280 Living
May 2015 | Volume 8 | Issue 9
neighborly news & entertainment
Tradition returns to Shoal Creek
Wife of a wounded warrior By SYDNEY CROMWELL
The Regions Tradition returns to Shoal Creek May 13-17. Inside you will find our complete guide to the event with details such as the course map, parking information and other helpful hints. Plus, get the scoop on how the tournament will be moving to Greystone for the next several years as Shoal Creek redoes its greens, and learn more about the event’s volunteers and the backstories of the charities it benefits.
See page A13
INSIDE Sponsors ............. A4 280 News ............ A6 Business...........A10 Community.........B8 School House .. .B19
Sports............. .B22 Chelsea Business..C2 Faith...............C18 O p i n i o n . . . . . . . . . .C 1 9 Calendar...........C20
When Kathleen Causey married a man who worked in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), she knew his chances of injury were higher than many of his fellow soldiers. That didn’t make it any less shocking when two of Aaron Causey’s EOD service members showed up on her doorstep on Sept. 7, 2011. Just a few months after their first anniversary, the Causeys’ life plans were put on hold and Kathleen found herself thrust into the role of a caregiver wife. Aaron had lost both legs and some of his fingers to a bomb in Afghanistan, and he was also suffering from extensive tissue damage and a traumatic brain injury. “I felt sick. I was sick to my stomach because I didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” Kathleen said. After his initial treatment in Germany, Aaron was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to continue recovering. He and Kathleen would live there for two years as he had multiple surgeries and slowly learned to use his prosthetic legs and wheelchair. “It’s very different when this happens in your 30s than in your 20s,” Kathleen said. “Recovering from these kinds of injuries, the toll it takes on your body hormonally, just having the injury. If he pushed himself to the limit, he was out for two days.” Along the way, Kathleen learned a lot about taking care of a wounded veteran. She figured out how to support Aaron without mothering him and how to fight for her husband’s needs with doctors and insurance companies. She also saw
See WARRIOR | page A28
Kathleen and Aaron Causey have worked to put their life back together after Aaron was injured by an bomb in Afghanistan. They now live in Greystone with their 18-month-old daughter, A.J. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
The new shops in town Mt Laurel welcomes slew of new businesses
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By ROY WILLIAMS Convenience just got a lot easier for residents of the Town of Mt Laurel off U.S. 280. In March, the former Stone’s Throw fine-dining restaurant was reopened as Mr. Harry’s Chickin De-Lux, a casual restaurant that co-owner and chef Chris Harrigan says has more customer appeal to a broader audience. On April 1, Cheryl Harper held the grand opening of Simply Infused, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room. Owners of new Mt Laurel businesses stand outside the town’s commercial area. Photo by Keith McCoy.
IT’S TIME TO TAKE A vacation FROM CLEANING.
See MT LAUREL | page A29 Proudly keeping homes cleaner and healthier since 1987
871-9338 www.MAIDS.com
Give yourself a break, call the cleaning service most recommended to family and friends.
Referred for a reason.
A2 • May 2015
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About Us Photo of the month
Please Support our Community Partners
Area residents participate in the Walk for Autism and 5K Race in support of the Autism Society of Alabama at Veterans Park on April 11. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S., and it affects more than 50,000 people in Alabama alone. Photo by Katie Turpen.
Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham My college friends and I now laugh at our choice of eateries our first semester of school. For weekend dinners, we would trek 20 minutes from campus to eat at Chili’s, Macaroni Grill and O’Charley’s. We had grown up in the suburbs, and what we knew were chain restaurants. Eventually we came to our senses and discovered a treasure trove of local eats right around us in Memphis, uncovering the juiciest burger I have ever tasted, barbecue nachos we all still crave and amazing gyros made in a slightly sketchy mini mart. Needless to say, I arrived back in Birmingham a few years later a bit of a snob about eating at nonchains, and with a stereotype that any suburban area consisted of strip malls full of generic brands available in any other suburb in America. Luckily, I soon learned that the 280 corridor had been changing as more and more locally owned restaurants and shops peppered shopping centers, new and old. Since starting at the paper four years ago, I have talked to countless small business owners, each one exciting me about telling the stories of local businesses in 280 Living all over again. If this issue had a theme, it would be local businesses. Reporter Roy Williams’ interviews with
Publisher: Creative Director: Managing Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writer: News Editor: Community Reporter: Editorial Assistant: Photographer: Graphic Designer: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution:
Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Madoline Markham David Knox Katie Turpen Sydney Cromwell Roy L. Williams Madison Miller Karim Shamsi-Basha Emily VanderMey Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Kari Kampakis Oliver Morrison Marienne Thomas Ogle Rick Watson Intern: Hannah Jones
four new businesses in Mt Laurel for our cover story have me wanting to taste test olive oils and balsamic vinegars, find out how Chef Chris Harrigan makes chicken so deluxe and skip the big box hardware store in favor of a local one. Also, our special Chelsea Business Spotlight section, which starts on page C2, highlights boutiques, dentists and a variety of other small businesses on the other side of Double Oak Mountain. Check them out in print and then stop by to meet them and get introduced to their food, products or services in person. Once again the paper will serve as your guide to 280 events this month, including a special section on the Regions Tradition and a farmer’s market guide, plus photo coverage of our favorite events from the previous month. Those April showers had better be out of the way so we can get outside and enjoy all that’s going on, preferably in the sunshine. Cheers to celebrating all things local!
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
For advertising contact: dan@280living.com
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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30 A Realty (B21)
Johnny Ray’s – Chelsea (C3)
Alabama Acura Dealers (C15)
Josten’s Publishing (B4)
Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A21, C11)
Kirkwood by the River (A8)
Alabama Gaslight & Grill (A28)
Lake Area Realty - Century 21 (A11)
Alabama Outdoors (C15)
Lawncrafters (A6)
Alabama Power (C17)
Leaf & Petal (A7)
Alabama Vascular & Vein Center (B9)
Lice Clinics of America (A14)
Aliant Bank (B6)
Lisa Miller Oral Facial Surgery (A6)
ARC Realty (A27)
M&M Jewelers (B25)
Asbury United Methodist Church (A13)
Maid Pro (B12)
At Home Furnishings (A22)
Melanye Morris Esthetics (A23)
Autry Electronics (C9)
Merle Norman Chelsea (C11)
Avadian Credit Union (B25)
Morningside at Riverchase (B1)
Avenir Realty-Amanda Hardin (A16)
MVP Training (C17)
Azia Medical Spa (A15)
NAPA Auto Parts (B20)
Batts’ Chimney Services (A18)
Narrows Family Eyecare (C13)
Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine (B7)
Narrows Podiatry (C8)
Bedzzz Express (B24)
Odyssey Early Schools (A24)
Bellini’s (A18)
Outdoor Living Areas (A5)
Birmingham Speech & Hearing Associates (B23)
Pak Mail (C18)
Briarwood Soccer Club (B1)
Pastry Art (A22)
Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A29, B18)
Plain Jane Children & Gift Shop (A12)
Brownell Travel (B10)
Preserve Paints (A23)
Cabinet Cures of Birmingham (A17)
Pure Barre 280 (B17)
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Cahaba Glass (C21)
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Charles Thompson Attorney at Law (A20, B7)
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Revitalize at Greystone (A2)
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Road Runner Moving (A12)
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Royal Automotive (B14)
Chelsea Party Center (C5)
Salon M2 (A19)
Chelsea Soccer Club (C20)
Sewing Machine Mart (B3)
Children’s of Alabama (B14)
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Chiropractic Today (A24)
Skin Wellness Center of Alabama (C10)
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Snider’s Discount Pharmacy (C2)
Classic Gardens (C20)
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ENT for Kids Alabama (C22)
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ERA King Real Estate Homewood (B2)
Sugar Sands Realty (A30)
Everly’s Boutique (B13)
Target Auction Company (A17)
Expedia CruiseShipCenters (A7)
The ARC of Jefferson County (A19)
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Healthy Smiles of Birmingham (C1)
UAB Department of Psychiatry (A27)
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Uptown Nail Spa (B23)
Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (A31, B15)
Vulcan Park and Museum (C21)
Heritage South Credit Union (C13)
Water Drainage Solutions (A11)
Highland Shoe Company (A15)
Weigh To Wellness (B2)
Hilltop Montessori School (B11)
White Dog Photography (A30)
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Your Good Neighbor (C23)
Issis & Sons (A31)
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May 2015 • A5
Relax inc. Patios & Walls Outdoor Kitchens Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire pits Arbors and Pergolas
402-2110
@OLABham
You can see all of our past work on our website:
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Alabama G C L #43737
A6 • May 2015
280 Living
280 News
Alabama School Connection founder gets data on Hoover school employee pay By ROY L. WILLIAMS The founder of Alabama School Connection, a Hoover-based nonprofit, says she has received the payroll records revealing compensation of school employees including teachers that she requested from the Hoover Board of Education more than a year ago. In an interview after the April 13 Hoover school board meeting, Trisha Powell Crain said school officials gave her the pay data on April 10, a week after the Alabama Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion that says the Hoover school board must approve her public records request for data revealing compensation school employees receive by name. “They gave me the records they chose to give- two years of payroll records,” said Crain, who originally requested pay data from 2010 through 2013. “They first emailed me a copy late Wednesday (April 8) but then I had to go request a more legible copy.” Donald Sweeney, the lawyer representing the Hoover Board of Education, declined comment about the matter after the April 13 board meeting except to say Crain had gotten the pay data she had requested.
Crain said she is still going through the documents that lists compensation of more than 1,000 Hoover city school employees, and that so far “it reveals exactly what I thought it would.” Crain said she has no plans to publish the list on Hoover School Connection’s site. Crain, whose Alabama School Connection is a blog devoted to writing stories related to Alabama K-12 education, said she made it clear in an article dated Dec. 29, 2014 that her request is not personal. A link to that original blog is here. “Since this request was first made in January 2014, concerns about levels of education funding continue across the state of Alabama,” Crain said in her April 5 statement. “With personnel costs accounting for 80 to 85 percent of a school district’s expenditures, employee compensation continues to be an important part of that discussion.” In her April 3 letter to Hoover school board lawyer Sweeney, Brenda Smith of the state attorney general’s office cited several examples of opinions in other Alabama cases that “settled that payroll records, such as salary or other compensation, are public records.” “The Hoover City Board of Education is
required to disclose, by name, the compensation of employees under the Open Records Law,” wrote Smith, the chief of the Opinions Division in the state attorney general’s office. Hoover Board of Education officials, citing privacy concerns of employees, originally fought Crain’s request. School board members said that having employee pay made public could open the system up to potential lawsuit and caused friction among many teachers and other front-line employees. They also said it could cause them to lose some of their best teachers to other systems or to retirement. Crain then hired an attorney, prompting the Hoover school board to vote March 16 to seek the state attorney general’s opinion on the following question, “Are the names of employees of the Hoover City Board of Education public records in addition to their compensation?” In response to the state attorney general opinion, Hoover Board of Education President Donna Frazier issued a statement saying the board respects the attorney general opinion, but adding the matter is an “overriding concern to our employees.” Frazier added that Hoover school employees “did not and do not understand why the public
Alabama School Connection founder Trisha Crain
interests would be served when the exact salary amounts for all positions were already made available” without revealing names.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A7
Climbing gym coming to Inverness
This rendering shows the planned High Point Climbing and Fitness as it would be seen from nearby Dewberry Drive. The building’s addition will have a stucco, metal and glass exterior. Rendering courtesy of High Point Climbing and Fitness.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL High Point Climbing and Fitness, a Chattanooga-based climbing gym, is at work on a new location at 4766 U.S. 280. John Wiygul, High Point’s general manager, said the new gym will be in the former Next Total Fitness location in Inverness between Inverness Plaza and Goo-Goo Express Car Wash. After a complete renovation, Wiygul said the Birmingham High Point will be the largest climbing facility in the state. “We want to build a very unique and fun facility,” Wiygul said. The facility will cover 35,000 square feet of floor space, with more than 27,000 square feet of climbing area. There will be climbing opportunities for every age and experience level, as well as fitness facilities for yoga, spin classes, aerobics and free weights. High Point also received approval from the Shelby County Planning Commission on April 21 to build a 60-foot-tall addition for indoor speed and belayed climbing. Wiygul said the kids’ climbing zone will
feature interactive walls with themes such as firemen and dinosaurs. For adults, there will be high walls for regular roped climbing, a 50-foot speed climbing wall and lower “bouldering” walls for climbers who don’t use ropes or harnesses. The bouldering walls will have heavy padding beneath them. “Bouldering is very popular with the younger generation,” Wiygul said. High Point will also offer climbing classes and youth teams for competitions. A day pass to the gym will be $15 per person, and individual memberships cost $60 per month or $600 per year. Family memberships are $900 per year and include an unlimited amount of immediate family members. “It’s a really great way to spend time with your family,” Wiygul said. The new location will employ between 20 and 30 people, and Wiygul said the new employees will spend time at the Chattanooga facility learning about the business. Renovations on the High Point location are scheduled to begin in June, and Wiygul expects the business to open in Spring 2016.
A8 • May 2015
280 Living
Turn lane coming to County Road 11 in Chelsea By SYDNEY CROMWELL In response to high afternoon traffic levels from Chelsea High School, Shelby County is adding a left turn lane to County Road 11 at its intersection with Old Highway 280. Shelby County chief civil engineer Scott Holladay said he had received citizen complaints about traffic backup on CR 11, which currently has only one lane to turn left or right onto 280. The left turn lane project will cost between $40,000 and $50,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in early June, and Holladay said it should take about a month to complete. County engineer Randy Cole said all construction will be complete before students return from summer break on Aug. 12. “A left turn lane can be a significant upgrade at a ‘T’ intersection like this one by separating the traffic into two lanes,” Cole said.
Cars turn at the County Road 11-Old Highway 280 intersection in Chelsea. Photo by Matthew Allen.
End of bus system would cause traffic congestion By ROY L. WILLIAMS A Birmingham-based traffic consultant told members of the Hoover Board of Education that if the school system had proceeded with its now-dropped plan to halt bus transportation for students, it would have made traffic congestion to and from the city’s schools even worse. Darrell Skipper of Skipper Consulting said he did his study at the request of Interim Superintendent Jim Reese “in case this issue ever came up again.” The Hoover school board, in
a controversial July 2013 decision, had voted to end bus service for most students to cut costs. After a public outcry from many Hoover parents, plus inquiries by the U.S. Justice Department, the Hoover school board in December 2013 rescinded that decision to end bus service. The report by Skipper, whose company conducts traffic studies for schools, governments and private clients across Alabama, pointed out how big an impact cutting busing would have had on those who deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic surrounding the schools on mornings and
afternoons. “If you eliminate a bus, it takes 24 cars to replace it,” Skipper said. “That equals about 600 feet of traffic, or two football fields. That means it would take 50 percent more time to exit school campuses per day.” Of Hoover’s 16 schools, Skipper said 12 of them use five or more buses a day to transport students to and from schools. The other four use four or less buses, he said. Of Hoover’s 14,000 students, about 45 percent – 6,500 students – are taken to and from school via buses, Skipper said.
After Skipper’s report, Hoover school board attorney Donald Sweeney said the public shouldn’t read too much into the study, adding there are no current plans to revisit eliminating busing for Hoover students. Reese said the cost of bus transportation is one of the biggest issues school systems face across the state, not just in Hoover. “Another problem is finding bus drivers, especially those that have a CDC license,” he said.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A9
Jeff State to celebrate 50th anniversary on May 7
Jefferson State’s nursing faculty members Pat Havard, Anita Naramore, Gena Richardson and Trish Haywood teach at the Shelby-Hoover campus on Valleydale Road.
Jefferson State Community College, one of the original 12 junior colleges authorized by the Alabama State Legislature, held its first classes on Sept 30, 1965. On May 7, Jefferson State will celebrate its 50th anniversary of educating students with a special reception and dinner at its Shelby campus at 4600 Valleydale Road. “It will be a great event looking back at our history with a 50th anniversary commemorative video,” said David Bobo, spokesman for Jefferson State Community College. The 50th anniversary celebration will occur a day before the school’s May 8 graduation. Jefferson State Community has grown substantially since opening as a single campus near Center Point in 1965 with 1,100 students. It now serves approximately 15,000 students each year and is one of the largest community colleges in the state, according to its website. Jefferson State currently offers more than 120 university transfer programs, 33 career programs and numerous certificate programs at four campuses: Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Chilton counties. In addition to its four campuses, Jefferson State has established an extensive online presence to allow flexible
learning from any location. The college also serves high school students across Alabama through dual enrollment programs. Jefferson State has earned numerous accolades, including being named in the top 10 digital community colleges in the nation twice in recent years, the nursing program receiving “superior” evaluations nationally, and the culinary and hospitality program receiving “exemplary” accreditation ratings. Jefferson State’s accredited online veterinary technology program, the only one of its kind in Alabama, was named as a top seven program nationally. Jefferson State ranks first in Alabama and 38th in the nation in the number of associate degrees awarded in Registered Nursing. The college’s child development program was the first in Alabama to be accredited nationally. Graduates of the radiologic technology program consistently pass the certification exam at or near 100 percent, and its building and construction program won first place in the National Association of Home Builders’ Residential Construction Management Competition. To learn more, visit jeffersonstate.edu.
