280 living july 2014 by Starnes Media

280 Living

280Living.com

July 2014 | Volume 7 | Issue 11

neighborly news & entertainment

Fourth festivities

Spicing up 280

Uncle Sam leads the way for the Mt Laurel Independence Day Parade. Find a guide to July Fourth fun in this issue.

Community page B2

Savor the ﬂavors

Restaurants to open locations on corridor By JESSA PEASE

Iron City Chef 2014 will turn up the heat as chefs compete with their culinary creations. Read about how you can be a taste tester in this issue.

Community page B5

INSIDE Sponsors ...... A4 280 News ..... A6 Food ...............A11 Business....... A12 Opinion.........A20

Faith ..................A22 Community ...... B9 School House ... B11 Sports ...............B16 Calendar .......... B20

New ingredients are being added to the 280 corridor mix. Within a month and a half, Newk’s Express Café, Chicken Salad Chick and The Egg & I announced plans to open locations in the area. These three, along with Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, which is currently under construction on Grandview Parkway, are scheduled to open

Additional dining locations are coming to the 280 corridor in the coming months. Above, construction continues for Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen near Interstate 459. Photo by Jessa Pease.

by this fall. “I think that there has always been a strong pull for restaurants out here — they just keep coming,” said Terry Ponder of Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate. “One falls and another one comes.” Illustrating his point, Ponder explained that The Egg & I will take the place of Dale’s Southern Grill in Arbor Place, and Big Bad Breakfast has replaced The Pita Hut next to the

Walmart near the Highway 119 intersection. Ponder also said there has always been a void in the area for breakfast, which explains the arrival of Big Bad Breakfast and The Egg & I. The popularity of healthy food concepts is pulling more restaurants to the area as well, he said.

See RESTAURANTS | page A20

Small church, real community Chelsea congregation helps host movie nights By JESSA PEASE

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656

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In May, about 700 people gathered in Chelsea Park to “let it go.” In the green space, children and parents sat on lawn chairs and blankets while singing along to Disney’s Frozen as the lyrics for each song appeared on the screen. They also enjoyed free hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and drinks served by volunteers from Chelsea Creek Community Church. The sense of community created by hundreds of residents coming together for this event is what

See PARK | page A23

Chelsea Creek Community Church volunteers handed out hamburgers and hot dogs to about 700 people who came to watch the sing-along version of Disney’s Frozen in May. Photo courtesy of Carie Wimberly.

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Photo of the month

Amy Holmes and Karen Vann’s kindergarten classes at Mt Laurel Elementary School welcomed in summer with a luau. Photo by Jessa Pease.

Editor’s Note By JESSA PEASE As an Atlanta native, I figured I would be prepared for the bumperto-bumper traffic horror stories I had heard about U.S. 280. But I wasn’t. With drives to Chelsea for the groundbreaking on the new community center, to various restaurants scattered through Inverness and Lee Branch (very tasty trips) and enroute to a couple chamber of commerce meetings, I learned a new definition of patience. Photographing all the restaurants mentioned in the cover feature for this issue itself was enough to get me well acquainted with the area, but by now

I must have driven our coverage area dozens of times over. For someone who had only ever visited Birmingham once before I moved here, I am glad to say I can now get around the majority of the time without the use of my GPS (although I still won’t leave the house without it). Happily, I’ve found being thrown into things is the only way to really figure it all out. Both at home and work, I’m getting the hang of the Birmingham area — traffic and all. I’m excited to not only write about this community, but to also be a part of it. As the newbie on our staff, I would

love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at jessa@starnespublishing.com anytime with questions, concerns or story ideas so I can keep you up-to-date on all things 280. A bubbly and dedicated journalism graduate from Auburn University, Jessa Pease has written for various media outlets, including Appen Media Group newspapers and Society South Magazine. Jessa is originally from Alpharetta, Ga., and is excited to join the Starnes Publishing team.

Meet our staff Madison Miller is a Birmingham native, originally from the Bluff Park area. She attended Spain Park High School and recently graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in journalism. In the summer of 2012, she had her first internship with Starnes

Publisher: Creative Director: Managing Editor: Staff Writers:

Editorial Assistant: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution:

Graphic Designers: Contributing Writers:

Intern:

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

For advertising contact: dan@280living.com

Publishing and has since interned with The Tuscaloosa News and The Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham. She is excited to be back at Starnes Publishing to begin her first job. Miller has missed the Birmingham area and is looking forward to getting to know it all over again.

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 (B6) AL Telco Credit Union (A23) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A21) Alabama Power (B5) Aquatic Gardens (A22) ARC Realty (B17) Arnold Mooney Campaign (B7) AUX Mechanical (B10) Batts’ Chimney Services (A22) Bedzzz Express (A3) Bellini’s (A19) Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club (B20) Birmingham Museum of Art (A24, B12) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B2) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A10) Brook Valley Management (A16) Cahaba Dermatology and Skin Care Center (B2) Cahaba Glass (A19) Capelli Salon (B4) Chiropractic Today (A18) Classic Gardens (B6) Construx (A18) Cowboy’s (A10) Danberry at Inverness (B1) DanceSouth (B23) Diamond Golf Cars (A13) Dixie Fish Company (A17) Encore Rehabilitation (A21) Exclusively Ballet (A16) Expedia Cruise Ship Centers (A7) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (B4) Fi-Plan Partners (A5) Fitness Together Greystone (B18) Geostone (B11) GradePower Learning of Birmingham (B13) Granger Thagard Associates (B4) Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (B23) Greystone Antiques & Marketplace (A15) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (A8, B20) Home Care Associates (B15) Kimberlee King (A15) Korduroy Krocodile (A14) Lawncrafters (A11) Learning by Design (A14) Liberty Park (A2) Merle Norman Chelsea (A8) Narrows Family Eyecare (A6) Nori Thai and Sushi Restaurant (A12) Over the Mountain Glass (B8) Pastry Art (A12) RealtySouth Marketing (B19) Royal Automotive (B24) Sew Sheri Designs (A5) Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (B9) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (A11) Spain Park Day Camp (A20) St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (B8) Tae Kwon Do (A9) The Cuckoo’s Nest (A6) The Ditsy Daisy (A1) The Goddard School (B22) The Maids (B15) The Urban Barn (A14) Trinity Medical Center (B14) UAB Medicine (B16) Varsity Sports (B1) Vinnie Alonzo - Re/Max Advantage South (B21) Vision Gymnastics (A20) Vitalogy Wellness Center (B3) Watts Realty (B18) Weigh To Wellness (B11) Your Good Neighbor (B23)

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July 2014 • A5

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280 Living

280 News

One year to go By JESSA PEASE Activities in Chelsea will have a new home in about a year. The new Chelsea community center broke ground off Highway 47 across from Liberty Baptist Church in May with a plan to create a multi-purpose center. “We just want it to be a multi-purpose building that will serve the community,” Mayor Earl Niven said. “The purpose of the building is to provide activity space, and also serve as space for meeting.” Architect Bob Wanninger designed the new $3.68 million building, which will occupy 29,000 square feet, with that purpose in mind. Wanninger said he worked closely with Niven and the city council to develop a four-page list of things they wanted to see in the community center. That, paired with interviews with seniors and other citizens in Chelsea, determined Wanninger’s vision for the center. “That is basically what an architect does, is to provide spaces for the concepts of the building,” he said. Wanninger said the primary concerns he heard from the community were regarding the gymnasium and meeting rooms.

He said the gym will be used as a multi-purpose room with a walking track above it. There will also be meeting places for seniors and the entire community. Niven said there will be a senior wing to the facility. The area will include a kitchen, eating area, game room, arts and crafts area and large gathering room for large group activities. “We’re bringing a facility to Chelsea that gives senior adults more activities and provides more basketball courts, a walking track and exercise areas for light exercise,” Niven said. Outside the center will be walking trails and picnic benches to encourage more outdoor activities, as well as games like horseshoes and shuffleboard. Wanninger said he is also working on a putting green. “That’s for me,” he said. “Since I’m a senior citizen too, and I like golf. I thought maybe other people would like it too.” Argo Building plans to complete the project by July 2015 using Wanninger’s design and as many maintenance-free materials as possible to avoid problems in the future. There will be a lot of events held at the community center, so Niven said to watch for announcements about them.

New Chelsea community center to house gym, senior center

Walking Track

Dining

Multipurpose Gymnasium

Meeting

Construction has started at the location for the new Chelsea Community Center on Highway 47 across from Liberty Baptist Church. Photo by Jessa Pease.

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Samaniego wins Republican primary for Shelby County sheriff race By SYDNEY CROMWELL In the race to replace Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry, John Samaniego emerged victorious from the Republican primary with 55 percent of the vote. Hoover Police Capt. Kip Cole took 20 percent of the vote, Rick Needham took 19 percent and Pelham Police Officer Larry McDow won 6 percent. There will not be a runoff. Samaniego is a chief deputy at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and has 35 years of law enforcement experience. He received endorsements from Curry and the Shelby County district attorney, Robby Owens. “I view it as a big vote of confidence for myself for having been fortunate to win every precinct,” Samaniego said. Samaniego credited his victory to the hard work of his campaign team and their willingness to travel across the county to talk to residents and answer questions. He was also grateful for the endorsement of Curry and the Shelby County police officers. With the Republican nomination in hand, Samaniego moves on to the general election race. He said his team will take the summer off and begin campaigning again in the fall. He does not have a Democratic challenger, but the Libertarian Party is trying to get its candidate, Ken Bailey, on the general ballot. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Other primary results from Tuesday, June 3:

John Samaniego

 Daniel A. Crowson won the Republican nomination for Shelby County District Court Place 2 with 66.87 percent of the vote.  The Republican nomination for the District 11 State Senate seat was Jim McClendon, with 63 percent of the vote.  Arnold Mooney and Amie Beth Shaver will have a runoff for the Republican nomination for State House District 43. Mooney and Shaver got 30 percent and 23 percent of the vote, respectively. The runoff will take place on Tuesday, July 15.

Chamber released nominations for 2014 Small Business of the Year Nominations are in for the Greater Shelby County Chamber’s 2014 Small Business of the Year. Nominated businesses will be evaluated based on staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, response to adversity and evidence of involvement or aiding of community-oriented projects. Winners will be announced at the chamber’s annual Small Business Celebration June 25 at the awards luncheon. The 2014 nominees on the 280 corridor are:  Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center16691 U.S. 280  Attic Plus Storage- 5320 U.S. 280  Bandura CPA, LLC- 2700 Corporate Drive, Suite 200  Bedzzz Express- 2800 Greystone Commercial Blvd., Suite 2-A  Cahaba Valley Computer Services, LLC- 5120 Cyrus Circle  The Cuckoo’s Nest- 4222 Old Highway 280  The Ditsy Daisy- 16618 U.S. 280,

Suite 100  Gagliano Mortgage - 4500 Valleydale Road  Skin Wellness Center of Alabama- 398 Chesser Drive, Suite 3  Starnes Publishing- 3 Office Park Circle There were four categories for nominations based on the number of employees in the business. Category I was open to businesses with one to 10 employees, Category II was 11-20 employees and Category III was 21 or more employees. The ﬁrst three categories were only open to businesses open for at least one year. Category IV was only open for businesses open for less than one year with 25 or less employees. Chamber President and CEO, Kirk Mancer said the Chamber is happy to recognize the successful companies that play a vital role in building the Shelby County communities. For more information visit, shelbychamber.org or call the Chamber at 663-4542. – Submitted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce

Tag renewal station coming to Hoover Met By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Hoover City Council is considering operating a Jefferson County annex for car tag renewal at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Any resident in Jefferson County would be able to use the annex rather than renewing their tags at the Jefferson County Courthouse, the county courthouse in Bessemer or the annex in Center Point. This would be a temporary annex until the county can build a permanent satellite site. The target start date is August 1. Because of the county’s involvement, Hoover is scrapping its original plans for a renewal annex only for Hoover residents at

the Met. This annex was supposed to begin operation in June, but was delayed several times. The City Council and the Jefferson County Commission are still discussing the details of the proposed annex.

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Chelsea to build new sports complex

Alleged Chelsea Middle School gunman to appear in court By SYDNEY CROMWELL The man who allegedly held five girls at gunpoint at Chelsea Middle School will appear in court on Monday, July 7. Ryan Matthew Sims is charged with five counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of making terroristic threats for the February 2013 incident, when he entered the school’s locker room and held the girls hostage with a pistol. He will appear before Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves.

Sims has entered two pleas: not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center diagnosed Sims with paranoid schizophrenia. His lawyer, John Anthony Lentine, said state examiners determined that Sims was not mentally competent at the time of the incident. The July 7 court date is a status hearing, where the charges against Sims will be discussed and he will have the opportunity to change his plea or go ahead with a regular trial.

Runoff between Mooney, Shaver for District 43 Republican nomination Chelsea is building a new 8-field baseball complex because its current fields are overwhelmed by the number of teams that practice and play on them. Photo by David Ingram.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL The City of Chelsea has begun planning a new sports complex to be built next to Chelsea High School. The city has purchased 90 acres of land and begun moving dirt for the new complex, which is being designed by Spencer Engineering. The first stage of construction will be eight new baseball fields. One three-field complex will serve teams from T-ball to 12-year-olds, and the other set

of five fields will be used by every age from T-ball to high school. City Council member David Ingram said the baseball fields are the first priority because Chelsea currently has four fields for between 400 and 450 kids every summer. Ingram said the new fields will relieve overcrowding on current facilities and help with scheduling games and practice times for Chelsea teams. The complex could also be used as a future home for tournaments. “It’ll put Chelsea on the map

from a tournament standpoint,” Ingram said. “Having a firstclass facility can do a lot for a city.” The fields are expected to be in use by fall 2015. The first stage of construction will also include six competition-size tennis courts, and plans are being developed for a youth football facility. Later additions to the complex will be determined based on local teams’ needs. For more, contact the City of Chelsea at 678-8455.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL The June 3 Republican primary for the District 43 House seat was too close to call. Arnold Mooney walked away with 30 percent of the vote, while Amie Beth Shaver won 23 percent. The two candidates will now face each other again in a runoff for the GOP nomination. Mooney is a commercial realtor, grandfather of two and a resident of District 43 for nearly 30 years. He plans to use the runoff period to continue talking with citizens about the economy, Medicaid, the prison system and other concerns. Mooney said his energy and motivation will help him find “Alabama solutions for Alabama problems.” “It’s a great opportunity to share the things we felt were so important,”

Mooney said. “We’re going to try to finish this on a really positive note.” Shaver said she was “blown away” by the support she received at the polls. Shaver has lived in Shelby County for most of her life and feels that her experience as a small business owner, mother and Shelby County native will help her address District 43’s commercial, educational and local issues. She said she and her campaign team are ready for the runoff. “I’m excited. We’re just galvanized and I don’t want to overuse the word but we’re totally humbled by people’s support,” Shaver said. “We’re just going to run hard.” The runoff will be held Tuesday, July 15. The winner will then go on to the general election Tuesday, November 4.

