280 Living September 2015 by Starnes Media

280 Living The roads traveled

September 2015 | Volume 9 | Issue 1

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less

neighborly news & entertainment

459

Grants Mill Road • This 2-lane road connects Highway 119 and I-20.

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• Several municipalities want to widen and relocate the road to handle more cars.

New Grants Mill, Cahaba Beach Road routes could divert 280 trafﬁc

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By the numbers

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All data courtesy of Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham and ALDOT via transit and intersection studies.

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trafﬁc signals over the 3.9 miles between 459 and 119Overton Rd

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By SYDNEY CROMWELL

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The fact that U.S. 280 has a trafﬁc problem isn’t news to anyone. What’s noteworthy is that six cities, two counties and the Birmingham Water Works Board are working together to study a possible solution. The city of Birmingham, along with several municipal partners, has taken the ﬁrst steps toward providing an alternative route near 280. It’s one of two projects that could provide eventual relief for this major highway’s commuters.

ch Rd

280 Cahaba Bea

459

The million-dollar question About six miles east of 280 lies Grants Mill Road, a narrow two-lane that winds from Highway 119 to I-20 and Highway 78 in Irondale. In this rural roadway, the city of Birmingham sees a new conduit for some of 280’s trafﬁc. “We understand that there needs to be some relief because of the congestion,” Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin said.

See ROAD | page A23

Cahaba Beach Road Bridge An average of

ê The bridge connecting Cahaba Beach Road has been closed since 1992.

73,625

ê Shelby County is considering building a new bridge to divert trafﬁc from U.S. 280.

cars pass through intersections between Interstate 459 and Highway 119 daily.

INSIDE Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #830

119

Sponsors .......... A4 280 News ......... A6

Business.......... A10 Community .....A15

ê There are environmental concerns related to construction at the Little Cahaba River.

School House ...B20 Chamber............B22

Sports .............. C4 Faith ...................C13

Opinion..............C14 Calendar ...........C17 facebook.com/280Living

Touchdown time Find out what to expect from area football teams this fall in our special guide.

Sports page C4

CALL THE MAIDS AND GET THE SPOTLESS CLEANING CUSTOMERS TRUST AND RECOMMEND.

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A2 • September 2015

280 Living

WELCOME BACK, LARRY! Please join us in welcoming Larry Ketchum back to the Royal Family. Larry has returned to Birmingham and is our new Royal VW Sales Manager.

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280Living.com

September 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ A3

A4 • September 2015

280 Living

About Us Photo of the month

Please Support our Community Partners 20 Midtown, Residential/Retail (C7)

Noble Bank (B3)

30 A Realty (C19)

Odyssey Early Schools (B18)

4D Family Farm (A14)

Outdoor Living Areas (A13)

Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B5)

Pak Mail (B4)

Alabama Outdoors (A5)

Pastry Art (C15)

Alabama Partners for Clean Air (C12)

Petra and Margie, Your Sales Team (A6)

Alabama Power c/o AL Newspaper Advertising Service (B23)

Plain Jane Children & Gift Shop (B12)

Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (C10) ARC Realty (C3) Arcpoint Labs (B12) Asbury United Methodist Church (A22) Azia Medical Spa (C11) Magic City Con brought children and adults to the Cahaba Grand Conference Center for its firstever weekend of games, costumes, science fiction and fantasy. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Bedzzz Express (B24) Bellini’s (B20) Ben Franklin - One Hour (A6)

Correction: In the August edition of 280 Living, we stated that the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office substation was set to open at the end of July. This is incorrect, and the Sheriff’s Office is currently hoping to have the substation open in September.

Bin There Dump That (C11) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B8) Briarwood Christian School (A19) Briarwood Mother’s Day Out (B7)

Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell It’s hardly original to complain about traffic on 280 – but I’m going to do it anyway. With my job, I’m always traveling up and down 280 at least a couple times a week. No matter what day or time, I never fail to get caught in a traffic jam. I’ve seen more almostwrecks than I can count, usually due to inattention. It’s just frustrating, and unsafe. That’s why, when I heard that Birmingham and some other cities were talking about a traffic study on 280, I got excited. A $1 million study, even if the results won’t happen for years, is the first step to solving a lot of my frustrations. I began calling all the city officials I knew to get

details – partly to write the story on the cover of this issue, partly to see when my weekly trips would become easier. I don’t know if reconnecting Cahaba Beach Road or relocating Grants Mill Road are the right solutions or will ever happen. The finished product of this study could look completely different from the outset. Any honest effort to make 280 a little easier for drivers is something I’ll always support.

Bromberg & Company, Inc. (B8) Bruno Montessori Academy (A19) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Glass (B15) Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic (C14) California Closets (C6) Chickadee (C17) Children’s of Alabama (C15) Chiropractic Today (B10) Classic Gardens (B14) Cornerstone Insurance (B4) Dance South (B9) Decorating Dens Interiors (C2) Diamond Golf Cars (B13) Diamond Golf Cars (C13)

Publisher: Creative Director: Editor: Managing Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:

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Contributing Writers:

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Published by:

Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Sydney Cromwell Madoline Markham David Knox Katie Turpen Erica Techo Madison Miller Roy L. Williams Louisa Jeffries Emily VanderMey Matthew Allen Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith Kari Kampakis Rick Watson Leah Ingram Eagle Marienne Thomas Ogle Jordan Hays Chris Griesedieck Olivia Burton 280 Living LLC

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: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Drayer Physical Therapy Institute (A14) Encore Rehabilitation (C8) ENT for Kids Alabama (C16) ERA King Real Estate Homewood (C16) Expedia CruisShipCenters (A7) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (B4) GeGe’s Salon (B17) Great Smiles Orthodontics (C5)

Planet Fitness (A5) Preserve Paints (B11) Pure Barre 280 (C9) RealtySouth Marketing (A23) Red Mountain Theatre Company (C6) Red Pearl Restaurant (B18) Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace (A3) Resolute Running Training Center (B22) Revitalize at Greystone (A8) Rosegate Design (B10) Royal Automotive (A2) Russian Ballet (A15) Samford University Center for Science and Religion (C10) Skelton’s Air (A8) Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (A11) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (A16) Southern Roots (B17) Spring Valley School (A18) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (A24) St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (B15) St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (C2) Studio Red Salon (B19) Summit Internal Medicine (A12) Terry Crutchfield, Re/MAX Advantage (B2) The Altamont School (A20) The Cuckoo’s Nest (B16) The Goddard School (C5) The Insurance Place (A10) The Maids (A1) The Melting Pot (A16) The Neighborhood Plumber (B12) The UPS Store - Cahaba Heights (C12) The White Room Bridal Salon (B11) Therapy South Greystone (C3)

Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (B7) Tom Williams BMW (A9) Total Beauty and Skin Dermatology (A17) Healthy Smiles of Birmingham (C9) Henderson & Walton (C17)

Uptown Nail Spa (B20)

Published by : Starnes Publishing LLC

Hilltop Montessori School (A21)

Urban Home Market (C20)

For advertising contact: dan@280living.com

Indian Springs School (A22)

Victory NAPA (A10)

Issis & Sons / O Advertising (B6)

Vitalogy Wellness Center (B1)

Kirkwood by the River (C14)

Vitalogy Wellness Center (C18)

Lawncrafters (C13)

Vulcan Park and Museum (C4)

Lisa Miller Oral Facial Surgery (C4)

Weigh To Wellness (B21)

Mathnasium (C1)

Western Sales and Service (B16)

Morningside at Riverchase (B2)

Whale of a Sale (A11)

NAPA Auto Parts (B3)

White Dog Photography (B14)

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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September 2015 • A5

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280 Living

A6 • September 2015

280 News Shelby County Commission discusses 4-H, county extension The Shelby County Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program now has a full-time staff member dedicated to solely serving Shelby County. Charity Battles has worked with the Bibb County and Shelby County 4-H programs, dividing her time between the two areas. Battles’ full-time position was first discussed at the Commission’s July 13 meeting and was enacted Aug. 10. The Shelby County Extension’s 4-H program involves 1,200 youths and was recognized as one of the Alabama 4-H Centennial Youth Initiative counties. “Today is really a time for celebration,” said Shelby County Extension Coordinator Ricky Colquitt. The county’s 4-H program was recognized after demonstrating its functionality and fulfillment of statewide requirements. Having a full-time employee working with 4-H will help benefit the county by making

sure its needs are met and expressed. County Manager Alex Dudchock also said a full-time employee allows for the 4-H program’s growth, which can bring more people in to use the 4-H facilities for retreats or training. In other news, the Commission: - Awarded a bid for five airport box hangars. The county will likely have more hangars constructed in the future, which led to a conversation about the number of hangars in the area. County Manager Alex Dudchock said there is a waiting list for the hangars, and while 100 percent capacity is nice, it is important to have a few slots open for last-minute needs. - Awarded bids for concrete, asphalt, flail cutter parts and pressure creosoted timbers. - Awarded a bid for policy management service technology. - Proclaimed September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Alabama Extension Director Garry Lemme presents Commission Chairman Rick Shepherd with a trophy commemorating the county’s successful 4-H program. Photo by Erica Techo.

City of Hoover to switch to new garbage pickup contractor in October By ROY L. WILLIAMS Residents of the City of Hoover will soon see new trucks handling garbage/leaves and recycling pickup. The city signed a contract with a new provider, Santek/Waste Services of Alabama. They

will replace the current garbage pickup provider, Republic/BFI Waste Services, effective on Oct. 1. Santek/Waste Services of Alabama was the lowest responsible bidder and will be paid $572,981 a month, or $6.875 million a year, according to the contract approved by the Hoover council.

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“We had a great relationship over the past 12 years with our current provider, but Santek presented the lowest bid and met our specifications,” Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said. Santek/Waste Services of Alabama will pick up trash twice a week and recycled materials once a week at about 25,000 homes in the City

of Hoover. A big selling point in contract negotiations, the mayor said, is that Santek/Waste Services of Alabama also agreed to replace all of the garbage cans and recycling bins currently used in Hoover. “Some of the trash cans here in Hoover are pretty old, so we’re excited about that,” he said.

280Living.com

September 2015 • A7

Zoe’s Kitchen, Mugshots moving toward construction

Mugshots is a Mississippi-based burger chain opening a new restaurant in Inverness Plaza. Photo by Jordan Hays.

By ERICA TECHO A new Zoe’s Kitchen is planned for Brook Highland. The freestanding restaurant will be at 5247 U.S. 280, behind Sprouts Farmers Market at Brook Highland Plaza. The restaurant is still in its planning stages, and there is no set opening date. This location will be Zoe’s seventh Birmingham-area location and is set to include indoor and patio seating.

More information about the location will be released as the opening gets closer, said Zoe’s Kitchen director of brand Lauren Hopkins Butler. Mugshots Grill and Bar is also coming to Inverness Plaza, with construction expected to begin in early September. The burger restaurant will be 4,500 square feet and its neighbors include Planet Fitness and the PGA Superstore. There is no opening date set yet, but this will be the third Birmingham location for the chain.

Chelsea City Council discusses budget, current projects By ERICA TECHO Chelsea has spent almost $9 million on capital projects in the last three years. Mayor Earl Niven presented the city’s current and completed projects during pre-council at the Aug. 18 Chelsea City Council meeting. In building capital projects, Niven said the city owes $1.2 million on contract prices. These projects include the Chelsea Community Center and Chelsea Sports Complex, which are currently under construction. “Do you understand how much we’ve really done in the past three years?” Niven asked the council. The reason to bring up finances, Niven said, is to consider where the city can save on future and ongoing projects. He suggested delaying some projects by six months if possible or to see what the city can do itself. One example was placing a chain link fence at the entrance of the Chelsea Sports Complex at first and upgrading to a more permanent fixture in the future. Niven said the council has spent money wisely, but “we’ve got a way to go.” During the council meeting, William Hanes from Southern Light, a fiber optic network company, talked to the council about the company’s plan. Southern Light hopes to bring 470 miles of fiber to the Birmingham area in its current expansion project. Hanes, the public relations and communications director, formerly spoke with Niven about entering a franchise agreement with Chelsea.

Niven said the city’s attorney is working with the company, and a resolution could be before the council next meeting. Also at the council meeting: }} The council approved a resolution for annexation by referendum. The annexation involves a property which borders Westover for owners Richard and Annette Acton. }} The council approved the appointment of Casey Morris, a lifetime Chelsea resident, to the Chelsea Planning Commission. }} The council approved a resolution for additional payment of $52,000 for a change order for the Chelsea Recreational and Community Center. }} The council approved a resolution for additional payment of $7,598 for a change order to the community center’s entrance. }} Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley announced the department has responded to 1,062 calls this year - up from 948 at the same time next year. He also thanked the community for donating nearly $3,000 to the MDA Boot Drive. }} The council approved Chelsea Fire & Rescue to purchase a replacement heart monitor at the price of $39,388. The heart monitor and defibrillator will be placed in the front line transport vehicle. }} Niven said the Chelsea Community Center is growing closer to completion. The basketball goals were installed last week, and the gym flooring is expected to be installed by the end of the week.

280 Living

A8 • September 2015

Residents concerned about Dunnavant Square development By STEVE IRVINE Safety for neighborhood children is at the forefront of a group of Dunnavant Square homeowners’ request to amend a proposed plan for a gas station, attached convenience store and grocery store located on Shelby County Road 41. The construction is part of a residential and commercial master plan that was first approved in 2006 and received amended approval in 2008. On Aug. 3, the Shelby County Planning Commission voted approval for a modified site plan, submitted by Bill Thornton of Dunnavant Commercial LLC, which included moving the gas pumps closer to Highway 41 and placing the convenience store closer to the neighborhood. A group of neighbors attended the meeting to express concern about Dublin Way, which is currently a dead end, and ask that it not be extended to Highway 41 as part of the project. “What we’re wanting as a neighborhood is to simply remove [the road extension] and that protects the integrity of the gas station and grocery store,” said Mark Melichar, a resident of Wicklow Lane, which is the closest street to the proposed gas station. “It doesn’t violate anything that Mr. Thornton is trying to do. He’ll still accomplish everything he wants to build. All this will do is draw a distinct line from commercial to residential property. Right now, we are on a dead end street and a lot of activity goes on each evening. What we’re scared about – our main concern – is our children and our families in the community.” Jeff Miller, who is also a Wicklow Lane resident, said the only people who would benefit from the road extension are the residents of

Developer Bill Thornton wants to build a gas station, convenience store and grocery store near the Dunnavant Square development. Photo by Erica Techo.

nearby streets and added, “we don’t want it.” While the road extension is at center of the current debate, it is not new to the plan. Shelby County Chief Development Officer Chad Scroggins said the road extension was included in the original plan as well as the amended plan in

2008. “It allows connectivity between the neighborhood, County Road 41, adjacent commercial properties and also the overall area, which is where [Mt. Laurel Elementary School] comes in, where Area 41 Pizza is located and the Mt.

Laurel development,” Scroggins said. Some of the residents, however, contend that the connectivity and travel convenience are not an issue. As of now, the only way to enter or

Continued on next page

280Living.com

September 2015 • A9

Neighborhood Grocery Store

Carlow Ln

Convenience Store and Gas Station

Future Bank Branch

Dunna vant V a

lley Rd

Residents are all right with the plans for multiple commercial developments, but they are worried about safety of extending a current dead-end residential road. Photo courtesy of Shelby County.

exit the neighborhood onto Highway 41 is on Carlow Lane. Melichar said he used a stopwatch to time how long it took him to get from his house to the neighborhood exit while driving the speed limit. He said it took 57 seconds. “Less than a minute drive time is what we’re sacrificing,” Melichar said. What the residents aren’t fighting is the commercial development of the 24,000-square foot boutique style grocery store and the gas station itself. The plans call for a two-story “boutique-type” grocery store with plans for a café on the second story. The gas station and adjoining 2,400-square foot convenience store is scheduled for the south side of Dublin Way. “We don’t have a problem with that,” Miller said. “At first, we preferred not to have the gas

station. We like the hill that was there, we liked that it took away the noise from the road, we liked the trees and this is going to take away a good bit of it. But, even from that standpoint, we’re fine with the gas station and the grocery store, we just don’t want the road connected.” Both will provide a more convenient option for a gas station and grocery store than is currently available. The closest services are probably four or five miles away depending on which direction you travel. However, Melichar said the distance is not a problem. “To me, it did not affect my decision one bit knowing I would have to drive six or seven miles to get gas,” Melichar said. “Birmingham is a very large city. It’s very spread out so it’s something all of us are used to in my opinion.”

Melichar expressed appreciation for the design of the commercial development. “I do think he’s doing a good job, from the drawings, of protecting us with berms, fences and trees,” he said. “From that standpoint, what we’ve seen of the drawings, he will do a good job to make it look aesthetically pleasing. Our main issue is the exit.” Melichar said Thornton has been working with residents and trying to accommodate their needs so far, though they have not agreed on the road extension. If interested, Thornton could seek approval for an amended site plan without the extension to Dublin Way. Civil engineer John Slaughter said following the Aug. 3 meeting that approval of the master plan made it a “big deal to eliminate

off that master plan.” However, Melichar and the other residents remain solid in their hopes. “We simply would like for him to work with us, based on the county saying it’s up to him to work with us to fix this. The ball is in his court, he knows where we stand,” Melichar said. Scroggins said the Aug. 3 approval was the next step in the process. “You get the final site plan, which is where they get final approval from the highway department of how the roads will actually [lay],” Scroggins said. “The layout of the drainage, sizing of stores and landscape requirements, all of which comes together to make that total site plan.” The final site plan will then have to be approved by the county.