CRIME REPORT Civil Dispute April 3, 5:55 p.m. - 100 block, Chelsea Corners April 5, 11 a.m. - 5000 block, Cameron Road April 8, 2 p.m. - 400 block, Forest Lakes Drive Death Investigation April 10, 9 a.m. - 1000 block, Hampton Place April 11, 10:03 p.m. - 1 block, Manning Place April 11, 8:30 p.m. - 1 block, Sweet Gum Lane April 2, 1:20 p.m. - 1500 block, Chesser Circle April 6, 6:30 p.m. - 5800 block, Old Highway 280 Disorderly Conduct April 4, 7 p.m. - 100 block, Bradley Drive
Dog/Cat Cruelty/2nd degree
April 6, 8:02 p.m. - 100 block, Branch Drive
Domestic Investigation
April 1, 11 p.m. - 2500 block, Forest Lakes Lane April 11, 11:30 a.m. - 3000 block, Buck Horn Cove April 12, 11:15 p.m. - 300 block, Narrows Drive April 12, 9:15 p.m. - 2000 block, Inverness Cliffs April 2, 1:10 p.m. - 600 block, Inverness Lane April 3, 11 p.m. - 13100 block, Retreat Lane April 3, 6 p.m. - 500 block, Highway 39, Lot 9 April 5, 1:30 p.m. - 200 block, Twin Oaks Way April 5, 8 p.m. - 600 block, Turtle Lake Drive
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280Living.com
Now Open Chick-fil-A’s new location at 5375 Highway 280, at the corner of Highway 119 and Highway 280, is now open. 995-8333, chick-fil-a.com
1
Simply Infused, 11 Olmsted St., is now open in Mt Laurel. The business offers tastings of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. 408-4231
2
Mr. Harry’s Chickin De-Lux is now open in the former Stone’s Throw location in Mt Laurel at 3 Mt Laurel Ave. The restaurant is a partnership between Nick Pihakis and EBSCO Industries and serves a variety of chicken dishes. 995-0512, mrharryschickindelux.com
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Lisa Miller Oral Facial Surgery, 1 Inverness Center Parkway, Suite 200, is now open. Dr. Miller and her new staff are accepting new patients for wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, missing teeth replacement and other services. 789-5075, lisamillerofs.com
4
Psychiatric Counseling 5 Alabama is now open at 2015 Stonegate Trail, Suite 105 in Liberty Park. Dr. Farah Khan previously practiced at Alabama Psychiatric Services, which recently closed. The clinic will provide treatment to adults only. Asian Buffet is now open in the former Petrucelli’s location at 10 Meadow View Drive. They are open seven days a week and offer a lunch and dinner buffet, as well as a seafood buffet on Fridays. 518-0491
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Halo, 5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 121, is now open. The store offers women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories. 783-1088, bringonhalo.com
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Sew Precious, a children’s clothing and monogramming store, has opened its third area location at 611 Doug Baker Blvd.,
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May 2015 • A11 Suite 115, in the Village at Lee Branch. The store is located where Fireflies and Fairytales was previously located. 783-5253 Escape has opened its fifth area 9 Vape location at 2800 Greystone Commercial Blvd, Suite 3-B. 536-6010 Health Star Clinic, a non-surgical pain management clinic, is now open at 3419 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 500. 203-0000, healthstarclinic.com
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Heating and Air 11 Skelton’s Conditioning has opened a new office at 5511 Highway 280, Suite 217. They are the largest Trane dealer in Birmingham and the second largest in Alabama. Their home office is in Childersburg. 991-5878, skeltonsair.com
Coming Soon Orangetheory Fitness will be opening in May at 210 Inverness Corners. This will be the second location for the fitness franchise in Alabama, the other being in Patton Creek Shopping Center in Hoover. 991-9700, orangetheoryfitness.com/inverness
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Relocations and Renovations Narrows Family Eye Care has moved 13 a few doors down from its former location within the same building to 13521 Old Highway 280, Suite 249. 980-4530, narrowsfec.com
News and Accomplishments In tandem with National Chocolate 14 Chip Day, Full Moon Bar-B-Que, 4635 U.S. 280, will celebrate Cookie Craze Day on Friday, May 15, by offering customers one free Half Moon Cookie with any purchase
at all locations. Half of each chocolate chippecan cookie is dipped in chocolate. 991-7328, fullmoonbbq.com Newk’s Eatery hosted a “Q for a Cause” fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Alabama in conjunction with the opening of its two newest locations in Hoover and Inverness at 950 Inverness Corners. As a result, Newk’s helped grant a wish for Colby, age 12, to travel to Disney World at a wish party at the Hoover location. 721-8918, newks.com
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Mattress King, 5403 Highway 280, Suite 301, has expanded and added a Tempur-Pedic Showcase showroom. 995-3144, mattressking.net
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ServisFirst Bank, 5403 Highway 280, Suite 401, was awarded with the 2014 Raymond James Community Bankers Cup. The bank ranked third out of 306 banks nationwide, and first in Alabama. The award is based on several criteria related to profitability and efficiency. 949-0870, servisfirstbank.com
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InShape MD, 650 Inverness Corners, is now MD Wellness & Aesthetics. The clinic offers medically supervised weight loss, hormone replacement therapy, skin treatment and other non-surgical, non-invasive procedures. 582-9216
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Hirings and Promotions
Bridgeworth, LLC, 3800 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 300, has hired Donna Byrne, J.D., as chief compliance officer. She will primarily be responsible for compliance with SEC and FINRA rules and regulations. 208-8700, bridgeworthfinancial.com
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ARC Realty, 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 133, has hired Brandi Ard, Pierce Prescott, Cassie Moore, Marguerite Haynes, Kate O’Quinn, Charlie Graham and Lindsay Larimer as Realtors. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com
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RealtySouth’s Inverness Office, 109 Inverness Plaza, welcomed Kathy Glaze, Beth E. Jones, Candis Keesee, Karen Little, Brenda Porter, Shayla Townsend and Kimberly Williams as new agents. 991-6565, realtysouth.com
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Valleydale Animal Clinic, 4680 Valleydale Road, has hired Dr. Alex Winke as a new veterinarian in their clinic. Dr. Winke is a graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. 991-5416, valleydaleanimalclinic.com
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Anniversaries
AloStar Bank of Commerce, 3680 Grandview Parkway, Suite 300, has announced that Chairman and CEO Michael Gillfillan is retiring. Andrew S. McGhee has been chosen as the new CEO, and Richard G. Hickson will assume the role of chairman of the bank’s board of directors. 298-6391, alostarbank.com
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The Town of Mt Laurel, 5 Mt Laurel Ave., has made several recent hires. Nick Dawson has been hired as a financial
20
analyst and will work with Mt Laurel and other EBSCO real estate holdings; Julianna Vance has been hired as marketing and community relations manager; and Ray Jackson has been hired as vice president of sales and marketing. 408-8696, mtlaurel.com
Knot a Problem Massage, 5502 Caldwell Mill Road, is celebrating its second anniversary in May. 332-1363, knotaproblemmassage.com
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Closings Allergy and Asthma Center of Birmingham, 1200 Providence Park, Suite 100, has closed. Dr. Susann Kircher, owner of the clinic, has announced her retirement due to ongoing health issues. allergyandasthmacenterbham.com
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A12 • May 2015
280 Living
Shelby County Schools reports high academic scores, student development in recent years
Fox 6 news anchor Sarah Verser spoke at the 2015 State of the System Luncheon.
By MADISON MILLER Superintendent Randy Fuller spoke on the success of Shelby County Schools at its annual State of the System luncheon on April 15. Eight years ago, Shelby County Schools announced plans to launch a new system focus on “preparing for an uncommon future.” “We began seeing some of the things like the economic depression, and we had to prepare as a school system so we could overcome those,” Fuller said. The system knew that it would have to develop a new approach to insure the success of students in a struggling economy. Fuller explained their two-step approach to combating the economic downturn and other setbacks eight years ago.
First, the system identified local ties in each school and developed plans to connect them. Groups were organized on behalf of the schools including community stakeholders, parents, teacher and more. The groups set goals for the system and accomplished them. “They created an environment of success by continually accomplishing goals and it transcended into the students, into the community,” he said. Next, Shelby County Schools invited members of the community who might not otherwise be involved into developing strategic plans. Leaders from the community, businesses, government and more were invited to use their expertise to develop strategies that make the system better in many areas.
Schools set up booths to showcase recent accomplishments. Photos by Madison Miller.
“We survived and continued to do special things,” Fuller said. “At this point in time in 2015, we are still one of the most successful and well-respected school systems in the state of Alabama.” The luncheon went on to outline the system’s accomplishments throughout the past year with focus on twelve areas, which all school systems need to thrive, Fuller said. Fuller outlined accomplishments in each area including communication, community partnerships, continuous improvement, curriculum/instruction/ assessment, facilities, finance, governance and leadership, human resources, learning supports, professional learning, safety and discipline and support operations. Fox 6 news anchor Sarah Verser also shared
stories from her years covering schools across the state in her segment “What’s Right with Our Schools?” The segment began in 1999 and has featured several stories on Shelby County Schools. “I had one news director tell me, ‘nobody cares about schools,’ and I thought, ‘how could that be?’” Verser said. “We’ve done thousands and thousands of stories on what’s right with our schools and Shelby County has been a huge part of that.” This is the second year for the luncheon, which was organized by the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation. For more information, visit shelbyed.k12. al.us.
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280Living.com
May 2015 • A13
The Tradition returns to Shoal Creek Course Map A15-A16 • Parking map and shuttle information A17 The Loop A18 • Trivia Game A19
By OLIVER MORRISON In order to put on the Regions Tradition golf tournament at Shoal Creek, it takes hundreds of thousands of efforts, both large and small. David McElroy, a tournament volunteer for more than 20 years, was in Tuscaloosa selling paper supplies recently, when he noticed that one of his customers was wearing a golf shirt — so he struck up a conversation. “You know we’ve got a major championship coming through Shoal Creek this year,” said McElroy, who has been selling paper supplies with the same company for 32 years. “The Tradition. Are you interested in being a volunteer?” “Maybe,” the customer said. “Are you interested in a free round of golf?” McElroy asked. “Absolutely,” the man said. His customer became just one of the approximately 1,000 volunteers the tournament relies on every year. From keeping score with every group of golfers to standing guard inside the rope at every
hole, volunteers are everywhere during tournament week. Birdies for Charity McElroy knows firsthand how important the volunteers are. Every volunteer, he says, is money saved that can be donated to Children’s of Alabama. When he first volunteered in 1990, his
daughter had already undergone 38 surgeries for a host of life-threatening conditions. But because of generous doctors at the hospital, she now lives a healthy if not totally independent life in the Pacific Northwest. Over the past 5 years, the Regions Tradition has raised around $3.3 million for charity, most of which goes to Children’s of Alabama.
So McElroy’s customers know that, even though he lives off of getting their commissions, there is one week during the year when he will be slow to respond: golf tournament week. It’s not for his daughter, he says, but the next one. “As many times as we went to the hospital
See TRADITION | page A14
A14 • May 2015
280 Living
TRADITION
CONTINUED from page A13 with my daughter, there has always been someone who is in worse shape than she’s been in,” McElroy said. “That’s why it’s important to support Children’s, because there by the grace of God go our kids.” The Tradition has been a big fundraiser for other local nonprofits such as the Vestavia Athletic Association, which has employed an army of coaches and students to raise money the last few years. The tournament picks up the tab on all the credit card transaction fees and promotional materials, so each team can keep all the money it raises. The Vestavia nonprofit Wish 2 Enrich is using the tournament as one of its two main fundraisers, in its first year in existence. Its founder Zach White sold his afterschool soccer business last year so that he could focus on helping needy children get scholarships for enrichment activities. It took a huge leap of faith to start the charity, White said, and he still is putting all the money toward scholarships rather than his own salary. But he grew up without his father and often relied on his coaches for adult guidance. So he has set a goal of raising $25,000 for the tournament, or $1,400 for each of his board members, in the hopes that his organization will continue to serve more and more children. The Birdies for Charity fundraiser covers only a small part of the yearly budget for Homewood’s Community Grief Support Service, but it’s so well organized that the money practically raises itself, said Lisa Harrison, the administrative director. Her organization provides group counseling to
the bereaved. “The people that we serve are very devoted after they leave,” Harrison said. “We help them through a really difficult time, and so we find that they are very loyal and give back.” The tournament also brings significant economic activity to for-profit companies in the greater Birmingham area. More than 80,000 people will show up to the tournament, and outsiders will book nearly 10,000 hotel rooms over the course of the week, most of them along the Highway 280 corridor, according to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. These visitors will spend money on food, rental cars and clothing, totaling up to more than $10 million and
generating more than $1 million in tax revenue. It’s the eighth-biggest sporting event in the city, just behind local NASCAR events and just above the SEC regional baseball tournament, according to David Galbaugh, director of sports sales and marketing at the Greater Birmingham CVB. In addition to helping raise money for charities, volunteers perform important functional duties at the tournament. One year, for example, a heckler had gotten so out of hand at the 15th hole that play had to stop. It turned out that the heckler was upset that his sister had gotten an unfair divorce settlement from one of the golfers at the hole. So one of McElroy’s volunteers called for backup. “We need security
now because it’s starting to get to be fisticuffs,” McElroy remembered the volunteer telling him. “Needless to say, the police were called and the golfers went on to finish their round.” Many volunteers are golf enthusiasts who want to be near their golf heroes, such as Fred Couples, or a celebrity such as Nick Saban or Bo Jackson. For $50 they get to keep their volunteer uniform, four free tickets and free food and drinks throughout the event. For $95 they can also get a free round at Alabama’s most famous golf club. The future of Shoal Creek After the tournament is over, Shoal Creek will take on another big challenge: redoing its greens. The club
hasn’t redone its greens in 40 years, so it will update them to meet the PGA’s modern standard and give the course better drainage. This will give the membership a bit of a rest after five years in a row of tournament organizing, according to Mike Thompson, the president at Shoal Creek. But it also means that starting this summer, the course will be closed for six months. “We hate to take the golf course away from the membership for six months,” Thompson said. “But then hopefully we have another great 40 years.” The Tradition is moving to Greystone Golf & Country Club for the next three years. Shoal Creek will not host another major tournament until the U.S. Women’s Open in 2018.
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280Living.com
May 2015 • A15 Regions Tradition ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ
Event Name: Regions Tradition Event Location: Shoal Creek Club Dates: May 13-17 Defending Champion: Kenny Perry Tickets: Good-Any-One-Day Grounds tickets are only $20 Tickets can be purchased at regionstradition.com Children 18 & under admitted free with a ticketed adult Spectator parking is free and located at the corner of Highway 280 and Highway 119 ÌÌ Free shuttle to transport to and from the main entrance of the tournament ÌÌ Gate hours: 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Charity
ÌÌ Children’s of Alabama is the primary beneficiary of the Regions Tradition. ÌÌ Birdies for Charity is a fundraising program designed to give charities and schools the opportunity to raise funds by generating contributions based on the number of birdies made by Champions Tour players at the Regions Tradition. ÌÌ Overall, in the 23 years of having a Champions Tour event in Birmingham, more than $13 million has been donated to charity.
Patriots Outpost presented by Xtreme Concepts Photos courtesy of Heather Durham Photography.
That will be the biggest tournament at the course since the PGA Championship in 1990. The club was criticized then by William Bell, now Birmingham’s mayor, for its lack of black membership. It then received national scorn when its founder, Hall Thompson, Mike’s father, admitted to a local reporter that the club discriminated against blacks. Thompson apologized and the club quickly admitted its first black member, but Shoal Creek did not receive a major professional golf tournament again for 20 years. Although it doesn’t release the racial demographics of its current membership, the club abides by rules that forbid discrimination and has moved on from that controversy
25 years ago, according to Thompson. In 2010 Thompson gave an interview with Golf magazine, which stated that three of the approximately 425 members were black, one of whom was Condoleezza Rice. “We would’ve never had the [US Junior Amateur tournament] in 2008 if we had not moved on,” Thompson said. “All the major golf entities are happy with our membership. We fully comply with all the rules and we’re happy to do so.” The tournament drew 1,300 volunteers back in 2011 because locals were so pleased to have a major golf event returning to the area after a 20-year absence, according to Wes Quattlebaum, one of the co-chairmen for the tournament this year. Just
five years later some of that enthusiasm has waned, and it takes a supreme effort just to recruit 1,000. “You’ll start the year with zero volunteers in November and see that goal number of 1,000 folks and wonder how we are going to get to that number,” Quattlebaum said. “It’s a lot of hard work by a lot of folks.” The successful return of the Tradition over the past five years is another sign that Shoal Creek has paid the debts of its past, according to McElroy. “I think Shoal learned its lesson the hard way,” McElroy said. “But they also learned that by doing things together you can find solutions to your problems. And cooperation works a whole lot better than defiance.”
ÌÌ All active and retired military will be admitted free with proper military ID on Wednesday-Sunday of tournament week. ÌÌ Patriots Outpost, located on the 14th green, is a private hospitality venue that offers spectacular views of all the golf action, as well as complimentary food and beverages for guests.
Sponsors
Xtreme Concepts McGriff, Seibels & Williams Action Resources ÌÌ The Regions Tradition is a major championship on the Champions Tour schedule where players will receive double Charles Schwab Cup Points. ÌÌ Legendary golfers such as Fred Couples, Nick Price, Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer, Rocco Mediate, defending champion Kenny Perry and many more will attend.
Celebrities ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ ÌÌ
Coach Nick Saban Coach Hugh Freeze Bo Jackson Coach Gus Malzahn Coach Bruce Pearl Coach Dan Mullen Morning Drive Co-Host Charlie Rymer
A16 • May 2015
280 Living
17
Hole
Par
Yardage
1
4
401
2
4
407
3
5
520
4
4
464
5
3
190
6
5
565
7
4
444
8
3
171
9
4
462
10
4
419
11
5
522
12
4
454
13
3
197
14
4
382
15
4
434
16
3
210
17
5
545
18
4
3624
15
16
18 14
11
10 C
12 13
$ M P
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444 3607
Inverness Village Shopping Center
ME
280Living.com
May 2015 • A17
$ ATM
8 7
P
P
Bleachers
5
6
Clubhouse
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9 3
Concessions
4
Corporate Hospitality AFC First Aid Front to back nine
2
ME
Main Entrance
M
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A18 • May 2015
280 Living
Hi gh la nd
All general spectator parking is free and is located at the corner of Highway 280 and Highway 119 (see below). Tournament shuttles will transport you to and from the main tournament entrance.
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119
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LOT C & CT ENTRANCE e
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Shelby County
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Hugh Dani el Drive
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280
Regions Tradition Public Parking
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Handicap information
Directions to General Parking Lot
Handicap accessible viewing is located next to the bleachers at holes No. 9 and No. 18. Handicap accessible restrooms are located throughout the course. Handicap parking will be located in Lot S along County Road 41. A handicap accessible shuttle will transport individuals to the clubhouse
ê Drive east on U.S. 280 toward Childersburg ê Turn left onto Highway 119/Cahaba Valley Road ê Follow event signage to General Public Parking Lot
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parking lot. Lot S can be accessed directly from County Road 41 approximately 1 mile north of Hugh Daniel Drive. Only official state-issued handicap tags will be permitted. If bad weather permits, all handicap parking will be moved to the general spectator parking located at the corner of U.S. 280 and Highway 119.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A19
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A20 • May 2015
280 Living
1. How old do you have to be to qualify for the Champions Tour?_______________
Tradition move from to Alabama in 2011?__________________________
2. What was the previous name of the Champions Tour? _________________
8. The Regions Tradition is one of the five majors on the Senior Tour. Name them. ________________________________
3. Where is the Regions Tradition being played this year?__________________ 4. Where will the Regions Tradition be played next year?__________________ 5. Who won the Regions Tradition last year?__________________________
9. The same man won the first two Regions Tradition tournaments played at Shoal Creek, in 2011 and 2012. Need a hint? It’ll cost you a stroke? His initials are TL._____________________________
6. Here’s a bear of a question. During the first eight years of the Tradition, when it was held in Arizona, one legendary golfer won four of those eight tournaments. Who is he?_________________
10. This guy was the runner-up in a two-hole playoff to TL in 2011 and his last name was once the name of a golf tour. It’s not Nike, Hooters, Nationwide, PGA or LPGA. Or even Champions.______________________
7. The Tradition was begun in Arizona in 1989 but moved after 14 years to another state. From what state did the
11. How many rounds is the Regions Tradition? _________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
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8
9
Par
3
4
4
4
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5
Championship, U.S. Senior Open, British Senior Open Championship and Senior Players Championship. If you got all 5 right, give yourself a 1 – ace! If you got 0 right, that’s a 7 (I mean, seriously, we gave you one answer), 1 right is 6, 2 correct we’ll give you 5, 3 correct is a 4, 4 correct is a 3 and all 5 is a 1. 9. Tom Lehman. Give yourself a 3 if you got it without a hint, a 4 if you got it with the hint and a 6 if you whiffed. 10. Peter Senior. Mark down a 3 if you got it. Otherwise, it’s a 6. 11. Four, as do all the majors. Many of the regular Champions Tour events are three rounds. Give yourself a 4 if you got it, a 6 if you missed it. 12. Larry Nelson. Give yourself a 3 if
you got it, a 5 if you missed it. 13. Hubert Green. Give yourself a 4 if you got it, a 6 if you missed it. 14. False. The Tradition supersedes the prior tournament and moved from Oregon to Alabama. It’s set to stay in the state at Greystone through 2018. A correct answer is a 4, a whiff is a 6. 15. Chi-Chi Rodriguez. That’s a 4 if you got it, a 6 if you missed it. 16. The Arnold Palmer Award. An “Arnold Palmer” drink is a mix of iced tea and lemonade, in case you were wondering. Give yourself a 4 if you got it, a 6 if you lipped out. 17. Hale Irwin. 3 for a right answer, a 5 if you missed it. 18. Bernhard Langer. A 3 if you rolled it home, a 5 if it broke toward the Rhine.