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Hoover City Schools has a new plan to decrease deficit By JESSA PEASE Superintendent Andy Craig announced a $6.8 million budget increase for the current fiscal year at the Hoover City Schools Board of Education meeting in June. Eight months into the current fiscal year, this decision reduces the current funding deficit from $12 million to $5 million as the result of improved revenue and decreased expenses. “A multitude of things has positively impacted that throughout the year,” Craig said. “We have reduced the scope in some capital projects. We also have had about four straight years where our property tax receipts have declined or stayed flat.” Previous to the past four years, Craig said Hoover property tax receipts were substantially and consistently growing, but four years ago it began to decline. This decline allowed Hoover City Schools to increase the budget. The Board of Education was also able to budget an addition $1.7 million from some of the residual bonds from the county. “All in all we have scrapped along the way, too,” Craig said. “We have held positions open at various points, so we have just tried to get it back to a manageable piece. We are on a good pace.” In 2013, the Board of Education revealed the 2014-2015 budget projecting $150 million in revenue and $167 million in expenditures. In the months that followed, Hoover City Schools’ deficit has produced a large amount of controversy among local residents. The Board of Education was forced to create solutions to either remove or raise $1 million a month to make up the difference. After an attempt to eliminate the bus system from Hoover City Schools was rescinded, Craig announced a school bus fee, which would charge a monthly fee per child for using the bus system. The monthly fee’s base rate would be $40.75 for one student rider, $28.53 per rider for two student riders and $21.40 per rider for three or more

students. Buses are scheduled to continue running in the 2014-2015 school year without fees, but there is now a goal to begin the fee system in the 2015-2016 school year. Although the Hoover City Schools Board of Education approved the structure of fees in April, approval from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. District Court is also required. “We are on a positive course there,” Craig said. “We are on a course where we are going to maintain the bus service. We are seeking a cost-sharing plan that will certainly help us along down the road. The improvement in the budget hopefully can carry over. We are on a good pace.” Craig said the board has discussed being on a three- to five-year budget in terms of balancing and managing it, and they are on track to do that properly. Cuts in workers Funding issues also led the Hoover Board of Education to pass a resolution allowing it to dismiss workers due to a lack of funds. The board unanimously voted to reduce nine positions — administrative, supportive and teaching positions — from the workforce. “What happened tonight was essentially the education version of a layoff,” Craig said. “As we look to organize ourselves and organize our folks to be successful long-term, we are going to restructure

and reorganize from time to time.” Craig said the decision to lay off nine employees was the result of the funding deficit, but Hoover City Schools’ student population has grown from about 5,000 to about 14,000 over a number of years. He said with that growth, they are going to have to structure things differently. Instructional aides and library aides have already been let go due to budget cuts. “All in all, looking forward we are on a good pace with the budget,” Craig said. “We still have a deficit, but we are moving in the right direction with it.” Superintendent evaluation In addition to discussing changes in the budget, Craig was evaluated with a new superintendent evaluation method that was introduced at the meeting. The process was comprised of 11 different sections, which were all completed by the Board of Education. Other administrators, principals and community members participated in evaluating the superintendent in the sections that pertained to them. Rating ranged from one to five, one being unsatisfactory and five being exemplary. Superintendent Craig was rated mostly fours in all areas, which means overall he is exceeding the expectations of his position. He received the highest ratings in technology and facilities management, and his lowest ratings overall and by the board were in community relations. The board presented him a score of 2.6 in this category. “It’s certainly an informative process, certainly one that can provide growth opportunities,” Craig said. “We are lifelong learners in Hoover, and I include myself in that.” Board President Donna Frazier commended Craig on a strong evaluation and said the evaluation was accurate in her opinion. She also said she appreciates everything he has done for Hoover City Schools.

Mt Laurel Public Library opens By JESSA PEASE Mt Laurel Public Library opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony June 21. The new library features an extended collection of books and an expanded staff compared to its previous temporary location. The project was in the works for seven years. “Years of fundraising and hard work by residents of Mt Laurel and the surrounding areas have finally made the dream of having a permanent public library in Mt Laurel a reality,” said Friends of the Mt Laurel Library Chairman Ann Price. “The building itself is even more stunning than we imagined it would be.” The North Shelby Library has now taken over the maintenance, staffing and operation of the permanent location. The building is located at 111 Olmsted Street between the grocery and Double Oak Community Church, and the public library will offer various community events in July. For family fun, Mt Laurel Library is hosting a family movie night July 16 at 7:30 p.m. as well as story-time programming and craft days starting July 3. On July 20, the library will also host an adult program, “Wine Flight,” at 5 p.m. where Mt Laurel resident Jay Price will explain the selection and appreciation of red wines. For more information, contact Mt Laurel Public Library at 9911660 or mtlaurellibrary@gmail. com.

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280 Living

Aiming for affordable, quality education South Shelby Chamber speaker discusses education By JESSA PEASE South Shelby’s Chamber of Commerce discussed the importance of education June 5. Jefferson State Community College’s director of college and community relations David Bobo addressed the points of quality, accessibility, convenience and personal touch in a college experience—something he said Jefferson State provides. To help finance the education of outstanding students, the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce awarded six students in the county the 2014 Johnny Lowe Scholarship. One of the recipients was Taylor Hyde of Chelsea High School. She plans to attend Mississippi College with a major in pre-physical therapy. Education, Bobo said, is something everyone deserves, and that is why Jeff State can help students get a better start, including people in the workforce who realized they need job skills and senior citizens who want something more to do. Jeff State’s four campuses, one of which is located off Valleydale Road, provide convenient locations for everyone. “There’s a big range of people who need it, Bobo said. “Education: it’s not really for the elite, there’s all kinds.” Fifty-one percent of its students are from ages 17 to 22, and they are considered traditional students who graduated high school and are continuing their educations. Twenty-three percent of its students are ages 23 to 29, and

Jefferson State Community College Director of College and Community Relations David Bobo gave the keynote address at the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce meeting. Photo by Jessa Pease.

the other 23 percent are older than 30. Through location, cost and diversity, Bobo said Jeff State offers an alternate jump-start on college even

Taylor Hyde, a graduate of Chelsea High School, was a 2014 recipient of the Johnny Lowe-South Shelby Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. Photo by Jessa Pease.

for the students wanting to attend Auburn University or University of Alabama. Tuition at many larger universities

has been raised through the years, but Jeff State’s tuition offers a lower price for about $142 per credit hour. For a full-time semester, that is about

$1,704 total. Bobo said because of this about 50 percent of all freshman and sophomores in Alabama attend a twoyear school in the community college system. “That’s a significant amount of students,” Bobo said. “That tells you if some people think tuition is too high, they are going to find another location.” Jefferson State is also an accredited college, meaning every credit you take with it is guaranteed to be transferable to colleges in Alabama. High school dual enrollment opportunities can also knock down the cost of a four-year college because many students can complete their first year of college before even graduating. This means students can take classes for both high school and college credit at the same time. Not-for-credit classes are also available for those students who are not pursuing a degree. Computer training courses and cooking classes are some of many Saturday sessions available. Senior adults older than 60 can also take any class without having to pay tuition. The accessibility of Jefferson State Community College through its numerous programs creates a learning plan suitable for everyone from students holding down full-time jobs to those with their eyes set on a big name university. “Would I send my boys to Jeff State? I would,” Bobo said. “I believe in it, I believe in the quality, I believe in the instructors. It’s a good start.”

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By JESSA PEASE Big Bad Breakfast might seem like your common breakfast spot — until you taste the Tabasco/brown sugar bacon or the twice-fried portobello quesadillas and breakfast tacos. After operating for about eight years in Oxford, Miss., Chef John Currence is debuting a second breakfast location in the former Movie Gallery behind Krispy Kreme near the intersection of Alabama 119 and U.S. 280. “I think it is a solid, Southern breakfast menu that ventures out in all corners,” Currence said. “You see a little bit of odd things you wouldn’t expect.” For Currence’s “crazy nod to chicken and waffles,” he’s serving up a giant Belgian waffle piled high with grilled and fried hot dog, chili, onions, slaw, mustard, pickles, jalapeños and oyster crackers. “You are going to be able to go in and find something as user-friendly as eggs Benedict, but then all of a sudden you’ll get this crazy plate you’ve never seen before,” Currence said. The menu is also always changing with new ideas and the limitless options. Currence said he hopes the opening of a second location will lead to the development of more “solid and cool recipes.”

(above) Big Bad Breakfast servers prepare the grand opening during a preview day where guests sampled its signature dishes. (left) Big Bad Breakfast’s Yard Work combines zucchini and squash, spinach, onions, bell peppers, tomato, steamed new potato hash, fresh herbs and two eggs scrabbled with goat cheese and Swiss. Photos by Jessa Pease.

The idea for the original restaurant started about 10 years prior to Currence pursuing it. The James Beard Award-winning chef, who also owns City Grocery and two other concepts in Oxford, thought applying the same philosophies to breakfast as people do to lunch and dinner would create a winning eatery. “The farther I went down the

road, the more I realized the attention wasn’t given to breakfast that it deserved,” Currence said. “It is the most important meal of the day, so it finally chipped away at me until I had the opportunity to get this property.” Currence began working with local farmers to source his vegetables and proteins and developing ideas for his menu.

With all natural, all local and all from-scratch food, Currence opened the Oxford restaurant in 2006. From there, he started making new products such as his spicy-sweet bacon and jams, jellies and marmalades from local fruits. “It was a departure for us a bit as far as what we typically did, but we took things that were familiar to us

5361 U.S. 280 490-7568 Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.

and applied simple principles to create this dynamite little breakfast place,” he said. Now, after two years in the making, June 3 marked the opening of his second Big Bad Breakfast. Nick Pihakis, owner of Jim ‘N Nick’s and other restaurants in the Fresh Hospitality group, played a role its opening as well. Currence said he and Pihakis have been friends for a long time, and Pihakis is constantly looking for new restaurant concepts. After Pihakis first visited Big Bad Breakfast, Currence said he was crazy about the breakfast spot and began discussing the possibility of partnering up and duplicating it. “For me it was a natural; I admire what they do,” Currence said. “I know they have the infrastructure to help us grow the brand, and it was a no-brainer for me to literally jump in and sign on with them.” Currence said he knew Pihakis upholds standards of quality food, service and environment in their restaurants, and he was confident they could help Big Bad Breakfast grow. “I couldn’t be any more excited,” Currence said. “The space is beautiful; we’ve got a great staff and a great local operator. We are in the space and having to beat people off with a stick — they can’t wait for us to open.”

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280Living.com

July 2014 • A13

Now Open Sleep Number, 4618 U.S. 280, Suite 100, is now open. The store sells Sleep Number beds and features a showroom. 981-3006. sleepnumber.com.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 3500 Grandview Parkway, is under construction and is scheduled to open later this summer. The restaurant is building on the site of the former Ralph & Kacoo’s. 1-877-277-2748. pappadeaux.com.

Big Bad Breakfast, 5361 U.S. 280, is open for business. The restaurant is located behind Krispy Kreme adjacent to Walmart. 490-7568. bigbadbreakfast.com.

Orvis, 305 Summit Blvd., is now open for business. The national retailer carries clothing and accessories for the outdoors. 970-5176. orvis.com.

Sola Salon, 710 Inverness Corners, is now open. Located in the Inverness Corners Shopping Center next to Winn-Dixie, Sola is a studio salon concept where experienced hairstylists can open their own independent studios and be their own bosses. 440-2664. solasalonstudios.com.

Tracy Lambrecht Counseling and Wellness LLC, 4000 Eagle Point Drive, is now open. Lambrecht offers counseling for adolescents and adults. 317-0280.

MDVIP is now open at 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1. Timothy H. Real is a board certiﬁed internal medicine for the primary care ofﬁce. 313-6894. mdvip.com/timothyrealmd.

Weigh To Wellness is now open at 4704 Cahaba River Road, Suite A1. The weight management business is owned by Leslie Freeman, and Timothy H. Real serves as its bariatric physician. 994-2393.

Coming Soon Chicken Salad Chick, a fast-casual restaurant headquartered in Auburn, will open its ﬁrst Birmingham-area location in the Village at Lee Branch, 210 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 200, in early September. (334) 275-4578. chickensaladchick.com.

The Summit has announced ﬁve new 10 stores that will be opening soon: Tumi, a luxury travel store; Calypso St. Barth, a luxury lifestyle boutique; The Art of Shaving, a retailer focused on men’s shaving; Kendra Scott, a women’s jewelry retailer; and Lilly Pulitzer, a retailer of resort wear and beach clothing. 9 6 7 - 0 111 . thesummitonline.com/ birmingham.

the former Don’s Carpet One building located at 2827 Greystone Commercial Blvd. The medical practice, owned by Dr. Amy Bentley-Illescas, will renovate the building and relocate there by mid-summer. 547-2323. True Colors Salon has relocated to Salon Suites in the Bazaar 280 shopping center at 5363 U.S. 280. 408-1869.

News and Accomplishments Tyler McGuire, an associate advisor with Marca Life Planning, 22 Inverness Center Parkway, Suite 140, has earned the designation as a Certiﬁed Financial Planner. The CFP designation is earned following rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP Board, completed ﬁnancial coursework and passage of the CFP exam. 408-3000. marcalifeplanning.com.

Tony Mauro, owner of GradePower Learning, 1401 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 105, has been named to the 2013 Fellows class of the Nantucket Project, a thinktank conference. For more information, visit nantucketproject.com. 980-5745. gradepowerlearning.com.

Elite Boutique and Tan, 2663 Valleydale Road, Suite 6, formerly Elite Tan, has changed its name. It has also announced new store hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. 408-0220. elitetan.net.

Merle Norman, 15582 U.S. 280, Suite 104, now features a massage therapist offering facials and massage therapy. 678-5944. merlenorman.com.

Hirings and Promotions Garry Charles Hill Jr. has joined RFG Advisory Group’s Meadow Brook-Birmingham ofﬁce as executive vice president and wealth manager. Located at 1100 Corporate Drive off of U.S. 280, RFG has been managing and preserving the wealth of its clients since 2003 and now operates from multiple locations throughout the Southeast. 397-2450. reliance-ﬁnancial.com.

20 RealtySouth’s Inverness ofﬁce, 109

Inverness Plaza, has hired Christy Sanders as a Realtor specializing in residential sales. 991-6565. realtysouth.com.

Business news

to share?

Gameday in Style Boutique is scheduled to open by July 15 in Inverness Corners. The boutique will offer game-day themed clothing, gifts, accessories, shoes and its own line of T-shirts. It will be located at 450 Inverness Corners next door to Winn-Dixie. gamedayinstyle.com.

Anniversaries

Primrose School at Liberty Park, 1800 Urban Center Parkway, celebrated its fourth anniversary in June. 969-8202. primroselibertypark.com.

Closings Don’s Carpet One, 2827 Greystone Commercial Blvd., has closed. It has consolidated its operations with two other locations in Vestavia Hills and Trussville. 1-800-846-9186. donscarpetone.com.