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280 Living

280 Business Happenings

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280Living.com

September 2015 • A11 was previously located on the corner of Chesser Crane Road and County Road 47. 913-3556, thatsthepointe.com

Now Open A La Mode Bath, Body & Gifts is now open at 1401 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 110, in the Lee Branch shopping center. The store is owned by Colleen Burback, who also owns The Urban Barn. 451-8888

FirstBank Mortgage will move from its current location at 3500 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 325, to the Colonnade, 3443 Colonnade Parkway. 271-1210, firstbankonline.com

EmbroidMe, 5266 Highway 280, is now open in Brook Highland Plaza between Sprouts Farmers Market and Five Below. The business provides custom marketing solutions for businesses, organizations and schools as well as personalized gifts with custom embroidery, screen printing, garment printing, promotional products and awards. It is owned by Ashley Carter. 518-6407, embroidme-birmingham.com

Pieology Pizzeria is now open 3 in The Summit at 325 Summit Blvd., Suite A4. This is the chain’s first Birmingham-area location. pieology.com

Drayer Physical Therapy

10 Institute has a new location at

204 Chelsea Point Drive, next to Sonic and across the street from Walmart. The Chelsea center specializes in orthopedics, pediatrics, sports medicine, occupational rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, fall prevention, TMJ dysfunction and spinal traction therapy. It replaces the previous location at 2823 Greystone Commercial Blvd. 453-9400, drayerpt.com

Hirings and Promotions Poythress, Hughett & Mathews, a CPA firm at 2100 Providence Park, Suite 100, has hired Jeff Fabian as a certified public accountant. Fabian will be specializing in accounting and bookkeeping, auditing, business and individual tax preparation, tax and management consulting, fraud investigation, litigation support and business valuation. 995-2720, cpabhm.com

The most important thing my Mom did was care. Now she deserves the same. “Summers at the beach. Planning my wedding. Every day of my life, my mother showed how much she cared. Now she deserves the same from me. That’s why we chose Somerby for my Mom. Somerby provides help with the activities of daily living, and all the comforts and care she needs to live as independently as possible. Now our time together is all quality time — and Mom still has that spark in her eye.” At Somerby, we inspire and nurture successful aging among our residents each day in a warm and caring environment with an emphasis on wellness.

4 Brass Bear, a new antique and collectible store, is now open at 2652 Valleydale Road. The store, located in a long-shuttered pet store in the Valleydale Village shopping center, has more than 20,000 square feet with a wide variety of items available from more than 200 vendors. 566-0601, brassbearantiques.com

Coming Soon

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Trader Joe’s will open its first 5 Birmingham location at The Summit, 209 Summit Blvd., on October 2. traderjoes.com

Chicken Salad Chick, 210

13 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 200, is

celebrating its first anniversary in its Lee Branch location. 995-2525, chickensaladchick.com Smith Chiropractic, 15582

Relocations and Renovations

14 Highway 280, Suite 114, Chelsea,

Greystone Chiropractic has moved to its new location in Greystone Terrace, 5426 Highway 280, Suite 7. They were previously located in the Greystone Cosmetic Center on Village Street. 981-8090, greystonechiropractor.com That’s the Pointe has moved its dance studio to a new location at 10699 Old Highway 280, Building 7, Chelsea. The studio, now in its third year,

Washington and Brandy Bradford as Realtors. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com

Anniversaries

Sushi Village 280 will open soon in the Lee Branch shopping center, 601 6 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 101. This will be their second Birminghamarea location, their first being located on Crestwood Boulevard. sushivillageal.com

12 Road, has hired Laurance

is celebrating its eighth anniversary in September. 678-6884, chelseabacksmith.com Auto Whiz, 509 Cahaba Park

15 Circle, celebrated its 19th

anniversary on Aug. 1. The store is an independent tire dealer for Goodyear, Toyo and Michelin, and also offers a full line of automotive services. 995-9002, autowhiz.com Businesses with this symbol are not located on the map

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280 Living

A12 • September 2015

Sharing the power of real-food juices Juicery has opened new location at The Summit By MADOLINE MARKHAM Amanda Blake Turner knows the power of juice. In November 2013, her flu-like symptoms wouldn’t go away. Antibiotics from a misdiagnosis of walking pneumonia didn’t help, either. At 36, with years of competitive trail racing under her belt, she had never dealt with a serious illness and now, with a young daughter to care for, her severe fatigue and nausea kept her from getting out of bed. Relief came at last from Turner’s sister, who juices for her kids when they get sick. As it turned out, it was juicing and good nutrition that healed Turner’s body and, in turn, inspired a new dream. Less than two years later, she and her business partners have opened a Sprout & Pour juicing bar at The Summit next to Primeaux Cheese & Vino. An original location is also located in the Edgewood neighborhood of Homewood. The business started as a stand at farmers markets. Before long, demand called for opening a brick-and-mortar store in Edgewood. Just afterward, The Summit invited them to open a location, and a few months later, the business had grown to where they decided to say yes. Their juices are made by cold-pressing, a process that yields a high amount of nutrition and lasts for four days. Juices also act as an

energy booster and supplement made with food, no sugar or preservatives included. Turner recommends using the juices as a snack between meals, when you are on the go but want something refreshing. “If you are going to spend $4-5 on a juice, you might as well put something in you that uses real food,” she said. “All the benefits you get from eating [fruits and vegetables], you get from juicing them.” Turner thinks Sunrise tastes like orange juice with its combination of carrot, apple, lemon and ginger. The Cashew Milk, which crushes raw cashews in a Vitamix blender, tastes like a cinnamon roll in a bottle with its combination of honey, cinnamon and vanilla. Turner’s 2-year-old daughter, Frances, likes the Beet-Nik (beet, carrot, celery, apple and spinach), Spring (kale, cucumber, mint, apple and orange) and Quench (romaine, mint, apple, celery, pineapple and parsley) flavors. “I have been an athlete most of my life and have seen a lot of trends and people looking for something quick and easy,” Turner said. “Juice is powerful, but it’s part of eating well as a more holistic mission and vision as opposed to a quick fix.” The juices are priced at $6.99 for 16 ounces, which is two filling servings. It might seem like a steep price, but Turner said it’s the cheapest coldpressed juice you’ll find. Plus, she

Amanda Blake Turner and her business partners created Sprout & Pour’s original juice flavors, including Sunrise, Spring and Beet-Nik. Photo by Madoline Markham.

notes, it’s made from locally farmed produce, hand juiced, and locally bottled and labeled. In addition to juices, Sprout & Pour serves raw food snacks, such as energy bites, granola and raw doughnuts. Soon after opening, the store will offer Juice Life classes in partnership with other retail stores at The Summit. The interior will be similar to the original Sprout & Pour location.

“It will reflect a similar aesthetic to the Edgewood store, with a farm to table, fresh and clean space,” Turner said. “We painted the interior with a green to exude the idea behind drinking your greens, being in nature, eating clean and farming, and we built the bar top with reclaimed wood.” At tastings, Turner said most people are pleasantly surprised and go on to try more flavors of juices.

And it’s better than a multivitamin, too, she said.

310 Summit Blvd. Suite 100 sproutandpour.com Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 1-6 p.m.

280Living.com

September 2015 • A13

Interior Creations opens second location

By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE Debbie Skinner was one of six children raised by a single mom and, she said, raised to work hard and want something in life. It’s evident she’s not forgotten those early teachings. Skinner is marking 21 years in business — her own business — and has recently expanded into a second location three miles away to handle the company’s product overflow. Debbie Skinner’s Interior Creations is located at 3460 Eastern Valley Road (Highway 119), with her new facility at 7459 Cahaba Valley Road in Greystone. Between the two, Skinner creates custom residential and commercial pieces including cabinets, doors, entertainment centers, bookshelves, counter tops, crown molding and Adirondack chairs. “I can pretty much build most anything, including one-of-a-kind type things,” Skinner said. “I have people come in with pictures from magazines or even in their heads, or just needing a change to a door or repairs or adjustments in their kitchen or bathroom.” Skinner works under the motto, “bring your idea to us.” Born and raised in Childersburg, Skinner signed up for a woodworking class while a high school junior. “I was the only girl and we commuted everyday to Winterboro for vocational school,” she said. “But I

Debbie Skinner has opened a second location of her Debbie Skinner’s Creative Creations where she makes a wide range of pieces for residential and commercial customers. Photo by Tamela Pugh.

was a very involved student overall and woodworking class was interactive, hands-on and allowed me to be creative.” Skinner’s initial experience with woodworking was so rewarding that she pursued a degree in building construction and woodworking at Nunnelley State Technical College.

”There, we had course competitions and special projects to test what we knew and could do,” she said. “And someone saw one of my projects — a curio case — and offered me a job.” That first job was with Marsh Industries in the early 1990s, helping to build nurses stations for St. Vincent’s and UAB hospitals. She later

fashioned showcases and store fixtures for Estee Lauder and Clinique for placement in Riverchase Galleria, Brookwood Village and the Summit, she said. But creativity kept calling and Skinner made the move from “cookie cutter pieces to making unique, one-ofa-kind pieces” with the establishment

of her Interior Creations company. Today, Skinner said her customers include home and condominium owners, designers and builders stretching throughout Jefferson County and down to the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores area. “Most are referrals from previous jobs but some people just drop by the shop,” she said. “Believe me, it’s a factory setting but people are welcome to look at different items, materials, colors, stain and samples and talk about their needs.” All these years after that high school woodworking class, the actual hands-on cutting and constructing of any item remains the most enjoyable part of her work — like putting together a great big puzzle, Skinner said. “But I also love interacting with my customers, never rushing and making sure they know that when I have a job, I’m there for them,” she said. “And that means until they’re happy and satisfied they got more than what they paid for.”

Debbie Skinner’s Interior Creations 3640 Eastern Valley Rd and 7459 Cahaba Valley Rd 335-2076 debbieskinnerwoodwork.com

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A14 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

Instructor Jeremy Webb (right) and DJ Errol Jackson practice their dance moves before participants arrive. Photos by Erica Techo.

Participants learn basic shag moves at the Carolina Shag and West Coast Swing Weekend.

Put on your dancing shoes Local dancers came together for a weekend of swing at the Hilton on U.S. 280. The Southern Traveler Shag and Swing event was held Aug. 7-9 and included workshops, competitions and social dancing. It was hosted by Hoover-based dancers TJ and Wendy Zito, who hope to make the dancing weekend an annual event.

A couple works on their West Coast Swing moves.

Instructor Jeremy Webb and a participant dance during open dance at the Carolina Shag and West Coast Swing Weekend.

280Living.com

September 2015 • A15

Community CHS student participates in Law and Trial program

Chelsea High School sophomore Brianna Braden recently participated in the invitationonly Intensive Law & Trial program at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, California. Photo courtesy of Brianna Braden.

Chelsea High School sophomore Brianna Braden recently participated in the invitation-only Intensive Law & Trial program at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, California. The ten-day program for high school students is done in collaboration with Stanford Law School. The American Mock Trial Association endorses the curriculum. Scholars stay on the Stanford University campus and learn the foundation of law from preeminent legal professionals, which includes hearing from Stanford Law School professors on the practice of law, legal rhetoric and ethics. Students also receive firsthand practice using

essential legal skills such as making impactful opening and closing arguments, preparing cases and readying witnesses for cross-examinations. “This program inspired me to continue on my path to become a 21st century lawyer, with interest in child advocacy, and make a difference in the modern world to give children a voice to be heard,” said Braden. Braden is part of the YWCA Heritage Panel, a Special Education Peer Helper, and was recently chosen as a Student Ambassador representing CHS. -Submitted by Brianna Braden.

OMHS student earns Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen title

Kyra Callens and Hayley Barber were recently crowned Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen and Miss Shelby County 2016 in July. Photo courtesy of Pam Oliver.

By MADISON MILLER Kyra Callens of Oak Mountain High School was recently crowned Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen 2016 at the Miss Shelby County Pageant in July. Kyra, 16, was selected from fellow applicants from Shelby, Chilton, Jefferson, Talladega, Bibb, Coosa and St. Clair counties between 12 and 17 years old. She was crowned along with Miss Shelby County 2016 Hayley Barber. Kyra first started pageants at 13 years old after her friend, Miss Shelby County 2015 Amanda Ford, encouraged her. “She started a long time ago,” Kyra said,

“[We knew] it was a great organization.” Kyra said talent was her favorite portion of the competition, which allowed her to showcase her skills in dance. “You get to show your own thing that’s different than anyone else,” she said. After being crowned the winner, Kyra was surprised but grateful for the experience. “I was not expecting it,” she said. “I was overwhelmed. It was a great experience.” Kyra will go on to represent Shelby County at the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant in March. For more information, visit missshelbycounty.com.

280 Living

A16 • September 2015

Naturalist Emily Cook identifies insects program participants have found under rocks in a creek at Oak Mountain State Park. Lake Stomp program participants explore a creek at Oak Mountain State Park.

A program participant found a crayfish in a creek at Oak Mountain State Park.

At Oak Mountain State Park, children and adults explore a creek as a part of Lake Stomp.

Lake Stomp looks at life underwater

Lake Stomp program participants explore a creek at Oak Mountain State Park.

In August, Oak Mountain State Park naturalist Emily Cook led children and adults on an exploration of life in Alabama’s lakes and creeks. As the kids and adults alike overturned rocks, Cook helped them identify what they were seeing, using their findings to also teach them more about the creeks. Certain creatures can be indicators of water’s cleanliness. The park offers Lake Stomp once a year, but Cook said they are hoping to do so more often in the future. Photos by Madoline Markham.

5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111 • Birmingham, AL 35242 (two blocks from 280) www.southeasternjewelers.net • 980-9030

280Living.com

September 2015 • A17

The man on the bus Unconventional fundraiser aims to provide diapers for the needy By SYDNEY CROMWELL Barrett Ford, the executive director of Bundles of Hope, wants to make sure no baby in Birmingham has to go without diapers. To do that, she’s enlisted the help of Skip Bondur, who has an outside-the-box approach to fundraising. His method: living on the roof of a revamped school bus for a week to grab attention and encourage donations. Bundles of Hope started in October, Ford said, in response to a local need for diapers at area food banks. Disposable diapers are often too expensive for food banks to stock, and they are not covered under food stamps or WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits. “This is where I can help, and it’s close to my heart as far as I have children. I couldn’t imagine not having enough diapers for them,” Ford said. Since Bundles of Hope began, Ford said the “horror stories” she has heard have convinced her to keep the program going. She has heard of mothers being forced to leave dirty diapers on infants too long or cut out the used part and replace it with paper towels because they can’t afford to buy enough diapers. The charity got its 501(c)(3) status in August and has collected 35,000 diapers so far. Bundles of Hope works with a number of organizations to distribute the diapers, such as Bluff Park Community Church and Green Valley Baptist Church in Hoover. Other partners include the Lovelady Center, Her Choice Birmingham Women’s Center and First Baptist Church of Alabaster. Ford said there’s no real difference in which areas need diapers — the churches in Hoover are just as desperate for them as the women’s

Skip Bondur travels the Southeast with his family to help with donation drives and other outreach programs. He will live on top of his renovated school bus for 10 days as part of the Bundles of Hope diaper drive on U.S. 280. Photo courtesy of Skip Bondur.

centers. She’s hoping to expand services into St. Clair County and others around Birmingham, and eventually affiliates in north and south Alabama as well. Before that, she has another goal in mind: 100,000. By National Diaper Awareness Week, which starts Sept. 28, Ford wants to collect 100,000 diapers. From Sept. 11-20, a painted bus will be parked in the gravel easement in front of the Target at 4616 U.S. 280 S. There will be events throughout the Stuff the Bus week, including Dreamcakes and Off the Hook food trucks, an Auburn/Alabama donation competition, car seat checks by the Birmingham

Fire Department and an autograph day with members of the Birmingham Southern basketball team and cheerleaders. To reach that 100,000 goal, however, Ford needs a way to draw eyes away from 280 traffic. That’s where Skip Bondur comes in. As part of Revolt Ministries, Bondur and his wife and children participate in outreach programs throughout the Southeast. They own their bus and a camper and have been on the road almost constantly since September 2012. The Bondurs will do four donation drives this year: food, toys, school supplies and diapers. At each drive, Bondur lives in about 100 square feet

on the bus roof. “I literally will spend a month this year living on the roof of my bus,” Bondur said in a phone interview from Florence, Alabama, where he was on top of the bus for a school supplies drive. “I’m the crazy guy who during rain, cold, whatever lives on the roof of the bus.” The Bondurs are able to provide experienced advice to the donation drive organizers they help, as well as “kind of a circus” to draw the crowd. “I’m noticed as people are driving up and down 280,” Bondur said. “They see me and they start asking questions.” He will have a camping tent to sleep in and another tent and fan to combat the weather during the day. Bondur said it can be a mental and physical challenge to live in a confined space without protection from the elements. Boredom can also be a factor, though he said no two drives are the same. Bondur said his family decided to help Bundles of Hope because they felt the importance of what the charity is doing. He is confident that his bus will have 100,000 diapers on Sept. 20. Ford believes it’s possible, too. After all, their first goal at Bundles of Hope was to collect 6,000 diapers in a month, and they surpassed that goal in three weeks. “We just want to be able to fix the issue and help as many people as we can,” Ford said. “This is something that isn’t being handled, and we want to take on this and we need everybody’s help to do that.”