ANSWERS
HOLE
36
12. This Alabama-born golfer is No. 8 in the all-time winnings list of Champions Tour golfers. He has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and won the Bruno’s Memorial in 1999. Name him. ________________________________ 13. This Birmingham-born golfer won the Bruno’s Memorial in 1998, his first Senior Tour win. He’s also in the World Golf Hall of Fame, inducted in the Veteran’s category. Who is he? _______________________________ 14. True of false: The Regions Tradition is a continuation of the Bruno’s Memorial Classic, which later became the Regions Charity Classic. ___________________ 15. This legendary golfer put on entertaining kids clinics for years and is known for his “toreador dance.” Brandishing his putter
like a sword when he sank a putt. Name him. ____________________________ 16. The player who earns the most money on the Champions Tour each year wins this award, named for a legendary golfer. Have a sip of iced tea, or maybe lemonade, while you think it over. _______________________________ 17. Through the 2014 season, he is the all-time leading money winner on the Champions Tour. He won the Bruno’s Memorial in 2001, but he’s never won the Tradition, and at 69, is unlikely to now. Name him. ___________________ 18. This guy has won the most money on the Champions Tour six of the past seven years. Wie Iautet sein Name? _______________________________
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4
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1. 50. Tell your caddie that’s a 3 if you got it right. If you missed that one, mark down a 5. 2. Senior PGA Tour. Mark down a 4 if you nailed it. If you whiffed, that’s a 6. 3. Shoal Creek Club. Give yourself a 4 if you rammed it home. Otherwise, it’s a 6. 4. Greystone Golf and Country Club. Give yourself a 3 if you sank it. A whiff is a 5. 5. Kenny Perry. That’s a 3 if you got it right, a 5 if you missed it. 6. The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. Mark down a 4 for the correct answer, a 6 if you missed. 7. Oregon. That’s a 2 if you nailed it. If you missed it, give yourself a 4. 8. The Tradition, Senior PGA
QUESTIONS
REGIONS TRADITION TRIVIA
72
SCORING: 58? Congrats on the course record, and if this were an actual score, it’d be the best ever in a Champions, PGA or LPGA event. 59-62? You’re a Hall-of-Famer. 63-66? A winner on most days. 67-71? A solid sub-par round. 72? Right on par. 73-80? One of those days. A chip here, a putt there, a kick with a foot … 80-90? Have you considered taking up shuffleboard? 90-100? Try the short tees next time. 101? If you’d gotten just one right, you’d have broken 100. Every duffer’s dream. X Don’t forget to sign your card.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A21
A22 • May 2015
280 Living
Community strides in purple for pancreatic cancer Last month, PurpleStride Birmingham at Veterans Park raised awareness and support for the fight against pancreatic cancer. The event featured a 5K and family-friendly walk, children’s activities, entertainment, refreshments and more. It is estimated that more than 48,900 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and more than 40,000 will die from the disease. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death, with a 5-year relative survival rate of just 7 percent.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A23
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A24 • May 2015
280 Living
Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Leon Palmer
Most of us grew up hearing the same phrases from our mothers and grandmothers - eat with your fork, don’t sit so close to the TV, and sit up straight. While we may have rolled our eyes at some of these instructions, our mothers knew what they were talking about after all, and specifically in regards to our posture! Proper posture does more than improve our overall appearance, and opposed to what we may hear, a healthy back is not ‘straight as a board’. Conversely, it has three natural curves – a speed-bump-like curve in the neck, a gentle outward curve in upper back, and inward curve at the lower back. Improper posture over-exaggerates these curves or reverses them. Healthy posture keeps your spine strong and stable, placing your vertebrae in alignment so that weight and stress is properly distributed to the intended muscles and ligaments. These muscles are then able to work efficiently, which decreases wear and tear on your joints. You can assess your own standing posture at home with a simple wall test. Stand tall with your head, shoulder blades, buttocks and
heels against the wall. Slide your hand behind the curve in your lower back, palm flat against the wall. Ideally, you will feel approximately one hand’s thickness of space between your back and the wall. If there’s too much space, tighten your abdominal muscles to flatten the curve in your back. Step away from the wall while maintaining this posture. This is approximately your proper spinal placement. It may feel unnatural or strained because muscles adapt and shorten to our common slouching position. At Chiropractic Today, we regularly demonstrate stretches to safely open up chest muscles that pull the shoulders forward, among a variety of other stretches. While standing posture is crucial, we should pay attention to our posture through all daily activities. We spend an extraordinary amount of time sitting in our culture, averaging between nine and eleven hours. We sit while we eat, travel, work, relax, etc. While sitting is not an ideal posture for the health of our spine, there are several tips to take into consideration. Sit in a straight-backed chair, with feet flat on the floor and knees at a ninety degree angle. Keep your chin up and
Mother Knows Best ears in line with your shoulder. This may feel unnatural or strained at first, but in time the body will respond and muscle memory will be rewritten. The amount of time Americans spend in the car is often underestimated. Be sure your seat is an appropriate distance from the pedals, keeping a gentle bend in the knee and use a lumbar support cushion if it is not built into your seat. Always remove wallets from the back pocket to prevent the pelvis from twisting unnaturally. For road trips, take breaks to get out and stretch to loosen the muscles and restore movement to the spine. Don’t underestimate the importance of rest and recovery after a long drive as well. Are you a sleep flipper? Posture is crucial during sleep! Many people toss and turn until comfortable, but there is actually a correct posture for rest. To keep the spine correctly aligned, sleeping on the back or side is best. When on your back, put a pillow underneath your knees to relieve lower back pressure and use a thin pillow or rolled towel under the curve of your neck. At Chiropractic today, we provide information about cervical support
pillows that keep your neck gently rounded like a speed bump. If you prefer to sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees and elbows and a cervical support pillow to keep the neck straight in line with the spine. Poor posture can create much anatomical havoc over time. Observe those around you and you may notice a common development called kyphosis, also known as a Dowager’s Hump. This is a curving forward of the thoracic or upper back, causing it to be hunched and rounded. Kyphosis type curves can lead to severe pain, limited range of motion, and breathing difficulties. Among other effects of poor posture, many people experience neck and lower back pain, poor digestion, poor circulation, and increased stress. At Chiropractic Today, we provide a Posture Analysis with recommendations for chiropractic care and home support. Posture is crucial to the overall functioning of your body, and is not to be taken lightly. To schedule your free consultation, give us a call or visit our website!
280Living.com
May 2015 • A25
280
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
627467
35242
5299 Greystone Way
New
$499,000
629416
35242
437 Eaton Road
New
$259,000
629044
35242
8026 Greystone Green
New
$489,900
628154
35242
5284 Greystone Way
New
$599,000
627911
35242
1040 King Stables Circle
New
$519,000
627225
35242
4013 Greystone Drive
New
$749,900
626472
35242
4004 Shandwick Lane
New
$484,900
626223
35242
558 Castlebridge Lane
New
$899,900
626134
35242
3584 Shandwick Place
New
$599,775
629366
35051
755 Salser Lane
New
$139,000
629418
35403
121 Weeping Willow Drive
New
$234,900
629223
35403
335 Lake Chelsea Court
New
$254,900
629210
35403
553 Rolling Hills Drive, Lot 59
New
$330,000
629123
35403
100 Astor Circle
New
$214,900
629114
35403
1004 Shelby Forest Trace
New
$219,000
629072
35403
281 Twelve Oaks Drive
New
$299,900
629065
35403
440 Lime Creek Bend
New
$229,000
628678
35403
324 Lake Chelsea Court
New
$254,900
628573
35403
2034 Chelsea Ridge Drive
New
$269,900
628339
35403
261 Chesser Plantation Lane
New
$210,000
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on April 20. Visit birminghamrealtors.com for more information.
5299 Greystone Way
121 Weeping Willow Drive
A26 • May 2015
280 Living
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May 2015 • A27
A28 • May 2015
280 Living WARRIOR
CONTINUED from page A1 firsthand that something as simple as an electric wheelchair, which seemed liberating to her, could be horrifying to Aaron as he realized the permanent limits of his freedom and mobility. “You don’t know the tenacity of the human spirit. There were days when I went to bed, and I swore to God and sweet Jesus, I wasn’t going to wake up the next day. It was like, ‘I’m done. I’ve got nothing left to give,’” Kathleen said. The Causeys lost a lot from Aaron’s injuries. Kathleen’s plans to return to school were put on indefinite hold, and doctors told them they were unlikely to have children without fertility treatments. They had to plan everything around accommodating Aaron’s wheelchair and supplies, from traveling to buying the furniture, car or home they wanted. “We are an afterthought when it comes to society. When you live with a disability, you come second. They build a place and then realize they didn’t build it for you,” she said. But there were also bright spots, such as the widespread community support they found and A.J., their “miracle baby” who is now 18 months old. With Aaron staying at home, he gets to help with A.J.’s care and watch his daughter grow up. “We’re just so appreciative every day of the little things,” Kathleen said. “You’ve just got to be open to what’s going to make you happy.” The Causeys relocated to Alabama about a year ago and recently moved to Greystone to be near Kathleen’s family. She grew up in the area and graduated from Oak Mountain High School. They are working on raising money to build a wheelchair accessible home in Pell City, which would split the distance between each of their families. Aaron has multiple surgeries ahead of
One of the bright spots that came out of Aaron’s injury is the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad and watch his daughter grow up. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
him, including re-laying muscles in one leg and a series of procedures to break his femur and attempt to lengthen it. Kathleen will always have to be the primary caregiver and doggedly pursue surgeries, medical equipment or other services to improve his quality of life. “I know what I’m capable of. I know where that power comes from. Some of it is anger – we lost our life, we lost all of our normal plans,” Kathleen said. “You get to plan your life when you’re healthy. We lost a healthy marriage – a physically healthy marriage. I lost the ability to see him run with my children.” Through this continuing struggle, Kathleen found a passion for advocating on the behalf of other wounded veterans. She received the Col. John Gioia Patriot Award in March 2013 from the United Service Organizations (USO) Metro, and her family was the
in
subject of a short documentary, “The Next Part,” that released in April 2014. Earlier this year, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation named Kathleen one of its 2015 Caregiver Fellows. In May, she will travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for wounded veterans and their caregivers, as well as participate in committees that will share their perspectives on current legislation and treatment. “I have very valuable user information here,” Kathleen said. “There’s no way to put a price on what I’ve learned.” She said the fellows will include caregivers of soldiers with physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and other illnesses such as cancer. Their advice will be given to politicians and employees of the Veteran’s Administration. “Kathleen was already an active voice among the military and veteran caregiving community,”
Steve Schwab, the executive director of the Dole Foundation, said. “We’re thankful she has chosen to dedicate her precious time and energy to our cause.” While she’s there, Kathleen hopes to focus particularly on fertility issues for veterans and related issues, such as adoption services and regulations for fertility treatments. These are among the many problems that will be a permanent part of life for Aaron and thousands of other veterans. “I’ll never not be his caregiver in some way. He will never not be wounded,” Kathleen said. “Our life will never get fixed. It gets better because we get better at it, but it doesn’t magically get fixed one day. You don’t wake up and feel whole or normal.” To follow the Causeys’ journey, visit Kathleen’s blog at afterblastwarriorwife.com.
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Mt Laurel Businesses
280Living.com MT LAUREL
CONTINUED from page A1 Lucky Dog Grooming & Boutique owners Alyssa Hall and Magan Hall recently began offering services for dog owners, giving them a place inside Mt Laurel to take their pets for baths and haircuts. And last fall, Casey Crane opened E&E
Hardware adjacent to Mr. Harry’s on the entranceway to the Mt Laurel town center. Julianna Vance, marketing and communications manager for Mt Laurel, said those new businesses and others on the way, including the 41 Mercantile general store, have added muchneeded services to the community. “From retail to restaurants, a hardware store
to dog grooming, you really don’t have to leave our community anymore to get what you need,” Vance said. “We have stores of great quality, with owners who are nice and who go out of their way to help you.” Mt Laurel is a 600-acre neighborhood development off Dunnavant Valley Road that officials say has family at its center. Once completed, the town
May 2015 • A29 will have 600 homes along with several mixeduse buildings in its town center. Mt Laurel, which is currently in the development of its third phase, has about 220-230 families living there now, Vance said. Businesses say they were hooked by the appeal of Mt Laurel. Here’s a look at four of the new business ventures in its town center (A29-A31).
Lucky Dog Grooming
E&E Hardware
Alyssa Hall and Magan Hall offer a variety of pet services from their grooming business, Lucky Dog. Photos by Keith McCoy.
Casey Crane, right, assists a customer at the Mt Laurel hardware store he opened.
Owners Magan Hall and Alyssa Hall opened the shop that offers doggy haircuts and baths in August 2014. Alyssa is the master dog groomer, honing her skills over three years at PetSmart in Alabaster. Magan handles front-office administrative and financial duties. Magan found out about Mt Laurel from her former bosses, who own Alabama Furniture Market in Alabaster. “We walked around the town center, saw there was no one specializing in dog grooming services and decided to open our boutique,” Alyssa Hall said. “It’s worked so well that we are booked six to eight weeks out for haircuts.
We can still squeeze baths in.” Alyssa said they are looking for an experienced groomer to add to the staff to keep up with demand. They have grown through word of mouth in Mt Laurel plus a Lucky Dog Grooming Facebook page. They sponsored a cutest canine photo contest during the April Spring Festival in Mt Laurel, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Shelby County Humane Society. Besides Mt Laurel, Magan Hall says they have gotten customers from as far away as Columbiana and Helena. “We try hard to give back to the community,” Alyssa Hall said.
For years, Casey Crane wanted to open a small-town hardware store like the one he used to attend as a teenager. Last August, Crane left a job working for his brother’s distribution warehouse to pursue his entrepreneurial dream at age 48. So far it has worked out well, he said. “My customers have been so supportive,” Crane said during a break in his shop. “They appreciate not having to drive all the way down 280 to get what they need.” E&E Hardware carries a variety of items, from plumbing and electrical supplies to small garden tools, light bulbs, air filters and bird feed.
“We’ve got almost anything a husband needs when working on his ‘honey-do list,’” Crane said with a chuckle. Crane said he was attracted to Mt Laurel for the venture after getting to know the community while working for EBSCO 20 years ago. “I loved the fact that it has a small town feel, which is perfect for a hardware store,” he said. Crane said he is hoping to build a legacy that he can pass on down to the next generation. “A lot of people don’t know I’m here, but word is spreading to some of the surrounding neighborhoods,” he said. “I’m enjoying it so far.”
A30 • May 2015
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Mt Laurel Businesses
280 Living
Simply Infused Simply Infused, a shop and tasting room specializing in a variety of olive oil and balsamic vinegar products, is owned by Cheryl Harper and her 15-yearold daughter, Loreleigh. Cheryl Harper left a 25-year career in information technology at Hewlett-Packard to start the business venture with her daughter. “I missed so much quality time with her that I wanted to step out on faith and do something together with my daughter,” she said. The business name comes from the idea of “simply infusing authentic olive oil” products into the Mt Laurel community, Harper said. Simply Infused has a tasting room that allows customers to taste and experience more than 50 varieties of imported extra-virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars shipped in from around the world, Harper said. They can be used to boost the flavorings of foods from steaks to salads, she said. “Customers can try as many pairings as they can imagine, representing extraordinary examples of unique quality and pairings impossible to duplicate in traditional supermarket brands,” Harper said. Simply Infused joins a national trend as olive oil shops are catching popularity across the country. Another shop, Oli.O, opened in Mountain Brook Village a year ago. The Mt Laurel sales office says Simply Infused is a great fit for the community and joins a
Simply Infused owner Cheryl Harper pours samples of her olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
growing retail center providing a variety of services for residents. The idea for Simply Infused sprouted from a vacation Harper and her daughter made to an olive oil shop in Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina in November 2012. “We were shocked and amazed at the quality of the taste, and on the way home Loreleigh and I talked about opening our own shop one day,” Harper said. “Two years later, in November 2014, I left my job in corporate America and started the
process that got us to where we are today.” To research for their new venture, Harper took her daughter last December on a 17-day cross-country trip from Alabama to California, stopping by olive oil shops and vacation sites such as the Grand Canyon along the route. “We visited olive oil shops from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Ventura, California,” she said. “We are using techniques we learned from the best.” Harper said their products come
from olives grown and pressed by artisans and small farms throughout the world. “They are 100 percent extra virgin,” she said. “They are not blends adulterated with lower quality oils or other additives.” Simply Infused’s all-natural balsamic vinegars are harvested in Modena, Italy, and they too have health benefits such as helping control blood sugar and reducing high blood pressure, Harper said. Besides dozens of olive oil and balsamic vinegars, the store sells candy bars, lotions and other products.
280Living.com
May 2015 • A31
Mr. Harry’s Chickin De-Lux
After several years at Mt Laurel’s Standad Bistro, chef Chris Harrigan has opened a new casual chicken restaurant in the same location. Photos by Keith McCoy.
Co-owner and chef Chris Harrigan says the new Mr. Harry’s chicken concept has seen families with young children who shied away from a fine-dining restaurant. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner entrees featuring his take on chicken fingers, chicken wings, chicken salad, rotisserie chicken, chicken and dumplings and others. “You’re limited in offering just fine dining in an oasis like this,” Harrigan said during a recent lunch break at the restaurant. “To me, it made more sense to offer a family-friendly, full-service casual chicken restaurant. We offer a $9 lunch and $15 dinner entrees, so it’s affordable to everyone.” The restaurant has been well received despite opening with no advertising, thanks to strong word-of-mouth and promotion on Facebook, Harrigan said. It is a perfect fit for Mt Laurel and thousands of families who live in area
neighborhoods such as Greystone and Highland Lakes, he said. “We’ve seen grandparents with young children, families, large groups, business professionals,” Harrigan said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s going very well.” Harrigan’s business partners include a Birmingham restaurateur familiar with building a popular brand, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q owner Nick Pihakis and his son, Nicholas Pihakis. Mr. Harry’s Chickin De-Lux includes recipes Harrison developed over 25 years working in restaurants, mostly upscale, across the country. The restaurant seats 140 people inside and another 80 outside. Harrigan said he and his partners are already making plans for a second Mr. Harry’s Chickin De-Lux. “It will be in Avondale,” he said, adding they hope to open it within six months.
280 Living neighborly news & entertainment
SECTION
B
Events B3 Community B8 Gift Guides B12 Sports B22 School House B19
BRIARWOOD SOCCER CLUB TRYOUTS Open to all players age 10-18 May 18-June 4 www.briarwoodsoccer.com. 205.776.5114
Ex-Eagles finding wings at Samford By DAVID KNOX
Heath Quinn hits a home run.
Even when you’re a stud high school baseball player in a program as outstanding as Oak Mountain’s, there’s going to be a little bit of a transition when you move up to the next level. It’s been an exciting one to watch if you’re Samford baseball coach Casey Dunn, as he’s seen sure-fire pro prospect Heath Quinn and Bulldogs teammate — and former Eagle teammate — Richard Greene grow and mature on and off the field. After his senior season at Oak Mountain, Quinn was drafted in the 12th round of the Major League
Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft by the Cleveland Indians. The 6-foot-3, 220pound sophomore outfielder passed on the offer to go to Samford. He will be draft-eligible after his junior year, and of course Samford fans are thrilled he’ll be around at least another season after this one. “Heath’s been an impact guy since he got here and is probably one of the top three or four more-talented kids we’ve had here,” Dunn said. “From the draft out of high school to the opportunity he’s had coming to school and the year and a half he’s been here, he’s done nothing but improve his status from a professional standpoint. Academically he’s been a great student for us. I think through college from a maturity standpoint has been good, but mainly baseball-wise he’s just been a special player for us.” Quinn was named a Freshman All-American and second team All-Southern Conference after hitting .319 with
nine home runs and 48 runs batted in his freshman season. In late April, Quinn was batting .327 with eight homers and 30 RBIs. He’s not entirely happy with his numbers at this point, but stresses it’s about the team anyway. “We played some tough competition early, but we’re starting to play some better baseball. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re trying to be the best team we can be in May at conference tournament time.” The Bulldogs indeed were peaking, improving to 22-17 and 9-3 in the Southern Conference after reeling off eight straight wins. On his own numbers, Quinn said, “It’s not quite what I would’ve liked, but all I can do is keep working, trying to get better. Last year, I started off a little bit better and this year I’ve kind of struggled
See BASEBALL | page B26
B2 • May 2015
280 Living
280Living.com
May 2015 • B3
Farmer’s Markets back in swing this season Urban Cookhouse Farmer’s Market
Mt Laurel Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair
Valleydale Farmers Market
214 Summit Blvd., Suite 102 Opens May 28 Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.
5 Mt Laurel Avenue Opens June 6 Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon
4601 Valleydale Road Opens May 23 Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon
Urban Cookhouse practices the motto of buying local in all aspects of their business, including their annual Farmer’s Market. “We want to show support for local farmers,” Market Manager Victoria Underwood said. “Urban Cookhouse even buys from them for the restaurant.” The market usually hosts 20-25 local vendors each Thursday. Although the market faces competition from some Saturday markets, Underwood believes that it is more convenient for visitors and farmers to be on a weekday evening.
