don’t laugh, they don’t point,” Jon Michael says. “They’re amazed. It’s really cool to be able to set people’s expectations that go beyond just the superficiality of my physical appearance that God has given me. (My height) draws curiosity. It draws people in,
“It’s always a great feeling to be able to overtly share the good news of Jesus in tandem with my story.”
- Jon Michael Ogletree
but God has also given me a gift and the ability to utilize my platform that hopefully leaves them encouraged and better off for it.”
His hope is that after every performance, when the questions inevitably arise, he will get to talk about the One who saved his life.
When he was 16 years old, Jon Michael had 88 degrees of scoliosis, which is nearly a right angle, and 66 degrees of kyphosis. Due to his condition, if his scoliosis eclipsed 90 degrees, his organs would eventually collapse, suffocating him from the inside.
His life expectancy was only 25 years old.
“The surgery allowed the doctors to go into both my back and my neck and straighten it,” he says, adding that his entire school prayed for him throughout this nine-hour-long procedure.
At the time, he was uncertain about his faith. The success of that surgery—especially with how bleak his results were projected to be—solidified for him that God was real, and He had a plan for his life.
“I walked out of that hospital eight days later on Tylenol and have not had back pain since and that was 25 years ago,” he says. “There have been so many other little people with either the back or the
KEEP UP WITH THE WORLD’S SHORTEST LIVING PIANIST
Follow along with Jon Michael Ogletree’s journey or stream his music below:
APPLE MUSIC: Jon Michael Ogletree
FACEBOOK: Jon Michael Ogletree
INSTAGRAM: @jmopiano
SPOTIFY: Jon Michael Ogletree
TWITCH: @jmopiano
YOUTUBE: Jon Michael Ogletree
neck component of that surgery, and it’s failed 25 times. They’re just in and out of the hospital in excruciating pain. They can’t get a job. That easily could have been my story.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Jon Michael says it took him a while to realize the Lord was cultivating his talent into a segue for ministry to abound. Since he’s become a born-again Christian, Jon Michael has had the opportunity to minister in almost every single state—in numerous different countries too by way of social media. He actively shares his faith on his platforms.
His YouTube channel boasts a following of more than 32,000 subscribers with a video of his testimony pinned at the top.
Every chance he gets, Jon Michael shares his story—he is living proof that God does not make mistakes. He believes true identity is found not in clinging onto expectations, but in surrendering them, embracing who God has made him to be and choosing to live for Him.
Only then, he says, will one gain what he first was asked to lose.
To learn more about Jon Michael Ogletree, see where to stream his music or inquire about booking events, visit jmopiano.com.
MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST WINNERS 2026
Who’s the best? We asked, and you answered. Thousands of votes were cast in Mountain Brook Magazine’s annual contest. Read on to find out our readers’ favorites in Mountain Brook.
Photos by Anna Grace Breedlove
BEST PLACE FOR A FAMILY OUTING, BEST KID-FRIENDLY DINING, BEST PIZZA
Davenport’s Pizza Palace
ARTS, CULTURE & PLACES
BEST ART GALLERY
Grand Bohemian Gallery 2655 Lane Park Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-203-4714
Runners Up: Canary Gallery LLC, Maison
BEST COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Lulu Gribbin—Lulu Strong Foundation lulustrong.com
Runners Up: George Jones— Snoozy’s Kids, Graham Smith— Mayor of Mountain Brook
BEST COMMUNITY EVENT
Beauty Week Bingo—Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runners Up: Antiques at the Gardens, Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runners Up: Mountain Brook Eye Care, Buff City Soap
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
Glendinning Paul glendinningpaulart.com
Runners Up: Marcia Hodges, Kathryn Trotter
BEST LOCAL CAUSE
Libby’s Friends libbysfriends.org
Runners Up: Lulu Strong Foundation, Mitchell’s Place
BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL
Art in the Village
Runners Up: Otey’s Fest, Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade
BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY
Dr. Daniel E. Rousso—Rousso
Adams Facial Plastic Surgery
2700 U.S. 280, Suite 300 West Mountain Brook, AL 35223
205-930-9595
Runners Up: Amy Murrell—Village Dermatology, George Jones— Snoozy’s Kids
BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
MaryBlan Moore Photography maryblanmoore.com
Runners Up: Whitney Carr
Photography, Ann Wade
Photography
BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS)
Sanavet sanavetbhm.com
Runners Up: Market, The Bottle Shop
BEST OUTDOOR SPOT
Jemison Trail
Runners Up: CHOP N FRESH, Slice Pizza & Brew
BEST PASTOR
Wayne Splawn—Mountain Brook Baptist Church 3631 Montevallo Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-871-0331
Runners Up: Keith Thompson— Canterbury United Methodist Church, Craig Smalley—Cathedral Church of the Advent
The Spa at Rousso Adams 2700 U.S. 280, Suite 300 West Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-930-9595
Runners Up: Gunn Dermatology, Village Dermatology
BEST THERAPY PRACTICE
Kim Olson Counseling 402 Office Park Dr., Suite 101 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-308-9314
Runners Up: Freedom Professional Counseling LLC, Ellie Mental Health
BEST WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC—TIE
Gunn Dermatology 32 Church St. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-415-7536
391 Rele St. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-415-7536
Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runner Up: Total Fitness Consultants
BEST WORKOUT CLASS
Total Fitness Consultants 204 Country Club Pk. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-871-7744
2833 Culver Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-783-1113
Runners Up: ARCHIVE by PM Method, MPower Lagree Studio
HOME & SERVICES
BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICE ELI Services
4232 Sicard Hollow Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-879-2997
Runners Up: Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, Shepherd Electric Company
BEST HOME BUILDER
FRY Construction, Inc. 4 Office Park Cir., Suite 312 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-637-6788
Runners Up: Capstone Building Corp., Shirley Home Builders
Allison Insurance is honored to have been recognized as the Best Insurance Agency in Mountain Brook-a reflection of the trust our clients place in us every day. Whether you need personal insurance-including home, auto, or umbrella-or business insurance, we’re here to guide you with clarity and care.
We believe strong relationships are built on trust, consistency, and genuine service. Let us show you the difference a dedicated insurance partner can make.
205-738-7444
BEST HVAC SERVICE
Guin Service, LLC
2880 Crestwood Blvd. Irondale, AL 35210 205-595-4846
Runners Up: Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Iron City Heating & Air, Inc.
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Cyndy Cantley—Cantley & Toulmin 2839 Culver Rd., Suite 204 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-324-2400
Runners Up: Ellie Christopher Interior Design, Laurin White— Cambridge Row
Runners Up: Oak Street Hair Group, Inc., Tonya Jones SalonSpa
BEST HAIR STYLIST
Matt Hill—Laura Lane Salon 2839 Cahaba Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-825-7661
Runners Up: Nancy Leonard—Oak Street Hair Group, Inc., Karin Perrin—Oak Street Hair Group, Inc.
BEST MOTHER’S DAY OUT PROGRAM
Canterbury United Methodist Church
350 Overbrook Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-871-4695
Runners Up: Mountain Brook Community Church, Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church
BEST NAIL SALON
Basecoat Lane Parke 911 Jemison Ln., Suite 911 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-848-2100
Runners Up: Jimmy’s Nails, Nail Tek
BEST NAIL TECH
Quincy Chau—Basecoat Lane Parke 911 Jemison Ln., Suite 911 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-848-2100
Runner Up: Jan Sturdivant— Basecoat Lane Parke
BEST PET GROOMER
Crestline Pet Care, P.C. 253 Country Club Pk. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-582-2013
Runners Up: Happy Dog Baths & Grooming, Village Pet Care, P.C.
BEST VET/ANIMAL CLINIC Sanavet sanavetbhm.com
Runners Up: Crestline Pet Care, P.C., Cahaba Mountain Brook Animal Clinic
LAURA LANE
Sanavet
BEST VETERINARIAN
Dr. Craig Martin—Crestline Pet Care, P.C. 253 Country Club Pk. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-582-2013
Runners Up: Dr. Darcy G. Schofill Cahaba Mountain Brook Animal Clinic, Dr. James Lowry—Cahaba Mountain Brook Animal Clinic
SHOPPING & SERVICES
BEST ANTIQUE SHOP
French Door Antiques 2843 Culver Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-422-0417
BEST BOUTIQUE
Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runners Up: ALKMY, B.Prince
Runners Up: Henhouse Antiques, ALKMY
BEST
Mountain Brook Flower Shop, Inc.