Coming Soon Relocations and Renovations 12

Total Care 280, 2800 Greystone Commercial Blvd., Suite 2B, has purchased

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

A14 • July 2014

280 Living

Sugar and spice makes everything nice Local woman brings baked treats to market By JESSA PEASE It all started with cinnamon rolls. With flour dusted on her apron and cinnamon wafting through her kitchen, Darlene Womack pulled her latest batch of rolls out of the oven. She’s a wife, a mother and a nana, but here she is a baker. After baking on and off for about 30 years, Womack said she had people saying, “That’s so good you should sell it,” when they tasted her signature treats. “For a long time I thought, ‘Yeah, yeah they are just saying that to get me to bake it so they don’t have to,’” Womack said. “Then I realized I really do have a good product.” What started with a bake sale about four years ago transitioned into Darlene’s Kitchen —Womack’s brand of treats that are frequently found at farmers markets all over Birmingham. “I love it; I love the atmosphere of the market, the people and the vendors,” Womack said. “Our customers are amazing. They look for us if we are in a different spot, and that makes me feel good.” The cinnamon rolls became the trademark Womack created for herself, but they were just the beginning of her baked creations. Darlene’s Kitchen now features a wide variety of cookies, candies, breads and apple strudel. Womack does her baking at Chef’s Workshop

in Hoover, and the markets have become a way to unite the whole family through baking. Her son-in-law, Scott Wells, sometimes helps her with baking and her son, Will, sometimes goes with her to the markets. Even her husband has molded some cinnamon rolls. Will is 26 and has Down syndrome and autism, and Womack said she chose to bake and sell at the markets because she can set her own hours and be with Will when she needs to be. He is her priority. “I just came to a point in my life where I needed to do something else, and Will is old enough now — he still requires a lot of supervision and constant help with things — that I can pretty much take him with me where ever I go,” Womack said. Womack started with the Pepper Place Market, and now she frequents three other markets as well. Some Thursdays Womack serves up her savory and sweet treats at the Urban Cookhouse Market at the Summit on U.S. 280. “I get a very good response at that market,” Womack said. “There are several bakers there this year. It’s not like we are competing because we all do a different thing, so it is interesting to see the different varieties of things people bring to the market.” Because Womack sometimes gets bored making the same thing, every once in a while she will try something new. Ideas will just pop into

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Darlene Womack delivers her signature cinnamon rolls, the treats that got her started. Photo by Jessa Pease. her head, and then she will pull from different recipes, adding her own unique twist to them. She uses secret ingredients that make her recipes only hers. Even when she teaches her cinnamon rolls in cooking classes, she keeps her one secret ingredient to herself. “It’s my therapy; it’s like another reason to get out of bed in the morning,” Womack said. “I live for this now. I get to bake, and I get to go be with a lot of people. Food is something that brings people together, so it is a great opportunity for me to bring people together.”

Find Darlene’s baked goods, along with other local food products at:

Urban Cookhouse Summit Market Thursdays, 2-6 p.m. Summit Boulevard in the Pottery Barn Kids parking lot

280Living.com

July 2014 • A15

Summer salads RECIPE

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Sometime after college I reached a revelatory discovery that lettuce-less salads don’t require mayonnaise. Add a little oil and vinegar to veggies and grains, and you’ll ﬁnd endless combinations of

Lemony Farro Salad

14 oz. farro, cooked and drained 2 bell peppers, chopped 1 bunch green onions, sliced 2/3 cup shredded carrot (I buy the pre-cut kind from the produce department) Juice of 1 lemon 1/4 cup olive oil Greek seasoning, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste Feta cheese, crumbled (optional) Arugula (optional) Toss together all ingredients. Serve at room temperature or cold.

meals for hot-weather palates. The recipe on the left below was my ﬁrst adventure with farro, which is kind of like a thick brown rice. I like how nutty and ﬁlling it is, so much so that I wasn’t even looking for meat, and how pairing it with crisp veggies creates a

RECIPE

varied texture and color proﬁle. The tomato-watermelon combination on the right tastes like an explosion of summer freshness. You can stack it like I was inspired by Chris Hastings’ tomato salad to do or you can cut all the ingredients up and toss them up for a simpler version.

Tomato-Watermelon Salad Stacks

Tomatoes Watermelon Red wine vinegar Olive oil Fresh mint, chopped Feta Cheese, crumbled Slice tomatoes. Cut watermelon into triangles that have a similar circumference to your tomato slices so that they will stack together nicely. Toss tomato and watermelon slices in red wine vinegar, olive oil and mint,

all to taste. Set one tomato slice on a salad plate. Sprinkle crumbled feta on top. Top with a slice of watermelon. Repeat the tomato-feta-watermelon layering, and then add one ﬁnal tomato and sprinkle with a little bit more feta than used on ﬁrst two layers. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Alternate version: chop tomatoes and watermelon into bite-size pieces and toss with remaining ingredients.

A16 • July 2014

280 Living

Ride for a lifetime Cyclist embarks on a journey to raise awareness for Duchenne

By JESSA PEASE Michael Staley listened as 9-year-old Gabe Griffin thanked him on the phone. Gabe paused and then asked Staley if his legs were going to get sore. Staley told him yes. Staley could bike 2,500 miles from Astoria, Ore., to Mobile, but instead, he is riding across Iowa before heading south — a total of about 3,300 miles. He plans to conquer about 75 miles a day. “The sacrifice, the pain and any other suffering I have to do for 50 days is not anything,” the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus said. “It is nothing compared to what the Griffin family and all the other families that are impacted by this do on a regular basis. That will be my inspiration. Gabe will be my inspiration.” Staley and Wes Bates, an Indiana University student, are bicycling across America for Gabe, a Highland Lakes resident who has a rare muscular disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. “When [Gabe’s parents] told me about Duchenne and about what Gabe’s life is going to bring to him, I instantly wanted to be involved in their effort,” Staley said. Duchenne is a rare disease that affects about 15,000 boys in America and is caused by an absence of a protein that keeps the muscles intact. Scott Griffin, Gabe’s father, said Gabe could

be in a wheelchair by the time he is 11 or 12, and his life expectancy is only about 20 years. “For a guy who didn’t know this little, redheaded boy at all to grow closer with us, and then want to take it even a step further to raise awareness and ride a bicycle across the country, there are no words that can express how deeply moved our entire family has been from this,” Griffin said. Staley met the Griffins when they were visiting Alabama delegates trying to push approval of the drug eteplirsen, which is awaiting approval by the FDA. Griffin said the drug has proven to have positive effects against Duchenne. “Michael doing this ride across the country is going to really raise awareness about all of this,” Griffin said. “There is a drug out there that can save my son, but we can’t get it. Things are moving forward and are positive, but we need this drug now.” Staley said he and Bates want to educate the public, inspire other people to want to get involved, and help save Gabe and all the boys like him. “I am in a time in my life where I want to give back, and I want to do something that will make a difference. I also love cycling,” Staley said. The bike ride started June 28 and will end in mid-August. As Staley and Bates ride through Alabama, Staley said there will be events in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and

Michael Staley, right, shares a meal with Gabe Griffin and his family. Photo courtesy of Scott Griffin.

Mobile where they will end their ride. More awareness about Duchenne can lead to more funding for research, and possibly a cure, Griffin believes. “Gabe could be part of the last generation of boys that die from this disease, and Gabe could

be a part of the first generation of boys who can live with the disease,” Griffin said. “That is how significant this drug is.” For more information or to make a donation, visit hopeforgabe.org or call Scott Griffin at 542-1069.

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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.

July 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ A17

Deadline is August 3, 2014 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

dailyventure.com

A18 • July 2014

280 Living

Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Palmer

There is a rising awareness of the many health benefits of Vitamin D yet so many Americans are being diagnosed Vitamin D deficient? One of the contributing factors, in my opinion, is our society lives mostly indoors. And, when we are outside, we reduce our exposure to sunlight by applying sunblock and clothing. Additionally, kids of today’s world are more interested in electronics than bicycles. In general, one should consider 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure per side several times per week. Obviously, this varies with skin types and the time of day you plan on being out there. Getting sun burned is not the objective! It’s called the sunshine vitamin because we make our own from sunlight. It’s also attainable through proper vitamin D supplementation such as cod liver oil. In fact, very small amounts come from a few foods we can eat ie. (oily type fish). Overall, Vitamin D is very important for our health and wellbeing. Many years ago, doctors and researchers made the link between vitamin D

and strong healthy bones. Adequate amounts prevent a childhood disease like Rickets and Osteomalacia in adults. Both of these conditions cause soft, thin, and brittle bones. Today, vitamin D is seen as a vital part of good health, with its full benefits not completely discovered yet. Recent research is now showing that vitamin D may be important in preventing and treating a number of serious long term health problems such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and many more. (The link to this research is on our webpage, www.ChiropracticToday.com) Vitamin D isn’t like most other vitamins. It’s unique. When your body gets its vitamin D, it turns vitamin D into a hormone. This hormone is sometimes called “activated vitamin D” or “calcitriol.” Before our bodies can use vitamin D from sunlight and supplementation, it undergoes several conversion steps. Initially, when your skin is exposed to the sun, it produces vitamin D and sends it to your liver. If you take supplements or eat foods that contain vitamin D, your gut also sends

The Skinny on Vitamin D the vitamin D to your liver. From here, your liver changes it to a substance called 25(OH)D. When your doctor talks about your vitamin D levels, they mean the amount of 25(OH)D you have in your blood. For those with minimal sun exposure, you may need to also take additional supplements to support the right amount. This makes it a little more complex compared to other vitamins and minerals. Then, this chemical is sent all over your body where different tissues, including your kidney, turn it into activated vitamin D. This activated vitamin D is now ready to perform its duties. To keep it simple, activated vitamin D works in the body in two ways: it manages the amount of calcium in your blood, bones and gut and it helps cells all over your body to communicate properly. More studies are revealing the importance of adequate levels of vitamin D and it’s impact on many systems throughout the body. These include the immune system to fight infection, proper neuromuscular function, cardiovascular function for a healthy heart and circulation,

respiratory system for healthy lungs and airways, brain function and development such as cognitive abilities, and it has anti-cancer effects. Too much or not enough of vitamin D affects how we function. Studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to a variety of conditions as mentioned earlier. These include cancer, asthma, type-II diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, Alzheimer’s and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and type-I diabetes. Yet, an excess can cause the body to absorb too much calcium leading to increased risk of heart attacks and kidney stones. The current recommended amount vary with age group, type of vitamin D one takes and sun exposure. Best is to be evaluated to determine exactly what your needs are. Evaluating your vitamin D level is conveniently done through home testing by ZRT Labs or a more cost effective method can be scheduled through our office . Both are accurate ways to discover your level. Contact us for more information or visit our website www.ChiropracticToday.com.

280Living.com

July 2014 • A19

What’s with all the geese?

Population numbers continue to rise

By ALISON LARGE KETCHAM In more than 20 years living along the 280 corridor, Johnny Hayes has seen hundreds of Canada geese parked on roadsides, paddling in local lakes and waddling along secondary roads such as Inverness Parkway. But Hayes doesn’t like seeing geese traversing busy streets, especially with a brood of goslings following behind. “I have seen cars stop, ﬂash headlights or honk horns to slow down or stop other cars,” he said about drivers trying to avoid hitting a parade of honking birds. After passing them, Hayes said he can’t help glancing in his rearview mirror to see if the geese made it across the road. Ask Hayes or many other area residents why the number of Canada geese seems to keep increasing, and they might make an assumption that the geese migrate from Canada, decide they like it here, and stay. But Jerry Feist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services said that’s a common misconception. One of the 11 recognized subspecies of Canada geese migrates here from Canada every winter and returns home in the spring. Another subspecies resides here year-round. The resident type, known as the giant Canada goose, weighs from 15 to 20 pounds. They were bred and released here beginning in the 1960s in an effort to bring them back from the brink of extinction. It’s this resident subspecies, also known as CAGO, that has proliferated and become a nuisance in some circumstances. The numbers have grown beyond what was originally forecast, Feist said, although there is no reliable data on the current number of CAGO in Alabama. It is clear to him that the numbers continue to grow. “Geese will nest, raise their families and live where they learn to ﬂy,” Feist said. “This is the key point. No CAGO ever came south and

Geese and goslings can be seen from U.S. 280 trafﬁc. Photo by Alison Large Ketchum.

decided to stay. Their predecessors were released here as goslings, and they then took their maiden ﬂights here and, thus, this became home.” CAGO can easily live 15 to 20 years if they aren’t killed by predators, and a single pair might hatch as many as eight goslings a year. The species primarily eats grass and drinks water, both of which are abundant in Alabama. Like many species of wildlife that have become comfortable living in urban areas, the geese can leave feces dotting lawns, streets, parking lots and golf courses. This waste is connected to a chronic lung condition known

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as histoplasmosis, Feist said, as well as a host of other harmful bacteria. Even the feces they deposit in ponds, which you might not see, promote bacterial growth in those ponds. “Their nuisance level is growing exponentially as folks get weary of their feces, eating landscaping, causing auto accidents (and) their aggression…during nesting and brood-rearing seasons,” Feist said. It’s up to the state and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to manage populations, Feist said. His department is charged with helping manage the conﬂicts wild animals cause humans, such as deer

eating crops or geese causing planes to crash. To control geese populations elsewhere, the service enacts loosening hunting/legal harvest regulations, but that doesn’t help with geese in urban areas. But if folks along 280 want to lower the number of Canada geese they encounter, it’s largely going to be up to them. “There are more tools available for private individuals and entities to inhibit reproduction and reduce their adult numbers,” Feist said. “It’s up to folks on a local level to decide when they have too many geese or how many they wish to tolerate.”

A20 • July 2014 RESTAURANTS

CONTINUED from page A1 “I think there is a demand for healthy foods out here,” Ponder said. “People are health conscious out here. The fried places — Mrs. Winner’s [Chicken and Biscuits], for example — closed long ago.” Accordingly, Newk’s Express Cafe and Chicken Salad Chick, Ponder said, are serving up healthier menus while also expanding their brands. He said Newk’s had been looking for another location in Birmingham for about a year prior to announcing it would open in Inverness Corners. The shopping center has attracted several new businesses since Winn-Dixie announced its arrival a year ago. While Newk’s has several locations in Birmingham already, this will be Auburn-based Chicken Salad Chick’s first location in the market. “When you are coming to Birmingham, you want to pick the best spots,” Ponder said. “Out here is a good spot.”

280 Living

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen ffWhere: 3500 Grandview Parkway ffWhen: The restaurant has not released an opening date ffWhat they serve: Pappadeaux serves a variety of seafood favorites with a Louisiana flair. Pasta Mardi Gras tosses linguine with crawfish, Andouille sausage and crimini mushrooms in a marinara cream sauce and topped with jumbo shrimp. For a chef selection, the Mississippi Catfish

Opelousas is a blackened catfish with oysters, shrimp and crab in lemon-garlic butter sauce served over a plate of dirty rice. ffWhere they come from: Pappadeaux first opened in Houston, Texas, in 1976, and has now expanded to locations in seven states across the country. Its Birmingham location will be the first to open in the state of Alabama, but it has locations in Georgia in Marietta, Alpharetta and Norcross.

The Egg & I ffWhere: The former Dale’s Southern Grill space in Arbor Place across from The Village at Lee Branch ffWhen: Scheduled to open Aug. 6 ffWhat they serve: The Egg & I serves gourmet coffee and 100-percent fresh squeezed juice to accompany its breakfast foods such as benedicts, omelets, waffles and pancakes. The Parisian Benedict is a croissant half topped with ham, sautéed portobello mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese, two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and green onions. For a

sweeter breakfast sensation, the Raspberry Granola Pancake is served with low-fat yogurt instead of butter and topped with whole raspberries and granola. For lunchtime, fresh soups, sandwiches and salads are on the menu, but breakfast is served all day long. ffWhere they come from: The original The Egg & I opened in 1987 in Fort Collins, Colo., and has expanded to 21 different states. You can find other The Egg & I locations in Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Montgomery.