Sponsored by EBSCO Industries, the Mt Laurel Farmers Market and Craft Fair invites vendors and farmers from around the community to gather on Manning Place every Saturday morning from June to October. The market not only offers locally grown, fresh produce, but also craftsmen of multiple trades presenting their works to the community. The market brings more than 20 farmers and 35 crafts vendors each weekend. Visitors will find pottery, woodcarving, knife and blade sharpening, frames, tin art, reclaimed furniture, honey, eggs, goat cheese, bread, succulents and fresh flowers.
Seven years ago, members of Faith Presbyterian Church decided the Oak Mountain community needed a closer farmers market. Since they launched the Valleydale Farmers Market, local farmers have joined others from Chilton and Blount Counties to sell their produce and goods to the community from the church parking lot. At the market, customers can find a great line up of growers selling fresh produce, honey and jams/jellies. Homemade goods including handmade soaps, handmade art, artisan pasta, woodworks, metal works, jewelry, clothing and accessories. Pet supplies are also featured.
B4 • May 2015
280 Living
Racing to find a cure Kentucky Derby party supports muscular dystrophy research
Derby for Dystrophy May 2, 5-9 p.m. Dixie Fish Company $40 per person eventbrite.com
Members of the League of Southeastern Credit Union’s Birmingham Young Professionals group pose together at a recent event. Amanda Meacham is president of the group. Photos courtesy of Amanda Meacham.
Amanda Meacham stands with her brother, Joshua Jackson. Jackson was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age 6.
By MADISON MILLER
from the LSCU, I knew that I had to take this one to the committee, and that we could make it really special.” Meacham and the committee chose to change the event to include more forms of muscular dystrophy. Although she is most familiar with Duchenne, she wanted the event to be more inclusive. “MDA fights 43 different neuromuscular diseases, and we would prefer for the money that we’re raising to help with all of these rather than just one,” she said. Derby for Dystrophy will be held at Dixie Fish Company on May 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. The derby will be screened on several TVs on the
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a cause near and dear to Amanda Meacham’s heart. Her brother was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 6. Since high school, Meacham has been dedicated to working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to raise awareness and help to find a cure. “MDA has been a huge part of my life,” Meacham said. This month, Meacham, a financial service officer at Greystone Avadian Credit Union, will help to organize Derby for Dystrophy. The event will raise funds for many kinds of muscular
dystrophy as guests watch the annual Kentucky Derby at Dixie Fish Company on U.S. 280. The event, previously known as Derby for Duchenne, raised funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. After the board that originally organized the event fell through, Meacham decided to take over. As president of the League of Southeastern Credit Union’s Birmingham Young Professionals Committee, she knew that the event would make a great addition to the committee’s yearly events. “I’ve gone to and worked at several events [MDA] has put on. The Derby was always my favorite,” Meacham said. “When I was afforded the opportunity to start organizing fundraisers
patio. Live music, horseshoes, a hat parade, a best-dressed prize and more information about MDA will be available. Guests are encouraged to dress in traditional Kentucky Derby garb. Gift cards will be given away for the winner of the hat parade and for best dressed. “The bigger the hat, the better, and the more seer sucker, the better,” Meacham said. Tickets are $40 per person and include two mint juleps and appetizers. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/mda-derby-for-dystrophypresented-by-birmingham-area-credit-union-ypgroup-tickets-16298590523.
280Living.com
Lyme lives here
By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE Tina Neathammer wants people to realize that “Lyme lives here” — in Hoover, Jefferson County, throughout Alabama and beyond. And Neathammer should know — she and her daughter, Tori, have been living with Lyme disease for years. The experience has impacted their lives to such an extent that the 54-year-old Hoover resident now devotes much of her time to educating the public about the infection and the lack of appropriate diagnosis and treatment availability. “I had no idea this would become my calling,” Neathammer said. “But there are just so many people out there who are sick but don’t know why and then, when they finally find out, they can’t get treatment.” In recognition of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, a Lyme disease awareness gathering will be held May 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Veterans Park. The event will feature information booths, food and children’s activities. The public is also invited to take part in “take a bite out of Lyme” by biting lime slices. It’s part of an international social media challenge that will be posted to Facebook. “Frankly, we want to bring attention to ourselves and alert people to this problem that can affect anyone and infects more than 300,000 across the country annually,” Neathammer said. “We have more kinds of ticks in the South than the whole East Coast that can cause Lyme, and it’s important people are educated about the disease, prevention, treatment and patient
Rick, Tina and Tori Neathammer man an information booth on Lyme disease. Photo courtesy of Tina Neathammer.
support.” Lyme disease is a bacterial infection most commonly contracted from the bite of a tick, though some researchers now believe other creatures such as mosquitoes, fleas and biting flies may also transmit the disease. According to the Alabama Lyme Disease Association, Lyme can mimic other diseases, and many patients have been misdiagnosed with a variety of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, ADHD and mental illness. Tori became ill in 2006 at age 14,
after participating in a Cahaba River cleanup. “First it appeared to be the flu, then mono, followed by about two years of almost every body part just quitting working,” Neathammer said. “Tori was a dancer, but the exertion wore her out. She was treated for multiple problems including asthma, low blood pressure and fainting, and allergies — but it wasn’t any of them.” Doctors eventually decided Tori herself was the problem and diagnosed her with anxiety and “school avoidance,” Neathammer said. “I was so angry about the diagnosis
I took her to my family physician, and testing showed she had Lyme disease,” she said. “Meanwhile, I had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in my 20s but was also getting sick with similar symptoms, so he tested me and I was positive. Now doctors think it was Lyme all along.” Kevin Wolfe, the primary organizer of the Alabama Lyme Disease Association in 2011 and its current president, knows Neathammer’s fear and frustration — his 7-year-old son had been misdiagnosed by 25 physicians in three states before a specialist in tickborne diseases correctly determined
May 2015 • B5
the child had Lyme. In fact, one doctor told him there is no Lyme disease south of the MasonDixon Line because lizards here have an enzyme in their blood that “deactivates” the bacteria, making it harmless to humans, Wolfe said. “Given how widespread this disease is, it is shocking how limited the research and education on testing, diagnosing and treating this devastating disease is,” he said. And because there were no treatment options in Alabama, the Neathammers traveled to an infectious disease physician in Tampa. “We were both put on IV antibiotics and immediately began improving,” she said. “It was pretty dramatic.” While Tori, who still takes oral antibiotics, will graduate from the University of Alabama next year, Neathammer’s condition has deteriorated to include jaw and joint infections and the need for two knee replacements. But though her physical problems continue, Neathammer persists in her efforts to awaken the public to the realities of Lyme, including the desperate need for Alabama physicians to be trained to properly diagnose and treat the disease. “I knew how sick my daughter and I were, but when physicians couldn’t give our illness a name, they essentially gave up on us,” she said. “I have no doubt if I had not pounded on doors until we were appropriately tested, diagnosed and then treated, that we would both be completely disabled and permanently damaged.”
B6 • May 2015
280 Living
Great Strides Walk to raise CF awareness
Aubie and Big Al took part in last year’s Great Strides Walk event at Veterans Park.
By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE While never a cystic fibrosis patient himself, Brad Skiff’s life has been impacted twofold by the disease. The Hoover resident saw his brother-in-law, John, suffer from CF from a very young age and go through two double lung transplants, only to leave a young son and wife behind when he passed away at 36. But Skiff’s cousinin-law, Sarah, is now 45 and doing well thanks to advanced CF research and new medications. “I’ve seen both sides of CF — it totally debilitating someone, then also how research and awareness has enabled my cousin’s wife to
benefit,” Skiff said. That’s why he, along with family members and friends, will be part of the crowd at the May 16 Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk at Veterans Park. According to Jennifer McEuen, associate executive director of the Alabama chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the event will begin with a 9 a.m. check-in for the 10 a.m. 5K walk/ run. Breakfast food will be served, clowns will perform, and some special guest appearances are anticipated. There is no set fee but organizers encourage participants to make donations, McEuen said. “This is a big celebration for all the fundraising
Team Restore members Brad, Amy, Bennett and Mackenzie Skiff take part in the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk to honor family members. Photo courtesy of Brad Skiff.
that has taken place via family, friends and sponsors,” she said. “In fact, we have about 55 teams in this area that have raised money with bake sales, phone calls, letter-writing and other means.” Cystic fibrosis is a genetic, life-threatening disease with no cure. It primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, creating thick, sticky mucus that prevents proper nutrient absorption and causes tissue scarring that leads to loss of lung function. CF patients may spend significant time in the hospital and average 30 pills a day, plus two 45-minute breathing treatments as part of their daily routine, McEuen said. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was created
in 1955 by parents of CF children hoping to find a cure and extend life, McEuen said. Among its achievements is the 2008 implementation of newborn screenings so CF is now usually caught at birth, making a huge difference in quality of life. “When the foundation was founded, CF life expectancy was elementary school age, but today it can be the 30s, 40s and beyond,” she said. “This is great progress but we have more to make.” For more information or to sign up for the May 16 Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk, go to cff.org/Chapters/alabama.
280Living.com
May 2015 • B7
Oak Mountain, Berry students finalists in fashion week competition By MADOLINE MARKHAM The first dress Charlee Vawter ever made could be on the runway during Birmingham Fashion Week this month. The 16-year-old Oak Mountain High School student is one of the 38 semi-finalists for the Rising Design Star competition. Each contestant crafted a garment representing one of Alabama’s major industries (agriculture, livestock, transportation, technology, fishing, forestry and mining) with recycled or alternative materials such as glue, staples, tape, safety pins and paper clips. These garments were on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art through April 26. To create her dress, Charlee started with newspaper and glue to create its under layer. From there she created a makeshift fabric from trash bags and staples, painted it two shades of green, and added artificial plants and flowers Using leftover flowers, she created a crown and hot glued it together to go with the ensemble. Altogether, the project took her four weeks. Charlee said her inspiration came from seeing a dress made of real flowers on the runway during an Alexander McQueen fashion show. Vawter’s art teacher, Ashley Lemley, praised her for the honor and for her hard work on the project. “She has worked tirelessly and handmade the dress from flowers without being able to sew it together using traditional methods,” said Lemley. “She used newspaper, glue and staples to put it all
Berry Middle School student Lola Waldrop’s design is a semifinalist in Birmingham Fashion Week’s Rising Design Star competition.
Birmingham Fashion Week May 7-9 Pepper Place Downtown Birmingham bhamfashionweek.com
Oak Mountain High School student Charlee Vawter created a dress out of trash bags and artificial flowers for Birmingham Fashion Week’s Rising Design Star competition. Photo courtesy of Juan Rodriguez Photography.
together. I think it is really amazing!” Berry Middle School student Lola Waldrop is also a finalist in the competition. Her design mimicked the look of the interior of cave. Using a base of duct tape, wire, trash bags aluminum and chicken wire, she used charcoal and
rock salt to create a texture like one seen in a cave that she used on the collar and the under side of the skirt. A select number of contestants will advance to the final round of the competition to showcase their design on the Birmingham Fashion Week runway
Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8. In addition to their initial runway look, the design students selected to progress to the next round will also be required to create a second look from recycled Buffalo Rock Co. materials to walk the runway and compete for the sought-after
title of Birmingham Fashion Week’s Rising Design Star. Semifinalists will move on to the final round of judging during the finale runway show on Saturday, May 9, with the winner will be announced that evening and awarded a $500 scholarship.
B8 • May 2015
280 Living
Community Girls on the Run 5K moves to Veteran Park
Local girls play a game at a recent Girls on the Run meeting. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Honaker.
Girls on the Run will be hosting its fourth annual Girls on the Run Community 5K at Veterans Park on May 9 at 8 a.m. This is the first year for the event to be at Veterans Park. “Veterans Park is a beautiful, welcoming space that is easily accessible for all,” said Catherine Gregory,
executive director of Girls on the Run. “This new venue for our 5K will be consistent with our fun, celebratory atmosphere with the added the beauty of nature, with wide trails, fields and ponds.” Girls on the Run is a youth development program for that prepares girls in third to fifth-grade to lead
healthy lifestyles while inspiring them to be powerful, confident and purse their dreams. The program is currently serving 260 girls with 67 volunteer coaches. Registration is $22 through March 31 and $28 until race week at girlsontherunbham.org.
Oak Mountain to host annual bug race By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE If you’ve got a competitive spirit and don’t mind some real creepy crawlers, come out to Oak Mountain State Park on May 25. The park will host its 5th annual Memorial Day Bug Races at 10 a.m. at the basketball courts, just past the park office on Terrace Drive. The event will be officiated by park naturalist Emily Cook and take place in competition circles on the courts. “The bugs are placed in the middle of the circles, and the one who crosses out first wins,” Cook said. “We do several races to make sure everyone gets a chance and to see if the same bugs can win more than once.” The event is open to people of all ages, and last year about 30 children, ranging from ages 3 to 12, took part. Participants can bring their own bugs or join Cook in a search for their entries just prior to race time, she said. “We have some serious competitors, including one young man last year, about 8 or 9 years old, who brought a bug vacuum which enabled him to catch several different bugs to race,” Cook said.
“The kids are pretty brave when it comes to handling the bugs but, depending on what we find, the parents are more afraid than the children.” Cook said the racers of choice are typically crickets, ants and beetles, but spiders — technically not bugs but arachnids, meaning they have more than six legs — have also taken part. “But we don’t consider that cheating and will just make a special category for them,” she said. Cook, who has served as park naturalist for 8 years, also presents educational programs and conducts school field trips and park hikes throughout the year. “Depending on the time of year and where we go, we see many, many different aspects of wildlife, including birds, different trees and plants and, of course, lots of bugs,” she said. The Memorial Day Bug Races are free with the park admission charge, which is $4 for adults, $1 for ages 6-11 and seniors 62 and over, and free for those under age 6. For more information on the bug races or other park events, go online to alapark. com or call the park office at 620-2520.
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May 2015 • B9
Dunnavant Valley developments in Parade of Homes
ALABAMA VEIN CENTER Over 28,000 satisfied The Parade of Homes allows area residents to tour new home designs.
Homes in the Hoover area will be featured in this year’s Parade of Homes May 9-10 and 16- 17. The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB) event allows potential new home buyers and others to see construction and design trends and to connect with builders. The Preserve, Ross Bridge, The Hamptons at Ross Bridge, Magnolia Grove and McGill Crossings will all be featured. For the fourth year, an Ideal Home will serve as a showcase house, featuring the latest in design trends, decor, technology and sustainability. The 2015 Ideal Home is in The Preserve in Hoover at 451 Renaissance Dr. “This home truly is an ‘ideal home,’” said Kyle Murphy, 2015 Parade of Homes chairman. “It incorporates all of the wants and needs of today’s buyer, coupled with the latest in products and features.”
In addition to the more than 75 featured homes, this year the Parade will feature 22 “villages.” “The Parade gives people the opportunity to tour some of Birmingham’s most elegant and beautiful new homes,” said Alicia Vincent, executive officer of the GBAHB. “It’s an annual tradition for a lot of local families, and with new homes in every price range, people often discover exactly what they’d like to see in their next home.” Comprehensive tools are available online to help plan a Parade route. Visit birminghambuilder.com for maps and more information. 2015 Parade of Homes magazines are also available at local Lowe’s stores. The Parade is free and open to the general public Saturdays, May 9 and 16, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays, May 10 and 17, from 1-6 p.m.
Three Hots and A Cot chosen as Inverness Country Club charity
The Inverness Country Club recently chose Three Hots and A Cot as their charity to support in 2015. Photo courtesy of Holly Kuck.
Members of Inverness Country Club recently chose a charity to support for 2015. The club chose to nominate nine charities in December. In January, members were able to donate $5 or more to any of the charities to vote for that charities. On Jan. 30, the selected charities set up booths during Jazztini Friday Night Dining, where members asked the charities’ representatives questions.
Three Hots and A Cot was the winner of the competition, and will receive support from the Club for 2015. The organization helps homeless veterans transition back into civilian society. It partners with the Veterans Authority in Birmingham and in the future hopes to expand its services to include addiction treatment, job training and employment services, and long term housing.
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Friday Night Flicks return
Annual car show to benefit SafeHouse of Shelby County SafeHouse of Shelby County’s annual Show and Go Classic and Custom Car Show will display classic and antique cars over two days this month. The event will begin with a sock hop in downtown Columbiana on May 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. Cars will arrive early and be on display. Live music and fun for the family will be available. The show travels to the Village at Lee Branch on May 30 from 9 a.m. to noon for the Show, Shine and Shop portion of the event. The cars will be displayed by the Carmike Theater at 801 Cahaba Valley Road. Vehicle judging will take place. Guests will be able to view the cars as well as visit a variety of shops and restaurants. All proceeds from the event will benefit SafeHouse of Shelby County and its domestic and sexual violence response and prevention programs. Attendance is free and open to the public. To register a car, visit shelbyshowandgo15.eventbrite.com. To learn more about SafeHouse of Shelby County, visit safehouse.org.
People of all ages will be gathering May 29 for this year’s first Friday Night Flicks at Veterans Park. Photo courtesy of City of Hoover.
The 2015 Friday Night Flicks schedule: May 29: Big Hero Six
June 12: Strange Magic
July 10: Home
July 31: RAIN DATE
June 5: Alexander and the Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
June 19: Annie (2014)
July 17: Maleficent
June 26: Paddington
July 24: Dolphin Tale 2
For more information, visit hooveral.org.
By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE If you’re looking for something fun, free and for the whole family, grab a carload of folks and head out to
Veterans Park on May 29 for the kickoff of Friday Night Flicks. Each of the eight weekly showings begins at dusk and features a PG-rated film. Food vendors will also be on hand.
Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said he’s always excited to see the growing popularity of the event. “You can’t beat it for a great evening out and we’re expecting big crowds again this year,” Ivey said.
Oak Mountain State Park to host Shelby County Senior Picnic Oak Mountain State Park will host the Shelby County Senior Picnic on Thursday, May 21 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The picnic is in celebration of Older Americans Month in May. It will feature lunch, music, vendors, door prizes, beach games, and a farm and petting area. To make your reservation, call 670-5770 by May 1. Please indicate the total number attending in your party. Ages 55 and older are welcome, and children are not allowed.
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Cahaba Grand to host expo for franchise entrepreneurs FranNet of Alabama will host an expo for aspiring entrepreneurs on Wednesday, May 20 at Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Birmingham Franchise Expo 2015 will feature two sessions: one from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and another from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The same information will be offered at both sessions. Attendees will hear from more than 20 successful franchise companies that desire to expand in the Birmingham market. Franchise industry experts will present information on topics covering the steps to owning a franchise
and how to fund a franchise. There will be an opportunity to interact with each franchise company before and after each session. “One of FranNet’s goals is to promote connections with different franchises representing a wide range of business models,” said Marcus Hunt, FranNet’s local consultant. “Local banks and other financing resources will be on hand to discuss opportunities for those looking to start their own business.” While the expo is free, a reservation is encouraged, as seating may be limited. To register, visit alabamafranchiseexpo.com.
Four things to consider when buying a franchise Tips from FranNet’s Marcus Hunt Taking the leap to owning your own business can be uncharted territory for many and there are a lot of risks involved. However, with those risks, come great rewards if you can successfully launch and grow your new business. One path to being your own boss is through franchise ownership. Here are four ways to find out if owning a franchise ownership is for you. 1. I want to be my own boss. For some, the call to business ownership is so loud that it constantly echoes in our head and around every turn. For the rest of us, we know we are not content in our current job but we don’t have the gumption to make the leap to business ownership so quickly. 2. I need a playbook for business. If having a playbook or a recipe for business ownership success appeals to you, franchising may offer the structure and tools to allow you to hit the ground running and not have to learn the business “hard knocks” that might otherwise come with starting your own business from scratch.
Marcus Hunt
3. I’m not sure I can do it alone. Along with giving you a playbook for success, one of the other benefits of franchise ownership is the support you receive from the franchise company. Owning a franchise allows you to “be in business for yourself but not by yourself.” 4. I want to own a business, but I’m not sure what kind. There are over 3,000 different franchise concepts in over 90 different categories. If it can be done, it has most likely been franchised. The challenge becomes narrowing down the vast list of franchises. You may be surprised that the franchise that fits your skills and talents best is not the type of business you ever dreamed of owning.