2407 Montevallo Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-870-1666
Runners Up: Leaf & Petal, Kathleen Varner
BEST GARDEN SHOP
Oak Street Garden Shop 115 Oak St. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-870-7542
Runner Up: Leaf & Petal
BEST GIFT SHOP
Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runners Up: JB & Co., Buff City Soap
BEST JEWELRY STORE
JB & Co.
3 Office Park Cir., Suite 108 Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-478-0455
Runners Up: Bromberg & Company Inc., Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers
BEST KIDS CLOTHING STORE
Once Upon a Time Children’s
Boutique 70 Church St. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-870-7772
Runners Up: Mon Ami, Children’s Edit
BEST SPECIALTY STORE
Village Dermatology 14 Office Park Cir. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-877-9773
Runners Up: Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers, Buff City Soap
BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS
Bromberg & Company, Inc. 2800 Cahaba Rd. Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-871-3276
Runners Up: Table Matters, The Cook Store of Mountain Brook
BEST TOY STORE
Snoozy’s Kids 228 Country Club Pk. Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-871-2662
Runners Up: Smith’s Variety, Swoop Lane Parke
Unto the Great Depths
The Grand Canyon, known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, stands at 277 miles long and a mile deep, all contained in the state of Arizona. Carved over many years by the Colorado River, its rich layers reveal a stunning glimpse at history. The South Rim of the canyon is open year round, while the North Rim is usually open May 15-Oct. 15 each year.
By Kate Seaver | Photos by Sirena Dufault, Joel Grimes, Grand Canyon Lodges (South Rim), Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon West, Eric Menasco, Pinky, Xanterra Travel Collection & Contributed
where to stay
The accommodations at the Grand Canyon all provide rich access to the beauty of the canyon from sunrise to sunset. The best place to stay to access the Grand Canyon is within the park itself. South Rim lodging is available year round and books up quickly during the busy summer season. Most lodges are within walking or shuttle distance from the canyon’s South Rim. The free shuttle buses allow you to park near your lodge and take the shuttles all around the park.
About a half-mile walk or shuttle ride from the South Rim is Yavapai Lodge, providing a homey, quiet atmosphere for visitors to relax after a day of exploring and sightseeing. Nearby is also Trailer Village RV Park with hookups within a mile of the rim. Note that a backcountry permit is required for those wanting to camp inside the canyon.
In the Grand Canyon Village Historic District, El Tovar Hotel stands as “the Crown Jewel” of the Grand Canyon and National Park hotels. First opened in 1905, it has opened its doors to esteemed guests such as President Teddy Roosevelt and Sir Paul McCartney. It sits on the canyon rim, and its grand entrance is a treat for guests and the visitor who wants to take a peek.
Four other lodges are offered in Grand Village, such as Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins—a historical building designed in 1935 by Southwest architect Mary E.J. Colter, who designed eight major landmark buildings at the Grand Canyon.
For your most adventurous stay, stay inside the canyon itself at Phantom Ranch, by either hiking down or taking a mule ride. Booking these coveted cabin spots requires a 15-month-advance reservation awarded through a lottery system.
Outside the National Park, in the nearby town of Tusayan, Arizona, is The Squire at Grand Canyon, minutes from the South Rim and Grand Canyon Village.
El Tovar Hotel
Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins
Phantom Ranch
where to EAT
Although you may be out in the rugged desert of the Grand Canyon, that doesn’t mean your dining must suffer. The Grand Canyon offers a variety of tasty meal options for every type of traveler: from the luxury stay to the nomadic road trip.
Yavapai Lodge offers Yavapai Tavern and Yavapai Cafe, which serves Starbucks Coffee, as well as their spacious dining hall with Southwest-inspired American comfort food.
The park offers multiple shops that sell groceries and made-to-order sandwiches for campers and on-the-go diners. Desert View Market & Deli serves pizza alongside their souvenirs. Desert View Trading Post & Ice Cream will satisfy your sweet tooth, and Canyon Village Market & Deli makes sure you never go hungry.
The El Tovar Dining Room offers a world-class dining experience where former presidents have dined. Reservations are required for dinner and recommended for lunch.
Harvey House Cafe is a casual, family-friendly restaurant at Bright Angel Lodge. Arizona Steakhouse features the taste of Arizona on the rim of the Grand Canyon.