Stuff the Bus Drive Sept. 11-20 Gravel easement in front of Target 4616 U.S. 280 S. bundlesdiaperbank.org

280 Living

A18 • September 2015

Birmingham

Private School Guide Special Advertising Section

Spring Valley School A16 Briarwood Christian School A17

Bruno Montessori Academy A17 The Altamont School A18

Spring Valley School

Spring Valley School is an independent, nonsectarian school for students in grades 2-12 who struggle with dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other learning differences. It is the only school in central Alabama devoted to impacting the lives of children with learning disabilities, and it serves children from all over the Birmingham area and beyond. Founded in 2000 by parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children, the school is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The school recognizes that the learning processes of these students differ from that of their peers and that each student possesses unique academic needs. As a result, the school offers a multi-sensory (visual, auditory and tactile), language-based instructional program presented in small classes (between five and nine students). Core beliefs include – (1) A successful student sets academic goals and monitors progress in achieving them. (2) Students excel when they are actively involved in the learning process. (3) Students thrive when high expectations are coupled with opportunities to achieve academic

Key Facts Grades 2-12 605 Hagood Street Birmingham, AL 35213 423-8660 springvalleyschool.org success. (4) The curriculum must incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate various learning styles. (5) Students become good citizens by contributing to their community through leadership and service. Spring Valley School is accredited through SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). To learn more or to discuss admission, contact their administrative assistant at 423-8660 to set up an interview with the executive director and a tour of the school.

Hilltop Montessori A19 Indian Springs School A20

Private School Guide

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Special Advertising Section

Briarwood Christian School

Over the past 50 years Briarwood Christian School has grown steadily to become the largest private K-12 school in the state of Alabama and one of the largest private Christian schools in the country. It provides a comprehensive college preparatory education within a stimulating and nurturing Christian environment. Briarwood serves over 1,900 students on two beautiful campuses. The youngest students at Briarwood experience the joy and excitement of an exceptional educational program in a nurturing and stimulating Christian environment. Highly trained Christian teachers nurture the students’ God-given talents, dreams and imaginations. Beginning in kindergarten, the academic program is designed to lay a solid academic, intellectual and spiritual foundation for students. As students continue through Briarwood, they are exposed to not only great educators and Christians committed to giving individualized attention and exceptional instruction, but also to strong academic, artistic and athletic options from which to choose. From a 1:1 iPad program, AP classes,

September 2015 • A19

Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy

Key Facts North Campus, K-6 2204 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243 776-5800 South Campus, 7-12 6255 Cahaba Valley Road Birmingham, AL 35242 776-5900 briarwoodchristianschool.org engineering, robotics and foreign languages (Latin, French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese) to competitive athletics and an extraordinary fine arts program, Briarwood provides students with a world-class Christian education that develops the mind, nurtures the soul and shapes the character — for today and for the future. For additional information about Briarwood, contact Mrs. Kelly Mooney, admissions director, at 776-5812 or kmooney@bcsk12.org.

Our educational practices are built around the belief that children are born with the need to explore and discover and a strong desire to learn. We treat their curiosity and creativity with great care, allowing them to explore their interests from an early age. Lessons provided make learning exciting and stimulate desire to find out more. Lessons are given to small groups or individuals so they can understand the concepts presented. Our students are our first priority, and we take time to listen and help them find answers. Older students learn through seminars, lab experiments and hands-on projects. Reading, research and discussion are important parts of our curriculum. At JBMA, we encourage our students to develop independence, responsibility, resourcefulness and organizational skills. In the Lower Elementary, students learn to use individual work plans listing their weekly goals. When you visit JBMA, you see students working individually and cooperatively, enjoying the total learning experience. The enthusiasm must be seen to be believed. Children learn the

Key Facts Toddlers through 8th grade 5509 Timber Hill Road Birmingham, AL 35242 995-8709 jbma.education importance of respect for one another and for their class environment. Our high expectations for the students teach them to set higher standards for themselves. We invite you to come tour Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy and see firsthand the Montessori learning environment. Observe the children as they interact with each other and the Montessori materials to learn through exploration and guided discovery.

A20 • September 2015

Private School Guide

280 Living

Special Advertising Section

The Altamont School

Altamont is more than a school where talented, smart individuals gather together to learn. It is a community of caring, like-minded leaders who come together with the common goal to inspire, educate and encourage one another to reach their full potential. At Altamont, we are preparing students to be good citizens; educating compassionate, curious, students; committed to producing well-rounded students; a rigorous school with strong core values; a family. We will encourage and support our students’ interests; graduate mature, enlightened students who are prepared for their life and career; prepare the next generation to be critical thinkers; do everything in our power to see your child succeed. We do this because we care; we believe in unending possibilities; we’re small, passionate, and competitive; we believe in truth, knowledge and honor. Each day at Altamont, we strive every day to improve the fabric of society by graduating

compassionate, educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas. That is never more important than in today’s changing and fast-paced world. Preparing students for the world requires both balance and breadth, and this is where Altamont’s faculty stands out. No matter a student’s passion or strength, each one is nurtured and allowed to grow, mature and learn in a caring environment. We are confident that our students are articulate, passionate, and ethically aware young people who will make a difference in the world, hold themselves to a higher standard and lead trustworthy lives. Altamont is a small family with socio-economic, ethnic and religious diversity, and our Honor Code is essential to the fulfillment of our mission. The school has an intensive college preparatory academic program with a personalized college search program, including an annual college tour. The school also offers many opportunities for children to develop multiple talents by

participating in arts, foreign language, leadership programs, community service, clubs, class projects, science competitions and sports — all at the same time. We seek highly motivated students who crave greater breadth and challenge in all areas of school life. The school awards approximately $1,000,000 in merit and need-based scholarships each year in order to attract the best, brightest and most diverse student body. Altamont’s main campus is located on 28 acres on the crest of Red Mountain just south of downtown Birmingham. The main school building houses 40 classrooms, two science wings, a fine arts center, a student center, an art gallery and sculpture garden, a computer lab, a 14,000volume library and special studios for chorus, art, photography and orchestra. The athletic facilities include two gymnasiums with basketball and volleyball courts and a weight room. The main campus offers six tennis courts, a soccer field, and a track. A second campus provides another

Key Facts Grades 5-12 4801 Altamont Road South Birmingham, AL 35222 879-2006 altamontschool.org

gymnasium as well as soccer, baseball and softball fields. Please join us for one of our Open Houses to learn more about our school, our students, our mission and what sets us apart.

Private School Guide

280Living.com

Hilltop Montessori School

Hilltop Montessori School, located in the beautiful Town of Mt Laurel, serves students ranging in ages from toddler through the eighth grade and will open a $3.4 million expansion next year. With funding from their capital campaign and USAmeriBank, as well as the support of EBSCO Industries, The Stephens Family and the Town of Mt Laurel, the expansion will add a community center/gymnasium, a science laboratory, additional classroom space, a multi-media center, expanded art and music areas, as well as a teaching kitchen. The school’s addition will be built using the same “green” principles and design elements that the original building used, in keeping with the school’s LEED certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. Hilltop Montessori School’s early childhood program is accredited by The American Montessori Society (AMS), and the entire school is also accredited with The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and AdvancED. The Montessori program is highly individualized and provides a hands-on, accelerated curriculum to students of various backgrounds and abilities. Students at the school have daily Spanish immersion classes, a full fine arts curriculum, physical education, age-appropriate integration of technology and an academic

Special Advertising Section

Key Facts 18 months- 8th Grade 6 Abbott Square Birmingham, Alabama 35242 437-9343 hilltopmontessori.com

model that has been successful for over 100 years. The school’s future plans will also allow programming to be added to accommodate working parents for early childhood students, a more comprehensive before and after school program and a community center that can be utilized by the North Shelby County residents for events. The school will be breaking ground on this addition this fall, with an expected opening in August of 2016. For information on enrollment or to schedule a tour of the facility, contact the school’s admissions office at 437-9343.

September 2015 • A21

Private School Guide

A22 • September 2015

Special Advertising Section

Indian Springs School

Our mission is clear. We seek to develop in students a love of learning, a sense of integrity and moral courage and an ethic of participatory citizenship. Inspired by the motto “Learning through Living,” we are committed to the idea that in learning to balance individual achievement with the values and principles of democracy, students can develop to their full potential. Named by Business Insider one of the smartest boarding schools in the nation, Indian Springs School brings together students from across the street and around the world, creating a diverse, respectful community that builds bridges among people and cultures and creates opportunities for new styles of learning, understanding and growth. Taught by dedicated, award-winning faculty on an idyllic 350-acre campus, our programs awaken intellectual curiosity both in class and out. Our students love learning because they get to explore their own interests. Unique class schedules and independent studies allow them to push themselves to new heights, and creative

Key Facts Grades 8-12 190 Woodward Drive Indian Springs, AL 35124 988-3350 ExperienceSprings.org excellence beckons — in the arts, on the field, in school governance, in student-run clubs and in our brand-new, state-of-the-art classrooms, which opened in August thanks to the generosity of many dedicated alumni, families and friends. Most importantly, our students are happy as they discover who they are and who they want to be. With our mission to guide us, we know that they will be ready for college and prepared for the world.

280 Living

280Living.com

September 2015 • A23

Several cities and counties are working together to find a way to reduce 280 traffic. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

ROAD

CONTINUED from page A1 At an Aug. 11 Birmingham budget and finance committee meeting, the committee members voted in favor of a joint traffic study of 280 and Grants Mill Road. The study would cost up to $1.04 million with Birmingham paying $560,000 and Vestavia Hills, Irondale, Hoover, Leeds, Mountain Brook, Jefferson County, Shelby County and the BWWB each contributing $60,000. The study would seek alternate corridors to relocate Grants Mill Road between Highway 119 and I-459 to accommodate more traffic flow. Austin said the road would also be widened and allow vehicles traveling up to 55 miles per hour. Birmingham District 2 council member and Transportation and Communications Committee (TCC) Chair Kimberly Rafferty said this is the first multijurisdictional project of its kind in Jefferson County and she has been working for several years to achieve this “cooperative effort.” “[Grants Mill Road] can serve as an additional route/detour through the area from 119 and 459,” Rafferty said. “It will benefit growth and development in the area for Alabama [and the] jurisdictions involved, as well as when the route is being constructed, and the BWWB can enjoin their Carson Loop expansion project along the new right of way.” Anitra Hendrix, the executive assistant to the BWWB general manager, said this study was originally brought up to the different participants months ago, resulting in their tentative consideration. As of now, no final agreements have been made, and Birmingham has not sent out memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to any municipalities to finalize plans. This must take place before the study can begin. It might not be a long wait for the project to start. Austin said the study will be brought before the Birmingham council sometime in the next few weeks. If approved, he said the next step will be engaging the other municipalities in a formal agreement. The project will not involve ALDOT or the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. The study will take several months to complete, so there is no timeline yet for when alternative designs will be presented to the public or when any changes to the roads will occur. “It’s just so premature,” said Shelby County engineer Randy Cole, who will participate on the county’s behalf if the study is approved. “We’re just in its infancy and not close to having something for people to look at.” Bridge over troubled waters Some longtime 280 travelers may remember when they could drive Cahaba Beach Road from 280 to Sicard Hollow Road. The bridge that connected the roadway across the Little Cahaba River has been closed to vehicles since 1992. ALDOT and Shelby County are considering a plan to demolish the old bridge and build a new one, reconnecting the two-lane Cahaba Beach

Road and potentially diverting some cars from 280 onto this route. As with the Grants Mill Road project, this idea is still in its early stages. Shelby County engineer Scott Holladay said ALDOT is currently a few months into a study to find the “most practical and best alignment” for the road and a new bridge. The study will last at least a year, Holladay said. The federal grant for the project is over $4 million, but Holladay said the project cost will be determined by the amount of work needed to reach the proper road alignment. He estimated that the diverted traffic from 280 will be below 10 percent. Cahaba Beach Road resident Trae Watson is organizing opposition to the potential reconnection. He said he didn’t receive notice of the possible project but instead left his driveway one morning to find engineers talking in the road. Since then, he’s been “talking to as many people as possible” and set up a website, savethelittlecahaba.org. “[I had] the realization of what effect this will have on that river and the community and the woods and just the sheer number of animals I see crossing that road every day,” Watson said. “I guess it’s just a little more visceral for me.” His concern stems partly from the increased traffic that will come from the reconnection, and the potential of future commercial or residential development of the current “giant, green swath of land” around the road and river. Watson worries the reconnected road would also add runoff and pollution to the Little Cahaba, damaging the river’s cleanliness and underwater life. “It’s just going to bring human development into a place that has largely been untouched,” Watson said. “Once you put a road in, how many years before they expand it to be a four-lane?” As someone who grew up near the Little Cahaba, Watson also knows it has been a place for locals to quietly enjoy nature for more than 20 years. Since starting his campaign against the project, Watson said he has heard from many current and former residents with an emotional connection to the river. “It’s a place that people come regularly to get solace and commune with nature. And I think it’s precious,” he said. Since federal funds would be used if the Cahaba Beach Road bridge is rebuilt, ALDOT East Central Region Engineer DeJarvis Leonard said environmental studies are required to understand the impact on the river before the project can proceed. “We understand the sensitivity of the project,” Leonard said. “We will take all necessary steps to ensure that the sensitive environmental area is protected.” Holladay said construction on the road and bridge is likely years away. There is no determined timeline now, but Leonard said ALDOT hopes to have options available for a public involvement meeting and resident comments within a few months. He emphasized that nothing about the project is final yet. “No decisions have been made and we made that very clear,” Leonard said. “We have a clean sheet of paper that we will visit all possible alternatives.”

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

SECTION

Events B5 Sports B12 Real Estate B18 Community Awards B20

SEPTEMBER 2015

Going on with the good By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Ralph Vicens,right, was the main caretaker for his son Koa, left, who has Down syndrome. Koa and his mother, Susan, are still healing after Ralph passed away due to liver cancer in July. Photo courtesy of Susan Vicens.

Every time Koa Vicens walks through his living room, he says “Hey, Ralph!” to the urn and pair of sunglasses on the coffee table. This little statement is comforting to his mother, Susan, because it means that Koa understands his father’s passing. Ralph Vicens played “Mr. Mom” to Koa, who has Down syndrome, since his birth. When doctors were worried about fluid on his newborn son’s lungs, Ralph was in the neonatal unit around the clock until Koa could come home. For the next 18 years, Ralph was there for every milestone, doctor’s appointment and school function.

“He was totally excited that he was going to be part of a child’s life, finally,” Susan remembered, adding that Ralph regretted not being involved with his first son and wanted to do things differently with Koa. In late April, Ralph was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer. Doctors said treatment options could give him up to two years. Chelsea High School arranged an early graduation ceremony for Koa and others in his special needs class, to make sure Ralph could see his son wearing his cap and gown. On a family vacation to Florida in late July, however, Ralph’s health took a turn and he

See RALPH | page B23

B2 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

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September 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B3

280 Living

B4 • September 2015

A guide through the ‘moment of doubt’ By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Rascal is “semi-retired” now as owner Brandy Wood works fulltime at the VA Medical Center’s blind rehabilitation center. He waits to greet her in the driveway every day when she comes home from work. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Like any dog, Rascal loves his toys and his treats. However, the 6-year-old Labrador also gets excited to put on his harness and act as owner Brandy Wood’s eyes. Wood, who lives near Inverness, has been blind since the age of 8. After a year of sickness, she woke up one morning and couldn’t see a thing. When she arrived at the hospital, doctors discovered a tumor that had damaged her optic nerve. The tumor never returned, but neither did her vision. “But I had good parents. They didn’t let me pity party around. They got me in school, they learned how to do sighted guide, taught me to do my Braille, mobility, all that,” Wood said. “They picked me up real quick and told me to get over it. Worse things could happen.” Rascal is Wood’s second guide dog, and they’ve been together for four years. He was raised in an Iowa prison as part of a program to pair inmates with future guide dog puppies, and trainers worked with him for several months before he met Wood. Even with the training,

Wood said it can take six months to a year for a person and guide dog to communicate and work well as a pair. For several years between her first guide dog and Rascal, Wood had relied on a cane to navigate her daily life. When she returned to college at Auburn University in 2010, however, she needed a companion. “During the week I lived at Auburn by myself, so for the first year I was alone during the week. When I got Rascal, he was company, security [when] walking around by yourself,” Wood said. “When you’re walking around and you’re lost, it’s nice to have somebody who’s listening to you. Even though he’s not helping a whole lot, he’s listening to you.” Rascal was by Wood’s side while she finished her degree and as she interned with the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center as part of their blind rehabilitation services. Now that Wood works full time at the VA, Rascal is “semi-retired.” She said the cane is more convenient and Rascal would spend most of his time at the office just sitting and waiting. At home, Rascal can play with his toys and

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September 2015 • B5

two of Wood’s three daughters, who are students at Oak Mountain High and Middle School. He’s become another member of the family. “I have two girls still at home. He loves them almost as much as he loves me, I think. They’re his babies. So he’s just a fun-loving dog,” Wood said. At the blind rehabilitation center, Wood teaches veterans adaptive skills to help them learn to live without vision. She shares knowledge on reading Braille, writing letters and using

“

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They can do whatever they want to do. So that makes me feel good, that I can help them get through their moment of doubt.