Oak Mountain State Park hosts Wings Over Oak Mountain Oak Mountain Park and the Alabama Wildlife Center will host Wings Over Oak Mountain May 1-3. The event lasts all weekend and features a variety of programs designed for bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts from across the state. “Wings Over Oak Mountain is a fun, can’tmiss weekend for anyone who appreciates Alabama’s birds and the beautiful natural diversity of Oak Mountain State Park,” said Doug Adair, executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Center. The weekend will begin on Friday night with
a wine-tasting reception provided by Vizzini Winery. Guests will have the opportunity to take photos with glove-trained raptors and tour the Alabama Wildlife Center and the Treetop Nature Trail. There will be birding field trips led by the Birmingham Audubon Society on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Saturday night. Tickets are available at awrc.org, or by calling 663-7930, Ext. 8. Tickets are $75 each, or two for $125. This includes all programs, as well as breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday and lunch on Saturday.
Now Enrolling for Summer and the 2015-2016 School Year
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Mother’s Day Gift Guide Spa Special $175
Treat Mom with a spa package featuring a lavish body and face treatment, rejuvenating body wrap, relaxing back massage and foot massage, valued at $250 in total. Expires May 30, 2015. St. Vincent’s One Nineteen 7191 Cahaba Valley Road 408-6510
Topaz Ring and Earrings
Earrings $750, Ring $580 Mom will love these yellow gold with London blue topaz pieces. The ring also features chocolate diamonds and white diamonds. M&M Jewelers 440 Inverness Corners 991-0593
Interior Design Consultation
Personalized Disc Necklace
$75 for up to two rooms
Each child’s name and any date are crafted as part of this handmade piece.
Interior design professionals offer ideas and resources to give your mother the gift of a functional room that reflects her unique tastes and personality.
The Urban Barn 601 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 105 451-8888
White Dog Photography & Design white-dogphotography.com 251-680-5300
$14 per child’s name
OTBT Bushnell Wedge Sandal $125
This thick-strapped platform has just enough stretch in that slingback to keep you comfortable. Alabama Outdoors 108 Inverness Plaza 980-3303
Lunch or Dinner Gift Card Any amount
Treat mom to an Italian dinner of her choice.
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Posturepedic Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Nina Nguyen’s Harmony Necklace
Queen, $799, King, $1,199 Mom can choose between a firm, plush or pillow top mattress and receive a free set of sheets, two pillows, a down alternative comforter and two pillowcases.
$295
Layer each of your children’s birthstones with this jewelry that features genuine gemstone faceted beads.
Bedzzz Express 2800 Greystone Commercial Blvd., Suite 2-A 408-0280
Southeastern Jewelers 5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111 980-9030
Art Pot $56
This black and white striped 15-inch art flower pot is perfect for the mother with a green thumb. The Cuckoo's Nest 4222 Old Highway 280, Westover 678-7220
Opal and Pearl Necklace $285
Wrap these opals long length or tie with comet white pearls on the tips. Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace 6801 Cahaba Valley Road 980-4471
Stretch Bracelets $145 each
These Catherine Page Evra stretch bracelets are available with pendants in labradorite, turquoise, clear crystal and rutilated quartz. Bromberg’s 131 Summit Blvd. 969-1776
Gift Certificate Any amount
Let mom pick out the perfect piece of home decor herself. Greystone Antiques & Marketplace 5475 U.S. 280 205-995-4773
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Antique Box $40
Mothers will love this beveled mirrored box for treasured keepsakes or delicate jewelry.
Two-Tone Antelope Wedge
Urban Home Market 1001 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 101 980-4663
$172
This shoe features studded accents on the heel and is lightweight and comfortable. The Ditsy Daisy 16618 U.S. 280, Suite 100 678-6166
Health and Wellness Certificate Any Amount
Necklaces for mothers day
Help Mom feel her best with a medical weight loss or anti-aging program of her choice.
Pendant $168, Bar necklace $54
MD Wellness & Aesthetics 650 Inverness Corners 582-9216
Newton Designs 14 Kt. goldfilled or sterling silver chains.
Precious Metal Prints Kit
$69.99
Personalize a sterling silver piece with your pet’s nose to create a piece of jewelry. Hollywood Feed 230 Doug Baker Blvd. 995-0223
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From left: Brian Kulbersh, MD; Audie L. Woolley, MD, FACS; Brian J. Wiatrak, MD, FACS, FAAP; J. Scott Hill, MD, FACS, FAAP; and Nicholas Smith, MD
Our five physicians have more than 60 years of combined Pediatric ENT experience with additional fellowship training in Pediatric ENT surgery. We provide assessment, treatment and management for children with conditions such as: o Complex sinus problems o Ear infections (ear tubes) o Hearing loss o Tonsil and adenoid problems o Facial and neck masses o Sinus infections o Airway obstruction and breathing disorders o Cosmetic issues such as prominent ears (otoplasty) and birthmarks of the face and neck
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Two Convenient Locations CHiLDreN’S ruSSeLL CAMPuS CLiNiC 4, MCWANe BuiLDiNg 1600 7tH AveNue SoutH BirMiNgHAM, AL 35233
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The MAX Stem Cell Eye Cream $45.90
This next generation day and night eye crème by Image Skin Care contains high concentrations of growth-factors derived from plant stem cells to protect skin cells and prevent aging effects caused by free radical damage. Revitalize at Greystone 8040 Hugh Daniel Drive 305-7222
Elite Boutique & Tan 2663 Valleydale Road 408-0220
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Bamboo Loungewear $53.99
Mom will love this comfy two-piece set. Plain Jane 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 600 991-1995
Big Buddha Handbags $60
Blending flirty fashion with practical and versatile design, Big Buddha bags offer stand-out style. Everly’s Boutique 5479 Highway 280, Suite 108 769-6808
Cordani Shoes $212
Mom will love these Cordani Electra shoes in luxury gunmetal. Highland Shoe Company 250 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 200 783-5325
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Graduation Gift Guide Tag Watch $2,050 This Tag Heuer Formula 1 stainless steel watched features black and blue bezel. Bromberg’s 131 Summit Blvd. 969-1776
Cable Bracelets $110 each These stainless steel/ sterling silver cable bracelets with diamond accents are perfect for any graduate.
Bookends
Southeastern Jewelers 5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111 980-9030
$39.99 Your graduate can add style to a bookshelf with these globe bookends. Greystone Antiques & Marketplace 5475 U.S. 280 995-4773
Face and Body Bronzing Crème $27 This rich moisturizing crème by Image Skin Care suited for the face and body will create a natural, sunless tan with a golden shimmer. Revitalize at Greystone 8040 Hugh Daniel Drive 305-7222
Yeti Rambler & Colster Starting at $29.99 The stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulated Rambler series will keep your chilled beverages as cold as science allows. Alabama Outdoors 108 Inverness Plaza 980-3303
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Muddy Memories $27 Muddy Memories uses a selftaught muddying technique to create all sorts of art pieces from portraits to unique custom gifts. Everly's Boutique 5479 Highway 280, Suite 108 769-6808
Cinda B Bags Wooden Picture Frame
$19-95 Let Cinda B be the perfect gift for your graduate. All items can be monogrammed. The Ditsy Daisy 16618 U.S. 280, Suite 100 678-6166
$22 This 7-by-7-inch rustic handmade wood block picture frame by French Flea will add pizazz to any dorm room. The Urban Barn 601 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 105 451-8888
Dog is Good Shirt $21.99 These shirts come in more than a dozen fun sayings and colors and are available in sizes small to XXL. Hollywood Feed 230 Doug Baker Blvd. 995-0223
Rembrant Charm Bracelet Bracelet $125, Charms $26-$30 This elegant sterling silver bracelet is also available in yellow and white gold. M&M Jewelers 440 Inverness Corners 991-0593
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New Client Special $99 for one month unlimited 5426 Hwy 280 East | Suite 6 205.991.5224 | www.purebarre.com
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280 Living
Photoshoot with Family & Pets
Majorica Pearls
$100 for 30 minutes, $200 for an hour
$175
Capture lasting memories of your family and celebrate this milestone by enjoying an outdoor photography session with up to two pets and ďŹ ve family members.
These white pearls, which are man made in Spain, make a special keepsake for any graduate.
White Dog Photography & Design white-dogphotography.com 251-680-5300
Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace 6801 Cahaba Valley Road 980-4471
Bracelets for grads Leather Band $27, Statement Piece $22 Lenny & Eva Bracelets and Jewelry - words written not on paper. Elite Boutique & Tan 2663 Valleydale Road 205-408-0220
Union Jack Rain Boots $46 Rain boots are a necessity for rainy days on campus. The Cuckoo's Nest 4222 Old Highway 280, Westover 678-7220
Jute Initial Tote $22.99 Mom can carry whatever she needs in style with this tote bag. Plain Jane 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 600 991-1995
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School House LPMS participates in Pennies for Patients Liberty Park Middle School raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the Pennies for Patients program. Since 1994, millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). LPM’s charity fundraiser was sponsored by the Friends of Rachel (F.O.R) Club. The F.O.R. Club led a competition between the three grade levels at LPMS in order to help this cause. The seventh-grade
class won the competition and was treated to an ice cream treat and a party. Along with being able to bring in spare change to donate, parents were able to donate money online also. After a week of fundraising, the total amount collected for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was $2,129.04. -Submitted by Linda Rummell Liberty Park Middle School students and parents raised $2,129.04 for the Pennies for Patients program. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.
Chelsea bands earn high marks in state competition By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Chelsea Middle and High School bands received excellent scores at the State Music Performance Assessment on March 9. The MPA consists of a performance of three prepared pieces and a sight reading competition, which is where bands must perform a piece they have never practiced before. “That’s where the teaching really comes out,” high school band director Dane Lawley said. The seventh grade and eighth-grade bands both earned straight 1s from judges, giving them a Superior Rating. Middle school band director Deana Rizzo said she is “extremely proud” of the
middle school students’ performances, especially since the seventh grade band had to meet at 6:15 a.m. once a week in January and February to practice. Rizzo’s son is in the eighth grade band, so she knows a lot of her students without their instruments. “On a personal level, I’ve watched those kids grow up outside of the band,” Rizzo said. “There’s a sentimental attachment there.” The high school concert band also received a Superior Rating, and the wind ensemble received all As from the judges for a Superior Rating with Distinction. Lawley said his students put in a lot of hard work to get ready for the MPAs. He’s also proud of Rizzo, who has been the middle school
Chelsea bands perform on stage.
band director for 22 years and was previously one of his students. Lawley was Rizzo’s band director from sixth-grade through high school. “I’m equally as proud of the middle school as I am of the high school,” Lawley said. “ [Rizzo’s] strong teaching is part of the reason we’re
at this level at the high school.” The middle and high school bands will next perform at their spring concert. The beginner’s band will perform May 5, the seventh and eighth grade bands on May 7 and the high school bands on May 8.
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LPMS students chosen as semi-finalists in literature contest Fourteen Liberty Park Middle School sixth-graders were chosen as state semi-finalists as part of the Letters About Literature Contest. Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest for students in grades four to 12. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write to that author, living or dead, about how the book affected them personally. The letters are judged on state and national levels. The LPMS students were Audrey Bayne, Victoria Bentley, Matt Coleman, Julie Dixon, Harrison Downes, Eigen Escario, Lexi Green,
Anne Claire Miller, Kayla Miller, Kellyn Murch, Leighton Reese, Ella Russell, Rachel Simms and Emily Teel. The students have been invited to attend an awards ceremony at the University of Alabama. Their letters will go through another round of judging, and a first, second and third place winner will be named at the state level. The first place state winner’s letter will then compete in the national competition. This contest is sponsored by Center for the Book in The Library of Congress and Affiliate State Center for the Book organizations. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
Fourteen LPMS students are semi-finalists in a national literature contest. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.
Oak Mountain schools receives donation from Meadow Brook HOA
LPMS counselor hosts lunch on anxiety
The Meadow Brook Homeowner’s Association made a donation to each Oak Mountain school zoned in the Meadow Brook neighborhood. “We feel fortunate to have excellent teachers, administration and leadership in the Oak Mountain Schools, but also understand that each school works on a limited budget,” said Clark Edwards, vice president of the MBHO. “A donation of this kind is mutually beneficial to the students and staff as it is to every homeowner in the neighborhood as we understand the relationship between a neighborhood and the strength of the schools.” The donation was made through the MBHO Community Assistance and Relief Efforts
Stephanie Holcomb, counselor at Liberty Park Middle School, coordinated a Parent Brown Bag Lunch on the topic of anxiety. Kim Brindley, with The Brindley Group, LLC, was the guest speaker. She discussed ways to help children cope with stress, worry and anxiety. She suggested that the first step in helping children with anxiety is by taking care of yourself and your own stress. She added that it is important to acknowledge children’s anxiety and worries and to teach them activities that
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Program, which has assisted in a wide range of local projects, including The Oak Mountain Missions, Project Night Night and Insoles for Soldiers. “Through efforts like these, and these donations to Inverness Elementary, Oak Mountain Middle, Intermediate and High School, the MBHO strives to be a steward of both our own neighborhood and as a member of the over-themountain and north Shelby County communities,” said Edwards. In 2010, Meadow Brook was named by Bloomberg Business Week the “Best Affordable Suburb in America” for Alabama. -Submitted by Clark Edwards
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will relax and calm them. Brindley also discussed that it is important to teach children to be flexible and that family fun and humor can diffuse anxiety. Most importantly she stressed to remember that unconditional love is the best gift you can give a child. Other essential topics were to make sure the message of love is heard daily, even with discipline, and that parents need to stay connected to their child. This helps children develop strength and resilience. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
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Gordon Korman visits LPMS
Author Gordon Korman visited LPMS to speak to students and hold a writing workshop. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.
Author Gordon Korman recently visited and spoke to the students at Liberty Park Middle School, Pizitz Middle School, Liberty Park Elementary and Vestavia Hills Central. Korman signed his first book contract in eighth-grade, and his first novel was published when he was a freshman in high school. His second book was published at age 16.
During his visit, Korman encouraged young writers to find the thing that they loved and write about that thing. After he spoke, he took the time to autograph students’ books and later led an adventure writing workshop at Liberty Park Middle School. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
Stonecreek student earns National Gold Medal in Scholastic Art and Writing Contest Stonecreek Montessori Academy seventh-grade student Hannah Bray has earned a National Gold Medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest. After winning a Gold Key in the Southern Region at large competition, her original work, entitled “Why Do You Always Carry a Gun?,” advanced to the national level competition, where it was reviewed against other entries from across the nation. Less than 1 percent of this year’s 300,000 submissions earned a National Medal. The Scholastic Awards are presented to students from seventh to 12th grade by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Prior winners of the Awards include well-renowned names such as Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote and Joyce Carol Oates. In the state of Alabama, only ten students earned some form of award at the national level, with only four students in the state earning a National Gold Medal. In addition to earning the National Gold Medal, Bray is
Stonecreek Montessori Academy’s Hannah Bray won a National Gold Medal. Photo courtesy of Stonecreek Montessori Academy.
entered in a lottery to go to Carnegie Hall in New York City to receive her award in person. -Submitted by Ream Shoreibah
LPMS holds Lancer Court of Honor Liberty Park Middle School recently held the 2014-2015 third nine weeks Lancer Court of Honor. Two boys and two girls are selected each nine weeks from each grade level. This is the highest honor that a student can receive at LPMS. Students are selected by their teachers based on leadership, citizenship and conduct. Eighth-grade students who were selected were: Tess Dauphin, Andrea Rodriquez, John David Hill and Wade Kozler. The seventh-grade
nominees were Madison Mills, Alex Ricketts, Jake Eggleston and Ryan Eshleman. The sixthgrade nominees were Gwynnie Hornibrooke, McKenna Pate, Jacob Malone and Micah Roberson. Danny Haralson, founder of Run University, was the keynote speaker. Run University is a training program for people who want to learn how to train for marathons. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
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Sports
Oak Mountain girls teams place in Pelham tournament
Front row: Mabrey Whitehead, Ashton Perry, Cailyn Ries, Mallory Ogle and Kathleen Matuszak.Back row: Allison Turner, Jennings Sinclair, Lauren Schuessler, Kierson McDonald and Hannah Easterling.
Each of the three Oak Mountain Girls Select basketball teams finished either first or second in the Pelham Girls Basketball League tournament in February. Oak Mountain Girls Select Basketball is comprised of fourth, fifth and sixth-grade competitive basketball teams that compete in a tengame regular-season schedule at Riverchase
Middle School as a part of the PGBL. The girls go on to compete in a two to three game tournament-schedule. Oak Mountain sixth-grade girls finished strong with a second place, eight win and two loss regular-season record, and placed second to Pelham in the tournament. The fifth-grade girls had an eight win and two loss regular-season to
Front row: Vica Hood, Samantha Mueller, Abby Sandidge, Mackenzie Price and Ava Davis. Back row: Ava Petty, Macey Ogle, Nora Ohlson, Abby Gordon and Emily Hart.
finish in third place, but then came back to take first-place in the tournament also against Pelham. The Oak Mountain fourth-grade girls finished the regular season with a nine win and one loss record, and then met rivals of Pelham to take first place in the tournament. The 2014-15 Oak Mountain Select League commissioner was Judd Fleming. The
sixth-grade team’s head coach was John Phillips, assisted by Judd Fleming. The fifth-grade team’s head coach was Jerry Hood and assisted by John Ohlson. The fourth-grade team was coached by Jerod Sinclair and assisted by incoming 2015-16 commissioner, Sean Ries. -Submitted by Megan Ries
280Living.com
May 2015 • B23
Quinn is in Assistant replaces Neal Barker as Jags coach By DAVID KNOX Spain Park Athletics Director Patrick Kellogg didn’t have far to look to find the Jaguars’ next boys basketball coach. He was already sitting on the bench. Assistant coach Donnie Quinn was selected from among some 50 candidates to replace Neal Barker, who was not retained as coach after compiling a 79-48 record over four seasons. “When we went through this process, we were looking for somebody that was for Spain Park, for Hoover City Schools,” Kellogg said. “Just to sit down and listen to him talk about not just about basketball but kids and learning, I think we have the perfect fit. The other people in 7A are in a lot of trouble.” Spain Park Principal Ken Jarnagin was equally excited. “I don’t know if there is anybody we could find that has more basketball savvy,” Jarnagin said. “We’re not going to be outsmarted on the coaching side of things. On a personal note, if I had a kid coming through high school, I would make him play basketball, whether he is on the bench or not, just to be around Donnie Quinn.” There may not be a more talented roster in the state. “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what I can do with this group of guys,” Quinn said. The Jaguars posted a 24-6 record last season and were among the ASWA Class 7A top 10 most of the season, rising as high as No. 2. But an upset loss to Vestavia Hills in the opening round of the area tournament — on a four-point play in the final seconds — prevented the Jaguars from advancing to the regionals. The Jags played that game — and another of their losses — without Austin Wiley. The 6-9
junior-to-be is rated by ESPN as a 5-star player, the 11th best player in his class nationally. Teammate Jamal Johnson is no slouch. Another rising junior, Johnson is a 6-4 combo guard who holds offers from Auburn and Texas A&M, among others, and has drawn interest from Alabama — no wonder, since he is the son of former Tide star Buck Johnson. Interestingly, Wiley has Auburn bloodlines. His father is former Tiger basketball player Aubrey Wiley, and his mother is former Auburn star and Olympian Vicki Orr Wiley. He has offers from Auburn, Alabama, UAB and Mississippi State. That’s just the top end of the Jaguars’ roster. There are other talented players in the mix for 2015-16. And as Quinn said, it’s the other players who’ll help the Jaguars win a state championship. “There are definitely some high expectations,” Quinn said. “In the back of your mind, you know what you have to accomplish … but you know that going in.” Quinn’s experience means there won’t be anything he hasn’t seen before. The 60-year-old Quinn, who also assisted Spain Park girls coach Mike Chase, has a varied history of coaching both boys and girls — and women — players in his 30-plus years of coaching. Quinn coached boys basketball in Louisiana for 15 years, winning a state title. He then spent the next dozen years coaching females. He was a women’s assistant at Louisiana-Monroe from 1995-2000. He led Hoover’s girls to Class 6A state championships in 2010 and 2012. He posted a 157-16 mark in five years leading the Lady Buccaneers. From there, he accepted an assistant position to University of Alabama women’s coach Wendell Hudson. When Hudson was let go after the 2012-2013 season, Quinn was out of a job, too, and landed at Spain Park as the lead assistant for
Treat your mother and your grad!