The most adventurous meal you can eat is at Phantom Ranch Canteen at the bottom of the canyon. You must have a reservation and can reach it by mule ride or hiking down the Bright Angel Trail, 9.6 miles, or the Kaibab Trail, 7.8 miles.
El Tovar Dining Room
Yavapai Tavern
Arizona Steakhouse
HIT THE ROAD WHAT TO DO
The Grand Canyon offers activities for every style of trip and traveler. Visit buildings in the Historic District including Hopi House Next to El Tovar, it sells authentic Native American arts and crafts, and it displays museum items, too. Lookout Studio is a historic building on the edge of the rim, and Kolb Studio shows art and photography.
Hiking, of course, is a main attraction. The Rim Trail is mostly paved and is wheelchair accessible in some parts. Hikers can walk as far as they want on this 13-mile trail along the top of the rim and take the bus back to the village. Non-hikers can take the bus stops to every major lookout along the Rim Trail. Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trail descend into the canyon. Bright Angle is 8 miles and considered a moderateto-challenging trek, and South Kaibab is considered challenging at 7.1 miles. Bring plenty of water for the way back up on a hot summer day!
The Grand Canyon offers tours galore, from helicopter tours to guided hikes, bike tours and white water rafting trips. On guided bus tours, you can learn the history and geology of the Grand Canyon and even take sunrise and sunset tours to get the best views and iconic photos. The Railway Express Tour provides a Wild West experience on a train ride powered by 1950s diesel locomotives.
The Grand Canyon is a certified International Dark Sky Park with constellations and the Milky Way regularly visible even to the naked eye. Avid stargazers can attend the regular,
free Night Sky Talks led by astronomers.
An adventurous option is Mule Rides around or into the canyon. Travel along the rim of the canyon on the back of a mule on a 4-mile, three-hour trip (two hours in the saddle). Alternatively, join a seven-hour round trip to Havasupai Gardens, and enjoy lunch at the oasis in the middle of the canyon. If the trails are open, ride five and a half hours to Phantom Ranch in the canyon, eat at the canteen, spend the night and ride back up. For all trips, riders must be at least 9 years old and in good physical condition.
4 FUN FACTS
1
The Grand Canyon creates its own weather. The North Rim is the coldest, and the bottom of the canyon is the hottest. At times, they differ by up to 20 degrees.
2
The Grand Canyon is larger than Rhode Island—in some places. The drive from the North Rim to the South Rim is about four hours and 200 miles.
3
Supai village inside the canyon is home to 208 people. It’s the most remote community in the lower 48 states, and mail is delivered by pack mule.
4
The Grand Canyon Pink Rattlesnake is only found in the Grand Canyon, and it blends in with the surrounding environment.
Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce
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The 2026 Grand Bohemian Village2Village Run, presented by the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Habitat Feed & Social, saw an incredible turnout this year with more than 600 runners and visitors joining us from 13 states. The Mountain Brook Chamber is proud that this event not only welcomes new faces to our community, but also brings neighbors, businesses and visitors together to celebrate what makes Mountain Brook such a special placez.
Small Business Week
Small Business Week, May 3-9, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible small businesses that make Mountain Brook such a vibrant and special community. We are grateful for the entrepreneurs, shop owners and local leaders who work every day to keep our community healthy, thriving and full of character. The Mountain Brook Chamber is proud to support and advocate for these businesses, and we look forward to celebrating them all week long. As you go about your week, we encourage everyone to shop local, support your neighbors and continue investing in the businesses that make Mountain Brook feel like home.
Chamber Membership is a great way for businesses and individuals to support the community and get involved! Join today by scanning the QR code.
MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER LUNCHEON
BY
ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE
On Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon, honoring the Jemison Visionary Awardee Stewart Welch, the City Employee of the Year Awardee Richard Knecht and the William Tynes Awardee Sam Gaston.