Newk’s Express Café Newk’s Favorite salad features toppings such as dried cranberries, grapes and artichoke hearts. Photo by Sara Hanna Photography.

ffWhere: Inverness Corners ffWhen: Scheduled to open at the end of September ffWhat they serve: Newk’s delivers homemade pizzas, sandwiches, soups and salads in a casual dining venue. The Newk’s Favorite salad features a mix of greens and grilled chicken with gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, grapes, artichoke hearts, pecans and croutons, all tossed in Newk’s Sherry Vinaigrette. For a California-style pizza, the Deluxe is topped with ham, mortadella (large Italian sausage), mozzarella and provolone cheese, Roma tomatoes, red and yellow bell

peppers, portobello mushrooms, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts. ffWhere they come from: Newk’s is based out of Jackson, Miss., and has expanded into 76 locations nationwide. It is currently planning to open three additional locations in the Birmingham area, including the 280 location. Find other Alabama Newk’s locations in Vestavia Hills, downtown Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville and Opelika.

Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick offers 15 unique varieties of chicken salad that can be served on their own or on a croissant. Photo by Sara Hanna Photography.

ffWhere: The Village in Lee Branch ffWhen: Scheduled to open in early September ffWhat they serve: Chicken Salad Chick’s specialty is — you guessed it — chicken salad. It offers 15 different varieties such as the Buffalo Barclay, a semi-hot salad resembling a platter of buffalo wings, and the Fancy Nancy, a fruity chicken salad with Fuji apples, pecans and seedless grapes.

ffWhere they come from: Chicken Salad Chick is an Auburn original that opened in 2008, and now it is serving up chicken salad in 19 locations across the South. The chain is looking to open up three to five new locations in the Birmingham area, including the location on U.S. 280. You can find other Alabama locations of Chicken Salad Chick in Auburn, Opelika, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Northport.

280Living.com

July 2014 • A21

Seeking poise, elegance, beauty By JESSA PEASE Talents of all kinds, combined with swimsuits and evening gowns, will create an evening of entertainment and education on July 18. For 27 years, the Vignette Club has hosted the Miss Shelby County Pageant. According to the pageant’s website, the scholarship competition is for intelligent and graceful women between the ages of 17 and 23 who live, work or go to school in Shelby, Chilton, Jefferson, Talladega, Bibb, Coosa or St. Clair Counties. The pageant is currently seeking applicants to compete for the 2015 crown. The event will take place July 18 at 7 p.m. at Shelby County High School. “We are looking for a person to represent Shelby County who is poised and smart — someone with elegance and grace,” said pageant coordinator Pam Oliver. “They have to have a talent, a swimsuit body and a platform, and they have to be elegant in their evening gown.” The platform is one of the most important parts of the competition, Oliver said. The contestants must pick a cause to stand behind to support and raise funds for if they are crowned the winner. The Miss Outstanding Teen Pageant, in its fifth year, also runs with the Miss Shelby County Pageant. Oliver said they are seeking 12- to 16-year-olds to compete for that title. Entries are due by July 5 for both pageants, which award educational scholarships, but Oliver said they may only accept the first 20 applicants in each category. Those who are crowned will then move on to compete at the state level in either the Miss Alabama Pageant or the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant. The qualifications for each pageant trickle down from the national level, meaning the Miss America requirements set the restrictions and standards for the pageants in Shelby County. One of the requirements of the Miss Alabama Pageant, not required by the Miss Shelby County Pageant, is a record of the contestant’s community

Holland Brown was crowned the 2014 Miss Shelby County. Photo courtesy of Pam Oliver.

service through a community service scrapbook. Shelby County contestants who create community service books can also submit them for the Sonya Letkovits Community Service Award, a local charity award. “They bring their community service book and it is judged,” Oliver said. “We give a scholarship on that as well, and that doesn’t necessarily have to be the winner.” The community service scholarship is worth an additional $650 to go toward the winner’s education. Out of 24 contestants last year, Holland Brown was crowned the 2014 Miss Shelby County, and Mikaylah Dungans was crowned the 2014 Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen. They will attend the 2015 competition to crown the new winners. For more information on the pageant or for links to application forms, visit missshelbycounty.com.

A22 • July 2014

280 Living

Opinion Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

How to help the grieving Several months ago, a dear friend of mine lost her husband. As multitudes of people flocked to lift her family up and help in their time of need, I reached out to a mom who had lost her spouse years ago to see if she had advice on how to help a grieving friend. It turned out she did. She had excellent advice, in fact, and because grief is relevant to all of our lives, I’d like to share her wisdom. Here’s some food for thought on how to help a friend who has lost their loved one: `` Remember you can’t fix things. When tragedy strikes, we all want to help. We rally around our friend and want to do something. Although there are things we can do, we can’t fix what has permanently changed in their life. When God says He is the “God of all comfort,” this is a deep, rich truth. All true and healing comfort comes from Him. While God may use you to administer some of His comfort, it originates in Him. The best thing you can do for a grieving friend is study your Bible and get to know God better. As you minister love and grieve with your friend, point him or her to the Heavenly Father. `` Don’t judge. There’s no wrong way to grieve a sudden loss. Whatever keeps the person breathing is fine. Don’t allow your feelings to be hurt by a grieving friend, either; it’s your gift to them to overlook anything they might say or do, or not say or do.

The period after a death is not about your friendship; it’s about letting your friend circle the wagons around their family and try to survive. It’s overwhelming, so let him or her focus energy on keeping themselves and their children upright. Have compassion and be very sensitive, but don’t pity a friend who is mourning. While pity is discouraging, compassion instills courage. Pity says, “Oh, you poor thing. This is so terrible for you and your sweet children. What can I do for you?” Compassion says, “I’m so sorry this has happened. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m right here with you, every step of the way.” Compassion operates from the truth that your friend can do all things through Christ who strengthens him or her. When you cry for your friend, do it at home. Don’t burden your friend with your tears and anguish. Don’t make him or her comfort you. It’s okay to shed some tears when your friend is crying, but leave the sobbing breakdowns to them. As time goes on, let your friend tell you how badly it hurts. Don’t argue or tell them they have so much to be grateful for when all they can feel is their loss. Certainly they’ll need to count their blessings and practice gratitude, but scripture is full of moments where people (David, Job,

Jeremiah, Jesus) cry out and tell God how hard life is. God doesn’t correct them; He only reminds them that He is present, He is sovereign and He is love. Offer a safe place where your friend can share his or her rawest emotions and thoughts. When you offer help, make it specific. Don’t say “call me if you need anything.” Say, “We’d love to have you and the kids to grill out Saturday night.” Be respectful of your friend’s need to handle the loss his or her own way. He or she is walking in uncharted territory, and you don’t know how he or she feels. Offering uninformed or unsolicited advice can be hurtful. It’s more helpful for them to hear statements like, “I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I can see that God is with you.” Extend invitations, especially on weekends and holidays, because they can be brutal. It’s fine if your friend says no, but keep inviting them. Do this for years to come because it is an ongoing need. Show your friend how you remember their loved one. Text a picture when you see something that reminds you of them (i.e. his or her favorite strawberry cake) or share a thought that comes to mind. It helps them to know how the person lives on in your memories, too. As time goes on, let your friend be a friend to you, too. There will be a day when they feel the need to give back. Don’t treat them as if they’re made of

glass and can’t handle being a friend. It’s healing for them to help you. Remember that grieving is a long, slow process. Life will never be “normal” again. There is a new “normal,” and over time it will be good. But just because your friend is getting dressed in the morning, going to exercise and shopping for softball cleats doesn’t mean he or she is “over it” or “moving on.” Be patient as your friend re-learns how to live life. Remember that the loss will hit over and over, often in unexpected moments. A grieving person needs their friends desperately. They need the comfort of their Savior even more. Much more can be written on this subject, but this list is a starting point. Above all, approach your friend from a place of love and pray for guidance. Listen for God’s voice and once you receive direction, ask God to use you as a vessel of his love, grace, mercy and compassion.

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 in November 2014 through Thomas Nelson. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon.

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July 2014 • A23

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Concert in the Park July 27, 5-8 p.m. Chelsea Park Free About 700 people attended a viewing of Disney’s Frozen during one of Chelsea Creek Community Church’s movie nights. Photo courtesy of Carie Wimberly.

Pastor Matthew Roskam said Chelsea Creek is all about. “It’s that idea that rather than a mega everything, having something smaller that can really feel like community and really feel like you belong,” Roskam said. “It’s something very informal and very relative to people’s lives.” That is why Roskam said that from the beginning, Chelsea Creek knew being one of the big churches was not what they wanted. He believes when a congregation stays small, it creates a less intimidating atmosphere for newcomers because everyone knows each other. As far as ministry goes, the bigger the church becomes, Roskam said, the more the minister transitions into a manager of other people instead of directly ministering to the people. “That’s great, but it’s not what I got into ministry for,” Roskam said. “I wanted to be a part of what is going on in people’s lives.” Being a part of the community is what made the congregation approach Eddleman Properties, Inc., at Chelsea Park to see where they could help. Eddleman Properties was already holding movie nights and other events in the space, but Roskam wanted to know how the church could help.

“What would it look like for a church that’s really passionate about this community to come in and do this for you?” the church asked the developer. Eddleman Properties had the resources to put on these events, but they didn’t have the volunteers — the one thing Chelsea Creek did have. Roskam said the community was very excited to come in and help with anything they could, from grilling teams for hamburgers and hot dogs to popcorn makers for the movie. Chelsea Creek’s next event is its Concert in the Park on July 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring the local band Groove Daddy. Groove Daddy’s lead singer, Marc Phillips, is from the band HOTEL on MCA Records. The band describes themselves “an energetic mix of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, jazz, blues, Motown, ballads, blues, funk, contemporary gospel and Christian material.” The Concert in the Park will also have a food truck row with food and ice cream for purchase and inflatables for kids. The concert is free, but the food trucks will charge individually for food and beverages. For more information, call Chelsea Creek Community Church at 678-2406 or visit the church at 48 Chesser Crane Road in Chelsea.

My South By Rick Watson

Mourning dove I decided to go outside this yet because he stood ready to block my entrance to the shed. I evening to unwind and enjoy put a tennis shoe on his behind the waning light of the day. I’d put in several hours of and he flapped out into the yard, yard work in the afternoon, chicken cursing me all the way. and although the temperature The young dove threw herself wasn’t too bad, the humidagainst the wire fence enclosing the shed, in an attempt to ity was thick enough to lick. After a shower, I slipped escape. You could see terror in on some shorts, put on my her eyes. favorite Spook House Saints I inched forward, talking in a T-shirt, poured a glass of red low, even-toned voice. She had wine and stepped out to the been evading Zeus and trying Watson stone benches in the yard. to free herself from the room so I’d only been out there a moment when I long that she was exhausted. heard a commotion coming from the chicken I stooped over slowly and gently cupped pen, so I set my glass on the bench and walked my hands around her. I could feel her tiny down to assess the situation. heart thumping against my fingers like a tiny I peered through the wire front of the roost- jackhammer. I stepped over to the door and ing shed, expecting to see an opossum (we opened my hands. just called them possums), a gopher, chicken She sat there for a moment on the palm of hawk or the big honkin’ chicken snake that my hand trying to decide what to do. I had a sometimes comes up from the barn for a chance to see her up close and realized just dozen eggs. how beautiful she was. What I saw was a mourning dove the color Her breast feathers were as pink as a blush. of ash. It was backed into a corner and making There were black-tipped feathers mixed in a pitiful cooing sound. with grey to make her wings look as if they Apparently, she had been lured into the shed had black spots. by the scratch feed that I put in the feeders for Once she got her bearings, she launched out the chickens, and she couldn’t find her way out. of my hands and landed on a nearby branch. Zeus the mighty rooster was standing in She turned to face me for a long moment the doorway blocking the only exit. He was before flying off. cackling and scratching up a cloud of dust to I wish there was some way of knowing show the small bird that he was the king of what was going through her head. Maybe she the roost. He must have looked like a giant to was simply resting to gather strength, or perthe dove cowering in the corner. haps she turned to say, “You just wait mister, I stepped in the fence and walked toward I’ll leave a gift on your truck tomorrow.” the roosting shed to help free the dove. Zeus I choose to believe that she was saying, apparently hasn’t grasped the concept of size “Thank you, sir, for a helping hand.”

280 Living

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157 Resource Center Parkway Suite 102 Behind Logan’s Roadhouse on 280 Your source for teams sports

205-981-0291

A big kaboom creates a big job Behind-the-scenes look at orchestrating firework productions By JESSA PEASE Once a year, our eyes collectively gaze into the sky. It’s the night when we gather in the empty parking lot beside Chelsea Antiques to hear booming sounds echo and watch as fire erupts 600 feet into the air above the Chelsea Water Tower. Then all of a sudden, dozens of them rocket skyward in sync exploding into golden willows, technicolor rings and silver smiley faces. Each blast announces another shape about to unfold. On the Fourth of July the skies above City of Chelsea, Greystone Country Club, Oak Mountain State Park and American Village come aglow — thanks to the work of Pyro Productions Inc. Founder, CEO and president Deborah Neu and her team serve the entire state of Alabama

putting on about 170 firework shows a year. Their list of productions ranges everywhere from Chelsea’s Big Kaboom to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and they do it all with a 100 percent national safety record. “There are a couple different factors to consider when shooting fireworks on these shows,” Neu said. “We need room, and we need a lot of room. So according to how big a show is how big an area we need.” Neu has been in the business for 20 years, and she said she is one of — if not the only — woman who owns and operates her own firework production company. When putting together a firework show, Neu said she starts by talking to the sponsor to determine what kind of show it is looking for and what kind of venue Pyro Productions will be

working with. Both the location of the audience and where they will shoot the fireworks from are important. Local authorities, such as the fire and police departments, have to be contacted to coordinate safety plans and crowd control to ensure a safe show for everyone involved. “Then we actually start creating the show,” Neu said. “We individually go in and select each shell and what we want to put into the show. Once we get the show and shells picked out, we get a pull sheet put together.” The show is created on a software program so designers can look at the thousands of products Neu has in inventory such as the different calibers, shells and colors of the fireworks. They can also choreograph the

See FIREWORKS | page B3

Pyro Productions Inc. founder, CEO and president, Deborah Neu enjoys a firework show shortly after starting her production company. Photo courtesy of Deborah Neu.

B2 • July 2014

280 Living

Bursting red, white

Guide to 2014 Fourth of July events By JESSA PEASE With Fourth of July festivities rapidly approaching, the 280 area is offering a variety of ways to celebrate. With ﬁreworks in Chelsea Park, a parade in Mt Laurel and colonial-themed Independence Day at American Village, there is an event for everyone to express American pride.

The Big Kaboom July 3, 7:30 p.m. Chelsea Park

Join the City of Chelsea in its annual event filled with food, live entertainment and a colorful display of fireworks. Begin the evening with a flag retirement ceremony led by Chelsea Boy Scouts and enjoy the entertainment section of the evening that follows. Taste ice cream from Blue Bell and food from local vendors located around the park before the fireworks presentation at 9 p.m. The Big Kaboom creates such a large firework display that the show is visible from many different places across the city, such as the empty lot beside Chelsea Antiques and the Publix and Bojangles parking lots. If you can see the Chelsea water tower, you will be able to see the fireworks.