Donnie Quinn talks things over with Spain Park players during a game last season. The former assistant has been named as the new head coach for the Jaguars. Photo by Ted Melton.
both the boys and girls teams. “I feel like I’m pretty equipped as far as psychologically dealing with different personalities. That’s the thing; I don’t think it’s that much about dealing with Xs and Os — I think all the coaches out there have a good base of how to coach basketball … it’s about dealing with the personalities, it’s managing the people — the players, the parents, all at the same time is the hard part.” From coaching at inner-city schools to private schools, from boys to girls and at the college level, an experience factor hard to match. And simply being in the business for 30-plus years has an effect too. “The way I was coaching and the things I was doing when I was back in my 30s compared to
MAY is Better Hearing & Speech Month!
now … There was a lot of wasted time and wasted energy on things that I didn’t learn how to pick my battles. Everything was a battle. Now some things you just know you don’t want to fight. Not worth fighting because the results aren’t worth the fight. “You learn what things to eliminate, what things really work and what things don’t… experience tells you that. [There’s] just no way to know those things unless you live through them. There’s something to ‘life begins at 50’ — start to figure out a lot of the mistakes you made and now you can really enjoy it and sit back and relax a little bit because you’re not wasting your time that when you’re younger you don’t know they don’t matter.” Katie Turpen contributed to this report.
START HEARING • SPEAKING LISTENING • LEARNING • LIVING!
B24 • May 2015
280 Living
Spain Park finishes second in golf tourney in honor of former player Tournament Scores Spain Park (+42) 311-307—618
Briarwood Christian (+52) 313-315—628
Patrick Martin 74-74--148 Sam Prater 78-80—158 Conley Miller 79-83—162 Thomas Luther 84-76—160 Andrew Tomko 80-77—157
John Hayden 77-76—153 Blakely Burrow 76-74—150 Jacob Maze 82-84—166 Robert Sorrell 84-81—165 Bentley King 78-87—165
By DAVID KNOX The ninth annual Bradley Johnson Memorial Tournament was competed over the Legacy Course at Greystone Golf & Country Club April 8-9. Mountain Brook came away with the team title by eight strokes over host Spain Park. Northridge-Tuscaloosa’s William Walker, a UAB signee, was the individual medalist at 145. Among the other local teams in the 15-team invitation-only event, Homewood posted a fifth-place finish, Briarwood Christian was seventh and Hoover was 15th. The all-tournament team was Patrick Marin, Spain Park; Jonathan Eyster, Mountain Brook; Ben Fuller, Mountain Brook, Alex Green, Fairhope; William Buhl, Bayside; and William Walker, Northridge, medalist. The tournament is played every year and in honor and memory of Spain Park
golfer Bradley Johnson, a rising star as a junior golfer. Johnson was an American Junior Golf Association All-American and the U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up in 2005, losing 5&3 in the final to Kevin Tway – who has gone on to play on the PGA Tour – the best finish ever by an Alabamian in the event. Tragically, Johnson was killed March 25, 2006, when his green Chevy Blazer was hit by a tractor-trailer near Birmingham. After spending the night with his two best friends at a lake house about an hour from his home, Johnson reached a stop sign on a rural county road. He pulled too far into the intersection. An 18-wheeler crashed into his SUV. His friends were knocked out, but survived. His life was cut short on the verge of a burgeoning golf career. Johnson was planning to play a practice round for a state tournament that day. Later that weekend, he was going to reveal
to his family which one of three SEC scholarship offers – Auburn, Georgia or Alabama – he would accept. His death sent shock waves not only through the Hoover community but through the world of junior golf as well. The Bradley Johnson Memorial Foundation, Inc., was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to providing financial resources for junior golfers, from helping to fund tournaments and to provide scholarship money. The BJMF – bjmf.org– has given out more than $100,000 to golfers. Also, a program called “Birdies for Bradley” was established through the AJGA thanks to a grant from the Achieving Competitive Excellence program. It’s another way the BMJF helps talented young golfers get a chance to continue to play, even if they do not have a lot of financial resources.
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Spain Park High School golfer Andrew Tomko. Photo by Karim ShamsiBasha.
280Living.com
May 2015 • B25
Oak Mountain athletes sign to play collegiate sports Photos by Terri Hawkins, Never Forgotten Photography, LLC.
Pearson Bell is heading to Mississippi College to play volleyball.
Basketball standout Madison Pierce will continue her career at Shelton State Community College.
Graham Hackbarth will play continue his baseball career at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi.
Brandon Whitaker signed to play baseball at Alabama A&M University.
B26 • May 2015
280 Living
BASEBALL
CONTINUED from page B1 early. I’m hitting a little better now, but there are still some pitches I’m missing – just miss or not get all of it.” Asked about his strengths, he immediately instead wants to talk about what he needs to improve on. “I know what I have to work on. I need to become a better defender, work on accuracy of my throws and just my approach to hitting in general, determining what to watch off each pitcher and not missing pitches.” Greene, a junior catcher, isn’t surprised with what his former and current teammate says. “I’d say his biggest attribute is he’s humble,” Greene said. “He’ll work just as hard if he’s hitting .400 or .200, you could never tell a difference. He’s always in the weight room. “He’s definitely got a bright future. He’s got all his skill set – power, speed, great arm, takes great reads in the outfield. He’s definitely the main guy in our lineup, hits 3-hole for us. I plan to see him pretty high on the draft boards when he’s draft-eligible after next season.” But if there’s been a surprise contributor to this year’s Bulldogs to this point, it’s the 6-5, 208-pound Greene. With great size for a catcher, he got thrown into the fire as a freshman due to injuries, starting 22 games. He held his own, batting .279 with 10 RBIs. But slugging redshirt catcher Drew McWhorter returned and took the starting job back, and Greene was relegated to limited play, batting .115 in just 26 at-bats. “Richard was a guy that was kind of thrust into action as a freshman, probably before he was ready,” Dunn said. “He did an admirable job in Year
Junior catcher Richard Greene has been a surprise contributor offensively for the Bulldogs.
1. Last year we had a guy come back healthy, and he didn’t play much. And I think it showed maturity on his part to take a year in which he played a lot as a freshman he didn’t get a lot of opportunities as a sophomore yet he kept a positive attitude. “He worked extremely, hard and this year he took the job and has just run with it.” Through late April, Greene is batting .324 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. “He has done what we’d hoped he
would do from a defensive standpoint,” said Dunn. “He’s caught real well, he’s thrown the ball real well — but he’s exceeded what we had had hoped for offensively. As a coach, when you have a guy of that character and work ethic, it’s always a lot of fun to watch when they get the results that they deserve for what they’ve put into it.” Greene said the big difference for him at the plate is in his approach. “It’s absolutely a mental approach,” he said on his improvement at the plate.
Heath Quinn rounds third base after hitting a home run against Auburn University. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
“I’d say my swing is probably the same. It’s really definitely just seeing the ball better. I didn’t realize how big the approach mattered. It is seeing the ball and hitting the ball, but it’s also definitely what count are you in and I’ve been able to hunt the fastball more. “I would say everything in college is ramped up, the pitchers can spot up. [In] high school, you can let your talents take you where you want to be to a certain extent. But in college it’s much more of an approach, which I’ve really
come to learn this year. I feel like I’m more comfortable up there, I feel like it doesn’t matter who we play, I don’t get as nervous. I’m more calm and collected, and I know what I can “I’m actually able to enjoy the game more.” Quinn said it’s been fun watching his teammate have a big season. “He’s hitting all these home runs, and we’re having a little joke that every time he hit one I’d hit one after him it was fun. He’s a great hitter and we’re blessed to have him.”
280Living.com
May 2015 • B27
Spain Park softball team sports gaudy record as area tournament approaches By DAVID KNOX Rankings and records mean nothing when postseason play arrives. Still, it’s tough to overlook what C.J. Hawkins’ Spain Park Lady Jaguars have done this spring on the softball diamond. As late April approached, the Lady Jags were roaring along with a 30-7-2 record and ranked No. 2 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A final rankings. Spain Park is coming off an outstanding 2014 season that saw the Lady Jags finish fifth in the state tournament, posting the best season Hawkins’ team has had at Spain Park. Hawkins’ ClayChalkville team was runner-up in 2004. So goals are high for the Lady Jags. “The ultimate goal is always to win a state championship,” said Hawkins, who recently won her 700th game as a head coach. “It’s attainable. We have to stay healthy, we have to get hot at the right time, peak at the right time. And team chemistry. We’ve got the weapons, but we’ve got to play together. “It’s a crapshoot in our area.” Ah, yes, the little matter of playing in one of the tougher areas around. But the Lady Jags ran the table, going 6-0 in area play. Class 7A, Area 6 is made up of Spain Park, Vestavia Hills, Hewitt-Trussville and Mountain Brook. Hewitt is ranked No. 3, and Vestavia has been ranked a good part of the season. Midway through the season, Hawkins felt like hitting, defense and the pitching of her two seniors, Mary Kathryn Bonamy and Mallory McCarty, were the strong points. Bonamy, sophomore Jenna Olwzewski, junior Destini England and sophomore Mary Katherine Tedder were among the hitting standouts. Tedder, the daughter of former Birmingham Barons player
Coach C.J. Hawkins discusses strategy with her Spain Park team. Photo by Christy Parker.
Scott Tedder, has committed to play at Texas. Bonamy is headed to Notre Dame, Olwzewski is committed to Auburn and England has committed to West Florida “I’m not so concerned with our record, more with team chemistry,” Hawkins said. The Lady Jags have a full middle school roster but just eight players on the junior varsity. Her varsity really has no subs, but she’s loath to move any up
just to have them sit on the bench or pinch run. “They need to be playing, they need to be getting better. We just need to stay healthy.” Since fastpitch softball became an AHSAA championship sport, Hoover has won five bigschool titles and Sparkman has also won five, all in the past nine seasons, and three in a row. “There’s a lot of parity,” Hawkins said, “but right now Hoover is the team to beat. They are
loaded, loaded, loaded.” She also names Oak Mountain, Sparkman, Baker and Central-Phenix City as top contenders for a run at the 7A crown. But it comes down to the same thing – being at your best when tournament time arrives. “You’ve got to peak, stay healthy, and play together.”
A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes: 1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter’s Basilica 7. China’s Great Wall While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student hadn’t turned in her paper yet, so she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.” The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are: 1. to See 2. to Taste 3. to Touch 4. to Hear She hesitated a little, and then added, 5. to Feel 6. to Laugh 7. and to Love The room was so full of silence you could have heard a pin drop. Those things we overlook as simple and “ordinary” are truly wondrous.
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280 Living neighborly news & entertainment
SECTION
C
Chelsea Business C2 Faith C18 Opinion C19 Calendar C20
Walking for wounded veterans By SYDNEY CROMWELL By the end of his Spring Break, Troy University freshman and Chelsea native William Pouncey had reached new levels of exhaustion. Instead of parties or hanging out on the beach, he had walked 128 miles over six days to raise money for injured soldiers. Pouncey is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Troy. The fraternity’s annual charity fundraiser, called “Walk Hard,” involves fraternity brothers walking from the university campus to Panama City Beach. This year, 18 brothers finished the walk and raised more than $10,000 for Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, a charity that takes veterans on hunting and fishing trips to provide relaxation and healing. “I feel like we had definitely make the best choice that we could make as far as philanthropy,” Pouncey said. “It’s not just a hunting trip. He’s helping people get their lives back together.” Walk Hard required months of preparation and training. Even with fellow students providing support, food and water along the way, Pouncey said nothing could have prepared him for how painful the walk was. At the end of the first day, he was already as tired as he had expected to
Will Pouncey and 17 of his ATO fraternity brothers pose at Panama City Beach after completing the “Walk Hard” fundraiser for Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures.
feel at the end. “I’d say it was probably about 90 percent mental all the way because every step you take, you know the next one is going to be much worse,” Pouncey said. “I thought I was going through the worst part of my life.” By the third day of walking,
Pouncey said he had “quit caring about anything in the outside world,” including his fellow fraternity brothers and the charity he was walking for. However, two veterans walked with him the last mile of that day, despite the limbs they had lost to improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“That really made it worthwhile there at the end,” Pouncey said, adding that the fourth day somehow became much easier. He met other Jeep Sullivan veterans along the way and walked the last mile with his ATO brothers. Pouncey said people gave them strange looks
for waving the ATO flag and playing AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” from a car radio, but all he could focus on was the fellow students cheering them on from the finish. All 18 brothers then ran into the Gulf of Mexico, and Pouncey didn’t even care that the salt water stung his sore feet and joints. Although it took several weeks for the blisters and aching joints to fade, he said Walk Hard was worth it because the wounded veterans he had met were living with much harder circumstances. “It was really nothing in comparison to what these people have to go through every day of their lives,” Pouncey said. “They don’t get to give up the fight and say, ‘I’m done having my amputated leg.’” Pouncey is especially proud that his fraternity puts action behind its charity efforts instead of “just handing them a check.” The Troy ATO brothers are still gathering donations, which are expected to top $15,000 in total. Pouncey also plans to encourage more of his brothers to take the challenge next year. He won’t be joining them. “I will absolutely never do Walk Hard again. There is nothing that would ever make me do it again,” Pouncey said. “If you gave me $2 million, maybe I’d think about it.”
C2 • May 2015
280 Living
Chelsea
Business Spotlight Snider’s/Ground Up Smoothies
Johnny Ray’s
Chelsea Family Dentistry
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C3
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Narrows Podiatry
Chelsea General Store C9
C8
Southern Roots
Chelsea Party Center
The Ditsy Daisy
Zig Zag Sewing Studio
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C5
C6
C8
Autrey Electronics
Skin Wellness Center of AL
Merle Norman
Chelsea Orthodontics
Narrows Family Eye Care
C9
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Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center
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Farmers Insurance
Snider’s Discount Pharmacy and Ground Up Coffee & Smoothies
In Chelsea, it’s well known that the city operates by the saying, “It’s all about family.” The staff at Snider’s Discount Pharmacy and Ground Up Coffee and Smoothies embodies that saying every day. Open since 2006, Doug Snider has expanded his vision of a small-town, family pharmacy that now includes a gift shop and a coffee, smoothie and snack shop, and service that just isn’t found at larger pharmacies. In fact, their hard work was recognized when they were recognized as the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Year” in 2014, a recognition they are very proud of. One area of focus for their team of 12 is to provide quick service, specifically to get customers in and out with their filled prescriptions within 10 minutes. In the short
15582 U.S. 280, Suite 100 678-3899 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
time they are waiting, customers are able to browse their unique gift selection and pick up a coffee, smoothie or quick snack. Doug Snider and all the friendly members of the Snider’s team are ready to become a partner in your well being. If you haven’t had the opportunity to stop in and visit with them, now’s the perfect time. With the weather heating up, you can grab a cold smoothie before you leave, too.
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280Living.com
Chelsea
May 2015 • C3
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Johnny Ray’s
Miranda Carter opened Johnny Ray’s BBQ in Chelsea with her brothers when she was just 19. Today she owns it while her brother Jeremy Carter is the catering manager and her mom Linda Riopel is the assistant manager. Almost 12 years later, she has added to the menu and expanded her reach. Two of her top-selling items, the country fried steak and catfish, are outside the franchise’s traditional barbecue fare. Their peanut butter pie is also of her own design, and the restaurant offers fresh specials each day like the Tuscan Caesar salad with sliced beef. She’s also added a wedding catering service and Yogurt Your Way, a frozen yogurt business, in the back corner of her restaurant. Carter said the focus on family and community in Chelsea attracted her to the area.
10569 Old Highway 280, Suite 3 678-8418 johnnyraysbbq.com/chelsea
“The city strives to include all generations when it comes to event planning, community organizations and facilities,” she said, noting the city has helped support and advertise the business. “It’s been a great place to be a business owner.” Carter is also an active member of the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce, often catering their monthly luncheons and serving on its board of directors.
Chelsea Family Dentistry
At Chelsea Family Dentistry, PC, patients become like family. Each May Dr. Michelle Jones and her staff congratulate graduating seniors, and they invite trick-or-treaters to their office each November. A mom of three and wife to Chris, Jones said she loves being in Chelsea and meeting new people. “I have a wonderful staff,” Dr. Jones said. “Some of them have been with us more than 10 years.” The practice opened in November 1999 in the Chelsea Medical Center on U.S. 280. As Chelsea grew, so did the practice. In 2008 it moved to its current location in Jade Park on Chesser Crane Road. With the growth, Dr. Brittney Gilbert came on as an associate dentist. Together Jones and Gilbert are committed to providing their community the best dental care. They offer an array of dental services and treatments to meet any need that might arise. Being a truly family dentistry practice, they
302 Jade Park, Suite 302 678-2096 enjoy seeing patients of all ranges, from children to adults. Jones earned her DMD from UAB in 1997 and continued her training through the two-year General Dental Practice Residency there. Her interests include comprehensive dental treatment for adults and children and emphasizing better oral health and overall well-being. She currently teaches at UAB School of Dentistry on a halftime basis in addition to practicing in Chelsea. With their strong professional training and genuine concern for all their patients, Jones and Gilbert are creating, and maintaining, beautiful smiles all over Chelsea through their personal care, and they are always looking to welcome new family members to their practice.
C4 • May 2015
Chelsea
280 Living
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Farmer’s Insurance Agent Scott Weygand
Scott Weygand grew up working and playing in Chelsea, so he didn’t think twice about where to open his Farmers Insurance agency in June 2005. Two years later he and his wife moved to Chelsea, started their family, and have become very involved with the community. “I have watched this area grow from one gas station on Highway 280 to what you see today,” he said. “ It is due to the growth and the home town feel that I chose to locate my business in Chelsea.” Since that time, Weygand has been pursuing his goal to become a hometown insurance agent. In 2010, he relocated across U.S. 280 to its current space in a Chesser Drive building he and his father built. The office offers auto, home, business and life insurance, among other services. Most people might not know that Farmers also owns
398 Chesser Drive, Suite 1 678-4711 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
a specialty insurance company that focuses on people’s “toys” such as four-wheelers, motorcycles, golf carts, RVs, travel trailers and boats. What sets Weygand’s agency apart from others is its focus on educating clients. “We want people to understand what they are buying when it comes to their insurance products,” Weygand said. Besides Weygand, the office is staffed by Licensed Customer Service Representative Shelley Puckett and Marketing Representative Liz Weygand.
Southern Roots
Southern Roots is a fun combination of a women’s clothing store and gift shop. Jessica Wilder and Tonya Youngblood opened the store in Chelsea in March 2014. Step inside and customers will find a variety of unique clothing lines for women and tweens at great price points. For a personal touch, the store offers monogramming and vinyl/heat pressing. Featured items include original t-shirts and soy-based candles, hand crafted picture frames, unique jewelry and door hangers. They also offer a large selection of bags including beach bags, purses, cross body and clutches. Southern Roots is more than just a clothing and gift store. They also offer fun fashion camp birthday parties, offering a chance for friends to gather together. Wilder and Youngblood both have close ties to the community. They both live in Chelsea and are proud to have their business in a place with so much potential.
48 Chesser Crane Road Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-10 a.m.- 2 p.m. 678-3990 facebook.com/wehavesouthernroots
“It is a neat, quaint, little town that has great potential for more businesses to come and grow,” they said. “The people in Chelsea have been wonderful to us and have made our store a success.” To stay up to date on special offers and sales, customers are invited to follow the store’s Facebook page. Featured items and special deals are posted regularly. Stop by Southern Roots today to pick up something fun for yourself or friend.