1. The Knecht family
2. Knox Richardson and Joseph Braswell
3. Sam Gaston, Richard Knecht and Stewart Welch
4. Joseph Johnston, Paul John DeMarco, Caroline Courtney and Hollis Thomasson
5. Lindsy Gardner and Bethany Gaston Sheffield with Sam and Debby Gaston
PHOTOS
BY ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE
1. Elliott Schilleci, Anna Short and Sarah Jane Walton
2. Madison and Robbie Glass
3. Evalee McClellan, Charlotte Chambliss, Alice Lane, Amalie Davis, Kennedy Romeo, Elene Graves, Mabel Fleenor and Maya Cooper
4. Scarlett McCullough, Elin Barrett and Elizabeth Lessa
5. Courtney and Josh Brock
6. Imogen Zajac and Laurie Harrington
7. Oliver, Elizabeth and Julia Williams
On Friday, Feb. 20 at Crestline Elementary School, the TEDxYouth club at Mountain Brook Junior High School held its annual TED Talks conference, featuring student speakers and their perspectives on the power of kindness. 5
8. Charlotte Blair, Nell Pennebaker, Caroline McKenzie, Mary Carolyn Anderson, Jennings Winger, Ella Price and Mary Juliet St. John
9. Claude Nielsen and Henry Meadows
10. Maggie Burch and Jemison Darden
11. Hunt Sanders and Will Ellis
PHOTOS
VILLAGE2VILLAGE RUNS
PHOTOS BY JAMES AND CALLIE CULVER
On Saturday, March 7, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, along with the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Habitat Feed & Social, hosted the annual Village2Village 10K and 7.5K.
1. The Wilson family
2. Meredith Crego, Makenzie Hartman, Sydney Allen and Maggie
3. Mary Jane Rose and Emma Curtner-Smith
4. Alison James and Charles Youngson
5. Artop, Nita, Nonik and Kadek
6. Angel Nguyen
7. Elizabeth Turnipseed and Taylor Dawson
8. Gerald Vick
9. Mackenzie Cleckley and Koty Watts
10. Jace Dyer and Jacob Peters
11. Jamie Powell with Jody and Molly Joynt
12. Charles Newman and Avery Pool
BRUNCH WITH THE BACHELORS
PHOTOS BY JAMES AND CALLIE CULVER
On Saturday, March 7, the Birmingham Zoo hosted Brunch with the Bachelors—Bulwagi, Luti and Gadze— inviting attendees to enjoy a behindthe-scenes tour and exclusive training session with the pachyderm family following a brunch buffet.
1. Ellie Rice, Ellie Grace Farmer, Olivia Mahoney and Sophia De Onis
2. The Cordell Family
3. Sierra and Knox Littlejohn
4. Charlie and Finn
5. The Hale family
6. Skyler Hassler, Julia Ramminger, Angie Wood and Henry Van Haneghan
7. The Douglas family
8. Meg and Diana Rivers
9. Birmingham Zoo Volunteers
10. Brian Kelleher, Lucy Bonds and Elise Smith with Todd and Shawnie Green
11. The Kahlon family
Whatever
brings, we’ll show up with a plan.
Your future starts right now. And working with a team like ours can help keep you one step ahead, no matter what’s around the corner. Get the one-on-one investing guidance you need for whatever life has in store.
Matthew Bungo Vice President – Branch Manager
SHE’S IN BUSINESS AT CRESTLINE CORNERS
On Thursday, March 12 in Crestline Village, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce partnered with The Bottle Shop to host a networking event with women in business in the Crestline Corners shopping district.
1. Shelia Kent and Patricia May
2. Holly Gunn and Lizzie Henry
3. Taylor Bartlett and Major Colbert
4. Becky Moore, Claire Morgan and Debbie Perkins
5. LeDeric Murray and Lulu McClure
6. Jennifer Hinds and Tia Carroll
7. Suzy Harris, Selena Wells, Josie Collins and Mary Juliet St. John
8. Heather Anthony, Amanda Hickam, Tracey Sproule and Liz Harrison
Security Guard for Gated Community in North Shelby County Full-time or Part-time. Must have pistol permit. Call Brittany 205-991-4653
Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS!
Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!
ETS Restorations & Tree Service
“From street to walls, we do it all”
•Retaining Walls
•Concrete Work
•Demolition
•Landscaping
•Tree Removal
•Tree Trimming
•Bobcat Work
•Hardscapes
•Hauling FREE ESTIMATES!!! CALL NOW (205)209-7787 (205)683-3257
Hill Brook Manor Apartments
300 Sumner Dr. Calera, AL 35040
205-668-2020
Affordable Living Apartments Available 1 BR for $665/month 2BR for $705/month
Production Engineering Technician – Positions offered by HL Mando America Corporation (Hogansville, GA).
