280 living august 2014 by Starnes Media

280 Living Gridlock

August 2014 | Volume 7 | Issue 12

neighborly news & entertainment

Fashion forward

Make a style statement the first day, week or month of school with our guide for what to wear and where to get it. Find the details inside.

School House page B8

Football’s back

Will your ambulance get through rush hour on U.S. 280? Those Friday night lights are on their way back. Check out your high school’s specs in our football previews.

Sports page B16

INSIDE Sponsors ...... A4 280 News ..... A6 Business....... A12 Food ...............A15 Faith ............. A26

Opinion..............A27 Community ...... B5 School House ... B7 Sports ............... B15 Calendar .......... B25

By JESSA PEASE Two cars collide in the middle of rush hour heading east on U.S. 280. The crash traps one driver in his seat. His car catches fire only

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seconds after he is pulled from it. Although emergency responders try to rush to the scene, cars stuck motionless around the accident block the path for the ambulance, fire engine and medics. This bumper-to-bumper traffic, while

also frustrating for drivers, poses a real problem for emergency personnel on 280. “It is difficult to respond a lot of times, and it

See AMBULANCE | page A23

A tailgate on a mission By MADISON MILLER

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High volume traffic on U.S. 280, especially during peak hours, causes delays for Cahaba Valley Fire Department emergency vehicles responding to calls. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

Craig Krawczyk has been there from the beginning. Over the years, he has seen The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs’ ultimate tailgate party grow from a small get-together to a large event with local and national support. After his daughter’s graduation from the center, he wanted to continue his support by helping plan the Tailgate Challenge. “Originally, it was a small gathering of Bell Center families, a few tables and tents and

about 100 people attending,” Krawczyk said. “It is now up to over 30 tents, people from all over the community and a few thousand people attending.” As football season approaches, The Bell Center is getting ready for the sixth annual event, which organizers expect to double last year’s attendance record once again. The Tailgate Challenge, which moved to The Summit from Sloss Furnaces last year, allows attendees to kick off the

See TAILGATE | page A25

Bell Center Fund Development Director Kelly Peoples with Aubie and Big Al at last year’s Tailgate Challenge. Photo courtesy of Kelly Peoples.

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A4 • August 2014

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Master Scarsella and his staff and students visit the children of Camp Smile-A-Mile to perform a board breaking demonstration and teach a Tae Kwon Do class. Photo courtesy of Justin Scarsella.

Editor’s Note By JESSA PEASE From the time you enter Camp War Eagle to your graduation day, you hear people talk about the “Auburn Family,” which consists of thousands of fans, students and alumni who you don’t know. Even if you only know 15 of them, the feeling is something you can’t deny. People from Auburn also tell you that you will never find somewhere else like it when you leave. It’s easy to believe that when you sit in a stadium as one voice among 87,000 chanting “Bodda Getta.” Those people were

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wrong though. That feeling of brotherhood (or sisterhood) was easier to find in the U.S. 280 corridor than I thought not too long ago. Inside this issue, you’ll read the story of a mother and father who lost their daughter, a young woman who devoted her life to helping others. The family’s neighbors came together and started the Laura Langley Blood Drive, which is now in it’s third year. You’ll also find the details of a woman who, with the support of her walking group, took on

Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Madoline Markham David Knox Katie Turpen Jessa Pease Sydney Cromwell Madison Miller Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Nathan Pearman Morgan Robinson Emily VanderMey Rick Watson Kari Kampakis Paul Johnson Olivia Burton

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a half-marathon during her last chemotherapy treatment. From supporting un-adopted children to finding a new home for Saddlebred horses, people in this area have proven to rally behind those who need a helping hand. We might not all wear orange and blue. I know crimson and white are pretty popular, but when it comes down to it we are all the “280 Family.” As a member of that family, I welcome any questions or comments you may have. Email me anytime at jessa@starnespublishing.com.

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

Contact Information: 280 Living PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@280living.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: editor@280living.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 Published by : Starnes Publishing LLC

Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial

or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the 280 community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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280 Medical Supply (A18) AL Telco Credit Union / Y Media Works (A13) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A25) Alabama Outdoors (B23) Alabama Power c/o AL Newspaper Advertising Service (B12) Alabama Symphony Orchestra (B15) Aquatic Gardens (B20) AUX Mechanical (B11) Batts’ Chimney Services (B2) Bedzzz Express (A3) Bellini’s (B2) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A18) Brook Valley Management (B14) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Dermatology and Skin Care Center (A17) Cahaba Glass (B8) Children’s of Alabama (A23) Chiropractic Today (A24) Classic Gardens (A9) Construx (A22) Cowboy’s (B21) Cutting Edge Salon (B3) Danberry at Inverness (A6) DanceSouth (A9) DLS Dumpster Service (B20) Encore Rehabilitation (B4) Expedia CruisShipCenters (A7) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (A21) Fi-Plan Partners (A5) Fitness Together Greystone (A10) GeGe’s Salon (B14) Geostone (A24) Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (A10) Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (B22) Greystone Antiques & Marketplace (B3) Guitar Gallery (B5) Henderson & Walton (B16) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (A25, B19) Home Care Associates (A15) Just Happy Hounds (A11) Kimberlee King (B8) Lawncrafters (B16) Learning by Design (B7) Liberty Park (A2) Merle Norman Chelsea (B18) Monkey Toes (B9) North Shelby Church of Christ (B7) North Shelby Dental Studio (B9) On Time Service (A16) Outdoor Living Areas (A5) Over the Mountain Glass (A16) Pak Mail (B5) Pastry Art (B21) Plain Jane Children & Gift Shop (A21) RealtySouth Marketing (B13) Royal Automotive (A28) Sew Sheri Designs (B1) Sola Salon Studios (B4) Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (A27) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (A17) St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (A15) Tae Kwon Do (A26) The Cuckoo’s Nest (B18) The Ditsy Daisy (B22) The Goddard School (A20) The Maids (A12) The Urban Barn (B7) Trinity Medical Center C/O Creative Alliance (B28) Tutoring Club Inverness (A21) UAB Medicine (A14) Varsity Sports (B1) Village Dermatology (B17) Vision Gymnastics (B5) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A19) Vitalogy Wellness Center (B10) Watts Realty (A12) Weigh To Wellness (A8) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B6)

280Living.com

August 2014 • A5

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280 Living

A6 • August 2014

280 News

A new face for Chelsea Road

The Inverness Corners Intersection is one of 27 intersections on U.S. 280 that were altered in an attempt to improve travel times. Photo by Jessa Pease.

ALDOT data shows reduced travel times on U.S. 280 By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) project on U.S. 280 has reduced travel times, and there is data to prove it. From May to December 2013, the ambitious Intersection Improvement Plan altered 27 intersections on U.S. 280 from Hollywood Boulevard to Hugh Daniel Drive to improve travel times and relieve congestion. ALDOT monitored travel times before and after the project using special Bluetooth devices at each intersection that tracked individual cell phones’ movement down the interstate. Division 3 Engineer Brian Davis said that no personal data

was collected from the phones and that ALDOT did not have access to individual phone numbers or the ability to track the phones beyond those intersections. “I don’t know where you’re coming from and I don’t know where you’re going, but I know how fast you’re going in the corridor,” Davis said. Based on this data, ALDOT saw that during peak times, there has been a 29 percent reduction in inbound travel time and a 35 percent reduction in outbound travel time for 280 from Hollywood Boulevard to Interstate 459. For commuters traveling away from Birmingham, this would improve a 14-minute trip to just over nine minutes. For the section of 280 from I-459 to Hugh Daniel Drive, inbound times

improved by 23 percent and outbound times improved by 16 percent during peak hours. In this stretch of road, a driver heading toward Birmingham would reduce an 18-minute commute to just under 14 minutes. Before the intersection updates, 280 also received new Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) traffic signals along the corridor. Davis said these signals also improved travel times, but data was not collected during that project. Davis said the data collection on 280 will be an ongoing project so ALDOT can continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Intersection Improvement Plan.

The planned resurfacing project for Chelsea Road (County Road 47) will run 8.5 miles between County Road 49 and State Highway 25. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Get ready for a smoother ride on part of Chelsea Road. On June 23, the Shelby County Commission approved a resolution for the Alabama Department of Transportation to resurface Chelsea Road from State Highway 25 in Columbiana to County Road 49 in Chelsea. The project will resurface about 8.5 miles of roadway, but it has not opened to bidding yet. ALDOT Division 3 Engineer Brian Davis said bidding for the construction contract is scheduled to begin on Aug. 29, but that date is subject to change. Once bidding is open, Davis said work could begin on the roads in 30 to 45 days. The project’s cost and completion date will not be determined until a contract has been awarded.

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August 2014 • A7

Three-way stop at Riverview Road could reduce 280 congestion

The intersection of Cahaba River Road and Riverview Road has been modified to a three-way stop to alleviate traffic back-ups off of Highway 280. Photo by Jessa Pease.

of 280. By keeping traffic moving, the new intersection is intended to prevent cars from clogging up the highway. ALDOT US 280 Traffic Operations Engineer Brett Sellers said the new intersection is very similar to the one at the nearby Target entrance. “The overall goal is to keep that traffic off of 280,” Sellers said. However, drivers are still getting used to the change and many continue to stop despite the lack of a stop sign. That means congestion continues at the 280-Riverview intersection, but Sellers said this is normal for roadway changes. Once drivers have time to recognize and adapt to the new three-way stop, Sellers is confident that the new intersection will improve commutes. “It’s just going to take them a little while to get used to it,” Sellers said.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Sharp-eyed drivers may have noticed that the intersection of Cahaba River Road and Riverview Road has changed from a four-way to a three-way stop. The new intersection is meant to decrease congestion on Highway 280, but it is not working quite yet. The intersection was creating traffic flow problems when drivers turning left onto Riverview from 280 had to come to an almost-immediate stop at the intersection. Cars would back up into the highway as drivers took their turns the four-way stop, preventing eastbound lanes from moving. On June 19, the City of Birmingham and the Alabama Department of Transportation removed the stop sign for cars coming off

Charges dropped on Chelsea Middle School gunman By SYDNEY CROMWELL At a July 7 hearing, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves dismissed the charges against Ryan Sims, the man accused of holding five girls at gunpoint at Chelsea Middle School in February 2013. Sims was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center diagnosed Sims as a paranoid schizophrenic, backing up his attorneys’ claim that the 22-yearold was unable to discern right from wrong at the time of the incident. Sims had faced five counts of kidnapping and one count of making terroristic threats, but he will now be transferred to a mental health facility. The court has not yet set a date for Sims’ transfer. Captain Ken Burchfield of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said the date will not be announced until a few hours before Sims is moved. At this time, he remains in the Shelby County Jail.

Chelsea Middle School gunman Ryan Matthew Sims. Photo courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Raises and resignations at Shelby BOE By SYDNEY CROMWELL At its June 26 meeting, the Shelby County Board of Education voted to increase Superintendent Randy Fuller’s salary by 5 percent. This decision raises his pay to $176,073 per year and will start when Fuller begins his third term in January. Fuller is currently running unopposed for the position. The BOE decided to raise Fuller’s salary to bring it in line with the salaries of superintendents either in the Birmingham area or overseeing districts similar to Shelby County.

At the same meeting, Board Member Steve Martin gave his letter of resignation to President Aubrey Miller. He left the board on July 31 after 26 years of service and will be moving to Gulf Shores. In his letter, Martin described it as the “highest honor of my life” to watch the Shelby County school district improve since he was first elected in 1988. Martin’s term does not expire until 2018 and the board must find a replacement for the remainder of his term by the end of July. The next Board of Education meeting will be Thursday, August 7 at 6 p.m.

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Flooding fears unfounded Oak Mountain dam study about prevention By SYDNEY CROMWELL Dam failures at Oak Mountain State Park have been under discussion in the Pelham City Council, but Mayor Gary Waters emphasized that the city’s concern is still hypothetical. “What I really need the public to know is that there has been no specific incident that has taken place that has caused us to perceive those dams at any higher risk than they were yesterday or the day before,” Waters said. “We haven’t had a failure, we haven’t had a near failure.” At a June 2 council work session, Waters and Indian Springs Village Mayor Brenda Bell-Guercio showed the council five specific dams — four inside the park and one on nearby private property — that could cause flooding if a failure did occur. Depending on which dam failed, either Pelham or Indian Springs Village could be in the path of the flooding, as well as Oak Mountain Middle and Elementary Schools, Heardmont Park and Westminster School. The mayors also noted that Alabama is the only state without a mandatory dam inspection program, making it harder to keep track of the dams’ condition. Bell-Guercio and District 43 Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin have both supported the institution of an inspection program, but Waters described it as “an uphill battle” to get such a law passed. Waters and Bell-Guercio proposed an inundation study at the work session, and Waters said the idea received strong support from the council. An inundation study would provide an idea of what dam failure would look like: water

These four dams are located within Oak Mountain State Park. Dam 1 is on Double Oak Lake, dam 2 is on Old Lake, dam 3 is on Oak Mountain Lake, also called Beaver Lake, and dam 4 is on Lunker Lake. Image courtesy of the City of Pelham.

depth and velocity, affected areas, damage estimates and possible loss of life. From this study, Pelham and Indian Springs Village can build an emergency action plan. “You can only plan for what you know, and we don’t know what the downstream impact would be should one or all of those dams fail. That’s why I favor the inundation study,” Waters said. “That’s going to make my fire chief sleep better at night. That’s going to make the police chief sleep better.” The study still needs funding before it can go forward. It is estimated to cost between $25,000 and $30,000, of which Indian Springs Village has pledged $5,000. Pelham, Shelby County and the state all have some degree of responsibility over the dams, but it is uncertain how the remaining cost will be divided. Shelby County Manager

Alex Dudchock said he has been discussing the study with the county’s emergency management agency and engineers to see if it can be done without hiring outside consultants. Dudchock said the county will be ready to be involved in the study this month, but did not know what the final expense would be. “We’re working to define what our offering will be,” Dudchock said. “They [Indian Springs Village and Pelham] can count on the county.” Officials at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources declined to comment on possible involvement in the inundation study. Even without state help, Waters thinks the study is important enough to move forward and wants Pelham to foot its share of the bill. “We have to assume responsibility,” Waters

said. “We want to be a good partner, and I fully plan to challenge the Pelham City Council to fund our part — whatever it may be — of the inundation study because without the inundation study, there’s no development of an emergency action plan.” This new attention on the potential flooding problem also caused Shelby County and Department of Conservation officials to clear away trees and other plants that could weaken the earthen dams. Waters also suggested that Pelham should keep up with national standards and begin conducting its own mandatory inspections. With the help of a niece who works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waters has gathered information on how even an untrained person can seek out faults in a dam. “Just on our own, in the absence of a mandatory dam inspection law, [we should] do at least an annual inspection of our dams. I’ll be glad to be a part of that, too,” Waters said. However, Waters wanted Pelham residents to know that they are not in any immediate danger. While there have been assertions that the Oak Mountain dams could fail within a decade, Waters said these claims are “just not true” and are based on an unlikely, worst-case scenario. “We’ve never had one of those dams fail. We’ve never had any of those dams that I know of even at risk of failing,” Waters said. “I don’t think we should panic. I think we should use this as an opportunity to educate ourselves.” Terry Boyd, engineering section chief at the Department of Conservation, affirmed Waters’ statement. He said the dams have all been checked in the last six months and there is “zero” likelihood of a failure. “None of those dams has anything that’s a safety problem,” Boyd said. “You could probably take a direct hit from a bomb and be fine.”

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August 2014 • A9

Five secrets to Nick Pihakis’ success As divulged by Jim ’N Nick’s Brian Lyman By JESSA PEASE Tips for achievement were served with cheese biscuits when Jim ’N Nick’s delivered at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on June 25. At the podium, keynote speaker, Jim ’N Nick’s COO Brian Lyman, shared with small business owners in Shelby County what makes its founder Nick Pihakis a successful entrepreneur. Lyman highlighted five attributes of the Mt Laurel resident.

Entrepreneur first and foremost

When Pihakis was 19 years old, he and his father decided to open a restaurant. Lyman described the pair as fearless as they reclaimed an old dry cleaner. The Clairmont Avenue location dished out a small menu of pork, chicken, beans and slaw. Lyman said the business was a mom and pop place where relationships meant everything. “He built everything on relationships,” Lyman said. “He told me when I first started, ‘The first thing you do [is] you just sit on down next to somebody in a booth, ask them how they are doing and ask what can I do for you.’ He did that every day.”

Fear versus reward

Even if there are a thousand risks associated with getting into a small business, Lyman said Pihakis stresses how amazing the rewards are. Small business loans can be huge, even bigger than someone’s home, but Lyman said he did it because Pihakis inspired him. Pihakis encouraged Lyman to take risks and put himself out there, and Lyman said the rewards were worth the initial risk he took.

Opportunity

In 2000, Pihakis was left with four restaurants after his father passed away. According to Lyman, Pihakis said, “I’m doing okay. I could stop now and be content, but I have folks that have been with me for many, many years, why don’t they deserve a shot at becoming an owner of a small business as well.” Lyman was one of those partners, and he decided to open his own Jim ’N Nick’s in Atlanta. The location was in Rockdale County, and opportunity knocked even before the restaurant opened. Every year, Rockdale County held a barbecue festival to benefit United Way for $10 a plate. Lyman

called Pihakis and told him about the opportunity to feed about 1,500 people. Pihakis said, “Why are you calling me? I raised you better than that. You need to give them the food.” Lyman took the Jim ’N Nick’s recipes to culinary students at a local technical high school, and everyone at the festival feasted on food from Jim ’N Nick’s. It raised $1,500 for United Way before its doors even opened.