280Living.com
Chelsea
May 2015 • C5
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Chelsea Party Center
When Brenda Mellen decided to open a party rental business, she was fulfilling a lifelong dream. In July 2014, she and her husband Matt Mellen, dove in headfirst and started Chelsea Party Center. As residents of Chelsea, they saw a need for party rental items and all things party that was local and affordable. They started the business on the web and have not looked back. In less than a year, the center has gone from renting smaller items to family and friends for events to expanding throughout the area. It has recently added inflatables to its growing list of rental items. The Mellens provide everything for party-planning needs from the basic tables and chairs, plates and glassware, and serving pieces to a complete party theme. They can meet the needs of a small celebration at home, a corporate or church function, a wedding or other large
event with hundreds of guests. “Just give us a call and we’ll help you create a wonderful party atmosphere that fits your budget!” Brenda said. “We can provide everything you need – even arrange for the catering and other services that may be needed, or we can simply provide a piece or two that adds that special touch to your table.” Past clients have ordered coffee hot pots and servers, a chocolate fountain, and table linens to integrate into what they already had to complete their look. Others have needed everything to pull off a beautiful wedding with custom centerpieces. “We will work with you every step of the way,” Brenda said. “We want to help take that stress off your shoulders so that you can enjoy your event just as much as your guests.” The Mellens once helped a client who asked
for help setting up a surprise 50th birthday party for his wife. After a long weekend at the beach fell through, he wanted to give her a taste of the weekend she would be missing. Chelsea Party Center created a Hawaiian Luau in the Hampton Inn Eagle Point conference room complete with a Tiki Bar, steel-drum music, mood lighting, a giant beach chair and tropical-inspired catered appetizers. “Everyone had a great time,” Brenda said. “We even created a custom bamboo stretcher draped in black cloth and adorned with lilies that was used to deliver the cake to the birthday girl. It’s the unexpected details that really bring the party theme to life.” Use the business’ tables and chairs to make your guests comfortable. Tables come in several sizes and can fit into a large conference room or a home patio. Dress it up with linens to fit your
279 Pin Oak Drive Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 678-9174 chelseapartycenter.com
theme. Basic foundation linens in white, ivory and black are available with coordinating overlays to add color to the table. Serving items such as plates, flatware, glass, stemware, platters, bowls, chafers and beverage dispensers for both hot and cold beverages are available. “We offer everything you need for a celebration that your friends and relatives will talk about for years to come,” Brenda said.
C6 • May 2015
Chelsea
280 Living
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
The Ditsy Daisy
The Ditsy Daisy Boutique, owned by the mother daughter team of Michelle Butts and Cindy Parnell, offers contemporary and fashionable clothing for women of any age. With input on clothing selections from Michelle, Cindy, and Cindy’s’ younger daughter, Lindsey, the store has a full range of options including clothing, shoes, accessories and gifts. After college, Michelle decided she wanted to open her own boutique. After joining with her mother, they were faced with the challenge of finding the perfect place to open shop. Knowing that they both wanted to be located in a small town, they searched all along 280 until they found Chelsea, with only one boutique in the city. The community was the perfect fit for The Ditsy Daisy. Cindy and Michelle describe getting to know their customers as one of the favorite parts of their job. They always try to pick up royal blue clothing to support Chelsea High School athletics, and they keep their customers in mind when they go to market. Cindy and Michelle fell in love with the town and the people in it, and they even moved to Chelsea from Sylacauga after working in the area for three years. Cindy is no beginner at running her boutique. She owned one in Sylacauga several years ago. At the heart of The Ditsy Daisy
is a team effort. Lauren and Kim, two friends, accompany Cindy and Michelle to help run the business, and Lindsey has done some of the modeling for the store in addition to helping with all aspects of running the boutique. Cindy and Michelle are used to seeing friends and repeat customers from Chelsea, but they also see a variety of other people come through their door. Customers will come from Greystone, Highland Lakes and further north and south on 280 to see what the boutique has in stock, which is updated often. The store receives new shipments nearly every day, and they update their Facebook page as well as Instagram to let their friends and customers know and call to reserve merchandise they want to see. Perhaps the biggest change has been the recent move to the old KFC building in Chelsea on the corner of 280 and Chesser Crane Road, which has given them more room to expand what they offer. Space has been an issue for some time, and the new location provided a great opportunity to grow and personalize the store to their taste. The added space has allowed for the shop to bring in new brands and gift items to serve their growing customer base. The new store has a rustic, chic atmosphere that attracts customers to come in and see what they have to offer.
The Ditsy Daisy offers items that fit most any budget, but they always keep in mind the need for reasonable prices. They carry many popular shoe brands, such as Off the Beaten Track, Antelope and Sbicca, as well as an exclusive denim line. Cindy and Michelle try to shop with their customers in mind, always buying what they think they need and want in their wardrobes. Another fun addition to the
Ditsy Daisy is their boutique on wheels. They actually have a rolling boutique complete with a great selection of merchandise and even a dressing room. The Ditsy Daisy on wheels has traveled to Mt. Laurel Fall and Spring festivals, and also book house parties! The Ditsy Daisy on wheels plans to go to a couple of new festivals this spring and summer as well.
16383 U.S. 280 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 678-6166 theditsydaisy.com Facebook- The Ditsy Daisy Instagram- theditsydaisy
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Chelsea
Business Spotlight
May 2015 • C7
Special advertising section
***Moving locations in early May!***
16383 hwy 280 (the old KFC in Chelsea)
Follow us on instagram instagram.com/theditsydaisy
678.6166
C8 • May 2015
Chelsea
280 Living
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Zig Zag Sewing Studio
At Zig Zag Sewing Studio, owners Chris and Christy Alverson believe that providing every facet of excellent customer service is very important. Since opening in the spring of 2011, the shop has expanded from a small fabric shop and machine dealership to a shop with over double the original square footage and about four times the inventory. The shop is primarily a Brother and HandiQuilter machine dealership offering a wide range selection of Brother sewing, quilting and embroidery machines. When machines are purchased from Zig Zag, the Alversons and their staff teach customers not only how to use the machine, but also how to get the absolute most out of what it can do for them. “Some of our customers go on to start their own sewing, quilting or embroidery businesses and we help them along the process,” Christy said. Service technicians have been trained and certified by the manufacturers to repair any of our machines and the staff works very hard
48 Chesser Crane Road, Suite A, B Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 678-9822 zigzagsewingstudio.com
to insure that service is performed in a timely fashion. This year, Zig Zag has expanded its line of gift items that can be monogrammed in an effort to become a one-stop shop for those looking to give a personalized gift to a friend or loved one. Chris is a native of the Chelsea area. He and Christy believe it is important to be an active part of the community and look forward to being a part of Chelsea’s rapid growth. For more information, visit zigzagsewingstudio.com.
Narrows Podiatry
For those who suffer from chronic foot pain, relief may seem impossible. Narrows Podiatry is here to help. The business has been located in Chelsea for five years. Narrows Podiatry is the place to go for all your needs. They specialize in conservative as well as surgical care for all of your foot problems. They treat plantar fasciitis, heel pain, ingrown toenails, warts, fungal nails, athlete’s feet, bunions, hammertoes and neuroma. They also provide foot care for all their diabetic patients and custom made orthotics with the most advanced technology. Additionally, they offer ultrasounds and digital x rays. Dr. Stephen Stern and his team can also take care of sports related injuries. In addition to Dr. Stern, Narrows Podiatry’s friendly staff includes Brandy who has been the receptionist Dr. Stern for 10 years and Paula, a nurse who has been with the company for 18 years. Their beautiful facility will make all patients feel comfortable and right at home. Stern said he was drawn to the Chelsea
153 Narrows Parkway, Suite 102 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, 1-4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 437-3236 narrowspodiatry.com community because of its great potential. He lived in Greystone from 2000-2003 and said it was the growth that has happened since that time is what brought him back to the area. Narrows Podiatry is located in the Narrows Shopping Center off of U.S. 280. Call 4373236 or visit narrowspodiatry.com to make your foot care appointment today.
280Living.com
Chelsea
May 2015 • C9
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Chelsea General Store
When Dale and Mary Neuendorf opened Chelsea General Store in December 2013, they knew they wanted to create something that would fill a need in Chelsea. They were intrigued with the idea of an old country general store and wanted to create a store with the character of times past where stores had a little bit of everything. They found a building to lease, but it was just an old brown metal building, so they went to work to decide how to add character to the plain building. Dale had sketched out a picture of an old country store and that was the start of their big idea. “We worked with a local artist who taught a series of workshops where students, mostly Chelsea High School students, painted the mural on the front of the store,” Dale said. The store focuses on carrying a wide variety of items that include tools, gadgets, greeting cards, gifts, home goods, old fashioned candy, fishing gear and bait, hardware, military supplies, airsoft guns, Amish foods, stone-ground meal and grits, farm and wild animal feed, Priester’s Pecans, camping and outdoor supplies, ropes, knives, outdoor furniture, local honey, boiled peanuts, ice cream delights,
Autry Electronics
14555 U.S. 280 678-2793 chelseageneralstore.com Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
specialty candles, soaps and melts and signature tumblers. The Neuendorfs and their staff try to greet each customer who comes in and help with any request that they might have. Chelsea’s family-friendly atmosphere has made the Chelsea General Store’s location a great place to do business. “Chelsea is a great community to live and raise a family,” Dale said. “That also makes it a great community to locate a business.” Chelsea General Store has free popcorn daily and free coffee each morning. The store also hosts events each month. To learn more, visit chelseageneralstore. com.
Autry Electronics has been a family owned and operated custom electronics dealer serving the Shelby and Jefferson County areas from their Chelsea location since 1976. Their mission is to integrate the latest technologies into operationally simple and dependable systems which add real value to your home and a personal touch to your family’s lifestyle while enhancing the enjoyment, comfort, security and energy efficiency of your home. Their tailored solutions run the gamut from a neatly wall mounted television to complete home automation systems bringing the whole home to life. They’ve always been family owned and operated. Glen, Judy, Janeen, and Russell Autry are dedicated in offering the latest in home technologies for your family. They enjoy the rich heritage of Chelsea community. Autry Electronics has been based there even before Chelsea became one of the fastest growing communities in the state. Customer reviews on Angie’s List about Autry Electronics have included the following
16269 Highway 280 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 678-9682 autryelectronics.com comments: “outstanding service, timely and accurate in instructions and super to deal with.” “They were very professional and had extensive knowledge of their product. If I had to do it all over again, I’d do the exact same thing, with the same folks.” Their 30 plus years of experience bring to you a solid, comprehensive and professional approach in offering unique solutions meeting your specific needs. Their systems are designed to offer the best performance and value for your investment, utilizing top industry brand components at competitive prices. This is all backed up with superior service for years to come. They would like to invite you in for a demonstration at their showroom.
C10 • May 2015
Chelsea
280 Living
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Skin Wellness Center of Alabama The dermatologists at Skin Wellness Center of Alabama recognize the balance between aesthetic and medical dermatology. They know the importance of specialized training, advanced techniques and state of the art technologies. Skin Wellness Center was founded in August of 2009 by Dr. Corey Hartman and expanded to Chelsea in December of 2011. It provides general dermatology services treating acne, rosacea, rashes and more. The center provides light and photodynamic therapy and has a strong surgical component, which performs removals of benign lumps and bumps, as well as skin cancers. An array of cosmetic services including Botox, fillers, lasers, chemical peels, vein treatment, dermaplaning and dermabrasion are also available. The center offers a number of skin and hair care products in-office for purchase to help provide one-stop, centralized care to its patients. Dr. Rayna Dyck enjoys helping customers to look and feel their best in a healthy way. Unlike some forms of medicine, dermatology allows doctors and patients to see the visible impact a treatment has on a person’s life. For Dyck, medicine is combination of three loves: science, teaching and service. Originally from Dothan, Dyck moved back to Alabama after completing medical school and residency in the Midwest. Dyck recognizes that every patient encountered is different and looks forward to the challenge of providing individualized care to meet each patient’s needs. “Many internal diseases manifest
themselves on the skin,” Dyck said. “It’s great to be the one to pick up on those subtle patterns and findings to help diagnose these diseases.” Other primary physicians include Corey Hartman, MD, Britany Rigsby, CRNP, and Jaime Dunn, PA-C. You’ll find the atmosphere at Skin Wellness Center calming and peaceful.
Each dermatologist takes the time to understand your medical situation and aesthetic goals to provide a customized skin wellness plan meant just for you. The staff is happy to be in Chelsea, a hospitable city they feel has welcomed them with open arms. Many of their patients come to them by word
of mouth and they enjoy the small town atmosphere. On their website, patients are invited to take advantage of a variety of resources such as online patient forms and post-procedure instructions. This allows for a decreased wait time for appointments.
Monday-Tuesday 8 a.m. 678-7518 398 Chesser Drive, Suite 3 skinwellnessal.com
280Living.com
Chelsea
May 2015 • C11
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center
Physicians, nurse practitioners and staff work together to help diagnose and treat patients who are seeking relief from pediatric and adult allergies, skin disorders, sinus allergies, asthma and immunological issues as well as food and drug allergies. We know allergies, asthma and immune diseases can have a drastic effect on an individual’s quality of life. Since Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center opened its doors in 1977, it has been committed to providing the greater Birmingham area and its patients with the best care through its values of care, advocacy, service, integrity and accountability. Its mission is to be the leading caregiver for patients with allergies and chronic respiratory problems. Its first location opened in Southside in Birmingham, but the practice has since expanded to five offices. Its newest location, previously located at The Narrows, is in Chelsea. Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center decided to relocate to Chelsea for the great location, in front of Winn Dixie on U.S. 280 and for the
Merle Norman
16691 U.S. 280 Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 871-9661 alabamaallergy.com
sense of community. The location allows the practice to offer medical services in a location that is not only convenient for people from Chelsea, but also Inverness, Greystone and further east on U.S. 280. Soon after opening, practice physicians and employees had the opportunity to meet the mayor of Chelsea and other community members and volunteers at a ribbon cutting ceremony. They have also recently helped to bring a leading pulmonary practice to Chelsea, which uses their office space one day each week to provide services to the community.
The Chelsea Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio has more than just cosmetics and skin care. They are a Paul Mitchell full service hair salon and have recently added a wig studio featuring Raquel Welch and Gabor wigs. They offer clients a private room for wig fittings and styling services. The Chelsea Merle Norman features three experienced hair stylists, as well as two “Merle Girls” who help with your skin care and make up needs. Starting May 1, the studio will feature the new summer color collection and its summer gift with a purchase. The Chelsea Merle Norman is a locally owned and operated business. Owner Michelle
15582 U.S. 280, Suite 104 678-5944 merlenormanstudio.com
Crosby is a New Orleans native and moved to Chelsea with her husband and daughter in 2012. Crosby opened the studio April 2014 because she wanted to be a part of this community. She said hopes to be here for many years to come and is thankful for the community’s continued support.
C12 • May 2015
Chelsea
280 Living
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
Chelsea Orthodontics At Chelsea Orthodontics, the staff’s mission is to provide excellent care in an environment that makes its patients feel like family. Since opening in November of 2008, Dr. Kelly Page and her staff have enjoyed each opportunity to serve their community. “I am thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to serve my community,” Dr. Page said. “As a resident of the area, I feel a strong connection to my patients.” Chelsea Orthodontics provides braces (metal and ceramic), Invisalign, and Simpli5 for both children and adults. Each new patient starts with a complimentary exam to assess any potential problems such as crowding, cross-bite, gaps and more. Once the doctor has a clear picture of the most likely course of treatment, she will discuss what type of treatment is necessary, how long it will take and estimate how much it will cost. Each treatment plan is designed to fit individual patient needs and each unique smile. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children have an orthodontic screening at age 7. This will allow interceptive treatment, if necessary, to prevent or limit extensive treatment in the future. Dr. Page is conservative when it comes to extracting teeth and recommends early treatment in only a limited number of situations. If interceptive treatment or “Phase One” is necessary, it will focus on helping the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the way the upper
and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit problems with the jaw at an early age and action can be taken early to prevent future problems. The goal of orthodontic treatment is not only to align teeth, but to establish harmony of the teeth with the lips, cheeks, tongue and other facial structures. Orthodontic treatment usually involves full upper and lower braces. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure patients retain their beautiful smiles. Chelsea Orthodontics also treats TMD, which is a disorder of the
temporomandibular joint that may cause facial and neck pain as well as severe recurring headaches. The staff includes Front Office and Insurance Coordinator Lori Cheney, Treatment Coordinator Pam Kimball, Clinical Assistant Koki Laddie, Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Melissa Kallaher, Clinical Assistant Robyn Armstrong and Marketing Coordinator Laura Prater. When selecting a location to open the Chelsea Orthodontics, Dr. Page chose Chelsea because it was home. “I live in Chelsea. My children have
gone through Chelsea school system. My church home and family are here and I plan to retire here. I love Chelsea and the community,” Dr. Page said. The clinic believes in the importance of community involvement and has been active in Chelsea from its beginning. Chelsea Orthodontics is involved in local schools and regularly provides educational presentations and programs. The staff actively participates in many community events and is excited to be a part of community growth and development. “I have been blessed with a team
300 Jade Park, Suite 301 Monday-Thursday, 7:30-4:30 p.m. 678-2770 chelseabraces.com
that gives their hearts to our business and I could not be more proud of them, and the dedication and kindness they show to our patients,” Dr. Page said.
280Living.com
Chelsea
Narrows Family Eye Care
Dr. Jessica Palmer and her staff at Narrows Family Eye Care have built a reputation for providing excellence in patient care, clinical education and optical services. Because they believe each patient deserves the best possible treatment, they go above and beyond to provide it. Dr. Palmer shares her expertise as a leader in the field of clinical eye care and vision disorders with each patient she sees. The clinic offers a wide range of services to fit every eye care need, including retinal disease management, glaucoma treatment, and dry eye and ocular allergy therapy. The practice also offers basic vision and eye health exams, and can make your glasses the same day you
Business Spotlight
Special advertising section
13521 Old Hwy. 280, Suite 249 The Narrows 980-4530 narrowsfec.com
pick them out. On May 1, the clinic moved a few doors down to Suite 249 from its previous location in Suite 233. Dr. Palmer said the new location would provide more room for patient care, eye exams, and more, while still offering the convenience of frontage on Highway 280.
May 2015 • C13
C14 • May 2015
280 Living
Photos by Madison Miller.
Brenda Ladun run raises funds, awareness for cancer The 11th annual Brenda Ladun Conquer Cancer run took place Saturday, March 7 at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. After surviving a three-year fight with breast cancer, Hoover resident and news anchor Brenda Ladun decided to create the run to provide a fun and encouraging activity for cancer survivors and their families. The event featured free food, games and activities for children, free health checks, low cost mammograms and important information about many different types of cancers.
280Living.com
May 2015 • C15
273 horsepower* to the people
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Closed-end lease for 2015 RDX 6-Speed Automatic vehicles subject to availability through 5/11/15 on approved credit through Acura Financial Services, DBA American Honda Finance Corp. for well-qualified lessees. MSRP $36,015 (includes destination, excludes tax, license, title fees, registration, documentation fees, options, insurance and the like). Actual net capitalized cost $32,447.28. Total monthly payments $11,124.00. Option to purchase at lease end $22,329.30. Lessee responsible for maintenance, excessive wear/tear and 20¢/ mile. APR offer valid on new and unregistered 2015 RDX Models subject to availability through 5/11/15, for qualified customers from Acura Financial Services through participating dealers. Must take new retail delivery on vehicle from dealer stock by May 11, 2015. Not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Example for 2015 RDX: 1.9% for 36 months financing at $28.60 a month for every $1,000.00 financed. Dealers set actual prices. See your Acura dealer for details. *273 hp at 6,200 rpm (SAE net).
C16 • May 2015
Mt Laurel celebrates
spring The Town of Mt Laurel held its annual Spring Festival on Saturday, April 11. The event featured craft vendors, produce from local farmers, a kids’ area with inflatables, a petting zoo, rides, food trucks and food from local restaurants. Pets competed in a doggie dress-up contest as part of the festivities as well. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
280 Living
280Living.com
May 2015 • C17
POWER TO
HOME
© 2015 Alabama Power Company
Safe, affordable, reliable electricity is one form of power we provide, but not the only one. Meet Rita Burns. She recently built her first home, and with the help of Alabama Power, was able to make sure it was as comfortable and efficient as she imagined it could be. With a simple call to Alabama Power for advice and direction, Rita now has a comfortable place that her whole family can enjoy. That’s power to turn a house into a home. That’s Power to Alabama. Watch Rita’s story of comfort at AlabamaPowerRealTalk.com.
