280 Living
www.280living.com
neighborly news & entertainment
November Features
Volume 5 | Issue 32011 | November 2011 | November | w
w
w
.
p
l
a
n
e
t
f
i
t
n
e
s
s
.
c
o
m
*
HOOVER in Riverchase Plaza • 444-2282 INVERNESS Hwy 280 in Inverness Plaza • 408-0020
Offer expires November 30, 2011. Please visit club for details or online at planetfitness.com.
Chelsea’s Christian to play the PGA By WILL HIGHTOWER It’s been a long, strange path for Gary Christian. It began in England, and made stops at several houses, colleges, country clubs, tournaments, and – oddly – at a Clinique Cosmetics seminar. And the journey has come to this: at the age of 40, Christian will play his first tournament on the PGA Tour in 2012 after his win at the Mylan Classic in September. “It was a long journey,” the Chelsea resident said. “Now, it is a dream come true.”
Sports | Section B Editor’s note
A4
Auburn fan Lyn Scarbrough
A8
Sicilian cooking classes
A10
People you should know
A11
OM State Park history
A12
Ministry Spotlight
A13
Local authors
A14
Restaurant Showcase
A22
Business Spotlight
A23
School House
B2
Sports
B7
Library Happenings
B9
Gary Christian holds the Mylan Classic trophy that secured his place in the 2012 PGA Tour. Photo courtesy of the PGA.
B10
By KATHRYN ACREE
Kari Kampakis
B11
Paul Johnson
B12
280 Business Happenings
B13
Calendar of Events
B14
Music Listings/Classifieds
B15
At Christmas Oak Mountain Missions connects area residents with their neighbors in need. Longtime volunteer Mike Collins adds a special touch to the Christmas season by dressing up like Santa. He starts growing his beard in the fall for the full effect. “I’ll be dressed up and help load items into the client’s cars when they pull around to the warehouse,” said Collins. “You should see the look on some of the kids faces. It means a lot to me.” Preparations for the holiday season come early at Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, a non-profit organization located off Highway 31 in Pelham. It is their mission to demonstrate the love of Christ by providing food, clothing, furniture and financial assistance to those in need in Shelby County and the greater Birmingham area. “Our Christmas ministry connects these clients directly to those who want to help such as churches, clubs, businesses, even individuals,” Stokes said. “Area churches who have angel trees will take some of the names for their trees. The families list items needed from clothing to
WIN PRIZES
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656
www.280Living.com
See PGA | page A19
Oak Mountain Missions links community with families in need
Rick Watson
Like us
A risk with a boyhood game Most people had kids’ TV shows and plastic toys surrounding them in early childhood. Christian had golf. “I was brought up around the game,” Christian said. “My brother is named after Lee Trevino, and I am named after Gary Player.” Christian’s childhood home had a golf course behind it, and the Christian boys could be seen practicing their short game in their yard, chipping and putting for hours on end.
“It’s amazing to think how small I was when I started learning about the game,” the golfer said. “I was very small. I learned the basics by age 7. We all played, and mom always enjoyed watching and being outdoors, so I was very fortunate to be brought up with that kind of family.” However, even with golf seemingly engulfing him during his childhood, Christian was not always fully focused on the game. Growing up in Carshalton, England, he played several sports. “When I started school, I started playing cricket and rugby,” Christian said. “I was a pretty good athlete, but I always seemed to be on bad teams. We never won anything.” They say that everything happens for a reason. The bad teams on which Christian played, which seemed simply boring and not fun at the time, appear to have had an important effect. “I decided to give golf another go. It appealed to me as an individual
Mike Collins volunteers as Santa during the holiday season at Oak Mountain Missions Ministries. Collins prepares a special area with donated toys to give to children that come by the mission with their parents. Photo by Kathryn Acree.
food and toys.” By early October, 115 Shelby County families and 40 seniors had filled out forms listing wants and needs for Christmas. An overflow list is maintained and will have
approximately 200 names of families in need. The mission’s clients are asked to list
See MISSIONS | page A13