People and places

When Lyman began working with Pihakis, Pihakis asked him if his wife and children were going to work with him as well. Lyman said they never had before, but Pihakis told him, “That’s what we do.” “It’s a family affair,” said Lyman. “You think that gets a little dysfunctional, and yes it does. But I am proud to say my wife and two daughters work with Jim ’N Nicks today. It made a big difference because they got what I did, and they really helped lift me up.” Lyman said every day they put on their shoes and slacks the same way, and they go out to treat people with respect. They get into the community and build relationships.

Jim ’N Nick’s CEO Nick Pihakis with Keith Caton at a community farm in Mt Laurel near Pihakis’ home. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Influential instead

Lyman said Pihakis always asks, “Would you rather be rich or famous?” He then offers an alternative — being influential. For Jim ’N Nick’s, Lyman said, influential means being one of the largest backers of the Southern Foodways Alliance and helping preserve Southern culture. It means going to Eva, Ala., and running a processing plant where they raise heritage hogs and put farmers back to work.

Lyman said influence is also illustrated by the Jones Family Farm that teaches inner city kids what the food pyramid is supposed to look like and how to garden and farm. Pihakis is also involved in other small businesses such as Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, Octane Coffee, Big Bad Breakfast and The Little Donkey. “These are all part of Nick’s unbridled enthusiasm to help create more opportunities and create that much more influence,” Lyman said.

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A10 • August 2014

Chamber

Preview of

August

Luncheon

Martha Washington from American Village says the prayer before

Director of tourism in the State of Alabama Lee Sentell presents Shelby County Historical Society’s president Bobby

Shelby County sits centrally in the history of Alabama By JESSA PEASE Someone unexpected addressed the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce July 10 — Martha Washington. The various historical tourist attractions in Shelby County, including Martha Washington’s home American Village, were in the spotlight at the meeting. Lee Sentell, director of tourism for the State of Alabama, expressed his love for American Village and its mission to educate young people about citizenship and civic life. “I’m really happy to be here for a number of reasons,” Sentell said. “This is the only place in Alabama where you can hear Martha Washington pray, and it is logical because it is the only place where people expect her to show up.”

He said American Village is one of if not the biggest tourist attraction in Alabama. Each year it brings in 30,000 students for ﬁeld trips, 40,000 tourists and 10,000 people for its Independence Day celebration, the largest Fourth of July celebration in the state. American Village, which has been open on Sundays since June, has also become a popular wedding venue with its Lucille Pyals Thompson Colonial Chapel. “No other place in America, other than maybe Virginia, has building like this where you can show your nieces, nephews and grandchildren how history was made,” Sentell said. Support for attractions Sentell said Alabama legislature gave his

ofﬁce $1 million to give out as grants for this next year, and that his ofﬁce will be sending out notices to everyone. All tourist attractions in Alabama can contact their local legislatures to apply for $1,000 grants. Campaigns are another way Sentell said his department promotes counties and cities in Alabama. These include as lists such as “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” Each year, the department features a different campaign, such as gardens, state parks or food. “I love hometown festivals because not every county and not every city can have a major attraction — very few have 70,000 people come to a place like American Village,” Sentell said. “It’s a way to do pride campaigns and it really works.”

Zelia Baugh. Photo courtesy of April Stone.

Speaker: Zelia Baugh Executive Director of Psychiatric Services, Baptist Health System Zelia Baugh currently serves as the executive director for psychiatric services for Baptist Health System, where she oversees all psychiatric services at Princeton, Shelby, Walker and Citizens Baptist Medical Centers. Baugh earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology at Birmingham-Southern College in 1988 and went on to earn her masters of social work from the University of Alabama in 1992. Her experience includes time with UAB’s various medical centers, Brookwood Medical Center and St. Vincent’s Hospice previous to her current position.

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August 2014 • A11

Shelby County Schools leaders participate in active shooter training

Leaders participate in Shelby County Schools’ active shooter training. Photo courtesy of Cindy Warner.

The Shelby County School District recently partnered with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department to provide an active shooter training workshop for School Resource Officers, administrators and teachers who serve on their local school safety teams. The training was held at Forest Oaks Elementary School in June. Topics covered included defining the role of School Resource Officers, reviewing current trends in school safety, and reviewing active shooter profiles. The Sheriff’s Department showed participants the “Run! Hide! Fight!” video produced by the Houston Police Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which highlights ways to handle an active shooter crisis. The video encourages those who find themselves in an active shooter situation to evacuate the building and run to safety (if possible), find a safe place to hide if they are unable to evacuate or, as a very last resort, defend themselves and try to take out the

shooter. The active shooter training was part of the Shelby County Schools’ Safe Schools Initiative, a comprehensive school safety plan that includes training for school personnel, along with partnerships with local law enforcements agencies, review of school building architecture, and development of school and district safety plans. In addition to the training workshop, the school district is also working to renew all of the partnership agreements with local municipalities and the Shelby County Commission to provide an increased law enforcement presence at all Shelby County Schools. According to Dr. Lewis Brooks, assistant superintendent of administration and pupil services, security improvements are also being made to front entrances and offices at schools throughout the county. -Submitted by Cindy Warner

Board of Education member resigns Steve Martin has announced plans to resign from the Shelby County Board of Education. Martin, who has served 26 years as a board member, submitted his letter in June, stating that that he and his wife, Linda, plan to relocate to Gulf Shores. “It has been the highest honor of my life to serve the people of Shelby County,” Martin said in his letter of resignation. “I have watched our school system grow and improve tremendously during my five terms. I cannot praise enough the faculty, support staff, administrators, parents and students with whom I have been associated since first elected in 1988.” The Shelby County Board of Education members are working to appoint a new board member to fill the remaining four and a half years of Martin’s unexpired term, according to state law. Martin was reelected in 2012 for a six-year term, which expires in 2018. -Submitted by Cindy Warner

Resigning Shelby County School Board member Steve Martin. Photo courtesy of Cindy Warner.

Tennis courts opening on County Road 51 By SYDNEY CROMWELL Four new tennis courts have just been completed on County Road 51 south of U.S. 280. The courts have been under construction since May 2013 and cost $242,000 to complete. Mayor Earl Niven said the city decided to build the courts because the middle and high school tennis teams have nowhere to practice. “It’s because of the need, not only of our schools, but our public also expressed a desire

for tennis,” Niven said. The courts are open to the public. They are regulation size, surrounded by chain-link fencing and have lights and a parking lot. Chelsea has another six tennis courts planned for its new sports complex, which is under construction on Highway 11 near Chelsea High School. The complex will eventually have eight baseball fields as well as fields for soccer and football.

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August 2014 • A13

Now Open Lucky Dog Grooming and Boutique, 33 Olmsted St., is now open in Mt Laurel. It offers dog grooming and dog products made in the United States. 901-0578. facebook.com/ luckydoggroomingandboutique.

Carl Shory, MD, Hair Transplant Clinic, 109 Foothills Parkway, Suite 111, is now open. Shory, a longtime hair transplant surgeon for Latham’s Hair Clinic, which recently closed, is now in solo practice at the new ofﬁce in Chelsea. 995-2402. shoryhairclinic.com.

State Farm Insurance - Tyler Rutledge Agency, 16054 U.S. 280, Suite 1600, Chelsea, is now open. The agency sells a wide range of insurance as well as ﬁnancial products. 678-3334. savingwithtyler.com.

Gameday in Style Boutique, 450 Inverness Corners, is now open. The store sells boutique-style clothing in addition to its game-day themed clothing, gifts, accessories, shoes and its own line of T-shirts. gamedayinstyle.com.

ENT for Kids Alabama, 2807 5 Greystone Commercial Blvd., Suite 42, is now open. Dr. William Peyton Shirley is accepting new pediatric patients. 874-9436. entforkidsalabama.com.

Headrick Fence Staining, a homebased business in Chelsea, is now

open. 436-1124.

occupied by Latham’s Hair Clinic at 2206 Cahaba Valley Drive. 933-2710. clarkholmes.com. Twist Technology, 3149 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 500, is moving its ofﬁces to 3168 Pipe Line Road in Vestavia Hills. The company specializes in light, sound and video technologies for a wide range of businesses and residences. 588-4288. twisttechllc.com.

New Ownership Chic Boutique, 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 300, is now owned by Leslie Lyster, a longtime employee of the shop. The store offers clothing, shoes and accessories for women. 980-2272. facebook.com/ chicboutiquebirmingham.

Colonial at Inverness Apartments, 3100 Heatherbrooke Road, has been sold to Atlanta-based Carroll Organization and has been renamed Arium Inverness. 991-1023. ariuminverness.com.

Anniversaries Tae Kwon Do is celebrating its 10year anniversary. The martial arts business serves all ages from its location at 640 Inverness Corners next to Winn Dixie and is owned by Master Justin Scarsella. 981-9636. alabamatkd.com.

News and Accomplishments Full Moon Bar-B-Que, 4635 U.S. 280, was named The Ultimate Smokehouse in Ebony magazine’s July issue. It was the only Alabama barbecue restaurant to receive the honor. 991-7328. fullmoonbbq.com.

Coming Soon Fuji Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine, a restaurant based in Auburn, will be opening a second location at the Riverhills Shopping Center in the Inverness area soon. No opening date has been set. (334) 887-7766. fujisushibar.tripod.com.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters is scheduled to open Sept. 13 at 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 500. The travel agency specializes in cruises. 437-3354.

J.McLaughlin, a retailer of clothing and accessories for men and women, will open its ﬁrst location at The Summit later this year. jmclaughlin.com.

The Bruno Event Team, 100 Grandview Place, Suite 110, has been chosen to manage the 2017 U.S. Senior Open golf tournament, to be held just outside Boston in Peabody, Mass. 967-4745. brunoeventteam.com.

Fleming’s Steakhouse, 103 Summit Blvd., received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. The award is based on an analysis of the quality of wine, food and service for a given restaurant. 262-9463. ﬂemingssteakhouse.com.

Seasons 52, 245 Summit Blvd., received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. The award is based on an analysis of the quality of wine, food and service for a given restaurant. 968-5152. seasons52.com.

Relocations and Renovations CrossFit Chelsea has moved from near Wal-Mart to behind what was Ruff & Tuff at 10699 Old Highway 280, Building 6. The gym is the only one to offer CrossFit training south of Double Oak Mountain. Since new ownership took over operations in February, the gym has doubled its membership base and sponsored multiple community and school events and teams. 618-9700. crossﬁtchelsea.com.

Village Tavern, 101 Summit Blvd., received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. The award is based on an analysis of the quality of wine, food and service for a given restaurant. 970-1640. villagetavern.com.

Business news

to share?

Birmingham Bake & Cook Company is moving from 5291 Valleydale Road to the Cahaba Heights Shopping Center next to FlowerBuds. 980-3661. bakeandcookco.com.

Happy Gilmer’s, 16054 U.S. 280, Suite 1800, Chelsea, has closed.

Latham’s Hair Clinic, 2206 Cahaba Valley Drive, has closed after more than 50 years in practice.

Coming Soon

Clark Holmes Oral Facial Surgery, 1 Inverness Parkway, Suite 204, will be moving its ofﬁce to the building formerly

Closings

Expansion Business news

to share? If you are in a brick and mortar business along the 280 corridor and want to share your event with the community, let us know.

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

Email dan@280living.com

Coming Soon

280 Living

A14 • August 2014

Business Spotlight d Va lle yR Ca ha ba

Starz Karaoke Lounge

Read past Business Spotlights at 280Living.com

280 38

Doug Baker Blvd

5479 U.S. 280 408-7827 Monday–Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

119

By JESSA PEASE No vocal training is required to belt out Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” in a room full of strangers. With microphone in hand, eyes glued on the overhead screen and feet planted on the stage at the front of the room, anyone can be a rock star for five minutes. And at Starz, every night is karaoke night. “It just feels different than the way a lot of people are used to karaoke,” said branch owner Rob Loboda. “Karaoke isn’t filler time for us, karaoke is what we do. That is what we strive to be the best at.” Starz Karaoke Lounge, now a smoke-free venue, offers karaoke six nights a week. Loboda said it’s because they know what they want to be good at and they stick to it. While some locations offer karaoke as a way to fill one or two slow nights at the bar, Starz focuses on providing the best sound system, updated song lists and the best atmosphere for karaoke. “One of the neat things about that is that everybody, or at least somebody with everybody, is there because of karaoke, so it is a little bit different

One of Starz Karaoke Lounge’s customers aims to please the crowd with his smooth song. Photo by Jessa Pease.

environment than just about everywhere else,” Loboda said. “I think we get better singers than most places because that is why they are here.” The first Starz location opened in Birmingham on Valley Avenue. Loboda has been involved in karaoke since 1997 and his U.S. 280 spot has been open for about nine years. He remembers 15 years ago when there

were a lot of places that would do karaoke a couple nights a week, and he noticed how much people enjoyed participating in it. “In my mind, no one really catered to the people who wanted to do karaoke,” Loboda said. “I thought it would work because karaoke can entertain all different ages and all different demographics of people. If you became the

place that did that, you can have a huge, diverse group of people on any given night.” He believes what makes karaoke fun is the no-pressure, fun atmosphere where in any given hour you might hear every genre of music. Joining in during the chorus, clapping and contributing to the positive energy can also involve everyone in the room.

“The fun thing about karaoke is that it is never the same thing two days in a row,” Loboda said. “One night you could come and the whole vibe and feel in the room could be one thing, and the next week it could be different.” While guests circle in and out of the singing rotation, they can enjoy appetizers, which are served all night, or a cocktail to help them take the stage. Starz has hundreds of varieties of liquor, about 100 bottled beers and six local brews such as Good People, Railyard and Avondale on tap. The business is also keeping up with the smartphone generation with a new app it is releasing soon to make karaoke night even easier. Instead of browsing through songbooks, this app will allow guests to search for songs, create a personal profile and put song requests into rotation from their dining tables. “Karaoke is one of those things that is fun even if you’re not good,” Loboda said. “It can be crazy entertaining if you have the mindset, ‘Hey, this is fun.’ Everybody is coming in just to have a good time, and everybody gets up to sing for a different reason.”

280Living.com

August 2014 • A15

Restaurant Showcase

The Egg & I

Read all the past Restaurant Showcases at 280Living.com

5479 U.S. 280, Suite 128 874-9607 theeggandirestaurants.com Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

By JESSA PEASE Bobby McGurk wasn’t sold on the idea of a breakfast and lunch place at first. He and his father, Bob, had spent most of their lives in the corporate end of restaurants before deciding they wanted a franchise of their own in the Birmingham area where they lived. The pair had searched the whole spectrum, from pizza places to sports bars, when Bob found The Egg & I. Although Bobby wasn’t convinced, he, Bob and their families took a trip to Colorado where the first The Egg & I opened in 1987. After one taste in the mountains, Bobby said, “It can work.” “It was a warm, comfortable environment,” Bobby said. “The colors and the décor on the walls really gave you that mother’s kitchen kind of feel.” They knew they wanted a prime location in Birmingham, and Bobby said they first thought about locations in Hoover or on U.S. 280. In 2009, the two opened their first The Egg & I in Hoover, followed by four other openings. The fifth and latest The Egg & I opened Aug. 6 on U.S. 280 where it took over the space where Dale’s Southern Grill was previously located. “What we try to emulate, what we have called it before in the past, is the

(above) Southwestern-style breakfast burrito with green chiles, onions, ranch potatoes and diced pork sausage topped with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole and green onions. (right) The Egg & I’s kitchen manager Scott McIntyre, left, and general manager Jeremy Crowe train for the opening of the new location on U.S. 280. Photo by Jessa Pease.

‘Cheers’ of the restaurant industry — where your servers get to know your name, and you see people talking and really engaging with them,” Bobby said. The Egg & I was founded on the basis of community, family and friends. Bobby said in the restaurant business people don’t get a lot of extra time to spend on those things, but now owning branches of The Egg

& I allows them to. In a lunch and dinner restaurant closing about 10 or 11 p.m., all the staff are ready to leave because it is so late. At The Egg & I, Bobby said they get in early and they get out early because they close at 2 or 2:30 p.m. He is able to pick up his daughter every day from day care and have dinner with his family every night. “What we have is the community,”

Bobby said. “That is our core value, and our core base is getting involved in the communities.” The Egg & I is serving the community an extensive list of breakfast-based options including the traditional breakfast with bacon and grits, eggs Benedict, omelets, wholewheat pancakes, waffles and French toast. It also spices up breakfast burritos with the flavors of the Southwest.