”

devices like iPhones, iPads, talking clocks and grocery barcode scanners. The rehab center also teaches home skills such as sewing buttons and cooking. “We assist them and we’ll cook a meal or dishes in the crockpot, something on the stove or in the oven, which is hilarious because I don’t cook at home. My husband does all the cooking at home because I hate to cook,” Wood said. When she ﬁrst graduated high school, Wood wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. Having daughters of her own changed her mind, but Wood still loves sharing information with others. Working at the rehab center allows her to do that, though her students are much older. There can be challenges in adapting to different patients’ learning abilities, but Wood said that being blind helps her to make an immediate connection. “I think I maybe connect with some of my veterans because they come and they think, ‘Oh gosh, I can’t do what I used to do.’ Then

Brandy Wood, center, with her husband Stephen and daughters Sarah, Brennah and Savannah. Photo courtesy of Brandy Wood.

they come and one of their instructors is totally blind,” Wood said. “They can do whatever they want to do. So that makes me feel good, that I can help them get through their moment of doubt.” Every evening, Rascal is waiting in the driveway for Wood’s friends to drop her off from work. She said he gets excited every day, partly to see her and partly because he knows dinner is on the way. Except for driving, Wood said she doesn’t feel different from any other mother or wife. “Of course you have to listen more and I

think you pay a little bit more attention to what your kids are doing. But my kids don’t see it as any different than any of their friends that have sighted parents,” Wood said. “They learned at a young age that mom [can’t see]. When I say, ‘Let me see it,’ they put it in my hand.” In some ways, Wood feels she has beneﬁted from her blindness. She has traveled to Washington, D.C. with the National Federation of the Blind to advocate for handicap-accessible educational websites. She’s taken her family to NFB conferences in Orlando and to receive a scholarship in Dallas.

“It’s not so much what, I guess, I experience. It’s what my kids get to experience. It’s not every day that you go to a hotel and your kids are surrounded by 3,000 blind people,” Wood said. “It’s kind of cool to see that and the ﬁrst time we went, in 2012, my youngest — she was maybe 10 — said, ‘Oh my gosh, Mom, the sighted people are outnumbered here.’” “I think because I’ve been blind I’ve had some really good experiences,” Wood added. “I’ve gotten to do some things that most people don’t get to do.”

280 Living

B6 • September 2015

century

of life

By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE She drinks Gatorade with her coffee, enjoys a mostly vegetable and fruit diet and hits the gym two to three times a week. Flo Sherrill, who turned 100 years old on July 1, started this routine at age 81. Since then, she’s made it her mission since to ask anyone who admits they don’t exercise, “what are you waiting for?” It makes me feel good and once you start you just can’t stop,” she said. “But you’ve got to start sometime.” The Hoover resident said she was first introduced to an exercise program in 1996 when, following angioplasty, her physician ordered rehab at St. Vincent’s Birmingham. Prior to that, she’d never given it a thought, but her son Joe enrolled them both in an exercise program at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen.

“Flo is the perfect example of the long-term benefits exercise and healthy living have on both the body and mind, and she inspires us each and every day with her strength and determination,” said Stephanie Holderby, executive director of St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, who met Flo when she first started rehab 20 years ago. Originally from the mining town of Crocker, Alabama, Flo and husband Joe Sherrill – to whom she was married 57 years– lived in Ensley where they welcomed a son and daughter. Jan, 63, and Joe, 73, remember their childhood years as happy but disciplined. While Flo didn’t work outside the home, they said she was always busy caring for her family and home. “Mother was very loving but also strong willed and daddy, who was a sweetheart, decided it was best to be her right hand man and let her have her way,” Jan said. “But the combination

Hoover resident Flo Sherrill, center, joined her two children and their family for her centennial birthday celebration. Photo courtesy of Jan Harris.

worked beautifully. And I remember asking if they ever fought because we never heard one argument.” Flo said the best part of her life was her family. She and her husband moved to Hoover in 1970 and she witnessed the community’s amazing transformation. “When we moved in there wasn’t a house on either side of ours, and a man building a home down the road set fire to the huge woods that were around us during construction,” she said. “About all there was back then were Mr. Hoover’s insurance business, a Western Grocery Store and two service stations and that’s about it.”

Riding through the city today, Flo said she continues to be astonished by the Hoover’s growth, calling it “the only place to live.” “Everyone is so nice,” she said. “When I fell down our steep driveway some years ago, the post office people were so wonderful that they put a mailbox in my carport and bring my mail up the hill. I told my post lady that really made me feel special.” Flo didn’t want anything special for her 100th birthday, telling friends and family not to throw a party. So she ended up having two surprise celebrations – the first at the Hoover Senior Center, the second at St. Vincent’s

One Nineteen. “There was my family and so many friends with a cake and balloons and everyone sang,” she said. “And a lot of the children who attend the summer programs were there and they had made and all signed this big card for me. One little boy – he was six years old – said he wanted to be 100 years old, too, but knew it would take too long.” Flo said reaching the century mark was never high on her priority list. “I really never thought about it. It never crossed my mind,” she said. “I’d live it all over again.”

280Living.com

September 2015 • B7

Veteran reporter discusses journey to journalism

By ERICA TECHO Donna Francavilla’s journey to media started as an interest in language. The daughter of two Italian immigrants, Francavilla started paying attention to words and pronunciation as a result of her parents’ heavy accents. Her interest grew, and she enrolled in analysis of public speaking classes in high school, studied the oral interpretation of literature and later applied what she learned to journalism. “I did well there, which led to the idea that maybe I could do something with that ability, which led to thinking about journalism, which led to enrolling in some classes and having teachers pull me aside and say, ‘You’ve got a talent, young lady,’ which led to being employable,” Francavilla said. Francavilla is a long-time CBS Radio news reporter and the owner of Frankly Speaking Communications, LLC, and she has won several awards for her work. She won four first-place awards in the 2015 Alabama Media Professionals Communications Contest for her work on radio and television. The two first-place awards for television were important to her, Francavilla said, because she did some reporting work for ABC 33/40 after an absence from TV in 15 years. “I got out there, and I was feeling pretty nervous, but [ABC 33/40] put up with my nervousness and my

Donna Francavilla is an accomplished radio and television journalist. She lives in Greystone and also owns a communications firm. Photo by Erica Techo.

anxiety and helped me do well, to feel more comfortable,” she said. “It’s funny because the first live shot I did, the director said I had a deer in the headlights look to me.” Francavilla has won awards for work throughout her career, but she doesn’t do it for the awards – she does it for the stories. “I am fascinated by people and their

stories,” she said. “Everyone has at least one fascinating story that they have lived through. Mining for that story is what drives me.” Drawing people out and finding their story takes a different strategy with different individuals. Sometimes she has to step out of the way so good storytellers can share their story, and other times she steps in to help

organize their experiences. These tactics don’t only apply to media, however. Finding a person’s story also helps fuel her company. Her work with Frankly Speaking Communications is geared toward helping clients realize and tell their story in the most effective way. “People who I work for have stories they’re not aware that they have, so I

help them discover what their story is and help them pair it with what their message is, or what they want it to be,” she said. It mainly boils down to respect, Francavilla said. This rule of respect helped her get a story from Stephen Gobie, a lover of former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts). At a press conference, Gobie planned to “tell all to all,” Francavilla said, but the media overwhelmed him. She sat down with Gobie following the press conference and was able to get “salacious details” which she aired the next day. “The general manager at my station said, ‘I couldn’t get out of my car. I had to hear the rest of the interview,’” Francavilla said. “So I just think that maybe being mean or aggressive is not the way to go, that if you can connect with the person you’re interviewing with, they will open up to you.” After 20 years in Birmingham and 15 years freelancing for CBS, Francavilla said she has seen a change in media. She always keeps her “reporter hat” in her back pocket, but technology means there’s less need to carry more than curiosity and her cell phone. “We capture everything that’s happening and report it to one another and feed it to the Internet, so I’m not longer as necessary as I once was, but I say that with a smile because that’s completely cool with me,” Francavilla said. “I think that’s great that we can all do a job that I love.”

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B8 • September 2015

Summer FUN

Photo Contest

WINNERS

Big brother Manley gives Hayes a backyard fillup. Photo by Vickie Battles.

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September 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B9

CONTEST RUNNERS UP

Laughing and Loving Life on Smith Lake. Photo by Lori Harris.

Hola from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Photo by Kim Wilson.

Peter King (age 5) reading today's headlines at Lake Logan Martin, at the lakehouse home of grandparents Billie and Mike Holleman. David King.

The Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia was filled with wild, wacky and wonderful fun. Photo by Shaun Harris.

Allie Hillman, Macrae Smith, Jay Hillman, Isobel Smith, Ella Hillman. Submitted by Beryl Hillman.

Love the summer.

B10 • September 2015

280 Living

Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Leon Palmer

Did you know that chiropractic care is NOT primarily for people with back pain? When you picture a chiropractic office, you may imagine people bent over in 90-degree angles moaning in pain or rubbing aching necks. While many do enter our care due to pain, what keeps them here is their lack of pain and pursuit of improved overall health that results from consistent adjustments and our wellness lifestyle coaching. Chiropractic is primarily a form of hygiene for the spine. It is the art of maintaining the healthy flow of communication between brain and body. When a vertebrae is out of place, it compresses nerves and alters the proper flow of messages to an area of the body. If you were to look at a diagram of the nervous system, you would see nerves fanning out from each opening between the vertebrae into individual organ systems. Quite often, patients come in with complaints of lower back pain, and in the process of relieving that pain, they also find relief from long term digestive disturbances. Fix the source of the issues and all symptoms start to disappear! Chiropractic officially began in 1895

by DD Palmer with his extensive study of anatomy, physiology, and the technique of spinal “adjustments”. While spinal adjustment was not an unknown treatment prior to Palmer, he was the first to codify the philosophy, technique and science of chiropractic. Palmer gave chiropractic its name, deriving its meaning from the Greek cheir meaning “hand” and praktos meaning “done”. Chiropractic literally means “done by hand”, marking its non-invasive yet infinitely powerful affects. Chiropractic care consists of three distinct phases of care, which we call “moving you to the green zone”. The first phase is Relief Care, which provides alleviation from immediate acute symptoms. Through adjustments and specific therapies, inflammation is calmed and function restored, however, the battle is far from over. The second phase is Corrective Care, which can often take longer than Relief Care because it is the intense process of correcting years of bad habits. Poor posture while standing, sitting, and sleeping along with poor diet and lifestyle choices can all cause and/or contribute to the poor

Get Your Crack On! health of our nervous system. A lack of exercise means there is not a sound muscular structure to support the spine. Additionally, a poor diet lacking in nutrients and water leaves the bones, ligaments and organs depleted and operating in survival mode. Corrective care often includes rehabilitative exercises and stretches that can be done at home to compliment the work done in the office by your chiropractor. The final phase is Maintenance/Wellness Care. Think of this phase like your dental cleanings or oil changes for your car. Both do not occur because of a dire need or upset, but you do them to assure the proper function of your teeth and car. Wellness is a continued monitoring of the health and condition of your spine and may increase in frequency with lifestyle changes such as extensive travel, a stressful season of life, heavy physical activity, etc. Chiropractic care is for anyone at any age! We see so many success stories come through our doors on a daily basis. Just last week, we had a 35-year-old male patient experience sudden extreme pain in the middle of the night, resulting in an

ambulance ride to the Emergency Room. He was told nothing could be done until the pain had persisted for four to six weeks. He was given muscle relaxers and sent home. Obviously in severe distress, he struggled into our office early the next morning. Through analysis, we discovered he had two rib heads slipped out due to straining from lifting his son. After his adjustment, his pain was greatly reduced and after one more return visit he was feeling almost completely back to normal. Chiropractic gets to the true ROOT of the issue. We do not turn to medications and spinal blocks as a first resort. As D.D. Palmer famously stated, “Have you more faith in a spoonful of medicine than in the power that animates the living world?” A free consultation with Dr. Palmer could serve to reveal a lot of areas of your life that could be brought into balance through chiropractic care. We also have a free educational workshop on Monday September 14th at 6:15pm. Give us a call if you would like us to save you a seat! We look forward to helping you achieve true natural wellness. Get your crack on!

280Living.com

September 2015 • B11

Taste of Shelby County to support education grants By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE It’ll be a food fanatic’s fantasy on Sept. 10 when the 8th annual Taste of Shelby County takes place at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center off U.S. 280. More than 30 vendors —including restaurants, caterers, and local wineries and breweries — will take part in the event benefiting the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation, said foundation director Kendall Williams. “The Taste of Shelby County is growing annually and our sponsorship is really increasing, so we expect about 500 people at this year’s event,” Williams said. Dishes will range from seafood to steak to Italian and most everything in between “with lots of desserts,” Williams said. Some local vendors include Taziki’s Mediterranean, The Coal Yard, Rx Catering, K& J’s Elegant Pastries, Wooden Spoon and Bistro proVare from Jefferson State Community College. Birmingham Coca-Cola, Good People Brewing and Ozan Vineyards and Cellars will be among the drink vendors. “The culinary arts students from the Shelby County system will take part for the first time, preparing several of their own dishes,” she said. All proceeds will be used for the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation’s programs that benefit the school system, including grants for teachers, principals and newly created student grants.

Taste of Shelby County Sept. 10, 5:30-8 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center 3660 Grandview Parkway Tickets: $25 in advance $30 at the door shelbyedfoundation.org/taste.html

A crowd of more than 500 is expected to sample the offerings of more than 30 area vendors at this year’s Taste of Shelby County, which benefits the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation. Photo courtesy of Logan Brady.

According to Williams, individuals can apply for up to $500 and groups up to $1,000. A foundation committee reviews all requests. “Students might seek money for robotic team materials or lighting or costumes for theater groups, while individual students might apply for advanced placement exam fees or dual credit/duel enrollment fees to get college credit,” she said. “The

possibilities are endless and I’m excited to see what students come up with.” Chris George, chief deputy of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and member of the education foundation, attended the Taste of Shelby County for the first time last year. “I tell you, you get the best of several worlds — the best food in the area, a great environment complete

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with music and the opportunity to meet so many people,” George said. “They had so many restaurants that I didn’t even know existed and I’ve visited several since then.” George said he encourages people to attend to take part in a wonderful time but also to support a good cause. “The Taste of Shelby County is one of the primary events that allowed the foundation to award about $40,000 in

teacher and principal grants that assist with classroom and school projects,” he said. “My sister-in-law is a teacher so believe me, I know that every little bit counts.” To learn more about the Taste of Shelby County or to purchase tickets, go to shelbyedfoundation.org/taste. html.

280 Living

B12 • September 2015

Sparks will fly at Jaguar Stadium Spain Park High School to host fourth annual Sparks in the Park marching band competition By JORDAN HAYS High school marching bands from across the state will compete with the performances that have become synonymous with football halftime. Spain Park High School will hold its fourth annual Sparks in the Park Marching Contest on September 26 at Jaguar Stadium. The time of the event will be announced once registration is complete. Sparks in the Park was originally a Drum Corps International competition, but it was dropped as the competition was not as financially effective as the school had hoped. Several years later, Spain Park High School band director Chris Neugent gave Sparks in the Park “a second life.” The competition went from being a summer drum corps event to a fall high school marching band event. Neugent said the competition functions as a community service by providing another platform for high school marching bands to compete. “If you look through the Birmingham metro

area, there are very few marching band contests that are hosted in this area,” Neugent said. “Hoover High School hosts the Hoover Marching Invitational ... Other than that contest, there were no other contests in the Birmingham metro area for high school marching bands.” The competition will host bands from across Alabama, but Neugent said the competition has grown over its four-year lifespan. In previous years, the competition has hosted bands from Georgia, and Spain Park markets to schools in Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida to participate. The competition will also feature performances from the University of Montevallo’s jazz band, Troy University’s Sound of the South Marching Band and the University of Alabama Birmingham’s Marching Blazers. “Sparks in the Park is one of the best-attended high school marching band competitions in the state of Alabama, in terms of the caliber of bands that are attracted to perform there,” said Sue Samuels, UAB’s director of bands. “It always has a great crowd that’s very welcoming and

Students in the Spain Park High School marching band practice for Sparks in the Park and other marching competitions. Photo by Jordan Hays.

enthusiastic.” The Marching Blazers are a marching band without a football team, something Samuels said is unheard of in the South. Without games to perform at, Sparks in the Park provides an opportunity for the Marching Blazers to perform. “We still want to have a great college marching band experience for our students,” Samuels said. “So having the opportunity to perform at Sparks in the Park gives our students a chance to perform for their friends and family, and it gives high school students in the metro Birmingham area the opportunity to see the UAB Marching Blazers, so that hopefully they’ll aspire to be part of that band someday.” Sparks in the Park also functions as a fundraiser for the Spain Park band. With the funds raised from previous events, the school was able to recently unveil a brand new uniform for their marching band. “You could not ask for a better layout for a high school marching band contest,” Neugent said. “The stadium is gorgeous and the facility is

Game Day in style!

awesome. The space around the place is perfect for an event like this.” Parking is free and admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students 6 and older and free for children 5 and younger. For more information about Sparks in the Park, visit spainparkband.org/events/ sparks-in-the-park.