C18 • May 2015
280 Living
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Loving and letting go “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth Stone Years ago, I was at the dentist’s office getting my teeth cleaned when I heard some parenting advice that has stayed with me. My daughters were young at the time, and as the dental hygienist talked about her 16 year old, I quizzed her about that stage of life. How do you handle the growing independence? How do you know how much rope to give? How do you deal with the fear of bad things happening when she’s away? After all, it’s one thing to send your child off to kindergarten or even summer camp — quite enough to send them off to college or a Friday night outing with teenage friends. The dental hygienist thought a moment. “It’s hard,” she replied. “Sometimes you just have to say a prayer and let them go.” Her answer satisfied the many questions in my head — prayer. What else can ease a parent’s deepest anxieties? What else can keep one centered in moments of stress, doubt and fear of the unknown? In the dentist’s chair that day, I realized something important. While prayer was already part of my life, it would play a bigger role over time. Because the only way to handle my kids growing up would be to let my prayer life grow up with them. They say parenting is about giving children roots and wings. I believe another way to frame
this is to say that parenting is about loving and letting go. The irony, of course, is how these aspirations conflict. As parents, we wrestle with that. We must figure out, somehow, the best way to strike a balance. We want to hold our children close, but we don’t want to hold them back. We want to love them wholeheartedly, but loving wholeheartedly makes it harder to set them free. We dream about their future and what awaits them, but when they leave, it creates an ache in our heart and a terrible void at home. When my girls were small, I couldn’t peel them off me with a spatula. There was always someone sitting on my hip, hanging on my leg or pulling my arm. Letting go of them wasn’t the issue because I needed someone to let go of me. Some days I loved the clinging, but other days I needed space. I wanted room to breathe and freedom to walk without tripping over tiny tots and toys. Now that my girls are older — ages 12, 10, 8 and 5 — the dynamic has changed. While they still love to cuddle and be affectionate, they no longer tear me apart like a rotisserie chicken, competing for the biggest piece of momma. They can play with their friends for hours, come to me for a snack or quick conversation, then go play for three more hours. When they’re not with me, they’re with someone I know and trust. Slowly our lives are separating, yet we still spend lots of time together. They still share details about their day, ask for my opinion, and enjoy reading and praying together before bed. They know my world and I know theirs because
our two worlds overlap. I know what’s coming, however, in the next five years: more letting go than I’m ready for. A certain reality has hit me hard with my oldest starting junior high, and my Facebook feed filled with parents posting pictures of kids getting their driver’s licenses, going to prom, receiving college acceptance letters, graduating in caps and gowns, decorating dorm rooms, being left at college, pledging sororities and fraternities, and starting independent adult lives. My daughters aren’t too far away from these rites of passage. What once seemed distant is now around the corner. Time is marching on, turning my baby girls into young ladies. I’d like to freeze us here in this magical sweet spot of childhood, but God has plans for my daughters that require them to grow up. And if I truly love them, I’ll think a lot about God’s plans. I’ll ask how I can help. Because that’s my role as their mother, to help God accomplish His mission and help my daughters hear His voice. I’ve enjoyed seeing my daughters grow up. I’ve loved watching their personalities and talents develop and engaging with them as real people. Deep down, however, I’m uncomfortably aware of what all this growth and activity are leading to. I won’t always be in the middle of the action. My home won’t always be the busy, noisy hub that it is today. I could easily get sad about this, but I try to be grateful. Grateful I’m alive to see my daughters grow up. Grateful for today’s abundance. Grateful for God’s work in my girls’ lives that becomes increasingly evident with every
birthday we celebrate. Loving a child comes naturally. Letting a child goes does not. Knowing when to protect and when to release requires divine wisdom. We give our children roots not to keep them home forever, but to draw them back home. Because roots help them live bravely. Roots assure them they have nothing to lose in testing their wings. Whatever happens, they’re guaranteed unconditional love. They have an open invitation to come back home. To love a child is to let them steal your heart. It’s to feel an intense tug in your heart as your child walks away. You wonder whether you’ve prepared them enough. You worry that maybe you haven’t. You pray over your lack of control, and ultimately turn it over to God. We mothers learn to live with our hearts outside our chests. We watch our children carry off different pieces of our heart as they explore their independence. But our greatest peace occurs when our kids are back together under our roof, bringing our heart back together, too. These are the moments that make letting go remotely bearable. These are the moments that remind us of how the pain of an absence creates the joy of reunion, and how home is wherever our family unites together. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham mom of four girls, columnist and blogger for The Huffington Post. Her first book, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, , is available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.
Ry Ogilvie
Ry.RealtySouth.com Ry@RealtySouth.com 205-790-6750
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May 2015 • C19
Opinion My South By Rick Watson
Stories There’s an old saying that “My father gave it to me many says, “One man’s junk is years ago.” another man’s treasure.” As I She went on to explain that look around our home, a lot of one of her father’s clients got people would say most of our the figurine from one of the pyrthings fall into the junk cateamids while on an expedition to gory, and that would probably Egypt in the 1920s. When this lady passes on, her be true if it weren’t for the stories behind our things. things will likely be thrown into There’s a plant in the corner a bin and sold as junk at a yard of our deck that we’ve had sale and the stories lost forever. almost as long as we’ve been Jilda and I will be in the same married. Jilda’s mom gave it boat someday. When I look Watson to her, but her mom got it from around my office, there are so Jilda’s grandmother Mammie. It’s called a many things with interesting stories. bleeding heart and is as white as fine porcelain Take the pencil holder on Jilda’s writing with what looks like a red tongue sticking out desk, for example. It’s a small cedar cup with eight sides. But on each side are tiny handfrom the center. We’ve tended that flower like a baby cutting carved pieces of colored wood that form an teeth. I’d give anything to hear Mammie tell intricate design. A friend of ours who is a how she got the plant, but we never asked and filmmaker picked the pencil holder up at an she never said. And now it’s too late. open-air market while shooting a documentary A few years ago I interview an octogenar- of the Syrian peace talks back in the 1980s. ian from Mountain Brook. Her house was old Wouldn’t it be cool to put a chip into the and not much to look at outside, but inside it things we love that could tell their story? was filled with treasures. Everywhere I looked When we are gone, the relatives left will there were photographs, books and paintings sort through our things and wonder why this that looked very old. odd assortment of things meant enough to us She brewed some hot mint tea to sip while to keep. They won’t know what’s junk and we chatted. As we drank from antique china what’s treasure because it’s the stories that cups, I asked her about a tiny figurine about make the difference between cost and value. two inches tall on her coffee table. The little Rick Watson is a columnist and author. mummy looked like it had been carved from His latest book Life Changes is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email bone. “Oh this,” she said picking put the piece. at rick@homefolkmedia.com.
C20 • May 2015
280 Living
Calendar 280 Events May 1: OMHS Annual Golf Tournament. 8 a.m. Inverness Country Club. $100 per player, $400 team. Contact Brian Fuller at 243-1572 or blfuller@southernco.com. May 1: Relay for Life – Oak Mountain. 6 p.m.-midnight. Heardmont Park. Event raises funds for cancer awareness and research. Call 918-3211. Visit relayforlife.org. May 2: Run for Kids. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Visit southeasterntrailruns.com. May 2: Celebrate Hoover Day. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Veterans Park. Call Brittany Toole at 444-7792. May 2: Derby Days of Shelby County. 1 p.m. North Pelham Square. Watch the Kentucky Derby and support The Arc of Shelby County. Visit thearcofshelby.org.
May 2: Derby for Dystrophy. 5-9 p.m. Dixie Fish Co. $40. Visit eventbrite.com. May 3: Music in the Park. 4:30 p.m. Mt Laurel Park. Music by Act of Congress. Free. Visit doubleoakcc.org/music. May 9: Relay for Life: Briarwood Christian School. Noon-10 p.m. Briarwood Christian South Campus, 6255 Cahaba Valley Road. Visit relayforlife.org. May 13-17: Regions Tradition. 7 a.m. Shoal Creek Club, 100 New Williamsburg Drive. Visit regionstradition.com. May 15-17: Bama’s Boots, Bands and Bikes. Noon-11 p.m. Venue 31. Benefiting the Boot Campaign. Free admission. Visit eventbrite.com/e/ bamas-boots-bands-and-bikes-saturday-festivaltickets-16179919575.
May 16: XTERRA Southeast Championship and Oak Mountain Sprint. 8 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Visit xterraplanet.com. May 16: Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk. 10 a.m. Veterans Park. Family-oriented event with 5K walk, children’s activities, food and festivities. Visit fightcf.cff.org. May 21: Shelby County Senior Picnic. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oak Mountain State Park Double Oak Lake and Beach Area. Lunch from the grill, music, vendors, door prizes and more will be available. Reserve spot by May 1. Call 670-5770. May 23: Memorial Day Trail Race. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Visit southeasterntrailruns.com. May 23, 30: Valleydale Farmers Market.
8 a.m.-noon. Faith Presbyterian Church, 4601 Valleydale Road. Visit valleydalefarmersmarket.com. May 25: Annual Memorial Day Bug Races. 10 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park. Bring your own bug with you or find one at the park to race. Call 520-2520. May 28: Urban Cookhouse Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. The Summit. Visit urbancookhouse.com. May 29-30: Shelby Show & Go. Friday 5 p.m., Downtown Columbiana. Saturday noon, The Village at Lee Branch. Antique and custom car event benefitting SafeHouse of Shelby County. Visit the Shelby Show & Go Classic and Custom Car Show Facebook page. May 29: Friday Night Flicks: Big Hero 6. Film starts at sundown. Veterans Park.
Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Events 1301 County Services Drive May 6: Ambassadors Meeting. 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. Chamber Office. May 8: Health Services Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce. May 12: Entrepreneur Roundtable. 8-10 a.m. Chamber of Commerce.
May 12: Entrepreneur and Small Business Mentorship Program. 8-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce. May 13: Existing Business and Industry Work Group. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, Inc.
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May 15: Entrepreneur Roundtable II. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce. May 15-17: Barber Historics. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Barber Motorsports Park. Visit barbermotorsports. com/barber-historics-home.php. May 19: Education Work Group. 8:30-9:30
a.m. Shelby County Instructional Services Center. Contact Keyla Handley for more information 6634542, ext. 106. May 28: Governmental Affairs Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Sain Associates, Inc. Contact Kirk Mancer for more information 663-4542.
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Calendar St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Events 7191 Cahaba Valley Road 408-6600 Mondays: Next Chapter Book Club/ Greystone Chapter. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Weekly opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to read and learn together. Currently reading Divergent by Veronica Roth. Visit facebook. com/nextchapterbookclubgreystonechapter. Tuesdays: Farmstand. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A weekly market from Boozer Farms in Chilton County. Wednesdays: Breastfeeding Support Group. 10 a.m.-noon. Moms will have the opportunity to meet with a lactation consultant, as well as network with other breastfeeding moms. May 2: Lupus Support Group. 10 a.m.noon. This month’s topic is protecting yourself from the sun and a flare with Kay Ashworth.Call 1-877865-8787.
May 2: Sjogren’s Support Group. 1-3 p.m. Education, support and awareness of this autoimmune disorder. Free. May 9: Breastfeeding. 9-11:30 a.m. A class on the basics of breastfeeding for expectant mothers. $10 per couple. Call Dial-A-Nurse at 939-7878. May 9: Coping Skills. 12:30-2:30 p.m. Pain management techniques for expectant mothers during delivery. $10 per couple. Call 939-7878. May 12: Blood Pressure/Body Mass Index Screening. 8-11:30 a.m. A representative from St. Vincent’s Wellness Services will screen for blood pressure and BMI in the front entrance. Free. May 16: Forever Families. 5-9 p.m. Class focuses on caring for a newborn, and is designed
for families coming together through adoption. Call 939-7878. May 18: Got Milk? Noon-12:45 p.m. As part of National Osteoporosis Month, a class will be taught on how to get enough calcium to protect your bones. Free. Register by calling 408-6551. May 19: Breakfast with the Doc Recognizing Skin Cancer Signs. 8-9 a.m. Dr. Sandra Zahradka will discuss how to recognize potential skin cancers. Free. Call 408-6550 to register. May 19: Medicare Educational Meeting. 10 a.m.-noon. Blue Cross/Blue Shield will hold a meeting to inform customers about senior products. May 21: Cuisine at One Nineteen,
Cooking with Tea and Coffee. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy dishes made with coffee and tea with Chef Chris Vizzina. $25 per person. Call 408-6550. May 28: Comprehensive Diabetes Education. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Physician’s referral required, pre-assessments given preceding class date. Call 939-7248. May 29: Wellness Screenings. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure BMI and waist circumference screenings by appointment. $20 for non-members and repeat visits. free for members. Call 408-6550. May 30: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Support Group. 10-11:30 a.m. Support group for patients and families who have Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
Mt Laurel Public Library 33 Olmsted Street 991-1660
Storytimes May 1, 15: Toddler Tales. 10 a.m. Stories, songs, fingerplays and more make up a lively 30-minute program. Age 36 months and younger.
May 1, 15: Storytime with Ms. Kristy. 11 a.m. Stories, music and more for every member of the family. All ages.
Special programming
May 7: Mt Laurel Book Club. 7 p.m. The book club will discuss its latest title. Call 991-1660. May 9: Crafty Saturday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Make a craft at the library. All ages with a parent’s help.
May 14, 18: Real to Reel. 12:30 p.m. Mt Laurel continues its documentary film series with films chosen by April’s attendees. May 18: Summer Reading Registration Begins.
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Calendar North Shelby Library Events 5521 Cahaba Valley Road 439-5500
Kids May 2: Lego Club. 10-11:30 a.m. The library provides the Legos, the kids provide the imagination. All ages. May 4: Star Wars Day. 4 p.m. Fans of all ages are invited to celebrate May for Fourth day. Will watch Star Wars: A New Hope. May 12: Pete the Cat Book Club. 4 p.m. Stories, games, groovy crafts, snack. All ages. Registration required.
May 13: Newbery Pie Book Club. 1 p.m. Will discuss Newbery books and eat pie. All ages. Registration required.
May 20: Homeschool Hangout: James Spann. 1 p.m. The chief Meteorologist of ABC 33/40 will speak. Registration required.
May 4: Star Wars Day. 4 p.m. Fans of all ages are invited to celebrate May for Fourth day. Will watch Star Wars: A New Hope.
May 15: Moe’s Southwest Grill Summer Reading Fundraiser. 5-9 p.m. Moe’s Southwest Grill, Lee Branch. Stop by Moe’s and drop your receipt in the bowl by the register labeled Spirit Fundraiser.
May 30: Summer Reading Kickoff Party. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Inflatables, Refreshments, Games, Face Painting and more. All ages.
May 11: Anime Night. 6 p.m. An evening of anime.
May 18: Early Registration for Summer Reading. Children’s Department.
Teens Fridays: Gaming. 3:30-5:45 p.m. Play games on the Wii, Xbox one, board games, card games and Minecraft.
May 16-20: Exam Snacks. Stop by the teen department for brain food while you study. May 18: Early Registration for Summer Reading.
Area Events April 30-May 3: Alabama International Auto Show. April 30 Noon-9 p.m., May 1-2 10 a.m.-9 p.m., May 3 10 a.m.-6 p.m. BJCC. $12 adults, $6 children 6-11, children 5 and under free. May 1-3: Celebrating Spring with Dance. May 1-2 7:30-9:30 p.m. and May 3 2:304:30 p.m. Alabama School of Fine Arts. $10 for adults, $5 students. Visit asfa.k12.al.us. May 1-3: Wings Over Oak Mountain. Oak Mountain State Park. Special programming, exciting birding excursions, interaction with live raptors and the beauty of Oak Mountain State Park. $75 each, $125 per couple. Visit awrc.org. May 2: Here’s to Forty: A Celebration of
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Children’s Dance Foundation. 7:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. Visit childrensdancefoundation. org. May 2: Tumor Trooper 5K Run/Walk. 7:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Registration through April 24 is $20, April 25race day is $25. Call (404) 252-4107. May 2: SLIPKNOT. 8 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Tickets $34-$87.50, available through Ticketmaster/Live Nation. May 3: Mother’s Day Brunch. 1 p.m. Clubhouse on Highland. Catered brunch by Ashley Mac’s, a silent auction and more will benefit Sav A Life Vestavia. Open to the public. $50. Visit savalife.
instagift.com. May 3: Shen Yun. 4 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Tickets available through Ticketmaster and the BJCC Central Ticket Office, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Visit bjcc.org. May 4: 23rd Annual Ireland Legacy Tournament. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Overton Club. $2,750 for a team of four, $700 individual. Many sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 7953251. May 6: Hozier. 8-11 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster, $27.50-$47.50. Call 1-800-745-3000.
May 7-9: Birmingham Fashion Week. 6 p.m. Pepper Place. Visit bhamfashionweek.com. May 7: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Birmingham Historic Loft District. Free admission. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com. May 7: Eat UP: A Taste of Uptown. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Uptown Entertainment District. Food samples will be provided by Uptown’s seven restaurants. $25. Visit ticketmaster.com. May 7: An Evening with David Phelps. 5:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Phelps is a member of the Gaither Vocal Band. $135 per person. Visit samford.edu/legacyleague.
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Calendar Area Events May 7: ArtPlay Parlor Series: Julia Bullock. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $37.50. Visit alysstephens.org.
May 20-24: Disney on Ice: Frozen. Various times. Legacy Arena, BJCC. Tickets available through Ticketmaster and the BJCC Central Ticket Office, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Visit bjcc.org.
May 9: Crawfish and Cornhole. 2-7 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company. $20 admission includes a beer, all-you-can-eat crawfish and live music benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama. Call 440-1933.
May 30: Sixth Annual Bob Sykes Barbecue and Blues Festival. Noon-7 p.m. DeBardeleben Park, Bessemer. Call 426-1400 or visit bobsykesblues.com.
May 9: Motherwalk 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m.-noon. Homewood Central Park. Benefiting ovarian cancer research through the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Call 276-1696.
May 30: Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes Tour. 7:30 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Tickets start at $40.50. Call 1-800745-3000.
May 9: ASO Youth Orchestra Spring Concert. 3 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Call 9752787. May 9: Girls on the Run 5K. 8 a.m. Veterans Park. Registration is $28 until race week. Visit girlsontherunbham.org. May 11: Collat Jewish Family Services Hands Up Together Event. 7 p.m. Alabama School of Fine Arts Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre. Visit cjfsbham.org or call 879-3438. May 15: Black Jacket Symphony Presents “Nevermind” and “Ten.” 7 p.m. Iron City. $25. Call 202-5483. May 16: Birmingham Crawl for Cancer. 1-6 p.m. Lakeview District. 10-12 people per team. After-party at Side Bar. $40 per person. Register at crawlforcancer.org, go to “cities” and click on “Birmingham.” May 16: Do Dah Day. 11 a.m. Caldwell Park. Free admission for spectators and festival attendees. $5 per walker for fun walker. $10 animal prize per
Guests explore restaurants and shops at last year’s Eat UP: A Taste of Uptown. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
animal per category. $10 teams per person. $10 teams with car per person plus $15 per car. $15 cars. $10 motorcycles. $20 floats. Political team/car/ float $50 per candidate. Visit dodahday.org. May 16-17: Great Southern Gun and Knife Show. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. BJCC Exhibition Halls. Adults $9 and children 6-11 $2. Call (865) 458-0051. May 16-17: Tannehill Trade Days. 8 a.m.-4
p.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. $4 12 years and older, $3 seniors, $2 ages 6-11, and free ages 5 and younger. Call 477-5711. May 20: Birmingham Franchise Expo. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:30-4:30 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Over 20 successful and proven franchise companies will speak. Free. Reservations encouraged. Visit alabamafranchiseexpo.com.
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