“We have two pretty strict mottos that we go by,” Bobby said. “No. 1 is infinite attention to detail, so we are making sure that every ingredient and every recipe is met and reaches its highest standards. No. 2 is taste in every bite.” The menu features a variety of lunch items such as salads, freshly made soups and sandwiches. Everything on the menu is available from open until close. Bobby said his locations in the Birmingham area see a mix of demographics as their customer base. The restaurant is very kid friendly with many families coming in on the weekends. During the weekday mornings, Bobby said he serves many seniors and business people. The Egg & I recently finished a research project that revealed guests appreciate the “high-quality food” and “warm-welcoming hospitality.” The research said guests who visit The Egg & I are “blown away by our high food quality, our extensive breakfast and lunch menu variety and our very friendly service.” Bobby said that personally he has heard guests boast about the generous portions they receive. “There is such a wide spread,” Bobby said. “Really, for anybody who comes in, they can actually have their pick of any kind of breakfast they want.”

280 Living

A16 • August 2014

Family’s herd of goats becomes a labor of love By SYDNEY CROMWELL A baby goat flicks its tail wildly as it feeds from a bottle in Eva Lorusso’s garage. The goat is only a month old, but it will grow up to provide the sweet milk for which Dolce Latte Farm gets its name. The Lorussos began keeping goats at their Chelsea home in 2007, when they bought three Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats to provide raw, unpasteurized milk for their family. A doctor suggested raw milk to Lorusso because one of her sons was ill and was unable to gain weight. What the Lorussos did not expect, though, was to fall in love with keeping goats. “They all have such personalities. We didn’t expect them to be so personable,” Eva Lorusso said. “They become part of your family.” The goats’ milk was also a pleasant surprise. Lorusso had tasted goat milk before, which she described as tasting “like a dirty goat smells.” Her whole family, however, enjoyed the milk, cheese and yogurt from their own herd. Now, the family’s herd has expanded to about a dozen adult goats that they milk, breed and show. The Lorussos also keep a flock of egg-laying hens, a vegetable garden and blueberry bushes. Lorusso’s five children are heavily involved in the farm’s work and recognize the connection between the quality of their work and the quality of the food they eat. “It’s helped my children learn

(above) The Lorussos keep about a dozen adult dairy goats for milking, breeding and showing. The entire family is involved in caring for the herd. (right) Eva Lorusso makes organic goat milk soap and lotion by hand. The soaps pictured are made with essential oils and natural ingredients. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

responsibility. They know where their food comes from,” Lorusso said. The Food and Drug Administration discourages drinking raw milk because it can contain dangerous organisms such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria. Lorusso and a growing number of raw milk advocates, however, believe that unpasteurized milk is easier to digest and more nutritious.

“There’s a big movement for people ﬁghting for the right to drink and obtain raw dairy,” Lorusso said. “Just in the last few years, a lot of people want milkers [dairy goats] just for their own use because they want the raw milk.” While raw milk cannot be sold for human consumption in Alabama, the Lorussos do have a license to sell raw

dairy products for pets. They sell these products, along with organic eggs, goat milk soaps and lotions, online and at the Pepper Place Market during the summer. Lorusso has considered moving to a larger property to expand the Dolce Latte herd, but her focus remains on feeding her family and making sure her children are thoughtful about the

food they eat. “They think about the animals they eat and how they were treated. Did they have a good life? Were they fed healthy food that’s going to be nourishing to their bodies or not? They know all that stuff,” Lorusso said. Dolce Latte Farm goat milk soaps and lotions can be bought at dolcelattefarm.com.

280Living.com

Summer Fun Photo Contest Capture the fun of summer with your camera and send us your favorite shots of wherever you and your family are.

August 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ A17

Prizes will be awarded to contest winners Category 1: Any summer fun photo Category 2: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of 280 Living wherever you are To enter, e mail your photos in a jpeg format to photos@280living.com. Please send high quality images and include a caption and photo credit. Only four photos are allowed per person.

Visit 280living.com for more information.

Deadline has been extended to August 10, 2014

280 Living

A18 • August 2014

The short route to Florida A look at 280’s past for area travelers

By JACKIE ROMINE WALBURN Before interstates and four-lane highways, U.S. 280 was the quickest drive from Birmingham to Florida’s beaches and the only route to outlying areas such as Chelsea. The winding road was so traveled by sun-seeking tourists it earned the lasting name of Florida Short Route, as denoted by a billboard from a Tallahassee motel that pointed 287 miles south. A branch of U.S. Highway 80 and running 390 miles from downtown Birmingham to Blichton, Ga., the route branches off to go south and east through Georgia to Florida’s Atlantic coast. Still today, U.S. 280 south of Birmingham shows up on road maps as Florida Short Route. For a while in the 1920s, 280 was home to one of Alabama’s first roadside attractions. In See Alabama First: The Story of Alabama Tourism, author Tim Hollis writes about the Bottle, a 64-foot-tall wooden replica of a bottle of orange Nehi soda located five miles north of Auburn. Constructed in about 1924 by John F. Williams of Opelika, who owned the local Nehi bottling company, the Bottle housed a grocery store and gas station on the ground floor. A spiral staircase led to the upper portion where tourists could view the countryside from the bottle cap. The Bottle burned in 1933, but road maps still dot its location as “The Bottle, Alabama.”

Touting 92 luxurious rooms and a triple-A rating, the Highway 280 billboard for the Tallahassee Motel pointed south down the Florida Short Route, with a mere 287 miles to go. Photo by Tim Hollis, courtesy of Birminghamrewound.com.

Shortly after Alabama established speed limits in 1951, converting to posted limits as opposed to “reasonable and proper” speed guidelines, Alabama’s first speed trap sprang up on the heavily traveled Florida Short

Route, Hollis said. In Harpersville, the Highway 280 speed limit “abruptly dropped to 25 miles per hour.” Motorists soon complained, and the town stopped patrolmen from their practice of collecting arbitrary amounts

of money from tourists who did not want to come back to the town for a court date. However, many towns on Florida Short Route and other routes lowered their speed limits and posted patrolmen. So, with speed limits came

the now-expected speed trap on the way to the beach. In addition to being the quickest way to Florida, early U.S. 280 was the only route to Birmingham for residents in Chelsea, Columbiana and

280Living.com

August 2014 • A19

Atlanta

Birmingham

20 75

280 65

Montgomery

Blichton

3 75 95

These cabins provided an overnight stop for travelers on their way to Florida in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Tim Hollis.

other nearby towns. “It seemed like it took hours to get to my grandmother’s house,” recalls Sandy Crumpton, the Shelby County Historical Society’s archivist, who grew up in Columbiana and remembers riding through the famous 280 Narrows and over the mountains to Grandma’s house in west Jefferson County. The Narrows, the picturesque Yellow Leaf Creek gorge section of the old highway, had nicknames including “War Eagle Highway,” as it leads to Auburn University, and “Blood Bucket Road” because of the accidents on the narrow roadway, said Bobby Joe Seales, president of the Shelby County Historical Society. Many vehicle accidents occurred on the Narrows’ winding curves, and its hills and hallows hid whiskey stills back when store-bought liquor was forbidden or too far away. Reportedly, a gambling casino was once located along the Narrows,

Seales said. Historians from half a century ago also reported that the rocks in the Narrows were the oldest found in North America at that time. The original U.S. 280 section in Shelby and Jefferson counties was built in the 1920s and completed in the early 1930s. Reportedly constructed with convict and Works Progress Administration labor, the route through the Narrows was blasted with hand-operated churn drills and dynamite, according to a 1981 article in the Shelby County Reporter. When Highway 280 was finally expanded to four lanes – a project that began in the late 1970s for the stretch south of Birmingham and continues today in some parts of Georgia — the new, wider highway detoured around the Narrows. Old U.S. 280’s most scenic stretch became Shelby County Road 280, but it remains, to many, the Florida Short Route.

Quick, quirky short route stops 1

A Habitat for Humanity’s Slum Theme Park 721 W. Church St., Americus, Ga. Along the long trek of the short route, stretch your legs in Americus at the Slum Theme Park that puts you right in the middle of a third world slum. Take a self-guided tour through the “poverty section” featuring rows of shanty homes with rags for doors, and learn about the deadly kissing bugs.

Vidalia Onion Museum 100 Vidalia Sweet Onion Drive, Vidalia, Ga. Your next stop along the short route takes you to Vidalia’s onion legacy. You will enjoy a hands-on educational opportunity about the Vidalia onions’ signiﬁcance in the country not just economically, but in the culinary world as well. Meet the onion with Chef Bobby Flay’s seal of approval.

Fruitcake Capital of the World 203 West Main St., Claxton, Ga. Shortly before your drive to Blitchton, Ga., is complete you will ﬁnd yourself in Claxton, the fruitcake capital of the world. Take a peak at The Claxton Fruitcake Co.’s seven giant fruitcake ovens, and taste why Claxton Fruit Cake was the only fruitcake exhibited at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and 1965.

280 Living

A20 • August 2014

Flip Side Oak Mountain State Park 8195 B John Findlay Drive 620-2528 ﬂipsideal.com Seasonal hours: Daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Season ends in September

Video Tanner Dill takes a ride at Flip Side Watersports. He said he was the ﬁrst to try the new cable park. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

A new wave in water sports Oak Mountain cable park offers wakeboarding without the boat By SYDNEY CROMWELL Eight-year-old Tanner Dill stands on the edge of Beaver Lake with a wakeboard strapped to his feet. A motor whirs above his head and pulls the cable in his hand. Within seconds, Tanner is skimming across the water as the ﬁrst person to experience Flip Side Watersports, the new wakeboard cable park at Oak Mountain State Park.

Flip Side, the creation of Josh White and Jeremy Talbot, is the ﬁrst cable park to be built in Alabama. It opened on June 14 and has already served riders of every skill level from ages ﬁve to 57. The cable park allows riders to wakeboard, kneeboard and water ski without a boat. Two towers stand on opposite sides of the lake with 817 feet of cable between them. An electric

motor, controlled by an operator, runs the length of the cable and pulls riders back and forth across the lake at speeds up to 27 miles per hour. White described cable parks as the “easiest way to learn to wakeboard” because beginners don’t have to worry about the rough wake from a boat. However, advanced riders will not be bored, either. Two corrugated railings and a ramp are in the water for those who want to try

out tricks, and White said there are plans to add more obstacles. Flip Side was born out of White’s childhood love of wakeboarding. He tried his ﬁrst cable park in Orlando eight years ago and was immediately hooked. “It was a whole new feel. I could do all kinds of new stuff I’d never done before,” White said. In 2010, White and Talbot decided that a cable

280Living.com

August 2014 • A21

The first cable park in Alabama Location: Beaver Lake, Oak Mountain State Park Cable Length: 817 feet Top Speed: 27 miles per hour Experience level: BeginnerAdvanced Suitable for: Wakeboards, water skis and kneeboards Cost: $65 for all-day gear rental and riding

Experienced riders can try out the railings and ramps for a new challenge. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

park could make a great business. They drew up a business plan, but it would be four years before Flip Side became a reality. White said it was a challenge to find property with a lake suitable for wakeboarding, and Oak Mountain turned down their requests to use the lake several times. It was the state park’s new superintendent, Adam Sample, who finally gave enthusiastic support to the project. Now that Flip Side is up and running, White

hopes he can introduce more people to wakeboarding. Without the expense of purchasing gear, a boat and fuel, water sports can become more accessible. White noted that the cost of renting gear and riding all day at Flip Side is less expensive than driving to a lake and fueling a boat for a day. “Right now there’s so many kids in Birmingham who have never seen a wakeboard, maybe at all,” White said. “We want to make the sport

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grow, and in the same sense we want to make the park grow, because without the park we wouldn’t be here.” The cable park is open every day until the end of the season in September, and White said they offer lessons and reservations for parties and events. If he receives significant interest from riders, he might also install a hot shower and open Flip Side on weekends in the winter. He will also continue his own tradition of

wakeboarding every New Year’s Day. While Flip Side is still young, White said he plans to eventually add a second cable and perhaps expand to a full-size park, which could handle eight riders at a time. He has also considered opening multiple locations someday, including one closer to his home in Guntersville. For White, it was worth four years to make Flip Side a reality because he simply “can’t stay away from the lake.”

280 Living

A22 • August 2014

Paddleboards and paws Highland Lakes resident creates vintage-inspired boards By SYDNEY CROMWELL With stumpy legs and ﬂoppy ears, Murray did not look like the average paddleboard rider. That did not stop the dachshund from jumping onto John Gilbert’s board one day at the lake. As Gilbert watched the dog wag his tail at the front of the board, he realized Murray was the perfect example of the paddleboard way of life. Gilbert had already been considering creating a stand-up paddleboard company of his own, so with that inspiration, he named it Murray Boards. The family-run business just started selling boards this summer, but its logo – a man and a dachshund on a paddleboard – is gaining recognition in Birmingham and along the Gulf Coast. “It only made sense that we named the brand after the dog,” Gilbert said. “That cool, laid back lifestyle is the life that Murray led.” Murray Boards got its start because Gilbert was tired of the bright colors and patterns that every board seemed to have. Paddleboard companies marketed to surfers and teenagers, but Gilbert wanted a vintage look that reminded him of a wooden boat. “I love Bob Marley, but I don’t want his face on my paddleboard,” Gilbert said. “I really wanted to create a board that somebody could go out on the lake and paddle, then at the end of the day they could hang it on the wall of their living room at their lake house and it would look pretty cool.” It took two years to transform

Video John Gilbert designs and carves each Murray paddleboard by hand to create a vintage look. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

simple sketches on a napkin into a regular business, but Murray Boards now sells two different board designs along with paddles, ankle leashes, shirts, hats and stickers. Gilbert designs and hand shapes the foam core of each board, which is later inlaid with zebra bamboo to get the distinctive vintage look. A manufacturer helps create the 12-foot boards, since each one takes about 80 hours of work. “These things start as basically an ice chest. It’s a big, huge Styrofoam

cooler that you whittle down,” Gilbert said. Currently, Murray Boards is the only stand-up paddleboard manufacturer in the state, and its products are sold at Alabama Outdoors in Homewood and online. Gilbert and his wife manage the business from their Highland Lakes home and their two children act as product testers. As the company grows, Gilbert hopes to host demonstration days in nearby lakes and do more business on the beaches

John Gilbert named his company after the family dog, Murray, who loved to ride paddleboards. Photo courtesy of John Gilbert.

of Alabama and Florida. The boards are not just a business, though. Gilbert has been riding paddleboards for eight years and enjoys the tranquility that comes with being out on a lake. He said he has seen the sport grow because it is relaxing, environmentally friendly and easy to pick up. From beaches and bayous to rivers and lakes, Gilbert said paddleboards can be ridden in any water that is over ten inches deep. “Anybody can really do it. Once

you hop up on [the board], it takes a little while to get your legs,” Gilbert said. “Once you’ve done it one or two times, it’s really easy. Even kids can take it up really easily.” Murray died on New Year’s Eve after 14 years of adventures with the Gilbert family. His “really cool, laidback” personality, though, is still at the core of Murray Boards and every paddleboard that carries his image. To learn more, visit murrayboards. com.

280Living.com AMBULANCE

CONTINUED from page A1 puts a lot of stress on the department personnel,” said Cahaba Valley Fire Battalion Chief Sam Johnson. “Even though I am the battalion chief and physically I don’t have to do as much work, I am tired. I’m exhausted from running up and down U.S. 280.” The problem U.S. 280 traffic has added at least two minutes to response time in certain parts of Cahaba Valley Fire’s coverage area down U.S. 280 toward Jefferson County, according to Cahaba Valley Fire Lieutenant Steve Brecht. Following the law is vital for responders during emergencies, but both Johnson and Cahaba Valley Fire’s public information officer Grant Wilkinson said there is a difference between what the law says and what the public can do in some cases. Although cars are required to move over for response vehicles, not everyone can move out of the way in U.S. 280 traffic. Vehicles get stuck in bottlenecks at the many traffic lights on the highway, and drivers can’t get out of the way even if they want to. “It is difficult, especially [during] certain times you cannot get up and down U.S. 280. It really delays your response,” Johnson said. “The people are very nice and they try, but there isn’t anywhere to go.” The lack of space to move over creates a need for the department to operate within the traffic. Both Johnson and Wilkinson said if the department isn’t careful, its presence in traffic actually causes accidents while the responders are trying to get to an accident. There are even times when they stop the sirens and lights to prevent stressing out drivers, which Johnson said can be frustrating. “We are cognizant of the fact that the traffic flow has an impact on our responses, especially during higher traffic volume times,” Wilkinson said. “The reality of what is on the roads can be challenging for new members of any of the public service, but after a short period of time you take a deep breath and you do the very best you can.” How drivers hinder the process Drivers also have an effect on how emergency response laws work. “Everyone understands, the heavier the volume, the more of a potential challenge it can be and the more vigilant you have to be,” Hoover Police Captain James A. Coker said. “Response time always is key, so the more

What the law says Keep your distance. No driver may follow the response to an emergency call closer than 500 feet or stop within 500 feet of the authorized emergency vehicle. - Section 32-5A-58

August 2014 • A23 drivers that will adhere to the law and move over or out of the way, [the more] it could save a life.” People not merging to the right on the approach of emergency vehicles, Brecht said, is one of the biggest problems the department deals with on U.S. 280. He said people will stop dead in traffic or move to the center median even though drivers are taught in driving school to merge to the right. “I feel at times that we are inconveniencing them,” Brecht said. “Do we want to sit out there on U.S. 280? Do we want to be running up and down the road? No, but that is part of it. That is what the emergency 911 system is.” What’s being done In response to the reality of the road, Chelsea Fire Department, Cahaba Valley Fire Department, North Shelby Fire Department, Hoover Fire Department, Rocky Ridge Fire Department and Birmingham Fire Department all have mutual aid agreements. These agreements allow all the fire departments to get resources to emergency calls more efficiently, especially in the vast coverage area along the U.S. 280 corridor. Wilkinson said many calls on U.S. 280 call for automatic responses from multiple departments. To hasten response times, emergency vehicles also have signals on board called preemptors. These devices cause traffic signals to turn green in the direction the vehicles are heading. The preemptors, paired with the automatic aid agreement, are meant to improve the traffic problem, but Johnson said they do not always work. Even after the responders arrive, they must deal with traffic en route to medical centers. In many cases, the medical centers are a fair distance from where the accident occurred, which has created a need for centrally located hospitals on U.S. 280. To fill this void, two new centers will service emergency situations. Brookwood Freestanding Emergency Room, which will open at the intersection of Highway 119 and U.S. 280, is expected to begin operating in about one year. Grandview Medical Center, formerly known as Trinity Medical Center, is expected to open in 2016. Although central hospitals will provide closer medical care, the problem with traffic is still one that responders are forced to deal with on a daily basis. Brecht said it is just something the department will handle as best and as safely as it can. His advice in helping reduce response times on U.S. 280? “If you see an emergency vehicle coming up behind you, whether you see the lights or hear the sirens, start merging to the right.”