Sparks in the Park Marching Fest Sept. 26, Time TBA Jaguar Stadium, 4700 Jaguar Drive Admission: $8 adults, $5 students, children 5 and under are free spainparkband.org/events/sparks-inthe-park

280Living.com

September 2015 • B13

Golf ‘FORE!’ Education Scramble returns to Inverness

Inverness Country Club’s assistant golf professional Marshal Robinson practices his swing on the golf course. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By CHRIS GRIESEDIECK The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Golf “FORE!” Education Tournament will be held on Sept. 17 at Inverness Country Club. This year’s scramble is sponsored by HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital. “HealthSouth is proud to sponsor the Greater Shelby Chamber’s Golf “FORE!” Education Tournament again this year. We believe this is a positive opportunity for our organization to assist with the Chamber’s workforce development programs and market our organization to a captive audience of 200+ participants at the tournament,” said Jinnie Lacey, Rehabilitation Liaison-Inpatient & Outpatient Services with HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital. The tournament will once again help fund the Chamber’s education and workforce development programs in the coming year. These programs include “Keeping it Real,” a student career awareness fair and “student and educator of the year” awards. Keeping it Real is a financial literacy program for more than 2,000 9th grade students throughout Shelby County schools that shares “real world” situations on the cost of living and the importance of balancing budgets. The student career awareness fair is a two-day event in which more than 100 volunteers from a variety of careers take time to meet with 10th grade students from 12 high schools and share information about career opportunities available to them. The “Student and Educator of the Year” recognizes those students and teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom. In addition to building on these programs, the Chamber is launching a new program for 11th grade students during the 2015-16 school year.

Golf FORE! Education Scramble Sept. 17, 8:15 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start Inverness Country Club #1 Country Club Drive, Birmingham Fee: $150 per person or $600 per four-person team shelbychamber.org

“We believe that meeting with these students throughout Shelby County schools once a year, at different stages of their high school careers, will help ensure that Shelby County businesses have the qualified workforce they’ll need in the future,” said Keyla Handley, the Chamber’s director of community and workforce development. Registration for the golf tournament will begin at 8:15 a.m., with a light breakfast at 8:30. The “scramble” tees off at 9 a.m. and there will be prizes for the longest drive, closest to the pin and a putting contest. The entry fee is $600 for a four-person team or $150 for each individual. This fee covers a light breakfast, lunch at the completion of the tournament, greens fees, cart and two drink tickets per person. Organizations can also choose to sponsor a green and display their signs at the scramble for an additional $100, or sponsor a tee and have two representatives on site for an additional $200 Contact the Chamber at 663-4542 for specific sponsorship requests or visit shelbychamber.org for more details.

B14 • September 2015

Running ridges and stages

Southeastern Trail Runners holds trail races at Oak Mountain

Ridge 2 Ridge Trail Race Sept. 5, 8 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park, Redbud Pavilion Registration: $30 (10-mile), $40 (20-mile) southeasterntrailruns.com

By JORDAN HAYS AND MADISON MILLER David Tosch, coordinator for the Southeastern Trail Series, was burnt out on road races. Retired and his children off to college, Tosch had lost the motivation to train for the road races he ran in college. Although he was still cycling and participating in triathlons, he noticed that the people he once outran were beginning to pass him by. But then he participated in the Imogene Pass Run in Colorado, a 17-mile run at 13,000 feet over the San Juan Mountains. “It was absolutely spectacular because you’re going over this mountain pass at 13,000 feet and at the top, you can see across the San Juan Mountains for probably 150 miles,” Tosch said. He came back to Alabama hooked on trail running and helped found Southeastern Trail Runs, which holds the Southeastern Trail Series that brought trail running to the Birmingham area. The runners of the Trail Series are looking to run farther than the average 5K. Each race is harder and longer than the previous to train runners for the ultramarathon at the end of the series, the Tranquility Lake 50K at Oak Mountain State Park. In fact, many of the races of the Southeastern Trail Series are featured at Oak Mountain. Tosch said people who practice trail running in Alabama are at an advantage compared to people who run in flatter areas, such as Texas, Florida and Louisiana. “Our trails, though, are really good training because they’re really rugged and rough and rocky,” Tosch said. “Running here, running the

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Birmingham Stage Race Sept. 25-27, 8 a.m. Friday, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center Saturday, Red Mountain Park Sunday, Oak Mountain State Park Registration: $100 (3 stages), $70 (2 stages) southeastertrailruns.com Runners take part in a Southeastern Trail Series race at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo by Madison Miller.

Series, gets people ready to then go run pretty much any race in the country.” There are two races at Oak Mountain this month as part of the series. The first is the Ridge 2 Ridge Trail Race on Sept. 5. By setting the race trail to go back and forth between two ridges, Tosch recreates the climbs runners will face on larger mountains. “I try to find trails that are hard to make it difficult and demanding, because most people who go run races go to Chattanooga or places like that with bigger mountains,” Tosch said. Kyle Stichtenoth has participated in the trail series for several years. He said the intense heat and repeatedly running up the ridges make the run difficult at Ridge 2 Ridge.

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“[Tosch] spends a lot of time running on the hills anywhere you can find them at Oak Mountain or other trails,” Stichtenoth said. “So he runs it for himself, sees how challenging or fun it is and then says, ‘Hey, let me torture other people the same way.’” The second race is the third leg of the Birmingham Stage Race, which is held at Red Mountain, Ruffner Mountain and Oak Mountain. The three stages total 53 miles and are held over a weekend. Tosch said the Oak Mountain leg, on Sept. 27, is one of the hardest. Now in its fourth year, the race continues to attract highly competitive runners and trail running enthusiasts. The difficulty of the race has kept the numbers of runners each year relatively

small. Last year, 60 runners participated over three days. This year, Tosch expects 70 to 80 runners. Despite its difficulty, Tosch said that trail running enthusiasts of all kinds are welcome. “Most runners walk up difficult hills. Many walk up all hills,” he said. “We even have some that walk the entire course.” With his own love of trail running in mind, Tosch encourages interested first-time trail runners to sign up for at least one of the days to gain experience. “The point of trail running is to have fun and enjoy good company,” he said. For more information or to sign up for a race, visit southeasterntrailruns.com/ or ultrasignup.com.

280Living.com

September 2015 • B15

A guide to local runs

Runners get ready for the Autumn Equinox Ultra at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of Jessie Burton.

Autumn Equinox Ultra Oak Mountain State Park Sept. 20, 6:30 a.m. (32 miles), 8:30 a.m. (16 miles) ultrasignup.com Registration: $30 (16 miles), $40 (32 miles), $50 (race day), plus $4 park admission Oak Mountain State Park will once again be the setting for the Autumn Equinox Ultra run on Sunday, Sept. 20. Runners can get ready for the upcoming season with this long training run, or even try an ultra for the first time. “We just want to celebrate Oak Mountain State Park,” race co-director Jessie Burton said. “We really want to get more people to take advantage of it. It’s just a good local, down home race.” The race will be similar to the ones in years’ past. A 32-mile ultra run will begin at 6:30 a.m. that will include two loops of the Red Trail. The 16-mile “fun run” follows at 8:30 a.m. and feature one counter clockwise loop of the

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE AND ERICA TECHO

Participants near the finish line at the 2014 Head Over Teal 5K. Photo by Jessa Pease.

Red Trail. “The 16-mile course only has one hard section to it, going up BUMP Trail,” Burton said. “People end up hiking that anyway. The 32-mile is a little tougher. A lot of people came out last year and did the 16 and said that was a perfect race for them.” Burton said most people take between two and four hours to finish the shorter run, and the longer takes anywhere from four to seven hours. This year’s presenting sponsor, Alabama Outdoors, will provide gift cards for the top three male and female runners, and will also provide door prizes. When the race is finished, Burton said the after party is a good time for everyone. “We have pizza and beer after the race. We always do local beer. People that aren’t from Birmingham can enjoy what we have to offer for the beer scene,” Burton said. Register on ultrasignup.com. Fees are $30 for the 16-mile run, $40 for the 32-mile run or $50 on race day.

Head Over Teal 5K/10K The Hoover Preserve Sept. 12, 8 a.m.-noon thinkoflaura.org/headoverteal Registration: $40 (Individuals), $35 (Individuals on teams of 5+), $20 (children 12 and under) In line with National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation is holding its annual Head Over Teal 5K. Executive director Mary Anne King said the event helps spread information and support research. Last year there were almost 1,000 runners. The day includes a 5K, 10K, 1-mile fun run and family fun activities after the race, as well as informational and sponsor booths. “It’s a mix of serious and fun, informational and whimsical,” King said.

280 Living

B16 • September 2015

Giggles and Grace returns Sept. 11 By ERICA TECHO Asbury United Methodist Church’s Giggles and Grace consignment sale will look a little different this year. The sale has a new system for registration and marking items that should make the process easier for consigners and shoppers, said sale co-chair Molly Ray. The sale is a great opportunity for shoppers and consigners, Ray said. Items are all gently used, and sometimes even brand new. Because the sale is geared toward fall and winter items, Ray said shoppers will likely find good deals on coats and Halloween costumes. New mothers can also find a wide range of baby items, from clothing to cribs. “I think with new moms it’s great because when you go shopping, it’s so hard to know even what sizes your kids are going to wear,” Ray said. Consigners make 75 percent of each item’s selling price, and Asbury Children’s Ministry and Mission receive the remaining 25 percent. Community members who cannot afford to shop can receive vouchers to use at the sale and come in early to select items they need. Anyone in need of the items at the sale can fill out a Mission Application on the Giggles and Grace website, noting their specific needs and names and birthdays of children. “Instead of just donating to them, we want to let them pick out the things that they want,” Ray said. “We want them to feel special in that they get a choice in what they want.” The portion of sales kept by the church goes to donations and the children’s ministry, as well as other projects around the church. Most recently, the consignment sale helped fund a new check-in system for the children’s ministry, which helps with security and safety, Ray said. Participating consigners must already be registered and can drop off items on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10. Consigners have the option to drop off their

items without a wait through the “Drop-and-Go Express.” With this option, any unacceptable items will be donated to local charities. Items will also be checked for recalls, and any recalled baby items will be destroyed. They can also choose to drop off items for inspection, and take any unaccepted items, such as stained or out of season clothing, back home. Restrictions on out-of-season clothing aren’t strict, church administrator Mike Gibbs said, but consigners should keep in mind what is more likely to sell at this time of year. “You don’t want to put winter stuff out in spring, and you don’t want to put bathing suits out in August,” Gibbs said. Volunteers do not have to consign in order to help out, and Ray said the sale is a good chance to meet other members of the community. Shifts are divided into three categories, Graces, Giggles and Angels, based on the number of hours they will volunteer. Anyone hoping to help out can register as a volunteer online for one four or six hour shift or two four hours shifts. Volunteers can also shop during the Thursday night pre-sale. The event is held in the Asbury gymnasium, as in past years, but this year shoppers must have a towel on the bottom of their basket in order to protect the newly-renovated gym floor. No baskets with wheels or other means of rolling will be allowed, and shoppers are asked to not drag their baskets along the floor. During the sale, shoppers and sellers will also have the opportunity to donate canned goods and non-perishable items for Asbury’s New Food Bank and gently used shoes or socks to the Navajo Mission Life Center in Cuba, Mexico. There will be collection boxes set up for donation purposes. The sale will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Select items will be 50 percent off on Saturday. More information about the sale can be found at asburygigglesandgrace.com.

The 2015 Giggles & Grace Committee is made up of volunteers who help organize and put on the bi-annual consignment sale. Photo courtesy of Asbury UMC.

Other area consignment sales Whale of a Sale Vestavia Hills UMC September 10-11 www.thewhaleofasale.com

Sweet Repeats Mountain Brook Community Church September 18-19 mbcc.us/sweet-repeats-consignmentsale

Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale Trinity UMC, Homewood September 11-12 www.trinitybirmingham.com/kids/lillambs

T-N-T Consignment Sale Riverchase UMC/Riverchase Day School September 18-19 www.riverchase-tnt.com

Bargains on the Bluff Bluff Park UMC, Hoover September 18-19 bluffparkumc.org/children/ bargainsonthebluff

Market on the Mountain Mountaintop Community Church, Vestavia Hills September 25-26 www.marketonthemountain.com

280Living.com

September 2015 • B17

Mt Laurel Renaissance Faire raises money for students By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The 12th annual Mt Laurel Elementary Renaissance Faire may not have jousting knights, but it is a chance to have fun and support local students. The event, reminiscent of a fall carnival, gets its name from the school mascot, the Knights, and will be held Friday, Sept. 18 from 5:30- 8 p.m. The faire is a community event and open to everyone. Sponsored by the PTO, it is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the school. PTO President Tara Walker said the faire doesn’t really feel like a fundraiser because it’s such a fun event. “We want to make it meaningful and fun,” Walker said. “We are trying to narrow down our fundraisers. In addition to the faire, we are going to do a coin drive the first week of school. We would like to have those be our two fundraisers for the entire year, but that will depend on how successful they are. The Renaissance Faire has done really well in the past.” The faire will feature games including bowling and ring toss. Other activities include a rock wall, bounce house and football toss. New this year will be the Buckets of Fun, which is similar to teacups at Disney World. Guests will also be

able to participate in a pie toss, which will feature teachers and principals as the targets. “My favorite part of the faire is the swings. You go so high”, said Sarah Loftus, who is entering third grade at Mt Laurel Elementary. Rising fifth grader Finley Walker said, “I like the faire because your whole family can come and have fun, plus there is food and rides.” Food and drinks will also be available for purchase. Specific food vendors have not been confirmed, but in the past have included pizza, barbecue and ice cream. A portion of food sales will also benefit the PTO. Vendors will have their products for sale in the gym and a silent auction will take place in the cafeteria. A percentage of money from the silent auction items will go directly back to the classrooms. Each class will also auction off a flower pot filled with classrooms rewards, with those funds going directly back to their class. “The Renaissance Faire is a great opportunity for all members of the community to come together for a night of fun and fellowship. We are blessed to have such a special event that benefits the children of Mt Laurel Elementary,” fifth grade teacher Emily Heisler said. Funds raised from past Renaissance Faires have been used to buy iPads for the classrooms,

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Children climb the rock wall that is among many activities at Mt Laurel Elementary’s annual Renaissance Faire. Photo courtesy of Tara Walker.

resurface the playground and buy soccer goals and balls for recess. Walker said the PTO hasn’t officially decided what they will purchase with funds raised this year. “We always work to upgrade technology every year, so some will go to that and some will go to the things that pop up as the year goes on,” Walker said. “It’s a big undertaking,” she added. “But, it’s always so much fun it’s worth it for us.”

Mt Laurel Elementary Renaissance Faire Sept. 18, 5:30-8 p.m. 1 Jefferson Place, Mt Laurel Children: Unlimited activity armband - $15 Adults: Free

280 Living

B18 • September 2015

Hoover superintendent creating webpage for rezoning updates

By ROY L. WILLIAMS Having resolved a crisis by getting the Board of Education to rescind a controversial plan to charge students a fee to ride school buses, new Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy is now tackling another issue: rezoning city schools. Murphy, who took charge of the Hoover school district in June, said during the Aug. 3 school board meeting that she is setting up a webpage on the city schools website that will be devoted solely to the rezoning issue. “We are going to develop a webpage specific to rezoning,” the superintendent said. “I’ve talked to Jason Gaston [district coordinator of public relations] so that we can keep the public posted on the whole rezoning process — where we are and any feedback they might want to share.” Murphy is setting up a Superintendent’s Advisory Council comprised of parents and others desiring to give input on school matters, including rezoning. As of mid-August, 641 people had signed up, far exceeding expectations. “It’s a good problem to have,” Murphy said. “I am very excited that there is an interest in our community for people to interact and to share ideas for our school district on issues like rezoning.” Rezoning is needed to accommodate growth and fix overcrowding issues. Previous superintendent Andy Craig’s proposal to redraw Hoover school zones was a controversial topic. Murphy said rezoning will happen, but she doesn’t want to rush it and wants the public to give input. Hoover Board of Education President Derrick Murphy commended the superintendent for her

Hoover Superintendent Kathy Murphy is creating a website to update the public on rezoning progress. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.

plan to start a rezoning webpage. He said “it’s very important” to keep parents and the public informed. “We’ve got to do what’s best for our students and long-term,” Board President Murphy said. “One thing I’m thankful about regarding Dr. Murphy and rezoning is this will be a process where everybody’s included. She is formulating a superintendent advisory committee where people can talk to her personally, and the board is very responsive.” Resolving the Department of Justice and NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s questions about rezoning and personnel will take more than a

year to resolve, the superintendent said. The school board’s unanimous decision to take the June 2014 bus fee plan, which was never implemented, off the table sends a strong message to the DOJ, Murphy said. Though the Department of Justice was concerned about the transportation fee plan, Dr. Murphy said she made the final decision to ask the board to rescind the proposal. Like the rezoning matter, addressing the DOJ’s personnel questions will take more than a year, the superintendent said. The agency will look at racial composition of Hoover city school students compared to the racial makeup of its

teachers. “You have schools that may have 15 to 25 percent minority population but 2 percent minority teachers; those are some of the things DOJ will want us to look at,” she said. “What DOJ does not want us to do is to pick up children, say African-American children, and move them out of their community and mistreat them while we’re trying to fix something. We’ve got to finesse this in such a way that we are not hurting the very children we’re trying to help as we address the unitary status.”