Every year one of the residents of Mt Laurel dresses up as Uncle Sam to lead the Fourth of July parade through the town. Photo courtesy of Marie Freeman.

Mt Laurel Parade and Fireworks July 4, 10 a.m. Town of Mt Laurel

Residents in Mt Laurel decorate their bikes, golf carts and baby strollers in Independence Day decoration before parading through town. Photo courtesy of Marie Freeman.

Join neighbors at Mt Laurel community as they parade through town decked out in Fourth of July flair. The Mt Laurel fire department leads the way followed by a familiar Uncle Sam. Trailing behind them are elaborately decorated bikes, baby strollers, dogs and golf carts, all expressing their Independence Day pride. Enjoy watermelon in the park and barbecue at the lake following the parade. Stick around until dark with your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the display of bursting fireworks. The show usually starts at about 8 p.m., or whenever it gets dark outside.

280Living.com

July 2014 • B3

and blue

Pyro Productions Inc. sets up a firing board for an upcoming firework display. Photo courtesy of Deborah Neu.

FIREWORKS

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Fireworks burst at American Village on July 4. Photo courtesy of Melanie Poole.

Independence Day at American Village July 4, 11 a.m. American Village

Take a trip to American Village for a day of July Fourth-themed fun. Events begin at noon and continue through to the evening firework show. Visit American patriots such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, listen to Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, enjoy the popular venue Colonial Comedy and attend the Independence Day Ball. These events, plus countless learning sessions about colonial life, will be followed by musical and veteran salutes and the firework display. General admission is $5, and it’s free for veterans and active military personnel.

firework show to go along with music provided by the sponsor or custom created for them. “We try to put a happy face in every show we shoot because a lot of the times the kids—even the parents as well— just love a big smiley face up in the air,” Neu said. “The first time I saw those it made me happy, and I thought ‘You know, if that makes me happy and I have seen tens of thousands of firework shells, every show needs these.’” Neu was actually the first firework company to bring smiley faces to Alabama. They are patterned shells that break apart into a certain shape — in this case a smiley face. Next they must decide whether the fireworks should be shot off electronically or by hand. For Chelsea’s Big Kaboom, Neu said they do the opening and the finale electronically for safety reasons, and they light the body of the show by hand. “The reason why we do that is it allows us to

spread out the finale and give a smoother pace without the guys having to hand-fire because it isn’t as safe,” Neu said. “They are launching so many shells at the same time and they are doing it in a very short amount of time.” To shoot the fireworks electronically, they insert an electric igniter into the shell once it is pulled from storage for any given show. The igniter is then hooked to a module that is also hooked up to a firing board. Neu said the firing board is attached to batteries and resembles a fancy version of a nail, or circuit board from science class. Once the fireworks are all set up it’s show time, but they can’t shoot off any shells before the show. “The one thing in this business is you don’t get a practice run,” Neu said. “You get one shot. There is no dress rehearsal. Do they have a plan? Absolutely.” After the fireworks finish, Neu said they check in to make sure the sponsors are happy and no brush fires stared. Then they simply wait 15 minutes, break down, clean up and prepare for tomorrow’s show.

B4 • July 2014

280 Living

Racing uphill

Annual Peavine run steps it up a notch

By JESSA PEASE On July Fourth, runners will make a beeline for Peavine. This year, the traditional Peavine Falls Run — half of which is uphill — has gained new heights, being named a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) State Championship Race. “[The RRCA] recognizes certain races to be outstanding, and they give them that state championship designation, which is pretty cool,” race director Alex Morrow said. “It means we will get people from all over the state to race because there are special awards and it’s a certified course. If you do well, it actually goes to your overall records.” Birmingham Track Club has hosted the 8.2-mile Peavine race for the past 33 years by the. Now that the race is supported by RRCA, organizers will also provide RRCA awards to top runners in addition to the awards distributed in the past. “I feel honored that the race has been given that designation, and we will live up to it because when the RRCA gets involved, you make sure everything is top notch,” Morrow said. Last year, the Peavine Falls Run attracted about 500 runners, and the race keeps getting bigger each year. It started much smaller as a way of giving back to the Birmingham Track Club community, but over the years people have fallen in love with it, Morrow said. At Oak Mountain, the race starts on the road in front of the Dogwood

Peavine Falls Road Race July 4, 7 a.m. Dogwood Pavilion Participants in the 2013 Peavine Falls Run prepare for the start of the race, and the first 4 miles uphill. Photos courtesy of Alex Morrow.

birminghamtrackclub.com/peavine-falls-run.php

Peavine Falls runners make there way along 2013’s 8.2-mile road race.

Pavilion (the upper picnic area), and runners will follow the paved road all the way to the Peavine Falls parking lot. They will turn around, zoom down that hill and then, 1.2 miles from the finish line, veer off into the woods toward the end. “It is four miles uphill, but we do

have quite a few families out there who do a run/walk,” Morrow said. “Kids will run as far as they can and then walk for a while and then run again. It is still 8 miles, and that is not a short distance by any means. For someone who has never run a 5K, I would not recommend this.”

Runners and walkers alike can enjoy a hot dog, chips and a beverage once they reach the finish line. “It is July Fourth, and we understand that a lot of people have their own plans,” Morrow said. “The race starts at 7 a.m., you are down the hill and back by 9 a.m., so you can have a

little fun for the next hour or so before you get back to your house. It’s not a huge party, but it is a good time.” To register for the race or for more information, visit birminghamtrackclub.com/peavine-falls-run.php.

280Living.com

July 2014 • B5

Iron chefs cook up competition By JESSA PEASE Each second of the clock races down to zero. The competition puts knife, sauté and baking skills through the grinder until the buzzer announces time has run out. In the tradition of Iron Chef competitions, top Birmingham chefs are kicking up the heat in the kitchen. The Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and the Culinary and Hospitality Institute at Jefferson State Community College are teaming up to host the Sixth Annual Iron City Chef competition on July 26 at 6 p.m. “I believe it is one of the better menus in the city for the price, because you have four chefs that are putting out a savory and a sweet dessert item,” said Joseph Mitchell, program director of the Culinary and Hospitality Institute. “Then you get Western Market here with wines, so it is just a really good event. The food the guests get is just second to none.” Last year’s chefs, Haller Magee (formerly with Satterfield’s but currently opening his own restaurant), Jeremy Downey of Bistro V, Sean Butler of Food Studio B and James Pruitt of Todd English P.U.B. are throwing down the sauté pans once again. “Each year, I think the excitement tends to grow and expand,” Mitchell said. “I am just anticipating a successful year again.” The event, which sells out at about 300 people each year, starts with a reception of cheese and fruit paired with wine provided by Western Supermarkets. In each corner of the multi-purpose room of the college, the chefs will serve up two dishes — one savory and one sweet. “All the guests will vote,” Mitchell said. “They go around and sample all the food, they put the vote in a chef’s hat, and the two top winners will go into our front competition kitchen.” Guests watch as the top two competitors prepare dishes from a mystery basket for a panel of

Sixth Annual Iron City Chef July 26, 6 p.m. Jefferson State Community College Visit rotarytoast.org

(above) Iron Chefs work diligently to deliver their culinary creations to the guests observing through the glass windows. (left) Haller Magee, Iron City Chef 2013, serves his dessert item with the help of Jefferson State Community College culinary students as sous chefs. (right) Iron City Chef 2013, Haller Magee, celebrates reigning supreme with one of his student sous chefs. Photos courtesy of David Bobo.

judges through the large windows of the competition kitchen. Magee won the title of Iron City Chef last year, but the burner is set to high with his competition this year. This year’s menu includes dishes such as pan seared diver scallops, summer vegetable ratatouille with roasted corn silk and a shaved citrus fennel salad. “It is a great learning experience,” Mitchell said. “It is a sellout event, and it’s a packed house

with a lot of activity and movement.” Not only does the program provide a night of food and entertainment, but all proceeds benefit End Polio Now, Clean Water for the World, the Vestavia Hills High School debate and math teams, and the local rotary disaster relief program. Anywhere from 20 to 30 of the culinary students from Jefferson State work the event, and about five students per chef are chosen to work as sous chefs.

If their chef wins the competition, the student receives a $1,000 scholarship, and some sous chefs gain future employment through their Iron Chefs as well. “The hands-on work and working with chefs in the community is a win-win,” Mitchell said. “It allows our chefs to come in, see what our students are doing and learn more about our program, and the students get to help out the chefs.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rotarytoast.org.

B6 • July 2014

280 Living

Buster Britton Triathlon becoming a fitness tradition By MICHAEL SEALE Triathletes from all over the country will descend upon Oak Mountain State Park July 12 for what has become one of the longest-running triathlons in Alabama. “This long-standing ‘road’ triathlon is a mainstay on the triathlon circuit,” said Chris Hershey of the Shelby County Department of Development Services. The Bike Link Buster Britton Memorial Triathlon, presented by Brookwood Medical Center, is celebrating 28 years on the triathlon circuit in 2014. This year the event is moving from June, when it was held in years past, to the second Saturday in July. The race honors the life of Buster Britton, one of the Birmingham area’s original triathletes, who lost his life in a fun run shortly after completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Britton started in the sport when very few people in the country, much less in Alabama, competed in triathlons, and few events were held. Today the Oak Mountain event is an homage to Britton and the sport he loved. “Buster was a true inspiration for triathletes as the sport began to take shape in Alabama,” said Faye Yates of Team Magic, a Birmingham-based organization that manages triathlons all over the country and coordinates the Buster Britton event each year. As a sprint triathlon, the event entails a 400-yard swim through

About 500 racers lined up to participate in the Bike Link Buster Britton Memorial Triathlon last year at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of Team Magic.

Double Oak Lake, a 12-mile bike ride on paved roads through the park and a 3-mile run through a mostly flat route with shaded areas. Finish times for the course run from just less than one hour for the fastest racers, and up to 2 1/2 hours for the final finishers. “The race distances of 400 yards, 12 miles and three miles makes this race perfect for beginner triathletes and also challenging enough for

experienced racers,” Yates said. Yates said that the event has grown steadily to more than 500 racers. Organizers limit participation based on the space in the staging area in the state park and to avoid crowding the park roads with too many bikes. Triathlons have been gaining popularity over the last two decades. Participation in triathlons in the United States is at an all-time high, according

to USA Triathlon, the sport’s governing body in the United States. The group’s membership has grown from about 100,000 in 1998 to 550,446 last year. Adults are not the only athletes who have joined in on the triathlon craze, and Yates said participants in the Buster Britton Triathlon will include some of that younger demographic. The triathlon has even become a part

of the Southeast Junior Race Series, which consists of seven independently produced sprint distance triathlons held between the months of May and August. “Be on the lookout for these talented athletes on race day,” Yates said. To learn more about the race or to register, visit team-magic.com/ events/8.

280Living.com

July 2014 • B7

Shake, bake, make lives better Mt Laurel race helps support children

Shake and Bake Run Aug. 2, 8 a.m. Town of Mt Laurel shakeandbake5k.com

By JESSA PEASE Something as simple as soccer can improve a child’s life. Although encouragement and growth are all skills usually provided to a child by a parent, that isn’t always the case. In West Birmingham, non-profit organization NorthStar Soccer Club is dedicated to teaching developmental skills to children through after-school programs and soccer. The club supports about 480 youths each year. In a few weeks, the Shake and Bake Run hosted by the Town of Mt Laurel will be donating all its proceeds to the club. “It just makes it a lot of fun seeing their faces and excitement,” race director Bill Kreis said. “You have to give back when and where you can. This is just one of those good opportunities for us to do that.” The Shake and Bake Run has supported multiple non-profit organizations over its 11 years. One hundred percent of profits from sponsorship and race proceeds go to designated organizations each year. This year the 5K will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. “It is a really pleasant course,” Kreis said. “It’s a good course for people who are either new running or haven’t run very much. It is a good bit of shade even though it is on an August day.” Both walkers and runners are welcome, and by the time the walkers finish the race, the

Runners race through the Town of Mt Laurel during the 2013 Shake and Bake Run. Photo courtesy of Dee Celia.

results are usually ready to be announced at the park behind the fire station. Prizes for top runners are usually gift baskets filled with fresh fruit or vegetables provided by the Mt Laurel Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair, which ties the entire community into the race. “We always get very positive responses because it is a real family-friendly race,” Kreis said. “We will even do a top team award and a

top family award.” Families or groups with three or more people could win a prize such as a $100 gift certificate to a local restaurant. After the race, competitors can enjoy Steel City Pops and Jim ‘N Nicks food along with other vendors around the park. T-shirts are also available for the run. Kreis said Mt Laurel tries to create a fun, no-pressure atmosphere for

everyone who participates. “We really try to make it real sweet and real pleasant,” Kreis said. “It’s not one of these hardpressed races with 10,000 people. There is a lot of elbow room to run.” For more information about the Shake and Bake Run, visit shakeandbake5k.com. For more information about NorthStar Soccer Club, visit northstarym.wordpress.com.

B8 • July 2014

280 Living

Panning for insects

Lake Stomp Oak Mountain State Park Park Office, 200 Terrace Dr. Aug. 3 at 10 a.m.

Lake Stomp at Oak Mountain educates about pollution

Free with Park Admission

By JESSA PEASE Something lurks in the lake at Oak Mountain State Park waiting to be discovered — bugs. The Lake Stomp event creates the opportunity for guests of all ages to learn about the insects found in the water and how humans can negatively affect them. Park naturalist Emily Cook leads the way, pointing out dragonfly and mayfly larva floating in the water before they are able to change into adult form. “I have them come out, and we will look for different things that would be around in the lake,” Cook said. “We talk about how the insects can tell us about the water, what their function is and if the water is clean.” Cook said her usual crowd is made up of children between five and 13 years old, and their parents are usually present as well. It can be a learning experience for everyone, she said. This Sunday, Aug. 3, Cook will be showing the kids around starting at 10 a.m. They will all have to be prepared to get wet, which Cook believes is some of the most fun. “I think it is fun letting them get out into the lake but still learning a little bit at the same time,” Cook said. “So they can know that what we do impacts not only just us, but even the tiniest of the creatures that are in the water.” Certain insects such as the mayfly can be indicators about pollution levels in the water because they require high dissolved oxygen levels. Large populations of these larvae imply low amount of population, while smaller numbers show the opposite.

At Oak Mountain State Park, kids can dig in the sand by the lake and find different kinds of bugs, snails and shells. Photos by Jessa Pease.

Children can also stumble upon snails or old mussel shells, which Cook said makes the event exciting. “A lot of them like the insects, especially when I start telling them that this one only lives in a certain type of water so they can see how

fewer insects can mean something is wrong,” Cook said. “I really like doing it, and being able to share different experiences with them.” Lake Stomp provides everyone with the opportunity to explore the lake to see what discoveries they can find and to learn something

All kinds of insects can be found in the lake at Oak Mountain State Park.

new. Admission to Lake Stomp is free with park admission, which is $1 for children 11 or younger and $3 for adults. Meet at the park office at 200 Terrace Drive.