911 1

Call

Move over. You must move over or reduce speed when approaching law enforcement vehicles and emergency vehicles on an interstate or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the authorized response vehicle. When driving on a two-lane road, the driver must move as far away from the authorized response vehicle as possible within the lane and slow speed. • Slow to 15 mph less than the posted speed limit if more than 25 mph. • Slow to 10 mph if posted speed is 20 mph or less. - Section 32-5A-58.2 “Alabama Move Over Act”

Yield right-of-way. When an emergency response vehicle is approaching (with sirens and lights on), the driver of every other vehicle is required to yield the right-of-way and position their vehicle parallel to, or as close as possible to, the right-hand curb until the responders have passed. - Section 32-5A-115

What happens when you dial 911? The emergency call goes to a dispatch center where the accident is assessed and sent to responders based on location. The location of the incident and the number of injuries is sent to the proper response team, which immediately rushes to the scene. While responders are en route, dispatchers relay any additional information. Vehicles arrive on the scene and the medics on board the fire engine and dedicated rescue trucks assess the situation.

280 Living

A24 • August 2014

Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Palmer

Last month a preliminary settlement approval between the NFL and roughly 4500 former players of the league was announced. The lawsuit is for allegedly concealing the long-term health risks of concussions. If you are passionate about watching sports especially football, you have definitely heard the term, but may not know exactly what it is and how it affects the brain. A concussion is a broad term that is generally used to describe a brain injury caused by trauma -- usually a bump, hit, or jolts to the head -- that causes an alteration in mental status. Symptoms can be any combination of the following: balance problems, difficulty communicating, concentrating, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue feeling, mentally foggy, headaches, nausea, depression, sleeping more than usual, sensitivity to light and loud noises, memory issues, vomiting and more. There are about 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the U.S. every year, either alone or associated with another injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sports and recreational activities account for about 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.

Newest study states, each year in the United States, there are an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related brain injuries. 136,000 of which occur in young athletes in the course of high school sports. However, these statistics may be grossly underestimated. According to statistics from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, “between 1.7 and 3 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur every year. Five of 10 concussions go unreported or undetected. One in 10 high school athletes who play contact sports will suffer a concussion this year”. A simple approach: A new study in January’s Pediatrics, lends support to the idea that resting the brain from cognitive activity helps recovery. Cognitive activities are defined as “activities that require you to think harder than usual”. In the study of 335 children and young adults, ages 8 to 23, those reporting the greatest levels of cognitive activity (including homework, playing video games, doing crossword puzzles, text messaging and online activities) after a concussion took the longest to fully recover from their symptoms — approximately 100

Concussion Repercussions days on average, compared to approximately 20 to 50 days for patients reporting lesser levels of activity. So if your child is one of the unlucky ones to get a concussion this upcoming season, resting his or her brain after a concussion can result in a quicker recovery. Additionally, there are natural approaches through the chiropractic model that compliment a concussion recovery program. Initially, considering a specific nutritional protocol of supplements that support proper brain tissue recovery would be highly recommended. These products are within our office. They would aid in a faster recovery by feeding the brain tissues, and body the right nutrients to maximize healing. Next, thorough examinations and X-ray studies are performed, a course of action is recommended based on the findings discovered during the exam process. The introduction of segment specific chiropractic care is a critical component of the recovery protocol. It’s a logical approach. When someone gets their bell rung from a concussion, the force the skull and body endured which caused the concussion is rather traumatic and significant. Without question, spinal structural

compromise is present. The application of the corrective force of a chiropractic adjustment is a fraction in comparison to the traumatic force received from the injury. In addition to the above protocol, following the ‘brain resting’ plan with diligent “at home icing” of the cervical (neck) region in the proper position are all critically important to produce the desired outcome of full recovery. It’s serious yet a no brainer if the plan is followed. Parents should strongly consider a chiropractic evaluation for their child should a concussion occur while under their household. It’s a simple concept, pay now or pay later with greater health problems. The Journal of Integrative health care states, “in some circumstances therapies offered by chiropractors may be of benefit to athletes that have sustained sports-related concussions”. There is plenty of research revealing the devastating long-term effects of head trauma. I encourage you to consider Chiropractic as a course of care for direct and effective results. Contact my office via click , call or simple come on by for answers to your questions. We are here to help YOU!!!!

280Living.com

August 2014 • A25

Aubie the Auburn tiger holds one of his tiniest fans at the fifth annual Bell Center Tailgate Challenge. Photos courtesy of Kelly Peoples.

Sixth Annual Tailgate Challenge Benefiting The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs

TAILGATE

CONTINUED from page A1 season for their favorite football teams, regardless of which team it is. “It’s fun no matter what football team you root for, from high school to college to pro,” Fund Development Director Kelly Peoples said. At the challenge, team tent sponsors wear

their team’s gear and compete in several tailgate-themed categories awarded by celebrity judges. This year’s judges include Lance Taylor, Jim Dunaway and Ryan Brown from WJOX Roundtable; Wendy Garner and Don Hawes from NBC Alabama’s 13 News; and Alec Harvey from Alabama Media Group. Categories include most team spirit, best tasting food and best all around. All funds raised go toward The Bell Center, a privately funded nonprofit. The organization

LSU fans show support for The Bell Center and their favorite team at last year’s event.

When: Saturday, Aug. 23 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: The Summit Price: $15 adults, $5 children 4-10, Free for children 3 and under More info: thebellcenter.org

offers intervention services to infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay. Its programs are designed to assist with growth in gross and fine motor skills, language, cognition, selfhelp and social skills. Though the fundraising is essential, the tailgate accomplishes another important goal of the center: to spread awareness of developmental delay and intervention services. “There will be lots of people,” Peoples said.

“They will be able to find out what we’re doing if they’re not sure.” The Bell Center will host its annual Tailgate Challenge on Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Summit. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children 4-10 and free for children 3 and under. For more information on the Tailgate Challenge, visit thebellcenter.org.

280 Living

A26 • August 2014

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Hurt people hurt people:

Why I feel sorry for bullies, haters and critics “There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sometimes I don’t understand all the meanness in this world. There is meanness at school. Meanness on the Internet. Meanness among enemies. Meanness among “friends.” Add it all together, and it can threaten your hope in humanity. There was a time when I thought I had nothing in common with mean people. They were bad, I was good, and that was the end of the story. But with age and maturity, I’ve grown to understand that nobody is 100 percent good or 100 percent evil. We are all good and evil, a community of sinners in a fallen, broken world. A turning point in my mindset came years ago when I started writing fiction. After submitting a partial manuscript to an agent, she pointed out a mistake I’d made that was common among novice writers. In short, I’d made my villain too villainous. She had absolutely no good or redeeming qualities, and since this didn’t reflect the reality that no one is “all good” or “all bad,” my villain seemed cartoonish and unbelievable.

The best villains, this agent explained, are three-dimensional. They have feelings, emotions and back-stories that help explain why they’re hateful. The best villains have moments where the audience actually empathizes with them because as terrible as the villain appears on the surface, there’s a different storyline playing in their head. There is pain from the past that has led the villain to this point, where they believe they’re justified in whatever they’re doing or saying. So these days when I see vicious remarks on the Internet, or hear about an act of cruelty, I wonder about the back-story of the real-life “villain.” I wonder what may have happened to make that person a bully, hater or critic. Because nobody falls into that role haphazardly. Nobody wakes up one day and decides to adopt a negative lifestyle for fun. Hurt people hurt people, and when someone is dumping their hurt onto others, it’s a sign that they’re desperately trying to get rid of the negative feelings inside them. Sadly, what begins as one person’s inner turmoil can ultimately affect many. As the old expression goes, “The boss yells at the man, and the man goes home and yells at his wife,

the wife yells at the kid, and the kid kicks the dog.” Until someone breaks the cycle, the hurt keeps getting passed on. I used to feel nothing but anger for bullies, haters and critics. But now, there’s a part of me that gets sad for them. What comes out of a person reflects what’s inside, so when someone spends their life looking for things to bash, refusing the see the good in anyone or anything, it reveals the state of their interior. Imagine living in a mental prison of self-hate and vicious self-talk. Imagine having no escape from meanness because you can’t run away from yourself. Victims of hate have an escape. They have loving and welcoming arms they can run into, safe places where they can heal, people who want to help them bounce back and restore their self-esteem. But what love exists in the life of a bully, hater or critic? Who wants to be in their inner circle, encouraging them when they’re down? Who wants to extend the very thing they need most, kindness, when they’re so hard to love? Frankly, I can’t think of a more miserable way to live than to be stuck in your own poison. And that’s why I feel sorry for bullies, haters and

critics. That’s why I understand the call we’ve all been given to love our enemies, because only love can break the spell of hatred. The answer to meanness is never more meanness. The answer is to look at a hostile person like you might a well-drawn character from a story and ask yourself, “Why are they doing this? What must be going on inside them to make them dump their hurt on me?” And then — this is the hard part — your answer is to respond in love. If you can’t love that person yet, love someone else. Let the vicious email in your inbox inspire you to write a nice email to a friend. Let the putdown you just heard inspire you to build someone else up. The point is to break the cycle, to turn the tide so you don’t spread more harm. Truth be told, we’re all capable of being bullies, haters and critics. If we really want to understand cruel people, all we have to do is look inward. By admitting our worst urges, and things we’re tempted to do when we’re hurt, we can better understand them. The message to take away here, for you and me, is this: Be aware of where you dump your hurt. Deal with it in healthy ways instead of randomly

releasing it on others. Before writing that email that gives someone a piece of your mind, posting something snarky on social media, or flying into a rage that hurts a child, a spouse, even the family dog, think about why you’re so upset. Pray for self-control and a peaceful solution that brings inner harmony instead of turmoil. The world doesn’t need more meanness. What the world needs is more people willing to look past negativity to recognize the root of meanness: pain. We were all created to give and receive love. The more love we give, the more we receive, and when we live this way, we create a new cycle, a cycle of love that can trump all evil and pass on joy and hope instead of anger and pain, bringing much-needed light into a dark world. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham mom of four girls, columnist and blogger for The Huffington Post. Join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com. Kari’s first book, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, releases November 2014 through Thomas Nelson. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon.

280Living.com

My South By Rick Watson

Life is rushing by The sad part we’ve learned I’ve read that high-school students have ringtones set to is that this group of friends die very high frequencies so that even more frequently. We’ve older teachers can’t hear the cell attended several funerals these last three years. phones ring. Another cruel trick that time Last Saturday we had plays is a sound that only older friends and family over for an people can hear. It’s the sound of old-fashioned fish fry. It was a life rushing by. I can hear it as I picture-perfect day. One of her type these words. chair buddies felt well enough Something that seems to come to come, too. more frequently with age is losing We placed picnic tables with friends. When I was younger, it lawn chairs in the backyard, Watson happened from time to time and iced the drinks down in a No. was always brutal, but I’ve found that it hap- 3 washtub nearby, and we sat around in the pens more as I’ve gotten older. shade of oak and pine to eat some of the best This past week we lost one of our dear- fried fish I’ve ever put in my mouth, thanks to est friends. Steve Weisberg was a musician my nephew Haven. I thought nothing could put a damper on the who’d traveled the globe in a Learjet with John Denver when the crooner was at the top day, but after all the guests had gone home, we of his game. learned that a friend that we’ve known for over As sometimes happens when fame and 30 years, who is a cancer survivor, found out fortune smiles on an individual, he began to this past week that the cancer may be back. experiment with drugs and alcohol. Things At this point, it’s not clear if treatment is an began to spiral out of control, and he lost his option. I’m sure they are wrestling with the job with John Denver, his house, his wife and decision of whether to opt for quality of life money. over quantity. The thought breaks my heart. With the help of his parents, he got clean, As I thought about the best way to end this and died this past week with a 24-year coin piece, I remembered a song that Jilda and I from Alcoholics Anonymous. He fell victim wrote a while back that seems appropriate for to cancer, which is the cruelest executioner. this column. The song is titled “Turn Around.” We’ve made many friends in the clinic where Jilda gets her monthly treatments. “When you’re young you think The majority of patients there are getting you’ll live forever, chemo for cancer. We’ve formed a kind of Can’t hear the sound of life rushing by, kinship with each other because these friends See no need to be in a hurry, know firsthand what the others are going You’re just along for the ride.” through. Jilda is the type of person who can meet These days the sound of life rushing by someone and 10 minutes later, she walks away seems louder than ever. with intimate details of their hopes, dreams, family history and love life. Rick Watson is a columnist and author. His She’s a rock star in the treatment room. latest book, Life Happens, is available on People change their treatment dates so they Amazon.com. You can contact him via email can be there when she’s there. at rick@homefolkmedia.com.

That’s Life By Paul Johnson

The most wonderful time of the year, also The line, “The Most Wonever so slightly toward the derful Time of the Year,” usunext. This turning, whether ally refers to Thanksgiving, slight or obvious, would have Christmas, Hanukkah and New represented conversation, an opportunity for words, Year’s. Still, many of us feel that the most wonderful time is sumthoughts, ideas and life to be mertime, when life is slower — passed back and forth. Yet all thanks to the intense heat here the chairs faced forward with in the South — and obligations its occupants disconnected. are fewer. Yes, some parents go We are creatures who want into a panic, if ever so slightly, to belong, to be a part of somerealizing that summer requires thing bigger than ourselves. We kid entertainment 24 hours a day desire a family or a community. Johnson for 12 weeks, but somehow we No one truly wants to do life calm down and restructure. alone. Oh, we might have extraverted or introThanks to no school traffic, overall traffic verted tendencies that require us to be with is less of a problem. There is pool time, lake people or to be alone in order to rest, recover time, grill time and hammock time. Yes, the or restore, but beyond that, we want to be with yard needs to be mowed every week (hope- people in a profoundly connected way. I chalfully there is no drought), but then we get the lenge you this summer to make the profoundly payoff of that freshly-mowed-grass smell. Yes, connected way possible through porch time; the garden needs to be watered every day, but choose a porch, either front or back, put out then we get fresh tomatoes, okra, eggplant, some comfortable chairs, and make visiting a peppers and so forth. Summer is good. It is a priority. Take advantage of the slower season great time to sit on the back or front porch with and visit. Start a conversation, sip some tea, a fan going, with a glass of tea and visit — to spit some seeds, but also intentionally visit. linger long as the sun slowly sets and to gaze Paul Johnson is a licensed marriage and at the stars. Summers were made for visiting. family therapist, a licensed counselor and a Larry Crabb, author of Inside Out and Con- nationally certified counselor. You can reach necting, wrote in his book The Safest Place on him at 807-6645, or paul@lifepractical.org. Earth about being on a walk with his wife in He is available for marital, family or individMiami down a road that held several retire- ual counseling or consulting, or for speaking ment homes. As they walked, he noticed that at your local organization. His office is in all of the chairs on the large front porches were Greystone Centre on U.S. 280. facing forward, with none of them turned even

August 2014 • A27

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

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157 Resource Center Parkway Suite 102

Events B1 Sports B16 School House B14 Calendar B20

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205-981-0291

Half-marathoning through Ovarian cancer survivor spreads awareness Save the O’s 5K and Fun Run Aug. 16 8 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. Fun Run Greystone Golf and Country Club Visit active.com to register Beneﬁts UAB’s Division of Gynecological Oncology

By JESSA PEASE Dianne Baer was shocked. She had gone to see her doctor with complaints of pain in her stomach and pelvis, but she never expected what her doctor would ﬁnd. Baer was a health-conscious person. She ate the right foods and exercised often, but it didn’t change her situation. Following her stage IC ovarian cancer diagnosis, she immediately faced surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy. Both of her ovaries were affected by tumors, and her 5-year survival rate was 90 percent. This month marks 12 years since her diagnosis.