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280Living.com

September 2015 • B19

Studying sustainability at Spain Park

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Back to School Specials Spain Park teacher Amanda Lewis, second from left, explains an aeroponics growing tower to her students. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By ROY L. WILLIAMS Environmental science students at Spain Park High School will have an innovative way to explore the importance of proper eating beginning this fall. Thanks to a $1,970 grant from the Hoover City Schools Foundation, teachers Amber Lewis and Jean Gillespie will show their students how to grow plants using an aeroponic tower garden. Aeroponics involves placing plant seedlings in a container without dirt, using equipment that sprays water and nutrients on them to stimulate growth. The project, called “Environmental Science vs. Human Anatomy: Game On,” involves installing an aeroponic tower garden in two classrooms, allowing environmental science students to study nutrient recycling, limits to resources for food production and methods for improving resources. The goal, Lewis said, is to teach anatomy students about nutrients and the role of wise food choices in the body’s growth. Lewis, who has been teaching anatomy and physiology at Spain Park High since the school opened in 2001, said the idea for the project was sparked from a family trip she took to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in Orlando several years ago. She was fascinated by an aeroponic system used at Epcot to grow fruits and vegetables served in some of the park’s restaurants. “My wheels started turning on how to utilize this in school,” Lewis said. “Aeroponics uses no medium to grow plants - no dirt, no water. The way it works is a vertical growth system. Water and nutrients plants would need are pumped up and misted down onto the plants.” Lewis teamed with fellow teacher Gillespie and filled out an application with the Hoover City Schools Foundation. Lewis said getting the grant from the Foundation is “a big deal.” “This is not something either of us would have pursued because of the cost,” Lewis said. “It was $2,000 and something we could not take a chance on. It is a little bit outside the box,

but the potential there is enormous. It’s pretty cool, and I’m hoping two or three years down the road we’ve really evolved this project into something even more awesome.” Each aeroponic tower can house 28 plants. Lewis said the students will get to choose the type of plants to grow, but added they must pick something with nutrients useful to the body, such as spinach, lettuce or tomatoes. Lewis said she and Gillespie hope the project inspires the students to make healthy food choices. “I want them to learn what it is their body needs and why important eating habits are beneficial and where to find those foods,” Lewis said. “I was thinking we could do something where kids research the nutrients your body needs and research what plants would contain those.” Since this is the first time a project like this has been done at Spain Park, it will be “trial and error,” she said. Lewis has high hopes for the project as years go by. Eventually, a foreign language component can be added exploring the healthiness of foods grown overseas, Lewis said. The law academy can examine lawsuits surrounding environmental issues, while the health academy and anatomy class can use the project to learn more about nutrition awareness. “I am hoping to give them a bit more in-depth information – not just the impact not eating well does to their body but what is in the foods we eat,” Lewis said. “Kids don’t realize how many calories they are eating in their chips and dip. You look at what is contained in spinach: you have zinc, iron, vitamins A and C, potassium. It’s important for kids to know the importance of making wise choices in what they eat and where to find them.” Lewis said the students will take photos and document growth of the plants throughout the process. Students in the health, law and engineering academies will be able to learn from it as well, she said. “Engineering students may come in and come up with new ideas to improve growth,” Lewis said.

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280 Living

B20 • September 2015

School House Berry Middle School Dance Team shines at NDA Camp Berry Middle School’s dance team had a strong showing recently at a National Dance Association (NDA) Camp in Fulton, Mississippi. The girls earned several recognitions. First place in the Home Routine evaluation; “Gold” in Team Dance and Team Leader categories; a bid to compete at NDA Nationals; two dancers chosen for All-American (Trinity Streeter and Lia Martinez); three BMS dancers chosen for Top Gun competition (Courtney Engel, Lia Martinez and Trinity Streeter); The Above and Beyond Award and

Heart of Gold Award also given by staff. Berry Middle School’s Dance Team is coached by teacher Brook Lee. -Submitted by Jason Gaston Bottom row: Jada Williams, Gabby Saia, Molly Tant, Alexandria Erickson, Alyssa Ansley and Caroline Vella. Top row: Leigh Ann Morse, Courtney Engel, Trinity Streeter, Lia Martinez, Makayla Miller, Barrett Holston, Sarah Singh and Kaddyja Jallow. Photo courtesy of Jason Gaston.

Chelsea student receives scholarship from AGA The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation (AGEF) recently awarded $70,000 in scholarships to employees or children of employees from Alabama Grocers Association (AGA) member companies for the 2014-2015 academic year. One area scholarship recipient was Amanda Flamerich from Chelsea. “To date, the Alabama Grocers Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships,” said Ellie Smotherman Taylor, president of Alabama

Grocers Association. “Our association is thrilled to be supporting higher education efforts of Alabama’s youth and can think of no better investment.” The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation recognizes and aids students who are related to Alabama’s food industry by virtue of their parent’s employment or their own part-time employment by firms that are members AGA. This year the Foundation received more than 250 applications. Scholarships are awarded by an impartial

committee of educators and are based on community involvement and academic achievements. Funds are raised from three annual golf events, a silent auction and by supporters, members and friends of the Alabama Grocers Association. The Alabama Grocers Association is a state trade association representing the grocery retail industry since 1990. -Submitted by Ellie Taylor

One area AGA scholarship recipient was Amanda Flamerich from Chelsea. Photo courtesy of Ellie Taylor.

280Living.com

September 2015 • B21

Odyssey Early Schools celebrates 20th anniversary By ROY L. WILLIAMS When Paula and Dr. Bob Mitchell retired in 1993 after a long career in public education, the couple dreamed of creating an educational childcare program for infants through age 5. Paula spent the last 19 years of her career as an elementary principal in Mountain Brook, and Bob had served as the ﬁrst superintendent of Hoover City Schools. Their vision, Odyssey Early Schools, was born in June 1995 with the opening of their ﬁrst location in Inverness at 104 Heatherbrooke Park. In 2001, they added a second location, Odyssey Trace Crossings, at 401 Emery Dr. in Hoover. In September, Odyssey Early Schools is holding a special 20th anniversary celebration. Bob and Paula’s son, also named Bob Mitchell, bought the business from his parents in 2004. The younger Mitchell said it is an honor to continue the family tradition of educating the public. Odyssey offers a varied curriculum, including language development, math, science, Spanish and sign language. There are also arts and crafts, a music program, dance, gymnastics and soccer. “When I meet someone new and tell them what I do, I’m quick to point out that we do so much more than any ordinary day care,” Mitchell said. “It’s just an incredible breadth of offerings that gets our children ready to be successful, life-long learners by the time they go off to kindergarten.” Mitchell said Odyssey Inverness has grown substantially since opening in June 1995. The facility opened with nine classrooms and 170 students. “Within two years, we had long waiting lists and in 1999, we bought some adjoining land and built a new 6,000-square-foot addition that brought our Inverness capacity to 220 students,”

Bob Mitchell, center, with the staff of Odyssey Early School in Inverness. Photo by Roy L. Williams.

he said. Mitchell focuses on making Odyssey a fun place to go to school and to work, from teacher dress-up day to fairytale balls and hosting all sorts of parties. The staff focuses on meeting “the needs of an individual child who might need a different learning approach.” “Our families know that our teachers genuinely care about providing a fun learning environment for their children each day. We’ve also remained laser-focused on the quality of the program,” Mitchell said. The school has also had staff members, including campus director Annie Fine and Trace Crossings director Amanda Bentley, who have

been at Odyssey for 15 years or more. “If your child went to Odyssey in the 1990s and is getting ready to go off to college, they can come back to visit and see the exact same faces they saw each morning when they were in preschool,” Mitchell said. One of Odyssey’s unique offerings is an Internet video monitoring system for families to see what their children are doing during the day. “They report that the peace of mind that they get from being able to log onto the Internet and watch their child’s day was essential in their decision to attend Odyssey,” Mitchell said. “I am so proud that we offer this to our families because it puts them directly into their child’s

classroom every day.” When Mitchell got involved in his parents’ business early on, he envisioned Odyssey as being the next big daycare chain. From what he has learned over the past 20 years, though, he said as long as he owns Odyssey, there won’t be another location. “I just don’t believe that that type of growth is conducive to maintaining quality or to building personal relationships,” Mitchell said. “I want to keep seeing our children head off to kindergarten already reading and writing and truly excited about learning. I want Odyssey to continue to have a tangible impact on the quality of childcare in Birmingham.”

280 Living

B22 • September 2015

Chamber

Preview of

Panel discusses Shelby County Schools at chamber luncheon

Greater Shelby County

Luncheon

By MADISON MILLER The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce recently held a panel discussing the state of Shelby County Schools at its luncheon in July. Superintendents Dr. Wayne Vickers of Alabaster City Schools, Dr. Scott Coefield of Pelham City Schools and Randy Fuller of Shelby County Schools were selected as panelists. Questions were submitted by chamber members at its luncheon in June and selected by the chamber’s Education Work Group. Vickers, Coefield and Fuller focused on the importance of implementing new technology in the classrooms as well as continuing to provide career and college preparation to its students. When asked about the biggest challenges in providing an equal education for students of different backgrounds, Fuller cited lack of funding. Although Shelby County School System has not continued to have restrictions as large as the recession in 2008, Fuller said gaps still prevent some fulfillment of student needs. “We have seven different communities and we have a wide socioeconomic background in those communities, but we look at the need of every one of those communities,” Fuller said. “Every student in every school has the same opportunity to be able to fulfill their needs there.” Each superintendent also pointed out the positive affects of career programs and options to take dual enrollment or advanced placement courses. “In curriculum, we really looked at partnerships related to the area of being prepared for the workforce of college, so we’re really excited about some of the development of our career academies,” Coefield said. “With each one of those academies, we are going to have an

Superintendents Dr. Wayne Vickers and Dr. Scott Coeﬁeld addressed the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at its July luncheon. Photo by Keith McCoy.

advisory board made up of partners from the business community. After member-submitted questions were asked, audience members had the opportunity to address the panelists. Audience members expressed concerns on math and science preparedness as well as the effect of social media on students’ interpersonal communication skills. Each school system explained current plans to implement stronger math and science programs in order to catch up with the national level. “We are very pleased with the direction of our schools that we’ve seen in mathematics,” Vickers said. “I also know that there is sometimes a disconnect with the scores and some of

the things that we’re assessing and the actual real world. Each superintendent also said that programs for building students’ soft skill conversation have been implemented into college and career preparedness curricula, but Coefield added a concern that the change in communication throughout society will be difficult to avoid. “The truth of it is that learning in the future is going to be personalized, it’s going to be independent, it’s going to be virtual,” Coefield said. “We have to figure out a way to get kids to collaborate in groups because that’s the way they have to function to solve problems in the real world.”

The Chamber will present its annual Safety Awards at its September luncheon. The awards honor public safety ofﬁcials who have shown outstanding efforts in public safety throughout the year. The luncheon will be held on Sept. 30 and sponsored by First Commercial Bank. It will be hosted at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena, 500 Amphitheater Drive. Networking starts at 11 a.m. and the event lasts until 1 p.m. Registration is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. RSVP by Sept. 28 by calling 663-4542 or visiting shelbychamber.org.

280Living.com

September 2015 • B23

RALPH

CONTINUED from page B1 passed away. They were fortunate, Susan said, to have friends nearby to lean on. “You don’t realize how many people you do have in your life until something like this happens,” she said. She struggled with explaining what had happened to Koa. On the advice of a hospital therapist, she took her son to all the places they had visited as a family to help him understand that Ralph was no longer there. At Panama City Beach and at her uncle’s house, where they regularly went fishing, Koa would ask where his father was and Susan would gently explain it to him. When they returned home, Koa didn’t ask anymore — he understood. They scattered Ralph’s ashes in his favorite places — Hawaii, his favorite fishing spot and in the backyard. The rest of the ashes sit on Susan’s coffee table with seashells and a pair of his sunglasses. Susan got to take time off with Koa and experience life with her son the way Ralph had. “I’m seeing some of the things that Ralph saw with him and why he had so much joy out of it,” Susan said. As they settle back into their routine — nursing for Susan, school for Koa — she’s remembering her husband in lots of little moments. She recalls the night they met at a concert in Hawaii and Ralph kept winking at her. They danced all night and looked at Christmas lights in Waikiki, and he asked her to meet his mother the next day. Susan laughs when she thinks of the way Ralph followed her when she moved from Hawaii to Delaware. He came with an engagement ring, two duffel bags and a picture of Hawaiian King Kamehameha. She said she

Ralph, Koa and Susan Vicens celebrated an early graduation at Chelsea High School to make sure Ralph could see his son graduate. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

knew she would marry him the minute he stepped off the plane. Her favorite memories are of Ralph going on field trips with Koa’s class, and the way he connected with all the children. Many of Koa’s classmates, even ones he hadn’t seen in a few years, showed up to Ralph’s funeral. “All these children were always, from first grade on, always all over him,” Susan said. “They looked up to him, but he was always one of them.” After years of time spent together,

Koa is “just like his daddy” in many ways. It was most apparent during his junior prom. “I literally was looking at Ralph. All the mannerisms, all the politeness, the love,” Susan said. “Every single thing on Koa that night, I saw Ralph. I saw the Ralph I saw the night I met him.” Before Ralph died, he and Susan had a dream of creating a nonprofit center for local children and adults with Down syndrome. Susan said she

has begun researching and talking to people about how to make this happen once she retires. She envisions a place with activities, therapy and seasonal events, all designed to give people with Down syndrome a place to learn skills and make friends. “Some people go travel — I want to hang with the kids,” Susan said. “They’re the sweetest, most awesome children. You learn so much from them every day, and they definitely have the aloha spirit.”

She and Koa are also healing in little ways. With help from friends, Susan is going to empty the room where Ralph stayed during his illness and remake it into a craft room to sew with Koa. She’s incredibly proud of the son that Ralph dedicated his life to raising. “We’re going to go on with the good,” Susan said. “I feel good, [Koa] feels good. It’s a little lonely, it’s a little weird, but I’m good.”

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280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

SECTION

Events B5 Sports B12 Real Estate B18 Community Awards B20

SEPTEMBER 2015

‘The heart of the community’ By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE Terri Jonseof had always been the type of person who didn’t want to accept help from anyone. She maintained that attitude until she was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in June 2013. The 50-year-old wife and mother of two, who lives near Greystone, said while she confided in a few close friends, she was resolved to keep her situation a secret. In fact, when a friend asked to create a Caring Bridge website to provide updates about Jonseof’s condition for friends and family, she refused and was furious when her pal did it anyway. However, in the aftermath of her initial surgery that included a hysterectomy, the partial removal of her colon and the creation of a permanent colostomy, Jonseof knew she had to “throw in the towel.” “It was as simple as my kids needing rides to my husband’s increased responsibilities, being compounded by having to answer a hundred daily texts asking about me,” she said. “From families of kids my child plays ball with to people at church — I learned that while it’s a blessing for us to do for others, there is also a blessing when we learn to receive.” Jonseof had just had a regular — and “all clear” — gynecological exam three months prior to finding a marble-sized lump in the bend of her upper leg. An examination by her gynecologist two days later landed her in the office of a colorectal surgeon. His CT scan and colonoscopy confirmed the presence of the rare ovarian cancer. Following the operation, her surgeon encouraged Jonseof to travel to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Doctors in both cities, including members of Tumor Committees at St. Vincent’s and MD

Terri Jonseof, center, recovered from a rare form of ovarian cancer with the support of her husband and children. Photo by Keith McCoy.

Anderson, established a treatment plan. The 18 weeks of chemotherapy ended in February 2014 and multiple CT scans of her chest, abdomen and pelvis showed Jonseof to be clear of cancer. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. In February 2015, Jonseof started having problems with speech, completing sentences and typing out

her thoughts on the computer. An MRI discovered a cancerous brain mass metastasized from the ovarian cancer, which her doctors said was a very rare occurrence. “At this point, there was no ruling out anything because you don’t know what the cancer would do,” Jonseof said.

Following brain surgery and six weeks of recovery that included the gradual return of normal speech and vision, Jonseof experienced seizures that required eight sodium tablets and fluids limited to a total of 32 ounces per day.

See OVARIAN CANCER | page C15

C2 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

280 Living

280Living.com

September 2015 • C3

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280 Living

C4 • September 2015

Hornets season preview 2015 Season Preview

2015SCHEDULE SCHEDULE Date 8/21 8/28 9/3 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/29

Opponent Jamboree Briarwood Southside Gadsden Valley * Chilton County * Helena Opelika * Benjamin Russell * Pell City * Oxford * Thompson

NA 23-22 16-13 43-20 42-7 64-35 14-60 13-42 33-35 21-31 33-20

All games start at 7 PM unless noted * Region game Home games are highlighted Matthey Marquet returns as Cheleas’s starting quarterback.

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280Living.com

September 2015 • C5

Chelsea hungry for playoff spot By CHRIS GRIESEDIECK Chelsea went 6-4 in 2014 and just missed out on the playoffs. They finished fifth in Class 6A, Region 3. This year, the Hornets have six players back on both sides of the ball. Coach Chris Elmore said that 2015 is about figuring out who will step in those roles for the players they lost. Elmore feels good about those 12 roles, as six guys are two-year returning starters. “We only had 13 seniors, but we had some really good players in that group. Ten of those guys were full-time starters. We need some offensive and defensive linemen to step up and fill some vacancies from graduation,” he said. For Chelsea’s collegiate prospects, Rod Tyson is a 6-foot-3 left tackle or guard who could see some time on defense. “He’s starting to get some attention from colleges and definitely has potential as an offensive lineman,” Elmore said. Senior running back AJ Jones is another college prospect who has started for two years with the Hornets. In that stretch, he has fought injuries and missed a lot of time. “He’s very good when healthy,” Elmore said. “His college offers depend on how he plays this year.” Elmore said he has some other players who could play at the Division III level.