280Living.com

July 2014 • B9

Community Area residents compete in Distinguished Young Women

2014 Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County competition participants. Photo courtesy of Miranda Wesley.

Samford University’s Wright Center Concert Hall will host The Distinguished Young Women Program of Jefferson County July 18-19. Thirty-two high school senior girls, representing 14 high schools from across Jefferson County will compete for cashtuition and college granted scholarships and the opportunity to represent Jefferson County in the Distinguished Young Women Program of Alabama in Montgomery in January. Participants living or attending school in the 280 area are: Marisa Pickard of Spain Park High School, Anna Lea Strickland of Briarwood Christian School, and Alex Larson and Steffie Rosene of Vestavia Hills High School. Sarah Grace McDuff, the current Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County, will perform special dance routines nightly. Mistress of Ceremonies is 1993 Jefferson County’s and Alabama’s Junior Miss, Ashley Halfman. With a theme of “A Winter Wonderland,”

participants will compete in the on stage categories of talent, fitness and selfexpression. On the final night of competition, finalists will be selected, along with overall category winners, in addition to the naming of the Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County 2015, first-alternate and secondalternate. All tickets are for reserved seating and are $15 each for July 18 at 7 p.m. and July 19 at 1 p.m. Preliminary tickets are $25 each for the finals scheduled for July 19 at 7 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased through any participant or at the Samford University Wright Center box office each evening one hour prior to each performance, or by calling 907-0210. For more information about the program, please contact chairman Eddie Macksoud at 907-0210 or jefferson@distinguishedyw.org. For more information, visit distinguishedyw. org. -Submitted by Miranda Wesley

Chelsea resident receives Girl Scout award

Award recipients and members of the Girl Scouts of North-Central America attended the GSNCA awards brunch. Pictured are Judy Cullinan, Mandi Gonzalez, Joyce Christian and GSNCA Board President Sarah Edwards. Photo courtesy of Robyn Tucker.

The Girl Scouts of North-Central America recently recognized several volunteers at an awards brunch before its annual meeting. These volunteers were commended for their dedication to the Girl Scout mission. Throughout GSNCA’s 36-county area, 119 awards

were given to volunteers. Mandi Gonzalez of Chelsea received the appreciation pin, which recognizes outstanding service that goes beyond the expectations for the recipient’s position. -Submitted by Robyn Tucker

New youth pastor appointed at Liberty Crossings Reverend Eric Fessler has been appointed as the youth pastor at Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church. Fessler holds a degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech University and a Masters of Divinity from Emory University. He has been a youth minister since 2001. Fessler, his wife and son said they are excited about starting their ministry here in Birmingham. -Submitted by Lynn Hospes

Eric Fessler with his wife and son. Photo courtesy of Lynn Hospes.

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Francavilla takes 12 awards in statewide communications contest

Donna Francavilla receives a communications award from Alabama Media Professionals.

Longtime CBS Radio news reporter and owner of Frankly Speaking Communications, LLC, Donna Francavilla recently won a total of 12 awards at a ceremony given by the Alabama Media Professionals (AMP). Seven of the awards were first-place in their category. Francavilla was recognized for outstanding radio news and television broadcasting in five categories. One first-place award was won in the podcasting arena, and one was for online publication. Francavilla also won two second-place awards, one fourth-place award, two honorable mentions and the Sweepstakes Award, given to the highest-scoring entrant. “I am pleased and honored to be recognized by my peers for the work I did,

Tax-free weekend set for Aug. 1-3 By MADISON MILLER Alabama’s Back-to-School tax-free weekend will be held at retail stores throughout the state on Aug. 1-3. It will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 and end on Aug. 3 at midnight. Shelby County and surrounding cities such as Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook will participate in the exemption. The weekend gives back-to-school shoppers the opportunity to buy supplies and equipment without sales tax added. Items that will be tax-free include but are not limited to clothing items under $100, school supplies under $50, computers and other electronics under $750, educational books under $30, and required textbooks more than $30 and less than $50.

Several retailers will feature additional sales on top of the tax exclusion. For these businesses, the weekend represents an opportunity for significant sales. “It’s our biggest weekend of the year. It’s bigger than Black Friday, bigger than Christmas, bigger than Easter,” GiGi’s owner Katherine McRee said. Only items with an educational value are part of the exclusion. Therefore, video games or electronics sold for recreational purposes will not be included. Some other items that are not tax-free include some clothing items such as belt-buckles sold separately, costume masks, patches/emblems and more. For more information and detailed lists of included items, visit revenue.alabama.gov/ salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.

especially after not working in front of a camera since my days at NBC 13,” Francavilla said. “I feel blessed to work with the experienced crew at ABC 33/40, which includes veteran news director Garry Kelly and top-notch anchors James Spann, Brenda Ladun, Pam Huff, Dave Baird, Mike Raita and Linda Mays. Garry Kelly and I had talked about having me join the station for about 20 years, and finally, the stars aligned. I have enjoyed the partnership.” Francavilla is scheduled to return to ABC 33/40 for a one-month, four-daya-week reporting contract. Because AMP is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, all first-place entries advanced to the national contest. Frankly Speaking Communications

LLC has freelanced for CBS Radio News since 2000 and has worked in broadcasting since 1981. The company offers public relations, publicity, messaging, presentation and media training. AMP is a group of individuals working as online, print and TV journalists. The group also has authors, editors, bloggers, columnists, web designers, copywriters, photographers, videographers and podcasters. It meets the second Thursday of each month at the Homewood Library. For more information on AMP, visit alabamamediaprofessionals.com or contact AMP Vice President Kaneshia Sims for membership at kaneshia.sims@yahoo. com. -Submitted by Rick Watson

Chelsea Fire & Rescue joining statewide fire prevention plan Despite the improvements of local fire departments’ ability to combat fire more effectively, the rate of fire fatalities have increased this year. In 2013, 81 fire fatalities were reported, but 2014 has seen 61 fire-related deaths with about six months left in the year. This trend has motivated state fire officials to launch a new fire prevention campaign with the intent of bringing more awareness to state residents. The new campaign slogan is “Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention.” With a united effort throughout the state, the city of Chelsea Fire & Rescue is also making efforts to do their part in public education. “We want fire prevention and awareness to go beyond the official fire prevention month of October and become an everyday awareness that keeps our residents safe,” Chelsea Fire Chief Wayne Shirley said.

Chief Shirley also stated that the City of Chelsea has been very fortunate to have low fire-related deaths recorded since the inception of the city’s fire & rescue service. Below are a few things to keep in mind when considering home fire awareness and prevention: `` Watch your cooking. `` Give space heaters space. `` Smoke outside. `` Inspect electrical cords. `` Be careful when using candles. `` Have a home fire escape plan. `` Install smoke alarms. `` Test smoke alarms and consider the installation of sprinklers. -Submitted by Firefighter/Medic Paul Williams

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School House Commanding colossal spotlight Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School’s thespian troupe distinguished itself as an exemplary school with honors in several categories at the National Junior Thespian Festival in Coppell, Texas recently. Among the 22 schools in attendance, OLV was the only school from Alabama, and had 19 students who entered 17 individual events. In events such as monologues, solo musical theatre, duet acting and duet musical theatre, OLV students were awarded five superior ratings, 12 excellent ratings and one good rating. Two of the superior events were ranked in the top 10 of the entire conference and were performed in front of the entire festival on the final morning. This was one of the strongest showings for OLV at the Junior Thespian Festival. Events are judged and performances awarded

Artwork created by David Dauphin of Liberty Park Middle School. Dauphin received awards in two art competitions with his work. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.

superior, excellent, good, fair or non-rated based on performance. Students Kayla Wiggins, Eva Catherine Crawford, Olivia Fant, Tessa Elward, Avery Martin and Chandler Norman all received superior rankings. Students receiving superior awards are eligible to compete at the National Thespian Festival held in Lincoln, Neb., in June, where they compete with and are evaluated against high school students from around the country. “I always love watching OLV students perform,” said Craig Branch, Junior Thespian Festival coordinator. “It is evident that their performances are committed to quality and hard work. The thespians love OLV and the work that they do there.” Branch said he noticed OLV students consistently taking on leadership roles in the workshops throughout the conference.

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School’s thespian troupe 88732. Courtesy of Darrell Cartwright.

“One thing that thrilled me was when our students asked if they could start a warm-up activity during registration,” said troupe director Michael Bridges. “Before I knew it, I looked up

and there was a huge crowd gathered around our own students who were leading improv games and songs. They even got everyone singing ‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You’ from Mulan.”

LPMS student places in art competitions

Mt Laurel performs ‘Magical Moments’

David Dauphin, a seventh grade student at Liberty Park Middle School, received awards in two art competitions. David placed first in the sixth to eighth grade category of the 2014 AWF William R. Ireland Sr. Youth Wildlife Art Contest, which recognizes outstanding artistic ability while increasing students’ knowledge and awareness of wildlife and wildlife habitats in Alabama. David also won the grand prize in the Birmingham Zoo 2014 African Painted Dog art contest. As grand prize winner, David received a complementary week of the ZooFari Summer Camp and a Zoo to You Animal Encounter for his classroom. His artwork will be displayed in the Birmingham Zoo’s Predator Building throughout the summer.

Mt Laurel and Vincent Elementary music teacher Haley Spates directed students at a “Magical Moments” concert night recently. Students sang medleys and songs from Disney favorites. Photo courtesy of Sarah Rhodes.

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Oak Mountain teacher recognized as ‘top notch’ Riverchase Galleria recently presented Oak Mountain Elementary teacher Rosalyn Dixon with the title of Top Notch Teacher in their Celebrate Teachers contest. The goal of the contest is to recognize a local teacher who shows extra effort and caring in the classroom and affects his or her students’ lives in positive and unique ways. A parent of one of her students nominated Dixon. Others in the community cast their votes online to support Dixon as a deserving candidate. Dixon has been a second-grade teacher at Oak Mountain Elementary for seven years. After an all-day field trip to the zoo with her

students, Dixon arrived back at the school to a surprise announcement and presentation from the Riverchase Galleria. She was awarded a $500 gift card and an ice cream party with her students provided by Häagen-Dazs. —Submitted by Rebekah Austin Rosalyn Dixon, a second-grade teacher at Oak Mountain Elementary, received the Top Notch Teacher in Riverchase Galleria’s Celebrate Teachers contest. Dixon won a $500 gift card and an ice cream party with her students. Photo courtesy of Rebekah Austin.

Berry Singers compete at Dollywood In May, Berry Middle School’s show choir, Berry Singers, performed in the regional Music in the Parks Festival at Dollywood in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The students earned first place in the 2A Show Choir division, Best Overall Junior/ Middle School Choir and the Esprit Des Corps award, which is given to the group that showed the most sportsmanship during the competition. The singers’ show theme this year was “Gibberish!” and included the songs “Who Put the Bomp?,” “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “Papa Ooh Mow Mow” and “Witch Doctor.” Rachel Smith directs the group, and Delle Kincaid is the choreographer. —Submitted by Rachel Smith

LPMS students participate in day of service

The Berry Singers in costume ready to perform at the Music in the Parks Festival at Dollywood. The group took home first place. Photo courtesy of Rachel Smith.

All eighth grade Liberty Park Middle School students recently participated in a day of community service. Initially the students were going to participate in a service field trip, but it had to be cancelled due to the February snowstorm. Eighth grader Kanely Lemke realized the importance of a service day so she told her social studies teacher, Courtney Burger, about a Hands on Birmingham project called Bunny Aid. Teachers and students coordinated a school-wide collection of Easter basket supplies. On the morning of April 10, all students worked together to assemble 190 Easter baskets at Liberty Park Baptist Church. Later that afternoon, a kickball tournament was held to benefit Relay for Life. All donations went to Vestavia Hills High School’s Relay for Life fundraiser on behalf of LPMS. Dylan Teague’s homeroom claimed victory in the kickball tournament final. The completed baskets contained candy, stuffed animals and toys. Hands on Birmingham representatives distributed the baskets to children in need. -Submitted by Linda Rummell

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SPHS theater students take show on the road

Actors Sam Hankins and Megan Pecot perform in Amelia the Brave. Pecot was named Best Actress in a One Act at the December Trumbauer Festival for her role. Photo courtesy of Eric St. John.

As school lets out and students are focused on relaxation and time away from school, Spain Park High School theater students are not finished yet. In the fall semester, the advanced theater class wrote, scored, designed and produced a one-act play titled Amelia the Brave. The play is a multimedia production, combining live music, pantomime, puppetry, shadow puppetry and animation. It tells the story of a young girl who must confront the sudden illness of a loved one. Though its creative mix may seem to suggest a children’s show, Amelia the Brave is a story for teens and adults as well. Judges at the December festival called it “luminous,” “beautifully done, sweet, fresh and unique” and a play that “made me fall in love with theater again.” The students performed the play for the statewide Trumbauer Theatre Festival. SPHS won

the state title of Best in Show for the seventh time in the school’s history. In lieu of performing their show at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the students opted to look for alternate venues to perform. In June, the students held a final performance at SPHS to raise money for travel expenses. Shortly after, they traveled to Atlanta to perform at the Atlanta Fringe Festival, which featured alternative and new theater. Amelia the Brave received audience and critic praise after their performance. This month, several students will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland to take part in performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. These festivals represent an opportunity for professional performance for many of the students, as the Fringe Festival is open to a wide range of participants. —Submitted by Eric St. John

Author Irene Latham visits Inverness Children’s author Irene Latham paid a visit to the Michelle Price and Ashley Beavers’ third-grade classrooms at Inverness Elementary in May. Latham read to the students from her book, Leaving Gee’s Bend. The author also spoke with students on how she became a writer and how to write a good story. “It was a great experience for our students as she discussed how she became a writer and how easy it is to write a good story,” Beavers said. Ashley Beavers, Irene Latham and Michelle Price. Photo courtesy of Ashley Beavers.

Mt Laurel students visit the Red Barn

Mt Laurel fifth-grade GRC students visit the Red Barn to drop off supplies collected through their office and volunteer supply drive. Photo courtesy of Sarah Rhodes.

Recently fifth-grade Gifted Resource Class students from Mt Laurel Elementary stopped by the Red Barn to drop off supplies they had collected during an office and volunteer supply drive at the school. The students, under the supervision of teacher JoBeth Robbins, chose the Red Barn as the drive’s beneficiary. The Red Barn is located on the banks of the Little Cahaba River in Leeds. The nonprofit

organization offers children and adults the opportunity to work with and learn to ride horses. The Red Barn accommodates people with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities. Its programs include traditional riding lessons, therapeutic riding, equine assisted therapy and related academic enrichment activities. To learn more, visit theredbarn.org. —Submitted by Sarah Rhodes

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LPMS teachers present at science conference Several Vestavia Hills City School science teachers presented at the 2014 Science Works Conference at the McWane Science Center. The purpose of this conference is to teach science teachers how to add rigor in their classrooms. Some of the sessions that they either taught or co-taught were a hands-on physical science session, a life science session and an outdoors session. In the physical science session, teachers were shown how science, technology, engineering and Math (STEM) concepts really work in a classroom. Through this workshop, teachers learned how a rocket launcher was made using PVC pipe, a grill igniter, tape and glue. The rockets were made from water bottles with isopropyl alcohol as fuel. In another session, the topic was plant reproduction. The teachers presented a hands-on lesson that included a flower dissection. Participants dissected

a lily, mounted it on a 5” x 7” index card and labeled all of its parts. Another session encouraged teachers to take science outdoors. In the outdoor session, attendees learned how to create mini ponds from leaf litter and distilled or spring water. Participants prepared slides from a pre-made mini pond, and used microscopes to examine the microorganisms that were collected during the mini field trip into nature. The theme throughout each session was that teachers were encouraged to let students learn through exploration before reinforcing learning through reading and writing. The participating Vestavia Hills science teachers were Jennifer Anderson, Jennifer Brown, Jemmie Clements, Aimee Farrer, Becky Gibson, Brett Horne, Alicia Johnson, Desiree Spencer and Kathrene Westbrook. -Submitted by Linda Rummell

From left to right: Becky Gibson, Desiree Spencer, Aimee Farrer, Jennifer Anderson, Jemmie Clements, Alicia Johnson, Brett Horne, Kathrene Westbrook and Jennifer Brown. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.