Healing

“It was strange having cancer,”

Baer said. “I just didn’t relate to having cancer, but I wasn’t going to let it have me. I wanted to be as healthy and as active as I had been. I knew I needed to be.” Aside from the cancer, Baer was healthy, and she was determined to stay that way. She began walking 30 minutes every day before she even left the hospital, and she followed her doctor’s instructions with precision. Baer said people thought she was crazy, but she, along with a walking group, began training for a half-marathon while going through her chemotherapy. The half-marathon was one month after her last treatment. “The half-marathon and eating well really helped me through,” Baer said. “Having that exercise to look forward to and a group of people supporting me to distract me was a good thing.”

Friends, family members and supporters can all participate in Save the O’s to help fund research for Ovarian Cancer. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Routman,

Learning

While support and exercise helped her through her disease, she said learning more about her diagnosis and spreading awareness about ovarian cancer contributed to her recovery. Baer participated in many events and awareness opportunities, such as the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s (NLOCF) Ovarian Cycle and Motherwalk, working toward the

goal of developing a screening test for women. Baer said anything that can help spread the word about ovarian cancer helps, which is why she started training for the NLOCF Speakers’ Bureau Community Outreach Program when she went back to work. The program gave Baer, and women in other stages of ovarian cancer, the opportunity to talk with medical students about the disease,

signs, symptoms and risk factors. Baer has been a part of the organization for seven years. “My story is pretty cut and dry,” Baer said. “I had symptoms, was diagnosed, and had surgery and treatment. Whereas some women, the symptoms are so vague they are either not listened to or they are misdiagnosed.” “The point of awareness programs

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280 Living

B2 • August 2014

Remembering a life lived for others Annual blood drive held in memory of Laura Langley By JESSA PEASE Because of Laura Langley, the photo looked different than in years past. When Oak Mountain High School’s yearbook came out in 2007, instead of a perfectly posed portrait, about 21 trumpeters wore their instruments on their heads. “[Laura] was extraordinarily fun-loving, and everybody who speaks about Laura says something about her laughter,” Laura’s mother, Ann Langley said. “She always found a reason to be happy and joyful in what she was doing, and it was infectious.” After graduating from Oak Mountain, Laura continued her education at The University of Alabama in social work and started her career at AIDS Alabama. In 2012, she was killed in a car accident when the car, driven by one of her friends, somehow veered off the road into a light pole. Four hours after the accident, Laura lost what her what doctors said were “massive amounts of blood.” She passed away due to internal bleeding. When Langley’s neighbors heard what had happened, one of them approached her knowing Laura would have wanted something good to come from the tragedy. They asked her about holding a blood drive. Langley was familiar with the American Red Cross, so that ﬁrst year they held a blood drive in Ross Bridge, where Langley and her husband moved after Laura left for

(left) Laura Langley, pictured one year before her passing. Photo courtesy of Ann Langley. (above) Rebekah Davenport, a close friend of Laura Langley, looks over her shoulder while donating blood at last summer’s blood drive. Photo courtesy of Ann Langley.

3rd Annual Laura Langley Memorial Blood Drive Saturday, Aug. 23 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. First Christian Church 4954 Valleydale Road college. That year they collected enough blood to save 250 lives. “It was a real blessing to be able to turn this around in such a meaningful way with an organization I already had a passion for,” Langley said. “We knew immediately we wanted to repeat it.” This year, however, the blood drive is moving to First Christian Church on Valleydale Road, where Laura grew up and spent most of her life. The

event is set for Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We thought how much more meaningful this would be to more people who actually knew, loved and understood Laura’s passion and giveback attitude throughout her life,” Langley said. Langley said Laura dedicated her life to helping others, and she was a strong advocate for social justice concerns on campus at Alabama.

In honor of her passion for social work, both The University of Alabama and the Langleys have dedicated scholarships in Laura’s memory. The Laura Langley Social Justice Award was developed by Alabama immediately after Laura passed, and two students have received the award already. The Langleys’ scholarship has also been given out to two students. In addition to scholarships, colleagues of Laura at AIDS Alabama

named a community center, Langley Center, to honor both Laura and her father, who worked there ﬁve years prior to her. “She really was an extraordinary woman who made a huge difference in a very short life,” Langley said. “What we are proud of now is that her legacy will live on in the way she chose to make a difference with her life.”

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280Living.com

August 2014 • B3

Be a lifeline, R(un) for One By JESSA PEASE There are 153 million orphans in the world. Of those millions, only one-tenth of 1 percent will be adopted. The remaining children are what Lifeline has termed (un)adopted. “We have adoption programs all over the world, but the reality is that the majority of children are never adopted,” said Lifeline Development and Marketing Coordinator Elizabeth Gilmer. As an arm of child services organization Lifeline, orphan care ministry (Un)Adopted works with children who will grow up without being adopted. The ministry goes into 12 countries to equip children with life skills and job skills to teach them independence and how to make it on their own. Much of this is done in partnership with local organizations such as churches and individuals in the country. (Un)Adopted’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the R(un) for One 5K and Fun R(un), will be held for the third year at Veterans Park on Aug. 16. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Gilmer said. “It really is one of our very favorite events of the year. It is a chance that a lot of families, supporters, friends and businesses get to come together just for a fun morning and for a chance to run for the (un)adopted.” Last year the run raised $35,000, but Gilmer said this year Lifeline has set a goal of $150,000. She admits the jump between $35,000 and $150,000 is a big one, but R(un) for One has added fundraising teams to help achieve its target.

R(un) for One 5K and One-Mile Fun R(un) Veterans Park 4800 Valleydale Road Aug. 16, 8 a.m. Visit unadopted.org/run

Runners take on the course together for the 2013 R(un) for One 5K. Photo courtesy Elizabeth Gilmer.

Between now and race day, individuals have the opportunity to form a fundraising team. Teams can create their own fundraising pages and encourage friends to donate directly through the site, similar to other nonprofit organizations. Gilmer said (Un)Adopted is also

trying to get more involvement in the actual race itself. Lifeline has many sister locations across the country, and the those in Georgia and Kentucky are also holding R(un) for One races on Aug. 16. Everyone, no matter the location, is invited to run Aug. 16 to help support

Runners in the 2013 R(un) for One 5K jog to the finish line. Photo courtesy Elizabeth Gilmer.

orphaned children. “It’s our staff’s favorite thing we do,” Gilmer said. “It’s always an early morning, but it is a lot of fun and something that everyone always looks forward to.” The 5K starts at 8 a.m., and the onemile fun run starts at 8:45 a.m. After the

race, there will be a bouncy house and craft table for kids, as well as live music, food and drinks provided by local businesses and restaurants for all ages. For more information about (Un) Adopted or Lifeline, visit lifelinechild. org. For more information about R(un) for One, visit unadopted.org/run.

280 Living

B4 • August 2014

A second chance for Saddlebreds By MADISON MILLER Bama, a white and brown-spotted, blue-eyed pony, was facing hard times. After she was diagnosed with skin cancer, the family that raised her in Alabama could no longer afford to take care of her. In Pennsylvania, American Saddlebred Peppermint, a former Amish carriage-driving horse, faced a horse auction where she would most likely be put to slaughter after she could no longer meet the demands of carriage driving. The two horses were given a second chance when they were saved by horse rescue programs and given a home at James Hale Stables in Chelsea. Owners Jackie Hale and her husband, James Hale, were raised with a passion for horses. Growing up, Jackie’s parents were horse trainers, truck drivers and grooms. She began showing at horse shows in and around Alabama at 8 years old. James and his family began exhibiting horses, specifically the American Saddlebred breed, when he was just 7 years old. Although James Hale Stables has been in its location since 1997 and used to offer riding lessons to the public, they decided to stop lessons for several years to focus on training show horses. This year, they changed their minds. Jackie is on the National Board of Directors of the American Saddlebred Horse Association. As part of her involvement, she serves on the Riding Lessons committee, which advocates

James and Jackie Hale with their dogs, many of whom are rescues. Photo courtesy of Jackie Hale.

the use of American Saddlebreds for riding lessons. When she thought about it, she realized that although she had stables and advanced training programs available, she did not have a beginners riding program using American Saddlebreds of her own. “I thought that I needed to put my money where my mouth was,” Jackie said. With the growth of families on 280, the Hales knew that they could make a lesson program work. Rather than buy new lesson horses, they saw an opportunity to provide a new future for rescue horses.

To find Bama, the Hales worked with Helping Horses Alabama, an organization that provides rehabilitation and training for abused, abandoned or sick horses. The organization provided her treatment and found her a home with the Hales, who have agreed to continue her treatments and keep her out of the sun. Saddlebred Rescue, an organization similar to Helping Horses Alabama, saved Peppermint. She was adopted by 280 resident Amy Tate as a riding horse for her daughter, Emily. After knowing the Hales for several years,

James Hale Stables Barn Dayz Camp volunteer Emily Hillhouse helps attendee Lilly Maske with her third riding lesson on Bama. Photo by Madison Miller.

Tate was happy to house Peppermint with the Hales and allow them to use her for other riding lessons. As a veterinarian, Tate can attest to the Hale’s experience and professional care for their horses. “I’ve never been in another barn where they take such good care of their horses,” Tate said. “They focus on safety and they do a really good job with that.” The Hales give lessons in Saddle Seat, an English style of riding that is becoming less popular in equestrian sports. They teach Saddle Seat to preserve the traditional aspects of

the American Saddlebred riding style. “Saddlebred can be ridden in any discipline, but Saddle Seat is what they’re really built to do,” Jackie said. With these lessons, the Hales hope to not only show the versatility in the American Saddlebred breed, but also to inspire a love for horses and riding similar to their own. “You’ve got to get them interested early,” Jackie said. James Hale Stables will begin registration for after-school riding lessons at their open house on Aug. 9. For more information on James Hale Stables, visit jameshalestables.com.

280Living.com

August 2014 • B5

Community Miss Alabama to host girls’ camp at The Summit Swoozie’s at The Summit will introduce a fun way for girls to learn about classic southern traditions with Camp Swoozie’s on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 1-3 p.m. Miss Alabama 2014 Caitlin Brunell will host young girls as they explore their southern roots in this free event. Four 30-minute sessions will focus on embracing these ideals, including crafting the perfect thank-you note, how to wrap a gift, personalization how-to and a surprise, just for fun portion of the camp. “It is important for young ladies to know what it truly means to be a southern girl. Swoozie’s is looking to provide them with the confidence needed to have good manners and embrace their southern roots, which is something that will never go out of style,” says Ashley Plank, marketing director for Swoozie’s. “We want to make manners fun again starting with young girls embracing ideals that are important to past generations. By personalizing something as small as a thank-you note lets others know you care and the extra effort goes a long way.” Camp Swoozie’s registration began Friday, July 11 with limited availability of 25 attendees. Spots will be filled on a first come first serve basis. Parents are welcome

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to attend the event with their children. For more information on Camp Swoozie’s, contact Ashley Plank at ashleyplank@ swoozies.com or visit swoozies.com. -Submitted by Alicia Rohan

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Dr. Gregory Friedman recently won a $40,000 grant to support his research to fight brain cancer in children. Friedman, an assistant professor of pediatrics and associate scientist in the Neuro-Oncology program at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama, was awarded the grant by the Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) and Vs. Cancer Foundation. Friedman’s work has been supported by a previous Rally Foundation grant, which has helped him make progress in the fight against medulloblastoma, the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor and a leading cause of cancer-related death. “While survival rates have improved, a

significant number of patients have poor outcomes despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which are all damaging to the developing brain,“ he said. “With this grant we are focusing on the development and clinical application of genetically altered viruses, which kill cancer cells while sparing normal brain cells.” Friedman said this therapy has proven safe in several adult clinical trials at UAB and hopes to bring this new therapy to clinical use in children with brain tumors. Friedman provides care to pediatric cancer patients at The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, a partnership between UAB, Children’s of Alabama and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. -Submitted by Adam Kelley

Shelby County Young Life hires new area director

at Lee Branch

DHL

Local doctor awarded pediatric brain tumor research grant

UPS

USPS

John Beatty has joined Shelby County Young Life as the new area director. A native of Marietta, Ga., Beatty has spent the past three years as a staff associate in the Young Life Perimeter North area, which serves four northern Atlanta suburbs. He will be joined in Birmingham by his wife, Jessica, who has led with him the last two years at the Marist School. “These three years have prepared me for the

role that’s now before me,” Beatty said. “Jessica and I are so excited to follow the Lord’s will for our life and continue serving in the mission of Young Life.” Young Life’s mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. For more information, visit shelby. younglife.org. -Submitted by Val Stiffler

280 Living

B6 • August 2014

Family places in North Shelby Library LEGO competition North Shelby Library held its summer reading LEGO competition in July. The Mehta family, whose children attend Bruno Montessori Academy, placed in several categories. Tejal and Labdhi Mehta won first place for “Pyramid Carousel” and “Lighthouse on and Island.” Harshil Mehta won the title of Lego Champion with his project, “Rescue Search,” which featured a coast guard ship with two airplanes designed to search for the lost Malaysian Flight 370. He received a LEGO trophy, first place ribbon and a LEGO store gift card. -Submitted by Labdhi Mehta

Inverness residents perform original song at Local festival

Eric Latham and David Bibbs. Photo by John Bibbs.

Labdhi Mehta and Harshil Mehta with their projects. Photo courtesy of Tejal Mehta.

Eric “ErBeeko” Latham of Inverness and David “D-Bibbs” Bibbs of Birmingham entered Alys Stephens Center contest for musicians with their original song “Abracadabra (Magic City At Night).” The song was selected as one of 12 finalists out of nearly 100 entries, and the duo performed their piece along with other

finalists at the Local Festival held in June at Alys Stephens Center’s Engel Plaza. Patrick Morris of Inverness performed as drummer. All three are music students at Alabama School of Fine Arts. -Submitted by Irene Latham

Dining deals return for Restaurant Week There’s extra incentive to eat at Asian Rim Sushi Company, Dixie Fish Company and Primeaux Cheese and Vino this month. As a part of the fifth annual Birmingham Restaurant Week, these restaurants will offer special two and/or three-course prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus in the $5, $10, $20 and $30 per person from Aug. 15-24. Several menus will

also include beer and/or wine flight components, brunch offerings and other drink specials. Around 50 restaurants are expected to participate in this year’s event; 43 were a part of the event in 2013. In addition to 280 area establishments, restaurants already committed to BRW include JoJo’s on Broadway, Davenport’s Pizza Palace, Chez Lulu, The Garden Cafe by Kathy

G, The Pantry, VINO, FoodBar, Satterfield’s, Ocean, 26, Century Restaurant and Bar, Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega, Chez Fonfon and Silvertron Café. Restaurant Week is organized by REV, which works to revitalize places and energize business to create vibrancy in the City of Birmingham. REV is an economic development organization

that stimulates business growth and improves quality of life in Birmingham’s City Center and its Neighborhood Commercial Centers. For more visit bhamrestaurantweek.com, the BRW Mobile Site Dining Guide or revbirmingham.org.

280Living.com

August 2014 • B7

School House OMMS dance team places first at Auburn competition Oak Mountain Middle School’s dance team recently won first place at the UDA camp at Auburn University. Their title earns them the chance to participate in UDA’s National Dance Competition at Disney World in Orlando in January. The team also won 44 individual superior awards and a full out award, which signifies the hardest working team in the competition. The dancers were invited to the Capital One Bowl to dance in the pre-game performance,

and five dancers made All-American, which allows them to participate in the Thanksgiving Parade at Disney World. Oak Mountain Middle School’s dance team is coached by Kristen Glover. -Submitted by Lynn Crawford

The 2014 Oak Mountain Middle School dance team. Photo courtesy of Lynn Crawford.

OMHS peer assistants raise $1,500 for child abuse awareness By SYDNEY CROMWELL Myrah Taylor’s mother introduced her to Grace House Ministries when she was a child. Taylor was struck by the heart-wrenching stories of the girls and young women who had come to Grace House from abusive and neglectful homes. “I knew I wanted to raise awareness so no child ever had to feel that way again,” Taylor said. Taylor, who graduated this spring from Oak Mountain High School, has done just that. As a pageant participant with the Miss America Organization, Taylor’s platform is preventing abuse and neglect of

children. She also continues to work with Grace House and began volunteering with Owens House, a Shelby County center for preventing child abuse, during her senior year. Taylor realized that she could share the importance of Owens House with her school through the peer assistants program, which connects older students with freshman to give guidance and build friendships. With the help of about 50 peer assistants, Taylor distributed brochures to students to help them recognize the signs of abuse and neglect. Peer assistants and other students are in a unique position to help classmates who might be experiencing trouble

at home. “As a peer assistant, we mentor freshmen and see over 100 students every day,” Taylor said. “I wanted them to be an advocate to educate students in our school.” In April, the peer assistants recognized National Child Abuse Awareness Month by selling blue ribbons, bracelets and T-shirts to support the Owens House. They raised $1,507, all of which went to the center’s education and prevention programs. Taylor plans to continue working with both Grace House and Owens House, and she also volunteered with Barnardo’s Children’s Charity in London this summer. Taylor will also

be competing in the Miss Alabama preliminary pageant this summer and will be heading to the University of South Alabama in the fall, where she plans to

continue her Blue Ribbon Fundraisers. To learn more about the work of the Owens House, visit owenshousecac. org.

childcare Visit our website for a virtual tour www.learningbydesignchildcare.com

ENROLLING FOR OUR PRE-K CLASS NOW Call for more information and to schedule a tour. 205-991-KIDS(5437) 5560 Cahaba Valley Rd. Located in Indian Springs across form the North Shelby Country Library

T L C Given Daily 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

280 Living

B8 • August 2014 By JESSA PEASE Does your closet need a trendy fashion forward? As school approaches, you need to ﬁnd the latest trends such as maxi dresses, antelope sandals, patterned pants and super-cute dresses. Everything you need to make a statement the first day, week or month of school is right at your ﬁngertips with 280 Living’s fashion guide. Whatever your style, 280’s clothing boutiques are here to make your wardrobe schoolready, even if you aren’t.