OFFENSE

QB Matthew Marquet and primary running back AJ Jones return to the gridiron for the Hornets this season. Junior Zalon Reynolds provides another strong option at running back. Elmore’s biggest offensive concern heading into fall practice is at receiver. “The one group that was most hit by graduation was receiver,” said Elmore. “All four starters graduated. We had some young guys that got experience at receiver last year but were not full-time starters.” One of these players who can step up and fill the receiver role is junior Jay Vickers.

Blake Travelstead and David Hardenbergh are returning at linebacker.

Elmore said he likes the upcoming receiver group but recognized their inexperience at the varsity level. “Based on their commitment and character, I expect that group to continue to improve as the season progresses,” he said. Chelsea returns starters Ben Haskins, Nathan Wood and Tyson on the offensive line.

DEFENSE

The defense has some experience, with five

positions locked up by seniors who are returning starters. Larry Johnson returns on the defensive line. Blake Travelstead, Justin Painter and David Hardenbergh all return as linebackers. Joey Chiofalo is expected to start at defensive tackle. Seniors Michael Waller and Calen Russell return as the defensive backs. Junior Regan Wortham will start at defensive end, and Houston Needham is a reliable backup option at linebacker. The rest of the

defensive roles are to be figured out. Luke Ganus and Christian James are expected to see time at cornerback.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Elmore said that junior Tyler Thomas and possibly sophomore Colby Lambert will handle the place-kicking and kickoff duties. Justin Painter will be Chelsea’s punter for the second consecutive year.

280 Living

C6 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

Jaguars season preview 2015 Season Preview

2015SCHEDULE Date 8/21 8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/1 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/29

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

2014 5-3 28-21 52-28 7-26 63-64 ---14-42 14-13 27-34 19-0 30-7

All games start at 7 PM unless noted * Region game Home games are highlighted Running Back Wade Streeter breaks free from Oak Mountain defender.

W W W L L L W L W W

280Living.com

September 2015 • C7

Running back Streeter leads Jags BY STEVE IRVINE Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney has nothing against his team throwing the football around the field. It just wouldn’t be a solid plan with running backs Wade Streeter and Larry Wooden lined up behind a pair of inexperienced quarterbacks. “It’s not going to be [like] when [current Southern Miss quarterback] Nick Mullens was here and we ask them to throw 50 times,” Raney said. “Hopefully we can run 50 times and take some pressure off the quarterback, and when we throw it, we can get some big plays in the passing game and play action off of that.” It sounds like a good plan with the return of Streeter, a senior, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior, and Wooden, a junior, who contributed as a sophomore. Raney calls the pair of running backs “the backbone of our offense.” If Spain Park has a successful season, Raney’s team could be headed back to the Class 7A playoffs after missing the postseason last year.

OFFENSE

Senior Joey Beatty should get first crack at playing quarterback for the Jaguars, but junior Hunter Howell is not far behind. Howell is more of a drop back quarterback while Beatty throws and runs the ball with equal success. Beatty gets the nod because of an extra year in the program. Both quarterbacks will be helped by a solid offensive line that in anchored by seniors Grey Best and Johnathan Mote and junior Bredt Stover. “The other two positions we’ve got multiple guys we’re sliding in and trying out,” Raney said. “We have a good foundation with those three.” Receiver is filled with question marks, but Raney said the Jaguars are talented in that spot. Leaders could be seniors Bridge Suber and Parker Kelly and junior Thomas Jordan. It will help the passing game that opposing defenses are

Spain Park’s defense sacks opposing quarterback.

focused on slowing down Streeter and Wooden.

DEFENSE

The good news is that the front seven is filled with experience, talent and depth. Jonah Tibbs enters his third season as a starter while Douglas Henze, Damon Wright and Will Dailey are also returning starters. Markell Clark, a 6-foot, 280-pound transfer from Georgia, will make an impact. At linebacker, the Jags have experience with returning starters Houston Hollis and Perry

Young. Hollis started last year as a sophomore and Young has college offers from Arkansas State, Southern Miss and others. What is troubling for the Jags, however, is a secondary that features no experience. Raney thinks that group will be fine with some seasoning but might go through some tough times early in the season. “I think that’s where we’re going to have to start [on the defensive line] as far as building

around,” Raney said. “Hopefully they can sack the quarterback before he throws it on us — at least early in the season.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Tyler Sumpter, who has a scholarship offer from Troy, returns as the team’s kicker and punter. But he’ll share time with junior Crosby Gray. Raney said his team also had an excellent long snapper in Martin Daugherty.

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280 Living

C8 • September 2015

Eagles season preview 2015 Season Preview

2015SCHEDULE Date 8/21

Opponent Jamboree

8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/29

Hillcrest Tuscaloosa Vestavia Hills * Hoover * Tuscaloosa County* Briarwood Hewitt-Trussville * Mountain Brook * Spain Park * Thompson * Pell City

28-26 14-7 0-35 27-6 42-12 45-38 27-24 34-27 49-23 13-0

W L W W W

W W W W W

All games start at 7 PM unless noted * Region game Home games are highlighted Quarterback Warren Shader keys the Oak Mountain Offense.

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280Living.com

September 2015 • C9

Eagles look to build on surprise season DEFENSE

By DAVID KNOX Hoover’s Josh Niblett is the state’s highest-paid prep football coach and took the Bucs to their third straight state championship. But another coach in Hoover’s very same region took home the Alabama Football Coaches Association honor as the 7A Coach of the Year. That tells you what kind of a job Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell did in 2014. Oak Mountain was the surprise team south of Vulcan, posting a 10-2 record and making it to the second round [quarterfinals] of the Class 7A playoffs. The Eagles’ only losses were to Hoover in the regular season and Gadsden City in the playoffs. Although there were plenty of heroes on Friday nights, there were no big-name signees off that team. Just a lot of gritty, gutty kids who played with heart and had great team chemistry. That was never more apparent than in the first-round comeback win over James Clemens. Trailing 28-0 early and 35-13 at half, the Eagles outscored Clemens 47-8 in the second half for a stunning 60-43 win. But that was last year, Bell said. Last year is something he hopes and believes they’ll build on as he moves into his fourth year as Eagles coach. “But we have our work cut out for us this year.” They’ll be young up front but have guys with ability. The schedule, as always in Class 7A, Region 3, will be brutal, so they’ll have to grow up in a hurry. “If we can get them coached up, they’ll be all right.”

Avery Holsomback (10) and Josh Jones (46) lead a flock of Eagles defenders to gang tackle a Vestavia Hills player.

The Eagles have to avoid complacency after last year’s success. “New group, new challenge,” Bell said.

OFFENSE

One returning starter is back on the offensive line, center Justice Hammond. Senior Alex King and junior Nick Feenker are projected to start at the guards and Ben Wilke at a tackle. Greyson McClain and William Roberson are battling for the other tackle spot and sophomore Jacob Feenker will play a key role, as he can play all three spots on the line. Cole Johnson is

the returning starter at tight end. Although there are losses in the backfield — especially running back Harold Shader — Bell said, “Our skill people are as good as they’ve ever been” in his time at OM. It starts with quarterback Warren Shader. “He’s a winner,” Bell said. “He’s just what you want in a football player. [He] makes great decisions and last year really learned to take what the defense would give him.” At halfback will be Daniel Salchert, who started last season and was the team’s breakout star, and Coleman Reeves, who could be that kind of

player this year, Bell said. Also in the mix are sophomore Connor Wilson, who Bell said had a great spring and summer, junior Jaylin Gaines, brother of former Eagle standout Josh Gaines, and senior Srini Athen. Bell is excited about his corps of receivers. Reid Golson returns and Peyton Youngblood, the starting safety on defense, will see some time at WR, too. Nathan Brown, Preston Christopher and Noah Egan, a junior who is a basketball player, “has been a very pleasant surprise for us.”

Bell has some excellent defensive pieces back. Nose tackle Armand Lloyd (6-3, 275) returns, and Bell expects him to have a big season. Avery Holsomback returns at his defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid spot. Zach Pierce will start at the other defensive end. A senior who has had a good offseason, Pierce “is a very smart football player,” his coach said. Jason Vice, Will Sayers, Whit Jackson and Jordan Davis will factor into the rotation on the line. Inside linebacker Josh Jones is back, along with Spencer Hughes, who has experience and started some. Cameron Langley, Mingyu Le and Jacob Jasinski are in the mix at OLB. In the secondary, Mitchell Jones returns at one corner and Payton Youngblood at free safety. Jones has the knack of being in the right place at the right time, Bell said, and Youngblood is the defensive quarterback. Last year’s nickelback, Hall Morton, takes over at strong safety. Bell said Morton is “our vocal leader over there, just a real fiery player who plays with passion and energy.” Fighting for time at the other corner will be Kai Christenberry, Thomas Pechman and Davis Manning. “A lot of how we will fare early will be how we play defensively.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Shader will likely be the punter again. John Carroll transfer Nick Carney looks to be the place-kicker. Salchert and Morton will be the return men.

280 Living

C10 • September 2015

Lions season preview 2015 Season Preview

2015SCHEDULE Date 8/21

Opponent Jamboree

8/28 9/3 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30

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

22-23 36-14 6-28 14-7 12-42 18-19 31-19 12-30 35-0 21-49

L W L W L L W L W L

All games start at 7 PM unless noted * Region game Home games are highlighted Sam Sherrod (4) is a Briarwood standout on the ﬁeld and in the classroom. Photo by John Perry.

280Living.com

September 2015 • C11

Lions eye return to playoffs

Carter Bankston (15) is a leader on the field and in the classroom. He has committed to Navy.

By CHRIS GIRESEDIECK This year, Briarwood’s collegiate prospects include seniors Carter Bankston, R.J. Jennings and Sam Sherrod. Coach Fred Yancey spoke highly of their play on the field but also of their hard work in the classroom. “Carter is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive player who has committed to the United States Naval Academy in Maryland. He also has a 4.3 GPA,” said Yancey. R.J. Jennings stands at 6-foot2, 235 pounds. “He’s a defensive

lineman who is also an excellent student. He should have an opportunity to play at the next level by the end of the season,” Yancey said. Sam Sherrod has also been described by Yancey as “a very good student.” Sherrod excels at outside linebacker. “He’ll get some looks somewhere,” said Yancey. The Lions qualified for the playoffs despite finishing with a losing record of 4-7 in 2014. Last season was the first in Class 6A for Briarwood, and they fell at Florence in the first round of the postseason. According to

An improved defense is key to a successful season.

Yancey, they weren’t a strong team. Yancey and the Lions have now seen what the competition is like in 6A, Region 5. “We’re not a school that gets to recruit or bring in players,” he said. “They guys are working hard. We were there. This year’s team should be an improved team over last year,” said Yancey.

OFFENSE

Briarwood returns just three starters on offense. Since Walker Lott transferred to

Thompson High School in Alabaster, junior William Gray is the QB. Yancey said that Gray played well in Briarwood’s spring game, completing a high percentage of his passes. “He can throw. He went 17/20 in our spring game.”

DEFENSE

Yancey expects Bankston, Jennings and Sherrod to lead the defense, which looks to improve. The Lions set a team record by allowing 269 points in 2014. Four starters return defensively for

Briarwood. Yancey said that these returning starters should be some of his better players.

SPECIAL TEAMS

BCS will pick up one key transfer. This fall, Josh Brower will be the Lions’ new kicker. Brower comes from Florida, where he was a second team all-state kicker there. It’s pretty legit transfer; he is the son of Briarwood Christian’s new principal, Shawn Brower.

280 Living

C12 • September 2015

Bowling gets rolling as prep championship sport By DAVID KNOX After a successful season as an emerging sport last year, bowling strikes this school year as an official high school sport. Bowling is the newest championship sport offered by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, beginning with this school year. The state championship tournament is scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2016, at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham. Two regionals will be at Tuscaloosa and Foley. “We are extremely excited about adding bowling to our list of winter state championship sports offered to our member schools,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said. “The sport was offered last season as an emerging sport under jurisdiction for our member schools. The growth of the sport in such a short time has been outstanding.” A total of 43 schools fielded bowling teams last season. Already that number has grown to about 80 schools based on school sports declarations received for this season, said Denise Ainsworth, the AHSAA assistant director responsible for the sport of bowling. “We think that number will grow even larger before the season gets underway,” she said. “I think once they give out the blue trophies this year, the number of schools will skyrocket. It’s going to be the fastest-growing sport in Alabama.” Among the schools already declared for this season are Spain Park, Oak Mountain, Chelsea, Indian Springs, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Mountain Brook. Briarwood Christian is not fielding a team at this time. The 280 Living area schools are in Region 4,

A Spain Park bowler practices during last season. This year bowling becomes an official AHSAA championship sport after a year as an emerging sport. Some 80 schools will have teams this year. Photo by Keith McCoy.

which is composed of Spain Park, Oak Mountain, Chelsea, Indian Springs, Hoover, Thompson, Holtville, Stanhope Elmore and Fayetteville. Schools participated in regular-season play only last school year. Ainsworth said the format for the 2015-16 inaugural season will include two regional bowling tournaments at the Gulf Bowl in Foley and Leland Lanes in Tuscaloosa with qualifiers advancing to the state tournament at Oak Mountain Lanes. The South Regional at Foley will be Jan. 20-21, and the North Regional at Tuscaloosa is set for Jan. 21-22. The sport will include a championship for girls and for boys in a combined Class 1A-7A.

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TOUCH DOWN

Schools fielding only a coed team will compete in the boys’ division. The first day allowed for practice is Oct. 5, with the first date for a contest set for Oct. 26. Varsity teams will be limited to 18 dates and five regular season tournaments. Middle and junior high school teams will be allowed a maximum 12 regular-season play dates and two regular-season tournaments. “Bowling is a sport that includes a segment of our student population that may not be competing in other sports,” Ainsworth said. “It also is a sport that is attracting teachers who may not be currently coaching a sport.”

Bowling was offered by the AHSAA as a championship sport for girls from 1972-77 along with badminton and archery. However, all three were discontinued after the 1977 season. It is the first championship sport added by the AHSAA since slow-pitch softball began its conversion to fast-pitch softball in 1995. The AHSAA currently offers 24 championship sports, including cheerleading, with 12 for boys and 12 for girls. Cheerleading is a sports activity endorsed by the AHSAA with the state championships being administered by an outside source. With the addition of bowling, that brings the total to 26.

280Living.com

Opinion My South By Rick Watson

Shoe fishing I finished up work on Thursday cares if the fish aren’t biting? and got home just as my wife, Jilda, There is still no place I’d rather be was leaving to go teach. There were than on the water.” things around the house that needed The evening was warm and I’d doing, but when I stepped out on worked up a sweat, so I kicked off the back deck, the sky was denim my shoes and waded ankle deep blue with doughy clouds drifting into the frigid water to cool off. listlessly toward the east and I heard My fly line whispering overhead as a different calling. my weightless fly teased the brush I’d been reading The Sun Also on the other bank. Rises by Ernest Hemingway and Everything seems to be in slow Watson just finished the part about him fly motion when I fly fish. I guess fishing in Spain with friends. Standthat’s why I didn’t know the water ing on my deck, I thought to myself that fly was rising. I wouldn’t have realized at all had fishing would be a better use of my afternoon. I I not seen one shoe was floating away like an took my gear to the Sipsey Fork of the Warrior. untethered canoe out of the corner of my eye. At Riverside Fly Shop, I stepped inside to I stepped into the stream to grab it but get the fishing news. Randy, who works with quickly found myself in waist-deep water. The his son at the shop, gave me the scoop on the shoe drifted further away, seeming to taunt me. types of flies the trout were hitting. He also I began casting my fly at the shoe in the mentioned that the power company would turn hopes of snagging it and bringing it back to the turbines on at 4 p.m. It was 3:45. “Well me, but I saw how bad my casting skills were. shoot!” I thought. When the turbines are run- My flies kept getting tangled in the brush on ning, the water level rises three or four feet. the other bank. I tried rolling casts, side-arm Wading would not be an option. casts and straight overhead casts. I thought my trip was a wash until Randy After getting $12 worth of flies tangled in gave me the skinny on a lesser-known spot the brush without coming close to snagging where I could fish even with the turbines run- the shoe, I decided to call it a day. ning. With the words of Hemingway humming I hobbled back to the truck like the pegin my mind, I was ready to give it a try, even if legged Long John Silver. Driving home I I’d have to walk an extra half-mile to get there. wondered if Hemingway ever had to fish for Finding the place he described, I his shoe. clench-knotted a dry fly onto my tippet. After a Rick Watson is a columnist and author. dozen casts with no action, I tried a nymph and His latest book Life Changes is available on a salmon egg, but I didn’t get the first strike. Amazon.com. You can contact him via email at As the sun edged toward the horizon and a rick@homefolkmedia.com. blue heron drifted down the river on the breeze searching for supper. I thought to myself, “Who