LPMS students participate in UAB Science and Engineering Day

Future Business Leaders compete in state conference Members of the Oak Mountain High School Future Business Leaders of America attended the FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition at the Birmingham Sheraton in April. In addition to participating in leadership seminars and workshops, students also completed against their peers in various business-related events. Olen Humphries placed second in digital video production, Tiara Taylor competed in economics, Peyton Lee placed second in digital video production, and Jarrett Easterling placed third in business math. Business teachers Julie Godfrey, Clif Naron and Stephanie Triplett sponsor FBLA. —Submitted by Stephanie Triplett

OMHS students Olen Humphries, Tiara Taylor, Peyton Lee and Jarrett Easterling competed at the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference and Competition. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Triplett.

In April, 18 Liberty Park Middle School students attended UAB’s fourth annual Girls in Science and Engineering Day. This free program is a day for local sixth through eighth grade girls to participate in fun science and engineering activities. Each girl had the choice to pick and attend three workshops in health sciences, engineering or technology and applied sciences. Workshop topics included forensic science, reptilian biology, heart dissection

and pathology, transportation engineering, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, medical suturing, bottle rocket building, chemistry, veterinary medicine or genetics. The workshops were led by women who are professors, scientists and students from UAB and the surrounding community. This program created in 2011, was designed to inspire and empower middle school girls to achieve and excel in science and engineering fields. -Submitted by Linda Rummell

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Chelsea student places first for artwork Elisa Britton, an eighth-grader at Chelsea Middle School, won first place in the Shelby County Superintendent’s Art Show with her photograph of a mine titled “No. 13.” She then went on to win first place at the State Superintendent’s Art Show. She attended a luncheon in Montgomery with her family and teacher Lori Risher to celebrate all the winners at the state level. Her photograph was on display at the Shelby County Board of Education in Columbiana as well as the State Board of Education in Montgomery. -Submitted by Lori Risher Chelsea eighth-grader Elisa Britton stands with her work, “No.13,” which won first place in Shelby County Superintendent’s Art Show and the State Superintendent’s Art Show. Photo courtesy of Lori Risher.

Oak Mountain, Chelsea compete in math tournament

Forest Oaks hosts events for Mom and Dad Mother and daughters munch on muffins and more at Muffins for Moms. Photos courtesy of Resia Brooks.

Forest Oaks Elementary School recently hosted its first Muffins for Moms and Donuts with Dad events. The school welcomed mothers, grandmothers and loved ones who enjoyed banana chocolate chip muffins prepared by the cafeteria staff. Later on, dads and other special guests enjoyed donuts. -Submitted by Resia Brooks

Superintendent serves OMIS breakfast

Chelsea High School math team celebrates its win in a recent tournament.

Area schools placed in the recent in the recent Shelby County Schools Math Tournament. Oak Mountain Middle School swept every category, taking top honors for sixth and seventh grade math, pre-algebra and

algebra I. Oak Mountain High School won three out of the four categories – geometry, algebra II and advanced math – while Chelsea High School took top honors in algebra I.

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Referred for a reason.

Superintendent Randy Fuller and Elementary School Coordinator Rickey Darby dish out breakfast at Oak Mountain Intermediate School. Photo courtesy of Pat LeQuier.

Shelby County Board of Education Superintendent Randy Fuller and Elementary School Coordinator Rickey Darby recently acted as the “mystery servers” at Oak Mountain Intermediate School. As part of grants received by OMIS emphasizing good health and nutrition, guest servers are brought into the cafeteria once a month. Students were surprised to see the two serving them breakfast. “It was an enjoyable experience interacting with the students in the breakfast line,” Fuller said. “Our students are encouraged to eat breakfast every morning to support them during the day.” -Submitted by Pat LeQuier

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Sports

Briarwood soccer star recognized for well-rounded career By CLAYTON HURDLE For her efforts on the field, in the classroom and in the community, Briarwood Christian School soccer star Claudia Day recently earned the 2013-14 Gatorade Player of the Year award. Claudia, who plays club soccer in the Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA), scored 40 goals in her senior season en route to being named the top high school soccer player in the state by the Gatorade National Association. As a center midfielder, Claudia led the Lions to the Class 5A state quarterfinals in 2014 following backto-back semifinal appearances. Her BUSA Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team made it to the national championship tournament, advancing as far as round 16. “Claudia is one of the key cogs of the wheel, so to speak,” said Andrew Brower, her BUSA coach. “She starts everything on offense and defense. She’s a vital part of the attack because she creates opportunities for other people.” Playing soccer is a year-round commitment for Claudia. In addition to the spring soccer season at Briarwood, her off-season ECNL club team travels all over the country to play the best soccer clubs in America.

Claudia Day celebrates earning the Gatorade Player of the Year award with her high school coach Ryan Leib. Photos courtesy of Scott Day.

“Mostly training with my club team helped me prepare,” Claudia said. “We got to go so many different places. We went out to Phoenix and New York. [I enjoyed] getting the experience of traveling to play the competition. It really broadens your horizons of how many great players are out there. There are a lot of good players in Alabama, but there are so many more all across the United States.”

Claudia is the daughter of Scott and Terry and younger sister of Sidney, who is a senior at Samford University. “It’s a big commitment; it affects the whole family,” Terry Day said of supporting her daughter’s soccer career. “There’s a lot of traveling on the weekends, a lot of paying for training. It’s awesome, and she’s worked so hard. It’s really nice to see her be recognized for her overall

accomplishments.” Soccer and family aside, Claudia finds room to maintain academics at Briarwood and help out in the community. The Gatorade Player of the Year award takes a player’s involvement off the field into consideration as well as on-field performance. “She studies hard and does a lot for other people behind the scenes that nobody sees,” Terry said. “She

coached a youth soccer team. She’d come home from school and have to go to practice, and then she’d coach practice and still have a lot of homework to do. I like how the Gatorade award encompasses all of that.” With practices and travels, Claudia would have to miss out on social events such as fall football games. “It’s paid off,” she said. If you put off your satisfaction of one night of fun, you can have a state championship down the road if you’re willing to put it off.” Now that her high school career is behind her, Claudia will head to Wake Forest University, which won the ACC tournament championship as recently as 2010. About 20 schools recruited her, but she chose Wake Forest based on the competition and notoriety of playing women’s soccer in the ACC. “I decided that Wake Forest was going to be the best fit for me and the most challenging,” Day said. “Most of the teams that go on to the Final Four are from the ACC. Everything’s going to be done faster, so I’m going to have to pick up that pace when I get there.” Day plans to study either health science or accounting in college and hopes to either use her math skills – she calls math her “best subject” – or go into a career in physical therapy.

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Spain Park welcomes Bowen as volleyball coach

Briarwood golfer honored with Presidents’ Award

New Spain Park volleyball coach Kellye Bowen. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kellogg.

By CLAYTON HURDLE In 2007, she concluded her high school career with an Alabama state-record 2,697 career kills. In 2012, she took Saint James School to the AHSAA Class 4A Elite Eight, and in 2013 her Trojans reached the state semifinals. Now Kellye Bowen is the head volleyball coach at Spain Park High School. Bowen, who played college volleyball at Mississippi State after a career at Curry High School, is taking over a Jaguars squad that hasn’t been to a state tournament in school history. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is [to win] a state championship,” Bowen said. “The next couple of seasons we’re going to work on being competitive and competing every game.” Bowen, then Kellye Jordan, led Curry to the 5A Final Four as a senior outside hitter earning allstate honors in softball, basketball and volleyball. She married Ricky Bowen, a former Mississippi State and minor league pitcher, in 2012. The next

fall her Saint James team fell in four sets against Jacksonville, who would go on win the state title. The Trojans took the Golden Eagles past 25 points in two different sets, including a 26-28 loss in the final set. Bowen took over the Spain Park team previously coached by Paula Dill, another Curry player. Bowen said she is ready to make the leap to a 7A volleyball team. “I’m incredibly excited,” she said. “It’s the highest level of competition. I thrive on that kind of competition.” Athletic director Patrick Kellogg introduced Bowen to members of the Spain Park Volleyball Team and their parents on June 12. He said Bowen will teach physical education in addition to her coaching duties. “I said I was going to find you the best,” Kellogg told the players and parents. “Everyone I talked to gave me one name. I’m excited to welcome Kellye Bowen as the new head coach for Spain Park volleyball.”

John Hayden (right) with his teammate Blakely Burow. Photo courtesy of Jim Brown.

By CLAYTON HURDLE John Hayden, a member of the Briarwood Christian golf team, earned the United States Golf Association-American Junior Golf Association’s Presidents’ Leadership Award on June 5. Hayden received the award for his achievements and attitude both on and off the golf course. He is the ninth recipient of the award. Hayden has worked extensively with

the Bradley Johnson Foundation, named after late Spain Park golfer Bradley Johnson. His work with the foundation includes securing pledges with every birdie he scores. To date he raised more than $20,000. On June 25, Hayden was presented with the award and tickets to a future U.S. Open tournament. He also earned automatic entry to the Rolex Tournament of Champions junior golf tournament, which will be held July 8-12 in Lancaster, Pa.

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Spain Park baseball wins its first state title The Spain Park High School baseball team won the 2014 AHSAA Class 6A State Championship against Sparkman in May. The Jags’ Jon Sumner blasted a three-run triple to put Spain Park up 6-3 in the third inning of the winner-take-all third game of the championship series. Spain Park ended up winning the game 9-4. Starting pitcher Tristan Wildra pitched the complete game to earn the championship win. He gave up three hits, four unearned runs and three walks while striking out seven batters. Spain Park faced the defending state

champion Pelham Panthers in the second round of the state tournament. The Jags swept Pelham, and then did the same to Northview and Baker in the quarter- and semifinals. Against Sparkman, Spain Park won the first game of the championship series 2-1, before dropping game two 5-0. The Jags’ game three win gave them the two-games-to-one series championship. The 2014 state title is the first AHSAA baseball championship ever won by the Jags, who are coached by Will Smith. -Submitted by Ted Melton

The Spain Park baseball team celebrates after winning the 6A state championship. Photo courtesy of Ted Melton.

Chelsea baseball teams excel in tournaments

The Chelsea 6U Bad Boyz (back) beat the Chelsea 6U Stingers in the Chelsea 6U Invitational championship.

By CLAYTON HURDLE Chelsea Park hosted three youth baseball tournaments in June, with three home teams advancing to the

championship round. The 6U championship boasted two teams from Chelsea. The Chelsea 6U Bad Boyz earned a 26-18 championship victory against the Chelsea 6U

The Chelsea 5U Thunda Puppzz were the runners up at the Chelsea 5U invitational. Photos courtesy of David Ingram.

Stingers. The Bad Boyz won their second tournament championship, and the Stingers earned their second tournament runner-up finish. The Chelsea 5U Thunda Puppzz

made it to the final in their age group, but fell to the Moody 5U team 22-12 in the championship. The 10U Chelsea invitational tournament finished with

Millbrook defeating Clanton 21-9 in the championship. Chelsea also hosted the 7U and 8U Summa Sizzla Tournament June 13-15 at the Chelsea Park baseball fields.

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OMHS girls lacrosse wins state

Front row: Meredith Edwards, Elizabeth Richmond, Lexi Gregson, Rachel Robb, Cici Brand, Kelli Stewart, Gina Sherman, Brittni Jones (captain). Back row: Dave Klementz (head coach), Katie Sherman, Kayla Hoye, Catherine Clark, Sarah Dayhood, Madeline Mullins, Maddie Everhart, Kelly Huggins, Taylor Fondren, Gracie Wilkes, Rob Haley (assistant coach). Not pictured: Christina Dorsey. Photo courtesy of Rob Haley.

The 2014 Oak Mountain High School Girl’s Varsity Lacrosse Team finished the season by winning the Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association Alabama State Championship, beating the Mountain Brook High School Spartans 12-6. Oak Mountain finished the in-state season with a record of 14-1 and an overall record of 21-3. Since December, the girls played teams from Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi as

part of their non-conference schedule. During the season, the team averaged about 17 goals per game in offense and only gave up an average of 2.8 goals per game. It outscored GBYLA opponents by a total of 253 (for) to 43 goals (against). The team finished first of 11 teams in the state, and the OMHS JV team finished fourth of 11 teams in the state. -Submitted by Rob Haley

Oak Mountain hosts pro triathletes Oak Mountain State Park hosted the 2014 XTERRA Southeast Championship May 17. Josiah Middaugh, a professional triathlete from Vail, Colo., won the off-road race finishing nearly a minute ahead of the runner-up. The triathlon consists of a one-mile swim in Double Oak Lake, a 20-mile mountain bike ride and a six-mile run. Rain also created an additional obstacle for the athletes. In the ninth annual XTERRA race, Middaugh finished 13th in the swimming portion, first in the cycling section and second in the run with a final time of 2:18:32. Pro Craig Evans from Hendersonville, Tenn., finished second with a time of 2:19:29. Birmingham resident David Meadows was the highest finisher from Alabama with a final time of 2:45:18. He placed 35 out of the 176 participants, and he finished third in the 45-49 age group. Hoover resident Casey Fannin won the shorter sprint race. The veteran triathlete opted not to participate in the main race because of a recent back surgery in March. The XTERRA National Championship race will take place in September at the Snowbasin Resort in Ogden, Utah. -Submitted by Ted Melton

Birmingham’s Wes Douglas finished 53rd overall and 10th in the 35-39 age group. Photo courtesy of Ted Melton.

Indian Springs School boys soccer wins state Before the school year ended, the Indian Springs School Varsity Boys Soccer Team claimed the 2014 Class 1A-4A Soccer State Championship. The team played against Randolph and won the game 2-1 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. Team captain Reeves Duggan scored both goals in the championship game and was named tournament MVP. He was assisted by Eli Cohen with the first goal and by Rakim Ali with the wining goal. The team is coached by Rik Tozzi, Chuck Williams and Joe Carter. -Submitted by Mindy Black

Reeves Duggan played in the 2014 Class 1A-4A Soccer State Championship. Photo courtesy of Mindy Black.