A new look for A nod to Southern roots

Sweet and sassy

Try this orange, front-pocketed Old Southern Apparel T-shirt ($30) with jeans and cowboy boots from The Urban Barn.

Comfortable and cute Try the popular summer colors navy and white in these Maxi skirts ($49) paired with a simple cut-out tank ($29) from the Ditsy Daisy.

Pair this hot-pink dress ($42) with long accessories and strappy, white sandal wedges ($46) from The Urban Barn.

Lightweight and breezy Pick up a blouse like this bright one by Blue Rain ($12) and pair with a bold statement necklace ($22), a black and white striped Kate Spade messenger bag ($77) and black Coach ballet ﬂats ($47) from Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace.

280Living.com

August 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ B9

back to school

Get these looks Chic Boutique 270 Doug Baker Boulevard, Suite 200 The Ditsy Daisy 16618 Highway 280, Suite 100, Chelsea

Embroided pizzazz

Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace 6801 Cahaba Valley Road

Fun and ďŹ&#x201A;irty Pair these analili cheetah pants ($104) with this analili sheer top ($96) and Antelope sandals ($133) from the Chic Boutique.

This Ditsy Daisy dresses ($42) is not too short for school. Navy or white, it comes fully lined.

The Urban Barn 601 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 105 Village at Lee Branch

Print to pop Boldly chic Pair this hobo knit dress ($84) with Antelope sandals ($133) from Chic Boutique or a pair of cowgirl boots for a great look in either fall or spring.

Find this eye-catching teal dress with a vivid print, bell sleeves, and a sassy low scoop back by Pink Owl ($35) at Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace. Pair them with simple accessories like this tan leather Hobo International clutch ($25) and gold toned Betsey Johnson chain necklace ($17). Add Blue Italian Shoemakers sandals ($13) to complete the look.

280 Living

B10 • August 2014

State of the school system Superintendents share how state and national education issues affect our students

Andy Craig Hoover City Schools How is eliminating the graduation test and replacing it with the ACT going to affect schools? Should parents expect lower test scores? Overall, I believe this is a good change for schools. The ACT test is more relevant and valid to our students than the old graduation exam because it gives students and parents speciﬁc feedback with regard to college and career readiness instead of very basic literacy skills. The ACT requires much less time and disruption to the normal instructional process in the high schools. It is very important to understand that the ACT is not a replacement for the old graduation test. The state eliminated the graduation test, which was a basic skills exam, and implemented statewide administration of the ACT to all high school juniors to give parents and students a more detailed picture of a student’s academic strengths and challenges as they prepare for college. The vast majority of our Hoover students, about 90 percent, have been taking the ACT for many years, and they have done well historically, clearly outpacing state and national averages. When this year’s juniors graduate next year, and we get their ﬁnal ACT results (many will retake the test as seniors), I do expect the ACT average of this class to be lower than previous classes because the 10 percent of Hoover students who were not taking the ACT previously will be in the data. I would argue that this is still a good thing because some of those students who might not have believed they were able to go to college may have learned college is a realistic goal for them.

Q A

Under the new system, how are schools going to be ranked, and how are teachers going to be assessed? The new Alabama State Department of Education accountability process is still being fine-tuned at the state level, but we know that it will emphasize measures associated with improving college and career readiness of all students. Schools and systems will be measured against their own historical performance instead of arbitrary goals that are not relevant to communities with specific needs. The emphasis will be on districts getting better from year to year, and Hoover City Schools have always been committed to the principle of continuous improvement. Teachers will be evaluated using the same process that has been in place for years, EDUCATE Alabama, which is also a system that emphasizes continuous improvement. How can parents help their students adapt to the Common Core curriculum? My advice here is about the same as it has always been. Communicate regularly with teachers, seek opportunities to engage alongside students in learning activities, and encourage your student to embrace challenging problems and seek creative and innovative solutions. Hoover City Schools established many of these standards as learning expectations for students years ago. The best learning often occurs at the leading edge of a very fine line that marks the boundary between challenge and frustration, and that is why it is so important for teachers and parents to

Q A

Hoover City Schools Superintendent Andy Craig. Photo courtesy of Andy Craig.

communicate and collaborate regularly. Innovation may be the most important career competency in the 21st century, and we want to encourage the growth of creative and innovative habits at all grade levels. The Alabama College and Career Readiness standards are more rigorous, and those higher expectations can create stresses at times for students. Encouragement and engagement are the best ways that parents can help students experience success.

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August 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ B11

Randy Fuller Shelby County Schools Q A

year?

What programs do you think are the most important to focus on in the upcoming school

Our employees are our most valuable assets, making people more important than programs. We will continue to provide quality professional development for our teachers in order to implement best instructional practices within the classroom. Strategies to implement the College and Career Ready Standards will continue to be a focus. These standards will help prepare our students to compete in a global society. Our local school and central office administrators will embark in a yearlong professional study on ways to better engage parents and community stakeholders in the educational process.

Q A

How is eliminating the graduation test and replacing it with the ACT going to affect schools? Should parents expect lower test scores? The state of Alabama has adopted an assessment system (Aspire and ACT) that is aligned with national standards. The ACT serves a dual purpose. Not only is it a widely accepted college entrance exam, but it also provides benchmark scores that indicate if a student will be successful in college as compared to other students across the nation. All juniors in the state of Alabama will now take the ACT each spring. Students who have taken the ACT in previous years were only those who planned to go to college. As a result, we expect an implementation dip in our ACT district scores, yet Alabama is joining a growing number of states that will provide this opportunity to all students.

Q A

What differences can parents expect to see in the curriculum with Common Core? Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new standards raise the bar academically for students. Parents will see more integration of 21st century learning skills into the core curriculum, such as collaboration and teamwork. Students will be exposed to more informational text and academic vocabulary in all content areas. Students will be challenged to think more critically, become problem solvers, and apply learned knowledge in real world situations.

Q A

How can parents help their students adapt to the Common Core curriculum? Parents can help their students adapt to the more rigorous curriculum by having them explain their thinking and have them answer questions on a deeper level (not just yes or no). Parents can give students opportunities to participate in real life events, such as estimating a grocery bill or planning an upcoming vacation, including the budget for the trip. Our district is planning parent-training opportunities to learn more about the College and Career Ready Standards and ways to help their students at home. These sessions will be provided during the upcoming school year.

Q A

How will the new College and Career Ready Standards prepare students for the future? Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CCRS challenge students to think more critically, solve complex problems, work together collaboratively, think conceptually, and go deeper with learning. They are aligned with what ACT says students need to know and be able to do to be successful in a

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Randy Fuller. Photo courtesy of Randy Fuller.

college or career. The standards are written in a learning progression that will lead students to be able to compete nationally.

Q A

What are the differences between the ACT Aspire test versus the Alabama Reading and Mathematics test for grades 3-8? The ACT Aspire has replaced the Alabama Reading and Math Test. As the Aspire is an ACT product, it will show growth of a student along a trajectory to indicate benchmark scores for college readiness. The Aspire achievement test has more openended questions and allows for more application of learned knowledge. The Aspire is aligned to the College and Career Ready Standards, which alone makes it more rigorous than the previous assessment.

280 Living

B12 • August 2014

OMIS teacher wins technology award

Tammi Carr of Oak Mountain Intermediate School, center, along with fellow Shelby County Schools teachers Jordan Pritchett and Crystal Watford, won the first Owens-Young Memorial Technology Innovation Award. Photo courtesy of Cindy Warner.

Tammi Carr of Oak Mountain Intermediate School and two other Shelby County Schools teachers recently received the Shelby County Schools Owens-Young Memorial Technology Innovation award. Carr and her fellow recipients are the first to receive this award, which recognizes teachers who excel at using

technology to improve teaching and learning. Carr was nominated by peers, students and administrators. Along with the award, she will receive an iPad and a trip to the International Society for Technology in Education Convention in Atlanta. -Submitted by Cindy Warner

Forest Oaks performs interactive story time Forest Oaks Elementary School students recently participated in an interactive reading of the book Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. The primary grade students, along with faculty and staff members, dressed as black clouds, cows and brown grass to bring the story to life. As principal Dr. Resia Brooks read the story, the students and faculty members each had a special

role to play. The African folktale incorporates languages arts, science and social studies curriculum. -Submitted by Resia Brooks

Forest Oak Elementary School students perform an interactive story based on the book Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. Photo courtesy of Resia Brooks.

SPHS history teacher travels to Korea for geopolitics study Spain Park High School teacher Jill Wallace was selected as one of 14 educators from across the United States to participate in a unique field study of South Korean geopolitics, culture and history this summer. Wallace was selected by the Northeast Asian History Foundation for this all-expenses-paid, eight-day experience. The conference and its associated field-study in the southeastern region of the Korean Peninsula allowed Wallace to gain direct experience with the Korean people and their culture. A one-day stop in Seoul, capital of South Korea, focused on the geopolitics of the Korean Peninsula, and territorial/geographical naming issues that have persisted since the end of World War II. The field study included observations at the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, visits to agricultural and industrial sites, and the study of Seoul as one of the world’s largest cities and historical/cultural heritage sites representing the Peninsula’s 3,000 year history. Wallace teaches U.S. history and AP (Advanced Placement) human geography. “I am very excited about this professional opportunity to learn more about Korea. My grandfather was a bombardier in the Korean War and flew night missions in B29s. He

was very excited when he found out I would be going to South Korea, wanting to know how it was over there today. He passed away three days after I told him about the trip. Part of me wants to honor his memory by going on this trip,” Wallace said. -Submitted by Jason Gaston

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August 2014 • B13

OMHS Starlettes place in Auburn dance camp

LIFE IS SHORT. MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

Front row: Mandy Remke, Macy Grissom, Mary Walker Lindsey, Carrie Higginbotham and Lindsey Dale. Second row: Ashley Blair, Allison Bonds, Goodwin Rhodes, Melanie Wiley, Meg Rivers, Abi Johnston, Samantha Goldfon, Mya Osley and Meredith Stone. Photo courtesy of Sandra Gallups.

The Oak Mountain High School Starlettes Dance Team recently participated in dance camp with the Universal Dance Association at Auburn University. The Starlettes placed second in the varsity division for their home routine. They also took home a Full Out Award, Superior Trophy, All-Superior Individual Performances and a spirit stick. Goodwin Rhodes was named the

camp Drill-Down Queen. Mary Walker Lindsey, Lindsey Dale, Macy Grissom, Carrie Higginbotham and Mandy Remke were named All-American Dancers and have the opportunity to perform at the New Years Day Parade in London. Oak Mountain’s dance team sponsor is Sandra Gallups. -Submitted by Sandra Gallups

Jackson named OMHS assistant principal By SYDNEY CROMWELL

a part of its successes.” Jackson previously taught English at Thompson High At the Shelby County School for nine years. She said Board of Education meeting her mentors and fellow faculty on June 5, Kendall Jackson members have prepared her was named as the new assiswell for her new role, but it will tant principal for Oak Mounbe tough to leave them. tain High School. “There’s a lot of memories Jackson said she is excited I’ll be leaving at Thompson,” for the challenges of her new Jackson said. “The thing I’m role and impacting students going to miss the most is the throughout the school rather spirit among the faculty and the than from a single classfriendships and relationships I room. She is also looking developed there.” Kendall Jackson forward to helping students Jackson received her bachemeet the high standards at OMHS. lor’s in journalism and mass communication “There is a great foundation that has been at Samford University and her master’s in around for a long time with this school,” Jack- secondary education and education leadership son said. “It’s exciting to know I’m about to be from the University of Montevallo.

Celita Deem named new Mt Laurel Elementary principal By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Celita Deem

Mt Laurel Elementary will be welcoming a new principal, Celita Deem, in the fall. Deem will be transitioning from her role as principal at Calera Elementary School. She previously worked as an assistant principal at Inverness Elementary and taught for seven years. Deem said this new job will bring her closer to her Inverness home and also give her the chance to experience a K-5 school. Her previous experience was in K-2 and K-3 schools, and she said she looks forward to watching students grow from kindergarten to ﬁfth grade. While she will miss the “close-knit community” she had at Calera, Deem is eager for the chance to build new relationships in the Mt Laurel community. In her ﬁrst months on the job, Deem plans to discuss the school’s future with Mt Laurel’s parents and teachers to get a sense of where the school is headed. “My focal point is to build relationships,” Deem said. “[I want to] really get to know the community and know what their dreams and aspirations are and answer their questions.”

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280 Living

B14 • August 2014

Hilltop Montessori to add new community, kitchen space

Berry students place in national science competition

Berry Middle School’s Science Team. Photo courtesy of Jason Gaston.

Berry Middle School’s science team placed fourth nationally in the annual TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) Competition in Washington, D.C. for “Best in Nation.” The seven-member team, led by teachers Kathe Howard and Jef Hodge, captured numerous other accolades. The Berry team went up against other middle Students of Hilltop Montessori School located in the Town of Mt Laurel. Photo courtesy of Michele Wilensky.

Hilltop Montessori School has announced plans to build a new addition. Construction will begin 2015 and be completed by 2016. The addition will include a community area and a teaching kitchen that will also be available as a venue for local businesses and residents of North Shelby County. Hilltop Montessori’s current student body of 200 students ranging from 18 months through eighth-grade, opened in Mt Laurel after it was funded by EBSCO Industries more than a decade ago. “As an independent academic institution, we are so grateful to EBSCO Industries,” said Head of School Michele Wilensky. “Phase Three is our way of giving back to the Mt Laurel community. This new extension of the building will be a wonderful ‘after hours’ resource.”

The school’s environmental education curriculum integrates a heavy emphasis on nutrition, which is supplemented from the school’s expansive edible-gardening program and an on-site apiary. The new teaching kitchen will allow the school to serve lunches made from fresh, organic produce. Bill Segrest of Williams Blackstock Architects said that he sees the community space as a resource for the school’s needs while also offering support for “seed-to-plate” nutrition education and an indoor multi-purpose space that can support myriad different activities for the community. Call 437-9343 or visit hilltopmontessori.com for more information. -Submitted by Michele Wilensky

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Welcome Our Newest member of the GeGe’s family, Micah Todd Penley, born June 30th at 12:10 am

5426 Hwy 280 East • 980-7444 www.gegessalon.com

schools teams from across the U.S. with its presentation on this year’s theme, “Engineering Tomorrow’s Cities – Improving Urban Infrastructure.” The Berry team placed in the top 10 in every category including Oral (second), Research (sixth) and Problem Solving (seventh). -Submitted by Jason Gaston

Area students participate in Alabama Governor’s School Students from area high schools were chosen to attend Alabama Governor’s School at Samford University in June. They were among 91 rising high school seniors from 24 counties who attended the two-week honors program. AGS participants are nominated by their schools on the basis of academic ability, leadership qualities, creativity, community service and a written essay. -Submitted by Mary Wimberley Participants from Chelsea High School were Ethan Mitchell, Cameron Martindale and John Gerrit Janssen. Photos courtesy of Mary Wimberley.

280Living.com

August 2014 • B15

Sports Eagles, Jags in 7A’s ‘Region of Doom’; Briarwood, Chelsea in 6A 6A Region 5

7A Region 3 2013 Records Hewitt-Trussville Hoover Mountain Brook Oak Mountain Spain Park Thompson Tuscaloosa County Vestavia Hills Region Totals

5-6 15-0 7-4 4-6 8-3 4-6 7-4 11-3 61-32

0-1 5-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 3-1 8-5

2013 Records Briarwood Homewood Hueytown Jackson-Olin John Carroll Minor Pelham Walker Region Totals

9-3 9-3 3-7 2-8 2-8 4-6 6-5 8-2 43-42

1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 2-3

6A Region 3 2013 Records Benjamin Russell Chelsea Chilton County Opelika Oxford Pell City Valley Region Totals By DAVID KNOX High school football is a Southern tradition, and Alabama is one of its leading celebrants. It’s been that way for generations But this season finds Alabama high school football undergoing its biggest change in 30 years. The Alabama High School Athletic Association, by unanimous vote of its central board, has added a seventh class for the largest 32 schools in the state. This creates entirely new regional and class alignments and affects rivalries, travel and, most importantly, whether your school will make the playoffs. This is the first major classification change the AHSAA has adopted since 1984, when the governing body increased from four classes to six. By moving the largest schools into their own class, it removes some of the numbers disparity that is especially difficult to overcome in football as opposed to basketball and baseball. The largest schools in the state in some cases had more than twice as many students than the smallest 6A schools. Most of the schools in 7A will be within 200-300 students of each other. A new 7A class Over the Mountain, the so-called “Region of Doom” returns in a slightly different form in highly competitive Class 7A, Region 3. Oak Mountain and Spain Park are grouped with back-to-back Class 6A state champ Hoover — rated by some preseason sources as a national championship favorite — along with Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville. Six of those eight made the 2013 Class 6A playoffs; three were region champions. But only four of these teams will make the 16-field 7A playoff bracket in 2014. “I think it’ll be great for the fans,” said Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell. “Every Friday night there are going to be multiple good games, and it ought to be fun.” As for being back in the region Hoover’s Josh Niblett calls “the SEC of high school football,” Bell is realistic but hopeful. “I don’t think our schedule was weaker the past two seasons, but from the standpoint of the level of coaching you’re seeing week in and week out, it is going to be very, very good,” he said. “I’m excited and I know our kids are excited. I’ll let you know about mid-October if I’m still excited about it.” Spain Park coach Shawn Raney echoed the thoughts of his Oak Mountain counterpart.. “It’s exciting. It’s a challenge every week, great coaches, great players. Our kids are excited, the coaches are excited about it,” Raney said.