Increase first pass yield by improving measurement systems & optimize machining processes. Submit resume to cindy.smith@ hlcompany.com.
Reference Job ID: 8445038.
Production Engineering Technician – Positions offered by HL Mando America Corporation (Hogansville, GA). Increase first pass yield by improving measurement systems & optimize machining processes. Submit resume to cindy.smith@ hlcompany.com.
Reference Job ID: 8445038.
Current Products
Lead Engineer, ACX –positions offered by Autocar, LLC (Center Point, AL). Dev, mnge & mentor current
prods engins to rootcause & solve des issues & supp all ACX Refuse engin’g needs on produc line. Must be willing to travel domestically 5%. Please submit resume to legalcompliance@ gvwgroup.com. Reference job id: 9326335.
Software Engineers
III - eBusiness in Birmingham, AL: Email resume to Motion Industries, Inc. at: mot-talentacquisition@ motion.com (Must REF: Job Title in subject line).
Manufacturing Engineer –positions offered by Autocar, LLC (Center Point, AL). Responsible for manufacturing eng’ing, industrial & process eng’ing related functions w/in scope of responsibility at Autocar. Please submit resume to LegalCompliance@ gvwgroup.com. Reference Job ID: 9737474.
Sets * Vintage Watches *And More! Find Us On Facebook! 205-624-3033 admin@ pfcoincompany.com
For All Your Masonry Needs
•Block
•Brick
•Concrete Repair •Brick Cleaning •Painting Call 205-643-0729 or email srichardson642@ gmail.com to get your FREE ESTIMATES!
Pelham’s Newest Community!
Tower Homes Community, Huntley Ridge, is nestled conveniently near I-65, I-459 and Highway 31 and is now selling 3BR/2BA homes starting in the $320s. Call today to schedule a showing!
Now Hiring! Termite Treaters and Inspectors
Work with a great local company, in business for over 50 years. BC/BS insurance, 401k, opportunities available. No experience required Must have a good driving record and be able to pass drug screen. Email to facsmith@charter.net or call 205-369-6250 Vulcan Termite and Pest Control
Celebrating Excellence in Insurance
CAC is proud to be named Mountain Brook’s Best Insurance Agency of 2025, with Billy Walker recognized as Best Agent in 2026. Our Personal Lines Practice offers top-tier advisory and insurance services for high-net-worth clients, including:
• Aircraft
• Watercraft
• Builder’s Risk
• Private Collections
• Life Insurance
• Automobile Insurance
• Personal Excess Liability
• Homeowners Insurance
• Equine Insurance Protection
Thank you, Mountain Brook, for your trust and support!
cacgroup.com
MY MOUNTAIN BROOK
MARILYN ZABIELINSKI
Board-Certified Dermatologist with Dermatology & Laser of Alabama
Fellowship in Community
Holiday Open House
One of my favorite events is Mountain Brook Village’s Holiday Open House. It’s the perfect excuse to stroll and shop. It feels so quaint and festive! I love discovering new boutiques, and Mountain Brook does not disappoint. Luna BHM has the cutest clothes, and I can always find unique, special gifts at A’mano.
Eat Local
Golden Age Wine & Little Betty Steak Bar
There are so many wonderful restaurants in Mountain Brook, so it’s hard to choose!
Golden Age Wine is a cozy favorite for great pairings, conversation and charcuterie. Of course, I can never go wrong with steak at Little Betty’s, which is another favorite of mine! Truly, many restaurants are charming, and each spot has its own special vibe.
Sentimental Spots
The Birmingham Botanical Gardensl The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is so special. It’s where we first brought my husband’s family when they came to visit us from Miami. We all love exploring the Japanese Garden. It’s beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.
Serving Local Patrons
Dermatology & Laser of Alabama
I feel so blessed to be a part of Dermatology & Laser of Alabama. My patients are what I love the most about my job! It’s so rewarding to help people feel beautiful and confident. Also, our team feels like family, and our positive, fun energy makes every day special. Getting to do all things skin, beauty and soul at work is a dream come true for me.
Get Outdoors
The Birmingham Zoo
I love getting outdoors to unwind. As a born-and-raised city girl from Miami, I really appreciate how many outdoor spots Mountain Brook offers. With my three boys, we especially love going to the Birmingham Zoo. It is the perfect mix of fresh air, fun and making memories together.