September 2015 • C13

280 Living

C14 • September 2015

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Three words our kids need to hear It is Monday morning, and my daughter drags into the kitchen. She sits on a barstool, slumps her shoulders and casts her eyes down at the bowl of Cheerios I slide in front of her. She moans and groans and tells me how tired she is. Part of me is irritated. I need her to step it up because I have four kids to get to school in 30 minutes. I don’t have time for this. But then I remember — I get tired, too. And like me, this child really needs her sleep. So instead of rushing her, I take a minute to let her wake up. “I get it,” I tell her, remembering the many times I’ve struggled to get out of bed. “Mornings can be hard for me, too.” It is Wednesday afternoon, and I can tell by the look on my daughter’s face as she walks toward my car that she’s upset. As she buckles her seatbelt, she blurts out what’s troubling her. Once again she didn’t place in the school art contest. Once again her friend won first place. With a bitter tinge in her voice, she complains that it’s not fair. Part of me wants to correct my child. I want to tell her to be happy for her friend. But then I remember — I get jealous, too. And being jealous of a friend is the hardest kind to overcome. “I get it,” I tell her, remembering the times I’ve felt overshadowed. “You worked hard on that piece, and I know you wanted to place. I get

jealous of my friends sometimes, too.” It is Sunday, and on the way to church I argue with my daughter because she didn’t brush her teeth like I asked. We’ve had this argument, so often I feel compelled to describe how her mouth will look when her teeth begin to rot. Inside church I reflect on my words, and I feel bad about being harsh. I wish I’d held my tongue. I lean over to my daughter and whisper an apology. She shakes her head and pushes me away. She’s mad and not ready to forgive. Part of me is hurt. I want closure to ease the guilt. But then I remember — I need time when I’m mad, too. Forgiveness isn’t always instant. “Okay,” I say, kissing her head and giving her space. I ask God to forgive me and to work in her heart so our little arguments don’t lead to resentment. The mistakes I make as a parent are relatively common. And in terms of our children’s moods, we often expect them to have mastery over their emotions. We expect them to get over unpleasant feelings, soldier on and not need time to process them. But our kids are human, and like all humans, they have some messy emotions that need to be acknowledged and worked through. They have good days and bad days, highs and lows, shining moments and moments we wonder where our

child has gone. I am learning, as my kids get older, the importance of being empathic. Taking even a minute to listen and understand how they feel can make a huge difference in whether they open up and talk through their feelings or keep them bottled up. My tendency is to react too soon. I throw out quick solutions or express my thoughts on how my children should feel without taking into account how they do feel. And of all the tools I’m using to break this habit, the most effective one is compassion. Sometimes what my kids need most is permission to feel what they feel with 100 percent honesty. They want a sounding board, not a problem solver. They feel comforted when I nod and say, “Yep, I’ve been there. That happens to me all the time.” Everyone knows the cornerstone phrase of parenting: I love you. But I believe we need three other words in our vocabulary, too, words that build bridges between hearts and strengthen the parent-child relationship. I get it. I get it you don’t feel like going to school. I get it you’re jealous of your friend. I get it you need time to cool off before we talk again. Saying “I get it” isn’t a green light for our kids to act on unpleasant emotions or dwell on them. It doesn’t lower or compromise our

expectations. More than anything, it connects us with our children and reassures them they aren’t alone. It reminds us they are human, and sometimes it helps to cut them a little slack in honor of that fact. A little empathy can go a long way in growing a relationship. So can the right words. One goal I have in parenting is to have less of a lecturing mouth and more of a listening ear. The conversations that result when my kids express their real emotions bring priceless insights. They teach me about my kids and teach my kids to be comfortable expressing their inner reality. I want my kids to know that if I get it, others will get it, too. Someone will relate to any messy emotion they wrestle with. Knowing this makes the world a more approachable place. It gives them the courage to be real, and the power to build relationships based on truth, empathy and our perfectly normal humanity. 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 now 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.

280Living.com

September 2015 • C15

Area events for

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Aug. 29 8 a.m. - The 11th Annual Save the O’s 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Greystone Golf and Country Club runsignup.com/Race/AL/Hoover/ SavetheOs5K

Sept. 1 5:15-8 p.m. - A State of Teal Game Night The Club, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. $25 per person

Sept. 12 8 a.m. – Head Over Teal 5K The Hoover Preserve Thinkoflaura.org

Sep. 25 11:30 a.m. – Charlie’s Angels Luncheon to support the Brittany Waldrep Endowed Lectureship for Gynecologic Cancer at UAB The Club, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. anbishop92@gmail.com or 492-0472

Sept. 25 7 p.m. – Newsaroo 3 outdoor music festival Avondale Brewing Company Free nlovca.org

Terri Jonseof and her son Jameson were among family members who took part in the 2014 and 2015 Ovarian Cancer Society Save the Os 5K. Photo courtesy of Terri Jonseof

OVARIAN CANCER

CONTINUED from page C1 Finally, five rounds of high-powered radiation at the end of April brought her treatment plan to a close. Today, Jonseof admits that two days after her initial diagnosis she had said aloud, “What have I done or what haven’t I learned to deserve this?” “I knew without a doubt that God would be glorified through this, but sitting in a chemo chair, cold and lonely, doesn’t make it at all easy,” she said. “Yet it is a confirmation that this was not in vain, and I could trust that.”

Jonseof said she also came to see and trust the resilience and strength of her daughter Kendall and son Jameson, now 20 and 14 respectively. According to Jonseof, she fretted daily about her kids and the impact the situation was having on them. “Our family life was virtually on hold and, looking at what they were having to go through, I constantly thought ‘poor, pitiful them,’” she said. “But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.” In fact, Kendall and Jameson put their energy to work, creating a basement bedroom for their mother for her return from surgery, Jonseof said. “They had borrowed a bed from a neighbor and a friend brought a recliner, decorated and when I

walked in from the garage, there was everything I needed,” she said. “I was blown away.” But Kendall, now a junior at the University of Alabama, said she also worked very hard at disguising the fear she felt about her mother’s illness. “My biggest regret now was that I was trying to hide the fact that I was so scared,” Kendall said. “I learned it’s OK to be scared and worried, and that’s what family and friends are there for – to help you get through it when you’re scared.” Husband Ernie Jonseof said he also learned many things during his wife’s journey, including how lucky his family is “to live in a place that, at the core, cares for its neighbors.” “We are all so willing to say ‘let me know

how I can help,’ and few realize most mean it,” he said. “The heart of the community cared for us when we needed it and that is a privilege for which I am eternally grateful.” Jonseof said she’s realized that she wouldn’t give up the past two years “because of everything I’ve learned and the closeness I’ve found to God.” “My family and I discussed that if they wake up every day saying “Mama is sick”, the answer is yes. But if they ask “What is God doing through this cancer in my life?” then they will find that,” she said. “I would tell people to be watchful for these positive things in their lives and not to miss them, even though they’re sometimes so subtle. There are so many blessings every day.”

280 Living

C16 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

280

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

726090

35242

8023 Greystone Green

New

$519,000

726343

35242

1312 Inverness Drive Cove

New

$269,900

726267

35242

1005 Mountain Trace

New

$477,000

726390

35242

3052 Riverwood Terrace

New

$129,900

726252

35242

5013 Eagle Crest Road

New

$329,900

726239

35242

1531 Inverness Lane Cove

New

$209,900

726219

35242

3021 Riverwood Terrace

New

$118,900

726206

35242

4541 Guilford Circle

New

$214,900

726156

35242

150 Highland View Drive

New

$829,999

726111

35242

5536 Heath Row Drive

New

$319, 900

726351

35242

2916 Macalpine Circle

New

$189,900

725772

35242

1433 Legacy Drive

New

$1,695,000

725889

35242

2134 Brook Highland Ridge

New

$695,000

725876

35243

2796 Berkeley Drive

New

$539,900

725872

35243

5029 Wagon Trace

New

$323,900

725859

35243

5298 Broken Bow Drive South

New

$320,000

725794

35243

2509 Meadowwood Circle

New

$244,900

726425

35043

149 Chelsea Station Drive

New

$259,900

726420

35043

205 Sunset Lake Drive

New

$209,900

726364

35043

390 Chelsea Plantation Lane

New

$205,000

8023 Greystone Green

1433 Legacy Drive

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on August 17. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

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280Living.com

September 2015 • C17

Calendar Community events Sept. 8: Community Grief Support Service. 6-8 p.m. Asbury United Methodist Church. Free 10-week session for group support. Contact Maggie Dunaway at 515-1029 or mdunaway@ asburyonline.org. Sept. 10: Taste of Shelby County. 5:308 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Visit shelbyedfoundation. org. Sept. 10-12: Butterflies and Bowties Consignment. Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Liberty Crossings United Methodist

Church. For more information, visit mylc.org/ consignment. Sept. 11-12: Giggles and Grace Consignment Sale. Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Asbury United Methodist Church. Children’s clothes, toys, books, shoes, baby furniture and more will be on sale. Visit asburygigglesandgrace.com. Sept. 12-20: Stuff the Bus Drive. Gravel easement in front of Target on U.S. 280. Bundlesdiaperbank.org. Sept. 12: Southeastern Outings

North Shelby Library Sept. 5: Lego Club. 10-11:30 a.m.

Waters.

Sept. 15: Computer Comfort. 10-11:30 a.m. Contact Michelyn Reid at 439-5510.

Sept. 18: Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging – Medicare. 10 a.m. Contact Andrea Carter at 670-5770 for more information.

Sept. 16: Homeschool Hangout. 1 p.m. Abigail Whitthaur, canine behavior expert is discussing dog behavior. Ages 7-13 welcome. Registration is required. Sept. 17: Book Club. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. This month’s book is The Paying Guests by Sarah

Wednesdays: Mr. Mac. 10:45 a.m. Stories, puppets and lots of music for every member of the family. All ages. No registration required. Fridays: Gaming. 3-5:45 p.m. Board games, card games, Wii, Xbox One and Minecraft.

Potluck Picnic, canoe and hike. 11:30 a.m. Oak Mountain State Park lower fishing lake. Contact Acyenith Alexander at 529-2253 for picnic information, Dan Frederick at 631-4680 for boating information and Edd Spencer at 991-1045 for hiking information.

Mayor Gary W. Waters will be the keynote speaker. Call 685-5757.

Sept. 14: Presentation about Grandview Hospital on U.S. 280. 7 p.m. Asbury United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. Keith Granger, president and CEO of Trinity, will present.

Sept. 18: Mt Laurel Renaissance Faire. 5:30-8 p.m. 1 Jefferson Place Mt Laurel. Children $15, Adults free.

Sept. 15: Harvest of Hope Luncheon. 10 a.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Pelham

Sept. 17: 26th Annual Golf FORE! Education. 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Inverness Country Club.

Sept. 27: Southeastern Outings Sunday Afternoon Dayhike. 1 p.m. Hargis YMCA Retreat. Contact Edd Spencer at 317-5868 or eddthehiker@outlook.com.

Mt Laurel Library Sept. 3: Book club. 7-8:30 p.m. This month’s book is The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

Sept. 14: Legacy Writing. 6-7:30 p.m. Contact the library at 991-1660 for more information.

Sept. 4 & 18: Toddler Tales. 10 a.m. Registration required.

Sept. 17: Early Birmingham History. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Historian Jim Phillips will discuss the early 1800s.

Sept. 4 & 18: Storytime with Ms Kristy. 11 a.m. Sept. 12: Crafty Saturday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. All ages with parent help.

Sept. 22: Local Author Signing. 4 p.m. Local children’s author Karina Barone will read and discuss her book, Helen is Going to Sleep.

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C18 • September 2015

Calendar St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Wednesdays: Baby Café. 10 a.m.-noon. Breastfeeding moms lactation support group meeting. Sept. 5: Lupus Support Group. 10 a.m.noon. This month’s topic is “Living Well with Lupus” by Tonya MacNicol. Sept. 8: Blood Pressure/BMI Screening. 8-11:30 a.m. Free. Sept. 13: Girl Power. 2-3:30 p.m. A class to help girls 8-12 years old understand their body’s changes. $5 per girl. Call Dial-A-Nurse to register at 939-7878.

Sept. 14: Next chapter book club. 4:305:30 p.m. The current book is Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Sept. 22: Supersitters. 4-6:30 p.m. For boys and girls age 11 and up. $10 per participant. Call 939-7878 to register or for more information.

Sept. 17: Wellness Screenings. 7:30 a.m.5 p.m. $20. Call 408-6550 to register.

Sept. 23: Treatment for common foot issues. 8-9 a.m. Free. Call 408-6550 for reservations.

Sept. 18: Eat Dinner Together. 5:30-7 p.m. Hands-on family cooking class. $10 per adult, $5 per child and $30 per family maximum. Call 408-6551 to register. Sept. 19: Forever Families. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learn how to care for a newborn. Cost is $60 per couple. Call Dial-A-Nurse at 939-7878 to register.

Sept. 24: Medicare Educational Meeting. 10 a.m.-noon. Blue Cross/Blue Shield informational meeting. Free. Call 1-888-346-1946 to register.

meeting. Free. Call 1-855-764-1333 to register. Sept. 24: Cuisine at One Nineteen. 6:30-8 p.m. $25 per person. Call 408-6550 to register. Sept. 25: Comprehensive Diabetes Education. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 939-7248 to register. Sept. 29: Pasta-Palooza, Pasta-Making for Teens. 4-6 p.m. For ages 13-18 years. $25 per person. Call 408-6550 by Sept. 21 to register.

Sept. 24: Individual Insurance Products. Noon-2 p.m. Blue Cross/Blue Shield informational

Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce Sept. 2: Ambassadors Meeting. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

a.m. Shelby County Instructional Services Center.

Sept. 2: Small Business Work Group. 4-5 p.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 8: Go & Grow Workshop: “Being the boss.” 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 8: Entrepreneur and Small Business Mentorship Program. 8-11 a.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber Office.

Sept. 9: Existing Business & Industry Work Group. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon Inc.

Sept. 8: Education Work Group. 8:30-9:30

Sept. 10: PCI Compliance Seminar

“Changes You Need to Know.” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 18: Entrepreneur Roundtable II. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 11: Health Services Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 24: Governmental Affairs Work Group. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Sain Associates Inc.

Sept. 15: Entrepreneur Roundtable. 8-10 a.m. Greater Shelby Chamber Office.

Sept. 30: Community Luncheon, Annual Safety Awards. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.

Sept. 15: Business After Hours. 5:30-7 p.m. Champy’s Hwy 119.

280Living.com

September 2015 • C19

Calendar Heardmont Senior Center Mondays: Tai Chi. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Mondays: Mah Jongg. 9:30 a.m.-noon

a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Tuesdays. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursdays.

Mondays: Canasta. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

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

Tuesdays: Bible study. 11 a.m.

Wednesdays: Bridge. 9 a.m.-noon.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: Lunch. Noon.

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

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Aerobics. 10

Sept. 25: Heardmont Dance. 6:30-9 p.m.

South Shelby Chamber of Commerce Sept. 10: Chamber Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Columbiana First United Methodist Church.

Sept. 18: Social Media Seminars. 8:3010 a.m. Hampton Inn at Eagle Point.

Area Events Sept. 1: Chris Brown: One Hell of Nite Tour. Oak Mountain Ampitheatre. Visit theoakmountainamphitheater.com.

run benefits Camp Smile-A-Mile’s programs for children with cancer. Visit campsam.org.

Sept. 3: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Downtown Birmingham. Visit birminghamartcrawl. com.

Sept. 20: Trucks by the Tracks. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Railroad Park. Live music, food trucks, beverages and more. $5 adults, free for children 12 and younger. Visit railroadpark.org.

Sept. 3: Lady Antebellum Wheels Up Tour. Oak Mountain Ampitheatre. Visit theoakmountainamphitheater.com.

Sept. 20: Ariana Grande. 7:30 p.m. Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Legacy Arena. Visit bjcc.org.

Sept. 7: Labor Day Celebration and Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Visit tannehill.org.

Sept. 20: Vulcan Aftertunes: Langhorne Slim & The Law. 3 p.m. opening act, 4 p.m. headliner. Vulcan Park & Museum. $15 adults, $8 members and children 5-12, free for children 4 and younger. Visit visitvulcan.com.

Sept. 11: Dinnertainment benefitting The Exceptional Foundation. The Country Club of Birmingham. Visit exceptionalfoundation.org Sept. 11-Oct. 4: Big Fish. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre. Tickets start at $30. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Sept. 16: Lecture: Spiritual Moderns: Twentieth-Century American Artists and Issues of Religion. 6:30 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art. Visit artsbma.org. Sept. 17: Van Halen. Oak Mountain Ampitheatre. Visit theoakmountainamphitheater.com. Sept. 19: Dash of the Dead Zombie 5K. Warehouse 31, Pelham. Visit warehouse31.com. Sept. 18: Jeanne Robertson. 7:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. Family-friendly comedy. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Sept. 17-19: St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saint George Melkite Catholic Church. Visit saintgeorgeonline. com. Sept. 19: National Eating Disorders Walk. Avondale Park. 9 a.m. check-in, 11 a.m. walk. The first annual event seeks to raise awareness and funding to battle anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Visit nedawalk.org. Sept. 19: Monkey C Monkey Run. 8 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. F aun Run. Homewood Central Park. The

Sept. 20: U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team vs. Australia. 1:30 p.m. Legion Field. Visit ticketmaster.com. Sept. 24: For Better or Worse. 7 p.m. A gospel stage play by Tyesha Brown. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Sept. 24: The Art of Hope: Speaking the Unspoken. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company. Event by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Junior Board for local artists to express the effects of mental illness. Visit afspartofhope.com. Sept. 25: Russian Grand Ballet Presents Swan Lake. The Alabama Theatre. 7 p.m. $15-55. Swan Lake, based on Russian folklore and German legend, follows a heroic young prince as he works to free the beautiful swan maiden from an evil spell. Visit ticketmaster.com. Sept. 26: Boulevard Blast 5K. 9 a.m. 5K, 9:30 a.m. Fun Run/Walk. 3136 Norwood Blvd. Benefitting the Norwood Resource Center. Register at active.com.

Classifieds Kerstein Brueck Free and Professional Counselling Kerstein725@gmail.com 251-751-9205