10-2 4-6 5-6 7-4 9-3 6-4 6-4 47-30

1-1 0-0 0-1 0-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 2-5

No other Metro Birmingham schools are in Class 7A. Removing Hoover — which has won eight 6A state titles since 2000 — cracks the door open for some other very good programs to make a run at a state crown. A more competitive 6A Some members of the media have taken to calling Class 7A a “super class,” but with 60 schools in eight regions, 6A may be even more competitive. Briarwood Christian joins nearby Homewood and John Carroll in Class 6A, Region 5, along with Pelham, Minor, Jackson-Olin, Hueytown and Walker. Moving to Class 6A, Region 3 is Chelsea. The Fighting Hornets, who played in the very difficult Class 6A region last season, now have a travel challenge, playing in a region with Alexander City’s Benjamin Russell, Opelika, Valley of Fairfax (north of Auburn near the Georgia line), Pell City, Oxford and Chilton County. “There is more distance in the new 6A,” said AHSAA director of communications Ron Ingram, “especially in the southern portion of the state. Chelsea is the southernmost 6A school in the Birmingham area and had to be placed in the southern portion to help fill out the regions in the south.” On the plus side for the Hornets, they were in a region that included four schools that are now in Class 7A, so they were at a disadvantage in that department. And Ingram notes that as a 5A school, Chelsea traditionally played teams east of and on the 280 corridor. “We’ve definitely got some traveling,” said Chelsea coach Chris Elmore. “The closest schools are Pell City and/or Chilton County, however you want to look at it. We were able to get all our non-region games close — we’re playing Briarwood, Helena, Thompson. I was a little disappointed [because] I was hoping we wouldn’t get Valley and Opelika on the road in the same year and we did. But if you want to put it in a positive spin, we won’t have to go there next year. “I think our (6A) region last year was deeper. I thought we were the ‘bad’ team, and I thought we were pretty competitive. Spain Park and Prattville were the only two games last year that midway in the fourth quarter I didn’t think we had a chance to win. I think this region is real top-heavy with Opelika and Oxford. Then the rest of them are like us, been up and down.” In all classes except 7A, 32 schools will make the playoffs. The Super 6 Championships now become the Super 7. The championships this year are in Auburn.

280 Living

B16 • August 2014

Chelsea Hornets 2014 Season Preview

Chase Wilson (2) is competing with Matt Marquet for Chelsea’s starting quarterback spot. Photos courtesy of Cari Dean.

2014SCHEDULE Date 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/26 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/30

Opponent Briarwood Southside Gadsden Valley* Chilton County* Helena Opalika* Benjamin Russell* Pell City* Oxford* Thompson *Region game

Location Home Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Away

Time . 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

That kid

Every team needs “that kid,” a player who displays heart, leadership or other intangibles — not only under the Friday night lights but also during the sweltering heat of August practices. “Daniel Fraunfelder is as good a leader as I’ve probably ever been around. He says all the right things, he’s got the right mentality. He could really play any position on the front (offensive line). We’ve even experimented with, if we can get the other offensive linemen ready to go, putting him in more of a tight end look some. Very athletic center, and the biggest thing is he’s real intelligent, made a 34 on the ACT. You tell him something one time, he’s got it. He can solve problems sometimes before I even see them happen. The intangibles on him are through the roof, a team guy, he just wants to win, doesn’t care who gets the glory. He’s the kind of guy every coach wants to have on his team.” -Coach Chris Elmore

280Living.com

August 2014 • B17

Hornets set on making playoffs

Matt Marquet runs the ball against Vestavia Hills in the spring game.

By DAVID KNOX Coach Chris Elmore believes his Hornets can crack the playoffs this season. “I’ll be disappointed if we don’t, I don’t mind saying that,” he said. “Things happen, guys get hurt, ball bounces the wrong way, whatever. But if we don’t make the playoffs, I’ll think we had a disappointing year, a bad year. We feel like we’re good enough to be in the top four of that seven-team region.” If Chelsea can get off to a good start, Elmore believes conﬁdence will grow for a team that’s gone 4-6 the past two seasons.

“I believe how we do early will affect how we do late,” he said. “I’m not saying they’re not confident, but you’ve got to keep in mind they’re seniors that had just one region each of the past two years. So confidence is not at a high. We feel like we’re a lot better than we were last year. But you’ve got to have results, too.” As he approaches a second season with an intact coaching staff, Elmore believes that will pay off as the players have now bought into the new staff and mentality. It’s a tough, far-flung region for the Hornets, especially with traveling both to Valley and Opelika this season, but it may be slightly easier on the field than the past two

seasons in Class 6A, Region 4, which had Spain Park, Prattville, Pelham, Oak Mountain, Thompson, Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore. OFFENSE Chelsea returns four starters and a ﬁfth player who saw a lot of action. Elmore likes the depth in his offensive line this season. Daniel Fraunfelder started at guard but moves to center this season. “He’s as good a leader as I’ve probably ever been around,” Elmore said. Junior Ben Haskins returns on the line as well, and he may play either guard or tackle. Jacob King has made great strides and will factor in

somewhere along the front. Leading rusher Austin Washington has graduated as has Aki Coles, but junior running back A.J. Jones rushed for 605 yards and 6.6 yards per carry as part of a three-man committee. Elmore thinks sophomore Zalon Reynolds could be a very special player before he graduates. He rushed for 277 yards and 7.9 a carry. “He’s like lightning in a bottle. Something exciting happens when he touches the ball,” Elmore said. Reynolds had a year in the weight room to get bigger and stronger and has put on 20 pounds up to 170 since last season. Elmore expects Jones and Reynolds to get 15-20 carries apiece a game. He plans to rotate them mostly, although both could end up in the backﬁeld together. Elmore said his wide receiving crew could be among the best he’s been around, especially because of their physical strength and speed. Tyler Blackburn didn’t play last year, opting to focus on baseball, but he brings his 4.5 speed in the 40 to be a big-play threat. Returning seniors WR Josh Pugh and TE/H-back Adam Holliday are other key players. Holliday is a do-whatever-it-takes leader. Darrell Foster is Elmore’s wild card. “He was really a defensive end last year, and he’s being recruited to play defensive end by Jacksonville State and Alabama A&M, but we’ve moved him to receiver because he’s 6-3, 220 pounds, he can jump, he’s the best basketball player in the school, runs a 4.6 40 … and I just said this guy’s got to impact the game somehow.” Teams were avoiding Foster’s side defensively, and although he will still play DE situationally as a pass rusher, Elmore believes he will be a dual threat for the Hornets. “To me, the sky’s the limit for him, because he’s still so raw at wide

receiver.” Who the starter at quarterback will be is still up in the air, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, according to Elmore. Junior Chase Wilson and sophomore Matt Marquet were in a dead heat through spring. DEFENSE Eight returning starters give Elmore reason to be optimistic. Chelsea ended up starting six sophomores at one time in 2013. Some of those might not have been completely ready to be on the varsity ﬁeld, but that battle-testing should make them that much better as juniors. Elmore said his defense has a lot of players who play hard and are very coachable, even if they’re not extremely vocal as leaders at this point. He cites two seniors in the secondary, Mason Moore and Jacob Green, as players who don’t talk much but make big plays and lead by example. Casey Foshee returns at defensive end and is another Hornet who provides leadership for the younger players with his work ethic in the weight room and on the ﬁeld. Leadership is a key component on this team overall, since the Hornets have only 13 seniors. “But I like the 13 we got,” Elmore said. “They do what we ask them to do.” SPECIAL TEAMS This is Elmore’s biggest concern coming into the fall practice, since do-it-all kicker Taylor Martindale has graduated. Replacing the honorable mention all-stater won’t be easy. Sophomore Tyler Thomas and freshman Colby Lambert are competing for the kicking job, while sophomore Justin Painter will likely be the punter. Jones, Green, Reynolds and Blackburn are among the mix for returning kicks, which Elmore feels will be a strength.

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September 30, 2014.

280 Living

B18 • August 2014

Oak Mountain Eagles 2014 Season Preview

Josh Gaines (5) has led the Eagles in rushing the past two seasons.

2014SCHEDULE Date 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/26 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31

Opponent Hillcrest Tuscaloosa Vestavia HIlls* Hoover* Tuscaloosa County* Briarwood Hewitt-Trussville* Mountain Brook* Spain Park* Thompson* Pell City *Region game

Location Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Away Home

Time 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

That kid

Every team needs “that kid,” a player who displays heart, leadership or other intangibles — not only under the Friday night lights but also during the sweltering heat of August practices. “Hall Morton is a little undersized but he’s a high energy, great effort guy who pound-for-pound may be our best football player. Riley Fowler is always out front, always early, and both are great students.” -Coach Cris Bell

280Living.com

August 2014 • B19

Eagles soar into tough region Payton Youngblood and Kylen Brown are defensive players who have some offensive skills that the Eagles may utilize because of their potential playmaking ability.

By DAVID KNOX Oak Mountain finds itself in a challenging region in 2014. “I think it’ll be great for the fans,” said Eagles coach Cris Bell. “It is what it is. I think it’ll be really fun for high school football fans in the Birmingham area especially.” Class 7A, Region 3, is a brutal region with the likes of Hoover, Mountain Brook, Spain Park, Vestavia Hills, Tuscaloosa County, Thompson and Hewitt-Trussville joining OMHS. “I think we have a shot to finish in the top four and make the playoffs,” Bell said, “but realistically they’re going to pick us in the bottom half. And that’s fine, until we prove we can compete with these guys. When we were in with those teams before, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to compete and that’s something we need to be able to address and change if we want to be the type of program we say we want to be. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ve got a good group that I think wants to take this challenge and run with it.” And “run” may be the operative word. The game plan week in and week out will be running the football, mixing in a few throws, keeping the ball away from the high-powered offenses the Eagles will face. If they grow up quickly on defense, stay healthy and catch a few breaks, the Eagles could have the surprise team in this region. OFFENSE Senior running backs Harold

Oak Mountain’s Harold Shader (34) carries the ball against Clay-Chalkville. Shader is part of a powerful Eagles running attack.

Shader and Josh Gaines return to lead a strong ground game. “Josh has been our leading rusher the past two seasons, and Harold’s been right behind him,” Bell said. “I think they give us a chance against anybody we play.” Junior Warren Shader, Harold’s brother, is the returning starting quarterback, having started as a sophomore. “He had played for us as a freshman in the secondary and moved over last year, and I thought he really did a great job for us. He’s exciting to watch, is a competitor and makes things happen. He’s not a polished

passer, by any means, but he’s a tough, gritty kid who finds a way to get positive yards. With a year under his belt he has much more confidence reading the option for us and is just a gritty, gritty kid.” Two starters are back on the offensive line, plus another who played a lot. At center will be Justice Hammond. Benton Stroud will return at guard. Michael Walker, who played a lot, should start. Big Blake Snow (6-5, 275) will step in at tackle, and Bell says he’s made strides in the past eight months. Barrett Marraman and

William Earle are battling for the final starting spot in a line Bell thinks can be very good. He’s looking for a more consistent mindset, linemen who want to “slop around in the mud.” He’s looking for physicality over finesse from these guys. The Eagles’ option attack doesn’t emphasize the pass, but Bell knows that to be successful running the ball, Oak Mountain will have to throw a little more to deter the eight and nine men in the box they’ve been facing. Reid Golson and Avery Nguyen have played a lot at wide receiver, and

DEFENSE The defense is young with just three starters back, but Bell thinks it is a talented group. It’s still not settled who will line up where along the front, but returning starter Chris Hill along with Lee Darby, Allen Perkins, Alex Hooks and Armond Lloyd figure on the inside and Avery Holsomback, a transfer from Pelham, Jared Buxton and Zach Pierce are candidates to be the ends in a four-man front. The linebacking crew is led by returning starter Riley Fowler. Joining him are Josh Jones and Chris Taylor, who played a good bit last season. In the secondary, Nathan Bowman returns at safety. Youngblood will start at the other safety with Hall Morton competing for time. At cornerback, Brown, Mitchell Jones and Garrett DeArajuo will vie for the starting spots. Again, Bell says, they’re young but do have ability. “We’ve got to grow up in a hurry,” he said. SPECIAL TEAMS DJ Garver will handle kickoffs and place-kicking duties for the Eagles, and Bell feels very confident in him. Nick Somers and Jaxson Ellis are competing for the punting job. Brown returned kickoffs last year and Golson returned punts, but Bell isn’t completely settled on them.

280 Living

B20 • August 2014

Briarwood Christian Lions 2014 Season Preview

Briarwood Christian quarterback Walker Lott scrambles against Spain Park in a spring game. Photos courtesy of Ted Melton at Action Sports Pix, For more, visit ActionSportsPix. SmugMug.com.

2014SCHEDULE Date 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/26 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31

Opponent Chelsea Jackson- Olin* Homewood* Hueytown* Oak Mountain* Walker* Pelham* Minor* John Carroll* Madison Academy *Region game

Location Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Away Home

Time 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

That kid Every team needs “that kid,” a player who displays heart, leadership or other intangibles — not only under the Friday night lights but also during the sweltering heat of August practices. “[Jake Morris] He’s our safetyman, but he has pretty good speed and could play wide receiver if needed. He’s going to be a return guy. Really and truly, any place I would put him I know he would be able to handle the position because he’s very, very smart in school and very smart on the ﬁeld.” -Coach Fred Yancey

280Living.com

August 2014 • B21

Quarterback play, defense are keys to Briarwood’s season By DAVID KNOX The Lions don’t return a lot of starters, but coach Fred Yancey, heading into his 25th season as Briarwood’s head coach, said that’s not really unusual for his squads. “We’re usually a senior-dominated team and the kids that start are starting for the first time,” Yancey said. “But they’ve started at JV, been backups and have been in the program, so this is really pretty common for us. A lot of times our starters don’t start until they become seniors, so they’ve been working toward this.” The Lions went two rounds deep in last season’s 6A playoffs at the end of a 9-3 season in Class 5A, Region 4. If they stay healthy, even with the step up in class, the Lions should make the playoffs again this season. In last year’s region, they were runner-up to champion Homewood, which moves with the Lions to the new Class 6A, Region 5 along with John Carroll, Hueytown, Jackson-Olin, Minor, Walker and Pelham. OFFENSE Just two starters return on offense, but the good news is that junior Walker Lott is back at quarterback. “Last year as a 10th-grader he came in about the fourth game of the season as a starter due to injury, and he took us to eight wins in a row,” Yancey said. “He did a wonderful job for us.” Lott has good size at 6-2, 215 pounds with good speed, so is a threat passing and running. Senior Jordan DePaolantonio (5-9, 175) and junior William Barfield (5-10, 180) are projected to lead the running backs, and although they haven’t started, Yancey believes they’ll be pretty good. Junior Luke Dyson and senior William Rutledge lead the receiving corps. “William has

The Lions’ James Holladay makes a big hit on a Spain Park receiver.

had a real good spring and summer as a receiver.” George Green is the only returning starter on the line. He started at guard last but will play some guard and center. “He was a fine player a year ago and we think he’ll be a good one this year,” Yancey said. The veteran coach plans to be balanced,

running and passing equally. “We feel like we have to be able to do both depending on the defense.” DEFENSE The Lions return five starters on defense, three on the line, and two in the secondary, so Yancey

thinks they’ll be strong there. Seniors Carson Cupo and Jacob Shirley and junior Carter Bankston return to anchor the front. “They were pretty good last year, so they should be even better this year,” Yancey said. At linebacker, Yancey said starting spots are still up for grabs as fall practice opens. Wilson Hand, Watkins Youngblood and James Holladay are leading the pack at the moment. Cornerback Travis Hightower and safety Sam Sherrod return in the secondary. Jake Morris will start at a safety spot. Yancey calls him the ultimate Briarwood Lion – a player with great attitude, heart and smarts. “Jake has pretty good speed, could play some wide receiver if needed, is going to be a return guy. Really and truly, anyplace I would put him, I know he would be able to handle the position because he’s very smart in school and he’s very smart on the field.” If the linebackers come around, Briarwood should have a solid defense that will keep the Lions in every game. “We always try hard to have a real good defense,” Yancey said. “We intentionally put some good athletes on the defensive side of the ball so that we have a chance to stop people. Over the years we’ve been able to play good defense, and we’re counting on that again this year.” SPECIAL TEAMS These players should be a strength. Senior Chandler Wilkins returns for the third year at punter, and he’s a weapon who can flip the field. Junior Jonathan McGehee returns as placekicker, and Yancey said he’s improved over the offseason. Morris is likely to handle most of the returns after doing so last year. Dylan Rizzo is also in the mix.