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Community Calendar

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Area Events July 2: Commemoration of the Passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 10 a.m. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St. N. Free. Call 328-9696, ext. 229. July 3: UAB Concert Choir Bon Voyage Concert. 7-8:30 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Free. Call 934-7376. July 4: Peavine Falls Run. 7 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. $15. Register on Race-it.com. July 4: UAB Independence Day Concert. 7-8:45 p.m. UAB Bartow Arena, 617 13th St. S. Free. Call 9347376. July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. 9-9:20 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr. Vulcan Park will be closed for safety reasons, but the fireworks will be visible from many places throughout the city. Free. Call 933-1409.

hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come. 107 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 10: Gaither Vocal Band. 7-10 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. Artist Circle $36.50, Reserved $29.50, Senior (60+) $26.50, Child (2-12) $26.50, Groups of 15+ $25.50 plus two free tickets. Call 7262853. July 10-27: Annie. Thursday and Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th St. S. $30-35. Call 251-1206. July 11: Bards and Brews Poetry Slam. 6:30-9 p.m. North Birmingham Regional Library, 2501 31st Ave. N. Free. Call 226-3670.

July 5: Red, White and Brew 5K Run/Walk. 10 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Trim Tab Brewing Company, 2721 5th Ave. S. Enjoy a complimentary beer and live music after the race. $30 pre-registration, $35 race-day registration.

July 11: Summer Film Series: The Blues Brothers. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Jake Blues, just out from prison, puts together his old band to save the Catholic home where he and brother Elwood were raised. 133 min. Rated R. There will be a singalong and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262.

July 10: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: Field of Dreams. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. An Iowa corn farmer,

July 11: Rick and Bubba “We Ain’t Never Been No Where” 20th Anniversary Tour 2014.

7 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. Balcony $33, Orchestra $43. Call 726-2853.

Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Adults $11, Children $6, Kids 3 and under are free. Call 6784141.

July 12-13: Alabama Gun Collectors Association Summer Show. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Free for members, small door fee for the public. Call (334) 272-1193.

July 18: Summer Film Series: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. With the aid of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using his son’s life-generating device, the Genesis Device, as the ultimate weapon. 113 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262.

July 13: Summer Film Series: To Kill a Mockingbird. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depressionera South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice. 129 min. NR. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 17: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: The Bad News Bears. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultracompetitive California Little League. 102 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 18-20: 31st Annual World Deer Expo. Friday 3-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard

July 19: Run or Dye 5K. 9 a.m. Barber Motorsports Park, 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway. Early registration (May 1-July 8) $47, Registration (July 9-19) $57. Teams of four or more save $5 per ticket. July 19: Ray LaMontagne. 7:30 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Tickets from $37.80. Call 1-800-7453000. July 20: Summer Film Series: The Long, Long Trailer. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Nicky and Tacy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tacy dreams of starting off with their own home on wheels — a trailer. 103 min. NR. There will be a singalong and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262.

July 23: Mockingbird Tribute. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Learn about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird, get a free copy of Marja Mills’ book The Mockingbird Next Door, and enter for a chance to win a 50th anniversary edition of To Kill A Mockingbird with bookplate signed by Harper Lee. $35. Call 870-4242. July 23-24: Luke Bryan That’s My Kind of Night Tour. 7 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 1000 Amphitheatre Dr. Tickets from $40. Call 1-800-745-3000. July 24: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: A League of Their Own. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry. 128 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 25: Summer Film Series: The Big Lebowski. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. “Dude” Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. 117 min. R. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 26: American Idol Live. 8 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention

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Community Calendar 280 events

Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. See the top 10 ﬁnalists from season 13 of American Idol. Tickets from $45.25. Call 1-800-745-3000.

Thursdays: Urban Cookhouse Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. The Summit. Averages 20-25 vendors a week. Visit urbancookhouse.com/farmers-markets.

July 27: Steely Dan “Jamalot Ever After” Tour. 8 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Tickets from $72.65. Call 1-800-745-3000.

Saturdays: Mt Laurel Farmers Market and Craft Fair. 8 a.m.-noon. 38 Manning Place. Offers more than 50 vendors featuring locally grown, fresh produce and craftsmen of multiple trades. Visit mtlaurel. com.

July 27: Summer Film Series: The Sound of Music. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North. A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. 174 min. G. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 31: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: The Sandlot. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mom and stepdad, and wants to learn to play baseball. 101 min. PG. There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before the film. $8. Call 252-2262. July 31: Fourth Annual Taste of Birmingham. 6-9 p.m. The Club of Birmingham, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. Enjoy live music, fireworks and the chance to taste and vote on dishes from Birmingham’s best restaurants. $75. Call 767-9219.

Saturdays: Valleydale Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-noon. Faith Presbyterian Church. Local farmers join others from Chilton and Blount counties to sell their produce and goods. Visit valleydalefarmersmarket.com July 3: The Big Kaboom. 7:30 p.m. Chelsea Park Subdivision. Visit cityofchelsea.com July 4: Peavine Falls Run. 7 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Race starts at the Dogwood Pavilion and runs 3.5 miles to the Peavine Falls parking lot. $15. To register, visit birminghamtrackclub.com/peavinefalls-run.php. July 4: Mt Laurel Parade and Fireworks. 10 a.m. Town of Mt Laurel. Join neighbors at Mt. Laurel community as they parade through town decked out in Fourth of July ﬂair.

July 8: Existing Business & Industry Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. 3535 Grandview Parkway, Suite 500.

July 18: Despicable Me 2. Starts at dusk. Veterans Park. Free. July 25: The Lego Movie. Starts at dusk. Veterans Park. Free.

July 9: Small Business Work Group. 4-5 p.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

July 26: Hotter ‘n Hell Trail Race. 8 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. 9 miles – $35. 18 miles – $45. Registration required. Visit southeasterntrailruns.com.

July 11: Health Services Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

July 26: Christmas in July. 10 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park Campground Pavilion. Make ornaments and other Christmas crafts. Call 620-2520 or email oakmountain. naturalist@dcnr.alabama.gov.

July 15: Entrepreneur & Small Business Mentorship Program. 8-11 a.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. By appointment. Call Brooke Story at 6634542.

July 26: Iron City Chef. 6 p.m. Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute. Competition and silent auction. $55. Visit rotarytoast.org.

July 15: Go & Grow Workshop: How to Strategically Drive Marketing and Sales. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. RSVP by July 11. Members $10, Non-members $20.

Aug. 2: Shake and Bake Run. 8 a.m. Town of Mt Laurel. Visit shakeandbake5k. com.

July 22: SpeedNetworking Times FIVE. 8:30-10:30 a.m. 1000 Riverchase Galleria. Free. RSVP by noon July 18.

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Events

July 23: Board of Directors’ Meeting. 8:15-9:30 a.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. July 24: Governmental Affairs Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Two Perimeter Park South, Suite 500.

For more information, call 663-4542.

July 11: The Croods. Starts at dusk. Veterans Park. Free.

July 2: Ambassadors Work Group. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

July 18: Miss Shelby County Pageant. 7 p.m. Shelby County High School. Visit missshelbycounty.com

July 4: Chamber closed.

July 25: Membership Program: Workforce Development. 11:30 a.m.1p.m. Pelham Civic Complex. RSVP requested by noon July 28. Members $20, Non-members $30.

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B22 • July 2014

Community Calendar

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Library Events Chelsea Library

not required, but supplies are limited.

Visit chelsealibraryonline.com

July 2, 16: Toddler Tales. 10 a.m. Mt Laurel Library. A story program for children 19-39 months and a caregiver. Registration required. Limit 10. Call 991-1660.

Pre-K and under Wednesdays: Storytime, experiments and special guests. 10:30 a.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall. Registration located at the library before storytime.

July 2, 16: Ms. Kristy Storytime. 11 a.m. All ages are welcome for songs, stories and serious fun.

K5-Fifth grade

July 11: Lego Competition. All Ages. Call 991-1660.

July 9: Yarborough Education Program. Learn the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes. 2 p.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall.

July 22: Last Day to Log Books.

July 16: Magician Ashley Clinton. 2 p.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall. July 23: Scavenger Hunt Minute to Win It Finale. 2 p.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall.

Sixth-grade and up July 10: LEGO Build and Wii Play. 2 p.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall. July 24: Pizza or Ice Cream Party. 2 p.m. Council Chambers of Chelsea City Hall.

Mt Laurel Library Kids Tuesdays: Family Movie. 2 p.m. Mt Laurel Library. Snacks will be served. July 1-24: Crafts. Drop in each week to create a different fun item. Registration is

July 23: End of Summer Reading Party. 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Mt Laurel Library. Food, fun and prizes. July 31: Last Day to Claim Library Dollars.

Adults July 8: Paint & Pour. 6 p.m. Mt Laurel Library. Create a piece of art with the help of a professional. $3 for materials and spot reservation. Call 991-1660.

North Shelby Library Register online using the calendar at northshelbylibrary.org or call 439-5504.

Special Programming July 4: Library Closed. Tuesdays: Craft Day. 2-3:30 p.m.Registration required. Registration begins one week prior to craft date.

July 3: The Science of Playing with Food. Join us for this foodtastic program where we’ll make scientific creations out of everyday food products. Ages 7-13. Registration required. July 7, 17, 21: Preschool Movie and Family Movie Matinee. Preschool movie at 1 p.m. and family movie at 3 p.m. All ages welcome. No registration required. July 10: McWane Science Center Super Science Show. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Explore the wonders of liquid nitrogen, the power of explosions and the shocking world of electricity. All ages. No registration required. July 11: All Ages Lego Competition. Use your own bricks to make an original creation to be judged by our all-star judges. Registration required. July 14: Impact Martial Arts Kid Safe Workshop. 2 p.m. This workshop is a selfdefense, safety and awareness Program for children that teaches physical and mental self-defense. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. July 14: Impact Martial Arts Bully Proof Workshop. 6:30 p.m. This interactive program is designed to give children the confidence, self-esteem and knowledge needed to defend themselves against bullies. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. July 23: Summer Reading End Party with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m. Join us for fun, refreshments, grade level prizes, the grand prize drawing and much more. All ages welcome. No registration required. July 26: Summer Reading End Party with Tom Foolery. 6 p.m. Join us for fun, refreshments, grade level prizes, the Grand Prize drawing and much more. All ages welcome. No

registration required.

Story-Time Programming Mondays: Toddler Tales. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs, fingerplays and crafts make up a lively 30-minute program designed especially for short attention spans. Registration will begin one week prior to each storytime. Ages 19-36 months. Registration Required. Tuesdays: Baby Tales Story Time. 9:30 a.m. A story time designed especially for babies and their caregivers. Ages birth to 18 months. Registration Required. Registration begins one week prior to program date. Wednesdays: Mr. Mac. 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. Stories, puppets, and lots of music for every member of the family. All ages welcome. No registration required. Thursdays: P.J. Story Time. 7 p.m. Come in your PJs, have milk and cookies, and hear some bedtime tales. All ages welcome. No registration required.

Teens Call 439-5512 or email nsyouth@ shelbycounty-al.org. Fridays: Gaming. 3-5:45 p.m. Come to the teen department each Friday afternoon for open gaming on the Wii and with board and card games. July 7: Anime Night. 6 p.m. Join us in the teen department for an evening of anime. July 10: Gigi’s Cupcakes. 6 p.m. Participants will be able to try their hands at decorating.

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Community Calendar Library Events (continued) July 17: Women’s Self Defense Class. 6 p.m. Karen from Impact Martial Arts will teach a variety of self-defense techniques for women. Call 439-5512.

favorite film awarding. Dinner served.

Registration required. $3 per person.

Adults

July 21: Movie Night. 6 p.m. Enjoy a recent PG or PG-13 movie in the meeting room. Teens and adults welcome.

Call Michelyn Reid at 439-5510 for more.

July 17: Women’s Self-Defense Workshop. 6-7 p.m. Self-defense with Impact Martial Arts.

July 24: Teen Summer Reading End Party. 6 p.m. Minute to Win It activities and the Computer Animation Workshop Film Festival. Door prizes, grand prize announcement and audience

July 11: Brit Flick Movie Night. 7 p.m. Enjoy a British movie with light refreshments and adult beverages. July 15: Paint & Pour. 6-8 p.m. Get creative on the canvas. Light refreshments, adult beverages.

July 18: Trivia Night. Trivia team contest, refreshments, beverages and prizes. Registration required.

quality pet care & home sitting Insured. Bonded Based out of Highland Lakes

July 22: Downton Abbey Trivia. Test your Downton Abbey knowledge before Season 5. Registration required.

St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Events Mondays: Weight Watchers. Noon-12:30 p.m. Weigh-in starts at 11:30 a.m. Call 408-6551. July 8: 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. July 11: Living Healthy – Taming the Sweet Tooth. 11 a.m.-noon. Join us for a class on how you can enjoy sweets without compromising your health. Free, but please register. Call 408-6550. July 14-18: Thyme to Cook for Kids. 8 a.m.-noon. Theme is Around America in Five Days. Ages 6-9. $195 per day. A half-day program available for $17 per day. A 10 percent discount is available for multiple siblings. Application required. Call 408-6550.

July 15: Comprehensive Diabetes Education. Noon-4 p.m. A physician’s referral is required, and preassessments will be given preceding the class date. To register, call 939-7248. July 17: Medicare Educational Meeting. 1-3 p.m. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama will conduct a meeting to inform customers about senior products. Open to the public and free of charge, but register by calling 1-888346-1946.

July 21-25: Thyme to Cook for Kids. 8 a.m.-noon. Theme is Around America in Five Days. Ages 10-12. $195 per day. A half-day program available for $17 per day. A 10 percent discount is available for multiple siblings. Application required. Call 408-6550. July 28-Aug. 1: Thyme for Teens Cooking Academy. 8 a.m.-noon. Ages 13-16. $195 per week. Application required. Call 408-6550.

July 19: Breastfeeding. 9-11 a.m. A class on the basics of breastfeeding for expectant mothers. Call Dial-A-Nurse to register at 939-7878. $10.

July 29: Breakfast with the Doc. 8-9 a.m. Rupa Goolsby, MD, OB/GYN will discuss topics in women’s health. Free, registration required. Call 408-6550.

July 19: Coping Skills. 12:30-2:30 p.m. This class shares pain management techniques for expectant mothers during delivery. Call Dial-A-Nurse to register at 939-7878. $10.

July 31: Blood Cholesterol and Glucose Monitoring. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Screenings will be held by appointment. The first screening is free for members or $20 for non-members and repeat visits.

Results in five minutes with a simple finger stick. Call 408-6550 to register.

Heardmont Senior Center Events 5452 Cahaba Valley Road. For more information, call 991-5742. Mondays: Tai Chi. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: Lunch. Noon. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Aerobics. 10-11 a.m. No aerobics on July 10, 22, 29.

ph: 205.408.0349 cell:910.280.3067 Fridays: Intermediate Line Dancing. 10-11 a.m. Fridays: Beginning Line Dancing. 11 a.m.-noon. July 1: July 4th Celebration. All day. July 1, 8, 15: Bible Study. 11 a.m. July 10: Health Fair. 10 a.m.-noon. July 14, 21, 28: Mah Jongg. 9:30 a.m.-noon. July 14, 21, 28: Canasta. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. July 15: Biscuit Bash. All day.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Bingo and Board Games. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

July 17, 24, 31: Becky with Harrison Regional Library. 11 a.m.

Fridays: Zumba Gold. 9-10 a.m.

July 25: Heardmont Dance. 7 p.m.

280 Living