280 Living

B22 • August 2014

Spain Park Jaguars 2014 Season Preview

The Jaguars’ Michael Jackson breaks loose on a return. Jackson already holds scholarship offers from Miami and Nebraska.

2014SCHEDULE Date 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31

Opponent Austin Hueytown Thompson* Tuscaloosa County* Hewitt-Trussville* Hoover* Vestavia Hills* Oak Mountain* Mountain Brook* Bessemer City *Region game

Location Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home

Time 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

That kid Every team needs “that kid,” a player who displays heart, leadership or other intangibles — not only under the Friday night lights but also during the sweltering heat of August practices. “E.J. Marino is a little bit undersized, but he went to the Princeton prospect camp, so he’s a real smart kid. He just does everything right, a great kid to be around. Perry Young is a high-motor kid who is a great practice player and is just a tough kid. Wade Streeter is an exceptional worker, both on the ﬁeld and in school and a leader on our football team even though he’s a young guy.” -Coach Shawn Raney

280Living.com

August 2014 • B23

New class, familiar foes await Jaguars By DAVID KNOX Spain Park returns to the dreaded region that includes Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Oak Mountain as the Jaguars move into the new Class 7A, Region 3. Coach Shawn Raney isn’t dreading it, though and neither are his Jags. “It’s exciting. It’s a challenge every week, great coaches, great players. Our kids are excited, the coaches are excited about it,” Raney said. Spain Park won Class 6A, Region 4 last season with a 8-3 record in Raney’s first season as head coach but was knocked out of the playoffs in round one in overtime to Enterprise. In fact, the Jags dropped their final three games after rolling out to an 8-0 start. They’ll hope to finish better this season. Hoover is obviously the favorite in the new region, but if the Jags’ offense comes together like it should and injuries don’t derail them, they have a very good shot to be among the four teams that will qualify from this region for the playoffs. The schedule might play in the Jags’ favor; they get an open date before Hoover, Vestavia and Mountain Brook await in the second half of the season. OFFENSE Spain Park brings back four starters or part-time starters and a bunch of others who played extensively. Senior quarterback Mason Duke (5-11,180) started the last couple of games last season. Duke pitched the Jaguars to the Class 6A state baseball championship, so his arm is not a question. “He’s a real gritty kid who is a winner, a real good

Spain Park’s Wade Streeter dives into the end zone in a spring game against Briarwood Christian. Photos courtesy of Ted Melton at Action Sports Pix, For more, visit ActionSportsPix.SmugMug.com.

competitor,” Raney said. “I think he’s going to have a good year for us.” Junior Wade Streeter (5-9, 170) will start at running back, stepping up to replace Otis Harris. “He’s a real hard worker, a really good kid who’s been playing since he was a freshman. He got behind Otis a little bit but played a lot. We expect good things from him.” Protecting Duke and opening holes for Streeter will be an offensive line that returns three starters. Junior Grey Best (6-1, 240) was a swing man last season, filling in along the line wherever needed. “He’s going to start at

center for us this year.” Seniors Harrison Dickson (6-2, 230) and Jack Winchester (6-1, 250) also return. Seniors Derek Williams (5-10, 160) and Owen Carr (5-11, 160) and junior Kourtney Moore (6-0, 175) are receivers who have had playing experience. To sum up, although Raney has some talented players who have seen action, it’s not the most experienced group. In the tough region the Jags are in, this offense will need the youngsters and new starters to step up to the challenge. Big seasons are needed from Duke, Streeter and the receivers.

DEFENSE Early in the season, the veteran defense may have to carry the offense till it gels. “We have six back on defense,” Raney said. “In the secondary we have kids that have played since their sophomore year.” The leader of that bunch is highly recruited Michael Jackson (6-1, 185), an athletic cornerback who has offers from Nebraska and Miami already. “The whole deal is they’re looking for corners with height. He’s got good

quickness and speed. As you look at him physically, he fits the mold of what you see playing on Saturdays. He’s really worked to get better. He went to the Miami camp, and they offered him on sight. I think he’ll even get more offers as he goes along.” He’s joined by senior Rondaius Johnson, another two-year starter, and senior safety A.J. Smiley (6-3, 195), whose father played at Alabama, and is getting looks from Nebraska and Troy. Junior Perry Young (5-10, 170) is a high-energy player who returns as a starter at linebacker, and senior E.J. Marino is also back. Marino, who is a also little undersized at 5-10, 195, is an intelligent player who has played since he was a sophomore. Up front, the Jaguars have a mostly new crew – seniors who will be starting for the first time. Returning as a starter is junior Jonah Tibbs, a player Raney believes will be recruited for the next level. Surrounding him will be solid veterans who have been in the program but who will be counted upon to start this season. SPECIAL TEAMS Junior Crosby Gray will handle both the punting and place-kicking for the Jags. “He’s real competitive kid, a good athlete I feel real confident about.” Raney said. “He’s a gamer. When we’re doing all our footwork drills, he jumps right in there with the DBs. Don’t find a lot of kickers who do that.” Jackson, Johnson and Smiley will lead the return game. Wide receiver Williams is also in the mix.

280 Living

B24 • August 2014

What’s cool about going

back to school?

“I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and being the oldest in the school.”

“I’m most excited about getting a locker, because last year we had to carry all our stuff around.”

Clara Fuller, eighth grade, Oak Mountain Middle School

Shelby Lovette, seventh grade, Chelsea Middle School

“I’m looking forward to learning how to write in cursive.”

“I’m looking forward to learning new things and meeting new friends.”

“I’m most excited about getting a new teacher.” Sela Lovette, fourth grade, Mt Laurel Elementary

Michael Rhodes, second grade, Mt Laurel Elementary

Emily Rhodes, fourth grade, Mt Laurel Elementary

“This year I’m looking forward to learning more history and being with my girlfriend.” Grant Blakely, second grade, Forest Oaks Elementary

“I’m looking forward to getting the chance to use lockers this year, because we had to tote our backpacks with us all day as sixth-graders.”

“I am looking forward to seeing my friends, and I’m looking forward to continuing my learning skills in school.”

Nate Rhodes, seventh grade, Chelsea Middle School

Brett Hackett, second grade, Chelsea Park Elementary

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280Living.com

August 2014 • B25

Calendar

CANCER

CONTINUED from page B1 is to help women identify the symptoms and signs so they can get to the doctor sooner and be diagnosed sooner,” Baer said. “The outcome is better that way.”

280 Events

Living

After Baer’s treatments, her doctor used the word “cured” to describe her cancer-free state, which Baer said she questioned. She no longer has cancer and unlike some cancers, her chances of having ovarian cancer again are no greater than in any other woman. She is still cautious, though — twice a year she has a blood test that will detect if the cancer is starting to come back. The test is not helpful as a screening test, but it does help people like Baer who already had ovarian cancer. “I still hold my breath; I still have a blood test twice a year, and I just carry on,” Baer said. “It has been an experience. It has given me a little bit of a mission for expanding awareness, and I have met a lot of great people so I can’t say it is all negative.” For more information about ovarian cancer or to sign up for the Save the O’s 5K, visit nlovca.org.

Fast Facts Ovarian cancer affects 1 in 72 women. Women are still at risk even if their ovaries have been removed. Most women are diagnosed when the chance of survival for 5 years is about 30 percent. Symptoms are subtle, persistent, and usually increase over time. A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer.

Aug. 2: Shake and Bake Run. 8 a.m. Town of Mt Laurel. The 10th annual run will benefit Northstar Soccer Ministries. Farmer’s Market will be open. Register at shakeandbake5k.com. Call 281-1946. Aug. 5: Camp Swoozie’s. 1-3 p.m. Swoozie’s at The Summit. Miss Alabama Caitlin Brunell will host young girls as they explore their Southern roots and how to become the ultimate Southern girl. Registration starts July 11. Limit 25 attendees. Visit swoozies.com. Aug. 5: Mt Laurel Elementary School Meet the Teacher. Kindergarten 3 p.m., first grade: 3:30 p.m. second grade 4 p.m. Ovarian cancer survivor Dianne Baer displays her CanSurvive T-shirt used for Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation events. Photo courtesy of Dianne Baer.

Recognize the symptoms Vaginal bleeding or discharge that is not normal for you Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area Back pain Bloating or feeling full quickly while eating A change in your bathroom habits

Aug. 6: Mt Laurel Elementary School Meet the Teacher. Third grade 3 p.m., Fourth grade 3:30 p.m., Fifth grade 4 p.m. Aug. 7: First Day of School for Shelby County and Hoover City Schools. Aug. 9: Homeschooling Workshop. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Chelsea City Hall. Free. Visit homeschoolingworkshop0814.eventbrite. com. Aug. 13: Back to School Party in Student Center. 6:30 p.m. Inverness Vineyard Church. For grades K5-12. Aug. 13: Nefarious: Merchant of Souls movie in Main Auditorium.

6:30 p.m. Inverness Vineyard Church. Adult documentary about modern day sex slavery and human trafficking. Aug. 22: Spain Park High School Football vs. Austin. 7 p.m. Spain Park High School. Aug. 22: 20th Anniversary Homecoming. 7 p.m. Inverness Vineyard Church. Aug. 23: 4th Annual Sozo Children Dinner. 5:30-9 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Learn more about Sozo Children’s The Village Project in Uganda. $80. Visit sozochildren.org/dinner. Aug. 23: Bell Center Tailgate Challenge. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Carmike Cinemas Parking Lot at The Summit. $15, adults, $5 children ages 4-10 and free children 3 and younger. Visit thebellcenter. org or call 879-3417. Aug. 23: Vineyard Church World Impact. 6 p.m. Inverness Vineyard Church. Will center around how IVS has impacted the world. Aug. 24: Vineyard Church Celebration. 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Inverness Vineyard Church. Vineyard National Director Phil Strout will bring the message. Picnic to follow at Veteran’s Park at 1 p.m. Aug. 29: Chelsea High School Football vs. Briarwood Christian. 7 p.m. Chelsea High School.

280 Living

B26 • August 2014

Community Calendar Heardmont Senior Center 5452 Cahaba Valley Road For more information, call 991-5742. Mondays: Tai Chi. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: Bible Study. 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: Lunch. Noon. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Aerobics. 10 a.m. Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. Thursdays.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Bingo and Board Games. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays: Bridge. 9 a.m.-noon. Fridays: Zumba Gold. 9-10 a.m. Fridays: Intermediate Line Dancing. 10-11 a.m.

Fridays: Beginning Line Dancing. 11 a.m.-noon.

Aug. 21: Harrison Regional Library. 11 a.m.

Aug. 5: Shopping and Out to Lunch at Chow Town.

Aug. 22: Heardmont Dance. 7 p.m.

Aug. 11, 18, 25: Mah Jongg. 9:30 a.m.-noon.

Aug. 26: Out to Lunch at the Bistro at Jeff State.

Aug. 11, 18, 25: Canasta. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Aug. 28: Football Kick-Off Tailgate. Wear your team colors.

Aug. 12: Sundae Tuesday.

St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Mondays: Weight Watchers. Noon12:30 p.m. Debbie Martin will lead these group meetings. Call 408-6551. Wednesdays: Breastfeeding Support Group. 10 a.m.-noon. Designed to give breastfeeding moms encouragement and support, as well as helpful information and tips from our expert. Free. No registration required. Aug. 5: Chapter One Nineteen. 7 p.m. Monthly book club meeting discussing Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley. Free, but registration required. Call 406-6550. Aug. 9: Sjogren’s Support Group. 12:30-3:30 p.m. Offers education and support and helps increase awareness of this autoimmune disorder. Free. Aug. 12: Blood Pressure/Body Mass Index Screening. 8-11:30 a.m. A representative from St. Vincent’s Wellness

Services will be screening for blood pressure and BMI in the front entrance. Free. Aug. 13: CPR Family and Friends. 6-8 p.m. Focuses on how to help an adult, child or infant who is choking. Designed for ages 11 and up. Registration required. $20. Call 939-7878. Aug. 19: Breakfast with the Doc: Plastic Surgery: What Are Your Options? 8-9 a.m. Michael Clinton, MD with Clinton Plastic Surgery Center will answer questions. Aug. 21: Blood Cholesterol and Glucose Monitoring. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cholesterol and blood glucose screenings will be held by appointment. First screening free for members, $20 for non-members and repeat visits. Call 408-6550. Aug. 22: Medicare Educational Meeting. 10 a.m.-noon. Blue Cross/

Blue Shield will conduct a meeting to inform customers about Senior Products. Free. Registration required. Call 1-888-346-1946. Aug. 26: Living Healthy: Fueling the Student Athlete. 6-7 p.m. Recommendations on specific nutrients and other insights to get your young athlete to eat for performance. Free. Registration required. Call 408-6550. Aug. 27: Baby Sign Language. 10-11 a.m. Teaches caregivers to communicate with their babies or toddlers before they are able to talk. Moms or dads should bring their babies with them to class. Designed for babies ages six months to 2 years. Registration required. Call 939-7878. Aug. 29: Comprehensive Diabetes Education. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Physician’s referral required, pre-assessments given preceding the class date. Registration required. Call 939-7248.

North Shelby Library

Kids

Wednesdays: Mr. Mac Storyteller Extraordinaire. 10:45 a.m. Stories, puppets and music. All ages. Aug. 1: Frozen Friday Fundraiser. 6 p.m. Barnes & Noble at The Summit. Storytime, singalone, crafts and activities with Olaf the snowman from Frozen.

Teens Aug. 8, 15, 22: Gaming. 3-5:45 p.m. Gaming on the Wii and with board and card games. Call 4395512 or email nsyouth@shelbycounty-al.org. Aug. 16: Kaplan Test Prep. Take a free practice test and see how you might score on the real thing. Register online at kaptest.com/hsevents. Call 317-1936 or email dominic.johnson@kaplan.com.

280Living.com

August 2014 • B27

Community Calendar Area Events Aug. 1-29: Celebrate America! 10 a.m. American Village. Enjoy red, white and blue family fun for all ages this summer. Adults $10; kids 5-17; seniors 60 and up $9; veterans, active military, and children 4 and under free. Visit americanvillage.org.

Ave. North. The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. 175 min. R. There will be a singalong and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film. $8. Call 252-2262.

Aug. 1-2: Secret Stages. Downtown Loft District. For two nights, a diverse group of music enthusiasts will be treated to over 80 bands performing on up to 11 different stages. Visit secretstages.net.

Aug. 10: Summer Film Series: The Wizard of Oz. 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North. Dorothy Gale is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home. 102 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film. $8. Call 252-2262.

Aug. 1: Summer Film Series: Mamma Mia! 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North. The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular ’70s group ABBA. 108 min. PG-13. There will be a singalong and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. Aug. 2: Otey’s Fest. 5 p.m. Otey’s Tavern, 224 Country Club Park. Live music, hamburgers and hotdogs and beer tent on site. Call 871-8435. Aug. 3: Summer Film Series: Blue Hawaii. 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North. Chad Gates has just gotten out of the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surfboard, his beach buddies, and his girlfriend. 102 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. Aug. 7: Fenders and Fireflies. 6-10 p.m. Old Car Heaven. Benefits Easter Seals of Birmingham. Catering by Cocina Superior. Live music, silent auction and more. Buy tickets at instagift.com/ eastersealsofbirmingham. Call 314-2187. Aug. 8: Summer Film Series: The Godfather. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third

Aug. 14: Meet Authors Frank Page and Lavon Gray. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. WMU National Headquarters. 100 Missionary Ridge. Discussion of challenges facing today’s churches. Visit newhopedigital.com. Aug. 14: Birmingham Food Allergy Symposium. Registration at 5:30 p.m. Program 6:30-9 p.m. Vestavia Hills Library. Food Allergy Research and Education will host an evening of education and support on food allergies. Call Bonnie Robbins at 404-990-3555 to RSVP. Aug. 14: Mother Plug Music Presents “An Evening with Anders Osborne.” 7 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company. Join Mother Plug Music at Avondale Brewing Co. to enjoy an evening of live music by the talented Anders Osborne. Advanced general admission $20. Day-of-event general admission $25. Visit motherplugmusic.com Aug. 15-24: Birmingham Restaurant Week. Time and location varies. Birmingham’s premier dining out event organized by REV Birmingham. Visit bhamrestaurantweek.com or call 595-0562.

American Village draws crowds for its various event’s such as Celebrate America! and the Independence Day Celebration. Photo courtesy of Melanie Poole.

Aug. 16: Boiling N’ Bragging. 6-9 p.m. Otey’s Tavern. 244 Country Club Park. Football season kick-off party. Benefits Critical Care Transport at Children’s of Alabama. Visit boilingnbragging.org. Aug. 22: Chirps and Chips Alabama Wildlife Center Fundraiser. 7-10 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Visit awrc.org. Aug. 22: Sips for CF Wine Tasting Competition. 1901 Sixth Ave. N Downtown Birmingham. Fifteenth floor. Hosted by and benefitting Laps for Cystic Fibrosis. Tickets $20 in advance, $25

day of event. Visit LapsForCF.org. Aug. 22-24: 16th Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. Theatre District of Downtown Birmingham. Visit sidewalkfest.com or call 324-0888. Aug. 24: L’Chaim. 2:30-4 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, 2100 Highland Ave. The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center will honor local businessman and developer Jeffrey Bayer. $50. Visit bhamholocausteducation.org.

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